How to Use Essential Oils when Treating Candida

by Dr. Eric Bakker, ND.

Candidiasis, caused by the Candida albicans organism, is an overgrowth of naturally occurring yeast in the body that causes a fungal infection. Some of the conditions caused by candida are oral thrush, athlete's foot and vaginal yeast infections. Candida infections can spread to the skin as well, causing redness, bumps and irritation. If you are leery of using pharmaceutical products, there are many essential oils that can help treat candida problems naturally.

Tea Tree

Tea tree essential oil is a natural antimicrobial and antiseptic that is often highly recommended as naturopathic treatment for candida infections. You can use two drops of tea tree oil mixed with warm water as a mouthwash to treat oral thrush. Additionally, tea tree oil doesn't does destroy "good bacteria" the way that commercial mouthwashes do, so using tree oil as a mouth wash is a strong preventative measure against oral thrush as well.

For vaginitis, commonly referred to as a vaginal yeast infection, add 5 drops each of tea tree, German chamomile and lavender essential oils to 7/8 cup (100 grams) of acidophilus yogurt. Mix the ingredients well and apply to a tampon. Insert the tampon and leave it in place for at least a few hours for the best results. Alternatively, you can add 5 drops of tea tree oil per quart of water to your bath and just fill the tub up to your waist for a sitz bath treatment.

Lavender

Lavender oil is has the same antimicrobial and antiseptic as tea tree, but it is an anti-inflammatory that boosts the immune system as well. Since it is non-toxic, you can use lavender as a mouthwash as well. In cases where oral thrush is causing pain or discomfort, lavender oil may be a good alternative to tea tree oil because it will help soothe the pain. The immune stimulation will also help fight off the candida infection.

If you combine lavender oil with chamomile and bergamot and massage your stomach, it can aid with digestive discomfort caused by candida overgrowth in the intestines. For skin infections, mix 30 drops of lavender with 8 drops of tea tree and 15 drops of myrrh oil in an essential oil bottle. Fill the rest of the bottle with jojoba oil and apply lightly to skin where needed. You should repeat this throughout the day, as needed, after the oils soak into the skin

Oregano

Oil of Oregano is another proven, effective treatment for candida. Oregano contains flavonoids and phenols that help kill infections and microbes. Like tea tree and lavender, oregano oil is also a natural immunity booster that not only helps cure candidiasis, but helps prevent reoccurring infections as well. Oil of oregano is also rich with minerals and vitamins that help support a holistic approach to healing. Although it is effective, oil of oregano can cause skin irritations, particularly in sensitive areas, when applied directly and should not be used as mouthwash.

For topical use, dilute the oregano oil with olive oil before applying it to your skin. Mix two to three drops of oregano oil with one tablespoon of olive oil. If you feel any type of burning feeling on your skin, rinse the mixture off. You can try diluting it with more olive oil, but that may decrease its effectiveness. If it continues to irritate your skin, discontinue using it. As an alternative, you can buy oregano capsules and take up to two twice a day orally instead of applying the essential oil to your skin.

Other Oils

Besides the three listed here, there are many other essential oils that have similar properties. Other good natural remedies for fighting candida are lemon, roman chamomile, bergamot, clove and rose oils. If you are uncertain which will work best for your situation, you should consult with a naturopathic doctor or an aromatherapy specialist. It is also a good idea to consult with your medical doctor before using any essential oils just to be sure that they don't contain any ingredients that conflict with your prescription medications.

A Word of Caution

Anytime you buy essential oils, verify that they are truly natural products. Some companies make chemical-filled knock-offs that not only defeat the purpose of using natural treatment, but also could potentially make the situation worse. Your best bet is to buy your essential oils from a trust-worthy source with a reliable reputation. Avoid ordering online unless you are familiar with the company and read product labels carefully to make sure you are getting real natural products.

