As I worked on a patient the other day, we were having so much fun. I was putting on some strong liniment for some deeper ligaments. I mentioned that Chinese Woodlock had turpentine oil in it. She came back with, "we used to use turpentine or kerosene to kill the lice." The thought of turpentine on the hair brought up quite a laugh. Then she said they found an easier way to fight them -- simply put mayonnaise on your hair for 4-5 minutes which will kill the lice because they can't breathe. Only you'll need a plastic bag because it is so oily and messy. Then you comb it out for the knits and they come out like crazy. Now that is the gross part.
After a few days she comes back and repeats the process because with lice they can hatch later so you need to get the hatching eggs.
Lice and mayonnaise -- now seriously, can you top that? If so, I'd like to hear it!
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Life's Madness In the Trenches
Life's madness is that we keep trenching through time looking for a passageway
one foot at a time with our shovels and picks. All we had to do was lift
ourselves up out of the trench and go our way but it seemed easier to do the
task at hand. We are so serious!
Do you have any favorite trench stories? My favorite is from "Stories for the Heart"
compiled by Alice Gray. An author unknown shared the following story of courage in
the chapter on compassion. It is paraphrased in my own words below.
Did you read about the thick of battle in World War I when the trenches of
Germans and Americans were separated by a barb wire fence. There was shelling
and constant battles to cross over. This was a snowy, cold day early in December
of 1917.
A German soldier had jumped out of the trench to fire down on the Americans.
He was gunned down and fell over the barb wire. For the longest time he
called out for anyone to help him to no avail. Finally, the American fire
stopped and a lone soldier crawled toward him amidst the German fire trying
to pick him off. As he neared the German solder the fire stopped. The American
stood up and helped the wounded soldier off the barb wire. He crossed over
to the German trench and helped him down to his own men.
As he turned to go back, he felt a hand on his shoulder. A German officer
pulled an iron cross off his uniform and gave it to him. It was the highest
award given a German soldier for meritorious duty in battle. The American
returned in silence to the American trench -- no one fired on him and peace
ensued for the breadth of the rescue. The fighting and shelling resumed. For
one moment the bravery and unselfish behavior of one soldier touched them all.
un-paraphase
May we all find the courage to lift out of the trench especially to help those
around us caught up in the spectra of life.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Home Again from Iraq
Welcome Home Mike Reynolds
Thank you and many others for service to God and our country!
Looking inside at the driver to an Iraqi tank ...
Heading out to Iraq ...
The thrill of coming home again!
A relaxed patient whose son was in Iraq ...
Jim Reynolds in July 2008
Marianne Reynolds in July 2008Dearest Brother Scott & Family,
Just thinking of earth angels while watching General Conference with the Trainees at Lackland AFB today...my hip has remained stable since departure from San Diego, and I have not returned to my back brace as yet. Your skill and generosity in sharing it with us, was a direct answer to my personal prayer to be rid of my cane. Goodness, I think of it everyday as I climb stairs or visit the troops...such a blessing for my life.
Wishing you well as you return wellness to others...
Our Fond Regards,
Sister Reynolds
Here is a general note from the Reynolds to friends and family:
Dearest Family & Friends,
Senior Airman Reynolds touched his boot down on US soil 9 days early!! We were thrilled to receive his text message. They were lifted out of Iraq to Qatar, then flown to Ireland for refueling and then a 9 hour non-stop flight to Hill AFB.
God Bless the USA and our son. He is readily jumping back into life supporting little brother Daniel at his first concert, with Craig Jessop as director, no less.
I will pass along my favorite photos....most, you have already seen and yet a small acknowledgment of Mike's journey to Iraq.
We are Grateful,
Elder & Sister Reynolds
Military Relations Missionaries
Lackland AFB, Texas
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
From the Sidelines
Remember High School and being on the sidelines of something? I remember being in the band and playing tuba. It was ridiculously too big for me. I was never number one in my section because I had a penchant for playing my own notes. Oh they sounded okay, I would write alternate parts that fit the music, but the band teacher would not always appreciate the new arrangement. I was on the sidelines and I was supposed to be playing the part written.
Then I found the pep band for the football games. That was the funnest time. We all would mimic the popular commercials of the day and use them to spurn the game on with renewed excitement. Somehow we thought that themes from T.V. would help them tackle and move the ball. I don't know that it worked but I do know that it was exciting -- the audience roared or laughed as we engaged their minds in fun directions ... all from the sidelines. Since the parts were from memory and made up it was a perfect fit.
Life doesn't always work from the sidelines. Sometimes one must step up to the plate and strike back to send the ball into play. When that times comes, and it always will, step up with confidence, be firm and direct. Send that ball flying and make your turn around the bases like it is your time to play ... because it is. I believe we are all given a gift for life. Finding that gift and pursuing it is the most wonderful part of living.
Then I found the pep band for the football games. That was the funnest time. We all would mimic the popular commercials of the day and use them to spurn the game on with renewed excitement. Somehow we thought that themes from T.V. would help them tackle and move the ball. I don't know that it worked but I do know that it was exciting -- the audience roared or laughed as we engaged their minds in fun directions ... all from the sidelines. Since the parts were from memory and made up it was a perfect fit.
Life doesn't always work from the sidelines. Sometimes one must step up to the plate and strike back to send the ball into play. When that times comes, and it always will, step up with confidence, be firm and direct. Send that ball flying and make your turn around the bases like it is your time to play ... because it is. I believe we are all given a gift for life. Finding that gift and pursuing it is the most wonderful part of living.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Ah Ha, This Works
Ah Ha -- now that is a moment to remember. Some say we have only a few defining moments in our lives and that we should know them. They build our character and shape who we are. I know I've found many such moments. In medicine I find there are many defining moments in a patient relationship. Only two people share it. Ah ha, this works!
I sincerely encourage you to keep seeking care for problems that are difficult or undefinable until you begin to have some ah ha moments. Remember to take an active part in that journey. Patients who feel the problem can often know more about it than the practitioner. I love the story of Thomas Edison on his death bed who began to read all about his physical problems. He was on a journey to know all about it. I think that is healthy. Today we have radically different treatments between the various models of medicine. You can easily learn several different approaches. That is a good thing. Go at it from several different angles. Don't give up. Remember always that hope helps fuel the immune system. Mentally be on top of your problem. It does make a difference. Ah ha -- this works.
This week I began to work on a lupus patient and usually worked on the front. I went through all the alarm points and they all were like 10 out of ten -- bad news. So I turned them over and worked on the back with moxa across the ming men (the source of fire for the water element) to boost yang. They were weak and almost unable to move. After a good back treatment I turned them over and re-checked the alarm points. All were strong. I finish with a qi threading session through all their major (and some minor) chakras of the body. I called them later in the week to check out how it worked out. Ah ha -- that worked.
So what is your defining moment? Follow your passion in life!
I sincerely encourage you to keep seeking care for problems that are difficult or undefinable until you begin to have some ah ha moments. Remember to take an active part in that journey. Patients who feel the problem can often know more about it than the practitioner. I love the story of Thomas Edison on his death bed who began to read all about his physical problems. He was on a journey to know all about it. I think that is healthy. Today we have radically different treatments between the various models of medicine. You can easily learn several different approaches. That is a good thing. Go at it from several different angles. Don't give up. Remember always that hope helps fuel the immune system. Mentally be on top of your problem. It does make a difference. Ah ha -- this works.
This week I began to work on a lupus patient and usually worked on the front. I went through all the alarm points and they all were like 10 out of ten -- bad news. So I turned them over and worked on the back with moxa across the ming men (the source of fire for the water element) to boost yang. They were weak and almost unable to move. After a good back treatment I turned them over and re-checked the alarm points. All were strong. I finish with a qi threading session through all their major (and some minor) chakras of the body. I called them later in the week to check out how it worked out. Ah ha -- that worked.
So what is your defining moment? Follow your passion in life!
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Hybrid Means Synergistic Life
How I love that name -- the hybrid. Today there are many hybrid cars with plenty of new designs. We live in a time when many people want to invest in renewable sources of energy ... or in highly accessible non-polluting sources of energy. Wind, solar, compressed air, steam, hydrogen, bio fuels, electricity, nuclear power, brown's gas -- are but a few of them.
See the hybrids most advertised today here.
