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Posts Tagged ‘optimal health’

The Blood Sugar Balance: Adrenals, the Liver and More!

Posted in All, tagged , , , , on February 13, 2013 |

Cereal, potatoes, toast and pancakes are all favorite ways for Americans to start their day.  Dowse it with some syrup, sugar or fruit and then we’re out the door ready for the day’s action!  Wash it down with some juice or coffee and it’s nearly the perfect recipe for blood sugar mania.

The body requires continuous energy to perform all the necessary actions of life.  The blood sugar is the basis of this energy, feeding every cell the necessary fuel to replicate, eliminate, transform substances and much more.  Not only does blood sugar provide our physical energy, but it also provides our mental energy and the fuel to stabilize our moods.

Blood sugar may not be given much attention until the moment when it’s disruption creates a crisis.  Symptoms of low blood sugar are often more easily identified by those closest to us, like our friends, partner’s or parents!  Crabbiness, being short-tempered, inability to focus, anxiety and panic, light-headedness, shakiness and fatigue are all common symptoms of low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia.

High blood sugar goes unnoticed by most people until it is identified in the blood with routine lab testing.  When the blood sugar is high, there are not typically immediate symptoms but it can contribute to fatigue, increased thirst, blurry vision and a sense of feeling “off.” Over long periods, high blood sugar or hyperglycemia results in damage to the delicate capillary beds in the body.  This especially affects the hands, feet, brain, eyes, nerves and heart.  Diabetes Mellitus (type I or II) is a disease of poor blood sugar regulation, either innate or acquired.

Blood sugar levels normally have a degree of variation throughout the day.  This is based on a complex relationship between the liver, pancreas and endocrine or hormonal system.  Each day, we have a cycle of energy produced by our adrenal glands, known as our circadian rhythm that directly influences our blood sugar.  Ideally, when we wake in the morning (preferably on our own without an alarm) we have the highest energy of the day, a strong appetite and mental clarity.  As we approach mid-day, the energy level lowers gradually and we experience mid-day hunger for our lunch.  Then we descend gradually into the evening with our energy dipping to it’s lowest around 10pm.

Variation in this rhythm explain why some people are morning people and others are night owls.  The circadian rhythm can be disrupted by a variety of factors including night shift work, chronic stress, inadequate nutrition, trauma and illness.  When disrupted, the circadian rhythm can significantly impact the energy we perceive as our ability to get through the day.  Beyond this, it also affects the immune system, digestion and our hormonal balance.

The liver is the organ in charge of providing a continuous supply of sugar or glucose to the blood.  When we eat a meal, the liver is going to be triggered to put the glucose into storage once the food is broken down.  In between meals, the liver is going to be triggered to remove glucose from storage and release it into the blood.  Along with the liver, the pancreas works in partnership to transport glucose into each cell of the body, ensuring that the sugar reaches the areas that need it in an effort to not overwhelm any part of the body with too much.

The body is amazingly resilient to balance blood sugar and adapt to extreme variations in diet and lifestyle.  The fact is that a person can start their day with coffee and doughnuts and not be apparently harmed, right away.  While nobody is going to be better off eating doughnuts for breakfast, there are times in our lives when it can cause more harm than others.

  • Childhood:  The immature organ systems are vulnerable to variations in blood sugar.  Because developing bodies have a high demand of energy, the necessity to provide a healthy, balanced source of fuel is great.  In kids, blood sugar fluctuation is most easily identified by their tantrums, tearfulness, hyperactivity or episodes of being “difficult”.
  • Times of High Stress:  When we endure a high degree of physical or psychological stress, the resiliency of the blood sugar regulation is more vulnerable.  When we exist in a fight or flight state, the body is forcing more energy into the system to endure the stress.  If we choose not to eat well, we are more likely to suffer long-term health consequences.
  • Illness:  When dealing with an illness, the body is utilizing all the resources it can to get well.  If the blood sugar is unstable, it can weaken the immune system resulting in a longer duration of illness.  This is especially true of chronic disease.
  • Hormonal Fluctuations:  As we shift from one era of life to the next, the hormonal changes significantly tax the liver.  When the liver becomes over-burdened blood sugar can be more difficult for it to control.

