Natural Life Therapy Clinic

The Story Has No Beginning

2012-01-13T18:07:00.000-08:00

By Thomas Duckworth, DKM, L.Ac.

The story has no beginning but one chapter tells of involvement with collegiate political rabble-rousers who advocated laissez-faire everything and ingested psycho-tropic substances, often with the intent of attempting to explore the depths and boundaries of the human mind, yet continuing with the same intellectual and spiritual compromises. It was 1966. I had been ritualistically ingesting peyote for 5 years before I first took LSD. In one eight hour period, LSD doubled the sum total of the psychedelic spiritual experiences I had had in the past five years. The senses and sensibilities were taking on new meaning; the rational mind was going into retirement, or at least, time out.

Our little group had founded the Alliance of Libertarian Activists (ALA) in response to the Right-wing Young Americans for Freedom (YAF) and Left-wing Students for a Democratic Society (SDS). We focused our activities on the University of California-Berkeley campus. First we sponsored a talk and discussion entitled “Fuck Communism, A Right-wing Case for Sexual Freedom.” It drew a small but appreciative audience but we wanted a bigger presence. What could we do?

The idea was fairly collective. I don’t know how we got our speaker or who scheduled the lecture hall. I do remember showing up early to meet and greet our guest, Richard Alpert, Ph.D, formerly of Harvard University, now unemployed psychedelic advocate extraordinaire and first such type of speaker invited onto the Berkeley Campus. Our little organization had achieved stardom!

I was looking at a tall, lanky 35 year old with dishwater curly blond hair, a white, puffy-sleeved Mexican wedding shirt and multi-colored checkered pants. Visually pleasant if you’re ‘trippin’’ on acid. I was. Later that year, I too adopted the practice of dressing as if everyone I encountered might be in an expanded state of consciousness and would appreciate good visuals.

He did not look like a 1966 college professor. Well, maybe he looked like a college professor who had been fired by Harvard for the crime of advocating expanded consciousness. Everything seemed pretty “far-out,” and I couldn’t figure out if it was his vibe, his attire or my current state of mind. I had a very strong urge to talk with him. After his presentation, he agreed to talk with me privately.

I do not know what Dick Alpert addressed in the auditorium. I was in an altered state. Afterwards, we went for a walk and talked. My previous psychedelic experiences had been deep and far reaching, in very foreign terrain and unguided. Now I was on a guided journey with an older brother. Primarily he assisted me reaching into myself for deeper self-awareness. He endorsed my looking into my own mirror to see the light and recognize how I was casting the shadows on my own mental and spiritual landscape. We talked of consciousness and family and the role and goal of the visionary or scout; the potential and the ability to respond to an ever new moment. We talked for hours.

He returned to New Hampshire where he lived, I returned to my family and continued with my studies and inner journey. We corresponded occasionally and he continued to offer insights to my questions.

One day I was on a psychedelic journey and I was very much in my head with the “Who am I?” “What if……” “Is there any sense to this or any experience?” Thinking and wondering and trying to figure out what life is all about, I wandered out into the yard and stood staring at a young maple tree, a sapling. It spoke to me and said, “I am. Be. All is complete and perfect. Be.” As they say, it blew my mind.

As that experience settled in, I wrote a letter to Dick and shared my “burning bush” experience.

Months went by and I did not hear from him. That was unusual and I thought, “Oh boy, I went over the deep end and he is putting distance between us.” Actually, I really did not feel abandoned. I had confidence in him and in our relationship and I told myself to be patient and to remember the sage advice of the maple tree. Sometime later, I heard that he gone off to Africa or India or someplace exotic, probably in search of psychotropic substances.

It was about a year and a half later when the letter arrived. The handwriting and the Franklin, New Hampshire postmark told me who it was from. I was wrong, it wasn’t from Dick Alpert.

The 5 1/2 x 8 sheet of golden rod colored paper had gold ink writing on it. Close examination revealed Sanskrit beautifully written all over it. The letter was written in black ink. At the top, he had drawn the OM symbol. The letter read:

(front page)
Tom
“Difficulty at the beginning works
Supreme success,
Furthering Through perseverance"
I Ching

Do nought with the body but relax
Shut firm the mouth and silence remain
Empty your mind and think of nought
Like a hollow bamboo
Rest at ease your body
Giving not nor taking
Put your mind at rest
Mahamudra is like a mind that clings
To nought
Thus practicing in time you will
Reach Buhhahood
The Song of Mahmudra

Desire is a trap
Desire-less-ness is MOXA.

I have no scruple of change nor fear of death,
Nor was I ever born, Nor had I parents.

(back page)

India (Bharat) took me by the hand &
led me through the door
NOW
I am doing Sadhana
In a cabin in New Hampshire
The only battle is within!

Ashirbad (Blessings)

Shanti

Ram Dass*

*Dick Alpert

______________________________________________________________________________

Clearly, a new chapter was now in the works. A spiritual teacher had materialized. To be continued.

Meditation Classes

2012-01-06T16:57:00.000-08:00

"Enhancing the Spiritual Journey": classes on sound, silence, prayer and meditation at Natural Life Therapy Clinic, 443 N. New Ballas Rd, #224, St. Louis 63141.

(314)991-6035

Thursday Jan 12 & Jan 19, from 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Video Suggestions: Meridian Points in Acupuncture

2011-12-26T18:57:00.001-08:00

Dr. Duckworth recommends this one from YouTube, compliments of Dr. Andrew Ling. It's part of his "Acupuncture Understood" series and features "Meridian Points in Acupuncture."

Gratitude 2011

2011-12-14T09:08:00.000-08:00

2011 is coming to a close. For many it has been a challenging year, and we are grateful to all of you who have involved us in helping you to recover your health and to be part of your healing.

There have been many hardships across the world over the past couple years. There has been much talk over the years of the coming of 2011-2012 and what that may mean for the world. There are those that believe that this will be a time of serious physical change on our planet, perhaps even the occurrence of more catastrophic events. Of course, none of us ever know what may transpire, but we at Natural Life Therapy, tend to focus on the notion of a beginning shift of consciousness merging the material and spiritual worlds, causing the greater possibility of personal, communal and global change and healing.

So as we head into the winter of 2012 we wish for all of you much peace and continued healing and it is our plan to continue to offer you and your families the highest standard of Meridian Acupuncture care. In the most recent edition of our favorite professional journal, North American Journal of Oriental Medicine, Dr. Duckworth and I each had an article published about our journeys through apprenticeship training. I personally am experiencing deep gratitude for having been shown the way of the medicine by my teacher, Thomas Duckworth.

As the cold rapidly ascends on us, check out our recipes on our website (www.nltclinic.com), especially Dr. Duckworth’s informative article on the medicinal uses of ginger, a miso soup recipe as well as Winter Root Soup, a recipe from one of my wife’s favorite cookbooks, Nourishing Traditions.

Stay tuned for continual classes offered at Natural Life Therapy Clinic sponsored by the Institute of American Acupuncture and Life Medicine:

On the first and third Thursday evenings of each month, IAALM will provide an on-going practice “Enhancing the Spiritual Journey”. (6:30pm-7:30pm)

On the second Thursday evening of each month, lessons and discussions on Self-Health Care will be provided. (6:30pm-7:30pm)

The fourth Thursday evening of each month IAALM will continue with its “Oriental Medicine Roundtable” continuing education activities approved by the National Commission on Certification of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM). (Hours from 6:30pm-8:00pm) The approved courses will also be listed on the IAALM website (www.iaalm.org).

On the second Saturday of the month before clinic we will be offering again ‘Stress Arrest’(learning and practicing getting quiet with breath, sound, and self- handwork). Hours from 8:30am-9:15am.

And, of course, we continue with the celebration of cosmic consciousness, Jizo Bosatsu Ceremony, on the Sunday closest to the 23rd of each month at 10am. This coming month it will be held on January 22, 2012. Please visit our blogsite (www.naturallifetherapy.blogspot.com) for ongoing articles, videos, discussions, class schedules and updates.

Lastly, as we move into the New Year, keep in mind that healing takes time, perseverance and patience. We often make our healing process too complicated, so don’t be afraid to trust your body and keep it simple. As Lao Tzu said, “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”

Wishing you all a very Happy Holidays and New Year!

With gratitude,
Thomas E. Duckworth, DKM, L.Ac.
Jason R. Hackler, L.Ac.
Sharon Reed

Clinic Holiday Hours

2011-12-13T12:59:00.000-08:00

Please note some iterations to our clinic hours in coming weeks.

Dr. Thomas Duckworth will be offering limited hours on Friday, December 23 (9 a.m.-noon), then will not offer clinic hours through Monday, Dec. 26. Appointments resume on Tuesday, Dec. 27.

Jason Hackler will be out of the clinic from Friday, Dec. 23, through Wednesday, Dec. 28. He'll be available for appointments again on Thursday, Dec. 29.

There will be no weekend hours on Saturday, Dec. 31, or Sunday, Jan. 1. Hours will resume on a normal schedule on Monday, Jan. 2.

Who is Masahilo M. Nakazono , Osensei? What is “Nakazono’s Way”?

2011-12-12T17:48:00.000-08:00

A couple of months ago, the President of the Illinois Acupuncture Association asked me to write a piece on the unique and amazing experience of studying Traditional Japanese Medicine (TJM) with Masahilo M. Nakazono, Osensei, the man who brought Aikido, Japanese Acupuncture and the Kototama Principle to the West. I have written several pieces about this extraordinary individual and herein I quote from an article of mine published in the November 2010 issue of North American Journal of Oriental Medicine (NAJOM). For further coverage of studies with this Grand Master of Healing, NAJOM has published another article of mine in the November 2011 issue. I share for all, especially those who ask, “Isn’t all acupuncture the same? “Isn’t all acupuncture training the same?” “Isn’t the art & philosophy of Oriental Medicine the same?” “What’s the difference between Traditional Chinese Medicine and Traditional Japanese Medicine?” Here is the article that was published in the Illinois Acupuncture Newsletter. Comments and questions encouraged.

Who is Masahilo M. Nakazono , Osensei? What is “Nakazono’s Way”?
[excerpt from unpublished manuscript – copyright 2008]

[The first five paragraphs of this article were published in the November 2010 issue of the North American Journal of Oriental Medicine* as part of an article entitled Traditional Way, R.I.P.]

“In Japan,” M. Masahilo Nakazono, Osensei was speaking to his first formal class of Kototama Life Medicine students, “it is held that when a student has read the pulses of 10 people a day for ten years, that student may earn the title of “Beginner.” It is like that. My studies of the pulses began with Sensei in 1977. I am just a beginner.

Nakazono Sensei opened the Kototama Institute with the expressed purpose of training 100 persons in Kototama Life Medicine. The graduating class of 1985 brought his student count to 107 and he closed his school.

Opening the Kototama Institute was an expression of gratitude to his new found home, America. He wished to share his wealth of 50+ years of discipline and mastery of the martial arts: Aikido, Judo, Karate, Kendo; his practice of Buddhist and Shinto principles coupled with 40+ years of practice and mastery of traditional Japanese Natural Medicine, integrated through the Kototama Principle. His holistic, trans-disciplinary, multi-faceted reinterpretation of Five Element Meridian Therapy he termed Kototama Life Medicine. He encouraged his students to comprehend ‘who is I am’ in healing spirit, mind, body; to master the pulses in order to heal ‘other’, and to comprehend the Kototama Principle in order to guide society.

We spent the first year of studies treating each other with handwork (Te-a-Te) and moxibustion and treating ourselves with natural diet and Kototama Sound before being shown and being allowed to practice “the Way of the Needle.” Sensei taught his students to treat the meridians with the hands and only then taught how to use needles as an extension of oneself. This is how he practiced; this is how he taught. The treatment is in the diagnosis; the diagnosis is in the pulses; the hands treat the pulses; the needle is an extension of the hand.

Nakazono Sensei taught his students to respect, handle and care for the acupuncture needle “as a samurai respected his/her weapon.” Our first needles were gold for Ho treatment and silver for Sha treatment. [‘Ho’ & ‘Sha’ can be translated ‘tonification’ & ‘sedation’; in Inochi Medicine, the meanings are ‘enhancement’ & ‘liberation’]. We sharpened them after each treatment; they were our swords. The ‘fire needle’, a high caliber surgical steel needle with which we conducted moxa needle therapy, kept a sharp point with a whetstone for about 50 insertions. Gold and silver needles were soaked in alcohol; fire needles could be autoclaved. In the early ‘80’s HIV/AIDS caused a significant alteration in the manufacture of acupuncture needles. Cheap, massed produced, disposable needles became the norm and the use of high-grade gold and silver ended. Dedicated acupuncturists appreciated even a greater obligation to be even more skilled in the way of the needle.

What was impressive about Masahilo M. Nakazono? He had an amazing thirst for knowledge and perfection in his practice. He studied with Morihei Ueshiba Osensei, founder of Aikido and was one of the highest ranked Aikido masters in the world. He studied with George Ohsawa Sensei, founder of Macrobiotics and opened the first Macrobiotic Center outside of Japan (India, 1956). He studied Hon Li Te A Te with Master Sakai, a mountain mystic who introduced him to Jizo Bosatsu, the Compassionate Buddha of ancestral wisdom and guidance. Nakazono Sensei conducted Jizo Bosatsu ceremonies beginning in 1972 and passed that responsibility to me in 1987; the practice has continued for the past 24 years.)

He spent decades studying the Kototama Principle with Koji Ogasawara Sensei and brought it to America. It was here that he came to understand the significance of the Kototama Principle and its vital importance to the metamorphic evolution of energetic medicine and pulses. He opened the first Japanese-style acupuncture school in North America (Kototama Institute, 1978). He kept us focused continually on the classic 12 wrist pulses + Chu Myaku (Middle Pulse, ‘Stomach’ Pulse, Life Pulse) diagnosis, Jingie (St. 9/carotid artery) pulse diagnosis, “Kototama Five Dimensions of Life Being” and use of bodywork treatment as an integral aspect of Meridian Therapy. That he was the first acupuncturist in the United States to demonstrate acupuncture to a Legislative body (New Mexico State Senate, 1972) is impressive. He spoke seven languages fluently, was a damn good angler and always won when we played pool. Everything about Masahilo Nakazono Sensei was impressive.

The most impressive aspect of Sensei’s genius was his understanding of the Kototama Principle that lead to his discovery of a new Elemental pattern. Sensei grasped the “Five Dimensions of Life Being”: The Will to Be = Fire (I); the Power to Be = Metal (E); the Spirit to Be = Wood (A); the Form or Embodiment of Being = Earth(U) and the Continuance of Being = Water(O). Kototama practitioners don’t speak of “Wood, Fire, Metal, Water, Earth”; the terminology is “A,I,E,O,U.”

For a year, Sensei taught his students the diagnostic and therapeutic theory and applications of Gogio (Five Element) medicine. We were studying pulse diagnosis and Meridian Therapy. We were also studying the Kototama Principle and Kototama sound rhythms and patterns. After a year of these studies, Sensei guided us toward an understanding that the sound pattern of (A,I,U,E,O) is the same as the meridians’ order of Wood , Fire, Earth, Metal, Water. That is, the traditional order of the ‘Five Elements’ has been a particular expression of consciousness. As our collective consciousness shifts, it is in keeping with energetic planetary shifts. Take the pulses, witness evolution.

With Sensei’s realignment of Gogio relationships consistent to A,I,E,O,U (Wood , Fire, Metal, Water, Earth) notable changes take place. With this model of Life Energy, metaphysical as well as physical changes became the common patient experience and cure rates skyrocketed. It was this discovery that led to the founding of the Kototama Institute. Sensei needed to share this metamorphosis of Gogio with his adopted country.

What is “Nakazono’s Way”?

There is one meridian and its pulse is Chu Myaku. Chu Myaku, the Japanese name for the Middle Pulse, is flowing throughout the body. When we feel a pulse at Ki 3, St 9, behind the knee, St 42, anywhere, we are accessing chu myaku. We are constantly reading the Life Energy of the body. There is one body, one pulse, one meridian. All treatments are from that point of view. Keep it simple.

Traditional teachings tell us there are 12 main meridians and 8 extraordinary meridians. Sensei held that there are 10 a posteriori (formed) meridians and 10 a priori (before form) meridians. As one deepens the study of Kototama, it becomes clear that this is more than semantics. The order and connectedness of body-mind-spirit to all living beings, the thinking processes of the mind and the spiritual development of all humanity can all be understood and utilized through the Kototama Principle. Sensei considered all meridians extraordinary. He termed meridians whose energy creates and maintains organs and systems “a posteriori” and the ones that are channels of Ki without systems or organs, he called “apriori” meridians.

