CAN YOU TRAIN YOUR BRAIN? EEG INSTITUTE IN WOODLAND HILLS
Pain Control & Sleep
MARCH/APRIL 2015 www.ctwmag.com
HYPNOTHERAPY & IMAGERY BACH FLOWER REMEDIES: HOW THEY WORK MANAGING INSOMNIA & CHRONIC PAIN THE IMPORTANCE OF SLEEP The #1 Healthy Lifestyle Magazine in So Cal!
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Kapil Moza, MD, FACS Spine & Neurological Surgeon
Contents
PAIN CONTROL & SLEEP MARCH/APRIL 2015
DEPARTMENTS
24/
06/ PUBLISHER’S LETTER
The Spiral
18/
10/ CONNECTION
Neurofeedback – Proof that You Can Train your Brain
by Alicia Doyle
38/ BEYOND GREEN LIVING
Ayurveda for Deep, Restful, Rejuvenating Sleep by Jan Tucker, MBA
28/
38/ 42/ DIRECTORY LISTING 46/ RECIPE
Turmeric Tea
FEATURES 14/ SPECIAL HEALTH BULLETIN
The Sweet Relief of Sleep— How to Manage Insomnia and Chronic Pain
by Pain Management and Injury Relief Medical
17/ PHYSICIAN PROFILE
Rajesh Khanna, MD
18/ HEALTH VIEW 1
4
What is Sleep? Its Affects and Why We Do It
by Mirela Cernaianu, MD
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22/ HEALTH VIEW 2
The Rolf Method: Re-Establishing Natural Alignment of the Human Body by Shannon Anderson
24/ HEALTH VIEW 3
Neurofeedback— Why Training the Brain Could Help Millions to Live Better Lives by Michael Essany
30/ MIND & SPIRIT 2
Want to Get Some Sleep? Start Asking for Help by Wayne M. Levine, MA
by Cher Bodner, CHt
34/ MIND & SPIRIT 3
Bach Flower Remedies Return Us to Our Own Nature by Christie Batt, MA
37/ PHYSICIAN PROFILE
28/ MIND & SPIRIT 1
The Vicious Cycle of Stress, Sleep and Pain
Kapil Moza, MD, FACS
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PUBLISHER’S LETTER
THE SPIRAL
THE SPIRAL Suffering from chronic pain, you toss and turn all night, watching the minutes and hours tick away. You try extra pillows fluffed in frustration and placed strategically to calm the pain that is haunting your lower back. Relief lasts for a few minutes—then the change of position starts again.
ANN K. CASTLE FOUNDER, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF & PUBLISHER
The alarm goes off and you push yourself up from the mattress. You realize you only got an hour of sleep if that and have to find a way to get your exhausted body to work and to the gym. Mentally and physically drained, you head for the nearest coffee bar for that French roast with a double shot of espresso, some over-the-counter pain medication and a few drops of Visine. This is the only way to make it through the day. When the day finally ends, you fall asleep on the sofa after dinner and wake up a few hours later to crawl into bed. The cycle continues to take you on a downward spiral of pain and insomnia. Does this sound familiar? According to the American Academy of Pain Medicine, the statistics are staggering: In 2011, an estimated 76.5 million Americans were reported to suffer from chronic pain. This is where the seemingly endless downward spiral begins. Desperate to quell the pain and to get much-needed sleep, people switch from over-thecounter drugs to dangerous opioids. This often leads to addiction, failing health, lost wages and ultimately disability. The problem costs society at least $560 to $635 billion annually. In this issue, we take a candid look at options for pain management and treating various sleep disorders; the positive, powerful tools of neurofeedback (brain training) and hypnosis, what happens to your hormones with inadequate sleep and more. We also proudly introduce the neurofeedback team at EEG Institute in Woodland Hills. There are no magic bullets for some types of chronic pain but there are tools for management and control. This in itself provides empowerment and a great sense of relief for a life of quality. I know this issue will be most helpful to those of you who are in dire need of relief. With Peace, Love, Blessings and Gratitude,
Ann P.S. Remember to like us on Facebook and let me know what you would like to see in future issues.
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MAY/ JUNE ISSUE: WOMAN & BEAUTY Ladies, this one is for you! And men,we did not forget you! Discover the latest in women’s health issues and discover the radiant YOU from the inside out. Look for us at stands near you and online at www.ctwmag.com during the months of May and June!
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.BioDentalhealing.com
YHC_HERA_Halfpage 12-4-14_Layout 1 12/5/14 9:50 AM Page 1
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SEEK YOUR INNER GODDESS!
FOUNDER, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, PUBLISHER
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MARKETING DIRECTOR AND WEBMASTER DUSTIN SOEKER CREATIVE DIRECTOR JODY L. LEVITAN COPY EDITING JAN TUCKER, MBA ACCOUNTING DONNA BRYANT PHOTOGRAPHY CHERYL HUTCHISON CONTRIBUTING WRITERS SHANNON ANDERSON CHRISTIE BATT, MA CHER BODNER, CHT MIRELA CERNAIANU, MD, FACOG ALICIA DOYLE MICHAEL ESSANY WAYNE M. LEVINE, MA 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@connecttowellbeing.com 818.943.0751 GIGI GALLO gigi@ctwmag.com 818.300.2955 EDITORIAL INQUIRIES ANN K. CASTLE ann@ctwmag.com or 805.341.2972 ALL OTHER INQUIRIES info@ctwmag.com
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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
EEG INSTITUTE
DR. SIEGFRIED OTHMER
DR. SUE OTHMER
NEUROFEED PROOF THAT YOU CAN TR story by Alicia Doyle photography by Cheryl Hutchison
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They have found that neurofeedback is an excellent tool for recovering from brain trauma and, even more, can also enhance academic, sports and professional performance.
WHEN A HUMAN BEING WANTS TO LEARN ANY KIND OF NEW SKILL, THEY HAVE TO TRAIN THEMSELVES OVER AND OVER. WITH TIME, THEIR BRAIN AND BODY WILL WORK TOGETHER TO MASTER THE SKILL THEY’VE CHOSEN TO LEARN.
But what about if the brain itself needs training? What if someone has suffered a traumatic brain injury or been through a traumatic event— like a soldier witnessing the horrors of war? What if an athlete or a student wants to improve their brain’s ability to quickly assess a situation or perform well on a test? Is there a way to train and, over time, improve the way your brain works? At the EEG Institute in Woodland Hills, the answer is yes. They’re using a brain fitness training process called neurofeedback to enhance brain function and, in situations where that function has been severely diminished, help return it to optimal function. Researchers at the EEG Institute have seen a wide variety of clients across a full spectrum of diagnoses, from those with optimal brain function to people who have suffered both physical and mental brain trauma. They have found that neurofeedback is an excellent tool
for recovering from brain trauma and, even more, can also enhance academic, sports and professional performance. They’ve even shown success in managing stress. The term neurofeedback comes from the fact that, when a client or patient is undergoing neurofeedback training, their brainwave activity is viewed on an EEG monitor, allowing them to see their performance. This gives them the guidance they need to improve that performance over time. It’s like a pianist playing music over and over while being guided by their teacher. In time, their fingers will move more quickly and the music will flow more fluidly.
THE EEG INSTITUTE The EEG Institute is run by its Clinical Director, Sue Othmer, as well as her husband and partner, Chief Scientist Dr. Siegfried Othmer. Both have been researching and developing neurofeedback during the past 30 years, having been thrust into their roles for very personal reasons.
BACK RAIN YOUR BRAIN MARCH/APRIL CTWMAG.COM
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CONNECTION
EEG INSTITUTE
When their son Brian was born, he suffered a number of behavioral problems that led, unfortunately, to violent episodes. What was most baffling was the fact that this violence was in complete contrast to his normal character and behavior. His parents tried traditional behavioral management methods but none of them worked. Later it was confirmed that Brian was suffering from a condition called temporal lobe epilepsy. The diagnosis was both a shock and a relief for the couple who realized that, as challenging as it might be, they at least had somewhere to start and something to go on. What they subsequently learned was that Brian’s violent episodes were seizures caused by temporal lobe epilepsy. The seizures were having an obvious disruption on his normal behavior as well as affecting his ability to function both cognitively and emotionally. For nine years Brian was treated using traditional anticonvulsants, until the Othmers were introduced to the concept of neurofeedback and Brian began receiving neurofeedback training. Although he continued to take his medications, Brian’s results with the neurofeedback were so miraculous that the Othmers were able to lower his dosage significantly. Not only did Brian’s violent seizures stop, but he successfully made it through high school and then Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, where he was at the top of his class in computer science. Brian’s remarkable recovery and his ongoing struggle with epilepsy, which unfortunately took his life, are told in his own words in the book, “Brian’s Legacy.” Brian died in the course of a nocturnal grand mal seizure. In such seizures, there is a risk of cardiac arrest. 12
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Throughout his training, Brian had remained dietarily sensitive to spices such as paprika and allspice, and may well have consumed one or another unknowingly in the college cafeteria.
Since those early days the research and application of neurofeedback has spread significantly, and today the EEG Institute has become the premier center for professional neurofeedback training.
THE ROOTS OF NEUROFEEDBACK
The EEG Institute has trained more than 6,000 professionals in the last 20 years and, during the past seven years, developed a new approach to brain training that has been received favorably by the neurofeedback community.
