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Wu
Tao Dance: Balancing and Harmonising The Flow of Qi!
Wu
Tao meaning The Dancing Way, is a dance-based therapy
that balances and harmonises the flow of Qi (life-force
energy in the body). It has its foundations in Oriental
Medicine. A system of healing with a holistic philosophy
and practice, that restores balance on all levels. Below
is an excerpt from the interview with WuTao Dance instructor
Suzi Van Middelkoop on PureCalma.com.
WuTao courses are available all over South East Queensland.
Maybe this is the new exercise that your New Year's
resolution has been waiting for!
Q. Wu Tao Dance - are there any links with Taoism?
A. Wu Tao is literally translated as "The Dancing Way".
The way being the "Tao". The purpose of the dance is
to become one with one's environment and to learn to
be fully present in our bodies and to trust in the flow
of life. Dance is the vehicle which is used to express
and heal oneself.
Q. Wu Tao has strong connections with the 5 Chinese
elements; can you explain how this is interpreted in
the Wu Tao Dance?
A. Wu Tao is based on the five element theory of air
(metal), water, wood, fire and earth. Each element represents
certain organs in the body and generally govern two
meridians. For example Wood governs the Liver and the
Gall Bladder meridians. Each dance has a unique purpose.
The Air dance for instance encourages letting go of
the old and welcoming the new so in this case the emotions
that are being addressed are Grief and Disappointment.
Q. What is the connection between Yin & Yang, Chi
and the Wu Tao Dance?
A. Yin and Yang are always intertwined. You cannot have
one without the other. Yin represents the still, nurturing
feminine energy as seen in the Water dance while Yang
is the active, protective masculine energy as seen in
the Wood dance. There are also yin and yang organs so
each meridian is made up of one of each. Chi is another
word for energy and it is chi that we try and get circulating
around the meridians through the form of dance.
To read the full interview please click on to PureCalma...
(http://www.purecalma.com/wutaodance.html)
Common
Categories of Burn Out: By Dr Paul Payton, Nutrionally
Trained GP From The Medical Sanctuary!
Many of us have met or heard of those who have quit
their job, or even quit their marriage or relationships
due to 'burnout'. Burnout is that state of mental, emotional
and physical exhaustion that is both overwhelming and
crippling. Many doctors now use the term 'Chronic Fatigue
Syndrome' after excluding things such as heart disease,
lung disease, liver disease, diabetes and poor sleep
patterns. Let's discuss a number of common categories
of fatigue problems.
RECENT ILLNESS
Fatigue can often last weeks following even a simple
viral respiratory infection. The immune system may also
become activated causing continuing problems even after
the initial infection has been resolved. Antibiotics
do not help the immune system and do not treat viral
infections, only certain bacterial infections.
LITTLE EXERCISE, LITTLE SLEEP, OVERWORKED
Many people are chronically sleep deprived, falling
far short of the required seven to nine hours of sleep
per night. Caffeine may provide an initial energy pickup
but may also rob you of a restful nights sleep. It can
also be quite addictive as those withdrawal headaches
will show you. Poor fitness levels combined with long
work hours set the stage for fatigue. Exercise does
not have to be time consuming but ideally should be
regular and strenuous enough to cause a sweat.
IRON DEFICIENCY
Iron is important because when it is too high or too
low fatigue may be the result. A low iron level means
that the red cells are unable to carry the necessary
oxygen for the brain and body organs to function at
an optimum level. This is known as iron deficiency anemia
and a simple blood test can rule this one out. Don't
simply take iron tablets as they may cover up an underlying
problem or even lead to iron overload. Other mineral
deficiencies worth checking for (but often missed) include
magnesium and zinc.
HORMONE IMBALANCE
Many women have taken hormone replacement for those
troublesome hot flushes and insomnia only to find that
the treatment causes worse side effects then when they
started. This is because 'menopause' is not the same
as 'estrogen deficiency', but more a result of hormone
imbalance involving a central control via the pituitary
and hypothalamus in the brain. Other important areas
to check are thyroid and adrenal glands. For example
fatigue with cold intolerance, dry skin, constipation
and hair falling out may be caused by an underactive
thyroid gland, whereas fatigue and lightheadedness may
be an adrenal gland problem.
SLEEP APNOEA
Also known as 'snoring sickness', this is due to the
upper airway collapsing during sleep, shutting off breathing
and causing a person to wake up dozens of times a night.
