THE TRUE MEANING OF HOLISTIC

I get a bit tired seeing the word “Holistic” used incorrectly. Often it is used merely to treat a disorder where unlike conventional medicine treats one ailment/disorder, it looks at the patient’s whole symptoms it may even take into account, their emotional/mental state but that is as far as it goes so to put the record straight Holistic medicine is a term used to describe therapies that attempt to treat the patient as a whole person. That is, instead of treating an illness, as in orthodox allopathic medicine, holistic medicine looks at an individual's overall physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional wellbeing before recommending treatment.

An important part of treating someone “Holistically” is treating him/her spiritually as you cannot claim to treat someone holistically without the spiritual aspect. When I mention spiritually I am not talking about a specific religion or set of beliefs, for every religion mentions the spiritual side of us and in holistic therapies, we are mind, body and spirit, essentially we are spirit within a human body. If we tackle this part of us we will achieve inner harmony for dis-harmony and dis-ease begins in the very essence of us “The Spirit”. 

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THE TRUE MEANING OF "HOLISTIC"

HOLISTIC THE WHOLE OF US, ALL ARE INTERLINKED AND INFLUENCE THE OTHER

I get a bit tired seeing the word “Holistic” used incorrectly. Often it is used merely to treat a disorder where unlike conventional medicine treats one ailment/disorder, it looks at the patient’s whole symptoms it may even take into account, their emotional/mental state but that is as far as it goes so to put the record straight Holistic medicine is a term used to describe therapies that attempt to treat the patient as a whole person. That is, instead of treating an illness, as in orthodox allopathy, holistic medicine looks at an individual's overall physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional wellbeing before recommending treatment.

An important part of treating someone “Holistically” is treating him/her spiritually as you cannot claim to treat someone holistically without the spiritual aspect. When I mention spiritually I am not talking about a specific religion or set of beliefs, for every religion mentions the spiritual side of us and in holistic therapies, we are mind, body and spirit, essentially we are spirit within a human body. If we tackle this part of us we will achieve inner harmony for dis-harmony and dis-ease begins in the very essence of us “The Spirit”. 

When we think positively our Auras expand, they are directly connected to our Chakras, these are spinning vortices of energy and what gives us our vital life force, our spirit. If our Chakras are able to work correctly without being impinged in anyway, we will be happier mentally and emotionally and physically a lot healthier.

On the other hand if we think negatively our Aura's shrink in on themselves and this affects how the chakra's work, it restricts the flow of vital energy of the life force and starts to cause us problems both mentally and physically. Take for example the throat Chakra, it governs the thyroid and parathyroid endocrine glands and all the structures surrounding our throat and necks and vocal chords. It also governs communication between ourselves and others. So if we are thinking negatively it can lead to stiff neck muscles, causing tension headaches, make us more prone to sore throats, coughs and colds and can lead us to have communication problems relating to others perhaps causing arguments and an inability to understand others. This of course is just one Chakra.

In holistic medicine mind, body and spirit are all intertwined you cannot treat one without the other, yes its well known how the mind has an effect on the body but what is the catalyst? it is the spirit, this influences everything so it should never be dismissed nor ignored and if the spirit is not taken into account then it cannot be said to be “HOLISTIC”

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RECIPE FOR AROMATHERAPY ANTI AGEING/ANTI WRINKLE FACE CREME

Before using any new product particularly on the skin its a good idea to patch test on a tiny area where you wish to apply it and leave it unwashed and alone for 48 hours, if there is no reaction then its safe to go ahead and use the product.
WARNING THIS RECIPE MUST NOT BE USED BY PREGNANT/NURSING WOMEN, THOSE SUFFERING FROM EPILEPSY OR CHILDREN
Aromatherapy oils MUST NOT BE USED UNDILUTED and for the face the dilution is 1%, this is because the face is close to the nose and therefore the limbic system.

For this recipe you will need a base creme and its best to obtain one from an aromatherapy supplier as they are designed to be used for blending. The active ingredients in this recipe are the essential oils themselves and not the base creme.

Essential oils

Frankincense
On the skin this oil helps regenerate helps smooth out wrinkles, it has a firming action, and helps balance sebum levels. The ancient Egyptians used this essential oil in mummification, therefore if it helped preservation it makes sense that it will help preserve the skin.

