Spring Doesn't Have To Mean Allergy Season

Spring is in full swing. The flowers are blooming, creating carpets of bright colors and releasing their wonderful scents.

Spring flowers also release a lot of pollen.

For those of us who are sensitive to pollen because of seasonal allergies, I have some Chinese herbal formulas that are good to use as substitutes for over-the-counter (OTC) drugs.

Traditional Bi Yan Pian treats acute symptoms of nasal disorders (runny nose, sneezing, itchy eyes/ears/throat) WITHOUT the undesirable side effects common to OTC drugs. Bi Yan Pian reduces inflammation of the mucus membrane to treat (and prevent further outbreaks of) sinusitis, rhinitis, hay fever, allergies and sinus infections without causing drowsiness, dry nose, or dry mouth.

Head Clear is a combination of 6 traditional formulas that treats lingering symptoms of skin rashes, inflammation of the glands/eyes/throat, and muscle soreness. It also alleviates headaches, neck soreness and joint soreness caused by allergies.

EnviroShield is a combination formula that supplements Qi and Blood. It is a good formula for patients with year-round allergy symptoms. It treats cold-allergy syndrome (chronic or recurring rhinitis, sinusitis, coughs, wheezing) caused by viral infections, allergies, environmental sensitivities or all three, simultaneously and in alternation. EnviroShield also treats IBS-food allergy/sensitivity syndrome (indigestion, reflux, bloating, and diarrhea).

These formulas can be taken together or separately and can provide fast relief if taken at the onset of symptoms. If you would like to know if any of these formulas are right for you, please call for a consultation.

Miso Healthy (Soup Is Good Food)

According to the ancient Chinese medical text, the Huangdi Neujung (or Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon), we should live in harmony with the natural cycles of our environment. The cold and darkness of winter urges us to slow down, reflect on our health, and conserve strength. My last blog post gave you some moves to maintain flexibility and this post advises what foods will best support you in winter.

Winter is Yin in nature; inactive, cold, and damp compared to other times of the year. Remain introspective, restful, and consolidate your Qi through the season to prepare for spring’s burst of new life and energy.

Winter is ruled by the Water element, which is associated with the kidneys, bladder and adrenal glands. The kidneys are the source of all energy (Qi) within the body. They store all of the body’s reserve Qi so it can be used to heal, prevent illness, in times of stress and change, and to age gracefully.

During winter months it is important to nurture and nourish our kidney Qi. Winter is when energy is most easily depleted. Our bodies instinctively express the fundamental principles of winter – rest, reflection, conservation and storage. The Nei Ching, another ancient Chinese classic, advises us to go to sleep early and rise late, after the sun's rays have warmed the atmosphere a bit. This preserves Yang Qi for the task of warming in the face of cold.

To keep nourished and help warm the body’s core, eat the following:

• warm hearty soups,
• whole grains,
• and roasted nuts.

Fortify the kidneys with:

• dried foods,
• small dark beans,
• seaweeds,
• and steamed winter greens.

Cook foods longer, at lower temperatures and with less water.

Small, regular amounts of salty and bitter foods are needed in the winter to promote a sinking, centering quality which heightens the capacity for storage. Such foods also cool the exterior of the body and bring body heat deeper and lower (with a cooler surface, one notices the cold less). However, use salt with care. An excess salt will cause over consumption of water which creates too much coldness weakening the kidneys and adrenal function and the heart.

• Salty foods include miso, soy sauce, seaweeds, salt, millet and barley.
• Bitter foods include lettuce, watercress, celery, asparagus, alfalfa, rye, oats, quinoa and amaranth.

To summarize: Sleep early, rest well, stay warm, eat small and regular amounts of bitter and salty food and cook the food longer at low temperature.

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Here is a recipe of for Miso Soup with Scallions, which not only supports the kidney during winter; it is also an ancient Chinese herbal remedy for colds.

In 300 AD famous herbalist, Ge Hong, writes about Miso Soup with Scallions in a book called, Bei ji zhou hou fang or Emergency Formulas to Keep Up One’s Sleeve. The soup is indicated for the onset of a cold when a person is just beginning to feel a headache, stuffy nose and a slight fever.

So, the next time you feel a cold coming on, be sure to have your miso!

