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Are YOU A Neoconservative?
If one had to choose a word to describe neoconservatism,...
Roses:
Gift of the Angels for Gentle Healing Roses have seduced people...
Leaks and Landscape During a Dry Winter
Did you know that most water customers start off the...
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Thom Hartmann

The nation's #1 progressive radio talk show host and the New York Times bestselling, 4-times Project Censored winning author of 21 books in print. In its eighth year, The Thom Hartmann Program  airs live daily, NOON – 3pm, ET simulcast as both radio and TV on over 120 radio stations. into more than 50 million homes via both nationwide satellite TV systems (DirecTV and Dish Network). http://www.thomhartmann.com

Homebirth & Saving the Earth: a Natural Fit

Many women who birth outside of a hospital setting are changed by that experience for the rest of their lives. It begins in pregnancy as they educate themselves about the choices they are making surrounding birth. In discussions with their midwife, a subtle paradigm shift happens which puts the pregnant woman in charge. A good midwife guides them to see that they need to look beyond what the medical institutions have presented as ‘truth’, and find their own. During a natural, unmedicated, and uninduced birth a woman must listen to her own rhythms of contraction and expansion and learn to work in harmony with them. She taps into a power within herself that until now has been hidden from her. It is an awe-inspiring power that deeply connects the woman to generations of women from the past and the future. From that time on, she knows this power lies within her and she can rely on it. The confidence this brings helps her to look at the world with new eyes. She may make new choices, such as deciding to have her baby sleep in bed with her and her partner even though her best friend says it is dangerous. She may simply feel more able to stick with a choice she already made, such as breastfeeding, even though the first several weeks are rough going.
So how does this help the earth? Well, first there are her choices surrounding parenting in the first weeks and months of her baby’s life, such as sleeping with the baby. Co-sleeping means no trees were cut down to build a cradle or toxic chemicals used to build a crib. On top of that, no fuel was spent to ship it to a store and then get it to your home. No energy was used to run the factory or store. No lights were used at home while putting the crib together.
Breastfeeding, though natural, can be challenging at first. Midwives traditionally promote breastfeeding and are an ongoing resource for nursing education and support. The impacts it can make on our environment are varied. First, it requires no excess packaging, processing, or shipping. There are no bottles to buy, transport, wash, and eventually throw away. This is a huge energy savings, plus there is no damage to our environment from the making and disposal of plastics or glass. Because breastmilk is nutritionally superior to formula, it grows stronger, healthier people who are less likely to need pharmaceuticals or mercury-laden fillings. The fats contained within breastmilk spur more brain growth than formula. We need smarter kids to help us out of the environmental dilemma we are in. On top of all that, exclusive breast-feeding prevents more births than all other forms of contraception combined, which helps slow our ever-climbing population explosion.
Empowered birth creates an empowered woman who has confidence in her physical and psychological abilities. A woman who knows she is capable and has the strength to follow through on those out-of-the-norm decisions, such as cloth diapering. Let’s face it: cloth diapering is a bit more work than disposables, but the small amount of effort required is easy compared to filling up our landfills.
Home birth creates a mother who listens to her own innate intuition. She can listen to herself as a guide instead of relying on ‘authorities’. She will make her own best choices for the survival of her children, even if that means making different choices than mainstream America. She might decide not to fill a prescription for antibiotics which end up in our water supply and create super bugs, and instead rely on rest and mommy love to get her baby through a cold.
Then there are the less obvious connections. A positive birth experience imparts to the couple’s confidence in parenting. It creates a solid foundation and unites them in their parenting journey. Midwives often encourage the couple to explore the components of Attachment Parenting, such as baby wearing, responsive parenting, and immediate bonding after birth. This style of parenting creates confident kids with a different world outlook. They tend to think about what the group needs, instead of feeling that they’re better looking out for themselves because no one else will.  
Who knows where a woman’s new-found sense of accomplishment will take her? Perhaps she will decide to roll up her sleeves and plant an organic garden, saving her kids from pesticides and lessening the world’s fuel consumption, or decide to take on the local water board when she finds out there are unsafe levels of chemicals in the tap water her family drinks. Maybe she will confront her local school board on buying more local organic fruits and vegetables for the lunch program. Perhaps she will start her own recycled kids’ clothing store, or get active with her local Earth Day committee. Perhaps she will sponsor a local kids’ sustainable community garden. These are just a few of the things I have seen local mothers do. The power and energy a positive out-of-hospital birth unleashes is tremendous. The possible choices of what to do with that power are endless. The positive effects that might bring for our planet are immeasurable. As a doula, one thing I have learned is to never underestimate the power of a mother!
Jennifer Stover is a local Doula and has been a Birth Educator for 20 years.
www.slolaboroflovedoula.blogspot.com