I love the air compressed car they plan to release in the United States for about $18,000 with a seating of six passengers. It gets 106 MPG and has half the pollution of a Toyota prius. I'm told it goes up to 96 miles per hour on the highway. Under 35 MPG it runs solely on compressed air. It needs oil changes only once every 50,000 miles.
Is this only more compressed air? Judge for yourself here.
I love the idea of 20 percent of our energy coming from giant wind turbines that span the middle of the United States. This would free up natural gas for trucks and reduce our dependence on foreign oil while we improve renewable resources. George Pickens has a distant cousin, T. Boone Pickens, who heads up an initiative to do it. He is already spending his own resources and building fields of mega-wind mills in Texas. Anyone of us can join this effort in our own way -- he has a grand web of sites to organize. On my web site I keep a link. I invite you to join us and begin fighting a renewable energy future.
I love the idea of using more solar and wind for electrical generation. Did you see the car in the 2007 Time inventions of the year that ran on a windmill (on the roof) and solar panels. What a crackup. It used electricity with batteries. I love it! Check it out.
I love the idea of hydrogen with hydride storage which reduces hydrogen to 4 X less space. It used to take a 60 gallon tank to hold what 15 gallons of gasoline provides -- no longer. With hydride storage you can shoot a bullet through the tank and it will simply create a momentary flicker of flame and go out. No explosion! Thank you Roger Billings for yet another hydrogen related invention. Hydrogen could now become a reality. I noticed a recent invention with hydrogen cartridges for hydrogen cars -- printer anyone?
Check an an early article on Roger Billings drinking water from the exhaust!
Or how about the new hydrogen fuel cell released by Honda -- invented by Roger Billings years a go but Honda has worked out a hydrogen plan that can work from your home storage system using natural gas. Okay, I think there are better renewable energy sources for hydrogen in our oceans with wave action. Isn't that obvious? Others have converted water to hydrogen with solar, wind, and even pulsed sound generation.
See the California effort with hydrogen cars.
See many hydrogen options here.
Did you love that Hybrid that works on electricity designed by a physics inventor for Volvo? The engine is in the wheels and so the brakes are actually removed. Why use brakes if you can do breaking with an engine that puts the energy back into the car. Look ma -- no engine!
I see them using the radiator steam to put back 40 percent more power to the engine from an inventor in San Diego. I heard that the Germans had done the same thing only with a 15 percent recycling rate and 14 percent additional horsepower. Don't you love American inventors? He did it without using a radiator and making it six strokes. Talk about a hot run!
Many of these cars are running on the fuel of your choice. It reminds me of camper stoves in days past. Bruce Crower, an American Steam Engine inventor, says this will run on almost any fuel! What an advantage. A veritable montage of choices.
Brown's gas is a gas -- almost hydrogen. No storage at all but a conversion of water to brown's gas which has more hydrogen in it. And then it boosts your car's output with plain water. And the conversion kits are often done at home by everyday ordinary people. American ingenuity. I was so sad the day that inventor died. If you ever see his youtube demonstrations -- he'll win you over in a moment.
What an age to live in.
I used to say that cars were 76 percent of the pollution that we have in the United States. But that can change. We have the ability to change it. And the ability to reduce allergies, asthma, cancer, and many other diseases from it. It is not the only area that needs a hybrid solution.
How about all the pollution from our pharmaceuticals entering the water stream by throwing pills in the trash? Or from batteries with mercury in the trash? Or by strong lobbyists who put the run-off aluminum manufacturing waste into our water? Be informed, fight for a cleaner environment. Make manufacturers offer a synergistic self-feeding system of renewable energy. Better yet, start buying from those who do it now.
In all of this I see hope. Great pollutions are filling up the air, the water, the ground fills, and many areas but we have a choice. Even local organic food can be a choice we make. I live in a senior complex where we have over 60 plots of gardens. Some of them live out of their gardens for 100 percent of their food. Amazing. Many local growers actually deliver locally grown vegetables weekly for a fee -- direct marketing for local, organic food.
Enter your zip code and food basket at this website. Or check out all the links in your area.
Life needs synergy. Maybe that is why I'm so intrigued with hybrids. They use the best of what we have got and improve upon it. Every tree we grow has the synergy of microbials and fungi all around it. This symbiotic relationship gives more to life. Food grown with the same rich microbial environment gives back to us many fold. Bio-intensive farming actually increases the loam of soil 12 to 60 times each year. Over the years it is richer, not poorer. Pests are not controlled, they are condoned and pick off the weaker plants we should not be eating. Companion planting helps control the life cycle of pests in a positive way.
It is ironic that the Chinese who had to feed a billion figured this all out long before we did and created renewable energy resources, acupuncture for healthy animals, and a self-feeding system that fed the cycle of life upon itself. It is ironic that we polluted them with our cars, our style of agriculture, and crazy need to put TVs, radios, electronics, and noise in every home. Today we import their style of farming to over 100 countries through Stanford University.
Even in our lifestyle, the hybrid design can be an incredible tool. My brother now takes tai chi chuan in classes and herbs. I wake up early to an hour of Qi Qong every day. It is my hybrid design with American ingenuity. We can make this life synergistically better in every way.
I plan to give my life to hybrids and a synergistic life and I hope you will join me.
See the hybrids most advertised today here.
I love the air compressed car they plan to release in the United States for about $18,000 with a seating of six passengers. It gets 106 MPG and has half the pollution of a Toyota prius. I'm told it goes up to 96 miles per hour on the highway. Under 35 MPG it runs solely on compressed air. It needs oil changes only once every 50,000 miles.
Is this only more compressed air? Judge for yourself here.
I love the idea of 20 percent of our energy coming from giant wind turbines that span the middle of the United States. This would free up natural gas for trucks and reduce our dependence on foreign oil while we improve renewable resources. George Pickens has a distant cousin, T. Boone Pickens, who heads up an initiative to do it. He is already spending his own resources and building fields of mega-wind mills in Texas. Anyone of us can join this effort in our own way -- he has a grand web of sites to organize. On my web site I keep a link. I invite you to join us and begin fighting a renewable energy future.
I love the idea of using more solar and wind for electrical generation. Did you see the car in the 2007 Time inventions of the year that ran on a windmill (on the roof) and solar panels. What a crackup. It used electricity with batteries. I love it! Check it out.
I love the idea of hydrogen with hydride storage which reduces hydrogen to 4 X less space. It used to take a 60 gallon tank to hold what 15 gallons of gasoline provides -- no longer. With hydride storage you can shoot a bullet through the tank and it will simply create a momentary flicker of flame and go out. No explosion! Thank you Roger Billings for yet another hydrogen related invention. Hydrogen could now become a reality. I noticed a recent invention with hydrogen cartridges for hydrogen cars -- printer anyone?
Check an an early article on Roger Billings drinking water from the exhaust!
Or how about the new hydrogen fuel cell released by Honda -- invented by Roger Billings years a go but Honda has worked out a hydrogen plan that can work from your home storage system using natural gas. Okay, I think there are better renewable energy sources for hydrogen in our oceans with wave action. Isn't that obvious? Others have converted water to hydrogen with solar, wind, and even pulsed sound generation.
See the California effort with hydrogen cars.
See many hydrogen options here.
Did you love that Hybrid that works on electricity designed by a physics inventor for Volvo? The engine is in the wheels and so the brakes are actually removed. Why use brakes if you can do breaking with an engine that puts the energy back into the car. Look ma -- no engine!
I see them using the radiator steam to put back 40 percent more power to the engine from an inventor in San Diego. I heard that the Germans had done the same thing only with a 15 percent recycling rate and 14 percent additional horsepower. Don't you love American inventors? He did it without using a radiator and making it six strokes. Talk about a hot run!
Many of these cars are running on the fuel of your choice. It reminds me of camper stoves in days past. Bruce Crower, an American Steam Engine inventor, says this will run on almost any fuel! What an advantage. A veritable montage of choices.
Brown's gas is a gas -- almost hydrogen. No storage at all but a conversion of water to brown's gas which has more hydrogen in it. And then it boosts your car's output with plain water. And the conversion kits are often done at home by everyday ordinary people. American ingenuity. I was so sad the day that inventor died. If you ever see his youtube demonstrations -- he'll win you over in a moment.
What an age to live in.
I used to say that cars were 76 percent of the pollution that we have in the United States. But that can change. We have the ability to change it. And the ability to reduce allergies, asthma, cancer, and many other diseases from it. It is not the only area that needs a hybrid solution.
