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Our goal is to empower clients by teaching them how to have a positive picture of themselves, their health and their future.
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"I’m So Stressed Out!" I hear this a lot in my quantum biofeedback business. People complain, "I am so stressed, anxious, and nervous all the time and I can’t sleep because my brain won’t shut off." We are all so busy that I sometimes quip back to my clients, "Stop the world, I want to get off," as if the world were a ride at the amusement park and we had a choice. Funny thing is, we do have a choice. It is important to pause, reflect, and decide what your priorities are and what you can let go of either temporarily or for good. It may mean training someone else in the family or at work to do what you do (for example: children to do their own laundry or a co-worker to take on more responsibility). Yes, this means letting go of "control." And, they may not do it right at first. People who are chronically stressed, can suffer from weight gain, high blood pressure, and headaches, as well as more serious side effects such as poor digestion, heart attacks and strokes. Stress can have a tremendous impact on our health now and in the future. So what else can we do about it? With the holidays and winter weather nipping at our heals, it is even more important that we do not delay or put off taking care of our health. Even though there might be a lot on your plate right now, think of how full your plate will feel when you are sick or in the hospital on a mandatory vacation. Try to start thinking creatively about the things that bring you joy and make you smile. Would it be a walk in nature? Would it be to delve into a mystery novel? Could you perhaps put on some of your favorite slow listening music while you relax in a chair or on the couch? Even take a nap? Whoa, I can hear people laughing at me now and see the mouths dropping open at the absurdity of these suggestions. My clients say, "I don’t have the time NOW, where am I going to find time to do this?" However, prioritizing at least 30-minutes of time for yourself each day is a must. Your brain will always be able to come up with more excuses for why you shouldn’t do things now. Use that same brain to rethink your to-do list. Perhaps you can cut down the Christmas card list this year, put out less decorations, donate to charities instead of buying and wrapping gifts. When cortisol builds up in the body due to stress, it decreases insulin sensitivity in the body. If the body cannot regulate this, then it cannot regulate its blood sugar levels. Diabetes anyone? Overweight anyone? It’s time to put eating right and exercise on the list of priorities. I once heard Tony Danza (from Taxi television show fame) say that he got up at 4:30 every morning to have his one hour of "alone" time and to exercise. I do this too...most mornings. Hypnosis and guided imagery CDs can help a great deal to reduce stress. Take a yoga class, learn meditation, enjoy aromatherapy, and learn to relax. Biofeedback is another way to do this. Office visits usually last about 1.5 hours. Using signals from your brain and a sophisticated reactive feedback device, the system trains the body to release stress and to feel less stressed, and in most cases, less pain as well. Biofeedback can help to balance your body’s hormones, help with insomnia, manage hypertension, your weight and other day-to-day stressors. Give spa, yoga or biofeedback gift certificates to those you love, and don’t forget to ask Santa for one for yourself! For more information on this and other methods of relaxation, please visit QuantumHealthSite.com, part of the Innovative Health Network. Resources to Bolster Our Immune Systems As we enter the cold and flu season, it is important to keep our immune systems strong. The immune system - composed of special organs and cells, bone marrow, bowel flora and other factors - is the most effective weapon that we have to combat disease and any other body invaders. The key to strong immunity is to provide the body with the resources it needs within a supportive and balanced environment. Resources required by the body are proper and adequate nutrition, sleep, and exercise. A balanced pH or bioterrain and bowel flora, low or well-managed stress levels, and minimizing toxins such as those from foods, the environment and emotions contribute to a healthier immune system as well. This article introduces the resources that our body requires for strong immunity, and future articles will inform on the importance of providing balance to the body’s pH and digestive system, and managing stress and toxin levels. Most people do not provide their bodies with proper, adequate and balanced nutrition. Nutrients that are essential for maintenance, repair and growth of the body’s cells are minerals, vitamins, water, carbohydrates (including fiber), fats and essential fatty acids and proteins. Although most foods contain a mix of these nutrients, they often also contain unhealthy fats and toxins as well, in the form of pesticides, synthetic chemicals and insecticides. If you are fighting an infection, you do not want to compromise your health by ingesting toxic substances that require your immune system to work harder. Anything