For me this is only the tip of the iceberg in what will eventually be a melting flood of science demonstrating that the key role to our survival as a species is to work with the natural world, rather than oppose it. This means that the notion that we are somehow separate or different from the environment will be seen for the elaborate charade that it is. Suddenly everything that we understand to be fundamentally at odds with a truly sustainable path to co-existence with all the world’s species will be overturned. With innumerably more bacterial cells in and on our bodies than human cells, with more viral DNA particles in our genome than what we might call our “own”, science shows us, as the Buddha stated, that we have no independent existence – we are all one. The time of the Great Enlightenment is upon us.

But am I too optismistic? What is the real intent and impact behind this kind of science? Will we gain an enlightened resolve for our collective future, or will it spawn yet another generation of probiotic supplements and products, all packaged in PET containers and decorated with synthetic dyes that litter our oceans, blacken our air and pollute our lands? Is this kind of market-orientated approach to address what is really an issue of ecological sustanibility within the gut, itself sustainable?

Even now many of you, no doubt, take probiotic supplements, or eat probiotic supplemented food such as the many dairy-based products that populate the dairy containers in your local supermarket (none of which btw contains a single unprocessed ingredient, e.g. modified milk ingredients, modified starch, sugar etc). Few consumers realize that commerical-source probiotics are vastly different from real probiotic foods, the former are grown on a mass industrial scale on substrates such as thallous acetate-tetrazolium glucose agar, then extracted and/or freeze-dried, bound with pharmaceutical excipients, and then microencapsulated, enteric coated and pH buffered all to meet market demand. Companies loudly proclaim the benefits of their products, emphasizing the advantages of their unique strains and delivery systems, and largely fueled by the merry-go-round of their own hype, the probiotic industry is projected to become worth $1.7 billion by 2013. The actual evidence for the efficacy of these products however, is often lacking. Although some products will guarantee a certain number of organisms per dose, most often this number undergoes rapid decline as soon as it leaves the manufacturing facility. Private in-house research I’ve seen suggests that these products may contains as little as 10% of the organisms stated on the label by the time it hits the shelves, let alone once you get it home and in the fridge.

Clearly I am not down on probiotic foods, even if I am skeptical of commercial products. In particular, I am intrigued as a clinician with an idea I will call “medicinal permaculture”, which like this practice of farming, refers to a kind of medicine that works with the body, with the environment, to restore and maintain good health. The health of the digestive tract has long been considered to be a vital component of general health in every system of traditional medicine, and much of this is a reflection of a healthy gut ecology. In Ayurveda, many of the foods that are used to restore GI health, whether in diarrhea or constipation, are naturally rich in probiotics. Khadi is an example of an Indian dish made from real buttermilk, churned from real soured cream, mixed with stir-fried herbs such as Hing and curry leaf that is an excellent restorative for the GI tract. Another example is kanji, or fermented boiled rice. In my practice I frequently recommend naturally fermented foods, such as homemade sauerkraut and pickles; for many people that have chronic GI disorders, I see an almost immediate improvement in their symptoms, all for pennies a day.

So the next time you see the research hailing the latest benefits of probiotics, rather than pause at the supplement counter trying to figure out which products to take, pluck out a homemade pickle and remember that doing your body good can be as simple as walking hand in hand with the wild bacteria.

We’re getting ready for happiness month at here at Fitness Goop and Everyday Health, and we’re honored to have integrative medicine and wellness guru Andrew Weil, MD, as our guest happiness editor throughout the month of November. In conjunction with the release of his new book, Spontaneous Happiness, he’ll be talking to some of his famous friends, including cardiothoracic surgeon and prominent TV host Mehmet Oz, MD, about how they define and achieve contentment.

Andrew Weil: You have an incredibly demanding work life and you’re always expected to be positive. What do you do to maintain your emotional equilibrium? Do you ever get down?

