Natural Healing Natural Wellness

NATURALHealing

Late Fall & Winter 2012-2013

NATURAL Wellness

Inside this issue: A Word from the Publisher: Aurora Paradise

A newsletter dedicated to your well-being

Prevent Backpacks from Becoming a Back Pain: Lou Paradise

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The Chiron Files: The “Sensation” Theory-In Astrology 3 Healing Scents: Essential Oils for Awakening the Inner Muse

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Physical Advantage: “Teach Your Children…”

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Dream Work: Dreams and Active Imagination

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Nutritional Bites: Non-Dieting: Eat Right -Not Less-For Good Health

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Detox Diva: Clearing Clogged Drains

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Alexandra’s Insights: Shake Your Salt Cravings

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Meditation Express: Paging “Dr. You”

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Daily Om: Connection & Interdependence

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Reflexology: “Feng Shui” for your Body

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Notes from the Natural World: Beauty Advice from Elders

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WELCOME NEW COLUMNISTS: Laurel House, Quickie Chick Christina Towle, Mindful Parenting Healing Innovations Healing Circle Topricin In the News President and Chief of Research: Lou Paradise Publisher: Aurora Paradise Managing Editor: Patricia Martin Art Director: Elizabeth Chen Graphic Artist: Elizabeth Paradise Contributors: Alexandra Jamieson Joan Apter Elise Muller Annie B. Bond Debbie Burklund Lou Paradise Nancy Butler-Ross Roufia Payman Michael Suib Eric Francis Laurie Towers Doug Grunther Christina Towle Laurel House

From the makers of the Topricin® family of healing pain relief products

A Word from the Publisher

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fter a very tempestuous fall with discover why reflexology is like Feng wild, damaging weather, we hope every- Shui for your body (from Debbie); and one is now safe and warm and looking learn how to clear clogged drains the ahead to a holiday season filled with joy. natural way (from Annie).

This new issue of Natural Healing, In “Chiron Files,” Eric Francis discusses Natural Wellness brings you a broad the “Sensation” theory in astrology (a spectrum of articles that provide useful theory that was created by homeopath information, insights, and inspiration Rajan Sankaran), Elise offers beauty for creating a happy and healthy new advice from our elders, Joan reveals the year. essential oil blends that will awaken our School is in full swing, and Lou offers inner muse, and Doug provides insights tips to help prevent backpacks from giv- on using our active imagination in ing your children back pain, while Lau- dream work. rie offers ideas for getting kids off the In “Daily OM,” Madisyn Taylor explores couch and teaching them to gravitate the connection and interdependence toward healthier foods. More parental of all living beings, and in “Meditation insights are offered by one of our new Express” Nancy and Michael help you columnists, Christina Towle, who offers learn to “Page Dr. You.” great insights as an advocate of “Mindful Parenting.” Welcome, Christina!

We hope these articles give you LOTS of reasons to smile!

We are also pleased to welcome our other new columnist, the popular and Wishing you a wonderful season and savvy “Quickie Chick” Laurel House. good health, In her first article she provides a list of reasons while smiling is good for us.

Aurora

You’ll also read about Roufia’s “Non-diet strategy” and Alexandra’s method for ending salt cravings (with great recipes from both of them);

Feature Article “Prevent Backpacks from Becoming a Back Pain”

Aurora Paradise, Chief Operations Officer and Publisher

Aurora Paradise is Chief Operations Officer of Topical BioMedics. Besides publishing the monthly newsletter, Aurora oversees the day-to-day operations of the company.

find us on...

-By Lou Paradise, page 2 Topical BioMedics ©2011

PO Box 494 Rhinebeck, NY 12572 845.871.4900

**May be excerpted or reprinted by permission.

NATURALHealing

NATURAL Wellness

Late Fall & Winter 2012-2013

FEATURE ARTICLE

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Prevent Backpacks from Becoming a Back Pain --By Lou Paradise

rom the time the first session bell rings until summer vacation, kids are lugging and hauling around the most popular and essential accessory of the school year: a backpack. While fashionable and functional backpacks are a practical way to carry around books and supplies, ones that are too heavy or worn incorrectly can cause serious back, neck and shoulder pain and injuries.

A 2004 research report found that 10 to 19 percent of children missed school or sports activities each year because of backpack-induced pain. Additionally, by the end of their teenage years, nearly 60 percent of students experienced at least one back pain episode.

There are other alarming statistics. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in 2003 there were more than 21,000 backpack-related injuries treated at hospital emergency rooms, doctors' offices, and clinics, with complaints ranging from contusions, to sprains and strains to the back and shoulder, to fractures. The organization also reports that backpack-related injuries are up 256% since 1996. Clearly there is an escalating epidemic that must be addressed.

It’s easy to understand why this problem is growing. As far back as 1999, research studies determined that more than half the children carried backpacks weighing more than the recommended 10% to 15% of their body weight, and that statistic may well be much higher by now.

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Straps should fit snuggly over the child’s shoulders.

• Tighten the straps so the pack sits close to the body.

• Children should wear both straps—slinging a backpack over one shoulder can strain muscles.

•Teach your child to pack light and only carry what is necessary for the day.

• Organize the pack carefully and pack the heavier items closet to the center of the back.

• Check your child’s backpack on a regular basis to gauge its weight and be sure that he/she hasn’t over stuffed it.

• If your child complains about aches and pains, apply Topricin Junior Pain Relief and Healing Cream immediately, at night, in the morning, and three to four times per day/as needed.

The facts are heavy, as demonstrated by the following equation. If an average child’s backpack is 12 pounds, let’s do the math: 12 lbs. x 10 lifts per day = 120 pounds per day 120 lbs. x 180 days per school year = 21,600 pounds hoisted during on school year.

• If your child is experiencing back pain, weakness or numbness in the arms or legs, be sure to speak with your doctor.

BACK TO SCHOOL DOESN’T HAVE TO BE A PAIN: TIPS FOR BACK SAFETY As parents, we can help reduce the risks of injury and pain by helping our children choose a well-fitting backpack and teaching them proper packing procedures.

Invest in a high quality backpack with advanced ergonomic elements. Look for the following features:

• A filled backpack should weigh no more than 10% -15% of the child’s body weight.

• Make sure the backpack fits correctly and has a padded back and straps.

• It should be positioned on the back between the shoulder and not resting on the child’s lower back or hips.

FEATURES TO LOOK FOR WHEN CHOOSING A BACKPACK

• Durable, lightweight material construction • Wide, padded shoulder straps that won’t dig into shoulders causing pain and cutting off circulation • Waist belt to distribute the weight more evenly across the body • Padded back that provides more comfort and protects children from being poked by sharp objects that may jut out from inside the backpack continue on next page Page 2

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FEATURE ARTICLE

Prevent Backpacks from Becoming a Back Pain ...continued from page 2 Backpacks with wheels are an excellent • Struggling to put on or take off the backpack choice for older students who must tote a heavy load, but can be cumbersome and are • Signs of discomfort when wearing the backpack less practical for use in snow.

• Red marks from the shoulder straps after the backpack SIGNS THAT SIGNAL A BACKPACK IS has been removed.

TOO HEAVY Here’s to a happy, healthy remainder of the school year!

Prevention is key, and so it’s important for parents to look for signs that their child’s backpack is too heavy and take steps to ensure their safety.

Signs to look for include: • A change in your child’s posture when wearing the backpack THE CHIRON FILES

The “Sensation” Theory-In Astrology

--By Eric Francis

We are living incredibly complex lives right now, moving very quickly, through both personal and world events that we often don’t understand. We live in a time when medicine cannot help most of what ails us. It’s too rigid, along with being insensitive to actual human experience (a condition not helped by the industry’s obsession with profits and maddening political involvement).

Homeopathy is driven by the quest to help people and to understand the nature of human reality. It’s beautiful that way.

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he “Sensation” theory was created by my favorite homeopath, Rajan Sankaran. For those not familiar, homeopathy is a branch of medicine discovered in the 18th century that uses the law of similars: like heals like.

Someone with a bee sting, or something that feels like one, can be successfully treated by a remedy made from the detoxified bee venom.

We’re also alive in a moment when most people don’t have the faith in psychology or psychiatry to get help with what pains them. Most doctors give out drugs, which we all know suppress the issues and numb people out. Astrology, done well, is magnificent at guiding us closer to the core of our situations and our problems, and it helps us wake up to our potential.

Modern homeopathy is deeply psychological and works very well to help us unravel complex issues -- the kind that therapy can barely ever get near. It explores and addresses the connection between a physical ailment and the mental and emotional states that surround it.

