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More Articles from Healing Highlights
What to Do if You Get the Flu
I must confess, with all of my knowledge, I was quite smug about my ability to resist infection…until this past week. After several long nights and busy days in New York, sleeping too little while doing too much, sure enough I got sick. I was miserable, my body was achy, I was coughing, my joints hurt, head ached, my throat was sore and I was exhausted.
The good news is that I recovered in less than 48 hours. Read on to see what I did and how it may be helpful to you if you get sick.
I knew that in order to get well I had to take care of three things:
1) My body had to be structurally aligned so that I would feel better.
2) I had to do something that would actually kill the virus.
3) I need to boost my immune system so that my body could fend off the infection and recover.
The first thing I did was get a therapeutic massage that helped drain my lymphatic system and align my body. My body was so uncomfortable that getting it to release the tension was imperative. Luckily for me my daughter, Shaina Brody, is an excellent massage therapist (and my best student)! She did a fantastic job getting my lymphatics draining and relieving strain so that I could relax and sleep better.
The lymphatic system pulls the toxins out of your body and then filters it through the lymph nodes. That’s why when people get sick they get swollen lymph glands. Adequate drainage of the lymphatic system through various therapeutic massage techniques such as myofascial release and cranio-sacral therapy enable your body to heal rapidly. (Even if you’re not sick you’ll feel better!)
Once the aches and pains were gone and my body’s drainage systems were working better I was able to get adequate rest. I knew it was important that I not push my body if I was going to get well, so I took a day off and slept.
Before I went to sleep I did these 5 things:
1) To kill off any viruses I took Colloidal Silver. It is the most potent way to directly attack a virus. The 2 brands that I like most are Argentyn and Sovereign Silver. They are manufactured in such a way that you need a lower potency (30 – 50 ppm) and you can take it as often as you feel you need to, up to 7 times a day. Adults take a teaspoon (5 ml) 3 – 7 times a day until you are well. Children under 60 pounds take ½ a tsp. 3-7 times a day. It has only a hint of a metallic taste and you can mix it in water or diluted juice (BTW never give a child undiluted juice, the sugar content is very high and can have a negative effect on the child’s immune system and cause the teeth to decay.)
To boost my immune system:
2) I then took an extra 5,000 units of Vit D. It is a great way to help your body fend off any viral infections. It is best taken with food but it can be taken on an empty stomach. I continued to take 5000 units twice a day until I felt better.
3) I also took 2000 mg of Vitamin C. It helps to ease the inflammation and boost the immune system to defeat infections. This I took 3 or 4 times a day until I felt better.
4) I then looked into my Family Guide to Homeopathy for a remedy. For symptom relief and to hasten recovery, there is nothing like homeopathy. Fortunately there are a number of excellent books that explain what homeopathy is and how to use it. The remedies are inexpensive, extremely safe and can have amazing benefits in very short periods of time.
5) I was tired, cold and generally feeling lousy so before collapsing in bed I took a long hot shower. While taking that shower the remedy kicked in, my body relaxed and then I went to sleep.
After sleeping for 12 hours I woke up feeling 60% better, I repeated the vitamin regimen and this time added Oregano extract. One of the most potent boosters of the immune system, it is great as a preventative and a therapeutic approach. I took 10 drops in water, had a light breakfast and went back for more sleep.
I repeated this procedure several times, and 36 hours later, 25 of which were spent sleeping, I was 95% better and ready to go!
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There is one more thing I forgot to tell you about: Chicken soup. There is nothing like a bowl of steaming hot homemade chicken soup to make you feel better. Here is my wife’s recipe for the World’s Best Chicken Soup (try it, you’ll like it!):
1 large pot (at least 8 quarts)
1 whole quartered kosher chicken (Don’t try to fudge on this, it has to be kosher, it makes a difference. You don’t need to skin it, just take off any feathers.)
