Green Health Spot

The Emotional Component to Allergies

 I've long studied the impact of the emotions on the immune system and thought I would bring up this topic as a possible consideration for those of you dealing with chronic allergies or chemical sensitivities. In my practice I use a modality called NAET to reset the body's response to allergens.  It's hugely effective for getting rid of gluten intolerances, nut allergies, chemical sensitivities etc. One thing that I've noticed in some of my patients is their lack of response to the ordinary treatment. When this happens there can be an emotional blockage that also needs to be treated in order to fully desensitize the body from the allergen. Because my treatments deal with acupressure points and resetting the body's reactivity by subtly communicating with the subconscious to assist in stopping the reaction, these treatments act quickly and profoundly with no side effects.  Doing these same treatments will help better address and rebalance any emotional components related to an allergic reaction.

Food, for instance, can have many emotional connections with it, both good and bad. Strong emotional connections such as receiving bad news during a meal or viewing a tragic event while eating can subconsciously connect the food you were eating at the time of receiving the bad news or viewing the tragedy.  This is when your immune system gets involved and starts to react to the food you were eating during the event. Long after you might have forgotten about the event and the news, your immune system has not. Somewhere in your subconscious your immune system can link that food to something emotionally "bad" and react to the food consistently in the future. Then voila, an emotional link to a food which then your body is allergic to.  This is quite common in eating disorders, food cravings, migraines, autoimmune disorders, fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue.

The body and mind work in mysterious ways. Next time you are being treated for a food sensitivity or allergy of any kind, if you aren't succeeding in clearing up the allergies easily, consider emotional causes. Clearing out the link of a negative emotion and a food or other allergen is just as easy to do as resetting the body's reaction to the food itself. The emotional connection needs to be directly addressed and your doctor can usually help you with that. Once the emotional connection is cleared out and addressed the further clearing of you allergy or sensitivity should be smooth sailing.

Share

5 Ways to Add a Few Years to Your Life

Having a meaningful existence is imperative to longevity and healthy living.  Here are some easy ways to add pep to your step and a few years to your life.  These are simple, easy to accomplish tasks that can add more joy and meaning to your life.  Kind reader, please add to this list by replying to this post and let others know what you do to add joy and fun into your life.

1. Find something or someone to love deeply.  This can be a pet, a project, a child, a someone, a hobby.  Finding something or someone that stimulates your passion for living is a great way to add vitality into your life.
2. Do whatever it takes to get great sleep.  This includes knowing that you are dreaming.  Good deep, restorative sleep requires REM sleep which lets your dream and remember that you have dreamed.  You do not need to remember your dreams, necessarily, but knowing that you dream is essential.  If you aren't able to remember your dreams, then you might be vitamin B6 deficient.  I recommend a supplement of vitamin b6 to help with this.  But try not to take it at night because it can keep you up. 
3. Be your own best friend and find the meaning of a deep, rewarding friendship that is eternal.  Be comfortable with who you are, love where you are in life and try to be forgiving for your past mistakes.  Most people will find this very difficult but it is essential to peace and living the soulful life.
4. Forgive someone.  This may be an ex-fill-in-the-blank.  An ex-wife, ex-husband, ex-friend, ex-boss.  Someone who you have been holding a grudge toward and know that the anger, resentment that you harbor really inhibits you from living your life freely and with passion.  Do yourself the favor of letting that someone who you hate go for good.  Remember that forgiveness is not forgiving what they did but perhaps more of the why they might have done the deed.  Their insecurity, their disempowerment etc.  It frees you up to really life your life. 
5. Find a creative outlet.  You may not be able to play the piano or paint but you might just be able to appreciate these creative spaces and find your own niche.  Creativity allows you to connect with that part of you who can be inspired and passionate.

  Enjoy these recommendations and please let me know of other ways you personally live passionate life.
  

Share on Facebook

The Health Benefits of Sex

In honor of Valentine's day I decided to talk about the health benefits of sex.  I encounter a number of married couples who rarely have sex due to their schedules and children and stress.  Today, I'd like to make the case to get busy for those of your out there who feel that you don't have time for sex.  There are the obvious physical exercise benefits associated with sex that can be healthy for your heart and cardiovascular system.  But let's face it, how many people are actually having those toe tingling, passionate, really connected sexual experiences?  What?  You're not?  Well, it might just be a matter of attitude and perspective.  There are certainly levels of sexual encounters.  Although most people would agree that consensual sexual experiences can never be characterized as bad, but let's not just settle for "not bad" OK?

"I have a Headache!"

Well, actually if you have sex and can achieve orgasm, you would find that your headache will likely disappear.  This is due to the production of oxytocin, a hormone that significantly reduces pain in the body, produced in the brain.  Oxytocin is partly responsible for the orgasm that you have and the subsequent reduction of aches and pains in the body.

