Thursday, August 6, 2015
8.5.15 There is this vital global conversation these days , regarding assisted dying.
There is this vital global conversation these
days , regarding assisted dying. I think many who find different solutions and
choices for themselves will advance our understanding with their perspectives.
That said , humans are funny creatures , and yet sometimes , knowing we have a
choice can enable us to reaffirm playing through.
At merely 63, it has stuck me how imperfect , and yet how profoundly valuable many difficult experiences prove to be.
Having spent a good amount of time as an Acupressurist, supporting those , young and old , being born at home, dying at home, at facilities , living out their often challenging days in nursing homes , I can say ,
Yes. So much of life we would not choose, if choice was an option.
But even the aged state of isolation, pain and distress and unmet needs ... may be something we would not want to shy from , from inconvenience , from less than optimal comfort and choice.
Let's say we may be here to learn,
or we may learn here with this life we are given.
And yes , here in life often are scenarios that we are hard hard put to say yes to. There at times when enough may just be enough .
At the Cancer Connection the other night, caregivers were talking about life, about death, about people's choices. Some had relatives in Oregon, where there is a protocol to ok assisted suicide. What we are learning is that, with the option in place, people feel more ease at living out their days. Knowing that, at any moment, they can opt out if they wish. That fascinated me. And made a great deal of sense. How often, if we have access to certain things, can we then, just because of that safety net, make the choice of going ahead, the next few steps or moments? That is what they are discovering about the option. Not loads of people taking them up on it, but loads of people with more fear and stress off their mind, knowing that if they ever got to that place, they would get to have some choice.
And still , what experiences are we tempted skip over, to avoid that which have misery and of which we are afraid? I think I very much value the inquiry involved in this global conversation.
At merely 63, it has stuck me how imperfect , and yet how profoundly valuable many difficult experiences prove to be.
Having spent a good amount of time as an Acupressurist, supporting those , young and old , being born at home, dying at home, at facilities , living out their often challenging days in nursing homes , I can say ,
Yes. So much of life we would not choose, if choice was an option.
But even the aged state of isolation, pain and distress and unmet needs ... may be something we would not want to shy from , from inconvenience , from less than optimal comfort and choice.
Let's say we may be here to learn,
or we may learn here with this life we are given.
And yes , here in life often are scenarios that we are hard hard put to say yes to. There at times when enough may just be enough .
At the Cancer Connection the other night, caregivers were talking about life, about death, about people's choices. Some had relatives in Oregon, where there is a protocol to ok assisted suicide. What we are learning is that, with the option in place, people feel more ease at living out their days. Knowing that, at any moment, they can opt out if they wish. That fascinated me. And made a great deal of sense. How often, if we have access to certain things, can we then, just because of that safety net, make the choice of going ahead, the next few steps or moments? That is what they are discovering about the option. Not loads of people taking them up on it, but loads of people with more fear and stress off their mind, knowing that if they ever got to that place, they would get to have some choice.
And still , what experiences are we tempted skip over, to avoid that which have misery and of which we are afraid? I think I very much value the inquiry involved in this global conversation.
8.5.15 Where, oh where, did I put my own sense of choice?
There is something transformative about finding
,within our circumstances , our own choices . Coming from a place of finding
our clear vantage point , looking at options , and then reaffirming what we
shall do as a choice, can make the difference between feeling pressured or
compelled , and coming at our life from a place of clarity and good feeling .
Doing the same thing , with more breath and ease .
8.4.15 People have been asking, so Biofeedback machines For Scanxiety, anxiety, insomnia, stress, health challenges , HTN
For Scanxiety, anxiety, insomnia, stress,
health challenges , HTN- this little thing runs about $100, and is worth it's
weight in gold . A small biofeedback machine you can save for . (We've wrapped
ours in bubble wrap). When you use it with repetition , you learn a behavioral
response that develops strength and agility , so gradually you can use the
machine in intense situations , and access the behavioral response.
It's imperative to have while living with life after cancer, or a cancer diagnosis .