The Resolution Solution

The New Year has typically always been about two things: reflection and resolution. As that glittering sphere begins its decent in the Big Apple, we reflect upon our accomplishments and challenges and resolve to do something productive, fulfilling, or exciting before the next ball drops. Research has shown that between 40% and 45% of Americans actually set a formal New Year’s Resolution, but sadly, only 18 out of 100 are still on the wagon come Summer.

As you may have already guessed, health-related resolutions such as losing weight, quitting smoking, and drinking less, dominate in popularity. Gyms have even coined the term “January Joiner” for those who join up and six weeks later are more likely to be found on the couch than on the treadmill. While I am sure those resolution-makers are well intended, it seems as though there must be a missing component. It takes 21 days to create a habit, so those who don’t make it that far don’t stand a chance, but what about those who press on a little further? Where do they begin to stray?

Studies have shown that 80% of folks will self-sabotage their health as a result of a deeply seeded emotional wound. And yet, with some simple behavioral changes and a bit of discipline, people can regain their health or ideal body size in a relatively short period of time.

Feeling fit and taking care of your body go hand in hand with dealing with those possible emotional issues that make staying active difficult More activity remains the truest form of exercise. Take a low-tide walk, get out with the pooch a few more times a day, make more vegetarian dinners, or bring out that bike from the basement. This year it doesn’t have to be about hiring a trainer or joining a gym, it can be about walking to the grocery store, getting together with neighbors and friends for an afternoon walk, or accepting and loving your body the way it is. 

In the spirit of the New Year, find a way to get healthy, remain healthy and in turn, live your best life, the life you deserve.

--Erin Tullius is an Inspirational Wellness Trainer & Coach and the author of Mind Over Fatter: The Secret to Thinking Yourself Thin.

 

Massage Therapy

as an Emerging Career
Many people are seeking more meaningful work in today's hectic world: work that creates connection and a sense of belonging. Massage Therapy has become a desirable profession because it is an effective treatment and provides a unique relationship between the client and therapist. Loving human connection is becoming a scarce commodity!

Educationally there are two categories of training: becoming a Massage Practitioner requires 250 Hours of study, and having the title of Massage Therapist requires 500 Hours. The laws have recently changed, and by 2015 everyone will be trained as a Massage Therapist, and there won't be any shorter programs offered. Good programs are highly academic as well as holistic and teach students both the art and science of Massage. Students learn basic anatomy, physiology, kinesiology (the study of movement) ethics, history of Massage, and the therapeutic application of the art of Massage itself. It also requires excellent interpersonal skills, ability to listen deeply, and compassionate communication.

When looking at curriculum for Massage Schools, people are quite surprised at the content and complexity of what is being taught. We are a quiet profession with a surprisingly deep body of knowledge. To be an excellent practitioner, in my view, students must have an academic hunger as well as an inherent gift of touch.

Interestingly, California is one of the few states left that has no state licensure; in most states we are Licensed Health Care Providers. Fortunately we are moving in that direction. I strongly advocate state licensing for professional credibility.

Some schools focus on the intuitive aspect of Massage, others clinical, and others more holistic. A highly successful practitioner would ideally possess all of those skills and find a program that incorporates everything. Intuition is as vital to our work as is the core understanding of anatomy and physiology.

It is crucial to understand how the body works and why you're doing what you are doing in terms of technique, because Massage Therapy has a direct effect on every body system. Its efficacy goes without question, and Massage Therapy treatments have now been received by 60% of all health care consumers.