In 1985 neurofeedback was still in its infancy and it would be another decade until the notion of brain plasticity would be accepted within the neurosciences. At the time Sue was a young neurobiologist with a degree from Cornell University and the UCLA Brain Research Institute, where she worked with its Director, Ross Adey. Siegfried received his PhD in physics from Cornell University and was an aerospace researcher at Northrop before moving on to Hughes Missile Systems Group. Because of the situation with their son and the amazing results they had witnessed, the parents decided to change their careers and enter into this new and promising field, with their first focus on developing modern, computerized neurofeedback instrumentation. The roots of neurofeedback can be found in the San Fernando Valley where its pioneers, M. Barry Sterman and Barbara Brown, made significant discoveries and advancements in the field while working at the Sepulveda Veterans Administration Hospital, which was affiliated with the UCLA School of Medicine. It was actually Margaret Ayers, a graduate student of Dr. Sterman, who was involved in the neurofeedback training received by Brian Othmer. Ayers had also witnessed the amazing possibilities promised by neurofeedback, and even while it was still being researched, she made the decision to use it to help other children including Brian.
The EEG Institute is now the center of a worldwide network of neurofeedback practitioners spanning more than 40 countries and including more than 4,000 mental health professionals. While the primary practitioners of neurofeedback in the U.S. are mostly psychologists and counselors, in Europe it’s widely practiced by psychiatrists and occupational therapists.
MEETING DIVERSE NEEDS Today the EEG Institute offers three different kinds of training to meet the diverse needs of patients and practitioners seeking neurofeedback. The first is adapted for those who are in recovery from clinical brain conditions or have suffered a brain injury, helping them to regain optimal brain function during a course of 20 to 40 neurofeedback training sessions. The second training program is geared to help clients recover from emotional trauma as well as deepseated negative habits. “This training is helpful in resolving a trauma history non-traumatically,” Dr. Othmer said. For clients and patients suffering from an eating disorder like bulimia, for example, this second training approach trains the brain to adopt new, positive habits.
From left to right: Roxana Sasu, Dr. Siegfried Othmer, Dr. Sue Othmer, Gayle Campos and Tami Collier
quite functional already, but wish to enhance and broaden their mental skillset,� said Dr. Othmer.
The reason it works is simple: when it comes to the brain, willpower often is not strong enough. Using neurofeedback, the brain is trained to adapt stronger positive habits and leave old, negative habits by the wayside. The third training program is for clients who want to reinforce the
positive traits their brain already has. This appeals to athletes, students, businesspeople and anyone who wants to train their brain in the same way they train their bodies. “This work appeals particularly to people who regard themselves as
Ultimately, neurofeedback has been shown to be a very effective way to train the human brain to become stronger, recover from trauma and adapt new, positive habits. At the EEG Institute, Drs. Sue and Siegfried Othmer and their colleagues continue their research and application of this incredibly useful, life-altering technique. EEG Institute is located at 6400 Canoga Ave., Suite 210, Woodland Hills, CA 91367. For more information, visit www.eeginstitute.com or call 818.456.5975 to schedule a free consultation.
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SPECIAL HEALTH BULLETIN
THE SWEET RELIEF OF SLEEP
THE SWEET RELIEF OF SLEEP H . OW TO MANAGE INSOMNIA AND CHRONIC PAIN by Pain Management and Injury Relief Medical
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EVERYONE LOVES GETTING A GREAT NIGHT OF SLEEP AND WAKING UP REFRESHED, REVITALIZED AND RARING TO GO. IF YOUR NIGHTS OF REPLENISHING SLEEP ARE FEW AND FAR BETWEEN, IT MAY BE TIME TO TAKE A SERIOUS LOOK AT THE POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES OF NOT SLEEPING ENOUGH
The fact is, getting less than the recommended seven or eight hours a night may not only affect your health, mood, weight and sex life—it can also affect your ability to withstand pain.
PA I N A N D S L E E P A R E C L O S E LY L I N K E D According to a recent research study, even a relatively modest increase in sleep time can decrease pain sensitivity. This information may be cold comfort for the estimated 28 million Americans who report having their sleep interrupted by chronic pain. When pain disrupts sleep quantity and quality, the resulting sleep deprivation lowers a person’s pain threshold and makes existing pain feel even worse. This can lead to a challenging cycle of increased sleeplessness and exacerbated pain, which can quickly spiral out of control, causing moodiness, depression and increased anxiety. “Pain is a serious intrusion to sleep,” says Dr. Alexander Hersel, a pain management specialist and founder of Pain Management and Injury Relief (PMIR) Medical Center. “The first step in helping a patient who is struggling with both insomnia and pain is to figure out if the lack of sleep is causing pain or if the pain is causing a lack of sleep.” The UCLA-trained physicians at PMIR encourage their patients to
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SPECIAL HEALTH BULLETIN
THE SWEET RELIEF OF SLEEP
take an active role in the pain management process. “Interrupting the cycle of insomnia can have the dual effect of lowering pain severity and increasing sleep quality while providing more energy for your day,” contends Dr. Mahyar Okhovat, a neurologist at the medical center.
CHECKING IN ON SLEEP HYGIENE Doctors agree the first step for an accurate diagnosis is to complete a professional sleep evaluation. These evaluations begin by taking inventory of your sleep habits, also referred to as sleep hygiene. Poor habits are often a root cause of sleep problems. Practicing good sleep hygiene may include adjusting your personal habits and sleeping environment to: • Set a fixed bedtime and waking time. • Avoid napping during the day—or limit each nap to 30 to 45 minutes. • Avoid alcohol, caffeine and heavy, spicy or surgary foods 4 to 6 hours before bedtime. • Exercise regularly, but not right before bed. • Use comfortable bedding. • Find a comfortable temperature and good room ventilation for sleeping. • Block out all light and any distracting noise. • Reserve the bed for sleep and sex only. • Establish a pre-sleep ritual, such as deep breathing or a warm bath. “If improving your sleep hygiene doesn’t result in a better night of sleep, you’ll next want to rule out the presence of an underlying sleep disorder,” suggests Dr. Bradley Spiegel, a pain management specialist at PMIR. A referral to a sleep lab may be necessary to detect disorders such as sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome and narcolepsy. Sleep apnea, a serious but 16
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common disorder affecting an estimated 18 million Americans, causes repeated interruption to a person’s breathing during sleep. When breathing pauses or becomes shallow, the sleep state can quickly shift from deep to light, a disruption that can lead to frustrating nights and excessive daytime sleepiness.
C O M P L E M E N TA RY H E L P I S O N T H E WAY “While pharmaceuticals are among the most common treatments for insomnia, a number of self-help strategies and alternative therapies can effectively counter sleep problems,” says Dr. Insun Lee, another PMIR pain management specialist. According to a 2006 study from the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), more than 1.6 million Americans treat their insomnia or sleep disorders with varying forms of complementary medicine and other remedies, including: • Melatonin This naturally-occurring hormone made by the pineal gland in the brain regulates the sleep-wake cycle and is particularly effective for restoring sleep cycles disrupted by jet lag and aging. • Relaxation Techniques Progressive muscle relaxation, deep breathing, guided imagery, yoga and tai chi are techniques that have proven effective at quieting the mind and relieving tension. From this state, you may be able to fall asleep faster and get back to sleep more quickly if you do wake in the night. • Acupuncture By stimulating specific points along the skin with needles, a complex series of signals are sent to the brain. These signals can increase the amount of specific substances in the brain such as serotonin, which promotes relaxation and sleep. • Biofeedback Biofeedback therapy involves
training patients to control physiological processes such as muscle tension, blood pressure or heart rate. Approved by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for complementary treatment of chronic pain and insomnia, biofeedback enables patients to use this learned control to improve their sleep cycle. • Meditation Research demonstrates that regular meditation can improve sleep patterns by reducing nervous system arousal, a factor in chronic insomnia. • Light Therapy Sometimes insomnia is caused by a mismatch between a person’s internal clock and his or her environment. In these cases, light therapy uses a calibrated approach to light exposure that can shift this misalignment.
TIME TO GET YOUR ZS The bottom line is, lack of adequate sleep can make daily life more challenging for anyone, particularly for people who live with chronic pain. But armed with better sleeping habits, sleep-inducing therapies, and help from your pain management team, a great night’s is an attainable goal rather than an impossible dream.
Founded in 2003, PMIR Medical Center is committed to helping patients achieve lasting freedom from pain. Their top-educated pain management specialists use state-of-the-art equipment and innovative procedures to target and treat the source of your pain. Their comprehensive, integrative approach to pain management— which combines the best conventional treatments with complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) options—offers a high rate of success in restoring your health and improving your quality of life. PMIR Medical Center has offices in Santa Monica and Thousand Oaks. Visit www.paininjuryrelief.com for further information.
Physician Profile
Rajesh Khanna, MD KHANNA VISION INSTITUTE Description of Practice Board Certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology; Better Vision at any age
Surgeries and Procedures Performed: Thin Flap Astigmatic Wavefront Lasik; Blend Vision SuperLasik; Pi in Eye (Eliminate reading glasses) – Tecnis, Restor, Crystalens, Trulign; Laser Cataract Surgery; Cosmetic Pterigyium Grafts, Intacs and Cornea Cross-linking (CXL) for Keratoconus
Author of: “ The Miracle of Pi in Eye”, “LASIK in the 21st Century” and “Cure for Keratoconus”
Host of: “ Medical Magic” and “Hangout with Laserman”
Contact Information Beverly Hills Office: 240 S. La Cienega Blvd., #250, Beverly Hills, CA 90211 Westlake Office: 179 Auburn Court #1 Westlake Village, CA 91362
Giving Back: Volunteer at the Jules Stein Eye Institute; provided Lasik and Cataract surgeries, and sight rehabilitation for Wounded Warriors, LA Cares and Impact Foundation. Board of Director ICS.
Phone number: 1-805-230-2126
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HEALTH VIEW 1
WHAT IS SLEEP?
WHAT IS SLEEP? ITS AFFECTS AND WHY WE DO IT. by Mirela Cernaianu, MD
WHEN WE SLEEP WELL WE AWAKE FEELING REFRESHED, ALERT AND READY TO START OUR DAY. THE AMOUNT AND QUALITY OF SLEEP AFFECT THE WAY WE FEEL, HOW WE LOOK AND OUR ABILITY TO PERFORM OUR DAILY ACTIVITIES.
