For women and men of all ages, heart disease is the number one killer. It kills more and more people than ALL types of tumors joined together. If you’re black or over 65, your risk of a heart attack is much higher, but it is an equal opportunity destroyer. Anyone, any place, at any time can have a heart attack [1].

Myth #1: Exclusively older adults need to be concerned about their cardiovascular system.

Lifestyle choices that can result in developing heart disease develop gradually. Being a couch-potato and over eating without exercising are common poor habits that could possibly begin in childhood years. Increasingly, healthcare providers are finding patients having strokes in their 20s and 30s, rather than patients usually in their 50s and 60s.

Simply being in shape and at the right bodyweight will not make you immune to strokes. However, both exercising regularly and maintaining an appropriate body weight helps. You’ll still want to check your bad cholesterol and blood pressure levels. The best cholesterol (or lipid profile) amount is less than 200. The right blood pressure level is 120/80.

Myth #2: I’d feel ill if I had high blood pressure levels or high cholesterol.

They call these, “silent killers” for the reason that they show NO symptoms. 30% of all older people have hypertension. Of those, one-third can’t say for sure they have it.

High cholesterol is a way of measuring the fats carried by your bloodstream. Fats can be dropped anywhere in your physique, but may congregate around organs, as well as your heart. This predisposition might run in families. So even if you’re at a good weight and do not smoke cigarettes, have your cholesterol levels and blood pressure levels checked constantly. One time is not adequate [2].

Myth #3: Both males and females do NOT see the same signs.

Men and women CAN have those same warning signs, but they commonly will not. Females are more inclined to have the subtler indicators and symptoms though males usually experience the form of cardiac arrest you see in the films. But, either gender CAN have any signs.

These subtler signs and symptoms, including jaw achiness, nausea or vomiting, breathlessness and extreme fatigue, have a propensity to get identified away. “My jaw hurt mainly because my lunchtime sandwich was on whole-grain bread and I had to chew very hard,” or , while clutching their stomach, “I probably should not have had that additional piece of pizza.” “Half of ladies don’t have chest pain after all,” says Kathy Magliato, a heart surgeon at California’s St. John’s Health Center. Put all the little indicators together with each other and pay attention to your entire body.

Obviously, both men and women could experience the “grab-your-chest-and-fall-down-gasping” form of cardiac event, but now you know, that’s not the only way.

Myth #4: So long as my blood sugar level is in check, being diabetic is absolutely not a heart threat.

While trying to keep your blood sugar level within a normal range (80ml-120ml) will keep you healthier and stronger, just having the added blood sugar in your body takes its toll on arterial blood vessels. You’ll need working out and good nutrtion to help control your Type II Diabetes, but don’t forget to measure your blood pressure level and cholesterol, too.

Myth #5: My health practitioner would order exams if I were at risk for heart disease.

Generally, most of us fail to inform the physician about the little spasms we feel. The medical professionals, not knowing most of the things we consider as unimportant, could pass over heart tests.

“Mammograms and Colonoscopies are routinely prescribed,” says Merdod Ghafouri, a cardiologist at Inova Fairfax Medical center in Virginia, [3] “and are important, but heart scans usually aren’t normally conducted.” A cardiac scan can diagnose plaque build-up within the arterial blood vessels before you even find out you have a problem.

Do you have the engine oil pressure and transmission liquid inspected in your auto? Have other precautionary maintenance done? Doesn’t your only heart deserve as much care as your automobile?

Links to Complementary Sources About Heart Disease:

[1] The Lansing State Journal is a local Internet news paper that discusses Michigan stories as well as days news and posts from everywhere. They talked about the entire story here

[2] The blog Cholesterol Lowering Diets is a non-profits webpage that presents free info for persons who plan to eat healthier and regulate their unhealthy cholesterol levels through diet. They present a nice guideline to assist individuals to eat healthy and lower cholesterol naturally

[3] Circulation is the department of the American Heart Association correlated to cardiovascular publication, they have a really good document in .pdf that covers the correlation between tryglicerides and cardiovascular disease

Millie Bruce (@millie_bruce on Twitter.com) was born in Banffshire, Scotland on August 2, 1944. She had an basic diploma in Meds at the University of Glasgow in 1962. She has done nutrition counseling and has taught adult nutrition in Adult Daycare Clinics. She has worked for medical reporters and testers that have written and published reports for the New England Journal of Medicine. Currently she is retired and has been a guest writer for health related sites and blog sites.