The Five Dimensions of Life Being are necessary for the existence of life: the Life-Will to Be; the Life-Power to Be; the Life-Spirit to Be; the Life-Form of Being and Life-continuance of Being. In modern times, Oriental Medicine refers to this universal dance of creation as the “Five Element Theory” and seeks to persuade “Wood”, “Fire”, “Earth”, “Metal”, and “Water” to improve their interaction. In Kototama Medicine, these five ingredients of life formation are manifestations of the basic sound rhythms created as the finite universe begins. The universe enunciates its presence and identifies itself through the human voice. This is the key. The universe manifests the human as its voice. The five vowel sounds, the five elements, the five pairs of a posteriori meridians are manifestations of the same universal life energy. The Spirit of Being, for example, is the A dimension, the Spirit Awakening, Ketsu Yin/Sho Yo (Jue Yin/Shao Yang); those who call it “Liver Meridian” or “Wood Element” are looking at symbolism and taking analogy as reality. The “Wood Element” is actually the human consciousness awakening.

Such studies of sound rhythms and vibratory phenomena manifesting as meridians are lengthy studies, for sure. Suffice it to say, Nakazono Sensei discovered that the Five Vowel Sounds that are universal in languages and the Five Elements that are universal in life are the same vibration. This definitely changes how one speaks and how one treats, regardless of the language or linage.

The Chu Myaku Pulse (Middle or “Stomach” pulse) provides the biofeedback of the a posteriori meridians, “Liver, Heart, Spleen, Lung, and Kidney”, as well as, the apriori meridians, “Heart Constrictor/Triple Heater”. These 6 Zo/Zang and 6 Fu aspects of life energy - A dimension (‘wood’), I dimension (‘fire’), E dimension (‘metal’), O dimension (water’), U dimension (‘earth’), Yi dimension (‘source’) viewed through the paradigm of Kototama provide the treatment protocol of “mother-child” relationship as follows: A dimension (‘Liver’) is the mother of I dimension (‘Heart’) which is the mother of E dimension (‘Metal’) which is the mother of Yi dimension (Fire minister) which is the mother of O dimension (“Water”) which is the mother of U dimension (Earth) which is the mother of A dimension (Wood). This approach to diagnosis and treatment is further supported through the Jingei diagnosis. Understanding jingei diagnosis verified to Sensei the accuracy of the Kototama diagnosis protocol. Understanding Jingei diagnosis is how I came to understand that the pattern of the roku-bu-jio-yi (wrist pulse diagnosis) was of another era and that there is another way to understand the wrist pulses. This way of pulse diagnosis based in Kototama and termed Inochi (Jap: LIFE) Medicine is what I have taught to all my students since 1988.

There are practitioners trained in this system of pulse diagnosis in Maine, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, New Mexico, Colorado and Mexico.

Sensei’s studies and practice of Kototama brought an integration of Life Dimension diagnosis and treatment through acupuncture, moxibustion and tactile therapy. It also brought a method of meditation and centering in one’s personal spiritual journey, as well as the spiritual discipline necessary for the adequate delivery of acupuncture, moxibustion and tactile therapy. Kototama Inochi Medicine is not an occupation; it is a way of life, a point of view. It has to do with balancing all the aspects that constitute being a living, human being.

Just as Sensei taught us to correct all pulse imbalances with our handwork, he also guided us in pain-free needling, non-traumatic direct moxa usage, non-violence and community service. He was, as a teacher, a hard taskmaster; as a physician, a gentle warrior. He left so much of himself in his attempt to heal America that everything I do or practice is best described as NAKAZONO’S WAY.

Glossary:

Kototama – Word Soul. The study of the creation of reality through the spoken word. The study of human consciousness as the creative principle of the universe. Three arch-types of consciousness as described by Koji Ogasawara are: Spiritual consciousness, the Sugaso Order –
AOUEI; Material consciousness, Kanagi Order – AIUEO and Cosmic consciousness, Futonolito Order-AIEOU. [Traditional Five Element Medicine is of the Kanagi Order] The study of the human mind, body, spirit as the exact mirror reflection of the Universe. The ultimate human responsibility for the existence of everything. “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God and everything made was made by the Word.” The Gospel of St. John stating the Kototama Principle.

Te A Te – Hand Healing Spirit; Spiritual Handwork. Tactile therapy centered in the Breath of the Tanden(Dantien), through the Hand Qi Exercises of Sakai Sensei and the tactile protocol (Kototama Anma, Kototama Shiatsu, Kototama Ampuku, Kototama Kappo, Kototama Sotei) of Nakazono Sensei.

Thomas E. Duckworth, L.Ac. has been in private practice since 1980. He began his studies of the Kototama Principle in 1973 and Kototama Medicine in 1977. He is the only graduate of the Kototama Institute to be awarded a Doctorate in Kototama Life Medicine (1987) for his radical redefinition of the 12 pulses of the wrist consistent to the discoveries Nakazono Sensei had made concerning the logic of the Kototama Principle in defining the energy of the meridians. He founded the Institute of American Acupuncture & Life Medicine, Inc. in2002 to provide direct acupuncture services to those in the community who are under-served and to provide professional education in Kototama Life Medicine. Thomas Duckworth can be contacted at iaalm@sbcglobal.net (314)991-6044.

An Amusing Acpuncture Video

2011-11-29T11:05:00.000-08:00

You very well know the tune, if not the lyrics.

Video Suggestions: Meridian Acupuncture Points

2011-10-25T08:00:00.001-07:00

This is a straight-forward visual of the tsubo (points). I like it.

Video Suggestions: Take the Acupuncture Challenge

2011-10-18T18:14:00.000-07:00

Nice professional presentation of Chinese acupuncture. Bigger, thicker needles used and more quantity. Nice presentation though.

Video Suggestions: Teething Babies

2011-10-17T09:51:00.000-07:00

This practitioner's pediatric treatment technique is mature, competent. This is the quality of care we strive for. Good video, great kid.

Quote: The Dalai Lama

2011-10-13T14:47:00.000-07:00

In a recent interview with the Dalai Lama, when asked what surprised him most about humanity, he aswered "Man. Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then he dies never really having lived."

-- Submitted by Jason Hackler, L.Ac.

Video Suggestions: Baby Acupuncture for Colic

2011-10-12T15:44:00.000-07:00

This is an excellent presentation of pediatric acupuncture demonstrating how non-intrusive it is. This practitioner uses needles on younger children than I usually do and he does a fine job. Good video for professionals to study.

Video Suggestions: Japanese Style Acupuncture Techniques

2011-10-11T07:12:00.000-07:00

Over the next week, we'll post some video recommendations from Dr. Duckworth:

"To all my students, past, present & future - study this video often. What a joy!"

Questions for Dr. Duckworth: Regarding Meditation, Chanting and Prayer Classes

2011-10-02T18:56:00.000-07:00

Interested in some the upcoming classes re: sound and meditation. These:

Meditation, Chanting & ‘Prayer’ 6:30pm-7:30pm
Thursday: Oct 6th - Buddhist-style meditation
Thursday: Nov 3rd – Hindu-style chanting
Thursday: Dec 1st – Christian-style Contemplative Prayer
Cost: tax deductible goodwill donation to IAALM

As someone without a lengthy faith background, I'm interested in your approach to these evenings? If not what an attendee might "expect," what would be some of the components of these classes? Again, it's only interest that incites this note.

Morris G.

=====

Good morning, Morris. If there is one thing that I can assure anyone participating in any classes or programs I conduct, it is that you should have no expectations. How much more true must this be if the studies have to do with 'calm', 'peacefulness', stress-reduction, 'living in the present', being here now. Anticipation or expectation takes you away from the "here it is" moment and places you in a non-existent future "is it here yet?" Living in the non-existent future, besides being a form of insanity, disallows living in the present. Our self-awareness is most often centered in our thinking processes. We are programmed from the earliest years to identify 'self' with the phenomena of thought; "I think, therefore, I am." and to reference 'self' to time and time is that place where past and future are invented and maintained. "What did you do on summer break?" "What are you going to be when you grow up?" And all this activity has the brain in hyper-drive 24/7. (a lot of insomnia situations involve a lot of thinking). We become brain activity addicts. We forget how to have a quiet mind and even fear that if our mind gets quiet, isn't active, we will die or go insane (see earlier remark about insanity). Qi flows continuously; death is observed when Qi no longer flows. The heart beats steadily until it doesn't and then you die. Lungs enjoy a little rest while operating but if you stop breathing, you will die. All the other organs work sometimes and don't work sometimes. Your stomach isn't digesting 24/7 and you eyes aren't open 24/7, so it is quite reasonable to realize it is a good mental health, physical health and spiritual health practice to give your thinking brain a rest. Seems simple enough but we are addicted to thinking; it is an opiate that is very powerful and that is why we need to address this issue front on. We need to quiet the mind. We have all experienced being in the present, being so invested in the present moment that neither past nor future nor self nor other is thought of or identifiable. The most common experience of this that most of us may relate to is the phenomena of orgasm. This sense of non-dualist existence may be fleeting in an orgasm but is attainable for extended periods... even forever, through the practice of quieting the mind. In fact, the Eastern sense of Enlightenment has been described as "the orgasmic bliss of union with the present moment."

All peoples have discovered and charted ways and means to bring the mind to "Still point." Zen Buddhist sitting/walking, Hopi dance and 'prayer', Australian walk-about, Hindu yoga (practices that bring union), Sufi Dance and singing, Earth-centered practices, sensory deprivation, psychedelics, Pentecostals talking in tongues, meditation, focused breathing, tantric practices, Gregorian Chant all can lead to the absolute quietude within.

Unlike you, I have had a lengthy "faith" background. I spent my early teen years in a Catholic seminary, exposed to wondrous, sacred Gregorian Chant. I met monks who were extraordinary practitioners of Bhakti Yoga (they did not know it by this term), that is, living a life of love. In my early twenties, I intellectually studied Zen, Christianity and psychedelics but a major turning point came when my mentor, Richard Alpert, went to India, return as Baba Ram Dass and taught me Bhakti Yoga, Karma Yoga and Hatha Yoga. He taught the lessons needed for me to sit quietly and also to raise my voice in praise of the Universal Life Energy which we are. He taught me Buddhist meditation techniques to quiet the mind; he taught me Hindu Sacred Chants to open and cleanse the heart, he taught me hatha yoga so that my body could be relaxed, in union, as I meditated and chanted. Through years of meditating and chanting, I arrived to the Kototama Principle, the logos of Universal Consciousness and self-hood. Through the study of Kototama, all the lines, all the boundaries, all the separation ceases. We begin to grasp how close to home is the statement of Jesus, "I and my Father are One."

I am long-winded, Morris, but the questions inside the questions must also be addressed. Patients/clients and students have asked me about "stress-management" and "How does one meditate?" and "why are you cheery (most of the time)?" "How do I deal with depression?" "Self-Esteem?" "I can not make clear decisions, what should I do?" Answer: get quiet.

So, I am offering an opportunity to learn about sitting quietly. My method of silent meditation is the Buddhist method taught to me by my teacher, Ram Dass, in 1968. It is the method of classic meditation I practice to this day.

Through Ram Dass, I also learned Sacred Prayer, Mantra/Japa/Kirtan and the way of solo and group singing to bring quiet to the heart. Devotion to ones inner live energy and maintenance of the direct connection to the Universal manifestation of self expressed through conscious use of voice is a gift we should alot ourselves.

I have been blessed with many visitors, travelers, teachers who have stayed in my life for short and long periods. They come in many forms and models. There were Tibetan monks who spoke no English; they flew into town. There was the Franciscan monk who could not stop talking; he arrive on a motorcycle. Some arrive via print and The Way of the Pilgrim introduced me to a 19th century Russian Orthodox monk who wondered the countryside continuously repeating the prayer, "Lord, Jesus Christ have mercy on me." (As you know, his prayer was not in English....but you get the point....don't you?). There are ways of saying "Hallelujah" that are very contemplative. There is one main component - Sharing the experience. I hope this answers your question and I'd love to hear more from you and whomever else wants to participate.

Thank you.

Thomas Duckworth

"Education Continuing": Workshops and Seminars

2011-09-18T16:02:00.000-07:00

Thomas Duckworth, L.Ac.
Doctor of Kototama Life Medicine
And
Institute of American Acupuncture & Life Medicine
Presents

Education Continuing

There have been many inquiries about Kototama Classes and folks wanting to learn more about stress management and centering through meditation. The public is most welcome to these classes and activities.

JIZO BOSATSU

Every month we celebrate life, living and all those who came before us, allowing us to live. This celebration, JIZO BOSATSU CEREMONY, takes place here at IAALM/NLTC headquarters at 10 am on the Sunday approaching the 23rd of each month. Jizo Bosatsu Ceremony will be held on September 18th; October 23rd; November 20th; and December 18th.

Come join us. There is no fee for this activity.

Meditation, Chanting & ‘Prayer’ 6:30pm-7:30pm
Thursday: Oct 6th - Buddhist-style meditation
Thursday: Nov 3rd – Hindu-style chanting
Thursday: Dec 1st – Christian-style Contemplative Prayer
Cost: tax deductible goodwill donation to IAALM

Kototama Sound Class & Practice 6:30pm-7:30pm
Thursday: Oct 20th - E Dimension
November17th – Yi Dimension
Dec 15th - O Dimension
Cost: tax deductible goodwill donation to IAALM

Consumer Workshops – “Taking Charge of Me”

4 hours -9am-1pm $40 per person – maximum 10 attendees
Oct 1st - Self-handwork/Self-health
Oct 22nd - Massage for Couples - Fun For the Health of It
Nov 19th - Healing from the Kitchen – Thoughts & Foods to Chew on
Dec 3rd - Spiritual Exercises to Enhance Your Own Journey
Jan 21, 2012 – Spiritual Exercises to Continue Your Journey
Feb 18, 2012 - Massage for Couples-Be Relaxed Valentine
(this class may not be offered until March )

To reserve a space, call (314) 991-6044

Nakazono’s Way - Hands Healing Spirit

2011-09-14T18:16:00.000-07:00

Sept 24 - 25, 2011

In the Kototama Medicine lineage, founded by M. M. Nakazono Osensei, a student of Meridian Therapy learns to address deficiency and excess through Hand Ki (Te A Te) before the study of needling or moxibustion even begins. In this workshop, the participant studies “the way of the hands” to guide energy (Ki) back to optimal function. Anma, Shiatsu, Ampuku, Kappo, Sakai Hon Li and Nakazono Te A Te and their relationship to myaku (meridians) and tsubo (points) will be studied.

This workshop, approved by the NCCAOM for 15 PDA's, will be conducted at Natural Life Therapy Clinic/Institute of American Acupuncture, 443 N. New Ballas Rd, Suite #224, St. Louis, MO 63141 from 9 am - 5:30 pm on both days. It is open to certified and non-certified acupuncturists, MD's, DO's, RN's, chiropractors, massage therapists, physical and occupational therapists and anyone wishing to learn 'hands-on medicine.' Wear loose, comfortable clothing.

Fee: $240 - cash or check only ($216 if received in the mail before Sept 23, 2011). Questions? Write to this e-address: iaalm@sbcglobal.net

In health,
Thomas Duckworth, L.Ac., Doctor of Kototama Life Medicine, Executive Director, IAALM

Of musical interest to our patients...

2011-09-14T18:12:00.000-07:00

Shantala - An Evening of Sacred Chanting

Friday, September 30, 2011 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm

First Unitarian Church, 5007 Waterman, Central West End

Video Reviews with Dr. Duckworth

2011-09-11T09:58:00.000-07:00

This 'one-handed reload technique,' was brought to the U.S. by my teacher, Masahilo Nakazono Sensei. This technique is taught in Japan but not China and not in the U.S. (actually, some of my students are now teaching in Acupuncture Colleges and teach this technique). This technique shows the practitioner is traditionally trained. A practitioner unable to perform this technique is an ill-trained technician, not a physician.

Q's for Dr. Duckworth: Autumn's Seasonal Health Changes

2011-09-06T17:55:00.000-07:00

Dr. Duckworth,

You have spoken in the past of seasonal changes affecting health. I am interested in knowing when the next (fall) shift is coming and what types of heath issues might be attached to this season’s changes? Thanks. Morris

========

Hi Morris

A week or so ago, it was about 100 degrees outside and someone noted that there was a feeling of autumn “in the air.” Very observant of that young man; he was correct, there was an energetic shift. Fall is far more than the space between Summer and Winter. It’s energetic manifestation is cooling and it can be sensed in August/Sept, before Fall weather actually sets in.

It is the space of growth completion, establishing order and preparing the body energetically for the journey inward that accompanies Winter.

Energetically, this is the season of the E dimension, the rhythmic order of the unfolding of the annual life cycle, the time and place of the development of our inner judgment. This is the energy of individuation, the development of the individual. It is of the rhythmic order leading to the harvest. At the psychic level, it is the space of systemic harmony. In traditional acupuncture, this aspect is identified as the ‘Metal’ element and is associated with the Lung / Large Intestine Meridian. When the E dimension is in a state of balance, ‘free will’ occurs; when there is a deficiency of E energy, then one becomes ‘enslaved’ to the thoughts and will of others; when there is an excess of E energy, one will suffer from an inaccurate sense of accomplishment. Energetically, balance leads to growth of vegetation and beings; deficiency defeats growth, stagnation occurs; excess quickens growth – veggies bolt, beings get restless.

