Depression Hurts!

I suffered from the classic version of depression . I started with bouts of it when I was seventeen, but it wasn?t until my late thirties or early forties that it got so bad that I had to seek help. Over the years doctors prescribed Zoloft, Prozac, Paxil, Lexapro, and Wellbutrin.

I got a little relief, but the pills made me so tired all I could do was lay around and then I put on weight, which made me more depressed. So I decided to try a natural approach.

Here are the steps to recover from depression - these are the same steps that I have used:

1) I can?t stress this one enough. Drink WATER, WATER, WATER, and more WATER! Drink approximately half your weight in water in ounces each day. (ex: If you weigh 150 pounds you need to drink 75 ounces of water a day). Your water should be bottled or filtered water.

If you are a soda drinker, cut back, better yet, quit drinking that STUFF! If you are a soda drinker, start using soda as a special treat. When I was growing up in the mountains of West Virginia. We only made it to the grocery store a couple times a month, but when we did go we were allowed to get a bottle of coke. What a treat, and that?s the way it should be. It has no nutritional value and only makes you fat.

Do not and I repeat do not drink diet soda! I have done research on the artificial sweeteners that they use and have found information that artificial sweeteners can cause brain tumors. Soda is a tough one for me, because I love Cocoa Cola, so if I do drink a soda I drink regular. If you are a coffee drinker, drink your one cup in the morning to get you going then no more the rest of the day.

2) Use a natural anti-depressant. I have used prescription anti-depressants and as I said before, I did get a little relief from my symptoms but I gained thirty pounds on the prescription drugs, which made me more depressed because of the weight gain. I gained more weight than when I was pregnant. There are a lot of side effects to consider when you take prescription drugs. I do not want to have to worry about the side effects on top of my illness.

Make sure the ingredients are herbs for depression. I've tried a lot and some work, some don't. Unfortunately I have found there is no magic pill. It's pretty much trial and error, as everyone's body chemistry differs. I take them still and my husband says I'm a whole lot nicer to be around and I have a lot more energy. My spurts of anger and mood swings have all but vanished. Something that my husband is very happy to see gone! He'll even remind me to take them, less I forget!!

3) Use good Multi Vitamin Supplements. Don?t buy these at department stores,but instead buy them from a store that specializes in natural vitamin supplements or online from a reputable company. I buy mine from the company in the above link but there are a lot of good online companies. Just make sure they're natural and have been tested.

4) Other vitamins and supplements that you need are a good fish oil supplement that has your Omega Oils. You can also buy a Flax seed oil that has the omega?s in it.

5) Eat a good healthy diet. I will tell you here to start using as many natural and organic products as possible. All of the chemicals that they put in our food are making us sick. Try to buy meat that is organic or has not been injected with hormones and chemicals. We women are already having to deal with our own unbalanced hormones. We do not need the ones that they give to the cows and other animals in our system making things worse.

Try to get vegetables and fruits that are organic. If you can?t afford organic, buy a fruit and vegetable wash that removes the wax and chemicals from the produce. Try to eat the deep colored fruits and vegetables they have more of the good nutrients in them.

6) Exercise. This is a hard one. When you are depressed, the last thing you have is energy to exercise, but you need to exercise to get your energy back. A catch 22. Start out slowly, even if it is only a ten minute walk or ten minutes on your treadmill. Something is better than nothing.

7) If you are a woman and are near menopause, use a Natural Progesterone Cream. I am 44 and use one. There are a lot of god ones out there but make sure it's natural and not synthetic. I have noticed that my mood swings have subsided and no more hot flashes, but it does take about three months of using the cream to get results.

When you suffer from depression, it is a tremendous battle, but it is one worth fighting. My family had to put up with so much during my severe bouts of it. Depression hurts your relationships. I would get mean and say hurtful things, then cry all the time. I would spend weeks in bed at a time. On my good days I work, read, and do research about depression. I hope that my information will help you. It may take some time, but you will get a handle on it and if you treat it with natural products, a healthy diet, pure water, and exercise, you will be able to keep a handle on it.

Remember, if depression hurts you depression hurts everyone around you!

So please seek depression treatment and help

Diana is a Natural Health Consultant, Weight Loss Specialist, Personal Trainer, Mental Skills Training Specialist and author of the Natural Health and Herbal Remedies website. She has gone thru depression, pms, perimenopause, weight loss issues, anxiety attacks, and more but has learned how to control them through natural approaches.

The Invisible Disease: Depression

Introduction

Depression is a serious medical condition. In contrast to the normal emotional experiences of sadness, loss, or passing mood states, clinical depression is persistent and can interfere significantly with an individual's ability to function. There are three main types of depressive disorders: major depressive disorder, dysthymic disorder, and bipolar disorder (manic-depressive illness).

Symptoms and Types of Depression

Symptoms of depression include sad mood, loss of interest or pleasure in activities that were once enjoyed, change in appetite or weight, difficulty sleeping or oversleeping, physical slowing or agitation, energy loss, feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt, difficulty thinking or concentrating, and recurrent thoughts of death or suicide. A diagnosis of major depressive disorder is made if a person has 5 or more of these symptoms and impairment in usual functioning nearly every day during the same two-week period. Major depression often begins between ages 15 to 30 but also can appear in children. 1 Episodes typically recur.

Some people have a chronic but less severe form of depression, called dysthymic disorder, which is diagnosed when depressed mood persists for at least 2 years (1 year in children) and is accompanied by at least 2 other symptoms of depression. Many people with dysthymia develop major depressive episodes.

Episodes of depression also occur in people with bipolar disorder. In this disorder, depression alternates with mania, which is characterized by abnormally and persistently elevated mood or irritability and symptoms including overly-inflated self-esteem, decreased need for sleep, increased talkativeness, racing thoughts, distractibility, physical agitation, and excessive risk taking. Because bipolar disorder requires different treatment than major depressive disorder or dysthymia, obtaining an accurate diagnosis is extremely important.

Facts About Depression

Major depression is the leading cause of disability in the U.S. and worldwide. 2 Depressive disorders affect an estimated 9.5 percent of adult Americans ages 18 and over in a given year, 3 or about 18.8 million people in 1998. Nearly twice as many women (12 percent) as men (7 percent) are affected by a depressive disorder each year.

Depression can be devastating to family relationships, friendships, and the ability to work or go to school. Many people still believe that the emotional symptoms caused by depression are not real, and that a person should be able to shake off the symptoms. Because of these inaccurate beliefs, people with depression either may not recognize that they have a treatable disorder or may be discouraged from seeking or staying on treatment due to feelings of shame and stigma. Too often, untreated or inadequately treated depression is associated with suicide.

Treatments

Antidepressant medications are widely used, effective treatments for depression. Existing antidepressants influence the functioning of certain chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters. The newer medications, such as the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), tend to have fewer side effects than the older drugs, which include tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). Although both generations of medications are effective in relieving depression, some people will respond to one type of drug, but not another. Other types of antidepressants are now in development.

Certain types of psychotherapy, specifically cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and interpersonal therapy (IPT), have been found helpful for depression. Research indicates that mild to moderate depression often can be treated successfully with either therapy alone; however, severe depression appears more likely to respond to a combination of psychotherapy and medication. 7 More than 80 percent of people with depressive disorders improve when they receive appropriate treatment.

In situations where medication, psychotherapy, and the combination of these interventions prove ineffective, or work too slowly to relieve severe symptoms such as psychosis (e.g., hallucinations, delusional thinking) or suicidality, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) may be considered. ECT is a highly effective treatment for severe depressive episodes.

The possibility of long-lasting memory problems, although a concern in the past, has been significantly reduced with modern ECT techniques. However, the potential benefits and risks of ECT, and of available alternative interventions, should be carefully reviewed and discussed with individuals considering this treatment and, where appropriate, with family or friends.

One herbal supplement, hypericum or St. John's wort, has been promoted as having antidepressant properties. Results from the first large-scale, controlled study of St. John's wort for major depression, which was funded in part by NIMH, are expected in 2001. Note: There is evidence that St. John's wort can reduce the effectiveness of certain medications. Use of any herbal or natural supplements should always be discussed with your doctor before they are tried.

Research Findings

Brain imaging research is revealing that in depression, neural circuits responsible for moods, thinking, sleep, appetite, and behavior fail to function properly, and that the regulation of critical neurotransmitters is impaired. Genetics research, including studies of twins, indicates that genes play a role in depression. Vulnerability to depression appears to result from the influence of multiple genes acting together with environmental factors.

Other research has shown that stressful life events, particularly in the form of loss such as the death of a close family member, may trigger major depression in susceptible individuals. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, the hormonal system that regulates the body's response to stress, is overactive in many people with depression. Research findings suggest that persistent overactivation of this system may lay the groundwork for depression.

Studies of brain chemistry, mechanisms of action of antidepressant medications, and the cognitive distortions and disturbed interpersonal relationships commonly associated with depression, continue to inform the development of new and better treatments.

New Clinical Trials

NIMH is funding two new, large-scale, multi-site clinical trials on treatments for major depression in adults and adolescents. For more information about these studies?the Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression (STAR*D) project, and the Treatment of Adolescents with Depression Study (TADS)?and others, visit the Clinical Trials page of the NIMH Web site.

For More Information

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Office of Communications and Public Liaison

Public Inquiries: (301) 443-4513

Media Inquiries: (301) 443-4536

E-mail: nimhinfo@nih.gov

Web site: http://www.nimh.nih.gov

About The Author
Arthur Buchanan
President/CEO
Out of Darkness & Into the Light

43 Oakwood Ave. Suite 1012
Huron Ohio, 44839
www.out-of-darkness.com
www.adhdandme.com
www.biologicalhappiness.com
567-219-0994 (cell)

Don't Lose Sleep Over Insomnia You're Not the Only One and there is a Better Way!

Do you know an estimated 30-50% of the general population is suffering from insomnia? Although insomnia is noticed in all age groups, older adults especially women are more prone for this condition.

