Innholdsfortegnelse for June - August 2015 i The Art of Healing

The Weedssteamer is specially designed to create super-heated water and wet steam which destroys weeds on contact. The steam rapidly raises the temperature of water held within plant cells causing them to expand, destroying the cell wall structure, an effect known as plasmolysis. The result is total and immediate destruction of soft tissue. The targeted weeds wilt immediately and brown off within 1-3 days and decompose into the soil adding to soil humus. • Weedsteamers only use super-heated water and wet steam to kill weeds• It is a chemical-free solution• It is safe to use around sensitive areas such as schools, hospitals, and wildlife habitats• It has no spray drift• It does not harm operators• It can be effectively operated in all weather conditions Most herbicides are used in the urban environment, where up to 50%…

The Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) study is one of the largest scientific research studies of its kind, with over 17,000 people in America participating. The focus of the study was to analyse the relationship between childhood trauma and the risk for physical and mental illness in adulthood. Over the course of a decade, the results demonstrated a strong, graded relationship between the level of traumatic stress in childhood and poor physical, mental and behavioural outcomes later in life. What is an Adverse Childhood Experience? An adverse childhood experience constituted having any of the following conditions whilst growing up to the age of 18 years: 1.  Recurrent physical abuse2.  Recurrent emotional abuse3.  Contact sexual abuse4.  An alcohol and/or drug abuser in the household5.  An incarcerated household member6.  Family member who is…

Just five days of training can make the visual acuity of older adults equivalent to that of adults in their 20s, according to a surprising study conducted by researchers from the University of California, Riverside, and Brown University and published in the journal Psychological Science. The focused visual training regimen improved older adults' sensitivity to contrast, and their ability to see things close up. "Our research indicates that the visual system of older adults maintains a high degree of plasticity and demonstrates that training methods can be used to improve visual function," researcher G. John Andersen said. Earliest form of vision loss Loss of vision and visual processing are common effects of aging, even in people without any eye disease. Indeed, studies have shown that loss of visual contrast (and…

One of the things I love about yoga is that it is layered with different understandings, meanings, practices and definitions. What this means is that a seemingly simple question like ‘how often should I do yoga’ doesn’t necessarily have a simple answer. Before you begin to answer this question you need to be clear about your definition of Yoga and then, based on your understandings, you may have more clarity about the question you are asking. Jennifer Schrader looks more closely at this important question. Defining ‘Yoga’ Most modern yoga has, at its foundation the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. This is an ancient text based on the Samkhya school of philosophy which is a philosophy of dualism and explores the bringing together of purusha and prakriti. Purusha is our unchanging…

Moving on from the last article on the history of Reflexology, Sonia Bailey presents examples of Reflexology techniques to give you an idea of the many styles being practised in Australia today. The Original Ingham Method™ mentioned in the last article (Vol 1 Issue 50, MAR/MAY 2015 issue) forms the basis for the way many practitioners practice Reflexology. However there are other techniques that professional reflexologists may learn to expand their repertoire in order to help their clients. You may not find a Reflexologist who is able to do all of these techniques, however you will certainly come across some of these styles throughout Australia. Auricular (Ear) and Hand Reflexology Although not new, Hand and Ear Reflexology is now being used a bit more widely in addition to foot Reflexology.…

My partner started to explore what new directions or rivers were available to her to change the way things were in her life, and to experience a more spiritual and fulfilling life. Firstly she searched on her own, then after discovering the many different options available, and seeing the change not only in herself but also in the family dynamics, she then tried to encourage me to come on the journey with her. Graeme Harris shares his story. Watching and feeling the changes that were taking place was really scary for me, and I tried everything I could to stop these changes taking place. To her credit she had found the strength and power within herself to stay true to her needs and beliefs. She was now on a journey…

