How to Get Into Aromatherapy

Oil Burners

Aromatherapy oil burner worked by heating a few drop of essential oils in a water bowl set above a tea light candle. Aromatherapy oil burner is the easiest way to benefit from essential oil’s scent, You also can try a simple blend to go with an oil burner. For a starter, put 6 drops of essential oil or blends to freshen up your room. Using heat destroys any therapeutic benefits of the oil. So this is for fragrance use.

Nebulizer Diffuser

Sometimes called An Electric Oil Diffuser, will allow you the ability to create many fantastic scents and expand them into the air that is throughout your home. There are many types of electric oil diffuser you can choose today. It’s the most effective and easiest way to disperse essential oils in the air. It’s recommended for emotional and mental health as well as for diseases effecting the lung, blood and the brain.

Electric Oil diffuser can break down the oils into separate molecules to make easier for the aroma to be inhaled. And once you switch it on, it will last for couple hours. Make sure your unit specifies cold air and does not use heat or vibration; that would destroy active medicinal constituents. 

Inhalation

A Steam inhalation is commonly associated with treating respiratory illness such as colds and flu. Add about 10 drops of (eucalyptus radiata, peppermint or pine essential oils) into a bowl of hot water, then lean over the bowl and cover your head with towel for about ten minutes as you inhale. This treatment is good when you having colds.

Candle

Candle can be used to help set the atmosphere and improve the ambience in many situations. They can be used in any room of your home and provide a wonderful enhancement.

Using aromatherapy candle has a positive effect on our body and emotions. The key is in choosing the correct scent to match the emotion or sense you wish to evoke. Just FYI there are no real essential oil candles on the market. All those sold are fragrance oils. If you are looking for medicinal benefits you have to use a cold air diffuser.

Courtesy of www.wikihow.com

Anthroposophical medicine

Anthroposophical medicine is a holistic and salutogenetic approach to medicine focusing on strengthening the patient's organism and individuality. The self-determination, autonomy and dignity of patients is a central theme; therapies are intended to enhance a patient's capacities to heal.

The medical system was founded in the 1920s by Rudolf Steiner in conjunction with Ita Wegman as an extension to conventional medicine based on the spiritual philosophy Anthroposophy. Conventional medical treatments, including surgery and medications, are employed as necessary and anthroposophical physicians must have a conventional medical education, including a degree from an established and certified medical school, as well as extensive post-graduate study. There are currently anthroposophical medical practices in 80 countries worldwide.

Anthroposophical medicine approaches disease as an imbalance in the biological organism and employs treatment strategies intended to restore this balance. Anthroposophical approaches include anthroposophical medicines based upon modified homeopathic principles, physical therapies including massage therapy and artistic therapies. Many of these are intended to support the patient's capacity for self-healing.

Anthroposophical medicine is based upon the anthroposophical view of the human being which considers the patient's:
- physical constitution;
- life or etheric body, seen as the organizing principle directing growth and regeneration;
- astral body, understood as the bearer of affect and consciousness;
- and ego, seen as the capacity for self-reflection and free will.

Anthroposophical doctors generally restrict the use of antibiotics, antipyretics, and have a differentiated individual approach to vaccinations. Some children treated by anthroposophic doctors are vaccinated only against tetanus and polio, and some vaccinations are given later than recommended by health authorities.

Salutogenesis: salutogenic model, salutogenesis antonovsky, salutogenic approach, salutogenic definition,

Salutogenesis is a term coined by Aaron Antonovsky, a Professor of Medical Sociology. Aaron Antonovsky PhD, (December 19, 1923 – July 7, 1994) was an American/Israeli sociologist and academician whose work concerned the relationship between stress, health and well-being. Antonovsky was born in the United States but emigrated to Israel in 1960 after completing his PhD at Yale University. For a time he held positions in Jerusalem at the Israeli Institute for Applied Social Research and in the Department of Medical Sociology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem/Hadassah. During this period his early work emphasized social class differences in morbidity and mortality.

In 1972 he helped establish the medical school at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, and held the Kunin-Lunenfeld Chair in Medical Sociology. During his twenty years in that Department, Antonovsky developed his theory of health and illness, which he termed Salutogenesis. This model was described in his 1979 book, Health, Stress and Coping, followed by his 1987 work, Unraveling the Mystery of Health. The books were acclaimed among health scholars as an important contribution to understanding the relationship between health and illness. A key concept in Antonovsky's theory concerns how specific personal dispositions serve to make individuals more resilient to the stressors they encounter in daily life. Antonovsky identified these characteristics, which he claimed helped a person better cope (and remain healthy) by providing that person a "sense of coherence" about life and its challenges; he developed a scale (Orientation to Life Questionnaire) to measure it. Recent research in psychoneuroimmunology has supported the relationship between emotions and health contained in Antonovsky's theory. Antonovsky died in 1994, but research using his theory continues by social scientists.

The term salutogenesis describes an approach focusing on factors that support human health and well-being, rather than on factors that cause disease. More specifically, the "salutogenic model" is concerned with the relationship between health, stress and coping. Antonovsky's theories reject the "traditional medical-model dichotomy separating health and illness." He described the relationship as a continuous variable, what he called the " health-ease versus dis-ease continuum."

The word "salutogenesis" comes from the Latin salus = health and the Greek genesis = origin. Antonovsky developed the term from his studies of "how people manage stress and stay well."He observed that stress is ubiquitous, but not all individuals have negative health outcomes in response to stress. Instead, some people achieve health despite their exposure to potentially disabling stress factors.

In his 1979 book, "Health, Stress and Coping," he described a variety of influences that led him to the question of how people survive, adapt and overcome in the face of even the most punishing life-stress experiences. In his 1987 book, "Unraveling the Mysteries of Heatlh," he focused more specifically on a study of women and aging; he found that 29% of women who had survived concentration camps had positive emotional health, compared to 51% of a control group. His insight was that 29% of the survivors were not emotionally impaired by the stress. Antonovsky wrote: "this for me was the dramatic experience that consciously set me on the road to formulating what I came to call the 'salutogenic model'."

In his theory, whether a stress factor will be either pathogenic, neutral or salutary, depends on what he called generalized resistance resources or "GRRs." A GRR is any coping resource that is effective in avoiding or combating a range of psychosocial stressors, resources such as money, ego-strength and social support. Antonovsky's formulation was that the GRRs enabled individuals to make sense of and manage events. He argued that over time, in response to positive experiences provided by successful utilization of different GRRs, an individual would develop an attitude that was "in itself the essential tool for coping".

The "sense of coherence" is a theoretical formulation that provides a central explanation for the role of stress in human functioning. "Beyond the specific stress factors that one might encounter in life, and beyond your perception and response to those events, what determines whether stress will cause you harm is whether or not the stress violates your sense of coherence." Antonovsky defined Sense of Coherence as: "a global orientation that expresses the extent to which one has a pervasive, enduring though dynamic feeling of confidence that (1) the stimuli deriving from one's internal and external environments in the course of living are structured, predictable and explicable; (2) the resources are available to one to meet the demands posed by these stimuli; and (3) these demands are challenges, worthy of investment and engagement."

In his formulation, the sense of coherence has three components:

- Comprehensibility: a belief that things happen in an orderly and predictable fashion and a sense that you can understand events in your life and reasonably predict what will happen in the future.

- Manageability: a belief that you have the skills or ability, the support, the help, or the resources necessary to take care of things, and that things are manageable and within your control.

- Meaningfulness: a belief that things in life are interesting and a source of satisfaction, that things are really worth it and that there is good reason or purpose to care about what happens.

According to Antonovsky, the third element is the most important. If a person believes there is no reason to persist and survive and confront challenges, if they have no sense of meaning, then they will have no motivation to comprehend and manage events. His essential argument is that "salutogenesis" depends on experiencing a strong "sense of coherence." His research demonstrated that the sense of coherence predicts positive health outcomes.




