Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Colon Therapy: Its History Since Ancient Times



The first records found in Western Civilization of humans employing colon cleansing (colonics) for health purposes dates from the Ebers Papyrus of Ancient Egypt, about 1550 BC. The Ancient Egyptians believed that food which stayed in the intestines was harmful if it remained inside the body for too long. They considered many illnesses to arise in the colon, and that a clean colon would both cure and prevent disease. The Egyptians took three days out of a month to purify their bodies of the harmful effects of an impacted colon. For their enemas, they used a hollow reed or bone, with a bag of ox-bladder, silk cloth or cat skin filled with seawater. One pharaoh employed a doctor who just specialized in colon cleansing therapies.

Like the Egyptians, the Ancient Greeks considered waste in the intestines a focal point of illness. In fact, the very word “colon” comes from the Greek “kolon,” which means “large intestine.” The noted Greek physician Galen recommended a variety of enemas, including one of oil and honey, while later Greek physicians prescribed enemas of pure water.

Dating even further back than the Egyptians and the Greeks, a classic text in ancient China refers to various methods of colon cleansing. This text dates back to the 3rd century BC! Enemas were part of the ancient cultures of Babylon, Assyria, India, the Aztec and the Maya.

European society went through various popularizations of colon cleansing. Apparently by the 14th century enemas for women were common in England. In 1480, Louis XI became an ardent advocate of enemas after an enema relieved the apoplexy he was suffering. Louis XIV may have had 2,000 enemas during his lifetime, and was so at ease with the procedure that he would feel free to receive court visitors while having an enema! Though popular, enemas were still chiefly the domain of the wealthy.

Colon cleansing made even more advances in the 17th century. In fact, that century has been dubbed, “The Age of the Enema.” Well-being was associated with a clean colon, and it was not unknown for members of fashionable Parisian society to have three to four enemas a day. Enema syringes came in a variety of styles and manufacture: copper, porcelain, and for the wealthy, mother-of-pearl and silver! Collections of such valued syringes were common among the aristocracy.

Colon therapy made significant strides in the 20th century. One of the great proponents of natural health was Dr. John Harvey Kellog (1852-1943). His Battle Creek health sanitorium employed healthy eating habits (whole grain cereals, soy foods, vegetarianism), exercise—and enemas. Handling more than 40,000 cases of gastrointestinal diseases, Dr. Kellog needed to do surgery in only twenty, the rest being effectively dealt with by enema applications from an enema machine. Dr. Kellog lived what he preached and lived to 91. (Incidentally, John Harvey Kellog should not be confused with his brother Will, who formed what would eventually be the Kellog cereal company; brother John was vehemently opposed to the adding of sugar to corn flakes.)

Since then, the colon therapy apparatus has become fully modernized. By the 1960s and 1970s, the intense marketing of laxatives meant that many people began to replace colon therapy with the ease of taking a pill or drinking a liquid to “flush the system.” But laxatives were found not to be as efficacious as a colonic. Besides, the continual use of laxatives presented problems, the very problems that many wanted to eliminate: bloating, dehydration, cramping and worse. Even the FDA had to step in and recall Phenolphthalein, an ingredient found in many laxatives, and which was thought to have cancer-causing properties.

With the 1980s, colon hydrotherapy made a resurgence. The colonic apparatus was fined-tuned with FDA-approved temperature and pressure controls. Particularly clued into what is good for one and willing to pay for such privileges, notable Hollywood and music personalities, high society, and sports figures began opting for colon cleansing for prime health and well-being.

Now colon cleansing is readily available to the ordinary person. Clients report feeling buoyant and energetic after colon cleansing, with tiredness and that run-down, bloated felling dissipating. They also report improved digestion and nutritional absorption, relief of discomfort due to colitis, IBS and other gastrointestinal disorders, a restoration of the proper function of the nervous and glandular systems, and enhanced mental clarity.

Based upon the knowledge of the ancients, as well as contemporary knowledge and the evidence of thousands of years, and perfected through the centuries, including these last important decades, a colon cleanse can be one of the most venerable forms of maintaining a healthy lifestyle for the body, mind and spirit.

