Maintaining Healthy Vision Naturally
By Dr. Marc Grossman, OD, LAc

The training of our eye doctors in this country is very comprehensive. There have been major advances in the treatment of eye disease and even laser surgery is available today to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. But it doesn’t really correct the underlying problem of why it is there to begin with. Eye care in this country is symptom-oriented. In our training as eye doctors we’re taught that once something goes wrong with your eyes there is not much that can be done to help reverse the condition. Vision problems are multiplying at epidemic proportions in our society. The eye care industry is a multi-billion dollar business. Glasses, contact lenses, and eye surgery are the major tools of that industry and these enter the lives of virtually all of the citizens of the Western world. Aldous Huxley wrote in his book The Art of Seeing that “if everyone who had deficient vision had broken legs, the streets would be full of cripples.”

Patients come in year after year, their eyesight getting worse. Conventional eye care professionals just give them stronger and stronger glasses. Something is wrong with this picture. Cataracts are present to some degree in nearly all adults over the age of 70 years old. These patients are told, “Let’s wait until the cataract ‘ripens’ (a euphemism for ‘gets worse’), and then we can remove it surgically.” Patients with macular degeneration and glaucoma are told, “We’ll watch it and try to keep it under control.” The number of children in our schools being labeled learning disabled and/or having Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) is increasing every year. Where is the much needed prevention, education and rehabilitation?

People think that eye problems are just a natural course of life’s process, but people’s vision can improve. When people are given so called “corrective” lenses they are being sold a false bill of health. “Corrective” lenses don’t really correct anything. Most of the time when people get their glasses it usually causes more dependency on them along with the eyes losing some of their natural flexibility. I’m interested in an aggressive prevention program so that many eye conditions can be prevented and corrected.

So what’s wrong with the conventional treatment for certain eye conditions? Let’s look at nearsightedness and glaucoma.

If you need glasses, the eye doctor will prescribe them and you will thank them then pay them for the eye examination and glasses. In a couple of years (or sooner) the prescription may not be good enough for you to see clearly so you will come back get another examination and probably get stronger glasses and thank them and pay them again.

If you have glaucoma, a similar thing happens. You come to the office and you may get eye drops to help stabilize the pressure and are told that you will probably be on these eye drops the rest of your life. Where are the prevention, and rehabilitation?

We have to look at vision the same way that Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) looks at disease: Looking not at whether X causes Y, but what the relationship is between X and Y. The eye is an extension of brain tissue and it reflects what you are thinking and feeling. The eyes help us adapt to the world and they give us an indication of how we are doing with that task. It is the primary way in which we take in information.

For instance, nearsightedness doesn’t just happen. Did you know that 90% of accountants are nearsighted, but less than 10% of farmers are? That’s because accountants spend a lot of time focused on up close tasks and farmers are usually looking out across the fields. The brain says “if you make me do close work all day, you will have to give up something” and that something is the ability to see at a distance, so obviously how we use and abuse our eyes affects what happens to them. This concept is not usually taken into consideration by most eye doctors. In nearsightedness, I use the analogy of training for a marathon. If you are going to graduate from law school, medical school, etc. and there is an extremely large amount of reading that needs to be done, you’ll need to keep your eye muscles flexible in order to handle the amount of close work more easily. Proper posture, lighting, taking vision and body breaks, and proper nutrition all play a part in helping our eyes.

In the case of glaucoma let’s say you are 55 years old and you have borderline high intraocular pressure which is a possible early sign of glaucoma. The doctor will test your visual field to make sure your peripheral vision is not affected. If your visual field and optic nerve looks normal and the pressure is borderline, the doctor will usually just say “come back in 3 to 6 months and we will watch it and if it gets too high we will give you medication.” Again, very rarely is there anything given preventively to help lower the pressure.

But many things can help, such as paying attention to the following:

Stress. As far back as 1818, researchers linked stress to glaucoma. One study showed that glaucoma patients tend to be perfectionists, nervous, anxiety ridden and/or hypersensitive. In TCM glaucoma is linked to the liver meridian. The emotion associated with this area is anger/frustration. I may suggest to a patient with glaucoma that instead of suppressing anger, he or she should feel it, but don’t fear it. I suggest meditation, tai chi and psychotherapy, as well as remembering to smile.

