Yoga - Can You Downward Dog?

I'll admit, I'm not an expert on this subject, certainly I'm no yogi, but I found the topic of yoga quite fascinating as I began to do some research.  This post is due to a request which I was happy to do, and even more so as I have found some surprising results and interesting information that I would have never known otherwise.

Even though the origin of yoga is debatable, the art of yoga has been around for about 5,000 years beginning in India.  They have found ancient ruins with pictures depicting people in yoga poses.  Like other arts of the eastern culture, yoga is a low intensity exercise meant to unite the spiritual, the mental and the physical. The basic principle is that there is unity in everything.  There are many forms of yoga which seems to open a whole new portal which I'm not ready to step into yet.  The ancient practice was mainly focused on the art of breathing and relaxation - simply a style of meditation.  The modern day yoga has now adapted the art into a more physical exercise, either way the benefits are great.  These are the two main aspects of yoga I would like to share- The Meditation and the Physical Healing.

The Meditation:


It's hard to separate one from the other as the mind heals the body and the body effects the mind.  However, I will do my best to share the benefits of each individually.  While researching about yoga, it seemed that every article had more and more benefits and almost miraculous cures.  It seemed too good to be true.  At a closer look and understanding physiology, it's quite easy to understand how yoga can have so many beneficial effects.  The main key to yoga is meditation.  Anciently, this was used for achievement of unity and enlightenment.  Now, it is used as a form of stress relief.  I don't think I need to share another blog on how dangerous stress can be to our bodies.(http://devereuxhealthtalk.blogspot.com/2010_09_01_archive.html#uds-search-results).
 If our stress is not reduced or managed properly, it can have a chronic effect.  If we are always stressed, either physically or mentally, our body will soon deplete of energy and necessary nutrition needed to function properly resulting in several dysfunctions and illnesses: Heartburn, ulcers, GI dysfunction, cancer, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, insomnia, bladder dysfunction, sexual dysfunction, suppression of immune system, cognitive dysfunction, anxiety, depression, increase heart rate, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, hypoxia, and the list goes on.  There is a great article by the Mayo Clinic on how yoga can help manage stress and these stress related conditions - http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/yoga/CM00004.  In summery, there are certain poses on yoga (Hatha) that helps with breathing exercises  These exercises are most beneficial.  When we take controlled deep breaths, it automatically helps our body relax.  Deep breathing stimulates the Nucleus Ambigous in the brain which consists of nerves that help our body relax.  Particularly, the Vagus nerve that helps control the lungs and the heart (Kinda important).  When our lungs function properly, we get in the necessary oxygen intake to provide for our brain and tissues.  The Vagus nerve will also slow down the heart rate and lower blood pressure.  When we are in a relaxed state, our body will begin to create new energy sources, our gut will function normally, our immune system will increase, and our blood flow will increase helping our body achieve proper health.  I recommend this article for those who practice or interested in yoga. http://www.acatoday.org/content_css.cfm?CID=3209.  It gives more insight on stress related conditions and gives directional guidance to certain poses to relieve stress.  Very informing.

Physical Healing:

There is new research coming out how yoga can provide physical health and therapeutic benefits -  even related to low back pain.  Most research I found showed yoga improves symptoms of back pain more than physical therapy or other self help exercises.  I failed to find any research to compare yoga and chiropractic care (often accepted as the most effective treatment for back pain).  However, several articles stated that yoga is a great complement to chiropractic care.  And here's how so:  The spine as shown to the right (I'm getting more skilled in my blogging, don't you think?) shows the proper curves in a human adult spine.  These curves are important, as it provides stability and strength.  (If a spine loses one of it's curves, it will lose it's strength by half).  The curves can either decrease or become excessive, due to certain stresses in our life.  Here's a chiropractic gem.  You see how the top (cervical) and bottom (lumbar) curves complement each other?   As our cervical curve lessens, or straightens, the lumbar curve becomes excessive to compensate to keep the spine balanced.  This is often the root cause of a low back pain.  So, even though the pain is in the low back, it is merely a compensation for the loss of the cervical curve due to sitting, and looking down in much of our daily activities.  Not only does the straightened curve has devastating effects such as respiratory problems, hypoxia, decreased mental function and other associations with chronic and mental health, the excessive curve decreases the integrity and strength of the spine, creating compression of the spine, possibly compression of nerves creating the pain.  An article from Yoga Basics explains how yoga helps correct spinal dysfunction and posture (http://www.yogabasics.com/learn/yoga-for-a-perfect-posture.html)  Even though I don't agree that yoga is the one answer for posture imbalance and spinal dysfunction, it can play a vital role in helping correct and even maintaining proper posture.  This idea is also backed up by the American Chiropractic Association (http://www.acatoday.org/content_css.cfm?CID=3209)  This is a great article, explaining how yoga can be used a a therapy for pain and healing.  Not only does yoga decompress the spine in certain postures, but increases blood flow to tissues and creating motion in the joints.

