Still-Point Technology

Processing (personalizing) subjective ideas is how humans assign a hierarchy of values to the ideas that drive them and this parallels processing nutrition to produce body health and body energy.  I have no idea how these functions are related but we have all observed how emotions and/or stress affect health and if you look deeper, bad choices in the food people eat.  As you develop discernment with the memes that express your value you will also start to re-evaluate your diet.

Our cellular power plants are called mitochondria.  One of the most crucial nutrients to play a role in mitochondrial energy generation is coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10).  CoQ10 acts as a catalyst to produce adenosine triposphate (ATP), the molecule that powers the cell and CoQ10 protects the mitochondria against free radicals (unstable byproducts of cell energy production).   It performs this task along with assisting the lysosomes to clean cellular garbage.

The body modifies CoQ10 in a chemical process called reduction turning it into ubiquinol.  With age, the body’s ability to produce CoQ10 and its ability to reduce it to ubiquinol declines.  Cellular energy generation may slow and free radical damage may occur.  This is particularly noted in cardiac cells, the vital hard working cells around your heart.

Scientists can now produce a stable form of supplemental ubiquinol.  With this vital nutrient now available check out the bullet point of possible benefits, worth investigating this product to support your conscious move to wellness.

• Help to keep blood from clotting abnormally (Pharmacology & Therapeutics 12/09)
• May improve function and reduce fatigue among people suffering from neuromuscular disorders
• Shows promise for Parkinson’s disease as an early-stage treatment (Neurotoxin Research 4/2/10 online)
• May be able to counteract abnormal brain deposits found in Alzheimer’s disease (Journal of Molecular Neuroscience 5/10)
• May be beneficial in treating fibromyalgia and male infertility
• Sedentary men showed improved exercise performance (Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research 1/10)
• Help with skin cell repair in wounds and may help repair and protect skin against wrinkling (BioFactors 9-10/09)

As always, before you take any new supplement, check with your doctor or health care professional if ubiquinol may be of benefit to you as you actively pursue your state of wellness.

A study published in the December 9^th edition of the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, report on the Northwestern University investigation into microbial exposures in early life and how it affects inflammatory processes related to diseases in adulthood.  This new research suggests that normal exposure to everyday germs is a natural way to prevent diseases in adulthood.  Exposure to infectious microbes in childhood may actually protect youngsters from developing serious illnesses, including cardiovascular diseases, when they grow into adults.

“Contrary to assumptions related to earlier studies, our research suggests that ultra-clean, ultra-hygienic environments early in life may contribute to higher levels of inflammination as an adult, which in turn increases risks for a wide range of diseases,” Thomas McDade, lead author of the study, said in a statement to the media.  Thomas McDade is associate professor of anthropology at Northwestern’s Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences and a faculty fellow at the Institute for Policy Research.

“Humans have only recently lived in super clean environments and it could well be time to put down the antibacterial soap.  That is because the new research suggests that inflammatory systems need a reasonably high level of exposure to common everyday germs and other microbes to develop and work properly in the body.  In other words, inflammatory networks may need the same type of microbial exposures early in life that have been part of the human environment for all of our evolutionary history to function optimally in adulthood,” stated McDade.

McDade and colleagues specifically studied how environments early in life might affect production of C-reactive protein (CRP), a protein that rises in the blood due to inflammation, in adulthood.  This protein is an important part of the immune system’s fight against infection and the research’s primarily focused on the protein as a possible predictor of heart disease.  Most of the previous scientific research with CPR was conducted in affluent settings, including the U.S., where there are relatively low levels of infectious disease.

The research team was interested in what CRP production looks like in the Philippines where residents have high levels of infectious diseases in early childhood.  In contrast to Western countries, the people of the Philippines have relatively low rates of obesity (which is associated with CRP) and cardiovascular diseases.

