![]() Healing a Broken Heart Happiness Specialist, Rebecca L. Norrington said, “A broken heart is probably one of the most painful experiences this life has to offer…I know if I had a dollar for every heartbreak and disappointment I’ve felt, I’d be able to finance a cruise around the world…well, maybe a cruise half-way around the world.” How many of us could say the same thing. Heartache is real, painful and can greatly affect your health! Learn more. It is important for all of us to understand the human psychic heart is also an organ of sorts. Repeated heartache affects a person psychologically and physiologically. My path to working with folks in need of healing arose from a conversation with my Mother-in-law, June Diane. She had been diagnosed with lung cancer. She was frightened and overwhelmed. In a poignant conversation, at age 22, I shared with her my growing belief that emotions could have a powerful effect on our immunity making us vulnerable to disease. I went onto to share that I truly believed emotional healing was a necessary component of healing. She looked at me with tears in hers eyes and asked me, "How do you get that kind of healing?" I was on the right track, but I had no answers for her then. She did pass, but on her transition she had some powerfully healing "miracles" which gave her hope of peace. This interaction with her is one of my solid gold moments, etched into my memory was the palpable feeling of her held back tears, stuck in her throat with a big burning lump, which is incidentally the place where her cancer started. Initially diagnosed as a fungal infection within months it became cancer. I knew then it was no coincidence and that certain events of her life had lead to one heartache after another until her body could no longer contain the pain. I prayed to know the answer to that question. My quest has lead me on a convoluted path strewn with my own heartaches. But, in spite of it all I have come to understand that gratefulness is the key to opening the doorway to healing. Love and compassion are it's pathway! Later this month I will be adding to this post. Natalie Foster will enlighten us on her beliefs about this delicate subject. Natalie Foster, MA-MFT, ATR-BC " True Self Institute, Scottsdale AZ, is a Registered and Board-Certified Art Therapist (#17-381) and Certified Reiki Master, with a background of study in marriage and family therapy. She has a passion for helping others discover their own innate potential. By letting go of old stories and beliefs, and harnessing the power of clarity, you can create real, lasting, positive change ![]() Our heart contains wisdom and information about our soul’s deepest potential, our life purpose, and our True Self identity. We are all one, in Love. Many people struggle to connect with this vibratory information and love because they suffer from wounds of the past and chronic cultural conditioning. We live in a world that honors and glorifies the Ego in many ways, and we are all seeking, above all, to be understood and accepted for who we are. In order to become truly ourselves, we must begin to undertake the energetic and mental/emotional (and sometimes physical!) de-construction of the false-self, the one that is based in past fear and conditioning. To do this we must listen to our heart, which will guide us, in the form of listening to what gives it pleasurable, expansive feelings. These are not feelings of an addictive quality, but true, warming, calming, opening, or invigorating and inspiring feelings. Whatever feels “good” is gently moving you in that direction of healing. Don’t let the pain of fear and confusion fool you... and don’t doubt that your heart and intuition knows the way through! There are many healing techniques that can help you clear away doubt and uncertainty and help you experience how powerful you truly are. All healing paths are essentially leading you to this same objective— to dis-identify with fear, pain, and false beliefs and programming, and to move into the present moment to identify with your heart, beyond the control of pressure, judgement, and expectations. The truth is you are already enough, just as you are! As you allow yourself to be, you allow the healing miracle of forgiveness to take place. You let go, which allows you to transcend into another expression of your energy. You are able to ask for help in aligning with your highest healing at any given moment. You only need to ask to receive— and the sheer power of your clear intention and gratitude will move your energy in this direction. Your heart needs to learn to heal from, forgive, and let go of outdated energy patterns and past programming in order to fully open and allow your True Self Essence to shine. In other words, it needs to recognize that it is living now, not then, and here, not over there. Practice bringing your energy home, out of the past, all of the life stressors and demands, and out of the pre-supposed, imagined future (the stressful kind, not the inspired kind!). Call your energy lines home and restore yourself- fully you- by just envisioning it. You may feel a marked shift just by practicing this intention even once. Imagine if you were to remind yourself every day, or even every moment that you felt yourself “triggered” out of alignment. Many people struggle with such a chronic, habitually unconscious response to living that they may need the help of a friendly guide to assist them with recognizing their patterns from their true desired ways of living- their True Self. The truth is we are never only reacting to this moment— it is always a layered reaction to each and every issue and moment from our past, that we are over-reacting to in the now... until you know what you are up against. The light of your awareness can help you to recognize your True Self— moment-to-moment consciousness— and assist you with healing your heart to become more fully present, and available to all that life has to offer. You can become more capable of embracing all your unacceptable emotions, more compassionate, and more able to love yourself and others with your gifts. You are truly powerful, you only needed to learn it. If you need help, don’t hesitate to reach out. Also, ask me about our soulful, monthly networking groups, and upcoming spiritual alignment classes at True Self Institute. It is my wish to serve you!
