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Journey to Wellness |
Hello
to everyone from Davis, California, U.S.A.
Here we are
with our feet firmly planted in 2010. Wow! How can that be? Wasn't
it just yesterday that we were saying Happy New Year and ringing in 2009!
In any case, a new year has again rolled around, and we have a new opportunity
to make positive changes in our lives. I often say that we can choose to
be a
victor instead of a victim of our MS (or anything else in our lives for that
matter). I have chosen to be "enabled" by MS rather
than "disabled," and I believe that each one of us have the
opportunity to make that same choice. I believe my body is
designed to be self-healing, and that my challenge is to learn how to "listen"
to my body and to help it turn on that innate self-healing process.
Whether you are new to Journey to Wellness, or you have been with me for years, I warmly welcome you to our world-wide network of readers. Thanks to the Internet and the rapid rise in "social networking," it seems that we are all becoming more aware of how truly alike and connected we all are. I hope something included in this issue "speaks" to you and challenges you to move ahead in your own journey to wellness.
IN
THIS ISSUE:
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New Years to me has always seemed to herald "New Beginnings." I do not know how the idea of New Years Resolutions started, but perhaps whoever first thought of that idea also saw it as a time of new beginnings. I certainly do believe that we can . . .
Choose our Thoughts and Change our World!
Famed author of You Can Heal Your Life and founder of Hay House Publishing and Hay House Radio, Louise Hay, says:
". . . A successful life "boils down to choosing the thoughts you think and choosing the thoughts you want, and when you can be wise in both areas, you have perfect health because the body knows how to take care of itself."
Louise has been one of my mentors. She is an awesome lady who healed herself of cancer many years ago, and at the age of 70 started the Hay House Publishing company, which today is a giant world-wide publishing house, as well as Hay House Radio. Check out the HayHouseRadio.com website. It features some great Internet radio programs.
Louise's quote, above, is my New Years gift to you.
This month's newsletter includes the usual topics that as always I hope are helpful to you, the usual "From my Mail Box" featuring some interesting exchanges of correspondence with readers, and important and informative MS research news.
Again, as I do every month, my thanks to all of you who help make this on-line newsletter and Betty's House possible by contributing $15.00 per year. If you have found benefit from the website and newsletter, now is the time I seriously need your help to sustain them. Any contribution you would like to make may be sent to Iams House, 139 Inner Circle, Davis, CA 95618, or by credit card here or by sending me an e-mail. YOU make the website and this newsletter possible. Without your help both will disappear.
Please also remember to use the Betty's House Amazon link when you purchase from Amazon. Hopefully that revenue source will recover soon. Just click on this Amazon link, then when it opens bookmark it in your "favorites," and it will be easy to always use it.
Amazon's convenience really makes for easy, trouble-free shopping. Each order you place using the Betty's House link means a few cents is returned to Betty's House to help pay the monthly expenses for the website. It doesn't amount to very much, but every little bit helps.
PLEASE NOTE:
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Archives of the past year's issues of Journey to Wellness are always available here. If you are a new subscriber I suggest you take one archived issue each week and really study the material covered. Over a period of a year Journey to Wellness covers just about every aspect of the healthy natural lifestyle that I recommend for MS.
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If you wish to send an e-mail to me, please be sure to use one of the following as the subject:
"Order" if you are writing concerning an order
"From a Newsletter Subscriber" for all other correspondence
R
emember to do that and your e-mail won't be lost in the never-never land of hundreds of pieces of spam!!
Bon
Appétit - Healthy Food Tips and Recipes
I believe the most important diet revision we all need to make is to eliminate processed sugar and white flour and everything made from them. Now comes a quote from noted British psychiatric researcher Malcolm Peet, which underscores the importance of this theory:
Sugar consumption triggers a cascade of chemical reactions in your body that promote chronic inflammation. In the long term, inflammation disrupts the normal functioning of your immune system, and wreaks havoc on your brain. . . and it is linked to a greater risk of depression.
HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP - AN EVEN BIGGER ENEMY!