Lavender
Helps promote new cells again has a balancing effect on the skin and speeds up healing, so its especially effective at dealing with break outs.

Patchouli
This essential oil is also a good skin oil, particularly for rough dry areas and soothing for inflamed areas.

You will also require the contents of a Vitamin E capsule or a few drops of wheatgerm oil (which is high in Vitamin E) this extends the shelf life of the creme but more importantly Vitamin E is a powerful anti free radical agent and helps sooth the skin.

This creme is best used at night however if used during the day you would require the addition of a sun protection factor as UVA light ages the skin (see earlier articles on the skin)

To make a 1% dilution the ratio is as follows 1drop of essential oil to 100 drops of carrier oil/creme

1% dilutions
5 ml:1 drops
10 ml:2 drops
15 ml:3 drops
20 ml:4 drops
25 ml:5 drops
30 ml:6 drops

Therefore if you use a 30 ml jar of base creme you will need 6 drops of essential oil in total so for this recipe add 2 drops each of Frankincense, Lavender and Patchouli, add the contents of the Vitamin E capsule and stir well with a clean spatula. The preparation should last for 3 months and should be kept in a cool place out of direct sunlight.

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DO FACELIFTS MAKE MUCH DIFFERENCE?

An article I came across in the DAILY MAIL today below. I have come across a few people who have had facelifts and to be honest unless they have admitted it, I wouldn't have known. I feel many people have over expectations of the results and would agree with the article below all they seem to do is achieve a less tired, more refreshed look. Which leads me to the whole purpose of my website here how to make the best of yourself. If you feel good inside it honestly will reflect that on the outside. So before considering the knife just try the holistic way of life, having a good balanced diet, exercise, plenty of water, shade your face from the sun, give up smoking and work on your stress levels and I guarantee six months of this regime will make a difference.

How facelifts make us look younger by just three years: Study discovers how we perceive the success of plastic surgery

• New study into the effects of facelifts finds people look no more attractive
• Roughly £10,000 would be needed to look 10 years younger
• Fifty raters were shown before and after pictures of patients

Slim pickings: A study has found on average people look just three years younger

Having a facelift makes you look just three years younger - and doesn’t improve your attractiveness, claim doctors.
A unique study found plastic surgery results in a more youthful appearance, but the improvements are remarkably small.
Overall, the number of years ‘saved’ by having a full facelift or other procedures such as eyelid surgery is around three.
The more work that’s done, the younger the look, according to US and Canadian specialists.
But they failed to find any significant change in attractiveness ratings afterwards - and in Britain the cost of a clutch of cosmetic surgery procedures could top £10,000.
Dr Joshua Zimm, of the Lenox Hill Hospital and Manhattan Eye, Ear & Throat Institute of North Shore-LIJ Health System, New York, who led the latest study, said plastic surgeons often don’t tell prospective patients they will look younger or more attractive because of the lack of objective research.
Instead patients are told they will look ‘more refreshed’ and ‘less tired’.
But, he said, there is no doubt the explosion in facial surgery has been driven by expectations that patients will look younger, better and even have a competitive edge in the rat race at work.
However, the new study shows ‘limitations’ in what patients should expect.
‘Our data demonstrate that ageing face surgery is effective in reducing the apparent age of patients but doesn’t consistently improve a patient’s attractiveness’ he said.
The latest study, published in the journal JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery (must credit), is the first to investigate ratings of attractiveness post-surgery as well as enhanced youthfulness.

Expectations: One doctor claims the explosion in people having plastic surgery was driven by a belief they would look younger, but it comes at a huge financial cost

The study involved an assessment by 50 independent raters who examined preoperative and postoperative photographs of 49 patients, including 12 men, who underwent plastic surgery.
The patients had surgery between July 2006 and July 2010 at a private practice in Toronto, Canada, run by surgeon Peter Adamson, who took part in the study.
Patients in the study ranged in age from 42 to 73 years at the time of surgery with an average age of 57 years.
On average, the raters estimated their patients’ ages to be about 2.1 years younger than their chronological age before surgery and 5.2 years younger than their chronological age after surgery.

