Arthritis Recovery
http://www.macrobiotics.org/duvall.html

By Charles Duvall

In October 1994, when I awoke in the morning my right hand was "asleep", and I could not "wake" it up. This was the beginning of a very painful year. Within one week, both hands were numb, and becoming increasingly painful. By Christmas, the pain was so bad at night that I had to get up every hour and soak my hands in ice water to stop the pain. By then, both hands were stiff, and I could no longer make a grip with my fists.

In March 1995, my ankles began to stiffen, and I began to experience pain when walking. This stiffness quickly progressed to my feet, knees, hips, elbows, and shoulders and by summer, I could not get out of bed without help. My knees would not straighten. I relied on hot showers to "wake-up" my body, but I became very weak, and unable to work more than several hours in the morning.

In early July, I met with a client from London, and went to dinner at a fancy local seaside restaurant to discuss a project in Mexico City. I ordered stuffed eggplant with ricotta and mozzarella, with a cream sauce, new potatoes, and a glass of red wine. I followed this with a flaming dessert of caramelized bananas with chocolate sauce.

We talked for several hours at our table. After the bill was paid, I pushed my chair back and quickly realized that my legs would not support my weight. I told everyone that my legs had "fallen asleep", and to walk on ahead of me. It took ten minutes before I could stand and walk slowly to the parking lot. I attributed my problem to sitting for such a long period.

Two weeks later, again I went out to dinner. This time I ordered a pizza with onions, eggplant, and garlic with double cheese, a bottle of beer, followed by a large slice of chocolate cake. After dinner, again my legs would not support me. This second experience was enough for me to finally make the connection between the food and my condition.

On August 1, I decided to eliminate sugar, dairy, and nightshade vegetables from my diet. I had been a vegetarian for five years, and frequently ate nightshades two or three times a day. Immediately, I began to lose weight, and did not have any more shocking after dinner experiences, although I continued to lose flexibility.

Finally, in September 1995, I gave in to taking the recommended drugs, as I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis by a rheumatologist. I was prescribed one of about two hundred possible types of NSAIDS. If these were not strong enough, there were various stronger levels of drugs ranging form sulfa sulfates to cortisone, and even radiation therapy which could eventually be available to me should I need more relief in the future. My control over my condition was to become my choice of how many pills I required to relieve my condition.

The NSAIDS relieved the pain in my ankles, and I could walk more easily, but I still continued to loose my overall flexibility, and strength. I could work about four hours before collapsing on the sofa for the rest of the day and evening. I got a boost at 6pm when I popped the second pill. The rheumatologist had explained that the drugs would relieve the pain, but not prevent my condition from deteriorating further.

I was skeptical about taking drugs in the first place and suspicious about the connection of food because of my direct experiences. The literature of the Arthritis Foundation states that there is no scientific evidence of a connection between diet and arthritis, although some people have noticed effects from eating certain foods.

I decided to take a short vacation at Nags Head before leaving for a two week project in Mexico City in the end of September. I made a business phone call to Maine, and an old friend picked up the phone. She mentioned the Kushi Institute after hearing that I was experimenting with my diet. I immediately called and signed up for the Way to Health program on October 15, even though I was basically unfamiliar with macrobiotics. I had to explore a food related solution out of intuition and desperation.

On October 11, I had an appointment with my rheumatologist. She prescribed the next level of drugs, sulfa sulfates. I should take seven pills every day. I could eventually experiment with the dosage based on my needs. I somehow knew I would never fill the subscription.

One week later, at the Kushi Institute, I quickly realized that I was in the right healing place. The teachers immediately confirmed my suspicion that my condition was related to my diet. The teachers emphasized the relationship of lifestyle as a big factor as well.

After several days, I already felt the energy of the delicious balanced macrobiotic meals. I stopped taking the NSAIDS. I tried to absorb as much knowledge as possible in this concentrated week of study, cooking, exercise, and healing. Sharing experiences with other students and faculty was also a vital part of the week.

I realized that I was beginning a new way of thinking and living, but I never grasped how powerful and uplifting the process would become, and how it would begin to transform my daily life.

Slowly, my arthritis began to change. My joints started making cracking sounds, and become gradually more flexible. I utilized frequent ginger compresses on my ankles and knees. The swelling eventually subsided almost completely.

Initially, doing hot towel rubs in the morning and evening was physically difficult, but after three months became easier to perform, and has been very effective in increasing my vitality and circulation, and well as increasing flexibility and eliminating pain and stiffness in my shoulders and knees.

Daily Do-In exercises have also added strength and flexibility, as well as weekly Tai-chi classes. After three months of a macrobiotic diet, the exercises became more effective than in the beginning.

Recently, I discovered that chewing the food has a direct relationship to the stiffness in my joints, so I am now more focused on chewing every mouthful. Learning itself is a process, and takes patience. It was not possible to prepare every meal perfectly in the beginning, but gradually I overcame obstacles.

Now I am pretty proficient at getting breakfast prepared well, with rice, greens, and miso. It took effort and time to establish a consistent yet flexible process for preparing breakfast. Now, I am trying to improve my preparation of dinner.

In February, I turned forty years old. I have been practicing macrobiotics for four months. I still have good and bad days, but I am moving rapidly towards healing and balance.

Once the arthritis is behind me, I can move on to a continuous and on-going process of healing, transformation, and changes in my diet and lifestyle, and in my relationship to other people and the world, and with myself.

