Monday, September 11, 2017

Chakras, Auras and More!

The body has vortexes of energy constantly spinning in a circular motion which are called chakras. Chakra is a Sanskrit word which means “Energy Wheel”. The seven main chakras are located in a straight line in the center of the physical body and each governs specific body parts and organs as well as aspects connected to all levels of our being. To read more about each chakra's attributes read here. 
Each chakra vibrates at a certain frequency. That certain frequency has a specific wavelength and that's why the chakras have different colors. When life’s challenges, trials, and tribulations are not resolved, it might result in stagnation of energy referred to as blockages, in one or more chakras. Over time, this stagnation will manifest as disharmony on a physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual level. Therefore, if a chakra can be stimulated or unblocked before the manifestation of physical ailments occur, health can be achieved and maintained. 
In helping unblock chakras, these energy centers can be stimulated by colors vibrating at similar frequencies. So to help open up the throat chakra that is blue in color, one may want to wear a blue necklace or scarf or light a blue candle. Blue sunglasses can help too! The blue light goes into the eye and stimulates the brain to open up the chakra. Movement can also help open up these energy centers, and that is why I developed Chakra Class. It combines movement from dance, Pilates, yoga and basic exercises in a specific sequence to open up the chakras. The one movement to open up all the chakras at once is laughter. That's why they say it is the best medicine! Before every chakra class you can get your chakras muscle tested to see which chakra you need to focus on. After the class you can get muscle tested to make sure they are all open.  If you want your chakras tested it is something we can muscle test in the office too! 
Everyone has a field of energy known as an aura where the chakra energy vibrates out of the body and into this field. Much can be discovered when looking at the aura and knowing the meaning behind each color. 
The aura consists of the vital, emotional, mental, and spiritual body of a human being. It displays thoughts and emotions on conscious and subconscious levels. This connection of the mind and body is displayed by the colors in the aura. The photo above was taken using Kirlian photography which has the ability to capture auras. If you are interested in getting your own aura captured on film there is a place in Chinatown called Magic Jewelry that does it. 

Your aura is your energy field and even though we don't often think about it as a part of us that needs attention it really does need it.  It can be cleansed from picking up other people's energy or stimulated for an energy boost.  I fell in love with these Bali Auric Sprays  the first moment I used them.  
When to use it
  • During meditation or yoga.
  • To clear homes or public spaces.
  • On your pillow before sleeping..
  • When waking up and before bed.
  • Possibilities are endless!
Purchase at the office for $25

Each spray contains a specific crystal formula that carries a certain healing vibration to tune into. They are handmade with organic oils. There is Palo Santo (sacred wood) from Peru, flowers, incense and candles always involved during production and all the production is handled in glass containers. The production process is finished with a special Balinese Ceremony performed by a Balinese Priest to strengthen and to elevate the healing vibration of the sprays.  This ceremony is celebrated under the full moon.

              
Here is Kirlian photography of an organic mushroom on the left and a non-organic one on the right.

You don't have to look twice to know which one has more life force and is healthier to eat! Life is energy and energy is life. That's why the more organic whole food you eat the better. Organic processed food is still processed. A rule to live by is if your great grandmother didn't eat it, neither should you. That's another reason why the main supplements we suggest to patients at the office are organic whole food supplements called Standard Process, which are made from a farm in Wisconsin. The body knows what food is and how to heal with it. 

Monday, September 4, 2017

Envy Pillow for a Good Night's Sleep

A good night's sleep is priceless. I have helped patients with sleep problems for over a decade now and I have realized that getting a good night's sleep depends on a multitude of factors. Stress level, caffeine and sugar consumption, how late dinner was and what you do right before bed are some of the factors that can make or break a good night's sleep. One tip I give is that it is ideal to go to sleep and wake up about the same time every night so you can train your body into a rhythm. Meditation before bed can help as well, to calm down the mind and enable you to sleep more deeply. Lavender oil is great to spray on your pillow or put into a diffuser. Lavender is known to be relaxing. 

