Physical and emotional stress is a fact of modern life. We all experience it one way or another and sometimes it can help when motivating us to perform well. What exactly happens is the hormone epinephrine or adrenaline is released by the sympathetic nervous system stimulating the fight or flight response which comes in really handy in a dangerous situation. After the initial response, cortisol is released from the adrenal glands to keep the body on high alert. When the threat passes the parasympathetic nervous system puts on the brakes and cortisol declines. In chronic stress experienced over long...

Hey, quick question. Where was the rest of your body when your knee fell down the stairs or when your neck was in a car accident? Over thirty years of experience in various therapeutic capacities has afforded me the opportunity to see a trend that compromises the health and wellness of many people. The bottom line is we have become too compartmentalized in how to therapeutically treat people who have been injured. Areas of the body are treated without consideration or regard for the whole person, physically and emotionally. This is illustrated no better than in the occurrence of...

My interest in the treatment and prevention of Alzheimer’s stems from my personal experience of caring for my parents over an eight-year period. My father died in two and a half years with frontal temporal lobe dementia with aphasia. My mother who died in May, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Both lived and died in the family home. I learned a great deal over the years about the devastation dementia and Alzheimer’s has on individuals, relationships, family members and caregivers. Please note there are differences between the diagnosis of dementia and Alzheimer’s. The effects on the family and caregivers appear...

virtual landslide of data has continually emphasized the Western diet as the key factor in virtually every chronic disease . . . During the 20th century, food consumption patterns changed dramatically. . . . The largest change was the switch from a diet with a high level of complex carbohydrates, which naturally occur in grains and vegetables, to a . . . dramatic increase in the number of calories consumed from simple sugars. . . . High consumption of refined sugars is linked to many chronic diseases, including obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. ~ Michael T. Murray,...

Anxiety disorders are becoming more prevalent in recent years. Adults and children alike suffer from various forms of anxiety, including extreme fear or worry, generalized anxiety, panic attacks, agoraphobia, social anxiety, obsessive-compulsive behavior, post-traumatic stress, selective mutism, separation anxiety, and specific phobias. Anxiety disorders are closely related and often overlap with other conditions, including depression, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, mood imbalance, and body dysmorphia. One common denominator that raises anxiety levels and alters mood is chronic stress. Researchers in the field of psychoneuroimmunology, the study of the effect of the mind on health and resistance to disease, have identified that chronic...

I’m going to let you in on a little secret. I’m a healer, and I have anxiety. That’s right. I didn’t really understand what anxiety was, nor did I realize that I have been suffering from it my whole life until a few years ago when I experienced my first panic attack. My anxiety attacks are very physical. I can be perfectly fine one moment and then the next moment my heart pounds, I can’t breathe, and I become dizzy. I have chest pains, my arms and neck go numb and my mind begins to race down a spiraling...

Are you a parent experiencing a mix of emotions as a new school year begins? Is part of you relieved to have the kids resuming their routine, even if it’s chaotic? Is another part of you anxious, aware that it is just a matter of time until your student will need to make decisions around whether to go to college and how to fund it? Following are three steps for initiating the college funding conversation and planning process. Step 1: Set a goal. Everyone has different education needs. Some people have skills that are best suited for specific trades...

It has been said that inflammation is the cause of almost every disease and this is especially true when it comes to disorders of the gut. Intestinal inflammation not only causes GI upset and symptoms of discomfort but can also make it difficult to absorb nutrients from foods and supplements. If your GI tract is not functioning properly, it’s likely you’re not getting all the nutrients from your diet or supplement plan, which is why GI health is an essential part of whole body wellness. Without a happy, healthy, functioning gut, it can be difficult to achieve optimal health....

When I think about my past career in the traditional business world, I have both positive and negative memories. My positive memories are associated with the wonderful opportunities that I had to learn and hone top-shelf business skills. My negative memories spiral around the aggressive persona that I had to maintain to drive projects to successful completion as a female in male-energy-dominated Corporate America. I found balance for my harder business edge during the work-week by studying spirituality on the weekends. I intuited I had a deep desire to live a more authentic life that intermingled my corporate and...

We all live for convenience especially when it comes to food and our health. Just like the myth that healthy eating is expensive, many people believe that buying in-season fruits and vegetables is just too much hassle. After all, the big chain grocery stores don’t exactly tell you what is or is not in season. So, where do you start? How do you know what fruits and vegetables are in season? Where is the best place to buy the freshest produce? And how do you prepare fruits and vegetables after you buy them? Where to Buy Seasonal Produce The...

People have celebrated the Summer Solstice for thousands of years. As the longest day of the year (in the northern hemisphere), the solstice has been revered by the Chinese, Mayans, Romans, Egyptians and the Druids among others. For many ancient civilizations, conceiving on this day was considered lucky and was a strategy to increase a baby’s chance for survival by being born after the harsh winter. The solstice was also considered a magical time for singles to meet their mate. As humans, we are not separate from nature and seasonal changes because we are one with everything – the...