Insomnia is not a disease, but it is a symptom. Difficulty in maintaining or initiating sleep or both is termed as insomnia. Most of us have experienced insomnia at least one time or another in our lifetime. Many of us don?t know about the medical and behavioral options available to treat insomnia.

Causes of Insomnia

Causes of Insomnia include psychological problems and physiological conditions. The common psychological problems for insomnia are depression, stress, and anxiety, whereas physiological reasons vary from sleep-wake imbalance, circadian rhythm disorders, to a variety of medical situations.

A pineal gland secretion called melatonin found to be reduced, as you get older. The main function of the melatonin is to help your body regulate your sleep-wake cycles. Low melatonin level also may also lead to insomnia.

Symptoms of insomnia

People suffering from insomnia usually complain of difficulty falling asleep. Mental illness and depression are noticed in the individuals of insomnia. Other symptoms include irritability and impaired social interaction, impaired motor coordination, difficulty in memory, and poor focus and concentration.

Most of us don?t know when to contact our physician for this condition. It is high time to get into your doctor?s clinic if it interferes with your daytime activities such as impaired motor concentration or lasts longer than four weeks.

As we discussed earlier, Insomnia may be a symptom of another psychological or medical problem that requires immediate attention.

Diagnosis of Insomnia

Diagnosis is mainly based on your medical history. The physician will subject you to undergo different tests to rule out physiological illness.

The common tests used to diagnosis insomnia are overnight sleep test (Polysomnogram), a 2-week dairy of your sleep-wake periods, Epworth Sleepiness Scale, and Actigraphy.

Treatment of insomnia

If you?re suffering from insomnia of medical illness, your treatment will be focused on your underlying condition.

Alternative therapy for insomnia includes limiting time in bed to regular sleep hours, controlling stimulation (evening exercise or caffeine ingestion), and using relaxation therapy.

For the treatment of insomnia medications directed toward a specific sleep-disrupting reason may also be taken into account. Even you can seek the medical advice for short-term use (2-3 weeks) of sleeping pills for chronic insomnia.

Although sedative-hypnotic drugs find no cure for insomnia, it relieves the symptoms of insomnia for short duration. There are certain drugs used for individuals who wake up after initially falling asleep.

Following your doctor?s advice might help you to relieve from the symptom of insomnia as early as possible. Don?t lose your hope if you have not achieved desired results from a single medication because you will have more than one option for treating this condition. You may be required to provide your doctor feedback after you have followed a treatment regimen.

Prevention

You can prevent the occurrence of insomnia by limiting the naps less than 15 minutes during day time, adopting relaxing activity such as reading or listening to soothing music, and avoiding large meals.

Reducing the use of stimulants including nicotine and caffeine, avoiding strenuous exercise before bedtime and excessive fluid intake.

Prognosis

Prognosis from insomnia solely depends on the type of insomnia you are suffering from. Your prognosis is grave if you are suffering from coexisting medical conditions of chronic pain syndromes and heart failure. Insomnia of jet lag will generally clear up within few days on its own.

Charlotte Alice is a professional author for Free SEO Friendly Directory and webmaster for Xsitepro Sites

To Long Term Care Professionals: How to Dramatically Improve your Residents' Psychiatric Care

Long term care facilities and residents? doctors should consider combining medication treatment with psychological and behavioral approaches, such as strength-embedded psychotherapy, for a range of psychological disorders.

Currently, psychiatrists and primary care providers in long term care are prescribing drugs and more drugs as the only treatment for psychological disorders. But the addition of Strength-Embedded Psychotherapy (SEP) is a targeted way to change behavior in the direction of strengths and improve results for residents.

If a resident develops a frozen shoulder or blows out a knee, the orthopedist would refer him/her to physical therapy, prescribe an NSAID, and, if needed, consider surgery. In mental health, we owe our patients nothing less than the same multimodal approach. Adding psychotherapy to a drug regimen, in this sense, is the mental health equivalent of taking of a multi-modal approach to treatment.

In long term care and elsewhere physicians are comfortable writing prescriptions because they believe drugs will affect the functioning of the brain, thereby, improving symptoms. But so does psychotherapy. In fact, preliminary evidence suggests that some types of psychotherapy work, in part, by changing the physiological dynamics of the disorder. In so doing, psychotherapy, when combined with medication therapy, offers residents the best chance of returning to more normal functioning.

For example, in long term care, a psychiatrist might choose to use a combination drug/psychotherapy approach for a resident with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). S/he might start the resident on a serotonin reuptake inhibitor, while, simultaneously referring the resident to the house psychologist for strength-embedded psychotherapy. If the patient responds early and well to the psychotherapy, the physician may not have to increase the medication, thereby limiting the side effect possibilities. But if the patient does not respond quickly to the psychotherapy or has multiple co-morbid conditions not targeted by it, the physician could then consider increasing the dosage of the drug. This type of combination is a treatment protocol that is comparable to the default model used in the rest of medicine. The problem is that psychiatric professionals in long term care and elsewhere simply neglect it.

One factor is the structure of our mental health system. Insurers don't often offer payment for integrated care that includes combined-treatment approaches and alliances with other providers that are evidence-based. Also, our society tends to be pill-happy. The pharmaceutical industry contributes to that by aggressively promoting its products through direct-to-consumer advertising that creates the impression that their products will bring quick results. Unfortunately, there is no pharmaceutical industry equivalent that promotes psychological and behavioral approaches. And the healthcare industry has yet to embrace disease management models in the treatment of psychiatric disorders that include evidence-based psychosocial treatments.

As a result, residents are mainly prescribed only drugs or several drugs in combination to treat psychiatric disturbances. Such interventions are helpful, but they could be more effective and less risky if psychotherapy were part of the central treatment mix. Psychiatric treatment in long term care and elsewhere is comparable to treating diabetes without addressing diet and exercise or treating an injured joint without prescribing physical therapy.

Similar to the treatment of other chronic illnesses, combining psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy would usually require collaborative treatment between psychologist and psychiatrist or attending physician. Combined treatment is beginning to show better and better results in research studies. In several areas combined therapy is found to produce better results than either treatment alone.

As more results like these continue to emerge, it will become hard for professionals in long term care to ignore. However, there is enough data now to warrant moving this enlightened approach forward. We need to demand that the better treatments be made available to our residents in long term care. As long term care professionals continue to hear about the promising results generated by psychotherapy, they will start demanding that this type of treatment be made widely available to their residents. This will likely require further utilization of the house psychologist to implement and design the psychological treatment plan.

It's time that we as health care and long term care professionals figure out ways to offer strength-embedded psychotherapy to residents who could benefit from this type of targeted behavioral approach.

Dr. Michael Shery is the founder of Long Term Care Specialists in Psychology, a mental health firm specializing in consulting to the long term care industry. Its website, WWW.NursingHomes.MD , provides state-of-the-art mental health treatment, facility staffing and career information to long term care professionals. To get a copy of the special report, ?How to Reduce Residents? Depression with Strength-Embedded Counseling,? click drmike@nursinghomes.md. Put ?Special Report? in the subject field.

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Get Rid Of Depression Once And For All

Depression is something that will occur in many people's lives, for various reasons. But the normal occurrence of a plunge in mood due to stressful events in your life, usually doesn't last very long, before a person's natural resilience responds to the environment of friends and family.

Treatment for depression and anxiety may be needed if you experience persistent, multiple symptoms for more than two weeks. These may include a combination of half or more of the following:

* Sleeplessness, insomnia

* Ongoing negative moods for no reason

* Lack of energy or ambition

* Feeling helpless or worthless

* Believing nobody cares

* Hyper states like edginess or nervousness

* Inability to make decisions or concentrate on things

* Physical aches and pains that don't go away

* Suicidal thoughts

Depending on the condition of a depressed person, they may require admission to a depression treatment center, where they can be monitored while receiving psychological counseling and medication therapy.

Depression is an emotional disorder, and nothing to be ashamed of. But often, people who are depressed are suffering from negative thoughts about themselves, and the illness can feed on that.

If you recognize five or more of the above symptoms in someone you love, talk to them about how they feel. If they won't talk to you, go to their family, friends, or even their doctor.

Treatment may be as simple as counseling and medication that can be undertaken while in their own environment, or the doctor may recommend a short stay in a depression treatment facility to get them back on an even keel.

The medications available have redefined the treatment for depression and anxiety, giving patients a break from the emotional state that is weighing them down, while they receive therapy to resolve the issues that caused their illness.

Find out what causes depression and how to deal with it. Sign up for free blog and get daily updated articles and news about depression treatment. Click http://www.depression-treatment-101.com/

Is The Conflict Within You Created By Duality Or Yin And Yang

Where there is yang there is yin and where there is yin there is yang. Neither exists without each other. Balance between both sustains harmony or whole and imbalance between both creates to much of either. This is aspect of duality. We are surrounded and internalised by this duality. If we look at our own bodies and start from the top then we know that our brain is split into right and left brain which controls different way of thinking. There is also two eyes two openings in the heart, two lungs, the liver splits in two, there are two kidneys etc. This duality in the body applies to the yin or the solid organs in the body. The yin organs in the body hold and the yang organs excrete, more about this later.

Looking at the outside world we can see the yin and yang in the aspect of day and night, hot and cold, light and dark, sun and moon, left and right, wet and dry, heavy and light, below and above, contraction and expansion, slow and rapid, descending and rising, water and fire, solid and gaseous, growth and death, passive and aggressive, heaven and earth and many other possibilities. The play between all these qualities create result or action and reaction and consequence. The more one aspect dominates the other, the stronger is the reaction in the environment which it influences. For example if there is too much heat and sun like in desert there is no growth. If it is too cold and little sun like in the arctic there is no growth. If there is equal amount of day and night like it is at the equator, there is easy growth.