8 whole carrots, peel but do not cut
1 whole parsnip, peel but do not cut
1 whole onion, peel but do not cut
3 whole stalks of celery—do not cut
1 entire bulb of fresh garlic, diced
2 bay leaves
1 bunch of fresh dill
4 teaspoons of salt (or to taste)
2 dashes white pepper
Put the chicken pieces in the pot. Cover with cold water (best to use filtered water) and bring to a boil. Skim off the “sham”, the grayish foam that comes up when it comes to a boil. Note: do not skip this step—it is crucial. Do not add any vegetables or spices until you skim the sham! After the sham has been skimmed, put in the vegetables and the spices. Cook covered on a low boil for 1 – 1 ½ hours. Enjoy!
Now I am feeling as good as ever!
One last note: Had I not done all of these things, I probably would have gotten much worse and if it had gotten to my lungs, as most flu’s do, I would have taken elderberry. Sambucol is an elderberry extract that has been shown to be effective in treating the flu. In addition, it tastes good. This is best used if you develop a deep cough, i.e. it is coming from your lungs.
Improve Your Brain...with Exercise?
Physical exercise is one of the most important things you can do to improve your brain function.
Although the brain is only 2-3% of your body weight, it receives 20-30% of your blood. The more your heart pumps blood, the more blood gets to your brain. When you exercise, blood is being pumped around the body faster, so a greater volume of blood is being pumped through your heart. When you have an increased flow of blood from your heart you will automatically get more blood to your brain. Fresh blood from your heart carries with it the oxygen and nutrients your brain needs to function. This is similar to a farmer irrigating and fertilizing his fields to produce better crops. Additional blood flow fortifies the brain, feeds it and fuels it.
Exactly how important is exercise in enhancing brain function and memory? At the 2008 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference on Alzheimer’s Dementia in Chicago, at least 50 presenters concluded that in those individuals that exercised regularly, cognition and memory were enhanced and the incidence of Alzheimer’s Dementia was decreased significantly. It didn’t matter if they were walking or running or dancing or weight lifting; all that mattered was that they exercised.
There are many reasons why exercise helps brain function: increased circulation, lowering of Cortisol, decrease of stress, increase of the body’s natural anabolic (reparative and strengthening) hormones, lowering of insulin, stabilizing blood sugar, change of pace, increased endorphins or just the joy of doing it (or finishing it!) Another benefit is that when you exercise you will also sleep better and when you are well rested your mind works better.
If you are having a hectic day or perhaps you are trying to study or do work that requires mental exertion and you reach an impasse, try an exercise break. It doesn’t need to be long; just 15-20 minutes will refresh your brain and invigorate you (If you are jumping rope, all you need is 5-10 minutes.) Whenever you are on a long road trip, take an exercise break every couple of hours; even for just a few minutes; it will help you stay alert.
The kind of exercise you choose to do doesn’t really matter: You can walk briskly 20 minutes a day. In that time the average man should be able to walk a 1 ½ - 2 miles and the average woman, 1- 1 ½ miles. As you continue your walking, you will be amazed at how easily you can meet and exceed these expectations. You may prefer aerobics, weight lifting, martial arts, tennis, basketball, soccer, swimming, or cycling. Whatever it is you do, do it regularly and follow these 4 guidelines:
1. Safety. Competition can be fun but it can also be dangerous. Remember, it is only a game. The goal is to get exercise and have fun. Take time to warm up, stay hydrated and take your vitamins.
2. Intensity. You need to be sweating a bit and get short of breath. Push yourself a little bit, just enough to get winded and a little sweaty. Keep it up for 15-20 minutes a day and you’re done! You will be amazed at how quickly you will begin to feel better and think better.
3. Stay hydrated. Water hydrates you, soft drinks of any sort do not. Juices are so packed with sugar (albeit natural sugar) that their ability to hydrate is minimal. Water is not only a natural lubricant to the body but it enhances brain function and alertness.
4. Rest. Fatigue and dehydration are the 2 most common causes of all injuries. When you are tired you become less coordinated and less balanced. Exercise without rest can be dangerous. You need enough sleep to awaken refreshed. Good quality sleep helps your body repair and get stronger after you have exercised.