Mehmet Oz: Oh, I get down. It’s interesting, I don’t know anyone who puts themselves out there who doesn’t feel insecurity, who doesn’t feel a sense of doom and gloom periodically. Folks are always coming up to me and saying, “You have a charmed life and you’re lucky about this or that,” but most of my days I spend thinking about worries that could easily get you down. You know, I did an aortic valve operation this morning. We did a stitch to repair a hole in the heart, and it didn’t work. That is not a calming moment. But what I’ve learned, and a lot of folks have wandered down this path with me, is that you can develop some equipoise, some ability to understand that it’s never as good as it is or as bad as it is either. Find the blessings in the people around you because they’re the ones that support your life. It’s the nurse that says, “Here, I’ll do this stitch for you,” and it’s just in the calming way she says it that brings you comfort because she has confidence in you. And on the show — you’ve been to our stage many times — it’s nice to have a stage manager because she’ll point you this way or that, she’ll cover you, and those kinds of little efforts I find hugely valuable. It gives me this sense of calm in the middle of a storm.

AW: What are some other tricks in your daily lifestyle that you think help you maintain emotional equilibrium?

MO: You know that I have not always had this level of… calm. They used to call me “The Mad Turk” because I would lose my temper so often — I’d get thrown out of sporting events because I’d get into scuffles with the other players! But I realized I needed automation in my life, some constancy so that I didn’t have to keep making decisions every moment of the day.

If you examine your life, think about all the decisions you had to make today but you didn’t really have to make. For example, What am I having for breakfast? What am I going to do after this event is done? All those things force you to expend chi [or energy]. For me, it’s not about time management, it’s about energy management. If I lose energy deciding things I don’t have to decide, then I wear down my reserve and I start making poor decisions. We’ve seen this in multiple studies, by the way, which is why you get those mid-afternoon downs, because you’ve depleted [energy making decisions] and you need sugar to make additional decisions.

I don’t know if you saw this remarkable piece recently. They’re looking at parole boards in Israel, and it turns out that the parole boards give far more paroles in the morning than the afternoon. It’s irrational because they’re the same kinds of cases, but what happens is what happens to all of us: The judges get tired. And as you get tired toward the end of the day, you’re unwilling to make creative decisions. So just to keep your brain moving, you feed yourself some sugar — which y’all out there do, and I do. It’s not the best thing to do late in the afternoon but we all do it….

I try to automate my life. I get up in the morning and I do my seven minutes of yoga and my calisthenics. I think it’s hugely valuable for bringing a sense of calm, because one thing you do control is your body — even if you don’t control things around you. And then you know what you’re going to have for breakfast, you know when you’re going to get into work, the first things [you’re] going to do [when you get there]. I don’t change those things ever, so when it gets to midday, I haven’t made too many decisions. I’ve done lots of things, but haven’t made many decisions. Then I can use the information that’s coming in throughout the day to guide my decisions more rationally.

AW: You interact with an awful lot of people on your show and, like me, you see many, many people today who are depressed. What are your thoughts on why we’re seeing epidemic depression in our country?

MO: I think we have an epidemic because we have lost the unique art of being comfortable with discomfort. And I think about human history. We’ve always had the ability to weather the storms as they hit us. I even think about things like kids playing sports. If a kid has a tough coach who makes him uncomfortable because he wants to build him up and make him better, or a [if you’ve got a] tough boss in the workforce, they’re thought of as just that — tough, unnecessarily difficult.

Instead of pulling back, I’ve told my kids that every time I give them something that I didn’t have, I take away from them something that I did have. Every time we prevent some challenge from coming in front of the people that we love, we prevent them from learning from those challenges. We should be very careful about how we use the influence in our lives to make life too easy for those around us.

Not that I’m going to make life difficult on purpose, but let people be challenged and let it be okay that they’re uncomfortable, because that’s how we will grow.

