Bacteria and Lyme's Disease

At the offices we do a lot of work with patients reestablishing their gut flora and pH.  This type of healing usually starts with giving patients supplements to kill bad gut flora and get rid of toxins in the gut.  Once that phase is over, we then give supplements to put good gut flora back in and other supplements that may be needed to rebuild the gut.  This process of getting rid of toxins, which can include heavy metals or chemicals, and inflammatory foods by using food supplements from an organic farm is how we give people back their health.  I want to share with you how helping detox from the gut in particular helps with brain chemistry.  The majority of your neurotransmitters for your brain are made in the large intestine by bacteria.  Yes, the bacteria actually produce serotonin, dopamine and GABA, all of which play a key role in mood. The gut’s nervous system uses more than 30 neurotransmitters, just like the brain, and in fact 95 percent of the body's serotonin is found in the bowels. We look at the gut as our second brain. So if the large intestine environment is not healthy, a person could feel anxious, moody or depressed. Functional medicine calls this the gut-brain axis and we need to make sure that it is healthy.  ONE example of the relationship between the brain and the gut is IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) which has the common symptom of getting worse with stress.  So not only does the gut make the neurotransmitters for the brain but it's a two way street and the mental stress in the brain can affect the function of the bowels.  That’s why we have sayings like I have butterflies in my stomach, I am so nervous I could throw up. I have a knot in my stomach. The mind body connection is real.

Now Bacteria in general have gotten a bad reputation, and for a good reason. Bacteria are behind a number of serious diseases — including pneumonia (Streptococcus pneumoniae), meningitis (Haemophilus influenzae), strep throat (Group A Streptococcus), food poisoning (Escherichia coli and Salmonella both are a bacteria) and a variety of other infections.

These “bad” bacteria are the reason why we diligently disinfect our hands and wipe down our kitchen and bathroom sinks, as well as any other places where germs tend to congregate. Yet, not all bacteria are bad guys. The good bacteria I already mentioned, it is estimated that we have 100 trillion of these, I can’t even wrap my head around that number, and not only are they good for our mood, making neurotransmitters but they help us regulate our sleep too for melatonin which was thought to only be produced in the brain by the pineal gland is also produced in the gut.  By getting rid of toxins and reestablishing a healthier gut flora with good bacteria we help people get off their sleeping aids and antidepressants.  We have been doing this for 14 years at Healing Arts using muscle testing and are so glad science is catching up to our results in the office for you can now do lab tests to see what your specific gut flora is made up of. The fancy scientific term for gut flora is micro biome and there are now lab tests one can do to see what specific bacteria you have  that make up your personal micro biome.  It will check all the good bacteria and see what level they are at and also the bad bacteria and show you what level they are at as well.  then with the results you can supplement with very specific good bacteria to create a healthier micro biome which means a healthier you!

There’s lots of other reasons to want a healthy micro biome.  Beneficial bacteria protect us against their dangerous relatives that cause disease by crowding them out in the gut, producing acids that inhibit their growth and stimulating the immune system to fight them off.  When helpful bacteria multiply and thrive in our bodies, they act as our protectors. But sometimes, we put the population of beneficial bacteria at risk. Such as When we take antibiotics to treat an infection of harmful bacteria, we also kill helpful bacteria. This can cause an imbalance of bacteria in the body that can lead to diarrhea and other gastrointestinal problems.  That’s why supplementing with probiotics is a good, foundational thing to do for health.  A probiotic is a supplement that has good bacteria.

Probiotics are available in many forms, including pills, suppositories, and creams. Many foods contain friendly bacteria, such as:

• Yogurt and cheese
• And  fermented foods such as: 

• miso
• tempeh 
• sauerkraut
• Pickles 
• sourdough bread
• kimchi 

I have mentioned a few already but Probiotics can help with a variety of health conditions, such as:

• Diarrhea
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Anxiety and depression
• Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease
• Eczema 
• Oral health including tooth decay, gingivitis.  The gut from mouth to anus is one large tube so it’s all connected. 
• Probiotics can also help in losing weight but not one probiotic in particular.  It all depends on your gut flora makeup and what is missing.  Once the missing probiotic is added in then metabolism gets a boost because good bacteria help our bodies digest food and absorb nutrients, and they produce several vitamins in the intestinal tract — including folic acid, niacin, and vitamins B6 and B12.  This is why good gut flora is the foundation of a healthy body.

Let’s look at the different types of good bacteria

Lactobacillus

In the body, lactobacillus bacteria are normally found in the digestive, urinary, and genital systems. More than 50 different species of lactobacillus exist, including:Lactobacillus acidophilus, one of the most commonly used probiotics. Lactobacillus acidophilus has been used  to treat bacterial infections of the vagina, to prevent and treat diarrhea, eczema, IBS and block h.pylori  from growing which is the bad bacteria that causes ulcers to grow. 

Bifidobacteria

Bifidobacteria make up most of the “good” bacteria living in the gut. 

Bifidobacteria come in about 30 different strains and help with killing bad bacteria, relieve abdominal pain, gas, and bloating and improve cholesterol levels.

Streptococcus thermophilus

These bacteria can help prevent lactose intolerance because they help us digest lactose, a sugar found in milk and milk products. 

What You Can Do To Keep Your Microbiome Healthy?

