Number 43, January 2013
Pacific Naturopathic Newsletter
2570 W. El Camino Real � Suite 111 � Mountain View, CA 94040 � (650) 917-1121
 www.PacificNaturopathic.com   
______________________________________________

 

New Friends, New Offerings; Continuing Focus on Transformation 

  

Greetings!

  

 

Just as occurs in all creation, change is always afoot at Pacific Naturopathic. 

 

This month, we'd like to introduce ayurvedic naturopathic doctor Vivek Shanbhag (see article below), who is now seeing patients at Pacific Naturopathic on Thursdays.  Dr. Vivek was in medical school while we were there, and brings a gentle, thoughtful soul to his vast area of expertise.  

 

Also joining the team at Pacific Naturopathic is Gayathri Shanbhag, MS, Dr. Vivek's wife. Gayathri specializes in Nutrition and Diet Therapy. You'll find additional information about her below as well.

 

nicole
Nicole

Finally, please join us in welcoming Nicole Noceto to the front desk.  Nicole has a B.A. in Environmental Studies from U.C. Santa Cruz and a commitment to a natural, sustainable lifestyle. She also has health food store experience, giving her a broad knowledge of natural products and supplements.  Nicole takes over for long-time front desk person Sarah, as Sarah is now at home with the newest member of the Pacific Naturopathic Family... Liam Christopher Rose. 

 

liam
Liam Christopher Rose

New in Pacific Naturopathic services this month is the availability of Vitamin B12 shots at our Clinic. We use only natural methylcobalamin, not the more commonly used synthetic cyanocobalamin, which must be converted to methyl in order to be absorbed. More information on Vitamin B12 is below, along with a survey to help you discover whether or not you have a Vitamin B12 deficiency.

 

In this issue, Dr. Connie and Dr. Corinne speak of factors that come into play in the creation and transformation of disease conditions. Dr Marcel discusses the repercussions on health of B12 deficiency. Dr. Vivek introduces himself and the science of Ayurvedic medicine.  And we introduce you to transformative opportunities in the Pacific Naturopathic Retreat Center Hawaii community.


 

Be Well!  

 

--Dr. Connie and Dr. Marcel

 

IN THIS ISSUE
Dr. Connie Muses On Sleep and Energetics
Dr Connie: Transcending Perceived Limitations
Dr. Marcel: Weak? Tired? Brain Fogged? Read On.
Vitamin B12 Deficiency Survey
Rapid Pain Relief With Elijah Free
Dr. Corrine: Strategy for Making Changes in Life
Meet Dr. Vivek Shanbhag, ND, MD (Ayu)
Meet Gayathri Shanbhag M.S
Neurological Health and the Tongue
Gluten Free Chocolate Beet Cake (huh?)
Breast Thermography: No Radiation Here!
Transformative Activities Near Pacific Naturopathic in Hawaii
Transformative Activities Near Pacific Naturopathic in Hawaii
Two Types of Thermograpy Offered at Pacific Naturopathic
Transformational Stress Reduction Services Offered at Pacific Naturopathic
Quick Links
Join Our Mailing List
Classes and Events
 

lotus

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

Dr. Connie's Musings...
Connie Hammock
One of Dr. Connie's Favorite Places to Muse is at the
Pacific Naturopathic Retreat Center in Hawaii

 

To Sleep, Perchance To Dream

 

 

sleepless I've often told the story of my perimenopausal struggles with insomnia. At a certain point in the menopausal transition, I became unable to sleep. Remedy after remedy proved successful with my patients, but failed to transform my own sleepless situation. Any one of you who has suffered prolonged periods of sleeplessness knows the length to which a person might go to find a remedy.

 

The initial turning point in my situation was instigated by energy medicine. Traveling sometimes with Dr. Marcel, sometimes with others, I visited energy medicine clinics throughout the United States and Mexico. At one such clinic, I was evaluated and treated with a "black box" device that read and regulated the energy flows within my body. With each treatment, I would sleep a little better. We purchased one of those machines and used it to great effect in our clinic for years. (We no longer have that particular machine. We're now interested in finding a more accurate, next generation device.)

 

I mention my black box experience because, with each passing year, there is increasing awareness that we are energetic beings. We respond at an essential level to energy medicine. Both random and directed energy fields can help us or hurt us at a causative level. Particularly with regards to sleep, but also with regards to other parameters of health, the unregulated electromagnetic smog which surrounds us is having a dire impact.  One aspect of transforming health would be transforming our unmanaged electromagnetic environment. Sleepless persons sometimes sleep again when removed to an environment in which cell phones and wireless internets don't work, and smart meters are not in use.

