We are the caretakers, nurturers, lovers, and the glue of the entire world. Healing is something we are expected to do “naturally”. Who does Billy run to when he skins his knees, and when Tiffany falls off her bike, who does she cry for: mommy. We can put the necessary band aids and antiseptic cream on the wounds, but it is the woman’s touch that is so healing. So who heals the mommy’s, aunties, sister’s, grammy’s and professional women’s wounds? Who heals us?
These roles we choose to play; often times overshadow our own hopes and dreams for us personally. Do we know who we are without these titles and identities? A patient recently shared with me in an utterly overwhelmed state of exhaustion and frustration that she was pulled in so many directions that she didn’t know who she was anymore. The path for her life was like a “ghost”, compared to who she was for everybody else in her life.
Unfortunately, we often don’t show up on our own radar screens. As airline safety regulations require adults to put on their air mask FIRST before putting on a child’s. If we could adopt this motto for our own healing path and take care of ourselves first, we then can ultimately be that refuge of safety, comfort and support to others, as well as ourselves. We can live the authentic life that we were meant to live.
Healing must begin with US. I can offer some simple solutions to make it easier to heal ourselves. First, we want to identify and acknowledge our feelings. “I feel frustrated that I don’t have time for me.” “I feel angry that I have to cook tonight.” “I feel guilty that I don’t want to go to the hockey game today.” Open and honest communications with us and others can lead to finding solutions that work for everybody.
Getting to the root cause of the emotions can be the most liberating feeling. Finding out what old programs and “blueprints” have cause these stuck patterns in our cellular memory, is the biggest source of change and healing.
Make a commitment to honor yourself and your body and stick to it. “I’m going to yoga class every Thursday night”, or “I’m sorry, I can’t stay late tonight, I have a previous commitment” (no one has to know the commitment is to yourself). Place these things on the “TO DO” list, and giving them priority. Some sort of creative expression is a great stress releaser.
Minimally, taking a few minutes of QT: Quiet Time everyday is essential. This is the few breaths of alone time you may get and honor it. Connecting to your inner self and God is the essence that can sustain you throughout the day. With daily practice, this will fulfill your life and allow you to experience the calm and peace that you deserve as wonderful healing women.
By: Mary M. Vallei, May 8, 2008
If you had the power to bring lasting positive change into your life and build your life the way you want it to be, would you do so? If you answered yes, then you need to know that this power already lies within you, and building the life you want is already in your hands. The power to make lasting and positive change is yours if you want it. Hypnotherapy can show you how.
Most of us experience crises and anxiety at sometime in our lives. Crises hijack your life. Anxiety interferes with your life. You can let crises and anxieties overwhelm your life or you can take control and learn to build the life you want. Growth defines your life. Health is your life. You can choose growth and wellness.
If you do, Hypnotherapy is a safe, easy, quick, and effective technique that helps you build a positive mind-body connection and gain the resources and strength to create a well, balanced, and happy life for yourself, your way. Hypnotherapy helps your learn how.
Hypnosis is a natural state that we have all experienced in everyday life. Anytime we daydream, drive on autopilot, mediate or practice other relaxation techniques, for example, we are in a hypnotic state. Hypnotherapy is different in that one makes a choice to enter into a deep state of relaxation in order to focus concentration and use suggestion to promote health, healing, achievement of goals, personal growth and fulfillment, discover and change negative thoughts and patterns, and more. Anytime a person is in a hypnotic state, that person is always in control. No one can make you do or think anything you do not want to do or think. The Hypnotherapist guides the process and teaches the techniques. You are the only person who can hypnotize yourself. So, in reality, all hypnosis is self-hypnosis.
Hypnotherapy creates a mind and body connection that makes change, growth, and healing possible. In a deep state of relaxation, the conscious and subconscious minds become free to connect and communicate.
The process is simple. The number of session required is not exact. Some people achieve their desired goal in one session. Others take more time. This is really up to each individual to determine as the process unfolds.
