October, 2006
Autumn is Here, Bringing a Change in the Rhythm
of Life
With the slower, lazy days of summer behind us, now is the
time to get back "on track" and prepare our bodies for the
cooler seasons ahead. Read
more
Therapy Spotlight: Far Infrared Sauna
Our Infrared Sauna, one of our many in-office therapies,
is designed to cleanse your body of accumulated toxins. Read more
Product Spotlight:
Immunobar™
Ready for a healthy snack that supports your immune system
AND tastes great? It's called ImmunoBar, and you can get yours from
us! Read more
Healthy Planet, Healthy Selves
Did you know that the fragrances and other ingredients
found in many of our ordinary, daily-use household products can be
highly toxic and even poison? Read
more
Focus On: Anxiety and Depression
Millions of Americans suffer from high levels of anxiety,
depression or both without knowing why. A neurotransmitter
deficiency is often the cause, and it can be addressed through
nutritional supplements. Read more
Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction
8-week course is helping participants develop and nourish
present-moment awareness and enhanced coping skills for everyday life.
Read more
Tasty Treats
Baked Nut Milk Custard is an ideal low-carb, high-protein
fuel for the body as the cool autumn weather arrives. Read more
Inspiration!
Sometimes "going for it" is a tough decision. According
to Zen (and others), "leap and the net will appear." Read more
Have suggestions for future issues of Naturally
Yours?
Please contact me to share them!
Autumn is Here, Bringing a Change in the Rhythm of
Life
With the slower, "lazier" days
of the summer season now behind us, we're all experiencing the
rhythmic shift back to the more structured life that fall brings each
year. Regular schedules and routines are followed, bedtimes are more
closely adhered to, and a quickening of the pace of life has
occurred.
Summer has always been my favorite season, as I've found it to be a time of healthful nurturing for my mind, body and soul. Each year I find myself somewhat "mourning" the passing of the season, and looking forward to its arrival the next year. That melancholy period is brief, however, as there is much to embrace and be thankful for in the autumn season.
In the cycle of life according to Chinese Medicine, the summer is a time during which we are open, full of heart, and very often taking in new experiences — and the organ responsible for "digesting" our new experiences is the small intestine. In the late summer and early autumn, our energy turns more toward security, and building up "reserves" to carry us through the colder seasons ahead. Autumn is the time to strengthen our immune systems for the upcoming winter. Chinese Medicine teaches that this season is the time to dwell in the energy of our lung/colon meridians; indeed, autumn is the perfect time to visit our office for a bowel healing program. It is also a wonderful time to visit the beach for a stroll, to breathe deeply the cleansing negative ions. It is an ideal time to fully feel our emotions, and let go of that which no longer serves or defines our purpose.
Thank you for allowing me to share my thoughts and advice with you with each new edition of the Naturally Yours newsletter. I trust that you find the information useful, and I look forward to your comments and questions on the topics in which you're interested.
Therapy Spotlight: Far Infrared Sauna
My practice offers a wide range of beneficial therapies — many of which you may not even be aware. In each issue of Naturally Yours, I describe one of our available therapies that may be of interest to you. This issue introduces you to our Far Infrared Sauna therapy.
To give you an idea of just how beneficial I believe this therapy to be, let me say that if I were somehow limited to offering only three therapies to support my patients, the far infrared sauna would absolutely be one of them. (You'll have to ask me about the other two!)
One's everyday exposure to chemicals and heavy metals can often exceed the body's ability to excrete them. The sources are everywhere: mercury from fish or dental fillings, plastics from food packaging, pesticides from our environment, fire retardants from throughout the home, various toxins from a wide range of household products, even carpet can emit chemicals that are known to cause cancer. Alone, each of these sources may represent just miniscule amounts, but together, they can cause an accumulation in the body and ultimately cause considerable health problems.
Our Far Infrared Sauna is designed to gently yet effectively help rid your body of accumulated toxins while you relax in the sauna's soothing warmth — reading, listening to music, meditating, or just relaxing and unwinding. In addition to detoxification, sauna is believed to offer a number of additional health benefits, including:
- Enhanced immune system. A sauna session's brief (minor) increase in body temperature mimics the body's defense mechanism against bacteria, microbes and infection.
- Improved Cardiovascular Conditioning. A 20 to 30 minute session in the Far Infrared Sauna has an effect on the cardiovascular system similar to that of a six mile run, making it especially useful for those incapable of physical exertion.
- Stress Reduction. By facilitating the expansion of capillary vessels, thereby improving circulation, physical stress levels can be reduced. Safe infrared rays also trigger the production of endorphins - the "feel good" hormones.
