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Laughter is long been considered a great medicine to cure many ills. Stay with us we are working on bringing you some powerful healing medicine. If you have a funny story, one which can be appreciated by everyone, please send it on into us and we will publish it. Click here to laugh.
There are wise people all around us. People who understand the world, understand life. We can learn from them. We can be enlightened by them. They can help us to heal ourselves. To enliven yourself and spirit, click here.
August 2014
While breast cancer gets a lot of attention in the media and is
certainly a concern, heart disease is the leading cause of death for
women in the United States and a leading cause of disability among
To read the full story Women's Health Week: 7 Simple Tips for Heart Health
A recent study looked at post menopausal women to determine what role loss of sexual desire played in their life. It seems that loss of sex drive was associated with a decreased quality of life and increase risk of illness.
To read the full article Health Declines With Sex Drive, click here.
Over the past years there has been considerable controversy regarding screening fro breast cancer. Some experts say you should have mammographies other say that you do not need them. Some experts tell you that you should be doing regular Breast Self-Examinations, while other experts tell you they are unnecessary and can create problems for you.
To read the full article Screening For Breast Cancer, click here.
Over the past few decades, the incidence of melanoma, one of the deadliest forms of skin cancer, has been steadily increased. The fact is, melanoma has become the most common cancer in women between the ages of 25 and 29.
To read the full article Melanoma Is on the Rise in Women, click here.
Whether you love your hips or hate them, a woman's hips are a vital part of her daily life. Keeping them healthy is important to her over all health and well-being.
To read the full article Hip Fractures: What Women Need to Know, click here.
Is work exhausting us in a way it never did before?
Two things happened in one day that made me wonder. First, my new housemate got home just before midnight:
"Did you have a nice night out?" I asked.
"Oh no -- I didn't go out," he replied. "I've been at work since 8am."
These sorts of hours are normal in the banking industry, he explains. Also, don't worry about stocking up on extra food he says; "I have breakfast, lunch and dinner at work."
That afternoon I visit a physiotherapist. My neck is so sore that it's hard to turn my head. It could be the way I'm sitting, I say. Or the fact that I rarely take breaks, or that my job doesn't take me out of the office anymore.
The physio nods. She's heard it all before. She tells me the incidents of neck and pain in office workers has soared in the past 2 years.
To read the full story Exhaustion: the modern malady, click here.
Research Shows It Can Slow Dementia In Elderly Who Have Mild Mental Declines
Drinking alcohol in moderation may slow the progression to dementia in elderly people who already have mild mental declines, new research suggests.
Defined in the study as less than one drink a day, low to moderate drinking was associated with a significantly slower progression to dementia among people with mild age-related cognitive declines, compared with nondrinkers.
The protective benefit was not seen with higher alcohol consumption.
To read the full story A Little Alcohol May Help Aging Brains, click here.
Hotter is better when it comes to killing dust mites and other allergens in your laundry.
A new study shows washing laundry in hot water (140 degrees Fahrenheit) kills 100 percent of dust mites. But turn the dial down just 36 degrees to a warm, 104-degree Fahrenheit wash and only 6.5 percent of dust mites are killed in the laundry. Hotter water was also better at removing dog dander and pollen.
But if your delicate laundry can't take the heat, researchers also suggest another way to reduce dust mites and allergens in the laundry: wash at a lower temperature (between 86-104 degrees Fahrenheit) and then rinse the laundry twice with cold water for at least three minutes each.
To read the full story Hot Water Removes Allergens Best, click here.
Hot, Not Warm, Water Is Needed To Kill Dust Mites, Remove Animal Dander In Laundry, Study Shows
Numbers May Not Justify Practice for Routine Mammograms
Breast cancer is a topic that seldom evokes dispassionate, let alone objective, treatment.
There is good reason for that. We all know, often intimately, of the tragedy this cancer can cause.
Furthermore, the topic roils with gender issues and other issues of bias in the provision of health care. No one should be deprived of effective care of the highest quality for any reason, including gender and ethnicity. We need to address past wrongs.
However, past wrongs and current tragedies do not excuse providing remedies that are ineffective. It is under this banner that I want us to calmly and objectively examine the effectiveness of screening mammograms. I have done so before, in detail in "Last Well Person." I do so today because of the chest-pounding about the decrease in the numbers of women submitting to mammograms and the auguring about a consequent rebound in breast cancer incidence.
To read the full story Does Screening Mammography Save Lives?, click here.
Editors Commentary:
While the question of whether or nit mammography is valuable is still very much up in the air, one would have to ask the question, "Should we do nothing, that is avoid mammography and if not what should women do?" There is still no clear answer to this questions as there is still no perfect diagnostic test for picking up early breast cancer.
In previous articles using self breast exam was also said to be of little value. The value of using MRI to find early breast cancer may also be in questions. CT scan and Ultrasound have their place in diagnostic testing but are not mentioned in this article.
While there may be no perfect answer we suggest that women continue to have their yearly or every two year mammography, that they do monthly breast self examination and most important of all if screening is going to be done find a Center near you that has radiologists and technicians who are very well trained and have a great deal of experience. We suggest not to use less than skilled testing facilities, units where only a few mammographies are done a month. Pay more, travel farther go to well known Centers where you are more likely to get a better result.
For more information on Breast Self Examination (BSE), click here.
Maybe You Can Enjoy That Steak
Scientists Work on Ways to Neutralize Unhealthy Fats
Don't throw those juicy steaks away yet.
Scientists believe they may have discovered how to make the fats that are most hazardous to our hearts no more harmful than the fats that are supposed to be good for us, like fish oil. And what's even more important, the discovery may launch us on a course that could eliminate heart disease.
"If it works as well in us as it does in mice, it would push us in that direction," said Lawrence L. Rudel, leader of the research team who's a professor of comparative medicine at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center. Rudel admits that's a very long shot at this point, since no human clinical trials are even on the horizon, but the research, published in Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology is tantalizing.
To read the full story An End to Bad Fats? Maybe You Can Enjoy That Steak, click here.
5-Year Report Shows Sharpest Increase in Type 2
The number of teens, especially girls, taking prescription drugs for type 2 diabetes, sleep problems, and other illnesses is up.
Chemical in Popcorn Could Pose Health Risk
Microwave popcorn is one of America's favorite couchside snacks, but the butter flavor is raising questions about whether the crunchy treat could be dangerous to something other than the waist.
The chemical that helps create microwave popcorn's buttery aroma has been linked to serious health issues for workers who make the snack.
After working for 10 months at a St. Louis, Mo., flavoring company, 53-year-old Jerry Blaylock developed a life-threatening disease commonly called popcorn lung, which is linked to the chemical diacetyl. Now his once healthy lungs can hold just 45 percent of breathing capacity.
To read the full story Could Microwave Popcorn Be Toxic?, click here.
A Good Source of Vitamins? Or a Ticket to Tubbiness? One Expert Gets to the Bottom of the Juice Glass
What's more American or wholesome than a glass of juice for breakfast? It's the way millions of people start their day. It's also the way many parents introduce fruit to their children. That may be a problem
Avoid disease by covering up with clothes, staying in shade, experts say
The latest skin-cancer prevention advice is to stop trusting sunscreen as the front line of defense against harmful rays.
Instead, wear sunblocking clothing or stay out of the sun altogether, experts say.
Sunscreen has been shown to protect against UV skin damage as well as basal carcinomas and squamous cell carcinoma
Contrary to popular belief, drinking pure 100 percent fruit juice does not make young children overweight or at risk for becoming overweight, new research shows. Pure fruit juice provides essential nutrients and, in moderation, may actually help children maintain a healthy weight.
Inconsistent research findings have led to continued debate over the potential associations between drinking 100 percent fruit juice, nutrient intake, and overweight in children.
In the their study, researchers analyzed the juice consumption of 3,618 children ages 2 to 11 using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
"The bottom line is that 100 percent juice consumption is a valuable contributor of nutrients in children's diet and it does not have an association with being overweight," study chief Dr. Theresa Nicklas, a child nutrition specialist at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, told Reuters. She presented the new data at the Pediatric Academic Societies' annual convention in Toronto, Canada, this week.
To read the full story Pure fruit juice not likely to put weight on kids, click here.
Most people say they're tired when they skip their morning run or nod off during their favorite 9 o'clock sitcom. But if you want to know about real bone-crunching fatigue, the kind that chains you to your bed, ask someone with a thyroid disorder.
For me, the exhaustion was totally out of character. I'd always been high-energy, even a tad hyper. Six hours of sleep a night was enough. Then last fall I became a different person, someone I didn't like very much at all.
I'd get up at 7:15 and see my 13-year-old out the door, then lie down. Next thing I knew it was 8 a.m. and there were a mere 10 minutes left to get my 10-year-old fed and to school. As if her tardies weren't bad enough, I started crawling back into bed again after I dropped her off. Suddenly there weren't enough hours in the day to earn the living that supported us all.
Though I mentioned the problem to my doctor, all he did was offer sleeping pills. But then my younger sister discovered she had a thyroid problem, and her doctor said it runs in families.
To read the full story Feeling lethargic, moody, tired, fat? It could be your thyroid, click here.
Food Safety Strategies From The Market To The Table
Tainted animal feed. Spinach scares. Peanut butter recalls. Food safety has been big news lately, which is making many people think twice about what's on their plates.
First, the facts. The FDA says some U.S. hogs, poultry, and farmed fish recently ate animal feed containing Chinese ingredients tainted with an industrial chemical called melamine. But the FDA says people who ate meat from those animals are likely at "very low" risk of melamine-related health problems.
The source of the salmonella outbreak in Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter has been found, and maker ConAgra plans to start shipping Peter Pan Peanut Butter to retailers this summer. And Last fall's E. coli outbreak in fresh bagged spinach is over.
To read the full story 15 Ways To Make Your Food Safer, click here.
People Who Eat 2.5 Servings A Day Are 21% Less Likely To Have Heart Disease, Research Shows
There's a new report to add to the stack of studies on the heart benefits of whole grains.
People who eat 2.5 daily servings of whole grains are about one-fifth less likely to have heart disease than those who skimp on whole grains, a new research review shows.
But relatively few people have made whole grains a dietary staple, note the reviewers, who included Philip Mellen, M.D., of Wake Forest University's internal medicine department.
"We should redouble our efforts to encourage patients to include more of these foods in our diet," Mellen says in a Wake Forest news release.
To read the full story Whole Grains May Help The Heart, click here.
Nola Ochs' Is World's Oldest Person to Graduate
On Saturday in Kansas, a 95-year-old woman will become the world's oldest college graduate.
Nola Ochs, who began taking college classes more than 30 years ago, has become a celebrity on the campus of Fort Hays State University in Kansas, where she will graduate with a degree in history.
"Several years ago, I quit counting my age," Ochs said. "We celebrated my birthday, but I didn't want to be told how old I am."
Like her younger classmates, Ochs's college career has been filled with activity -- researching papers online from her campus apartment, writing reports and occasionally offering words of wisdom to her less-seasoned fellow students.
Editors Note:
This is a true inspiring note. When so many older people give up and let age and the elements claim their body
Medicine Changes Its Mind
About two-thirds of U.S. children will go through a traumatic event in their childhood but few are likely to experience post-traumatic stress disorder, U.S. researchers said on Monday.
The finding reveals a certain emotional resiliency in children, but it also suggests that the way children process troubling experiences is different from adults, said William Copeland of Duke University Medical Center, whose study appeared in the Archives of General Psychiatry.
Copeland and colleagues conducted annual interviews with 1,420 kids at ages 9, 11, and 13 who were representative of the general U.S. population between 1993 and 2000.
By age 16, 68 percent of those studied had experienced at least one traumatic event, such as the violent death of a loved one, physical abuse by a relative, sexual abuse, fire, natural disaster or a serious accident.
To read the full story Childhood trauma is widespread in US, click here.
Taking an aspirin every day may help prevent heart disease and stroke but, for a middle-aged man, it is nearly as risky as driving a car or working as a firefighter, researchers said on Tuesday.
While people are poor at assessing true risks, they are often willing to take on those risks in exchange for the benefits -- which can include simply having fun, said Joshua Cohen and Peter Neumann of Tufts-New England Medical Center.
Writing in the journal Health Affairs, they said federal regulators must take the true risks into account, and balance them against the benefits, when deciding whether to approve or withdraw drugs.
To read the full story Aspirin risk compares to driving cars, click here.
Study: Smokers Taking Statin Drugs Get 55% Less Lung Cancer
People who take cholesterol-lowering statin drugs for more than six months
Dr. Emily Senay Talks About The Consequences Of Too Much Television
Many experts claim that too much television isn't good for kids
Health News Today
What you need to know or may be interested in knowing about health, wellness and healing.
Diagnosing Allergies
Elimination Diet and Food Challenge Test
The elimination diet and food challenge test are tools used to identify food allergies. The elimination diet involves removing specific foods or ingredients from your diet that you and your doctor suspect may be causing your allergy symptoms. (Common allergy-causing foods are milk, eggs, nuts, wheat, and soy.) Your doctor will supervise this diet over a few weeks.
During this time, you will need to carefully read food labels and find out about food preparation methods when dining out. You'll also need to keep a food diary to record the foods you are eating. If you remove a certain food and the symptoms go away while following this diet, your doctor can usually identify that food as the cause of your problems.
While following this diet, make sure you are eating other foods that provide the same nutrients as those you've eliminated (for example, try tofu-based foods instead of dairy products). A dietitian can help you plan meals that are healthful and nutritious without including the potentially allergenic foods.
After following the elimination diet, your doctor will ask you to gradually reintroduce the foods you were avoiding into your diet, one at a time. This process helps link symptoms to specific foods.
You will need to carefully record any symptoms that occur when you eat each of these foods. If your symptoms return after eating the food, the diagnosis can usually be confirmed. You will be asked once again to eliminate the foods that have been identified as causing symptoms to see if the symptoms clear up.
There are no foolproof methods. Psychological and physical factors can affect the diet's results. For example, if you think you're sensitive to a food, a response could occur that may not be a true allergic one.
Before making significant changes in your diet, always seek the advice of your doctor. If you randomly remove foods from your diet, you may not have a balanced diet -- and a lack of some nutrients can cause other health problems. You may also become frustrated because it may seem that everything you eat is causing a reaction.
If you've had a severe (anaphylactic) reaction to certain foods, this method can't be used.
What Is a Controlled Food Challenge?
In a controlled environment such as an intensive care hospital unit, the doctor (usually a board-certified allergist) may conduct a food challenge test to determine if a food allergy exists or to confirm a suspected food allergy.
A sample of the suspected offending food is given to the person unknowingly. The suspected offending food may be mixed with another food or may be disguised as an ingredient in another food. These food preparation techniques are used to prevent undue influence on the outcome of the test (if the person recognizes the food by sight or taste). Another method is to have the person take a capsule containing the allergen.
This test is given under strict supervision. After eating the food or taking the capsule, the person is monitored to see if a reaction occurs.
The ideal way to perform the food challenge test is as a "double-blind, placebo-controlled test." With this method, neither the allergist nor the allergy sufferer is aware of which capsule or food contains the suspected allergen. In order for the test to be effective, the person must also take capsules or eat food that does not contain the allergen. This will help the allergist make sure the reaction, if any, being observed is due to the allergen and not some other factor.
Someone with a history of severe reactions cannot participate in a food challenge test. In addition, multiple food allergies are difficult to evaluate with this test.
Since this test takes a lot of time to perform, it is costly and thus, done infrequently. This type of testing is generally used when the doctor needs to confirm or eliminate specific food allergens.
Skin Testing for Allergies
An allergy skin test, also called a scratch test, is used to identify the substances that are causing your allergy symptoms. It is performed by applying an extract of an allergen to your skin, scratching or pricking the skin to allow exposure, and then evaluating the skin's reaction.
What Happens During the Test?
First, a doctor or nurse will examine the skin on your forearm and clean it with alcohol. (Sometimes, the skin test is performed on an area of your back.)
Areas on your skin are then marked with a pen to identify each allergen that will be tested. A drop of extract for each potential allergen -- such as pollen, animal dander or insect venom -- is placed on the corresponding mark. A small disposable pricking device is then used so the extract can enter into the outer layer of the skin, called the epidermis. The skin prick is not a shot and doesn't cause bleeding.
Sometimes, instead of the skin pricking method, a small amount of the allergen is injected just under the skin.
If there are allergic antibodies in your system, your skin will become irritated and may itch, much like a mosquito bite. This reaction means you are allergic to that substance.
How Long Does the Test Take?
Plan to spend about an hour for the entire appointment. The allergen placement part of the test takes about 5 to 10 minutes. Then you will have to wait about 15 minutes to see how your skin reacts.
How Should I Prepare for the Test?
Inform the healthcare provider who is going to perform the skin test about all medicines you are taking, including over-the-counter medications.
Since allergy medicines, including over-the-counter antihistamines stop allergic reactions, you should not take them for a few days before the test. Talk to your doctor about discontinuing your allergy medicines prior to the test.
Your doctor will give you a list of medicines to avoid before the test, since there are other drugs that can interfere with the results. Since you may not be able to discontinue certain medicines, the doctor or nurse may perform a separate "control" test to determine if that particular drug will interfere with the scratch test.
Does the Test Hurt?
The test may be mildly irritating, but most people say it doesn't hurt too much.
Is the Test Safe?
Although small amounts of allergens are introduced into your system, a skin test is safe when performed properly.
What Happens After the Test?
The extracts and ink marks will be cleaned off your skin with alcohol. A mild cortisone cream will be applied to your arm to relieve any itching at the sites of the skin pricks. Keep the tested area on your arm uncovered when you go home. Your doctor or allergist will use the results of the test to help develop a management plan for you.
When Should I Call My Doctor?
Call your doctor if you experience any of the following symptoms:
• Fever
• Lightheadedness
• Wheezing
• Shortness of breath
Blood Testing for Allergies
Blood tests are sometimes performed to find out what triggers an allergic reaction and are often used if a patient has a skin condition or is taking medications, such as antihistamines. Such medications could interfere with an allergy skin test, which is a common test used to identify allergy triggers.
The radioallergosorbent test (RAST) and the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test are two types of blood analysis used to diagnose allergies. In both, a small amount of blood is taken from the allergy sufferer and analyzed for antibodies. High levels of antibodies in the blood indicate an allergic reaction.
These blood tests may not be as effective as skin testing and tend to be somewhat more expensive, but can be useful in some situations.
Skin Testing for Allergies
The most common allergy skin test is called the "scratch test." It is used to identify the substances that are causing your allergy symptoms. It is performed by applying an extract of an allergen to your
skin, scratching or pricking the skin to allow exposure, and then evaluating the skin's reaction.
What Happens During the Test?
First, a doctor or nurse will examine the skin on your forearm and clean it with alcohol. (Sometimes, the skin test is performed on an area of your back.)
Areas on your skin are then marked with a pen to identify each allergen that will be tested. A drop of extract for each potential allergen -- such as pollen, animal dander or insect venom -- is placed on the corresponding mark. A small disposable pricking device is then used so the extract can enter into the outer layer of the skin, called the epidermis. The skin prick is not a shot and doesn't cause bleeding.
Sometimes, instead of the skin pricking method, a small amount of the allergen is injected just under the skin.
If there are allergic antibodies in your system, your skin will become irritated and may itch, much like a mosquito bite. This reaction means you are allergic to that substance.
How Long Does the Test Take?
Plan to spend about an hour for the entire appointment. The allergen placement part of the test takes about 5 to 10 minutes. Then you will have to wait about 15 minutes to see how your skin reacts.
How Should I Prepare for the Test?
Inform the healthcare provider who is going to perform the skin test about all medicines you are taking, including over-the-counter medications.
Since allergy medicines, including over-the-counter antihistamines stop allergic reactions, you should not take them for a few days before the test. Talk to your doctor about discontinuing your allergy medicines prior to the test.
Your doctor will give you a list of medicines to avoid before the test, since there are other drugs that can interfere with the results. Since you may not be able to discontinue certain medicines, the doctor or nurse may perform a separate "control" test to determine if that particular drug will interfere with the scratch test.
Does the Test Hurt?
The test may be mildly irritating, but most people say it doesn't hurt too much.
Is the Test Safe?
Although small amounts of allergens are introduced into your system, a skin test is safe when performed properly.
What Happens After the Test?
The extracts and ink marks will be cleaned off your skin with alcohol. A mild cortisone cream will be applied to your arm to relieve any itching at the sites of the skin pricks. Keep the tested area on your arm uncovered when you go home. Your doctor or allergist will use the results of the test to help develop a management plan for you.
When Should I Call My Doctor?
Call your doctor if you experience any of the following symptoms:
• Fever
• Lightheadedness
• Wheezing
• Shortness of breath
The Food Diary
Helping You Uncover Your Food Allergy Triggers
Determining which foods trigger your allergy symptoms may take a little detective work, but by keeping a food diary, uncovering the offending food can be easy. All you have to do is record what you eat and when you get symptoms, and then look for common factors.
Here's What to Do
Print the following sample food diary and use it to record the foods you eat each day and when you eat them. (Don't forget to include snacks and beverages!) Record any symptoms you experience, as well as the time the symptoms begin. Share your food diary with your doctor to help determine which foods may be triggering your symptoms. (See Food Diary Below)
You can print this diary and use it on a weekly basis until you know which foods are causing you your problems.
Food Diary Week of __________________
Time: _____
Time: _____
Time: _____
Example Of How To Use the Diary Above:
Time: 7 a.m.
Stomach cramps, diarrhea
Mold Allergy
Mold is an organism that is present is most places, outdoors and indoors. It is a type of fungus that works to break down dead material and return nutrients to the environment. Mold grows by digesting plant or animal matter, such as leaves, wood, paper, dirt, and food and spreads by releasing tiny, lightweight spores that travel through the air. Mold grows quickly in moist dark spaces, such as basements, garbage cans, and piles of rotting leaves.
On food, mold often is visible on the food's surface, such as the fuzzy green spots that appear on bread. However, molds also have branches and roots. As it grows, the mold's roots can penetrate deep inside the food, where it cannot be seen.
All of us are exposed to some mold every day with no bad effects. We may breathe in mold spores that are present in the air or eat foods in which mold has begun to grow. People with mold allergies, however, may have a reaction if exposed to too much of the fungus.
What Are the Symptoms?
Symptoms of a mold reaction are those typical of many other allergies. They include:
• Wheezing
• Stuffy or runny nose
• Itchy, watery eyes
• Rash or hives
If you have a mold allergy, avoiding all exposure to mold may not be possible. However, you can reduce your risk of reaction by choosing your foods carefully. Check all foods for signs of mold before you eat them. Do not smell foods to see if they are spoiled because Inhaling mold spores can set off an allergic reaction. In addition, you can avoid foods that are more likely to contain mold or other fungi, such as mushrooms and yeast.
Common food sources of mold include:
• Cheese
• Mushrooms
• Vinegar and foods containing vinegar, such as salad dressing, catsup and pickles
• Sour cream, sour milk, and buttermilk
• Meat or fish more than 24 hours old
• Breads and other food made with yeast
• Sauerkraut
• Pickled and smoked meats and fish
• Dried fruits such as dates, prunes, figs and raisins
• Soy sauce
• Hot dogs, sausages
• Canned juices
Sulfite Sensitivity
Sulfites are a group of sulfur-based compounds that may occur naturally or may be added to food as an enhancer and preservative. The FDA estimates that one out of 100 people is sensitive to the compounds. A person can develop sensitivity to sulfites at any time in life, and the cause of sensitivity is unknown. For a person who is sensitive to sulfites, a reaction can be mild or life threatening.
In 1986, the FDA banned the use of sulfites on fruits and vegetables that are eaten raw, such as lettuce or apples. Regulations also require manufacturers who use sulfites in their processed products to list the compounds on their product labels.
Although sulfites are no longer used on most fresh foods, they still can be found in a variety of cooked and processed foods. They also occur naturally in the process of making wine and beer.
Avoiding foods that contain or are likely to contain sulfites is the only way to prevent a reaction. If you are sensitive to sulfites, be sure to read the labels on all food items. When eating out, ask the chef or server if sulfites are used or added to food before or during preparation.
Examples of foods that may contain sulfites include:
• Baked goods
• Soup mixes
• Jams
• Canned vegetables
• Pickled foods
• Gravies
• Dried fruit
• Potato chips
• Trail mix
• Beer, and wine
• Vegetable juices
• Sparkling grape juice
• Apple cider
• Bottled lemon juice and lime juice
• Tea
• Many condiments
• Molasses
• Fresh or frozen shrimp
• Guacamole
• Maraschino cherries
• Dehydrated, pre-cut or peeled potatoes
Sulfite-containing ingredients to look for on food labels include:
• Sulfur dioxide
• Potassium bisulfite or potassium metabisulfite
• Sodium bisulfite, sodium metabisulfite or sodium sulfite
Salicylate Allergy
Salicylates are chemicals found naturally in plants and are a major ingredient of aspirin and other pain-relieving medications. They are also found in many fruits and vegetables, as well as many common health and beauty products.
What Are the Symptoms?
Some people have a low level of tolerance to salicylates and may have reactions if more than a small amount is consumed at one time. Symptoms of salicylate sensitivity vary but may include:
• Asthma-like symptoms, such as trouble breathing and wheezing
• Headaches
• Nasal congestion
• Changes in skin color
• Itching, skin rash or hives
• Swelling of the hands, feet, and face
• Stomach pain
In severe cases, salicylate sensitivity can lead to anaphylaxis, a life-threatening reaction involving a severe drop in blood pressure, loss of consciousness, and organ system failure. Avoiding products that contain salicylates is the best defense against a reaction.
Salicylates can be found in food, medication, and cosmetics. Some examples of salicylate-containing substances include:
Foods That Contain Salicylates
Products That May Contain Salicylates
Salicylate-Containing Ingredients
Fruits such as apples, avocados, blueberries, dates, kiwi fruit, peaches, raspberries, figs, grapes, plums, strawberries, cherries, grapefruit and prunes
Vegetables such as alfalfa, cauliflower, cucumbers,
mushrooms, radishes, broad beans, eggplant, spinach, zucchini, broccoli and
hot peppers
Some cheeses
Herbs, spices, and condiments such
as dry spices and powders, tomato pastes and sauces, vinegar, and soy sauce, jams and jellies
Beverages such as coffee, wine, beer, orange juice, apple cider, regular and herbal tea, rum and sherry
Nuts such as pine nuts, peanuts, pistachios, and almonds
Some candies, such as peppermints,
licorice and mint-flavored gum and breath mints
Ice cream, gelatin
Fragrances and perfumes
Shampoos and conditioners
Herbal remedies
Cosmetics such as lipsticks, lotions, and skin cleansers
Mouthwash and mint-flavored toothpaste
Shaving cream
Sun screens or tanning lotions
Muscle pain creams
Alka Seltzer
Wheat Allergy
Substitutes for wheat include corn, potato, barley, oat, soy and rice flours and arrowroot starch.
Soy Allergy
Shell Fish Allergies
If you suffer from a shellfish allergy, strictly avoiding shellfish and food containing shellfish is the only way to prevent a reaction. If your doctor is able to identify exactly which type of shellfish causes your allergies, than you only need to eliminate that type of shellfish from your diet. For the majority of shellfish allergy sufferers, however, this is not an option and all shellfish must be avoided.
Examples of shellfish include:
• Abalone
• Clams
• Crab
• Crawfish, crayfish
• Lobster
• Oysters
• Scallops
• Shrimp
• Cockle, sea urchin
• Mussels
Be careful with fried foods. Some restaurants use the same oil to fry shrimp, chicken, and French fries. Also, keep in mind that imitation shellfish may still contain shellfish as many manufactures add shellfish for flavoring. Before you use it, read the label to be sure.
Fish Allergies
If you suffer from a fish allergy, strictly avoiding fish and food containing fish products is the only way to prevent a reaction. If your doctor is able to identify exactly which type of fish causes your allergies, than you only need to eliminate that species of fish from your diet. For the majority of fish allergy sufferers, this is not an option and all fish must be avoided.
Examples of foods containing fish include:
• Worcestershire sauce
• Caesar salad
• Caviar
• Roe (fish eggs)
• Imitation seafood as is often used in sushi
It is wise to avoid seafood restaurants if you have a fish allergy. Even if you order a non-fish meal, your food may become contaminated with fish proteins from a spatula, cooking oil, or grill exposed to fish.
Nut Allergies
Tree nuts are sometimes used in lotions and shampoos. Be sure to check labels of these products, as well as food labels.
Egg Allergy
Egg allergy -- especially to egg whites -- is more common in children than in adults and reactions range from mild to severe. Mild reactions tend to involve the skin and gastrointestinal tracts. Severe allergy can be instantaneous.
If you suffer from an egg allergy, strictly avoiding eggs and food containing egg and egg products is the only way to prevent a reaction. But, it is not always easy to avoid these foods since many unsuspecting products contain eggs.
Always check the label ingredients before you use a product. In addition, check the label each time you use the product. Manufacturers occasionally change recipes, and a trigger food may be added to the new recipe. Also, keep in mind that some egg substitutes contain egg white.
Examples of egg products and foods that may contain eggs include:
Bavarian creams
Breaded foods (some)
Candy (some)
Caesar salad dressing
Cookies (especially chocolate
Creamed foods
Cream pies
Cream puffs
Egg rolls
Egg noodles
Hollandaise sauce
Ice cream
Meat or fish cooked in batter
Simplesse (fat substitute)
Tartar sauce
Some wines
Anything fried or batter-fried
Milk Allergy
If you suffer from a milk allergy, strictly avoiding milk and food containing milk and milk products is the only way to prevent a reaction, which can include bloating, abdominal cramps, flatulence, diarrhea, or constipation. But, it is not always easy to avoid these foods since many unsuspecting products contain milk or milk products.
Always check the label ingredients before you use a product. In addition, check the label each time you use the product. Manufacturers occasionally change recipes, and a trigger food may be added to the new recipe. Here are some examples of milk products and foods that may contain milk along with a list of milk substitutes.
*Although soy milk is a popular alternative to cow's milk, it may also cause allergies.
Dairy products are an important source of calcium and Vitamin D, so it's important that you eat other foods rich in these nutrients, such as broccoli, spinach, and soy products.
To ensure that you eat a well-balanced, healthy diet, talk to a registered dietician.
Dairy products are an important source of calcium and Vitamin D, so it's important that you eat other foods rich in these nutrients, such as broccoli, spinach, and soy products.
To ensure that you eat a well-balanced, healthy diet, talk to a registered dietician.
Food Allergies
Sometime after the first time you eat the food to which an allergy is created your immune system will respond to it by creating specific disease-fighting antibodies (called immunoglobulin E or IgE). When you eat the food again, the IgE antibodies spring into action, releasing large amounts of histamine in an effort to expel the "foreign invader" from your body. Histamine is a powerful chemical that can affect the respiratory system, gastrointestinal tract, skin or cardiovascular system.
What Are the Symptoms of a Food Allergy?
Symptoms may appear almost immediately, or up to two hours after you've eaten the food. Symptoms can include a tingling sensation of the mouth, swelling of the tongue and throat, hives, skin rashes, vomiting, abdominal cramps, difficulty breathing, diarrhea, a drop in blood pressure, or even a loss of consciousness. Severe reactions -- called anaphylaxis -- can result in death.
Which Foods Most Often Cause Allergic Reactions?
There are eight foods that cause over 90% of food allergies in children - milk, eggs, peanuts, wheat, soy, and tree nuts (such as walnuts, pecans and almonds).
In adults, 90% of food allergies are caused by peanuts, tree nuts, fish and shellfish.
How Are Food Allergies Diagnosed?
Your doctor may do a radioallergosorbent blood test (RAST) to check the number of antibodies produced by your immune system. Elevated levels of certain types of antibodies can help your doctor identify specific food allergies.
The doctor may also perform an allergy skin test, also called a scratch test, to identify the substances that are causing your allergy symptoms.
By keeping a food diary, your doctor will have a much better starting point to determine the foods that could trigger your allergies. You may be asked to eliminate all potentially allergenic foods and then add them back to your diet one at a time to see if they prompt any reaction. This is called an "elimination and challenge diet".
How Are Food Allergies Treated?
The best way to cope with a food allergy is to strictly avoid the foods that cause a reaction. Mild reactions often will subside without treatment. For rashes, skin creams may ease discomfort while antihistamines can help reduce itching, congestion and other symptoms.
For more serious reactions, corticosteroids such as prednisone will help to reduce swelling. In life-threatening situations, an epinephrine injection can immediately begin to reverse symptoms and is the only effective treatment option.
How Can I Be Prepared?
Once you and your doctor have determined which foods you should avoid, stay away from them. However, it is important that you maintain a healthy, nutritious diet. Ask your doctor to recommend foods that will provide you with the necessary nutrients.
You should also be aware of the ingredients in processed foods. Be sure to read labels. A registered dietitian can help you learn how to read food labels to discover hidden sources of food allergens.
If you are prone to allergic reactions, ask your doctor to prescribe an epinephrine injection kit and carry it with you at all times.
Sometime after the first time you eat the food to which an allergy is created your immune system will respond to it by creating specific disease-fighting antibodies (called immunoglobulin E or IgE). When you eat the food again, the IgE antibodies spring into action, releasing large amounts of histamine in an effort to expel the "foreign invader" from your body. Histamine is a powerful chemical that can affect the respiratory system, gastrointestinal tract, skin or cardiovascular system.
What Are the Symptoms of a Food Allergy?
Symptoms may appear almost immediately, or up to two hours after you've eaten the food. Symptoms can include a tingling sensation of the mouth, swelling of the tongue and throat, hives, skin rashes, vomiting, abdominal cramps, difficulty breathing, diarrhea, a drop in blood pressure, or even a loss of consciousness. Severe reactions -- called anaphylaxis -- can result in death.
Which Foods Most Often Cause Allergic Reactions?
There are eight foods that cause over 90% of food allergies in children - milk, eggs, peanuts, wheat, soy, and tree nuts (such as walnuts, pecans and almonds).
In adults, 90% of food allergies are caused by peanuts, tree nuts, fish and shellfish.
How Are Food Allergies Diagnosed?
Your doctor may do a radioallergosorbent blood test (RAST) to check the number of antibodies produced by your immune system. Elevated levels of certain types of antibodies can help your doctor identify specific food allergies.
The doctor may also perform an allergy skin test, also called a scratch test, to identify the substances that are causing your allergy symptoms.
By keeping a food diary, your doctor will have a much better starting point to determine the foods that could trigger your allergies. You may be asked to eliminate all potentially allergenic foods and then add them back to your diet one at a time to see if they prompt any reaction. This is called an "elimination and challenge diet".
How Are Food Allergies Treated?
The best way to cope with a food allergy is to strictly avoid the foods that cause a reaction. Mild reactions often will subside without treatment. For rashes, skin creams may ease discomfort while antihistamines can help reduce itching, congestion and other symptoms.
For more serious reactions, corticosteroids such as prednisone will help to reduce swelling. In life-threatening situations, an epinephrine injection can immediately begin to reverse symptoms and is the only effective treatment option.
How Can I Be Prepared?
Once you and your doctor have determined which foods you should avoid, stay away from them. However, it is important that you maintain a healthy, nutritious diet. Ask your doctor to recommend foods that will provide you with the necessary nutrients.
You should also be aware of the ingredients in processed foods. Be sure to read labels. A registered dietitian can help you learn how to read food labels to discover hidden sources of food allergens.
If you are prone to allergic reactions, ask your doctor to prescribe an epinephrine injection kit and carry it with you at all times.
What Are Allergies?
An allergy is a condition in which an individuals immune system reacts to substance, which to all other persons who are not allergic to it, is considered neutral or harmless. Only to the person who is allergic is this particular substance any kind of threat. While most allergens (substances people are allergic to) are either proteins or organic chemicals, any person can be allergic to just about any substance including metals, carbohydrates, fats, inorganic substances, etc. The only substance which is generally considered to be non allergic is pure water.
Allergies can affect almost any part of the body. For example, hay fever (allergic rhinitis) affects the tissues of the upper airways, causing sneezing and runny nose. Skin allergies, such as eczema, can cause rashes. Eye allergies such as allergic conjunctivitis, can cause itchy, watery eyes. The term allergen used above describes any substances which can cause an allergic reaction in any specific individual.
The term "allergen" shall henceforth refers to any substance which can trigger an allergic response.
Why Do Allergies Occur?
The first time an allergy-prone person is exposed to an allergen (for example a pollen or a specific food, say chicken eggs), the body experiences some part of the pollen or egg (usually a protein) as an invading foreign body. It responds to this treat by producing antibodies (for example, immunoglobulin E referred to generally as IgE). The purpose of these antibodies is to capture unwanted invaders. Initially designed to attack bacteria and viruses they may "lose their way" and attack harmless substances that are appearing to "invade" the body.
These IgE antibodies stimulate the release special cells called mast cells. These mast cells in turn release inflammatory chemicals that cause swelling of bodily tissues. This then leads to the production and release of several chemicals the most important of which is histamine. When histamines are released into tissue it immediately cause swelling and itching, along with the dilation of local blood vessels. In the respiratory tract it also causes an increased secretion mucous along with bronchospasm (the tightening of muscles that surround the airways). Some of these "allergic reaction" causing chemicals pull in white blood cells known as eosinophils. These eosinophils now add more inflammatory chemicals to the mix.
If the allergen triggering substance is in the air, the allergic reaction may affect the eyes, nose, throat and/or lungs. If the allergic substance is eaten, the allergic reaction may occur in the mouth, throat stomach, and/or intestines, but once allergic chemicals are released can affect the skin, brain or nervous system. On occasion sufficient inflammatory chemicals may be released to cause a total body reaction. In such cases hives may occur, the individuals blood pressure may fall, here may be swelling of the eyes, throat, respiratory tree which can lead to loss of consciousness, shock even death. This last severe reaction is called anaphylaxis and may be life-threatening.
The term antibodies shall henceforth refer to any substance produced by the immune system that circulate through the bloodstream and inhabits most all bodily fluids with the express purpose of trying to capture unwanted invaders.
Each type of IgE has specific "radar" and is looking for one and only one type of allergen. That is why some people are only allergic to cat dander, (that is they only have the IgE antibodies specific to cat dander) while others seem to be allergic to everything (they produce many more types of IgE antibodies.)
When an allergic individual comes into contact with an allergen to which he or she is sensitive to, this allergens will be captured by the substance specific IgE. This initiates the release of chemical mediators such as histamine and other chemicals from the mast cells triggering an allergic reaction. The specific set of symptoms and the degree of severity of the allergic reaction are individual and related to the degree of exposure, the total amount of antibody, the degree of release of mediator chemicals and so on. Below we will discuss the types of reactions which may be created and their symptoms.
It is not yet fully understood why some substances trigger allergies and others do not, nor why every person does not develop allergies after exposure to an allergen. Apparently the most important factor s involved in understanding why and who get allergies are two: 1) family history and 2) stress.
A family history of allergies is the single most important factor that predisposes a person to develop a propensity to having allergies. If one parent is allergic it is estimated that the risk to his or her child of developing allergies is somewhere about 48% likelihood. A child's risk grows to nearly 70% if both of his or her parents suffer from allergies.
Stress is often a predisposing factor for individuals with no family history of allergy or who already have a family history and acting as a trigger to initiate the allergic process. To learn more about Stress and Stress-Related Disorders see our section on Stress and Stress-Related Disorders.
What Are the Symptoms of Allergies?
Fortunately, the great majority of allergic reactions are small and only annoying. Risk to life while always a potential with any allergic reaction is extremely rare. Generally, allergic reactions are divided into three categories: mild, moderate, or severe (anaphylactic reaction). These three catagorize can further be broken down as:
Common Allergens
There are many common allergens around the home and in what we are exposed to and eat. The following are short list of many of the more common allergens most people are exposed to:
An allergy is a condition in which an individuals immune system reacts to substance, which to all other persons who are not allergic to it, is considered neutral or harmless. Only to the person who is allergic is this particular substance any kind of threat. While most allergens (substances people are allergic to) are either proteins or organic chemicals, any person can be allergic to just about any substance including metals, carbohydrates, fats, inorganic substances, etc. The only substance which is generally considered to be non allergic is pure water.
Allergies can affect almost any part of the body. For example, hay fever (allergic rhinitis) affects the tissues of the upper airways, causing sneezing and runny nose. Skin allergies, such as eczema, can cause rashes. Eye allergies such as allergic conjunctivitis, can cause itchy, watery eyes. The term allergen used above describes any substances which can cause an allergic reaction in any specific individual.