Feeding ourselves well requires more than just making healthy choices for our ingredients.  It also requires portion control.  The basic guideline for blood sugar management encourages a strict limitation on processed foods.  Simple carbohydrates increase blood sugar such as many of our typical breakfast foods, any sweeteners, fruit, processed grains such as breads, pastas and cereals.

For optimal blood sugar support, focus on the ratio of each meal incorporating approximately 30% protein, 30% vegetables and 30% complex carbohydrates with each meal.  The remaining 10% can be the fruits, simple carbohydrates and oils.  This is a general guideline and some people will benefit from a very different format for blood sugar control.  For a personalized approach to your healthcare, contact Stillwater Healing Arts Clinic. Image

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Go With Your Gut, 4 of 4: Core Strength, In & Out

Posted in All, tagged , , , , , , on January 2, 2013 |

We all know that person who can eat anything they want, anytime they want and in any portion they want and be just fine.  That maddening individual’s belly doesn’t seem phased by double dessert, carbo-loading or going back for seconds of just about anything.  In comparison to those with heartburn, bloating, cramping and other annoying symptom combinations, it just doesn’t seem fair.

“What’s their secret and how do we get it?“ we might find ourselves frustratingly wondering…  With the many steps involved in the digestive and metabolic systems, there are numerous things to work well for us, or not.  Here are a few…

Every traditional system of medicine has had some way of recognizing and describing how human bodies are similar and can be grouped accordingly.  Our individual “constitution” is both our physical tendency and our emotional way of being.  These systems overlap and tend to agree, with knowledge rooted in ancient traditions from around the world.

In ayurveda, the descriptions are a combination of vata, pitta and kapha.  In Chinese medicine it relates to the 5-elements in nature.  Homeopathy teaches about the miasms from common diseases that affected humanity.  The early Eclectic physicians and Anthroposophy describe the 4 predominant temperaments as a root of health and disease.  Whether you’re melancholic, phlegmatic, psoric, luetic, water type or vata, there are trends that we can come to expect. 

Our constitution isn’t unchangeable but it does benefit us to both understand it and to accept it.  Some bodies will always have a tendency for roundness and others dryness, thinness or frailness.  There are numerous combinations and each has different needs in order to deal with the world in the easiest possible way.  Understanding our constitution helps us to know what will weaken us and what will strengthen us.

Functionally, several systems in the body significantly influence our digestion and metabolism.  The nervous system has 2 predominant controls.  Sympathetic control is related to the “fight or flight” state of being and dominates when we are under stress.  Parasympathetic control regulates our cellular regeneration and is known as our “rest and digest” state of being.  Individuals who experience significant stressors early in life when these systems are sorting out their dominance will have an increased tendency for digestive and metabolic symptoms.  On the contrary, those who are easily able to relax and set aside time for meals will have fewer sensitivities and greater strength of their core organ systems. 

Enzymes are one of the main reasons we must be in a parasympathetic state in order to digest well, feel great and not be sensitive to variations in diet.  We only secrete enzymes when we’re in the “rest and digest” state.  As we age, we tend to lose our enzymatic function, especially if there is a lower than optimal body temperature.  With fewer enzymes comes greater food sensitivity, a weaker system and greater inflammation in the body overall.

The endocrine and immune systems are interconnected in the digestive system.  Adrenal function regulates our moment-by-moment experience of energy as well as our circadian rhythm.  When our adrenal function is taxed, either from illness or other life stressors, the weakening of this system affects the immune system.  In the gut there is a protective immune component known as secretory immune globulin A (SIgA).  When adrenal function is poor, SIgA lowers resulting in increased vulnerability to infection and immune confusion at our core.     

Our musculoskeletal system also plays a role in digestive function.  Individuals who are active, robust in their strength and limber will generally have greater ease in their digestive system.  However, over-doing it never benefits anything.  Excessive exercise can force us into greater sympathetic nerve function and tax our adrenal function resulting in a weakening of the organ systems. 

