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| Number 18, December 2010 |
Pacific Naturopathic Newsletter2570 W. El Camino Real � Suite 111 � Mountain View, CA 94040 � (650) 917-1121
www.PacificNaturopathic.com
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The Holiday Gift of Transformation
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i Greetings!
It is the nature of all things to change. We humans adapt to this simple truth in a variety of ways, ranging from stubborn resistance to actively seeking change. At Pacific Naturopathic, we are constantly seeking to reinvent ourselves to better serve all who choose to journey with us on the path of health, wellness and consciousness. Our move last summer to an office complex that better serves both your and our needs is part of this ongoing process. In addition to the almost miraculous healing body work that Elijah Free has been offering at Pacific Naturopathic for over ten years, and the wonder of BioMat Therapy that Tushti offers, we are delighted that our resident thermographic technician, Ardell Hill, has decided to offer her vast massage experience in our new office. Her short write-up appears below in this newsletter.
In 2011, we hope to offer an even wider scope of services. You may be surprised at some of the directions we're planning to take Pacific Naturopathic. To give just a hint: what we offer will be even more integrated and holistically focused than anything we've offered before.
And speaking of transformation, all of us here at Pacific Naturopathic wish you and your loved ones joy, insight and a profound soul-peace throughout the holiday season and into the new year. Blessings from,
-- Dr. Connie, Elijah, Dr. Marcel, Dr. Shanti, Ardell, Sarah, Tushti, Nancy and Luca.
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Give the Gift of Health--
Gift Certificates at Pacific Naturopathic
Tired of giving gifts that just accumulate and gather dust? Looking for a conscious, meaningful, caring gift this year?
Gift certificates for all practitioners and modalities offered at Pacific Naturopathic are available by phoning our front desk at 650-917-1121.
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Do it Like DK
An Angel in Our Midst
 At Thanksgiving time, we suffered the sudden and stunning loss of one of the angels who helped us transform Pacific Naturopathic this past summer when our old office was sold. In the midst of our grief and disbelief, we ponder on the now many loved ones who have left this realm during Thanksgiving holidays, and wondered whether there might be a hidden message somewhere. Thanksgiving is for giving thanks. Thinking of our friend Donnie (D.K.) Foster, I found myself engulfed in gratitude for the brief presence of this indomitable and enthusiastic spirit in my life....for the touch of an angel's wings. Donnie Foster, known as D.K. to friends and family, was a visionary whose business it was to inspire and encourage others to transform their own businesses. D.K.'s business, Tenacity Unlimited, was founded on the principles of integrity, responsibility for the world community, reciprocation. D.K. epitomized the pay it forward concept. Do what you uniquely can do to make things better for another, and the rewards follow of their own accord. Subsequent to D.K.'s untimely death, the stories from folks whose lives and businesses were transformed by D.K.'s touch flow in. How we wish that each of us could remember to share our appreciation of one another while the other is still living. That may be the Thanksgiving message. As a tribute to D.K. we here at Pacific Naturopathic are instigating "Do it like D.K." moments. These would be the moments in which you offer what you can offer to transform another's experience, without thought of recompense, but just because you'd like to make another's world better. Imagine the power in that!
And one more reminder. For every earth bound angel who, like a kite, soars high in the skies, there are other angels who hold the kite strings allowing the angel to fly. Please remember D.K.'s wife and business partner Jean McCloskey in your prayers, and his children as well.
Typical of the spirit that guided DK and his family, Jean has asked that rather than flowers or donations, please hug someone close to you and strive to do better in your life; we are pretty sure DK would have wanted that. |
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| Classes and Events |
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Coming Soon: Classes at our new offices... Stay Tuned!
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Schedule an Appointment:
| Pacific Naturopathic
2570 W. El Camino Real
Suite 111
Mountain View, CA 94040
650-917-1121
www.PacificNaturopathic.com
The clinic is open M-F 9am-5pm. The clinic is closed for lunch daily from 12:00 to 1:30 PM
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Holiday Cheer
Healthy, Non-Alcoholic Holiday Drinks
Connie Hernandez, N.D.
