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Posts Tagged ‘natural medicine’

Go With Your Gut, (1 of 4) Our Inner Ecosystem – IBS, SIBO, Parasites & Allies

Posted in All, tagged , , , , , , , on October 11, 2012 |

  1. Our Inner Ecosystem – IBS, SIBO, Parasites & Allies
  2. Feeding Ourselves Right
  3. Absorption – Getting the Most of Our Nourishment
  4. Core Strength In & Out

Gnawing, aching, distended, pleasantly full or completely quiet, our digestive system is always working on something and can provide us with constant feedback on the state of our foundation of health.  Increasing awareness of our core health will assist our connection to knowing what makes us challenged and what makes us thrive!

Our inner world is as complex and diverse as our outer world.  When it comes to our microbial world, we have more micro-organisms in our bodies than our own human cells!  For anyone who has examined micro-biology or the world even smaller still of nanobiology, we can see that there are countless organisms that facilitate nearly every aspect of our biological activity.  We have lots of critters to thank for our ability to exist at all.

While microflora cover every surface of the body, there are high numbers of them in the digestive system and this is where they assist or harm our health the most.  Bacteria in the mouth starts the journey into the body.  Imbalances here are known to relate to cardiovascular disease.  The esophagus has bacteria and yeast all throughout the mucosa and assists or impairs the transit down into the stomach.  In the stomach, high levels of hydrochloric acid make this an inhospitable environment for critters.  Yet, many people suffer from H. pylori infection and other stomach imbalances that result from inadequate acid in the body.

The small intestine should have very small populations of bacteria as it normally “cleans” itself out every day with dramatic peristaltic movements.  Problems here are often due to small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), which impairs our nutrient absorption.  The large intestine is the domain where organisms of all shapes and sizes thrive.  They assist the final breakdown of our foods, manufacture our vitamins and when living in a symbiotic balance will protect us from disease.  Imbalances here result in gas and bloating as well as the condition known as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) that can severely impair a person’s health.

Although not directly connected, the uterus and bladder are subject to the same microflora of the digestive tract.  Overgrowth in these departments can result in infection, pain, discharge and frequent urination.  When treating disorders in the urinary tract and reproductive organs, we must also look to the flora of the intestines to assure we’ve addressed the root of the issue.

The balance of the microbial world is a key to optimal health.  Classical Chinese medicine utilizes the dynamics of the natural world to help understand the relationships within our bodies.  For example, an area of the forest that has accumulated excess moisture without consistent circulation or movement will rapidly become a swamp.  This climate is an ideal area for billions of microbes and other organisms to flourish.  The increase in organisms can be considered nature’s way of bringing in movement as the organisms can make use of the moisture for their growth, continuing to transform the environment and maintain life.  And in opposition, a region that is sun-baked, with minimal plant life or moisture will be a place that is not conducive to a broad array of beings and will only support few, well adapted creatures.

Many traditional systems of medicine consider the same micro-climates existing in the human body.  Chinese medicine, ayurvedic medicine, biological medicine, the old European eclectic physicians and the system of homeopathy all take into consideration what the internal “terrain” or ecosystem of the body looks like to understand how to help shift a person’s state of health.

While many organisms can exist with humans and serve us well, there are certainly others that only do us harm.  So why is it that some individuals are susceptible to disease from organisms and others are not?  The key here resides in the very notion of the internal ecosystem.   We have 12 dominant organs in our bodies that each play their role in maintaining our health and each of these must be operating up to par in order for the balance to exist.

A thorough analysis of our inner environment is an important part of understanding the core of any digestive imbalances.  When we exist in a state of balance with our inner flora, the outer world feels better too.  Nourish your body with proper nutrition, get the most from your food by supporting optimal absorption and keep the core strong to support your optimal health.

Stay tuned for more information on digestive health with my articles every other week!  For personal support through your health challenges whether acute or long-term, please contact me at Stillwater Healing Arts Clinic.

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Mysteries of Menopause Part 2 of 4

Posted in All, tagged , , , , , on August 27, 2012 |

It’s fine to feel the pores open and the moisture build up on the skin surface.  When pounding the pavement for that last 100 yards of a day’s run, or pushing yourself biking uphill on the way back from Boulder (or any other hilly ride)…  Hot flashes are completely different, and feel like a completely inappropriate bodily response.  Like when you’re in the grocery store and the person scanning your groceries notices you’re dripping onto your food as you transport them from the cart to the conveyor belt.  Coupled with the panic of needing to get out of that place it’s pretty much a disaster.

