Healing and MAP

In the early 90s, I began making flower essences  shortly after joining the Healing Arts Team at Breitenbush Hot Springs. One of my source books was Machaelle Small Wright's. I'd been gardening co-creatively with Nature since reading about Findhorn in the 80s, and later with Machaelle's Garden Workbook. When she published her Medical Assistance Program (MAP), I got her initial handouts, then the book.

Petunia - creative visionary

With this program (developed from her work with Devas and nature spirits, Machaelle began to work with a "team" for personal health - both physical and mental/emotional. It dovetails beautifully with energy work including Reiki, tuning forks and lightweaving, and during sessions with other healers.

The team includes:

1. PAN (the CEO of nature) 
2. Great White Brotherhood (Ascended Masters, including Motherr Mary and Christos)
3. Deva of Healing (and possibly the Deva for the land you're on)
4. Your Higher Self

Set up in a comfortable place, often lying down, and invite your Team to work with you (on your own, or in conjunction with other healers) generally for a set period of around an hour. Test for flower essences before and after the session (and during if so guided) At the end of the time, thank them and release the "coning'"

You can Ask for the name of your team for future sessions. For an acute issue, you can leave the coning open for a longer time. You can visualize journeying to a Temple of Healing for your sessions. Keep a journal nearby to record notes after your session. 

You can also do group work work within a coning, with each person including their own higher self. Invite the Deva overlighting the land you're on (or each person's land, if you're on a conference call.) A friend who lived near Findhorn for a year taught our Reiki Circle to use a similar method for group meetings. 

I had begun working with MAP when I slipped on wet stairs, and likely cracked a few ribs!! Even though I had insurance, and several of our private (retreat center) medical team were my Reiki students .. I worked with poultices, flower essences and my MAP team ...(clay cut the pain immediately, and I had homeopathic Arnica)

A psychic later told me she noticed me gimping along, not moving with my usual dancer Grace and lightness ... Juliet wondered about offering healing (she was initiated in Reiki by Takata!) - but saw my house surrounded by angels, and received the message I "didn't want" other help at the moment! (A couple of my Reiki students did give me sessions, and I invited the support of my MAP Team.) ... 💖🌹💜

Healing Temple

A practioneer who took the DVD workshop on using MAP wrote, "Use your MAP session as an exploration of  what you are feeling and experiencing around an issue. The MAP team can only "work" with what one is conscious of, and the exploration can help us become more aware of what's going on around an issue - physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. ... Using essences (with the session) can be helpful in gaining and maintaining balance."

She commented she found using a MAP-based conning while giving Reiki treatment supports and deepens the Reiki practice. When using MAP with others, invite their Higher self, not your own, for the 4th component of your coning, and remember to thank your team and release the coning at the end of the session. 

- Shortly after beginning to use MAP personally, I began using it professionally, and had several clients who were also familiar with the practice. We were excited to include MAP  in their sessions, and compare notes afterwards.

If you are a practitioner, or work with clients in any capacity, you can use Professional MAP! After you've used your personal team for awhile, and are comfortable with the process, open a conning with your own Higher Self and your Professional Team. Request a name for your Professional MAP Team, and use a journal for your notes. You can request information and insights on how to best include MAP on your practice.

Turmeric Lemonade Plus

Throughout the year, my friend Donna has been making a turmeric lemonade brew and sipping it throughout the week. 

I've written before of turmeric's great properties for both inflammation, and effectiveness against depression, and though I don't make the lemonade as consistently, I do use turmeric frequently. 

We're lucky to have fresh turmeric available from a local organic farm, and I get well water from Donna, so I avoid our city's fluoridated brew.

Last summer, Donna began making up boron solution, and adding it to her turmeric lemonade, with even better results! In the fall, she and her husband spent much of two weekends filling the woodshed, and she said even after the second week, she felt just a little sore (rather than spending half the day in bed!!) 

After watching this talk to an oral health group by Dr Flechas' I increased my own boron intake to 10-20 mg daily (1 teaspoon of solution =3 mg boron) Since boron tends to be energizing, it's best to take in the morning. (3 mg boronTablets are also available)

This mourning I'm making a batch for my daughter, using my current recipe, inspired by the one on Lindsay Cotter's blog.

