Rebecca Barnes completed her master’s degree in Physician Assistant Studies at the University of Colorado in 2009. She is certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants and licensed by the Colorado Board of Medical Examiners. The Physician Assistant program is a 3-year course of study with two years of combined classroom and clinical education, and one year of clinical rotations. Rebecca’s clinical study included rotations in family practice, internal medicine, pediatrics, women’s health, emergency medicine, asthma and allergy, dermatology and cardiology. Prior to physician assistant school, Rebecca received her bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Notre Dame and master’s degree in English from Colorado State University. She lives in Boulder with her husband and daughter and spends her free time biking, hiking, knitting, and reading.

Brigitte Mars, AHG, MT

Brigitte Mars, is a nutritional consultant who has been working with Natural Medicine for 35 years. She teaches Herbal Medicine at (Esalen, Kirpalu), Boulder College of Massage and Naropa University. Brigitte has a weekly KGNU radio show called “Naturally” as well as a private practice.

She runs Herb Camp for Kidsand Teens with her daughter Sunflower and is also the mother of actress and yogini, Rainbeau Mars. She teaches “Raw Foods Workshops” with her husband of twenty-six years, Tom Pfeiffer.

Brigitte is the auther or eight books, including “Natural First Aid”, “Addiction Free Naturally”, “Sex, Love and Health”,Healing Herbal Teas” and “Rawsome!”. She is a frequent contributor to Nexus, Herbs for Health, Herb Companion and many other magazines. She was recently featured on NBC Dateline, discussing herbal alternatives to Viagra.

Visit www.brigittemars.com.

Rachel Katz, P.T., S.E.P

Rachel Katz, P.T., S.E.P. is a specialist in unique mind/body and pain relief methods. She graduated from the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Therapy in 1982. Since then she has studied many kinds of therapy and developed methods of her own in pursuit of solving her client’s complex pain and stress situations.

She is the author of The Consumer Guide to Recovery from Car Accidents. In 2000 she completed Dr. Peter Levine’s 3 year training program in treating emotional and physical trauma. She is credentialed as a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner.

In 2005 she began weekly visits to the Boulder County Jail helping a group of 30 inmates in the drug and alcohol recovery Phoenix Program. She created and taught methods of self-calming, anxiety and tension control and interpersonal relationship building skills for 9 months. Rachel’s hands on methods of relieving chronic muscle spasm will be offered through The Boulder College of Massage the emotions Therapy as part of their 2008 Continuing Education courses.

Rachel has an office at the Boulder Holistic Medical Center. She works with all ages and a wide range of body/mind/emotion problems.

Kenneth Cohen, M.A., M.S. Th.
Qigong Healing: Therapeutic Exercises and External Qi Treatment

Kenneth Cohen is a renowned qigong master and health educator, Mr. Cohen has practicedand taught for forthy years. Winner of the leading international award in complementary medicine, the Alyce and Elmer Green Award for Innovation and Lifetime Achievement. Author of The Way of Qigong, best selling Sounds True audio/DVD courses and more than 200 journal articles.

The Qigong Research and Practice Center. www.qigonghealing.com

Drew Henderson L.Ac., M.S.O.M., Dipl.O.M.

• Accupuncturist
• Chinese Herbalist
• Shiatsu
• Postural Intergration
• Professor at Southwest Acupuncture School in Boulder and Colorado
• School of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Denver. On staff at Boulder Community Hospital for inpatient acupuncture. Areas of specialty:
• Pain, Motor Vehicle Accident, Addictions (especially smoking cessation), Mental Disorders, Women’s Health— including Fertility.

I know, we already have an acupuncturist in our clinic, Drew Henderson, but Dr Weber isn’t necessarily looking to do that more acupuncture than he is already doing, and his style is different from Drew’s so please, feel free to see either one. n.b. Drew will be much easier to get in to see!

