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Columbus Polarity Center for Integrative Health and Wellness Monthly Newsletter: November 2007 Volume V Issue XI |
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Columbus Polarity Center specializes in complementary therapies and holistic healthcare.
There is a wide range of qualified practitioners available for Polarity Therapy, Cranial Sacral, Rolfing, Reiki, Herbal Therapy, Aromatherapy, relaxation massage and Massage Therapy by LMTs. Our practitioners work with an integrative healthcare focus and often will provide the client with various options that will meet their needs. Many of the practitioners work together to provider the best preventive care for the client. Please check our website www.columbuspolarity.com for more details.
Practitioners at Columbus Polarity are not Medical Doctors, Dieticians, or Mental Health practitioners, nor do they diagnose or treat illnesses or prescribe any type of medications. For medical needs consult your physician.
Article of the Month
Open up your medicine cabinet and check to see if you have any of the following products: Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold Medicine, Alka-Seltzer Plus Children's Cold Medicine, BC Allergy Sinus Cold Medicine, Comtrex Deep Chest Cold and Congestion Relief, Contac 12-Hour Cold Capsules, Coricidin "D," Dimetapp Cold and Cough, Naldecon DX-Pediatric Drops, Robitussin CF, Triaminic DM Cough Relief, and, for all you diet lovers, how about Acutrim and Dexatrim?
Unfortunately, if you answer yes to any of these, you can be at risk for a stroke or an early death, especially if you're a woman.
In October 2006, a panel of scientific experts, who gathered evidence from a five-year study at Yale University, recommended that the Food and Drug Administration ban an ingredient in many decongestants and appetite suppressants. Fifty years of using this ingredient in hundreds of over-the-counter drugs, mostly cold remedies, proved fatal for many young women while also causing hemorrhagic strokes leading to permanent disability.
The culprit is phenylpropanolamine, or PPA, the key ingredient in most cold remedies and some prescription decongestants and a major player in all suppressants. Dozens of our medicines contain PPA and many are intended for children. Six billion doses of these health hazards were sold last year alone, according to the FDA.
The Yale study found significant evidence of increased risk of certain types of strokes in women who had taken cold remedies or appetite suppressants containing phenylpropanolamine. It is likely that the FDA will ban PPA, which is the active ingredient in more than 35 of these brand-name medicines. When this ban takes effect, drug companies that produce these products might reformulate them and slip them in as prescription medications. How convenient--your doctor will be able to write you a prescription for that potential stroke.
Dr. Eric Brass, chair of the Department of Medicine at UCLA, told the New York Times, "If asked by one of my patients, I would recommend they use alternative products rather than risk using any phenylpropanolamine."
According to the Times, Dr. Robert DeLap, of the Food and Drug Administration's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, urged consumers to "read carefully the labels of all products involved in the Yale study." A better suggestion would be to read the labels, immediately discard these products and then write your representatives about the lack of attention the FDA is giving to the dangers of many over-the-counter drugs.
The tragedy is that the FDA should have known about the hazards of PPA for decades. The FDA received reports on PPA from many users who were suffering from hemorrhagic strokes--bleeding in the brain, also associated with high blood pressure--since 1969. It took the agency 31 years to conclude that PPA did not "meet the burden of proof for safety." The question is, how many strokes, disabilities and deaths resulting from the use of PPAs have gone unreported and unnoticed? Have you noticed that some of these over-the-counter drugs are now being taken off the shelves and put under the pharmacists' control?! Also, recent studies indicate that many of these same drugs should not be administered to children under 6 years of age. (CNN Report)
The holistic and alternative medicine community has been vocal about PPA. Hulda Clark, in her powerful book Cure for all Diseases, refers to the "propanol" base of the PPAs, warning us about their dangers.
According to medical researcher, Dr. P. Yutsis, more than 150,000 Americans died last year from taking the wrong prescription drugs or from the serious side effects of drugs. A month later, every major newspaper is flashing warning signals about the dangers of medicine containing PPA--which Americans use on a consistent basis! The nightmare behind this American drug dream is that a huge number of children's cold and decongestant medicines contain PPAs. Not only will PPAs affect the long term health of children, but may be the link in the rise of childhood asthma and circulatory problems.
Especially for children, alternatives such as herbal and homeopathic remedies for colds, coughs and congestion work so well that the use of these drugs is quite unnecessary. Unfortunately, it is easier to pop just one spoonful of PPAs into a child that will give eight hours of relief than to give 10 drops of homeopathics three to five times daily. What problems have we created for our children by taking the easy way out?
