I picked up a book at the library called Sex Matters: How Male-Generic Medicine Endangers Women's Health and What We Can Do About It and I just have to say, "wow".  I learned so much about how medicine, diagnosis and  treatment is mostly based on a male centric model putting women in danger every day.  We need to get the word out,  and therefore, I must share some interesting things I learned from my read.  

Women are more likely to be misdiagnosed, given improper treatments and experience complications from medical treatments received.  This is because women are underrepresented in clinical and research trials, and most trials do not account for sex differences as a variable.  

Women need to know how their bodies work differently than a man’s.  It is necessary to know  how to ask the right questions of your health care provider to ensure proper diagnosis and treatment. 

Heart attacks and strokes present differently in men and women leading to women being sent home from the emergency wards without treatment.  Women are three times more likely to die of a cardiac event than men.  Women do not present with classical heart attack symptoms but rather have a host of symptoms such as unusual fatigue, shortness of breath, brain fog, nausea and digestive issues.  Female heart disease is often taken for anxiety and women are  often told to go home and relax.   There is even a delay once intervention is asked for (call for ambulance)  in getting help as professionals often do not feel a sense of urgency compared to if a male patient  complains of chest pain. 

Female heart disease looks different from men’s. Rather than have hardening of the arteries women's plaque erodes into the blood vessels, making them stiffer and less flexible.  No clotting shows up in the arteries.

Risk factors have different "weights" for  men and women.  Smoking is a higher risk for women than men, hypertension less of a risk factor for women.  Perinatal complications, use of hormones, migraines and autoimmune disease are risk factors for women.  Taking multiple medications is a major contributor to cardiac events in women but not in men. 

Strokes also present differently in women and often missed in diagnosis.  Whereas men show classic symptoms of loss of function,  women may get a headache, or have a sudden change in mental or emotional status.

Not all prescription drugs are studied on women.  Women are more likely to be prescribed medications and are more likely to have adverse reactions to drugs. We see this in alcohol metabolism as well. Taking into account height, weight and age women feel the effects of alcohol sooner and more strongly than men. This is also true for Ambien (sleep aid), and other drugs including pain killers.  Hormones impact drug metabolism.  We know this because women react differently to drugs depending on where they are in their menstrual cycle.  Women experience greater pain when estrogen levels are low. Not all pain meds work on women. Related to this factor is that women have a heightened inflammatory response compared to men when stressed due to the interaction of estrogen and cortisol. 

Women are more likely to be given a psychiatric diagnosis like anxiety than a physical one.  There is an implicit bias that exists in treating women. 

Fortunately for women, sex and gender differences are a hot topic in medicine today. Many physicians are fighting to change the research and clinical practice standards to reflect female biology.  Today a study came out that found that if a woman had a female doctor in the emergency department she was more likely to get proper treatment and less likely to have to return a second time with symptoms. 

Always ask your health provider about sex and gender specific tests, procedures, prescriptions and dosing.  Be your own advocate. Know your body and trust your instincts.  

.

​

I love a good quote, phrase, or affirmation. And when my monkey mind takes over and I need to get focused or stay present I often repeat an affirmation or use a mantra. My “go to” is “I am happy, I am healthy, I am holy” but I change it up based on the situation. While I was going through some scary medical stuff I used, “I am alive. I am okay right now” I use affirmations when I am trying to establish a new behaviour. For example, I have sticky notes that say “butt in the chair” in my work room because I read that Nora Roberts uses that phrase to force herself to get work done. It’s simple but it works and this newsletter is the proof. (It was very tempting to watch another episode of Good Girls on Netflix.)  

 I love when I am reading and I have an “Aha moment” as the result of something read or said in just the right way at the right time. . You may have heard it but never in that way. It resonates with you, speaks to you, and just maybe, becomes part of your inner dialogue. 

I often express the quote, “You don’t know what you don’t know.” because it is so true. It is such a good thing to remind ourselves when making a decision or talking politics. This is why I love to keep researching and learning. There is always something new!    

I asked some of my friends and clients to share their quote/affirmation/mantras that inspires them or just gets them through a rough day and why. Here are some of their responses:    


Count your blessings and live with an attitude of gratitude - Donna

Do unto others as you would like them to do unto you - Joanne


"She believed she could, so she did" R.S. Grey - it's not always easy to be confident, especially when trying new things but when you believe in yourself, it's amazing what you can accomplish.

"Watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don't believe in magic will never find it." Roald Dahl - I love the idea that there is a little bit of magic in the world - it makes me feel as though there is (or can be) good in every situation, you just have to look to find it  
Erica 

‘Everything happens for a reason! -But often you just don’t know the whole story right away!!! Trust in the future is essential. I have learned this so many times through experience but still have to remind myself when times get tough or things don’t seem to be working out as planned or desired. - Cathy 
  
Wrinkles only go where the smiles have been- Jimmy Buffett
Don’t worry about a thing, cause every little thing gonna be alright-Bob Marley
 
My favourite quote is by Mother Teresa 
“ Not all of us can do great things , but we can do small things with great love” - Mother Teresa 
 
“Give the ones you love wings to fly, roots to come back and reasons to stay” - Dalai Lama 
 
I can do all things thru Christ which strengthens me. Marilyn 

They may forget what you said — but they will never forget how you made them feel. - Carl W. Buehner 
 
Be yourself; everyone else is already taken. Oscar Wilde I think it resonates with me because it’s a great message mixed with a little humour. - Nancy 
 
No matter how slow you go, you are still lapping everyone on the couch. - It’s a great reminder that every little bit helps and it’s interesting because when I hear “lapping everyone on the couch” I think of this as also referring to me and reminding me to get up off the couch.- Nancy 
 
So Wonderful and So Blessed - Wendy W. 
Keep it simple -  I can over complicate anything, so this one saves me from myself!! Wendy C.
 
Every time you are tempted to react in the same old way, ask if you want to be a prisoner of the past or a pioneer of the future. 
Deepak Chopra

If you can't ask for help without self-judgement, you cannot offer help without judging others. Brene Brown

When you undervalue what you do, the world will undervalue who you are. Oprah 

A winner is just a loser who tried one more time. Jay Shetty 
You don't have to save the world. Just don't Make it a worse place for the next generation. 
Vishen Lakhiani 
​
Please feel free to send me your favourite quote or mantra and we will do a part 2. Who knows your quote could be someone else's lifeline

"

​This is my favorite salsa.  There is no comparison to store bought salsa.  It is healthy, easy to make and loaded with flavour.  You can make it mild, medium or hot.  If you have an abundance of tomatoes in your garden it is a great recipe to use them all up.  It is great to eat on its own with chips but also as a compliment to fish or chicken.  This salsa is so delicious you will want to share with friends and family!


8 cups (1600 g) tomatoes,  chopped and peeled
4 cups (800 g) banana peppers, chopped
2 cups (400 g) onion, chopped (one large)
2 cups  (475 ml) cider vinegar
1 cup (200 g) sweet red pepper, chopped 
1 cup (200 g) jalapeno peppers, seeded and chopped  or to taste
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 5 oz. (147 ml) can tomato paste
2 tablespoons (30 ml) date or coconut sugar
2 teaspoons (10 ml) salt
2 teaspoons (10 ml) paprika
1 teaspoon (5 ml)  dried oregano
1/4 cup (34 g) fresh coriander, chopped 
1/4 cup (34 g)  each of basil and chives, chopped 

Put all ingredients in a pot and bring to a boil. Stir often. Reduce heat to med/low and simmer for 5 minutes. Fill and seal jars and process in boiling water for 10 minutes or put in the freezer.
Makes 9 cups.

Helping people with gas, bloating, digestive and stomach disorders and constipation are a big part of my nutritional practice. Most often these are the symptoms of a bigger issue but sometimes they are a result of a diet that has gone astray.  

Many of my clients use over-the-counter or prescription drugs. Others rely on digestive enzymes to manage their symptoms. These remedies can be helpful in the short term but eventually they stop working, and in fact, magnify your belly problems in the long term creating a larger issue. The gas, bloating and stomach pain you are experiencing is indicating that your stomach doesn't like what you are putting in it. The remedies allow you to eat what you like, but eating what you like is destroying your gut and leading you towards high blood pressure and high cholesterol.  

These digestive aids replace the normal functioning of your stomach. They are addictive. Your stomach stops producing the enzymes necessary to digest your foods. So without a dietary change you will increasingly need these “helpers”.  

Also, most people who have stomach issues have too low acid levels. Ninety percent of people were misdiagnosed by their doctor as having high acid levels when in fact they had low levels. The cause of acid reflux is often a result of the food sitting in your stomach and not being digested efficiently because we have low acid. Stomach acids decline with age and ant-acids destroy what little acids you have left.  

What can you do if you have stomach issues: 

Avoid overeating.

Eat slower. 

Do not drink water with your meal as it dilutes your stomach acids.

Avoid cold drinks.

Do not lay down for at least two hours after eating. In fact, a leisurely walk after eating is recommended. 

Drink lemon water - lemon lowers acid levels but unlike antacids it stimulates digestive juices.

Avoid or limit the foods on the Acid side of the acid/alkaline list such as processed foods, sugar, alcohol, meat and diary.  

Add some stomach digestives into your diet. These are herbs and foods that promote good stomach function such as black pepper, ginger, turmeric, fennel and cumin.
See a nutritionist for help. 

Stomach distress is not normal. Seek help.    

These are just a few hints to help your stomach function better. When “we know better we do better” so now that you know, wean yourself off antacids and change your diet. You will live longer and feel better!!! 

