They help to:

1. Produce steroids and hormones
2. Direct hormones to their target cells
3. Reduce pain, inflammation and swelling
4. Mediate the immune system
5. Dilate or constrict blood vessels
6. Regulate circulation
7. Regulate smooth muscle and autonomic reflexes
8. Regulate the rate at which cells divide
9. Regulate secretions such as mucous and their viscosity
10. Regulate pressure in the eye, joints and blood vessels
11. Maintain the fluidity and rigidity of cell membranes
12. Regulate the flow of substances in and out of cells
13. Transport oxygen from red blood cells to the tissues
14. Maintain proper kidney function and fluid balance
15. Keep saturated fats moving in the blood stream
16. Prevent blood cells from clumping together
17. Mediate the release of pro-inflammatory substances from cells which may trigger allergic reactions

Symptoms of Essential Fatty Acid Deficiency

The symptoms of essential fatty acid deficiency may be mild to very serious, ranging from dry skin to a fatal heart attack.  Doctors who are not trained in nutrition may miss very obvious signs of essential fatty acid deficiency.  

Typical symptoms of essential fatty acid deficiency are:

o Dry lifeless hair

o Immune system disorders

o Constipation
o Dry skin

o Fatigue and poor energy

o Lack of motivation
o Dry mucous membranes

o Breast cancer

o High blood pressure
o Chest pain

o Indigestion

o Depression
o High Cholesterol

o Gas and bloating

o Split nails
o Frequent colds and flu

o Forgetfulness, memory loss

o Aching joints
o Arthritis

o Cardiovascular disease, endurance

In this era of fat phobia, it may be hard to believe there are good fats.  These good fats are called essential fatty acids because they are essential for life. You must get them from your diet since your body cannot make them.  Lack of essential fatty acids in your diet can progress from minor symptoms at first, such as dry skin, to chronic degenerative disease later on, such as heart disease and cancer.  Therefore, I recommend as a corner stone of therapy that everyone take all the essential fatty acids in a supplement called Perfect Oils.

(back to top)

Heavy Metal Toxicity
HEAVY METAL TOXICITY AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO CHELATION THERAPY

Overview

Most of the problem with heavy metal toxicity (primarily mercury) is its indolent, slow, smoldering effect that never lets the patient know that mercury is at the root of the problem. Exposure to mercury begins in the womb where the mother transfers mercury to the fetus through the placenta. Once the fetus is out of the uterus, there
are many ways for mercury and other heavy metal levels to begin to accumulate. The common areas where mercury is found are:

Auto exhaust Paint pigments and solvents
Pesticides

Cinnabar (used in jewelry)
Fertilizers

Laxatives
Amalgams (silver fillings)

Mercurochrome/methiolate
Drinking water (tap and well)

Cosmetics: mascara
Tanning weather

Floor waxes and polishes
Felt

Wood preservatives
Plumbing - piping Adhesives
Bleached flour

Batteries
Processed foods

Air conditioner filters
Fabric softeners

Fish
Calomel (talc, body powder)


Mercury, Metals and Dental Health

If you are like most Americans, or most people in the world for that matter, you probably have mercury and/or other metal fillings in your mouth. Mercury fillings, also known as "silver fillings" or "amalgam" fillings, are the most common fillings in the world. Called silver because of their color, they actually contain from 45% to 52% mercury. Copper, tin, silver and zinc make up the remaining volume.                                                          


Some interesting facts related to the common dental filling (amalgam):

- Scientific research has demonstrated that mercury, even in small amounts, can damage the brain, heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, thyroid gland, and pituitary gland, adrenal gland, cells, enzymes and hormones, and suppress the body's immune system. Mercury has been shown to pass the placental membrane in pregnant women and cause permanent damage to the brain of the developing baby.

- Mercury is continually released from mercury dental fillings in the form of mercury vapor and abraded particles. This process is simulated and can be increased as much as 15-fold by chewing, brushing, hot liquids, etc. The World Health Organization recently concluded that the daily intake of mercury from amalgam dental fillings exceeded the combined daily intake of mercury derived from air, water and food (including fish).

- In human autopsy studies, it has been found that there is a direct correlation between the amount of mercury found in the brain and the number and surfaces of mercury fillings in the teeth.

- Mercury causes normal intestinal microflora to become mercury resistant and antibiotic resistant. Mercury resistant bacteria cause mercury in the intestinal tract to be converted back into vapor and recycled back into the body.
Antibiotic resistance is becoming a major medical concern.

- Recent scientific research has shown high levels of mercury in the brains of individuals dead from Alzheimer's disease (AD).   Other research is demonstrating mercury can cause similar pathological effects in the brain as
that seen in Lou Gehrig's Disease (ALS) and AD. Laboratory studies of spinal fluid from ALS and AD patients has confirmed that mercury inhibits key brain detoxification of enzyme systems.

One surely can see from the above list that the body can accumulate a large quantity of destructive mercury through life from many sources including the common dental filling.

As an aside, if mercury is so dangerous, shouldn't everyone run out and have their dental fillings removed? The answer is a great big NO! The process of removing amalgams can generate mercury vapor and particulates many times greater than leaving them alone. Before making a decision to have your fillings removed, have your physician screen your body with a simple urine test to measure the level of toxic heavy metals in your body.

