Nature V Nurture: The Holistic Approach

emaxLeave a comment

Does nature or nurture have more sway over the path we choose?

And how we turn out?

A good friend and I debated this throughout the years.

Often switching sides.

We listened respectfully while walking on lunch hours or after work and made arguments for our beliefs.

Was it that we were taught good manners or that we have a passion for understanding that drove this cooperation for a potentially contentious subject?

At the end of the day I think we were saying the same thing in different ways but in debating we gained knowledge and perspective.

We learned of a world neither knew existed.  

A world forged by experience and while that suggests nurture whatever was in our nature enabled us to navigate that experience in a way that shaped who we became.

What’s New?

I came across an article today that had me considering

  • I was ahead of my time 
  • I had such an innate feeling it was the right way I walked the holistic path in the face of incredible criticism and among a large circle of influence that went in the opposite direction

Was I born to follow the holistic [read natural/traditional] way or was I shaped by my experiences?

Nurture

As I discuss in my podcasts I witnessed what happens when individuals follow a certain philosophy of healing and yes, this entrenched my natural proclivity to go Mother Nature’s route.

The route that got us this far.

It was heartbreaking to watch loved ones who put their faith in the allopathic way suffer.

Nature

For as long as I can remember – going back to 4 years of age I instinctively knew when someone was sad, tired, hurting.  I frequently approached these individuals to see how I could help.

Though I have a memory of this behavior going back before kindergarten there’s a story related to me by my mom that illustrates it started much earlier.

I discuss in a podcast

My parents lost many classmates to the Vietnam War and many of the men who returned weren’t in a good space.  One afternoon my mom took me to a local park.  I was just walking and talking.  We ran into a gentleman in a wheelchair.  Apparently I approached and asked, “Where are your legs?”  

Worrying I’d rubbed salt in a wound my mom was quick to apologize.  His response is the nature part of this equation.

“This is the first time I’ve laughed and smiled since coming home.”

Nature and Nurture Meet

When I read the article, one bit stood out.

“Meditation was all this ‘woo-woo stuff’ but now, seeing all these advances in neuroscience and showing changes in brain waves from functional magnetic resonance imaging, which we couldn’t do before – actually being able to trace the pathways that lead to changes in health measurements – I think this is really, really exciting,” she says.”

Nurture

This information was known and studied in the late 70s if not before.  My dad and I would watch various pieces from 60 Minutes to documentaries on the subject.

Nature

It’s in my nature to want to understand the science and research behind Mother Nature’s gifts.  This need to understand inspired me to go back to school to study what I’d been living:  Holistic healing.  As a result I learned in class that in the 90s Tibetan monks – some of the world’s superior meditators – had been hooked up to EEGs and undergone brain scans and all sorts of what I’m guessing were invasive medical tests – all in the name of research into the health benefits of meditation.  

I read the research papers as part of my class work.

A Real-Life Twist

Readers know that when I was 10 I fell off a diving board and had a brain bleed that left me blind paralyzed on my left side and in a coma.  Over the course of my recovery – and likely due to my nature – I forged a beautiful friendship with the neurosurgeon who saved my life.  

Whenever I visit Michigan I make a point to stop by and say hi.

On a recent trip I brought my family with me.  After a bit of small talk he mentioned something I’d written in one of the letters I’ve been sending since I was 12 and my family moved out of state.

Meditation.

He told me of the science behind why meditation is so good for the brain after which he encouraged me to keep on the holistic path.  

A man of science I also know him as a man of faith and a man who understands the role of traditional healing.

As my story illustrates Nature and Nurture are not an either or but part of a circular dance that has been going on for centuries with plenty of enlightened individuals on both sides of the equation.

Be well.

Note: I’ve been using homeopathy successfully for decades, trained by a British ENT surgeon.

Cold and Flu: Natural Isn’t Necessarily the Way

emaxLeave a comment

Sharing information to keep in mind as we go through cold and flu season.