The Hypnotherapist, in concert with you, the client, asks you questions to understand what you want to change or achieve, what you expect and believe, what your motivation is. Next the Hypnotherapist works with you to frame a positive suggestion and develop a visualization to communicate what you want to achieve to your subconscious mind. Then the Hypnotherapist will use guided imagery, visualization, and other techniques to create and deliver positive suggestions and messages to the conscious and subconscious. Receiving the same message connects the conscious and subconscious minds. It is this special connection that can empower the client to successfully change and grow. The Hypnotherapist also teaches you how to practice self-hypnosis so you can continue the process of growth and change anytime throughout your life.
Hypnotherapy is applied to numerous medical issues, including pain management, preparing for surgery, autoimmune diseases, cancer, and childbirth to name a few; to emotional health issues; creativity and education; athletic motivation, performance; and even business. Hypnotherapy can be used to further any endeavor and can be applied to ay issue you encounter throughout life.
Hypnotherapy is an approved, widely recognized as a complementary tool for both adults and children. It is approved by the International Medical and Dental Associations, the American Medical Association, and the American Psychiatric Association. The American and the British Medical Associations adopted hypnotherapy as a viable complementary therapeutic tool in 1958, and has been recommending it since that time.
When you choose a hypnotherapist there are a number of things to remember.
There are many specialties for hypnotherapy. All hypnotherapists follow basically the same processes. However, most hypnotherapists specialize in particular areas. Some focus on health and wellness issues, others focus on spiritual healing. Still others provide emergency crisis relief, phobias, anxiety and stress relief, smoking cessation, or weight. Whatever your issue, ask the hypnotherpaist if that is an area in which they can provide the help you need. Also….
- The hypnotherapist should have received training in this field. If the thypnotherpaist has attended a school of hypnotherapy, make sure this school is accredited by the state in which the school operates.
- There are several professional organizations which test and credential hypnotherapists. Find out what group the hypnotherpaist belongs to and what was needed in order to receive the credentials. Among the leading organizations are the International Medical and Dental Hypnotherapy Associations, the American Association of Hypnotist Examiners, the National Guild and the Society of Clinical Hypnotherapists.
- Decide for yourself if you feel a connection with the hypnotherapist. This is very important for the hypnotherapy to be effective. If you feel comfortable with your choice of hypnotherapist your experience will be better.
- Be sure to understand the fees upfront. Good hypnotherpaists will provide you with a disclosure form explaining the fees, process, and your rights as a client. Be sure to get one. If the hypnotherapist does not provide this, it is probably wiser to seek another hypnotherapist.
- Remember that the hypnotherapist is there to teach and guide you how to connect with your mind-body healing power that you already possess. The hypnotherapist does not heal or fix you. Watch out if someone promises to do that.
Hypnotherapy is a safe, easy way to empower yourself to take charge of life, reprogram old behavior patterns, and create more productive and successful living. You can learn to realize and sustain new visions for how you want to live. You can apply the skills of hypnotherapy to any situation you encount
by Dr. Teresa Pigott
Have you ever been stuck in a dilemma? Ever been depressed? Ever found yourself in a situation not knowing how to escape??? Look to EMOTIONS and especially the subconscious emotions to lead you out. Conditioning from parents, society, and peers that occur in our childhood sets the pattern in our subconscious mind and nervous system.
This “blueprint” lays the foundation for our personality, our quirks, our beliefs, and our attitudes.
Depending upon how we were taught, the attitudes of our parents, and OUR perceptions (right or wrong, good or bad, true or made up), this is how we will act or re-act in any situation. When we find ourselves sabotaging the very thing we want in our lives, again look to these stuck emotions in our cellular memory that hold the key.