0 Comments
As a part of my Summer Refresh Seasonal Detox we will be focusing on the heart. Discussing both heart disease and the importance of the emotional condition of our heart from a more esoteric point of view. Proverbs 23:7 "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he" Please enjoy this informative blog which will expand your understanding of heart health. It is my pleasure to present Dr. Robert Thiel's point of view on this all important subject. For this discussion I have chosen to focus on the work of Dr. Robert Thiel, whom I met while living on the Central Coast of California. His comprehensive research on the topic of nutrition speaks for itself. Founder of Doctors' Research Products, one of the first providers of whole foods supplements, he also offers nutritional counseling and has helped many who have suffered to find the path to natural healing. Below you will see excerpts from his book, "Serious Nutrition" for a better understanding of the factors that lead to the development of heart disease. ![]() Robert Thiel, Ph.D. is a nationally recognized nutrition researcher, scientist, naturopath, and a natural health consultant. He believes that clinical science demonstrates that through nutrition and lifestyle changes, the body can heal itself of both chronic and acute ailments; and that for congenital disorders, symptoms associated with them can often be reduced or eliminated. He is a fully accredited Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Nutrition Science from the Union Institute and University, a Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine/Doctorate in Natural Health from First National University of Naturopathy, a Naturopathic Diploma from the International College of Naturopathy. The State of California awarded him an Instructor Credential in Naturopathic Medicine. Dr. Thiel was nationally board certified as a naturopathic physician by the American Naturopathic Medical Certification and Accreditation Board. Additionally served as a member of the Council on Immunology/Oncology /Hematology/Vitamins of the American College of Nutrition. A prolific researcher and author, He has written several books including Combining Old and New: Naturopathy for the 21st Century is his first which is available to the general public. Dr. Thiel’s research captured the attention of the National Institute of Health, National Cancer Institute, and National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Disease, all of whom concluded his research had “significant scientific merit”. ![]() An interesting development of heart disease related illnesses world wide shows that populations in the formerly Russian States and many parts of Africa are experiencing a surge of heart disease. A recent abstract authored by Thomas A. Gaziano, MD, MSc, Asaf Bitton, MD, Shuchi Anand, MD, Shafika Abrahams-Gessel, MS, and Adrianna Murphy published on the National Center for Biotechnology Information website shows a clear relationship between modernization/industrialization & diets degenerating into processed foods as a major factor. The photo above shows statistic of heart disease in the US. Although heart health has generally improved in the US, a surprising number of ethnic groups are still experiencing rates higher than average. This is due in part to similar circumstance as the global groups. Low income, highly processed foods, fast or convenience foods that lead to overloaded livers, the end result is development of plaques in the blood vessels, high blood pressure and higher statistical susceptibility to strokes. An excerpt from Dr. Thiel's book, "Serious Nutrition" states, "Cardiovascular problems have been the leading or second cause of death in Western societies for decades. Not surprising, the treatment of hypertension and hypercholesterolemia are big business in those societies." " What may be surprising is that even many mainstream health authorities recognize that for those with high risk factors, high levels of homocysteine may be a more important determinate of vascular health than high levels of cholesterol. ...but some common assumptions about diet and heart disease are simply not true. For example, properly raised eggs do not seem to raise cholesterol for men at all (and for women, only if they do not eat eggs daily) and most people with hypertension will not benefit by cutting salt out of their diets." Dr. Thiel goes onto to state that consumption of trans fatty acids from hydrogenated fats are, as recently documented, the "unhealthy fats", which should be avoided. Additionally he notes that consumption of Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids from fish and fish oils, soy, flax and leafy vegetables will bring improvement by "reducing circulating levels of triglycerides; reducing platelet aggregation; improving endothelial (cells that line the interior surface of blood vessels and lymphatic vessels) function; reducing arterial blood pressure; up-regulating lipid (any of a class of organic compounds that are fatty acids which are insoluble in water.) oxidation and down-regulating lipid synthesis; and preventing arrhythmias." On the subject of fish oils, a common choice for healthy Omega 3 fats, he emphasizes one must be careful of excessive fish consumption due to high levels of heavy metals being detected in many marine species. When selecting fish oil supplements he stresses the importance of selecting products that been "cleaned" through molecular distillation. There are now