Why Do Some People Become Mercury Toxic?

This is a question of how much "goes in" versus what "goes out." If more goes in than out, there is a buildup, so the exposure is important. If less "goes out," there is a buildup. There are natural ways the body gets rid of mercury, one of which is with conjugation of a tripeptide nutrient in our body called glutathione.

In general, we have a balance between how much gets into the body and how much we eliminate, and the end result is what is stored in the brain, liver and kidneys.

What are the Symptoms of Metal Toxicity?

Insomnia

Paresthesia (numbness and tingling)
Nervousness

Hallucinations
Dizziness

Headaches
Anxiety

Fatigue
Loss of self-confidence

Muscle weakness
Irritability

Hearing difficulties
Drowsiness

Emotional stress
Depression

Skin inflammation
Weight loss

Uncoordination
Tremors

Kidney damage

From the above, it should be quite obvious that many chronic symptoms/complexes that people have go undiagnosed because mainstream physicians are not familiar with chronic mercury toxicity and most even doubt its existence.

Does Mercury From Amalgams Contribute to Cardiovascular Disease?

A recent study from the Orient showed direct evidence that mercury damages the lining of blood vessels. That certainly emphasizes the fact that there is a link between vascular disease and mercury toxicity.


What Relationship Does Mercury Have in the Contribution to Free Radical Formation?

Damage from free radicals ("molecular bullets") has been linked to over 100 medical illnesses ranging from arthritis to aging. Free radicals are necessary for life but an abundance leads to illness. Like everything else, the right amount works well – too much is not right.

Therefore, when an individual is chronically exposed to mercury from the amalgam (losing daily amounts of mercury) the body is under continuous stress that leads to damage to varied organs and the final consequence of experiencing chronic illness.

Chronic Illness and Chronic Mercury Exposure from Amalgams and the Environment

Between the exposure from the environment (in which 60 tons of mercury is released into the air every year from industries in the U.S.) and the amalgams (silver fillings) that contaminate our bodies, it is no wonder there is an overwhelming increase of chronic illness in our world.

Toxic Metals

We live in very polluted times. Toxic metals are everywhere. Mercury is in our fillings, while aluminum is in our drinking water and anti-perspirants.  Cadmium is in cigarette smoke, nickel is in our cooking utensils, and uranium is in the air and soil. We have 500 times more lead in our bones than our great great grandparents did. As these levels of toxic metals have increased, so have the rates for cancer and autoimmune diseases. Chelation Therapy can safely and effectively remove these toxic metals from our bodies.

Cancer Risks

Cancer rates have skyrocketed in the last few decades. Right now, the average person has a 35% chance of dying of cancer. Studies have shown that people who undertake Chelation Therapy before clinical evidence of cancer may lower their lifetime risk of cancer by 90%.

Heart Disease

Many people use Chelation Therapy to help clean out their arteries and with good reason. In one study, 92 people who were referred for surgical intervention for heart disease were given Chelation Therapy instead. After the Chelation Therapy, only 10 of them ultimately required surgery. The other 82 were able to "bypass the bypass".  Doing maintenance Chelation Therapy also makes good sense when you consider that heart attacks are the number one cause of death in the US, currently accounting for 45% of all mortalities.

Chelation and Life Extension

Laboratory tests have shown that Chelation Therapy can increase the lifespan of animals an amazing 49.4%. Chelation not only increased the length of their lives, it increased the quality of their lives as well. Chelation Therapy kept them younger, longer. A 49% increase in human lifespan would give us an average lifespan of 120 years. What would you do with an extra 40 years?


Summary

You have briefly read about some of the problems caused by low-level chronic exposures to metal toxins from the environment. The removal of amalgams, change in diet and consideration of environmental factors as well as appropriate Chelation detoxification therapy should be considered once its determined that the symptoms you are presently experiencing may be the result of metal toxicity.

Remember, symptoms of this process are varied and difficult to diagnose. Any organ of the body can be involved but the most common problems involve the following areas:

Central nervous systems (brain)

Kidney damage
Kidney Blood vessels
Reproductive organs

Pancreas
Immune system
 

Therefore, if you have problems, which are “strange”, or your doctor doesn't know the cause of these problems, think metal toxicity (mercury) and consider Chelation Therapy as a treatment option.

Breakthrough Chelation Therapy Treatment Option

You should be aware of the fact that there are alternative techniques to treat metal toxicity problems. In most instances, the general population knows nothing about such treatments because the traditional medical establishment isn't aware of its existence and/or such knowledge has been suppressed over the years by various powerful organizations.

Chelation Therapy deals with the treatment and prevention of diseases involving the blood vessels of the body such as heart attacks, hardening of the arteries and strokes. Historically, the traditional approach to treat metal toxicity disease primarily involved surgery and/or an extensive IV drug regimen utilizing a chemical called EDTA (depending upon the individual's severity of symptoms, doctors typically prescribe an intravenous (I.V.) infusion often taking two-three hours to administer, two/three times weekly) In early 2001, a significant treatment alternative became available to patients via a rectal suppository delivery system which offered patients a minimally invasive treatment option., However, shortly thereafter, a breakthrough metal toxicity treatment option was introduced to the medical community which now affords the patient the added choice to take an oral sodium EDTA solution which offers enhanced transport with significantly less side effects.

