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WARNING - School Children
At Risk From Aspartame
By: H.J. ROBERTS, M.D., F.A.C.P.
The
momentum for reducing the amount of soda pop consumed by
children, especially from dispensing machines at schools,
has increased. It is justified by the documented
contribution of the sugar therein to serious disorders,
especially obesity and other problems.
Imaginative entrepreneurs now seek to substitute an array of
palatable "sugar free," "caffeine free," and "calorie free"
drinks having appealing brand names. They plan to actively
promote them to students and school systems, using
celebrities such as professional athletes as pitchmen.
Unfortunately, there is a major public health problem when
aspartame commonly known as NutraSweet® and Equal® is the
sweetening agent. I have repeatedly stated my professional
opinion, based on the scores of children in my database of
aspartame reactors, that they should not take aspartame
products including beverages, foods, vitamins, drugs, gum
and supplements.
Each of
the components of this chemical (phenylalanine; aspartic
acid; the methyl ester, which promptly becomes FREE methyl
alcohol) and their multiple breakdown products can damage
the developing brain. Aspartame-induced disorders in
children include headache, confusion, convulsions,
irritability, depression, intellectual deterioration,
antisocial behavior, rashes, asthma and unstable diabetes.
Addiction to aspartame products also has become a problem.
The details appear in my publications, particularly
Aspartame Disease: An Ignored Epidemic (www.sunsentpress.com).
There
also are reservations about the long-term use of sucralose,
another popular sweetening agent, in these substitute drinks
because of the adverse effects noted in animal studies.
In view
of this perceived imminent public health threat, I believe
that parents, physicians, other health care professionals,
school boards and consumer advocates have an obligation to
monitor and guide their communities regarding such exposure.
They can expect formidable corporate and bureaucratic
resistance, particularly from the FDA and groups supported
by this huge industry.
H. J.
Roberts, M.D., FACP, FCCP Palm Beach Institute for Medical
Research West Palm Beach, Florida hjrobertsmd@aol.com
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Special!
Save $50.00
This outstanding four-hour double video set and laboratory
reference manual will teach you how to make salves, tinctures,
extracts, oils, ointments, cough syrups, lozenges, powders,
suppositories, skin care products and much more. It covers
wildcrafting, preservation and storage techniques and includes a
therapy section which will teach you how to do poultices, packs,
fomentations, plaster, steams, baths and other natural therapies.
 "It was a delightful surprise to see this presentation. It
has long been needed, and everyone in the natural health care field
should become acquainted with it. We must all become more aware of
the beauty and abundance which Nature has provided us in the form of
these wonderful plants. I truly endorse the ideas and efforts which
resulted in this wonderful video." -- Dr. Bernard Jensen, PhD,
Nutritionist
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Quiz for Difference makers
•
Name the ten wealthiest people
in the world.
•
Name the last ten Heisman
trophy winners.
•
Name the last ten winners of
the Miss America contest.
•
Name eight people who have won
the Nobel or Pulitzer prize.
•
Name the last ten Academy Award
winners for best picture.
Name the last decade’s worth of
World Series winners?
How did you do? With the
exception of you trivia hounds, none of us remember the
headliners of yesterday too well. Surprising how quickly we
forget, isn't it? And what we’ve mentioned above are no
second-rate achievements. These are the best in their
fields. But the applause dies. Awards tarnish.
Achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are
buried with their owners.
Here's another quiz. See how
you do on this one:
•
Think of three people you enjoy
spending time with.
•
Name ten people who have taught
you something worthwhile.
•
Name five friends who have
helped you in a difficult time.
•
List a few teachers who have
aided your journey through school.
•
Name half-a-dozen heroes whose
stories have inspired you.
Easier? The lesson? The
people who make a difference are not the ones with the most
credentials, most money or most awards. They are the ones
who care!