Often, those mental and emotional states give the clue how to heal the physical symptom. Homeopathy is the original holistic medicine. You might have asthma, but how do you feel when it’s acting up? That feeling will give the clue to the correct remedy.

One of the reasons I study homeopathy as a way to deepen my understanding of astrology is because homeopathy is so much more advanced in its thinking and practice than is astrology. There is an underlying set of theories that just about all homeopaths accept as being workable, which suggest concepts like, “There is a vital force in each person, and that’s what we’re working with. The correct remedy addresses the disturbances in the vital force, and then the patient heals.” continue on next page Page 3

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THE CHIRON FILES

The “Sensation” Theory-In Astrology ...continued from page 3 poke his head up out of the basket and let out a big meow -- then disappear into the basket again. Everyone on the bus would look around wondering where the sound came from. Then the kitten would do it again.

Homeopaths are interested in how to help people heal, what exactly is happening with them, why they do or don’t respond to treatment, and in finding the safest, simplest way to get results. That requires understanding, listening, scholarship and a lot of focused practice. What I admire and emulate about homeopaths is how carefully they seek to understand the people they work with. A homeopathic patient plays a key role in his or her healing process by revealing their inner details and experiences. Every homeopath understands this.

That, he says, is the sensation. The kitten speaks up; we don’t see it, and we usually don’t go looking. What he’s saying is to pay attention, because the kitten is giving away the true state of the client, and the true remedy.

In going through the 12 sun signs, and the 12 rising signs in my astrology reports, I do my best to listen for the kitten meowing in your astrology. Part of how I’ve done that is I’ve spent so much time listening to my clients and my readers. I’ve looked at these charts for months, listening amidst much music and silence and patterns coming from the cosmos, for the sound that reveals what each of the signs wants or needs the most.

I love how carefully new remedies are tested, with an open mind, and remedies are brought into the work.

Most people familiar with homeopathy know about arnica and arcenicum, dependable, basic, old remedies.

The new ones also get a fair hearing: dolphin’s milk and chocolate and petroleum, which address things like complex sexual abuse patterns, neediness and skepticism. Practitioners compare notes. There are constantly new, excellent and innovative books coming out, which are solidly grounded on the classical tradition. Though there are many different approaches, most places you go the past and present are both honored. There is, at least, an agreement that the art must advance.

Homeopathy and astrology have many things in common. One is that they are both using the law of In his books on Sensation, Dr. Sankaran is explaining to similars; when you get a reading, you are getting a homeopaths how you choose the remedy, based on how picture or sample of yourself, which helps you move you understand the client. Classical techniques are still more efficiently through the world. part of the process, but he’s saying: you have to go for the deepest layer, which is the sensation of the remedy Another is that neither is a science. Neither can be as the client expresses it. The sensation might be totally proven, but both can get excellent results. They are art irrational or out of place, but there it is. forms that require both discipline and imagination.

He tells a story to illustrate the idea.

Cats are not allowed on buses in India.

But he had to get a kitten somewhere by bus, so he put it in a covered basket and took it for the ride.

The bus was crowded. Every now and then the kitten would push up the lid,

And one really obvious thing is that homeopathy and astrology draw connections between the natural world and human experience. So you can think of my monthly and annual readings as homeopathic or astrological. At the heart of the work, I am seeking the essence, in feeling, of how it feels for you to be experiencing the transits that you are: the sensation.

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HEALING SCENTS

Essential Oils for Awakening the Inner Muse --By Joan Apter, Aromacologist Can potent plant medicines assist in our intention to call in the Muse; to be carried by a wave of inspiration into some form?

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have a friend who is an intuitive astrologer. She told me that she has been calling in the “Muse” to take her over and make her a clear channel! She desires to renew her poetry career. Powerful stuff. Could essential oils assist her? Absolutely.

In studies conducted at Vienna and Berlin Universities, researchers found that sesquiterpenes, found in essential oils such as vetiver, patchouli, cedarwood, sandalwood and frankincense, can increase levels of oxygen in the brain by up to 28 percent (Nasel, 1992).

Such an increase in brain oxygen may lead to a heightened level of activity in the hypothalamus (the hormone command center of the body) and limbic system (the seat of emotions) of the brain. This can have dramatic effects on emotions, learning and attitude, as well as immune function, hormone balance and energy levels.

Dr. Daniel Penoel, French aromatherapist, defines essential oils as, “the most powerful enhancer of human intention.” How can this be? Essential oils are classified not only as plant medicine, but also as energy medicine.

On a physical level the essential oil is comprised of hundreds of chemical components, each one with a specific potential. For example, peppermint is cooling, anti-inflammatory, pain relieving, memory enhancing and a great digestive.

When the mind is chaotic, inhale lavender, which is calming and sedating to the nervous system; take a lavender bath or add the sacred energy of frankincense.

Or when you feel like you just can’t get a grasp, inhale the conifer oils such as pine, balsam fir or spruce. Apply them on the feet, neck and shoulders. To stimulate the brain, inhale peppermint. To stimulate the pineal pituitary, otherwise known as the ‘third eye,’ inhale frankincense, sandalwood or balsam fir. To open the heart center, inhale and apply the precious oil of rose.

Here are some of my favorite blends to use to increase creativity and opening to higher frequency! (All blends mentioned are from Young Living Essential Oils.) These oils can be diffused, added to a bath, and/or applied topically to specific points on the body, depending upon the ingredients in the particular blend. Further information is available by contacting me at joanapter@ earthlink.net or on the Young Living website http://www. youngliving.com/essential-and-massage-oils/essentialoil-blends.

ABUNDANCE Abundance was created to enhance the frequency of the energy that surrounds us through electrical stimulation of the cells. This frequency creates attraction.

Ingredients: Myrrh, cassia, frankincense, patchouli, orange, clove, ginger and spruce.

ACCEPTANCE

As energy medicine, each essential oil has an electromagnetic frequency. Frequency is a measurable rate of electrical energy that is constant between any two points. Everything has an electrical frequency measured in hertz. Grade A essential oils range from 52-320 Hz. (rose is the highest yet tested - the frequency of unconditional love.) A healthy human is 62-78 Hz.

Stimulates the mind, assisting it to open and accept new things in life that allow you to reach toward your higher potential. It also helps you overcome procrastination and denial.

Ingredients: Geranium, blue tansy, frankincense, sandalwood, neroli, and rosewood in a base of almond oil.

Essential oils can alter mood and emotion, not only by inhalation, through the limbic brain, but also by the interaction of their high frequency with ours. I have experienced going from a place of procrastination to a place of focus in minutes! Often I will inhale some of the more emotional/spiritual oils during quiet time, while I speak or write my intentions.

Helps bring you to an inner awareness in order to make changes and desirable transitions. This may help you progress towards your highest potential.

Ingredients: A combination of the blends Joy, Forgiveness, Dream Catcher, Present Time, and Harmony.

AWAKEN

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HEALING SCENTS

Essential Oils for Awakening the Inner Muse ...continued from page 5 us overcome the bombardment of chaotic energy that alters our focus and pulls us off the path toward higher achievements. Galbanum, a favorite oil of Moses, has a strong effect when blended with frankincense and sandalwood in gathering our emotional and spiritual thoughts, helping us to focus to achieve our potential.

Ingredients: Galbanum, frankincense, sandalwood, lavender, cinnamon, rose, spruce, geranium and ylang ylang.

BELIEVE

GRATITUDE

Believe helps release the unlimited potential everyone possesses, making it possible to experience health, happiness and vitality more fully. As individuals, we often sell ourselves short. We don’t believe we have the ability within ourselves to improve our surroundings.

Believe oil blend is designed to help bring out the power to create and develop our beliefs, a gift that all of us inherently have.

Ingredients: Idaho Balsam Fir, rosewood, and frankincense.

Gratitude is a blend of therapeutic-grade essential oils designed to elevate, soothe and bring relief to the body, while helping to foster a grateful attitude. It helps to calm the spirit and stimulate the mind, while being nourishing and supportive to the skin. As everyday life gets more and more hectic, people find it harder to CLARITY appreciate joy in their lives. Gratitude oil is designed to help bring back a sense of gratitude and a Has been used by many people to promote a clear mind remembrance of all that we have to be thankful for. and alertness. Rosemary and peppermint, found in this Ingredients: Idaho balsam fir, frankincense, rosewood, blend have been used for years for mental activity and myrrh, galbanum, and ylang ylang. vitality. Dr. William N. Dember of the University of Cincinnati discovered in a research study that inhaling GROUNDING peppermint oil increased the mental accuracy of the students he tested by 28 percent.

