Soul Satisfying Journeys: Tips for Your Travel

 

Good Morning!

Soul Satisfying Journeys: Tips for Your Travel

Our journeys are about making choices. Whether it is a choice about where to go, how to go or when to go, the choice determines our outcome. Soul satisfying journeys are mindful trips that include self-awareness and a look within ourselves. This pertains to any journey, be it from place to place, action to action or decision to decision. The sum of our choices constitutes our life. The journey we take from start to finish. We may not always make the proper choices, but we are always allowed the ability to make another. No matter how far down the "wrong" road we may be, this road we chose, we chose for a reason. Here in lies life's lessons. Learn the lesson, then make your next choice. This is how we discover the daily journeys in a span of time that is ours and ours alone.

"Life is designed by our soul and spirit as our moment-by-moment opportunity to expand our consciousness."

Tips for a Soul Satisfying Journey

1. The Power of Positive Thinking: Negativity is the root that undermines our free flow of thought. The negative ideas we think can manifest in the words we speak. The minute the words leave your lips, is the minute they manifest. Change your thoughts to positive, uplifting ones. Think hope not hopelessness. Think goodness, not evil. Think joy not despair. Energy follows thought. Program thought to be positive and your energy will reflect it!

2. Networking : When traveling on any journey, take the time to meet those who cross your path. If you believe in Universal Attraction, then your purpose for those you meet will unfold.

3. Find Quiet Time: Turn off the cell phone, power down the laptop, cut yourself off from the constant world of communication. Try doing it for 15 minutes. Then add another 15 minutes. Build your time up to an hour, two hours, perhaps all day. Do you remember time before these communication tools?

4. Find Time To Meditate: Become aware of your breath. Learn to close your eyes, sit comfortable and smell the air around you. Enjoy the sounds of nature or your favorite music. Enjoy the many meditations in the meditation village.

5. Enjoy the Company of Those Around You: If you are on vacation with your significant other, your family or children, give them your full and undivided attention. Not only will you understand your will power but you will truly show your loved ones how important your time is with them!

6. Pamper Yourself : Take this time to enjoy a massage. Take a yoga class or give yourself a soothing bath or spa treatment. Do something for yourself that you would not normally do.

7. Be Flexible: You have a rigid, set schedule at work, with the kids or in your daily routine. Learn a lesson from the willow tree and its ability to bend in the great wind. Where as, when we are rigid like the old oak tree, we can easily break apart under the stress of change. Learn to relax and follow the path unfolding before you.

8. Become More Mindful: Mindfulness is the act of being fully aware of what happens in each moment. Try living in the NOW. Be present. Honor each moment you are given. Acknowledge each task you take.

9. Really Appreciating: what we DO have as opposed to what we would like to have, makes a significant difference. This is always an important element in any journey that is often neglected.

10. Find Happiness in Simplicity: and you will find the greatest joys yet revealed to you. Smile when you talk on the phone. Great everyone you pass by or meet today, with a smile. Appreciate the smell of the air, the warmth of the sun and the laughter in children. Make that the stepping stones of your travels.

"The journey is not finding satisfaction in the end but savoring each moment on the road there."

Late Summer and Chinese Medicine Theory

 

Good Morning!

Late Summer and Chinese Medicine Theory

Late Summer is considered the "dog day afternoons" when in late August and "Indian Summer" are hotter and damper days rich in humidity and a feeling of heaviness in the air. This often parallels the way our bodies feel during this period.

Dampness is associated with the element earth and is most active in late summer. Ailments of excessive dampness can be induced by sudden exposure to fog or mist, immersion in water or exposure to rain, and living in excessively damp locations or climates. The surface pores on the body are open. Because summer is humid, the pathogenic factors, which cause diseases in this season always mix with dampness. The symptoms include excessive fluids in the body with symptoms of abdominal bloating, abdominal pains, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, intestinal spasms, diarrhea, lethargy, lack of thirst, feeling of heaviness, heaviness in the chest or being sluggish and stiff, aching or sore joints - are characteristically heavy and sluggish in nature and tend to block the flow of energy throughout the body.