​

In my quest for Optimal Health I have researched, experimented with, and challenged myself with new ideas, diets, therapies and treatments. I have changed my diet, my environment, my mind and my lifestyle to wake up feeling great every single day free from pain and discomfort.

The changes were important to my overall health but I also realized that we cannot ignore the power that unresolved emotional issues play in our day to day health.

Louise Hay, self help guru and author, explains in her book, Heal Your Body the Mind Body Connection gives us a reference guide detailing the mental causes of physical ailment. She gives us a recipe for creating positive thinking patterns that can actually reverse disease.

Below is just some of the patterns she established. See if any of them resonate with you:

Abdominal Cramps: Fear. Stopping the process.
Abscess: Fermenting thoughts over hurts, slights, and revenge.
Accidents: Inability to speak up for the self. Rebellion against authority. Belief in violence.
Aches: Longing for love. Longing to be held.
Acne: Not accepting the self. Dislike of the self.
Addictions: Running from the self. Fear. Not knowing how to love self.
Adrenal Problems: Defeatism. No longer caring for the self. Anxiety.
Alcoholism: “What’s the use?” Feeling of futility, guilt, inadequacy. Self-rejection.
Allergies: Denying your own power.
Alzheimer’s Disease: Refusal to deal with the world as it is. Hopelessness and helplessness. Anger.
Anemia: “Yes-but” attitude. Lack of joy. Fear of life. Not feeling good enough.
Ankle: Inflexibility and guilt. Ankles represent the ability to receive pleasure.
Anxiety: Not trusting the flow and the process of life.
Arteries: Carry the joy of life.
Arteriosclerosis: Resistance, tension. Hardened narrow-mindedness. Refusing to see good.
Arthritis: Feeling unloved. Criticism, resentment. 
Arthritis - Rheumatoid: Deep criticism of authority. Feeling very put upon.
Asthma: Smother love. Inability to breathe for oneself. Feeling stifled. Suppressed crying.
Asthma – babies and children: Fear of life. Not wanting to be here.

B

Back: Represents the support of life. 
Back Problems - Lower: Fear of money. Lack of financial support
Back Problems - Middle: Guilt. Stuck in all that stuff back there. “Get off my back!”
Back Problems - Upper: Lack of emotional support. Feeling unloved. Holding back love.
Bad Breath: Anger and revenge thoughts. Experiences backing up.
Balance, Loss of: Scattered thinking. Not centered
Bed-wetting (Enuresis): Fear of parent, usually the father.
Blackheads: Small outbursts of anger.
Bladder Problems (Cystitis): Anxiety. Holding on to old ideas. Fear of letting go. Being “pissed off”.
Blood Pressure: - High: Longstanding emotional problem not solved.
Blood Pressure - Low: Lack of love as a child. Defeatism. “What’s the use? It won’t work anyway.”
Blood Problems: Lack of joy. Lack of circulation of ideas.
Bones: Represent the structure of the universe.
Bone problems - Breaks: Rebelling against authority.
Bone Problems – Deformity: Mental pressures and tightness. Muscles can’t stretch. Loss of mental mobility.
Bowels: Represents the release of waste.
Bowels – Problems: Fear of letting go of the old and no longer needed.
Brain: Represents the computer, the switchboard.
Brain - Tumor: Incorrect computerized beliefs. Stubborn. Refusing to change old patterns.
Breast: Represents mothering and nurturing and nourishment.
Breast Problems - Cysts, Lumps, Soreness (Mastitis): A refusal to nourish the self. Putting everyone else first. Over mothering. Overprotection. Overbearing attitudes.
Breath: Represents the ability to take in life.
Breathing Problems: Fear or refusal to take in life fully. Not feeling the right to take up space or even exist.
Bronchitis: Inflamed family environment. Arguments and yelling. Sometimes silent.
Burns: Anger. Burning up. Incensed.
Bursitis: Repressed anger. Wanting to hit someone. 
Buttocks: Represent power. Loose Buttocks, loss of power.

C

Cancer: Deep hurt. Longstanding resentment. Deep secret or grief eating away at the self. Carrying hatreds. “What’s the use.”
Candida (Candidiasis): Feeling very scattered. Lots of frustration and anger. Demanding and untrusting in relationships. Great takers.
Canker Sores: Festering words held back by the lips. Blame.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Anger and frustration at life’s seeming injustices.
Cataracts: Inability to see ahead with joy. Dark future.
Cellulite: Stored anger and self-punishment
Cholesterol: Clogging the channels of joy. Fear of accepting joy.
Chronis Dis-eases: A refusal to change. Fear of the future. Not feeling safe.
Circulation: Represents the ability to feel and express the emotions in positive ways.
Cold Sores (Fever Blisters): Festering angry words and fear of expressing them.
Colds (Upper-Respiratory Illness): Too much going on at once. Mental confusion, disorder. Small hurts. “I get three colds every winter,” type of belief.
Colic: Mental irritation, impatience, annoyance in the surroundings.
Colon: Fear of letting go. Holding on to the past.
Colitis: Insecurity. Represents the ease of letting go of that which is over.
Constipation: Incomplete releasing. Holding on to garbage of the past. Guilt over the past. Sometimes stinginess.
Coronary Thrombosis: Feeling alone and scared. “I’m not good enough. I don’t do enough. I’ll never make it!”
Coughs: A desire to bark at the world. “Listen to me!”
Cramps: Tension. Fear. Gripping, holding on.
Crying: Tears are the river of life, shed in joy as well as in sadness and fear.
Cysts: Running the old painful movie. Nursing hurts. A false growth.

