I came across this wonderful photo when I was searching for an image for Bridge to Health's monthly Meet-up, Chi Nei Tsang Learn & Share during which I will be teaching Laughing Chi Kung. It may seem odd to practice laughing, but there is actually scientific data that suggests that the importance of "learning to be happy" when your younger is essential to maintaining happiness through out your lifetime. It seems that unless you cultivate your ability to be happy and enjoy life you can actually lose the feeling of happiness as you age. Happiness is then inevitably lost! The Proverbs 17:12, tells us a "happy heart does good like a medicine". The many benefits of laughter help us to cultivate our sense of happiness and brings so much more to the table. Benefits of Laughter
Beyond practicing laughter as a form of healing meditation and the cultivation of chi (energy and information) it is important to keep life on the lighter side. You can do this by....
Laughing Chi Kung:
Opening Practice
Learn More about Chi Kung
0 Comments
THESE IDEOLOGIES AND FADS DO NOT WORK AND ARE UNSUSTAINABLE! WHAT DOES WORK IS A CONSISTENTLY DILIGENT ATTEMPT TO MAKE BETTER CHOICES. I have seen many fads in the health and diet industry come and go over the years. Most of them are unlivable! Eating dogmatically according to some philosophy be it Keto, Vegan, Vegetarian, Fruitarian or the "#@%& it all" SAD Diet which many people still believe it doesn't matter what you eat. Many companies offer a panacea of supplemental nutrient support. They say you can't be healthy unless you consume our protein shake and other nutrient capsules. Costly and unsustainable, certainly not natural! One of the more recent fads is intermittent fasting. This means restricting food intake on a daily basis by extending your nighttime food'less fasting period by not eating until later in the day. In most cases early afternoon. This is okay on occasion, but when practiced as a lifestyle it is dangerous to your health. Followed consistently intermittent fasting can lead to nutritional deficiencies, anorexia, binge eating, blood sugar fluctuations and metabolic imbalances. As a general rule the body does best on a regular consistent schedule. Your liver has the ability to anticipate what you are going to eat and when. This pattern is the "hum" of your daily biological life. When you force the body to fast consistently and continuously the body's natural metabolic rhythms are thrown off. On the other hand, when we fast for over three days the body goes into ketosis and begins to burn off any cellular debris. This state allows for consistency in blood sugar levels due to auto-metabolism. In other words your immune system is breaking down cellular debris and the protein byproducts are now available to the body. The longer you fast the deeper the cleansing effects. Here's the difference...when you break a fast you reintroduce foods slowly. Starting from very light foods and gradually working your way back to protein rich foods and fats. This gradual transition is biologically programmed into your body's DNA. Fasting is a natural part of the cycle of life. Intermittent fasting doesn't bring the body into a true state of ketosis. It is stressful to the adrenals and liver. It can lead to eating heavier meals to make up for the calorie deficit. Eventually metabolism lowers and although you may have some short term benefits of feeling lighter and losing some weight, in the long run your appestat (the region of the hypothalamus of the brain which is believed to control a person's appetite for food.) will be thrown off. Proponents of intermittent fasting are not always looking at the bigger picture of the health of the body over time. There is a tendency in this community to place importance on being thinner and having less body fat with an underlying drive to always be "working" at controlling the body through the mind! That is not a natural way to live. We want to endeavor to find our own balance. This balance comes from within. That is not to say you may have a period of time in which your appetite is lower. Pay attention to that and accommodate your needs in a way that is right for you. That may mean skipping a meal, or going lighter for a few days. It may mean you undertake a season of detoxing or fasting. But then you regain your balance and allow the body to get back to it's daily rhythm, naturally! The same holds true for eating ideologies...Keto, Vegan, Vegetarian, fruitarian, raw food. Your cells may not agree with your ideological of dogmatic food strategy! You may believe you are making the planet a better place by eating vegan and you would be right in that your elimination of animal products is creating a tiny impact on consumption, supply and demand. You may feel better for now, but this lifestyle is fraught with the potential for nutritional deficiencies that can be dangerous and impactful as you age. If this is your choice, you must be well educated to maintain your nutritional balance. The same is true for keto, which is the Atkins Diet recirculated. Dr. Atkins died of a heart attack! This is a diet fraught with imbalances. Healthy forms of