Bach Flower: Agrimony

Agrimony And Addiction

You can’t even called these people ‘poker-faced’ because they always have a smile plastered on their faces and never let the world see what’s going on inside – even though they might be crying. These are the world’s phenomenal pretenders and you’ll find then cracking a joke or laughing at someone else’s when their heart could be breaking inside. Why do they do this? They hate the world to be privy to the bad times that they could be going through. However, this takes its toll and they suffer in silence or drown their sorrows in drink when they are alone. So many addicts are actually drinking to keep up a pretense.

Physical

They’re the world’s happy and smiling people – or so they like to make everyone think. Think Bozo – enlivening lives with laughs and you’ll get what we mean. That is why they have an affinity for alcohol and drugs because it keeps them – or so they like to believe – in a perpetual high state
of happiness. However, this repression of feeling can result, in extreme cases, in heart attacks or strokes or in a break down. And then they could just crack a few jokes about it – even if they are in
very bad health. Agrimony makes them face up to things as they are and also makes them feel that it is not necessary to be happy all the time – it’s all right to be out of sorts too.

Mental

They lock up their troubles but the inner turbulence is not so easy to get rid of. They don’t want the world to know what they are really thinking so when they go out, they feel it’s time to paint on a smile and step out with a swagger. Agrimony gives them peace of mind besides just making them
stop pretending. They learn to face up to the way they feel and not run away from what goes on in their minds by always being on the move. Alcohol and drugs stop being the crutch to get them out of feeling low and they learn to give them up.

Emotional

Their heart could be breaking but they hide it – and hide it well, usually with a smile or a joke. With Agrimony, they learn to be in touch with and accept what they really feel without putting a moral spin of what they should feel and what they shouldn’t on it. They learn to see that problems, hurt, sadness and feeling under the weather are all acceptable and a part of life and they need to accept them, not refuse to acknowledge them and hide them away, hoping they will disappear.

Spiritual

They become more realistic and stop seeing everything religious and spiritual as only good and happy. They become more discerning, learning to accept what is good and discard what is bad simply because they are more in tune with themselves inside. Agrimony makes them whole and a lot more
human as they see that no one is perfect and that frailties are acceptable.


Reference: Bach Flower Remedies by Shalini Kagal (2012)
Website: http://ohmtalk.com
e-mail: shalini.kagal@gmail.com

Hendry Ford and Thomas Edison

Henry Ford dressed as a cowboy with Thomas Edison 1923

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Grapefruit

Ringing in the Ear / Tinnitus

Tinnitus is the perception of sound in the absence of an acoustic stimulus. It is more common in the elderly population yet it can occur in a person of any age. Unfortunately the cause is often not determined in every person.

The most common causes of tinnitus are noise-induced damage and age-related hearing loss. It is important to remember that tinnitus is not a disease but a symptom, and often serves as an important marker for other conditions. Causes include spine, cranial, or TMJ dysfunction, hyper - and hypo-tension, damaged or reduced circulation resulting in nerve damage, infection with resulting mucous, adrenal hypo-function, thiamine deficiency and food allergies /
sensitivities. People with an overactive thyroid, which leads to an increased heart rate, often suffer from tinnitus due to the consequent increased blood flow through the ears causing the ringing. Tinnitus is also one of the symptoms of Ménière's disease. Some people may experience tinnitus for a week or so after a cold or flu, this is annoying but usually subsides after the infection has gone.

There are a number of substances that can exacerbate tinnitus, due to their vasoconstriction properties. These include nicotine and caffeine. Clenching or grinding the teeth, a sign of increase stress, will often trigger ringing in the ears. Reducing stress and relieving TML dysfunction improves the tinnitus.

One of the theories for the mechanics of tinnitus suggests that damage to the fine hair cells of the inner ear from loud noise etc. causes them to remain in a constant state of irritation. Any type of stimulation of the auditory nerve is random and spontaneous instead of occurring as a direct consequence of sound wave transmitted to the inner ear.  These random electrical impulses are interpreted as noise, usually perceived as high-frequency ringing because the hair cells that are most frequently damaged respond in the high-frequency range.  The distress can be minimized by putting the person on an individualized nutritional protocol and by avoiding aggravating factors, such as nicotine and caffeine.


Reference: Weatherby, D. (2004). Signs and Symptoms Analysis from a Functional Perspective. Jacksonville, OR: Bear Mountain Publishing.

Why You Should Eat More Pineapple

Infant Massage

Anti-Inflammatory Pineapple Ginger Smoothie

Types of Bones According to Shape

There are many types of bones according to shape.

Long Bones
Long bones are longer than they are wide. Examples include: the bones of the limbs, except those of the wrist, hand, ankle, and foot (although the bones of the fingers and toes are effectively miniature long bones).

Short Bones
Short bones are generally cube-shaped. Examples include: the carpals bones in the wrist and tarsal bones in the ankle.

Flat Bones
Flat bones are thin, flattened bone and are frequently curved. Examples include: most of the skull bones, the ribs, and the sternum.

Irregular Bones
Irregular bones have complicated shapes. Examples include: some skull bones, the vertebra and the hip bones.

Sesamoid Bones
From the Latin, meaning 'shaped like a sesame seed'. Examples include: the patella (knee cap) and the pisiform bone of the wrist.



Reference: Walker, B. (2013). The Anatomy of Sports Injuries. Chichester, England. Lotus Publishing.

