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What’s Clutter Got to Do with It?

Junk Drawer
Clutter is a common problem in today’s society.  Families are busier than ever trying to keep up with their careers, children in extra-curricular activities, household responsibilities, mail, errands, business and personal travel, email, etc.  At some point, most people get overwhelmed.  Clutter seems to appear overnight and is hard to tackle for most people.  In some cases, in my opinion, it is also an outward physical manifestation of something that is going on inside, generally stemming from emotional distress.  People that are generally pushed to the breaking point are usually in the midst of a major life transition.  The transitions in life I see that cause the most chaos and clutter in someone’s life are as follows:

  • Death of an immediate family member
  • Divorce
  • Infidelity
  • Empty nest
  • Job transition
  • Medical conditions
  • Aging
  • New baby

“Normal” everyday life is stressful enough, but when people are going through these transitions, stress and anxiety escalate.  Their main focus is on the situation at hand, and not on the physical contents of the home or office.  The pain of the clutter doesn’t generally manifest itself until the current situation is handled and the person realizes that they want to get their life back, put order back into their home or office, and are too overwhelmed at that point and don’t know where to start.  Also during major transitions in life, stress increases even more so because there is either a lack of time or money to address the situation, or people sometimes don’t have the knowledge or skills to adapt and deal with the clutter thus feeling helpless.  I have observed first-hand the correlation between clutter, stress, unbalanced lifestyles and increased medical issues.  The more clutter I see, the more prescription drugs I see in the cabinet.  The more clutter I see, the more unhealthy food I see in the pantry.  The more clutter I see, the more I hear clients complain of medical conditions and the inability to sleep, rest or relax.

It is very important to follow some simple steps in order to manage the stress and move forward into the next phase of life.

  1. Know that you are not alone – many people have been in similar situations
  2. Seek the advice of your doctor as to how to best manage the stress
  3. Rely on your friends, family, and other people for support
  4. Get plenty of rest, eat balanced meals and exercise regularly
  5. Call a decluttering professional for help if you get stuck

I think the real truth about where the clutter started and how to rid yourself of it once and for all starts with the act of physically decluttering a particular space and in some cases your entire home. Remember, it took you quite some time to get cluttered and you can’t expect for it to disappear overnight.  You will need to be ready to work thru the process and be open to learning what the physical clutter is trying to tell you about what’s going on inside.  By working thru the physical process of decluttering, you will most likely find the answer about what clutter has to do with it.  Once you discover this, you can then continue taking the steps to heal yourself physically and emotionally.

Sharon Toston, The Clutter Coach
www.commandyourclutter.com
727.420.1746

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5 Powerful Health Effects Of Olive Oil

olive-oil-20
Photo: Daniella Segura
Derived from the fatty liquid of pressed olives, olive is a versatile substance that’s loaded in nutritional value. Just a single tablespoon has 10 grams of monosaturated fat, 1.4 grams ofpolysaturated fat, vitamin E, and other other key nutrients. While most people consume it for its delicious flavor and smooth characteristics, olive oil has surprising health benefits when consumed on a regular basis. continue reading »

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Ways To Ring In The Chinese New Year

ring-in-new-year-01Cleaning

Part of celebrating the Chinese New Year (February 19) involves cleaning. Traditionally, homes are cleaned before the New Year, but sweeping and dusting isn’t done until the third day after New Year out of fear that good fortune will be swept away. The floors can be swept, starting by brushing the dust and dirt towards the middle of the house or building. Once the debris is piled into the center, it’s moved to the corners where it remains until the fifth day, at which point it can be thrown out. continue reading »

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2015: Year of The Goat

3250264788_cd7d359095_z2015 is the Year of The Goat in Chinese astrology. Ranking eighth in the long list of animals tied to the Chinese zodiac, people who are born under this sign are said to be calm, mild-mannered, good-hearted, sympathetic, dependable and intelligent. They also prefer to avoid being the center of attention – a trait that’s rare among other Chinese zodiacs. Of course, this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the characteristics of the Year of The Goat. continue reading »

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Acupuncture Erases Pain: Here’s How It Works

meridian-woman-011215The thought of treating pain by sticking yourself with dozens of tiny needles might sound like a misnomer. After all, wouldn’t this make the problem worse by creating more pain? The holistic practice of acupuncture is a safe and effective solution for relieving pain. Whether it’s chronic or temporary pain, acupuncture has proven effective time and time again at relieving pain. continue reading »

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Getting Stiff?

