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.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
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.
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