Ki Center Blog

As A veteran of two branches of service it is heart wrenching to see our young men and women returning from service with a host of problems created by that very same service. What is even more troubling is the level of care or more accurately the lack of care that these people receive when faced with illusive but very real health care problems.

Emotional Trauma

Gulf War Syndrome and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder are but two of the most recognized of these problems. You cannot subject your body to exposure of heavy metals in the form of depleted uranium and toxins from various chemicals being burned and not expect health care concerns. In dealing with these types of issues it is fairly straight forward to recognize the imbalance brought on by this exposure and tailor a program of natural detoxification and support to bring the body back into balance chemically.

Post Traumatic Stress on the other hand can be just as insidious but much more difficult to beat. Recognizing it is easy. I hear from clients how their personalities have changed considerably from who they were before to who they have become once exposed to the types of stress that can cause this disorder. It should be mentioned here that war time stress is just one of the stressors that can cause this debilitating condition. Any stress of a traumatic nature can bring this on.

There is Help

Fortunately at the Ki Center for Holistic Healing we have a tremendous tool for dealing with this and all types of emotionally charged conditions. It is called Rapid Eye Therapy. It is a form of energy work that deals specifically with the emotions and can work miraculously to unlock the stored body memory that can interfere with daily life and health.

Psychotherapy is great at teaching you what triggers your stress and helps you to understand the patterns of the stress but it doesn’t release the body memory which can and will cause physical symptoms as well as emotional problems. Hypnotherapy tends to replace the issues of the disorder with suggestions to mask the symptoms and hopefully create a more stable emotional balance but again does nothing to release the stored body memory.

The Right Tool

Rapid Eye Therapy (RET) addresses not only the emotions but recognizes the association to physical problems brought on by traumatic stress. Instead of reliving the trauma or just being able to understand it from an intellectual point of view it removes it from the body and mind quickly and permanently. Old patterns can be eliminated and new healthier patterns and thoughts can emerge. Remember that thought is energy and your body follows your brain and can manifest physical symptoms as a result of emotional trauma.

Adding Rapid Eye Therapy to our repertoire of healing modalities has given us the opportunity to increase our success or more accurately your success, in achieving balance and overall better health. Fortunately there are resources available to help pay for Rapid Eye Therapy for veterans. The Heartway foundation is an organization set up to assist with financial need and more information on this program can be received by calling the Rapid Eye Institute directly at (503) 399-1181.

As I mentioned earlier the chemical imbalances can be addressed and corrected which will eliminate the physical symptoms and get you on the road to long term recovery. But unless the emotional components to healing are also addressed then complete healing cannot and will not be realized. If you view health as a four legged stool with each leg representing chemical, emotional, structural and energetic balance and you address all four of these areas then complete health is achievable.

Do not trivialize stress as a major hurdle to getting better. It is a serious condition that can quickly destroy your life if not taken care of. Depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, grief and addictions are just a few of the issues that RET has shown to be successful with. I would encourage you to research this information out more thoroughly if you like. A link can be found on the Ki Center web site to the Rapid Eye Institute in Salem for more information.

There seems to be a fair amount of confusion about fat and its importance in the diet. We hear about omega-3, omega-6 fats, but what does it all really mean?

Whats Good

These are defined as essential fatty acids. This means that they are necessary for normal bodily function. But what is most important, is the ratio of these essential fatty acids to each other.

Omega-3 fats are those which can be found in fish oil and flax oil. By far, the most important fat you need for good health is omega-3. Besides being critical to normal hormone production, these fats are brain food. Your brain is composed of 60% fat and without a good intake of omega-3 fats, you could see a decrease in brain function. Everything from mild memory loss to other more serious neurodegenerative diseases can be attributed to this type of nutritional deficiency. Fish oil from salmon, cod, mackerel and other deep cold water fish, are the healthiest and the most potent of the omega-3 fats. Flax oil is a good source as well, however, it is from a plant, and lacks the same potency as compared to fish. It has been estimated that it takes 10 times the flax oil to equal the same benefit from fish oil.

Omega-6 fats are those found in corn, safflower, sunflower, peanut, soy and canola oils. You can find these types of fats in many of the processed foods we eat. Dietary experts have stated that the average American diet consumes 50 times the amount of omega-6 fats as they should. Excess amounts of this fat can cause inflammation in the brain, which is the main culprit of all neuro-degenerative diseases such as Alzheimers, Parkinsons and ALS. An essential fatty acid, and important to good health, omega-6 should be consumed in moderation, as too much can lead to problems.