Success
story
of the week
Face to face with one of our students
 The
spring of 2001 marked the fulfillment of my nine
years prayers to be at a quiet spot on this
earth and living spiritually; a temporary
respite from the monotony of a commercialized
lifestyle and endless trend-chasing out there. I
found myself at Dhasa, (abbreviation of
Dharamshala) Tibetan colony under the aegis of
His Holiness the Dalai Lama, learning Tibetan
language, Tibetan Medicine and Buddhist
Philosophy. Dhasa, once upon a time had only a
few village huts atop its green crest, became
known to the world following the establishment
of H. H. the Dalai Lama’s parliamentary
government in this little sleepy town. This
mountain station comprises of twin peaks –-
McLeod and Naddi. McLeod grew as a ‘shopping
mall’ following the annual growth of
international visitors to the main temple of H.H.
whilst Naddi, the quieter spot nearby Dhasa’s
only lake and its happy fishes (fishing seen as
killing is not allowed up here), looks much like
a ‘bald headed friar’ from afar.
However,
this Tibetan settlement of approximately 6,000 is hardly
Shangri-La. There is nothing mystical here. But sure there
will be the lone foreigner who discovers magic; synchronized
magic within their own mind, giving them another perspective
of life and fresh directions. As for me, the only magic I
was seeking was the ancient knowledge of Tibetan medicine.
The earliest record of the Tibetan art of healing dated
181019 (Tibetan lunar calendar), to pre-Tibet days to a real
‘Shangri-La’ called Shang Shung, the hidden snow-locked city
where the founder of Bon, Sherab Miwo Che wrote his first
treatise on rituals, chants, herbs and therapies. Tibetan
Medicine consolidated into a complete system of healing much
later, some time in the 7th Century, under the Buddhist king
Songtsen Gampo who had called the first ‘regional’
conference on the art of healing. Knowledge from ancient
Persia,
Greece (Galenos), India, China and the surrounding Himavant
kingdoms were compiled to form the Tibetan Medicine we know
today. The system covers wide ranging subjects from
embryology, psychiatry, diet and behavioral techniques,
health preservation and longevity to women diseases and
ailments of children. The medical aspect in record opened
with the statement that the first illness known to mankind
was indigestion and that the first known remedy was pure
boiled water. This is even true today. In fact, barring
external pathogens, all internally-oriented diseases have
their origins connected to poor digestion.
 I had a big
barrier before me and that was to know enough of the Tibetan
characters to do a program since most of the text were in
Tibetan and written in ancient prose style that many a times
lack precise clarity of meaning, clear only to those that
had lived in those days. Never mind that the one-and-only
Tibetan Medical and Astrological Institute offering such
studies taught in Tibetan, this was surmountable, but then
the main stumbling block was that they were not ready for
intake of foreign students whose first language was not
Tibetan. Fortunately for me, I had good karma with an
elderly retired lecturer from the Institute and the best
ever interpreter that I could get: my hubbie who is a
Tibetan. So began my almost impossible journey into an
ancient mind. At this point, I have only covered two-thirds
of their main text called The Four Medical Tantras. To
completely read and master the numerous woodblock prints on
the subject of Tibetan medicine, be prepared to stay your
whole life here and perhaps, commit your afterlife too!
But most of
all, besides the hot pursuit of an ancient art of healing, I
had the chance to re-attune myself to live a contemplative
life. The new arrival of my firstborn, a son most adorable
did little to alter the calmness that our family has come to
embrace. A conclusion of this lifestyle was the realization
that the equation of happiness with cash pursuits was a
totally 20th century invention. It was so much bred into
every person of the post-industrial age that by our
generation, we took it as a natural foundation of life and
its meaning. How untrue. Long ago, people have had a
brighter golden age where happiness was equated with
development of the inner self, and the neighborhood’s
knowing smile of rejoice that a particular person had
realized the Truth, something perhaps not quantifiable but a
qualifying experience. Buddha spoke of ‘collective karma’
so it is with our generations, since the majority live by
materialism, we have to follow to a certain degree.
Looking
across to the Pacific for a modern day raft to carry ashore
my ancient findings, I came across western herbalism and
Gifam online. Yes, this mini town has a record number of
Internet cafes vying for the public phone’s money and
provides one of the better educational facilities around.
Marrying the two programs has given me a clearer perspective
of the parallels in modern discoveries and ancient
knowledge. My conclusion: Awesome! Gifam’s texts have
indeed given me greater depth and breadth in the field of
A.M. Simple things that I did not know I now know. But all
this is theory. Practical clinical experience is still the
best teacher and this is yet my ‘unfulfilled’ side. So if
you would like to have an exchange of medical knowledge and
perspective on Tibetan Medicine or Herbals, or to share
mutual experiences as learner and practitioner, drop my
family an email at
rakarpos@yahoo.com We love to share ideas and
experiences with you.
