Alternative Health Guides

Upper Valley Harp Therapist

2009-10-30T12:21:00.000-04:00

Jenny Gelfan and PJ Morgan, owners of The Massage Center - Healing Arts Associates in Norwich, are pleased to announce that Pat Stebbins has joined their staff as a harp therapist.

To welcome Pat to The Massage Center and to introduce people to healing harp music, Pat will give a concert on Sunday, November 15th at 5 pm at The Massage Center, 8 Carpenter Street, Norwich. The concert is free, but reservations are requested as space is limited. Please call 802-649-1149 to make your reservation.

Pat has loved and studied music since the age of three, starting with the
piano. She played French horn throughout high school and college, along
with various elusive Rennaissance instruments, and guitar. She majored in
voice in college and has a BA in music performance.

Patricia Stebbins took up the harp at age 33 after regretfully casting the
Highland Pipes down in favor of a quieter way to celebrate her Scottish
heritage.

Wanting to do more with music, in 2007 she began her studies with Bedside
Harp, a harp therapy certification program based in Bucks County, PA, and
in August 2009 became a Certified Harp Therapist, Hospital Intensive. She
feels this is a way to give back some of the joy and healing music has
brought into her own life.

After the concert, Pat will be available on Fridays at The Massage Center for harp therapy alone or in conjuction with massage or other treatments. Appointments can be made by calling 802-649-1149.

When not harping, Pat still sings for the fun of it, takes much joy in
being a grandmother, and shares her life with her tiny dog and her old
Quarter Horse gelding. She has released one recording, "Heroes and
Friends" and another is in the works. She lives in the Upper Valley, on
the Vermont side of the river.

Cell phones and Possible Cancer - It's true

2009-10-29T10:25:00.000-04:00

A study about the safety of mobile phones ten years in the works by the World Health Organization (WHO) is to be released later this year. The sneak preview as reported by the London Daily Telegraph is what many have suspected – that long term and heavy users of cell phones have a significantly higher risk of brain cancer.

Russia, Israel, and Sweden have also done studies with similar results and all warn against the use of mobile phones by children and teens since the studies have found a five-fold increase in the risk of brain tumors in users of this age range. Canada has issued warnings suggesting that children and young adults limit their usage to no more than ten minutes a day.

In light of this it is recommended that people use hands-free technologies like speaker-phones or headsets, but not the wireless headsets, rather the plug in type - see photo.

See the Daily Telegraph story for more details and stay tuned for the full final report from the WHO.

Eat that Curry!

2009-10-28T06:54:00.000-04:00

While known in the ancient healing system of Ayurveda for their many medicinal properties, turmeric and its components are getting new recognition in the world of medicine. Researchers at the Cork Cancer Research Centre in Cork, Ireland have been studying curcumin with exciting results. A component of turmeric, curcumin has been found to kill some cancer cells in twenty-fours.Information about the findings can be found on the Centre's web site, and much of the story can be found at the BBC news link posted today http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8328377.stm.

The Research Centre is also exploring the use of probiotics in colorectal cancer prevention and treatment. The Web site is worth checking out and passing on to whomever is interested in innovative cancer research - the Cork Cancer Research Centre - http://www.ccrc.ie

Curry never looked so delicious.

Indulgence or Health Care?

2009-10-26T12:44:00.000-04:00

I highly recommend trying bodywork or spa therapies while traveling as it really gives you a whole other view into a culture. For those of you who follow my Traveling Naturally blog, you might remember my somewhat comical post about a spa-massage experience I had in Provence, France almost two years ago. In Avignon I tried a Hammam-Spa-Massage package which consisted of a steam room, warm Jacuzzi and massage. Since that was so restorative, I decided to try the Hammam + Masaje (Hammam with Massage) here in Valencia, Spain. Thanks to the French spa, I was a bit prepared for the initial part of my spa session. Waiting for me in a neat pile on a bench by my locker was a towel - much larger than its French counterpart, and a disposable thong and slippers. So once again in all my middle-aged glory (or not so glorious as the case may be) I donned my basically non-existent groin-cloth and padded my way into an atmospheric room lit with candles and with soothing music playing in the background. Sweet Laresa brought me a warm infusion (herbal tea) and told me to relax. I sat naked (does a disposable thong really count as clothing? I think not) in a sling chair sipping my unusual and comforting brew.

Laresa reappeared in a short unitard, and instructed me to lie down, face up, on the massage table that was covered with a plastic sheet she had just thrown warm water on....hmmm this was going to be interesting. Indeed, and heavenly - I was basically rinsed, washed, massaged, scrubbed from head and hair to toe with giant piles of bubbles layered on my torso as a sort of cover. Once this luxurious cleansing was complete, Laresa had me move into a large bathtub filled with bubbly warm water. I lay soaking for a few minutes and then she escorted me to the nearby shower where I was told to alternate between hot and cold rinses. This was all divine, and I felt wonderful. I assumed my appointment was complete, having lost all sense of time. When I turned off the water and came out of the shower, Laresa appeared as if by magic and told me to dry off, wrap my hair in a towel, put on a new, dry thong and slippers and her colleague would come retrieve me for my massage. I could hardly believe my ears.

Sure enough, a lovely young woman appeared and led me down a dimly lit hallway into a cozy massage room. Here she massaged my whole body for what seemed a deliciously long amount of time, and spent an extensive amount of time on my head and face which were in dire need as I have taken to some kind of jaw clenching as part of my hormonal changes.

While different in many of the particulars of my French spa experience, the overall effect was quite similar - that is I felt quite nourished, nurtured, restored and rejuvenated. And while part of my brain was thinking of this as an indulgence, the rest of my brain and whole body were feeling the clear and absolute health benefits. This is truly health care - not sick care. This is treating the body well, taking care of it, investing in it, and allowing it to receive.