Physicians familiar in the administration of Chelation Therapy treatment alternatives will thoughtfully review the benefits of undergoing such therapeutic treatments with their patients. Not only do clinical studies to support that more than 75% of patients who receive Chelation Therapy treatment show significant improvement in the reduction of metal toxicity symptoms, they also show that patients obtain substantial side benefits that tend to correct dietary deficiencies, smoking habits and lessen the potential for cardio-vascular disease.

(back to top)

Infrared Sauna
INFRARED SAUNA THERAPY


Sauna therapy is a thermal therapy that has been recognized throughout history as a viable means of relaxing and cleansing the body, improving overall health, and promoting a sense of well being. From Finland to India to North America, medical professionals recommend saunas as a safe and effective adjunctive therapy for detoxification. It is a practical means of stimulating the release of non-essential or toxic trace metals such as nickel, cadmium, and lead through sweat. The therapeutic rationale for using sauna therapy is that overheating the body, and hence inducing an artificial fever, stimulates metabolism, inhibits the growth of bacteria, increases the ability of all vital organs, and increases the capacity of the skin to eliminate, detoxify and cleanse via profuse sweating.

Infrared saunas use radiant energy to directly penetrate the body’s tissues to a depth of over 1½ “.  Its energy output is tuned to correspond so closely to the body’s own radiant energy that our bodies absorb close to 93% of the infrared waves that reach our skin. Infrared rays are selectively absorbed by the tissues needing a boost in their output.  The internal production of infrared energy that normally occurs within our tissues is associated with a variety of healing responses, and may require a boost to a maximal level to insure the fullest healing response possible in a tissue under repair.

The infrared energy may exceed up to 2-3 times the sweat volume of a hot air sauna while operating at a significantly cooler air temperature range of 110o – 130o  vs. 180o  – 235oF for hot air saunas.  The lower heat range is safer for those concerned about cardiovascular risk factors.  Infrared saunas emit 1/3 of their output in the middle infrared band from 2 to 5.6 microns for deeper penetration, and the other 2/3 in the long band from 5.6 to 25 microns.  The band from 2 to 25 microns is the most therapeutic according the Chinese researchers. Japanese researchers have reported that infrared radiant heat antidotes the negative effects of toxic electromagnetic sources, i.e. high tension power lines or computer display terminals.  These thermal systems have been free of such toxic electromagnetic fields and are not dangerous.  

Safety of Sauna Therapy

Sauna therapy is generally well tolerated by most healthy adults and children. This therapy has been shown to cause transient changes in hormones and cardiovascular, function. However, sauna therapy does not influence fertility and it is considered a safe treatment during uncomplicated pregnancies in healthy women.  With regard to cardiovascular health, recent research shows that repeated sauna therapy upregulates endothelial nitro oxide synthase expression in arterial endothelium thereby improving the hemodynamics, endothelial function and clinical symptoms in patients with chronic heart failure.  Further, some studies suggest that long-term sauna therapy may improve the left ventricular ejection fraction in patients with chronic congestive heart failure, and it may help lower blood pressure in hypertensive patients.  Patients with chronic bronchitis and asthma may benefit from the transient improvements in pulmonary function that occur because of sauna therapy. Further, patients with rheumatic disease can safely employ sauna therapy as a means of improving joint mobility and relieving pain.                                                                          

Contraindications:                                
Contraindications to sauna therapy include:

• Adrenal Suppression
• Recent Myocardial Infarction
• Unstable Angina Pectoris
• Severe Aortic Stenosis
• Alcoholism or recent alcohol consumption
• Heart Disease
• Kidney Disease
• Anemia
• Pregnant Women should be monitored closely by a qualified healthcare professional
• Systemic Lupus Erythematosis
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Hemophiliacs

Overview

The major benefits of Infrared sauna therapy include:

• Weight Loss:  Burns 900 – 2400 calories in just one 30 min. session
• Release of accumulated toxins such as pesticides, PCBs, drug residues, acidic wastes and non-essential trace metals
• Improvement in symptoms of Atopic Dermatitis
• Improves skin tone and elasticity, softens scars / Essential for beautiful, youthful, glowing skin
• Increased oxygenation of the tissues and cells
• Greatly speeds any anti-cellulite program
• Increased circulation, oxygen and nutrient delivery within the body
• Improvement in immune function
• Improved cardiovascular function
• Improved pulmonary function
• Alleviation of pain and improved joint mobility / helps with sprains, strains, muscle spasm
• Improved psoriatic conditions
• Relief of symptoms of asthma and chronic bronchitis
• More recently, it has been used in cancer therapy and shows great promise
• It assists in resolution of inflammatory infiltrates, edema and exudates
• Sunburn – Infrared radiations are the only antidote to excessive ultraviolet radiation
• Relaxation and enjoyment – remove stress in comfortable warm temperature.

(back to top)

Meditation, Learn How
LEARN TO MEDITATE

Because it is a subtle and specialized technique, meditation is best learned from a qualified instructor; it is not as easy to learn how to meditate correctly from a book. We will have a qualified instructor to teach patients how to meditate. One of the reasons that it is so important to meditate is that silence is the "first place of happiness." Silence is where we get our burst of inspiration, our tender feelings of compassion and empathy, as well as, our sense of love. These are all delicate emotions and the chaotic roar of me "internal dialogue," easily drowns them out. When you discover the silence in your mind, you no longer have to pay attention to all those random images that trigger worry, anger and pain. This is a meditative technique for reaching your inner silence that you can learn right now. These techniques are basically physiological. They take advantages of the natural silence that exists in the mind body system when it is in a relaxed state.

