Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 57 i The Art of Healing

It's here The new conference It's slipped quietly in When I hear others Nervously question their work I feel strong I feel to breathe for them I feel to stand quietly Beside them I feel to step closer And let them know I care A new deeper compassion has arrived It's richer in colour It's softer in appearance It's lighter to the touch It's like velvet Comforting, plush and deep Yet the weave underneath Is strong and resilient The core has strengthened There's no need to roar It stands before itself Resolute and tall Wrapped in gossamer And as that falls away The Light is revealed…

The Aryan people of Dah or Brogpa (also known as Brokpa and Drokpa), are a small community of Dard people residing in the Jammu and Kashmir region of India. They live in the villages of Dhahanu, Darchik, and Gahanu - situated 163km southwest of Leh, the administrative capital of Ladakh. The Brogpas are said to be descendants of the Dards, and of Indo-Aryan stock, who came down from the Indus centuries ago. However there is another theory that they arrived from Gilgit, Pakistan in the seventh century. Another more popular theory suggests they are direct descendants of some of Alexander’s Army who who were left on the Indus river after his campaign was abandoned in 326 BC. At a population of 4000 they are one of the smallest ethnic groups…

When drugs fail and surgery is the only remaining option on the horizon, cannabis may provide an effective and safe natural alternative intervention for the debilitating inflammatory bowel disease known as Crohn’s disease. Crohn’s disease is a debilitating inflammatory bowel disease that chronically affects the lining of the digestive tract and is usually resistant to conventional drug-based treatment. Even with treatment the condition generally progresses to the point where surgery is required in 70% of sufferers. Surgery, however, does not usually provide a cure, with 30% undergoing surgery seeing a recurrence of symptoms within three years, and 60% within 10 years. Given the poor prognosis of those diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, some with the condition have been known to experiment with natural alternatives, with probiotics, boswellia and curcumin (a turmeric…

It’s referred to as the opposite of anorexia – muscle dysmorphia – but men with bodybuilding and other body image issues are up to four times more likely than females to be undiagnosed and it is a growing public health problem. In the first large-scale population study into male body image, researchers at the University of Sydney found that, although proportionately many more females than males are dissatisfied with their bodies, men suffer more psychologically. To-date, research into body-image problems has focused on adolescent girls, young women and anorexia. The new research shows males may be at high risk not only of extreme dieting and purging but are also disproportionately likely to suffer identified quality of life issues such as depression – partly as a result of perceptions of how…

There is no doubt that food plays a crucial role in our wellbeing. It provides building blocks and energy, and directly affects how our bodies and minds function. While there is not one diet that works for everyone, eliminating processed foods, sugar and refined grains should be the main priority of every healthy diet. High protein and low-carb diets are all the hype these days. For years we have been told that increased fat in the diet is the leading cause of obesity, heart attacks and other chronic Western diseases. However, many health experts now believe that a diet low in carbohydrates and higher in healthy fats and protein is essential in order to prevent illness, maintain a healthy weight and improve the quality of life. Below Kristina explains how…

By helping others, you will learn how to help yourselves.~ Aung San Suu Kyi ~ There can be no greater gift than that of giving one’s time and energy to help others without expecting anything in return.~ Nelson Mandela ~ If you think you’re too small to have an impact, try going to bed with a mosquito.~ Anita Roddick ~ Helping others is not limited to providing food, shelter, and so forth, but includes relieving the basic causes of suffering and providing the basic causes of happiness.~ Dalia Lama ~ Helping others is the way we help ourselves.~ Oprah Winfrey ~ If we stop thinking of ourselves and only of helping others, we will start to see a dramatic improvement in the suffering we are…

Colonics (also known as Colonic Irrigation and Colon Hydrotherapy) has been around since the beginning of time, with documentation that the Egyptians would carry out this therapy using hollow bamboo!! Some of the terminology you will hear around colonics includes enemas, coffee enemas and Open and Closed Systems of colonics. I will be talking about the Closed System of colonics in this article, which differs from the Open System by having a therapist present during the whole procedure. The Process Once the therapist has met with you and talked with you about your particular issues, she should explain to you how the system works. At this point, if you haven’t experienced colonics previously, and if you haven’t already completed your own research or had a talk with the clinic on…

Rosemarie Walmsley was born in Mauritius and migrated to Melbourne in 1968 when she was 14. Whilst she was drawn to healthy eating from an early age it wasn’t until she suffered from depression in the late 1990s that she became aware of the power of food and its medicinal potential. It was suggested to me that my depression was caused by an overload of pesticides, toxicity and additives, and that I should do a raw vegan cleanse for a period of ninety days. I immediately took this advice and to my surprise it enabled me to completely overcome my depression. My overall health also became greatly improved. I had renewed energy, and a feeling of youthfulness and vitality that felt permanent. Because of this experience I have since become…