Smoking. Avoid smoking as it more than doubles the incidence of cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration, by stressing the nerve cells in the macula and reducing the quality of blood circulation.

Physical Exercise. Research has shown that glaucoma patients who take a brisk 40 minute walk 5 days a week for three months can reduce their eye pressure by approximately 2.5 mm.

Diet. Maximize your intake of fruits and vegetables. Drink 8 – 10 glasses of pure water per day 30 minutes before a meal or 2 hours after eating, but try not to drink water while you eat. Avoid sugars, fried foods, alcohol, and caffeine.

Nutritional supplementation. When taken daily, the following nutritional supplements may be helpful in maintaining healthy eyesight:

Bodywork. Various bodywork therapies can have a relaxing, rejuvenating and restorative effect on the systems of the body that are tied to healthy vision. Consider chiropractic, massage, or cranial-sacral therapies.

My philosophy is that people are more than an interesting set of symptoms that must be treated with the proper drug or glasses. We function on several levels: emotional, spiritual, and physical. It is important to take all of these levels into consideration when treating a patient, because merely treating the physical symptoms of the condition does not address how that condition impacts and emerges from all of those levels of being. As with all other areas of the body, in treating the eyes, all these factors must be taken into consideration.

Let’s start with nutrition, because more than 25% of the nutrients we absorb from our food go to nourish the visual system. The diet plan I prescribe emphasizes a variety of whole foods, because the body does not use each vitamin or mineral in isolation.

The diet I recommend includes the following:

Keep in mind that no matter how wholesome and pure our food might be, there are factors that affect its nutrient content: how it is grown, how it is stored, and how it is cooked. Your age, health, activity level and stress can also affect what your body needs and how well it uses the nutrients from your food. This is where supplements come in. I routinely recommend vitamin and mineral supplements to my patients.

Besides relieving pain, acupressure can rebalance qi (“vital energy” or “life force energy”) throughout the body. I’ve found acupressure to be very beneficial in the treatment of eye disease and I recommend it because, once properly instructed, a patient can self-administer it.

Exercise for both the eyes and the body in general is extremely important in the treatment and prevention of eye conditions as it raises oxygen levels in the cells and increases lymph and blood circulation. From a TCM standpoint, eye problems mean there is stagnant energy and exercise helps get rid of the stagnation. This increased circulation revitalizes the organs and glands and speeds up detoxification of the body. I recommend that you gently build up to aerobic exercise for a minimum of 20 minutes per day, four days a week.

The following are some other important tips to keep our eyes vibrant and alive:

Dr. Marc Grossman is one of the leading holistic eye doctors. He has been in practice for over 27 years, and is the author of a number of books on natural eye care including: co-author of Magic Eye - A 3D Guide (Andrews and McMeel, 1995), Greater Vision (McGraw Hill) printed in September, 2000, Natural Eye Care: A Comprehensive Manual for Practitioners of Oriental Medicine, which is a 230-page manual describing both the Western and Eastern approaches to preserving eyesight for over 20 specific eye conditions, Beyond 3D: Improve Your Vision with Magic Eye (Magic Eye Inc.), and his most recent book Natural Vision Care: Your Guide to Healthy Vision (Vision Works Media Services, Inc.) printed in November, 2007. Visit his website: www.naturaleyecare.com

Book Review
Spiritual Cinema:
A Guide to Movies That Inspire, Heal,
and Empower Your Life
By Stephen Simon & Gay Hendricks

Cinematic entertainment is important in many cultures and very few people are immune to its flickering, silver screen allure. Chances are, you’ve seen a few movies and have an idea for what you like and what you don’t. If you’ve ever come across a movie that left you with a glow, a sense of reverence or happiness, or with a desire to reach out and positively interact with the world, you’ve been touched by “Spiritual Cinema.”