Stressful responses are TOUGH not to have, and harm the capacity to sleep and the immune function .
Acclimating to the use of a little biolfeedback machine is a form of training, and like any training , with repetition and determination , you get into great shape.
When we visited Dana Farber recently. , I used it and handed it off to be used the night before scan results , the drive there , when glitches happened in appts, and the time leading up to scan results .
It is amazing , along w botanicals , to preclude HTN that often develops w chemo , and otherwise necessitates liver-harming HTN meds.
A learned relaxation response occurs with increasing effectiveness with use, and pairing use WITH difficult situations we will encounter again in the future buffers us from stressful responses in a big way.
You put the headphones on, put the thing on your hand , keep the hand relatively still mostly , and breathe and relax .
It's good to do it some while relaxing , but doing it while driving , reading , using tech or tv is fine too. You unconsciously hear the tone change that indicates a lowering of your stress , or can watch the colors change.
It's important to remember that it's a small appliance that exposes you to electromagnetic radiation if you don't keep it 3' from you .
It's great for kids of all ages, as the tone slowly lowers with the increase relaxation response , so learning takes place .
This is the. 'Training' that makes the difference, and creates a greater and greater capacity to settle yourself in difficult important situations .
Giving it a run in tough circumstances increases your unconscious pairing of that situation with profoundly settling yourself. .
Giving enough air time to really hard emotions and understandable fears by using mindfulness AND EFT early in the day , or ahead of a scan result day, uses up enough emotions that it's possible to go to bed the night before just focusing on the present moment , and drive in to the scan result appt with some ease too .
Loads of rescue remedy, a pellet of Kali phos. 6c 1x day for worry , fear and stress, SunTheanine and chewable GABA all buffer us well also. Making your own capsules of Valerian root to use the night before , if your Dr. says they are complementary w your chemo , is much like a liver-kind Lorazepam.
It's really worthwhile to slowly get to know the tools that help support us w scanxiety or anxiety .
http://www.mindgadgets.com/…/thoughtstream-biofeedback-mac…/
It's imperative to have while living with life after cancer, or a cancer diagnosis .
Stressful responses are TOUGH not to have, and harm the capacity to sleep and the immune function .
Acclimating to the use of a little biolfeedback machine is a form of training, and like any training , with repetition and determination , you get into great shape.
When we visited Dana Farber recently. , I used it and handed it off to be used the night before scan results , the drive there , when glitches happened in appts, and the time leading up to scan results .
It is amazing , along w botanicals , to preclude HTN that often develops w chemo , and otherwise necessitates liver-harming HTN meds.
A learned relaxation response occurs with increasing effectiveness with use, and pairing use WITH difficult situations we will encounter again in the future buffers us from stressful responses in a big way.
You put the headphones on, put the thing on your hand , keep the hand relatively still mostly , and breathe and relax .
It's good to do it some while relaxing , but doing it while driving , reading , using tech or tv is fine too. You unconsciously hear the tone change that indicates a lowering of your stress , or can watch the colors change.
It's important to remember that it's a small appliance that exposes you to electromagnetic radiation if you don't keep it 3' from you .
It's great for kids of all ages, as the tone slowly lowers with the increase relaxation response , so learning takes place .
This is the. 'Training' that makes the difference, and creates a greater and greater capacity to settle yourself in difficult important situations .
Giving it a run in tough circumstances increases your unconscious pairing of that situation with profoundly settling yourself. .
Giving enough air time to really hard emotions and understandable fears by using mindfulness AND EFT early in the day , or ahead of a scan result day, uses up enough emotions that it's possible to go to bed the night before just focusing on the present moment , and drive in to the scan result appt with some ease too .
Loads of rescue remedy, a pellet of Kali phos. 6c 1x day for worry , fear and stress, SunTheanine and chewable GABA all buffer us well also. Making your own capsules of Valerian root to use the night before , if your Dr. says they are complementary w your chemo , is much like a liver-kind Lorazepam.