Tags: salutogenic model, salutogenesis antonovsky, salutogenic approach, salutogenic definition, salutogenic theory, salutogenesis definition, antonovsky salutogenic model, salutogenic model of health 

Herbal Vinegars: how to make Herbal Vinegars

Most of us have seen the artistic sprig of tarragon or basil suspended in a jar of vinegar. Very few know about the potent mineral rich decoction that is the origin for this more decorative version.

Vinegar has a long history of uses. Just a few of the claims include use for digestion, reducing cholesterol, metabolic effects, treating high blood pressure, improving brain functioning, soothing arthritis, as a deodorant, and the cosmetic use for lessening grey hair, wrinkles, and as a powerful cleaning agent in the home.

Hippocrates, sometimes called “The Father of Medicine” was said to use two remedies -- honey and apple cider vinegar. While the anecdotal evidence for vinegar’s healing has been noted for thousands of years, the scientific studies to support these claims have for the most part not yet caught up. But we do know some things about vinegar’s properties.

Herbal vinegars are “enriched” by infusing the vinegar with the green plants. Infused vinegar is mineral rich, due to its ability to extract the minerals from plants Not only is the vinegar transformed into a mineral rich liquid, but because vinegar can increase calcium and other mineral absorption by as much as 1/3, the minerals from the plants become more bio-available.

This ability to boost mineral absorption may account for some of the health benefits. Calcium is an essential mineral for health and function – so vital that is it contained in every plant. While vinegar alone can make that calcium easier to absorb (think vinegar and oil salad dressing, using vinegar on pot greens) herbal vinegars deliver an even greater impact – one tablespoon of an herbal vinegar prepared as described below can deliver 300 mg or more of easily absorbed calcium.

I’ve seen calcium be a factor in many problems but most commonly sleeplessness, menstrual cramps and discomfort, anxiety, and of course bone loss and fractures. The common American diet is grossly deficient in calcium and other minerals, and the simple lack of calcium contributes to a host of everyday problems as well as more sever complications as we age.
Ingredients

You could start with making your own vinegar, but for the purpose of this brief article it is easiest to use pasteurized apple cider vinegar. The Co-op carries a few varieties, locally produced Edensoy is a great brand. The white vinegars and other varieties can also be used, but the mix of flavors can be less predictable and they also often cost more. Using high quality vinegar pays off in taste, and the overarching philosophy of supporting organics applies here as well.

In your garden, there are both weeds and cultivated greens that will make great herbal vinegars. All the calcium rich plants: kale, collards, chard, beet greens, and more are great candidates for an herbal vinegar. The nutritious weeds including dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), garlic mustard (Alliaria officinalis), yellow dock (Rumex crispus), chickweed (Stellaria media), lambs quarters (Chenopodium album), amaranth (Amaranthus retroflexus), purslane (Portulaca oleracea), plantain (Plantago majus), and red clover (Trifolium pratense) can all be used.

Edible roots, flowers, seaweed, even mushrooms can all be used in vinegars. Some of my favorites are chive blossoms, dandelion and yellow dock roots, and I take the stems of shitake mushrooms that aren’t very pleasant to eat and let them sit in vinegar. The result is a nutrient rich deeply flavored vinegar perfect for use as a condiment.

You can also use greens purchased at the co-op, the fresher the better.
Equipment

Glass, enamel, plastic, and stainless steel can be used. Glass jars are perfect, but be sure to use a plastic or glass top. Metal lids can react with the vinegar and negatively affect the taste. You can also use a plastic bag for the top, secured with a rubber band.

You’ll want to chop the plant material somewhat fine, to expose more surface area to the vinegar. Keep everything clean and dry.
Making the herbal vinegar

After you’ve collected your plant material, you can remove debris and use it as is if you’re confident it is clean, otherwise wash and dry it thoroughly. Chop, and put it in the clean jar. For leafy greens, fill the jar to the top, but don’t compress it. For roots, seaweed, and other more dense or dried material fill the jar between 1/2 and 3/4 of the way full. Then, simply fill to the top with apple cider vinegar, pt on the non metal lid, and store it in a cool place out of direct light for 6 weeks.

After 6 weeks, strain with cheesecloth, a coffee filter, or a clean dish towel. Compost the plant part and store the vinegar in a jar with a plastic or cork top. Be sure and label it.
The nutritional value

Each herbal vinegar will be different depending on the plants used, where and how the plants were grown, the type of vinegar used, and other factors. We know it will be mineral rich, bio-available, and calcium levels have been measured to be as high as 300 mg per tablespoon with a vinegar made with plants very high in calcium. The lack of precision in nutritional value is normal, we don’t have to know the exact values in our foods to know which are healthy and good for us. You may feel more comfortable with the exact data from the label of a calcium supplement, but even with that information how your body responds will vary with how and when you take the pill and your ability to absorb the calcium.

Good sources of minerals are critical for our bodies. That knowledge is partly why supplements have become so popular. Knowing that these critical minerals are available from food we can grow to trust the plants that will provide it – and maximize the plants potential - rather than turning away from the sources that the human species has evolved with. Regular use of herbal vinegars is a time tested and reasoned choice to help us take in and utilize what we need.
How to use it

For a sleep aid, a tablespoon of vinegar in water before bed can help. The vinegar can be used as part of a salad dressing, in most recipes that call for vinegar, as part of your homemade sauces and as a condiment over cooked greens, grains, and vegetables. It is also great as part of a marinade, whether you’re using it for tempeh, tofu, potatoes, or meat. A pasta or quinoa salad with an herbal vinegar dressing is a summer favorite, and in the winter baked or roasted vegetables and stews come alive with vinegar as part of the recipe.

Herbal vinegars also make great gifts. With a collection of nice bottles, you can decant the vinegar and add a whole sprig of plant for decoration. But be sure and tell the recipient why this vinegar is extra special!



A student of the healing arts since 1873, Linda Diane Feldt , RPP, RPE, NCTMB, NC, and herbalist has had a full time private practice in Ann Arbor for more than 25 years. In addition to teaching “Herbal Wisdom” classes for the co-op for more than 11 years, she is the author of “Spinach and Beyond: Loving Life and Dark Green Leafy Vegetables”. Used with the permission of Linda Diane Feldt www.holisticwisdom.org

Guide to plants: Dandelions, Yellow Dock, Lambs Quarters, Burdock, Pig Weed

Dandelions, Yellow Dock, Lambs Quarters, Burdock, Pig Weed, Mallow, Wood Sorrel, Wild Grape, Virginia Creeper, Plantain, Wild Carrot, Chickweed, Violet, Dame’s Rocket – what do these plants have in common? Chances are most of them are already growing in your garden. Not only have they planted themselves; they are the weeds so almost no maintenance is needed to encourage them to grow!

More and more people are realizing that poisoning their lawns to be rid of weeds is not healthy for our environment, our families, our pets, or even the lawn itself! But what can you do with those weeds? We need a fundamental shift in consciousness about the abundance of these “pest” plants. Many of them were introduced to North America because they were originally valued for food and medicine. Their fall from favor is perpetuated by lawn companies who label these nutrient rich plants as “pests” and where whole communities consider the presence of the beautiful sunny dandelion flower a sign of failure on the part of the lawn owner. 

There is a more intelligent, reasonable, resourceful, responsible, environmentally sound and even fun way to deal with these plants.

Let’s start with dandelion (Taraxacum officinale and others). Over 700 species exist, of which about 100 are common. This plant was intentionally brought to North America because of its value as a liver tonic, a source of vitamin A, a diuretic, and a reliever of digestive trouble. As a dark green leafy vegetable it is also one of the many plants with carotenes that research indicates help prevent cancer. With more than five times as much vitamin A as carrots, all parts of this often neglected and for some reason vilified plant are edible. The roots can be roasted for a coffee substitute (but beware the diuretic effects), the crown is boiled as a vegetable, the leaves are a pot or salad green, and the flowers can also be added to salads or prepared as the famous dandelion wine.

