CTW Magazine DECEMBER 2014

Emotional Wellbeing DUBEN HOLISTIC CHIROPRACTIC CENTER 10 WAYS TO DE-STRESS

DECEMBER 2014 www.ctwmag.com

UNDERSTANDING ADDICTION EMOTIONAL FREEDOM TECHNIQUE BALANCING YOUR BRAIN’S CHEMISTRY

GINA GIAMBI PETERS

OF CENTER 4 SPECIAL NEEDS

Kapil Moza, MD, FACS Spine & Neurological Surgeon

Contents

EMOTIONAL WELLBEING DECEMBER

DEPARTMENTS

14/

06/ PUBLISHER’S LETTER

Moving Wistfully Through Changes

2014

18/

26/ NATURAL APPROACH

Cocaine and Sugar Addictions

by Dr. Sharon Norling

26/

22/ 37/ FYI

Gluten-Free Flour Power

38/ BEYOND GREEN LIVING

10 Ways to De-stress Your Life Permanently

by Jan Tucker, MBA

42/ DIRECTORY LISTING 46/ RECIPE

Pecan-Cranberry Tart

10/ CONNECTION

Duben Holistic Chiropractic Center— A Unique Holistic Approach

by Alicia Doyle

FEATURES 14/ HEALTH VIEW 1

Emotional Freedom Technique or Tapping

30/ MIND & SPIRIT

Do You Have a License to Carry Those Emotions?

by Cher Bodner, CHt

by Wayne M. Levine

18/ HEALTH VIEW 2

ON THE COVER: Gina Giambi Peters of Center 4 Special Needs. Hair and make-up by Kasea Cummings. Photo by Mary Myers

CTW MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2014

Color Therapy— Healing Through the Spectrum of Light

by Alicia Doyle

22/ HEALTH VIEW 3

You Become What You Think, Eat, and Do!

by Dr. Sabira Saifuddin

33/ PHYSICIAN PROFILE

Dr. Anthony Virella

34/ FROM THE HEART Center4SpecialNeeds Strives to Bridge Gaps for Children Who Fall Between the Cracks

by Alicia Doyle

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SINUS INSTITUTE Alen Cohen M.D., F.A.C.S.

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PUBLISHER’S LETTER

MOVING WISTFULLY THROUGH CHANGES

MOVING WISTFULLY THROUGH CHANGES “Change the way you look at things and the things around you will change.” Great statement to live by—but deeply challenging when in the midst of emotional upsets and issues.

ANN K. CASTLE FOUNDER, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF & PUBLISHER

Mid-October through November has been difficult at best for me to deal with and to view with positive eyes and heart. My sister passed away October 28 from complications from a long battle with lupus and my stepmother suffered a stroke the beginning of November. So how does one step into the holidays with all this trauma, keep one’s eyes towards the heavens and view things differently? On the surface it is painful and changes everything about the dynamics of the family unit. It changes us from the inside out. Only through faith, community support and professional assistance can we see the light again and change the way we look at everything—challenges, blessings and loss—all of it. Taking the time to grieve, to be with family and to look for support when needed gives one the ability to look at the experiences and see the hidden blessings. In this issue, we address our emotional well-being as we step through the holidays—the most fragile time when memories surface and force us to face them with an open heart. We can choose to either allow the salt of painful memories to pour into our open, wounded hearts or to see where the living, joyful memories lie and embrace them. This is how we begin to change how we see things and shift the energies around us. Easier said than done, but not impossible. So as we step into the last month of the holiday season of 2014, let’s try to see the light and the love that surrounds us daily—the memories our friends and family members left behind, the tiny blessings and lessons that emerge from heartache and loss and live with purpose for one another. I wish all of you much joy, inner peace and bright blessings during this holiday season. Be kind to yourself and to others. Whatever your journey was and is now, may you be surrounded by the healing and loving wings of the angels. Happy and Healthy Holidays,

Ann

CTW MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2014

FITNESS AND YOUR HEART The only resolution for 2015 you should have is for your health. Let us give you a great start to the New Year! CTW Magazine will now be a bi-monthly issue and the first issue of the year will be available on stands and online near you for the months of January and February. www.ctwmag.com

Re-Balance Don't know what’s WRONG?

FOUNDER, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, PUBLISHER

ANN K. CASTLE

MARKETING DIRECTOR AND WEBMASTER DUSTIN SOEKER CREATIVE DIRECTOR JODY L. LEVITAN

Get Yourself Tested

COPY EDITING JAN TUCKER, MBA

To accurately diagnose and help guide treatment of ADHD, Anxiety, Depression, Addiction, Insomnia, and Mood Dysregulation, we are now offering

ACCOUNTING DONNA BRYANT PHOTOGRAPHY MARY MYERS

NEUROTRANSMITTER TESTING Entails testing for abnormalities in Brain chemistry. By correcting Brain chemistry with medications and natural supplements we can bring the balance back, thereby ensuring optimum emotional and physical well being.

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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS CHER BODNER, CHT ALICIA DOYLE WAYNE M. LEVINE, MA SHARON NORLING, MD, MBA SABIRA SAIFUDDIN, MD JAN TUCKER, MBA CURRENT COVERAGE AREAS MONTHLY TO VENTURA COUNTY, WEST SAN FERNANDO VALLEY, MALIBU AND THE CONEJO VALLEY; AGOURA HILLS, CALABASAS, CAMARILO, MOORPARK, NEWBURY PARK, NORTHRIDGE, OAK PARK, OXNARD, SIMI VALLEY, THOUSAND OAKS, VENTURA, WESTLAKE VILLAGE, WEST HILLS, WOODLAND HILLS

ADVERTISING INQUIRIES MARIAN GREEN marian@ctwmag.com 818.943.0751 EDITORIAL INQUIRIES ANN K. CASTLE ann@ctwmag.com or 805.341.2972

FAMILY PSYCHIATRY

ALL OTHER INQUIRIES info@ctwmag.com

A Division of Westlake Wellness Center

Sabira Saifuddin MD Medical Director

805-341-3416 www.cuttingedgepsychiatry.com 5655 Lindero Canyon Road, Suite 405 Westlake Village, CA 91362 8

CTW MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2014

ADVISORY BOARD

ANDREA DOCTOR, LCSW, DCSW Home Health Administrator for Buena Vista Palliative Care and Home Health STEVEN GREENMAN, DDS Specializing in Advanced Cosmetic, Implant & Sedation Dentistry, Snoring & Sleep Apnea HILDA MALDONADO, MD Specializing in Functional Medicine, Anti-Aging Medicine & Hormone Therapy SHARON NORLING, MD Board Certified OB/GYN, Holistic/Integrative Medicine, Medical Acupuncture, Nutrition & Functional Medicine DENISE NOYER-EREZ, LAC, FABORM Licensed Acupuncturist Specializing in Women’s Health ADITYA SHARMA, PHD Founder of Geeta Ayurvedic Specializing in ayurvedic and herbal medicine ALON STEINBERG, MD, FACC Board Certified Cardiologist JAN TUCKER, MBA Founder of Whitelotusliving.com Specializing in green living, environmental awareness & spiritual yoga DAVID VILLARREAL, DDS Centers for Healing Specializing in Holistic Dentistry

WWW.CTWMAG.COM The opinions expressed here are those of the individual writer and not necessarily those of the publishers or management of YHC Magazine. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Publication of the name or photo of any person or organization in YHC Magazine should not be construed as an indication of that person’s expressed opinion. Advertisers and their agencies assume responsibility and liability for the content of their advertisement in YHC Magazine. Photographers whose work is published in any advertising or editorial content within YHC Magazine agree to indemnify and save harmless the publishers from all liability, loss and expense due to a photographer’s failure to gain a model release. YHC Magazine is not responsible for loss of or damage to unsolicited manuscripts, unsolicited artwork, or any other unsolicited material. Unsolicited material will not be returned. YHC Magazine’s liability in the event of an error is limited to a printed correction. YHC Magazine does not assume liability for products or services advertised herein.

