Hi, Kyra.
The suggestion about the INS is a great one. Without networking, we pioneers are frequently disappointed.
I have yet to be in a community that did not have a chapter of the INS. They are always grateful to know about the kind of service Linda offers.
Isn't the internet great?
Namaste` Walt
In Reply to: Re: Reaching "Oopsilon State" while driving. posted by Walt Stoll on July 01, 1998 at 10:50:50:
I've been taking Pro hGH for about 3 months. I've also been listening to the CD for about that long, but have been using
NLP tapes, alpha tapes, and other altered states "technology"
for far longer. In the last 3 weeks I haven't been sleeping
well
at least that's how I saw it. I just wasn't sleepy. I get less than 4 hours of sleep in a 24 hour period. It isn't
that I feel wired, I just don't feel sleepy. Effects of
the Pro-hGH or something else? The first 2 months on it
did not affect my sleep (7 hours or thereabouts) but when
I did the theta level CD twice a day ( 2 hours per day)
this dropoff of sleep became more pronounced.
My mother also takes Pro hGH and has the same sleeplessness
also charaterized by "not wired, just not sleepy." She
(as far as I know) doesn't meditate, but she does take
Tai-Chi and Karate.
-Greg
In Reply to: Re: Less sleep huh? Walt, that's unnerving. posted by Greg on July 01, 1998 at 14:03:12:
Dear Greg,
Both Tai Chi & Karate` are forms of "meditation".
Both your experiences are typical of those being successful with skilled relaxation.
I found, with my history of skilled relaxation, that I got to the place where I was "practicing" a couple of hours a day. I got to the place where I didn't need sleep at all. My body did better if I lay down for a few hours but my mind never went to sleep. I was in sort of a waking dream during those hours. I had more energy than I had ever had in my live & never felt sleepy.
This is why we tell people who say they don't have time to do this that they will end up with a lot more time than they had before taking the time to do it. If you don't sleep away your hours, what are you going to do with all your spare time????
Thanks, Walt
In Reply to: Re: Less sleep huh? Walt, that's unnerving. posted by Greg on July 01, 1998 at 14:03:12:
nmi
In Reply to: Re: Less sleep huh? Walt, that's unnerving. posted by Greg, whats Pro hGH?-sam (nmi) on July 02, 1998 at 19:00:55:
PRO hGH is a Growth Hormone secretegoge. Instead of growth
hormone injections which have a VERY short halflife in the
body, are expensive, and which damage your body plus
incompatibility factors, PRO hGH, a secretegoge "encourages"
your body to produce its own growth hormone. AS you grow
older, the body becomes "reluctant" to produce growth hormone,
and the effects of aging set in. In my case the effects of
accelerated aging set in, and therefore the PRO hGH is, in
effect "de-aging" me.
-Greg
In Reply to: Re: PRO hGH posted by Greg on July 13, 1998 at 00:41:52:
Dear Greg,
Beware of the "whoops factor" I have been trying to explain to people about any oral hormone taken more than a few weeks.
One of the ways that DHEA works is via this very "growth hormone" pathway. DHEA's first big whoops factor was announced last week: it definitely causes prostate cancer. The same resaerch is beginning to show that it also causes breast cancer but that has not yet been proven.
Remember 50 years ago, when cortisone came out? It, too, gave great initial effects. However, I think everyone knows how THAT turned out. Then there were "steroids".
Then there was thyroid and now even insulin.
Melatonin will be next. There is no "free lunch" in this area!
Walt
In Reply to: Re: PRO hGH posted by Walt Stoll on July 14, 1998 at 09:32:10:
Actually Walt (Did I mention I'm happy you're back?),
Actually that is the one of the main reasons for my interest
in Kundalini Yoga. I am extremely interested in a methodology
that I can employ in lieu of drugs, medications, or hormones
of any kind. I fully expect something negative to come to
light regarding Pro hGH sooner or later, and the sooner I
can effect change by chakra alignment, the happier I'll be.
Just as an aside, would you happen to know of any career
moves for an aspiring mystic?
-Greg
In Reply to: Re: PRO hGH posted by Greg on July 14, 1998 at 15:13:19:
Hi, Greg.
Contact Kyra Kitts at ckitts@calpoly.edu. She is getting her PhD in this field as it relates to intuitive healing. If she has no ideas for you now, the contact would be good for you both.
