january/february 2011
Cancer Support Association of WA Patron – His Excellency Dr. Ken Michael AC, Governor of Western Australia
Vol. 26 No.1.
Join the CSA online community Find us on Facebook: Cancer Support Association – Cottesloe Forums and live chat now on the CSA website: www.cancersupportwa.org.au
editorial
wellness news
Dear members and friends,
is the monthly online magazine of the Cancer Support Association of Western Australia Inc.
As I write this column the incredible Cyclone Yasi is bearing down on the north-east coast of Australia imposing its raw, brutal power on the land and people of Queensland. Events like this remind us that nature is both cruel and kind and all of us are here by the grace of the natural world alone.
Wellness News e-magazine is published online twelve time a year and distributed free to members of the Cancer Support Association.
We each cultivate a life of meaning with our families, communities, careers, pastimes and have so much to be thankful and grateful for...yet in one night life as we know it can be changed dramatically, leaving us with the job of cleaning up after the storm. As we go about everyday life, we should do so with a sense of gratitude, appreciation and joy for one day all those things we take for granted will most definitely be gone.
An annual print edition of Wellness News is produced at the end of each year and posted to all CSA members. Wellness News magazine is dedicated entirely to publishing informative, inspiring and helpful articles related to wellness and healing. The magazine is for people with cancer or serious health issues; for people who are well and want to maintain their good health naturally; and for complementary, alternative and integrative health professionals.
editorial & production... Editor & Designer Mandy BeckerKnox editor.wellness@yahoo.com.au www.wowlandco.com
online at...
www.cancersupportwa.org.au
Many people with cancer relate the experience of diagnosis as a shocking event which precedes a tumultuous, challenging and often life-threatening journey with the disease. While cancer is difficult and there are many uncertainties, it can evoke a powerful inner force, a tsunami-like will to live, to do whatever it takes to survive. When this life-force is applied to healing, to making good decisions, and to making sweeping dietary and lifestyle changes – the cleanup job after the initial storm is so much more effective and permanent. The key is to not give up and never lose hope. Life will change, but all of us have a natural and relentless inner force which gives us the power to heal ourselves and others in the world around us – regardless of the storms brewing around us. ✦ Peace, ~ Mandy
FOR SALE
Panasonic Juice Extractor in Good Condition Acorn Stair Lift (near new) Nebuliser with mask. Phone CSA reception for more details
Wellness News magazine is published by the Cancer Support Association of WA Inc (CSA). Wellness News contains a diverse selection of articles and information on subjects related to cancer, wellness, environment and healing. The contents of this magazine do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the CSA and should be not be construed as medical advice. CSA encourages readers to be discerning with information presented and make treatment, dietary and lifestyle choices in consultation with a team of health-care professionals. © Copyright of all articles and images remains with individual contributors.
contents Cancer in the News: Ovarian cancer detection drive .. . .. . . 4 Aim for 30 minutes exercise 3 times a week.. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . . 4 Column: Dr. Ralph Moss . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . . 5 CSA Weekly Program .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . . 5 What’s on at CSA this month.. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . . 6 Article: Your Daily Wellness Routine .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . . 8 Article: Melatonin – Your Body’s Natural Wonder Drug . .. .10 Research: Lack of sleep and cancer risk . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. .13 Special feature: Sound Healing – a message through time .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. .14 Blog: the mystery of healing .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. .17 Article: The Ulitmate Cure-all.. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. .18 Article: The anti-cancer diet – eat your way to a healthier life.. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. .20 Article: 80/20 Alkaline-Acid Food Theory for Healthy Living . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. .24 Recipes: Super Summer Salads; Raw Food Desserts . . .. . .. .26 Inspirations: A collection of funny quotes about love .. . .. .27 Poem: Healings for Everyone . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. .28
Celebrate Valentine’s Day by Making a Difference Research shows that doing something for others actually produces endorphins, the “feel-good” hormones also released by chocolate consumption. So this year, spread the love along with the truffles! The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation (www.randomactsofkindness.org) offers stories, ideas, and resources for changing the world with small yet significant acts that start at home and in your community. If you’re able to give more time, why not volunteer for a good cause, building a mutually beneficial culture of service. CSA is always looking for willing volunteers to help with day to day tasks and fundraising initiatives.
“Life is a challenge, meet it! Life is a dream, realise it! Life is a game, play it! Life is Love, enjoy it” ~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba
Valentine’s Day VALENTINE’S DAY or Saint Valentine’s Day is celebrated on February 14 by many people throughout the world. It is a day on which lovers express their love for each other by exchanging cards, flowers, sweets and confectionary. Of late, the day is most closely associated with the mutual exchange of love notes in the form of ‘Valentines’. So, who was Saint Valentine and how did he become associated with this ancient rite? Today, the Catholic Church recognises at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred. One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young, single men – his crop of potential soldiers. Valentine, realising the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine’s actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death. Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons where they were often beaten and tortured. In yet another legend, it is claimed the day originates from the story of St. Valentine, who upon rejection by his lover was so heartbroken that he took a knife to his chest and sent her his still-beating heart as a token of his undying love for her. Hence, heart-shaped cards are now sent as a tribute to his overwhelming passion and suffering! Although the truth of the Valentine legend is unclear, the stories certainly emphasise the enduring romantic and tragic appeal of St. Valentine. ✦ www.merinews.com
cancer in the news
“Wellness is a connection of paths: Knowledge and Action”
Ovarian cancer detection drive Australian women are being warned about the risk of ovarian cancer, a disease that has no early detection test.
On the eve of Australia Day, 77 women from ordinary backgrounds became 11th Hour Ambassadors to help raise awareness of the prevalence of ovarian cancer which affects one in every 77 women. Comedian Jean Kittson launched the initiative at Sydney’s Town Hall on Tuesday in the lead-up to Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month in February. Advertisement: Story continues below She encouraged women to find a doctor they like and stick to them, adding “we service our cars more regularly than we service ourselves”.
Australian comedian Jean Kittson is helping raise awareness about early ovarian cancer symptoms
More than 1,200 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year and around 800 will die from the disease. “Our priority in 2011 is to ensure that every woman understands that there is no early detection test for ovarian cancer,” said Kittson, an ambassador for Ovarian Cancer Australia. “A pap smear does not detect ovarian cancer and only knowing and identifying the symptoms can aid early detection that can save lives.” Kittson got involved in Ovarian Cancer Australia when a good friend and fellow comedian developed the disease. “She detected the disease early and thankfully she survived, but another good friend of mine sadly passed away from the disease,” she told AAP. “I now know dozens of women who have had ovarian cancer. “It was always known as a silent cancer but it isn’t really. There are symptoms. If you can detect ovarian cancer very early, your chances of survival are very good,” she said. Ovarian cancer is the sixth most common cause of cancer amongst women in Australia, behind breast, bowel, melanoma, lung and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The most common symptoms women with ovarian cancer experience frequently and persistently are: pelvic and abdominal pain, increased abdominal size or persistent bloating, increased urinary frequency and difficulty eating or feeling full quickly. ✦ From: Sydney Morning Herald, 25th January 2011
Aim for 30 minutes three times a week for faster recovery Doctors are being urged to give cancer patients an exercise “prescription” to aid their recovery, following new American guidelines which mark a shift away from the usual advice for people to rest. A revised consensus statement by the American College of Sports Medicine on physical activity and cancer rehabilitation advises cancer patients and survivors to stay as active as possible to reduce so-called cancer fatigue. The document was prepared by 13 researchers and doctors from the US, Canada, Spain and Australia. It found recovering patients, including those with breast and prostate cancer, could significantly benefit from aerobic-type exercise, and some were also helped by resistance-type training.
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Cancer Support Association
www.cancersupportwa.org.au
this program is updated monthly. Check website for any changes before attending
The Procrustean Bed By Dr. Ralph Moss, Ph.D
Oncologists sometimes try to recruit patients into Phase I (toxicity) clinical trials. But how effective are the experimental treatments provided in such trials? In a recent 2010 study that pooled data from various phase I chemotherapy trials for sarcoma, the partial response rate was 1.6 percent (2 out of 133 subjects) and the complete response (CR) rate was 0.8 percent (1 out of 133). The median progressionfree survival was 2.1 months and the median overall survival was 7.6 months. Meanwhile, 18 percent of patients experienced grade 3 or 4 (i.e., critical or life-threatening) toxicity and 12 percent dropped the trial treatment because of toxicity. Yet here’s the amazing part. The authors of this study, at the Royal Marsden Hospital, London, concluded: “Phase I clinical trials could be considered a therapeutic option in sarcoma... due to the low risk of toxicity” (Jones RL, Olmos D, Thway K, et al. Clinical benefit of early phase clinical trial participation for advanced sarcoma patients. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol. 2010. Available at PubMed, emphasis added). Pardon me for being blunt, but what universe do these scientists inhabit? I wonder if they themselves would submit to such toxic drugs for a less than one percent chance of a “cure” (a “cure” that in any case may last a month or so). And – it seems almost too obvious to ask – how do these scientists define a “low risk of toxicity”? Grade 4 toxicity classically includes such things as massive hemorrhages, life-threatening infection, more than ten episodes of vomiting in a 24 hour period, etc. Even grade 3 toxicity includes such things as “painful erythema, edema or ulcers and (patients) cannot eat” (http:// www.rtog.org/members/toxicity/tox.html) Sometimes I get the impression that various authors reach their conclusions first and then force their data to fit a preconceived notion. The Greeks had a term for this, a “Procrustean bed.” This term came from a myth about a highwayman named Procrustes, who physically either cut or stretched the limbs of his victims to fit the predetermined length of his torture bed. This term has stuck for any situation in which people stretch (or minimize) the data to conform to some preconceived notion. ✦
MONDAY Meditation Made Easy .................................................................................10.00 – 11.30am Ongoing Lessons with Bavali Hill. FREE FOR MEMBERS (non-members $5) No bookings necessary. Massage with Sarah Leboff ($120/90 minutes) ...................................... by appointment
TUESDAY Wellness and Healing Open Support Group ............................... 10.00 – 12.00noon with Dr. Angela Ebert Carer’s Wellness and Healing Support Group ....................... 10.00 – 12.00noon with Mike Sowerby (when required) Reiki Clinic .....................................................................................................12.15pm – 1.30pm
WEDNESDAY Reflexology ..................................................................10.00am – 2pm with Udo Kannapin (by appointment between 10-2) Laughter Yoga with Kimmie O’Meara ($3.00)...................................11.00am – 12.00pm Chinese Medical Healthcare Qigong ($10/$5 members) .........12.30pm – 2.00pm with Alan Donelly Massage with Sarah Leboff ($120/90 minutes) ...................................... by appointment
THURSDAY Yoga for Healing .........................................................................................10.00am – 11.15am with Madeline Clare (members $5 / others $10) Grief and Loss Open Support Group ................................................... 1.00pm – 3.00pm with Mike Sowerby (last Thursday of each month)
FRIDAY Meeting the Challenge 1 Day Seminar ................................................9.30am – 4.30pm 1ST FRIDAY OF THE MONTH
DAILY Cancer Wellness Counselling with Dr. Peter Daale .................................. by appointment General Counselling with Dr. Angela Ebert .................................................. by appointment Phone direct on 0414 916 724 or 9450 6724 or email a.ebert@murdoch.edu.au
Phone CSA on 9384 3544 or check our website for further information. We can help you with information packs, course prices, confirm course times and to make bookings.