carbohydrate are important sources of fiber, zinc and other nutrients. The truth is humans are omnivores. We can eat all kinds of things! That's why we have survived all these 1000's of years. However the best diet is one that stays close to natural. Staying away from processed foods, trans fats and junk foods is just smart. I love the way Michael Pollan puts it, "eat food, not too much, mostly plants# My belief is that a healthier body and mind come from making consistently better choices based on loving yourself. Think of it this way, would you impose upon child or pet some of the crazy diets and fads you have tried? Would you stuff nutrient pills down their throats or make them drink awful combinations of things that taste terrible. Would you feed that child or pet the SAD diet, forcing them to eat it in spite of seeing that it's making them fat and unhealthy! Have you done this to yourself? Here's the good news....regular seasonal detoxing gives you a chance to hit the RESET BUTTON! Detoxing and fasting resets the appestat, the part of your brain that controls hunger and a sense of satisfaction. The cleaner and stronger feeling you have in the body after a detox sets a new normal for you, becoming a motivating factor in consistently making better choices. As you continue to move forward with regular weekly mini-detoxes and longer seasonal detoxes you will find that you will gravitate toward what "feels good" in your body. You may have that cheeseburger and fires, and one cheeseburger does not your whole life make, but you will notice that it's heavy, greasy and not the nourishment that works best for you. So, the next time you have a choice you may only have the fries and a salad as a way of LOVING YOURSELF! Consistently making better choices!!! Naturally Bridge to Health offers Detoxification options such as Seasonal Detoxes, Natural Weight Loss and 30 Day Detox Plans as an integrated part of a health balanced lifestyle.
Certified Wellness Consultant, Vanessa Goldeen offers a free 15 minute phone consult to help guide you to making good choices to improve your health and wellbeing. Book you Session Today! Detoxification: What it is and Why do it! Understanding the auto-intoxication is responsible for most of the body ills we suffer with. It makes perfect sense that to detoxify the body will lead to improvement in overall health and wellbeing. That's just common sense! Look at those around you, what do you see? Look in the mirror and tell me what do you see there? Do you see a people/a person....
But, this is the first step toward a healthier you, a healthier community and a healthier world! One of my clients seeking to undertake an upcoming Bridge toHealth On-line Seasonal Detox, asked me to explain detoxification. Prompted by his question I decided to post this blog to throw light on this subject. Starting with what will detoxification do for you and then moving onto to what is it..read on! We DETOXIFY to HEAL! When we take a break from richer heavier foods we are resting internal organs and allowing the body's natural defense force...IMMUNITY to take a break from cleaning up our daily indulgence, so this amazingly complex system can focus on "house "cleaning" Detoxification will...
Regular fasting or periods eating lighter are an integral part of natural life for both animals and humans. However, we have insulated ourselves from seasonal fluctuations in available foods to the point that we fail to realize, sometime our bodies need a break from all this CONSUMPTION! Detoxification, done regularly throughout the year and each month will restore body and soul to a cleaner lighter version of yourself, plain and simple. The clarity that comes from detoxing is the most remarkable aspect. All of my Bridge to Health Detoxers report an amazing feeling of being "high". Feeling empowered with a greater sense of purpose and higher level of energy! We DETOXIFY to RAISE CONSCIOUSNESS Maya Angelo said, "when we know better, we do better". This homey wisdom stated so simply is POWERFUL! The affect of knowing better is the ENLIGHTENMENT it brings! Enlightenment is the attaining of knowledge, insight and awareness. The more you have the better life is, for YOU, for YOUR FAMILY, YOUR PERSONAL COMMUNITY and the larger COMMUNITY of HUMANITY! Think I'm getting carried away... "Not Creating delusions is enlightenment." Bodhidharma "Enlightenment means taking responsibility for your life" William Blake "One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious." Carl Jung What is detoxification? To detoxify means to rest the body from your usual diet. It can be a simple as skipping a meal if you tummy is out of sorts, to restricting food intake in a variety of ways. Such as:
Bridge to Health offers 4 Seasonal guided and on-line detoxes to support the development of regular detoxing as a part of a healthy lifestyle. Detoxification is not...
This lovely passage from the Book of Isaiah sums up beautifully the reason to fast and the benefits that come to us as we dedicate ourselves to enlightenment! Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, If you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed...
