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November 8, 2004 |
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In This Issue...
IN THE ZONE More and more people are making a connection between their health and the Eastern concept of spiritual and physical (or "life force") energy. For those interested in this belief system, one of the core concepts is chakras. Chakras are energy centers in the body. Each one of the seven chakras represents a different area of life. According to Carolyn Myss, PhD, in her book Anatomy of the Spirit, you can best understand and work with your chakras if you think about yourself as an energy being as well as a physical being. Many people believe that the chakras interact with the endocrine and nervous systems, and that each one relates to a particular area of the body as well as to consciousness. The theory is that emotional issues manifest themselves physically in certain body zones -- and conversely, that physical ailments can find their roots in emotional issues tied to the specific area in which the ailment is centered. The value of understanding the chakras is that when you are experiencing stress in an area of your life, the corresponding chakra will reflect that energy block. Unless you address the problem and relieve the stress it is causing you, eventually it can translate into illness. I spoke with Raven Keyes, a certified Reiki master, hypnotherapist and meditation teacher who has students throughout the world. Reiki is a form of energy healing that clears and balances the chakras as well as other energy points. Keyes has provided Reiki in the operating room at New York Presbyterian Hospital -- once to an open-heart patient of renowned cardiac surgeon Mehmet C. Oz, MD, and a second time to a double lung transplant patient. She says that part of achieving good health in all areas of life is becoming balanced -- and that balancing your chakra energy centers each day is vital to bringing that about. THE SEVEN CHAKRAS There are seven chakras, structured to follow the path of human development and maturation, with the first associated in part with family and clan... and the last with spiritual connection. Specifically... Chakra One: Root chakra. Located in the pelvic region, this chakra encompasses everything that is manifested in your life, the material world and the people around you, especially your family and feelings of safety and security. Sometimes called the "tribal" chakra, it is associated with the adrenal glands, which are in charge of fight-or-flight responses. If you are out of balance, you act out of fear and actually can cause what you fear to come about, says Keyes. The emotional situations this chakra relates to are frustration and rage, as well as fear and depression. Physical ailments that can be manifested due to root chakra issues include lower back pain, sciatica, hemorrhoids, constipation, obesity and weight problems. Chakra Two: Sacral chakra. This is located several inches below the navel, the creative center, and relates to relationships in the outside world. Not surprisingly, the sacral chakra is associated with the sexual glands and organs and a willingness to experience emotions. When this chakra is out of balance, the result is despair or hopelessness and a tendency toward overindulgence in general because of neediness. Physically, chakra two issues can be connected to fertility and gynecological problems, sexual potency, kidney problems and muscle cramps/spasms. Chakra Three: Solar plexus chakra. Above the navel and below the sternum, this chakra represents the relationship to one's self and has to do with personal honor, self-esteem, perceptions of power, control and freedom. A problem that causes imbalance in the solar plexus chakra results in feelings of weakness and loss, anxiety, guilt and doubt. The associated body part is the pancreas. Not surprisingly, chakra three issues can create problems in your midsection, including food allergies, digestive disorders, diabetes, gallstones, arthritis, ulcers, liver complaints and eating disorders. Chakra Four: Heart chakra. This is located in the center of the chest and is the "in-between" chakra. Those below it have to do with the earth and are primal. The ones above it connect to the more spiritual aspect of life. The heart chakra mixes the two and relates to love, compassion and forgiveness -- of others and especially of self. Keyes says that healers work from the heart chakra because love is the greatest healing force there is. An imbalance will cause feelings of loss, grief, anguish, worthlessness and the like. Although a feeling might start in another chakra, such as in the solar plexus chakra, it can manifest itself here. The heart chakra relates to the thymus gland, a central part of the immune response, and can lead to physical challenges that include heart conditions, lung problems, asthma, allergies, fatigue, breast cancer, bronchitis and pneumonia. Chakra Five: Throat chakra. In the middle of the neck, this chakra has to do with expressing what you want and being able to put your desires for yourself out into the universe. It also relates to intuition and being receptive to the abundance of the universe coming back to you. A problem in this chakra shows in feelings of repression, an inability to express oneself and lack of inspiration. The