Stephen Simon, movie director and producer of such box office hits as What Dreams May Come and Somewhere in Time, (and most recently, Conversations with God) has a vision. Recognizing the powerful effect – both positive and negative – that the media has upon people, Simon has become the leading spokesperson for a new genre he has dubbed “Spiritual Cinema.” Spiritual Cinema examines who we are and why we are here. Movies in this category illuminate the human condition through stories and images that inspire us to explore what we can be when we operate at our very best. Spiritual Cinema reflects our beliefs and values and illustrates their impact upon our lives and our society. In this context, “spiritual” refers not to any one religion but to the unseen divine energy that is so present in all life around us. History has revealed that individuals or cultures that lose their connection to this essence become devoid of love, respect and compassion. In response, and perhaps as a kind of soulful, preventive-entertainment, Spiritual Cinema directly encourages the growth of these aspects of human possibility.

“Above all, Spiritual Cinema produces a characteristic aftereffect: It leaves you feeling better about being a human being…you’ll always hear a unifying heartbeat of hope and inspiration.” (Page xii)

While the Spiritual Cinema Circle organization delivers powerful but lesser-known films from all over the world to its members, in their book Spiritual Cinema, Simon and Hendricks offer a compendium of about 50 mainstream movies that carry within them some spiritual theme. Films like Ghost, Whale Rider, The Hours, and The Notebook are examined for their richness and ability to communicate something of deep importance with viewers. Brief synopses are given to acquaint the reader with the film and to act as a guide for understanding the spiritual thematic elements.

“We believe passionately, as you probably do, that Spiritual Cinema can help make a better world, in which people practice the values of compassion, insight, and transcendence that are imbedded in the genre.” (Page 169)

A rare find, Spiritual Cinema offers its readers a valuable list of readily available, popular movies that can be relied on to have a spiritually-significant impact. Rest assured you won’t find yourself trapped within one film genre; because Simon and Hendricks understand the different dimensions of the term “spiritual,” they are able to find gems of wisdom and truth in movies ranging from science fiction (The Matrix trilogy) to comedy (A Mighty Wind). With such a wide pallette of choices, there’s undoubtedly something spiritually significant and uplifting for everyone.

_______________________________

Stephen Simon, the producer of such film classics as What Dreams May Come and Somewhere in Time, created and named the new genre of “Spiritual Cinema.” Gay Hendricks is the author of many books on personal and relationship transformation, including Conscious Living, The Conscious Heart, and Lasting Love. Along with Kathlyn and Gay Hendricks, Stephen Simon founded The Spiritual Cinema Circle, which brings inspiring movies to thousands of grateful movie lovers around the world each month.

Ryan N. Harrison, MA is a Holistic Health Practitioner in private practice (http://www.BeWholeBeWell.com).

GCNM Graduate Profile
Lorraine Jossel, HHP, MH, NC

“Everything in our outside life is a direct reflection of our inner mental and emotional states. The outside world is simply a mirror for what's happening inside of us and the only true way to create lasting health in our lives is to start at the center of it all which is us.”
- Laurence Magne, PhD

Miracles visit us daily. However, it is only when we mentally and physically prepare the way, no matter how unimportant or futile our efforts may seem, that miracles will transform us. My story is no different than that of so many others. Is it not ironic how we first need to be touched by serious and debilitating illness before giving ourselves permission to take back our power from conventional medicine to begin healing?

I was constantly on the run, involved in a demanding business, actively volunteering, making time for family and friends, but never making time for myself. Nutrition had been reduced to grabbing something from a fast food restaurant or stopping for a cup of coffee and a muffin. I had a persistent, uncontrollable craving for sugary snacks, baked goods, anything fried...and suddenly I was thirty-five pounds heavier. Four or more times a year I was prescribed antibiotics for bronchitis and pneumonia. I suffered blinding migraine headaches managed with yet more drugs. My health was failing and I continued to ignore the signs of chronic dis-ease.

A visit to a dermatologist in mid-February 2003, and being treated with a toxic off-label drug turned my immune system on itself. Many doctors and multiple dangerous prescription drugs later left me unproductive, isolated and mostly bedridden, and set the course for what proved to be a journey into hell as my life began unraveling. However, I finally arrived at a place which can only be described as my own wonderful miracle.

After being told that I did not have a serious disease but instead had something that could not be cured, I was advised “to just increase the Vioxx and to live a happy life.” I accepted that I had to be responsible for my own healing. I began making lifestyle changes by eliminating known allergens, eating organic whole foods, drinking purified water and herbal teas. Movement was excruciating, but I pushed past the pain and began a regimen which included walking and stretching. Being housebound, any outside stress was markedly reduced. I concentrated on making my home “green.” Personal-care items and household cleaners were replaced with organic products. Garden-care items were disposed of responsibly and replaced with ecologically friendly ones. My kitchen was transformed into a toxin-free zone, the microwave oven being the very first item to be eliminated.