To help you make an educated choice about detoxification to improve your health and wellbeing... go to this link and schedule a free personal phone consultation with Certified Wellness Consultant, Vanessa Goldeen. Learn More about Vanessa Goldeen's Wellness Practice The COVID-19 viral scare started just prior to my recent trip to California to undertake continuing training courses for my Chi Nei Tsang certification through the Chi Nei Tsang Institute/Tao Touch with Master Teacher Gilles Marin. While we were there in the midst of the storm, Gilles offered the advice reprinted below. What he presents in in line with the foundation of my practice...it's JUST COMMONSENSE! Below you will find reassurance and knowledge! Maya Angelo said, "When we know better, we do better" We fear influenza because it does pose the potential to take lives. The elderly, the immune compromised and the young. Everyone else in between would be unlikely to develop symptoms that could be life threatening, if they are in good health. Having a strong immune system is an investment you make in yourself. The foundations of having a strong immune system are basic...
Essential Oils as a preventative against the Covid-19 transmuting virus strains For centuries populations world wide have relied on sacred plants for healing. When one takes a closer look at these plants we see that they all contain high levels of what are called phenols. These are a particular class of flavonoids contained with in herbaceous plants. Phenolic compounds have long been associated with a variety of biochemical and pharmacological properties including antioxidant, antiviral, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory activities. To learn more about current research on the efficacy of phenolic plant oils see this abstract,"Essential Oils as Antiviral Agents" from the National Center for Biotechnology Information, NCBI Here are some of the top essential oils for use against viral infections including SARS-CoV-2
** Menthol is a concentrated extract of mint that is so pure it crystalizes upon extraction. Menthol crystal is made liquid when added to another essential oil or carrier oil such as coconut oil. It can also be liquified with alcohol. I use a small amount of alcohol added in a few drops to my jar of menthol. This allows me to use a tooth pick to catch a tiny amount of menthol to add to my steam inhaler. Menthol is extremely potent and should only be used in very tiny amounts. There are a variety of ways to use these powerfully protecting oils to prevent the Covid virus from colonizing in your nose, nasal passages, sinuses, eye, ears and mouth. Essential Oil Inhalation: Using a vessel such as this small hand held inhaler from VICKS, or a steamy pot of water on your stove you would ada few drops of a blend of at least three essential oils in the list above. Be careful not to overload the inhaler. These oils are extremely pungent! Gently breath the steamy air into your nose and also through your mouth. The steamy vapors will also reach up to the eye are and may cause your eye to water. This is GOOD. The tears will wash out the eye the oil vapor will kill or greatly reduce any viral presence. Repeat this procedure at least 3-4 times daily. I know it may seem like a hassle, but getting this virus is far worse! I use this Vick V1300 Inhaler differently than suggested by the manufacturer. I do not use the plastic top section, it does not fit most faces very well. I heat water salted with whole sea salt to the near boiling point, pour into enough water to reach the carburetor. Then simply inhale through the nose and mouth up t ten times. I usually hit it again before it's cooled off. Repeating through out the day. You can reheat the same salt water and add more oils, literally just a drop or two of the oils of your choice. Essential Oil Diffusers: These handy tools are a good way to diffuse the phenols of essential oils into your room(s). Having multiple diffusers going in your home or office is the best way to go. Again these oils are potent, don't over do it, but do keep them regularly refilled and add more oils through the day. We run them in our home and office 24/7. There are many essential oils companies that provide oil blends to fit the bill. DoTERRA's On Guard, Eden's Garden's Fighting Five, Plant Therapy's Germ Fighter, Rocky Mountain Oils Breath Ease are just a few of the reputable essential oil providers to choose from. Masking: There are lots of arguments about the effectiveness of masking up. Regardless of which side of the fence you're on, the mask allows you an opportunity to further expand your use of essential oils to prevent infection. Using either a light alcohol blend of oils in a spray or simple apply a drop of oil or oil blend to your finger tip and then rub onto the surface of your mask, concentrating in the area of the nostrils. This will provide a continuos source of protection while you're out and about! Some of the essential oil companies have room sprays that will work for mask application. Reprinted by permission...Gilles Marin Instructions to prevent getting the flu, or any kind of other airborne sickness, and to help eradicate the COVID-19 contagion: Being in times of epidemics we have to assume that we are carrying the flu virus or covid-19 with us all the time. The only thing we can do is to neutralize it, on and in ourselves, to prevent it from reproducing and spreading.