In this issue… My wife has offered you some more those wonderful recipes that keep me from wanting to lose any weight… so feel free to try them, but keep in mind, they are rather addicting… you know, even though I espouse to you that gluten is a highly irritating substance to so many of us…and to seek alternatives to all the glutens, simply switching over to rice flour and still creating luscious high carb, processed rice flour and other grain delectable’s isn’t necessarily good for avoiding insulin resistance (let alone weight…)

Once again, as I have told most of you, my philosophy is that we need to make VEGETABLES –the colorful ones, the basis of our diet… and garnish it with healthy portions of protein and “healthy” fats (ie fats that have not been heated up!… like cold-pressed olive oil, flax oil avocados etc…

So watch the carbs, and remember, if you are an athlete and training vigorously, then you CAN afford more carbs than what I am espousing for most of us. The right diet for you may not be the right diet for your spouse of friend!! We are all individuals, and you may need to see me, Charley Cropley, Brigitte Mars, or another trainer or nutritionist to find the individual program that is best for you.

~ Dr. Paul Berger

• A dime has 118 ridges around the edge.
• A cat has 32 muscles in each ear.
• A crocodile cannot stick out its tongue.
• A dragonfly has a life span of 24 hours.
• A goldfish has a memory span of three seconds.
• A “jiffy” is an actual unit of time for 1/100th of a second.
• A snail can sleep for three years.
• All 50 states are listed across the top of the Lincoln Memorial on the back of the $5 bill.
• Almonds are a member of the peach family.
• An ostrich’s eye is bigger than its brain.
• Babies are born without kneecaps. They don’t appear until the child reaches 2 to 6 years of age.
• Butterflies taste with their feet.
• Cats have over one hundred vocal sounds. Dogs only have about 10.
• “Dreamt” is the only English word that ends in the letters ” mt “.
• February 1865 is the only month in recorded history not to have a full moon.
• In the last 4,000 years, no new animals have been domesticated.
• If you are an average American, in your whole life, you will spend an average of 6 months waiting at red lights.
• It’s impossible to sneeze with your eyes open.
• Leonardo Da Vinci invented the scissors.
• Maine is the only state whose name is just one syllable.
• No word in the English language rhymes with month, orange, silver, or purple.
• Our eyes are always the same size from birth, but our nose and ears never stop growing.

In the color spectrum, green is at the center of the rainbow. Green the represents balance, healing, emotional stability, love, peace and rejuvenation, according to color therapists.

Green foods are power packed with nutrients, energizing, detoxifying, rebuilding and immune strengthening. As green foods grow, they provide oxygen for people and the planet. Green foods are rich in chlorophyll, a potent collector of the sun’s energy. Chlorophyll is the green pigment of plants required for photosynthesis. The word is derived from the Greek “chloros” meaning “greenish-yellow” and “phyllon,” meaning “leaf.” Sometimes referred to as “plant blood,” this substance is similar to the hemoglobin of our red blood cells, though rather than containing iron at the cell center, as found in human blood, magnesium is present.

Chlorophyll stimulates red blood cell production and is thus beneficial in treating anemia. It is anti-inflammatory, aids digestion, helps prevent both internal and external infections, minimizes the effects of pollution and helps the body to obtain more oxygen. Chlorophyll doesn’t kill germs, but provides an environment that interferes with their growth.

Before immune suppressing drugs were available, chlorophyll was applied to skin grafts to prolong their survival and acceptance by the body.

In 1943, The American Journal of Surgery claimed chlorophyll speeded wound healing by 24.9 percent. Chlorophyll reduces itching, odor and pain from wounds.

Chlorophyll, found in green foods, can improve moods, and make skin look more beautiful. Greens help relieve pain, decrease stress and make one more flexible. Greens calm the mind and clean the digestive tract. There is no tolerance level that builds up with repeated use of green foods, unlike many drugs that work initially and then require larger amounts.

Chlorophyll helps neutralize and deactivate carcinogens. Chlorophyll supports the growth of friendly bacteria that live in the digestive tract and improves bowel regularity. Chlorophyll inhibits the growth of cancer cells, as cancer cells do not thrive well in the presence of oxygen.