As it happens I’m getting through a cold.  The worst symptom is a cough from phlegm.

Keeping me up at night.

1st Thought

Though I generally turn to natural remedies my first thought was to get Nyquil.  You know – the “So you can rest medicine?”  Sure enough the first night I slept deeply.

Sleep is healing.

2nd Thought

Natural remedies like drinking lots of water to help my immune system take care of the situation.

3rd Thought

A good friend who knows I prefer natural remedies sent me information on a few that can help in this situation.  I chose 2

  • Propolis throat spray
  • Elderberry tincture

I’d never used either though I’m big on adding honey to a cup of chamomile for a bronchial cough.

This isn’t.  Totally post-nasal drip – gets worse when I lie down.

Throat spray – inconclusive.

Elderberry?

Did I imagine that?

To put in context – I started taking Boiron Cold Calm.  Have had excellent experience with it and after a dose I did feel better but….

After the Cold Calm I sipped some water into which I dropped Elderberry tincture.  Next thing I know I was coughing worse than I had in days.

Didn’t put it together there may be causality.

Put a glass of water with Elderberry next to my bed thinking to sip in the night and first thing in the morning.

Coughing was horrendous and another shot of Nyquil didn’t help.

Neither did lying on my left side which had worked to slow the cough the night before.

As I lay on my back staring up in the dark using meditation techniques to deal with the situation a thought occurred to me.

No coincidence it occurred during meditation.

This seems more like an allergy than a virus.

As I went with the thought I acknowledged Nyquil – which had been working – suddenly wasn’t.

Which it wouldn’t if it was an allergy.

Next Round

I took a Cold Calm dose in the morning – felt significantly better with symptoms all but gone.

But Then…

I sipped water with Elderberry tincture late morning and within minutes was coughing like crazy.

But but but it’s NATURAL!

As I once told a hair stylist who insisted the shampoo they used was botanical

So is poison Ivy, Oak, and Sumac

Anyone can be allergic to anything, natural or pharmaceutical.

Case In Point

The best cough remedy I’ve ever had is codeine.  Stops the worst bronchial cough cold.  It also gives me a horrendous migraine that makes it so I’d rather sleep upright in a chair and hack the night away than take one dose of codeine – for anything.

Listen to the signals your body is sending and tune into your instincts.

Be well this holiday season.

Podcast 3: Reflective of Me

emaxLeave a comment

Happy and proud to announce Podcast Three: Caring for Family Holistically is available.

Fork In the Road.

The decision to do podcasts rather than sharing the information in written format has roots in my years in corporate.

Consulting.

The Who

I was having an email back and forth with a friend I’ve known since 1995.  His company was acquired by the Tech Company I was working for two months after I started.  We wound up on the same team and though we lived in different regions immediately connected on a level that went beyond tech skills.  When it came to customer service and how you treat people we shared the same values.  

We’ve remained friends in the years since I left tech.  In a recent email he suggested I share my stories with a wider audience.  I told him I’d think about it.

The What

The Universe must have had an interest because beginning shortly after I got a specifically worded message – repeatedly.

Me: “I’m a holistic doctor who specializes in nutritional healing and using exercise and other holistic healing methods.”

Them: “Oh I would love to do more of that but I wouldn’t know where to start.”

What went unsaid but which came out in the course of a brief discussion was they lacked the confidence to bring it up to their health care provider.

After weeks of this I decided to share the information in podcasts using stories to give context.

I discovered it felt natural.

Like my days in tech.

Another former colleague – one I helped with EMF Sensitivity told me I have a knack for explaining complex subjects in a way that makes them easy to understand.  

It certainly seemed so based on the conversations.  

When I looked at it like that the answer was clear.  I was still consulting.  

Only the subject had changed.

I hope you enjoy learning how to integrate holistic health practices into everday living.

Be well.