By Andrew Weil, MD, Everyday Health Happiness Editor

There are several options for preventing the flu during the winter season and it is important to me that my patients are educated about their options before they make a decision.  With any vaccination, the decision is ultimately up to you, but your ND can help you make an informed choice.

Why are we so worried about the flu?

• The flu is caused by the influenza virus, of which there are over 500 different strains
• The flu can cause symptoms of fever, cough, chills, sore throat, body aches, fatigue or headaches, which usually abate after 1 week
• It is spread by coughing, sneezing and direct contact with contaminated surfaces or unwashed hands
• Complications from influenza infection are very rare and may occur in individuals with an underlying medical condition, those greater than 65 years of age, and young children that have a predisposition to respiratory infections
• Pneumonia is the primary complication of influenza and can result in hospitalization or death in those that are at extremely high risk for complications

Influenza Vaccine

• The flu vaccine is made from 3 different strains of the virus, based on the most prevalent strains from the previous year
• Because there are over 500 different influenza strains, and each strain is constantly mutating (changing), it is not possible for the flu vaccine to provide you absolute protection from contracting the flu
• The flu vaccine can only protect you against the 3 strains of the virus that is is made from
• After receiving the flu vaccine, it takes 2 weeks for your body to produce sufficient antibodies to protect you against the influenza virus.  During this 2 week period, you may contract the flu
• The antibodies produced as a result of the flu vaccine lose their efficacy after 2-3 months, therefore the vaccine does not protect you for the entire flu season
• The influenza vaccine is recommended by Health Canada for those who are at high risk of complications from the influenza virus: people aged 65 years
  or older, those with serious long-term health problems, diabetes, cancer, kidney disease, immunosuppressive disorders, children on longterm treatment with acetylsalicylic acid (ASA)
• The influenza vaccine is also recommended for health-care workers, residents/workers/volunteers of nursing homes, chronic-care facilities and retirement homes and women who will be more than 3 months pregnant during the influenza season
• Health Canada research suggests that the flu vaccine that closely matches the current seasonal influenza strains temporarily prevents the flu in healthy persons less than 65 years old about 70% of the time.  In individuals over 65 years of age the efficacy rate of the flu vaccine is reported to be less than 30%
• The flu vaccine does not improve the body’s immune response against bacterial infections
• The flu vaccine should not be administered to a person who is already ill with a cold or flu
• Children are at the greatest risk of side effects including: fever, body aches, allergic reactions and potentially a severe paralytic illness (Guillan-Barre paralysis)
• Most experience pain at the injection site
• For those with an egg allergy, there is a risk of allergic reaction as the flu vaccine contains egg components
• The vaccine is produced using formaldehyde, preservatives and heavy metals (mercury)
• *NDs in BC are not allowed to administer flu vaccines, but an MD or walk-in clinic will administer it for you

Immune IV

• The immune IV is an intravenous injection of high concentrations of vitamins and minerals to support the immune system
• The IV contains vitamin C, vitamin B5, B6, B12, B complex, calcium, magnesium, zinc, and selenium at doses higher than you could take orally
• Because the injection is administered intravenously, the absorption rate is 99-100%, much higher than the absorption through the digestive tract
• The immune IV is given 1-2 times per month as a prophylactic against colds and flus, or more often if the patient is feeling sick, run down, stressed or fatigued
• Often the IV is given before traveling or before a stressful event (Christmas?) to give the immune system a boost
• The immune IV is not active against any particular strain of virus or bacteria
• The immune IV can be administered if the patient is already ill
• Side effects are rare and may include pain or minor bruising at the injection site, vasovagal response (fainting) from the needle, or allergy to vitamin B1.