“In the U.S we have this idea that we need to protect infants and children from microbes and pathogens at all possible costs,” McDade concluded.  ”But we may be depriving developing immune networks of important environmental input needed to guide their function throughout childhood and into adulthood.  Without this input, our research suggests, inflammation may be more likely to be poorly regulated and result in inflammatory responses that are overblown or more difficult to turn off once things get started.”

Modern day parents often take pride in keeping their little ones squeaky clean and as germ-free as possible, dousing them with antibacterial soaps and hand sanitizers.  Perhaps we will soon return to the days when kids got dirty playing, making mud “pies”, splashing in mud puddles and climbing trees.  The days I remember and we were only required to wash our hands before meals and bed, and with plain soap and water.

Chriss

I would like to share a story with you that I recall from an article presented as an accounting from an urologist working at Kaiser Permanente Hospital in California.

“A bright perky 21 year old woman arrived at the doctor’s office complaining of sever bladder pain.  She had to urinate frequently and urgently.  A complete medical workup was done and nothing could be found out of the ordinary—by the standards of the medical profession there was nothing wrong with this young woman.  The doctor then looked at her bladder with a cyst scope and found everything to be normal.  The doctor then proceeded to ask the young lady, ‘Sometimes women with your symptoms have a history of sexual abuse and molestation— is this possible with you?’  In the corner of her eye the slightest tear welled up. It turns out that the young lady had been sexually penetrated by an uncle almost daily from the age of three, till she was ten years old.

The doctor proceeded to ask her to think back upon these memories and find a part of her body where the memories were strongest. She stated she could feel them acutely in her lower abdomen and pelvis.  She was then asked to rate them on a scale of 1-10; one being the mildest and ten being the most intense.  The young lady proceeded to rate her feelings and memories at a 10 out of a possible 10.  This particular doctor proceeded to spend 45 minutes working with the woman, using some simple yet powerful emotional release techniques.  The doctor then urged her to cast around in her body for the remnants of any of the disturbed feelings she had previously felt.  She could not find them, no matter how hard she tried.  The emotionally charged memories had been so thoroughly released that a physical shift had occurred in her body.  Her bladder condition disappeared.  In the three years since that initial doctor’s office visit it has never once returned.”

We have all heard similar stories of physical healing brought about by non-physical means.  Yet I notice on the web another Kaiser Doctor wrote that he doesn’t work with alternative methods because they are “alternative” to what is tested and works.  We could likewise play on the words and ask why they call his work a practice.  So silly, we know that what gets tested is what gets funded.  Testing is expensive, so expensive that they didn’t wish to test the swine flu vaccine they were offering.

There are exceptions to this rule.  Science does discover new concepts that have research behind it.  Look at “The Biology of Belief” by Bruce Lipton and his findings with DNA.  A few years back DNA and genes were the new answer from research for everything.  Today we realize that there are not enough genes to provide a blueprint for a complex organism like a human being.  Good news, science will continue to look for an alternative concept and that is called progress.

Heather

For most of us health care falls into two categories; those services our insurance will cover and those we’ve got to pay for out of pocket.  Today the union of integrative medicine and holistic health is prevalent; the blending of non-traditional therapies with more mainstream approaches.  Treating an illness can become a costly undertaking.  So what are we the healthcare consumer to do?  Healthcare migration is occurring slowly – as the two approaches converge, we are looking closely at our choices.  We are looking for ways to feel better and are not willing to purge the pocket and give all to the mainstream healthcare industry without results.  Holistic healthcare is on the rise, and word of mouth alone looks to be the underlying motivator.  It is just a matter of time before the convergence is universal.  Traditional healthcare as we know it is joining forces with the up-and-coming holistic practices being offered that are effective.  Healthcare is moving towards integrating of the total body, mind and spirit.  Mainstream medicine doesn’t have time for personal touch and people preference more personal care.

In the past many of the alternative forms of healing were perceived as mystical otherworldly events.  For many of us and some scientists it still is, nonetheless those with illnesses are looking for results and there are many other effective options out there with no co-pay and more importantly no side affects.