D

Dementia: A refusal to deal with the world as it is. Hopelessness and anger.
Depression: Anger you feel you do not have a right to have. Hopelessness.
Diabetes: Longing for what might have been. A great need to control. Deep sorrow. No sweetness left.
Diarrhea: Fear. Rejection. Running off.
Dizziness: Flighty, scattered thinking. A refusal to look.
Dry eyes: Angry eyes. Refusing to see with love. Would rather die than forgive. Being spiteful.

E

Ear: Represents the capacity to hear.
Earache (Otitis External/Ear Canal Media/Inner Ear): Anger. Not wanting to hear. Too much turmoil. Parents arguing.
Eczema: Breath-taking antagonism. Mental eruptions.
Edema: What or who won’t you let go of?
Elbow: Represents changing directions and accepting new experiences.
Emphysema: Fear of taking in life. Not worthy of living.
Endometriosis: Insecurity, disappointment and frustration. Replacing self-love with sugar. Blamers.
Epilepsy: Sense of persecution. Rejection of life. A feeling of great struggle. Self-violence.
Eye: Represents the capacity to see clearly past, present, future.
Eye Problems: Not liking what you see in your own life.

F

Face: Represents what we show the world.
Fainting: Fear. Can’t cope. Blacking out.
Fat: Oversensitivity. Often represents fear and shows a need for protection. Fear may be a cover for hidden anger and a resistance to forgive. 
Fat - Arms: Anger at being denied love.
Fat - Belly: Anger at being denied nourishment.
Fat - Hips: Lumps of stubborn anger at the parents.
Fat - Thighs: Packed childhood anger. Often rage at the father.
Fatigue: Resistance, boredom. Lack of love for what one does.
Feet: Represent our understanding – of ourselves, of life, of others.
Female problems: Denial of the self. Rejecting femininity. Rejection of the feminine principle.
Fibroid Tumors and Cysts: Nursing a hurt from a partner. A blow to the feminine ego.
Fingers: Represent the details of life. 
Food Poisoning: Allowing others to take control. Feeling defenseless.
Foot problems: Fear of the future and of not stepping forward in life.
Fungus: Stagnating beliefs. Refusing to release the past. Letting the past rule today.

G

Gallstones: Bitterness. Hard thoughts. Condemning. Pride.
Gas: Gripping. Fear. Undigested ideas.
Gastritis: Prolonged uncertainty. A feeling of doom.
Genitals: Represent the masculine and feminine principles. 
Genitals – Problems: Worry about not being good enough.
Glands: Represent holding stations. Self-staring activity. 
Glandular Problems: Poor distribution of get-up-and-go ideas. Holding yourself back.
Gout: The need to dominate. Impatience, anger.
Gray Hair: Stress. A belief in pressure and strain.
Growths: Nursing those old hurts. Building resentments.
Gum Problems: Inability to back up decisions. Indecisive about life.

H

Halitosis: Rotten attitudes, vile gossip, foul thinking.
Hands: Hold and handle. Clutch and grip. Grasping and letting go. Caressing. Pinching. All ways of dealing with experiences.
Hay Fever: Emotional congestion. Fear of the calendar. A belief in persecution. Guilt.
Headaches: Invalidating the self. Self-criticism. Fear.
Heart: Represents the center of love and security.
Heart - Heart Attack: Squeezing all the joy out of the heart in favor of money or position. Feeling alone and scared. “I’m not good enough. I don’t do enough. I’ll never make it.”
Heart - Heart Problems: Longstanding emotional problems. Lack of joy. Hardening of the heart. Belief in strain and stress.
Heartburn: Fear. Fear. Fear. Clutching Fear.
Hemorrhoids: Fear of deadlines. Anger of the past. Afraid to let go. Feeling burdened.
Hepatitis: Resistance to change. Fear, anger, hatred. Liver is the seat of anger and rage.
Hernia: Ruptured relationships. Strain, burdens, incorrect creative expression.
Hip: Carries the body in perfect balance. Major thrust in moving forward. 
Hip Problems: Fear of going forward in major decisions. Nothing to move forward to.
Hives: Small, hidden fears. Mountains out of molehills.
Hodgkin’s Disease: Blame and a tremendous fear of not being good enough. A frantic race to prove one’s self until the blood has no substance left to support itself. The joy of life is forgotten in the race of acceptance.
Hyperactivity: Fear. Feeling pressured and frantic.
Hyperthyroidism: Rage at being left out.
Hypoglycemia: Overwhelmed by the burdens in life. “What’s the use.”
Hypothyroidism: Giving up. Feeling hopelessly stifled.