How about all the pollution from our pharmaceuticals entering the water stream by throwing pills in the trash? Or from batteries with mercury in the trash? Or by strong lobbyists who put the run-off aluminum manufacturing waste into our water? Be informed, fight for a cleaner environment. Make manufacturers offer a synergistic self-feeding system of renewable energy. Better yet, start buying from those who do it now.
In all of this I see hope. Great pollutions are filling up the air, the water, the ground fills, and many areas but we have a choice. Even local organic food can be a choice we make. I live in a senior complex where we have over 60 plots of gardens. Some of them live out of their gardens for 100 percent of their food. Amazing. Many local growers actually deliver locally grown vegetables weekly for a fee -- direct marketing for local, organic food.
Enter your zip code and food basket at this website. Or check out all the links in your area.
Life needs synergy. Maybe that is why I'm so intrigued with hybrids. They use the best of what we have got and improve upon it. Every tree we grow has the synergy of microbials and fungi all around it. This symbiotic relationship gives more to life. Food grown with the same rich microbial environment gives back to us many fold. Bio-intensive farming actually increases the loam of soil 12 to 60 times each year. Over the years it is richer, not poorer. Pests are not controlled, they are condoned and pick off the weaker plants we should not be eating. Companion planting helps control the life cycle of pests in a positive way.
It is ironic that the Chinese who had to feed a billion figured this all out long before we did and created renewable energy resources, acupuncture for healthy animals, and a self-feeding system that fed the cycle of life upon itself. It is ironic that we polluted them with our cars, our style of agriculture, and crazy need to put TVs, radios, electronics, and noise in every home. Today we import their style of farming to over 100 countries through Stanford University.
Even in our lifestyle, the hybrid design can be an incredible tool. My brother now takes tai chi chuan in classes and herbs. I wake up early to an hour of Qi Qong every day. It is my hybrid design with American ingenuity. We can make this life synergistically better in every way.
I plan to give my life to hybrids and a synergistic life and I hope you will join me.
Tenacity
I think that tenacity is a quality that is quite often needed in hard times. Do we stick to the task at hand and complete it. And when it fails do we adaptively do better. Kaizen, some would say, is the Japanese secret to a step-wise incremental improvement process that comes from a time when warriors were known for their fastidious attention to the details.
Most of the time I believe it is best to create win - win scenarios in business, family, or even in personal relationships. Still, at times, it requires more. That is when negotiation breaks down and the other side is pointing fingers.
I feel like I'm in a hole with no where to go but one thing I do know. The other side of the coin is someone who is dying from chemical restraint. So my efforts, however frustrating to me, will be as much as I can do in this lifetime. And that is a price I have to pay.
I now understand the idea of secret combinations where a committee or group get together and plot to do their work behind the scenes without any view of the consequences to others. The hidden agenda is this case is the money they think they gain. What a sad day for humanity. So I wake up each day to do more, to say more, to be more than I am today.
Most of the time I believe it is best to create win - win scenarios in business, family, or even in personal relationships. Still, at times, it requires more. That is when negotiation breaks down and the other side is pointing fingers.
I feel like I'm in a hole with no where to go but one thing I do know. The other side of the coin is someone who is dying from chemical restraint. So my efforts, however frustrating to me, will be as much as I can do in this lifetime. And that is a price I have to pay.
I now understand the idea of secret combinations where a committee or group get together and plot to do their work behind the scenes without any view of the consequences to others. The hidden agenda is this case is the money they think they gain. What a sad day for humanity. So I wake up each day to do more, to say more, to be more than I am today.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Reconciliation
That last post was a might harsh. Even if true, none of us are helpless. We choose to allow things to have an effect on us. The nature of life is to re-act, not act. And the power is there within me to do all I can to help them live as best they can. So that is what we do. And if we are unable to free them from their current circumstances, we can at least be there when we are able to share their lives with good times.
Secondly, if I hold on to the anger and anguish it hurts me. I can feel its effect in my body. I'm sure it effects our spirits -- pulling us down and moving us away from the central theme of life. I know it effects me mentally with exhaustion at a time when I need to be focused on the acupuncture boards.
Letting go is the only answer I know of to fill in these empty spaces. I have to give this burden up and pray for their well-being. We are not the controllers of the universe. I sense they understand the dilemma. I always get the same message from both parents -- "how are you", I always ask. "Fine, now that you are hear" -- is their reply.
In those special visits the message from them to me is clear. You can take away my freedom but you can never take away my spirit. Even death is a victory.
I know I need to let go, do what I can, and reconcile the fact that I am not in control.
Secondly, if I hold on to the anger and anguish it hurts me. I can feel its effect in my body. I'm sure it effects our spirits -- pulling us down and moving us away from the central theme of life. I know it effects me mentally with exhaustion at a time when I need to be focused on the acupuncture boards.
Letting go is the only answer I know of to fill in these empty spaces. I have to give this burden up and pray for their well-being. We are not the controllers of the universe. I sense they understand the dilemma. I always get the same message from both parents -- "how are you", I always ask. "Fine, now that you are hear" -- is their reply.
In those special visits the message from them to me is clear. You can take away my freedom but you can never take away my spirit. Even death is a victory.
I know I need to let go, do what I can, and reconcile the fact that I am not in control.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Watching Helplessly While Someone Dies
Have you ever felt like you are watching from the outside of something while it tears you apart on the inside? That is what if feels like when you love someone and their life goes downhill while under the care of someone else with power of attorney who ignores them and does not respond to their health needs. Whatever you do, if you choose a power of attorney, make sure that person has the goodness and wisdom to actually care enough to take care of you. Because they may park you somewhere in a home and not even visit enough to understand your needs. That is a non-caring, non-seeing mis-management of end-of-life care. Someone with power of attorney has the right to block visits, limit health care, pour on more drugs so that the person is chemically bound, and even structure the information flow for all providers to that person so that the day to day helpers feel the worsening condition is only a mirror of their bad health -- not the cause. Still there is a lack of water, inability to eat food, absence of caring actions, and constant feeding of psychotropic restraining drugs.
Today we have a revolution of psychotropic drugs to treat the elderly. They generally use small amounts. However, with a zealous, hateful person in charge of medication -- this can become a living nightmare as a person can no longer dress, go the bathroom, speak, eat, drink, walk, and so forth because their medication is so strong. The head of the department of the lock down facility at UCSD Medical Hospital told us that the amount can not even be measured with a blood test. How convenient!
As I speak to the doctors, they feel bad because number one -- he is worse and number two -- we have no input to his medical care. They don't feel bad enough to stop it. They call it a difference in style. One family member would take care of an elderly person at their own home with daily visits. The other family member wants to keep them in a nice home where they can park them with few visits and a mentality that this is the end. The doctors react with surprise as we inform them -- not with action. Lawyers pass us from lawyer to lawyer because the money to fight the case resides with the power of attorney. Ombudsman and government agencies grind to a halt as they get hung up in the quagmire -- the home looks good, the helpers are nice, the person making the decisions seems to have answers like it is an advancing decline.
What do I call it? Murder in the first degree.
It takes me 2 hours at times to revive him. I'm losing my resolve and will to fight on. I don't know what to do about it. Maybe that is life. There are many seniors parked in worse conditions that have no one to visit them, no way to fight on. I do what I can and then I have to let go, go home, and sleep in my comfortable apartment with a wonderful wife.
And when my Father-In-Law passes away, what will I feel? I'll always remember those who took his life inappropriately. How they blamed him for their own problems, how they hid his money, how they sold his things off even before he could be stabilized in a home, how they chose to ignore him, and how they chose to let him deteriorate by chemically restraining him to the point where he could not live. In all I do as a practitioner, I will stand for better choices for the elderly, for all patients that may be weak or incapacitated.
I am not against drugs. I am against the misuse of drugs. I am against using drugs as the first line of defense in all medicine. I am against using drugs when there is a natural choice that is symbiotic with our human species. I am for balancing the body when you need drugs so that the drugs you take are far less. And I know that many western medicine practitioners believe the same way as I do. Check out Sanesco which represents a new generation of doctors who are balancing the body. Or look into the "The Cardiovascular Cure: How to Strenghthen Your Self defense Against Heart Attack and Stroke" by Dr. John P. Cooke and Judith Zimmer. There you have a doctor saying you do the right thing for the body and it has a marvelous capacity to heal itself. Interestingly enough, in this book they use food to treat -- that is why I like the Chinese approach so well. There is a great rash of medical books on this same topic.