Namaste` Walt
In Reply to: Re: Interrupting the Vicious Cycle/Yeast has Receptor Sites for Cortisol posted by Walt Stoll on July 03, 1998 at 18:32:36:
Hi Walt,
Since the vacation I've been thinking about metabolic balance a lot. For instance, apparently aging types like me can put out excess cortisol when they exercise tilting metabolism towards catabolism. (Did I get that right?) I found out that some things are cortisol antagonists like vitamin C, chromium, etc. Many diseases are involved with cortisol excesses. A person I write to said that phosphorylated serine can be used in the case of excess or licorice in cortisol deficiency. It seems that tipped balancing could be involved with diabetics and the moms that produce them. Do all alternative med. practitioners test for metabolic imbalances, do the adrenal stress index testing, etc.? I am also wondering what alt. med. practitioners have for "materia medica"? I wrote to an Ask the Diabetes Team doctor who didn't know what OPC3 was and told him what I knew (that it's oligomeric proanthocyanidins and used for blood clumping, etc.) He said he couldn't find anything in the National Library of Medicine. How would a person respond to that? He was probably barking up the wrong tree, but what would a person bark up? I saw a supplements encyclopedia by Michael Murray N.D. I was going to recommend. They had that at the Kaiser Health Education office amazingly enough. Is there any central repository of info. for alt. med.? Mary J.
P.S. I realized last week I had a prolapsed bladder. It shifted downwards and I had to push it back up! (I went and got it checked out at Ob/Gyn.) Hormonal deficiency contributing to lousy pelvic tone from what I read on the Internet. Fits into a cortisol excess picture I would imagine. I read something by Einstein like learning is experience and everything else is information. Fits here! Sometimes I get discouraged with all the hooha though.
In Reply to: Tilting the Metabolic Balance Back to Center posted by Mary Jackson on July 12, 1998 at 16:22:55:
Mary, your persistence is truly inspiring! For the excess-cortisol situation, female midlife challenges, AND the prolapse, yoga could be of great help. I'd especially recommend Kripalu yoga--a "compassionate" form of yoga that I teach, but other yoga forms could also be good. Really integrates and calms the body/mind, plus toning glands and muscles. With practice,it stimulates the body's own healing wisdom. I'm in my 50s and feel I'm getting younger every year with yoga.
Best wishes,
Jenny
In Reply to: Have you ever tried yoga? posted by Jenny on July 12, 1998 at 23:09:40:
Hi Jenny,
Thanks for your comments. I have been interested in taking yoga (I've only tried some exercises at home). I took tai chi and qi gong and it wasn't quite "me" but I did notice some effects. I know that yoga stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system. My "drive" here doesn't concern me directly--it concerns my diabetic child and here's why: about two years before I had her I prayed for a pediatrician I supposed was diabetic (I heard later that he was). He was my children's pediatrician and having health problems. I didn't believe that diabetes was incurable and that something could be done about it. I had been reading naturopathic stuff for about 7 years. Well, I got really crazy and asked what I could do to help and to know about diabetes, etc. My focus was very small really--just this one person to begin with. And so that's why I keep beating the thing to death, and I seem to be getting somewhere albeit slowly. Mary J.
P.S. My daughter just said that sleep sounded "mighty nice" to her and came and kissed me.
In Reply to: Tilting the Metabolic Balance Back to Center posted by Mary Jackson on July 12, 1998 at 16:22:55:
Hi, Mary.
Listen to Jenny about Yoga. Possibly the most important single thing for you is to find some form of integrative mindbody technique that you will become a serious student of. This would serve as your skilled relaxation technique and should be practiced twice a day like ANY form of effective skilled relaxation.
THE MOST COMMON CAUSE OF CORTISOL EXCESS IS THE STORED STRESS-EFFECT IN THE HYPOTHALAMUS WHICH IS DISCHARGED BY AN EFFECTIVE SKILLED RELAXATION TECHNIQUE!
If you were monitoring your cortisol every second & experienced a stress, your cortisol would go up within a few seconds. It would then take several hours to go back down.
Since the conventional medical monopoly has done everything it could to keep research about these alternatives OUT of the conventional data bases, there are only 3 sources I know of:
1. Functional Medicine Update at (800) 843-9660. Tell then what you are interested in & they can help you figure out a way to get the resounces.