Health Connections Center in Philadelphia is the oldest wellness center in this area offering colon therapy--for 20 years now! An initial colonic, with a consultation, is $95; follow-up colonics are $80 each. Visit Health Connections Center website or call 215-627-6000 for more information and to set up an appointment.

Copyright Susan T. Hui, 2009

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Mind Body Spirit Spring Expo - May 21-23, 2010



You are familiar with the Mind Body Spirit fall expos in the Valley Forge Convention Center in King of Prussia. Well, now there's going to be a Mind Body Spirit Expo in the spring, too, in Voorhees, NJ! Taking place at the Virtua Center, the expo will not only have the same quality exhibitors and speakers that our fall expos have, but will also have a symposium and exhibitors and speakers on the subject of 2012. Stay tuned for further updates at:
The Mind Body Spirit Expo

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Special Musical Performances at the Mind Body Spirit Expo - Douglas Blue Feather and Russill Paul Benefit Concert



This year, the Mind Body Spirit Expo will have two concerts. The first one takes place on Friday, October 23, from 6pm to 8pm, with Douglas Blue Feather. Douglas Blue Feather, of Cherokee heritage, is a respected Native American flutist and internationally known songwriter who has won four Native American Music Awards, including Best New Age Recording, Best Flutist of the Year, and Best Independent Recording of the Year. He has released seven albums to date, with his latest being SACRED SPACE.

[This is a review of SACRED SPACE by New Visions editor, Miro Lipinski:

One of the first impressions one gets when listening to Douglas Blue Feather’s music is, that despite being inspired by his spiritual Native American journey, it shouldn’t be thought of as just within the borders of the genre of Native American music. This is timeless music, unbound, traveling with wings of smooth, exploratory freedom.

In Sacred Space, Douglas Blue Feather’s newest CD, his flute flies over an expansive layer of keyboard sound to prime effect. The titles of the cuts—“Shores of Atlantis,” “Temple of Light,” “Spirit World, ”and others—indicate the worlds that gloriously open up with this life-giving music. Blue Feather’s flute is wondrously sweet and evocative here, perfect to take you along a transfixing journey of contemplation, visions, and peace and harmony, and that neverending space that is eternal, healing and wondrous. - Miro Lipinski]

Douglas Blue Feather’s musical journey began with drumming at the age of 13, then performing in bands and traveling around the country for 10 years. “I’ve been playing the Native flute since the beginning of 1997, shortly after awakening to my own Cherokee heritage and beginning my journey on the Red Road (Native American spiritual path).” This awakening came about with a meeting with a spirit guide, who gave him the natural name “Blue Feather.”

When Blue Feather performs, healing takes place. A spiritual vibration is created that touches the heart and the spirit. His music has been described as contemporary music featuring the Native American flute. Blue Feather takes his flute beyond the genre of Native American music. It is inspiring, it is enlightening, it is universal.

He has performed on NBC TV, Fox TV, the Native American Awards Ceremony, and at numerous metaphysical events throughout the country.

Here's a sample of Douglas Blue Feather's music:



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The following day, Saturday, on October 24, Russill Paul with The Sound of Silence, will offer a special benefit concert for CACE (Center for Advancement in Cancer Education) and the Hari Om Mandir temple.

A native of Chennai, South India, Russill Paul took to playing stringed instruments from the early age of four and began professional music in his teens. Although he was born and brought up in a Christian family, he developed a keen interest in Indian spirituality in childhood that has guided him into the present day.

In 1984, he underwent a powerful spiritual transition that motivated him to begin living the unusual combination of a Benedictine monk and yogi under the direction of Dom Bede Griffiths, a pioneering Benedictine monk and revered sage who directed Shantivanam, a Christian monastery that expressed itself through the spiritual and yogic culture of India.

During the five years he spent as a monk, Russill Paul immersed himself in the sacred culture and spirituality of India’s esteemed heritage, studying traditional Sanskrit chanting and South Indian classical music as well as yoga, meditation, philosophy and cosmology. In addition to his training at the monastery, Russill was initiated into the sacred learning of Sanskrit and Indian music in several ancient temple cities of South India enabling him to develop the tools related to his lifework: The Yoga of Sound.