As a voice of concern, I would caution to make sure the postures are done correctly and for the right use.  In my search, I have seen postures that improve abdominal muscles.  As glamorous as that sounds, it can be more damaging to our health, as we need to improve our extensor back muscles and not so much our abdominal flexors. As well, as stated in the ACA article, it is vital that we correct any vertebral (spinal) dysfunction through chiropractic care.  Doing yoga to improve posture and spinal health is one thing, but to do postures while our spine is compromised can have adverse effects.  If one side of our body's muscles are tight and the other side is weak, if we continue with the exercises, the tight muscles will continue getting tighter and the other side remaining weak, creating an even greater imbalance if the problem is not first corrected.  I guess to say, as beneficial as yoga is, it is important to do correct poses, with the intent they are designed for, and understand their purpose and why we are doing them.  And hopefully then we can achieve the unity of our spiritual, our mental, and our physical health - And back to Namaste

Vaccines- Let's Discuss

I first feel like I need to apologize for doing a vaccine post. I told myself that this was one subject I wasn't going to touch on, and I've gone back and forth on this decision.  I know my choice may open up debate, and subject myself to criticism, but hey, at least I might finally get a comment on my blog.

I usually post information I have learned in class or other forms of information provided in my education.  I am on break right now, so this is not a lecture of some sort.  Rather, I have had much exposure to vaccine education and I will try to provide as much research and articles I can on certain subjects, mixed with my own honest opinions.  And when I say honest- I will come out and say that I am not for nor am I against vaccines.  This is not an idle position.  I have my own stance on the subject, planted firmly with conviction, but I feel that I do not have the right to force people one way or the other.  It is my responsibility however to provide complete information that will allow for others to make their own choices using reason and logic and not fear and persuasion.  I admit, I may sound a bit bias in this blog, but that's part of the reason for this post.  I recently have read on article which resembles how people are sadly misled and misinformed. http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/04/cost-vaccine-refusal/

This article put blame on the unvaccinated people for starting a measle outbreak and costing $800,000 for the government to contain it.  Sounds pretty scary.  Really?  This article is filled with fear and misleading and incomplete information.  Was anyone seriously hurt?  I counted one in the ICU and another had sever asthma attacks, but that was only 2 people out of how many? 14? 21? 363? Their numbers seem to vary. And I failed to read anyone dying.  And I love how they bring in the children and mention someone with Down Syndrome and someone with Brain Cancer to play with the reader's emotions and yet never really say what happened as a result.  Probably because nothing did.  Let me see if I can fill in the missing sentence. "And infected, among others someone with brain cancer and someone with Down Syndrome . . . who came down with a fever, cough and cold for a fews days and soon fully recovered." Hmm, sounds very serious. And my favorite- How much is $800,000?  Is it a lot?  It sounds like a lot, but it's interesting how the article never explains anything or puts it into any comparison.  So it costs $800,000 unnecessarily spent to contain a disease that had no real threat.  Let's compare.  How much does it cost to vaccinate?  How much does it cost to pay to treat the side effects of these vaccinations? And how much money goes right into the pockets of the Pharmaceutical companies?  Funny how the article doesn't mention any more numbers.  Sounds incomplete to me, but most bias and fear based articles are.

It's articles like these that make me frustrated, only telling one side of the story and completely ignoring the other side.  But I say again I am not bias.  If there was an article saying that vaccines were evil and had no benefits- I would be the first to raise my hand and ask, "Did you forget about Polio and Small Pox?"  So, it's not a matter of whose right and whose wrong, it's a matter of being fair to the reader and provide the whole truth.  And if an article is going to attack one side, it's fair game to be put into question- as it should be.  But the one second I question this article, I get put with the stigma of, "You're just trying to stir controversy"  Really?  I never questioned vaccines, nor did I say anything "Controversial", I was just simply questioning the integrity of the article.  If one is going to be offensive over being questioned, sounds a little fishy to me.

My comments were called "controversial" by a friend who just recently graduated as an RN.  I was soon humbled by her vast knowledge on the subject and incredible research. (when I say "vast", I mean copied and paste and when I say "research", I mean studies manipulated by the pharmaceutical companies).  I was then asked to share my research.  First, I prefer logic over manipulated research.  Second, even if I did share any research, it would be labeled "unreliable" before even reading it.  Sorry, I'm not going to play "My dad is stronger than your dad" game.  I don't play those games.  Rather, I would like to play the, "Your dad is a dishonest Billionaire who takes advantage of his consumers for his gain who sacrifices health and ethics over money" game.  Let's play

What Are Vaccines?
          Vaccines are "a preparation of killed microorganisms, living attenuated organisms, or living fully virulent organisms that is administered to produce or artificially increase immunity to a particular disease." (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vaccine)
"A suspension of attenuated or killed microorganisms (viruses, bacteria, or rickettsiae), or of antigenic proteins derived from them, administered for prevention, amelioration, or treatment of infectious diseases"
(http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/vaccine).  It was Edward Jenner who first discovered the idea of vaccines over 200 years ago when he noticed that the milkmaids who often became sick with cow pox, never got sick with small pox.  He put this to a test, injecting the neighbor's boy who had never been exposed to cow or small pox with the cow pox disease.  Weeks later, he injected the same boy with small pox and the boy never developed symptoms.  This was the beginning of modern day vaccines. (http://www.niaid.nih.gov/topics/vaccines/research/Pages/cowsVaccines.aspx).  Since then, through the several decades when society has been plagued by a disease, vaccines have been formed to help protect the public, which includes Yellow fever, Typhoid fever, Tuberculosis, Tetanus, Small Pox, Rubella, Rabies, Polio, Pneumonia, Mumps, Measles, Lyme's Disease, Hepatitis, Diptheria, Influenza, and several others that have recently developed.  I agree with Dr. Jennifer Barham-Floreani when saying that "Vaccination makes a lot of sense and the intention is honorable."