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Every time we fall asleep we undergo remarkable changes—we become unconscious, our temperature and blood pressure drop, our breathing becomes more regular, we embark on a journey of dreams.
Sleep is a period of reduced activity, associated with a typical posture like lying down and with eyes closed, that results in a state of decreased responsiveness to external stimuli that is easily reversible. During sleep, your mind, body and brain need enough time to complete all the phases necessary for the important functions of muscle repair, memory consolidation and contribution to the control of secretion and release of various hormones. Every time we fall asleep we undergo remarkable changes—we become unconscious, our temperature and blood pressure drop, our breathing becomes more regular, we embark on a journey of dreams. We remember little or nothing about the time we spent sleeping. Sleep follows a pattern of alternating rapid eye movement (REM) and non rapid eye movement sleep (NREM) in a cycle that repeats itself every 90 minutes. REM accounts for 25 percent of our sleep time and NREM, the remaining 75 percent. Women can face unique challenges in achieving and maintain healthy sleep. Many struggle to fall asleep or find it difficult to stay asleep. They may wake up frequently and be unable to fall asleep again.
WHY IS SLEEP SO I M P O R TA N T ? Sleep is important for many reasons. Lack of sleep can cause and contrib-
ute to weight gain. Sleep deprivation can affect our cognitive skills. Learning, our ability to stay focused, reaction time to critical situations, memory, creativeness and critical thinking can be significantly impaired when we don’t get enough sleep. Immune system imbalances and especially inflammation have been linked to prolonged states of sleep deprivation.
HOW DO SLEEP DISTURBANCES OCCUR? Some of the most well-known causes of insomnia or sleep problems are: • Medical conditions (chronic pain, heartburn, asthma, sleep apnea, etc.). • Mood disorders (depression, anxiety, PTSD). • Lifestyle issues (working night shifts; extra work hours to meet deadlines; staying up late to watch TV or go out; alcohol use—alcohol is a sedative and helps you fall asleep but interferes with sleep later during the night; caffeine use—a stimulant; heavy or spicy late evening meals). Sleep problems can be caused by various hormonal imbalances. Female hormonal changes during the premenopause and the menopause period can most certainly affect our sleep. Hormones and neurotransmitters work together to influence our mood, sleep, cognition and memory. Neurotransmitters are chemical substances released by the brain cells (neurons). They enable the nervous impulse to be transmitted from one neuron to another through a connection called a synapse. Some neurotransmitters (e.g., glutamate) activate brain cells, so they are considered excitatory. Other neurotransmitters (e.g., gamma-aminobutyric acid—GABA) inhibit brain cells and are called inhibitory. Sleep and arousal are the result of different neurochemical pathways and brain cells being activated or deactivated. Hormones are organic compounds produced in a single part of the body (e.g., ovary, adrenal, thyroid). After being released in the blood they are carried to various other organs and parts of the body where they exert their activities—usually by binding to a receptor on the cells of that specific organ or part of the body (e.g., muscles, brain, heart, skin, eyes).
ESTRADIOL, PROGESTERONE, ESTROGEN AND SLEEP (OR LACK OF) The female ovary produces hormones until its normal function starts to decline (during the late 30s or early-to-mid 40s), with periods becoming more and more irregular, until its normal function is completely lost (by the late 40s to early 50s). This leads to menopause—the complete loss of ovarian production of estradiol and progesterone.
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HEALTH VIEW 1
WHAT IS SLEEP?
Estradiol is an excitatory hormone, whereas progesterone is a calming, soothing hormone. When there is too much estradiol and not enough progesterone, the brain cannot calm down enough to fall asleep and maintain sleep. Estrogen has numerous effects on the brain. It: • Increases blood flow. • Increases serotonin and enhances mood. • Increases norepinephrine and focus. • Increases epinephrine and sustains energy levels. • Reduces risk for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. • Improves memory and is neuroprotective.
HOT FLASHES Low estrogen levels can cause and contribute to sleep problems in many ways. Hot flashes are the most well-known symptom of low estrogen in the female body. Hot flashes are poorly understood, but it is generally accepted they most likely originate in the brain, probably as a consequence of the effects of low estrogen on the thermoregulatory centers in the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus is a region of the brain below the thalamus that coordinates the autonomic nervous system and the activity of the pituitary, controlling body temperature, thirst, hunger and other systems. It is involved in sleep and emotional activity. The occurrence of hot flashes and heavy sweating at night make many women uncomfortable and interrupt sleep quite easily. Have you ever set your thermostat so low in the bedroom that your husband or partner complained they were freezing? Have you ever woken 20
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feeling hot, thrown your covers off and not been able to fall asleep until you felt cool again? Have you woken feeling sweaty—sometimes having soaked your shirt or pajamas, requiring you to change? Hot flashes can repeat many times throughout the night, interfering with the ability to achieve REM sleep and maintain the depth of sleep required to restore and repair the body properly. Many studies show that estradiol replacement therapy improves sleep significantly, not only by relieving hot flashes but also by estradiol’s intimate connection and relationship with serotonin, a neurotransmitter associated with the sensation of well-being. Melatonin is a well-known natural, over-the-counter sleep aid some people have used for years. The fact that melatonin production starts with tryptophan, an amino acid used by the body to synthesize serotonin— which is then converted by two enzymes into melatonin—might be less well known. There are many natural sources of tryptophan. You can easily support sleep and mood by consuming foods like turkey, cheese, whole grains, chia and sunflower seeds to name a few. To summarize, estrogen has a major influence not only on sleep but also on mood, by alleviating hot flashes and by supporting healthy serotonin and melatonin production. Feel free to talk to your physician about how estrogen replacement can help you.
PROGESTERONE, CORTISOL, NEUROTRANSMITTERS AND SLEEP Progesterone levels start to decline much earlier than estrogen levels. In some women low progesterone can manifest as early as the mid 30s, accompanied by fertility issues or the premenstrual symptoms: irritability and anxiety.
A woman’s body makes progesterone in the ovary after ovulation, during the second part of the menstrual cycle called the luteal phase. Progesterone also is made in small amounts in the adrenal gland and in the brain itself. The body makes progesterone from cholesterol. If your cholesterol levels are too low or they are excessively lowered with statin drugs, this might affect the body’s ability to produce adequate amounts of progesterone. In the adrenal gland, cholesterol undergoes a chain of enzymatic reactions that ultimately lead to the secretion of progesterone, cortisol (the stress hormone), aldosterone (a hormone responsible for the watersalt balance) and DHEA (a precursor for our sex hormones: estradiol and testosterone). Progesterone, aldosterone, cortisol and DHEA are all synthesized from pregnenolone, a major prohormone. Our bodies do not need sex hormones to survive, as evidenced by the fact that we continue living many years past menopause, but our bodies do need to be able to constantly make cortisol—the stress hormone! We cannot live without cortisol. When faced with repetitive and prolonged stressors (e.g., divorce, serious illness, surgeries, meeting deadlines for work, dealing with abusive bosses, colleagues, or family members), the body preferentially produces cortisol, stealing all the pregnenolone. Therefore the production of progesterone, DHEA and aldosterone takes second place and becomes non-essential, leading to significantly lower or completely insufficient levels. This is how stress affects your progesterone levels. Taking progesterone in the form of a pill or cream might seem like a simple solution. However, simply replacing the progesterone without addressing the cause for its deficiency will not
give you any long-lasting benefits. The supplemental progesterone will be used by the body to fuel the cortisol need. This contributes to an excess of cortisol, possibly causing weight gain and blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar problems. Progesterone has a calming, soothing effect on the human brain, where it is metabolized into allopregnanolone, a very potent modulator for GABA receptors. Allopregnanolone itself has antidepressant, anxiolytic (a drug that relieves anxiety), stressreducing, sedative, pro-sleep, neuroprotective, and neurogenic effects, explaining why progesterone is best taken at bedtime. GABA is a very potent inhibitory neurotransmitter responsible for calming the mind, filtering messages, slowing down the system and inducing sleep. Low levels of GABA can cause anxiety, racing or monkey mind and the inability to fall or stay asleep. GABA can be taken as an overthe-counter supplement; however, many believe its benefits are limited because GABA does not cross the blood-brain barrier. In other words
it is absorbed in the circulation but it will not reach the areas in the brain requiring stimulation. Many women do get relief from anxiety with GABA, and if high anxiety is causing or contributing to difficulties falling asleep, than GABA may help.
To look at only estrogen or only progesterone and not consider the other hormones (cortisol and thyroid) or the complex interactions between them, or to ignore the neurotransmitter imbalances or other possible causes of insomnia, is a limited approach.
Taurine is an amino acid that can facilitate production and increase levels of GABA. More importantly it crosses the blood-brain barrier easily. Foods considered natural sources of taurine are animal products such as seafood, meat, milk and eggs.
Understanding how your female hormones can impact sleep and knowing the complex interactions between hormones and your brain can help you ask the right questions when seeking treatment.
Vegetarians and vegans tend to be chronically deficient in taurine. One of the more harmful things about nutrient deficiencies associated with the vegan diet is that the lack of taurine leads to chronic anxiety and possible sleep problems. Adding taurine to your supplements and vitamins may help.
Dr. Mirela Cernaianu is board certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology, Anti-aging and Regenerative Medicine, and Integrative and Holistic Medicine. Her private practice HERA Health Care is located in the Watercourt Executive Suites at: 910 Hampshire Rd Suite A in Westlake Village. For more information, call 805.379.9110 or visit her website www.herahealthcare.com.
To summarize, low progesterone can cause and contribute to anxiety and other mood changes and create sleep disturbances before and during menopause. Talk to your doctor about whether or not progesterone is right for you.