The plant can be bitter, depending on the variety but most importantly the time of year. Dandelions taste best in the spring and fall, when the bitter constituents return to the root. But some varieties are tastier longer than others. Virtually all dandelions are too bitter once they bloom. Boil the greens, add a few to salad, put a few leaves on your sandwich, add leaves to soup or stirfry, or soak a jar full of greens in apple cider vinegar for 6 weeks for a calcium-rich supplement.

Lambs Quarters (Chenopodium album) is often described as having a “goosefoot” leaf. It grows readily in disturbed ground (your garden) and is easily identified by the chalk-like covering on the under leaf as it matures. Many people prefer this leaf to lettuce as the basis for a salad. It certainly has more nutrition, especially calcium! If left in the garden the plant can grow to several feet. Unlike lettuce it doesn’t bolt, and tastes good all summer. What you can’t eat can be blanched and frozen.

Pig Weed (Amaranth spp.), is similar to the lambs quarters mentioned earlier – and both have been called pig weed. However, Amaranth’s flavorful leaves come to life especially when briefly cooked (about ten minutes). This plant is easy to identify as it has a reddish tinge to the base of the stalk, sometimes visible only when you pull it from the ground.

Burdock (Arctium lappa) is the large-leafed wonder that can be found all over most farms, but does find its way into the city as well by producing round burrs that stick to people’s socks and other clothing. While the leaf has impressive medicinal value it tastes awful, so our focus for now will be on the valuable root. A biennial (two year) plant, the root is tasty all of the first year, and only in the spring of its second year. Once the burdock begins to produce a crown (that will turn into the large flowering part) the root becomes woody and also loses most of its nutritional value.

While a chore to dig up, the long tap-root can be eaten raw, used in stir-frys, pickled, and roasted. The root of the burdock goes straight into the earth, and is one long tapering piece with tiny root pieces growing from it. While a first-year burdock root is usually 1/2 foot to a foot long, it can grow much longer. If you have been troubled by burdock, the best way to control it is to eat it!

Yellow Dock, also known as curly dock or Rumex Crispus is less commonly known but is one of my favorites. The name describes the yellow root, which is used as a tincture for iron deficiency. The leaves are clearly high in iron and calcium, and noticeable for their chalky taste and iron-rich “mouth feel.” Pesto made from yellow dock leaves is easy to make, lacks the slightly strong aftertaste of basil pestos, freezes well, and would appear to offer a richer variety of nutrients. Yellow dock leaves can also be torn up and added to stirfrys, added as a nice textural ingredient in salads, and combined with pot greens. While it tastes great as the only green in pesto, you’ll want to combine it with other greens if you are simply boiling them or using them in salad. Be sure to use the NARROW LEAFED variety – the wide leafed yellow dock is awful-tasting. Yellow dock is easy to identify once it goes to seed, as the seeds are a rust color and the leaves start to have what looks like rust spots on them. The leaves are edible all season long, but the plant is so rich and good tasting the bugs in your garden will start to munch on it as well.

Mallow (Malva Neglecta) is sometimes called Cheeses for the round fruit it produces. A little like okra in flavor and useful as a thickener, the cheese-like fruit is a fun addition to salads, and the greens can be eaten as part of a salad or an addition to pot greens. Many kids are familiar with this plant that grows in both gardens and lawns.

Wood Sorrel (Oxalis montana) is familiar to many as it has a biting, citrusy sour taste from thin pale green leaves. All parts of this plant are edible, and as its taste gives away, it contains vitamin C. It adds a nice zing to salads, or even sandwiches. It has been used as a sort of tea as well, sweetened with honey. As the name implies, it does contain oxalic acid that can interfere with calcium absorption, so it should be used as a small addition rather than a main course.

Young Wild Grape (Vitis spp.) has the leaves most people have eaten wrapped around a rice mixture. These are best used when young. The very young leaves of both Wild Grape and Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) are sour and make an interesting addition to a salad or change the taste of a mix of pot greens. A little goes a long way. The tendrils of both Grape and Virginia Creeper are loaded with vitamin C, and are a delightful addition to salads. Virginia creeper is a five-leafed vine that can easily overwhelm everything around it. Because it grows like poison ivy, often grows near poison ivy, and has branching leaves like poison ivy, it is important to be sure you see five leaves and not three. This is not a plant to taste for those who are easily confused or distracted.

Another ubiquitous plant in most yards is Plantain (Plantago major). This very common lawn weed is easily found, with broad veined leaves growing in a rosette low to the ground. The leaves can be eaten in salad or briefly cooked.

Our lawns also grow the edible flowers of Violets, (Viola odorata) and the lesser-known but more showy Dame’s Rocket (Hesperis matronalis) – often mistaken for Phlox. Phlox has five petals, Dame’s Rocket has just four. The Dame’s Rocket (a member of the mustard family) has purple and white flowers to add to salads – do not use Phlox flowers. Adding flowers to salads can make a plain ordinary salad something truly beautiful and extraordinary. And they taste good. Dame’s Rocket is considered invasive, so eating the flowers and then pulling the plant is a good compromise to keep it from overtaking your yard.

          Garlic Mustard (Alliaria officinalis) is another invasive that should be removed and then enjoyed for its strong but wonderful taste. It is fabulous in salads, as a pot green on its own, or when combined with other cooked greens. While it was intentionally introduced, to North America it is now a serious threaten to native plants and can even disrupt the ability of trees to obtain proper nutrients.

Other treats to be found are Wild Carrot (Daucus carota) also known as Queen Anne’s Lace. The root can be cooked like carrot (although it is tiny by comparison to our cultivated carrots). The early leaves are a pleasant addition to a salad. The early leaves can be mistaken for wild hemlock, one of our more dangerous local plants, so proper identification is essential. The smell is part of the identification - wild carrot smells like carrot! Beginners should certainly have experienced help with this one.

Most lawns are also filled with Chickweeds (Stellaria spp. and Cerastium spp.), a great salad addition, pot green and generally useful green. I’ve been told it makes great pesto, but have not yet tried it. The mouse eared chickweed is best after cooking.

The last I will mention here, but certainly not the last free food in your lawn and garden, is Purslane (Portulaca oleracea). The stems, leaves and seeds of this plant can all be used in salads, boiled, or even pickled. This plant is known to be rich in iron, and Omega 3 precursors. .

          

Identifiying Plants

The Latin names have been given to ensure proper identification, and make it easier to look up each plant for positive identification BEFORE you eat it. Learning one or two new plants a year is a reasonable pace, and allows you to focus on all of the benefits and cycles of each plant. It also makes it less likely that you will mistake a plant. Field guides are often available at used or discounted bookstores, with full color photos, for as little as $1-$5. If you are using a book for identification the good photos matter more than the text. Learn the few poisonous and dangerous plants we have in Michigan.

Pot Greens

Experiment with combinations of kale, collards, beet greens, mustard, and any of the plants listed above that say they can be used as a pot green. Rinse and inspect the greens, removing midribs (they are easily torn free of the leaf), and discarding any yellowed or unhealthy-looking part of the plant. Tear or cut the greens into bite-sized pieces. Place them in a pot, and add water to cover. Put a lid on it, and cook on medium heat for about 10 minutes.

When you serve them you may want to add butter, vinegar, lemon juice, sesame oil, olive oil, or other condiment.

Save any water in the pot to use for soup, or just drink it. It is vitamin-rich. If you don’t plan to make soup in the next few days you can freeze it. If you start with a large container you can keep adding to the frozen water until you do need it for soup stock.

You may find that you prefer some greens cooked more or less. Not all the greens have to go into the pot at the same time. I prefer to add a few tablespoons of vinegar to the water, so the greens are infused with the taste. Adding a little lemon juice to the pot has a similar effect.