Chlorophyll exhibits no toxicity whether ingested, injected or applied topically, making it one of the most unique substances known to science.

Another nutrient present in green foods, though the chlorophyll shades their yellow – orange color, is beta-carotene. In the body, this nutrient is converted into Vitamin A and benefits the eyes, skin, mucous membranes, hair, nails and bones, as well as helping to prevent free radical damage to healthy cells. Green foods also usually indicate the presence of calcium, magnesium and potassium.

Currently barley, oat, rye and wheat are grown for their healthful chlorophyll rich grasses. People who are allergic to grains, are usually sensitive to the gluten, not the grasses. Start slowly, and discontinue if you do have an allergic reaction.

Alfalfa’s (Medicago sativa) name is derived from the Arabic “al fasfason,” meaning “the best fodder.” This member of the Fabaceae (Pea) Family is the most common source of commercial chlorophyll. It is used as a detoxifier, not only from its chlorophyll content, but also as a source of fiber. In is used therapeutically in treating ulcers, arthritis, and bladder infections and most recently as an aid in normalizing estrogen production. It is rich in vitamins C, D, B-2, B -6, calcium and potassium. It does contain small amounts of Vitamin K, which helps blood-clotting ability. Nursing mother’s find alfalfa increases milk production.

Barley Grass (Hordeum vulgare) is a member of the Poaceae (Grass) Family. Derived from the young grass from planted barley grains, the juice produces a pleasant tasting super food. Barley grass is rich in enzymes and antioxidants, including superoxide dismutase, which is being studied for its anti-cancer properties and is showing that it can help slow down the aging process. Barley grass is also rich in Vitamins C, B-1, B-2, biotin, niacin, calcium, iron, manganese and selenium. It is very alkaline and invigorates the thyroid gland. It is often used to improve skin conditions, aid weight loss, constipation, ulcers and fatigue.

Blue Green Algae (Aphanizomenon flos-aquae) is found in fresh water lakes. Upper Klamath Lake in southern Oregon is the only place in the world where large quantities are available in the wild. This plant reproduces at a very fast rate, almost daily in the summer. It is said to contain 65% in assimilable protein. Its cell wall is soft; therefore it is easy to digest. It is also rich in neuropeptides, making it an aid to strengthen the brain’s neurotransmitters. People enjoy this food in either powder or tablet form for its energizing properties.

Spirulina (Spirulina platensis) is another blue-green algae. It has a spiral shape and is multi celled. It is rich in protein and was considered a “sacred power plant ” by the Aztecs and Mayans. Spirulina is high in protein and GLA (gamma linoleic acid). Spirulina grows in warm alkaline or salty water. One acre of spirulina yields 20 times more protein than an acre of soybeans. It is 65% protein and does contain some vitamin B12. It is easy to digest due to its soft walled cell structure. Popular with dieters, this super food is so packed with nutrients, including the amino acids phenylalanine and tyrosine, which suppress appetite, and helps one feel satisfied. Try sprinkling the powder into salads, soup, or guacamole.

Wheat Grass (Triticum species) is a member of the Poaceae (Grass) Family. Wheatgrass has been used for at least 5,000 years. Chinese, Roman and Greeks all wrote about its healing properties.

Dr. Ann Wigmore re-popularized Wheatgrass in the 1970’s. This super food is made from the juice of the sprouted wheat berries. Wheatgrass is 95% water and in the remaining five percent are a host of nutrients, including beta carotene, B complex (including B12), vitamin C, E, K, U, calcium, cobalt, iron, magnesium germanium, phosphorus, sodium, sulfur, zinc and seventeen amino acids (including the eight essential ones), antioxidants, cobalt and zinc, and at least eighty enzymes. According to agricultural researcher, Pfeiffer, when dehydrated, wheatgrass has a protein composition of 47.4% (three times higher than beef). Wheatgrass has been analyzed to contain 90 out of a possible 102 minerals. People who drink wheat grass feel energized and clear headed from their daily shots of “grass.” Wheatgrass detoxifies, purifies and builds the blood. Wheatgrass is antibacterial, antiviral and alkalinizing. It helps eliminate mucus from the intestines, provides a sense of well being, nourishes the brain and nervous system, and prevents degenerative disease.