algae based Omega 3 supplements available for those who prefer a non-animal source or are sensitive to fish oils. On the subject of cholesterol Dr. Thiel cites the work of researchers, Alice and Fred Ottoboni who note that, "cholesterol is a sterol found only in animal tissue that provides membrane flexibility for every cell in the body. Without cholesterol, our bodies could not make steroid or sex hormones, vitamin D, bile acids, other other necessary biochemical. In spite of the scientific evidence, many studies have been published maligning the intake of fats as a direct correlation to the heart disease and the formation of arterial plaques. " ...the Ottoboni's criticizes many these studies for focusing solely on fat consumption while ignoring other dietary factors, such as sugar." it is their belief that high sugar levels and starches when combine with high intake of saturated fats is the deadly combo. Dr.Thiel goes onto to state, "It should be noted that the consumption of refined carbohydrates was linked to cardiovascular disease decades ago by alternatively inclined doctors. In reference to statin drugs, often prescribed to reduce cholesterol he points out that "the Multiple Risk Factor Intervention Trial, one of the definitive studies on risk factors for heart disease, showed that elevated levels of cholesterol along with high blood pressure and smoking increased risk of heart attack and death from cardiovascular disease" Risk factors between high and low cholesterols groups differed by only 1 percent. Focusing treatment only on those with elevated cholesterol levels and treating them with statin drugs would only effectively help save or prolong death in 10 people per 1,000 treated. One might think that's a good thing until you understand this, ..."to save 10 people in the high cholesterol group you would have to treat 1,000 people with drugs (statins) known to have toxic side effects that increase deaths from other causes. Is this good Medicine? No, it's insanity.... Statins have been linked to increased risk of kidney disease, immune suppression, memory loss and cancer." if you or a loved one are taking statin drugs I recommend you do your own research, starting here. The Dangers of Statin Drugs: What you haven't been told about popular cholesterol-lowering medicines" Dr Thiel's recommendations are to consider dietary changes and nutritional supplementation to help restore heart function and reduce cholesterols safely. Avoid concentrated low fiber carbohydrates, refined sugars, to be blunt...JUNK FOODS and excessive meat consumption. Starting with the addition of Co-Enzyme10 in the form of bovine heart tissue or nutritional yeast, thyroid support via bovine thyroid tissue and from kelp and tyrosine, an amino acid, much can be accomplished to begin the reversal or preventative support for heart disease. Policosanol a cane sugar derivative which can also be found in rice bran is helpful to regulate blood sugar and intermittent claudication (difficulty walking or standing). Bioflavonoids have "positive lipids effect" potentiating cholesterol reduction. Additionally important are proper levels of calcium and magnesium, which when present in abundance in the intestine helps reduce the absorption of saturated fats. In short, nature has provided through our widely varied natural food sources, the proper diet to maintain a healthy heart and even heal a congested and damaged heart and vascular system. It is advisable in general to avoid expensive non-food supplementation as these products are often straining to the liver, but whole food supplements concentrate the amount of bioavailable nutrients needed to reverse a tendency toward disease. I strongly recommend those with plaque forming cholesterol, high blood pressure and the onset of congestive heart disease seek the help of a qualified naturopath/nutritionist who can guide you to making the needed changes to your diet and lifestyle. Doctors Research Products are one of several companies dedicated to the support of individuals seeking the best in nutritional supplementation. Dr. Thiel has helped many with chronic illness at his clinic in Grover Beach California. You may contact his office for more information, follow the link to his contact page. A Wordy but important Message! For some fun stuff go to the bottom of the page ![]() I am a Certified Wellness Consultant. I received my wellness certification in 2013 from the American College of Health Sciences after working many years as an artist and designer. But my real qualifications are the 45 years of living a natural lifestyle. My message is simple. I am not going to to dazzle you with my knowledge and understanding of the chemistry of cellular toxicity, although, I am very excited to see that research scientists are finally delving into the science of the subject of cellular metabolism and autointoxication. Which, I believe is the fundamental cause of most diseases, especially in civilized cultures like ours. But, this is not new information. Traditional healing modalities the world over recognize the issue of toxic congestion and it’s effect on health. Traditional medical practices such as Ayurveda, traces it’s roots back to 600 BCE arising from from the religious Vedic teachings in Indian. Ayurveda uses observation as it’s standard diagnostic tool, rather than scientific testing. Chinese medicine also evolved through 1,000’s of years observation of the human condition. In Europe, the evolution of Hippocrates healing