Dr. Ralph W. Moss, Ph.D is a world renowned cancer researcher. He writes a regular blog at: www.ralphmossblog.com January/February 2011
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what’s on at CSA this month be part of the csa community by joining the groups and wellness activities at our premises in Cottesloe
Meeting the Challenge 1 Day Cancer Wellness Seminar Life Changing Information for people with cancer and their carers. This seminar provides wellness information, wellness strategies, new resources (such as nutrition, treatment options, meditation) and sharing with others on a healing journey. There is also a focus on accessing key cancer information online. Held monthly at CSA on the first Friday of every month from 9.30am-4.30pm. Free for new CSA members, bookings are required.
cancer support groups with Angela Ebert & Mike Sowerby Support groups enable people to discover new ways of coping; share the experience with others going through something similar; exchange information and resources; develop a holistic approach to healing; be inspired by others on the journey to regaining wellness. CSA offers an open cancer support group for people with cancer and their carers. This weekly group is facilitated by Angela Ebert and Mike Sowerby. We also offer a Carers’ Support Group and a monthly Grief and Loss Support Group.
reflexology with Udo Kannapin Reflexology is the application of pressure, stretching and movement to the feet and hands to trigger corresponding parts of the body. It complements standard medical care by relaxing the body and reducing stress.
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Cancer Support Association
www.cancersupportwa.org.au
“If you travel alone, you can probably go faster. But the journey will never be as rewarding, and you probably won’t be able to go as far.” ~ John Maxwell
yoga for healing with Madeline Clare CSA yoga teacher, Madeline Clare, takes inspiration from both Iyengar and Vinyasa approaches to yoga with an emphasis on relaxation, breath awareness, gentle movement and meditation. She believes a balanced yoga practice has the capacity to heal, shift energy blockages and bring the body into physical, emotional, mental and spiritual alignment. Yoga for Healing classes bring the joy of yoga to people with cancer and those who may need a nurturing space to practice.
qi gong with Alan Donelly Qigong is a traditional Chinese mind-body practice that uses meditation, breathing control, and movement to balance the flow of energy (qi) through the body to help healing to occur. CSA offers qigong to complement cancer therapies and help with the symptoms of cancer. In this setting, qigong is not used as a treatment for cancer per se, but as a method of easing cancer symptoms such as fatigue.
with Bavali Hill Meditation is a safe and simple way to balance a person’s physical, emotional, and mental states. The use of Meditation for healing is not new. Meditative techniques are the product of diverse cultures and peoples around the world. The value of Meditation to alleviate suffering and promote healing has been known and practiced for thousands of years. In these weekly lessons at CSA, Bavali guides participants through various healing meditation techniques and gives notes and handouts to support home practice.
WHAT’S ON AT CSA
meditation made easy reiki clinic every Tuesday Reiki is a Japanese energy-based therapy that promotes healing and overall wellness. A trained reiki practitioner uses his or her hands to transmit energy to the recipient. Reiki has been proven to help with pain management, relaxation, and side effects of cancer treatment like nausea and stomach upset. CSA offers a weekly reiki clinic staffed by qualified volunteers. Gold coin donation.
counselling Individual, Family & Group Ongoing counselling sessions with a caring, compassionate professional could help you deal more effectively with the many issues, fears and emotions which arise on the cancer journey; gain clarity to make treatment decisions; give you the insight to grow from your experiences; and the peace of mind and heart needed to heal. Sessions can be booked with our qualified psychologist, and are also available online for those unable to make it in to our Cottesloe premises.
laughter yoga with Kimmie O’Meara Laughter Yoga is a revolutionary idea developed by Dr. Madan Kataria, a Physician from Mumbai, India. It is a complete wellbeing workout combining Unconditional Laughter with Yogic Breathing (Pranayama). Anyone can Laugh for No Reason, without relying on humour, jokes or comedy. Laughter is simulated as a body exercise in a group; with eye contact and childlike playfulness, it soon turns into real and contagious laughter. The concept of Laughter Yoga is based on a scientific fact that the body cannot differentiate between fake and real laughter. One gets the same physiological and psychological benefits of laughter regardless of the source.
NEW: massage for cancer with Sarah Leboff For people with a serious illness like cancer, massage can be a powerful tool to help cope with treatment. Massage is recognised as a way to improve wellbeing for people with cancer; not as a replacement to medical treatments, but as a way of helping patients cope with their treatment experience and side effects. Sarah Leboff is a fully qualified Holistic Massage Therapist and Reiki Practitioner, and is now offering sessions at CSA on Mondays and Wednesdays. Sarah uses a combination of massage and healing techniques, including traditional Swedish massage, deep tissue massage, trigger point therapy, Reiki and energy healing. All sessions are for 90 minutes and cost $120. Please contact CSA to make a booking, or for further information please call Sarah on 0406 359 643.
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your daily
W����es� routine We live in a quick-fix culture where we are constantly told by advertisements that a pill or miracle cure is going to fix all our woes. Whether it is stress, anxiety, or poor health, our current culture focuses far too much on the elusive after-the-fact miracle “cure” instead of prevention. Yet, if we simply focused on improving our daily habits, our health and wellbeing would improve dramatically. This is where a daily wellness routine is essential. There are four main components to a successful wellness routine. By Stephanie Brail
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Cancer Support Association
www.cancersupportwa.org.au
Above Image: “Running River”by Tibetan artist Wang Yi Guang
Exercise
With obesity rates soaring, it is clear that exercise is a devalued commodity in our society. Yet, exercise is proven to improve health, alleviate depression and anxiety, and reduce stress. Various experts will suggest varying exercise guidelines to meet every week, such as 30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise three times per week minimum. Whatever weekly exercise goals you set, they should be in addition to, not a replacement for, your daily exercise. Your daily exercise should be doable and not require you to take a fitness class to accomplish. This type of exercise is more about moving your body than giving yourself the most challenging workout of your life. Examples of a daily exercise routine include: • Taking a walk around the neighbourhood in the morning or after work. • Performing a simple yoga or qi-gong exercise in the morning or evening. • Riding your bike to the park. • Dancing to your favourite music in the comfort of your living room. The important thing to remember is that you need to move your body each and every day to stay healthy and happy. Don’t make exercise in to a huge obstacle to overcome. Find a way to fit more movement into your daily life and your body will thank you for it.
Nutrition
Diet and nutrition can be an overwhelming subject. Unless you are one of those people who enjoys counting calories and spending hours in food preparation, adjusting your diet may seem impossible. Try coming up with a moderate diet that provides leeway and space for those moments when you have a chocolate craving. Rather than rigidly trying to subtract specific foods from your diet, add nutritious, healthy options to your existing plate. For example, if you have a hard time giving up pasta, then add more vegetables to your pasta dishes. Don’t try to go cold turkey on the pasta. The most important thing to remember with food is moderation. Even if you ate processed foods constantly, you would not become obese unless you overate and neglected to exercise. This is not to suggest that you go on an all-processed foods diet, but to postulate that the simplest way to lose weight is to simply eat less of whatever it is your are consuming. From there, slowly work in healthier options as you shift your diet into one that is more nutritious and life giving.
Spiritual Practice
Daily spiritual practice is the positive habit of connecting with a higher power or ideal, whether that is God, nature, or the mystery of the universe. You do not have to be a spiritual person to have a spiritual practice. Atheists, for example, might engage in a spiritual practice that consists of mindful journal writing each morning.
The purpose of daily spiritual practice is to disengage from the petty irritations and distractions of life and open the mind and spirit to see the bigger picture. A daily spiritual practice should nurture, uplift, and inspire. Examples of daily spiritual practice include: • Prayer • Journaling • Meditation • Creativity (art, music, writing) The benefits of a daily spiritual practice are cumulative and over time will lead to more peace of mind and a greater ability to handle life’s challenges.
Rest and Relaxation
In our harried world, the benefits of rest cannot be overstated. Too often we are running on fumes – too little sleep and too much activity. Sleep deprivation has been associated with all sorts of problems, from anxiety and depression to unsafe driving. Some scientists are studying a possible link between sleep deprivation and obesity (the theory is that sleep deprivation disrupts the production of important hormones). Make sure you allow for adequate sleep time in your schedule. If your work environment allows it, take a cat nap in the afternoon to refresh. Relaxation is also important. Your mind needs rest and play. If all you did was work from the beginning to the end of the day, you would become less effective overall due to the stress. Spend time relaxing every day, even if it’s just a half an hour to read a favourite book or partake in a hobby.
Putting It All Together
The key to creating a daily wellness routine is to make it simple and not a rigid, inflexible structure that is difficult to maintain. A fluid set of guidelines is often much easier to implement than a hard-set schedule. Consider making a set of daily guidelines rather than rigid rules to follow. For example: Each day, I will walk for 20 minutes, eat a little healthier, sleep a little more, and do something nurturing for myself by relaxing and writing in my journal. Be flexible. There will be days when things are hectic or family and work obligations come up that make it difficult to do everything in your routine. Don’t beat yourself up for not following through all the time. When you expect perfection, you are more likely to skip the routine altogether and keep putting it off for that mythological day in the future when things “clear up.” Things will never “clear up.” Your life will always be hectic and have its shares of ups and downs and surprises (both good and bad). The time to start your daily wellness routine is today, not tomorrow. By taking baby steps, you are creating a future of better health and well-being for yourself. ✦ From: www.naturalnews.com. Stephanie Brail is a wellness coach, healer and hypnotherapist. Her website is at: www.feelgoodgirl.com January/February 2011
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Your Body’s Natural Wonder Drug By Jo Robinson & Russel J. Reiter
There are compelling reasons for increasing your Melatonin levels to heal from cancer. Melatonin is a primary regulator of the immune system and is a powerful anti-oxidant (free-radical fighter). Melatonin inhibits cancer cell growth, and can kill directly many different types of human tumour cells. Melatonin is produced by the human pineal gland during deep sleep and disruption to sleep patterns mainly due to chronic stress means melatonin levels are significantly lower, putting those with disrupted sleep patterns at risk of developing cancer. Studies have revealed those with cancer have very low levels of melatonin.
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Cancer Support Association
www.cancersupportwa.org.au
Melatonin’s antioxidant properties were discovered in 1993.