Neil Asher Advanced Trigger Point Techniques offers "The Anatomy of Sports Injuries" course, go here to check out what the course has to offer, along with other trigger point courses.

Reasons to Drink Green Tea

My Bro

What are the Types of Muscle Contractions?

There are three different types of muscle contractions. A brief description follows for all three:

1. Isometric Muscle Contraction
An isometric muscle contraction occurs when the muscle contracts but does not change in length. An example would be of this is if you were holding a box or weight in front of you, and held stationary. The biceps muscle contracts but does not change in length because the body is not moving up or down


2. Concentric Muscle Contraction
A concentric muscle contraction occurs when the muscle contracts and shortens at the same time. An example would be of this is lifting the body up into a chin-up position. The biceps muscles contracts and shortens as the body is raised up to the chin-up bar.


3. Eccentric Muscle Contraction
An eccentric muscle contraction occurs when the muscle contracts and lengthens at the same time. Example: the biceps brachii muscle contracts eccentrically to enable controlling the arm while lowering an object. While the arm is lowering (getting longer), it is still contracting in order to control it.


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All these tips and more can be found in the course offered by Niel Asher Advanced Trigger Point Techniques called The Anatomy of Sports Injuries.  Very good course with lots of valuable information. Click here to review the details of this course and many others.

When to Drink Water

Snoopy

Do You Feel Like Skipping Breakfast?

This is a sign of HCL or pancreatic enzyme need. This is a pattern seen in clients who eat a larger dinner very fat without chewing it properly. Unfortunately this causes the food to stay in the digestive system for a longer period of time, and in the morning they are still digesting and do not feel hungry. Encouragement of clients to break this habit by eating a smallish breakfast, having regular meals throughout the day and encouraging an earlier lighter dinner.
Zinc deficiency has been associated with hypochlorhydria and should therefor be assessed.

Enzymes break down food into compounds for absorption into the bloodstream. Food Enzymes has Betaine HCl, bile salt, bromelain, lipase, alpha amylase, pancreatin, papain and pepsin. Click here to see what else it can do for you.



Reference: Weatherby, D. (2004). Signs and Symptoms Analysis from a Functional Perspective. Jacksonville, OR: Bear Mountain Publishing.

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Black or Tarry Stools

Black or tarry stools are usually a result of bleeding into the upper GI tract. This is a serious sign and needs immediate investigation to rule out pathology (ulcer, Crohn's disease, colitis, cancer etc). Also need to ask whether there has been an ingestion of iron, charcoal, or bismuth products. Bismuth is found in over the counter medication, such as Pepto-Bismol and other nutritional supplements. When bismuth oxidizes in the GI tract it turns black, and could therefore stain the stool. A heavy meat diet can also cause black stools.

Reference: Weatherby, D. (2004). Signs and Symptoms Analysis from a Functional Perspective. Jacksonville, OR: Bear Mountain Publishing.

Bursitis or Tendonitis

Bursitis:
Bursitis is an acute or chronic inflammation of a bursa. A bursa is a pocket of connective tissue found adjacent to a joint. Lined by a smooth inner surface, it facilitates the gliding movements of muscled an tendons over bony prominence. Bursitis is inflammation of a bursa, which result in pain, tenderness, and stiffness and in some cases, swelling and redness. The inflammatory process can affect any bursa, but bursitis involving the shoulder, elbow, hip and knee are most common.

Although the cause of this condition is unknown, repetitive direct pressure over a bursa can be a predisposing factor. In particular, certain activities or occupations are associated with specific example because of the nature of the physical stress placed on the bursa: e.g. housemaid knee (kneeling), students elbow (leaning). Shoulder bursitis, the most common type, is characterized by an aching pain localized on the outside of the top of the shoulder. Lifting and backwardly rotating the arm intensifies the pain, Typically, there is stiffness in the morning, which diminished with heat and routine activities.

Tendonitis:
Tendonitis is an inflammation of the lining of the tendon sheath (tenosynovitis) and of the enclosed tendon (tendinitis). It occurs spontaneously or in association with injury, work and sports activities, certain types of arthritis or infection. As with bursitis, the shoulder is most commonly affected. The attachment of the biceps tendon at the shoulder is especially vulnerable to this condition. Bicipital tendinitis is manifested by aching along the biceps muscle that radiated up to the should and down to the forearm. The pain is worse with movement. Among other common locations for tendinitis are the elbow, wrist, hand, knee, and ankle.

Bursitis and tendonitis are basically due to an over-use and inflammation in the joint with a lack of essential nutrients. Balancing the overall structure of the body is essential and a general protocol for supporting the connective tissue is important.

Reference: Weatherby, D. (2004). Signs and Symptoms Analysis from a Functional Perspective. Jacksonville, OR: Bear Mountain Publishing.

Vegan Iron Sources

Luncheoun Meats

Luncheon meats, such as tined meats and hot dogs are packaged and processed food that contain preservatives, coloring, additives, flavor enhancers and coloring that are not compatible with a healthy diet. The average person on a standard Western diet consumes over 10 pounds of chemical additives a year, which puts an untold amount of stress on the body. The liver has to detoxify

and eliminate even the smallest amount of an additive. Over time this can place an enormous strain on the body's eliminative capacities.

One of the main problems is the sodium nitrite  found in about 99% of all processed tinned meats and hot dogs. Nitrites are added to make the meat bright red and also to kill spores of Clostridium botulinum. What is less known is the link between sodium nitrite and cancer. Nitrites become nitrosamines in the stomach, when then combine with stomach acid. Nitrosamines are a known carcinogen (cancer).