As a chiropractor, the right support also matters. It wasn't until Envy pillow came along that I could recommend one pillow that would help the majority of patients. I am always trying to help patients find the right mattress or suggest a pillow to go between the knees (if they sleep on their side) to help. When it came to suggesting a pillow for the head and neck I was always at a loss, for there was never the perfect pillow that seemed to help. I would suggest a few and then the patient was left to figure it out for themselves. 

Once I was using Envy pillow and getting great feedback from patients I was so happy to find it! Envy pillow is memory foam with a bamboo pillow case that has sloped sides that cradle and tilt your head slightly, minimizing face-to-pillow contact AND in optimal neck support and alignment. It also has an elevated pattern in the center of the pillow that improves circulation by distributing weight and reducing pressure on the face. In this way reducing wrinkles and is wonderful after any face or sinus surgery.  



If it's something you are interested in we have pillows in the office that you can try! Your body will thank you. 

Monday, August 28, 2017

Health Benefits of Earthing

We are learning more and more these days that being able to find ways to relax, destress and calm ourselves helps us live happier and healthier lives. Meditation, exercise, massage, reading a novel, and being with a loved one are all ways to help us achieve this. More recently, an ancient technique called Earthing has hit the mainstream wellness scene.

Earthing, or grounding, is the practice of walking outside barefoot so your feet can make direct contact with the surface of the earth. This may seem different at first, but there is evidence that having your feet sink into the sand or feeling the movement of the grass beneath your toes can bring benefits such as decreased stress, inflammation and pain.

Earthing allows the exchange of positive and negative ions between our bodies and the earth. The body naturally produces free radicals (positive ions) to help combat anything unwanted inside of it, but too much of this can do more harm than good, causing excess inflammation in the body. When we connect with the earth (which holds a lot of negative ions) we actually, without knowing, transfer these ions between the ground and our bodies, reducing the number of damage-causing free radicals.


Throughout history, humans mostly walked barefoot or with footwear made of animal skins. They slept on the ground or on skins. They had contact with the earth many times a day—significantly more than we do today. We all know that the sun gives us warmth, light and vitamin D, and the earth provides us with fresh air, water, food, and a surface to live on. When your bare feet make contact with the earth’s surface, your body uptakes a natural and subtle energy. The earth produces a limitless energy supply of abundant free electrons which are electrically conductive. Our bodies, being bioelectrical in nature, are able to absorb this electrical energy that, in turn, will help balance our own internal bioelectrical environment for healthier functioning of bodily systems. Think about the last time you were barefoot with nature, and how it made you feel.

Earthing has amazing benefits. Here are some reasons you should make earthing part of your daily routine:
  • Decreases inflammation, and improves or eliminates the symptoms of many inflammation-related disorders
  • Reduces or eliminates chronic pain
  • Improves sleep in most cases
  • Increases energy
  • Lowers stress and promotes calmness in the body by cooling down the nervous system and stress hormones
  • Normalizes the body’s biological rhythms
  • Thins blood and improves blood pressure and flow
  • Relieves muscle tension and headaches
  • Lessens hormonal and menstrual symptoms
  • Dramatically speeds healing and helps prevent bedsores
  • Reduces or eliminates jet lag
  • Protects the body against potentially health-disturbing environmental electromagnetic fields (EMFs)
  • Accelerates recovery from intense athletic activity
Earthing is simple, basic, powerful and free. It has been regarded as a genuine missing link in the health equation—something with astounding potential to do much good for our health and humanity. It really doesn’t take much and can be done anywhere. Swim in the ocean or lake, garden with bare hands, lay on the earth, walk barefoot on the grass or sand and watch the body begin to heal.

If you would like to read more about the earth’s natural healing benefits, Earthing by Orber, Sinatra and Zucker is a must-read.