I

Impotence: Sexual pressure, tension, guilt. Social beliefs. Spite against a previous mate. Fear of mother.
Incontinence: Emotional overflow. Years of controlling emotions.
Indigestion: Gut-level fear, dread, anxiety. Griping and grunting.
Infection: Irritation, anger, annoyance.
Inflammation: Fear. Seeing red. Inflamed thinking. 
Influenza: Response to mass negativity and beliefs. Fear. Belief in statistics.
Ingrown Toenail: Worry and guilt about your right to move forward.
Insomnia: Fear. Not trusting the process of life. Guilt.
Intestines: Represent assimilation and absorption.
Itching (Pruritus): Desires that go against the grain. Unsatisfied. Remorse. Itching to get out or get away.

J

Jaundice: Internal and external prejudice. Unbalanced reason.
Jaw Problems: Anger. Resentment. Desire for revenge.
Joints: Represents changes in direction in life and the ease of these movements.

K

Kidney Problems: Criticism, disappointment, failure. Shame. Reacting like a child.
Kidney Stones: Lumps of undissolved anger.
Knee: Represents pride and ego. 
Knee Problems: Stubborn ego and pride. Inability to bend. Fear. Inflexibility. Won’t give in.

L

Laryngitis: So mad you can’t speak. Fear of speaking up. Resentment of authority.
Left Side of Body: Represents receptivity, taking in, feminine energy, women, the mother.
Leg: Carry us forward in life.
Leg Problems – Lower: Fear of the future. Not wanting to move.
Leukemia: Brutally killing inspiration. “What’s the use?”
Leukorrhea: A belief that women are powerless over the opposite sex. Anger at a mate.
Liver: Seat of anger and primitive emotions. 
Liver Problems: Chronic complaining. Justifying fault-finding to deceive yourself. Feeling bad.
Lump in the Throat: Fear. Not trusting the process of life.
Lung: The ability to take in life. 
Lung Problems: Depression. Grief. Not feeling worthy of living life fully.
Lupus: A giving up. Better to die than stand up for one’s self. Anger and punishment.
Lymph Problems: A warning that the mind needs to be recentered on the essentials of life. Love and joy.

M

Menopause Problems: Fear of no longer being wanted. Fear of aging. Self-rejection. Not feeling good enough.
Menstrual Problems: Rejection of one’s femininity. Guilt, fear. Belief that the genitals are sinful or dirty.
Migraine Headaches: Dislike of being driven. Resisting the flow of life. Sexual fears. (Can usually be relieved by masturbation).
Miscarriage: Fear of the future. “Not now-later.” Inappropriate timing.
Mono, Mononucleosis (Pfeiffer’s Dis-ease, Glandular Fever): Anger at not receiving love and appreciation. No longer caring for the self.
Motion Sickness: Fear. Bondage. Feeling of being trapped.
Mouth: Represents taking in of new ideas and nourishment.
Mouth Problems: Set opinions. Closed mind. Incapacity to take in new ideas.
Multiple Sclerosis: Mental hardness, hard-heartedness, iron will, inflexibility.
Muscles: Resistance to new experiences. Muscles represent our ability to move in life

N

Nails: Represent protection.
Nail Biting: Frustration. Eating away at the self. Spite of a parent.
Narcolepsy: Can’t cope. Extreme fear. Wanting to get away from it all. Not wanting to be here.
Nausea: Fear. Rejecting an idea or experience.
Neck: Represents flexibility. The ability to see what’s back there. 
Neck Problems: Refusing to see other sides of a question. Stubbornness, inflexibility. 
Nephritis: Overreaction to disappointment and failure.
Nerves: Represent communication. Receptive reporters.
Nervous Breakdown: Self-centeredness. Jamming the channels of communication.
Nervousness: Fear, anxiety, struggle, rushing. Not trusting the process of life.
Nodules: Resentment and frustration and hurt ego over career.
Nose: Represents self-recognition.
Nose - Bleeds: A need for recognition. Feeling unnoticed. Crying for love.
Nose - Runny: Asking for help. Inner crying.
Nose - Stuffy: Not recognizing the self-worth.

O

Osteoporosis: Feeling there is no support left in life. Mental pressures and tightness. Muscles can’t stretch. Loss of mental mobility.
Ovaries: Represent points of creation. Creativity.
Overweight: Fear, need for protection. Running away from feelings. Insecurity, self-rejection. Seeking fulfillment.