Better sense of Smell

This again, due to the production of another hormone, prolactin.  The surging of prolactin during sex stimulates the production of more neurons in the olfactory center.

Decreased Stress, Improved Sleep and Better Mood

Well, generally this is self explanatory for anyone who has ever had sex before.  The human body responds to touch and craves it.  The touch is healing and mandatory for all humans and the more touch that is given, the healthier one can become. The human touch (or the touch of other loved ones such as pets) decreases stress and relaxes the sympathetic nervous system to allow for a better night sleep.

Increases Life Span

As long as you are practicing safe sex, a study published by the British Medical Journal showed that you men can reduce their risk of overall death by 50% if they had a higher orgasmic frequency.  At least twice a week.  I didn't find research for women but my bet is that it has a similar effect of the life span of women as well.

Decreased risk of Prostate Cancer

According to the British Journal of Urology International men in their 20's can reduce their risk of prostate cancer by 30% if they ejaculate at least 5 times per week.  Infrequent ejaculation in men tends toward stagnation in the prostate and thus increases the risk of cancer in the region. 

Less Depression

Of course we don't need research to tell us that when we are being loving toward another and feeling loved, we feel much better emotionally.  It has to do with feeling less lonely and more connected to another.  It can make all the difference to a person, that sense of feeling loved.  Of course, if we all loved ourselves more and accepted ourselves more we would also find ourselves to be less depressed.

Improved Hormone Levels

Both estrogen and testosterone are improved during regular sexual activity.  This can lead to overall healthier body including stronger bones, less aging signs, better brain function and more stamina.  You can think of sex as a regular part of your "fountain of youth" regimen.

The list goes on an on.  Suffice it to say, love and sex can go a long way toward a healthier you.  In the past I've talked about the Health Benefits of Love, now you get a peek as to why you should have more sex in your life.  Wonder why Viagra and other erectile dysfunction medications are so incredibly popular?  Maybe it's related to a subconscious desire to connect, to love, to be loved and to just have fun.  Have a great Valentine's day.

Share on Facebook

Reaching for the Stars in 2008

Happy New Year!  As 2008 begins I wanted to write an inspiring post to kick off the year.  2007 was a great year for me and I look forward to an exceptional year in 2008.  January 1st is a day that many of us use as a milestone day to mark a new year starting and it is a day for resolving to make changes in our lives that we have yet to make or to set goals that we have yet to achieve. I just want all of you to remember that every day can be one of looking forward to your future from an optimistic point of view, albeit not as bleary eyed as many may be on January 1. 

Every day can be a day of making choices for a better tomorrow.  The moment in which you are in now is really the only time and moment to make that choice to become a better you.  You might choose today, right now to let go of your self-pity or your jaded view of the world.  Or you might decide to be kinder to people who you don't know or to love yourself and accept yourself just a little bit more today than yesterday. 

Maybe today is the day you want to make healthier eating choices or to make exercising a new regular habit.  Right now you can decide to see the good in people rather than their faults.  Every day is a new day and every moment a new moment when you can let go of the procrastination and substitute it with action, just one step at a time.  Many people make lists and written goals and resolutions tend to be more successful than unwritten ones.  If overwhelm is a problem, realize that you only have to tackle one thing at a time.  Prioritize and take everything one step at a time.  Give yourself space to relax and enjoy your life.  Choose today to be happy and then choose it again tomorrow.  Happiness does not begin when you achieve that success, get that degree or job, get married etc.  Happiness starts now and within yourself and by choice.  Your successes will come so much more easily if you start by being content and happy.  Your freedom is absolute.  You can choose to be happy or not.  It is all up to you and only you.

Cheers! to you for a grand year to come.  May all your dreams come true.

New Year's Resolutions for a Healthier Life

I love the prospects of every new year.  The possibilities, the dreams, the visions that inspire us to take a fresh look at our lives.  Here are some recommendations I came up with to help you to make your New Year’s resolutions.  I left out the obvious like lose weight, exercise more and organize your life.  These resolutions can help you live a healthier and happier 2008...and beyond.

Get rid of your Teflon pots and pans 

If you are still using Teflon pans, know that the EPA has recognized that chemicals in Teflon are related to cancers (including breast, pancreatic, testicular and liver), elevated cholesterol, stroke and heart disease.  The Environmental Working Group has a great article on the toxicity.

Replace your aluminum cookware with stainless steel

This includes aluminum foil, baking sheets and pots and pans. Aluminum has a number of know health risks, neurotoxicity is among the greatest concerns.  My favorite cookware is All Clad.  I've had mine for years and they hold up terrifically.  There are less expensive replacements as well but All Clad has a lifetime warranty on their products.  Another choice is ceramic coated cast iron like LeCrueset.  Great but really heavy...good workout for your arms.