Blanching and Freezing

Most green plants need to be blanched before being frozen. This is a simple procedure. Bring water to boil in a large pot. Rinse and inspect the greens you want to preserve as described above. Plunge the greens into the boiling water. In about a minute or less the greens will change color. That is the signal that they are done. While many cookbooks say you should next plunge the blanched greens into ice water, I have always skipped this step with no negative effects. I put the greens directly into freezer containers (used tofu tubs, zip lock bags, or other plastic containers). I usually freeze in small containers so I can use just as much as I want.

Pesto

Use your favorite pesto recipe, substituting yellow dock or other greens for basil. Here is mine: In a food processor fill the container with freshly picked greens that have been rinsed, inspected and dried off. Add 3-4 whole garlic cloves. Drizzle about 1/4 cup of olive oil over the leaves. Add ½-1 cup of the nuts of your choice; walnuts, pecans, and pine nuts are all favorites. Run the food processor at medium speed. Use a spatula to frequently scrape down the sides. If it isn’t easily forming a paste within a minute or so, add more oil. Use immediately on hot pasta, in a cold pasta salad, as a condiment on a sandwich, or any other use. This can also be frozen in plastic bags or small containers. For best results use frozen pesto within 6 months. I add cheese (parmesan or romano) as I use the pesto, rather than freezing it with the cheese mixed in. You may prefer to add the cheese while you’re making it.

To Learn More

I have been giving monthly free classes in herbs through the Co-op since 1994; my classes are listed at www.holisticwisdom.org. Matthaei Botanical Gardens has herb groups. Check the Crazy Wisdom Calendar for other opportunities. At the end of this year, look for my cookbook on preparing and enjoying dark green leafy vegetables (including weeds).  Check into the references listed below for additional information.

Used with the permission of Linda Diane Feldt www.holisticwisdom.org

References

Stalking the Wild Asparagus, Euell Gibbons

Edible wild Plants, Peterson Field Guides, Lee Allen Peterson

A Field Guide to Wildflowers of Northeastern and North-central America, Roger Tory Peterson and Margaret McKenny

Healing Wise, Susun Weed

How to Know Wild Fruits, Maude Gridley Peterson

Taylor’s Pocket Guide to Herbs and Edible Flowers, Ann Reilly

Field Guide to North American Edible Wild Plants, Thomas Elias and Peter Dykeman

Tom Brown’s Guide toWild Edible and Medicinal Plants, Tom Brown Jr.

St. John's Wort and Polarity Therapy

As a consequence to  head-on car crash, F. was diagnosed with a broken leg, and smashed wrist. After weeks in traction it became apparent that there was something seriously wrong with his arm. Further evaluation found that he could only wiggle a few fingers, and all the nerves to his arm had been damaged. Although he was experiencing constant pain, he had no other feeling in his arm except for a few places that registered touch elsewhere from where it was actually occurring. He was told by the medical staff that if there was no feeling within three months,  he would never have use of his arm.  After three months, there was no improvement, and neurosurgery found the nerves at the shoulder had been twisted and severed. F. was told he would never be able to use his arm again. His doctor offered two options. Amputation, or what F. described as a big bulky uncomfortable braceî.

He chose the brace, and prescriptions for tranquilizers and pain killers. While employed as a sales person, F's primary activity in his spare time was as a musician, he played saxophone in a local rock, bluesy band. He had no reason to believe that he would ever play again.

 A few weeks after the neurosurgery, a friend of F's suggested that he come to me for bodywork and possible help in reducing the pain. He was concerned about his dependency on the drugs, and wanted to decrease their use.

The first session I did some general checking and assessing of energy patterns, structural evaluation with the leg, releasing tension and fascial constriction in the shoulder around the sight of the recent surgery. I had never worked with nerve regeneration, but knew that touch could facilitate pain reduction. If that was all that happened, that would be fine. As he took his damaged arm from the sling it seemed that his arm was no longer his, or even a part of his body. I held his hand.

That moment stands out in my mind very vividly, although it was almost more than a decade ago. Just holding his hand and accepting his disability was the most powerful action I could take. His initial repulsion and then relaxation ó soon it felt that he was drinking in as much loving attention as I could give. The healing had begun.

I encouraged him to allow others to touch and massage his hand and arm, and he confessed intense embarrassment and shyness about letting anyone know he had a problem. He wore long sleeve shirts at all times, (this was Michigan in August) and did all he could to conceal his injury. On disability, he wasn't working or having much contact with people.

After that first session, where the most significant thing I did was to hold his hand, he was pain free for three hours, the very first non-drug relief he had had since the accident. That was convincing enough that he came back, every week. Each time I worked with the meridian and other energetic pathways from his shoulder to his hand, reflexing points to other parts of the torso, and general polarity balancing for the rest of his body.

Combined with talk about his injury and his feelings, and supporting him as he dealt with the insurance nightmare that resulted form the accident, we made significant progress. In addition to the neurological problems mentioned earlier he was experiencing muscular complications now as well. His fingers were curling, and he was quickly losing muscle tone on the entire left side of his torso. After only a few weeks, he began to have more and more time with diminished or no pain. The energy as I made connections between his torso and arm began to feel stronger. After just two months, we both realized that he was beginning to have sensation, he could feel when and where I was touching his forearm.

To facilitate the possible nerve regeneration I suggested that he use the herb St. John's Wort, Hypericum Perforatum. While this herb has been in the press lately as an antidepressant similar to Prozac, my early experiences with it were for pain relief (especially nerve pain), help with shingles and other herpes viruses, and bruising. I hoped that Hypericum's affinity for the nervous system would help both with pain relief and the possibility of some new nerve functioning.

The next spring, his progress was significant enough that the hospital staff, whom he had been out of touch with until then, made him the first of many active braces, a contraption that allowed him to cock his arm in a bent position and hold it there. He began to risk having people see the brace and his injury, and the day that he appeared at my door in a short sleeve shirt I celebrated with him. He no longer had to go through the sweltering Michigan summer sweating and hiding.

With continued Polarity Therapy he began to be able to pick up objects and carry things. The pain was more the exception than the norm, and I began to bring up the idea of finding a way to try out the saxophone again.

Over the next two years, F. and I identified a pattern of increased pain for a week or two, followed by recovery or rejuvenation of appropriate nerve sensation. He stopped using the brace, which he found restrictive rather than useful. Over about a four year period, he regained complete ability to feel in all parts of his arm, part of his hand, and a small section of his wrist. When his wrist was smashed, it was apparently put back together as best it could, but too many bones were destroyed for it to be reassembled properly. His wrist still lacks strength and there seems to be no further progress over the areas that are most damaged. The pain is only occasional, though, and F. recognizes that it almost always accompanies stress.

His Doctors acknowledged his progress by showing him off to colleagues, and attributed the success to the brace they had made. F. was shy about talking to them about the Polarity Therapy he was receiving, and they expressed no interest in his opinion about what had brought about this miracle they had said would never happen. About four years after the accident, F. accepted a special brace designed by a physical therapist that would allow him the wrist support to play the sax. The exercises they prescribed created pain and no apparent progress, he didnít continue with them, but the brace made it possible for F. to play again, and he did.

Although reluctant to criticize the doctors, F. attributes his recovery to the work we did together. He wrote to me: ìYou kept working on it and believing that it was possible after the doctors had given up on it. If I wasn't going to your appointments, I think I might have just assumed that there would never be any more movement in my arm, so I might have spent the rest of my life wearing that brace. I think that physicians should use Polarity Therapists the way they use physical therapists, as a regular part of their physical rehabilitation programs.  Medical science has been going in their "pure science" direction for most of the twentieth century; it's time for physicians to take a look at the philosophies and therapies that they've been ignoring since they decided to become ëscientistsí.î

Today F. plays in bands regularly. He is mostly pain free, and his arm is weak but usable. He wears a brace only while playing music, he works well with computers, his disability rarely intrudes on his work. The knowledge, experience, and hope Iíve gained from him about nerve regeneration and pain relief have helped me with my work with other clients. Although none of the recoveries I have experienced have been as dramatic, I have seen slow nerve regeneration in the same pattern, even after waiting years before beginning treatment. It is very wonderful to be a part of this miracle.