Turmeric Ginger Lemonade
4 cups spring water
1 Tablespoon fresh Turmeric, grated
1 tsp powdered turmeric
1 Tablespoon fresh Ginger, grated
A sprinkle of  black pepper (fresh ground if possible)
   ·  Bring water with ginger and turmeric to boil, summer 10 minutes
   ·  Add a handful of fresh lemon balm in season, steep (can refrigerate overnight)
   ·  Cool, Strain, then add
Juice of 1 lemon
Juice of a blood orange (optional)
2-4 Tablespoons Maple Syrup or honey 
2 Tablespoons boron solution (optional)
   · Refrigerate, and drink a cup in the morning, garnished with fresh mint

In most of the USA, the daily intake of boron is 3-4 mg, and arthritis plagues over 25% of the population. In areas higher in boron, the daily intake can be 20-50 mg, and arthritis rates drop to 1/2 of 1%. 
In Western Oregon, where I live, boron tends to be low, and this article by our JMHart of the Oregon extension service gives suggestions for supplementing the soil in home gardens: 

A note about boron from the Extension Service:
Many soils in western Oregon are deficient in boron (B). Several crops (cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, caneberries, strawberries, beets, carrots, etc.) can benefit from an application of boron.
If the soil test for boron is less than 1 ppm, apply household or agricultural grade borax (11 percent B) at the rate of 1 tablespoon per 100 square feet where boron-
requiring plants will be grown. Apply the borax evenly and mix thoroughly with the soil. 
It may be easier to dissolve 1 tablespoon of borax in 1 gallon of water and apply the solution evenly with a sprinkling can. Apply 1 fluid ounce of solution per plant. You can find borax in the cleaning supplies section of most grocery stores."

12 Days of Christmas Fitness Challenge - 1

On the First day ....

Catherine Basu in Texas has put out a call for a fitness challenge - beginning today. The holidays are a classic time for both indulgence, & for declaring one's intention for doing better - soon! Here's the link to the Facebook group - please join us!!

As a fitness consultant, she invites us to get out there & get moving; & blog about what we do - even if it's 'just' a 10 minute walk.
For years, living in the temperate Pacific NW, a Christmas tradition has been a walk around the neighborhood, seeing what's in bloom! Often 'at least' dandelions, but we had pretty cold temps in early December, so haven't seen any.

Today I did Qigong for 10 minutes, at about noon. The ideal times to practice my form are from 5-7 (AM or PM) & 11-1 (mid day or mid night).

For the last decade, I've focused more on Qigong and dance as my main movement forms.

Last spring I was certified to teach 5 Element Standing Stake Qigong, & do that form almost daily. In 2012, when I participated in an online Qigong intensive, I followed up with the 100 day practice 'challenge' & do the form for 100 days!

I have been doing Soaring Crane & several other forms 2-4x a week for several years, & and took my first Tai Chi/qigong classes 30 years ago, when I was studying massage.

With the holiday 'time off,' I've been puttering around cleaning & organizing a bit. I have a Lamb shoulder roast in the oven -  from a pasture raised heritage herd of Navajo-Churro and Jacob sheep herd at nearby Bide A Wee farm - I have been getting meat from Karen at our Farmers Markets for a couple of years now - and am getting more & more fond of it!

I made some 'John the Baptist Balls' for our family gathering this afternoon - locust (carob), sunflower & pumpkin seeds (soaked first), dates, figs, chocolate, shredded coconut, cinnamon, cardamom, vanilla ... 

Merry Christmas!

Springing forward

Today Jamie asks: "What do you wish would SPRING into your life?"

Tee hee - I immediately thought of the Spring Forest Qigong 'spring intensive' I participated in - on-line, with about 50,000 other folks around the globe! What a SWEET week it was! Each day there were a couple of audio sessions to listen to at your own pace, & there were videos of the active forms. (there are a couple of 'moving pictures' on this practitioner's page, & some of the testimonials that we watched during the course) There is also a FB page for interaction with members of the community. You could purchase the instructional materials at any time, or just use the free version while available.

I pulled out a notebook & took notes, watched the active video a couple of times (going back to the more complicated part), and after the class was over, decided to take the 100 day practice 'challenge' & do the form for 100 days! I have been doing Soaring Crane & several other forms 2-4x a week for awhile, & and took my first Tai Chi/qigong classes 29 years ago, when I was studying massage.