2. Bastyr University at (206) 523-9585. Ask them the same questions.
3. World Research Foundation at (800) 973-4357. I would have listed this first since its purpose was to do exactly what you want. However, the last I heard, they were having trouble surviving. They were about 20 years ahead of their time. They collected ALL of the alternative (and conventional) research from the entire world and had it in a big computer data base that, for a very modest fee, would call up ALL of the published data on ANYTHING you can imagine.
Let us know what you learn.
You also might contact the NIH division of Alternative Medicine & see what THEY have available to the public.
Good Luck! Walt
In Reply to: Re: Tilting the Metabolic Balance Back to Center posted by Walt Stoll on July 13, 1998 at 07:52:37:
Hi Walt,
Thanks for the sources of information!! I hear you on the yoga, etc. My hypothalamus has probably seen WWIII, but I had to suffer this far to get a mental visual picture of all these metabolic checks and balances. It's sort of based on an old gold scale my father had--things tipped this way and that way. I forwarded the sources you mentioned to Dr. Donough O'Brien on the Ask the Diabetes Team site which I have been monitoring for well over a year. I have an agenda that juvenile diabetics should have access to all information that would help ameliorate their disease. I told the Ob/Gyn doctor that I had an agenda with Kaiser about alt. med. I'll let you know what comes out of my metabolic testing pursuit. Mary J.
Recently I have been under alot of stress in all areas of my life..I have been in therapy for over a month already. Almost three weeks ago, after an accumulation of stress and worry, my hands and feet started to tingle and the next day my whole body started to burn and sting all over. I have patches of extreme heat, i had this on my hands and feet at first, then it started popping up everywhere, burning on my legs, knees, thighs, crotch, stomach, neck, shoulder, face..i get these stings, in my tear ducts, my lips, nose, ears...my skin is very sensitive to touch, im either too hot or too cold, and my eyes are sensitive to light.
Obviously it is almost impossible to sleep and i have been even more stressed out thinking this is some horrible disease. I went to a neurologist and did a bunch of tests. Still have the MRI to do. He talked to me about my stress levels, and my history of stress related pains..spastic bowel, tight throat, vaginal burning..and he put me on Zoloft.
My question is, can these be stress related? Everyone who knows me says thats what they think it is..i am just very suprised and worried that my body can act out this painfully.
Thanks for reading this...Cynthia
In Reply to: Burning, stinging, tingling..what is this..stress? posted by RedTango on July 13, 1998 at 09:16:44:
Dear Cynthia,
Of course this is caused by the stress-effect storage in the hypothalamus boiling over. Youu really need to understand what is going on or this will be the kindest message your bodymind sends you.
Go to the FAQ link on this page & read "Mod Med Stress Interpretation". At LEAST you should have some idea of what "stress" is.
I have 2 references that you need to get to really see yourself AND what options you have to resolving this:
1. First, read "Mind as Healer, Mind as Slayre" by Dr Pelletier (most recent edition) available in any bookstore & library--resourced in my book as well.
2. THEN, when you are ready to DO something about it, get a copy of my book (link on this page).
If you have more questions, write again. As you get well, please share your experiences with the bulletin board participants. You wold be amazed at how many people have this same warning & have NO IDEA what it is---let alone what to do about it.
Walt
Dear Walt(And Others):
Walt, sorry to pester you with questions but regular meditation has indeed proven to be quite powerful. I've had excellent success with using 2 tapes/Cd's in particular-if anyone is interested please E-mail privately.
I am wondering if ongoing deep meditation can not only heal physical illness(which I am now convinced it can) but also heal psychic wounds or traumas that may have occurred early in life. I could see how regular mediation might easily bring certain isssues into conscious awareness and posssibly allow emotions related to them to be expressed therefore changing an inherent but distorted belief paradigm. My definition of early life would be preverbal or precognitive. It would seem the trauma becomes "encoded" in the body and the brain begins to respond to certain situations with the stress response. Some issues that may fall in this area would be adoption(as in my case), or abuse of any kind, or being present as a young child to a situation that was experienced as highly stressful even though the child was only a third party witness.
If anyone has any info or research info on the power of meditation to heal such traumas I would be extremely interested.