Let me share this story that proves the point. A patient, Barbara, felt depressed and had a nagging habit of picking her cuticles, and wanted relief from both. Using muscle testing (kinesiology) and the NeuroEmotional Technique (NET), we uncovered what emotions were the culprit to each of these conditions. Fear, paralyzed will, and abandonment were the subconscious emotions that were locked into her body because of an incident she experienced at six years old.
She was the daughter of a young mother who felt she had no choice but to take her sick child to work and leave her in the car for the day. At first, Barbara entertained herself well, but as the day went on she didn’t know what to do especially when she had to go to the bathroom. She began picking her scabbed knee for a distraction. (Now she picks at her fingers.) She was alone, frightened, and incapable of handling this traumatic situation.
Once we cleared and removed these stuck emotions from her cellular memory, the depression lifted and the constant irritating habit stopped. The subconscious mind is very powerful and holds memories, patterns, and traumatic events, often unaware to US, in our conscious lives.
There are several ways to unlock these stuck emotions from the subconscious mind, such as: psychotherapy, massage therapy, talking to spiritual leaders, and NET.
The key is being aware that the subconscious mind can “protect” us from traumatic events by giving us clues in the form of unwanted behaviors, sabotaging events, negative beliefs, rigid thought patterns, and exaggerated responses.
Emotions themselves are not “negative”; they are actually a collection of neuropeptides that attach to a receptor and stimulate an electrical charge on a neuron.
Candice Pert in her incredible discoveries in the 70’s brought this revolutionary information to us. She also found these “neuropeptides”, once thought to be only found in the brain, all over the body in places such as: the gut, the spine, the immune system, and in fact most cells in the human body. In her book, “Molecules of Emotions” (an older book now, but still the foundation for our understanding of emotions), she describes in detail the connection between our physical body and emotions.
Dr. Bruce Lipton, in his book, “The biology of Belief” says our very genes and DNA are controlled by our thoughts, beliefs, and attitudes. Can you see just how important emotions are to EVERYTHING? Being aware of how we feel is the first step, and the second is recognizing that we may require help to release these stuck emotions. When we continue to grow we create vibrant health on all levels: mind, body and spirit.
This video will help:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qje2x-VdAxU
by
Terry Robinson
Terry uses a computerized BioMeridian Vantage system for testing allergies which allows her to painlessly check vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients, as well as food groups and environmental allergens. Treatments are done using the non-invasive N.A.E.T. allergy elimination technique. Terry has worked with great success on children as well as adults.
Candida, a yeast that can invade the body and overwhelm its defenses, may be the culprit behind many common health problems including, heartburn, indigestion, gas, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, food cravings, fatigue (especially after meals), brain fog, ADD, ADHD, headaches, vaginal yeast and bladder infections, coated tongue, sinus congestion, post nasal drip, food and environmental allergies, as well as unexplained aches and pains. Most of these symptoms can also have other causes however, if you experience several of these, there is a good chance that Candida is an issue.
Candida is a yeast or fungus, that is normally present in the bowel in limited amounts. It is estimated that up to 85% of the population in North America have an overgrowth of Candida in their body. Candida feeds on sugars, simple carbohydrates and fermented products. This invasive fungus can penetrate the mucosa of the intestinal system and travel to other parts of the body. Candida overgrowth then sets off a cycle that leads to the further weakening of the body's defenses, which in turn allows Candida to spread even further.
The twentieth century diet and lifestyle are largely responsible for the Candida epidemic we are now experiencing. Too many antibiotics, hormone intake (including the hormones in our meat), sugar, refined food, food chemicals and alcohol, are all factors that are contributing to the problem. Chemical use, pesticides, pollutants and daily stress in our lives produce toxins that also feed the yeast.
Candida produces toxins as a byproduct of it’s natural processes. Large quantities of Candida create larger quantities of these byproducts. These toxins are very difficult for the body to cope with. The result is a weakened immune system. Candida also creates a digestive conflict and robs people of the vital nutrients they need from the food they eat. Many people with Candida digest less than 50% of the nutrients in the food they intake. This invasive fungus can cause damage to the intestinal walls and as a result, partially digested dietary proteins travel into the bloodstream and can cause other health issues including food allergies and sensitivities. Not only does Candida wreak havoc in the intestinal system, it travels to other parts of the body resulting in unpleasant and often long-term symptoms including sinus, digestive, and skin issues.