Hot flashes exist as a conglomerate of symptoms with a varied degree of intensity.  They’re most common presentation is a sudden feeling of uprising heat and sweating.  They can be accompanied by headaches, weakness, dizziness, shakiness, nausea, irritability and can even be as extreme to include fainting or a feeling of suffocation.

Hot flashes affect about three fourths of women and usually begin before periods stop. Most women have hot flashes for more than 1 year, and up to one half of women have them for more than 5 years. What causes hot flashes is unknown. They may be related to fluctuations in hormone levels and may be triggered by cigarette smoking, hot beverages, certain foods, alcohol, and possibly caffeine. During a hot flash, blood vessels near the skin surface widen (dilate). As a result, blood flow increases, causing the skin, especially on the head and neck, to become red and warm (flushed). Women feel warm or hot, and perspiration may be profuse. Hot flashes are sometimes called hot flushes because of this warming effect. A hot flash lasts from 30 seconds to 5 minutes and may be followed by chills. Night sweats are hot flashes that occur at night.  From the Merck Manual.

While there is no way to retain the hormonal balance of your younger self, there are things that can be done to assist the ease of the transition.  Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) has been the gold standard for treating the discomforts of menopause for many years.  However, long term studies observing the use of estrogen and progesterone therapies either alone or in combination offer significant concern over the increased risk of cancers, cardiovascular diseases, strokes and cognitive impairment.  While some women are at higher risk of these diseases already, the use of exogenous hormones only makes the statistics worse.  Like all pharmaceutical medications, HRT (even bio-identical) is best used for as short a time as possible to ameliorate the most difficult time while getting the system cooled off and balanced to no longer need it.

The first step involves recognizing the individual triggers to help mitigate the frequency and the intensity of hot flashes.  Some of the most common triggers are:

Alcohol      Caffeine    Some medication      Spicy food      Cigarettes       Heat      Stress      Food sensitivities      Tight clothing

While not all of these may cause hot flashes for every woman, they are important aspects to explore as they may significantly be causing more harm than good for your body.  Alcohol, caffeine, cigarettes and stress will be beneficial to avoid for long-term health and significantly increase the body’s inflammatory load.

Improving the body’s physiology assists the gradual adjustment in hormones to a new normal.  The organs most likely to contribute to hot flashes during menopause include the liver, spleen, heart and adrenals.

-       The Liver:  Supporting detoxification is imperative in our modern world.  Daily consumption of leafy green vegetables, turmeric and beets are all beneficial, particularly to phase 2 detoxification which is the process of eliminating toxins from the body.  When stressed, the liver easily becomes stagnant and will manifest uprising symptoms and agitation.

-       The Spleen:  Responsible for building the blood, the spleen correlates to the quality of our nutrition.  When nutrient density is adequate, the body has all the building blocks necessary to undergo the day’s work and provides a firm foundation.  When deficient, the body is easily affected by changes and has difficulty returning to a state of balance.  Allowing adequate time for digestion, assisting the digestive process when weak with enzymes or bitters and choosing the highest quality food that is appropriate for your body will all benefit the richness of the blood.

-       The Heart:  Connection to life’s passion and existing with compassion are keys to a healthy heart.  When the heart is vital there is a rooted-ness in the body that allows for grace through transitions as a whole.

At seven times seven a woman’s heavenly dew wanes; the pulse of her Conception channel decreases. The Qi that dwelt in the baby’s palace moves upward into her heart, and her wisdom is deepened, The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine, a 2,000 year old Chinese text.

If the heart qi is deficient upon entering peri-menopause there may be significant struggle to realign one’s self with the values that ultimately strengthen the heart.  Nutrient wise, omega-3 fatty acids are important to reduce inflammation throughout the body and especially the heart.  High quality, toxin free oils are essential and can be dosed from 2-4 grams per day.

-       The Adrenals:  The “battery” that powers our daily activity is affected significantly by the level of stress we consider normal.  When we push ourselves to do too much, we exhaust this system in our bodies.  Symptomatically, heat expressed inappropriately from the body, especially at night in addition to fatigue may occur.  Adrenal insufficiency can be an intensely debilitating disease requiring years of restoration and learning to live a calmer life.  The best support for the adrenal system is routine.  Having ample rest (including naps), daily relaxation and moderate activity maintains and restores the adrenal gland health.