An exciting, inspirational talent, Russill Paul crafts music that can dance with joy or calm with deep grace. His performances are both enchanting and mesmerizing. He has performed his unique style of music at many prestigious concert venues such as the premier European classical music venue Propstei Sankt Gerold in Austria, Chicago’s Grant Part and Medinah Temple, The Sports Auditorium in Sheffield, England, and the Music Academy in Chennai, India.

He has also performed on several occasions for His Holiness the Dalai Lama in India, as well as in America, and has shared the stage with music greats such as the legendary American folk-singer Arlo Guthrie and British rocker Arthur Brown.

As an author, Russill Paul has spearheaded the discussion of music and chant in The Yoga of Sound (already in its 3rd printing). In the recent Jesus in the Lotus he bridges Christianity and Yoga with both intelligence and spiritual grace to formulate a new understanding and acceptance that is revolutionarily transforming.

Here are two samples of Russill Paul's music:





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More information and ticket ordering at the Mind Body Spirit Expo website.

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Carol Bowman at the Mind Body Spirit Expo - Sunday, October 25



Carol Bowman will be appearing at the Mind Body Spirit Expo on Sunday, October 25, doing a workshop from 10:15am to 11:45am. Bowman has been at the forefront of past life exploration and is the only past life regression therapist linked to on James Van Praagh’s website.

In her workshop, Carol Bowman will explain how past life memories can emerge in childhood and influence our present personalities. She will share cases from her practice that describe how past life memories can heal. You will then have the opportunity to experience your own past life memories in a group past life regression.

Carol Bowman, MS, is an internationally known author, past life therapist, workshop leader, and pioneer in reincarnation studies. She has the unique perspective of being one of the world’s foremost authorities on children’s spontaneous past life memories, as well as a seasoned past life regression therapist for adults. Carol trained as a past life therapist for adults after she had a life-changing past life regression in 1986, which cured her of chronic lung ailments and confirmed feelings that she had since childhood of having been here before, specifically of having died in WWII. Since then she has worked with thousands of clients to help them access their own past life memories for healing and insight.

Her two books about children’s memories, Children’s Past Lives and Return From Heaven, have been translated into eighteen languages. She has appeared on Oprah, Unsolved Mysteries, ABC Primetime, Good Morning America, and numerous other TV documentaries and radio shows. She is the only past life regression therapist linked to on James Van Praagh’s website.

Ticket ordering for Carol Bowman's workshop, as well as more info about the expo, can be accessed at the Mind Body Spirit Expo website.

For more information: www.carolbowman.com

Monday, October 12, 2009

Healer Eric Pearl at the Mind Body Spirit Expo - Sunday March 17



Internationally recognized healer Eric Pearl has appeared on countless television programs in the US and around the world, spoken by invitation at the United Nations, presented to a full house at Madison Square Garden, been interviewed in various publications including The New York Times and most recently featured in the new film The Living Matrix.

As a doctor, Eric ran a highly successful chiropractic practice for 12 years until one day when patients began reporting that they felt his hands on them – even though he hadn’t physically touched them. For the first couple of months, his palms blistered and bled. Patients soon reported receiving miraculous healings from cancers, AIDS-related diseases, epilepsy, chronic fatigue syndrome, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid and osteoarthritis, birth disfigurements, cerebral palsy and other serious afflictions. All this occurred when Eric simply held his hands near them – and to this day, it continues.

His patients’ healings have been documented in six books to date, including Eric’s own international bestseller, The Reconnection: Heal Others, Heal Yourself, now published in more than 30 languages!

Based in Los Angeles, Eric and Reconnective Healing elicit great interest from top doctors and medical researchers at hospitals and universities worldwide. These include Jackson Memorial Hospital, UCLA, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, the VA Hospital, University of Minnesota, University of Miami Medical School and the University of Arizona – where he addressed physicians at the request of Dr. Andrew Weil. New research programs are presently underway at multiple facilities under the guidance of such renowned research scientists as Gary Schwartz, PhD., William Tiller, PhD., Konstantin Korotkov, PhD. and others.

Eric travels the globe extensively throughout the year bringing the light and information of Reconnective Healing onto the planet. He teaches you how to activate and utilize this new, all-inclusive spectrum of healing frequencies that allow us to completely transcend “energy healing” and “technique” to access a level of healing beyond anything anyone has been able to access prior to now! To date, he has taught this new level of healing to more than 55,000 people in more than 70 countries, bringing about a spontaneous generation of healers worldwide.