I also have begun integrating the healing method into my massage & Reiki practice, it dovetails with other methods.
While the healing stories in the Testimonials sound fantastic, the teacher who brought Soaring Crane to the West is now in her 70s, & was 'terminally ill' with Breast Cancer at 48, after adding Qigong to her routine. Professor Chen already had surgery & was undergoing radiation when she told her 'sad story' to a fellow in the waiting room ... his 'sad story' - lung cancer, he'd also been told to 'go home & rest' .... & went out & discovered Qigong instead! After several months, he returned to the clinic, & they told him 'cancer very small, we can do radiation after all ...'

So I'm 'springing' into spring with qigong!

Law of Attraction

Energy flows where our thinking goes - Jamie asks what do I wish to attract?

The little bi-line that flows into my mind is to be 'healthy, wealthy & wise!'

Health - that's a constant theme, here! Working on healthy balance of wonderful, nutritious food (complemented by things like my daughter's DELIGHTFUL & decadent GF/Vegan Chocolate BD cake that she made for herself!), movement, fresh air, good water.

Wealthy - I think more of sufficiency - having enough 'food, shelter & warmth' - & being able to enjoy time off & adventures. Wealth of spirit, wealth of living on this lovely blue-green planet, & being able to buy heritage seeds, eat OG food, live in a less toxic world. I am still in process with rearranging & clearing clutter - more rich surfaces & abundantly beautiful rooms!! (this one is 'borrowed' - isn't the colour yummy!?)

Wise .... hmm, what do I want to study? I have been drawn more to nutrition, esp as I learn more about how many non-organically raised crops are sprayed with round-up just before harvest 'dessication,' to make it EASIER to harvest .... sheesh!! So, I buy OG ... but if I eat out, besides the danger of cross contamination from gluten, what other dangers lurk?

I lean toward completing training in Soaring Crane Qigong, so I can teach this form! I love doing it myself, & would like to share it with more folks!

What do YOU wish to attract?

Violet Flame for Transmutation - part the first

* In the mid 90s I'd seen mention of the Angel 'Grace Elohim' with the colour of iridescent white, whose motto is 'Grace it, & Move On!!' We don't need to 'process, process, PROCESS' everything - if it can be shifted gently - that's GREAT!!

The book (on Holistic Astrology) mentioned that Grace 'paired well' with St Germain with his violet flame of transmutation, & using the two energies together - transmutation & grace, was delightful way to shift energy 'gracefully.'

I wrote a little chant that I use with this combination:

'St Germain of the Violet flame,

St Germain of the Violet flame,

St Germain of the Violet flame,

Keeper of the Sacred Flame

Grace, Elohim,

Grace, Elohim,

Grace, Elohim,

Grace, Elohim"

I repeat these two 'sets' several times. Let the 'tune' come to you - for me, the first & third lines of each part have the same tune, 2 & 4 are slightly different, & I draw out 'G-r-a-c-e

In the late 90s, my friend Margo & I headed to Mt Shasta for fall Equinox weekend workshop, & on the way home, we stopped at the little 'I AM' foundation shop in Shasta City. She wanted to get another copy of a book she'd had, & I picked up little laminated cards with 4 versions of Violet Flame 'burn' patterns. A few weeks ago, found a little 'basic booklet' from the I AM folks at a bookstore in Salem.

So when a friend mentioned she was heading up to New Renissaunce Bookstore in PDX on Sunday, I quickly 'invited myself' along! The workshop was led by Astrologer Mark Dodich, who has been facilitating Violet Flame gatherings for several years. Mark says: "The purpose of the Violet Flame is to help you experience greater frequencies of your essential soul vibration in your daily life. It helps you to live in a loving place of power rather than a fearful place of powerlessness."

He mentioned his reading room is violet, & after the talk, I told him mine is too ...

When I walked into my Healing Room Monday, I had to laugh - not only is it painted (since ~ 2007) a lovely, mid range violet. - there's a picture of Quan Yin (also associated with the Violet flame), & one of Mt Shasta, a rayon hanging from Bali (purples & blues) with dragonflies & Stars, draped with a purple scarf; a print I picked up from Alaska in the mid 90s, a dragonfly/woman .... and my Intention & I AM tuning forks, which work with the Violet Ray energy ... plus angels, pink salt crystal, etc. I 'knew' all that - but seeing it with eyes attuned to that Violet Ray made it really striking.