Publication history: 1993,1994,1997

"A Case Study of Nerve Regeneration with the use of Polarity Therapy” Energy: The Newsletter of The American Polarity Therapy Association (Raleigh, NC, The American Polarity Therapy Association) Jan. 1993, reprinted in Michigan Hands, Vol. 6 No. 2, 1994 Summer/Fall issue (the newsletter of The American Massage Therapy Association, Michigan Chapter). Revised and reprinted in Touchstone Journal, Miracles in Action, (Southfield MI) winter 1997

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Self Help for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

           This common phrase describes a range of symptoms originating from inflammation or irritation of the median nerve that passes through the ìcarpal tunnelî of the wrist. These symptoms include numbness in the hand or fingers; pain in the wrist, elbow, or shoulder; loss of hand or finger strength; and unusual nerve sensations in the hand, wrist, elbow, or shoulder and neck area.  The nerve responds to  compression by sending pain signals, and by not carrying normal information, which provides sensation and motor impulses to the hand. For the purposes of this workshop, the exact definition or diagnosis is not important. There is no absolute way to confirm carpal tunnel syndrome, although an electromyograph (EMG) study of the nerve is a pretty good indicator. However, as this diagnosis will cost over $500, the cost/benefit is highly questionable.

Background and Experience, how the technique was developed

           The techniques taught in this workshop is the result of over fifteen years of clinical experience. Almost no part of it is original, although the protocol used is my own. I saw a marked increase in clients complaining of carpal tunnel symptoms in the mid eighties. I had developed the syndrome myself a few years prior to that time, after more than a decade of doing bodywork. The methods for assessment and correction are derived from exposure to applied kinesiology, chiropractic adjustments, osteopathic manipulation, massage therapy, and of course Polarity Therapy.

Efficacy

           I have taught this technique to well over a thousand people. While some had been formally diagnosed as having carpal tunnel syndrome, the majority had not. I found no difference at all between those who had the official designation and those who diagnosed themselves. The vast majority have been clients with no formal experience doing any sort of bodywork. I have also taught the techniques to professional practitioners.

           This approach to carpal tunnel and related symptoms is not dependent on a confirmed diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome, as it is based on working with symptoms and if the client experiences relief of pain and increase in muscular strength.

           There have been a few people who have not benefited, less than a dozen that I am aware of. There are a couple of reasons that stand out.          

           The first, is someone who has little or no muscular strength throughout their body. I have observed that people who have strong wrists and forearms recover more quickly, and those who lack such development have a more difficult time.

           I have also seen that people who have obtained disability from a job they dislike are also slow to improve, for the obvious reason that they have a counter incentive for improvement.

           A few people have carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms that are caused by other problems, and during the session with them it is obvious to both of us that this approach will not work. The advantage of this technique is that this feedback is immediate. The client will not invest time and money in an approach that will not work. Nearly everyone sees some sort of result immediately.

           I had one client who was an aggressive, dramatic person, in his mid twenties. He was a drummer, who would drum for hours at a time. I observed him working on himself so aggressively that he actually made it worse, and couldnít comprehend my attempts to modify his approach. Self help techniques are not likely to work on people who are abusive to themselves.

           It is worth mentioning here that I have also had people refuse to try this approach, or choose surgery before giving it a chance to work. In most of these cases, I would attribute this to the persons greater comfort with a doctor/patient paradigm rather than an approach that emphasizes self care.

Anatomy and Physiology

           Very little knowledge of anatomy and physiology is actually needed. You will need to be able to find three locations: at the wrist, the radius bone near the elbow, and a point near the shoulder blade. The wrist location is found by first locating the landmarks of the protruding wrist bones where they meet the carpals, and locating the area just beyond those two bones towards the carpal bones. On most people there is a slight indentation just before the carpal bones widen.

           The location of the point on the radius can be easily found by turning the hand so that it is in a ìthumbs upî position. On most people, the radius is then easily palpated as the bone that follows a line from the thumb to the elbow. Just before the elbow, there will be tender point. That is the area that may need to be worked on.

           The last point is familiar to nearly everyone who has received shoulder rubs. It will be a few inches lateral to the spine, just above or on the highest point of the shoulder blade, when a person is upright. Usually when you find it the person will lean into your touch, say yes, or otherwise confirm that any touch or pressure there is welcome. 

The Emotional and Energetic Aspects

           Repetitive motions are not new to the human race. Grinding corn, carding wool, scraping hides, churning butter, making rope, and later industrial work all had repetition. Why is carpal tunnel syndrome so common now?  My hypothesis, after talking to hundreds of people who truly suffer from this  complaint is that we have become more and more disconnected from the ìheartî of our work. In the workshop, weíll explore the energy of ìheart and handsî and re-establishing that connection. 

The Technique

           A feedback mechanism is required to determine if the approach has worked. While relief of pain and muscle strength are acceptable, it is easier to do a simple muscle test of the ability to hold the thumb and little finger together as they are gently pulled apart by the practitioner. Rhythm, gentleness, and the ability to distinguish between a strong and solid muscle response and a ìmushyî response are all that is needed. You are not testing for brute strength, but rather establishing a baseline to experience improvement or worsening; and also feeling for the muscle to give  a clear and strong response.

           In about 70% of the people I work with, a weak response will be corrected from working with the wrist. You simply circle the area of the carpals next to the radius and ulna prominences and squeeze gently, as if the hand were a pop bead that you are removing from its neighbor. A slight clicking may be heard or felt. The hand may need to be rotated slightly to achieve the correction. For best results, this will need to be repeated 20-30 times a day.

           About 20 % of the time, the correction needs to be done at the elbow. With the thumb in a ìthumbs upî position, find the point nearest the elbow where you can still palpate the radius. About 80% of the time, pressure on that spot moving towards the clients body will be what works to bring strength back to the hand. About 20% of the time, it is the opposite. This correction could be made by painfully thrusting against the tender spot. I would suggest that an alternate method is to work with the bone energetically and allow it to move on its own. This technique will be demonstrated in the class.

           You will not know until you try which direction will help, but as the movement towards the body is most often what is required, that should be tried first. This technique needs to be done 2-10 times a day.

           In about 10% of cases neither of these techniques work. Most of the time it is because the nerve has been irritated for long enough that other parts of the body are affected. In this case releasing spasming and resonance irritation in the shoulder area are required. While there are a variety of methods that can be used, we will learn a very gentle technique that facilitates the body relearning how to let go. If your client has this shoulder problem, it will be difficult for them to work on it themselves. Since it is helpful to release this area at least once a day, the assistance of a friend is invaluable.

           The basic hypothesis of why this approach works is that the frequent correction allows the tendons and ligaments to heal much faster than when they are chronically strained by being slightly or severely stressed. Most cases, even when the person is unable to lift anything, are significantly improved within two months.

           Additional techniques that support the correction will be taught including releasing the forearm, special consideration of the bones of the hand, working with the nerve irritation, and ideas for teaching the method.

           Using Braces and Splints: Braces and Splints are used by many people. In my experience they donít help much. The braces mostly help the person to remember not to use their hand. They donít have a therapeutic effect. Oddly enough, many people who have carpal tunnel tend to re-injure themselves at night by sleeping in positions that strain their wrists. This is a time when braces can help, to prevent the wrist from being places in an extreme position.
           An inexpensive wrist support can be used to help support the correction. The best positioning is covering as much as the carpal area as possible, or if it is an elbow correction that helps, at the top of the forearm near the elbow. A wrist support will cost about $5-7, the splint can be the inexpensive $20 type. I have seen no benefit in spending hundreds of dollars for a custom made splint.