Personally, besides the walking and bicycling I do, I like a morning “jolt.” In the morning I run in place for a few minutes, lift some weights and stretch out a little afterward. The whole thing only takes 10 minutes, but I get my blood flowing a little faster and I feel invigorated and alert for the whole day.
So, improve your body and keep your mind sharp with exercise!
What do you do if you hurt too much to exercise? Perhaps you are too uncomfortable to move or perhaps when you do exercise you hurt worse. If you have any of these or similar issues, please give me a call at 717.235.3485. The consultation is free.
What Do Tooth Decay and Athlete's Foot Have in Common?
They are both due to infection. Tooth decay happens when the bacteria in your mouth get out of control and eat away at the protective covering of your teeth called the enamel. Athlete’s foot happens when you get a fungal infection on your feet. It not only makes your feet itch and burn but it eats away at the skin of your feet and to make matters worse it makes your feet stink!
Both tooth decay and athlete’s foot tend to recur unless you do something proactive to prevent it. To protect your teeth, most people know that they have to brush their teeth to remove the bacteria. Did you know that the same thing applies to your feet? To prevent athlete’s foot all you have to do is scrub your feet every day with soap and water using some kind of washcloth. All of the creams and powders and ointments for athlete’s foot will be of little help if you don’t scrub your feet. And if you do scrub your feet, you most likely won’t need those creams and powders and ointments.
Just like with your teeth, if they get infected (i.e. tooth decay) you need to get it treated properly, so too with your feet. If you get a fungal infection (athlete’s foot) you may need to use antifungal creams for a little while until the infection goes away, all the while making sure you scrub your feet twice a day. Once the infection is gone, just keep on scrubbing at least once a day.
BTW after scrubbing your feet, be sure to dry them thoroughly before putting on socks and shoes.
Stress and Your Body
It comes as no surprise that life can be stressful. Stress however, is not always about “bad” things, it can also be due to “good” things.
In the early 1970’s a simple garage mechanic did a favor for some guy passing through town. This was no ordinary town, it was a little isolated town somewhere in New Mexico. The guy driving through had an engine malfunction of some sort. The mechanic checked it out and found that it was no big deal, so he did the job and, despite the fact that the car was an expensive car and it seemed that the guy could easily have afforded a big price tag, the mechanic demonstrated integrity and just charged the guy a few bucks and sent him on his way. The guy was grateful and never forgot the mechanic’s integrity.
When the guy passed away a few years later, he remembered the mechanic in his will. The guy was Howard Hughes, and he left the mechanic 20 million dollars. That was in 1976. The mechanic, a simple honest working man who enjoyed his job and had a lifestyle to which he had become accustomed, died of a heart attack because of the stress of having that kind of fortune cast upon him. As the old saying goes...“Too much of a good thing.”
Stress of any sort occurs when we are challenged with either a change or more of something than we can handle. When we become stressed, somatic (physical) changes occur and these changes can adversely affect our bodies.
The first change that usually occurs is that we alter our breathing -either we breath too rapidly and hyperventilate or we breathe so shallowly that our breath is almost imperceptible. When our breathing is altered so is our mind; it either races or it slows down. This alteration of our mind leads to irrational thinking, poor decision making or mental paralysis (can’t make any decision at all.)
Another area affected adversely by stress is our muscles. Muscles spasm, causing pain that can be felt in the neck, jaws, shoulders, lower back and upper back. The pain that occurs as a result of stress is unique in that it just won’t go away. No matter what you do or how you move, the pain doesn’t let up. A common scenario is that people will get treated for their pain only to find that it returns within a few days. To make matters worse, the pain may disturb your sleep, leaving you more tired. When you’re tired, everything hurts more which makes it harder to sleep. And so the vicious cycle continues.