Warmest
regards this winter, Tenzin Eeling Rakarpo
Dharamshala
Potato-Rosemary-Crusted Fish Fillets
This simple fish dish is quite elegant with its subtle
flavor of rosemary. Don’t worry about a few
shreds of potato that remain in the skillet.
Serve them over the fish. Pair this entrée with
steamed asparagus and a large green salad with
tomatoes.
•
12 ounces thick fish filet,
such as cod or halibut, cut in half
•
1 small potato, about 5
ounces
•
Salt and black pepper to
taste
•
1/4
teaspoon dried rosemary leaves, crushed
•
1 tablespoon extra-virgin
olive oil
Rinse the fish under cold running water
and pat dry. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to
taste.
2. Peel the potato and grate
on the large holes of a grater. Squeeze excess
water out of the potato by pressing between
sheets of paper towel.
3. Season the potato with
salt, pepper and rosemary and press it around
the fish.
4. Heat a nonstick frying
pan over medium-high heat and add olive oil.
Gently slide the fish into the pan. Cook for 3
to 5 minutes. Turn fish over, using two
spatulas, and cook for 3 to 5 minutes more or
until potatoes are golden and fish is done.
Adopted from Dr.
Weil’s Recipes
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Study Tips
How
Marbles Can Change Your Life
By
Jason Michael Gracia
There is a
secret to happiness. Very few people know of it, and if they
do, even less understand its power. I want to share it with
you today because I believe it can change your life, and it
can happen as soon as you want it to.
A story was passed on to me that literally changed how I
looked at my life as soon as I was finished reading it. I
was amazed at how simple a story can be and still have a
profound impact on others.
In this short story lies the secret to living a life full of
joy, happiness and fulfillment. It doesn't matter how many
things you own, how much money you make, or how important
people think you are. If you don't learn how to enjoy your
life, no amount of material wealth will bring you the
happiness you are looking for.
Follow the stories example and you'll have the motivation
you need to improve your life and the outlook that will
bring you meaning and satisfaction.
THE MAGIC OF THE MARBLES
He was
fifty-five years old, had a bowl full of marbles, and felt
terrific. It was unknown territory for Bill, who for years
had been unhappy with his life and didn't see any hope for a
brighter future. Today he is a changed man. It doesn't
matter what happens to him, Bill responds to it calmly and
smiles. Nothing can get to him, and everything makes him
feel good about his life and his future.
Back to the marbles...
On average, people live to be seventy-five years old. Some
longer, some shorter, but the average person will reach this
age. Realizing this, on a sunny Saturday afternoon, Bill did
some simple calculations to figure out that the average
person has 3,900 Saturdays in his or her lifetime.
Being fifty-five, Bill had 1,000 Saturdays left to live. He
went to a small toy store in town, and bought every marble
they had, 1,000 in all. Later that night, he placed all of
the marbles in a large glass bowl that he placed in the
living room.
As each Saturday passed, he would take one marble out of the
bowl and throw it away. Bill watched as the bowl's contents
shrank, and he realized that he didn't have forever to
create a happier life. Each day he felt negatively about his
life was one less day he had to be happy.
TIME WAITS FOR NO
MAN
One day,
his last Saturday will come. Bill never looked at his life
this way. He never faced the fact head-on that life was
short and there is a limited amount of time to make the most
of it.
He looked at his current priorities and did some
rearranging. At the top of the list he put spending time
with his family and friends, appreciating what he had, and
enjoying each moment he was alive.
Without changing his external world, Bill's life was
completely different. He didn't earn more money, lose
weight, or create new relationships. He simply took what he
had and looked at it in a whole new light.
After making the marbles a part of his life, his new
attitude enabled him to fix the areas in his life that were
lacking. Before he felt powerless to change anything, and
only wished for things to improve without doing anything.
Now he was taking positive actions to create a life that
made him feel good.
We all know that we can't live forever, but thinking of it
in these terms can really help to put things in perspective.