Sleep apnoea can result in heart failure if left untreated
due to repeated pressure created on the pulmonary circulation.
EMOTIONAL LOSS
Grieving following the death of a loved one can take
months or even years to get over. Even the loss of a
job or loss of independence in older age can cause fatigue.
DEPRESSION
This is a common and treatable cause of fatigue associated
with neurotransmitter chemical imbalance (such as seratonin)
in the brain. At the Medical Sanctuary we sometimes
use a multichoice questionairre to graph which neurotransmitters
are deficient and the severity of that deficiency. There
are a number of supplements available to then balance
these neurotransmitters. Severe depression may require
medication.
DIABETES
If you have been tired and thirsty and needing to empty
your bladder often you may have diabetes. Simple blood
tests such as a fasting glucose can rule this out. There
are many people with undiagnosed diabetes which can
lead to nasty consequences if ignored.
CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME
This is a diagnosis given to people who have no other
causes of fatigue, and which has persisted or recurred
over six months and is interfering with normal everyday
activities. Symptoms may include; impaired concentration
or short term memory, sore throat and glands, muscle
pain, joint pain, headaches, unrefreshing sleep, irritable
bowel, alcohol intolerance, and fatigue following exertion
(for example sport) lasting more than 24 hours. As there
are many causes of fatigue it is well worth getting
some expert advice for peace of mind. You may be surprised
at how good you can feel after getting energy back again.
The
Medical Sanctuary Office C2 Ashmore City Shopping Centre,
206 Currumburra Road, Ashmore, Qld 4214 Phone: 07 5564
5013
http://themedicalsanctuary.com.au/
Not Tonight Honey I Have A Headache! Does The Battle
of The Sexes Apply To Headaches:by Narelle Stegehuis
From Mass Attack!
We're
all a little guilty of using the phrase "not tonight
- I have a headache". It's a convenient cop out phrase
that gets us out of walking the dog, cleaning the house,
mowing the lawn and basically doing those things that
we know we should do. Unfortunately it's an innuendo
expressing a reflection of low libido in females. But
does this excuse extend to male folk?
A whopping 60% of us suffer from headaches on a regular
basis! So why is it that so many of us suffer from such
annoying and often debilitating pains in the head?
The exact cause of headaches is not known; however there
are many theories. One theory is that migraines in particular
are caused by a vulnerability of the central nervous
system to immediate changes to your body or environment.
Migraines may be triggered by several things such as
changes in your environment, behavior, diet, physical
condition, or drugs that you take.
There is also research that indicates high levels of
adrenaline can trigger headaches. These days we run
on adrenaline; we are adrenaline junkies. Unfortunately,
we are killing - at the very least prematurely aging,
ourselves. Our bodies are not made to subsist on such
high levels of adrenaline and your hormones will not
be at levels supporting optimal health for you. By the
time you get to a point where things are out of "whack",
you will find yourself experiencing, tiredness, disrupted
sleep headaches & low libido.
Some of the other most common triggers of migraines
are stress, food allergies, caffeine, medications, and
lack of sleep, extreme weather conditions, blood sugar
fluctuations and hormone imbalances.
Does the battle of the sexes apply to headaches? You
bet. Women are more likely than men to experience "migraine"
headaches - although men are more likely to experience
"cluster" headaches.
Fluctuating hormone levels may influence headache patterns.
But you're not at the mercy of your hormones. There
is help to treat - or prevent headaches.
So - What's a girl to do?
During menstruation
The drop in estrogen just before your period may contribute
to headaches and increase your sensitivity to pain.
Headache is a common symptom of premenstrual syndrome,
and up to 60 percent of women with migraines report
headaches before or during menstruation.
If you have menstrual migraines, anti-inflammatory support
such as Evening Primrose Oil & Omega 3 Fatty Acids is
often the first line of treatment. If your menstrual
cycle is regular, it's often most effective to take
preventive headache support such as Willow Bark starting
a few days before your period and continuing through
the first few days of your flow. If you have migraines
throughout your menstrual cycle or your periods are
irregular, it may be better to take preventive medication
every day.
Some women experience food cravings during the premenstrual
phase of their cycle. One theory suggests that women
who are predisposed to premenstrual migraines could
be triggering an attack by the types of food they choose
to eat during this time. Foods that have been linked
to migraine include red wine, some types of cheese,
caffeine and the flavor enhancer monosodium glutamate
(MSG) and unfortunately … chocolate!