It’s possible role in the immune system was revealed about ten years earlier. Georges Maestroni, director of the Center for Experimental Pathology in Switzerland, has been the source of many of the significant findings. Maestroni’s first awareness that melatonin might play a role in the immune system came in the early 1980s when he learned that animals that had been deprived of their pineal glands – the gland the produces melatonin – had shrunken thymus glands. Thymus glands are key to the body’s ability to mount an effective immune response. If a lack of melatonin caused the thymus to atrophy (waste away), then melatonin must be just as fundamental to immunity. One of melatonin’s roles is to counteract the effect of stress on the immune system, whether that stress is caused by viral infiltration,emotional stress, drug-induced immunosuppression, or aging. For example, animals studies have shown that melatonin is very effective in reversing the effects of psychic stress. In a key experiment, rodents were injected with a sub-lethal dose of a virus.(EMCV virus) Half of the mice were then injected with melatonin. Finally, both groups were subjected to restraint stress, a procedure known to inhibit the immune response. At the end of 10 days, 82% of the melatonin-treated rodents were still alive, compared to only 6 percent of the controls. [Maestroni, Annals of the NY Academy of Sciences 1988; 521: 140-48.] Melatonin has also been shown to reverse the decline in immunity that accompanies aging. In a 1995 experiment, young and old mice were injected with a virus that causes encephalitis, an often fatal brain infection. Half of both groups were then treated with melatonin. In the mice not given melatonin, not one of the old mice and only 6% of the young mice survived. In the melatonin groups, 39% of the young group and a surprising 56% of the old mice survived. In other words,
melatonin had an even greater protective effect on the immune system of the aged mice than the young mice. [Archives of Virology; 1995; 140:223-30.] Melatonin has also reversed the immunsuppressive effect of steroids on the immune system, as well as chemotherapy drugs. [International Journal of Neuroscience 1991; 61:289-98.] Recent studies (conducted in 1993, 1994, 1995) have given new clues as to melatonin’s specific mode of action. A recent finding is that there is a melatonin receptor on a key immune cell called the T-helper cell. [“T-Helper-2 lymphocytes as peripheral target of melatonin signalling.” J. of Pineal Research 1995; 18:84-89.] Once linked with the cell, melatonin increases production of key cytokines (signalling cells). Clinical trials involving melatonin are in the early stages. However, so far, melatonin administration has enhanced production of a number of important cytokines, including a 51% increase in IL-2 (necessary for inhibiting cancer cell growth), a 28% increase in tumour necrosis factor alpha, and a 41 percent increase in interferon-gamma. [Oncology Reports 1995; 2:45-7.] Immune cells that have been enhanced by melatonin administration include natural killer cells, T-helper cells, eosinophils, and null cells. Salivary IgA, an important immunoglobulin, has also been enhanced (IgA helps protect the mucous membranes from virus and infections.)
Using Meditation To Increase Melatonin Levels Studies have revealed those who meditate have low rates of cancer. Meditation is a tool to directly increase melatonin production as well as a tool to indirectly increase melatonin production by inducing deep sleep. Meditation for Melatonin involves meditating for 20-30 minutes twice daily, during the morning and the evening to stimulate the pineal gland of the brain. Stimulation of the pineal gland produces melatonin.
Studies have revealed those who meditate have low rates of cancer. Meditation is a tool to directly increase melatonin production as well as a tool to indirectly increase melatonin production by inducing deep sleep.
Meditating during the evening serves two purposes. Firstly, it stimulates the pineal gland production of melatonin for that evenings sleep, and secondly, it calms and quietens the mind allowing for uninterrupted sleep. Studies at the University of Texas showed that melatonin administered to rats in the evening reduced tumour size greatly over melatonin administered in the morning. Other factors that lower melatonin levels include: High protein diets, overeating, chronic stress, alcohol, tobacco, caffeine, lack of natural lighting during the day, sleep deprivation, and sleeping in a room that is not pitch black due to moonlight, streetlight or other.
World Research Shows Melatonin Improves Cancer Outcomes 1. “Melatonin is a potent immune-enhancing hormone produced by the human pineal gland and appears to have substantial cancer-repelling power. In addition to boosting the activity of key immune cells called T helper cells, melatonin stimulates the tumour-killing action of natural killer cells (NK) by increasing the white blood cell production of the cytokine Interleukin-2 (IL-2) [Excerpt from the Definitive Guide to Cancer, by John Diamond, M.D. and Lee Cowden, M.D] 2. “Researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH), led by Eva Schernhammer, MD, DrPH, (Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School) were among the first to report that nightshift workers may have an increased risk of developing breast cancer. Decreased levels of melatonin – a hormone closely linked to sleep patterns – is believed to be a possible cause. Now, in the next phase of this research, Schernhammer reports that lower melatonin levels are associated with a higher risk of breast cancer. The findings are published in the July 20, 2005 issue of the Jounal of the National Cancer Insitute (JNCI). The hormone melatonin is typically released from the brain during the night. It is the reason people get sleepy. Nightshift workers, exposed to bright light during the evenings, produce less melatonin. Laboratory studies have shown that melatonin production can put tumour cells “to sleep” by stunting growth. A recent report indicated that in constant light, tumours grew seven times faster than they did in the dark. In this study, the researchers measured urinary melatonin in 147 women who developed invasive breast cancer and 291 matched women who
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...from previous page did not develop breast cancer. They found that women with the lowest levels of the melatonin metabolite in their urine were 70 percent more likely to develop breast cancer.” [Press Release – Brigham and Women’s Hospital Research Unit] 3. On October 17 2001, the Journal of the National Cancer Institute (Vol. 93, No. 20, pp. 1557-1568) published two papers reporting a significant increase in the risk of breast cancer among women who frequently did not sleep during the period of the night, about 1:30am, when melatonin levels are typically at their highest. 4. Research presented recently at the 94th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research in Washington, D.C., shows evidence that the nighttime production of the hormone melatonin (produced during deep sleep) inhibits the growth of human breast cancer by blocking the tumour’s uptake of dietary linoleic acid. [Bassett Research Institute – Preclinical Study supported by the National Cancer Institute] 5. Studies at the University of Texas Medical Branch showed that “melatonin significantly increased the latency period of the tumour, by delaying the appearance of the tumour” 6. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center: “Women with breast cancer and men with prostate cancer tend to have lower levels of melatonin than those without the disease. Low levels of melatonin stimulate the growth of certain types of cancer cells and adding melatonin to these cells inhibits their growth. Meditation appears to be a valuable addition to the treatment of cancer due to a rise in levels of melatonin in the body.” 7. According to the University of Massachusetts Medical Center: “Melatonin has been shown by a number of studies to significantly inhibit breast cancer in animals and tissue culture.” In a separate study performed at the University a higher level of melatonin was found in meditators than in non-meditators. 8. According to the American Cancer Society: “A National Institute of Health panel found evidence that regular meditation can also reduce symptoms of post-traumatic stress syndrome, and increase longevity and quality of life. The same study found that those who meditated had a better immune response than those who did not meditate.” 9. “Melatonin can kill directly many different types of tumour cells. It is a naturally produced cytotoxin, which can induce tumour cell death (apoptosis). In instances where the tumour has already established itself in the body, melatonin has been shown to inhibit the tumour’s growth rate. Melatonin exhibits natural oncostatic activity and inhibits cancer cell growth. In patients in whom cancer has become a noticeable physical burden and produces overt symptoms, melatonin has been shown to alleviate numerous cancer symptoms and to inhibit development of new tumour blood vessels (tumour angiogenesis), which in turn inhibits the cancer from spreading further (mestastasis). Radiation therapy usually induces anemia. Melatonin stimulates platelet production and has been shown to effectively treat cancer patients with low platelet counts and anemia. Melatonin reduces chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity, neurotoxicity, thrombocytopenia (reduced platelet counts), stomatitis (inflammation of mouth), and asthenia (weakness), and
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improves the overall response in cancer patients.” [Clinical Study, The Life Extension Foundation] 10. “Results from a new study in laboratory mice show that nighttime exposure to artificial light stimulated the growth of human breast tumours by suppressing the levels of a key hormone called melatonin.The study also showed that extended periods of nighttime darkness greatly slowed the growth of these tumours.” [US Department of Health and Human Services – National Institute of Health] 11. “Experienced meditators practicing either TM-Sidihi or another internationally well known form of yoga meditation showed significantly higher melatonin levels in the period following meditation. “ [School of Psychology, La Trobe University, Australia]
Transcendental Meditation Transcendental Meditation can literally save your life. Those who practice Transcendental Meditation have significantly lower cancer stress hormone cortisol levels, significantly higher melatonin levels for inhibiting cancer cell growth, and most importantly, a 55.4% less incidence of tumours, both benign and malignant, according to leading studies. The Transcendental Meditation technique of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi is a standardized procedure practiced for 15 to 20 minutes twice daily while sitting comfortably with eyes closed. Maharishi explains that “Transcendental Meditation is a simple, natural, effortless procedure whereby the mind easily and naturally arrives at the source of thought, the settled state of mind – Transcendental Consciousness – pure consciousness, self-referral consciousness, which is the source of all creative processes.” Transcendental Meditation also produces distinctive physiological and psychological effects that are useful in preventing disease and promoting health. The physiological effects include: (1) reduced carotid atherosclerosis, a cause of strokes and heart attacks, (2) lower baseline cortisol levels, a stress hormone, (3) reduced blood pressure, in both normal people and hypertensive patients, (4) decreased heart rate, (5) reduced respiratory rate, (6) global reduction in somatic (body) arousal, which indicates a more relaxed and balanced style of functioning, (7) reduction of neuroendocrine correlates of drug abuse, and (8) reduction of chronic stress. The psychological benefits of the TM program include greater happiness and fulfilment in life. The TM technique also strengthens health by decreasing health-damaging habits such as tobacco use, heavy alcohol usage, and drug abuse, which are behavioural correlates of chronic stress. ✦ By Jo Robinson (Co-Author), with Russel J. Reiter. Excerpt from Melatonin: Your Body’s Natural Wonder Drug, Bantam 1995
Lack of sleep and cancer risk By Reuben Chow
A study on almost 24,000 Japanese women recently published
in the British Journal of Cancer has found that lack of sleep can greatly increase the risk of breast cancer, with women who slept 6 hours or less every night having a significantly higher risk. The Ohsaki National Health Insurance (NHI) Cohort Study started in 1994 and involved 28,515 women in northeastern Japan. The questionnaire used included information on sleep duration and other lifestyle habits. Data for some participants was omitted from the NHI study if they had a history of cancer; did not provide information on their sleep duration; or who slept for less than 4 hours or more than 12 hours every night. This left the data for 23,995 women to be analysed. An 8-year period, from 1995 to 2003, was used, during which 143 of the women developed breast cancer. The women who slept 7 hours each night were used as the reference group. It was then found that women who slept 6 hours or less each night had a 62% higher risk of getting breast cancer. On the other hand, those who slept 9 hours or more every night had a 28% lower risk of getting the disease. It would follow, then, that those who slept 6 hours or less every night had 2.25 times the risk of getting breast cancer when compared to those who slept 9 hours or more each night. The results remained largely consistent even when participants who were diagnosed with breast cancer within 3 years from the start of the study were excluded, or when the data was analysed by age and menopausal status. The findings of this study validate the findings of two previous prospective cohort studies relating breast cancer and sleep duration (Verkasalo et al, 2005, Wu et al, 2008). Those two studies had also shown a significant decrease in breast cancer risk for those who slept the longest. Why is breast cancer risk linked to sleep duration? The answer could lie in melatonin, which is secreted during night sleep. When a person sleeps fewer hours, less melatonin is secreted, and lower levels of the chemical had previously been associated with increased breast cancer risk. In addition, melatonin may possess an inhibitory effect on gonadal function, which includes synthetizing and secreting sex hormones. It had also been found to have an antiproliferative effect on breast cancer cells. If the findings from this study are indeed accurate, then there is an immense difference in breast cancer risk between sleeping 4 to 6 hours every night, and just sleeping 1 to 3 hours more each night. In fact, it is more than likely that the protective effects of sufficient sleep also extend to other forms of cancer. Seven hours of sleep a night may thus be a good number to aim for. ✦ From: www.naturalnews.com.
