THE IMPORTANCE OF TOUCH

An article in Psychology Today regarding human touch states: "Physical contact distinguishes humans from other animals." I definitely disagree with this statement. Anyone who has seen pictures or video of animals know that touch is important to most animals.

Pictures often depict elephants wrapping their trunks together, nuzzling each other's necks and leaning on each other. When my husband and I are having a busy day, my dog will often look sad and dejected that she has not gotten enough physical contact (my interpretation, of course).

Squirrels, touch each other's necks and entwine their tails. Dogs touch noses and, my dog regularly "noses" me when I pass her - especially when going in and out of doors. Bears roll on the ground and embrace each other. Even snails engage in touch by caressing it's partner's antennae.

This view of animals as not having feelings, emotions and the ability to connect with each other has been detrimental to the animal community as shown in the allowance of trophy hunting of large animals.

In humans and animals, the need for touch and connection can be a matter of life or death. People volunteer to provide touch to newborns in the intensive care. This volunteer touch greatly improves outcomes for these infants.

I once saw a movie on PBS about an orphaned elephant in the 1950s, or so, who was cared for by a woman. The woman left the elephant under the care of others for a week while she attended her daughter's wedding. The baby elephant died of heart break while she was gone.

THE JOURNEY TO WELLNESS

I have not felt great for a long time. And, I am not alone. Many women and men are experiencing "mystery illness" symptoms. Western medicine will not typically find the root of your problem. I saw every naturopath in town and, no progress. Acupuncture has helped at times.

On paper, I seem healthy. I am not overweight, I do not eat processed foods, dairy, gluten or soy. I exercise, meditate, practice yoga and rarely drink alcohol. But, I just don't feel right. 

Aches, pains, digestive troubles and low energy have plagued me for years. I have changed diets, changed exercise routines and seen every different type of practitioner in order to find relief.

I have also been my own care practitioner for quite some time. Sometimes that has been to my  detriment, other times to my benefit. Last year, I went to the lab and ordered my own thyroid tests. Results showed elevated thyroid antibodies. I diagnosed myself with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis.

I scheduled an appointment with a PA and asked for an order for an ultrasound of the thyroid. Results were negative for any lumps, cancer, etc.

I felt I needed to find a path that I could work on my own and, at my pace with assistance as needed. I like to be informed and, am not the type to just do what a doctor tells me. 

So, I found a protocol that I felt that I could work with to try to get my health back on track. The program is with Dr. Amy Yasko and, the website is holisticheal.com. I have been slowly working my way through the initial lab tests. My methylation profile showed many SNPs.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms, frequently calledSNPs (pronounced “snips”), are the most common type of genetic variation among people. Each SNP represents a difference in a single DNA building block, called a nucleotide. 

Determining your SNPs can help to determine where things are "going wrong" for you. Once that is determined, you can take supplements to "bypass" the SNP to get the nutrients you need.

Next, I did the Comprehensive stool analysis, urine toxic and essential elements and amino acids and the GMAP tests. These tests showed me that I have a large heavy metal burden, low amino acids, pathogenic bacteria and low probiotic counts.

I began the journey a few months ago with the supplements that Dr. Yasko recommends for everyone. Today I ordered all  of the supplements that Dr. Yasko recommended for me based upon my lab tests. I intend to document this journey.

GOING DAIRY AND SOY FREE AFTER 5 YEARS GLUTEN FREE

I have been gluten free for 6 years now. Ten days ago, I got "glutened" at a restaurant and, the consequences were apparent within twelve hours. The following day, I woke with my eyes the size of golf balls, red and itchy - eye eczema. The itchiness continues.

I also noticed that when I eat butter, the itchiness intensifies. Butter was the only dairy I ate and, I rationalized through online articles  and following the bulletproof diet that it was okay for me to eat dairy. But,  I think I am noticing the effects of butter consumption.

Well, a diagnosis of Hashimoto's Disease (prior to the "glutening") led me to research stating to go gluten, dairy and soy free to reverse Hashimoto's. It took the "glutening" to get me there but, here I am. The reason it took a while is because it is difficult. 

Everyone is on the gluten free band wagon. But, if you are also dairy and soy free, it makes eating out almost impossible. And, eating at a friend's house can be tough. That olive oil mayo that you see, it still has soy oil in it. Soy is in everything. 

That part of it is tough. And, the dairy part - no butter on a cracker, on veggies, etc. is rough. But, I recently made pork belly and, I found that the liquid fat from the pork belly makes an incredible substitute. 