 From time to time, I've been asked to bar tend, serving festive non-alcoholic drinks to thirsty guests. As a naturopath, I feel compelled to make those drinks not just non alcoholic, but healthy as well. In the spirit of the holidays, we thought we'd offer a few simple recipes, with rationales to make you feel good about serving these drinks to family and friends.
Waves of Bliss
Mix unsweetened blueberry concentrate with Calistoga sparkling lemon water, to taste. Blueberries have received huge press in recent years for their health giving benefits. We've recently become aware of the benefits of blueberries on brain health, restoring the hippocampal area of the brain, and reversing amyloid plaques in animal studies.
If you have our WinterBerry or VeryBerry bioflavanoid concentrate, you might substitute for the blueberry concentrate. These concentrates condense a mix of many pints of organic berries into one little bottle. Bioflavanoids, sometimes called Vitamin P, are anti inflammatory water soluble substances which enhance the integrity of the capillaries and connective tissue in the body. The WinterBerry adds elderberry to the mix, elderberry being a potent immune system stimulator and antiviral.
Astral Ambrosia
Blend 16 ounces of coconut water with 4 tablespoons of coconut cream and a 16 ounce bag of frozen pineapple chunks. Garnish with strawberries (organic, please!) or sour cherries (available at international markets).
Coconut water is a superb source of electrolytes, an excellent way to hydrate your body and to balance your bodily pH. Coconut itself contains energy giving fats which raise your metabolism and help promote weight loss. Pineapple contains the proteiolytic enzyme bromelain, which we use as a fibrinolytic and anti inflammatory in cardiovascular disease, respiratory conditions, and surgical protocols.
Hot Cranberry Cider
Heat together unsweetened cranberry juice (Trader Joe's) and apple cider. Pour over a filter containing sliced ginger root, 1 cinnamon stick, 1 tsp cloves, and a pinch of nutmeg. Top with an orange slice.
Cranberries are a source of vitamin C, antioxidants, resveratrol, and more. They increase HDL cholesterol, help prevent H pylori from attaching to the gastric wall and e coli from attaching to the bladder wall, and relieve asthma by dilating the bronchials.
Egg Nog Alternative
Though the use of soy as a protein powder has become a little controversial, we do love Metagenics Egg Nog Ultrameal, and include it here as Egg Nog is so much a part of the holiday tradition. Available on line through www.PacificNaturopathic.meta-ehealth, or at the office now. As with many good things, moderation is the key.
Cheers!
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Making Successful New Year's Resolutions
Embracing Change
Marcel Hernandez, N.D.
 Every morning I draw a little card from a crystal bowl that has a word printed on it like vulnerability, passion, harmony, friendship or joy. There are about a hundred or so of these little cards. I think about the card I draw and try to make the concept on the card be the focus for the day. Yesterday morning as I drew a card a second card jumped out of the bowl with it. The two cards were "stability" and "change," seemingly contradictory concepts. So I thought about stability and change in relation to health on and off for the rest of the day. Change is what we all have trouble with. Although we know that change is occurring every millisecond of our lives, we have an unconscious resistance to change, especially as we age. We yearn for what we think is stability - a place where we can just be calm can take a respite from the unpredictability of events occurring within us and within our environments. Simply put, this type of stability does not exist.
The only stability that exists is in our ability to adapt to ebbs and flows in our environment and stay centered, focused, calm, accepting and compassionate. The little cards in the crystal bowl fulfill another purpose. By starting in the morning on a positive thought process, the brain is programmed to perpetuate this healthy pattern in other encounters throughout the day. For many people, there is a natural tendency at the end of the year to take a look at the preceding year and think of what they would like to do better in the next year -- things they would like to change. This is how New Year's resolutions are arrived at. But what I'm talking about is making resolutions from a different level of understanding and application. True change only occurs when accompanied by a corresponding growth in consciousness. Here are some thoughts on how this might be accomplished when making resolutions. Consciously Embrace change. If we try to resist change, we begin to be left behind. We begin to die, not only physically but emotionally and spiritually. By welcoming change, we consciously harmonize with a dynamic flow of earth energy that nourishes and sustains us and makes us feel vital and alive. Learn to adapt to the changes. Only humans have the ability to adapt to different external situations and to mold our environments. No other species can survive in both polar and tropical environments, designing systems and integrating into seemingly disparate surroundings. Brainwash yourself before someone nasty beats you to it (a thought from Rob Brezsny). Healthy patterns are established by repetition. Start right out in the morning with a positive affirmation, a prayer, an Angel Card, an inspirational reading - anything that focuses your thoughts and actions in an uplifting direction. Try to stay in this uplifted state throughout the day.