The term "allergen" shall henceforth refers to any substance which can trigger an allergic response.
Common Allergies
There are many common allergens around the home and in what we are exposed to and eat. The following are short list of many of the more common allergens most people are exposed to:
What Are the Major Allergic Diseases?
While allergies are in a sense not really a disease, they do tend to create complex of symptoms which have been recognized as diseases. Here are a few of the most common allergic diseases:
What Are the Main Complications From Allergies?
Allergies can predispose their secondary diseases to create additional complications for the allergic person. Some of these complications are:
In the coming pages we will look at the many faces of allergy. We will review food and other allergies, what to do about them, how to treat them and how to live with them.
Life Dynamic Training is a sophisticated system of learning how to extinguish destructive or damaging internal life programs that cause conflict and discomfort in our life.
From the moment of conception we learn and create internal programs that help us survive. Since survival is the most important goal we have, everything we see, think, hear or feel, every experience that happens to us, around us, directly or indirectly becomes a learning experience.
While many of these learning experiences are positive and help us in some way with our survival, others are negative and even destructive. Especially when we are young we directly or indirectly experience trauma or negative events. These events may not only make lasting impressions on us, but they may also change our life and influence decisions we make. Because these events are often inflicted on us by people we love, or feel that we should love, or people who have some sort of power over us (parents, teachers, relatives, etc.), we tend to give these situations much more power over us than they may actually deserve. When the events are hurtful and come from anger or rage, or maliciousness, they can traumatize us so deeply that the scars are difficult, and sometimes even impossible to heal.
Events such as rejection by a parent, teacher or boss, abuse or molestation by a family member, attack or rape by someone who overpowers us, family anger or secrets or even a tragic event can knowingly or unknowingly all have long lasting affect on our self image, our ability to make decisions, our every thought, our every action and even our will to live.
These types of events and the emotional power they may hold over us can influence us in ways that can both work for us and against us. While they can strengthen our character and our solve to be successful, they can however, also undermine literally every decision we make and force us to suffer pain, frustration, anger, feelings of helplessness and even rage. They can sabotage us from having everything we might normally be able to obtain if they had not existed.
The only clue we may have to these unresolved blocks and conflicts are our lack of happiness and joy in our life, or an illness, or dissatisfaction with the way others treat us. More often than not, because these forces have been acting on us since childhood, we have long ago learned to internalize these clues, by telling ourselves, "Something must be wrong with me." "I must be bad," "I must be unlovable," "SOMETHING MUST BE WRONG WITH ME."
Through an interesting process, discussed in other areas of this web site, these same experiences can ultimately become the seeds of future illness. These experiences and the negative thinking they cause can undermine our immune system and cause physical, mental, emotional and spiritual conflict and problems which can mature into illness and even chronic disease and premature death.
Most often these problems are generated by the conflict that arises between the healthy parts of our self that want us to be well and the less healthy parts of our self that are confused and traumatized. These conflicted sides of our self cannot overcome the power that prior negative trauma has had on them. The healthy part of us, our body-mind-emotional-spiritual wisdom, wants resolution over these conflicts and the conflicted parts of us. These hurt parts simply want to survive. As these two implacable forces often go to war with each other, each wants to win, each for its own reasons.
Our healthy side knows that physical-mental-emotional and spiritual health is the best way not just to survive, but to flourish and reach for and find our highest and best self. This is the most honored mandate of the Intelligent Universe we live in.
On the other hand, the injured and traumatized side of us also wants to win. (This is likened to the "dark side of the force" as it is portrayed in Star Wars.) It believes that it has the right to win, no matter the cost to you. The damaged, hurt parts of us will do anything, say anything, and believe anything in order to win. They too, being a living breathing entity (as part of us), want to survive and will do anything to survive. This includes even killing us in the process.
If these negative forces are operating within you, you already know it and LDT can help you. You know it because:
Talking about lifestyle is like talking about your universe. While lifestyle is often trivialized by thinking of it as whether you smoke, drink or exercise, however, it is really much more than this.
If you are willing to expand your horizon, than your lifestyle is everything you think, the decisions you make, your beliefs, the lies and truths you understand, tell and live by. It is not only what you do but why you do it and what you do not do. It is not only about your friends but about the reasons you chose them and what you give up and get for having them in your life.
It is about the pictures you create in planning and thinking about your life, it is about how you feel when you do not get what you want and when you do get what you want. In our section on stress we tell you that stress is the difference between what you want out of life and what you get in life. The greater the difference between the way you want your world to be and the way the world actually is, the stresses of your life.
From when you get up in the morning until you go to bed at night, in your sleep, in your dreams and your imagination all of these are your lifestyle. In our section on Huna we talk about reaching for and finding your highest and best self. When you reach for it, you live your life style, when you surrender and work for money, parents, society, your boss or any other reason you give up you and live in their idea of what your lifestyle should be. When you give up your true self and live in guilt or with anger, rage or fear you give up your true godly self. The same is true when you accept external negative beliefs and live with the feeling that you have sinned.
This is when unhappiness occurs. This is when lifestyle becomes a burden and we begin to destroy ourselves. This is when we begin to transform life wishes, into death wishes. We smoke, use drugs, have affairs, steal, lie, cheat, ask for sickness, stress our selves out, when we do things that are harmful to ourselves and others these are death wishes.
In our section on Prevention we will cover these topics to a greater degree. In this section we will simply notify you that the more love and caring you have in your life, the more positive your lifestyle the healthier and happier you will be. Everything else leads to a broken heart.
Illness - An Alternative State of Being
How many of our fellow Americans truly feel well, healthy and prosperous?
There are a great number of people possibly many of the readers of this article, who do not feel well, healthy and prosperous, who do not have a sense of joy of life and living. Interestingly enough we often lose our joy when we experience conflicts or problems that we cannot solve and we become ill. Unfortunately most people do not see the relation between these two concepts.
Many people feel poorly on and off some are frequently sick while others are chronically sick. Still others have moderate to severe medical problems and symptoms that deprive them of their feelings of wellness. The following is a list of just a very few of the common illnesses and medical problems that people suffer from:
These and many other such symptoms rob hundreds of millions of persons of their vitality and feelings of wellness on a daily basis. Many people live their entire life without ever feeling well, frequently or even always sick. Others move in and out of wellness and illness not being able to find out how to maintain their wellness and eliminate their illnesses.
For the greatest majority of these people the loss of wellness is unnecessary. The secret of returning to total vitality and wellness lies within the way we live our lives and the diets we eat. There are many other factors. One of the most important is stress. Stress affects our day to day life, the way we see things the decisions we make, what we do each day and how we handle the conditions of their lives.
Often we suffer from a lack of knowledge. From not knowing how to change our lives and eliminate the stresses that affect us. From lack of knowing that how they live their lives and their belief systems about what their lives should look like can make all the difference in the world.
In order to have wellness we must have an understanding of the principles that promote wellness as well as the factors which diminish wellness. In this series of articles we will look at what takes wellness away and how we can recreate it.
We will also look at the role stress plays in creating illness, how we can recognize our stresses, what we do to create stress, what we can do to remove stress from our lives. We will create a wellness model that can lead us back to good health eliminate the illnesses we suffer from and the symptoms that diminish our quality of life.
We will also present some models to help the reader understand how the mind can work to promote wellness on an everyday basis. We will explain how the mind-body-spirit act independently and together to be both the cause and the cure of many illnesses.
Stress-Related Disorders
Illness: An Intelligent Act of the Body
By Allen and Lisa Lawrence
Seventy to 80% of all illnesses seen in medical offices are either caused by stress or made worse by it. Often neither physician nor patient recognize the relationship of the medical problems to stress. Millions of people ultimately become seriously ill, need medications or even surgery from illnesses which could have been healed years earlier, if they only knew what to do and how to do it.
Drs. Allen and Lisa Lawrence, nationally known authors and lecturers, in their best-selling book Stress-Related Disorders: Illness: An Intelligent Act of the Body tell you how normal everyday stress when not resolved, can ultimately undermine the immune system and create a series of physical, emotional, mental and spiritual changes that are easily recognized and reversed if one knows what they are looking for.
They will explain how and why the body can only communicate through physical, mental and emotional signs and symptoms. You will learn that illness is often an Intelligent communication from the body to you, telling you not only that changes must be made, but change is going to be required to protect your health and well-being.
The Lawrences have a combined forty plus years of experience taking care of, counseling and assisting men and women like yourselves to understand and reverse stress and the illness which are associated with it. You won't want to miss this reading this book, your life or the life of people you care about may depend on what you will learn.
Stress Related Disorders
Illness: An Intelligent Act of the Body
These are questions which were previously unanswerable. In their book, Stress Related Disorders, Illness: An Intelligent Act of the Body, the Lawrences look at stress as a cause illness. They look at Stress-Related Disorders, illnesses that are either caused by stress or made worse by it.
The Lawrences take you on a step-by-step journey illustrating the role that the mind, body and spirit play in creating and healing illness. Find out what you need to know to protect yourself from illnesses caused by Stress-Related Disorders.
Want to Get Off Medications Completely?
If you are sick or frequently getting ill then there is a
70% to 80% likelihood that your illness is caused by stress.
The problem is that most medical doctors are not trained to either recognize or treat illnesses that are caused by stress.
They are only trained to offer prescription medications which have side effects and are not helping you solve your problems.
You finally recognize that only you can help your self.
In order to heal yourself, you will have to know what to do and how to do it.
You cannot take chances, you must know the cause and the cure in order to help your self.
If You Want Help!
You must first find out for yourself if you have a Stress-Related Disorder, an illness caused by stress.
You Will Want to Order Your Copy of
Stress Related Disorders
Right Now!
To order your copy of
Stress-Related Disorders: Illness An Intelligent Act of the Body
Job Stress and Burnout
Stress is a major problem in the workplace. Chronic stress, that is, long term unresolved stress, can lead to a condition called burnout. Burnout is essentially another way of saying severe Dis-Stress. In our article, "A Matter of Health," we have discussed both the symptoms and problems related to Dis-Stress and Dis-Ease. Burnout is equivalent to severe Dis-Stress, and when extreme mild to severe Dis-Ease.
Burnout has several a major differences then the nonspecific situations involved in the stress reactions of Dis-Stress and Dis-Ease. In non-burnout situations many different and varying factors are often involved and on the other hand, in work-related burnout, most all of the causes are primarily centered around work and the problems related to job. Like Dis-Stress and Dis-Ease, burnout also can lead to illness and disease. Before we get into the symptoms and problems associated with burnout first we would like you to take a little test.
To take this test, first print this page and the question form below, or take a piece of paper and label it 1 to 20 down the left hand side of the paper. Review the questions and then take the test. Next score yourself and determine how close you are to "burnout." The scoring information is provided for you at the bottom of this same page.
Use the A, S, N System.
A: Means that you Agree strongly with the statement.
S: Means that you Sometimes Agree or Occasionally Agree, but not always.
N: Means that you Never Agree or that the statement does not apply to you.
Each check you place in either the A, S or N columns for each equation counts as one point. When you have responded to all of the statements count up the number of points in each column. Place the total in the last row designated Totals. There are a maximum of twenty points. Further instructions will be given on completion of the questionnaire. The idea is to determine whether you are or are not already in or near burnout.
Please Respond to this Statement:
I have not been feeling well for awhile.
I often feel overwhelmed. There is too much pressure and I have too many deadlines on the job.
No matter how hard I try, things on the job don't seem to get any better.
My job drains me emotionally.
I often feel defeated, just like I am up against a brick wall.
I really feel that I give more than I get back in return.
I feel alone most of the day. I feel a big separation between myself, my bosses and my coworkers.
I just don't have enough time or resources to do my job right.
There are often conflicting demands on my time and energy.
The more I work the less progress I seem to make.
I am really tired of trying.
I work so hard that I just do not have time or energy for my family or my own personal needs.
I really cannot express my dissatisfaction about my job to my boss or to management.
My workload is overwhelming me. I do not think I can ever catch up or get ahead.
No matter what I do or say there is no hope of changing my situation.
No matter how hard I work, I get no recognition for what I do.
I would love to quit my job and do something else.
I worry a lot about losing my job.
Getting away from the job for a while would help me a lot.
I can no longer trust anyone at the job.
Are You Burned Out?
Scoring for Job Stress/Burnout Evaluation
The greater the number of the A, Agree, answers you have selected the greater your level of stress and the closer you are to burnout. The same is true of S, Sometimes Agree, answers. On the other hand, the greater the number of N, Never Agree, answers you choose, the lower the amount of stress in your life.
If your score is a combination of A's and S's then first use the score of the A's to determine your overall score, then use the number of S's you have scored as a warning sign that you are moving toward increasing stress in your life.
If You Score Between 0 - 2 in the A Column
Green Light: This is great, you should be happy. This is a low score, it is a good score. You appear to be taking stress comfortably in your stride. Everyone has stress in their lives but you clearly appear to manage your stress well. It seems that you don't get rattled easily and that you accept the normal bumps and grinds of life easily and effectively.
3 - 5 in the A Column or a Combinations of 3 - 5 in the A and S Columns
A score of 3 to 5 is still good. You take action instead of getting too stressed out. While you have no real reason to be alarmed, you could take a moment or too of quiet reflection from time to time. Consider whether the stressors in your life are becoming progressively more difficult to handle. This score suggests an early signal that you need to watch your level of stress and your reaction to physical, mental and emotional pressures, deadlines, disappointments and the general load of stress and work in your life.
6 - 8 in the A Column or a Large Number in the S Column
Yellow Light: You are moving more dramatically towards burnout. The pace of your life may be more stressful than is really comfortable for you. It may be time to pause, determine your priorities and remove some of the most painful stressors for your life and work. Check your health, your life goals, the balance between you maintain between work and play, your overall support systems (family, friends and work), the integrity of the work you do and the pace that you maintain in doing it.
9 - 10 in the A Column or a Very Large Number in the S Column
Red Light: You are now in a dangerous place. Your stress levels are much higher and much more dangerous than they should be. You need to stop and take stock of what is going on in your life and what is happening to you before life delivers a serious wake-up call. You should seek professional help and get some advice before you lose control. When you have reached this level of scaring, you are clearly showing signs that you need to take a break and reassess your life and work. You are under extreme pressure and more than likely have for some time. There are limits to the physical and mental tolerance levels in every individual and the trick is to pay attention to the signals when they appear. If you exceed your tolerable normal levels illness and disease are not far behind. It is time for you to consult with your family and with your doctor to get their input and advise. It is now important for you to finally decide the future direction of your life or pay the consequences.
Stress In The Work Place #4
Eliminating and Healing Stress
Stress In Human Terms
In our previous articles we discussed the costs, symptoms and outcome of stress. We stated that stress occurs when there is a threat to our well-being, whether this threat is real or imagined. I had also proposed to you that while the stress process itself is normal, chronic or recurrent stress is generally abnormal. In the last article we suggested that when stress if allowed to enter into a chronic state it can cause illness. We called these illnesses Stress-Related Disorders (SRD's). Finally we told you that these SRD's can be reversed at any point in the process from Stress to the Stage of Disease but that once the process reaches the stage of Chronic Disease, the process is no longer reversible.
I am often asked why many of the people who have been treated for "stress" frequently do not get entirely better. There are two answer to this question. First, results often depend on the desire and willingness of the "stressed" individual to solve the problems which have caused his stress. The second factor is the skill and ability of the treating professional, their definition of stress and the overall goals of the treatment program. I will not go into great detail about why there are failures for these reasons are as numerous as the people, methodologies and programs that are used to treat.
Good therapy, on the other hand, can be defined easily. The therapist helps the individual recognize the problems or issues that are causing the stress and then the patient is assisted in finding workable solutions for these problems and conflicts. The hardest part of therapy is always overcoming the resistance of the patient to recognition and solution of his problems. Most systems currently in use require a great deal of time and energy to do this. I will, however, present the Lawrence Stress Elimination Program to you this system allows resolution of stress rapidly and effectively.
Many start backwards they start by encouraging the patient to meditate or use relaxation exercises, while these are very helpful and good to know the drop out rate is very high because frequently the stressed person cannot sit nor relax due to the inward tension caused by the stress.
The Employer and Employee Working Together
Can Solve Just about Any Problem
That Can Cause Stress
The Lawrence Metamorphosis Stress Elimination Program is based on the following principles. The elimination of stress requires the following:
Taking Action. In this part of the Stress Elimination Training the individual learns how to transform the events and beliefs of his life from stress into challenge. This transformation changes negative faulty beliefs into positive productive, healthy beliefs. That is, negative stress, which creates illness, is transformed into positive life experience which adds to our wellness and well-being. This is done by transforming problems into challenges which ultimately become the nucleus for self-growth. Stress is most often created because of our unwillingness to do something or change the process of ourselves and our life. Instead of changing himself the individual projects the conflict outside of himself. He tries to the world by affecting and changing external conditions. Ultimately, the individual feels incapable of getting what he wants because the problem is not outside of him. This often leaves people with a sense powerless to take the actions that are necessary to do what is needed. To facilitate a change we work with the individual to start taking action in his life, by solving problems. We teach problem solving methods and assist the client in defining goals, needs and desires. We help them to design and implement the life they really wants to lead.
The Lawrence Metamorphosis Stress Elimination Program
This program is probably the most sophisticated stress reduction program in the world. It combines the use of special techniques that assist in the rapid recognition of the underlying conflicts which have caused the stress problems. The program operates through the concept that the stresses we experience are our teachers and that they are always an intelligent action on the part of the body to communicate with us the specific problems and conflicts that we have created in the process of living our life. Our body is most willing to let us know exactly what these problems are.
The procedure is quite simple. The patient is placed in a state of relaxation, where the conscious controlling fearful mind has become relaxed, comfortable and secure. Tension is reduced and relaxation is increased. The patient is then trained to recognize when his body is telling him that he is experiencing stress (tension) and when his body demonstrating relaxation (release of stress). We educate the individual on how to recognize tension and to master relaxation and how to understand the coded language that the inner self uses in communicating with you.
We look at the blocks and conflicts, that is, the faulty belief systems, lies and negative thoughts and feelings such as guilt, fear, jealousy, anger, hostility and rage and we teach the individual what these mean and how they can be used to identify their conflicts and release them.
By using this approach you can easily find your blocks and conflicts and transform these conflicts, along with the tension and stress they cause, into relaxation and challenge. We know that your subconscious mind wants you to succeed and that it will clearly and directly communicate with you what is necessary to eliminate your stress. From then on as you recognize that you are experiencing stress, you can take action and solve the underlying conflicts and problems, thus freeing yourself of your stress. As you learn to eliminate stress in one area, you are also learning how to eliminate stress in virtually every area of your life.
If I Send My Employees For Stress Elimination Training Will They Become a Better Workers?
The answer to this question is, "Yes!" Your employee will quickly learn that the job is not his enemy but rather his feelings about the job and the other employees are his problem. Through the Lawrence Metamorphosis Stress Elimination Program your employees will rapidly learn how to transform their negative feelings into positive challenges that can help them to be better workers and happier people.
The Goal of Stress Negotiation Is To
Define and Then Resolve All Conflicts And
Disagreements That Cause Stress
There are three things which may happen in the course of this program.
The employee may try hard to do the job and be responsible. However, losses may occur anyway. The employees' family may suffer, he may become a drug or alcohol abuser, a sexual abuser, turn to gambling or any one of a number of different negative behaviors to reduce stress or act out the negative feelings, guilt, anger or hostility which he is working so hard to contain.
This process may take months or years to reach its ultimate level of manifestation. The damage done to the employee and to the company may be deep. Often this process goes on seen and unnoticed but may suddenly erupt, as negative behavior, alcoholism, illness or even stealing without any indication that a problem ever existed.
The ultimate goal of Stress Elimination Training is to help the employee learn to do his job more effectively and not make it his enemy. If the job is not the problem then his productivity should rise and his willingness to contribute will increase as well. This process requires a cooperative effort of the part of both employer and the employee. Each should be aware of the other's intentions so that long and short term planning can be generated so that both become winners. Over the years I have found that while the first instinct of the employer is to feel threatened that their employee will leave them, their recognition of the facts of life that people move on often transforms the situation to one of cooperative symbiosis. In the end both employer and employee do win.
There are always those employees who recognize that their present job is the wrong job for them, right now. As we suggested above, these individuals are often a major problem to the company and may well become major problems to the company in the future. Generally they are unhappy and have a lower productivity then the happier employee. They are often accident prone and are more likely to file a stress complaint. While some members of this group are willing to be helped, others don't even know how to ask for help. Often stress reduction is not even possible. Understanding what stress is and how it manifests it self can often help the manger and employers identify these people and help them to find jobs that they like within their company or outside of their company.
For those employees who can be helped, once stress is reduced and our program can reach them how to defend against stress-related problems, they will often be better employees and their productivity will increase.
Stress Negotiation
Stress negotiation is the process of defining and solving all problems and disagreements, which have caused stress, in such a way that all parties are benefited equally. Stress negotiations are often most helpful where both parties want solution and where both parties are willing to solve problems. Working together with the employee and employer, we can take the pressure off of both, and help them to create a positive outcome.
Stress law suites are extremely expensive no one wins neither employee not employer, only the doctors and the lawyers so why put your self in such a place
Whether you are the employer or the employee, stress law suites are extremely expensive no one wins except the doctors and the lawyers. Why put yourself in such a place, get the right help now?
Stress In The Work Place #3
Physical, Mental and Emotional Costs of Stress
While the more dramatic problems, those that cost money, reduce profit and create legal problems often takes the spot light, the fact is that everyday stresses' often lead to loss of joy of living, lowered self-value, marital problems, physical, emotional, mental and spiritual illness. Illnesses which are directly caused by or are worsened by stress I refer to as Stress-Related Disorders (SRD's). These conditions, SRD's, are very important to us as they can reduce vitality, joy of life and even lead to illness and death. On a dollar basis, stress costs each of us in the form of increased health insurance, doctor bills, medications, sick days, loss of productivity, mistakes, errors and injuries. On the personal level, stress can make working a chore, it can take your family from you, lead to divorce, alcoholism, illness, emotional and mental disease and spiritual decay.
Stress-Related Disorders (SRD's) refer to a large number of medical and psychological conditions, symptoms and illnesses that are either triggered by stress, caused by stress or made worse by stress. In the early stages SRD's are often easily resolved, however, because the signs and symptoms of these conditions generally do not appear to be directly related to stress they are not always recognized or treated correctly. When the practitioner is unaware that stress underlies a specific condition (an SRD), he may only treat the symptoms and signs and entirely miss the cause. Without resolving the cause, treatment and resolution may be extremely difficult. Under these condition it is not unusual for medical treatment to be arduous and expensive.
SRD's Are Often Missed
One reason that SRD's are so often missed entirely or mistreated by the medical profession is that medical doctors are taught very little or even nothing at all about stress. Many medical doctors don't take stress seriously beyond telling their patient to get rid of the problems that cause their stress and giving a prescription for a medication to relieve their stress symptoms. Unfortunately this medication often reduces the patient's desire to find out the reasons or causes for their stress. This means that the problems which underlie it do not get solved and the process is allowed to progress over many years. Those few doctors that do take stress seriously, either do not have the time to treat it or rely on psychological counseling which is expensive and long term. Worst of all, if you or your employees belong to a managed health plan, stress reduction and psychological treatment is frequently not a provided benefit.
Which Illnesses Are SRD's?
It has been reported that 70% to 80% of all illnesses seen in medical offices are caused by stress or made worse by stress. High blood pressure, anxiety, panic, depression, ulcer and other gastrointestinal diseases, headaches are well known even to the medical profession. However, many illnesses which are SRD's are not considered by the medical profession to be related to stress. Illnesses and conditions such as recurrent colds and flu's, bronchitis, allergy, cancer, diabetes, asthma, skin disorders, multiple sclerosis, injuries, accidents, chronic fatigue syndrome, low back pain, neck pain, abdominal pain, recurrent vaginal infections, bladder infections, alcoholism, drug addiction, smoking along with many other illnesses and diseases which we do not have space to mention are often directly or indirectly related to stress.
There are also many stress-related problems affecting job performance which are not medical problems. For example, situations such as low self esteem, poor coordination, poor learning, making mistakes, inability to work with people, poor cooperation, poor work habits, sloppiness, loss of temper do not necessarily cause medical problems but may cause stress which ultimately affects the individual's ability to do their job. In the past when I have presented physicians the long list of conditions which are related to stress, I often get immediate arguments. I am frequently told that many of the conditions could not be stress-related. This disbelief on their part of these physicians further demonstrates how little many members of the medical profession still know about stress.
Stress, as I have defined it earlier, is the physical, psychological (mental and emotional) and spiritual response to the difference between the way we want our world to be and the way it actually is. Such a situation is created when we create an image, which we believe to be in our best interest, of the way we want the world to be. When the events of life turn out as we want them to turn out then we feel good, happy and positive. When, on the other hand, we don't get what we want we feel disappointed, reduced and diminished. When these feelings of loss are interpreted by the mind as a threat (to what we want, who we are, or to our perceived well-being) they may invoke the natural protective mechanisms of the body, the Fight or Flight Mechanism which is also known as the Stress Mechanism.
This occurs whether these feelings are directed internally or externally. Therefore, it makes no difference whether we blame our self or see ourselves as the problem or we blame our job, boss, manager or a fellow employee. It should be clear that it is never the event or "stressor" that is the problem but rather what we believe about it. This should make it clearer as to why several people can be involved in the same event yet not all react to it in the exact same way.
Chronic Stress
When stressful situations occur only once in a while and they are resolved, no significant problem may be created. But if there is a string of events or a particular situation or group of situations recur over and over again and is more often then not left unresolved and if the conflict is important enough to the inner self Chronic Stress may be created. Often most people think of stress as occurring only when important issues are involved or left unresolved. This is not entirely true, for stress can occur even when relatively minor issues are involved. All that is necessary is that they in some way disagree with the picture we hold of our self. If such a conflict is left unresolved for months or years and this ongoing conflict is left to act on us, significant physical, emotional, psychological or spiritual problems can arise. While stress itself is normal and a natural part of life, chronic stress is not. Chronic stress is the lowest level of a series of unhealthy conditions that can ultimately lead to illness, disease and even death.
Since chronic stress relates to our perception of our wants and needs then the greater difference between picture we hold of our wants and needs and the realities of life the more significant the reaction. At some point recurrent chronic stress will create a feeling (conscious or unconscious) of Dis-Stress, this is the first level of meaningful distortion of the threat to the Self. This raises the level of the stress reaction. The physical body responds with physical, mental, emotional and spiritual symptoms: anxiety, confusion, feelings of hostility, alienation, loneliness, aggression, headache, indigestion, abdominal pains, chest pain, the blood pressure may go up "just a little," there may be weight gain or lose. The individual may begin taking over the counter medications Tums, Maalox, Excedrin, laxatives, Pepto Bismol, etc.
These symptoms are what the physician usually considered normal aches and pains of life and may not be directly related to stress or any specific causes. If the individual is involved in a traumatic situation of some kind, the physician would immediately tell him he was suffering from a stress reaction. However, when this reaction occurs in response to things not going the way the individual wants them to go or when he is not able to get something he really desires the resulting symptoms may appear totally unrelated to these events and he may never even think of telling the physician about these events or his feelings.
If the symptoms are caused by general unhappiness, marriage problems, life style conflicts, children, mortgage or even inability to fulfill his own image of being a provider, the individual may find his true desires unacceptable. In order to survive the inner self may feel forced to repress these feelings and desires deep into the subconscious. The result of this is often a nonspecific stress which may later be converted to specific stress which appears directly related to his job.
As time passes conflict may build, if it is not resolved in a healthy way, it eventually becomes a festering sore, unseen but quite real. Since the unconscious mind wants resolution it brings the specific conflict up again and again, however, if the conscious mind is unable or unwilling to make the appropriate changes, solve problems or take risks, the knowledge and awareness of the conflict is pushed down again and again. The body responds inappropriately and the process advances to the next level Dis-Ease.
Dis-Ease, The Earliest Stage of the Disease Process
In the Dis-Ease stage the symptoms are somewhat more defined and the individual sees his medical doctor or chiropractor more frequently. His complaints are still relatively generalized in nature and similar to those of the Dis-Stress Stage, however, they are now more frequent, more defined, more severe and more of a problem. Time may be lost from work, depression increases, anxiety worsens, the individual may now be told that his stomach pains are "probably due to an ulcer" but none is found when diagnostic testing is done; his blood pressure may be "somewhat higher"; he may be having episodes of upper or lower respiratory infection, skin rashes, diarrhea, constipation, allergies, his headaches are now "Migraine-like"; he may be gaining or losing weight and he may experience episodic or persistent fatigue. The physician who is unaware that stress is the cause will likely feel that more tests are indicated and x-rays, blood tests and other diagnostic tests are taken often again and again. More potent medications may be prescribed. He may now need medications to relieve his anxiety and tension as well as medications for recurrent infections, stomach pain, headaches, and other problems. He may need medications to "calm down" so that he can get to sleep. He may drink coffee continuously to keep him awake, and if he smokes, he is now smoking more than ever. He may now be drinking two (or more) martinis with lunch, and may require a few "quick ones" after work each night "to let down" or "relax him." He may be losing his interest in sex or cheating on his wife, he and his wife are likely also having "significant" marital problems. His children notice a change and often his fellow employees do as well.
If the underlying conflict is identified and resolved all of these symptoms are reversible, but usually no one recognizes their relationship to stress. Since the conflict is not being resolved, and new conflicts are being added, the process progresses to the next stage, the Disease stage.
The Stage of Disease
Once he reaches the stage of Disease, the pattern becomes localized and fixed. Specific organs are now involved and definite diagnoses can be made. His upper GI now shows a definite ulcer; his chest x-ray may now demonstrate characteristic changes of bronchitis; his electrocardiogram is now positive. Laboratory tests are now positive. He now needs relatively dangerous medications (many side effects and risks) to control his blood pressure, lower his cholesterol, control his heart, eliminate his angina, etc. Now the physician is telling him he must cut out drinking and smoking, he must be on a diet, he may finally be referred for marital or psychological counseling. He needs more medication to reduce his anxiety which now can become so great that he can hardly control it.
Generally, however, besides the prescriptions of medications little or nothing is being done for him to help him find the cause of his situation, hence the process may continue to worsen. Eventually the symptoms become more severe, tests more abnormal, complications set in, he may need surgery for a bleeding ulcer, or for his back, bypass surgery, or removal of part of his intestine for ulcerative colitis. He may have a heart attack or a nervous breakdown. He may become an alcoholic or drug addict. He may have significant side effects from the medication. If he is not divorced already, it is likely his partner will either divorce him or begin to get sick herself or maybe she has been sick all along and the stress has been shared. The final stages of this process are Chronic Disease and Death.
The most unfortunate aspect of this situation is that all along the way, at least until the process reached the stage of a Chronic Disease, it has been fully reversible. If only someone had identified it as related to stress and treated the underlying causes, he wouldn't have had to go through all of this. Look around you, see how often this happens. See how many people suffer from stress and how commonly it is missed. This recognition may create a dilemma for you. You may find yourself face to face not only with the stress of others but your own stresses as well. You may find, as I myself have, that too often SRD's are entirely missed and ignored. In the past you may not have known what to do about it. But now you do, now you can help yourself, your family, your friends and your employees. Now you know where to go and what needs to be done.
The natural end result of chronic disease is death. Generally, death under these circumstances is painful, and dehumanizing. It may take many years or it may occur suddenly without warning. For many it means multiple hospitalizations, surgeries, prolonged stays in convalescent hospitals and even spending the last part of your life in an old age home. Loss of independence and loss of humanity.
How Much Does this Cost Us?
In the end, everyone pays. For the employer the cost of doing business in dollars, as well as mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually, increases. The employees are seen as adversaries and may have to ultimately give up benefits, lose pay raises or even lose their jobs. And we the general public, we pay the tab with higher prices and lower quality. You now have the opportunity to work with us to assist you in understanding your stresses and learning how to recognize them before it becomes a problem to you, your family or your employees.
In the next section we will learn how easy it can be to treat stress and how successful stress reduction training can be.
Stress In The Work Place #2
Stress Prevention and Elimination
Stress Costs You
Stress is a major problem in business and industry today. Stress manifests itself as physical, mental, emotional and even spiritual illnesses, as well as, loss of productivity, loss of sales and occasionally, what appears to be knowing or unknowing sabotage of the job. Stress on the job, like non-work-related stress, is always due to solvable problems. Hence, the employer who is not knowledgeable and alert may suffer unnecessary costs and lowered productivity.
What Causes Stress?
Stress is caused by any situation which is perceived as a threat, whether a real or imagined, to the individual's life or well-being. Most often stress is caused by normal events of daily living which are perceived to be a threat to the individuals well-being, safety or self-image. The event or action which triggers the stress mechanism is usually referred to as the stressor. Any injury or threat of injury can act as a stressor. However, most commonly stress-on-the-job is created by poor communications between employees or between employees and employers.
Stress can also occur from misperception of events or actions of others (fellow employees, managers or customers, etc.) Generally, the situation which triggered the stress was only an event or situation which required resolution of some kind but no solution was either attempted or resulted. The matter was left open and active. When a situation arises where there is a threat of some kind and the situation is resolved it is rare that stress will result or continue. Usually we see these experiences as merely brief encounters and unless there is a pattern they are soon forgotten and we move on.
When stress persists it is generally because the individual did not arrive at a safe way to withdraw from the situation or the stress which was created cannot be released. This occurs when solutions are not found, when the individual's ego gets in the way, when it triggers unresolved events from the past or when the trauma is considered a threat to the picture of their overall well-being.
There Are No Winners When Stress Exists.
Stress, the Manager and The Employer
Stress often presents an enigmatic problem for the employer or manager for his main role is to get the job done, to have it done well, safely and economically. His purpose is not to baby sit or give extreme care and attention to his employees but rather to get his product made, marketed, sold or shipped. The employer, however, often relies on his managers to stay in contact with the needs and the problems of his employees. Usually, neither the employer nor his managers are skilled in recognition of stress nor do they have the time or interest in policing for problems which will lead to stress. Every employer knows that he pays a price for the stress of his employees. The costs of medical care, increased insurance, lost productivity and legal fees are ultimately added to the cost of his product. These costs can ultimately reduce his ability to compete, lower his profits and cause him and his staff significant aggravation.
The employer generally relies on the medical profession to solve his employees' stress problems. He would like to believe that he can refer his employees to his designated Medical Group and that his employees will be helped, their problems solved and that they will be returned fully able and ready to do their jobs. In reality, this rarely happens.
What frequently does happen is that the employee is given 10 to 20 minutes of the physician's or physician assistant's (pa's) time, often stress is never brought up and when it is the employee may be told that it is "all in his head," or is treated with medications. The employee often interprets this as the employer not caring. The employee either returns to work with his problem, is given time off (which adds to the cost of the product or service the company provides) or at best is referred to a psychologist or psychiatrist.
In some cases this process resolves the original problem but most of the time it does not. Often the problem drags out. The employee becomes more and more frustrated, eventually angry and even hostile. Repeated visits to therapists may not help this. Frequently, the employee gets little or no help at all. Often the situation becomes adversarial. The employer is not able to get what he wants, and the employee is not able to get the results that he desires. This of course, assumes that either side really knows what they want. If this situation is not resolved early in the process, the employee may eventually feel forced to seek legal assistance. The employer may care about the employee but not have the where with all to help him and the employee may feel that the employer is not doing all that he should. The attorneys and physicians, for both sides, soon become so involved in writing reports, protecting the rights of their clients or patients or just involved in making money that the real problem soon is forgotten and often left entirely unresolved. At some point communications breakdown and the problem becomes hopeless. Once this happens, the only ones to win are the doctors and attorneys.
In the end result both the employer and the employee suffer. The employee loses income and suffers pain, fear, anger, hostility, rage and often embarrassment. The employer loses time from his business and may even have to raise the price of his goods and services. The stress levels of both are increased, both of their lives are compromised and for all concerned the overall enjoyment of life may be significantly reduced.
Prevention and Negotiation
There is, however, another possibility. Stress Prevention and Negotiation. I have for a number of years worked with employees and employers and their managers to train them how to identify and eliminate stress before it can become a problem. As a Medical Director and owner of four large medical groups which provided care for more than two hundred companies, I became an expert in the recognition of stress problems. During these years I became aware that the ability of the employer designated medical group to treat stress is based on several very important factors.
The first factor revolves around the skill of the medical staff, and the thoroughness of their intake procedures and their ability to recognize stress problems. Their experience and knowledge in evaluating and treating stress problems. Their interest in stress and their ability to solve stress-related problems. Finally, whether they spend time and talk with the employee or whether they simply prescribe medications to "make the patient feel better." In order to obtain the best results it is essential that the care providers are not only knowledgeable about stress, but that they are capable of assisting in the solution of the problems which have caused the stress.
The second factor that I have found to be significant is that the simplest and most cost effective
way of reducing stress problems-on-the-job, is to educate employers, managers and employees as to what stress is and how to identify it early. As part of this process my staff and I hold stress seminars for management and then employees.
The third factor is the ability to provide impartial, non judgmental, non threatening negotiations which bring the employee and the employer (or manager) together with an intention to solve all of the problems which are creating stress. Generally, either myself or one of my staff act as a mediator as we are impartial and can interpret the dynamics of the stress reaction. While not all problems are immediately solvable, the greatest majority are. The key here to preventing litigation is that any result achieved must be a Win/Win result, both the employer and the employee must win.
It is most essential that all parties have a clear understanding of what stress is, how it affects them and how it harms them, without a clear understanding of stress all parties cannot end up as winners. In this regard the definition of stress becomes extremely important as it allows for a relatively simple understanding of the factors that cause stress and the true nature of the problems at hand and whether solution can be accomplished.
Stress Is The Difference Between
The Way We Want Our World To Be
And The Way It Actually Is
The definition of stress that I use differs from the standard medical model and this is a major factor in why it is so often successful. It presents no medical enigma but rather operates from the level of human experience. My definition of stress is: Stress is the difference between the way we want our world to be and the way it actually is. This definition integrates well with the medical and social model of stress. This definition allows the individual to see that what is causing his or her stress is not really outside of them but rather is internal. It allows them to begin to take responsibility rather than projecting it to people or events outside of them. All that is necessary in using this model is that the people involved really want to obtain a solution. If they do, then the process requires finding common solutions that will work for all parties. If one or more do not really want to solve the problem, then I generally do not get involved for they require a different kind of mediation (arbitration or law suite) which is much more expensive then what I offer.
Four Steps to Stress Management
After agreement to eliminate stress four steps are required to move both parties closer to what they each want.
In the next article we will discuss some of the physical, emotional and mental costs of stress and how to prevent them.
Stress In The Work Place - 1
Stress Costs and Costs Plenty
Stress Claims Up 700%
Industrial stress claims are the fastest growing type of Workers' Compensation claim today. While the incidence of disabling injuries dropped 8% since 1980, the frequency of stress claims increased almost 540% for the same period. Between 1979 and 1988 (the last year that statistics are available in California) job-related mental stress claims reported to employers increased by nearly 700%. It was estimated in 1988 that the overall cost to employers and insurance companies (and ultimately the general public) would be greater than $460 million for these claims.
In 1985 the cost against insurance companies for closed stress cases averaged about $11,400, with permanent disability indemnity accounting for three-quarters of all claim made. It is estimated that when all cases are resolved, the average cost was expected to reach $13,200. These were the figures for 1985. Today it is likely that costs per stress claim are going to be found to be considerably higher.
Claims: The Tip Of The Iceberg
While these statistics already sound exorbitant, they may only be the tip of an iceberg. California Workers' Compensation allows workers to file two types of claims. The first of these are claims for acute injuries. This is a claim for an injury that happens on a given day at a specific time. The worker has one year to file this claim with his employer and five years with the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board. The other type of claim is for a cumulative injury. This type of claim can be filed for injuries the employee alleges took place either over years of employment or within a year after he has been advised by his doctor that some part of his injury was related to his job.
For example, an employee can allege that the stress he was subjected to occurred over many years of employment. There need be no specific event to claim as an acute injury. Under this law an employee who has a heart attack two years after he retires can allege that the stress of his job for the past ten or twenty years was a substantial factor.