Chances are in your lifetime you have consumed genetically modified organisims (GMO) in food which has left chemical residues in your body. So it is a good idea to eliminate these toxins to maintain optimal health. But detoxing won’t do all the magic. It is even better if you can avoid GMO’s and buy organic food or eat food with low pesticide residues. Below are 8 ways you can eliminate GMO’s from your body. 1. Eat More Fibre Frankly, fibre can eliminate most health and weight issues. It improves digestion, prevents and treats chronic diseases, enhances weight loss and lowers the risk of getting some cancers. Fibre also helps maintain good gut bacteria and helps to eliminate toxins through the colon. Try to get at least 25 grams of fibre…

With staggering food prices and shortages looming, there’s no better time to grow your own produce. Sadly, most greenhouses are expensive to build and impractical to heat during cold, wintery conditions. Thankfully, a solution is found with the Walipini. Developed for South American mountainous regions over twenty years ago, it allows edibles to be grown all-year-round – even in the most inhospitable weather. As an added bonus, it’s also outrageously inexpensive to construct. Unlimited Growing Season Known as a pit or underground greenhouse, the Walipini utilises the advantages of passive solar heating along with earth-sheltering properties. The structure makes use of thermal mass energy, creating a highly efficient and cost effective method for heating the interior. Regardless of where you live, produce can be grown all-year-round with the Walipini. According…

In the province of North Karelia in Finland, an unorthodox doctor defied conventional public-health wisdom to successfully overhaul regional cuisine and improve heart health. In 1972, an international team of academics identified a new and terrifying public-health crisis. In a far eastern province of Finland, middle-aged men were dropping dead of heart attacks at the highest known rates in the world. Up until then, public-health officials had focused on infectious diseases like flu epidemics and polio. If someone died of a heart attack, it was an untimely consequence of old age. However the Finnish Minster of Health recognised the uniqueness of the problem and appointed a 27-year old physician named Pekka Puska, with a master’s degree in social sciences, to lead a pilot project in the region to tackle the…

Age-related changes in total body water and the perception of thirst, are all factors that predispose people to dehydration. Dehydration can also be related to infections, people who are being fed protein intravenously, accidents following events that affect brain functioning, and medication-related insensible thirst (hypodypsia), all of which are common issues that are particularly relevant for elderly patients. Appropriate treatment therefore depends on accurately assessing and correcting any water deficit. Water constitutes 55–65% of body weight in a healthy human and all physiological processes are carried out within a water soluble environment that makes water abundance absolutely imperative to sustain life. There are several types of dehydration, with distinct causes and treatments. The Dehydration Council defines dehydration as; ‘‘a complex condition resulting in a reduction in total body water,’’ and…

TAOH Q: Given your knowledge and experience from working in the beauty/spa industry over the past fifteen years, where do you think the industry is headed with regard to the services that are provided? Is it still about luxury and being pampered or is the whole industry moving to more of a wellness model. And can you explain what this looks like? OCB A: If you look at how the beauty/ spa industry has evolved over many thousands of years, from the first wellness doctrines ever recorded such as Ayurveda, that looked at wellness on all levels of being including the topical, physical and energetic level, and of embracing multiple complementary theories and practices such as herbal remedies, physical movement and meditation, to what is happening now, we have come…

After my intense experience with the “Dark Night,” I came across a lot of information on the topic. It is a well-known term in spiritual and Christian literature, and my heart was opened by reading about the phenomena that I had known nothing about. As I kept reading, I felt more and more at peace. Many believe they have done something wrong when the symptoms of the “Dark Night” appear. It is normal to think that something is wrong with us, that we are losing our minds. We feel as if we are stuck in the dark, and that we will never see the light again. We feel completely alone. We keep looking for the light, as we are used to running away from the dark. This time we cannot…

At the beginning of the last century the Australian Government, along with entrepreneurs, opportunists and do-gooders, made a concerted effort to gain control of the lands of the Yolngu people across northern Arnhem Land, along the central part of northern Australia. While the long succession of would-be cattle barons, missionaries and Government agents failed to dispossess the Yolngu of their lands, the introduction of their new ways and different laws succeeded in eroding the heart of a complex culture that was once strong, defiant and self-sufficient. David Gulpilil, Australia’s finest indigenous actor, has spent his adult life trying to navigate his way through two very different, opposing cultures; that of his Yolngu people and that of the prevailing Australian culture. As the narrator in Another Country, he introduces us to…

