Um, what to do?

 

 

“I've lived through some terrible things in my life, some of which actually happened.” Mark Twain.

We all suffer with indecision and doubt at times which can be distressing especially when the issue is  important and needs to be resolved. Our minds and imaginations can run amok with only the slightest provocation and very often it is the fear of making a mistake and a lack of self confidence that stops us moving forward.

Distracted by what is seemingly more important in our life and feeling obliged to decide on a matter where we have no vested interest will often fail to motivate an immediate decision. If there are too many choices then we can be overwhelmed by the information or the opposite can happen where it seems none of the choices are appropriate. A lack of resources can limit our desire to choose when it feels like a sacrifice or potentially the cause of future strain.

Making up your mind with satisfaction and certainty can be achieved by systematic process. Creating a list of pros and cons helps to clarify the potential risks, the negative and positive outcomes, and the benefits and problems. By taking imaginary leaps we can look at the “what ifs” and worst case outcomes to overcome our hesitation due to the fear of potential disaster or making a mistake. By viewing mistakes as the way to discovery, growth and learning reduces the resistance and stigma attached .

Much of the extraneous information will have been weeded out through this initial process and the options reduced to a manageable amount, ideally, a choice between two. If the remaining selection still does not inspire obvious favour then some lateral and creative thinking may be necessary to find an alternative perspective or solution.

All that remains from this point is to take action.

Healthy advice

Recently I overheard this question asked of a student naturopath nearing the end of her qualifications. “What is the best thing for protecting your knees against arthritis?” She gave an instant reply. “Glucosamine. Get glucosamine from your practitioner as it will have higher potency and a much better quality than what is available over the counter.” This advice satisfied the person asking as it matched the widely touted reviews of glucosamine across the media but in fact is misleading, outdated and a “one size fits all” approach.

This confirmed my long held belief that the courses and curriculum provided by the traditional colleges are churning out graduates that are limited in scope, with safe and conventional views, and are not kept up to date with the leading edge research on health. They perpetuate the notion that people should address or suppress their symptoms using the products of the multi billion dollar industry of sickness, whether naturopathic or allopathic.  

Although it wasn’t appropriate  to contradict, I pondered afterwards why this was a poor and inadequate answer.  Glucosamine is just one product amongst many that have been found useful for improving the symptoms of arthritis but it has its limitations and not the solution for everyone. As a naturally occurring component found in the body, glucosamine production can be improved by improving the overall health. The most common glucosamine supplements are commonly derived from shellfish, an allergenic trigger for many, and is not appropriate for vegetarians although there are alternative sources from grain available. The glucosamine supplementation has a limited action targeting the cartilage and tendons of joints, is not necessarily the best help for arthritic conditions and mainly benefits by increasing synovial fluid and the lubrication of the joint. It certainly has given many people some relief but is not a cure nor the answer for all sufferers.

It would have been a more advantageous response if the naturopath had made further enquiries into the issue and steered them toward a highly nutritious diet, increased water intake and regular exercise rather than the easy, quick, “one pill fixes all” reply. When encouraging or advising how to achieve and maintain lifelong good health and finding the cause of the problem is the basic  and simple solution to every issue.

Lateral thinking, an enquiring mind and comprehension of the holistic approach are the prerequisites of a good healer/therapist. Learning by rote a traditional standardised curriculum and graduating with a piece of paper that declares you have been adequately indoctrinated does not guarantee a good result.

“Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; show him how to catch fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.” Chinese proverb.

There are 3 causes of ill health:

1. Deficiency.

2. Toxicity

3. Combined deficiency and toxicity.

The trillion syndromes we hear about are all labels that describe these three things in a complicated language so that you, as a patient / consumer / victim,  feel powerless and must go directly to the “Gods aka Medical Association” for assistance. Such difficult complex matters indicate you shall surely die a horrid and painful death and only by their knowledge and treatments might you improve. Of course they don’t promise any miracles, just in case you sue them for false claims, only solid, irrefutable science and we all know that is never wrong.  If you live one or two years more but die shortly thereafter  according to their parameters that is a positive outcome however, your quality of life in those one or two years has no bearing. The fact is that people live longer and healthier lives without  their medical intervention excluding the need of First Aid ie fixing broken parts, in which they really do excel. After all, our body as complex and intricate as it is, is actually quite simply a system of tubes that when blocked or damaged malfunctions occur.