Believe it or not, your intestines are home to many beneficial intestinal bacteria. These bacteria are absolutely necessary to break down food, absorb nutrients, metabolize hormones and prevent disease causing bacteria, parasites and fungus like Candida from taking over. When an overgrowth of Candida is present in the intestinal system, the good bacteria is crowded out. This results in fewer nutrients being absorbed and snowballs into many other possible symptoms.
If you are experiencing typical symptoms and suspect that Candida could be affecting your health, an assessment and supervised treatment by an experienced health care practitioner is recommended. Your health practitioner can develop an individualized approach and provide the appropriate supervision during treatment. After a detailed assessment, your health practitioner will evaluate the need for treatment. You will likely be asked to eliminate refined sugar from your diet which will starve the yeast. White breads, pastas and rice should be avoided because they quickly turn to sugar in the body. A good quality probiotic (high doses of “good bacteria”) may also be recommended. Other whole food anti-fungal supplements like garlic, oregano and cinnamon can also be helpful.
There are many diets and products on the market and a personalized holistic approach is the most effective, treating the whole body and not just the symptoms. Ridding yourself of this invasive pathogen could take a few weeks or up to several months. Elimination of this yeast imbalance Is well worth the effort as it will likely result in significant improvement of your general health and well being.
Call Terry Robinson at the Authentic Living Center at 248-822-9253
Terry Robinson is an allergy specialist with the Authentic Living Center in Troy Michigan.
by: Terry Robinson, Natural Therapist, Authentic Living Center-Troy Michigan
Exploring the various forms of complementary medicine and incorporating one or more of them into your treatment plan can give you an upper edge in your battle against cancer. Current research trials are showing promising results as they study the effects of everything from acupuncture to yoga. The following alternative therapies are commonly used to strengthen the mind, body and spirit and can be helpful when incorporated into your cancer treatment regime.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a technique that uses insertion and manipulation of fine needles into specific points on the body for therapeutic purposes. As acupuncture and oriental medicine continue to gain acceptance in the West, they are increasingly being used in conjunction with western conventional medicine to treat a range of conditions, including cancer. Acupuncture in particular has received much attention for its use in cancer pain and post-operative and chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Traditional Chinese acupuncture encourages the growth of healthy functioning cells resulting in increased energy in cancer patients. This could be important for counteracting the effects of radiation and chemotherapy that tend to attack both normal and abnormal cells. An additional benefit of acupuncture is that it can induce a state of deep calm and relaxation and alleviate physical and emotional tensions.
Chiropractic Care
Chiropractors diagnose, treat and prevent disorders of your bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons and joints. Chiropractors believe that gentle adjustment (manipulation) of the spine and other joints helps the body to heal itself. This is based on the concept that a healthy spine and nervous system are directly related to general good health and a feeling of well being. Chiropractic care can be beneficial to many patients including those undergoing cancer treatments. By adjusting and connecting the musculoskeletal dysfunctions, stress to the nervous system is reduced, which in turn, can help restore the body’s ability to heal.
Hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy is a "talking therapy" during which a patient’s subconscious can be encouraged through positive messages and reinforcements. A trained clinical hypnotherapist can induce a state that will bypass your conscious mind. The hypnotherapist uses the trance to make suggestions to the client's subconscious mind, without those suggestions being intercepted by the conscious mind.
Many people with cancer use hypnotherapy to help them relax and cope better with symptoms, treatment and emotional distress. Hypnotherapy can help people to feel more comfortable and in control of their situation. There is evidence that hypnotherapy can help alleviate pain, depression, anxiety and stress thereby contributing to a patients overall state of good health.