Our profession is emerging rapidly, and according to the US Department of Labor statistics (2010-2011), we are expected to grow “faster than average” with an expected growth of 14-19% between 2008 and 2018. These statistics express the value of our profession and the opportunities for employment are equally encouraging.

Graduates can open their own office, work together in a Wellness Center, with a Chiropractor, Salon, Spa, or Hospital. Forward thinking hospitals are incorporating Massage for their patients and staff. With some ingenuity and good marketing skills, the possibilities are innumerable. It is an excellent avocation or a serious vocation, and provides freedom, flexibility, and mobility.

In a part-time program, students can expect to devote about 20 hours per week in study, practice, and receiving including class time.  Every school has its own schedule. Tuition costs range nationally from $11 to $20 per clock hour.

If you love learning, have a desire to be of service to others, and intuitively understand the need for human touch, Massage Therapy might be an excellent career choice.

Deborah Heartwood is the Director of the Massage Therapy Learning Center in Pismo Beach - in conjunction with Lucia Mar Adult Education

Keep it Simple, Santa

Tips & Tricks to Avoid the Extra Stress & Holiday Pounds

The Holidays, a time for giving, sharing, loving and spreading cheer, right? In theory. So why is it that so many of us find the holiday season sounding more like this: eat, drink, stress, eat, drink…You get the picture. It stares you in the face come January 1 when you resolve to take off the weight you gained, stop drinking so much and get rid of the dark circles under your eyes.

Why sabotage this potentially beautiful, joy-filled time of year? Just keep it simple!

The holidays present a multitude of tasty temptations including traditional family goodies, holiday party appetizers, and opportunities to gorge even while sitting at your desk. However, it is possible to keep it simple if you can create a few guidelines for yourself. For example, stick to fruit, vegetables, and lean meats for main meals. This will ensure you are receiving proper nutrients, which will decrease cravings. Indulge in those special treats you only find during the holidays. A chocolate chip cookie, though tempting, is available year-round while Aunt Linda’s homemade Pumpkin Bread may not be. Lastly, always ask yourself if you are hungry before reaching for anything. You alone are responsible for what you put into your vehicle and when. Once you have committed to a guideline, stick with it 100% of the time. The moment you deviate, you will most likely continue to do so unless you either have someone to hold you accountable or make a conscious decision to recommit.

Often, the holidays mean we are put in social situations where alcohol is readily available. We go from two glasses of wine a week to eight with relative ease. And don’t even get me started with the calories one Spiked Eggnog can pack! In order to avoid the extra holiday pounds (and a few morning headaches) examine each coming week and decide on a number of libations that sounds reasonable and stick to your plan.

Despite all the excess food and drink, stress can be the number one contributor to your weight gain. Ask yourself where the stress originates. Is your family situation awkward? Do you worry about finding a gift for everyone you know? Do you have to plan the “perfect” holiday party each year?

Once you identify your triggers, there are a few simple tricks to avoiding the stress or dealing with it as it comes. First, if it is avoidable, avoid it. If crowded malls make you nervous, set yourself up for success by shopping early or exclusively online. If your family insists on making the holidays stressful, you can opt out or suggest an alternative. And in those times when stress creeps up on you, take a moment to close your eyes and imagine breathing into your heart. Focus on basic words such as “inhale, exhale” or bring in “peace” and let go of “fear” with each breath.

Allowing the beautifully simple moments of the season to recapture your attention gives incredible perspective, without the calories.

Erin Tullius is an Inspirational Wellness Trainer & Coach and the author of Mind Over Fatter: The Secret to Thinking Yourself Thin.

Learning to Love Your Stretch Marks

February will not be complete lest you encounter an arrow-slinging cherub or two and several hundred hearts. Funny how a holiday with such commercial origins can have us pondering a universal concept such as love.

I wonder what would happen if this year, we all took that same time and energy typically devoted to the expectations of our significant others (and often, the resulting disappointment) and instead devote time learning to love ourselves.

It typically does not require Herculean effort to pat ourselves on the back for our wins, our successes, our triumphs and our accomplishments. It can, however, be very difficult to love our losses, our fatal flaws, and our stretch marks. Oh yes, our stretch marks.

