StemCell Therapy

Published 9:00am CDT, Friday, November 1, 2019

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Lecture: The Natural Path to Boosting Immunity and Mood

Winter is fast approaching and while many enjoy the New England change of seasons, the winter months also bring the challenge of preserving good health and mood. New Canaan Library welcomes nutritionist/dietician Jay Wolkoff, who will discuss how integrative and natural strategies can boost immunities and ones overall sense of well-being on Sunday, Nov. 10, at 2 p.m. in the Adrian Lamb Room. To register, visit newcanaanlibrary.org.

While modern-day living allows us to largely insulate ourselves from the outdoors and enjoy produce from temperate and tropical climates, there also is a certain beauty to acclimating our bodies to the cooler months with warming foods, herbs, and spices. In his presentation, Jay Wolkoff uses his extensive knowledge of nutrition and the sciences combined with integrative strategies to demonstrate how one can support their bodys natural immunity as well as keep their mood up during the darker and cooler months.

Wolkoff, nutritionist/dietician, MS, CNS, CDN, is passionate about providing individualized and comprehensive dietary and lifestyle support to his clients. His unique approach towards health effortlessly weaves together his background in evidence-based nutrition and the emerging sciences, clinical herbalism, appreciation for mind-body medicine, passion for organic gardening, and love of the outdoors.

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Lecture: The Natural Path to Boosting Immunity and Mood - mySanAntonio.com

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Blue blood of a crab-arachnid in space to detect possible infections of an astronaut in full galactic mission. If this has not caught your attention: Houston, we seem to have a serious problem. As crazy as this first idea may seem, we would not try to make curiosity knock on your door without a good argument. In fact, the statement you just read is true and the blood of the animal you are referring to, is much more important than it seems.

Despite its name, do not be fooled, it is neither a crab, nor has a horseshoe shape. In fact, at first glance it may seem more like a small species of stingray with a built-in shell or even one of those robot vacuum cleaners that leave your living room unpolluted. It could easily be part of the cast of Star Wars alien creatures. As you can imagine, its shape is far from what we would think when talking about a conventional crab.

Disturbing as well as disconcerting, this could be the presentation and a first contact with the Limulus polyphemus, known by his relatives, effectively, as a horseshoe crab. There are five species of these animals, the most common are distributed along the Atlantic coast of the United States and can be observed in the spawning periods, in the sand, on the shores of the sea, explains Xakata Begoa Snchez Chilln, conservative of arthropods of the National Museum of Natural Sciences. The rest of the species are distributed in East and Southeast Asia, where due to their great exploitation they are at high risk of extinction, he adds.

But then, is it a crab or not? As we anticipated, no. According to this study, published in 2019 in the scientific journal Systematic Biology , despite belonging to the group of arthropods, the horseshoe crab family is closer to arachnids than to crustaceans . To make it more visual: throw spiders more than crabs. Of course, unlike spiders, it has 6 pairs of appendages and an exoskeleton or shell that constitutes the union of the head and thorax, says Snchez.

Currently, the comparison of thousands of genes has revealed this new hypothesis , he told Xataka Jesus A. Ballesteros, researcher at the Department of Integrative Biology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (USA) and one of the study authors. These results require scrutiny and corroboration, but they reveal a part of the complexity of the evolutionary process ; the same processes that have shaped and continue to shape the tree of life of which we are part, he adds.

But it is not the name or form of this curious animal that makes us write about it today, but its blood , both for its appearance and for its medical applications. According to Snchez, the primitive enzymes this animal attack the material of the cell walls of most bacteria , so they are frequently used in tests to detect bacterial endotoxins in numerous pharmaceutical products.

What is special about the horseshoe crabs blood?

As if it were a member of royalty, the blood of our protagonist is blue . While the human is red by a pigment of this color, hemoglobin, and its corresponding iron content; its analogue in this arthropod causes its hemolymph to acquire a different hue.

Hemocyanin (which contains copper instead of iron) is the one that gives blue color to the blood of the horseshoe crab, explains Xataka Susana Enriquez, a researcher at the Institute of Marine Sciences and Limnology (ICML) of the National Autonomous University of Mexico . But the value of this bugs blood resides in cells called amebocytes , which function as their immune system: when they come in contact with endotoxins produced by pathogenic bacteria, they solidify to alert that there is work to be done and start counteracting an infection .

These compounds [endotoxins] are very abundant in the membranes of gram-negative bacteria, which are the majority of those that live in the marine environment, says Xataka Gema Hernndez-Milia, a biologist specializing in marine mammal food ecology. They could be compared to the pieces of a puzzle: the enzymes in their blood cells coincide with the endotoxins and bind to them, creating a clot that prevents the consequences of the bacteria, he adds.

Since being studied, the blood of this crab has been a revolution in the world of medicine . In fact, if youve ever had a flu shot or know someone with a pacemaker, you owe the animal one.

According to the Horseshoes Crab website , developed by the Ecological Research and Development research group, a non-profit organization that has been fighting to conserve the four species of horseshoe crab since 1995, the quality of vaccines, injectable medications, intravenous solutions and medical implants are checked using the blood of this crab.

In addition, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has used it since 1970 (the year until rabbit blood was used in this task) to approve medications , making sure they are free of endotoxins. Why? We tell you his story.

Although shallow, the sandy seabed in which the arthropod inhabits, along the east coast of North America and Central America, are often plagued with bacteria . Their own habitat, therefore, poses a threat in itself: in other circumstances, these microorganisms could cause all kinds of infections. Here is the survival key of our protagonist of blue blood.

The primitive immune system of this distant relative of the trilobites is based on a blood coagulation mechanism that protects it from the endotoxins to which it is continuously exposed. The blood cells of the horseshoe crab, the amebocytes, contain proteins that are released in response to the presence of unwanted organisms, such as gram-negative bacteria. In this way, they get their blood to clot around the lesion and bacteria, protecting the animal, the authors explain on the web.

That is, the bacteria are trapped and unable to continue advancing through your body.

This defense mechanism, which was recorded for the first time as early as 1885 and which was studied in depth since the 1950s, is known as Limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL). Its effectiveness is such that it can detect the contamination with endotoxins of Gram-negative bacteria in incredibly low concentrations.

But what does blue blood have to do with space?

We return to the beginning, to our eccentric and first statement: Blue blood of crabs- arachnids in space to detect the possible diseases of an astronaut in full galactic mission. For now, we give the okey to the first concept, but what about the rest? What does this substance have to do with space, astronauts and disease detection?

NASA, through this article on its website, puts us in a situation: Imagine an astronaut on a space mission to Mars, halfway from Earth, which begins to feel bad. His throat hurts and he seems to have a fever, but he does not want to get sick or infect his companions. Should I take an antibiotic? And if so, what kind?

As a solution to this question, NASAs Marshall Space Flight Center developed the LOCAD-PTS (Lab-on-a-Chip Application Development-Portable Test System), a portable device that allows rapid detection of gram- negative pathogenic bacteria in space thanks to the LAL. How?

Thanks to this machine, a possible infection can be detected much faster than it would be to wait for the results of a culture in a Petri dish, explains Enriquez. According to NASA; lets you know if certain types of bacteria are present on the surfaces of space stations.

The reaction occurs with the endotoxins found in the membrane of these bacteria or some fungi (the same happens with the profenoloxidase of the Jonah crab) that allow to detect gram-positive bacteria, he explains to Xataka Hector Socas Navarro, a physicist at the Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands and director of the Museum of Science and Cosmos of Tenerife. These enzymes go in different cartridges of the system, with which the collected sample is reacted, he says.

But its usefulness does not end here: the system not only locates a possible infection, but indicates what type of antibiotics would be necessary to combat such bacteria. It was an interesting development: gram-negative bacteria are among the most pathogenic, responsible for many respiratory, urinary and gastrointestinal diseases in humans, says Enriquez. In addition, he adds, it is the resistant ones that cause the most problems in hospitals.

This test is useful for the astronaut who feels that he is beginning to have health problems. Thanks to it, he can check the causes of the discomfort quickly and stop the infection (if any) at an early stage , long before the disease develops and he himself was a source of bacteria for his companions.

According to Enriquez, when the infection is still incipient, the culture in Petri dishes is not as effective or, at least, it requires more time for the crop to grow and confirm what type of bacteria is growing. As a result, the diagnosis comes later, making the infection more likely to be greater , not only within an astronaut, but within the ship for the entire crew. I think it is a potentially useful tool to quickly slow down the progress of possible infections by gram-negative bacteria, he concludes.

In the words of Socas, this system was also used between 2006 and 2009 to investigate the presence of bacteria and fungi in different places of the International Space Station (ISS). Afterwards, this technique stopped being used, giving way to more sophisticated methods (the PTS did not allow to identify which microorganisms had been detected, something that is possible today with molecular analysis technologies).

Currently, experiments are being carried out with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) that allow amplifying any piece of DNA that is present: make many copies of the fragment and facilitate its detection, Socas says. Several experiments between 2015 and 2016 have allowed us to know more about these bacteria and fungi. The dominant population of microorganisms is associated with the human microbiome , although there may also be opportunistic pathogens.

To avoid confusion, Socas insists that we talk about terrestrial microbes dragged by the missions themselves and the astronauts who have gone to the ISS. Their study is important in order to understand the possible extension of microorganisms carried by humans in future missions and to the health of astronauts, especially considering that there appear to be effects on the immune system of prolonged permanence in space.

In fact, the US National Research Council recommends in the ten-year review of its committee of biological and physical sciences of space that NASA establish a large-scale microbial observation program at the ISS.

Does the horseshoe crab survive after bleeding?

In order to obtain the liquid gold that supposes the blood of the horseshoe crab, the companies capture adult specimens of this species, extract a third of their total blood and release them again. However, these species of xiphosuros have to pay a very high price, since death during the process occurs in about 15% of individuals, says Snchez. Some reports also indicate that this mortality may be even higher due to bad practices during collection and transportation .

This, together with the influence that climate change is having on the seas, makes the four species that exist today are in a serious and growing danger of extinction, he adds.

According to the Ecological Research and Development Group, in 2016 the mortality associated with the production of LAL was around 70,600 animals per year , which shows that the species decreases worldwide given its great use for biomedical tests.

