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 "Rest, Recipes and Roses: Heathy Summer Strategies." What could Drs. Connie and Marcel possibly mean with such an inscrutable title? But of course, the elucidation follows in the content of this newsletter. First, here's a preview:
"Rest" refers to summer relaxation, and can include anything from kite flying, spa visits, massages, walks, hammock naps, latte dates, reading, vacation, vegging out... you get the idea. What is your way of achieving pervasive, deep rest?
"Recipes" offers obvious newsletter content. Food and drinks for hot summer weather as well as some eating strategies. What is one of your favorite summer recipes?
"Roses" ah, here's the framework, the schematic for a healthy summer. Roses in this newsletter refers to the state of consciousness achieved for that ephemeral moment after one inhales the aroma of a most exquisitely fragrant rose. The moment passes and we return to our original mission, but we are forever changed. The question is: How can we re-create the "rose state of mind" on an ongoing basis? This topic is addressed in a number of ways
throughout this newsletter.
As usual, Dr. Connie starts, musing about technology, health, eye-to-eye communication and vitalistic naturopathy. She follows later with suggestions for inspired summer picnics and a recipe for gluten-free Spanish orange almond cake. Dr. Marcel offers a variety of strategies for optimizing health during the summer, follows with an article on the "rose state of mind" (mentioned above) and gives a recipe for a yummy Cuban mojo. Jane H talks of a very simple way to take a "mini-vacation;" Lauren H-W gives us an intriguing vegan vanilla bean faux "ice cream" recipe and Dr. Brad talks about his upcoming fasting group.
Cancer center articles include a fascinating short video interview with Dr. Jonathan Wright, an article on the healing power of Vitamin D and suggestions on reducing carcinogens when grilling foods.
We hope your summer is health-filled, joyful and spent in a "rose state of mind."
May all beings be healthy and happy!
Dr. Connie, Dr. Marcel, Dr. Brad, Dr. Sage, Elijah and your health care team
at Pacific Naturopathic and the
Hernandez Center for Adjunctive Cancer Care
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Dr. Connie's Musings...
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| Dr. Connie musing on roses |
Summer Rest and Relaxation
Particularly here in Silicon Valley, we live in a complex world increasingly driven and permeated by technology. We can order up testing to map our genes, unravel our biochemistry, monitor our hormonal cycles. There are apps to promote dietary goals, to enhance sleep, to encourage meditation. Technology fosters electronic connection, and allows us to almost seamlessly search all types of information, and to communicate with anyone, anywhere, anytime. Our technology is sometimes vital, sometimes useful, but also often disruptive (think cell phones at dinner parties), and engaging to the point of addiction and "real world" isolation.
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| Modern dinner party |
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What technology does not do is foster the rest, relaxation and restoration we crave in the summer months. Who hasn't flown into a panic at the loss of a cell phone, at the inability to log on to the computer to check emails, at flawed internet connections preventing completion of electronic tasks?
One healthy summer strategy would be to take a brief vacation from technology.
I think with nostalgia of our early 70's international travel. Our telegrams or mail deliveries to the local American Express office were our connection to anywhere outside of where we actually were. No tangled wires, no chargers, no gadgets, no obsession with online connection. We traveled with well-worn paper books, traded from traveler to traveler, and entertained ourselves by being with the people and places we encountered along the way. These were the classic "be here now" travels.
It's still possible to exist unconnected; however, it is but both anxiety provoking and often unacceptable to us to be out of touch with loved ones near and far and detached from matters of consequence for extended periods of time. A brief respite, though, is quite possible. A day at the beach with the cell phone left in the car. A camping trip with no internet. Time to dig in our toes or make sand candles in the sand, to lie on our backs and watch the clouds go by, to cook and chat by the campfire, to be with the starry, starry night. We're talking here about the healing power of nature.
Naturopathy is rooted in vitalism, the healing power of nature. As complicated as medicine has become,
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Connect with the Earth! |
people may be cured through technology, but generally do not heal through technology. People ultimately heal through spiritual connection, through human touch, through engaging with and balancing the elements of earth, water, fire, air and ether.
Thus, we talk in naturopathy of dew walking, hydrotherapy, heliotropic healing, breathwork, energy work. The Japanese have a tradition of purifying oneself under waterfalls, and have institutionalized the practice of forest bathing to encourage immersion in nature, Natural forests on public lands are designated sites for forest therapy. Strolling through forests has been documented to decrease blood pressure, reduce anxiety and stress, increase immunity, and much, much more, not to mention the enjoyment factor,
Find time this summer to walk barefoot in the grass, to wade in a stream or float in the ocean, to luxuriate with friends in beautiful outdoor spaces. You will benefit in so many ways!
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Strategies for Healthy Summer Living
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Growing up in the northeast where seasons are clearly defined gave me a visceral connection to seasonal earth changes. Each season brought its own joys, challenges and varieties of food.