The best way to get relief is to get your body “unwound”. I have found throughout almost 30 years of working on thousands of people that nothing works better to alleviate the pain due to stress than soft tissue techniques such as myofascial release, cranio-sacral and Myophlage. These are all very gentle yet powerful techniques that relieve pain, help the body cope with stress, normalize breathing patterns and improve sleep.
If you or someone you know is suffering from pain due to stress, call or email me. No one should have to suffer from this kind of pain; it can alter a person’s life and lead to a variety of illnesses. There is no charge for phone consultations and I respond to all emails. Please be patient as it may take a few days to get back to you, but I will return all inquires.
To learn more about these techniques or to attend one of my training seminars, please email me.
It’s All About Balance
If you can’t fall asleep the best thing to take is Melatonin. It is the brain’s natural sleep inducing hormone. It is extremely safe; the only known side effect is that it will make you sleepy and if you do not need it, it can give you nightmares. It is an excellent anti-oxidant for the brain and helps travelers get over jetlag. You only need a little bit, 1.5 mg just before you lay down in bed. Open up a 3 mg. capsule, pour ½ under your tongue (close it up and save the rest for the next night), take a sip of water, swish it around in your mouth and swallow. Then lay down in a dark quiet room. You will be asleep in minutes. WARNING: If you do anything after taking the melatonin such as read, watch TV or even converse, it will keep you up for hours.
If you can fall asleep but can’t stay asleep, try taking 5-HTP (5-Hydroxytryptophan) at bedtime. It is the precursor to serotonin which is the brain’s natural hormone to ease tension and relax the mind. It is extremely safe. The starting dose is 50 mg at bedtime and you can take up to 300 mg. safely. Some people find that if they take it an hour or so before bedtime they sleep better, others take it right at bedtime. Try different regimens to see what works best for you.
If you have stressful days and you find that you can’t wind down or that your sleep is fitful, then taking Pregnenolone may be helpful for you. It is a natural brain hormone that eases the nervous system to allow you to rest more peacefully. The dose is 30-100 mg an hour before bedtime is best but it can be taken right at bedtime. At this dose there are no known side effects.
To order any of the above supplements, visit our NEW "Products" page at http://centersforhealing.com/products.html. There will be more supplements coming soon!
If you would like some guidance you can schedule a phone consultation. For a brief (5-minute) consultation there is no charge. If your situation is more complex you will need to schedule a regular visit.
Injuries in Childhood
Young children are often falling and bumping their heads. Who would imagine that a seemingly minor accident could have large repercussions later in life? Yet even minor bangs to the head in children can have devastating consequences on their ability to concentrate, learn, control impulsive behavior and be happy--in addition to making them more susceptible to ear infections.
This newsletter contains a few true stories that demonstrate the surprising consequences of a seemingly minor bump on the head.
Jason was about two years old when he stood up under the dining room table and banged his head. He cried a bit, his mother comforted him and he seemed fine. Then the changes began...slowly and seemingly nothing out of the ordinary. He began to get ear infections that never seemed to go away. With an antibiotic the infection would subside for a few weeks, maybe even a month or two, only to return. This continued for three more years. He became moody and had a hard time settling down for the night. By the time he was five years old he was consistently agitated unless he was involved in something that really interested him. He had a hard time both falling asleep and staying asleep, and in the mornings he had a great deal of difficulty getting up. Occasionally he would get in trouble in school and it wasn’t uncommon for him to get into fights and have temper tantrums.
When I first saw Jason he was only six years old. He was obviously edgy and seemed to have a strained relationship with his mother who, in turn, seemed exasperated.
After treating him only two times, his ear infections resolved, he began sleeping through the night, his moods got better, his temper tantrums ceased and his mother was a lot happier.
One of my most difficult cases was Michael. He was 12 years old at the time I first saw him and was always getting into fights. He was a very bright child that put out no effort in school and began smoking and drinking with some older boys outside of school. His parents were divorced. His father was kicked out of the house because he was an abusive drunk. His mother was a food addict who smoked and yelled a lot. He had an uncle that was in jail and he had no relationship with any of his grandparents. The teachers felt he had a classic case of ADHD because he was always acting out in class.