If you feel like you are just getting the flu:
Additional Info: The flu virus cannot survive a disinfected environment, so, even, and especially, if it is already in your system, it needs several days to incubate before it can reproduce and make you very sick. It incubates in your throat and your nasal cavities. If you gargle with a disinfectant and breathe essential oils of thyme it will kill the virus during its incubation period and you should feel relieved within a day or two. However it is essential to continue the treatment for three days to make sure you eliminated the possibilities of new infections during the time of incubation. Avoid mucus producing food products such as pasteurized dairy, sugar, especially in drinks such as sodas and reconstituted fruit juices from concentrates, starches such as industry produced boxed cereals, potatoes, wheat, corn and rice, and their derivatives. Don’t tax your system with overeating. Even healthy foods in excess strains the digestive organs leading to congestion. Eating lightly will save your energy for your immune defense system. If you feel like you are not getting better that means that you will get worse: It is recommended that you do not go to the hospital. Hospitals are already overwhelmed by the excess number of people seeking shelter and medical attention. In addition, all they can do there is to keep you under observation and feed you the worst diet while being quarantined with a bunch of other infected people. Remember hospitals don’t provide home remedies and they are unable to provide you with the diet you will need to recover. It will be much better to prepare yourself to stay at home especially if you get sicker, weaker and unable of taking care of yourself. Be Perpared: You need to build a network of support by connecting together a circle of friends and family members on which you can count on to take care of each other. Tell them your plan if one of you gets sick. Keep an eye on each other and provide care and nutrition. You have to build that network before you get too weak to ask for help. Use your phone, use the internet, establish a circle of relationship to check on each other on a regular basis. The better part of our humanity comes out naturally out of people during times of crisis. We need to enhance this natural capacity to help evolve our social skills toward being helpful, supportive and more humane with each other. This will eventually make human consciousness evolve naturally toward a better future. Make a list of the kind of food you need, cooked the way you like it. You will probably loose all your appetite for several days. Preparing to eat minimally but vital. Green algae, maca, whole food source multivitamins, and other "super foods". Have these items on hand now, before anyone gets ill. Call and consult with your local health food stores. Simple blended soups and fortified drinks or smoothies are good choices. Make chicken stock or bone broth with vegetables. Blend it so it is easy to drink and to dilute if your appetite goes down. Gilles's Grandmother’s famous 7 Vegetables Longevity Soup Recipe About Gilles Marin... Founder and Director of the Chi Nei Tsang Institute and Taoist Healing Energetics in Berkeley, California. Gilles has studied and practiced massage therapy since 1976. Born in the south of France, he received his degree in Philosophy of Education and afterwards studied with Aikido Master Andre Noquet President of the European Aikido Federation. Master Noquet taught traditional healing methods such as kuatsu, shiatsu and jin shin jyutsu which he studied in Japan in the 1950’s with legendary martial arts master and peace activist Morihei Ueshiba, founder of Aikido. Credentials.... Director of the Chi Nei Tsang Institute - Berkeley, California Founding Director - Taoist Healing Energetics - Berkeley, California Co-directeur de l'institut de Chi Nei Tsang - Nice, France Universal Healing Tao and Chi Nei Tsang Senior Instructor Author: Healing From Within with Chi Nei Tsang Five Elements, Six Conditions, A Taoist Approach to Emotional Healing, Psychology, and Internal Alchemy Healing Buddha Palms Chi Kung Numerous Guided Meditations available as CDs or downloads "There is no intelligence required for healing. To heal, we don't need to be intelligent, we don't need to be good, and we don't need to deserve it. Healing is pure grace. To heal, we do need honesty. We need to be true to ourselves. We need to be able to admit that we have feelings we wish we didn't have. We need to own these feelings so we can outgrow them, and so we can mature as human beings." Gilles Marin
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. Over use of antibiotics is leading us to have more powerful bacteria proliferating. The incidence of antibiotic resistant bacteria is on the rise. BTH blog post "How did we get here - The State of Wellness in American", addresses this issue. Basically when we delve outside the parameters of natural biology we can get into trouble. I'm not saying antibiotic therapy doesn't have it's place. It has been nothing short of a miracle in many cases of extreme infection. But, when we use them as a prophylactic measure with every case of colds or flu, the body's natural immune response is circumvented which weakens immunity in the long run. In this way we are unwittingly contribute to the development of "super bugs"! Many of you may be unaware of the presence of an antibiotic you are likely ingesting