Imagine if this is what we were hoping to give everyone a right to....... how different the world would be.

This particular experience took place at the Navarro Spa Catala, Arzobispo Mayoral 11, 46001 Valencia Spain; Tel: 963 524 334; www.navarrospacatala.com

The Hand to Heart Project Benefit Concert

2009-10-22T03:48:00.000-04:00

Please share this information with everyone you think might be interested in supporting this local non-profit offering critical services in the Upper Valley:

The Hand to Heart Project, the Upper Valley nonprofit that provides massage and compassionate touch to people with advanced cancer, will stage a benefit concert this fall to help raise money for the services it provides.

Two outstanding performers will be on stage: Zuleikha is a storydancer from New Mexico who weaves many styles of dance with stories from around the world. She works internationally as both performer and teacher. And Eugene Friesen is a Grammy Award-winning cellist from Vermont who has been playing with the Paul Winter Consort, Trio Globo and other groups for years. He is a master of improvisation, a truly wonderful artist. He is on the faculty of the Berklee School of Music in Boston, and is an artist-in-residence at the Cathedral or St. John the Divine in NYC.

The show is Saturday, November 14, at Flickinger Arts Center in Meriden, N.H., on the campus of Kimball Union Academy. Tickets are $30. For information about Hand to Heart or to order tickets, contact Steve Gordon at (603) 542-8367, or visit their Web site, www.handtoheartproject.org

An Unforunate but Important Note About Vaccines

2009-10-21T09:17:00.000-04:00

This is a gem straight from the CDC website about vaccine additives - http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vac-gen/additives.htm- "All routinely recommended pediatric vaccines manufactured for the U.S. market contain no thimerosal or only trace amounts."

Really-- how can they say contains NO thimerosal and then say "or only trace amounts"? As if like the slurring of words at the end of a sentence they are hoping no one will hear.... no mercury... or only trace amounts...shhhh, be wary wary quiet....and maybe no one will notice...

This from a School Nurse on the west coast: "There are nine different types of H1N1 vaccines, three of them are made with Thimerasol. Six are Thimerasol "free", or are they? My question is if they can make the vaccine without it why make ANY that have Thimerasol in it?"

Good question, especially when you are talking about Thimerasol, a mercury based preservative.

Please see the Guide blog post regarding mercury in vaccines - http://alternativehealthguides.blogspot.com/2007/10/more-headlines-vaccine-preservative.html

And if you are choosing do get the H1N1 vaccine, ask for Thimerasol-free.

Herb Stores in Spain and one with a Particular Story

2009-09-28T08:40:00.000-04:00

Herbolarios and herboristerias are common in Spain and even though what Americans would consider alternative health care has only started to really blossom in Spain in the last few years, these, usually small, stores have been practicing herbal and nutritional medicine for what seems like forever.

While I was out walking in Valencia Spain, I came upon a an herboristeria advertising herbal preparations by Maurice Messegue. It is unusual to see mention of Maurice Messegue so it caught my attention.

Messegue was an herbalist and natural healer from a small village in France who went on to treat famous people and be persecuted by the authorities. He wrote a number of books including Of Men and Plants, (Macmillan, 1973) which has appendices on his herbal preparations and growing tips for herb gardens. Laboratoires Messegue makes herbal preparations based on his work see http://www.messegue.com.

I had a specific herbal tincture I was looking for and had no success at the other stores I had tried. So I went in asking for uno extracto de Artemisia. The very nice storekeeper explained (all in Spanish) that she had no extractos, only herbs for infusiones (infusions or teas) and she did not have the kind of Artemisia I wanted. She pulled out one of her many wooden drawers filled with bags of herbs and showed me what she had.

As I was saying no thank you, she was continuing to talk in Spanish about the qualities and uses of the Artemisia she did stock, when I heard something about menopause, my ears perked up. Hmm, maybe I should reconsider. So I said, “Si, por favor”. She noticed my chronic reddish rash around my mouth and nose and was telling me how I should not eat trigo (wheat) or leche de vaca (cow milk). I assured her that I ate neither already.

She mixed up a personal tea blend of Artemisia vulgaris, sage, yarrow and mint with instructions for my daily use. She also handed me a foil sample pack of an aloe vera preparation to use directly on my rashy skin.

I left the little herboristeria quite impressed and continued on my errands. Once home, I dutifully made my tea and used the natural aloe vera sample. Well it was all somewhat miraculous, as the aloe vera worked beautifully on my skin, and the tea made me feel better within less than 24 hours.

I went back to the store to see if I could buy a larger container of the aloe vera product. As I was paying for my gel she noticed my change purse, a cloth zippered bag made in Nepal with an Om sign embroidered on it.

Standing behind the counter in her doctor-like white jacket, she became excited and started showing me all of her spiritual pictures and telling me (all in Spanish) that she meditates and chants Om. She then showed me a darling little book, El Corazon de Asia (The Heart of Asia) written by writer, painter and traveler Nicolas Roerich (see English version at http://www.roerich.org/nr.html?mid=wrtgs ). She leafed through the pages pointing out the photographs of sacred places in Tibet, Ladakh and other Asian countries where Roerich and his family had traveled almost ninety years ago. She was waxing poetic I am sure although I was only getting the gist of what she was saying about the mysticism, connections and beauty of the places and the quality of the spirit.

Our hearts connected and we held hands. She asked what my name was and when I asked hers this herbalist and light-filled person answered, “Remedias."

Free Workshop - Three Dimensional Bodywork for Practitioners

2009-09-26T03:32:00.000-04:00

Three Dimensional Bodywork: Going beyond the Anterior and Posterior Dicotomy

taught by Lisa M. Harbus

Lisa Harbus is offering an informational evening where she will introduce bodywork that has a strong structural focus, as well as a playful approach to positioning and emphasis on deep anatomical awareness. This work is not only profoundly effective for the client, it is also designed to be bio-mechanically efficient for the practitioner. This course itself will be presented in a monthly format over the course of 4 meetings.