His mother insisted that he could be helped with cranial treatment. For obvious reasons, I was skeptical at best but the mother insisted, so I agreed to try. Much to all of our surprise, it took only three treatments before he responded. His mother had gotten a call from his teacher asking what medication he was on because he had shown such a dramatic improvement. He was paying attention in class, no longer getting into fights, and he seemed generally agreeable.
There is one more facet to the story. It turns out that at around the age of 3 he had fallen down the basement stairs and suffered a mild concussion. The doctors said he would be fine and not to worry. Nine years later after a few cranial treatments he was finally “fine.”
This story happened to one of my daughters. This little girl was blessed with a sweet disposition and a gentle nature. Then one day it all changed. She became cranky, moody, yelling, crying and refused to cooperate. So we did what any normal parents would do...sent her to bed! Even after a good night’s sleep she was still not in a better mood and remained cantankerous for a few more days. I began to wonder what brought about this sudden change in behavior. She was in no mood to talk so I just had her lie down while I treated her little head and neck. They were unusually tight. The next morning, there she was, back to her old sweet self. Curious, we asked her what had happened.
She was sleepy one morning a few days ago and decided to take a nap on the bus on the way to school. She did this by leaning her head on the window of the bus which banged her head around as it took her to school. By the time she got to school she had a minor head and neck ache. By the time she got home she was miserable, but being so young she couldn’t articulate what was bothering her. It wasn’t until a few days later after she was treated could she tell us what the problem was.
So exactly what is cranial treatment? The 22 bones of the skull actually move or pulse slightly. A bump on the head can “lock up” or inhibit this movement. Cranial treatment “unlocks” the strain and restores their natural movement which affects overall sense of health and well being. A good example is to imagine wearing a hat that is too tight. How well will you be able to concentrate? Will you be able to stay focused? How will your moods be after a while? Might you get a little bit edgy and distracted? Do you think you will be able to sleep well? This is how a child might feel if his/her head is restricted.
The treatment is surprisingly gentle. The practitioner places his/her hands on the patient’s head and gently allows the cranial bones to resume their normal subtle movement. Although the touch may be imperceptible the changes can be quite dramatic. One of the most surprising aspects of this kind of treatment is that it usually takes only a few visits (i.e. 2 or 3) to make a long term change in a child.
If you have or know of a child that has had a head injury or unexplained behavior changes, do that child a favor and get him/her evaluated by an Osteopath or other practitioner skilled in cranio-sacral manipulation. It can make a world of difference to a life that is just beginning.
Optimizing Your Body for Maximum Perfmance
What you are about to read applies to every living and breathing creature and, in fact, may apply to everything created - both animate and inanimate. Structure and function are intimately connected. If the structure is well-balanced and supportive, then it will function at its very best. If, however, the structure is imbalanced, strained, weakened or misaligned, then its function will be suboptimal.
Take a car, for example. For the past two weeks my car was shaking, veering to the right, noisy and generally unpleasant to drive. The mechanic diagnosed the problem quickly and easily, replaced two tires, balanced them and aligned both the front and back ends. Now the car rides beautifully; it's quieter, smoother, gets better gas mileage and is a pleasure to drive. As a result of the work performed on it, the mechanic assured me that the tires will also last longer.
We are no different! If our bodies are misaligned, strained, imbalanced or weakened in certain areas, we will not be fully functional.
The following 3 true stories of cases seen here demonstrate how structure and function are connected.
Charlie had emphysema. He could barely breathe and every effort was a chore. Because of his lung damage from 45 years of smoking, his chest and back were tight and he couldn't get a deep breath. After a few visits that loosened up his chest, back and neck, his breathing improved dramatically. He still had the emphysema but he could now take fuller breaths and, as a result, could move better and wasn't as fatigued from trying to breathe so hard.