           Prevention of Reoccurrences:  Hyperextension of the wrist is the primary reason for reoccurrence, even more so than repetitive motions. An ergonomic evaluation is helpful if the problem seems related to a particular activity. Examples of simple corrections and options will be given in the workshop. Normally, a person can do their regular work while they are healing. Weíll talk about exceptions, but normally there is no problem.

The Other Implications

           The experience of being able to heal a long standing and debilitating injury oneself can be life changing. Being able to teach the technique (and help others to heal themselves) makes it even more positive and empowering. This is also a self care technique with very clear and immediate benefits. Taking a small step to help oneself, with good reinforcement, can help put a person in a frame of mind to make more significant changes.

           This technique is not one that will cause the practitioner to make a lot of money. It encourages and teaches clients to be independent rather than dependent. This is the ideal in health care. In teaching clients how to care for themselves we confront our fears about being in business, making money, and being competitive. The discomfort and conflict that this can bring up for a practitioner can be great, to begin to work through conflicts between ideals and realities.

           It bothers me that such a simple technique is not well known simply because it can not be exploited for big money.

           I purposely often teach this technique for free, just to break patterns and expectations. I have taught this to artisans at fairs, offered free sessions to all of the bakers at a community bakery for a number of years, and worked on strangers and friends wherever we run into each other. I offer to show it to people at the end of lectures and demonstrations, to anyone who wants to stay after. Giving away a technique that significantly helps peoples quality of life and also puts them in control of their own health is a revolutionary act. I highly encourage it. 

 An Obligation to Spread the Word

           When I teach this technique, I ask people to please pass the knowledge on. Show other people. Ask them to show others. Copy this handout, if youíd like, distribute it freely. We have a deeply entrenched attitude about health and healing that needs to be changed. This can be a small part of making that change, through direct experience. 

Please Support Research and Documentation

           A web site is available that contains a questionnaire recording successes and failures with this technique, and to track the people who are teaching it. Please participate, and ask your clients and friends to participate. Greater documentation of efficacy will be useful in the future in gaining greater acceptance of this technique a larger audience. It will also help to confirm that this can be taught successfully even as the instruction moves away from my original work.

Used with the permission of Linda Diane Feldt www.holisticwisdom.org

Mind–body intervention practices

Mind–body intervention

Mind–body intervention practices include:

-  Aromatherapy: Aromatherapy is a form of alternative medicine that uses volatile plant materials, known as essential oils, and similar aromatic compounds from plants, for the purpose of improving a person's mood, cognitive function or health. Preliminary scientific evidence is growing in all these areas. An aroma therapist is the person who performs the aromatherapy.

-  Art Therapy

-  Bach Flower Therapy

-  Dance movement psychotherapy

-  Dynamic Embodiment

-  Eutony: Gerda Alexander (February 15, 1908 – February 21, 1994) was a Danish teacher who devised a method of self-development called Eutony. She was born in Wuppertal, Germany, but moved to Denmark in 1929. Like Moshe Feldenkrais, she emphasized intelligence, sensitivity, and awareness rather than simple physical exercise.

-  Feldenkrais method

-  Hatha yoga

-  Hypnotherapy

-  Laban Movement Analysis

-  Metamorphic Technique

-  Movement Therapy

-  Somatic Movement Education Therapy

-  Journaling

-  Meditation

-  Music Therapy

-  Rebirthing-Breathwork


-  Somatic Experiencing

-  Support groups


-  Trager Approach

-  Visualization: Autosuggestion (or the related autogenic training) is a process by which an individual trains the subconscious mind to believe something, or systematically schematizes the person's own mental associations, usually for a given purpose.

-  Vivation

-  Yoga

Biopsychosocial model

The biopsychosocial model is a general approach that posits that biological, psychological and social factors, all play a significant role in human functioning in the context of disease or illness. Indeed, health is best understood in terms of a combination of biological, psychological, and social factors rather than purely in biological terms. It is important to note that the biopsychosocial model does not provide a straightforward, testable model to explain the interactions or causal influences (that is, amount of variance accounted for) by each of the components (biological, psychological, or social). Rather, the model has been a general framework to guide theoretical and empirical exploration, which has amassed a great deal of research since Engel's 1977 article. One of the areas that has been greatly influenced is the formulation and testing of social-cognitive models of health behavior over the past 30 years.[ While no single model has taken precedence, a large body of empirical literature has identified social-cognitive (the psyho-social aspect of Engel's model) variables that appear to influence engagement in healthy behaviors and adhere to prescribed medical regimens, such as self-efficacy, in chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, etc. These models include the Health Belief Model, Theory of Reasoned Action and Theory of Planned Behavior, Transtheoretical Model, the Relapse Prevention Model, Gollwitzer's implementation-intentions, the Precaution–Adoption Model, the Health Action Process Approach, etc.

The biological component of the biopsychosocial model seeks to understand how the cause of the illness stems from the functioning of the individual's body. The psychological component of the biopsychosocial model looks for potential psychological causes for a health problem such lack of self-control, emotional turmoil, and negative thinking. The social part of the biopsychosocial model investigates how different social factors such as socioeconomic status, culture, poverty, technology, and religion can influence health.

The biopsychosocial model of health is based in part on social cognitive theory. The biopsychosocial model implies that treatment of disease processes, for example type two diabetes and cancer, requires that the health care team address biological, psychological and social influences upon a patient's functioning. In a philosophical sense, the biopsychosocial model states that the workings of the body can affect the mind, and the workings of the mind can affect the body. This means both a direct interaction between mind and body as well as indirect effects through intermediate factors.

The biopsychosocial model presumes that it is important to handle the three together as a growing body of empirical literature suggests that patient perceptions of health and threat of disease, as well as barriers in a patient's social or cultural environment, appear to influence the likelihood that a patient will engage in health-promoting or treatment behaviors, such as medication taking, proper diet, and engaging in physical activity.

While operating from a BPS framework requires that more information be gathered during a consultation, a growing trend in US healthcare (and already well-established in Europe such as in the U.K. & Germany) includes the integration of professional services through integrated disciplinary teams, to provide better care and address the patient's needs at all three levels.[7] As seen, for example in integrated primary care clinics, such as used in the U.K., Germany, U.S. Veteran's Administration, U.S. military, Kaiser Permanente, integrated teams may comprise of physicians, nurses, health psychologists, social workers, and other specialties to address all three aspects of the BPS framework, allowing the physician to focus on predominantly biological mechanisms of the patient's complaints.

There are also theories that the state of mind directly affects the immune system, and there are many carefully-planned studies that show this to be the case; see psychoneuroimmunology. Psychosocial factors can cause a biological effect by predisposing the patient to risk factors. An example is that depression by itself may not cause liver problems, but a depressed person may be more likely to have alcohol problems, and therefore liver damage. Perhaps it is this increased risk-taking that leads to an increased likelihood of disease. Most of the diseases referred to in BPS discussion tend to be such behaviourally-moderated illnesses which have known high risk factors, or so-called "biopsychosocial illnesses/disorders".[9][10] An example of this is type 2 diabetes, which with the growing prevalence of obesity and physical inactivity, is on course to become a worldwide pandemic. For example, approximately 20 million Americans are estimated to have diabetes, with 90% to 95% considered type 2.

How to massage Ridgeback - A Massage which is simple and satisfying

What could be easier than massaging your Ridgeback? Unlike humans, they need no oil. You can do it any place, any time. They generally love to lie next to you anyway, and if your dog is fit and lean, it is easy to feel muscle and trace bones. Animals are also great to massage because when they have had enough, they walk away. Few humans do that in the middle of a massage. People tend to "endure" what is painful or uncomfortable, thinking it is for the best. Your dog will give you immediate and clear feedback, by moving or vocalizing, if something doesn't feel right.

Numerous studies on humans show that massage enhances well being by improving circulation, facilitating healing of simple injuries, helping lymph flow (part of the immune system), helping to calm nerves, and helping muscle soreness.