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CONNECTION

DUBEN HOLISTIC CHIROPRACTIC CENTER

DR. ALAN DUBEN

DR. LINDSAY ERICKSON

DUBEN HOLIS CHIROPRACT A UNIQUE HOLISTIC APP

story by Alicia Doyle photography by Mary Myers 10

CTW MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2014

“The holistic approach we take is what makes us different,” said Dr. Alan Duben, founder of the practice located in Westlake Village. “I believe we may be one of the only practices in the Conejo Valley that does all that we do.”

SERVING PATIENTS FROM AS YOUNG AS A FEW DAYS OLD TO FOLKS IN THEIR 80S, DUBEN HOLISTIC CHIROPRACTIC CENTER IS KNOWN FOR ITS HOLISTIC APPROACH THAT INCORPORATES NOT ONLY STRUCTURAL THERAPIES— BUT NUTRITIONAL AND EMOTIONAL THERAPIES AS WELL.

With a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from California State University Sacramento followed by pre-med courses, Duben graduated cum laude from the Palmer College of Chiropractic West, where he received The Clinical Excellence Award— the college’s highest award for clinical excellence. Duben believes many health problems can be treated through proper nutrition, supplementation from organic food vitamin concentrates, and emotional and structural balance. “Your body functions as a complete system. When one part of your system is not working properly, it creates blockages that lead your brain to transmit incorrect signals to your body, causing pain, discomfort and other disturbances,” Duben explained. “Mental or emotional stress, or unhealthy foods such as hydrogenated oils or aspartame, can disrupt the flow of information from your brain, with the same results.”

D R . L I N D S AY ERICKSON Duben Holistic Chiropractic Center is also home to Dr. Lindsay Erickson, who has been restoring health and function to the people of the Conejo Valley for nearly a decade. “I started out in school pre-med with a focus in neurology,” recalled Erickson, a chiropractor specializing in applied kinesiology, Neuro Emotional Technique and nutritional therapies through whole food supplementation. “The more I learned in school, the more I didn’t agree with—the medical model that drugs and surgery was the way to cure disease or health issues.” While researching different careers within the medical field Erickson came across the philosophy of the chiropractic profession, which stated the body has an innate intelligence to heal itself without drugs or surgery. “It really spoke to me so I decided that was the profession for me,” Erickson said. “I had never met or been adjusted by a chiropractor before and didn’t really know what it entailed. But if that was its philosophy then I knew I could build a career behind that.”

TIC IC CENTER ROACH

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CONNECTION

DUBEN HOLISTIC CHIROPRACTIC CENTER

“Dr. Lindsay and I are pretty much equals across the board,” Duben added. “We can help more people this way because we do have some patients who are more comfortable discussing things with the opposite sex or the same sex, depending on the situation.”

“Emotions such as fear, anger, grief and many others can negatively affect us long after the original event that caused them. Past experiences can sometimes lock emotions into our body leaving a physical impression of a stressful situation most often from your childhood,” Duben explained.

KINESIOLOGY TO ASSESS THE BODY

“When our body fails to let go of these emotions we can find ourselves with unexplained aversions, self-sabotaging behaviors, destructive beliefs, phobias and many chronic physical problems,” he said. “Some chronic neck pains and abdominal pains are due to past emotional and physical traumas that occurred during a high state of stress.”

Duben and Erickson use applied kinesiology to assess the body as its own diagnostic tool. “Simply put, kinesiology is the study of movement,” Duben explained. “Just as your computer responds when you press certain keys, a kinesiologist gets a response by pressing keys on your body,” Duben said. “The response tells me how the various organs and meridians in your body are functioning. This technique, commonly known as muscle testing, is a simple, safe way to communicate with your body,” Duben continued. “It is used to diagnose the structural, chemical/nutritional or mental/ emotional imbalances creating your symptoms and causing problems,” he said. “This is a form of holistic medicine that lays the foundation for your ongoing good health.”

CTW MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2014

MYTHS DISPELLED Erickson believes there are myths surrounding chiropractic, such as patients only see a chiropractor when they are in pain or need a crack. “The truth is, just like you go to the dentist to prevent gum disease you go to the chiropractor to prevent disease from occurring,” Erickson said.

“By helping your body work correctly and move correctly, you will heal more effectively and efficiently,” Duben said.

“The nervous system is the master system of the body—it tells everything what to do,” she emphasized. “It is one big sensory input/output system,” Erickson said. “So if there is something interfering with that system, such as a bone, nerve, muscle, ligament, nutritional deficiency or emotional component/stressor, then the body’s function will be interrupted or will begin to malfunction.”

Duben and Erickson are also both certified practitioners of NET—Neuro Emotional Technique—which identifies and helps a person let go of stuck emotional patterns that can lead to physical symptoms.

“After the correction, many patients report feeling a heavy weight has been lifted from their shoulders,” he said. “That’s because their nervous system has improved in its function helping people to remove these unwanted and unneeded reactions that have gotten stuck in the body.”

Duben and Erickson both use the gentle touch of applied kinesiology to uncover imbalances in the body affecting a patient’s overall health and well-being. Then they adjust the body and optimize nutrition to redirect information to the right place so the individual can regain balance.

NEURO EMOTIONAL TECHNIQUE

NET “is the process of identifying these emotional reactions that are stuck in our body, and releasing them through a gentle and effective process of hands on healing,” Duben added.

Erickson added that her ultimate goal is “to serve our community through

our noble purpose and help as many people as possible. As we grow we hope to build our business by adding more chiropractors and other health practitioners as well to create a true wellness center.”

A V O C AT I O N I S B O R N Duben was a college athlete with plans to be a professional coach when he was benched by a serious lowerback injury in 1996. “I dragged myself to lots of traditional doctors and therapists trying to get relief from the excruciating pain but I wasn’t getting better,” recalled Duben, who was a student at Cal State University Sacramento at the time, studying kinesiology. “After two months of searching and frustration, I came across a doctor of chiropractic who got me back on my feet in less than a week,” said Duben, who went on to become two-time

From left to right: Nikki Notrica, Aubrianna Rizero-Leon and Cherí Cooper

collegiate national champion in 1997 and 1998. “I owe a great deal to him for my athletic accomplishments; he kept my body balanced and after that I rarely got hurt or even ill.” The experience was so profound, “I realized I could help more people

as a chiropractor than a coach,” Duben said. Duben Holistic Chiropractic Center is located at 3625 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Suite 171, in Westlake Village. To make an appointment or for more information, call 805.494.1339.

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HEALTH VIEW 1

EMOTIONAL FREEDOM TECHNIQUE OR TAPPING

EMOTIONAL FREEDOM TECHNIQUE OR TAPPING CALMING MIND AND BODY by Cher Bodner, CHt

WHEN WE THINK OF FRED ASTAIRE OR GENE KELLY, MANY OF US HAVE FOND MEMORIES OF THEIR INCREDIBLE TALENTS AS TAP DANCERS. BUT I GUARANTEE YOU—THE KIND OF TAPPING PEOPLE ARE DOING TODAY DOESN’T RESEMBLE THAT OF THOSE GOLDEN YEARS. A NEW KIND OF TAPPING IS TAKING OVER THE WORLD UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF WHAT WE NOW CALL ENERGY PSYCHOLOGY.

CTW MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2014

Tapping or Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) is an approach in energy healing developed more than 20 years ago that helps one unblock the negative thinking that sabotages wellness. The technique combines Eastern philosophies of the mind-body connection to healing with Western psychology and psychotherapy ideas. EFT is a very simple and gentle stress relief technique that can be learned by anyone, including adolescents. It involves the body’s energy system much in the same way as acupuncture (but without the needles). This energy system, or the subtle energy running throughout our bodies, is carried though tiny pathways called meridians. The Chinese discovered this vital energy more than 5000 years ago calling it “Chi” or “Ki.” Everything is made up of energy, and chi is our life force.