Thanks,
Sam
In Reply to: deep meditation and releasing early life trauma posted by sam on July 13, 1998 at 15:35:08:
Dear Sam,
CONGRATULATIONS on your progress. You have already done the hardest thing: getting started.
Certainly, psychic traumas are resolvable via meditation. There are even structural storage of these traumas that can be released by other processes, notably by: Rolfing, Alexander Technique, Feldenkrais and the like. Even with those, a person who regularly meditates will get better results.
You would be interested in reading "Bodies, Health & Consciousness" by Rosie Speigel (Certified Rolfer). Call (800) 938-0942.
Let us know your experience.
Walt
In Reply to: Re: deep meditation and releasing early life trauma posted by Walt Stoll on July 14, 1998 at 11:36:55:
Dear Walt:
Any ideas to support nervous system while I release my "emotional serpents". I find meditation kicking up stuff already-which is great but (excuse) unnerving at times. Also, with the weak adrenals I can go thru a bit of hypoglycemia(esp. dizziness) at times. Appreciate ideas here too. Though the meditation helps the hypoglycemia some, unless alot of gunk is coming out.
I currently take prn low doses of klonopin and inderal to get me through and would like alternates(A psychiatrist friend is kind enuf to prescribe because he knows the work I'm doing. Not many others understand or magnesium for nerves, or Sweetish Bitters for sugar imbalance unless there is something I can do, not take?
Thanks,
Sam
In Reply to: Re: deep meditation and releasing early life trauma posted by Sam on July 15, 1998 at 19:31:29:
Dear Sam,
With all that coming out, I would seriously consider having a Rolfer working on & with me. Rolfers must have at least a Master's in Clinical Psych before they can even take the training so they are capable of helping one handle this stuff as it comes out right on the spot.
This is a temporary phase & you will get to the place where this is not such a problem
There may be some herbs that would help druing this transition but I am not a good enough herbologist to advise you. A good Naturopath could help AND we have a link to a herbologist on this site.
Let us know what happens & CONGRATULATIONS!
Walt
I have been using MSM for almost one month. I had read a little blurb about athletes using it for sore muscles so I decided to try it for my fibromyalgia-like muscle pain. My muscles just never seem to relax and are always painful, stiff and tight especially at night. Consequently I was not sleeping well.
Upon taking the first 500 mg MSM pill, the results were dramatic. I am almost completely out of pain and I sleep the whole night through without the help of pain killers or muscle relaxers.
I informed my doctor about what I was doing and will be going in for a blood test to make sure the MSM isn't taxing my liver or kidneys.
Shera KLotz
In Reply to: Re: Methylsulfonylmethane - MSM posted by Shera Klotz on July 16, 1998 at 08:05:14:
Dear Shera,
Thanks for your testimonial. I have no doubt, however, that if taking the MSM is all you do that the results will not be permanent. Eventually your symptoms will return no matter how much MSM you are taking.
NOW, while you are feeling better, is the best time for you to learn WHY you have this and do something about the causes. The ONLY thing that causes this is total body bracing caused by the intolerable stress-effect storage in your hypothalamus we have been discussing on this bulletin board for years.
Walt
Is masturabation an effective way to relieve stress?
In Reply to: Stress posted by Sam on July 16, 1998 at 17:53:48:
I think so ......LOL
In Reply to: Re: Stress posted by me on July 17, 1998 at 08:24:57:
Sam,
Beats me.
Jim
In Reply to: Re: Stress posted by Jim on July 17, 1998 at 09:40:49:
Yeah, but wouldn't that lead to eventual
adrenal burnout which would lead to more
stress?
-Q
In Reply to: Re: Stress posted by Jim on July 17, 1998 at 09:40:49:
Thanks, Jim!
I needed that! That was my first laugh out loud for days!
Namaste` Walt
In Reply to: Stress posted by Sam on July 16, 1998 at 17:53:48:
Dear Sam,
I would think so. However, if that is the only thing you do, it would never be enough in this culture.
Jim's response gave me MY stress release for the moment.
In spite of Quest's response, I know of no negative effects of masturbation.
Walt
In Reply to: Re: Stress and Relief and More Stress posted by Quest on July 17, 1998 at 11:17:44:
So, THAT would explain my current problem with adrenal insufficiency ;-)
I have just read "The Relaxation Response" and am eager to try it. However, does anyone have any tips on doing this with children. I have a 5 year old who would definitely benifit from this.