Upon exiting the shower the other day, I noticed something different than usual. Of course, after gaining and losing a few hundred pounds and carrying a child for over 10 months, I knew they were there; but they were often something I chose to ignore. And on occasion, though I hate to admit, they were even the subject of self-loathing. I chose, as many do, to view the lines as something I needed to get rid of, take care of, and completely eliminate.  

But that day, they meant something different. You see, never before had I looked at these lines on my body with pride, appreciation, or (dare I say it) love, but as I began to recognize each as a badge of glory, something began to shift.

For the first time, I began to realize how proud I was of the fact I had overcome my seemingly unending “battle of the bulge”. I appreciated the lines for allowing my body to carry my son until he was ready to enter the world as a fully-developed, healthy newborn.  I loved the lines for each was a reminder of the lessons I had learned, the challenges I had overcome, and the courage I had mustered. Each line had allowed me the space I needed to grow (yes, both literally and figuratively). I was learning to love my stretch marks.

Each of us has a body part, a personality “flaw”, or a challenge that when forced to face it, we cringe. Most often, what immediately follows is some form of head chatter that sounds a far cry from accolades. The chatter may never completely vacate your vocabulary; however, appreciating each and every part of yourself is the first step to truly loving yourself. And loving yourself is, after all, the first step to loving others.

So, here’s to your stretch marks! May they serve to remind you just how far you have come.

Flu, Fear and Finance

Did you notice that the 2009 “flu season” never ended? We were inundated by the media and government with warnings of a Swine Flu “pandemic” that never materialized. This year we’re being told to get your flu shots, again, and “fortunately,” you will only need one because it also contains H1N1

According to data from the Centers for Disease Control, during the 2006-07 flu season 60 percent of health care professionals declined to get a flu shot. Shouldn’t what’s good for the goose be good for the gander?

Why the push? According to Glen Nowak, Ph.D., Associate Director for Communications of the CDC’s National Immunization Program, the best “recipe” for a successful influenza season is for “medical experts and public health authorities to publicly (e.g., via media) state concern and alarm (and predict dire outcomes)–and urge influenza vaccination.” This should produce “significant media interest and attention” and “framing of the flu season in terms that motivate behavior (e.g., as ‘very severe,’ ‘more severe than last or past years,’ ‘deadly’).” [1]  Prime example of the type of fear-mongering, use of the media and manipulation of the general public that goes on in the CDC.

Look at who’s making the recommendations in the first place. In August 1999, the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Government Reform initiated an investigation into federal vaccine policy that focused on possible conflicts of interest on the part of federal policy-makers. The committee released a report focusing on two influential advisory committees utilized by federal regulators to provide expert advice on vaccine policy: the FDA’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) and the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunizations Practices (ACIP). The VRBPAC advises the FDA on the licensing of new vaccines, and the ACIP advises the CDC on guidelines to be issued to doctors and the states for the appropriate use of vaccines.

Members of the advisory committees are required to disclose any financial conflicts of interest and recluse themselves from participating in decisions in which they have an interest. The committee’s investigation determined that conflict of interest rules employed by the FDA and the CDC have been weak, enforcement has been lax, and advisory committee members with substantial ties to pharmaceutical companies have been given waivers to participate in committee proceedings. [2]

Among the specific problems identified in the House committee staff report: The CDC routinely grants waivers from conflict of interest rules to every member of its advisory committee. The chairman of the CDC’s advisory committee owned 600 shares of stock in Merck, a pharmaceutical company with an active vaccine division.  Members of the CDC’s advisory committee often fill out incomplete financial disclosure statements, and are not required to provide the missing information by CDC ethics officials.  Four out of eight CDC advisory committee members who voted to approve guidelines for the rotavirus vaccine in June 1998 had financial ties to pharmaceutical companies that were developing different versions of the vaccine.  Three out of five FDA advisory committee members who voted to approve the rotavirus vaccine in December 1997 had financial ties to pharmaceutical companies that were developing different versions of the vaccine. [2]

Conflicts of interest abound in both the FDA and CDC and there is an open door between the pharmaceutical corporations and these organizations, meaning researchers and consultants often go back and forth between working for the pharmaceutical industry and the CDC and FDA. 