Eric Pearl will be speaking at the Mind Body Spirit Expo on Sunday, March 17. More info and ticket ordering at the MBSExpo website.

Eric Pearl's website: TheReconnection.com

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Dan Millman at the Mind Body Spirit Expo - Sunday, October 25



Renowned "Peaceful Warrior" author and contemporary philosopher Dan Millman will be appearing at the Mind Body Spirit Expo on Sunday, October 25, from 10:30am to 12:30pm. The Expo begins Friday, October 23 and continues on to Sunday. Other special guests include James Van Praagh, Mariel Hemingway, Dr. Larry Dossey, Eric Pearl. Check the Mind Body Spirit Expo website for more info and ticket ordering.

Years ago, as dramatized in the film Peaceful Warrior, a young college athlete named Dan Millman met an old service station attendant he called “Socrates.” But there’s much more to the story: After journeys around the world and study with other extraordinary mentors, Dan developed a new approach to living he calls “the Peaceful Warrior’s Way.”

Applying his own unique blend of wit and wisdom, Dan will introduce key facets of this way of living—with our head in the clouds and our feet on the ground. He speaks to our shared quest for meaning, purpose, and connection.

You will emerge with fresh perspectives on the nature of reality: how to live a balanced life, transcend fear and doubt even in uncertain times. You will leave refreshed and enlivened, with a clear understanding of what it means to live an empowered life in the present moment, for a simpler, more serene composure—with a peaceful heart and a warrior’s spirit.

You will have ample opportunity to dialogue, discuss, and ask questions of Dan. We encourage you to bring an open mind, a sense of humor, and a friend!

Dan Millman is a former world champion athlete, university coach, martial arts instructor, and college professor. His 14 books—including Way of the Peaceful Warrior, The Life You Were Born to Live, No Ordinary Moments, and The Laws of Spirit—have inspired millions of readers in 29 languages worldwide. The feature film Peaceful Warrior starring Nick Nolte, was adapted from Dan’s first book, an autobiographical novel.

His keynotes and seminars have influenced men and women from all walks of life, including leaders in the fields of health, psychology, education, business, politics, sports, entertainment, and the arts. Dan and his wife Joy live in northern California. He has three grown daughters and two grandsons so far.

Dan Millman’s websites: www.danmillman.com and www.peacefulwarrior.com

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Dr. Larry Dossey at the Mind Body Spirit Expo - Saturday, October 24



Dr. Larry Dossey will be making a special appearance at the Mind Body Spirit Expo on Saturday, 1:00PM - 3:00PM. His two hour lecture is titled "The Power of Premonitions: How Knowing Our Future Can Shape Our Lives." The Expo is taking place at the Valley Forge Convention Center, from October 23 to October 25. Other special guests include renowned medium James Van Praagh, healthy living activist Mariel Hemingway, "Peaceful Warrior" Dan Millman, healer Eric Pearl, mediums Michele Livingston and Joseph Tittel, and past life regressionist Carol Bowman. More information and ticket orders can be found at the Mind Body Spirit Expo website.

About Dr. Larry Dossey:

Throughout history people have claimed the ability to know the future through premonitions. Using the power of story and the little-known recent laboratory research documenting human precognitive abilities, Dr. Larry Dossey will discuss the evidence for premonitions. He will explore why premonitions are innate in everyone, the purposes they serve, how we can cultivate them, and their impact on our understanding of human consciousness and how we live our lives.

Dr. Larry Dossey has become an internationally influential advocate of the role of the mind in health and the role of spirituality in healthcare. Bringing the experience of a practicing internist and the soul of a poet to the discourse, Dr. Larry Dossey offers panoramic insight into the nature and the future of medicine.

The author of nine books and numerous articles, Dr. Larry Dossey is the former Executive Editor of the peer-reviewed journal Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, the most widely subscribed-to journal in its field. The primary quality of all of Dr. Dossey's work is scientific legitimacy, with an insistent focus on "what the data show." As a result, his colleagues in medical schools and hospitals all over the country trust him, honor his message, and continually invite him to share his insights with them. He has lectured all over the world, including major medical schools and hospitals in the United States --Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Cornell, the Universities of Pennsylvania, California, Washington, Texas, Florida, Minnesota, and the Mayo Clinic.

