The annual physical needs to be completely overhauled to include a focus on prevention rather than merely identifying whats already broken. Studies have shown the annual physical, as is currently done, has no impact on mortality. We need to include more predictive biomarkers that can lead to proactive lifestyle or medication changes which can help to prevent serious problems down the road.

Asa part of my interview series with leaders in healthcare, I had the pleasure to interview Dr. Myles Spar. Dr. Spar is founder of the Tack180 Integrative Health Program and is now the Chief Medical Officer for Vault Health, an optimal health program for men. He is also the director of the Integrative Medicine program at the Simms-Mann Health and Wellness Center at Venice Family Clinic. He is a Clinical faculty member of the UCLA and University of Arizona Schools of Medicine. Dr Spar has served as a consultant to the NBA, working with many NBA teams on optimal health and Integrative Medicine issues. He co-edited Integrative Mens Health from Oxford University Press and his book, Optimal Mens Health: Your guide to being healthy in order to win! comes out in February 2020. Dr. Spar is the recipient of the Bravewell Award for Leadership in Integrative Medicine in 2013. Born in Charleston, South Carolina, Dr. Spar attended the University of Michigan Medical School and worked as a humanitarian for Medecins sans Frontieres/Doctors without Borders, which triggered his appreciation for the role of health in each persons ability to achieve their goals.

Thank you so much for doing this with us Dr. Spar! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?

Ifinished my medical training in Internal Medicine feeling wholly unprepared to really address a good 50% of what my patients needed help with preventing disease, being proactive or incorporating simple lifestyle changes in order to help manage chronic conditions. I was taught how to prescribe medications. So, I figured if I was only really trained to treat acute disease I might as well go where acute disease is really bad so I joined Doctors without Borders. It was when I was working abroad with that amazing organization that I saw the power of non-western interventions on the ability to stay healthy. I saw people who were eating relatively healthy and engaging in regular activity with tight family and community structures elements that were clearly contributing substantially to health. So, I came back to the U.S. committed to learning what else was science-based that I could include in my Doctors tool-kit besides a prescription pad.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began leading your company?

Im always asked why I cant include women in my mens health program. I think many women also appreciate a goal-oriented, direct, heres what to do next approach to health, yet most practitioners talk a lot about general ideas of wellness and prevention without specific plans.

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

One of the funniest mistakes I made early on was to use the language of Integrative Medicine that I had learned focusing on holistic practice and wellness. This was funny because I was trying to reach men, and I was having a very hard time getting my business going. It took me a while to realize that men arent ever going to miss eating a hotdog in the name of wellness. But tell him that eating hotdogs will impact his ability to get erections, and hell never eat a hotdog again. I learned how to engage men in their health by focusing on their goals not just sexual goals, but what goals mattered to them beyond abstract ideas of wellness.

What do you think makes your company stand out? Can you share a story?

We offer men specific strategies to achieve their goals and see health as a tool to achieve those goals not as the goal itself. I had a patient who had high blood pressure that he was trying to get under control. Every time he went to his doctor, they reviewed his blood pressure log and tweaked his medications. He came to me and I asked about his goals why did it matter to him whether or not his blood pressure was under control and he was floored. No one had ever asked him that . Once we identified that his goal was to play tennis without getting as winded or worrying about his heart, he was much more engaged in changing his diet and working on stress things that made a big difference in his blood pressure.

We focus on what matters to the patient not whats the matter with the patient and offer a strategy to optimize health so that he can achieve his goals. Thats unlike most medical encounters.

What advice would you give to other healthcare leaders to help their team to thrive?

Keep the patient front and center and treat each one like youd want to be treated or like youd want your Mom to be treated.

Ok, thank you for that. Lets jump to the main focus of our interview. According tothis studycited by Newsweek, the US healthcare system is ranked as the worst among high income nations. This seems shocking. Can you share with us 35 reasons why you think the US is ranked so poorly?

1 Social determinants of health weigh heavily on outcomes. Your zip code is a stronger predictor of when you will die than anything else. That speaks volumes.

2 Many people in the U.S. would rather eat poorly, avoid exercise and sleep minimally and take a pill to deal with the repercussions rather than change their lifestyle.

3 Our training as doctors is all about treatment of acute illness, so that remains our focus. We dont learn about prevention or lifestyle approaches to staying healthy.

You are a healthcare insider. If you had the power to make a change, can you share 5 changes that need to be made to improve the overall US healthcare system? Please share a story or example for each.