The further the yin and yang is from each other, the more conflict it can be. This is very true in relation to our relationship with other people. If we take for example right wing and left wing politics. There was a wide gap between these two ideology. It created one of the greatest conflict ever we have seen in this world. It almost brought us on the brink of destruction. But from that conflict there was creation of even greater aspect into our mass consciousness and that was the demand of peace and brotherhood. There has never been so many organisations and individuals fighting for human mankind to bring awareness of non-conflict or tolerance towards difference of being and demand of peace. This is still going on and even today the need is great since we are seeing great conflict between two ideology and cultures again in a different way.

So what does all this politics got to do with health. Well, what is above is below and what is outside is inside. The laws of the universe are everywhere the same. In fact the Chinese philosophy talks about the universe being reflected in our bodies. This is not only in Chinese philosophy but in others philosophies as well. So in our bodies there is conflict between yin and yang and the further the yin and yang splits apart the more serious consequence there is. If there is to much yang there is too much heat if there is too much yin there is too much cold.

Good example of conflict between yin and yang might be manic depression or bipolar syndrome. This mental disease can be described as swinging between the extremes of over joy and depression. This creates great suffering for the person involved. Both ends have the potential to be destructive and the person fights in between against one and the other. In our everyday life we are constantly making decisions between so called right and wrong behaviour or action. This can create stress in our life?s and constant indecision. This is an example of conflict and it can be trivial or very serious. Who doesn?t know the feeling of the devil on one shoulder and the angel on the other shoulder, of course metaphorically speaking.

It is always the middle path that is the most generous, but so hard to stay on it. Understanding and trusting that understanding is our key. Intuition is the fluid which brings us back to the balance.

Be Well

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Treating Depression with Reiki

Discover-Reiki 7 Part Reiki Master Course

Part 1 - Treating Depression With Reiki

Reiki Masters believe that thought is energy vibrating at a very high frequency while the human body is energy vibrating at a lower frequency. Vibrations produce actions and actions produce reactions at grosser and grosser levels of frequency in a ripple effect!

While positive thoughts are universally acknowledged to manifest as health, negative thoughts are held to produce disease or lack of ease. Mental disease is manifested as depression, depressive psychosis, mania or even schizophrenia.

Reiki deals with depression as negative energy. Negative energy manifests at the aura level as imbalance in the Chakras or energy centres and is visible to the Reiki practitioner as grey or black spots in the aura. Imbalance of the energy centres causes reactions at a physical level, for the energy centre governs the health or disease of the organs and endocrine glands located within its purview.

The Chakra System and Depression

The Chakras that are usually blocked in a person who is depressed are the lower--the root chakra, the naval chakra, and to some extent the solar plexus chakra, which is part of the middle group.

The Root Chakra anchors the person to the earth. It represents the physical will and is associated with the spinal column, bones, teeth, nails, anus, rectum, colon, prostrate gland, blood and the building of cells. The Suprarenal glands, which produce adrenalin and influence body temperature, are governed by condition of the root chakra. The person whose root chakra is out of balance cannot accept life or enjoy physical existence. The creative energy of such a person is low and self-expression is not considered necessary. The person will have a tendency to overindulge in sensual pleasures such as overeating, alcohol, sex etc. He or she becomes selfish, self-centred. Physically the person becomes overweight and suffers from constipation. When challenged the person becomes irritable, aggressive, upset, violent and displays a complete lack of trust. If the Chakra is completely blocked the person will lack physical and emotional stamina and will be filled with feelings of uncertainty.

The Naval Chakra is the creative and reproductive centre of the being. It is associated with the pelvic girdle, kidneys, bladder and all liquids such as blood, lymph, gastric juices and the regulation of the female menstrual cycle. The glands associated with this chakra are the Prostrate, gonads, ovaries and testicles. If this energy centre is active and free of blocks the person exhibits freedom in self-expression and life appears interesting. Interpersonal relationships are regarded as beautiful. A disharmonious chakra induces the person turn off sensual messages and display low self-esteem, emotional paralysis and sexual coldness. Life does not seem worth living and suicidal tendencies manifest themselves.

The Solar Plexus Chakra is the power centre of the being. A harmonious Chakra gives the person a feeling that he has the power of shaping things. It is associated with the lower back, abdomen, digestive system, stomach, liver, spleen, gallbladder and the automatic nervous system. The organ that is governed by this Chakra is the Pancreas. The body absorbs solar energy through this chakra. This nurtures the ethereal body and energizes and maintains the physical body. Emotional energy is also governed by this Chakra. Personality traits and social identities are determined by it. Since it is located between the lower and higher chakras it has the additional function of purifies the basic instincts and directing the creative energy to higher values of life. It is also connected to the astral body and helps us integrate our feelings, wishes and experiences harmoniously. A block solar plexus chakra deprives the individual of the zest for life. The person feels gloomy, unbalanced and moody. Negative vibrations impact the individual through this chakra. The person is restless and attempts to manipulate everything in accordance with his or her own wishes. There is a persistent feeling of inadequacy, which drives them to ceaseless activity. The person gets easily threatened and tends to feel dejected and discouraged. The person insists that obstacles are preventing them from realizing the true goals of life.

It is clear that the symptoms of a person in the grip of acute depression are as much physical as emotional and psychological. A block will exist in the root chakra, the naval chakra and the Solar plexus Chakra. The creative energies of the person will be at an all time low and the person will avoid situations where he or she has give expression to his or her feelings. He is self indulgent, selfish, self-centred and suffers from a large number of ailments related to the stomach and has a tendency to put on weight. He or she will lack physical stamina and will be moody, irritable, aggressive and defensive. He will have no interest in life and will refuse to socialize. In extreme cases he will attempt suicide.

If you are serious about learning Reiki, check out www.discover-reiki.com

Case Study:

Ms.L, an obese woman (she weighed 180 Kgs), had not stepped out of her front door for the last ten years. She was convinced that she could not walk without support and that she would fall down if she tried. She spent entire days in the house, refusing to talk with visitors. She had a compulsive need to eat and would cook and consume huge quantities of Chicken, eggs and meats at odd times of the day. She had tried anti depressant drugs and other methods of treatment that included Homeopathy, acupressure, acupuncture and anything that was recommended to her by her sister and brother in law. She was convinced that she was born unlucky and she would never be normal again. She would begin a treatment with lukewarm enthusiasm, but would soon slip into lethargy and refuse to go on with the treatment. When Ms.L was referred for Reiki, she had convinced herself that she had not long to live and had told her sister not to be surprised if she found her dead one-day. Her sister-- alarmed--rushed to the Reiki clinic for help.

Day 1: Since the patient would not come to the clinic, I decided to visit her home. It was clear from Ms.L's posture that she was in the grip of acute depression. She was seated on a sofa with her feet up on a footstool. Her body limp, her head bowed and her shoulders drooping. Her arms lay lifelessly at her sides. She seemed lost to the world and did not even look up when we entered the room. She merely lifted her eyes to look at us without enthusiasm when she was talked to. An aura scan revealed that her root chakra and the naval chakra were completely blocked and her solar plexus chakra was partially blocked.

With a lot of persuasion from her sister and myself, she got up and went to lie down on her bed. I noted that she used the walker even though she was perfectly able to walk without it. She seemed to cling to it as a means of support. I kept up a general chatter as I started the treatment. She continued looking at the ceiling blankly. After some time, she started to pay a little more attention. Her muscles would twitch and she lifted her head to see what we are doing. She called her sister near and asked her whether we were using some chemicals as she was feeling some heat where my hand rested. When she was assured that no chemicals were being used, she subsided once more into indifference. Slowly and visibly she began to relax. She soon fell into a deep sleep and began to snore. As the round of treatment was over, we let her sleep.

Day 2: Ms.L was waiting for me. She looked relaxed and calm. On enquiry, she replied, I slept deeply and dreamlessly for the first time. I feel well. She then went willingly and lay down on her bed. After chatting with her for some time on a variety of topics (she did not reply), I started the treatment. While doing Reiki, I continued to chat and Ms.L replied in monosyllables to the questions being addressed to her. At the end of the hour she remarked, That felt nice.

Day 3: Mrs. L was ready for me. She was lying down and eager to start the treatment. She began to talk about the weather all the time keeping an eye on me. When I agreed that it was hot, she began telling me how the heat was affecting her and how she could not eat as much as she used to. I made sympathetic noises to encourage her. She seemed to feel reassured and gradually opened up--almost as if she were talking to herself and occasionally asking me a question. Then, her tone changed and she became more emotional and personal. She poured out her feelings. She insisted that she was very depressed because God had taken away her husband and her children had all flown away to distant lands and nobody cared for her. She said she had hated God from the day he had taken her husband and she had not gone to church or prayed for a long time. Since she had been very religious, she felt guilty that she had forsaken God but, she hated him and she did not want to pray to him. She then began weeping and ranting at God and exclaiming that she should not be doing it! This emotional outburst lasted for almost an hour, during which I continued the treatment, unfazed. Finally, exhausted by emotions and relaxed by the Reiki, Ms.L fell asleep.

Day 4: Ms.L was waiting for me--a little shamefaced and diffident. She greeted her with a defiant I was carried away a little yesterday. I am sorry. I assured her that it was ok and that she must not hold back her emotions and that I do not mind her talking to me about anything. She then, asked me a little suspiciously 'Do you think your treatment is making me unbalanced?. Well that was a tricky question at this stage and I was not very sure whether I should admit to the fact or assure her that it was not so. I intuitively felt that it would be better to explain to Ms.L and so I told her that Reiki dives deep into the psyche and stirs up emotional blocks for release. I explained that what she was experiencing was the release of emotional blocks and it was nothing to be alarmed about. It would help her come out of her lethargy and feel more enthusiastic about life. She was silent for some time and then said that she was glad that I had been honest with her. She only requested that whatever she said to me should be kept confidential. I agreed and she said she was looking forward to the treatment. As we went through the various hand positions, she started asking me about Reiki and what it was all about. I explained to her about energy centres and how imbalances in energy caused illness. She expressed eagerness to learn it herself. I told that it could be easily arranged. She then began to talk to me about her husband and the wonderful man that he had been and how cancer had eaten into his insides unsuspected. She described the shock they had experienced when the disease was diagnosed at a terminal stage. She described the trauma of waiting for death to part them. She re-lived the pain she had felt when he went to the hospital for the last time and she could not be with him during his last minutes, as she was laid up in bed at home with a fracture. She felt she had let him down and was guilty of continuing to live when he had died such an agonizing death. She then sobbed quietly till she fell asleep exhausted by her emotions.