 

Electromagnetic fields emanating from all of our techno toys earth mag field and communication and monitoring devices are not the only energy fields impacting our health. We are influenced by naturally occurring energies from the earth itself, from the five elements, from natural and artificial light, from colors and from sound.  We can either be at the mercy of these energies, or we can become aware of the nature of their influence and choose our environments carefully and specifically.

 

Just as the energy input from outside of ourselves impacts us on a causative level, so does the energy we ourselves input. The effect of thoughts and words on physical reality has been most famously illustrated by Masaru Emoto's photography. We see the transformation of water crystals when subjected to written and verbal speech, to harmonious and inharmonious thought, and much more. Anyone seeking to transform any aspect of their health and well being would do well to remember that a great percentage of their body is comprised of water, and to take Emoto Sensei's work to heart.

 

(See my article below for the eventual thought and word based solution to my sleeping woes.)

 

lotus  

 


Of Words and Woes

 

Connie Hernandez, N.D.

Shanti Rubenstone, MD

 

 

Back to the woes of sleeplessness and the ways of transformation. In that period of time I mentioned in the musings above, my story was that I never slept and that I felt horrible all of the time because of it.

 

One day, a certain wise shaman asked me to explain my problem. My response was that I was not able to sleep. The shaman responded by asking why that was a problem, and by suggesting that night would be a wonderful time to meditate. I explained that when I didnt sleep, I felt terrible. The shaman agreed that that was indeed a problem, if it was true,  and asked me to explore whether or not it really was true that I was feeling badly all the time because of it.

 

I started looking into every moment, and I discovered that my story was not only not true, but was creating an unfavorable reality. When I moved into the present moments of my experience, I found that there were many moments in which I was just fine. There were some moments in which my eyes were tired, or I felt nauseous, or my head hurt. But those moments were definitely in the minority.

 

Little by little, and with a supreme act of will, I was able to refute the definition of myself as an insomniac, the false story that I consequently always felt terrible, and the sister thought that I would never sleep again. I stopped speaking of  myself as an insomniac. I stopped obsessing about my "condition," and I started affirming the sleep and well being that I did enjoy. "I slept 3 hours last night!", rather than "I hardly slept at all last night."  Little by little, I slept normally once again, and  I almost always feel well even when I don't.

 

We can choose to emphasize the moments, experiences and conditions of being that are as we would like them to be or we can choose to emphasize those that are not. Sri Yogananda explains that when we concentrate on the gripping power of disease rather than the possibility of a cure, we permit the illness to be a mental as well as a physical habit.  These "idea habits" create vibrational grooves in the brain and strengthen our tendencies towards sickness or well being.

 

affirmation One way to transform idea habits is through effective affirmation, affirmation that permeates the subconscious mind. As Yogananda says, if you affirm "I am well", but think in the background of your mind that it is not true, the effect is the same as if you took a helpful medicine and at the same time swallowed a drug that counteracted the effects of the medicine. Wrong thoughts neutralize right thoughts, and you dont get the desired effect.  (If you're doing affirmations, and not getting the desired effect, chances are you are doing the affirmations incorrectly. There IS a science to it. See the booklet Scientific Healing Affirmations

 

Thoughts are remarkable in their power. In fact, mental reality creates physical reality. Mind governs all physiologic processes and all living cells. Mind  has the power to effect healing. And mind has the power to effect dis-ease or imbalance.

 

This certainly does not mean that we should feel guilty when we are ill. We are subjected not only to our individual consciousness, but also to the collective consciousness, as well as to that myriad of factors mentioned above in the musings.

 

Nor does it mean that we can ignore physical reality. Until we transcend it, we live our lives bound by the laws of physical reality. That physical reality is impacted by and reflects all energy input, whether from internal or external sources. Where there is dis-ease, we seek and utilize synergistic healing modalities, whether they be based on thought, light, sound, physical, biochemical, or energy medicines. What an array of ways we have to heal ourselves and transform our realities!