Now comes the most mind-blowing information I have heard regarding the evils of high fructose corn syrup, which is used in just about everything we buy today, but most especially in soft drinks. Please go to this website and watch the video by Dr. Robert H. Lustig, MD from the University of California at San Francisco:
I promise you that it is well worth your time to watch. It is a long address, so if it doesn't open for you just highlight and copy it into your web browser.
Who doesn't remember being told as a child to "eat your vegetables?" And of course it is a rare person indeed who didn't have to learn to like veggies. As parents we all learned to "sneak" in veggies by adding them to mac and cheese, meat loaves, or mashed potatoes. Here are a couple of samples of adult ways to spark the flavor of broccoli and green beans.
BEST-EVER BROCCOLI
2 servings
1
crown fresh broccoli, chopped, or 1 10-oz bag frozen broccoli
1 lemon
1 T olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
Heat olive oil in a large sauté pan with a lid over medium heat. Add garlic and cook until it starts to turn golden brown. Add zest of the lemon and stir. Add broccoli and cover.
(NOTE: If using fresh broccoli, add about 1/3 c water to the pan.) Cook until broccoli is heated through and has reach the desired tenderness. Squeeze on lemon juice and stir well to coat. Season with salt and pepper.
Everyone will love this "dressed up" version of a favorite veggie.
Step 1: Chop
2 cups green beans into 1-inch pieces.Step 2: Change texture. Sauté them in about
1 tablespoon olive oil, salt and pepper on high heat until they're crispy on the outside and still slightly firm.Step 3: Change the flavor: Add
2 tablespoons pesto (from a jar is fine) and about 2 extra tablespoons of parmesan cheese!Results: You'll be thinking, "Is this pasta?" And it only takes 15 minutes to prepare and cook. Makes 4 half-cup servings, having only about 75 calories per serving. Such a deal!
Focus
on Qi Gong ExerciseAlthough I used a four-pronged regimen of exercise, diet revision, supplements and meditation to halt my Primary Progressive MS and totally stop its progression, I believe today that the primary source of my recovery was exercise. And the one consistent part of my exercise program from the very beginning to today has been Qi Gong (chee kung). I believe it is a very powerful healing tool, and I recommend it to everyone.
Qi is Chinese for "energy" and Gong is "work." So Qi Gong literally translates in English to energy work. Chi is the body's universal innate energy, without which we cannot live, and this ancient Chinese healing art is based on the theory that our chi flows along meridians throughout and surrounding our body, and that blockages or interruptions in the healthy constant flow of our chi is responsible for all health dis-ease.
I hope the following will help your understanding of Qi Gong.
Qi Gong/Tai Chi: Discover the many possible health benefits
This ancient Chinese art uses gentle flowing movements combined with breathing patterns to reduce the stress of today's busy lifestyles and improve health.
If you're looking for another way to reduce stress and improve your overall health, please consider Qi Gong. Qi Gong is sometimes described as "meditation in motion" because it promotes serenity through gentle movements — connecting the mind and body. Originally developed in ancient China, Qi Gong evolved into a graceful form of exercise that's now used for stress reduction and to help with a variety of other health conditions.
Qi Gong/Tai Chi master Al Simon says we are all born with a health "bank account," with our "health balance" being determined by our genetics, etc. Some people live to be 90 and remain relatively healthy, while others develop physical challenges at various ages, from in early life or youth to mid life, etc. Qi Gong aids our body's self-healing ability.
Understanding Qi Gong
Qi Gong is the ancient healing form of tai chi. It is a noncompetitive, self-paced system of gentle physical exercise and stretching, combined with breathing patterns. To do Qi Gong you perform a series of postures or movements in a slow, graceful manner. Each posture in a form flows into the next without pause, ensuring that your body is in constant motion.
There are more than 100 possible movements and positions within the Qi Gong practice, many of which are named for animals or nature. Regardless of the variation, all Qi Gong movements include rhythmic patterns of movement that are coordinated with breathing to help you achieve a sense of inner calm. The concentration required forces you to live in the present moment, putting aside distressing thoughts.