Aging plays a key role in 90% of disease.  All diseases fall into four categories; the first three include 1) inherited genetic disease, 2) trauma, and 3) infectious disease; they account for only 10% of the cost for treating all disease in America. The fourth category of disease relates to aging and accounts for ninety percent of all health-care dollars – it is extraordinary care in the last two to three years of life. To address the slowing or reversing of the aging processes, we must look to lifestyle patterns and changes. Nutrition, detoxification, exercise, sleep, and stress reduction are simple steps that assist in changing the aging processes.

The good news is that aging can be easily and inexpensively addressed with essential oils.  Essential oils can be considered the lifeblood of the plant that support the body and can even be used for medicinal purposes.  While the benefits of essential oils are extensive, I will be covering five key areas related to aging.

1) Nutrition – This includes consuming and assimilating the right food to maintain a healthy weight, thrive, and extend your life-span. Keeping to a diet rich in organic vegetables and fruits, omega fatty acids, and limited in meats, similar to the Mediterranean diet, has proven to be the easiest and most productive diet program.

Essential oil recommendations to support nutrition:

In my opinion, the best packaged product for a daily supplement program is the doTERRA Lifelong Vitality program. doTERRA’s Lifelong Vitality supplements are formulated with potent levels of essential nutrients and powerful metabolic factors for optimal health, energy, and longevity. Coupled with doTERRA’s CPTG Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade essential oils and a lifelong commitment to doTERRA’s wellness lifestyle, they naturally support a lifetime of looking, feeling, and living younger, longer.

2) Detoxification – This includes releasing the toxins and moving them out of the body. There are several avenues of elimination (sweat, bowels, bladder, breath, and saliva for example) and programs to assist in the toxin release (far infra-red sauna, colonics, adequate hydration, deep breathing exercises, and positive mental attitudes).

Essential oil recommendations to support detoxification:  doTERRA’s Slim & Sassy Metabolic Blend (they also have Slim & Sassy Trim Shakes to assist with calorie reduction).

3) Exercise – This is critical to keep the body young. After age thirty, each of us experiences a decline in functional capacity of 0.75 percent to 1.0 percent per year. More than 48 million adults in the United States, who are otherwise healthy and able-bodied, can be classified as sedentary. The fluid motion of the joints and stretching of the muscles assist not only in strength and motion but to help in the detoxification processes. The old adage “If you don’t use it you will lose it,” can be changed to “If you don’t move it you will lose the ability to move it.”  As we age, heavy exercise may not be the best for everyone; however, gentle stretches on a daily basis or walking can do wonders for keeping the joints and muscles limber.

Essential oil recommendations to support exercise: Deep Blue blend (available as liquid, roll on or crème) to the muscles and/joints.

4) Sleep – This is a necessary and integral state that permits mental and physical restoration. Adequate restful sleep, like diet, exercise, and nutritional habits, is critical to good health. Lack of restful sleep can result in mental and physical health challenges. The National Sleep Foundation report that America is on the verge of a poor sleep epidemic. As a society, we are having more difficulty with getting to sleep, staying asleep, and waking refreshed.  Research has shown that people who slept less than six hours each night were more likely to gain weight, have a decreased immune response, increased inflammatory response, and increased stress responses/depression/anxiety.

Essential oil recommendations to support sleep: Serenity behind the ear, on the bottom of the feet, or on the pillow.

5) Stress management – Stress is probably the most powerful of the aging factors. “A hormone produced by the body when under stress, cortisol, is associated with a dozen or more serious degenerative diseases and has been found in some studies to be present in elevated levels in the last days of life.” (Klatz & Goldman 2003).  Stress in itself is not necessarily a negative thing. The term stress simply refers to any situation—physical, emotional, or both—that requires any bodily response more active than balanced. There are so many various evaluation systems available to become aware of the stressors and techniques to reduce the stress effects.

Essential oil recommendations to support stress management: Serenity to the back of the hand (to smell or on the collar of the shirt).

Not all essential oils are the same quality, and it is critical to use superior quality oils to insure the results described above.

Dr. Thompson is a licensed Chiropractor and also holds Doctorates in Naturopathy and Homeopathy. She can be contacted at  715 456-6734 during regular work hours.