Miso Soup
Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 6 cups water
• 3-4 Tablespoons red soy bean paste
  (a.k.a. miso, usually sold in the refrigerated section)
• 3-5 green onions stalks, chopped

Directions:

• Dissolve the miso in a little bit of boiling water
  (about 2 tsp.)
• Bring water to a boil in a saucepan and add the miso & scallions.
• Simmer for 5-10 minutes.
• Remove from heat top with green onions and serve.

Variations:
You can add various other ingredients to make a more substantial soup, such as tofu, fresh mushrooms, cooked shrimp, snow pea sprouts, cooked rice noodles, or paper-thin slices of fresh ginger.

Combat Colds and Flu with Chinese Herbs

WHAT ARE COLD AND FLU?
The common cold is an acute viral infection that generally causes inflammation of the upper respiratory tract. It is the most common infectious disease in humans and accounts for more time lost from work or school than any other disease. Flu is an acute and contagious infection of the respiratory tract caused by various strains of the influenza virus. Cold and Flu symptoms include runny nose, cough, chills, headache, fever, and severe aching in the muscles and joints. Although flu affects all age groups, schoolchildren have the highest incidence. Although colds and flu are generally of brief duration, they can lead to complications in the very young, the elderly, and those with chronic diseases or compromised immune systems.

ARE YOU TREATING SYMPTOMS OR THE CAUSE?
Because both cold and flu are viral infections, conventional medicine has no cure for them. Antibiotics do NOT cure colds or flu. Aspirin, decongestants and other medications are prescribed to make patients more comfortable and vaccinations are manufactured to prevent some strains of flu.

“In years when the vaccine strains are not well matched to circulating strains, vaccine effectiveness is generally lower.” If your immune system is already compromised, vaccine effectiveness is generally lower. If you have an influenza-like-illness, vaccine effectiveness is generally lower.[1]

Whether you use any of the above remedies or not, bed rest and increased fluid intake are necessary for your body to recover.

Use of herbal formulas to prevent and treat colds and flu is the most successful aspect of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Chinese herbs boost immune response to eliminate viruses faster. Some herbs inhibit viral reproduction and/or relieve symptoms, making a serious infection less debilitating and less disruptive to your lifestyle.

At my clinic, Point-A Place Of Wellness, I see demand for cold and flu formulas, especially among school teachers and parents of young children because of constant exposure to viruses and risk of infection. My patients are pleased by the effectiveness of Chinese herbal formulas and referring their friends.

NOT ONE-SIZE FITS ALL
In TCM, patterns are differentiated according to the imbalances of the body and the causes and stages of the disease. The same virus can manifest differently depending on the patient’s general health. Herbal formulas are recommended by practitioners based on not only the illness type but patient type. This article lists some basic formulas to keep on hand for a well-stocked medicine cabinet but if your symptoms change or increase in severity, contact your local Chinese medicine practitioner.

Wind-Cold Pattern symptoms include: aversion to cold; mild fever; absence of sweat; chest congestion; sneezing; runny nose (clear mucus); itching throat or cough (clear mucus); thin, white tongue coating; and a tight pulse.

• Dispel Invasion is for cold or flu manifested as Wind-Cold Pattern. It can also benefit air-conditioning induced cold symptoms.
  
• Blue Green Lung Clearing Formula also known as Xiao Qing Long Tang is for when the mucus is more excessive and there is tightness in the chest. It can relieve asthma, pneumonia and allergy symptoms.

Wind-Heat Pattern symptoms include: fever; headache; sweating; runny nose (yellow mucus); dry mouth; thirst; sore throat; productive cough (thick yellowish phlegm); thin, yellow tongue coating; and a floating and rapid pulse. Swine flu is a Wind-Heat condition.

• Initial Defense is the most popular herbal formula to treat the Wind-Heat pattern. It combines two traditional formulas: Yin Qiao San and Sang Ju Yin.
  
• Gan Mao Ling and Zhong Gan Ling are similar in function to Initial Defense but are indicated for more severe conditions such as sudden high fever, swollen lymph nodes, and aching limbs.
  

According to Beijing health authorities, TCM has been more effective (and less expensive) than the antiviral drug Tamiflu in curing human infections of swine flu.