Environmentally, E dimension is cooling, therefore, deficiency of E (Fall) shows out as scorching heat that can lead to shortness of breath, colds, and fatigue in upper limbs. Excess of E can lead to temporary deafness, red & painful eyes and sty’s. General toxicity shows as chest congestion, hemorrhoids, anguish, helplessness, sinus issues, bowel difficulties.

E dimension’s function is rhythmic order. Excessive (over-abundance of E Qi) can show as rapid & deep breath, cracked lips, non-productive cough; dry rough skin. Deficiency can show as cold hands & feet, loose stools, shallow respiration, never thirsty, cramps. Excess of energy may result in muscle knots.

Signs & symptoms of E dimension imbalance: Excretion- mucus, sound- whimpering, emotion – sorrow Sense of smell –strong or weak??

Dream-state diagnosis: Excessive - fright, flying/soaring thru the air. Deficiency -white objects in dream, cruel killing, war/battles. Reversal happens thru the Yang aspect of E dimension and the dreams are of fields and rural landscapes.

Diet will need to change. If you are energetically aligned with your environment, you will begin to crave potatoes and other root crops, perhaps more meat. You will start losing interest in very sweet foods & drinks. Each season has its own flavor, this is the time of pungent/spicy spices and foods with curry, red & green chile, pepper, garlic and ginger - in moderation. Pungent taste has the effect of dispersing. In excess, it can hurt the lungs and the large intestine; not enough can harm the lungs and large intestine. Excess can be modified with the bitter taste like dark greens. Rice, barley and oats are good grains for this season. To discharge toxicity, eat green peas, vinegar, lemon, tomato and radish, drink horehound tea and slippery elm tea. Best cooking method for this time of year, baking. Avoid: cold food & drink, cool clothing and mucus forming foods, especially dairy.

So, Morris, this is a brief answer to your question. I hope it helps.

Your mantra for the season: Be reserved, act from instinct, eat a peach.

Have a wonderful Autumn

Questions for Dr. Duckworth: Youngest Patients?

2011-09-01T16:03:00.000-07:00

Dear Dr. Duckworth,

How young are your most junior patients? What types of treatments do infants receive in your practice? I recently noticed a very young infant when visiting your clinic and was curious. Thanks, Franklin

Dear Franklin,

The youngest human I have read the pulses of and treated was about 15-minutes old. I was present in the birthing room, assisting her mother in the birth process (yes, with acupuncture and special bodywork). When she was born, her parents asked me to note her baseline ‘Jingei’ Pulse and perform touching diagnosis to assure she was functioning at her most optimal capacity as she ventured into life.

Since I do not attend births anymore, I must wait until parents bring me their infant. Quite commonly, a woman who has utilized my services as part of her pre-natal care, will bring her new-born to my practice within a few weeks of birth for a wellness check-up and energy balancing.

Unfortunately, most people, even many of my own patients, do not think to use Meridian Therapy as a preventive medicine and so, they do not bring me their young until the child is ill. Often they come to me AFTER they have gone to medical people who have pumped the poor child full of drugs and the condition has become chronic. Ben Franklin was talking about Kototama Meridian Therapy when he said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

The types of pediatric treatment include Shonishin, a system of stimulating the surface of the body, especially at ‘tsubo’ (“acupoints”) but also includes stimulating regions of the body in addressing certain issues; for example, stimulating the abdomen for digestive issues, rubbing the arms for respiratory problems, rubbing the legs for head colds, headache, back pain and leg/knee problems. There are tools of the trade that poke, brush, scrape and rub but I often go to the Dollar Store and buy a bunch of toothbrushes that I use as shonishin devices. I show the parents how they can treat their child at home and then I send them home with a shonishin tool that looks a lot like a toothbrush. Kids love the novelty and the involvement of mom and dad; they are more compliant, even reminding the parents to ‘brush me’.

We do a lot of Te A Te, Japanese Spiritual Handwork for structural problems, digestive issues, sleep problems, emotional issues, many issues. Te A Te is part and parcel of all my work, both children and adult.

Of course, diet definitely is part of pediatric care. The kitchen is the primary source of health and destruction. It is very common to find a child with chronic earaches who is consuming dairy products and dairy products with sugar (this combo is truly poisonous) or situations where the child is deprived of nutrition because packaged chewable crap, liquids saturated with high fructose corn syrup, McStomach rot and Toastee Pops. We treat everything except highly contagious diseases. What we deal with the most is ignorance, many forms of ignorance but that is treatable and I hope your letter of inquiry aids us in growth.

Thank you,

Dr. Duckworth

Dr. Duckworth's Update: Stories from IAALM Trip to Joplin

2011-06-15T17:00:00.000-07:00

Dr. Duckworth recently traveled to Joplin, to tend to victims of the tornado, through the auspices of both Acupuncturists Without Borders and the NLTC-affiliated Institute of American Acupuncture and Life Medicine. Here are some questions and answers regarding that trip:

How did you become involved with Acupuncturists Without Borders?
An acupuncturist in Springfield who had previously done volunteer work with ACWB, called them. They came to Joplin/Springfield, established a relationship with the Salvation Army and taught a one day workshop on their treatment protocol to abaout 8 people in Springfield. The Springfield acupuncturist sent an email announcement to the President of the State Acu Ass'n whom had already been contacted by Jason, representing IAALM. That lead to my communicating with the practitioner in Springfield (Abba Anderson). Mary Wallis, L.Ac., a member of the Board of Directors of IAALM, went to Springfield and attended the workshop. It's a protocol I studied about 16 years ago and use some aspects of it in my practice.

When and how was the decision made (by either AWB, or yourself) to attend to patients there?
The day after the tornado, Jason and I talked about "doing something" because IAALM was founded to provide care to those who don't have access to proper care. Joplin qualified. When ACWB stepped up and got things rolling, it was easy to fall into line. The next step being: how we gonna do this? Then, just doin' it.

What was your initial thoughts on the damage, seeing it in person?
Incredulous. There was nothing in all my years of experiences comparable. I wasn't in 'Nam but that's what I thought of. I came into a town where several miles of everything had been blown away, blown up, like some major bombing of a big city.

What were your working conditions like in Joplin?
There were chairs where folk sat and received ear acupuncture and I did 'handwork' on shoulders and legs. The chairs were situated under a huge, open-sided tent covering many tables for people to sit and rest and eat meals (Salvation Army served 1200-1500 meals a day there); FEMA and other agencies had booths. There were large (4-ft. tall) fans blowing. It was HOT and very windy and dry and I drank many bottles of water.

Typically, what were the issues that you spoke to these patients about, in terms of their physical and emotional health?
I didn't ask too much, I listened a lot. They were all being treated for PTSS - they were (are) walking around in a daze. One man talked about working for hours to free someone buried, only to finally reach them and the guy was dead. The rescuer has nightly nightmares about not getting there in time. A lady was grateful for the daily treatment 'cause the treatments helped her bury 3 of her family members. One man about my age just paces his house every night, waiting for another tornado. He hadn't slept more than an hour a night for two weeks. One man rescued 30 people from the Kmart, his son rescued 10l; their backs hurt. Another rescuer tore his should muscle. But, mostly, they sat quietly and let peace settle in for 30-40 minutes.

Did you treat people who'd never had acupuncture before, or had they had some exposure to the treatments in the past?
Joplin ain't San Francisco. These people had no experience of acupuncture. One man I treated had come by the acu station every day for four days before he decided to try it. three hours later, he came back and asked if he could have another session. "YES!"

Of the stories told to you, which still resonate the most?
I don't know... the man who rescued 30 people; the lady who buried her family; the 71 year old who came on his motorcycle because both of his cars had been blown away and they still haven't been found. I think the ones who didn't talk had the heaviest stories.

An Ancient Medicine Reignited

2011-06-07T11:15:00.000-07:00

June is ‘National Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Month.’ This is quite appropriate when thinking of our health with respect to diet and the seasons of the year. The founder of modern medicine, Hippocrates, studied weather, the seasons and how climatic changes affected our health and the disease process. This has been lost since the development of pharmaceuticals; however, our ancestors, especially in Asia, knew that we are not separate from the natural world and that our health, in Mind, Body and Spirit, is intrinsically linked to the natural forces of nature.

I am blessed to have been shown an ancient way of healing, a way of looking at the world in a more integrated way. What we put into our mouths, which sustains our life, is the most fundamental part of health and healing.

There are two basic energies of the universe, Yin and Yang. We, as human beings, are not separate from this. In fact, we exist because these energies, concentrating (Yin) and expanding (Yang) interact together in such a perfectly balanced way to create and sustain life. When they are not in harmony together, dis-ease occurs, stagnation and inflammation arise.

We, at Natural Life Therapy Clinic, look at life and health from this perspective and attempt to help guide our patients according to the natural laws of our world. The warmer months, especially summer, are the more Yang/expansive times of year. We witness this in the natural world with the abundance of vegetation, of fruits and vegetables.

Ideally, we all would eat according to the season and climate we live in. The exceptions to this are if someone is sick, has a serious diagnosed medical condition, or has a compromised digestion system. What would this dietary practice look like? Let the natural world speak to you. Go to the farmer’s markets to educate yourself on what is growing now in late spring and throughout the summer. For general good health in the warmer months consuming lots of vegetables and fruits, whole grains, and more raw food would be the focus of our diets. Some animal protein is fine, especially if you’re physically active, however, most of us need far less animal protein in the warmer months. The temperature is hotter so in order to create balance, focus on cooling foods. Cooling foods are raw food, fruits in general, and leafy vegetables of all kinds. Grains should be eaten year round because they, by their nature, strike a balance inherently. Save your heavier proteins, stews, root vegetables for the colder months; they warm you up.

As you pay attention to your body you’ll notice how your cravings change throughout the year, often during Doyo, the season in between seasons. This is the transitional time which lasts two to three weeks in between each season. So, listen to your body. If we get too far from following the laws of nature then there are repercussions. For some they may not show out for years, but for many your body will react to the imbalances in the following season. If one does not follow a more Yin (warming) diet in the wintertime they may experience some ill health effects in the spring or summer. This may show out as stronger allergies, digestive upset, or getting sick more easily or frequently. If you don’t adhere to a more Yang diet in the warmer seasons and burden your system with heavy, rich food, you may feel the repercussions in fall or winter. In the summer, due to its expansive, warm nature, you may not experience the effects of ‘wrong’ diet immediately, however, if you pay attention, you very well may see imbalances with your health in the following season.

Below I list any number of vegetables, fruits, grains, and lighter proteins that may be enjoyed in the warmer months. Again, if you have an autoimmune or digestive issue, or another serious condition and you’re not sure what role diet/foods may play, feel free to contact myself or Dr. Duckworth at Natural Life Therapy Clinic.

Top on the list in their balanced action in the warmer months are green leafy vegetables, including chard, kale, spinach, cabbage; also Brussels sprouts, broccoli, asparagus, arugula, artichokes, beets, mushrooms, snap peas and peppers of all kinds.

Fruits of the season: tomatoes, cucumbers, watermelon and melons, berries of all kinds, grapes, cherries, peaches, nectarines, apricots, plums and tropical fruits (pineapple, papaya, mango, bananas).

Many fruits and vegetables are naturally loaded with antioxidants, chlorophyll, fiber, vitamins and minerals, all of which can assist in balancing the body and mind, reducing inflammation and enhancing the immune system.

Grains ideally will be eaten in their whole form, i.e. brown rice, millet, quinoa, barley, oats; whole grain breads are okay too! We are better off focusing on lighter proteins in summer; fish of all kinds, especially wild salmon and combining grains and legumes (beans), which also gives you a nice protein hit.

As a general rule, sugars, especially in processed form, are over-expansive in nature, cause inflammation and the immune system to overreact. This is a challenge for all of us. I love my Ben and Jerry’s and margaritas…we can enjoy and indulge sometimes. Chew your food thoroughly, treat yourself and the food you consume in a sacred way.

We recommend Neel’s Pharmacy for questions you may have about supplements and pharmaceutical interactions. Patrice Neels Frieda, owner of Neel’s, is a kind, patient, knowledgeable health oriented pharmacist.

Best wishes,
Jason R. Hackler, L.Ac.;
www.nltclinic.com

Acupuncture Support for Joplin

2011-06-06T12:32:00.000-07:00

Dear Reader,

As soon as Jason & I were aware of the devastation in Joplin, we asked, “What can we do?” We meant both individually as acupuncturists and collectively as the Institute of American Acupuncture (IAALM). We have answers to both of these questions and I am writing you to ask your assistance in helping us help others.

Acupuncturists Without Borders (AWB) is an international NGO headquartered in Albuquerque that provides trauma recovery services nationally and internationally. AWB has trained and guided volunteers in providing acupuncture services in post-Katrina New Orleans, post-earthquakes in Haiti, wildfires in California and Colorado, floods in Iowa and now this horrific tornado here in Missouri. On Saturday, May 28, AWB conducted an accelerated training program in Springfield, Missouri. The first volunteers began providing services in Joplin the next day. They stayed in a cabin at the KOA Campground and provided services in a church gymnasium. IAALM was represented by Board member, Mary Wallis, L.Ac. at the organization meeting & accelerated training and now we are partaking in a very meaningful expression of service, for which IAALM was founded nearly nine years ago.

Jason Hackler, Mary Wallis and Thomas Duckworth intend to go to Joplin and be part of the community acupuncture services being provided there. Closing down our practices to go give free services is costly, that goes without saying but the cost of transportation, food, shelter, first aid supplies, acupuncture supplies, hygiene and survival supplies will all cost. The shopping list provided for self-sufficiency is quite long and, quite frankly, if I can convince enough of you to make substantial donations, then IAALM will be able to help those practitioners who would volunteer if they had some economic help.

This is a brief call out for help. It is going to cost many thousands of dollars to put practitioners in Joplin. IAALM wants to sponsor at least the three practitioners who are part of IAALM. We also want to help AWB with its costs and efforts AWB has spent over $2,000 just to launch this effort and we want to help them with this expense. We also want to help any other practitioner who is willing to go to Joplin and partake in this effort.

You can send a tax deductable donation to IAALM (Institute of American Acupuncture & Life Medicine), 443 N. New Ballas Rd, Suite # 224, St. Louis, MO 63141 or go to our website www.iaalm.org and link to JustGive.Org and donate to the Institute on-line.

I know you are going to help. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Thomas E. Duckworth, L.Ac.

Doctor of Kototama Life Medicine

Executive Director - IAALM

Kototama Conversations: Dr. Duckworth and Melissa Cullison

2011-05-24T10:31:00.000-07:00

Interview with Jodi Apter

2011-05-15T16:09:00.001-07:00

Jodi Apter is now accepting appointments for her massage practice, based at NLTC.

Interview with Jodi Apter

2011-05-15T16:09:00.000-07:00

Jodi Apter is now accepting appointments for her massage practice, based at NLTC.

http://vimeo.com/23465656/settings

School Milk

2011-04-24T21:49:00.000-07:00

From Dr. Duckworth: While I don't really endorse white milk, I certainly endorse the purposes of this campaign. Please read.

=====

Wow, what a response!

In the past week over 30,000 have signed on to Jamie’s call to stop serving sugary flavored milk in schools and bring back plain, white milk instead.

But to make a REAL difference, we need to find more supporters – anyone you know who is concerned about their kids getting too much sugar.

Forward this email to your friends and ask them to join the thousands of parents who believe schools should replace flavored milk with wholesome white milk instead.

Thanks,
The Food Revolution team

P.S. Get the full post from @TheSlowCook on flavored milk: http://tinyurl.com/3g68cl8

***
Dear Food Revolutionaries,

Too much sugar is threatening the health of our kids and we’ve got to do something about it.1

Flavored milk, the chocolate and strawberry milk which is served for breakfast and lunch at school, is sweetened with sugar that kids don’t need and just adds extra calories to an otherwise healthy drink.

The facts deserve to be taken seriously. According to the National Dairy Council, flavored milk contains about 4 teaspoons of added sugar; plain white milk2 doesn’t have any added sugar. It also contains colors, flavors and artificial sweeteners that don’t add any nutritional value. Check out the label and you’ll be able to see for yourself.

Many parents don’t realize this, but chocolate milk has the same amount of sugar as a soft drink (that’s the added sugar plus the natural sugar contained in all milk). Just one additional soft drink per day increases a child’s obesity risk by 60% and is a major contributor to Type 2 diabetes3.

But there is something we can do. Join me in asking schools to promote plain, white milk instead. Help spread the message that wholesome, plain milk is best and that sugary, flavored milk should only be enjoyed as an occasional treat.

Support the Food Revolution campaign to bring back plain milk in schools:

www.jamiesfoodrevolution.com/SugaryMilk

Big love,
Jamie O

Arthritis: Taming the Fire Within

2011-04-19T13:52:00.000-07:00

Dear reader,
Neel's Pharmacy, #8 Crestwood Executive Center, Crestwood, MO 63126 asked me to write a piece on arthritis for their Aril/May Newsletter. I thought I would share with you what I have written. Yes, this is an endorsement of Neel's Pharmacy.