Super green foods can be blended into smoothies and many are also available in capsules.

Remember to include plenty of common green foods in your diet such as dandelion greens, kale and collards, which contain similar nutrients to the above mentioned green foods. A diet that includes a multitude of natural colors is sure to include various vitamins. For super powered nutrition, make greens high on the list!

www.brigittemars.com

Mind body often means that we use our minds to talk to our bodies to improve how we’re doing. It could be saying an affirmation, “I can lose 5 pounds”. It can be calming ourselves, “OK, settle down, take some deep breaths”. It can be rehearsing athletic moves, like mentally practicing a basketball free throw. Or, mind body can mean dialogue the body holds with the mind. This is usually the least familiar form of mind body healing.

Mind body communication is a complicated process. A favorite Gary Larson cartoon always comes to my mind when I think about the difficulties of talking to our bodies. The top half of the cartoon is titled: What we say to dogs. In this cartoon, a man is telling his dog, “Ginger, stay out of the garbage. That’s it, I’ve had it, Ginger”. The lower half of the image is titled what dogs hear. Ginger hears “Ginger, blah blah blah. Blah blah blah, Ginger.” For us, we can say to our bodies “hold my shoulders back”, “relax”, “feel better”, or a number of other messages but our body may hear only “blah blah blah, Ginger”.

Why is this so? Part of the answer is that the talking parts of the brain have only been around a very short time in the great scheme of evolution. The brain parts that control the spine, arms and legs for movement, and the parts that interpret sensations, images, sight and sound, and the gut sense have been around considerably longer.

Let’s use some rough numbers. Research suggests speech is less than 500,000 years old. Mammals evolved about 200 million years ago. This makes the talking connections in the brain only ¼ of one percent as well connected to the whole brain as are the sensory and movement pathways, brain nuclei, and association areas and parts of the deeper brain.

So, to get a good conversation going with the body, the common language needs to be the realm of sensations, movements, emotions and thoughts that tie into a perceivable feeling in the body.

In MIND BODY PHYSICAL THERAPY this translates into increasing awareness of sensations, awareness of joint position and movement information sent by muscles, joints, skin, and the balance system. It can also mean attending to important mental messages and emotions.

Let’s look at two examples of how a mind body framework might be relevant to a person’s health. First we’ll take a person who injures their leg in a bike riding accident. The person skids their wheels on gravel, their right leg comes off the pedal as part of an instinctive balance reaction, is twisted and is broken. The leg is casted and the bone heals. Now the cast comes off. The person may have not only the stiffness from the limb being casted but stiffness from the protective reaction that the leg performed during the accident.

For many people the protective stiffness abates with a return to normal activities. It becomes a non-issue. For other people however, especially people who have had numerous experiences of distancing themselves from uncomfortable sensations in their bodies, recovery is harder. Progress with healing is slower, more difficult, more painful, and the limb does not readily return to normal. Therapy that addresses the underlying holding pattern and frees it, gets the healing back on course.

Now let’s take an example of a person who’s under a lot of stress. It could be from financial pressure, struggling with a child’s behavior, the health of a parent, sustained job pressure, or from conflict in your marriage. When there is pressure and tension affecting a person in a fairly global way, all of the muscle systems become tighter.

This person may have an upset stomach, tension in the neck and shoulders, difficulty calming down and experiencing periods of time free from the stress. Falling asleep and staying in restful sleep may be difficult. A person may engage in distracting and nonproductive behaviors as a way to cope with generalized increased energy levels that do not have an outlet.