Massage
Massage therapy involves the manipulation of the soft tissues of the body to enhance function and promote relaxation and well-being. Unlike the typical painful invasive medical procedures of cancer treatment, massage brings a unique focus to the body of a cancer patient; one of nurturing attention. For the most part, the life of a cancer patient revolves around eradicating the cancer. The medical treatments are anything but pleasant and can challenge your body. Massage nurtures, soothes, comforts and subtly heals that same body. An experienced oncology massage therapist can work with a cancer patient to help release some of the tension, stress, anxiety and pain that is part of their everyday life.
Nutrition
A Holistic Nutritionist can advise you on the best possible diet to support your fight. The immune system and the body’s natural detoxification systems are directly involved with cancer. Proper nutrition from natural and organic nutrient-rich foods can be very beneficial in supporting these critical systems. Sugar creates mineral imbalances, which create roadblocks for normal metabolic function - resulting in an acidic environment for cancer to thrive. Sugar is also taken into cancer cells much more readily than into other cells. Trans fats and artificial sweeteners have an altered molecular structure that is man-made and is known to be carcinogenic. A Holistic Nutritionist can educate you and work with you to design a diet specific to your own condition.
NAET-Allergy Treatment Technique
NAET is a series of painless acupressure treatments designed to identify and treat substances that the body is not recognizing as friendly. Patients are tested and treated for vitamins, minerals and other nutrients they may not be absorbing, food in their diets and substances in the environment. Cancer patients can benefit from increased immune system function as a result, improved absorption of nutrients and reduced or eliminated reactions to the everyday substances they are in contact with. Using this acupressure technique to treat medications that cancer patients are on can reduce or eliminate side effects they may be experiencing.
NET-Neuro Emotional Technique
The NET treatment consists of muscle testing (kinesiology) and the use of ancient meridian points which have emotions associated with them. It is fast, gentle, and effective way to clear the emotional barriers by “recalling” a traumatic event while tapping on specific meridian points on the spine. NET helps your body release emotional events that are deeply embedded in your mind creating problems. Any health challenge, especially a dramatic one like cancer has many emotional components from the day of the diagnosis, to treatment protocols and decisions around them, to any pain and dysfunction associated with the disease, to future and unknown effects and lifestyle changes. NET helps to identify these issues and erases them from the cellular memory thus creating health and wholeness which can lead to a restoration to optimal wellness
Nia
Nia is a fun “movement therapy” combining three elements: the dance arts, the martial arts, and the healing arts. Jazz is playful, ballet is graceful. Tae Kwon Do is a dance of precision; Aikido is the dance of harmony and blending. Yoga connects you to your emotions. Nia uses practical and diverse movements, free expression and the senses to experientially create fitness and wellness. It is rejuvenation, celebration, recreation, play, meditation and rest. Combining these elements into a fun hour of movement enhances the physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing of the cancer patient.
Reiki
Reiki is a Japanese energy-based therapy that promotes healing and overall wellness. Reiki is administered by a specially trained practitioner, using his or her hands. Hands are placed above the body and "life force energy" is transmitted. Many people report feeling a sense of warmth during Reiki sessions. Reiki sessions generally last for about an hour each. Many cancer patients report that Reiki has helped with pain management, relaxation, and side effects of treatment like nausea and stomach upset.
Tai Chi
Developed originally in China as a self-defense strategy, or martial art, Tai Chi is practiced in modern times primarily as a gentle exercise technique. Described as "meditation in motion," Tai Chi is an ancient form of exercise, dating back approximately 2,000 years old that at one point had over 100 separate movements or postures. Tai Chi has proven an excellent therapy for cancer patients in many ways. Its benefits include improved awareness of balance, increased strength/endurance and reduced stress. Tai Chi also offers a positive way to cope with pain, promoting relaxation and a feeling of well-being. The slow, controlled movements require total focus and concentration, so the exercises make patients feel they have more control over their body and give them a tool for pain control other than pain medication.