1 – Avoid excess sugary foods: I’m talking about white refined sugar, brown sugar and cane sugar which will lower the healthy micro biome because sugar feeds all bacteria the good and the bad and also yeast.  We want to avoid yeast build up also known as Candida. If you think you may have Candida it is best to follow a Candida diet or get foods muscle tested using MuscleTesting to figure out what foods are specifically feeding the Candida in your body.

2 – Good Quality Sleep: good sleep is key for the intestinal lining to repair and create a healthy microbiome.

3 – Meditation and Relaxation: Meditation and quality down time is important to keep the body in the ‘rest and digest’ mode instead of stress mode. The Stress mode inhibits circulation to the gut, which doesn’t allow for a healthy microbiome. If you are new to meditation A good app to help you learn to meditate and relax is headspace.  

4 – Eat Foods with Fiber: fiber helps feed the good bacteria and keeps them healthy. Vegetables, fruits, psyllium, flax, inulin all contain fiber to help keep good flora.  In supplement form this good fiber is called a prebiotic.  

5 – Keep the colon cleansed - Bowel movements are really important. Healthy bowels should have a good, complete elimination at least once a day.  One of the main reasons for constipation in my office is dehydration.  We should be drinking at least our 8 glasses of 8 ounces of water a day, 64 ounces in total.  It’s not a recommendation, but for good health a minimal requirement. Many times I have my patients drink even more water than that. I like to start out every morning with 32 ounces of warm water with 1/2 lemon squeezed in it for a variety of reasons.  It hydrates the body, boosts the immune system and helps flush out the toxins the liver dumped into the colon from the night before.  That’s how the body gets rid of toxins.  Toxins find their way to the liver and the liver detoxes them and then dumps them into the intestines by moving through the gallbladder duct.  Toxins can also find their way to the kidney where they get filtered out to the bladder and excreted out through the urine.  Elimination is so important for a healthy body.
Take an antibiotic only if necessary and when you do supplement with a probiotic.  Antibiotics kill bad and good bacteria leaving your gut flora a mess afterwards so to replenish the good gut flora that is being killed by taking 3 probiotic away from the antibiotic.  If taken with the antibiotic the medicine will just kill the probiotic as well.  This imbalance of gut flora from an antibiotic is the reason why people get yeast infections after taking an antibiotic.  Taking a probiotic can prevent yeast infections from occurring.

6 -Drink celery juice - when I recommend it to my patients I usually recommend 16 ounces on an empty stomach and not to be mixed with any other juice.  Just pure celery juice.  Besides boosting the immune system to fight bacteria and viruses.
+ it is a great anti inflammatory, because it starves pathogens that cause inflammation & disease
+ it contains a multitude of minerals that act together as an antiseptic to kill disease and help the body function optimally
+ it’s an amazing detox for the kidneys and adrenals and it also raises hydrochloric acid in our gut… so helps with digestion a ton & balances pH
+ it is amazing for the SKIN as it clears out debris in the digestive tract and liver

7– Get tested for a probiotic supplement: A good quality probiotic should contain at least Lactobacillus and Bifidus bacteria. There are a number of good ones on the market and some that are poorly made, so it is best to get muscle tested to figure out which one you specifically need.  I have about 6 different ones in the office to cover a variety of different types of situations.  Also make sure your probiotic doesn't have any binders, fillers, or corn.  Sometimes people feel worse after taking a probiotic because the body needs to detox or kill bad gut flora first and so adding healthy bacteria to the body is overwhelming.  If that has happened to you it is best to first do a cleansing program with a healthcare practitioner.  We also test to see if a prebiotic is needed along with a probiotic.  A prebiotic helps the good bacteria grow so the gut can maintain the good bacteria on it's own which is what you want in the long run instead of your body being dependent on always needing a probiotic. 

I want to take the time now to talk about lyme’s disease which is caused by a bacteria.  This bacteria is not contagious from human to human but It comes from getting a tick bite.  Not all ticks carry Borrelia, the bacteria that causes lyme’s.  Once a tick attaches it can stay there for days and the longer it stays the higher the chance of it transmitting Borrelia or other pathogens into your bloodstream.  Lyme disease is a complicated infection, tough to diagnose and even harder to treat if doctors miss an early diagnosis, which is all too often the case.  Symptoms start with a bullseye-like mark at the site of the bite, a stiff neck, chills, ever, headache, and joint and muscle pain. Infection occurs within 24 hours of the initial bite and treatment should be sought out immediately. Now is the perfect time for me to talk about Lyme’s because ticks are not out all year round but tend to be out only when it is warm out.  Your chances of getting bit by a tick are highest starting in March and ending in the fall.

Lyme disease is a very serious condition which poses the following health risks if left untreated: numbness, nerve pain, cognitive issues, tingling, muscle weakness, and trouble with speech.  Lyme disease treatment is tricky because the most popular blood tests used in most doctors' offices to detect the disease miss about 55% of Lyme cases. 

 If and when a patient finally is diagnosed, it's sometimes by a clinical evaluation of the symptoms, ones that often mimic other ailments like fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, and even Alzheimer's disease.

Complicating matters even further, symptoms can change and move making it even harder for doctors to effectively diagnose and treat. There is a lyme symptom tracker app you can download for free which is  helpful for patients to figure out what helps them with their symptoms. The tracker also makes it easy to share your symptoms with your healthcare provider.