The Mysteries of Chinese Medicine Revealed “What do you do?” he asked before taking another sip of his unwooded Chardonnay. I took a breath before announcing, “I’m a Chinese Medicine practitioner”. It was early days. I'd just recently graduated with a student award for clinical excellence, so was feeling pretty proud of myself. That was until I noticed the glazed look of my inquisitor. Then he tried to catch the eye of someone over my shoulder. “Excuse me, I just have to ...” And he was gone. This scenario would become all too familiar. It took a while for me to realise that most people had no idea what Chinese medicine actually was. Instead of trying to sidle into the kitchen unnoticed at parties, I began calling myself an acupuncturist.…

Your body needs daily bright light to regulate your sleep pattern and provide energy. Often however, we do not receive the daily bright light we need to maintain a well-timed body clock and natural energy levels. The use of technology in our modern indoor lifestyles, and the darker winter months impact the level and timing of the light we receive. “Daily bright light exposure helps to maintain appropriate timing of the circadian rhythm which is important for maintaining a good nocturnal sleep and effective daytime functioning”, says Professor Leon Lack, a world-renowned sleep psychologist. Professor Lack and his colleagues have studied the ability to re-time the circadian rhythm with light at the Sleep Laboratories, Flinders University in South Australia since 1987. Following their research findings they have invented a portable…

Kombucha is a fermented tea that is available commercially or it can be made at home by fermenting tea using a visible solid mass of yeast which forms the kombucha culture. It allegedly promotes good health with its excellent detoxifying and immune-enhancing qualities. Kombucha is a living health drink made by fermenting tea and sugar with the Kombucha culture called SCOBY - a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (also known as the ‘mushroom’ or the ‘mother’). The result can taste like something between sparkling apple cider and champagne, depending on what kind of tea you use. The first recorded use of kombucha came from China in 221 BC during the Tsin Dynasty and was known as “The Tea of Immortality”. Kombucha tea has been reported to be a cure-all…

In the midst of a dangerous world, the inflammatory immune system works to protect our vulnerable bodies, twenty-four hours per day. When the danger alarm goes off, the immune system secretes a protein cascade full of warrior cells, to drive the invaders away. This could be bacteria, virus, mould or yeast that starts this biological storm, but the immunity weapon system also responds to physical trauma, emotional threat, and blood sugar overload as well. Every day, thousands of sound modern human bodies are damaged by inflammation, which has been caused by stress overload and toxic sweetness. Professor Timothy Denning, from Georgia State University, says: " Inflammation is a healthy and necessary function for healing, but this type of helpful inflammation is only temporary. When the infection or illness is gone,…

The number of children who suffer from severe malnutrition in the Central African Republic is on the rise. Compared to last year, reported cases of acute malnutrition have tripled as conflicts in the region leave families unable to plant crops, to earn a living, or to access sanitation, clean water, and health care. Provisions from aid organisations are an inconsistent food source, as security issues often keep the protein supplements from reaching their intended targets. These are the struggles facing the nuns at St Joseph as they care for vulnerable children and mothers. In the Central African Republic, Catholic nuns are using the blue-green algae to fight malnutrition at the St. Joseph Health Center. Bangui, where the nuns are located, has been dealing with the effects of a conflict that…

While terrorism may have a high profile in the external world there are many fears that people are confronting in this chaotic world that relate to them more directly. For example: job loss, longterm unemployment, financial crisis, success; or an unknown future for themselves or their children. The external world is mirroring our internal world To put a stop on personal terror it is necessary to learn how to handle fear itself, and the phrase ‘there is nothing to fear but fear itself’ is a good place to start. In philosophy, the analysis of fear acknowledges that terror lies in the potentiality of a threat happening, not whether the threat actually manifests. That is because fear is an emotion not an event. A crisis is an event which may or…

JUNE Saturn back into Scorpio – Passionate Healing When Saturn moved out of Scorpio last December many breathed a sigh of relief. Now that Saturn is heading back into Scorpio from 15 June to 18 September should we duck for cover? Admittedly while Saturn was there from October 2012 to December 2014, relationship dynamics and emotions were intense. But rather than run, let’s grab this chance to radically improve stuck stuff. When Saturn leaves Scorpio in September, it won’t return for another 26 years. This three months of Saturn’s return to Scorpio affects everyone, but particularly Scorpios (or those with Moon, Rising Sign or other planets in Scorpio). We get to complete unfinished business on emotional, soul or relationship levels. Elated energy renews us when we face hurts and make…