In Reply to: relaxing with children posted by Aimee on July 17, 1998 at 12:33:27:
Dear Aimee,
I thought I had given you this already. Perhaps it just passed in the "mail".
Get a copy of Deborah Rozman's classic: "Meditating with Children". First published in 1975 by the University of the Trees, it has been reprinted many times since.
Let us know what you learn.
Walt
Dr. Stoll
I just finished reading your book. The question I have is Yoga considered a recommended relaxation technique?
Thanks
Keith
In Reply to: Yoga posted by Keith on July 18, 1998 at 15:50:40:
Dear Keith,
Yes it is. Traditionally, Yoga is one of the finest ways to do this.
HOWEVER, in MY experience, it is also one of the ways that takes the longest to master (usually more than a lifetime).
From our western way of looking at things, biofeedback has allowed us to dissect out the part that deals with the stress-effect and one can learn that VERY quickly & easily (compared with Yoga as taught in the East).
Great Question! I'm sure that many bb participants have noticed the absence of yoga from my discussions. This is why.
Walt
Dear Dr.
I had 3 triggers,thumb,middle and ring finger.I had two injections but the condition did return in about 5 months.
I had surgery. My surgeon explained that he released (cut) the pulleys. My thumb is fine, the other two can not be extended fully, nor I am able to make a fist with them.It has been 3 months since my surgery.I was under the impression the surgery would be an incision along the sheath to be left opened to heal large enough for the tendon to slide easily.Since I still have a painful and disabling condition, I wonder if the correct procedure was done and if so ,do I have another option?
In Reply to: Re: trigger finger posted by phyllis on July 19, 1998 at 11:43:26:
Dear Phyllis,
Recurrent trigger finger is caused by overwhelming "bracing" of the whole body AND a relative deficiency of magnesium & vitamin B6 inside the cell.
You would be wise to find someone close to you who would have the professional training & esperience to do something about your causes rather than just cutting off the tip of the iceberg when it surfaces (what your surgeon is doing). Call (800) 532-3688 for a listing to get you started.
As you stop having this problem, please share your experiences with the rest of the BB participants.
Walt
In Reply to: Re: desperate- low grade fever-doc cant find cause! posted by Nancy M on July 23, 1998 at 22:06:21:
Hi Nancy,
I noticed your comment about yoga breathing--deep slow breaths--making you feel more lightheaded. Just wanted to offer a suggestion. I teach yoga, and the breathing is the most difficult part of yoga to learn.("What?? 'Learn' to breathe?? Get Real!!!") To calm the nervous system, emphasize the EXHALES. Make them smooth, and longer than the inhale. Just gentle, easy breaths, no need to force or push. If you tell someone to take a deep breath, they always INHALE. It's our "everyday" way of breathing. But deep inhales without equally deep exhale turn on the stress response--just what you don't want! Thought this might help.
(couldn't help thinking of the movie/book "Waiting to Exhale". Don't wait!)
In Reply to: Yogic breathing for relaxation posted by Jenny on July 24, 1998 at 14:09:49:
Thanks, Jenny.
Great information! Breathing is a very powerful relaxation technique and, YES, few of us know how to breathe!
Walt
In Reply to: Yogic breathing for relaxation posted by Jenny on July 24, 1998 at 14:09:49:
It is some form of getting rid of toxins, or just someting
that they teach in Yoga School? ;-)
Actually I am curious about this, and have never heard the why
of this particular practice.
-Greg
In Reply to: Yogic breathing for relaxation: Why the emphasis on exhaling? What does it accomplish? posted by Greg on July 26, 1998 at 08:58:06:
Greg,
My comments were a suggestion in response to Nancy's post about using slow yogic breathing in an attempt to calm her feelings of shakiness, tightness in chest, etc. The emphasis on long exhales for calming is based on the linkage between breathing, the nervous system, and the endocrine system. In the science of yoga, (and pretty well confirmed by western science by this time), slow smooth exhales activate the parasympathetic nervous system and bring down blood pressure, slow the heart, turn off the stress response. It's how a healthy animal breathes when safe and at ease. Shallow, short breaths, gulping in breath, in contrast, activate the sympathetic nervous system, pumping out the chemicals that prepare us to fight or flee (the stress response). When our breathing is poor, our bodies can be in a chronic state of tension, with the ensuing damage from the stress chemicals. Have you read Mind AS Healer, Mind As Slayer??