1. Create a relaxing bedtime routine. Give yourself time to get ready for bed slowly. Savour the moments of winding down as you wash your face, brush your teeth, and change into your bed clothes. You can use aroma oils, soft music – be creative! If spirituality is important to you, include a prayer. 2. Keep your bedroom cool, quiet, and dark. (Usually a cool room promotes sleep, but you will have difficulty sleeping if you feel cold, so experiment. If your feet are cold in winter, warm them up before bed!) 3. Drink a cup of warm milk (you can add nutmeg for its sleep inducing properties) or a relaxing tea, like chamomile. 4. Massage your feet, especially with warm oil, right before bed – it’s very relaxing. 5. Stretch a bit before you lie down. You can literally stretch out some of the “kinks” and tension of the day. Stretching makes some people more energetic and some more sleepy, so experiment and find out what works for you. Don’t overdo it – stretch just enough to help you relax. 6. Take a hot bath. A hot bath can be extremely relaxing. Light some candles. Add a relaxing aroma oil, such as lavender oil, to the water. Luxuriate! 7. Once you are in bed, listen to relaxing music or a relaxation or sleep CD to help you shift gears and relax into sleep. From: www.heartofhealing.net January/February 2011
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sound healing
A message through time By Peter McIntosh
It was in 2005 when we first discovered just how effective sound
could be in removing stress and creating a sense of relaxation in the mind and body.
“Sound enters the healing equation from several directions: It may alter cellular functions through energetic effects; it may entrain biological systems to function more homeostatically; it may calm the mind and therefore the body; or it may have emotional effects, which influence neurotransmitters and neuropeptides, which in turn help to regulate the immune system – the healer within.” Dr. Mitchell Gaynor, Author of “The Healing Power of Sound: Recovery from Life-Threatening Illness using Sound, Voice, and Music, Director of Medical Oncology and Integrative Medicine at Strang-Cornell Cancer Prevention Center.
Having worked long and stressful hours in our own business for some considerable years, then taking up the challenge to renovate our home, we made the decision that retirement was what we desperately needed. At this time we had a call from a friend from the past. Paul told us he had started a business venture that he would take around the world, and with our experience in Global Franchising, would like us to take a look with a view to becoming involved. Our trip to the old Parkerville Amphitheatre site was one of curiosity as to what his business was all about, and when we were taken into the Quiet Cone structure and saw the gongs and yoga mats we were even more dubious. Paul invited us to try the experience, and that was to be the turning point for our new direction in life. Whilst laying down on one of the mats I first heard, then felt the sound of the large gong struck softly in the ethereal surroundings of the Quiet Cone. After a few minutes I felt as though a load was being lifted from my shoulders, the chatter in my brain died away and a wonderful sense of peace flooded through me. Later that day Lynn and I discussed this phenomenon and came to the conclusion it was just the wonderful sounds that relaxed us. We were still of the opinion this business opportunity was a bit too flaky for us, our background was international marketing and franchising, not putting people to sleep playing gongs….. The next day I was surprised to discover many of the issues that had been worrying me had lost their importance, for the first time in months I had awoken without the churning in my bowels, I was seeing things more clearly, objectively and had a sense of quiet that only Lynn could identify. Deep down I knew the gongs had had a profound impact on me, but didn’t really understand why. A month later we returned to visit Paul in Parkerville again, we couldn’t identify why we were feeling drawn back, it was not really the business concept, it was something else. This time one of the
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“Through an open and willing mind and applying the Law of Attraction we allow our spirit to accept the gifts of nature and the universe in seeking energy, healing, peace, contentment, rejuvenation or motivation. “
Gongmasters took us through an hour of playing and again we experienced a total quietening of our emotions, yet when we came out I was feeling almost euphoric – it was as though I had discovered something missing in me. The Universe was obviously introducing us to sound healing in a way we had no concept of, we were not what you would call ‘spiritually aware’ yet there was now a desire to learn more. A short time later we came across a book written by an Oncologist in New York call Mitchell Gaynor, it was titled “the Healing Power of Sound”. From this amazing book we soon discovered that the energy that comes from ancient instruments such as the Gongs, Singing Bowls, drums and many other ancient creations of sounds (including the Australian Didgeridoo) all have a very strong effect on us. We were quite astounded that a Director of Oncology, in a field that usually promotes far more conventional or traditional means would actually give testimony to the awesome power of sound. He understood that to create harmony and healing within the body you first needed to treat the dis-harmony or dis-eased parts. He identified, as many others have attributed to over the millennia, the need to harmonise WITH nature – or go with the flow and not fight it. By embracing various frequencies and adopting relaxation techniques such as meditation, breathing and various exercises we can allow the body to work on self healing itself. This holistic approach brought him into conflict with many of his peers, however Mitchell soon began to have the most incredible results which can be read in his book. We encourage anyone who is searching for answers to obtain a copy of this publication, it will assist both sufferers and carers alike to deal with many circumstances and perhaps question their current approach to illness or stress.
the number of people who taught him to consider other forms of therapy to compliment his own. We have however been rewarded with many incredible opportunities to witness a number of people undergo reactions, releases, blockage clearances, clarity of realisation, spiritual messages and healings of all manners. Many of us are looking for miracles in our lives, it may be to resolve health, emotional or financial issues, yet so few of us realise we do not need miracles, this power is already within us all. By discarding the years of negative conditioning we have been subjected to since early childhood and adopting the view of God wanting us to have abundance in our lives, we can all open ourselves to a wondrous life. Through an open and willing mind and applying the Law of Attraction we allow our spirit to accept the gifts of nature and the universe in seeking energy, healing, peace, contentment, rejuvenation or motivation. I will not discuss the benefits of other practices such as meditation, ancient exercises, breathing techniques or specific diets, instead I will tell some of the stories we have personally witnessed through the Power of Sound Healing in the Quiet Cone playing many different ancient instruments. Cathy (Wattle Grove) asked for a Gong Bath (one playing, one receiving the vibrations on each side of the gong) on the smallest of our gongs despite everyone else in her group opting for the large gong. Halfway through the 90 second sound bath she clutched her left side and showed signs of pain before regaining her composure. Afterwards she said she felt a very uncomfortable build up of heat in her side and then it suddenly disappeared. The following Monday morning she called us at home with a story to tell.
Our experiences have not been quite as dramatic as Mitchell Gaynor and those who have followed his examples, or from
continued on next page... January/February 2011
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Sound therapy is one of the prototypical vibrational healing modalities. Sound produces measurable vibratory feelings throughout the body, depending upon the frequency and amplitude of the sound used. There have been a wide variety of sound healing developments over the last ten to twenty years. Certain sounds most likely have a healing influence upon the body because they influence the geometric patterns and organization of cells and living systems. ~ Dr. Richard Gerber
...from previous page She had just received a call from her specialist requesting her to come back for another Catscan as the results from her monthly visit had them quite confused. Cathy had been having these scans for almost two years watching in dismay as a cyst grew to alarming proportions on her kidney despite many forms of treatment. She had said to the caller ‘you cannot find the Cyst can you?’ after some blustering this was admitted and he asked her how she knew. The story was then told of her experience in the cone with the gong the previous Tuesday and her belief the cyst had been shattered or dissolved somehow, especially as she had been free of pain since then. To his credit the specialist admitted he had heard of rare similar examples around the world but still asked Cathy to come back to check. She politely refused and after almost 9 months, has not suffered any of the painful effects she had been through prior to the Gong experience. Del (Darlington) told us all after the session in the cone, how, whenever I tapped on one of the 5 tubular bells, she felt a piercing feeling in her right shoulder, then when we reached a crescendo on the 40” Gong the same shoulder felt as though it was swelling up. When we asked if she had a problem with that shoulder, she stated that about 18 months before it had gone from a dislocated shoulder to a frozen shoulder and it had taken forever for her to regain even close to normal use. She couldn’t sleep on that side because it was too tender and painful, so I smiled and asked her to call me if that changed in the near future. Sure enough the next morning we received a call from her to tell us she had slept on her right side for the first time since her accident. Shirley (northern suburb) at the end of her first session in the cone (has been back many times) sobbed her heart out in grief, her twin sister explained that Shirley had lost her hubby 3 months before due to lung cancer and she was still angry over him leaving her. It seems he did not stop smoking after he was diagnosed, and Shirley felt he could still have been with her if he had taken the doctors advice. On leaving the cone Shirley went for a walk in the forest, and when she returned she had lost all the strain and stress from her face and she was shining. The blockage had been lifted from her heart! D (Mandurah) arrived with a group being pushed in a wheelchair, in the cone she stayed in the chair and when I played the wind gong across her she opened her eyes and just beamed. As she left the cone she asked one of her friends if they would get her frame for her to walk back the 200 metres with. One of
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her other friends protested saying it is only a rough stone path but she was insistent. D explained over tea back in reception she experienced a message that said she would be walking again – after many years of crippling arthritis, and she wanted to believe it. Two of her group showed up 2 weeks later for a Full Moon evening and said they had seen her twice since the session and that she was now only using a walking stick and had lost a lot of her stoop. Gordon, (Palmyra) attended a New Moon session and chose the amethyst crystal which he was told related to his 6th Chakra – Third eye on his forehead. It was suggested by Lynn to place it there during his time laying down in the cone. When asked at the end of the playing how he enjoyed the experience he said he had felt quite intense heat and pressure coming from the stone, particularly when the high notes were played on the instruments. Afterwards over a hot chocolate in the reception area, he mentioned that he suffered a lot of headaches and had arrived that evening with one, but it had completely gone now. He put it down to stress and particularly finding the Quiet Cone location at night. It seems stress pays a big part of Gordon’s life with family and work issues. Almost a month later Gordon arrived for another session, this time with a group of 5 others who all want to find out what it is that has taken the stress out of Gordon’s daily life. We have hundreds of such stories to tell, and I must admit if someone had said to me 6 years ago I would be writing this story or telling others about the power of sound and energy to heal mental, physical and emotional problems, I would have laughed. Now it is a with a wonderful sense of appreciation that I am able to pass on this knowledge in the hope it may assist someone reading this article to consider receiving the awesome gift of beautiful sound into their lives. There are many opportunities to do this, from listening to a peaceful musical CD, to sitting by a brook contemplating its passage, to enjoying an experience listening to a player of ancient instruments, to spending time with nature soaking up it’s energy, this list is endless, just follow your heart it will show you where to go. Finally if you haven’t yet read the book by Eckhart Tolle, ‘The Power of Now’ I would encourage you to do so, too many times we focus on the future or the past without appreciating what is happening in our lives at this exact moment. Do not live in regret or wish time away waiting or worrying about the future, accept NOW as a gift and enjoy every moment. ✦ Peter McIntosh, Quiet Cone International, Parkerville. For more information about the Quiet Cone and to book a session go to: www.quietcone.com or phone 08 9496 3433
the mystery of healing By Grace Bubeck
A week ago, I had good news: the breast MRI results came back clear! At first I just felt relief, and then a sense of confirmation: what I had felt for almost a year now – that there was no more cancer in my body – was finally ‘official’, confirmed by medical technology. I have been wanting to share this good news with all of you who have been concerned about my health and who have followed my news about the healing process. But somehow I didn’t seem to be able to find the right beginning, the right angle, to begin to share this. This morning in meditation, I was overcome by a profound feeling of gratitude and mystery about this whole experience, and I knew it was time to share the last part of this journey. So here I am, trying to put words to what essentially escapes the grasp of our mind and understanding.