For individual support through menopause or other life challenges as well as custom herbal formulas to strengthen the organ systems, please visit me at Stillwater Healing Arts Clinic.

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Mysteries of Menopause Explained, Part 1 of 4, What is Going On?

Posted in All, tagged , , , , , , , , on August 1, 2012 |

One moment you’re sitting in a meeting having a conversation with a colleague and you’re able to present yourself as a professional, intelligent person. Before you can blink, your mind turns to jello, you can’t remember the last word you said nor the poignant message you were trying to convey, your body temperature seems to be going through the roof and you’re sweating profusely. As if this weren’t enough, ankle pain from an injury 20 years ago has come back with a vengeance, you’re waking six times a night, gaining weight and feeling completely unhinged.

This experience in many variations is increasingly common today as women move through the menopausal transition with a laundry list of complaints. “What is happening to me?” is the phrase repeated again and again in Doctor’s offices by the 50 something female crowd (or much younger with surgical menopause). Menopause is traditionally known simply as the cessation of the menstrual cycle. Yet for the majority of women, the transition can be extremely uncomfortable and result in a myriad of symptoms.

When a female is born, she has as many eggs in her ovaries that she will ever have. By the time she reaches puberty, less than half of the eggs remain. Menopause is the experience of the ovaries releasing their last eggs and the hormone cascade that is associated with this process. The most dramatic hormonal change is the decline in estrogen and treatment is often directed here. This is just one aspect of menopause and while it seems to “cause” the symptoms, the root goes much deeper.

While western science has drawn the association to estrogen decline, there still is not a concrete explanation in biochemistry as to why the symptoms result as they do. A close look into immunology illustrates one relationship that impacts multiple systems recognizing inflammation as the root of the imbalance.

Estrogen has a unique relationship with the immune system. Interleuken 8 (IL-8) is a chemical messenger in the body that interacts with white blood cells and is an important mediator for the body’s expression of inflammation. Estrogen potentiates IL-8 and these two aspects of the human body act as a blockade to the expression of the inflammatory cascade. It’s as if a damn were in place to prevent inflammation from being experienced. When estrogen begins to decline in peri-menopause, the dynamics of IL-8 on the immune system changes. Essentially, the damn breaks and the backlog of inflammation that the body has been living with is now experienced.

Chinese medicine has another take on menopause. Physiology is a continuous balancing act of yin and yang energies and while this is a theme for the whole of the system, we can also look at each part of the system and see the balance portrayed separately as well. Chinese medicine recognizes a myriad of different patterns possible during menopause, each accounting in detail for the symptoms that manifest.

A common pattern of imbalance during menopause is known as yin deficiency. The yin energy acts as the container and is restored through sleep, meditation and peaceful living. This container needs to be strong enough in order to contain the active yang energy. When we live high stress lifestyles, compromise sleep and self-care, yin deficiency is a common result. Menopause is a particularly delicate time because we come to exhaust the reproductive energy, which serves as a sort of storehouse of energy for the body’s activity. If a woman goes into this phase with a degree of yin deficiency, she is likely to experience the full gamut of symptoms.

The menopause transition presents a new challenge to the body with the limitation of tolerance to inflammation that was otherwise easily ignored as well as the disruption in equilibrium of yin and yang. It is a time when the body demands to be better cared for and the results of improper lifestyle more dramatically present. The path of greatest ease through this time often requires very conscious consideration of what a person truly needs and a close examination of how energy is expended.

Shift gears gently through menopause with natural medicine support. While hormone therapies can provide symptomatic relief, they are not solving the underlying problems that are causing the symptoms and long term use can be detrimental. Stay tuned for specific information on the collection of symptoms common during menopause with 3 more upcoming articles, every other week. For individual support, please visit Dr. Hart at Stillwater Clinic in Lyons.

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The Crawling Communities Within and the #1 Most Important Health Tip!

Posted in All, tagged , , , , , , , , , on May 11, 2012 |

We have more mircro-organisms in our bodies than our own human cells.  This never ceases to amaze me!

