March Health Briefs

The Inner Unsettled Experience in an Uncertain Time

There are real problems out there in our world, but we can’t solve them when we walk around with worries and anxiety in our mind. The inner discomfort and feelings of uncertainty are often more of a problem than the problem itself. We cannot find solutions when all we see is the fearful unknown in our mind.

Emotions and worries cloud our mind and even though we may think of ways to calm ourselves, these feelings keep popping up and we continue to circle around with worries, fears, anxious jitters or pain in the body. Negative, worrisome feelings cause the body to contract and go into the fight-or-flight mode. Neither one will be guided by a clear mind.

Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) is a simple and relatively quick way to reduce or eliminate the negative worrisome feelings or discomfort. The mind clears up so it can focus on what the real problem is—if there is a problem left to tackle. Bringing a deep sense of relaxation through hypnosis helps the whole process, and our inner wisdom can bring solutions that we had not thought of before. EFT can lead clients to sleep better and longer, and bring some peace to the mind.

Maria Kingsley is a certified hypnotherapist and EFT Practitioner. Connect at 520-780-0170 or Maria-Kingsley.com.

Easy Does It: Reflexology as a Subtle Art

The old phrase “no pain, no gain” doesn’t apply to the subtle aspect of the body. Many people feel that reflexology has to include very deep pressure to be valuable. Consequently, those who could benefit from the subtlety of reflexology might shy away due to the fear of pain.

An alternative is a lighter and more subtle approach that offers a rich opportunity for internal body awareness. The older we get, the more we tend to limit our body sense to what hurts and miss the many possibilities of experiencing the vastness and mystery of our personal inner terrain. The gentle articulations of the ankles and toes help the practitioner assess tension and holding patterns while freeing the joint space, reducing pain and allowing more movement potential.

Reflexology, working subtly through the nervous system, is deeply relaxing, thereby inducing a slower respiratory rhythm, a slower heart rate, less muscular tension and an increase in blood flow through the visceral and skeletal muscles—along with a more efficient use of available energy.

When we are deeply relaxed and tension is released, there is a “waking up”, and an awakened body has many more possibilities, including increased natural movement, less pain and a smoother experience of moving through life.

Cheryl Foster, a Nationally Board Certified Reflexologist, has been in practice for 16 years. Her gentle practice, Barefoot Dreams Reflexology, located at 1661 N. Swan, Ste. 254, in Tucson, is now offering a special introductory rate for new clients. Connect at 520-345-4554, Cheryl@BarefootDreams.net or BarefootDreams.net. See ad, page 15.

Breakthrough Pain Treatment: TRT

Also referred to as shock wave therapy, Tissue Regenerative Therapy (TRT) is a non-invasive treatment that delivers acoustic waves deep into the tissue to stimulate natural healing. During the treatment, high energy waves create “micro-trauma” that facilitates blood vessel development in and around the treated area. The new blood vessels provide additional passages for oxygen and nutrients to reach the area, which supports regeneration and healing.

TRT treatments may also stimulate stem cell regeneration, are used in the treatment of acute and chronic pain and are FDA-approved to treat connective tissue conditions, diabetic foot ulcers, prostate pain and back injury. Other conditions that could benefit from TRT treatments include: Achilles tendon injuries, plantar fasciitis, TMJ, elbow tendonitis, overuse injuries, tinnitus, male and female sexual dysfunction and joint and muscle pain.

The treatments usually take from 10 to 15 minutes with little to no downtime, allowing patients to return to daily activity following treatment. Some report benefits up to 12 weeks after treatment.

Edge Integrative Wellness, in Tucson, offers Tissue Regenerative Therapy (TRT). Connect at 520-232-3360 or EdgeIntegrativeWellness.com. See ad, page 5.

Microcurrent Medicine: More than Just a Pretty Face

Although microcurrent facials have been around for some years, few of us may be aware of the full spectrum of benefits available using this bio-energetic therapy. Most commonly, microcurrent, a non-invasive, low-level electrical current (like the body’s own natural current), is used in anti-aging treatments to lift and tone facial muscles, while boosting collagen and elastin production. In addition to stimulating muscle memory and ATP, another property of microcurrent called iontophoresis, improves blood and lymph circulation and skin care product penetration.

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, energetic blockages are the primary causes of physical pain and disease, as well as emotional disturbances. Not surprisingly, since all our basic life functions are directly or indirectly related to electrical activity, past clinical microcurrent research has shown that it effectively increases wound and bone healing, reduces inflammatory body processes and restores healthy nerve function.

Recent treatment advances combining microcurrent with color-light or Microlight Electro-Acupoint therapy have demonstrated this vibrational medicine modality’s ability to harmonize the body’s subtle energy fields, namely the chakra and meridian system. Clients treated with standardized, non-invasive Microlight protocols specific for their clinical conditions reported significant and rapid pain reduction, accelerated healing for both acute and chronic conditions, as well as release of deep-seated emotional traumas. Facial and wholebody rejuvenation techniques and nutrition-based weight-loss programs incorporating these vibrational protocols have also shown results.

Dr. Suzanne Pear, RN, Ph.D., LE, CQH offers Energy Light Rejuvenation (“whole-body healing disguised as a facial”) at Pampered Skin Studio, located at 5160 E. Glenn St., Ste. 150, in Tucson. Connect at 520-400-8109 or PamperedSkinStudio.com. See ad, page 25.

Wild-Caught vs. Farm-Raised Seafood

Fish and fish products are recognized not only as some of the healthiest foods on the planet, but also as some of the least impactful on the natural environment. For these reasons, it is common practice for medical professionals to recommend that patients only eat wild-caught fish. Wild fish are believed to be more nutritious, while containing fewer toxins.

However, if everyone were to eat only wild fish, there would not be enough wild seafood to go around. In fact, demand continues to increase for fish and fish protein, which has resulted in widespread overfishing in wild fisheries. This dilemma would seem to pit individual health over environmental health, and wild-caught over farm-raised seafood.

Aquaculture, raising fish in tanks or enclosures, like fish ponds, is a responsible commercial enterprise that often gets unfairly vilified by environmentalists and corporate interests alike. Over the last three decades, aquaculture has been the main driver for increased seafood production. Worldwide, since 2016, aquaculture has been the main source of seafood available for human consumption. In 2018, this share was 52 percent, a figure that is expected to continue to increase in the long term.

While recommending wild-caught seafood consumption is a viable health practice, it can be cost-prohibitive economically for some consumers and resource-limited from an environmental perspective. It’s important to recognize that seafood is one of the best protein sources available to humankind and that consuming fish, whether wild-caught or farm raised, has health benefits that far outweigh the risks. A better philosophy, ecologically and economically, is to recommend eating seafood that is responsibly and sustainably harvested and grown.

Consumption of wild-caught fish is not always superior to consumption of aquaculture species from a human health perspective. It truly depends on the fishing and farming practices that are employed and regulated in each case.

Biologically sustainable fish stocks have declined from 90 percent in 1990 to 68.5 percent in 2017. It is important that we, as a society, start moving those numbers back toward more sustainable levels. Buying and eating sustainably harvested or grown seafood is one of the most powerful actions we can take to preserve our fisheries for our children and their children.

Dr. Joshua Reilly, ND, of Wild Wellness Integrative Medicine, recommends that his patients utilize the resources at SeafoodWatch.org in order to select environmentally sustainable seafood, both wild-caught and farm-raised, for their plates. He is not in any way affiliated with SeafoodWatch.org. He values it as evidence-based resource for himself and his patients. Connect at 520-600-0211 or Wild-Wellness.com. See ad, page 17.