Helps stabilize and ground us so we can deal logically Ingredients: Basil, cardamom, rosemary, peppermint, with reality in a peaceful manner. rosewood, geranium, lemon, palmarosa, ylang ylang, Ingredients: Juniper, angelica, ylang ylang, cedarwood, bergamot, Roman chamomile, and jasmine. pine, spruce and fir.

DREAM CATCHER

HARMONY

An exotic formula, which may enhance dreams and visualizations. It can promote a greater potential for realizing your dreams and staying on your path, as well as protect you from negative dreams that might cloud your vision.

Ingredients: Sandalwood, tangerine, ylang ylang, bergamot, ylang ylang, black pepper, bergamot, juniper, anise and blue tansy.

An exquisite blend of neroli, rose and angelica, promoting physical and emotional healing by bringing about harmonic balance to the energy centers of the body, allowing the energy to flow more efficiently through the body. It is also beneficial in reducing stress and creating an overall feeling of wellbeing.

Ingredients: Hyssop, spruce, lavender, frankincense, geranium, ylang ylang, orange, sandalwood, angelica, Spanish sage, palmarosa, bergamot, Roman chamomile, and jasmine.

GATHERING Created out of the need to help

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Essential Oils for Awakening the Inner Muse ...continued from page 6 HIGHEST POTENTIAL D. Gary Young has created a master blend of essential oils to tap into your deepest yearnings; focus profound energies you may not even be aware of, and surmount what once seemed impossible.

Achieve your Highest Potential with this powerful essential oil blend.Ingredients: Australian blue (a blend of blue cypress, ylang ylang, cedarwood blue tansy and white fir) and Gathering essential oil blend (galbanum, frankincense, sandalwood, lavender, cinnamon, rose, spruce geranium, ylang ylang and jasmine).

INSPIRATION A combination of oils traditionally used by the native people in the East and in North America for increasing spirituality and enhancing prayer, meditation, and inner awareness.Ingredients: Cedarwood, spruce, rosewood, sandalwood, frankincense, myrtle and mugwort.

JOY An exotic, luxurious blend that produces an uplifting magnetic energy and brings joy to the heart. When worn as a cologne or perfume, Joy exudes an alluring and irresistible fragrance that inspires romance and togetherness. Ingredients: Lemon, mandarin, bergamot, ylang ylang, rose, rosewood, geranium, palmarosa, Roman chamomile and jasmine.

LIVE WITH PASSION

MOTIVATION Has an electrical frequency that may enable one to surmount fear and procrastination and stimulate feelings of moving forward to accomplish new things.

Ingredients: Roman chamomile, ylang ylang, spruce and lavender.

VALOR Helps balance electrical energies within the body, giving courage, confidence, and self-esteem. It has been found to help the body self-correct its balance and alignment.Ingredients: Spruce, rosewood, blue tansy, and frankincense in a base of almond oil.

WHITE ANGELICA A combination of oils used during ancient times to increase aura around the body, bringing a delicate sense of strength and protection and creating a feeling of wholeness in the realm of one’s own spirituality.

Its frequency protects against the bombardment of negative energy.Ingredients: Geranium spruce, myrrh, ylang ylang, hyssop bergamot, melissa, sandalwood, rose, and rosewood in a base of almond oil.

May help revive your zest for life and internal energy, helping you recover an optimistic attitude.

Ingredients: Melissa, helichrysum, clary sage, cedarwood, angelica, ginger, neroli, sandalwood, patchouli and jasmine.

MAGNIFY YOUR PURPOSE Helps you foster a positive attitude, enabling you to rise above the adversity. It can embolden you to seize the initiative, overcome procrastination and self-pity, and magnify your life’s purpose.Ingredients: Sandalwood, nutmeg, patchouli, rosewood, cinnamon bark, ginger and sage.

In Conclusion Therapeutic Essential Oils are safe to use and fast acting. All you need is a good reference guide, a mentor and a pure product. Experience for yourself the uplifting and centering influence of these potent plant medicines! Let essential oils be your assistant when you want to connect with your inner muse!

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PHYSICAL ADVANTAGE

“Teach Your Children...” --By Laurie Towers Armed with determination and a well thought out shopping list, we head out to become healthy examples, leading the way to healthy choices. Being mindful of the foods we buy and most importantly the snacks we keep in the house is how we can create a rapport with healthy eating for our children.

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e’ve bid adieu to mosquito repellent and the captivating smells of charcoal while preparing to feed the endless parade of guests that cover the grass in those months when the sun doesn’t want to leave us so quickly. So despite any reservations and sentiments, here we are once again landing in a different season, with months of school days still ahead of us. Also a different diet, especially for those with children who are no longer picked up on the radar as far as watching every meal they consume.

Here we are now, somewhere firmly entrenched between doling out money for clothes, entertainment and various “must haves” that come up with certain urgency, as well as giving our children money for food…Food that we may not have chosen for them if given the opportunity. The doubt and questions come flooding in from every direction as we wonder what if we actually DID choose the right foods in their presence, and in turn, serve as good role models.

As children, my brother and I were gifted with a mother whose thoughts on nutrition were truly advanced and progressive. We didn’t know that desserts and snacks had to contain sugar to be delicious, and we didn’t know that snacks consisted Needless to say this was never as big a concern as it of potato chips and cookies unless we went to is today, with childhood obesity continuing to climb someone else’s house. Our household gave permission an endless ladder each year. Children once eating to sweets once a week as a “treat,” then the treat of portion-controlled, home-cooked meals will now choice was banished for yet another week until “treat make the trade for grease on a bun, washed down with day” came around again. We didn’t miss what we copious amounts of sugar. To compound the problem didn’t know, and found equal enjoyment in the natural further we now have social interactions largely sugars that fruits provided as opposed to an Almond relegated to sound bites and social media, so “walking Joy. to a friend’s house” may never reclaim its place above texting.

It is blatantly obvious that our children do not have the same caloric burning activities that we enjoyed in our youth. What’s even more alarming is the fact that 1 out of 7 children in the United States are obese. Pretty alarming, yes? What to do when things have gotten so far out of control? We go back to basics, and the frontline of defense: example and education.

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“Teach Your Children...”...continued from page 8 any age is the marriage of a sound diet AND exercise.

Now for the task of getting your child off the couch and his or her texting hand involved in some sort of activity other than pressing their fingers against a little keyboard. Once that is successful and your throat is sufficiently raw from screaming, know that the investment in a lifetime of a more thoughtful attitude toward their health is closer than it was possibly even a month prior to taking these steps. And it’s not just a temporary solution—it’s a lifestyle.

With so many commercial goods carefully positioned to entice our children into a world of sugars and salts, it will take some creative marketing on our part to make an impression that is lasting. The American Diabetes Association has always been cutting edge on the care and education of the younger generation and I was thrilled to find quite a few of my mom’s healthy snacks on their list. Here are some that make easy substitutions for less healthy choices: • Low fat milk and frozen strawberries with low fat yogurt make a great and healthy smoothie, instead of that 800 calorie shake.

• Peanut butter on apple slices makes protein-rich, fiber-filled between meal snacks.

• Parmesan cheese on popcorn is tastier and much lower in fat and sodium then the butter we usually pour on.

• Take a banana, dip it in non-fat yogurt, roll it in granola bits then put it in the freezer. There is at least a 100 calorie difference between that and the ice cream bar they will get in the nearest store, not to mention more nutritional value being far greater.

• Fill a waffle cone with raisins and low fat yogurt instead of custard and sprinkles.

• A “snack kabob” made from a pretzel stick with low fat cheeses and grapes is a great source of fiber and calcium presented in a very creative and visual appealing way.

Okay so home-made healthy snacks are a great first step. But the only path to a healthy and fit body at

I can’t enforce enough the philosophy of us getting our kids to “visit” with friends the way we did. The old fashioned way, face to face, and where we had to leave the house to do so. Any activity that gets movement beyond a chair going closer to a computer is a great baby step. Getting our children involved in team sports is a not only a great source of activity on a physical aspect, but also breeds a sense of camaraderie as well as being a wonderful way to hone social skills.

There are however, quite a few sources of cardio activity for kids that aren’t competitive team sports.