Reverse engineering can unravel the mystery of defeating deficiencies. Understanding that the Universe and Life is perfectly designed to sustain and nourish itself, what would a person eat in nature to survive? Simply, seeds, nuts and other plant foods, insects, animals and their natural by products, fish and molluscs, some dirt,clays and fungi - there is nothing else to choose from.

Therein lies the foundation of a healthy diet and anything that falls outside of that is toxic to the human system to varying degrees. Seasonal and environmental variables determine that a fruit naturally available will be more optimised to the human system also residing in that time and location. Some studies that found traces of certain  elements from food, ie apple, grown and consumed in one season, actually last within the body to  continue to be utilised until the following season when it will be replenished. An eskimo in winter would not receive adequate nutrients to survive and thrive in his environment by eating a pineapple grown in summer on the other side of the planet, unlike a person living in the tropics, for example.

A satisfactory modern diet is still based on these simple rules. The advent of travel, discovery and the internet now provides us with the benefits of super nutrient foods and medicinal plants that were not previously available and they can be added to the diet to take us another step further toward optimising the body. The other necessary “nutrients” not found in diet include sunshine, clean air, sufficient protection from the elements, a temperate climate and quality restful sleep.

The epidemic deficiency of the western world is dehydration. The common diseases of our elderly like Dementia and Alzheimers are the result of a chronically dehydrated and calcified brain and clearly demonstrate the 3 fundamental causes of illness. The brain, our driver,  needs moisture to conduct its electrical circuits and resides in a sea of salty fluid. With our bodies predominantly made up of water, and without continual replenishment, a deficit is created. The skin, the cells, the organs all dry up and cease to function properly.

Wrinkles are a great example of dehydration. I dare you to try a “before and after” experiment. Look at  your face in the mirror. Do you see wrinkles, lines and creases? Now go and drink a litre of water or even a large glass, allow a moment of absorption then look in the mirror again. They will have noticeably reduced. A cheap effective beauty treatment with so many other instant benefits. Water is the only hydrating liquid our body utilises. We might survive for weeks without food but only a matter of days before we perish from a lack of water.

Water is energy and fuel for our body. Fatigue, depression, inflammatory response, aches and pains,  digestive and malabsorption disorders, constipation, respiratory illness, fluid retention and so on, are all symptoms of dehydration and will all be improved with an increased water intake. Even when we feel we must take the prescribed pharmaceutical drugs but find they are not working, a glass of water or two will improve the efficacy as our body can absorb the components through their dissolution in the liquid that travels by osmosis through the system. In the same way when a child (or adult) is constantly hungry and their food doesn’t satisfy, a glass of water will give the nutrients the vehicle to take them where they are most needed and whence provide the sensation of being adequately fed.

Salt is bad for you, right? Wrong. Salt is an essential nutrient. If you have the misfortune of needing hospitalisation for a serious illness, the first thing they will do is hook up a saline drip and feed salt water directly into your veins. Remember that. That iodised white stuff in the “No Name” tub is bad for you. It has been adulterated and all benefit leached completely out. The mineral sea salt, Himalayan pink salt or even a rock salt that you purchase from the Health food shop is best taken on a daily basis. A quarter of a teaspoon added to your water bottle (not enough to make it taste undrinkable) is a great way to increase your levels. Salt softens the surface tension of the water making it more readily absorbed -providing better hydration.

But then you say, “I don’t like the taste of water.” The secret of success lies in the quality of the water. Needless to say that a purification system or a filtered spring water is the obvious choice for water that contains life energy and an inviting taste.

It is sad but true that our world is a toxic toilet now. We live in an environment flooded with chemicals. They are in and on our food products, in our personal products, in our cleaning products, in and on our clothes, in the air, on the ground, in our houses, in our water, in our medicines, there is nowhere that they are not. The only defence is minimisation and to build a strong natural immunity. Again, water is a natural solvent that can help to purify and detoxify our bodies by washing away some of this crap although not the definitive answer. Our innate elimination system does not function effectively without the adequate intake of water, our organs need water, water, water and more water. If you haven’t grasped my point here - go and have a drink of water, your brain will function better in understanding you need to drink more water!

“You are what you eat”. We hear it often enough and it is so absolutely true. An ingredient that has a number is not food, a chemical name that can’t be pronounced without a degree in chemistry is not food, a product that does not decay over time is not food so if you are consuming these things then you are taking in toxins. Rat poison tastes good to rats but we know what happens next. Toxins accumulate in the body and are stored in cells, joints, organs etc. Inflammation, irritations, infections, tumours, allergies are all symptoms of toxicity and an immune system that is struggling to do its job.