The free class will be held on Monday, October 19, 6:30 at The Massage Center - Healing Arts Associates, 8 Carpenter St., Norwich, VT - RSVP 802-649-1149

Managing Back Pain Lecture in Norwich

2009-09-23T03:05:00.001-04:00

On September 30th Court Vreeland, DC, Jenny Gelfan, LMT and Eric Ellingson, PT will be presenting information about managing back pain. The panelists will share different points of view, as well as recommendations for coordinating a team of health care professionals for the most effective pain management approach. There will be time for questions from the audience following the presentations.

The lecture will start at 6:30 at the Norwich Inn on Wednesday September 30th. The cost is $25. Seating is limited so call for reservations at the The Massage Center at 802-649-1149.

Another Reason to Avoid High Fructose Corn Syrup

2009-09-22T01:58:00.002-04:00

This article link about mercury in high fructose corn syrup is from the beginning of the year - January 2009, but is nevertheless important: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/26/AR2009012601831.html?

It is interesting to note that in Canada and Europe, and actually I suspect all countries except the United States, high fructose corn syrup is not used in sodas and other products. It is pretty much exclusively a U.S. product and ingredient.

For those with an hour to spare, I recommend the humorous and educational film, King Korn.

And remember to read those labels - it is astounding what high fructose corn syrup turns up in.

H1N1 and Vaccine information

2009-09-21T10:30:00.003-04:00

Since any discussion about H1N1 invariably leads to the issue of the flu vaccine, I would like to remind everyone that at the Links section of the Alternative Health Guides web site there is a section VACCINE INFORMATION RESOURCES with links to six excellent sites focusing on vaccines and health issues.

As long ago as 1902, a Dr. John Hodge was expressing outrage at the use of vaccines - at that time for smallpox. He says in The Vaccination Superstition, "Think of the unparalleled absurdity of deliberately infecting the organism of a healthy child, in this era of sanitary science and aseptic surgery, with the poisonous matter obtained from a sore on a diseased calf, under the pretense of protecting the victim of the ingrafted disease against the contagion of another disease! Can inconsistency go farther than this? Inoculating an indeterminate lot of microbes into a healthy organism under aseptic precautions! ' Ladies and gentlemen of this society, just think of it"

If we could sort out the fear mongering and profit motives from the health care industry we might possibly start to get some sound information. Until then, we must rely on our own information research, personal judgement and choice, and healthy lifestyle.

More H1N1

2009-09-19T02:13:00.002-04:00

Local Lymph Drainage and Occupational Therapist, Liz Blum, shared that the Organic Consumers Association (a site chock-a-block of all kinds of useful information) has a page on their web site devoted to swine and avian flu with many resources and links including an historical time line of flus to put the greater information in perspective. They also have links to homepathic remedy suggestions and they track news relating to the flu from all over the world. http://organicconsumers.org/flu.cfm.

A site in the UK, What Doctors Don't Tell You, offers alternative news on the H1N1 and many other health issues at http://www.wddty.com.

H1N1 thoughts

2009-09-18T05:46:00.003-04:00

I have just heard that in my home town in Vermont they are getting ready to hand out free surgical masks as a flu control method. While I applaud low tech and prevention minded tactics, I do feel as though there is some fear mongering being generated by someone about the H1N1 flu– I am not really sure who – the press, the vaccine manufacturers? What I observe is that we have flus every winter and some are really very awful and last for what seems like longer than the typical course of the H1N1 flu. No one hands out surgical masks for these.

It is interesting to me that while some studies show that fear decreases the immune system, that there is so much fear being generated about this particular strain of flu.

One college administrator being interviewed on National Public Radio was asked what his biggest concern was with the H1N1 flu and he gave an excellent answer, which was that he thought that the H1N1 flu was an uncomfortable, but in most cases, self-limiting illness. What he was really afraid of was that due to all the hype about H1N1 that his college staff, and possibly medical teams, would miss really very serious and dangerous illnesses like meningitis.

One good thing about all the H1N1 alerts is that some of the information is very sound and what I would hope people would do whether they have H1N1, or “seasonal” flu, or any other illness.

The first is take care of your self and stay home so you can get better quickly and so you do not share whatever you have with coworkers and friends.

The second is wash your hands frequently especially if you are out in public, and using public keyboards or washrooms.

I would add to these very basic, simple, common sense recommendations, to stay well hydrated, get plenty of sleep, eat well, including plenty of vegetables and fruits, and avoid or minimize sugar. In addition the natural stand-by of vitamin C, while dismissed by conventional medicine, can be very handy in minimizing colds and other illnesses.

I would also recommend general health care maintenance. This might be a good time to have regular appointments with the health practitioners you find helpful – acupuncturist, TCM, massage therapist or bodyworker, chiropractor, naturopath, herbalist, homeopath, yoga, Tai Chi, or Pilates instructor. Search the Guide web site for local Upper Valley practitioners.

The CDC web site dedicated to H1N1 - http://www.cdc.gov/H1N1flu/qa.htm - offers some general information as well as what some of the warning signs are for more dangerous symptoms that may require more attention than just bed rest and at-home remedies. It also offers useful information about cleaning and contagion duration.

Here’s hoping for a healthy, and flu-free fall and winter!

Another Bit of News from The Massage Center

2009-08-18T10:36:00.001-04:00

Jenny Gelfan and PJ Morgan, owners of The Massage Center - Healing Arts Associates, welcome Melissa Burmaster to their staff of associates.

Melissa has been a massage practitioner since 2000. One of her specialties is cranial-sacral work. She also is trained and experienced in Swedish massage, deep tissue, reiki, reflexology, hot stone, aromatherapy and lymphatic massage techniques. She received her basic massage training in this area, and returned to the Upper Valley last year after working at spas in California for 7 years.

