Healing for the New Year

Traditionally, folks choose the beginning of each year to make commitments to becoming healthier – so, this month, we present some ideas for how you can start or continue on your healing journey. Being healthy is more than simply the absence of disease symptoms, it is enjoying life, experiencing a sense of peace and fulfillment in your life, having abundant energy, motivation and focus, and celebrating symptoms of good physical health like pain-free movement, deep and refreshing sleep, normal bowel movements, excellent digestive function, healthy skin, hair and nails, clear vision and hearing and well-regulated endocrine function (thyroid, adrenals and reproductive). There are several areas that one addresses while journeying the path to health. And while these areas are discussed separately, they are truly interconnected – poor health in one area inevitably affects the health of the other two.

Mind

In the book, Mind, Body, Health (2010), the authors’ opening sentence reads, “the link between the mind and the body is something that physicians have intuitively known and written about for centuries. A growing body of evidence now indicates that virtually every illness – from arthritis to migraine headaches, from the common cold to cancer – is influenced, for good or bad, by how we think and feel.” Having said that, what are some key areas to think about and address to keep the mind healthy?

Stress – one of the best ways to deal with stress in our life is to identify what is causing us stress, brainstorm a solution and then put that solution into action. Some ideas to reduce the effects of stress include prioritizing your aspirations and goals, make a plan for achieving personal and career goals, doing something nice for yourself everyday, communing with nature, developing good time management skills, spending time with people you like, saving a little money every month, evaluate your expectations of your self and others (are they realistic?), stay socially connected, learn to laugh – especially at yourself – listen to relaxing music, breathe deeply and meditate.

Mental aspect – evaluate your personality. Do you walk around in a state of anger or hostility, are you an incessant worrier, experience anxiety and fear, are you depressed and full of despair? All of these states release powerful chemicals into the body which can have a detrimental effect on health. Consider working with a trained counselor or other qualified healthcare professional who can help you reframe how you perceive and interact with life into a more positive and fulfilling experience.

Body

All the basics apply to this category – eat a healthy diet full of raw and fresh fruits and vegetables, minimize processed foods, drink plenty of clean, fresh water, get plenty of sleep, spend time in the sun and fresh air, make sure you are taking the basic supplements (multiple vitamin, fish oil and probiotics), exercise every day, smile, do periodic cleanses, stretch and breathe several times throughout the day, get regular massages and minimize your exposure to environmental pollutants.

Spirit

While this is a very personal part of each person, the research is clear. A belief in a higher power or creative force and regular interaction in a community that shares your belief system consistently produces a better state of health.

• Should clinicians incorporate positive spirituality into their practices? What does the evidence say? Larimore WL, Parker M, Crowther M. Ann Behav Med. 2002 Winter;24(1):69-73. Review.
• Karren, Keith, Brent Hafen, Lee Smith, and Kathryn Frandsen. Mind/Body Health. 4th. San Francisco: Benjamin-Cummings Pub Co, 2010. 1. Print.

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Ginger

Ginger is known in herbal medicine as a tonic digestive stimulant. It increases saliva, which in turn triggers the release of stomach acid and other digestive enzymes. It helps move food through the stomach and can reduce intestinal spasms, excess gas and nervous diarrhea. There is some research that has shown Ginger may reduce ulcer formation. One of the best documented effects of ginger is in reducing the nausea of pregnancy, motion sickness and of medication or post-operative procedures. A little known use of ginger is as a pain reducer, especially for the pain of migraine headaches, PMS and in conditions with inflammation like osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and sprains/strains. The effects of Ginger on the immune system include an antibiotic action against bacteria like Salmonella typhi, Vibrio cholerae, Tricophyton violaceum and Trichomonas vaginalis. Ginger is warming to the body, has more activity when used fresh vs dry, and should not be used without supervision with anticoagulant medications. Some ways to add Ginger to your diet include as a tea, a homemade ginger beverage, grated raw on top of foods, as an encapsulated supplement and pickled alongside your favorite Asian dishes.

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Stir Fry

Ingredients

• 1 Tablespoon butter or sesame oil
• 8 oz. raw chicken breast meat, about 2 breasts
• 3 cloves raw garlic
• 1 tsp grated raw ginger
• 1 cup fresh bean sprouts
• 4 oz water chestnuts
• 2 small green onions, chopped
• 1 cup snow peas
• 1 Tablespoon soy sauce
• ¼ tsp black pepper

Preparation

Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces. In a large frying pan, sauté the chicken in butter over medium heat for 10 minutes. Add the remaining ingredients and continue cooking until peas are tender, about 3-5 minutes.

S/C = 3/1

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Glutamine

Glutamine is an amino acid made in the body and in times of stress or injury it is considered “essential” because we cannot replace it fast enough. It is the most abundant amino acid in our bones, muscles and blood. This very important amino acid is the preferred source of energy for the cells in our intestinal tract and it is critical for that tissue to repair itself. It is also needed for a number of chemical reactions in the body such as for the making of Vitamin B3. Glutamine has great therapeutic value for conditions such as IBS and IBD, peptic ulcers, and in people who are experiencing extreme weight loss. Of course, as mentioned above, we would also supplement Glutamine in times of stress and injury. When it comes to cancer, this amino acid must be used with great caution as it is believed to also be a major fuel for cancer cells. This is one of the reason’s many doctors will put their patients diagnosed with cancer on a vegetarian diet, a diet naturally low in glutamine. Foods high in glutamic acid which in turn is made into glutamine by the body include: cheese, pork, yogurt, sausage, turkey, chicken and egg.

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Slippery Elm

Slippery Elm bark comes from the inside portion of the bark (the cambium) of an elm tree that grows in the Eastern United States. It contains considerable mucilage, starch, sugars, tannins, and trace minerals. It is used as a demulcent (soothes inflamed or damaged tissues) and nutritive tonic. Internally, it is primarily used to soothe irritated or inflamed mucus membranes of the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts—i.e., sore throats, bronchitis, pneumonia, ulcers, colitis, diarrhea, etc. It can be used as a food source and tonic during acute and recovery stages of healing and also as a poultice for cuts, abrasions and other skin conditions.

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Colon Hydrotherapy

This is a therapy, administered either by oneself at home (enema) or by an appropriately trained colon hydro-therapist (colon hydrotherapy), that irrigates the colon removing matter and built up waste. The theory which supports the use of colon hydrotherapy as a part of restoring and maintaining health was called autointoxification and in the mid 1900’s underwent a systematic discrediting by mainstream medicine. In fact, a search for recent literature pulls up very few studies that support the efficacy of this therapy. However, many, many physicians prior to the mid 1900’s routinely used this therapy in their practice and routinely reported the difference it made in their patient’s symptoms and health. To this day, many doctors using this therapy continue to report the positive changes this therapy can bring about in patients. The problem with reports from doctors is that it is considered anecdotal and not hard science. So, how about doing some research? Well, this turns out to be a catch 22 – research is expensive and the best way to fund research is through grants. In order for a grant to be awarded, the science underlying the proposed study has to be considered sound. So, in the case of this wonderful and amazing therapy, the alternative researchers cannot get the funding to show the treatment works and to further our understanding of why it works. Our take – work with a trained, experienced and qualified colon hydro-therapist and rely on the recommendation of your qualified holistic healthcare professional.

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