Overcoming anxiety attacks naturally

I have taken Xanax before a few times around 2005-2009 when I was experiencing stress symptoms such as heart palpitations. It only gave temporary relief, and it caused me to experience mild withdrawal symptoms after that.

I learnt that natural remedies to anxiety, stomach tightness and insomnia, such as chamomile tea, may help. You can read more about its health benefits in this Natural News article. http://www.naturalnews.com/034454_chamom…

Drinking more water may help too, since water is a great "anxiety quencher", according to a holistic health website. http://www.freedrinkingwater.com/water-e…

Try taking naps in the afternoon if you do not have enough sleep at night. I usually take naps in the afternoon to catch up on sleep if I have not slept well the night before. Napping is a good way to catch up on rest and promote overall health and wellbeing.

Last but not least, you could get a thyroid test done because anxiety attacks could well be due to an overactive or underactive thyroid gland. I learnt that someone who has hyperthyroidism can manage the disorder by monitoring his diet (like avoiding gluten, processed soy, eggs, sugar; and eating anti-inflammatory foods and cruciferous vegetables), taking Vitamin D supplements (or getting natural Vitamin D from sunshine) and avoiding environmental toxins.
http://www.understand-andcure-anxietyatt…
http://www.naturalnews.com/004300.html

http://www.naturalnews.com/031642_hypert…

Calming Effects of Nature

"The researchers then conducted a similar experiment with another set of people. Rather than taking walks between the rounds of testing, these subjects simply looked at photographs of either calm rural scenes or busy urban ones. The results were the same. The people who looked at pictures of nature scenes were able to exert substantially stronger control over their attention, while those who looked at city scenes showed no improvement in their attentiveness. “In sum,” concluded the researchers, “simple and brief interactions with nature can produce marked increases in cognitive control.” Spending time in the natural world seems to be of “vital importance” to “effective cognitive functioning.”

Rural > City > Cyberspace

The Biggest Migration In Human History.

It is interesting to note that besides going to Nature areas, having pictures of nature scenes in our environment can help us calm our minds and have stronger control over our attention. Recently, I decided to paste a photo of Nature scenery in my bedroom wall, and I would look at the picture of green vegetation and I find that it helps to soothe my eyes and calm my mind.

Reclaiming the power, beauty and divinity of women

According to this website:

"Women's spirituality is one of the richest and most dynamic forces in modern Paganism. Women are respected in all Pagan traditions and have enriched Paganism with a powerful vision of the Goddess - the long-ignored feminine aspect of the Divine. In Paganism, women are Priestesses in their own right, strong and proud, with their own vision."

I think paganism can play an important role in our world today as the world is badly in need of healing in terms of environmental crisis and unfair treatment of women in many places. As the website says, "Women's traditions have an especially powerful vision of the Earth as the Goddess and are deeply involved with caring for the Earth and protecting her from the rape of modern civilization. They are concerned with the healing of the Earth and with the healing of the image of women." It is about time for women to reclaim their true identity as goddesses and let their spiritual light shine in imparting wisdom and healing, even as humanity is awakening to our oneness and interconnectedness with one another.

It reminds me of a similar post I came across in a blog recently about the power, beauty and divinity of women.

"We all come from the same mother (the Great Mother). She is the wise woman. We all return to her embrace, her bloody-rich womb place, when we die. Every woman is a whole/holy form of her, able to be whole/holy mother of all life, able to be whole/holy destroyer of life. Her power is her blood that flows and flows, her blood which is life and gives life. Every woman’s menstrual blood and birth-time blood is a holy mystery.

....

The purpose of this post is to shed light on our power, our beauty, and our divinity. We are not vessels of sin. We are not unclean. We are not lesser. We are not cursed. We are not weak. We are the direct opposite of all of these things. Embrace YOU. Love YOU. Appreciate the divinity and uniqueness of divine womanhood."

Tea for combating winter ailments

Here is a health article about combating winter ailments. I learnt that green tea and ginger tea are especially beneficial to those of blood type B. http://www.naturalnews.com/031143_antibiotics_winter.html

This website has a good suggestion on how to decaffeinate tea naturally (since high doses of caffeine can affect the nervous system). http://www.bukisa.com/articles/102249_how-to-decaffeinate-your-own-green-tea

Meditation and neuroplasticity

Someone wrote in Zen Buddhism group in Facebook:

"One thing that's been very useful for me is to start working my neuroplasticity toward the most natural state the brain can be in by spending more time being fully present. This is sort of a master key for overcoming ALL psychiatric issues."