What Are The Results?
          This is the debatable issue, each side arguing one way or the other.  Using the MMR (Mumps, Measles and Rubella) vaccine, since this is the one in question from the article and often the most debated, the product insert stated on the Merck website states, "For measles, 894,134 cases reported in 1941 compared to 288 cases reported in 1995 resulted in a 99.97% decrease in reported cases; for mumps, 152,209 cases reported in 1968 compared to 840 cases reported in 1995 resulted in a 99.45% decrease in reported cases; and for rubella, 57,686 cases reported in 1969 compared to 200 cases reported in 1995 resulted in a 99.65% decrease."  Sounds impressive.  Even certain websites show graphs of dramatic decline in cases since the introduction of vaccines. (http://vaccinateyourchildren.wordpress.com/graphs-and-data).  While on the other hand, other websites argue that these same diseases were already in decline before the vaccines were administered. (http://www.vaccineinitiative.org/?p=290).  While both of these websites seem to be impressive one way or the other, in reality these websites are both flawed.  While those against vaccines show a decline before vaccinations, they only refer to deaths and not the number of cases.  Those pro vaccinations ignore the decline in deaths, but show the number of cases remained the same until the vaccinations were administered.  They argue that even though deaths were low, some of these cases included serious complications.  What they don't tell you is that these serious complications are rare.  In most cases, these diseases are treatable and soon recoverable.  "The decline in infectious diseases in developed countries had nothing to do with vaccinations, but with the decline in poverty and hunger." -Dr Buchwald, M.D.
But if vaccines have declined incidence, then there should be nothing to treat anyway.  Sounds good to me.  Graphs show a decline in cases of most of these diseases, but I question- At what price?

What Are The Effects Of The Disease vs Vaccination?
          This is where it gets interesting.  The CDC states that symptoms and complications of the Measles include fever, runny nose, cough, and rash with complications of ear infection, pneumonia, encephalitis, miscarriage in women who are pregnant, and possible death (in undeveloped countries). (http://www.cdc.gov/measles/about/overview.html)
More complications include Strep, Blindness, Bronchitis, Hepatitis, SSPE, deafness, convulsions, and paralysis.  However, this same source states that the Measles primarily occur in children ages 6-15 years of age, where before vaccines almost every child had and recovered from Measles before the age of 15 yrs.  Following that statement, we read, "measles in teenagers and adults or in very young infants can be much more severe with serious complications." (http://www.nvic.org/Vaccines-and-Diseases/MMR.aspx).  So before vaccines, the measles were in children who often recovered without complications.  Now due to vaccinations, most cases of measles are now found in older children and adults which have more serious effects.  It also mentions the infants as well, but studies show that vaccines don't protect the infants anyway.  Vaccines are not supposed to be administered to children under the age of 15 months, and have never been studied for the effects of the vaccine under the age of 12 months.  And the mother who is vaccinated does not pass on antibodies to the child, while the mother who had natural measles will pass on antibodies to protect the child for the first year of life.  So, who is hurting the newborn child?  The natural measles where the mother passes on antibodies to protect the child, or vaccines where the infant is left with no antibodies for protection. I'll let you decide
So what about the effects of vaccines- looking at the MMR.  Here we go.  Panniculitis; atypical measles; fever; syncope; headache; dizziness; malaise; irritability; vasculitis; pancreatitis; diarrhea; vomiting; parotitis; nausea; diabetes mellitus; thrombocytopenia; purpura; regional lymphadenopathy; leukocytosis; anaphylaxis; phenomena; angioneurotic edema; bronchial spasm; arthritis; arthralgia; myalgia; encephalitis; encephalopathy; measles inclusion body encephalitis (MIBE); subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE); Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS); febrile convulsions; afebrile convulsions or seizures; ataxia; polyneuritis; polyneuropathy; ocular palsies; paresthesia; pneumonitis; sore throat; cough; rhinitis; Stevens-Johnson syndrome; erythema multiforme; urticaria; rash; measles-like rash; pruritis; burning/stinging at injection site; wheal and flare; redness; swelling; induration; tenderness; vesiculation at injection site; nerve deafness; otitis media; retinitis; optic neuritis; papillitis; retrobulbar neuritis; conjunctivitis; epididymitis; orchitis - and oh yeah Death.  Did you get all that.  And that's just from the vaccine directly, not to mention other indirect effects.  True, some of these conditions are rare, but when you start to add all the rare things together- They aren't exactly rare anymore.  My favorite is how the symptoms and complications of the natural measles are included in the complications of the vaccination- so what is the vaccine really doing?