HOW YOUR BODY FUNCTIONS Blood flows through your veins, breath flows through your lungs and food travels through your digestive system. You also have energy flowing through your meridians. If any of these systems are severely disrupted, the body is in serious danger. Have you ever experienced

When you free up your energy flow in the body, the negative emotions will clear.

an electrical shock? Just imagine being severely shocked. Your electrical system could actually flat-line and you would not live—just as you cannot live without blood, oxygen or food. Dr. Roger Callahan, a psychologist and pioneer in the field of tapping on meridian lines for release of stress and anxiety in the body is famously quoted as saying, “The cause of all negative emotions is a disruption in the body’s energy system.” “I’m fat,” “I’m so stupid,” and “My family says I’ve always been too sensitive,” “People don’t like me.” When you have distressing thoughts or memories—those feelings or negative emotions that you believe, are the missing link to a healthy working energy system. That is why EFT, this technique of working with your unresolved negative emotions, is a major contributor to relieving most of your physical and mental pain.

MISSING LINK—ZZZT Think of your body as a TV set. Even though you can’t see the electricity, you know it’s there because you are receiving a clear image and you hear the sound. But if you poked around inside the TV with a screwdriver, causing a trauma to the TV, the electrical flow would be disrupted with a possible “zzzt.” The TV would experience its own form of negative emotions just like your body does when you become consumed with negative thoughts and feelings. This zzzt or disruption in your energy system may have been overlooked when dealing with the mind-body connection. But when you free up your energy flow in the body, the negative emotions will clear. Knowing that negative thoughts can cause stress, anxiety, insomnia and disease, we have come to realize that the zzzt, or energy disruption is the missing link or step between the

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HEALTH VIEW 1

EFT

distressing thought and the negative emotion. It is a disruption of the body’s energy system where a zzzt-effect occurs. This disruption can be addressed with EFT therapy.

HOW EFT WORKS If you only deal with the distressing thoughts or memories themselves, you won’t be addressing the zzzt. However, if you fix the disruption or zzzt, you can still have the same memory or thought but you won’t be able to find the negative emotions tied to it. The negative emotions will dissipate. “When we balance the disruption of energy flow through tapping on the meridian lines, the trigger disappears.” A basic explanation of tapping involves focusing on the negative emotions at hand—let’s say anger at a certain person, anxiety around a certain fear or phobia or anything that bothers you. While keeping your mental focus on the issue, you will tap in a specific sequence with your fingertips five to seven times on each of the body’s meridian points. After several rounds of tapping, the body restores its energy back into balance and the problems are alleviated—completely gone.

RESEARCH AND SCIENCE B E H I N D TA P P I N G Harvard Medical School and many other prestigious universities have performed major studies on the effects of EFT. All have confirmed the powerful benefits of this technique. Research has found that the brain’s stress and fear response is controlled by the part of the brain called the amygdala (a-mig’-da-la), also called the smoke detector of the brain. “Oh, no—something is happening. Here comes trouble,” says the amygdala. “Something is threatening our safety.” It then signals the body into the fight-flight response. Tapping on the meridian points sends calming responses to the body and the amygdala recognizes it is safe. Tapping is a very powerful tool to use every day or whenever needed. We can’t all tap dance like Fred Astaire and Gene Kelley but anyone can do this kind of tapping. We all know life isn’t that easy, and the more tools we have to help ourselves, the more we can enjoy our lives in a more productive and harmonious way.

Cher Bodner, CHt (certified hypnotherapist) and master guided imagery practitioner, is an EFT facilitator with an office in Tarzana. You can reach her at 818.324.1082, www.livinglifelivingwell.com or cbodnerhypnosis@ gmail.com. 16

CTW MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2014

Complete Body tightening & FaCial aesthetiC Sherry Thomas MD, MPH, FACOG Board Certified Female Pelvic Medicine & Reconstructive Surgery Board Certified American College of Obstetrics & Gynecology Certified Thermi Aesthetic SPECIALTY Complete Body Tightening & Facial Aesthetic Using the Novel Thermi Technology

thermi smooth Is a noninvasive procedure for improving skin laxity. It is ideal for treating the problem areas around eyes, mouth, cheeks and neck. thermi tight is a technique that enables temperature controlled radio frequency directly underneath the skin with a tiny probe removing local fat and laxity on the face and body resulting in lifting, contouring and tightening.

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HEALTH VIEW 2

COLOR THERAPY

COLOR THERAPY HEALING THROUGH

THE SPECTRUM OF LIGHT by Alicia Doyle

INVESTIGATED AS MEDICINE SINCE 2000 BC, COLOR THERAPY IS A CENTURIES-OLD CONCEPT USED SUCCESSFULLY TO CURE VARIOUS DISEASES FROM DEPRESSION TO LUNG ISSUES AND FROM MIGRAINES TO KIDNEY DYSFUNCTIONS.

CTW MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2014

As proven through science, we are all made of energy — in other words, forms of light

HOW DOES IT WORK? When we speak of color, we mean energy waves — and every color, each with its own frequency, is a form of energy. Light is electromagnetic radiation, which is the fluctuation of electric and magnetic fields in nature. Color derives from the spectrum of light. The visible spectrum is the portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that can be detected by the human eye. In other words, color is a product of the interaction of energy and matter, according to A Critical Analysis of Chromotherapy and Its Scientific Evolution, written by Samina T. Yousuf Azeemi and S. Mohsin Raza of the Department of Physics at University of Balochistan in Quetta, Pakistan. Their review explains that chromotherapy is a method of treatment using the visible spectrum — colors — of electromagnetic radiation to cure diseases. “Sufficient published material can be found about the subject that provides a complete system of treatment focused on the treatment methodologies

and healing characteristics of colors.” Chromotherapy is a narrow band in the cosmic electromagnetic energy spectrum, known to humankind as the visible color spectrum, according to their review. It is composed of reds, greens, blues and their combined derivatives, producing the perceivable colors that fall between the ultraviolet and the infrared ranges of energy or vibrations. These visible colors with their unique wavelength and oscillations, when combined with a light source and selectively applied to impaired organs or life systems, provide the necessary healing energy required by the body. On a scientific level, the review notes that Newtonian ideas helped us to understand solid matter and moving objects found in the earth’s gravitational field. Einstein, however, through his renowned equation E = mc2, determined that energy and matter are dual expressions of the same universal substance.

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HEALTH VIEW 2

COLOR THERAPY

The review goes on to explain that the key to understanding chromotherapy — or vibrational healing — lies not in the Newtonian mechanistic approach, but in rerouting energy fields that form complex relationships with other fields, such as those surrounding the physical/cellular substance and others relating to more non-physical energies. “For in every organ there is an energetic level at which the organ functions best. Any departure from that vibratory rate results in pathology, whereas restoring the appropriate energy levels to the physical organs results in a healed body.” “As proven through science, we are all made of energy — in other words, forms of light,” explained Leslie Sloane of Southern California, a certified color metaphysician for 18 years and author of Auracle’s Colour Therapy: The Vibration of Love Through Colour. “We are all walking, living rainbows, as light contains all colors,” she said. When it comes to using colors for healing, “the healing must come from living vibrations of those colors made with crystals, plants, flowers, gems — anything from Mother Earth and the sun. If used in this manner, color can bring us physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually back into complete balance and harmony. As our cells are saturated with the higher vibrations of living energies with color, the lower vibrations in the cells causing illness will begin to adapt to the higher frequencies, thus causing a release of pain whether it be physical, mental, emotional or spiritual.” “The use of color for healing has been around for many years and as we learn more of how to implement color, light and sound, we become more well, and therefore healing can happen in a much more rapid and efficient manner,” said Dave Savedra of Union, California, who began learning about color therapy when he was 7 years old. In 1995, he met Joseph Crane, who mentored Savedra in the ways of applying color to bring healing to the mind, body and emotions. “Color therapy has the ability to heal — each color has a specific use,” Savedra said. For instance, “red is for courage and leadership. Orange is for promotion and joy. Yellow is for natural knowing and insight. Green is for balance and healing. Blue is for wisdom and teachings. Purple is for creation and manifestation. Violet is for service and mercy.” “Colors are a visual vibration, and as such, immediately move through what is called the ‘eye brain’ into the pituitary gland, moving into the endocrine system, and 20