These include: • Biking • Swimming • Hiking • Dancing • Hula Hoop (my favorite for core strengthening as well) • Jumping Rope

With today’s different social landscape and the endless and clever ways corporations utilize large-scale target marketing tactics, our lectures and philosophies sometimes last only as far as the walk to school or a favorite hang out. Still, every investment in educating those who will inherit the earth is a worthy one, and a noble fight. Met with resistance as we did with our parents is just the changing of the guard, and it’s our turn now. So we march on and continue the fight, because cause what can we really do...”but just look at them and sigh...and know they love you.”

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DREAM WORK

Dreams and Active Imagination --By Doug Grunther Here’s an example from a dream group I led a while back. A participant presented the following dream: I’m steering a kayak along a wide lake which was formed by a dam built 30 years ago. The water is very choppy and dangerous, yet somehow I’m keeping the kayak afloat.

T

he great psychologist Carl Jung developed a therapeutic process called Active Imagination as a meditative technique to enhance dream work.

As in other forms of meditation, this skill requires the ability to witness a situation without trying to exert influence on it and allowing meanings to emerge.

There is a natural tendency to try to figure out the meaning of a dream, but often the deeper meanings and healing potential of a dream are received by replaying the dream narrative and witnessing what happens without struggling for an answer. In fact, struggling to uncover the meaning of a dream often distances us from its true creative power.

We started out by each taking on the dream as if it was our own and offering interpretations and associations based on our personal projections. This is a very creative and interesting process, but eventually the dreamer felt there were deeper meanings to be uncovered.

So I used some simple “relaxation” inductions to slow down our brain waves and asked each member of the group to re-enter the dream scene and notice what happens.

We then talked about our experiences.

One group member noted that she felt the presence of the dam which the dreamer had reported was responsible for creating the lake.

This generated a clear “AHA!” moment of recognition for the dreamer. The dreamer started talking about Jung would encourage his clients to observe a scene how as a child, she was terrified by the minister of her from the dream, watch for any changes, and report church who always talked about dam-nation. The them. The skill here is to watch the re-played dream dreamer realized that the dangerous, choppy water of scene without consciously trying to change it the way the lake was a metaphor for the turbulent emotions still you desire the dream to be. The intention is not to force being stirred up by the fear of damnation, even though a meaning upon the dream scene, but to let it play out as an adult she had consciously rejected this part of her and notice both any changes in the scene not noted religious upbringing. previously as well as any changes in your own reaction to what’s being seen.

When I pointed out that in the dream, the kayak is able to stay afloat despite the dangerous conditions, the I’ve spent a lot of time reading about the implications dreamer realized she had the capability to deal with a of quantum physics. One of the most fascinating and particularly emotional and trying time in her personal peculiar realities uncovered by quantum experiments life. is that the very act of observation changes what is observed!!!! In other words, when a scientist simply So the next time you wake up with a particularly observes quantum phenomena in an experiment, the interesting, powerful, or peculiar dream, you can results of the experiment change. There is no such re-play it in your imagination and see and feel what thing as purely objective reality. So when we relax happens. If nothing seems to change at all, don’t try to into a light meditative state and re-play the scene initiate any changes---stay with the scene for a while from a dream, the very act of observing it without and simply observe. You may receive some immediate consciously producing a result will often uncover new results or it may take some time. But with a little visual associations and felt sensations which help to practice, there’s a good chance you will get meaningful illuminate the dream’s deeper meaning. results.

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NUTRITIONAL BITES

Non-Dieting: Eat Right-Not Less-For Good Health --By Roufia Payman a month for a behavior to become a habit, and soon your healthier food choices will taste so delicious and satisfying you won’t miss your old former favorites.

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he word “diet” doesn’t usually conjure up blissful thoughts or put a big smile on our face as we anticipate calorie counting, rigid meal planning, and deprivation.

While there are many different plans and approaches out there, dieting usually entails following a strict regimen that can be less than satisfying and often makes us feel like we’re “missing out” on some of the good, yummy things in life. We may lose weight, but in the long run diets often fail because once we achieve our weight loss goal, we have a tendency to fall back into our old eating pattern. Inevitably, the weight creeps back on, and we end up “yo-yoing” into another weight loss program, invariably followed by gains. This “losing proposition” simply isn’t a healthy way to approach eating, either nutritionally or emotionally.

A healthier approach to food and weight control is a balanced “non-diet” strategy that focuses on eating right—not less. It’s not about deprivation or rigidity, but rather adopting the lifestyle, attitude, and healthy habits that will help you achieve your goals and feel good about yourself on a daily basis. Best of all, by developing and cultivating nourishing, healthy food choices, you’ll feed your heart and soul as well as your body.

When shopping for packaged dry, canned, or frozen goods, be savvy to marketing speak even in seemingly “healthy” foods. The word “natural” is not regulated by the FDA, and indicates nothing about a food’s nutritional value or health effects. Read labels diligently, and avoid processed foods with the biggest nutritional offenders (high fructose corn syrup, partially hydrogenated oil, artificial sweeteners, flavors, and colors). Whenever possible, go organic.

The healthiest food choices you can make come from whole, unprocessed sources, not pre-packaged processed foods. If you really want to love yourself, start cooking the majority of your meals. It doesn’t have to be complicated--a fast, easy recipe can taste good and be good for you, too. Once you get into the habit of cooking, it won’t feel like a chore, and processed food will taste less appealing.

Here are a few tips for making a simple meal extra nutritious and filling: • Lightly sauté fresh veggies (onion, mushroom, peppers, eggplant, zucchini, etc.) and add to spaghetti sauce and simmer, then serve on a whole grain or protein-rich pasta like Barilla Plus.

• Add diced tomatoes, shredded carrots, and pine nuts to brown rice or couscous, season with a dash of balsamic vinegar.

• Instead of mashed potatoes, have mashed cauliflower or rutabaga topped with low fat cottage cheese or plain I always say to my patients, “If you love food, you want non-fat yogurt with herbs (dill, oregano, or basil are to eat food that loves you back!” Hot wings, French fries, good) or try baked or mashed sweet potato topped with and grilled cheese don’t love your heart! Soda, cookies, nutmeg and cinnamon and chopped walnuts. and bagels don’t love your waistline! Processed foods are not your friend! But a nice tossed salad, brown rice with beans, roasted vegetables and fresh salmon—now these are foods that nourish and nurture you.

Despite the lure of nutritionally deficient foods, you can learn to love the food that loves you back. When you embrace a new approach to eating, your palate will adapt and your food preferences will start changing. And when you cut out the sugars, fats, and simple carbohydrates, your cravings for them will diminish. It takes about continued on next page Page 11

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Non-Dieting: Eat Right-Not Less-For Good Health ...continued from page 11 • Add cooked (or canned and rinsed) black eyed peas, black beans, or other beans to soups for protein and fiber, and a handful of greens (spinach, kale, Swiss chard) for an extra nutritional punch.

At the end of this column, I’ve given you one of my own personal favorites, an easy and versatile soup recipe that’s fun to experiment with. What I like to do is cook on Sunday so I’ll have a healthy basic dish my family and I can enjoy during the busy week.

SIZE THINGS UP It’s not just what you eat, but also how much you eat, and portion control plays an integral role in eating right for life. After all, there can be too much of a good thing!

You can learn measurements by sizing your portions for a week or two until you can judge by eye what something (say a cup of brown rice) looks like when it’s on your plate. But practicing portion control doesn’t have to involve overly complicated weights and measures. A simple way to grasp it is to think of food portions in terms of common everyday items.

• 3oz. serving of meat or poultry = deck of cards • 3 oz. serving of fish = checkbook Here are a couple of portioning tricks you can use so you won’t be tempted to overeat.

• Use smaller plates and bowls for everyday meals at home. This will make your servings look bigger and trick your eye and mind into feeling more satisfied.

• When ordering an entrée at restaurant, ask your server to bring you a box to pack up a portion to take home before you start eating.

• Items that are sold in bulk or in larger containers— like tubs of yogurt and snacks like trail mix—are often less expensive than the smaller/individual serving size.

It’s easy to portion control if you put them in single serving storage containers or bags when you get home.

STAY ON TRACK WITH SMART SNACKS Healthy eating habits include smart snacking. By eating at regular intervals, your blood sugar levels (and therefore your energy) remain stable, and you won’t be tempted to overeat at mealtime.

Keep in mind snacking doesn’t replace a meal and should be spread between regular meals by an hour or two.