Do Vaccines Prevent Disease?
          This was one subject I was called out on, asking if I didn't care about prevention.  Wait, when did the medical profession care about prevention, the same ones who prescribe one pill to take care of the effects of another.  I'm sorry, when someone came to you with diabetes symptoms- did you change their diet to prevent the progression of diabetes, or did you put them on insulin and watch them slowly decline?  Oh wait, so what you saying is that vaccines are suppose to prevent diseases.  Ok, let's take a look.  Some sources tell you that vaccines "create immunity that protects you from an infection without causing the suffering of the disease itself" (http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/im/vs-sv/vs-faq01-eng.php).  What they don't tell you is that it only boosts immunity for that particular disease.  The remaining results are staggering.  "Vaccinations depress our body's immune functions and that keeps us open to developing many other diseases" (http://www.mercola.com/article/vaccines/immune_suppression.htm).  There are several ways in which vaccines depress our immune system, but in general, the inoculation of a germ makes our immune system so tied up to that one particular disease that we become vulnerable to everything else.  Other diseases associated with vaccines due to immune suppression is Autism, Brain Damage, Seizures, Lymphatic Disease, Cancer, AIDS, Diabetes.  These aren't things to take very lightly.

"Cancer and other vile diseases are daily inflicted on virtuous families by vaccination." - Dr Edward Haughton, BAMD, MRCS

"Experts say 98 million Americans who took polio shots in the 1950s and 1960s may get a deadly brain cancer from the inoculations ... Researchers at the University of Chicago Medical Center say that a virus contaminated the polio vaccine and they have now found genetic material from the virus in a number of brain cancer victims." - Dr Jacob Rachlin quoted from Weekly World News of Lantana

When I think of vaccine prevention, I think of a basketball shoe.  Yes, a basketball shoe.  The basketball shoe has been developed over time, mainly to have a high top to prevent ankle injuries that often plagued basketball players.  In this noble cause they failed to acknowledge the poor support for the foot.  The lack of foot support has caused the foot arch to drop, creating flat feet and compromising the integrity of the structure of the foot.  Due to this change in structure, the knee is soon effected, and then hip and eventually the low back.  Soon enough over time one is complaining of foot pain, knee pain, hip pain, and back pain, but by golly they sure did prevent the ankle injury.  Vaccines are the same in fashion.  They do boost immunity for that particular disease, failing to cope for any other diseases that the body remains vulnerable to.

Is It Lying If You Don't Say Anything?
          I admit, this subject title is provocative, while I could just put, "What is in the vaccine?", but it wouldn't really prove my point.  I would be more pro vaccine if the injection was merely the disease like back in England 200 years ago with good old Edward Jenner.  I believe the birth of vaccinations started out as a noble and honorable task to protect the public.  Unfortunately, that same goal has been distorted.  In modern day vaccinations, the germ is accompanied with a variety of ingredients that are harmful.  It is shocking to me that many sources, even those pro vaccines show a list, maybe modified, but yet they do show a list of ingredients that are included, but yet act as if these ingredients have no effect.  Really?  They can't ignore that vaccines contain Mercury- and yet they mention it and pass it by as if it is not a neurotoxin or doesn't destroy the brain cells.

The reality of vaccines is the same as the reality of Dairy.  What do you hear about Dairy?  What are it's nutritional benefits?  Calcium . . . and that's pretty much it.  And using the logic that calcium is good for your bones, they add in the idea that "it does a body good".  What a Lie - Because what they don't tell you is that dairy also contains fats, phosphorus (which counteracts with the calcium, sometimes reversing it), bovine proteins which exceeds any amount a human really needs and is different than human milk, and several hormones (Both natural and injected).  While studies show dairy never has been proven to strengthen bones and prevent osteoporosis, what you aren't told is that dairy is associated with most children allergies, GI diseases, diabetes, Rheumatoid arthritis, obesity, and several other diseases.  And all you hear is how healthy Dairy is.  Probably the biggest Lie- well, besides vaccines.

Here are some ingredients found in vaccines. Let's take a look at what they don't tell you:

1. Mercury - (Thimerosal) - Neurotoxin and decrease mental function (while arguing that Mercury has no effect, they have taken it out of vaccines, all except the Flu vaccine- probably making it the most dangerous)
2. Aluminum - A toxin also decreases mental function, associated with Alzheimer's disease
3. Formaldehyde - carcinogenic
4. Antibiotics - cause of allergies
5. Acetone - neurotoxin
6. Antifreeze - cardiovascular dysfunction and acute kidney failure
7. Gelatin - cause of allergies
8. Egg Yolk - cause of allergies
9. 2-phenoxyethanol - toxic to cells and immune depressent
10. MSG - allergies, seizures, and brain tumors.