Lyme disease occurs in three stages: early localized, early disseminated and late disseminated. However the stages can overlap and not all patients go through all three. A bulls-eye rash is usually considered one of the first signs of infection, but many people develop a different kind of rash or none at all. In most cases, Lyme symptoms can start with a flu-like illness. 

Stage 1: Early Localized Disease

Symptoms with early localized (or acute) Lyme disease may begin hours, a few days or even weeks after a tick bite. At this point, the infection has not yet spread throughout the body. Lyme is the easiest to cure at this stage. Symptoms may include:

• skin rash, which may or may not look like a bull’s eye
• flu-like illness, including chills and fever
• fatigue
• headache and stiff neck
• muscle soreness and joint pain
• swollen lymph nodes
• sore throat

Stage 2: Early Disseminated Lyme

Early disseminated Lyme may occur several weeks or months after the tick bite. Bacteria are beginning to spread throughout the body. In addition to flu-like symptoms, this stage is often characterized by increase in symptoms such as:

• chills
• fever
• headaches
• fatigue
• pain, weakness or numbness in the arms, legs
• vision changes
• heart problems, such as palpitations, chest pain
• rash may appear on body
• facial paralysis (Bell’s palsy)

Stage 3: Late Disseminated Lyme Disease

If Lyme disease isn’t promptly or effectively treated in the first two stages, late disseminated  Lyme also known as chronic, or neurological Lyme occurs weeks, months or even years after the tick bite. The Lyme bacteria have spread throughout the body and many patients develop chronic arthritis as well as an increase in neurological and cardiac symptoms. Symptoms may include:

• arthritis 
• severe headaches or migraines
• vertigo, dizziness
• migrating pains that come and go in joints/tendons
• stiff, aching neck
• sleep disturbances, insomnia
• disturbances in heart rhythm
• mental fogginess, concentration issues
• numbness in the arms, legs, hands or feet
• severe fatigue

One reason why you can get all these symptoms from Lyme is that coinfections can occur. Coinfections are other bacteria or viruses that the tick can give someone besides Borrelia. 

To help prevent getting tick bites here’s a DIY repellent to rub on your body before heading outdoors:

•  9 drops citronella essential oil
• 6 drops Tea Tree essential oil
• 6 drops Peppermint essential oils
• 1 tablespoon almond oil or jojoba oil

Also eat lots of garlic. Regular consumption of garlic or garlic capsules reduces the risk of tick bites, and tick-borne disease. The garlic causes the body to excrete a scent that ticks hate.

While antibiotics and other prescription medications can help in treating Lyme and co-infections I say there's also a place for holistic remedies in the treatment and management of Lyme disease. 

Antibiotics alone may not suffice because the Borrelia has a way of getting into the cell. When it does this the cell membrane inadvertently protects the bacteria and shields it from the antibiotics. The bacteria can also hide dormant in the nervous system, among other places, where antibiotic drugs can't reach them.

Natural treatments can help heal the body by knocking out the infection all together and reducing inflammation while also getting an injured immune system back on track.

Using Nutrition Response Testing I do not diagnose or treat Lyme but if a patient comes in knowing they have it, here is how I help support the body:

I have gotten great results using Herbs: stevia, andrographis, resveratrol, and cat's claw all target Lyme and coninfections.

Green tea compounds, along with curcumin, a component of the spice turmeric, are known to reduce oxidative stress and help aid in traditional antibiotic treatment. You can find these in supplement form or drink green tea and add turmeric to your food or drink

Having enough vitamins and minerals: Zinc, B, and D vitamin deficiencies could slow down Lyme recovery, so I always test to see if a patient is in need of these.

Of course if you took antibiotics for treatment then you will need Probiotics to help replenish the beneficial bacteria in the gut.  Eating more probiotic food too can help.

Exercise: Even small concentrations of oxygen can help destroy Lyme bacteria in the body. Although Lyme typically zaps people's energy, intense exercise during and after treatment can help keep the symptoms at bay.

Natural Anti-Inflammatories: natural compounds that ease inflammation, such as curcumin, and Standard Process's antronex.

Diet: a low-carbohydrate diet is a must because carbohydrates, including sugar, fuel the Lyme germs. This means ditching most processed foods and avoiding any added sugar. Muscle testing the person for their specific diet gets the best results, but in general, besides staying away from sugar and depending on the severity of the case you want to stay away from natural sugars too like honey, maple syrup, coconut sugar and only use stevia.  Besides the sugar other foods to avoid are bananas, avocados, cashews, legumes,  vinegars, tomatoes, strawberries, oranges, pineapple, and mushrooms, 

We have seen great results by actively supporting the person's general health with emphasis on their immune system, circulation, reducing inflammation, and detoxification because this can lead to reduced symptoms and full immune system restoration. give the body the right nutrition and it can heal. 

Create a New Normal

I've recently been blogging health tips that we should add to our daily routine.  They should be our new normal not only now but also after the pandemic.  What else should your new normal be? We can’t go back to the way things were. First, it wasn’t working. That’s how we got to a pandemic level to begin with and second, we are different people now.  This is a wake up call to keep ourselves healthy.  With the world on pause this is a perfect time to get new healthy habits in place. When we do start getting back to our new normal I want to warn you about the gaslighting we will be under.
Gaslighting, if you don’t know the word, is defined as manipulation into doubting your own sanity; as in, Dave denies smoking cigarettes even though you saw him do it. Dave is trying to gastlight you.