If you have ever been invited to a Chinese home for a feast, chances are you have heard something like, “This particular dish is good for your health, or for a specific part of your body.” Eating has been at the center of Chinese culture for centuries and therefore gets a lot of attention. Besides fulfilling a basic survival need, eating is regarded as a way to get healthier and has been deeply influenced by the constantly evolving Chinese traditional medicine. Often people use medicinal herbs in their cooking in addition to common food items. Since food therapy is part of the practice in Chinese traditional medicine, almost every Chinese can tell you one or two things about his or her understanding of traditional medicine.

The difficulty arises when one is facing hundreds of choices of herbs that can potentially improve longevity. When one looks into thousands of biological research papers, one finds at least several dozen herbs, from many different categories, that could improve one’s immune system. So, what to do? The answer lies in the “weakest link,” which varies among individuals according to their constitution. This is where one is likely to get in trouble. Like driving an old car, when one part breaks down, the others won’t help no matter how good/new they are. Therefore, this weakest part(s) should be the focus of attention when choosing food or herbs.

However, taking the right substance for one’s body is just one piece of the health puzzle. Just like one cannot depend solely on one particular herb for his or her health, one cannot obtain his or her whole health only by eating right. Other aspects in life are equally important.

Lifestyle plays an important role in our health and longevity. The Chinese medical classics advise us to live simply: rise and rest with the sun, and plan activities in tune with the four seasons. Since the invention of the light bulb, TV, and computer, it is nearly impossible to get in sync with the rhythm of nature. But one should at least not burn the midnight oil too often. According to meridian theory, 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. belongs to the Gall Bladder meridian, and 1 a.m. to 3 a.m. belongs to the Liver meridian. If we rest during this time, the body will optimize our metabolic and immune systems, and remove the toxins – one should, therefore, take advantage of this time and rest.

Furthermore, Chinese traditional medicine believes all emotions have close ties to our organs. Prolonged unbalanced emotions will certainly affect the functions of our internal organs in a negative way. Take stress for example. If one is in a stressful situation for too long, the liver will eventually be affected. To prevent such imbalances, one should look inward and reflect from time to time, even in the absence of any organic condition. After finding an imbalance, one should correct it as soon as possible.

Last but not least is motion. There are probably hundreds of Qi-Gong and simple exercises in Chinese literature that aim to help one’s health and longevity. The key here is consistency and persistence. One ought to choose one exercise that can be enjoyed regularly. This will keep the Qi going and maintain the fluidity of the body. As a result, we increase the accessibility to the abundant healing power that exists within us. Any form of obstruction in any part of our body will result in some pain or discomfort. Too often, people ignore the crying of their bodies even at this point. At this stage “longevity” would no longer apply – health and longevity are more about prevention! If we keep our Qi going, our body can fix most of our conditions in the very early stages.

Even if we do everything right, there are still things we cannot control. If you ask me: strengthen your weakest part, do as many things right as possible, and just smile and let life take its course…

Paul (Chyi-Shyang) Lin has practiced Traditional Chinese Medicine in Eau Claire since 2001. His scope of practice includes acupuncture, Chinese herbs, and a family heritage of topical herbs. He is currently located in Optima Health and Vitality Center, 715-832-1953.

What is Pilates?
That simple question is typically answered by this description: Pilates is a system of exercises to strengthen at the same time lengthening the body to improve posture and body mechanics. But, since other exercise programs claim the same statement, then why is Pilates so unique? Pilates movements are specifically designed to work from the inside-out to elongate, strengthen and decompress the spine and joints. This work will make you taller, stronger and better balanced. Best of all, Pilates is for all ages.

Joseph Pilates believed you are only as young as your spine is flexible. “Ideally, our muscles should obey our will. Reasonably, our will should not be dominated by the reflex actions of our muscles.” As we season, we lose our natural core connection through improper body alignment.

So, this brings up my favorite topic — Finding your Magic Muscle, known as the Transversus Abdominis (TrA) which we all have. No matter what age, the TrA can come back to doing it’s job for you — of course, only with proper training, especially if the TrA has been on vacation from some time. A lazy TrA is called “pooching out”. How many people allow the TrA to pooch? MANY! The sad thing is there is no special age that the laziness of the TrA takes place. For one thing, working the rectus (known as the 6 pack) does not help the TrA. The rectus is the front shield of our body — too far away from the spine to strengthen and lengthen the deep back muscles that support our spine. So — stop the crunches — you are only tightening and shortening the spine!

The Rectus (6 pack) should be lengthened not tightened; that only compresses the spine.

The TrA is the only muscle we have that pulls inward. In contrast to the other abdominal muscles, the TrA is considered primarily a postural muscle and a muscle of respiration. It is referred to as the “corset muscle” because it encloses the abdominal cavity similarly to the way a corset would.