Use a Reputable Brand of Fish Oil

Supplement with cod liver oil in the winter months and a good fish, clean fish oil in the summer months.  For the vitamin D, A, E and K as well as for the essential fatty acids such as omega 3 EPA and DHA.  For brain health, improving allergies, reducing ear wax production, reducing anxiety etc.

Get your Sunshine

Vow to get at least 5-20 minutes of unfiltered sunlight to your bare skin without sunblock daily.  (this varies by skin tone, the darker your skin, the more time you will need and by latitude.  The more north you are, the more sun exposure you will need.)  This is for vitamin D.  For more information on why, read this.

Ensure you have regular bowel movements

I can't say enough about how important this is to your overall health.  Your colon is your body's trash receptacle and bowel movements are equivalent to emptying the trash.  To see if your bowel movements are normal, read this.  To find out how to have better bowel movements, read this.

Eliminate nitrites and aspartame from your diet

To start eliminating some known carcinogens (cancer causing agents..e.g. nitrites) and to eliminate the known excitotoxin (aspartame, aka Nutrasweet).  This will help keep your mental edge and reduce your risk of some scary degenerative nervous system conditions like Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease.

Improve your self esteem and self acceptance 

This is a major factor in stress reduction.  If you love yourself more, then you will find that others will respect you more and accept you more as you are.  See a therapist, start meditating or just start reflecting on how to improve your own perception of yourself.  Accepting yourself as you are now has no prerequisites.  You don't have to lose 10 pounds, you don't have to get a face lift, you don't need that raise before starting this lifelong project.  Just a little more forgiveness of where you are now will allow you eventually to more easily move toward who you want to become.

Drink green tea

(preferably organic) for the antioxidant value and cancer fighting properties.  One to 3 servings per day, hot or cold.

Check your home water for heavy metals and chemicals

Then put a filter on your drinking and cooking water faucet after you know what toxins or chemicals you are at risk of exposure to.  If heavy metals were found make sure you recheck your water again after the filter was put into place.  Optimal filtering is a reverse osmosis filter or something similar to ensure most chemicals and heavy metals are removed.

Fill your Home with Green Plants

Buy lots of green plants for your home to filter the indoor air pollution that accumulates.  Try to make sure you air out your home regularly as well to prevent build up of benzene, toluene, TCE, formaldehyde in your home.  Ferns and Gerber daisies are great as indoor plants that remove these toxins.  Make sure your home has adequate ventilation and that you open the windows frequently.

Eliminate Parabens from Your Lotions

Parabens have a relationship to breast cancer and are hormone disruptors.  Methyl, ethyl, propyl and butylparabens are all culprits.  Search for body, face and suntan lotions without these parabens.  Things that are certified organic are safest.  Taking the first step by familiarizing yourself with possible toxic compounds in everyday consumer products will take you a long way toward helping your body detoxify and stay healthier.

Winter Wonderland from a Californian's Perspective

Travels brought Jamie and I back to Cazenovia, New York (in central NY near Syracuse) this past weekend in the midst of what was projected as a Nor'easter.  "What's that?", I ask with a serious look on my face.  It evidently was a whopper of a storm bound to dump near a foot of snow in central New York and prohibiting us from leaving out of Rochester on Sunday.  Given that we were in Cazenovia (Caz as the locals call it) for Jamie's birthday bash that I was hosting, it looked like our party plans might be quite affected by the weatherman.  On Saturday evening it started snowing hard, or so I thought, not having seen snow for a number of years now and never having seen it snow this hard.  I was reassured that I hadn't yet seen hard snowfall yet.  Actually this weekend held a lot of firsts for me.  First time in my 40 years to ever experience 12 degrees Fahrenheit, first time to possibly be stuck in a Nor'easter, first time to see a REAL snow storm.  OK, I've lead a sheltered life.  The coldest temperature I think I've ever felt was around freezing in Seattle, never 12 degrees.  Shall we say, there is a difference? 

Anyhow, Saturday night was a terrific success for Jamie's birthday party.  The big five-o should be celebrated appropriately despite heavy snow.  Luckily, most people came except his 3 sisters who were out in Rochester and unable to come for various reasons, some weather related.  A great time was had by all by a roaring fire in a beautifully decorated room at the Lincklaen House in Cazenovia, NY.  If you ever find yourself needing to pass through the quaint lake town of Cazenovia I highly recommend the Lincklaen House for accommodations and Sunday Brunch.  Their catering was terrific as well. 