Utilizing the Violet Flame is one of the quickest ways to shift energy. "Violet flame simply transmutes lower frequency energies into higher frequency ones that constitute a more natural way of being." (Pleiadian Workbook, p 87) "It's power to Transmute, it's power to change & raise Energy that has a slow vibration into Energy of a Higher Vibration. This is the magical, alchemical power of this most Sacred Violet Fire." (Quan Yin - Many Mansions)

I use a Violet flame 'portal' at the place my walkway joins the sidewalk in front of my home, so anyone coming to visit passes through that transmuting gateway. This is similar to the Native American 'burden basket,' leave your burdens at the door; pick them up again when you leave - or release them!

Mark led us through several meditations & exercises for us to connect with the Violet flame.

He set an altar with purple cloth & purple candle holders, purple 'light sticks' that we activated when seven of us read invocations of the flame, a picture of St Germaine, & larger cards with the 'burn patterns,' as well as a Zen Funeral bowl, for releasing a pattern we desired to be rid of.

You might wish to work with this picture of 'your own God Self' from the St Germain Foundation - Mark commented there are lots of websites/ books on Violet Flame teachings, each with their own 'spin,' so use the 'fish dinner' approach - pick out the 'bones' that don't fit for you as reading/ connecting with these offerings!

Utilizing that 'God Self' picture, "When the Student Calls to their beloved Mighty I AM presence' to surround her with the Electronic Circle of Protection & pass through her mind & body the Violet Consuming Flame, the "Presence" instantly projects this Wall of Light & Violet Flame around the physical, emotional & mental bodies. Thus, the Student of Light can move in the world, unaffected by the discordant, destructive creation of other human beings, as well as the accumulated discord of the past." (p 6, Purpose)

For many years, Quan Yin 'held' the Violet Flame energy, & is still associated with it.My pairing of Grace Elohim w/ St Germain captures some of her energy - use what feels resonant to YOU!

** Before the workshop, I did simple 4 part clearings & meditation found at Many Mansions, and shared them with the folks I was going to Portland with - we all found them sweet & powerful, & a great way to take the work to a new level. You may wish to do this first, then wait before doing others of the practices that appeal to you - use your own judgment! Mark reminded us that 'when invoking shifts, GENTLE IS FINE!!" That's one reason I 'pair' St Germain with 'Grace Elohim' - to invoke the 'grace' of moving beyond lots of process, & a gentle approach to the hearing.

I did the clearings of the Emotional, Mental & Physical & Etheric bodies, then the meditation given beneath the picture of the Lotus, with that 'I AM Presence' image in mind. I especially like the image of inviting energies from past embodiments 'that is not needed elsewhere' to be brought in, cleansed & transmuted for use' - recycling at it's best!

Violet Flame Basic invocations: "Burn, Violet Flame, Burn!"

''Blaze the Violet Consuming flame in its Purifying power of Divine Love''

''Blaze the Violet Flame through & around ____, transmuting its energy''

Note: violet flame is used from one's feet moving up through the body. I was intrigued wheh I realized several of my 'intention tuners,' which I found & ordered on e-bay just before taking the Auctonics workshop, are used this way, from the feet up - though I'd worked with Violet flame, hadn't really thought about that

- flames burn 'up' from the base!

Yesterday a client whose dad was a pharmacist remarked on striving for a clear blue/purple flame when using a Bunsen burner!! & I remembered waiting for the blue 'flash' when camping, & my dad put out the Coleman lantern! - flame #3 is a lovely violet.

Modes:

BOIL - the energy bubbles up through you & clears energy (above)

SWEEP - the flame sweeps through you (image on Rt)

SPIN - the flame spirals counterclockwise around you

DRIVE - more forceful - drives negativity out

One atendee asked Mark for suggestions in using the Violet Flame 'post workshop,' & after commenting that he dislikes 'have to do it this way' rules, he suggested a quick 5 minute practice of invoking the energy AM & PM, to move through you, clearing & transmuting any energy not in alignment with your highest good. He commented that this has REALLY improved his ability to fall asleep quickly!

