Energize!

Connie Hernandez, N.D.

Many of our patients have asked about the Energization Exercise poster posted inside our Pacific Naturopathic doors.  The Energization Exercises come to us from Paramahansa Yogananda, who taught that practice of these exercises will cure all physical, mental and spiritual ills.

The sequence of 39 Energization Exercises are energy practices, rather than calisthenics.  They are designed, through the action of will,  to awaken the infinite source of intelligent energy within. In naturopathic medicine, we call this energy the Vix Medicatrix Naturae, or the healing force of nature. It might also be called ki or prana or conscious cosmic energy. As we become aware of that energy, we learn to direct it throughout the body, harmonizing body processes and promoting healing.

Practiced before meditation, the exercises bring a peaceful, calm and energetic entryway to the meditative state. Practiced mid-day, they are vitalizing. Practicing the exercises as a healing technique, I have found that my spine self adjusts; I become aware of energy blockages before they manifest as physical problems; I am able to work through physical ills such as sore throats and joint pains. I am also confident that the exercises are balancing my endocrine system, as the energy pools and flows in our bodies are directly tied to the endocrine glands.

"Realizing that man's body is like an electric battery, I reasoned that it could be recharged with energy through the direct agency of the human will. As no action, slight or large, is possible without willing, man can avail himself of his prime mover, will, to renew his bodily tissues without burdensome apparatus or mechanical exercises. I therefore taught the Ranchi students my simple "Yogoda" techniques by which the life force, centered in man's medulla oblongata, can be consciously and instantly recharged from the unlimited supply of cosmic energy."   

 -- Paramahansa Yogananda

Energization Exercises are taught at the Ananda Church of Self-Realization, as Meditation 2 in the sequence of meditation classes taught through Ananda.  

Tushti Conti, who offers bio mat therapy and individual yoga sessions at Pacific Naturopathic, also offers individual instruction in the Energization Exericses.  

Energization Exercise posters are for sale at Pacific Naturopathic for $10  

Find out more about Dr. Connie's consulting services at:  

 Prescription Medications: Take at Your Own Risk

Does anyone have anything good to say about the drug companies?  I mean, they do provide a valuable service that in some cases saves lives.  But they also take lives, too.  Depending on whose figures you trust, prescription drugs kill between 125,000 and 500,000 people every year.  Mistakes by physicians, drug interactions and patient errors were the main reasons for the deaths.  But some of the drugs that are most prescribed can be deadly when used singly, without other drugs.

In her book "The Truth About the Drug Companies: How They Deceive Us and What to Do About It" Marcia Angell portrays drug companies as unscrupulous and corrupt. Angel, former editor-in-chief of The New England Journal of Medicine, says that drug companies overcharge, engage in deceptive research, produce inferior products, borrow their best ideas from government-funded scientists, and buy the affections of physicians with trips and gifts. To Angell, the pharmaceutical industry is "now primarily a marketing machine to sell drugs of dubious benefit."

I thought I would take a look at the top ten pharmaceuticals in terms of their benefits and side effects.  Here they are, in order of the most prescribed:

1) Vicodin, for pain relief, is both physiologically and psychologically addictive.  Even a slight overdose can result in a diminished level of consciousness and respiratory depression.  Common side effects are nausea, which almost everyone experiences, and vomiting and constipation. 

2) Lipitor, for lowering cholesterol.  Muscle pain of varying intensities is the most common adverse reaction to Lipitor, but nausea, headache, insomnia, dizziness and elevated liver enzymes are also common.

3) Amoxicillin, an antibiotic, should not be taken by anyone with a penicillin allergy.  The most common side effects are nausea, diarrhea and hives.  As is true with all antibiotics, Amoxicillin causes alteration in the normal, beneficial bowel flora and predisposes users to yeast overgrowth.

4) Lisinopril (Prinivil or Zestril) is an ACE inhibitor used to treat high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, post heart attack therapy and to reduce complications to the kidneys caused by diabetes.  A common side effect is a persistent dry cough, but other adverse reactions include too-low blood pressure, headache, dizziness, fatigue and nausea.