It was almost as though I was readying my life for a rebirthing. A chance conversation with my OMD changed the course of my life forever when he suggested I enroll in GCNM. The wonderful miracle that I had alluded to in the beginning of this story was given life.

The past two years of study have been the most exciting and intellectually gratifying experience I have had. I remember the day the boxes began arriving, and I also remember feeling completely overwhelmed. I had been out of school for a very long time and these boxes also represented change, which sometimes can be frightening. However, the fear did not last long as I systematically began looking over the material which was well presented in easy-to-read modules with well chosen supporting books. Even though I have graduated, I often refer back to them when working up protocols for clients.

The online Student Forum was like having my own private interactive learning annex, which I could access at any time of the day and night. I still visit it periodically to read posts and learn from a very bright and diversified student body. As a graduate, I feel confident enough to engage in discussions about nearly all aspects of holistic health care either in a public forum or privately. I have had some interesting and revealing conversations with a few skeptical doctors who are now beginning to question the way they practice medicine. Enlightenment is when a well-established internist questions you on the best nutritional supplements and herbs to use in place of statins...and who better to educate than conventional medicine doctors?

The opportunities that have opened up to me are nothing short of incredible. While continuing with my education and working toward a Doctor of Naturopathy degree, I am also opening a completely holistic, non-medical, six bed drug and alcohol treatment and wellness center, which should be operational by September 2007. Presently, I have very little time to consult with clients individually, but my dream is to one day open a clinic where people diagnosed with cancer can be healed holistically before being harmed by conventional treatments.

I am eternally grateful for my introduction to this awesome school and my caring and very giving instructors. I am blessed with emotional, physical and spiritual health, and to me this is a miracle when I consider how bleak my future looked just a few short years ago. I recommend GCNM and all of its programs for anyone who wants to enjoy an incredible journey in holistic health care.

___________________________________

[You can learn more about the Global College of Natural Medicine by logging on at www.GCNM.com, where you will find details on the school, its programs, tuition, and contact information.]

Motivational Tips
How to Assess Your Résumé  
By Gerard McLoughlin

If your current résumé is not generating the interview offers you want, it is time to start assessing it. Check to see that the following descriptors apply:

• Begins with a succinct, clearly stated career objective tailored to the particular job for which you are applying.

• Highlights how your skills and qualifications match the company’s specific needs.

• Employs appropriate titles for previous jobs to demonstrate clearly that you are suitably qualified for the advertised position.

• Gives a concise description of your previous employers – their products, services, industry, etc. – and your role in the company.

• Uses “PAR” statements to describe your accomplishments.
  
  “P” identifies the “problem” you faced;
  “A” describes the “action” you took to solve the problem;
  “R” describes the “result” of the action you took.

• Quantifies your accomplishments using numbers, percentages, etc.

• Makes effective use of the key words and phrases contained in the job advertisement to describe your skills and areas of expertise.

• Every sentence starts with an action word, for example: “Increased production by 20% while saving $200,000 in operating costs.” Examples of effective action words are: compiled, conducted, created, designed, developed, established, implemented, introduced, invented, maintained, negotiated, operated, organized, produced, and published.

• Explains how, in your previous jobs, you increased sales and profits, improved productivity, saved time and costs, and established good customer relationships.

• Provides evidence of the competencies most valued by employers, for example: your communication and interpersonal skills, flexibility, initiative, organizational ability, and teamwork.

• Includes any pertinent awards or honors you may have received.

• Provides your educational history and details of training related to the position you are seeking.

• Employment history is logical and consistent; and gaps of more than one year between your jobs are clearly explained.

• The layout is neat and uncluttered, with an easy-to-read sequence of sections and no large blocks of text.

• Contains no errors in spelling or grammar; and all unnecessary words have been eliminated.

• Hobbies and interests have been included only if they serve to reveal characteristics, skills or accomplishments that support your career objective.

From http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/McLoughlin3.html

 

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