You can also look for 'reminders' in the purple/violet colour range - a violet hand towel, candle holders, lavender essential oil in your bath (I add a few drops with Clary Sage & Rose Geranium to a jar of plain Epsom Salts, then add a handful to my bath water)

My African Etheric healing teacher suggests beaming 'rainbows' into your water before drinking - I find this a sweet practice (most healing teachers recommend 'blessing' ones water in some way) - remember to include violet! Another teacher commented that physical activity, which strengthens the root chakra (red) helps create the purple of meditation!

Mark & I have lavender treatment rooms, he said he painted his laundry room a VIVID purple (cleanse those clothes!!) & I painted my front door purple last winter!

This site offers a couple of sweet clearings.

Next time I'll share several exercises utilizing the Violet Flame - please share YOUR experiences!!

Plantar Fascitis

Recently several clients & friends have complained of foot pain from plantar fascitis. It's the end of the summer, & we've been wearing flip-flops & going barefoot (which I, personally, love!) & the soles of our feet may be complaining a bit.

Here's a recap some treatment ideas for plantar fascitis that I put together for my friends, & a link with an overview of P F

warning: information contained here is not intended to replace consultation with a Medical Professional

AM - self massage or use a golf ball or 'foot roller' upon arising BEFORE stepping on your foot! Do this every day! You can use a small tool (long slim rock, etc) to apply pressure to the sore areas. (You can ice after this if you want, but don't 'have' to :)

During the day, rest, massage, support, ice, . . . Notice which shoes feel better, change your shoes mid-day, put your feet up when you can. (my mom took an afternoon nap, & always put on her second pair when she got up. Even if they're 'the same,' they'll feel better!)

Shoes - be sure you have adequate support! Your feet shouldn't hurt when you put them on! Those little gel heel supports sold in Bi-mart (locally owned in the NW) & other places are fairly inexpensive, & are often enough! Get several, & don't wear shoes without them for awhile.

Dancing - I'm a dancer, & find that the exercises in ballet & other dance forms give my feet a good work-out. One foot bothers me a bit*, so I'm watching how it feels, & so far, dance class seems 'good' for it :) Ballet slippers have minimal 'heel support,' but many of the exercises invite a lot of foot movement. If it did bother me after a class, I'd ice, & maybe use an anti-inflammatory cream!
(*OK, I had shoes I liked, but if I wore them a couple of days in a row, I'd notice one foot would bother me. I got rid of the shoes :(

PM - Ice - you can use a water bottle 'roller' or direct ice - hold an ice cube in a wash cloth & massage up & down the length of the sole of the foot.
note: Ice will bring in more circulation for TWO HOURS after you've used it, & is helpful when things hurt!
Heat feels great, but tells the body 'everything's OK!' while the message from ice is "send out the troups! Something's wrong here!" hence the boost in circulation. If you couple this with drinking more water, which will speed the release & elimination of toxins, you're on your way to healing.
Soak the feet in hot water with 1/2 C Epsom salts (natural muscle relaxant) you can massage & Ice in the PM - but do be sure to ice. A paraffin dip is another yummy 'feel good' treatment.
Keep slippers with heel supports by the bed for middle of the night trips, so the foot can stay relaxed.

Clay - spread a thin layer of clay on the bottom of your foot & cover with a tissue & sock, you can leave on overnight, & wash off or reapply in AM.
I adore clay, & keep some made up to slather on things! Mix dry powder with water - = amounts, let sit & absorb naturally when you have time. Mix in glass or ceramic container, & cover. You can add a bit of epsom salts if you wish.
Arnica gel, emu oil, MSN/arnica cream & other anti-inflammatory can be used as desired, you can put a thin layer of one of these on first, then the clay. Mountain Rose Herbs is a great source, if you can't find any locally. You can use a 'facial' clay that's pre-mixed if you have that available. A pound will last you YEARS, & you can give clay to your friends! Green Clay is the 'standard' for healing, but any clay is helpful! & yes, if you have nice local 'mud,' try that!
A friend with her second ingrown toe-nail mentioned she felt she'd need to get it removed, & I gave her a little pot of clay & sug. she try that after her nightly Epsom salts soak. By the end of the week she showed me her pink & healing toe - "It doesn't hurt anymore, & LOOK at it!!" Needless to say, she was tickled! (When I was 13 I'd had a toenail removed, & was glad to help save her that pain & slow healing process, without compromising her health!)