As I move into my 2nd decade of working with patients, the importance of digestion on our overall health can not be overstated.  Many people who experience gas and bloating chalk it up to ‘beans the musical food’ and assume it’s commonality means normality.  What they don’t realize is that gas is the outcome of a festive event of creepy crawly yeast and bacteria who’s respiration results in our gas.  The more organisms are reproducing, the more gas we’ll experience.  The more gas we’re experiencing, the more inflammation and impaired nutrient assimilation we’ll experience.  The outcome of this can be any number of symptoms.  Some common experiences include:

  • migraine and tension headaches
  • acne and eczema
  • body pain including back & neck pain
  • mood dysregulation – irritability, depression
  • fatigue
  • abdominal pain
  • respiratory illness and frequent colds

Long term, organism overgrowth plays a part in many chronic diseases including; fibromyalgia, nutrient deficiencies, auto-immune diseases, cancers, atherosclerosis, chronic pain and many more.

Tending to our micro-flora is something that needs to be done on a routine basis.  In traditional cultures, organisms were consumed every day with produce fresh from the earth and foods preserved with culturing such as sauerkraut, kimchee and chutneys.

Today our foods are “cleaned” to the extend that their sterility impairs us.  Without a continuous source of microbes in our systems, we’re even more vulnerable to infectious organisms.  This in addition to our high sugar and processed food diets results in lots of organism parties, and lots of gas!

Adding beneficial microorganisms to the daily routine is the #1 most important thing you can do to create health in the digestive system as well as throughout the body.

May 22nd, Water Kefir Instruction and Distribution!

My all time favorite health routine is the brewing of water based kefir.  This amazing bubbly probiotic beverage is a great way to ensure adequate micro-flora as well as to address organism imbalance.

Join me at 5:30 for instructions and your own starter for a lifetime supply of digestive health.  I will have a variety of recipes to sample as well as information on why this is an essential addition to you and your families routine.

Stillwater Healing Arts Clinic, 304 Main St. Unit C, Lyons, CO 80540.

Call 303-823-9355 to register.  Space is limited, but this class will repeat when I have enough to share.Image

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The Biochemistry of Self-Sabotage, Part 3 of 3…

Posted in All, tagged , , , , , , on May 1, 2012 | Leave a Comment »

Becoming Our Best:

Do you ever feel like that ideal sense of self got lost somewhere in the flurry of life?  After investing our time and energy in creating the life we thought we wanted, there is the all too common realization that we feel more out of balance than ever.  Often it is illness that reminds us we’re off track.  A diagnosis of chronic disease comes like a fire alarm, illuminating the needs we’ve neglected or didn’t notice at all.  Otherwise, it is that subtle notion that things could be better somehow.

Regardless of how we’ve arrived, there is a way to reconnect to the best in ourselves.  While it may not be accomplished in a weekend or our set vacation time, re-arranging our lives to support a greater sense of self is worth whatever exchange it may require.

Step #1. Prioritize

Life is filled with challenges and there is always something that could seem more important to do than taking care of our selves.  Not prioritizing self-care is the first way we sabotage ourselves.  This may be because of low self-worth, poor modeling as well as our cultural emphasis on productivity.  Pushing beyond this to make our needs the highest priority is the first and most important step.  Set aside time on the schedule every day, multiple times each day.  A moment here, 10 minutes there, 60 minutes two days per week, all adds up to a tremendous amount of energy to create a new way of being.  Spend six weeks with a new habit and you’ve established a new “normal” to your routine.

Step #2. Discover Your Needs

This may be the most difficult task.  Identifying our authentic emotional and physical needs can be very confusing because we adapt to fit into the world around us.  Emotional needs can be examined through a process of self-inquiry, meditation, prayer and counseling work.  Journaling is a fantastic process to begin with asking ourselves the questions of what we truly need to thrive, as well as to reflect back on what strategies we might have tried in the past.  Growth rarely happens along a straight line so as we learn and re-learn, keeping our own notes about the journey can help us identify when we’re slipping into patterns of self-sabotage.

Physical needs can be equally confusing.  For example, we crave certain foods but that doesn’t mean they are necessarily beneficial for us.  Generally, the foods we desire the most are the one’s that are least beneficial.  When we examine what foods we feel strongly about, they are very likely the foods that are triggering our immune system, resulting in an inflammatory response that causes the brain to experience a mild sense of euphoria.  Removing these foods from the diet is a good start to listening to the quieter voice of what our bodies truly require to feel vital.

Every body has basic needs; Proper nourishment in a calm environment, at least half our body weight in fluid ounces of clean water each day, adequate sleep starting before 10pm, daily exercise equal to the calories we take in.  In addition, some bodies need amino acid isolates for genetic weaknesses to be improved.  Others need neurotransmitter support to function normally.  These details can greatly support our experience of fulfillment in life.