If you use birth control pills Some women experience
headaches for the first time after starting birth control
pills or other hormonal methods of birth control. For
others, hormonal birth control changes existing headache
patterns - sometimes for the better, sometimes for the
worse.
During pregnancy Estrogen levels rise rapidly
in early pregnancy and remain high throughout pregnancy.
Migraines often improve or even disappear during pregnancy.
Sometimes tension headaches improve as well. After delivery,
an abrupt decrease in estrogen levels may trigger headaches.
During menopause Menopause is another prime time
for changing headache patterns. For most women, migraines
improve during menopause - but tension headaches often
get worse. Hormone therapy can affect headaches too.
Menopausal hormone therapy worsens headaches in some
women and improves headaches in others, in just about
equal proportions.
… And for the guys?
Cluster headaches are Gender-Specific in that they occur
predominately in men of reproductive age. Ninety percent
of men with cluster have their first attack between
ages 17 and 40; half between 21 and 25 years of age.
Since most of the attacks begin at night, these men
most often jump out of bed in pain. These attacks may
occur for days or weeks. They may cycle every year or
every few years.
Men who develop cluster headaches have both a genetic
predisposition and low levels of testosterone. Under
'stress', the increase in cortisol lowers testosterone
levels and precipitates the cluster attack. Testosterone
supplementation helps to prevent cluster headaches by
keeping the level of testosterone above this threshold.
Men have significant changes in their hormone levels
as they age, just as women do.
Testosterone has many direct effects on the male anatomy
and metabolism - deep voice, increased muscle mass,
and strong bones etc. It also has crucial, if incompletely
understood, effects on male behavior; it contributes
to aggressiveness and is essential for the libido or
sex drive.
Similar to the way that women experience drops in sex
hormones (for them its estrogen) as they age, men also
see a reduction in their sex hormone, testosterone.
In women, the bulk of this drop happens starting around
age 50 and then plunges suddenly over a 5 year period.
It's called menopause and because the symptoms are so
clear (including the cessation of menstruation cycles),
there is no question when it happens.
The pace of hormonal changes in men is quite different.
Instead of happening in a condensed period in midlife,
it starts in the 30's and drops gradually after that
(around 1 percent per year). The slowness of the decline
means that the effects can be equally slow to appear
and may not even be apparent until well into middle
age or older
Understanding the role of estrogen
Estrogen dominance is the most frequent cause of hormone
imbalances in both girls & guys. It relates to a condition
where there is deficient, normal or excessive estrogen,
but little or no progesterone to balance its effects
in the body. Here are a few keys to remember about estrogen
dominance.
Fat stores estrogen. The more weight you gain, the more
estrogen you will retain.
Stress produces cortisol boosting estrogen levels &
contributing to weight gain.
A toxic liver will not filter estrogen out of our bodies.
Many of the foods we eat are fed estrogens to make them
grow and produce more food. Eating meat and diary products
will increase your estrogen levels.
Plastic containers, pesticides and cleaning chemicals
produce xeno-estrogens, chemicals that mimic estrogen
in the body.
Skipping periods, whether by choice through the use
of birth control pills or by nature, will prevent the
release of progesterone which keeps estrogen levels
in balance.
Understanding the role of adrenaline
Every challenge to the mind and body creates a demand
on the adrenals. The result is adrenal glands that are
constantly on high alert. The adrenal glands are important
control centers for many of the body's hormones. The
outer layer of the gland produces cortisol, DHEA, estrogen
and testosterone. The center of the glands produces
adrenaline. Cortisol helps us meet our everyday challenges
by converting proteins into energy. It does this by
releasing glycogen and counteracting inflammation. In
the short run that's fine, but an overproduction of
cortisol will gradually tear down your body.
When the adrenals are chronically overworked and straining
to maintain high cortisol levels they lose the capacity
to produce DHEA in sufficient amounts. Since DHEA
is a precursor hormone to estrogen, progesterone and
testosterone, that's not good. You can experience fatigue,
bone loss, decreased muscle mass, depression, aching
joints, impaired immune function and wait for it … yes,
lowered libido.
So what are the answers?
You can beat headaches through good nutrition and supplementation
as well as regular exercise. Here are some suggestions.
Start shopping for hormone free meats.
Use non-toxic household cleaners and non-toxic pesticides
whenever possible.
Make sure you are getting at least 30 grams of fiber
every day. Fiber binds to estrogen helping to remove
it from the body.