P

Pain: Guilt. Guilt always seeks punishment.
Palsy: Paralysing thoughts. Getting stuck.
Pancreas: Represents the sweetness of life.
Pancreatitis: Rejection. Anger and frustration because life seems to have lost its sweetness.
Parasites: Giving power to others, letting them take over and life off of you.
Parkinson’s Dis-ease: Fear and an intense desire to control everything and everyone.
Peptic Ulcer: Fear. A belief that you are not good enough. Anxious to please.
Phlebitis: Anger and frustration. Blaming others for the limitation and lack of joy in life.
Pimples: Small outbursts of anger.
Pinkeye: Anger and frustration. Not wanting to see.
Pituitary Gland: Represents the control center.
Plantar Wart: Anger at the very basis of your understanding. Spreading frustration about the future.
Pneumonia: Desperate. Tired of life. Emotional wounds that are not allowed to heal.
Premenstrual Syndrome: Allowing confusion to reign. Giving power to outside influences. Rejection of the feminine processes.
Prostate: Represents the masculine principle. 
Prostate Problems: Mental fears weaken the masculinity. Giving up. Sexual pressure and guilt. Belief in aging.
Psoriasis: Fear of being hurt. Deadening the senses of the self. Refusing to accept responsibility for our own feelings.
Pubic Bone: Represents genital protection.

R

Rash: Irritation over delays. Immature way to get attention.
Respiratory Ailments: Fear of taking in life fully.
Rheumatism: Feeling victimized. Lack of love. Chronic bitterness. Resentment.
Rheumatoid Arthritis: Deep criticism of authority. Feeling very put upon.
Right Side of Body: Giving out, letting go, masculine energy, men, the father.
Root Canal: Can’t bite into anything anymore. Root beliefs being destroyed.
Rounded shoulders: Carrying the burdens of life. Helpless and hopeless.

S

Sagging Lines: Sagging lines on the face come from sagging thoughts in the mind. Resentment of life.
Scabies: Infected thinking. Allowing others to get under your skin.
Sciatica: Being hypocritical. Fear of money and of the future.
Scleroderma: Protecting the self from life. Not trusting yourself to be there and to take care of yourself.
Seasickness: Fear. Fear of death. Lack of control.
Seizures: Running away from the family, from self, or from life.
Senility: Returning to the so-called safety of childhood. Demanding care and attention. A form of control of those around you. Escapism.
Shin: Represents the standards of life. Breaking down ideals.
Shingles: Waiting for the other shoe to drop. Fear and tension. Too sensitive.
Shoulders: Represent our ability to carry out experiences in life joyously. We make life a burden by our attitude.
Sickle Cell Anemia: A belief that one is not good enough, which destroys the very joy of life.
Sinus Problems: Irritation to one person, someone close.
Skeleton: Crumbling of structure. Bones represent the structure of life.
Skin: Protects our individuality. A sense organ.
Skin Problems: Anxiety, fear. Old, buried guck. I am being threatened.
Slipped Disc: Feeling totally unsupported by life. Indecisive.
Snoring: Stubborn refusal to let go of old patterns.
Solar Plexus: Gut reactions. Center of our intuitive power.
Sore Throat: Holding in angry words. Feeling unable to express self.
Sores: Unexpressed anger that settles in.
Spasms: Tightening our thoughts through fear.
Spinal Curvature (Scoliosis Kyphosis): The inability to flow with the support of Life. Fear and trying to hold on to old ideas. Not trusting life. Lack of integrity. No courage of conviction.
Spinal Meningitis: Inflamed thinking and rage at life.
Spine: Flexible support of life.
Spleen: Obsessions. Being obsessed about things.
Sprains: Anger and resistance. Not wanting to move in a certain direction in life.
Sterility: Fear and resistance to the process of life or not needing to go through the parenting experience.
Stiff Neck: Unbending bullheadedness.
Stiffness: Rigid, stiff thinking.
Stomach: Holds nourishment. Digests ideas. 
Stomach Problems: Dread. Fear of the new. Inability to assimilate the new.
Stroke: Giving up. Resistance. Rather die than change. Rejection of life.
Stuttering: Insecurity. Lack of self-expression. Not being allowed to cry.
Sty: Looking at life through angry eyes. Angry at someone.
Swelling: Being stuck in thinking. Clogged, painful ideas.

T


Teeth: Represent decisions.
Teeth Problems: Longstanding indecisiveness. Inability to break down ideas for analysis and decisions.
Teeth - Root Canal: Can’t bite into anything anymore. Root beliefs being destroyed.
Teeth - Impacted Wisdom Teeth: Not giving yourself mental space to create a firm foundation.
Testicles: Masculine principles. Masculinity.
Tetanus: A need to release angry, festering thoughts.
Throat: Avenue of expression. Channel of creativity.
Throat Problems: The inability to speak up for one’s self. Swallowed anger. Stifled creativity. Refusal to change.
Throat - Sore: Holding in angry words. Feeling unable to express the self.
Thrush: Anger over making the wrong decisions.
Thymus: Feeling attacked by life. They are out to get me.
Thyroid: Humiliation. “I never get to do what I want to do. When is it going to be my turn.”
Thyroid - Hyperthyroid: Rage at being left out.
Tics, Twitches: Fear. A feeling of being watched by others.
Tinnitus or Ringing in the Ears: Refusal to listen. Not hearing the inner voice. Stubbornness.
Toes: Represent the minor details of the future.
Tongue: Represents the ability to taste the pleasures of life with joy.
Tonsillitis: Fear. Repressed emotions. Stifled creativity.
Tumors: Nursing old hurts and shocks. Building remorse.