If you have been diagnosed with Hashimoto's or, any other autoimmune disease, you may want to consider a gluten free, dairy free, soy free diet. This will allow your gut to heal and typically, leaky gut is the source of autoimmune disease. The initial days are tough but, just like with going gluten free, it becomes a way of life.

Review of 100% Pure Skincare Products

PALEO GOODS SRIRACHA SAUCE PRODUCT REVIEW

MEDITATION AND THE MASTERY OF ATTENTION

Meditation and the Mastery of Attention

I have several daily practices that I attend to in order to keep myself physically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally healthy. One of those daily practices is meditation. Dhyana or deep meditation is the seventh limb of yoga. What we call yoga here in America is actually ASANAS - the third limb of yoga.

While I practice all of the limbs of yoga, Meditation is the subject for today.  Meditation typically requires a focus for your attention. Your focus may be, amongst others, your breath, a sound such as a mantra, or a candle flame.

Mastery of attention, or Dharana, is the sixth limb of yoga. Dharana translates as immovable concentration of the mind and it involves training the mind to focus on one point or image. This one-pointedness is essential to meditation. Dharana should be effortless and not forced.

When I tell people that I teach meditation, many people say that they can't meditate because they can't stop thinking. It is the nature of the brain to think therefore, it is impossible to stop thinking. We actually average about 12,000 thought per day. Most of our thoughts are on the past or the future.

In meditation, we use our focus to "re-direct" the mind to be present with our focus. In my daily morning meditation, I use my breath and a mantra as a focus for my attention. When I find my mind wandering, I bring my attention back to the mantra.  

The mastery of attention takes practice and is rarely "perfected" as it is a practice. However, with the practice of Dharana, the mastery of attention, we will begin to experience Dhyana, deep meditation and the development of witnessing awareness wherein we forget the body and the world.

The results are reduced stress and improved physical and mental health. I am a certified S.E.E.D. (Simple Easy Every Day) meditation instructor and would love to teach you how to meditate.

WHAT IS ENERGY MEDICINE

What Is Energy Medicine?

"Energy Medicine, at its foundation, focuses on the energy fields of the body that organize and control the growth and repair of cells, tissue, and organs. Changing impaired energy patterns may be the most efficient, least invasive way to improve the vitality of organs, cells, and psyche." - David Feinstein

I first became acquainted with Energy Medicine in 1997 when I was in college. I signed on to the One Spirit Book Club where you get a certain number of books for, like, ten bucks and then you have to buy a book every month or so. I bought Donna Eden's Energy Medicine Book and Barbara Brennan's Hands of Light.

I read the books and was fascinated by the material but, I was on a path for my law degree and,  I never imagined Energy Healing as a career path.

Fast forward 8 years to 2005 and, I am a practicing lawyer and super stressed out. I was dealing with a lot of "energy vampires" in my life (energy vampires can be people, habits, a job you don't like,etc.). My health deteriorated and, I was unaware (at the time) why I was experiencing digestive problems, eczema, chronic fatigue and depression. 

My acupuncturist would ask about my stress level on every visit and, it took me two years to admit that I was stressed out. Once  I became aware of the sources of my stress, I changed my behavior and my life to reduce the stress as much as possible. 

I then began to take note that I was deeply affected by other people's emotions and energy. Couples who would bicker would cause me digestive problems for days after the encounter. If someone was abusive or tried to take advantage of me (happens a lot in my line of work), it would cause severe distress to me emotionally and physically - I could barely eat a thing and, I was unable to sleep.

I decided I was going to take control, set some boundaries and get well. I started meditating and practicing energy medicine.
I decided to immerse myself in the Eden Energy Medicine program. I completed the first two classes and, then had to take a year off due to physical exhaustion after dealing with high levels of stress for so long. 

During these years, I was getting sick five to six times a year when I used to not get sick at all. I was sad to stop and was afraid that I might not complete the training. I finally felt like I had found a tribe.

I returned to the training after a year break and, am proud to say that I graduated this past January as a Certified Eden Energy Medicine Practitioner.  

Soon, I was able to protect myself by strengthening my aura, "zipping up," doing my Daily Energy Routine and, when needed, avoiding certain situations to protect myself from the negative energy that I was encountering as well as meditating daily. Looking back, I believe that I was in the midst of adrenal fatigue and living in a constant state of fight or flight.

I am grateful for the ability to maintain my health and, I am happy to say that my energy levels have improved dramatically, I sleep better and, I have not been sick in two years. 

Please contact me if you would like to learn more about energy medicine including rates for healing sessions and information about the daily energy routine to maintain your body's energies to promote health and vitality. 

santoshambw@gmail.com