- When you are ready to begin, sit quietly holding at your hands lightly at your side or in your lap. Now, with your eyes closed, start to breathe lightly and easily. Let your attention easily follow your breathing. Feel your breath entering your nostrils and flowing down into your lungs. Do not inhale deeply or hold your breath, just breathe normally. When you exhale, let your attention follow the air up out through the lungs and softly through the nostrils.  
- Nothing should be forced. The breath you're taking should move easily and gently. Your attention is following the course of your breathing, like leaves rustling in a gentle wind through the treetops. As your breathing gets a bit shallower and lighter, just let it happen. If you start to feel short of breath, do not worry. This means that you need a little more air and deep stresses are being released through your easy breathing. Be aware, you might also be forcing your breathing to be lighter than it needs and wants to be. Try to find the rate of breathing at which your body feels most comfortable....

- When you are comfortable with this effortless process, you can add the sound "so hum” to the procedure. Silently think the word "so" on each inhale and "hum" on each exhale.                                                    

- Continue this exercise for two to five minutes, just closing your eyes and focusing your mind on an easy, natural rate of breathing, silently repeating "so hum" with each cycle of your breath.

What is happening with this exercise? You probably noticed that just by paying attention to your breathing, you sank deeper and deeper into relaxation. And as you did so, your mind naturally became quieter. Did you sense that? If so, you probably experienced a few glimpses of complete silence, which you would not have noticed without it being pointed out to you. If you had looked for silence, it may not have appeared. Did you feel that there were periods when you lost track of time? This is a good indication that you were getting very close to the goal.              
Most people experience much fainter thoughts than usual during meditation.  This is another good sign of progress towards mastering this technique.          

As you gain experience with meditation, you will begin to feel the reappearance of a youthful energy and vitality, which are being released from a deeper level of the nervous system. This is a very profound change and the real "fountain of youth."

Although meditation has been wrapped in an aura of mysticism for many centuries, it has been shown to be an extremely practical and "unmystical" process of quieting the mind.  It is the surest way to open a channel of healing.        

(back to top)

          
Plastics:  Beware The Plastic Plague
BEWARE THE PLASTIC PLAGUE
By Leigh Erin Connealy, M.D.

“I’ve got one word for you…Plastics”

You recall this popular cinematic phrase comes from the sixties classic movie “The Graduate.”  Dustin Hoffman’s character Benjamin has just graduated from college.  While trying to escape the madness of a party he would rather not be at Benjamin is cornered by a man hoping to convince Benjamin that he has the secret for the future.  He thinks Benjamin should think about a career in plastics!  

Looking back thirty-five years later, we see our whole world engulfed in plastic.  Isn’t it about time we learn about the “plastic plague”, a world of chemicals that surrounds and affects every aspect of our lives?

Despite all the conveniences of plastic, the worst-case scenario of plastic’s impact on our health is just that, the worst.  Plastics can create practically every disease and symptom, including cancer.  

First, plastic is not just one chemical.  It includes styrene, vinyl chloride, and phthalates.  You don’t have to be a chemist to know that these chemicals are swirling around you all the time, including now.  Nor do you need to be a physician to discover how these chemicals are damaging your health.

Styrene, for example, is found in styrofoam. It’s also in the electrical wires on your appliances, televisions and computers.  And you will find it in kitchen plastic wrap, grocery store packaging, insulation, carpeting, construction materials, adhesives, cabinets, furniture, carpets, dental work, paint, flooring, pipes, cigarettes and auto exhaust.  If you get a new car, or a new boat, or a new RV, you actually smell the gases that styrene continually dispenses into the air.  

Another chemical essential in the creation of plastic are phthalates.  You can find phthalates in cosmetics, plastic wraps of fruits, vegetables and meats, plastic bottles for water, juices, soda, milk, ketchup, mayonnaise, and everything else that comes in plastic.  And that includes vital intravenous medicine bags and tubing.  

And it’s not just that plastic and all its dangerous chemicals are continually around us. They are in us.  We have so much plastic in us that they are becoming a part of our bodies. Government studies show that 100% of human fat biopsies show storage of plastics.  

When you think of how much new effort we’re making about incorporating recommended dietary allowances of nutritional foods in our diets, it’s amazing to think that we’re ingesting an unwanted average daily dose of environmental poisons provided by plastic.

The “plastic plague” would diminish if our body had a good way of getting rid of all the chemicals we accumulate all day.  But it doesn’t.   What do these plastic chemicals do when they get into our bodies?  Everything.  

We slowly accumulate more and more of these chemicals until finally we get a damaged organ that has been labeled as some particular disease.  They damage the liver and liver enzymes.  They can destroy our thyroids, can cause babies to be born with malformations, create mysterious fatigue, nausea, depression, addictions, liver kidney disease.  Plastics can cause every type of genetic disease that leads to autoimmune problems and, of course, cancer.  This includes any type of cancer from stomach to breast to prostate and lungs.