1 Focus on goals rather than chief complaints. If we started each visit asking patients what they wanted their health for, it would frame all encounters differently making it about what the patient wants and needs, rather than simply what is wrong that needs fixing. Its a very different dynamic that gets created, with practitioner as guide and facilitator rather than purveyor of medications.

2 The annual physical needs to be completely overhauled to include a focus on prevention rather than merely identifying whats already broken. Studies have shown the annual physical, as is currently done, has no impact on mortality. We need to include more predictive biomarkers that can lead to proactive lifestyle or medication changes which can help to prevent serious problems down the road.

3 At Vault, we will equip every member with a wearable device and a dashboard, enabling men to track their outcomes of interest and learn what health interventions really impact the aspects of their health that matters to them. That helps gain real insight into which lifestyle habits make the biggest impacts for each individual.

4 We need to make it easier for men to want to learn how to get healthier making it macho to seek care when needed.

5 We need a single payer system for primary health care. When profit is the goal, quality of care becomes secondary and access to care becomes tiered in unfair ways

Ok, its very nice to suggest changes, but what concrete steps would have to be done to actually manifest these changes? What can a) individuals, b) corporations, c) communities and d) leaders do to help?

1 Practitioners can learn more about the healthiest diets, ways to exercise and manage stress and ways to help patients with sleep focusing more on lifestyle recommendations than medication prescribing.

2 Communities can strive to be like the Blue Zones, incorporating schools, health departments, city planners and local restaurants in initiatives that make it easier to move, interact and eat in healthier ways.

3 Male professional athletes and other male role models can encourage men to take better care of themselves and to reach out for help when needed.

4 We need to change our industrial agriculture policy such that nonorganic GMO crops are not subsidized and organic fruits and vegetables are, so that there can be cheaper good quality food available across all populations.

Im interested in the interplay between the general healthcare system and the mental health system. Right now, we have two parallel tracks, mental/behavioral health and general health. What are your thoughts about this status quo? What would you suggest to improve this?

1 Life expectancy is dropping, largely from drug-related deaths and suicides. There needs to be less of a stigma for men to admit to feeling anxious or stressed or depressed and to seek help when needed. Professional athletes like Kevin Love and Demar Derozan have gone public with their mental health issues, opening up this door for men to seek help when needed. We need to make more of an effort to make it comfortable for men to get help.

How would you define an excellent healthcare provider?

One who meets the patient where they are at and focuses on what matters to the patient, not whats the matter with the patient.

Can you please give us your favorite Life Lesson Quote? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

Assume a virtue if you have it not.

William Shakespeare

I often tell patients who dont think they can change their diet or start to exercise, that they should act as if they eat healthier or are an avid exerciser, and by, God, they will become that which they pretend to be.

Are you working on any exciting new projects now? How do you think that will help people?

I just started as Chief Medical Officer of Vault Health a corporation dedicated to bringing performance and prevention-oriented health tools to men. I think we will engage men in caring for their health such that we will shrink the difference in life expectancy between men and women.

What are your favorite books, podcasts, or resources that inspire you to be a better healthcare leader? Can you explain why you like them?

I love the podcasts The Drive by Peter Attia and the Rich Roll Podcast. Peter is a brilliant doctor who covers in-depth information about cutting edge health topics related to aging and prevention. Rich is an ultra-triathlete who is plant powered he is also brilliant and a terrific interviewer.

I am excited by the work of David Perlmutter and Dale Bredesen regarding neurologic health, so I am an avid reader and listener to anything they write or say.

You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger.

I aim to inspire a movement for men to engage in being proactive about their health, recognizing that healthy food, regular movement, managing stress, sleeping better and connecting with others are fundamental to achieving their goals.

How can our readers follow you on social media?

Instagram @DrSpar

Twitter @drspar

Facebook MylesSparMD

Thank you so much for these insights! This was so inspiring!

Read more here:
The Future of Healthcare With Dr. Myles Spar - Thrive Global

MILWAUKEE In 2019, alternative methods of self help and integrative medicine are becoming more and more popular. CBD products are found in large department stores. Yoga, while it has been prevalent in American culture for a long time, is still growing in popularity. Meditation is common, but there is one type of meditation that is gaining steam in Milwaukee and the United States. It's called Gong Bath Meditation.

"There's a lot of sound and it sounds really good," Andrew Royal, a psychotherapist and host of gong baths, said in simple terms.

It's a form of sound or music therapy.

The participant lays down on a yoga mat. They can use a pillow and/or blanket for added comfort. The host of the meditation will hit a gong, and the swelling sound and reverberations are meant to relax you.

"We dim the lights and then start to play and then let the sounds carry us all to whoever it needs to," Royal said.