Robin was depressed, grouchy and irritable. She also had chronic back pain that no matter what she did, it never went away. It kept her from exercising and even walking was difficult. In addition, she couldn't sleep well so she became grouchy and irritable and to make matters worse she began gaining weight. It turned out that she had an old foot and leg injury. As a result of that injury she began limping which twisted her back causing it to ache. As soon as she was treated for her old foot and leg injuries, the chronic back pain went away, she was able to exercise and slept better. Within a few weeks she was back to her old self and was able to shed those extra pounds.
Grace was a 92-year-old lady with total body ache, weakness, dizziness and always tired. Everybody told her that is what happens when you get to that age. She refused to accept it. After a month or two of visits she was moving better, no longer fatigued, had less pain and the dizziness went away.
Come see for yourself. Experience your body being balanced and feel the improvement in your focus, concentration and mood. If you have had an injury, be it recent or old, are suffering from pain and a decreased quality of life, try a visit or two and see how having your body balanced makes a difference. Call today for your free consultation: 717-235-3485. You have nothing to lose except your pain!
Accident Injuries
Several weeks ago, while riding my bicycle, a pickup truck suddenly turned in front of me, then stopped to make another turn. The last thing I remembered was saying, “Oh nuts….” The next thing I knew I was in an ambulance, strapped to a gurney.
Considering what could have been, I got off relatively easy. Thanks to G-d and my bicycle helmet I only suffered a concussion, various bumps and bangs to my body and 26 stitches (in addition to glue) to close up the lacerations on my face.
I knew that I needed to have my body treated as soon as possible to minimize the trauma, maximize healing and decrease the pain. While in the Emergency Room my wife gave me Arnica, and as soon as I left the emergency room I immediately had my daughter, Shaina Brody, MST, do some myofascial release which quelled the pain dramatically. The following morning I saw Scott Kwiatkowski, D.O. who did more advanced work on my body and further relieved my pain.
In addition to resting for a few days, I took GH3 to help me deal with the emotional trauma and Pregnenolone to help my brain recover from the concussion and insure a good night’s sleep. I dressed my lacerations with honey, which is sterile and brings blood to the area to aid in wound healing. I also applied Traumeel and DMSO which further aided the healing process. Within 2 days the bandages were off, the swelling was almost completely gone and the pain was significantly less.
When a body hits steel and/or concrete, the steel and/or concrete will win. The pain and shock to a body is tremendous and it is imperative to get treated ASAP. I feel so strongly about this that if at anytime, you or someone you know gets into an accident, I will make every effort to be there for you as soon as possible. DO NOT DELAY in getting treated. Now I can say that I really know how it feels and therefore I want to be there for you if, G-d forbid, you have to go through such a trauma. Steel and concrete hurt and the trauma left untreated can take years if not a lifetime to heal.
Does this approach still work if the injury occurred years ago?
Yes of course it does. Although it is best to get treated the day of the accident, before you “sleep on it”; nevertheless you can still benefit from treatment even years after the incident.
WARNING: Unscrupulous lawyers will not want you to get well too fast.
These lawyers want you to go through unnecessary tests, therapies and procedures in order to get a larger settlement form the insurance company. (Of course where there is serious injury and significant disability, these measures may be required.) Ask yourself: Is it worth years of unnecessary pain and suffering just for a few extra dollars - or do I want to heal quickly and feel good again as soon as possible?
If you decide that you want to heal quickly and feel good again then you will need myofascial release and cranio-sacral. These techniques gently and effectively release the tension in the body and enhance blood flow to and from the injured area. This results in much less pain and faster recovery.
Another benefit to being treated at the Centers for Healing is that myofascial release and cranio-sacral can be used to remove the emotional trauma from the body. Since the body has memory and can store pain and trauma for years, by helping the body release the emotional pain, healing can proceed at a much more rapid pace. You will also receive advice as to which supplements or products, with the correct doses, will help you recover the fastest.
Maintaining your health is difficult enough, but when trauma occurs, you need prompt, effective and wholistic care for your body so that you can recover quickly and fully.
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