 

transcendence  

 "Good health is more than the state of not being ill! It is a radiant state of inner well-being. Physical illnesses may be cured by medicines. No medicine, however, can induce that boundless energy which comes when every cell in the body cooperates with the mind willingly, joyfully, in all that it seeks to do.Such radiant well being comes after the mind has been cleared of every shadow of unwillingness, of fear, and of doubt; when one has learned to say yes to life; and when one has learned to love. "

-- Affirmations for Self Healing by Swami Kriyananda

 

 

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

 



 

Tired?  Feeling weak? Brain Fogged?  Numbness and Tingling in Extremities?

 * * *

Now at Pacific Naturopathic: 

Vitamin B12/Folic Acid injections

 

Marcel Hernandez, N.D.

 

What are the symptoms of Vitamin B12 deficiency?

 

Weakness and fatigue, brain fog, light-headedness, loss of balance,

rapid heartbeat and breathing, pale skin, sore tongue, easy bruising or

bleeding, including bleeding gums, stomach upset and weight loss and

diarrhea or constipation are all symptoms of Vitamin B12 deficiency.

 

If the deficiency is not corrected, it can damage the nerve cells. If this happens, vitamin B12 deficiency effects may include: tingling or numbness in arms, legs, fingers and toes, difficulty walking, mood changes or depression, memory loss, disorientation, and dementia.

 

B12 deficiency in infants, if not detected and treated, can lead to severe and permanent damage to the nervous system. New mothers who follow a vegetarian diet should have their babies' B12 levels checked by a doctor.

 

What Diseases are Linked to Vitamin B12 Deficiency?

 

* Alzheimer's, dementia, cognitive decline and memory loss,

(collectively referred to as "aging")

* Multiple sclerosis (MS) and other neurological disorders

* Mental illness (depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, psychosis)

* Cardiovascular disease

* Learning or developmental disorders in kids

* Autism spectrum disorder

* Autoimmune disease and other immune system dysfunction

* Cancer

* Male and female infertility

* Asthma

* Arthritis

* Anemia

* Inflammatory bowel disease

        

Who is at risk for Vitamin B12 deficiency?

 

Many people over age 50 lose the ability to absorb vitamin B12 from foods.  This happens as specialized stomach cells slowly lose their ability to release an enzyme called intrinsic factor that helps break down dietary B12. 

 

Strict vegans (people who don't eat any animal products, including

meat, eggs, or milk) are at greatest risk. Vegetarians who eat eggs

and milk products are also at risk, because, on average, they consume less than half the adult Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) of vitamin B12.  Studies consistently demonstrate that up to 50 percent of long-term vegetarians and 80 percent of vegans are deficient in B12.

 

A common myth amongst vegetarians and vegans is that it's possible to get B12 from plant sources like seaweed, fermented soy, spirulina and brewers yeast. But plant foods said to contain B12 actually contain B12 analogs called cobamides that block B12 absorption and increase the need for metabolically useful B12.  See the following study for explanation: (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10552882)

 

Others who may be low in Vitamin B12 are those who have had

gastrointestinal surgery, such as weight loss surgery and people who

have digestive disorders, such as celiac disease or Crohn's disease.

 

What are the Functions of Vitamin B12?

 

Vitamin B12 works together with folate in the synthesis of DNA and red blood cells. It's also involved in the production of the myelin sheath around the nerves, and the conduction of nerve impulses.

Vitamin B12 is also needed for building proteins in the body and helps keep levels of the amino acid homocysteine in check, which may help decrease heart disease risk.

 

Where can I get Vitamin B12 From My Diet?

 

The body absorbs animal sources of vitamin B12 much better than plant sources. As mentioned above, non-animal sources of vitamin B12 are not reliable sources of the vitamin.  An on-line search for "food sources of Vitamin B12" will yield charts to guide your dietary intake of B12 rich foods.

 

Are You Vitamin B12 Deficient?

 

Take the survey in the next section.  If your results are positive for deficiency, it is best to schedule an appointment with any of the docs at Pacific Naturopathic for confirmation by blood test.  

 

 * * *

 

We are also now offering Vitamin B12/folate injections in our clinic on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 1:00 and 1:30 PM on a first come/first served basis.  No appointment is necessary, but please phone in advance to let us know you are coming.  This service is available to established patients only.