By staying away from processed and packaged meats, you will be much healthier.

Reference: Weatherby, D. (2004). Signs and Symptoms Analysis from a Functional Perspective. Jacksonville, OR: Bear Mountain Publishing

When Should You Do Stretching Exercises?

The question often arise: Should I stretch before or after exercise?" The simple answer is "both" and the reason is quite different for the two.

Before:
The purpose of stretching before exercise is to help prevent injury. Stretching does this by lengthening the muscles and tendons, which in turn increases our range of movement. This insures that we are able to move freely without restriction or injury occurring.

After:
Stretching after exercise has a different role. Its purpose is primarily to aid in the repair and recovery of he muscle and tendons. By the lengthening the muscles and tendons, stretching helps to prevent tight muscles and delayed muscle soreness that usually accompanies strenuous exercise.

After exercise this stretching is part of the cool-down. The cool-down will vary depending on the duration and intensity of the exercise undertaken, but it usually consist of 5-10 minutes of very light physical activity, and followed by 5-10 minutes of static stretching exercises.



Reference: Walker, B. (2013). The Anatomy of Sports Injuries. Chichester, England. Lotus Publishing.

Neil Asher Advanced Trigger Point Techniques offers "The Anatomy of Sports Injuries" course, go here to check out what the course has to offer, along with other trigger point courses.

Top Ten Tips to Improve Your Digestive Health

Dr. Liz Lipski’s Top Ten Tips 

to Improve your Digestive Health

1. Stay Hydrated. Our digestive system and body don’t work efficiently when they’re like a dry sponge. 

How can you expect to have easy bowel movements and remove waste from your body without fluids? Making sure that you get plenty of water every day is one of the most promising routes to digestive wellness. 

2. Exercise Regularly. A fitness routine is a good idea for everyone, but for those with digestive issues it’s especially helpful.  Exercise increases circulation while massaging and toning your entire digestive system. Aim for 20-60 minutes of activity at least 3 to 4 times a week.

3. Add Good Bacteria to Your Diet. It’s the life in food that gives us life. Add probiotic and prebiotic laden foods to your diet.  Probiotic rich foods include: Add some yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, kimchee, cultured vegetables, unpasteurized olives and pickles, amasake, black tea, raw milk cheeses, natto, raw vinegars, traditionally made sourdough breads and tempeh. Prebiotic rich foods include: asparagus, bananas, chickory, eggplant, fruit, garlic, green tea, honey, Jerusalem artichokes, leeks, onions, peas, yogurt, cottage cheese, and kefir.  You may choose to add a probiotic supplement to your routine.

4. Get your fiber. The daily recommendation for dietary fiber is 25 grams per day.  If you are like most people, you get about half of that. Fiber helps regulate your digestive system. Try such fiber-rich foods as legumes (all beans except green beans), whole grains (brown rice, whole wheat, bulghur, millet, buckwheat, rye, barley, spelt, oats), vegetables and fruits.

5. Slow Down and CHEW! Your teeth are part of your digestive system, too. When you use them to thoroughly mush up your food—think mashed potatoes—the rest of your digestive system doesn’t have to work overtime. 

6. Cook at Home. When you prepare foods in your own kitchen, you have better control of the ingredients and cooking methods, so you can make foods that are healthy and easily digested. An added bonus: cooking is also nurturing and rejuvenating.

7. Try Fermented Foods. Fermenting or culturing makes foods more digestible by actually “pre-digesting” them for you. The most common fermented foods are cultured dairy products, like yogurt, sourdough bread, pickles and sauerkraut. 

8. Cook Foods Well. When you’re sick, you naturally turn to soups and stews and well-cooked foods—they’re so simple that your system can digest them easily. But don’t limit these foods to when you’re ill; include them as part of your regular diet. For sweet desserts, try poached pears or applesauce.

9. Eat Smaller Meals. Skipping meals or waiting to eat until you’re famished can lead to overeating. You’ll find that eating smaller meals with healthy snacks in between aids your digestive system. 

10. Know Your Food Sensitivities. It’s estimated that 10-20% of us have food sensitivities, which can cause far reaching symptoms including: bloating, cramping, heartburn, indigestion, gas, stomach pain, chronic headaches, depression, inability to concentrate, aching muscles and joints and low energy levels. The most common food sensitivities include:  wheat, uncultured dairy products (like milk), eggs, citrus, pork and beef. 

Liz Lipski, PhD, CCN, CHN, is the Director of Doctoral Studies, and Education Director at Hawthorn University. She’s the author of Digestive Wellness and offers professional mentoring groups. www.innovativehealing.com  www.digestivewellnessbook.com and  www.accesstohealthexperts.com 

Upper Trapezius

Learn how to restore tone and strengthen this muscle in the Muscle Energy Technique

from Niel Asher Advanced Trigger Point

Check out this web site located here for more information.

Roll with It

Health Benefits of Grapes

What are Gallstones?

While there’s a ton of information on treatment and prevention of gallstones, today we’re going to focus on exactly what causes gallstones.

What’s the gallbladder?

To understand gallstones you first have to understand your gallbladder and the reason that you have one. Your gallbladder is an organ which plays an integral part in the digestive process, as it stores bile created by your liver. This is the remnant of the food that your liver can’t digest and absorb into your bloodstream, so your gallbladder is a pretty important organ when it comes to helping you stay healthy.