To avoid the possible disappearance of the horseshoe crab, which would be a great loss due to its ecological, agro-livestock and fishing interest , as well as biomedical, studies like this, published in 2018 in the scientific journal PLOS Biology , have investigated similar options, thanks to the that you could enjoy a synthetic alternative to this substance. Unlike LAL, the technique (recombinant Factor C, rFC) would use a cloned arthropod protein as an active ingredient.

The proven efficacy of this alternative to detect endotoxins is an opportunity for the pharmaceutical industry to modernize its procedures and contribute to the conservation of horseshoe crabs, the authors explain at the conclusion of the research: using the CFR would reduce the 90 % in the demand for LAL. That is, the mortality of the horseshoe crab would decrease , according to the research, by about 100,000 specimens annually in North America alone. It is a more humane and more ecologically sustainable method, they conclude.

Source: Xataka

Marketing manager and co-Chief Editor of Maritime Herald.

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How The Blue Blood Of The Horseshoe Crab Is Helping Us Detect Bacteria Beyond Earth - Maritime Herald

Have you noticed lattes, ice cream and smoothies with a tawny hue? That could be a sign of a not-so-secret ingredient: turmeric. The botanical is omnipresent in health food aisles, in the form of pills and powders.

Turmeric, native to South Asia, is one of the fastest-growing dietary supplements. In 2018, products racked up an estimated 300 million in sales in the United States, a more than sevenfold increase from a decade earlier, according to a report from Nutrition Business Journal.

Brightening up the pantries of many homes in India, the spice is interwoven into daily life, the cuisine, and cultural and healing traditions. A member of the ginger family, it has been used in ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years. Apply turmeric to wounds, and its believed to fight infection. Mix it with milk, and the mind calms. Tint the entrance of new homes with a paste to welcome prosperity.

Turmeric is auspicious and one of the most important herbs, said Anupama Kizhakkeveettil, a board member of the National Ayurvedic Medical Association.

Sliced open, or dried into a spice, the Curcuma longa plant imparts its amber colour and earthy, bitter flavour to food like curry. The active ingredient captured in many turmeric supplements is curcumin. Curcumin, along with the other curcuminoid compounds, compose only about 3 per cent of the dried spice.

And bottles will often say turmeric on the front but list curcumin in the ingredients.

Turmeric is hailed for helping a host of conditions: high cholesterol, hay fever, depression, gingivitis, premenstrual syndrome and even hangovers. In ayurvedic medicine, it is believed to act as an anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-parasitic, and has long been used to help with diabetes, pain, rheumatism, osteoarthritis, memory and skin conditions like eczema.

We use it for so many different conditions, its a time-tested herb, Kizhakkeveettil said. Unfortunately, our science doesnt fit into complete randomised controlled trials. That is alternative medicines biggest challenge.

Researchers sought to answer this by sifting through the available literature. In a 2017 paper in the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, they concluded its fools gold. There are claims that it can cure everything, said Kathryn Nelson, a research assistant professor at the University of Minnesota and the studys lead author. To me, that is a red flag.

Dr Amit Garg, a professor of medicine at Western University in London, Ontario, knew about turmerics medicinal use because of his Indian heritage. He knew first hand of its rich cultural significance too: on his wedding day, his relatives rubbed the spice all over him because it is believed to be cleansing.

After seeing the effectiveness of curcumin, in smaller studies, Garg and his colleagues decided to test it on a larger scale in hopes it would make elective aortic surgery safer by reducing the risk of complications, which include heart attacks, kidney injury and death. In the randomised clinical trial that followed, about half of the 606 patients were administered 2,000 milligrams of curcumin eight times over for four days, while the others were given a placebo. It was a bit disappointing, but we couldnt demonstrate any benefit used in this setting, Garg said of the study, published last year in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

In fact, there is not enough reliable evidence in humans to recommend turmeric or curcumin for any condition, according to the US National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Turmeric became a nutritional golden child partly because of its promise in laboratory studies cellular and animal. Some research indicates that both turmeric and curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric supplements, have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-parasitic activity. But this has mostly been demonstrated in laboratory studies, and, in many cases, the benefits of preclinical research isnt observed in clinical trials.

According to Natural Medicines, a database that provides monographs for dietary supplements, herbal medicines, and complementary and integrative therapies, while some clinical evidence shows that curcumin might be beneficial for depression, hay fever, hyperlipidemia, ulcerative colitis, osteoarthritis and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, its still too early to recommend the compound for any of these conditions.

And Natural Medicines has found there isnt enough good scientific evidence to rate turmeric or curcumins use for memory, diabetes, fatigue, rheumatoid arthritis, gingivitis, joint pain, PMS, eczema or hangovers.

Physicians say more research is needed. Dr Gary Small, a professor of psychiatry and biobehavioral sciences at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, who studies curcumins effect on memory, sees a lot of therapeutic potential. He also states that existing research demonstrates curcumins biological effects.

What may be affecting curcumins efficacy, doctors say, is that it is poorly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. In Indian cooking, turmeric is usually heated in a fat, like oil, which can increase absorption. Certain supplement manufacturers are also taking steps to improve this curcumins bioavailability by combining the compound with other components. For instance, a chemical found in black pepper called piperine is sometimes added to curcumin supplements in proprietary blends to increase its absorption.

Researching curcumin can be challenging because some blends have better bioavailability than others, and varying amounts of the active ingredient. If you did the study over and over again but used slightly different preparations, you would probably have different results, said Dr Janet Funk, a professor of medicine at the University of Arizona College of Medicine, who studies curcumins effect on bone.

Still, even if absorption improved, curcumin would not have any biological effects, Nelson contends. Turmeric may still have health benefits, she said, but they just may be from another compound or combination of compounds.

Consuming it by mouth is safe, up to 2g of turmeric daily for a year, and 4g daily of curcumin for a month, according to Natural Medicines. Turmeric aficionados who also use it as a face mask can relax too; the database indicates it is most likely safe to apply to the skin.

Doctors recommend that patients tell a physician they are taking turmeric. High doses of turmeric and its isolated constituents can have some rather unpleasant side effects, including diarrhea and nausea. Curcumin may also interact with anti-coagulants and anti-platelets, antacids, and drugs used for chemotherapy and to control blood pressure. While the spice is considered safe in food, therapeutic doses should be avoided during pregnancy.

The US Food and Drug Administration does not test dietary supplements such as turmeric for safety and effectiveness but announced this year that it would improve oversight of the growing industry.

One study published in 2018 in Molecular Nutrition & Food Research, found that the cheaper the turmeric product, the more likely it was to have chemical compounds suggestive of synthetic curcumin; and products with turmeric root were more likely to have higher lead levels. One sample exceeded recommended limits for lead.

How about all those turmeric lattes? Doctorssay that sprinkling a little bit of the bitter spice into frothed milk doesnt have proven health benefits. But that doesnt mean it isnt delicious.

As for Garg, he is not closing the bottle cap on curcumin. To wit: he is in the middle of a randomised study with a different preparation and dosing to see if curcumin prevents the progression of kidney disease. There are still many promising things about curcumin and turmeric, he said. I remain open-minded. New York Times

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Turmeric: what are the benefits and is it good for you? - The Irish Times

Daily Inter Lake - Local News, Health providers see hope on the horizon with integrated approach '); $(this).addClass('expanded'); $(this).animate({ height: imgHeight + 'px' }); } } }); }); function closeExpand(element) { $(element).parent('.expand-ad').animate({ height: '30px' }, function () { $(element).parent('.expand-ad').removeClass('expanded'); $(element).remove(); }); } function runExpandableAd() { setTimeout(function() { $('.expand-ad').animate({ height: $('.expand-ad img').height() + 'px' }); }, 2000); setTimeout(function() { $('.expand-ad').animate({ height: '30px' }); }, 4000); } function customPencilSize(size) { var ratio = 960/size; var screenWidth = $('body').width(); if (screenWidth > 960) screenWidth = 960; $('.expand-ad__holder').parent('.ad').css('padding-bottom', (screenWidth / ratio) + 'px'); $('.expand-ad__holder').css({ height: (screenWidth / ratio) + 'px' }); $('.expand-ad').css({ height: (screenWidth / ratio) + 'px' }); $('.expand-ad img').css('height', 'auto'); $('.expand-ad embed').css('height', 'auto'); $('.expand-ad embed').css('width', '100%'); $('.expand-ad embed').css('max-width', '960px'); } function customSize(size, id) { var element = jQuery('script#' + id).siblings('a').children('img'); if (element.length 960) screenWidth = 960; element.css('height', (screenWidth / ratio) + 'px'); } (function () { window.addEventListener('message', function (event) { $(document).ready(function() { var expand = event.data.expand; if (expand == 'false') { $('.expand-ad__holder').removeClass('expand-ad__holder'); $('.expand-ad').removeClass('expand-ad'); } }); }, false); function loadIframe(size, id) { $('.ad').each(function () { var iframeId = $(this).children('ins').children('iframe').attr('name'); var element = $(this).children('ins').children('iframe'); if (element.length > 0) { var ratio = 960 / size; var screenWidth = $('body').width(); if (screenWidth > 960) screenWidth = 960; element.css('height', (screenWidth / ratio) + 'px'); } }); } })();

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Deepak Chopra, Special to SFGate

By Deepak Chopra, MD

Most people have mixed feelings about how their lives are going, which seems inevitable. Taking the bitter with the sweet is an old saying dating back to the 13th century, but it expresses a universal experience. In the face of lifes mixed blessings, however, there runs a deep yearning for transformation. It is expressed through visons of heaven where eternal bliss is gained, in romantic literature where a perfect life is attained here on earth, and in utopian visions of every kind, including worldwide myths of a lost Eden or a Golden Age.

Is this yearning for transformation mere wish fulfillment, like dreaming of what youd do if you won the lottery? If you are totally pragmatic, the answer is yes, and having abandoned such fantasies you can productively direct your energies to becoming better off by inches and degrees. Even then, modest goals arent always achievable. We settle for half a loaf, or less, because common sense tells us to.

But I think the issue runs deeper than pragmatism. In my new book Metahuman: Unleashing Your Infinite Potential, I propose that the desire for transformation is not only realistic but totally necessary. Transformation is like the total change of state when two invisible combustible gases, oxygen and hydrogen, combine to form a liquid, water, that puts out fires. The essential nature of the two gases give no hint that they could be transformed so completely. But that is what transformation means, as opposed to gradual stepwise change.