  

* * *

 

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

  Are You Vitamin B12 Deficient?   Take a Self-Awareness Survey  
 

* * *

 

On a scale of 0 to 4, with zero being "experience not at all" and four being "experience greatly," rate yourself on these symptoms and keep a running point total:

 

Depression (double your score)

Fatigue  (double your score)

Brain fog  (double your score)

Numbness or tingling in hands and feet  (double your score)

Dandruff

Bleed or bruise easily

Slow reflexes

Difficulty swallowing

Memory problems

Menstrual problems

Nervousness/Anxiety

Pale, chalky skin

Pale nail beds

Pale tongue

Sore tongue

Feeling of weakness

Lightheadedness

Difficulties with balance

Bleeding gums
Weight loss
Shortness of breath
Tremors
Palpitations
Frequent colds and flus
Tender calves

 

Scoring:  When adding up your total score, double the values for the first four symptoms (Depression, Fatigue, Brain fog and Numbness or tingling in hands and feet).  All other symptoms are 0 to 4.

 

Under 10 points -- most likely not Vitamin B12 deficient

10 to 15 points -- probable B12 deficiency

15+ ponts -- likely B12 deficiency

 * * *

Note:  Vitamin B12/folic acid injections are available in our office between 1:00 and 1:30 PM Tuesdays and Thursdays.  No appointment necessary, but you must phone in advance (650-917-1121) to let us know you are coming.  Available to established patients only.  Please see ad in this newsletter. 

 

 

 
 
Only
$25
Pacific Naturopathic now offers Vitamin B12/folic acid injections at our clinic twice a week: 
b12 
* Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:00 to 1:30 PM on a drop-in basis.  
* No appointment necessary.  Please phone to let us know you are coming.  
* Available to established patients only.
* Only natural methylcobalamin used.



Rapid Pain Relief 

With Elijah Free

 

Elijah Free, MH, CMI, CMT  

Elijah Free

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].

 

To learn more about the healing work of Elijah Free, please go to his web sites:
  Making Changes in Our Lives
 
Corrine

 

 

With the start of the New Year, many people are trying to act out their resolutions and make changes in their life. But why is change so hard? Why is it so difficult to have long-lasting change? 

 

For one, we are creatures of habit, so change can be difficult no matter whether it's good for us or not because it takes effort. So how can we be more effective in making changes in our lives and allowing them to stick?

 

switch First, we need to understand our minds. Per the Heath brothers in the book "Switch," we have two parts of our mind controlling our behaviors all the time - the rational part, or the Rider, and the emotional part, or the Elephant. 

 

The Rider is the self-supervising, analyzing part - the part that is monitoring how we behave, act, or speak, our willpower, and also our planner for the future. 

 

The Elephant is the feeling, instinctive side - the side that wants instant gratification but is the mover and the doer. For change to be lasting, both the Rider and the Elephant need to be onboard.

 

The Rider needs to plan and give direction, and the Elephant needs to provide the energy and set things in motion. 

 

For the Rider to be efficient, he needs clarity of the mission and specificity.  The Elephant needs to be reached through a person's passions/emotional side and needs to not fear the change. 

 

If Rider and Elephant are not both touched, scenarios could look like the following: 1) If you reach the Rider but not the Elephant, a person will be analyzing and planning without motivation and action, or 2) If you reach the Elephant but not the Rider, you'll have passion without direction. But usually when change efforts fail, "it's usually the Elephant's fault," say the Heath brothers," since the kinds of change typically involve short-term sacrifices for long-term payoffs." 

 

The Rider "simply can't keep the Elephant on the road long enough to reach the destination." Hence, we plan for change and may even set the goals in place for change, but we tend to stray off after some time when we can no longer hold the Elephant in place or the Elephant gets scared off.

 

Another factor determining our success in changing is how much bandwidth we have in our life for it. Studies have shown that how much we are using our willpower or controlling our thoughts/actions throughout the day can determine how successful we are with whatever change we want to effect in our lives.

 

Essentially, change takes willpower and monitoring, and we only have a limited supply of this willpower. If we are already dealing with a lot of things in our lives that we feel we have to control or monitor, whatever change we are trying to make will be harder to maintain over the long haul. 

 

Thus, what we see as laziness can often times be more due to burnout or exhaustion than from the unwillingness to change. Basically, to change we need to control ourselves and use our willpower until things become habits and become more automatic. Until this time, we need to monitor ourselves to reign in our emotional impulses and prevent falling back into our old patterns. If we are trying to make a large change, we will need to clear out more of our life's stressors and things we have to "deal with" to be able to allow for more space in our willpower to make this change. Without the space needed for a large life change, it becomes easy to feel burned out after some time and go back to old habits. 