every time you eat pre-grated or pre-crumbled cheeses! Natamycin, technically an antifungal has been approved by the FDA for use on cheeses that are pre-grated/crumbled. It is a mold derived medication originally used for eye infections. A doctor prescribing it would make certain that the patient was not allergic to it before prescribing it, but now anyone sensitive to it would not know that and could become quite ill or go into anaphylaxis after eating cheese laced with it. The cumulative effect of ingesting this is a reduction in immunity and the eventual creation of molds and fungi that are resistant to this retardant. Microbiological evolution! We can change this trend by becoming educated about how to maintain a healthy immune function and minimize the use of antibiotics. The immune system needs a work out. This helps it to be strong. When we are eating an unnatural diet, have used antibiotics, have low beneficial microbial environments in the stomach, gut and colon we become highly susceptible to infection. The weakened immune system cannot function as it is meant to. Immunity is a holistic and synchronistic function. It involves the glandular system, the digestive system, the blood and lymphatic systems. Major players are also the liver, gallbladder, and colon. Immunity functions best on a variety of whole foods, plenty of water, fresh air, sunshine and good sleep. The flora needs to fed and kept vibrant by integrating live probiotic rich food sources into the diet. Foods such as kefir, yogurt, sourdough breads, fermented vegetables, raw vinegars and miso have been used for thousands of years because of their health promoting qualities...a rich source of probiotic! There are in nature abundant sources of antimicrobial herbs and agents. Dr. Keith Scott Mumby of the UK, provides us with a wealth of information on this topic in the pdf provided below. I know these options work, because I have employed them for myself and my family members for over 40 years. Dr. Mumby explores the use of chlorine dioxide which is currently used in many parts of the world for microbial infections. BTH will be posting on this subject sometime in 2020...look for that. Here is an excerpt from a blog post on the BTH "DIY Wellness Care Forum". We offer a thirty day trial membership to this forum, for those who are interested in educating themselves in the areas of building and maintaining a healthy happy body! The focus of the list below is to provide you with botanical options for staving off bacterial infections and overgrowths of fungus. These botanicals are very effective. I have used many of them over the past forty years in which I have been able to stay antibiotic free by treating infections with sound natural adjunct therapies and fasting.
With the botanicals above it is important that you add only one at a time. Start with one and build up to the maximum dose over a period of a week to 10 days. If no adverse reactions occur move onto the next option. It is important to note that you may begin to experience herxing or die-off reactions as these herbs begin to affect the bacterial growth. To prevent excessive herxing, back down dosage, if symptoms lighten or abate, it was die-off and not an adverse reaction. You may need to consult with your ND, MD or Wellness Consultant to determine if you are having a reaction or die-off symptoms. Botanicals are only part of the picture. Treating holistically means making dietary adjustments, detoxing and fasting, using poultices and hands on modalities to promote circulation and resting when you are ill! Bridge to Health offering Wellness Consulting as a means of receiving the support and education you need to achieve a higher standard of health and wellness.
Most of us take our ability to breathe effortlessly for granted. But, when you suffer with the sinuses you become painfully aware of how wonderful it would be to be able to breath fully! Sinus symptoms are:
Sinus related conditions include:
From a naturopathic perspective prevention is the right move, but when you're in the throws of sinusitis many simple natural remedies often provide a better treatment than antibiotics. Antibiotics are a slippery slope. It is well documented that repeated use of antibiotics undermines your immunity and produces resistant stains of bacteria. See the home treatment recommendations at the bottom of the page. These recommendations are useful whether or not you are taking a course of antibiotics. If your reading this article, you likely have suffered with recurrent sinus issues. Let's take a look at the underlying causes of sinus problems. A primary cause of chronic sinusitis is the fact that an acute sinusitis was treated ineffectively, which then leads to further attacks. Other causes are overuse of decongestant nasal sprays, smoking, swimming, diving, allergies, or as the Chinese say, an underlying disharmony within the body that presents itself as sinusitis. Chinese Medicine understands that any symptom in the body is a result of disharmony. In the case of sinus conditions the #1 imbalance stems from the stomach and/or liver, secondarily the spleen. Congestion or depletion of energy in the stomach, liver or spleen are at the root of all sinus conditions. Overeating fats, hot spicy foods, sweets, or drinking alcohol create ‘damp’ and ‘heat’ in the body. Damp form phlegm while heat moves upwards (a bit like steam) lodging in the lungs and nasal cavities. This is your common cold scenario, but