Damp Heat is a condition of dampness and heat combined with symptoms of thick yellow secretions and phlegm such as jaundice, hepatitis, urinary problems, or eczema.

"Inner-dampness" is caused by excess cold consumption of liquor, tea, cold melons, and sweet, greasy foods. These impede spleen functions.

The Spleen and Stomach

In Chinese Medicine, the spleen and stomach are associated with Late Summer. They belong to the element of Earth. The stomach's function is to rot and rippen food and break it down for transportation. The spleen's functions: transform and transport foods and body fluids to make ready for absorption. The spleen raises our (Qi) energy up. The spleen controls the blood and keeps it in the vessels. The spleen also nourishes the muscles.

Signs and symptoms of poor spleen function include dizziness, pale complexion, low energy, prolapse of organs such as the rectum (hemmorhoids) and uterus. Spontaneous bleeding, muscle weakness and muscle atrophy can all be due to problems with the spleen.
Signs and symptoms of poor stomach function are numerous. Stomach heat manifests as too much heat in the stomach and is represented by bad breath, bleeding or swollen gums, burning sensation in the stomach, extreme thirst, frontal headaches and/or mouth ulcers.

The spleen transforms the ingested food and drink to extract the Qi. The function of transformation and transportation is crucial in the process of digestion and the formation of Qi and blood. If this function is impaired there may be a poor appetite, poor digestion, abdominal distention and loose stools. The spleen separates the usable part of fluids from the unusable. If this process is impaired there can be an accumulation of dampness, phlegm, and/or edema. The Spleens ability to transform and transport can be adversely affected by the excessive consumption of cold drinks and raw foods. The action of chewing prepares food for the Spleen to transform and transport. If Spleen-Qi is abnormal, there may be an impairment of the sense of taste or the presence of an abnormal taste , lack of appetite and the lips may be pale and dry. If the Spleen has heat a person may complain of a sweet taste in the mouth and have dry lips.

The stomach transforms food and drink by the process of fermentation. This prepares the ground for the Spleen to separate and extract the refined essence from food. After transformation in the Stomach the food is passed down to the Small Intestine for further separation and absorption.

The Stomach together with the spleen is responsible for transporting food essences to the whole body, especially the limbs. If Stomach Qi is strong a person will feel strong and full of energy. Stomach Qi also ensures that the Qi of the organs reaches the pulse. A pulse with good stomach Qi is said to be neither weak or strong with yin and yang harmonized and it has a regular, slow beat.
The stomach is responsible for the coating on the tongue. A thin white coating on the tongue indicates the Stomach is functioning properly. The absence of coating indicates that the stomach's function of digestion is impaired. A thick white coating reflects either cold or dampness and a thick yellow coating indicates heat.

Men's Health Month: Supplement Overview

 

Good Morning!

Men's Health Month: Supplement Overview

This is one of my favorite perscriptions I give my male patients. These three supplements are only natural. One is plant based, the other is a natural steroid hormone produced by the adrenal glands and the third is an omega fatty acid. They must be taken together, twice a day for 30 days. The results will be so great that you will want to continue this protocol, but I would only recommend doing this only 6 months apart (twice a year).

1. DIM (diindolylmethane) is a plant compound called an indole and has been shown to help regulate and promote a more efficient metabolism of estrogen, and an optimal ratio of estrogen metabolites. DIM balances estrogen levels, promoting health and well-being. This powerful phytonutrient is found in broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and brussels sprouts, unlike other phytonutrients like soy isoflavones, has no hormonal properties in itself.

2. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a natural steroid hormone, one of the hormones produced by the adrenal glands. After being secreted by the adrenal glands, it circulates in the bloodstream as DHEA-sulfate (DHEAS) and is converted as needed into other hormones. DHEA is chemically similar to testosterone and estrogen and is easily converted into those hormones. DHEA production peaks in early adulthood and declines in production with age in both men and women. Therefore, many diseases which correlate with age also correlate with low levels of DHEA production. Standard dosage is 100 mg twice a day.

3. Fish Oil: Take 2,000 mg of rich, omega 3 fish oil, in doses of 1,000 mg, twice a day.

To increase testosterone levels, consider taking DHEA 100 mg in divided dosage (50 mg, twice a day) with DIM-plus 60 capsule size (one capsule, twice a day for a total of 100 mg) for a total of two capsules per day along with a "good fat" such as flaxseed or fish oil 1,000 mg, twice a day (2,000 mg total per day).

Another favorite combination of supplements I recommend for long term use are my Male Performance formula. Take this all natural herbal combination, two pills, twice a day. Along with this, take 2,000 mg of L-Arginine (one of the best male amino acids) in divided doses (1,000 mg), twice a day. (Take up to 3 months at a time. Take a break for a month and then go back on the 3 month regime.)

Vitamin C research suggests it may prevent sperm from "clumping" together and that it increases sperm count. Superoxide dismutase and glutathione - research shows that these and other antioxidants may improve sperm quality. Dose: 1,000 mg twice a day.

Vitamin E supplementation with this antioxidant has been shown to increase sperm motility and to enhance the ability of the sperm to penetrate the egg in test-tube studies. Dose: 400 IU daily. Talk to your doctor prior to starting Vitamin E, particularly if you are currently taking aspirin or other blood thinners.

Selenium: Dose: 200 mcg daily. Improves sperm motility.
Coenzyme Q10: Take 10 mg daily. Increases sperm count and motility.
Zinc is an essential nutrient for proper sperm production. A deficiency may result in lowered testosterone levels.. The usual recommended dosage of zinc is about 15 to 30 mg daily, coupled with 1 mg of copper for balance. Too much zinc can be toxic. Do not exceed a dose of 15 to 30 mg daily This mineral is found in great amounts in the outer layer of sperm and plays an important role in the production of the hormone testosterone.

Vitamin B12: Take 1000 mcg daily. A B-12 deficiency reduces sperm motility and sperm count. Even if no deficiency exists, B-12 supplementation may help men with a sperm count of less than 20 million per milliliter or a motility rate of less than 50% Zinc and B Vitamins (B6, B12, and folic acid) are critical nutrients in the male reproductive system for proper hormone metabolism, sperm formation and motility.

L-Arginine (Kidney Yang tonic) especially enhance sperm count. Studies indicate that this amino acid may improve sperm motility. Take 4 gr daily. Needed to produce sperm. If the sperm count is below 10 million per ml, arginine probably will not provide any benefit.

L-Carnitine (Yin and Blood tonic) especially enhance sperm count. Researchers have found that L-carnitine is found in much greater amounts in sperm tissues than other cells. Preliminary studies suggest that L-carnitine and acetyl-L-carnitine may be able to stimulate sperm motility in certain situations. The role of L-carnitine on sperm maturation and sperm quality however, is still unclear. Several clinical studies have evaluated the effect of L-carnitine on men with a low sperm count, a reduction/loss in sperm movement, or men with both conditions. These studies have evaluated only small numbers of men who took oral carnitine supplements for varying lengths of time. Some patients enrolled in these studies experienced increased sperm counts and/or increased sperm motility. Take 3-4 grams daily. Required for normal sperm function.

Flaxseed oil: Take 1 tbsp daily. Is a source of essential fatty acids.
Fish Oil: Take 2,000 mg of rich, omega 3 fish oil, in doses of 1,000 mg, twice a day.

Ginseng: increases production of testosterone and helps with sperm production. Avoid if you have high blood pressure or Yin deficiency (with heat signs). ___