- Weight Control. A single session in the sauna can burn as many as 600 calories! Also, body fat becomes water soluble at 110 degrees, which means the body can sweat it out.
- Cellulite Reduction. Cellulite is a gel-like substance made up of fat, water and waste products trapped near the surface of the skin. The far infrared sauna can be effective at removing these substances, especially when combined with a program of diet and massage.
- Pain Relief. Infrared heat can relieve pain by dilating blood vessels. This allows increased blood circulation and more oxygen to reach injured areas, thereby speeding up the healing process.
- Skin Beautification. Profuse perspiration encouraged by the sauna deeply cleanses the skin, which can create improved tone, texture and color.
An appointment with Dr. Stills is not necessary for our Far Infrared Sauna 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 noon, when the office is otherwise just open for refills.
In today's fast-paced world, "on-the-go" eating and snacking are commonplace. Now there's an uncommonly healthy option for those times: ImmunoBar.
ImmunoBar is a great tasting, chocolate flavored bar that may be enjoyed as a low-calorie meal replacement, a meal accompaniment or a snack. Each trans fat-free bar features 15 grams of superior quality protein, only 12 grams of carbohydrates, 3 grams of fiber and a healthy complement of micronutrients.
According to many of my patients as well as my office manager, Elide, ImmunoBars "taste like delicious chocolate — not like chalk the way some other bars taste!"
The manufacturer explains that the immune support provided by ImmunoBar is ideal for individuals with gastrointestinal conditions, stress, increased exposure to pathogens, or for those who desire insurance for overall health and wellness. It's also a great snack to pack in kids' lunchboxes. Just imagine - a tasty snack that supports their immune system! Does it get any better than that?
You can pick up your own convenient, "on-the-go" nutrition for optimal immune support by asking for ImmunoBars at our front desk.
Healthy Planet, Healthy Selves
Most Americans are knowledgeable enough to handle clearly labeled household poisons with care, storing items such as bleach and drain cleaner safely away from a child's reach, and protecting their own skin from contact. But you may be surprised to know that the seemingly "safe" products we use every day contain toxic chemicals that, when absorbed through the skin (as practically all chemicals are), lead directly to liver disease, nervous system disorders and even cancer.
Let's start in the bathroom. Did you know that many of the body deodorants we use contain aluminum, which has been linked to Alzheimer's disease? Or that the shampoos we use often contain harsh solvents, which can lead to liver toxicity? It's true...and that's not all. Toothpaste often contains non-organic fluoride, which has been linked to osteoporosis. Mouthwash can contain aspartame or saccharin, which have been blamed for brain tumors and cancer, respectively. And the perfume or cologne we dab on can contain a highly toxic mix of cancer causing chemicals!
Moving to the laundry room, the detergents we use contain many of the same chemical toxins as our perfumes. Dryer sheets literally coat your clothes with a layer of toxic chemicals, which come in contact with your skin where they can be absorbed directly into your bloodstream (in much the way chemicals are drawn into your body by nicotine "patches").
Our kitchens are cause for concern as well. Some of the antibacterial soap products we use include a potent nerve chemical similar to agent orange — that's what kills the bacteria! Our automatic dishwasher detergents contain yet more chemicals and toxic fragrances — all of which end up on the dishes we use every day!
Through it all, the product manufacturers deny the health consequences of their products — which means that it is up to you to become knowledgeable on how to protect yourself and your family from the seemingly "innocent" products that we bring into our homes. There are healthy alternatives to virtually all the products we use every day. Visit your local health food store and browse the product offerings. Try to look for "fragrance-free" products whenever possible, as the added fragrances are the source of many of the toxic chemicals in so many products. For perfumes and colognes, look for natural products using essential oils, rather than artificial chemicals (or consider simply going without perfumes or colognes - you may be surprised at how many people actually like your own "natural aroma").
The bottom line? Be aware, be responsible, read labels, and most of all, be healthy!
Focus On: Anxiety and Depression
Feelings of fear, anxiety, and melancholy are a normal part of life. Anxiety can even be beneficial in some situations. For example, have you ever studied for a test with some anxiety — and scored better because of it? Have you ever found yourself anxious from having to pass through a "dangerous" neighborhood — such normal anxiety keeps us alert, and helps us make better decisions.
The problems come when normal anxiety or melancholy go awry, and inexplicably reach overwhelming levels. When you're suffering from such anxiety or depression, your productivity can be dramatically reduced, and your quality of life and your relationships with others can suffer tremendously. It can be extremely frustrating to suffer the effects of anxiety and/or depression while not being able to determine an obvious cause. Many patients just end up believing that there is something "wrong" with them that they can't explain, which leads to unhealthy self-doubt and lowered self-esteem.