susceptibility to colds and flu are a result of lifestyle choices. Eating or drinking excessively, irregularly and unhealthily eating and sleep habits damage liver, stomach and spleen energy. The result is a predisposition to develop a manifestations of damp/heat conditions such as sinusitis and/or bronchitis. For a deeper understanding of the Chinese Medicine approach to healing sinus conditions check out this article from Acupuncture Council of Ireland, "Understanding Sinusitis from a Chinese perspective" For those with chronics sinus conditions emotional aspects should also be considered. Worry, stress, long term frustrations and anger issues will affect the health of the stomach, liver and spleen. Chi Nei Tsang deep organ manipulation provides an excellent therapy to relieve congestion of these organs and promote release of nervous energy trapped in the body systems. Anyone in the US who would like to connect with acupuncturist as a treatment option for chronic sinusitis can find a practitioner in your area by visiting the NCCAOM (National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine) practitioner directory. If you are local to Phoenix/Scottsdale Arizona, my personal recommendation is Linda Lofaro LAc and practitioner of Chinese herbal medicine, Wholeself. If you are on a budget the Phoenix Institute of Herbal Medicine and Acupuncture offers a clinic that provides very affordable treatment with advanced students working under the direction of master teachers. Home Treatments to improve Sinusitis
The Bridge to Health Sinus Recovery Protocol offers you 3 month access to diet, lifestyle changes, nutritional and herbal support to end the vicious cycle of sinus conditions. This is an affordable to way to turn your health around and end antibiotic use! Take a step toward improved wellness and purchase your Sinus Recovery Protocol today! A common experience of most women, a vaginal yeast infection poses no long term problems, but they can become incredibly painful if protracted and recurrent. The tendency to develop yeast infections or oral yeast infections, "thrush" often indicates a potential systemic candida albicans yeast over growth. If you suspect you may have a systemic yeast overgrowth take the quiz in the BTH Candida Blog. It's a fairly good indicator of a potential microbiome imbalance. This Yeast Infection protocol will provide you with simple and effective means of healing the condition and provide support for avoiding further infections. What is the cause of a yeast infection? An overgrowth of candida yeast. This yeast strain is a normal part of the human biological eco system. It is present on the surface of your skin, digestive tract and inner cavities of the body. When it gets the green light to overgrow it's normal bounds it can proliferate in any warm moist part of the body. It begins to create inflammation and feeds off the byproducts of that process, getting stronger and multiplying even more! How does the yeast get the green light? This is a multifaceted answer.... There are many factors. Starting with the simplest factor. Moisture accumulating in the vaginal area...diaper rash is a yeast infection. So, wearing restrictive underwear that are all nylon or polyester which traps moisture and warmth, not allowing for proper ventilation. Yoga pants can do the same. Heavy sugar or alcohol consumption can foster yeast growth. Intercourse can contribute. Some men have low level jock itch...another variation of a yeast infection, they pass excessive yeast onto you when you have vaginal sex. A systemic yeast overgrowth is usually the primary cause for recurrent infections, more than 2 or 3 per year. Perhaps the most major contributing factor is the use of antibiotics, which kill off healthy probiotics that balance the yeast. See the blog, The State of Wellness in American, to learn more about the magic bullet of antibiotics and the downside we are all paying for now! How can it be treated? Since Candida is a fungus it can be treated with an anti fungal cream. There are many on the market that do work to a limited range. The problem with the use of these creams is that the yeast will eventually become unaffected by it. Thereby when we use these drugs we are unwittingly create more virulent strains of the yeast. We pass these super strains on to our children...it's basic evolution! An evolution we do not want to encourage. The same phenomenon has happened with antibiotics and we now have super strains of bacteria that are deadly and cannot be controlled with antibiotics. The best and most effective way to treat yeast infections is to clean up the environment that allows the yeast to multiple. The Bridge to Health Yeast Infection Recovery Protocol offers an affordable way to get the help you need to heal the underlying causes that lead to yeast infections. Purchase your Yeast Recovery Protocol and get started today! Ginger (Zingiber officinale) An interesting fact about ginger...it is an entirely cultivated plant. It was bred from wild plants, over 5,000 years ago to arrive at the state we now find it in. Originally cultivated in the islands of Southeast Asia it's popularity quickly spread through out the whole of Asia. It is one of the first spices exported to the Middle East in the 1st. Century CE. The applications of ginger in the culinary world knows no bounds. From savory to sweet this spicy herb works well with everything! Beyond it's culinary uses, ginger has been a