These aren't small echoes either. The gong creates a thick and full sound that reverberates throughout the room and you can feel it in your chest.

Plus, there is no sheet music or specific song. It is all improvised, his partner and fellow practitioner Adriana Royal, said.

"It's usually just receiving the sound and responding to it," Adriana Royal, an acupuncturist, said.

Both can play at once or they can switch off playing the two gongs they own. They have different sized and textured mallets which they use to generate various sounds and frequencies. Some mallets are large, hollow, and soft. Others are small, dense, and hard.

"Size and also the density of it will create loud or softer sounds," Adriana said.

The setting of a gong bath is designed to create maximum comfort to allow the participant to loose themselves in the sound.

"We try to not describe at all what's going to happen, but we ask people to be receptive as they can be to whatever it is that's going to happen," Andrew Royal said.

Both Royals noted that gong baths can have various effects on a person. While the goal is to put you in an almost sedated-trance-like-state, that doesn't mean your mind will go blank.

"(Two people) laying right next to each other on the floor, and one person says something like it was so loud I could barely stand it and then the person next to them says I thought it was really quiet," Andrew Royal said.

The first descriptions of gongs dates back to 6th century China; however, it is believed that gongs were used for thousands of years before that. In the 1790's, gongs were used in western European orchestra performances. It's unclear when they became a specific meditative practice or brought to the U.S., but gongs have always been used for ceremonial, musical, and religious purposes.

"There (are) some people who know this is not like a secret anymore," Andrew Royal said.

Now, gong baths are gaining popularity in the U.S. and Milwaukee. There are some of the places that offer gong bath meditations in southeast Wisconsin including:

Gong baths can also be done during commemorative times. The Royals have hosted meditations at baptisms, birthdays, and memorial services.

"Literally we are holding space for people to meditate together," Adriana Royal said.

View original post here:
Gong Bath Meditation is becoming more popular in Wisconsin - WTMJ-TV

One of the most popular supplements on the market is fish oil. Celebrities and wellness gurus alike take it to make their hair thicker, their skin more supple, and their nails stronger. Doctors recommend it for its anti-inflammatory benefits: It can actually help reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer, dementia, symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, and age-related macular degeneration, among other diseases, says Sydney Axelrod, a dietitian at the Mount Sinai Health System. "For people who are at high risk of developing cardiovascular disease, taking fish oil supplements for at least six months has been shown to reduce risk of heart-related events, such as a heart attacks, and even death," she says.

Omega-3 fatty acids are the star nutrients in fish oil that give them these healthful, anti-inflammatory benefits. In a nutshell, omega-3s are a group of polyunsaturated fats that the body doesn't make on its own, so it's essential to get them from food. There are three well-known types of omega-3s: alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). ALA can be found in nuts and plants, but EPA and DHA can only be sourced from fish. All three, however, are needed for healthy mental and physical functionand fish oil supplements can help increase DHA and EPA levels. However, these supplementsas with everythingare neither a magic pill nor a quick fix. Here, everything you need to know about fish oil supplements.

Related: Should You Take a Dietary Supplement?

"As with many supplements, there is a difference between getting the nutrient from its source and getting it extracted into a supplement," says Dr. Richard Firshein, founder of the Firshein Center for Integrative Medicine. "My advice is always to get nutrients from foods first. With fish, twice per week would be ideal. Salmon and sardines are the best source of omega-3s, without the risk of excessive mercury exposure," he says.

Choose your supplement wisely, since fish oils can be contaminated with mercury or heavy metals. An easy way to protect yourself? Use one that's pharmaceutical grade. Look for a "third-party tested" stamp on them, too (a popular third-party tester is GOED, the Global Organization for EPA and DHA Omega-3); it's essentially a stamp of approval for purity. "It shows the supplements are probably safe and actually contain what they say they do," Alexrod says. Ensure that your supplement contains about 1,000 milligrams of fish oil, with 180 milligrams of EPA and 120 milligrams of DHA, she explains, adding that Nutrigold Triple Strength Fish Oil Omega-3 Gold ($22.38, nutrigold.com)covers all of those bases.

Finally, Axelrod says to consider fish oil that is certified by the Marine Stewardship Council, the Environmental Defense Fund, or a similar organization, as "small fish with short lifespans tend to be more sustainable," she says. And don't forget to check the expiration date. "Omega-3s are prone to going rancid," she says. "Once they go bad, they will have a foul smell, and become less potent or even harmful." Make sure the supplement contains an antioxidant, like vitamin E, which will keep it fresh and help prevent oxidation, she adds.