When a gallstone forms, it does so inside your gallbladder. They’re usually composed of cholesterol, salt, or discarded red blood cells. They also range wildly in size, from as small as a grain of sand to as large as an apricot. This means that many people can have gallstones and not know, because they’re not large enough to cause problems.

What causes gallstones?

Gallstones occur for a variety of reasons, usually based on the type of stone that you have. We’ll cover the three types of gallstones to show you what causes each.

Cholesterol stones are by far the most common, making up roughly 80 percent of all gallstones that occur, according to research from Harvard. Now, the bile in your gallbladder usually breaks down cholesterol, but a gallstone will occur when your liver is producing more cholesterol than the bile in your gallbladder can process.

Obviously, foods high in cholesterol aren’t good for your overall health, but they can create the potential of gallstones as well.

Bilirubin gallstones (the medical term for a gallstone made from discarded red blood cells) occur when you have other conditions that force your liver to produce more red blood cells than normal. Cirrhosis of the liver is a common cause of bilirubin gallstones, though other blood disorders cause these stones as well since all the materials in your body go through your liver at one point or another.

Just like with cholesterol stones, bilirubin stones form due to the inability of your gallbladder to process the excess red blood cells produced by your liver.

The last type of stone is formed entirely of concentrated bile. Your gallbladder can’t function as it should unless it’s constantly creating and discarding bile; essentially, getting rid of the old bile and creating new bile to break down more waste. If your gallbladder doesn’t destroy and create bile on a regular basis, the old bile will crystallize and form gallstones.

Gallstones aren’t a health problem you want to deal with, but knowing what causes them should help you avoid the situations in which they arise. Knowing how your gallbladder works, and what makes it cause stones, can and should influence your dietary and lifestyle choices

Click here to see more post from Nature's Sunshine products.

15 High-Fiber Foods

15 Healthy High-Fiber Foods That Make You Feel Full and Satisfied

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Oatmeal contains soluble fiber, which contributes to keeping cholesterol levels in check, and insoluble fiber, which helps you feel satisfied.

Just ¼ cup of almonds has 4.5 grams of fiber.

Store-bought hummus has about 2.7 grams of fiber in a three-tablespoon serving.

One cup of raspberries is great and has 8 grams of fiber.

About 7 large carrots have 3 grams of fiber.

Each medium-sized apple has 4.4 grams of fiber.

With 5.5 grams of fiber in just one medium-sized pear, this fruit is always a solid choice.

Barley has the highest fiber content of all whole grains.

One avocado has about 13.5 grams of fiber.

2 cups of raw kale contains 4.8 grams of fiber.

Brussels sprouts have about 4.1 grams of fiber in one cup (cooked).

One cup of boiled broccoli has 5.1 grams of fiber.

One medium-sized cooked artichoke has about 10.3 grams of fiber.

Reference: Reposted from Nature's Sunshine Products Blog. Go here to see more blog post.

7 Sources of Protein for Vegetarians

One of the biggest concerns many people have when going on a vegetarian diet is finding reliable, tasty, and affordable sources of protein. While those making the switch to vegetarianism, there’s no denying that beef and other red meat is a cheap, effective way to get the protein your body needs.

However, if you’re ready to make the switch and become a vegetarian, there are some legitimately viable options for protein for vegetarians. Let’s take a look at just a few of them, to give you an idea of the breadth of options available that can suit any dietary need and want.

Supplements
Using dietary supplements requires research on your part to ensure that you’re getting a supplement that actually delivers on its promises – and doesn’t contain any extra, unnecessary – and potentially unhealthy – ingredients. One of those great supplements is the Love and Peas protein powder we offer here at Nature’s Sunshine. It’s one of the most popular protein replacements for vegetarians, as it contains 20 grams of vegetable protein per serving, 75% of your required daily dose of vitamins and minerals, a powerful antioxidant blend, and is friendly to anyone who is lactose or gluten intolerant.

The wide range of applications for this product just underscore the fact that finding great, effective, and healthy ways to replace protein in a vegetarian diet isn’t as difficult as you might have originally thought.

                                                                     Quinoa

If you’re a fan of couscous, you’ll likely enjoy quinoa. It looks very similar to couscous, but it’s far more nutritious. It’s so packed full of important proteins, NASA hopes to grow it on space flights between planets, should we ever advance that far in our space travels.

It’s used in a ton of different foods, too. From muffins to cookies and even a hearty breakfast casserole, quinoa is yet another great source of protein.

Buckwheat
In 1 cup of cooked buckwheat, you’ll get 6 grams of protein – not a bad haul at all considering that this isn’t actually wheat, but a cousin to rhubarb. It’s most often used, though, as a gluten-free wheat substitute. The seeds of buckwheat are ground into a flour, which is great for pancakes, chili, and even making pasta noodles. Buckwheat’s even been proven to help balance out your blood sugar and improve circulation. Most importantly, it packs the protein punch you’ll miss out on if you cut meat entirely from your diet without any viable replacement options with which you can work.

Beans and rice
Eventually we had to arrive here, right? The best thing about beans and rice is the fact that they’re cheap, easy to make, and packed full of other nutrients in addition to the protein your body needs to properly function. In fact, beans and rice, when served and eaten together, contain a protein content just about equal to that of a similar serving of meat.