The average overall years saved (true age minus guessed age) following surgery was 3.1 years, with more years saved as more procedures were carried out.
To minimise bias by the raters, none was shown before and after pictures of the same patient.
Raters were also asked to rate the patient’s attractiveness on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being the most unattractive and 10 being the most attractive.
There was a small, but statistically insignificant increase in attractiveness scores in post-op photographs.
Three-quarters of patients scored within the range 4-7, and the scores did not change with surgery even after allowing for patient age and procedure.
Dr Zimm said the study found a person’s perceived age conferred a certain level of attractiveness - with younger people generally gauged as being more attractive.
‘From this study, it seems the attractiveness level will remain the same, regardless of age’ he said.
‘The age reduction is more substantial when the number of surgical procedures is increased, but this did not significantly improve overall attractiveness’ he added.
Rajiv Grover, president of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons who practises at the King Edward VII Hospital in London, said the attractiveness ratings fell short using strict statistical criteria, but market research techniques would probably have found a substantial change.
He said most UK plastic surgeons would believe the study underestimated the amount of benefit gained by many patients.
He said ‘The key here is good selection. I turn away 40 to 45 per cent of potential patients because I tell them honestly I don’t think they’re going to get the results they’re after and they’ll be wasting their money.
‘If you select patients well, and they’re in the hands of a competent, experienced surgeon I would expect them to look seven, eight, even nine years younger afterwards’ he added.

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SOME CARRIER OILS USED IN AROMATHERAPY

Carrier oils are nutritious and nourishing in their own right, as they contain essential vitamins and fatty acids. They soften and improve the condition of the skin, and some can be used to treat skin conditions such as eczema, acne, dermatitis, and psoriasis. Carrier oils, therefore, complement essential oils and provide additional benefit to a treatment. Here is a summary of a few of the most popular carrier oils. Carrier oils suitable for essential oils should all be vegetable/plant based and mineral oils are not suitable as they are not absorbed into the skin but sit on the skin's surface. Mineral oils are cheaper as they are a byproduct of the oil industry.

Avocado: Rich in essential fatty acids and vitamin D, therefore very nourishing for dry, ageing, or lacklustre skin. It is quite heavy and has a medium odour so should be used blended with lighter oils such as Sweet Almond.

Calendula: Takes on the wonderful healing properties of Marigold, which makes it an effective oil for treating sensitive skin and skin conditions. It is mild enough to be used on young children and babies. It can also help in maintaining joint mobility later in life. It can be used neat to treat skin conditions, or diluted in carrier oil for massage. When considering using it neat the properties of the oil the Marigold flowers have been infused into should be taken into account (e.g. Olive or Sunflower).

Evening Primrose: A wonderful skincare oil, strengthening, soothing, moisturising and softening. This is because it is very rich in essential fatty acids, including GLA. It is good for treating various skin conditions, as well as regulating menstruation and blood/cholesterol levels. Evening Primrose Oil is expensive so is often diluted in cheaper carrier oils such as Sweet Almond. It goes rancid rather quickly.

Grapeseed: One of the most commonly used oils as it is reasonably priced, nourishing, and can be used on all skin types. It has a light pleasant aroma, which will not interfere with essential oils. It is easily absorbed so the client won’t feel greasy after its use. However, traces of the chemical solvent used to extract it have been found in Grapeseed oil, so it is not recommended for high quality products and blends.

Jojoba: High in vitamin E and mimics the action of Sebum, the skins own natural lubricant, which makes it excellent for treating ageing or inflamed skin. It is known for its rejuvenating properties and assists in fighting wrinkles. Jojoba Oil is expensive and more like a liquid wax, so is usually blended with cheaper carrier oils. It has a very long shelf-life, which will also extend the life of any blend it is used in.

Macadamia Nut: High in essential fatty acids, in particular Palmitoleic Acid, which makes it very good for promoting young looking, soft, and supple skin. It has a long shelf-life, which can extend the life of a blend.