TAMING THE FIRE WITHIN

by Dr. (Thomas) Duckworth, DKM, L.Ac.,
Natural Life Therapy Clinic. 443 North New Ballas Road, Suite 224, St. Louis, MO 63141
Tel: 314-991-6035
www.nltclinic.com, www.naturallifetherapy.blogspot.com

I practice Traditional Japanese Meridian Therapy (aka Oriental Medicine), a complete healthcare system that has been practiced for several thousand years. Eastern Medicine’s understanding of the energetic functions and interconnections of the body’s life energy (chi) is quite different from the Medical and Chiropractic model. We recognize that all disease, discomfort and disharmony occur when the body’s energy loses its balance. When imbalance occurs then stagnation or inflammation arises. Arthritis, bursitis, conjunctivitis, bronchitis, all the ‘itis’ words speak of inflammation but in Eastern medicine, we are looking at patterns, at expressions of the body’s imbalance. Inflammation can manifest as fever, severe pain, infection, dehydration and as “quick to anger” issues. Thus someone with knee arthritis, sinus problems, shoulder pain and a temper has four symptoms but perhaps only one issue, inflammation. Diagnosis is pretty straight-forward and so is the treatment: Inflammation (fever) must be cooled and stagnation (cold) needs warming. For many hundreds of years, what western medicine terms “arthritis”, has been recognized as “fever in the intestines” and the cure is ‘taming the fire within.’

These inflammatory conditions can be nurtured and made stronger or they can be cooled down and dissipated. The healing process is a “do it yourself” project with adjunctive support, instruction and cheerleading from your acupuncture physician. Inflammation can be enhanced by eating foods that cause or aggravate inflammation and can be decreased and even gotten rid of by eating anti-inflammatory foods. So, what foods are we talking about? At Natural Life Therapy Clinic, we recommend taming the fire with green vegetables. Through Oriental Medicine we know the small intestine needs foods with a slight bitter taste like dark greens and that the digestive actions upon vegetables actually uses some of the heat locked in the stomach and intestines. We also recommend:

1- the elimination of sugar and sweeteners; decreasing sweets will help but elimination might cure. This means no pies, cakes, pastry, ice cream, no artificial sweeteners, no high fructose corn syrup; these all fuel inflammation. I am sorry, but they do.

2- Decrease fat intake; eat less meat, oils, salad dressings, all forms of dairy, fried foods, margarine, all fats. They are inflammatory.

3- Decrease caffeine as much as possible. If you must, have one cup of quality coffee daily, although even one cup a day is probably going to be troublesome. Absolutely no soft drinks; beware of chocolate and cocoa, contain both sugar and dairy.

4- Cut out white rice (inflammatory), eat brown rice (anti-inflammatory); eat sweet potatoes (anti-inflammatory), say ‘no’ to white potatoes (inflammatory); stop using white flour products like white bread, pasta and flour(inflammatory), start using whole grain breads, pasta and flours (anti-inflammatory).

5- Yes, eat berries and melons, they are anti-inflammatory.

6- Take at least 3,000 mg of Vitamin C and 400 IU’s of vitamin E daily.

In addition, we instruct folk in the use of ginger soaks and compresses for inflamed muscle and joints, the use of albi plaster and cabbage plasters for pain. We recommend our patients go to Neel’s Pharmacy and obtain homeopathic arthritic meds, especially BHI Arthritis, Heel Zeel (tabs and cream) and Traumeel (tabs & cream). We also warn folk to be very careful using over-the-counter drugs for pain. Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, Nuprin, Medipren) can cause kidney failure in people with mild kidney disease; probably no one over 60 should take Ibuprofen. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) can cause liver damage if the person also drinks alcohol. Please seek advice from a natural health oriented pharmacist like, Patrice Neel Frieda.

This is your body; be kind, be patient. It took a long time for these symptoms to appear. It will take awhile for them to disappear. Just following these recommendations should bring relief within 4-6 months. Receiving traditional Japanese acupuncture, using soaks, practicing additional nutritional considerations and more aggressive self-health care, this time could be reduced significantly.

A final note, dear reader. I am 69 years of age, have been in practice 34 years and have had to deal with arthritis. It is reversible. Best wishes.

Dr. Emoto's Request for Assisting Japan

2011-04-10T21:13:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

Dr. Emoto, the scientist famous for documenting and sharing "the memory of water," has put out a global call for assistance with the Fukushima catastrophe in Japan. We would like to share his message with our customers. Together, our conscious intention does have a real and measurable impact.

Dr. Emoto's Request for Assisting Japan is as follows:

To All People Around the World,

Please send your prayers of love and gratitude to water at the nuclear plants in Fukushima, Japan.

By the massive earthquakes of Magnitude 9 and surreal massive tsunamis, more than 10,000 people are still missing. It has been 16 days already since the disaster happened. What makes it worse is that water at the reactors of Fukushima Nuclear Plants started to leak, and it's contaminating the ocean, air and water molecules of the surrounding areas.

Human wisdom has not been able to do much to solve the problem, but we are only trying to cool down the anger of radioactive materials in the reactors by discharging water to them.

Is there really nothing else to do?

I think there is. During over twenty year research of hado measuring and water crystal photographic technology, I have been witnessing that water can turn positive when it receives pure vibration of human prayer no matter how far away it is.

The energy formula of Albert Einstein, E=MC2 really means that Energy = number of people and the square of people's consciousness.

Now is the time to understand the true meaning. Let us all join the prayer ceremony as fellow citizens of the planet earth.

I would like to ask all people, not just in Japan, but all around the world to please help us to find a way out the crisis of this planet.

The prayer procedure is as follows...

Name of ceremony: "Let's send our thoughts of love and gratitude to all water in the nuclear plants in Fukushima"

Please say the following phrase:

"The water of Fukushima Nuclear Plant, we are sorry to make you suffer. Please forgive us. We thank you, and we love you." Please say it aloud or in your mind.

Repeat it three times as you put your hands together in a prayer position. Please offer your sincere prayer.

Thank you!

Please join us in offering this prayer of positive intention

All that matters is that you recognize you are a conscious, sentient being with a powerful vibratory mind that is interconnected with literally every molecule and bit of matter in our entire universe. Then use that power to send a positive prayer to Japan.

All this is not even a new-agey idea, by the way: It's quantum physics straight out of the textbooks being used to teach physics today. They don't say it the same way, but the underlying mathematics are undeniably describing an interconnected universe where the observer is in fact engaged in the creation of the apparent "physical" reality that we experience. Quantum physics also proves the "non-locality" properties of our universe, meaning that one thing can affect another thing in another place instantly

-- even faster than the speed of light would seem to indicate was possible.

Thoughts of love and gratitude,
Gold Mine Natural Food Company

Studies with Dr. Duckworth: St. Louis, MO, and Santa Fe, NM

2011-03-29T09:09:00.000-07:00

The Institute of American Acupuncture & Life Medicine is pleased to offer this opportunity to study Jingei Pulse Diagnosis with a Master of Kototama Life Medicine:

Thomas E. Duckworth
Doctor of Kototama Life Medicine

Jingei Pulse Diagnosis in Five Element Therapy
Do you feel overwhelmed by pulse diagnosis, yet desire to be able to study and apply it in your practice? Often, patients present with a variety of symptoms and complaints that do not readily indicate the root treatment to employ. Jingei diagnosis is an ancient method of determining the most effective meridians to treat so that your treatments achieve high-quality results quickly.

Dr. Duckworth began his Pulse Diagnostic studies with Dr. Masahilo M. Nakazono O-sensei in 1977 and continued for the next ten years as his apprentice. With solemn ritual and a clock of secrecy, Nakazono O-sensei taught Jingei Diagnosis as part of his basic diagnostic procedures; Dr. Duckworth has read more than 60,000 Jingei Pulses over the past 32 years of practice.

His studies and clarification of Pulse Diagnosis led to his Doctorate Degree in Kototama Life Medicine. He is the only graduate of the Kototama Institute to achieve this rank and distinction. Following the tradition of Sensei/Student tutorship, Dr. Duckworth has been teaching Kototama Life Medicine since the 1980’s and his students now practice in New Mexico, California, Colorado, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Maine and Mexico.

In this workshop, you will learn how to interpret the Jingei pulse and its association to the Zo/Fu meridians, san yin/san yo relationships and five element therapy in your clinical practice.

St. Louis, MO
May 14 & 15, 2011
Location: TBA
Registration: $255.
Early Bird rate: $235, if paid in full by April 23, 2011
Student discount: $25.00 off registration fee
Registration at the door: $280

Santa Fe, NM
June 25 -26, 2011
Location: TBA
Registration: $255.
Early Bird rate: $235, if paid in full by June 4, 2011
Student discount: $25.00 off registration fee
Registration at the door: $280

Jingei Pulse Diagnosis in Five Element Therapy
15 PDA Points – NCCAOM Provider # ACHB 100-009

Day One, Saturday

8:00 - 8:30AM Registration
8:30 – 9:20AM Overview of workshop and instructor
9:20 – 9:45AM Hand Ki exercises
10:00 – 11:00AM History of Jingei Pulse Diagnosis and Dr. Nakazono O-sensei’s relationship to this form of diagnosis.
11:00 – 12:30PM The 16 pulse distinctions in Jingei diagnosis, including ‘Death Pulses.’ Demonstration and Q & A.
12:30 – 1:30PM Lunch
1:30 – 2:30PM Hands-on practice of Jingei Pulse Diagnosis
2:45 – 3:00 PM Discussion
3:00 – 4:00PM Hands-on practice of Jingei Pulse Diagonis
4:00 – 5:00PM Principles of treatment according to Five Element theory
5:00 – 5:30PM Question & Answer Session

Day Two, Sunday

8:30 – 9:00AM Hand Ki exercise and breathing
9:00 – 8:30AM Review principles of Jingei diagnosis
9:30 – 11:00AM Treating according to Jingei Diagnosis – Zo/Fu
11:15 – 12:00PM Treating according to Jingei diagnosis – San in/San yo
12:00 – 12:30PM Discussion of diagnosis and treatment
12:30 – 1:30PM Lunch
1:30 – 2:15PM Demonstration of direct, indirect moxibustion and other non-needle techniques for treatment
2:15 – 3:00PM Treatment Practice
3:15 – 5:00PM Practice and discussion of Jingei, direct & indirect moxibustion and non-needle techniques

For registration information and paperwork, please call: (314) 991-6035.

Spring Tune-Up and Allergies

2011-03-28T07:28:00.000-07:00

By Jason R. Hackler, L.Ac.

Spring is upon us. Life Energy is expanding. Growth is happening. Our sleeping patterns, our dietary habits and even our mental/emotional worlds shift. As the season changes, so do we. We may not always be aware of it, but our energy (Ki) adjusts to the new season and to everything in and around us. True preventative health care addresses these energetic shifts, facilitating these transitions into the beginning of the next season.

As many of you are well aware, this time of year in St. Louis, though filled with the wondrous beauty of the Midwest, may also be a time of full blown allergies, fatigue, sinus pressure and drainage, headaches, and more. Some of you have already come in for a treatment or two before allergy symptoms have worsened; this is definitely something Dr. Duckworth and I suggest to our patients. There are also a couple other suggestions, besides receiving a treatment, that may be helpful if you have mild to moderate allergy symptoms.

Vitamin C with bioflavonoids: 1000 mg two or three times daily. More is often more effective if it is hayfever type symptoms. If you have a sensitive stomach, try taking Ester C, a non-acidic form of vitamin C.

Sinusin Spray by BHI/Heel: This is a product of homotoxicology which has no adverse side effects. This nasal spray also has anti-viral properties and can be used for colds and sinus infections. You can purchase it at Neel’s Pharmacy (located at Sappington and Watson) or at Whole Foods Market.

Spray twice in each nostril three times daily when symptoms are present.

Allergy by BHI/Heel: These are tablets that dissolve in your mouth and may be taken every couple hours if symptoms are strong. I find these especially effective with children; they also have no known adverse side effects. Neel’s Pharmacy carries this product or a product similar to it.

Sinus rinse/nettie pot: This can be quite helpful if you have congestion or if you are working outside during pollen season. Personally I like using fine sea salt rather than the sodium packet that often comes with a rinse kit. Rinse daily if symptoms are strong.

Reduce sugar and any substance that you think you are sensitive or allergic to. This sounds rather obvious, however, as we all know, we often continue consuming something that we know is a challenge for us to digest; this will especially burden the immune system if you overdo it while experiencing allergy symptoms.

As Ben Franklin and now, Dr. D, say: “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!”

So, really, don’t wait until you need five to ten treatments to facilitate your cure; receive one or two treatments and enjoy your Spring!

Happy Spring Everyone!!!

With gratitude always,

Jason R. Hackler, L.Ac.

Thomas E. Duckworth, DKM, L.Ac.

Sharon Reed

Mallory Shocklee

Book by Mary Beth Shaw

2011-03-17T12:57:00.000-07:00

In the past, we've highlighted NLTC patient Mary Beth Shaw, with one of our patient interview features. We note here some news about her artistic pursuits, compliments of her publisher:

I would like to share with you some news about one of our publications, ‘Flavor for Mixed Media,’ by local artist Mary Beth Shaw, I think your readers would be interested in.

‘Flavor of Mixed Media,’ approaches art very much like a chef approaches food. The book is a guide and inspiration to handcrafting the most delectable works of art. Inside the book you will find illustrated projects with step-by-step instructions for painting techniques, how to create three dimensional paintings, texture ideas and other home-style favorites such as collage making.

Find also a link to the book on our website here.

Dr. Duckworth on the Healing Powers of Qi Energy

2011-03-07T21:00:00.000-08:00

Dr. Duckworth on the healing properties of Qi energy from Thomas Crone on Vimeo.

New Lunar Year & A Clinic Update

2011-02-22T08:51:00.000-08:00

The Lunar New Year began on February 3, 2011;

Year of the Rabbit – may your inner energizer bunny be recharged this year.

As we head into this New Year and new decade, I need to acknowledge and thank each of you for your patronage and allowing us to be one of your of health care providers. We are honored and humbled that you invite us into the pathways of your life energy as you seek optimal health. We are grateful for your use of our services.

The past few months seem to have …..

Well, Mallory’s daughter, Lydia, is over three months old and I haven’t even sent out a note. I apologize, especially to those of you who’ve expressed such much interest and have asked of the welfare of mother and child. From the ‘git-go’, Lydia and Mallory have been fine. (And yes, it is Mallory who is sending you this New Year Blast.) With Mallory gone, it gets a little crazed time-by-time but we are adapting. Everyone misses her.

I could list the departure of Mallory, the birth of Lydia, the birth of her cousin, Xander, Thanksgiving, Family birthdays, Christmas, New Years, snow storms and procrastination as factors in how we strayed from our intent to have an article or video up on our blog site (www.naturallifetherapy.blogspot.com) once a week and a newsletter blast as often as possible. New Year’s Resolutions….stay tuned! And while I’m writing about blogs and videos, I must express gratitude and appreciation to Thomas Crone for shooting, editing and posting the videos on our blog site. Have you visited there lately? I also must thank those who partook in these interviews. I also must ask, are there subjects you would like seen covered by either written or video format? Thank you.

Many of you have met or at least have seen Penny Ziglin around the office; she began studying with Dr. Hackler this past autumn. It is always exciting when a new generation begins studying this very ancient art form. As her studies progress, she will need to practice Te a Te (Sacred Handwork) on many people. IAALM will definitely utilize her in the Wednesday Clinic.

As some have seen, we have moved the waiting room and office furniture around a bit and altered the art work; a little different energy unfolding.

And speaking of ENERGY, Jodi Apter, LMT, is relocating her Massage Practice to Natural Life Therapy Clinic, effective February 15th. We are pleased and privileged to have Jodi practicing her healing ways here. Look to our website (www.nltclinic.com) for more information on Jodi and what her practice provides (but it’s not posted yet). I can tell you this: she is incredible, her fees are quite reasonable ($60 for an hour session) and Natural Life Therapy Clinic has improved its services by having Jodi here. I don’t know when she will be taking new clients but will keep you posted. Jodi is featured in one of our recent video interviews. It’s on our blog site: www.naturallifetherapy.blogspot.com. You can also access this blog through the website: www.nltclinic.com.

So this is what I wanted to say this beautiful cold winter day. We really appreciate the relationship we have with each of you. We apologize for getting distracted. Even though there is snow on the ground, spring is not far away. The next two or three weeks is the ideal time to energetically re-balance so that the transition from winter to spring is without health incident. Preventive health care, I think it’s called.

There is one more issue I wish to address to you and that is to ask for your support of the low cost ‘people’s clinic’ that Jason and I have been operating since 2002. To show your support, I’m asking if you would send the Institute of American Acupuncture & Life Medicine (IAALM) a dollar. It would help a lot.

You probably have one in your pocket right now. It is one of the humblest among our mediums of exchange. It is the $1 bill. Not long ago, a buck got you the Sunday paper or a pastry at Bread Co. Now, everything is costing more; even low-cost costs more.