CTW MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2014

then into the central nervous system,” Sloane explained. “This is why we have instant emotional responses to the colors we choose, or those we avoid. By connecting through the visual, unconscious issues are being addressed that sit within the body.”

everyone has felt light with very little or absolutely no pain left.” Going back to A Critical Analysis of Chromotherapy and Its Scientific Evolution, color has been investigated as medicine since 2000 BC. The review goes on to state that in 1990, scientists reported to the annual conference of the American Association for the Advancement of Science on the successful use of blue light in the treatment of a wide variety of psychological problems, including addictions, eating disorders and depression. At the other end of the color spectrum, red light has been shown to be effective in the treatment of

Colors can help realign traumatized cells by shifting the consciousness from pain to “light” — a result Sloane said she has personally experienced during her color therapy treatments. “For someone who has lung issues, back pain, scoliosis, digestive issues, heart, liver, kidney dysfunctions, migraines, hormonal imbalances … each time,

cancer and constipation and in healing wounds. As a result, color is becoming widely accepted as a therapeutic tool with various medical applications. “Colors are our consciousness, which is why we wear certain colors or are attracted to certain colors daily,” Sloane added. “The colors represent the vibrations which are missing or thriving in our cells. They evoke emotional responses of issues that exist within us unconsciously, so the colors themselves bring us messages that can lead us … to realize where the distortions are and what the truth is at the very core of our being.”

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HEALTH VIEW 3

NEUROTRANSMITTERS

YOUR NEUROTR YOU BECOME WHAT YOU THINK, by Dr. Sabira Saifuddin

CTW MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2014

ANSMITTERS EAT, AND DO!

Endorphins—the body’s natural high which gives pain relief and pleasure when elevated.

ARE YOU FEELING STRESSED OUT OR OVERWHELMED? AGITATED OR GRUMPY? EXHAUSTED? BURNED OUT? ARE THE HOLIDAYS STRESSING YOU OUT? Consider how your choices of lifestyle patterns, food, self-nurturing, relationships and physical activity deeply influence your brain chemistry, moods, addictive urges, body weight, health, and ultimately your sense of well-being. Research shows that certain foods and lifestyle patterns affect powerful mood-modifying brain chemicals called neurotransmitters which affect your emotions, appetite, energy level and sleep.

NEUROTRANSMITTERS AND THEIR EFFECTS Serotonin—a chemical released in the brain after eating carbohydrates (sugars and starches). It enhances calmness, improves mood and lessens depression. Serotonin is made from the amino acid tryptophan. High levels of serotonin help control appetite, satisfy cravings and provide a feeling of well-being and inner calm. Dopamine and Norepinephrine—chemicals released after eating protein (meats, poultry, dairy, legumes). These neurotransmitters come from the amino acid

tyrosine, and they enhance mental concentration and alertness. Ghrelin—the hunger hormone—a brain chemical that sets up an irresistible urge to eat when elevated. That’s why going to bed several hours after dinner can trigger late night binges. Galanin—increases the desire for fatty foods when elevated. Cortisol—the stress hormone of the body, released by the adrenal glands in response to stress. Cortisol decreases the production of serotonin. If you normally eat to relieve stress, the hormone cortisol places the extra calories (fat) in the abdomen or stomach area of your body. Endorphins—the body’s natural high which gives pain relief and pleasure when elevated.

LIFESTYLE AND FOOD CHOICES AFFECT YOUR BRAIN CHEMISTRY Stress is a common reason given for overeating or emotional eating. Two out

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HEALTH VIEW 3

NEUROTRANSMITTERS

of three people eat more under stress. Plus, we don’t usually overeat vegetables when we’re stressed (Did you notice that stressed is desserts spelled backwards?).

that suppresses appetite, and increases grehlin, making you want to eat. After a night of sleep deprivation, you typically consume 10 percent more calories!

When you decide to lose weight, as you lower calories you starve your brain first. That depletes serotonin— the brain chemical which helps you feel calm, peaceful and contented, and has a pivotal role in regulating appetite and sleep. This leads to increased cravings for different foods, depression, anxiety, lethargy, and feelings of hopelessness or rage.

• When dopamine is low in the brain, you feel inferior or have the blues. You will seek rewarding activities like enjoyable eating experiences, sexual fulfillment and/or drug addiction to increase dopamine levels in the brain.

Typical dieting means an immediate cutback on the production of chemicals that support the health of your mind, your psyche and your spirit. Skipping meals leads to abnormally low blood sugar levels and intense cravings. This causes an increase in ghrelin (the neurotransmitter that sets up an irresistible urge to eat) which leads to an unstoppable desire to eat lots of food more often. It’s a vicious cycle: • As you lower calories to lose weight, this also lowers insulin and thyroid hormone, which lowers your metabolism and the release of fat from your body (you can’t lose weight as easily and may end up on a plateau). • Eating more dietary fat increases endorphins (the body’s natural high, which gives pain relief and pleasure). The more fat in your diet, the more galanin is produced and the more you prefer or crave fattier foods. • When loneliness or stress increase, cortisol increases, which leads to deposits of abdominal fat and makes it more difficult to lost weight or keep it off. • Sleep Deprivation: Seven to nine hours of sleep is vital to your health. There is a strong link between the amount of sleep you get and your risk of becoming overweight. Sleep deprivation decreases leptin, a blood protein 24

CTW MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2014

• Sufficient amounts of serotonin in the brain lowers your desire for food and increases your satisfaction, helps control your temper, improves your sleep, while balancing sexual urges and enhancing your memory. Insufficient serotonin leads to anxiety, panic, and a sense of dread. • A rise in norepinephrine causes an increase in negative feelings, feelings of distrust, and an increased desire to fight or flee from unpleasant situations. • When endorphins (the body’s natural opiates) are low, this increases the urge for relief or pleasure, and the desire for junk foods, excess exercise or alcohol. • Exercise naturally raises endorphins which lowers anxiety and carbohydrate cravings and increases feelings of contentment.

NUTRIENT DEPLETION The depletion of specific nutrients leads to common symptoms. Here are some examples: Sodium: Confusion and poor memory. Potassium: Apathy and confusion. Iron: Confusion, lethargy and difficulty learning. Magnesium: Depression, Anxiety, confusion. Selenium: Anxiety and depression. Zinc: Mood changes. Vitamin B1: Mental confusion, personality change, memory loss, depression and fatigue.

Vitamin B2: Depression. Niacin, Vitamin B6: Sleeplessness, restlessness, disorientation, and irritability. Vitamin B12: Memory loss, confusion. Folic acid: Irritability and depression. Choline: Memory loss. Vitamin E: Lethargy. Essential fatty acids: Lethargy, irritability, depression, whole body inflammation. Amino Acids (protein): Mood changes

HOW TO BALANCE BRAIN CHEMICALS, REDUCE FOOD C R AV I N G S , M A I N TA I N HEALTHY WEIGHT AND FEEL WELL The first essential skill to explore is to restore balance to your lifestyle choices. Consider taking some time to simplify your life. Relax a bit and consider an emotional-spiritual tuneup. Now, explore the following: 1. Practice healthy thoughts. Your brain is a computer impacted by everything inside and outside your body. Nothing can change your brain chemistry and your desire to eat more than the way you think! Stress-related thoughts lower serotonin which increases anxiety and food cravings. Since your moods (and brain chemistry) are dramatically affected by your thoughts, practice thinking positive, uplifting and thankful thoughts! 2. Don’t let yourself get overly hungry. If you wait too long between meals, you’ll tend to eat very fast and overeat. Running many errands on an empty stomach or leaving home without a snack sets you up for this. Take fruits and veggies or whole grain low-fat crackers along with you. Bring a bottle of water to stay hydrated. For meals, choose foods rich in nutrients—vegetables, fruits, lean protein, low-fat dairy and healthy

fats in moderation. Limit sugar, grains, unhealthy fat, caffeine and alcohol. 3. If you feel low, anxious or overwhelmed, practice self-nurturing techniques. Go for a walk, listen to music, take a bath, watch a funny movie or practice deep breathing. Take time out from your worries. Learning to self-sooth is an important aspect of well-being. 4. Engage in regular physical activity: Go for walks or do yoga or Pilates to reduce stress, control blood pressure, decrease resting heart rate, etc. Exercise improves mental sharpness, concentration, problemsolving skills and creativity. It’s like mental floss—it cleans out the stress that is stuck in your brain! 5. Stay away from negative people— anyone who brings your spirit down, instigates conflicts,

provokes feelings of inadequacy, or holds you back from making positive changes to your life. When surrounded by negative energy, your body produces more cortisol, the stress hormone that triggers a panic fight or flight reaction. Most importantly, surround yourself with good people—find a clan. You don’t have to do it alone! Remember, hugs are euphoric and non-caloric, so frolic around!