Summer on the east coast was a mixture of muggy heat waves and refreshing trips to the beach. Sunscreen was unheard of. Suntans were in vogue and tanning oils accelerated the process. Sunburns were common.
Cherries, watermelons, berries, peaches, nectarines, apricots - a yummy cornucopia to suit every taste.
During my east coast years, other than appropriate clothing, very little consciousness was given to strategies for healthy adaptation to the seasons. Since we are just entering the summer months, here are some tips for staying healthy in the heat:
Healthy grilling:
Instead of traditional "heavy" meats, broaden your palette by mainly choosing fish and chicken. Also, please see the barbeque article of reducing grilling-activated carcinogens in the Hernandez Center news toward the end of this newsletter.
Hydration: If you get thirsty, you are already dehydrated. The summer ideal is to learn to sip small amounts from a non-
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Healthy grilling
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plastic water bottle throughout the day. Electrolyte-rich coconut water is now ubiquitous.
For every hour that you are in the sun, you should drink at least one 16-ounce glass of water, more if you are doing physical work.
Alcohol: When you drink alcohol in the sun, it dehydrates you rapidly, causing you to perspire and urinate more. Alcohol fails to replenish your water stores, so it's important that you moderate your alcohol intake and drink plenty of water, especially while in the sun.
Eyes: P
rotect your vision by wearing ultraviolet-blocking, polarized sunglasses. Sunglasses can help prevent cataracts and wrinkles around the eyes.
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A yummy lunch
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Light eating: The bounty of produce makes summer the perfect time to eat lightly and partake of the abundance.
Just put the baguette and heavy starches down and reach for a berry smoothie instead. Save desserts for special occasions.
There are a number of light, nourishing proteins that don't require cooking. Most of these complement fruits and vegetables nicely-- nuts, seeds, sprouted beans, soy products, yogurt, kefir, and cottage cheese. Fish and poultry can also be eaten.
Exercise: Daily twenty to thirty minute brisk walks in the cool of the early morning or early evening helps keep the spare tire away from your hips. You'll feel better throughout the day, and eat healthier and lighter.
Sleeping:
Summer is a perfect time for an "early to bed and early to rise" lifestyle. Resist the urge to stay up late into the night. Here in California, there is light in the sky from 5:45 AM until 8:45 PM. Sleeping in between these times gives you all the daylight hours to fill with your creative and fun endeavors.
Contemplation, meditation:
Every day flows more smoothly when you focus your attention during quiet time first thing in the morning. Inspirational reading in the evening just before bed sets an uplifting vibratory tone as you drift off into sleep.
Dirty hands:
Plant a small garden, cultivate a flower box, or if space is really limited, plant a few flower pots -- indoors or out. Putting your hands in the soil is grounding and the stress-busting satisfaction of eating a ripe, juicy, sweet/tart tomato that you just grew is wordless.
Vacation:
Vacations have multiple benefits: They can help lower your blood pressure, heart rate, and stress hormones such as cortisol.
Take some special summer time
with your family, kids, and friends who share the enjoyment of outdoors. Leave your cell phone at home or take a week off from TV.
Sun:
Protect yourself from overexposure
to sunlight by wearing a wide-brim hat, sun-blocking clothing and using natural sunscreens that are free of excessive chemicals.
Finally, breathe deeply, express gratitude for all that comes your way and let your inner light shine through you.
For more on Dr. Marcel's work click
HERE.
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Dr. Marcel's Cuban Mojo
(Sour Orange Marinade/Dressing)
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This delicious mojo (mow-hoe) may be used as a salad dressing, a sauce for grilled or raw veggies, a marinade for meats or a bread-dipping sauce.
Ingredients:
4 cloves garlic
1 teaspoon salt
black pepper
1/3 cup sour orange juice (or equal parts lemon and orange to equal 1/3 cup)
1 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons chopped sweet onion (optional)
Directions:
Grind garlic and salt in mortar and pestle to make a paste. Alternately, combine garlic and salt in a food processor until mixed and chopped.
Then, combine all ingredients in a food processor and blend until smooth and creamy.
Use as a marinade on meats, fish and poultry or as a dressing for salads and vegetables.
If you don't own a food processor, you can use a blender or simply whisk all ingredients.
Keeps for about a week in the fridge. Serve at room temperature.
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Good weather provides the ultimate opportunity to pair outdoor activities with fun foods, made special by their seasonal freshness and by the cultural traditions from which they come. Japanese have perfected the technique in cherry blossom season, picnicking under clouds of flowers while sipping tea and refreshing themselves with mandarin oranges, rice crackers, dried squid and other goodies unique to Japan. New Englanders go for clam bakes on the beach. Westerners tend to barbecue in the mountains.
Most everyone remembers outdoor feasts of one kind or another.