Internally:
Water: divide your weight in half, & that's the number of ounces to strive for daily (ie: 140# / 2 = 70 oz) Some of that can be in the form of veggies - salads & steamed greens - but try for more water. Herbal teas can also be counted as well. Steer clear of diet drinks! & many nutritionists feel coffee & juice don't support cleansing hydration.

Magnesium is a natural muscle relaxant, & helps ease a lot of aches & pains, also helps calcium deposits 'normalize' (ie, things like heal spurs) You can also soak in Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate) (Dr Radzik, a local nutritionally oriented MD, suggests = amounts Ca & Mag for optimal health)

Vitamin D - helps absorb minerals. If you haven't had it tested, prob at least 1000 IU -Our office now routinely tests, & many folks need 5000 daily, or even 50,000 for a few weeks if their levels are extremely low! One of the NDs commented that she'd attended a conference that included info on Vit D therapy, & that at 10,000 IU a day docs are seeing minimal Ca or osteoporosis!! So have your Vitamin D level tested, if you can; especially if you live N of the 35th parallel! (there's not enough winter sun for ideal production of Vit D)

If you suspect heel spurs, a simple 'folk remedy' that I've seen work time & again (usually less pain in a week or two!) is to take 1 Tbsp Apple Cider vinegar (or any vinegar in a pinch :) in a cup of water with each meal! (Dr Jarvis: Folk Medicine) You can add a bit of honey or molasses, & it will taste like lemonade! (& three 8 oz classes supplies 24 oz of water)
"Dr. Jarvis reasoned that vinegar must be dissolving calcium into the bloodstream, for when he gave cows with milk fever some vinegar, they too recovered immediately. This lent support to his premise that calcium deposits could be dissolved from the joints of the body in arthritic persons."
Yes, you can 'count' the vinegar in salad dressing - you might sprinkle on more vinegar to be sure you have a Tbsp. In a restaurant you can use the 'salad' vinegar in your water as well (rice, balsamic or malt vinegar).
An added bonus, vinegar in water is a great 'pick-me up' for that after lunch drowsiness!! I'd use it at Breitenbush before going into my 1 1/2 hour session @ 2:30, & rarely get sleepy! (since switching to coconut oil, I rarely feel drowsy after lunch!)
You can use the Emergen-C with cider vinegar in water at meals, tastes good & gives the system a nice boost.

Heel spurs are very painful - I've had client after client who decided 'what the heck' & gave the vinegar a try - & a week or two later say "you know, that pain in my heels is almost gone now!"

Vitamin C: 1000 mg or more - this is a general anti-inflammatory.
An adult male goat weighs ~ 145# & produces 7 grams of C daily (7,000 mg)- like the other primates, humans DON'T produce our own vit. C*, so need to get it through food & possibly supplements! Rose hips are one of the simple sources of Vit C, & can easily be added to tea.
A packet or two of Emergen-C is a great way to get a gram or two, & helpful immune system booster to boot.
* Humans & primates lack ONE liver enzyme which is essential for making Vit. C. When exposed to illness or toxins, our livers gear up for production, but fail at the point that enzyme would do its job! Guinea pigs share this lack, one reason they've been used for testing.
Interesting that coconut is used by such a large portion of the population in areas where it grows - fresh coconut does provide some vitamin C, & its antioxidant properties could reduce the need for other antioxidants.

The Chinese feel we're healthier if our feet are flexible & healthy, so play with ways to move your feet during the day - pick up marbles with your toes, flex, rotate your ankles, have fun!

Blessings
Nadya

Laughter - the best Medicine

My friend Joyce is in town (the last week - darn!) from Hawaii, & today I rode my bike over to the Senior Center for her Laughter Yoga class. Now we 'all know' that Laughter's a great medicine, how de-light-ful to spend an hour with a group of kids & adults, laughing away!
Some of the health benefits of laugher: happy hormones, it's a physical workout, helps with weight loss, makes us smarter, distracts us from negative emotions, alter how we respond to stress & is contagious. Even 'fake' laughter perks us up, & makes us feel better.