Today we have a revolution of psychotropic drugs to treat the elderly. They generally use small amounts. However, with a zealous, hateful person in charge of medication -- this can become a living nightmare as a person can no longer dress, go the bathroom, speak, eat, drink, walk, and so forth because their medication is so strong. The head of the department of the lock down facility at UCSD Medical Hospital told us that the amount can not even be measured with a blood test. How convenient!
As I speak to the doctors, they feel bad because number one -- he is worse and number two -- we have no input to his medical care. They don't feel bad enough to stop it. They call it a difference in style. One family member would take care of an elderly person at their own home with daily visits. The other family member wants to keep them in a nice home where they can park them with few visits and a mentality that this is the end. The doctors react with surprise as we inform them -- not with action. Lawyers pass us from lawyer to lawyer because the money to fight the case resides with the power of attorney. Ombudsman and government agencies grind to a halt as they get hung up in the quagmire -- the home looks good, the helpers are nice, the person making the decisions seems to have answers like it is an advancing decline.
What do I call it? Murder in the first degree.
It takes me 2 hours at times to revive him. I'm losing my resolve and will to fight on. I don't know what to do about it. Maybe that is life. There are many seniors parked in worse conditions that have no one to visit them, no way to fight on. I do what I can and then I have to let go, go home, and sleep in my comfortable apartment with a wonderful wife.
And when my Father-In-Law passes away, what will I feel? I'll always remember those who took his life inappropriately. How they blamed him for their own problems, how they hid his money, how they sold his things off even before he could be stabilized in a home, how they chose to ignore him, and how they chose to let him deteriorate by chemically restraining him to the point where he could not live. In all I do as a practitioner, I will stand for better choices for the elderly, for all patients that may be weak or incapacitated.
I am not against drugs. I am against the misuse of drugs. I am against using drugs as the first line of defense in all medicine. I am against using drugs when there is a natural choice that is symbiotic with our human species. I am for balancing the body when you need drugs so that the drugs you take are far less. And I know that many western medicine practitioners believe the same way as I do. Check out Sanesco which represents a new generation of doctors who are balancing the body. Or look into the "The Cardiovascular Cure: How to Strenghthen Your Self defense Against Heart Attack and Stroke" by Dr. John P. Cooke and Judith Zimmer. There you have a doctor saying you do the right thing for the body and it has a marvelous capacity to heal itself. Interestingly enough, in this book they use food to treat -- that is why I like the Chinese approach so well. There is a great rash of medical books on this same topic.
Acute Inflammation
I've seen this before many times, a bubble around the injury. Most people end up resting and on pain killers. We leave them to stew in their problem. So what would I do differently? Lots, and it all depends on what I see. It is not that difficult to treat and after you do it a hundred times, you intuitively know what to expect.
As a practitioner it is best to begin any such session with the proper acu-points to help increase energy flow in the area and to alleviate the pain. When in doubt Large Intestine 4 and Liver 3 on opposite sides is a good choice.
Go outside the bubble where it does not hurt ... maybe 3 inches out. Map out the courses of energy that lead to the bubble and gently create a stream away from the conflict. I use the Chinese meridians as my guide along with the movement of energy as felt from practicing Qi Qong daily. Below the wound -- press gently below it. Above the wound, press gently above it. Move like a stream with an even steady stream of pressure -- best done with lotion that has anti-inflammatory properties. I recommend TRAUMEEL® which is an anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-edematous, anti-exudative combination formulation of 12 botanical and 2 mineral substances. Magically, the bubble corners begin to soften.
Continue in those same course of energy but encroach upon the bubbles boundary -- a tad closer, not so close that it elicits pain. Make sure the stream follows its course a ways down or up -- always moving away from the conflict or bubble of inflammation. Notice the melting away of the boundary continues only more remarkably.
Now reach the boundary and begin the gentle pulling away in all directions from the bubble. Work even more gently as you are in the area of damage control for the body. From here on out it all depends where the trauma is -- pay attention to the structure of the underlying area for it is best to reinforce the underlying healthy movement of that structure. Pay attention to the extent of the damage and be gentle enough to keep receding the fluids.
A good follow up at this point is a lymph massage. That is like a sweeping brush of the hands and fingers in opposite directions, at opposite points on either side of the injury. A book could be written on how to move lymph so this is best demonstrated. It is best to match the technique to the specific injury. A number of the soft arts like Qi Qong and Tai Chi Chuan will move lymph. Moving up and down on a mini-trampoline without leaving the surface will move lymph.
At this point an experienced practitioner can go a bit deeper and help align the structure so that it sets properly while healing.
As a practitioner it is best to begin any such session with the proper acu-points to help increase energy flow in the area and to alleviate the pain. When in doubt Large Intestine 4 and Liver 3 on opposite sides is a good choice.
Go outside the bubble where it does not hurt ... maybe 3 inches out. Map out the courses of energy that lead to the bubble and gently create a stream away from the conflict. I use the Chinese meridians as my guide along with the movement of energy as felt from practicing Qi Qong daily. Below the wound -- press gently below it. Above the wound, press gently above it. Move like a stream with an even steady stream of pressure -- best done with lotion that has anti-inflammatory properties. I recommend TRAUMEEL® which is an anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-edematous, anti-exudative combination formulation of 12 botanical and 2 mineral substances. Magically, the bubble corners begin to soften.
Continue in those same course of energy but encroach upon the bubbles boundary -- a tad closer, not so close that it elicits pain. Make sure the stream follows its course a ways down or up -- always moving away from the conflict or bubble of inflammation. Notice the melting away of the boundary continues only more remarkably.
Now reach the boundary and begin the gentle pulling away in all directions from the bubble. Work even more gently as you are in the area of damage control for the body. From here on out it all depends where the trauma is -- pay attention to the structure of the underlying area for it is best to reinforce the underlying healthy movement of that structure. Pay attention to the extent of the damage and be gentle enough to keep receding the fluids.
A good follow up at this point is a lymph massage. That is like a sweeping brush of the hands and fingers in opposite directions, at opposite points on either side of the injury. A book could be written on how to move lymph so this is best demonstrated. It is best to match the technique to the specific injury. A number of the soft arts like Qi Qong and Tai Chi Chuan will move lymph. Moving up and down on a mini-trampoline without leaving the surface will move lymph.
At this point an experienced practitioner can go a bit deeper and help align the structure so that it sets properly while healing.
Cats and Fleas
I laid down on a pillow today and a flea crossed my eyelids. I instinctively picked it off and took it to the sink where the water took it down the drain. We quickly pulled out the chemical advantage for our two cats and treated them. Don't we all reach for some chemical when nearly anything happens in our life. So I began reading about it.
Garlic, onion, and brewer's yeast make your body unfavorable for fleas. Wow, maybe I can feed the cats some garlic, onion treats. On further reading cats have a hemolytic reaction to garlic, onions, shallots, and a few other things. Somewhere in my memory worms are the nature predator for fleas -- sure enough, simple nematodes. Yes, but it must be in a moist environment. Somehow I can't see moist carpet in my apartment flooded with little worms. It does work for the outside. And I found plenty of product in that area. How about that diatomaceous earth I used for ants a while back and before that for parasites for a friend of mine? Yes, that does it -- dust your pet with this specially shaped earth and it has sharp edges that destroy the fleas, cockroaches, silver fish and a ton of other insects. It can be used in the garden, the home, the fur of the furry critters and even in our digestive system for parasites.
This gives new meaning to eating dirt, or even eating worms. And cats hate baths -- or at least our cats do. Water naturally drowns fleas. Soapy water dishes put where the fleas are abounding can cut the adults out quite a bit. In fact, some people make flea traps which catch them on a sticky that can be replaced. For every flea you see on an animal (or yourself), there are 30 more waiting in the wings. An adult flea can produce 60 larvae a day. They love a messy house with dirt, clothes, things to breed on. Need I say more?
I began to realize that the diatomaceous earth cost about $16, a trap cost about $16, soap with water is already available, and cleaning the house is sorta free -- all in all it sure beats a chemical solution which means you have to apply it monthly and spend some real money! A box of nematode worms for the yard is about twenty dollars.
So for dinner tonight I loaded up on garlic and onion -- we had black beans with turkey and split pea soup.