standard go to for herbalist and the topic of much scientific investigation for its many uses. Ginger contains gingerol a powerful anti-inflammatory agent. It is also a potent antioxidant. This makes it wonderful for any condition of congestion, whether it be mucosal congestion from coughs, colds, asthma, bronchitis or blood congestion from an infection, over burdened liver, spleen or stomach. Researchers have determined that ginger tea is the single most useful treatment for morning sickness during pregnancy. In cases of stomachaches, indigestions, sluggish digestion ginger as a tea or in capsules will clear things up quickly. Because of it's anti-inflammatory properties is is extremely helpful for sore achy muscles, tendonitis, bursitis and arthritis. Patients with osteoarthritis have been effectively treated for pain using ginger extracts and topical applications. Poultices made of castor oil mixed with powdered ginger are excellent for decongesting the chest or the liver and also beneficial in reduce the pain of menstrual cramping. Ginger has also been cited for its ability to reduce blood sugars making it an excellent choice for those who are pre-diabetic or suffer with type 2 diabetes. Combine with a healthy low glycemic diet many have been able to reverse this condition. The best thing about ginger is the taste...everyone loves the taste of ginger! Extremely juicy this rhizome is an excellent addition to fresh raw fruit and vegetable drinks. As a tea, cut and sifted ginger can be added to any of your favorite herbal, green or black teas. Powdered ginger added to nut milks, smoothies and sauces. Ginger oil has been used for aromatherapy for centuries both topically and diffused. Fresh ginger always a plus when you can find plump fresh cuttings. Watch out for moldy ginger...it easily grows green penicillium mold. Asian markets usually have the BEST ginger! Don't accept shriveled or slimy rhizomes. If the fresh choice doesn't look good, ditch it for a dried or powdered form. Bridge to Health is pleased to announce an addition to our blogging family, Faith Grutzmacher. Faith is an avid user of essential oils and has applied herself to understanding more about the power of essential oils and their application. We are please to have her sharing what has had learned with our readers! When someone is thinking of their health, emotions aren’t usually at the top of that list. However, our emotional health does directly influence how the rest of our body feels and functions. Emotional distress can come over us like a wave and affects our overall quality of life and how we feel day-to-day. Emotional health can have an affect on your decision making abilities, how we interact with others and how we respond to events happening in our lives. Stress is usually the culprit, this feeling can negatively impact our mood making it difficult and challenging to face our life circumstances and dealings with others. No matter what is distressing us, it is important to find the tools and coping methods to help combat the negative emotions encroaching our mind - otherwise it can seriously impact our quality of life. Among the many resources available to us I have found amazing benefits from using oils in my daily routine to help me keep my emotional health in check. Essential oils have been used as a form of aromatherapy and alternative medicines for centuries. Every essential oil has its own unique chemical properties, but most oils can be categorized as having either uplifting or calming properties. Keep reading to learn about 10 doTERRA essential oils that can be used for emotional health. When choosing essential oils, make sure you check the quality. Not all oils are created with the Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade label a indicator of processing and volatility rating of the essence. the American College of Health Sciences offering this additional information on understanding what you are buying when it comes to essential oils, 5 Top Ways to Check Quality of Essential Oils. 10 best essential oils for emotional health...reprinted from doTERRA a leading essential oil manufacturer and distributor or high quality essential oils. UPLIFTING OILS
Applying essential oils for emotional benefits. When you are ready to try essential oils there are many ways to effectively experience the powerful effects they can offer. Try any of these application methods:
Breathing and feeling our feelings is intimately connected. As a teacher and student of Chi Nei Tsang I have become acutely aware of this connection in my own life. As a practitioner of Chi Nei Tsang, I see this connection or lack off it in my students/clients. Most of us are unaware of this connection, but as you reflect back to times of emotional pain or joy you will see how powerful the breath is during an emotional experience. We have sayings that illustrate this connection...upon the end of a difficult or stressful situation we often say. "finally, I can breath again!", or we advise someone, to take some time off to "catch their breath." When we are in the throws of anger our breath becomes rapid and full. When we are anxious our breath becomes shallow and is like panting. When we are deeply engaged in concentration we may actually be holding our breath. We also tend to hold our breath when we are in a suppressive and/or abusive relationship, toxic work situation, or are facing a fearful event. Breath is life. When we connect to breath we are able