What would it mean to totally transform a human being? Despite the stubborn way that people resist change, clinging to beliefs, fears, biases, and personal tastes for no rational reason, we are transformative beings. This can be evidenced in everyday experience.

None of these experiences is alien, yet we dont usually label them transformative. Why not? Because the setup for being human is drastically tilted toward conformity, normality, and conventionality.Every child absorbs, as if by osmosis, that life is a struggle between good and bad, light and dark, desire and frustration, success and failure.

This condition, generally known as duality, is what Metahuman tries to overturn. Duality condemns us to a lifetime of either/or choices. We identify with the choices we make, and then we cling to the identity that results. We shake our heads when we encounter people who have made bad choices, turning for example into racists or xenophobes, but at bottom the problem isnt bad choices and the solution isnt good choices. Either side of the coin keeps you trapped in duality.

Transformation provides an escape route from what is otherwise an all-embracing worldview. All visions of transformation have in common a desire to be liberated, set free from some kind of personal limitation. In exceptional cases, such as the life of the Buddha or Jesus, the vision of transformation renounces everything duality holds out as the good life.To be in the world but not of it is as radical as seeking to escape the eternal cycle of pleasure and pain.

In Metahuman I dont argue for radical transformation in that way. Instead of presenting transformation as a far-away goal, I argue that it should be a starting point. The common experiences cited earlier give a clue to what the transformed life is like. It is open to change because change is always with us. It allows rather than resists, because no one can predict where any situation might go.

But the biggest shift occurs in a persons identity. Instead of identifying with all the choices youve made in your life, you identify with the state of awareness you are in. Consciousness becomes your identity. I can illustrate what that means with a simple example. Imagine that you are on a debating team, and the question is Does God exist?In this debate the two teams will draw lots to determine who take which side of the question. As a debater you are prepared to argue for total faith in God or total atheism.

Clearly a good debater can do this, and in our legal system, defense lawyers are often asked to mount an argument for indefensible clients. In everyday life we identify with one viewpoint or the other, faith versus atheism, but in reality we are set up to rise above either position, simply because we can instantly change our perspective. This is more basic than any single perspective, yet we live as if the opposite is true. Every -ism is just a perspective somebody wants to defend and cling to.Nazism is dire while pacifism is benign, but each concept limits your unconditioned consciousness, depriving you of the power of transformation.

My way or the highway has become a noxious trend in todays divisive world, by which polarization has become the status quo. But at a subtler level we all cling to our point of view, having forgotten that to be human is never a point of view. To be human is to go beyond any fixed belief, conditioning, bias, or fixed assumptions. What would it be like to live as if transformation is your true essence? Thats the real issue we should be discussing, because the future of humanity and of the planet depends on the answer we arrive at.

Deepak Chopra MD, FACP, founder ofThe Chopra Foundationand founder of Chopra Global and co-founder of Jiyo, is a world-renowned pioneer in integrative medicine and personal transformation, and is Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Endocrinology and Metabolism. He is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians and a member of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists and Clinical Professor of Family Medicine and Public Health at the University of California, San Diego. Chopra is the author of more than 85 books translated into over 43 languages, including numerous New York Times bestsellers. His latest book is Metahuman: Unleashing Your Infinite Potential. Chopra hosts a new podcast Infinite Potential and Daily Breath available on iTunes or Spotifywww.deepakchopra.com

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Personal Transformation - What It Really Means - SFGate

It is the mission of the NJ Center for the Healing Arts, Inc. to provide access to opportunities for the integration of mind, body, emotions and spirit through counseling, medicine, complementary healing arts, educational resources, cultural and artistic expression, and the celebration of community.

NJCHA was one of the first integrated mental health and wellness centers in the country and has been offering a multidisciplinary approach to healing since 1987. Understanding that each person is a biopsychosocial being, influenced by many factors (including genetics, behavior and the environment), the emphasis at NJCHA is health of body, mind and spirit.

Creative Expressive Therapies and Art Therapy

Creative Expressive Therapies use techniques that help clients explore feelings, dreams, memories and ideas and to provide a means of creative expression for that which has no words. No artistic skill is necessary. The goal is to resolve conflict. Though a non-threatening form of therapy for children, creative expressive techniques are for people of all ages. They are especially effective when dealing with trauma, depression, and loss, recovering from abuse and for management of anger.

Sand Tray Therapy

Sand Tray Therapy is a symbolic process that has the power to reach deep unconscious content without words or analysis. It works on the premise that the human psyche is capable of healing itself when given the opportunity and the right conditions. Using a tray filled with sand, participants are given minimal instructions. They select from numerous objects and then arrange their selections in the tray. The therapist is a witness to the creation of the world in sand as the process unfolds and the story is told.

Mandala Assessment (MARI Cards)With the use of mandala drawings, symbols, colors and some dialogue, the MARI Card process can assist individuals in understanding their present states of being. An assessment and research instrument developed by Joan Kellogg, MA, ATR, it is grounded in Jungian theory and cross-cultural studies. This process can assist in understanding life issues that are seeking immediate attention. The process begins with a mandala drawing. This is a drawing in a circle, which is a universal symbol of self and wholeness. It represents the totality of the world -- one's individual world. Then, cards with symbols are selected and colors cards are chosen that help to reveal the essence of a story that is primary in the immediate moment to the individual engaged in the process. The MARI CARDS provide an experiential way to access wholeness and give focus so that action can be taken. This self discovery process is not covered by insurance.

Halloween

Visit our center on Halloween to learn more about our not-so-spooky approach to mental health and wellness! We'll have treats for children and adults alike, as well as a fun Halloween craft!

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Counseling Center Gives Treats (No Tricks) on Halloween - Patch.com

Return-to-sport protocols are integral in ensuring athletes are healthy and capable of safely performing at the highest level.

Sports medicine staff as well as strength and conditioning coaches commonly agree on what athletes need prior to reengaging in sport, but rarely are they on the same page regarding the optimal methodologies.

Some believe that when a previously repaired joint is structurally sound and capable of moving through every range of motion, they are ready.

Others, however, believe an athlete must be at or above the level they were at prior to the injury to truly be "ready."

The methods used for rehabilitation vary depending on therapists, doctors and strength coach's individual beliefs. An integrative approach that allows one to seamlessly transition from doctor to physical therapist to strength coach with matching beliefs and congruent systems is what yields optimal results!

Admittedly, the biggest fallacy has traditionally been between physical therapists and strength coaches (like myself).

Doctors and physical therapists work extremely well together, particularly post-surgery. Patients typically have a precise protocol and adhere to it with ease, getting themselves out of the "pain stage."

From there, physical therapists do a wonderful job of restoring basic neuromuscular coordination as well as joint range of motion to their clients.

The biggest hurdle from there is when a client/athlete decides they are ready to regain full strength and get back to the activities they love.

Many physical therapists are capable of carrying out such a task, however they are often limited to the clinical space they work in where sports performance is not the primary concern.

This is where strength and conditioning professionals like myself often enter the picture and assist individuals with integration into a training routine.

Unfortunately, some people will try to bypass this stage because they believe that with no pain and a largely restored range of motion, they are essentially fully healed and ready for sport.

This could not be further from the truth! They might be ready to train, but they're likely not ready to perform.

Why?

Because they likely haven't begun proper plyometric progressions, re-trained in power and speed exercises, increased their maximal strength, or even addressed the asymmetries that originally contributed to the injury or the asymmetries that likely developed during the rehab process.

Does that sound like someone who's really ready to return to sport to you?

Strength and conditioning professionals must do a better job of communicating with physical therapists.

They must consistently communicate where the athlete is in their progress and where it is they need to go.

Programs we provide must be able to bridge the gap between athletes ready to train, and athletes ready to perform. Not all athletes will arrive at the gym healthy and ready to go. Some assessments, critical thinking, and integrative programming are required.

Perhaps one of the biggest roles a strength coach can play after that is providing training that reduces future injury risk. Preventative maintenance is key, and the number one rule of any coach is do no harm.

Properly planning and understanding that not every person will train the same based on their injury profile and history is key. My advice to anybody reading this article is to find the right coach and training program for you.

There are alternatives to nearly every training approach, and most goals can be met in a multitude of ways. Take initiative and help bridge the communication between your doctors, therapists and trainers.

Most athletes will perform a variation of a sport test with sports medicine staff prior to being cleared for sport.

Typically, that is where things get most blurry. Getting "cleared" to ski, for example, doesn't mean one is ready to do six giant slalom practice runs at their previous intensity right away.

Strength and conditioning staff can aid in this process by regularly testing all healthy athletes in a number of performance parameters (e.g., Vertical Jump, Broad Jump, 40-Yard Dash, etc.) so there's a baseline to compare if they do indeed get injured.

Taken one step further, athletes can inquire with qualified exercise physiologists to perform basic symmetry testing on them such as force plate jumps. Power, symmetry and performance numbers can be derived from such data and will allow intelligent coaches to program accordingly for athletes in their unique situation.

Last but not least, one key piece that must be discussed is a coach's own intuition.

Over years of training and coaching, one will ideally develop a high level of intuition or a keen "coach's eye."

Watching an athlete jump, run, or cut and noticing a slight movement deficiency, despite all of their numbers checking out, is a huge piece to consider. If a mechanic handed you your car back and gave you the green light to drive it but you saw a deflated tire, you wouldn't just ignore it. The same goes for an injured athlete.

Just because all of the tests have been passed and all of the numbers check out doesn't necessarily mean they are completely ready. They must be physically, mentally and psychologically ready to return.

Consider all of these points and remember that returning to sport after injury is comprehensive and requires special attention to detail. The value of a heart-to-heart conversation with an athlete about their injury and their mental and physical progress is also extremely valuable!

Many times, an athlete will simply insist that they're "ready." But if there are things that don't feel quite right and they're willing to speak with you about that, that's another piece of extremely valuable info that can further inform your approach.

Photo Credit: FG Trade/iStock

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Crucial Steps Injured Athletes Often Overlook as They Rush Back to Action - STACK News

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Sports Medicine Market witness highest growth in near future described in a new market report - Health News Office

The Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) in India has conducted Whole Genome Sequencing of 1,008 Indians from different populations across the country.

Announcing details of the IndiGen Genome project, the Union Minister for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences and Health & Family Welfare, Government of India, Dr Harsh Vardhan said that the whole genome data will be important for building the knowhow, baseline data and indigenous capacity in the emerging area of Precision Medicine. The outcomes of the IndiGen will have applications in a number of areas including predictive and preventive medicine with faster and efficient diagnosis of rare genetic diseases, he added.