The TrA is used in such actions as forced expiration, coughing, sneezing, speech, laughing, straining, even vomiting, — ok, I hope you get the drift. But this awesome muscle is meant to pull the abdominal wall in toward the spine. The TrA has also been shown to be particularly important for stabilization of the spine when the arms and legs move and for helping protect the spine during lifting. In dance, the function of the transversus abdominis is ‘pulling the abdominal wall inward’.

Teaching only Pilates the past 14 years has been the most rewarding experience ever. As I season, I wish everyone could understand and capture the true works of Pilates and enjoy the physical freedom your body is capable of having. Your mind and body will work in such close coordination, you will know when any part of your body has reached it’s limit. Pilates is a re-education of your body and mind.

“That’s a common misconception,” says Barbara Close, founder of New York’s Naturopathica Spa and author of Pure Skin: Organic Beauty Basics. “Pores don’t open and close — they’re a set size.” Steam loosens debris and softens skin, she says, so pores can unclog and appear less prominent.

Customize this treatment to your liking by adding dried flowers for irritation, fresh rosemary to balance oily skin, or fresh parsley to heal acne.

What you need:
1/3 cup dried lavender blossoms
1/3 cup dried calendula blossoms
4 to 5 drops geranium essential oil (Pelargonium graveolens)

How-To:
1. Steep lavendar, calendula and any other herbs you choose in 2 cups of boiling water for 10 minutes.
2. Fill clean bathroom sink with very hot water. Add herbs to sink along with any essential oils you want to use.
3. Drape towel over your head over the steaming sink making sure you cover the entire sink to maintain steam level.  Hold head about 6 to 8 inches from the water for 3 to 5 minutes. If the water cools, add more hot water.
4. After steaming pat dry with a clean, fluffy towel.

A post facial massage is great for reviving mature skin. Add some drops of avocado oil to fingers and gently massage onto face with inward circles.

Caution: if you have broken skin avoid steam treatment as steam will further aggravate skin.

Time and scientific investigation have proven that many of the commonly accepted consequences of staying alive longer are not inevitable; it is possible to have both a maturing and highly functional body and mind. For example, until recently diseases such as osteoporosis and heart disease were believed to be a natural, inevitable process solely caused by the aging process. We now know that exercise and dietary influences dramatically reduce the incidence of both of these potentially fatal and disabling disease processes.

In his book Aging with Grace, David Snowdon describes the findings of The Nun Study. Many of the findings of this longitudinal study on aging nuns related to small changes that could be made daily, to preserve the health of our brain as we age. For me this book is an affirmation that there is not a single structure included in our physical makeup, which is immune to the positive affect of small changes, at any age.

As a chiropractor, my primary concern is with the structure that supports and protects our brain and allows us to move, play, and maintain our independence in all stages of our lives. I will occasionally hear a patient comment about an ache or pain and follow it with a dismissal similar to ‘I guess it’s just arthritis, I am getting old.’ True, the most common form of arthritis can cause devastating changes to joints, but do these devastating changes have everything to do with age? The aging process as it occurs, happens slowly in the body as a whole. What is the reason then, that a person is able to have arthritis swelling and aches and pains in one knee and not the other? Why does the arthritis occur in one or two areas of the body, and leave large areas untouched?

Injuries cause certain joints to ‘feel older’ more quickly relative to non-injured joints. This belief may be the simple and well-accepted answer; however it is well known that mobilizing an aging arthritic joint improves function and reduces pain. When we make small adjustments to body mechanics, nerve flow, and strength, we improve overall function and our response to injury and aging.

If your shoulder is inflamed and hurting, maybe you have had treatment with cortisone or other therapies with no long lasting relief. Perhaps you have begun to consider surgery as your only and last option. If avoiding the expense, recovery time, and possible complications that accompany surgery are important to you, you should be aware that a potent treatment approach without the use of cortisone or surgery does exist. The chiropractic approach to determine if small beneficial adjustments can be made includes an evaluation of walking patterns and reflex changes in functional nerve patterns. If your friends say you slump or hitch when you walk, this could be an indicator your spinal nerves, which work to stabilize your spine, shoulders, and hips in a highly evolved functional pattern, are not performing to their potential. Small changes to this system without the use of drugs or surgery can be made. The view of the body as a dynamic healing structure, which has evolved to efficiently promote movement and survival, is the new science. Our brains and nerve systems are vitally important not only for the expression of fullness of life today, but also for the enjoyment of life tomorrow.