Our friend Gwen in Hawaii delighted us one summer day with an elegant Italian theme picnic, complete with picnic table, tablecloth and all accoutrements. Options are endless, the only restriction being your own creativity.
In our road tripping, outdoor eating, grilling, picnicking and hiking adventures, we rely on simple, healthy options. For car trips, we pack a cooler and a picnic basket. Cooler foods tend to the Mediterranean options... stuffed grape leaves, organic grapes, veggies with hummus and other dips, olives, a selection of raw cheeses, hard boiled eggs (or deviled eggs for the sake of nostalgia), yogurt, pita bread for the non gluten free, artisan crackers, olive oil, salt and pepper. And, of course, dark chocolate.
For outdoor patio eating, our choices include salads of every kind, dressed with olive oil and lemon juice or  sprinkled with balsamic vinegar. Finely chopped cabbage with cilantro, diced red onion and toasted sunflower seeds. Arugula, or beet carpaccio, with feta and walnuts. Watercress all on its own. Baby greens of every description, topped with wild borage and calendula flowers, or rose petals. Heirloom tomatoes with basil and feta. If you're wanting finger food veggies, try Asian summer rolls, with veggies wrapped in rice paper rounds. Simpler still are cherry tomatoes, baby veggies and peas just as they are off the vine.
Still hungry? Try roasted sweet potatoes, or quinoa with dried cranberries and pistachios, or curried rice salad.
If there's a grill available, salads can be topped with grilled proteins. Or skip the salad and grill veggies along with your protein... peppers, eggplants, corn on the cob (nonGMO of course), zucchini, and whatever pops up out of the garden.
Fruits can be grilled for desert. Or not. Enjoy those organic cherries in their short season, or salted melon, or juicy peaches.
Everyone has a favorite refreshing drink. We happen to love cold roasted barley tea (no caffeine), or green tea varieties such as twig tea (kukicha) or tea with toasted rice kernels (genmaicha). If you go for the bubbly, mix aromatic herbal teas with sparkling water and a splash of elderberry syrup or pomegranate concentrate, topped with mint sprigs. California native bitter orange fruits make a refreshing lemonade.
Fresh seasonal foods enjoyed in the outdoors. What could be better?
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Find out more about Dr. Connie's work
HERE.
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The Rose State of Mind
"That which God said to the rose, and caused it to laugh
in full-blown beauty, He said to my heart,
and made it a hundred times more beautiful."
Rumi
Marcel Hernandez, N.D.
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Here's a question:
I
f everyone on the planet were given a similar, perfect, deeply aromatic rose and were asked to inhale the aroma, everyone at the same moment, what would ensue?
Would there be a global transformation? I would think so. I would hope so.
The Rose State of Mind is that perfect ephemeral moment just before and after one inhales the aroma of a most exquisitely beautiful, profoundly
fragrant rose.
The outside world disappears. Consciousness is altered. Molecules have shifted. We are forever changed, we just don't know it. The moment passes and we return to our original
state of participation in worldly events
. So
,
the inevitable question
percolates into the pool of consciousness
: How can we re-create the Rose State of Mind on an ongoing basis?
I don't know the answer (does anyone think they do?), but there are a few clues hanging around in my brain.
Let's imagine that the aroma of this exquisite rose is but one of the experiences created and offered by the Creative Intelligence to give us a tiny hint -- a brief connection to the experience of what it might be like to have a consistent and constant upward connection. No mind static, no body consciousness, just perfect transcendence into a realm of unmitigated, peaceful joy.
Dr. Connie and I have been together more than four decades, and a great part of that time we have spent as seekers. Together we have been a butterfly duo, going from spiritual flower to spiritual flower, testing and tasting the nectars of spiritual paths and meeting some of the greatest souls on the planet. We have searched for ways of prolonging the Rose State of Mind. What we've come up with so far is this:
*The Rose State of Mind is the result of an inner journey of discovery, of self-realization. It cannot be attained in any other way. Each conscious step on the path brings us closer.
* Self-realization simply means recognizing, accepting and living the truth of who we really are. We are beings of God. We are designed to channel love and joy. We are the means through which God experiences Her creation. What kind of an experience do we want to provide for our Divine Mother?
* There are many paths to the Rose State of Mind. Each sincere path to God is just one of many spokes on a wheel, all leading to one magnificent Hub.
*
Friends and guides also seeking the Rose State of Mind provide maps
to help us stay on the path during the journey. It took me a long time to dismiss the
arrogance
of thinking I could do it alone.
* Although we may all agree that the scent of a rose is transformative, each of us experiences the aroma differently. The Rose State of Mind is personal; yet, it is communal. Each of us is like a drop of water in the ocean that is part of one whole.