U

Ulcers: Fear. A strong belief that you are not good enough. What is eating away at you?
Urethritis: Angry, emotions. Being pissed off. Blame.
Urinary infections: Pissed off, usually at the opposite sex or a lover. Blaming others.
Uterus: Represents the home of creativity.

V

Vaginitis: Anger at a mate. Sexual guilt. Punishing the self.
Varicose Veins: Standing in a situation you hate. Discouragement. Feeling over-worked and overburdened.
Venereal Dis-ease: Sexual guilt. Need for punishment. Belief that the genitals are sinful or dirty. Abusing another.
Viral Infections: Lack of joy flowing through life. Bitterness.
Vitiligo: Feeling completely outside of things. Not belonging. Not one of the group.
Vomiting: Violent rejection of ideas. Fear of the new.
Vulva: Represents vulnerability.

W

Warts: Little expressions of hate. Belief in ugliness.
Warts - Plantar: Anger at the very basis of your understanding. Spreading frustration about the future.
Weakness: A need for mental rest.
Whiteheads: Hiding ugliness.
Wisdom Tooth, Impacted: Not giving yourself mental space to create a firm foundation.
Wounds: Anger and guilt at the self.
Wrist: Represents movement and ease.

Y
Yeast Infections: Denying your own needs. Not supporting yourself.

This partial list was taken from the book written by Louise L. Hay titled "Heal Your Body A-Z". The information can also be found in her book titled "You Can Heal Your Life"

Find out what your body is trying to get your attention about!

I would like to share with you some of the highlights of our book club meeting on Wednesday night.  We always  have  great conversations and learn such valuable information from each other and the book, or in this case, the podcast we are featuring.  

Here are some of the insights from Jada PInkett Smith and Jay Shetty:  

 We all have a story and we are sticking to it.  We believe ideas about ourselves that have been planted in our mind from childhood and we tell these stories repeatedly.  We need to change our story because most of what we believe about ourselves isn't true. Without this realization, change will not happen. 

Our  story has been created  through the Ego - “I am the best at living my pain, better than you. I am unique and alone in this experience.” 

We are not the only ones with a story with pain, suffering or hardship.  Everyone has suffered in their life.  This adversity is meant to help you find the giant within yourself. It is meant to help you grow and develop as a person. 

There is a warrior inside of all of us but there are times when  we have to lay the warrior down as warriors can be cruel and unloving.   Fighting or defending ourselves doesn't always help our relationships  and can take us further away from our connection to our own heart.  We are no longer in a space of love and compassion.  

We can ask ourselves, do our actions coincide with our beliefs and morals.  When we are reactive we hurt ourselves as well as others.    

You are ultimately responsible for what and who you bring into your life.  You teach people how to treat you and what you expect in relationships.  

Each relationship exists to show us the shadows within ourselves. Relationships show us who we are, and to resolve our childhood issues.  Once you are able to walk into the mindfields of the two traumatized kids you are, you begin a spiritual relationship versus a romantic one.    

We can  ask ourselves what did my parents teach me that I am projecting onto my partner.  Jay Shetty’s Mom seemed to be able to  read his mind and then he expected his wife to be able to do the same thing. 

Self love is the key to spiritual growth and development but we have to love the ugly parts of ourselves or what Jada calls the shadows, as well as the good parts. As part of the process we have to let go of the ego. We have to look at ourselves and take responsibility. 

 We look to have people in our lives who confirm who we think we are. - to confirm our story. We need to surround ourselves with people who  are honest with us.  

 
Love is cultivated through stillness and meditation.  This is when we see our trauma patterns and connect with a higher source.  

Jada ends the interview explaining true love which she says is not red but blue.  Calm, gentle, still and unconditional.  Sounds like a very nice place to be.  



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If you watched the video from last week's Newsletter about 6 Phase Meditation you heard how this practice has brought joy to Rebecca Austin’s life ( wiseangels11.com).  I have only been practicing 6 Phase Meditation for a week but have  found  it very powerful. Imagine if the whole world started their day this way!

Here are some details about the 6 phases so that you can incorporate them into your own life:

Stage 1 -  Kindness/Compassion.   In Vishen’s words this phase involves, “Expressing the intention of moving from judgement to caring, from isolation to connection, from indifference or dislike to understanding...This phase is about feeling connected to other people and having a sense of compassion towards them.”  In yoga terms, I feel this phase is spreading light and love within ourselves and then out to others.  