Judy Soborowicz practices chiropractic and nutrition at Active Health along with her husband John. She enjoys writing, researching, and lecturing on topics concerning chiropractic, healthcare, and experience gained along the way.

Ayurveda, the “Science of Life,” maps out a crystalline clear path to aging gracefully. Ayurveda is the traditional folk medicine from India and has been practiced for over 6,000 years. A system with that sort of longevity promises added years and quality of life for all. While it is true that time stops for no one and death is certain, there are key aspects of life that are in our control. Ayurvedic doctors and practitioners encourage people to pace themselves in order to avoid high stress levels and burnout. Life is like a river and there are areas of rivers where the water rushes, creating rapids. Living life in the rapids may provide a short time of exhilaration, but living every moment in this way will eventually exhaust one’s body, mind, and spirit.

There are areas of rivers where the water is flowing peacefully and there exists a nice balance between what is coming in and what is moving out. Making sure that your input equals your output is a simple Ayurvedic truth that will enhance your enjoyment of life and prevent the manifestation of disease. This idea of input and output is most observable in your digestive system. This is why one’s diet is the number one method of self-care in Ayurvedic medicine. Radiant health and slow aging starts with what you are in-gesting day-to-day. It also begins with having lifestyle habits that encourage ideal functioning of digestive organs such as your liver, pancreas, small intestine and colon.

There is a text that dates to the mid-first millennium called the Chandogya Upanishad. In it is the following thread of wisdom:

• Ahara suddhau sattva-suddhih
• Sattva-suddhau dhruva smrtih
• Smrti-lambhe sarva-granthinam vipra-moksah

“From purity of food comes purity of mind, from purity of mind comes constant remembrance of God, and from constant remembrance of God one becomes free from all bondage — one becomes liberated. A clear mirror alone can reflect the face. So purity, Sattva-Suddhi, is stressed again and again by all the mystics and saints of the world.”

http://www.eng.vedanta.ru/library/gokulananda/purification_of_body_and_mind.php

Ayurvedic nutrition is not one-size-fits-all and is based on the tri-doshic theory (Vata, Pitta and Kapha). There is a spate of Ayurvedic websites that explain this in depth. Here are some general Ayurvedic healthy eating guidelines that will help you stay younger longer and enhance your inner and outer beauty:

I. Stop taking in toxins:

Toxins are considered to be those foods that clog the channels of the body and/or create a nutritional deficit (think paying for things with credit cards)

a. Processed, refined, canned, boxed foods.

b. Foods containing refined sugar, trans-fatty acids, non-organic foods, leftovers, artificial sweeteners, tap water (with chlorine), soda, caffeine, high acidic foods, nightshades, alcohol, foods containing MSG.

II. Get rid of the toxins you have:

a. Maintain a healthy digestive fire (metabolism). Use spice mixes in foods, teas, etc. and use probiotics in an educated way.

b. Eat regular meals; don’t skip meals; don’t snack too much.

c. Maintain proper elimination of wastes through daily bowel movements, appropriate urination, appropriate sweating (do not use antiperspirants containing aluminum).

d. Eat cleansing foods and drinks (hot water, cumin/coriander/fennel tea, ginger tea, stewed apples and pears, sufficient fiber, daikon radish, cilantro).

e. Have an Ayurvedic practitioner guide you through an appropriate cleansing for your situation and constitution.

f. Consume your food with mindfulness and confidence. We lose nutrients from our food because we do not chew it properly — we are different than boa constrictors. We have absorption problems when we eat while we are in sympathetic nervous system arousal (fight or flight). Coffee and chocolate both put our nervous systems into fight or flight mode.

III. Repair the damage caused by accumulated toxins:

a. This is for when your collection of symptoms has a name such as eczema, irritable bowel syndrome, migraine, insomnia, sinus infection, urinary tract infection, etc.

b. This now requires specific diet, lifestyle, and herbs per condition.

In addition to diet, Ayurveda encompasses other methods of anti-aging practices such as conscious breathing (pranayama), yoga, herbal treatments, body therapies, and more. No matter your age, sex, religion, or race, it is never too late to incorporate Ayurveda. If you are a person living in the rapids, today is the day for you to float to more peaceful waters and start savoring life. Life is valuable. Life is precious. Claim the joy that is rightfully yours.