 I googled about neuroplasticity, and learnt that it is about the brain's ability to form new neural connections, which can be beneficial if stimulated correctly, according to the following website.

"The brain's ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections throughout life. Neuroplasticity allows the neurons (nerve cells) in the brain to compensate for injury and disease and to adjust their activities in response to new situations or to changes in their environment."
http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=40362

I think, like what the person shared, practising mindfulness and being in the present moment can help our brain to overcome any distressing symptom. Studies have shown this to be evident: http://chipur.com/2011/04/12/the-hope-of-neuroplasticity/

"Well, the discovery story goes like this. Dr. Schwartz revisited an interest in the Buddhist concept of mindfulness; a clear-minded, in-the-present-moment, self-observational technique that emphasizes viewing oneself without criticism or judgment.

Schwartz discovered that when OCD patients practiced mindfulness meditation (as a CBT technique), upon experiencing distressing symptoms, a significant number of them reported measurable improvement and relief.

Schwartz wanted to understand why. So he and his team examined PET scans administered before and after a course of CBT. Guess what? They found activity in one of the brain’s OCD-significant areas, the orbitofrontal cortex, decreased significantly. Furthermore, the observed decrease was about the same as what would be noted after antidepressant therapy."

 http://blogs.psychcentral.com/mindfulness/2010/03/neuroplasticity-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/


I also learnt that besides zen buddhism, yoga also recognises the benefits of practising mindfulness or sustained meditation in helping the brain's ability to change to combat stress.
http://www.yogastudies.org/2011/11/sustained-meditation-leads-to-neuroplasticity-or-the-brains-ability-to-change/

Being human, I tend to forget about practising mindfulness or living in the present moment, since living in the modern society requires us to multi-task in life, so I think having reminders, such as reading about meditation and inspirational quotes about our oneness with God/the universe, is useful for me to remember to take a deep breath, smile inwardly and be fully present once again.

Smiling triggers happy chemicals in the brain

"Random Fact ♥ Peace & Butterfly Blessings Always" - The Social Butterfly

Nutritional supplements for the gluten-intolerant

Natural News website has a good summary of nutritional supplements that may be beneficial to those who are gluten-intolerant.


Glutamine also serves as a source of fuel for the cells lining the intestine and can promote healing in these cells when they are damaged by gluten.

Probiotics are live bacteria that improve the intestinal microbial balance and enhance overall health. They are the "good" bacteria found in the gastrointestinal track. Inflammation or toxins in the gut can disrupt the balance between "good" and "bad" bacteria. Probiotics may be taken to restore a healthy balance and assist in the removal of toxins created by gluten insensitivity or celiac disease. In addition, a preventative dose of probiotics is a good idea as these microbes promote immune health, and they are frequently absent in modern diets

Omega 3 fatty acids are comprised of the fatty acids EPA and DHA and are found in fish and fish oil supplements. These essential fats are not made by the body and must be eaten or taken in supplement form to ensure the body's adequate functioning. In addition to reducing inflammation, these fats help to support healthy heart, brain, skin, and bone function

 

Digestive enzymes aid the body in digesting and breaking down proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. Digestive enzymes from either animal or plant sources should be taken an empty stomach, 20 minutes before meals or snacks. Enzymes help break down food into forms that the body can use.

 

Anti-inflammatory herbal formulas can help reduce inflammation and promote healing. Look for herbs like turmeric, aloe vera, ginger, and boswellia in formulas or by themselves as a part of your healing regime.

Choice of healthy cooking oils

My family has been buying mainly canola oil for cooking for the past year or so, as it is commonly sold in supermarkets and labelled as healthy.

Recently, I came to find out that canola oil isn't as healthy as it is claimed to be.