Day 5: Ms.L was looking very anxious when I entered her room. She immediately piped up Do you think God is cruel? I cautiously replied No. She then asked, Do you think I should begin to pray to him? Do you think he will hear my prayers now? I have abused him so much! I was impressed. I said, Yes, you should. God is very forgiving and he is always happy to welcome his children, however abusive they have been! She was content with my reply and got ready for the treatment. While I worked the hand positions she continued telling me how much she loved God and how she had missed her conversations with him. She then told me she is convinced that her husband was waiting for her in heaven and she would join him when God felt that it was time. Meanwhile she had a lot to do. She had written to her son and asked him to come back home to keep her company and was in hourly expectation of hearing from him. She then began thanking me for the wonderful treatment that I was giving her and she was convinced that God had sent me to her when she was most depressed.

Days 6-21: Followed with the patient very enthusiastic and cooperative. She gradually left off her walker and her posture improved and she stuck to mealtimes with determination. She even consented to step out of her house and take short walks in the corridor with her sister. A month later she attended a course in Reiki and even visited a textile showroom to select some dress material for her. She invited me over for a party she held to celebrate her Son's return home. (The boy had left his job to take up one closer home to be with his mother). She was bubbling with energy and extremely enthusiastic about life. A quick scan of her chakras revealed that the energy levels were normal and the grey spots in her aura at the root and naval chakra had disappeared. The Solar plexus Chakra was also open.

Combining Reiki With Other Therapies.

Many Reiki practitioners combine crystal therapy with Reiki to stimulate the chakras. Limonite, Lapis Lazuli, Pietersite, and Turquoise are used to stimulate the sacral Chakra Wardite, Mesolite, Jasper, and Jet, help the base chakra open up. The Solar Plexus Chakra is stimulated by chrysanthemum stone, gypsum, jasper, obsidian and rutilated quartz.. Wadeite is used to stimulate all the chakras. I personally, combine Reiki treatment with Bach Flower treatment and crystal therapy as I find that it accelerates the healing and gives the patient a psychological satisfaction.

As is evident from the above case study, that Reiki brings about immediate and dramatic improvement in condition of persons suffering from depression. It is also evident from countless testimonials that persons who have come out of their depression by using Reiki have not had a recurrence of the same. Many hospitals round the world are recommending Reiki as a parallel system of treatment for persons suffering from depression. The efficacy and impact of Reiki is best understood when it is personally experienced.

If you are serious about learning Reiki, check out www.discover-reiki.com

Warmest regards,

Peter Tremayne Learn Reiki In 7 Days! - www.discover-reiki.com

Peter Tremayne has published an ebook - 'Discover-Reiki' written by Reiki Master Stephen Leigh.

The ebook is a simple, step by step guide for anyone wanting to learning Reiki from the comfort of your own home.

Tame Migraine Headaches Naturally

New data revealed June 27, 2006 at the 48th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Headache Society, migraine headaches cost American employers more than $24 billion a year in direct and indirect healthcare costs and lost productivity.

Can migraine headache suffers find relief for the pain without breaking the bank? A study completed by P.E. Strang, W.H. Crown, R. Bizier, et al suggests preventative approaches are far more effective than is commonly believed. Preventative measures can eliminate the need for pharmaceuticals or natural remedies, as well as pain/suffering and lost work.

The most common prevention techniques include, but are not limited to:

?Decrease stress
? Affirm yourself: ?I relax into the flow of life and let life provide all that I need easily and comfortably. Life is for me.?
? Decrease Caffeine--drink decaffeinated tea/coffee and eliminate all other drinks with caffeine
? Discover any food allergies/sensitivities?chocolate, cheese, nuts, alcohol, MSG, eggs yolks, wheat, yeast, beef can trigger?eliminate the foods that trigger allergy or sensitivities
? Eat Right for Your (Blood) Type
? Maintain healthy body weight
? 7 to 8 hours of sleep ? preferably at least 1 hour of sleep before midnight
? Exercise?aerobics, calisthenics, power walks, hiking or weight training?at least 2 times a week
? Use a natural Detox system to cleanse the liver, kidneys, and colon. Buildup of toxins and poor liver functioning can be responsible for headaches because of the body's inability to eliminate toxins from the diet or the environment.
? Low blood sugar levels can also bring on headaches, especially if you have skipped a meal. Eliminate all processed sugar and foods with processed sugar or corn syrup. Not only will you eliminate headaches you will lose weight and/or avoid weight gain.

Resource: Stang, P.E., Crown, W.H., Bizier, R., et al. ?The Family impact and costs of migraine,? American Journal of Managed Care, May 2004:313-320.

Dorothy M. Neddermeyer, PhD, Author, International Speaker specializes in: Mind, Body, Spirit healing and Physical/Sexual Abuse Prevention and Recovery. As an inspirational leader, Dr. Neddermeyer empowers people to view life's challenges as an opportunity for Personal/Professional Growth and Spiritual Awakening. http://www.drdorothy.net

Depression and the Magnesium Deficiency Debate

Depression is a social epidemic these days. It seems that more and more people are suffering from depression than ever before. Is that because that statement is true or because our awareness of depression has grown over the years? The common result of being diagnosed with depression, either professionally or personally, is taking prescription medication to resolve the problem. What most people fail to realize is that depression is the symptom of a bigger picture. There are many vitamin deficiencies that can cause many things, depression being one of them. A Magnesium deficiency is a big culprit for most of the problems that people face, so let us take a look at how you can find out if running low on magnesium could be causing your problems as well.

A Magnesium deficiency can cause many different problems throughout the body. From the nervous system to the muscles and skin, the lack of magnesium in your body will cause major problems for your health. Things such as muscle tension, muscle soreness, twitches, cramps, neck and back pain, tension headaches and even TMJ (jawbone) dysfunction can be caused by a lack of magnesium in the body. Nervous system symptoms such as tingling, numbness and vibration sensations can be common as well. Finally, things like constipation, menstrual cramps, sensitivity to loud noises and changes in light, cravings for salt and chocolate and even carbohydrates can trigger a red flag in your mind as you are reading this.

So the laundry list of things that can result from a deficiency in magnesium is enough to scare even the toughest of skeptics. So why are people breaking down the doors of their therapist to get their hands on prescription medication? Maybe its a lack of knowledge or maybe people are looking for the band-aid fix and not looking at the major problems. We need to take a step back and find the things that our diets are lacking, the things that will make us better as a whole and figure out what we need to do to make ourselves healthy again. But that really is a totally different topic for another day. So until then, visit our website and see how magnesium and vitamins can help you achieve a healthier lifestyle. (http://www.emmasnaturalliving.com/)

Stacy Kupiec is the owner and operator of the Emma's Natural Living website. She has done extensive research on the topics of natural cures and vitamins and how they affect your overall lifestyle. For more information on Stacy or the products that she endorses, visit her website on vitamins by clicking the vitamins link.

Treating Depression with Reiki

Discover-Reiki 7 Part Reiki Master Course

Part 1 - Treating Depression With Reiki

Reiki Masters believe that thought is energy vibrating at a very high frequency while the human body is energy vibrating at a lower frequency. Vibrations produce actions and actions produce reactions at grosser and grosser levels of frequency in a ripple effect!

While positive thoughts are universally acknowledged to manifest as health, negative thoughts are held to produce disease or lack of ease. Mental disease is manifested as depression, depressive psychosis, mania or even schizophrenia.

Reiki deals with depression as negative energy. Negative energy manifests at the aura level as imbalance in the Chakras or energy centres and is visible to the Reiki practitioner as grey or black spots in the aura. Imbalance of the energy centres causes reactions at a physical level, for the energy centre governs the health or disease of the organs and endocrine glands located within its purview.

The Chakra System and Depression

The Chakras that are usually blocked in a person who is depressed are the lower--the root chakra, the naval chakra, and to some extent the solar plexus chakra, which is part of the middle group.

The Root Chakra anchors the person to the earth. It represents the physical will and is associated with the spinal column, bones, teeth, nails, anus, rectum, colon, prostrate gland, blood and the building of cells. The Suprarenal glands, which produce adrenalin and influence body temperature, are governed by condition of the root chakra. The person whose root chakra is out of balance cannot accept life or enjoy physical existence. The creative energy of such a person is low and self-expression is not considered necessary. The person will have a tendency to overindulge in sensual pleasures such as overeating, alcohol, sex etc. He or she becomes selfish, self-centred. Physically the person becomes overweight and suffers from constipation. When challenged the person becomes irritable, aggressive, upset, violent and displays a complete lack of trust. If the Chakra is completely blocked the person will lack physical and emotional stamina and will be filled with feelings of uncertainty.

The Naval Chakra is the creative and reproductive centre of the being. It is associated with the pelvic girdle, kidneys, bladder and all liquids such as blood, lymph, gastric juices and the regulation of the female menstrual cycle. The glands associated with this chakra are the Prostrate, gonads, ovaries and testicles. If this energy centre is active and free of blocks the person exhibits freedom in self-expression and life appears interesting. Interpersonal relationships are regarded as beautiful. A disharmonious chakra induces the person turn off sensual messages and display low self-esteem, emotional paralysis and sexual coldness. Life does not seem worth living and suicidal tendencies manifest themselves.