Vitamins A, C, B12 and E along with magnesium, selenium,
calcium and anti-oxidants are essential to maintaining
a healthy hormone balance.
Supplement with DHEA, chat to your health professional
to see if this is appropriate. This hormone precursor
promotes the development of progesterone which will
keep estrogen in check.
Also consider adding in Milk Thistle. This herb has
a wonderful track record for cleansing and supporting
the liver.
Dietary changes - such as limiting caffeine, eating
regularly to maintain blood sugar levels and avoiding
known triggers such as red wine.
In most cases, hormones are just one of many migraine
triggers. When suffering from chronic headaches, it
is important to learn your triggers. Keep a diary that
tells the date, time, weather conditions, foods eaten
in the last 24 hours, emotional stressors, amount of
sleep, drugs taken or, if you are a female, where you
are in your menstrual cycle. Determining your triggers
can take you a long way towards reducing the frequency
and intensity of migraines.
Some triggers include:
Alcohol & MSG
Tyramine (aged cheeses and fermented foods)
Aspartame (artificial sweetener) " Phenylethylamine
(present in some OTC drugs and chocolate)
Nitrates (preservatives used in sausage, bacon, and
lunch meats)
Citrus foods and products Missing meals
Changing your sleep routine
Stress
Once you have eliminated many of the triggers, you may
find your headaches are cyclical. If this is so, you
may have just discovered that your migraines are triggered
by hormones. If you fall into this category, there is
hope beyond medication. It's important to understand
that this will require a commitment on your part. Balancing
hormones can be a tedious and difficult prospect but
the rewards are well worth the effort.
Although over-the-counter pain relievers can relieve
most headaches, lifestyle matters, too. Adopt lifestyle
changes such as eating healthy foods, increasing your
water intake, exercising regularly & keeping stress
under control. Practicing relaxation techniques and
getting plenty of sleep can also prove to be beneficial.
It is clear that many factors work together to bring
on a migraine attack. Addressing one factor in isolation
may not be enough to reduce the frequency and severity
of the symptoms. If you are unsure of which steps to
take, be sure you work with someone that is familiar
with natural alternatives. They should be able to guide
you in your decision making process.
By taking these steps, you should be on your way to
improved health with a wonderful side effect, no more
HEADACHES!
Narelle
Stegehuis, CEO of MassAttack, is a practicing Naturopath
specializing in the research and development of natural
treatment programs for women with hormonal imbalances,
which have contributed to such symptoms as weight gain,
cravings, anxiety and mood swings. Uniquely for patient
convenience her programs are also offered via the Internet.
She is both an accomplished wrier and recent recipient
of the Australian Naturopathic Excellence Award 2006.
Visit her website at www.MassAttack.com.au
or download your Free E-Book by Narelle Stegehuis "7
Secrets to Weightloss Revealed" Click Here
T:
1300 133 536
Make
Unsightly Facial & Smaller Leg Veins A Thing of
The Past: with The New Medical Laser, The Cutera Xeo!
50% Off Facial Vein Treatments!
February
is the month of love, so don't let unsightly facial
veins, capillaries, haemangiomas or cherry angiomas
spoil the mood for you. Medical Spa, at Albert Street
in Brisbane, can get rid of them for you fast, comfortably
and safely with their new medical laser, the Cutera
Xeo.
This laser has been designed to make unsightly facial
and smaller leg veins a thing of the past, with no more
painful injections. Advanced laser laser technology,
and a longer wavelength, treats most facial veins in
just seconds, with patients able to return to work straight
afterwards.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
The Cutera Xeo laser system delivers pulses of light
energy which cause the blood within the vein to coagulate,
eventually destroying the vessel which is later absorbed
by your body. Blood flow will be then redirected to
veins deeper below your skin's surface, where it should
be. In addition to a broad range of blood vessels, from
tiny spider veins to deep reticular veins, the Cutera
Xeo laser can also treat blood blisters of "hemangiomas",
usually with just one treatment. Patients with port
wine stains and other vascular lesions who had given
up on finding a solution have been overwhelmed by the
success their laser vascular treatment. Most patients
find that the majority of the treated veins have shown
significant improvement with just two to six weeks.
WHO CAN BE TREATED?
Because of its unique design and long wavelength, the
Cutera laser is suitable for all skin types (including
dark skin). For most patients only one or two treatments
are required, and all treatments are done by an experienced
vascular laser technician fully licenced by Queensland
Health.