I suggest 20 min. of walking outside barefoot to get the full benefit of earthing.  If you do have trouble sleeping or want to improve energy you can get an earthing sheet which you sleep with that produces negative ions when you sleep or a mat to put your bare feet on while you are sitting at the desk.  You can also put a Himalayan salt lamp on your night stand.  The moisture in the air will pull the salt in the air.  As you breath in the salt which is negative ions it attracts the positive ions in your body and neutralizes them, taking stress off the body just like walking outside does. To get a real therapeutic dose try our Himalayan salt booth where you sit and relax while breathing in a concentrated amount of salt to get amazing benefits not just from the negative ions but also for the lungs and skin.  

Monday, August 7, 2017

Radiation: Damaging Effects From Your Cell Phone and Other Technology By Addison Landry

Technology is with us everywhere we turn and the amount and complexity of what we encounter is growing at a startling rate. With so much attachment, ease and connection to our devices what we have failed to notice is the effects it has on our body.

I am going back to basics of the body’s physics to relearn the important premises that determines how our body reacts to our surroundings and its capacity for healing. The first premise is that the human body has an Innate Intelligence that is constantly adapting to its immediate environment, for better or for worse. The body is attracted to a wholesome, nurturing environment and is repelled by a negative or toxic environment. The second important premise is that each body has a field of energy that surrounds it and can “read” the environment for the purpose of maintaining it’s balance. Understanding that the body has an energy field that is constantly emitting and changing can now allow us to understand how the energy emissions (radiation) can affect our health and balance.

All technology we use emits some sort of electromagnetic radiation. There are electric fields that develop through the amount of voltage it uses and then there are magnetic fields that develop from the flow of electric current. These radiation fields are large so they can connect with wireless devices that we use, wireless devices need to be connected to a source to function and through these radiation fields it occurs. Our text messages don’t come from thin air. The higher the electric field or the greater the magnetic field, the stronger the electromagnetic radiation.


Currently almost everything is going cordless which means extra radiation to transmit information. The frequency used is getting higher. Mobiles phones, smart watches, computers, ipad’s, televisions, navigation systems, microwaves, smart meters, wireless network connections (Wi-Fi routers) honestly any electric device you use is producing a varying magnetic field which interferes with your body's frequency and energy field.

These signals interfere with our nervous system, confusing or distorting the messages to and from the brain. Radiation is damaging to the body and can cause symptoms that include: headaches, rashes, fatigue, mood swing, irritability and sleep disturbances. On a cellular level, exposed over long periods of time they also can cause “blow out “in your cells resulting in “holes” in the membranes causing inflammation. The higher the frequency, the greater the energy transmitted, the greater the damage.

The good news is there are ways in which we can protect our bodies from these harmful emissions to keep our body in balance and healthy.

• Use headphones when possible to keep the cell phone away from your head.
• Use speaker phone instead of Bluetooth to reduce radiation emissions.
• Earthing- connect with nature, walking bare foot in a park or on the beach, it reduces the ambient voltage from everyday electricity power sources.
• Unplug Wi-Fi when not in use.
• Purchase a Himalayan salt lamp.
• Unplug appliances when not in use.
• Radiation protection: EMF cell phone protection chip can be placed on your cell phone, Wi-Fi, router and computer to protect you from the emissions.
• Purple plates are used to protect the body from the negative radiation field.


The fact is electromagnetic radiation is all around us every day but we have never really seen how it can affect us long term. That is the perfect reason to protect ourselves and take extra precautions, because our health is too priceless not too.

Monday, July 24, 2017

Empaths and the Healing Journey

Having helped people on their healing journey for over 11 years now I have seen so many different responses to the work I do. Throughout the years there are people who respond and heal well and there are others who take time to heal. It is always my goal to help the patient the best way I know how and respect the body’s process. You can’t rush healing. Trust me, I have tried. If you have had a health concern for over 5 years it probably started a year or 2 before that. So when trying to correct a 7 year problem it takes time to slow down the dis-eased process and then start going the other way, rebuilding the body with the right alignment or nutrition, for I am a chiropractor who specializes in nutrition.