At 24 years old filmmaker Shannon Harvey was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease. Her immune system had become hyperactive and was attacking normal, healthy tissues. Her muscles and joints were inflamed and she was told if her disease progressed she could end up with organ failure, or wheelchair bound. In search of a cure, Shannon tried everything from drugs to alternative therapies and everything in between. But she was still sick. There was one thing she did know. When she was stressed, she got worse and with a background in journalism, Shannon sought answers in pioneering science. On her journey to getting better, Shannon realised that in order to change her health she needed to change her mind. The Connection features scientists, researchers, writers and doctors, as well as remarkable…

Below is a response by the Australian Natural Therapies Association (ANTA) on the paper released in March 2015 by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) on Homeopathy. ANTA strongly believes in evidence based natural medicine practice in Australia. As an organisation representing natural therapists including homeopaths, we only admit members who have completed government accredited courses. ANTA provides all members with access to the latest global scientific reports and research databases to ensure evidence-based practice is integrated with patient management. The information paper released in March 2015 by the NHMRC states that based on the assessment of the evidence of the effectiveness of homeopathy, NHMRC concludes that there are no health conditions for which there is reliable evidence that homeopathy is effective. Through the review undertaken by the…

The marketing blitz that has been launched in the past few decades has demonised saturated fats and made polyunsaturated fats (with special attention to vegetable oils like soy, corn, and cottonseed) and struck a serious blow to our overall health. People started avoiding butter, beef, and full fat cream and introduced margarine and low fat dairy products, but has this been a good choice? The case against margarine, the "darling" in the saturated fat attacks To make margarine, a process is undertaken referred to as hydrogenation. This process turns polyunsaturated fats, which are normally liquid at room temperature into fats that are solid at room temperature. To make them, the cheapest oils are used such as soy, corn, cottonseed, or canola (which is mostly genetically modified), and from their already…

The onset of hypothyroidism is typically gradual and insidious: progressive chronic fatigue; waking unrefreshed; brain fog and cognitive dysfunction to the point where it becomes increasingly difficult to concentrate, read and process material, plus difficulty making even simple decisions. Cosmetically, there can be gradual stubborn weight gain, an abdomen bloated with chronic constipation, dry gritty eyes, dry skin and cracked heels, swelling of the ankles and shins known as myxoedema, in addition to brittle thinning scalp hair, eyebrows (especially the outer third of the brow) and nails. Beyond the crippling fatigue, the morning joint stiffness, diffuse muscle and joint pain (fibromyalgia), the accompanying anxiety and depression can become debilitating. Dr Tania Ash reports. Our thyroid receptors are located in every tissue and organ assisting their growth and repair, and are…

The book, The Path of the Empress explores the feminine power of transformation and how women can strengthen their erotic aura, bring determination and flexibility into harmony, use anger strategically, and create alliances and take good care of themselves. Inspired by Wu Zhao and ancient Chinese texts, the authors describe the ten important stages of a woman’s life, and focus on exercises and magical herbal elixirs that open up the mind and soul to new insights and solutions. Following is an extract from Chapter Nine: Change of Power, Change of Life: Wood – Liver – Second Spring. How the Energy Works In the course of life, the innate vital energy or essence, which is stored in the kidneys, is increasingly expended. Once half of this innate energy is used up,…

Your Household Products May Be More Toxic Than You Think Processed food, toiletries and cosmetics are subject to a certain degree of regulation with prescriptive labelling laws making it relatively easy to identify potentially hazardous additives and ingredients. However, when it comes to household products such as bathroom cleaners, dishwashing liquid, window cleaner and air freshener; there are no regulations requiring the ingredients to be listed on the label. Let’s take a closer look at just a few of the products found in most homes and the potential hazards concealed behind the label. Air Fresheners Commercial air fresheners often contain a staggering blend of toxic chemicals including formaldehyde, hexylene glycol, paradichlorobenzene, xylene, phenol and naphthalene. Material safety data sheets and other scientific information indicate that these chemicals are highly toxic…