Peach Kernel: High in essential fatty acids and vitamins A and E, making it an excellent anti-inflammatory, protective and moisturising oil. It is a light, fine oil and a favourite for facial massage, as it feels pleasant and encourages skin suppleness and elasticity. Peach Kernel Oil is expensive and care must be taken when sourcing to ensure you get the genuine article. It can be helpful in a blend due to its semi-oily texture.

Sweet Almond: An excellent popular oil for aromatherapy as it is reasonably priced, wonderfully nourishing for the skin, and can be used on all skin types. It has a light marzipan-like aroma, which will not interfere with essential oils. It is good for treating many skin conditions it has a very mild effect as a sun screen however I would not rely on this and would advise you to wear a good sunscreen with a high sun protection factor 30+.

Wheatgerm: Rich in vitamin E and very nourishing for all skin types, in particular dry, ageing, or damaged skin. It is quite heavy and has a strong odour so should be used blended with lighter oils such as Sweet Almond. It is also good for use on tired muscles. It has wonderful healing abilities and blends have a longer shelf life as Vitamin E is an antioxidant and preservative

There are other carrier oils besides this selection, Neem, which is very good for dry rough skin conditions however it does have a pungent smell and is quite thick in consistency and fractionated coconut oil, which has no aroma at all. It's a very light carrier oil however it can irritate sensitive skin. Like anything else it's pudent to carry out a patch test 24 hours prior to using it.

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WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO OUR HOSPITALS? CAN CARING HOLISTICALLY FOR PATIENTS HELP?

I trained as a nurse many years ago and there was something to be said for the system of training then. We were paid a salary as we trained and we started at the bottom and worked up. Training was on the wards under the tutelage of experienced nurses and we spent sometime generally a couple of weeks at a time in college on theory. We learnt people skills and became adept at practical skills and there was a strict hierarchy amongst the staff that instilled discipline within us and basic hygiene and good communication featured in this.

Now I know things have changed over the years and with the advance of new developments and technology over the years nurses have to be highly trained and skilled but something I have noticed nursing training today is more theoretic and the onus on students is more of an observer than a hands on, mucking in, type of nurse as was the case in the past, with all the practical what I call real nursing caring for the patients dealing with their basic needs and comfort.

A few years ago I worked in the palliative care department of a large teaching hospital and to be honest I was shocked. My job, which I did on a voluntary basis, involved me having access to patients that didn't have long left on this earth, so I had access to different types of wards within the hospital. I would use either Reflexology or Aromatherapy to comfort these patients in their last days. However I observed most of the REAL nursing, the grass roots type of nursing, dealing with making patients comfortable, feeding, washing, adjusting pillows, recording observations was being done by the hard worked auxillary staff, whilst the nurses were gaggled around the nurses station. When I was a student nurse and I completed my set jobs we would be put to work cleaning and tidying there was no time to be spent huddled in little groups

Now I'd like to think there was a good reason for seeing all these nurses hanging out together and give them the benefit of the doubt but I had access to a number of wards at anytime and this was my observations. When I trained as a nurse it meant three years on the wards, when you completed the training you were capable of being in charge of auxillary staff and student nurses and being left in charge of wards for a time. This does not happen now, student nurses spend three years at university and  some weeks of that time in placement more as observers, so when they qualify and gain their degree they are not capable of the responsibilites of the old system of trained nurses and often have to do apprentice schemes to make them fit for the job, something is not right here. Meanwhile we have Clinical Assistants who have six weeks training, taking temperatures, blood pressures and observations and even taking blood. To me this is all wrong and this is where all the basic disciplines are lost, therefore care, basic hygiene deteriorate and we have a system where the elderly who go into hospital for something routine come back out worse than when they went in, as no one has made sure they have been fed and kept clean, basic nursing.

Coming back to holistic remedies and care. Contented patients heal faster and that means dealing with patients in a holistic fashion i.e. mind, body and spirit and not just pidgeon-holing  them and dealing with their ailment. We need to think was makes a patient content and I feel that starts that knowing there is someone who will listen to their needs and making them feel cared for. That does not mean they expect their ailment to go away but to know someone will be there to assist them with the basic ablutions, making sure they are eating nourishing meals, so they get all the nutrients their body needs to repair itself. I know staffing makes it difficult to spend time talking to patients, but the odd kind word and smile achieves a lot to lift a patient's spirit.