Why did I wait so long before seeking out medical feedback? Mostly, I have to admit, I was avoiding a situation that kept amping up the fear every time I considered it. I had chosen a healing path that was not following medical opinion, and the result of that choice for me was having to face a lot of fear about having chosen wrongly – whilst knowing at the same time that I could not have chosen otherwise. There was a real vulnerability vis-à-vis the medical system that was not at all helped by being in contact with it. This vulnerability was added to the profound vulnerability that is faced by everyone whose life is acutely threatened by cancer, and that, in and of itself, generates enormous fear. Most people resolve this fear by doing everything doctors tell them to do – understandably, as doctors are the experts after all. I was very tempted to do so as well when I considered my healing options after surgery, and yet my body kept telling me it could not take the radio, chemo and hormone therapy that was suggested. Today I am happy I didn’t follow the fear, and I am happy I waited with the medical diagnostics until I felt confident enough that the result would be positive. Of course there was still a little fear lurking there even now, so I was also very relieved when the results came out positive. I am also happy and relieved that my choices based on my own ‘knowing’ are confirmed to have been truly healing choices.
“Cancer has turned out to be a precious and wondrous gift, bringing incredible insights and healing as I accepted its presence and challenge”
Beyond relief, there is also an immense humility and gratitude: I know that there are no guarantees in any of our choices. I did what I could to choose healing, but healing was truly not up to me. Finally, healing is a profound mystery, and a grace. How is it that some people heal, and others don’t? How is it that life turns out as it does for this person or that person? Much as we would like our lives to be predictable, safe roads to health, wellbeing and success – and there are certainly pointers into that direction that we can follow – essentially our life’s journey is beyond our doing and knowing, and life’s greatest gifts often come disguised in suffering. For sure I would not have wanted to have cancer, and yet I know it was a blessing. Life has become a gift, a wondrous journey and a precious opportunity not to be missed. I am grateful to be alive. There is still much to be lived, to be done, to be discovered, but essentially I know there is nothing missing: life is good and beautiful and wondrous as it is. My spiritual teacher, Gangaji, often speaks about the need to face death. Of course it doesn’t take a life-threatening illness to face death, but when life presents that opportunity, as it did for me, it can become an opening into a much deeper sense of the mystery of all being. What is it that does not die, what is it that holds us even in the fear of death and in death itself? When I faced the fears as they arose, about a year ago, I experienced the reality of Love, and being healed by Love in knowing its reality and power. Love is just a name, though, I could have called it ‘Life’, or ‘the Source’, or ‘God’. All these are names, and really not able to capture the mystery that’s being named. The mystery of healing, for me, was finally to see that mystery, to accept that, beyond all naming and understanding, there is a profound mystery that is at the root of all that we know, experience and are. Trusting that mystery has been truly healing and liberating at the same time. And I thank the cancer – that most physical expression of all that was still caught in suffering and life denial – for having helped me open to that mystery. ✦
Grace Bubek was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008. She writes a blog at: www. heartoftransformation.org which includes her cancer healing journal which chronicles the phases of healing which have led to remission and recovery. Her blog is a valuable and inspirational resource for others on a cancer healing journey. January/February 2011
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The ultimate cure-all? Fuelled by scientific studies connecting religion and wellbeing, doctors are increasingly acknowledging the health benefits of faith. By Richard Kerbaj
Image: “A Child’s Prayerr”by Ken Gimmi
An ultrasound scan revealed a disturbing image 17 weeks into Janine Martin’s pregnancy — one of her baby’s kidneys was malformed and surrounded by cysts. Martin was so distressed she began wondering if this was punishment for a former wrongdoing.
The ensuing monthly kidney monitoring — which ended when the baby was seven months old, and deemed too large for it to be effective — indicated no improvement. Martin eventually lost hope, despite promises made by her devout Catholic friend who was adamant about curing the baby through ‘healing prayers’. “I had a basic religious background. But as far as healing prayer goes, I thought it was a bit of nonsense,” says Martin.
More than 1200 studies published over the past 10 years on the relationship between religion and disease have attempted to substantiate the health benefits of having a religious dimension. Hedley G. Peach, a professorial research fellow at Melbourne University, cites two studies he has explored in his upcoming book, In Good Spirit: the relationship between religion and health.
Unsurprisingly, her views changed after giving birth, when a radiologist’s report indicated that Emily’s once dysfunctional kidney was operating perfectly. “I just can’t understand how an organ that had no blood supplying it could be OK,” says Martin. Neither could the medical experts.
The results of a 23-year study in Israel that examined the association between religion and coronary artery disease among 10,000 Orthodox Jews and 10,000 non-believers, revealed that the religious candidates were almost 67 per cent less likely to die from the disease than their counterparts, says Peach.
In the evidence-based nature of medical practice, where science is gospel and pills replace prayers, doctors are increasingly acknowledging the health benefits of religion and faith. Ironically, recognition of the nexus between faith and wellbeing was the clinical norm a century or two ago.
Another study, carried out in the US, which explored the effects of religion on 230 Protestants and Catholics who were followed for six months after undergoing a bypass for coronary heart disease, found that participants who rarely attended church were 2.5 times more likely to have died at the end of six months than those who attended regularly.
“Health care is coming back to a more holistic focus,” says senior lecturer Dr Craig Hassed of Monash University’s department of general practice. “And I think for many people, a holistic focus includes the importance of spirituality, religion (and) connectedness.” There are no figures on the number of doctors integrating faith and spirituality into their practice, says Hassed, as some regard such issues as a “central factor” to their profession, while others see them of more “peripheral importance”.
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Marc Cohen, professor of complementary medicine at RMIT, says the spiritual and religious beliefs of doctors often influence their practice. “(Doctors) are involved in birth and death and everything in between,” he says. “Occasionally, the decisions (they) make are of life and death. And it’s got to be recognised that . . . the context of those decisions is in the doctor’s own spiritual and religious beliefs.”
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Peach says the evidence supporting such health benefits are partly due to the lifestyles people lead upon pursuing a spiritual path. “If you adhere to the beliefs and practices of a particular religion, those beliefs and practices may well involve avoiding alcohol, certain dietary practices, controlling your sexual behaviour . . . and (gaining) social and emotional support.” While research indicates a link between religion and good health, doctors are unlikely to turn their clinics into clergies and begin
leading their patients towards religion, says Dr Luis Vitetta, director of research at Swinburne University’s graduate school of integrative medicine. “I mean, from a medical point of view, it’s very difficult to say to somebody, ‘go join a religious club’. Or ‘go become a Catholic’, or ‘go become a Jew’, or ‘go become a Muslim’,” he says. Studies have shown that 60 per cent of Australia’s population derives its spirituality from religion, says Peach. And although it’s a significant figure, it pales in comparison with the 85 per cent in the United States. Spirituality consists of four aspects which aren’t all necessarily linked with religion, says Peach. It may encompass connectedness with family, friends, and inner-self; adhering to values such as integrity and social equality; or attaining peace and meaning in life by praying to a God. Bob Neilson renewed a relationship with God through prayer when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer and given two years to live. Although the 70year-old hasn’t made a full recovery, he remains in good health almost 11 years later. During his daily prayers, says Neilson, he asks God “for strength, peace of mind, and for the (cancer) to be removed”. Since he remains on medication, how does he feel about not having his prayers fully answered? “While I believe in the miracle of healing, I also understand that through faith and prayer we are lead into alternate areas in healing and lifestyle.” Frances Thorsen, a Williamstown psychoanalytic psychotherapist who deals with “religiously committed” patients, says prayer can have an immense psychological impact on people. “(Prayer) is part of your inner life. It allows you to develop . . . manage both your agonies and your pains, and helps your feelings change,” she says. Chaplain Diane Moor of the Royal Children’s Hospital, agrees. Her daily prayers for intensive care patients and their families are, in a way, an articulation of “people’s longing for healing”, she says. A prayer doesn’t need to achieve its purpose for it to be effective, Moor says. “When I’m praying, I’m praying for the best outcome. And I don’t know what that will be.” Furthermore, a prayer is underpinned by its intensity to meet a person’s need, not by its length or its daily time frame, says Moor. A 2003 Cochrane Review study on intercessory prayer — where people communicated with God on behalf of those who are in need — revealed that it’s difficult to scientifically measure the effects of prayer as an “omnipresent and omnipotent” God cannot be “prevented from intervening in any patient or group”. People may well be emitting a “brainwave” while praying, which induces a positive effect upon being “absorbed by the receiver...and analysed as a positive input”, says Vitetta. Dr Amal Abou-Hamden, advanced trainee in neurosurgery at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, says it’s difficult to dismiss unproven theories such as Vitetta’s, as something considered “far-fetched” today may become “accepted fact” in years ahead. However, she says, “it’s hard enough to prove more concrete things in neurology, let alone vibes and waves that are actually causing improvement through prayer.” Asked whether doctors would pray for their patients if the benefits were scientifically proven, Cohen says no, because (a) it’d be difficult to “charge” for the service, and (b) it would “challenge the whole foundation of bio-medicine” which is predominantly about prescribing pharmaceutical agents and improving an outcome through surgery. Peach says ongoing research and a greater public awareness of the association between religion and health will “enable people and their faith communities to interact more effectively with doctors and hospitals”.
A prayer for cancer May God heal me, body and soul. May my pain cease, May my strength increase, May my fears be released, May blessings, love, and joy surround me. Amen. Naomi Levy
Abou-Hamden agrees. “We have a lot more evidence for medicine working than we have for spirituality working,” she says. “So spirituality still has a long way to go to prove that it is curing things.” ✦
From The Age: www.theage.com.au
January/February 2011
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The anti-cancer diet eat your way to a healthier life! By Dr David Servan-Schreibe
Cancer lies dormant in all of us. Like all living organisms, our bodies are making defective cells all the time. That’s how tumours are born. But our bodies are also equipped with a number of mechanisms which detect and keep such cells in check. In the West, one person in four will die of cancer – but three in four will not: their defence mechanisms will hold out.