Melissa is known for her energetic and warm personality. She is a tai chi teacher and also does chi kung. As their sixth healing arts associate, Melissa is helping The Massage Center to be open 7 days a week. She has appointment hours both weekdays and weekends.

"We are pleased to have someone with her skills and enthusiasm join us," said Jenny. PJ added, "Melissa's deep tissue treatment is terrific." Melissa commented, "This is a perfect place for my bodywork practice."

Herbalist Offers Workshop Series in Norwich

2009-08-18T10:34:00.001-04:00

Guest Announcement from The Massage Center in Norwich, Vermont---

Taya Elisabeth, a holistic medical practitioner, will give a series of herbal workshops at The Massage Center - Healing Arts Associates in Norwich during August, September and October. The four sessions can be taken individually or together as a course.

The first workshop will be Beginning Herbal Tincture Making on Thursday, August 20th from 6 - 8 p.m.. This workshop costs $25 if taken by itself. The series of workshops costs $80. To enroll in one or all, please contact The Massage Center - Healing Arts Associates at 802-649-1149.

The second workshop, "Herbal Tea Making," will be held on Thursday, September 3rd from 6 - 8 p.m.. This workshop costs $25 if taken by itself.

The third workshop is entitled "Herbal Combinations" and will take place on Thursday, September 17th from 6 - 8 p.m.. This workshop costs $25 if taken by itself.

The last of the workshop series will be "Finishing Herbal Tincture Making" and will be on Sunday, October 4th from 2 - 4 p.m.. For people who previously took only the Beginning Herbal Tincture Making workshop, this workshop costs $25, and it is not open to people who were not at the first.

Taya Elisabeth began studying herbs as a teenager, and has continued her studies through a Bachelors in Holistic Health and Masters in Oriental Medicine. Though she specializes in Chinese herbs, she grows and also "stalks" herbs here in her native Vermont, and shares her love of plants and their healing properties.

Taya's workshops are lively and fun. She says these will be hands on and practical with plenty of take-home handouts and herbal concoctions. Enrollment will be limited, so early sign-up is suggested.

To enroll in one or all of the workshops, please contact The Massage Center - Healing Arts Associates at 802-649-1149. If you have questions, please call to talk with Taya. For more information about Taya and The Massage Center - Healing Arts Associates, visit the website at www.themassagecenternorwich.com

Alternative & Complementary Treatments for Mesothelioma

2009-07-17T17:03:00.003-04:00

This article is provided by guest blogger Richard Moyle of The Mesothelioma Center, dedicated to providing information and resources about Mesothelioma, a cancer caused by asbestos exposure.

While many advocates of conventional medicine are still skeptical over the effectiveness of alternative medical treatments, the use of complementary and alternative treatments is becoming more and more accepted. Those who suffer from asbestos-related illnesses like asbestosis or mesothelioma are beginning to discover that many alternative treatments can alleviate the pain and other side effects that conventional treatments can sometimes cause.

Mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive cancer that is primarily caused by exposure to a substance called asbestos. The symptoms of this type of cancer can lay dormant for anywhere from 20 to 50 years after initial exposure to asbestos. Because of this, the cancer is typically diagnosed in its later stages when treatment options are more limited. The typical mesothelioma survival rate is about one year after diagnosis.

There are a number of alternative and complementary treatments that can (at the very least) ease the pain and other symptoms of the disease, as well as the sometimes negative side effects that come with conventional cancer treatments like chemotherapy. Acupuncture, for example, can provide relief from chronic pain, inflammation, anxiety, and stress and it is one of the most widely-accepted alternative therapies in use today. In fact, acupuncture has become so widely accepted that some health insurance companies actually cover it.

Meditation has also been known as a great way to reduce feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression. Currently, there is also evidence that meditation can help manage pain and other disease symptoms. Many people with cancer who include meditation in their treatment program find the practice helps relieve pain, stress, and anxiety. Some studies have even shown that meditation may be able to slow tumor growth and improve patient prognosis.

Dietary supplements like vitamins, minerals, herbs, and amino acids can also be a big help for those who suffer from asbestos-related diseases. Vitamins, minerals, and amino acids are all required by the body to perform essential life functions, and supplements can help provide needed chemicals when diet alone cannot. Many herbs can be useful in treating diseases and conditions, as well as provide symptomatic relief. For example, flaxseed, ginseng, and garlic are all known to reduce blood pressure.

While all these types of alternative and complementary treatments may be helpful to sufferers of mesothelioma and asbestosis, it is always important that you discuss any new treatments with your doctor before proceeding. Especially in the case of dietary supplements, as some of them may react badly with prescription medications.

Center for Sustainable Medicine

2009-06-19T18:07:00.001-04:00

The Center for Sustainable Medicine was established over a year ago by local homeopath and acupuncturist, Didi Pershouse, to frame a new (and old) paradigm for personal and planetary health. Visit the website: http://sustainablemedicine.org

Sustainable Medicine Manifesto

1. Sustainable Medicine recognizes that we are part of something larger than ourselves: a complex system, known to us as the universe, the ecosystem, the web of life, or Gaia.
-This system seeks balance through interdependence, and constant change.

2. Sustainable Medicine sees the body as its own ecosystem, and recognizes that all parts of a system are linked and collaborative.
-Our bodies are a micro-system, reflective of and included within the whole.

3. Sustainable Medicine teaches that the health of the environment is intricately linked to the health of our bodies.
-Therefore, to care for the environment is part of caring for ourselves and others.

4. From the perspective of Sustainable Medicine, connection with the ecosystem is essential to health. Disease is a manifestation of lack of connection.
-Each disconnection that occurs leads to a loss of power, integrity, flexibility and energy—both for that part and for the whole system.
-This lack of connection separates us from ourselves, each other, and the source of our life.