I was mad and sad reading a Times report called "Stroke Risk Seen in Ingredient Used For Cold Remedies." There has never been more need for consumers to take back their healthcare than now. (2005) Conscious connections to holistic and preventative healthcare is a must. Learning to use non-invasive therapies and taking time to let them process will be movement in the right direction. Consumers need to become health detectives and handle their healthcare choices very suspiciously--meaning, question all involved and leave no stone unturned, Sherlock!
Health isn’t just being free of sickness. Quality health care is a process. To take that first step in this process, go to your medicine cabinet and ditch every single medicine that contains phenylpropanolamine--now!
May the long time sun shine upon you.
Mary Jo Ruggieri, PhD, RPP, is the Director of the Ohio Institute of Energetic Studies (Cleveland and Columbus Polarity Schools), which is a state registered school for Polarity Therapy training and Energy Science studies. For information and classes visit www.ohioinstitute.com.
Are we aware yet how important magnesium is to the quality of our health? According to the American Heart Association Newsletter (April 30, 2005), studies indicate that not having enough magnesium in your diet may increase your chances of developing artery disease:
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (news release Dec 2, 2004) researchers found that magnesium helps regulate a key brain receptor that plays an important role in memory and a magnesium deficiency may result in a diminished learning and memory capacity. The study also states that an abundance of magnesium intake can improve such cognitive functions. MIT continues on saying that magnesium deficiency may result in reduced ability to learn and memorize, also cognitive function may be improved by an abundance of magnesium!
Sidebar: It may be wise for school personnel to understand the valuable role that magnesium plays in learning. Excellent sources of magnesium in our diets are dark green leafy vegetables, preferably eaten raw or slightly steamed which preserves the maximum amount of magnesium in the plant. So how many school age children run to the table for large spinach salads or steamed kale or drink wheatgrass for lunch?! In essence it may be beneficial to determine how much magnesium a child is getting in her diet.
Here are a few research studies about magnesium:
Magnesium Good For Old Bones
RealAge Smart Search ( BETA), the leading expert driven health search. Learn more magnesium good for old bones. Dec 01, 2005 12:40 PM New York ( Reuters health) – A higher intake of...
http://www.realage.com/news_features/articler.aspx?id=12191
Diet Rich In Magnesium Good For Health
RealAge Smart Search ( BETA), the leading expert driven health search. Learn more Diet Rich in Magnesium Good for Health by Edelson HealthDay reporter Monday, March 27
http://healthlibrary.epnet.com/GetContent.aspx?token=d291a9f5-2226-447d-88bf-2cb7e6905ec3&chunkiid=120121
Magnesium Infusion Helps Kids With Asthma Attacks
RealAge Smart Search ( BETA), the leading expert driven health search. Learn more Magnesium infusion helps kids with asthma attacks. Jan 07, 2005 1:22 PM New York ( Reuters Health)
http://www.realage.com/news_features/articler.aspx?id=2006
Things to do now
Reference: Mary Jo Ruggieri PhD www.columbuspolarity.com
The first thing that should be of prime importance in handling sinusitis is the Neti pot!!
If you do not have one and do not how to use one, the time is now!
Sinusitis is often caused by air pollution and other unhealthy multiple environmental conditions. Remember our primary air filters are our nose and sinuses. Weakened immune systems are another variable which can cause colds and infections which contribute to sinusitis. An additional common cause is colds and infections that can lead to sinusitis if left untreated, especially in the context of a weakened immune system.
Natural remedies for sinusitis:
Reference: Mary Jo Ruggieri PhD www.columbuspolarity.com
A powder made from the fruit of the Dogrose (Rosa Canina) seems to alleviate pain and stiffness in the knees, hips and other joints.
Reference: Alternative Medicine, Jan 2006
According to Dr. Andrew Weil on blood thinners, many popular herbs including garlic, ginger, ginko, feverfew and bromelain, reduce the clotting tendency of the blood thus helping to protect against heart disease and strokes. However, taking these supplements in conjunction with prescription anticoagulants such as Warfarin (Coumadin) or even regular aspirin may increase the risk of excessive bleeding.