5) HCTZ (Hydrochlorthiazide) is a diuretic used to treat high blood pressure.  Long-term usage of HCTZ has been linked to low magnesium levels, zinc and folic acid.  People with a history of gout should not use HCTZ.

6) Atenolol (Tenormin) is in a class of drugs known as beta blockers, used primarily for heart-related conditions like high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, heart rhythm irregularities, angina and post heart attack therapy.  Potential side effects include too-low blood pressure, abnormally slow heartbeat, fatigue, dizziness, difficulty concentrating, nausea, diarrhea, depression, erectile dysfunction and nightmares.

7) Lasix is a diuretic used to treat high blood pressure, water retention caused by congestive heart failure, cirrhosis of the liver and kidney problems.  The most common problems associated with Lasix are electrolyte deficiencies, including abnormally lowered levels of calcium, magnesium and potassium. 

8) Xanax is in a class of drugs called benzodiazepines used to treat anxiety and panic attacks.  It is also prescribed as a sedative.  Most common side effects are drowsiness, confusion, slurred speech, nightmares, amnesia and shallow breathing.  Paradoxically, Xanax can also cause increased anxiety, agitation and insomnia, especially when used in combination with alcohol.

9) Metoprolol (Toprol XL) is a beta blocker used for a variety of cardiovascular conditions.  Side effects are the same as those for Atenolol, mentioned above.

10) Ventolin (Albuterol inhaler) is most commonly used to treat asthma and other respiratory conditions.  Common adverse effects include tremor, palpitations, racing heartbeat, headache and insomnia.

What do most of these drugs have in common?  Three things: they address only one health issue, have severe negative side effects on various body systems, and most of them address symptoms only.  The underlying condition that gave rise to the symptoms is often left ignored.

The pharmaceutical drug situation is symptomatic of all that is needing to change in western conventional medicine: Instead of starting with the safest, least aggressive, cause-oriented approach to addressing a condition, expensive, symptom-oriented, complex, dangerous paths are taken.  The drug companies are heavily invested in maintaining this status quo.

Since we are all medical system consumers, it is always best to become knowledgeable in treatment alternatives so you can make informed decisions regarding your care.

Find out more about Dr. Marcel's work with men at:

Drug Interactions:  

Largely Ignored, Seriously Life-Threatening

Drug/drug or drug/supplement interactions can result in unwanted side effects, reduce the effectiveness of your medicine, possibly increase the action of a particular medicine and even result in death.  At Pacific Naturopathic, Dr. Connie and Dr. Marcel have years of experience in evaluating supplement and prescription drug protocols.

There are millions of people with medical conditions who take more than one pharmaceutical medicine at a time. Some people see more than one doctor for different reasons and each doctor prescribes a drug, unaware that the patient is on another drug which may cross-react with their own prescription.  

There are also a host of drug/nutritional supplement interactions that can make a drug less effective, or cause unexpected side effects like allergies, palpitations or dizziness. But there are more serious consequences as well, including death.    

If you want to check how a prescription drug interacts with another drug or a food or herbal supplement, go to:

http://reference.medscape.com/drug-interactionchecker 

and follow the directions.

To have your prescription drug or supplement program evaluated, please make an appointment with either Dr. Connie or Dr. Marcel by phoning Pacific Naturopathic at 650-917-1121.

Eat Well to Live Well

Nutrition Education and  

Health Counseling

with

Sarah Rose

Sarah Flanagan

Do you feel like you have run out of healthy meal ideas?

Would you like to have more energy and vitality in your life?

Have you ever wanted something in your life, but felt like you couldn't achieve it on your own?

As a Nutrition Educator and Health Counselor, I can help you with all this and more!

Health Counselors are trained, knowledgeable advisors who provide ongoing support and guidance as you set goals and make sustainable changes that improve your health and happiness. As your Health Counselor, I will listen carefully and help you to navigate the world of contradictory nutrition advice to determine what changes are necessary for you.

Your personalized program will radically improve your health and happiness. Together, we will explore concerns specific to you and your body and discover the tools you need for a lifetime of balance.