Under California law a "substantial factor" can be 1% or greater. If the stress component is found to be 70% or greater the employee can be entitled to a full permanent disability pension for the rest of his life. This pension is of course paid by the employer.
The California Workers' Compensation Institute maintains that the actual number of reported claims for mental stress may only represent 10% of those yet to be reported. Virtually all mental stress claims are litigated, and in the vast majority of cases, the Application for Adjudication filed by the workers' attorney is the first notice of injury.
There are numerous factors suggested as the cause of the great rise in stress claims. One might be the proliferation of referral agencies which advertise for "stress cases." Another factor is the present state of the economy. Some sources state that still another factor might be the reduced character of today's workers.
I believe that there are three important reasons which are more common and yet rarely discussed about.
* Taken from California Workers' Compensation Institute, Research Notes, April 1988 and June 1990.
Causes Of Stress
The Hard Cost of Stress
What Can Be Done?
Work As a Source of Conflict
In the recent past, before the Industrial Revolution, most people did not have much choice about the work they did. Commonly, a son would learn the trade of his father and would end up passing this trade onto his son. If his father was a farmer, he became a farmer. If his father was a craftsman, he became a craftsman. In the case of women work had very prescribed boundaries generally centered around housework and raising children. Often there was little or no choice about the work that men or women did.
While there was little choice, no one expected to have any at all. One followed in the parental footsteps or their job was chosen for them that was the way it was so everyone simply expected it.
Today, things are much different. Children do not have to go into the family business, they can, for the most part, chose their own careers and jobs. Often however, the job chosen is less likely to be because it emotionally or spiritually supports the worker than because it pays the bills.
Most people chose their life's career when they are very young, they work to buy the luxuries of life or to support their family. It is usual for people to pick jobs more because they need one than because they really want to do that particular work. Today, it is common that work is a source of problems and conflict more often then it is a joy. Too often it creates new problems that can affect the individuals health and well-being.
People that do the wrong job are more often than not are:
While it is important not to over generalize too much about people who do the wrong job it is probably not untrue to say that life often means less to the person who is unhappy with their job.
Ask Yourself These Questions:
Stress and Heart Disease
It is often very difficult for the average individual to identify how much stress he or she has and to what degree it is affecting their body. If you believe that you are stress free yet you have unexplained illnesses or vague symptoms you may have hidden stress. If you know that you have stress you should immediately do something about it.
If you do not know what to do then talk to us.
Stress, Stress Reduction and Stress-Related Disorders
Recent studies suggest 70% to 80% of all illnesses seen in medical practice are either caused by or made worse by stress. Yet few doctors have been trained in either recognizing or treating stress. The end result is that tens of millions people develop illnesses, even diseases and chronic diseases when they do not have to.
The relationship between illness and stress is often ignored by both the general public and the medical profession. There reason why is complex, however if you are suffering from any illness or group of symptoms which your physician cannot help you cure or cannot identify it is a very good chance that you are suffering from a Stress-Related Disorder (SRD"S).
In their book Stress-Related Disorders, Illness an Intelligent Act of the Body Allen and Lisa Lawrence tell you how you can prevent illness and reverse life stresses which lead to SRD's. Most people are not aware that they are feeling stressed. You may believe that the illnesses you suffer are "normal" or that since others have them they are "legitimate illnesses." However, they are more often then you might suspect, either caused by stress or made worse by stress. Often they are completely curable, if you act early, reverse the stress and solve the problems that need to be solved.
Learn what stress and Stress-Related Disorders are in Stress Related Disorders, Illness: An Intelligent Act of the Body. The Lawrences will take you step by step through learning what stress is and how it causes illness.
About Stress
Stress - America's #1 Health Problem
Managing Your Stress
Stress and Heart Disease
Work As a Source of Conflict
Stress at Work #1
Stress at Work #2
Stress at Work #3
Stress at Work #4
Job Stress & Burnout
Stress-Related Disorders
How Stressed You Are You?
Managing Your Stress
What is Stress?
Stress is the physical, mental and emotional response our bodies experience when we are exposed to conflict in our constantly changing environment. Stress has physical, mental and emotional effects on us. These effects can be both positive or negative. When they positive affects and our body and emotions are also positive we benefit from them in many ways. This is positive stress, which we more commonly think of as challenge." Generally, however, we do not think about positive stress as most of our attention is usually placed on negative stress and its negative after effects.
Negative stress, which we will simply refer to as "stress" throughout the remainder of this report is part of the Flight and Fight Mechanism of the body. Stress can alert us to take action either to protect our self or to respond to events in our environment. When we are stimulated by stress we often see things differently than in our ordinary state of consciousness. Sometimes stress can force us to take a new look at old problems and to create a new perspective on our life.
There are also negative after effects. They can be physical in nature and we often think of this as "wear and tear" of life or illness. However, it is also not unusual to find that there are mental and emotional responses that can result in feelings of distrust, anger, rage and even depression. It is these negative effects of stress which we refer to as conflict that can lead to health problems such as headaches, upset stomach, rashes, insomnia, ulcers, high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke. Generally we think of any health problem which was either caused by or made worse by stress as a Stress-Related Disorder.
While we generally think of stress as something having to do with the death of a loved one, financial problems, relationship problems it can also occur with seeming positive situations such as the birth of a child, a job promotion, or a new relationship. In a sense we experience stress whenever we readjust some portion of our life to changes around us. In the process of adjusting to so many different circumstances, stress can either help or hinder us. The main operative factor is not the event that is occurring but rather how we respond to it.
To help you understand stress a little better you might consider the following definition: Stress is the difference between the way we want the world to be and the way it actually is. This definition allows us to see that stress does not come from outside of us but rather from inside of us from the way we believe the world is and the way we have decided we want the world to be. Therefore stress is a response to our picture of the world around us. To our picture of who we think we are and to our world view.
How Can I Eliminate Stress From My Life?
As we have seen, positive stress adds positive things to our life. It creates a sense of anticipation and a is the stuff of the excitement of life. We generally thrive with a certain amount of positive stress in our life. Many people need positive stress in their life, it allows them to feel alive and stimulated. They crave deadlines, they are competitive, the enjoy confrontations. Insufficient stress, on the other hand, acts as a depressant and may leave us feeling bored or dejected even empty. The world would be quite lopsided if we only had positive stress in our life. Our frustrations and sorrows add a certain depth and enrichment to our lives. It has been said that no one can have any real joy in their life until they have experienced real pain. Too much stress can create us to feel "tied up in knots." What is necessary is to learn how to find the right balance of positive and negative stress in our life. We should feel motivated but not overwhelmed.
Our goal should not be to eliminate all stress in our life, rather to learn how to manage it and how to use it to help us. It should also be to reduce or eliminate those conflicts which are causing physical, mental or emotional illness.
How Can I Tell When I have Created the Right Balance?
There is no single level of stress that is optimal for all people. Each individual must find his or her own personal balance point. What distresses one person might bring joy to another. Even when we agree that a particular event is distressing, we are likely to differ in our physiological and psychological responses to it.
The person who loves to arbitrate disputes and moves from job site to job site would be stressed in a job which was stable and routine, whereas the person who thrives under stable conditions would very likely be stressed on a job where duties were highly varied. Each one of us has a different set of stress requirements and the amount which we can tolerate before we become distressed often changes during the course of our life.
Since70% to 80% of all illness seen in medical practice is either caused by or related to unrelieved stress you can certainly see that stress must be understood and dealt with. If you are experiencing stress symptoms, or you are experiencing symptoms of illness and your doctor cannot give you a specific reason why they are occurring you have probably gone past your own personal stress level; you will need to reduce the stress in your life and/or improve your ability to manage it before the illnesses take over your life and leave you with a chronic illness..
What is the Basis of Stress Management?
In order to manage stress we must first be able to identify it. We must be able to tell which conflicts are causing problems and which are not. Simply identifying stress or being aware of its effect on our lives is, however, not enough. Knowing that stress exists or what cause it does not on its own reduce its harmful effects. Just as there are many sources of stress, there are many ways to manage it. At the base of all of the various methods of stress reduction is the need to work toward change. We must effect the source of the stress and we must change our reaction to it.
Techniques Of Stress Management
Find the conflicts that stress you and determine their physical and emotional reactions on you.
Look for what you can change.
Reduce the intensity of any emotional reactions to stress.
Learn how to relax.
Build your physical reserves.
Maintain your emotional reserves.
Stress - America's #1 Health Problem
A number of years ago a Time Magazine's cover story called "Stress, The Epidemic of the Eighties." The accompanying article stated that several studies had shown that stress was responsible for 75%-90% of all visits to primary care physicians. This meant that most illnesses seen by primary medical doctors are indeed Stress-Related illness.
This same article also suggested that nearly 90% of adults describe experiencing "high levels of stress" on a regular basis. More than half of these people stated that they experienced stress at least once or twice a week, and more than one in four stated that they experienced significant stress on a daily basis. The article also stated that most of the people questioned had reported that they were presently experiencing more stress at this time than they had five or ten years previously.
Overall stress levels have risen dramatically in all demographic groups, including children, teenagers, and the elderly. Whether there is more stress to day then ever before is unclear but there is no question that life is stressful and this stress takes its toll on adults, elderly and children alike.
Stress occurs not only in our day to day life but also on the job. The National Safety Council estimates that nearly 1 billion employees are absent on an average workday because of stress related problems. In 1992 a United Nations Report, labeled Job Stress "The 20th Century Disease" also considered the role of stress on the job its costs and role in creation of illness. More recently, it was described as a "World Wide Epidemic" by the World Health Organization. Job Stress is far and away the leading source of stress for adult Americans.
Nearly 80% of Americans describe their jobs as stressful. The vast majority of these workers also tell us that the problem has worsened over the past ten years. In 1973, almost 40% of workers reported being "extremely satisfied" with their jobs. Today, less that 25% fall into this category.
It has been estimated that job stress costs American industry between $200-300 billion annually. These costs are based on assessment of absenteeism, diminished productivity, employee turnover, accidents, direct medical, legal, and insurance fees, Workers' compensation awards, etc. To put it into perspective, that's more than the price of all labor strikes combined, and the total net profits of all of the Fortune 500 companies.
Another area where stress plays a significant role is in the area of accidents on the job. Nearly 60% to 80% of all on the job accidents are stress related. While there are the occasional large scale accidents like the Exxon Valdez and the Three Mile Island nuclear disaster which account for several billion-dollar range, most are smaller dollar amounts but in the end they account for hundreds of billions of dollars each year in direct costs and in damage to the environment.
Workers' compensations claims for job stress, rare two decades ago, have skyrocketed, with double digit increases in premiums annually in several states, threatening the entire system. California employers shelled out almost $1 billion for medical and legal fees alone - more than some states spend on actual benefits. Nine out of ten job stress suits were successful, with an average payout more than four times that for regular injury claims.
Injuries and accidents are not the only areas which are responsible for major cost to employers and consumers. One of the more expensive areas was in the area of worker turnover. Recent studies have shown that nearly 40% of all job turnovers are related directly to stress on the job. The Xerox Corporation estimates that such turnover is responsible for approximately $1-$1.5 million for replacing top executives each year. The cost for turnover of an average employee is between $2,000 to $13,000 per individual.
There were 111,000 violent workplace incidents reported in 1992, resulting in 750 deaths and a cost to employers of $4.2 billion. Homicides accounted for almost 20% of the more than six thousand workplace deaths. It was the leading cause of death for working women. Violent crime and mass murders in the workplace almost always stem from job stress.
Beyond the role of stress at the job, in day to day living there are effects of stress in our home and acting directly on us. Recent studies have confirmed that there is a significant causative role of stress in cardiovascular disease, cancer, gastrointestinal, skin, neurologic and emotional disorders, and a host of disorders linked to immune system disturbances, ranging from the common cold and herpes, to arthritis, cancer, and AIDS. We refer to these conditions as Stress-Related Disorders.
In our book Stress-Related Disorders, Illness As an Intelligent Act of the Body we discuss how stress affects our body and how it can lead to illness. What the Time Magazine Article does not say is that the stress we experience is really an intelligent act of the body communicating that we must make changes in our life, our life style and the way we live our life.
Stress: What is it and How Can It Be Eliminated?
What Is Stress?
What we usually think of as "stress" is the sensation that we feel as a result of a series of complex internal chemical reactions that occur in response to certain events and situations in our life. All animals, including humans, have evolved defensive systems that protect them from dangers that threaten their existence. One of these defensive systems is the Flight or Fight Response, otherwise known as, the Stress Mechanism. At one time or another each of us has had the experience of coming across a bird in the street when we start to move toward the bird it flies away. We might say to our self, "Why did it fly away, I wasn't going to hurt it." While we knew that our intentions were good, the bird didn't. It flew away because it perceived you as a threat. So it is with us, anything that is threat, real or imagined, will cause the release of a series of neurochemicals, the most familiar of which is adrenaline. Adrenaline triggers a chain of physiologic changes throughout the entire body. These changes are designed to prepare and protect us from danger. The nervous system, the blood (vascular) system, the heart and the blood clotting system as well as the muscular and the digestive systems are all involved. All of these responses prepare our body to either turn and run or stand and fight. Without these automatic responses we would have to think and make decisions and cause our body to be prepared. The time this would take could make the difference between life and death. Your life and your death!
"What does this all mean, today? While our ancestors may have had to fear actual threats to their life and threats to our well-being, today few of us have to worry any predator trying to kill us. Instead we may find ourselves in situations in which there is no real threat to our life or limb and we still may experience stress. For example, being late for an appointment, an argument with your boss, writing a check when you're not sure of your balance, driving the freeway, driving too fast, bills that we don't want can all be perceived by the mind-body as "potentially dangerous." Any of these can result in stress, even when there is no defined enemy. In fact, in each example given can act as an enemy. They can cause loss of self-esteem or self-value and they can interfere with our picture of the way we want our life to be. Many life situations we live in fact do act as stressors and do activate the stress mechanism. The reason for this is that our body cannot tell the difference between actual threats versus threats we perceived but are not real. The stress system will react to anything our that body/mind (and not always on a conscious level) perceives as potentially dangerous.
To make this concept simpler, we can look at stress in another way. Since we usually do not experience a direct threat to our life very often, what is threatened is our picture of the way, we think or believe our life should be. With this concept in mind we can now define stress as the difference between the way we want our life to be and the way it actually is. This means that specific events, ideas, beliefs or even our own thoughts can be ultimately perceived as threats. Hence stress can be generated, from within and cause us to experience an outward physical reaction. Fear of loss, fear of failure, of not getting something we think of as important or desire can trigger stress within us. We can also look at stress as the difference between our Ideal Image (the ideal of what we believe we and our life should be like) of our selves and the world around us, how we want ourselves and the world to be, and the way the world actually is.
For example, if you want some particular event or result to occur and it does you are likely to feel good that you got what you wanted. If, however, it does not occur, you will likely feel bad, sad or unhappy. If your inner-self interprets that not getting what you want or that or that the result you did get as a threat, then the end result may be the sensations we call anxiety. This is the basis of stress. The greater the difference between your ideal self-image and reality and the greater the perception (recognized or not) of a threat, the greater the stress reaction.
Why is it then that we might perceive an event which is not an obvious threat, as threatening? The answer is not simple but consider the following. Our defense system is always trying to protect us. It evaluates everything that happens to us. Every event, everything you have ever heard, seen, thought or felt is stored so that if we need this information it is available to us for our protection. During the process of growing up, from time to time events occur which are at first threatening, but later we find a solution or recognize that it is in fact, not really threatening. Later in life when something happens that initially reminds us one of these past experiences, our body/mind may initially treat it as a potential threat at least until it is sure that it is not. For example, if during at sometime in your life being late was considered wrong, if speeding when driving was considered dangerous, if heavy traffic was considered threatening then at some other time in the future "being late and driving fast through rush hour traffic to get where you were supposed to" would likely fuse together to cause tension, anxiety, fear, and consequently stress. While this, is a simplistic example this is the mechanisms most commonly involved in causing stress in our life. One could say therefore that stress is a learned behavior. We learn how to be stressed from our past experiences.
How We Can Eliminate Stress
The truth is we may not always be able to eliminate stress. Since life is filled with potential threats, stress is inevitable. If we can't always eliminate it then at best we can eliminate what we can and learn to live with what we cannot eliminate. We can also learn how to limit the damaging effects of stress. It is not possible to control stress, however, until we know what stress is, how it works and how to recognize it. To better help us recognize stress in our life, we will need to identify the early symptoms and signs of the stress reaction. Once we identify the signs and symptoms of stress we will soon be able to associate them with what types of behaviors, belief systems, world views we hold. Generally, stress is caused by allowing faulty beliefs, guilt and feelings we have sinned into our life. Another reason is working at a job that we hate or which does not fulfill us. Where we live, who we pick for our friends and who we pick as mates (sexual partners) are also important causes. While we have suggested that stress is caused by the people around us, our job, lifestyles, the fact is, that it is really caused by our attitudes and beliefs toward them. If we chose good people in our life, chose a job that supports us and one that we enjoy, live in the area and home that best supports us, in a life style that we can afford, if we pick healthy sound loving caring partner's then we will have less stress in our lives.
Stress is created by us when we create lies in our lives. By lies we mean any belief system, behavior, decision or actions that we make or allow that is not in our best interest. The more lies in our life the more stress. Ultimately to reduce stress we must create our life to work for us through the choices we make.
Often people get scared at this point because they are afraid to change. They frequently think that change is impossible, they may be fearful of the pain they believe change causes. Stress is about these feelings and their effect on our body. Stress is ultimately an intelligent act of the body making us aware that we have lies in our life and we are doing nothing about them.
While it would be nice to make it sound simple and easy to control and relieve stress, it is not. It is hard to let go of the many belief systems and habits that cause our stress. Unfortunately, we have not only become accustomed to our stress but often even addicted to it. Many individuals thrive on it, look for it and even create it when they can't find it. These people will often deny that they do this. They may blame what happens on "the other guy," or on bad luck or circumstances. To resolve stress, we must look only to ourselves. We must evaluate our life as it is. If you are feeling stressed or if you are stressed-out, take a moment and examine what may be causing your stress. Once you have done this try to determine what you can change in order to eliminate your stress. If you need help, as most people do, we would be happy to teach you what you need to know and help you to find the path to wholeness and sanity.
Cardiovascular Wellness and Prevention
Heart attack and stroke are the # 1 and # 3 causes of death in our society. This means that they not only control our longevity but also the quality of our lives. This section we will look at what is involved in preventing heart disease, heart attack, peripheral vascular disease, stroke and prevention of recurrent heart attacks and strokes.
We believe that both heart attack and stoke have their basis in a nutritional problems. Some conditions appear to be caused by dietary deficiencies while others appear to be caused by dietary excesses. In fact, the main conditions that lead to heart attack and strokes are a combination of nutritional deficiencies and excesses working together to cause the end result.
This is not a popular idea with many members of the medical profession who believe that heart disease and stroke is due to factors such as genetics, aging, and in some cases an absence of certain drugs. Too often these medical doctors believe that results can only be obtained through the use of multiple drugs and certain dietary restriction. It is their belief that by using these drugs they cure the condition. Others, more enlightened medical doctors, recognize that the use of medications is at best only helpful in controlling acute symptoms and retarding the course of the disease process.
There are, however, a growing number of physicians who recognize that the time to prevent heart disease is not after it happens but before it happens. These physicians realize that there is little that they can do about their patients' genetics. There is also very little that they can do about what the bulk of the medical profession believes, yet there is a lot that they can do to educate the general public and help those individuals who are willing to act decisively before they become ill. They know that total prevention of cardiovascular disease and other illnesses requires immediate action and changes on the part of their patients if they are to remain fully healthy and alive.
1. Introduction to Preventing and Reversing Heart Disease and Stroke
2. Basic Information About Heart Disease and Stroke
3. Preventing Heart Attack and Stroke
4. Medical and Surgical Procedures for Treatment of Heart Disease
a. Medical Treatment
b. Surgical Treatments
5. Stroke Prevention
6. Nutrition and Exercise for Preventing Heart Attack and Stroke
Wellness - Health and Prevention
What Is Wellness?
Cardiovascular Prevention and Wellness
Heart Disease is the leading killer in the industrial world, one out of two family, friends and coworkers will die of either a heart attack or stroke. What most people do not know is that most of these deaths and most of the misery and problems caused by heart disease and stroke can be prevented. A Must See.
Stress and Stress-Related Disorders
Information on how stress affects our life and how it can cause illness, disease and even death.
Stress and Stress-Related Disorders©
Work-Related Issues
*Work Wizer Home Page
*Stress in the Work Place
Health Screening for Women
It should be clear by now that prevention means not only solving problems, but also not creating new ones. It also extremely important that we not let health problems we are already aware of advance to become bigger problems. One of the most important things you can do to insure your own wellness and well-being is to have periodic health screening examinations.
Whether your insurance company will like it or not, whether you have insurance or pay cash, knowing what you must to do and doing it may make the difference between a sound healthy life or a life of illness, pain and suffering. In this section, we will present information you need to know. We will, however, leave the decision making up to you to make sure that it gets done. Over the years we heard the same story over and over again, "I hate doctors!" "I hate going to doctors!" "I hate being examined. I hate having to take off my clothes and be touched and pummeled."
All of this may be true, but you're not having periodic checkups could be translated into the following, "I hate growing old gracefully, I would rather die early of some incurable disease which was found too late to help you." Why allow yourself to be compromised this way when you can find and reverse problems early before you have to suffer and your family has to do without you. Why should you have to suffer just because you "dislike" doctors or "hate" examinations? Why should you and your family suffer and lose for a little inconvenience or some brief discomfort?
Too more fully understand the screening process we should first take a look at the incidence of the most common problems that will face the perimenopausal, menopausal and post-menopausal women.
Heart Attack and Stroke
While most women are fearful of cancer, the risk of heart attack is really the most common problem they face. Cancer is a distant second and stroke is just below cancer as the main disease risks women face.
More often than not, heart disease can be picked up early. It can also be reversed more easily when found early. Simple tests like taking your blood pressure, checking your pulse and listening to your heart may be all that is necessary to make a diagnosis. Blood testing or an electrocardiogram may ultimately be necessary to confirm the diagnosis.
Having your blood pressure, pulse and listening to your heart should be performed every time you have a preventive health checkup. They should be checked routinely every six months if there are no problems and sooner if there are problems such as shortness of breath, chest pain, pain into the left arm, upper back, neck or jaw.
While there are many Illnesses that affect people possibly nothing is more fearful or devastating then cancer. If we first look at the incidence of all cancers diagnosed among women of all ages (See Diagram-1) we will see that the cancers of the reproductive system especially the breasts appear to be the most common. Next are cancers of the colon and rectum. Third, is a diffuse group of all other cancers.
Cancer of the Breasts
The single largest risk for women, representing more than 22%-28% of all cancers found in women, is cancer of the breasts. Cancer of the breast has been described as a disease of aging and almost half of the cases occur in women 65 years of age or older. Approximately 16% are diagnoses in women in the 40-49 age group, while 29% occur in women 50-64 years of age. It has been estimated that a woman who reaches 85 years of age has at least a one in eight chance of developing breast cancer during her life.
Breast cancer is much more common in women than men, and the highest rates of breast cancer exist in North America and northern Europe. In American women, the annual incidence of breast cancer increases rapidly with age, from approximately 20 per 100,000 at age 30 to 180 per 100,000 at age 50. The risk for women with a family history of premenopausally diagnosed breast cancer in a relative is about two to three times that of the average woman of the same age in the general population.
The rate of cancer of the breast appears to be increasing slowly as women live longer, just a few years ago her chances of developing breast cancer were only one in nine. At age 50 the risk of a woman getting breast cancer is one in four.
Women with previous breast cancer are at increased risk, as are women with a history of benign breast disease. Other factors with some clinical or statistical association with breast cancer include first pregnancy after age 30, menarche before age 12, menopause after age 50, obesity, high socioeconomic status, and a history of ovarian or endometrial cancer.
The three screening tests usually considered for breast cancer are: clinical examination of the breast, x-ray mammography, and breast self-examination (BSE).
There is no question that self-breast examinations, physician breast examinations and the newer techniques for mammography can make a difference in early detection. When breast cancer is detected early enough, it is virtually 100% curable with nondestructive surgical techniques such as lumpectomy where only a small area of tissue, a little larger than a biopsy, is taken. If it is found later, rather than earlier, then the mortality rate increases, the types of surgical treatments become more destructive and invasive, and radiation and chemotherapy may also be necessary.
The Well Woman Examination
Examining Your Own Breasts:
Learn to perform self-breast examinations and do them regularly. If you are still menstruating, do your exam on the first day of your regular period. If your periods are irregular or you are having no menstrual periods do the examinations on the first day of every month by the calendar.
If there is a family history of breast cancer special attention should be paid to your breasts including regular self-examination, physician examination and routine mammography. Table-1 can be used as a guideline for determining what and when screening should be done.
These guidelines suggest that if you have no immediate family history of cancer of the breast and you are less than 40 years of age you should have physician breast examination at least every year to three years. At or about 50 years of age this should be performed on a yearly basis. Having practiced OB-Gyn for many years it has always been my feeling that every woman should have a breast examination every six months. While this may seem excessive in light of the above recommendations consider what it would mean to not find a tumor early enough and what trouble this would be. If moneys are a problem then sticking to the above schedule would be minimal criteria. Remember: Most women find their own cancers at the time of self-breast examinations. Never rely on your physician to find what you can find months or even years earlier.
We should be clear that cancer of the breast is not the only problem menopausal women must consider in relation to the breasts. The greatest majority of "lumps" that women or their doctors find on examination are caused by Fibrocystic Changes in the breasts. The overwhelming percentage of all lumps found, some 96%, will be benign tumors. Because of the fear of cancer many women will experience emotional pain, anguish and discomfort until the "lump" are clearly found to be harmless. This is a shame but, we have never found a way of preventing it except through early evaluation to rule out malignancy.
To determine if these lumps are cancer or not, you may have to suffer through either mammography or breast biopsy, or both. While the majority of the time the diagnosis of breast cancer can be made through mammography, on some occasions a biopsy must be done. Of the biopsies performed less than 30% of the time the tissue samples will suggest that there is some malignant potential even though it is still read as benign. In recent years needle biopsies have become more and more acceptable and are slowly replacing open breast biopsies. At this point almost 90% of all palpable lumps can be accessed by needle biopsy.
While pain and nipple discharge (white or greenish fluids) are often scary, they generally have little significance related to cancer and more like represent a noncancerous process that needs to be dealt with through non-surgical means. A bloody discharge (bright or dark red blood or a brownish discharge) should always be suspect and brought to the attention of your physician immediately.
Breast Implants:
Somewhere between one and two million women have breast implants. More than 80% of these were performed for cosmetic reasons. Many questions have been raised on what influence this will have on the transition of these women into the menopausal era. To date there is no clear cut evidence of risk of malignancy associated with either silicone or the implants themselves.
Many women have told us that they are fearful of checking their own breast or that they are fearful of going to the doctor to have these examinations done. They are afraid that they or their doctor will find a cancer. The problem here is that the examinations do not cause cancer, so if a cancer is found it is already present. If it is already present aren't you better off finding it early before it is so advanced that major surgery or chemotherapy is essential. If you don't find it early, the problem is that when you finally do find it, it may be too late. Remember, these examinations don't cause cancer, they merely find it if it is already present.
Cervical Cancer:
The rate of cervical cancer is lowest of all genital cancers. It is the sixth most common cancer in women. Of the three endometrial, ovarian and cervical cancers, it occurs earlier and it is easiest to diagnose. The Pap smear is the primary diagnostic tool. There may be no symptoms or spotting or discharge may be the only indication that there is a problem. We ill discuss screening when we talk about the Pap smear in a later section.
Endometrial Cancer:
Endometrial Cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women. It occurs most frequently in women over 50 years of age. Spotting and irregular bleeding are the main symptoms. Diagnosis is best made by endometrial biopsy or by Dilatation and Curettage (D&C).
Ovarian Cancer
Ovarian cancer is the fifth most common cancer in women. Its frequency is about the same as bladder and kidney cancer combined. It is difficult to diagnose and must be considered every time a pelvic mass is found. Of the three female genital cancers it is most likely only to be found on routine pelvic exam. It generally has no external symptoms until it is too late.
Lung Cancer
While not a genital cancer it is important because it occurs as the third most common cancer in women. Lung examination and periodic chest x-ray are important screening tools. Women who smoke, have family history of lung cancer or who are around considerable second hand smoke should have yearly checkups including a lung examination and chest x-ray.
Skin Cancer
While the incidence is only slightly lower than endometrial cancer making the eighth most common cancer in women, it should not be forgotten. The two most important screening techniques are self-examination and physician examination and when necessary a skin biopsy.
Any skin lesions that are growing rapidly, changing color, send out growths for it or breaking down or bleeding should be evaluated. Because most women cannot see their back or the back of their neck, it is important for the woman's partner, if she has one, to assist in check and evaluating her back side. Any lesion that looks suspicious that wasn't there before or is changed should then be evaluated by a dermatologist. Examination by a General practitioner or OB-Gyn can be a first step to obtain a referral, if it is needed. However, best results are obtained by seeing a Dermatologist in early diagnosis and treatment.
The Pelvic Examination
No woman likes to have a pelvic examination. Many women even hate it as we suggested earlier. However, this is really no reason to avoid it. We have always believed that the so-called Yearly PAP Smear is really just a way to get women into the office for a preventive check up examination. Once in the office there are a number of things that can happen:
This type of examination would constitute a good examination for women who are entering the menopausal era (perimenopause), who are already within the menopause period or are in the post-menopausal era. It would be looking for the main causes of mortality and illness in the women of this age group. Before prescription of Estrogen Replacement Therapy (ERT) or Hormonal Replacement Therapy (HRT) this type of examination would essentially along with counseling about their risks and benefits. Once the woman is using ERT or HRT or Oral Contraceptives (OC's) routine examinations and diagnostic laboratory testing is a necessity to make sure that she develops no complications or problems.
At this point take a second and look back at Diagram-1. Please notice that in this type of complete examination the breasts, which are external to the body, the skin which is external to the body can be examined with little or no discomfort. The pelvic exam allows your physician to check for cancer of the vulva, vagina, cervix, uterus, tube and ovaries. The pelvic area is easily accessible and the examination is relatively easy to perform. When the pelvic examination is performed with a rectal, the pelvic organs can be evaluated better, and the physician can check for rectal cancer at the same time.
Just doing this type of brief examination represent screening for literally 59.3% of all of the cancers that you might risk. Add listening to your lungs and looking in your throat and taking some simple blood tests and we reach 80-90%.
The Pap Smear:
The pap smear is primarily used to look for cancer of the cervix is a relatively inefficient test. There is roughly a 30% false negative rate associated with any single smear. This means that one-third of the time your pap smears are inaccurate. If done only once a year this might mean that a cancer of the cervix could be missed and it would be more than two years of no treatment before it was found again, that is, assuming it was picked up on the next testing. If pap smears are done every six months, the rate of failure decreases significantly. When the rest of the examinations we listed above, or at least examinations of the breasts, pelvis and rectum are done, you greatly increase your chance of an early diagnosis of cancer, should it exist.
When there is a family history of uterine or ovarian cancer a pelvic examination and pap smears should definitely be performed every six months.
We realize that many physicians may disagree with our personal recommendations. We have always felt that prevention means preventing and not wishing that you had prevented it. Since all cancers respond best to early diagnosis and treatment, the only other issue is physician availability, and cost. For many physicians every six month routine examinations are boring, for insurance companies they are expensive but for some individual they will be life saving.
The Woman Using HRT, ERT or OC's
Women over 40 years of age using OC's should, in our estimation, have examinations every six months. This should include most of what we outlined above. Your individual physician may think that you need an examination only once a year. We have already made our feeling clear, the rest is up to you and your physician.
Checking for Heart Disease
Here again this depends upon prior history and risk. If you are on HRT, ERT or OC's, every six months. If you are not, and are otherwise well, then blood tests for cholesterol, LDL and HDL fractions, lipoprotein(a) and triglycerides should be performed at least on a yearly basis. If your blood pressure is elevated or chemistries are abnormal your doctor will tell you how often he or she wants to see you.
While we have spent the greatest amount of time discussing the risks of cancer statistics suggest that the menopausal woman is more likely to die of heart disease, then any other cause.
Remember: prevention through diet and exercise, frequent blood pressure checks, occasional electrocardiogram and frequent examinations by your physician is the best medicine.
Once again if no family history, or other high risk problems such as obesity, poor diet or symptoms once a year is sufficient. If there are high risk attributes then your physician will tell you how often to come in for testing.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Women who are sexually active with multiple partners should have routine examinations and specific diagnostic testing when indicated. AIDS, syphilis, herpes, papilloma virus and even gonorrhea are not age related. These conditions can cause harmful effect, especially if not diagnosed early and treated correctly.
Protecting Against Unwanted Pregnancy
A fact, which is little known by most women, is that perimenopausal women have the highest rate of unwanted pregnancy. It is almost equal to the rate for 16 to 19 year old women. Unwanted pregnancy is a major health problem for perimenopausal women. It requires that they chose between continuing an unwanted pregnancy and suffer risks of maternal-child birth or that they opt to have an abortion. Neither is a "good" option for the woman who does not want to be pregnant. We clearly recommend that if you are not using a reliable method of contraception that you find a physician who will educate you and prescribe the safest and best method for you. To not take chances you might lose.
Screening Cancer and What You Can Do to Prevent Cancer
What Is Cancer Screening and Who Needs It?
Cancer screening examinations help to detect cancer at its earliest, and most treatable, stages. The following Tables outlines the schedule for testing and routine screening evaluations for several cancers.
Type of Exam
How Often
Breast Self-Examinations
Breast Exam (by a health care professional)
Every 1 to 3 years; annually after age 40
Annually, age 40 and over
Pap Smear
Digital Rectal Fecal Occult Blood Test
Annually, age 50 and over
Flexible Sigmoidscopy
Very 5 years, age 50 and over
Total Skin Examination
Testicular Self-Examination
PSA Prostate-specific antigen) Blood Test
Annually, age 50 to 70
Digital Rectal Examination
Annually after age 40
Fecal Occult Blood Test
Cancer Prevention Guidelines
Healthy lifestyle habits hold the key to cancer prevention. Many people think that cancer is inevitable, but for many types of cancer this is not true. Between 65% and 85% of all cancers can be prevented by simple, healthy lifestyle changes.
1. Avoid or Eliminate Use of Tobacco.
You can quit! Instead of joining the cigar and cigarette craze or holding onto this habit, try to eliminate the use of tobacco entirely. This is one of the most important ways to prevent cancers of the lung, mouth, throat, bladder, and pancreas. Chewing tobacco is just as harmful and addictive as smoking. If you need a cessation program to stop smoking, ask your doctor about it now. A program combining individual or group counseling with aids such as the nicotine patch or gum, and even antidepressants, can make it easy to become a nonsmoker.
2. Limit Sun Exposure
If you enjoy bathing in the warm glow of the sun, make sure that you do this before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m. Be sure to apply sun screen at least 30 minutes before going out and exposing your self to direct sunlight. Be sure that you always wear a hat. Keep children under cover by having them wear a T-shirt and hat at the beach or when playing in the sun. Most people get half of their lifetime sun exposure before age 18, and only three blistering sunburns can increase your risk of skin cancer. That "healthy, sun-tan" that you may prize is often is a sign of skin damage that can result in melanoma and other skin cancers. And, remember, if you want your skin to look like leather, keep tanning your hide.
3. Limit or Avoid Excessive Alcohol Consumption
While some studies suggest that limited alcohol consumption can reduce heart attacks, there are other studies that suggest that as little as three drinks per day can increase your risk of cancer of the colon, breast, and liver as well as several other organs. If you choose to drink at all, limit your alcohol consumption to as little as possible and nor more than one or two drinks a day. Alcohol when combined with smoking, greatly increases the risk of head and neck cancer.
4. Eat 5 or More Servings of Fruit and Vegetables Each Day
People who eat relatively large amounts of fruits and vegetables in their daily diet have a significantly decreased risk of developing several types of cancers. It is often easier than most people think to eat 5 or more servings of fruits and vegetables every day. Keep carrot and celery sticks on the top shelf of the refrigerator, next to a low-fat dip. A colorful bowl of apples, oranges, pears, and bananas on the kitchen counter can double as an attractive decoration and may have a lifesaving value.
5. Avoid Refined and Processed Foods and Foods High in Additives
A diet which is high in refined and processed foods often is also high in food additives, food dyes, colorings, preservatives and other chemicals. While many have been proven not to cause cancer others are still not proven. While studies showing that individual chemicals do not cause cancer there are few if any studies demonstrating what happens when specific additives and chemicals are combined. It is best to eat healthy who foods, grains and organic meats and vegetables.
Early detection provides the best opportunity for successful treatment. Your doctor has available for you a wide range of comprehensive screening and early detection services as well as healthy lifestyle programs to prevent. Some of these services include cancer risk assessment, nutrition counseling, smoking cessation, and genetic counseling and testing. It is easier than you think to fight cancer before it starts. (See Table -1 above).
Know Your Family's History of Cancer
Ignorance is not bliss - especially when it comes to cancer. Some cancers tend to run in families, so knowing what diseases and cancers to look for can be a very big help. If you know what you are looking for than you Self-examinations and annual cancer screening exams can be much more valuable as they can be focused and early detection can be enlisted to find and treat cancers and other diseases in their very earliest stages.
How To Work Wiser and Get More Out of Your Life
In our sections on Stress, Stress-Related Disorders and Wellness and Prevention we strongly suggested that harmony and balance are extremely important to our health and well-being as individuals and as a family. One of the most common causes of stress and illness is the work we do.
Whether we work for yourself or others it is essential that the work we do supports in many ways. Certainly how it supports us financially is important but there are a number of other ways work must support us.
These are just of the few ways our work and the job we do should support our overall well-being.
Our Work Should Make Us Healthier
In its most simplest form, any job that does not help us to be well is a bad job.
If you are working at a job that does not support you then you should consider the following:
If you cannot do these things then:
Here is some very important things to consider:
Whatever you do, do it smart. Think before you burn your bridges. It would not be smart to make more problems for yourself as this will create more stress and in the long run can be injurious to your health and well-being.
Huna Reading List
The following is a reading list for people who wish to learn more about Huna. We have also included a number of books which are not directly about Huna but are consistent with the general principles of Huna.
We have included information about price of the books but prices may change or be different at your bookstore.
Max Freedom Long Series (A few of the more important selections.)
Recovering the Ancient Magic, MFL, Huna Press, $6.95
*The Secret Science at Work, MFL, DeVorss Publications, $11.95
*The Secret Science Behind Miracles, MFL, DeVorss Publications, $11.95
The Huna Code in Religion, MFL, DeVorss Publications, $12.95
Growing Into the Light, MFL, DeVorss Publications, $7.95
Serge King Series
*Kahuna Healing, Serge King, Ph.D., Quest Books, $8.95
*Imagineering for Health, Serge King, Ph.D., Quest Books, $8.50
*Mastering You Hidden Self, Serge King, Ph.D., Quest Books, $7.95
Urban Shaman, Serge King, Ph.D., Fireside Books, $9.95
Miscellaneous Authors
* Huna, Ancient Miracle Healing Practices and the Future of Medicine, Allen Lawrence and Lisa Robyn Lawrence, Hanover House
*Huna, A Beginners Guide, Enid Hoffman, Whitford Press, $12.95
The Heart of Huna, Laura K. Yardley, Advanced Neuro Dynamics, $9.95
*Children of the Rainbow, The Religion legends and gods of pre-Christian Hawaii, Leinani Melville, A Quest Book, $7.95
*Huna,the Acient Religion of Positive Thinking, William R. Glover, Huna Press, $5.95
Gestalt and the Wisdom of the Kahunas, Bethal Phaigh, DeVorss Books, $5.95
Mana Magic, John Bainbridge, Barnhart Press, $5.95
Kahuna Magic, Brad Steiger, Para Research, $10.95
*Seekers of the Healing Energy, Mary Coddington, Healing Arts, $9.95
Books Not Directly About Huna But Which Are of Value.