According to the 2003 Chiron annual report, the company made $332.4 million in sales on flu vaccine alone and had a 53% gross profit. Perhaps this has something to do with increasing media attention, commercials and recommendations for everyone age 6 months old and older to receive a flu vaccine.

Does the vaccine even work?.  An independent analysis of vaccine studies by the internationally renowned Cochrane Collaboration, published in the British Medical Journal in 2006, concluded that there is little scientific proof that the influenza vaccine is safe or effective for children and adults. The report concluded that too few clinical trials have been conducted to prove vaccine safety, and current evidence indicates that use of the vaccine in children under 2 years had the same efficacy as placebo. In healthy people under 65, vaccination did not affect hospital stay, time off work, or death from influenza and its complications. [3]

Tom Jefferson, MD, and colleagues at the Cochrane Collaboration, also wrote to The Lancet reporting that the safety of influenza vaccines given to babies and children is unknown. Incredibly, most of the trials they reviewed were not designed to assess serious adverse reactions. Given that the CDC currently recommends flu vaccines for all healthy children older than 6 months, this news is extremely disturbing.

A 2006 study done in Ontario to determine whether the incidence of influenza there decreased following the introduction of their Universal Influenza Immunization Campaign (UIIC) in 2000 found that there has not been a decrease in the mean monthly influenza rate following the introduction of their campaign. The scientists who did the study concluded in their research paper stated, “Despite increased vaccine distribution and financial resources towards promotion, the incidence of influenza in Ontario has not decreased following the introduction of the UIIC.” [4]

If that weren’t enough reason to avoid the flu vaccine, influenza virus strains mutate, necessitating a new vaccine each year. Every year, the World Health Organization predicts which strains of the virus are most likely to be circulating the following year so vaccine manufacturers can produce vaccines for administration that fall. In the 1994-1995 flu season, the CDC reported that 43% of isolated influenza samples for the predominant virus were not similar to that in the vaccine. Likewise, for another virus 87% of samples were not similar to that in the vaccine. For yet another, 76% of isolated samples were not similar to that in the vaccine. [9] During the 1992-1993 flu season 84% of the isolated influenza samples for the predominant virus were not similar to that in the vaccine. [5]

Although influenza is associated with more disease, hospitalization, and death in "at risk" populations, no adequate controlled studies exist which prove that influenza vaccine reduces the incidence of influenza in these groups. [6]

On the CDC’s web site main flu page they claim the flu is responsible for 36,000 deaths per year. [7] However, the CDC’s more comprehensive National Vital Statistics Report states that only 257 people died of the flu in 2001 and 753 in 2002. [8]

In another study published in The Lancet in 2007, the researchers questioned flu shots for the elderly stating that the benefits are “greatly exaggerated.”  The researchers stated that the public policy for the elderly getting flu shots is based on flimsy, even nonexistent, evidence. [9]

With little proof of effectiveness and safety, questionable marketing techniques and rampant conflicts of interest between vaccine policy makers and pharmaceutical companies bringing in millions of taxpayers money, perhaps it's time to rethink the perceived need for a flu vaccine this year or in the future.

What can you do to avoid the flu? Remember first that what ever you try to avoid you tend to attract.  You must instead focus on increasing your health so that you are not susceptible to germs in the first place.

The National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC) gives the following alternative strategies for dealing with the flu…

? If you have the flu, stay home until you are well
? If you know a person sick with the flu, avoid contact until they are well
? Wash your hands frequently
? Drink plenty of fluids, especially water
? Get adequate rest
? Eat a wholesome diet rich in vitamins and minerals, especially foods containing vitamin D (such as cod liver oil)
? Spend a few minutes a day in sunlight to help your body make and store vitamin D.
? Consider chiropractic adjustments, homeopathic remedies and other natural options for healing and maintaining health.
? Exercise regularly when you are well.
? Lower stress through meditation and other healthy lifestyle changes.


Dr. Steve Tullius, D.C. practices in Grover Beach where his focus is on creating a healthier future by empowering and educating his practice members to become stewards of their health. 

 

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