5. Therefore, to create health, one must restore connection.
Sustainable Medicine does this by:
-Acknowledging that networks, relationships and communities exist at every level.
-Facilitating deep communication, understanding and cooperation within and between them.
-Respecting the integrity and wisdom of community networks by using local medicines and knowledge whenever possible and appropriate.

-Reconnecting people with the inherent wisdom and support of the social and natural communities that surround them.

6. Sustainable Medicine operates best in environments that are fertile, rather than sterile.
-It does this by encouraging honest, open-hearted, and evenly-balanced relationships between healers and the communities they serve.
-And by recognizing that healthy communities are built through relationship, including cross-pollination of ideas, populations and coping mechanisms to create the diversity and flexibility that ensures survival in times of crisis.

7. Health depends also on our ability to honor wildness, which has its own wisdom and integrity.
-Sustainable Medicine therefore seeks to restore the integrity, power and sanctity of wild places—from the internal flora and fauna of the body, to the microorganisms of the soils, to the vast tracts of wilderness that plants, animals and fungi depend on for survival, diversity and well-being.

8. Sustainable Medicine is pattern-based in its thought and action.
-When disease occurs, Sustainable Medicine gathers information from the whole system, looking for patterns and cycles, not just individually occurring symptoms.
-When looking at a single part, it looks deeply: for within each part, the whole is reflected as well.
-In its treatments, Sustainable Medicine works within the patterns and cycles of nature, recognizing that the system, when allowed to move freely and without obstruction, will naturally flow towards balance.
-Sustainable Medicine also respects and accepts that cycles of growth, decline, transformation, and regeneration are natural and essential to the health and balance of the entire system.
9. Sustainable Medicine is inherently sustainable.
-It does not deplete resources or excessively drain one part of the whole to benefit another.
-It does not add to the toxic waste stream, creating further illness.
-It is affordable to learn, to practice and to use.
-Care is available to all parts of the system

10. Sustainable Medicine is “slow” medicine.
-It begins with deep listening and understanding.
-It allows time for deep and lasting cures.

–Didi Pershouse 2007
The Center for Sustainable Medicine

Monthly SWAP

2009-06-17T20:56:00.002-04:00

It is monthly SWAP time. This month I am referring to the last SWAP post as that listing is still current with only a few sales. Please see: http://alternativehealthguides.blogspot.com/2009/05/swap-today.html for a list of items for sale. And if you have items you want to post please email them to the Guide at: info@thealternativehealthguides.com. have a great month!

In UK, a Nod to Acupuncture

2009-06-17T20:46:00.004-04:00

The National Health Service (NHS) in the UK has announced that they will be offering patients suffering from back pain some choices other than physician visits and pain medications for their care. Under the new guidelines, back-pain sufferers can choose to attend exercise classes, have acupuncture, or receive spinal manipulation from an osteopath or chiropractor. These new benefits are based on findings that these therapies are beneficial to people with back pain, and offer practitioners around the globe recognition of their valuable and useful work.
CHEERS!

SWAP - TODAY

2009-05-15T08:54:00.005-04:00

SWAP
A monthly service from The Alternative Health Guides. Reuse, Recycle, ENJOY!!

SWAP
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• Deluxe Massage Stone Heating Unit
• Hot Stone Massage DVD
• Ladle
• Pocket-Sized Thermometer
• 8 Semi-Precious Chakra Stones

For a picture and full description see this link:
http://www.massagewarehouse.com/Product/hot-stone/signature%2Dhot%2Dstone%2Dmassage%2Dset%2Dw%2Dchakra/281+0026

Contact Lynne Walker at massage@lynnewalker.com or 603-252-6664.

SWAP

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Hot Tubs: How to Build, Maintain & Enjoy Your Own Winter & Summer, All Year Round
(Cult book sells for $39-60 on Amazon) - $10

Individual Reference File of Extracts from the Edgar Cayce Readings,
Cayce. Hardback - $10

The Wharton's Stretch Book: Active-Isolated Stretching, Wharton - $4

Sport Stretch: 311 Stretches for 41 Sports, 2nd ed., Alter - $3.50

Acupuncture Without Needles, Cerney, DC - $ 3

Healing Words: The Power of Prayer and the Practice of Medicine, Dossey - $3

The Royal Treatment: How You Can Take Home the Pleasures
of the Great Luxury Spas, Capellini - $ 1

Business Mastery 3: A Guide for Creating a Fulfilling, Thriving Business &
Keeping It Successful, 3rd ed., Sohnen-Moe - $10

Books for .50¢:
Shiatsu: Japanese Massage for Health & Fitness, Liechti

Healing Massage Techniques: A Study of Eastern & Western Methods, Tappan SOLD

Optimal Muscle Recovery, Burke

Spa-Finders Guide to Spa Vacations, Joseph

Traveler’s Guide to Healing Centers & Retreats, Rudee

Sanctuaries: The Northeast, Kelly

The Pilates Powerhouse, Winsor

Creating Health, Chopra

Talking Back to Prozac, Breggin, MD

SWAP - A New Guide-Blog Feature

2009-05-08T11:46:00.007-04:00

In the spirit of reuse and recycle, The Alternative Health Guides is launching a new feature called SWAP. Once a month The Alternative Health Guides Blog will post items for sale. The SWAP listings are free to practitioners listed in the Guide. For all others, SWAP listings cost $5 for each month items are listed.

If you have items you want listed, please email them to info@thealternativehealthguides.com by Friday May 15th.

SWAP

The following is a list of Like-New, Used, Bodywork & Health Books from the Alternatives Health Guides collection. Prices are lower than the lowest-used price for the book on Amazon. Please E-mail the Guide: info@thealternativehealthguides.com to purchase any of the titles.