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HEALTH VIEW 2
THE ROLF METHOD
THE ROLF METHOD RE-ESTABLISHING
ANY IMBALANCE IN THE BODY, NO MATTER WHAT THE CAUSE, IS IMPRINTED AS CHANGE IN THE BODY’S INTERNAL STRUCTURE AND HAS A LONG-RANGE AND CUMULATIVE EFFECT OVER TIME.
NATURAL ALIGNMENT OF THE HUMAN BODY
AS FOLLOWERS OF STRUCTUR-
by Shannon Anderson
TEACHING YOURSELF TO MOVE
ALLY-FOCUSED THERAPY METHODS SUCH AS THE ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE AND YOGA KNOW, YOU MUST BE CONSCIOUS OF THE DAILY MANIPULATION OF YOUR BODY AS IF YOU WERE AND BALANCE FOR THE FIRST TIME. WHEN INJURED OR OUT OF BALANCE, THE BODY WILL ATTEMPT TO RETURN TO ITS ORIGINAL STATE, BUT WITHOUT ASSISTANCE, IT WILL REMAIN MISALIGNED, WHICH IS HOW MOST PEOPLE FUNCTION DAILY.
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Knowledge of this common problem is what motivated Dr. Ida Rolf to develop her widely acclaimed structural integration technique, the Rolf Method. Dr. Rolf coined the phrase Structural Integration and fittingly gave this name to her method of assisting the human body in moving to a place of better balance. The underlying goal of structural integration is organizing the human structure in relationship with gravity. Rolf discovered that she could achieve changes in posture and structure by manipulating specific systems of the body, essentially altering a person’s body configuration, thereby easing pain and chronic stress. The Rolf Method, affectionately and professionally referred to as “Rolfing,” can improve performance in anyone’s professional and daily activities. Research has indicated that utilization of the Rolf Method can create more efficient use of the muscles, allowing the body to conserve energy. Even cases of scoliosis and whiplash have had high rates of improvement after being treated using this method. According to the Rolf Method, opposing muscles are often restricted from functioning independently of one another by bound up connective tissue, or fascia. The Rolf method aims to separate the bound up tissue by deeply separating fibers manually through a series of special deep tissue massage sessions. Rolf Method practitioners often prescribe a certain number of sequenced sessions to gradually unlock the whole body, usually beginning with the muscles that control and facilitate breathing. Much of chronic pain and dysfunction in human form can be attributed to the shortening and binding of the fascia body due to injury, repetitive stress or postural issues. Chronic, progressive pain should always raise a red flag – or at least an eyebrow. But all too often the body’s way of communicating falls on unreceptive ears, and the root of the pain goes untreated until it evolves into a postural problem.
Rolf movement is executed through a series of 10 different sessions, commonly referred to as “the basic 10,” each one devoted to a specific structural or movement theme. Each session builds upon the previous one, and can be scheduled anywhere from one a week to one a month. A Rolf practitioner uses physical pressure to extend and direct the connective tissue, lengthening and arranging it, allowing for more efficient flexible movement. The patient participates by moving, breathing, releasing and holding movement patterns within the connective tissue, allowing the natural balance of the body to gradually become their guide. The method may look like an abstract series of unconnected actions, but each muscle group that is incorporated within the technique has an application in the art and motion of movement. After the 10 sessions, posture is improved, people often appear taller and leaner, and muscle tension is lessened. Many find that the work of the Rolf Method is profound in its application of shifting weight, balance, and the interplay of stability and mobility. But how many of us ever truly think about our posture? The way you look, stand and move is determined by the way your muscles interact with your skeleton. Over time, some of the muscles may be become stronger, while others become weaker, which distorts the skeleton from its true alignment. When the body’s fascia is freed from its habitual stresses and muscle strain, the skeleton is uplifted to its natural state, joints move more easily, and internal organs may function more efficiently. Structural Integration has been known to help relieve symptoms of and/or correct the following conditions:
• Chronic back, neck and shoulder pain • Correction of Scoliosis • Limits in range of motion due to illness, previous trauma and surgical trauma
• Whiplash due to automotive accidents The Rolf Method has also been used to improve balance and flexibility, circulation, vitality and metabolism, overall body performance for athletes and musicians, and to intensify the body’s self-healing capabilities. Anyone can benefit from the Rolf Method, and it may even be an outlet for those who want to explore the abilities and limitations of their own bodies. Perhaps the Rolf Method dissolves previously unbreakable physical barriers because, like other forms of touch therapy, it viscerally expresses the human condition and transcends social, emotional, and spiritual differences. A person does not need to be of a certain faith or culture to benefit from this form of therapy. You only need to become more aware of your physical nature and adjust it to accommodate the force of gravity. Just as continuity, balance and flow are all qualities useful to people of all backgrounds and lifestyles at any point in their lives, so can most ailments be treated by approaching physical limitations from a body-as-system point of view. Tapping into the grounding qualities of the Rolf Method can ease the stress of hectic daily schedules and the rigors of a professional life. The process of integrating the whole body can be a long and involved one, but the benefits are complete, lasting and will enable you to increase your quality of life and awareness of being. To learn more about the Rolf Method, go to www.rolfmethod.com.
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HEALTH VIEW 3
NEUROFEEDBACK
NEUROFE
WHY TRAINING THE BRAIN COULD H E
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EEDBACK
ELP MILLIONS TO LIVE BETTER LIVES by Michael Essany
NEUROFEEDBACK ISN’T JUST A BUZZWORD, IT’S A GROWING AREA OF FOCUS FOR THE COGNITIVE SCIENCES. SCIENTISTS ARE STILL STUDYING THE AMAZING CONNECTIONS BETWEEN BRAIN AND BODY AND THE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THEM—WHICH OFFERS NEW HOPE FOR PEOPLE THE WORLD OVER. HAVE TROUBLE SLEEPING? SUFFERING FROM CHRONIC PAIN? YOU AREN’T ALONE. MILLIONS OF AMERICANS FIND THEIR DAILY LIVES IMPACTED BY VERY REAL SCOURGES OF RESTLESS NIGHTS AND RESULTING FATIGUE, OR THE DISCOMFORT AND STRESS THAT ENSUE FROM SEEMINGLY UNSTOPPABLE PAIN.
While medicines are often an antidote to suffering, researchers have discovered there are also ways to alter communications between the brain and nervous system that can make a world of positive difference. Neurofeedback is the way neurologists and trained experts can help train the brain and redirect electrical brain activity toward healthier, happier outcomes. Basically, neurofeedback involves training in self-regulation. It is biofeedback applied directly to the brain. Self-regulation is a necessary part of good brain function, and brain training enables the central nervous system to function better and produce some amazing results. Let’s consider two areas in which neurofeedback could ultimately lead to breakthrough relief for many people: sleep disorders and pain management.
WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING—OR NOT. As many as 50 million Americans suffer from sleep disorders or deprivation. About 9 million of them routinely use prescription sleep aids to ensure rest—including many more women (5 percent) than men (3.1 percent), according to a recent U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study. The reasons are varied, from an inability to balance work/life demands to the universally-recognized stress of modern day life which demands that too many of us be on duty 24/7. Authors like Amy Wolfson, PhD, are blunt about the subject. “Sleep isn’t valued in our society,” she asserts. But experts caution that sleeping pills aren’t always effective or safe, and a growing number believe their use should be limited. “If you have an insomnia disorder, you probably need to see somebody who specializes in insomnia—you might need extra
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HEALTH VIEW 3
NEUROFEEDBACK
help,” says Michael A. Grandner, PhD, with the Center for Sleep and Circadian Neurobiology at the University of Pennsylvania. The good news? Sleeplessness can often be treated “pretty effectively using non-medication approaches,” according to Grandner, who wishes more people had access to protocols beyond prescription pills. That’s where neurofeedback comes in. Neurofeedback (most often scientifically measured by an electroencephalogram—an EEG) can be significantly helpful for a variety of sleep disorders: difficulty with sleep onset; frequent waking; bed-wetting in childhood; nocturnal myoclonus (periodic movements during sleep); restless leg syndrome; nightmares; night terrors; central and obstructive sleep apnea (periods of breathing cessation); nocturnal bruxism (teeth grinding); snoring; sleep paralysis; sleep walking and sleep talking; nocturnal seizures; and circadian rhythm disregulation. “The breadth of impact of neurofeedback on sleep disorders is evidence, if any more were needed, that neurofeedback targets very basic regulatory functions in the brain, such as the management of physiological arousal,” notes one industry source (www.eeginfo.com/what-is-neurofeedback.jsp).
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CTW MAGAZINE MARCH/APRIL 2015
“The complex organization of our sleep takes us through a variety of states of arousal. Any deficiency in basic arousal regulation is therefore likely to show up in sleep. And it is in sleep that we are witness to the process absent any conscious control of our arousal states. So any improvement we are able to achieve with neurofeedback should show up readily in sleep behavior.” A variety of activities, from talk therapy to meditation to modifications in diet and bedtime routines have been shown to offer relief to people who want to try to help the brain process impulses in a different way. While a specific sleep issue may not seem all that momentous in and of itself, it can often be an indication of more pervasive problems of brain disregulation. Neurofeedback for the problem of sleeplessness can often be the spur for further investigation into a course of action that affects other aspects of one’s life.
NEW PROMISE FOR THE RELIEF OF PAIN. One of the most promising applications of biofeedback has been in the area of chronic pain. Here, EEG biofeedback has been particularly helpful. Profound symptom relief can be obtained—often within a single session of neurofeedback, but more effectively if used over time. Chronic pain is debilitating. When pain is present it rises to the top of our hierarchy of needs. Sadly, chronic pain often presents with discomfort levels so severe that sufferers may not wish to continue with life. Interestingly, among chronic pain patients there is a very high incidence of early childhood trauma. Is the brain telling a person to continue to feel the effects of that trauma? Perhaps so.