I look forward to returning to the Kushi Institute in Becket to continue to educate myself about macrobiotics and receive the support of others committed to health and healing.

Shortcut URL to this page: http://curezone.com/diseases/arthritis/testimonials/Arthritis_recovery_Charles_Duvall.htm

Qi Gong (External Qi Healing, Wai Qi Zhi Liao)
Background: Where does this technique come from?

Definition: Ancient healing technique. "Projecting qi outside of [the healer's] body and into a patient... In China, External Qi Healing usually refers to noncontact therapeutic touch, the hand or hands held approximately six inches above the area of treatment." (Cohen, 243)

Source: The Way of Qi Gong: The art and science of Chinese Energy Healing by Kenneth S. Cohen. New York: Ballantine Books, 1997. Workshop on External Qi Healing by Ken Cohen, Seattle, July 2001. Manual.
Finding Out More: Best website I found is:

http://www.acupuncture.com/QiKung/QiKunInd-all.htm

Origin of Method / History: There is a long history in China of exercise / dance postures based on animals' movements and other elements of nature. This form of exercise continues to be practiced today as qi gong. The first reference to using energy exercise (aka dao yin, qi gong, etc.) for healing is from the 6th century BC.

Theory: What is energy? What is energy healing?

What energy is being worked with? Qi. Life energy.
The ideogram for Qi could be interpreted as "the energy produced when complementary, polar opposites are harmonized." (Cohen, 31)

Sources of Energy: Air or breath; food; inherited / genetic qi.

Energy centers/pathways: Qi reservoirs: Lower dan tien is associated with sexuality and physical energy. Middle dan tien is related to respiration and health of internal organs. Upper dan tien holds shen (energy of consciousness), related to the brain. Pathways are the meridians.

What is illness / health? "Health is more than an abundance of qi. Health implies that the qi in our bodies is clear; rather than polluted and turbid, and flowing smoothly like a stream, not blocked and stagnant." (Cohen, 3)

What is the mechanism? Practitioner does qi gong and client's field matches energy. "Your qi field, interacting with that of the patient, communicates a healing message." (Cohen, 259)

Role of practitioner: To seek a "state of harmony with nature... simply maintaining connectedness allows qi to flow through rather than from the body. The healer funnels qi from a Source, sometimes identified as Nature, Dao, Great Spirit, or God." (Cohen, 248)

Role of heal-ee: To be relaxed and free of worries. Patient must ask for healing.

Who can heal? Training? Some instructors say you need to train in internal qi gong exercise for ten years before healing with external qi gong. Cohen argues that "we are all emitting qi all the time, with or against our will. We need to learn how to use this innate capacity effectively and wisely." (Cohen, 243) He does say that the more regular your qi gong practice, the stronger your field and the more precise your sensitivity to qi imbalances. (Cohen, 246)

Where does the healing energy come from? Cohen says that some practitioners think it comes from the healer's own supply that can be depleted, then needs to be rebuilt. But most believe that they are tapping into a universal well of healing energy. (Cohen, 248)

Practice: How does a healing session work for this technique?

Assessment: 1. General impression. 2. Light contact: Placing palms on three assessment areas. 3. Energy scan: Practitioner holds palms about 6" away from client's body, and scans from head to toe, noting where excesses of yang push hands away, and where excessive yin pulls energy field in closer to body. 4. Differential assessment. Practitioner holds each of the client's fingers and toes while scanning the associated organs for temperature and quality. (e.g. holds the client's thumb in one hand while the other hand rests a few inches from the lungs.)

Then practitioner compares all the information from these assessments with the patient's health history, presenting problem, and diagnostic measures to form an assessment.

During work: De qi: In healing and treatment, the most important thing is to `reach the qi' (de qi) energetically. When you have de qi, you'll sense vibration, warmth, or energy. This is done not by increasing the pressure of the hands but simply by intention to reach deeper. (Cohen, 258)

Treatment techniques: Yin-yang polarity: Practitioner positions his hands (touching or not quite touching) on either side of a diseased area, or any of the places s/he felt excess, deficient, or diseased qi. Then s/he simply does standing meditation; does not need to actively project qi. This technique is useful for most conditions, with almost no chance of doing harm. (Cohen, 260)

Circling Palms: Practitioner places one palm over diseased area (other hand is held down at his side, absorbing qi from the earth and discharging toxic qi.) Imagines the center of the palm is a tiny laser beam emitting healing qi. Circles clockwise to create warmth and add energy by stimulation to weak, depleted areas. Circles counterclockwise if area feels hot or overly full. Circles until area returns to normal temperature and sensation. (Cohen, 260)

Tapping, pulsing, waving. Tapping (with fingers, palm, fist, etc.), pulsing (slightly opening and closing the palm, pulsing the energy coming from the center of the palm), and waving (sweeping patient's energy field with fingertips) moves the qi without adding heat or cold.

Knowing when to stop: Might be 5 minutes, might be 40, depending on what patient is capable of receiving. Practitioner may be able to feel when energy is no longer received. Otherwise, if skin becomes very red or very pale or the breathing rate is consistently quicker, patient is uncomfortable, or if it feels like the same poles of a magnet have been brought together and patient is repelling qi. Best indicator is the patient's verbal feedback. (Cohen, 264)

Uses: When is this Technique useful?
Duration/Frequency: Some acute conditions improve significantly with one treatment. Chronic conditions require more treatments. Most patients notice improvement after session 4 or 5.

