Wellness Blog

Understanding Anxiety / Finding Relief

3/22/2023

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fear | fir | noun

an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat

fearful | ˈfirf(ə)l | adjective

feeling afraid; showing fear or anxiety

anxiety | aNGˈzīədē | noun

a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome

Let's start with this.....

Anxiety is a natural emotional state all people experience at times.
It is not a medical condition.
Suffering anxiety does NOT make you defective or mentally ill.

Like any other physical health issue, anxiety has symptoms and those symptoms have an effect on the physical body as well. Fear is a basic biological process of an alarm that tells you something isn't right. It's a deep concern, a sense in your gut, or a full 5 alarm fire in the case of a physical threat, an emergency in which quick action is required to avoid harm to yourself or others. It overrides the rational mind. The amygdala fires up, sending chemical messages to your frontal lobe, rational thinking becomes impaired by this arousal to take action. Adrenal pumps to empower you to take action. After it's over, your body unwinds with the help of the reptilian brain/limbic system and the whole thing passes, your body returns to normal and it's over.

Arousal of fear is a natural function of the sensory body whose purpose is to alert you of danger or potential for danger. In this way your brain can get out of the way so that you are able to move and take action without thinking about it. In the same way a Ninja or martial arts master is able to respond to threats with a defensive action that removes themselves or others from danger or subdues an attacker. This alert / alarm allows us to be empowered to avoid or overcome a situation that is dangerous, emotionally harmful or overly challenging to us.

However, the driver of the "anxiety mobile" in the case of generalized anxiety that does not appear to be in response to any immediate physical threat, is fearfulness. This form of fear is immobilizing leading to the "freeze response" or adrenal driven "fight or flight". Protracted freeze response numbs one out making your feelings, your guidance system, unavailable to you. This is depression. Fight or flight unchecked is anxiety. The feeling is, you need to run, but there is nowhere to go...so you run in your mind instead!

Beyond the normal function of arousal we can become victimized by our own thoughts and worries, falling into a acute or chronic state of fearfulness. The energy of thoughts and worries is powerful and can make us believe things that are not real...irrational thinking. It also charges up our body with stress hormones and neurotransmitters that flood the system and literally make you feel ill. This cascade of stress leads to insomnia, fatigue, malaise, depression, digestive disorders, panic state, fluctuations in blood sugar. Anxiety can become debilitating to the extreme.

The medical profession's preferred way of treating anxiety is with medications for which they are substantially rewarded financially by drug companies. Treatment usually involves a combination of antidepressants and tranquilizers... Serotonin uptake inhibitors and benzodiazepines. In some cases of serious depression and debilitating anxiety a short term use of the medications may be helpful. But, the down side of these medications is a slippery slope that ultimately leads to more compounded health issues. The failure of medications points toward the need to work with the symptom rather than suppress it. As in the case of most healing, working with a symptom may mean taking time off to rest, to reflect, making space for recovery. This does not work well in our modern society that wants everybody to be productive all the time. Unfortunately, we pay a bigger price in the end for not taking care when symptoms arise.
More about the dangers of antidepressants.
More about the dangers of benzodiazepines.

In the framework of Taoist medicine, we are equipped to look at the manifestation of symptoms based on the energetic expression. Often depression and anxiety go hand-in-hand.

We begin by understanding that we feel the way we do for a good reason. This point is missed by modern medicine which seeks to fix the symptom rather than arrive at the root cause of the of the symptom as an energetic expression.

Depression and anxiety can be considered the mental equivalent of irritable bowel syndrome/chronic constipation. Cycling between running and freezing and going nowhere!

Let's look at both of these from an energetic point of view. Depression from an energetics perspective is often brought on by feelings of frustration and anger housed in the liver/gallbladder. Depression is a variation of hopelessness. Hopelessness is a dangerous place to be. It creates thought patterns that lead us down into a pit of depression, which naturally arises when we do not believe there is anything that we can do to change our situation. Depression can develop suddenly or gradually over a period of time. Anxiety ensues as the depressed person feels life is slipping away from them. Medical professionals often hook into this fear and recommend medications as though this is not a natural state one may find themselves in. Anxiety and depression can mask other emotions. Those prone to anxiety and depression often have trouble discerning other feelings besides anxiety. Emotions like hurt, anger, sadness, etc. are inaccessible. It is the inability to digest these difficult emotions that results in the internalized tension that fuels anxiety and depression.

Anxiety is a complex experience relating to fear whose home is in the heart. It can be fleeting, easy to recognize and relatively easy to deal with. But, it can become chronic, and in much the same way a chronic disease like cancer. Anxiety can spread anxiety over your life like a sticky layer of cotton candy that seems impossible to escape. Chronic anxiety also tends to sneak up on us. Modern medicine tells us that chronic anxiety is irrational thinking and that all we need to do is change the way we think, cognitive behavioural therapy or take the magic pill, benzodiazepines and/or antidepressants. Working holistically it is important to minister to the spiritual self, the physical body, as well as the mind when dealing with anxiety and depression.

Changing the thought patterns of irrational thinking means that we need to take a deeper dive into the source of the irrational thinking, fear. Paying attention to what the fear voice in your head is saying, is helpful in reversing anxiety. Understanding how we fall into irrational thinking can help us to learn to recognize it, which is the key to overcoming the incessant messages.

Here are some general tendencies that relate to forms of anxiety

Emotional anxiety: Painful emotional experiences, especial those that focus on being misunderstood, not accepted within your family or social groups contribute to anxiety. Being ostracized even subtly is painful. We are herd animals and being a part of a group is comforting to us...this is a natural and normal need of humans. That's particularly true of teenagers. Teenage angst……that's anxiety. It's relatively normal, but our social media driven society jacks up the teenage angst, leading to anxiety disorders in which the person who suffers feels like they have no control. Other age groups that are prone to anxiety disorders are those between the ages of 35 to 50. Many adults at this stage of life are questioning, “How the hell did I get here!”. This produces a certain level of anxiety which connects to anxiety about the future or regrets about the past.
Functional anxiety: You are not gonna hear much about this in the psychological journals, or in the psychiatric world. Functional anxiety serves us to perform at our best. It is stage fright, interview stress, performance, anxiety. It is the natural function of our nervous system to reeve us up in order to overcome a dangerous situation, or to prompt us to excel at our best. We recover quite easily from functional anxiety. Our body resets, and we show no further symptoms apart from the temporary state of functional anxiety.
Rational anxiety: Is about situations we may frame as "real problems". Range of these "real problems" is endless. We can find a problem in every situation. The art of not seeing life as a problem without a solution is key to overcoming this form of anxiety. The "real problem" may be considered rational, but in the scale of things to worry about many of these things are really not as important as we might make them in our mind. A perfect example of “rational” anxiety might be, worrying about how perfect your house is before someone comes to visit you. Your friends might sympathize with you that this is a reason to become anxious, but in reality it's entirely abstract. If the people who are visiting you are going to judge you by the condition of your home (given that it's reasonably clean and functional) then, perhaps they're not the people you want to hang out with! If you sit down and think about it, you can come up with all kinds of these types of things that you've been anxious about in the past or recently. Breaking it down you'll see it's really not that rational, although it may be accepted in society as such....but society by and large is driven by constant fear!
Irrational anxiety Is… irrational. I like to think of this, as K-#@%! Radio. It's the voice in your mind that convinces you that, XYZ are true. This voice has nothing good to say about you, or anybody else. Every situation, according to this voice, will lead to disaster. It will tell you, you’ll do lousy on a job interview and...that you'll never get a good job, and likely never get any job, and will inevitably wind up living in a cardboard box on the street in six months.....!!!. Put in any topic you want, and it will lead to this kind of thinking. Getting stuck in this irrational form of thinking and anxiety develops into a habit. I know that sounds harsh. But, as a person thinks in their heart, so are they! Energetically our thoughts affect our physical body. They also have the power to become ingrained in our thought processes. In the same way, a record needle on an LP that gets stuck will dig a deeper and deeper groove as it continues to cycle around. The mind gets in a pattern of this kind of thinking. The good news is there is a way to change that!
Induced anxiety: Another form of anxiety is anxiety brought on as a rebound effect of medications. Antidepressants and benzodiazepines, even pain meds over time begin to produce even worse symptoms than what you were originally taking the medication for. Withdrawal from these medications is extremely difficult, and must be overseen by an experienced withdrawal person who knows that they should be tapered off of in small increments over a period of time. Often after complete withdrawal, it can take a number of years for the nervous system to heal. One of the primary side effects of withdrawal from these medications is an overwhelming sense of anxiety, that far exceeds all other forms of anxiety. This form of anxiety is akin to a “bad trip” on a mind altering substance…it can feel like hell. It is important to note that if you are considering stopping antidepressants or benzodiazepines, do not consider a rapid taper. Ignorance of the medical profession is an unfortunate side effect of the marketing of drug manufacturers to medical providers. Many physicians have no idea of the difficulties of withdrawing from these medications. At the first sign of anxiety they will tell a patient, “this is the reason you're on medication! “ They may then prescribe a stronger dose, change to or add something new. I urge you not to fall into this merry-go-round from hell trap!