A visit to the Website of the National Association for Poetry Therapy (NAPT) would tell us that the use of literature, and poetry in particular, as a therapeutic means is not a new concept. The practice goes back to ancient times when the shamans would chant poems for the wellbeing of people in their tribes. Currently, librarians, teachers, therapists, coaches and other professionals are using literature for healing and personal growth purposes. Furthermore, in the second Century AD, the Greek physician Soranus, was prescribing poetry as supplemental treatment for certain mental disorders. The historical foundations of this practice go...

Forget lifting weights this summer; grab your shovel instead. My younger self used to scoff at adults when they said they gardened for exercise. “Ha,” I thought naively, “Gardening is just a hobby. Swimming, biking, running and other sports are ‘real’ exercise.” My older, current self – often sore from shoveling mulch or weeding my garden, and often too busy to play sports – would like to gently pat that younger self on the head and explain how common landscaping tasks can serve as training grounds for a full-body workout. I even checked in with a fitness guru and...

On a brisk late September day, we excitedly headed to New Haven to do one of my favorite things – a foodie tour! Did you know that New Haven is called the Elm City? Historian Colin Caplan’s passion for the Elm City’s past has developed into culinary and cultural explorations. Caplan’s Taste of New Haven Food & Drink Tours combine history lessons and lots of great food. On this day, we were participating in the On 9 tour which highlighted delicacies from one of the most eclectic corners of downtown New Haven. Held in and around the Ninth Square,...

We all strive for that dewy, soft, glowing skin that reminds us of youth and vitality. Yet our skin is often dry, blemished and dull. Our skin tone, clarity, hydration and overall appearance is a direct reflection of our health, so it’s worth paying attention to not just for vanity’s sake, but also for our wellbeing. Our skin communicates with us that something is wrong internally, and then sends out a physical signal that requires attention. The good news is that the human body is resilient; its main goal is to heal itself and given some help, it can...

We all seek happiness; we seek opportunities to better our lives and reach our goals. But the distraction of our jobs, family responsibilities, and technology can veer us off course. Our perceptions many times blur reality and many of us will choose the fastest and most convenient path to “fix” our daily challenges. As a society, we do not understand how to live authentically. However, to develop authenticity requires deeper awareness. To create permanent change, one must recognize default behaviors that have been developed through our past and earliest childhood experiences. Our perceptions must be scrutinized and addressed so...

“Eating healthy” means consistently making healthy decisions when it comes to your food. The decision process often starts with shopping. Your state of mind at the grocery store will affect your purchases. Feeling hungry or “off” can lead to emotional purchases that you may not necessarily want on your shelves at home. Try making a list (preferably incorporating items discussed below) and sticking to it when you are shopping. Buying locally at farmer’s markets or farm stands can also improve decisions. Eating out at restaurants can make “eating healthy” trickier. If not planned ahead, the decision may come down...

When I was asked to write an article on natural skin care, I JUMPED on it. Here’s why: In the past, having horrible skin was just my ‘thing,’ and I had accepted this about my appearance. I am not kidding when I say I had skin bumps and lumps SO bad that I used to hide behind my hair. I tried with makeup to cover these purple marbles, but there was really no hiding it. Severe acne really is a skin disease. While staying out of sight as a young woman from ages 13-23, I knew I had something...

Free radicals – you’ve heard about them, but what are they really and how do we fight them? In a nutshell – free radicals are inflammation-causing molecules linked to everything from accelerated aging to cancer. And we create them all day long – when we exercise, engage in movement, even breathe. How do we fight them? Science indicates that antioxidants are nature’s way of counteracting toxic free radicals. Hydrogen (H) is the smallest and lightest element and when ingested acts as a natural antioxidant. You may know Dr. Nicholas Perricone for his amazing skincare line – but now he...

Stone medicine wheels have been built and used for ceremonies for millennia and each one has unique characteristics and qualities. The medicine wheel, sometimes known as the Sacred Hoop, has been used by generations of various Native American tribes for health and healing. The medicine wheel is a circle divided by a cross to create four directions (north, south, east and west). In Native American traditions, the medicine wheel was a reflection of an individual’s strengths and weaknesses and it gave people guidelines to follow for personal growth. Each person is represented somewhere within that circle and that placement...

Many singles despise online dating. They don’t like how few people respond, all the texting and confusion when interested parties disappear. It’s not perfect but looking for love on the web is a useful tool when you know how to make the most of it. Knowing what to expect and consider normal will make navigating easier. I’ve written this from a woman’s perspective, but most tips work for men too. 1. Write a Short Profile. The best profile is less than 300 words and doesn’t describe everything about you. It’s written conversationally, as if you were talking which makes...

Behind the scenes even zen-like, productive gardens can feel like a battle zone. Slugs are invading from the south! Deer are munching on the north perimeter! Mosquitoes are buzzing straight towards my flesh! If you like to avoid chemicals and toxic sprays, here are a few strategies to naturally deter a range of bugs and furry friends from walking, flying, and nibbling their way through your landscape. Support Your Soil and Plants Healthy plants resist pests, and healthy soil yields healthy plants. So first off, support your soil and space with the following techniques. Apply Compost: Apply a two-inch...