The Solar Plexus Chakra is the power centre of the being. A harmonious Chakra gives the person a feeling that he has the power of shaping things. It is associated with the lower back, abdomen, digestive system, stomach, liver, spleen, gallbladder and the automatic nervous system. The organ that is governed by this Chakra is the Pancreas. The body absorbs solar energy through this chakra. This nurtures the ethereal body and energizes and maintains the physical body. Emotional energy is also governed by this Chakra. Personality traits and social identities are determined by it. Since it is located between the lower and higher chakras it has the additional function of purifies the basic instincts and directing the creative energy to higher values of life. It is also connected to the astral body and helps us integrate our feelings, wishes and experiences harmoniously. A block solar plexus chakra deprives the individual of the zest for life. The person feels gloomy, unbalanced and moody. Negative vibrations impact the individual through this chakra. The person is restless and attempts to manipulate everything in accordance with his or her own wishes. There is a persistent feeling of inadequacy, which drives them to ceaseless activity. The person gets easily threatened and tends to feel dejected and discouraged. The person insists that obstacles are preventing them from realizing the true goals of life.

It is clear that the symptoms of a person in the grip of acute depression are as much physical as emotional and psychological. A block will exist in the root chakra, the naval chakra and the Solar plexus Chakra. The creative energies of the person will be at an all time low and the person will avoid situations where he or she has give expression to his or her feelings. He is self indulgent, selfish, self-centred and suffers from a large number of ailments related to the stomach and has a tendency to put on weight. He or she will lack physical stamina and will be moody, irritable, aggressive and defensive. He will have no interest in life and will refuse to socialize. In extreme cases he will attempt suicide.

If you are serious about learning Reiki, check out www.discover-reiki.com

Case Study:

Ms.L, an obese woman (she weighed 180 Kgs), had not stepped out of her front door for the last ten years. She was convinced that she could not walk without support and that she would fall down if she tried. She spent entire days in the house, refusing to talk with visitors. She had a compulsive need to eat and would cook and consume huge quantities of Chicken, eggs and meats at odd times of the day. She had tried anti depressant drugs and other methods of treatment that included Homeopathy, acupressure, acupuncture and anything that was recommended to her by her sister and brother in law. She was convinced that she was born unlucky and she would never be normal again. She would begin a treatment with lukewarm enthusiasm, but would soon slip into lethargy and refuse to go on with the treatment. When Ms.L was referred for Reiki, she had convinced herself that she had not long to live and had told her sister not to be surprised if she found her dead one-day. Her sister-- alarmed--rushed to the Reiki clinic for help.

Day 1: Since the patient would not come to the clinic, I decided to visit her home. It was clear from Ms.L's posture that she was in the grip of acute depression. She was seated on a sofa with her feet up on a footstool. Her body limp, her head bowed and her shoulders drooping. Her arms lay lifelessly at her sides. She seemed lost to the world and did not even look up when we entered the room. She merely lifted her eyes to look at us without enthusiasm when she was talked to. An aura scan revealed that her root chakra and the naval chakra were completely blocked and her solar plexus chakra was partially blocked.

With a lot of persuasion from her sister and myself, she got up and went to lie down on her bed. I noted that she used the walker even though she was perfectly able to walk without it. She seemed to cling to it as a means of support. I kept up a general chatter as I started the treatment. She continued looking at the ceiling blankly. After some time, she started to pay a little more attention. Her muscles would twitch and she lifted her head to see what we are doing. She called her sister near and asked her whether we were using some chemicals as she was feeling some heat where my hand rested. When she was assured that no chemicals were being used, she subsided once more into indifference. Slowly and visibly she began to relax. She soon fell into a deep sleep and began to snore. As the round of treatment was over, we let her sleep.

Day 2: Ms.L was waiting for me. She looked relaxed and calm. On enquiry, she replied, I slept deeply and dreamlessly for the first time. I feel well. She then went willingly and lay down on her bed. After chatting with her for some time on a variety of topics (she did not reply), I started the treatment. While doing Reiki, I continued to chat and Ms.L replied in monosyllables to the questions being addressed to her. At the end of the hour she remarked, That felt nice.

Day 3: Mrs. L was ready for me. She was lying down and eager to start the treatment. She began to talk about the weather all the time keeping an eye on me. When I agreed that it was hot, she began telling me how the heat was affecting her and how she could not eat as much as she used to. I made sympathetic noises to encourage her. She seemed to feel reassured and gradually opened up--almost as if she were talking to herself and occasionally asking me a question. Then, her tone changed and she became more emotional and personal. She poured out her feelings. She insisted that she was very depressed because God had taken away her husband and her children had all flown away to distant lands and nobody cared for her. She said she had hated God from the day he had taken her husband and she had not gone to church or prayed for a long time. Since she had been very religious, she felt guilty that she had forsaken God but, she hated him and she did not want to pray to him. She then began weeping and ranting at God and exclaiming that she should not be doing it! This emotional outburst lasted for almost an hour, during which I continued the treatment, unfazed. Finally, exhausted by emotions and relaxed by the Reiki, Ms.L fell asleep.

Day 4: Ms.L was waiting for me--a little shamefaced and diffident. She greeted her with a defiant I was carried away a little yesterday. I am sorry. I assured her that it was ok and that she must not hold back her emotions and that I do not mind her talking to me about anything. She then, asked me a little suspiciously 'Do you think your treatment is making me unbalanced?. Well that was a tricky question at this stage and I was not very sure whether I should admit to the fact or assure her that it was not so. I intuitively felt that it would be better to explain to Ms.L and so I told her that Reiki dives deep into the psyche and stirs up emotional blocks for release. I explained that what she was experiencing was the release of emotional blocks and it was nothing to be alarmed about. It would help her come out of her lethargy and feel more enthusiastic about life. She was silent for some time and then said that she was glad that I had been honest with her. She only requested that whatever she said to me should be kept confidential. I agreed and she said she was looking forward to the treatment. As we went through the various hand positions, she started asking me about Reiki and what it was all about. I explained to her about energy centres and how imbalances in energy caused illness. She expressed eagerness to learn it herself. I told that it could be easily arranged. She then began to talk to me about her husband and the wonderful man that he had been and how cancer had eaten into his insides unsuspected. She described the shock they had experienced when the disease was diagnosed at a terminal stage. She described the trauma of waiting for death to part them. She re-lived the pain she had felt when he went to the hospital for the last time and she could not be with him during his last minutes, as she was laid up in bed at home with a fracture. She felt she had let him down and was guilty of continuing to live when he had died such an agonizing death. She then sobbed quietly till she fell asleep exhausted by her emotions.

Day 5: Ms.L was looking very anxious when I entered her room. She immediately piped up Do you think God is cruel? I cautiously replied No. She then asked, Do you think I should begin to pray to him? Do you think he will hear my prayers now? I have abused him so much! I was impressed. I said, Yes, you should. God is very forgiving and he is always happy to welcome his children, however abusive they have been! She was content with my reply and got ready for the treatment. While I worked the hand positions she continued telling me how much she loved God and how she had missed her conversations with him. She then told me she is convinced that her husband was waiting for her in heaven and she would join him when God felt that it was time. Meanwhile she had a lot to do. She had written to her son and asked him to come back home to keep her company and was in hourly expectation of hearing from him. She then began thanking me for the wonderful treatment that I was giving her and she was convinced that God had sent me to her when she was most depressed.

Days 6-21: Followed with the patient very enthusiastic and cooperative. She gradually left off her walker and her posture improved and she stuck to mealtimes with determination. She even consented to step out of her house and take short walks in the corridor with her sister. A month later she attended a course in Reiki and even visited a textile showroom to select some dress material for her. She invited me over for a party she held to celebrate her Son's return home. (The boy had left his job to take up one closer home to be with his mother). She was bubbling with energy and extremely enthusiastic about life. A quick scan of her chakras revealed that the energy levels were normal and the grey spots in her aura at the root and naval chakra had disappeared. The Solar plexus Chakra was also open.

Combining Reiki With Other Therapies.

Many Reiki practitioners combine crystal therapy with Reiki to stimulate the chakras. Limonite, Lapis Lazuli, Pietersite, and Turquoise are used to stimulate the sacral Chakra Wardite, Mesolite, Jasper, and Jet, help the base chakra open up. The Solar Plexus Chakra is stimulated by chrysanthemum stone, gypsum, jasper, obsidian and rutilated quartz.. Wadeite is used to stimulate all the chakras. I personally, combine Reiki treatment with Bach Flower treatment and crystal therapy as I find that it accelerates the healing and gives the patient a psychological satisfaction.

As is evident from the above case study, that Reiki brings about immediate and dramatic improvement in condition of persons suffering from depression. It is also evident from countless testimonials that persons who have come out of their depression by using Reiki have not had a recurrence of the same. Many hospitals round the world are recommending Reiki as a parallel system of treatment for persons suffering from depression. The efficacy and impact of Reiki is best understood when it is personally experienced.

If you are serious about learning Reiki, check out www.discover-reiki.com

Warmest regards,

Peter Tremayne Learn Reiki In 7 Days! - www.discover-reiki.com

Peter Tremayne has published an ebook - 'Discover-Reiki' written by Reiki Master Stephen Leigh.

The ebook is a simple, step by step guide for anyone wanting to learning Reiki from the comfort of your own home.

The Body's Energy Centers

Eastern philosophy and medicine, originating in ancient India and China, have traditionally regarded body structures and the life processes occurring within as inseparable. Their terminology resides halfway between structure and function and identifies certain entities in the human body, representing the flow of life energy and, in some sense, conduits for that flow that do not correspond to anatomical structures recognized by Western science and medicine. The chakras are the energy centers in a person?s biological field and are responsible for his or her physiological and psychological condition as well as certain groups of organs. All vital functions of the human body are determined by energy that spins in the chakras. These can be defined as ?whirlpools referred,? and in Indian, they are considered ?energy bursts? or ?wheels.?