Pretty soon, as the country begins to figure out how we “open back up” and move forward, very powerful forces will try to convince us all to get back to the old normal, that COVID-19 never happened. Billions of dollars will be spent on advertising, messaging, and television to make you feel comfortable again. It will come in the traditional forms — a billboard here, a hundred commercials there — and in the new-media form memes to remind you that what you want again is normalcy. In truth, of course we all want the feeling of normalcy.  We want desperately to feel good again, to get back to the routines of life, to not lie in bed at night wondering how we’re going to afford our rent and pay the bills, to not wake up to an endless scroll of human tragedy on our phones.  We will desperately and simply want to leave the house for work. 

The need for comfort during these dark times is real and every brand in America will come to your rescue to help take away that darkness and get life back to the way it was before the pandemic. I urge you to be well aware of what is coming.

What the trauma has shown us, though, cannot be unseen. In a quiet New York, I can hear the birds chirp in the middle of Lexington Avenue.  There are photos of a carless Los Angeles  that has clear blue skies as pollution has simply stopped.  Coyotes have been spotted on the Golden Gate Bridge. These are the postcard images of what the world might be like if we could find a way to have a less deadly daily effect on the planet. What’s not fit for a postcard are the other scenes we have witnessed: a health care system that cannot provide basic protective equipment for its frontline; small businesses — and very large ones — that do not have enough cash to pay their rent or workers, sending over 16 million people to seek unemployment benefits; a government that has so severely damaged the credibility of our media that 300 million people don’t know who to listen to for basic facts that can save their lives.

This pandemic hasn’t broken us, it has brought to light the truths of how we live, all of the beautiful and painful truths. So I ask you What do you want to do now that these truths are exposed.  How can we heal and grow from this, together?  How can we create a better country and a better world for our kids? I beg you, do not blow this opportunity to recreate.  Do not  look at McDonald’s, Macey’s and Target to make you feel normal again. I know what you are thinking, If I could just have the new iPhone in my hand, because that’s what my daughter thinks.... if I could just go try on the new Nikes. if I could drink a venti blonde vanilla latte then I could feel normal again. Instead of running to the normal consumerism and distractions I dare you to take a deep breath, ignore the deafening marketing that will come, and think deeply about what you want to put back into your life. This is our chance to define a new version of normal, a rare and truly sacred opportunity to get rid of what was broken and to only bring back what works for us, what makes our lives richer, what makes our kids happier, what makes us truly healthy. I am proud of us. I see us supporting one another through this in every positive Facebook post, in every meal dropped off for a neighbor, in every Zoom birthday party, I had my own last week. We now have a chance to define — on our own terms — what this country will look like in 5, 10, 50 years. This great pause is our chance to do that.  We’ll never have a chance like this again.

We can recreate what we want on a personal scale in our homes, in how we choose to spend our family time, what we watch, what we listen to, what we eat, and what we choose to spend our dollars on and where. We can do it locally in our communities, in what organizations we support, what truths we tell, and what events we attend. And we can do it nationally in our government, in which leaders we vote in and to whom we give power. If we want cleaner air, we can make it happen. If we want to protect our doctors and nurses from the next virus — and protect all Americans — we can make it happen. If we want our neighbors and friends to earn a dignified income, we can make that happen. If we want millions of kids to be able to eat if suddenly their school is closed, we can make that happen because we already did it. And, yes, if we just want to live a simpler life, we can make that happen, too. But only if we stay strong and resist the massive gaslighting that is about to come because I am warning you it’s on its way.  So please stay healthy and strong during this time and during the transition that is to come.  Together we can do this.

Deep Breathing to Boost the Immune System

Exercise is known to boost the immune system. It also is a great stress reducer which can help if you are doing too much quarantine snacking out of being stressed.  Go for long walks or runs if you can do it safely, staying 6 feet away from people.  Do yoga from home.  I use an app called down dog that I pay for but since March has been free and continues to be free during the quarantine.  The same company also has free apps for Barre and HIIT which is important for you to get your heart rate up and your lungs working harder.  We actually want to exercise the lungs.  I never thought about exercising an organ until the coronavirus hit and pulmonologists shared that it would help preventatively to do deep breathing exercises to strengthen the lungs.  Before the pandemic I only thought of people with trouble breathing as needing breathing exercises.  

So on a daily basis I want you to do lung exercises both preventatively and if you are feeling symptoms.  Make sure when you do lung exercises you breath by first pushing out your stomach, filling the bottom of the lungs first and then the chest.  Don’t pick up the chest first when breathing, because then you aren’t using the diaphragm to breath.  The diaphragm is the only breathing muscle in the body.  If you don’t use it you are then using the trap and other shoulder muscles to pick up the rib cage and this is why so many of us have knots and tension in our shoulders and neck.  But if you breath using the diaphragm is allows the lungs to expand automatically.  You see the diaphragm is a muscle that sits at the bottom of the rib cage, over the stomach and when looking at the body is an upside down U shape that when inhaling, flattens, enlarging the rib cage allowing the lungs to expand.  When the diaphragm moves like this it applies pressure on the stomach, almost like a massage that is good for digestion.  