Essential oils are far healthier than using chemical products and rarely present any side effects. However, like any type of treatment, it is important to follow the correct procedures and seek advice if you are uncertain about usage. Essential oils and aromatherapy have been used for centuries to help people, long before pharmaceutical companies existed. If you want to heal your body naturally, aromatherapy treatment with essential oils will work wonders.

About the Author: Dr. Eric Bakker, ND has been studying and treating Candida for the past 20 years. Please visit him at yeastinfection.org for more information about the organism and how it can impact your everyday life.

Flower Power: Flower Remedies

by Andrew Pacholyk, MS, L.Ac.

This week I will be discussing the work and energy behind "Flower Power". Not only is it a phrase from the 60's associated with peace and the hippie movement, I find the phrase, itself empowering! So this week I am going to explore the nature of "Flower Power"!

The essence of flowers is a subtle, aromatic and volatile liquid extracted from the flowers, seeds, leaves, stems, bark and roots of herbs, bushes, shrubs and trees through distillation. It is a form of vibrational healing, which works on many levels. Flower remedies are homeopathic essences, which benefit a specific mental and emotional state. Below is a small sampling of the power of flowers, with there color, qualities and patterns of imbalance they treat:

Agrimony: (Agrimonia eupatoria) (yellow)
Positive qualities: Emotional honesty, acknowledging and working with emotional pain, obtaining true inner peace.
Patterns of Imbalance: Anxiety hidden by a mask of cheerfulness; denial and avoidance of emotional pain, addictive behavior to anesthetize feelings.

Beech: (Fagus sylvatica) (red)
Positive qualities: Tolerance, acceptance of others' differences and imperfections, seeing the good within each person and situation.
Patterns of Imbalance: Criticalness, judgmental attitudes, intolerance; perfectionist expectations of others; over sensitivity to one's social and physical environment.

Cherry Plum: (Prunus cerasifera) (white)
Positive qualities: Spiritual surrender and trust, feeling guided and protected by a Higher Power; balance and equanimity despite extreme stress.
Patterns of Imbalance: Fear of losing control, or of mental and emotional breakdown; desperate, destructive impulses.

Clematis: (Clematis vitalba) (white)
Positive qualities: Awake, focused presence; manifesting inspiration in practical life; embodiment.
Patterns of Imbalance: Avoidance of the present by daydreaming; other-worldly and impractical ideals.

Elm: (Ulmus procera) (reddish brown)
Positive qualities: Joyous service, faith and confidence to complete one's task
Patterns of Imbalance: Overwhelmed by duties and responsibilities, feeling unequal to the task required.

Gentian: (Gentiana amarella) (purple)
Positive qualities: Perseverance, confidence; faith to continue despite apparent setbacks
Patterns of Imbalance: Discouragement after a setback; doubt.

Honeysuckle: (Lonicera caprifolium) (red/white)
Positive qualities: Being fully in the present; learning from the past while releasing it.
Patterns of Imbalance: Nostalgia; emotional attachment to the past, longing for what was.

Impatiens: (Impatiens glandulifera) (pink/mauve)
Positive qualities: Patience, acceptance; flowing with the pace of life and others.
Patterns of Imbalance: Impatience, irritation, tension, intolerance.

Larch: (Larix decidua) (red), (yellow)
Positive qualities: Self-confidence, creative expression, spontaneity
Patterns of Imbalance: Lack of confidence, expectation of failure, self-censorship.

Mustard: (Sinapis arvensis) (yellow)
Positive qualities: Emotional equanimity, finding joy in life
Patterns of Imbalance: Melancholy, gloom, despair; generalized depression without obvious cause.

Oak: (Quercus robur) (red)
Positive qualities: Balanced strength, accepting limits, knowing when to surrender.
Patterns of Imbalance: Iron-willed, inflexible; over striving beyond one's limits.

Pine: (Pinus sylvestris) (red- male), (yellow-female)
Positive qualities: Self-acceptance, self-forgiveness; freedom from inappropriate guilt and blame.
Patterns of Imbalance: Guilt, self- blame, self-criticism, inability to accept oneself.