One last thing to imagine. Take a slow, deep breath and let it out just as slowly. Continue this breathing pattern for three breaths. Stop reading for a moment while you do this. Now, create with your imagination and inner vision a lovely, perfect rose, just in front of you. Give the rose a color. Take another slow
in breath
and
out breath
.
Now
lean forward and smell the rose. Use your sense memory - recall the perfumed scent of a lovely rose from a time in your past. Keep breathing. It doesn't matter whether or not you sensed an aroma.
Focused consciousness on the path to the flower is what generates the Rose State of Mind. May you be there always.
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Dr. Connie's Favorite Summer Dessert:
Gluten-Free Spanish Almond Orange Cake
Connie Hernandez, N.D.
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| Albarracin, Spain |
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My favorite desert is Spanish orange almond cake, which I first tasted in Albarracin, Spain. It is easy, wheat-free, and
utterly, mouth-watring delectable.
Directions:
-- Boil 3 whole medium or 2 large organic oranges in water to cover until soft, about 30 minutes. Remove any seeds.
-- Let cool a bit and pulse the boiled oranges in food processor.
-- Beat 6 eggs in a bowl.
-- Add 1.5 cups ground almonds, 1 tsp baking powder, ½ to 1 cup of sugar or equivalent sugar substitute, and orange puree. Chocolate chips are an optional add in for chocaholics.
-- Fills a 9 inch cake pan. Use parchment paper, floured and buttered to prevent sticking.
-- Bake at 400 for about an hour. Remove from cake pan and cool on a rack.
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Recommended by
Dr. Connie and Dr. Marcel...
In this section of our newsletter, we will describe unique health care products we offer in the new, small retail section of our clinic.
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RexEme Cream
RexEme cream needs to be in every home pharmacy because of its extensive and effective dermatological healing properties. Dr. Connie and Dr. Marcel even travel with it.
We first started carrying RexEme cream in our clinic pharmacy in the mid 1990s after we had used it ourselves and discovered its almost magical properties. Does that sound like hyperbole? A bit like snake oil? Well, here's a true story.
Dr. Marcel was working in the kitchen. He picked up a pot of boiling water by its insulated handles. The supposedly heat-proof handles were as hot as the pot and the resulting reflex caused scalding water to be spilled on his tee-shirted abdomen. He immediately pulled off the tee-shirt. Ignoring the pain and bright red burn marks, he slathered RexEme all over his abdomen. Half an hour later, the pain was so diminished he could sleep later that evening. He had forgotten all about the incident until he took a warm shower the next morning and noticed slight discomfort on his rapidly healing skin.
RexEme is a therapeutic formula of ingredients in a base of lanolin and mineral oil. Although it is a powerful moisturizer, it is greaseless and easy to apply. At Pacific Naturopathic, we have prescribed it in countless skin conditions, from itching and dryness to rashes and chronic skin problems.
RexEme Cream
contains no fragrance, steroids, colorings, or harmful preservatives or alkali and won't clog skin pores. It is easy to use and hypo-allergenic.
The manufacturer states that RexEme is most effective and safe for:
* Acne
* Aging Lines - Age Spots
* Athletes Foot
* Bed Sores (Dicubitus)
* Blisters - Hands or Feet
* Chickenpox - No Scarring
* Cold Sores and Fever Blisters
* Cracked Fingers or Lips and Feet
* Cuts, Scratches or Scrapes
* Denture Sores or Canker Sores
* Detergent Burn - Hands
* Diaper Rash
* Eczema - Chronic and Seasonal
* Excessive Dryness
* Exposure, Windburn - To Sun or Cold
* Hemorrhoids - Beats All Others Hands Down
* Irritation/Itching
* Jock Itch
* Mosquito - Chigger - Flea or Other Insect Bites
* Poison Ivy/Oak
* Psoriasis
* Ringworm
* Stretch Marks
* Scalp - Dandruff, Seborrhea, Psoriasis Controlled
* Swimmer's Itch, Sand, Beach Itch
Available to our patients in our clinic pharmacy. Large, 3 oz. tube: $11.
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The Myers Cocktail: Q&A
Powerful, Safe, Easily and Quickly Administered
Why do an IV? Aren't we able to get the nutrients we need from our diets?
In a perfect world, this is true. But the typical American diet is lacking in adequate nutrient content and even with a stellar diet, the nutrient quality in the foods has steadily declined. Also, chemicals, toxins, stress, allergies, genetics, infections and other reasons, many people suffer from compromised gastrointestinal function. The result is impaired digestion, decreased capacity to break down foods and compromised ability to absorb the vital nutrients needed to just maintain health.
When nutrients are given intravenously, the digestive system is bypassed and nutrients are delivered directly into the cells. Each cell gets to bathe in a nutrient-dense solution, so that these vitamins are easily accessible, in the most bio-available form, allowing the greatest potential for healing and ENERGY.
Just what is a Myers cocktail?