Sunday morning we wake up to a beautifully frosted village, covered with about 6 inches of freshly fallen snow.  More to come that day with big fat white flakes.  We decided to not risk the drive to Rochester to fly back home on Sunday.  Thanks to the helpfulness of Delta Airlines, we didn't have to make the 2 hour drive and we safely left on Monday evening.  Meanwhile, back in Cazenovia we spent a magical day going out on country roads to meet friends (luckily we had a great 4 wheel drive vehicle for this) and we let his parents take care of us while we visited with them.  Winter wonderland must have been a term to describe Cazenovia in Winter.  On the news we always see the horrible feet of snow that dumps on the Syracuse area, it always looks miserable.  But to experience it firsthand, I must say that the snow experience was absolutely terrific.

I wish I could adequately describe the beauty, the hush, the scene.  The trees were covered with snow.  Icicles hung from some of the rooftops in glistening points.  Christmas lights were everywhere.  Snow twinkles in the light.  Fat squirrels with thick coats searching for hidden snacks.  Rabbit and deer wading in the deep snow.

I can see how it can get old if you live there and after months of snow and cold but for a long weekend right before Christmas with lights twinkling and snow sparkling in the sunlight, it was magical.  The roads were surprisingly drivable despite the need to almost dig the car out after a night of heavy snowfall.  The snow did get very heavy on Sunday and since I was warm inside near a fire talking with friends, it didn't bother me a bit.  So next time you get a chance to get stuck in a snowstorm, I highly recommend it.  Especially, in the cozy, quaint village of Cazenovia with your loved one by your side and a ticket for Kauai, Hawaii on Wednesday.

Find the Gratitude in Thanksgiving

After all the travel and turkey, I feel it is time to reflect on the spirit of Thanksgiving.  Thanksgiving is a fall celebration of harvest that goes back hundreds of years in North america to the time of pilgrims and indians and even before.  I find this time to be the best time to generate the sense of gratitude for the fortunes that I have in my life.  During times like this I like to think about and revel in the love that I have for my life.  Today I find so much to be grateful for.  All the other days of the year, we too frequently focus on what we lack or what we need or what we don't like about ourselves and our world.  So today would be a great day to get into the festive holiday mood with some gratitude.

Gratitude is a great energy.  Have you ever noticed that the more gratitude and appreciation you have for your life, the more things you can find to feel appreciative of?  I spent a terrific evening with my family, my sisters, parents, niece, brother-in-law and my darling partner and boyfriend.  It was an evening of family and connection which brought about thoughts and appreciation of my work, my blog, my dear friends, and the beautiful home in which I live with my wonderful and sometimes demanding cat, Izzy.  I meet strangers who become friends or just inspire me to be more of who I can.  I see patients who exhibit more courage against adversity than I could ever imagine.  I am so grateful for my health, the energy I have in the morning and how well I sleep at night.  I live in a creative inner world full of possibilities and new ideas.  I have support on so many levels. For these things, I am grateful.

I would love to know what you are appreciative of in your life and why.  Even though you might be feeling lonely or disappointed or afraid, give yourself the gift of gratitude.  It will lift your spirits and help you see more of what is possible and then help you attract the resolutions to your problem(s).  Never underestimate the power of being grateful in your life.

How I Hit the Love Lottery and How You Can Too!

Do you ever wonder what happens when you start to deal with your deepest inner fears?  You know, those fears that you would have difficulty admitting to your closest friends or yourself?  The uncomfortable, nagging fears that can sometimes rear its ugly head just when you think you have gotten your head above water in your life? 

Well, let me tell you that facing and releasing those fears can clear you out for some radical shifts in consciousness and allow in miracles beyond wonderful.  It happened to me.  Because it happened to me, I know it can happen to you as well.  You see, it all stated happening when my husband asked me for a divorce on Maui.

A Mental Health Day aka Playing Hooky

Rarely, these days do I get an unplanned, unexpected day off.  Today was one of those days.  It happened unexpectedly as the seminar I was planning on attending for the next 3 days did not have me on their roster and I took that as a sign to quit and run rather than to stay.  Luckily, I only drove about 10 minutes to the hotel where the seminar was being held so on hearing that I had not been registered yet I took it as a sign that I could have a whole weekend to do anything I wanted unrelated to my duties as a doctor.  On the one time my office staff called me today they were told that I was busy  and did not want to be bothered unless the matter was urgent.  That having been said, I was home free. 

I was so free I almost didn't know were to start to enjoy my free day, the first one of 3 whole free days.  My weeks are very packed so days like this makes me feel like a free day off school for snow or a cold where you're not really that sick.  Lately, I almost always feel like I am trying to squeeze things into my schedule.  It's like when I think to myself that I have 1/2 hour before my last patient and when the nail salon closes so I can go get a quick pedicure in if I don't get overwhelmed by phone calls.  Or I have 20 minutes between patients so I can run down the street to Peet's to get my favorite iced green tea or to Apple to check out their latest iPhone or like creation.  So today, was different.