It's really worthwhile to slowly get to know the tools that help support us w scanxiety or anxiety .
http://www.mindgadgets.com/…/thoughtstream-biofeedback-mac…/
8.4.15 Ok then, people have been asking me to write about BioMats, so here it is.
People have been asking me, so here goes. A mini BioMat. $695. Far infrared heat. You sit on it or lie on it or put it on you. Why? Because it incrementally optimizes and potentiates anything you are doing to support your health.
It incrementally supports the healthy functioning of your organs and systems, safely cleansing and optimizing elimination of waste , balance of acid alkaline, of hormonal balance , of strength and pain and inflammation and immune function .
When my beloved became ill, a dear friend and brilliant practitioner studied what she could do most to help us , and decided to save up and buy us this.
After a month of using it several times a day, I improved more than I had for several years of resting and taking things and being worked on by dear friends..
What's fascinating is that I can palpate it's impact upon my dear one while he's doing chemo, as I palpate and keep track of his organs and systems .
After acclimating slowly and gradually , less time is needed for lesser conditions , and much more time for greater challenges .
So I'm on it for up to 4 hours a day, reading or sleeping, after many months now an hour at a time , w at least an hour in between.
For people who work , it's possible to have time on it at the beginning of the day , intermittently at work ( an expensive thing to be stolen !) at mealtime, in the evening, or before bed.
A half hour a couple of times a day , leaning back into a chair with it while doing homework or reading stories to kids or reading. , for a half hour .
With a timer, at bedtime, though it a bit hard and bumpy, but can be rolled off of.
Excellent to use with chemo , outstanding, though with all tools , it only optimizes what good you are already doing. It's important to start slowly , on a low level of heat and for 15 minutes, and after a week or so, the mat optimizes function enough for a hotter setting and then longer periods of time .
It is warm, so on a hot hot day, you are warmer. On a cold achey day, it's delicious.
It's not the be-all-and-end-all, but slowly and quietly increases the integrity of health and immune function and often reduces pain and inflammation .
There you have it . A pretty interesting technology. Funny how you can just sit or lie on it, and something important us happening .
It incrementally supports the healthy functioning of your organs and systems, safely cleansing and optimizing elimination of waste , balance of acid alkaline, of hormonal balance , of strength and pain and inflammation and immune function .When my beloved became ill, a dear friend and brilliant practitioner studied what she could do most to help us , and decided to save up and buy us this.
After a month of using it several times a day, I improved more than I had for several years of resting and taking things and being worked on by dear friends..
What's fascinating is that I can palpate it's impact upon my dear one while he's doing chemo, as I palpate and keep track of his organs and systems .
After acclimating slowly and gradually , less time is needed for lesser conditions , and much more time for greater challenges .
So I'm on it for up to 4 hours a day, reading or sleeping, after many months now an hour at a time , w at least an hour in between.
For people who work , it's possible to have time on it at the beginning of the day , intermittently at work ( an expensive thing to be stolen !) at mealtime, in the evening, or before bed.
A half hour a couple of times a day , leaning back into a chair with it while doing homework or reading stories to kids or reading. , for a half hour .
With a timer, at bedtime, though it a bit hard and bumpy, but can be rolled off of.
Excellent to use with chemo , outstanding, though with all tools , it only optimizes what good you are already doing. It's important to start slowly , on a low level of heat and for 15 minutes, and after a week or so, the mat optimizes function enough for a hotter setting and then longer periods of time .
It is warm, so on a hot hot day, you are warmer. On a cold achey day, it's delicious.
It's not the be-all-and-end-all, but slowly and quietly increases the integrity of health and immune function and often reduces pain and inflammation .
There you have it . A pretty interesting technology. Funny how you can just sit or lie on it, and something important us happening .
8.4.15 Doing what works
I remember years ago, being trained by my
brother Sam, in Integrative Acupressure , his description of a young client
with severe scoliosis.
Something that is very organ/system driven , and addressable.