Sound impossible? While a healthy dose of skepticism is good to have, especially in matters where diet are concerned, this fact is true. In addition rice is full of carbs, so when you get finished with a big workout, or you need to carb-load for a big run in a week, you can pack it on with rice and beans and know you’re getting the right type of carbs, in addition to the protein that makes this a go-to meal for vegetarians.

The ol’ PB&J
The peanut butter and jelly sandwich is a staple at nearly every school in America, and many others across the world. It’s tasty, quick, and best of all? There’s 15

grams of protein per sandwich, when that sandwich is made with two slices of bread and at least two tablespoons of peanut butter.

If you want to make things a bit more interesting, you can toast some wheat bread and slather all-natural peanut butter on it for a higher-calorie meal. While high calories may or may not be your favorite thing, the combination of wheat bread and peanut butter deliver your essential amino acids – which are coincidentally building blocks to help your body process and digest proteins – and those healthy fats as well. Peanut butter isn’t quite in the “superfood” category like kale, but it’s pretty close, and for good reason.

Eggs
For the traditionalist who loves a hearty breakfast, eggs are another solid protein option. With roughly 6 grams of protein per egg, you know that combining them with a bit of soy milk to make scrambled eggs and wheat toast with peanut butter is one protein-packed meal. They’re also high in the right kinds of fats, keep your hunger urges under control so you can actually eat less and still feel full, and they contain a nutrient that plays a role in both the burning of fat and the health of your brain.

While going vegetarian may sound daunting at first, there are a lot of different ways to get the same nutrition you would if you continued to eat meat. No matter your reason for becoming a vegetarian, you can rest assured that with a bit of work and the desire to get creative, you’ll have tasty, healthy, sustainable options for protein on your dinner table each night.

Soy
This is another staple on the vegetarian food circuit. While some people have to use soy-based products due to a problem with lactose, its been a go-to for protein for a long time. You can make just about anything from soybeans, so the products are wide-ranging which is good if you like a really diverse diet or are a bit picky in what you eat.

From dry roasted soybeans, which pack a whopping 18 grams of protein, to soy milk or the traditional Indonesian dish consisting of fermented soy – called tempeh, which is a great substitute for lunch meat on sandwiches, surprisingly enough – the only limits to what you can do with soy are what you think you can do.

Reference: Reprinted from Nature's Sunshine Blog post.

The Anatomy of Sports Injuries Course Information

This course takes a fundamental approach, bringing you inside the body to show exactly what is happening when a sports injury occurs.

At the heart of The Anatomy of Sports Injuries are 300 full-color illustrations that show the sports injury in detail, along with 200 line drawings of simple stretching, strengthening, and rehabilitation exercises that can be used to speed up the recovery process.

This is a tremendously useful course for every manual therapist interested in furthering their knowledge, and treat a wide range of common sports injuries.

Includes
Anatomy of Sports Injuries illustrated course text (Full Exam Edition) + Exam Pack + Certification.

Suitability
Manual Therapists and Exercise Professionals

Go HERE to find this course and get started to day

Stomach Upset by Taking Vitamins

This is a clear sign of hydrochorhydria and a need for supplemental HCL. Low stomach acid can cause discomfort when taking supplemental vitamins. Hydrochlorhydria is a very common problem and leads to a number of digestive complaints including H. Pylori infection, bowel toxemia, dysbiosis, pancreatic insufficiency and leaky gut syndrome.

Hydrochlorhydria has a number of possible etiologies that include:

• Sympathetic dominance
• Antacid drug use
• Excess sugar and refined foods
• Chronic overeating
• Excess carbohydrate and alcohol consumption
• Nutrient deficiencies, especially zinc and thiamin
• H-Pylori infection

Many of the above can lead to irritation of the gatric mucosa causing a decreases output of acid from the parietal cells. Sensitivity to supplements is one of the potential side effects of this process.

Clinically many people with hydrochlorhydria are sensitive to zinc and feel nauseated taking supplemental zinc. Zinc deficiency is strongly associated with hydrochlorhydria because zinc is an essential nutrient in the production of HCL from the parietal cells. We need to assess for zinc levels in all clients suffering from swallowing their supplements, they maybe in need of supplemental HCL.

Reference: Weatherby, D. (2004). Signs and Symptoms Analysis from a Functional Perspective. Jacksonville, OR: Bear Mountain Publishing.

What is Overtraining?

Overtraining is the result of giving the body more work or stress than it can handle. Over training occurs when a person experiences stress and physical trauma from exercise faster than their body can repair the damage.

Suffering from one or two of the following signs and symptoms does not automatically mean an athlete is suffering from overtraining. However, if a number (say 5 or 6) are presents, it may be time to take a closer look at the volume and intensity of the current workload.

Physical Signs and Symptoms

• Elevated resting pulse / Heart rate
• Frequent minor infections
• Increased susceptibility to olds and influenza
• Increases in minor injuries
• Chronic muscle soreness or joint pain
• Exhaustion
• Lethargy
• Weight loss
• Appetite loss
• Insatiable thirst or dehydration
• Intolerance to exercise
• Decreased performance
• Delayed recovery from exercise

Psychological Signs and Symptoms

• Tired, drained or lacking energy
• Reduces ability to concentrate
• Apathy or lack of motivation
• Irritability
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Headaches
• Insomnia
• Inability to relax
• Twitchy fidgety, or jittery

The most common sign and symptoms of overtraining are a loss of motivation in all areas of life, plus a feeling of exhaustion. If these two warning signs are present, plus a couple of he other listed signs and symptoms, then it may be time to take a short rest before things get out of hand.