Not a very positive picture, is it?  Well, I certainly don’t think we’re ready to surrender to this plague.  You can minimize the effects of these chemicals on you and your family by reducing your contact with plastic.  

First, buy as few foods in plastic as possible.  It may not seem easy, but it is crucial, since plastic wrapped foods are the major source of contamination for must humans.  There are nutritional supplements you can take to detoxify your body on a daily basis.  Buy vitamins and supplements in dark glass bottles or very hard plastic bottles that don’t dispense the plastic’s chemical gases.  

Another idea is to incorporate air cleaners in your home that purify the air around you at all times.   And if you use an infrared sauna on a regular basis, you could slowly rid your body of the lifelong accumulation of stored plastics.

This “plastic plague” is one we are just learning about.  More research is being done every day.  But don’t wait for test results and lab reports.  The best time to begin your battle against this contemporary hi-tech “plague” is today.

(back to top)

Sleep Hygiene
GUIDE FOR BETTER SLEEP HYGIENE

- Try a hot bath for 30 minutes to raise your body temperature – within two hours of bedtime.

- Sleep as much as needed to feel refreshed and healthy during the following day, but not more.

- Avoid or limit naps to 10-15 minutes a day – short naps can be beneficial.

- Limit the bedroom for sleep and relaxation – don’t use it as a work area.

- Use the bed only for sleeping – do not read, watch TV or eat in bed.

- Avoid unfamiliar sleep environments.

- Excessively warm rooms can disturb sleep – ideal sleeping temperature is 64 to 66 F.

- Eliminate intrusive light and sound from your bedroom.

- If you wake in the night, focus on relaxing or get up and do something else for a while.

- If you don’t fall asleep within 15 minutes, get up again and do not return to bed until you feel tired.

- Set your alarm and wake up at the same time every morning – your body will adapt to your sleep rhythm.

- Regular arousal time in the AM strengthens circadian cycling and leads to regular sleep times.

- Relaxing music or soothing natural sounds may help induce sleep.

- Reading before you go to bed (not in bed) may help you go to sleep.

- Hunger can disturb sleep – a light carbohydrate snack before bed may help you sleep.

- Daily exercise may help deepen your sleep – but should be avoided at least 2 hours prior to bedtime.

- Chronic use of tobacco disturbs sleep; quit smoking – or don’t smoke after 7:00 P.M.

- Avoid caffeine in the evening – and limit morning caffeine intake before 10:00 A.M.

- Avoid heavy meals and spicy foods in the evening.

- Avoid Alcoholic beverages; alcohol can fragment sleep, especially the 2nd half of the sleep period.

- An occasional sleeping pill may be beneficial – but check with your physician.

SLEEP WELL…

(back to top)

Sunshine Vitamin
The Sunshine Vitamin

By Leigh Erin Connealy, MD

“Organisms become adapted to the environment through natural selection in their search for a better world. . . the discovery that sunlight can be eaten. . . this inexhaustible food supply. . . created the kingdom of plants; and the discovery that plants can be eaten created the animal kingdom,” Karl Popper.

A recent article in the British Medical Journal concludes that moderate sun exposure is a more proper recommendation, while many experts say you should stay out of the sun completely to avoid cancer.  As we review this whole aspect of the sun, it has been concluded that the benefits of the sunlight clearly outweigh the risks.  

What is the sun and what does sunlight do for us?  Sunlight is energy—it is electromagnetic energy that radiates from the sun in waves similar to that of the ocean.  Contained within each of these waves are colors of the rainbow—from longest to shortest, from red to violet—and the effect of these waves on our health and life is profound.  The infrared spectrum provides us with warmth and the ultraviolet with the nutrient crucial to life: vitamin D.  

The ultraviolet lights have waves of different lengths—UVA, UVB, and UVC.  It is important to know that 90-95% of the ultraviolet light in sunlight falls into UVA group, with UVB making up the majority of the remainder.  It is within this ultraviolet spectrum that we find most of the beneficial effects of sunlight.  

The most widely known benefit of sunlight is its essential role in production and regulation of vitamin D, which is important for strong healthy bones as well as properly functioning nervous system and healthy skin.  In extreme cases, children who do not have enough vitamin D develop rickets.  Rickets can be both prevented and cured by just a few minutes a day of strong sunlight.  Adults who are deprived of sufficient vitamin D don’t develop rickets, but do suffer loss of bone mineral and weakening of their bones, called osteomalcia.  Again, exposure to sunlight (our best source of vitamin D) will solve this problem.  

How does sunlight work its magic to provide us with a steady and correct supply of vitamin D?  When sunlight strikes the exposed skin, the UVB portion causes a chemical change in a special type of cholesterol present in the skin, converting it to a form of vitamin D.  From the skin this inactive vitamin D travels through the blood stream to the liver, where it is again chemically altered, and finally to the kidneys for its final alteration to a substance called 125 dihydroxycholecalciferol or, more simply, active vitamin D.  So you can see that three organ systems—the skin, the liver and the kidneys—work together to provide our bodies with a consistent level of vitamin D.  

