Magnetic Therapy: What’s the Attraction?
By Jackie Christensen, BS, HHP, NC, MH
Faculty Member of GCNM
For thousands of years Chinese, Egyptians, Arabs, Greeks, Romans and Indians have used magnets to heal. It has been said that magnetic therapy was first discovered when a Greek shepherd named Magnes, discovered a mineral stuck to a metal nail in the bottom of his sandal. He called the mineral magnetite in a place that is now in Turkey called Magnesia. Since then magnetic therapy has traveled through history. The use of magnetic stones are mentioned in the oldest medical textbook ever discovered, the Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine. It is also reported that Cleopatra, the beautiful Egyptian queen, wore a magnet on her forehead. Today, magnet therapy is seeing resurgence in use. It is an officially approved therapy in over 45 countries worldwide. In Japan and certain Asian countries therapeutic magnets are licensed as medical devices. Magnetic therapy has also been found in Australia, and many European countries, especially Germany where it is covered under medical insurance. Contemporary Western medicine uses magnetic energy for diagnosis with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and as a method to accelerate the healing of bone fractures. Magnetic therapy is becoming increasingly popular among progressive health care practitioners, as well as the general population. Clinical trials in the US have found magnetic therapy to be effective in relieving arthritic pain, diabetic foot pain, and fibromyalgia. Medical journals have also reported it to be successful as a treatment for those with severe depression.
There are two theories that are used to explain magnetic therapy. One theory proposes that the magnets produce a slight electrical current. When magnets are placed on a painful area of the body, the nerves in that area are stimulated, thus releasing endorphins, the body's natural painkillers. The other theory maintains that when magnets are applied to a painful area of the body, the cells in that area react to increase blood circulation, ion exchange, and oxygen flow to the area. Once the extra blood flow begins pH is restored from acidic to neutral, which releases oxygen from its bound form to its molecular free form. Oxygen is then transported for tissue regeneration to the cells. As enzymes become energized free radicals are reduced. Metabolic toxins, such as lactic acid, are drained and cellular swelling is decreased.
There are no special preparations for using magnetic therapy other than purchasing a product that is specific for the area being treated. Products are available in a range of prices and include necklaces and bracelets; knee, back, shoulder and wrist braces; mattress pads; gloves; shoe inserts; and more. The magnets can be applied directly over the painful area or they can be placed on reflex points that correspond to the location of pain. According to the FDA, magnets used for magnetic therapy are generally considered safe. However, magnets may adversely affect implantable medical devices, such as pacemakers, defibrillators, or infusion pumps. If magnets are being used on the abdomen they should not be used within two hours of eating as it could interfere with the secretion of digestive juices. Because of its simplicity, effectiveness, safety, and low cost magnet therapy shows to be a promising therapy for pain relief.
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Book Review
Anti Cancer, a New Way of Life
By David Servan-Schreiber, MD, PhD
Dr. David ServanSchreiber is a physician and psychiatrist, with a PhD in neuroscience. He spent time in Iraq with Doctors without Borders, and is a past Director of the Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh. Originally from Paris, France, he came to Pittsburgh to study for his PhD and, along with two colleagues conducted research on the prefrontal cortex of the brain to understand the mechanisms of thought through observing the neural networks. He describes the prefrontal cortex as "a rather unexplored area of the brain which helps to bridge consciousness of the past and the future". Using functional magnetic resonance imaging to measure the activity of the prefrontal cortex required that they develop complex mental tasks that would stimulate this area, while capturing the activity with the MRI.
One evening while conducting experimental sessions on students, David takes the place of a student who did not arrive for his appointment, and while in the MRI machine experiences a life altering discovery, a walnut sized tumor in the right-hand region of his prefrontal cortex. This book tells his story, an outstanding young scientist in his 30’s with a brilliant future ahead of him, the emotional impact of this sudden realization that his life may end very soon, and his tremendous journey through researching the statistics, examining cancer cell biology, surviving surgery, treatment and relapse, and sharing with us what he has discovered about the important life changes one can make to protect against the proliferation of the cancer cells he believes lie dormant within all of us.
To cure cancer one must use the best of conventional Western medicine including surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy and molecular genetics, while stimulating the natural capacity of the human body to protect itself, to prevent cancer and to enhance the benefits of treatments.
