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My Thoughts on Gout

27 Jul

Gout doesn’t care who you are, male or female. Gout doesn’t care how old you are, 30, 60 or 90. Also known as the ‘Rich Mans Disease,’ gout will find a home in a body that has a build up of to much uric acid in the blood. Gout causes swelling, pain and inflammation and may also be mistaken for arthritic.

Surprisingly, uric acid is not a fundamentally harmful substance, notes Phyliss Balch, CNC, in her book, ‘Prescription for Nutritional Healing. Uric Acid is a powerful antioxidant, almost as effective as vitamin C, that helps to protect cells from oxidative damage. It is when the uric acid levels become to elevated in the body that it becomes a problem, a real painful problem and that usually settles in the foot or ankles. Most doctors will give prescriptions drugs for gout, but it is only a bandage until there is a change in the diet. It is suggested that the blood have the right balance of acid and alkaline to keep gout away. Researchers have reported that Purine rich foods such as meat, seafood , to much protein and sugar consumption increases the risk of gout attacks. Elevated levels of uric acid in the blood can also be an indication of poor kidney function.

If you suffer from gout here are a few tips to help you.

  • Consume plenty of water to flush out uric acid.
  • Eat more foods that are alkaline base and rich in vitamins and minerals, including alfalfa and kelp. Stay away from yeast, poultry, spinach, fish, eggs, oatmeal, peas, caffeine, cauliflower and dried beans. Incorporate Cayenne, Cumin and Turmeric powder in your diet to reduce inflammation.
  • Free -form amino acids are important to keep uric acid away, but be careful of Glycine because it converts to uric acid.

Reflexology is a major plus in getting ride of gout. Working the reflexes on the feet and ankles will speed up the removal of uric acid and stimulate the kidneys; an important factor in water balance and uric acid levels. Reflexology relaxes the nervous system so the body can resume its proper balance.

Let Wellness Enhance help you get back into balance naturally.

www.wellnessenhanced.com

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Posted in Alternative Healing, Reflexology

 

My Thoughts On Exercise

07 May

If you get your information from The American Medical Association, the Center for Disease and Control or the millions of web sites and books about the importance of exercise, the results are much the same and shocking. Reports state that there are between 60 and 80 percent of Americans that live a sedentary lifestyle and there are over 260,000 deaths a year in the United States that can attribute to lack of regular physical activity. In plain language, that means ‘to much sitting.’ Lets do the math. If you sleep approximately 8 hours, how much activity are you getting in the rest of the 16 hours a day? If your job requires sitting at a desk most of the day, then you have twice as much of a battle to stay fit.

All Medical Associations, Medical doctors, Naturopathic doctors, Physical trainers and Life Couches will suggest that we should do somewhere between 30 minute to 60 minutes of good exercise a day, otherwise we put our health at risk for many diseases. In my last interview with Dr. Garcia, Heart Surgeon and Specialist in Tucson, he verified that “Exercise is vital in the support for good cardiovascular health and over all well-being.”. He claimed, “Once people get caught up in the wrong ‘comfort zone’ it is very hard for them to get out of it” Dr. Garcia also reported that some patients have been able to reduce their medications just by getting involved in a daily exercise program. Dr. Oz also stated on his show that “sitting one hour less a day can add years to your life.”

Do you want to move more, but are having a hard time getting motivated? Are you caught up in a rut that is not benefiting you? Are you depressed, feel tired, having problems sleeping, gaining weight, suffering from back aches or battling health issues? Ask yourself ‘Are you doing everything you can do to become physically fit?
Do you have a habit of saying “I will do it tomorrow or later ?”

Here are some suggesting that might help.
1. Think about what it is that is stopping you from becoming motivated.
2. Evaluate your lifestyle. Be honest. Calculate the time you spend sitting.
3. Think about the benefits your missing by sitting to long or laying on the couch.
4. Talk to a Life Coach, Trainer or Teacher that can help decide what is right for you.
5. Read and Research. Learn how physical activity can enhance your immune system.
6. Learn about the hazards of a sedentary lifestyle.
Education is a very important step in making changes. Keep health magazines and articles around the house. Read as much as you can. Listen to CD’s for inspiration. This will reprogram your mind and will give you the will power to get started.
7. Talk to others about their physical activities and exchange ideas.
8. If you are under doctors care for any reason, discuss these changes with your doctor.
9. You have to spend hours at a time. Start slow- 20 minutes a day.
10. Get in the habit of adding exercise into your daily routine.
11. Find something that you enjoy that makes you excited about moving.