Sometimes we don’t think to give in small amounts because we don’t think it will be enough to make a difference. Giving a donation of $1 to a cause seems almost a joke even though we know and readily state, “every dollar helps.” It is true, $1 mobilized from each person in a community or network has the power to affect people’s lives and many facets of the community.

Recently, I read about individuals and organizations, “inspired by the power of $1”, who are raising money for very worthy causes by asking for a dollar. Actually, it’s a brilliant idea. Jason and I have provided continuous service to the underserved of our community for over 8 years. We formed a non-profit organization just for that purpose. We have received no salary for this work and we have often covered costs out of our own pockets or the pocket of Natural Life Therapy Clinic. We have been able to operate because of a supportive Board of Directors and the generosity of a few kind individuals and a couple of compassionate foundations. Now we would like you to donate a dollar to IAALM.

Perhaps you might donate a dollar just because you read this letter or a dollar for each IAALM clinic we conduct (2 a month) or a dollar for each patient we treat each IAALM clinic day (about 20 each day) or a dollar each time you receive a treatment or a dollar for Valentine’s Day. Anyway, you get my point. There is overhead, supplies are needed. If you can help, sent your tax deductable $1 to IAALM, 443 N. New Ballas Rd, Suite # 224, St. Louis, MO63141

That $1 in your pocket may be worth more than you think.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Thomas Duckworth and Jason Hackler

Sharon Reed (and yes, Mallory)

Patient Conversations: Dr. Duckworth & Robyn Masucci

2011-02-17T07:28:00.001-08:00

NLTC Patient Conversations: Robyn Massuci from Thomas Crone on Vimeo.

Inclement Weather

2011-02-01T09:08:00.000-08:00

Due to extreme winter weather conditions in St. Louis, please don't hesitate to call the office at 314-991-6035 for updated office hours. Please check back here for updates as well:

Appointments for Tuesday, February 1 are being rescheduled, due to the weather.

Questions for Dr. Duckworth: Seasonal Changes

2011-01-30T20:22:00.000-08:00

In reading your site and looking at some of the videos here, I've seen you reference the changing of seasons and what this can mean for physical and emotional health. Is this based along the lines of our common calendar? Or in the actual temperatures that we feel on a yearly basis? When would you suggest that we're in for our next seasonal adjustment? And what would you suggest as good health policies as we transition from winter into spring? Quite a few questions there....

Thanks,
M. Graham

=====

Dear (Mrs, Ms, Mr, Miss) M. Graham, your questions concerning the seasons are great...and challenging. The language and references we use is less about the calender and more about the weather itself. Granted, the 17th of December is the winter but....let me start over. In Oriental Medicine, there are five seasons of the year. Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter and Do-Yo Do-Yo is the time of change between the seasons. For example, in late February/early March, the day time temperature may be quite spring-like but the nights are still wintry or in late Spring when the day is like summer but you need a sweater at night, these times are the fifth season. It is not just the temperature, it's the environment.The practitioner must factor this when treating or making dietary recommendations. The acupuncturist should plant the needles accordingly. In the summer, needles are planted more shallow, winter, deeper. However, if a resident of Hawaii is visiting St. Louis at Christmas and comes in for a treatment while it is snowing outside, I will treatment him as if it be summer because that is the environment that he is still synchronized with. Just as there are five seasons, that are five tastes (and, by no accident, five vowel sounds). Each taste has an association or relationship with a season. The taste of Spring is sour/tart, summer is bitter, Autumn is hot/pungent, winter is Salt and the Do-Yo season's flavor or taste is sweet. An excess or definciency of a taste will influence how well you cope with each season and how well you handle this season will influence how well you handle the next season.

When are we due our next seasonal adjustment?? Right before the spring winds begin to blow. Probably late February/early March - maybe later...and as we transition, we need to start moving away from heavy, dense foods - eat less red meat, eat less potatoes, squashes, gravies, rich foods. Spring is the beginning of the year, the beginning of new life. This is when seeds sprout and animals give birth. We neeed to eat sprouts, lighter foods. Springtime is a good time to 'fast' and do 'cleansings', it's time for walking and being in the sunshine. I suggest you grow sprouts to eat - radish, pumpkin, mung bean, soy, alfalfa - so many seeds to sprout - so many salads to make!

Keep the questions comin' !

Questions for Dr. Duckworth: Ginger

2011-01-26T20:30:00.000-08:00

Recently, I went to the market, saw a deal on ginger and bought a couple of large... whatever they're called. Chunks for ginger? Stalks? At any rate, though I use ginger in cooking and in making my daily tea, I'm wondering if you've got any extra uses for the ginger? Noticed that you mentioned it mixed with sesame oil as a balm for wintry skin. Anything else ginger can do?

Franklin

-----

Dear Franklin,

Ginger root, those clunks of ginger are the root of the plant. When you purchase a goodly amount - and if you own a food processor, chopping the roots up, placing in baggies (about a handful per baggy) and freezing the chopped ginger root is an excellent way to preserve large quantities of your purchase. Don't refrigerate the fresh ginger (it will get moldy), leave out with your fruits. Ginger root will dry/dehydrate but it is still quite usable, Anyway, Franklin, ginger is a very useful plant. It has been found that 2-3 capsules of powdered ginger root are twice as effective as Dramamine in addressing motion sickness. It is quite helpful with nausea, including morning sickness. It may also be used to counter the diarrhea and vomiting of gastrointestinal "flu". The effective dosage seems to vary person to person, with some taking as many as 10-12 capsules an hour. Unlike Dramamine, ginger has no effect on the central nervous system and it apparently absorbs toxins and restores normal gastric activity. However, excessive doses may irritate the upper G.I.

In Oriental Medicine, Ginger Root is used to stimulate the organs, provide heat and restore vital Qi (Ki, Chi). Stagnation of Qi (the Life Energy of the Universe & therefore, the human body) impairs function and results in disease. Sore throat, swollen glands and other discomforts in the throat; sleeplessness; mental disturbance; unexpected or unexplained pain anywhere in the body and nervous system problems are some of the manifestations of Qi disharmony. Ginger is used to heal diseases attributable to Qi stagnation.

There are many herbal preparations that incorporate ginger in their formula. For example, a tea made of soya or tamari sauce, ginger, umeboshi plum (Japanese Salt Plum) and Bancha Tea (Japanese Twig Teat) is used to strengthen the heart. It is also drunk for fatigue, poor circulation and sluggish metabolism. The recipe: 1/2 umeboshi plum, 1 teaspoon soya sauce, 5 drops of ginger juice, 1 cup of Banch tea (boiling). To the boiling tea, add the salt plum, soya sauce & ginger juice; stir and leave on low heat for a minute or so. Drink hot.

Ginger is quite useful for digestive issues such as nausea, colitis, diverticulosis, indigestion, morning sickness, any kind of upset stomach. It is useful for menstrual cramps (internally & externally), hot flashes, muscular spasms and circulation problems.

Externally it is used to address joint issues, curvature of the spine, muscle contractions, bone spurs, inflammation, headaches, earaches, dandruff, skin problems and bronchitis. Cooked in water, it is used as a compress or soak for muscle and joints.

Yes, ginger oil is made by mixing ginger juice and sesame (or olive) oil. A very strong decoction is a mixture of 1 part oil to one part ginger juice; weaker mixtures would be 2:1 or 3:1. For skin issues, I'd start with the 3:1 mixture. Ginger oil is useful for aches, pain in the spine, joint and muscle pain, earache and dandruff. It makes a wonderful massage oil also.

Most of this information, Franklin, is contained in a 4 page info sheet entitled "Ginger. Out of the kitchen, Into the Medicine Cabinet" that I put together in 1998. You can get a free copy at the Natural Life Therapy office.

Video: Patient Conversations with Jodi Apter

2011-01-17T13:35:00.001-08:00

Patient Conversations: Jodi Apter with Dr. Duckworth from Thomas Crone on Vimeo.

Vegan for a Month, post-script

2011-01-17T12:14:00.000-08:00

You know how the holidays roll around each year? And how people tempt you with delicious, non-vegan foods at every turn? Yup, I know all about that time of year, too.

The wheels came off the vegan train during the latter days of December, but not before some good work was done. After talking to Dr. Duckworth, I feel better about the fact that almost everyone faces a certain weight-challenge during not just the holiday season, but during the winter. Weight stays on during this season; our body wants to hang onto it, for a host of reasons.

The good thing about an attempt at turning vegan for a month is that it cleans out some bad habits. For example, after deciding to eat fish about three years ago, I realized that I wasn't just enjoying a fine cut of tuna, or some high-grade salmon, from time-to-time. Instead, I wound up enjoying the heavily-battered, deep-fried weekly fish-and-chips special at my favorite pub. That kind of sloppy thought process (equating quality fish consumption to health, but then heading to the least-healthy version of some type of "trash fish") gets reconsidered.

So, a couple weeks into January, I've followed the vegetarian diet that I adhered to for 20 years, with the exception of a cup of shrimp bisque on a very cold night spent outside.

Attempts... sometimes you don't make it all the way. But the partial victory is there. You take and it realize that Lent is just a few weeks away. Another perfect time for dietary experimentation, whether, or not, you're even Catholic.

Happy eating, friends.

Vegan for a Month: Day 16 (many links!)

2010-12-16T08:39:00.000-08:00

Well, if pure weight loss was a goal of this pursuit, week two was a negative one, as a pound was gained. I'll blame the bad weather.

Maybe I need to read/view some of the links Dr. Duckworth has passed along. It's not a small grouping of readings, so pick-and-choose, as you have time (from vegsource.com, unless otherwise noted):

New veg show on cooking channel

Milk intake and osteoporosis examined

A speech on "The Starch Solution" by John McDougall, MD

Time Magazine: Veggies still good for you

A debate over the book "The China Study"

Vegetarianism as long-life indicator

High fructose corn syrup's fat-inducing effects

High-end vegan dining in SF

Food Democracy Now: a clearinghouse for issues relating to good eating

Qs for Dr. Duckworth: Natural Remedy for Dry Skin?

2010-12-13T09:36:00.000-08:00

Question for Dr. Duckworth,

Do you have any thoughts on natural remedies for dry skin? As we've moved into winter, I'm finding that over-the-counter lotions aren't completely doing the trick. Thanks.

M. Graham

M.,

You can make a lotion out of ginger and sesame oil. Take the ginger and chop it up, very fine. Then pour in sesame oil, or even olive oil. Use one part ginger to three parts oil. You could even go as high as a one part-to-one part. Mix it up over three days' time. The ginger will activate properties in the oil to make a nice ointment for the skin.

Dr. Duckworth

Vegan for a Month: Day 9

2010-12-09T07:48:00.000-08:00

It's good to get some information in your system, when you're about to make a change in lifestyle, even for a shorter term eyb. As someone who built up about three years of veganism in smaller chunks, I wanted to read up on some supporting literature, while also looking for any drawbacks that might occur, any nutritional deficits that I might be inviting.

The two main bits of media that I took in while transitioning in December would certainly be considered advocacy of a more vegetarian and, by extension, locavore diet. Readers of this blog would be sympathetic, I'm guessing, to many of the ideas expressed in them and may have already taken in the works.

As someone who lists the books that I read, I noticed that I'd recently consumed two by Anthony Bourdain, the world-renowned chef, traveler, author, curmudgeon and champion of meat-eating. In response, I picked up "The Face on Your Plate" by Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson, a writer unknown to me, despite myriad titles to his credit. He's a sensitive man, and I don't say that with disrespect. The process of killing animals for food revolts him at that base level, he's even squeamish around sustainable family farms that grow animals for meat. The book's smart and you'll learn something about how your meal came to be; for sushi fans, his describing the way eels are killed will be something you won't forget the next time you're checking off boxes at your local sushi restaurant. His calls, though, for more happiness for farm animals is one of the ideas that probably won't resonate with most Americans. On the other hand, his discussions of how he, in his late 60s, keeps up with his young children, while still able to work out at a highly effective clip might sway more. In fact, his advocacy for a Meatless Monday is likely pointing to a way to bring people into a more vegetarian lifestyle, if at a slower pace. For those that labor over books, it's a quick, "readable" read.

"Food Inc." is a film that's made a mark in a short period of time, the 2008 documentary (available for online streaming at Netflix) tackling factory farming, American families and their over-reliance on fast food, the ability of companies like WalMart to make a major dent in the ecological future of our world, and a variety pack of other major-and-minor themes involving our country's food production and checkout line desires. Though it's a strident film, with clear points of view from the first few frames, the doc's got enough subtlety to not wear you out with jackhammering of messages. (That said, I watched it in two sittings, so I might be countering my own point; the early section on chicken farms might have you walking around the block, on a search for some perspective.) The film's probably going to find an audience already caring about these issues, but if it somehow made it into schools, public television and other mainstream viewing circles, the effect could be profound. The images and messages explored are so universally troubling, only the most unthinking people could resist making some change for the better after watching.

===

Oh yeah! An update, or two, on the last entry. Lost five pounds the first week of the vegan plan. Ate one massive pot of healthy soup to do so; once exercise kicks into higher year, the results should even even better. And the sugar cravings are largely past. There's still that temptation to grab an Amp when they're around, but those afternoon and early-evening crashes are starting to abate. Shew.

Vegan for a Month: Day 4

2010-12-05T12:38:00.000-08:00

Greetings. My name's Thomas and I'm generally the person who posts up videos and other blog items here. I've been a patient of Dr. Duckworth (and occasionally Jason Hackler) for the past 18-or-so months. During that time, I've welcomed the approaches and care given at NLTC. But no one can monitor you all the time, and I've allowed some personal habits to push me to a personal-high weight of 231 pounds.

As a former athlete (not a good one, but an active one), this is completely galling. It pains me to even type in those numbers. 2. 3. 1. Together. In a row. AYIE.

To combat the creep of pounds and to establish some better habits going forward, I called a truce with drinking, giving myself a break from alcohol for the last seven weeks of the year. That process I'm well into and it's not been a bad thing; it hasn't been that rough to adapt, actually. But I'm also tapping into a vegan diet for the month of December, figuring that there's no rougher month to attempt some dietary changes, what with holiday parties, cookies set out on every available surface and the wintry temperatures keeping outdoor exercise to a minimum.

Dr. Duckworth thought it'd be interesting, maybe informative, for me to punch up some thoughts over the next month. I've given myself a few days worth of veganism before jotting down the first thoughts, but I'd like to diverge from the meat-and-dairy talk for this first entry. Instead, I'd like to point out that energy drinks can be as addictive as anything I've come across.

While they probably disgust no lack of readers here, energy drinks have been a daily dose for me over the past year, or two. I'm partial to Rockstar, Amp and Full Throttle, while passing on Monster, Rip It and Xyence. (Though, if handed one of those for free after a concert, I've willingly broken my own rules.) For the first three-plus days of the new diet settings, what's bothered me most is a serious, mid-day craving for these caffeine-and-sugar bombs.

Used to be, I'd grab one before an afternoon class "to help keep me sharp." Or I'd grab one before working nights "just to stay awake." And sometimes I'd find myself with one in-hand, solely because I'd be paying for gasoline, or standing in the checkout aisle at a store, with the drinks within super-easy reach.

Cheese, oh, I'll miss it soon enough, I'm sure. A pizza? Oh! They're so delicious! But I just watched a friend dine at the awesome Good Pie without having a stress attack. After being vegetarian for 20 years, I've worked in a fair amount into my weekly meals and I'll certainly want some sushi, eventually.

The energy drinks, though? I miss them already, like old friends. It's mid-day of day four and mind's keeping with the program, but my body's detoxing. It ain't fun. But it is necessary.

More soon...

Clinic Conversations: Stephanie Maupin & Dr. Duckworth

2010-11-03T19:30:00.000-07:00

Clinic Conversations: Stephanie Maupin & Dr. Duckworth from Thomas Crone on Vimeo.

A natural medicine approach to warts

2010-10-21T12:56:00.000-07:00

In western terms, warts are the result of viral activity in an environment conducive to that particular life form’s health and well being. In oriental natural medicine terms, warts thrive because of the over consumption of animal protein, especially red meat and shell fish, and sugar which create an acidic environment. Either point of view, in order to be rid of warts, you must change the eco-system.

In Japanese Naturopathic practices, the acidic environment is altered by introducing ume tea internally through the digestive system and eliminating sugars and animal protein from the diet. This would, of course, include dairy, artificial sweeteners and tropical fruits.

Genital warts should be washed or soaked with an ume solution and/or moxa tea; other external warts, including plantar warts, can be ‘burned’ off by applying raw eggplant to the wart. This procedure involves cutting thick pieces of the flesh of the eggplant and bandaging onto the wart. Most warts or wart clusters can be covered with a slice of eggplant that fits under a 2 inch band-aid. Ideally, the eggplant should be changed about every 4-8 hours and the eggplant compress maintained 24 four hours a day. However, using the eggplant just in the evening/through the night can be very powerful. Direct moxibustion (Japanese ½ grain size kyu, once a day for 2-3 days) is also very powerful. Another approach is to use thick slices of garlic in the same manner as eggplant. Either one should begin to show results in 3-10 days.