“Wang Yuguang , Deputy Dean of the Centre of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine at Beijing's Ditan Hospital, which specializes in the treatment of infectious diseases, said swine flu patients treated with traditional Chinese medicine improved faster and tended to stay in hospital for a shorter time than patients using Tamiflu… Traditional medicine considers such factors as the level of virus infection, the condition of the body, age, season and climate. Treatment can be adjusted in the dose and types of herbs. Such personalised treatment seldom caused drug resistance, as Tamiflu could, Dr Wang said.”[2]

PREVENTION IS THE KEY
While there are many ways to reduce risk of infection[3] like washing your hands and getting plenty of rest and taking nutritional supplements like Vitamin D[4], here are three additional formulas that can be used as preventatives or treatment if you are concerned about high susceptibility to influenza because of past experience or other risk factors.

Immunity refers to the harmonic interaction of the body's processes, substances, and structural components to create strength, stamina, and adaptability. To bolster immunity is ultimately to strengthen your body as a whole.

• If you are prone to “head colds” or congestion, Head Clear formula supports immune function to efficiently eliminate congestion from the head, sinus, eyes and ears. Chronic congestion can escalate infection of the respiratory system.
  
• If you have a compromised immune system because of chemo, radiation, or an autoimmune disorder (Lupus, MS, HIV), Resilience has different Fungi which contain polysaccharides that exert an activating, corrective influence upon both cellular (macrophages and T-cells) and humoral (antibodies) aspects of the immune system.
  
• Another formula for compromised immune systems, Jade Windscreen, functions much the way Resilience does except it is formulated with herbs instead of mushrooms.

Acupuncture and Chinese herbs restore and maintain optimal health. If you have any imbalance in the body, the various systems will not function properly. Chinese herbs are used to correct the imbalance and restore energy, promote digestion, heal injuries, and enhance general wellness. Consult your local Chinese medicine practitioner to determine the best formulas for your lifestyle.

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Resources:

1. http://www.cdc.gov/FLU/PROFESSIONALS/VACCINATION/effectivenessqa.htm. “Flu Vaccine Effectiveness: Questions and Answers for Health Professionals” Centers for Disease Control
2. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-05/03/content_11302597.htm “Beijing Ditan Hospital on service to treat influenza A/H1NI” China View (Xinhua News Agency)
3. http://aplaceofwellness.blogspot.com/2009/04/flu-prevention-treatment-swine-or.html
4. http://www.achs.edu/news/news-detail.aspx?nid=189 “American College of Healthcare Sciences “News and Events” Scott Stuart, ACHS Faculty

Flu Prevention & Treatment (Swine or Otherwise)

With the rapid spread of swine flu in news, this is a good time to remember simple and effective ways to prevent infection:

Wash hands routinely with soap and warm water.

Wipe down phones, keyboards, and shared office equipment with anti-viral/anti-bacterial cleaner.

Boost your immune system with proper rest, nutrition and Chinese herbs.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.

Swine flu symptoms are those of the influenza virus. Most people who become infected will not have any long term complications. Those who are immune compromised, elderly or pregnant may be at higher risk of complications or serious respiratory illness.

The most common swine flu symptoms include: Cough, Congestion, Body Aches, Headaches, Joint Pains, Fevers (high or low), Sore Throat, and Fatigue. Viral transmission can occur with casual contact or airborne transmission, like when one sneezes or coughs. Eating pork products will not cause one to develop the swine flu.

Cold and Flu and Traditional Chinese Medicine

Herbal formulas can treat influenza. Some treat flu and colds manifested as body aches, chills, dull headache, neck stiffness, and low fever. Some herbs treat infections that manifest as sore throat, high fever (above 101), coughing, and itching red eyes. Formulas are prescribed based on reported symptoms and tongue and pulse diagnosis. They improve the overall adaptability of the body's regulatory mechanisms and reduce the severity and duration of the infection.

Pharmacological evaluation has shown some root and fungi based formulas contain polysaccharides that exert an activating, corrective influence upon both the cellular (macrophages and T-cells) and humoral (antibodies) aspects of the immune system.

Immunity refers to the harmonic interaction of the body's processes, substances, and structural components to create strength, stamina, and adaptability. To bolster immunity is ultimately to strengthen your body as a whole.

Acupuncture and Chinese herbs restore and maintain optimal health and prevent contraction of infections.

Create Wellness Workshop 7p Tonight!

Create Wellness: Qi Gong and Meditation Open Sit
Wednesday, December 3 @ 7:00 pm
5301 Laurel Canyon, Suite 247, Valley Village, CA 91607

Just a reminder that tonight is Point-A Place of Wellness's monthly meditation and we will incorporate Qi Gong practice in tonight's session.