What do practitioners say it is useful for: "reducing pain, shrinking infections and swellings, killing cancerous cells, combating arthritis, releasing muscular tension, improving skin tone, stopping bleeding, strengthening the immune system, renewing vitality, etc." (Quote from Wang Yin, cited at Cohen, 243) Also used for anesthesia during surgery.

Contraindications: Cohen does not mention any for External Qi Gong. He does say for internal qi gong practice: "it is one of the safest self-healing systems in the world, but if it is not done correctly, even qi gong can have some unpleasant side effects." (Cohen 273-4) Dizziness, headaches, nausea, and difficult breathing can result from attempting to practice qi gong when there are too many chaotic distractions around you, when you have eaten just before qi gong practice, after practicing outside in a strong wind, or when you use excessive visualization, forcing the mind to hold images or thoughts beyond comfortable limits. (Cohen, 274-5)
Studies done: There have been numerous studies done of Qi Gong, primarily in China. The majority of these focus on the benefits of the patient practicing internal qi gong, rather than on external qi healing; however, they still reveal useful information about the strength of qi gong as a healing modality. See Benor and Cohen for a thorough discussion.

Other uses: "Qi can be projected during any other method of healing body work such as massages... chiropractic, Rolfing, Therapeutic Touch, or laying on of hands." (Cohen, 243)

The Theory Of Everything
Imagine a world in which everything is explained, in which human beings would know why they act, how they think, and how they came to be. A complete understanding of the entire universe would flow from one single equation: a grand unified theory. Finding such a theory has been the dream of physicists since the idea was first proposed by Isaac Newton, and lately, with technological advances bearing such names as particle accelerators and supercolliders, science is getting closer and closer to finding this theory. Along with the knowledge, however, comes speculation and debate. Some scientists do not see the need for a grand unified theory, sometimes dubbed a "theory of everything". However, such a theory would offer insight into nature and the forces that shaped our lives. The search for a grand unified theory is an important and potentially valuable step for all humankind.

The Search Begins
The search began with Isaac Newton. He first proposed the idea that one great theory might exist that would link all the other known theories. This theory would provide one blanket statement that would describe everything in the entire universe, known and unknown. Other physicists, starting with Albert Einstein, began searching for this grand unified theory, which, through their love of acronyms, they affectionately called GUT. Some even started calling it a theory of everything, which led to the acronym TOE. They started with four basic forces: the gravitational force, which Newton had earlier found to explain gravity; the electromagnetic force, a linked theory of electricity and magnetism; the strong nuclear force, which holds the nucleus of the atom together; and the weak nuclear force, which is involved in the decay of atoms. In 1979, Sheldon Glashow, Steven Weinberg, and Abdus Salam combined the theories of electromagnetic and weak interactions into the electroweak theory (Elementary Particles). This was a gigantic step toward a GUT because it showed how two of the four main forces could be linked together with theories.

The Standard Model, General Relativity, And Quantum Mechanics
The Standard Model proposes a set of theories that explains the forces and the interactions between particles. These theories are basically accepted by physicists as accurate in describing the known universe. For most, however, even though they accept the Standard Model, they feel there is more to be discovered.

There are two main theories that are used to describe everything; general relativity, proposed by Einstein and describing gravity as a result of curvature of space-time, and quantum mechanics, which describes force in terms of little packages (Bartusiak).

Physicists are searching for a GUT to describe all the known and unknown with one unified equation. Marcia Bartusiak likens making these two theories compatible to "bowling with tiddlywinks" or "jump-starting a car with an eggbeater". To create a bridge between these two theories, some physicists have developed new hypotheses. One such hypothesis is called string theory.

String Theory
String theory proposes that at the "Planck length," ten to the power of -33 centimeters, smooth space-time dissolves into tiny vibrating loops called strings (Odenwald). These strings comprise the entire universe and everything in it, including space-time itself. The strings are identical, but depending on how they vibrate, they form everything in the universe: quarks, electrons, neutrinos, and all other particles (Taubes, A Theory of Everything).

The only catch to this theory is that it requires the strings to vibrate in ten dimensions (Kaku). In our known world, there are four dimensions: three of space and one of time. Physicists are just beginning to learn how to work in the extra six dimensions essential to string theory. They call this six-dimensional space "phase space", and roll the dimensions up into tiny objects called "Calabi-Yau compactifications" (Cole). With these six-dimensional compactifications, though, comes a multitude of four-dimensional solutions to the theory. The main goal of physicists now is to choose the correct one that corresponds to our universe.

String theory holds much potential for physicists, but it is complicated and confusing, and thus has driven many scientists out of the field. In a new variant on string theory, black holes and strings are shown to be fundamentally alike, evolving into one another during a crucial point in the theorems called a "phase change" (Taubes, How Black Holes). These phase changes also link the Calabi-Yau compactifications, previously thought to be distinct entities. So-called dark matter, or "sparticles" (short for super particles) also helps string theory (Kaku). Sparticles serve to reduce the number of four-dimensional possibilities to string theory and make it considerably easier for physicists to find the real-world equivalent to the hypothesis (Peterson, Strings and Webs).

Michio Kaku insists that ten dimensions are necessary for string theory, because no fewer than ten dimensions can account for both general relativity and quantum mechanics, but Stan Odenwald maintains that it is possible to build working GUTs within four-dimensional space-time.