Clinicscape

2010-10-12T16:45:00.000-07:00

As you enter Natural Life Therapy Clinic, directly in front of you there is a place of honor for my studies. There is a portrait of M. Masahilo Nakazono Osensei, founder of Kototama Life Medicine and my teacher. It is a beautiful pastel chalk on sandpaper painting by an extraordinary artist, Kitty Wallis. Sensei was about 64 when she painted him. To the left of Sensei's painting is a portrait of the three legendary emperors: Fu Hsi ([2852-2738 BCE], the Father of Philosophy and Divination who brought us the Principle of Tai Chi, Yin/Yang and authored The Book of Change (I CHING),(invented writing and fishing with nets); Shen Nung [28th Century BCE], Emperor of the Five Grains, Father of Agriculture and herbal identification; he is considered the Father of Chinese Medicine (who invented the plow, tamed the cow, yoked the horse and used fire to clear farm land); and Huang Ti [26997-2597 BCE], the author of the 'Yellow Emperior's Classic of Internal Medicine' and Father of Acupuncture. It is a copy by Judy Stone Sawyer from a 1798 Japanese scroll by Sibi Wake that I commissioned in 1989.

To the right of Sensei is the Medicine Buddha poster from the Tibetan Medical Center at Dharamsala. This 'clinic warming gift' travelled from the Dalai Lama's Clinic to mine via Larry Brilliant, MD, a World Health Organization physician involved in the eradication of small pox and a co-founder of SEVA, an international service organization serving the vision needs of indigenous people throughout the world Larry presented it soon after I opened my practice in June 1980. Our connection is through our beloved guru, Neem Karoli Baba Maharaji who instructed his followers to "Feed everyone; Serve everyone." In front of the painting is a sword resting on a small wooden bench.

On left side of the bench is a 'medicine bone' from Africa, a reminder that the art of healing comes in many forms; on the other side is a sand dollar, an object of beauty that remarkably resembles the symbol for Kototama Medicine that was designed by Sensei. It is round, contains a five-pointed 'flower,' has five holes and inside, has five 'doves,' continual reminders of the five dimensions of life energy and the multi-faceted ways the five energies create a whole. In front of the bench is a wooden plaque that reads "I have no sword, I make absence of self my sword."

On the shelf below is a copy of the 'Long Landscape Scroll' (1486), by Sesshu, considered Japan’s greatest artist; it depicts the gentle, gradual flow of the seasons from spring to winter. (The original is 51-feet long by 1 1/4-feet tall.) This too was gift from Sensei. In front of the scroll is a length of braided sweetgrass that Jason Hackler bestowed upon me. Sweetgrass is a spiritual ceremonial plant used by the First People of this continent and is referred to as "the Hair of Mother Earth." It is held that Earth gives us life and any person who thinks he is more important than Earth is truly and sadly lost.

On the middle shelf is a photo of Jason and me. It's a good picture. In front of the photo is a wild turkey feather I brought home from a retreat in Texas. Ben Franklin was a strong advocate of declaring the wild turkey as the national bird. It is a gentle social creature that clusters in large flocks and though they can fly, seemed rooted to the earth. Franklin felt the eagle to be a stand-alone bully that kills anything it sees and, as Franklin observed, "is a carrion beast." If things get tight, won't hesitate to eat 'road kill.' He didn't think the eagle represented the heart of America. Now, of course, he would see the eagle very much represents America, flying around killing whatever it sees.

Below that is a five picture frame presentation of cartoon samurai ducks… and you were expecting what?

Back to the top shelf. The sword came from a long time martial arts practitioner who wished to acknowledge the study and practice of Kototama Life Medicine as being in the tradition of the warrior-priest. The bench was a present from another extraordinary artist, Steve Auger. (The large painting on the north wall behind the puja table is an Auger creation.) The bench is a traditional tool of the shaman of South America. It was used as a seat for the physician, as a chopping block where he prepared his herbal medicines and as a headrest when he slept. The symbolism and grace of this simple piece of furniture never ceases to awe me. And the wooden plaque...

The wooden plaque is a gift from my close friend, student extraordinaire and long-time clinical associate, Jason Hackler, DOM, L.Ac. It is a constant reminder of the path I have chosen, the goals I seek and the attitude that best serves my quest. The lines, "I have no sword, I make absence of self my sword," are the final lines of a prayer/poem penned by a 14th Century samurai.

From Catholic seminarian to psychedelic explorer; Hindu devotee to Buddhist meditation practitioner; shaman and Shinto student and, finally, mastery of the Kototama Principle; my path has been long, intense, varied in form yet singular in purpose. I have sought and still seek to embrace everything with attachment to nothing; I have attempted to be whole and to be zero. My pride is my distraction, my determination, which some term arrogance, is fueled from deep within and in this poem/prayer I have found a sensible guide to physical life, spiritual development and intellectual integrity.

"I have no parents;
I make the heavens and earth my parents.
I have no home;
I make awareness my home.
I have no life or death;
I make the tides of breathing my life and death.
I have no divine power;
I make honesty my divine power.
I have no means;
I make understanding my means.
I have no magic secrets;
I make character my magic secret.
I have no body;
I make endurance my body.
I have no eye;
I make the flash of lightening my eyes.
I have no ears;
I make sensibility my ears.
I have no limbs;
I make promptness my limbs.
I have no strategy;
I make 'unshadowed by thought' my strategy.
I have no designs;
I make 'seizing the opportunity by the forelock' my design.
I have no miracles;
I make right-action my miracles.
I have no principles;
I make adaptability to all circumstances my principles.
I have no tactics;
I make emptiness and fullness my tactics.
I have no talents;
I make ready wit my talent.
I have no friends;
I make my mind my friend.
I have no enemy;
I make carelessness my enemy.
I have no armor;
I make benevolence and righteousness my armor.
I have no castle;
I make immovable-mind my castle.
I have no sword;
I make absence of self my sword."

This then is what greets me each time I walk through the door of Natural Life Therapy Clinic. When I greet you, this is what I am seeking to convey.

Kirtan Sacred Chanting: Friday, October 1

2010-09-30T08:01:00.000-07:00

Shantala
Benjy & Heather Wertheimer

Kirtana Sacred Chanting
Unity in the Community Tour
Friday, October 1, 7 p.m.

Presented by Jan & Mitch Herzog and JennTara Ward

First Unitarian Church
5007 Waterman Blvd.
$20 in advance, $25 day of show
Advance tickets: www.brownpapertickets.com

For more info, call Jan or JennTara at: 314-497-8452; or at anusarayogastl@yahoo.com.

www.shantalamusic.com

Video: Autumnal Health Tips w/ Dr. Duckworth

2010-09-23T12:15:00.000-07:00

Seasonal Changes: Health Tips for Autumn from NLTC from Thomas Crone on Vimeo.

Foundations of Inochi Medicine Course Work Offered

2010-09-21T11:15:00.000-07:00

Foundations Inochi Coursework to Begin, Fall 2010 from Thomas Crone on Vimeo.

Video: Intro to Kototama Medicine: Moxa Therapy

2010-08-25T20:00:00.000-07:00

Intro to Kototama Medicine: Moxa Therapy from Thomas Crone on Vimeo.

Video: Patient Stories: Mary Beth Shaw

2010-08-25T19:58:00.000-07:00

NTLC Patient Stories: Mary Beth Shaw from Thomas Crone on Vimeo.

What Is Natural Medicine?

2010-08-15T14:13:00.000-07:00

By Thomas E. Duckworth, DKM, L.Ac.
Copywritten 2002

Perhaps I should be speaking of HUMAN medicine instead of NATURAL medicine because I believe that natural medicine is first and foremost, person-centered health care which is based on the premise that the well-being of the person is more important than the outcome of the procedure. You’ve heard the old joke: “The procedure worked perfectly but the patient died”.

Natural medicine is the recognition that the body is the sum of body/mind/spirit-in its environment.

Much of natural medicine has evolved from those cultures which have had no dichotomy between Mind and Body and which recognized that a living organism is part and parcel of the “external” environment in which it dwells.

In modern times we hear and read of the mind-body connection or mind/body/spirit unification. Modern physics and biology continue to confirm this phenomena but in Oriental medicine, this fact is not spoken of in hyphenated words. The functioning body, operating mind and living spirit are/is the base of human life. For brevity sake, I’ll use the term ‘body’.

The other important distinction is the dynamic environment in which the body lives - Nature. The western philosophies which provided the fiction that living is happening independent of environment has lead to some interesting ideas. Like the statement, “I love to get out in Nature on the weekends.” It has also led to the erroneous belief that the body (and mind) is made up of separate components. Now we have cardiologists who know nothing about the lungs, heart medicines that weaken the kidneys and specialists who say, “I checked your stomach and I couldn’t find anything that would cause you pain. Wait a few weeks and if it persists, we’ll run some more tests.” I liked the young doctor who told me, “What you eat has nothing to do with health.”

The body is always in an environment. It can not be separated from environment. It can change environments but it is always interacting with its outside. The mall may not be “natural” but it is the nature that body is in at the moment. The body is quite sensitive and is continually adapting (or attempting to adapt) to changes in the environment - changes in nature. This adaptation occurs according to certain principles - what we can call “natural principles.” That is, they are happening - period.

We all know how certain life forces are influenced by gravitational pull, lunar activity, by the ebb and flow of oceans and solar activity. “Natural Medicine" recognizes that all parts and systems of the body are interconnected, closely related, cooperative and functionally affect each other physiologically and pathologically. We are a Unified System.

In Oriental Medicine, for example, seasons and climatic changes in the environment are basic to understanding the health of each individual. In this Unified Field, we know not only that in the Spring it is warm but that there is a growing abundance of Ki (Qi) [Life energy] and Blood [Life force and nourishment].. We know the body is going to behave (if it can) in accordance with the same environmental principles that cause seeds to sprout, plants to develop leaves, animals to procreate, winds to blow and the earth to shift so as to allow an increase of sunlight. With the heat of summer we have full abundance and the energy is not only strong on the surface of the planet but on the surface of the body. The body will sweat more, urinate less and crave or need foods much different then what is needed in the winter. When taking the pulses, we find the pulse to be big and floating - that is, abundant and on the surface.. If the pulse is not like this, that person is known to be out of sync with his/her environment which will result in a weakening in the system.

So too with the coolness of fall and cold of winter - the Ki and Blood go deep inside, like the sap of the tree returning to the roots. There is scant sweat and profuse urine; the pulse is deep and fine and the inclinations, cravings and activities will be opposite to summer.

Even each day is different. From dusk to midnight, our yang (expansive) energy decreases and the mind too gets quiet.. From dawn to midday, our yang energy increases and so does our mind.

Even in sickness, a person with a fever (yang energy) will have less fever and less restlessness in the early morning hours but then have the fever ‘spike’ in late afternoon or early evening. This is the Wholeness of the body.

Any system of medicine that acknowledges this and attempts to work with the whole person is “Natural Medicine.” You can not say that Acupuncture is Natural Medicine or that surgery or psychiatry is not natural medicine. Natural Medicine is any health care provision that operates without a dichotomy and within the holism of Body/.Mind/Spirit/Nature(environment).

For years in our society there has been a preoccupation with disease. Consumers and health care providers seem to believe “that the body is fundamentally flawed, subject to disintegration at any moment, always on the verge of mortal disease, always in need of continual monitoring and support by health care professionals......” (Lewis Thomas 1977). As the story goes, a young medical doctor in residency training was asked, “What is the definition of health?” To which he quickly replied, “A situation where not enough tests were conducted.

I call it Natural Medicine. Other terms are: Holistic, Bio-social and Vitalistic. Whatever it is called, it is predicated on the assumption that a person is a single, unified organism, complex and intricate and so inner & interrelated that a malfunction in any one system affects and reflects on all subsystems.

Natural Medicine also recognizes that living organisms can influence normal biological processes and can even reverse processes that seen to be unchangeable.

Natural Medicine recognizes that there is such diversity of individuals at the gross anatomical level, the subtle bio-chemical level, the very subtle mental level and the even more subtle ‘karmic’ level that it is highly unlikely that a treatment correct for one person is necessarily correct for another - even if their symptoms are similar and their gross diagnosis is the same. Natural Medicine believes, “It is more important to know what sort of a patient has a disease than what sort of disease a patient has.” (William Osler)

In Oriental Medicine, classification of illness is based on SHO (profile or picture), in which the sho of the illness is at the same time the sho of the course of treatment. It is said, the treatment is in the diagnosis. The sho is not only the name of the sickness; included are the individual's body type, constitution and condition; differences in environment; whether a condition is heavy or light, chronic or acute, the duration of the illness, etc. Thus, in the examination, individual differences, even small differences, are not overlooked. All facts must be fit together to arrive at the proper sho.

In Oriental medicine's system, several individuals may all exhibit the condition known in the West as Asthma, but each individual may be described by a different sho and thus will receive a different treatment. Conversely, different individuals may exhibit different symptoms, say bronchitis versus laryngitis, or gastric ulcer versus cholecystitis but the same sho may be involved. In which case, the same combination of acupuncture points may be used for both conditions. What is important is the sho, not any one symptom.

When even one element of the pattern is different, treatment can be radically different. For example, in cases where the main condition is identical, but one person shows out strong pulses and another with weak pulses, the treatment of these individuals is quite different. Oriental medicine is very much rooted in the here-now of each patient in comparison to Western medicine, which is much more theoretical - homogenizing and generalizing patients and diseases.

Natural Medicine will also seek diagnostic systems that are inexpensive and non-intrusive. When intrusive diagnostic techniques are needed, the Natural Medicine physician will approach the procedure with compassion and human concern, seeking to “do no further harm” as decreed by the medical Hippocratic oath. The Natural Medicine physician will never look at nor treat a living organism from the mechanistic model viewpoint.

No medical/industrial complex underlies acupuncture medicine. Its tools are extremely simple: needles and moxibustion and hands. Diagnostic tools are readily available - hands and ears and eyes. Compared to technological medicine, it is inexpensive both for the patient and for society.

So maybe I will stop calling what I do “Natural Life Medicine. I should call it “Vital Life Reaffirming Therapy”. Whatever it is called, I urge you to seek, to demand that your Physical, Mental and Spiritual physicians understand and incorporate into their practices a few basic truths concerning health and well-being:

1) A symptom can never be considered in isolation. A symptom is a part of an on-going, complex process. The symptom is a visible link in a chain of processes. To treat one part of the process is unrealistic, simplistic and inadequate and can actually prevent lasting improvement of health.

2) Symptoms are the body’s attempt to heal itself. Even mechanistic medicine is beginning to appreciate that often fevers are not part of the illness but are in fact, part of the healing. In many cases, the symptom, while being a problem can also be informative concerning that person’s Mind/Body/Spirit/Nature state. Sometimes a symptom is nothing more than an opportunity to rest or stop doing whatever it was that allowed a chain of events to finally show up as a symptom.

3) The body is a Mental/Physical phenomenon. A physician who doesn’t grasp this is a “I don’t care” practitioner. A true doctor is as concerned for your mental health as for your physical health.

4) You are an excellent source of information. This is especially true concerning your own body, symptoms AND treatment. The days of the physician-centered, patient-dependent treatment method are done with. Medical doctors don’t study nutrition and I don’t know anything about bio-feedback. You are a learning resource for your physician.

5) Information and knowledge is preferable to treatmentI. Both the consumer and the physician must always be learning. The doctor must seek to educate the consumer, as well as himself/herself. The consumer too must seek to educate the physician and herself/himself. “Treatment, by definition, implies that either the patient or the physician has waited too long before taking corrective action.” That’s not correct; that’s not natural.

Free Children's Health Care: Tuesday, August 24, 2010

2010-08-13T08:43:00.000-07:00

(If a patient mentions seeing this note on the blog, they get free pediatric care for the rest of the month of August. Mention this at the time of your appointment.)

The Traditional Oriental Pediatric Medicine provided at Natural Life Therapy Clinic includes the techniques of Shonishin (Pediatric ‘acupuncture without needles’) and Anma (Japanese Massage) which incorporates Shiatsu principles. In my practice, this system is referred to as Pediatric Tai Ki Shonishin and Te a Te (handwork, with and without touching). It is an aspect of Traditional Oriental pediatric health care that has been evolving for over 1,100 years.

There have been many books written on this subject; some of the Classic Chinese texts are:

New Book of Pediatric Medicine - (1132 C.E.) 40 volumes, 547 chapters; Principles of Pediatrics (1549 C.E.) 2 volumes; Collected Works of Pediatrics (1750 C.E.) 6 volumes. Classic Japanese texts include: Essentials of Medicine (982 C.E.) 30 volumes; Treasure Book of Women (1726 C.E.) 6 volumes; Treaties on Needling Technique [of children] (1736 C.E.).

By the early 18th Century, development of traditional Japanese Pediatrics had centered in Osaka where the Nakano family was famous for many generations for its pediatric health care system. As was the tradition, shonishin techniques, children’s acupuncture, with and without needles, were family secrets until the end of World War II. Dr. Mori published the Shonishin system after the Second World War.