Sometimes people respond even faster to treatment than I think they would. The body never ceases to amaze me. At other times the healing process can be slower than expected and it is during these times that I often wonder to myself if the person has outside stress that is slowing down the healing process. Some of my most sensitive patients tend to be my slowest healers. When I say sensitive patients I mean sensitive in every way. They tend to be physically sensitive where they don’t recover well if they don’t get enough sleep one night and their whole week is thrown off, feeling tired and maybe even sick. They tend to be chemically sensitive to medication, cleaning supplies and/or perfumes and fragrances. They can also be emotionally sensitive as well. They cry easily at sad movies. They feel like an emotional sponge that if their friend shares with them a story they feel like it happened to them and not necessarily to their friend. They give easily but sometimes give too much and feel drained afterwards. They suffer from fatigue quite often. They can be overwhelmed in crowds and tend to like to recharge their batteries with alone time, especially in nature.

With such sensitivity these people tend to heal slower because their energy is not fully being used to heal but being used else where, pulled in ten different directions at once. I have learned these people are empaths. An empath is a person that is affected by other people's energies, and have an innate ability to intuitively feel and perceive others. Most empaths don't understand that they have this ability and seem to be 'sensitive to others'. It is best to figure out if you are an empath and then learn how to use it as a strength by learning to protect yourself energetically from others' energy.



Empaths have a good sixth sense which tells them what is going on under the surface of people’s words and actions. They can sense people’s true intentions. Empaths can trust their gut and that mind-body connection can serve a greater good. That greater good of having a strong mind-body connection is the ability to trust themselves. When centered and focused, they can make clear, healthy, happy decisions. Because they are sensitive they are big-hearted people who can live from the heart with all their love. That is a life well lived.

To know whether or not you may be an empath take the test at empathtest.com

If you are or think you are an empath the following can help:
Nature – While the energies of daily life seem to pull at you and drain you the energy of nature can refuel you and make you feel better. Let it be a walk in nature (especially near water), owning a pet or some plants. It doesn’t have to take much.

Meditation – Is another way to reboot after or before a long day. In meditation, the energy of others tends to be released. A good meditation for empaths is Empath Daily Meditation.


Smudging – You can burn sacred herbs and use the smoke to clear out negative energy that you might have picked up that day. It comes from the Native American culture. Burn Palo Santo or dried sage and move it around your whole body, front and back, using the smoke to clear your energy field, also known as an aura. You can also use Bali Auric Sprays which can be purchased at the office for $25.  Each spray contains a specific crystal formula that carries a certain healing vibration to tune into. They are handmade with organic oils. There is Palo Santo (sacred wood) from Peru, flowers, incense and candles always involved during production and all the production is handled in glass containers. The production process is finished with a special Balinese Ceremony performed by a Balinese Priest to strengthen and to elevate the healing vibration of the sprays.  This ceremony is celebrated under the full moon.

Orgonite – is something to wear or have in the room that is a combination of crystal and metal in resin that takes negative energy and transforms it into positive energy. This transformation of energy is based on Wilhelm Reich’s scientific research. See video here.

Purple plate - These purple metallic plates are made of aluminum where the atoms have been altered so that they are in tune with the basic energy of the Universe- what Tesla called “free energy.” They create a field of positive energy around them that will penetrate any material. The plates help raise the vibration rate of anyone using them.

Monday, July 17, 2017

Why Eating Fat is Healthy for You

Are you afraid of eating fats? If so, you’re not alone. For the last 60 years fat in foods has been deemed evil in America, as low-fat and non-fat foods became the norm, and we were told that a low-fat diet would help us get the body we want. In fact, it’s one of the biggest nutrition lies that the public’s been told.

It all began in the 50’s when researchers made a link that saturated fats such as red meat, eggs, butter, milk can cause heart disease. These studies were flawed but were picked up by the American Heart Association in an attempt to give the public a reason for the rise in heart attacks. In 1976 low fat and high carbohydrate diet was made part of the country’s health food guidelines changing the course of America’s health as we know it.