The impact of Dr. Dossey's work has been remarkable. Before his book Healing Words was published in 1993, only three U.S. medical schools had courses devoted to exploring the role of religious practice and prayer in health; currently, nearly 80 medical schools have instituted such courses, many of which utilize Dr. Dossey's works as textbooks. In his 1989 book Recovering the Soul, he introduced the concept of "nonlocal mind" -- mind unconfined to the brain and body, mind spread infinitely throughout space and time. Since then, "nonlocal mind" has been adopted by many leading scientists as an emerging image of consciousness. Dr. Dossey's ever-deepening explication of nonlocal mind provides a legitimate foundation for the merging of spirit and medicine. The ramifications of such a union are radical and call for no less than the reinvention of medicine. Dr. Dossey's newest book is The Power of Premonitions, in which Dr. Dossey uses cutting-edge science to prove the value of what had long been considered spiritual mumbo-jumbo. This is a book for the skeptical mind, but it’s also for the believer’s heart—because its author possesses the rare gift of having both.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

James Van Praagh Headlines the Mind Body Spirit Expo - October 23-25 - 2009

Tickets Available NOW at the Mind Body Spirit Expo website!



World-renowned spiritual medium James Van Praagh, premonitions authority Dr. Larry Dossey, healthy living activist Mariel Hemingway and “Peaceful Warrior” Dan Millman headline the 12th MIND BODY SPIRIT EXPO, the largest alternative health expo in the Northeast United States taking place October 23 to October 25th at the Valley Forge Convention Center.

As the foremost medium of our time, James Van Praagh has been providing evidential proof of life after death for 25 years. His many books, including his latest, Unfinished Business, have become instant bestsellers and his sell-out events emotional and transformational to those who attend. He is a frequent guest on such TV programs as Larry King Live and is the executive producer of Ghost Whisperer, a top-rated show starring Jennifer Love Hewitt. Through his work, Van Praagh exhibits a deep commitment to help people with their pain and spiritual progress. His forthcoming 3-hour event at the Mind Body Spirit Expo on Sunday, October 25th, promises to be one of the Expo’s most impacting and memorable in its 12-year history.

Dr. Larry Dossey has become an internationally influential advocate of the role of the mind in health and the role of spirituality in healthcare. The impact of his work has been remarkable. Before his book Healing Words was published in 1993, only three U.S. medical schools had courses devoted to exploring the role of religious practice and prayer in health; currently, nearly 80 medical schools have instituted such courses, many of which utilize Dr. Dossey's works as textbooks. Dr. Dossey’s newest book, The Power of Premonitions, stretches the boundaries of our narrow perceptions of time and existence, and his lecture is sure to expand our understanding of both.

As the granddaughter of writer Ernest Hemingway and a noted Oscar-nominated actress, Mariel Hemingway has used her high profile to promote a healthy lifestyle for all. Her books Healthy Living from the Inside Out and Mariel’s Kitchen, as well as her countrywide appearances at holistic and green events, have positioned her as not only knowledgeable in the field of mind/body/spirit, but possessing a passionate energy that inspires both readers and listeners.

A former world champion athlete, university coach, martial arts instructor, and college professor, Dan Millman is the author of 14 books, including Way of the Peaceful Warrior, that have inspired millions of readers in 29 languages worldwide. His keynotes and seminars have influenced men and women from all walks of life, including leaders in the fields of health, psychology, education, business and the arts. The feature film Peaceful Warrior starring Nick Nolte, was adapted from Millman’s first book, an autobiographical novel.

Internationally recognized hearer Eric Pearl has appeared on countless television programs in the US and around the world, spoken by invitation at the United Nations, presented to a full house at Madison Square Garden and his seminars have been featured in various publications, including The New York Times. His patients’ healings have been documented in six books so far, including his international bestselling, The Reconnection: Heal Others, Heal Yourself, soon to be translated in its 30th language. His Mind Body Spirit lecture will focus on “The Essence of Healing,” and how one can activate and utilize “reconnective” healing.