Reference: Dr. Andrew Weil’s Self Healing - www.drweilselfhealing.com/
Mind, Body, Spirit
This section of our newsletter "Mind, Body, Spirit" will focus on a meditation or visualization per month. It is intended to give the reader a choice of meditation techniques to help with stress reduction and disease prevention. Please try these meditations daily to see how they work for you. Always start with some controlled breathing. Please remember how healing it is to meditate.
Sounds of migrating birds surround us over a tapestry of autumn leaves. The crisp air signals transformation to our senses, and subtly, our bodies and minds turn inward during the autumn time in preparation for the season of winter. Autumn beckons us to indulge in the Gift of Presence, to take a few moments from our daily routines and appreciate the transformation that is afoot. Seeking balance within our senses at this time can be especially nourishing. In our visual world, we often let sound, taste, touch, and hearing be muted by the power of sight. Here is an ‘inner exploration’ experiment you may want to embark upon this autumn:
How To Do It
In your backyard, at a park, in the woods, or any safe place you have access to outdoors, find a comfortable place to be. Take off your shoes, and feel the earth under your feet. Once you are comfortable, sit down with your spine straight, perhaps with your legs folded 'Indian style.' Enjoy a few deep breaths to take in the qualities around you. Gently tie a scarf over your eyes. Continue focused breath until your system 'settles in' to the place and your mind is clear. Sit as long as your heart beckons you to, opening to the sounds, the feel of the air on your skin, the crisp taste of the air, and autumn smells. When you open your eyes, allow yourself time to adjust before rising. Later, you may choose to remember the experience in your journal.
Give yourself the Gift of Presence this autumn. Rejoice in the wonders of the world around you, and in your miraculous senses.
Laura Ann Bergman, RPP, is an associate at the Columbus Polarity Center. She can be reached directly at auramadre@msn.com.
Essential Herbs
Hello. Today’s column is coming to you from Greece, where the Ohio Institute of Energetic Studies just finished conducting a successful seminar on Polarity, Aromatherapy and Herbs. We had such a great time that I thought I would bring you here for a few moments and let you share some of this Greek adventure.
Let's talk about some Greek herbs and the way we use them in this country.
Herbs have been used here for thousands of years. Dried herbs and seeds have been found in large jars around ancient sites, and in burial places as food for the dead. Evidence suggests that they were used medicinally, but also as food, and to flavor different products such as olives and olive oil, honey, conserves etc. Continuously over the millennia, Greek dishes, have been flavored with herbs. This tradition is still evident in the intensity with which Greek women every spring take to the countryside, walking for hours and collecting greens. Some they prepare for meals, some they dry to stock their spice and medicinal cabinets.
In this article, I will describe the best Greek aromatic plants. In the next issue, I will tell you about the wide variety of important greens (weeds!) and share some recipes.
Dittany (origanum dictamnus) grows wild in the mountains of Crete but other islands as well. It is used widely in Greece to cure practically every ill!
It is an a aromatic, anstispasmodic, emmenagogue, tonic, and restorative.
As an infusion, pour two cups of water over two tablespoons of the dried herb, and drink two cups a day as a general tonic.
Externally, we make compresses out of leaves immersed in hot water, and use it to heal wounds and open sores.
Mountain Tea, often mistaken by foreigners for Dittany, is another wild mountain herb growing all over Greek mountains. I have not been able to find the Latin name, but Greeks call it Iron Weed (not to be mistaken with the well-known tall beautiful plant in the US fields). The name is derived from one of the main uses of the plant: to heal wounds caused by knife or sword wounds!
That property is due to its strong anti-oxidant elements. It is also an aromatic, and like all aromatics it is antiseptic.
Mountain Tea lowers blood sugar, it is anti-tussive (helps with coughing), and lowers fevers as well.
Use as infusion or external compresses or poultices (as for Dittany).
Oregano (Origanum Vulgare). Also growing wild in the mountains in Central and Northern Greece.
We know Oregano as a spice, and it tastes great with a Greek salads! But there is a reason it has been in continuous use since antiquity:
It is a strong aromatic, a tonic, antispasmodic, digestive, helps strengthen the stomach, is used as an anti-asthmatic, brings on sweating for the reduction of fever, and clears mucus.
Oregano is said to help with arthritis, so dosing your salads and meals with Oregano will keep your joints clean and functioning!
Use as spice, also as a tea infusion. Externally as a salve. Essential Oil.
Rosemary (rosmarinus officinalis). Growing in pots, in gardens, and around my house profusely—reaches a height of 6-7 feet here on the island of Aegina.