The three most basic approaches to dog massage would be to focus on:

• muscle
• fascial tissue
• boney attachments

Each is simple, and can be quickly learned and practiced.

Massaging muscle is what most people think of when they think of massage. This can be either superficial (usually longer strokes across the skin) or deep (more directed heavier pressure into what is called the muscle belly, or the big parts of the muscle).

With the lighter strokes over the skin you can help circulation and lymphatic flow, and help calm the nervous system. For blood and lymph benefits, always massage toward the heart. On a limb, you would move from the paws toward the body; from the tail, toward the head; from the top of the head, to the shoulders; and on the belly, from the groin to the chest.

Your touch is light, you are moving skin more than muscle, and your strokes can be continuous full length, with your whole hand or maybe just a thumb or finger stroking an inch or two, moving to a new position closer to the heart, and repeating.

For calming and quieting the nervous system, long, rhythmic, even strokes work best for most dogs. Again, work from tail toward head, groin over the belly to the chest, passing over the skin. Your strokes should be slow enough that you can notice the response of the hair and skin as you move your hand. On my small-sized bitch it might take four to five seconds to complete each long stroke. Stroking the head and especially the forehead will also have a calming effect. Again, I work from the head to the shoulder area -- usually a little faster than with the whole body, stroking down and returning to begin the stroke again more quickly. You can use one hand only, or alternate hands. The rhythm and pressure will vary. Let your dog teach you what he or she likes.

The deeper work on muscles is also simple. They key is to learn the difference between a muscle that is tight, and one that is well toned. In teaching massage for nearly 20 years, I know of only one way to do this: by experience. Find a strong, big muscle on your Ridgeback. Maybe the muscle of the upper leg, near where the hip joins the body. Notice if it is taut, or more mushy. When you begin to press into it, is it resistant? Is there smoothness to it or lumps? Does it feel like small ropes or a flat surface?

After you have gotten some idea what the muscle feels like, try working the muscle with some small circles using your thumb. The pressure should be direct, and deep enough that you actually make a small depression into the muscle. Don't think that you have to gouge your dog, though. Experiment with a few different levels of pressure; your dog will let you know if you are getting too rough. It will be different with each dog depending on age, amount of exercise, recent activity and even how recently they had water.

After less than a minute of massage, feel the muscle again. What has changed? If not much is different, probably the muscle wasn't very tight to begin with. If there are now noticeable differences, the "before" feeling can go into your memory bank of what a tight muscle feels like. With repeated practice, you'll know when the muscle is tight and when you've accomplished some release.

Puppies often enjoy massage on their gums when they are teething. Try it on yourself first, too learn how to feel the gums beneath the lips. Massage can help temporarily relieve that aching feeling as the teeth emerge.

Just by looking at most fit Ridgebacks you can see the major muscles on their body. Areas of the legs, hips and shoulders are good places to work. There are also lots of smaller muscles, and this is where focus on bones comes in.

Muscles attach to bones. So if you find a bone, a muscle will be nearby. You can follow the bones of the spine and the legs especially. While the rib bones are easy to find, there is less muscle needing massage connected with them. While you are using the bones to find areas to work on, do not massage the bones themselves. Mostly because it doesn't feel good, but also because that is where an inexperienced person could actually cause some problems. Instead of massaging bone, feel for the muscle next to it. On the spine, the most prominent bone is the spinous process. On each side, located just bit deeper, is the transverse process of the spine. You should feel muscle just above and to the side of the transverse process. On a full-grown Ridgeback, you would want to massage about 3/4 to 1 inch from the big bumps that are the spinous process. For this massage, it is best to work both side of the spine at once.

You might stroke away from the spine, toward the tail or the head. Small symmetric circles are great, progressing gradually either up or down the spine. The pressure will vary greatly depending on the dog, and how heavily muscled he or she is. Basically, if you encounter strong, thick, wide muscles, you can work more deeply. For a dog who gets moderate exercise, deep work would be uncomfortable. The dog arching into your hand, relaxing into a flatter position, lying down, are all good signs that you are using the right amount of pressure.

On the legs, work from the paw up. Most of the muscles in the legs are long, and run from joint to joint. Smooth strokes or longer lighter strokes are both useful here. Learning and becoming familiar with your dog's leg muscles can be helpful in the future if your dog experiences an injury. You'll know what is normal, and can feel if something is wrong.

Fascial tissue work is probably the easiest, and something most dog owners do instinctively. "Myofascial release" is a fancy way of saying you are picking up and stretching tissue just under the skin. Fascial tissue is also called connective tissue. It surrounds all the organs and muscle of the body, and is connected throughout the body. Fascial tissue is just under the skin, and can also be found in more intricate patterns and layers over and between muscles and organs, and the spine. Lifting and very gently stretching fascial tissue anywhere on the body can help to release stored tension both directly as well as more deeply in the area you are working.

This simple technique is accomplished by picking up a fold of skin, without pinching, and lifting it away from the body. Hold for a short period, and move on. This technique is especially effective in the area of the base of the spine, and "low back," but is unlikely to be pleasant on the more sensitive areas of the face and belly. Surprisingly, this simple picking up and releasing is very effective in relaxing tight muscles, even fairly deeply. You can work randomly over the back, and eventually you will learn to feel the slight resistance decrease as the fascial tissue relaxes.

Some dogs who seem to not like massage may be reacting to how the massage is given, rather than the touch itself. Some dogs are nervous if you reach over their back. Others may not be able to relax if you are directly facing them during the massage. A hand around the neck, having to expose their belly before they are ready to, can all decrease the dog's pleasure. This will be different with every dog, so be aware of what postures or positions make your dog nervous. Most dogs are comfortable with you sitting next to them, both of you looking in the same direction, and with most of the massage done on the side of the dog's body closest to you. You can then change sides to work on the other side. As your dog grows used to the massage, you may be able to give the whole massage without changing position and with the dog having no concern about how he or she is approached. With these three techniques, you are well on your way to being able to help your dog, as well as gaining one more enjoyable way to spend time together.

Used with the permission of Linda Diane Feldt www.holisticwisdom.org

Prophylactic Use of Echinacea angustifolia and purpurea Tincture for Management of a Recurrent Staphylococcus Infection

Case Study: Prophylactic Use of Echinacea angustifolia and purpurea Tincture for
Management of a Recurrent Staphylococcus Infection

This case concerns a woman with congestive heart failure as a result of a heart attack at age 46. At age 53 she developed a severe staph infection following a heart catheterization. The staph infection began in her left arm, at the elbow, and was diagnosed by her family physician. She was immediately placed on a program of broad spectrum antibiotics. The inflammation and symptoms continued to worsen.

The next morning, with the symptoms worsening, additional antibiotics were used. There was no effect by afternoon.

Threatened with an in-hospital stay on IV antibiotics, she decided to use Echinacea angustifolia in tincture form in addition to the prescribed antibiotics. 30-40 drops were taken, in water, every three hours. Her symptoms began to decrease within two hours after taking the first dose. She continued both the antibiotics and the Echinacea for two days, with continuing improvement. She then stopped the Echinacea. The symptoms returned within half a day.

She resumed taking the Echinacea with the antibiotics for the next two days and the staph infection cleared up completely. She again stopped taking the Echinacea, and at that time her MD discontinued the use of the antibiotics. The symptoms began to come back, although more slowly, after a day without either Echinacea or antibiotics.

She resumed the use of Echinacea every few hours, without antibiotics, and the symptoms again receded. The frequent dose was continued for a day or two, and then she changed to a prophylactic dose of ten drops a day of Echinacea. The infection symptoms did not return.

Thereafter, until her death 7 years later from heart attack, she took ten drops of either Echinacea angustifolia or Echinacea purpurea on a daily basis. If more than two days passed without taking that small amount, the original symptoms from the staph infection would return. Resumption of the small dose of Echinacea would cause the symptoms to abate. This was proven in at least five instances over the seven years she took the herb.