The IndiGen initiative was undertaken by CSIR in April 2019, which was implemented by the CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB), Delhi and CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad. This has enabled benchmarking the scalability of genome sequencing and computational analysis at population scale in a defined timeline. The ability to decode the genetic blueprint of humans through whole genome sequencing will be a major driver for biomedical science.

Dr Harsh Vardhan said that the benefits of this initiative include epidemiology of genetic diseases to enable cost effective genetic tests, carrier screening applications for expectant couples, enabling efficient diagnosis of heritable cancers and pharmacogenetic tests to prevent adverse drug reactions.

On the occasion, Dr Harsh Vardhan unveiled the IndiGenome card and accompanying IndiGen mobile application that enables participants and clinicians to access clinically actionable information in their genomes. He emphasized that it ensures privacy and data security, which is vital for personal genomics to be implemented at scale. Dr Harsh Vardhan elaborated that this is being pilot tested in individuals across India and has evinced interest from several Indian commercial organisations.

The outcomes of the IndiGen will be utilized towards understanding the genetic diversity on a population scale, make available genetic variant frequencies for clinical applications and enable genetic epidemiology of diseases. The whole genome data and knowhow for the analysis of largescale genomic data is expected to enable evidence and aid in the development of technologies for clinical and biomedical applications in India.

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India conducts whole genomic sequencing for Biomed applications - BSA bureau

Minister Harsh Vardhan claims project will help in cost-effective, precision medicine

Research laboratories working under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) on Friday announced completion of whole genome sequencing of 1008 Indian individuals representing diverse ethnic groups in the country. The data will act as baseline information for developing various applications in predictive and preventive medicine.

The genomic data will help scientists understand genetic diversity of the Indian population and make available genetic variant frequencies for clinical applications. The data and knowhow are expected to produce evidence and help in development of technologies for clinical and biomedical applications, scientists explained.

The project called IndiGen was implemented by Delhi-based Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB) and Hyderabad-based Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB). The whole genome sequencing of individuals drawn from across the country has been completed, enabling benchmarking the scalability of genome sequencing and computational analysis at population scale, Union Minster for Science and Technology Harsh Vardhan said.

The genome data will be important for building the knowhow, baseline data and indigenous capacity in the emerging area of precision medicine, he said. The outcomes of the IndiGen will find applications in a number of areas, including faster and efficient diagnosis of rare genetic diseases, he added.

It will further lead to cost-effective genetic tests, carrier screening applications for expectant couples, enabling efficient diagnosis of heritable cancers and pharmacogenetic tests to prevent adverse drug reactions are some of the other benefits of this initiative.

Scientists have also developed IndiGenome card and mobile application for researchers and clinicians to access clinically actionable information. The minister said it would ensure privacy and data security, which is vital for personal genomics to be implemented at large scale.

CSIR has been engaged in genomic studies in India and its Indian Genome Variation has made major contributions in understanding genetic makeup of Indian population. It has also pioneered the application of genomics in clinical settings in the area of rare genetic diseases by means of DNA and genome based diagnostics and interaction with large number of clinical collaborators. (India Science Wire)

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Genome sequencing data to help in predictive and preventive medicine - Down To Earth Magazine

Weight loss: Early dinners can help in reducing insulin resistance, thus benefitting diabetics

It's a wrap for Diwali 2019 but the festivities are still not over yet as many people will celebrate Govardhan Puja today and Bhai Dooj tomorrow. Thankfully, you won't have to adhere to any more late-night parties and gatherings. Sleeping late at night and have late dinners can take a toll on your health. Thus, now may be the perfect time to inculcate the habit of having early dinners for good health, weight loss, good sleep and much more. Highlighting the importance of having early dinners is lifestyle coach Luke Coutinho on Instagram.

Also read:Best Nuts For Weight Loss And How To Consume Them

For those who are trying to incorporate intermittent fasting in their lifestyle, having early dinners is an important step. Not only can it enable you to fast conveniently, it can also help you fast for a longer duration.

"We don't need to force ourselves to fast , if we eat earlier , we build an automatic solid fast. Fasting is one of the most powerful preventative and healing tools that kicks in the intelligence of our own body and mind to heal and protect us," writes Luke Coutinho in his post.

Besides, whether you are intermittent fasting or not, eating early dinners can provide you with a number of other health benefits as well.

Eating early dinners is an important step in intermittent fastingPhoto Credit: iStock

Also read:Add These Protein-Packed Foods In Your Dinner For Quick Weight Loss

Insulin resistance occurs when your body cells do not respond properly to insulin. Insulin resistance is the main cause of type 2 diabetes and eating early dinners can have a positive effect on insulin resistance.

When you eat too late at night, it can make you experience acidity, gassiness and other signs of indigestion. However, eating early and light dinners can prevent these issues and help you sleep well at night. Your metabolism at its slowest at night. The body does not need energy-boosting foods and needs lesser calories at night. This is the reason why you must have light dinners.

Eating early dinners can improve your sleep qualityPhoto Credit: iStock

Also read:Besides Weight Gain, Here's How Eating Dinner Late Can Harm You

Inflammation is the root cause of numerous diseases and you must take appropriate steps to keep your inflammation level low. Luke Coutinho says that eating early dinners can help in reducing inflammation in your body.

Eating healthy and light dinners can be beneficial for your digestion. Eating early, sleeping on time, waking on time can help your body come in sync with its biological clock and improve digestion. Make sure there is a gap of at least 2 hours between your dinner time and bed time.

Also read:Want To Have Light Dinners But Not Feel Starved? Rujuta Diwekar Has The Perfect Solution For You!

Early and light dinners and consuming lesser calories at night, sleeping well and healthy digestion can together promote fat loss and weight loss. If you are on a weight loss regime and have failed to achieve good results, then eating early dinners may help you.

Eating early dinners can help with fat lossPhoto Credit: iStock

(Luke Coutinho, Holistic Lifestyle Coach - Integrative Medicine)

Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.

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Weight Loss Tips: 5 Underrated Health Benefits Of Eating Dinner Early - NDTV News

The fundraising goal for the University of Arizona Foundation was reached yet again this year, making it the second year in a row to break the record for philanthropic donations to the university.

The foundation, in support of the UA, raised $334.6 million during the 2019 fiscal year, according to a university press release. This is an increase of over $17 million from last years total of $317 million.

John-Paul Roczniak, the president and CEO of the UA Foundation as well as the vice president of development at the UA, said he is very grateful for all the support from alumni and friends.

We have a very dedicated group of donors who care about the institution, Roczniak said. We have a president who is inspiring people to give more.

Two large donations were made by Dr. Andrew Weil and James Wyant, esteemed UA faculty members who have established positions at the university in integrative medicine and optical sciences.

Weil contributed $15 million as well as a $5 million gift for the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine and established the Andrew Weil Endowed Chair for Research in Integrative Medicine.

David Hahn, dean of the College of Engineering, recognized how integral endowed chairs are in keeping top-notch faculty members working at the university.

What chairs allow you to do is attract and retain the best, absolutely world-class faculty, Hahn said.

Hahn stated that the endowed chairs provide resources to faculty members to invest in research and education, while also adding a level of prestige.

Wyant and his family committed $20 million for a minimum of 10 endowed chairs to recruit more distinguished faculty members. James Wyant is the founding dean and professor emeritus of the James C. Wyant College of Optical Sciences.

The number of donors was a record year for us, Roczniak said. People gave at every level.

The foundations board members laid out a specific plan laid so that alumni and other donors can get a better idea of what exactly their money will go toward.

The strategic plan has laid out a vision that people are excited about, Roczniak said. Weve been able to make some really good things happen.

David Hahn agreed that the focused vision of the university has allowed people to see a clearer picture of the future.

People want to invest in a plan and a vision to make the University of Arizona better, Hahn said.

The scope of what the UA Foundation works to beneift is very wide, with multiple different areas receiving funding. Roczniak said that the endowment funds scholarships, faculty chairs, programs and capital projects.

Pick a corner of the institution and I can guarantee you theres gifts that support it, Roczniak said.

The endowment not only goes toward improvements on campus and faculty, but also keeping the UA Foundation stocked with the best representatives.

Weve been able to hire more development officers to meet with alumni, parents and friends to see if theyre interested in giving, Roczniak said.

Within the past year, the UA was commended for their fundraising with an Educational Fundraising Award from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education.

Specific colleges such as the College of Engineering plan to use some of the grant money for improving their program. Starting with the students helps the university be hands-on in their giving.

For engineering, what were really going to do with these resources is bring the concept of engineering design throughout our entire program, Hahn said.

The record number of scholarships and renovations made to the Albert B. Weaver Science-Engineering Library are certainly noticeable to students, and the university hopes to keep making these improvements to benefit the campus.

The goal is always to do more, Roczniak said. One of the big pushes for this year is pillar one of the strategic plan, which is all about the wildcat journey and student success.

The UA Foundation will host an event on Nov. 1 on campus about a new program being launched to support students through finding scholarships and affordable housing. Creating new opportunities to help students find the resources they need is immensely important to the foundation.

Helping students directly through the endowment will not only make noticeable improvements, but also encourage others to donate more in the future.

We are really going to focus on the student aspect of fundraising next year, Roczniak said. We are forever grateful to our donors and whoever gives back to our university.

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UA Foundation beats their fundraising record - Arizona Daily Wildcat

At mbg, we're no strangers to the benefits of functional medicine. Nutrition, sleep, exercise, stress levels, relationships, and genetics are all major contributors to chronic disease, and sometimes piling medication upon medication just won't cut it.

While we're not suggesting you skip out on your routine checkups, it's becoming increasingly popularcrucial, evenfor people to start thinking about the ways lifestyle factors can influence and help treat disease.

In fact, there's a new study (the first ofits kind, no less!) to actually show how a functional medicine model can provide unique health benefits for patients. What researchers found was that functional medicine can yield a greater quality of life compared to the standard, primary care model of medicine.

The study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Network Open, analyzed two groups of patients for two years: 1,595 patients treated at Cleveland Clinic's Center for Functional Medicine and 5,657 patients treated at a primary care health center. To assess each patient's quality of life, researchers used the PROMIS questionnaire, a validated measure by the NIH. This questionnaire assesses patients' global physical and mental health through factors such as fatigue, physical function, pain, gastrointestinal issues, and emotional well-being.