Neil Asher Advanced Trigger Point Techniques has a course called The Anatomy of Sports Injuries. Go here to learn about this technique and how to apply it to your practice.  While there check out some of he other courses that are offered.

Reference: Walker, B. (2013). The Anatomy of Sports Injuries. Chichester, England. Lotus Publishing.

Carrot Patch?

Benefits of Muscle Energy Techniques

These are the benefits of Muscle Energy Techniques

• Restoring normal tone in hypertonic muscles
• Strengthening weak muscles
• Preparing muscles for subsequent stretching
• Increasing joint mobility
• Boosting local circulation
• Improving musculoskeletal function

If you want to learn more about this subject, click on the link below and sign of for this great course.

Neil Asher Advanced Trigger Point Techniques has a course called Muscle Energy Techniques. Go here to learn about this technique and how to apply it to your practice.  While there check out some of he other courses that are offered.


Reference: Gibbons, M. (2011). Muscle Energy Techniques. Chichester, England. Lotus Publishing.

Sports Injury Prevention - The Warm Up

If improving sporting performance is your goal, then there is no batter why to do that than by staying injury free. When it comes to sports injury, prevention is better than cure.

Warm-up activities are a crucial part of any exercise or sports training. The importance of a structured warm-up routing should not be underestimated when it comes to the prevention of sports injury.

An effective warm-up has a number of key elements. These elements should all work together to minimize the likelihood of sports injury from physical activity.

There are 4 key elements which should be included to ensure an effective and complete warm-up.

1. General Warm-up
This should consist of light physical activity, and should last 5 - 10 minutes and result in a light sweat.

The aim of the general warm-up is to elevate the heart rate and respiratory rate. This in turn increases the blood flow and helps with the transportation of oxygen and nutrients to be working muscles. It also helps to increase the muscle temperature, allowing for a more effective static stretch.

2. Static Stretching
This is a very safe and effective form of stretching. During this part of the warm-up, static stretching should include all the major muscle groups and should last 5 - 10 minutes.

Static stretching is performed by placing the body in a position where the muscle (or group of muscles) to be stretched is under tension. Both the opposing muscle group and the muscle to be stretched are relaxed. Then slowly the body is moved to increased the tension of the muscle to be stretched. At this point that positions is held or maintained to allow the muslce and tendons to lenghten.

This second part helps to lengthen both the muscles and tendons, which is turn allows the joints a greater range of movement. This is very important in the prevention of muscle and tendon injuries.

The proper completion of elements one an two prepare the athlete for the more specific and vigorous activities necessary for elements three and four.

3. Sport -Specific Warm-up
After parts 1 and 2 are done, it is now safe to move into part 3 of the warm-up. During this part of the warm-up, more vigorous activity should be employed. Activities should reflect the type of movements and actions that will be required during the sporting event.

4. Dynamic Stretching
Finally, a correct warm-up should finish with a series of dynamic stretches. Dynamic stretching is for muscular conditioning as well as flexibility and is really only suited for well-trained, highly conditioned athletes. A note of caution: this form of stretching carries with it a high risk of injury if used incorrectly. Dynamic stretching should only be used after a high level of general flexibity has been established.

Dynamic stretching involved a controlled, soft bounce or swinging motion to move a particular body part to the limit of it range of movement. The force of the bounce is gradually increases but should never become radical or uncontrolled.

This is the final part of the warm-up and should result in the athlete reaching a physical and mental peak.  At this point the athlete is most prepared for the recourse of their of their sport or activity.


Reference: Walker, B. (2013). The Anatomy of Sports Injuries. Chichester, England. Lotus Publishing.

Neil Asher Advanced Trigger Point Techniques offers "The Anatomy of Sports Injuries" course, go here to check out what the course has to offer, along with other trigger point courses.

Are You a Vegan (No dairy, meat, fish, or eggs)?

Vegans tend to be deficient in B12, an essential nutrient that is difficult to obtain with a vegan diet. Many vegans consume a large portion of their calories from carbohydrates. A high intake of carbohydrate has been linked with an increased risk of developing hypochlorhydria. Adequate stomach acid is essential for the proper absorption of vitamin B12. Vegans are therefore compromised on the supply end and the digestion end of the B12 issue.

A through assessment of the upper digestive tract is essential in the vegan client to ensure that the correct mechanism for adquate B12 digestion and absorption is in place. ZInc deficiency has been associated with hypochlorhydria and should also be assessed.



Reference: Weatherby, D. (2004). Signs and Symptoms Analysis from a Functional Perspective. Jacksonville, OR: Bear Mountain Publishing.

Tips to Help Patients (You) Stop Smoking

• List reasons why you want to quit smoking; review it daily
• Set a specific day to quit; tell 10 friends; then do it
•     Discard all cigarettes, butts, matches, and ashtrays
•     Use substitutes: raw vegetables, fruits, gum, Play with pencil to occupy fingers
•     Take one day at a time
•     40 million Americans have quit; so CAN you
•     Visualize yourself as a nonsmoker with more money, pleasant breath, unstained teeth, and sense of self control
•     Join a support group; contact local American Cancer Society chapter, and go
•     Relax: use deep breathing exercises
•     Avoid situation you associate with smoking
•     Reward yourself daily in a positive way with money saved.

Congratulations - you are on your way. Keep up the fantastic work.