During February, Medical Spa is offering My Health
Specials readers 50% off the cost of your first facial
vein or capillary treatment. There's never been a better
time to take the step to feel good and look good. Call
Medical Spa today on 3211 8100 for your free consultation
or visit www.medicalspa.com.au.
Medical Spa is located on Level 1, 245 Albert Street
(Cnr Adelaide St) in Brisbane and offers a wide range
of licenced laser treatments for hair removal, acne,
pigmentation and skin pores.
My Health Specials: $10 Massage
at Proactive Therapy!
or
Ph: 1300-0-PAINS
Shop
7, Springwood Plaza 3 Dennis Rd Springwood
Click
Here To Find Your LOCAL Fitness Centre
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Here To Find Your LOCAL Weight Loss Centre
Nourishedmagazine.com.au:Forgotten
Tooth Decay Cure: Heal your Cavities and Prevent Root
Canals !
by
Rami Nagel
In his search for a cure for his one-year-old daughter's
cavities, Rami Nagel came across the work of Dr Weston
A Price, a dentist who, in the late 19th and early 20th
centuries, discovered the true cause of dental decay.
...More
Brought
to you by
www.nourishedmagazine.com.au
Short
and Sweet:Cucumber and Celery Salad With Tuna!
Serves
4
¼
tsp ground cumin 1 tbsp lime juice 1 tbsp vegetable
oil 2 vine ripened tomatoes cut into thin wedges 1 small
cucumber halved and thinly sliced 1 stalk of celery
½ small red onion, sliced finely ¼ cup coriander leaves
1 medium tin of tuna Place cumin, chili, lime juice
and oil in a bowl, season to taste and combine. Place
tomatoes, cucumber, onion, tuna and coriander in a bowl.
Just before serving, add dressing and mustard seeds
then combine.
.
Brought
to you by www.massattack.com.au
Download
our new FREE e-book 7 Secrets of Weight Loss Revealed
http://www.massattack.com.au/sevensecretssubscribe.html
Laughter
is the best medicine!
A
frog goes into a bank and approaches the teller. He
can see from her name plate that the teller's name is
Patricia Whack. So, he says, "Mrs. Whack, I'd like to
get a loan to buy a boat and go on a long vacation."
Patti looks at the frog in disbelief and asks how much
he wants to borrow.
The frog says "$30,000." The teller asks his name and
the frog says that his name is Kermit Jagger, his dad
is Mick Jagger, and that it is OK, he knows the bank
manager.
Patti explains that $30,000 is a substantial amount
of money and that he will need to secure some collateral
against the loan. She asks if he has anything he can
use as collateral.
The frog says, "Sure. I have this," and produces a tiny
pink porcelain pig, about half an inch tall. Bright
pink and perfectly formed.
Very confused, Patti explains that she'll have to consult
with the manager and disappears into a back office.
She finds the manager and says: "There is a frog called
Kermit Jagger out there who claims to know you and wants
to borrow $30,000. And he wants to use this as collateral."
She holds up the tiny pink pig. "I mean, what the heck
is this?"
The bank manager looks back at her and says, "It's a
knick knack, Patti Whack. Give the frog a loan. His
old man's a Rolling Stone."
Quote
of the week!
Fall seven times, stand up eight.
For
a Good Cause: Why Support The Lord Mayor's Community
Trust
The Lord Mayor's Community Trust was established uner
a Trust Deed to comply with the ancillary fund provisions
of Divison 30 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997,
for the purpose of providing money, property or benefits
to or for eligible charities or for the establishment
of eligible charities. It is a deductible gift recipient
and all donations in cash and in kind over $2 are tax
deductible.
http://www.lmct.org.au/
BACK
ISSUES OF NATURALLY HAPPY
In
the next issue of "Naturally Happy"
- Alkalife
Alkaline Water!
- Curves
Robina!
- Bodizone!
- Mass
Attack!
- The
Medical Sanctuary!
- nourished.com.au!
- Short
and sweet!
If
this link doesn't work please email info@myhealthspecials.com.au
My
Health Specials provides this information for your personal
education and enrichment. Information provided should
not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem
or disease. Nor should the information replace the advice
of your health care practitioner. Always seek professional
advice if suffering an illness. My
Health Specials Pty Ltd and all parties involved in
the conception, production, ongoing maintenance and
operation of Naturally Happy accept no liability and
no responsibility for any damage whatsoever arising
from or in connection to your use or operation of the
website or information contained in this e-magazine.
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