* Stress Related Disorders, Illness As An Intelligent Act of the Body, Allen Lawrence and Lisa Robyn Lawrence, ALLME Publishing, $8.95
*The Adventures of Self Discovery, Stanislav Grof, M.D., SUNY, $16.95
*The Holotropic Mind, Stanislav Grof, M.D., Harper Collins , $20.00
*The Tao of Physics, Fritjof Capra, Ph.D., Shambhala, $5.95 (O)
*The Turning Point, Fritjof Capra, Ph.D., Bantam Books, $11.95
*Uncommon Wisdom, Fritjof Capra, Ph.D., Bantam Books, $12.00
These books are not the only books about Huna but rather a selection that covers the very basic aspects.
The * books I find particularly valuable in the Introduction of Huna to the beginner. The other books might well be read after completing the introductory series.
The remainder of the books on this list are books involved in indirectly with the principles of Huna. They are all interesting and have values in their own right.
Huna Telepathic Mutual Healing Group
Are you interested in healing yourself or helping to heal others? If you are then you may be interested in joining the Huna Telepathic Mutual Healing Group. Telepathic healing means receiving healing for yourself or participating in healing others at a distance.
The Huna Fellowship, located at the Huna World Headquarters in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, USA. sponsors an ongoing Telepathic Mutual Healing Group. The Telepathic Mutual Healing Group was started in 1948 by Max Freedom Long and is still active today.
Information on how you can participate in the Huna Telepathic Mutual Healing Group can be found at the end of this article.
The Telepathic Mutual Healing Group began its work in 1948 under the direction of Max Freedom Long. It consists of a small group of Huna Research members who are dedicated to the healing of those who request help healing of the body, personal problems, and social or financial tangles. The TMHG meets on a regular basis to send healing to those who request it for themselves or for others. Some are physically present at the Huna Headquarters Building in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Others join us in their healing meditation, wherever they may be physically. We have members from all parts of the world joining us to direct their Mana for the use of those who have need of healing.
Anyone may request help through the Telepathic Mutual Healing Group (TMHG).
All healing in essence is self-healing and is accomplished through your own three selves. The TMHG helps in two basic ways:
Step One
Decide that you really want the illness healed or the physical, mental, or emotional problem solved, or the personal problem worked out. You must not only desire healing on a conscious level, but also on a subconscious level. All three selves must be involved to bring about healing: the conscious middle self, the subconscious basic self, and the higher consciousness of the High Self. Examine your feelings and determine what emotional reaction you have when you see yourself completely well and back to your desired way of living.
Step Two
Decide exactly what you want the outcome to be. This requires careful thought (meditation, contemplation). Some requests cannot be made in exact terms. In that case, decide on what you will be doing when the desired result has been realized. If you always put yourself in the picture of your future, seeing yourself in action, the decision will be clear. When you know what the desired result will be, you are ready for it to be accomplished.
Step Three
Visualize the desired result and describe it as briefly, but completely as possible. This naturally follows Step Two, but it is important to make a mental picture of your request, so that you can see it in your mind during a quiet period of meditation. And it is important to work out an exact verbal description in order to convey the picture to the TMHG workers.
The word-picture will also act as a strong physical stimulus to your subconscious mind. Check the words you have chosen for any emotional reaction associated with them.
Step Four
Chose a time of day when you can stop for a few moments, without distraction and remain in a receptive attitude. This is the time when the healing energy can be sent by the TMHG and received by you. It is important that you do this on a regular basis, every day. If you wish to do this more than once each day, so much the better. The TMHG sends energy to those on the healing list at various times during the day and night. If we know you are in an especially receptive attitude, the healing energy can be concentrated. Send us the times you have chosen, so that we can work with you.
Step Five
You may take part in one of two ways. Simply maintain a receptive attitude for a few minutes at the chosen time, or at any other time during the day when you feel it is needed. Thus the healing work of the TMHG can be more effective as the energy flows freely and without resistance.
The second way you can participate is through active participation. This can help you even more.
Step Six
Add a request for help for someone else. This is done very simply in your thoughts. There are two basic Huna tenets involved in living the Huna life and receiving healing:
Step Seven
A simple, but definite ending to your quiet period of meditation should be made. One of the best endings is a statement of thanksgiving for the healing you have received. The ending releases the request to the High Self and allows it to be acted on. There are actions to be taken by all three selves, so be sure to allow each of your selves to do the part appropriate to that level of consciousness.
The Prayer-Picture is like a seed that is planted; you do not dig it up every day to see if it is growing.
Step Eight
It is of the utmost importance that you convince your basic self or subconscious (unihipili) that you are worthy of healing and that you will be healed.
A physical stimulus is most effective in impressing the inner consciousness of the importance of the request.
A pledge or vow to some worthy cause; helping someone; giving up something for a period of time, an offering to a worthy cause or doing whatever you can do to make the desired outcome certain.
Huna Prayer
by Max Freedom Long
If I have hurt someone today
With thought or word or deed,
Or failed another in his need,
I now repent.
If I can take those steps again,
Tomorrow will I make amends
And heal with love those hurts.
I do this pledge.
And if a hurt has struck me deep
And no amends are made,
I ask the light to balance all.
I count the debt as paid.
Parental Spirits whom I love,
And who I know love me,
Reach through the door I open wide.
Make clear my path to Thee.
If you are interested in further information about membership in Huna Research Inc., Huna books, tapes, Huna courses, Huna workshops Huna seminars, send or call us and give us your name and mailing addressing. Mail, E-mail or calls to:
Huna Research, Inc.
1760 Anna St.
Cape Girardeau, MO 63701-4504
(573) 334-3478 Tel/Fax
To Go To the Huna Research, Inc. Home Page, click here.
This page has been used with the permission of the Huna Research, Inc.
Summary Of The Three Selves
The Lower Self
The Middle Self
The Higher Self
Automatic or Autonomic Self.
This is the conscious and awake self, the personality.
The highest level of human consciousness.
It operates 24 hours every day, 365 days each year. It never sleeps nor rests.
It operates only while we are awake.
It is connected to the Universal Intelligence (the Godhead).
Its center is in the Solar Plexus
Its center is in our head area.
It exists outside and to one side of the head.
It takes orders from and is commanded by the middle self.
It is involved with the business of the day. Conducts functions like talking, thinking and movement.
It can only communicate with the lower self and with the Intelligence of the Universe.
Its purpose is three-fold:
Its purpose is two fold:
Its purpose is three fold:
a) Manages all unconscious bodily functions: beats the heart, digests food and maintains all memories.
a) To maintain survival, it finds food and shelter. It creates ego pursuits such as hobbies and career.
a) It is our connection to the Intelligence of the Universe, the Godhead.
b) Supports survival. This includes managing the Fight or Flight, Stress Mechanism as well as the immune and defensive systems of the body. In addition it manages the Healing and Repair Systems of the body.
b) Creates civilization and civilizes the lower self. It makes judgments and issues commands to the lower self. Since the middle self is the personality its commands always inherently have within them its own particular viewpoint of the world, its likes and dislikes.
b) Connects us with the essence of Mankind and Mankind with all other conscious elements of the Universe.
c) Makes sure that the middle self gets everything it wants and needs. All the middle self has to do is ask for what it wants. It need merely to create a thought of what it wants and the lower self will make it happen.
c) To get what it wants, the middle self gives commands to the lower self and then expects that it will give it what it wants. It often confuses itself with the lower self
c) Makes available to us all the potential of "heaven," the bounty of the Universe. This occurs through a specially constructed prayer. It creates "miracles" upon request.
d) The Higher Self is not concerned with survival of the physical body. It knows the three spirits survive the physical realm at death.
The lower self remembers everything, past and present, and maintains this information to help the middle self to create its future.
It has a only short-term memory and relies on the lower self for long term memory and recall.
The Higher Self is beyond time and space. It has no equivalent of memory. It knows all and sees all.
It is often related to the Western concepts of unconsciousness or subconsciousness. However, it is never actually unconscious.
The middle self can be illogical. It has likes and dislikes and possesses intellect and intuition.
The Higher Self is selfless and in the realm of what might be called the Superconscious.
It is generally considered to be our animal or nature spirit.
It is generally considered to be the human spirit.
It is generally known as the Father or the Mother, or as the Holy Spirit.
It is ruled by internal (genetic) laws and it has an inherent wisdom, yet it constantly learns from the middle self.
It is ruled as much by its likes, wants and desires as it is by external events and forces. It wants to be socially correct and craves love.
The Higher Self operates under the rules of the Intelligence of the Universe. These rules, as we usually think of God, are unknowable.
It can only think deductively.
It uses both inductive and deductive logic. It has free choice and makes decisions about almost everything.
The Higher Self is neither logical nor illogical. It is Truth.
It serves the social aspect of the middle self as well as the physical needs of the body.
It plays social roles, imitates, speaks in words, uses emotions positively or negatively.
It has no equivalence in earthly terms.
It holds all emotions and manifests them through bodily feelings, physical signs and sensations often thought of as symptoms.
It manifests itself through emotions and feelings and reactions to these emotions and feelings.
It manifests itself in truth. It can heal instantly.
It has a very literal mind, and always does what it is told. It asks no questions but it can, however, resist instructions.
It has a rational and intuitional mind, it will think about and ponder questions.
It cares about the evolution of the lower self to a middle self and the middle self to a new Higher Self.
It is designed as an achiever to complete goals and tasks as rapidly as possible.
It is also designed as an achiever and goal setter.
The Higher Self has been described as the "Totally Trustworthy, Totally Benevolent Parental Spirit."
The lower self is essentially a child, it is also a student and a servant. It is programmed to perform and grow, to learn and repeat by habit.
It is more likely to be the initiator, teacher, parent or master.
The Higher Self cannot act on its own. It must be asked by the middle self through the lower self.
Its subtle aka body is an etheric body and its energy is mana or life force.
Its subtle aka body is the astral body and its energy is mana-mana or will power.
Its subtle aka body is the auric body and its energy, Mana Loa, is Spiritual Energy.
Huna Healing-6
Blocks And Complexes
To better understand the concept of blocks and complexes we must give you a little more information. When the lower self, middle self and the body are well integrated and working together the result is wellness and good health. To the degree that each of these operate in conflict with each other, there are problems. These problems are created by blocks and complexes that undermine their healthy interaction.
Blocks and complexes arise from faulty interaction between the middle and lower self. Blocks and complexes are simply devices the body/mind (combined middle and lower selves) uses to protect themselves when they are overwhelmed in fear, threat or conflict. While it may look like these "protective devices" work against us, this is not always so. Actually, most often they work for us. If you touch a hot pot and burn yourself a block (or memory of pain) generally keeps us from picking up any pot in the future without testing or checking to see if it is hot and can burn us. Blocks are simply memories which under normal situations help us to not make the same mistakes over and over again. In certain situations, when the individual is in an altered state of consciousness, during sleep, when ill, when drugged, under anesthesia, head injury, or during traumatic events involving very young children, etc. the trauma that occurs is confused with the cause and the effect and rather than being helpful blocks become sources of anxiety and negative behavior.
We can easily say that blocks and complexes are simply negative beliefs that interpose themselves between the requests and commands of the middle self and the action of the lower self. For simplicity sake we can also call them faulty belief systems.
They are faulty belief systems because they often sabotage us. They limit our abilities and potentials. They are fears and conflicts, remembrances of negative experiences and old hurts. They operate through the stress mechanism as they once had an intelligent reason for existing, to protect us.
Often they start to develop with the development of the nervous system, even while in the womb. They occur initially as inputs from our nervous system about real or imagined dangers, threats or potential threats. Rather than reading them as simply input of information for some reason we give them power to affect some or even all of our future responses to the events of our life.
In a sense they act as filters, for they screen the information we receive for the rest of our life or until they are either eliminated or replaced. They can cause us to see the world differently from the way it really is. Since by definition they are negative (there are also positive ones but since they are positive and help they cause no problems) they block out positive information and force us to see what they want us to see.
For example, bigotry is a block which forces us to only be able to see a preset belief system about people of certain religions, races, skin colors or ethnicity. Rather than seeing a person as an individual the bigotry filter forces the view point that all ... are bad, or dumb, or stupid, or worthless, etc. The intelligent person knows that this viewpoint is not true, but the bigoted person can see nothing else.
While the person who is the victim of the bigotry certainly suffers, it is also true that the bigoted person suffers because he or she is living in a lie and because of it, they are unable to see and experience the real world. This limitation distorts not only their world-view but their self-view. When the faulty belief system is bigotry, we usually don't feel too sorry for the individual and may instead see them "as the bad guy." However, when faulty belief system lead to a sense of low self-esteem, failure, fear, or illness, then we may see these victims more as casualties of life.
In the end, all of these complexes, fears and restrictions are simply faulty belief systems which we have accepted at sometime or other during our life consciously or unconsciously. Like any other belief system they can be thrown away at anytime. We see this happening all around us, every day of our life. Someone says that they hate a particular food until they try it and decide they like it. A woman thinks a particular style is awful, until she tries it on and finds she loves it. Faulty belief systems exist whenever we "hate" something or are afraid of something, feel threatened by something and our true view of it is biased by false information or decision from the past.
Faulty beliefs exist because at some point in our life we believed (once again, consciously or unconsciously) that they in some way presented a threat to us or because some how they have some important meaning to us ("My father told me... and he wouldn't lie to me.") When they are based on something that has threatened us or when we feel that having it taken away from us will in someway cause us harm, they trigger the stress mechanism and power must be given to their loss as real or potential threat to our existence. During this process the individual made a decision or created an opinion about these beliefs and not only do they believe that they must retain them but losing them causes some sort of injury to them, to protect themselves they have to give power to this decision or opinion.
These beliefs continue to be powerful because the individual continues to allow them to take power. They may even reinforce this power over and over again. This, usually requires finding or even creating some kind of evidence which can be used to prove that this belief system is right (and hence continues to deserve the power we have given it).
The same is true of emotions. They are simply belief systems which have become associated with physical feelings. The body sets certain chemical pathways to be stimulated when certain types of events occur. When emotions are triggered, a series of specific neurochemicals are released and we immediately experience physical responses to these external events. Ultimately however, they are also simply blocks and complexes, either positive or negative depending on the circumstances.
Our job in life is to find as many of these blocks and complexes as we can, to rationalize them and then eliminate them. Then, and only then, can we be safe, sane, whole and healthy.
When we break our connection to our Higher Self we lose its help and we create a breach in getting what we want from our life. When this happens, we feel lonely and alone. We may feel a loss of sense of spirit. Some religion tells us that this is a loss of connection to God. Huna does not disagree with this at all, although it would insert that the Higher Self is our ultimate connection to the Godhead.
Guilt is a major block between our lower selves and our Higher Self. There are many ways guilt can get started. One reason may be when we believe that we have sinned. This is a major area of difference between Huna and most organized religions. Huna does not believe in sin while most organized religions are based around sin. Most religions would tell you that the concept of sin exists to keep people from sinning and causing hurt to themselves. In Huna the belief in sin is recognized as a major cause of feeling as if one has sinned and hence it is the leading cause of sin.
If sin doesn't exist then how could one feel as if they sinned. If they do not feel that they have sinned than how can they feel guilt. If no guilt exists, than it is less likely that stress or anxiety will exist. If they do not exist then ultimately there will be no illness created by guilt. In Huna has what is called the One Sin Rule. It states that nothing you do is a sin, except causing an intentional hurt to another. If whatever you do causes no intentional hurt, then there is no sin.
Suppose you are giving a party and you make a list of people to invite and you forget a good friend. This would not be a sin, nor would guilt be appropriate in Huna unless you let that person out with the intention that others would tell him that there was a party and he had purposefully not been invited. That is he was not invited because you wanted to pay him back for something he did to you, or you were angry at him or wanted to punish him for something real or imagined.
In Huna sin is also not to be accompanied by guilt, but rather it is to be recognized as a teacher. If you intentionally cause hurt to someone, no matter the reason, you have missed the mark. You will find yourself losing out on something you really want. You may do this once or even twice, but eventually you will stop because it will soon become clear that it is more costly to you and then to the other person.
Certainly the argument may arise that there must be some form of punishment. In ancient Hawaii when one broke a rule or kapu, they there were punishments. One of the most serious punishments, even more than death, was banishment from the community. Being forced to wander alone without your family or friends. This was an awful punishment for family, tribe and community were home and this was where you were safe and loved.
If you stole from someone or cause intentional hurt you would feel bad about yourself, you would know that something you will want today, tomorrow or next year would not come to you. You would know that you caused hurt to others and you would know how they felt about you. You could however save yourself, you did not have to feel guilt or be shunned forever. There are mechanisms which allow healing to occur. These are based on making restitution, forgiveness and setting right what was wronged. Once the matter was set right, it was forgotten. No one was allowed to hold it against the individual and the individual could once again open his line of communication to his Higher Self. This was called, unblocking the path, it was thought of as removing the blocks and obstructions that blocked the way to the Higher Self. Now one could once again ask for whatever was desired and expect to get it.
Few people wanted to risk banishment or being shunned. When the missionaries came to Hawaii there was little crime, there were no jails, no prisons and the people were happy and healthy.
While Huna does not discuss stress, it is clear from reading about it that it was designed to reduce, and whenever possible eliminate, the seeds of stress and hence illness created by stress, the so called, Stress-Related Disorders.
This would be very helpful for most of us today. We live in a time when stress is everywhere and most illnesses, it has been estimated that at least 70% to 80% of all illnesses are caused by or made worse by stress. The Huna path reduces the potential of stress by creating a process of thinking and living that eliminates the basis of stress. Huna Prayer as we will see shortly is extremely important in stress reduction.
Stress can be defined in many ways, one workable way of defining it suggests that stress is the difference between the way we want our world to be and the way it is. Earlier we suggest that the lower self creates a picture of the way it thinks life should be based on the information given to it by the middle self. If the lower self gives power to this picture anything that threatens this picture can activate the stress mechanism. Huna tells us, that stress is based on a realistic view of ourselves and our ability to ask for and get what we want from our Higher Self and the Intelligence of the Universe. Therefore it must be that our vision of want we want must be different from reality, if stress exists. Huna tells us that we have a built in stress reducing mechanism as we can effectively change reality by asking the Higher Self for what we want and expecting it.
Huna further tells us that we can eliminate stress by eliminating faulty belief systems, lies, blocks and guilt. We can do this by forming a reality-based picture of our own life, this will help us to also create a Self Image that is also realistic. Along with this realistic picture of who and what we are we should also form a realistic picture of the world around us - a reality-based World View.
This can help us to set up our life up so that it works, so that we have no lies, no faulty belief systems, no illusions. Instead, we are constantly working toward finding our highest and best self though contact with and growth created by using the pathway to our Higher Self.
Huna Healing-5
III. Complexes, Guilt and Stress
To live in the material realm each of us must be able to deal with the events which are external to us, our perception of them and how they affect our physical body. Each event, depending on the value we assign to it, has a chemical as well as emotional effect on our body and hence on our lower and middle selves.
Those individuals who are able to integrate both positive and negative experiences are more likely to be balanced. They will generally be capable of being more realistic, cautious when necessary, fun loving and joyful when appropriate. They will more likely be ready to deal with and react intelligently and meaningfully with any situation that may arise in their life. The integrated person realizes life is fraught with danger, but recognizes that it is also filled with beauty and love. They take that which is dangerous and negative in stride, aware of what they can and cannot handle. They create positive support teams, chains of command and a realistic hierarchy of resources and they are always ready to go into action to protect themselves and their loved ones.
The non-integrated individual reacts differently. They are generally less likely to be able to integrate past experiences'. Frequently they have not fully dealt with nor learned what needed to learn from their life experiences. They are less likely to be prepared for what they meet along the way. They are more often unrealistic about their goals and circumstances. They are frequently obstructed by their past experiences. Because of all of this, they are usually more unprotected in their day to day living of life. At the extremes they are either unprepared for what they face or life becomes a living nightmare for them.
Also, because they do not integrate their life experiences well, they are often filled with fearful over the possibility of further insult or injury. They may worry about recurrences and about their ability to protect themselves from future negative experiences. This may leave them unable to use available internal or external resources and unable to rely on the support of others around them. They may be afraid of asking for help, or not know how to ask for help, nor who to trust. Ultimately they tend to learn that if they do not face the issues at hand they feel better in the short run, yet they may entirely be unable to recognize that this is a poor strategy in the long run.
When we are faced with any life experience, positive or negative, these events are experienced by our lower self first. The lower self must determine if it is necessary or safe for the middle self to know what has really occurred. If the material is extremely traumatic, the lower self may choose to limit what the middle self can know. This process of selection is essential or the middle self will be bogged down in minutia and stimulation that it cannot deal with.
The process by which the lower self deals with each event is called rationalization. That is, it must incorporate the substance of the event into the life picture or pictures created by the middle self. The events must fit into the already agreed upon rational and orderly world that the middle and lower self have created for themselves. An example of this might be, you see a person coming toward you, the lower self must rationalize whether this person is a friend or an enemy. If the lower self believes that the person is a friend then it must integrate the person's body posture, speed, facial expression, whether he has a weapon in his hand and whether he appears hostile or friendly.
In this example the event is happening in the present and all decisions have to be made quickly. If the clues suggest a hostile intention, the Stress Mechanism will be activated. This process works similarly with events which occurred in the past or are expected to occur in the future. In a second example an individual is involved in an auto collision during which he is knocked unconscious. In the same accident his friend who was a passenger in the car is killed. Upon wakening he calls for his friend and is told that the friend was killed in the accident. He may not want to believe this or totally block out the accident entirely. He may have amnesia for the events surrounding the accident and his friend's death. It may take him weeks or even months before memories come back and he may have guilt over the events even if he had absolutely nothing to do with the death of his friend. Eventually, as he is able to rationalize what happened his memory returns and the guilt he experienced subsides as he is able to accept that there is no legitimate reason to blame himself.
When experiences are too traumatic or when they cannot be immediately rationalized the lower self may suppress the experience. In such cases the middle self may not have any memory (remember, it is the conscious, aware self and memories are stored in the lower self) of what happened from just before the trauma, until sometime after the event. This is not done intentionally by the middle self to block out the experience, but rather it is done by the lower self to protect the middle self. When the lower self believes that the middle self will be unable to face issues that are too painful, it often simply suppresses them. It pushes them down into the subconscious (lower self memory) where they cannot be heard or seen by the middle self.
The lower self may initially do this only to protect the middle self at that time the events occur, it may need the time for itself in order to rationalize the experience and fit it into the life picture s held by the middle and lower selves. However, since life continually moves on, the lower self may lose track and become occupied with other momentary experiences and as time goes by the event's move farther and farther away making them less and less important.
It is clear however, that the lower self knows that these suppressed conflicts still exist and it also knows that they must eventually be resolved and rationalized. It wants to complete the rationalization process and for the most part most experiences are eventually rationalized even if it takes years to do this. Meanwhile, these unrationalized experiences may be pushing on the middle self, in the form of dreams, nightmares, flashbacks or emotional outbursts that sneak out before the lower self can suppress them. The lower self, on the other hand, also wants them completed so to some degree it allows these events to take place, allowing information to leak to the middle self to desensitize it. In the best of all worlds this might work well but in many people it presents years of pain and torture dealing with traumatic experiences that are long since past history.
If we are experiencing negative emotions and internal conflict we can often help ourselves by working to bring these experiences up into the light so that they can be finalized and ultimately rationalized and integrated into our life picture. Only in this way can we release the stress mechanism and release our self from their negative effect.
An example of this is a child who was molested and because of fear for her life and guilt created by the molester blocks out the memory of the actual events. Over many years she may have flashbacks or nightmares, they may be distinct or fragmented, but since she has no conscious memory of the events they are misunderstood or seen as traumatic and once again suppressed by her lower self as it tries to protect her. Only through working on what happened, bringing out the experience into the open, openly experiencing the pain and rationalizing it appropriately that she was not responsible, that another person forced the events on her and that she is blameless and guiltless can she finally be set free. If these experiences are not dealt with and rationalized, the unresolved conflict associated with them will eventually trigger the stress mechanism. Once triggered the stress mechanism must ultimately be released, if not, this can inevitably lead us toward physical, mental, emotional or spiritual illness.
It is important that we learn what must be learned from these experiences that we gain from them and grow from them and that we learn to accept reality, even if we do not like it. Then and only then, can we let go and be free to be our real and true self.
All of these mechanisms are part of the strongest and most important mandate of life, the Survival Mechanism, the Stress Mechanism. When such situations are not resolved, they act as blocks to future growth, to wholeness and to realizing the joy of the gift of life. They can also block us from having our Huna Prayers answered. When we have one or more blocks that become linked together we call them complexes.
To read the next article in the
series, Huna Healing-6, click here.
Huna Healing-4
Our Aka Bodies
Each individual has three subtle bodies, one for each of the three selves. These subtle bodies are called aka bodies are referred to as the aka body of the lower self, the middle self and the Higher Self. They are also known as our shadow bodies, however, you more than likely have heard of them as our auras.
The aka bodies are also our spirit bodies. Some people theorize that each is the sum total of the individual energies of the physical body and the three selves. That is, the aka body of the lower self is the sum total of all of the energies of the physical body and the lower self while the aka body of the middle self is the sum total of the energies of the middle self and similarly with the Higher Self.
Each aka body is separate of the other, however each is connected to the other by a cord of energy referred to in Huna as an aka cord. The cord between the physical body and the lower self is generally called the Silver cord, while the cord between the lower self and the Higher Self is called the Golden cord. There is no cord between the middle self and the Higher Self and this is the reason why these two bodies cannot communicate directly.
While it is said that communication is sent either up or down the cord, it is really meant that messages are sent telepathically using the energy conduit of the cords to focus the message and to direct it to where it is being sent.
When the silver cord, the energy conduit between the lower self and the body is cut, the physical body loses its life source and death occurs. As long as the silver cord is intact, no matter where the lower self or its aka body are, physical life can exist. The aka bodies of the middle and lower selves can leave the physical body at will. We refer to this as astral travel. While the silver cord is intact, the aka bodies of the lower and middle selves can go anywhere at the speed of light directed only by their thoughts.
The aka body of the physical body is also aka body of the lower self. It contains a blue print of the structure of the body, its cells, organs and chemical and electrical processes. In healing, this blue print can be used to reconstruct injured organs and tissues. The ancient kahuna used this blue print for their instant healing as they would send mana (and possibly mana-mana or even Mana Loa) to the aka body of an injured or ill person calling on it to heal the body according to its blue print. Using this technique, they could create instant healing. This type of work was very similar to the biblical description of how Jesus healed. In Hawaiian, the word for disciple means those that come together to breathe. This implied that Jesus used breath to heal and that he may have joined forces with his disciples, as the kahuna were known to do, to create all sorts of miracles including instant healing or even raising the dead.
The aka body of the lower self surrounds the physical body and takes its shape. It holds copies of all of the memories that the lower self holds for both the physical body and the middle self. When separated it can create an exact duplicate physical body that can think, talk and walk. It can fully use its aka senses which are duplicate of the physical senses. This description allows us to consider that some of the documented stories where a person was known to be in two places at the same time could be answered and understood as the power of the aka bodies. Here the physical body is in one place, while the aka body taking a physical form could be in an entirely different place, often hundreds and even thousands of miles away.
The aka body of the Higher Self is said to reside slightly above the crown of the head and either to its left or right. This is the position that was often drawn in medieval paintings representing the crown or halo above the heads of Jesus and the other saints. It is also traditionally the same area where the king, queen, emperor and empress wear their crowns.
The three selves and their aka bodies inhabit the physical body much like we live in our home or better still drive our automobile. As the driver of the automobile we may often think of our self as if we are the automobile. If we see an opening to go through, we think of ourselves as going through the opening. If the opening is tight, we may even cringe a little as we enter the opening even though we ourselves are within the automobile and protected by it.
When the silver cord is broken the body separates from us and we exist only as aka bodies. We think of this as death but in Huna there is no such thing as death. Our aka bodies and our three selves are simply energy. And as physics tells us energy can never be created nor destroyed. Hence we will exist for ever. Only the body dies and it is merely a shell that we have been using in this particular life. Overall, it is a little consequence to who we really are.
The life force energy we use, mana and mana-mana, are useful only while we have a body. They are necessary to help the body maintain its homeostasis and they are important for our overall survival, to allow us to move around, and to change the physical realm we live in. Mana Loa stays with the Higher Self. When death occurs, the aka bodies maintain mana and mana-mana for use in the next dimension.
The Soul
The soul is considered to be meaningless in Huna. While it exists, there is very little said about it. Instead, one may talk about spirit or the sum total of all the three selves operating in the physical world, yet unseen by themselves or by others. There is little more that can be said about the concept of the soul, however, it has a sense of hidden meaning which has not yet been fully disclosed.
The overall purpose of life in Huna is in a sense, evolution. Inorganic energy or possibly better, inorganic consciousness, evolves to organic life and consciousness, then to plant life and consciousness, then to an animal form and consciousness (the lower self), and finally, into a human life-form with human consciousness (middle self). The lower self is essentially a highly evolved animal spirit. It has learned its lessons over many lifetimes and it becomes a lower self for the purpose of learning how to evolve itself to become fully human as a middle self.
According to Huna the role of the middle self therefore is not just survival of the body and the other two entities which inhabit it, but also to assist the lower self in eventually becoming a middle self. It does this by being its teacher and guide. If it does its work well, the lower self will one day become a middle self. It is also part of the middle self's role to evolve itself to eventually become a Higher Self. This is where the role of religion is supposed to help us, to know that we are evolving and for middle self to work with Higher Self to evolve. The role of the priesthood traditionally was not to preach religion, but to act as a guide or doorkeeper to assist members of the tribe or sect to grow, live the hurtless life and understand the principals of the Intelligent Universe that are needed for the middle self to die and be reborn as a Higher Self.
This is clearly seen in the way Long looks at the story of Jesus. He tells us that if we use the hidden Huna code it tells us that Jesus was a man (middle self) who was on the threshold of evolving to become a Higher Self. Long suggests that some of the time when Jesus refers to the Father, he is telling us he is a man who recognizes that not only he, but all of us, have Higher Selves. At other times Long tells us that Jesus has already evolved and talks to us as an evolved Higher Self. He is, in a sense, both a highly evolved middle self and a transfiguring Higher Self. He helps us to see both roles and how to move from one to the other. He tells us that death is not the end but rather a new dimension where we shepard those who become our flock, as a Higher Self.
Each aspect the three selves, along with their aka bodies and mana, have a sense of evolving from a lower level to a higher state. Much like we think of the Universe itself. The goal of the lower self is to become a middle self and the goal of the middle self is to evolve to become a Higher Self. The goal of the Higher Self is to become part of the Poe Aumakua and beyond this it is possible that there are higher and higher realms which one can ultimately evolve to.
Since life is about evolution, we should also now be clear that death is also about evolution. One cannot evolve past a certain level in a specific physical body. Hence, we are born, we grow, we learn, we evolve, we die, we shed our physical body and then we are reborn, to grow, learn, evolve, die and start the process all over once again. How long this goes on is unknown. It is possible that it continues until we evolve back into the form of the Godhead. It is probably obvious by now that this concept exists outside of time, space and measurement and outside of our ability to totally comprehend.
Therefore for the true believer of Huna, all that counts is right now, learning, growing, and living the hurtless life. This is what the Godhead asks of us. Our role ultimately is to work for and wait for the time when we reach the level of a Higher Self.
One more important thought before we go to the next section. Each Higher Self is a joined male and female middle self. The so called, "Marriage made in heaven." The concept of soulmate may come from our internal understanding of this process. Who we will join with may be predetermined, but no one knows for sure. This occurs at a level higher than we can comprehend fully. It is likely that the reason we are not to cause hurt to another is tied up in this concept that causing hurt can block us from becoming a Higher Self. Learning to work together, on the other hand, can speed this process up.
If we live more than one life, even many, it is likely that we will return in both male and female bodies, but our spirit may stay more male or more female. Hence, we have men trapped in women's body's and women in men's body's. Being sexist may delay our evolutionary goals, being open and living in love may speed them up.
To read the next article in the
series, Huna Healing-5, click here.
Huna Healing-3
Life Force Energy Our Mana
Nothing alive exists without life force energy. The Huna master knew this. They recognized that when someone died they stopped breathing. They were without breath. Hence, breath or Ha and breathing became the symbol of this life force energy. Another symbol that was equally used was the symbol of water. In Huna whenever one talks about water or breathe they are generally really talking about human life force energy, specifically that of the lower self.
The life force energy of the lower self was called mana. It is basic energy that animates the body and runs the bodily processes. When the individual die's mana leaves the body, the body is no longer animated and biologic functions soon cease to exist. Here then is another way that the Huna master looks at illness, as though it were an imbalance of life force energy, either too much or too little and an inability of the lower self and middle self to use their energies correctly.
In Eastern philosophy this same breath is referred to as prana or chi. The Eastern master believes that when there is an imbalance of this life force energy, hence breath, this can lead to illness. Healing is often directly based on methods of correct breathing which ultimately rebalances the life force energy of the body. Certainly this is consistent with Huna. However, Huna goes even further as it not only recognizes the importance of breath, but also voice or the words, even the pictures we hold in mind, affect the way energy flows within the body. Huna tells us that this energy must flow freely between the lower self and the middle self and between the lower self and the Higher Self for ultimate good health and well-being. When this energy flow is blocked by faulty beliefs or wrong thinking, this too can lead to illness and disease. Hence, it is not just the energy of the lower self and the body that is important to wellness, but the flow of energy between the three selves.
Mana-Mana (Will Power)
The life force energy of the middle self is different. It can best be explained as will power. This is the power or ability of the middle self to make things happen by the force of will on part of the conscious aware self. Whenever we create an intention and act on it, we are using mana-mana.
It also differs from lower self mana only in that it is directed with conscious force. The middle self still must transmit this mana-mana to the lower self to produce mana to move the body, to act on the muscular system and make what is desired into a physical reality. Whenever a physical action from the lower self is needed on part of the middle self, both mana and mana-mana are required.
Will power operates at a higher vibrational level and is therefore, it is a more sophisticated and refined form of energy. It can be used in prayer to send our prayer message to the lower self where mana is created and added to the prayer.
Mana-Loa (Spiritual Energy)
Mana Loa is the highest vibrational energy. It exists both in the physical realm and in the spiritual realm. It can be thought of as spiritual energy or on the physical plane as the energy of healing. The Higher Self, as we suggested earlier, lives outside of physical reality and hence can see past, present and future.
Mana Loa can be used to change the future. In doing this it can help us to create our life to be anyway we want it to be. It can also be used to give us anything we desire. It is truly the energy of our own personal Aladdin's Lamp.
One of the most important roles of Mana Loa is in Huna Prayer. In Christianity most people believe that they must pray to God. Certainly, there is nothing wrong with this. Huna tells us that we must pray to our Higher Self, not as a deity not as a God, but as our guide and connection to the Godhead, and to the Intelligence of the Universe.
To read the next article in the
series, Huna Healing-7, click here.
Huna Healing-2
II. The Elements of the Individual
Earlier we told you that Huna has a unique way of looking at who we are. Clearly it is important that while we can divide who we are up into various component parts, these component parts are never really separated from each other. This division, unlike the way Western medicine divides up the human being, is simply an expediency for communicating about each aspect. The reader should always remember that there is no separation of one from the other in Huna. They all work and operate simultaneously and depend on each other. For this exact reason Huna integrates mind, body and spirit into a whole that can operate to heal us and help prevent future illness.
1. Each individual has three Selves, consciousness or minds:
a) There is the Subconscious Mind, more commonly referred to as the low Self or Lower Self
a) There is the Subconscious Mind, more commonly referred to as the low Self or Lower Self
b) There is the Conscious Mind, more commonly referred to as the Middle Self
b) There is the Conscious Mind, more commonly referred to as the Middle Self
c) The Superconscious Mind, more commonly referred to as the Higher Self (In Huna referred to as our aumakua).
c) The Superconscious Mind, more commonly referred to as the Higher Self (In Huna referred to as our aumakua).
2. There are three types of Mana or life force energy, one for each of the three selves:
a) The mana, life force energy, of the lower self, also referred to as mana
a) The mana, life force energy, of the lower self, also referred to as mana
b) The mana, life force energy, of the middle self, also referred to as mana-mana
b) The mana, life force energy, of the middle self, also referred to as mana-mana
c) The mana, life force energy, for the Higher Self, also referred to as Mana Loa
c) The mana, life force energy, for the Higher Self, also referred to as Mana Loa
3. Each of the three selves also has its own Aka Body:
a) The aka body and aka cord of the lower self
a) The aka body and aka cord of the lower self
b) The aka body and aka cord of the middle self
b) The aka body and aka cord of the middle self
c) The aka body for the Higher Self
c) The aka body for the Higher Self
4. There is the Physical Body
5. There is the soul of the individual
Each of us therefore, is made up of three selves (a lower self, middle self and a Higher Self), each of these selves has an aka body (one for the lower self, one for the middle self and one for the Higher Self), each of our three selves also has its own type of life force energy (mana for the lower self, mana-mana for the middle self and Mana Loa for the Higher Self). Finally, we each have physical body and a soul.
These component parts create who we are and how we function in the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual realms of life. In the next section, we will look briefly at each of these component parts and eventually we will show how they interact in causing illness and in healing it.
The symbol of the lower self is the grasshopper. This same symbol was used by the Egyptians to represent their version of the subconscious or ka aspect of the person. The lower self was thought of by the kahuna as a "spirit," it is also the "automatic" self. It is awake 24-hours a day, day and night. It never sleeps. It merely lives inside of our physical body and uses it as its home. In turn it manages all of the biologic functions of the physical body. It beats our heart, but is not our heart, it tells us when we are hungry, it digests our food for us, it governs our immune system, it is the stress mechanism and it is in charge of our defensive and healing systems.
When Freud referred to it as the subconscious he knew only a small portion of what it did and yet even with knowing this very small portion, knowledge of its existence substantially changed the way medicine was ultimately to be practiced forever. The Huna master uses the knowledge of the lower self to heal and solve problems in a way that Freud could only have dreamed of using. With a clear understanding of the function and manner in which the lower self works, problems which were previously unsolvable suddenly become much easier to solve.
The lower self has several roles. At its most basic level it is responsible for our survival. Since it is always alert and working it can protect us even while we sleep. Many people believe that our dreams are messages from the lower self to the middle self, trying to communicate, trying to solve problems, or trying to educate and inform the middle self. Dreams may be simple coded messages or images which can represent themselves or are metaphors created by the lower self to inform the middle self what it wants it to know or believes it needs to know.
The lower self is the intelligence of the body/mind. It is made up of the reptilian brain and the autonomic nervous system and hence is also the driving force behind the stress mechanism, the immune system as well as the defensive, healing and repair systems of the body. In fact, we can say that the lower self is the stress mechanism as well as the immune system, defensive, healing and repair systems of the body. When it is functioning optimally, we are healthy. When it is thrown out of balance or when significant disharmony is created by the environment, other people, or wrong actions of the middle self, the lower self will first attempt to communicate this to the middle self, and then, if the middle self, or better still, if we do not solve the problem, it will begin to create one or more signs or symptoms as a form of intelligent communication to tell us what the conflict is and possibly, even how to solve it.
Take for example sitting on a tack. We do not usually just experience pain alone. Generally when we experience pain, we also experience one or more emotions at the same time. We may experience shock, fear, guilt, anger or surprise. These emotions exist within the lower self. They are in a sense our teachers. They are used by the lower self to teach and communicate with the middle self. When the lower self sends fear, it is telling us that there is potential danger. When it communicates anxiety, it is telling us that we are confused we have two pictures of the future or past that are inconsistent and it is not sure what is desired of it. Love tells us that we feel a positive sense of caring, an association with the person or object that the middle self is involved with. Each emotion has its own meaning. Each is formed as a physical and chemical response to a positive or negative situation, a memory of the situation or of an associated belief system. Without these beliefs, which are held in storage within the lower self emotions would be meaningless.
The lower self holds all memories for the middle self. Western science is having great difficulty at this time trying to figure out where memories are held. Initially, they believed that memories were stored in the brain, but time and time again parts of the brain would be damaged and memories would still survive. A later theory told us that memories may be stored in our muscles. The twentieth century Psychotherapist Wilhelm Reich believed that by working on muscles memories could be purged. To the Huna master memories are stored primarily in the lower self in a holographic form. The lower self can in turn store these memories in the aka body and possibly even in various parts of physical body. The brain merely acts as a memory manager much like a disc operating system acts to remember where bytes of information are stored on a computer memory disc. (Did you ever wonder how someone came up with the idea of a disc operating system to manage memory--there is nothing new out there only people who recognize how life really is made up?)