See the full article and additional references at:
http://www.galactic-guide.com/articles/6R102.html

Medical Applications of Qigong
An original paper by Kenneth M. Sancier, Ph.D, "Medical Applications of Qigong," was published by "Alternative Therapies" in January 1996.

"This article focuses on internal Qi, because almost everyone can learn Qigong exercises for maintaining health and self-healing," writes Dr. Sancier. ("Internal" Qi involves self-practice, whereas "external" Qi involves, for example, a Qigong Master emitting Qi to someone.)

Dr. Sancier writes, in the practice of Chinese therapies such as Qigong, "the flow of Qi is regulated, and blockage of the flow of Qi is removed. Energy blocks or excess or deficient Qi may result from disease, injury, or stress."

Stroke and Mortality Rates decreased with Qigong practice

Dr. Sancier reviewed a 30-year follow-up study on hypertensive patients who were divided into a Qigong group and a control group. All patients had been given drug therapy to control blood pressure. The experimental group also practiced Qigong. The mortality rate in the Qigong group was nearly half of the group who did not practice Qigong. The incidence of stroke as well as death due to stroke was half for those who practiced Qigong. In other words, people who did not practice Qigong suffered a stroke or died from stroke at a rate twice that of those who practiced Qigong.

"Researchers also reported that over the 20-year period, blood pressure of the Qigong group stabilized, whereas that of the control group increased. Remarkably, during this period the drug dosage for the Qigong group could be decreased and for 30% of the patients, could be eliminated. However, the drug dosage for the control group had to be increased."

Because of the depth of our experience, we know that Tai Chi and Qigong offer great mind/body benefits, many of which have been verified by doctors, hospitals, research studies, and participants in China as well as the U.S. and around the world:

* increases flexibility and mobility
* improves strength and stamina
* lowers blood pressure
* greater aerobic capacity
* relieves stress and improves nervous system function
* promotes deeper relaxation and better sleep
* drops stress hormone (salivary cortisol) levels
* marked increase of immune response (blood t-cell)
* improves posture and back/spine structural problems
* clears negative emotions and reduces anxiety
* increased respiratory capacity
* most recommended aerobic exercise for coronary artery disease
* better sense of connection between inner self and the outer world
* combines the powers of meditation and movement in one practice
* ... and much more!

Do you suffer from...

General pain: neck, shoulder, knee, postoperative pains, arthritis, joint pain
Migraine headaches, sinus problems, allergies
Spinal problems
Weight Control
Hearing or sight problems
Female or male organ problems
Kidney or liver dysfunction
Strokes
Glandular dysfunction such as thyroid problems
Anxiety
Diabetes problems
Gall or kidney stones
Heart disease: heart attacks, congestive heart failure, recovery from heart surgery, and general heart dysfunction
Circulation problems
Depression
Cancers
Lung problems
Digestion problems
Autoimmune dysfunction such as AIDS and lupus
Bone marrow problems
Mental disorders: post traumatic stress disorder, panic attacks, addictions, obsessive/compulsive disorder, hyperactivity, dyslexia
Comas
Stress

...then Qigong maybe for you!

Qigong was born in China

For thousands of years Qigong had been a guarded secret of the Chinese elite. Only in the recent half century has it become known to the Chinese people and the rest of the world. Today over one hundred million people practice Qigong.

Qigong is the grandfather of Chinese medicine, Tai-chi, acupuncture, Shiatsu, and Reiki. The Qigong exercises look similar to the meditative movements of Tai-chi. Many try to cloak Qigong in mystery. A Master often teaches just a little at a time giving the student only what the Master feels he should learn.

In a 1999 television documentary, "Qigong: Ancient Chinese Healing for the 21st Century", that aired on PBS, Dr. Wang Chong Xing from the Shanghai Institute of Hypertension said that after thirty years of study, "we think Qigong can cure every kind of disease, some responding better than others."

The same documentary showed an interview with Dr. Wu Jin Xi from Yuan Hospital in Bejing. He said, and I quote, "We have conclusive evidence that Qigong can assist in the treatment and recovery of most every disease. Post operative recovery time was shortened dramatically in patients using Qigong over people that recovered from standard western techniques."

"I would place Qigong equal in importance to our incredible simple discoveries in the forties called antibiotics and in the fifties called immunizations. The two healing modalities revolutionized medical care in the world, and, I believe, energy healing such as Qigong will also revolutionize medical care in the next thirty years. Chunyi Lin is one of the few Masters in the United States who can help make this form of healing available to the people."

For the full article about Qigong go to this link:
http://www.learningstrategies.com/Qigong/Intro4.html

Qi Gong (Chi Kung) Subject Index
Resources For Patients, Practitioners & Students

Consumer Level Information
A Brief History of Qi Gong
A Qi Gong Primer
A Basic History of the Taiji Ruler System
An Introduction to Qi Gong
Acupuncture and Yoga
The benefits of Qi Gong are limited only to your beliefs. See how high you can fly with The Power of Intention.
Five Dragons Nei Gong, Five Phase Theory, Five minutes is all it takes to rewrite your future...
Yan Xin style Qigong

Student Level Information
The Twenty-Four Rules for Chi Kung (Qi Gong) Practice
The Primary Meridians and the Appropriate Qi Gong Practice for Each
The Eight Extraordinary Meridians and the Appropriate Qi Gong Practice for Each

Practitioner Level Information
Healing others with External Qi Healing or "External Qi Gong"
How To Practice External Qi Healing
The tactile sensations of Qi used in External Qi Gong
Energy Work for Cardiothoracic Surgery Patients

For additional history and references on QiGong see this link:
http://www.acupuncture.com/QiKung/QikunInd.htm

James Duke's Dozen of Herbs
Here is a visit to the six acre farm and home, of James Duke, Ph.D., one of the world's leading authorities on healing herbs, the man who brought us the classic The Green Pharmacy, that is now an indispensable resource for some of the world's foremost herbalists.