Tiny Human

Chiropractic Care May Help Reduce Falls Risk for Older Adults

Falls are a major source of concern for older adults and caregivers.  The statistics can be daunting.  Did you know:

·        More than 80% of injury-related hospitals admissions for people over 65 are a result of a fall.

·        Falls are the leading cause of injury-related deaths in older adults.

·        Each year, an estimated 30-40% of community-dwelling older adults will have at least 1 fall.

·        The rate of falls rises quickly with age (especially over 80) or the presence of lower limb weakness, gait deficits, balance deficits or a history of falling.

Many of the risk factors are a result of the general deterioration that comes from aging.  For a specific incident, most falls have multiple contributing factors and cannot be attributed to a single specific cause.  

Few studies have explored how chiropractic can influence falls risk.  However, there is basic science evidence that indicates chiropractic care may “influence sensory and motor systems that potentially have an impact on some of the neuromuscular risk factors associated with falling.” 

Researchers in New Zealand completed a study of 60 community-dwelling adults over 65 years of age to determine what impact 12 weeks of regular chiropractic care would have on the sensorimotor functions commonly linked with fall risk.

Participants were divided into 2 groups: a control group and a chiropractic group.  Participant’s sensorimotor function and quality of life were evaluated for the study purposes.  Assessments were made when the study initially began, at 4 weeks and at the 12 week conclusion. 

The chiropractic group received care from one of 12 local chiropractors.  The specific type of care each participant received was determined by the individual chiropractor based on the medical history and exam findings.   The control group continued their regular health care routines or any other treatment they had need of during the study time frame. 

At the conclusion of the study, the chiropractic group had improved significantly as compared to the control group in multiple sensorimotor tasks as well as the physical component of health-related quality of life. 

Differences in the 4 and 12 week assessments revealed a substantial degree of improvement between those evaluations.  This may indicate that longer-term care is needed to have a significant effect on some functions.  

With an improvement in multiple sensorimotor functions, it is possible that the participants would subsequently have a lower falls risk.  How much of an effect as well as exactly how chiropractic impacts these factors is not fully understood.

Because this is an area that has not been studied at length, more research is needed to corroborate these results as well as to determine if these sensorimotor improvements translate into an actual lower occurrence of falls, and to gather longer term data. 

SOURCE: Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, Vol. 39, Number 4; “Effectiveness of Chiropractic Care to Improve Sensorimotor Function Associated With Falls Risk in Older People: A Randomized Controlled Trial”. Full Article Here

Large Intestine Meridian

General Information:  This meridian function is to absorb the end product of digestion and hold the wast materials until they can be eliminated. Approximately 80% of the material entering the large intestines is absorbed since it is mostly the water.  The large intestine Meridian function is very important in the metabolism of water, as it extracts water from waste materials to either re absorb or send on to the bladder.

It is crucial in the elimination of waste materials, as imbalance in the large intestine function many result in physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual toxicity.

Functions:  Absorption of fluids, elimination of solid wastes

Physical Branches:  Nose, skin, body hair, mucus

Emotion:  Grief, Guilt, and Regret

Sound:  Crying and Sighing

Season:  Autumn

Associated Element:  Metal

Color:  Off white

Meridian Type:   Yang

Time of Day:  5 - 7 AM

Muscles Associated with Meridian:  Fascia Lata, Hamstrings, Quadratus Lumborum

How to Trace:  Bilaterally, from the thumb side end of the index finger, up the hand and outside of the back of the arm, across the shoulder to the nose.

Watch the Video Here 

Lung Meridian

General Information:  This meridian performs vital function in TFH. While survival may be difficult without water and food for more than a week or two, we usually cannot live without Aires from more than about three minutes. Each lung is an essential organ that serves the primary function of respiration and the exchange of gases (mainly oxygen and carbon dioxide), operating as the foremost and fundamental source of life energy as well as an important channel of elimination.

The lungs also supply the air flow necessary to speak, sing, and make other vocal sounds, In addition to drawing air (oxygen), the lung meridian function is said to draw in to release Chi, and regulate the status of the Chi in the whole Soul.

Functions:  Accepts pure fluids from spleen, which are then mixed with air, and circulated through the meridians, circulates Wei Qi

Physical Branches:  Nose, skin, body hair, mucus

Emotion:  Grief, Guilt, and Regret

Sound:  Crying and Deep Sighing

Season:  Autumn

Associated Element:  Metal

Color:  Pure white

Meridian Type:  Yin

Time of Day:  3 - 5 AM

Muscles Associated with Meridian:  Anterior Serratus, Coracobrachialis, Deltoids, Diaphragm

How to Trace:  Bilaterally, from the fleshy space below shoulder and above the rib cage, down the inside of the font of the arm to the end of the thumb.

Watch the Video Here 

Liver Meridian

General Information:  This meridian is associated with the liver which has more functions than any other organ. Each cell has more programmed instructions than the most sophisticated computer program, and the liver meridian may activate a large number of the absorption and detoxification instructions. The liver is the largest physical organ and is most active while you sleep. The liver is said to store blood while the body is at rest, and also to exert particular influence over the lower abdomen, and so is considered of central importance in women's menstrual cycle and sexuality.

Liver meridian function is involved in digestion, metabolism, storage, and distribution of nourishment, filtration, detoxification, and immune function.