Dr. Sabira Saifuddin can be reached at the Westlake Wellness Center at 5655 Lindero Canyon Road, Suite 405 in Westlake Village. For more information, call 805.341.3416 or visit www.cuttingedgepsychiatry.com.

Holistic Dentistry

Biological Dentistry

Estrella Natural

IV Therapy

Massage Therapy

Dental Fillings

Amalgam Removal

Approaching dentistry with the overall health of the mind, body, and spirit.

Recognizes the impact of toxic materials and relates it to dental and physiological health.

Oral Care Products developed by Dr. David himself, provides a natural approach to your oral home care.

Intravenous therapy is the infusion of liquid substances directly into a vein.

Healing the disharmonies between internal organs and blockages to the circulation of Chi, or energy, through meridians.

Live without the added physical burden of unsafe metals.

Safe metal filling removal is imperative for preserving your health.

Dr. David Villarreal

Owner and Formulator of Estrella Natural Oral Care Products

805-375-2233

1000 Newbury Rd., Suite 225 • Newbury Park, CA 91320 www.CentersForHealing.net DECEMBER CTWMAG.COM

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NATURAL APPROACH

COCAINE AND SUGAR ADDICTIONS

COCAINE AND SUGAR

ADDICTIONS by Dr. Sharon Norling

IF YOU ARE READING THIS, CHANCES ARE YOU KNOW SOMEONE WITH AN ADDICTION. THE HOLIDAYS ARE A SEASON OF OVERINDULGENCE.

CTW MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2014

According to recent research sugar is eight times more addicting than cocaine.

Are you looking forward to the festive holiday season filled with love and laughter? Or are you concerned the best plans may be compromised by drugs or alcohol or watching an overweight loved one overeating? Are you perhaps dreading the holidays because you fear more weight gain for yourself? Special occasions can be unpredictable. Holidays are a stressful time for anybody, but particularly for those in recovery and for families of addicts still using. Other factors can compound problems associated with substance abuse and addiction. For many, the holidays bring high stress or feelings of loss or depression. They also can trigger memories of past events that lead to feelings of shame and blame. Many recovering people associate the holidays with memories of big benders that resulted in relationship problems or great personal losses. Memories of unhealthy obese or diabetic loved ones overeating once again may cause feelings of sadness. Family gatherings can exacerbate difficult or unhealthy relationships, adding to the anxiety. Drugs, alcohol and food are often used to escape these feelings.

It Takes More Than Willpower The time has come to recognize that addictions are no longer to be pushed into the dark corners, stigmatizing those who suffer from the disease. We joke about our addiction to choc-

olate and to shopping, but addiction is an intensely private, personal and confronting affliction that is as difficult to explain as it is to treat. This is a complex issue, but we know it is much more complex than just drawing on willpower.

In our community drug addiction is rampant. Every week patients are admitted to the emergency room with drug overdoses and every year numerous deaths occur in our local hospitals from drug overdoses. Women are particularly vulnerable.

According to recent research sugar is eight times more addicting than cocaine. More people die in this country because of the chronic diseases caused by food and sugar addictions than by drug abuse.

Gallup pollsters have consistently found that the more wealthy and educated a woman is, the more likely she is to drink.

Abuse of Pharmaceuticals The number one cause of drug addictions today is pharmaceutical prescribed drugs. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has officially declared prescription drug abuse an epidemic. Here are the stats: • In 2012 overdose deaths increased to 17,000 per year. • Heroin use rose by 75 percent from 2007-2011. • Heroin use is linked to prescription opioid use (drugs with the characteristics of opiate narcotics but not made from opium).

Women are smaller and have more body fat and fewer liver enzymes to detoxify the alcohol and drugs. Yet according to the Wine Institute, they buy—and consume—the lion’s share of the 800 million gallons of wine sold in the U.S. each year. Between 2002 and 2012, the number of U.S. females who died from cirrhosis rose 13 percent (the number of male deaths rose 7 percent). Between 1999 and 2008, the number of severely intoxicated young women admitted to the ER rose 52 percent. From 1992 to 2007, the number of middle-aged women who were checked into rehab nearly tripled according to the CDC.

• Nine out of 10 poisoning deaths are caused by drugs.

Addiction Changes the Brain

• Pharmaceutical drug overdose is one of leading causes of death in U.S.

Dr. Volkow, director of the National Institute of Drug Abuse states, “I’ve studied alcohol, cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, marijuana and more recently, obesity. There’s a pattern in compulsion. I’ve never come across a single person that was addicted that wanted to be addicted. Something has happened in their brains that has led them to that process.”

We know that 90 percent of the incarcerations, 50 percent of the psychiatric admissions, and 25 percent of the admissions to medical surgical hospitals are directly the result of drug abuse.

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NATURAL APPROACH

COCAINE AND SUGAR ADDICTIONS

Changes in neurotransmitters, either deficiencies or elevations, make a profound effect on mental, emotional or behavioral function. Chronic exposure to drugs and food, especially sugar, disrupts the way critical brain structures interact to control behavior. Sugar is biologically addictive. It spikes the dopamine (feel good neurotransmitter) just like cocaine and other drugs of abuse. Consequently, weight loss and blood sugar management are often not as simple as just using willpower. Have you tried every diet, every exercise, every weight management program but you still have cravings and suffer from being overweight? You may have a neurotransmitter imbalance. Are you anxious, depressed, fatigued, have difficulty sleeping, experiencing pain, craving carbohydrates, or lack motivation?

• Have health or social problems because of food issues and yet keep eating in the same way? • Deal with negative feelings from overeating certain foods? • Experience withdrawal symptoms such as agitation and anxiety when you cut down on certain foods? • Have significant distress because of your behavior with respect to food and eating? • Have food issues that decrease your availability to function effectively? • Need more and more of the foods you crave to experience any pleasure or to reduce negative emotions? According to the Public Library of Science (PLoS ONE (2(8):e698) • Rats preferred sugar over IV cocaine!

Low levels of serotonin and dopamine create these symptoms. Everyone wants to feel better. So the temptation is to eat or use drugs. Both raise the serotonin and dopamine levels.

• The reward for intense sweetness surpassed that for cocaine.

Are you addicted to food? Answer the Yale questionnaire to check. Food addictions can be life threatening.

• There is a cross dependence for sugar and the drug of abuse (e.g., naloxone triggers opiate withdrawal symptoms in rats that over-consume sugar).

Yale Food Addiction Questionnaire. Do you…? • Consume certain foods because of cravings even if you are not hungry?

• There is a cross tolerance for sugar and the drug of abuse (e.g., high sugar consumption results in tolerance to morphine).

• Previously cocaine-addicted rats chose sugar more often than cocaine.

• Worry about cutting down on certain foods?

• Rats were eight times more willing to work for sugar than cocaine.