It makes you realize how valuable each day is, and what a
loss it would be to not enjoy each one.
Depending on your age, you have a certain number of marbles
left in your jar. If you haven't created the life you have
always dreamed of yet, at which point will you decide to
make the change? How many marbles have to be thrown out
before you enjoy your life?
THE TIME IS
NOW
Today is
the perfect day for change. Today is your day to take one
step towards your goals and dreams. Imagine it, living life
on your terms, doing what you want, when you want, and
loving every minute of it. It's possible. You can have
everything you want in life, but you have to take control of
motivation and make it work for you.
WANT TO GET MOTIVATED? Get your FREE
Motivation123 Idea-Kit, filled with tips and
ideas to help you get and stay motivated, reach
your goals, and improve your attitude at the
Motivation123 Web site:
www.motivation123.com
Notices
New Courses for Nurses
It took a while, but GIFAM is ready to
launch three new courses designed
specifically for Nurses.
We are pleased to offer
the following:
•
Nurse Nutritional Consultant program
•
Nurse Master Herbalist
program and
•
Nurse Energy Healer
program.*
If you take all three
of these programs, you will be Gifam -certified as
Holistic Nurse (CHN).
* These
continuing nursing education activities were
approved by the American Holistic Nurses’
Association, an accredited Approver by the American
Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on
Accreditation
Join our Forum
We have the best students in the world! The new
Student Forum
has really taken off and we are so excited to be
interacting with all of you. What a great
opportunity to share knowledge and experience with
each other. If you haven’t already joined our forum
(and there are thousands of you out there!) please
sign up as soon as you can. You don’t have to post
anything right away if you’re a little shy but
you’ll certainly benefit from reading other people’s
posts.
We have a Journal Club where we’ll be discussing a
different health-related article each week.
We have also included an ‘Ask the Instructor” forum.
If you have a non-urgent course related question, we
would recommend addressing it through the forum so
that others can get a heads-up on the subject.
Please let us know if you have any suggestions for
new forums or topics. We look forward to hearing
from you all!
Attention MH Students
It has been brought to our attention that a couple
of pages of Segment I may be missing due to a
printing error. If you’ve enrolled recently, please
check your course materials and let us know if
something is not in order.
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Free Listing
for your
business
or website
For a limited time only, GIFAM is offering a free listing to all
students and graduates for their natural health-related practice or
businesses.
Our website receives over 3.5 million hits a month, so
this should help bring you lots of new business. We get inquiries
all the time from people looking for alternative health
practitioners in their area. Unless we have you on file, we're not
able to recommend you to others.
If you wish to be listed in our
directory,
please fill out the following form with your information:
click here
Student Referral
Program
.
Word of mouth is one of the best ways people come to know
about GIFAM’s wonderful home study programs. We’d like to thank all
our students and graduates who so whole-heartedly recommend our
courses to others. As a token of our appreciation, we will now
offer a $50 referral fee to all students and graduates whose
friend enrolls with us on their recommendations. Please make
sure the new student mentions your name as the referral source
on the enrollment form.
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DrNatura.com
Come and visit our brand new website. More
information and
testimonials
than ever before!
DrNatura’s
Colonix™
Internal Cleansing Program
is changing people’s lives. Following is an
email Ginger Torrado sent us along with her picture
on February 6 2004:
"Colonix was the
motivation to change our diet and begin our new lives. I feel
like I am alive again, thanks to DrNatura!"
 "My
name is Ginger and I am a 27-year-old stay at home Mom. Since I
gave birth in April 2003, my diet and ability to exercise have
been drastically altered. For the past year, both my husband and
I have been neglecting our bodies. We've been so busy, that a
lot of times we would skip meals. When we did eat, it was
usually junk. I felt like my body was slowly decaying, and it
showed.
I had been wanting to buy a colon cleanser for the past month
and almost purchased one after seeing an infomercial for another
company.
But after reading more about how cleansers work, I knew
I needed a program that I could stay on for longer than a month.
Anything less may not be as effective, or safe. I did a search
and found DrNatura and was immediately impressed with what I
read about Colonix. I bought the family pack for both my husband
and I, and after just a couple of weeks, we both have seen
tremendous results. I could feel it working on the first day of
taking it, and see it working on the next. Colonix was the
motivation to change our diet and begin our new lives. I feel
like I am alive again, thanks to DrNatura. Thank you!