Dr David Servan-Schreiber: ‘It is up to us to use our body’s natural defences’
When Dr David Servan-Schreiber, above, was just 31 a routine MRI scan revealed he had a brain tumour. Following successful treatment, Dr Servan-Schreiber, a professor of psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh, set about learning everything he could to prevent a relapse, scouring medical databases and scientific publications for research on how the body could best protect itself from cancer. The result is Anticancer, a definitive diet and lifestyle book. In this extract, he explains how you can boost your body’s natural defences against this disease.
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Cancer Support Association
I had cancer. I was diagnosed for the first time 15 years ago. I received conventional treatment and the cancer went into remission, but I relapsed. After surgery and chemotherapy, I asked my oncologist what I should do to lead a healthy life and avoid another relapse. ‘Lead your life normally. We’ll do Cat scans at regular intervals and if your tumour comes back, we’ll detect it early,’ replied this leading light of modern medicine. We had used all the drugs and recognised medical practices relevant to my case. As for more theoretical mind-body or nutritional approaches, he clearly lacked the time or interest to explore these avenues. It took me nine months of research to begin to understand how I could help my body protect itself against cancer. This is what I learned: if we all have potential cancer lying dormant in us, each of us also has a body designed to fight the process of tumour development. It is up to us to use our body’s natural defences. It must be stated at the outset that there is no alternative approach to cancer that can cure the illness. It would be madness not to use the best of conventional Western medicine such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy and soon molecular genetics. But at the same time it is also unreasonable to rely only on these more technical approaches and to neglect the natural capacity of our bodies to protect against tumours, when so much research now points to ways in which we can reduce the risk of developing or dying from the disease. It’s a myth that cancer is transmitted primarily through genes. Genetic factors contribute at most to 15 per cent of cancer mortalities. Cancer cells do not behave like normal cells. They refuse to die after a certain number of divisions, and they poison the tissues around them with chemical substances, creating inflammation, which they need to sustain their growth. Recent research reviewed in the journal Science confirms that the more successful cancers are in provoking inflammation, the more aggressive the tumour and the better it is at spreading over long distances, ultimately reaching lymph nodes and spreading to other organs. Links have been found between several types of cancer and chronic inflammation caused by either a virus such as papillomavirus in the cervix or environmental factors such as asbestos or smoking. Oncologists at the University of Glasgow have been measuring inflammation levels in the blood of patients with various cancers since the 1990s and have found that patients with the lowest levels of inflammation were twice as likely as the others to live for several years.
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The pharmaceutical industry is looking for drugs that will inhibit the chemical secreted by cancer cells which causes inflammation. But there are already a number of natural ways we can boost our immunity and reduce inflammation to help keep those cancer cells in check. It’s simply a matter of eliminating certain toxins from our environment, adopting an anti-cancer diet, seeking emotional balance and taking enough exercise.
Environmental links Cancer has been increasing in the West since 1940. Three major factors have drastically disrupted our environment over the same period — the addition of large quantities of highly refined sugar to our diet, changes in farming methods and exposure to a large number of chemical products that didn’t exist before the Second World War. There is every reason to believe that these three phenomena play a major role in the spread of cancer.
The dangers of sugar Cancer feeds on sugar. The German biologist Otto Heinrich Warburg won a Nobel Prize for his discovery that the metabolism of malignant tumours is largely dependent on glucose consumption. Insulin production triggers inflammation. Those who eat low-sugar Asian diets tend to have five to ten times fewer hormonally driven cancers than those with diets high in sugar and refined foods. People who want to protect themselves from cancer should reduce their consumption of processed sugar and bleached flour. That means getting used to drinking coffee without sugar, avoiding sugary snacks between meals and cutting down on puddings.
Intensive farming When cows eat grass, their meat and dairy products are perfectly balanced in omega-3 fatty acids (which help to reduce inflammation and cancer cell growth) and omega-6s. But since the 1950s, pastures have been replaced by battery farming; corn, soy and wheat have become the animals’ principal diet. These food sources are rich in omega-6s and contain practically no omega-3s. Omega-6 fats and hormones given to stimulate milk production can trigger the growth of fatty cells and inflammation. The switch from grass to corn-soy combinations has also eliminated another anti-cancer benefit from dairy foods. Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) helps fight the growth of cancer cells, according to research conducted by the National Institute of Agronomy Research in Tours, France. CLA is found primarily in cheese, but only if the cheese comes from grass-fed animals.
Toxins in the environment There has been an unprecedented rise in the number of toxic substances in our environment and in our bodies since the Second World War. In the US, researchers at the Center for Disease Control have found the presence of 148 toxic chemicals in the blood and urine of Americans of all ages. In the past 30 years the World Health Organisation’s International Agency for Research on Cancer has tested 900 chemicals in
the environment and found only one to be categorically noncarcinogenic; 95 have been identified as ‘known carcinogens’, 307 are ‘possible’ and 497 remain ‘unclassified’. Many of these substances continue to be widely used, such as benzene, which is found in petrol, certain plastics, glues, lubricants, dyes and detergents. A significant number of brain tumours such as mine are sensitive to xenoestrogens, such as the pesticide atrazine, which is so powerful that it is capable of changing the sex of fish in the rivers it ends up contaminating. Between 1963 and 1970 from the age of two to nine, I played in cornfields sprayed with atrazine surrounding our country house in Normandy. All my life, until the day I was diagnosed with cancer, I drank milk, ate eggs, yoghurts and meat from animals fed with corn sprayed by pesticides. I ate unpeeled apples that had been sprayed 15 times with pesticides before reaching the grocers’ shelves. I drank tap water drawn from contaminated streams and water tables (atrazine isn’t eliminated by most water purification systems). My two cousins who have had breast cancer played in the same fields, drank the same water and ate the same food. We’ll never know the role atrazine or other agricultural chemicals may have played in our respective cancers.
The organic advantage At the University of Washington a young researcher, Cynthia Curl, questioned whether the organic food her friends gave their children was really healthier. She organised a study of 42 children aged two to five in which the parents had to write down exactly what the children ate for three days before she measured the traces of organochlorine pesticides in their urine. She found those whose diet was approximately 75 per cent labelled organic was distinctly below the minimum fixed by the Environmental Protection Agency. Levels found in children on conventional diets were four times higher than the official safety limit. A subsequent study conducted at the same university of 23 children, who were first fed a conventional diet and then ate nothing but organic foods, found that all traces of pesticides vanished from their urine after a few days and then returned once they resumed a conventional diet.
Inflammation aggravators (which can lead to cancer) • Traditional Western diet • White bread and pasta • Red meat, raised industrially • Oils rich in omega-6 fatty acids (corn, sunflower, safflower, soy) • Dairy products from industrially raised livestock (especially full fat) • Eggs from industrial farming hens fed corn and soy beans) • Unmanaged stress, anger and depression • Less than 20 minutes of physical activity a day • Cigarette smoke, atmospheric pollution, domestic pollutants
continued on next page... January/February 2011
WELLNESS NEWS
21
CRUCIFEROUS VEGETABLES
...from previous page
Inflammation reducers • Mediterranean, Indian and Asian cuisine • Wholewheat bread and pasta • Organic meat from animals fed on grass or with flaxmeal, eaten at most three times a week • Olive oil • Dairy products mainly from animals fed on grass • Eggs of hens raised in a natural environment or fed flaxmeal • Laughter, lightheartedness, serenity • A 50-minute walk three times a week or 30 minutes six times a week • Clean environment
Some foods contain precious anti-cancer molecules. These include:
GREEN TEA Rich in polyphenols that reduce the growth of the new blood vessels needed for tumour growth, green tea is also a powerful antioxidant and activates mechanisms in the liver which help to eliminate cancerous toxins from the body more rapidly. In mice it has been shown to block the effects of chemical carcinogens responsible for breast, lung, oesophageal, stomach and colon cancer.
TURMERIC The most powerful natural anti-inflammatory identified today. In the laboratory it enhances the effectiveness of chemotherapy and reduces tumour growth. To be assimilated by the body tumeric needs to be mixed with black pepper and, ideally, it should be dissolved in oil.
GARLIC, ONIONS, LEEKS, SHALLOTS and CHIVES These all help to regulate blood sugar levels, which in turn reduces insulin secretion and thus the growth of cancer cells. They promote the death of cancer cells in colon, breast, lung and prostate cancer.
MUSHROOMS Shiitake, crimini, portabello and oyster mushrooms stimulate the reproduction and activity of immune cells. They are often used in Japan as a complement to chemotherapy to support the immune system.
Cancer Support Association
FRUITS AND VEGETABLES RICH IN CAROTENOIDS Carrots, yams, sweet potatoes, squash, tomatoes, apricots, beets and all the brightly coloured fruits and vegetables contain vitamin A and lycopene, which have the proven capacity to inhibit the growth of particularly aggressive cancers. Herbs can help reduce the spread of cancer cells
HERBS AND SPICES
Cancer-fighting superfoods
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Cabbages, sprouts, broccoli and cauliflower contain powerful anti-cancer molecules. But boiling will destroy them — steam briefly or stir-fry rapidly in a little olive oil.
www.cancersupportwa.org.au
Rosemary, thyme, oregano, basil and mint are rich in essential oils of the tarpene family which reduce the spread of cancer cells by blocking the enzymes they need to invade neighbouring tissues.
CITRUS FRUIT Oranges, tangerines, lemons and grapefruit contain anti-infammatory flavonoids which are also present in the skin. So buy organic, unwaxed citrus fruit and add the zest to salad dressing or steep the skins in hot water or tea.
The mind-body connection It usually takes anywhere from ten to 40 years for the ‘seed’ of cancer in the form of a cellular anomaly to become a detectable cancerous tumour. No psychological factor has been identified as being capable of creating that cancer seed. However, stress profoundly influences the soil in which that seed develops. Most patients I’ve known remember a period of particular stress in the months or years preceding the diagnosis of their cancer. These situations don’t spark off cancer, but, as an article published in Nature in 2006 observes, they can give it an opportunity to grow faster. Stress causes the release of hormones which trigger inflammation and slows down digestion, tissue repair and the immune system. A study of more than 10,000 women at the University of Helsinki in Finland has shown that the loss of an important emotional relationship doubles the risk of breast cancer. The factors contributing to cancer are so varied that no one should blame themselves for developing the disease. But anyone who has been diagnosed with cancer can learn to live differently. After my relapse and a year of chemotherapy, I had to stop working. My wife Anna and I couldn’t agree on our son’s upbringing and we were having problems in our marriage. I was losing my wife, my family, my work and my health. I could feel my life slipping through my hands. Then I met Michael Lerner, a sociologist and psychotherapist. He helped me to focus on what gave me the most satisfaction rather than what was going wrong.