The three pillars of health that I put above any other healthcare (physicians, acupuncturists, chiropractors, supplements, etc) are as follows:

1. Sleep
2. Food
3. Movement
4. Healthcare

You’ll notice that I didn’t put “exercise” – I put movement.  That isn’t accidental.  I believe that being stationary is detrimental to our health.  Here are some exercises I’d like you to do three times a day at your desk to loosen up!

Go ahead!  Try it now! 

How does that feel?

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Can Acupuncture Really Help You Lose Weight?

belly-2354_1920-12-29-14Obesity remains a top concern among health professionals in the U.S. According to a study published in the Journal of American Medicine (JAMA), more than one third of adults in the U.S. are clinically obese (source). People who fall under this category are more likely to develop heart disease, diabetes, and even certain types of cancer.

While there’s no substitution for exercise and a well-balanced diet, the ancient Chinese practice of acupuncture may promote weight loss in adults battling obesity. Numerous studies have reinforced the belief that acupuncture can aid in weight loss. So instead of embarking on a potentially dangerous “fad” diet, such as an all-liquid lemon detox diet, consider acupuncture treatment to assist in your weight loss efforts.  continue reading »

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Too Many Antibiotics? What are the risks really?

Sometimes, over dinner with a new group of friends, I am asked to explain “what is it you do, exactly?”.  It seems like the biggest part of my role as healthcare provider is in education.  One of the most important areas that I seem to be spending a growing amount of time is on the topic of antibiotics.  

Should I go on an antibiotic?” 
“Would an antibiotic make this go away faster?”
“I’ve been on antibiotics for weeks and I’m still having symptoms, now what?”

There is a time and place for antibiotics.  One of the biggest concerns in medicine used to be bacterial infection.  There are disease that are being close to eradicated due to the invention and prescriptions of antibiotics like penicillin.  Thanks Dr. Fleming! The discovery of penicillin was a turning point in modern medicine and in our history.  

One of the fastest growing health concerns in current modern medicine is growing antibiotic resistance.  Despite the growing education that antibiotics do not treat viruses and are not a “cure-all” for every sniffle, cough, sneeze, or wheeze, it seems many doctors still prescribe them just in case.

“Researchers from George Washington, Cornell and Johns Hopkins universities surveyed 113 patients in an urban hospital to test their understanding of antibiotics. They discovered a widespread misconception: patients may want antibiotics, even if they know that, if they have a viral infection, the drugs will not make them better. These patients believe that taking the medication will not worsen their condition—and that the risk of taking unnecessary antibiotics does not outweigh the possibility that they may help.

“More than half of the patients we surveyed already knew that antibiotics don’t work against viruses, but they still agreed with taking antibiotics just in case,” Dr. Broniatowski said. “We need to fight fire with fire. If patients think that antibiotics can’t hurt, we can’t just focus on telling them that they probably have a virus. We need to let them know that antibiotics can have some pretty bad side effects, and that they will definitely not help cure a viral infection.

Ok.  So now what? I suppose that’s where I come in to play in a dinner conversation.  

In Chinese Medicine there is an evaluation of the entire condition as it is currently presenting, coming up with a “unique to the patient” diagnosis and treatment plan.  In evaluating why someone might be coughing, or sneezing, or itching that weird rash, we can find the right treatment (Chinese herbal medicine, acupuncture, dietary changes, etc) to correct the condition without having to go on antibiotics initially.  

The first known record of infectious disease was recorded in the Huang Di Nei Jing (Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classic) which was compiled in the first or second century CE.  The Huang Di Ne Jing recognized different types, causes, and manifestations of infections and pathogens.  The Chinese herbal formulas recorded in the Nei Jing have been used for thousands of years for a variety of conditions, quite successfully.  A fantastic breakdown of some of these formulas can be found here.

In Western medicine, the discovery of antibiotic drugs is one of the major breakthroughs in modern medicine. It enables doctors to effectively treat many different types of infections. Unfortunately, decades of abuse and misuse have led to growing problems of bacterial mutation and resistance. Many of these “super bugs” can only be treated with the newest and most potent antibiotic drugs. Unfortunately, many of them have potent side effects as well. The key points are to select the correct antibiotic drug with least potential side effects and make sure the patient finishes the entire course of therapy.

In traditional Chinese medicine, herbs and herbal formulas are also extremely effective for treatment of various infections. In fact, most modern pharmaceutical drugs were originally derived from natural sources, including penicillin (the oldest antibiotic) and gentimicin (one of the most potent). One of the main benefits of using herbs is their wide spectrum of antibiotic effect, with indications for bacterial and viral infections. Furthermore, most of these herbs are extremely safe, and do not have the same harsh side effects as drugs.