Garlic, onion, and brewer's yeast make your body unfavorable for fleas. Wow, maybe I can feed the cats some garlic, onion treats. On further reading cats have a hemolytic reaction to garlic, onions, shallots, and a few other things. Somewhere in my memory worms are the nature predator for fleas -- sure enough, simple nematodes. Yes, but it must be in a moist environment. Somehow I can't see moist carpet in my apartment flooded with little worms. It does work for the outside. And I found plenty of product in that area. How about that diatomaceous earth I used for ants a while back and before that for parasites for a friend of mine? Yes, that does it -- dust your pet with this specially shaped earth and it has sharp edges that destroy the fleas, cockroaches, silver fish and a ton of other insects. It can be used in the garden, the home, the fur of the furry critters and even in our digestive system for parasites.
This gives new meaning to eating dirt, or even eating worms. And cats hate baths -- or at least our cats do. Water naturally drowns fleas. Soapy water dishes put where the fleas are abounding can cut the adults out quite a bit. In fact, some people make flea traps which catch them on a sticky that can be replaced. For every flea you see on an animal (or yourself), there are 30 more waiting in the wings. An adult flea can produce 60 larvae a day. They love a messy house with dirt, clothes, things to breed on. Need I say more?
I began to realize that the diatomaceous earth cost about $16, a trap cost about $16, soap with water is already available, and cleaning the house is sorta free -- all in all it sure beats a chemical solution which means you have to apply it monthly and spend some real money! A box of nematode worms for the yard is about twenty dollars.
So for dinner tonight I loaded up on garlic and onion -- we had black beans with turkey and split pea soup.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Memorial Day - a Memorial Day in the Present
Maybe I should call this memory day. On this day I have my wife's parents struggling with one of the hardest diseases of all -- Alzheimer's. These people are drugged, set aside behind locked doors, and told anything but the truth, all to control them enough so that they are safe to themselves and to the others around them. Some people would say that sounds like politics as usual.
So why do I mention all this because we all know we all have problems. So why relent and complain? Why not be positive and keep looking up at the sky?
I think because I learned a few lessons along the way. My mother-in-law would not take high blood pressure medication so we called the doctor. He put her into the system and she wound up in a lock down facility where they diagnosed, treated, and medicated her with the latest psychotropic drugs. They were proud of themselves and call themselves state-of-the-art, the latest in today's treatments for Seniors. Now she is a controlled person, not out-of-control.
My first visit after they declared her controlled -- she ordered them out of her room and refused medications. Ah, I said, they have problem too!
But they persisted and after three days of controlled behavior they can downsize her to a facility willing to lock them up with no key to get out -- only key pads with special numbers that limit access in or out. Now there, she wanted out and ordered them out -- right now, do what I say, I tell you, let me go right now. After a few more days she resolved her resolute attitude to being glad to see anyone who would visit her. I can't help but think that could be me.
In an interview with a Doctor he began to extol the virtues of their program. You must change your thinking, he said, do not ask yes or no questions, simply direct them. They will over time begin to follow directions. We keep upping the medication until they do. Then we drop it down. When they are controllable on a smaller dose, then we can let them go to a proper facility that can manage their care.
Would you tell a child who is going to the Dentist that they will pull his teeth and inject needles to fix his dental problems? No. You make it a nice time and let the dentist do their job. So it is with children. Seniors become like children. You must take responsibility for their welfare. Only make someone else the bad guy. If they can't go into a room, lock it and say the city won't allow anyone in there anymore. If they must not leave the house, put on a latch and prevent them from going out. When they are not willing to take medication, then grind it up and put it into ice cream, food, or drink -- be creative but give them medication.
I thought, how strange, we could have been told that on day one. Grind up the high blood pressure medication and give it to her in ice cream. End of story -- no lock down, no Alzheimer's unit, and no loss of freedom from living at home where the folks love to stay. No invocation of Durable Power of Attorney for medical treatment, for finances -- no power struggles within a family that has hidden agenda. But no, too late, my lesson came too late, the damage is done.
The silliest policy I have ever heard of is "let us see what will happen." Given a decade in Iraq need I say more. The only sillier one I've heard is "let us pull out as soon as possible", or how about "in six months I will lead our country out of there because I'm a leader." How about, "this could take 100 years." We should be involved, anxiously engaged in foreign affairs with sound and wise policy makers. It doesn't matter to me if it be Republican, Democrat or even Independent -- a sound and wise policy should resonate, and make even more sense over time.
Why did we get introduced to sound and wise policies after it could of helped us maintain the folks with greater independence in their own home? Now the radar is off the map, the controllers in the system have pat answers, and when we step into help we are considered visitors. They certainly listen to us but the decisions feel like a war zone. Your Mother-In-Law is being transfered this morning to XYZ location and you need to sign the dotted line for her care.
Dad followed quickly after Mom. Yes, he is in a lock-down facility. Only he plots constantly to escape. Unfortunately his memory shows less promise. It is sad when you tell him you are David (my name) and when you leave he tells you, "my name is David." Is that memory with a lisp? One day he actually made it out. They caught him and brought him back.
Now we have responsible parties in the family. Now we have doctors appointing and ordaining those to control the decisions, the money, the future of these seniors -- with a veiled threat that should they choose unwisely, they will be held accountable in court for a bad decision.
Today my Mom called me -- and we talked as I sat in my Father-In-Law's office and got his computer working again. It hit me as I saw his computer expertise, the fine books collected from all kinds of knowledge pools, and the incredible ingenuity of his office that this was the mark of an educated, astute, and successful man. My Mom asked me when I could visit her and all I could think of was the goal of passing the acupuncture boards and paying off student loans. It was hard to be there for her and I think she sensed it.
In all our getting, get understanding -- that is what proverbs says. And the words Jeff House wrote in college came back to me. "Take no heed, of the people by your side, just relax, flow gently with the current, sail, like the gulls gliding gently in the wind" -- somewhere in that passage is a message -- one that gives us strength past difficult times. Yes, I need to visit my Mom. I think it is important to give those around us our best foot forward at the time they need it.
Maybe I'll end on this note -- I believe with all my heart that my wife's Mother and Dad know we tried everything to keep them independent, we loved them the best we could when we could, and we'll continue to learn lessons so that we may continue to be there for them. I do believe in family as our most precious resource and the primary unit of our society. And where it falls down, we must in our humanity pick it up for those around us and keep moving forward.
So why do I mention all this because we all know we all have problems. So why relent and complain? Why not be positive and keep looking up at the sky?
I think because I learned a few lessons along the way. My mother-in-law would not take high blood pressure medication so we called the doctor. He put her into the system and she wound up in a lock down facility where they diagnosed, treated, and medicated her with the latest psychotropic drugs. They were proud of themselves and call themselves state-of-the-art, the latest in today's treatments for Seniors. Now she is a controlled person, not out-of-control.
My first visit after they declared her controlled -- she ordered them out of her room and refused medications. Ah, I said, they have problem too!
But they persisted and after three days of controlled behavior they can downsize her to a facility willing to lock them up with no key to get out -- only key pads with special numbers that limit access in or out. Now there, she wanted out and ordered them out -- right now, do what I say, I tell you, let me go right now. After a few more days she resolved her resolute attitude to being glad to see anyone who would visit her. I can't help but think that could be me.
In an interview with a Doctor he began to extol the virtues of their program. You must change your thinking, he said, do not ask yes or no questions, simply direct them. They will over time begin to follow directions. We keep upping the medication until they do. Then we drop it down. When they are controllable on a smaller dose, then we can let them go to a proper facility that can manage their care.
Would you tell a child who is going to the Dentist that they will pull his teeth and inject needles to fix his dental problems? No. You make it a nice time and let the dentist do their job. So it is with children. Seniors become like children. You must take responsibility for their welfare. Only make someone else the bad guy. If they can't go into a room, lock it and say the city won't allow anyone in there anymore. If they must not leave the house, put on a latch and prevent them from going out. When they are not willing to take medication, then grind it up and put it into ice cream, food, or drink -- be creative but give them medication.
I thought, how strange, we could have been told that on day one. Grind up the high blood pressure medication and give it to her in ice cream. End of story -- no lock down, no Alzheimer's unit, and no loss of freedom from living at home where the folks love to stay. No invocation of Durable Power of Attorney for medical treatment, for finances -- no power struggles within a family that has hidden agenda. But no, too late, my lesson came too late, the damage is done.