It's taken a long time but the value of holistic remedies is at last been noticed, for what holistic  remedies and therapies do is they work on the whole patient. A contented patient fights infection better and heals quicker and even when the patient is terminally ill holistic therapies can make the easing into the next world more peaceful for them. 

Holistic care however does not mean that you have to have additional staff trained in various therapies, that would be lovely if possible, what it does mean though as to see patients as people, people who have feelings, who are anxious and worried what is going to happen to them. Remember Holistic means caring for the whole patient and not their ailment. They deserve to have their dignity preserved and they deserve basic cleanliness, these needs can be addressed by better nurse education and being put into practice. A stressed patient will not recover as quickly as a contented patient and if you have read my articles on here under stress you will know exactly what stress does to health by raising blood pressure and deminishing the immune system. Hospitals are frightening enough for most patients they deserve to be treated as those who treat them would wish themselves. I feel when hospitals take account of looking at care in a holistic way the standards of care and cleanliness would rise.

One in four patients say their local hospital is not up to standard

• Report also finds patients admitted to A&E at evenings and weekends are 10 per cent more likely to die

A quarter of patients would not recommend their local hospital, a survey revealed yesterday.
Their complaints included ant-infested floors, wards stinking of sewage and uncollected rubbish.
Others objected to doctors and nurses who made them feel as if they were on a  factory production line.
Some claimed nursing staff spent much of their time clock-watching or failed to wash their hands properly.

High risk: Patients taken to hospital over the weekend for emergency treatment have a higher chance of dying, according to statistics (Posed by models)

The Dr Foster research firm looked at the responses of 8,864 patients on the NHS Choices website and found that 26 per cent of them would not recommend their local hospital to a friend.
However, 58 per cent would do so however, while the remainder had no opinion either way.
Lack of cleanliness was one of the main reasons for the complaints to the website. One patient, who was treated at Whipps Cross University Hospital in North-East London, said ants had the run of the ward he was treated on. He also claimed food was not cleared from his bedside table for four days.
A patient admitted to Queen’s Hospital in Romford, East London, said bloodied dressings covered the floor and another said the ward stank of sewage.
At Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham, a patient said black rubbish bags were left along the corridor. Another complained that the same hospital was so dirty he ‘feared getting an infection’.
Some 72 per cent of patients who complained were upset at being ‘left in the dark’ by doctors and nurses who refused to speak to them about their illness or treatment.
One patient who had been brought in to the A&E department at Newham General Hospital in East London described doctors and nurses as ‘robotic’ and said they felt like they were on ‘some sort of mass production line’. A mother who gave birth at Queen’s Hospital said she had been ‘made to feel like an animal’.
The report also found that patients who are admitted to A&E during the evenings or weekends are 10 per cent more likely to die.
It warned that in many trusts too few senior consultants work outside of office hours meaning that patients are left in the hands of junior doctors.
In nearly a third of hospitals no senior staff were on site all weekend. Overall mortality rates, however, were found to have fallen by 20 per cent over the past decade.

The lengthy report also disclosed that some health trusts put just one nurse in charge of more than 20 elderly patients at any one time.
At South Tyneside NHS trust in Tyne and Wear the average is one nurse to 29.5 patients while at Frimley Park in Surrey the ratio is one to 20.
Dr Peter Carter of the Royal College of Nursing said: ‘Trusts now need to look at their staffing levels as a matter of urgency. Due to the complex needs of many older people, having staff with the right mixture of skills and experience on the ward is vital.’
Sir Bruce Keogh, medical director of the NHS in England, said: ‘Mortality rates are going down, but hospitals with high rates and poor outcomes in the evenings and at weekends must investigate to see where performance may be falling short and look to those with the best rates to see how they can improve.’
Professor Keogh added: ‘I will be asking the NHS medical directors to look closely at weekend services to ensure patients admitted at weekends receive the same standards of care as those during the week.’

WOULD YOU RECOMMEND YOUR HOSPITAL?

The Dr Foster report includes an analysis of patient comments made online about their hospital stay.

It revealed that disrespect and not being kept informed are the two main reasons why patients would not recommend their hospital. This was found to matter far more than single-sex wards or cleanliness.