It is one of the best antiseptics we know, it is richly anti-oxidant, and preservative, as a vulnerary it relieves vascular and tension headaches, strengthens eyesight, stops hair loss used as a shampoo, and is widely used as an ingredient in creams and skin lotions. Also, it is a strong aromatic and makes a great Essential Oil which can be used in lotions, salves, and as an inhalant.
Thyme (Thymus Vulgaris). Growing everywhere in the wild.
It is a bitter, a tonic, an antiseptic, and an astringent. Therefore, it is excellent for digestive enhancement, for mucus reduction, drying up tissues in the lungs, facilitating breathing. It is also a valuable antispasmodic, both for stomach and intestinal gas, as well as asthma and coughing.
A strong aromatic, so use as spice, externally as an essential oil, or tincture.
Hope you are enjoying this trip to Greece!
- Charoula, Herbalist
THE ABOVE INFORMATION IS FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. PLEASE CONSULT YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER/PRACTITIONER! INFORMATION IN ANY PART OF THIS NEWSLETTER IS NOT INTENDED TO DIAGNOSE, TREAT, CURE OR PREVENT ANY DISEASE.
"It's our bodies that do the healing. It's time we own our bodies; illness is not the property of doctors, it belongs to us and plays an important role in our lives."
– Margo Adair
Elemental Foods: The Fire Element
Fall has made known its colorful presence. Cooler temperatures and shorter days become the norm. Of course this time of year brings to mind sitting curled up on the couch, in your favorite pair of PJs with a nice bowl of soup. Well how do you keep the raw food alive when making soup. Pretty easy!!! It is all about temperature. Just heat the soup long enough so that is barely steaming. Also this is a perfect time to start utilizing various warming spices. Ginger, black pepper, cumin, cayenne and various combinations of curry. The following is a basic raw soup recipe. Use your imagination and add various spices to your preference.
Butternut Squash Soup
1 butternut squash, peeled, seeded and sliced
1 red, orange or yellow pepper
4 stalks of celery
1 red onion
1/2 cup tahini
1 Tablespoon of curry (or use less if you prefer)
1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg
Braggs amino to taste
2 scallions, minced
Blend all ingredients well and add enough water or vegetable broth to create proper consistency. Garnish with minced scallions, or yogurt, or a good feta or goat cheese.
REMINDER: when warming this soup up - be very carefull just to take the chill off. You want to just warm it to a light steam. It is like warming up milk - if the heat is too high or on too long the milk will scald. Same with the soup - it's just in this case the heat will kill the live enzymes in the food.
Your food is your medicine.
Antonia Rankin, APP - Energetic Food Awareness
Educational Seminars
Date & Time: Saturday, November 10, 2007
8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Location: OIES - Cleveland Polarity School
Fairview Wellness Center
Rocky River, Ohio 44116
Faculty: Charoula Dontopoulos, RPP, APP
Class Outline:
Cost: $115
6 Hours of CEUs Available
To Register, call (614) 226-2912 or email Melanie McCarter.
Date & Time:
Saturday, December 1, 2007
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, December 2, 2007
8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Location: OIES - Columbus Polarity School
1253 High Street
Columbus, Ohio 43201
Faculty: Shila Wilson, RPP, RCST
Class Outline:
Cost: $115/day
CEUs Available
To Register, call (614) 299-9438 or email Melanie McCarter.
Date & Time:
Saturday, December 8, 2007
Sunday, December 9, 2007
All Day
Location: OIES-Columbus Polarity School
1253 High Street
Columbus, Ohio 43201
Cost: $300 per person, includes comprehensive manual
(7 person limit)
Day One: Introduction, definition, history, principles, self-healing protocol, Reiki Level I attunement
Day Two: Protocol for working on others, centering techniques, Reiki Level II attunement
Class will include two guided meditations, and cover such additional topics such as how to combine Polarity and Reiki, creating sacred space, avoiding ego traps, and balancing compassion.
Students will receive certificates.
Instructor: Deborah "Dipti" McGee, MA, APP, RPP in progress, Reiki Master. Deborah also has background in Yoga, Ayurveda and shamanic studies, and has been a practitioner of alternative health modalities for 30 years. She did all her Reiki training with William Lee Rand in Southfield, MI and Glastonbury/Stonehenge UK.
To hold your place in class, a registration fee of is $50 due by November 30, with remainder due at beginning of class.
Send to: Deborah McGee, 508 Fallis Rd., Columbus OH 43214.