We need to clear the confusion and help you understand how important fats are to the body’s health and function. First off, a lot of patients ask me if I eat more fat will I gain weight? What many don’t know is that fats are vital for function of every single cell in the body and burning healthy fats for fuel are crucial for every organ in your body, specifically for your brain function. In fact, your brain cannot function properly without fats.
Sugar/ high carbohydrate diet is the real problem and not the fats. Overindulging on sugar and grains leads to weight gain because it interferes with insulin levels. Consuming good healthy fats part of our daily diet is vital for health. Here’s why:

• Fats satisfy our appetites.
• Fats aid in healthy hormone production in the body.
• Fats greatly enhance mineral absorption in the diet.
• Fats provide a long-burning source of energy – especially for the heart!
• Fats build healthy bile; a substance made by the liver, stored and released by the gallbladder to aid in optimal fat digestion and emulsification.
• Fats help to nourish every cell in our bodies by providing building blocks to maintain healthy cell membranes. (Nutrients in; Wastes out!)
• Fats aid in the formation of anti-inflammatory substances in the body (prostaglandins)
• Fats allow us to heal quickly and effectively (boosts healing inflammatory processes)

Not all fats are created equal so making informed choices about your fats are important. Here at Healing Arts we believe that the body can truly heal with whole food nutrition so when it comes to fats and oils we recommend natures best, nothing processed or refined. Here is a list when you’re looking at labels that will help you steer clear of the bad processed oils and recognize the good ones.



AVOID all fats, oils and the products that contain them if the following processing terms are listed ANYWHERE on ANY food label:
• Refined
• Hydrogenated
• Partially-Hydrogenated

• Cold-PROCESSED (do not confuse this trick phrase with Cold-PRESSED)
INSTEAD, look for these safer processing terms on your fat/oil labels:
• Organic

• First-cold pressed or Cold-Pressed Expeller\ Pressed

• Unrefined 
Extra Virgin

It’s also vital we cook with the right fats at the right temperature as heat can cause certain oils to become rancid and toxic to the body and therefore lose all the marvelous benefits. Below is a list of fats how best to use them when cooking to keep all the health benefits.

SAFEST FOR COOKING
(frying, baking, broiling, grilling and roasting)
• Lard

• Ghee

• Beef and Lamb Tallow

• Chicken, Duck, and Goose Fat
• Coconut Oil – organic and virgin

• Red Palm Oil – organic and virgin Palm kernel oil is also acceptable)

SAFER FOR COOKING
(quick stir-frying, light sautéing, and slow/low simmering)
• Olive Oil
(Unfiltered is best; should be golden yellow/green in color and cloudy.)
• Peanut Oil

• Avocado Oil

• Macadamia Nut Oil
• Sesame Oil
• Butter/ ghee

UNSAFE FOR ANY KIND OF HEAT EXPOSURE! DO NOT USE FOR COOKING!
• Vegetable/Soybean Oil
• Corn Oil

• Flax Oil

• Hemp Oil
• Pine nut Oil

• Pumpkin Oil (safely roasted or raw versions)
• Safflower Oil (80% omega-6!)

• Sunflower Oil
• Grapeseed Oil

You can start to see now that with the correct information you can make better choice for your health through the fats you choose to eat. Choose your fats wisely and with GREAT CARE to ensure they have been minimally and safely processed, or better yet, not processed at all; and remember. Healthy fats are not the enemy and healthy fats do not make you fat! So, next time you need to stock your pantry you can now do so with certainty in knowing which oils will keep you healthy. The ones below pack a lot of punch and are our favorite oils to use. From lowering bad cholesterol and helping shed excess weight to giving you shiny hair and healthy nails, your body will reap the benefits of these healthy fats.