Patricia Wickman is a Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner, Certified Panchakarma Technician and Registered Yoga Teacher. She loves people and enjoys inspiring individuals to perceive their beauty and potential. She lives in Eau Claire, WI with her husband and two children. She owns Radiant Living Yoga and Ayur-veda, LLC. For more information visit: www.rlyaa.com.

General Meal Guidelines

Breakfast (moderate)
It is essential that people with high air (Vata) or fire (Pitta) eat breakfast
Grains — Oatmeal, oat bran, rice bran, cream of rice, quinoa, barley, whole grains
Fruit-Stewed apple or pear with clove, cinnamon, cardamom
Dried fruit in hot cereal — raisins, cranberries, apricots, etc.
Nuts and seeds — almonds, pumpkin seeds, flax seeds, pecans, walnuts, pine nuts, etc.
Liquid — Whole milk (if you are concerned with fat, dilute whole milk with water), almond milk, rice milk

Lunch
Grains — Alternate grains (rice, quinoa, couscous, barley, millet, amaranth, buckwheat)
Veggies — At least one in each of the following categories:
Cruciferous: broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts
Colored (sweet): carrots, yams, sweet potatoes, parsnips
Dark, leafy greens: kale, Swiss chard, collards, spinach, dandelion
Other: zucchini, green beans, okra, etc.
Special veggies: daikon, cilantro, bitter melon
Proteins — chicken, fish, small beans, lentils, paneer (Indian fresh cheese)
Probiotic — Lassi (2 T. plain yogurt in 1 T. water) Have with meal.

Dinner (Lightest meal of the day)
Similar to lunch. Can eat flat bread instead of grain.

(Inspired by notes taken in workshops with Patricia Layton and Vaidya Mishra)

by Paula Quinlan

The rainforests today have evolved over millions of years, creating a complex, bio-diverse, living and breathing renewable resource for the survival and well-being of humankind. The inner dynamics of the rainforests are so intricate, fragile, and interdependent, that when one part is destroyed, it can have a devastating effect on the rainforest as a whole. What Mother Nature has taken millions of years to create, has taken only a century for humankind to destroy.

Why is Biodiversity of the Rainforest Important to Humankind?

Rainforests occupy less than 2 percent of the Earth’s surface and only 6 percent of the Earth’s land surface. Yet, the lush rainforests support over half of the planet’s wild plants, trees, and wildlife. With the devastation of the rainforest, hundreds of thousands of rainforest species are being extinguished before they are even identified and studied.

If the devastation continues at the present rate, scientists estimate nearly 80 to 90 percent of tropical rainforest ecosystems will be destroyed by 2020. That’s less than 10 years!

The Amazon Rainforest is the Last Frontier on Earth, the world’s greatest remaining natural resource, and the most powerful and bioactive diverse natural phenomenon on the planet. The Amazon Rainforest is the “Lungs of the Planet”, producing more than 20 percent of the oxygen we breath. It is estimated that a single hectare (2.47 acres) of the Amazon Rainforest contains 900 tons of living plants and trees — nature’s medicine for humankind.

Blood of the Dragon, Current Practical Uses

One of the most versatile trees from the rainforest ecosystem is the Sangre de Grado tree, known as “blood of the dragon” in Peru and “dragon’s blood” in Ecuador. The tree grows to a height of 20 to 30 meters, having a trunk diameter of 30 cm. It is covered by smooth, mottled bark, and has large, pear shaped, bright green leaves and unique, greenish white flowers on long stalks.

When the trunk of the Sangre de Grado tree is cut or wounded, a dark red sappy resin oozes out, as if the tree is bleeding, thus the name “blood of the dragon.” For centuries, the indigenous tribes have used the curative powers of the Sangre de Grado sap to paint on bleeding wounds to stop the bleeding and accelerate healing.

Traditional medicine uses today are much the same. In Peruvian herbal medicine, the Sangre de Grado is suggested for hemorrhaging, for antiseptic vaginal douche, and topical application for bleeding wounds. The sap is also suggested for internal use for ulcers in the mouth, throat, intestinal tract, and stomach; as an antiviral for upper respiratory issues, stomach viruses, and HIV; internally and topically for cancer and tumors; topically for skin disorders, insect bites and stings; hemorrhoids, infected gums and toothaches.