"Omega-3s are essential nutrients for both mom and baby," says Perri Halperin, clinical nutrition coordinator at Mount Sinai. "Research has shown that including EPA and DHA in the diet during pregnancy has a positive effect on the cognitive development of the baby and reduces the risk of pre-term labor."

The anti-inflammatory properties in fish oil can protect hair follicles and reduce dryness and irritation, Dr. Firshein says. "Some studies have shown a positive relationship between omega-3 fatty acids containing supplements and hair health," Halperin adds. "However, these studies are limited and more research is needed to examine the effect of fish oil on hair growth."

Related: What to Eat for Your Healthiest Hair Ever

While Axelrod says the anti-inflammatory factor in fish oil may reduce acne in some people, in others, they may actually cause blemishes, Dr. Firshein warns. "Fish oils may interact with hormones, and this may create an imbalance that promotes acne in people who are predisposed," he says. "Other less understood factors may include reactions to bacteria in the gut, and excess oil or sebum production, which stimulate bacterial growth on the skin."

"Taking too much fish oil can lead to vitamin toxicities and an overdose of omega-3 fatty acids," Halperin says. "The FDA recommends no more than three grams per day of EPA and DHA combined, including up to two grams per day from dietary supplements." Side effects from over-supplementation can include bleeding problems, compromised immune function, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. (Plus, fish oils may thin blood, Dr. Firshein says, so if you have a history of bleeding disorders or stroke, be sure to discuss taking supplements with your doctor; take the same approach if you have a diagnosed fish allergy.)

"This is a relatively new concern as we continue to pollute the earth with plastics and marine life consumes them," Dr. Firshein says. "At this point, I wouldn't recommend people just taking a fish oil pill without understanding why they are taking them. But with current purification processes, we can be relatively assured there is a low risk of plastic exposure. We currently lack tests to determine the smallest molecules, however fish liver would most likely be contaminated the most."

As for mercury? Halperin says that one independent study regarding fish oil supplements found that all of the products tested contained only very low levels of mercury, ranging from one six parts per billion per serving, which is well below 100 parts per billion, the upper safety limit set by the Global Organization for EPA and DHA Omega-3s. Even if fish oil supplements don't do everything doctors hoped, "they're still an important supplement to consider for anyone concerned about their health," Dr. Firshein says.

Read more:
Here's Everything You Need to Know About Fish Oil Supplements - Yahoo Lifestyle

President and CEOGBMC HealthCare

Dr. John Chessare has made major changes at GBMC HealthCare since taking over as president and CEO in 2010. In late 2010, Chessare put the health system on a new course by working with the board of directors on a vision statement.

We must transform our philosophy and organizational structure and develop a model system for delivering patient-centered care, he wrote in part in the statement. We define patient-centered care as the care that manages the patients health effectively and efficiently while respecting the perspective and experience of the patient and the patients family.

Chessare started his medical career as a pediatrician but moved into leadership and management because he saw that while employees are dedicated and professional, many health systems are poorly designed.

Our vision forces us to redesign care, he said. Redesigning care has become our core competency. We are out ahead of most organizations in the movement from volume to value in health care because of this. We are thriving as a company because of our ability to redesign and innovate.

Among the innovations under Chessare are patient-centered medical homes that provide advanced primary care in 10 sites in Baltimore County and city, home elder medical care for frail senior citizens and the systems integrative and palliative medicine programs.

Our countrys health care system is so wasteful and is not meeting the needs of the American people, so it is a joy for me to come to work every day to build (a working) system, he said in a 2018 interview.

More here:
Dr. John Chessare - Maryland Daily Record

Conquering Arthritis Meet the University of Arizona Arthritis Center Researchers will be presented Wednesday, Nov. 6, 6-7:15 p.m., at the Health Sciences Innovation Building on the UA Health Science campus, 1670 E. Drachman St., Tucson.

This event features a look into the future of care, prevention, and ultimately a cure, for this debilitating disease. A panel discussion with UArizona Arthritis Center Director C. Kent Kwoh, MD, pain management specialist Mohab Ibrahim, PhD, MD, and mind-body medicine pioneer Esther Sternberg, MD, will follow the researcher open house and poster displays.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate nearly 55 million Americans have some form of arthritis, including almost half of those over age 65. Arthritis affects more women than men and can affect children as young as 6 months old. It is the leading cause of disability in the United States.

The UArizona Arthritis Center is Arizonas only multi-disciplinary center of excellence dedicated to research and education into the causes, treatments and eventually a cure for arthritis. The center conducts basic, translational and epidemiological research to understand why patients get arthritis, the risk factors for who gets arthritis and analyzes the outcomes to understand how arthritis impacts the patients quality of life.