Functions:  Stores the blood, governs the free flow of qi

Physical Branches:  Eyes, tendons, tears, nails

Emotion:  Anger and Resentment

Sound:   Shouting

Season:  Spring

Associated Element:  Wood

Color:  Deep green

Meridian Type:  Yin

Time of Day:  1 - 3 AM

Muscles Associated with Meridian:  Pectoralis Major Sternal, Rhomboids

How to Trace:  Bilaterally, from the inside (lateral side) of the big toe, up the inside leg to the hip, backward on the hip, up around the waist and forward along the rib cage halfway to sternum.

Watch the  Video Here 

Gallbladder Meridian

General Information:  This meridian is associated with the small organ function of the gallbladder that stores and concentrates the bile from the liver, which aids in digestion, particularly of fats. It constructs and releases bile when fats reach the duodenum from the stomach. On a cellular level this same function of maintaining fat metabolism related to the subtle energy of the Gallbladder Meridian.

Functions:  Stores and excretes bile, one of the Six Extraordinary Organs

Physical Branches:  Eyes, tendons, tears, nails

Emotion:  Anger and Resentment

Sound:  Shouting

Season:  Spring

Associated Element:  Wood

Color:  Yellow green

Meridian Type:  Yang

Time of Day:  11 PM - 1 AM

Muscles Associated with Meridian:  Anterior Deltoid, Popliteus

How to Trace:  Bilaterally, from the outside corner of the eye, back to ear then up and loop forward around the forehead, back behind the ear, up to the frontal eminences, down again behind ear, behind the shoulder, behind arm, done the side of the chest, hip and leg to the end of the 4th toe.

Watch the Video Here

Triple Warmer Meridian

General Information:   This meridian takes the form of three "heats", the heat of metabolism, maintaining body "heat", and the heat of the "fight or flight" or life passions. The function is associated wit various interactions of gland secretions involved in our various human passions. The adrenal glands  function in concert with other hormonal glands, particularly in fighting or running away in a monument of crisis, or recovery from injury, illness, malfunction and generalized stress.

Four of the muscles that are related to this meridian function are muscles involved in running, pushing off, or getting on your toes, all essential fight or flight / passion muscles.  The pituitary gland  works in concert with other endocrine glands that have functions related to the heat of life passion, procreative activity and sexual pleasure, life and death circumstances, cause worth suffering no dying for, etc.

This meridian is a somewhat mysterious one in that it is aid to have organ function in the Chinese energy system, yet it is not associated with a specific organ. It is said to have function, but no form, or it is alternatively defined as having its function through the interactions of three different groups of organs found in the thoracic, upper and lower abdominal areas.

Functions:  Regulates transformation and transportation of bodily fluids.

Physical Branches:  Blood, tongue, throat, sweat, facial complexion

Emotion:  Joy, Love and Hate

Sound:  Laughing

Season: Summer

Associated Element:  Fire

Color:  Orange red

Meridian Type:  Yang

Time of Day:  9 - 11 PM

Muscles Associated with Meridian:  Teres Minor, Sartorius, Gracillis, Soleus, Gastrocnemius

How to Trace:  Bilaterally, from end of ring finger, up back of hand and arm, across shoulder and around back of ear ending at the eyebrow

Watch the Video Here 

Circulation / Sex Meridian

General Information:   This meridian pertains to the many functions that are intimately associated with the hormones and chemical messengers related to all reproduction whether it be appropriate balance in cell production or sexual recreation. It has to do with the nourishment of nes cells and the preparation for cell reproduction. It involves the menstruation cycles, ovarian, and uterine functions and prostate and testicular functions. This include the pleasures of sexual love. It also has to do with passing on genetic, cultural and personals heritage.

The Circulation-Sex Meridian is sometimes called the Pericardium Meridian and related to the muscular function of the heart and blood vessels, that which keeps the beat steady and appropriate for the external and internal environments.

Functions:  Protects the heart

Physical Branches:  blood, tongue, throat, sweat, facial complexion

Emotion:  Joy, Love and Hate

Sound:  Laughing

Season:  Summer

Associated Element:  Fire

Color:  Purple red

Meridian Type:  Yin

Time of Day:  7 - 9 PM

Muscles Associated with Meridian:  Gluteus Medius, Adductors, Piriformis, Gluteus Maximus

How to Trace:  Bilaterally, from the outside nipple down the middle of the inside of the arm to the end of the thumb side of the middle finger

Watch the  Video Here 

Kidney Meridian

General Information:  This is involved in controlling the volume, composition, and pressure of fluids in all the cells as well as the whole Soul and it important in growth, development and reproductive functions. Blood flows through the kidneys at its highest pressure, toxins are filtered out, and nourishing materials are directed to where they are needed.

Water is symbolic of mystery, emotional and spirit. Kidney Meridian Function is involved in the balance of these aspects of life. In Chinese medicine the Kidney is also said to be a storehouse of life force and has a strong spiritual aspect.

Functions:  Stores prenatal essence, filters the blood

Physical Branches:  Ears, bones, urine, head and pubic hair, brain, marrow

Emotion:  Fear and Anxiety

Sound:  Groaning

Season:  Winter

Associated Element:  Water

Color:  Light flame blue

Meridian Type:  Yin

Time of Day:  5 - 7 PM

Muscles Associated with Meridian:  Psoas, Upper Trapezius, Illiacus

How to Trace:  Bilaterally, from the ball of the foot, around the ankle, up the inside of the leg past the inside of the knee, past the edge of the pubic bone, up the abdomen and chest to the inside end of the collarbone.

Watch the Video Here