Natural News website has a video on it (as shown in below link). The Health Ranger recommends natural healthy oils, such as:
- coconut oil
- extra virgin olive oil
- avocado oil
- flaxseed oil (to be used in moderation though, as cautioned in this website)
- peanut oil

Are you eating pesticides? Canola oil a great insect killer - NaturalNews.tv

Fats That Can Be Safely Heated
Butter and tropical fats - coconut, palm, palm kernel, cocoa, and shea nut - are safest for frying, because they contain only small quantities of Essential Fatty-Acids ( EFA's ). The saturated fatty acids contained in these fats / oils are inert and therefore heat stable. Heat does not destroy them in the same way it destroys EFAs. Butter and tropical Fats are best used unhydrogenated. Only small amounts should be eaten, as they are sticky, hard, saturated fatty acid-containing fats.

(most oils and fats once high heated become carcinogens . - LRU) Tropical oils got a bad reputation for increasing cholesterol and triglyceride levels that supposedly cause cardiovascular disease. An unconfirmed rumor suggests that the soy bean industry financed the successful campaign against tropical fats to kill imports and increase soy bean sales. Tropical oils used in their country of origin have been shown in several studies to decrease cholesterol levels. The difference in results may be due to several causes: deterioration in tropical oils during storage ( oxidation; processing hydrogenation ) ; differing experimental design; or a combination of the above. Raw tropical oils are rich sources of vitamin E and tocotrienols, which help protect arteries from damage leading to cardiovascular disease ( CVD ) . Olive oil imported from Italy is safe for baking but not for frying or deep frying. Buy only imported Italian olive oil as it is cold processed by law.

Before you read the following article, here is a summary of a few facts regarding Canola Oil:

It is genetically engineered rapeseed.

Canada paid the FDA the sum of $50 million to have rape seed registered and recognized as "safe". (Source: Young Again and others)

Rapeseed is a lubricating oil used by small industry. It has never been meant for human consumption.

It is derived from the mustard family and is considered a toxic and poisonous weed, which when processed, becomes rancid very quickly.

It has been shown to cause lung cancer (Wall Street Journal: 6/7/95)

It is very inexpensive to grow and harvest. Insects won't eat it.

Some typical and possible side effects include loss of vision, disruption of the central nervous system, respiratory illness, anemia, constipation, increased incidence of heart disease and cancer, low birth weights in infants and irritability.

Generally rapeseed has a cumulative effect, taking almost 10 years before symptoms begin to manifest. It has a tendency to inhibit proper metabolism of foods and prohibits normal enzyme function. Canola is a Trans Fatty Acid, which has shown to have a direct link to cancer. These Trans Fatty acids are labeled as hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils. Avoid all of them!

According to John Thomas' book, Young Again, 12 years ago in England and Europe, rape seed was fed to cows, pigs and sheep who later went blind and began attacking people. There were no further attacks after the rape seed was eliminated from their diet.

Someone commented in this website:
"Monied interests truly run the show behind the scenes of the food industry. And health authorities, with their gleaming mantel of official legitimacy, are like the sleazy patrons of these slimy corporate mercenaries...kind of reminds one of those bad old days where the rich and powerful hold sway over the minds and lives of the common folk."

Someone in this blog wrote: 
"I don't know what you'll be cooking with tonight, but I'll be using olive oil or the very healthy alternative Coconut oil."

On a similar note, I can relate to a testimony shared by someone in this website Danger In The Kitchen:Is Canola Oil Bad For You? because I too had experienced knee joint pains occasionally, especially in the past few years. I have stopped buying canola oil since, although the knee joint pains somehow continue to occur occasionally, perhaps less frequently than before - I am suspecting the knee joint pains could be due to long-term fluoride ingestion from toothpastes and mouthwash, but that's another blog for now.

Paul November 9, 2009 at 12:22 am

I would like to relate my personal experience after using canola oil for over 10 years. My wife and I love popcorn and 5 nights a week we would pop the corn and enjoy our treat using canola oil because it said had no cholesterol.

After many years of using canola oil I had noticed yellow in the whites of my eyes and was concerned as the yellow indicates a liver issue. I am not a drinker nor do I abuse my body, my motto is to be moderate in all things including moderation. In the spring of 2002, I could barely walk as my knees were very inflamed. The inflammation started in my right knee and 3 weeks later my left knee. Going up stairs was so painful I wanted to cry. Some days were worse than others. In the fall of 2004 I was taking a medical course and the doctor presenting the course ask as a side note if anyone was using canola oil? He suggested anyone using the oil to change as canola oil blocks the function of the liver and causes the toxins to backup. These toxins would cause inflammation to the joints of the body as our body tries to clear those toxins. At the time I did not know want kind of oil we used. I called my wife and she told me we used canola oil and sure enough when I got home that night I found a gallon bottle in our cabinet. I changed our use that night and over the next 3 weeks my knee issues went away. It took 3 months for the yellow in the whites of my eyes to clear. To this day, I ask whenever I am at a restaurant what kind of oil they use. Sometimes I am served something cooked in canola oil and my knees will ache for the next 3 days. Another thing I have noticed, if served canola oil, I will have intestinal gas after 30 to 40 minutes of digestion. I am watchful of any food prepared with canola oil.