In as little as six months, they saw around 31% of functional medicine patients improve their PROMIS global physical health scores by 5 points or more, an improvement that has a very noticeable effect on daily life, according to the study. Only 22% of primary care patients were able to raise their scores this high.

There are a variety of reasons why functional medicine could have helped raise these patients' scores. Researchers believe that in addition to the holistic, functional medicine model itself, the types of patients seeking functional medicine and whether or not they believe in this model of care could have contributed to these global physical health improvements. While future research is needed to address these concerns, it's exciting that people are now starting to recognize functional medicine as deserving of these evidence-based experiments.

"This is a first-of-its-kind study to evaluate the impact of functional medicine model of care on patients' health-related quality of life," leader of the study Michelle Beidelschies, Ph.D., agrees. "In the past, evidence to support the model has been primarily anecdotal, published as case reports."

What's even more interesting about this study is that the sample of primary care patients actually had a higher median income than the functional medicine group. It speaks to the significant benefits of the functional medicine model that despite these patients' higher financial status, they still had a lower quality of life than the Cleveland Clinic group.

Perhaps these results can inspire even the most traditional of physicians to include integrative medicine into their practiceor, at the very least, allow them to regard functional medicine as a legitimate health care model.

"Functional medicine practitioners have suggested that their patients are improving with a systems-based approach to chronic disease,"Beidelschies says. "Now, they have evidence that their approach is associated with improved quality of life."

With respect to Beidelschies and this new study, it looks like holistic healing is truly becoming a practical measure for patient care. In this case, soul really is meeting science.

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Functional Medicine Linked To A Higher Quality Of Life, New Study Finds - mindbodygreen.com

True Food Kitchen has opened its first Miami-area restaurant at the Falls.

The health-driven restaurant has replaced the former T.G.I.Friday's and occupies more than 10,000 square feet with an indoor dining room, a patio, and a bar.

"At True Food Kitchen, we believe that every ingredient matters in everything we serve," True Food Kitchen brand chef Robert McCormick says.

True Food Kitchen was bornin Phoenix, Arizona, in 2008 when cofounder Dr. Andrew Weil didnt want to sacrifice flavor for the sake of healthy eating. The Harvard-trained Weil made a name for himself by embracing alternative medicine techniques. The doctor and author is known for books such as The Natural Mind: An Investigation of Drugs and the Higher Consciousness. The prolific doctor also hosts a podcast and sells skincare products and wild-caught seafood on drweil.com.

The integrative medicine doctor wanted to create a restaurant that served food people could enjoy and not regret eating.Eleven years later, there are 28 locations in 17 states, including New York, Louisiana, Colorado, and California. The Falls outpost marks the seventh True Food Kitchen in Florida, with other locations in Boca Raton, West Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Tampa, Naples, and Jacksonville.

The entire menuis based on Weil's anti-inflammatory food pyramid, which stresses eating more fruits and vegetables and minimizing the consumption of processed foods. The menu offers dishesfilled with whole grains, lean proteins, healthy fats, and limited carbohydrates. "Anti-inflammatory is a lifestyle," says Christine Ferris, senior marketing brand manager for True Food Kitchen.

Each menu item avoids causing the fatigue, bloating, and loss of energy that certain meals create, Ferris says. Even the higher-calorie items on True Food's menu, such as desserts and alcoholic beverages, should be enjoyed without any guilt, according to Ferris.

The menu also changes with the seasons."We change our menu quarterly because it allows us to showcase seasonal ingredients that are nutrient-dense and at the peak of their freshness and flavor, McCormick says. Most items are vegetarian, although chicken, seafood, and even steak are offered. All dishes can also be made gluten-free and can be customized for a particular diet.

True Food Kitchen has incorporated sea buckthorn an orange-red berry into its fall menu. The plant is used in some of the bar's drinks, from the antioxidant mimosa, infused with the berry, cava, honey, and pomegranate, to a ginger margarita ($12), made with ginger liqueur, organic reposado tequila, and honey.

"From nutrient-dense staples and carefully sourced proteins to little-known superfoods, we use the most responsible, creative, in-season ingredients we can find," McCormick says.

The menu includes permanent dishes too. The ancient grain bowl ($14) reflects each level of the anti-inflammatory pyramid by including miso-glazed sweet potato, house-made cilantro paste, turmeric, grilled portobello mushrooms, avocado, and hemp seed. Edamame dumplings, made with dashi and white truffle oil, are another staple on the menu.

The bar also serves organic, biodynamic, and sustainable wines, along with a wide selection of beers.

Ferris says the restaurant localizes its bright and approachable atmosphere by adding local artwork to embody Miamis culture. You will feel the energy when you walk in."

True Food Kitchen is an exciting addition to the shopping center, says the Falls' manager, Dailen Rodriguez. "The community is very wellness-aware, making the restaurant a great fit for our customers."

True Food Kitchen at the Falls. 8888 SW 136th St., Miami; truefoodkitchen.com.Monday through Saturday10 a.m. to 9 p.m.,Sundaynoon to 7 p.m.

Here is the original post:
Dr. Andrew Weil's True Food Kitchen Opening in Miami at the Falls Mall in South Miami-Dade - Miami New Times

TahoeLand: Bad News, Bears

In summer 2019, CapRadio examined the impact of climate change on one of Northern Californias geographical gems: Lake Tahoe. In the podcast TahoeLand, reporter Ezra David Romero explores how climate change will affect Tahoes color, snowpack, fire season and wildlife.

Episode 4 takes a look at how the changing climate will impact bears. Bears in Tahoe are also hibernating less if at all. Its not just black bears feeling the impact of climate change polar bears, grizzlies and other bears around the world are at risk.

This episode will also look at the ways humans do, or do not, keep bears out of our garbage. Peoples leftovers and waste lead to more human-bear interactions, which is ultimately bad news for bears.

When a few wild animals were injured in California wildfires, it was a chance for doctors to take an innovative approach to recovery and pain management. To help heal the paws of two bears and a mountain lion cub, veterinarians turned to another animal: tilapia.

Dr. Jamie Peyton is the associate director at the UC Davis Center for Advancing Pain Relief and Chief of Integrative Medicine Service at the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. She and her team designed biologic bandages using fish skin, honey, oils and beeswax. She partnered with Dr. Deanna Clifford, a senior wildlife veterinarian for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife Investigations Lab, to pioneer this technique and track its success.

Both veterinary doctors joined Insight in January 2018 to discuss this innovative therapy.

Engineering Eden is the title of a book by Northern California writer Jordan Fisher Smith that takes a deep dive into the United States history of attempting to manage nature.

The book centers on the story of Harry Walker, a man who was killed by a grizzly bear in Yellowstone National Park as the park celebrated its centennial anniversary. That was in 1972 and, as Smith discovered in his research, a 1975 civil trial in Los Angeles followed. That trial became a proxy for the larger issue of wilderness management and the conflicting approaches at the time.

The author examines the process of people moving into the vast territory of wild animals, the new science that would be needed for the management of the land and the tragic details of Harry Walkers death.

Smith joined Insight in September 2016 to discuss and highlight parts of that book. Engineering Eden is now out in paperback.

Read more from the original source:
Bears of Tahoe / Bears with Bandages / Yellowstone Bears - Capital Public Radio News

I had no downtimeI hopped on the subway ideal right after, went to perform, and did almost everything as standard. There was slight redness from the acupuncture and some puffiness all around the injection internet sites but nothing at all that was way too distracting or embarrassing to be observed in public. (Ive heard anecdotally that gals who get the microneedling edition experience more redness and swelling.)

And then the future working day I woke up to the ideal my pores and skin has looked given that, effectively, I cant tell you how lengthy. I have only recently developed out of a decadelong struggle with zits (I still get flare-ups and breakouts), and it really is remaining me some texture and tone concerns. It really is genuinely practically nothing so important that would result in me any duress, but its some thing that I discover about my skin. I see it predominantly all around my cheeks, chin, and mouth: There is certainly the subtlest hint of rolling scars, pigmentation issues, and slight uneven texture total. (I will say that most outsiders likely wouldnt characterize me as possessing acne scars, as I have been diligent with my publish-zits pores and skin treatment and then blur the relaxation with make-up, but it continue to quite substantially annoys me.) It also worried me heading forward pores and skin loses firmness as you get more mature, and any texture issue you develop when you are youthful tends to get even worse. I was nervous that if I experienced these dents now, even if they had been smallwhat would they appear like in 10, 20, 30 decades?

And almost overnight, these indented areas had stuffed out it was the smoothest my pores and skin had at any time been because my initial breakout decades and yrs in the past. To be sincere, I wasnt rather well prepared for it to handle my pimples scarring as well as it did, but board-accredited dermatologist Kiera Barr, M.D., formerly talked about to me that it was becoming employed for healing a variety of pimples scar tissue styles.

Weirdly, what I seen as the most important variance had almost nothing to do with appearances. When I washed my face, I could feel the texture alter: It was plush and tight. The small intricacies of my skin, the ones that you only notice if you contact it day in and day out, felt easy, and the in general high-quality experienced improved.

In the coming days, the skin only enhanced. Firshein tells me that benefits build in excess of time, even though it will probable get started to plateau inevitably. The positive aspects can very last up to 15 months.

Excerpt from:
What Are PRP Injections & Acupuncture? I Analyzed The Integrative Therapy - asume tech

Cancer coaches make the disease and survivorship more manageable with goal-oriented plans.

As she recovered and prepared for weeks of alternating radiation therapy and chemotherapy, Gendreau searched for online support groups and information about novel treatments. My medical care team was great, but I didnt feel like they had the time to sit with me, answer questions, explain alternative or complementary therapies or help me discern what my future might look like, Gendreau says. The hospital had a wall plastered with brochures, but I needed more one-on-one engagement and direction. Early on, it became clear that it was primarily my responsibility to research new studies, alternative therapies and potential clinical trials all while I was still recovering from brain surgery.

In her search for answers and resources, Gendreau stumbled onto the webpage for cancer coach Jeannine Walston. I didnt know that cancer coaches existed, Gendreau says. But when I read Walstons story and saw her credentials, I knew she was the person who could help me navigate this confusing new world I was now living in.