Wellness is an active commitment to live a balanced and fulfilled life.
The "Creating Wellness" system is designed to help you achieve and maintain balance between goals and needs at work, school, or home.

To help you get the most out of the workshop, wear loose, comfortable clothing.

This event is free by reservation only. DONATIONS are greatly appreciated. Please share the gift of wellness with others; INVITE A FRIEND.

Case Study: Curing Ear Infections

A mother brought her toddler (16-month boy) to my office after a visit to the pediatrician and pharmacist. The pediatrician diagnosed the boy with a virus infection and fluid in his ears and prescribed an antibiotic. The mother didn’t want to give it to her son and asked if there is “anything he can do instead.” She specifically inquired if he was too young to take Chinese herbs.

Would his body respond well? Would it reduce his fever? Could he handle the taste?

The boy had red-rimmed, glassy eyes and a 5-mm canker sore centered on his inner bottom lip. He had a fever of 103(F) the night before, a runny nose with slight yellow discharge and swollen glands behind his ears. He also didn’t defecate for the previous two days.

I prescribed an herbal formula designed to treat common colds and ear infections in children by expelling Pathogenic Factors. I showed the mother how to administer the formula in a tincture that evaporates the alcohol in the formula (mix with a dropper or two of hot water).

When she gave him one dropper of the tincture, he couldn’t get enough. He grabbed her hand asking for more and tried to reach the bottle when she put it in her bag. Evidently, the taste of the formula was not a problem.

In a few minutes his eyes become clear, he started playing and he pooped. By the time she left the office (they were here 15 minutes) her boy looked much more alert and happy and healthy. His body responded well to the formula. Two hours later, she called me to let me know his canker sore had completely cleared and he was “happy and playing.”

This formula has an immediate affect on the body. Administrating it every 2-3 hours will allow the child to get over his cold without the need to take antibiotics. Because it works by enhancing the body’s natural immune response, this can also be used to prevent colds and infections.

Case Study: Swollen Glands

OBSERVATION:

A mother brought her son (3 yrs. 8 mos.) to my office because his glands were swollen. Six weeks prior to the visit, he had a cold that developed into an ear infection and she gave him oral antibiotics. The ear ache went away but his glands stayed swollen.

She said he tires easily and has temper tantrums when he’s tired. In my office he was responsive, curious, and very articulate, with good fine and gross motor skills.

DIAGNOSIS:

The glands are still swollen because not all virus or bacteria left the body, a condition known as Lingering Pathogenic Factor. It was caused in this case by the use of antibiotics thereby (in terms of Chinese medicine) weakening Qi and/or creating phlegm. Phlegm isn’t just the accumulated solidified mucus or sputum found in the respiratory system (lungs & sinus) as described in Western medicine. In TCM, “the concept of Phlegm is very wide-ranging and important…[and] extremely frequent in clinical practice. [It] is at the same time a pathological condition and an aetiological factor.”[1]

One way to understand how Phlegm manifests in the body is to think of the different states of water (gas, liquid, solid). Some common manifestations of phlegm are in the head (foggy feeling, clouded thinking), in the digestive tract (“damp”, bloating) and the lungs (expectorant). In this case, the manifestation of the Phlegm is his swollen glands.

Part of the problem with using antibiotics to treat infections is that bacteria become drug resistant very quickly, and infections tend to easily reoccur.[2] Besides creating drug resistant bacteria, some antibiotics directly injure the immune system by blocking protein synthesis within mitochondria reducing production of White Blood Cells (WBC).[3] When antibiotics inhibit WBC production, the body is slow to return to normalcy (i.e. the glands remain swollen, he’s still tired) and there are lingering symptoms.

TREATMENT:

I used massage to stimulate points along his arms, hands, neck and upper back and chest in order to enhance the Lung function of expelling pathogenic factors and reduce phlegm. The points I focused on were LI4, GB20 to Clear pathogenic wind, Lu5 to clear phlegm from the Lungs, Lu9 to Tonifies the lungs and St36/Ren12 to Tonifies the spleen. His tiredness was the result of Spleen Qi Deficiency caused by the antibiotics.

I taught him how to stimulate his chest points by tapping with his fists like Tarzan. I taught his mother how to massage the other points. I also prescribed Chinese herbs to take at home. Empowering the patient and caregiver increases healing. Illness is no longer something that happens to them but is a process they can manage.