• Feel sluggish or fatigued from overeating?

• “Cocaine reward paled in comparison to sweet reward.”

CTW MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2014

Obesity—the Number One Cause of Preventable Death in America As a consequence of sugar addiction, today more people die from obesity and the subsequent chronic illness than those who die from drug addictions. Seventy percent of Americans are obese and 40 percent of children are overweight. Gaining just 11 extra pounds doubles your risk for type 2 diabetes, while gaining 17 extra pounds triples it. Diabetics Have a Four-fold Increased Risk of Dementia The nervous system damage in diabetes is 60 to 70 percent. Diabetes is the leading cause of high blood pressure—approximately 75 percent of diabetics have it. Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure, liver failure, and blindness among people ages 20 to 74, and is a major cause of depression.

Sugar Consumption • Currently we consume 152 pounds per year, up from 40 pounds in 1980 and 10 in 1800. • We have 600,000 products; 80 percent have added sugar. • We get 8 to 15 percent of our calories from soda. • Children consume 34 teaspoons of sugar a day (0.7 cups). According to Dr. Mark Hyman, there are at least 57 names for sugar, and manufacturers cleverly disguise sugar in ingredient lists with unrecognized names. Anything ending in “ose” is sugar. If food labels bewilder

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you, simply switch to whole, unprocessed foods to guarantee you won’t get HFCS (high fructose corn syrup) or other manmade sweeteners.

Hope for Recovery Never, ever give up hope for recovery— it can and does happen every day. Addictions are not simple. Have your neurotransmitters tested and use specific amino acids and targeted nutrient therapies that balance neurotransmitters so you have the blood chemistry to support you. The body craves more food if you are nutrient deficient. Unfortunately, we are all nutrient deficient! Intravenous nutrient therapies and a liquid-comprehensive, nutrient-dense supplement are very effective in providing the nutrients you need. These therapies can be added to nutritional counseling and hypnotherapy as needed.

“Professionial chef, mother of two boys. Very Active, on my feet all the time; runner, hiker. If it wasn’t for Dr.K’s procedure I would have never had my bunions done.” Jessica M.

No matter what addictions you have, you deserve the support you need to recover. You deserve your best life and best holidays. Have a Happy Healthy Holiday.

Dr. Mark Hyman has endorsed Dr. Norling’s newly released book, “Your Doctor is Wrong.” Dr. Norling brings a lifetime of education, training and passion in both conventional and natural medicine. Using specialized testing, she finds the root cause of symptoms, hormone imbalances and toxins. Get the personalized care you deserve. Contact Dr. Sharon Norling in Westlake Village at 818.707.9355, www.drsharonnorling.com.

DID YOU KNOW...

PET

HEALTH Safety and health are of the utmost importance for the entire family this holiday season, but make sure that it includes your pets as well. Go to ASPCA.org for a helpful list of safety tips for Fido and Fluffy! DECEMBER CTWMAG.COM

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MIND & SPIRIT

DO YOU HAVE A LICENSE TO CARRY THOSE EMOTIONS?

DO YOU HAVE A LICENSE TO CARRY THOSE

EMOTIONS? by Wayne M. Levine

CTW MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2014

When men finally decide to sit and discuss their relationship challenges, they’re so emotionally twisted up inside they don’t know which end is up.

IN THE WRONG HANDS,

SEE WHERE THIS IS GOING?

FIREARMS CAN BE VERY

We men must be trained, too, to know how to recognize, manage, and respond to our emotions. You see, unlike women, we weren’t born with that innate wisdom. The good news is that we can learn everything we need to know about our emotional world so we can exist and thrive as men—and as men in relationships with our women—without causing collateral damage.

DANGEROUS. THEY MUST BE HANDLED WITH CARE. IF NOT, THE POTENTIAL DAMAGE CAN BE DEVASTATING AND IRREPARABLE. THAT’S ONE OF THE REASONS A LICENSE IS REQUIRED TO CARRY ONE. ONE MUST BE TRAINED TO KNOW HOW TO HANDLE THE WEAPON.

Women live in the world of emotions. Show me a man who hasn’t seen proof of that! Men, on the other hand, tend to hang out in the world of reason, though what might seem reasonable to many men is anything but. Nonetheless, whether her emotions are off the chart or his reasoning is flawed, our species tend to exist in vastly different environments—environments that can be quite hostile to each other. But if we want to have intimate relationships with our women, we’ve got some work to do.

JUST TELL ME HOW YOU FEEL That’s all she needs. It’s so simple. And yet, for many of us, it isn’t. In fact, it can be downright terrifying. Why? Well, we may have been raised in homes where self-expression wasn’t honored—or worse, punished. Plus, we grew up in a culture where boys were encouraged to stuff their feelings, get back on that field, and kill someone! For these and many

other reasons, many men tend to stay clear of their emotions, at least with women. I say this because I circle up with about 50 men each week who all have feelings. Though some can access them more easily than others, in time, and with some modeling and encouragement, they all learn to express their emotions. These men learn that it’s safe to do so in their confidential men’s groups. But it doesn’t always feel so safe for them at home because, at some point in their lives, they had their feelings used as weapons against them by a disgruntled loved one.

EMOTIONAL TRAINING FOR MEN In broad strokes, I’ll briefly describe the process our men go through in their training to become emotionally aware and capable of relating to a woman on her own turf.

CLARIFY THE OBJECTIVE Step one is to spell out the problem and clearly state the objective of the work. That’s not always easy because when men finally decide to sit and discuss their relationship challenges, they’re so emotionally twisted up inside they don’t know which end is up. It takes some time to calm them down so they can see their situations clearly, and then develop a vision of how they would like things to be with their wives, kids, parents, family members or co-workers. DECEMBER CTWMAG.COM

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MIND & SPIRIT

DO YOU HAVE A LICENSE TO CARRY THOSE EMOTIONS?

IDENTIFY THE WOUND Once we identify the desired result, we look at what’s preventing him from connecting with his own feelings or communicating them effectively. It could be that every time his wife expresses her dissatisfaction, he actually hears his critical mother or father yelling at him, and shuts down emotionally. Or, perhaps, as a kid he learned to deny his own feelings to survive the wrath of his raging or abusive father. Whatever the cause, it’s important to understand that this behavior was learned, and once served a useful—if not lifesaving— purpose, but not anymore.

LEARN THE TOOLS Depending on the man, a number of tools can help him to become mentally and physically aware of his emotions. As we become conscious, we’re capable of making

CTW MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2014

choices rather than being a slave and reacting to the unconscious fears of our own feelings.

PRACTICE WITH THE MEN With tools in hand, and a clearer understanding of the problem and objective, it’s time to start practicing with the men. In our groups, men have free reign to say what’s on their minds without fear of hurting anyone’s feelings. And if someone did feel attacked or criticized in the process, we help that man figure out what buttons were pushed so he can learn more about himself.

BRING IT ON HOME Each week men are able to take these lessons home and experiment. Over time, as relationships are built and strengthened in group, these new behaviors become second nature, and life at home begins to look more and

more like the vision developed when this process began. Having a license to carry home these emotions isn’t a law, but for everyone’s benefit, don’t you think a little training would make for a safer and more loving place to live?

Wayne M. Levine, MA, is a men’s life coach and director of BetterMen Coaching in Agoura Hills. He teaches men to be the best men, fathers, husbands and leaders they can be through individual, couples and group coaching, both in office and via the phone. Wayne is author of the bestselling book, “Hold On to Your N.U.T.s— The Relationship Manual for Men.” Find out more, get a copy of Wayne’s book and register for BetterMen trainings at www.BetterMenCoaching.com.

Physician’s Profile

Dr. Anthony Virella VIRELLA NEUROSURGERY

Board-Certified, Fellowship trained Neurological Spine Surgeon with advanced training in the management of complex spinal disorders. Description of Practice Specializing in the treatment of complex spine and brain disorders with an emphasis on Minimally Invasive Surgery. Dr. Virella is a nationally recognized specialist in the field who has authored numerous articles and lectured nationally and internationally in the field of complex and minimally invasive spine surgery. He is also considered a specialist with extensive training in the management of cerebrovascular disease, including cerebral aneurysms and arteriovenous malformations (AVM’s).