What happens when you slather on sunblock?  Most of the sunscreens on the market block the UVB portion of sunlight but offer little or no protection against the UVA wavelengths.  You end up with a false sense of security that you are wearing sunscreen and blocking out the dangerous UVA light.  The sun protection factor, or the SPF numbers, on the labels refer only to UVB screening, which is only 5-10% of the total ultraviolet light.  For example, an SPF of 8 means that the average individual using that strength of block could stay in the sun eight times longer before burning, because the blocking agents screen out the harmful UVB rays.  Obviously, with a higher level of SPF it permits that much more protection against UVB waves.  By applying sunscreen you are also inhibiting the production of natural vitamin D.  Research has shown that a single application of sun block with an SPF of 8 can effectively prevent the conversion of cholesterol on the skin to vitamin D, robbing the body of one of its most valuable bone-building and cancer-fighting nutrients.  

Since sunscreens protect primarily against the UVB, what will protect us against the UVA radiation?  Nature has taken care of this, giving humans a built-in sun protection—the ability of the skin to tan.  So with gradual “unblocked” exposure of skin to sunlight, both UVA and UVB waves stimulate pigment producing cells within the skin called melanocytes to produce a pigment called melanin, which is our natural sunscreen.  The body has a natural way of regulating that production.  People who are fair skinned require a buildup of time to develop the pigment in the skin, and they need short frequent exposure to build up the production of melanin.

You might be thinking that protecting yourself with full spectrum sunscreens is the best protection for everything, but as mentioned earlier in this article, these sunscreens cover the UVB rays but do not cover the UVA.  There have been some new developments in recent years that sunscreens with titanium dioxide (which is a physical sun block and covers half of the UVA wavelengths) and unfortunately all other sunscreens block UVB and UVA, which essentially robs the body of natural vitamin D production and prevents the skin from protecting itself with pigment. You may be thinking that if you don’t put on sunscreen when in the sun, you will surely burn.  Indeed, you will if you over expose your unprotected skin.  When your skin begins to turn red from UVB exposure, then you probably stayed in the sun too long.  The best strategy is to cover up at the first sign that your skin is beginning to slightly redden.  Rest your skin and slowly build up your pigment protection day by day.  

Why wouldn’t I just take vitamin D pills?  Vitamin D is not abundantly found in the food we eat.  Fish oils provide the richest amounts, and a little is found in eggs and dairy products. So our bodies really depend on the regular exposure of our uncovered skin to sunlight as the primary source.  If you were to take vitamin D in the pill form, you may be setting yourself up for vitamin D toxicity.  Our skin, along with the kidneys and liver, is innately designed to perform the task of supplying our bodies with natural vitamin D safely, but only when we need it. When the body has enough, the conversion to the active form slows down, so there is no risk of becoming toxic.  

So why do we even need vitamin D?  Vitamin D becomes the body’s main instrument of bone health.  It helps the intestines absorb dietary calcium and phosphorous.  Without enough vitamin D the body will not absorb calcium properly.  So beware, menopausal women, if you are taking calcium supplements and your vitamin D is inadequate, you’re not doing anything to help build your bones.  We are constantly rebuilding and destroying bones and vitamin D exerts a direct effect through a hormone-like action that stimulates the bone to lay down minerals, remove the old bone, and replace it with new bone.  So with the help of rays of sunlight and vitamin D along .with proper nutrition, you can build and maintain bones throughout life.  

There are several other health benefits of vitamin D: besides building and strengthening bones, it is involved in regulating calcium metabolism (calcium is the most prevalent mineral in your body).  It is also significant in balancing our mood, alleviating depression, boosting metabolism, regulating blood pressure, and preventing the growth of cancers of the breast, colon, prostate, and even malignant melanoma.  When we are exposed to the sunlight our thyroid gland is stimulated, and production of many of our hormones such as testosterone, growth hormone, epinephrine, and norepinephrine (all of which help our metabolic weight, body weight, and aid in blood sugar control) is stimulated.  There have been reports as late as 1997 in which active vitamin D was given to laboratory mice, which in turn completely prevented the mice from developing Multiple Sclerosis.  

The sun has been around for millions of years giving us energy, warmth, and all kinds of phenomenal miraculous benefits.  Unfortunately, we are increasingly worried about aging, wrinkles, sun spots, and skin cancers, so therefore we slather ourselves with sunscreen to protect ourselves.  The body has been designed to have antioxidants present in the skin and tissues that protect you from damage by the sun, but you have to replace them regularly in your diet with proper nutrition, antioxidants (especially beta carotene), vitamin e, selenium, good fats, animal proteins, and magnesium so that your body can replenish the antioxidants that it stores.

Actions to take:
1. Sunbathe year round.
2. Begin with just a few minutes of exposure, until you have a pink foundation.  Never let your skin burn.
3. Sunbathe with clean skin, free of lotions, soaps, perfumes or cosmetics.
4. Do not use sunblock—the production of both vitamin D and melanin pigmentation are UVB dependent.
5. Use sunscreen only after you’ve had proper sun exposure and you are going to be in the sun for extended periods of time.
6. Reduce sun exposure when you are in the snow, white sand, or high altitude locations.
7. Do not exceed the safe daily limits.  Put on a hat and the proper clothing, and a sunscreen that contains a physical sun block, such as titanium dioxide.
8. Enjoy the sun—the sun is your friend
9. One teaspoon per day of cod liver oil—now available in multiple flavors—or cod liver oil pills is recommended for a great source of vitamin D.