Snacking comes in handy if you know you’ll be in a situation where you’ll be surrounded by temptations you would like to avoid, or will be in a position to overeat. For instance, if you plan on going out to a meal at a restaurant or a party, have a healthy snack Here are some basic rules of thumb for sizing things up: before leaving the house so you’ll be less likely to finish • 1 tsp. butter, oil, or peanut butter = thumb tip a large entre or pick mindlessly at the party platters.

• 2 Tbs. peanut butter, butter, oil or salad dressing =

golf ball or ping pong ball • 1/4 cup dried fruit = golf ball or ping pong ball • 1 cup pasta or rice = tennis ball • 1-cup vegetables = a fist • 8 oz. serving yogurt, one cup of beans, or dry cereal

= baseball

Remember to keep the “smart” in snacking. Keep it to 100 - 150 calories, and skip the salty chips and sugary cookies that come in prepackaged snack sizes. Instead, stock up on more nourishing treats: nuts, apples and pears with peanut butter or sprinkled with cinnamon, raw vegetables with low fat cheese or hummus, and plain low-fat yogurt with fresh or frozen fruit are all good choices. If you feel like cheese and crackers, exercise portion control by doling out the proper serving size, arranging it on a plate, and putting the rest away. continued on next page Page 12

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Non-Dieting: Eat Right-Not Less-For Good Health ...continued from page 12 FRESH IDEAS It’s fun to keep up to date with new ideas, and there are a number of magazines and online outlets that feature healthy recipes. Love yourself, love the food that loves you, and have fun mixing it up with fresh ideas for staying deliciously healthy and happy!

ROUFIA’S RECIPE CORNER SEASONAL SOUP Mix and match ingredients for a delicious, nutritious soup—be creative and add your own touches! It will taste different every time and keep you coming back for more!

• Season with cumin, coriander seed, and sea salt (omit salt if you have dietary restriction) • Simmer on low/medium heat for 2-1/2 hours or longer • Add juice of ½ lime • Serve chunky or puree Remember, legumes are full of protein and fiber, two appetite crushers, so this soup will be very filling and satisfying.

Garnish: Sauté finely chopped onion and garlic in olive oil with turmeric Drizzle soup with plain Greek yogurt, top with sautéed onion and garlic Variations: • sauté leeks along with onion, garlic, and celery • instead of beans create the soup with roasted pumpkin,

butternut squash, or mixed roasted vegetables

and shorten cooking time.

• add spinach toward the end, just to wilt

The basics: Have fun experimenting with your own versions of • soak beans the night before (any you like, or soup—perfect for the cool, dark nights this time of year! combination of different beans) OR lentils soaked for an hour until soft; drain and rinse.

Start: • onion, chopped • celery, finely diced • garlic, chopped • carrots, diced Sauté in olive oil or grapeseed oil with turmeric then add to the pot.

• fresh diced tomatoes or no-added salt canned diced

tomatoes (optional) • organic veggie broth or water and any combination of

fresh herbs of your choice • drain beans/lentils, rinsed Page 13

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DETOX DIVA

Clearing Clogged Drains --By Annie B. Bond Washing Soda Drain Cleaner

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y upstairs bathroom sink drain always needs attention: I think toothpaste is the culprit, but whatever, it always needs help.

You don’t need powerful industrial chemicals as the household cleaning industry would have you believe!

Find out the surprisingly easy and non-toxic way I keep that drain open.

If the water isn’t going down the drain, pour a cup of washing soda over the drain area and let it set for a while to work its way down to the clog. Once the clog is loosened, use the baking soda method, above. Washing soda is more alkaline than baking soda, with a pH of 11. You never want to use washing soda if a commercial acid drain cleaner has recently been used in the drain, as they will strongly react with each other. You also shouldn’t overuse washing soda if you have PVC pipes, as the caustic nature of washing soda can slowly damage the plastic.

The Bubbling Method Using Vinegar and Baking Soda

When our drains get clogged, we have been unwaveringly convinced that nothing short of the most powerful chemical arsenal will work. As a result, most of us resort to commercial drain cleaners that are some of the most dangerous chemicals found in the home. Lye or acid, these products can harm health, the wastewater stream, and PVC pipes.

Baking soda and vinegar react with each other to cause bubbles and fizzing. Sometimes the fizzing can unlodge clogs. Follow the baking soda and boiling water formula, above, with 1 cup of vinegar.

A gentle yet effective approach to coaxing free a clog from a drain is to use simple household ingredients instead of burning a hole through the clog with industrial lye or acid. There are even bacteria-based enzyme cleaners available in health food stores that eat the clog free from the pipe without harming everything else in which it comes into contact. And it is always worth it to try unclogging a drain first with an old-fashioned plunger; they very often do the trick.

If all else fails, you might try an electric plumber’s snake, but it is recommended that to prevent injury, only professional plumbers should use this equipment.

All natural living enzyme culture drain cleaners will actually eat and break down any organic matter. Using enzyme drain cleaners once a month, such as Bi-OKleen’s Bacout, will help not just your drains, but your septic system. They will also significantly reduce odor from garbage disposals. Colonies of enzymes will actually continue to grow and break down organic matter in your drains .

CLOG-BUSTING FORMULAS: Baking Soda Drain Cleaner If water hasn’t yet backed up in your drain, pour 1 cup of baking soda followed by 3 cups of boiling water. The boiling water will change the chemical composition of baking soda, making it more alkaline. Repeat a few times until the drain is clear.

Enzyme Drain and Garbage Disposal Maintenance

Washing Soda Maintenance Enzymes don’t work as well on hair clogs, so to keep drains clear that tend to collect hair, such as in the shower and bath, a few times a month pour 1 cup of washing soda followed by a thorough flushing of water.

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ALEXANDRA’S INSIGHTS

Shake Your Salt Cravings --By Alexandra Jamieson crave salty food as a way to try to get the minerals it needs.

A diet high in salt can lead to high blood pressure, kidney stones, and can inhibit your body’s absorption of calcium, which leads to osteoporosis.

If you’ve been craving salt and think you might be lacking minerals, start adding sea veggies to your diet every day. Sea veggies? Yup. You heard me. That stuff that washes up on the beach is some of the most had a couple of quieter weeks here in Brooklyn this nutrient-dense food on the planet, and you can easily past season, as my son was away with his dad for their enjoy it in your meals. summer adventures together.

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I felt quiet pangs of missing him, but was using all the free time to sleep in, spend time with friends, go to movies, and catch up on TV shows that other people have been talking about for years. Treme is a favorite, and Parks and Recreation is great for a fun afternoon pick-me-up.

While my evenings were quiet and more free-flowing, I’d noticed a few food cravings pop up during the times that are normally reserved for “bath time,” “play time,” and “book time.” And I’ve seen that my favorite comfort food cravings for salty popcorn come up a lot more when I’m alone.

You may notice your own food cravings come up when you’re lonely [and really craving connection with someone], tired [and your body just wants a rest], or stressed [and a massage or hot bath would really hit the spot].

Those are some of the common emotional and physical triggers for our food cravings.

There are also biochemical causes to our food cravings.

My favorite way to get more sea veggies is to use one of the sea veggie shakes or shake blends you find in the healthfood store (my personal favorite it Sea Shakers from Maine Coast Sea Veggies). With these healthy substitutes, it’s like shaking a little salt on your food— without all the sodium, and WITH lots of minerals and trace elements.

Shake about 1 teaspoon onto salads, stir into soup, toss into grains or bean dishes, or even sprinkle in the layers of your sandwiches.

Since my son’s been home, I’ve been adding shakes of sea veggies to his almond butter and jelly sandwiches and he doesn’t even know he’s getting a healthy dose of minerals.

I know that a lack of mineral rich foods can cause salt cravings. See, Stay cozy, and enjoy the season! when your body is low in iron, magnesium, or potassium, it may

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ALEXANDRA’S INSIGHTS

Shake Your Salt Cravings ...continued from page 15

Alexandra’s Truffled Miso Eggplant Simplicity at its finest. I learned this recipe over the summer and it has become a favorite in our home – rich, aromatic, and a snap to make. It requires 3 ingredients, so each one needs to be high quality or the entire recipe suffers. OK, let’s get cookin’!

1. Eggplant

2. White, Blonde or Chickpea Miso paste 3. Black Truffle Oil

Choose a good quality infused truffle oil. This is high quality sunflower or olive oil infused with real truffles, rather than oil that has various chemical compounds

added to imitate truffle aromas. Just know that truffle oil is a finishing oil. That means you don’t cook with it, but

rather drizzle it on at the end of cooking. This lends its

flavors and scent without cooking the aroma away.