My studies of pediatric health care began in the early Sixties when the first of my six children was born. It progressed as I studied massage, herbal medicine, midwifery, and Emergency Medical procedures. I then spent 10 years with Dr.Masahilo Nakazono Osensei studying Kototama Life Medicine, Tai Ki Te A Te and Traditional Oriental Medicine, including Shonishin (traditional Japanese pediatric meridian therapy ), Anma (traditional Japanese massage), Shiatsu (modern Japanese meridian tactile therapy), Ampuku (specialized abdominal massage), Sakai Hon Li Te A Te (unique abdominal energetic tactile therapy developed and taught by Sakai Sensei), Sotai (modern Japanese physical therapy), Kappo (traditional manipulative therapy and first aid developed in the martial arts), Japanese naturopathic medicine and tama-nutrition. Nakazono Sensei also instructed me in Aikido and trout fishing.

Traditionally, in Osaka, on the full moon in August, all children were treated for free for health preservation. In keeping with that tradition, Natural Life Therapy Clinic will provide free preventive shonishin on Tuesday, August 24^th to all children under the age of 8 who show up here between 8:30 am and 7:00 pm.

Video: Understanding Pulses

2010-07-29T07:31:00.000-07:00

Kototama Basics: Understanding Pulses from Thomas Crone on Vimeo.

The Wonders of Miso

2010-07-28T12:39:00.001-07:00

The Japanese have been using miso as a medicinal food for the past 2500 years. It is said that a Japanese homemaker has an average of 365 different recipes for miso soup. In the West, miso is becoming more and more popular and many of its health benefits are emerging.

Miso is a fermented soybean paste. Through the fermentation process miso creates enzymes that help in the digestive process of fats, proteins and carbohydrates. Miso contains powerful microflora called Lactic Acid Bacteria which are vital in the digestive process. As many of you have heard, broad spectrum antibiotics kill off all bacteria including the friendly microflora which has many health benefits. Miso helps restore the friendly bacteria which is lost from antibiotic treatment.

Miso is also a way to help maintain the blood more alkaline. American diets tend to be very acidic in nature and keeping the blood more alkaline is important for efficient calcium absorption. Acidic diets, containing meats, sugar and soft drinks, encourages the body to leech calcium and other minerals from the bones. Miso is thus a positive dietary tool in the prevention of osteoporosis.

There are other healthy benefits of miso, including research showing that miso may help to combat estrogen sensitive cancers: “Miso produces a compound called Genistein, which blocks the growth of new capillaries that supply tumors and deters the proliferation of cancer cells.”(Published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science)

Dr. Duckworth and I frequently drink miso ourselves and often recommend it to our patients. Miso can be consumed in many ways and one of the easiest is making a miso broth; just take a large teaspoon of miso paste and dissolve it in 6-8 ounces of hot water. Drink it any time of day.

You can also make a simple miso soup; see below for the recipe. Remember, miso is said to be a “live food”, so don’t boil it because that destroys the beneficial enzymes.

Simple Miso Soup (serving for 2)

2-4 inch piece of Wakame sea vegetable

2 oz tofu (cut in cubes)

1 small or 2 stalks green onion (cut up)

2 cups water

2 large teaspoons of miso

1 small teaspoon of fresh grated ginger

Soak Wakame for 5 minutes in a small amount of water. Drain and cut off harder edges. Bring everything to a boil except the miso and tofu. Reduce heat to medium and cook for 5 minutes with pot covered. Turn heat to low, add tofu and miso, stirring miso until dissolved. Then simmer for about 2-3 minutes. Serve and enjoy.

Miso is good anytime of year, even Summer. Preparing the body for the next season, especially a cooler season, is especially wise.

Have a Healthy Summer!

Jason R. Hackler, L.Ac., Associate NLTC

Conversations with Practitioners

2010-07-27T10:38:00.000-07:00

Notes concerning treatment, with answers from Dr. Thomas Duckworth.

Do womens' pulses commonly change with the onset of their menses?
The pulses reflect the activity of Life Energy flowing (through the body). This is happening in an environment that includes the moon/sun; circadian cycle, hormonal chemistry, yesterday's dinner, what was eaten three months ago, age, reproductive history/activity and karma. The master of pulses should be able to tell a woman when her next period will start - even if she has had a hysterectomy - even if it happened many years ago. The energy needed to manifest a organ is still existing even if the organ is gone. For example, as you know, a patient could have a jitsu (excessive) gall bladder meridian pulse but not have a gall bladder organ. Female energy arises out of Sho Yin and manifests through Tai Yin. Jingie could be 1x, 2x or 3x. Must read the individual pulses to see how/where this individual woman is utilizing her chu myaku (Life Energy). Yes, they change. Often, you'll find left wrist Kan Yin and Shaku Yin pulse deficient and left Kan Yang Jitsu, as well as, right side Kan Yin Kyo. (Sugar may be an issue.) Another configuration might be left Sun Yin and Kan Yin Kyo and left Sun Yang and right Sun Yang Jitsu.(fatty diet or emotional component may be in picture). Once menses has begun, the pulses often 'smooth out' and are less obvious in activity. U dimension energy is very much at play in the female reproductive realm.

Other question is: if a noisy pulse quiets down and consolidates but the beats per minute do not change, what can one do?
Breathe deeply, relax, turn off your mind and, did I mention, Breathe deeply? A noisy pulse is a noisy pulse, whether it is beating at 100 beats a minute or 70 beats a minute. Noisy is a quality unto itself. It is incredibly important to differentiate between a Do pulse and a So pulse and the most likely space for grasping a noisy pulse is when you are in a quite space yourself. If your thoughts and ideas and concepts are busy running around your head, there is no place to hear noisy ('cause your head is too noisy.) So, if you have treated based on a noisy pulse and it is no longer noisy, stop. You have done enough. Next treatment time, you can checck and see if the condition held or is it noisy again? If the pulse is not noisy but is rapid, it should, through treatment, calm down. If not, why not? Maybe hot weather is causing it, maybe food allergy, maybe a thyroid condition, maybe patient just has a rapid heat rate. Years ago, I had a patient who had an extraordinary slow pulse. I was treating him for asthma induced by animals and yes, treatments were successful and he was able to get a dog for his children. However, after he was balanced, symptom-free and feeling strong, he still had a very slow heart rate and I recommended that he consult with a cardiologist which he did and was told that he just had a very slow heart beat. So, some folk have a slow heart beat, some have a fast one but noisy... that's always interesting.

Inochi Studies Program: This Fall

2010-07-26T09:00:00.000-07:00

From Jason R. Hackler:

In the late Fall of 2010 I will be beginning an Inochi studies program, Foundations of Inochi (Life) Medicine. It will be a 500 hour program lasting 15 months. The studies will include: Inochi Tai Kyoku (Study of the Human Vital Force; Tanden, Hand-Ki and Reflections through the mirror of the Kototama), Pulse and Abdominal Diagnosis, Te a Te (Inochi Handwork), Moxibustion Therapy (direct and indirect), and Diet Therapy.

I was first shown "The Way of the Hands" by Dr. Duckworth in the early part of 1994 in Santa Fe, NM. It has been a journey ever since... I am very excited and pleased to be offering a program in Life Medicine.

Clinic News

2010-07-22T15:05:00.000-07:00

Jill Crowley-Dwyer, NCCAOM certified Oriental Bodywork Therapist, has been spenting the month of July here at Natural Life Therapy Clinic studying advanced diagnostic and treatment techniques and assisting Dr. Duckworth in developing a Continuing Education Seminar for acupuncturists on the subtle art of Jingei Pulse diagnosis. It is currently under review for approval by the NCCAOM (National Certifcation Commission for Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine).

This autumn and winter, Dr. Duckworth will be conducting this workshop in Portland, Maine; Boulder, Colo; Santa Fe, NM; Seattle, Wash; and, of course, St. Louis. More info on this as dates become firm.

Jingei Pulse Diagnosis is an ancient art that got lost in history for several centuries and resurfaced about 40years ago. Dr. Duckworth has utilized Jingei diagnosisi longer than any other practitioner in this country because he was taught this system in the late 1970's by his Sensei and has used this method for over thirty years. In recent times, more and more people have heard about this technique but no one seems to understands all of its ramifications and that is why requests from all corners of the U.S. are coming in for Dr. Duckworth to teach. Dr. Duckworth's workshops on Pediatric healthcare and treatments have been presented here, in New Mexico, California and Oklahoma. Seems he'll be taking more of his diagnosistic and treatment skills 'on the road.'

He is currently developing online study courses in the Oriental esoteric art of meridian therapy; further developing Tama-Touch (c), a system of meridian handwork he has developed; and writing articles for the North American Journal of Oriental Medicine. Stay blogged-in for further developments.

Stress Arrest: July 10

2010-07-08T16:26:00.001-07:00

Please also know that this Saturday July 10, 2010 Natural Life Therapy is holding a "Stress Arrest" session from 9 am - 9:45 am.

"Stress Arrest" teaches techniques for using your breath to over come stressful situations. No need to sign up, just show up. We hope to see you this Saturday. Have a wonderful day!

Video: What is Natural Life?

2010-07-05T14:26:00.001-07:00

Natural Life Conversations: "What is Natural Life?" from Thomas Crone on Vimeo.

Video: Summertime Health

2010-06-29T13:09:00.000-07:00

Summertime Health Tips: From NLTC from Thomas Crone on Vimeo.

NTLC's FAQ: Answered by Mallory Shocklee

2010-06-21T14:59:00.001-07:00

Natural Life Therapy Clinic: FAQ from Thomas Crone on Vimeo.

Clinic/Class Updates

2010-06-16T12:19:00.000-07:00

Below are the latest and greatest updates and reminders from Natural Life Therapy Clinic.

Every second Saturday of the month is a clinic day. The next Saturday both practitioners are available is Saturday July 10, 2010.

"Stress Arrest - Accessing the Quiet Within" will also take place on the second Saturday, July 10th, from 9:00am - 9:45am. Practice meditative calming techniques with breath and sound.

"Kototama Sound Meditation Class" is held every Tuesday evening from 6:00pm - 7:00pm.

A small, good will donation to the Institute of American Acupuncture and Life Medicine, a 501(c)(3) not for profit organization, is appreciated for the classes, but is not required.

The classes are open to everyone. Please join us and bring a friend or family member if you'd like.

That's all for updates. Now please read on for an interesting article summary on how brown rice can help fight heart disease.

"Brown Rice & Heart Disease" Brown rice has always been known to be a nutritious and medicinal food in Oriental Medicine, and recently, a new study at Temple University School of Medicine, showed that an ingredient in brown rice seems to combat a protein known as angiotensin II that contributes to high blood pressure and hardening of the arteries (artherosclerosis).

The ingredient is in a layer of rice that is stripped away when brown rice is converted into white rice. Traditionally in Japan, there are two types of rice, Kinme-mai (unmilled) and Haiga-mai (half- milled). Both types contain the ingredient that may help combat arterial health issues. A long or short grain brown rice, Basmati brown, and some types of wild rice naturally preserve this important ingredient.

Wishing you the very best health as the Summer begins.

-The Staff of Natural Life Therapy Clinic

Video Intro to Kototama Medicine: Handwork

2010-06-15T21:49:00.001-07:00

Untitled from Thomas Crone on Vimeo.

Video: Intro to Needle Work

2010-05-25T15:04:00.000-07:00

Intro to Kototama: Needle Work from Thomas Crone on Vimeo.

Video: Intro to Meridian Readings

2010-05-17T14:17:00.000-07:00

Introduction to Kototama Medicine: Reading Meridians from Thomas Crone on Vimeo.

Pregnancy & Acupuncture

2010-05-17T12:20:00.000-07:00

Jason Hackler's posted an article from the Wall Street Journal to the homepage of Natural Life Therapy Clinic, nltclinic.com. It centers on the benefits of acupuncture for those pregnant members of our society.

You can read the piece here.

Clinic Hours, Changes in May

2010-05-14T17:26:00.000-07:00

Clinic hours: Doctors Duckworth and Hackler are doing some traveling these days for both professional and personal purposes (next week Dr. Duckworth will be in Albuquerque attending the high school graduation of his oldest grandchild) but we are extending clinic hours to accommodate our friends and clientele. We are now scheduling appointments on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month and on Thursday evenings. Saturday clinics will be on May 15th, May 29th and June 12th. We will be closed on Memorial Day, Monday, May 31st. See you at the Gypsy Caravan?

We are continuing with our Kototama Sound meditation class on Tuesday evenings at 6pm.

We are still providing free and low-cost healthcare to the less fortunate of our society through the Institute of American Acupuncture & Life Medicine (IAALM). We conduct IAALM’s clinic on the first and third Wednesday’s of the month. Yes, IAALM is a donation supported 501(c)(3) tax deductible organization that can use a lot of help. Thank you for your support.

Video: What is Kototama Medicine?

2010-05-11T08:56:00.000-07:00

We ask Dr. Duckworth an essential question, on that many clients and patients of Natural Life Therapy Clinic may have: what is Kototama medicine?

For the next weeks, we'll feature conversations with Dr. Duckworth on a variety of topics. Please check back often. And feel free to suggest conversation topics. Also, patients who are open to appearing on camera for discussion of your treatment: please contact us.

Conversations with Dr. Duckworth: What Is Kototama? from Thomas Crone on Vimeo.

Video: Dr. Duckworth and Mary O'Herin

2010-05-11T08:53:00.000-07:00

In our first video update, Dr. Duckworth speaks with Mary O'Herin. Many of you may have met her recently, while she was in St. Louis to study with Dr. Duckworth, seeing many patients during that stay. In this conversation, they discuss the basics concepts of Kototama medicine and her relationship with her studies, etc.

As we're just learning to work with a Flip video camera, please boost your sound for this particular video, which has relatively light audio levels.

Also, feel free to suggest questions for Dr. Duckworth to discuss via this new conversation series.

A Discussion of Kototama Medicine from Thomas Crone on Vimeo.

An Invite: One Day Without Shoes

2010-04-04T10:12:00.000-07:00

The members of Natural Life Therapy Clinic are inviting patients to join them in observing One Day Without Shoes, an event described thusly: "One Day Without Shoes is the day we spread awareness about the impact a simple pair of shoes can have on a child’s life. On April 8th, we ask people to go the day, part of the day or even just a few minutes, barefoot, to experience a life without shoes first-hand, and inspire others at the same time."

You can find out about One Day Without Shoes at its website.

Meditation Class: Saturday

2010-04-01T11:32:00.002-07:00

Just a friendly reminder...
This Saturday, April 3rd, 9:30 - 10:30am at
Natural Life Therapy Clinic
Learn meditative calming techniques with breath and sound
Free and open to everyone! Hope to see you there!

Jason R. Hackler: Thoughts on Energetic Breathing

2010-03-21T13:04:00.000-07:00

Ki, or energy, creates form. Our Body is the form which is made up of the continual flow of Ki (energy). In Acupuncture Medicine and Meridian Therapy we think of the Body with a capital B, as in Body, Mind, Spirit. In actuality, these are not three separate capacities, but, one. They are one with various aspects. The beginning place of Ki in our Body is in our Tanden, situated in our lower belly, 2-4 fingers below our navel. This is where we should begin our breath from. As my medicine teacher, Dr. Duckworth, has shared, "the first thing a child does born of natural childbirth is take a deep breath from their center." To breathe correctly is the single most important thing we can do for our health, physically, spiritually, and mentally.

Lie down, place a book or weight over the area of your Tanden, and breathe through your nose, making the weight or book rise each time you inhale. Your inhale should cause your abdomen to expand first. You're not trying to 'belly breathe' per say, you're practicing beginning your breath from your center, deep in your abdomen, and allowing it to rise and expand into your chest and back. For a beginning practice, don't pause between the inhale and exhale - just allow for a continuous flow as you breathe. Your thinking brain will usually be noisy; don't try to stop your thinking, just return your focus to your breathing. To start, just take five minutes twice daily to practice deep breathing.

Deep breathing actually raises levels of blood oxygen. More blood oxygen means that all the organs and tissues are oxygenated more thus creating the potential for improved digestion and mental performance; a more relaxed nervous system helping to deal with anxiety, stress, insomnia, body pain, hormonal fluctuations; and much more.

A well known Taoist sage, Chuang Tzu, once said: "most of us breathe from our throats, and that real human beings breathe from their heels." (I think we can safely say that "real" human being means a 'whole,' as in holistic, human being.) Dr. Andrew Weil says, "if I had to limit my advice on healthier living to just one tip, it would simply be to learn how to breathe correctly."

So, all of us please, take a deep, relaxed breath from your Tanden, and continue practicing for a lifetime. Happy Spring!

Jason R. Hackler, Dipl.Ac., Associate Natural Life Therapy Clinic

Tribute to Aline

2010-03-20T08:49:00.000-07:00

Tribute To Aline

This past Saturday, March 19, 2010, my friend Aline Crawford left her physical form. She was a student of the Kototama sound practice and contributor to the Institute of American Acupuncture and Life Medicine. She was generous in all things. I feel honored to have shared a small portion of her life. She inspired me.