Health does not depend on any one organ or function but on relations between them. Everyone can learn how to foster that balance. All of the great medical and spiritual traditions in the East – yoga, meditation, t’ai chi, qigong – teach people how to take over the reins of their inner being, concentrating the mind and focusing on the breath. This mastery is one of the best ways to reduce the impact of stress and helps re-establish harmony in a person’s physiology and stimulate the body’s natural defences. The body is a huge system in equilibrium. Alter just one thing – diet, exercise, stress – and the whole is affected. Each small step we take makes the next one seem easier – we can lose the taste for an unbalanced diet or smoking or alcohol because we are more able to detect its impact on our wellbeing. ✦ From: The Daily Mail, UK: www.dailymail.co.uk. This edited extract is taken from Anticancer: A New Way of Life by Dr David Servan-Schreiber, to be published by Michael Joseph on Thursday, price £14.99. To order a copy post-free, call the YOU Bookshop on 0845 606 4204 or visit you-bookshop.co.uk
illness
affects the energy system To restore and maintain optimal energy we need to: 1. Face our fears. Fear carries a powerful creative energy. 2. Feel true compassion for self. Let compassion awaken a gratitude for who you are today. 3. Raise self esteem until we are not affected by approval or criticism. 4. Not to give others our power. It’s about making choices.
‘I have more energy than before I had cancer’ ‘The idea of natural healing just wasn’t part of my world as a doctor before I had cancer,’ says Dr David Servan-Schreiber. ‘I remember discouraging patients, telling them it could harm them, and being irritated by the ones who refused conventional treatment.’ But when David himself became a cancer patient with limited life expectancy and began researching lifestyle factors which help the body to resist cancer, his attitude changed: ‘There is an enormous amount of scientific data which shows that natural healing mechanisms can be more effective than any drug when it comes to controlling cancer.’ He doesn’t deny the importance of Western medicine when it comes to treating cancer,‘but there is no magical recipe. Even chemotherapy isn’t foolproof. It’s not a question of fighting the illness, more about nourishing life by choosing to eat and live in healthier ways, and you don’t need to have cancer to do that.’ David still lectures in psychiatry in America and in France, where he now lives with his wife and son, and has set up a centre for integrated medicine at the University of Pittsburgh. But perhaps most importantly he lives by the practices he preaches. By coming close to death he has understood that the point of life is to live it to the full. ‘I live with cancer cells and who knows how long I have, but I have more energy, better concentration andI enjoy myself more than before I had cancer.’
From: Steps of Heart Centred Living by Christine Page, MD January/February 2011
WELLNESS NEWS
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80/20
Alkaline-Acid Food Theory for Healthy Living By Dhyana Tribe, N.D.
How Did Hippocrates Heal His Patients? Hippocrates’ dietary recommendations were calculated according to present biochemical means, which reveals that our diet should consist of a ratio of 80% alkaline-forming to 20% acid-forming foods. Modern naturopathic healing methods are also based on this principle of 80/20, so how does it work? All foods leave an ash residue after metabolism, which is either alkaline or acidic, depending on the mineral composition of the food and the way in which an individual digests them. Individual stress patterns, the ability to process life’s ups and downs and emotional stability all influence the action of the digestive juices. A happy person in a satisfying job, who takes the time to chew their food well in a peaceful environment, will digest their food and experiences more easily than a stressed, overworked person who has to eat on the run. However a busy, well-organized person with strong digestive juices and a calm disposition may be able to digest better than the person who does everything right according to the health book but worries and frets over every little thing. Stress and negative emotions produce acidic residues, while relaxation, soothing light massage, moderate non-confronting exercise, meditation, unconditional love, prayer, and even moonlight are all alkalising.
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Cancer Support Association
www.cancersupportwa.org.au
Excess acid waste is the cause of many ailments If one has a busy life there are ways to ensure that digestion happens properly: 1. Create peaceful meal times: don’t read or watch television and eat alone if necessary. 2. Give thanks for the gift of food: blessing our food makes it more alkaline. 3. Chew and insalivate your food well. This makes it more alkaline. 4. Focus on good food combinations and add digestive herbs if needed. 5. Digestive enzymes can be taken short term if your body is low on enzymes. 6. Increase the raw content of meals, providing your body with unprocessed material to build its own enzymes 7. Maintain the 80/20 Rule. Consume 80% alkaline-forming and 20% acid-forming foods and drinks each day to build a healthy body. If your diet is largely composed of meats, fish, cheeses, breads, cakes, white sugar, confectioneries, pasta, white flour foods, greasy takeaways, chocolate, coffee, tea, wine, beer and cigarettes, (all acid forming), you may suffer from acidic complaints.
Initial symptoms of over-acidity include • Acne • Agitation • Bloating • Chemical sensitivities to odours and gas heat • Cold hands and feet • Constipation • Diarrhea • Dizziness • Excess head mucous (stuffiness) • Food allergies • Difficulty rising in the morning • Heartburn • Hot urine • Hyperactivity • Indigestion • Irregular heartbeat • Joint pains that travel • Lack of sex drive • Low energy • Metallic taste • Mild headaches • Muscular pain • Panic attacks • P.M.T. • Rapid heartbeat • Rapid panting breath • White-coated tongue
Intermediate symptoms of over-acidity include • Asthma • Bacterial and fungal infections • Bronchitis • Cold sores • Colitis • Cystitis • Depression • Ear aches • Gastritis • Loss of memory
and concentration • Hay fever • Impotence • Insomnia • Migraine headaches • Psoriasis • Sinusitis • Urethritis • Viral infections (colds, flu, etc) Advanced symptoms of over-acidity include: • Cancer (all forms) • Crohn’s Disease • Erythematosus • Hodgkin’s Disease • Leukaemia • Multiple Sclerosis • Schizophrenia • Systemic Lupus • Rheumatoid Arthritis If your body is in an acidic state you should include more ALKALINE FORMING FOODS (most fruits and vegetables) and alkaline-forming mental / emotional states as mentioned before. The best way to judge how acidic you are is to observe your own body symptoms. Saliva and urine tests can be done but these may only show the amount of acidity being released. The real test is to honestly ask yourself ‘how do I feel?’ If your body is storing acid wastes and giving any of the mentioned symptoms, you need to heal yourself with nature’s alkaline packages.
The antidote to excess acidity is alkaline forming foods All ripe fruits, except cranberries, blueberries, plums and prunes are alkalising to different degrees. Alkalinity depends on mineral content and natural sugar content – ripe fruit are more alkaline. All vegetables, except potatoes without skins, are alkalising to different degrees. You will heal yourself in the most basic sense when you reach out for alkalising foods, and as they work their way into your body tissues, neutralizing and releasing stored acid wastes, you will begin to feel lighter, cleaner and more energetic. A common question is ‘Can I eat too much alkaline-forming food?’ According to Dr Baroody (the author of Alkalise or Die), to eat too much alkaline-forming food is a rare occurrence and could only be caused by the ingestion of a hyper-alkalising substance such as lye or excess bicarbonate of soda. If one maintains the 80/20 rule, there is no danger of becoming too alkaline. However, a cleansing or healing crisis may occur with the intake of more alkaline-forming foods than you are normally accustomed to. As the acid wastes are released out of all channels of elimination, you may experience the symptoms of a cold, sinusitis or other initial symptoms of acidity. Unfortunately, as viruses thrive in acid wastes, this is also the time when you may fall prey to opportunistic viruses. The best way to deal with an actual viral or bacterial infection is to continue to alkalise and employ all natural means at your disposal. When the symptoms of a cold or flu are dealt with in an alkalising way you are actually creating better health. Use natural methods: herbal teas, homoeopathic remedies, aromatherapy, massage, deep breathing and rest are all alkalising. This, combined with the intake of alkalising drinks and foods, will alleviate symptoms and release the acidic burden from the body. ✦ Article from: www.healthnews-nz.com. Originally published in “Healthy Options” No 42. Information in this article is obtained from Alkalise or Die, by Dr T. Baroody, which can be ordered from your local book store or direct from the author’s company, Eclectic Press: www.eclecticpress.com.
Alkali-Forming Foods Figs Potatoes Soy Beans Pineapple Lima Beans Cabbage Apricots Grapefruit Spinach Tomatoes Turnip/Beettops Peaches Raisins Apples
Almonds Grapes Carrots Bananas Dates Watermelon Celery Millet Cucumber Brazil nuts Cantaloupe Coconuts Lettuce Buckwheat
Neutral (near/neutral) Ash Foods Milk Vegetable oils
Butter White sugar
Acid-Forming Foods Oysters Rice Most Fish Most nuts (except almond & brazil nut) Organ meats Natural Cheese Veal
W.Wheat/Rye bread Liver lentils Chicken Peanuts Fowl Eggs Most Grains
Most grains are acid-forming, except millet and buckwheat, which are considered to be alkaline. Sprouted seeds and grains become more alkaline in the process of sprouting. All vegetable and fruit juices are highly alkaline. The most alkaliforming juices are: fig juice, green juices of all green vegetables and tops, carrots, beet, celery, pineapple and citrus juices. January/February 2011
WELLNESS NEWS
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super summer
Alkaline-Acid Effects of Some Common Foods FOOD EFFECT Molasses .......................................................+60.0 Beans, Dried Lima ......................................+42.0 Raisins ............................................................+34.0 Figs, Dried .....................................................+33.0 Beet Greens .................................................+27.0 Spinach .........................................................+27.0 Yeast, Dried Brewer’s ................................+17.1 Almonds .......................................................+12.0 Carrots ...........................................................+11.0 Soya Flour.....................................................+9.5 Celery .............................................................+7.8 Grapefruit +7.0 Potatoes, Sweet ..........................................+6.7 Tomatoes ......................................................+5.6 Strawberries ................................................+5.5 Peas, Dried ....................................................+5.0 Mushrooms..................................................+4.0 Apples............................................................+3.7 Milk, Whole...................................................+2.3 Buttermilk ....................................................+2.2 Onions ...........................................................+1.5 Melon .............................................................+1.0 Butter .............................................................0.0 Honey ............................................................-1.1 Bread, Wholewheat ...................................-3.6 Cheese, Cottage .........................................-4.5 Cheese, Cheddar ........................................-5.0 Rice, Brown...................................................-5.7 Buckwheat Flour ........................................-7.1 Walnuts, English .........................................-7.8 Codfish ..........................................................-8.4 Lamb Chops ................................................-9.7 Beef Liver ......................................................-11.0 Beef loin ........................................................-11.0 Eggs ................................................................-11.0 Chicken .........................................................-14.0 Wheat Germ ................................................-20.0
CALORIES 40 91 131 83 28 22 35 88 40 82 8 43 175 20 36 92 30 90 145 74 23 17 103 80 129 28 110 106 77 97 79 260 149 385 82 141 76
MEASURE 2 tsp 1/8 cup 1/3 cup 1.5 cup 1 cup 1 cup 1T 12 nuts 1 large 2T 2 stalks 1/2 cup 1 pared 1 small 12 hulled 2T 7 1 large 1 glass 1 glass 1 1 cup 2 pats 1T 2 slices 1/8 cup 1 cube 3T 2T 12 shelled 120 g 2 chops 120 g 120 g 1 120 g 2T
salads
apple cider vinegar & goji berry salad It is said in Tibet that eating ‘Goji’ berries in the morning will make you happy the entire day! Others have proclaimed goji berries as a superfood with many amazing health benefits. This simple salad combines extremely healthy ingredients and also tastes delicious! Ingredients 1/3 cup goji berries 1 cup bean sprouts 2 cups English spinach leaves ginger finely chopped 1/5 cup apple cider vinegar 3 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice black pepper to taste
Method Alkaline Effect is denoted (+) and Acid Effect is denoted (-)
This table was printed in Prevention Magazine as part of an article reporting on research which suggests that it is easier for smokers to give up smoking if they keep their bodies in proper alkaline balance.