Tireless though retired, Duke, at 75, is now actively engaged in what may be his most challenging yet simplest experiment, an ongoing series of trials using only one clinical subject: his own aging body.

Though he'd be the last person to suggest he's got the definitive answer for himself or particularly for others, seeing the choices he's making can teach everyone about which herbs to consider for long-term health.

For most of his career Duke worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture as chief of its Medicinal Plant Resources Laboratory. He and his team collected plants from around the globe for their potential cancer-fighting compounds, which were analyzed by researchers at the National Cancer Institute. Before the project ended, the NCI had analyzed 10 percent of the plants on earth, most of them collected by Duke and his colleagues.

His interest was broader than cancer, though. From 1965 through 1968 Duke took a leave from the USDA post and packed Mrs. Duke and their children--at the time, an infant and a toddler--off to Panama. "It was there that I got into natural remedies used by Indians," says Duke. "In Panama I became an ethno-botanist." Oddly enough, Duke's sponsor in Panama was the Atomic Energy Commission, which hired him to do a survey of indigenous plants. It may have been a devil's bargain--"Hated my sponsor, loved the job"--but it was a high point in Duke's career. "I collected over 18,000 specimens, 50 of which were undescribed previously."

Bilberry
"A master antioxidant"
Like its close relative, blueberry, bilberry contains potent antioxidants that help prevent many age-related ailments. This herb is particularly good for preserving vision and preventing degenerative eye diseases such as macular degeneration and cataracts.

Celery Seed
"Herbal Celebrex"
Celery seed has helped keep Duke's gout in check and can help ease the pain and inflammation of arthritis. While American research supporting this purpose is limited, studies in India and Australia have been promising. The herb contains more than a dozen anti-inflammatory ingredients, including a COX-2-inhibiting compound that works by a similar mechanism as the drug Celebrex.

Echinacea
"One of the best herbal immune-system enhancers"
Duke swears by the immune-enhancing properties of the popular cone-flowered herb, despite a few recent well-publicized studies that have questioned its benefits. Dozens of chemical studies, and other clinical studies, have shown that echinacea can help boost the immune system as well as reduce the severity and length of symptoms of colds and flus.

Garlic
"Herbal duct tape"
If Duke were stranded on a desert island with a single herb, garlic would be it. Regular use can help prevent heart disease by lowering blood pressure and total cholesterol, raising good (HDL) cholesterol, and inhibiting the formation of blood clots that trigger heart attack. It's also an antimicrobial, meaning that it helps the body fight viruses, bacteria, and fungi.

Ginkgo
"A certifiable fountain of youth"
Ginkgo's many benefits appear to stem from its ability to improve blood flow, particularly in the brain and extremities. Research has pointed to the herb's ability to slow Alzheimer's when taken in the disease's early stages. Gingko also may help prevent heart attack, macular degeneration, tinnitus, and certain types of impotence.

Hawthorn
"The best herbal heart tonic around"
Hawthorn has a long history as a slow-acting but effective tonic that can strengthen the heart and boost the health of the circulatory system. A number of clinical studies have shown it to be effective in gently normalizing heart function in congestive heart failure; it's also used to help treat heart disease. The active compounds are found mainly in hawthorn's berries and flowers.

Milk Thistle
"Long live the liver lover"
Milk thistle is an herbal superstar the world over, with both popular and scientific support for its use as a liver protector. It can safeguard this vital organ against cirrhosis and hepatitis, and recent research suggests that the herb may help prevent cancer, type 2 diabetes, and syndrome X. And to combat lifestyle and environmental "insults"--like alcohol, pollution, and medications--it's "one of the best detoxifiers around," says Duke.

St. John's Wort
"The herb of choice for mild to moderate depression"
Keeping your spirits up is one of the keys to longevity; chronic depression can suppress the immune system, upping the risk for a number of chronic conditions. St. John's wort has been used as a mood booster for centuries, and modern science has shown it to be an effective natural alternative for mild to moderate depression. (Severe depression should be treated medically, with the help of health professionals.)

Saw Palmetto
"I'm betting my prostate gland on it"
Thus far, Duke's bet has paid off. One of the most thoroughly studied herbs, saw palmetto has been proven to
be as effective as a leading prescription medication for
benign enlarged prostate. In Europe, it's been the treatment of choice for years. Duke stresses that it's important to see your doctor for a diagnosis before taking saw palmetto.

Turmeric
"A remarkable anti-inflammatory"
A mainstay in Ayurvedic medicine, turmeric has long been used to ease inflammatory conditions such as arthritis, bursitis, and tendinitis. Clinical studies have confirmed that it appears to be as effective as NSAIDS, and safer, as well as having cholesterol-lowering, liver-supporting, and anticancer benefits. (For more on its healing potential, see "Turmeric" on page 42.) Duke sprinkles it on chicken and vegetables to make curries, but supplements are also available.