Featured UArizona Arthritis Center researchers who will present at the event include:

Research topics will include:

Seating for the lecture is limited and prior registration is requested. For more information or to register, visit the UArizona Arthritis Center website, arthritis.arizona.edu, or call 520-626-5040 or email [emailprotected]

Free parking is available after 5 p.m. in the Lot Specific 2012 parking lot next to the Health Sciences Innovation Building and the Lot Specific 2147 parking lot across the street on Cherry Avenue between Helen and Mabel Streets, as well as in all Lot Specific parking lots on the UArizona Health Sciences campus and the Health Sciences Garage (formerly the Banner University Medical Center Tucson Visitor/Patient Parking Garage) at 1501 N. Campbell Ave. For disabled parking, or drop off location next to the Health Sciences Innovation Building, please email [emailprotected], or call 520-626-5040.

If you have questions concerning access, wish to request a Sign Language interpreter or disability-related accommodations, contact Tracy Shake, 520-626-5040, email: [emailprotected]

The lecture is part of the Living Healthy with Arthritis series of free monthly talks presented by the UArizona Arthritis Center at the UArizona College of Medicine Tucson and supported through the Susan and Saul Tobin Endowment for Research and Education in Rheumatology.

Read the original post:
Meet University of Arizona Arthritis Center researchers - Jewish Post

Posted: Nov 1, 2019 / 02:59 PM HST / Updated: Nov 1, 2019 / 02:59 PM HST

Honolulu (KHON2) IV Nutritional therapy is nolonger just a secret of the stars, its catching on with locals who see thebenefits of getting a cocktail of vitamins and minerals at HawaiiNatural Medicine.

Dr. Stephen Benchouk welcomed Living808 to seehow it works, saying IV Vitamin Therapy is anintravenous injection that delivers vitamins, minerals, and amino acidsnutrients directly to the cells of the body. These nutrients are directlyabsorbed into the circulatory system, bypassing the gastrointestinal tractthereby increasing the absorptive and therapeutic capability. It is oftenprescribed as part of a complete, holistic and individualized treatmentplan.

Many clients use IV therapyfor colds, flu, fatigue, jetlag, hangover, and dehydration, or for pre and postexercise recovery.

Clients fill out an intake form and based on the clients chief concerns, and an infusion is customized for that individual.

According to Dr. Benchouk, Morecomplicated cases such as cancer, autoimmune conditions and chronic diseasewill need a more comprehensive protocol which may include diet, supplements,herbs, medication, and life style changes.

IV Nutritional therapy has been around for years, Dr. Myers made it popular back in the 60s treating a variety of condition with a cocktail of vitamins and minerals.Since then, adds Benchouk, there has been decades of research on the effectiveness of using specific nutrients to treat specific conditions safely and without many of the side effects associated with some conventional medications. It has been used extensively by naturopathic doctors who are trained in application of therapeutic nutrition in both acute and chronic conditions.

Dr. Benchouk is a naturopathic doctor ora primary care physician who specializes in alternative and integrativemedicine. One of his most effective and popular treatments is IV vitamintherapy.

Clients are looking to treat the cause of their health concerns or looking for an alternative to convention medical treatments as those treatments come with side effects or are no longer effective. HNM specializes in integrative oncology, chronic conditions like autoimmune disorders, gastro intestinal disorders, endocrine disorders, most chronic conditions, and general wellness and prevention.

The IV treatments have gotten sopopular, HNM recently launched a mobile service called IV Drip Hawaii.

Mention Living808 and throughoutNovember, youll receive 15% off your introductory IV Vitamin Therapy.

Websites: http://www.hawaiinaturalmedicine.com https://ivdriphawaii.com/

Hawaii Natural Medicine islocated at 1188 Bishop Street, Suite 1605

See more here:
Hawaii Natural Medicine Offers IV Nutritional Therapy for Wellness - KHON2

Photo byZoltan TasionUnsplash

For about 7 years, our team, now known as YogaX , has been promoting the integrative nature of yoga practice and philosophy. We have demonstrated via research that integrated yoga can be helpful in the fields of medicine, psychology, and physical exercise. It is now becoming clear that our emphasis on teaching a yoga that is inclusive of holistic lifestyle practices is also important to the field of mindfulness. Over the past decades, mindfulness has emerged as a powerful intervention in many contexts. Thanks to influential scientists, such as Jon Kabbat-Zin and Rick Hanson, and technology solutions, such as Calm, Headspace, and Insight Timer, mindfulness has become a widely-accepted and common practice.