Reiterating on “arthritic knees” as a model to illustrate the concept of how to minimise or maintain a level of health that allows pain-free, strong mobility into a ripe old age we look to the various components that need enhancement. The elimination of inflammation in the joints through systemic detoxification, by building the nutrient levels to strengthen the cells and tissues of bone, tendon, cartilage, muscle etc, by maintaining softness and elasticity through hydration and nutrient levels, by assisting a full and adequate circulation of blood and oxygen to the area through regular usage,  movement and strength building exercises.

Again, we must concur that nature, the Universe and its workings are perfect. Our bodies have their own built-in healing system that runs 24/7/365 if only we give it the energy to do so.

BIRDS OF A FEATHER.

In the last few years there has been a lot of talk about the Law of Attraction and how we can use it to our advantage. However, the promise it holds does not always produce the desired results as we are mostly unaware of what our subconscious thoughts are transmitting and consequently attracting. The evidence is actually apparent in the day to day manifestation of the individual and their circumstances. It is a true demonstration of their values, beliefs and projections whether deliberate or unconscious. Therefore to discover the hidden projection you only need to look around you.

The experts advise that our level of success can be gauged whether financial or emotional, by the type of people in your immediate circle. The main five in your group of friends are an example of the current level or the level that you will reach. So, if you aspire to a higher benchmark you must find a social network equal or greater than that bracket and associate with them.

We are familiar with the saying that “opposites attract” but statistics actually suggest that it is similarities that bind two people together and that the differences although exciting and interesting at first, eventually become the wedge that pushes them apart.

We have a strong innate drive for acceptance and this is well known and used by the media, culture, school programmes, and peer group pressure to manipulate and mould us in certain ways. Our survival instinct to stay with the group is so strong that we will often deny our own conscience, act without integrity and forsake our principles to avoid the possibility of being ostracised.

Spiritual teachers have suggested that what we judge unacceptable or repulsive in others is a mirror of what we dislike in our own personality and, conversely, the traits we admire are those that we appreciate and aspire to for ourselves.

We have been led to believe that the world has been changed by the individual who stood apart and stood up for their beliefs and that they did it with pluck and determination and without concern for popular opinion. There’s no doubt that this is partially true and yet when the stories are closely examined it becomes clear that opportunity and connection was the enabling force, as Malcolm Gladwell demonstrates in his book, “Outliers: The Story of Success.”

A common practise put forward by agents of change is to model someone whose circumstances demonstrate your desired goal and then follow their steps to achievement. To gain rapport and trust with others one technique recommended is to subtly mirror the body language, posture, voice tone, etc. And as an extension of this can even be used to manipulate and influence if necessary. It is interesting to note that we often do this unconsciously when in conversation by taking on the other's word patterns, facial expressions and posture.

The greatest and most influential leaders find common ground and comraderie with their audience, offer relevant connections to sway thought and opinion in their direction, by artfully suggesting that they are “just like us.”

Awareness and understanding of the Laws of Attraction that govern our behaviour and all of nature allows us an opportunity to gain momentum to improve and progress both individually and globally by linking to a mindset and movement that advocates and works toward a higher good and betterment for all. Birds of a feather really do flock together.

RAISON D’ETRE-reason for being.

Have you ever had that moment when you’re sitting at your desk at work, surrounded by people you wouldn’t choose as friends, shuffling papers and repeatedly looking at the clock wishing your day away? Every single passing minute seems to take five, you daydream about some fun activity you would be doing if you didn’t “have” to be there. The menial and meaningless tasks fulfil someone else’s plan and the pay just barely covers your expenses, if you’re lucky, and all the while you ask yourself, “Is this all there is?”

By the evening you’re finally at home, all of your chores are done but you’re too mentally and emotionally drained to do anything other than turn on the TV. You stare at the screen for a few hours as it fills your mind with the worst events and most negative ideas before getting into bed for a restless sleep so that you can crawl out again the next morning and do the same drudgery over again.

When this torturous routine has become as much as you can bare you numb out your unhappiness with alcohol, drugs, cigarettes, pharmaceutical medications, sweets and junky foods, bad relationships and a myriad of purchases you can’t afford. Your health has declined, your attitude is harsh and judgemental, you question your existence so often that you know there has to be more to life than this. It is a matter of life and death, something has to change!