Homeopathic Flu Prevention Shot

• The flu prevention shot contains injectible homeopathic medications that activate the body’s immune defenses against viruses and bacteria
• This injection helps to relieve fever, cold and flu related symptoms such as runny nose, sore throat, coughing, headaches, muscle aches and shivers in those who are already ill with a flu or a cold
• When used in combination, these homeopathic medications have been shown to increase the infection fighting capabilities of white blood cells by 41%
  (Echinacea only increases white blood cell function by 28%)
• The homeopathic flu prevention shot is safe and effective to administer if the patient is already ill
• The injection shortens the duration and severity in symptoms for those who do contract the flu and decreases the incidence of influenza infections
• Side effects include pain at the injection site

Homeopathic Flu Prevention Tablets

• These tablets are prepared using strains from the worst flu epidemics of the past century
• They improve the body’s immune response, thereby shortening the duration and severity of symptoms should you come in contact with the influenza virus
• 1 tablet is taken every 2 weeks, and no injections are required
• Studies show that this protocol is 88% effective in the prevention of influenza and 82% effective in the treatment of primary flu-related symptoms of chills, muscle aches and minor fever
• This treatment is effective for both flu viruses and bacteria
• The flu prevention tablets are safe and effective for patients who are already experiencing cold and flu symptoms
• No known side effects

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How accurate is the screening questionnaire?

Research has concluded that the questionnaire is 87% effective in identifying children at high risk for celiac disease. However, the questionnaire results are not a medical diagnosis and the screening program does not replace a comprehensive exam by a trained physician.

Does the questionnaire recommend treatment?

No, the celiac disease screening questionnaire only identifies children who are at high risk for the disease.  If a child is identified at high risk it is recommended you consult a local and knowledgeable health care professional for further medical evaluation and testing.

Questionnaire for Celiac Disease Screening

Age: _____

Sex: _____

Please tell us how often your child has any of the following by circling the best answer.

Does your child have …?

Total Score:____________

Scoring: Never=1; Seldom= 2; Frequent=3; A Lot=4; Don’t Know=0; No=1; Yes=2

1. Abdominal pain, gas or bloating? (STOMACH)

Never        Seldom           Frequent          A Lot        Don’t Know

2. Diarrhea, constipation, vomiting or nausea? (INTESTINAL)

Never        Seldom            Frequent          A Lot      Don’t Know

3. Allergies or asthma? (ALLERGIES)

Never        Seldom            Frequent          A Lot       Don’t Know

4. Short stature, growth delay, or weight loss? (GROWTH)

Never        Seldom           Frequent          A Lot       Don’t Know

5. Fatigue, weakness, anemia or other nutrient deficiencies? (ANEMIA)

Never          Seldom          Frequent          A Lot       Don’t Know

6. Unexplained mood swings, depression, anxiety or stress? (MENTAL)

Never          Seldom         Frequent          A Lot         Don’t Know

7. Unexplained headaches, joint aches or body aches? (ACHES)

Never         Seldom          Frequent            A Lot          Don’t Know

8. Dental enamel defects (vertical or horizontal grooves in permanent teeth that are chalky white) or recurring canker sores in mouth? (MOUTH)

Never         Seldom          Frequent           A Lot         Don’t Know

9. Skin rashes such as eczema, psoriasis, or dermatitis herpetiformis (itchy, blistering skin) (SKIN)

Never      Seldom           Frequent          A Lot           Don’t Know

10. Any autoimmune syndrome such as IgA deficiency or autoimmune thyroiditis (AUTOIMMUNE)

No                   Yes                  Don’t Know

11. Type I diabetes  (DIABETES)

No                   Yes                  Don’t Know

12. Down’s syndrome, Turner’s syndrome, or William’s syndrome (SYNDROME)

No                   Yes                  Don’t Know

13. Autism, hyperactivity, learning disabilities or attention deficit disorder (COGNITIVE)

No                 Yes                  Don’t Know

14. A first degree relative with diagnosed celiac disease (RELATIVE)

No                  Yes                  Don’t Know

15. Higher than normal absenteeism due to sickness (more than 15 days)  (ABSENTEEISM)

No                   Yes                  Don’t Know

Scoring:

A score greater than 24 indicates a child at high risk for celiac disease.