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BROKEN HEART SYNDROME

 For those of us working in the psychic and holistic field this is not news, but something we have known for a very long time. It's very common for the surviving spouse in a long partnership to pass over within a couple of years, or the other partner may develop cancer, where the couple have been very very close. To understand this you have to view ourselves not just in a physical sense but holistically, 'mind, body and spirit', each influences the other.

For those of you who have been in a long relationship, that has suddenly been broken up, its not uncommon to feel part of you is missing, like you have a hole in your head, like you feel empty, like you have lost an arm or leg, this is because in effect you have, for when we become very close to someone our auric field, part of it, reaches out to the aura of the other person, this happens with every close relationship, be it a member of out family or a lover. If the other person suddenly breaks the relationship off, well part of our aura is missing hence creating that 'empty feeling. *(SEE CUTTING TIES)

In holistic medicine disease begins in the 'spirit' first, how we feel in ourselves, that then affects the mental and emotional aspects of us, 'the mind' and this in turn affects the body. The belief in holistic medicine is if we work on the 'spirit' we can prevent disease taking root in the physical body. Holistic medicine treats the whole of the person and not a pigeon holed part of the body.

Stress too affects the physical body, it depletes the immune system by raising levels of damaging stress hormones, such as corticotrophic hormones and adrenaline. These hormones are fine for what they are designed for, as part of a survival mechanism for emergences only, they were never designed for long term use. More details on this can be found on the tab at the top of the page here on stress.*(STRESS AND HEALTH)

Women are naturally more emotional and empathetic than men so this article I found in the Daily Mail below here doesn't surprise me in the least

Women NINE times more likely than men to suffer broken heart syndrome

• Condition brought on by sudden or prolonged stress can lead to heart failure
• Tests show dramatic changes in rhythm and blood substances typical of a heart attack, but no artery blockages

Females are up to nine times more likely to suffer 'broken heart syndrome,' a study revealed today.
The condition - when sudden or prolonged stress caused by an event such as an emotional breakup or death causes overwhelming heart failure or heart attack-like symptoms - is far more likely to strike women than it is men.
Although the symptoms can be life-threatening, patients usually recover with no lasting damage.

Women are seven to nine times more likely to suffer a heart attack from shock or distress - with no sign of blocked arteries or previous history of cardiac problems

The study, which was carried out by Dr. Abhishek Deshmukh of the University of Arkansas, was reported at the American Heart Association in Florida.
The syndrome was first identified in 1990, when Japanese doctors named it Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (tako tsubo are octopus traps that resemble the unusual pot-like shape of the stricken heart).
It happens when a big shock, even one with positive results, like winning the lottery, triggers a rush of adrenaline and other stress hormones that cause the heart's main pumping chamber to suddenly balloon and malfunction.
Tests show dramatic changes in rhythm and blood substances typical of a heart attack, but no artery blockages that typically cause one. Most victims recover within weeks, but in rare cases it proves fatal.
Dr. Mariell Jessup, a University of Pennsylvania heart failure specialist who has treated many such cases, reports that the classic case is a woman who has just lost her husband.
One woman, Cyndy Bizon, 63, from Maine, U.S., became a victim of the condition six years ago after her husband Joel, suffered a massive heart attack.

 

Broken heart syndrome can occur as a result of shock - usually from bad news, but occasionally from good, such as a lottery win