• Coconut oil – one of my favorite oils as it can be used for your skin and hair. It’s an easily digestible fat, it increases good cholesterol and promotes heart health, while the antioxidants found in coconut oil make it an effective anti-inflammatory food and help reduce arthritis.
• Butter/ghee- I am talking about real butter — preferably raw or from grass-fed, organic sources. The omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids found in butter help your brain function properly and improve skin health. More importantly, these two fatty acids are considered essential, meaning the body needs them but can’t produce them on its own; they must be derived from food sources. Butter’s also rich in fat-soluble vitamins and trace minerals, including beneficial selenium, a powerful antioxidant.
ghee is lactose- and casein-free. If you suffer from lactose sensitivity or intolerance, ghee is a fantastic alternative to butter. Its high levels of vitamin K2 also helps strengthen bones, while the fatty acids found in it improve digestion and reduce inflammation.
• Avocado/avocado oil -raise levels of good cholesterol while lowering the bad — talk about a double-whammy. Avocados are also packed with the benefits of vitamin E which helps the body heal, boosts immunity and acts as an anti-aging nutrient for your skin. Plus, it’s chock-full of healthy protein; in fact, it has more than any other fruit. For pregnant women, avocado is also one of the great folate foods, as this vitamin can help reduce the risk of birth defects.
• Olive oil-is great for heart health. It helps improve memory and cognitive function, and works as an anti-inflammatory. Since so much disease stems from chronic inflammation, this is huge. Make sure you use the guide above to ensure the above and here are some tips for recognizing real extra virgin olive oil. Beware of any brand that costs less than $10 a liter; look for a seal from the International Olive Oil Council; check the harvesting date on the label; if it’s labeled as “light,” “pure” or a “blend,” it isn’t virgin quality; and finally, opt for dark bottles, as they protect the oil from oxidation.





Monday, July 10, 2017

Benefits of Drinking Lime Water

Many of my patients have heard me tell them to drink warm lime water in the morning. Sometimes I tell them to add apple cider vinegar in the morning to it as well depending on why I want them to take it. I finally decided to take the time to write in detail why I think warm lime water in the morning is so beneficial.

Lime water and lemon water are very similar for their benefits. I just find in the office more people test better for lime water than lemon water. Maybe it’s because they are already getting benefits from lemon because we tend to use it more in our cooking than lime. Limes are higher in calcium and vitamin A and these benefits:
• Boosts immune system
• Liver and detox support
• Improves digestion and bowel movements
• Helps with heart burn
• Decreases inflammation to help with joint problems


Boosts immune system - If you want to stay healthy, sip on lime juice throughout the day. The vitamin C and antioxidants in limes can strengthen your immune system and help your body fight off infections such as the cold and flu virus. It may also shorten the duration of an illness.

Liver and detox support – The vitamin C in limes helps the liver to produce glutathione, a regenerative antioxidant that helps the liver process and eliminate toxins.

Improves digestion – Drinking lime water improves digestion. Limes are acidic and they help saliva break down food for better digestion. Additionally, flavonoids in limes stimulate secretion of digestive juices. If you suffer from constipation, the acidity of limes can clear the excretory system and stimulate bowel activity.

Heartburn or acid reflux - drinking a glass of warm water with 2 teaspoons of lime juice about 30 minutes before meals may help prevent reflux symptoms.

Arthritis, gout, and other joint problems are caused by inflammation. Vitamin C can reduce the level of inflammation in your body, so adding lime juice to water can relieve symptoms of arthritis and similar conditions that cause joint pain and stiffness. A study from the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases reported that those who consumed the least amount of vitamin C were more than three times as likely to develop arthritis. Limes can also reduce uric acid levels. Uric acid is a waste product the body produces when breaking down foods that contain purines, like meat, liver, mushrooms, and dried beans. High levels of uric acid can cause gout.

Limes are also a good source of:
• potassium
• vitamins A, B, C, and D
• calcium
• magnesium

If it’s not easy for you to always have a fresh, organic lime on hand to squeeze into your water we have organic essential lime oil in the office that is easy to carry anywhere with you and get the same great benefits. Start adding lime to your drinking water today and see what happens!