The basic Myers' Cocktail, is an intravenous vitamin nutrient supplement that was formulated more than 40 years ago for promoting healing and restoring energy and stamina. The standard Myers Cocktail at Pacific Naturopathic consists of magnesium, calcium, selenium, zinc, vitamin B-5 vitamin B-6, vitamin B-12, vitamin B complex, and Vitamin C. Other vitamins or ingredients may be added to the Myers' Cocktail protocol, depending on the patient's diagnosis and overall health as well as the condition being treated.
What is the Myers cocktail used for?
The "cocktail" is indicated for chronic acute viral illness/colds, fatigue, fibromyalgia, vitamin deficiency, anxiety, stress, depression, migraine or tension headaches, general immune boosting, gut malabsorption, leaky gut and support to cancer patients. It can be useful in situations where oral nutrients or other therapies are not working. When nutrients are given intravenously, your digestive system is bypassed and a much higher level of nutrition can be delivered directly to your cells via the bloodstream. If you tend to be anxious or overstressed, it can help to calm and relax you. If you tend to have fatigue and feel run down, it can help boost your energy. There are so many diseases and symptoms that benefit from this therapy. It is like getting a supercharge of vitality!
Have there been any studies on the Myers Cocktail?
Yes. Yale researchers recently tested the Myers Cocktail on a group of patients in a double-bind, placebo controlled randomized trial. The study measured tender points, depression levels and quality of life. Significant improvement was shown in all pertinent outcome measures with the Myers' group and none with the placebo group. There are currently 274 clinical research trials employing intravenous micronutrient therapy. About half of these concern treatment or prevention of cancer. The remainder cover a wide range of medical and health conditions.
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The Myers Cocktail is the perfect solution for immune deficiencies and flagging energy levels. Known as THE original intravenous (IV) therapy solution, this Cocktail remains as popular as ever and can even be used as an effective hangover cure.
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How many treatments does it take to feel better?
Patients vary in the number of treatments needed, but a typical protocol is infusions once or twice a week. Some patients experience improvement after only one treatment, and many report significant healing by the fourth infusion. People who have chronic conditions may need ongoing treatment of several times per week, or periodically every few weeks to regain their energy.
How long does a Myers infusion take?
A typical Myers drip takes about 15 minutes.
Is It Safe?
The Myers Cocktail is a safe, effective, and minimally invasive therapy that is well tolerated by most people. It carries an extremely low risk of serious adverse side effects. If the protocol is administered quickly there may be a sensation of warmth and flushing. This is due to the rapid rise of magnesium. Some patients may also have the taste of vitamins in their mouth shortly after they are given the infusion.
Is there any preparation needed before receiving a Myers?
Before your treatment: It is best to prepare for the Myers' by drinking plenty of water and having food in your stomach before you come in the office.
Is a Myers Cocktail right for me?
At Pacific Naturopathic, we provide comprehensive holistic medical care, including thorough evaluation of each patient's symptoms, health, and needs. During our evaluation, we can determine if IV therapy will be beneficial to your health goals. After an initial consultation, we can schedule IV treatments to be performed in the office by one of our fully trained, licensed and certified Naturopathic Doctors.
Experience the rejuvenating magic of a Myers Cocktail: $145
NOTE: An excellent monograph on the Myers Cocktail
Please phone for more information: 650-917-1121.
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Interested in exploring the world of IV nutrient therapy?
Dr. Marcel is happy to address any of your questions.
Please phone 650-917-1121 for more information.
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Elijah Free has been an associate at Pacific Naturopathic
since January of 2000. He specializes in working with both mechanical and metabolic pain.
You can visit his herbal company, Earth Friend Herb Co. at www.earthfriendherb.com and view his videos on Ending Fibromyalgia and Ending PTSD-One Veteran's Answer.
And to find out more of Elijah's work with his 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization to end PTSD in war veterans, (Elijah is a veteran and paramedic of the Viet Nam conflict) Bring Our Vets All the Way Home, please go to www.bringourvetsallthewayhome.org
To schedule an appointment with Elijah,
please phone 650-917-1121.
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Easy Peasy Mini-Vacations
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Anytime I find a way to deeply relax I call it a mini-vacation. For example, last week I was walking down the street where I live in San Francisco and coming toward me was an attractive young mother pushing her baby stroller. Just before we passed each other she stopped in front of a house which had a profusion of roses. To my astonishment she actually stopped and smelled a rose. I had never actually seen a stranger do that on the street and she was not embarrassed in front of me at all. It delighted me. I commented on her action and told her that she had inspired me to do the same.
This simple action of smelling a rose provided me with a lovely vision, a pleasant interaction with a stranger, and the pleasure of stopping in my tracks to enjoy a sensual experience. I walked away from that short interlude feeling that it was a good world after all, full of nice moments.