Anxiety often goes hand-in-hand with exhaustion, as does depression. When we are exhausted, everything seems too big. Anxiety makes everything important. Anxiety makes it difficult to see and set priorities. What to make for dinner can feel just as important as preparing for that job interview. This is why it is easy to feel overwhelmed—so much to do, so little time. It's almost like having a choir of voices in your head, emphasizing that every single topic is equally important. The upshot of this mental activity is a feeling of deficiency. When you're exhausted, that's the last thing you need to hear is that you should be doing more. Those who lean towards perfectionism are particularly susceptible to anxiety. The driver of perfectionism is a foil for self doubt, it adds fuel to the fire making everything seems bigger and more problematic. Perfectionism is a liar.

Here are some techniques to help you recognize and deal with anxiety.

Prevention: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. It's notable that most anxiety comes out of some level of exhaustion. Take good care of yourself. Go to bed earlier in order to get the best nights sleep. If you're having difficulty with sleep, check out our “Sleep like a Baby” blog for tips on improving sleep. Or start working with meditation, yoga, or Qigong as a way to move, anxious energy out of the body. If you're running on empty, everything seems bigger. It is important to eat regularly. Three meals, a day of nourishing, whole foods, plenty of protein, little or no caffeine, and stay away from sugar. All of these stimulants will set you up for anxiety.
Listening to your inner self: Your spirit, which you will find in your heart. What is your heart saying? Fear lives in the heart. What are the fears that are coming up. For example: If you are anxious about going to a party because you don’t know anyone, the urge of the mind may be to stay home instead. So, if your anxiety is a product of exhaustion then staying home might be better for you. If the anxiety is a byproduct of social insecurity, it might be helpful to write down what in particular you are afraid of in social situations. Finding solutions to social anxiety may be pairing up with someone else who also feels a little socially anxious. You can support each other by going to events together. In other words apply creative thinking to come up with ways to encourage engagement, but not challenge yourself too far beyond your comfort level of the moment.
Over achieving/self criticism: Those who are prone to anxiety are often self-critical and driven by lots of "shoulds and musts". Setting a high bar is ordinarily thought to be a good thing...challenging one's self. But, the self critical over achiever often uses this "high bar" as a form of punishment. If anything blocks this achievement anxiety builds, blinding you to what you have accomplished. If your anxiety is from exhaustion this PUSHING is likely at the heart of this vicious cycle. Step back, slow down and take one thing at a time.
Don't stuff emotions: Anxious people are often "nice" people. This is often a childhood survival mechanism that can be difficult to turn off. These folks tend to internalize emotions and avoid conflict, putting a lid on normal emotional responses creates emotional indigestion! Depression shares this trait. Big strong emotions are naturally uncomfortable for everyone. If the default strategy is to avoid conflict you will live your life as though you are always "walking-on-eggshells" or the "make-others-happy" coping style. This will hurt you in the long run by creating somatic symptoms fueled by the "stuff it down" strategy. The "TIP" is bring awareness to this tendency without judgement. Allow yourself to experience these emotions in a safe way. This insight will lead you to creative solutions as well as an understanding of folks you may just decide are best to avoid!

Anxiety Rx's - What to do to alleviate anxiety episodes.

When anxiety gets high. It becomes difficult to get on top of. If you think of your anxiety running on a 10-point scale with 1 being calm, and 10 being panicked and overwhelmed it's a good time to reach out to someone. This is the time to take any herbal or nutrients supports that help you get through. A good strong dose of cayenne pepper in a capsule or just added to warm water can help shake of the anxiety rush in a pinch. More about an anxiety support buddy below these tips.
Water help with anxiety. A cold cloth to the head and or back of the neck. Using ice packs to the chest and back. A hot foot bath with ice on the chest. A warm shower or bath. A dip in a cool pool in the summer or a warm hot tub in the winter. Just sitting by a body of water, watching waves, or listening to water sounds.

Anxiety that pops up in a moment. Is an indication of something that makes you fearful. If you're unable to identify what you are afraid of take some meditative space to connect with the fear itself. Often times the fear will begin to dissolve as we identify it and begin to breathe into it.
Anxiety is generally worse at night. It is especially worse when you lie down. This is due to the fact that physically you are in a state of fight or flight. When you lie down your brain sends messages to your limbic system that knows if you're in danger you shouldn't be lying down!!! It signals adrenal glands to pump more adrenaline, YIKES!! When you're in an acute state of anxiety a night or any other time, sit up in bed, go for a walk, do some yoga or stretching. Moving helps.
Supporting anxiety with herbs.* There are many useful herbs for anxiety. Chamomile, passion flower, catnip, bee balm, lavender, lobelia, valerian and many more. These are good in the moment as a remedy, but also work well as a tonic taken regularly through the day. Additionally adaptogenic herbs such as ashwagandha, holy basil, rhodiola, shizandra berry and ginseng are good choices. It is very helpful to work with an herbalist or wellness practitioner to find the best blend of herbs to support you.
Supporting anxiety with homeopathy: * Aconitum napellus. A panic attack that comes on suddenly with very strong fear (even fear of death) may indicate this remedy. Argentum nitricum, Arsenicum album, Calcarea carbonica, Kali phosphoricum, Lycopodium, Phosphorus, Pulsatilla are all very helpful. Pekana, a renowned German Homeopathy company, offers three standard anxiety remedies in the form of the "Stress Buster" set... a trio of 3 combination homeopathic remedies used to address Seleyes Syndrome of maladaptation of the fight or flight response. In this state we waste magnesium...pee it out and store calcium in the body in order to maintain protracted fight or flight. The end result is calcium and magnesium are not able to be in solution in the blood enabling us to feel calm. Reversing this condition is key to recovering from anxiety. The Psy-stabil remedy in this set amazingly reduces anxiety with repeated small doses over a period of 15 minutes to 1 hour. As well as this, Rescue Remedy which is also excellent at calming the energetic body and mind. It is also recommended that you find a well trained professional to help guide these choices, especially if your anxiety is chronic.
Supporting anxiety with food:* As mentioned previously exhaustion is a component of anxiety. When we are chronically stressed our digestion and absorption of nutrients is off. Supplementing with super foods and amino acids will do much to begin to reverse this state. Low blood sugar most often precipitates anxiety/panic. Eating regular meals is important. Getting good protein from a variety of sources is essential. Research shows that vegans are suffering more from anxiety and depression than their meat eating counterparts. Sorry vegans but this extreme diet makes anxiety worse. Moderate flesh proteins, along with beans, peas, lentils, nuts and seeds, fermented dairy such as kefir or yogurt, eggs and nutritional yeast are excellent. Grains...in our "grain 'a phobic" world we are missing out on the best source of fiber that builds neurotransmitter production within the flora of the small and large intestines. Oats, buckwheat, rice, corn are best choices. Supplementing with tryptophan, taurine, l-theanine and eating foods rich in these amino acids can help much. Spirulina, high in protein and chromium helps stabilize blood sugar crucial in anxiety. Whole food source calcium and magnesium are essential. Avoid caffeine, sugar, chocolate and alcohol.
Supporting anxiety with lifestyle changes: Slow down, take it easy...if anxiety is teaching us anything it is this! If you cannot take a break from work or your life...cut out what is absolutely not necessary. Avoid extreme workouts, these just jack up adrenaline and conscious health researchers have determined they are not beneficial in the long run. Do exercise! Walking, yoga, gardening, hiking and gentle workouts are best. Find time for self and get outdoors. Trees and plants emit cytokines that literally minister to us, body and soul! Sort out job difficulties, communicate with employers or workplace advocates. If you are in school speak with professors and counselors to assist you in modifying your load. Allow for sleep and napping in the day. Nothing heals like sleep. Avoid excessive screen time, especially social media. Too much screen time disrupts sleep and dysregulates the brain. Laughing does more to restore a troubled heart than nearly anything else. Find funny stuff and watch it! AVOID BEING OVERSTIMULATED as a general rule.
Supporting anxiety with essential oils: Nearly all essential oils can reduce a sense of stress and fatigue. Some favorites are clary sage, lavender, rose, jasmine, pine, cedar, fir, sandalwood, sweet orange, patchouli. Eden's Garden offer this info on calming essential oils.
Supporting anxiety with manual therapies: Acupuncture, acupressure, massage modalities such as craniosacral, visceral manipulation, reflexology, chi nei tsang help clear constricted energy and blood flow improve well being. Touch is an essential human need...these traditional therapies offer much in terms of relaxation and energetic support. Self treatment therapies such as tapping, Chi Nei Tsang/belly massage, vibrating pads and far infrared and near infrared lamps are helpful.
Esoteric Supports: Sound healing, ancient and now rediscovered is excellent to calm the mind and body. Attending a sound healing events or using the Taoist Sound Healing Meditation provides energetic shifting of biological tendencies...going to heart of the root of anxiety. Humming is also also very beneficial as well. As are guided meditations such as yoga Nidra and hypnotherapy. Glenn Harrold offers a unique sound healing experience with his Solfeggio Scales Mediations.

* Crucial information for benzodiazepine and antidepressant users. You are advised not to take these types of supports and certain foods as they can alter the function of medication, create a withdrawal state or kindle withdrawal symptoms. For more information visit the Benzodiazepine Coalition Information website. Antidepressant nutritional interactions report.