And those are just a few to mention.  There is also a list of preservatives.  Preservatives?  The Billionaires don't want to lose money, so just use preservatives and keep them on the shelf.  And I thought Twinkies were bad.  To be honest, if I had to choose a vaccine and a twinkie- I would chose the twinkie.  At least I would enjoy it- and have a greater chance to live longer.

If vaccines aren't preventive, then how can one protect themselves from diseases?  According to an article, the recent outbreak of Cholera in Haiti has shown incredible understanding of disease prevention.  The article states that those with proper hygiene, clean water, and good health are protected against the disease much more than those in poor living conditions.  Even more surprising is that it states that vaccines are no use, or at least will not be as effective as good living conditions.  (http://blogs.agu.org/geospace/2011/02/17/clean-water-education-haiti-cholera).  So what does that say about true prevention?  The key to protection is good health and building our immune system naturally.

Last Question - Where Is The Money?

          I truly would hope one would ask the question - Why is it so forced upon us to get vaccinated?  Hopefully this will enlighten any thoughts.  The medical doctors who force these vaccines on all of us are "Trained" at a medical school which is funded by the Pharmaceutical companies . . . who by the way provide the very vaccines given.  (Sounds like a conflict of interest to me).  And why don't we hear about this . . . oh yeah, they also fund the "Research".  The Pharmaceutical company is a Billion dollar industry.  You think they care about your health?  They just care about the money.  Just look at the H1N1 vaccine.  That vaccine was mass produced within months- untested- and for what- to protect us against a disease that was less threatening than the more common Flu.  And what about the Flu vaccine?  There are thousands of strands of the Flu and it changes every year.  There is no way a vaccine can prevent the Flu- yet, we are forced to get the vaccine.  It's the biggest scam of the medical profession.  What about the HPV vaccine?  Studies are now finding that the vaccine doesn't prevent cancer, and in fact in some cases can cause cancer.  I just found a website where they are now testing a vaccine for MRSA (a superbug that was created by the medical profession) and also for Traveler's Diarrhea. What?  Really?  Let's see how this conversation goes:

Patient:  I'm traveling and I'm afraid of getting Traveler's Diarrhea

Doctor:  Well, we have a vaccine for that

Patient:  But doesn't the side effect consist of Diarrhea

Doctor:  Not Traveler's Diarrhea, just "Diarrhea" symptoms

If you thought that was funny, check out this bit of info:
"VACCINES are the continuing success story, earning over $27 billion in 2009 alone, despite difficult economic times for the pharmaceutical industry . . . By 2012, vaccines are expected to bring in more than $35 billion in revenue." (http://www.iirusa.com/vbc/home.xml)

"Novavax Awarded $179M Contract by U.S. Govt:" (http://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/2011/03/01/novavax-awarded-17m-contract-govt-develop-flu-vaccines/)

"VaxInnate receives $196 million federal contract" (http://www.nj.com/business/times/index.ssf?/base/business-5/1303451138281250.xml&coll=5)

Are you kidding me.  Not only are these companies making Billions off of us- They are funded by the Government.  And that's just for vaccines alone.  Ethics have been thrown out the window.  We are taken advantage of.  We are being lied to.  They are making Billions based on our health, and I can't even question it?  If trying to be truthful is "Controversial"- then let's start stirring things up!

Herbal Remedies

I feel like I been away for a while.  With finals and everything else, there really hasn't been any new information to share.  Not until one of the last days of school- where a good lecture on Herbal supplementation.  The best part of this post is that this lecture was given by an MD- so this is a medical opinion on the matter which was very interesting and refreshing to hear.  He stated he would prefer to recommend these remedies before any drugs, in which he saw much success

Before beginning the lecture, I just wanted to post that I have waited to publish this, to wait for my National Board scores.  I found out this morning that I just passed Part 1 National Boards.  Not that I had any doubt, but it was good to have that confirmation and see the numbers.  Along with that, I had have my finals and in just over a week I will be moving on to Tri 6.  The "Train" is picking up speed

For this post I just wanted to make a list of herbs and their main purposes.  I have mentioned some before in previous posts, but hopefully this list may help seeing them all together.  A few comments beforehand- There are 500,000 known species of plants in the world and only 5,000 have been studied.  5,000 seems like a lot, but that's only 1% of what is really out there.  This list is only a handful of herbs.  There are countless more, but I will try to stick with what was mentioned in the lecture.  If you have any experience with any others, please feel free to share and comment.

1. Aloe - Treatement of burns and would healing

2. Bilberry - (Blueberries, Huckleberries) - Treatment of visual acuity, nearsightedness and recently studied to help with obesity

3. Black Cohosh - Treatment of menopause or dysmenorrhea  (I have also posted that Tribulis and Chaste Tree can help with hormon imbalance)

4. Chamomile - This is a flower used to help with upset stomach and help with sleep problems.

5. Cascara Sagrada - Treatment of constipation and gallstones

6. Cheyenne Pepper - Used as an anti-inflammatory and can be used topically to treat arthritis

7. Chinese Parsley - (Cilantro) - Used as a chelated agent to rid of toxic metals such as Mercury, Lead and Aluminum

8. Cranberry - Treatment of Urinary Tract Infections

9. Echinacea - This is an immune booster to help fight infections and promote healing.  This is one herb that is gaining popularity and is often taken when one may start to feel sick to boost immunity.  Has been used to treat upper respiratory allergies, and even burns topically

10. Feverfew Leaf - Main treatment for Migraines

11. Garlic - This is one herb this is often over looked.  It is an anti-inflammatory agent and can also help lower blood cholesterol levels.