If you are seeking enlightenment through meditation, or perhaps you are just looking to obtain a good night’s rest, you need a healthy pineal gland. Often referred to as the third eye, this small, pinecone-shaped endocrine organ located in the brain secretes and regulates melatonin, the hormone that regulates your circadian rhythms (your sleep-wake cycle) and certain sex hormones. Top 5 Foods for the Pineal Gland Calcification is an issue that occurs to everyone, but it is increased in individuals who eat a poor diet. The problem is that overexposure to fluoride and phosphorus destabilises your body’s mineral balance and can cause your pineal gland to calcify quickly (nearly half of Americans experience pineal calcification by the age of 18.) This disrupts your natural rhythms and hormones. So the best…

Genetically-modified organisms (GMOs) could soon go the way of the dodo bird, thanks to an emerging new crop management technology that capitalises on natural plant and soil microbes, rather than harsh chemicals and foreign genes, to combat pests and boost crop yields. The technology is known as "biologicals," and it's already proving to work better than the proprietary systems peddled by Big Biotech, which lock farmers into expensive contracts and bankrupt many of them when their systems fail. Pioneered by David Perry, CEO of Indigo Agriculture, biologicals are already being used as a treatment for cotton seeds in the southern U.S. over some 50,000 acres, using microbes specifically tailored to help cotton thrive in dry conditions. Many people are already familiar with soil microbes, which surround the roots of plants…

Adrenal fatigue is a term that certain groups have given to a condition wherein the body reacts to ongoing stress. Advocates of this syndrome believe that the adrenal glands can get tired when put to work for too many days, day-in and day-out. The symptoms include the need for stimulants, inability to fall asleep at night, difficulty waking up in the morning, cravings for salt and sugar and overall tiredness. Is Adrenal Fatigue Real? The answer to this question will depend on who you talk to. Adrenal fatigue symptoms are very real for people who are under a lot of stress and often experience extreme tiredness, an inability to fall asleep at night and increased cravings. But is this a real medical condition? The theory behind adrenal fatigue is that…

“Political irrationality is the greatest social problem humanity faces because it prevents us from solving other problems,” says Michael Huemer, Professor of Philosophy at University of Colorado. He argues that before problems can be solved, political leaders must take a rational approach, explaining that if our beliefs are only guided by automatic responses - a need to belong, maintaining a particular self-image, or a desire to avoid admitting past mistakes - it would be a pure accident if we were able to form measured views to solve problems. In the 21st century, politicians and policy makers will be better served if they have a greater awareness of the way their thoughts and emotions drive decisions. Neuroscience is validating that when our minds are calm, we cultivate the areas of the…

A diagnosis of cancer bears a tremendous psychological impact on a patient’s psyche. It is common for individuals diagnosed with cancer to develop anger, anxiety and/ or depression during the first year of the disease. The moderate rate of major depressive disorder and the high rate of minor depressive disorder are accompanied by sub-threshold forms of depression that are often at risk of being under-recognised and untreated. Manuela Boyle explains. Suppression of Anger Recent research has identified the extreme suppression of anger as the most common psychological trait amongst 160 elderly breast cancer patients. Other studies have confirmed that further to extreme anger, suppression, repression or the restraint of anger are additional emotions often exhibited by breast cancer patients. Epidemiological studies have reported that participation in psychological support groups is…

Spiralling through Change “If nothing ever changed, there’d be no butterflies.” A few weeks ago I woke up to discover that my neighbourhood was unrecognisable. Where proud little workman’s cottages had once presided, there was now land as barren and dusty as the moon and superimposed on that were ugly fences and hoardings. Yes, it was back to the future: construction to build tram infrastructure had begun. The thing about change is that even when we know it is coming, it’s still a shock when it happens. And the changes we don’t know about in advance – bombs going off in Paris, for instance – can leave us reeling. All of which got me thinking about the nature of change and my relationship to it. Let’s face it, there’s nothing…

The Buddha’s Forgotten Nuns This documentary tells the story of women struggling to gain their place as female monks (Bhikkhunis) within a male-dominated Buddhist tradition. The film’s director, Wiriya Sati, was raised a Buddhist in Australia, but when she sought the path of ordination, she (like so many other women) faced a wall of discrimination based on gender. If Buddhism is based on compassion and equality, why is sexism and discrimination prevalent? With appearances from His Holiness The Dalai Lama, Tibetan nun Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo, and Thai activist nun Dhammananda Bhikkhuni, The Buddha’s Forgotten Nuns attempts to discover how and why the role of women in Buddhism has changed so drastically and why so few women’s orders remain today. Dealing With The Demon After 75 years of a concerted global…