>24 indicates a child at high risk for celiac disease

Categories in parentheses indicates factors for risk. For example abdominal pain, gas or bloating correlate to stomach symptoms.

THIS makes me smile huge! THIS makes me feel inspired!

And THIS scares me a bit. As of the end of September my safety net of the lease of my “old clinic” is done. It’s a bit scary to let go of the reigns when I’ve held those so tightly for the last 10 years. But, just as parachuting, bungee jumping, ziplining, and rappelling required me to taking that first step over the edge, I find it exciting to take that leap into something new.

September is fast approaching and so is the new school year. Even though some of us are not going back to school and don’t have kids that are returning to or starting school, September always feels like a “new year”.

So, what new things can you do now that will help you get closer to some of your health goals?

Here are some ideas:

• Start a new physical activity. What have you often thought you’d like to try, but have yet to do? Yoga (ask me for a free pass)? Tai chi? Cycling? Dance class? Boot camp.
• Change your food. Food can become boring when we eat the same thing all the time. As I often tell my patients, I’m not a good cook, but I LOVE food!
• Learn about your body, your mind, your health. I learn something new about health every single day! How? I receive health newsletters from smart colleagues. I read books and articles about health. I listen to lectures on my iPod while I walk to yoga or the grocery store or work. I watch documentaries instead of bad tv (though I do like some “junk food” tv).
• Get rid of pain. Acupuncture is an effective way to reduce or eliminate pain by improving circulation, releasing tight muscles, and relieving stress. Where more work is need, biopuncture can be used in addition to acupuncture. Curious or want to come in? Ask me.
• Cleanse/detoxify. Fall is a good time to reset after the laissez faire attitude of summer eating (BBQs, buffets, beers and margaritas, etc.). A detox program can include a detox kit, acupuncture, nutritional changes, and far infrared sauna (increase your metabolism and sweat out toxins while lying down!). Want to know more, you guessed it.. feel free to ask me.

“Don’t tell me that the sky’s the limit when there are footprints on the moon.” — Sawyer Rosenstein

Integrative medicine merges the best evidence-based complementary approaches with conventional therapies. It addresses the whole person (mind, body and spirit) and looks at root causes of disease, not just symptoms.

“There is a huge demand for this system of care in Vancouver,” says Riskin. “People are confused by the vast array of information out there, and are seeking guidance about what is useful and what may be downright dangerous.”

Studies show that British Columbians are more likely to combine complementary and conventional therapies than other Canadians. With chronic diseases increasingly on the rise, there is a greater need for preventive models and programs that offer informed and effective care.

“We are excited to offer this new and innovative healthcare paradigm,” says Cheng.  ”Our entire team is passionate about integrative medicine, and look forward to working with clients to help them reach their highest health potential.”

Apart from MDs, Connect Health’s collaborative team of practitioners includes doctors of traditional Chinese medicine, nutritionists, naturopaths, registered nurses, registered massage therapists, chiropractors, fitness and mind/body therapists, counsellors and psychologists, and health planners.  Connect Health also offers educational workshops, and will be conducting research projects to further the evidence on integrative medicine outcomes.

About Connect Health

Connect Health provides effective whole person care by combining the best of conventional medicine and complementary approaches. The dedicated team of doctors and experts at Connect Health work to evolve the health care system by becoming leaders in clinical care, education, community outreach and research in the field of integrative medicine. For more information, go to www.connecthealthcare.ca

Although modern technology is now allowing us to witness and understand these concepts of energy and frequencies, it could simultaneously be contributing to issues with the bodies ability to distinguish between safe and harmful substances. Cell phones are a perfect example. We know that cell phones emit powerful electro-magnetic frequecies (EMF’s) allowing data to be invisibly transported from one location to another. These frequencies travel through windows, walls, cars and even people. As EMF’s penetrate the body, these frequencies will manipulate and distort the frequencies of all other items inside us. When an EMF from a cell phones bounces into a specific food, protein, mineral, etc., the frequency of that item is skewed and becomes something which the body may not recognize. And thus, a sensitivity or allergy is born. Since we are not able to interpret this new frequency to which we have just been exposed, the body will store this memory so when it is presented again, we will see this substance as dangerous and an adverse reaction could result.