12. Ginger - Helps prevent morning sickness (works very well, as well as papaya juice or extract) and upset stomach, and treatment of colds often taken as a tea infusion

13. Gingko Root - Improves memory function as well as treatment for sexual dysfunction and depression

14. Asian Ginseng - This is a respiratory, digestive and nerve stimulant that can help with fatigue symptoms and cholesterol

15. Goldenseal Root - Treatment of Allergies, Nausea

16. Hawthorn - Supports cardiac function as well as lowing blood pressure

17. Kava Kava Root - Treament of anxiety, insomnia (promotes relaxation)

18. Milk Thistle - Treatment of Liver disease (acute of chronic)

19. Saw Palmetto - Treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia, enlarged prostate

20. St. John's Wort - Treatment of depression and anxiety

21. Tea Tree Oil - This oil from the Melaleuca plant is antimicrobial and antifungal - best used topically

22. Red Yeast Rice Extract - Lowers Cholesterol

23. Valerian Root - Main treatment for insomnia or other sleep problems.

24. Tumeric - I believe this is also another over looked herb, it wasn't even covered in the lecture but is in our notes.  Tumeric along with Curry are powerful antioxidant agents and have been known to inhibit cell changes that lead to cancer.  There has been some recent research done to prove their effect against cancer cells. http://www.facebook.com/notes/the-y-files/curry-spice-kills-cancer-cells/192492160785874

Like I said, there are countless more, but what I love about this list is that many of them are often found in our home, but not often used enough.  Many of them are actual flowers and plants that we can easily grow in our backyard and have available.  And best of all- There are people all around us that suffer from migraines, sickness, inflammation, headaches, allergies in which these herbs have a great effect and can treat.  We often depend on a prescription to care for these symptoms, which all once derived from a plant or herb, but have been modified making it more dangerous than helpful.  There is great knowledge in understanding these herbs and how they can help our bodies in a pure and natural way.

Our Roadtrip

Who likes going on road trips?  Whether you had a bad experience, or the time of your life, road trips are always an adventure.  When I think of the ultimate road trip, I think of my trip I made almost two years ago from my home in Boise, Idaho to attend school in Dallas, Texas.  It was a trip over 2,000 miles, all alone in a small Toyota Echo with no AC and filled to the top with whatever didn't fit in the moving truck.  It certainly was an adventure.

Now, think about that road trip, specifically the car.  What if the gas tank was filled up half way, how far do you think I would get?  What if the car had an electrical short in the engine, how far do you think I would get? And what if there was a flat tire on one side . . . how far do you think I would get?  Not very far probably . . . . But that is exactly how we are living day in and day out as a society.  We go through life on low fuel, with an electrical short and a flat tire on one side.  I would like to explain these situations we have placed ourselves in.

The half a tank of gas is our energy system.  This is our sleep and our nutrition which provides us with the necessary fuel.  90% of Americans are sleep deprived.  Not a good way to start out, and our nutrition isn't any better.  Our nutrition has changed from whole foods to processed.  We are now eating products, not foods (I just drank a "Coke", I just ate "McDonalds").  Our effort to eat healthy is to either choose Sugar (which depresses our immune system, defects our nerves, and causes weight gain) or to play it safe and use a Sweetener (which destroys our brain cells).  We need to provide ourselves with proper sleep and good healthy eating habits if we are to start this road trip the right way . . . or we aren't going very far.

The electrical short in the engine is our mental health, mainly our brain.  The nervous system is the master engine of our body.  What causes an electrical short in our bodies.  These are known as the three T's - Trauma, Toxins, and Thoughts.  All these effect our body structure, which then interferes with our nerves.  We need to avoid the traumas, toxins, and thoughts, and make sure our body is aligned and in tune to function properly . . . or we aren't going very far.

The flat tire is about balance.  It is important to keep a proper balance, physically, physiologically, and mentally.  One that I would like to focus on is Stress.  Our body needs a balance of stress and relaxation.  We need relaxation to keep our body from being overworked and our systems running efficiently, but we also need moments of stress to keep us going- our moments of "Survival".  Unfortunately, we are faced with stressers from the time we get up to the time we lay back down that night.  It seems impossible to avoid it.  However, if we are always faced with stressers, we run ourselves out.  This is why we begin to see sleep deprivation which then turns into chronic fatigue and then into chronic pains.  And if someone isn't feeling well and in pain, they become less active and become sedentary which then leads to more serious conditions such as Chronic Depression, ADD, ADHD, Parkinson's and much more.  We need to maintain a proper balance in our lives Physically, Mentally and Physiologically . . . or else we really aren't going to get very far.