 

Thus, if deciding on making a change, the main things to remember in effecting this change are given below:

1)    Give the Rider direction, specificity, and clarity of the mission.

2)    Motivate the Elephant - make people feel drawn to the mission emotionally and diminish the idea of change so it doesn't scare the Elephant.

3)    Shape the path - clear out mental space for change and build habits - this allows the Rider to hold the Elephant in place and eventually come to a place that becomes more automatic and effortless.

 

Here's to keeping our New Year's resolutions and creating change in our lives, whatever that may be!
  

Find out more about Dr. Corrine's 

detox and craniosacral packages 

 

Optimize Wellness 
& Heal Diseases with Ayurvedic Medicine

                                                   Vivek Shanbhag, Nd, Md (Ayu)
Vivek

Dr. Vivek Shanbhag, ND, MD(Ayu), BAMS, CYEd.  
Licensed Naturopathic Doctor, Ayurvedic Practitioner & Professor

 



What is Ayurveda & how can it benefit me?

 

Ayurveda means science of life. This tradition of natural wellness has healed millions of people for more than 50 centuries. It has rapidly gained popularity due to books by Dr. Deepak Chopra and Dr. Andrew Weil. 

 

The complimentary sciences Yoga and Ayurveda together help you balance your inner energies and create optimum wellness of your body, mind and spirit. Ayurveda helps you in improving health, preventing illness, healing disease and promoting longevity.

 

Ayurveda considers each of us as a unique individual with a unique mind-body type which is determined during conception. It assists you in creating a comprehensive wellness plan personalized for your unique physiology and your specific health condition. The Ayurvedic Natural Healing Program includes customized nutrition & lifestyle guidelines, healing herbs, gentle detoxification with Pancha Karma cleansing, appropriate exercises & yoga postures, special daily & seasonal health routines, rejuvenation Rasayana therapy, aroma therapy, music therapy, Pranayama & Meditation.

 

What happens during an Ayurvedic consultation ? What is an Ayurvedic Treatment Plan ?

 

The First Visit is about an hour long and includes:
1. A Detailed health history to get a clear idea of the causative factors involved,
2. A Focused physical exam and non-invasive Ayurvedic Pulse Diagnosis, evaluation of Tongue, Skin, Eyes, Nails and Hair,
3. An Evaluation of Ayurvedic mind-body type(Prakruti) and imbalances(Vikruti)
4.
A comprehensive and customized Ayurvedic natural health program guidelines consisting of:  

*   A Natural diet to suit the individual's body type(Prakruti) and imbalances(Vikruti)
*   Therapeutic nutritional supplements
*   Healing botanical medicines and herbs
*   Detoxification by gentle cleansing called Pancha Karma therapy
*   Ayurvedic body work and massage
*   Physical exercise and stretches including yoga postures
*   Stress management through:                         
               Relaxation exercises
               Breathing techniques (Pranayama)
               Music Therapy
               Aroma Therapy
               Focusing exercises
               Meditation
*   Rejuvenation therapy (Rasayana) to delay aging and promote longevity
*   Special daily routines which include:
               Natural oral hygiene 

Preventative care of eyes, ears, nasal passages, sinuses      and throat 
               Nourishing treatment of skin, hair, and nails 
*   Special seasonal routines for year-round health by adapting to the seasons
*   Recovery from addictions
*   Counseling and health education
*   Healthy lifestyle 

 

  

The Ayurvedic Definition of Health

 

Health is a process and not a state. It is an ongoing dynamic process and not a one-time attempt.  Every person must take responsibility for their own health by actively participating in their health process, and not depend on an expert to fix it. 

 

The dynamic health balance needs to be achieved in all aspects of life: physical, biochemical, intellectual, emotional, behavioral, spiritual, familial, social, environmental and universal and shouldn't be narrowed down to only physical or biochemical aspects. 

 

Therapies need to be comprehensive, considering all aspects of life like nutrition, natural   medicines, exercise, rest, emotions and lifestyle and not limited to drugs and surgery. All therapies need to be natural and not synthetic. 

 

Therapies also need to be customized to suit the individual and not standardized for the imaginary "average person." The goal is to heal diseases, reestablish balance, prevent disease, and promote positive health- not just to suppress symptoms or "quick fix" the problem.

 

What Makes Ayurveda Special?