Emergency Rx's for high level/panic attacks

#1 Breathe...lack of oxygen makes it worse. Slow breaths focus on the movement of the diaphragm engage the whole body in the breath.
#2 Water...is soothing. Drink water at the onset of panic or anxiety. A hot foot bath will draw the heat of anxiety to the feet and out of the head. Apply ice to your chest and mid thoracic back side..alleviates tension in the vagus nerve complex. Take a bath, a dip in the pool or hot tub. Using oatmeal in a bath is very calming, add essential oils to boost this calm pool!
#3 Food...eat something, low blood sugar often precipitates a panic attack. Keeping a protein drink on hand is very helpful. Adding whey protein to juice can provide a quick blood sugar support. Even a small piece of hard candy or strong mint like an Altoid can help boost blood sugar in a pinch. Scramble and egg, or have a bowl of soup. You won't feel like eating but in a few minutes you will begin to feel calmer.
# 4 Reach out for help.... call on your anxiety buddy for help. An anxiety buddy is a friend or 12 step sponsor, family member you have asked to help you through a rough patch of anxiety. This person can soothe you by talking with you, rubbing your feet, making food, taking you for a walk, a drive...anything to distract from the anxiety. Ask for what you need!
#5 Distraction...can be very helpful. Reading anything, playing a mindless game on your device (in an emergency). An active form of meditation such as drawing, modeling clay, doodling will distract the brain to give you a much needed break from the grind of high anxiety. Comedy and laughing helps promote better brain function...YouTube is chock full of funny people and animal videos!
#6 Move your body....Dancing, swaying, tapping, qigong, bouncing anything that gets your body moving will burn off adrenaline. Go gently, no pushing on this! Massage is a very useful tool for anxiety. A foot neck or shoulder rub with essential oils, always a good thing.

See the downloadable PDF below to keep these tools handy while you find your way through anxiety challenges.

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Moving forward toward healing....
As you move forward supporting the physical body and are becoming more aware of what your anxiety centers on you can gradually start to take risks. Move towards what you fear. In the process you will come to realize anxiety is just a state of being...it's not who you are. You can experience it without becoming it. In this way you eventually won't be derailed by it! You want to desensitize yourself to the feeling of anxiety by deliberately doing things that go against your grain, by approaching rather than avoiding what makes you anxious.

Taking risks and stepping outside your comfort zone will expand your world rather than making it smaller. Improving your self-confidence and self-esteem will moving you forward and out of anxiety. These positive experiences open you up to self empowerment and everything will begin to shift with this improved sense of self. You will be less frightened and fearful expanding into a feeling of safety builds trust and trust opens us to inner strength. We trust what we feel, we can use our feelings for their intended purpose, to guide us. We can mature out of feelings that don't serve us at any age!

Bridge to Health offers Wellness Support to assist recovery from chronic or acute stress and anxiety. Call or text Vanessa Goldeen CWC at 805-235-8071 for a Free Fifteen Minute phone consult.

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Healing Demystified

11/18/2022

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What is healing?

Healing is a resolution of symptoms.

What are symptoms?

Symptoms are a warning. They are a disruption in our microbiology that point toward a need for healing.

Why do we search for healing?

We search because internally, within our well of understanding, we know that ill health means that something is not as it should be.

Symptoms get our attention inducing us into a search for healing.

It is in this search that we have an opportunity to evolve, mature and grow out of or beyond our need to harm or withhold from ourselves what we need to be happy, healthy and enjoy our life.

The bigger part of healing...

Beyond supporting the body with nutrition or therapies, the bigger part of healing lies in the ability to find balance in one's life. To be released from notions about what you do not deserve and to gain the courage to live the life that suits you better.

The Body is Built to be Self Healing
This seems so profound until you understand that you may cut your finger or sprain an ankle and over time that injury will heal. It may need a little support like a bandaid or wrap, possible some ointment but, it will heal. This mechanism of self healing is the norm, disease is the abnormal. All the cells of the body have an innate intelligence to repair and heal. When cells die, new ones are generated to continue the process of life.

There are miraculous abilities of the body that few people have an understanding of, for example....

When you expose your body to sunlight it naturally produces ozone in the blood, which is detoxifying in that it is antiseptic.
The body also produces vitamin D with sunlight exposure.
Sun gazing, looking at the sun with eyes closed induces the production of serotonin a crucial neurotransmitter that is an antidote to excessive adrenaline.
Serotonin magically converts to melatonin when the sun goes down, to draw us to sleep.
Dreaming which seems so random is the body's way of processes abstract emotions, emotional dilemmas, and excess psychic energy from trauma.
Around about 4:30 in the early morning your liver begins to breakdown stored glucose to provide the body energy after the long fasting period during sleep.
The body regenerates, repairs and restores all major organ and endocrine system during sleep.
Intuition derives from the production of beneficial neurotransmitters in the gut.
Fasting which is a natural experience for all mammals increases the production of human growth hormone, strengthening the body...a literal fountain of youth.

Resources to maintain health and healthy generations....
Add to this, the miraculous power of plants and herbs, rich sources of nutrition from a widely varied omnivore diet that supplies both animal and vegetable fats to sustain high functioning brains. Include the myriad of fungi in the form of mushrooms that are readily available to enhance endocrine and brain function and promote more efficient cellular metabolism. Going further into the world of fermented foods that support a health microbiome and are available in nearly all cultures across the planet. There is within these resources everything humans to be born and remain healthy for a lifetime.

Perception is everything...
The current model of aging in modern societies is skewed toward medication dependence at such poor level of health that premature aging is seen as the norm. Currently in the US statistical analysis of medication use revealed that from the age of 9 years and up, the average American is taking 4 or more medications. In all but rare cases medications do not heal. Medications are used to address a complaint/symptoms which is in other words, a disruption in the microbiology ranging from acute to chronic. Medication does not, cannot heal what created the symptom in the first place and most often leave us with many unwanted side effects having not addressed the underlying cause.

In defense of allopathic/pharmaceutical medicine...
Referring the the BTH on the state of health & wellness in America, "How did we get here?" Most people fail to understand that the symptom is the teacher, so we turned to MD's to ease our many complaints. There was a time when doctors would encourage patients to make changes to alleviate stress, improve diet, exercise more...only to have this well given advice to fall on deaf ears. This leaves physician in a state of helplessness and discouragement that is the basis for the allopathic/pharmaceutical paradigm.

The one thing that is certain...symptoms indicate that something needs to change!

A holistic practitioner, shamanic teacher or any therapeutic practitioner who employs
a reliance on the body's innate ability to heal understands that in order to heal
the patient must be able to enter into the healing field.

What is the healing field?

The healing field is a state of being in which the individual becomes empowered to grow into a deeper awareness level and is able to see how their life choices and patterns have disabled them.

What is required to attain and maintain this state?

Recognize and acknowledge that all is not well.
Be present with one's self and understand that all healing begins with being able to connect to one's self in a meaningful and loving way.

Taoist Medicine 6 conditions for healing translate into all healing modalities. They are...

Feeling of safety which allows us to be present in the moment and connect with our support systems (practitioner, friends, family)
Safety allows us to quiet the mind adopting a posture of listening for guidance.
In the quietness of listening we are able to feel and be fully present with our body, our emotions and our sense of purpose or lack of it. We become aware of unresolved emotional charges and blocks that may hinder us.
Accepting what we feel no matter how irrational it may seem we come to realize we feel the way we do for a reason. We no longer judge ourselves critically, but simply are able to accept what is.
This level of acceptance leads to an opening of the heart that allows one to receive and give love. A flow of the chi, intelligence and energy that is love, heals! In this space we are able to allow the irrational emotions which can then clear form the body...releasing stagnant chi/energetic charges.
From this place we begin to grow out of what hindered us. Our microbiology shifts into a state of happiness and we just begin to feel better. An evolution in our consciousness has shifted us into a more grounded and centered state which we are empowered to maintain.

Download the PDF at the bottom of the article to learn more.

A Brief History of Healing Practices
As a Wellness Consultant and Educator my first hand experience with the healing process has given me a deeper understanding about the nature of healing. In this article I am sharing what I see and know to be true about healing. There is nothing scientific about this information, it is observational.

There are healing modalities from around the world that are purely observational as opposed to the scientific requirements or proof or cause upon which allopathic medicine relies. These include Ayurvedic & Taoist medicine/methodology, European based folk healing including the work of Sister Hildagard of Bingen whose writing on medicine in the 12th century mirror many of the same practice in Taoist medicine. From the European School we have many practitioners whose knowledge grew from the teaching of Pedanius Dioscorides a Greek physician of the Roman Army from 65 AD whose book "De Materia Medica" provided a foundation of knowledge that spread throughout Europe as the Roman army conquered the lands of the north.

These various schools have similar healing practices with regional healers who employ local foods, plants and herbs along with physical manipulation of the body and an astute ability to observe the patient within the context of his/her daily life, family interactions and emotional states. This approach being truly holistic, treating the whole person body and soul.

These forms of observational medicine have commonality in the understanding that the body heals naturally and that symptoms are simply a disruption or shift in healthy microbiology. They also share a deeper knowledge of why and when will the body not heal. In other words what conditions of healing cannot be met and why. This preponderance leads to an expanding body of knowledge that gives wisdom to the practitioner and enhances their ability to facilitate shifting conditions with the patient in hopes of creating a healing experience.

Many of these observational form of medicine developed thousands of years ago, when there was no modern medicine with the allure of "magic pills". Practitioners employ the use of medicinal substances within a holistic context that includes encouragement and imparting of wisdom for mind and body to their patients.

Most physician of today spend little time with patients, know little about their personal life and certainly rarely ever even lay a hand on a patient. Many of my clients report visits to MD's in which eye contact is never made and discussions are rare. This disconnect from patients hinders any potential for healing and finds it's basis in the "magic pill" notion. This perspective pervades medical therapies in the modern world which often dismisses any practice employing natural healing methods.