I forgot to add one small thing I was meaning to say... I have
to admit, after reading the other testimonials, I was afraid to
take Colonix for fear of what I might find. I am very squeamish
and to think that creatures of all sizes would be leaving my
body. I had to force myself to take the Paranil pills the first
day. But, after seeing such a difference in the way I felt,
nothing scares me!
Thanks Dr Natura!
You can count on us to be regular customers of DrNatura.com! I
am attaching a picture of me for you to use along with my
testimonial. Thank you so much once again!"
Ginger Torrado
"I truly appreciate all
your assistance… I wish everywhere
I shopped had such great customer service as
your company."
Laurie S,
Lynn, MA
With the
Colonix Pack
you get the most effective internal cleansing
program plus the best customer service at a
truly affordable price!
Order yours today!
Call
1-800-877-0414
between 9am and 8pm EST Mon-Fri
10am and 3pm Sat
or order online:
www.DrNatura.com
___________________________
Congratulations to our recent graduates:
Shannon Soignier (MH)
Dolores Pericles (NC)
Linda Metzger (NC)
Kathryn Johnson (NC)
James Chmielak (NC)
Randall J. Soffar (HHP, MH,
NC)
Jodi Como (NC)
Kelly Olson (MH)
Ketty Honore (NC)
Susan Ring (MH)
Michaela Barry (MH)
Y.S. Hemamalini (NC)
Colleen Glavey (NC)
Lindalee Hatch (NC)
Dreeta Jenkins (NC)
Lansana Jabbie (NC)
Krista Wolfe (NC)
Fredrika Tambasco (NC)
Deborah Binon (MH)
Robin Speronis (HHP)
Danny David Azerrad (HHP,
MH, NC)
Gilbert McNutt (NC)
Lisa Mitchell (NC)
Gertrud Luer (NC)
Sally Baer (HHP, MH, NC)
Cheryl Peckham (NC)
Angela Sartain (NC)
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New Job Posting feature
on our website
We often receive e-mails and phone calls from
various businesses or people who are looking for
a qualified natural health professional or
nutritionist. Now we are offering a free service
to those who would like to advertise a position
in the natural health field that may be of
interest to one of our students or graduates.
Should you have a position you’d like to post,
please e-mail the details to:
DrLynnHardy@GIFAM.org.
- GIFAM has an opening for a marketing
manager. Candidate must have extensive
marketing experience in the field of
alternative medicine. Please fax resume
to 1-866-816-0193 or e-mail to
DrLynnHardy@GIFAM.org
-
GIFAM has
an opening for a part time student
support position in Santa Cruz starting
immediately. The position entails e-mail
and telephone student support as well as
grading exams and case studies.
Applicant must have a strong background
in alternative medicine and be
meticulous and self-motivated. Full time
opportunity available in a couple of
months. GIFAM graduates will have
priority. Please send your resume to the
director at:
DrLynnHardy@GIFAM.org |
Book of
the week
The Healthy Kitchen:
Recipes for a Better Body, Life, and Spirit
by Andrew Weil,
Rosie Daley
In Eating Well for Optimum
Health, one of Amazon's bestselling health
books of 2000, alternative-medicine maverick
Andrew Weil revealed his version of the ideal
diet (and backed it up with scientific proof): a
variety of unprocessed, or "whole" foods;
just-picked, organic vegetables; whole grains;
"good" fats, such as the omega-3 fatty acids
found in fish and nuts; fresh herbs and spices
instead of heavy sauces; and a minimum of meat
and dairy products. Eating this responsibly is
certainly an admirable pursuit, but home cooking
of this caliber can be intimidating, requiring
much more energy than it would to pull up to the
drive-through and order a burger and fries. In
The Healthy Kitchen, Weil successfully
teams up with Rosie Daley, formerly chef at the
ritzy Cal-a-Vie Spa, to show how to cook with
confidence within these dietary guidelines,
creating dishes that are not only good for you,
but are also fun to prepare, beautiful to look
at, and delectable.