In a world where hate seems to be fueling human interactions more than ever, it is a blessing to have any human connection that enhances the soul. They are there if you are open.
Maybe you can't have this sort of encounter on demand, but here are other some easy ways you can create your own mini-vacation.
What is the easiest thing you can do to relax anytime, can you guess? Yes, it's conscious breathing.
Even though I have been told this for years and I've also been a Vipassana meditator, the penny didn't drop until I learned soft belly breathing. I love this because I do it anytime I want to feel better. It always works.
All you need to do is put your hand on your belly, take in air through your nose and down into your belly so your hand moves up. Do this to the count of 4 seconds, hold 1 second, and then breathe out SLOWLY through your mouth for 7 seconds. Do this 4X and then just breathe slowly at a normal pace. I guarantee it will bring you to a more calm place.
Some great news from neuroscience is that the brain does NOT stop growing when we pass our 20's. Actually we have the possibility of rewiring our brains at any time of our lives. I find that idea to be thrilling.
Let's say you have a tendency toward anxiety and you tell yourself that you are that way because you inherited it from your mother. What that does is cause the anxiety cluster in your brain to become the go-to place. So let's think about rewiring that default...it's possible.
Here's an easy way to start doing that:
Pass a ball back and forth and pass the midline of your body. One minute. Stop. Take a deep breath. Check in. What you're doing is Bi-lateral stimulation which stimulates both sides of the brain to stop anxiety.
It does this by activating both hemispheres so you are spreading blood and electrical impulses throughout the brain and this floods that anxious area of association and diffuses it. Repeat until anxiety is diffused.
There are so many more techniques you can use for your mini-vacations but I would be remiss if I didn't suggest meditation. I know, you've heard this many times already but below is a link to a series of short, guided meditations that you can listen to when you have a few minutes - and I mean just a few minutes.
These few suggestions will help refresh your life, just like a vacation, and you can do them anywhere. There are many more I teach my clients but try these for now and start rewiring that brain of yours. It's never too late.
* * *
Jane sees clients at Pacific Naturopathic
on Thursdays
and in Oakland by appointment.
Schedule an appointment with Jane Hernandez, CCHT, by phoning 510-676-1460,
or by email at [email protected]
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For more information about Jane and her work
click here.
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Medical Humor:
A Break From
"Matters of Consequence"
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Lauren's Recipes
Lauren Hoover-West
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Vegan Vanilla Bean "Ice Cream"
Cold, smooth and creamy with the exotic flavor of vanilla bean!
Who doesn't love a Hot Fudge Sundae? Pour Chocolate Ganache over a scoop of Ice Cream and enjoy! Want a Banana Split? Add a fresh banana, Raspberry Sauce and Chocolate Ganache! Yummy! It's worth buying an ice cream maker, but you don't have to!
Yields: 1 quart
Special Equipment: Food Processor or blender, ice cream maker is optional
Ingredients:
2 14 oz. cans regular coconut milk(no gums added), chilled or 28oz. homemade cashew milk
½ cup coconut palm nectar or local raw honey*or 1 tsp. liquid stevia
1 Tablespoon real gluten-free vanilla extract or seeds of 2 vanilla beans, scraped
Directions:
Method 1
1. Cut vanilla beans in half lengthwise, scrape the inside of the beans with the back of a knife to remove the seeds.
2. Blend all ingredients in a blender on low speed or whisk in a bowl just until combined.
3. Pour into popsicle maker and freeze or use an ice cream maker an follow manufacture's directions.
Method 2
- Pour into a glass 8x8 container and cover with a lid.
- Freeze until solid, approximately 6 hours.
- Cut into 9 squares(3x3) with an ice pick or sharp 6 inch knife. Be careful please.
- put 1/2 the squares into a food processor and pulse until smooth.
- Add the remaining 1/2 and blend until smooth and the texture of soft serve ice cream.
- Either eat immediately or freeze in a plastic or glass container.
-- You can add in any toppings you like by folding them in at the end after it is soft serve consistency.
-- Add in options: gluten-free brownie bites, biscotti pieces, vegan cookie dough, nut butter, marshmallows, nuts, chocolate fudge ganache(see Table of Contents for recipe) swirl this in or pour over top if enjoying soft serve ice cream.
-- For lavender use lavender honey, it's amazing!
-- For Maple Ice Cream, use real dark maple syrup and add in 1/2 cup chopped pecans at the end of churning if you like.
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Lauren has appeared and cooked on ABC Live in Chicago and Sacramento. She has cooked for 4 United States Presidents and a United States Senator.
Lauren Hoover-West was classically trained at The California Culinary Academy, now the Cordon Bleu. She is a Chef/Educator/Consultant specializing in food allergies and health issues since 2002, including Gluten sensitivity, Celiac's Disease, Diabetes, Autism, Autoimmune diseases and inflammatory conditions.