As a Wellness Practitioner employing multiple modalities, I work holistically...treating body, mind and spirit. Watching with wonder at the response clients have as they grow in awareness and gain knowledge to keep them healthy for a lifetime!

Feel free to connect with
Vanessa Goldeen Wellness Consultant,
Educator and Founder of Bridge to Health Wellness
to learn more about becoming a "Bridge Crosser"
with a Free Fifteen Minute Phone Consult.

Six Conditions for Healing
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A World Wide Health Crisis - Are you affected yet?

10/25/2022

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There is a pandemic taking place in the world right now that is entirely preventable!

It is an insidious destroyer of health and wellbeing.
It has the power to take you limbs.
It is able to blind you.
It is no respecter of age and affects small children as young as 3 years old.
It kills your kidneys slowly over time.
It makes you vulnerable to heart disease.
It sets you up for cancer.
It impairs your brain function with a higher likelihood of developing alzheimer's and dementia.
It leads to severe skin and nail conditions.
It causes infertility, polycystic ovarian syndrome and erectile dysfunction.
It leads to excess body fat that defies reducing.
It put's the suffer at risk with lowered immunity as a side effect of medications
It is encouraged by dieting!

What could this possibly be?
Insulin resistance leading to type 2 diabetes and variations of metabolic disorder!

Entirely preventable, type 2 diabetes and its predecessor insulin resistance create the greatest amount of suffering and healthcare expenditures in the US and around the world. Current statistic ranks this as the single most devastating health care issue now being faced by as many as 40% of the adult populations of the US and is rapidly growing in children as young as 3-5 years old.

Type two diabetes it's a death warrant. It's a long slow painful downhill road leading to organ failure and painful death. It takes it toll on those who suffer and the family members and caregivers of those individuals. Overall costs of care for patients with type 2 diabetes is estimated at 245 billion annually in the US!

Literally drowning in sugar. Too much glucose in the blood leads to a condition called hyperglycemia. When poor dietary choices lead to over ingestion of concentrated carbohydrates from processed flour based foods, potato and corn products such as chips, sugar/sucrose and corn syrup the inevitable result will be a fatty liver and an onset stage of insulin resistance.

Insulin resistance develops over time when excess carbohydrates flood the body with too much blood glucose. The glut of glucose in the blood sets up a vicious cycle in which the pancreas attempts to keep up with the amount of blood secreting more and more insulin. Correspondingly the endocrine system says something is not right here and it begins to turn off receptors for insulin, insulin resistance.

This is a vicious cycle that generally ends in a diagnosis of type two diabetes and medications which do not cure. They stayed off symptoms for a while but eventually the body declines succumbing to the inevitable health issues seen in the graphic above.

Type 2 diabetes is most often accompanied with a fatty liver. The liver strained from the vicious cycle of excess carbohydrate resulting in high glucose levels. It's stores the excess glucose within itself, developing fat within the liver. Fat deposits also accumulate around all the other internal organs in the body's attempt to store the excess glucose energy. The person who suffers is literally drowning in sugar!

This debilitating condition is easily reversed. Every person can accomplish this if they are determined and are willing to evolve and grow to understand the cause and effect of this illness has wounded them.

How can insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes be reversed?

Begin by educating yourself. There are plenty of publications available outlining how to reverse this condition.
Eliminate all processed foods such as breads, pastry, fries, chips, crackers and snack foods.
Stop eating foods containing added sucrose, corn syrup or other concentrated sweeteners.
Avoid over consuming meat, eat moderate amounts of a wide range of proteins including eggs, fish, avocados, nuts, seeds, legumes and beans.
Fasting is literally the best way to reduce high blood glucose levels and is the single most important health restoring tool we have next to sleep!

Bridge to Health
Offers a guided protocol for reversing insulin resistance / type two diabetes based
on current research and support by
Dr. Jason Fung's method presented in his bestselling book "The Diabetes Code".
Reverse Type II Diabetes Protocol
Purchase the Protocol

To learn if this protocol is right for you text 805-235-8071 for a Free 15 Minute Wellness Consult

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Perspective on Covid

8/12/2021

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A little perspective...
Here we are again in August 2021 with a new surge in
COVID numbers.

Let's take a moment to refresh your memory on the best ways to avoid contacting this serious health threat.

Focus on prevention measures and treatment protocols.

Viruses are parasites and will find a home and proliferate more rapidly and extensively in a body that has stressed adrenals, is not sleeping well and is toxic and overweight.
The best prevention is to restore your health and vigo with whole foods diet, fresh air, sunshine, laughter, sleep and regular sun gazing to increase your serotonin production.

There's an enormous amount of controversy about the vaccine and the emerging new variants.
It's important to note that all living organisms seek to reproduce and flourish. Viruses such as Covid are no different they will find a way around any measure that attempts to eradicate them and produce variations to improve their ability to invade a host. Independent researchers are questioning not only the efficacy of these vaccine, but also the further reaching consequences of their employment. It's important to look at all sources of information.

Emerging variants....
We have seen this variant phenomenon in the case of the AIDs virus which mutated and defied treatment for many years. In the same way, staphylococcus and other bacteria have become immune to antibiotics becoming more deadly with each passing year. Our reliance on the "magic bullet" approach will become outdated as we apply the intelligence and understanding that nothing beats natural immunity.
The BTH Blog, The State of Health and Wellness in America outlines the flaw of these forms of treatments.

Covid is preventable...
And is much more treatable than say AIDs for example. Let us not lose perspective and fall into fear!
See the BTH Blogs, "Fear not the Covid" & "Is it Covid?" for more information.

Be aware or wary of some treatment recommendations...
Circulating throughout the medical community, including many Naturopathic practitioners is the FLCCC Alliance's suggestions for prevention and treatment of Covid. There may be a questionable connection between the FLCCC Alliance and drug manufacturers, but I have not found conclusive evidence as to the agencies or donors who may be financing this organization.

The FLCCC Alliance's treatment plans call for the use of two pharmaceuticals. Ivermectin and Fluvoxamine (Prozac). Ivermectin an anti parasitic used primarily in animals and an SSRI uptake inhibitor manufactured by Merck under the name Prozac.

Ivermectin...
There is no conclusive evidence to suggest that Ivermectin is effective against any viral infections, including Covid.
The FDA Website has this to say about Ivermectin.
"The FDA has not approved Ivermectin for use in treating or preventing Covid-19 in humans. Ivermectin is not an anti-viral. Taking large doses can be dangerous and can cause serious harm."

Several public health experts too are against the usage of the drug. “There is apparently no role of Ivermectin in management of covid-19. Both should be removed from all guidelines till robust evidence is generated. Ivermectin maker (Merck) and WHO both have strongly advised against it.

Merck, an Ivermectin manufacturer in the US, also came out with a statement on the use of this drug during the pandemic saying that the Merck scientists continue to carefully examine the findings of all available and emerging studies of ivermectin for the treatment of covid-19 for evidence of efficacy and safety stating...
“It is important to note that, to-date, our analysis has identified--no scientific basis for a potential therapeutic effect against covid-19 from pre-clinical studies; no meaningful evidence for clinical activity or clinical efficacy in patients with COVID-19 disease, and; a concerning lack of safety data in the majority of studies," the company said in a statement.

Although it is interesting to note that the US government plans to spend 1.2 billion dollars to support Merck in spite of the companies insistent statements regarding the use of Ivermectin as an anti-viral?

A CNBC report cites...
"a recent announcement by the US government, that they're entering into a contractual agreement with Merck where they're going to commit $1.2 billion of taxpayer money in order to enrich Merck"

GAVI.org an organization that works to provide legitimate vaccines for underdeveloped countries has this to say about Ivermectin. "The antiparasitic drug was thought to be a potential treatment for Covid-19, but there isn't sufficient information to recommend it's use, despite widespread support online"
GAVI provides a unique view of additional booster vaccinations for Covid in this article "If we're not careful booster vaccines could end up giving the coronavirus a boost"

Prozac...
As to the use of Prozac as an anti inflammatory medication. There is evidence to suggest it does provide some anti inflammation support, however what is the final result of using an antidepressant as an anti inflammatory. There is not much to say about this! Ask yourself how many people will get onto Prozac and decide, "hey this isn't so bad". Who's the winner, the drug manufacturers!
SSRI uptake inhibitors, antidepressants have a definite down side to these drugs noting that common side effects of long term use are loss of motor control, tics, twitches, muscle spasms, immobilizing fatigue and tremors.

An excellent article outlines the controversy, "Die with a smile: antidepressant against Covid-19" presented by For Better Science author and researcher Leonid Schneider.

Many researchers are engaged in independant analysis....
Many may disagree but, the science surrounding the "vaccine" is debatable and experimental, based on success in using this technology with cancer treatment regarding the emerging vaccine side effects and efficacy. Long term effects of this form of genetic modification are unknown and many choose not to get vaccinated.
View current research studies.

Bring peace....
Let's allow others to make the choice they feel is best for them without judgement. The media, government and pharmaceutical companies benefit from the fear and controversy, avoid the panic trap!

Educate yourself....
The National Library of Medicine offers many resources for current research and statistical information.

In comparison to other plagues...
Covid is relatively low in the assumed death rates compared with other pandemics in history.