2. Cut the baby eggplants in half or slice larger eggplants into 1/4 – 1/2 inch slices.

3. Cover a baking sheet with foil and lightly grease with olive oil.

4. Set the eggplants cut side down on the foil and broil on high for 3-4 minutes, or until just softening or browning.

5. Flip the eggplants over and spread a thin layer of miso across the surface of each piece.

6. Broil again for 3-4 minutes, or until the miso just begins to brown.

Remove from broiler and drizzle with truffle oil. Serve hot. Accept raving applause from guests!

To make this delicious and highly addictive recipe, do the following: 1. Wash and dry several baby eggplants or one large eggplant.

MEDITATION EXPRESS

Paging “Dr. You”--By Nancy Butler-Ross & Michael Suib Early to bed, and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise. – Benjamin Franklin

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he term doctor is from the Latin docere, which means “to teach.” The intent of this meditation is to introduce you to the doctor, or teacher, that resides within you. Very often, a dis-ease manifests in a way to show you where you have become unbalanced or where there is an area that needs attention.

Mx: Close your eyes and center yourself.

Focus your attention inward to any area of discomfort and ask what it is that your body wants to tell you. Listen.

In this meditation, your body teaches, or imparts, its needs to you, which you can then use when consulting with other members of your health care crew. (Trust your You may want to ask questions: inner healer, but don’t forget logic. Make use of the best medical care available.)

• What do you need to feel better?

• What will bring you back into balance?

“So, what’s up, Doc?” Bugs Bunny asked a wonderful • What treatment would be most beneficial? question. Now it’s your turn. You’re the best specialist • Which health care providers need to be included? when it comes to your own body. Don your white coat and stethoscope, and ask your inner physician to listen to These are a few questions we recommend. Trust that what your body wants to tell you. you’ll know your own questions, as well as the answers.

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DAILY OM

Connection & Interdependence --By Madisyn Taylor Earth is home to a web of living things that are connected to each other through a kaleidoscope of relationships

One of the many gifts that nature offers us is a clear demonstration of the interdependence between all living things. The person who exhales the carbon dioxide, the clouds that produce the rain, the sun that gives light, the leaf that transforms all these things into sustenance for a tree, not one of these could survive without being part of this cycle.

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icking a leaf off the ground and contemplating it as an object in and of itself is very inspiring. Its shape and color, the way it feels in your hand, its delicate veins and the stem that once held it fast to the branch of a tree, all of these qualities reveal a leaf to be a miniature work of natural art. As we contemplate this small object more deeply and consider where it came from and what purpose it has served, we find that the leaf is one small but essential part of a system that harnesses the energy of the sun, plumbs the depths of the earth, and in the process brings into being the Each living being is dependent upon other living oxygen many living things rely on to live. things for its survival. When we look at the world, we see that this is not a place where different beings survive independently of one another. Earth is home to a web of living things that are connected to each other through a spinning kaleidoscope of relationships. We need each other to survive and thrive.

A leaf transforms the elements of its environment-sunlight, carbon dioxide, rain--into nourishment for its tree. This beautiful, nearly weightless, ephemeral piece of nature is a vital conduit to the branch that is a conduit to the trunk that is a conduit to the roots of the tree. The roots, in turn, draw nourishment from the earth to feed the trunk, the branches, and the leaves. The living beings that inhale the oxygen that comes from this process exhale the carbon dioxide that feeds the leaves through which the tree is fed. It is difficult to know where one cycle ends and another one begins.

Reprinted from DailyOM- Inspirational thoughts for a happy, healthy and fulfilling day. Register for free at www.dailyom.com

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REFLEXOLOGY

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“Feng Shui” for Your Body

f you’re like me, a part of your ritual when the seasons change is taking stock of your home, then clearing out closets and drawers, maybe rearranging things so that they serve you better, perhaps discarding a few tattered things, then deep-cleaning or making necessary repairs so that your wardrobe or home work better and bring you pleasure. Maybe you even implement some formal Feng Shui.

Reflexology is Feng Shui for your body. I call it (an alternative to) acupuncture, without those pesky needles. When you take stock of your general health and wellbeing, and decide to have a reflexology treatment, you’re taking the first step in clearing out what no longer works; maybe it’s stress, metabolic debris, sluggish digestion, headaches (the list goes on).

Your body will respond by discarding the debris ( lots of it is uric acid buildup), so that your cells, organs and systems can begin their job of self-healing, or making necessary repairs.

--By Debbie Burklund

A brief word about energy paths, if you please. Some disciplines just call it “energy,” some “prana,” some “chi.”

Doesn’t matter how you refer to it, we all have these pathways, and reflexology will enhance these pathways.

My clients sometimes actually say that they can feel blockages open up during their treatments. No wonder I love my work! Topricin is key to my reflexology treatments, especially because it is homeopathic and fragrance-free.

Enjoy the rest of your fall/winter season!

My clients often speak of feeling energy paths open up, and can feel responses in their bodies other than where I’m working. For instance, if I’m working on their sinus reflexes, they might feel the relief of their sinuses opening up.

NOTES FROM THE NATURAL WORLD

Beauty Advice from Elders --By Elise Muller

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enjoy reading books from various cultures to learn of their unique beauty rituals. Other than the wisdom gleaned from these books, I'm always pleasantly surprised to find that their interventions, as well as their implements, are sourced from the natural world.

Many years ago when I first began to experiment with formulating botanical skincare, I was impressed by the tag line of one of the first natural lines to hit the market, “before there was the Beauty Industry there was Nature.”

As I have always been deeply aligned with nature this resonated with me. At the time, this person and his company were speaking the truth. His understanding led the way to a change of consciousness and heightened awareness for the concerned consumer. Unfortunately, many less ethical companies soon got on “the natural” bandwagon and began to sell us their hype, backed by products that were “far from natural.” Their hype has hurt us. continued on next page Page 18

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Beauty Advice from Elders ...continued from page 18 As a small company working ethically, my passion and my work is botanical skincare and the protection of our Natural resources. I’m educated and adept as to what is “authentic” and what “hype” is. How to discern? First and foremost, as women we are blessed with intuition/our gut feelings. Before purchasing anything, consider if the advertisement and product resonates with you, or does it make you feel “less than?” Inquire about the ethics of the company, what they support and protect. Call the company and speak with a person—do they understand their product (and sourcing) or are they trying to manipulate and “sell you?” You will know in a heartbeat, trust that.

As women, we now possess tremendous purchasing power. We are also intelligent, compassionate and powerful and have become "a mighty force to be reckoned with." Let's use this power wisely. We have the ability to diminish corporations that don't serve our highest good or the highest good of our natural resources. Yes indeed, we hold this power. Consider this power before any purchase and we will create the benevolent world that we all wish to live in. Of this I have no doubt.

In all cases, we support “Fair Trade, Organic and Sustainable” practices; donate to organizations protecting our natural resources; maintain offices at zero waste; power with wind; and support Women’s Co-operatives in Africa.” (Remember, most natural ingredients come from a “far and distant land,” not a factory or laboratory). The precious botanicals that keep our skin supple and soft are cultivated by farmers—mostly women, working by hand.

"Fair Trade" ensures they earn a decent living and are able to send their children to school. Know your sources, support only what serves everyone's highest good.

Personally, it has taken me many years to find the authentic, ethical sources for the raw ingredients that I use to formulate Mountain Spirit Botanicals. For me, as well as my suppliers, there is no compromise on ethics. It As women, let's also remember that "beauty is an is a pleasure and honor to do business with them, and I industry”—a multi-billion dollar industry—and that am awed by their integrity. we are its target. We're smarter than that. Besides supporting ethical, natural skincare companies, here are wise words for maintaining beauty from Japanese elders:

As you grow older, don’t envy the fresh blossoms of spring Eat the peels, rinds & skins of (organic) fruits & vegetables Too much makeup pollutes the skin Be in love Don’t sit around worrying Control your desires. Don’t always want what you don’t have A beautiful old woman is beautiful because her mind & spirit are wise & graceful Accept your age & the changes in your beauty Don’t complain; don’t be envious; don’t be irritated Enjoy lovemaking Page 19

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QUICKIE CHICK

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7 Reasons Why Smiling is Good for You! --By Laurel House

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. Smiling Lifts Your Spirits! Even if you’re not feeling . Smiling is a Natural Pain Killer! It’s been shown it... smile. The simple act of smiling, especially when that smiling helps the body to naturally release you smile at someone else and they reflect that smile endorphins and serotonin which work together to help back at you, can trick your body and mind into thinking us feel better and minimize the sensation of pain. that you are actually happy. . Smiling Makes You Look Younger! Smiling helps . Smiling is a Stress Reliever! Physically, you soften the lines and wrinkles on the forehead while are releasing your jaw muscles which tend to be adding youth to your eyes. Forget about getting a tightened in times of stress. The jaw muscles attach facelift! Smile instead if you want to immediately shed to the neck muscles which, when tightened, can lead years off your face. to headaches. You also LOOK less stressed since you minimize those frown lines on your forehead. I’ll take . Smiling Makes You Appear Confident & Successful! smile lines any day!