Fortunately, we know that for many sufferers of anxiety and depression, the root cause is simply a "neurotransmitter" deficiency that can be addressed through nutritional supplements.
Neurotransmitters are special chemical molecules that enable the various nerve cells and components in our brains to "communicate" with each other. For normal, healthy brain function, neurotransmitters must be plentiful, in the right place at the right time. If they're not, communications between the cells does not happen effectively, and we develop symptoms including anxiety and depression.
Since April of this year, when
I underwent formal training on the use of neurotransmitter
supplements, many of my patients have found
NeuroReplete® nutritional supplements to be
extremely beneficial in addressing the symptoms of anxiety and
depression. In fact, among my patients who have added
NeuroReplete to their diets, more than 85 percent
have reported an improvement in their anxiety and/or depression
levels.
A typical program includes the patient taking NeuroReplete's specifically formulated vitamins and amino acids in a specific protocol — many times without the need for the urinary testing that is occasionally necessary to determine specific personalized dosing schedules.
It's important to first realize that if you are suffering from unusual levels of anxiety and/or depression, you are not alone. Millions of Americans suffer from one or both. Understanding the root cause is the first step to improving your quality of life, peace of mind and overall health.
Our Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction Program is off to a good start on Long Island
8-week course is helping participants develop and nourish present-moment awareness and enhanced coping skills for everyday life.
I launched an 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction course on September 20, 2006. The next 8-week evening session starts in February, 2007. If what you read below interests you, reserve your guaranteed place in the next class now, without obligation, by calling 516 935-1334. No deposit is required to make an early reservation to ensure your place in the class. When exact dates are announced you will be given an opportunity to cancel without obligation, if they don't fit your schedule.
Participants in this flexible fee-based program are learning ways to develop specific skills for focusing attention and for deep relaxation, and how to apply these skills to cope with and get the most out of their everyday situations.
A deep, meaningful moment-to-moment awareness, which I call 'mindfulness,' can have a positive impact on a person's well-being in so many ways. Mindfulness is about becoming more aware, more 'present,' and more relaxed, while connecting with your body's own deep inner resources for healing, coping, growing, and taking charge of one's life in new ways.
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) courses have been offered in the U.S. and worldwide for more than twenty years. The course is designed to be beneficial to people dealing with a wide range of conditions, including chronic pain, chronic stress, anxiety, insomnia and fatigue, as well as anyone with a desire to deepen their connection to themselves and to others.
My highly participatory, practical course includes:
- Guided instruction in mindfulness meditation practices
- Gentle stretching and mindful yoga
- Inquiry exercises to enhance awareness in everyday life
- Individually tailored instruction
- Group dialogue
- Home assignments
- A CD and workbook
The February course will be held at a conveniently located major Long Island hotel.
Baked Nut Milk Custard (the perfect autumn treat!)
As the weather turns cooler, the cold treats of the summer should be replaced with warmer, cooked foods to keep the body appropriately "fueled." This month's treat is low in carbohydrates, high in protein, and baked to enable easy digestion.
Ingredients:
- 3 free-range organic eggs
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups almond milk (1/2 cup almonds blended with 1 3/4 cups pure water and 1 tablespoon of E-lyte Concentrate, available at our office)
- 2 tablespoons vegetable glycerin
- 1/4 teaspoon liquid Stevia
- Freshly grated nutmeg
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
- Pour about one inch of water into a large roasting pan.
- Combine eggs, nut milk, salt, glycerin, Stevia and vanilla in blender; blend well
- Pour mixture into casserole or custard cups.
- Sprinkle with nutmeg.
- Carefully place in roasting pan.
- Bake 45 - 60 minutes, or until a knife inserted in center comes out clean.
- ENJOY!
Leap and the net will appear.
Whether attributed to Zen, or to the many other sources typically given credit for this phrase, the meaning is always the same. Take the chance. Pursue your dreams. Open yourself to all that is good. Seek the best life has to offer, while you define what is truly the best for you.
The universal appeal of the phrase "Leap and the net will appear," appears in writings of all kinds, from statements of faith to advertising claims. Just put this phrase in quotes and make a Google query and see what happens: 17,000 examples and attributions. That's 17,000 times someone is saying "go for it."
In your own life, whether in relation to love, career, lifestyle or family, the choices you make — even the choice to make no choices — set you on a path that may eventually lead to the edge of a metaphorical cliff. To leap or not to leap, that is the decision you may face. With the right balance of healthy spirit, mind and body, trust yourself to make the right decision. Odds are that if you leap, the net will appear, although it might not be immediately obvious, or in a form you might have expected.