Fortunately there are some things we can do to reduce our exposure to EMF’s and help re-balance to a state of natural health.

• Avoid using cordless phones. Believe it or not, cordless phones give off almost as much EMF as a cell phone.
• Invest in EMF Protection technology. EarthCalm is a company that makes devices that can be used in the home, on the body, and now even attached to your cell phone to help dissipate the dangerous flood of electro-magnetic frequencies in which we are walking around everyday.
• Refrain from using a microwave. If you must use one, try to be at least 30-40 feet away from it when in use
• Never sleep with a cell phone near your bed
• If you live in an apartment, avoid putting your bed against a shared wall with the neighbour. You never know what electronics may be plugged in on the other side.
• Turn off all electronics in the bedroom during sleeping hours.
• Invest in Bioenergetic Intolerance Elimination. This amazing technique helps the body by clearing incorrect frequency information being stored in the cells and reintroduces the proper frequencies so the body can begin to recognize substances of which it was previously confused.

Allergies and sensitivities are growing at an alarming rate around the globe. But we don’t have to sit idly and become victims to old ways of thinking. Gone are the days of “just live with it”. As our understanding of the full potential of human health continues to evolve, we are starting to see more people taking an active approach to their well-being. People are turning their health around and overcoming that which others have told them would be permanent.

What allergy would you eliminate if you could?

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Holding onto those extra pounds that keep you from achieving your ideal weight may not be your fault. Here are three reasons why diet and exercise may not be enough, and what you can do about it:

1. Hormones

When it comes to hormones, there are several common culprits: Estrogen, TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone), and cortisol.

Estrogen:  Excess estrogen leads to weight gain on the hips, thighs and abdomen in women and on the chest and abdomen in men. To make matters worse, these fat cells produce even more estrogen, leading to further weight gain.

TSH: Thyroid stimulating hormone is released by the anterior pituitary. This hormone acts on the thyroid gland, and is a key factor in determining your metabolic rate. Often times, high levels of TSH indicate suppressed thyroid function which leads to weight gain, low mood, dry skin, and cold hands and feet.

Cortisol: Cortisol is produced by the adrenal glands in response to stressful situations. Chronic stress leads to long-term elevation of cortisol which causes fat deposition, abdominal weight gain and those extra 10 pounds.

Solution: Hormone testing through the blood or saliva can give useful information about hormone levels, endocrine function, and metabolic rate.

Estrogen levels can be reduced by increasing dietary fiber and cruciferous vegetables, and taking supplements that remove excess estrogens from the body such as DIM, I-3-C and sulphoraphane. Avoid exposure to exogenous and synthetic estrogens in soft plastic bottles, pesticides, birth control pills, and synthetic hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

Elevated TSH can be lowered through reducing intake of raw cruciferous vegetables and increasing your intake of seaweeds. A thyroid supplement containing L-tyrosine, selenium, iodine, zinc, B vitamins and magnesium can improve thyroid function. Herbal medicines and glandulars are also available.

Cortisol levels can be decreased by getting more sleep, reducing stress levels and avoiding stimulants such as caffeine and nicotine. B Vitamins and herbal adaptogens such as licorice and ashwagandha can restore adrenal gland function.

Hormone levels may also require balancing through bioidentical hormone replacement. Bioidentical progesterone may be used to balance estrogen dominance, and bioidentical thyroid hormones can restore thyroid function and a healthy metabolic rate.