principles were pursued and renewed into the practice of Naturopathic medicine whose principles are consistent with Chinese medicine, in that the practitioners efforts were design to restore balance to the body and emotions. They promoted the understanding that one cannot separate a person’s being into parts, sending the brain to a psychiatrist, the body to a Doctor and the Spirit to the priest or pastor. The understanding that we are all these things at once and that wellbeing involves a complex set of variables that requires the practitioner to look at the whole person. I have watch with dismay the failing of “modern medicine” whose bullet approach uses an ever evolving array of medication as it’s primary tool for healing. Many of these medications often leave the patient with serious addiction issues and intolerable side effects. However, modern medicine is not entirely to blame for the state of affairs we now have, in which the majority of Americans are showing signs of premature aging as young as mid-twenties. Where children have fallen victim to imbalances so severe that we now have “spectrum” disorders such as autism, Aspergers, impulse control, ADD and ADHD. Where seniors have for the most part lost any quality of life. When you consider a recent survey authorized by the Federal government you will be shocked to learn that, “Nearly half of all Americans over the age of 12 take prescription pain relievers, tranquilizers, sedatives or stimulants.” Additionally, research is now clearly demonstrating that the overwhelming use of antibiotics and poor nutrition have degraded genetics and left millions prey to a wide variety of health issues, both physical and mental, and yes, it’s almost all about the gut. Wide spread use of antibiotics began in the US around the turn of the century. For good reasons researchers were looking for cures for some very deadly diseases. Biologist, Paul Ehrlich's idea of a “magic bullet” that selectively targets only disease-causing microbes and not the host was based on an observation that aniline and other synthetic dyes could stain specific microbes but not others. Ehrlich argued that chemical compounds could be synthesized that would be able to exert their full action exclusively on the parasite harbored within the organism. In 1904 he worked with others to find a drug that could cure syphilis. For purposes such as this these, the “new” drugs were indeed lifesaving, however the resulting side effects would create even bigger problems over time. Unfortunately we began to take it too far. The magic bullet became the model from which modern medicine determined to treat all complaints of ill health. From headaches and tummy aches to cancer, one idea, let’s find a pill or potion that will save you from this attack! A good question to ask is, how did we get to this place where the lifesaving bullet has now turned against us? Let’s look at the picture from the MD’s perspective. Doctors are faced with patient complaints on a daily basis. The truth is the average individual will fail to follow the advice from a physician to make changes to their lifestyle. In truth a large percentage of the responsibility for the current state of affairs lies with us, the general population. We may want to say it’s a conspiracy between the medical machine and big pharma, but that really doesn’t fly. Yes, we live in a culture with versions of food that are far from the natural diet of humans. But, can we really blame food manufacturers for making a buck? After all the US is the bastion of capitalism which functions via the mechanism of consumer preferences and choices. They wouldn’t make it if we didn’t buy it! No, in truth, we cannot blame anyone but ourselves. The tag line for my practice, Bridge to Health is, “A Common Sense Approach to Wellness”. Let me repeat the keyword, common sense. I am going to use myself as an example. I do not intend to hold myself up as the perfect know it all, or as one who always makes the best choices for my body/mind all the time. I will not pretend I am a new highly evolved version of a super human being! I will prove my imperfection with one word…ice cream! Oh, not to worry, I can work this rationale out. After all I am a Vata constitution which, according to Ayurveda, is balanced by dairy…Seriously, sometimes you just need ice cream! But, in spite of my foibles, I have endeavored to live a lifestyle as close to natural as I can, eating a whole foods diet with a wide variety of foods. Eating not according to some dogma, and I have learned to fast and to detox when needed. I have also learned that a BIG part of being healthy is about learning to be happy. Here’ my story, to prove a point about having a choice. At the age of 20 I was sick. I had been sick for sometime. When I was in middle school I developed a staff infection in my blood and was given massive doses of antibiotics which I reacted to severely. I was raised on a combo of 1960’s junk foods and Midwest diet, I was allergic, chronically constipated, suffered from spastic colon, with a very stressful home life. No wonder I got so sick! By the time I reached 20 years old I had had one thing after another, including a raging case of candida and serious gut issues. A ray of light came into my world when a friend gave me the best gift I have ever received… a copy of the book Back to Eden, by Jethro Kloss. Jethro Kloss was Seventh Day Adventist, by the way, the Seventh Day Adventist are the original vegans and they ranked on average as