Why we don’t allow ourselves these necessities is the interface for where our emotional needs and physical needs meet.  Why do we deprive ourselves?  Why do we get in our own way?  The first excuse is usually that we don’t have enough time.  Supporting health does not have to be complicated.  In fact, it can be far more simple than the life we currently know.  Identifying and getting our needs met is the most basic and imperative aspect to feeling whole.

Step #3.  Invest in the Journey

The more energy and attention we commit toward the pursuit of anything, the more it shows up in our lives.  A recent parent notices everywhere they look there are people around town with their infants, strollers, car seats, etc…  Not that people weren’t having babies before, it just wasn’t the focus until the energy and attention was put in that direction.  Taking on a new dietary focus and suddenly every headline or book cover that catches the eye supports that philosophy.  We are a trendy culture, but this goes beyond that.  We truly see what we want to see as well as what we expect.

Likewise, the more we invest in the fear of human imperfection, aggression, violence and failure the more we see that wherever we look.  While there is benefit in awareness, investing ourselves in the direction of growth we desire requires considering this on all levels.  It may require educating ourselves in a new paradigm, going to retreats or opening ourselves up to a whole new approach on living.

Step #4.  Go Gently in the Direction of Your Dreams

Establishing a goal allows us the possibility of imagining ourselves in a new circumstance.  This in and of itself can be a powerful gesture of change.  Our cells are continuously reproducing.  Our entire liver has died and recreated itself every 24 hours.  Our taste buds are a whole new set every 7 days.  Yet we don’t experience every flavor as if for the first time each week.  Our memory and self-image keeps the sameness in our lives.  Utilizing a conscious practice of shifting our self-image toward a more satisfied, whole and vital sense of self may allow for greater ease in our lives.

However, if we hold too high a standard for our own compliance, we are likely to fail and fall into another trap of self-sabotage.  Guilt and shame are powerful forces that affect our motivation and destroy our self-esteem.  Set a realistic expectation and allow for spontaneity in life as you find it fulfilling.

Step #5.  Recruit Supporters

Banish the nay-sayers and surround yourself with those who support your pursuit.  This may include establishing new social circles, setting new boundaries with family members and friends.  We have an amazing resource available to us today with the internet connecting us to others in a way never before possible.  Working together as a group enhances our own biochemistry, elevating serotonin creating a sense of well being and increased motivation.  Not only is group involvement inspiring, it also provides a sense of accountability to a process that otherwise is easy to slip out of.

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Pursuing a life of fulfillment and our best selves is what we all want and is something that may be much harder than we’d expect.  With this framework we can begin and support the continuous pursuit of wholeness.  At Stillwater Healing Arts clinic, we offer a wide array of resources to support the whole being.  Visit us online at www.stillwaterhealingarts.com to add to your holistic healthcare team.  Join us in May for a free 6 week Creative Writing group to explore the inner dialogue and work towards our best selves.

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Sticking To It! Part 2 of 3: Overcoming Physical Obstacles to Change:

Posted in All, tagged , , , , , on April 9, 2012 | Leave a Comment »

Do you struggle with feeling supported by your daily routine?  Is there enough daily satisfaction from life?  Our habits become our routine and whether we like it or not, they become our identity.  Habits develop early in life and have deep connections to our sense of stability.  With cultivating awareness and supporting our physiology, profound changes are possible.

In addition to the emotional challenges of letting go of our beloved habits, there are many physical obstacles we must overcome in order to re-create our lives.  The body’s messengers that correlate to our emotional states are our neurotransmitters.  The most popular would likely be the neurotransmitter serotonin.  This is the component targeted the most by pharmaceutical approaches to treating depression and other mental health conditions

Serotonin is predominantly found and made in the digestive system (~90%).  It acts throughout the body on smooth muscles and has an effect of creating a calm and happy state on the nervous system.  Even in worms, serotonin is released as a signal in response to positive events such as finding a source of food.  Healthy serotonin levels are known to support healthy and efficient decision-making.  Serotonin is enhanced in positive, supportive social interactions and enhances a sense of well-being and cooperation.  Forming groups or sharing goals with friends is a great way to make use of this neurotransmitters function.