This sort of health challenge is usually looked at and treated from a psychological standpoint and with psychological and behavioral methods. If the problem is very entrenched, therapy that focuses on the body itself can be of value and speed progress.

Hands on attention to the tight areas whether it’s the neck region or the belly, can be combined with dialogue about the sensations that arise, the emotions that arise, and possible solutions and coping strategies that feel right to the body. Touch therapy doesn’t have to be directed at old issues, it can be about building new connections to one’s self in a current situation. The combination of supporting and helping the body experience calming can work from the bottom up to help the mind calm down.

Research has been done to find out which psychological methods lead to successful treatment. Research has established that the common link for success is: the person taps into their internal sensations, their deep bodily knowledge, their inward awareness. This skill can be learned, or already exist but is essential for success.

Psychotherapy is undergoing an enormous shift to more body centered types of treatment. Having a professional in the body work field who can safely, teach, expand, and support inward bodily awareness is a holistic way to compliment healing that is traditionally addressed through only psychological means.

In summary, MIND BODY PHYSICAL THERAPY can mean better healing for illness, injury or stress whether the problem is physical, psychological or both.

Qigong, Pronounced “chee gung”, is the self healing and preventive aspect of Chinese medicine, as well as a powerful and enjoyable way for healthy people to enhance their vitality and well being. Literally energy (qi) skill (gong), it is a system of gently exercise, breathing techniques, and meditation. With more than 90 million practitioners, qigong is the most widely practiced form of complementary and alternative medicine in the world. It is also the most scientifically tested. Experimental evidence suggests that qigong may be an effective complimentary therapy for chronic pain, stress, asthma, arthritis, diabetes, headaches, gastro-intestinal disorders and chronic fatigue. It has shown effectiveness against cancer and heart disease—the two major killers of our age.

From a qigong perspective, we can improve our health by living in harmony with the seasons. Just as the Earth has distinct qualities during different seasons; flowers in the spring and snow in the winter, Humans also have seasonal qualities and needs. Winter is a good time to go within and conserve energy. When there is the least amount of light outside, then like a candle in a dark room, the inner light grows brighter. It is a natural time for introspection, soul-searching and energy building qigong. Chinese medicine correlates the seasons with distinct elements and organs. Winter relates to the water element, the kidneys and the adrenal glands. Due to the kidneys location, their health affects the lower back, winter cold can exacerbate lower back pain. Just as water grows the wood, the water organ (kidneys) feeds the wood organ (liver). Thus when we strengthen the kidneys and live in harmony with the season, we can prevent liver related problems from developing in the future.

How does qigong recommend improving winter/kidney health? Practice inner quiet. Stress drains the kidney qi, in medical terms, it raises stress hormone levels and lowers DHEA, the body’s anti-aging hormone. In the winter, your attitude should be one of, “I can take time to nourish myself, to care for myself.” Slow down. Stop, look and listen. Root vegetables and free range meats can build inner heat. Avoid deep fried foods and excessive salads or raw foods, as these cool the body. Chinese medicine also advises cutting back on dairy, which congests the kidneys.

If you have a tendency towards cold hands and feet or are adversely affected by the cold, try wrapping a warm scarf around your waist and wear it under your jacket. This is as important as a hat on your head. You may be surprised at how warming the belly improves overall warmth and circulation. At the Boulder Holistic Medical Center, I can help you create a personalized qigong routine to address specific winter health needs. For general well being, I usually recommend Standing and Walking Meditation and the Bear Animal Exercise (described in my book The Way of Qigong). Take a lesson from the hibernating bear, the expert at conserving energy. Use the winter as an opportunity to better mange your energy and health and perhaps the long night can remind you not to give up on your dreams!

Ken Cohen (www.qigonhealing.com) is seeing clients at the Boulder Holistic Medical Center. To schedule an appointment, call him at 303-258-0971.