In 1998, at age 24, Walston learned she had a rare type of cancerous brain tumor, oligoastrocytoma. Over the past two decades, she has undergone three brain surgeries, radiation, chemotherapy, clinical trials and integrative cancer therapies, even venturing overseas for treatments. Walstons diagnosis changed the trajectory of her life. She embarked on a cancer-focused career path, working as a patient advocate, educator and researcher for nonprofit organizations, the National Cancer Institute, the Food and Drug Administration and the National Institutes of Healths National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (now the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health). She is also a CURE contributor.

Walston, who lives in Los Angeles, started offering her services as a cancer coach in 2007. At that point, I had provided information to support groups, attended brain tumor and cancer conferences, and worked in the cancer field for 10 years, she says. Many people kept coming to me for advice and information. I wanted to help, and I knew my personal and professional experiences coaching cancer patients and caregivers addressed essential needs.

EMPOWERING PATIENTS TO MEET CHALLENGESThe popularity of professional coaching has grown significantly since the 1990s. There are coaches to help discern purpose in life, improve health and wellness, navigate divorce and break into a new career. Whatever the problem, theres a coach who can offer help. In many ways, cancer coaches are a natural extension of health and wellness coaching, helping clients mainly patients but also caregivers and other loved ones improve quality of life throughout the cancer journey.

Cancer coaches provide a valuable service by helping patients create goal-oriented plans that help them manage particular challenges, says Dawn Wiatrek, interim senior vice president of patient and caregiver support for the American Cancer Society (ACS). As soon as you receive a cancer diagnosis, so many factors are out of your control. Coaches provide needed support and guidance that help patients break down barriers and instill a feeling of confidence. They empower the patient to feel more in charge of an uncertain health situation. Wiatrek notes that the ACS has been coaching people for years through its tobacco cessation program. Cancer coaching is a similar idea, she says. You are giving someone the tools to help them navigate what seems like an insurmountable task.

Talaya Dendy, founder of On the Other Side cancer coaching in St. Paul, Minnesota, says her services save clients from putting time, effort and energy into treatment planning that would be better focused on physical and emotional healing. I research treatments, cancer centers, specialists and available resources and condense that information into easy-to-understand terms that spare the client the gloomy statistics, Dendy says. In addition to helping clients manage the emotional side of cancer, she helps them maximize time with care teams. Patients are often shocked at how little time they actually have with their oncologist or medical team, Dendy says. I make sure my clients are prepared for these appointments so they can advocate for themselves, get the answers they need and make informed decisions.

The ACS sees so many patient benefits to cancer coaching that the organization is using a grant to provide coach training to ACS patient navigators employed at approximately 70 cancer or medical centers nationwide, Wiatrek says. Historically, the role of a navigator has been to provide patients, caregivers and loved ones with resources for things like paying medical expenses, getting to and from treatments and connecting patients to community organizations that can offer assistance, she says. Increasingly, our navigators have found more patients relying on them to counsel them through what questions to ask their care team or asking for more personal guidance.

As employees of hospitals or cancer centers, patient navigators and oncology social workers can help schedule appointments and medical tests, as well as work with billing departments and health insurers, something cancer coaches dont do. Navigators and social workers may steer a patient toward general information about treatments and social support networks, whereas coaches can spend more time researching and gathering information specific to a patients needs.

Preliminary results from the six ACS sites that piloted the patient navigator coach training are positive. Patients said that they felt more confident after being coached on how to improve communication with their care team, Wiatrek says. Patients also understood their treatment plans better, and doctors noted improved compliance. By offering not only in-person sessions but also services via phone, Skype and email, cancer coaches may bridge a gap in care for patients who lack easy access to hospital or cancer center resources.

Because cancer coaching is a relatively new field, few studies address its specific benefits and effectiveness. Findings from a 2017 study from the University of Alabama at Birmingham showed that pairing older cancer patients with nonmedical professionals who received coach-type training reduced patients need for other health care resources, which in turn lowered costs. Other studies on health coaching suggest that these services bolster patient engagement, leading to improved quality of life, reduced hospital readmission rates and lowered medical expenses. Health coaching appears to be especially helpful for people dealing with chronic illnesses like cancer.

A COMPLEMENTARY APPROACH TO CARECancer coaches arent meant to replace patient navigators, oncology social workers or case managers, and they are quick to emphasize that they are not medical experts. I share what I know from my unique patient perspective and decades of experience working in cancer and health care arenas. I do not give medical advice, Walston says.

Gendreau first turned to Walston for help gathering information about possible treatments so that she could consider them, speak to her care team and make informed decisions. My job for a software company required doing a good bit of research, so I felt confident in my researching skills, Gendreau says. Still, I was overwhelmed when I started exploring my condition and treatment options. I felt like I was being buried in a landslide of information.

Walston helped Gendreau create an action plan, breaking down her to-do list into achievable steps. This approach eased some of Gendreaus anxiety and uncertainty. Walston also researched and shared information about integrative therapies, such as yoga, acupuncture and art, something Gendreaus care team didnt seem to have the time or expertise to address.

Most recently, Gendreau asked Walston for help deciphering the vast number of clinical trial opportunities. I could ask my husband or daughter to do some of this research, but that exposes them to all of the scary statistics and information. They are as shocked and frightened as I am, says Gendreau, who emphasizes that Walston serves strictly as her coach and not her therapist. I have a terrific therapist who is helping me cope with my emotions, she says. The coaching aspect gives me a sounding board, a place to discuss ideas and next steps. Having Jeannine to turn to has greatly lifted a burden off of me and my loved ones.

Some medical centers and nonprofit organizations pair patients and mentors who have a similar diagnosis. Cancer coaches go beyond this type of peer-to-peer service. A mentor or peer provides emotional support. They can tell you about their experiences, but their role isnt to give advice or offer suggestions on what you should do, says licensed social worker Angelique Caba, senior director of social work administration for CancerCare, a national nonprofit organization that provides free, professional support services for anyone affected by cancer. A coach provides practical guidance and helps you anticipate barriersto care and troubleshoot for problems.

Donita Wheeler, founder of Donita Mama Bear, a cancer coaching company, believes her services complement those of other specialists. I feel each of us has something unique to offer to the cancer community. We must lean on each other to get through the most difficult times, she says.

That is exactly what Gendreau is doing with her coach. I now know that it was naive of me to expect to get much hand-holding from my oncologist, she says. I appreciate that there are cancer coaches who have taken the worst evil you can imagine and turned it into a passion to help others.

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Putting the Ball In Your Court With Cancer Coaches - Curetoday.com

Antibiotic treatment can disrupt the gut microbiome at the strain level, with changes lasting as long as six months.

Trillions of microbes in the intestine aid human health, including digestion of breast milk, breaking down fiber and helping control the immune system. However, antibiotic treatment is known to disrupt the community structure of these microbes 500 to 1,000 bacterial species that have a mainly beneficial influence.

A study at the University of Alabama at Birmingham now has tracked this disruption at the level of a strain of microbes replacing another strain of the same species in 30 individuals all of them young, healthy adults who would be expected to have stable microbial communities.

As shown from our analysis, the capacity to recover with respect to the number and stability of new strains is specific for each individual, said Casey Morrow, Ph.D., leader of the research team and professor emeritus in UABs Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology.

Differences in recovery have potential health implications, Morrow says.

It is possible that as individuals age, with each differing in numbers and cycles of antibiotic treatment, the reservoir of microbial strains is depleted, resulting in an intra-individual recovery pattern for specific microbial strains, he said. Understanding this recovery pattern including the occurrence of particular strains following antibiotics may be an important consideration for long-term health.

In the future, the characterization of these individual-specific recovery patterns could also be used to forecast the susceptibility to both endogenous and exogenous microbial pathogens.

The UAB study used bioinformatic tools to analyze a previously described study of 18 individuals who had been given a single antibiotic, cefprozil, for a week. Their fecal samples were collected at pre-treatment, at the end of antibiotic treatment and at three months post-treatment. The UAB study also analyzed previously described data of 12 individuals who were given a combination of three antibiotics meropenem, gentamicin and vancomycin for four days. Their fecal samples were collected at pretreatment; at end of treatment; and at four, 38 and 176 days post-treatment. Six control individuals who did not receive antibiotics were also analyzed.

Casey Morrow, Ph.D.In general, the UAB researchers found that strains of the 10 most abundant species remained stable in controls. In the single antibiotic treatment individuals, 15 of 18 individuals had transient new strains post-treatment that, in turn, were replaced by the original strain by three months post-treatment.

In contrast, the triple-antibiotics individuals showed a significant increase of new strains that persisted as long as six months after treatment, as compared to the single antibiotic and the control individuals. Furthermore, the fraction of transient strains was also significantly higher in the multiple antibiotics individuals. This suggested a long-term change to an alternative stable microbiome state, Morrow says. These changes were not due to a difference in growth rates.

Given the importance of the microbiome in human health, we think our results with these data sets can be used to help evaluate microbiome stability under different conditions, Morrow said. For example, we can now provide guidance to clinical investigators to judge the impact of certain treatments for diseases, such as cancer or diabetes, on the gut microbial community that could be significant for evaluation of outcomes. Furthermore, this approach could be applied to a patients pre- and post-hospitalization to identify individuals who may need further management of their microbiomes.

This study used a strain-tracking bioinformatics tool previously developed by UAB, called Window-based Similarity Single-nucleotide-variant, or WSS, for tracking of individuals microbial strains from pre-treatment to post-antibiotics treatment, said Hyunmin Koo, Ph.D., UAB Department of Genetics and Heflin Center for Genomic Science, who led the informatics analysis. This technique advances analysis of the impact of antibiotics on the human gut microbiota. Previous studies of the microbiome had been able to determine an overall taxonomic profile including the relative abundance information of each species, but showed a limitation to distinguish each species at the strain level or track the same strain in each individual at the longitudinal level.

In 2017, the UAB researchers used WSS to show the first direct demonstration that fecal donor microbes used to treat patients with recurrent Clostridium difficile infections remained in recipients for months or years after fecal transplants.

The antibiotics study was published in the Nature Partner Journals Biofilms and Microbiomes. Co-authors with Morrow and Koo are David K. Crossman, UAB Department of Genetics and Heflin Center for Genomic Science; Joseph A. Hakim, UAB Department of Biology; Ranjit Kumar, Biomedical Informatics, UAB Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences; and Elliot J. Lefkowitz, UAB Department of Microbiology.