Dopamine is the other predominant neurotransmitter known for it’s associated with forming habits and initiating action. Dopamine acts as the brain’s reward system.  Levels of dopamine elevate in the brain when we have acquired something that we have sought out.  This is particularly true in cases where food-deprived people were shown images of food, or a drug addict who see’s their drug of desire.  Setting short term, accomplishable goals on the road to the long term changes we hope to create is one way to make use of this neurotransmitter.

During our lifetimes, dopamine assists our learning and memory development shaping our associations as positive or negative and wiring us to repeat the learned behaviors perceived as positive.  However, what we may accept as a positive behavior as a child or adolescent, we may later recognize as something that was in some way causing more harm than good.  Reaching for sweet treats and pastries may truly be a food addiction due to the surge of dopamine that was set in place in childhood when these treats were given as gestures of love.  Re-programming our dopamine enhanced memories and behaviors is a challenge that requires deep self-inquiry and attention.

Another agent that plays a role in our ability to make changes is the hormone cortisol.  The energy level we feel during the day usually correlates to our circulating cortisol levels.  This is known as our circadian rhythm.  This rhythm ideally should peak in the morning when we rise, lower slowly until midday, elevate again slightly and then fall in the evening.  When the circadian rhythm is normal we are able to accomplish what we desire in a day, have adequate energy for exercise and fall asleep easily at night.

Cortisol levels rise in response to stress.  When cortisol rises, the body’s response is to shift into energy conservation mode.  When we sustain long-term stress, cortisol levels can become exhausted and fall considerably.  In this state, anything that forces the cortisol to rise will ultimately lead to further exhaustion.  It is typical to have weight gain directly related to elevated cortisol.  Exercise typically raises cortisol levels so if it is too low to begin with, exercise may not be the right solution.  Adequately managing stress by utilizing relaxation techniques such as meditation, yoga, slow walks in nature as well as getting good sleep will all help restore normal cortisol levels.

Serotonin, dopamine and cortisol all play very big roles in our ability to create a healthy lifestyle for ourselves.  Depending upon our behaviors of the past, these messengers may exist as obstacles to creating the changes we desire.  Unfortunately we cannot simply take a pill to create long-term health with our neurotransmitter levels.  Learning what obstacles we may be dealing with as well as the many ways to support the production of these components of our health can make a world of difference.

Whether it’s weight loss, exercise, dietary changes or other ambitions, committing to a new routine and sticking to it is a big challenge.  For ongoing support, the practitioners at Stillwater are here to help.  Stay tuned for next month’s edition of the Biochemistry of Self-Sabotage with part 3: Becoming our Best.  For more information on how to improve your state of health, visit Dr. Sara Hart at Stillwater Healing Arts Clinic in Lyons.  Now offering a 12 week holistic weight loss program to support the mind and body to create the change you desire.

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Natural Medicine Apprenticeship Program

Posted in All, tagged , , , , , , , , , on January 22, 2012 | Leave a Comment »

This winter’s program is well on it’s way to a deeply transformative experience for the participants. Now accepting applications for the spring session beginning in early April!

Join me in a journey of understanding the inner workings of your body from both a western medicine perspective and chinese medical analysis. Learn about the tools of natural medicine including herbal medicine, homeopathy, hydrotherapy and other aspects of self-care.

In my new clinic in Lyons, Colorado, we have a wide array of services available including full Naturopathic and Chinese medicine healthcare for any ailment, mental health counseling, massage therapy, infrared sauna and a full natural medicine pharmacy.

Please visit:
http://stillwaterhealingarts.com/apprenticeship-program/
for more information!

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FREE class in Boulder: Support for your New Years Resolutions

Posted in All, tagged , , , , , , on December 27, 2011 | 1 Comment »

Join me at Pharmaca on January 5th at 5pm for:

Sticking to it! Creating Health Routines that Last and the Biochemistry of Sabatage…

We all have the best intentions when it comes to caring for ourselves and yet so easily we get in our own way, sabotage ourselves and create our own demise. Why is this? Year after year we make a resolution and so few of us actually stick to it (less than 12% statistically!). I’d like to share with you an understanding of brain and organ function from the Naturopathic and Anthroposophical context as well as some tools to help overcome the odds. Let’s get this year off to a great start and keep it there!

2700 Broadway, Boulder, CO

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Herbal Beats Pain Medication in New Arthritis Study!