People who look confident and approachable are more likely to be promoted in business. So put on a . Smiling Boosts the Immune System! When you smile at work, even in a stressful meeting, and see how smile, your body naturally relaxes. When you differently others respond to you. are relaxed, your immune system is able to function optimally, helping fight off colds and flu.

Now share the love! Well… you really won’t be able to help yourself. Smiling is contagious! . Smiling Lowers Blood Pressure! When you relax your mind and your face by smiling, you actually lower your blood pressure. Sit and enjoy the view, pet your pup, or do something that you enjoy… and smile for 5 minutes and you will notice a difference.

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MINDFUL PARENTING

Beautiful Mind, Little Body, Pure Soul --By Christina Towle Author and Hay House founder Louise Hay says “Almost all of our programming, both negative and positive, was accepted by us by the time we were three years old….

Our experiences since then are based upon what we accepted and believed about ourselves and about life at the time.”

The key to quality parenting is to nurture yourself while equally nurturing your child and to understand that as a parent, your human trinity (mind, body, and soul) is squared.

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he end of a yoga session is acknowledged with the word Namaste. The Sanskrit interpretations of this salutation: honor the place in you in which the entire Universe dwells, I honor the place in you which is of Love, of Integrity, of Wisdom and of Peace. When you are in that place in you, and I am in that place in me, we are One.

Here is some wisdom I’ve picked up that has helped me raise my little one’s beautiful mind, little body, and pure soul:

MIND: My son was only four months old when I began looking into tools to build his IQ…Even if it promised to improve his IQ just one point I bought it—DVDs, flash cards, As parents, we are of one with our children. Our job is to puzzles, and counting books. However, the mind needs nurture their universe and keep secure their beauty and more than just school-subject material. Now, a little more purity. enlightened, I understand that mind also encompasses self-esteem, confidence, and self-awareness. continued on next page

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Beautiful Mind, Little Body, Pure Soul ...continued from page 20

The need for psychologist, gurus, and retreats that we seem to require later in life would likely be lessened if the self was focused on more during the early years in school. Luckily, educators are taking note. For example, The Omega Center in Rhinebeck, NY, now hosts an annual conference titled Mindfulness & Education Conference, Bringing Mindfulness Practice to Children Grades K-12. Their objective: The new field of teaching mindfulness in our nation’s schools is a profoundly beneficial development for the education of children from grades K through 12. Research shows that mindfulness decreases stress, attention deficit issues, depression, anxiety, and hostility in children, while benefiting their health, well-being, social relations, and academic performance. Children can easily learn these techniques, and when learned young, they become lifelong tools.

If your school has no such program, you can supplement with valuable reading material. Powerful books include Unstoppable Me!: 10 Ways to Soar Through Life by Dr. Wayne Dyer, I Think, I Am!: Teaching Kids the Power of Affirmations by Louise Hay and You with the Stars in Your Eyes: A Little Girl’s Glimpse at Cosmic Consciousness by Deepak Chopra, M.D. And if you can’t imagine parting with your flash cards, Gaaim offers Xeko Card games that teach about the natural wonders and spirit of the Earth.

BODY: What a blessing that yoga studios and classes for children are popping up in many communities, and schools are now offering yoga as part of their curriculum. Hopefully we can continue and carry this enthusiasm, helped if adults encourage it equal to baseball and soccer.

I’m hoping Yoga Mom will be the new bumper sticker on minivans. If you can’t get to a class, just lay a mat out in your living room and see if your child gets creative.

Letting children choose their own yoga poses benefits their body and imagination. There are also great home videos such as YogaKids and Rodney Lee’s Family Yoga.

Also, take a walk with your child – a fantastic activity that allows for deep breathing and bonding.

Along with the body, of course, comes nutrition. Don’t assume that kids require kid food. I often look at the children’s menu and wonder why adults get to choose among salads and fish and we are serving our kids fried chicken and potatoes. Ignore the children’s menu and share a dish with your child or order an appetizer from a healthier adult entrée—organic hormone-free, local whenever possible. Remember, the smaller the body, the more affected by toxins.

Also, just like you need to take supplements for optimal health, encourage your children to do the same. I recommend high quality, pharmaceutical-grade vitamins—the only way to ensure there are no traces of contaminants, such as lead, within the vitamin.

SOUL: If you keep your energy happy, light, and free, your child will mirror. Parents know from experience that if you yourself are feeling tense, your child picks up on it.

Even from infancy, children can feel positive and negative energy from others. A New York Times Magazine article titled The Moral Life of Babies details a study at Yale’s Infant Cognition Center in which infants younger than one are seen responding to naughty and nice puppets. This is why nurturing a child’s core is essential at a young age.

One way to do so is through meditation. Indigo Dreams is a great mediation series for children and a great activity to do together during afternoon quiet time.

Also, remember that music feeds the soul. Putumayo is a fantastic music series for children and so are programs such as Music Together in which parent and child can freely dance and sing.

Two invaluable books on parenting the spirit are Deepak’s Chopra’s The Seven Spiritual Laws for Parents : Guiding Your Children to Success and Fulfillment and Peggy Jenkins’ Nurturing spirituality in children: Simple Hands-on Activities.

My final salutation: Honor your power as a parent to foster your child’s whole development. Namaste.

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HEALING INNOVATIONS

Help for Headaches

(evenings, mornings, and periodically throughout the day).

• Feverfew and Primrose Oil supplements are helpful for balancing hormones, which may also contribute to migraines.

• Proper hydration is very important, so be sure to drink plenty of water on a regular basis. Make it a habit.

H

eadaches aren’t just a pain—they can be debilitating…especially migraines. Here are some insights on treating them.

• To reduce the duration of an episode, apply Topricin all the way from the base of the neck to the shoulders— which is where headaches originate.

• Apply Topricin as soon as you sense a migraine may be brewing, but is even more effective if you apply regularly

• Food allergies are often a major culprit in causing migraines—and often you may crave the very foods you are allergic to. Some common food allergies include chocolate and peanuts. Check with your doctor/medical professional to see if food allergies are a root cause for you.

• Many migraine sufferers also find relief with acupuncture treatments.

HEALING CIRCLE

Words from Topricin Users

“

V

aricose veins showed up with my second pregnancy and never left. I

put the regular cream on my leg, and I was shocked to realize a couple days later that the veins were gone. GONE. I do have to reapply once or twice a week on the

”

veins, but they are otherwise gone.

--Sabrina Condon, a “Macaroni Kid” mom

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Late Fall & Winter 2012-2013

IN THE NEWS

Topricin Inventor Lou Paradise Makes Appearances

I

t’s been a very busy few months for Team Topricin!

Lou was invited to attend the International Conference of the Society for Integrative Oncology in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The timing coincided with the annual Balloon Festival, and Lou and Aurora got to see some amazing balloons while they were there.

Lou was also a guest speaker at the PIX 11 Health & Wellness Expo in New York City at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. His lecture, “Safe, Effective Pain Management Options and Wellness Tactics for Optimum Health” was filled to capacity, with even the standing-room-only space filled. The expo also featured fitness classes, seminars, health screenings, book signings, vendors, and give-aways, as well as other expert speakers presenting seminars throughout the day and personalities from PIX11. We are looking forward to working with the PIX11 team in the future on other events.

IN THE NEWS

Topricin on Locations

W

hen they weren’t here in the office helping customers and talking to professionals and retail stores, our east coast team members Loraine and Linda were manning our booth and passing out samples of Topricin at numerous fund-raising events. These included a ½ marathon and 5K race supporting the Michael J. Fox Foundation to fight Parkinson’s disease. Despite the damp, drizzly, cool weather, the event drew nearly 1,000 participants.

Loraine and Linda also attended CJ’s Italian Restaurante’s “Friends Helping Friends” 5th Annual fund raiser. It included a 18-hole golf game and 5k run/walk, with funds going to those in the community who are in need. We’ve championed this event for the past few years and have a great relationship with CJs. Everyone was very happy to have Topricin samples available to ease their aches and pains!