Rock Rose: (Helianthemum nummularium) (yellow)
Positive qualities: Self-transcending courage, inner peace and tranquillity when facing great challenges.
Patterns of Imbalance: Deep fear, terror, panic; fear of death or annihilation.

Star of Bethlehem: (Ornithogalum umbellatum) (white)
Positive qualities: Bringing soothing, healing qualities, a sense of inner divinity.
Patterns of Imbalance: Shock or trauma, either recent or from a past experience; need for comfort and reassurance from the spiritual world.

Vervain: (Verbena officinalis) (pink/mauve)
Positive qualities: Ability to practice moderation, tolerance, and balance; "the middle way"; grounded idealism.
Patterns of Imbalance: Overbearing or intolerant behavior; over enthusiasm or extreme fanaticism; nervous exhaustion from over striving.

Wild Rose: (Rosa canina) (pink or white) also known as Dog Rose.
Positive qualities: Will to live, joy in life.
Patterns of Imbalance: Resignation, lack of hope, giving up on life; lingering illness.

Flower Power: The Healing Power of Flowers

by Andrew Pacholyk, MS, L.Ac.

Dandelion: Dandelion Root can be made into a bitter tea (don't sweeten it, the bitterness is how it works ? you'll get use to it) as an excellent tonic for the liver and blood purifier. Dandelion roots are very high in vitamins and minerals. The common dandelion is an unusually nutritious food. Its leaves contain substantial levels of vitamins A, C, D, and B complex as well as iron, magnesium, zinc, potassium, manganese, copper, choline, calcium, boron, and silicon. Worldwide, the root of the dandelion has been used for the treatment of a variety of liver and gallbladder problems. Other historical uses of the root and leaves include the treatment of breast diseases, water retention, digestive problems, joint pain, fever, and skin diseases. The most active constituents in dandelion appear to be eudesmanolide and germacranolide, substances unique to this herb.

Jasmine: Jasmine is a bold, sweet scent. Jasmine is the greatest aphrodisiac of all. These night blooming flowers are picked at their height to bring out one of the most sexy scents. Associated throughout history with the compassionate Goddess of the Moon, Jasmine, grown along the Nile in ancient Egypt, is represented Isis, the Egyptian Mother Goddess who held the secrets of fertility, magic and healing.

Milk Thistle: Milk Thistle is the best in cleaning our blood and liver and is a traditional way to get our health back on track and revitalize and nourish our entire internal ecological system from the ravages of winter. Milk Thistle is an excellent cleansers for the liver. Cleansing is one of the more important roles of Milk Thistle as it helps to prevent a host of problems our bodies can acquire from internal and external toxic overload.

Patchouli: Patchouli is a sweet, earthy scent. Its smell is intense and spicy. From an energetic point of view, Patchouli, like Jasmine, is warm and yet anti-inflammatory in action. It combines a calmative property with a gentle stimulating effect that uplifts the spirit! Patchouli is a sweet and grounding harmonizing fragrance!

Neroli: Neroli is distilled from bitter orange trees. It has a refreshing, spicy aroma and is known for its sensual, exotic effect. Neroil oil is emotionally unifying and soothes with harmonizing effects. Described as both sensual and spiritual, Neroli helps to restablish the link between a disconnected mind and body. Neroli paves the way for a gradual release and allows us to recall hope and joy!

Rose: The Mother of All Flowers, the Rose has amazing powers of love, trust and self acceptance. Roses are representative of faith, hope and love and has the qualities to restore the very center of one's being. A gentle tonic of the heart, Rose oil's psychological properties lie mainly in its effect on the mind, the center of our emotional being. Rose oil calms and supports the heart and helps to nourish the soul!

Flower Power: The Color of Flowers

by Andrew Pacholyk, MS, L.Ac.