Convinced her husband was going to die, she said her prayers as he was wheeled past her into the operating room.
She later collapsed at a nurse's station and was transferred to an emergency coronary care ward, diagnosed with so-called broken heart syndrome.
'I remember grabbing the counter and a black curtain coming down before my eyes,' she said.
Cyndy's attack was so severe that she went into full cardiac arrest and had to have her heart shocked back into a normal rhythm.
Both Cyndy and her husband survived, but while most such attacks resolve without permanent damage, Cyndy later needed to have a defibrillator implanted.
Dr. Abhishek Deshmukh carried out his study after noticing that the majority of patients he treated for the condition were female.
Using a federal database with about 1,000 hospitals, Deshmukh found 6,229 cases in 2007.
Only 671 involved men. After adjusting for high blood pressure, smoking and other factors that can affect heart problems, women seemed 7.5 times more likely to suffer the syndrome than men.
It was three times more common in women over 55 than in younger women. And women younger than 55 were 9.5 times more likely to suffer it than men of that age.
No one knows why, said Dr. Abhiram Prasad, a Mayo Clinic cardiologist who presented other research on this syndrome at the conference.
'It's the only cardiac condition where there's such a female preponderance,' he said.
One theory is that hormones play a role. Another is that men have more adrenaline receptors on cells in their hearts than women do. 
Dr Deshmukh suggests this may mean that men are better able to handle stress and the chemical surge it releases.
About 1 per cent of such cases prove fatal, the study shows.
'In the old days, we'd say someone was scared to death,' said Prasad.
About 10 per cent of victims will have a second episode sometime in their lives. And although heart attacks happen more in winter, broken heart syndrome is more common in summer.

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BOOKS FROM MY PERSONAL LIBRARY "HANDS OF LIGHT"

'HANDS OF LIGHT' by Barbara Brennan

I discovered this book purely by chance, I was at the book shop looking for something else and it was almost as if it was presented to me. It was in the entirely wrong section and sticking out from the shelf and I feel placed there quite deliberately and knowing the way spirit work, I would say yes it was. I have always been able to see auras, though I can switch this ability on and off at will and it was always difficult for me to explain what I could see, but here was a book where the author documented what I could see too. It explains clearly about healing and explains the "Human Energy Field" i.e. The Aura and its several layers. It explains healing first begins with the spirit and not on the physical plane a misconception by many would be healers and those seeking healing. It is a must for anyone to understand the concept of "Healing" MPB

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THE CHAKRAS AND THEIR FUNCTIONS

THE CHAKRAS AND THEIR FUNCTIONS

In a previous article I mentioned the Chrakras, the word Chakra comes from the Sanskrit meaning spinning wheel. The Chakras are energy centres and there are seven major and many minor ones, they are a link between the physical body and the subtle bodies or Aura. Their function is to channel Universal Energy (life force) from the Cosmos, where it is stored and assimilated by the body. Each Chakra in your spinal column is believed to influence or even govern bodily functions near its region of the spine. They cannot be seen however some Psychics have the ability to see them and are well documented in the traditions of the Far East.

The 7 major Chakras

Crown Chakra is located at the top of the head and its function is understanding. It's colour is violet and a corresponding crystal is Amethyst. It governs the pituitary gland, Cerebrum and surrounding tissues

Brow Chakra is located in the centre of the forehead just above the eyebrows. It's colour is indigo and crystal Iolite. It's function promotes thought and helps Psychic abilities. It governs the pineal gland and surrounding structures

Throat Chakra is located in the throat and functions are communication and creativity. It's colour is blue and crystal Sodalite. It governs the Thyroid and Parathyroids, communication area in the brain and surrounding structures.

Heart Chakra is located in the centre of the chest and functions are love and compassion. It's colour is green/pink so crystals such as Rose Quartz and Aventurine. It governs the Thymus and the heart and circulation.

Solar Plexus is located just above the navel, its function is will power, joy and anger, its colour is yellow and crystal Citrine. It governs the Pancreas and surrounding structures

Sacral Chakra is located in the lower abdomen and its functions are desire sexuality, pleasure and governs the genitals and surrounding tissues. It's colour is orange and crystal Carnelian.

Base Chakra is located at the base of the spine and its functions are grounding and survival and the surrounding tissues. It's colour is red and crystals associated are Ruby or Haematite 

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HEALING

Healing

When I first got into healing I had this idea that I could physically heal people and this is a misconception the vast majority of the public have. What healing does is heal the soul, our souls are our life force energy, the very essence of what makes us unique and who we are. You can liken it to the mind. we know that when we think we hear our own voices as we think we hear it in our mind and that's really what our souls are, our inner voice our thoughts. It is often referred to as our 'Higher self', and when people are following their hearts we are listening to our 'Higher self'. Remember whilst we are incarnated we are spirit in a human body.