Another type of omega-6 fat, one that is more beneficial, can be found in many types of plants in minute amounts but the most prevalent source is evening primrose oil, borage, and black currant seed oil. This is a specialized form of fatty acid high in GLA, (gamma-linoleic-acid), essential for female hormone balance.

Balance of Fats

A healthy and balanced diet will contain more omega-3 than 6. Almost everyone I test during their evaluation is low on essential fatty acids. This will show up as an imbalance and can be the culprit behind many symptoms. I can supplement with fish oil capsules or flax oil to increase the amounts of omega-3. A reduction in the type of fats in many of the cooking oils and processed foods will usually be in order as well.

It should be mentioned that if your gallbladder is not working properly, or you routinely have problems eating fat of any type, we will need to clear that up as well. You can take the best supplements in the world, but if your body cannot metabolize what you take in, then it's a waste of money and will have very little benefit.

Dietary Considerations

Generally speaking, whenever I see someone on a low fat diet, I suspect that it will be synonymous with low nutrition. If they are on a low fat, high protein diet, then I know we will have some work to do in regaining good nutritional balance. What I would like to see is a moderate protein, low carbohydrate and adequate amounts of good fat diet!

Fat (the good kind) is essential for good health. Too much omega-6 fats as found in the oils mentioned earlier, is bad for you. Animal fats from bacon, and marbled meat, and dairy are fine in moderation. At least these are real fats that your body can use and will metabolize. I use real butter and no margarine of any type. Frankly, in my opinion, I don't feel margarine should even be considered as food. If you do not eat fish on a regular basis then I would highly recommend a good fish oil supplement. Standard Process Labs produces an excellent product called Tuna Omega-3, which we carry at the clinic. If you cannot tolerate the fish oil or just can't stand the taste of fish, then I recommend you add flax oil to your diet, 1 tablespoon a day. There are several good brands that I can recommend.

Just remember that good fat is essential to your health. If you have been on a low fat diet and you really haven't seen any improvement, or you feel worse, it may be time for a change to an eating plan that makes sense.

These days, chronic stress and anxiety seems to be increasing with more and more prevalence. I can speak from first hand experience as I have been going through some serious issues this past year myself. Fully a third of my new clients are experiencing a marked increase in their stress levels with the associated physical symptoms.

Besides the obvious problems of employment, economics and world problems, there seems to be a general feeling of uncertainty about life in general. We are all feeling it; its just a matter of to what degree.

How it affects you

Long term chronic stress and anxiety will wreak havoc on your immune system, the adrenal glands, and the pancreas. As a result you will have a constant roller coaster ride of adrenalin, high and low blood sugar fluctuations, and other symptoms like the lack of quality sleep. When the blood sugar goes up and down over and over, it can create the same symptoms that diabetics experience. Unfortunately, if you do not address the cause of the stress, whether it is in relationships, your job or whatever, the physical load on your body, gone unchecked, will send you on downward spiral of poor health.

What helps

The protocols I use to stabilize mood and brain chemistry, as well as the blood sugar and support of the adrenal glands, can help tremendously to balance out physical symptoms. As to the cause of the stress, you will need to take a heart felt look at what is working in your life and what is not.

Deep breathing can help more than you know. I've talked about this simple yet effective practice in previous columns. Begin by finding a quiet place that you can have five minutes of uninterrupted space. Start with a deep full breath through the nose, hold for a count of three and exhale through the mouth. Do this for at least five repetitions. You will be amazed at how it can help you to relax. The nice thing about this simple technique is it can be done anywhere, even while driving. I am not saying that this alone will reverse your stress, but it can help. When you combine the nutritional support with this breathing technique, you will at least give your body and mind a fighting chance to cope with all that is troubling you.

Anti-anxiety drugs should be used as a last resort. Not only are the side effects problematic, you can risk the potential for dependence on these drugs as well. In most cases, I can find a nutritional or herbal protocol that will benefit your emotional stress without the use of prescription medications. Or if already taking them, it can help you to begin the weaning process to get off of them.

No amount of nutrition or drugs for that matter, will correct the problem until you address the initial cause. Whether you get into some counseling, psychotherapy or support from friends and family, you must correct the cause or struggle with the stress and anxiety.

Another powerful tool I can recommend is exercise. If you can find the time and motivation for daily aerobic exercise, the benefit from this activity can also add to the healing process. Whether you go to a gym or simply power walk around the neighborhood, the release of endorphins and the use of excess adrenalin will benefit your body chemistry. And of course proper exercise will help to stabilize blood sugar and help you sleep.