The Middle Self
This second "spirit" was often referred to as the Uhane or the spirit that talks. It is the consciousness of the middle self or conscious self. It could best be thought of in simplistic terms as our personality, the who we believe ourselves to be. This aspect of us is for the most part, the only part of our self that we will really ever know. To the medical profession this aspect has long been perplexing. The average medical doctor has great difficulty understanding why people do, what they do. The Huna master, however, had several thousand years to learn, grow and understand what modern physicians are just trying to understand.
The middle self is our conscious awake self. It can operate only for limited periods of time and then it needs to shut down to rest or sleep. It knows of the world only by what our senses tell it. If at any moment ALL input from the world around us, from our body, from the spiritual realm or from the Intelligence of the Universe were to be let in all at once, we would almost instantly be overloaded and unable to function.
Since our sensory system belongs to the lower self and since the lower self is always trying to protect the more fragile middle self, the lower self will only permit small amounts of information go up to the middle self at any moment in time. Scientists are aware of a part of the brain that acts as a filter, filtering out all sensation or information that is not essential to our aware self. Hence, the middle self lives in a kind of dream world limited by the scope and range of the body's sensory system and by what the lower self allows it to know and what it believes about what it does know.
You might have noticed that I refer to the lower self as "it" and the middle self as "we" or even as "I." This is no accident. We do not really know our lower self very well. Often we hear people say, "I am trying to get to know myself." Or we may say, "I am trying to find myself." Generally this really means we are trying to understand our lower self and its relationship to the middle self and the outside world. Most of us know our middle selves, for example, I am Allen. I know what I like, I know what I look like (my physical body that is), and I know what I don't like. What I don't know is how the lower self has reacted to my past memories, what it likes and what it doesn't like. I do, however, have some hints mediated by the way I feel.
For example when I eat escargots I don't feel good. "Why," I ask myself. "I can eat octopus, scallops, shrimps and I have no problem?" There is not much difference between these foods except in the belief systems and memories stored in the lower self.
I learned to eat octopus, scallops and shrimp and they had no negative connotation since they are all sea foods and "good for me!" But garden snails, "Yuck, they are slimy. I have seen them in the garden leaving a trail of slime and disgusting stuff after them." This belief system, held in the lower self, will trigger both emotional and physical changes that make me feel sick (which is, of course, not often) when I think about trying escargots.
This is the way the lower self works for us. It sounds negative, but it isn't. Remember when you just started to walk? One day you ran toward the street and your mother screamed, "No! Don't do that, come here at once." "You can get hurt, running into the street like that." Well your mother's negative tone, her anger, her drama impressed upon you that you shouldn't run out into the street and you probably never did it again. Now, whenever you come to the edge of the street you stop, look and listen both ways and then, only when it is safe, walk across or into the street.
You see this process was ultimately developed to help protect us. Unfortunately when we do not understand it or know how to use it, when we don't learn from it, it can also work against us. In Huna we say that blocks are created. These blocks act to protect us, but unfortunately when they are indiscriminately created they can work against us. They can work to activate the stress mechanism, undermine the defensive and protective systems of the body and lead to physical, emotional, mental and even spiritual illness.
The interaction between the middle self and lower self is quite unique. The lower self operates like a robot doing whatever the middle self tells it to do. Besides holding all medium and long term memories for the middle self, the lower self has two additional functions directly related to the middle self. It carries out the orders of the middle self, and it maintains the physical body, its biologic processes and regulatory mechanism working smoothly and effectively.
Because of the lower self we do not have to think about how to make our heart to beat or how to digest our food. We do not have to worry about regulating our body temperature, releasing hormones nor maintaining the well-being of our organs and bodily tissues. The lower self maintains and regulates all biologic processes. It also memorizes all physical actions like walking, eating, driving a car, opening a door, writing, etc. Without the lower self we would be unable to survive for very long.
The middle self, on the other hand, is the command consciousness. It looks for food when the lower self tells it food is required (when we get hungry). It directs where the car we drive is going. It decides what is to be learned. It makes the decision when to go and tells the lower self to open the door. The middle self experiences the awareness of traumatic situations while the lower self moves the body to fight or flight from them.
The Higher Self, Our Aumakua
We mentioned briefly that our Higher Self is our Totally Trustworthy Totally Benevolent Parental Spirit. To the Hawaiians it was often represented by a deceased family member or a tribal symbol such as the shark. In some cases our aumakua is a deceased family member, in other cases it may be a nature spirit or an evolved being from the spiritual realm, a guardian angel. This is a subject discussed in many different philosophies and in most there are clear rules of who or better, what can be an aumakua. In Huna, who is not important. Rather only that it exists and it is there for us; to be used to help us and protect us. It is also our teacher and our personal connection to the spiritual world.
This third level of consciousness is usually entirely dismissed by the medical profession because it often reminds them of their primitive beginnings, as shamans and witch doctors. They will often refuse to acknowledge its existence claiming that it is religion and not part of the scientific process. The Huna master, however, knows that the Higher Self could not be separated from the other two selves or from the living body. They know that we can be called upon when needed to protect us, heal us and gives us anything we ask for. They understand that it is our connection to rest of Mankind, to the Godhead and the Intelligence of the Universe. In a time when so many people already suffer from poor self-image, unworthiness, loneliness, addiction and stress, knowledge of the Higher Self could make an enormous difference to all of us. Once we know how to call upon our Higher Self, our ability to heal our self is greatly increased.
Since the Higher Self does not need the body or its sensory systems, it is not blocked or limited in what it can see or do. It can see, or better still, "know" everything. Unlike the lower self or the middle self it is directly connected to the Intelligence of the Universe, hence it knows what the Intelligence of the Universe wants and it knows it directly.
In some disciplines each person is said to have more than one Higher Selves, possibly as many as seven, or even ten, aumakua. Again this is not of great importance in Huna. There is always at least one, but there can even be more aumakua watching over us. In fact, each of us has two types of aumakua. There is our personal aumakua (the word aumakua, like kahuna, is both singular and pleural at the same time) and there is our Poe Aumakua - our Totally Trustworthy Totally Benevolent Family of Parental Spirits. They can be thought of as our own personal company of angels or our heavenly hosts.
The Poe Aumakua is made up of many spirits which watch over us and act as resource for our Higher Self. While they are dedicated to us, they work primarily through our Higher Self. Our Higher Self can ask the Poe Aumakua to help us directly. They will usually agree, if what is asked for is deemed to be in our best interest. They can refuse, however, if it is not in our best interest. They cannot cause us harm for just as we commonly think of angels they can do no harm. They live the hurtless life is not just for humans as the Higher Self and Poe Aumakua live this life in spirit as well. While this is a spiritual law, it also a law for humankind.
Both our Higher Self and Poe Aumakua can see not only the present, but also the future and the past. They have no fear or negative feelings about death as they recognize that death is merely and illusion of physical existence. Nothing is born, nothing dies everything is energy and always in a process of evolution.
According to Huna, spiritual law tells us that we can ask our Higher Self for anything we want and if it is in our best interest our wish will be granted. This is not just a benefit but rather it is an integral part of Huna. We are here to have everything we desire. There is nothing that we cannot have, if we know how to ask for it. Our Higher Self can help us anytime we ask it for help. The reason why most people do not get what they want is because they either do not ask for what they want or they ask for it incorrectly. In another section we will discuss the basis of Huna prayer. Huna prayer is a powerful process which we can all use to bring to ourselves anything and everything we desire, with only two provisos as long as it cannot cause hurt to anyone else and it must be in our best interest that is, it will not in anyway, either directly or indirectly, cause harm to us.
To reinforce that Huna is not a religion we merely need to look at the Hawaiian word for God which is ke akua. It is a verbal directive. The concept of an all powerful God was relatively unknown to the Hawaiians in a sense they believed that such an all powerful God was much too far away and above them that He (or She) had little or no interest in them. In a sense, their belief in the Higher Self suggests that they believed that God had created the Aumakua system and gave them the role of being there for us as our Higher Self and Poe Aumakua.
Jesus clearly fit this concept of an Higher Self. He calls God, Father, and he tells us that he is the way to the Father. He could see the future and the past and he could give people whatever they ask for. It was simple for the Hawaiian people to see Jesus as an Higher Self, one with great power, who talked of love and the Aloha spirit. It was therefore easy for most Hawaiians to accept Jesus. Unfortunately most of the missionaries believed that the Hawaiian way of looking at things was primitive and that the Hawaiians were heathens who believed in ancestor worship, most never fully understood the power and beauty of the real Hawaiian belief systems.
Huna Healing-1
The Integration of Mind, Body and Spirit
The following is a general introduction to the concepts of Huna. It is not meant to be detailed nor to delve deeply into it. A reading list is provided to allow those interested in Huna to explore what it has to offer on your own.
I. What is Huna?
Huna was first described by Max Freedom Long. Long worked and lived in Hawaii during the 1920's. He taught school mostly to Hawaiian children on the island of Molokai. During his stay on Molokai he became aware that the Hawaiians often talked among themselves of a form of healing. Most Hawaiians rejected Western doctors and used a more traditional form of healing when they themselves became ill. Long became interested in learning more about this "secret" healing system, however, whenever he would ask questions about it the Hawaiians would ignore him or pretend as if they did not understand what he was talking about. Over a period of several years he picked up little bits and pieces of information on what he was to eventually call Huna.
In the late 1920's Long met Dr. William Taft Brigham who was at that time the Curator of the Bishop Museum in Honolulu. Brigham, he found, had also been studying the secret healing wisdom of the Hawaiians for many years. They soon began a collaboration, which while short lived, opened the door to what we now call Huna.
The word Huna, means the secret in Hawaiian. It refers to a body of knowledge that has its origins in antiquity. It is possibly 2,000 years old or even older. In many ways it is a mystery school. Whether the ancient Hawaiians called it Huna or not, may never be known but for simplicity sake we continue to use the name the Long gave it and call this body of knowledge Huna.
No matter who created this system, nor how old it is it is, one of the most sophisticated healing systems ever experienced. It has answers to the mysteries of life and death, of human development, of the mind, the body and the spiritual nature of mankind. It tells us who we are and why we are here and what life is really all about. As I have personally experienced and found, as many of you may also find, Huna can change your life, it can give new meaning and purpose to who you are and why you are living in this particular time and place.
The body of information we call Huna was not openly discussed and it was apparently never written down. The teachings were passed from initiate to initiate for hundreds, possibly thousands, of generations. These initiates were called kahuna, meaning literally the keepers of the secret. Most kahuna were very wise. They were teachers and healers. They were equivalent to today's doctors, our M.D.'s and Ph.D.'s. They were highly educated in the ways of the world and how the intelligent world around them worked. They could not only heal, but heal instantly and at a distance. They could change the weather, create rain and even move storms away, out to sea. They could communicate with animals, the fish, trees, plants and the planet itself. They were navigators, astronomers, they could tell the people when to plant their crops, when to harvest, which crops and where they should be planted. For thousands of years Hawaii flourished with little illness and an abundance of food and water.
A kahuna was picked at birth or in childhood because he or she radiated a certain sense of wisdom. The child then went to live with his or her teacher and was brought up learning what would one day be their avocation. The knowledge was taught in many forms and much like Merlin taught Arthur, the kahuna taught their disciple.
Information was imparted through direct experience, test and trial, verbally and through wrote learning. Depending on the expertise of kahuna, and the specific role played in the community, the initiate was taught not only the wisdom of his teacher, but also about how to relate this wisdom to all other aspects of life.
The initiate kahuna learned that each person is made up of five principal parts or aspects. While these aspects can be discussed individually, they are really only ways of looking at ourselves. One cannot be separated from the other. They are never alone. Rather, they are all aspects of who we are and all these parts are always working and acting together. They are constantly working for the health and well-being of the whole. Illness is a disruption in the harmony and balance of these parts. The type of illness depended not only on the cause of the disruption and which aspects of the individual are affected, but also on their desire to communicate this information to us. Healing is the reconnection, harmonizing and rebalancing of these aspects so that the individual is once again made whole.
So that this secret knowledge would not be lost, Long tell us, it was embedded deep within the language of the Hawaiian people. A secret code was created that allowed the initiate to always have a way of returning to the basic knowledge if for any reason he or she should temporarily lose it. It is this code that Long believes he tapped into which then opened up the mystery of Huna and allowed him to unfold its secret and finally, bring it out into the open.
When the missionaries came to Hawaii, they brought Christianity along with them. The Hawaiians being an amicable people, welcomed the missionaries. They were soon ready and even willing to convert to Christianity. While the missionaries didn't know it at the time, the reason that they were so willing to accept Christianity was really two fold. The doctrine of Christ, the hidden code of the Bible, was similar or in many places exactly the same as the principles of Huna. Secondly, most of the ministers, especially the Catholic and some of the Protestant sects, preached about the Holy Trinity and as you will see in the next section this was already very familiar to the Hawaiians.
There was a third reason which was less obvious. Huna is not a religion. It is in a sense a science. It is a way of looking at the Universe and understanding how it operates. Over the many years that Huna operated in Hawaii, the people of Hawaii had many different religions. In most cases they were based around what they referred to as their aumakua or Higher Self. Long described the Higher Self as the Totally Benevolent, Totally Trustworthy Parental Spirit. Jesus clearly was an Higher Self so he fit easily into the pantheon of family aumakua and became the symbol, and in many cases, the Father Aumakua. Long tells us, in his book The Hidden Code of Religion in Huna, that he believed Jesus was a kahuna and that through the Bible he spoke to the people as a great kahuna would.
Long suggests, however, that since there is no specific reference to Jesus and that certain key elements of Jesus' life are missing from this hidden code, that Huna may well have preceded Jesus and that it probably existed in Hawaii, long before the existence of Christ.
Many scholars and Hawaiian historians have presented theories of the origin of the Hawaiian people. Some believe that they are descendants of the lost tribes of Israel, others believe that they are the remnants of the survivors of the lost continent of Mu (Lemuria). Still others, have traced them and the Huna philosophy to early Egypt about the time of the building of the first pyramids. Long believed that the original knowledge of Huna began in Egypt and that there are a number of clear indications that this was the case. He takes careful pains to show similarities between Egyptian and Huna code words and symbols, also because of certain similarities in events and history. He believed that these are definite similarities in the established genesis myths of the two cultures. He even sites evidence in the form of a Berber woman kahuna who knew the secret code of Huna and taught them in part to an Englishman who later contacted Long and discussed it with him. The Berber woman "kahuna" told the Englishman a story from the tradition of her people that tells that they worked on the great pyramids of Egypt, they were enslaved and finally broke their bondage. While leaving Egypt they divided into several groups and some went east toward Asia, while her tribe went west and settled in the Atlas mountains of North Africa.
Long traces the migration of the Huna knowledge into India, Indonesia, New Zealand, Java, Samoa, Tahiti, the Marshall islands and finally, to Hawaii. And in fact elements of Huna still exists in all of these areas.
There is another element that is unclear and that is the relationship of Huna to the Mysteries. Huna operates much like the ancient mysteries as exemplified by the mysteries of Temple of Solomon (the Rosicrucian and Free Masons believe that they had their origins here), the Elysian mysteries, as well as the Druid mysteries, yet along with many commonalities and similarities, there are significant differences. Possibly with time more light will be shed on this question.
Huna is Not a Religion
As we said earlier, Huna is not a religion but rather a science or world view. It does not require that you believe in any or all of it. It simply exists as a way of looking at the Universe we live in. It is also a way of understanding our humanity, how our mind works and why were are here. Yet there is no dogma, there are no priests or ministers, there are no services and it makes no difference whether you are a practicing Catholic, Protestant or Jew. You have to tigh nothing, it expounds no concept of sin, transgression or salvation. Yet, within it exists a clear understanding of how to live a healthy moral life and be free of sin and transgression.
In Hawaiian the word for sin means missing the mark. Hence, a sin is not a mortal blow to our soul or a breach of respect to God, but rather a missing of the mark of who and what we are. One eliminates sin by correcting the problem, forgiving themselves and those who caused hurt or pain to them.
There are few rules in Huna and those that exist are not hard rules, that is, if you break them you will not offend the Godhead or soil yourself forever. Instead they are guidelines for helping us to make our life better and prevent problems that would injure us or keep us from getting what we want from our life.
The primary mandate in Huna is to live the hurtless life. It is important that we cause no hurt to another and that we respect everyone as we wish to be respected and cared for. When we hurt others, we cause hurt to our self, we create blocks to getting what we want from life and making our life be what we want it to be. We will discuss this in greater detail in a later section.
Huna is, in a sense, a system of mind, body spirit integration and healing. It can be used to integrate modern psychology, physiology, medicine, neurology, systems theory into a more comprehensive system of healing and prevention than what we presently find in our modern medical system. Inherent in Huna is that when it is followed closely it teaches you how to prevent illness and when you are sick, it allows you to recognize where your illness came from and how to heal it. If you are already a healer, it will allow you to better help others to heal themselves. It is not simply about treatment as modern Western medicine is, but rather about cure of the underlying causes and developing wisdom as to the cause so that you can prevent the illness from ever recurring again.
What Is Wellness?
The dictionary defines Wellness as "the state of being well, healthy and prosperous." It is a state of feeling in harmony not only with our inner self, our external life but also with the rest of the Universe. Often the well person may only experience a feeling of joy. Joy with his or herself, with the direction of their life and with who they are.
Unfortunately many people believe that wellness is just an absence of illness, so that when they are not ill they believe themselves to be well. This is not entirely correct. While they may in fact be well, the state of wellness is more than just the absence of illness. It is a positive, and real state of being, not an absence of something.
An individual may have periodic illnesses and yet on the whole still be well. In such cases the general framework of the individual is wellness and the occasional illnesses can occur because of momentary conflict or as teachers that the individual learns from, grows and returns back, to the state of wellness.
I tend to think of wellness as a dynamic state, one during which we must maintain harmony and balance with all of the forces that act on us in our everyday life. On occasion the forces may overwhelm us and our immune system is compromised. When we learn from this situation, that is, when we recognize the factors and forces that undermined our defensive systems and we correct these problems or conflict we learn more about ourselves.
It is this learning that constitutes the basis of growth. In our article A Matter of Health, we look at the concept of harmony and balance, what it means and how we are affected by it. In this article, however, we are more interested in what we learned from being in balance and what we learn from falling out of balance.
The reason that we use the concept of balance is to make it clear that it is a precarious situation. That is, we can, if we are not working at it lose our balance, fall and get hurt. But this too is part of life. It is those times when we lose our balance and fall that are most important for us, as we have suggested above, it can be used to help teach us how to stay on the path.
The path is the metaphor that we use to describe the journey to finding our highest and best self, who we really are, how we fit into mankind, and life. The path is often thought of in context of the spiritual path but this is only one aspect of it. It is in fact, a physical (body), mental (mind), emotional and a spiritual path. When we are on the path - by definition - we are healthy, when we are (fall) off the path we are out of balance and when we are either very far off or off for a very long period of time we are likely to become ill, that is out of harmony and balance.
Recognizing that we are off the path and returning to it stimulates healing. Wellness returns once we are solidly back on the path moving toward our life goals of creating our highest and best self. Instant healing, what the medical profession often think of as miracles, is simply the solving of conflicts and return to the path. Instant healing is highest when the individual not only returns to the path but knows, consciously or unconsciously, that they have clearly and precisely learned what they needed to learn.
Wellness is a process. It is not a static condition. As we suggested above, it is constantly changing. The lessons that were important when you were three years of age may no longer be meaningful at thirty years of age. We may learn important lessons in indirect ways. For example, a conflict may arise in our teen years our inability to solve this conflict at that time might predispose us to an illness such as asthma. For the sake of this example only let's say the original conflict was dealing with a smothering parent. In the years that follow we may have recurrent episodes of asthma and never realize that it is a clue to the conflict that we did not solve. By the time we reach our mid to late twenties that conflict may no longer be meaningful we have moved out of our childhood home, we now live on our own and we have moved away from the smothering parent. The conflict was dealt with and no longer is an issue hence the asthma is no longer necessary, the illness stops and we return to wellness.
While the individual in this example may never have consciously recognized the role of the smothering parent, when he moved away, ostensibly to go to college, the conflict was solved. Another way of saying this might be that if we were to ask this individual whether or not he ever recognized the relationship between the asthma and the smothering parent he would say, "No!" However, when he made the decision (consciously or unconsciously) to move away he solved the problem and did what was necessary. He might not have been able to do it earlier because the smothering parent kept him dependent, or because he was fearful of leaving home, but we could also say he needed the asthma and to be living at home because he was not ready to what was necessary to solve the conflict. When he moved away, he finally did what was necessary to become his own person.
Wellness emerges when we solve problems, when we help others and when we live the hurtless life. One of the primary signs of wellness, is not just the absence of illness (remember what we said above), but the occurrence of joy in what we do, in who we are and what our life is about. Too often people look to be happy but in the end happiness is fleeting because it is based on outside conditions, joy on the other hand, is based on internal, mind, body and spiritual harmony and balance. Joy is the highest and best sign of wellness.
To go to Illness - An Alternative State of Being, click here.
Metamorphosis Wellness Programs
Metamorphosis is:
Metamorphosis (meta-morfa-sis) is defined as a "marked or rapid transformation from one for to another." It is often considered to be associated with a "striking change in appearance or circumstnaces." A "complete change in of physical form or substance as by magic." A pronounced or striking change in form, appearance, shape or character. In humans it may be associated with substantial change, revision or alteration in body type (such as significant weight loss), body shaping (such as with working out with weights or exercise), lifestyle (such as a change in carrer destination, job, where one lives, demeanor or general attitude toward life). A fundamental change in form and habits. Marked changes in form or mode of life during development to maturity. A change of form from immature state to adult. A transformation form one developmental stage to another.
Our Metamorphosis Programs are designed to assist you in making changes in your life, in your shape, form, appearance, and character. It will support you in growing and developing new attitudes, ideas, a new and healthier self-image and help guide you through a transformation from your present state of development to another, higher and more healthy state.
Premenstrual Syndrome Programs
More than 20,000,000 suffer from Premenstrual Syndrome each month. Are you one? We have a simple test for you to take to find out. More than 3,000 PMS women are now completely symptom free, may be you would also like to be completely symptom free?
Contrary to most medical opinion PMS is caused by a vitamin-mineral deficiency that creates an imbalance between the two female hormones estrogen and progesterone. This imbalance along with certain other dietary excesses and deficiencies can ultimately lead to a series of several different symptom patterns.
In their book best selling book 30-Days to No More PMS, the Lawrences answer the most important questions' women have about PMS. They tell you how it is caused. And even better, how it can be eliminated. And even more important they even tell you price they pay you may have to pay for not treating it correctly. The book also provides a tried and proven step by step program for eliminating PMS.
The Lawrences have treated more than two thousand women, helping them to not only become symptom free, but also to take back control of their bodies. Now you can also have On-Line help to eliminate your PMS symptoms and become fully healthy and normal once again.
If you are interested in the Metamorphosis On-Line PMS Counseling Program, click here.
To Purchase the On-Line 30-Days to No More Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) , click here.
Metamorphosis On-Line Weight Loss Program
Metamorphosis On-Line Weight Loss Program© is unique. You can lose between 3 and 7 pounds a week eating without being hungry and eating as much food as you want.
A Weight Loss program that works right in the comfort of your own home. No more embarrassing or costly office visits. Get results and learn how to eat healthfully all at the same time.
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Welcome to the Metamorphosis On-Line Weight Loss Program©. The Metamorphosis On-Line Weight Loss Program© is a unique and revolutionary concept in weight loss management. Our program is custom designed especially for you. We evaluate your personal nutritional needs. We balance protein carbohydrates and fats for your personal needs and than work with you On-Line in the convenience and security of your home to get the exact results you desire.
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Financial Information
Generally we do not accept patients on the basis of future insurance payment.
Most insurance companies consider Life Dynamic Training ( LDT) as either psychological counseling, which it is not, or preventive medicine, which it is.
Unfortunately, most insurance companies do not pay for preventive care.
You can however, send copies of your paid receipt along with your insurance companies form for reimbursement. We cannot guarantee that you will be reimbursed.
A fee schedule is available upon direct request if you are interested in starting a therapeutic training program.
Once you have decided that you are interested in beginning therapy we will be happy to discuss all financial aspects with you.
Thank you for your interest, we would love to help you.
LDT and Men
When it comes to illness and conditions that affect the entire body, the immune system and organ systems, men and women are affected relatively equally. While it often appears that women, are more uniquely susceptible to a larger variety of illnesses, diseases, or conditions involving their reproductive system, men also have their unfair share of illnesses which can also rob them of their vitality, as well as their virility.
Life Dynamic Training (LDT) and Men and Illness
Men, of course also suffer from reproductive system illnesses, but since they are generally less in touch with their reproductive self only a few conditions are commonly seen. The most outstanding of these conditions are: impotence, chronic prostatitis, benign hypertrophy of the prostate, and prostate cancer in men after 40's and into the 50th and 60th years. In younger men, the most common problem are testicular cancers, premature ejaculation and chronic states of arousal. Men by their 60th year of age also suffer much higher risks of cardiovascular (atherosclerosis and heart attack) disease, hypertension and work related and non-work related injuries.
Most of the many illnesses and conditions men suffer in their late 50's and into their 60's have their beginnings much earlier in life, as with women, often in their early childhood, in their school years or early teens. For men in our society, personal identity is often intimately associated with work or career. The roots of illness are often established when they are forced by circumstances to work at jobs that take them away from who they are in their inner self. This generally occurs when they work at jobs they hate, are bored with, which provide little or no challenge, or are forced to work at because of external circumstances.
While most illnesses have multiple underlying contributing factors, such as diet, personal hygiene, or mental state, diseases of the reproductive system in men and women are often directly tied to conflicts regarding reproductive goals and choices, such as the partner or partners they choose, their own morality, unfulfilled goals or directions, and disappointments. While this true for both men and women, this as we will soon see, presents a much larger problem in women. Men, appear to more compartmentalized, their reproductive system is not affected as often as in women. Men, on the other hand, suffer greater risk of heart disease, hypertension, and other systemic diseases rather than reproductive problems. Yet, men also pay an awful price with illnesses and conditions that sap not only their vitality, but also their virility.
Since in the past, much less has been said about male reproductive system health problems, society has generally ignored them. Recently, however, impotence, prostatitis and prostate cancer have come to the forefront and are being seen as major health issues. While cardiovascular diseases and high blood pressure are still present, few men really realize the significant risk they face in these areas nor how easy it can be to reverse these problems or prevent them from occurring altogether.
Unfortunately for many men too much damage is done before they realize they are at risk for heart disease, high blood pressure and other such problems. Too often all that is left for them is a lifetime of medications, surgery or disability.
Depression while common to both men and women strikes both sexes differently and for different reasons. In women, it is has often either been tied to reproduction, partner relationships, or conflicts of some aspect of their femininity. In men, however, it is classically, more often than not, associated with work or career.
LDT can help identify those underlying conflict, dietary problems, issues of motivation, or possibly better still the lack of motivation, or self image that moved many men ever closer to the brink of disaster, chronic illness and years of loss of function.
LDT and Women
When it comes to illness and conditions that affect the entire body, the immune system and organ systems, both men and women are affected relatively equally. Women, however, are uniquely more susceptible to a larger variety of diseases, illnesses or conditions involving their reproductive system.
Women, Illness and Life Dynamic Training (LDT)
With a basic background in Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Women's Healthcare, it would be fair to say that the very beginning of LDT was grown and labored in and around women and their medical and health issues. The roots of LDT come from a concept (discussed in several other documents in this website), called Body Symptom Language (BSL). Early in my medical career, I recognized that every physical, mental or emotional symptoms had a story to tell. Each was a clue which provided information not just about the illness, but also about the cause and underlying factors involved in that specific illness as well as the illness process itself.
My first experience was recognizing that many of my patients suffered from recurring vaginal infections. Initially, it became clear that these otherwise perfectly healthy women suffered from vaginal infections and that hygiene, infections by partners, diabetes or other illnesses were not causes, nor in most situations had they even contributed to these infections.
For several years, acting in the mode of Interventive medicine (you get sick and we will fix you medicine or standard Western medicine), I simply treated these infections. More often than would be expected, certain patients returned, their vaginal infections having recurred even after prolonged treatment, treatment of the partner and even abstinence. I remember my exact thoughts as I saw a perfectly lovely, otherwise totally healthy woman, for the fifth time in as many months. "How could this perfectly healthy woman have a recurrence of her vaginal infection, when every factor we looked at was negative?" "Could an otherwise healthy woman have a sick vagina?" "Could the vagina be sick on its own unrelated to everything in this woman's life? It was at that point that I heard my self say, "there must be something in this woman's life that is causing this, but all I know about her are the results of her physical examinations, and her laboratory diagnostic testing. I needed to know more about her and more about her life."
I then asked this woman if she would be willing to meet with me and talk and see if anything in her life could be causing her recurrent infections. She agreed and we set up an appointment to meet and subsequently spent almost two hours talking. As part of my original intake she had been given a Social History form to complete. It had what appeared initially to be a lot of questions regarding who she was, what she did for a living, where she worked, but as I later realized, it asked nothing about her personally, nothing about her relationships, her marriage nor how and what she thought about. There were few clues available from this Social History form.
Once we started talking however, it literally only took a few minutes (although we did ultimately spent several hours together, finding in parts and pieces her life story) to begin hear beneath what she was saying that she was in a very unhappy marriage, and that she and her husband hardly talked, rarely made love and were far apart on many issues. In fact, it was clear that they were on the verge of separation and divorce. As we spent time together and talked, it soon became clear that her recurrent vaginal infections were the equivalent of the old joke of, "Not tonight honey, I have headache!" She wanted nothing to do with her husband and her vaginal infections gave her a reason to keep him at a distance. After the first session I recommended to her that she and her husband seek marriage counseling.
I did not see her again for several months until her next full physical was due. When she did come in again, she was an entirely different woman. She was bright, radiant and much more relaxed and lighter. She told me that she and her husband had indeed gone into marital counseling and within two weeks both recognized that they had each moved far past the other and that they were no longer in love. They agreed to separate and my patient filed for divorce. She thanked me profusely for my help in getting her to see that her recurrent vaginal infections had been a sign of the degree of deterioration of her marriage, that she no longer wanted to be sexual with her husband, and for referring her to a marriage counselor, which she believed had saved her life.
Over the next few years, I spent more and more time talking with my patients and I began to recognize that most gynecologic problems, and even many obstetrical problems, had their basis in unresolved conflicts. I was able to help many women solve their conflicts and thereby release them from their illnesses and suffering. Conditions such as breast pain, PMS, swelling in extremities often responded to even very minor dietary modifications. Conditions such as vaginal infection, irregular menstrual periods, intramenstrual bleeding which in the past had required use of medication were now resolved without medication and often offered a wellspring of information regarding unresolved conflicts which helped many women to repair or resolve long-standing problems and unresolved conflicts in their life. Other conditions such as pelvic pain, fibroid tumors, abnormal pap smears and much more that had previously required invasive medical procedures or surgery, could now be repaired or reversed simply by finding the unresolved conflicts that either caused or potentiated them, and resolving them. It wasn't too long before I began to realize that these same procedures could be applied in a more proactive form to obstetrical patients for preventing long painful labors, pre-eclampsia, back pain, recurrent abdominal pains, nervousness and much more, hence conflict resolution not only decreased the need for C-sections, but also insured more healthy vibrant mothers and babies.
Unfortunately however, referring patients to marriage and family counselors, psychologists and even psychiatrists, while being excellent resources, did not always work. Too often these practitioners were not sufficiently skilled in dealing with physical conditions and the relationship between underlying conflicts and problems and the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual problems they created. This did not allow for consistent and complete results and resolution of the medical problems. Also, with no negativity implied, too many of these therapists were geared to work for long periods of time, often years, with clients while many of the medical problems I was dealing with required much more rapid resolution.
In recent years, Lisa and I, have worked with increasing numbers of women with conditions such as endometriosis, adenomyosis, breast lumps, breast cancer and cancers of various types. Results are mixed. Results are best the earlier the client is treated, the longer their illness or problem has existed the harder it is to get complete reversal and prevent the need for surgical resolution.
As always our results often depend greatly on the willingness of our clients to do everything necessary to find and resolve their unresolved conflicts. Often resistance keeps clients from being willing to do some or all of what is needed to get optimal results.
While most illnesses have multiple underlying contributing factors, such as diet, personal hygiene, or mental state, diseases of the reproductive system in women and men are often directly tied to conflicts regarding reproductive goals and choices, the partners they have chosen, their own morality, unfulfilled goals and directions and their disappointments. This is true for both women and men, relationship issues are major problem for women where reproduction, femininity and individuality are all bound together intimately to create who and what they are as women, mothers and partners. When there is an unresolved conflict in these areas, the reproductive system can ultimately be affected.
Female, gynecologic, conditions, however, generally respond very well to LDT and with a willing and motivated client we have we have had reversals and even complete healing of many of the conditions discussed above.
If you have a gynecologic condition and wish help contact us and we will set up an interview to see if we can help you.
LDT, Working With Young and Old
The criteria for taking a patient into LDT are not rigid. Rather it is based on working with the types of problems in which we get the very best results.
Young People
While young people especially the very young would appear at first thought to be the ones who would most benefit from LDT this is not always the case. It seems that in order to benefit the most from LDT one needs a certain level of maturity and an amount of life experience. Trying to explain or help an immature person by explaining what kinds of problems and/or issues he or she should most be interested in preventing is often difficult at very best.
It may take someone with much more skill or specializing in working with the young mind. Hence, I stay away from children entirely. On occasion I have had the opportunity to work with young people 16 years or older who are considered more mature for their age. Usually however, I find that the youngest people I do the best with must be at least 18 to 20 years of age.
Working with the Elderly
Have you ever watched older people who are very unhappy or even angry? So very frustrated? Where their life seems to be an almost continuous torment, or living hell? This is not caused by old age, but it is a sign of many unresolved conflicts. Conflicts that have overwhelmed, confounded, confused and taken over the person. Thus, draining away the goodness of their life. They have made this person's life a cacophony of aches, pains, anger, shame, guilt, unresolved fears and frustrations. They endure more suffering than they really should. They endure more suffering than is normal or necessary.
This only occurs because they have chosen to ignore their negative emotions, physical signs and symptoms, moral and spiritual conflicts. All that they ever needed to do was to deal with these issues productively. Hence, converting their lifetime of negative ways to positive feelings, thoughts and actions.
We have all seen the happy, contented, wizened grand parent, charming and alive to the last day of their life. These people have lived life dealing with and solving their conflicts and life issues. While all of their personal conflicts may not have been completely resolved, they were all dealt with sufficiently so as not leave a negative residue.
Who Get the Very Best Results?
The very best results are achieved by individuals no matter their age, want to make a difference in their own life. Illness may or may not be an issue. Sometimes the individual is far enough along the path to realize what must be done, but is looking for a teacher or guide who can help them with moving along faster and more easily.
Other times the individual is caught up in a life-threatening illness, such as cancer, autoimmune disease emotional conflict, spiritual conflict, or Stress-Related disorders. They know, or are able to recognize to some degree that there are too many lies, faulty belief systems, anger, bad habits, suicidal behaviors, guilt, shame, conflict, or relationship problems in their life. They recognize that the sweetness of life is either gone or rapidly draining away.
They want more from life and either cannot find it or do not know where to look for it. They know change is needed and they are ready if only they had some help.
Often patients are either referred to us or brought into us by parents, employers, or really good friends. This does not mean, however, because they come that they are ready. There is a place within each person that only he or she knows. Sometimes they are not sure that they want assistance, so we just start and watch where it goes.
The optimal client says in one way or another, "It is time to change!" or "I'm sick and I need to get myself well again!" They are taking responsibility and looking to take action. Others are at a very desperate point in life and are ready to do everything possible to return to complete good health and well-being.
LDT and Traditional Western Medicine Working Together
LDT is a holistic personalized approach designed for each individual as a unique person, and based specifically on their needs for healing. LDT enlists each person in actively participating in their healing process.
Western Medicine Is An Evidence-Based Medical System
Traditional Western medicine is a science-based approach to healing. It is generally evidence-based. This means traditional Western medicine uses scientific parameters to define and evaluate information and results. In a sense nothing is meaningful unless it can be seen, heard, touched or measured.
To quote, Clinical Evidence, an-evidence-based compendium of current medical information. "Clinical Evidence summarizes the current state of knowledge and uncertainty about the prevention, and treatment of most clinical conditions, based on thorough researches and appraisal of the literature. Evidence-based clinical information is an important tool necessary to clinical decision making in medical practice today."
In many cases evidence-based clinical information represents the sum total of information gathered through research, clinical use, physician experience and the scientific approach. The present library of clinical evidence-based material provides medical practitioners with up to date information which can and often does help them more effectively treat their patients. In the long run, is medical treatment alone the very best for their patients?
Evidence-based medical information rests on the current medical system's belief that their treatment, at least what they believe they are doing, can be quantified, evaluated and proven one way or another to work or not work.
The evidence-based research and finally the way we look at the end result have certain important limitations which have no equivalent means of being dealt with at this time. First, of all they are wholly scientifically based and represent the current approach to seeing, looking at, evaluating and treating human-beings. Secondly, they are entirely based on the current point of view, beliefs, limitations and values of the traditional Western medical system. Thirdly, because of this they dismiss, entirely eliminate and leave no room for the mind-body construct, underlying emotions, individual differences, patient choices and values, spiritual or religious views. In short they are scientific and leave little or no room for humanity in them. Fourthly, and of great importance most evidence-based research is flawed from its inception. It is often based on too small of a group of subjects. It is not at all unusual that the studies initial premise is based on finding a specific conclusion. Too often studies are misinterpreted for political, financial, or business reasons. Lastly, and possibly most importantly, evidence-based studies, and therefore most medical treatment programs are based on someone other than you. Your lifestyle, diet, beliefs, habits, and life-experiences are not factors in the basic study. Hence, while information gleaned from evidence-based may have some general value it may or may not have any specific value for you personally or the treatment of your illness. Since you are really only interested in what is right for you, using evidence-based studies for other then very general conceptualization of your problem is not only wrong, but potentially dangerous.
Traditional Western medicine, however does not look at the individual patient and his or her relationship with having becoming ill or with their healing. The patient is not part of the process of evidence-based medicine only the passive subject of this system.
To some degree, however, this is okay; for example with evidence-based traditional Western medicine we can see how virtually any drug (especially the more commonly used medications), surgery or other treatments alone or in certain combinations can perform, but we still don't know what the role of the person, them self, is. For those of us who require medical treatment this should be clearly comforting that your doctors have studies and evidence about a good deal of what they are doing
What is most discomforting, however, is that they don't always know how our mental, emotional, spiritual or behavioral aspects will respond to their treatment programs. Also when we tell them what mentally, emotionally or spiritually influences us, they can do little or if anything to help us or increase our ability to heal. On the other hand they can, either by being disinterested or unknowledgeable, sabotage us.
Does an evidence-based therapy process which shows promise really represent the best their patient can have or get? What if there is more and their failure to recognize this leads to a significant increased risk or occurrence of the very side effects and limitations they so carefully document? In addition what if this ultimately decreases, or even completely undermines, the value of their treatment programs? What about the power of positive thought, the power of the mind-body-spirit interaction to heal? Are these fostered and empowered or even a factor in evidence-based clinical treatment programs?
Are their failures, side effects and hazardous effects all really failures of the medications? Instead could they be failures of the will to live, suicidal thoughts or a continuation of the process which caused the illness in the first place? Can evidence-based information systems determine this and include it into their next set of evaluations? What if we had the ability to alter or reverse these processes (say by using something like LDT)? Would the results of these evidence-based research programs also be altered in any way?
A pure scientist would say these human factors aren't important. They have little meaning. They are averaged out randomly, statistically accounted for and included in the p value or some other statistical analysis or factor along with so many other positive and negative forces. This is understandable, "humanness," has virtually no place in modern Western medicine today nor within the scientific approach.
Today, at best, it is represented by caring, humane physicians with polished bedside manners. Yet is this enough? Certainly it can be helpful and can make us feel better, but once again, is it enough? Does it turn the tide in our favor? Does it really increase not only our survival, but our quality of life? Does it improve the care of all people, sick or in danger? Does it decrease all of our fears, and relieve all of our anxiety? Does it diminish all of the negative aspects of mind-body-spirit that are working against healing and our complete return to wellness? Does it promote our healing in spite of everything else?