Educational Background Medical School: Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 1996 Internship: (General Surgery) Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 1997 Fellowship: (Resident-Infolding) (Complex Spine Surgery) Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH 2003 Residency: (Neurological Surgery) University of California, Los Angeles, CA 2004 Fellowship: (Complex and Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery) University of California, Los Angeles, CA 2004

Personal & Professional Perspective Website & Locations

Why did you choose this career path?

www.dr-virella.com

I chose neurosurgery and spine surgery while at Columbia University as a medical student. I had the honor of a mentorship program under Dr. Bennett Stein, one of the world’s most prominent and influential neurosurgeons. He took me under his wing and the rest is history.

WESTLAKE VILLAGE Spine and Brain Center

32144 Agoura Rd., Suite 220 Westlake Village, CA 91361 Office: 805-449-0088

SIMI VALLEY Spine and Brain Center

1687 Erringer Road , Suite 206 Simi Valley, CA 93065 Office: 805-955-8898

VALENCIA Spine and Brain Center

24510 Town Center Drive, Suite 180 Valencia, CA 91355 Office: 661-388-5281

What sets you apart from other physicians/specialists in your field? I am a perfectionist. My patients mean the world to me and I am often up at night thinking about how to solve a particular patient’s problem. I don’t sleep until the problem is fixed and my patients feel better. Unlike many of my colleagues, I use mostly minimally invasive techniques which means that my patients often get home the same day after surgery and back to work within one or two days.

What do you think the future holds for your practice? I think the future is full of bright, new technologies which center around minimally invasive spine techniques. Long hospital stays and big incisions are a thing of the past. Virella Neurosurgery is strategically positioned to lead the way in these new and exciting minimally invasive spine techniques!

DECEMBER CTWMAG.COM

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FROM THE HEART

CENTER 4 SPECIAL NEEDS

WHEN NATHANIEL PETERS WAS DIAGNOSED WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER JUST BEFORE HE TURNED 3, HIS MOTHER NEVER IMAGINED SHE’D LAUNCH A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT BRIDGES THE GAPS FOR CHILDREN

CENTER 4 SPECIAL NEEDS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS WHO

FALL BETWEEN THE CRACKS.

BRIDGES THE GAPS FOR CHILDREN WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES story by Alicia Doyle photography by Mary Myers

CTW MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2014

“My journey as a parent of a child with special needs began when Nathaniel was born in 2003,” recalled Gina Giambi Peters, 44, a single mom. “I experienced many challenges, many struggles, much grief, many tears, joy…and so much love.” She was told Nathaniel was on the autism spectrum when he was just over 1 year old. “Nathaniel was officially diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder just before he turned 3,” Peters said. Thanks to a tremendous amount of intervention through therapy, education, facilitation and hard work, as well as continued support from her mother and father, “Nathaniel has progressed amazingly,” she said. “We are gluten-free, dairy-free, dyefree and nitrate-free. It works for us. As our journey continues, life changes and issues change. We change along the way.”

The Best Resources Early on she discovered other parents were her best resource. “So I created a support group,” said Peters, who later gathered resources and information, including facts about diet and nutritional needs, to share with other families through the Internet.

“Eventually I created the website, www.center4specialneeds.org, so all parents could access the resources and many service providers in a variety of fields in our community—providers that are qualified, credentialed professionals who offer services to the special population.” The website now provides access to a wide variety of resources to assist special needs families with any challenge they face, including academic tutoring, legal services, physician referrals, schools and support groups.

“I would send weekly, sometimes daily emails providing information.” She also posted questions to her email group from parents who sought direction in a certain area. “And many parents responded,” Peters said.

“The website will continue to grow, adding more resources, education and information to assist families including educational tools, books and recreational activities,” Peters said.

She has since used the emails to help connect parents and bridge large gaps in information to make the process easier and quicker for parents to advocate for their special children.

“Parents of children with special needs are often in constant battle trying to meet their children’s needs,” she further emphasized. “Whether we are dealing with insurance compa-

The Center4SpecialNeeds has earned a reputation as a parent-founded organization comprised of a team of people all touched in some way by a child with special challenges.

nies, services from a regional center or assistance in their school districts, it’s all a battle,” Peters said. “Parents can help each other make the journey a bit easier by sharing and supplying information with one another.”

Ease the Suffering Soon after her son’s diagnosis and pursuit to meet his needs, Peters discovered the common denominator: families like hers are suffering. “Children are not getting the interventions and treatments they require,” she said. “Families face endless battles and immense hurdles dealing with finances, insurance, regional services and school districts.” As the needs of the community became more evident, she was more motivated to create the Center4SpecialNeeds, a non-profit organization, so all families can obtain the help they need. As a result, the Center4SpecialNeeds has earned a reputation as a parentfounded organization comprised of a team of people all touched in some way by a child with special challenges. “Each person offers their own valuable insight, experience and abilities to the organization, thereby ensuring a wellrounded perspective maintained on all special needs matters,” Peters said. In 2009 Peters was honored as a Champion of the Community for the outreach, support and resources she DECEMBER CTWMAG.COM

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FROM THE HEART

CENTER 4 SPECIAL NEEDS

has provided to the special needs community during the last few years, including her website with a wealth of information in one place.

ognize the need for our special children who deserve and desperately need services but are not receiving them, she said.

In other accolades for her advocacy, Peters was named Parent of the Year by the Ventura County Autism Society in 2010. She also received a BRAVO Award earlier this year by the National Association of Woman Business Owners as the 2014 Community Advocate of the Year.

“Funding is needed from individuals and corporations who understand the importance of the work we do and can assist us on an ongoing basis to aid our community in providing the valuable resources our children require to flourish and grow,” Peters said.

Goal for the Future Peters’ future vision is to build a foundation involving a multidisciplinary center which provides therapies, services and interventions for children with special needs. “I want them to be the best they can be,” she said. “Every child deserves that chance. And too many of our children out there are not receiving that.” Peters envisions funding through individuals and companies that rec-

On November 6, the Center4Special Needs presented its first fundraising effort, “Bridging the Gaps of Hope,” to raise awareness of needs in the special population. “But most important to raise funds to help families,” Peters said. Today, Peters continues to fulfill the mission of the center, which includes offering educational workshops, conferences, a monthly moms’ and dads’ night out, a mom’s coffee break, and networking opportunities.

“I also strive to increase awareness of children with special needs within the general population,” Peters said. “In previous years I have spoken to children to bring awareness and now Nathaniel and I have started to do this together. He has come a long way. I am so very proud of him.” Peters ultimately wants parents to have some balance and relief in their lives and not feel like they are in constant crisis mode. Her wishes are for “parents who are feeling isolated and alone to feel embraced and supported, and children with special needs getting what they need in order to become truly the best they can be.”

The Center4SpecialNeeds is seeking grants, corporate sponsorships, individual donations and in-kind donations. For more information visit www.center4specialneeds.org or call 805.379.1681.