Mindfulnesshas achieved a can-do-no-harmreputation. However, have you ever met adaily meditator who creates harm, lacks awareness, demands attention, fishesfor compliments, or plays on a phone through a conversation? Of course, we all have! Meditation cannotexcuse us from being human and it is not a complete solution for lifeimprovement.

Psychologicalresearch asserts that awareness is necessary but not sufficient forchange. Mindfulness is often practiced asan attention-strengthening activity. Forexample, the act of listening to a meditation for 5 minutes in the morning ornoticing your breathing for 10 minutes after lunch helps build the capacity forpaying attention. Enhanced attention isincredibly helpful and a necessary ingredient for change. However, without a path to help place attentionon life practices that create harmony and purpose, attention is simply noticing;in and of itself, it not transformed into change.

A recent article by Eric Dolan in PsyPost this August (link here) reviewed a study demonstrating that the non-judgmental practice of mindfulness may actually increase immoral behavior in meditators. The study involved 714 German adults (Study linked here) assigned to a brief mindfulness meditation practice or listened to a control recording. Participants assigned to the mindfulness condition showed less effort toward repairing damage, for example, after losing a friends bicycle. One possible explanation is that non-reactiveness facilitated by meditation reduced negative feelings caused by losing the bicycle. This reduction in negative affect may have resulted in less effort to repair the relationship and make amends.

Although researchers continue to question and explore themechanism of action that might have given rise to this finding, the point iswell taken. Mindfulness by itself doesnot provide guidance about how to live an ethical life. It is designed to increase the capacity forawareness and concentration. While theseskills have a number of standalone benefits, including decreased stress andstress-related physical reactions, they are not skills that necessarilytranslate into ethical or moral action.

Yoga philosophy, on the other hand, treats mindfulness asonly one part of a larger system of living called the eight limbs of yoga. The eight limbs of yoga detail a path towardsawakening, the final state of meditative consciousness. The eight limbs are as follows:

Limb 1 Yamas: ethical life choices

Limb 2 Niyamas: disciplined lifestyle

Limb 3 Asana: movement and posture

Limb 4 Pranayama: breath and energy awareness

Limb 5 Pratyahara: sense withdrawal to turn inward

Limb 6 Dharana: concentration

Limb 7 Dhyana: meditation

Limb 8 Samadhi: absorption or union with a greater whole

The foundational practices of the eight limbs are the ethicaland disciplined lifestyle choices (called the Yamas and Niyamas, which you canread about in our blog). Yoga ethics encourage us to promotepeacefulness (non-harming), truthfulness, non-stealing, moderation, andnon-passiveness. Yoga discipline guidesus towards living a life of purity, contentment, discipline, self-reflectionand dedication to the greater good.These practices lay the necessary foundation and create a helpfulcontainer for the development of breath work, movement, and the inner practicesof concentration and meditation.

In this tradition of yoga, mindfulness and meditation practicesare not recommended until ethical practices, personal discipline, breath awareness,embodied movement, and withdrawal of senses are in place. The contemporary urge is to cultivate mindfulnessas a quick tool that facilitates a better system of living. In yoga, however, mindfulness and meditationare practices that rest on and support a holistic and comprehensive lifestyleof compassion, lovingkindness, and joy.

We hope that these yogic wisdoms widen your understanding ofmindfulness and to consider situating your mindfulness practice within a largersystem of living that includes self-inquiry, breathing, and physicalpractice. This holistic approach mightjust enhance your experience of meditation and make you a better person in theprocess.

Thank you for reading.

YogaX

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Want to be a better person? Meditation is not enough. - Thrive Global

KATRA (J&K): Union minister Jitendra Singh on Monday said Article 370, which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir, had blocked the growth of higher education in the erstwhile state, and halted the academic institutions to evolve at par with those in the rest of India.

Singh said even though Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave highest priority to the state and the Centre went out of the way to approve new institutions of higher education, growth of such institutions got thwarted by the vested interests using the bogey of Article 370.

The minister of state in the Prime Ministers Office (PMO) was addressing the inaugural session of the three-day international conference on applied biology and biotechnology at the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU).

In the past five years, Singh said, the state was given two All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), an Indian Institute of Management (IIM) and Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), nearly eight centrally-funded medical colleges, including three of them in his parliamentary constituency of Udhampur.

The minister said these institutions failed to pick up because of lack of faculty and lack of research module despite liberal funding from the Modi government,

According to Singh, for any university or institute of higher education to grow, the basic prerequisites include exclusive department or streams of study for research and high standards of research publications, which, in turn, depend upon eminent faculty members selected purely on the basis of merit.