Express gratitude. No matter what is going on in your life, try to focus on the joy and blessings that surround you. Let others know how thankful you are for the parts they play in your life. Do this every single day. Stay open-minded. Release the concept that your own reality is all there is.Try to see the world through other people's eyes.
May the blessings of self-realization and peace flow through you and bless the Earth. Have a transformative, uplifting 2011!
Find out more about Dr. Marcel's work with men at: |
The Healing Gifts
of the Three Wise Men
Elijah Free, MH, CMI, CMT
The Bible says that three wise men traveled from afar on camels to visit the infant Jesus as he lay in the manger. They brought him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. We all know what gold is, but have you ever wondered what frankincense and myrrh were? Frankincense and myrrh are both resins -- dried tree saps that come from trees of the genus Boswellia (frankincense) and Commiphora (myrrh), which are commonly found in northern Africa and the Middle East. Frankincense and myrrh have traditionally been used in the manufacturing of incense and as highly prized medicinal herbal treatments. The sap from these two trees is collected in a similar way that people collect rubber-tree sap or pine-tree sap. Cutting the tree's bark causes the sap to flow out of the cut. It's allowed to dry on the tree, and then it's collected. The milk-like juice runs from a cut made in the bark and is allowed to harden. After about three months the sap dries into yellowish 'tears'. These clear globules are scraped off. Frankincense has properties that help kill bacteria, disinfect, renew cells, heal wounds, kill insects, and relieve rheumatism. Burning frankincense has for a long time been used to reduced the hazard of infection when many people have congregated indoors, such as in temples and churches. Frankincense has cooling effects and is recommended as a remedy for illnesses that increase the body's temperature. Frankincense also treats infections. In addition, people burned the resin on a daily basis in living quarters and tents for cleansing purposes and to reduce negative influences. Frankincense increases circulation and is helpful in fighting rheumatism. Old writings direct people suffering from rheumatism to suspend their painful extremities in the smoke. They would also sit on a chair with a perforated seat over an incense burning pan. The person was first wrapped in a large piece of cloth, the entire body then being bathed in the smoke. Frankincense is a natural insecticide. As early as ancient Egypt, farmers fumigated wheat silos with frankincense to keep wheat moths away. Frankincense steam is able to kill parasitic insects in food. Myrrh has been used for ages as an ingredient in incense, beauty treatments, and perfumes. It also makes a good glue. Writings from 2,700 years ago describe how myrrh was also used for embalming. Myrrh has a number of important herbal usages. Among them are as an antiseptic and disinfectant both internally and externally, as a tonic to increase the capacity for digestion, as a mild laxative and excellent gas dispeller, as a stimulator to help heal damaged tissue and mucous membranes, and as an aid to female complaints. Because the demand for myrrh eventually became so high, and because its supply was limited, myrrh became as valuable as gold.