chakra's associated body part is the thyroid. Physically, chakra five problems can be felt as sore throats, loss of voice, thyroid problems, mouth ulcers, teeth and gum condition, headaches and ear infections. Chakra Six: Brow chakra. Also known as the third eye, this chakra is in the middle of your forehead between the brows. It represents wisdom and clairvoyance and willingness to learn from others. An imbalance shows in obsession or even insanity. It is associated with the pituitary gland, the controller of the endocrine glands' functions, and is manifested in ailments that include learning difficulties, brain tumor, blindness and deafness. Chakra Seven: Crown chakra. The last chakra is at the top of the head, half in and half out of it, says Keyes. It connects the spiritual world with your spiritual center, and relates to the ability to trust life, values, ethics and courage and the ability to see the grander pattern of life. The physical association is with the pineal gland, which connects nervous system signals to the endocrine system. Unhealed issues in chakra seven can manifest as chronic exhaustion, depression and paralysis. WORKING WITH THE CHAKRAS FOR HEALTH By increasing your awareness of the spiritual-physical connection, you can identify the unresolved issues that may be creating health challenges for you. When illness strikes, reflect on any underlying emotional issues that may be showing themselves. Often by confronting the emotions, the physical challenges can ease. On a daily basis, the goal is to have all seven chakras in alignment, generally done through balancing exercises. It is possible to align all seven chakras in one brief meditation or to address specific problems in a chakra through what Keyes refers to as "spot-check meditations." Doing these will go far in helping you achieve balance in your life on a routine basis, and it is that harmony of physical, emotional, mental and spiritual that comes together in glowing health. In the next issue of Daily Health News, I will explain Keyes' technique for balancing chakras. AVOID DVT DURING THANKSGIVING TRAVELS With the increasing health risk of Deep-Vein Thrombosis (DVT) caused by blood clots in the legs due to prolonged sitting during long trips, we've found the Flexing Foot Rest to provide an excellent defense against DVT. This foot rest device provides outstanding blood circulation and muscle stimulation while sitting for extended periods of time. Flexing Foot Rest Benefits...
Between trips and your busy life, you can also enjoy the Flexing Foot Rest while working at your desk or watching TV. Get one now from ActiveForever FOCUS ON MILK THISTLE Milk thistle has been a staple in European medicine for more than 2,000 years to treat liver diseases, due to its ability to both protect the liver from damage and help stimulate production of new liver cells. To learn more about one of the classic "great herbs," I spoke with Mark Blumenthal, executive director of the American Botanical Council, and James A. Duke, PhD, former chief of the USDA Plant Laboratory. Here's a rundown on milk thistle's many liver-related uses...
Dosage: For all of the above conditions, patients are encouraged to seek a health-care provider's assistance for milk thistle sourcing and dosage recommendations. The upper recommended dosage on the bottle (400 mg) is typical. The only known and reported adverse side effect of milk thistle is that it may have a slight laxative effect. There are no known contraindications with medications. Pregnant or nursing women may want to avoid it, however, because there is insufficient data on its safety for this group... and some feel that milk thistle should be avoided by people who have hormone-sensitive tumors, such as breast, uterine and ovarian cancer. However, as with all herbs, make sure your doctor is aware that you are taking milk thistle. Be well,
UNFORESEEN SIDE EFFECTS OF Over-the-counter medications are safe, right? Same, too, with natural remedies? Maybe so, unless... they are taken in the wrong way, at the wrong time, or in the wrong combination. How will you know what's right and what's wrong? Sources... In the Zone
Focus on Milk Thistle
Required Disclaimer: The information provided herein should not be construed as a health-care diagnosis, treatment regimen or any other prescribed health-care advice or instruction. The information is provided with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in the practice of medicine or any other health-care profession and does not enter into a health-care practitioner/patient relationship with its readers. The publisher does not advise or recommend to its readers treatment or action with regard to matters relating to their health or well-being other than to suggest that readers consult appropriate health-care professionals in such matters. No action should be taken based solely on the content of this publication. The information and opinions provided herein are believed to be accurate and sound at the time of publication, based on the best judgment available to the authors. However, readers who rely on information in this publication to replace the advice of health-care professionals, or who fail to consult with health-care professionals, assume all risks of such conduct. The publisher is not responsible for errors or omissions. |