The silliest policy I have ever heard of is "let us see what will happen." Given a decade in Iraq need I say more. The only sillier one I've heard is "let us pull out as soon as possible", or how about "in six months I will lead our country out of there because I'm a leader." How about, "this could take 100 years." We should be involved, anxiously engaged in foreign affairs with sound and wise policy makers. It doesn't matter to me if it be Republican, Democrat or even Independent -- a sound and wise policy should resonate, and make even more sense over time.
Why did we get introduced to sound and wise policies after it could of helped us maintain the folks with greater independence in their own home? Now the radar is off the map, the controllers in the system have pat answers, and when we step into help we are considered visitors. They certainly listen to us but the decisions feel like a war zone. Your Mother-In-Law is being transfered this morning to XYZ location and you need to sign the dotted line for her care.
Dad followed quickly after Mom. Yes, he is in a lock-down facility. Only he plots constantly to escape. Unfortunately his memory shows less promise. It is sad when you tell him you are David (my name) and when you leave he tells you, "my name is David." Is that memory with a lisp? One day he actually made it out. They caught him and brought him back.
Now we have responsible parties in the family. Now we have doctors appointing and ordaining those to control the decisions, the money, the future of these seniors -- with a veiled threat that should they choose unwisely, they will be held accountable in court for a bad decision.
Today my Mom called me -- and we talked as I sat in my Father-In-Law's office and got his computer working again. It hit me as I saw his computer expertise, the fine books collected from all kinds of knowledge pools, and the incredible ingenuity of his office that this was the mark of an educated, astute, and successful man. My Mom asked me when I could visit her and all I could think of was the goal of passing the acupuncture boards and paying off student loans. It was hard to be there for her and I think she sensed it.
In all our getting, get understanding -- that is what proverbs says. And the words Jeff House wrote in college came back to me. "Take no heed, of the people by your side, just relax, flow gently with the current, sail, like the gulls gliding gently in the wind" -- somewhere in that passage is a message -- one that gives us strength past difficult times. Yes, I need to visit my Mom. I think it is important to give those around us our best foot forward at the time they need it.
Maybe I'll end on this note -- I believe with all my heart that my wife's Mother and Dad know we tried everything to keep them independent, we loved them the best we could when we could, and we'll continue to learn lessons so that we may continue to be there for them. I do believe in family as our most precious resource and the primary unit of our society. And where it falls down, we must in our humanity pick it up for those around us and keep moving forward.
Friday, May 9, 2008
What we survived as Kids
It is amazing that we survive from childhood. What are some of your stories?
The first time I rode a bike, I took it up a small hill. I reasoned that by getting on it while going down hill would solve the problem of not knowing how to ride. After all, it only made sense that if the bike were in motion from the hill -- all I had to do was hang on. And hang on I did -- down the hill where I found I couldn't turn it. I saw my Mother's clothes line coming up on me so I ducked. Wow, I missed that I thought as I looked behind me. Bam! I hit a fence and the bike came to rest but I continued on over the fence and landed in my next door neighbor's yard.
Some things I don't remember exactly and had to have hypnosis to bring them out. Like the day I was climbing a fence and slipped. So I had my arm pit stuck in the tines of a chain link fence. Someone had to lift me off. Or the day I went to save the cat who had climbed a tree. That day I was waving in the wind high above the ground with the cat backing up above me. A fire ladder truck came out and got me first, then the cat.
How about the time I was returning from work and decided to play hand ball -- so we climbed a building so we could play on the roof. After all, everyone else was sleeping. After an hour of fast play we came down and were passing a phone booth. The friend I was with, Gary Crumbpacker, had bet me that he could make a free phone call with a nickel. I thought that was crazy since someone had cut off the phone completely and taken the receiver. How could you make a phone call with no receiver. Just watch me, he said. So he took off his shoe and was pounding on the pay phone with his heel while placing a nickel in the slot. I caught an incoming police car checking us out in the corner of my eye and immediately slid underneath the fence. They brought in six or seven cars and tried to catch me. I ran incognito into back yards, over fences, through woody areas, down storm drains, and kept low to the ground and out of sight. They kept looking for me for months. They kept bringing Gary in and asking him who his partner was that stole the phone.
I bet we all have stories we laugh about and think -- it is amazing that we made it in one piece in this crazy world.
The first time I rode a bike, I took it up a small hill. I reasoned that by getting on it while going down hill would solve the problem of not knowing how to ride. After all, it only made sense that if the bike were in motion from the hill -- all I had to do was hang on. And hang on I did -- down the hill where I found I couldn't turn it. I saw my Mother's clothes line coming up on me so I ducked. Wow, I missed that I thought as I looked behind me. Bam! I hit a fence and the bike came to rest but I continued on over the fence and landed in my next door neighbor's yard.
Some things I don't remember exactly and had to have hypnosis to bring them out. Like the day I was climbing a fence and slipped. So I had my arm pit stuck in the tines of a chain link fence. Someone had to lift me off. Or the day I went to save the cat who had climbed a tree. That day I was waving in the wind high above the ground with the cat backing up above me. A fire ladder truck came out and got me first, then the cat.
How about the time I was returning from work and decided to play hand ball -- so we climbed a building so we could play on the roof. After all, everyone else was sleeping. After an hour of fast play we came down and were passing a phone booth. The friend I was with, Gary Crumbpacker, had bet me that he could make a free phone call with a nickel. I thought that was crazy since someone had cut off the phone completely and taken the receiver. How could you make a phone call with no receiver. Just watch me, he said. So he took off his shoe and was pounding on the pay phone with his heel while placing a nickel in the slot. I caught an incoming police car checking us out in the corner of my eye and immediately slid underneath the fence. They brought in six or seven cars and tried to catch me. I ran incognito into back yards, over fences, through woody areas, down storm drains, and kept low to the ground and out of sight. They kept looking for me for months. They kept bringing Gary in and asking him who his partner was that stole the phone.
I bet we all have stories we laugh about and think -- it is amazing that we made it in one piece in this crazy world.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Avoiding Hospital Visits
Hospital visits are rarely fun. They often happen because we are not listening to our body. It will tell us long before it gets that point that something is wrong. In our society of cars, houses, machines for every task -- we begin to zone out the weather. The outside environment only touches us as it gets nasty. That is the way our health hits us. After a few nasty bouts of fatigue, constipation, diarrhea, pain, limited range of motion -- the signs and symptoms are usually there and identifying what we are ignoring.
Proactive health starts with listening. Look at the physical layer. Eat something, listen to our body's reaction. How does it react long term to our choices? Finish an activity, listen to our body's reaction. Does it recover gracefully or complain for three days? Drink something, listen to our reaction. Is there a shocking feeling with cold? or hot? or spicy? or does it feel great afterward? Are you keeping the body hydrated? It is the most common cause of making the problems go over the edge -- what edge? It is the edge where the body throws a fit and breaks down normal functioning.
Proactive health continues with choices at a mental, social, emotional, and even spiritual level. A state of well-being is a great choice of words. Positive thoughts release endorphins which more the body into a state of relaxation -- lessening the harsh effect of our physical world. Try achieving a sense of the runners high in any workout. Its effect lasts all day. Be curious and observant -- the simple act of discovery in art, drama, or music captures not only the imagination but releases healthy endorphins. A moving moment moves us within -- much like simple kindnesses move our fellow travelers in this world -- share the movement and it releases great endorphins for all who are involved and sometimes to those who are watching.
A bit of sun -- yes, it releases endorphins. A bite of chocolate (dark chocolate) -- yeah, it releases endorphins. Chili peppers -- wow, there it goes again. A good thing can be over done -- too much exercise, chocolate, hot peppers, sun will erode it initial positive benefits. Strive for that balance and maybe it will avoid a hospital visit.
Proactive health starts with listening. Look at the physical layer. Eat something, listen to our body's reaction. How does it react long term to our choices? Finish an activity, listen to our body's reaction. Does it recover gracefully or complain for three days? Drink something, listen to our reaction. Is there a shocking feeling with cold? or hot? or spicy? or does it feel great afterward? Are you keeping the body hydrated? It is the most common cause of making the problems go over the edge -- what edge? It is the edge where the body throws a fit and breaks down normal functioning.