Who often finds themselves on low fuel, pushing it to see how far into Empty we can go before refuelling?  Who finds themselves feeling or hearing strange noises and just shrugs it off as nothing? More importantly, who sees the "Check Engine" lights and just ignores it, or even tries to cover it up?  Now, I didn't ask about your car . . . I asked about you.  Are you running on low fuel, pushing yourself to just keep going?  Are you hearing or feeling strange things and just shrug it off as nothing?  Are you seeing the "Check Engine" light (pointing to head)?

When I planned my trip, I had a goal in mind.  I was going to Dallas, Texas and nothing was going to stop me.  I made the necessary precautions to make sure my vehicle was functional and ready for the trip.  I bought a map, I bought new tires, I got a tune up and I filled my gas tank to Full.  I drove through rain, thunder and lightning and even through the high winds of Wyoming and through the endless plains of Kansas, but I kept going  . . . because I had a plan and a Goal.  I encourage everyone to set yourself a Goal of where you want yourself to be, and taking every precaution necessary to get you there.  Prepare and maintain your vehicle . . and enjoy your Trip

Just Relax

This post is kinda a repeat of an early post, but I wanted to try to focus on some specifics.  I have mentioned before that we are living in a stressful society.  The demands of life are great and only increasing.  We believe we are become more efficient, with access to information and communication like never before, but unfortunately we are only becoming depleted and run down.  Stress is a major factor in our life that needs to be taken seriously and resolved.

To quickly review the consequences of our fast pace lifestyle, we need to understand that our body works on balance.  For this case, this is the Parasympathetic/Sympathetic balance.  The Parasympathetic is the relaxed state of mind, more controlled be the left brain.  The Sympathetic is the right side of the brain dealing with Fight or Flight.  This is our survival mode, which is an essential part of our life.  If we are in danger, it is necessary for our Sympathetic mode to kick in.  This will increase heart rate, increase blood pressure, break down glucose to create energy so that we can run, jump, fight, or whatever is necessary to survive.  Sadly, with the constant stresses, we stay in this mode of "Survival" 24 hrs a day.  If our body stays imbalanced, we will soon be depleted of energy sources, creating muscle aches and pains, fatigue and immune suppression.  This is just the beginning.  We just ignore the early signs.  90% of Americans are sleep deprived, and yet they keep pushing themselves to keep going.  If we are in pain, we then don't feel like moving.  We become less active, becoming sedentary, often leading to mental illnesses such as Depression, ADD, ADHD, Parkinson's, and much more.

We are familiar with these diseases, right? Yet, we ride them off as just genetic dysfunction- in reality we are actually running ourselves down into the ground and putting ourselves into these illnesses and conditions.  We are running ourselves on low fuel.  We need to Relax.  I would like to share some ideas of how we can relax and put ourselves back into Parasympathetic mode, back into our proper balance.  I first want to just say that many, if not all, of these suggestions can be just as adverse if not done correctly.

1. Sexual Activity - This seems to draw plenty of attention and is very effective.  Sexual desire is a very left brain state of mind (it makes sense that men are more left brain).  For women, it helps activate their left brain and can help one find relief from stress.  Again, I think this can have a negative reaction if sexual activity is not in a healthy relationship.  If not, it may be physiologically effective at the time, but may bring greater stress in the future.
2. Get Adjusted - Again, this a very effective way to put your body at ease and in a relaxed state.  In general, an adjustment will help reset the balance physiologically.  But there are specific ways to adjust as well that may help develop and resolve more specific issues.  Getting adjusted on the right side of the body will activate the left side of the brain.  As well as certain spinal segments will or can have beneficial effects to corresponding organs and parts of the body that may be adversely effected.  Getting adjusted has been proven to lower blood pressure systemically.
3. Talking - This helps explain the difference between men and women.  Women are more right brain, and talking helps balance and activate the left brain.  It is relaxing.  It is the basis of seeing a Councilor- talking helps you feel better, putting your mind at ease.  Neurologically, the Brocca's area of the brain that controls cognitive speech is located in the left side of the brain.  But again, avoid certain topics that may create more stress.  If used as a relaxation tool, focus on positive subjects.
4. Take a Deep Breath - Receptors to our lungs have a direct effect on our Parasympathetic which will help put us in balance.  As well as taking a deep long breath, holding, and exhaling will help us relax.  It will decrease our heart rate as well as lower our blood pressure all together.  Plus, taking deep breaths will help increase our Oxygen intake and help with our energy deprivation.
5. Watch a Romance Movie - This is really about visual stimulation, whether it be at an art gallery or watching a movie, visual stimulation is part of the Parasympathetics.  But I include romance movies, because it also includes our lacrimal glands which controls our tears.  I may be giving away a man's secret, but there's a reason why a man will endure a chick flick.  Visual stimulation + tears = left brain activation = sexual desire.  (Again, pick the chick flick over the horror thriller for relaxation efforts)
6. Eating - I put this last because it may not be the best suggestion for a therapeutic, but it is effective.  This is the basis of over eating.  People over eat because it makes them feel good, its relaxing, it brings comfort.  But if there is a need to bring balance, eating something stimulates the Parasympathetics.  Once more, certain foods that are spicy or minty may have an adverse reaction.  The spice on our tongue receptors may trigger a more Sympathetic response- but for the most part, most foods should bring comfort.  I also want to just suggest in this section that eating should be done in a relaxed state any way.  Rarely do we just sit to eat.  We are either running around or in a meeting, and if we are sitting, we think we are being productive by multi tasking by watching a show, or doing homework (or typing on their blog, lol).  This multi tasking is putting more stress as we eat, and creates digestive problems.