Lauren has created a revolutionary way to cook delicious food that is gluten-free, dairy-free, low glycemic index, or sugar-free, and very healthy while tasting just as good as traditional food so, everyone can enjoy it.
 Lauren does not believe in using weird ingredients, so you will learn to use readily available food, and she will introduce you to items you may not have noticed before. She will help you replace all your pantry items with gluten-free, dairy-free, low glycemic alternatives!
She is the author of "No Wheat No Dairy No Problem"
cookbook and blog site. She has over 20 years of cooking and teaching experience at La Folie(Michelin star), Fairmont, Hyatt Resorts, Bally's, Marriott, New Leaf Market, Sur la Table etc... Lauren is the owner of Lauren's Kitchen, a customized meal service. She also earned a Bachelors of Science in Psychology at St. Mary's College. To contact Lauren or for more information go to her blog site.
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SUMMER FASTING
Brad West, N.D.
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As the days and nights of the summer season warm up our appetites change and often decrease. This becomes an ideal time to decrease our food intake or consider a fast.
The longer days and better weather for exercise, combined with local, tasty,
freshly
picked, simple foods like fruits and veggies, make this healthy and spiritual practice quite doable. I often lead a small group at this time of year through the process with great results. We start with the mindset of curiosity and enthusiasm for this one to two week journey, looking forward to simplify our diets and lifestyle while losing weight, eliminating cravings and resting the body-mind-soul. Ahhh. To feel lighter, rested and balanced again.
We typically start with a simple, plant-based vegan diet for 2 to 3 days to prep to undertake a 3 to 14 day juice fast and then slowly reintroduce healthy foods when ready. With the slow reintroduction of foods we now find this allows us to eat simple and much less with perfect satisfaction. Often, less supplementation and medications are now needed, as the body mind spirit regain balance and we feel more empowered.
Dr. Brad will be offering a group session from July 21st through the 28th in Los Gatos. Other groups , books and opportunities abound throughout the year. Please ask for more details if interested in this ancient practice.
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Breast Thermography at
Pacific Naturopathic
- the safety of breast thermography -
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Undergoing breast thermography, you can rest in the knowledge that the procedure itself is not harmful to your health.
Your breasts are not compressed or irradiated. In fact, they are not touched in any way. Breast thermography uses a specialized camera to detect differences in temperature and vascularization, one breast to the other.
Sequential thermography can detect increases in temperature, reflective of upregulated metabolism or increased inflammation, as well as variation in vasculature. Effective therapies will normalize the temperature differentials and stabilize the vasculature, enhancing breast health and reducing risk.
****
Read more about
breast
thermography
at
Pacific Naturopathic
here.
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Pacific Naturopathic Hawaii:
Tune into Nature in Paradise
Check Future Openings
(then click on "Calendar")
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Dr. Connie rests in a hammock at our
vacation rental retreat in Hawaii |
Finding yourself in need of a quiet space in which you might restore your outer self through communion with nature, and re-experience the peace and calmness of your deep inner Self?
Simply being at Pacific Naturopathic Retreat Center is a recipe for rest and restoration. It's not so much the roses that are aromatic and therapeutic, but the champaka, the gardenias, the plumeria, the wild ginger. Coconut water fresh from the coconut is our beverage of choice, complemented by the exotic tropical fruits you forage from the retreat orchard. Salads incorporate avocados, mangoes, macadamia nuts and other in-season goodies. The many nearby Farmers' Markets yield all manner of Asian vegetables to pique your creative cooking.
Happily, weather permits outdoor eating year around. Think about heading for Hawaii, especially when the local weather leaves something to be desired!
Are you feeling wired, tired, stressed? Check our RETREAT CALENDAR and see if there is an opening for you.
* * *
Isn't it time you treated yourself to a magical experience?
Come, enjoy, rejuvenate and reinvent yourself.
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The Hernandez Center for Adjunctive Cancer Care
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News and Commentary on Cancer Topics
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What We Offer
at the
Hernandez Center
for Adjunctive Cancer Care
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Our cancer patients often ask us to give them an estimate of the effectiveness of therapy at the Hernandez Center for Adjunctive Cancer Care. We respond that
our entire focus is on helping our patients stay healthy, upbeat and positive.
The truth is that the botanical and nutritional therapies we offer
(including
intravenous vitamin C), although 'adjunctive' in nature, have powerful documented actions in decreasing inflammation, reducing tumor load and attacking cancer stem cells.
Our mind/body approaches are focused on transformation of experience. And our bodywork approaches helpreduce muscular pain, resolve lymph drainage problems and relieve stress.
The hope we offer is not that of a miraculous cure,
although we are definitely open to miracles,
but the hope of a life lived to the fullest in dignity
and understanding, for however long that may be.