that the body identifies as “foreign” to Self is attacked. Organic, whole foods that are free of toxic substances are healthier for the body and kinder to the immune system. Raw foods provide many of the enzymes that unlock the benefits of minerals, vitamins and other essential nutrients. Water is an essential nutrient? The body uses water to conduct all of its chemical processes and is required for blood circulation, perspiration and waste elimination, essential components of the immune system. Do you drink enough water? It is often recommended that a person consume 6-8 glasses of water a day to replace daily water usage. Sleep and deep relaxation supercharge the immune system. Deep sleep, when Delta waves are produced, is thought to be the most rejuvenating and is associated with the release of several hormones. Exercise, even stretches or moderate exercises, will benefit the immune system. An exercise program will increase your energy level, your mood, stamina, circulation, decreases blood glucose, and even promotes better sleep. It will boost your good cholesterol levels, while decreasing triglycerides. A qualified physician, nutritionist, nutritional counselor, sleep therapist, stress management specialist and fitness trainer or instructor should be consulted prior to initiating a new program. Balance is the key. Too much of anything may be stressful to the body, so start slow and become informed. Enzymes-The Key To Vitality! Are you tired of feeling tired? Many of us are, so I’d like to ask you to think of your body like you do your car. If your car was built to only use high octane gasoline, would you expect to get the most from it by using a lower octane? No, of course not. Similarly, our bodies are meant to use enzymes to create energy for us. Let me explain. Enzymes are found in every living cell; therefore, in all live foods. Without enzymes, we cannot digest and assimilate or absorb the foods that we eat. If we are not absorbing the nutrition in our foods, then we have no energy and no vitality! Effective Pain Management with Quantum Biofeedback Many forms of pain are stress-related and can be managed or eliminated with stress reduction. Stressful life situations that involve strong psychological or mental and emotional factors can arouse physical responses, affecting nerves, muscles, and even brain circuitry (1). Overwhelming and repeated life stressors may eventually cause disfunction or damage to body tissues. Common examples are tightening or tensing of muscles and nerve irritation, typical of tension headaches (2), neck and back pain, and tempromandibular joint disorder (TMJ). Other stress-related pain includes chest pain or angina, extremity disorders such as carpal tunnel syndrome, and fibromyalgia. Tender tissues and restricted function due to pain can lead to more stress, as fears arise about movement limitations and site degeneration and weakening. A pain cycle may ensue, leading to anxiety and depression. So, even as pain may be caused by stress, pain is also a major cause of stress. It may be initiated by an accident that causes structural damage, but life stressors may exacerbate the pain after physical healing of the injury has occurred. Quantum Biofeedback is a recent noninvasive technology that successfully reduces stress and helps to manage pain by training the body to relax, to regain control of the sympathetic nervous system, and to regulate muscle tension. It is a gentle technique that delivers balancing frequencies to your body as you recline in a comfortable chair. During a biofeedback session, you will gain information regarding the nature and location of stressors in your body, and you will often feel less or no pain and more relaxed after a series of sessions, the length of application dependent on the individual, the type and location of pain, and lifestyle. Research has also shown that Biofeedback can be very effective for other conditions such as anxiety (2), depression, (2) post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), vertigo, and irritable bowel. It helps to increase focus, memory, dexterity and mobility, and feelings of general well-being. The National Institute of Health has said that 80% of all medical conditions are caused by stress. As stress is reduced, many conditions are reduced or eliminated. Biofeedback helps to break the pain cycle, reduces stress that causes pain, and is a safe and effective component in any pain management program (3). Discuss your pain with a qualified physician first, as your pain could be symptomatic of a serious condition. More information about Quantum Biofeedback can be found at www.QuantumHealthSite.com. References: (1) National Institutes of Health January, 2007. Stressed Out? Stress Affects Both Body and Mind, newsinhealth.nih.gov; (2) Y. Nestoriuc, W. Rief, and A. Martin. June, 2009 (3): 379-396. Meta-analysis of Biofeedback for Tension-type Headache: Efficacy, Specificity, and Treatment Moderators. Journal of Consulting & Clinical Psychology, yvonne.nestoriuc@staff.uni-marburg.de. (3) Robert J. Gatchel, PhD ABPP. Biofeedback as an Adjunctive Treatment Modality in Pain Management, American Pain Society Bulletin Vol 14, No. 4, 2004. Dawn Greenwald is a certified biofeedback and quantum biofeedback specialist and certified in stress and pain management