(back to top)

Yoga and Breathing

The word "yoga" is derived from the verbal root, yuj, meaning to yoke or harness. Yoga is the process of unifying one's mind body and soul in order to express the energy of one's true nature. In the author's professional opinion, based on personal experience with practicing and teaching yoga, hatha yoga (a type of yoga referred to as "physical" yoga) is the ideal exercise practice while going through a clinical purification program. Just as one uses alchemic principles to create a purification formula from herbs and foods to address the functioning of specific organs in the body, hatha yoga involves the alchemic reprogramming of mind and body that serves to release toxins and purify the soul.

The word "hatha" is derived from the Sanskrit root, ha (sun) and tha (moon), and is the equalization and stabilization of the sun-moon (yin-yang) life-force. The purpose of Hatha yoga is to free the body and mind from dysfunctional blockages. With respect to the Clinical Purification™ Process, this equates to the elimination of exogenous and endogenous toxins.  Hatha yoga involves a methodical and integrative approach to stretching and contracting different muscle groups to strengthen and lengthen opposing muscles. Hatha also re-aligns the
skeleton and applies weight to vital bones to maintain and increase bone density. At the same time and perhaps less obviously, Hatha yoga also gently massages all internal organs.

Following is a series of basic yoga postures that one can begin practicing at home. It is important to be in a warm room, with comfortable clothes and preferably barefoot. When practicing these postures, one must be mindful of his/her body, backing off when one feels pain and slowly extending beyond the point of resistance only when one feels ready to do so. Those who practice yoga regularly often notice a gradual increase in strength, flexibility and balance.  The most critical factor when practicing yoga is to be mindful of one's breath.

 

Sit / Easy Position - Sukhasana:

A starting position that helps focus awareness on breathing and the body; helps strengthen lower back and open the groin and hips.

Sit cross-legged with hands on knees. Focus on your breath. Keep your spine straight and push the sit bones down into the floor. Allow the knees to gently lower. If the knees rise above your hips, sit on a cushion or block. This will help support your back and hips. Take 5-10 slow, deep breaths. On the next inhale, raise your arms over your head. Exhale and bring your arms down slowly. Repeat 5-7 times.

Dog and Cat:

Increases flexibility of the spine.

Begin on your hands and knees. Keep your hands just in front of your shoulders, your legs about hip width apart. As you inhale, tilt the tailbone and pelvis up, and let the spine curve downward, dropping the stomach low, and lift your head up. Stretch gently. As you exhale, move into cat by reversing the spinal bend, tilting the pelvis down, drawing the spine up and pulling the chest and stomach in. Repeat several times, flowing smoothly from dog into cat, and cat back into dog.
 

Mountain - Tadasana:

Improves posture, balance and self-awareness.

Stand with feet together, hands at your sides, eyes looking forward. Raise your toes, fan them open, then place them back down on the floor. Feel your heel, outside of your foot, toes and ball of your foot all in contact with the floor. Tilt your pubic bone slightly forward. Raise your chest up and out, but within reason - this isn't the army and you're not standing at attention. Raise your head up and lengthen the neck by lifting the base of your skull toward the ceiling. Stretch the pinky on each hand downward, then balance that movement by stretching your index fingers. Push into the floor with your feet and raise your legs, first the calves and then the thighs.

Breathe. Hold the posture, but try not to tense up. Breathe. As you inhale, imagine the breath coming up through the floor, rising through your legs and torso and up into your head. Reverse the process on the exhale and watch your breath as it passes down from your head, through your chest and stomach, legs and feet.

Hold for 5 to 10 breaths, relax and repeat.

On your next inhale, raise your arms over head (Urdhava Hastasana) and hold for several breaths. Lower your arms on an exhale.

As a warm up, try synchronizing the raising and lowering of your arms with your breath - raise, inhale; lower, exhale. Repeat 5 times.
 

Forward Bend or Extension – Uttanasana II:

Stretches the legs and spine, rests the heart and neck, relaxes mind and body.  

Begin standing straight in Mountain pose or Tadasana.  Inhale and raise the arms overhead.  Exhale, bend at the hips, bring the arms forward and down until you touch the floor.  It’s okay to bend your knees, especially if you’re feeling stiff.  Either grasp your ankles or just leave your hands on the floor and breathe several times.  Repeat 3-5 times.  On your last bend, hold the position for 5 or 10 breaths.  To come out of the pose, curl upward as if pulling yourself up one vertebrae at a time, stacking one on top of another, and leaving the head hanging down until last.
 

Trikonasana – The Triangle:

Stretches the spine, opens the torso, improves balance and concentration.

Start with your legs spread 3-4 feet apart, feet parallel.  Turn your left foot 90 degrees to the left and your right foot about 45 degrees inward.  Inhale and raise both arms so they’re parallel with the floor.  Exhale, turn your head to the left and look down your left arm toward your outstretched fingers. Check that your left knee is aligned with your left ankle. Take a deep breath and stretch outward to the left, tilting the left hip down and the right hip up. When you've stretched as far as you can, pivot your arms, letting your left hand reach down and come to rest against the inside of your calf, while your right arms points straight up. Turn and look up at your right hand. Breathe deeply for several breaths. Inhale, and straighten up. Exhale, lower your arms. Put your hands on your hips and pivot on your heels, bringing your feet to face front. Repeat the posture on the other side.