In 1998 a panel of the National Institute of Health ascertained that acupuncture is effective in alleviating certain pain and may be useful in treating other conditions.  The process itself does not hurt and is safe as long as sterile needles are used.  Some insurance companies pay for these treatments and other treatments as well.  Massage, Reiki, holistic nutrition, herbal remedies, holistic vision and dental to name a few.

Today there are many holistic health programs that are being considered by insurance companies and traditional medicine.  Health Allies, an online health care marketplace signed a strategic co-marketing agreement with Biene Star Inc., a holistic health wellness program.  This agreement will allow Bein Star Practitioners to participate in the Health Allies online marketplace to offer alternative care and services.  Natural healthusa.com

American Express has invested its second round of funds of $32 million dollars to Health Allies. That is a strong statement of support.

IMA-Group has joined forces with Holistic Benefits and Services. Holistic Health Professionals Associations are upgrading current IMA-Group coverage for employers’ requests.

Pomerado Healthcare has integrated Bio feedback for their patients.  Then there is Kaiser, the revolution that their research studies are producing is overturning some of the most firmly established principles in the scientific firmament.

Alternative care, holistic health, integrative medicine, body mind and spirit, whatever you choose these ancient practices from around the globe will not be ignored and command the one-on-one personal touch that the human body has long forgotten and now beckons for.  We are in a world that is ever-changing.  The human body is a magnificent tapestry of ebb and flow.   Alternative healthcare solutions support the body in healing itself.  The opportunity is now; the prescription is to evolve.  We are being asked to search deeply within again to relearn “heal thyself” and greater and greater percentages of us are answering the call.

Heather

Friends

Thanks to media hype about H1N1, I’ve received calls from several who trust me, to advise. The hype in media about the utility of face masks and N95 as a tool for general protection against H1N1 can’t be deplored enough. Today, a friend who listened wanted me to write down briefly what I advised so that he could tell others in similar words. Hence this short email to friends whom I have advised recently. Please realize that this is not an official advice, especially the one about face masks or N95.

Most N95 respirators are designed to filter 95% particulates of 0.3µ, while the size of H1N1 virus is about 0.1µ. Hence, dependence on N95 to protect against H1N1 is like protecting against rain with an umbrella made of mosquito net.

Tamiflu does not kill but prevents H1N1 from further proliferation. H1N1, like other Influenza A viruses, only infects the upper respiratory tracts and proliferates (only) there. The only portals of entry are the nostrils and mouth/ throat. In a global epidemic of this nature, it’s almost impossible not coming into contact with H1N1 in spite of all precautions. Contact with H1N1 is not the problem but proliferation is..

While you are still healthy and not showing any symptoms of H1N1 infection, in order to prevent proliferation, aggravation of symptoms and development of secondary infections, some very simple steps—not fully highlighted in most official communications— can be practised (instead of focusing on how to stock N95 or Tamiflu):

1. Hand-washing (well highlighted in all official communications)
2. “Hands-off-the-face” approach. Resist all temptations to touch any part of face (unless you want to eat, bathe or slap).
3. Gargle twice a day with warm salt water (use Listerine if you don’t trust salt).. H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the throat to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms. Simple gargling prevents proliferation. In a way, gargling with salt water has the same effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has on an infected one. Don’t underestimate this simple, inexpensive and powerful preventative method.
4. Similar to 3 above, clean your nostrils at least once every day with warm salt water. Not everybody may be good at Sutra Neti (a very good Yoga asana to clean the nasal cavities), but blowing the nose hard once a day and swabbing both nostrils with cotton buds dipped in warm salt water is very effective in bringing down viral population.

Happy breathing!

A friend from Indonesian

“Integrative medicine” is the currant catch phrase referring to the full range of physical, psychological, social, preventive, and therapeutic factors that support the concept of optimal health.  The establishment in 1992 of the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) made some inroads into the medical establishment.  Research in the field has steadily grown, producing an increasingly strong body of evidence that supports the efficacy of complementary and alternative practices.  Not all of this new research is funded by NCCAM.  The National Cancer Institute has funded many studies and there are private foundations and donors active.