There is a whole branch of yoga devoted to developing breath control, both for physical health and healing and for spiritual growth. It's considered more powerful than the postures of hatha yoga.
In Reply to: Re: Yogic breathing for relaxation: Why the emphasis on exhaling? What does it accomplish? posted by Jenny on July 26, 1998 at 22:01:45:
If so,
the yes. MAH/MAS is pretty dense reading, slow going. I've
got the book, but frankly I can't access it. Kenneth could
go a few rounds with some of the more lucid writers in the
field.
I just wanted to know the why of it. It was not explained to
my satisfaction the first time I heard it.
-Greg
In Reply to: Is That Anything Like Silva Mind Control "Belly Breathing?" posted by Greg on July 27, 1998 at 01:32:20:
I don't know, 'cause I could never get into the Silva Mind Control thing (maybe the hype turned me off). Agreed, MAH,MAS is dense. Here's something from Dr. Andrew Weil's "Spontaneous Healing": He recommends several breathing techniques, one of which is the yogic breath where you count to establish a ratio of inhale, holding, and exhale. Inhale (thru nose) for 4 counts, hold the breath in for 7, and exhale (thru mouth) to a count of 8. Start w/4 cycles, twice a day. He says, "I teach it to almost all patients I see, and I receive reports of remarkable benefits. It cures digestive problems, allows cardiac arrhythmias to subside, lowers high blood pressure, combats anxiety and insomnia, and more. I think of it as a tonic for the nervous system--a spiritual tonic rather than a material one--and cannot recommend it too highly." (p. 207) Of course, Dr. Weil's patients are steered toward a complete wellness program a la Dr. Stoll's: whole foods, exercise, relaxation/meditation.
In Reply to: Re: Yogic breathing for relaxation posted by Walt Stoll on July 25, 1998 at 08:55:38:
I've got diagnosed asthma and allergies, and
when they make it hard for me to breathe, I
find that sometimes the only way i can get
enough air is to yawn repeatedly. The thing is
that after a few minutes that stops working.
Inhalers help but they also speed up my heart
and cause my hands to shake enough so that things
like typing are made considerably harder to do.
I've tried yogic breathing as I've heard it described
here and other places, but once the difficulty has
set in it doesnt seem to help. Mostly my question
is whether yawning might be making my difficulty
breathing worse after the initial help.
Lindsay
In Reply to: Re: Yogic breathing for relaxation posted by Lindsay on July 30, 1998 at 17:06:21:
Dear Lindsey,
Your yawning is part of the symptoms of dysautonomia (one of the most common causes of asthma).
You need to read Dr Pelletier's classic "Mind as Healer, Mind as Slayer". Then, when you have a basic understanding of WHY you have what you have, write again with any questions. I can help you dig yourself out of this hole but YOU need to make the knowledge your own.
Walt
How much of the MSM should I take? Is there a formula on how mush and how offen I should take MSM. Please advise. Also I have a lotion but would be interested to know if there is a cream with more MSM in the cream.
Thank you very much
Leslye
My friend Brenda, a chaplain for a senior community, just came back from the Wellness Institute Conference in Wisconsin. She said the speakers in several workshops referred to "joyless striving" as a major stressor in everyday life. She didn't know where the term
came from but the speakers emphasized that we should be enjoying whatever it is we do. I consider myself a very happy person but I must confess to "joyless striving" when it is 10:30 p.m. and I still have a 50 min. exercise video to go through. Brenda also said that this was the first year the conference tied in spirituality with wellness. Martha
In Reply to: major stressor posted by martha on July 28, 1998 at 21:11:41:
Dear Martha,
The Buddhists have known this for years. There is a great little book called The Miracle of Mindfulness by Thich Nhat Hanh that explains this so well. Even my family physician read this and was very moved. I don't think we will have to drag HIM screaming and kicking into the 21st Century! Anyway, the book explains how we are never "in this moment". We are doing one thing and thinking of something else. I think you and the BB participants would not only enjoy this book, but benefit from it's wisdom.
Namaste` Linda