Warrior II --  Virabhadrasana II:

Strengthens legs and arms; improves balance and concentration; builds confidence.

Begin in mountain pose with feet together and hands at side. Place your feet 4-5 feet apart.  Turn your right foot about 45 degrees to the left. Turn your left foot 90 degrees to the left so that it is pointing straight out to the side. Slowly bend the left knee until the thigh is parallel with the floor, but keep the knee either behind or directly over your ankle. Raise your arms overhead. Then slowly lower them until your left arm is pointing straight ahead and your right arm is pointing back. Concentrate on a spot in front of you and breathe. Take 4 or 5 deep breaths, lower your arms, and bring your legs together. Reverse the position.
 

The Cobra -- Bhujangasana:

Stretches the spine, strengthens the back and arms, opens the chest and heart.

Lay down on your stomach. Keep your legs together, arms at your side, close to your body with your hands by your chest.

Step 1: Inhaling, slowly raise your head and chest as high as it will go. Keep your buttocks muscles tight to protect your lower back. Keep your head up and chest. Breathe several times and then come down. Repeat as necessary.

Step 2: Follow the steps above. When you've gone as high as you can, gently raise your hands off of the floor stretching the spine even more. Only go as far as you are comfortable. Your pelvis should always remain on the floor. Breathe several times and come down.
 

Downward Facing Dog – Adho Mukha Svanasana:

Builds strength, flexibility and awareness; stretches the spine and hamstrings; rests the heart.

Start on your hands and knees. Keep your legs about hip width apart and your arms shoulder width apart.  Your middle fingers should be parallel, pointing straight ahead.  Roll your elbows so that the eye or inner elbow is facing forward.  Inhale and curl your toes under, as if getting ready to stand on your toes.  Exhale and straighten your legs; push upward with your arms.  The goal is to lengthen the spine while keeping your legs straight and your feet flat on the ground.  However, in the beginning it’s okay to bend the knees a bit and to keep your heels raised.  The important thing is to work on lengthening the spine.  Don’t let your shoulders creep up by your ears – keep them
down.  Weight should be evenly distributed between your hands and feet.  Hold the position for a few breaths.  Come down on and exhale.  Repeat several times, synchronizing with your breath:  up on the exhale and down on the inhale.

 

Head to Knee -- Janu Shirshasana:

Stretches and opens back and hamstrings, improves flexibility

Sit on the floor with legs extended in front or you. Bend one leg, bringing the heel of the foot as close to the groin as possible. You may want to place a pillow under the bent knee for comfort.  Make sure your sitz bones are firmly grounded on the floor and that your spine is straight, Turn your body slightly so you face out over the extended leg. Inhale and raise your arms over head.  Exhale and begin to move forward slowly. Try to keep the back as straight as possible. Instead of bending at the hips, focus on lifting the tailbone and rolling forward on your sitz bones. Inhale and lengthen and straighten the spine. Exhale and roll forward, however slightly. To get a bit more forward movement, engage your quadriceps (thigh muscles) as you move forward. This releases the hamstrings, giving you a bit more flexibility. When you've moved as far forward as you can, lower the arms and grasp your foot, or leg. Hold the position for a moment and breathe. Then on the next exhale gently pull yourself forward. Go slowly and remember to keep the back straight. When done, straighten up and do the other side.

 

Half Shoulderstand -- Ardha Sarvangasana:

Promotes proper thyroid function, strengthens abdomen, stretches upper back, improves blood circulation, induces relaxation

You probably remember doing this as a kid. Lie on your back and lift your legs up into air.  Place your hands on your lower back for support, resting your elbows and lower arms on the ground. Make sure your weight is on your shoulders and mid to upper back - not your neck.  Breathe deeply and hold the posture for at least 5-10 breaths, increasing the hold over time. To come down, slowly lower your legs, keeping them very straight - a little workout for your abdominal muscles.

 

The Bridge - Sethu Bandhasa:

Increases flexibility and suppleness; strengthens the lower back and abdominal muscles; opens the chest.                                                                          

Lay on your back with your knees up and hands at your side.  Your feet should be near you buttocks about six inches apart. To begin, gently raise and lower your tail. Then, slowly, raise the tailbone and continue lifting the spine, trying to move one vertebra at a time until your entire back is arched upward. Push firmly with your feet. Keep your knees straight and close together.  Breathe deeply into your chest. Clasp your hands under your back and push against the floor.

Take five slow, deep breaths.

Come down slowly and repeat.

 

The Corpse -- Savasana:

Relaxes and refreshes the body and mind, relieves stress and anxiety, quiets the mind.

Possibly the most important posture, the Corpse, is as deceptively simple as Tadasana, the mountain pose. Usually performed at the end of a session, the goal is conscious relaxation. Many people find the "conscious" part the most difficult because it is very easy to drift off to sleep while doing Savasana. Begin by lying on your back, feet slightly apart, arms at your sides with palms facing up. Close your eyes and take several slow, deep breaths. Allow your body to sink into the ground. Try focusing on a specific part of the body and willing it to relax. For example, start with your feet, imagine the muscles and skin relaxing, letting go and slowly melting into the floor. From your feet, move on to your calves, thighs and so on up to your face and head. Then simply breathe and relax. Stay in the pose for at least 5-10 minutes.

For more Information Regarding Yoga, go to www.YogaPoint.com

(back to top)