Optimal health necessitates the balance of effort and rest, awareness of our inherent strengths and weaknesses as well as acceptance for where we are in our life story.  The digestive system is the foundation for our health and our core deserves a great deal of attention.  If we don’t allow that, it tends to demand it over time!  For more information on tools to care for your health, join us at Stillwater for the DIY Healthcare series Monday nights at 7pm. 

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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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Juicing for health and deliciousness!

Posted in All, tagged , , , , , , on July 3, 2012 |

Juicing fruits and vegetables provide easy access to the vast quantity of nutrients available in these foods. Juicing can be a beneficial addition to any routine and is especially great for routine detoxification. For the purposes of a cleanse, juicing is a great way to provide added support to the body.

There are many ways to go about juicing. First and most importantly is acquiring fresh, organic produce. Secondly, devising a method of creating juice out of these. Options include using a juicing machine, buying fresh or pre-made juice, using a blender and/or using products that can be shaken or stirred.

Methods

1. Juicing machine. These are devices that pulverize vegetable and fruit matter to separate the juice from the fiber. The end-product is a very easy to assimilate vital fluid. The fiber is disposed of or can be saved to add to other cooking projects.

2. Purchasing pre-made juice. Fresh is far better because the activity of the bioflavonoids degrades quickly. Carrot juice and some others can be found pre-made and bottled.

3. Using a blender is possible with fruits and vegetables in a couple ways. Some produce can be blended easily when combined with enough water. Spinach, cucumber, soft fruits are all easily blended. Harder vegetables and fruits will also blend easily after being gently steamed. This is beneficial because it then includes the fiber in the final product. Make sure to use enough water and keep the recipe simple.

4. Mixing Powders and Liquids:  Ingredients that do not need to be juiced or blended are also vast and delicious. Some of these include spirulina, aloe vera juice, very berry concentrate, lemon and lime, boiled ginger, etc…

Ingredients

Every plant species has it’s own personality, its properties and affinities. As you explore the simplicity of consumption, notice how you feel affected by what you consume and try to find simple blends that suits you best. Variety is not only the spice of life, but also a key to keeping the digestive system from reacting to foods that we consume too frequently. As a general rule, dilute fruit and high sugar content vegetables by 50% and have cucumber, celery and greens comprise half of all juice you consume. Experiment and have fun!

Beets – their red color demonstrates an affinity for the blood and heart, purifying and stimulating. Has a laxative effect and is highly beneficial for liver detoxification. Try to not use more than 1 small beet per juice due to their high sugar content.

Greens – hearty as they are, greens are a wonderful addition to juices. Greens assist liver detoxification and the high chlorophyll content is very beneficial for the blood. Kale, spinach, chard, chollards, beet greens, etc… 1-3 leaves per juice is enough due to the strong flavor and their mild sweet quality is helpful for keeping the sugar balanced.

Carrots – namesake for the essential nutrient, beta-carotene, carrots have a lot to brag about and are such a wonderful juice addition they should not be overlooked! High sugar content.

Celery – Acts as a natural diuretic and has a low sugar content.

Fruit – best kept minimal as the sugar content is very high. However, the addition of fruits can do wonders for the taste buds. Apples and pears are especially great additions to vegetable juices and lower on the glycemic index.

Ginger – great addition to juices as it provides warmth and stimulation to the digestive system. Can be decocted in hot water and provide as much benefit as it does in a juicer.

Berries –wonderfully delicious and high in bioflavonoids, berries are what some consider the key to aging gracefully. Strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries are all seasonally appropriate. High sugar content.

Spirulina – wonderful addition to a juice blend as it has immense vitality as a sea food. Considered one of the best energy boosting foods. Cooling nature.

Aloe vera – stimulating to the small and large intestines, aloe is a emulsifying juice that coats and soothes irritated intestines. This is especially beneficial during a cleanse when we are stimulating and healing the intestines for optimal elimination. Also can be cooling.