However, the minister added, in the garb of Article 370, no eminent faculty was ready to come here because instead of providing them incentives, they were being offered no incentives.

He also took a dig at the votaries of Article 370 for wrongly citing the name of Maharaja Hari Singh, who signed the instrument of accession to merge Jammu and Kashmir into the Union of India in 1947, to support their argument.

The minister said it was Hari Singh who had brought Ram Nath Chopra from Kolkata and offered him the facility and incentive to start the drug research laboratory (DRL), which is now known as the Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM), Jammu, and is one of the important nationally-renowned institutions.

Much before Independence, he said, Hari Singh used to ensure best of the teaching faculty from outside for the then Prince of Wales College at Jammu.Jitendra Singh emphasised the need to go for the best faculty from any part of the country without any compromise. He suggested greater collaboration of the university with other eminent academic institutions in the region, which according to him, could help in value addition to the education standards. PTI

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blocked growth of J&K higher education institutions: Singh - IndiaPost.com

You dont need big changes to lift your mood. Turn around your hectic day in a jiffy with a few quick tricks Flip through photosWhen you are feeling down, pick your childhood albums or take out your kids baby albums. It may actually make you feel happier than a square of chocolate. Researchers at UKs Open University found this after they examined how much peoples moods rose after looking at personal photos. The study says viewing your old or new happy pictures makes people feel 11% better. Inhale calming scentsFill your indoor space with vanilla or lavender essence. In an Austrian study, researchers wafted the smell of lavender for people. The group felt less anxious, more positive, and calmer when compared with participants not exposed to any fragrance.Open the windowsTo feel happy in seconds, let sunlight stream in. One study of more than 450 women found that those who got the most light, particularly in the morning, reported better mood. Combine exercise with morning light. The exposure amplifies lights beneficial effects on mood, sleep, and alertness.Watch a funny videoA hearty laugh produces a chemical reaction that instantly elevates your mood. When stress builds up or you feel you may snap, make yourself giggle: Watch a funny video clip online.Chop vegetablesYes, this is therapy. According to Andrew Weil, MD, an integrative medicine expert, after a particularly emotional and stressful day, the act of chopping vegetables creates something wonderful this process neutralises the negative mental state in no time.Massage your handsThe act of massaging your hands with oil or cream and rubbing them instantly lifts your mood. Hands and wrists have your pulse points. Happiness is just a tight squeeze away. According to Matt Hertenstein, associate professor of psychology, DePauw University (Indiana, US), even 10 minutes with a massage therapist (or a generous friend) will light up your brains reward centre, get the oxytocin flowing, and have a big effect on your mood, not to mention help relieve aches and pains. Most scientists think that even self-massage, like rubbing your own feet, can rid you of negative emotions.

More here:
Two minutes to lift your mood - Times of India

Delhi Pollution: Keep your indoors clean and dust-free to prevent air pollution health risks

Air quality in Delhi has reached severe category and people have started to experience the health hazards associated with it. Many are experiencing increased coughing, sneezing, irritation in the throat, etc. Alongside is the dip in weather, which is only making things worse. This is the perfect time to have some soothing, herbal teas that can provide relief from health hazards associated with air pollution and also calm you down. In an effort to help with respiratory problems deal with the hazards effects of air pollution, lifestyle coach Luke Coutinho takes to Instagram to share a herbal tea.

Made with ginger, cinnamon and other herbal spices, this herbal tea can reduce irritation in throat, cough, cold, sneezing, etc. You can have it early in the morning, in between meals or in evening.

Sipping warm tea during change in weather in rising pollution can have a soothing effect on your throatPhoto Credit: iStock

Also read:Prolonged Air Pollution Could Affect Your Mood And Work Productivity

To prepare this herbal tea, you need ginger (1 inch piece). 1 tsp of dried ginger powder can also be used as a replacement. Then, take Ceylon cinnamon stick (1) or cinnamon powder (1/4 tsp); basil/tulsi leaves (1/2 tsp); dry or fresh oregano (1 tsp); pepper corns (3), crushed elaichi (2); fennel seeds (1/4 tsp); ajwain or carrom seeds (a tiny pinch); jeera or cumin (1/4 tsp). You can also add optional ingredients: 1-2 cloves of crushed garlic.

Take all the ingredients and them in 2 cups of water. Boil them and reduce it to half. Strain the ingredients and sip on it warm. You can also add some honey or jaggery to the herbal to sweeten its taste.