Anatomy of Hatha Yoga: A Manual for Students, Teachers, and Practitioners, Coulter. Hardcover 1st ed. - $20

Craniosacral Therapy, Upledger. Hardcover (New $59.95) - $32

Craniosacral Therapy II: Beyond the Dura, Upledger. Hardcover (New $49.95) - $22

An Introduction to Craniosacral Therapy, Cohen (New 19.95) - $ 9

SomatoEmotional Release, Upledger. Hardcover (New $35) - $20

Clinical Pathology for the Professional Bodyworker, Newton, DC, Spiral
(limited copies – on Amazon for $45) - $15

Pathology A-Z: Handbook for Massage Therapists,
2nd edition, Spiral, Premkumar w/CD - $25

New Bach Flower Body Maps, Kramer - $15

The Massage Connection: Anatomy, Physiology & Pathology,
1st ed. Spiral, Premkumar - $ 9

The Complete Illustrated Guide to Reflexology, Inge Dougans - $ 9

Reflexology: An Illustrated Guide, Crane - $ 2

The Reflexology Manual, Wills - $ 3

The Endless Web: Fascial Anatomy & Physical Reality, Schultz - $ 9

Spinal Manipulation Made Simple, Maitland - $ 8

Beard’s Massage, 4th edition, Domenico - $ 5

Rapid Review Anatomy Reference Guide, Anatomical Chart Company, Spiral - $ 4

AMMA Therapy: A Complete Textbook of Oriental Bodywork & Medical Principles, Sohn, Hardback (New $45) - $20

Understanding Nutrition Textbook, 7th edition, Whitney & Rolfes, Hardback - $15

Strength Training Anatomy: Your Illustrated Guide to Muscles at Work,
Delavier - $10

Clinical Neuroanatomy Made Ridiculously Simple, Goldberg, MD - $ 5

The Herb Book, Boxer & Back (oversized paperback) - $ 6

Hot Tubs: How to Build, Maintain & Enjoy Your Own Winter & Summer, All Year Round
(Cult book sells for $39-60 on Amazon) - $10

Individual Reference File of Extracts from the Edgar Cayce Readings,
Cayce. Hardback - $10

The Wharton's Stretch Book: Active-Isolated Stretching, Wharton - $4

Sport Stretch: 311 Stretches for 41 Sports, 2nd ed., Alter - $3.50

Acupuncture Without Needles, Cerney, DC - $ 3

Healing Words: The Power of Prayer and the Practice of Medicine, Dossey - $3

The Royal Treatment: How You Can Take Home the Pleasures
of the Great Luxury Spas, Capellini - $ 1

Business Mastery 3: A Guide for Creating a Fulfilling, Thriving Business &
Keeping It Successful, 3rd ed., Sohnen-Moe - $10

Books for .50¢:
Shiatsu: Japanese Massage for Health & Fitness, Liechti

Healing Massage Techniques: A Study of Eastern & Western Methods, Tappan

Optimal Muscle Recovery, Burke

Spa-Finders Guide to Spa Vacations, Joseph

Traveler’s Guide to Healing Centers & Retreats, Rudee

Sanctuaries: The Northeast, Kelly

The Pilates Powerhouse, Winsor

Creating Health, Chopra

Talking Back to Prozac, Breggin, MD

Guest Blogger - The Wonders of Ginger

2009-04-14T13:39:00.003-04:00

Guest blogger, Sylvia Newberry, returns with her insights into the wonders of Ginger.

This information suggests ways to promote and maintain health.
It is not intended to take the place of personalized medical counseling,
diagnosis, and treatment from a trained health professional

I make it a practice to use primarily herbs and medicinal plants that I can either grow in my garden or find growing in the fields and woodlands that are close by. I don’t always wild harvest the herbs that I use. I recognize that some of them have been harvested to the point they are in danger of extinction. American Ginseng and Goldenseal are two such plants. Other plants are in abundant supply, but require a lot of time and work to harvest and process with a high quality end product. I have found suppliers of high quality herbs and I often purchase what I need from them. I believe that I am helping to support those individuals who make a living by devoting their time and energies to growing and processing these plants. I do watch the plants, like dandelion, burdock, nettle, and yellow dock emerge in the spring and grow through the summer and fall, and I believe that I learn a lot about the plant and its properties and how it is most effectively used by making these observations.

But there is one tropical herb that has become a mainstay for winter health in my family and also in the advice that I give to others who come seeking ways to stay healthy. And that herb is ginger (Zingiber officinalis). It is a plant that will never survive in my Vermont garden. I make frequent trips during the fall and winter, seeking out juicy pieces of ginger root in the produce section of the local grocery stores. Sometimes there are large clusters of root that resemble a hand. Sometimes the pieces of root are smaller and have fewer branches. The most important features to look for are a smooth healthy skin that suggests freshness and lots of juice in the flesh of the root.

Once home, I break the root into pieces that are relative straight and easy to peel. I have found a carrot scraper works well for peeling. I have also used a small paring knife. And I have seen folks use the tip of a teaspoon to scrap away the outer layer. It isn’t a difficult task, whatever the tool you choose. The skin is thin and papery and one good thing about ginger is that it does not make you cry like onions do when you peel them.

Once peeled, I bring out my cutting board and slice the root into thin rounds. The flesh is very fiberous, but if you are using a knife that is sharp, the fibers will cut easily. I have tried slicing the ginger root in my food processor, but the blade did not cut through the fibers and I was left with a pile of ginger mush. This is not always bad, depending on what you are aiming for. It was bad for me because I wanted thin slices.