According to researchers, the correlation between trauma and chronic pain is so pronounced that it begs for a neurofeedback solution. In other words, it is often a good strategy to try to redirect the brain away from the source of the pain before moving to more serious interventions like blocks and implants. According to experts in the field, it is a central fact that chronic pain has a significant component involving central regulation, a fact that frustrates many medical approaches to pain. The late Professor John C. Liebeskind at UCLA, who specialized in pain and its psychology, liked to recite a case in which a chronic pain patient was subjected to one procedure after another. In a tenth and final attempt to resolve the issue, a kind of frontal lobotomy was performed on the woman. Her pronouncement afterwards: “I still feel the pain, but now I no longer care.” Although this history is fortunately not being repeated today, the story does resonate with modern conundrums. We may not be able to extinguish chronic pain entirely. But neurofeedback offers ways to move a person to a place where she is the master, rather than the victim, of the pain experience. Medical intervention is designed to deal with symptoms. Neurofeedback is designed to deal with causes that may start in the brain (which technically feels no real pain) but is present in the very nerves and fibers of our bodies.
FOCUSING ON THE SOURCE, NOT JUST SYMPTOMS. Why focus on effects when we can go to the source? The bottom line is that what neurofeedback, as well as cognitive behavior therapies (e.g., yoga, meditation, muscle relaxation and physical exercise), all share in common is that they are non-pharmacological and effective ways to regulate our nervous systems. Doing that allows us to better reach a state that we choose instead of one that seems to be chosen for us. The brain is an amazing organ, machine and regulator. The ways in which it processes information, stimuli and trauma offer exciting clues into the methods available to neurofeedback specialists in getting to the source of debilitating conditions and treating them with the brain’s own powers. Can we train the brain and provide relief to people whose sleepless nights, experiences of pain, and stressful lives are impeding their ability to relish all the joys life has to offer? Neurofeedback says “Yes.” The science of neurofeedback shows that when dealing with the body, it’s often best to go directly to the boss—the brain.
Michael Essany is a bestselling author and columnist who currently serves as Editor-in-Chief of mHealthWatch. com. EEG Institute is located at 6400 Canoga Ave., Suite 210, Woodland Hills, CA 91367. For more information, visit www.eeginstitute.com or call 818.456.5975 to schedule a free consultation. MARCH/APRIL CTWMAG.COM
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MIND & SPIRIT 1
WANT TO GET SOME SLEEP?
WANT TO GET SOME SLEEP? START ASKING FOR HELP by Wayne M. Levine
THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO QUIET THE MIND—LIKE MEDITATION, EXERCISE AND READING. I TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ALL OF THESE. BUT IF I HAVE A PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE SOLVED AND I’M STUCK, NO MATTER WHAT, I TRY TO QUIET MY MIND. THE PROBLEM WILL STILL BE WAITING FOR ME IN THE MORNING.
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When we’re humble, honest, and have open hearts, the universe (life, family, friends and strangers) is just waiting to support and teach us.
That’s why asking for help is one of my favorite sleep aids. About 20 years ago, when I participated in my first men’s organization, I had an experience that taught me a valuable tool I still use today and teach to the men in our circle. It has to do with humility, honesty and opening up to the help we need.
The Journey There must have been about 150 of us. We trekked deep into the mountains, far away from civilization, so we could have some privacy and the space we needed to play a game. It didn’t take long for me to discover why we needed so much privacy. Suffice it to say that what we did was physically challenging, utterly ridiculous, absolutely fun, and changed me forever.
The Game The game was amazingly complicated. The rules kept changing and we were all given a unique opportunity to see who we were as men, and what we needed to learn to be better men. There were three teams. We were competing on many levels. Ultimately, we had to capture our competitors’ flags. But that was really beside the point. We were there to learn about ourselves as men—about leadership, delegation, teamwork and integrity. In the game within the game, we had to participate in various mental challenges and physical feats. (I couldn’t possibly share them with you here, at least not with a straight face.) If we beat our competitors, we earned points that we could use to gain more knowledge to progress in the game, and to purchase weapons, like super soaker water guns, water balloons, etc., to help us capture the flags.
The Tool Now, here’s when I learned the valuable tool of which I spoke earlier. The men responsible for administering the challenges and dispensing the points and weapons were referred to, affectionately, as the gods. In order to be allowed to participate in a challenge or feat, there was a very specific way in which to approach the gods. We had to stand on one leg, raise our arms in the air and say clearly, convincingly, and in this specific order, “I don’t know what I’m doing, I’m out of control, and I need help.” Just let this phrase sink in for a moment. How often would it have been appropriate in your life to make such a statement? “I don’t know what I’m doing, I’m out of control, and I need help.” I would guess that if you had been honest at the time, you might have declared this hundreds of times. Like, as a parent, as a spouse, in your career, when you were driving and got lost, when you tried to load a new operating system on your computer, and when you experienced trauma and loss. “I don’t know what I’m doing, I’m out of control, and I need help.” In order to make this statement and mean it, you have to get beyond your ego and be connected with your heart, your purpose and your commitment.
The Lesson In the course of the game, we had fun with this statement. If it was recited out of order, there were severe (silly)
consequences. But in the midst of the silliness, the point was driven home. Until we, as men, are willing to stop, stand on one leg, raise our arms and state, “I don’t know what I’m doing, I’m out of control, and I need help,” we will never receive the support we truly need to be better in our relationships, happier and more successful in our lives, and clearer about our spiritual journeys. When we’re humble, honest, and have open hearts, the universe (life, family, friends and strangers) is just waiting to support and teach us. No matter the problem, big or small, there’s always help within our reach. With that help, we can overcome any obstacle, and we are much more likely to get a good night’s rest. To get that rest, all you have to do is stand on one leg, raise your arms, and humbly say, “I don’t know what I’m doing, I’m out of control, and I need help.” It works every time. Sleep well. 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 best-selling 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 the BetterMen Weekend Retreat at www.bettermencoaching.com. MARCH/APRIL CTWMAG.COM
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MIND & SPIRIT 2
THE VICIOUS CYCLE
THE VICIOUS CYCLE OF STRESS, SLEEP AND PAIN by Cher Bodner, CHt
STRESS, SLEEP AND PAIN—IN ANY ORDER— THESE WORDS CAN BE INTERACTIVELY RELATED AND CLASSIFIED AS CHRONIC PAIN. IT CAN BE DEBILITATING AND VERY DIFFICULT TO BREAK THE CHAIN THAT LINKS THEM.
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Unfortunately many people suffer from chronic pain week after week, month after month and year after year. This vicious cycle can happen very easily if not resolved. Stress can lead to loss of sleep, which can lead to more stress. If the body gets too tired and stressed we can be prone to illness, or existing pain can intensify. All this can lead to a decline in vitality and happiness or loss of work, depression and more. If this sounds like you and you are tired of taking pills for the stress, pills for the sleep, and more pills for pain, then give hypnosis and imagery a try. It might be the answer you are looking for. Many cancer patients already know how helpful these alternative modalities can be.
Let’s Break it Down What is Stress? Stress is the feeling that life’s demands are so great— greater than your physical and personal abilities to cope. It’s the condition you experience when you feel you have lost control of your health or circumstances. The American Psychological Association has identified three types of stress: acute, episodic and chronic. • Acute pain is your instantaneous response to a traumatic event such as being injured or fired from your job. Fortunately it is brief and usually doesn’t affect you physically unless it turns into a longer response. • Episodic pain usually happens to type A personalities who are usually excessively aggressive and impatient. They can be the constant worrier and can have persistent headaches, hypertension, chest pain or even heart disease.
• Chronic pain is stress that eats away at you continuously. One has the feeling of being trapped in a miserable situation or the feeling of hopelessness, never seeing the end. The worst thing about stress is that you can actually get used to it—comfortable with it—and not even know how to function without it! What about sleep: Insomnia is defined as taking more than 30 minutes to get to sleep, waking up and not falling back to sleep within 30 minutes or waking earlier than desired with feelings of fatigue throughout the day. Insomnia can last days, weeks and even years. In addition to stress and pain causing insomnia, medications can interfere with sleep. Let’s look at pain: With acute pain, the injury tells your mind that the body has been damaged in some way. Acute pains usually last a shorter period of time as opposed to chronic pain, which has a constant reminder that can go on and on. All pain is real but everyone has a different tolerance level. That is why pain is a perception, not a thing. Simply speaking, pain starts in the physical body through the nerve endings or pain receptors that send messages to the central nervous system to the brain saying “something is wrong.” There is also a brain-to-pain motion that attempts to counteract the message trying to get to the brain—but not all the time. You’ve probably seen athletes who sprain their leg during a game, tape it up and continue playing like nothing happened. In this case, the chemical substances
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Re-Balance
MIND & SPIRIT 2
THE VICIOUS CYCLE
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coming from the brain are being blocked usually because these players are in self-hypnosis. They are so focused on something else—their game—that they are able to block the pain.
Alternative Solutions for Chronic Pain When you are ready to change your cyclic patterns, it might be time to try some alternative solutions such as hypnosis and guided imagery.
FAMILY PSYCHIATRY 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 32
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To truly understand how the hypnosis process works one must understand how the mind works. The conscious mind contains the analytical and rational parts of the mind which constitutes about 12 percent of our daily thinking. The other 88 percent of our mind power comes from deep in our subconscious mind. Since childhood we have stored positive and negative learned behaviors such as our emotions, perceptions, drives, goals and values, to name a few. When we come to a challenge
in our life, the conscious mind has a difficult time competing with the subconscious mind. Hypnosis is a very natural state of deep focus and concentration. You are not asleep but feel very calm and relaxed. The therapist works with you in that state—deep within your subconscious mind to help make the changes needed. Imagery is a very powerful and effective tool used to help release you from the exhausting and frustrating cycle of chronic pain or other troublesome issues in your life. Deep within the subconscious mind is where we store our belief systems, values, emotions, perceptions and motivations, just to name a few. This is where all the positive changes are made. Imagery is the way the mind/body learns. It is the critical component of all healing experiences. Imagery is distinguished when we consider the role it plays through placebos, suggestions and positive faith in something. While in the relaxed and focused state
The knowledge of how the mind works—the struggle between the conscious and subconscious—and the understanding that perception is everything can and will change your life!
of hypnosis, the therapist helps guide your mind to communicate with your body, instructing itself to heal or feel better. One can break the image of pain and replace it with more tolerable feelings or possibly eliminate it.