Based on a new viewpoint of the mechanisms of cancer, the functioning of the immune system, the inflammatory mechanisms leading to the growth of new tumors and a possibility to block their spreading by halting angiogenesis, the formation of the new blood vessels through which the cancer cells feed, we are presented with four approaches to engage the body and mind to become Anti Cancer. We must protect ourselves from the harmful environmental changes that have occurred since 1940 that he believes to be the cause of the cancer epidemic. We must eliminate cancer-promoting foods and increase the important phytochemicals known to fight tumor growth. We must engage the mind to heal the psychological wounds that feed the biological mechanisms that aid in the creation of cancer. We must enhance our immune function to prevent the inflammation that causes cancer tumor growth.
David provides us with the results of a study published by Dr. Dean Ornish in 2005 showing the effects of lifestyle changes on a group of men diagnosed with early stage prostate cancer. The men engaged in a program of mental and physical health for one year that included a vegetarian diet, supplementation with antioxidant vitamins E and C, Selenium and one gram of Omega-3 fatty acids daily, thirty minutes of walking six days a week, and yoga, breath work, guided imagery or progressive relaxation techniques to reduce stress, plus weekly participation in a patient support group. After one year their blood was found to be seven times more capable of inhibiting the growth of cancer cells than the blood of the control group of men who had not made any lifestyle changes. The more diligently the men followed the lifestyle changes the more active their blood was against cancer.
In terms of prevention, the conditions under which cancer cells lose their virulence and ability to become a tumor are when the immune system is strong enough to mobilize against the cancer cells, when there is no inflammation that enables cancer cells to grow and spread, and when blood vessels do not reproduce and provide cancer cells with oxygen and nutrients. Once the cells form a tumor these natural defense conditions are not effective, but may still be helpful when integrated with conventional medicine treatments to increase the body’s resistance to cancer.
The natural killer (NK) cells of the immune system have been filmed attacking cancer cells. NK cells detect the cancer cells, move in for contact and release their chemical poisons perforin and granzymes through the cancer cells membrane, activating the cancer cells program to self-destruct. The nucleus of the cell crumbles and the cell collapses, the cell debris is then digested by macrophages. A video of David discussing the Anti Cancer lifestyle, which includes a segment of the NK cells attacking cancer cells in a brief battle, can be viewed at www.anticancerways.com/.
There is an entire section of the book dedicated to Anti Cancer Action. Here you will find beautiful glossy, colorful charts providing information on how to protect yourself through diet, activity, meditation and resolving past traumas. The traditional western diet, persistent anger or despair, social isolation and a sedentary lifestyle are pro-inflammatory. Mediterranean, Indian and Asian diets, serenity and joy, support from family and friends, acceptance of self with one’s values and past history, and regular physical exercise are anti-inflammatory.
The principal dietary influencing factors on inflammation are those that aggravate or reduce inflammation. Examples of foods with high and low glycemic index are shown. The most and least contaminated fruits and vegetable are listed, household products to avoid due to chemical toxicity are detailed and safe alternatives are described. A chart of the Omega-3 content of foods is presented showing the amounts required to provide 1 gram of Omega3 daily. I was very impressed with the charts of the effects of certain foods on several specific cancers, for colon, brain, lung, prostate, and breast cancers, also combined into the Anti Cancer Shopping List. While the pharmaceutical industry searches for molecules that will block cancer, many are already known and found in common foods, such as the catechins in green tea and resveratrol found in red wine, from the skins of the grapes.
We are reminded that avoiding white sugar and white flour to prevent an excess of insulin and IGF in the blood stream is crucial. Startling statistics showing the rise in cancers in geographic area where there is a diet high in these products are provided, giving a very convincing argument for a serious change in our diets to reduce and eliminate the probability of developing some of the most prominent cancers of the modern era. After tobacco, obesity is the second highest risk factor for developing cancer and high glycemic foods are contributing to the obesity epidemic as well.
Reading this book was a life-changing event for me. I am reminded to eat whole organic foods, eat more vegetarian meals, avoid stressors and have increased my walking and running routines to live the Anti Cancer Lifestyle. This is on my list of books people who care about good health really must read.
Reviewed By Moira Khouri NC, MH, HHP, CCP
Faculty Member of GCNM
Exercise of the Month
Exercise Description: Standing Heel Rises
Target Muscle: Calves
Instructions:
Begin the exercise by standing up tall and holding onto the top of a chair or bench. Feet should be hip distance apart. Shift the weight of the body forward to the toes. The first or big toe should bear the majority of the weight. Then, slightly raise heels off the ground. Slowly lower heels to the ground and repeat for the desired number of repetitions.