The deeper the breath, the more oxygen can come in per breath.  The amount of oxygen that we inhale through our breathing, influences the amount of energy that is released into our cells. On a molecular level, this progresses all sorts of chemical and physiological processes. Breathing is controlled by the autonomic nervous system.  The part of our nervous system we don’t have to think about that makes our heart beat and digests our food.  There are two parts to the autonomic nervous system, sympathetic and parasympathetic.  These two parts control different things in the body.  The parasympathetic controls the breathing, digestion, sleep and libido.  This is the part of our nervous system that makes us feel relaxed and that is why breathing is so good to do during stressful times. It helps get us out of fight or flight mode. Breathing is also the easiest part of the autonomic nervous system to control and navigate. In fact, the way you breathe strongly affects the chemical and physiological activities in your body. It’s amazing what you can do when you can control your breath.  I’m not just talking about how long you can swim under water for but Wim Hof has developed special breathing techniques that keep his body in optimal condition and in complete control in the most extreme conditions. The breathing technique is first and foremost premised on inhaling deeply and exhaling without any use of force!  With his controlled breathing the heightened oxygen levels hold a treasure of benefits, more energy, reduced stress levels, and an augmented immune response that swiftly deals with all germs.

Wim Hof got his nickname “The Iceman” by breaking a number of records related to cold exposure. His feats include climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in shorts, running a half marathon above the Arctic Circle on his bare feet, and standing in a container while covered with ice cubes for more than 112 minutes.  Patients who have used his method say that it helps with stress and it even helped one patient heal from his eczema.   

In 2011 researchers at Radboud University Medical Center in the Netherlands brought Hof into a laboratory and started poking and prodding him, trying to figure out how he did what he did. At one point they injected his arm with an endotoxin, a component of E. coli. Exposure to the bacteria usually juices vomiting, headaches, fever and other flu like symptoms. Hof took the E. coli into his veins and then breathed a few dozen  breaths, willing his body to fight it off. He showed no sign of fever, no nausea. A few minutes later he rose from the chair and got a cup of coffee.  There's all the proof you need to know how deep breathing boosts your immune system!

To practice the Wim Hof‘s breathing method, start by finding a quiet place and lay flat on your back with a pillow under your head. Relax the shoulders, trunk, and legs. Take a very deep breath into the pit of your stomach and let it back out just as quickly. Keep breathing this way for 30 cycles.  It should take about 3 minutes if you are breathing about 6 seconds in and 6 second outs.  If possible, breathe through the nose; if the nose feels congested then breath through pursed lips. Each breath should look like a wave, starting with the stomach lifting, then the chest. You should exhale all the air out in the same order. At the end of the 30 breaths, exhale naturally, leaving about a quarter of the air left in the lungs, then hold that breath for as long as possible. Once you reached your breath hold limit, take one huge inhale and hold it another 15 seconds. Then exhale and start the 30 cycles of breathing again. Repeat the whole pattern three or four rounds and add in some cold exposure, cold shower, ice bath, a few times a week. The controlled breathing and then breathing all out, then not at all, getting really cold and then hot again is the key to the body’s magic. It forces the body into high stress one minute, a state of extremely relaxation the next. The body becomes more adaptable and flexible and learns these bodily responses can come under our control.

Wim Hof sees this controlled breathing as being able to create amazing physiological responses with the body.  His feats speak for themselves.  But I think it’s not just about biochemistry.  There’s more going on then we can see under a microscope or find in a college textbook.   In energy medicine (which I guess can be partly found in a quantum physics textbook) we see pumping the lungs with breath like this isn’t just about oxygen and carbon dioxide molecules moving in and out but it’s also about the movement of the chi, prana, kundalini energy, chakras,  or the meridian system. It’s all the same. This life force goes by many names.  Chi has it’s origin in Chinese medicine and is used by acupuncturists.  Japanese call it ki, Hebrews call it ruah, Greeks call is pneuma.  The Iroquois even had a word for it, orenda. Prana has it’s origin in yoga and comes from the Hindu culture.  Chakras are energy centers of this life force.  Kundalini is the name of the life force energy that is stuck at the bottom of your spine.  Guess what you do to get it unstuck? You use breath.

I'm not waiting for science to catch up to tell me to use breath to be able to hold more life force in my body.  I see the results with my patients and you can too.  

For a Stronger Immune System Take Wellness Blend

There has been a lot of talk in the office about the coronavirus.  Let me rephrase that.  The coronavirus is all we talk about.  I understand the upset and fear.  We ask patients to do their due diligence and wash their hands, sanitize surfaces, don't touch their face etc. AND let the fear go.  Stress will lower the immune system and we don't want that.  Stress management and boosting the immune system with the right supplements is important and at Healing Arts we are doing just that.  Testing each one of our patients for the right immune support is crucial right now.  Every program looks different but to give you an idea of the main supplements that we are seeing people test for are Standard Process's Antronex, Immuplex, and Healing Arts own Wellness Blend.

I created this supplement in 2018 because I wanted one supplement that boosted the immune system and killed everything.  I wanted an antiviral, anti-parasitic, anti-fungal and antibiotic all in one.  Patients were coming to the office not feeling well and I would have to give them 4 or 5 new supplements to help their immune system and it was just too much.  Wellness Blend kills everything because it has kyolic garlic, liposomal vitamin C, mugwort, echinacea, oregano, lysine, eucalyptus, beta glucan and goldenseal.