Remember, we are not against traditional Western medicine, nor science, nor evidence-based medicine. We see all of these as valuable constructs, each having its place in healing. We also recognize their short coming and limitations. For this reason we suggest adding LDT to your healing program. It represents the human side of the healing equation. The side not presently available within the traditional Western medical system.
LDT and Western Medicine Working Together
LDT healing works with, not against, Traditional Western medicine treatment. Your medical doctor manages your medical or surgical care, your medications and diagnosis, while your LDT therapist helps you use your medical treatment and broaden what it can do for you. LDT makes traditional Western medicine much more effective in solving your health needs and creating permanent healing.
LDT goes beyond traditional Western medicine. It provides a host of additional self-help and supportive capabilities to further increase your body's healing power. This enhances your ability to heal fully and completely hence reducing the chance of only partially healing, of relapses or new illnesses.
LDT is used to make medical treatment more effective. It aids in reducing side effects, adverse reactions and supports you in making essential better informed decisions about treatment.
With LDT you are in charge of your life and your treatment. You are included in the healing process. You do not hand over control to the LDT therapist, for they only act as your teacher and mentor. The LDT therapist teaches and helps you to find the causes that underlie the conflicts that are responsible for your illness.
LDT and Traditional Western medicine are complimentary and not in opposition. Each provides help in totally different ways. Historically Western Traditional medicine eliminated the role of the mind, the emotions, and the spirit from the healing process. LDT returns these vital aspects to the healing process.
Many Traditional Western medical practitioners have a problem with using alternative medical techniques and procedures along with their treatment program. LDT has no problem with this for the LDT practitioner believes that you (the patient) will know instinctively what is in your best interest. The LDT practitioner knows that there are many ways to get to the same end point. There is only one way, that is right for each person and only the person them self will know which is the right path for them.
The LDT therapist knows that healing requires finding the exact right path to (physical, mental, emotional and spiritual) health. Finding this path may require a good deal of trial and error. For many people trial and error is scary and felt to be a waste of time. The LDT healer knows that trail and error may be the only way to find the exact right path, the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual healing path necessary to move you toward your highest and best self.
What is LDT Healing?
Healing always means different things to different people. To some people it means a complete and total return to wellness, good or even perfect health and total well-being. To others it may mean more limited things, such as learning to walk again, eliminating certain symptoms, reducing pain or functioning better. To the dying person healing may mean correcting certain interrelationships in order to finally find peace.
Healing and Dying
We have found that healing can also mean accepting that it is your time to die and allowing it to happen without pain and with calm and appropriate dignity.
We also must consider healing to be the accomplishment of those goals and conflicts that the individual sets for them self. In a sense healing is a journey where the destination is less important than the experience of the journey itself. For some it is merely the opportunity to gain insight from this journey with their illness or in response to dealing with the conflicts that underlie their illness.
Everyone dies. Everyone will die of some cause and for some reason. Healing may be putting off death, but it can never stop it entirely. It can certainly be increasing and improving the quality of life, it can be completing situations that need to be completed, and it can be making the transition from life to death more worthwhile.
Healing never occurs in a vacuum. Healing can only occur when we are ready for it and it involves everyone around us. To heal oneself of an illness causes others to be involved in some way. This process includes the person, the physicians involved, the healer, close friends, their entire family, everyone the person knows and often hundreds, even thousands of people they do not know, nor may never know.
Healing and Life
It should be clear by now that healing is not always about surviving. However, for the great majority of us, we think of healing as, "making it," "surviving," "coming through it." We think of healing as cheating death, returning to normal once again. This "returning to normal" is quite often an illusion, however, Once someone has cheated death or has survived a major illness, life is rarely the same as before the illness. Circumstances change, and this changes people. Healing is often a dynamic life altering process.
Just about everyone involved in a healing experience is changed in someway, yet few may really take the opportunity to learn from it. Many know something is different but cannot identify what has changed. Many fall back into their same old patterns and soon may become ill again. Still a few others, are so changed that their appreciation of life, their willingness to grow, and evolve from their experience is greatly sharpened. Some change life patterns, not just by giving up smoking or drinking, but much more than that. They see the world differently. Some say colors are brighter, sounds are sharper, feelings are deeper. Others see everything in their life differently. They may quit their jobs or return with a new vigor. What has happened? Often the changes are so obvious that family, friends even coworkers notice that something is different, even so still others around them so involved in their own lives, that they do not notice that anything is different at about them at all or they notice some changes but are not sure at all what has happened.
Whether it is a heightening of sense, change in priorities, or simply a deepened sense of life is unimportant. What is important is that illness, especially potentially life threatening illness, is a door-way to an increased sense of what it means to be alive. The old conflicts mean less, the future becomes more sweet and the past is only old stories of what has happened. The illness has allowed release of the obstacles and blocks, conflicts and limitations that once clouded life.
I have been asked if this only possible after experiencing a life threatening illness. The answer is no. You do not have to get sick to enjoy this new sense of reality and life. Anyone can have this today, if they can choose to live life as it has been meant to be lived, fully without fear, without reservation. The problem is, it is difficult just to make this decision. Whether it be of Devine Plan, the nature of humans or just the way life is, we very often cannot get to this place without a serious threat to our life or lifestyle. Possibly the simplest way to do this short of natural disasters, calamities or extreme acts of courage, in our society, is through illness.
Do we need illness? No! Is illness necessary? Possibly, yes! Can we learn, grow and evolve from our illnesses? Definitely! Do we have to wait until we get ill to begin the process of evolution to our highest and best self? No! You can begin the process right now. LDT is one way that can facilitate this growth without having to experience illness.
We are often asked whether we are only doing Psychotherapy to accomplish these goals, and our answer is no, LDT is much more that. To obtain further answers this question, go to our section on the differences between LDT and psychotherapy through the link at the end of this article.
What Does This Other Type of Life Look or Feel Like?
Think about what happens when we heal ourselves using LDT or any other process. We are no longer sick, we live longer, we have better quality of life, we participate longer and possibly better in our community. We inspire others and we change the lives of many around us to give them courage to think and act higher, to look after themselves and to themselves consider healing and resolving their conflicts.
Healing can bring families together and the example of healing can lead loved ones to care more about their lives, give up bad habits, reduce dangerous behaviors, care better for themselves, have greater self-esteem and to feel more loved and valuable.
Life becomes more meaningful and fear of death, while it may never go away entirely, is significantly lessened or even eliminated. Once we realize that death is not the enemy, we will also see that the real enemy is not living, now, fully, with passion, with love, with caring for others, and to our full and complete potential, then death becomes almost meaningless. Not living life fully is our only enemy and we can only vanquish this enemy by opening our hearts and souls and finding and becoming our highest and best self.
Healing, Love and Self-Value
It has long been understood in physics that any change anywhere changes everything about it. Possibly even the entire universe. This is almost always true of LDT healing. The world changes. Possibly even the entire Universe changes. Philosophers have told us that our purpose in this world is love. We can heal the Universe with love. If enough people live with love then the Universe will change and become a more loving place.
The same is true of healing. As more people heal, the problems of our world begin to heal and maybe this creates healing in other places, and in other beings, throughout the Universe. Whether this is true or not is really a matter of faith. It probably can never be proven one way or another. However, it is a powerful thought. Healing yourself creates healing throughout our world and possibly throughout the universe as well.
In that sense healing and love are the two most powerful forces in the universe. It is not then strange to realize that healing comes through love and love leads to healing. Healing is the ultimate act of love. Healing yourself becomes the ultimate act of self-love and self-value. This love changes us, it frees us and it allows us to open our hearts and souls to others which then affects them.
If it is your time to heal, you already know it. If it is not, and you have many questions, then continue to search for answers. When you are ready, seek help and when you are healed help others heal themselves. The world will be a better place for all of this.
LDT and Your Lifestyle
Discussions about lifestyles are often trivialized by talking about whether you smoke, drink, diet or exercise. How we live our life is much more meaningful than this. Any discussion of your lifestyle is really talking about you, the decisions you have made, what your life and well-being is worth to you and the positive and negative forces operating on you.
Certainly, we are aware that most people would immediately take offense. "My life style is not important," some might say. While others would immediately reply, "You're making a mountain out of a mole hill." "My lifestyle is just things I do right, it means nothing at all about me," others might say.
The truth however, is that like your finger prints, your blood pressure, or you heart rhythm. Your life style tells a great deal about you. True, a lifestyle is not always permanent. Sometimes it represents exploration, bad decisions, or simply can be misunderstood by others observing us.
If you are really willing to expand your horizons, then it will soon become reasonably clear, that a lifestyle is the sum total of everything we think, the decisions we make, our beliefs, the lies and truths we tell our self and then live by. Our lifestyle is not just what we do, but also why we do what we do and why we don't do other things. Your lifestyle is not only what you do and what you believe but also the reasons you choose to do or not do these things. Also what you give up and what you get for having them in your life.
Your lifestyle also includes the pictures you create and plans you make and the way you think about yourself and life. Lifestyle is how you feel when you do not get what you want and when you do get what you want. In our section on stress we tell you that stress is the difference between what you want out of life and what you get in life. The greater the difference between the way you want your world to be and the way the world actually is, are the stressors of your life.
From the time you get up in the morning until you go to bed at night, in your sleep, in your dreams and your imagination, all of these are your lifestyle. In our section on Huna we talk about reaching for and finding your Highest and Best Self. When you reach for this goal, you live your life style, when you surrender to destructive behaviors, by living dangerously, or have addictions you give up your self. When you give up your true self and live in guilt or with anger, rage or fear you undermine your healthy self. The same is true when you accept external negative beliefs and live with the feelings or beliefs that you have sinned and there is no way out.
This is when unhappiness occurs. This is when lifestyle becomes a burden and the negative aspects will begin to destroy you. Negative lifestyle behaviors quickly transform life wishes into death wishes. When we smoke, use drugs, have affairs, steal, lie, cheat, ask for sickness, or stress ourselves out, when we do things that are harmful to our self and others, these are death wishes.
Death wishes lie at the base of almost all illness. It is these death wishes that LDT must find and eliminate.
Is LDT Psychotherapy?
LDT is not psychotherapy. Instead it is a problem solving process and a method of understanding how the interplay between body, mind, emotions and spirit operate. LDT allows us to become aware of our inner conflicts and using real-world, everyday techniques solve the problems and underlying faulty beliefs and ideas that have created these conflicts. It acts to train you to recognize conflicts, resolve them, learn from them and then how to grow and evolve to your highest and best self using these conflicts and experiences as your teachers.
While we work with the mind and dealing with past experiences, we adhere to no specific theory of psychology. We may, however, use bits and pieces of many psychological theories, employing those techniques that work to free us from anger, fear, guilt, depression and negativity. Along with this we use a series of understandings or truths from the great religions of the world. Those truths which have withstood the test of time and can help us find harmony and balance in life. Those truths that relieve negative feelings, beliefs and emotions help replace them with positive and constructive ones allowing us peace and joy in our lives.
We use a number of different processes including helping you see your inner feelings and beliefs, teaching you what you need to know and loving constructive confrontation when you stray from the process. Our goal is not to allow you to undermine yourself. That is we discourage maintaining belief systems or habits that cause you pain, hurt, or are detrimental to your well-being.
What is or is not appropriate to your well-being is ultimately decided upon by you. You make the rules, the final decisions and set your own goals. What we do is help you stay on target with the goals, decisions and directions you have set.
Another reason that LDT cannot be considered to be a form of Psychotherapy is that Psychotherapy works only with the mind and emotions. It is rarely, if ever, used to treat illnesses, nor used for the prevention illness other than emotional illnesses. Most psychotherapists rarely if ever, include or work with the physical, lifestyle, spiritual or religious side of the person. LDT does all of these. Our main goal is not only the prevention of mental or emotional illness, but most importantly the treatment of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual illness or imbalance. In some ways what we do may overlap psychotherapy especially when we work with persons who are depressed or are experiencing anxiety, or panic disorders, but when we are working with the physical conditions created by these problems we are well out of psychotherapy and primarily operating in the area of healing or alternative medicine. For example, when we work with a person who is fatigued or has a physical illness such as cancer or an autoimmune disease the psychotherapist might work toward healing the symptoms of depression caused by the disease, while we work with healing the disease itself. We know that the client's depression is only one symptom o only one clue in healing the puzzle of the clients illness.
Are We Psychotherapists, Psychologists or Psychiatrists?
No! We consider neither ourselves to be psychotherapists, psychologists nor psychiatrists nor have we been trained to do psychotherapy, psychology or psychiatry. We do not want to represent ourselves as any of these or as practicing anything near the disciplines practiced by these specialties. Instead, we consider ourselves to be alternative healers. Working within an ancient craft of healing people of conditions that rob them of their vitality, joy and which can, if not terminated, rob them of their life itself.
The fact that we do not practice psychotherapy, psychology or psychiatry should not suggest that we somehow believe that these disciplines do not work. In fact we are outright believers in all three of them. When indicated we always refer those clients who need psychological help, medications or psychotherapy or specific help to a therapist who can help them. When a client comes to us and is already in therapy we always suggest to them that they remain in therapy, for as long as they feel they are making progress. We encourage our clients to work with any trained therapist who can help them when mental or emotional illness requires treatment. That is, when a good psychologist or psychotherapist is exactly what is needed by that client.
Intuitional Healing and LDT
The use of intuition in healing people is an old and honored tradition. Intuition has always been a trusted tool of healers throughout the history of mankind. Unfortunately it has served both positive and negative goals. When used wisely and for the patient's benefit, it has rendered invaluable service to those requiring healing. On the other hand, when used to serve the con artist or criminal, it can be used against the person who may desperately need healing.
The process of healing (physical, mental, emotional and spiritual healing) requires a complex series of steps. Using actions which create internal and external changes. These actions repair the body and return it to its prior state of well-being. However any healing we experience also changes the world around us as well. These steps, actions and changes require positive, or "healing," beliefs, a positive atmosphere inside and out and positive physical, mental, emotional and spiritual intention to heal. Without these positive elements healing may be slow, sometimes arbitrary and often less than is desired. Only when these factors are positive, and purposefully directed, do we see healing most favorably facilitated, rapid and most effectively accomplished.
While healing is built into us and genetically mandated as well as part of our Survival Mandate, it can be sabotaged by both internal and external forces that draw off energy away from the desired healing process this misdirect healing energies. Only when we create the most positive milieu can we control the healing process and achieve the most positive end result, the best and most appropriate healing possible.
Result of Negative Energy
Injury or secondary to negative emotions
Conflicted negative and positive emotions
Energy of healing
Blocked Electromagnetic waves, heat, psychic content
Negative Factors
There are many potential negative factors that can block or negatively affect the healing process. We can group them as physical and mental-emotional. Some examples of physical blocks are further injury, reinjury, poor diet or lack of nutrition when necessary, dehydration, infection, or even a foreign body. Some examples of mental-emotional blocks are fear or terror, negative emotions, suicidal thought, faulty belief systems about healing or in fact anything associated with the cause of the illness or injury or the healing process.
Positive Factors
Once again there are many positive factors that favorably affect the healing process. We also have the same two categories, the physical and mental-emotional factors. Some examples of physical facilitators are washing wounds, antibiotics, properly applied, clean dressings, proper nutrition, clean surroundings. Some examples of mental-emotional facilitators are feeling secure, feeling safe, having loving and caring people help and support us, positive feeling and emotions, positive visual and mental imagery, positive psychic energy.
Fear Facilitates Illness
Fear is the strongest negative force affecting illness or injury. When an animal has been injured, the associated fear then has its function. Initially, it appears to encourage healing and therefore promote ultimate survival. Fear can also negatively affect healing, it can cause delay in the body-mind's ability to return to battle, or it can protect the individual. Where fear is strong enough, it can win by causing the individual to turn inside and be unable to return to battle, hence survive future battles. This process was commonly seen during WWI, WWII, Korea and Vietnam. Although it is known by many different names (Battle Fatigue, Shell Shock, Post Traumatic Syndrome, Cowardice) the common factor is overwhelming fear and delayed healing. Please be assured we are not suggesting that either battle fatigue, Shell Shock or Post Traumatic Syndrome are forms of cowardice, rather that they share two similar factors fear and negative thinking.
Psychic Energy
These positive and negative emotions often radiate out of us and are picked up by others around us. These emotions radiate out through a process we can think of as "psychic energy." Psychic energy takes the form of waves of energy which radiate out from the person. This energy is created by a combination of our emotions and our thoughts. They can be positive, negative, ambivalent and neutral. That is, they can convey a myriad of emotion and psychic content. Psychic energy is created and radiated below our level of awareness of its existence. Therefore, we generally have little if any control over it. It is often related to the emotional content created by what is happening in the moment, but is also a product of our unresolved conflicts. Especially those that are strong enough to cause illness or to threaten to our survival.
While it is possible to hide all of these positive and negative emotions, psychic energy, conflict, ambivalence and intention from ourselves, it is not always possible, or even desirable, to hide them from others nor the world around us.
As a result we are so involved with the illness process, this psychic, emotionally positive, negative or ambivalent, energy leaks out of us. Sometimes we broadcast it out. This is possibly a result of the intense emotions involved in a specific situation or even our subconscious way of drawing in positive supportive energy or help from loved ones, friends and even healers.
One could call this, a "cry for help." It could also be looked at as an automatic warning beacon. One which our body-mind sends out knowing that among us are those who can heal or at least help us.
This psychic energy can be perceived by people who are able to tune into it. We call these people, "receivers." The person from whom the psychic energy is radiated is the "transmitter" or the "sender." When the psychic energy is picked up by a healer, the healer becomes the receiver. The message sent is the "cry for help." This is usually an emergency beacon sent out to draw the healer to the sender before their illness, injury, crises or conflict reaches a place of irreversibility. Once the condition reaches a state of irreversibility, complete healing may no longer be possible.
As a physician, thousands of times I have heard, felt, and experienced such "cries for help." In the early years of my practice, I had no sense of what I was experiencing and so I ignored it. I learned, to a great degree, to turn off the emotional content of the messages I received from my patients. Many doctors do this. Unfortunately Western medical training gives them no choice as it is often part of their training to tune out everything but the physical signs and symptoms of illness.
These emotional messages greatly complicate the "scientific practice" of medicine. How can you be scientific, rely on physical examinations, lab tests, and do surgery, if you are receiving psychic messages of "help me!" or even more confusing, "I'm so terrified!" "I feel so ashamed!" "I'm so guilty!" "I have sinned!" "I'm such a bad person!" The most difficult messages we may receive are thoughts or feeling the patient is entirely unaware of. Things such as, "I hate my life," "there is no joy (sweetness) in my life," or "I want to die!" when the patient is sitting directly across from you telling you that they really are watching their diet and that they have absolutely no idea why their diabetes (or their life itself) is entirely out of control or why they are 50 lbs. or more overweight.
Instead more safely for me (as it is for most doctors), I merely believed that my patients came to me because they were referred to me. They became my patients and I did my medical best to help them in what I thought (at that time) was a most caring and professional way. I was a good doctor, they were sick and I could only help them if I remained true to traditional Western medicine's holy of holies, "the scientific approach." I helped them the best I could, and they, to prove I was a good doctor, then referred their friends and family to me, because I was scientific and because they liked me.
As time went by, I began to have a sense that just about every person I saw, patient or person on the street, was in someway calling out me, probably more accurately was sending out messages and trying to communicate with me. I also learned how to shut this off and ignore it completely.
I learned that most of us are rather quick to allow the positive impressions in, so when we meet someone on the street who gives off positive psychic energy - we greet them positively - we feel good. We might even say something like, "She brightens my day!" or "What a nice person!" Or even, "I enjoy being around him!" Often our undirected sensors only see or experience the positive of the situation. We have filters which we have, early in childhood, learned to filter out everything negative, that we can.
Other times, however, we may meet a person who radiates such strong negative psychic energy or conflict of some sort, that our filters fail us. We might think to our self, "He is such a downer!" Or "I have a bad feeling about her!" or even, "That child is disturbed!" We feel and experience such strong negative energy from them that it stands out.
The important fact is that we all experience positive and negative feelings and psychic energy from just about everyone around us, but most of us have only learned to tune them out. Few of us learn how to use these impressions positively or to tune into them and get to understand what is happening.
As I studied healing in different cultures, I learned to recognize these positive and negative energies or psychic pleas for help. I soon began to feel the sense of conflict from my patients and later, with some training, I was able to begin to form impressions about the cause and nature of these conflicts. Gradually, with more experience, (and using the information the client provides during their medical histories, the way they tell their story, what they say, their body postures and body language) and using many other sources we can soon recognize what their conflicts are and how we can help them to resolve them.
The Process of Conflict and Cause
No conflict occurs without a cause. When there is no conflict, the spirit, mind and body are either at rest or in a state of comfort or peace, or growing. When the mind, body, emotions and spirit are at rest there is little negative and more likely extremely positive energy flowing out of them. There may be some positive energy but often the feeling one experiences is a neutral feeling of sorts. Ambivalence is like this in some ways but differs in that you sense a feeling of some confusion or indecision. Not necessarily very strong, but still present.
Positive energy is more or less self explanatory. We have all experienced what is commonly referred to as, "good vibes." Negative energy, can also be simply described as, "bad vibes." However, negative energy is generally more complex and we may feel anger, hate, rigidity, frustration, or other negative feelings.
The specific cause of a conflict can be either real or imagined. For example, a car coming at you on a direct collision course is a real threat. On the ether hand, many other fears such as fear of failure or anger at people in general are more often generated by imaginary situations or possibly more correctly, non-life threatening fears. They may in fact have little or no real basis in fact.
Underlying every conflict, real or imagined is a set of beliefs, decisions, guilt, fear or anger. After talking with thousands of patients my body-mind began to tune into as much of what was not being said as what was actually said. I began recognizing the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual symptoms which were clues to the patient's physical, mental, emotional and spiritual conflict.
Interestingly enough, over the years, patterns began to develop. Certain symptoms directed my attention to certain types of conflicts. Specific illnesses clearly appeared to be caused by specific conflicts and could be resolved with resolving those conflicts which appeared to cause them.
This process of faulty belief systems, lies, guilt, shame, faulty behavior, and lifestyle operated to cause specific types of conflicts, these conflicts caused certain types of symptoms which were soon recognizable as messages from the body-mind communicating that a specific type of conflict existed. Soon the relationships between these conflicts, their symptoms and illness patterns became increasingly obvious.
This then becomes a language. When listened to and sensed correctly, these impressions direct the healer to the types of questions needed to close in on the conflict and recognize why they existed. This then allows the healer to "see" and "feel" what is needed to promote healing.
Since this language is not written, spoken or published (yet), there is no easy way to communicate its rules and laws. This is what I am attempting to do in this paper. Hence, we must think of this language as intuitional, in that it is felt more than communicated outwardly.
On the outside, it may look and sound questionable to those unschooled in understanding this process. It can even look like magic or extrasensory perception. In fact, however, it is none of this, it is years and years of experience, of being able, like a good detective, to read the clues and make sense of them. This works along with directed medical questions, to rule in and out certain informative assumptions and pictures. These then assist the healer in homing in on the specific illness process and thus deciding what to do about them.
Can It Be Wrong?
This process is not foolproof. The healer can be wrong. Clues can be misread. Impressions can be faulty.
Psychic messages can be confused within the patient and sent for deep hidden reasons conflicts can be disguised and the subconscious, not trusting us, can send faulty messages to accomplish its own hidden goals.
This is the reason for the questions and answers, medical history, physical examination as well as trial and error. These are also the reasons that techniques and tools, such as dialoging, journaling, meditation, relaxation exercises and others, are used to distract, free up, open up and create trust between the client and his or her subconscious mind.
The healer should always respect their first impression, but should also always strive to support any and all theory with fact and real, hard evidence. Fortunately, this is rather easy to do because in the sick person the calls are often very loud and easy to be heard.
How Accurate is Intuitional Medicine (LDT)?
I have often been asked how accurate I am. The answer is, "Considerably more often that one would expect for strictly random guessing."
As I said earlier this is a skill and its accuracy improves with three variables: 1) number of times the skill is used, 2) willingness to make commitment on my part to the process, 3) willingness on the part of the patient/client to commit to working with me.
If one party or the other is less committed, non-believing or withholding the accuracy falls.
What If I Am Wrong?
Intuition is always only a theory. It can never be thought of as a fact nor can it strictly control treatment or serious decisions. This is where medicine and intuition blend.
In the early twentieth century, the great physicians who formed the basis of modern medicine, talked of a quality which they often possessed and most other physicians tried (sometimes unsuccessfully) to emulate called, "clinical acumen." These physicians were often referred to as the great "Diagnosticians." In a time before x-rays, blood tests, CT Scans, MRI's, etc. physicians had to rely on their instincts, sense of human nature, clinical experience and their intuition, to make the hard diagnoses. Their knowledge (as limited as it might have been compared to today's body of knowledge) was vast in intuition and medical acumen. They used this medical acumen to come up with the very best answers and were revered and studied because of their ability.
I believe today we can add the descriptive terminology to what they did as, "intuitive" medicine. Like Sherlock Holmes, no hunch or intuition was an orphan, they are all parented by experience, fact, physical findings, clinical experience, skill and willingness to commit to what you believe and know.
A true intuitive healer operates from their experience reading psychic energy, body language, facial expressions and his or her past experience. They are not mind readers nor do they use extrasensory information. The language of illness is relatively easy to read for one who has years of experience.
The excellent healer never entirely trusts his or her intuition with the client's life or well-being. Instead they use it to find clues. Then using the scientific medical processes to back it up, supporting or rejecting formal diagnoses.
While the intuitive healer can be wrong and make mistakes they have learned to use these mistakes positively. They do not take risks nor to endanger their client. They learn from each experience and use the information they have received to look for and find unresolved conflicts and treatments that will ultimately work for all of their clients.
A Matter of Health
It is often said that long life and good health are two of the most valuable gifts we can have in life. Yet too often we see individuals developing illnesses and diseases during childhood, adulthood and even into the so called "golden years." More and more people are now looking for answers, the secrets of life, that will help protect them from illness and disease.
To emphasize this problem major portion of the U.S. economy is directed at treating illness and its aftermath. Unfortunately there is comparatively little interest on the part of the medical and pharmaceutical establishment in creating cures or providing prevention. In truth, few people really know or understand what disease or good health is really all about. It may be for this reason that so many people end up robbed of their "good health."
To understand the concepts of disease and health we must first do away with the myth that disease and good health are enemies for they are not. Disease is the condition or state that occurs when the individual is "out of ease" with his or herself. That is, out of balance. It is at this time of "imbalance" that the immune system which normally protects us may fail. Good health, on the other hand, is the state where we are in balance with ourselves and with the rest of the universe.
The Six Major Aspects
Another way of looking at this is to say that what we think of as "good health" is really a state of balance of the major aspects of our life. Each person has six major aspects which require balancing. These major aspects make up the substance of our lives. The term, major aspect, is used to describe the six major parts of our existence: our work, our mental and spiritual aspects, our family, physical and Self aspects. Each of these "aspects" may have one or more subcategories which make them up, such as the Self which is made up of hobbies, skills, interests, etc. The physical aspect is made up of our body image, grooming, physical activities, and the physical body itself.
When all of these major aspects are in balance, we have harmony and balance in our life. We are in harmony with the people and world around us and with who and what we really are. We generally have good health.
On the other hand, when these aspects are out of balance or out of harmony with who we are, then we may have the potential of problems. The greater the "imbalance" the greater the potential for creating a major conflict. As these imbalances increase, there becomes a greater and greater possibility of creating changes in the physical, emotional and mental aspects of the individual. At a certain point these changes will create enough dysfunction to create changes in the physical body, imbalances in the body's chemistry and imbalances in the body's ability to resist disease. Ultimately these imbalances will affect a reduction in the body's ability to heal and repair itself.
Diagram 1.
What Balance Looks Like:
Diagram 2.
What Imbalance Looks Like:
Diagram 3.
When these imbalances become significant enough to impair the body's defense system (and hence its ability to cope with outside invaders, bacteria, viruses, parasites, and toxins) or when the body is no longer able to competently heal itself, then a process called Disease begins. In order for a disease to take hold the immune system must fail in some way. It could cause the body to attack itself creating an autoimmune disease. It could interfere with the appetite, food intake, absorption, or elimination of bodily waste products leading to nutritional deficiencies. It could also create a breakdown in the body chemistry or metabolic systems causing a metabolic disease. Or it could allow invaders to penetrate the body's defenses leading to infection. Without a completely competent immune system to defend the body, invaders can take hold, grow and even flourish. Disease, therefore, occurs when the body is sufficiently out of balance to maintain competent protection or when the ability to heal itself is impaired.
What Disease Looks Like:
Diagram 4.
In Diagram 2 we see an individual who lives a relatively balanced and harmonious life. All aspects are in balance with each other. In Diagram 3 an imbalance occurs. For whatever reason a great amount of time and effort is being spent around work. This might be a primary problem related to needing to work to pay the bills or it may be a career decision or a secondary problem related to getting into debt from over spending and having to work more to pay off this debt. While cause is vital, in this example lets us just accept that there is one and go forward from there to explain what can happen next. At first the other aspects may not suffer too much, but over time the increased amount of time and effort spent at work may lead to changes in the other aspects.
Since so much time and effort is spent at work this individual soon has less time to spend on himself, his hobbies or at relaxation. He has less energy and time for his family, less for spiritual matters (meditation, religion, nature, love, etc.). His need for mental effort may increase disproportionately as well.
Over a period of time internal (and probably external) stress builds. The physical aspect, the body its immune system and healing and repair systems may falter. At some point the body begins to communicate the conflict, physical, mental or emotional symptoms may occur.
They may initially be in the form of fatigue, difficulty sleeping, a loss of or increased appetite, increased cravings, changes in diet or eating habits, constipation or diarrhea. The symptoms may occur in the form of mild depression, anxiety, loss of memory, making mistakes accidents, using drugs, excessive alcohol consumption, smoking or any one of a hundred or more vague and indeterminate signs and symptoms. See our section on Stress Related Disorders for more information on this subject.
As time passes the symptoms become more specific. A simple case of occasional acid indigestion may gradually escalate into intermittent abdominal pain and eventually a full-fledged ulcer might occur —a state of Disease has been created.
Diagram 4 demonstrates what happens as the process progresses. Here we see that the resulting imbalance ultimately leads to impairment of the physical aspect and his health suffers. The balance between the six aspects has been altered and this throws the body, mind and spirit "out of alignment."
So far we have talked only about imbalance and disease. However, the purpose of this article is really to talk about healing. Healing occurs through a number of different mechanisms. Some of these mechanisms are external to the individual. While one can take medication, have surgery, have acupuncture performed on them or submit to hypnosis to treat symptoms, but if the original problem or conflict is not solved the imbalance may not be corrected. Possibly an example will help to demonstrate that if an individual works too hard (a conflict) and subsequently loses his or her resistance and gets a sore throat, penicillin will "cure" the sore throat, but it will not solve the problem of the original imbalance - over working. If the original conflict is not solved, the imbalance will persist. This imbalance will continue affecting the individual's ability to maintain their "balance." The individual may well continue to have not only recurrent sore throats but other signs and symptoms may well occur such as recurrent colds, sinus infections, upper respiratory infections, or even accidents or other entirely different types of problems.
Eventually, the immune system loses its ability to protect and to mediate healing. This may lead to one or another chronic disease or even a disease like cancer where the immune system is no longer able to protect the individual from his own self. This may not occur for many years after the original problem began. It may not even be possible to associate the original problem with the end result. Along the way one might see relationships (Family) affected. The individual's children might be getting into trouble, "You're never around!" "You must not love me!" "You don't care any more!" The family may break down. Divorce - an irreversible breakdown of the "marital body,"a symptom of its inability to heal the marital relationship may ultimately occur. Job problems, financial problems, general unhappiness may occur. Often these conditions are mistakenly considered to be "just part of life," normal and even expected. The individual may not recognize these as signs of a destructive imbalance in his life.
Today medical practitioners generally treat problems generated by these imbalances with medication alone. However, this is a very narrow view of the "holistic" organism called human beings. Human beings are not just their body. Human beings are the totality of their existence. Only through maintaining natural balance and harmony can we stay whole and healthy.
The mind is not the cause of disease but it may be where disease begins and ends. The mind/brain can "lie" to us and these "lies" can lead to imbalances in the way we live our life. Imbalances can be potentiated by our inability or unwillingness to "catch these lies" and make appropriate corrective changes, this allows the process to remain and even worsen. When we live a lie of any kind we create more imbalances as inwardly we are aware that we are living a lie even if we chose to ignore it outwardly, we experience guilt, and we may even sabotage ourselves to punish ourselves. We may experience a lack of worthiness, loss of self esteem even self anger and abuse.
Understanding This Process Can Help Us To Protect Our Health and Well-Being
How then can we protect our self? We must recognize that symptoms we are experiencing are the body's response to the imbalances we have created. The mind, body and spirit are connected to each other. In fact, they are really one in the same. Rather then talking about mind, body and spirit as separate entities, we should talk about a mind/body/spirit unit.
The mind is our tool to protect us and maintain our survival. One might look at the mind as if it were a very highly sophisticated computer-like-device designed to perform an infinite number of functions. That which we are is "all" of us. Our life force and the essence of who and what we are is embodied deep within us. This life force appears to be maintained only within a "living body." In order for the body to stay alive we must have a mind. The mind is the control tower of the computer which filters data continuously. This data must be filtered so that we can focus on specific tasks such as finding food and protecting ourselves. It tells our body how and where to move us to and from food and away from danger and toward pleasure. And, equally as important, how to solve problems.
The mind also filters this data to eliminate unnecessary information. That which is not relevant to our survival. Many scientists believe that the mind is located within the brain. Others believe that the brain is merely a switching or organizing center, and the mind not only includes the brain, but the entire body.
This mind/brain/body combination collects all data all the time. It knows everything there is to know about you and a great deal about the world around you. It knows when we are healthy and when we are sick. It knows when we are in balance and when we are out of balance. It even knows why we are out of balance and how to put us back into balance. To facilitate this all we have to do is to ask our body/mind, why it is out of balance and how it can be returned to a state of harmony and balance. Then we must listen and it will tell you.
The most common reason that most people do not know why and how they got out of balance or when they fell out of balance is that they do not want to know and they are unwilling to ask. If they do ask, they usually do not listen to the answers they receive. The secret is not just to ask, but to listen for the answers. In this case, listening means that there is a willingness to hear everything that is said, felt, thought or dreamed, whether we agree with it or not.
Over the years we have generally lied to ourselves many times, we have heard the messages from our body, mind and spiritual aspects but too often we have not listened or learned. Our mind, body and spirit may no longer trusts us to either listen, or hear. We miss the truth when it is told to us. Because we don't hear and act, we fall out of balance. Ultimately, as we stated above, this can lead to illness and disease.
To get back into balance one must first make a commitment to our inner, knowing Self. This is the part of us which knows who we really are. This is also the part of our self that tells us the truth. That part of us that does not worry about disease or death, nor what people think of the outer body, nor of what we say or even of what we think or do. We refer to this part of us as our Core. This is that part of us where we go to when we meditate, do Yoga, when we pray or when we trust our self. This part knows who and what we really are and loves us for it. In our material on Huna we call this aspect by a different name, the Higher Self, but it is basically the same part of us.
How Do We Get Back Into Balance?
To get back into balance we must learn to "trust" and "come from" this part of our inner self. One starts this process simply by recognizing that there are imbalances. Once these imbalances are acknowledged then the next step is to find and then correct the problem or problems that have causes the imbalances. To do this you evaluate the symptoms, listen to the body, ask what it is trying to tell you, look at your life and see what you are getting (for what you are getting must be what some part of you wants or feels you deserve) then open yourself to hear the answers that you get. This approach generally works, however, sometimes a part of our personality will not allow the truth to come up and solution to occur. When this happens the individual needs to work it through in a therapy situation. However, not just any therapist will do. The therapist chosen must be trained to evaluate, guide and teach the individual how to see the imbalances and correct them. Such therapy should be designed to find causes and solve problems.
Life Dynamic Therapy is one such approach which is directed at helping the individual to hear, listen and correct. It is neither complicated nor painful. While it is not easy to break old patterns, this process works and the results - good health and a good feeling about yourself - are worth it. It is the most important and valuable gift we can give to ourselves and our family.
The first step in healing is to recognize that imbalance exists, the next step is to make the decision to do something about it. The third is to train yourself or get competent help to assist you.
How Does LDT Work?
LDT works much differntly than traditional Western medicine. LDT is neither drug nor medication based. It takes into account the roles of our mind-body-spirit in both creating illness and healing it. It goes way beyond simply treating symptoms. LDT's purpose is not the relief of the symptoms illness, nor decreasing the problems associated with an illness, but rather getting at the root causes (those conflicts) that underlie the symptoms and the origninal creation of the illnesses. Its ultimate goal is to find and eliminate all (if possible) unresolved conflicts that are causing or could potentially cause illness in the present or the future. Finally, LDT has one additional goal, to help the client look for, search out, find, eliminate and relearn how to be physically, emotionally and spiritually healthy, in other words, how to become your highest and best self.
There are a number of other differences which make a significant difference in assuring, maintaining and providing full health and wellness.
The process of traditional Western, science-based, medicine generally works in the following way:
We realize that none of the entities we have named above would agree with what we have said. Every one of them would tell you that in fact they exist to make sure that you get the best possible care. The fact is, medicine today is overburdened with paperwork. Doctors are forced to have volume practices to make a living. They spend more time doing paperwork than with their patients. I do not need to make excuses for the doctors, they had adequate opportunities along the way to take charge of the practice of medicine and did not. They gave away their power and put it in the hands of bureaucrats who now practice medicine under the guise of being administrators, quality assurance departments, law makers, insurance companies and so on. However, the truth is still the same. It is the general public who suffers and the quality of medical care has deteriorated and will continue to decrease no matter what any of these bureaucrats or doctors say.
Finally, the medical system as a whole, tolerates little or no one, who is not operating under the shell of a medical license (with the exception of the groups we discussed above). Many medical doctors are vehemently against alternative sources of healing, hence outwardly denying any possible benefit from these sources to their patients. They are often so closed down and shut off as to not even want to talk about alternative practitioners or treatments. Frequently, they are even unwilling to learn anything about these alternative methods, and what potential value they could offer to their patients.
This narrow mindedness is sanctioned by the medical system, which even attacks practitioners within this very same system, who have read, do understand and are either recommending or using alternative methods. For example, I have met medical doctors who think that certain medical (not alternative medical, but purely traditional Western medical) specialties are "hocus pocus." And they would never refer a patient for certain kinds of help given by such specialties, as physical therapy, medical nutrition, psychiatry, psychology, rehabilitation or occupational medicine or addiction services. These are often disregarded or ignored, even when they could be of significant value to their patients.
No one practitioner, whether medical doctor or alliterative healer, knows everything. As the song goes, "No man is an island." The process of healing requires helping the person who needs help with the exact right type of help they need. No treatment, except those that could be harmful, should be eliminated before its value is considered. The consequences of any treatment program should be weighed by what is the patient's best interest and not what is in either the doctor's or the medical professions best interest. Almost any good tradesman or woman in our society knows this possibly with the exception of the medical profession. No good mechanic would try to fix something not in his level of expertise. He would refer you out to the exact right person who knows how to fix what needs to be fixed. Yet, many medical doctors will treat medical problems that they themselves are not expert in, and will withhold consultation, advice and necessary help which would be in their patients best welfare for many years. This is especially true if it require sending their patient out of the medical system to an alternative healer, even when this healer could help or even solve their patient's problem.
Many of these same physicians are unwilling to recognize that the treatments they provide just do not work. I have seen doctors "treat" diabetics in their practice when the diabetic has been out of control or in extremely poor control for 5, 10, 15 even 20 years. This instead of sending the patient to another doctor, a nutritionist or for psychological counseling to deal with their eating habits or disorders.
Why is LDT Different?
The goal of Life Dynamic Training is to teach the individual how to prevent, recognize and heal their own illnesses. The Life Dynamic Trainer/practioner works with their client as the physicians in ancient China, and as healers in most primitive societies have done for thousands of years, to prevent illness before it starts.
LDT practitioners works with the traditional Western medical doctor so that the client has the best of medical skills and diagnostic testing available to benefit their client. Unlike traditional Western medicine, the LDT practitioner starts to work even before an illness strikes. The LDT practitioner looks for all underlying conflict, teaches healthy diet, helps his or her client cleanup unhealthy lifestyles, deals with pain, fear, anger, guilt, rage and hatred as early as possible. The LDT practitioner takes all of these factors and more as they know that these factors are frequently at the root of illness and human suffering.