to experience life more fully. Unfortunately what I see in the treatment room shows a story of disconnection to breath. An initial Chi Nei Tsang sessions often begin with the practitioner connecting energetically with the student. We do this by placing hands on the sides of the neck and the back of the skull in order to read the pulses of the student. Additionally, we are watching the breathing pattern of that individual, who has been asked to breath in their normal breathing pattern. In most cases what is observable is a short, shallow breath using only a minimal amount of energy and focused on the stomach only or only in the chest. Why is this a problem? The natural cycle of breath is a one stroke movement of the diaphragm. The diaphragm drops with the in breath which in turn moves the stomach up and out, the chest follows next, rising to expand the lungs all the way to the top. Your lungs fill the internal thoracic cavity from the bottom of the rib cage to the space just below your clavicle bones. When you breath fully the chest expands and the ribs follow suit. It is the rhythmic movement of the breath that syncs us to our emotional states, allowing us to fully feel our emotional experiences. When we do not or are not able to fully experience our emotional states we become disconnected from self. Further, we are now unable to process the energy of those emotions and clear the chi, or the energetic quality of those experiences. This energy then becomes stuck in the system. A pattern is set and we begin to suppress the breath as a highly effective tool to keep us from feelings what we are not equipped to handle in the moment. The basic patterns I see when practicing with students is an inability to draw a full breath, ie resisting feelings. I also commonly see folks who are unable to fully release the breath and the stagnant air from the lung, ie inability to let go and flow with life, holding onto experiences, unable to fully process and release. The problem with this pattern is the stuck'ness that it creates. This stuck place also keeps us from maturing out of our strong emotional reactions. In essence we are unable to digest and process these emotional states and release them as no longer useful to us. We become "emotionally constipated"! This phenomenon of blocked emotions tends to wreck havoc with our physical body whose functions become impeded by the blocked chi. Unable to be released, something has to give! We see the development of psychosomatic illness, allergies, leaky gut, joint complaints, constipation, IBS, ulcers, GERD, asthma. Eventually unhealed congested emotional blockages can develop in life threatening illness, cancer, heart attacks, autoimmune disorders such as Chrohn's, lupus and a myriad of other chronic conditions. The good news...all that can be changed and healed by allowing a little at a time each day to connect with your breath. There are MANY ways to accomplish this from simply setting aside a few moments to consciously connect with your breath and expanding it gently. Practicing yoga, chi kung, tai chi, martial arts. All of these modalities are meditative practices involving exercise and breath work. Hiking, running, playing sports also connects with breath and relieves stress. Dancing, will get your breath moving and it's fun! There is no need to fear our emotions. There may have been a time in your life that your emotional experiences seemed to big to deal with, but as you learn to connect with the alchemy of the breath you will find your balance. You will find that a little attention paid to noticing what you are feeling will initiate a gentle unwinding of the emotional tension. You will open to the joy of your being as you create a stronger sense of being grounded which will empower you to release all that does not serve you! Learn more about releasing what no longer serves you...Heart - Zero Point Process. During the Month of February each year Bridge to health offers discounted Zero Point Process Sessions as an opportunity to begin to release what isn't working for you! Massage therapist, David Goldeen, specializes in Myofascial Release Therapy. In his practice he encounters blocked breathing patterns as well. He observes..."I see people in my treatment room that do not breath deeply or fully. This tendency is commonly caused by unconsciously holding their breath when they are scared, anxious, nervous or excited. The ongoing response pattern creates restriction in the muscles between their ribs (intercostal muscles) and their diaphragm. Eventually the restriction in this area will produce symptoms as decrease flexibility begins tp produce profound restriction of movement". He goes onto to offer his clients and you, my readers an easily undertaken "homework" assignment! Find a quiet time at least once a day and take 20 long slow breaths. This assignment develops awareness of the breath, they begin to notice when they are holding their breath. The new found awareness empowers them to create a shift and breath with more fully. Learn more about Myofascial Release and David Goldeen, LMT, BCTMB. Mr. Goldeen treats patients and teaches Myofascial Release exclusively. He has been practice massage therapy for over 30 years. The Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals organization has this post which offers further insight to working with breath, Conscious Breathing |
VanessaCertified Wellness Consultant speaks up! Categories
All
Archives
February 2024
|