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Healthy Grilling Tips
to Minimize Carcinogens in Your Food
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Grilling over an open flame can be a serious health hazard due to the chemical reactions that take place when animal foods such as beef, poultry, pork, and fish are cooked at high temperatures.
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There are many
studies that have isolated three specific carcinogenic compounds caused by grilling, high heat cooking, and overcooking animal foods: polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), heterocyclic amines (HCAs), and advanced glycation end products (AGEs).
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PAHs are a group of over 100 chemicals that form when the fat from meat drips onto the flame or hot coals and creates smoke.
PAHs have been linked to increased risk of bladder and lung cancer.
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HCAs are carcinogens that are produced directly within
the food when it's cooked at extremely high temperatures,
no matter what cooking method is used. HCAs have been linked to increased risk of colorectal, prostate,
and pancreatic cancers.
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When cooked at high heat, a chemical reaction takes place between protein or fat and sugar which creates toxins called advanced glycation end products (AGEs).
AGEs contribute to increased oxidative stress and inflammation, which are linked to diabetes, Alzheimer's, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.
You can take the following steps to eliminate or reduce most of these carcinogens when grilling or eating any grilled food.
Before You Grill:
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- Marinate meat using natural, antioxidant ingredients
- Add fruit to ground meat, poultry, or pork
- Clean the entire grill before using
- Trim fat off meat before cooking
- Partially cook food before placing on the grill (but don't microwave it!)
- Use non-toxic coals
While You Grill:
- Keep the grill temperature under 300 degrees Fahrenheit or 150 degrees Celsius
- Cook meat rare or medium-rare, instead of well-done
- Flip frequently
- Grill smaller pieces, don't press down on the meat, and never let meat burn
What You Grill:
- Choose fish or seafood over pork which creates the most HCAs
- Avoid processed meats
- Choose veggie burgers that do not contain soy or other vegetable oils
- Grilling fruit and vegetables is a good choice
- If you consume animal foods, make sure it is from organic, grass-fed, free roaming pasture-raised cattle, bison, pigs, and chickens. Most animal foods sold in regular grocery stores come from factory farms that use confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs) and produce sick animals that often fed antibiotics and hormones.
Source:
https://thetruthaboutcancer.com/healthy-grilling-tips-carcinogens/
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Vitamin D: Nature's Medicine Chest
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Summertime is when memories are made. Time away from work. Time with the kids and the grandkids.
And... time in the sun?
Sure, you can get out and soak up some Vitamin D, but for decades, doctors and the "cancer industry" have warned us to stay out of the sun.
Or at least go slather ourselves in SPF 50, so that no UV rays even make it through to our skin, and thereby reduce our risk of skin cancer.
But is this really good advice?
For instance, did you know that most folks are actually deficient in Vitamin D, which has then been linked to cancer, diabetes, osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and many other health issues?
In this article, you'll discover that not only is the sun good for you, but the health benefits associated with natural Vitamin D production from sunlight can help fight (and in some cases even prevent) disease.
Go
HERE to learn more about Vitamin D: "nature's medicine chest".
Interested in finding out more about the adjunctive cancer treatment at the
Please phone us for an appointment at:
650-917-1121
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Other I.V. Therapies Offered at Pacific Naturopathic and the Hernandez Center
--I.V. therapy is not just for cancer patients--
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Many people have already heard about intravenous vitamin C as a complementary cancer therapy to help stimulate the immune system as well as being directly cytotoxic to cancer cells. This is the most common therapy we use at the Hernandez Center for our cancer patients.
But intravenous therapy is not just for cancer patients. More than half of our IV patients come for various "cocktails" to help them ward off infections and optimize their health. We offer a number of individualized versions of the famous "Myers Cocktail." Read about the Myers Cocktail HERE
Other cocktails we offer promote brain health, assist the liver in its detoxification efforts, relieve the symptoms of chronic fatigue, help reduce stress, bring rapid relief from sinusitis, colds and flus, address immune system disorders, slow the progression of macular degeneration, reduce chronic pain and fibromyalgia and many other conditions.
Check out our new web site at www.IntravenousTherapies.com
For more information or to set up an appointment, please contact us at the Hernandez Center at (650) 917-1121. A lot more information can be found at www.IntravenousTherapies.com
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Inspiration
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"A man must find time for himself. Time is what we spend our lives with. If we are not careful we find others spending it for us. . . . It is necessary now and then for a man to go away by himself and experience loneliness; to sit on a rock in the forest and to ask of himself, 'Who am I, and where have I been, and where am I going?' . . . If one is not careful, one allows diversions to take up one's time, the stuff of life."
Carl Sandburg
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Pacific Naturopathic
and
The Hernandez Center
for Adjunctive Cancer Care
2570 W. El Camino Real, Suite 111
Mountain View, CA 94040
650-917-1121 (v) * 650-917-1127 (f)
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