The LDT practitioner helps his or her client solve problems and whenever possible without providing the solutions, yet allowing the client to find his or her own solutions. The goal of the LDT practitioner is to teach problem solving techniques, to strengthen the client's natural healing skills and to help the client take charge of their life and live it fully and completely. If the LDT practitioner has any motto it would more than likely be, "find your own personal highest and best self, and make it yours."
The goal of traditional Western medicine, as we stated above, is to treat symptoms and cut out disease. LDT recognizes illness and disease as intelligent communications from the body-mind-spirit to you, trying to tell you that you have conflicts that you have not resolved and conflicts that they require resolution. With traditional Western medicine these conflicts are most likely never approached, rarely explored and generally ignored. Only when the individual them self has the rare sudden insight regarding the meaning of their illness, are these conflicts ever recognized. These conflicts they may not necessarily be dealt with until such insight ultimately occurs.
Let me give you an example, one that I learned from a client several years ago. This client had been treated several years earlier for invasive breast cancer. She told me the following story.
We talked for a while and I asked her what she learned from her experience. She told me the following:
In a sense this was one of those days that gave birth to Life Dynamic Training. My patient went on helping the people she worked with. Because of this experience, I had an incredible insight. I too needed to heal myself. My place in life was healing people and not just treating them. I realized that I had always known what she had told me. I had been working with patients helping them as best as I could, but I was also aware that Western medicine was not set up (with its 15 minute appointments, insurance billing and patients who come for more traditional services) to be able to spend the time really needed to help my patients with their inner conflicts.
LDT is different from traditional medicine and while the two are complimentary, their goals and the way they each need to be practiced are very different. To practice LDT one needs clients who are ready to make a difference in their own life. The LDT practitioner needs to work with relatively enlightened individuals, people who want to solve problems. People who know that they have unresolved conflicts or at least are willing to look and see if they do, even if they are not exactly sure what these conflicts are yet.
While a large number of my clients already have an illness of some sort, every day I am finding enlightened people who realize that they can prevent themselves from being ill by dealing promptly with their issues. True prevention.
What Is LDT?, Part 2
There are actually many answers to this question. At its grandest level LDT allows us to understand our true nature and how we can use it to teach our self how to reach for and find our highest and best self. We can fix our most daunting problems, and make our life better by solving and resolving old conflicts that undermine our day to day existence. At its lowest levels LDT allows us to identify that we are ill. LDT can teach the difference between the way traditional Western medicine approaches illness and how illness can be approached through using the intelligence of our body, mind, emotions, and spiritual essence.
Let's start at the beginning. LDT is a body of knowledge based on how the mind-body-emotions and spirit work. It is a tool to help understand how body, mind, emotions and spirit are interrelated and how they can be used to solve problems and heal. LDT is different for each person since each person will have unique problems and lifestyle. There are a series of common threads that operate in a very similar way for all people. It is this group of common threads which operate in all people that allow LDT to be used to heal and solve previously unresolved conflicts.
This body of knowledge has been known to healers, wise men and sages throughout all time. It is this body of knowledge that allows healers to heal and problem solvers to solve problems. It is this body of knowledge which can help you solve your problems and heal yourself.
There is no magic involved. This is not witchery. It is not sorcery or wizardry. It is simply understanding how the mind works, how the conscious and subconscious levels of the body work, how the emotions work, why they exist and finally the interrelationship of these three parts of us, body-mind and emotions, with our spiritual self.
It is not complicated. There are no special chants, charms or incantations necessary to get results. All that is ever necessary is the willingness to heal and do what is necessary to make it happen.
We use LDT for healing, while others use it for enlightenment. However, we have also noted that quite often, along with healing, enlightenment may also occur. Some call the process which LDT opens wisdom, others think of it as Truth, still others think of it as the Way or as the Path. We have organized what we know of this knowledge to use specifically for healing people with physical, mental, emotional or spiritual illness. We have done this because we are healers. Being a physician most all of my adult life, my professional life has been dedicated to working with sick people and helping them become perfectly well and fully healthy people.
I have learned a great deal from both of these groups as well as those people in the middle, who are neither seriously sick nor perfectly healthy. Because of my work, certain truths or lessons became newly apparent and later very clear. Illness is not just a random occurrence. Illness does not just happen to people. Even when we see no rhyme or reason for an illness to occur, there is always a cause or reason, seen or unseen. More often than not, our medical system is oriented to belief that "things," bacteria, viruses or toxins are the primary cause for illness, is not always true. Even in the worst plagues or exposure to disease producing factors only some individuals ever become sick. Many do not become sick. For many diseases and illness as we can find none of the usual causes nor anything even resembling the causes we would like to blame.
Looking at our Universe we can, with just a little bit of effort, see that nothing in our Universe is without intelligence. We, in fact, live in a highly Intelligent Universe. Whether one sees this Intelligence as God, Mother Nature, the Laws of Nature or the Laws of Science or whether one can give it no name or special place in the world, it is difficult for any intelligent person not to recognize that there is a very clear order and greater intelligence operating around us, within us and through us.
Illness as we think of it, is simply a manifestation of this Intelligence. Illness is an Intelligent act of our body communicating that we have an unresolved conflict. This can be as simple as getting a disease because we have never been exposed to it before and hence the conflict is we have no immunity to it. Or it can be as complex as an illness that is trying to communicate that we have been dishonest with our self, that we have lied or denied our self something that we need or must have to survive. More detailed discussions of these principles are found in other documents in this web site.
Unfortunately many people use this same knowledge or wisdom against themselves. They give power to evil, the devil, sin, the baseness of man and to the most negative aspects of life. These people clearly have missed the point. Whether you give power to the negative aspects of the Universe or to the positive aspects of the Universe, you are still this Intelligence. The only difference is whether you use it for yourself in a positive way or against yourself in a negative way. You cannot believe in the devil and not see its supposed existence as demonstrating order and Intelligence. Negative order is still intelligence, only just used negatively.
LDT simply sheds a light on this Intelligence and allows those who understand its value to use it to positively search out, find and resolve the conflicts which have caused illness. In a sense, it is problem solving. Many times the problems hunted are obscured to the individual involved. Only through the help of a neutral, third-party can these conflicts be identified and exposed. This will enable them to see that they are only faulty beliefs, lies and misrepresentations stuck in their subconscious.
LDT allows us to search for, find and resolve these hidden conflicts. Thus, freeing us up from their negative power and allowing us to once again live freely and joyfully as completely, healed human-beings.
How LDT Can Work For You?
LDT's Ability to Work Is Based on Four Primary Factors:
To help you to do this each healer must ultimately work in his or her own way. If you look at the assortment of healing techniques and programs available in your community or around the world, you will see that there is no one right way to accomplish healing. If there was, there would only be one way to do create healing. Not all healing techniques work with all persons. The client and the healer must work together and if any single technique or healing style is not working then that technique should be changed. The healer should inform the client that he or she is not the right healer for them, or the client should inform the healer that he or she is not the right healer for them. This said it is important to give each technique or style time to work, as well as a real opportunity to make a difference.
No healing technique or style can really work unless it accepts and incorporates your will and interests into it. Nor can any healing technique work if you do not fully participate in it. Any healing technique that works must include you and all of your needs into the healing program. Nothing should be done to you or for you, against your will.
There are Many Types of Healers
There are many types of healers. There are Eastern (Oriental) healers, Western-oriented healers, Native American healers, African healers. South American komondor healers, and shaman from virtually every corner of the world. There are religious healers (priests, ministers, rabbis, evangelists), spiritual healers, faith-healers, physician-MD's, psychologists, psychiatrists, surgeons, bloodless-surgeons, psychic surgeons, fortune tellers, aetiologic healers, taro readers, bone-throwers, numerologists, color healers, psychic healers, intuitive healers. We can even recognize that a good accountant, lawyer or plumber can be a healer also in helping us solve serious life problems.
Assuming that none of these are con-men (or women), fakes, frauds or liars, there are many ways to facilitate healing and there are many people who can do it.
As we see there is no shortage of healers. In fact, it is likely that even you have healed something or someone at sometime in your life. The question then becomes, "Now that I now know that I need help, how do I choose someone to work with me to help me heal?"
There is, however, no perfect answer to this question. Unfortunately, there is no healer-matching service that can exactly match you up with the perfect healer for you. Some might say that the only person who can heal you is you yourself. Others will tell you that the Bible says that only God (however you believe in Him) can heal you. This is only partially true, "the Bible also says God helps he who helps himself." The truth is for most of us healing is often simply a process of trial and error finding our own conflicts and resolving them. We try different techniques, different teachers and we either grow and resolve our problems or we don't.
Sometimes choosing the right healer or techniques to facilitate healing is simply a matter of intuition. They just seem right, they talk to us, they give us answers. At other times people choose by the degree, the healer's education, his experience or his credentials. Sometimes people chose because they have been referred to a healer by someone they have just met (and may not even know very well) or by may know well and believe in.
Sometimes the healer has just simply crossed your path, you met him or her in the market, found their name in the telephone book, found their card on a bulletin board or met them at a party.
Is Their Only One Way? Is there a Right Way? What Is the Best Way?
Once again, there is no exact perfectly right answer. The best answer I can give you is listen to what the healer says. Test them with questions. Check them out and use your inner sense to tell you what is right for you. If it works great, if not take whatever you have learned from your experience with that person and seek another. Your next teacher. Create no judgments for you may not yet know what you have learned from this last experience.
We have written a great deal about LDT in this website. This is to answer as many of your questions as we can. Allow you to see our philosophy. Understand our logic and reasoning. Learn about what we know. What we are capable and willing to do for you and with you. And what we are not willing to do for you or with you.
What Do I Do to Help People Heal?
I find that there are many ways that I can work with clients. That there are, however, certain rules that must be followed:
How Do I Work?
The first step of working with any person is to make two important determinations:
The first part of this process occurs during what I call my Initial Interview. I look, listen and feel what my client is tells me. I want to know what their problems are, not necessarily what their illness is. This illness, and more specifically, the complex of symptoms that are initially brought into the healing sessions by the client, are all extremely important. These symptoms provide a great deal of information, clues to discovering the underlying conflict or conflicts that have caused the client's illness. The symptoms tell me more of a story than the illness itself, and are very important in solving the puzzle of the illness.
I am as much interested in these symptoms, their pattern and the conflicts that underlie them, as I am in the illness itself. Most physicians on the other hand, are more interested in the illness and in mastering it. I believe that while this is important it is a backward approach. Almost any physician can simply treat the symptoms, however, without getting to their cause, the symptoms will just return or transform into a new set of clues or an entirely new illness. This is seen very frequently in medicine where one illness is resolved or appears to be cured, when the patient gradually or even suddenly gives rise to an entirely new illness, one with seemingly different symptoms however often with a very similar consequences.
It is also important to communicate that whatever I do, it must be done without judging my client nor any expectations of what should or should not be happening or has happened. I never come to judge my client. Making judgments of any kind. This is not only fruitless, but can be harmful for both the client and healer. There is no place for judgments, expectations, desires or illusions of any kind, only for truth, love and caring.
During this early contact period, it is always part of my intentions to determine whether I can help the client or not.
Trying to help someone when they are not ready to help themselves, generally leads to more problems, sometimes even a disaster. The individual must be ready or they cannot be helped. If the answers to these questions are no, the client is not ready and it is best to delay and necessarily rethink the merits of starting any therapeutic program.
Very often medical doctors and other healing practitioners try to help or treat their clients when they neither know what they are doing, nor have made an accurate diagnosis. They may in fact not have the skills nor expertise to do the work that needs to be done. This can be dangerous. If any practitioner of the healing arts does not know what they are doing, it is much better to refer the patient to someone who does, rather than to try and fail, or waste the client's time, energy and resources.
The honest healer knows what he or she can and cannot do and will never attempt to do more than what they are capable of. There is however, one exception to this rule. The healer knows his or her limitations and explains them in advance to the client. The client, understanding that their results MAY be limited, still consents to move forward. In such cases the client can benefit, if not fully, perhaps in part from the work that is done, since they have committed to the partnership. Therefore there can, of course, be a positive gain from this experience whether large or small.
It might be helpful to add at this point that failure in itself is neither wrong nor bad. As the old cliché goes, "Nothing ventured, nothing gained." It is failing through dishonesty that is wrong. If a client is ready (as we have previously described) then any work done, will in the end be helpful. Healing is very often a step wise process. Frequently more than one healer is necessary. The client gets benefit from just trying even though they may not be fully ready to accept outwardly what they have gained. Inwardly the process has been set into motion and healing is already occurring. Therefore, all healing work has its benefits. The process only becomes dishonest when the therapist healer is either unaware (for lack of skill or training), or is aware and knowingly still goes forward, when the client is not at all ready for this.
What Do I Actually Do When I am Working With A Client?
Once I feel that I can help someone, and I develop a general understanding of their conflicts. I create a general plan of what I can do. I do not work the exact same way with every client. Each client is very different, they have different needs, different conflicts and require different solutions. Every client must have a healing program personalized for them. However, there are some general techniques I use over and over again.
After the Initial Interview, and after both the client and I have decided that we will work together, I assess their medical problems and decide whether I am comfortable with their diagnosis (as they have brought to me or as medical records state it) or whether further examinations, consultations or diagnostic testing is necessary to confirm or challenge the present diagnosis. If their problems are not well worked up or defined, or they are still without a clear diagnosis, I refer the client to a competent traditional Western medical physician. One who is able to make the appropriate diagnosis and determine if the problem requires immediate surgical or medical intervention. They can also help determining whether it is a life-threatening problem. It would make no sense to treat a surgical problem, that requires surgery with non-surgical therapy, especially when the results may end up being life-threatening. If the problems do require immediate medical or surgical intervention then this must be done to save the client's life.
Most people who come to a healer do so because they want to prevent surgery. Unfortunately many people wait until it is too late in their clinical process, until their life and well being are severely in danger. At that point without either surgery or prescription medications, or both, the client may not survive.
These people must first deal either the decisions and consequences of the medical or surgical intervention before they are able to make the commitment to resolving the blocks and conflicts underlying their illness.
I can give support and suggestions as to how the person can face surgery or medical treatment, and work with them to increase their chances of a positive outcome.
While seeing a healer can be the most valuable experience of ones life, when their illness has reaches a critical level, they may not have the time or energy to do the work that needs to be done. It may take too long to heal their problems and conflicts, without first saving their life first healing may ultimately be unsuccessful.
Patients are often very confused when they are first seen by a healing practitioner. More often than not, they have already seen many different Doctors. Frequently they have no clear diagnosis. They may not even have any clearly physical problem or lesion. To help the client, it is always important to know whether a physical problem exists or has been missed by the previous doctors. In such cases it is often important to refer the client to a specialist who is capable and able to determine what is going on within the client.
Generally, since most problems are not life-threatening. Once we have an accurate diagnosis and the doctor is sure that we have no life-threatening problem and that no immediate medical or surgical intervention is required, we can work together and begin the healing process.
Some clients are initially uncomfortable with this process. They may believe that they have already seen "enough" doctors. Others may not trust the medical profession. In fact it never pays for anyone, client or healer, to undertake such serious work without knowing exactly what the health status is.
As we begin to work with the healing process, I always request that the client obtain copies of their prior medical records. I then review these prior medical records looking for more clues such as the earliest symptoms, the symptom pattern, how and when the symptoms present and what else appears to be going on in the client's life. It always amazes me how often we find vital information in prior records that physicians have overlooked and the client them self had long ago forgotten or never thought had any meaning.
A lot of what I do, especially in the early stages of working with a specific client, is related to asking specific questions. Every illness has its own special characteristic set of symptoms, its finger print so to say. If the symptoms lead in a distinct direction then we look at this in greater detail. If they lead away from a specific illness pattern, then we generally can rule-out all conditions that the pattern no longer fits.
The questions asked and the client's answers soon begin to define, limit or hone in on the underlying conflicts that are the cause of the illness. It should be stated that I am not the only one who benefits from these questions, often clients hearing their own answers, begin to better understand themselves and what has happened to them and why there are having problems. Identifying the exact causes requires not only listening to what the client says, but also what they don't tell say, the way they say what they do say it. I observe their body language, the exact words they use and the emphasis they put on the words they choose to use. It is much like being a detective and sorting through a huge number of clues. At first I may have no idea of what anything means, but over time, listening, watching and feeling, a picture begins to emerge. Soon this picture leads to the culprit or the cause of their problems.
I not only work with clients to help them find the causes that underlie their illness and symptom patterns, but also to find the exact right treatment program to help them resolve their illness. Every clue tells me something about what has happened in the past to cause the client's present problems. It is also true that every clue also tells me what needs to be done to reverse the conflict. This involves solving the problem(s) and freeing the individual from the need for their body-mind to use this specific illness to communicate that a conflict or conflicts and need to be resolved in order for healing to finally take place.
It is essential for the patient and the healer to fully understanding the range of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual factors that have created this problem in order to allow healing to take place. It is therefore important to convince the subconscious body-mind that you mean business and that you are willing to do whatever it takes to heal your self. It is also important to remember that over the years we have lied to ourselves thousands of times. Therefore why should our body-mind believe us now when we say that we want to heal ourselves? Certainly adding a healer to the team will help. The body-mind must also recognize and see that you really mean business by your actions. It must recognize entirely new thoughts and beliefs and know that you really mean business. Simply stated we must show the body-mind that you mean business. We must not merely talk about healing. We must do whatever needs to be done to make your healing a reality before our body-mind will be likely to join in and fully support you.
To help with this I place everyone on a basically healthy diet of whole healthy foods. We practice doing visualization exercises. We teach and use meditation exercises. And to shorten the process and show that you really mean business, we use a technique called "Body Symptom Dialoguing." All of these are extremely helpful in identifying unresolved conflicts and demonstrating to the body-mind that we really mean business. This also affirms that we really want to create healing and evolve to your highest and best self.
Finally, we use a process of educating the client about the reasons and potential causes of illness as well as means of treating them. Education can set us free. It can also help us understand what we should do and what we need to do to help ourselves. This education process can help reduce discomfort, relieve anxiety and allow new ways of seeing the problem we have and what we can do about it.
The process of education comes in several ways; this includes talking and sharing, some research, reading and talking with others about problem solving. This also includes working with and talking to other people who have already healed themselves. This last step requires a full and clear understanding of the basics of healing and how it occurs. Without this you may hear words but not understand what they mean. This is often confusing and clouds the process. This confusion or clouding will only go away when you know what to listen for and what to make of it.
Visualization Exercises
Visualization techniques can be used not only to reduce pain but also to gain "insight" into the reason for the pain. Meditation may be directed at finding the cause of our conflicts and in addition to Body Symptom Dialoguing it can be used to actually communicate with the area of problem. In the most simplistic terms available, we ask the problems areas or areas of illness directly, why the illness is present, and what must be done to reverse the illness process. In other words, what does the body-mind require to make this illness go away.
Often clients want guarantees that they will get better before they are willing to enter into LDT. There can be no guarantees. All any of us can ever do, is to do our best. You are free to ask any questions you want. Make sure that you ask everything that is important to you. When you read through this material or ask questions make sure that you are feeling clear and that you have no distractions. Distractions can often diminish the process of understanding and make decision making much more complex and less valuable.
How Do We Work?
We are not practicing traditional Western medicine. We do not provide medications, drugs or surgery treatments to either reduce or submerge the conflicts which underlie illness.
The Initial Interview-Getting Started
LDT Goals and Processes
Once LDT is started the goals and processes are extremely simple:
There are many techniques we can use to help the process along. Often they are specifically tailored for the specific situation. They are designed to work out simple conflicts that have been causing guilt, fear, anger, hurt, rage or anxiety.
Others techniques are more universal and designed to free up the subconscious or create a stronger connection to a spiritual advisor, to God or to one's higher self.
Meditation is an excellent tool for getting in touch with the Higher part of one's self and our Intelligent Universe.
Meditation is an excellent tool for getting in touch with the Higher part of one's self and our Intelligent Universe.
There are several different types of prayers based on what the client or we feel is best at any one point. For example religious prayer, prayer to a personal deity or prayer to a new deity, one you believe can help you or even one that you create for yourself. The process of Huna Prayer is an excellent form of prayer. You write out what you want, the conditions necessary to get it and you do what needs to be done (this of course, is a great over simplification for lack of time and space.
There are several different types of prayers based on what the client or we feel is best at any one point. For example religious prayer, prayer to a personal deity or prayer to a new deity, one you believe can help you or even one that you create for yourself. The process of Huna Prayer is an excellent form of prayer. You write out what you want, the conditions necessary to get it and you do what needs to be done (this of course, is a great over simplification for lack of time and space.
It is important (if not already done) to research the specific illness, its symptoms and course of action much like a great general would do gathering intelligence against an adversary he was readying to do battle with. Research can take many forms including review of medical literature, treatments, diagnosis, etc. The end goal is to be fully armed to do battle not only with the causes of this illness but with the illness itself. This research should be done to demystify the illness and allow you to have power over it.
It is important (if not already done) to research the specific illness, its symptoms and course of action much like a great general would do gathering intelligence against an adversary he was readying to do battle with. Research can take many forms including review of medical literature, treatments, diagnosis, etc. The end goal is to be fully armed to do battle not only with the causes of this illness but with the illness itself. This research should be done to demystify the illness and allow you to have power over it.
Rituals abound in our society. Most of what we think of as the "medical visit" is merely a series of rituals that allow medicine to work and give power to the physician. Virtually all religions are based on ritual or some aspect of it. Rituals help channel positive thoughts, power and healing energies. Rituals can be as simple as prayer or meditation. Rituals can also be as complex as your life itself is. The key is to create personal rituals that channel your healing power and help you overcome your illness and ultimately eliminate it from your being.
Rituals abound in our society. Most of what we think of as the "medical visit" is merely a series of rituals that allow medicine to work and give power to the physician. Virtually all religions are based on ritual or some aspect of it. Rituals help channel positive thoughts, power and healing energies. Rituals can be as simple as prayer or meditation. Rituals can also be as complex as your life itself is. The key is to create personal rituals that channel your healing power and help you overcome your illness and ultimately eliminate it from your being.
These are important aspects of creating change in communication with your body-mind. Letting the body-mind know that you are not only willing, but actively taking action to move forward in your healing process is essential to facilitate healing.
These are important aspects of creating change in communication with your body-mind. Letting the body-mind know that you are not only willing, but actively taking action to move forward in your healing process is essential to facilitate healing.
Keeping a life event and insight journal (not just an appointment book) allows you to deal with the deepest and most important communications from your body-mind and spirit. Often these parts of us will or can only speak to us through dreams or through free-flight of thought. Such thoughts and insights happen with saying whatever comes to mind in a therapy session or while you are journaling. Possibly you have heard of channeling, where a psychic or medium says that a spirit is channeling through him or her. This process is similar, however, the only spirit you may be channeling is your own inner self, your personal spirit or soul.
Keeping a life event and insight journal (not just an appointment book) allows you to deal with the deepest and most important communications from your body-mind and spirit. Often these parts of us will or can only speak to us through dreams or through free-flight of thought. Such thoughts and insights happen with saying whatever comes to mind in a therapy session or while you are journaling. Possibly you have heard of channeling, where a psychic or medium says that a spirit is channeling through him or her. This process is similar, however, the only spirit you may be channeling is your own inner self, your personal spirit or soul.
Similar to Journaling your inner self may only be able to channel to you through your art or hobbies. We always encourage finding your own personal form of art. Mine is writing. One of the reasons I write so much is that it allows my inner self to tell me what is really important for me. It tells me what I need to know to help me heal myself.
Similar to Journaling your inner self may only be able to channel to you through your art or hobbies. We always encourage finding your own personal form of art. Mine is writing. One of the reasons I write so much is that it allows my inner self to tell me what is really important for me. It tells me what I need to know to help me heal myself.
Free thought or flight of thought is very similar to Freud's free association. A technique which Freud used when he had his patients' lie down on a couch. We do not call it Free Association, first because we are not Freudian therapists and hence calling it, "Free Association" might give an in appropriate communication (this of course would be dishonest). Secondly, because our rules are different. You do not have to lie on a couch (unless you want to do this in your own at home). When we use this process in our office and we are directing the flight of thought to specifically look at getting certain types of information, we have our clients sit in a comfortable chair, relax and use visualization exercises to facilitate the process.
Free thought or flight of thought is very similar to Freud's free association. A technique which Freud used when he had his patients' lie down on a couch. We do not call it Free Association, first because we are not Freudian therapists and hence calling it, "Free Association" might give an in appropriate communication (this of course would be dishonest). Secondly, because our rules are different. You do not have to lie on a couch (unless you want to do this in your own at home). When we use this process in our office and we are directing the flight of thought to specifically look at getting certain types of information, we have our clients sit in a comfortable chair, relax and use visualization exercises to facilitate the process.
Since stress often leads to Stress-Related Disorders, which is one of the more common causes of illness or feeling poorly, we often use Relaxation and Stress Reduction Exercises to reduce stress and hence reduce the problems created by it. We also use these as basic exercises for centering and helping the individual prepare for stressful events, for dealing with people who they have conflict with or stressful situations.
Since stress often leads to Stress-Related Disorders, which is one of the more common causes of illness or feeling poorly, we often use Relaxation and Stress Reduction Exercises to reduce stress and hence reduce the problems created by it. We also use these as basic exercises for centering and helping the individual prepare for stressful events, for dealing with people who they have conflict with or stressful situations.
These are common techniques used in standard psychology and psychotherapy. We use them in much the same way to get at information that is unwilling to come up in any other way.
These are common techniques used in standard psychology and psychotherapy. We use them in much the same way to get at information that is unwilling to come up in any other way.
Often we believe that we have been given a raw deal. That if only things had been different, our life would have been much better. Unfortunately we are not always sure how much different and in what ways. We use the belief that life is really only a play where we have each taken (often, but not always of our own free will) certain parts with certain goals and reasons. Using Life Scripting we ask people to rewrite their life. Rewrite it as they would have liked it to be creating a new role for themselves, bringing the script up to the present and helping them to see how using this script (working on faulty ideas, lies and negative messages) they can change their life from this day forward.
Often we believe that we have been given a raw deal. That if only things had been different, our life would have been much better. Unfortunately we are not always sure how much different and in what ways. We use the belief that life is really only a play where we have each taken (often, but not always of our own free will) certain parts with certain goals and reasons. Using Life Scripting we ask people to rewrite their life. Rewrite it as they would have liked it to be creating a new role for themselves, bringing the script up to the present and helping them to see how using this script (working on faulty ideas, lies and negative messages) they can change their life from this day forward.
Our illness is really an intelligent communication from our body to us, through our body-mind, telling us that we still have important unresolved conflicts which require resolution. Any way we can get in contact with this information and learn what needs to be done to not only facilitate the healing process and make it more rapid, but also make it more accurate. We have devised a technique of actually going into the body (in thought and words) to the organ, organs or bodily systems that are trying to communicate with us and directly asking it what it needs us to do. Incredibly, this often creates instant healing. If not instant healing it greatly speeds up the process and helps us learn whatever lesson we must learn from the illness.
Our illness is really an intelligent communication from our body to us, through our body-mind, telling us that we still have important unresolved conflicts which require resolution. Any way we can get in contact with this information and learn what needs to be done to not only facilitate the healing process and make it more rapid, but also make it more accurate. We have devised a technique of actually going into the body (in thought and words) to the organ, organs or bodily systems that are trying to communicate with us and directly asking it what it needs us to do. Incredibly, this often creates instant healing. If not instant healing it greatly speeds up the process and helps us learn whatever lesson we must learn from the illness.
These are just a few of the techniques we may use in uncovering and changing conflicted beliefs that are causing physical (medical and non-medical), mental, emotional or spiritual illness. In addition to these techniques we may also use, or refer clients out to take advantage of, art and/or music therapy, energetics, marshal arts, massage, acupressure, acupuncture, Chinese medicine or chiropractic, depending what is needed to either deal with acute symptoms or release tension and hidden conflicts.
God, Religion, Spirituality, LDT and Healing
God and Healing
LDT does not require that you believe in God or in anyone form of God. Your belief or absence of belief in God, or even that any God exists, is your personal belief and is not germane to returning to your Path or finding your way to your Highest and Best Self.
If you believe in a superior being of your own choice that is fine. If you do not, that to is also fine.
We believe that there are two ways of looking at the concept of God.
Religion and Healing
There is a difference between belief in God and a belief in anyone specific religion. Religion, as your belief in God, is a personal matter and demonstrates your belief in a certain set of beliefs or values about this Intelligence of the Universe. One does not have to believe in any religion to heal them self. One does not have to believe in any specific religion to find their Highest and Best Self.
Believing in a religious code may help you, but in some cases, it may hinder you. All of our world's great religions offer techniques, mechanisms and beliefs about how one can heal them self or be healed. Interestingly enough, when one looks at the pure essence of each of these beliefs they are all very similar. It is not the purpose of this document to get into a discussion of either comparing or negating religion as a whole, or professing any one religion. When operating within the framework of any religion, healing is surely possible.
In all cases the same mandates which allow LDT to work are also in operation. The individual must want to get well. They must be willing to use the rules either of the Intelligence of the Universe or of their religion to help them find and use the healing powers within them. It makes no difference whether an individual believes that they cause their own healing or whether their God causes their healing, as long as they accept the healing itself
No one is ever turned away for their beliefs even if at first they may seem outwardly to conflict with LDT. In fact, there are no beliefs, with the exception of a belief in failure, that conflict with LDT.
Your right to believe in the religion of your choice will not and cannot be disputed. This is your inalienable right and privilege. We will always work within the frame work of your beliefs to help you.
Spirituality and Healing
We define spirit as a belief in the existence of an animating or life-giving principle within a living being. Your spirituality is your belief and acceptance of this principle or power. This can be as simple as a belief that the Universe is Intelligent and that you belong within, come from it or exist because of this life-giving Intelligence.
That a spirit or life-giving principle exists either within you or alongside of you, as a Higher Power operating from within you or for you and on your behalf, is helpful when invoking your ability to heal. This power can be named or unnamed. No specific name or definition is required, only the acknowledgment that it exists. It can be supernatural or natural. No distinction is necessary.
In fact, you can define spirit and spirituality in any way that makes you comfortable. A religion can be part of your spiritual view, but this is not absolutely essential. You can believe in your own life-force as your spirit or in its inherent power as your spiritual view.
Having some spiritual view point is extremely helpful in invoking the healing process. It is not absolutely essential as long as you believe that you have the power or ability to heal, or the spiritual or religious belief you hold has the power or ability to invoke healing within you.
God, Religion, Spirituality, LDT and Healing
To have no belief that you have the ability or power to heal or that there is no power or ability to heal working on your behalf, or within the Universe you live in, is to believe in failure and inability to heal. Generally healing will, under these negative circumstances, be much more difficult, slower or even impossible.
Fortunately for all of us, healing is an inherent function already existing within each of us, so even if we do not believe in it, it can still operate on its own without our help. Our help and our beliefs in our body's ability to heal, and the existence of inner and outer powers that can support our healing process simply increases our ability to heal. It can also shorten the time it will take to heal and improve the ultimate results or healing.
Positive thinking and believing will increase our ability to heal. Eliminating any and all blocks or obstacles to healing will help even more.
How Do You Know Whether You Need LDT?
This has always been a difficult question to answer. It seems every day I get new answers to this question. As people present themselves for help, I find that each person has his or her own reason for wanting or needing help. Sometimes the reasons are extremely vague. Reasons such as, "I think there is something wrong in my life." "I feel restless." "I'm so unhappy." "I feel sick." Or the reason may be clear as a bell, "I have cancer, and I don't want to die!"
In one sense we could begin by looking at who doesn't need LDT. If you are perfectly healthy. If you are emotionally, mentally, spiritually healthy and productive in your life. If you feel positive and are reaching for and gaining on your potential, you probably don't need LDT. Yet, on the other hand, occasionally someone will come in and describe them as having no problems but telling us that in fact what they need is to fine tune their successes.
Some of the more common reasons people come for help are the following:
Most people we see are already sick. Most already have been seen by their medical doctor and either are not getting better, or have an intuition that medical treatments are not what they really need. Often clients tell us that they were disappointed with their doctor because of their lack of being able to make a clear diagnosis. As well as because medications prescribed has failed to work for them, or the numerous side effects as a result of the treatment. After much time many of these clients begin looking toward alternative medicine only to recognize, thousands of dollars later, that their alternative practitioners had no better answer for them than their medical doctors. Many people would really like a greater say and decision making process in their healing process.
While many of the clients we see have been looking for answers and solutions all along, most have instinctively, because of their lack of results in finding help, recognized that they were simply turning over stones looking for help, but could not find it. The answers, we tell them are not in what the practitioner does or says, but rather inside of themselves. If they go to a practitioner to do something for them or to them, they will be disappointed. Yes, some people may experience temporary success. Yes, symptoms may be improved or even relieved for a while. But the underlying cause, the unresolved conflicts are neither approached nor resolved. As many of these people have found out, they only get temporary relief. Later the symptoms will likely return often increased in strength, frequency and even severity.
Very often these "doctor shoppers" are the classic type of people best helped by LDT. This is especially true of the person who is repeatedly told that all of their tests are normal and there is no indication of a severe life-threatening disease. Even those people who are told that their problems are all in their head, or that it may have a psychological cause. Even when the diagnosis of depression, anxiety, stress, post-traumatic stress, panic disorder or when such conditions are made by a qualified psychiatrist, or psychologist and treatment is prescribed and used correctly full and complete relief still may not come.
I want to re-stress once again that you do not have to be sick to get full benefit from LDT. LDT is also for the totally healthy person who is on their path to spiritual and/or physical, mental, and emotional wellness. It is for anyone who wants to better them self. LDT is also an extremely valuable tool for prevention of future illness, for treating symptoms that are worsening toward illness and for helping to resolve issues that block success. In the Eastern world the LDT therapist might have been thought of as the teacher, or guru. Today, however, these words are tainted with illusions of eastern potentates, Rolls Royce driving scammers and TV evangelists. None of these are even close to the LDT therapist who is a dedicated healer, using ancient and modern wisdom to help their clients have increased quality of health and life.
The teacher in this case is neither to be revered nor idealized. The LDT therapist is just a facilitator who can help you understand the way your inner self, how your mind and body work in helping you to solve the problems that injure, undermine or sabotage your life and your well-being.
Does LDT Help Everyone?
Does LDT Help Everyone?
LDT may not help everyone who uses it. This is because everyone is ready for LDT. While clients are often brought in because of pain or suffering, not everyone is ready, willing or able to face their greatest demons or internal blocks. For many people these demons or blocks have been within them for a very long time. Very often they have existed from as far back as childhood. The conflicts that create these demons or blocks have taken great amounts of power from their lives, feeding on their energy, their willingness or ability to survive. People stuck under the weight of their demon blocks may be unable or worse unwilling to surrender to LDT. They usually will not fight or maybe cannot fight in order to free themselves from the power they have given to or have invested in these blocks and negative beliefs.
Long ago it was recognized that these so called "eating creatures" exist, but that they are simply parts of our personality trapped within us because of the conflict. They take on a life of their own and they want to survive as much as we do, and sometimes even more.
There are two primary Universal laws that may account for this. These laws are virtually indisputable: 1) Everything changes, and 2) every living (and possibly nonliving) being wants to survive. In human terms we talk about this second law as the "Survival of the Species," "Fight or Flight," or as the "Stress Mechanism." While each of these variations are slightly different, they basically all have one thing in common, every living being tries its best to survive. Without survival, there is nothing as in no longer having life. This is especially true if one has believed that there is absolutely nothing after death.
These eating creatures are the parts of our personality that undermine us, they attack us and they can cause us to become sick and even die. They want to survive at all costs, as we have previously pointed out, even if they have to kill us to survive.
However, according to the first law, everything changes and so can you and so can your demons. Without direction there are only two paths we or these eating creatures can take, 1) they can work against you, make your life miserable, even kill you (such as cancer, the ultimate eating creature, does) or 2) they can work for you and join with you to be your teacher and move you toward enlightenment. In the Christian-Judaic context, these are what is often referred to as demons and hell, or angels and heaven.
When starting LDT these eating creatures, those negative parts of us that believe they rule us and are the causes of most of our misery, may believe that the process of LDT is trying to destroy them, to kill them, and they will say (heard through your own inner voice) or do anything to survive. This increases the turmoil and escalates the war within. Some people will drop out and choose to suffer rather than come to peace and resolve their conflicts. They often cannot accept that their immediate discomfort is really only temporary. It may be difficult for them to follow through with medical treatment or to remember to take medications, they are fear full and try to avoid surgery or special tests, or even going to doctors that could possibly help them or identify a potentially life-threatening illness.
Often these people leave most treatment before they have reached peace and harmony with their demons. They often have a multitude of reasons, some of which may be partly true, or are based in some partial fact. They may complain that they will soon run out of money. They can't afford the costs of treatment. They are scared by what they bring up. They can't afford the time. They may even return to destructive practices such as excessive use of alcohol, illegal drugs or abusing medications that dulls them down and temporarily kills their pain. Because they "fail," they lose confidence in the LDT treatment program. If something doesn't work exactly the way they thought it should work, if they do not get all of the results they require or believe they should have in the time constraints they have placed on their therapy program. In their mind the LDT program, all of it, is not working. This also often happens with psychotherapy, counseling, medical treatment and any other type of program that tests the resolve of their blocks, demons or eating creatures. This is a well known and well-understood phenomena. The reasons and excuses given, no matter the therapy program, are virtually endless. But in the end the only real reason is that the eating creatures or the negative forces within have made them so uncomfortable and created so much pain that they cannot tolerate continuing on with their therapy program.
The greatest shame is that this is usually around the time they are often just at or coming up to a major breakthrough. Sticking with the program just a little longer could often allow them to master some or all of their conflicts and move the healing process forward.
The key is that they leave because they were getting too close to their conflicts and not because they were getting nowhere as they often believe.
Do These People Come Back?
Some do. Many do not. Often individuals return days, weeks, months or even years later. Often they have continued to search by going through a host of new resources and still not getting anywhere. Sometimes they find the right help in others; sometimes what progress they have made in LDT small or great, allows them to take charge and begin the process of healing. Sometimes they find the path to healing themselves. They are very often just months or years down the path, their symptoms have progressed they have lived and suffered, they are no better off, and usually even worse.
While this may be hard to hear, it is clear to me that this is really part of their healing and growth process. They were not ready when they were first seen and they had to go through the life experience they had gone through to come back to being ready once again.
We all hear or know stories of people who never get help, the chronic alcoholic, the cancer patient who dies of their cancer, the chronic doctor shopper who can never find anyone to help them. These people are often seen as mentally ill, obsessive-compulsive, schizophrenic, mad or simply as a poor soul. Are these people capable of being helped? Often not, but sometimes, yes. No one can be helped unless they are ready to cooperate with others, themselves and be truthful and respectful of their own needs.
I am reminded of two patients long ago. One who told me that his pain was so great that the only way he could escape it was to kill himself. The other who told me that his pain had become so intolerable that he finally decided that he had to do something about it and started dealing with his demons and finally turned them into friends and helpers who, with love and kindness, turned them into his best ally.
Often we live with pain thinking that there is nothing we can do about it. Some people kill themselves so that they can survive their pain (physical, mental, emotional and/or spiritual pain). Others get angry or awaken to realize that they can do something about their pain, their illness and their emptiness.
If you are reading this, then I ask you, "Do you have pain, are you suffering, are you fighting illness or symptoms that you cannot seem to resolve? What would it be worth to you to not just survive, but to actually flourish?" "What would your life be like if you resolved your inner conflicts, if you turned them into helpers, if you learned from them and bettered your life?" If your answer is that you don't know or you can't understand what we are saying, then you are not ready.
If your answer is, "Yes, I want to flourish and grow." Then you are ready. When you start and what you are willing to do are now up to you. There are many ways to grow and evolve and to help yourself. LDT may be one way you to enter into the healing process.
The Benefits of LDT
LDT Can Help You:
As A Result:
You Can Finally:
Introduction to LDT
Welcome! You have taken an interest in Life Dynamic Training, or LDT as we generally refer to it. It is likely that you have many questions, "What is LDT?" "Is it something that I need or should want or look into?" In the following series of documents we have tried to answer the most common questions. In response to these questions we now have made them available to those who asked and to others like you visiting us here at Wellness on the Web.