For those of you predicting a tofu-fest, have no
fear: Weil stresses he's "unwilling to eat food
that is boring, artless, and devoid of pleasure
even if it's somebody else's idea of healthful."
Indeed, the gorgeous color photography in The
Healthy Kitchen will get you drooling over
healthy entrées like Warm Chicken and Asparagus
Salad and desserts like Lemon Yogurt Sorbet. You
can be proud to serve these recipes to your
family and friends--many of the appetizers and
entrées are perfect party foods, sized to feed a
dozen. Some recipes are notably more complicated
than others--Cold Vegetable Pasta Primavera
involves grilling five different veggies; baked
Vegetable Wontons are time-consuming if you're
not familiar with the folding process. However,
Daley and Weil advise working your way up to
these more complex dishes.
Sprinkled throughout the book are witty and wise
health tips from Weil and cooking shortcuts from
Daley. The two admit they don't agree on all
cooking matters; Weil would substitute cashew
milk for coconut milk and adds his two cents on
making the Thai Shrimp and Papaya Salad spicier,
for example. The Healthy Kitchen seems to
be influenced a bit by Martha Stewart's
Healthy Quick Cook, with Weil's text shaded
in that unmistakably Martha sage-green, and
Daley's in what Stewart might call bisque. Both
books emphasize seasonal fresh foods and boast
sumptuous photography and tempting menu
suggestions. However, Weil and Daley outdo her
with calorie and nutritional breakdowns for each
dish, shopping guides for easy meal planning,
and tips on encouraging children to help out in
the kitchen (and develop lifelong healthy eating
habits in the process). --Erica Jorgensen
The recipes are eclectic,
drawing from the healthy and delicious cooking
of the Middle East, the Mediterranean, and Asia,
among other cuisines. For starters, you might
try Grilled Satay or a Miso Pâté; for soup,
often a meal in itself, a hearty Mixed-Bean
Minestrone Stew or a Roasted Winter Squash and
Apple Soup with Cilantro Walnut Pesto; a special
entrée could be the Savory Roasted Cornish Hens
with Roasted Garlic or Baked Spicy Tofu with
Bean Thread Noodles, Corn, and Mango; for a
simple supper, Turkey Burgers or Portobello
Burgers; and for the occasional indulgence, a
dessert of Almond Fruit Tart or Peach and
Blueberry Cobbler.
Andy and Rosie do not always
agree. When Rosie calls for chicken, Andy offers
a tofu alternative; she likes the flavor of
coconut milk, whereas he prefers ground nut
milk; when she makes a pastry with butter, he
suggests using Spectrum Spread. There are no
hard-and-fast rules.
Lifelong health begins in the
kitchen, so this is a lifestyle book as well as
a cookbook. In it you will learn from Dr. Weil:
•
how to make use of
nutritional information in everyday cooking
•
what is organic . . . and how
to buy organic foods
•
the importance of reading
labels and what to look for
•
sensible advice about eggs,
milk, cheese, salt, spicy foods, wine, coffee
•
the facts about sugar and
artificial sweeteners
. . . and from Rosie:
•
how to get kids involved—from
skinning almonds to layering lasagna
•
ways to have fun in the
kitchen—creating scallion firecrackers and
radish rosettes
•
low-fat and nondairy
alternatives for those with special concerns
•
smart menu planning—letting
the seasons be your guide
. . . and lots more.
This revolutionary book will
change forever the way you cook for yourself and
your family.
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Do you have
an
interesting
article to share?
Submit your natural health
or nutrition related article to:
ArticleSubmit@GIFAM.org
Quote of the day:
There are two ways to live your life. One is
as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is
a miracle. - Albert Einstein
Board Certification
.
.
All GIFAM graduates
qualify for Board Certification through the American Association of
Drugless Practitioners.
If you have graduated from one of our
programs and have not received the application form for Board
Certification, please call our office at: 1-800-804-5512 and we’ll
drop one in the mail for you.
|
GLOBAL INSTITUTE
FOR ALTERNATIVE
MEDICINE
501 Mission St. Suite 7,
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
www.GIFAM.org
Tel.: 831.458.4196
Fax: 831.458.4197
Tel.: 1.800.605.6520
Fax: 1.800.594.0580 |
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FORUM
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