See the full link James Duke of Herbs.

Supreme Ultimate Force
WHAT IS TAI CHI?

The Chinese characters for Tai Chi Chuan can be translated as the 'Supreme Ultimate Force'. The notion of 'supreme ultimate' is often associated with the Chinese concept of yin-yang, the notion that one can see a dynamic duality (male/female, active/passive, dark/light, forceful/yielding, etc.) in all things. 'Force' (or, more literally, 'fist') can be thought of here as the means or way of achieving this ying-yang, or 'supreme-ultimate' discipline.

Tai Chi, as it is practiced in the west today, can perhaps best be thought of as a moving form of yoga and meditation combined. There are a number of so- called forms (sometimes also called 'sets') which consist of a sequence of movements. Many of these movements are originally derived from the martial arts (and perhaps even more ancestrally than that, from the natural movements of animals and birds) although the way they are performed in Tai Chi is slowly, softly and gracefully with smooth and even transitions between them.

For many practicioners the focus in doing them is not, first and foremost, martial, but as a meditative exercise for the body. For others the combat aspects of Tai Chi are of considerable interest. In Chinese philosophy and medicine there exists the concept of 'chi', a vital force that animates the body. One of the avowed aims of Tai Chi is to foster the circulation of this 'chi' within the body, the belief being that by doing so the health and vitality of the person are enhanced. This 'chi' circulates in patterns that are close related to the nervous and vascular system and thus the notion is closely connected with that of the practice of acupuncture and other oriental healing arts.

Another aim of Tai Chi is to foster a calm and tranquil mind, focused on the precise execution of these exercises. Learning to do them correctly provides a practical avenue for learning about such things as balance, alignment, fine-scale motor control, rhythm of movement, the genesis of movement from the body's vital center, and so on. Thus the practice of Tai Chi can in some measure contribute to being able to better stand, walk, move, run, etc. in other spheres of life as well. Many practitioners notice benefits in terms of correcting poor postural, alignment or movement patterns which can contribute to tension or injury. Furthermore the meditative nature of the exercises is calming and relaxing in and of itself.

Because the Tai Chi movements have their origins in the martial arts, practicing them does have some martial applications. In a two-person exercise called 'push-hands' Tai Chi principles are developed in terms of being sensitive to and responsive of another person's 'chi' or vital energy. It is also an opportunity to employ some of the martial aspects of Tai Chi in a kind of slow-tempo combat. Long-time practitioners of Tai Chi who are so-inclined can become very adept at martial arts. The emphasis in Tai Chi is on being able to channel potentially destructive energy (in the form of a kick or a punch) away from one in a manner that will dissipate the energy or send it in a direction where it is no longer a danger.

The practical exercises of Tai Chi are also situated in a wider philosophical context of Taoism. This is a reflective, mystical Chinese tradition first associated with the scholar and mystic Lao Tsu, an older contemporary of Confucius. He wrote and taught in the province of Honan in the 6th century B.C. and authored the seminal work of Taoism, the Tao Te Ching. As a philosophy, Taoism has many elements but fundamentally it espouses a calm, reflective and mystic view of the world steeped in the beauty and tranquillity of nature.

Tai Chi also has, particularly amongst eastern practitioners, a long connection with the I Ching a Chinese system of divination. There are associations between the 8 basic I Ching trigrams plus the five elements of Chinese alchemy (metal, wood, fire, water and earth) with the thirteen basic postures of Tai Chi created by Chang San-feng. There are also other associations with the full 64 trigrams of the I Ching and other movements in the Tai Chi form.

Exploring the Cosmos
It was around August of 1978 that a group of us from the Downtown Campus Ministry at Point Park College got together for a retreat at my grandparents cabin. Father Tony was the Director, Jack, Faith, Terry, Mary Kay, Tom, and I was there. I remember doing a lot of Work Group exercises. One course was on silent communication. Erickson's levels of development and spiritual formation were also studied and experienced through various techniques.

Saturday was filled with various growth courses we learned over the years. Yet we had enough time between classes to go swimming, do a lot of hiking, eating fine food and enjoying the fireplace. At night we all went out to see one of the clearest skies I ever remember seeing. If there are about four thousand stars you can see with your eyes, I bet we saw every one of them that night!

See the Exploring the Cosmos link for further study.

What is the Enneagram?
A fundamental element of the enneagram is its description of nine distinct personality types, each a reflection of different patterns of thought, feeling and action. Each of the nine types is rooted in a specific viewpoint or belief structure that largely determines what is important to you and how you interact with the world to fulfill your hopes and dreams.

Each of us adopted one of the nine patterns to protect a specific aspect of our selves that felt under threat during the development of our personalities. As you discover more about your enneagram personality type, you will also be learning about the unconscious motivations that determine much of your behavior.

Understanding your enneagram personality type can literally change your life-not only in your relationships with yourself and others, but in the way you cope with all issues and situations.

When I first heard my Enneagram type described, a whole slew of observations I had made about myself over the years suddenly fell into place. I had a short-cut conceptual system that made sense out of a lot of stuff that hadn't made much sense. That was one of the reasons that I decided, whatever this guy is teaching, I have to get involved with it and find out more about it.