As a client of my health coaching program, you will...

* set and accomplish goals in a way that is empowering and exciting

* work to achieve and maintain your ideal weight

* understand and reduce your cravings

* increase your energy levels

* feel great in your body

* learn about new foods and how you can easily incorporate them

* improve your personal relationships

* discover the confidence to create the life you want

To decide if health coaching is right for you, I invite you to schedule a free initial consultation with me. During this session, we will discuss your health and lifestyle to determine how I can best support you in achieving your goals.

To schedule an appointment with Sarah contact Pacific Naturopathic at 650-917-1121.

Refresh and Hydrate

Bathe in the Forest!

Elijah Free, MH, CMI, CMT  

Elijah Free's approach to helping his patients deal with physical pain has been described as bordering on miraculous.  Elijah is also a Master Herbalist who designs and produces all of his own herbal products for his healing practice. He is an herbal product designer for Ridgecrest Herb Co. Elijah also holds a patent for his herbal fibromyalgia formula.   

To contact Elijah, please either call the clinic at 650-917-1121 or e-mail at [email protected].

Normal Thermographic Pattern

The question often arises as to how we determine when to repeat breast thermography.  Initial breast thermography readings serve as a baseline. If there is a low risk rating on both breasts, we suggest returning for a follow up in one year. If the risk rating is above average on either breast, we may suggest that the individual augment the reading with physical breast exam or anatomical imaging, and/or we may suggest a follow up with thermography in 3 to 6 months. Stability in readings over time helps us determine whether the variant is normal or whether there are favorable or unfavorable physiologic changes. If we instigate a breast health protocol, we expect to see favorable changes in the breast thermography reading within 3 months. Additional readings may be necessary when hormone replacement therapy protocols are changed, when there are visible or palpable changes in the breast tissue or when there are issues of breast soreness.

Thermography at Pacific Naturopathic

To Men Over Fifty:  

Your Answers to These Questions Can Save Your Life

Do you have:

1) need to urinate often at night

2) frequent or urgent need to urinate

3) difficulty in starting or stopping the urine flow

4) inability to urinate

5) weak, decreased or interrupted urine stream

6) dribbling at the end of urination

7) straining while urinating

8) a sense of incompletely emptying the bladder

9) burning or pain during urination

10) blood in the urine or semen

11) painful ejaculation

12) bone pain (especially in the back, hips, thighs or neck)

13) weight loss

14) fatigue

15) low red blood cell count (anemia)

If you answered "yes" to more than two of these questions, you need to be further evaluated by a doctor.  Questions 1 through 11 may fit a variety of conditions, mostly involving the prostate.  If you answered yes to any question between 12 and 15 as well, it is even more imperative that you find out as soon as you can what is going on. Dr. Marcel is available for consultation either by telephone or in the Pacific Naturopathic offices.  Please dial 650-917-1121 for an appointment. 

About Dr. Marcel's work:

Take Time for Yourself at Pacific Naturopathic  

Hawaii Retreat

 

Openings From October and Into the New Year   

   

Sunset From Your Deck at Our Hawaii Retreat

Do you find yourself in the midst of change, looking for a quiet space to rest and recover and consider what it is you might want to do? At Pacific Naturopathic Retreat Center, you can separate yourself from the hustle bustle of every day activity, surround yourself with nature, and avail yourself of natural healing opportunities... from infra red sauna to hot tub/cold tub therapies, colonics, massages, and naturopathic consultation services.  Or you can simply sit on the porch, enjoy the island breezes, and gaze out at the pastoral landscape and brilliant blue ocean.

 

As worldly stresses escalate, our guests are unwinding by requesting and booking longer stays. To make those stays affordable, we are offering special rates for stays of a month or longer.  Please phone Marcel now at 808-775-1505 if interested. We are currently booked out through October 8, 2011.

See our websites for more details. Phone 808-775-1505 for reservations, or email    

[email protected]

www.hawaiipeacegardenvacationhouses.com   

www.naturopathicretreatcenter.com

Click HERE to Visit Our Hawaii Retreat on  

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 for you.