Accounting of Covid related deaths is also skewed in that many of the people who have died with the virus also had pre-existing medical conditions, impaired immune systems. Since viruses are parasitic in that they proliferate more easily in a defenseless body, naturally those who are overweight, diabetic, those who suffer with lung disease and the very elderly are unfortunately more likely to succumb.

Statistically speaking the overall death rate in the USA has not risen....
In other words we closely have the same number of deaths per year. The Covid Pandemic has not caused US death rates to climb.
As a matter of fact, worldwide death rates also remain relatively stable. The perspective here is that over the years influenza deaths have been relatively equal to the recent "Covid" related deaths. No more people have died this past two years from Covid than usually die each year with influenza!

In contrast, millions more people have died and continue to die of AIDs throughout the world with not nearly as much media or government attention.

This comparison chart on death rate of all the major world plagues gives us some perspective as well.

Visit the link to the article on the website for Visual Capitalists for more information.

Read the BTH Blog "Fear not the COVID" for more information on prevention and treatment of Covid-19.
Additional updates as to nutrient supports for Covid 19 will be added soon to this blog.

If you are interested in improving your immunity and enjoying a better sense of health and wellbeing schedule a 15 Minute Free Phone Consult to learn more about how Bridge to Health can help you.

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Why can I not feel better.....Enervation what keeps you from healing

7/30/2021

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en·er·va·tion| ˌenərˈvāSH(ə)n |
noun
a feeling of being drained of energy or vitality;
fatigue: a sense of enervation.

As a wellness consultant and educator there is one condition that stands out above all other health issues. This is the condition of enervation.

Enervation is the result of long standing low level fight or flight response which leaves the body drained of resources on every level.

A myriad of symptomatic responses can accompany this condition but, it can be recognized by the following symptoms. Take this quick quiz to see how you rank.

I am unable to sleep through the night.
I don't feel rested in the mornings.
I seem to have lost my zest for life
I have nagging health issues that may clear up for awhile and then return.
I cannot seem to feel better no matter what I do.
I cannot lose weight especially around the middle.
I have digestive issues such as constipation, diarrhea, IBS regularly, feeling bloated after meals.
I feel numb.
I have a sense of nagging depression.
I regularly need a pick me up, coffee, chocolate and energy drink, something with sugar.
I feel fine, but not great. I should be okay, but somehow I'm not. I can't quite put my finger on it.
My sex drive is low.
I have trouble getting along with others, I feel cranky and irritable.
I am a work'aholic
I go for hours without eating, or I overeat.
I have poor appetite.
I am plagued with anxiety or anxious thoughts. I have worries.
I am obsessive/compulsive (OCD). I need things just so.
Loud noises and lights bother me.
Feeling paranoid, unable to trust others, need to be "in control"
I am chemically sensitive an/or I have food sensitivities
I have a chronic health issue that defies treatment.
My doctor(s) don't know what the do with me.

If you answer yes to 5 or more of these questions, odds are you fall into this category.

What do you mean when you say enervation?
Enervation is word that describes long term adrenal fatigue resulting in endocrine dysfunction and a wide array of manifestations of symptoms. Some subtle some not so subtle.

How does one become enervated?
Enervation is the result of too much adrenaline and too little serotonin. One falls into this condition as a result of being out of touch with the body and what the body needs.

How does that happen?
Adrenaline is stimulating. It's job is to give you the extra umph to get going when an emergency calls for it. It makes it possible for you to ignore injuries and fear in order to survive an event. That's a good thing. But, when your life situation, circumstances or lifestyle choices puts you into constant fight or flight response with adrenaline pumping continuously over time you become anaesthetized. You are unable to discern what your body needs. Basic things like resting, breathing, eating...you are literally out of touch with what you need.

What is fight or flight?
The fight or flight response in a cascade effects of neurotransmitters that gets your body ready for action putting the body in a state of hyperarousal. This is an acute response for a limited time. Healthy people and wild animals are predominantly in the "alpha state" This describes a brain wave pattern that allows you to be calm and alert at the same time. This is a fluid state of being that allows you to respond and when the situation resolves you are able to return to a state of calm peacefulness.

How did I get stuck in the fight or flight response?
There are a lot of varied factors that lead to chronic fight or flight.

Abusive situations whether it's a job, a marriage, partnership, family life, sexual abuse, living in a country that is at war or in conflict, serving in a war or conflict.
Financial stressors or self imposed financial standards or relentless materialism.
Messages from parents as children can lead to deep fears about being inadequate, feelings of shame or guilt. Pressure to achieve a certain station in life or rise to parents expectations.
Experiencing situations that are frightening to you, even if it's just a chronic low level fear you may not be completely aware that you have.
Working in a job you don't like, hate or do not feel fulfilled. Unable to find the right vocation.
Being a work'aholic.

All of the above can be factors. The difficulty arise when a person is out of touch with themselves because of the high adrenaline levels. You don't feel any of this adversely, or so you think you're okay....but, over time the damaging effects of too much adrenal will take it's toll.

What does that mean?
It means that symptoms will begin to arise. A symptom is your body's way of getting your attention. Symptoms manifest so you can feel that something is not right and make a course correction. Failure to pay attention to the symptom at a lower level means you'll go along like everything is okay. The body will continue to produce symptoms until it gets your attention.

It is possible to ignore symptoms until the body no longer has the energy to create them! We have all heard stories of people dropping dead of a heart attack, as though it came from nowhere! Of a person being diagnosed with cancer and dying shortly afterward, when all their friends would say they seemed like they were in perfect health. These life threatening illness don't come out of nowhere. They are the result of years of tuning out the body's messages.

On the opposite end of the spectrum we have the ultra-sensitive individual. Often ostracized for their sensitivity these individuals are overly sensitive from years of overstimulation of the adrenal complex and the endocrine system as a whole gets out of whack.

How can I recover?
Recovery takes a dedicated effort to support healing. It means slowing down so you can become more aware of how tired you really are. It requires a willingness to enter into the healing field.

The healing field is an energetic reality that you create for yourself. Finding the right practitioner to support your healing process that you can trust. Learning how to be with what you feel, processing those feelings naturally in your dreamtime at night while your sleeping. Becoming more mindful of what you need and giving it to yourself...self love and acceptance. Letting go of control and surrendering to what is, rather that some notion of what you think should be!

Recovery is summed up in this understanding...BREATHING, SLEEPING, LAUGHING & POOPING.

When we are able to breath fully are microbiology begins to shift with the increase of oxygen...amazing! Many are low level oxygen deprived, not good.
When we are able to sleep well we are able to achieve the restoration needed to be energized and excited about life. It takes more energy to sleep at night that you spend in the entire rest of your waking hours! Wow!! Sleeping well leads tomore dreaming and dreaming is when the body unwinds all the psychic and emotional charges of your life. Without good dreaming we remain unresolved.
Laughing, truly the best medicine! Laughter produces a cascade of beneficial neurotransmitters. Learning to be happy is an art form. Creating an intention to be happy is powerful!
Pooping! Yes, pooping. Your colon is the organ of emotional digestion. In order to move out of emotional difficulties we must be able to digest those experiences. Additionally when the colon is clogged, congested and sluggish so is the blood. This is autointoxication a state in which toxic digestive byproducts are able to enter back into the bloodstream straining the liver and other organs of elimination. Brain fog, inability to concentrate and general crankiness ensue when our bowels are out of order. Digestive problems, leaky gut, gut issues are all related to the colon health.

Bridge to Health Wellness
Offer 5 modalities designed to restore body, mind and spirit.
DETOX - PURIFY - SUPPORT - HEART - UNWIND
These modalities create a "bridge to health", feeling better and enjoying life more
Guiding you back to an evolution to your true self, your inner voice.
Learning that you can trust yourself to know what is best for you.
It's all about moving out of fear.

SCHEDULE YOUR FREE FIFTEEN MINUTE WELLNESS CONSULT TODAY.
Some modalities can be offered remotely

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Far Infrared Heat Therapy Benefits

4/15/2021

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Bridge to Health is pleased to offer FIR - Far Infrared heat as an addition to manual therapies. This blog explains the benefits and history of the valuable therapeutic tool.

What is Far-Infrared Therapy (FIR) and What Does it Do?
Far-Infrared Rays are waves of energy, totally invisible to the naked eye, are able to penetrate the surface of the skin and reach deeply into the body gently elevating the body’s surface temperature to 107.6F/42C and above. This action stimulates the movement of blood and lymph through the affected body system improving immunity and relieving inflammation.

“Give me the power to produce fever and I’ll cure all disease.”– Parmenides, 500 BC.

History of Far-Infrared Heat Therapy
The body radiates far-infrared energy through your skin at 3 to 50 microns, with most output at 9.4 microns. The palms emit even more energy, between 8 and 14 microns. ‘Palm Healing’, an ancient tradition in China, has used the healing properties of far-infrared rays for 3,000 years. Natural healers emit energy and heat radiating from their hands to heal. Current research has measured significant far-infrared energy emitted from the hands of Chi Kung / Qigong and Chi Nei Tsang practitioners.

Thermal therapies have been in existence for thousands of years, dating back to ancient civilizations such as the Finns, the Romans, the ancient Chinese, the American Indians, and the Egyptians 5,000 years ago. Since ancient times, people have known that exposure to sunshine can maintain and enhance health. Sun therapy is a form of natural FIR thermal therapy. Far-Infrared Rays are the invisible rays of natural sunlight that have the longest wavelength. However, sunbathing should only be enjoyed in moderation since sunlight contains ultra-violet ray which can burn the skin. There is also no temperature control, and sunshine is only available seasonally. FIR gives the benefits of sunshine in a focused and safe way.