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Understanding there is a definite mind/ body connection is the key to the healing process. The knowledge of how the mind works—the struggle between the conscious and subconscious—and the understanding that perception is everything can and will change your life! Think about this: What you are aware of you are in control of. What you are not aware of is in control of you!
Cher Bodner is a certified hypnotherapist and master guided imagery practitioner. Her office is located at 18607 Ventura Blvd, #300, in Tarzana. Contact Cher at 818.324.1082 or CBodnerHypnosis@gmail.com and visit www.livinglifelivingwell.com. MARCH/APRIL CTWMAG.COM
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MIND & SPIRIT 3
BACH FLOWER REMEDIES
Bach Flower Remedies
RETURN US TO OUR OWN NATURE by Christie Batt, MA
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“I FEEL LIKE I AM BEING HELD AND SUPPORTED IN THE HANDS OF GOD.” THESE ARE THE WORDS OF A CLIENT, DESCRIBING HER EXPERIENCE OF BACH FLOWER REMEDIES—AN INTEGRAL PART OF MY SPIRITUAL LIFE COACHING PRACTICE. I discovered Bach Flowers (actually pronounced bahtch, or baych) after a year of extreme physical, mental, and emotional upheaval, following what I believe is technically called a hysterical pregnancy. (Allow me to assure you there was nothing funny about it!). After the pregnancy was lost, I was treated to many months of remaining symptoms: queasiness, mood swings, extreme fatigue, plus a few bonus tracks of apathy, self-hatred, guilt and anger. Looking back now, it’s easy to see how that year was a journey back to equilibrium so I could help others heal. At the time, though, I simply could not understand why I felt and behaved the way I did. I had a strong spiritual foundation and practice for many years, a wonderful marriage and a job I loved.
Google the phrase depression and natural healing methods. (Part of me wants to shout “Duh!”, but I am kinder to myself now.). Bach Flower Remedies came up, and I connected with them immediately in a way I now understand as intuitive affinity. Here’s a little information from my own understanding and practice. Dr. Edward Bach discovered 38 remedies in the early twentieth century in England. The remedies are plant-based, and designed to treat what he referred to as character flaws or emotional imbalances. Our personality and the ways we react to the circumstances in our lives determine which remedy is useful. When an imbalance occurs and the correct remedy is taken, the person is flooded with the opposite, innate virtue, thereby breaking through barriers and restoring a balanced, harmonious connection with their spiritual being.
Wonderful family and friends surrounded and supported me through all of this—yet I wanted none of it. So in addition to being unable to find due north with my spiritual compass and navigate my way out, I felt worse and worse as I searched for answers and stewed in my misery.
The very nature of the way Dr. Bach discovered each remedy, literally by suffering the maladies himself and finding the perfect plants and trees to heal, was mirrored in my own process of working with them.
After about 365 days of feeling like I was living in a world made of molasses, I felt compelled to
Needless to say, I began using the remedies myself and immediately it was as though the
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MIND & SPIRIT 3
BACH FLOWER REMEDIES
dark clouds lifted with the first dose! The shift was so strong and so quick that I was amazed. As the remedies are used, layers of healing tend to be uncovered. I continued to self-examine the issues as they arose in the forms of persisting thoughts, emotional baggage, physical symptoms and habits, and their corresponding remedy. Approximately 10 months after beginning to work with the Bach flowers, I recognized an even greater version of myself in the mirror. Old habits, relationships, irritations, physical symptoms and past traumas were all surfacing and transforming. Naturally, I started offering the remedies to friends and clients, who also experienced wonderful results. Each of them described how helpful the remedies were in providing clarity and support on their own spiritual journey. I believe there are several key aspects of Bach flowers that are quite powerful and explain why I offer them in my practice.
First, they acknowledge the presence of an innately perfect, spiritual nature existing within each of us and endowed to every sentient being. This is a key component in the philosophy of how I work with clients. The material world encourages us to find solutions to our problems outside of us, discouraging any sense of personal accountability. This is incredibly disempowering. A spiritual approach to life helps us find treasure in our pain, a sense of meaning and purpose, compassion and unconditional love, and allows our God-self to help us face all challenges rather than to simply get through the one in front of us. Secondly, the remedies do not suppress or on the surface dull the symptoms we face. To the contrary— they support us facing and healing the issues. They essentially say to us, “This issue is not who you are; let me help you remember.” We can use challenging circumstances as a message and awaken from them instead of hiding, avoiding, or numbing ourselves with food, drugs, alcohol, sex,
retail therapy, unhealthy relationships—the list goes on. Thirdly, Bach flowers, spiritual counseling, past-life regression, and many other available healing tools bring a message from God that our prayers are being heard and answered— that we are not alone and we do not need to continue to suffer. The very best of these tools allow us to see God revealed in us and in others, restoring unity and harmony with our own pure spiritual essence to guide us. In describing the remedies, Dr. Bach said, “They are able, like beautiful music or any gloriously uplifting thing which gives us inspiration, to raise our very natures, and bring us nearer to our souls—and by that very act, to bring us peace, and relieve our sufferings.” Bach Flower Remedies, in conjunction with spiritual coaching and past-life regression hypnotherapy, can all be useful in working with chronic pain/health problems, grief, unhappiness/depression, guilt, anxieties/fears/phobias, relationship difficulties, anger management, life changes, STDs, insomnia, stress management, addiction, OCD and ADHD, among others.
Christie Batt is a spiritual life coach in Westlake Village. She holds a master’s degree in spiritual psychology from the University of Santa Monica and is a certified pastlife regression hypnotherapist. Christie has been a teacher and a counselor for seven years. For more information on her practice or to book an appointment visit www.christiebatt.com. 36
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Physician Profile
Kapil Moza, MD, FACS SPINE & NEUROLOGICAL SURGEON Description of Practice Specializing in minimally invasive spine surgery, artificial disc replacement and cranial neurosurgery
Educational Background Bachelor’s degree in biology and medical degree from Albany Medical College, both with distinction. Surgery internship at George Washington University School of Medicine. Neurosurgery residency at the University of Miami, where he served as Chief Resident. Department of Neurological Surgery at OHSU in Portland, Oregon as Instructor of Skull Base Surgery and Neuro-oncology.
Certifications
Contact Information Thousand Oaks Office: 313 South Moorpark Road Thousand Oaks, CA 91361 Office: 805-497-3622 Valencia Office: 24043 Lyons Ave. Santa Clarita, CA 91321 Office: 805-497-3622
Fellowship trained, Board Certified Neurosurgeon
Diplomate, of American Board of Neurological Surgery
Fellow, American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS)
FANNS Board Certified Neurosurgeon
Congress of Neurological Surgeons
Awards Vitals Top 10™ Doctor 2014 Vitals Compassionate Doctor Award, 2013 Patients’ Choice, 2013-2011 Compassionate Doctor Recognition, 2012-2011
www.drmoza.com
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BEYOND GREEN LIVING
AYURVEDA FOR SLEEP
AYURVEDA
for Deep, Restful, Rejuvenating Sleep by Jan Tucker
WOULDN’T IT BE WONDERFUL IF YOU COULD REACH OPTIMAL HEALTH SOLELY BY FOCUSING ON YOUR NUTRITION AND BY LIVING A BALANCED LIFESTYLE? THAT IS THE GOAL OF AYURVEDA, AN INTRICATE SYSTEM OF HEALING DEVELOPED IN INDIA WHICH BEGAN AS LONG AS 6,000 YEARS AGO AND IS WIDELY PRACTICED TODAY.
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Lad emphasizes that a daily routine is very important to help you maintain your overall health and ensure that your body, mind and consciousness function on a higher level.
A well-known tenet of Ayurveda explains this science in a nutshell: “With proper diet, medicine is of no need. Without proper diet, medicine is of no use.� Vasant Lad, MASc, professor and director of the Ayurvedic Institute in Albuquerque, is considered one of the foremost U.S. experts of Ayurveda. He also studied Western medicine and surgery. Lad has written or co-authored at least 14 highly regarded Ayurveda books. Much of the information provided here is from his writings.