Charles T. Tart
author of Transpersonal Psychologies and Body Mind Spirit

Who are you?
Type 1
A perfectionist, driven to do the "right" thing. Often critical of self as well as others, with a strongly developed sense of responsibility. Prone to repressed anger.
Type 2
A helper, needing to be needed. Will go the extra mile to please others at the cost of taking care of self. Gives and is proud of it, but strings are often attached.
Type 3
An achiever, efficient, goal-driven and focused on being a "winner." Concern with appearances-style over substance-can crowd out friends, family and self-awareness.
Type 4
An individualist, craving self-expression and emotional depth. Sensitive to beauty and meaning, but prone to melancholy, feelings of inadequacy, and envy.
Type 5
An observer, perceptive and capable of synthesizing information in new ways. Protective of privacy and personal resources and prone to emotional detachment.
Type 6
A team-player-or a rebel-vigilant for threats from the environment. Loyal and engaging, but full of contradictions which create self-doubt and indecisiveness.
Type 7
An enthusiast with a perpetual surplus of plans and ideas, eager for experiences and/or material goods. Habitual optimism may cover a fear of boredom and pain.
Type 8
A leader, driven to control self and environment, capable of both domination and protectiveness. Vulnerabilities and a tender heart are hidden beneath a tough exterior.
Type 9
A peacemaker, good at seeing all points of view and easily distracted from personal needs and priorities. Avoids direct confrontation but can be passive and immovable.

WHAT IS ORAL CHELATION?
Chelation therapy is a safe, non-surgical treatment used to rid the body of excess toxins, particularly metals. These chelators draw out toxic metals and other harmful substances that impair bodily functions and help the body eliminate these toxins via the kidneys. Oral Chelating agents can often prevent health problems from occurring by restoring circulation to the body's tissues. Chelation benefits every blood vessel in the body, from the largest veins to the tiniest capillaries and arterioles, most of which are too small for surgical treatment or too deep within the brain and other vital organs to be safely reached by surgery.

In arteriosclerosis, deposits of cholesterol, fats and other substances collect on the walls of the largest to the smallest arteries in the form of hard plaque. It has been found that calcium acts as the glue that holds the plaque together. Chelating agents bind with this calcium and carry it out of the body (removing the dangerous heavy metals at the same time). This breaks up the plaque deposits, unclogging the arteries and permitting normal blood flow

Clots of plaque in the artery walls can affect your brain (Alzheimer's), sexual organs, feet, legs, etc., as well as your heart.

DOES CHELATION LOWER THE LEVELS OF CALCIUM IN THE BONES AND TEETH?

Dr. Gary Gordon, who is a member of ACAM (the American College of Advancement in Medicine), states: No. In fact, it can increase bone calcium. When the chelating substance removes calcium from the blood stream, the body will automatically start pulling calcium from other parts of the body to make up for the loss in the blood (Serum calcium needs to stay at a constant level for heart function). The most available calcium is the calcium that is deposited in the arterial walls, known as calcium apatite. Other areas of the body also surrender their calcium, such as calcium deposits in arthritic joints, tendons, kidney stones, underneath skin, and in calcified bursae (that often lead to bursitis). Symptoms of arthritis are frequently reduced, and joint function improves with chelation treatment. At the same time, the EDTA stimulates the parathyroid to release a hormone called parathormone. Parathormone activates 2 types of bone cells, the osteoclasts and the osteoblasts. The osteoclasts break down bones and release calcium, while the osteoblasts build new bone, making bones stronger. This bone building process continues during oral chelation supplementation, providing you with the added benefit of increased bone mass while removing the excess calcium that is deposited in unwanted areas of the body, such as in the arteries and joints.

NOT ALL FORMULAS ARE CREATED EQUAL

For the past two years, Dr. Maile Pouls has been working as Director of Research for Extreme Health, Inc. She has been researching how people can remove heavy metals and fatty plaques from their bodies. She was also recently interviewed in the September issue of Alternative Medicine Digest Magazine about osteoporosis and the treatment of this degenerative disease through Extreme Health's Oral Chelation and Age-Less Formula. Extreme Health is privileged to have Dr. Pouls speak at the Holistic Dental Association's annual conference in May, 1999 in Denver, Colorado.

Dr. Pouls has a Ph.D. in biochemistry and human nutrition, as well as one of the largest clinical nutritional practices in the United States. She is the author of "The Nutritional Supplement Shopper", one of the most extensively researched books in today's market. It analyzes over 450 companies nationwide and offers a comparison study revealing the purest, most effective retail nutritional products available in America today.

Dr. Pouls studied detoxification for over ten years. It took a year to complete Extreme's revolutionary formulas. The Oral Chelation formula contains EDTA plus 16 other all-natural chelators. Extreme's Oral Chelation formula along with the replenishment formula, called Age-Less, contains 16 chelating agents, 31 anti-oxidants, 25 vitamins and minerals, 7 amino acids, 19 phyto-therapeutic super foods and herbal extracts and 3 enzymes.

This synergistic combination of nutrients supports the body's natural process of ensuring elimination of heavy metals such as mercury, lead, cadmium and aluminum from the body, and fatty and mineral plaques from the artery walls. This formula has nutrients to mobilize mercury and heavy metals from the brain and nerve ganglion, and natural chelators to bond and carry them out of the body. With a total of 60 synergistic ingredients, we believe you will not find another formula more comprehensive and effective in the market today. These oral chelating supplements are also convenient, affordable, and safe for both children and adults.

