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Welcome to the first issue of the Naturally Yours newsletter! Therapy Spotlight: Ion Cleanse 
Product Spotlight: Verry Berry Healthy Planet, Healthy Selves Focus On: Hypothyroidism Tasty Treats Don't Miss Us! Have suggestions for future issues of Naturally Yours? |
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Each morning, I recite the Naturopathic Physicians Oath that hangs on the wall of my office. I do this to ground myself and express my gratitude for the day filled with patient interactions that's ahead of me. In the Oath, there is a line that states "I will assist and encourage others to strengthen their health, reduce risks for disease, and preserve the health of our planet for ourselves, our families, and future generations." This monthly newsletter is a vehicle that will help me to fulfill and remain true to that promise. I am excited by the opportunity to communicate with you regarding important news and information from my naturopathic practice, as well as from the general field of natural medicine. You may be aware that I devote a considerable amount of time to traveling to various conferences throughout the year. These conferences help enable me to remain thoroughly educated and informed about the latest advances and discoveries in naturopathic technology and research — which better enables me to make decisions about what to incorporate into my practice, to better serve your health care needs. One conference I attended this past June was a bit different than most. With approximately 175 other healthcare professionals, I participated in a week-long Mindfulness Meditation retreat, under the supervision of Jon Kabat-Zinn and Saki Santorelli of The Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Healthcare and Society, located at the University of Massachusetts. As you may know, Mindfulness Meditation has long been a cornerstone of my commitment to my own personal healthcare and growth as a human being. Often, the words of kindness, compassion and wisdom I share with you during our office visits have grown out of my own practice of Mindfulness. While attending medical school in Arizona, I was fortunate enough to intern and help teach Mindfulness classes that followed the precepts of the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) work of Jon and Saki. I worked with many patients dealing with a variety of physical imbalances, and was deeply moved by the growth and healing that resulted from this work. Being able to offer the best in biochemical, physiological natural remedies while helping you to understand and connect with the answers you possess within yourself is, to me, what healing is really about. For that reason, I promised myself then that MBSR would someday be integrated into my work as a Naturopathic Physician. That day has arrived — and I am ecstatic to be able to offer you the 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Course. This course is designed to be helpful to anyone dealing with chronic pain, chronic stress, anxiety, insomnia or fatigue, or anyone with a desire to deepen their connection to themselves and to others. This highly participatory, practical course includes:
As a participant you will be expected to exhibit a commitment to 'homework', which consists of approximately 45 minutes of mindfulness practice each day. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Course Information The next 8-week course will begin on Wednesday, September 20, 2006, at the Executive Inn at 8030 Jericho Turnpike in Woodbury, New York. Wednesday sessions will run from 7 pm to 9:30 pm, on the following dates: 9/20, 9/27, 10/4, 10/18, 10/25, 11/1, 11/8, and 11/15. There will also be a Saturday session on 11/4, from 9 am to 4 pm (please mark your calendars!). Contact our office for more information. Therapy Spotlight: Ion Cleanse My practice offers a wide range of beneficial therapies — many of which you may not even be aware. So each month this section will describe one of our available therapies that may be of interest to you. This issue will introduce you to our Ion Cleanse "foot bath" therapy. In today's toxic environment, tissue acid wastes and chemical/heavy metal residues build up in the body faster than ever before, resulting in a greater incidence of allergies, as well as mental and physical distress. Ion cleansing foot baths help to safely rid the body of harmful waste products and residue, and to maintain a healthy alkaline environment throughout the body. Have you ever noticed the invigorating feeling you can get from a walk along the beach? That's because as you walk along the shore in the "sea air," your body absorbs millions of negatively charged ions, which alkalize the blood and tissue. Maintaining an alkaline environment throughout the body is thought to be vital to avoiding disease and maintaining vitality, especially as we age. An Ion Cleanse foot bath can deliver the benefits of a walk on the beach with exponential power. The Ion Cleanse process involves placing the patient's feet in a special water-filled basin for 30 minutes. The basin includes an ion-generating array that when placed in the water with the patient's feet, helps remove toxins through the process known as osmosis. Toxins removed include a wide range of waste products, such as diacetic, lactic, pyruvic, uric, carbonic acetic, butyric and hepatic acids. Patients report feeling "lighter" after just one session, and after ongoing therapy report being able to think more clearly, have more energy, and enjoy a greater sense of well-being. During an Ion Cleanse footbath you will experience no discomfort at all — many patients find it quite relaxing. You're free to browse and read through our wide collection of books while undergoing your treatment. An appointment with Dr. Stills is not necessary for our Ion Cleanse therapy, though you do need to schedule an appointment to use the therapy itself. It can be done anytime during office hours; you can even come in on Wednesdays from 8-12, when the office is just open for refills. While there is no limit to the number of treatments one can do, three times per week for five weeks is recommended initially. Even if you can only make it once a week, you will be taking a positive step towards counteracting the toxins from everyday life. Please note that the Ion Cleanse footbath is not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women, or for those with pacemakers or other battery operated implants. 