About a week ago, my mom shared with me a story about the time she was in the hospital. One of her dear friends came to visit and brought her a single hydrangea flower in a vase...the thing was, the flower was black! My mom, although not sharing her feeling of unease with her good friend (who was unaware of the effects of the flower and its color) shared with me, that it was one of the most disturbing events she could recall.

Color affects every moment of our lives although our color choices are mostly unconscious. Color has a great emotional impact on a person that comes out via the clothes we chose to wear, decorations to fill our homes, personality, foods we choose to eat, flowers we surround ourselves with and many more ways.

It is possible to introduce colors to different areas of daily life to give off more energy, soothing affects, stimulate appetites and sexual motivation or even give a place a clean atmosphere. I asked thirty males from the ages of fifteen to sixty what color bra they would like to see their dream girl wearing to find out what colors are the most sexually stimulating. As I predicted, out of thirty, fourteen chose black, while four chose pink, red, blue and white were also chosen by three each and gray and purple were each favored by one person a piece. I also conducted an experiment to see what colors were stimulating on appetites. I added food coloring to make one flavor of Jell-O turn red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, brown, and pink. Out of fifteen total people, seven chose red, purple and pink were chosen by three a piece, and orange and green were chosen by one each.

Color-Flower Psychology

Blue can either be a calming color or a depressing color, depending on how much one is surrounded by it. Blue most always has a pleasant association. Blue also is associated with a cool, cleansed, relaxed, calm, hopeful, protected, reassuring, trusting and accepting feeling. It inspires mental control, clarity and creativity. Blue has a direct effect on the autonomic nervous system, which helps calm and soothe humans. However, subconsciously it affects us because we associate blue with the night sky, so it makes us feel calm as though we are being soothed by the night sky. On the other hand, dark blue is sedative and too much can give off a feeling of depression. Blue is also an appetite suppressant. This is believed to be that due to the fact that nature does not create a blue food other than blueberries, therefore we do not have an automatic appetite response to blue. Actually, in a decorative perspective, blue is a spacious color that is most suited for deep thought and relief from a stressful, hectic life. If you wear blue, you may feel self-reliant, sensitive or intelligent. It promotes a good imagination and a practical approach to life by feeling responsible for others. Blue wearers are normally quite independent yet feel the need to be surrounded by tenderness, love and affection. In the survey of bra color selection, the three that chose blue, possibly feel the need for love and affection.

Brown is a direct color of nature so it gives off an earth feeling that brings us comfort and support. However, fans of brown are known to often keep emotions to themselves and retreat from fear of the real world. These people sometimes suffer from a lack of self-worth. These people like brown because it helps them with their troubles and it gives them a sense of stability and alleviates insecurity. People who wear brown are normally honest, sensuous and protective because of their desire to be emotionally secure and accepted. They strive for a structured life and they appreciate the fine pleasure of life.

Orange is widely known as the attention grabber and the stimulator of the mind and body. Orange is an anti-depressant color that lifts spirits by giving off feelings of security, warmth, joy, creativity, fun, humor and independence. Like brown, orange frees and releases emotion and alleviates self-pity and self-worth and the unwillingness to forgive. Physically, orange stimulates the sex organs and has an incredibly beneficial effect on the digestive system. Wearers of orange are action-oriented, often impatient, independent and self- motivated. They have a high energy level and tend to be active and competitive. Being surrounded by orange is mentally and physically stimulating and can make a person feel warm, secure and comfortable, though very few people choose to decorate in orange.

Purple is a color of mixed messages coming from both red and blue. Purple is mostly associated with those who are sexy, powerful, and sophisticated. For the people who favor this color are typically dramatic, spiritual, creative, intuitive, inspirational in beauty and art, protective, and wrapped up in a fantasy. Purple balances the mind, brings peace and combats fear. However, fans of purple can be arrogant at times, for they have little interest in lesser people and are only interested in the best of everything. This is probably why the one person who chose a purple bra did; because he takes great interest in only the very best.