Many of the questions you may have are already answered here. There may also be answers to many questions that you may not have thought of.
Introducing Myself: Allen Lawrence, M.D., MA. Ph.D.
I am often asked about my personal background and why my wife, Dr. Lisa Lawrence, and I founded LDT. I am happy to introduce myself and tell you a little about myself. I am a medical doctor and I have practiced medicine for more than 35 years. My basic training was accomplished at the University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine. My undergraduate years were spent at U.C.L.A. in Los Angeles. I performed my internship at U.S.C. Los Angeles County General Hospital. After two years as a Medical Officer in the U.S. Air Force I entered a residency program in Obstetrician/Gynecologist at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Later on, I earned a Master's of Arts (M.A.) in Nutrition and a Ph.D. in Psychology.
Why LDT?
I was a "sickly child" myself. I had severe allergies. I was frequently ill with colds, flu's, sore throats, multiple bouts of pneumonia and Rheumatic Fever. Every childhood illness I suffered was nearly life-threatening and I was frequently out of school. Fortunately for me I was a bright student and still maintained high grades.
These episodes of illness continued until I was about 11 to 12 years of age. Prior to that time I could not even go out of my home on cold days or when it rained without getting sick. One very cold and rainy day, one of the students in my class came to school in a tee shirt without a jacket, no rain coat, no boots and no hat. I asked him why he had done this and why he wasn't afraid of getting sick. He told me that he had no fear at all of getting sick. That he always dressed like this when it rained and that he had never become sick from either cold or rain. He then added, "My parents believe that not fighting the elements, but rather joining with them and allowing them to be as they were, made us stronger."
This was an entirely new idea for me. I had always believed that I would get sick, and so I did. After all my parents told me that it was true that if I went out in cold or rain without proper covering a jacket, or rain coat, hat and rain boots I would get sick. Here a fellow student, who was healthy as can be and never (as he told me) ever got sick was out practically half naked.
I thought about what he had said, what I had been led to believe and I made some hard, serious decisions. I threw off my rain coat (I always got perspired in it anyway); I threw off my jacket (it always made me too hot as well); I threw off my hat (it always gave me a bad hair day), and took off my rain boots (they were so awkward and geeky). I went out in the cold and rain armed with an entirely new belief system. The cold and the rain would make me healthier. I have never, in all of the rest of my life, become sick from going out in either cold or rain, nor, later into snow, without a jacket, coat, hat and boots (except ski boots of course). It was my first, but not my last, experience in life with faulty belief systems, lies and fear.
Yes, I know that my parents thought they were doing the right thing for me. They were fearful because of my many prior illnesses and only wanted to protect me. In the next weeks and months, I began a process of changing many belief systems and over the years this process has positively changed my life.
It was about this same time I also decided that I wanted to become a medical doctor. Not specifically because of what had happened above, probably more because of my many illnesses. I wanted to help others who were sick as my doctors had helped me. When I first decided to become a medical doctor, I thought that doctors actually healed people. In my mind, I thought that it meant that I could do things, give medication, give treatments and provide help that would not just take illnesses away, but would also prevent them from ever coming back again. I wanted to eliminate all sickness and illness. I thought that I had been a special case because I had been so sick, but after the rain coat incident, I rarely ever got sick again so I thought that in fact my doctors had helped me and cured me. I gave them the power, instead of recognizing then that the decisions and power had all come from me.
It was not until after I had been in medical practice for many years that I found myself becoming increasingly more and more disillusioned and depressed, even to the point of despondency. It took several more years until I realized that the medical system was so different from what I thought it would be. I had such great hopes when I started my practice, however, after a few years I began to realize that both medicine, and the medical profession, were not at all designed to heal people. With the exception of those individuals involved in accidents, with serious injuries or of deformities or life-threatening situations. Medicine, I became aware, was directed primarily only at treating symptoms. We could eliminate some symptoms, pain and often fear of death. We could even make people feel better. What I wanted to be able to offer my patients was a way to help them to eliminate all illness and be healed1.
From that point on I emotionally left medicine and began training as a healer. This has been a journey of nearly twenty-five years. Only now after working with thousands of patients with the intention of helping them heal themselves, rather than simply treating symptoms, have I finally realized that I am a healer.
In this website we present many different views and many different faces of medicine and healing. In some sections we act, talk and look entirely like traditional Western medical doctors. In others, we talk about mind, body, spirit and healing. Still, in other articles, we discuss the role and place of our emotions. In some areas we concentrate on medical research and in other areas we focus on new areas of science such as Psychoneuroimmunobiology (PNI) and its relationship to illness and healing. To some degree or another ancient healing models such as the Hawaiian, native American, shamanistic, we also cover religious and spiritual healing as well as alternative medical and healing systems. Our intention is to demonstrate that there are many ways to create healing. If one method works better than another for a specific patient, we use it. It is not necessary to stay sick. If the system you presently believe in does not have all the right answers, or you are looking for something different or better, than act on your instincts do not suffer and feel as if you are alone. You are not alone there are healers all around you waiting to help you solve your problems.
In this section of Life Dynamic Training we have gone even farther a field. We begin by looking at my own personal experience working with patient/clients and healing along with my use of tools that have come from many different disciplines. Some have been listed above or are in other articles in this series, some tools we use will not be talked about as they would take too much time and space and require care instructions and selection of the right circumstances and persons. Still more tools we have had to create for our own client/patients based on their immediate need and circumstances. Most importantly, these tools are all designed to hand back the power of healing to the persons who seek to be healed.
Please enjoy and use what you can from our work. If we can be of help, feel free to write or e-mail us your questions and experiences, both good and bad. If you want help or want to work with us contact us and let us know.
1 Please do not believe that I am trying to denigrate the medical profession and all medical doctors, I am not. In fact, I have great respect for the majority of my medical colleagues. I am only trying to be objective as to the role medicine plays in "healing," rather than treating patients. Unfortunately, most people and most physicians, think these two actions are equivalent, but they are not. I hope that through the many documents here in our web site, I will be able to clarify the very fine points of the difference between these two actions. While the words (treatment and healing) are generally used interchangeably, ask your self the following question, "If you were really sick, would you be happy and perfectly accepting of simply feeling better, while retaining your illness or disease? Or would you rather completely throw off your illness or disease and be entirely free of it, so it would never return again. This is the simplest way I can express what I mean by the difference between treating symptoms versus healing illness and/or disease.
Definition of LDT
Who we are now was not entirely dependent on what we wanted or desired. Who we will be is dependent on who we choose to be and the present and future actions we choose to take and the decisions we choose to make.
Each Person Is a Universe
Each person is a Universe within. We have a myriad of forces at work, internal, chemical, biologic, genetic, physical, real and imaginary. These along with our body, mind, emotional and spiritual aspects all exist in a dynamic interplay with each other. Add to this the myriad of external forces, our environment, what we have learned, our conscious and subconscious beliefs, our past experiences, our fears and desires, our family, friends, neighbors, relationships, school experiences, what is happening in our city, state, and country. Mix all of these along with the forces of our ego, our personality and our need to survive and you end up with an extremely complex situation, a human-being, a living organism, which ultimately could be either you or me.
As a human these forces act upon us day and night, in our waking moments, in our dreams and when we are still and in a deep sleep. Internal and external forces, we are all of this as well as the end result of our ancestral and species-related forces which have create us. We are never separate from all of our decisions and beliefs past, present, or future. We are also the sum total of our decisions and beliefs, our past, present and future trials and errors, our most distant and closest ancestors, their children, our parents and the world that surrounded them and now surround us.
We can only be our full and complete self - our highest and best self - if we understand all of this and if we know how to traverse the path - our path - to find and become our highest and best self, our true enlightened Self.
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LDT is one helpful way to find and get back onto our Path.
The Path to finding and becoming our Highest and Best Self
The Nature of Illness
The Nature of Illness
Illness is always caused by a complex of factors and reasons. Situations such as an impaired immune system, impaired healing system, nutritional deficiencies or an excess of toxic environmental chemicals often underlie the more obvious appearing causal factors.
The concept that illness is caused by bacteria, viruses and other such simplistic reasons ranks along with the idea that illness was caused by vapors and evil spirits that pervaded modern medicine until just about some one hundred-twenty years ago.
The complexity of the factors involved in the actual development of illness is only now beginning to be really understood. We know that in fact, there is rarely a single cause for most illnesses. More often there are multiple causative factors involved in the creation of any illness. Often these illness-inducing factors must not only be present but also occur in a particular order. Much like building a house, you cannot put the roof up before laying and completing the foundation, nor before the walls are completed and ready to support it. In a similar sense, there is often a base illness-inducing factor which acts as the foundation for a particular illness. This factor or factors may be genetic in origin or may even relate to excesses or deficiencies in the individual's diet, exposure to toxic chemicals, stress, inappropriate lifestyle issues, depression, anger, rage or hopelessness. Sometimes they are nonspecific, that is, they set the stage for illness to occur, but they do not directly cause the illness nor define the exact illness that will ultimately occur.
On their own these factors do not necessarily lead to illness, nor do they necessarily create symptoms or any indication that an illness will occur. In fact, two individuals can experience the exact same factor and one may become stronger for it, while the other ultimately develops an illness that sometimes may become life-threatening.
Using an analogy of building a house once again, no one action suddenly causes the house to appear. Hundreds of actions over weeks, months or years must occur in some reasonable sequence before the house is completed and ready to be inhabited. The same is true of any illness. Certain events and conditions must occur and a series of illness-inducing factors must be present before any single illness can manifest itself. Whether this means one single illness-inducing factor or hundreds of such illness-inducing factors must be involved, is dependent on the specific situation and the final end result, the illness created. Illness-inducing factors or their timing. The impact on the individual, other non-illness-inducing situations that occur simultaneously or which have occurred in the past or will occur in the future. In other words, there is no specific formula and only the body, mind or spirit's response to these factors counts. On the other hand, healing also requires certain steps and healing-factors, to be present in a reasonably specific order to facilitate complete healing. Healing is generally mediated by three main groups of healing factors: 1) The action and will of the person to be well, this is often hidden within his or her self-image, their actions and will-to-live, 2) the quality of medical care available once the illness reaches the level where medical treatment is required and, 3) the ability to use the mind-body and spirit to facilitate and resolve unresolved internal conflicts which drive the illness producing process.
Most often the process of healing in an individual who has a clearly manifested illness, symptoms beyond the Dis-ease Stage (see the Stress-Related Diseases sections) into a recognized illness syndrome requires both a traditional Western medical physician and a Mind-Body-Spirit healer. The role of the traditional Western medical physician in such situations is to manage the necessary medical and surgical treatments that may be necessary to control the symptoms and help return the physical body to a more comfortable state of balance. The role of the Mind-Body-Spirit healer is to act as guide for the "sick" person to find and help them resolve the unresolved conflicts involving the body, mind, emotions and spirit, that are acting as the underlying causative factors that a traditional Western physician would not look for and hence could not guarantee complete and total healing.
What Are These Illness-Inducing Factors?
In defining illness-inducing factors, it should be clear that virtually anything can be an illness-inducing factor. For example, we might at first be hard put to consider water an illness-inducing factor, yet, if you fall into body of water and cannot swim, you can end up drowning or aspirating water into your lungs with ultimately causes injury or permanent damage to your lungs.
The same may be true of your automobile sitting in the drive way. It may be difficult to see it as potentially lethal or dangerous, yet millions of people either die or are maimed by or in automobiles every year. Even if you are an excellent driver, while out on the road, you are vulnerable to other bad drivers, drunk drivers or even unpredictable accidents where no malice or wrong has been done. For example a driver coming at you has a heart attack and loses control of his car as it crosses the midline of the road and strikes you and your car before you can act appropriately.
Even if we look at this in a different way, we know today that cars produce chemicals that are toxic or potentially toxic, while your car may not produce sufficient toxic material to hurt you breathing in the toxic emissions created by thousands of cars traveling on the same road you are traveling on could over time impair your immune system and ultimately induce illness.
Let's get even more distant from direct injury because of your car and consider that you are a parent and you love your child who has just turned 16-years of age and you spend your nights worrying about your child when he takes the family car out on a date. True you feel that you can't limit him, but you still worry and should he be injured or even killed while driving you might blame yourself, experience profound guilt, feel a catastrophic loss or wish you too or you instead, had died. All these are illness-inducing factors for they ultimately undermine your immune system and can end up alone, or in combination with other illness-inducing factors, creating real, even life-threatening illness.
While bacteria, viruses and parasites contribute to illness, they are rarely the primary cause. They may actually be the last straw, the ultimate last insult that just pushes the body past its capacity to cope with or maintain even the most rudimentary harmony and balance.
There are several types and categories of illness-inducing factors. For example: genetic factors (mutations, inherited illness-inducing genes, etc.), radiation; forces of nature (fire, famine, flood); environmental factors and toxic chemicals whether from a erupting volcano or from automobile emissions; toxic foods, foods with heavy metals, insecticides, additives or foods dyes; tobacco (primary and secondary smoke exposure); accidents and injuries. These represent only a few of the natural and man-made factors that can induce illness.
There is a whole other set of factors that are wholly man-made. While operating through our own neurochemical factors such as faulty beliefs, lies, guilt, shame, fear, anxiety, stress, depression, etc. These faulty beliefs can, if present long enough and coupled with other illness-inducing factors, end up leading to physical, mental, emotional or spiritual illness. These are often both the cause and demonstration of the unresolved conflict at the same time. These negative emotions induce negative forces within our body, and this leads to impairment of the defensive, healing and repair systems of our body's. We know today that our brain, when exposed to either negative or positive thoughts, produces very specific neurochemicals. These chemicals, which are produced by our brain, act as messengers to take critical information to every cell in our body. Like a news bulletin this information is delivered and it then is up to the cells and tissues to deal with the meaning and impact of this news.
This system designed over millions and millions of years of evolution was apparently destined to assist in immediate response to potential danger, the so-called Fight or Flight Mechanism. In simpler times bad news was sporadic and survival was a physical, 24-hour a day problem.
Today, survival is only very occasionally related to real life-threatening conflicts. Instead imagined fears, guilt, faulty beliefs and perceptions often drive this system. For example, a person who does not get a job he wants may feel threatened, upset, angry and frustrated and therefore sends a cascade of negative chemicals to every corner and cell of his body bring a message of loneliness and despondency.
When such negative messages are only occasional and are balanced by equal occurrences of more frequent positive chemical massages, the defensive, healing and repair systems are positively stimulated. They become ready for any danger, ready to act on a second's notice.
On the other hand, when negative chemical messages are frequent, unbalanced and persistent, the result is that the defensive, healing and repair systems are overwhelmed, they become burned out, their chemical initiators and reserves are depleted and they may not be capable of functioning adequately or as quickly as needed. We often refer to this as, "Burnout Syndrome." Their reserves used up, they may only work to a limited extent or they may fail rapidly or not even function at all. Even small injuries can in such cases become catastrophic failures and lead to massive system wide breakdowns.
With continued insult, the body may well act to turn off defensive systems. These neurochemical chemical messages being mixed with other negative thoughts can be interpreted by cells and bodily systems as, "I want to die!" I can't make it." or "There is no reason for living!" The body might instead respond by shutting down its defensive, healing or repair systems or possibly all of these systems.
As the number of negative messages increase, even with some positive messages present, they may end up combining and creating a response greater than any one real or faulty belief message itself might cause. Hence, illness-inducing factors can be additive. The total can have an effect greater than the sum of its parts.
If we take time into consideration, we may see that layer upon layer of such faulty messages, beliefs, lies, and negative emotions are affecting the body-mind-spirit integration. Finally, we can see disproportionate actions where two or more seemingly unrelated events form a new entity, which again can have a much greater impact than the sum total of these actions may at first appear to create.
Further blending, mixing, compounding and combining of these factors can ultimately end up with a situation that could never have been thought to be related to any one of the factors. This process often leads to illnesses ranging from minimal or mild, to severe, and even life-threatening, illnesses.
A previously happy, intelligent person enjoying life can end up physically, mentally or spiritually ill. Cancer, alcoholism, autoimmune disease, hormonal disease, suicidal or even psychoses. Why, can this happen, we ask? The answer is deceptively simple, because it is the nature of man to be at the mercy of the elements around him, his own nature, his own thoughts and the beliefs, fears, guilt and shame he takes on from others.
Does this have to be? You may now ask. The answer is No! It is what is and has been, but it does not have to be anyone's future. If you believe in an Intelligent Universe then you can soon recognize that these are really only tests. Illness itself is not the enemy, but rather what we do with it. If we use our understanding of nature, of the Intelligence of the Universe we live in, we soon see that there are many ways to avoid illness. If, as we believe, illness is an Intelligent communication from body to the person letting them know that they have unresolved conflicts which require resolution, then we can use our illnesses to learn what these conflicts are and we can resolve them. We can then, in a real sense, HEAL our problems rather than treat the outward causes. If we get just a little bit smarter, we can begin to see that symptoms are the harbingers or forewarners of what can happen if we do not solve these conflicts. And, if we get even a little more sophisticated, we can recognize that we have really always known, our feelings, our internal sensors and from our instincts that these conflicts have existed. We will also see they were at the root of our unhappiness and physical, mental and emotional problems. The fact that these conflicts have been present is often much less of a surprise than realizing that they were always solvable. However, because we did not know how to take actions, because of our fears, shame, guilt or anxiety, we did nothing and we allowed the process to progress onward toward illness because of our lack of willingness or inability to take appropriate action.
Knowing this we can now learn how, when, and why to take action before illness can take hold and before it becomes irreversible, or we suffer from it. We can learn the wisdom of this system and we can use this knowledge to move us along on our natural path toward our highest and best self.
In its lowest level, LDT is a way to explore, find and heal existing illness. In its highest state it is a way to learn our natural power and how to use it to evolve ourselves from blind human beings struggling with and in life, to an enlightened being understanding our Intelligence in an Intelligent Universe.
We are often asked whether we are only doing Psychotherapy to accomplish these goals, and our answer is no, LDT is much more that. To further answer this question go to our section on the differences between LDT and psychotherapy through the link at the end of this article.
Life Dynamic Training
The following documents are a series of essays and articles which encompass three major topics:
Within these articles, basic questions regarding illness, healing and LDT will be answered in as straightforward way as is humanly possible.
We hope that you enjoy these articles and essays and that the information provided will help you improve your health and well-being.
Healing Your Self and Others
Millions of people suffer from illnesses, or will in the future become sick. Too often this is because they lack the information and knowledge needed to either prevent becoming sick or to be able to heal themselves before or after they become ill. In this section, we look at what causes illness, how the body can defend us against almost all types of illness. We will also look at the new medical field of Psychoneuroimmunology - Mind/Body Medicine.
Each year millions of people become ill. Most suffer from illnesses which could well have been prevented.. Too often they cannot prevent their illnesses because they lack the necessary information and knowledge which could help them prevent becoming sick or that could help them to heal themselves early, long before their illness becomes a major threat to their well-being and overall health.
In a series of articles and white papers we look at what causes illness, how the body can defend us against illness and how we can heal our selves. We will also look at the new medical field of Psychoneuroimmunology - Mind/Body Medicine.
To read more about Healing Yourself and Others, The Nature of Illness and the Body's Defensive Systems.
Check out our information on Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) the relationship of mind, body and behavior is crucial to healing our self as well as for helping others who need healing.
To learn more about Psychoneuroimmunology, click here.
Life Dynamic Therapy
Life Dynamic Therapy© (LDT) as a therapeutic process or tool for individuals who desire healing of an illness. The information in this section is most valuable for those individuals who suffer from an illness which has not been helped or eliminated through use of traditional Western medial treatments or alternative medicine. LDT is directed at healing the cause of your illness and through healing the causes of the illness, the illness itself, can be healed.
Read more about Life Dynamic Therapy©
Other Articles
A Matter of Health -- What is the basis of good health? Why is it that some people are healthy and others are not? In this article we look at the basic fundamentals of wellness and good health.
PMS: Before, During and After Pregnancy
It is believed by many that PMS is a vitamin-mineral deficiency syndrome. Guy Abraham, M.D. an Obstetrician/Gynecologist and Endocrinologist published a number of articles in the early 1970's suggesting that PMS was caused by a unique combination of factors including a dietary deficiency of certain key nutrients (specifically magnesium and vitamin B6) and an excess of calcium, refined sugar, processed foods and caffeine in the daily diet. It has now been clearly demonstrated that dietary deficiencies of magnesium resulted not only in a decrease of circulating levels of magnesium, but also in a deficiency at the cellular level. Many of the symptoms of PMS are also quite similar to those of vitamin B deficiency syndromes.
PMS and Diet
The interrelationship of a diet high in calcium and low in magnesium sets up a complex series of interactions which worsen a relative magnesium deficiency in the body. Research as early as 1943 by Biskind suggested that magnesium deficiency has its main effect at the level of the liver and creates an inability for the woman's body to naturally breakdown active estrogen into its inactive conjugated water soluble form. Because the liver is not able to breakdown active estrogen, the level circulating estrogen cannot be controlled and estrogen levels of the blood rise. This creates a state of imbalance between estrogen and progesterone and a situation where estrogen levels begin to rise to relatively high levels. We refer to this as hyperestrogenism. And as we will see it is cause of many problematic and even dangerous medical conditions in these women.
The Secondary Effects of PMS in Women
Recent information suggests that there are a number of conditions, PMS being one of them, which are associated with excess circulating estrogen. Conditions such as fibroid tumors, infertility, endometriosis, dysfunctional (irregular) uterine bleeding, menstrual irregularity, breast pain and swelling, fibrocystic disease of the breast, certain types of breast tumors and a number of genital cancers which all have one common finding hyperstimulation by excess circulating estrogen.
While a causative relationship between PMS and the hormonal/vitamin-deficiency syndrome associated with PMS has not been proven, there is a definite sense that whatever cause's PMS also increases the risk of all of these other conditions. In many cases it there may be several causes with the hormonal/vitamin-deficiency syndrome associated with PMS being only one of them.
PMS and Pregnancy
PMS may also have far reaching effects into pregnancy. Certainly infertility, endometriosis, fibroid tumors may affect both getting pregnant, and to some degree, its out come. Recent research now suggests that we might consider some relationship to some cases of spontaneous abortion (miscarriage) and premature labor to the same defects of estrogen/progesterone metabolism as caused by PMS. The relationship of pre-eclampsia and toxemia of pregnancy is very strong as one rarely sees these complications of pregnancy where the PMS was not present prior to pregnancy. One has to suspect that they are caused by the same metabolic defect as causes PMS.
Most of these conditions have never been specifically related to a deficiency of magnesium. However, the striking similarities between the PMS-like symptoms and those of an abnormal interaction between magnesium and calcium, suggest that pretreatment with a magnesium rich diet. That is, a diet with dietary levels of magnesium and vitamin B6 which have already been suggested by the RDA. Unfortunately this type of diet rarely recommended by medical doctors to their patients. Clearly this diet might make a significant difference for many women in the outcome of their pregnancies and the quality of their life whether they have PMS or not.
Eliminating PMS, Protecting Against and Preventing Pregnancy Problems
In our office we recommend this diet to virtually all of the pregnant women we saw between 1975 and 1984. We made sure that they were at least that their diet was at RDA levels or greater in the amount of magnesium and vitamin B6. In all those years, we had only one patient with pre-eclampsia. She was one of the eight women who refused to follow this regime. If you presently suffer from PMS and plan to become pregnant or are already pregnant you should consider looking at your diet and making sure that you have an appropriate amount of magnesium and vitamin B6 in your diet. In our book, 30-Days To NoMore PMS, A Doctor's Proven Nutritional Program to Conquer PMS we look at all of these factors and discuss the risks and hazards of a diet high in calcium, refined and processed foods, refined sugars, caffeine and deficient in magnesium and vitamin B6. We look at how you can become relatively deficient in these nutrients, even if you eat a "healthy diet." We look at the result and relationship between stress in your life or certain predisposing factors to your risk of developing PMS, worsening it and developing complications from it.
Protecting yourself before becoming pregnant and in early pregnancy requires no more than instructing women in eating a good healthy diet. One that is already recommended by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Federal Government, the American Medical Association, but which is rarely eaten by the bulk of American women. Nothing in the diet exceeds the amounts recommended for either magnesium or B6 during pregnancy.
Both Dr. Katrina Dalton and Dr. Guy Abraham, the two most prominent leaders in PMS research, as well as a host of other PMS researchers, have clearly stated that there is a definite relationship between PMS and postpartum depression. There is also a definite relationship between PMS and endometriosis. While not yet researched thoroughly, the evidence is quite suggestive. In our practice nearly 99% of the women we saw who presented with endometriosis also suffered from PMS. On the other hand, only 5% to 10% of the women who had PMS also suffered from endometriosis. This suggests that they have a common mechanism but also that PMS itself is much more common then endometriosis. In other articles we have suggested that somewhere between 40% and 60% of all women 14 to 50 presently suffer from PMS you can see that this is an extremely large number of women and that the effect of PMS is wide spread between women and their pregnancies.
Finally, there appears to be both a causative relationship and an association with the degree of severity of symptoms between tubal ligation and the use of oral contraceptives and PMS. Women who have had a tubal ligation, especially when performed immediately after pregnancy, tend to have a higher rate of PMS. One explanation given is that the blood supply to ovaries is in someway impaired predisposing to a hormonal imbalance, in our book we discuss this issue in greater detail. Lastly, many women who use oral contraceptives find that they have exaggerated PMS symptoms most of the month while on OC's. There is also a higher likelihood that these women will develop PMS after stopping OC's.
Eating Yourself Free of PMS
If there is anything good about PMS it is that it is so easy to treat and prevent. Very simple dietary changes can make all the difference in the world. We have treated women with extremely severe PMS, PMS that was destructive to their life, their relationships and to their family and within 30 to 60 days most of these women were completely symptom free.
It eventually prompted us to advertise our services by saying: "Eat yourself free of PMS." With proper treatment of PMS these other conditions will greatly improve and even disappear*. The old adage "solve the real underlying cause and all of the problems and symptoms will go away," really fits for PMS and the other conditions that occur with it.
PMS, You, Your Family and Their Diet
If you have read through some of our other documents, it should be quite clear by now, that we believe that PMS is caused by a faulty diet. That some foods are eaten in excess and other important foods and nutrients are deficient in the PMS woman's diet.
While we have spent a great deal of time discussing the effects of this faulty diet in causing PMS and the problems that this presents to the PMS woman herself, we have not at all discussed the effects of the diet she eats, and probably prepares for her family, and how this affects her family.
While not all men and children eat exactly the same foods as their wife or mother, however, there is likely to be a fair amount of cross over. It is possible that many husbands and children of PMS women also eat meals that are in many ways similar to what causes PMS. This is likely to be true whether the family eats all of their meals at home or whether they eat away from the home. Families tend to learn from each other, have similar likes and dislikes and hence it is often true that all of the members of the family they like and eat foods both different from and similar too, what the PMS woman eats.
It is also possible that they may even dislike foods some or all of the foods that she eats. However, it is more than likely that the PMS woman's family eats much the same diet she eats. The same diet that caused her to suffer from PMS.
It would also be fair to say knowing what people generally eat in our society, what we like to refer to as, "the Great American Diet" that most men and children eat a diet which is high in calcium, high in sugar, high in fat, high in salt and low in magnesium, fiber and other healthful nutrients including essential vitamins and minerals. This is basically the overall diet of the American people.
While PMS often manifest fairly blatant symptoms, which in the end are caused by this deficient diet, there are many more symptoms which often go unrecognized until it is much too late. The same diet that causes PMS in women also leads to heart disease, heart attack and stroke in men (and post menopausal women), obesity in men, women and children and a multiplicity of symptoms such as angina pectoris, arthritis, bowel cancer, peptic ulcers, anxiety, stress, hyperactive children, low blood sugar, diabetes and hypertension to mention only a very few. (See or section on Heart Disease, Stroke and Diet.)
You already know that heart disease is linked to diet (and stress) you may even have heard that heart disease could be prevented by proper diet. One of the foremost leaders in this area was Nathan Pritikin, founder of the Pritikin Diet. He was diagnosed at one point with having severe obstructive arteriosclerotic heart disease. He was given only months to live. However, he was unwilling to accept this so he started out on his own to find a dietary treatment to reverse heart disease. More than twenty years later, after he died of an entirely different reason than heart disease, his autopsy revealed that his coronary arteries were entirely clear of cholesterol deposits - arteriosclerosis.
In 1981, I (Dr. Allen Lawrence) had the opportunity to meet with Nathan Pritikin. At that time we compared the diet we were suggesting for the elimination of PMS with the Pritikin diet and then subsequently discuss both diets with Mr. Pritikin. It was immediately clear that our PMS diet fit closely the guidelines for Mr. Pritikin's program of prevention of heart disease. When I asked Mr. Pritikin if he realize that his Pritikin Diet was a high magnesium diet Mr. Pritikin answered that while he had never thought of it in that way, he concurred that it was indeed a high magnesium and low calcium diet and that this was essential for preventing heart disease along with also being low in fat and high in fiber.
Recently, when author Robert Kowalski published the 8 Day Heart Disease Prevention Diet book I had the opportunity to read and discuss Mr. Kowalski's dietary program with him many months before this best seller was published. Once again it is clear that the basis of Mr. Kowalski's book is a diet high vitamin B6, niacin (a B vitamin), high fiber and high in magnesium. It was also low fat and low calcium.
Studies of thousands of autopsies on young men killed in both the Korean and Viet Nam wars and after non-war related trauma, have demonstrated that most young men by the time they have reached 19 to 22 years of age have anywhere from 70 to 95% occlusion of their coronary arteries by cholesterol deposits. Cholesterol can be substantially reduced in a low fat diet. While the deposition of cholesterol in arteries and veins is apparently not directly elated to dietary calcium, a high level of circulating calcium may increase the possibility of precipitating the salt, calcium-cholesterol (plaque) which further hardens the arteriosclerotic deposits which cause arteriosclerotic heart disease and stroke.
High levels of circulating magnesium and B6 appear to reverse this process. When the same diet which we recommend for women to reverse their PMS is feed to men and is associated with a low fat (low cholesterol), high fiber diet it has been clearly demonstrated that it can reverse heart disease entirely.
The anti-PMS diet that we offer in our book, Special Report: A Doctor's Proven Nutritional Program to Conquering PMS, will not only eliminate your PMS, but if served to your entire family it will also substantially lower your risk and their risks and hazards of developing arteriosclerotic heart disease and stroke.
In this day and age no man, woman or child should be eating anything less than a diet of whole fresh foods which are high in magnesium, high in vitamins and minerals (especially, vitamin B6 and other B vitamins, selenium, chromium and zinc). For best results in preventing heart disease and stroke our diet should be supplemented with 15-20 minutes a day exposure to sun light to stimulate production of vitamin D. Since our diet is low in fat, we strongly suggest supplements of the fat-soluble vitamins: A, D, E and K.
It is possible that when our diet is the main diet of the entire family that their risk of coronary artery disease, heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure and many other symptoms and diseases which are nutritionally related will be significantly eliminated. When started early this healthful diet can be beneficial to every member of your family.
Premenstrual Syndrome
A Guide to Symptoms Relief
This is a 30 page booklet which discusses the basics of PMS. It is designed for the beginner, someone who wants to know about PMS, but is not interested in making a study of it.
This Guidebook covers the following topics:
1. Understanding Premenstrual Syndrome
What is PMS? What are the Symptoms? The more difficult to recognize symptoms. How the diagnosis is made. Who gets PMS? Factors involved. Life Style is Important. Is Painful Menstruation a Symptom of PMS?
2. Causes of Premenstrual Syndrome
What Causes Premenstrual Syndrome? What Causes Estrogen to Rise? Is PMS a Nutritional Deficiency? How Does a Diet Become Deficient In Vitamin B6 and Magnesium? Can PMS be Treated? What is the Hormonal Approach? What is the Nutritional Approach? What Relationship Does Magnesium Play to Dr Abraham's Four Categories of PMS? Which Approach is Better, Nutritional or Hormonal? Can PMS be Cured?
3. Long Term Affects Of PMS
What Other Common Gynecologic Problems are Related to PMS? Can I Treat My Premenstrual Syndrome Entirely Myself? Do I Have to Stay on a Strict Diet or Use Progesterone for the Rest of My Life? What Supplements are Recommended? Are There Dangers to Mega Dose Vitamin Therapy-Supplements? Can Magnesium be Toxic? How Do I Know Whether Treatment is Working? What Kind of Preparation is Necessary Before Treating My PMS? Indirect Treatments. Other Valuable Suggestions
There are also a number of important Tables and Graphics covering The Normal Menstrual Cycle, The PMS Menstrual Cycle, Normal Estrogen Metabolism and Abnormal Estrogen Metabolism. Dietary (Nutritional) Program Guidelines, Vitamin Toxicity
$5.50 plus $1.50 for Shipping and Handling to
ALLCO Publishing
14080 Palm Drive, Suite #D-237
Desert Hot Springs, CA 92240
If you desire additional copies for friends or relatives, send $5.50 + $1.50 S&H for the inital copy, and then $5.50 + $0.75/copy S&H, for each copy after the initial copy.
PMS and the Family
There are many ways that PMS can and does affect the family. The most obvious effects are related to the changes in your behavior and the symptoms that you may suffer from. In PMS Symptoms we listed many of common, and uncommon, symptoms that are frequently seen in PMS. If you have any of these symptoms, especially those that affect you emotionally or physically, they will to some degree or another be obvious to others, and most especially to other family members. If they affect you, they most likely also have some effect on your family.
Some of the most common symptoms which effect the family are those associated with significant (meaning, obvious to others consciously or unconsciously) depression, anger, acting out and mood swings. Often women are unable to recognize the full extent of the effect of their PMS on themselves and hence will miss its effects on their family. PMS women have been brought into us by their husbands with instructions to "fix her before I have to file divorce."
PMS very often has a significant negative affect on your children. Often children, especially young children, have no idea as to what is normal and abnormal. When mother acts out from PMS they will accept either the way mother acts as normal, or they may think that their mother is "crazy." They may even believe that all women are supposed to act this way.
Young girls may even believe that when they grow up, this is the way they are supposed to act or that PMS is normal. Often because they do not know any different, they may emulate their mother and exhibit PMS behavior. Young boys may from an early age think of their mother, and hence all women, are erratic, emotional and unstable. Because of the acting out, erratic behavior, broken promises, sudden fits of anger and rage PMS may be subject to, their children may soon believe that you (and possibly all women) are not to be trusted or relied upon.
How Does PMS Affect Teenage Girls?
It is also extremely important, when we discuss PMS and its effect on the family to discuss the relationship between PMS and teenage girls. While statistics show that PMS most commonly affects women in their mid to late twenties, what is overlooked is the important fact that PMS generally begins much earlier.
PMS is often missed in teenage girls because no one looks for it. Generally, teenage girls do not see gynecologists regularly and if their mothers and fathers are not very knowledgeable about PMS, they will not consider it an issue. Also, the symptoms of PMS in teenagers often differ radically from PMS in adult women. Many people believe that the teenage years are supposed to be erratic and turbulent.
Teenage girls may have some or all of the symptoms that their mother's have or have had, or they may have entirely different patterns. There are several symptoms which are particularly problematic in teenage girls.
First, there is an alarmingly high rate of suicide among teenage girls with PMS. PMS often causes severe depression and some of these girls are unable to deal with their dark moods and fears effectively. They may feel that their problems are insolvable and that there is no one there for them to turn to. On occasion they may feel that suicide is the only way out. This is the primary reason that any teenage girl who is depressed, moody or acting suicidally must be evaluated. Suicidal behavior has two meanings here. One is the standard meaning of committing suicide. The other is that they may be doing suicidal things such as using large amounts of alcohol, drugs, driving erratically, bad relationships, running away, alienation from the parents and other friends. Often these are seen as emotional problems but they may actually be caused by PMS. These girls need to be treated for PMS whether they need psychological counseling will be determined by how they respond to correct treatment of their PMS.
A second problem is nymphomania. Often the teenage girl is ill prepared to deal with the negative feeling created by her PMS. Her budding sexuality and her need for love may overwhelm her and her inability to control her emotions may lead her to sexually acting out. She maybe driven by these negative forces into nymphomania, multiple partners and indiscriminate sex. This behavior may occur only during PMS portions of the cycle or it may occur all month long. It is not unusual for her self-respect and her self-image to become so severely damaged that she feels driven into running away or engaging in prostitution. Early pregnancy and marriage may also be secondary effects of untreated PMS.
A third problem is teenage obesity. Here once again as with her adult counterpart, cravings, low self-esteem, low ego strength, mood swings and depression may come together in the form of excessive appetite, overeating, bingeing and weight gain. This weight gain separates her from her, "ideal - perfect self-image" which worsens her depression, exaggerates her mood swings and makes her more unhappy, withdrawn and feeling unloved. This drives her cravings and psychological need for food which leads to bingeing and more weight gain. It is a vicious cycle and no matter how hard she tries she cannot seem to break it. Identifying if PMS is the cause or contributes to such behavior is essential. If PMS is found, it should be treated. Our Metamorphosis On-Line Weight Loss Program takes all of this into consideration. It is a diet which can easily be modified to help teenage PMS girls simultaneously lose weight and reverse their PMS.
A fourth problem is alcohol and drug abuse. We referred to this above. Many teenage girls, who would otherwise be trustworthy and reliable, end up as alcoholics or drug addicts because they are trying to eliminate their PMS symptoms (deal with mood swings, depression, anger, etc.) Alcohol addiction is quite common in PMS women. Alcohol, being basically pure sugar, will temporarily relive the cravings and sugar blues that PMS women are subject too. Unfortunately, it only relieves them for a short while. Hence after the first drink the symptoms will return again and because of the high sugar content of the alcohol the symptoms will now be worse then they where before the first drink. Now she needs another drink to take away these symptoms and a deadly cycle is instituted. Soon she is addicted to the alcohol as well as relieving her PMS symptoms. Many women end up as alcoholics because of this.
The same thing happens with drug addiction except her the woman stops eating and begins to starve herself this too triggers PMS. Hence, it has a slightly different mechanism than alcoholism in teenage PMS sufferers, but the end result is the same the drugs are needed to cover up the negative feeling and PMS symptoms.
A host of other problems can result. These stem from the same factors, inability to control themselves, PMS symptoms and low self-esteem and low ego strength. They include behavior problems, poor grades, cutting school, pick the wrong friends, sexual acting out, shoplifting, fighting with siblings, hostility toward parents and the establishment, and much more.
It would generally be an excellent idea for every parent (whether PMS already exists in the family or not) to have their teenage girl evaluated for PMS. This is especially true, if she is acting out or exhibiting any of the symptoms or cyclic behavior related to PMS. This can be done as simply as taking her to a medical doctor who is competent in recognizing PMS or even having her complete the Patient Evaluation Questionnaire provided within this website.
If your teen age girl is found to have PMS, she should be clearly informed about what PMS is, what causes it and how it should be treated. She should be started on an anti-PMS diet immediately. If she is unwilling to be on a diet (which we believe to be the very best treatment) she may be willing to take special supplements formulated to reverse PMS. If none of these are acceptable, she may prefer medical treatment including progesterone or antidepressants, mood elevators, or even menstrual period suppression.
We believe that the safest and most reliable treatment to eliminate PMS is a proper anti-PMS diet.
If You Suspect Your Teenager Has PMS or Is at Risk for PMS Consider the Following:
If you are concerned about your teenager (or pre-teenager) is at risk for PMS or if do not know what to look for and but suspect your teenager already has PMS we suggest that you learn as much as you can about PMS. You may want to purchase a copy of one of our books on PMS. As a concerned parent begin to watch what your child is eating. See if she is eating a diet predominantly high in calcium, refined sugars, caffeine and processed foods. Review the symptoms of PMS. It will soon be clear to you whether she has PMS and why she has PMS. It is important for every PMS woman to educate her children, boys and girls, about a proper diet.
Teenage PMS is covered in our book 30-Days to No More PMS if you are interested in ordering it, or one of our other books.
Name: Date:
Grading of Menses (Menstrual Flow)
0-none 1-slight 2-moderate 3-heavy 4-heavy with many clots
Grading of Your Symptoms (Complaints)
0-none 1-mild 2-moderate 3-severe 4-disabling
Day of Cycle