Establish a Prescribed Daily Routine
Balance is an important concept. Lad emphasizes that a daily routine is very important to help you maintain your overall health and ensure that your body, mind and consciousness function on a higher level. Following a specific Ayurvedic routine will place you in harmony with the rhythms of nature. Your biological clock will be in tune and your body organs and functions will operate optimally. This means that, along with getting the proper nutrition, if you sleep, wake, eat and eliminate on a regular daily schedule, you can begin to solve many of your health problems. This is partially because, as Lad explains, each organ in your body has a very definite time of maximum functioning. For example, the lungs operate at their peak in the morning, the stomach at midday, the liver in the afternoon and the colon and kidneys in the late afternoon. In addition to the biological clock, you have a daily cycle called the doshic clock. Doshas are the three main psycho-physiological functional principles of
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BEYOND GREEN LIVING
AYURVEDA FOR SLEEP
the body (vata, pitta and kapha). A very simplistic explanation follows. Eastern thought tells us that the earth consists of the five elements of air, fire, water, earth and ether. Ayurveda groups these elements into three types of energy represented in humans by three doshas (see www. hinduism.about.com/od/ayurveda/p/ ayurveda.htem): • Vata (air and ether). Vata is the energy of movement, which directs nerve impulses, circulation, respiration and elimination. • Pitta (fire and water). Pitta is the energy of transformation, digestion or metabolism (it includes transformation of foods into nutrients as well as metabolism in the organ and tissue systems). • Kapha (water and earth). Kapha is the energy of lubrication and structure, responsible for growth and protection (e.g., the stomach’s mucous lining, the cerebral-spinal fluid that protects the brain and spinal column). These doshas can accumulate in the body and place a person out of balance. Someone with excess pitta, for example, is fiery—physically, they might have red or blotchy skin and/ or thinning hair. They tend to be psychologically prone to frustration, anger, irritability and impatience. A diet containing too much spicy food, skipping meals, getting too much sun or heat and emotional trauma can increase pitta. Each dosha has its distinguishing characteristics. By following the recommended Ayurvedic daily routine, you will 40
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balance both your biological and doshic clocks. This will keep you healthier, help your body to digest and assimilate food properly, and help you to achieve the positive qualities of self-esteem, discipline, peace and happiness. Your regular waking and sleeping times are important parts of the daily routine. The first step in the routine is to awaken early in the morning, and specific times are recommended for each dosha type. Bedtime is equally important. It becomes obvious that regular and regulated sleep is an important part of the daily routine.
Remedies for Insomnia
Insomnia causes or complicates many other problems. It can be related to constipation, stress and depression. Too much stress or being too tired can cause insomnia, and tiredness easily leads to greater stress. Insomnia can be a symptom of depression and can also increase your depression. Ayurvedic remedies for insomnia include the familiar glass of warm milk or chamomile tea to bring peaceful sleep. To make the milk even more effective, try adding one of these: • Up to 1/8 teaspoon of nutmeg. • Ground up blanched almonds plus pinches of nutmeg and cardamom. • One cup milk, ¼ cup water and 1 clove of fresh, chopped garlic, boiled down to 1 cup of liquid. Eating 10 to 20 cherries a day may help relieve mental fatigue and stress,
which can contribute to insomnia. A simple ritual is also recommended to promote sound sleep: Drink one cup of tomato juice with two teaspoons of raw sugar and two pinches of nutmeg between 4:00 and 5:00 p.m. each day. Then eat dinner between 6:00 and 7:00 p.m. Eating too much sweet increases the need for sleep and can make you sluggish. Your stomach should be completely empty before you sleep (whether or not you have insomnia). You can accomplish this by remaining awake for three hours or longer after a meal. Of course digestion is not complete after the food leaves your stomach. Sleeping on your left side can help improve your digestion and may also prove to be a better position if you have sleep apnea, particularly if you are overweight. A hot bath or shower or yoga meditation before bed can improve your sleep. Meditation calms you and reduces anxieties that can surface during sleep. Lad suggests sitting on your bed and focusing on the area between your eyebrows (the third eye). Then simply focus on your breath, calmly watching it with your mind as the breath goes in and out, or you can do the So-Hum meditation. For about five minutes, or until you are very calm, silently repeat “So” with every inhalation and “Hum” with every exhalation. Then gently lie on your back in bed while continuing this breathing meditation. This will result in a sound sleep. I don’t know about you, but just learning about these gentle Ayurvedic
Infrared Sauna Ceragem Massage Beds Sonic Life Vibration $39 1-1/2 hrs of BLISS Burn calories! Lower stress! 3625 E.Thousand Oaks Blvd #221 Westlake Village, CA 91362 (805) 777-8122 remedies and practices gives me a calm, peaceful feeling. They are so natural!
Herbal Remedies for Insomnia
Ayurveda provides some powerful natural remedies in the form of supplements to assist directly with sleep problems as well as aiding sleep indirectly by destressing and detoxifying. MAPI is the manufacturer. Their Blissful Sleep tablets aid in falling to sleep more quickly and getting better rest. Deep Rest enables you to return to sleep more easily when awakened. Stress Free Mind supports resistance to mental stress and fatigue. Worry Free calms the mind and emotions and supports deeper sleep. These natural remedies and more can be found at White Lotus Living: bit. ly/WLbestsleep
“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.
Space did not allow me to address pain remedies. Watch www.deepspiritualyoga.com for future information about healing chronic pain through yoga and energy flow. The daily ayurvedic routine is explained in detail in “The Complete Book of Ayurvedic Home Remedies” found here: www.deepspiritualyoga.com/improveyour-life. Jan Tucker is founder of Deep Spiritual Yoga magazine (www.deepspiritual yoga.com), whose vision is all about 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. www.whitelotusliv ing.com is also a place for consumers to learn about and gain access to truly green, natural products.
Spiritual Life Coaching
Begin a journey with your True Nature for guidance and healing. If you are struggling with:
Christie Batt, M.A.
Spiritual Life Coach Bach Flower Therapist Cert. Past-Life Regression Hypnotherapist
• • • • • •
Chronic pain/health issues Physical, mental or emotional pain Grief Depression Anxieties/fears/phobias Relationship difficulties
…there is hope for healing.
818.424.8860 www.christiebatt.com MARCH/APRIL CTWMAG.COM
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DIRECTORY
GET CONNECTED
Directory Get Connected, Stay Informed and Be Empowered!
ALTERNATIVE, FUNCTIONAL & INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE BioDental Healing Dr. David Villarreal, IV Therapy 1000 Newbury Road, Suite 225 Thousand Oaks, CA 91320 805.375.2233 info@centersforhealing .net www.centersforhealing.net
Duben Holistic Chiropractic Center Alan Duben, DC & Lindsay Erickson, DC 3625 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd. Suite 172 Westlake Village, CA P: 805.494.1339 C: 805.300.1696 DrDuben@docduben.com www.docduben.com
Family Psychiatry Sabira Saifuddin, MD, Board Certified Adult, Child & Teen Psychiatrist, & Addiction Specialist 5655 Lindero Canyon Rd., Suite 405 Westlake Village, CA 91362 805.341.3416 www.cuttingedgepsychiatry.com
Steven Greenman, DDS Snoring & Sleep Apnea 1240 S. Westlake Blvd., Suite 223 Westlake Village, CA 91361 805.496.9555 www.drgreenman.com 42
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HERA Healthcare Medical Practice Mirela Cernaianu, MD, FACO 910 Hampshire Road, #A Westlake Village, CA 91361 805.379.9110 www.herahealthcare.com
Mind Body Spirit Center Dr. Sharon Norling 5655 Lindero Canyon Road Suite 401 Westlake Village, CA 91362 818.707.WELL (9355) www.drsharonnorling.com
Nutritional Oncology Research Institute Mark Simon 805.495.5708 info@nutritionaloncology.net www.nutritionaloncology.net
Oasis Wellness Center 3625 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., #221 Westlake Village, CA 91362 805.777.8122 www.oasiswellness.com
Thermal Imaging of So Cal, LLC 3625 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., #221 Westlake Village, CA 91362 310.463.2318 www.TIofSC.com
Agoura Hills, CA 91301 818.620.2335 hello@yogaeveryone.com www.yogaeveryone.com
Dr. Pearl Zadeh Pearl Zadeh, DDS 6325 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Suite 311 Woodland Hills, CA 91367 818.716.6722 drpearl@pearlzadehdds.com www.pearlzadehdds.com
CHILDREN Yoga Everyone Samantha Kinkaid 28914 Roadside Drive, Suite 204 Agoura Hills, CA 91301 818.620.2335 hello@yogaeveryone.com www.yogaeveryone.com
Center 4 Special Needs Gina M. Giambi Peters 1337 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., #202 Thousand Oaks, CA 91362 P: 805.379.1681 C: 805.338.1378 info@center4specialneeds.com www.center4specialneeds.org
CHIROPRACTIC
Yoga Everyone
Duben Holistic Chiropractic Center
Samantha Kinkaid 28914 Roadside Drive, Suite 204
Alan Duben, DC & Lindsay Erickson, DC