Cranberry (Vaccinium oxycoccus, V. macrocarpon) is a member of the Ericaceae (Heath) Family and a relative of blueberries. The genus name, vaccinium is from the Latin vaca, meaning, “cow” as they enjoy this plant. Also known as marshwort, and fenne berry, it still grows wild in North America. The word cranberry is named after the cranes that feed upon them, as well as their slender curved stalks that resemble a crane’s neck.

They were a popular food with Native Americans who included them in pemmican and game dishes, as well as medicinally to treat blood poisoning. They are believed to be native to the bogs of both Europe and North America.

Cranberry is acidic, sour, cool, and considered an antiscorbutic (prevents scurvy), bronchiodilator, urinary antiseptic, antifungal, antiviral, and vasodilator. Cranberry inhibits the adhesion of bacteria (often E. coli) to the urinary tract, perhaps due to a polymer contained in the plant.

They have been used to treat asthma, burning urine, cancer, cystitis, diabetes, fever, hemorrhoids, kidney stones, poor appetite, skin disorders, and urinary tract infections. They contain vitamin C, bioflavonoids (anthocyanins), ellagic acid and fiber. It is believed that their high flavonoid content is beneficial for in the formation of visual purple, a pigment in the eyes, essential in night vision. They also contain tannic and oxalic acids, which if overused can contribute to the formation of kidney stones, and inhibit the absorption of calcium. Thus, they should thus be used in moderation.

Look for plump, bright red, shiny hard berries. Avoid those that are soft, leaky or shriveled. Good berries actually tend to bounce. They store for up to a couple of months in the refrigerator. The benzoic acid in the berries works as a natural preservative. Commercial berries are frequently treated with growth hormones, though not usually with insecticides.

Berries are tart, and can be sweetened with honey or dates, and eaten in jams, relishes, sauces, breads, cakes, juice, and added to stuffing, juice. Dried cranberries can be used in place of raisins.

Have you ever wondered what the qualities of a “good” back are? Are you someone who doesn’t think about your back at all because it doesn’t give you pain? Are you someone who has back pain some of the time and wonders what you should be doing for it?

It’s easy to come up with an image of a back that’s hurting like the image of red flares coming out of the low back, a bent over figure, a sense of distress. What about images of a back that feels really good? What image comes to mind that shows that? Does your image reflect comfort, motion, and strength or other sensations?

A healthy back is one that doesn’t give you pain or tension. It can support you comfortably for sitting with or without a back support for hours. You wake up flexible and pain-free and stay that way throughout the day. You don’t feel strain or undue stretch to reach into a low cupboard, across the car seat or to lift and twist. The small movements that shift your position and weight to keep you comfortable are unconscious and occur without thought. You don’t need to repeatedly do large weight shifts and big stretches to reduce tension. You can voluntarily move most sections of your spine in small motions that don’t bring along the whole back in order for them to happen.

Here’s a simple test: Start with the upper part of your back and lower neck. Can you curl forward and back in a wave the way a dolphin swims through the water? Try the mid section above the belly button, how about here? Now try the lower back. Could you move in sections or only as a whole?

Try another direction of movement: a bend to the side. What does this feel like?

If you have sections of your spine that don’t move well or you have limitations of motion in the biggest moving joint below your low back, the hip sockets, then you may have times that your back hurts. Some simple things to do are preventative.

When you sit, avoid working with your arms reached out in front for the keyboard or mouse. If you have to reach forward some of the time, be sure to return your arms to a by your sides position frequently to give your arm and back muscles a break. This is good to do in the thinking pauses. Let your arms rest by your sides and allow your chest position to open broadly.

Use your muscles in the region around your shoulder blades to support your torso upright off the back of the chair. Rest into the back of the chair some of the time and again return to a position off the chair back with your muscles contributing to holding you up. The muscles that go from the shoulder blades to your spine create a support system that your back muscles can rest in, like a hammock reaching across your back from shoulder blade to shoulder blade. You don’t have to squeeze real hard like a guard at Buckingham Palace, but you do want some action in these muscles.