Red is the most powerful of all the colors because of its ability to stimulate the heart and blood circulation so that it raises heart rates. Red is known for its high arousal in all perspectives of the body for it is a sexy, dynamic, daring, vital, powerful, warm, sensual, determined, courageous, angry, impatient and ambitious color. It always has a pleasant association because it helps people overcome negative thoughts although too much red can cause a person to become impatient. Red is a color that is often preferred by the economically stable, secure and the risk-takers. Studies even show that people are more daring to gamble more while under red lighting. Impulsive, excitable, energetic, sexual, courageous and extroverted are ways of describing people who enjoy wearing red. They are ambitious and want things to happen as soon as they say the word. They want to be the best and can be insensitive to others feelings to be the best or the center of attention. Actually, if you make a habit of wearing red it may indicate that you place importance on sexual desire and eroticism. And we all know that most guys place importance on sexual desire and eroticism and that is why ten percent of guys chose red in the bra survey. Also, studies show red stimulates appetite more than any other color, and that explains why seven out of fifteen people chose red as their favorite color Jell-O

Pink and Violet have a gentle stimulation of heart and blood circulation. Just as pink is nearly red, pink nearly has the affects of red, just not so radiant. It elicits simple emotions such as unselfish love, kindness and consideration. It is emotionally soothing and calming, warming, cheerful and nurturing colors that lessen the feelings of irritation and aggression by surrounding us with a sense of love. A study has even been conducted to show that pink has a subduing effect on violent prison inmates. People who enjoy wearing pink are typically affectionate, sympathetic and understanding. They often need the support of others and can often times be child-like. Pink takes on traits of red and white; therefore it is still a sensuous color while being quite innocent. This combination makes pink quite a sexual color, therefore it is self-explanatory as to why four out of thirty guys chose pink as their choice in bra color. And since it has traits of red, the most appetite stimulating of colors, five percent of people chose pink as their favorite color Jell-O.

Green is the color of freshness, peace, freedom, relaxation, security and laziness. It can represent optimism, yet it also represents envy and sickness. Because it is the color of life and vegetation, it helps us to connect with the empathy of others and nature. Green has a balancing quality that regulates our circulation so it is physically and emotionally good for the heart, so we should seek green under stress. Wearers of green are often cautious, quiet, and humanistic and are the types to just observe life and not actually get involved in the action. However, when a green-lover must get involved, they will proceed cautiously to be able to fully control the situation.

Yellow is the warmest, most cheerful, happiest, brightest and most uplifting of all the colors. It stimulates the brain making people alert, clear-headed and decisive. Because it helps aids the brain in these activities, it would be a good idea to decorate an office in yellow so that the worker could do his or her best thinking. It also aids in the powers of discrimination, memory, clear thinking, decision making, good judgment, organization, assimilation of new ideas and ability to see other perspectives. A person that wears yellow is someone that is easily approachable because they seem stimulating, spontaneous, interesting and lively to others, and normally are. However, yellow-lovers desire to find greater happiness, which implies minor conflict in which release is needed.

Black is a very powerful color because of its mystery, dominance and the fact that it is the most sophisticated of all colors. Black is associated with silence, infinite and feminine life-force (passive, uncharted and mysterious.) It is also associated with mourning by the blue-collar and middle aged; however, it is well liked by the wealthy. This is possibly due to the fact that black is the most popular color in formal clothing, that is worn mostly by the upper class. The wearers or black are often strong-willed, opinionated, disciplined and independent. Guys admire these qualities in women and find them sexy. That is why the majority, fourteen of thirty, guys chose black bras on their dream girls. People who love black reject help of others, and feel the need to renounce everything. But this may be due to the fact that they have a little way to go until maturity and are using black to cloak yourself while you discover your true identity. Black is a color that is very popular in clothing; especially formal clothing because it makes things look smaller, meaning it makes people look thin. However, it is not especially smart to make black the dominant color in a room because it will give the room the same affect and could also give a person a negative frame of mind.