I pile the sliced ginger into a medium sized sauce pan and pour in about an equal amount of honey. If you spend any time at all with me, you will learn that my formulation of herbal remedies is often more of an art than an exact science. You want enough honey to coat the ginger slices when you stir them around, but you do not need much more than that. But if you pour in more than you need, you will still end up with a usable product. Place the sauce pan over medium heat and find something to do in the immediate vicinity so that you can keep an eye on the honey and ginger. Stir the mixture every once in awhile. And don’t stray beyond the point you can see the mixture. As the ginger and honey heat and simmer, the honey pulls the juices out of the ginger slices, increasing the volume of liquid in the pot. You want to bring it to a simmer and allow it to simmer for 15 to 20 minutes. But I can tell you from repeated experience, the brew will move from barely breaking bubbles on the surface to full foam, spreading with lightening speed all over your stove top. My stove has never been cleaned as many times as it has since I began to make ginger honey syrup.

After 15 to 20 minutes – remember art, not science – remove the pan from the heat. At this point you can decide to strain out the slices of ginger if you wish. I have seen directions to spread the slices on a sheet of waxed or parchment paper that has been sprinkled with granulated sugar, turning to coat both sides. And then, either leaving them on the paper or putting them on a rack like you use to cool baked goods so the air can circulate. The dried slices are great to suck on or to chew to help relieve nausea, and are even safe to use as a remedy for morning sickness and for motion sickness. They will also aid in digestion after a heavy meal. Just a word of caution – you will find these slices contain more “heat” than the commercially available candied ginger.

I leave the ginger slices and the honey syrup together and pour the mixture into small glass canning jars. If I have made more than enough for immediate use, I will water bath the jars to seal them, although I have not had unsealed jars spoil. I leave one pint sized jar out on the kitchen counter. At this time of year it rarely stays full for long. We have come to depend upon the syrup as a remedy that aids with both the prevention and the treatment of colds and flu. We spoon out a couple of generous teaspoonfuls, slices included, and fill the cup with hot water. Stir, sip, and enjoy. If I am going out to shovel snow from the deck and want to increase the circulation to my fingertips while out in the cold, I will add a splash of cayenne pepper (Capsicum frutescens) or tabasco sauce to the tea. If we notice symptoms of a cold developing, we will add a splash of lemon juice and some elderberry syrup to the blend. Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis) is a well respected European cold and flu remedy that is a good complement to the ginger. Some will vouch for the fact that ginger seems to relieve the joint pain associated with some forms of arthritis and made worse by the cold. And as mentioned previously, the syrup/tea can also be used to soothe digestive upsets.

The ingredients are safe and simple. There are some concerns about giving honey to infants less than a year old because of the risk of botulism and their under developed immune systems. You are wise to follow the advice you have been given regarding this concern.

The next time you are shopping, look for the fresh ginger root. Even if you are not inclined to make or use the syrup, you may find other ways to include this tropical herb into your winter diet. I think it is fun to remember some of the ways that people do use this tropical herb to support their health.

Sylvia Newberry worked as a registered nurse for more than 30 years. She currently has a healing practice where she offers energy work, guided imagery, and medicinal herbs. A Reiki master, she offers all levels of attunement to both groups and individuals. She teaches classes about the common, safe healing plants, identifying, growing, and how they can be effectively used. Her website is www.rnhealer.byregion.com and you can leave her a message at The Healing Arts Clinic in Windsor, VT 802-674-7037.

Guest Blogger, Under the Winter Snows

2009-01-24T06:55:00.003-05:00

I am happy to introduce a guest blogger from the Upper Valley health practitioner community, Sylvia Newberry. Here are her insights into the bounty that awaits us under the snow.

Under The Winter Snows

This information suggests ways to promote and maintain health.
It is not intended to take the place of personalized medical counseling,
diagnosis, and treatment from a trained health professional

I know that we are in the depths of a New England winter. And I can tell, not by how high the snow is piled or how low the thermometer is reading, but by the number of seed catalogs that have arrived in my mailbox. I savored my cup of coffee this morning while thumbing through the pages filled with brightly colored flowers, fruits and vegetables, and everything and anything it might take to grow them. The sun shining through the window was not exactly spring-like, but at least it provided some warmth.

The catalogs bring the hope of warm weather, but I remind myself during this time of cold and white, that there are an abundance of green friends that are not dead, but dormant. Merely sleeping out of sight. There is a spot not far from the steps I use to enter and exit my house that holds a patch of chickweed (Stellaria media). In the midst of the mid winter thaw, usually in February, the banks of snow will recede ever so slightly, and there will be a vibrant green plant, ready to burst into bloom. It is so different from what most of us expect, that if we don’t stop and look, we miss it. Plants are not “supposed” to grow under the snow during a Vermont winter.

For those of you even remotely familiar with “beneficial weeds”, the name chickweed probably rings a bell. The plant, in most places, grows close to the ground, forming a mat of tiny verdant leaves offsetting equally tiny white star shaped flowers. It grows best in weather that is cool and moist, but will hang on in a less vibrant form throughout the summer and give one last burst of fresh green as autumn closes in on winter. The plant itself has many healing properties which it is willing to share with those of us who stoop to notice and are willing to set aside our “certainties” about what will and will not contribute to our health and healing. The whole plant can be eaten, either added raw to early spring salads, or lightly steamed or quickly sautéed in a bit of olive oil and garlic. In this way, it becomes one of the earliest spring tonics, filled with an abundance of vitamins and minerals, packaged in an edible form that makes the nutrients readily available to the human body.

The fragile plant structure does not lend itself well to drying. You will find dried chickweed for sale where dried herbs are sold, but even stored under ideal conditions, it gives up it beneficial properties rather quickly. To preserve the healing properties for use “out of season”, it is probably best to harvest, clean, allow to the plant material to wilt over night and then chop it up and cover it in alcohol, unpasteurized apple cider vinegar, vegetable glycerin, or a vegetable oil such as olive or sweet almond oil depending on your intended use. I leave my jars of green-floating-in-liquid sitting on the kitchen counter where I can pick them up several times a day and give them a gentle shake. I let them sit for a couple of weeks, watching the liquid, or menstrum, picking up the coloring from the plant material. I know from study and from personal experience that the vital elements contained in the plant are also being transferred to the liquid. And when the time has passed and I have a day with a bit of free time, I pour the liquid through either an unbleached coffee filter or several layers of cheesecloth into a strainer and eventually into a colored glass bottle, carefully applying a label and giving it a place among other similar looking bottles on the shelf.