the longest lived people in the US. Jethro was also an herbalist and a Naturopath of sorts that really believed the body could heal its self given the right foods, herbs and manual therapies. Unfortunately, he was dismissed by many, especially in the medical field. But he was on the right track. He was truly, a man ahead of his time. I devoured his book and began to seek to educate myself about the body, how it worked, what it needed. My original goal was to feel better that’s for sure, but more important to me at the time was to have beautiful hair! You see mine was dull and lifeless from lack of nutrition and clogged cells. I wanted long glossy hair..please remember I was only 20! So, I began a process of detoxification and fasting. Relying on the books of Ann Wigmore, NW Walker, Bernard Jenson, Raymond Dextreit the French naturopath whose book, “Our Earth, Our Cure”, still stands apart as a monument to COMMOM SENSE! I was supported in my efforts by our humble hometown chiropractor, Dr. GI Jones, on whose recommendation I undertook a series of colonic irrigations, learned about the power of vegetable juices and raw foods, detoxification and supporting the liver. I was literally transformed with the most beautiful lustrous hair you could imagine! I got absolutely hooked on this new understanding. I went on to have two children, whom were raised on a natural foods diet, at least until their teens! What are you going to do when they become teens…. calories, calories, calories! Teens are eating machines and they will eat junk food. They survive, turn thirty, returning to their roots they realize their mom was right, you gotta eat your veggies! My kids were born all natural delivery with no meds during labor, breast feed and had antibiotics only once each in their formative years. They have gone onto to birth three amazing grandchildren who also were natural delivery with no meds, breast feed and raised on a whole foods diet. My grandchildren are physically and imaginatively active, they powerful specimens of what common sense can produce in spite of all the temptations to not do the right thing with one’s diet and lifestyle choices! My poor kids! I’m telling you, I made my kids swallow goldenseal tincture and every other decoction which I made myself. Some of you, a few maybe, remember back in the early 80’s you could not buy herbal tinctures. So I learned to make my own, taking herbal courses and torturing my kids! There were many nights I sat up nursing them through whatever it was, fingers crossed and praying that I was doing the right thing. I had to stand up to those who wanted them to have antibiotics, including my mother, trusting what I knew. Seriously, back in those days, I drove over 2 hours to the nearest whole foods market to buy natural foods, herbs and what organic produce I could find. I was committed and now I truly appreciate my own efforts. I see it has left a legacy of understanding that will carry on through my children and grandchildren. Back here in 2019, in spite of the advances in research and the growing understanding about inflammation, cellular function and the importance of a healthy gut, there is a persistent tendency to fall back into that the allopathic model. Many ND’s are using intense and expensive nutrient supplementation or IV infusion therapies along with antibiotics and other medications with little focus on lifestyle and dietary changes. In short, I believe we are still a nation looking for the quick fix outside ourselves. I am not debunking what a well educated and dedicated practitioner such as an ND or an MD can bring to the table. But, I am saying that when the focus is on the SELL, with a cure that will cost more than what the average consumer can afford to pay. We have to ask is this the answer? The terms Holistic and Natural Healing have, in some cases been high jacked by modern practitioners cashing in on desperation. Let’s face it, the new concierge model of health care is for the wealthy. My message is this, that with a little common sense and a dedication to ones self much can be done to improve health and wellbeing. The wellness consultant is in a unique position to offer unbiased information to educate the consumer about the options available and that the true natural medicine which is, living a health promoting lifestyle. The wellness consultant can affordably coach someone through a major diet change, helping people recover from the addictive foods they have chosen to eat and regain their balance. Giving people the opportunity to be guided into the truth that once you get through the withdrawal it becomes so much easier to give yourself the healthier thing simply because it feels better! I encourage everyone who is listening to join the thousands of Americans who have finally gotten sick of being sick. Who stand up and say, “I don’t have to go down this path, I can choose differently”. Reversing disease and creating wellness is an ongoing consistent daily journey. When we find our own inner healer and the people to support that process, we are truly on the path. With this kind of empowerment the MD or ND, Acupuncturist, massage therapist, chiropractor, psychologist or counselor become supporting cast members and the individual, powered by an evolving sense of intuition becomes aware that they are their own best healer. A pictorial on some of the things you can do to enhance wellbeing.....
|
VanessaCertified Wellness Consultant speaks up! Categories
All
Archives
November 2022
|