In China they are using IV vitamin C to treat coronavirus patients and NYC hospitals started including vitamin C last week.  

Dr. Andrew G. Weber, a pulmonologist in NYC, has been giving his intensive-care patients who have been infected with the coronavirus 1500mg of intravenous Vitamin C several times a day - anywhere from 4500 to 6000mg in total - as part of an anti-viral protocol. Compared to the daily recommended allowance of Vitamin C - 90mg for men and 75mg for women - 6000mg is a massive dose.

Nearly all of the Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) supplements you see at the supermarket or a drugstore are chemically synthesized, meaning that they are not food-derived. Synthetic Vitamin C is created in a process involving cornstarch and volatile acids. Natural Vitamin C is more complex and contains plant compounds like rutin, bioflavonoids, Factor K, Factor J, Factor P, tyrosinase, and ascorbinogen.  While both forms of Vitamin C provide health benefits, depending on the dosage, less than 50% of the synthetic Vitamin C is actually absorbed by the body. The rest is eliminated when you urinate, creating the bright yellow urine which you see in the toilet. Natural, food-derived Vitamin C, on the other hand, is absorbed in its entirety, assisted by the micro- and macronutrients which are co-factors for the absorption of Vitamin C. Vitamin C occurs in a wide variety of foods, but most notably in: citrus fruit (oranges, grapefruit, lemons) kiwi fruit strawberries black currants red and green bell peppers tomatoes cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts) The reason I made Wellness Blend with liposomal vitamin C is that liposomal technology enhances absorption and has higher bioavailability when compared to standard oral vitamin C.  Liposomal technology uses phospholipids from sunflower lecithin to help carry, protect and deliver vitamin C. Garlic kills everything! It is an anti-parasitic, antiviral, anti-fungal, and antibacterial.  The reason I use kyolic garlic is because it's aged and loses it's odor and harshness that sometimes you find with other garlic supplements.  If you want to use garlic cloves medicinally and if you can handle it, chew a raw garlic clove a day with food already in your stomach. You can also take garlic in a tonic (here's my immune boosting tonic recipe you can make at home).  Cooked garlic loses it's medicinal value. One study found that as little as 60 seconds of microwaving or 45 minutes in the oven can deactivate the medicinal properties of garlic.  However, it was noted that crushing garlic and allowing it to stand for 10 minutes before cooking can help prevent the loss of its medicinal properties.  The loss of health benefits due to cooking could be compensated for by increasing the amount of garlic used.

So to maximize the health benefits of garlic: 

• Crush or slice all your garlic before you eat it.
• Before you cook with your crushed garlic, let it stand for 10 minutes.
• Use a lot of garlic — more than one clove per meal, if you can.

 

Mugwort is added into the Wellness Blend not as an immune booster but as a liver tonic.  If the liver is healthy then toxins won't build up.  Keep the body detoxed is important to keep the body healthy. Echinacea not only supports the immune system, it also has been proven to reduce the severity and duration of viral infections. Oregano is a very good antibacterial and is supports the lungs so it's good for any illness with a cough, bronchitis and asthma. Lysine is an amino acid that is anti-viral.  L-lysine works by helping to increase the number of antibodies called IgG. IgG antibodies fight infection, the more we have, the stronger our immune system is.  Studies have found that when lysine and vitamin C are used together, the levels of these antibodies in the blood rises even more.   Eucalyptus leaves and oil have been used for generations as a cure-all for respiratory issues, particularly in removing excess phlegm and mucus from the sinuses and respiratory tracts.  Eucalyptus is specifically good at killing bacteria and candida.   Beta glucan is a soluble fiber that not only boosts the immune system but also is good at lowering cholesterol and improving blood sugar management which is needed for diabetes and pre-diabitc situations.   Goldenseal is also used for the common cold and other upper respiratory tract infections, as well as stuffy nose and hay fever. Goldenseal is also really good at killing parasites and for helping digestive disorders including stomach pain and swelling (gastritis), peptic ulcers, colitis, diarrhea, constipation, hemorrhoids, and intestinal gas. So as you can tell Wellness Blend has a great variety of different herbs to help with all germs when sick, average dose is 3 a day and as a preventative, take 1 a day.  To order, click here. Stay well!  Stay healthy! Stay safe!

Immune Boosting Tonic

Here is a powerful all natural antiviral recipe that became my favorite remedy during cold and flu season over the last 5 years. This immune boosting tonic recipe is quite easy to make. It’s a garlic, ginger, lemon, honey remedy that’s suitable for the entire family, including kids!  Aids digestion and promotes detoxification too.

Ingredients:

• 2 small fresh lemons (~1/2 cup) – (with the skin or not, cut into large chunks)

• 1/2 cup fresh ginger – (peeled, cut into chunks)

• 1/2 cup fresh garlic cloves – (peeled)

• 1/2 cup raw organic Manuka honey

Instructions:Add all ingredients roughly chopped in a blender, pulsing for a few seconds until everything turns into a paste.

The mixture contains not only the juice but also the fibers from the whole fruit/vegetable which makes it even more beneficial for your gut microbiome.
This immune boosting tonic is best taken on an empty stomach in the morning and/or half an hour before meals or before going to bed.