What do I use the chickweed tinctures and oils for? Herbal medicine teaches that chickweed is a tonic and a “mover” and “cleanser” of lymph fluids throughout the body. It is gentle and yet powerful in helping to create balance where it has been disturbed by illness or just oversight or neglect. Chickweed infused oil is a wonderful addition to healing salves. I often combine several herbs in the all purpose salves that I make. Chickweed is the soothing ingredient that provides moisture and brings the vitamins and minerals needed for cell repair right to the place where they are needed. I was skeptical when I first began to use herbs in this way. But I have had enough experience with healing wounds, either fresh or long term non-healing ones, to have set that skepticism aside. Call it what you will, the medicine in plants is both gentle and tremendously strong and effective.

So, when you step out your door into the cold, Vermont winter air, look down at the ground all around you and just imagine what green plants are sleeping there, waiting for the snow to begin receding ever so slightly. Look closely when that time comes and see what you can discover.

Sylvia Newberry worked as a registered nurse for more than 30 years. She currently has a healing practice where she offers energy work, guided imagery, and medicinal herbs. A Reiki master, she offers all levels of attunement to both groups and individuals. She teaches classes about the common, safe healing plants, identifying, growing, and how they can be effectively used. Her website is www.rnhealer.byregion.com and you can leave her a message at The Healing Arts Clinic in Windsor, VT 802-674-7037.

Decrease in oxygen and increase of sugar encourages cancer….Tell me more Otto..

2008-10-31T14:54:00.002-04:00

After writing the last post about Otto Warburg’s theories about cancer growth, I was pondering the current predicament of the prevalence of cancer and the way we live in the United States. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) estimates that 40.35% or 1 out of every 2 people will develop some type of cancer in their lifetime. Wow! Those are devastating statistics. Think about it – if you are sitting in a roomful of people – at a café, office, movie theater – almost half of the people you see will develop some form of cancer at some time.

If there is truth to Otto Warburg’s theories about what encourages cancers, then it is no small wonder that the NCI U.S. cancer statistics are so high. As a country we suffer from an epidemic of a decrease of oxygen coupled with a gross intake of sugar.

Between plain old sugar and high fructose corn syrup (have you watched the film King Corn yet?) the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that each person in America consumes 92 lbs!! of sugar-substances (sugar, corn syrup, honey) annually. That is almost my weight in sweeteners a year!

And barring the recent spike in the price of gasoline, which made people less eager to hop in their cars, Americans tend not to walk or bike, but rather drive, drive, drive. Our whole shopping culture is built around the automobile, intrinsically less healthy for our bodies, our communities and our planet.

So unlike our counterparts in other cultures that tend to walk and bicycle for their daily transport, we decrease our oxygen intake by driving, while increasing our sugar intake. Sounds like Otto’s cancer recipe to me.

I consider myself to be health conscious, and am a health practitioner educated about nutrition and health issues, yet I spend inordinate amounts of time in my car, not only generating greenhouse gases, but drastically limiting my personal O2 intake by being IN the car and not physically moving! While I clock between 25,000 to 30,000 miles a year on my car living in “healthy” Vermont, my friends in Germany commute via bike to work riding a comparable 33,000 miles a year each on their bicycles and putting only 750 miles! annually on their shared car. If I translate my driving miles into hours I come to somewhere in the vicinity of 750 HOURS a year - that's like driving 7.5 hours a day for 100 days. No wonder I get cranky.

So even if we don’t consider all the other factors that contribute to cancer and other disease – toxins, smoking, heavy metals, to name a few – if we could increase our oxygen and decrease our sugar intake significantly we would be somewhat ahead of the game as it were. Hmmm….sounds to me like an argument for bike and foot paths.

What Doctors Don't Tell You

2008-10-29T15:01:00.002-04:00

Well, we know that there are many things that doctors don't tell us, but happily you can discover many of them at the informative, UK-based, website, What Doctors Don’t Tell You (WDDTY). Since 1989, journalist Lynne McTaggart, author of numerous books including The Field: The Quest for the Secret Force of the Universe, has coordinated the WDDTY website, a virtual warren of articles and data about health and alternative options. Recognized as a responsible, credible source of information and resources, WDDTY is helpful to all practitioners and laypeople interested in the real scoop behind any number of health and science issues.

Here are two examples of unrelated but interesting articles. The first demonstrates yet another reason to be cautious about purchasing items made in China, whether containing high lead, melamine, or other contaminants. In Europe, sofas made in China were found to contain sachets of dimethyl fumarate, a fungicide used to inhibit mold. Unsuspecting sofa-sitters came down with eczema-like allergic reactions and one man suffered heart failure.

The second is about how present day researchers in Europe and the United States are re-examining some of the theories of Otto Warburg, a biochemist who in 1924 (!) made interesting discoveries about the cause of cancer having to do with fermentation of sugar in cells and a lack of oxygen. Dr. Otto Warburg (1883-1970) won the 1931 Nobel Prize in Medicine. He found that cancer cells cannot survive with high levels of oxygen and that cancer occurs when there is a lack of oxygen at the cellular level.
• Oxygen inhibits the growth of cancer.
• Healing potential is increased when oxygen is available to cells & tissues
• Oxygen sensitizes the body to medications so the body needs less
• Oxygen produces energy for healthy cell activity

There is so much information on the WDDTY website, it can seem overwhelming, but there is much to learn and it is worth the effort to wade through it.

Explore at: www.wddty.com