OTHER REASONS EXTREME HEALTH'S FORMULA IS REVOLUTIONARY

Extreme Health is one of the very few companies offering an Oral Chelation formula that combines the highest quality ingredients in just the right balance. Many other formulas fail to utilize the power of enzymes, which have been added to our formula. Dr. Pouls, who is also an enzyme specialist, realizes that without enzymes, proper digestion and absorption are not achieved. Your body may only be absorbing a small percentage of what you're ingesting without the added enzymes for optimal assimilation. Extreme Health's formula also has an exclusive ingredient that is extremely effective in detoxifying and protecting the liver, and normalizing liver metabolism to prevent further damage from internal and external toxins such as cigarettes, alcohol and environmental poisons. Numerous studies continue to prove how chelation therapy can be beneficial to many people who are suffering from degenerative health conditions and who are being offered drugs or surgery to control their symptoms.

Get A Good Dentist
Issue 126: Amalgam Replacement?

You can read this newsletter online:
http://curezone.com/forums/fd50.asp?f=83

Subscribe / Unsubscribe


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Protocol for Amalgam-Mercury-Silver Filling Removal

During chewing the patient is exposed to intraoral levels which are several times the EPA allowable air concentration. 2 During the removal or placement of amalgam the patient can be exposed to amounts which are a thousand times greater than the EPA allowable mercury concentration in the air.3 Once the drill touches the filling temperature increases immediately vaporizing the mercury component of the alloy. There are 8 steps to greatly reducing everyone's exposure:
All removal must be done under cold water spray with copious amounts of water. Once the removal has begun, the mercury vapor will be continuously released from the tooth.
A high volume evacuator tip should be kept near the tooth (1/2 inch) at all times to evacuate this vapor from the area of the patient. Polishing amalgam can create very dangerous levels of mercury and should be avoided especially for the mercury toxic patient.
All patients having amalgam removed or placed should be provided with an alternative air source and instructed to not breathe through their mouth during treatment.
continue reading
http://curezone.com/dental/dental_amalgam.asp

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Can't afford to get your amalgams removed?

I wanted to tell everyone about my experience in case you need dental work and can't afford it.
I had 9 amalgams and a bad crown that needed to come out. I had been reading the "bikerchicks" website with great interest but was afraid to go that far (I'm in Florida.) I thought I'd rather spend a little more money and go with a local dentist.
I found a local holistic, "metalfree" dentist and went for an appointment with him. He told me that 4 of my amalgams were so large that they would need to be crowned instead of refilled.... continue reading
http://curezone.com/forums/m.asp?f=42&i=1282

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Children and amalgam removal? by docb86

In skimming through this site, I have seen mention only of adults symptoms and amalgam removal. Has anyone had their children go through the amalgam removal process? My 10 year old daughter has experienced 5-6 of the classic symptoms mentioned by folks in this forum. (our observation and hers). ... reply
http://curezone.com/forums/m.asp?f=42&i=1325

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

amalgam remove and depression. my story by jimmy1622

At the age of 11, I had 8 large amalgam fillings placed in my mouth by an unscrupulous dentist. I didn't have cavities in those teeth; but this Dr. assured me I would develop cavities in the deep grooves in my teeth if I didn't fill them. The amalgams were a "preventative".
(Sealants were already available at the time, but this dentist either didn't know about them or preferred to drill and fill.) During adolescence I became depressed. It wasn't always there, but it returned with regularity.
.... continue reading http://curezone.com/forums/m.asp?f=42&i=967

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My first amalgam removal by MrCooties

I thought I'd share my experience with my first amalgam replacement that was done a year ago. 3 teeth were done, by a "non-holistic" regular dentist who seemed supportive of my decision to remove my mercury and replace with composites. He was cheaper than the other dentists I checked out. He seemed in agreement that mercury might be bad, but still used amalgams as fillings on other people. He agreed to use a rubber dam and oxygen. ... continue reading http://curezone.com/forums/m.asp?f=42&i=1303

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

11 amalgams and declining health by shagley

I had 11 silver amalgams 18 months ago and ever since have had major health issues. I am 24 and have been very physically fit all of my adult years but ever since having these fillings (my own fault as i didn't go to the dentists for 6 years) I have had nearly every symptom in the book and want them out of my head. ... continue reading http://curezone.com/forums/m.asp?f=42&i=1233

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Horrible amalgam-experience, now recovering! by dennyblylod

I went to a dentist here in Sweden 1 1/2 years ago and asked if he could remove my 16 amalgam fillings. I told him I had a few symptoms that were annoying due to my training for elite wrestling comeback, not my first though as previous multiple efforts had cased after long lasting infections, and that my mother in law had told me to get rid of them a thousand times since she had personal experience from amalgam illness.... continue reading http://curezone.com/forums/m.asp?f=42&i=1206

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Holistic dentists in Florida? by Azen

Wisdom teeth + holistic Dentist in Phoenix? by #22175

What type of Toxic Metal Test should I have done: Hair, Urine, or Saliva? by Pherlyss

Anyone here recovered from Mercury Poisoning? by shagley

Teeth with fillings vs. natural teeth by SebastianReed


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

New Forums

Zen Stories Forum
Affirmations / Positive Thinking Forum
National Cuisine Recipes Forum
Aging & Life Extension

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

There are over 400 active forums/message boards on CureZone, covering just about any health subject that you may be interested in. If you have a suggestion on a new forum, post your suggestion here
Reproduce and forward freely!

Subscribe / Unsubscribe

---