Sangre de Grado is a wonderful, sustainable rainforest resource which has been extensively studied by modern day scientists. James E. Williams, OMD, speaks for many natural health practitioners in the United States, when he summarizes the many benefits of Sange de Grado:

“There is a wide range of potential applications for Sangre de Grado, including use as a broad-spectrum anti-diarrheal agent from causes such as side effects of drugs, chemotherapy or radiation treatment, microbial infections of the intestinal track, traveler’s diarrhea, and viral-induced diarrhea as in AIDS. It may also have other uses in gastrointestinal disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome and ulcerative diseases. Its cytotoxic effects make it a possible anti-tumor agent and its cicatrizant properties provide wound-healing potential. In addition, the antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects of Sangre de Grado make it a useful compound in the clinical treatment of chronic viral disease and natural antibacterial agent.” (The Healing Power of Rainforest Herbs, by Leslie Taylor, ND, 2005, pg 410).

Other natural health practitioners indicate the benefits of Sangre de Grado for diabetic neuropathy and its effects on nerve endings, nerve pain, and nerve inflammation. Benefits have also been reported for diabetes related skin ulcers and sores when applied topically.

Plant Chemicals

So what makes the Sangre de Grado such a powerful healing aid? The sap is a storehouse of phytochemicals, including proanthocyanidins for fighting free radical damage from a variety of stress factors. Anthocyanidins are often responsible for the color in plants, providing protection from the damaging effects of the sun.

Beneficial properties of the sap also include alkaloid taspines, which increase the migration of fibroblast cells responsible for skin and tissue regeneration (for humans and animals). Sangre de Grado is a necessity in the first aid kit for the indigenous people for helping to quickly heal wounds from machete injuries while sustainably harvesting the treasures of the rainforest.

Sange de Grado demonstrates the morphism relationship quite nicely. Morphism is the relationship between the utilization of the herb and its physical shape, which is reminiscent of the organ it supports. Sangre de Grado is red like blood and it helps to stop bleeding. The leaf of the tree is heart shaped and the sap contains the strongest natural antioxidant to support cardiac function.

Profits Without Destruction

Is the preservation of the Amazon rainforest the Key to North America’s health woes? Long regarded as hocus-pocus by science, the empirical plant knowledge of the indigenous people and their shamans, is now thought by many to be the Amazon’s new “gold.”

Sustainable harvesting of medicinal plants, fruits, nuts, rubber, chocolate, and other renewable and sustainable resources, yield the landowners of the rainforest $2,400 per acre. The sustainable resources, not the destruction of trees to clear land for farming and drilling, are the true wealth of the rainforest for the survival of the rainforest and its indigenous people and messengers for the plants, the shamans.

Today, the tribes and communities of the rainforest earn five to ten times more in money by wild-harvesting instead of chopping down the rainforest to grow subsistence crops like corn and soybeans, or for oil drilling. This income provides the awareness and economic incentive for the indigenous tribes to protect and preserve the rainforest for long term profits for now and for generations to come. Sustainable, wild-harvesting of the botanicals for medicinal use is an important solution in saving the rainforest and preserving the quality of oxygen we breathe today and for our generations to come.

Sustainable, wild-harvesting is an important solution for providing modern day tools to help cleanse, nourish, and balance the body systems in the cycle and process of healing.

Copyright© 2010 Paula Quinlan, Paula Quinlan Consulting. All rights reserved. Paula Quinlan, Body Ecologist, is certified in nutritional nutriscopy, aromatherapy, and Reiki energy healing. She is an educator and professional speaker. She offers one-on-one consultations, showcases, workshops, and presentations to help people reshape and revive their body ecology and cleanse the temple for their Spirit. For more information she can be contacted at 612.719.9228 or emailed at paula@paulaquinlan.com. Her website is www.paulaquinlan.com.

by Diane Dressel, R.D., Weight Management Services

It’s that time of year again when people make their New Year’s resolutions, many of which are health-related. Losing weight, eating healthier, exercising, and quitting smoking are popular New Year’s resolutions, with losing weight often leading the pack. But that particular resolution is also the most difficult to accomplish, says Diane Dressel, a registered dietitian and program coordinator for Mayo Clinic Health System’s Weight Management Services in Eau Claire.

“By the time the new year rolls around, many people are well-versed with the classic promise: ‘I will start my diet on Monday,’” she says. “In fact, at this time of the year, many people have made that promise to themselves 52 times since January 2010.”

It can be a recipe for weight loss disaster, she says.

“If people think they are going to start their diet on Monday,” she says, “they’ll have their ‘last suppers’ and ‘hurrahs’ on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

This often results in weight gain because when Monday comes, people often go back to, ‘I’ll start my diet next Monday.’”