To Learn more about Elijah Free and his healing work please contact him directly at [email protected] or visit his web sites:
Rapid Pain Elimination
Apprentice to Angels
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Our Patients and Friends Love
Elijah Free's Inspired New Website:
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LaStone Comes to Pacific Naturopathic
Deborah "Ardell" Hill
If you are reading Pacific Naturopathic Newsletter, you have probably heard of massage using stones, whether it is hot rock massage, hot and cold rock massage, LaStone therapy and/or other types of body therapy using stones. What you may not know however, is that massage with stones is not so much about the stones, as it is about bringing temperature balance to your body. In 2003, Time Magazine published an article entitled, The Secret Killer: The surprising link between INFLAMMATION Heart Attacks, Cancer, Alzheimer's and other diseases, And what you can do about it. The key word in the title of that article is "inflammation." As a LaStone Therapy instructor, private practitioner and LaStone Therapy workshop facilitator for over 10 years, what I know to be true is that the use of cool stones in areas of the body that are inflamed reduces pain and discomfort, moves lymph and blood, and supports the whole body. In my practice, I start with warming the entire body to soften chronically tight muscles. Warming the muscle relaxes the muscle and adjoining tissues and calms the nervous system. Using the cool stones, where needed, supports the process by moving away stale blood and waste, stopping the pain-spasm-pain cycle and bringing in fresh oxygenated blood. The use of warm and cool stones together helps the body remember how to regulate itself and stop a patterns of inflammation. Among the bodywork approaches I offer are Swedish massage, Cranio-Sacral work, Deep Tissue, Reflexology, Jin Shin Jyutsu and Reiki. All of these modalities are enhanced with the use of warm and cool stones. My approach to your care is based on your own, individual needs.
I look forward to sharing this amazing body of work with you soon.
To book a LaStone session with Ardell, please phone Pacific Naturopathic at 650-917-1121. Sessions are $145 for an hour and fifteen minutes. Gift Certificates are available.
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Note from Dr. Connie and Dr. Marcel: We feel blessed that Ardell has decided to offer her bodywork skills at Pacific Naturopathic. Yes, she brings an amazing wealth of experience (click on her name at the beginning of this article to review her credentials), but more importantly to us, she brings her unwavering focus and total dedication to healing. Her energy fits perfectly with the intention we have always sought to infuse at Pacific Naturopathic.
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The Bio Mat: One Profound Way to Defuse the Effects of Holiday Stress
It Can Work Wonders
 'Tis the season to be Jolly. But as the holidays approach, we can often overbook our busy schedules, and suddenly Jolly turns instead to stress.
When this happens, our bodies respond by trying to keep things in balance, bracing to deal with the challenges before us. But sometimes the stress wins out. Now you and your body have an ally that can really help.
During a BioMat session, your body is warmed by its penetrating Far Infrared Light, and you are guided into a deep Delta state of relaxation. Muscles release their tension, the mind becomes quiet, and the body's natural healing abilities are enhanced.
Relax ~ Renew ~ Replenish. Experience the pause that refreshes you inside and out, dissolving stress as it lifts your spirit to a new feeling Joy.
Gift certificates available. You might even give one to yourself!
Blessings, Tushti
Please feel free to contact me if you should have any questions. My email address is [email protected] and I will be in the clinic on Wednesdays.
If you would like to schedule an appointment. please phone the clinic at (650) 917-1121.
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Save
$10
(usual price $45)
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BIOMAT INTRODUCTORY SPECIAL!!!
Experience the relaxation of this profoundly healing experience.
Phone Pacific Naturopathic at (650) 917-1121 for an appointment.
This coupon may be duplicated and is fully transferable.
| | Offer Expires: December 31 |
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More Information is Better!
 | Normal Thermographic Pattern
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In working with breast thermography over the years, I've found that the biggest criticism conventional doctors level at thermography is that it is not diagnostic of breast cancer. The implication is that mammography is diagnostic. In fact, it is not. Nor is ultrasound, nor is breast MRI, nor is thermography. The only current diagnostic for breast cancer is breast biopsy. Breast thermography offers different information than the other imaging techniques, all of which concentrate on identifying structural changes in the breast tissue. By evaluating functional changes in breast tissue, breast thermography provides a risk analysis, an insight into the health of dense breast tissue, a method of tracking the effect of hormone replacement on breast tissue, a way to track the efficacy of treatments designed to affect breast health. Taken together, structural and functional information are far more accurate than either taken alone.