2. Yeast (Candida)

Candida albicans is a yeast that can colonize on our skin and mucous membranes. It often shows up in the mouth (thrush), the vagina (yeast infection), and the gastrointestinal tract. Presence of a small amount of Candida in the gastrointestinal tract is normal, but overgrowth is problematic.

Candida overgrowth, known as candidiasis, can cause symptoms of brain fog, bloating, abdominal pain, irregular digestion, fatigue, sensitivity to smells, sugar and alcohol cravings, weight gain and difficulty losing weight.

Solution: Candida can be tested for, or a diagnosis can be made based on symptoms. A typical Candida cleanse consists of an anti-yeast diet which excludes foods that promote yeast growth, a yeast killing supplement, and a probiotic supplement.  The yeast killer clears yeast that has colonized in the digestive tract and the probiotic bacteria replace the normal intestinal flora. Water and a high fiber diet help remove the dead yeast from your system.

Getting rid of a Candida infection helps the body shed retained weight and reduces sugar cravings so you are less likely to reach for the simple carbohydrate snack.

3. Toxins

Toxins are ubiquitous in our environment and many are stored within our fat cells. Heavy metals, pesticides, plasticizers, solvents and synthetic hormones are just a few of the many sources of man-made chemicals that our bodies are susceptible to.

Chemicals, such as organ chlorine (pesticide), have been shown to increase weight gain by disrupting the body’s own hormones that control body weight. These toxins, also known as “endocrine disruptors” can throw hormones out of balance, leading to a slower metabolism and ultimately weight gain.

It is a known fact that non-organic meat and dairy contain synthetic hormones that promote weight gain in humans and precocious puberty in children, but what else is in our food? Other chemicals found in livestock include drugs that inhibit the thyroid gland and slow down metabolism, corticosteroids and anabolic steroids, all which promote weight gain and abdominal obesity in humans.

Solution: Choose organic foods whenever possible and cut down your consumption of red meats and dairy as these foods have a higher fat content, which equals more calories and more exposure to fat-soluble toxins. Even with an organic diet, chemicals and toxins are everywhere in our environment, air, and drinking water. Because of our unique genetic polymorphisms, some of us are more susceptible to the effects of toxins than others. Detoxification of heavy metals and chemicals stored in our tissues is the best way to keep toxins from building up and resulting in persistent weight gain. Talk to your naturopathic doctor about the best detoxification program for you.

Aaron had colic as a newborn baby. He was gassy as a newborn baby, his stomach constantly gurgling. As a newborn he always needed to be held because he wasn’t comfortable. He would always arch his back in pain because though his belly was full of gas, most of the time he was unable to fart or burp to release it.

Now, at 10 months old, Aaron is now mostly on solid food and eats like a glutton, yet he is losing instead of gaining weight, since the age of 7 months. I tell Rhonda that perhaps Aaron is failing to absorb the nutrients in the food he eats due to an absorption problem.

After the introduction of solid food at 6 months, Aaron has had constipation. Rhonda has tried changing Aaron’s diet, adding more fruits and vegetables, experimenting with cutting out dairy and wheat, but dietary changes haven’t helped. The only thing that has helped are frequent servings of prunes. Rhonda recognizes that prunes are not a permanent solution to Aaron’s problem, and I explain to Rhonda that the administration of the correct homeopathic constitutional remedy will fix his constipation and weight problem.

What is a Constitutional Homeopathic Remedy?

Constitutional homeopathic remedies are prescribed by classical homeopaths. Although Naturopaths have some limited training in prescribing homeopathic remedies, only classical homeopaths have enough training (a full 4 years) to prescribe constitutionally. Constitutional homeopathic prescribing for chronic health complaints is extremely powerful and complex and must be regarded with the utmost respect. Homeopathic remedies are made from something in the natural world such as a plant, mineral or animal. Constitutional homeopathic remedies are given one at a time and never in combination. The remedies are prepared in such a way that they are non-toxic and gentle on the body. They stimulate the body to heal itself. Remedy selection is based on the homeopathic principle that “like cures like” – that is, a substance that would cause symptoms in a healthy person is used to cure those same symptoms in illness. For example, one homeopathic remedy which might be used in a person suffering from insomnia is coffea, a remedy made from coffee.