To make the exercise more challenging add ankle weights.
To further increase the challenge of the exercise, follow the steps above on one foot at a time.
Make to shift the body’s weight to the supporting leg before raising the heel.
Motivational Article
To Lead or not to Lead
by: Mario Luis Tavares Ferrira
A common sentence that we hear often is that leadership is given not taken, is it true?
Another common sentence is that you are born a leader, that it is a natural gift
In some aspects it is. But, there are some attitudes that can be taken to change that perception.
A born leader – or so called – is an individual with charisma. He has a natural empathy with people, that has an easily and friendly manner to talk and convince people to do what he wants. He has a global vision of situations and quick answers to the problems, he keeps himself cool when the world exploding around him. He remembers names and profiles of anyone around him. He is a multi-task professional. He can control different areas of business and even different businesses. He is a natural negotiator, internally and externally, on business environment. He manages people naturally without imposing positions. He evaluates, knows how to chose and attracts the best professionals to work with him. He is a visionary. He is a reference to the novice and also to the professional savvy, and so on.
Wow! It seems an endless list to accomplish! Actually, those skills can and should be achieved by anyone that aims to have a senior position, to manage any organization, team or group.
First of all, you should make a self-evaluation to define if you want or not to be a leader, to have more responsibilities and to dedicate energy to achieve that goal. It is not an easy path, often shifting from success to failure and from failure to success very quickly, need to be stress resistant and many times it is a lonely path.
Be careful with suggestions like "10 steps to become a leader", there is no magic, or recipe or formula to transform you into a leader. To be recognized as one it takes a long path and a natural evolution. As said in the beginning, leadership is given not taken.
But you can prepare your self to be ready, when comes the opportunity, to assume the responsibility.
Below you can find some suggestions to prepare your journey.
To lead you need to have followers, though first thing is to know how to deal with people. Improve your people management skills, have at least three different references or methodologies and techniques to achieve it. Read some books and make some courses, short-time courses with highly recommended or recognized professionals, not the first one that you discover on the web. People management is easy to teach, difficult to practice. You will be dealing with feelings, empathy, motivation, egos, power disputes, accommodations, fears of changes, and so on. Nowadays, also, cultural aspects are fundamental, we live in a globalized economy and connected world, and awareness of different cultures is essential.
You need to know how to make presentations and to speak in public, train that skill. Related to speech and presentation is also the ability to conduct, control and start and finish productive meetings.
Negotiation is another basic skill. You negotiate internally in your organization and also with business partners. You negotiate almost every day in many situations and in many places.
Be a strategist. Scenarios development, evaluation of situations and figures, and decisions based on truly reliable information will be a daily activity. Improve your Strategy skills. Read Sun Tzu, Mintzberg, Prahalad, Porter, and so on.
Prioritize your activities, organize your agenda and have always a daily moment to new insights and to assess trends and current business environment. It is important to stop and self-evaluate what you are doing and results achieved, and always to search for innovation and to think out-of-the-box.
Benchmarking is another important activity; learn with other leaders, where they had success and where they failed.
Keep up-to-date about news, political, economical, and cultural, and business related.
Nurture your networking, professionally and personally. Join the winners; your reputation will be, many times, measured by your links. There is a quote that says: tell me who you know and I will tell you who you are.
Balance your life and work. There is a tripod between work, money and family pay attention to all three. If you have one unbalanced area, it will cause stress in all others. Professional success is not every thing in life.
Nowadays, the time of the "smart guy" is surpassed with all the issues that we are seeing globally with this international crisis, more than ever, Ethics and Honesty will be assessed strongly. Study about social and environmental responsibility and governance. They will be highlighted issues, even that they should be a natural and embedded procedure.
To finish, don’t rush. Hurry is an enemy of perfection. Again, as already said, leadership is given not taken. You will need to be prepared and with a broad spectrum of skills and experiences. Anything that comes very quickly also goes. So to have a strong and rooted ascent it needs time, perseverance and self-confidence which only well prepared people will be able to achieve.
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About The Author
Mario Luis Tavares Ferreira is a seasoned manager and entrepreneur, international business consultant, with a broad technical background, multi-lingual skills and multi-cultural experience, co-founded two high tech start-ups, developed business in half dozen countries and is developing a non-profit project to leverage Small Businesses and Start-up development. For more information about the project please visit http://marioferreira.synthasite.com
Article Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.com
Search online for values in the USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference.