Citrus –lemon and lime are great additions to a juice due to their astringent nature. This helps to tone the digestive tract and stimulate digestive enzymes. Can also encourage peristalsis to aid bowel cleansing.

Cucumber –great addition to a juice due to its bland and slightly bitter flavor which helps to balance the sugars. Cooling.

Turmeric –this root has developed an incredible reputation for being a very strong liver aid in the detoxification process. Add a small portion of the root or the powdered culinary form.

Burdock –another plant that is famous for supporting detoxification. This root is powerfully bitter and bland. Great if you suspect an imbalanced microflora.

Dandelion greens or root –supportive of overall liver function. This common weed is highly beneficial for encouraging detoxification and supporting blood purification. Do not harvest from a yard treated with pesticides or herbicides within the past 3 years or more.

Garlic –strong flavor as well as being a strong anti-microbial food. This is beneficial if you suspect you have an imbalance in your microflora. Raw garlic may aggravate the stomach so use with caution.

Parsley –flat leaf variety is stimulating to the digestive system, which aids elimination.

Cinnamon –this plant has a long history of use for supporting digestion. It is warming, antibacterial and may help to regulate blood sugar.

Cayenne –this very warm spice stimulates the blood flow to the digestive tract and has a medicinal use for healing ulcers.

Other ingredients

Protein powder –some individuals may find that their energy needs or health concerns require consistent protein intake. Adding a hemp, whey, soy or rice protein powder to a juice can be helpful. A powdered form will be easy to digest to allow the body an overall rest from digestive activity to shift the focus to detoxification.

Recipes

General support –
1 carrot
2 sticks celery
1/2 beet
-juice or steam/blend

Warm up –
1 cucumber (peeled)
1/2 pear (chopped)
medium piece ginger (chopped finely)
dash cinnamon
-blend with 12 ounces of water

Liver stimulator –
Bunch dandelion greens
2 celery stalks
1/2 beet
1/2 apple
dash turmeric
-juice or steam/blend

On the go –
2 tsp spirulina
2 Tbsp aloe vera
1 Tbsp. berry concentrate or handful of berries
Mix with 12 ounces of water
-shaken or blend with berries

Healthy skin and weight loss blend –
1 carrot
1 cucumber
1/2 beet
1 burdock root
-juice or steam/blend

Longevity –
1 carrot
1 celery stalk
small piece ginger
-juice or steam/blend

Master cleanse –
2 Tbsp fresh squeezed lemon or lime
1-2 Tbsp 100% maple syrup
1/10 tsp cayenne pepper
-shaken with 8 oz water, drink liberally

Dr. Hart’s favorite –
Beet greens from 1 beet
2 stalks celery
1/2 apple or pear
1/2 inch section of ginger root

Resources

Staying Healthy with the Seasons, by Elson M. Haas
Juicing for Life, by Cherie Calbom & Maureen Keane
The Complete Cancer Cleanse, by Cherie & John Calbom
The Fasting Diet, by Stephen Bailey
Juice Alive, by Stephen Bailey and Larry Trivieri

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The Journey of Cancer Care; Enduring Treatment

Posted in All, tagged , , , , , , , on June 25, 2012 |

It is often said that the cancer is not what killed someone, but the treatment!  While western medical advances have proven to increase the odds of survival with most cancers, it is also true that the treatment tools are intensely taxing on the body.  Enduring cancer treatment to not only survive but also return to a high quality of life afterward is an important aspect of supporting the journey.

The purpose of cancer treatment is cellular destruction.  Killing the tumor, and only the tumor is the challenge scientists face when developing pharmaceutical chemotherapeutic agents.  The best of both worlds is to support the cancer destruction while simultaneously protecting and strengthening the rest of the system.