Proactive health continues with choices at a mental, social, emotional, and even spiritual level. A state of well-being is a great choice of words. Positive thoughts release endorphins which more the body into a state of relaxation -- lessening the harsh effect of our physical world. Try achieving a sense of the runners high in any workout. Its effect lasts all day. Be curious and observant -- the simple act of discovery in art, drama, or music captures not only the imagination but releases healthy endorphins. A moving moment moves us within -- much like simple kindnesses move our fellow travelers in this world -- share the movement and it releases great endorphins for all who are involved and sometimes to those who are watching.
A bit of sun -- yes, it releases endorphins. A bite of chocolate (dark chocolate) -- yeah, it releases endorphins. Chili peppers -- wow, there it goes again. A good thing can be over done -- too much exercise, chocolate, hot peppers, sun will erode it initial positive benefits. Strive for that balance and maybe it will avoid a hospital visit.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Healers
Healers are a rare breed ... people want to believe in someone who can do the mystical. I've been accused of being a healer. I see it in black and white. Do the right thing for the body and the body heals itself. Does that make me the healer? I think not.
So are there healers out there that do heal? Certainly, it is a gift to see what must be done but the healing is always within the person in my view. I know there are other views out there and I accept them. I'm not sure that my view is correct. A healer that does a great job of healing taps into the secret of healing, the craft of healing, or the art of healing.
What about miracles? I believe in miracles. They happen all around us everyday. They are part of the duality of our physical world and the spiritual dimensions that we do not see. They affect our life constantly. The power of prayer, the synergistic effect of healing energies, and many other modalities are almost an endless source of untapped power to help heal the body, mind, and spirit. I don't claim to understand that part of healing. I don't think anyone does. Many healers use that spiritual domain to effect a healing -- much like a healing crisis brought about by fasting, a healing crisis may be brought about by intention. Amazing.
I'm not sure how it works. How do I write a song? I don't know. But it comes out of me every so often and feels so great. Healers are the song writers for disease recovery.
So are there healers out there that do heal? Certainly, it is a gift to see what must be done but the healing is always within the person in my view. I know there are other views out there and I accept them. I'm not sure that my view is correct. A healer that does a great job of healing taps into the secret of healing, the craft of healing, or the art of healing.
What about miracles? I believe in miracles. They happen all around us everyday. They are part of the duality of our physical world and the spiritual dimensions that we do not see. They affect our life constantly. The power of prayer, the synergistic effect of healing energies, and many other modalities are almost an endless source of untapped power to help heal the body, mind, and spirit. I don't claim to understand that part of healing. I don't think anyone does. Many healers use that spiritual domain to effect a healing -- much like a healing crisis brought about by fasting, a healing crisis may be brought about by intention. Amazing.
I'm not sure how it works. How do I write a song? I don't know. But it comes out of me every so often and feels so great. Healers are the song writers for disease recovery.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Hormones verses Neuro-Tranmitters - the Back
A friend came up to me and asked my opinion. He is in pain due to a back deteriorating by bone growing inward towards the spine. They have progressively operated on him. He plans to undertake another operation which puts a titanium sleeve inside the spinal cord. They have to scrape out the existing space which has been lessened by calcium growth. Hmm. Already a tough situation.
Now he wants to prepare for the operation by boosting hormones in his body in the right proportions so that the pain is lessened and his body is better prepared for it. Another risky thing to do to your health. It benefits the short term -- the longer term is unknown.
So what do I recommend?
I recommend testing the Neuro-Transmitters in the body to see what their balance is ... that gives the steady stream of hormones that balance the hormones through the body. Once the balance is known, use supplements to re-balance them. And re-test as the body will no longer need the boost. Why? The body will produce the right hormones given the right mix of neuro-transmitters.
And what is the difference?
I actually believe that much of what is called Traditional Chinese Medicine does the same thing with herbs with over 50 identified patterns in the body. I see this group at Sanesco doing the same thing -- identifying patterns which match neural transmitter dysfunction. Only in Chinese Medicine they use names that have carried on for 80 generations of doctors. They simply use the same terms and agree on its characteristics. Many Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners get excellent results by translating the signs and symptoms of any disorder into a known pattern or patterns -- voila, they apply the proper needles, herbs, moxa, cupping, food, life style exercises, massage, medication, packs, poultices, essential oils, and many more modalities. Only the original patterns are the guiding light behind each treatment.
If you ask me what I would do for his back, that would be a tougher problem. Certainly, it differs from the usual "breaking out" of deteriorating backs. Whatever he does I would recommend something gentle like Effie Chow's Qi Qong for spinal recovery and the type of tui na that extends the spine, puts more space between each vertebrae, and, finally, rocks each vertebrae down individually till there is free movement. Certainly, no free flow equals pain. And the tui na practitioner should open the water channel and certainly feed earth. Often they will need to work with the Yang side of wood and secure free movement in the sacral region.
Now he wants to prepare for the operation by boosting hormones in his body in the right proportions so that the pain is lessened and his body is better prepared for it. Another risky thing to do to your health. It benefits the short term -- the longer term is unknown.
So what do I recommend?
I recommend testing the Neuro-Transmitters in the body to see what their balance is ... that gives the steady stream of hormones that balance the hormones through the body. Once the balance is known, use supplements to re-balance them. And re-test as the body will no longer need the boost. Why? The body will produce the right hormones given the right mix of neuro-transmitters.
And what is the difference?
- When the body gets hormones from the outside, it no longer needs to produce them -- it shuts down production. The lessens the ability to react in the long term. The pill or hormone treatment becomes the body's source. Medical science does not know enough about how much, when, and how long a single hormone is needed. Science does not know the intricate details of how to balance that hormone with other hormones. Yes, it is possible to force nature this way but it has many drawbacks. Many people, once on hormones can't come off them.
- Supplements tune the body so that the body is in charge of its own recovery. All the steps of recovery are not known at this time. It is a marvelous process that needs encouragement but not replacement. Supplements stop when the body can keep up -- when the body is in balance.
- Testing is the second voided urine of the day and 4 collections of saliva at 4-5 hour intervals during the day. It is frozen and overnighted directly to the lab. Tuning involves taking a scientific view of the balance and creating supplements which anchor and supplement the deficiencies. A team of medical experts with over 15 years experience at such balancing with nutrition and herbs help create the plan.
I actually believe that much of what is called Traditional Chinese Medicine does the same thing with herbs with over 50 identified patterns in the body. I see this group at Sanesco doing the same thing -- identifying patterns which match neural transmitter dysfunction. Only in Chinese Medicine they use names that have carried on for 80 generations of doctors. They simply use the same terms and agree on its characteristics. Many Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners get excellent results by translating the signs and symptoms of any disorder into a known pattern or patterns -- voila, they apply the proper needles, herbs, moxa, cupping, food, life style exercises, massage, medication, packs, poultices, essential oils, and many more modalities. Only the original patterns are the guiding light behind each treatment.
If you ask me what I would do for his back, that would be a tougher problem. Certainly, it differs from the usual "breaking out" of deteriorating backs. Whatever he does I would recommend something gentle like Effie Chow's Qi Qong for spinal recovery and the type of tui na that extends the spine, puts more space between each vertebrae, and, finally, rocks each vertebrae down individually till there is free movement. Certainly, no free flow equals pain. And the tui na practitioner should open the water channel and certainly feed earth. Often they will need to work with the Yang side of wood and secure free movement in the sacral region.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
A Christmas Delight
For me the Latter Day Saint temple in San Diego is like a fairy tale princess castle. It was a perfect place to be married. Here are a few shots from the wedding.
Knowing Without Knowing
The patient was there in the morning when I arrived. I had a standing appointment and wondered how it would go this time. My feedback from last time had been nothing. He met me with struggled words pieced together between difficulty swallowing. No movements were perceptible beyond facial expression and an occasional sway -- but ever so slight. I was there for an hour session and I did my best. My best was to let go of my expectations and to follow my intuition. A knowing without knowing, what the Chinese call wu wie. What did I do? I had him breathe and follow his breath with imaginary light. Meditation is a powerful key. A smile emerges which tells me that progress is being made. Humanity fills the air when we help another human being -- something Godlike in my mind is something that happens because air and water, time and space express more than ourselves.
Next time was clear. More of the same -- more of what I don't know.
Next time was clear. More of the same -- more of what I don't know.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Five Great Springs of the Body
Materialization is not what most people think it is -- or maybe it is just me. Who knows?