Stage 2 - Gratitude.  The practice of gratitude has been scientifically proven to improve mood, energy, creates higher emotional intelligence, lessons depression and anxiety  and influences overall  happiness.  Incorporate this practice into your life by thinking each day of 3 things you are grateful for in your personal life, your business life and in yourself.  

Stage 3 -  Forgiveness.  This is important and life-changing. In this phase you must make the conscious decision to forgive anyone you feel has done you wrong, that you have feelings of ill-will towards or even anyone you hold a grudge against or are judgemental towards.  Holding onto these feelings means you are carrying around negative energy that can affect your mood, health, and feelings of loving compassion towards the world.   

Stage 4 -  Vision of the Future.  Imagine how you would like your future to look  3 years from now.  Imagine each part of your life including your love life, your health, your body, your career or business.  It's called Future Dreaming.  The idea is not to brood over how it will happen but to see the happiness that these successes will bring.  This phase is about momentum. 

Stage 5 -  Intentions   In this phase you set your intentions for the day by  picturing your perfect day and evening. See your day like a mini movie unfolding exactly as you would like it to be starting with a perfect morning and ending with a sound sleep.  

Stage 6 -  Blessing.  In this phase you turn to whatever higher power you believe in and ask for support.  A technique that helps you is to imagine a powerful light coming down from above  surrounding you and bathing you in endless energy to support your  work.  

These meditation phases or mental exercises can take you 5 minutes or 10 minutes depending on how detailed you want to be.  You can do it sitting or lying down, walking or moving.  Try it for a week and see if it brings you joy and happiness as well.  




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As we have been consumed with protecting ourselves from Covid and again enjoying  our parks, beaches, gardens and golf course I would like to remind everyone to protect themselves against ticks.  It's important to enjoy nature and the outdoors but do so with safety in mind.  

Lyme is difficult to diagnose and treat and its symptoms can linger for years. Lyme Disease is on the rise because the black-legged ticks that spread the disease are more prevalent.  Reports indicate that tick borne diseases have more than doubled in the last 12 years.  Climate change, mild winters and expansion of the number of animals that carry ticks are several reasons for the increase. 


I have done a fair bit of research on Lyme as I have several clients with Lyme and would like to share some insights about the disease itself:

1. Tick borne disease is underdiagnosed yet ticks carry a variety of diseases.  It  is often the cause of all sorts of auto-immune conditions, gut issues, neurological issues, neurodegenerative, depression, chronic fatigue, heart disease and the list goes on. 
2. These bacteria's suppress the immune system making it hard to fight the disease.  
3. There is something called Chronic Lyme Disease which means that long term infection causes havoc with multiple systems in the body.  Others may have mild symptoms and recover in 2 to 3 weeks.  
4. The traditional approach involves a course of antibiotics but little help if symptoms such as inflammation, sleep issues, neurological symptoms, heart and cognitive symptoms persist beyond these few weeks.
5. Many autoimmune diseases including fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue  are symptoms of Lyme disease.  Lyme disease is a great mimic of other diseases such as Parkinsons, MS, and Alzheimer's
6. There are many weird symptoms that come with Lyme and one of the little known symptoms of Lyme Disease is Bell's palsy of the gut which causes severe digestive symptoms.  These symptoms gradually appear over time.
7. Traditional medicine has limited resources for treating Lyme. Functional, Chinese, Ayurvedic and Naturopathic Medicine all have alternative protocols that show promise in reducing symptoms.  
8. Nutrition, lifestyle choices, herbs and vitamin therapies are useful in treatment. It is important to get the levels of Lyme down and at the same time boost the immune system It is important to treat your whole systems.  Garlic, medicinal mushrooms, sauna and infra-red therapy, Vitamin D, sunshine exposure are a few  effective treatments.   

 
Here are some tips on how to prevent getting bitten:

1. First, realize that ticks are found almost everywhere in North American and can be found  in the long grass and low vegetation.  Avoid walking in long grasses. That golf ball in the rough isn't worth a tick bite.  
2. Cover up or use insect repellents.  If you are going in the woods, wear long pants, shoes with socks, a hat  and a long sleeved shirt.     Ticks hang out on vegetation waiting for you to brush against them so they can latch on.  If that seems like too many clothes to wear on a hot day, apply insect repellent with at least 20 percent DEET.  (Yes, I  know it's toxic but getting Lyme is no FUN!, so it's the lesser of two evils) 
3. Check yourself and your pets for ticks after your adventure in the woods or your backyard.  Showering as soon as you come in is recommended.  
4. If you find a tick, remove it carefully with tweezers and store it in a plastic bag and keep it to be analyzed for disease.  

This is just some information regarding a very serious disease that is much more rampant than people realize.  Please, first protect yourself but if you do get bit, get help beyond the traditional antibiotic approach.  


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