Interestingly, there are tools from the natural world that have an affinity for cancer cell destruction that may facilitate the targeting of the therapies.  The foundation of natural medicine is to assist the body’s return to balance and health.  Natural medicine products used with appropriate prescribing will facilitate the body’s innate wisdom to correct.  While pharmaceutical agents will force physiology in a particular direction, natural medicine tools have the potential to improve and assist physiology normalizing to a higher state of health.  Just as when the body receives adequate rest, hydration, nourishment and exercise, there is a greater ease to healing.  Natural medicine tools promote the body’s own capabilities.

Chinese herbal formulations have been utilized for thousands of years to encourage the specific balance of an individual’s health.  With the recognition of stagnation in a particular region of the body, these formulations can be directed toward that body region in order to assist the transformation.  Other formulations may be directed to improve detoxification, which reduces the negative side effects of pharmaceutical drugs.  The wisdom behind Chinese Herbalism is the specific knowledge of herbal dynamics and the matching of their effects on the balance of an individual’s organ activity.  This addresses the unique ways a cancer and other aspects of a disease are affecting an individual.

One of the body’s most powerful innate mechanisms for cellular repair is fever.  Through the immune system’s activity that increases body temperature, a variety of intricate steps unfold that can improve the overall state of health.  Heat shock proteins are activated by both extreme heat and extreme cold.  These components of physiology facilitate genetic transcription and facilitate the removal of errors in genetic coding.  There have been a variety of experiments done to demonstrate this effect on cancer with the most successful methods being promoted as hyperthermia.

Hyperthermia treatments range from sauna therapy, which increases the temperature of the whole body, focal treatments with applications of heat to the skin surface, intravenous administration of agents to activate the immune system and many more.  While the developments in this realm of medicine are slow to provide data on large numbers due to the limitation of financial support, it is broadly acknowledged that supporting the immune system is a key to cancer survival.

By the time a patient receives a cancer diagnosis, the internal system is already so compromised that it is indeed a health crisis.  Utilization of tools from all systems of medicine provides the best potential for the path to survival.  While there is great controversy around the use of antioxidant tools, circulatory support tools, and other natural medicines, the Cancer Treatment Centers of America continues to present a model of integration that works.  These hospitals across the US employ both Naturopathic Doctors and Medical Doctors to embrace the dynamic differences in approaches.  For any illness in the modern era, making use of the broad spectrum of medicinal tools provides great advantages and potential for cure.

For more information on cancer treatment support with Natural medicine and traditional medicine tools from many traditions around the world, visit Stillwater Healing Arts Clinic in Lyons.  In addition to individual support, we offer a Holistic Cancer Care Retreat weekend.  The upcoming Retreat is June 30th and July 1st.  Visit http://www.stillwaterhealingarts.com.

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Healthy Eating Doesn’t Have to be Tasteless!

Posted in All, tagged , , , , , , , , on June 21, 2012 |

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As I began my exploration in healthy eating, it seemed as if the list of foods I shouldn’t eat grew longer and longer…  Nobody likes deprivation, especially in this era where we have access to so much deliciousness.  The sense that we shouldn’t have something or that our bodies can’t handle certain foods does nothing but deteriorate our vitality.

Shifting this perspective is crucial to healthy eating and developing a true sense of nourishment.  Everyone has foods they don’t like, that are truly disgusting for one reason or another.  Instead of thinking that we can’t have something because it’s bad for us, train your brain to recognize how disgusting that food really is.  For example:

Wheaty, gluten rich dough = paper mache!  YUK!

Melty stringy cheese = excretion from a cow’s sweat gland.  NASTY!

Try it, you might like it.  And meanwhile, please join us for upcoming events for us to PROVE IT TO YOU that healthy eating can be delicious!

June 24th 11am-4pm :  Open House (a free event)

  • Tasty RAW food, Vegan snacks and Superfoods
  • Foot spa use (cool for a hot day!)
  • Information on all our upcoming programs.

July 1st 2pm-11pm :  Food Is Medicine Supper Club

  • 2-5pm Movement to activate vitality
  • 6:30pm Raw food Farm-to Table feast
  • 8pm Music to inspire the soul
  • Sliding scale $10-30. per person
  • All ages welcome

Be well ~ Dr. Hart

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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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