The process of energy transformation happens exactly in these centers. Vital energy, along with blood, circulates around the meridians in the chakras and fuels all organs and systems in the human body. When the circulation in these meridians stagnates, the human body becomes susceptible to various disorders. An excellent preventative method, designed explicitly to battle such stagnation is Chi Gun, an ancient Chinese method for self-healing which activates the energy centers. Chi Gun teaches people to release the energy themselves by massaging specific areas corresponding to the different chakras.

There are 49 chakras mentioned in the Vedic Canons, seven of which are basic; 21 are in the second circle, and 21 in the third circle. According to the Vedis, there are multiple energy channels leading to different locations from the chakras. Three of these channels are basic. The first one, called ?shushumna,? is hollow and is concentrated in the spine. The other two energy pathways, ?ida? and ?pingala?, are located on either side of the spine. These two channels are the most active in most people, while ?shushumna? remains stagnant.

The seven basic chakras spin at high speeds in the body of healthy individuals but slow down in times of sickness or with advancing age. When the body is in a harmonious balance, the chakras remain partially open. Closed chakras are unable to receive energy, leading to various disorders.

The first basic chakra, ?Muladhara,? is located at the base of the spine in the tailbone area. Life energy, which is at the core of a strong and healthy immune system, is stored in this chakra. It is impossible for a person to become sick, old or even to die, before exhausting his or her reserves of this vital energy. The very will for life is controlled by Muladhara. It is also in charge of the bones and joints, the teeth, the nails, the urinogenital system and the large intestine. The first symptoms of a malfunctioning Muladhara are unreasonable fear, faintness, lack of security or faith in the future, leg and foot problems, and intestinal disorders. The interrupted activity of the Muladhara chakra causes lack of energy, digestive problems, diseases of the bones and spine, and nervous tension among others.

The second chakra, ?Svadhistana,? is located at the level of the sacrum, three or four fingers below the belly button. This chakra regulates the pelvis, the kidneys and sexual functions. We also feel other peoples? emotions through this chakra. Symptoms of a malfunctioning ?Svadhistana? are kidney problems, cystitis and arthritis.

The third chakra, ?Manipura,? is found in the solar plexus area. This chakra is the center for storing and distributing energy produced by digestion and breathing. It is responsible for vision, the gastrointestinal system, the liver, the gall bladder, the pancreas and nervous system. Symptoms of a stagnant ?Manipura? are as follows: increased and constant worrying, as well as stomach, liver and nervous disorders.

The fourth chakra, ?Anahata,? also called the heart chakra, is located in the chest area. We generate and receive love through this chakra. It is in charge of the heart, the lungs, the bronchi, the hands and the arms. Symptoms of stagnation include depression and cardiovascular imbalances.

The fifth chakra, ?Vishudha,? is located at the throat level and is the center of analytical skills and logic. This chakra sustains the skin, organs of hearing, along with the trachea and lungs. Symptoms include a lack of emotional stability, discomfort in the cervical spine, soar throats, difficulties communicating, and esophagus and thyroid ailments.

The sixth chakra, ?Adjna,? is located between the eyebrows and is called the ?third eye.? Here is the throne for the human brain. ?Adjna? circulates energy to the head and pituitary gland and is also responsible for determining our harmonious development. If a person?s ?third eye? ceases to function properly, one might notice a decrease in intellectual ability, headaches and migraines, earaches, olfactory illnesses, and psychological disorders.

The seventh chakra, ?Sahasrara,? is found at the very top of the head and represents the apex where an individual?s energy vibrates with the highest frequency. It is considered a spiritual center and the entrance to the body for cosmic energy. A stagnant ?Sahasrara? can result in a decrease in or lack of inner wisdom, as well as a lack of basic intuition. With this basic knowledge of the first seven chakras, we can address the question: ?How do we use this information to locate the causes of our troubles and problems, and with the help of Eastern Medicine, learn to control the functions of the chakras ourselves??.

From the perspective of Eastern Medicine, our health depends on the distribution of our energy-consciousness informational field. A shortage of energy inevitably causes ailments. According to Tibetan Medicine, the only difference between youth and old age, and between a sick and healthy individual, is the difference in the rotating speed of the whirlpool energy centers of the chakras. If these different speeds are balanced, old people will rejuvenate and sick people will heal. Therefore, the best way to preserve and keep our health, youth and vitality is to restore and maintain a balanced movement of the energy centers.

The easiest way to keep the chakras balanced is through a set of physical exercises. Yannis called these not simply exercises, but rituals. These rituals allow the human body to mold its energy centers to an ideal level of function. The seven rituals, one for each chakra, must be performed together every morning and when not possible, in the evening. Skipping rituals unbalances energy distribution, and so for the best results, no more than one day per week should be missed. The daily chakra rituals are necessary not only for revitalizing the body, but also for achieving success in every facet of life. ?Once you learn how to transform your energy, you will also become happier,? concluded Yannis. For learning these rituals (which have transformed many peoples? lives throughout the world), seeing them in action is much more effective than trying to follow written descriptions or diagrams. A DVD, available from Helix 7, Inc. (www.FeelingOfHappiness.com), includes actual demonstrations of these rituals.

Another method of keeping the chakras balanced and in their optimal half-open state is meditation. Meditative methods are universal to the human experience; they have accumulated over the ages through many different cultures and have proven their value in attaining peace, clarity, equanimity and in transcending despair. People who meditate on a regular basis are usually calmer, more secure, more joyful and more productive human beings. They are more effective in their everyday lives because they use their mental and physical potential, abilities and skills to their fullest extent. All too often, we humans fail to realize the great latent powers which are, as yet, unawakened in our bodies. We must learn how to revive and utilize them. This can only be achieved through meditation. Eastern men of wisdom, who believed meditation to be a vital necessity, stumbled on this discovery more than 1000 years ago. They learned to influence their inner organs and control their metabolism with the power of their minds. Meditation is to the mind what exercise is to the body; mental strength can be built up just like physical strength. Just as in athletics, it is important for an individual to train his or her body, it is important for an individual to train his or her mind through meditation.

The best time for meditation is early morning, preferably at dawn. Do not meditate when you are sad, aggravated, desperate or sick, because these intense emotional and physiological distractions make an enlightened state of mind impossible. For an effective meditation session, it is preferable to arrange for the undistracted silence of a quiet, clean room with flowers, or the soothing sounds of Mother Nature - near a lake, river, waterfall, woods or fields.

Many different mental practices, having their origin in historical traditions, fall under the general heading of meditation. These paths of mental development can involve emotional and intellectual facets and may also be coordinated with specific movements. Meditation can be structured or unstructured, Dr. Wayne W. Dyer writes in his book Real Magic, ?The process of meditation is nothing more than quietly going within and discovering that higher component of yourself ? Learning to meditate is learning how to live rather than talking about it??

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World Renown author, Dick Derrick, has 20 years practical experiance combining centuries-old Eastern philosophy and healing with modern scientific findings to inspire and encourage you to achieve happiness and harmony in your life. http://www.FeelingOfHappiness.com/
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Treating Depression Successfully Without Drugs

In the past treatment of depression was done by many different types of talk therapy by psychologists. There are over 250 psychotherapy techniques, and NONE of them have been proven to work any better than any other.

But, the fact remains that very few depressed patients were ever cured by talk type psychotherapy. As a matter of fact, it has been shown in several studies that talking to a sympathetic friend, even a bartender, or almost anyone who will listen is about as good as talking to a clinician (at $100 up per hour).

The APA has neatly classified several different types of depression (manic, bipolar, unipolar, post-partum, grief, etc - mostly for the purposes of legally making them covered by health insurance.)

Psychiatrists would seem to have somewhat of an advantage here. They have the battery of drugs that seem to help depressed persons at least get thru life without too many suicides from depression. Here's another fact. Nobody ever got depressed because of poor toilet training as a child. Freud had a lot of good ideas, but this wasn't one of them. There's been a lot written about stress causing depression, and stress is a component (as poor toilet training may be). But, it doesn't CAUSE depression directly. So, just what does cause depression?

The Orthomolecular Theory and my experience in taught me that there were three basic causes of depression. Clearing up these stresses cleared up the patient's ability to withstand the normal stress of everyday living as well as the heavy stresses put on some at times.

These three basic causes are:

?Mineral Toxicity (perhaps 10-15%)

?Nutritional Deficiency (perhaps 15-20%

?Allergies and Other Stress Factors (perhaps 75-85%)

The following is pretty brief, and my book ?The Health Revolution? has much more information and actual case studies of many different types of depression and anxiety, etc. It also describes the actual therapy I used in each case, and how it worked. This book may be found at: http://Alternate-Health.com/health.html

Mineral Toxicity

There are several minerals that may cause depression (at toxic levels) directly. These include toxic levels of mercury, copper, lead, and others. (In the case of copper, medium toxic levels of copper can cause depression, and higher levels may cause schizophrenia.) Lead is still a problem, but becoming less likely due to removing it from gasoline and paint. I even had one patient with arsenic causing depression.

Nutritional Deficiency

As mentioned above, almost every kind of stress causes the body to use up various vitamins and minerals faster. This means that when you are under unusual stress, you should be taking more vitamins.

Allergies and Stress

Now we come to the real meat. Allergy! Or, more precisely, both allergies and/or food/chemical sensitivities. To allergists, they are two separate problems, and until recently, few MD allergists even considered food sensitivity at all. Both allergy and sensitivity can cause all the same symptoms/disease as the other. Ranging from schizophrenia and depression to hyperactivity and bedwetting, arthritis and skin itching. The list of potential symptoms of allergy and/or sensitivity is as long as your arm.. It surprises many people that most of the brain problems of depression, ADD/ADHD, schizophrenia, epilepsy, etc can be, and often are caused by allergy and/or sensitivity.