Hopefully this gives you a good start and how to relax.  Please review my other post, Don't Stress It, on how we can avoid stresses in our lives as well.  Please utilize these ideas to help your body relax and find balance.  Take a deep breath . . . . and just Relax

More on Motion and Parkinsons

I just wanted to add a few notes on my last post about Motion.  I know I didn't cover everything, but I just wanted to add a vital importance on joint health.  Most joints in our body are movable.  What makes them so freely movable is a slick fluid called Synovial fluid.  This synovium is slicker than ice, and allows the joint to move with ease.  This is vital for joint health.  Without it, the joint would degenerate quickly and become immobile.  What keeps this Synovial fluid continiously going?  The one and only real effect on joint health is MOTION.  Motion to our joints keeps the Synovial fluid flowing, keeping our joints freely movable, as well as providing the necessary nutrients to the surrounding tissues.

I also forgot to add Depression on the list of conditions that occur with lack of sensory input.  This is an overlooked condition that is not taken as serious as other neurological conditions, and sadly is mistreated.  It hasn't been overlooked by the medical profession, as we now see commercial after commercial and ad after ad. The number one prescribed drug in the U.S. are Anti-Depresents.  Drugs that have more side effects that actual results, and only attempt to relieve one of symptoms rather than treating the real problem.  But Depression usually just doesn't happen, but derives from other untreated conditions that inhibit ones sensory input- Mostly inhibiting Motion.

I also wanted to add a link about the recent research on Parkinson's and their results from exercise.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VM-DBsdajTM&feature=related

Motion is Life!

I've been at Board Reviews all weekend, and I have been thinking of some topics to try and write about, and then it all started to flood- so get ready! One major theme that keeps coming up is how important Motion is and then I remembered the quote, "Motion is Life".  Seems important enough

I will try not to get too neurological on you all (or in Texas- ya'll).  I'll try to keep it as simple as I can.  The brain is a very complex, misunderstood and under appreciated organ.  But basically it is split up into 4 major parts. There is the very back and bottom part called the Cerebellum which is your unconscious function, controlling all the things you don't even think about doing.  There is the middle/back area responsible for sensory (sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch).  There is the front part called the Frontal Lobe which is your Thinking and Behavior. And there is the deeper part of the brain called the "Old Brain"  or known as the Limbic System which is more responsible for Emotion and Memory.  The cool part about understanding these different parts is that they all have their checks and balances and knowing how they effect one another.

The Limbic System or "Old Brain" is our animal instincts, our primal function.  This is the "What we want to do".  The Frontal Lobe is the "What we should do".  This part of the brain is our behavior modifier, controlling our primitive impulses and creating our Right and Wrong.  This is what we witness with those who are drunk and lose all control of right and wrong.  Alcohol dampens the Frontal Lobe and their control of the Limbic System is weakened and we often see poor judgement and unchecked actions.  But what feeds and supports the Frontal Lobe?  Our sensory input supports our Frontal Lobe.  We see this often with children, usually when they sit around the house all day and they become whiny.  Their lack of sensory input weakens the Frontal Lobe which then manifests in primitive, whiny behavior = Acting out. (Sadly we act the same as adults too)

So now we begin to see the connections.  Our sensory helps with our behavior and thinking which then helps with our ability to make good decisions.  But this goes way beyond understanding the unapproved behavior of a drunk or why my kid won't stop crying.  This is the same connection in which we begin to see bigger problems manifested as ADD, ADHD, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and other neurological degradations.  These are the same disorders we see with people who are mentally disturbed and found on the news for going on a killing spree.  As a society, we are lacking in our sensory input.  We sit at desks all day.  We sit in front of the TV.  Kids sit and play video games.  We partake in activities and tasks that require us to no longer Think (the function of our Frontal Lobe).

90% of our sensory input comes from our joint position= MOTION.  Puts a whole new emphasis on the phrase- Motion is Life.  It truly is, it truly is a matter of life and death.  If we stop moving, we die.  Motion increases our brain function and brain health.  This is why we see a child playing sports doesn't manifest ADD.    This is why a patient with Parkinson's riding a bike no longer has any symptoms.  This is why an elderly person who stays active is healthy compared to one who sits at a home all day speedily and dramatically declining in their brain function.

Exercise, Exercise, Exercise.  It is essential.  But it is more than that.  It is making sure the body is capable of full motion.  It is vital to make sure the spine and joints of the body are freely moving.  Not only can a fixed and non free joint reduce motion, but can interfere with other sensory impulses to the brain.  Adding 20 jumping jacks to our daily routine can make a significant difference to our Health- to our Life.