The second case study is of a 21 year old UM student. She had mononucleosis. Two months later, she remained fatigued, depressed, and unable to resume her work as a student. She reported that she felt as bad as she did when she had mono, but that the doctors and everyone else said she was over it and should be feeling better.

She took ten drops of Echinacea Angustifolia in water every day for the next two weeks. After just two weeks of using the herb, she reported that she felt better than she had in months: her fatigue was completely gone, she no longer felt that she was still ill, she was back to school, and she was no longer depressed.

She attributed her improvement completely to the herb, as nothing else had changed during the time she used it, and she had seen no improvement until she started taking Echinacea. She continued to take Echinacea for two more months, with the positive effect leveling off after about a month.

-
Used with the permission of Linda Diane Feldt www.holisticwisdom.org  A student of the healing arts since 1973, Linda Diane Feldt is a Registered Polarity Practitioner, Nationally Certified in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork, a Certified Nutritional Consultant, has completed an apprenticeship with Susun Weed in Herbology and has achieved an eclectic training in Craniosacral Therapy from John Upledger and others beginning in 1981, as well as other extensive training and experience. She has had a full time private practice in Ann Arbor since 1981.

Nationally recognized in the field of Bodywork, Linda Diane served as President and a long time board member of  The American Polarity Therapy Association, and as a Board Member of The National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork. Linda Diane Feldt is the Author of "Spinach and Beyond: Loving Life and Dark Green Leafy Vegetables", "Dying Again: thirteen years of writing and waiting", the book and video "Massage: Learning to Give and to Receive" and a forthcoming book on ethics and the bodywork profession.

Inflammation and Herbs

In the search for health, it is easy to confuse a positive body response with something alarming. What gets our attention? Those things we find alarming. Inflammation is a good example of a process that is not fully appreciated. Normal redness, swelling, heat, and tenderness is a sign the body is doing what it does best – responding to problem and working on the solution. The immune response combined with healing at the cellular level is a marvelous thing, and something we can all stop and appreciate. The body is truly miraculous in its ability to identify a problem, and take immediate steps to promote healing.

At the same time, chronic, systemic and out of control inflammation is a signal that there has been a malfunction. Something has gone wrong and requires additional intervention. Noticing the signals and responding appropriately is an art, a balancing act of supporting the body and our natural ability to heal, and using interventions that will restore health and function.

As is true in so many cases, there are alternative and traditional interventions that are safe and effective. There are also times when conventional medicine and the stronger medicines and pain relievers are also required. Similarly, correctly diagnosing the problem can be a simple intuitive process or require extensive training, observation, and the use of tests and even specialized machines.

This article is but a small beginning contribution to that process, with the hope that it will make the journey easier whatever techniques or interventions you use.

The inflammatory process can affect nearly every system and organ of the body. Inflammation with associated negative impact can be found in the bowel (irritable bowel syndrome, Crohns disease, ulcerative colitis), the liver, in joints (bursitis, gout, arthritis, chronic TMJ syndrome), as a topical skin infection, the lungs, the bladder, the brain, the gums, as a systemic problem, an auto immune disease, as so many other things! The effects can be mild or severe and include pain, stiffness, organ failure, and even death.

Simple foods can contribute to inflammation. The high acid and caffeine content in coffee and soda seems to affect some people. Others can develop arthritis like symptoms from excessive use of sugar. These effects seem to vary widely from individual to individual, and can be tested with an elimination diet.

More commonly understood is the relationship between consuming foods containing oils and fats that stimulate pro-inflammatory prostaglandin synthesis. The offending foods would include polysaturated vegetable oils, partially hydrogenated oils, and trans fats. Many processed foods contain these problematic fats. In recent years, manufacturers have begun to limit or eliminate their use but convenience, price, and achieving desired “mouth feel” have caused many to continue their use.

We know that high quality fats, especially those containing omega 3s and those that the body can convert to Omega 3s, contribute to decreasing inflammatory processes. These foods that actively improve our systemic health include oil from coldwater fish, walnuts, freshly ground flax seed or flax seed oil and olive oil.

In addition, many people are unaware that purslane (Portulaca oleracea) a common garden weed is one of the richest sources of omega 3 precursors in the plant kingdom.
It has a benign taste, and the fat succulent like leaves are easy to add to salads or as a garnish to other foods. Not available in stores, it is enjoyed in season fresh from the garden as long as it is actively growing. One hundred grams of fresh purslane leaves (one serving) contain about 300-400 mg of 18:3w3; 12.2 mg of alpha-tocopherol; 26.6 mg of ascorbic acid; 1.9 mg of beta-carotene; and 14.8 mg of glutathione.

In using products such as flax seed and fish oil, freshness is of key importance. These oils easily become rancid and must be used as fresh as possible. Refrigeration, dark packaging, and limiting exposure to air are critical. If you choose to use flax seeds, grind them fresh in a small coffee or spice grinder just before use. While flax seed is a great egg substitute for baking, it loses its anti-inflammatory properties when heated. I grind a tablespoon of the seed each morning and mix it with my oatmeal. Combined with homemade yogurt, frozen blueberries from the summer Farmer’s Market, a dab of local honey, home made almond butter, and home made yogurt from fresh, local cows milk, it’s a nutritious start to every day.

Three Herbs That Can Make a Difference

There are three herbs that have attracted attention as anti inflammatories, used topically, preventatively, or as needed for specific healing. While there are many others to consider, I will focus on these safe, readily available, inexpensive and versatile healers in the brief space of this article.

Turmeric is the bright yellow root used in Indian cooking, and in many curries. It has achieved recognition as a potent anti inflammatory, and many people with a variety of arthritis conditions use it, as well as other systemic inflammatory diseases. Most of the research has been done on curcumin , an extract derived from Turmeric. You can increase your consumption by including it as a regular spice in food, or take the curcumin extract as a tincture or as a capsule made from the extract. A capsule that just contains ground turmeric root is less likely to be absorbed effectively. The fresh root is often available in Indian grocery stores. A poultice of this on sprains or breaks has been seen to greatly reduce swelling and significantly aid in healing.

Ginger is a common name for a few types of plants. In this case, I am referring to Zingiber, the root commonly found in the produce section of the co-op. I use the whole root and always keep some in the freezer so it is on hand. There is a growing body of evidence supporting ginger’s anti-inflammatory action including for osteoarthritis. I make a strong tea by simmering about 2 inches of chopped root in about a quart of water in a covered pan for 15-20. You can drink the resulting tea or apply it as a compress by dipping a cloth in the tea and applying it to the affected area for about 20 minutes. If you choose to drink it you can add honey or lemon, and kids may enjoy it cold with some sparkling water. In the cold and flu season ginger is also a must for sore throats and sinus infection or blockage.

Slippery elm bark is a less well known but a powerful herb especially for inflammation affecting the digestive system. I’ve seen ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, and colitis respond quickly and powerfully to the soothing and healing affects of slippery elm. As little as 1-2 Tablespoons a day in water or juice or sprinkled over cereal can have a healing affect. It tastes pleasant, a bit like malt. Long used as an ingredient in sore throat remedies it can do wonders further along the digestive tract as well. There are dozens of additional herbs that can be used, and when combined with dietary and lifestyle changes many inflammatory conditions – both short term and chronic – can be helped. We are learning more about the long term detrimental effects of chronic inflammation and prevention is an important goal as well. Whether your goal is healing or prevention consider herbs your allies to restore you body to a healthy balance.

Used with the permission of Linda Diane Feldt www.holisticwisdom.org Linda Diane Feldt is a holistic health practitioner, writer and teacher. She has offered a free herbology class through the Co-op for over 11 years, and has had a full time private practice in Ann Arbor for nearly 25 years. She is the author of "Massage: "Learning to Give and to Receive", "Dying Again: Thirteen Years of Writing and Waiting", and "Spinach and Beyond: Loving Life and ark Green Leafy Vegetables". www.holisticwisdom.org