Two popular psychics also headline the expo—Michele Livingston and Joseph Tittel. Michele Livingston, author of Messages from Beyond, is the “People’s Medium” on the # 1 morning show in Central PA and has been a regular guest on numerous TV/radio shows including Fox News, ABC News, Comcast. Rising young psychic Joseph Tittel has been packing in halls and special events and gathering a significant reputation for his abilities. Noted psychic James Van Praagh has said, “Rarely have I met a medium as in tune as Joseph Tittel. Not only does he give remarkable evidential details, but he brings with it an other worldly compassion I have never witnessed before.”

Carol Bowman is a pioneer in reincarnation studies and past life regression. Her talk at the Mind Body Spirit Expo will explain how past life memories can emerge in childhood and influence our present personalities and lead a group past life regression session.

Two musical performances will highlight the evening hours at the Expo. The award-winning Douglas Blue Feather will enchant with music that has been described as contemporary featuring the Native American flute, while on Saturday world-renown musician Russill Paul will lead a group in a performance that merges Indian music with Western influences. Proceeds from this latter concert will go to the Center for Advancement in Cancer Education and the Hari Om Mandir temple.

Many other interesting and profound subjects will be covered at the Expo, including Chi Energy Healing (with Korean Chi Energy Healer, Master Park), the Out-of-Body Experience, the “Shift” in 2012, the Healing Powers of Drums, the Wisdom of the Earth’s Essential Essences, Reiki and Magnified Healing, and Living Safely & Spiritually in a High-Tech World. Thomas Jefferson University Hospital’s internationally respected Jefferson-Myrna Brind Center of Integrative Medicine will also have a presence at the Expo. Two tasty and nutritious natural food courts will be available.

This year we are introducing special Recession Busting “early-bird” admission rates. Available at the door only, for one hour before the Expo opens: $2 off General Admission on Friday from 3pm to 4pm, and $5 off General Admission from 9am to 10am. Seniors (65+) and students with ID get $2 off on Friday and $3 all day Sat. & Sun. These discounts cannot be combined with other offers. Hours for the expo are Friday from 4 pm to 9 pm, Saturday from 10 am to 9 pm and Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm. General admission is $15 per day (Friday $7). A Friday two-day pass (Friday plus one day) is $20, a two-day Sat. & Sun. pass is $25, and an all weekend Friday, Saturday and Sunday pass is $30. There are additional charges for special events. Call 215.627.0102 for tickets, or visit the expo website at www.mindbodyspiritexpo.com.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Hair Analysis: Finding Out What's Going on Inside the Body the Safe, Easy Way



Most of us feel a bit queasy in getting any type of test and certainly an invasive procedure. Yet one of the simplest, effective methods to find out what’s going on nutritionally in one’s body is through a painless, quick procedure: the cutting of a few strands of hair, about 1&1/2 inches in length. In Hair Analysis this hair is tested, with the results showing one’s internal metabolic environment, toxic metal exposure and accumulation, and mineral content.

The importance of knowing what is going on within our bodies is obvious, but the more one knows of the crucial interconnectability between things like metabolic rate, our body’s mineral content and health, both physical and mental, the more imperative it becomes to examine what’s happening within us and follow a program that guides us to optimal health.

For instance, a low level of magnesium has been associated with an increase in heart attacks, anxiety and nervousness. A deficiency in potassium can result in muscular weakness, depression, and lethargy. Excess sodium results in hypertension, but too little sodium creates an imbalance in health. And so on.

At Health Connections, the oldest alternative health center in Philadelphia, you will receive the following from Hair Analysis: 1) A complete evaluation and detailed discussion of your metabolic type, current mineral level and ratios, and their impact on your body chemistry. 2) Diet recommendation based on food allergy indicators, to include a list of what foods you should be taking and which ones you should avoid. 3) Supplement and vitamin recommendations based upon your age, sex, metabolic type, mineral patterns and specific needs as seen on the tissue mineral analysis.

Contact the Health Connections Center to set up an appointment for this painless and important procedure: 215-627-6000.

Monday, June 15, 2009

New Issue of New Visions Out Soon!