To turn your New Year’s resolution into an actual New Year’s solution, you have to go beyond just the classic promise: “I’ll lose weight in the new year.” Instead, you need to spend time preparing and planning, advises Dressel, who has specialized in weight management since 1985.

“It is important to get ready to start, to make yourself a priority and get the commitment in place,” she says.

When researching weight loss programs, Dressel recommends people look for the following elements to better their chances of obtaining their weight loss goals:

1. What are the participants’ average weight loss? Most advertisements only show their “shining stars” which leads you to believe everyone has these results.
2. Does it provide rapid and effective weight loss? To get ahead of the weight problem, you need to get the weight off quickly.
3. Does it provide support and accountability?
4. Does it provide structure to get momentum of the scale going down?
5. Does it offer simple or limited choices to minimize opportunities to deviate from the program?
6. Are its meals filling and satisfying so you don’t constantly feel hungry?
7. Are the foods convenient and easy to prepare?
8. Do the foods provide good nutrition?
9. Does it include physical activity while still acknowledging that 75 to 80 percent of managing weight is on the food side?
10. Does it go beyond calorie counting to acknowledge behavioral changes for a healthy lifestyle?
11. Does it offer motivation for weight loss?
12. Does it provide a strong maintenance program for keeping the weight off?
13. Does it offer medical supervision for people who need it?
14. Does it have data on program results and dropout rates? Many programs are as high as 33 percent within a month and 50percent within three months.
15. Does it have staff who specialize in weight and health management?

People can have a different story this year with their weight management if they do it right, Dressel says.

“Eighty percent of people who start a diet are doomed to fail because they haven’t done their homework,” she says.

Diane Dressel is a registered dietitian and program coordinator of Weight Management Services at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire. To learn more about Weight Management Services or inquire about a free orientation session, call 715-838-6731.

by Casey Castona, Acupuncturist

Ingredients
3 pounds beef oxtail (if you like more meat you can add more 1 to 2 lbs. chopped beef)
3 teaspoons sea salt
1 large onion, chopped
1 small bag of frozen peas
1 small bag of frozen okra
1 Tablespoon whole black peppercorn
1 container of sweet cherry tomatoes
Half a gallon of water
Whole package of baby mushrooms
2 carrots, sliced
1 parsnip, sliced

Directions:
1. Using a 5 gallon pot, heat Bacon oil or Grapeseed oil at 400 degrees. Add oxtail, salt, and whole peppercorn.
2. Sear the oxtail until the meat is brown and the pot has some browning for the meat on the bottom of the pot.
3. Add mushrooms and water to pot and cover for 4 to 6 hours on medium low.
4. Remove bones and separate meat and fat.
5. Add meat and fat back in.
6. Add onions, parsnips, and carrots.
7. Cook until vegetables are tender.
8. Add peas and okra and bring to a boil.
9. Turn off heat and add sweet cherry tomatoes.
10. Salt to taste.

This soup is high with levels of Glucosamine & Chondroitin. Within 30 minutes of eating this soup, you should notice your pain starting to decrease. Eat this when you crave it. This soup freezes well. Reheat in a pan, not a microwave.

When you boil ox-tail for a long time, tendons dissolve in the soup. Ox-tail marrow and tendons are very rich in minerals and they help repair bone and tendon injuries. A theory in Chinese Medicine is to use tendon to treat tendon.  I was practicing Martial Arts and broke my hand hitting a bag wrong. On average my hand pain was 2 out of 10. And it would go up to 4 out of 10 after I re-injured it. I found this soup recipe from one of my classes in Oriental Medicine School, and I decided to try it. First of all it tastes like a beef stew. So, for all of you who are freaking out about the idea of ox-tail, don’t worry, it tastes Great! You will feel the energy coming from this food in minutes. Now back to pain in my hand. It took about 30 minutes for the pain to disappear all the way down to a 0 out of 10 after eating this soup. The pain did come back, but I would eat the soup again with the same results. So, I tell my patients if they want to try a natural way to manage their joint pain: Try this soup! I recommend you to freeze this soup in small containers for later. To make yourself feel better, just warm up some wonderful Ox-tail soup for you and your friends.

Casey Castona specializes in Pain Management and is trained in nine different styles of Acupuncture that do not use needles.  More at (715) 379-6429; ac4wellness@gmail.com; www.ac4wellness.com