The Follow-up Consultations

6 weeks after the administration of the homeopathic constitutional remedy, noticeable improvement had taken place. Despite cutting down on the prunes, Aaron’s stool softened and he had much less straining during bowel movements. He has also stopped losing weight.

2 months after the first follow-up, Aaron continues to do well on his constitutional homeopathic remedy. His digestion and bowel movements are normal, and his body has filled out. He looks chubbier and he is gaining weight. Also, because constitutional homeopathy addresses the whole person, the remedy also got rid of Aaron’s patches of eczema. This result was obtained using only the correct constitutional homeopathic remedy without any dietary changes.

I used to think that balance was an achievable fixed state like eating a meal and never being hungry again or buying a fabulous pair of shoes and then never wanting another, yet we all know we have to eat another meal and if you are like me, buy another pair of shoes.

My practice has taught me that Balance is constant change, thus a constant practice. The practice of balance becomes attractive as it is flexible rather than rigid. Like Zen, which we also borrow from wise Japan, we notice that while meditating once may have a temporary effect on our state of balance, we soon notice we have to do it again. Hmm, thats annoying. One healthy meal won’t suffice? What one non-healthy meal will do however, is send some signals for the need to re-balance and bring us back to a state of well being. Its actually very simple because we know what we personally need, yet listening to that knowing is the challenge- sometimes its not until we have eaten too much sugar, thus gained to much weight, that we stop and make a change. So the game is the to stay within the middle ground, rather than letting the pendulum swing too far too one side. The body is really well designed for knowing how to balance itself, yet the brain is also really well designed to ignore this knowledge. Going to one extreme before coming back to balance is eventually exhausting to the body.

So right now at the heart of summer if your feeling sluggish, it is the perfect time to find what will bring about the most balance for you. If you get very hot in your upper body, red face, flushed, a simple way to balance this heat is to work on the feet for example. We see this in hot cultures such as Italy & Spain where they  honor the siesta. Instead of running for the AC they actually take a break to rest during the hottest part of the day, makes sense. We can begin to tailor our routines to meet the ‘requests’ of our surroundings, which means that while eating cooling fruits serve to balance us in the hot summer months, they might not be beneficial in the winter even though we now have access to any food we desire all year round shipped from hotter climates. Thus a good structure is to eat whats in season where we live, thus will bring about the most balance in our internal ‘climates.’

You are probably drawn more to one season then another. This preference and the way our body thrives depending on the temperature gives us a lot of information as to our present state of balance. The optimal goal being the ease your body creates while under-going change. Where there is movement there is flow, and where there is flow, there is balance. Think of a river. If there is a dam the water gets stagnant, but if someone comes along and releases the dam then the water gushes even fuller than before, creating an equal distribution of water. In the case of our body, the hand-on manipulation of Shiatsu frees these internal rivers, or energy pathways. You can try a little experiment right now. squeeze the ‘web’ between your index finger and thumb for about 10 seconds and then release. You may have noticed an instant release of tension in your whole arm. This quickening of movement is so essential in maintaining internal movement thus ease in the entire anatomy of the body.

Receiving regular Shiatsu sessions as well as learning self-shiatsu techniques & tuning in to what brings greater balance for you, will increase your bodies natural impulse to ‘hover’ around the sweet blend of the extremes; Yin & Yang.

© 2011 Shandoah Goldman

This article was written by guest contributor and shiatsu pratictioner Shandoah Goldman, who trained at the Ohashiatsu Institute in NYC. Her extensive practice for the past 14 years as well as her MA in dance, contributes to a thorough knowledge of the body and movement. For more information about Shandoah www.shiatsu.shandoahgoldman.com