Also read:Here's How You Can Protect Yourself From Poor Air Quality

1. An age-old and effective home remedy to control cough is chewing some jaggery or gud. Not only does it help in controlling cough, it can also help in removing harmful toxins from your lungs and respiratory tract.

2. Include more ginger in your diet. Apart from the herbal tea mentioned above, you can also try ginger, honey and lemon tea. You can take some grated ginger, lemon juice and honey and add it to boiling water. Strain the mixture and sip warm. It can control your cough, cold and congestion. Ginger contains gingerol and other compounds that can reduce inflammation in the airways and inhibit airway contraction.

Anti-inflammatory properties of ginger can reduce air pollution health risksPhoto Credit: iStock

3. You can also include garlic in your diet as it boost your immunity and help in fighting infections. Garlic has anti-inflammatory properties that can reduce symptoms of asthma as well.

Also read:Beat Ill Effects Of Air Pollution With These Lifestyle Changes That Can Cleanse Your Lungs Naturally

4. Citrus fruits like lemon, amla and oranges can boost your immunity and reduce respiratory symptoms caused by air pollution. Vitamin C in citrus fruits have beneficial effect on the body's immunity.

5. Basil (tulsi) juice or tulsi tea is another herbal tea you can have this time of the year. It can keep you warm and reduce ill effects of air pollution.

6. There is nothing that a soothing cup of turmeric latte won't do during cough and cold. From boosting your immunity to reducing inflammation, the traditional haldi doodh is the perfect remedy for dealing with congestion, sneezing, wheezing, cough, cold and asthma.

(Luke Coutinho, Holistic Lifestyle Coach - Integrative Medicine)

Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.

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Read more from the original source:
Pollution In Delhi: Herbal Teas And Other Ways To Reduce Cough, Cold And Other Health Risks - NDTV News

One of the most common reasons a woman cannot conceive is lack of ovulation (anovulation) or very irregular ovulation. One reason for anovulation is polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), a collection of systemic factors creating congested ovaries that do not ovulate at all or ovulate very irregularly. PCOS is the most common hormonal disorder and affects as many as 5 million women of reproductive age in the U.S.

Another reason for anovulation is hypothalamic amenorrhea, a technical name for when the brain and ovaries do not communicate and the ovaries are taking a nap. This is what happens when some women rapidly lose weight, are on too restrictive of a diet, or their BMI is too low and their periods stop. In both cases, hypothalamic amenorrhea and PCOS, studies show acupuncture can help women begin to ovulate regularly. For example, in one study, women with PCOS who received acupuncture treatments for 10 to 13 weeks saw an increase in ovulation frequency, compared to women who only received therapeutic counseling. It is believed this is because acupuncture can stimulate beta-endorphin production, which in turn can stimulate hormones that initiate ovulation and menstruation.

Incorporating targeted nutrition, supplements, and herbs under the guidance of an acupuncturist can be especially helpful for managing the other symptoms associated with these conditions as well, such as acne, insulin resistance, maintaining a healthy BMI, and digestive disorders.

Read more here:
Struggling With Fertility? Here Are 5 Ways Acupuncture Might Help - mindbodygreen.com

Updated 3:32pm EST, Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Jay Wolkoff. Photo: Contributed photo

Jay Wolkoff. Photo: Contributed photo

Photo: Contributed Photo / Contributed Photo

Jay Wolkoff. Photo: Contributed photo

Jay Wolkoff. Photo: Contributed photo

New Canaan Library seeks natural path to well-being

The season of Winter is fast approaching and while many enjoy the New England change of seasons, the winter months also bring the challenge of preserving good health and mood. The New Canaan Library welcomes nutritionist, and dietitian Jay Wolkoff, who will discuss how integrative and natural strategies can boost immunity and ones overall sense of well-being on Sunday, Nov. 10, at 2 p.m. in the librarys Adrian Lamb Room.

To register for the event, visit the librarys website at newcanaanlibrary.org.

While modern-day living allows us to largely insulate ourselves from the outdoors and enjoy produce from temperate and tropical climates, there also is a certain beauty to acclimating our bodies to the cooler months with warming foods, herbs, and spices, an announcement said. In his presentation, Wolkoff uses his extensive knowledge of nutrition and the sciences combined with integrative strategies to demonstrate how one can support his or her bodys natural immunity as well as keep his or her mood up during the darker and cooler months.

Wolkoff weaves together his background in evidence-based nutrition and the emerging sciences, clinical herbalism, appreciation for mind-body medicine, passion for organic gardening, and love of the outdoors, according to an announcement from the library.

Link:
Lecture: The Natural Path to Boosting Immunity and Mood - New Canaan Advertiser