Ask yourself - who's in charge of my emotions? Who decides how I feel?

Try this, bend over & say "I'm so depressed! I feel awful" . . . then sit up straight, throw your arms in the air, smile & say the same thing? Does it feel true? Try again - bend over, hang your head & arms down low, say "I feel GREAT! I'm so happy!" now throw your arms above your head, smile, & say "I feel FABULOUS!' . . .. tee hee!

Laughter Yoga is laughter for 'no reason!' No jokes are told, tho there are exercizes to prompt laughter - being handed an invisible Visa bill, say; pretending to open it - make an awful face as you 'read' it, then show it to your neighbor (the kids each got 3 or more invisible bills!) point, moan, laugh . . . think of how you might feel if you smiled while you paid your bills.

Begun in India in March of 1995 by Dr Madan Kataria, who was writing an article 'Laughter - the Best Medicine' for a health journal, laughter yoga has spread around the world. Begining with about a dozen students, for the first few weeks, the group told jokes or 'funny' stories to stimulate laughter (more than 50 folks had joined them in the park) . . . but some of the jokes were hurtful - what to do?
In reviewing his notes, Dr Kataria realized that 'fake' laughter produced the same positive benefits & 'happy chemistry' as the 'real' thing - what if they began just laughing? With a background in amature theatre, Dr Kataria used role-playing & other games to stimulate childlike playfulness & produce laugher. With his wife Madhuri, he practiced Yoga, & saw similarities between Pranayama exercises, so laughter Yoga incorporates elements of deep breathing, stretching, clapping (full hands, fingers to fingers, to stimulate the meridians) & the 'mantra' "Ha ha ha! Ho Ho!"

There's 'official' training (what a hoot!); there areapproved blogs, there are short vids to watch . . . .

So, stop what you're doing, find something to laugh at & do it!! After a bit, clap your hands, say the mantra (clap with each word: Ha Ha Ha! Ho Ho!) put your hands on your belly & feel them warm up

Smile, you'll feel better!

Thots on Health & Flu

So today I was with my galfriends at a great summer afternoon 'pool party' (why didn't we do this when it was 106* out?? Fairly cool today!) & talk around the snack table turned to wondering about the next flu vaccines. Several of the gals are teachers, & I recall a few years ago I was the only one (of 8, now 9) who wasn't getting a flu shot! Blagh!!

Never have, don't see the need to . . .

During the 'swine flu' frenzy last winter, I came across a lovely article written by an adjunct prof from Seattle's Naturopathic school, Bastyr, about the contrast in small percentage of deaths among homeopathy users during the 1918 flu epidemic. I mentioned this to my friends, & they asked me to send them the info.

Ah yes, here's my *disclaimer* - please don't take this as medical advice!! More as grist for your mental mill - & if in doubt - seek the aid of a trained medical professional - hopefully a Naturopath, Osteopath, or Accupuncturist!

I've used the over the counter homeopathics, & take things like emergen-C & drink Ginger teas, etc. when I'm exposed to stuff. I also keep charcoal caps on hand, & take those if I'm exposed to a flu or food poisoning.

Homeopathic remedies stimulate your body's own defenses, are taken under the tongue ~ 20 minutes away from any liquid or brushing your teeth. Brittan's royal family uses Homeopathy, & it's highly respected in most of Europe. Homeopathic remedies are available over the counter at Natural food stores, or directly from Naturopaths. You can get cute little blue box 'sets' - there are several options, inc. remedies for kids. The box holds 3 remedies, & is easily refillable with your personal 'favorites.' (they also come empty, but are often a bit less $ filled!)

The 'basic' all around flu remedy (take at the FIRST sign) is Occilocoxcinum. It comes in packs of 6 small tubes, & you can take 1/2 tube at a time, with doses ~ 6 hours apart. A patient of the Doc in my office buys several boxes each fall, & keeps them on her desk for ANYONE in her office to take at the first sign of a 'bug.' She says it really pays off in fewer 'sick' days for the whole staff. She also gets his nurtitional I-Vs periodically when exposed to bugs.

The good Doctor (an ND) also carries a remedy that is compounded from the current season's flu strains, which is taken for a few days (3?) at the same time each month throughout 'flu season.' I think it's Influenzinum. I've never taken this route, but several folks in our office do, inc. the Doctor.