 

* It respects the uniqueness of the individual.
* It considers all the levels of the individual.
* It offers natural ways of treating diseases and promoting health.
* It emphasizes prevention.
* It empowers everyone to take responsibility for their own well-being.
* It is cost-effective.

 

About Dr. Shanbhag:

 

Dr. Vivek Shanbhag, ND, MD(Ayurveda), BAMS, CYEd.  is a Licensed Naturopathic Doctor and an  Ayurvedic Practitioner. His 16 years of education in Ayurveda, Naturopathic Medicine & Yoga includes a 4 years ND at Bastyr University, 4 � years MD (Ayurved) at Poona University, 5 � years BAMS at Karnataka University and 2 years Yoga Educator Training at Karnataka University. He integrates Ayurvedic and Naturopathic medicine in his clinical practice. For individuals and families, he plays the role of a wellness coach. He guides them in the process of healing themselves to achieve optimal body-mind-wellness through individualized nutrition, healing herbs and vitamins, gentle detoxification, appropriate exercise, yoga, pranayama, meditation, stress management, special daily routines & seasonal routines. Dr. Shanbhag specializes in treatment of Chronic Diseases & Metabolic Disorders like:
Acne                            Anxiety                                   Arthritis                       Asthma
Diabetes                       Digestive Disorders      

Eczema                       Fatigue
Hair Loss                     Headaches                    

High Blood Pressure     High Cholesterol
Hyper Acidity              Joint Pains                   

Low Back Pain             Low Immunity
Memory Problems       Menstrual Problems     

Migraines                     Obesity                                   
Prostate Disorders        Sexual dysfunction       

Sinusitis                        Sleeplessness        

       

To contact Dr. Shanbhag for more information 

or to make and appointment:

[email protected]   

 408.876.0636            

 

Meet Gayathri Shanbhag, M.S. 

jayathri

Gayathri is a consultant in Nutrition & Diet Therapy with a Masters Degree in Nutrition from the Bastyr University in 1993, where she was also a Professor.

 

Gayathri has designed a unique Ayurvedic Natural Weight Management Program which she is offering as part of her service at Pacific Naturopathic. 

 

She offers Nutrition and Diet Therapy consultations to those suffering from:


Arthritis                             Asthma                                    

Diabetes                       

Digestive Disorders     
Eczema                              

Headaches                    

High Blood Pressure     

High Cholesterol
Hyper Acidity                    

Menstrual Problems     

Migraines                     

Obesity                                   
Prostate Disorders              

Sinusitis                        

Sleeplessness

& other conditions

 

Gayathri is available to teach Ayurvedic Nutrition & Cooking Classes.  Please speak with her if you have an interest in setting up a class for yourself and your friends.   

 

Since 1990, for over 22 years, she has taught Nutrition and Cooking courses at Bastyr University, AYU Ayurvedic Academy, Whole Foods and Goa Ayurveda & Yoga Academy.

Currently, Gayathri is working on her "Ayurvedic Wellness Cookbook".

 

For more information,
Gayathri can be contacted at 
408.876.0636.

 

 

Neurological Health
   and the Tongue     

 

As most of our readers know by now, Dr. Connie and I have been studying the tongues and fingernails of many of our patients.  Our focus has been to develop tools that may predict future problems in body systems and express our findings in Western Medical terminology.  We have taken much of the material from 5000 years of Traditional Chinese Medicine and done countless hours of on-line research to this end.

 

tongue to left The tongue and its movements tell a great deal about underlying neurological health.  For example, the hypoglossal nerve (twelfth cranial nerve) controls tongue movements. Damage to this nerve can lead to paralysis of one-half the tongue, causing the tongue to deviate towards the paralyzed side. The photo shows damage to the left side of the hypoglossal nerve causes a deviation to the left.

 

The conditions that may cause tongue deviation include tumors at the base of the brain, infection, strokes and degenerative diseases that affect motor neurons such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's Disease). Symptoms of tongue paralysis may include difficulty chewing, swallowing and speaking.

 

If you notice that your tongue goes to one side or another, it's absolutely time for an immediate check up.

 

If you have any suspicious tongue or fingernail signs, your best bet is to make an appointment to come in for an evaluation and suggestions on how to reverse the condition.

 

To make an appointment for tongue and fingernail analysis, please phone Pacific Naturopathic at 650-917-1121.  The appointment is only 20 minutes long.