Evolution of Far-Infrared Technology
For many decades, scientific evidence has found that heat can maintain and enhance the wellness of the human body. Scientists have researched different ways on how to develop more effective forms of thermal heat therapy that target specific areas and enable deep heat penetration.

Traditional forms of heat therapy can be hazardous for those with certain health conditions. The extreme heat can be uncomfortable for many individuals and may cause heat stress which can have detrimental effects on health, especially for people with heart challenges or needing to sustain blood pressure. Thermal compression and wraps are uncomfortable, heat is easily lost, temperature does not remain constant and maintaining a thermal compression or wrap can be problematic and inconvenient.

Research and development in the sixties – notably in Japan and Germany lead to the introduction of the Far-Infrared Ray (FIR) thermal technology. This revolutionized thermal technology as an effective, safe, natural, hygienic, and efficient approach to thermal treatment. Multiple health and medical professionals internationally who rehabilitate numerous physical challenges using heat therapy. Relief for sports injuries via thermal therapy is one example, whilst detoxification and reduction of inflammation areaslo benefits.

Dr. Tadashi Ishikawa, a member of the Research and Development Department of Fuji Medical, received a patent in 1965 for a zirconia ceramic infrared heater used in the first healing infrared thermal systems. Medical practitioners in Japan were the only ones using infrared thermal systems for 14 years. In 1979, they were finally released for public use. The technique has been further refined into far-infrared thermal systems that have been sold in the USA since the 1980’s. One use of Far-Infrared heat in the USA has been in the form of panels used in hospital nurseries to warm newborns.
There have been well over 700,000 far-infrared thermal systems sold in Asia for whole body treatments. An additional 30 million plus people have received localized far-infrared treatment in Asia, Europe, and Australia with FIR lamps, which emit the same 2-25 micron wave bands as employed in a whole body system. In Germany, physicians in an independently developed form have used the whole body Far-Infrared Therapy for over 80 years.

Far Infrared heat therapy can be added to any manual therapy offered by Bridge to Health, Colonics, Chi Nei Tsang Sessions, Lymphatic and Therapeutic Massage modalities.

Book your session online today and select the Infrared add-on to enjoy this therapeutic experience.

If you have questions or seek more information you may schedule a
Free Fifteen Minute Wellness Phone Consult with Vanessa Goldeen, CWC, CNT, CCT

or...for Lymphatics and Therapeutic Massage

Brittany Craven, LMT aslo offers a Free Fifteen Minute Phone Consult as well!

If your are interested in purchasing a FIR lamp for home use there are several
great model options we have researched available on Amazon!

The TDP Digital Control Far Infrared Heat Lamp D-11 offers the quality of a professional therapeutic lamp for use in your home. This unit is ideal for those who suffer chronic pain of any kind. The adjustable arm, height positioning and lamp tilt offers multiple ways to reach the areas of need.

I strongly recommend this unit for folks with arthritis, chronic pain, gut issues, headaches or for healing from injuries in general.

TDP Far Infrared Heat Lamp Desk Top Model
For those needed a smaller unit that may be used to focus on hands, feet and back of the neck or face, the table or desk top version TDP Far Infrared Lamp is also a good choice. Ratings on this product are not as high, but we found it to be well functioning and plenty of power to penetrate to deeper tissue levels.

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A Healthy Liver: The key to healing!

2/25/2021

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The liver is truly the KING of your internal organs.
A healthy well functioning liver is crucial to detoxification and the body's ability to maintain a strong immune system.

This blog will help you understand more about the importance of your liver, what helps it, what harms it and the many health issues that can arise from a congested liver.

Within our culture in the US the rise in liver dysfunction is increasing at an alarming rate in ages as early as the 30's.

Liver congestion is responsible for a wide range of immunity issues, from allergies to arthritis, cancer, sleep disturbances, anxiety, digestive issues, constipation, high blood pressure, brain fog and memory problems.

A healthy liver is the guardian of the body. In spite of the many toxins we encounter from environmental pollution and chemical...a healthy liver will keep you glowing.

How do you know if your liver needs help?

Are you experiencing digestive discomfort or bloating after eating?
Craving sweets, starches or salty foods?
Having difficulty losing weight?
Tired, not feeling refreshed after sleep, drained in the afternoons?
Experiencing problems with focus and concentration, brain fog, difficulty following directions or are having memory issues?
Mood fluctuations, feeling irritable, depressed?
Itchy skin, rashes, inexplicable blistering of the skin, psoriasis or eczema?
Develop a sore throat easily, catch every bug that comes along, can't seem to shake them off?
Allergies or sensitivities to food, fragrances, pollens?
Retaining water, joint or over all body pains?
Frequent headaches?
Troubles falling asleep and staying asleep? Do you wake up at 3:00 AM regularly?

Here's the BAD NEWS...If you answer yes to three or more of these questions it is a strong indication that your liver is not happy!

Here's the GOOD NEWS....the liver is extremely responsive to proper care and when you get things moving in the right direction it's often amazing how quickly health issue will turn around!

Understanding your liver.
It's many functions and the role it plays in detoxification:

The liver is an essential organ of the body that performs over 500 vital functions.
Produces albumin a protein that keeps fluids in the bloodstream from leaking into surrounding tissue.
It also transports hormones, vitamins, and enzymes through the body.
Produces bile a fluid that is critical to the digestion and absorption of fats in the small intestine.
Filters the blood removing toxins, byproducts, and other harmful substances.
The liver makes sure amino acid levels in the bloodstream remain healthy.
Regulates blood clotting coagulants using vitamin K.
As part of the filtering process, the liver also removes bacteria from the bloodstream.
The liver stores significant amounts of vitamins A, D, E, K, and B12, as well as iron and copper.
Control glucose (sugar) levels removing excess from the bloodstream, stores it as glycogen. Which it will release when needed.

Liver disease and failure are progressive over time and are commonly associated with lifestyle and dietary choices. Treatment for liver dysfunction primarily focus on making changes to lifestyle and eating habits. Modalities such as lymphatic massage, acupuncture, Chi Nei Tsang, targeted whole food nutritional supplements, colon hydrotherapy, poultices, fasting and cleansing/detox protocols.

Stages of Liver Dysfunction

Onset: Inflammation - In this early stage, the liver is enlarged or inflamed.
Fatty Liver: Hepatic steatosis, essentially a build up of fat in the liver. This impedes liver function and leads to anaerobic cellular damage (lack of oxygen to the liver tissue, leading to necrosis or tissue death.
Fibrosis: Scar tissue develops in response to inflammation. Healthy functional tissue decreases.
Cirrhosis: Severe scarring has built up, making it difficult for the liver to function properly.
ESLD: End-stage liver disease. Symptoms ranging from bruising, jaundice, intense itching, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, nausea, edema/lymphedema, memory loss.
Cancer of the Liver: There are a variety of liver cancers which eventually will metastasize to other parts of the body and is usually fatal.

That's a lot of heavy information, but it's crucial to understand that the average age of liver disorders onset in the US population is... age 40 - 50 years. However the dietary issues, constipation and lifestyle choices , use of drugs, alcohol made in your 20's and 30's are the "set-up" for the decline in function and the development of liver disease. additional complications arise from the use of prescription medications and over the counter drugs that tax the liver.

Bridge to Health is rolling out a Liver Reboot/Restore Protocol that offers an affordable way to heal and restore the liver with the assistance of Certified Wellness Consultant, Vanessa Goldeen. With over 45 years experience studying and guiding others through the changes needed to reverse liver disorders and achieve a new vibrant level of health.

Connect with Ms. Goldeen for a Free 15 Minute Wellness Consult, to get answers to questions you may have about your current state of health.

Just a few of the healthy foods that are able to heal and restore the liver!

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Massage Therapy...modalities, benefits & how to choose!

1/26/2021

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There are so many different therapeutic massage modalities to choose from. Many of them offer sustainable relief from pain and circulatory issues. But often it's challenging to understand what the options are and how to choose what's best for you.

The questions are:

What are they, what do they focus on?
What will they do to improve or help my condition?
How will I know if it's helping me with my issue?
How to choose the right modality and therapist?
Is it okay for me to ask the therapist to change pressure or give feedback?
How do these modalities differ from a relaxing "spa-like" massage?

This blog article will provide information to support your choice to add Therapeutic Massage to your self care menu! Therapeutic massage incorporates a variety of advanced modalities that enhance the body's natural restorative functioning. Light to firm touch is used to release tension, relax muscles, increase blood and lymph circulation, and increase production of serotonin...a neurotransmitter and your body's antidote to too much adrenaline!

Below are the massage modalities offered through Bridge to Health by Brittany Craven LMT. She has 7 years of active experience and has put together this information to educate clients and readers about therapeutic massage modalities, which therapies are best for your needs and how to know whether the therapist you are choosing is qualified. Regulations for training in massage therapy have expanded in the past twenty years, most states and some cities require licensing and certain levels of certification. Organizations such as ABMP & NCBTMB help ensure standards of practice throughout the profession.

Having a short conversation with the therapist before making your initial appointment is crucial. It's your opportunity to ask about their credentials, training and years of experience. Additionally it is recommended that you check out their website and reviews. Bridge to Health offers a Free Fifteen Minute Consult for all clients. This allows you to get to know the therapist and allows them to make recommendations based on your symptoms or needs.