Synchronicity Leads to Anxiety Help

emaxLeave a comment

 In my article Manifesting with a Twist I write part of the overall manifesting ethos is the idea of like attracting like.  Today that guy’s vibrational harmony was such that I left for my walk at the perfect time to come upon him

Yesterday I decided to walk to a local place for lunch.  I was working when I felt the urge to leave earlier than I would have.  Startled I wondered why.

I decided it must be that the sun was shining – that I was telling myself to get a bit of extra Vitamin D.

I was walking the route I decided would provide maximum sun when I got the urge to turn back and go a different way.  

Still sun though not as much thanks to trees.

I resisted because the sun felt nice on the chilly winter day.

The urge to take the other route got stronger.

Listen to Instinct.

I’ve been making an effort recently to listen to my instincts.

Things don’t turn out too well for me when I don’t.

About halfway along the changed route I saw a familiar face.

A gentleman I occasionally see while walking. 

We hadn’t seen each other in awhile.

We knew each other’s names but not much else.  

When he asked what I’d been up to I explained I’m a holistic health doctor and told him of an upcoming project.  We chatted a bit and he asked what I would recommend to someone experiencing anxiety.  I immediately rattled off a number of options but seeing he didn’t have anything to write with handed him my business card and suggested he email me so I could give him my suggestions.

Wait!

Before he started walking again I told him instead of an email, check out my blog because I was going to post my recommendations for a larger audience.

A Blog Instead

It was an easy decision, one guided by the fact that in the past four months I’ve had numerous people mention they’re having a hard time with anxiety.

A Common Theme

For some it was the political tension in the country.  For others they were still grappling with fallout from the Covid Lockdown.  

There were other reasons as well but the above are the ones I heard most often.

Those telling me of their challenges with anxiety are different ages and come from different walks of life.  

And live throughout the country and the world.

I intended to post this yesterday but got buried with a different project.  Turns out the wait was serendipitous as this morning I came across an article by a Harvard Trained Expert on strategies for handling anxiety.

Another in a series of “coincidences” that let me know this is the right topic at the right time.

Suggestions

Without further ado here are my suggestions for coping with anxiety.

This does not replace consulting with your personal health care provider and you should not stop any medications you take.

And consult with your health care provider to see if there is any reason not to utilize them.

These are remedies I’ve used at various points in my life with great success.

Walking

I’ve written about suffering severe burnout, fallout from the Covid Lockdown.

It was heartbreaking to watch the toll it took on family,  friends, community.

I originally began walking to help a student fulfill their remote learning gym requirement but soon found being outdoors regardless of the weather was restoring my health.

It was keeping me sane during a crappy time.

I continued walking long after Lockdown was lifted and soon began hearing people in my community say “Hey, don’t I see you walking?” 

I got up to between 2 and 10 miles/day depending.

Walking is an excellent option for dealing with anxiety.

The second it started up I got my tennis shoes on and head out.

I continue to walk rain snow or shine.

Meditation

There are a number of forms of meditation.  

As someone whose mind wouldn’t slow down I was unable to meditate until I came upon the Silva Method.

I’ve been successfully utilizing the Silva Method to solve problems since 2000.

Rescue Remedy!

Bach Flower Remedies are an excellent option for dealing with anxiety.  Developed by Dr. Edward Bach while treating WWI veterans suffering PTSD and what was known as hysterical paralysis or shell-shock syndrome  they are well suited to address a variety of symptoms associated with anxiety, including fright shock and depression.

For details visit this site.

Homeopathy

Another excellent option for dealing with anxiety and conditions associated with it including PTSD is homeopathy.  Developed by Samuel Hahnemann in Germany in the late 19th Century they have been shown to be effective for a variety of symptoms assiciated with anxiety.

Dr. Bach used his principles as a foundation for developing his flower remedies.

For information on which remedies are ideal visit this site.

Homeopathy is considered safe and not contraindicated with medication.  It’s still a good idea to check with your health care provider before incorporating them.