OUTCOME:

I talked with the mother the week after his visit. She said he took the formula (as drops in his drinks) for 3 days and the swelling in his glands went down. His normal color returned and he is easier to handle (because he is not as tired as before). This was I expected.

GOING FORWARD:

To prevent this from becoming a chronic condition, I highly recommend using Chinese herbs instead of antibiotics. Antibiotics are designed to kill bacteria. Chinese herbs are available in antibacterial AND antiviral formulas. Chinese herbs are prescribed to enhance normal function of the body and improve your health.

Though antibiotics can occasionally improve some symptoms, especially those caused by inflammation, they possess no direct action to do anything other than kill the bacteria. If the cause is viral, you’re taking a drug you don’t need.

q Antibiotics can’t relieve distress or pain.

q Antibiotics can’t promote drainage.

q Antibiotics can’t repair damage.

q Antibiotics can’t prevent recurrence or any of the other issues commonly encountered in a case of Acute Otitis Media (AOM) – ear infection.

Children who take antibiotics have repeat infections, often causing a prolonged merry-go-round cycle. All common epithelial infections of the nose, throat, ear, lungs, skin, urethra and bladder can successfully be treated with Chinese formulas. In terms of ear infection, antibiotics are not only unnecessary; they are harmful. [4]

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[1] Maciocia, Giovanni. The Foundations of Chinese Medicine. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingston, 1989 (ISBN 0-443-03980-1)

[2] “The authors believe the frequent use of antibiotics for common ear infections raises risks that children will harbor drug resistant bacteria during subsequent illness. They point out that children whose previous ear infections were treated with antibiotics have a rate of Apicillin (amoxocillan)-resistant bacteria that is three times higher during subsequent otitis media.” JAMA November 26, 1997; 278(20):1643-1645

[3] “A number of antibiotics (e.g., streptomycin) that act by blocking protein synthesis in bacteria also block protein synthesis within mitochondria and chlorplasts.” http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/E/Endosymbiosis.html

[4] “Pediatric Ear Infections” Fratkin, Jake Paul, OMD L.Ac., NEWS FROM GOLDEN FLOWER, Fall 2004

Knock Out Colds & Coughs

OBSERVATION:
An eight year old boy walked into my office with a severe and persistent, harsh cough. His mom said that his coughing lasts for ½ an hour without stopping. He is fearful and anxious when he can’t inhale and is totally exhausted after the attack. His tongue is purple and pale. His pulse is slow and tight. His face is pale as well.
His mom said he has suffered from chronic cough since he was about 18 months old. He catches colds easily; it usually goes to his Lungs and becomes a low, barky, croupy cough. The cough is also aggravated by hay fever or when he is tired or distressed. He is a sensitive kid and frail in his body.
His mother was offered bronchodilators, steroid sprays and antihistamines as treatment options for him but chose to use Chinese herbs.

DIAGNOSIS:
The acute (immediate) condition is the result of external attack of pathogenic wind-cold. This diagnosis corresponds broadly to attack by viral or bacterial agents in western medicine. He also has a chronic condition: Lung and Kidney Qi deficiency.
While it is tempting to assume “pathogenic wind-heat” when diagnosing children (they tend toward heat because they are more active than adults), if we look at his specific symptoms, we see his pulse is slow and tight (indicates restriction by cold) and the type or quality of his cough also indicates cold. Wind-heat would have been indicated by a sore, painful throat and a rapid and floating pulse which the patient did NOT have.

TREATMENT (ACUTE CONDITION):
The patient was fearful because of the severity of his cough creating additional tension in the pectoral muscles. With his mother in the treatment room, I coached him through his cough so he could relax his chest and use his diaphragm to control his breathing instead. I massaged the points (RN17, UB11, UB13, LI4, LU7) instead of stimulating with needles and prescribed Chinese herbs.
In Chinese medicine the Lungs influence the Defensive Qi (immune system).

If Lung Qi is strong, Defensive Qi will be strong and the person will have good resistance to attack by exterior pathogenic factors. If Lung Qi is weak, the …person will be prone to attack by exterior pathogenic factor.” [1]

The focus of the treatment is to “open the chest” – dispersing wind-cold and remove the blockage caused by the wind-cold attack.