Who can do Qi Gong?
The intensity of Qi Gong varies depending on the form practiced. Most forms are gentle and suitable for everyone, so anyone can practice Qi Gong regardless of your age or physical ability — Qi Gong emphasizes technique over strength. In fact, because Qi Gong is such low impact, it is especially suitable if you have a disability or are an older adult who otherwise might not exercise.
Qi Gong is also appealing because it's inexpensive, requires no special equipment and can be done indoors or out, seated or standing, and either alone or in a group.
Why give Qi Gong a try?
Like other complementary and alternative practices that bring mind and body together, Qi Gong can help reduce stress. While doing Qi Gong you focus on movement and breathing. This combination creates a state of relaxation and calm. Stress, anxiety and tension should melt away as you focus on the present, and the effects may last well after you stop your Qi Gong session. Qi Gong can also help promote overall health, although it's not a substitute for traditional medical care.
Despite its long history, Qi Gong has been studied scientifically only in recent years. And although more research is needed, preliminary evidence suggests that Qi Gong may offer numerous benefits beyond stress reduction, which include the following:
| Reducing anxiety and depression |
| Improving balance, flexibility and muscle strength |
| Reducing falls in older adults |
| Improving sleep quality |
| Lowering blood pressure |
| Improving cardiovascular fitness in older adult |
| Relieving chronic pain |
| Increasing energy, endurance and agility |
| Improving immune response |
| Improving overall feelings of well-being |
| Communicating with every cell in your body |
"The basics of good health start at the cellular level"
- Dr. Andrew Weil
Hi
Betty. Thanks for the great December newsletter. Your feature "Are
You Teachable" really made me think and ask myself that question. I am
trying to be, but old habits die hard! Thanks again for all you do for all
of us. I'm sure I'm healthier today because of what I have learned from
you. Blessings to you in 2010. /s/ Gordon D.
Thanks for your note Gordon. Education is a life-long process for all of us. I remain a work in progress. The day I can't learn anything new will be the day I do not wish to be here any longer and I'll move on to my next experience.
Hello Betty.
Thanks for that great Yum Yum Chocolate cake recipe. My family loved it!
/s/ Bobbi S.
You are welcome. I think it is great too. I served it to guests all during the holidays and everyone wanted the recipe. Who knew that a chocolate cake mix and a can of pumpkin could turn into such a lovely, simple and, easy delight. In case you missed the recipe, check out last month's Journey to Wellness here. Another tip: I have also made it with unsweetened applesauce instead of pumpkin — still great! Also remember that if you are following Stage 2 of the Best Bet Diet, you will need a gluten-free cake mix, which is available at health food stores.
FROGMAN'S
LIFE FORMULATim Cotterill, known as The Frogman, an internationally known and acclaimed artist who creates incredible frog sculptures that are shown in leading galleries all over the world, wrote the following in a beautiful "coffee table" book of his life and sculptures:
Remember that everything, everything, is just dancing molecules. We are packages of pure energy, pure potentiality!
It is only past memories that hinder or help us to create our lives exactly how we want them to be. Let go of all the packages of negative thoughts, the would-haves, the should-haves, and could-haves. Nobody but you is responsible for you!
You're totally in control of you. Each day is brand new. Don't waste it. Get motivated, excited, and GO FOR IT!
For several days over the Christmas holiday I was a guest of my daughter-in-law's family, and one day I opened a beautiful book displayed in their living room about Tim Cotterill, his life, and the development of his sculpting technique. The photos were almost spell-binding in their beauty. Then when I read his "Life Formula" I was so touched by it that I quickly copied it to share with you. Enjoy.