The massage session will/should focus on your major areas of concern. A well trained therapist will also allow time to round out your session with other complementary modalities.

Conditions which will benefit from therapeutic massage modalities are:

General inflammation or swelling
Edema, circulatory issues
Digestive disorders, constipation
Acute or chronic sinus congestion with recurring infection
Immune disorders and those prone to frequent colds, flu or allergies
Migraines & tension headaches, whiplash
Difficulty swallowing, or TMJ
Fibromyalgia and myofascial pain syndrome
Chronic pain in any part of the body
Stress & Anxiety
Loss of range of motion
Post surgical rehabilitation, scar treatment

Therapeutic massage differs from "spa like" massages in that they are specifically targeted to relieve pain and bring improvement to the acute or chronic issues that arise in the body of almost everyone at some time.

Spa massages generally are high in the "feel so good" response. They are relaxing and indulgent, but are not the best choice for those with chronic or acute pain, or other health issues. Practitioners of quality pamper who offer spa like sessions are providing a level of relaxation on the level of a mini-vacation. Sessions with an excellent relaxation massage therapist are a delight to the senses and will leave you smiling!

However, a massage therapist whose practice focus is to lead you into sustainable relief from pain, stress or other concerns, will provide the "feel good" response and sustainable relief leading to facilitation of healing potential. The modalities listed below can be integrated into therapeutic massage sessions.

Lymphatic Drainage Massage:
The lymphatic system cycles fluids with toxins from our tissues and intestines, it is a key component of the immune system

Similar to the circulatory system, the lymphatic system is a network of vessels that transport lymph fluid and pathogen fighting cells to the tissues of the body. However, it does not have a heart to pump it so it requires movement in order to flow properly.

Lymph vessels are very thin so it is easy for them to become partially clogged by dead cells and proteins or constricted by surrounding connective tissue tensions. For lymphatic drainage, gentle techniques are applied to release tissue tension to encourage lymph fluids to release clearing the internal clogs.

The intestinal lymphatic system serves vital functions in the regulation of tissue fluid homeostasis, immune surveillance, and the transport of nutrients, and conversely this system is affected by, and directly contributes to disease processes within the intestine. Lymphatic Drainage Massage and Visceral Manipulation work well together to improve overall immunity and fluid clearing.

Visceral Manipulation:
Most people are unaware of the invaluable healing support massage modalities can offer, Visceral Manipulation is a key therapy to alleviate and in many cases promote a cure for many symptoms of the gut as well as improving function of the internal organs of the abdomen.

Visceral manipulation focuses on the internal organs in the abdomen and their interdependent relationship. Physical and emotional traumas such as car accidents, injuries, grief, PTSD and even everyday stressors can cause the tissues in the gut to constrict and twist in a pattern referred to as chronic holding. These restrictions will interfere with the movement of the stomach and bowels leading to conditions like heartburn, bloating, GERD, constipation, intestinal torsion (volvulus), and symptoms of IBS. For more information on the benefits of visceral manipulation visit this article, "Trust your Gut" from the Natural Health Practitioners of Canada

Level of pressure is guided by the client with the intention of gradually being able to move deeper into the abdomen to maximize benefits. Feedback from the client is crucial in all modalities, especially visceral manipulation.

Myofascial Release
Myo...latin derivation for muscle, fascial...the fascia tissue of the body.

Fascia is an network of tissue that runs throughout the entire body. it is interconnected through every cell, organ, and body cavities. You could remove all the bones, organs and muscles leaving only the fascia and your body would still be the shape it is now. The fascia is the amazing organ that literally holds you together!

Fascia can become injured, dehydrated or restricted. Causes of fascial restriction are numerous, but can be boiled down to injuries, repetitive movements (tennis elbow, etc..), poor workplace ergonomics, surgeries, scar tissue and emotional trauma which can also develop into chronic holding.

An example of chronic holding is finding yourself clenching your jaw...holding your breath, shoulders are up to your ears...everyday stresses of life tend to produce chronic holding as does lifetime traumas or abuse. This holding causes the restriction in the fascia, reduces the flow of blood and lymph leading to chronic pain anywhere in the body.

MFR is the "king" of pain relief modalities and is recognized by many professionals and researchers as highly effective. In addition to being effective for a wide variety of issues, a good therapist will also give you "homework" in the form of self treatment options to further promote healing. This modality is most effective when sessions are frequent and close together.

Cranio-sacral Therapy
Pioneered by Osteopathic Physician, John E. Upledger, during his tenure years at Michigan State University where he served as professor of bio-mechanics. He developed the foundational techniques of Cranio-Sacral Therapy used today.

During CST treatment the therapist evaluates and enhances the functioning of what is called the cranio-sacral system. This system is comprised of the membranes and cerebrospinal fluid that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord.

Using these techniques practitioners release tension and restrictions in the cranio-sacral system allowing the body to relax and self correct, freeing the central nervous system to perform at it’s best. A truly unique experience this modality produces sustainable relief and a high level of something more than relaxation....it is somewhat indescribable when done with a well experienced therapist.

Reflexology and Trigger Point Therapy
Reflexology and trigger point therapies are similar and yet different. Reflexology focuses on the areas of the body that are junction points for the energetic meridians of the body. This therapy is applied primarily to the feet and hands, but is also used on other parts of the body especially along the neck, shoulders, arms and legs. Similar to acupressure the goal is to relieve congested energy improving the flow of chi or energy in the body system.

Trigger point therapy consists of the practitioner focusing on "hot spots" in the body, commonly referred to as trigger points. Pressure is applied to these painful, sensitive areas in order to alleviate the pain. Active trigger points can cause what is called "referred pain", meaning the constriction at the trigger point may be responsible for pain in other parts of the body. This brings us back to the fascia....restrictions in one part of the body can cause pain in another part of the body!
The therapist finds and applies pressure at painful trigger points which will relax the muscle and affected tissues.
When pressure is applied on the trigger point, it may cause discomfort, though it does sometimes produce the odd effect "it hurts so good"!

Therapeutic Stretching
This modality is especially helpful for clients who suffer with "range of motion" issues due to injuries, lack of exercise, too much intense exercise or age related to limited movement capability.

During a session of therapeutic stretching the practitioner will initially assess the clients needs and work progressively on the areas of greatest concern.

As with MFR this modality becomes more effective when sessions are regular and clients continue to support the session work by doing recommended practices at home between sessions.

The relief that comes from having someone else stretch you out is amazing! The therapist is able to help you make gains in flexibility and improved range of motion that might not otherwise be possible for you to do on your own. The goal with therapeutic stretching is restoration of movement and improved overall flexibility.

Schedule your Free fifteeen minute consult with Brittany Craven LMT

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Chronic Constipation

1/19/2021

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Chronic constipation is nearly the norm in modern societies.
But, what exactly is constipation...how do we define it?

con·sti·pa·tion| ˌkänstəˈpāSH(ə)n | noun
* A condition in which there is difficulty in emptying the bowels, usually associated with hardened feces.
* A high level of constraint or restriction; a pronounced lack of ease.

Constipation is defined by transit time. Essentially from the time you ingest food until it comes out as stool should ideally be within 24-48 hours. Anything longer than that and you are constipated. Anything time shorter than that you may have Irritabel Bowel Syndrome, which is a variation of constipation with the same treatment protocols. See the PDF below for a test to determine your transit time.

Chronic constipation effects more than 20% of the US populations and is as common in children, teens adults and the elderly. For those who care for the elderly it is critical to pay daily attention to their bowel functions and seek professional help from someone who can bring a healthy solution to the problem.

In my practice I have seen that MD's and Emergency Rooms are not equipped with a proper understanding to solve impaction or chronic constipation. They often recommend products that will cause the colon to balloon above the impaction with disastrous results! Bridge to Health offers Emergency Colonic Sessions for situations in which a client is impacted.

Why is constipation a problem.....

Your colon can store 5-10 lbs of feces for every foot of length....your colon is as long as you are tall!
Stored feces means that bacterial infestations in the form of biofilms can develop within the colon. Go to the "Why do a Series of Colonics Blog" for more information about the serious effects of biofilm growth in the colon
The bacteria proliferate in the colon along with toxic gases which should be eliminated with the stools. All of this toxicity is then absorbed through the capillary network of the colon into the bloodstream and put an undue burden on the liver and kidneys to eliminate the toxins.
Those who are constipated are more likely to develop SIBO. This excellent article from CytoPlan Blog represents my view of SIBO and how to facilitate a cure without antibiotics or antifungal medications.
Chronic constipation is auto-intoxication that produces a wide variety of symptoms and will eventually lead to autoimmune disorders, liver and gallbladder issues, lethargy, poor concentration, lack of spark...low endocrine function which has serious implications over time.
Chronic constipation can also lead to rupture of the colon. Using laxatives and fiber formulas to try to create a bowel movement when the colon is impacted is the leading cause of colon ruptures. This is a very serious situation that can cause death.

Learn more about colon function...

Those who suffer from chronic constipation experience these common symptoms...

Halitosis
Headaches
Inflammation & aches and pains in the body
Lethargy and a general lack of energy
Hemorrhoids
Low back pain
Digestive issues
SIBO
Liver complaints & gall stones
Poor Sleep & irritability
Brain fog and confusion
All health issues are made worse with constipation

What are the causes of chronic constipation?