White is the color that is always associated with cleanliness, purity, coldness and peace. It gives off the aura of freedom and openness. However, too much white can be cold and isolating or can give headaches and cause eyestrain. White contains all the colors of the spectrum; therefore it shows that people who wear white have a positive, well-balanced, optimistic personality. They also seek a lifestyle free of pressure. White is the most pure color, and this is why ten percent of guys chose white bras. Many males' dream girls are very innocent and pure; therefore they associate a pure girl with a white bra.

At last, gray is the color of individuals. It gives off the impression that you are self-sufficient and have good self-control and prefer to be uninvolved. Gray is associated with independence, self-reliance, and acts as a shield from influence. However, gray gives off a negative feeling and can make a person who is around this color frequently, feel lonely and self-critical. Gray takes on many of the characteristics of black and white since it is a combination of the two.

In the end, color subconsciously plays a vast role in the psychology of humans. It can be a major persuasion factor in our emotions, and they can seriously uplift or bring us down, especially if a person associates a color with one particular idea. However, naturally, color has the same general affect on people.

Acupuncture Face Lift

by Andrew Pacholyk, MS, L.Ac.

This facial rejuvenation is done with tiny acupuncture needles and incorporates whole body techniques, tuina and acupressure massage and herbal applications based on individual needs. Look and feel younger! Improve wrinkles, acne, loose skin, sallow complexion, dry, oily or combination skin, alopecia, dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis.

An acupuncture face lift consists of first determining your skin type. An extensive intake is done to learn more about your family history and lifestyle, diet, nutrition and sleep, which all play a major role in how your skin appears on the outside! A facial needle protocol is performed, follow by TuiNa massage, a specific herbal mask designed for your facial type, followed by an herbal toner.

The goal in these treatments are to:

-Improves Skin Texture
-Smooth Fine Lines/Wrinkles
-Encourages Collagen Production
-Decreases Breakouts/Blemishes
-Reduces Puffiness/Inflammation
-Improves Sallow/Sagging Skin

Good skin care is a combination of proper nutrition, good elimination, sleep and exercise. Our external environment is also seen as a cause of stress, which eventually takes it's toll on our face and bodies. Learning how to protect the skin from these outside attackers, can produce great results when combined with the above factors. However, the internal/external environment and its ability to effect any individual is more often than not, determined by the individual's attitude or mind set.

An acupuncture face lift is a series of usually 12 treatments or 2 treatments per week for 6 weeks with the most noticeable improvements appearing about the 8th week. Monthly maintenance treatments can prolong the results for up to 10 years.

Herbal Face Lift

as reprinted from Alternative Answers Yahoogroup

This recipe is too drying for the eye area, so avoid applying it there.

1/2 cup baking soda
1/2 cup orrisroot
1/4 cup sea salt
2 tablespoons dulse (a kind of seaweed)
2 tablespoons kelp
1/2 cup distilled water
Several strips of 8" by 8' torn bed sheets, gauze, or other clean cotton material

To Make:
1. Sift together the baking soda, orrisroot, and sea salt into a large bowl.
2. In a spice mill, powder the dulse and kelp and add to dry ingredients.
3. Heat the distilled water to boiling, then pour over the dry ingredients.
4. Stir thoroughly.

To Use:

1. Wear a shirt with a fairly low neckline for easy access to your neck and chin.

2. Moisturize the jaw, chin, neck, and cheek area of your face with a light moisturizer or vegetable oil. Dab your face with a cloth to remove any excess oil or moisturizer.

3. Using a wooden spoon, small paint brush or spatula, apply the mixture to the jaw, chin, neck, and cheeks.

4. Immediately wrap the sheets or gauze snugly first around the neck, then from the chin around the head several times, to just below the eyes. Next, wrap sheet or gauze up over the top of the head and under the china few times to secure.

5. Relax and be quiet until the mixture and sheets become dry and tight (approx. 30 minutes). No talking--this will stretch the sheets and keep you from getting the results you desire.