Here's a great article that came out during the swine flu outbreak. The Author, Melaine Grimes, is an adjunct faculty member at Bastyr University (Seattle's Naturopathic college)

A stunning quotes from the article: "Ohio reported that 24,000 cases of flu treated allopathically had a mortality rate of 28.2% while 26,000 cases of flu treated homeopathically had a mortality rate of 1.05%" You can see by these figures that NDs & homeopaths were very popular, & effective, at that time. (MDs practice 'allopathy' - against the symptoms).
One could write a tretis (Suzanne Sommers has!) on how the pharmecutical companies & their 'backers' wanted more of the market, so managed to shift things like hospital priv. toward the MDs, & make the other docs less available.

For general prevention/health, Melanie Grimes suggests: "certain nutrients have been shown to help enhance the immune system, such as echinacea, vitamins C, E and beta carotene, zinc, and elderberries."

During that 1918 epidemic, the remedies most often used were Gelsemium and Bryonia.
Gelsemium is one of my personal favorites, & one I carry in my purse (along with Arnica & Hypericum). It's package 'blurb' suggests use for 'stage fright & anxiety.'
It's useful for headaches that begin in the neck/back of head, & may turn into stomach upset. I've used it for headaches (rare) since the mid to late 80s. Taken at the first beginning, it's even stopped my daughter's migraines a few times.

Each tube costs ~ $6, so it's pretty darn cheep preventative medicine!!

Occilicoxcinum is a bit more, since it's a pack of tubes! The 'small' box of Occilicoxcinum is ~ $12, & the double size ~ $22. It's well worth while to keep a box on hand! & tho an expiration date is printed on the tube, they are 'good' for much longer (USDA requirement)

Arnica is the remedy for the first 24 hours after an injury, or when you are going to do something out of the ordinary - a long bike ride, a hike, a full day in the garden. The midwives gave it to my dau-in law during labor, to help ease pain & speed recovery! You can take it along with something like Ibupofrin - just take the arnica WITHOUT water (& ~ 20 min after drinking or eating) & the Ibupf. with, a few hours later!

Hypericum (St John's Wort) is especially helpful for nerve pain; dental work, a smushed finger or toe (lots of nerve endings) & even things like Sciatica!
Both Arnica & Hypericum can be used externally as well, Arnica in a salve, & Hypericum in tincture, oil or salve.

A Naturopath or Homeopath can help fine tune what you need for something specific - say a cough (is it dry or moist? Deep in the chest . . . ) but the remedies I've mentioned are all available over the counter, & have WAY fewer negative side effects than 'drugs!'
Rarely will you keep taking something that's not working for you - if it isn't effective, you stop taking it! At times, your symptoms will seem to get worse, then you'll feel better. The philosophy isn't supressing symptoms, but going beneath them, to treat the cause! & triggering your own immune system to counteract the 'dis-ease.'

When my oldest granddaughter took an unknown quantity of her (homeopathic) teething tablets, Mary called Dr D & he just laughed! "nope - it won't hurt her!! She could be a tiny bit sleepy - but prob. not even that! . . . now if it were asprin, . . . "

USUALLY, you take the remedy several times, & stop taking it as soon as symptoms abate. Some of the flu remedies are best taken 'preventatively' - both at the first sign of symptoms, or if someone close to you is already beginning to get sick!! You can often fend something off, simply 'almost' feeling sick yourself!

This summer my dau. & I got 'food poisoning' - that knocked us out for a day.

We sent each other text messages as we spent the morning in & out of the bathroom. We took charcoal tabs, we drank water, about midday I pulled out a favorite herb book & made some yarrow tea for me, & later took some over to her . . . .& I think about that time took some occiloc. . . . & I began drinking my 'standard' (for upset tummy) vinegar & a bit of honey or agave nectar in water. By the next day it had passed, tho feeling a bit 'off' persisted for a few days.

Herbalists inc. Susun Weed suggest eating the tonic herbs daily, & using the heavier hitters only occasionally, when you really need them. Her Healing Wise is a great compendium of some of her favorite dailys. Lalitha Thomas '10 Essential Herbs' is another great story book that reminds us how simple health care can be. Isn't it about time to take back our power & touch into some of these simpler ways of caring for our bodies?