Warning!

Homeopathic remedies, also known as cell salts, are formulations and while the names are unique it’s important to differentiate them from other therapies with similar names.  An example is the fact the homeopathic remedy arnica montana is not the same as the herb arnica, which can be poisonous.  Here is a government site with additional information.

Alcohol

As a research scientist I’ve been very concerned about headlines regarding alcohol and various studies associated with alcohol consumption.

The headlines and the interpretations/conclusions of the data are misleading and in some cases out and out flawed.

I spoke with the gentleman about this when I suggested a glass of wine could be helpful and he mentioned the headlines and not knowing what to think.  I gave him my thoughts on the matter then pulled up my phone and showed him an email I’d sent that morning that contained a link to an article validating my thoughts about the flawed interpretations and conclusions.

I clicked the link – showed him the article.

Click here to read the transcript of the interview with Dr. Emily Oster wherein she sheds light on these studies.

What makes it serendipitous is that I only saw the article that morning!

Timing Like Perspective Is Everything!

Talk To Someone

When anxiety becomes so bad it’s interfering with your ability to function it’s a good idea to seek professional help.  When it isn’t that severe, it’s still helpful to talk to someone.

During the worst of my burnout I began texting with a buddy in California who was also going through sudden life changes.

Even though things calmed for us both we continue to keep in touch.

Sharing joys as well as frustrations.

You are not alone!

And finally?  Know that there are a lot of people feeling anxious these days.

Perhaps some of the suggestions here can help them find peace.

Be Well.

What’s a Female to Do? Menopause and EMF Sensitivity

emaxLeave a comment

Not long ago I had a conversation with a doctor who – after learning of my expertise in EMF Sensitivity – asked whether I thought the onset of menopause resulted in EMF Sensitivity.  

She’d observed an overlap of certain symptoms.  

I told her I didn’t think so but agreed to do a bit of digging so I could give a more comprehensive answer.

I found the symptom overlap interesting.

Which is why in Riding the Waves: Diagnosing Treating and Living with EMF Sensitivity I stress the importance of keeping a journal.

Adding complexity is the fact women are more likely to identify as EMF Sensitive than men.

Though I’ve worked with a number of males who’ve had/have the condition.  

My Conclusion?

Menopause itself does not cause EMF Sensitivity but there is a correlation.

As opposed to causation.

To illustrate I will discuss a different health correlation.

One I discussed on my recent Life After EMF Sensitivity interview with Lloyd Burrell.

I explained I discovered a cure for pressure drop migraines.

Something I’d been suffering from for over 35 years.

They are the result of the nature of Atmospheric EMFs.

Part of GATE – the 4 horsemen of EMF Sensitivity – which I also discussed with Lloyd.**

I explained that patients who suffer migraines are often deficient in Vitamin D though people deficient in Vitamin D don’t necessarily suffer migraines.

Correlation not Causation.

As I write in the books that document finding the root cause and ultimately curing my EMF Sensitivity, adrenals compromised by factors such as heavy metal toxicity is ultimately at fault but here’s the key difference. The adrenals are part of the endocrine system – a system responsible for producing hundreds upon hundreds of hormones not to mention enzymes – including digestive enzymes needed to digest absorb and metabolize nutrients necessary for making the hormones.

Thus the nature of the cure I discovered.

The process of menopause involves fluctuating and the shifting of hormones.  The inability of the adrenals to make crucial hormones contributes directly to EMF Sensitivity but… we’re not talking sex hormones like those involved in the process of menopause.

It’s simply that an overburdened hormone factory – the adrenals – not to mention the endocrine system as a whole – can lead to this condition.

Correlation not causation.

What’s a [female] body to do?

Ideally? Rebuild nutritional support so the adrenals and other glands can produce the enzymes and hormones that enable health and well-being.

All detailed in my books on curing EMF Sensitivity.

Be well!

** Interview will be forthcoming in not-too-distant future.