For further information, call Deborah at 614-263-7223 or email her at mcklappich@sbcglobal.net
New Program in Cleveland!
Ayurvedic Cooking
for Cleansing, Detox & Health Building
A How To Do It Series
| - Personal Profiles & Diets | - Wheatgrass |
| - Juicing/Fasting | - Plant-based Foods |
| - Liver Flush | - Green Powders |
| - Food Combining | - Cleansing Skills |
| - Complete Detox Programs | - Cooking for the 3 Doshas: Vata/Pita/Kapha |
100-Hour Certification Program
CEUs / Master Energy Practitioner Credit
Part I: November 11, 2007
Part II: December 8, 2007
Part III: December 9, 2007
Home-study/Conference Calls/Personal Sessions/Consulting:
January-March 2008
Part IV: March 30, 2008
Part V: April 28, 2008
Part VI: May 18, 2008
Program Tuition (incl. conference calls & mentoring): $1,400
There is a $200 Application fee.
Books/Food/Materials: $295
Location: Polarity on the Lake, Lakewood, OH
Payment Plans Available
For more information & to register, contact Melanie McCarter at (216) 226-2912 or email to Melanie McCarter
Mary Jo Ruggieri PhD., RPP
Director, Columbus Polarity,
Center of Integrative Health and Wellness
and Ohio Institute of Energetic Studies - www.ohioinstitute.com
Costs: $300.00 for each level or $250.00 if registered a week ahead of time and $950.00 pre-paid
5 Levels:
Level I - Basic Introduction, Elemental reflexology-foot mapping, History and Philosophy, Elemental Techniques.
Level II - Ether/Air, Elemental Reflexology, Element identification, assessment, Protocols and Techniques.
Level III - Fire/Water, Elemental Reflexology, Element identification, assessment , Protocols and Techniques.
Level IV - Earth Elemental Reflexology, Element identification, assessment, Protocols and Techniques. Review Case Studies
Level V - Practicum 40 hrs. - individual home study, Certification
* Basic body energy balancing techniques will be part of the program.
Schedule:
Class Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Level I - Saturday, December 15 and Sunday, December 16, 2007
Level II - Sunday, January 13 and Monday, January 14, 2008
Level III - Saturday, February 23 and Sunday, February 24, 2008
Level IV - Saturday, April 5 and Sunday, April 6, 2008
Level V - Practicum 40 hrs.
Securely Anchored Holistic Wellness Center
4991 Dover Center Rd.
North Olmsted Ohio, 44070
Director Pamela McCue BA, RPP
Registration via:
Phone: 1-440-376-7041
Web: www.securelyanchored.com
E-Mail: pamela@securelyanchored.com
News on Health Freedom
Please support Health Freedom in Ohio. It is about the right to choose the healthcare you want to use and also the practitioner you choose to see. PROTECT YOUR HEALTH FREEDOM
Visit the Ohio Health Freedom Coalition Web Page for information on what you can do to protect your health freedom.
Reference: www.ohiohealthfreedom.org
Heidi's Fact Finders
Early Detection with Digital Infrared Thermal ImagingDigital Infrared Thermal Imaging (DITI) is an FDA approved radiometric imaging technique which displays and measures body temperature. The imaging process does not require direct body contact, is painless and uses no radiation. It works because all objects over a temperature of 0° K (absolute zero) radiate infrared energy. DITI cameras capture and record this energy and convert it to a color image that can be viewed on a computer. Because the amount of radiation emitted from a human body is a function of its physiology, this type of imaging can be a useful diagnostic tool. The scans detect thermal patterns not seen using other tools, particularly where abnormal cells require increased blood flow to supply nutrients for rapid growth. This increased blood flow in a specific area results in an increase in heat that can then be measured by the DITI camera. These subtle changes can occur years before a mass becomes palpable or can be detected through other screening methods.
Women are turning to digital infrared thermal imaging as an additional proactive screening measure for breast health; particularly if they are under 40, at high risk, have dense breasts or implants. Other clinical applications include endocrinology, neurology, oncology, rheumatology, physiotherapy, sports medicine, pediatrics and orthopedics.
Resources and References
Contact me if you would like to read any of these articles and don’t have access to them.
Heidi Beke-Harrigan is an APP and an academic librarian specializing in nursing, counseling and consumer health research. She teaches workshops, conducts research and provides individualized coaching. She can be reached at hbharrigan@malone.edu or irharp1140@yahoo.com