One of the keys to a comfortable low back is muscle tone and spine segment mobility in the mid back region. It’s easy to get into the habit of not engaging motion in this part of the back. It seems that once this area gets “offline” it tends to stay that way unless you get it working for you and keep it participating in everyday ordinary motions.

If you have an image of a comfortable back that you’d like to share, I’d like to hear itYou can send your comments and questions to Rachel at her email: rachelsranch@yahoo.com or call her at 303-875-7878.

1. Optimistic people who have suffered a heart attack are less likely to have a recurrence of the heart problems. A study of 300 people who were treated for blockage to the coronary arteries and had been through an angioplasty procedure found an amazing fact. The optimistic people were more than three times less likely to have another blockage requiring an angioplasty within six months of the first procedure! Your attitude DOES make a big difference in your health!
2. The idea that exercise before going to bed will cause you to have trouble falling asleep isn’t true, according to a study done at a major university. In the study, non-exercisers worked out for an hour at different times of the day. The group who exercised before they went to bed fell asleep two to three times as quickly as people who exercised earlier in the day. Plus, not only did they fall asleep faster, they reported enjoying their night’s sleep much better than the people who worked out in the morning or afternoon.
3. Tea is a great food for health! Did you know:
   • Tea without sugar or honey only has two calories per cup?
   • Steeping tea for three to five minutes produces the most antioxidants?
   • Milk in your tea doesn’t reduce the health benefits the tea contains?
   • The maximum amount of antioxidants contained in tea comes from brewing loose leaves or from tea bags? (Tea in powders or bottles has little or no helpful antioxidants!)
   • Tea in products applied to the skin has little or no health enhancing properties?
4. You could increase the risk of coming down with age related disorders such as diabetes and hypertension (high blood pressure) much sooner in life if you don’t get enough sleep! Researchers at the Free University in Belgium found that people who don’t get adequate sleep for prolonged periods of time are far more likely to get these ailments at younger ages than people who do get proper amounts of sleep. Moral of the story: You need to get enough sleep along with the right amount of exercise and correct nutrition!

I believe that the primary cause of human Health problems is not at all the things that we commonly believe, i.e. diseases, genetics and microbial infection. We become ill primarily because we abuse and injure our own selves. It is as if we carry a dagger and repeatedly slice our own veins, bleeding precious healing power from our bodies. In reality the dagger is our own actions. By our own actions we either destroy our bodies or heal our bodies. This is intended to be good news. We are vastly more powerful than we realize. We have been grievously deceived.

Imagine that you could purchase an herb that empowered you to eat impeccably in accord with your understanding of what is best for you. This alone would do more for your Health than any medicine. Now imagine if you could purchase a second herb that gave you the benefits of a daily 90 minute balanced workout in strength, flexibility and endurance? You would look and feel incredibly better within the first week, if not the first hour. Your third herb would bring you the benefits of a well fed, well exercised mind. You would feel calm, optimistic, self-confident and free of anxiety, fear and want. Your fourth herb would strengthen your power to understand, love and forgive others. These four herbs would dispel illness, unhappiness and conflict leaving you vital, beautiful, wise and happy.

In reality no such herbs exist. What does exist is our actions of eating, moving, thinking and relating. The healing power of our actions is beyond question and directly provable to anyone through their own experience. Our suffering and our Health are the results of our actions. For better or worse these results are absolutely impossible to escape. The untrained, unskillful performance of these actions bleeds our power and produces endless and inescapable misery. Nothing influences our physiology and psychology, our Health and happiness as directly, as constantly or as powerfully.

We are already performing these activities in every moment of living. There is no option to not perform them. The question is how skillful are we in our performance? Everything depends on our skill. It may have never occurred to you that eating, thinking, posture or listening are skills, living arts. How could you know this? Almost no one knows this. Yet it is true. Think of what this means. This is greatest possible news. There is nothing we desire more than Health and happiness. Nothing. And we have unlimited capacity to control our Health and Happiness by controlling our actions. The million dollar question is how do we control our thoughts, words and deeds? From whence comes the power of Self-control?