As a preventive measure you can take one or two teaspoons per day based on personal requirement.

If you are in the middle of fighting a cold or an acute infection take 1 teaspoon every 3-4 hours.

The benefits of this tonic are best experienced if used regularly. 

Storage:

Store the immune boosting tonic in a seal-able glass container in the fridge. The longer its sits in the fridge the more potent it gets.

Coronavirus: How to Protect Yourself

At Healing Arts, we are closely monitoring the recent outbreak of a viral infection called the Coronavirus (COVID-19). There has been a lot of news coverage on the Coronavirus and it can be scary not knowing how rapidly it will spread and how it will affect us or one of our loved ones. With all the research that we have done we truly believe it is like any other flu virus but has a way of spreading faster.  The common winter flu infects millions of people every year and kills thousands.  We all have to be cautious but those who have to be extra cautious are the elderly and immune suppressed. Currently in New York there are more than 400 cases of the Coronavirus with one death of an 82 year old woman in Manhattan.  This woman already had emphysema which contributed to her death.  This is like how the flu works every year with the elderly and immune compromised making up the majority of the deaths.  Schools in NYC are to stay open whereas there are 12 cases of coronavirus in CT and schools are closing taking an approach of teaching online, even the elementary schools.  I am so grateful to the teachers who I know worked really hard to implement online teaching in such a short amount of time.   My daughter, in 5th grade, came home and said, 'Don't worry mom.  This is how you do it.' She then proceeded to show me how to log in and look at all her classes set up on a google classroom account.  I was amazed. I am grateful to have childcare so that I can go to work to continue servicing patients.  We will be open in NY and CT until the government mandates otherwise.  It is important now, more than ever, to stay healthy and that includes getting checked regularly for what supplements would be best for your health and having your immune system as strong as possible. However, we do want to take extra precautions at this time to avoid any undue exposure, so we are asking the following from our patients and our team: If you have: Flu-like symptoms, including fever, achiness or a cough Traveled abroad in the last 14 days Recently experienced a shortness of breath  Have come in contact with anyone who has these symptoms PLEASE refrain from coming in for treatment – we will gladly reschedule your appointment after a two-week waiting period.

Don't Weaken Your Immune System DO get sufficient sleep DO drink plenty of water DON'T eat sugar (sugar will weaken your immune system). This would be a good time to start the sugar cleanse. DON'T eat many carbohydrates (carbs turn into sugar, which weakens your immune system)

Avoid Possible Contact With Pathogens (Germs/Virus/Bacteria) DO wash your hands frequently with soap DON'T sneeze/cough into your hands/DO use a tissue or your elbow DON'T touch your eyes, nose or mouth  DO use hand sanitizer without rubbing alcohol (at office for purchase, rubbing alcohol is toxic)

Maintain A Healthy Immune System Chiropractic Treatments: Spinal adjustments have been shown to boost immune function because they serve to correct the spinal misalignments that cause neural dysfunction. Even one adjustment can bring about an immediate immune boost.  Chiropractors were key in 1917 during the Spanish Influenza.  To read more, click here.  Exercise: Just like a healthy diet, exercise can contribute to general good health and therefore to a healthy immune system. It may contribute even more directly by promoting good circulation, which allows the cells and substances of the immune system to move through the body freely and do their job efficiently.

Boost Your Immune System Of course having a healthy diet supports your immune system, but adding key nutritional supplements will strengthen your immune system. I love using Standard Process's Immuplex and Antronex for viral infections and they can be used preventatively as well. IV Vitamin C is what they are using in China as a cure for those infected with the coronavirus.  Don't ask me why the media isn't talking about that.  So taking vitamin C can be a great preventative.  Not all vitamin C is the same quality so make sure your vitamin C comes from food or is liposomal vitamin C.  Zinc is also great for the immune system and because the coronavirus hits the throat first zinc lozenges are a great preventative too. Here is a powerful all natural antiviral recipe that became my favorite remedy during cold and flu season over the last 5 years. This immune boosting tonic recipe is quite easy to make. It’s a garlic, ginger, lemon, honey remedy that’s suitable for the entire family, including kids!  Aids digestion and promotes detoxification too. Ingredients: 2 small fresh lemons (~1/2 cup) – (with the skin or not, cut into large chunks) 1/2 cup fresh ginger – (peeled, cut into chunks) 1/2 cup fresh garlic cloves – (peeled) 1/2 cup raw organic Manuka honey Instructions:Add all ingredients roughly chopped in a blender, pulsing for a few seconds until everything turns into a paste. The mixture contains not only the juice but also the fibers from the whole fruit/vegetable which makes it even more beneficial for your gut microbiome. This immune boosting tonic is best taken on an empty stomach in the morning and/or half an hour before meals or before going to bed. As a preventive measure you can take one or two teaspoons per day based on personal requirement. If you are in the middle of fighting a cold or an acute infection take 1 teaspoon every 3-4 hours. The benefits of this tonic are best experienced if used regularly.  Storage: Store the immune boosting tonic in a seal-able glass container in the fridge. The longer its sits in the fridge the more potent it gets. Essential oils are great too!  They have a faster way of getting into the body and working at the cellular level.  We love doterra essential oils for they test the best and suggest putting oils in a veggie capsule to boost your immune system.  This is the recipe I like to follow if you can't be muscle tested for your specific essential oil formula. 2 drops Frankincense 2 drops Melaleuca (Tea Tree oil) 4 drops On Guard Blend 2 drops Oregano 6 drops Lemon Directions:  Place all drops into an empty Veggie Cap. Take one capsule every 4-6 hours. Be sure to fill each Veggie Cap immediately before ingesting as the essential oils dissolve the capsules very quickly.  Take capsule with food. Repeat daily as desired. Healing Arts has it's own Wellness Blend developed by Dr. Armitstead that contains a 'blend' of great immune boosters.  It has the garlic, oregano,  and liposomal C we already talked about along with echinacea, goldenseal, lysine and more!