through the Natural health Certification Board. Contact her at 575-430-7522 or at dawng@tularosa.net. NATURAL HEALTH: Sunlight versus sun screen The Alamogordo Daily News Too much of a good thing can be bad. Sunshine can be rejuvenating or it can lead to sunburn. "Everything in moderation," my mother always said. Let's take a look at the benefits of sunshine versus always slathering on sun screen. It is believed that sunshine helps to regulate sleep patterns. Nowadays people spend most of their work day indoors with heating and air conditioning. This can have trouble sleeping if enough time isn't spent outdoors. There is a medically induced fear of being out in the sun because of the risk of skin cancer. People have been strongly encouraged to stay out of the sun. Far more people die from low vitamin D caused cancers and heart disease than die from skin cancer. People get most of their vitamin D from the sun. Wearing sunglasses also prevents the eyes from getting the light needed to maximize production of melatonin at night. Lack of melatonin is known to contribute to depression and seasonal affective disorder. It is a strong antioxidant, reduces cancer's ability to grow and stimulates the immune system to deal with disease and infection. Melatonin is a very desirable hormone. For other natural ways to stimulate the immune system, visit QuantumHealthSite.com. So what about sun screen products then? Of course those who are not accustomed to the sun are likely to suffer from sunburns, sun or heat stroke if they are exposed for long periods. Such sensitive people should use hats and expose themselves only for five minutes daily at first and gradually increase their time outdoors. Be aware that sun screens may have many undesirable chemicals in them. A good rule to follow is: if the ingredients list is unpronounceable, the product should not be applied to the skin. Anything put on the skin will be absorbed into the blood stream and can be toxic. Search out a health store in town or online to find natural, safe sun screens and moisturizers, especially for children. The very existence of life on the planet depends on the chemical utilization of sunshine. There are positive physiological as well as psychological effects to sunbathing. Naturopathic doctors regularly prescribe sun baths to kill bacteria and eliminate poisons in the body. There a natural treatment for cancer, depression and ageing. Take a walk at lunch time to develop good light hygiene - the human body needs regular bright light. NATURAL HEALTH: Anxiety and Panic Attacks The Alamogordo Daily News Anxiety disorders promote extreme worry and tension with no apparent cause, and can leave you feeling fatigued and distraught. Panic attacks are often sudden, debilitating, and can also be the source of fear for repeat episodes. The cause of panic attacks is not known, but may involve the same physiological response as stressors to the body. When the body believes it is under attack, a survival system is engaged so that the body can respond quickly. Some of these responses include faster respiration, faster heartbeat, increased perspiration, and a rise in blood pressure. Another response is blood vessel constriction in the digestive system and greater blood flow to the arms and legs. Your doctor may suggest medications or psychotherapy to help with anxiety disorders. There are also natural therapies that are helpful, but talk to your doctor before pursuing this avenue. The Mayo Clinic suggests that relaxation training is very effective, and nutritional supplementation is useful. Some good relaxation training techniques are meditation and deep breathing exercises. Yoga is another technique that teaches control and relaxation. Traditional and quantum biofeedback techniques are very effective in re-training the body to relax and to reduce stress. In addition to balancing the body's electrical system to regain control and re-train body functions, professional biofeedback specialists can teach you techniques, such as progressive muscle relaxation and deep breathing, that you can practice at home,. Products, such as 100% pure essential oils and oil blends, also have proven very effective for helping the body to relax naturally. One of the common earmarks of anxiety and panic attacks is the feeling of not being in control. Although the brain sets up the alarm functions for the rest of the body, it is the mind that determines whether the threat is real. Working in a safe environment with a professional biofeedback specialist, a church leader or spiritual counselor, or psychotherapist may help you develop the skills you need to calm or still the mind, to put the busy mind into a position of a helpful servant instead of that of a cruel master. Every person is unique and requires a personalized solution. By re-training in this holistic manner, working with the mind, body, and spirit, the healing process can be more effective and longer lasting. |
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"The most important decision you'll ever make is whether you decide to live in a Universe
that is supportive and friendly or one that is hostile and unkind." Albert Einstein Disclaimer: A friendly reminder that the SCIO is not designed to diagnose, heal or cure. |
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