Being the Man You Want to Be In Your Relationships and in Your Life

Get out of the problem and into the solution. Men all want the same things. We want to feel joy and passion, be happy in our relationships, feel of value, and spend our days making money in a way that fulfills us. We want to not be so angry, jealous and resentful, know that we’re good enough as men, fathers and husbands, and we want to feel the confidence necessary to live without doubt and fear. With more than 20 years experience in guiding men through all conceivable life challenges, I’ll coach you through your problems, and help you find the solutions to become the happy and successful man, father and husband you want to be, and your family deserves. n n n

Wayne M. Levine, M.A. Life Coach/Speaker & Author of the best-selling ® “Hold On to Your N.U.T.s: The Relationship Manual for Men”

CTW MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2014

Coaching Men, Couples & Boys Weekly Men’s Groups In Office & Phone

BetterMenCoaching.com BetterMen Coaching 5030 Chesebro Rd., Suite 102 Agoura Hills, CA 91301 (818) 879-1600

GLUTEN-FREE FLOUR POWER

FYI

General Baking Mixes Simple Substitute: 1 cup of brown rice flour; makes 1 cup General Baking Mix 1: 1 cup rice flour, ½ – ¾ cup potato starch, ¼ cup tapioca starch/flour; makes 2 cups General Baking Mix 2: 3 cups garfava bean flour, 2 cups potato starch, 2 cups cornstarch, 1 cup tapioca flour, 1 cup sorghum flour; makes 9 cups Original Formula: 2 cups rice flour, 2/3 cup potato starch, 1/3 cup tapioca starch/flour; makes 3 cups Four Flour Bean: 2/3 cup garfava bean flour, 1/3 cup sorghum flour, 1 cup cornstarch, 1 cup tapioca starch/flour; makes 3 cups Featherlight: 1 cup rice flour, 1 cup cornstarch, 1 cup tapioca starch/flour, 1 Tbsp. potato flour

Gluten-Free Flour Power LOOKING FOR SOME EASY-TO-FOLLOW

Specialty Mixes

FLOUR FORMULAS FOR YOUR HOLIDAY

BAKING? WITH THE HELP OF THESE BASIC MIXTURES AND SUBSTITUTES, EATING GLUTEN-FREE SHOULD BE TASTY AND SIMPLE. JUST SUBSTITUTE ONE CUP OF ALL-PURPOSE

Cookie Mix: ¼ cup chickpea flour, 1 ¾ cup sorghum flour, ¼ cup sweet rice flour; makes 2 cups Bread Mix: 1 cup brown rice flour, ½ cup potato starch, ½ cup sweet rice flour, 1 Tbsp. unflavored gelatin; makes 2 cups

WHEAT FLOUR FOR THE FOLLOWING: Now that you have the basics down, go to the Recipe on page 46. You can substitute the flour ingredients and remember that vanilla extract contains gluten – gluten-free vanilla extract can be found in stores near you. Happy baking! For information on living a gluten free lifestyle and yummy holiday recipes, go to www.livingwithout.com

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BEYOND GREEN LIVING

10 WAYS TO DE-STRESS YOUR LIFE PERMANENTLY

10 WAYS to De-stress Your Life Permanently by Jan Tucker

LAST MONTH I OFFERED SOME THOUGHTS, BASED ON YOGA, ABOUT REFRAMING YOUR VIEW OF STRESS IN ORDER TO DEAL WITH IT IN BETTER, HEALTHIER WAYS—WAYS THAT WILL IMPROVE YOUR PERFORMANCE WHILE BEING KINDER TO YOUR BODY AND YOUR EMOTIONAL WELLBEING. THIS MONTH I’M PROVIDING CONCRETE IDEAS YOU CAN USE TO PUT THOSE REFRAMED THOUGHTS INTO ACTION.

CTW MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2014

Establish a strong internal core that exudes balance and peace—then let nothing take that away from you.

possibly get what we want 100 percent of the time. The trick is to expect this. It’s always going to be this way. It doesn’t help you if your blood pressure increases because you want it now. In most cases, your impatience will not hasten the situation. Remember to establish in your mind there is a clear difference between stressor and stress—they are not one and the same. You can handle any stressful situation (stressor) in a calm, rational way (avoiding the stress) while achieving better results.

dragged down, begin to watch your thoughts as if you were a bystander. This gives you time to step back from stressful situations and identify patterns in your behavior you can change to improve future situations and create better outcomes.

Summary of the 10 Ways

You will be more effective in life if you maintain your inner balance in the face of life’s stressors. Use your mind power again. Establish a strong internal core that exudes balance and peace—then let nothing take that away from you. Additionally, learn to say “no.” Prioritize. Keep a reasonable amount of must do’s on your plate at any given time.

1. It’s about choice. If this were the only thing you changed, you would be well on your way to de-stressing your life. The goal is to realize you have power over the external things that bring stress into your life. Even if you can’t change a certain stressor, you can still change the way you think about it and work with it. Your thoughts create your attitude. Your attitude controls your emotions. You have the power to put yourself in control. 2. Be the observer. In this step, place premium value on your internal peace and train yourself to detach from external stressors. Rather than reacting to stressful situations and getting emotionally tied up and

3. Think balance.

4. Patience is your best friend. Life (and other people) won’t always cooperate the way you wish they would. Something will always get in your way. Many things take more time than you think they should. Sometimes you will take more time than you would like in an ideal world. This is everyone’s reality. We all have wants and needs. We can’t all

If you expect delays you can prepare yourself to use the time wisely in a different way. Step 5 builds on this step. 5. Honor the natural flow of life. When you become balanced on the inside your outer life reflects that balance. You attract the same energy you give out. You can’t test this until you get more balanced, but there is a natural flow of life. There really is a time for everything and everything in its place. Once you are balanced, you will see that while you are juggling your schedule to try to accomplish too many things, time will open up for you to get the right things done. And it will all get done. Things you thought you needed to do right away will fit better in a later time slot, and things you were putting off will fit better in the present. I find this happening all the time. It’s like magic. 6. Always think positively. One negative thought leads to another in a downward spiral. In the same way, one positive thought leads to another in an upward DECEMBER CTWMAG.COM

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BEYOND GREEN LIVING

( C O N T. )

spiral. It really is that simple. Which direction would you rather go? You are the only one who can control your own thoughts. You can change your thoughts at any moment you choose. If you’re having trouble, make a twocolumn table. On the left write one negative thought you are having. On the right think of a positive thought to counteract the negative thought. Grow the table as long as it needs to be. Each time you catch yourself thinking a negative thought, go to the table and replace it with the positive thought on the right side. See if you don’t begin to feel better. 7. Always be authentic to yourself and others.

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8. Abandon the need to be perfect. Dropping perfection does not mean being sloppy or doing things incorrectly and having to re-do them. Do a good job, make sure it’s correct, and then move on to your next task. Taking life (and yourself) a little less seriously is easier on the psyche. A good job is good enough. You have a lot to do—do it well and be happy. 9. Develop a support system. Why try to go it alone when you can quicken your pace by joining with others who have the same issues? You can learn from each other and reach your goals more quickly. This is also the step where your faith comes in.

DIANE ADDISON

10. Practice selective advice encouraged by other de-stress books.

818.706.1888 | 800.653.8881 dianeaddison@aol.com www.dianeaddison.com

Many sources can help you with time management, prioritizing, living healthy (nutrition and exercise), getting enough

Being yourself takes far less effort than trying to be something you’re not. Make friends with yourself. Get comfortable in your own skin. Create a visualization of yourself being confident that you can use in stressful situations. When you’re in a stressful situation where you feel you need to take on a different persona, visualize your confident self instead. Be your authentic self and you won’t go wrong.

CTW MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2014

sleep, building in time for family and friends—all ways of de-stressing your life. Seek out whatever sources you need to help you organize your life in a far less stressful way. To see examples of this 10-step approach so you can use it effectively, download my free ebook at www. destresspermanently.com/FreeEbook. I will notify you when I have finished developing my step-by-step stressreduction process you can tailor to your own needs, helping you to de-stress even more effectively.

Jan Tucker is founder of the upcoming White Lotus Way, www.whitelotusway.com, whose vision is all about yoga—including positive thinking, returning to basics, tuning in with nature, unifying the world with compassion, and through all these principles—ultimately—world transformation. It’s about truth. Her web store, www.whitelotusliving.com is a place for consumers to learn about and gain access to truly green, natural products.

DID YOU KNOW...

SPICE UP

YOUR LIFE! Cayenne helps to increase blood circulation throughout your body, which makes it a heart healthy remedy. It activates the secretion of intestinal juices in order to fight infections, gas or diarrhea. Used externally, it acts as an analgesic. It helps to bring blood flow to arthritic and rheumatic joints.

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