Don't wait too long

The worst thing you can do is nothing. And men, this is directed at you more than women. We men have a tendency to compartmentalize our stress and anxiety. It does no good to ignore the problem or just brush it aside for later consideration. It will continue to eat at your emotions, and can ultimately result in damage to the one support system you do have—your family. Most women are innately aware that talking about the emotions and addressing the problem is healthy. It will probably not take away the stress but it can help to deflate the sometimes overwhelming feeling of fear and uncertainty that goes along with chronic stress and anxiety.

The extreme amount of stressors in our society these days are not going to go away quickly. The best advice I can give is to buckle in for a wild ride. Support your body chemistry, get a support system in place and do all you can do, like the breathing and exercise, to help support the bodys needs during this difficult time.

I am not one for conspiracy theories. But if it walks like a duck and sounds like a duck then it must be a duck. Anyone who has followed my column for any length of time is familiar with my views on drugs and vaccines. They can be appropriate but honestly, I believe they do more harm than good.

Government out of Control

Most recently, the CDC has released the 2007-2008 recommended immunization schedules for adults. The schedule includes 11 different types of vaccines including tetanus, HPV, measles mumps and rubella, influenza and herpes zoster (shingles). When you consider the amount of toxic chemicals in these vaccines, it is no wonder that our society is experiencing a dramatic increase in auto-immune types of diseases.

If that is not enough, legislation is being introduced to force parents to immunize their children with a toxic cocktail of drugs during their most formative years. There are documented instances where a parent not choosing to immunize their child has had them taken away and made a ward of the state. Since when have we as a nation given up our right to choose what is best for ourselves and our children?

The HPV immunization for young girls is a perfect example of this type of government control. It (the vaccine) has only been on the market since 2006, with a small percentage of women being immunized. Of those women, 82 serious side effects have already been reported. That of course is only what is reported; many problems do not get reported. This drug is far too new and untested to evaluate the potential for harm over the long term. Frankly it scares me to death that it may be mandatory at some point.

I have had clients that couldn't have their kids in school unless they were medicated for ADD/ADHD. How many stories are out there of adverse side effects for these types of psychiatric drugs? I see more and more physicians, as well as specialists in the field of psychiatry, rallying against the use of powerful drugs for unwarranted conditions. But when you get the pharmaceutical industry, along with their powerful lobbyists and combined support from the insurance industry, you have a recipe for profound abuse of these chemicals.

Any diagnoses of mental conditions carry an insurance code based on a recognized malady. This will qualify the patient to receive re-imbursement from their insurance company, receive a label for their condition, and most likely a drug of some sort to hopefully correct the problem. As an example, here are a few of the new insurance recognized maladies that will be covered by your insurance, along with drug therapy---Mathematics disorder, caffeine disorder, disorder of written expression, telephone scatialogia (I don't even want to know), and malingering! It's no wonder we are nation on Prozac.

The industry is even working on a vaccine for cavities! The CDC has actually defined dental carries (cavities) as an infectious, communicable disease. This is beyond ridiculous! There are many cultures in the world that have no tooth decay whatsoever. And it is a result of eating indigenous foods appropriate for their nutritional type, not processed food and sugar.

In my opinion, and I am in good company on this, nutritional deficiencies are the main cause of most of our disease and illness problems. When you combine a diet devoid of any nutrition from processed foods, toxic chemicals from our environment, an over abundance of toxic drugs and immunizations, what do you expect your body to do? It will revolt and do it's best to get your attention to correct it.

Distorting the facts

We are in the flu shot season now. I have stated before I will not participate in this debacle as there are no statistics to prove efficacy of this drug. What you have heard from the CDC is that in 2005 there were approximately 36,000 people who died of the flu. This is a gross distortion of the facts. There were only 1806 people who died of the flu in that year. The statistics that the CDC sites here is that anyone dying of pneumonia can be classified as having the flu, so when their numbers came out, and rest assured the pharmaceutical industry will grab a hold of this for marketing purposes, it looks as though the flu is a scary problem bordering on an epidemic.

If you are healthy and you have a strong immune system, your body has an amazing capacity to fight off many of the problems we face today. But a continual diet of processed foods, drugs for every little symptom, and subscribing to the fear- based marketing programs that big business throws at us, we will continue on our downward spiral as one of the sickest nations on earth.