Earlier this year I went so far as to write the Canola oil board in Canada, the Ministry of health in Canada as well as the FDA asking for copies of any long term human studies. I was informed there have been no long term studies.

Last month I was on a Celebrity cruise ship and asked the top chef what kind of oil they use as I have problems with canola oil and cannot use it. He stated to me they will not use canola oil as it causes joint problems. I was very surprised to hear that from him and asked where he got his information? He stated with as many senior people on the ships, they had many complaints and will not use the oil.

Please pay attention to the use of this oil!

Thank you,
Paul

Meanwhile, the research goes on... 

The healing power of okra

Here's sharing some information I came across just now about the health benefits of okra (lady's fingers) - a type of vegetable. It grows in the tropics, though I think it is available for sale in temperate countries like Canada. It is beneficial especially for those with blood type A, B or O.

I googled about it and found supporting information about the health benefits of okra:

"3. Okra helps lubricate the large intestines due to its bulk laxative qualities. The okra fiber absorbs water and ensures bulk in stools. This helps prevent and improve constipation. Unlike harsh wheat bran, which can irritate or injure the intestinal tract, okra's mucilage soothes, and okra facilitates elimination more comfortably by its slippery characteristic.

4.Okra fibre is excellent for feeding the good bacteria (probiotics). This contributes to the health of the intestinal tract."
http://www.dadamo.com/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?b-GC/m-1322061674/

"Okra is rich in fiber, nearly half of which is soluble fibre in the forms of gums and pectins. This type of fibre helps to lower serum cholesterol, reducing the risk of heart disease. The other half its fiber is the insoluble form that helps to keep the intestinal tract healthy, decreasing the risk of some types of cancer, especially colorectal cancer."
http://sillyfunnycrazy.blogspot.com/2007/12/benefit-of-eating-okra-ladys-finger.html#

"It helps to neutralize acids, being very alkaline, and provides a temporary protective coating for the digestive tract. It can be utilized by people suffering from acid reflux."
http://elqalatawy.hubpages.com/hub/Acid-Reflux-Natural-Remedies-To-Try

Natural remedies for relieving constipation

Constipation may be caused by insufficient intake of water, as well as side effects of drugs or supplements, such as iron supplements.

Some remedies that I have tested and tried to be effective include:
1. Drinking plenty of water, especially in the earlier part of the day (morning and early afternoon)

2. Getting sufficient exercise - walking, and doing abdominal exercises can help strength the muscles necessary to empty the bowel without much straining

3. Deep breathing and relaxation techniques, such as yoga
http://www.ehow.com/video_7642740_yoga-poses-cure-constipation.html


4. Getting sufficient rest and sleep

5.- Reducing intake of meat in meals

6. Chewing food slowly and thoroughly where possible

I learnt that it is important to chew food slowly and thoroughly where possible when eating a meal.

http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/This-Cure-For-Constipation-Will-Amaze-You/388195
"When you chew, your brain sends signals to your stomach and intestines that food is on the way. Your body can prepare itself for everything it will need to properly digest the food you eat. By giving your system a head start, the food you eat is better absorbed and digested. This passes the food more effectively and efficiently through your body. The more nutrients absorbed from the food you eat, the less fat that is absorbed for later use."