Support came from the UAB School of Medicine. The Cheaha UABgrid of the UAB Information Technologys Research Computing group provided the high-performance computing support necessary for bioinformatics analyses.

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Transient and long-term disruption of gut microbes after antibiotics - UAB News

Deepak Chopra, the doctor and self-help guru, who turns seventy-three next week, has written more than one book for every year he has been alive. Chopra was born in New Delhi and studied medicine in India before moving to the United States, in 1970. After practicing as an endocrinologist in Massachusetts, he became involved in the Transcendental Meditation movement. He eventually relocated to the West Coast, left T.M. behind, and became a spiritual adviser to Michael Jackson and other celebrities. A quarter century later, his books have sold millions of copies, and his television appearancesespecially alongside Oprah Winfreyhave made him perhaps the most prominent advocate for alternative medicine recognizable around the world.

Chopras work evinces a consistent skepticism toward the scientific consensushe has called into question whether evolution is merely a process of the mindand a firm belief that mental health can determine physical reality. He has written of a place called perfect healththe title of one of his books, and now the slogan for one of his wellness retreatsin which human beings can go somewhere internally that is free from disease, that never feels pain, that cannot age or die. These beliefs have made him controversial among doctors and scientists. In 1998, Chopra was awarded the satirical Ig Nobel Prize for his unique interpretation of quantum physics as it applies to life, liberty, and the pursuit of economic happiness. A random Chopra-quote generator is popular online, and Chopra has been called out for tweeting and writing phrases that, in the words of one paper, may have been constructed to impress upon the reader some sense of profundity at the expense of a clear exposition of meaning or truth. (Example: Attention and intention are the mechanics of manifestation.)

Chopras latest book is Metahuman: Unleashing Your Infinite Potential, and it touches on a number of themes that have been present throughout his career: that human beings can become metahuman by reaching a new place of awareness; that science has served to block the way to the absolute freedom that metahuman holds out; and that self-improvement can move creation itself. I recently spoke by phone with Chopra. During our conversation, which has been edited for length and clarity, we discussed controversial remarks he has made about cancer and AIDS, his claim to have never been even a tiny bit sick, and whether there is a reality that exists independently of our own minds.

How do you define yourself and what you do?

I would say that to define oneself is to limit oneself. But Ive had various roles through my life. Im an internist, an endocrinologist, a neuro-endocrinologist; a teacher of integrative medicine and an author; a husband, a son, a father, a child.

I know you are a doctor, but does thinking about yourself as a doctor seem limiting to you in some way?

It seems limiting to me, but I would say I think of myself closer to a healer. Because, when I look at healing and the origins of the word healing, its related to the word whole. So wholeness means everything, including body, mind, and spirit, and the environment. I think of myself as a doctor who is interested in the physical body, but also in all aspects of human experiencehuman emotions, human thinking, human experience, and, ultimately, in understanding ourselves beyond the conditioned mind. So I would say I want to be a healer. Thats my aspiration.

At what point in your career did you become famous?

Some people think it happened with The Oprah Winfrey Show, in 1993, when she did a one-to-one with me for a book called Ageless Body, Timeless Mind, which then stayed on the New York Times best-seller list for thirty-some weeks. Actually, my most well-known book is The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success. But I have to say that Oprah helped me a lot with the launch of my career, and shes been an ally ever since. Weve taught six million people meditation online together.

How many books have you written now?

This is my ninetieth book.

Would you say your writing process has changed between your first and your ninetieth?

Yes. My process was more structured in the past. And now I feel its more a flow than anything else. I used to always be told by media and publishers, and even the BBC when I was in England, to dumb everything down, and I used to, and I dont anymore. I feel free to say whatever I want to.

Ive been looking for a through line in your work, and the one that Ive noticed most is the idea that our minds can determine reality, or that theres a connection between our minds and reality. Is that a fair way of phrasing it?

Yes. The correct phrase would be that our experience of the world, and of our body, is a projection of our conditioned mind. So, when youre born, you have no human constructs. Youre looking at the world as a messy, gooey experience of color, form, shapes, sounds, pictures, smells, tastes, and random thoughts, which are yet not clear. But then a construction process begins. And so youre told, Youre male, youre of a religious background, ethnic background, nationality, gender. And that begins to create a provisional identity. And then that provisional identity has perceptual experiences but interprets them as the physical body and the world. But, in the deeper reality, theres no such thing. All there is is consciousness experiencing itself perceptually, as perceptual activity, which is species-specific. You dont see the same world as a painted lady, a species of butterfly that smells the world with an antenna, tastes the world with her feet. So what is the picture of the world to a snake that navigates through the experience of infrared?

If you and a snake perceive the world differently and experience it differently, does that mean that the world is actually different? Or does it just mean that we perceive it differently?

We can only experience a narrow band with our perceptual reality. So there is no such thing as a physical world. Thats where Im going. Our experience of the world is species- and culture-specific. And that is what we interpret as fundamental reality.

You once said, Consciousness is key to evolution and we will soon prove that. What did you mean?

You know, Ive said in the past that Darwinian evolution is a human constructthat, ultimately, consciousness drives at least human evolution. We can direct our evolution by the choices we make. And now that we know the science of epigenetics and neuroplasticity, we can see very clearly that, because we are self-aware, unlike other species, we can consciously direct our evolution. And that is what epigenetics and neuroplasticity are showing us.

Epigenetics is not that we can direct our evolution, though, is it?

Well, we can trigger the activity of certain genes and decrease the activity of certain other genes. So, when people practice self-reflection or mindful awareness, or they have the experience of transcendence, you can actually see which genes get activated and which genes get deactivated. Theres a mechanism to that. So you can actually activate the genes that cause self-regulation or homeostasis, and actually decrease the activity of the genes that cause inflammation. So what is healing? It is nothing but self-regulation or homeostasis. And what is disease is mostly linked to chronic inflammation. Only five per cent of disease-related gene mutations are fully penetrant, which means they guarantee the disease. That includes everything, from Alzheimers to cancer to autoimmune disease. Only five per cent is related to genetic determinism. The rest is influenced by life style. [Gerard Karsenty, the chair of the Department of Genetics and Development at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, says, Those assumptions include non-Mendelian diseases. It is for now hard to precisely assess in multigenic diseases the extent of the contribution of gene mutations and the one of lifestyle taken in a broad sense. This is particularly true for autoimmune diseases that hit at all ages, including during childhood and with a higher incidence in women.]

You tweeted, An emerging view, alternate to Darwins random mutations & natural selection is that consciousness may be the driver of complexity/evolution.

Correct. But there are a few people who agree with that.

So, you know, scientists generally are nave realists. Which means they look at the picture of the world, and thats what it is.

What do you do, if not that?

Ive become aware of that which is having the experience rather than the experience, which in spiritual traditions is called the self. The body, the mind, and the world are the self.

It seems like all of these things are fitting under the rubric of what we were talking about earlier about consciousness and reality. I know you once said something like, The moon doesnt exist unless someone sees it. Is that right?

No, no. That was Einsteins quote, by the way. He actually said, I refuse to believe that the moon doesnt exist if no one is looking at it. [In his biography of Einstein, Abraham Pais recounted an interaction he had with the physicist who asked me if I really believed that the moon exists only if I look at it.] Thats a statement coming from a nave realist. The moon that you and I see is a human experience. A horseshoe crab doesnt have that experience living in the depths of the ocean.

Einstein was incredulously asking someone whether they really believe that the moon only exists when its looked at. Correct?

Yes. The moon is an experience in human consciousness. The moon that you and I see is an experience in human consciousness. If there was no human consciousness, no body, mind to go with it, there would be no awareness of the moon.

But the moon would still be there, correct?

How do you prove that? How do you validate that? How do you disprove that? How do you prove an unobserved phenomenon?

The moon is a human story. The universe is a human story. Its a human construct, or human experiences, and interpreted by the human mind.

So this would be akin to the question, which Im sure weve all heard, that if a tree falls in the forest and no one hears it, does it make a sound?

Correct. The sound is only in consciousness. Before that its a vibration of air molecules.

But the vibration of air molecules are occurring. Correct?

The vibration of air molecules is a human construct for a human mode of knowing and experience in human consciousness, so yes, they are constructs. The air molecules are as much of a construct as latitude and longitude, as The New Yorker, as Greenwich Mean Time, as money, as Wall Street, as Manhattan.

Im not sure what that means.

Human constructs are human ideas around modes of human knowing.

I see.

So an atom, a molecule, a force field, vibration of moleculesthese are all human constructs.

So its not that the tree is making a sound and we just happen to be there or not there to hear it. Its that the sound is only present to the degree that we are also present.

Actually, there is no tree and there is no sound and there is no body and there is no mind. Theres only consciousness thats having an experience. The rest is human constructs.

In your book Quantum Healing, you wrote, Research on spontaneous cures of cancer conducted in both the United States and Japan has shown that just before the cure appears, almost every patient experiences a dramatic shift in awareness. He knows that he will be healed and he feels that the force responsible is inside himself, but not limited to him. It extends beyond his personal boundaries throughout all of nature. Suddenly he feels, I am not limited to my body. All that exists around me is part of myself. At that moment, such patients apparently jumped to a new level of consciousness that prohibits the existence of cancer. Then the cancer cells either disappear, literally overnight in some cases, or at the very least stabilize without damaging the body any further.

So if you were a scientist and you saw one case of that, one in a billion, youd want to know the mechanism. And I feel the mechanism is a return to fundamental homeostasis, which means self-regulation, and total absence of fear, including the fear of death. Because your identity is no longer your body-mind.

And so is that more important than medicine?

No, I think medicine is very useful for acute illness. If you have pneumonia, I certainly tell you to take an antibiotic. You break your leg, Id have you see an orthopedic surgeon. If you have cancer, there are many types of chemotherapy and radiation and stem-cell therapies and immunotherapies that will help you. But, in todays age, if you dont understand that integrating that with good sleep, with meditation, with stress management, with mindfulness, with healthy emotions, with good food that actually changes the activity of your microbiomeif you dont conform to that, then youre out of date.

This is from your book Perfect Health: There exists in every person a place that is free from disease, that never feels pain, that cannot age or die. When you go to this place, limitations which all of us accept cease to exist. They are not even entertained as a possibility. This is the place called perfect health. Visits to this place may be very brief, or they may last for many years. Even the briefest visit, however, instills a profound change. As long as you are there, the assumptions that hold true for ordinary existence are altered. If you can be in this place, why would you necessarily need medicine to stay healthy?