Posted in All, tagged , , , on December 3, 2011 | Leave a Comment »

Herbal anti-inflammatories in addition to the necessary circulatory support of routine exercise is certainly the best option for treating osteoarthritis.  Here’s some supportive evidence to consider!

Herbal Beats Pain Medication in New Arthritis Study!.

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Daily Detoxification Routine

Posted in All, tagged , , on November 27, 2011 | Leave a Comment »

Supporting wellness in the modern world requires more than just healthy eating, staying hydrated and getting good sleep.  Although that in itself is a major feat for most of the population.  Our current ecological state causes us to be constantly inundated with countless substances that require extra energy in order to be processed and eliminated.  If the organs of the body are functioning in any way less than optimal, these additional substances can disrupt our precious state of health.  In the air we breath, the water we drink and most of the Earth we walk upon, the effect of modern industry on our lives and future now requires our attention in our daily, weekly and annual routine.

Whether you are dealing with a chemical dependency issue, have a known toxic exposure, multiple chemical sensitivity or other toxic state, or just searching to improve your health, detoxification therapies can offer a great deal.  For an in-depth assessment and personalized support, please schedule an appointment.  An intensive detox program can create shifts in many areas of life and is best undertaken with professional support.

Detoxification is something that can also be enhanced on a daily basis.  Fortunately, the adoption of a detoxification routine can be as simple as shifting the daily choices we already make.  Adding 5-10 minutes each day, a few days a month or a couple weeks each year for a detoxification routine can get you off to a great start.  Not only do regular detoxification routines assist our health and organ function, they can also improve the health of our planet.

Support for Detoxification

Every organ has a specific role in maintaining a healthy body.  Listed below are some things that you can incorporate into a cleanse, and into your daily life routine to aid the organ function of detoxification.  Please do not try to incorporate everything!  Please try everything once (as you are inclined).  Sustainability is a key to health on every level.  Try to find a few things that feel great and work well for you to incorporate into your daily or weekly routine.

Skin
• Dry skin brushing each morning or before bed can encourage elimination through the skin.  Utilizing a natural bristle brush, move the brush in a comfortable rhythm across the skin from the feet to the heart, then from the arms toward the heart.  End with brushing the back and then the chest.
• Sweating also optimizes the detox ability of the skin.  Saunas are a great way to encourage metabolism and open the pores.  Be cautious to not stay in the sauna too long, overheating depletes essential energy.  Always end with a cold shower to force the blood that has gone out to the periphery to move back into the internal organs.
• Exercise encourages the skin, lungs and intestines to eliminate optimally.  Brisk walks, yoga, bike rides, hiking, swimming, running, etc… all are beneficial for detoxification.
• Baths are a great way to improve the detoxifying ability of the skin.  Adding 2-3 cups of Epsom salts to the bath can encourage the process even more.  Essential oils can help calm the mind and ease body tension which plays a major role in overall health.
• Massage circulates the blood through the body and helps mobilize toxins stored in the muscle tissue, connective tissue and lymphatic fluid.

Lungs
• Deep breathing techniques aid the elimination through the lungs.  Inhale and draw the breath deep into the abdomen.  Notice the abdomen filling and then encourage the breath to fill up into the middle abdomen, then the chest and finally the sinus cavities, then release the breath in the same order.  Imaging the flow of the ocean waves through the body can assist this method of breathing.  10 deep conscious breaths before bed can help set a great rhythm for sleeping.
• Essential oils can benefit the lungs through the awareness of breath as well as the effect they have on mood and relaxation.  Explore scents to support your individual needs.  Overall appeal of a scent can relate much more than a particular description of the plants energy as there are so many thoughts and explanations on aromatherapy.  Also, smell is linked so closely with memories so finding a smell that appeals can deeply support emotional growth.
• Ending showers with cold may sound like a torturous experience, but it is incredibly invigorating!  As we stand in a hot shower, the blood moves to the surface of the body and away from the core.  If we leave a hot shower, the body heat evaporates through our skin and our core then needs to generate greater heat to compensate.  Ending your showers with water as cold as you can tolerate for as long as you can handle it is a great way to spare your body the extra chore by forcing the blood back into the core.  It also demands a great big deep breath!