So I was working on a desperate client who had trouble walking on one side, pain in his mid back, opposite shoulder, and could no longer move his neck. I guess that is not so unusual for me. I do get the hard cases -- otherwise someone would crack them in with D.C. after their name. Sometimes you hear a concept over and over and then suddenly it materializes right in front of you. I could see the five springs of the body -- each arm, each leg, and the body itself as being in optimum condition when they bend well. Totally extended or collapsed is a non-working condition. It took me right to the knots. One in the upper fibular bone area, both sides of the mid-back, and finally on the upper thigh of the effected leg. Then reseting a few restricted facets of the neck and he was moving with normal Range of Motion with a normal walk. Tui Na works.
The five great springs of the body can be seen and if you don't see a normal motion then they detect precisely where the defect lies. I like that, a mystery solved. I had him learn tai chi chuan walking so he can make the knees and feet the passive part of his walk long enough for him to recover completely.
I think that most things in life materialize slowly and our understanding unwinds long after our minds have been cluttered up with the information. Mortimer J. Adler said you need to read a book 14 times to understand it. "How to Read a Book" was one of my reads in college but I only read it once and passed by ... I've missed a lifetime of books by that author if you count them up. A 14 year old drop out who discovered reading on the job -- Plato. How great was Plato? Plato wrote down the teachings of Socrates. In college I heard this story of Socrates ... a student asked him if he could help him learn. Plato took him to the ocean and thrust him under the water. At first, the student was compliant. Soon the air was running out and he wanted to breathe. He forced upward but the master held firm. Finally, the student had to breathe and he put all his effort into pushing upward to receive air into his lungs. "When you desire learning like you desire air then you will learn." Now, Adler knew a bit about materialization.
Mortimer died in 2001. His studies in the classics led to a life long quest and a scholarship to Columbia. He eventually became a professor there and was awarded an honorary doctorate for his knowledge of the classics. I think we could all learn a bit from his Common Sense of Politics and his Six Great Ideas. Truth, goodness, and beauty are three ideas we judge by and liberty, equality, and justice are three ideas we act on. Here is his words in an interview:
BILL MOYERS: Six great ideas -- truth, goodness, beauty, liberty, equality, justice. Why these six?
MORTIMER J. ADLER: One answer, Bill, is the Declaration of Independence -- the document that every American should understand -- and five of those six ideas are in the first four lines of the second paragraph. Let me recite those four lines:
Now, there's a second reason. Three of these ideas -- the first three, truth, goodness and beauty -- are the values by which we judge everything in the universe -- our ideas, our thoughts, human conduct, the world of nature and the world of artistic products. The second three ideas -- liberty, equality and justice -- are the ideas that relate you and me, relate people in society. Their equality, their freedom to relate to one another, their just or unjust treatment of one another -- they are the ideas that govern our actions. They are the ideas by which we evaluate governments and societies and laws.
Unquote -- end of interview.
Mortimer like several other great philosophers of our time became religious in the end. I like to think that the creator materialized in his life. I hope that many other ideas many materialize in all of our lives -- it is our dreams, our imaginations that give us the vision to go beyond the hum drum of daily living. For me, it was five great springs of the body.
So I was working on a desperate client who had trouble walking on one side, pain in his mid back, opposite shoulder, and could no longer move his neck. I guess that is not so unusual for me. I do get the hard cases -- otherwise someone would crack them in with D.C. after their name. Sometimes you hear a concept over and over and then suddenly it materializes right in front of you. I could see the five springs of the body -- each arm, each leg, and the body itself as being in optimum condition when they bend well. Totally extended or collapsed is a non-working condition. It took me right to the knots. One in the upper fibular bone area, both sides of the mid-back, and finally on the upper thigh of the effected leg. Then reseting a few restricted facets of the neck and he was moving with normal Range of Motion with a normal walk. Tui Na works.
The five great springs of the body can be seen and if you don't see a normal motion then they detect precisely where the defect lies. I like that, a mystery solved. I had him learn tai chi chuan walking so he can make the knees and feet the passive part of his walk long enough for him to recover completely.
I think that most things in life materialize slowly and our understanding unwinds long after our minds have been cluttered up with the information. Mortimer J. Adler said you need to read a book 14 times to understand it. "How to Read a Book" was one of my reads in college but I only read it once and passed by ... I've missed a lifetime of books by that author if you count them up. A 14 year old drop out who discovered reading on the job -- Plato. How great was Plato? Plato wrote down the teachings of Socrates. In college I heard this story of Socrates ... a student asked him if he could help him learn. Plato took him to the ocean and thrust him under the water. At first, the student was compliant. Soon the air was running out and he wanted to breathe. He forced upward but the master held firm. Finally, the student had to breathe and he put all his effort into pushing upward to receive air into his lungs. "When you desire learning like you desire air then you will learn." Now, Adler knew a bit about materialization.
Mortimer died in 2001. His studies in the classics led to a life long quest and a scholarship to Columbia. He eventually became a professor there and was awarded an honorary doctorate for his knowledge of the classics. I think we could all learn a bit from his Common Sense of Politics and his Six Great Ideas. Truth, goodness, and beauty are three ideas we judge by and liberty, equality, and justice are three ideas we act on. Here is his words in an interview:
BILL MOYERS: Six great ideas -- truth, goodness, beauty, liberty, equality, justice. Why these six?
MORTIMER J. ADLER: One answer, Bill, is the Declaration of Independence -- the document that every American should understand -- and five of those six ideas are in the first four lines of the second paragraph. Let me recite those four lines:
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they're endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights. Among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" -- which is the ultimate good -- "That to secure these rights governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed."There are five of the six ideas, and the sixth is in another great document, Pericles' famous speech at the end of the first year of the Peloponnesian War in which he was comparing Athenian civilization and culture with the militaristic stale of Sparta, and said, "We Athenians cultivate beauty without effeminacy." -- There's the six of them.
Now, there's a second reason. Three of these ideas -- the first three, truth, goodness and beauty -- are the values by which we judge everything in the universe -- our ideas, our thoughts, human conduct, the world of nature and the world of artistic products. The second three ideas -- liberty, equality and justice -- are the ideas that relate you and me, relate people in society. Their equality, their freedom to relate to one another, their just or unjust treatment of one another -- they are the ideas that govern our actions. They are the ideas by which we evaluate governments and societies and laws.
Unquote -- end of interview.
Mortimer like several other great philosophers of our time became religious in the end. I like to think that the creator materialized in his life. I hope that many other ideas many materialize in all of our lives -- it is our dreams, our imaginations that give us the vision to go beyond the hum drum of daily living. For me, it was five great springs of the body.
Married to Julie Pickens on December 28th 2008
Yes, that is right! I took the glorious plunge, Geronimo. I remember screaming that as I flung myself down the water spout at water parks till I splashed below in the cascading parade of water.
Some may ask where? The San Diego temple ceremony was done by the Stake Patriarch in our area. I asked two friends to be there as witnesses and they came with their wives. I think Julie had 3 girl friends (2 single, 1 married) and our bishop came with his wife. So it was quiet, unassuming, and quite a world of words by the Patriarch who was in his best form.
Actually our family, although they were not there played a big part of it. Maria had Julie as a Kayak partner. Most all of us save my Dad and Mom Scott were at the graduation from acupuncture school. We all had this delicious salmon together. All of my family helped me in subtle ways to understand how I felt.
My brother Jim helped us stay in Del Mar at a nice hotel where we had an ocean view. I took her to dinner at the Double Happiness restaurant in Del Mar. We had a day of being in Del Mar and La Jolla in some of our favorite haunts.
Julie and I have danced since our first date in November of 2006. I moved into the same city last summer to know if I still wanted to marry her. And we have enjoyed music, choir, qi qong, kung fu, dancing, walking, working out, and getting to know each other for over a year. We have even picked out the Fred Astaire / Ginger Rogers routines to work on after watching their movies together.
I'll attach some pictures of our reception at the Orchard in Point Loma just before the New Years Eve party. We brought carrot cake and plenty of interesting juices which turned out to be the life of the party. Of course we danced and I sang her two songs. I am wearing this incredible outfit my Mom sent me for Christmas. She wondered if it would fit -- it fit great and the tie was made for it. Julie had a Ginger Rogers look and was a knock out.
The real effort was the move ... I moved 4 boxes at a time and unpacked as I went so the front room became the studio. I even put up the pictures as I went. We had it planned so tightly that the last move was 20 minutes before being there at the temple. Go figure.
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