Diets low in fiber, fresh fruits and vegetables, high in processed grains, white flour and high in sugar.
Diets high in cheese and processed cheese foods and other non-fermented dairy especially cow's milk which is very high in casein a glue like substance.
Casein based protein supplements. Casein is a glue like substance extracted from cows milk dairy, it is literally the stuff that glue is made from... these protein drinks also often contain hidden artificial sweeteners as well.
Highly acidic diets high in meats, especially processed meats and meats with fillers. Keto diets.
Constipation, irritable bowel syndrome contribute greatly with the inflammation these condition cause .
Antibiotic, benzodiazepine and opioid usage.
Emotional issues often play a role in constipation and can be addressed best through Chi Nei Tsang or Visceral Manipulation rather than talk therapies. Zero Point Process Sessions have also proven to be effective in the treatment of these emotional "blocks"

Is it possible to reverse chronic constipation?
Yes, but with all things related to the manifestation of symptoms, we must first be willing to understand that the symptom is the body talking to you....what is your body saying it needs? Just what does it need? The answers can be very individual, but there are tendencies and patterns that I often see in my Wellness and Colon Hydrotherapy practices.

What will help alleviate Chronic Constipation?

Dietary changes are needed, more fruits and veggies generally and a greater variety of whole foods.
Dehydration is also a common problem.
Bowels are not "trained"...allowing time to sit down to have a bowel movement...too much of I need to go go go! The colon needs time!
Stress is almost always a factor
Low bile production from the liver
Withdrawing from medication known to have constipation as a side effect...benzodiazepines, antibiotics especially are problematic.
Possible minor obstructions, or years of accumulated harden stools
Low enteric probiotics...something you can't get from a pill. Probiotics are best cultivated not supplemented.
Colon cleanse products that support the break down of biofilms and improve peristalsis can be helpful, however they are best used with caution and with the supervision of a well educated practitioner.

Bridge to Health offers the Online Chronic Constipation Relief Protocol as a support for anyone determined to overcome chronic constipation. If you are uncertain whether or not your constipation issue is chronic, schedule a Free Fifteen Minute Wellness Consult with Vanessa Goldeen Certified Wellness Consultant and I-ACT Certified Colon Hydrotherapist.

FDA Warning:
This information is for education only and is not meant to diagnose, treat or prescribe for any disease or medical condition

Transit Time Test Instructions
File Size:	18 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

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Artificial Sweeteners a Hidden Danger

1/18/2021

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My interest in educating you about artificial sweeteners is a subject of a recent recovery success story in my practice and..... a painful story with a sad ending from my younger days.

My closest and dearest friend was an artificial sweetener junkie. Back then it was saccharin which was a trade name for a chemical, benzoic sulfimide. (if you follow this link you'll see who supports it's continued use...these same organization encourage the use of other non-foods as healthy for humans). Sodium saccharin is an artificial sweetener with effectively no food energy. It is 300–400 times as sweet as sucrose with bitter or metallic aftertaste, especially at high concentrations. Saccharin was used to sweeten products such as drinks, candies, cookies, and medicines. One of the principle reason soft drinks use artificial sweeteners...is that they have a low volume. Meaning they can add more water and make more money, sugar takes up too much room!

Now that was back in the early 70's...a clue to my age and experience. I started studying Chinese Medicine in my 20's as a hobby and had always been a closeted science geek. I knew that saccharin was not a good idea. There had been a number studies demonstrating that it clearly caused bladder cancer in animals who were feed drinks containing this potent artificial sweetener.

Over the years I encouraged my friend to STOP using that S#%T. She would wave her hand and tell me in her kindest words that I was a somewhat neurotic health nut!

Because of my interest in natural lifestyle and healthier diet! I was a weirdo to most of my friends, bless them!!

She continued to use saccharine until it was discontinued. Switching to Equal, Sweet & Low, Not that the new alternatives were any better. She found herself gaining more and more weight...which was a result of the way the body processes artificial sweeteners. By the time we were in our late 30's I received sad news from her that she had been diagnosed with cancer. It had gone undiagnosed for some time so she was at stage 3. The cancer had started in her BLADDER.....remember those rats! It spread and she died within a year. Her passing shook all of us, friends and family.

It pains me when I think of how many people, wave their hands and dismiss what is only common sense.
ANYTHING TOO FAR FROM NATURE TO WORK WITH THE BODY'S NATURAL PROCESSING MECHANISMS AND WILL CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE LIVER KIDNEYS AND GUT FUNCTIONS. IT'S A RULE!!

Now, to the present. A client recently came to see me because in spite of the fact that she is only in her early 30's she had presented with elevated liver enzymes and evidence of a fatty liver. She came to me as recommended by a close friend who thought I might be able to help her. Remember, I said I am a science geek, so the first thing I do is a little detective work. I immediately researched issues relating to fatty liver in individuals who do not fit the usual profile. She didn't drink other than occasionally, her diet was fairly healthy and she was not a big junk food eater and fairly active...the most common factor in fatty liver disease in alcohol and poor diet.

Upon reviewing her intake info I discovered that she had been eating a protein drink product "Gold Standard Whey" chocolate flavor for at least the past 3, maybe up to 5 years. This product contains acesulfame whose sweetening effect is even higher than saccharine. Acesulfame is currently being studied as it is implicated that is may be causing liver damage! Additionally she was taking inorganic vitamin supplements, an iron supplement and had occasional IV nutrient infusions to boost her energy and detox her body. All of which also may cause liver damage. IV nutrition has been widely used in hospitals, but recent studies indicate long term use of IV infusions are leading to liver damage. IV infusions are a popular fad these days...we'll be reporting more on this in future blogs.

I set her up with a liver restoring protocols, she began a series of colonics to push the detox, and is also having regular Chi Nei Tsang sessions to help improve her biological functions, increasing serotonin and reducing adrenaline...the true secret to real health! After only 2 months she present her last liver enzyme test to me and her test ratios where nearly normal. Her doctor was AMAZED, stating that she "had rarely ever seen anyone reverse in this way and certainly not this quickly". My client has been diligent and dedicated as her serious health risk threatened everything that means the most to her...her family!

A little note about liver enzymes....

Elevated liver enzymes often indicate inflammation or damage to cells in the liver. Inflamed or injured liver cells leak higher than normal amounts of certain chemicals, including liver enzymes, into the bloodstream, elevating liver enzymes on blood tests.
The normal range for ALT is 10-40 units per liter (U/L) of blood for men and 7-35 U/L for women
Higher ALT is an indication of liver distress or disease.

Many people, whose energy is low, digestion is problematic, are constipated, have frequent headaches and body pains may have elevated ALT liver enzymes...distressed liver. In true Naturopathic, Chinese and Ayurvedic Medicine it is understood that liver health is crucial.

The liver is a powerful organ, able to be restored to healthy function and is highly resilient when you provide it what it needs!

A healthy diet rich in greens, other vegetables, especially cruciferous types such as cabbages, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, kale.
Detoxifying herbal support for the liver.
Relieving constipation through colon hydrotherapy
Lymphatic massage and/or Visceral manipulation, Chi Nei Tsang
Regular light exercise
Discontinue use of alcohol, soda's and junk foods, including fried foods.

The Bridge to Health Winter Detox focuses on liver health. Look for our upcoming Liver Restoration Protocol which will guide you through all facets of improving liver function. All the BTH Protocols give you access to questions and answer via our members only Protocol Forum...is like having a Certified Wellness Consultant in your pocket...ie, your phone!

The label above doesn't say artificial sweetener. Many of the foods you may be eating daily could contain artificial sweeteners. Unless you know that acesulfame is what it is, you wouldn't recognize it.

They are added to foods such as...

beverages, including soda, fruit juices, non-carbonated drinks, and alcohol
tabletop sweeteners
dairy products, yogurts, ice cream
desserts and baked goods
jam, jelly, and marmalade
toothpastes and mouthwash
chewing gum
yogurt and other milk products
breakfast cereals
condiments, salad dressings, sauces and marinades

READ LABELS!!

Here's a few more facts about artificial sweeteners....

They are addictive...most of them contain in addition to acesulfame, dextrose and maltodextrin...light form a speed that is habit forming. They screw with your metabolism.
Researchers are currently studying links between regular consumption of artificial sweeteners and obesity, type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome (a cluster of health issues that present as a pattern, high blood pressure and diabetes)
They can cause neurological disruptions and decline in brain function. The current oldest generation in the US, were the original consumers of saccharine!
And...saccharine is actually still in use. It is an additive to the newer artificial sweeteners!
Raw honey, powdered stevia, palm sugar, coconut sugar, molasses, sorghum are all excellent sweetners that actually have nutritive value. The truth is a little sugar is better than anything artificial!

The following links support evidence that artificial sweeteners.
* Acesulfame potassium affects the gut microbiome and body weight gain.
*Aspartame intake causes changes in the trans-sulphuration pathway, glutathione depletion & liver damage

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Understanding Anxiety / Finding Relief

Healing Demystified

A World Wide Health Crisis - Are you affected yet?

Perspective on Covid

Why can I not feel better.....Enervation what keeps you from healing

Far Infrared Heat Therapy Benefits

A Healthy Liver: The key to healing!

Massage Therapy...modalities, benefits & how to choose!

Chronic Constipation

Artificial Sweeteners a Hidden Danger

Vanessa

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