Yoga
Yoga incorporates meditation, relaxation, imagery, controlled breathing, stretching and physical movements. A recently conducted study measured the benefits of this form of exercise experienced by patients while undergoing radiation for breast cancer. The study found that participants, who practiced yoga twice a week, were in better general health, were less fatigued and had fewer problems with daytime sleepiness. Perhaps the greatest finding in this study was that those who practiced yoga while undergoing radiation treatment had higher physical function than those who did not.
Progressive hospitals, researchers and medical practitioners have been increasingly recognizing the benefit of alternative treatment methodologies when developing their client care protocols. Speak to your primary health care provider about how some of these modalities can affect your mind, body and spirit in a way that will lighten your load and give you the extra tools you need to successfully fight your battle. Each of these services is available from experienced, certified practitioners at the Authentic Living Center in Troy.
For more information call 248 822 9253 or log on to www.authentic-living-center.com.
Good fats? Bad fats? Margarine or butter? Olive oil or vegetable oil, now coconut oil? Is anyone else confused about what type of fat or oil "should" be in the diet? Is cholesterol a real problem in this society or are the pharmaceutical companies misleading us to sell drugs? The diet that our ancestors ate, when there was relatively no sign of the chronic diseases we face today, is a better diet for our health and longevity. It is filled with good protein; grass fed cattle, full fat dairy products, free-range eggs, and non-processed cheeses. This seems to be the opposite of what the national "health" associations are saying. Why do you think this is?
Since the new strain of swine flu broke out in Mexico this spring, resulting in 108 deaths, the CDC and other governmental agencies have been gearing up their campaign of fear, deception, and hysteria to confuse and scare you into vaccinating yourself and your loved ones. As a Holistic health practitioner, I adamantly oppose this new vaccination for the H1N1 virus. In spite of the fact that this pandemic has not seemed to spread as the CDC thought it would, they are still fast tracking a vaccine for distribution later this fall. This fast tracking allows drug companies to create and distribute experimental vaccines without the thorough testing vaccines normally go through for proper FDA licensing.
Indications are that most of those affected by this strain of swine flu have experienced mild symptoms and make a rapid and full recovery, many without any medical treatment. This new strain is no deadlier than the typical winter flu. The best prevention for this and any strain of flu is eating foods in their natural, fresh state, drinking an adequate amount of water, getting plenty of sleep, exercising regularly, getting fresh air, and washing your hands. Arm yourself with information, prevention, and confidence. Beware of the scare tactics that will be coming and trust yourself.
75% of the human body is compromised of water, but far too often we fail to give the body this nourishing treat. Dehydration is one of the most common ailments I see in practice today. Some people just don't seem to "like" water and substitute it with coffee, tea, soft drinks, juices, and alcohol. There is a world of difference between these choices though.
When Lance Armstrong won the tour de France, he gave away his secret for winning: super hydrating (drinking a gallon of water a day) for two weeks prior to the race. I thought this would ignite America and start a trend of increased water drinking. Unfortunately, it fell on deaf ears, because we are still unaware of exactly how good water is for us.
There is a simple rule of thumb: DRINK HALF YOUR BODY WEIGHT IN OUNCES PER DAY!
So, if you weigh 150 lbs you should drink 75 ounces of water per day. A person weighing 250 lbs requires 125 ounces per day, everyday. If you drink coffee, tea, soft drinks, juices or alcohol, an additional 6 ounces of water is recommended. Now, that is different than what we have been told...maybe our mother's don't know everything!
BENEFITS OF WATER
Flushes toxins out of the body.
Produces healthy skin.
Keeps the bowel moving and regular.
Helps control body temperature.
Lubricates joints.
Decreases risk of cardiovascular involvement.
Helps burn fat and builds muscle.
Maintains homeostasis of fluids.
So fill your glass with H2O and drink up, it does a body good.
Dr. Theresa Pigott, DC
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