Talk about stress. Either allergy or sensitivity causes huge stress to the body, and stress is additive. So, if you have an emotional strain in your life at the same time as an allergen is affecting you, the overall stress becomes much more, and your body needs much more in the way of good nutrition to help get thru this stressful period. Post Partum Depression and PMS are often examples of additive stress.

In virtually every depressed patient I ever saw in my practice the depression lifted when the combination of stress from allergy and/or mineral toxicity was dealt with. (I estimate about 80% allergy/sensitivity and 20% mineral toxicity with a lot of overlap.) By curing the underlying physical problem, the ordinary stress of modern life can be dealt with. I should mention at this point that whenever I saw a depression patient for the first time, I immediately started them on what I called Immediate Relief. This was a combination of 500 mg of Tryptophan, and 500 mg of Tyrosine - from 1-3 times per day along with at least 50 mg B complex at the same time. None of these cause any side effects (unless you are allergic to capsules or some of the fillers used.) This helped to lift their depression during the search for the underlying problem, and helped defuse thoughts about suicide. There are now nutritional supplements with these combinations on the market.

Neu-Becalm'd is the one that I recommend. Info about Neu-Becalm?d can be found at: http://www.StressTalk.com

In April 2002, I leased two EEG biofeedback units to two different people that have reported back to me. One, was a suicidal and depressed young man. With 40 1/2 hour sessions, he has completely turned around, and is quite normal. No depression symptoms at all. The other was an older woman, and she reported that after training her son (ADD/ADHD), she felt much better just watching him train, so she did sessions herself. She didn't report how many, but not only was her son free of his ADD/ADHD symptoms, but her depression was gone as well. (Since that was written, many more cases have been successful.)

Dr Von Hilsheimer reports 100% success with all types of depression in his biofeedback practice in Orlando Florida. How does it work? My theory first voiced to Dr Von in 2000 is that this EEG BF training somehow trains the brain to change the effect of some allergens on the brain/body. My first test of the Bate Auditory Training system proved that this theory is at least partially correct. Many of the people in this test lost several allergies/sensitivities.

The Bate Auditory BrainWave Training System

In 2004, I realized that if EEG Biofeedback (neurofeedback) could solve various ?brain problems? such as: ADD/ADHD, Autism, depression, insomnia, etc, by simply changing some specific brain wave bands, then it should be possible to do the same thing using passive audio. I made up a test audio, and tested it on over 40 volunteers (who all paid to take part in this test). The results were mixed, but overall it proved that raising one brain wave (called SMR) did change the allergen effect(s) on the brain. Every depressed person, and every person with Insomnia who used the audio for more than a month solved their problems. (Insomnia/sleep problems is often a component of depression.)

Since I only used the audio message to raise the SMR brain wave, there were some ADD/ADHD persons who did not get as much benefit as hoped. (Included in this test were 3 kids that hadn?t been helped by EEG biofeedback, and they weren?t helped by this audio either). (I knew that NASA had found that lowering the Theta brain wave increased attention/concentration.) In 2005, I devised a new audio that included lowering of the Theta brain wave as well as raising the SMR brain wave. This was also tested on over 40 participants, most of whom paid up to $100 each. Every ADD/ADHD person tested, (who used the audio for over 6 weeks) improved dramatically. Even some autistic kids did very well, and the parents are continuing it?s use. I cannot, and do not claim that the Bate Auditory BrainWave Training system will ?cure? any brain problems, but to date, I can state that this system has solved a very high percentage of such problems, comparable to EEG biofeedback (estimated by most at around 85%) at a fraction of the cost.

Phil Bate PhD - Retired Orthomolecular Psychologist
Inventor and Patent Pending Holder for Brain Wave Amplitude Changing via Auditory Training
http://Alternate-Health.com
http://AuditoryBrainWaveTraining.com

An Acne Fetish is No Laughing Matter

While it may be easy to scoff off an acne fetish with remarks like, ?I don?t have that problem,? this condition is more common than properly acknowledged. A fetish is an object of unreasonably obsessive attention or regard. Thus, extreme attention given to zits and pimples characterize an acne fetish. Two clinical forms of an acne fetish include excoriated acne and imagined acne.

Excoriated acne occurs when an acne patient continues to pick at or squeeze acne formations on their face, never allowing the skin to heal. This constant picking aggravates the acne condition and often times leaves severe scarring. Imagined acne happens when a patient is convinced she has acne but in reality does not. This person may have one small pimple and blow the existence of the pimple out of proportion and view it as a severe case of acne.

Underlying both of these acne fetishes is the fear of being ugly, or dysmorphophobia. It?s an easy psychological state to acquire in a society that increasingly places more value on superficial looks than personal traits.

Steps to combating an acne fetish include: Spending less time self-critiquing in front of the mirror; and Embellishing your talents.

Even a hiatus from mirror visits may help an acne fetish. If you do look in the mirror, focus on elements of your face besides the zits. For instance, look at the color of your eyes or the size of your lips, without criticizing of course. You may have lovely eyelashes or the perfect eyebrows. Whenever you look in the mirror stop making negative judgments about yourself. If you do find yourself ridiculing yourself and wanting to burst a zit in a rushed desire for clear skin, just remind yourself that every zit that you prematurely pop may encourage the formation of 3 completely new zits.

Focus on your greatest assets as a person, or cultivate new skills. You may be an awesome guitar player or fabulous singer, give yourself recognition for your strengths. Do something that you?ve always wanted to do, but did not do because you felt having acne precludes you from this activity.

In the final analysis, healing an acne fetish starts with recognizing that this condition has serious medical repercussions. An acne fetish can debilitate one?s self-esteem while encouraging needless facial scarring. If you think you have an acne fetish, you can get help from a qualified dermatologist, psychologists or just talk it over with some really cool and understanding friends.

Naweko San-Joyz is creator of the Acne Messages program, the only acne program to combine the latest scientific research and ancient wisdom to deliver an acne cure as unique as the acne sufferer. As there are millions of people with acne, there are a millions cures, find your unique cure with Acne Messages. ISBN: 0974912204 available at Amazon and Noixia.com, Home of Six Billion Natural Cures for Acne

The Therapeutic Effect of Colors

Color-spectrum therapy has been popular since the days of antiquity. In Ancient Rome, the healer Pleneus recommended precious red stones to stop bleeding, while in China, healers cured stomach discomforts by gently massaging the patient?s belly with the yellow color. In Western society, notions such as these have given way to the scientific understanding of light as electromagnetic energy, and of color, as being determined by its frequency. The possibility that the energy of light could interact with and affect a living organism motivated modern color-spectrum therapy, which became popular in 1877 when Englishmen Dawns and Blunt discovered the ability to cure rickets with ultraviolet light.

Here the scientific explanation is that ultraviolet radiation (which is a component of sunlight) enables a biochemical reaction in the skin that produces vitamin D, and thereby correcting the vitamin deficiency that causes rickets. It is also known that a specific kind of depression associated with the dark months of winter (called seasonal affective disorder) can be alleviated by exposure to a suitable artificial light source that mimics sunlight. Exposure of the retinas to this light seems to be important; the therapeutic mechanism may involve brain chemistry (neurotransmitters) affected by this exposure. Thus, there is at least some scientific basis for the idea that light can improve a person?s health and well being.

Within Eastern healing traditions, there is also a chromatic interpretation of the chakras and human energy system, in which each chakra is associated with a certain characteristic color, and that the exposure to certain colors can have a health-enhancing effect. Kirlian photography represents an attempt to bring the detection of these colors beyond the subjective realm of intuitive healers into reproducible scientific methodology. Currently, controversy surrounds the origin and meaning of the patterns produced by objects on photographic films in the presence of high-voltage electric fields. Some people believe that these patterns represent the human energy field, auras and chakras. Others discredit these ideas and offer purely physical explanations based upon gas ionization in the presence of moisture.

Whatever the case, it is now well established that biochemical processes and metabolism in the body and brain are accompanied by electrical signals, which can be detected - for example with electrocardiograms and electroencephalograms. Who is to say that the body's electrical energy is not organized just as matter is organized within the anatomical structures. It is conceivable that refinement of scientific instruments may one day detect and characterize the chakras and associated energy fields that have figured in Eastern healing traditions for thousands of years. Imagine how the Western mindset of 200 years ago would have reacted when presented with the proposition that the human heart and brain produce signals that are now routinely used in standard medical diagnostics.

What is now indisputable - even from the perspective of modern medical science - is that the practices of Eastern philosophy, such as yoga and tai chi, which are informed and guided by the theory of chakras and their colors and energy meridians - lead to health, longevity and well being.

Famous American doctor John Lieberman, after many years of experiments, discovered that while the ray of light passes along the optic nerve, it splits into two parts - one shaft creating the visual image of the object in the brain and the second one affecting the hypothalamus, the organ responsible for maintaining heart rhythm, body temperature, and feelings of joy and fear among others. The brain reacts differently to different light, and with the help of the endocrine system, stimulates the production of various hormones. Orange light stabilizes kidney function and aids in living with diabetes. Green light improves the function of the cardio-vascular and blood systems. Blue light calms the nerves and contributes to reducing depression. Red increases the potency and physical strength, while violet rejuvenates us with the help of hormones of that color, such as melatonin.

All these age-old methods are simple (in fact, deceptively so), easy to perform and very effective. If you can dedicate 10 minutes daily to them, very soon you will feel more energetic, invigorated, radiant and happy.

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World Renown author, Dick Derrick, has 20 years practical experiance combining centuries-old Eastern philosophy and healing with modern scientific findings to inspire and encourage you to achieve happiness and harmony in your life. http://www.FeelingOfHappiness.com/
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Normalizing Low Body Temperatures Often Critical to Restoring Good Health

Are you suffering from fatigue, migraines, PMS, hair loss, depression, inability to lose weight, muscle and joint aches, heat and/or cold intolerance, or other baffling symptoms that your doctor can?t explain? Fixing a low body temperature might quickly and easily solve your health problems.