Find out more about thermography at Pacific Naturopathic at:
Thermography at Pacific Naturopathic
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Pacific Naturopathic Hawaii Retreat: A Profoundly Healing RefugeThe Perfect Place for Respite From The Cold and Crowds | Dr. Connie Watching for Whales at Pacific Naturopathic Retreat in Hawaii
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The View House at Pacific Naturopathic Retreat Center is an intimate, quiet. elegant, upscale and unique two-bedroom facility on the lush Hamakua Coast on the Big Island of Hawaii. It is a lovingly restored and updated plantation home. It is truly a house of light. There are spectacular views all the way to Maui. Organic orchards and vegetable gardens provide occasional meals for View House guests. There is a shared hot tub, cold plunge and infrared sauna on a private deck and a picnic table on your view deck. The house is completely furnished with bamboo furniture, appliances, washer, dryer, cable TV, wireless internet and free telephone to anywhere in the United States and Canada. Dishes, cutlery and linens are provided. Several kitchen appliances are also included. It is incredibly serene, sparkling clean, and private. All utilities are paid. The property is located four miles from a sweet, small town with all amenities, and is conveniently situated halfway between Hilo and Kona. Naturopathic services are available about every four to six weeks, when Drs. Connie and Marcel are on site.
See our websites for more details. Phone 808-775-1505 for reservations, or email
[email protected]
www.hawaiipeacegardenvacationhouses.com
www.naturopathicretreatcenter.com
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An Ideal Stocking Stuffer -- Raw, Organic Macadamia Nuts
Now Available at Our Office
Surprisingly Different and Utterly Delicious!
Quite simply, these are the best mac nuts you will probably ever taste. Regular visitors to our office who have discovered them put their names on our waiting list when we run out. Why are they so good? First of all, they are from special old-growth trees which produce nuts rich in heart-healthy mono-saturated oil, like that of olive oil. Next, they are entirely harvested and processed by hand and slowly dehydrated at 115 degrees, preserving the integrity of the oil and maintaining the viability of the enzymes. Most mac nuts are roasted, but not these. They even look different, having a much darker color than conventionally grown nuts.
Macadamia nuts provide a wide range of beneficial compounds. They are a high energy food, full of protein and fiber and loaded with other important nutrients that, in concert, impact favorably on human health.
The nuts are vacuum-sealed for freshness. You may either stop by our new office or have the nuts shipped to you. Once you try them, you will be hooked.
Once You Try Them, There is no Going Back to Commercially Produced Mac Nuts!
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A Special Message As Pacific Naturopathic and the Pacific Naturopathic Retreat Center expands outwards, we are connecting once again to people involved in the Hikari network. Hikari is a Japanese word referring to the light that emanates from living beings. Hikari also refers to a networking magazine for spirit, health and personal growth services, which Drs. Connie and Marcel founded and published in Japan in the 1980's. It will be of great interest to Hikari folks to know that, as of December 1st, Marcus and Shigeko Bachino have joined the staff at Pacific Naturopathic Retreat Center, and will be living on the property full time, and caretaking when Drs. Connie and Marcel are on the mainland. As our network reunites our international friends, we're hoping to provide information that is of interest to all of you. As we did with Hikari, we'd like to sponsor interviews and insightful commentary by some of the extraordinary colleagues and teachers in spirit, health and personal growth services who we've been privileged to know over the years. We'll initiate this series in the January issue.
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An Invitation....
 Because we would like to make this newsletter responsive to
you and your needs, you are invited to send health questions you would like to
see addressed to us at
[email protected]
We would also like to invite you to share with other
readers your experiences of health remedies that have worked surprisingly well
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A Little About us...
At Pacific Naturopathic, we offer evidence-based, integrated approaches to most acute and chronic health concerns. Bone health, breast health, men's health and prostate care, hormonal balance for both women and men, elimination of all types of bodily pain -- both mechanical and metabolic -- acute and chronic, autoimmunity, cancer, cardiovascular health, inflammation, digestion, pediatrics, and metabolic cleansing are particular areas of interest to our practitioners. To encourage patient participation, we offer both guided self-help protocols and comprehensive doctor assisted protocols. Our patients tell us they particularly appreciate our doctors, practitioners, and staff for our caring attitudes and commitment to service. Please phone 650-917-1121 for more information or to schedule an appointment.
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