 

 
Initial  Visit: 
$50!
 
follow-up visits $25
TONGUE AND 
FINGERNAIL ANALYSIS

 

Receive a written analysis, photos and recommendations

 

Establish a baseline for future evaluation

Flourless (Gluten Free) 
Chocolate Beet Cake 
* * * 
Healthy Eats and Treats 
from the Pacific Naturopathic Team 
 
beet cake  
 
We have a close friend who simply hates beets but loves chocolate. We prepared this cake and surreptitiously fed it to him.  He loved it. It tastes rich and sinful but is amazingly healthy and easy to make.
 
4 ounces bittersweet chocolate
6 tablespoons extra virgin, organic coconut oil
1/4 cup unrefined cane sugar
1 teaspoon orange zest
1 egg, plus two egg whites
1-1/2 cups grated cooked beets
1/4 cup cocoa powder

 

Preheat oven to 375.  

 

Using some coconut oil, grease an 8 inch cake pan.  Line the pan with parchment paper and grease the parchment paper.

 

Place a pot with some water in it on medium heat.  Set a bowl on top of the pot (a double boiler).  Add the chocolate and the coconut oil to the bowl and melt together, stirring.  Turn off the heat.

 

Add the sugar, zest, and egg yolk to the melted chocolate, stirring to incorporate evenly.  Stir in the grated beets and cocoa powder and remove the bowl from the pot.

 

Beat the egg whites with a pinch of salt until it forms stiff peaks.  Gently fold the egg whites until just combined. 

 

Pour into the cake pan and bake for about 25 minutes.  The cake is

ready when a toothpick comes out clean.

 

Allow to cool and then refrigerate for 30 minutes before serving. 

 

(By Berkeley Fall 2007 PM Natural Chef Class) 

 

 
Beliefs and Breast Diagnostics
***
Breast Thermography 
at Pacific Naturopathic 
*** 
Non-Invasive,Radiation Free, Informative

 

Normal thermog photo
Thermography is noninvasive and offers therapeutically useful information

 

 

 

I often hear that patients have either spoken of breast thermography or taken their breast thermography reports to conventional health practitioners, and have been told that the practitioner "doesn't believe in breast thermography".  My response is to question how their belief has anything at all to do with breast thermography. Beliefs can be proven or disproven. The technology for breast thermography does exist, and one would have to go to great lengths to prove it does not.

 

A person could believe that breast thermography is not accurate as a diagnostic for breast cancer. That would be true.  Breast thermography is not accurate as a diagnostic for breast cancer. Nor is mammography. The only current diagnostic for breast cancer is breast biopsy.

 

Or a person could believe that breast thermography is not useful. I have  the direct, personal experience of breast thermography reports pointing towards a cancerous condition, while the  mammogram missed the condition entirely. I also have the experience of tracking the effect of various treatments in reversing abnormal temperature and vasculature patterns. And I have the experience of tracking the effects of various hormonal regimes on the breasts. This kind of tracking is clinically useful information.

 

The practitioner who disbelieves in the usefulness of breast thermography would need to review thermographic data and judge then whether they believe in the utility of breast thermography. If they have never reviewed thermography reports, their belief is nothing more than opinion, unfounded in fact. 

 

***

 

 

The cost to you of breast thermography is $225.

 

Find out more about thermography at Pacific Naturopathic at:

Thermography at Pacific Naturopathic 


 

 

Transformative Activities Near Pacific Naturopathic in Hawaii 

 

Openings Beginning in March 
Picture yourself here...
 

 

Click here for info on making a reservation  

 

 

Pacific Naturopathic Retreat Center/Hawaii Peace Garden Vacation Houses (PNRC) is located in the Kapulena community, between Honokaa and the Waipio Valley on the Hamakua Coast of the Big Island of Hawaii. It is conveniently situated an hour from Hilo and an hour from Kona, making both sides of the Island easily accessible.

 

The Big Island has long been known as the "Healing Isle" due to the existence of spiritual and healing retreat centers, and of many alterative health practitioners. In addition, there are ecotourism options, many creative small business products and services, slow food movement activities, community sustainability meetings, and a rich historical participation in outdoor life. Some of our favorites:

 

hilo fmrs mkt The Hilo Farmer's Market is suspended in time and space. It is the closest you can get to an Asian Market without actually being there. It is also a form of business that has not changed in thousands of years. Open Wednesdays and Saturdays.  It is less than an hour from PNRC. Click here to visit. 