Wilson's Temperature Syndrome (WTS) is a condition that causes symptoms characteristic of decreased thyroid system function. It is best identified by its reproducible and predictable response to a special thyroid hormone treatment protocol developed by E. Denis Wilson, MD. It is the cluster of often debilitating symptoms especially brought on by significant physical or emotional stress that can persist even after the stress has passed (due to a maladaptive slowing of the metabolism). It is characterized by a body temperature that runs, on average, below normal and routine thyroid blood tests are often in the normal range.

Symptoms can result when the average body temperature is less than 98.6 degrees (checked by mouth with a mercury thermometer); however, low temperatures classic for Wilson's Temperature Syndrome sufferers are 97.8 degrees or lower.

Virtually all of the chemical reactions that take place in our bodies are catalyzed by enzymes. Enzymes are proteins that are dependent upon their shape, or conformation, for their activity. When enzymes are too hot they are too loose; when they are too cold they are too tight, and in either extreme the enzymes are not the right shape and cannot function optimally. When the body temperature is too low, nearly all of the enzymes in the body function less effectively. This can cause a wide variety of complaints.

High fevers (107 degrees F) can cause brain damage and even death. Severe hypothermia (less than 90 degrees F) can also be a life-threatening medical emergency. A temperature of 100 degrees (1.4 degrees above 98.6) can produce familiar symptoms of fever. It is easy to see how mildly depressed temperatures (1 - 1.5 degrees below 98.6) can also produce a very characteristic set of symptoms. It is obvious that to function optimally, the body must be at the optimal temperature. Under conditions of severe physical or emotional stress, the body can slow down and the temperature can go down to conserve energy, as a coping mechanism. That's normal. But sometimes, the temperature can remain persistently low even after the stress has passed. That's not normal. Examples of severe stresses that can knock the body out of balance include childbirth (the number one cause), divorce, death of a loved one, job or family stress, and surgery or accidents.

The body temperature is regulated by the thyroid hormone system. The hypothalamus stimulates the pituitary gland to produce Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH). TSH stimulates the thyroid gland to produce T4 (thyroxine) which is the raw material used to make the active thyroid hormone T3. T4 is also converted to Reverse T3 (RT3) which is physiologically inactive. 80 percent of the active thyroid hormone T3 is produced outside the thyroid gland, in the periphery of the body. T4 is converted to T3 by an enzyme called 5' Deiodinase. This enzyme is inhibited by stress, acute and chronic illness, fasting, cortisol (steroid), and other things. Under stress and fasting, the body converts less T4 to T3 and more T4 to RT3 to conserve energy (with less T3, the cells of the body slow down). It is likely that the increased levels of RT3 that result can then further inhibit the conversion of T4 to T3, with even more T4 being converted to RT3, less to T3, and so on, with the body getting stuck in a vicious cycle, a sort of coping mechanism gone amuck.

Wilson's Temperature Syndrome is treated by using a special T3 therapy protocol developed by Dr. Wilson. With proper treatment patients can usually bring their temperatures up to normal. When the temperatures are normal the symptoms usually disappear. The hallmark of T3 therapy for Wilson's Temperature Syndrome is the resetting phenomenon. The temperature and symptoms usually remain improved even after the treatment has been discontinued. T3 therapy for WTS does not need to be taken for life. The T3 medicine that is on the market is instant release. T3 therapy is much more effective and better tolerated when the T3 is mixed with a sustained-release agent. The T3 preparation needs to be carefully made (compounded) by skilled and experienced pharmacists, and taken twice a day, every 12 hours.

More information about WTS can be found at http://www.WilsonsTemperatureSyndrome.com

How to Choose a Clinical Hypnosis Professional

The major dilemma in deciding to pursue hypnotherapy is selecting a qualified Hypnotist.

You need to decide whether you want to work with a psychiatrist or other licensed mental health practitioner who includes hypnosis as a part of their practice, or if you want a hypnotist who uses hypnosis exclusively as a healing modality.

Psychiatrists and other licensed mental health practitioners at times use hypnosis in treating people; however certified hypnotists have more in-depth training. The psychiatrist or licensed mental health practitioner may have attended a weekend workshop and learned how to induce hypnosis but may have little or no experience in communicating with the mind in its subconscious mode.

The first question to ask anyone with whom you consider working is Are you a certified hypnotist and by whom? The National Guild of Hypnotherapists is the oldest and largest worldwide non-profit certifying organization cited by Congress in the Congressional Record of May 11th, 1993 as the foremost hypnosis organization in the country.

Although, one assumes all licensed professionals are highly qualified, that does not hold true with hypnosis, a licensed professional needs to be certified in hypnosis in addition to their license. Therefore, whomever you choose, be sure they are certified by a certifying institution or recognized organization and have had a minimum of 100 hours of training?not just a weekend seminar.

In addition, it is important to consider a Hypnotist, who is also a certified Regression practitioner. The reason it is important to choose a Hypnotist, who is also a certified Regression practitioner is because the root cause of your issue is more often than not rooted in your past experiences?therefore, regression to those experiences to heal the emotional issues is necessary. A certified Hypnotist has little or no training in regression work. Therefore, to have the most qualified Hypnotist make sure they are a certified Hypnotist and certified Regression practitioner.

The International Board for Regression Therapy (IBRT) Inc. as an independent examining and certifying board www.ibrt.org is the foremost regression certifying organization. Its mission is to set professional standards for practice, evaluate the preparation and qualifications of practitioners and the quality of training programs, and to issue certificates to those who pass the rigorous evaluation process. It is a not-for-profit corporation registered in New York State.

Another area to explore is how much experience the prospective therapist has had in your area of need. How long have they been in full-time practice? What are their specialties? Do they have experience in addressing the problem you want to address or in attaining the goal you want to achieve? How many clients have they treated? How many successfully?

Another question particularly helpful is What is the law regarding the practice of hypnotherapy in your state? In Illinois, it is PA473. The reason it is important that any prospective hypnotist know the law is because hypnotherapy must be practiced in strict conformity with it. Be suspicious of anyone who doesn't know the limits of their practice.

Finally, if you are satisfied with the responses to all other questions, ask yourself one final question. Am I comfortable with this person? Attempting to work with someone who maybe highly qualified but with whom you have no rapport or with someone you don't feel you can trust will only serve to interfere with your progress.

Dorothy M. Neddermeyer, PhD, a Certified Hypnotist and Regression practitioner has 25 years experience in healing many issues. http://www.drdorothy.net

The Therapeutic Effect of Colors

Color-spectrum therapy has been popular since the days of antiquity. In Ancient Rome, the healer Pleneus recommended precious red stones to stop bleeding, while in China, healers cured stomach discomforts by gently massaging the patient?s belly with the yellow color. In Western society, notions such as these have given way to the scientific understanding of light as electromagnetic energy, and of color, as being determined by its frequency. The possibility that the energy of light could interact with and affect a living organism motivated modern color-spectrum therapy, which became popular in 1877 when Englishmen Dawns and Blunt discovered the ability to cure rickets with ultraviolet light.

Here the scientific explanation is that ultraviolet radiation (which is a component of sunlight) enables a biochemical reaction in the skin that produces vitamin D, and thereby correcting the vitamin deficiency that causes rickets. It is also known that a specific kind of depression associated with the dark months of winter (called seasonal affective disorder) can be alleviated by exposure to a suitable artificial light source that mimics sunlight. Exposure of the retinas to this light seems to be important; the therapeutic mechanism may involve brain chemistry (neurotransmitters) affected by this exposure. Thus, there is at least some scientific basis for the idea that light can improve a person?s health and well being.

Within Eastern healing traditions, there is also a chromatic interpretation of the chakras and human energy system, in which each chakra is associated with a certain characteristic color, and that the exposure to certain colors can have a health-enhancing effect. Kirlian photography represents an attempt to bring the detection of these colors beyond the subjective realm of intuitive healers into reproducible scientific methodology. Currently, controversy surrounds the origin and meaning of the patterns produced by objects on photographic films in the presence of high-voltage electric fields. Some people believe that these patterns represent the human energy field, auras and chakras. Others discredit these ideas and offer purely physical explanations based upon gas ionization in the presence of moisture.

Whatever the case, it is now well established that biochemical processes and metabolism in the body and brain are accompanied by electrical signals, which can be detected - for example with electrocardiograms and electroencephalograms. Who is to say that the body's electrical energy is not organized just as matter is organized within the anatomical structures. It is conceivable that refinement of scientific instruments may one day detect and characterize the chakras and associated energy fields that have figured in Eastern healing traditions for thousands of years. Imagine how the Western mindset of 200 years ago would have reacted when presented with the proposition that the human heart and brain produce signals that are now routinely used in standard medical diagnostics.

What is now indisputable - even from the perspective of modern medical science - is that the practices of Eastern philosophy, such as yoga and tai chi, which are informed and guided by the theory of chakras and their colors and energy meridians - lead to health, longevity and well being.

Famous American doctor John Lieberman, after many years of experiments, discovered that while the ray of light passes along the optic nerve, it splits into two parts - one shaft creating the visual image of the object in the brain and the second one affecting the hypothalamus, the organ responsible for maintaining heart rhythm, body temperature, and feelings of joy and fear among others. The brain reacts differently to different light, and with the help of the endocrine system, stimulates the production of various hormones. Orange light stabilizes kidney function and aids in living with diabetes. Green light improves the function of the cardio-vascular and blood systems. Blue light calms the nerves and contributes to reducing depression. Red increases the potency and physical strength, while violet rejuvenates us with the help of hormones of that color, such as melatonin.

All these age-old methods are simple (in fact, deceptively so), easy to perform and very effective. If you can dedicate 10 minutes daily to them, very soon you will feel more energetic, invigorated, radiant and happy.

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World Renown author, Dick Derrick, has 20 years practical experiance combining centuries-old Eastern philosophy and healing with modern scientific findings to inspire and encourage you to achieve happiness and harmony in your life. http://www.FeelingOfHappiness.com/
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