In summary, both drugs and herbs are effective to treat mild to moderate cases of bacterial infections. However, because drugs are more immediately potent and can be prescribed with more laboratory precision (via cultures and sensitivity tests), they are more appropriate for life-threatening infections, such as meningitis or encephalitis, or mutant strains of bacteria, such as beta-lactam-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). On the other hand, use of herbs is far more effective than drugs for treating certain viral infections, such as the common cold and influenza. Most importantly, herbs are much gentler to the body and safer than drugs. In other words, herbs treat infection without damaging the patient’s underlying constitution. This allows the patient to recover faster and become more resistant to secondary or re-current infections.

If you’ve been wondering what you should do with your healthcare, I am always available for a free phone consult. 
727-216-6929

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Juicing vs Blending: The Great Health Debate

green-456839_640Adults who need 2,000 daily calories to maintain a healthy weight should eat 2 cups of fruit and 2½ cups of vegetables per day (a total of nine servings). According to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), however, only 14% of adults consume the recommended daily amount of fruits and vegetables (source). That’s a shockingly low number that should serve as a wake-up call to people everywhere.

If you struggle to achieve to consume the recommended amount of vegetables and fruit, you should consider investing in a blender or juicer. Juicing and blending are both excellent ways to include more fruits and vegetables into your daily diet. Now for the million dollar question: which method is better for your health. continue reading »

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Prostate Screening – to Screen or not Screen?

All Cancers aren’t created equal.  In fact, there has been discussion about changing the wording for “cancers” that aren’t as terminal or agressive as other cancers.  This NY Times article talks about how scary using the word cancer can be – especially in patients diagnoses with breast or prostate “cancers”.  

The pathologist Donald Gleason, who invented Gleason scoring for prostate tumors, wanted to rename a very common tumor — the so-called Gleason 3 + 3 — “adenosis” instead of cancer, Dr. Brawley said. His idea was that by calling a 3 + 3 “cancer,” men and their doctors would feel they had to get rid of it right away. 
Despite Dr. Gleason’s wishes, 3 + 3 cells are still called cancer.
And despite the panel’s advice about D.C.I.S., that name has not changed either. 
Cervical cancer specialists had better luck. In 1988, they changed the name of a sort of Stage 0 of the cervix. It had been called cervical carcinoma in situ. They renamed it cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, Grades 1 to 3, taking away the cancer connotation.

In this article, Four Reasons I won’t have a Prostate Cancer Blood Test, by consultant oncologist Ian Haines talks about the overmedication, surgery, and unnecesary treatments for “cancers” that aren’t fatal.  

While some prostate cancers are harmful and require treatment, many are not. So the prevailing wisdom – that early detection and treatment is best – doesn’t necessarily apply. At least 70% of men over 70 have prostate cancer detected in autopsies, and only 3% of men die because of prostate cancer.

He states that the PSA is a poor testing tool.  He states that a positive PSA only means 1 in 4 men actually have prostate cancer.  That means, 3 out of 4 men were told they have elevated PSA and prostate cancer.  

PSA tests also miss many cancers. A 2003 study found that 21% of men who had a “normal” PSA of 2.6 to 3.9 at the end of a seven-year study did, in fact, have prostate cancer. Of the men with a PSA of 2.5 or less, 15% had cancer.

So what happens to those 3 out of 4 men who are being treated for “cancer” due to an elevated PSA?  Dr. Haines days that detection and treatment comes with side effects:

One in six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime. Their lives will be profoundly changed by this cancer diagnosis, whether or not they proceed with treatment.
I do not want the anxiety, depression and relationship changes that follow diagnosis, radical surgery, active surveillance or any regular monitoring.
I do not want to be impotent, which is very likely after radical treatment, or have urinary incontinence.
Even before treatment commences, after an abnormal PSA result, men are referred for a prostate biopsy: a surgical procedure that, even though it can indicate cancer, cannot give reliable information about how that cancer will behave.
I do not want the 1-2% risk of life-threatening infectionscaused by prostate biopsies.

I am a big fan of monitoring, testing, and preventing cancer – I advocate strongly for a complete approach to such things.  I would suggest continuing prostate screening with the caveat that abnormal results be treated and monitoed without being misaligned an unnecessary cancer diagnosis.  

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