What is the difference between our hearts and mind? Well when we think about something rationally and logically we are using just our mind, our physical mind, those physical processes and go on inside our brains, but when we use our hearts, we follow our intuition which is our 'Higher self'. In following our intuition we listen to what the Universe is telling and guiding us. The Universe has all the answers we ever need out there, all the knowledge that mankind should ever want is there, as we have evolved in the modern world we have forgotten how to listen. Animals haven't, they are still very much in touch with nature and the world and they know instinctively when its time to hibernate, time to fly south for the winter and for some species like homing pigeons they know the correct distance to fly home. Animals instinctively know when to trust, whom they feel safe with and if we think about it, we do too. How often have to walked into a room where there has been a quarrel and may not have known about it at the time but you feel the energy is so dense you could cut the atmosphere with a knife, that is you using your intuition and listening to your hearts.

So what has this got to do with healing? well its not about healing the physical body but healing the troubled soul. When your soul is in perfect balance there is no 'dis-order' or 'dis-ease'. Ill health begins with the spirit, which in turn affects the mind and this then influences the functioning of the bodies internal organs. How does this happen? Well in Holistic terms we have seven major 'Chakras' these are spinning vortices of energy spaced out the length of our head and spine and each chakra is assigned to a major Endocrine gland, they are also responsible for the governing of the internal organs and structures of the body in their region too e.g. if we take the Throat Chakra this chakra governs the Thyroid and Parathyroid glands, the structures surrounding these glands e.g. throat, trachea. upper oesophagus, neck etc, and because it covers the trachea and thus larnynx is is responsible for communication. When I say there are seven major Chakras, there are many minor ones e,g, Healers use the Palm Chakras to convey Healing Energy from the Universe via the Healees body to the recipient through the Palm chakras which are situated in the centre of the plams.

Anyway to get back to the subject of Healing in healing the spirit we do this by balancing the Chakras, When we are troubled on a spiritual level it begins to affect the mind, causing symptoms such as anxiety, sadness and depression, this then causes our Auric field (more about the Aura in a later article)to retract in on itself causing an inbalance in the functioning of the chakras, which in turn begins to affect the structures and Endocrine glands associated with the Chakras.

Let me explain, supposing we have a communication problem with those or someone specific around us, whether it is them that have caused the problem or whether it was ourselves who failed to communicate adequately, it will eventually affect the Throat Chakra which governs communication. Remembering that this chakra governs the throat, larnyx, neck etc, if these issues are not resolved it could lead to constant sore throats, tightness on swallowing, feeling there is a lump in ones throat, stiff neck, tension in the neck leading to tension headaches to name but a few, not forgetting it could eventually affect the functioning of the thyroid and parathyroid glands with the detrimental effects this would lead to affecting our metabolic rate and thus our appetite. How much of this now begins to make sense?

The Chakra system has been around for thousands of years and is the basis of the Indian system of Ayurvedic medicine, the word 'Chakra' comes from the ancient Sanskrit meaning spining wheel

To be continued:

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WELLCOME TO: "Making the most of YOU"

THIS BLOG IS NOT JUST FOR WOMEN BUT MEN TOO

As this blog evolves I shall be adding posts that equally apply to both men and women.

This blog is about making the most of what nature has bestowed on us and how to achieve well-being and beauty within ourselves, inside and out.

In this blog I shall explore how we can achieve inner harmony for unless we feel good about ourselves how can we pass that on to others. Stress is the main cause of ill health in the western world, not only does it rob ourselves of our health, it affects how we look and leads to premature ageing. So to make the most of what nature has bestowed upon us we have to approach this from the inside, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. This is my holistic approach to achieving the best we can be.

When I mention spiritually I am not talking about a specific religion or set of beliefs, for every religion mentions the spiritual side of us and in holistic therapies, which is the approach of this blog, we are mind, body and spirit, essentially we are spirit within a human body. If we tackle this part of us we will achieve inner harmony and that will reflect on the outside and give us that beautiful glow.

It's also about achieving inner confidence, we can achieve this by caring for ourselves, good grooming is not being vain, far from it, its about maintaining our health, caring for our hair, nails and feet and keeping them free from infection. When we feel good about ourselves, we feel good about others, it raises our self esteem and gives us a buzz.

Maggie Brown (Author)

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