1. Soak goji berries in apple cider vinegar for at least one hour, then combine all ingredients. Sprinkle lemon juice and black pepper over salad. Serve immediately.
Recipe by Mandy BeckerKnox c
eat less to beat cancer Being overweight increases your risk of cancer, and shortens survival times. But the good news is that research from NorthWestern in America showed that if you correct your excess weight it will increase your survival times. Equally, do not lose too much weight, a severe occurrence in about 7 per cent of chemotherapy patients – cachexia (as it is called) – will cut survival times. Eat properly, not fattening foods, dairy and empty calories, but good foods that don’t feed your cancer at the same time. Hydrazine sulphate has been shown in research, including clinical trials, from the USA to Russia to reduce the dangers of both high glucose and cachexia. No one ever seems to know about this and it is ignored!
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Recipe by Mandy BeckerKnox canceractive.com Cancer Support Association
www.cancersupportwa.org.au
raw food desserts asian coleslaw This salad goes well with almost any natural foods entrée. Toasted sunflower seeds add concentrated nutrition and extra flavour Ingredients 5 tablespoon raw nut butter of choice (or roasted peanut butter) 5 tablespoon oil (safflower, sunflower, or your choice) 5 tablespoon rice wine vinegar 3 tablespoon braggs amino sauce or soy sauce 3 tablespoon brown sugar in the raw 1 1/2 tablespoon garlic, minced 2 tablespoon ginger root, minced 5 cup green cabbage, thinly sliced 2 cup red cabbage, thinly sliced 2 cups napa cabbage 2 large carrots, julienned 2 yellow or red bell peppers, thinly sliced 5 stalks green onions, chopped 3/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped toasted sunflower seeds
Method In a large bowl, whisk together oil, rice vinegar, peanut butter, soy sauce, sugar, garlic, and ginger. In a separate large bowl, mix the green cabbage, red cabbage, napa cabbage, carrots, bell peppers, green onions, and cilantro. Toss salad with peanut butter mixture before serving. Serve at room temperature.
From: www.cybermacro.com
baby beets & sour cream Ingredients 1 can baby beets 1 container sour cream (with added garlic and parsley) pinch of cumin 1/2 red onion finely diced spring onion for garnish
Method Mix the sour cream, cumin and red onion into a bowl with the beets. Sprinkle the spring onion for garnish.
Recipe by Christine Robbins
By Nicholas Tan
Raw food deserts are just as delicious as traditional puddings – and so much better for you! Today white sugar, white flour, dairy products, trans and saturated fats, refined cars and excess calories are on the “no-no” list..it is still possible to indulge a little by making some raw food desserts. Raw food desserts can be made using nuts, dried fruits, and avocados instead of white flour and white sugar. They have a lot of flavour, looks and are good for you. Oh yes...and they are easy to put together. Jenny Cornbleet has a book out called “Raw Food Made Easy for 1 or 2 People”. In it re desserts – cakes, cookies, fruit crisps, pies, tarts, puddings, mousses, shakes, and ice cream recipes all raw – for holidays and all meals. Guess what? They taste better than their sugar laden counterparts. You do not have to give up all your comfort foods, just find a healthier recipe for it. You will find the dessert to be much tastier.
Flourless Chocolate Cake with Raspberry Sauce One recipe from Jenny’s book is for a “Flourless Chocolate Cake with Raspberry Sauce” which calls for 1 ½ cups raw walnuts, dash of salt, 8 pitted dates, ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa or carob powder, ½ tsp vanilla extract, and 2 tsp water. For the raspberry sauce you use 1 cup fresh or frozen raspberries (thaw and drain if frozen) with ¼ cup pitted dates, soaked for 30 minutes and drained. Place the walnuts and salt in a food processor with the S blade and process until finely ground. Add dates, cocoa powder, and vanilla... process until mixture becomes sticky. Add water and process briefly. Transfer to a serving plate and form a 5 inch round cake. Place the raspberries and dates in a blender and mix until smooth, pouring over the cake just before serving. January/February 2011
WELLNESS NEWS
27
love is... Love is...
A collection of funny love quotes as told by kids
Love is that first feeling you feel before all the bad stuff gets in the way.
Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday.
When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn’t bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That’s love.
During my piano recital, I was on a stage and scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn’t scared anymore.
When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You know that your name is safe in their mouth.
My mummy loves me more than anybody. You don’t see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night.
Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other. Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs. Love is when someone hurts you. And you get so mad but you don’t yell at them because you know it would hurt their feelings. Love is what makes you smile when you’re tired. Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK. Love is what’s in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen. There are two kinds of love – Our love & God’s love. But God makes both kinds of them. Love is important to God.
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Cancer Support Association
www.cancersupportwa.org.au
Love is when mummy gives daddy the best piece of chicken. Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day. I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones. When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you. When you tell someone something bad about yourself and you’re scared they won’t love you anymore. But then you get surprised because not only do they still love you, they love you even more. You really shouldn’t say ‘I love you’ unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget, and it’s good for them to get reminded. Love is hugging. Love is kissing. Love is saying no sometimes.
Healings for Everyone By Dominique Finney
This poem is a vision of health care and the path of medicines The aroma of a highland rose pulsating against the wind A warm bowl of ginger and lentil soup, carrot juice or a dram of whiskey. Pharmaceuticals Hormonal and emotional support. Meditating by the ocean, diving in its deep cool calm. Sipping Lemon water, so cleansing on more levels than one. Mind having its Healing place over matter we can all be strong and thrive. The needle that holds life The emergency, another life saved. Freshly picked comfrey tea from my organic garden. The sages use sage. Past regressions, opening doors, easing the pain that gently slips away. Feeling the blissful moment, consciousness in transformation. Channelling, breathing freely, we ritualise the oracles, toss the coins, the flick of a card. We change patterns of our making, the conscious decision to heal and to refresh our soul. Visualisation of our beauty within. Awareness is just awareness. These things are all medicine. The highest energy we can muster from above, coming down like a cascading sensation of completeness. Are we grounded? We chant, meditate, rebirth, reiki and sling crystals across our beings. All for healing. We eat, drink and breathe our medicine. Lighting a candle to the flame of gratefulness. Yogic, tantric, meditative, art therapies, elevated and surreal. The giving of our Doctor’s learnings, ritual is cultural. The surgeons have their preciseness of skill. Trusting and complete. Wherever it comes from? Herbalism, traditional cultural remedies, western biomedicines, chinese traditional, ayurvedic, early vedic, siddha, reiki, yunani, crystal healing, spiritual, shamanism, homeopathy, orthodox, avatar, fox, a prescription from your trusted practitioner, or a pebble on the beach. The aim is the same... To cure Or to circumvent the tragedy of dis-ease.
Healing our Earth and her sacred spirits. Our Universe and all that resides under and around her umbrella. Whatever your bent or belief. In the name of survival, growth, understanding, personal indulgences or scientific advance. We eat, drink and breathe our medicines. Never before have we had so much access to knowledge and learning. The secrets of the medics are freely available to all, for the asking. The golden key has unlocked past exclusiveness creating a kaleidoscope of healings and medicines. No more can we close our minds Every way is a way. Every Healing is a success. Every Potion that cures is a medicine. Isolated in the lab with billions of dollars in backing Channelled in the snow capped caves of a rare and elusive mountain top Or randomly mixed in the alchemist’s kitchen Our medicines are evolving. We can only be grateful that we have the resources available to gain the skills and healings we need. Always the answer comes Always at the right time and way. The future of the medicines are exciting and frightening Where does it lead us? Do we allow the huge advances to work for us or against the good of everyone? There are serious environmental and ethical conflicts. Exploitations and abuses that cloud the Hippocratic Oath. As individuals we can only be honest in our work , share the information we have and create good medicines. I would love to see everyone work together for the common good. For the alternative ways to blend harmoniously with the orthodox ways. A professional respect created between the different beliefs Educational , spiritual , physical and emotional status of practitioners With the governing bodies recognising these differences Allowing medicine and science to grow to its true potential. Eliminating the greed and fulfilling the planets medical needs. Together we grow.
Dominique Finney ‘s book “The Wellness Zone us available for purchase. Email wllness@medicineroom.net
about Wellness News Wellness News is unique in that it is an extremely positive, uplifting, intelligent and beautiful publication focusing on wellness, healing and the environment. Wellness News is designed to oer hope and life-enhancing wellness strategies for people who may be seriously ill, and a broad spectrum of information for people interested in maintaining good health.
mind-body healing integrative therapies lifestyle & environment inspiring personal stories current news & information nutrition & recipes inspirations
Wellness News articles are commissioned or sourced from highly regarded international journals, publications and websites and are divided into seven key areas for complete cancer wellness and healing: mind-body healing; integrative therapies; nutrition and recipes; inspiring personal stories; lifestyle and environment; current news & information; inspirations. Topics covered are spirituality, healing modalities, complementary therapies, integrative medicine – balanced with inspirational stories, recipes and the latest nutrition and wellness trends, and also information on how the environment can impact on health and wellbeing. We place great value on personal cancer stories for their insight into how people manage in challenging circumstances. Also important to our balance of content is poetry and art for the healing potential of words and images. Visually, our magazine is harmonious and pleasing – designed to inspire the healing spirit. And because we care about the environment all print editions of Wellness News are printed with vegetable based ink on 100% recycled, oxygen-bleached paper.
In fond memory of those who have shared part of their journey with us... Patrick Lynch Donna Brennan Nicholas Clark Dallas (Dal) Yeo
Mary Gjakun Patricia Gillham Ann Cameron
Do not stand at my grave and we ep. I am not ther e. I do not sle ep. I am a thousand winds that blow. I am the diamond glints on snow. 30 Support Association www.cancersupportwa.org.au I amCancer the sunlight on ripened grain. I am the gentle autumn rain...
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Please post to: Cancer Support Association of WA PO Box 325, Cottesloe W.A. 6911 OR email: csa@cancersupport wa.org.au
D.O.B.
Postal Address Phone No. (home)
(work or mobile)
Email Website username:
/
Occupation (5-12 characters only)
Website password:
(5-12 characters only)
www.cancersupportwa.org.au The Cancer Support Association of WA Inc is a registered charity and non-profit organisation, formed to help people affected by cancer. The Association relies on donations, bequests and member subscriptions to continue its services. January/February 2011
WELLNESS NEWS
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