OUTCOME (ACUTE CONDITION):
That night, he felt better. He still had some coughing fits, but they were shorter in duration and less severe. A benefit of his mother observing the treatment was it reduced anxiety for both of them: she could coach him through the cough and remind him how to relax his chest and breath with his diaphragm.
When I saw him the following week, he was over the cold. His mom said he almost doesn’t cough and when he does, it doesn’t last. He is still weak but went back to school after a few days.

TREATMENT (CHRONIC CONDITION):
To treat the chronic condition, the aim is to tonifying (strengthen) the Lungs and the Kidneys as opposed to Dispersing wind-cold like we did in the acute stage. I massaged the points RN17, UB11, UB13, LI4 as in the acute stage, LU9 instead of LU7, added ST36, and prescribed Chinese herbs.
The weakness of his Lungs can be hereditary or due to catching a cold that weakened the Lungs. If a cold has been treated with antibiotics, it can “lock” the cold in the chest and interfere with the Lung Dispersing and Descending functions, so that some pathogenic factor remains in the body and, in the long run, cause Lung Qi deficiency.

OUTCOME (CHRONIC CONDITION):
This boy stayed on the tonifying formula and it was recommended he come once a week to stimulate his Lung function. His mom reports that he almost doesn’t cough, only when he is catching a cold. She is very pleased with the formulas we used because herbs she tried in the past were hard for her boy to take because of the taste. He takes this Chinese formula by himself with no problem

GOING FORWARD:
I recommended he continue treatments to work on his chronic cough. When there is an underlying deficiency (such as with the elderly, children, and adults with compromised immune systems), any mild cold can turn a chronic cough into more severe complications like asthma or pneumonia requiring more medical intervention. It is important to treat the underlying lung deficiency.

References:
[1] Maciocia, Giovanni. The Foundations of Chinese Medicine.
Edinburgh: Churchill Livingston, 1989
ISBN 0-443-03980-1

Stress and Disease

In any given moment there are viruses and bacteria around us but, not everyone catches the flu. Being exposed to the same environment doesn’t create the same medical problems. For example, not every person that lives in the Valley is asthmatic. The prognosis of the same disease is different between people. Some people recover from chronic or life threatening disease. The same treatment that proves effective for one patient with a particular disease fails with the second patient. In some cases, a placebo has the same effect as the drugs.

We are not biomechanical machines. We are more than the sum of our body parts. Every person is a combination of body and mind and has his or her own perception of the world. Feelings manifest in our body and can create wellness instead of disease. This can be accomplished in three stages.

What is your gut feeling? Do you have a good vibe about that? Feelings have vibrations. There are good feelings and bad feelings. They help us to understand our body’s rhythms and needs.

Stress is a response to situations that cause feelings of tension, pressure, or negative emotions such as anxiety and anger. This response includes physiological changes in the sympathetic and the parasympathetic nervous systems – such as an increased heart rate, hyperventilation and muscle tension.(1)

Stress is an unpleasant state of emotional and physiological arousal that people experience in situations they perceive as dangerous or threatening to their well-being. The word stress means different things to different people. Experiencing stress over time creates changes in the body that manifest as disease. Some people develop headaches, or high blood pressure, or digestion problems or heart attack.

Do we create our own disease? Yes we do! Our feelings create our state of mind and our physical body. Are you ready to look into it and create your place of wellness?
I would like to introduce to you a three-step wellness system to overcome disease.

Step One: Become Aware.
Step Two: Change it around
Step Three: Maintain Wellness.

Step One: Become Aware.
Identify your pain on the physical level (Where is it in your body? What is the quality of your pain? (Is it sharp? dull? pressure? numbness?). Recognize and name the feeling you attach to this pain. Now that you notice the feeling in your body, in what situations do you feel it? Learn your behavior patterns. Look into your beliefs and fears.

Step Two: Change it around. Once you become aware of the feeling and behavior patterns, don’t react automatically. Create a different perspective. Allow yourself to act with a purpose.

Step Three: Maintain Wellness. Learn how to retain this sense of clam, sustain your sharpened awareness, and keep your spirit up.

I believe that you have the ability to create your health. You are the only one who has the power and authority to determine what is going on in you. Use it.

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1. A more detailed, illustrated explanation of the nervous system can be found at “Neuroscience for Kids” which is s maintained by Eric H. Chudler, Ph.D.