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IN THE NEWS

Have Topricin, Will Travel

...continued from page 23

M

eanwhile, our west coasters were busy, too! Richard was on an extensive 5,000 mile road trip visiting stores and doing trainings and demonstrations, and Suja was on the road as well. Between the two of them, they put many miles on the TopricinMobile, with travels encompassing Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana and Idaho. Have Topricin, will travel!

IN THE NEWS

Massage Therapists Love Topricin ichard also attended the R American Massage Therapy Association’s National Convention in North Carolina, where he got to visit with lots of our long-time professional Topricin friends and meet new ones.

IN THE NEWS

Our Fashion Model ur Liz was in New York City O during Fashion Week, where she was recruited by Old Navy to walk the runway in one of their outfits.

She’s a star!

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Natural Healing, Natural Wellness Contributors Lou Paradise Lou is the President and CEO of Topical BioMedics and the inventor of Topricin.

He frequently serves as an expert speaker on the use of natural medicines, and has participated in addressing compliance issues related to the regulation of natural medicines as a member of the American Association of Homeopathic Pharmacists (AAHP). He is especially interested and active in issues regarding the care and treatment of the elderly, women and children, and his fellow veterans in VA medical centers around the country.

Lou is a Marine Corps helicopter combat and rescue veteran who served two rotations in Vietnam. He is very modest about his combat service but his many decorations are for bravery in combat and the rescue of wounded solders, sailors, and fellow Marines and the humanitarian rescue of Vietnamese civilians.

Joan Apter A sought-after public speaker, Joan Apter, licensed massage therapist, offers aromatherapy massage, Young Living Essential Oil products, health consultations and classes. Contact Joan at joanapter@earthlink.net. Visit apteraromatherapy.com and facebook.com/joanapter

Annie B. Bond Best-selling author Annie B. Bond has been called “The foremost expert on green living”

by Body & Soul magazine. Honed by her own experience with chemical poisoning, Annie now offers others information on pursing a healthy way of life that is in harmony with the earth. Her books include Clean and Green, Better Basics for the Home, Home Enlightenment, and the most recent release True Food, published by National Geographic. For more information, visit www.greenchicafe.com and www.anniebbond. com. She is also Editor-in-Chief of The Wellness Wire, which is a site for day-to-day, hands-on inspiration and help for detox, relaxation, menus and recipes, spa remedies, personal care solutions, fitness and wellness-related articles from around the world, at www.thewellnesswire.com.

Deborah Burklund Deborah Burklund, certified reflexologist, has had a lifelong love of complementary alternative health care. She treats people who have a range of health issues, and her favorite word is “wow,” because she hears it often while giving a treatment. One of her tag lines is, “Your feet don’t lie.” www.Realreflexology.com.

Nancy Butler-Ross and Michael Suib Husband and wife team Nancy and Michael wrote Meditation Express: Stress Relief in 60 Seconds Flat (McGraw-Hill, 2001) while living on their small houseboat in Key West—living proof that their simple and easy stress relief methods work. Both are former Miami Herald columnists. Michael is an awardwinning poet, and Nancy is the creator of www.DeStressXpress.info.

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Natural Healing, Natural Wellness Contributors Eric Francis The founder and editor of Planet Waves, Eric is an astrologer and investigative journalist. He was working in his first job as a municipal newspaper reporter when he discovered that his editor also owned an astrology bookstore. This began a long relationship between astrology and journalism, which has taken Eric through the pages of many newspapers as a horoscope writer, including the Daily Mail and the Daily Mirror plus numerous other venues. Today, Eric covers global turning point events through the lens of astrology. He is a specialist in newly-discovered planets. For more information visit www.ericfrancis.com and www.planetwaves.net

Doug Grunther Doug is a certified dream work facilitator and regularly holds dream work study groups. He has been Woodstock, NY’s most noted radio talk show host for over 25 years. His popular program, “The Woodstock Roundtable,” can be heard over 100.1 WDST-FM and over the Internet at www.WDST.com. To contact Doug, email dgrunther1@gmail.com or go to www.dreamworkwithdoug.com

Alexandra Jamieson Author, chef, and certified health and nutritional counselor, Alexandra is an advocate of holistic nutrition and healthy living. She has been seen on Oprah, The Final Word, 30 Days and the National Health Test with Bryant Gumble, and was featured in the awardwinning documentary Super Size Me. In her books, Living Vegan for Dummies (Wiley, 2009) and The Great American Detox Diet (Rodale, 2005), Alex offers sensible and tasty advice on how to detox, live healthfully, and feel fantastic. For more information, visit www.deliciousvitality.com

Patricia Martin Patricia is the managing editor of Natural Healing, Natural Wellness and the director of marketing for Topical BioMedics, Inc. She is also an author, poet, copywriter, journalist, and lifestyle columnist who frequently co-hosts Doug Grunther’s Woodstock RoundTable radio talk show on WDST 100.1 fm, Woodstock, NY. Elise Muller Elise’s understanding of the medicine and wisdom of plants was passed on to her in folkloric tradition by people who held onto their customs, beliefs and stories. She received standard education in related fields as well—including Massage Therapy, Aromatherapy, and Plant Spirit Medicine – but her mentors and main influences have always been “the people” and the traditions she feels blessed to be a part of. Her company, Mountain Spirit Botanicals, is a reflection of these traditions. As an alternative to products that are chemically mass-produced, Elise has created a product line exclusively from plant material, with every ingredient either a plant or by-product of a plant/ tree that has been organically cultivated or ethically wild-harvested. She works only with companies that adhere to Fair Trade agreements and organic and sustainable practices. She believes that the song of birds, the buzz of bees, the caring intent of the farmer, the manner in which she “stirs the pot” all go into the end result: products born of integrity and love. For more information visit www.mountain-spirit-botanicals.com.

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Natural Healing, Natural Wellness Contributors Roufia Payman Roufia is the Director of Outpatient Nutritional Services at Northern Dutchess Hospital in Rhinebeck, NY, where she directs the Bariatric Support Group, “New Leaf,” and “Get Real Weight Results” programs.

For more information call 845-871-3600 or visit www.health-quest. org/ndh.

Laurie Towers Founder and CEO of Physical Advantage, NY, NY, Laurie is a fitness expert, former professional bodybuilder, and now Manhattan’s main massage maven. Perennially listed in New York Magazine’s “Best Of ” issue and featured on numerous television news shows and radio programs, Physical Advantage has established itself as the premier “serious” rehabilitative massage center in New York City, with a clientele that includes professional athletes, marathoners, dancers, actors, and singers. She is also the creator of the “Bridal Body Shop,” which helps brides-to-be get in shape with personal training sessions in their own home, and was recently named one of the top businesses primed for success in 2011 by Business News Daily. For more information visit www.physical-knead.com.

WELCOME NEW COLUMNISTS Laurel House Laurel is a healthy living expert, author, personal trainer, and journalist covering travel, relationships, healthy food and fitness in national print and online publications. She has a weekly Fitness and Healthy Food channel on Yahoo! Shine, a “Screwing the Rules” dating/relationships column on Giuliana Rancic’s FabFitFun.com, is a regular contributor to HealingLifestyles.com, a Dating Coach with DatingWithDignity. com, and a lifestyle contributor to E! News. Laurel has been featured on E! News, Weekend TODAY, The Daily Buzz, CBS, Fox, NBC, and ABC Morning News, and other TV shows. Her most recent book, QuickieChick’s Cheat Sheet to Life, Love, Food, Fitness, Fashion and Finance on a Less than Fabulous Budget, was published by St. Martin’s in May 2012. She also doles out dating/relationship advice at www.

ScrewingTheRules.com.

Christina Towle Christina is Senior Editor of The Wellness Wire, which is a site for dayto-day, hands-on inspiration and help for detox, relaxation, menus and recipes, spa remedies, personal care solutions, fitness and wellness-related articles from around the world, at www.thewellnesswire.com. She received her B.A. from Princeton University. She has worked in production for Manhattan media companies including Wiley, Forbes Magazine, and ABC News. Her penchant towards news stories on health and wellness steered her towards obtaining her degree in Clinical Nutrition from the Natural Healing Institute of Naturopathy. In 2009, she left Manhattan to raise her son in the rural setting of Rhinebeck, NY. Prior to joining The Wellness Wire, Christina wrote for Healthygirl.net and handled public relations for Gigi Hudson Valley – a farm-to-fork food company.

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