Featured Exercise DVDs and Books
I
absolutely do not believe anyone can prevent
the tendency of MS to progress without a
consistent gentle stretching and deep breathing exercise program
T
he worst aspects of MS, including the acute fatigue that plagues many, respond very positively to gentle exercise. Such a deal! And it really doesn't matter what level of disability one has. Many exercises can be done either standing, seated, or lying down. And deep breathing — which is so essential — can be done any time and any where.I am often contacted by readers about various Qi Gong programs they have purchased that they cannot or do not use. I understand. I have many, many different DVD programs but most do not work for me either. That is the joy of the Tai Chi/Qi Gong for Seniors routine, as well as Yoga for MS. They are designed specifically for people with limited mobility. They are simple and easy, perhaps deceptively so. At first they almost seem too simple. But over time when you really learn to work with them and do the simple movements in a slow, meditative way, the benefits are enormous.
When combined with the Qi Gong techniques in The Healer Within book, the Tai Chi/Qi Gong for Seniors is a superb healing tool.
~ Fitness must be a Way of Life ~
Over the years I have evaluated personally many exercise programs, and the absolute best overall that I know of are:
Tai Chi for Seniors
by Mark Johnson
Yoga for MS by Shoosh Crotzer, and
Gentle Fitness
by Catherine MacRae. I am very confident in recommending them.
THE HEALER WITHIN is an excellent book by Roger Jahnke, a Doctor of Oriental Medicine, which is truly the "bible" of Qi Gong and oriental medicine.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
MS
RESEARCH NEWSIn recent months I have included news about the CCSVI Hypothesis being studied in Italy. Here is the latest update.
National MS Society Flags CCSVI Hypothesis a Top Research Priority in 2010
December 22, 2009 — As 2009 draws to a close, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS) has taken stock of some of the research highlights of the year that was and is looking ahead to 2010.
Among its priorities for 2010 is a call for grant proposals to investigate the potential link between chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI) and multiple sclerosis (MS). The society has issued an international call for grant applications to look at the CCSVI hypothesis in MS.
"Working with MS Societies around the world, an international panel will be convened to conduct a joint expedited review of the grant applications submitted in order to ensure a coordinated, strategic approach to funding the best research examining the CCSVI hypothesis in 2010," a statement from the NMSS notes.
The controversial hypothesis proposes that narrowing in the major veins draining the brain, called CCSVI, may be an early step in the disease process causing MS, and early work suggests that these lesions may respond to angioplasty. A pilot, open-label study published in December in the Journal of Vascular Surgery by lead author Paolo Zamboni, MD, director of the Vascular Diseases Center at the University of Ferrara, Italy, showed in a series of 65 patients that endovascular treatment of strictures in the extracranial cerebrospinal veins was safe in MS patients and may provide neurologic benefit (Zamboni P, et al. J Vasc Surg. 2009;50:1348-1358).
Dr. Zamboni emphasized that their work is preliminary and urgently requires replication. "What we know is that MS is very complex and multifactorial," Dr. Zamboni told Medscape Neurology at that time. "We have identified an unknown factor and possible treatment for that factor."
Already, work to discover the prevalence of CCSVI in MS patients is under way, and treatment trials are being planned.
"We are interested in more research because obviously [these are] very preliminary findings about CCSVI. The society is certainly inviting investigators to apply for grant funding so that we can further investigate this and provide the appropriate guidance for people with MS," Patricia O'Looney, MD, vice president of biomedical research at the NMSS in New York City, told Medscape Neurology.
There has been a great deal of public interest, particularly in Canada, where media reports and a documentary profiled Dr. Zamboni and colleagues' work and MS rates are among the highest in the world.
From Medscape Medical News
NOTE FROM BETTY:
There is a fascinating video of the Canadian documentary referred to above featuring an extensive interview with Dr. Zamboni. I encourage you to take the time to view it. Here is a link:
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20091120/W5_liberation_091121/20091121?s_name=W5
I know this is a long link, and if it doesn't work for you, you may copy and paste it into your Internet browser. Dr. Zamboni’s work in curing many people of MS may turn out to be the biggest news ever relating to MS. Please take time to listen to the entire interview.
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That's it for this month. Watch for next month's issue when I'll have some great news to share about my own MS journey.
Enjoy today,
Do something fun,
Be happy,
Be thankful, and make it a
Happy and Healthy 2010!!!!
Big hugs to all,
Betty