3625 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Suite 172 Westlake Village, CA P: 805.494.1339 C: 805.300.1696 DrDuben@docduben.com www.docduben.com
West Hills, CA 91307 818.888.7878 drcohen@cvsurgicalgroup.com www.socalsinus.com
CONVENTIONAL MEDICINE
Sarmela Sunder, MD
(Surgery • Urgent Care • Plastic Surgery)
Community Memorial Hospital 147 N. Brent St. Ventura, CA 93003 805.652.5011 www.cmhshealth.org
Foot & Ankle Alliance Dr. Alireza Khosroabadi 289 W. Huntington Drive, Suite 204 Arcadia, CA 91007 626.447.2184 877 foot911 info@fixmyfoot.com www.NoBunion.com
Khanna Institute of LASIK Dr. Rajesh Khanna 179 Auburn Court, #1 Thousand Oaks, CA 91362 805.230.2126 www.khannainstitute.com
Kapil Moza, MD, FACS Board Certified Neurosurgeon 313 S. Moorpark Road Thousand Oaks, CA 91361 805.497.3622 www.drmoza.com
Pain Management & Injury Relief (PMIR) Santa Monica office: 2336 Santa Monica Blvd. Suite 208 Santa Monica, CA 90404 Thousand Oaks office: 1120 Newbury Road, Suite 150 Thousand Oaks, CA 91320 P: 855 PMIR-MED www.paininjuryrelief.com
Southern California Sinus Institute Alen N. Cohen, MD, FACS 7345 Medical Center Drive, Suite 510
Facial Plastic Surgeon Encino Location: 16311 Ventura Blvd., Suite 600 Encino, CA 91436 818.501.3223 Ruth Swissa Med Spa Location 29020 Agoura Road Agoura Hills, CA 91301 818.735.8818 www.sunderplasticsurgery.com
Sherry Thomas, MD, MPH, FACOG Urogynecologist & Surgeon 29525 Canwood St, Suite #211 Agoura Hills, CA 91301 818.860.7086 www.drsherrythomas.com
Virella Neurosurgery Dr. Anthony Virella, board certified neurosurgeon 32144 Agoura Road, Suite 220 Westlake Village, CA 91361 805.449.0088 www.dr-virella.com
DENTISTRY BioDental Healing Dr. David Villarreal Holistic Dentistry 1000 Newbury Road, Suite 225 Thousand Oaks, CA 91320 805.375.2233 info@centersforhealing.net www.centersforhealing.net
Steven Greenman, DDS Advanced Cosmetic, Implant & Sedation Dentistry 1240 S. Westlake Blvd., Suite 223 Westlake Village, CA 91361 805.496.9555 www.drgreenman.com
Dr. Pearl Zadeh Pearl Zadeh, DDS 6325 Topanga Canyon Blvd. Suite 311 Woodland Hills, CA 91367 818.716.6722 drpearl@pearlzadehdds.com www.pearlzadehdds.com
FINANCIAL Center 4 Special Needs Gina M. Giambi Peters 1337 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., #202 Thousand Oaks, CA 91362 P: 805.379.1681 C: 805.338.1378 info@center4specialneeds.com www.center4specialneeds.org
Senior Concerns Andrea Gallagher, president 401 Hodencamp Road Thousand Oaks, CA 91360 Goebel Senior Adult Center 1385 E. Janss Road Thousand Oaks 91362 Simi Valley Senior Center (by appointment only) 3900 Avenida Simi Simi Valley 93063 Moorpark Senior Center (Wednesdays only) 799 Moorpark Ave. Moorpark 93021 Agoura Hills Recreation Center (third Wednesday only) 30610 Thousand Oaks Blvd. Agoura Hills, 91301 Senior Concerns Mobile Caregiver Center (call for times and locations) 805.497.0189 info@seniorconcerns.org www.seniorconcerns.org
FITNESS 805 Get Fit In-home personal training, weight loss, nutritional MARCH/APRIL CTWMAG.COM
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DIRECTORY
GET CONNECTED
counseling, yoga and pilates Doug & Michelle Waldman 805.231.1644 info@805getfit.com www.805getfit.com
Yoga Everyone Samantha Kinkaid 28914 Roadside Drive, Suite 204 Agoura Hills, CA 91301 818.620.2335 hello@yogaeveryone.com www.yogaeveryone.com
HEALTH PRODUCTS Centers for Healing Dr. David Villarreal Estrella All Natural Dental Care Rroducts 1000 Newbury Road, Suite 225 Thousand Oaks, CA 91320 805.375.2233 info@centersforhealing.net www.centersforhealing.net
White Lotus Living: Natural products without Chemicals
Insurances for Life’s Transitions Long term care planning with plan options Carol Knowles, Broker 1642 High Valley Ave. Thousand Oaks, CA 91362 805.405.2589 Toll-free 855.405.2589 Ltc.insurance@yahoo.com www.carolknowles.com
LEGAL Center 4 Special Needs Gina M. Giambi Peters 1337 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., #202 Thousand Oaks, CA 91362 P: 805.379.1681 C: 805.338.1378 info@center4specialneeds.com www.center4specialneeds.org
Senior Concerns Andrea Gallagher, president 401 Hodencamp Road Thousand Oaks, CA 91360 Goebel Senior Adult Center 1385 E. Janss Road Thousand Oaks 91362
Jan Tucker 805.222.5102 jan@whitelotusliving.com www.whitelotusliving.com
Simi Valley Senior Center (by appointment only) 3900 Avenida Simi Simi Valley 93063
HOSPICE CARE
Moorpark Senior Center (Wednesdays only) 799 Moorpark Ave. Moorpark 93021
Buena Vista Hospice Bonnie Olsen 143 Triunfo Canyon Road Westlake Village, CA 91361 805.777.1133 www.buenavistahospicecare.com
INSURANCE Aflac Julie Kraus 15066 B Varsity Street Moorpark, CA 93012 P: 805.529.8190 C: 805.404.9157 Julie_kraus@vs.aflac.com www.aflac.com 44
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Agoura Hills Recreation Center (third Wednesday only) 30610 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Agoura Hills, 91301 Senior Concerns Mobile Caregiver Center (call for times and locations) 805.497.0189 info@seniorconcerns.org www.seniorconcerns.org
MASSAGE BioDental Healing Massage Therapy 1000 Newbury Road, Suite 225
Thousand Oaks, CA 91320 805.375.2233 info@centersforhealing.net www.centersforhealing.net
Healing Oak School of Massage Myrna Simpson 4356 Eileen Street Simi Valley, CA 93063 805.581.2542 massage@healingoak.com www.healingoak.com
MENTAL & EMOTIONAL HEALTH BetterMen Coaching Wayne M. Levine, MA, Life Coach / Director 5030 Chesebro Rd., Suite 102 Agoura Hills, CA 91301 818.879.1600 info@BetterMenCoaching.com www.BetterMenCoaching.com
Center 4 Special Needs Gina M. Giambi Peters 1337 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., #202 Thousand Oaks, CA 91362 P: 805.379.1681 C: 805.338.1378 info@center4specialneeds.com www.center4specialneeds.org
EEG Institute Neurofeedback 6400 Canoga Ave., Suite 210 Woodland Hills, CA 91367 818.456.5965 www.eeginstitute.com
Living Life Living Well Cher Bodner, C Ht. 818.324.1082 cbodnerhypnosis@gmail.com
White Lotus Living Jan Tucker 805.222.5102 jan@whitelotusliving.com www.beyondtheposes.com
NUTRITION & SUPPLEMENTS Duben Holistic Chiropractic Center Alan Duben, DC 3625 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Suite 172 Westlake Village, CA P: 805.494.1339 C: 805.300.1696 DrDuben@docduben.com www.docduben.com
Nutritional Oncology Research Institute Mark Simon 805.495.5708 info@nutritionaloncology.net www.nutritionaloncology.ne
SALONS / SKINCARE MED-SPAS BioCell Beauty Cathy Castelazo Organic Body Wraps 2695 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd. Thousand Oaks, CA 91362 805.732.3267 biocellbeauty@gmail.com www.biocellbeauty.com
Suddenly Slimmer Bodywraps Deborah Hjerling 2695 Thousand Oaks Blvd. Thousand Oaks, CA 91362 805.370.5365 www.slimbodywraps.com
Ruth Swissa Permanent Makeup & Skin Ruth Swissa 29020 Agoura Road, #A6 Agoura Hills, CA 91301 818.7 .8818 www.ruthswissa.com
SENIOR CARE & SPECIAL NEEDS Senior Concerns Andrea Gallagher, president 401 Hodencamp Road Thousand Oaks, CA 91360
Goebel Senior Adult Center 1385 E. Janss Road Thousand Oaks 91362
dcreiki@sbcglobal.net www.celestialenergycenter.com
Simi Valley Senior Center (by appointment only) 3900 Avenida Simi Simi Valley 93063
Sandalwood and Sage
Moorpark Senior Center (Wednesdays only) 799 Moorpark Ave. Moorpark 93021 Agoura Hills Recreation Center (third Wednesday only) 30610 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Agoura Hills, 91301 Senior Concerns Mobile Caregiver Center (call for times and locations) 805.497.0189 info@seniorconcerns.org www.seniorconcerns.org
Cherí Cooper Reiki Master – Energetic Healing 3725 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd, #208 Thousand Oaks, CA 91362 818.395.6076 by appointment only cheri.reiki@gmail.com www.cherireiki.wix.com/ sandalwood-and-sage
Yoga Everyone Samantha Kinkaid 28914 Roadside Drive, Suite 204 Agoura Hills, CA 91301 818.620.2335 hello@yogaeveryone.com www.yogaeveryone.com
UCAAN United Cancer Advocacy Action Network Rachel Shur 1459 East Thousand Oaks Blvd. Bldg E Thousand Oaks, CA 91362 Office: 805.796.6090 After Hours: 805.479.1032 rachel@ucaan.org www.ucaan.org
Yoga Everyone Samantha Kinkaid 28914 Roadside Drive, Suite 204 Agoura Hills, CA 91301 818.620.2335 hello@yogaeveryone.com www.yogaeveryone.com
SPIRITUAL & ENERGY WORK Celestial Energy Center Rev. David Castle Reiki Master/Teacher, Biosonic Repatterning, sound and crystal therapy practitioner. 818.521.3638
"Non-Invasive, Early Detection"
No Pain, No Radiation "See" what is going on now Full Body Screenings Spot views Mj Holt, CCT By Appointment 310.463.2318 www.TIofSC.com
As seen at Oasis Wellness Center As heard on "The Kim Pagano Show" MARCH/APRIL CTWMAG.COM
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RECIPE
TURMERIC TEA
ANTI-INFLAMMATORY
TURMERIC
TEA
INGREDIENTS: 32 oz boiling water
½ Tbsp turmeric powder 1 Tbsp fresh ginger, thinly sliced 1 handful cilantro, chopped 1 garlic clove, peeled and crushed 1 Tbsp olive oil 2 lemons, juiced 5 peppercorns, whole (if tolerated on AIP) 1 orange, juiced (or substitute 1½ tbsp honey)
DIRECTIONS: Put water on the stove to boil. Combine all ingredients in a strainer or teapot. Pour boiling water into the pot and steep for 10 minutes. Strain and enjoy! Serves: 4 Important Note: Inflammation is the primary root cause of all disease. Managing the inflammation by first finding out what causes the inflammation with proper testing is the first step to a healthy and painfree foundation. If you are Th2 dominant, check with your primary physician before taking any natural anti-inflammatory tea or supplement. Also, as tasty and soothing as this tea is, it’s a real stain-producer! Watch your clothing and use the same teapot for this one.
Source: www.healyeatsreal.com
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