Given that nature demonstrates a function for all life on Earth and we are completely unique individual beings then logic suggests there is a higher purpose and plan exclusively ours and by not following that direction humdrum life will forever erode at our spirit, mind and body until we die regretting our choices or follow our true mission.

How then do we find the route to fulfilment and happiness? The short answer is through discovery, exploration, and questioning, to dig deep within ourselves to find that hidden “something” that ignites our enthusiasm and drives us forward.

The spiritual teachers of ancient and modern times will tell you that the ultimate purpose for all mankind is to serve. What differentiates the individual is the manner in which that service is performed.

So, with our end goal being “service to others” we can begin to examine where our passion really lies and how we can express it for the benefit of others.

As a child we were not concerned with time restraints and we daydreamed, imagined and designed what our life would become and what we would be “when we grew up.” We spent hours lost in activities we loved and never fretted about how our needs would be met. Our journey of exploration into our truest desires must be undertaken with that same child-like intention and without our adult limitations and fears to curb our vision.

Here are some questions to help you explore the inner landscape of your mind:

Do you remember an activity or a topic that you were so fascinated by when you were a child that you spent hours, days or even months fixated on it? You may have role played, learned about, read about or daydreamed about this certain thing.

What did you love to do? Did you paint, draw or make things? Did you like to solve puzzles, fix broken objects or pull things apart to find out how they worked? Did you enjoy helping your parents with certain tasks? Did you have a favourite book, movie or toy that had an appealing theme? Did you have a dream that someday you would be famous? Did you have an activity that your parents had to practically drag you away from to get ready for school or eat your dinner?

What activity, hobby or pastime have you continued to this day or long after your childhood was over? What can you spend hours doing where you lose track of time, hunger or tiredness? What do you think about when you are day dreaming? What do you know so much about right now that you could immediately teach it to others? What problems do you love to solve? What are you good at? What sort of people do you think you could help? What issues do you feel strongly about? What charities do you support? If you had unlimited money and unlimited time how would you fill your days? What sort of events do you attend? What sort of movies and books do you enjoy? What do you love to create? What would your life look like in an ideal world? Do you have a “hero” and what do you admire about them? What do you spend your spare money on?

What is currently in your life that you really dislike? What are you no longer prepared to put up with? What must you change immediately? What sort of people are you surrounded by? Do you admire them? Do they inspire you? What sort of people are you drawn to and repelled from? What is stopping you from living the life of your dreams right now?

What sort of person would you like to be? What traits do you admire that you would like to embody? What values do you hold highest? What education, training or knowledge would you need to succeed in your “ideal” job? What sort of person would you need to be to do that particular job?

These questions assist you to brainstorm about yourself and clarify what you enjoy doing, giving you an indication of where your passion and purpose might lie.

Now, imagine, visualise and design what your ideal day might look like, from the moment you wake up, what tasks and activities you might carry out, your state of mind and body, the people in your life and your chosen environment. Be as specific and clear as you can and include lots of detail, e.g,  colour and brightness, emotion and enthusiasm, specific styles of furnishings and clothes, movement and action, the climate, etc.

By determining what problem you desire to solve, what needs you know you can fill and who the recipients are will lay bare the path of service you are here to provide. The argument of whether your life is predetermined or destined is irrelevant and the appropriate path to take is the one you choose, there is no right or wrong choice but only a sense of satisfaction and fulfilment from contribution and growth and the enthusiasm and energy that a mission brings forth.

To initiate change taking action to begin the journey starts with a simple investigation. What do you want, why do want it and what do you need to do?

It is the “why” factor that inspires and motivates us to take action and carry out our objectives. The vision statement of the outcome we desire is the “what” we intend to do and the “how” are the steps we take.

Just as there is always a polarity in nature there will also be a resistance in you to change at times. By understanding and recognising that it will not always be smooth and easy to carry out your objectives and that you will have moments of great momentum, forward progress and wins as well as delays, procrastination, failures and obstacles you can head toward your future with open eyes and a determined spirit. As it has been said “Rome wasn’t built in a day.”

Determination and commitment, focus on a grand and bold vision of possibilities and potential, step by step action and a desire to serve are the key ingredients to a meaningful satisfying life of expressed potentials.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HERBAL AND HOMEOPATHIC REMEDIES?

This is a great question that provokes a lot of thought about natural therapies and how they each work to create better health for the individual.

Health and healing is not a straight forward matter like fixing an engine by taking out one part and replacing it with a new one or even taking a pill that removes the symptom but still leaves the actual problem unaddressed. There are certainly benefits in these methods but as the cause of the problem still remains this is not a solution but merely a "bandaid".