7. Increasing intake of fruits and vegetables
eg papayas, guavas, bananas, cucumbers, grapes, green apples (with skin intact)

I also remember that some fruits, such as guava and papaya, can be very effective to help relieve symptoms of constipation. Ripe guavas with soft flesh are especially effective (raw ones can be hard to chew, so should be avoided) - there were times I ate a ripe guava after lunch, and the next day, I experienced bowel movement quite easily. The high fibre content provides roughage for the colon and rectum to release the stool more easily.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100326201705AAzcUkg

I have also checked that guava, cucumber, grapes, apples with green skin intact, papayas and bananas are suitable for people with blood type B. These foods are high in fibre, and helps maintain the health of your digestive system naturally, and without having gluten allergy side effects.

http://weightloss-and-diet-solution.blogspot.com/2011/02/b-blood-type-diet.html

I learnt that eating ripe bananas have other benefits: http://bananasweb.com/health-benefits-of-bananas

Reducing Depression

Bananas contain tryptophan, an amino acid that can be converted to serotonin, leading to improved mood

Anemia

Bananas are relatively high in iron, which helps the body’s hemoglobin function

Constipation and Diarrhea

Due to their content in fiber, they help restore a normal bowel function. In addition, diarrhea usually depletes your body of important electrolytes (of which the most important is potassium, contained in high amounts in bananas). They also contain pectin, a soluble fiber (hydrocolloid) that can help normalize movement through the digestive tract.

8. Taking natural supplements, such prune juice, psyllium husk

  http://www.herbwisdom.com/herb-psyllium-husk.html
"Psyllium is quickly becoming one of the top recommendations for people using low-carb Atkins-style diets. It is very difficult to get enough fibre in a diet when you eliminate the carbohydrates in cereals, whole grains and fruits. Psyllium capsules are an easy way to take care of this problem. It fills you with fibre, reducing appetite without overstimulating the nervous system; a much healthier approach than formulas containing ephedra such as Herbalife or Metabolife."

 I remember I took the supplement in powder form with water - I would poured one small satchet of psyllium husk into a glass of water, and stir it to mix well with water. Then I would drink it completely. Sometimes I would drink another glass of water after that. There were times the bowel movement occurred shortly, within half an hour. Other times, there was no immediate response, so I simply continued to drink lots of water (8-10 or more glasses of water) during the day, and then tried taking the supplement again the next day, for the bowel to clear naturally on its own. I tried to minimise straining where possible, and let it happen naturally with the help of deep breathing.

I also have managed to remember the brand name of the natural fibre supplement I took last time - it is called Fybogel. http://www.constipationadvice.ie/understanding-constipation/how-fybogel-works.html

I also found some samples of dulcofibre in the kitchen cabinet, which I haven't tried yet. I think it is a new product - I just googled it and found this information. http://www.dulcofibre.com.au/com/au/dulcofibre/FAQ/index.htm

I also remember drinking prune juice which I bought from the supermarket - I used to drink a glass of prune juice every day or every other day, besides drinking plenty of water, and it helps to facilitate a relatively smooth bowel movement - sometimes the day after.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20060731074029AAIXVN4

Prune juice is also suitable for people of blood type B. For some reason, the website below discourages people from drinking coconut milk. On the other hand, it lists papaya and banana as beneficial for people of blood type B.
http://curezone.com/ER4YT/fruit.asp

9. Taking probiotics

Here's sharing some information on this Neobiotics probiotics that I have been taking every other day - I find that it is quite effective in maintaining regular bowel movement too.

   

http://www.natural-indigestion-relief.com/probiotics-for-constipation.html

"Yes, probiotics for constipation do work even for chronic constipation and the evidence continues to grow."

Additional resource on probiotics:
http://www.nutraingredients.com/Research/Probiotics-work-out-against-constipation-says-study

According to this medical website:
"The goal of therapy for constipation is one bowel movement every two to three days without straining."

Quote by Steve Jobs (2005)

"The heaviness of being successful was replaced by the lightness of being a beginner again, less sure about everything. It freed me to enter one of the most creative periods of my life. During the next five years, I started a company named NeXT, another company named Pixar, and fell in love with an amazing woman who would become my wife. Pixar went on to create the world's first computer animated feature film, Toy Story, and is now the most successful animation studio in the world.

In a remarkable turn of events, Apple bought NeXT, I returned to Apple, and the techology we developed at NeXT is at the heart of Apple's current renaissance. And Laurene and I have a wonderful family together. I'm pretty sure none of this would have happened if I haven't been fired from Apple. It was awful tasting medicine, but I guess the patient needed it. Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don't lose faith.

I'm convinced that the only thing that kept me going was that I loved what I did. You've got to find what you love. And that is as true for your work as it is for your lovers. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do."

- Steve Jobs