Disinfect Commonly Used Areas Lastly, at Healing Arts we want to proactively provide details and transparency around our cleaning processes. We have implemented an increased protocol to regularly and aggressively disinfect counters, chairs, doorknobs, treatment rooms and other frequently used areas of the office. All staff are regularly washing their hands and all patients are welcome to continue using our already established hand sanitizer stations. Our patients have always been our number one priority. We will continue to closely monitor the CoronaVirus and update our practices as needed.

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Chakra Light Therapy

"Chakra Healing Crystal Light Bed is an intense chakra healing therapy"

The balance it gives to an individual is one of the strongest and recommended therapies  for chakra healing, with the most successful results.

Experience the healing power of a Quartz crystal light bed. 
Revitalize your mind, body & soul with these spiritually-charged chakra balancing crystals.

Vogel-Cut Quartz Crystals
Our seven Vogel-cut quartz crystals receive the frequencies produced by our frequency generator. The UV laser and magnetic energy from the coil in the holder cancel each other out once they interact, this is how scalar energy is generated. What is left in its place is the scalar energy field...TESLA ENERGY! It is then focused through the Vogel-cut crystals and into your chakras. 

Frequency Generator   
Our machine produces frequencies. Everything has a frequency. The earth has a frequency, every illness has a frequency, even we have frequencies that can all be measured. The generator can produce frequencies that will harmonize the body. Thereby, allowing for a healing environment within you and cellular rejuvenation. 

LED Lights & Chromatherapy
The LED lights generate light from the complete visible spectrum. Chromatherapy is a treatment that uses colors to adjust the vibrational frequencies in the body in order to result in health and harmonization. Each color emits a frequency related to a specific vibration. Each vibration is said to help alleviate different physical symptoms. Chromatherapy works on several energy points within the body to re-establish its natural balance as well as clearing and balancing the aura.  

In Brazil and around the world, the crystal bed is known as a powerful treatment that has an inter-dimensional effect as the vibrational patterns manifest higher and higher levels of peace, focus, awareness, harmony, & balance. 

WHAT ARE CHAKRAS ?

There are 7 chakras in the human body, each vibrating at a different frequency. Energy flows through the chakras from one part of the body to another. If your chakras are blocked, your energy can become stuck. Each chakra corresponds to a color and internal organ or body part. They are numbered from the bottom up; the "first" chakra is the lowest one, and the base of your spine.

HOW DOES THE CRYSTAL LIGHT THERAPY WORK?

The Crystal Light Therapy uses 7 quartz crystals and colored laser light to clean and strengthen your chakras and aura.

WHAT TO EXPECT?  

People have reported the following from Crystal Light Therapy:

• deep relaxation
• calming your mind and thoughts
• subtle energy shifts
• increased energy
• elevation of mood
• pain reduction
• feeling of expansion of emotional and physical restrictions
• release of negative emotions
• deepened spiritual insights
• better sleep
• reduced anxiety 
• cell detoxification
• increased clarity and focus
• feeling grounded
• deeper connection to self

20-Minute Session........................$30

45-Minute Session....................$65

OPTIONAL LUXURY EXPERIENCE

Healing Arts is pleased to offer a luxury experience that can include the addition of reiki with one of our energy healers, custom selection of essential oils, and discussion of issues to be worked on.

60-Minute Treatment with Reiki....................$150

60-Minute Treatment with Massage....................$185

To book
please call 866-585-5999

PACKAGES Available

First Chakra – Base, Root

Red – Energy. It stimulates brain wave activity, increases circulation, awakens us physically and energizes blood flow. It connects us to our physical self.

Second Chakra – Sacral

Orange – Joy. Stimulates appetite, the colon, digestion, and physical relationships. It connects us to our emotional self.

Third Chakra – Solar Plexus

Yellow – Wisdom. Connects us to will and personal power. Improves mood, relieves depressions and helps in digestion. It connects us to our mental self.

Fourth Chakra – Heart

Green – Calming. Balances our nervous system, soothes and relaxes mental & physical states, and emotional relationships. It connects us to love.

Fifth Chakra – Throat

Blue – Cooling. Good for respiratory and throat infections. Counteracts hypertension. Tied to communication and speaking your truth. It connects us to our holistic self.

Sixth Chakra – Brow Or Third Eye

Indigo – Healing. Connected to foresight and intuition. Good for sinus problems and building immunity. It connects us to our unconscious self. 

Seventh Chakra – Crown

Violet – Cleansing. It cleanses, strengthens, purifies and awakens the body. It connects us to our spiritual self.