Product Spotlight: Verry Berry Our medicinary contains the highest quality natural supplements. Each month in this Product Spotlight section, you'll be introduced to a different product. This month, I'll focus on the Verry Berry antioxidant supplement. Verry Berry is a mixed berry antioxidant supplement, with organic concentrates of the six fruits that have been shown to be the most effective at helping to subdue oxygen free radicals (long-term free radical damage is recognized as the greatest contributor to age-related degenerative disease). Verry Berry is rich in flavonoids, a group of natural substances that are more potent and effective than traditional antioxidant nutrients such as Vitamin C, E, selenium and zinc. Research has shown a strong correlation between increased flavonoid intake and the improvement in a broad range of health conditions — including indications of being effective in decreasing cancer, and in lowering LDL oxidation in coronary artery disease. The manufacturer of Verry Berry lists detailed information about the benefits of Verry Berry in connection with Aging/Alzheimers; Allergies; Anti-viral/Anti-bacterial issues; Coronary Artery Disease; Dermatologic issues; Diabetic Retinopathy; Edema/Lympedema; Gastrointestinal problems; Immune Modulation activity; Macular Degeneration/Cataracts; and Respiratory issues. You can learn more on their website. In addition to its healthy benefits, Verry Berry tastes great! Many people have asked if it was okay to use Verry Berry as a topping on pancakes or ice-cream, and the answer is "absolutely" (as long as those pancakes are wheat-free and that ice cream is made from soy or rice — wink!). Healthy Planet, Healthy Selves Our earth's environment plays a major role in determining our health, as toxins in the environment contribute to a tremendous range of illnesses. This regular section of the newsletter is dedicated to discussing timely environmental issues, and exploring the ways in which you can detoxify and protect yourself from adverse environmental conditions. This month's subject is on an environmental topic of crisis proportion: Global Warming.
Patients suffering from hypothyroidism can exhibit a wide range of symptoms. Fatigue, depression, an inability to lose weight, headaches, "foggy head" syndrome, sensitivity to cold, poor circulation, hair loss, dry skin, constipation, ringing in the ears — all these and a variety of additional symptoms may be due to hypothyroidism. The thyroid gland is a highly vascular endocrine gland consisting of two lobes. It secretes large amounts of two hormones, thyroxine and triiodothyronine, which have a profound effect on the metabolic rate of the body. Your thyroid gland also secretes calcitonin, a hormone that is important for calcium metabolism. In standard medical testing the thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) is looked at via a blood test. If a patient's TSH number falls within the range of 0.5 to 5.0, the patient is often told they have no problem with their thyroid gland. Unfortunately, the 0.5 to 5.0 range is too wide — and more importantly, the TSH number does not tell the "whole story." All the TSH number reveals is what message the pituitary gland is sending down to the thyroid. It does not tell us what the thyroid is actually doing with that message, or how the body is actually functioning. To determine a patient's whole story in relation to how the thyroid gland is functioning, complete bloodwork (including the measurement of "free" hormones) as well as subjective indications such as basal temperature readings can be used. I can help interpret the findings of such testing, to define a program to help ensure that your thyroid works to its full capabilities, for optimal health. The following recipe is from "Eating Your Way Back to Health," a wonderful book by my colleague, Jessica K. Black. Frozen Bananas (a great summer treat!) Ingredients:
Instructions:
(Healthy Tidbit: Carob is alkaline in nature; it nourishes the lungs and is a great source of calcium, containing more than three times as much calcium as milk! Carob also contains potassium, vitamin A, and vitamin B. It is 8 percent protein, and contains less fat and calories than chocolate. Carob is also free of caffeine, and is naturally sweet!) If you're interested in many more nutritious, delicious and easy to prepare recipes, you can purchase your own copy of "Eating Your Way Back to Health" from most book sellers or at our office. |
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It is with great enthusiasm and passion that I write this first issue for you. Once a month, this newsletter intends to be a gentle knock at your door — one that I hope you welcome and allow to create a spark of excitement by empowering you to engage in something healthy for your body, mind and spirit! 
Global Warming is a reality, and unless we all begin to make changes we will bear witness to catastrophe in the not-too-distant future. The changes that can be made, whether on a personal level, the community level or by the world's large corporations, are truly countless. A paradigm shift is necessary, and that tremendous change can start on a small level through the personal actions of each and every one of us. I urge you to see the movie "An Inconvenient Truth," as well as the 2-hour Discovery Channel special, "Global Warming: What You Need to Know," narrated by Tom Brokaw. Please also visit 
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