There are many ideas to get you started; dancing, swimming, walking, bike riding, gardening, yoga, Zumba, walking the dogs, family outings and sports.
Don’t just watch the kids while you talk on the cell phone. Get active with them. There is something for everyone. . Think about the examples that you are setting for those you love.
These are fun and easy steps to enhance a healthier lifestyle.
12. Find a friend that is willing to make a commitment with you and make a plan.

If you plan to work out alone or spend quality time with love ones, the benefits are endless. .You will be so thankful once you see and feel the improvements. Give exercise a change.

Improve your mind, body and spirit.
Find a ‘Healthy Zone’ that works for you.

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Posted in Yoga

 

Back To Basics

02 Jan

Photo from 'The Complete Guide to Natural Healing'

Do you use home remedies that have been passed on from generations?  Are you aware that these healing tips may be a smart alternative to conventional methods and normally are less costly?   According to a nationwide government survey released in December 2008, approximately 38 percent of U.S. adults aged 18 years and over and approximately 12 percent of children use some form of CAM. ( Complimentary Alternative Medicine)   Dr. Josephine Briggs, director of the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, stated that many Americans are turning—in pursuit of better health—to practices like the use of herbs, acupuncture, yoga, meditation, massage and chiropractic or osteopathic manipulation. A research team, led by Eisenberg, of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, discovered that four out of 10 Americans paid an estimated $21 billion for alternative services. Today there is nearly 650 million people that take trips to a alternative provider.

I think of  alternative therapies  as preventive medicine.  Not only do they reduce stress, research has proven that they can also act as antioxidant and enhance the immune system.

Dr. Weil,  author and teacher, recognized the benefits of alternatives and began an  integrative approach to conventional medicine.   Dr. Oz and  other physicians are now publicly teaching about juices, foods and supplement to enhance the immune system and promote better health. Although they make no claims that alternatives are a cure all for disease, they admit that these modalities may play a major role in slowing down disease and may help to promote a better way of life.
In alternative healing I think of getting to the cause of the problem before focusing on the effect.  For example if you are a candidate for diabetes (‘Silent Killer’) there are many easy steps that you can take.  Prediabetes is a serious medical condition that can be treated. The good news is that the recently completed Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) study conclusively showed that people with prediabetes can prevent the development of type 2 diabetes by making changes in their diet and increasing their level of physical activity.

Photo from "The complete Guide to Natural Healing"


My mother, at 83 years young, always believed in natural home remedies. Since I was a child I remember her helpful solutions for many things. Today she does yoga, takes omega 3’s, Holy Basil, Vitamin E and uses the Lifewave Patches.   Remembering those days is what stirred my interest in preventative medicine.  My grandparents who lived to be in their nineties never drove a car. They walked everywhere, worked in the garden, canned and ate fresh organic foods.
Not only do I use the remedies that were gifted to me, I have acquired an abundance of knowledge through many years of education. I am anxious to share what I have learned with others.  I have had dramatic health benefits in my own life, along with  positive claims from my clients who receive the reflexology treatments, yoga classes and consultations. I am not saying that we do not need conventional medicine. Everything has its place and time.   I do not prescribe or diagnose. I am here to educate.  I agree with many of the pioneers like Hippocrates, known as the ‘Father of  Medicine,’ who said over 2,400 years ago “Let your food be your medicine and your medicine be your food.”
Today  I am thankful for the pioneers who pursued  their quest and  began a learning experience for many of us. I am grateful  for other practitioners whom I have had the opportunity to study and to work with on many occasions.  They were eager to share what they have learned through research and their own experiences.
So if you have heartburn, headaches, need to loose weight or reduce stress, here are a few ideas. Education is the first step. Do some research on your own. Knowledge leads to wisdom.  You might also want to talk to your doctor. Let him know that you are interested in natural remedies.  Speak to others who use preventive therapies. But remember that everyone is made different, what works for someone else might not always work for you.  Talk to those of us who have studied the alternative field, that can guide you in the right direction and help you make the choices that are right for you.
Why not begin with a natural approach? The chances are, it just might work.