Liver
• Castor oil is utilized across the abdomen with a hot water bottle compress to encourage the blood flow in the liver.  After resting for 15-60 minutes, massage the remaining oil into the abdomen in a clockwise direction.  Notice any tension within the muscle layers of the abdomen, hold the point of tension and take deep breaths to help it release.
• Tea blends of dandelion, milk thistle, and turmeric are all utilized to aid the detoxification process of the liver.  These herbs can be used throughout a cleanse program, or on a daily basis.  Many others can also be helpful to detoxification based on your individual needs.
• Reflex points along the lower edge of the ribs can correlate to liver circulation.  Run your fingers along the lower rib edge starting at the center of the chest (xyphoid) and slowly down the right side of the rib edge.  You will likely find a tender spot or two in this region.  Massaging this point yourself can aid liver circulation.
• Stretching  is beneficial for the body as a whole but also plays a part in the activity of the liver from the energetic perspective.  The liver is represented by the element wood and just like a healthy tree, the ability to bend with the breeze will keep you vital and growing.

Intestines
• Encouraging daily bowel movements is an important aspect of cleansing as it is the greatest eliminator for the bodies waste.  Abdominal massage in a clockwise direction can encourage the peristalsis that moves in waves through the intestines.  Do this each morning before getting out of bed to facilitate normal bowel function.
• Fiber supplementation may be necessary for encouraging bowel function during a cleanse, or for everyday life.  Fiber helps to add bulk to the stool by absorbing water into the colon.  There are many forms of fiber available.  Psyllium seed powder is a mucilaginous substance that helps bulk the stools immensely.  Betonite clay binds toxins in the intestines in addition to bulking the stools.  Freshly ground flax seeds provide the fiber to bulk stools as well as omega 3 oils, which are essential for normal organ and hormone function.
• Colonic hydrotherapy is the use of water inserted into the colon at a pressure that causes the flow to reach as far as the iliocecal valve, or the junction of the small intestine and large intestine.  The value of this form of therapy is to stir up the residual waste in the intestinal wall and can be incredibly beneficial for some individuals.

Kidneys
• Drink clean water in sufficient amounts on a regular basis.  Clean is an important key here.  While tap water is cleaned of many bacteria and toxins, there are remaining organisms and other substances that can disturb our health.  Portland tap water is known to have measurable levels of pharmaceutical drugs due to the high use in our area and insufficient means of removal.  The best water filter that I know of is the Multi Pure system.  It is thoroughly tested in terms of what it is able to remove and is far cheaper than most other filtration and/or delivery systems.  Email sararynhart@yahoo.com for more information.

A rule of thumb for how much water to consume is to drink half of your body weight in fluid ounces.  This variably includes fluids consumed in food products or juice, depending upon the osmolarity.  For example, a tea will have more water in it than soup.  Some fluids require that you drink more water to accommodate for their dehydrating effects.  You must consume 2 cups worth of clean water to make up for 1 cup of coffee.

_____ wt.  /  .5   =  ______ ounces per day of clean water.

• Sleep well.  This is an aspect of detoxification that is also of great importance.  Generally 7-8 hours is restorative.  During healing processes, 9-10 hours is often necessary.  The most important time to be sleeping for detoxification is from 10pm to 2am.  This is the liver’s most active time for eliminating toxins.  Also, notice the time of day that your energy is the lowest and if possible, allow yourself to nap.  Every time of day correlates to a different organ and when a person is tired during a certain time, it may be that the associated organ is in distress.  Rest is often the best thing you can do in that case.
• Adrenal support is something you may be familiar with.  The adrenal glands are responsible for our circadian rhythm of energy in the body.  Fatigue, exhaustion or erratic energy can all be related to disharmony in the adrenal glands.  Working to balance the nervous system is a key element to supporting the adrenal glands.  Meditation is a wonderful way to get the body into parasympathetic (rest and digest) activity, which is when our body has a chance to restore itself.  A simple meditation to start with is to try to follow your breath with your mind’s eye.  Imagine your consciousness descending from your head down into your abdomen.  Imagine that any thoughts are clouds drifting by through the sky.  Notice the internal landscape of your body.  Is it a forest, a desert, a marsh, an ocean?  Try to explore the details of your internal landscape with a quiet mind.  Then, try to connect your internal landscape to what you can picture to be your favorite place in nature.

Whatever your method, supporting the bodies natural ability to eliminate and detoxify unnecessary elements from the body can provide greater health, a fresh start and an overall improvement in your vitality.  For optimal health, I encourage a yearly cleanse of some sort for every individual.  To create the best possible cleansing program for your personal needs and abilities, contact Dr. Hart today.

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