The latest issue of Philadelphia Tri-State's premiere Mind Body Spirit Lifestyle publication, NEW VISIONS, is going to be available in about two weeks throughout the area. Above is a preview of the cover (looking good!), with James Van Praagh, who will be at the Mind Body Spirit Expo in October. Contents include an exclusive interview with Mariel Hemingway, who will also be at the expo.

In case you haven't seen it, NEW VISIONS, is a color, glossy-paper publication that goes back over twenty years, fulfilling a need to bring alternative health news and interviews to this region. Regular contributors include Barbara Brennan, Christina Pirello and the doctors of Jefferson's Myrna Brind Center of Integrative Medicine. Last issue saw the appearance of a new columnist--Janet Zappala, the award-winning journalist who used to anchor for NBC and Fox, and host her own consumer health show.

NEW VISIONS is a free publication, serving Eastern Pennsylvania, Southern New Jersey and Delaware, that you can get in places like Whole Foods, select doctor and chiropractic offices, health food stores, cafes, etc.

If you are an establishment that would like to receive copies for your customers, drop a line to: info@newvisionsmagazine.com or call 215-627-0102. NEW VISIONS also has subscriptions for individuals: $20, same contact info.

If you are someone who may wish to advertise in the publication, call 215-627-0102.

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

The Benefits of Colon Therapy



Good health is a desire we all have and share. While we may spend time and effort on dieting and exercise, often that is not enough. Toxic waste builds up in our colons through poor nutrition and bowel habits. This waste impairs the colon's ability to assimilate properly the minerals and vitamins we need. A buildup of material along the colon wall causes sluggish bowel movements, constipation and other problems. The poisons resulting from this waste re-enter and circulate in the blood stream, making us feel tired and depleted. The removal of this harmful waste from our bodies becomes an important element in our goal of achieving optimal physical and mental health.

Toxicity effects our nervous system, making us feel irritable, depressed and anxious; it effects our glands, making us tired and lacking in enthusiasm and drive; headaches, allergies and skin disorders occur; we crave sugars and starches; gassiness and bloatedness arise. Toxicity effects the way we feel emotionally and physically.

Colon Therapy can help eliminate this toxic waste that effects our health so negatively. A soothing flow of warm water gently circulates throughout the colon, coaxing the body to release the impacted waste that has accumulated. Harmful fungi and bacteria are often eliminated. Once the colon is clean, the body and the mind benefit immeasurably. Clients report an improvement in appearance, mental attitude and overall physical health. Some clients rave that skin tone improves, weight loss is promoted, and stress relieved. The craving for junk food is alleviated. Constipation and discomforting abdominal pain are often reduced or eliminated and that a feeling of energy replaces the old run-down feeling that was once like second nature. No wonder many world-renowned celebrities use colon therapy on a regular basis for optimal health!

Health Connections Center, located on 530 South 2nd St. in Philadelphia's charming historic district, has been performing colon therapy for satisfied clients since 1991. (And some of these clients are names you'd recognize from the sports and entertainment fields!) Call (215) 627-6000 to make an appointment to change the way you feel and look. The Center's website is at www.healthconnectionscenter.com

Friday, June 5, 2009

The Scent of a Green Apple



We all know that an apple a day keeps the doctor away, but did you know that the scent of an apple, a green one, can ward off feelings of claustrophobia when you are in a confined space like an elevator or a small room?

In a study of claustrophobia it was found that the scent of green apples (and cucumbers) made a space seem larger. The same scent can also reduce the severity of headaches and migraines.

So keep a green apple or two around for these benefits. You can also buy green apple incense sticks that will give your home or apartment a more expansive feel.

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Searching for the Cure on the Internet

Suffer from anxiety? Depression? Or any another of the psychological aliments common in our society?

If you do and if you have a computer, chances are that you've tried to find out how to deal with these problems by finding a cure for them on the internet. You put in your one or two words into the Google search engine and--voila!--you get pages and pages of links to sites that promise to offer what you are desperately searching for--a cure for your particular ailment.

The problem is that many of these places you will be directed to are going to be money-making schemes, costing a bundle of your hard-earned dollars. All of them will probably help in some way, as they are sourced from common psychiatric knowledge or therapies surrounding the problems you wish to alleviate, but they are still money-making schemes whose planners are crafty indeed.