The child was brought to the doctor for followup X-rays , the results of the condition radically improved . ( why oh why X-ray in this manner , vs simply palpate???)
The doctor was not delighted , not with the improvement nor with the parental assertion of Acupressure ; not the lessened PAIN , nor the increased ease of function .
Rather , the doctor asserted that the X-rays must be faulty. , or some error must have occurred.
Anything but to have to consider the possibility that age old or new innovative ways were of great help, to this child .
Thank goodness a new wave of young doctors is present now, at times more familiar with a broad range of healing options , so we can afford ourselves ( when we can actually afford it ) of any complementary approach that works.
Something that is very organ/system driven , and addressable.
The child was brought to the doctor for followup X-rays , the results of the condition radically improved . ( why oh why X-ray in this manner , vs simply palpate???)
The doctor was not delighted , not with the improvement nor with the parental assertion of Acupressure ; not the lessened PAIN , nor the increased ease of function .
Rather , the doctor asserted that the X-rays must be faulty. , or some error must have occurred.
Anything but to have to consider the possibility that age old or new innovative ways were of great help, to this child .
Thank goodness a new wave of young doctors is present now, at times more familiar with a broad range of healing options , so we can afford ourselves ( when we can actually afford it ) of any complementary approach that works.
8.4.15 As we do what works best , and our culture and young interested Oncologists observe eagerly
I was drawn to natural healing as compelled
as if someone had carefully and repeatedly planned events not covered by
Western Medicine , but absolutely and beautifully addressed by other
traditional and naturopathic means. And so now, after a lifetime as a practitioner, here is a dear one with serious cancer, and it is all that I do , for now.
The dynamics are the same , except it is the big and powerful leagues .
The lessons and wise ways and challenged ways of the body the same, but graver, as many other conditions .
And as always, I find myself wishing
I could share all of this- this understanding ,
these healing ways ,
the vital importance of avoiding dairy to decrease the toxicity of certain chemo agents ,
the carefully built up momentum of quiet but powerful cleansing of the body , that cannot be interrupted except at great cost no matter your fatigue or ability to organize or afford or order things and not run out.
I find myself at Dana Farber wanting to explain to all those depleted people coming for their chemo the terrible cost , just in acidity ( that cancer cells thrive in) of their cup of coffee.
But the key always is to quietly be who we are , to sustainably do what we are called to do,
To take good care of ourselves, and in the process see if we can help a dear one out of the woods and beyond
And quietly, in this way , contribute to the essential change in culture , in understanding , in day to day choices that inimitably all come together to erupt into a propensity for cancer , in a young one, a tender one; a vibrant adolescent , a tired happy parent of young or old ones : us all.
As we do what works best , and our culture and young interested Oncologists observe eagerly
And Oncology Naturopaths look on , celebrating what may be possible, with such a maniacal aggressive approach,
and in the meantime , we settle down and quietly live and love and do what brings the greatest health and ease in the present moment.
these healing ways ,
the vital importance of avoiding dairy to decrease the toxicity of certain chemo agents ,
the carefully built up momentum of quiet but powerful cleansing of the body , that cannot be interrupted except at great cost no matter your fatigue or ability to organize or afford or order things and not run out.
I find myself at Dana Farber wanting to explain to all those depleted people coming for their chemo the terrible cost , just in acidity ( that cancer cells thrive in) of their cup of coffee.
But the key always is to quietly be who we are , to sustainably do what we are called to do,
To take good care of ourselves, and in the process see if we can help a dear one out of the woods and beyond
And quietly, in this way , contribute to the essential change in culture , in understanding , in day to day choices that inimitably all come together to erupt into a propensity for cancer , in a young one, a tender one; a vibrant adolescent , a tired happy parent of young or old ones : us all.
As we do what works best , and our culture and young interested Oncologists observe eagerly
And Oncology Naturopaths look on , celebrating what may be possible, with such a maniacal aggressive approach,
and in the meantime , we settle down and quietly live and love and do what brings the greatest health and ease in the present moment.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)