6. Rinse your face and neck with the coldest water you can bear. Notice the surprising softening effects on your skin.

Learning the Language of Feelings

An excerpt from The Feeling Soul - A Roadmap to Healing and Living Mark Linden O'Meara, Soul Care Publishing ISBN: 0-968045928 Available at Amazon.com

Part of self growth and developing self-knowledge involves learning to express the feelings, ideas and thoughts you are having. To describe how you are feeling is a challenge given the fact that language is imprecise, and at times it is difficult to translate body sensations into words. While taking some Chinese lessons, I questioned my teacher about the expression of emotion in Chinese. I was told that there are four basic emotions and the rest are combinations of emotion or impressions we have of our self or others.

The four basic emotions are:

Bei grief, sorrow, mourning
Le joy, cheerfulness, optimism
Nu anger, rage, fury, berating
Xi value, compassion, happiness, love

Other feelings or states such as jealousy and envy are described as impressions we have as a result of our thoughts and beliefs about other people. Some psychologists suggest that your feelings come from your thoughts. Others believe that emotions come from a deeper experience. If we consider the four basic emotions as soul experience and other emotions as impressions from thoughts and beliefs, then we can reconcile the two theories. Recent research using Magnetic Resonance Imaging scans has shown that our emotional centre reacts much faster than your thinking process. Does this mean that the thoughts into emotions theorists are wrong? Not really! It means that we need a more complex model to describe what is going on.. In order to progress in your growth, regardless of the theory, you need to learn to express and communicate your feelings, both the soul and impression kinds.

In my travels to China I learned how precise the Chinese language is compared to the English language. It seems that many of the Chinese expression characters are actually a combination of words. For example the root word bei, which means sadness, can be combined with other characters to mean sad, sorrowful, melancholy, grieved, painfully sad, mixed feelings of joy and grief, compassion, bitter, miserable, sad and worried, grief over the death of a friend, grief and indignation, pessimistic and gloomy, overcome with grief, sad and choking with sobs.

The same goes for the word for happiness, when combined with other words can mean outright glee, overjoyed, not feeling tired of it, buoyant, cheerful, fun, pleasure and contentment. I found that the Chinese language seemed far more robust that our English language. There is also an important phrase ji sheng bei which means when joy reaches its height, sorrow comes in turn, extreme joy begets sorrow. These words of wisdom echo the familiar phrase what goes up must come down. Other phrases more completely described concepts rather than just feelings. A word describing bitterness referred to going through years of suffering, to be full of misery but find no place to pour it out.

Imagine if we could all become more literate and complex in our describing of our feelings. I believe the best improvement in this area would be to try to describe the combination of feelings and the situation or movement that we are experiencing. This would help clarify and give deeper meaning to what you are feeling.

For example instead of saying "I am hurt", try to go deeper. You could say "I am feeling sad and betrayed because I was let down when a promise was broken." This is far more precise and communicative than the words "I am hurt." Learn to be more descriptive! It is difficult to have self-knowledge if you are not in touch with your emotions.

So how do you feel? Take a look inside! Do a self-check; by trying to evaluate which emotions are present and which are not at a given moment. Which emotions have you experienced recently? Which emotions would you like to experience more often? Try combining words to try to express how you are feeling. There is no rule that you can only be feeling one emotion at a time!

Remember too, that sometimes you may have no words to describe how you feel. An emotion may be simply a sensation in your body. Sitting quietly, scan your body for tension. I would ask yourself "What am I feeling at this moment?"

Try to use the concept of using multiple words and describing the situation, expectations and what you hoped for, and what could have been done differently to express yourself!

Excerpted from The Feeling Soul - A Roadmap to Healing and Living by Mark Linden O'Meara

Fibroids and Healing Them Naturally

by Andrew Pacholyk, MS, L.Ac.