Again, finding the cause is complicated and often impossible. Some might suggest diet, lifestyle, environment and exposure to toxins, or genetic weakness and so on results in bad health and that is obviously going to contribute enormously but still the actual cause may not be that obvious. Emotions repressed, lack of spiritual connectedness and damaging thought patterns play the greatest part in undermining good health. We can see that each of these things create layers of complexity that span a lifetime and beyond. With that in mind we can chip away until the layers come off and a sense of wellbeing and good health is found.

It is in this method of chipping away that the natural therapies work their magic to not only restore the body but also as a preventative measure.

Herbal remedies are made from herbs, fungi, minerals, and some animal products. The active substance is extracted using several means, commonly in both alcohol and water processing, or from powdered dried matter. Some herbs can be used medicinally on a periodic basis and some over the long term as tonic. There are herbs that act on individual organs or have an healing action that is quite specific and then there are those that are "adaptogenic" and can target any weakness or area that needs help. They are taken in a dosage great enough to affect a positive result much like allopathic medicine (pharmaceutical drugs) that cause metabolic chemical changes. It is worth mentioning that these drugs are made from isolated components of these medicinal plants and substances or a sytnthetic foreign and toxic copy and as such are missing many of the qualities that abound in natural form having a synergetic electrical healing action within the body.

The tonic method of herbs is becoming far more widely used as people recognise the benefits and simplicity of using them. Simply adding certain fresh herbs, medicinal mushrooms and "superfoods" to the standard diet can provide enormous support in improving energy and building immunity. The Chinese and many other cultures have successfully practiced herbal medicine for tlousands of years and have a very rounded approach that works at restoring youthfulness and creating longevity over and above maintaining and restoring health. By regularly adding these tonic herbs in relatively large doses the energy systems of the body are loaded up with the components that can fuel and rejuvenate and tonify to gain the greatest results for maintaining optimum health and promoting longevity.

Homeopathic principles state that disease and ill health are the result of a moving away from spiritual centredness. When the individual has lost their connection with the "divine aspect" they no longer have the full energy source and guidance that is provided naturally and abundantly.

Homeopathic philosophy views the whole person as an energetic multi layered being that is effected by unlimited external and internal events both past and present, exponentially. Our history is stored in layers within and upon the energetic and etheric bodies. It is a principle of Homeopathics that the stronger disease comes to the fore whilst the weaker lays dormant underneath and in curing the presenting problem the next layer becomes exposed and this in turn is treated and so on back through the history until a return to health and cessation of symptoms. Many patients continue on a healing journey where others deal with the acute situation only.

The next principle of Homeopathic philosophy is the "Law of similars" that states a substance which causes an effect in a healthy person can be utilised to heal those same symptoms in a sick person. A good example of this would be onion, which most people when exposed to it, get running, stinging eyes and nose. A potentised remedy made from onion could potentially be used to treat someone with a cold exhibiting those same symptoms.

Homeopathic remedies are given in minute "potentised" doses. They are generally administered until a positive result is achieved, sometimes requiring only one or two doses but may also be taken as a prophylactic measure much like the theory of vaccination.

The process of potentisation is quite extensive. The substance is continually diluted and succussed until often no original material remains but only an energetic signature of the original. The act of succussion energises and activates the particles. Although it is often said that Homeopathic results are placebo this is now refuted scientifically as the technology becomes more refined and able to distinguish these quantum particles and their effect. Again this is refuted when one considers the positive result often indicated in animals and unconscious patients.

Of enormous importance when selecting the appropriate remedy the homeopath considers the mental/emptional symptoms and then requires a complete picture of the person including their medical history and each and every symptom currently experienced, often the more unusual the more helpful in finding the appropriate remedy. The remedies themselves are as complex as the individual, although there are polycrest remedies that cover many situations there are also quite specific and peculiar ones as well.

For the greatest positive result ideally the causative factor must be addressed and removed for the remedies to create an actual cure whereby the symptom and disease never return. However often this is not possible and the best result is an overall improvement and return to a sense of wellbeing. The remedies are extremely effective in addressing emotional imbalance and as a consequence of this the physical state improves also.

By using a combination of Homeopathic and Herbal remedies we can address all aspects of our health and gain the greatest benefits from these tools, to find vibrant emotional and physical health and restore our spiritual connection, purpose and sense of wellbeing.