 

  hi'ilani

Hi'ilani Eco House, built by good friends Dave and SherryPettus and Jim and Teri Sugg, is a short walk away from PNRC. An extract from their website: "The groundbreaking carbon-neutral design by Robert Mechielsen is durable and efficient, and it collaborates with nature.  The signature "butterfly" roofs harvest sun for electricity, rain for household and irrigation use.  Airflow over the roof generates negative air pressure which energizes an innovative and energy saving "eco air conditioning" system."  Utterly visionary and concept-changing. Click here to visit.

 

peo thea

We knew that we had come to the right place 14 years ago when we discovered the Honoka'a People's Theater just four miles away in town.  The theater not only shows the typical Hollywood blockbusters, but art fils as well.  The Theater is also a Mecca for cultural activities, presenting a year-round array of all genres of music, dance, theater and guest speakers.  An amazing facility for a town of only 2,500 people. Click here to visit.

 

Pacific Naturopathic in Hawaii is also always available for meditation retreats, honeymoons, getaways or as a base for exploring the island.

            

Pacific Naturopathic's Hawaii Vacation Rental 

 

 

 

Searching for a Meaningful Gift For a Friend or Loved One?  
Give the Gift of Health! 

Gift Certificates For All Practitioners and Services Available at Pacific Naturopathic
 


passion flower

Looking for a conscious, meaningful, caring gift for a birthday or special occasion? 

A gift certificate to a Pacific Naturopathic practitioner lets a special person know you really care about their well-being. 

 

 

Gift certificates for all practitioners and modalities offered at Pacific Naturopathic are available by phoning our front desk at 650-917-1121, or just stopping by.

 

Two Types of Thermography Offered at Pacific Naturopathic 

 

 

At Pacific Naturopathic, we offer two types of thermography, both of which address physiologic change in the body. Readers may be more familiar with Breast Thermography (see below), which helps us determine differences in vasculature and temperature between the breasts.

 

The other type of thermography offered at Pacific Naturopathic is called Contact Regulation Thermography (CRT). 

 

bodyscan
CRT: Safe and highly informative

Contact Regulation Thermography screens the body from head to pelvic floor, measuring the temperature at 119 points. The first measurements are taken with the body at rest. After a 10 minute cold challenge, temperatures are taken again to assess the body's response to stress.

 

Evaluation of temperatures can help determine points of inflammation in the meridian and musculoskeletal system, can pinpoint areas of lymphatic congestion, can detect hidden imbalance, and can track referred pain.

 

Your temperature measurements are evaluated in the context of a data bank of thousands of scans. You are provided with a comprehensive written report of findings, and given the opportunity to discuss the implication of those findings with Ardell, who has extensive training in CRT. Should the scan indicate a need to address an underlying imbalance, Ardell will recommend that you see your health care practitioner, or make an appointment with one of the doctors at Pacific Naturopathic.

 

 

 

The cost of a CRT is $275.  To schedule an appointment, please phone 650-917-1121.

 

 
Transformational, Stress Reducing, Feel Good Services Offered at
Pacific Naturopathic   
____________ 

Reduce Inflammation and Stress:

La Stone Body Therapy with Ardell Hill

 

      la stone 

Reducing inflammation is a key to treating almost every condition, from Alzheimers to arthritis to cancer to cardiovascular disease. LaStone Therapy reduces inflammation through therapeutic placement of cool stones over areas of the body that are inflamed. The entire body is supported as the temperature differential enhances the flow of blood and lymph.

 

A LaStone therapy session begins with warming the entire body to soften chronically tight muscles.  Warming the muscle relaxes both the muscle and adjoining tissues and calms the nervous system.  Using the cool stones, where needed, stops the pain-spasm-pain cycle and brings in fresh oxygenated blood.

 

The use of warm and cool stones together helps the body remember how to regulate itself and stop patterns of inflammation.

 

LaStone therapist Ardell Hill approaches  LaStone Therapy sessions with a wide range of experience which she tailors to meet your individual needs. She draws from modalities including Swedish massage, Cranio-Sacral, Deep Tissue, Reflexology, Jin Shin Jyutsu and Reiki, all of which are enhanced with the use of warm and cool stones. 

 

To book a LaStone session with Ardell, please phone Pacific Naturopathic at 650-917-1121. 


Find out more about Ardell Hill 

 
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.

Shanti Rubenstone, MD