Let Wellness Enhance help you become healthier the natural way.
Wellness Enhance , Rosemary Wilkinson ,Traditional Naturopath
Board Certified Reflexologist- Certified Yoga Instructor

Other Resources: Dr. Weil  ‘Health and Healing’
American Diabetes Association
Dr Oz on alternative therapies
‘Americans Turning to Alternative Therapies‘-pub. Aug 2008
Dr. Josephine P. Briggs-National Health Interview Survey
Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)
Life Extension magazine- Article “The Silent Killer”

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Posted in Alternative Healing, Reflexology, Yoga

 

Reflexology is not the same as massage

16 Jun

It was ten years ago when I first put the sign on my car,   “Stressed, Reflexology Works”   I couldn’t believe how many people then asked me “What is Reflexology”?  Reflexology has come a long way since, but it actually dates back to nearly 5000 years ago and is now practiced around the world.

Reflexology is not the same as standard massage therapy.  While massage therapy concentrates on relieving pain and tension from muscles, reflexology focuses on working pressure point on the feet, hands and ears that correlate to other parts of the body.   This technique is similar to acupuncture without the needles or acupressure and stimulates all corresponding systems, tissues and nerves in the body.  For example, working the reflexes for the endocrine glands  promotes better breathing for those who are suffering from asthma or emphysema. I have had clients with breathing difficulties claim that they can breath easier during and after a reflexology treatment.

Working the reflexes on the small toes or the ring finger will release pressure in the ears which sometimes is caused from elevation or Swimmers Ear.  Applying pressure on certain parts of the ears has been noted to help relieve cravings and addictions.

Applying  pressure to the reflex points on the feet helps to eliminate uric acid which causes Gout and other serious discomfort in the feet and ankles. Chronic over acidity corrodes body tissue and disrupts the proper PH balance which is necessary for optimal health. Clients that have come to me for treatment that were suffering from Gout, claim that after a few treatments they were off of all medications and on their way to recovery. Diet also plays an important roll in keeping a proper PH balance.

Clients also claim that reflexology treatments have helped them to become more in-tune with their own body and gave them a greater understanding of wellness. The benefits of reflexology are endless. I highly recommend that everyone give reflexology a try. Talk to people who have had  reflexology treatments.   Endless resources are now at your fingertips. Do some research on reflexology and learn what it may do for you.

Let Wellness Enhanced  lead you to pathways that could only enhance optimum health.

Resources:   Rosemary Wilkinson  http://www.wellnessenhanced.com/

Warren Susan,   “Touch Intuit” Reflexology Manuals

Mildred Carter and Tammy Weber,

“Body Reflexology “

Healing at Your Fingertips.

(Parker Publishing 1983)      .

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Posted in Reflexology, Stress

 

How Reflexology can Help Fibromyalgia Sufferers

29 Apr
In one study of 10 fibromyalgia sufferers who had reflexology treatments twice weekly for five weeks, researchers found definite improvement in the symptoms of all ten of the patients, with no side-effects.

FMS patients who have undergone regular reflexology treatments report an improvement in:

• Mental clarity
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Fatigue
• Sleep disorders
• Depression
• Myofascial pain
• Tender point paint
Getting Started:

Reflexology can be done at home, using charts or special reflexology socks and gloves, to show you where the pressure points you should be stimulating are. If you choose to go this route, it would probably be beneficial to attend a workshop to learn how to do reflexology on yourself effectively and what points to stimulate in order to obtain the maximum relief of your FMS symptoms.

However, a trained reflexologist might be the best option for those looking for specific types of pain relief and to obtain a more relaxing experience, especially for those who list anxiety as a symptom of their FMS. Many insurers will cover reflexology as a complimentary therapy for fibromyalgia.

Reflexology can be done as part of a full body massage, or as a stand-alone treatment. On the first visit to a reflexologist, you will talk to your therapist about what specific things you want treatment for and what are the symptoms you are trying to alleviate. Treatments usually last around half an hour, but try to schedule your sessions for times when you do not have to rush off, as your reaction to the treatment can be unpredictable.

Wellness Enhanced is dedicated to help you become pain free through Reflexology and natural modalities.

article reprinted from Fibromyalgia Suffers

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Posted in Reflexology, Stress