Let's say you suffer from panic attacks and find a site, which we shall call "Speedy-Zone Panic Attack Lifetime Cure." You read through the testimonials and the money back guarantee, but you are still not convinced and wish to find out more about "Speedy-Zone Panic Attack Lifetime Cure." So you put Speedy into your Google search and come across numerous links that mention the Speedy Lifetime Cure. You even find some panic attack forums that contain testimonials of how Speedy is the best panic attack system out there. Yes, the price is high, but you are an idiot if you don't go for it. Just consider how much medication and traditional therapies have cost you. Getting Speedy to do the job, even if it costs $500, will prove cost-efficient in the long run. So go for it!

Well, maybe it will prove cost-efficient or maybe not. But you should be aware that the guy who is behind the original Speedy site probably has other sites that speak glowingly about Speedy, sites that seem independent of the original site, but are linked to it not only by promoting Speedy but by ownership as well. Also, Speedy probably offers affiliate programs. What are affiliate programs on the internet? Well, they are offerings to webmasters to link to the Speedy website, and if any sales are made from someone who follows the link, the webmaster gets a cut of the sale. So if the Speedy panic attack program costs $500, a webmaster whose link provides a sale may get a nice share of that, say $50 or $100, or even more. Not bad for just putting up a link or even creating a entire site with numerous links to Speedy-Zone Panic Attack Lifetime Cure!

Now, what about those message boards and forums? Well, the original webmaster of Speedy and his affiliate members know that a lot of people check on medical message boards and forums for cures to ailments, so what better place to post that, yes, the Speedy-Zone cure works and that you should definitely go for it!

So buyer beware. Try to find out what you are getting for all the money you may be paying. If you are just getting a pamphlet for a couple of hundred dollars--well, it's kinda obvious what's going on there. If you are getting a full program that includes CDs, workbooks, phone access to counselors, etc., then that may tell you something positive about the intention of the person or company behind the program.

It is difficult at times to find out the truth on the internet when it is being used so much for quick-buck schemes, but the truth is out there. The internet is a great resource if you know how to use it and if you can spot the warning signs of a scam ready to be played on the unsuspecting cyber-traveler.

Friday, May 22, 2009

Yoga Eases Up Menopause Symptoms



From Reuters:

Yoga can reduce hot flashes and night sweats among women going through menopause, and also appears to sharpen their mental function, researchers from India report.

To investigate whether yoga would help women with physical and cognitive symptoms of menopause, they randomly assigned 120 menopausal women, 40 to 55 years old, to yoga practice or simple stretching and strengthening exercises five days a week for eight weeks.

The postures, breathing and meditation included in the yoga intervention were "aimed at one common effect, i.e. 'to develop mastery over modifications of the mind' ... through 'slowing down the rate of flow of thoughts in the mind,'" the researchers explain.

Women in the yoga group also listened to lectures on using yoga to manage stress and other yoga-related topics, while those in the control group heard lectures on diet, exercise, the physiology of menopause, and stress.

After eight weeks, women in the yoga group showed a significant reduction in hot flashes, night sweats, and sleep disturbances, while the women in the control group did not, Dr. R. Chattha, of the Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana in Bangalore, India, and colleagues found.

Both groups showed improvements in a test of attention and concentration, although improvement in the yoga group was significantly greater. In a test of memory and intelligence with 10 components, the yoga group improved on eight, while the control group improved on six. Improvements were significantly greater in the yoga group than in the control group on seven of the subtests.

"The present study shows the superiority of yoga over physical activity in improving the cognitive functions that could be attributed to emphasis on correctness in breathing, synchronizing breathing with body movements, relaxation and mindful rest," the researchers suggest.

The abstract of the study contains more specific information, good to know for Yoga practitioners: "The yoga group practiced an integrated approach to yoga therapy comprising surya namaskara (sun salutation) with 12 postures, pranayama (breathing practices), and avartan dhyan (cyclic meditation)." The conclusions: "Eight weeks of an integrated approach to yoga therapy decreases climacteric symptoms, perceived stress, and neuroticism in perimenopausal women better than physical exercise."

So do your Yoga. You know it's good for you!