In late February, the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions held a hearing called “Integrative Medicine: A Pathway to a Healthier Nation,” co-chaired by Senator Tom Harkin and Senator Barbara Mikulski.  I believe both President Obama and Senator Harkin recognize the importance of prevention in improving public health and cutting costs.  The Senators called the Senate subcommittee meeting to ensure an ongoing dialogue about alternative practices as a viable complement to expensive conventional medical practices.

A few days later at a Summit on Integrative Medicine and the Health of the Public, hosted by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) and the Bravewell Collaborative, Harkin pledged, “It is my intention to change our health system and to place integrative health care at the heart of the reform legislation we will pass this year.”

Factors critical to health care reform were identified at the Summit and include the following:

• The new system must focus on prevention and wellness and put the patient at the center of care.

• Lifestyle-modification programs have been proven not only to improve people’s overall health and well-being but also to mitigate and sometimes completely heal chronic diseases.

• Genetics is not destiny: Recent research shows that gene expression can be turned on or off by nutritional choices, levels of social support, and stress-reduction activities such as meditation and exercise.

• All health care practitioners should be educated in the importance of compassionate care that addresses the bio-psychosocial dimensions of health.

• Evidence-based medicine—which emphasizes the need for research and testing that expand the evidence for integrative models of care—is the only acceptable standard.

News from Johns Hopkins

AFTER YEARS OF TELLING PEOPLE CHEMOTHERAPY IS THE ONLY WAY TO TRY (TRY THE KEY WORD) AND ELIMINATE CANCER, JOHNS HOPKINS IS FINALLY STARTING TO TELL YOU THERE IS AN ALTERNATIVE WAY

Cancer Update from Johns Hopkins:
1. Every person has cancer cells in the body. These cancer cells do not show up in the standard tests until they have multiplied to a few billion. When doctors tell cancer patients that there are no more cancer cells in their bodies after treatment, it just means the tests are unable to detect the cancer cells because they have not reached the detectable size.
2. Cancer cells occur between 6 to more than 10 times in a person’s lifetime.
3. When the person’s immune system is strong the cancer cells will be destroyed and prevented from multiplying and forming tumors.
4. When a person has cancer it indicates the person has multiple nutritional deficiencies. These could be due to genetic, environmental, food and lifestyle factors.
5. To overcome the multiple nutritional deficiencies, changing diet and including supplements will strengthen the immune system.
6. Chemotherapy involves poisoning the rapidly-growing cancer cells and also destroys rapidly-growing healthy cells in the bone marrow, gastro-intestinal tract etc, and can cause organ damage, like liver, kidneys, heart, lungs etc.
7. Radiation while destroying cancer cells also burns, scars and damages healthy cells, tissues and organs.
8. Initial treatment with chemotherapy and radiation will often reduce tumor size. However prolonged use of chemotherapy and radiation do not result in more tumor destruction.
9. When the body has too much toxic burden from chemotherapy and radiation the immune system is either compromised or destroyed, hence the person can succumb to various kinds of infections and complications.
10. Chemotherapy and radiation can cause cancer cells to mutate and become resistant and difficult to destroy. Surgery can also cause cancer cells to spread to other sites.
11. An effective way to battle cancer is to starve the cancer cells by not feeding it with the foods it needs to multiply.
CANCER CELLS FEED ON:

a. Sugar is a cancer-feeder.
By cutting off sugar it cuts off one important food supply to the cancer cells. Sugar substitutes like NutraSweet, Equal, Spoonful, etc are made with Aspartame and it is harmful. A better natural substitute would be Manuka honey or molasses but only in very small amounts. Table salt has a chemical added to make it white in color. Better alternative is Bragg’s aminos or sea salt.
b. Milk causes the body to produce mucus, especially in the gastro-intestinal tract. Cancer feeds on mucus. By cutting off milk and substituting with unsweetened Soya milk cancer cells are being starved.
c. Cancer cells thrive in an acid environment.
A meat-based diet is acidic and it is best to eat fish, and a little chicken rather than beef or pork. Meat also contains livestock antibiotics, growth hormones and parasites, which are all harmful, especially to people with cancer.
d. A diet made of 80% fresh vegetables and juice, whole grains, seeds, nuts and a little fruits help put the body into an alkaline environment. About 20% can be from cooked food including beans. Fresh vegetable juices provide live enzymes that are easily absorbed and reach down to cellular levels within 15 minutes to nourish and enhance growth of healthy cells. To obtain live enzymes for building healthy cells try and drink fresh vegetable juice (most vegetables including bean sprouts) and eat some raw vegetables 2 or 3 times a day. Enzymes are destroyed at temperatures of 104 degrees F (40 degrees C).
e. Avoid coffee, tea, and chocolate, which have high caffeine.
Green tea is a better alternative and has cancer-fighting properties. Water- best to drink purified water, or filtered, to avoid known toxins and heavy metals in tap water. Distilled water is acidic, avoid it.
12. Meat protein is difficult to digest and requires a lot of digestive enzymes. Undigested meat remaining in the intestines become putrefied and leads to more toxic buildup.
13. Cancer cell walls have a tough protein covering. By refraining from or eating less meat it frees more enzymes to attack the protein walls of cancer cells and allows the body’s killer cells to destroy the cancer cells.
14. Some supplements build up the immune system (IP6, Flor-ssence, Essiac, anti-oxidants, vitamins, minerals, EFA s etc.) to enable the body’s own killer cells to destroy cancer cells. Other supplements like vitamin E are known to cause apoptosis, or programmed cell death, the body’s normal method of disposing of damaged, unwanted, or unneeded cells.
15. Cancer is a disease of the mind, body, and spirit. A proactive and positive spirit will help the cancer warrior be a survivor. Anger, unforgiveness and bitterness put the body into a stressful and acidic environment. Learn to have a loving and forgiving spirit. Learn to relax and enjoy life.
16. Cancer cells cannot thrive in an oxygenated environment. Exercising daily, and deep breathing help to get more oxygen down to the cellular level. Oxygen therapy is another means employed to destroy cancer cells.

1. No plastic containers in micro.
2. No water bottles in freezer.
3. No plastic wrap in microwave.

Johns Hopkins has recently sent this out in its newsletters. This information is being circulated at Walter Reed Army Medical Center as well. Dioxin chemicals cause cancer, especially breast cancer.  Dioxins are highly poisonous to the cells of our bodies.
Don’t freeze your plastic bottles with water in them as this releases dioxins from the plastic. Recently, Dr. Edward Fujimoto, Wellness Program Manager at Castle Hospital was on a TV program to explain this health hazard He talked about dioxins and how bad they are for us. He said that we should not be heating our food in the microwave using plastic containers. This especially applies to foods that contain fat. He said that the combination of fat, high heat, and plastics releases dioxin into the food and ultimately into the cells of the body. Instead, he recommends using glass, such as CorningWare, Pyrex or ceramic containers for heating food. You get the same results, only without the dioxin. So such things as TV dinners, instant ramen and soups, etc., should be removed from the container and heated in something else. Paper isn’t bad but you don’t know what is in the paper. It’s just safer to use tempered glass, Corning Ware, etc. He reminded us that a while ago some of the fast food restaurants moved away from the foam containers to paper. The dioxin problem is one of the reasons. Also, he pointed out that plastic wrap, such as Saran, is just as dangerous when placed over foods to be cooked in the microwave. As the food is nuked, the high heat causes poisonous toxins to actually melt out of the plastic wrap and drip into the food. Cover food with a paper towel instead.