Fibroids are nodules of fibrous tissue that can grown anywhere on the body. Uterine fibroids are the most common noncancerous tumors of the female reproductive organs. According to the location of the fibroid in the uterus, they can be divided into three types.

Fibroids can grow underneath the uterine lining (submucosal), within the uterus walls (intramural) or can be found on the outer walls of the uterus (subserosal).

The cause of their growth is unknown. With many of my female patients who have fibroids, it tends to be seen throughout their family history. Often times, their mothers, sisters, aunts or grandmothers have suffered from them as well.

Next to heredity , other causes have been thought to be stress related, improper diet, excessive weight gain and imbalances in hormone levels.

Hormonally, estrogen seems to be part of the problem . When estrogen levels are high during a women's period, this estrogen surge seems to stimulate tumor growth. Therefore, fibroids often grow larger during the menstrual cycle as the uterus engorges with blood, then shrinks after the cycle. They also tend to grow larger during pregnancy and shrink after menopause due to the lack of estrogen.

Symptoms can range between no symptoms at all or a women can experience heavy bleeding, abdominal masses, abdominal pain, pressure against the bladder, bowels or pelvic floor, vaginal discharge, infertility, miscarriage or anemia.

Western medicine looks at several ways to treat fibroids, depending on their size and depending on how much pain or havoc they are causing the body. Western treatments include pharmacological inhibition of estrogen secretion, Progestin supplementation, prostaglandin synthetase inhibitors, a myomectomy, or hysterectomy.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, we treat fibroids differently, based on the site of the fibroid. Acupuncture and herbal medicine have been found to be more effective than Western medicine (in most cases) as it works to bring the body back into hormonal balance, naturally .

When fibroids are less than 5cm, the success rate with acupuncture and herbs is higer. Although, clinically, I have had success with fibroids that are larger than 5cm and have been able to shrink these fibroids with a combination of acupuncture and herbal medicine, diet as well as, lifestyle changes.

Acupuncture treatments are based on the clinical diagnosis of stagnation and/or dampness. Combinations of local and distal acupuncture points are used in order to move energy and blood.

Channels that are focused on include the Conception channel, the Spleen, Stomach, Liver and Kidney channels.

Herbal medicine has long been the apothecary of the world. Folklore and ancient recipes have been past down for centuries. Nowadays, research studies are being done on some of these herbs, herbal combinations and formulas. Formulas most effective for abdominal masses include:

-Chai Hu Shu Gan San with Xie Fu Zuo Yu Tang for Qi and Phlegm Stagnation.

-Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan with Xiao Liu Fang for Blood Stasis.

-Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan for Phlegm Damp.

These formulas have shown to be even more effective when combined with a diet low in fat that minimizes coffee, black tea, chocolate, alcohol and soy based products. The proper formula for you, should be determined by a licensed acupuncturist and/or herbalist only.

The Western Herbal Materia Medica has shown that some herbs are effective for balancing hormone levels. Chaste tree berry has been shown to promote progesterone production by increasing luteinizing hormone.

Linoleic acid, found in omega-6 fatty acid form and linolenic acid, found omega-3 fatty acid form are both essential oils found in fish oil. These two essential oils can reduce estrogen production and are beneficial for women with fibroids. Take 2,000 mg in divided doses (1,000 mg am/pm).

Nutritional considerations are a diet low in fat that minimizes coffee, black tea, chocolate and alcohol.

Limit the amounts of red meat and pork eaten.

Avoid high fat and fried foods. Some women have found that their fibroids decrease when taking up a vegetarian diet.

Changes in lifestyle can also play apart in reducing fibroids.

Increase or add exercise to your life.

Meditation, visualization and simple breathing techniques are all very helpful in relieving stress in our lives.

Holding on to certain beliefs in our lives, may be an improper way of thinking.

Metaphysical expert, Louse Hay suggests that a probable cause of fibroids and cysts is "nursing a hurt from a partner or a blow to the feminine ego".

Certainly, these are all options to consider.

References