We dont. Ive never used medicine myself. Im seventy-three years old, never been in the hospital, never had surgery. Cant even remember having a cold.

You would vaccinate your children, correct?

Of course I would, if Im in a surrounding where there is... You know, I would not vaccinate a child in New York City for polio, because it doesnt exist. But I would for measles, because it does exist.

Even if the child was in this state that you call perfect health?

The child is in a state of perfect health if its born normally. Its in a state of homeostasis. But we also live in a world that has environmental toxins, that has climate change, that has extinction of species, that has poison in our food chain, and that is ready for extinction. And all of that is the projection of our collective insanity.

You say, The cause of disease is often extremely complex, but one thing can be said for certain: no one has proved that getting sick is necessary.

Right. My own situation says that.

Because youve never been sick.

Yes.

Because youre in this place called perfect health?

Because Im aware of being aware and I can choose the experiences I want and I focus on love, compassion, joy, equanimity, and Im beyond the fear of personal death because I dont identify with my provisional, personal, so-called identity. The question you asked me when we started, How do you define yourself?I dont.

If we were all in this place, would we need medicine?

Yes. Because of the world weve created, we would, yes.

But not because

And, besides that, the ecosystem is a predatory play of consciousness where, you know, its a recycling of experience. Birth, death, illness: they are part of our provisional identity, but I dont identify with that identity. If you do not identify with the experience, if consciousness that is aware of experience, if the awareness of experience is not the experience, then youre intrinsically free of the experience. Do you know what Im saying?

Im not sure.

O.K. If you are aware of a thought, then youre not the thought, youre the awareness of the thought.

Dr. Stacia Kenet Lansman, whos a leading vaccine skeptic, cited your work as an inspiration. Do you

I have never been against vaccination.

I know you havent.

I have never spoken against medical treatment or intervention. You should do whatever works.

But do you worry that the idea that we can achieve this place of perfect health based on our own mental state can give license to anti-scientific thinking, like we see in the anti-vaccine movement?

You asked me if I worry about that. I dont worry about anything.

Which is why you havent gotten sick.

But people can take what I say and interpret it how they want to. Theres also a difference between scientism and science. Science is a very neutral activity: theories, observation, experiments, validation or invalidation. Period. I am a big proponent of science as the greatest adventure that human consciousness has taken. With scientism, its a different thing. Its being a fundamentalist and believing that science has all the solutions for human problems, including the existential dilemmas we have about our identity, our fear of old age, infirmity, and death.

There was an interview you gave many years ago, with Tony Robbins, about AIDS. Hed put forth the idea that H.I.V. is not the source of AIDS. You said, H.I.V. may be a precipitating agent in a susceptible host.The material agent is never the cause of the disease.It may be the final factor in inducing the full-blown syndrome in somebody whos already susceptible. He then asked,Butwhat made them susceptible? You answered, Their own interpretations of the whole reality that theyre participating in. Do you still feel that way about H.I.V. and AIDS?

I still feel that pathogens are precipitating factors in susceptible hosts, and that the outcome of illness and recovery is very complex. Now, having said that, when you can find a single agent that you can either attack or get rid of, then, of course, thats the solution. You know, you and I can be exposed to a pneumococcus and one person gets pneumonia and the other doesnt. So you can see that illness is not just one mechanistic happening, an encounter with the pathogen. It has to do with everything. Are you deeply rested, are you stressed, whats your nutrition, what are your personal relationships, what is your emotional stateall of these things have an influence. Every experience we have is ultimately metabolized into a molecule in the body. If I gave you bad news right now, your blood pressure would go up. In fact, if I sent a mean tweet to Mr. Trump, his blood pressure would go up even further.

You went on to say, I have a lot of patients with so-called AIDS, this label that weve given them, that are healthier than most of the population thats living in downtown Boston. They havent had a cold in ten years. And then Robbins said, But someone has told them they have this disease. You said, Yes, somebody has told them that. And Robbins says, And they bought into it. And you said, Exactly.

Listen. You can do a five-hour interviewyou can edit it into any way you want. You can take statements out of context.

No, thats the whole context.

And then you can say, This is what you said. Right? I had that experience myself as a physician. I said to the patient, You have cancer. Immediately, he looked like he was going to have a stroke. He was going to faint. And then I realized I read the wrong chart and I said, Sorry, that was somebody else. In two seconds I could see him recover from high blood pressure, sticky platelets, a jittery heart, and so on. So, you know, there is a lot more to reality than just a simple diagnosis and the label.

But to go on to the point youre just making now, about diagnosis, when Robbins said about the diagnosis of AIDS, People are accepting this, and when they accept this, what happens to them? You replied, When they accept it, then they make it happen. It is a self-fulfilling prophecy. Is that what youre saying?

Yeah. I might have said that. And, if I did, I regret it.

What I say today is, Believe the diagnosis, but dont believe the prognosis.

Youve been criticized before for selling products that people claim can help cure cancer or other diseases via meditation.

No, Ive never claimed that. No.

Never?

If you find a reference of that, let me know.

Well, there was a video called Return to Wholeness: A Mind-Body Approach to Healing Cancer. And the release about it says, Meditation and visualization are two of the most

Right. That video was a program to help people visualize and get into a relaxed state. I believe it was promoted as that on my Web site until I became aware of it, and then it was taken off.

And then you took it down?

Yeah. It was actually an artificial-intelligence program for meditation and self-regulation. And, by the way, used at many cancer-therapy clinics across the world as an aid to relaxation. [A member of Chopras staff named Cancer Treatment Centers of America as one of the clinics that use the video, but a representative for the treatment centers was unable to verify this.]

So, when you say in your best-sellers, like Super Brain, that increased self-awareness can reduce the risks of aging and help people achieve freedom and bliss, do you feel that youre doing that at all, or not?

I am. Of course. Im seventy-three years old, and I dont think my biological age is seventy-three. In fact, I have publicly declared that I am slowing down my aging process. And I think you can go on social media and look at all the pictures over the last few years and you can see, physically, that I am not looking as old, or feeling as old, as I was twenty-five years ago. I know what Ive said is outrageous, but, if people actually listen carefully, they will see that they determine a lot of what goes into well-being and health. And, ultimately, I dont think that health is physical at all. Because, ultimately, we are all going to die, and all going to have some kind of infirmity. But most of what we do is creating anxiety from living a full life in the present moment.

So you feel that youve reached a different stage of human existence?

Im just following the example of people who have lived long, healthy lives without any infirmity and died peacefully in meditation. In the Indian tradition, its called mahasamadhithe big meditation.

When youre selling books by saying that theres a network of intelligence in the human body that has the potential to defeat cancer, heart disease, and even aging itself, is that not selling to people that cancer can be beaten by something other than medicine?

Have you read the book? Or have you read criticisms of the book?

Ive read several of the books, and some criticisms.

So then you have to make up your own mind. Im not a purveyor of false hope. In fact, I think the term false hope is an oxymoron. Either you have hope or you dont. And those that have hope do better than those who dont.

So there is no false hope?

Its up to you how you interpret this, and it doesnt actually affect me. You know, Im at a stage in my life where Ive gone beyond criticism and/or flattery. I dont need that.

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Newswise Irvine, Calif. October 15, 2019 Sean Young, PhD, professor at the University of California Irvine School of Medicine and Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences, has been appointed to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine ad hoc committee to address the alarming increase in sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The Center for Disease Control (CDC) through the National Association of County and City Heath Officials requested the formation of the committee.

STIs have reached epidemic proportions nationally and continue to rise. Our committee is charged with investigating the problem and recommending novel and implementable solutions, said Young. Solutions exist. We are optimistic about the CDCs request for help that there will be resources and support to implement the committees solutions.

The Prevention and Control of Sexually Transmitted Infections in the United States committee will examine the epidemiological dimensions of STIs in the United States and factors that contribute to the epidemic (changes in population demographics, sexual and other behaviors, social determinants), as well as changes in the understanding of the agents that cause STIs.

Additionally, the study will attempt to address the economic burden associated with STIs and review current public health strategies and programs to prevent and control STIs (including STI diagnostics, STI vaccines, STI monitoring and surveillance, and treatment. Barriers in the healthcare system and insurance coverage associated with the prevention and treatment of STIs will also be surveyed.

Young was appointed to the committee due to his work at UCI leveraging social and behavioral data to detect real-world problems. He applied insights from psychology to online behavior change interventions and saw social norms could be modified.

Young uses this approach to transform time-consuming and expensive community-based interventions into online variants that more efficiently reach the masses. By analyzing peoples behaviors, problems from these behaviors can quickly be detected and addressed. Working with public health officials, Young is now developing tools that mine social data to identify potential areas of disease outbreak, crime, and poverty. His expertise will be used to address the STI epidemic.

We can now use technologies as a way of predicting and changing behavior, leading to positive and ethically delivered social change, said Young.

About the UCI School of Medicine: Each year, the UCI School of Medicine educates over 400 medical students, as well as 200 doctoral and masters students. More than 600 residents and fellows are trained at UC Irvine Medical Center and affiliated institutions. The School of Medicine offers an MD; a dual MD/PhD medical scientist training program; and PhDs and masters degrees in anatomy and neurobiology, biomedical sciences, genetic counseling, epidemiology, environmental health sciences, pathology, pharmacology, physiology and biophysics, and translational sciences. Medical students also may pursue an MD/MBA, an MD/masters in public health, or an MD/masters degree through one of three mission-based programs: the Health Education to Advance Leaders in Integrative Medicine (HEAL-IM), the Leadership Education to Advance Diversity-African, Black and Caribbean (LEAD-ABC), and the Program in Medical Education for the Latino Community (PRIME-LC). The UCI School of Medicine is accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Accreditation and ranks among the top 50 nationwide for research. For more information, visit som.uci.edu.

About the University of California, Irvine: Founded in 1965, UCI is the youngest member of the prestigious Association of American Universities. The campus has produced three Nobel laureates and is known for its academic achievement, premier research, innovation and anteater mascot. Led by Chancellor Howard Gillman, UCI has more than 36,000 students and offers 222 degree programs. Its located in one of the worlds safest and most economically vibrant communities and is Orange Countys second-largest employer, contributing $5 billion annually to the local economy. For more on UCI, visit http://www.uci.edu.

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UCI professor named to CDC committee on sexually transmitted infections - Newswise