Aline found the medicine shortly after I began my studies. She became interested in the Kototama sound studies. I was privileged to be her ferry to and from sound meditation/study and Jizo Bosatsu celebrations. After those sessions, she would riddle me with questions that stretched me and took me in directions I would have otherwise probably not gone. And she provided me incredible insights in the sounds, in the aspects of the celebrations that I had missed, in life in general. She gobbled up life. And she never stopped learning. It kept her young and vibrant, in spite of physical maladies that challenged her.

I have had uncles, aunts, grandparents, my mother, my step mother, a brother, and friends, some who are my contemporaries, move out of the physical realm. Each of their lives have left an indelible mark on mine. In the quiet that follows comes the true appreciation for that which they have bestowed upon me. I intend to recognize those attributes while they are with me in the moment. Aline has helped teach me that awareness. I intend to continue to learn, truly experiencing life until my final breath in this form. I intend to honor family and friends as the precious gift that they are.

Since my mother's death I have recognized that the ripples of energy that people in our lives cause, like the ripples on water from a pebble drop, continue in me. Now I carry with me all who have touched my life. And those lives continue to touch more lives through me. I am grateful. And the work of Masuro Emoto provides us with factual evidence, that human vibrational energy, thoughts, words, ideas and music, affect the molecular structure of water. The words, thoughts, idea of gratitude creates beautiful crystal structures in frozen water. Aline was fascinated by Emoto's work, as am I. Since people are largely made up of water, spreading gratitude has its merit.

Thank you Aline! You laughed, loved, mourned, cried, giggled, and meditated with the sound of "su". I will think of you often, and it will make me smile.

Mindful Meditation

2010-03-05T08:51:00.000-08:00

In The Moment – Meditation & Breathing, Contemplation & Renewal

In modern terminology, it is sometimes called “Mindful Meditation” or “Mindfulness Meditation”; it is also termed “One-pointedness of Mind Meditation.” People often think of Hinduism, Buddhism or Zen Buddhism when they speak of meditation but this practice is not about religion, though it definitely is about the spiritual realm. The realm of stress-free, relaxed, peacefulness that comes when the mind is quiet; when the mind is focused on one thought or (better still) no thought.

Research has suggested that meditation may improve mood, decrease stress, and boost immune function. It has long been shown to lower heart rate, blood pressure and calm the spirit.

What is One Pointedness of Mind Meditation?

One Pointedness of Mind is a form of meditation that essentially involves focusing the mind on the present; in Shinto terminology, Naka-ima (Center-Now). Naka-yima is to be aware of your thoughts and actions in the present, without judging yourself.

How to Practice One-Pointed Meditation

1. Find a quiet and comfortable place. Sit in a chair or on the floor with your head, neck and back straight but not stiff. Sitting on the floor can be with legs crossed (tailor style), legs folded onto themselves (Lotus or half-lotus position) or legs bend under yourself (suwaru – Japanese style). Whether on a chair or the floor, try to position yourself so that the crown of your head, your shoulders, hips and tip of your tailbone are aligned.

2. Put aside all thoughts of the past and the future and stay in the present. This is the core result for which we are striving. This will take time. For me, initially, it took a great deal of time. Be patient. If you have expectations of results, you are not being present; you are in the future.

3. Be aware of your breathing, focus on the sensation of air moving in and out of your body as you breathe. Feel your chest or belly rise and fall; feel the air enter your nostrils and leave your mouth. Pay attention to each breath, how each breath changes and is different; yet don’t think about the sameness or differences. Just breathe.

4. Watch every thought come and go, whether it is a worrisome thought, fear, anxiety, fantasy or just wondering if the light in the refrigerator is on. When thoughts appear, don't ignore or suppress them, just note them and let them go. Stay calm and use your breathing as an anchor.

5. When you find yourself getting carried away by your thoughts, observe where your mind went, without judging, and simply return to your breathing. Don’t be hard on yourself when this happens; it’s just stuff. As my beloved teacher, Baba Ram Dass, once told me, “To chastise oneself for worldliness is just more worldliness.”

6. As the ending time arrives, just sit for a minute or two and let your mind reactivate, becoming aware of where you are. Get up gradually.

Focusing on breath is a technique for quieting the brain/mind – the thinking self. When you first begin this work, the inclination is to think about not thinking and while you can see the paradox of such a head trip, none-the-less, that is what you will do. There is almost a fear that if you are not thinking, you’ll die or go crazy or something. However, when you stop thinking incessantly, you will begin to truly live or become sane. You will relax.

There are variations of this practice. You can focus on your breath, you can focus on your anatomy of breathing where you note “rising” with each inhalation and “falling” with each exhalation. With your eyes open, you can focus on a single burning candle in front of you. Each time you find yourself thinking, resettle on the flame. The goal is to be in the moment – Naka-ima. The result is relaxation.

Being in the moment is furthered through sound. Use of mantra is an excellent method for reducing stress, tension and other stress-related symptoms.

Herbert Benson, MD, coined the term Relaxation Response, “a state that is opposite to the stress response”, after he investigated Transcendental Meditation and found that people who practiced TM could lower their heart rate, their blood pressure and slow their breathing by significant percentages.

The practice of focused attention on a prayer, a sound or a mantra, is a multi-thousand year old practice. The repetitious use of a word, group of words or vocal utterance has long been used in spiritual traditions to achieve and maintain a “super-state” of relaxed awareness. It is the practice of repeating a word, prayer, sound or phrase so as to exclude other thoughts or mental activity. Mahatma Gandhi uttered the word, “Ram” (GOD) all his life; so much so, that at the moment of his assassination, the last word he uttered was ‘Ram’.

How to Do It

The wonderful thing about using sound for meditation and relaxation is that you can do it anywhere and anytime, alone and with others. It is incredible to sit with several hundred people and chant a sacred sound over and over again. This is how you can begin your practice and use it for your own private mental health exercises.

1. Find a quiet place and sit in a comfortable position. Relax your muscles. (I have read instructions where it is said to “try and relax your muscles” but this is a contradiction of terms, if you TRY to relax, you aren’t relaxing. Don’t try to relax, just relax.)

2. Close your eyes. Breathe into and out of your belly.

3. Use a focus word, phrase, or prayer that has special meaning to you; one that is rooted in your belief system, or makes you feel peaceful. For example, the word "peace", “Om”, “shalom”, “Ram”, “Shiva”; the phrase "The Lord is my shepherd", "Hail Mary full of grace", or the prayer “Lord have mercy on my soul”, “Lord, Jesus Christ, have mercy on me”, “Hari Krishna, Hari Krishna, Krishna, Krishna, Hari, Hari”, “Shri Ram, Jai Ram, Jai Jai Ram.” I commonly utter the sounds “SU”, “Su A Wa” or “Rama”.

4. Breathe slowly and naturally. Inhale through your nose and pause for a few seconds. Exhale through your mouth, again pausing for a few seconds. Quietly say your focus word, phrase, or prayer as you exhale. You may silently say your sound but it is more powerful if you can hear yourself utter your ‘prayer’.

5. Don't worry about how well you are doing and don't feel bad if thoughts or feelings intrude. Just say to yourself “and this too” and return to your repetition.

6. As the time comes to a close, continue to be aware of your breathing but sit quietly. Becoming aware of where you are, slowly open your eyes and get up gradually.

This technique is usually practiced for ten to 20 minutes per day, or at least three to four times a week.

If you have to keep track of the time, try using an alarm or timer set on the lowest volume, so you don't have to keep looking at your watch or clock.

Breathe into Your Belly
(Breathing from your tanden)

Calm Your Mind

Stress, poor posture, snug clothes, and habit are some of the reasons that keep us from breathing properly. We wind up using our chest muscles instead of our abdomen.

Belly breathing, also called diaphragmatic breathing, is a simple deep breathing technique that teaches you how to use your diaphragm, a sheet of muscle at the bottom of our lungs and the most important muscle for breathing.

Tanden breathing is deep abdominal breathing developed through the martial arts. It is also employed in yoga practices and opera singing. Belly breathing is very good, tanden breathing is much better.

It is often used as a complementary therapy for anxiety disorders and may also help to boost energy and stamina.

The goal should be to breathe this way all of the time.

Calm your mind. Forget about what you’re going to make for dinner tonight, the emails you still have to respond to, and the birthday gift you still have to get for your mother-in-law. Just let go of thoughts.

Don’t force it, just let go of any thought that pops into your mind.

Improve Your Posture

Proper posture gets air into your lungs and helps energy flow through your body.

Sit up straight, imagining a string lifting up your chest. You should feel the area between your chest and your navel lengthen. Sit in a chair, stand, or lie on your back. You don't have to sit cross-legged but whether sitting on the floor, on a chair, standing or lying on your back, be straight, be aligned. Although the classic posture is to sit cross-legged, what is more important is finding a position that is comfortable for you. Instead of sitting on a cushion or on the floor, you can also sit in a chair. Your feet should touch the ground. If they don't, place a stool under your feet.

As you try to improve your posture, you may find your muscles tensing up, especially around the abdomen. Consciously seek to release any tension from your body.

Breathe In Through Your Nose

Place one hand flat against the lower abdomen. Your thumb should be around/near your navel.

Breathe in through your nose at an even rate.

Allow your abdomen to expand, rather than your upper chest. You should feel the hand on your abdomen being pushed away from your body as your abdomen rises.

Count silently starting from "one".

Breathe Out Through Your Mouth

Breathe out slowly and evenly through your mouth.

Again, count silently. Exhalation should take about twice as long as inhalation. So if you counted to three when you inhaled, strive to count to six when you exhale, but don't force it.

Repeat.

If you feel light-headed at any time, you may be breathing too quickly. If you are standing, try practicing while sitting down.

I usually suggest starting with five to ten minute meditation sessions in the first week. Although that may seem short, as you may have already discovered, trying to clear the mind of thoughts can actually be quite difficult! Some people even feel a bit anxious in the beginning. So start slow and work your way up.

Try not to set time goals. Concentrate on the quality of your meditation sessions and on meditating consistently.

Eventually, you will naturally find yourself meditating for 20 or more minutes, a good length of time to calm and quiet the mind. You can also try meditating for ten minutes in the morning and ten minutes in the evening.

If you have to keep track of the time, try an alarm or timer set on the lowest volume, so you don't have to keep looking at your watch or clock.

Rest your hands palm-down on your thighs or knees.

Energy flows better through the body when you are sitting upright, so it is important to sit up straight. It may help to imagine your body being pulled up from the top of your head so you are upright without being stiff.

WSJ Weighs in on Acupunture & Pregnancy

2010-03-01T08:11:00.000-08:00

The Wall Street Journal's published an article by Shirley S. Wang, discussing acupuncture's effectiveness towards pregnant patients.

The piece begins, "Acupuncture designed to treat depression appears to improve symptoms in pregnant women, suggesting it as an alternative to antidepressant medication during pregnancy, a study found."

Here's a link to the entire piece.

Linked?: Soda and Pancreatic Cancer

2010-02-22T17:51:00.000-08:00

If you're a soda drinker, Dr. Duckworth suggests you take in this piece at Vegsource. com, which begins, "Drinking as little as two soft drinks a week appears to nearly double the risk of getting pancreatic cancer, according to a new study."

Dr. Duckworth On: Cancer/Report from Johns Hopkins

2010-02-18T07:47:00.000-08:00

Why this blog?

Perhaps because my 68th birthday is upon me and my own health issues command attention; perhaps, because in the past couple of years friends have had to face serious cancer issues including terminal; perhaps, because I have been called upon, for years, to assist people coping with a cancer diagnosis.

They have sought acupuncture and meridian therapy as an adjunct to chemotherapy and radiation; they have sought help dealing with the side effects of those therapies; they have sought my medicine as an alternative to modern medicine’s offerings.

Modern medicine is a system of fixing what is broken, very mechanical. Surgeons need to cut and internists need to write prescriptions. Preventive medicine is quite a new concept to the contemporary medical practitioner. Nutritional studies are not part of the medical curriculum. Health is not studied, disease is.

Consumers want to know, want to be involved in their own health care and are constantly asking “What can I do? What should I be eating? What are the alternatives?

For practitioners of Far-Eastern medicine and other natural medicine modalities, the answers often include diet and the elimination of harmful ingestible stuff (that which is harmful by its nature, e.g. sugar, can not be labeled ‘food’), acid/alkalinity balance, herbal medicine, nutritional supplements, poultices, attitude adjustment, addressing digestive issues, strengthening the immune system, etc. The focus being the individual, not the treatment.

Perhaps we are entering into an “Age of Enlightenment” but there certainly has been a paradigm shift and the MD’s are beginning to look outside of their own constructed boxes.

I was recently informed by two friends who are themselves dealing with cancer issues that Johns Hopkins Medical School Hospital has finally acknowledged that there are very legitimate alternatives to treating cancer.

After years of telling people chemotherapy is the only way to try (‘try’ being the operative word) to eliminate cancer, Johns Hopkins is finally starting to tell folk there is an alternative way.

Cancer Update from Johns Hopkins:

1. Every person has cancer cells in the body. These cancer cells do not show up in the standard tests until they have multiplied to a few billion. When doctors tell cancer patients that there are no more cancer cells in their bodies after treatment, it just means the tests are unable to detect the cancer cells because they have not reached the detectable size.

2. Cancer cells occur between 6 to more than 10 times in a person's lifetime.

3 When the person's immune system is strong the cancer cells will be destroyed and prevented from multiplying and forming tumors.

4. When a person has cancer it indicates the person has multiple nutritional deficiencies. These could be due to genetic, environmental, food and lifestyle factors.

5. To overcome the multiple nutritional deficiencies, changing diet and including supplements will strengthen the immune system.

6. Chemotherapy involves poisoning the rapidly-growing cancer cells and also destroys rapidly-growing healthy cells in the bone marrow, gastrointestinal tract, etc, and can cause organ damage, like liver, kidneys, heart, lungs etc.

7. Radiation, while destroying cancer cells, also burns, scars and damages healthy cells, tissues and organs.

8. Initial treatment with chemotherapy and radiation will often reduce tumor size. However, prolonged use of chemotherapy and radiation do not result in more tumor destruction.

9. When the body has too much toxic burden from chemotherapy and radiation the immune system is either compromised or destroyed, hence the person can succumb to various kinds of infections and complications.

10. Chemotherapy and radiation can cause cancer cells to mutate and become resistant and difficult to destroy. Surgery can also cause cancer cells to spread to other sites.

11. An effective way to battle cancer is to starve the cancer cells by not feeding it the foods it needs to multiply..

*CANCER CELLS FEED ON:

a. Sugar is a cancer-feeder. By cutting off sugar it cuts off one important food supply to the cancer cells. Sugar substitutes like NutraSweet, Equal, Spoonful, etc are made with Aspartame and it is harmful. A better natural substitute would be Manuka honey or molasses, but only in very small amounts. Table salt has a chemical added to make it white in color. Better alternative is Bragg's aminos or sea salt.

b. Milk causes the body to produce mucus, especially in the gastro-intestinal tract. Cancer feeds on mucus. By cutting off milk and substituting with unsweetened soy milk cancer cells are being starved.

c. Cancer cells thrive in an acid environment. A meat-based diet is acidic and it is best to eat fish and a little chicken rather than beef or pork. Meat also contains livestock antibiotics, growth hormones and parasites, which are all harmful, especially to people with cancer.

d. A diet of 80% fresh vegetables and juice, whole grains, seeds, nuts and a little fruit helps the body regain an alkaline environment. [including ume’ concentrate in your diet is very powerful for assisting the body to regain an alkaline environment. Editor’s note]. About 20% can be from cooked food including dry beans, peas and lentils. Fresh vegetable juices provide live enzymes that are easily absorbed and reach down to cellular levels within 15 minutes to nourish and enhance growth of healthy cells. To obtain live enzymes for building healthy cells try and drink fresh vegetable juice (most vegetables including bean sprouts) and eat some raw vegetables 2 or 3 times a day. Enzymes are destroyed at temperatures of 104 degrees F (40 degrees C).

e. Avoid coffee, tea, and chocolate, which have high levels of caffeine. Green tea is a better alternative and has cancer fighting properties. However, if you are receiving chemotherapy, avoid green tea. Water: best to drink purified water, or filtered, to avoid known toxins and heavy metals in tap water. Distilled water is acidic, avoid it.

12. Meat protein is difficult to digest and requires a lot of digestive enzymes. Undigested meat remaining in the intestines becomes putrefied and leads to more toxic buildup.

13. Cancer cell walls have a tough protein covering. By refraining from or eating less meat, more enzymes are free to attack the protein walls of cancer cells and allows the body's killer cells to destroy the cancer cells.

14. Some supplements build up the immune system (IP6, Flor-ssence, Essiac, anti-oxidants, vitamins, minerals, EFAs etc.) to enable the body’s own killer cells to destroy cancer cells.. Other supplements like vitamin E are known to cause apoptosis, or programmed cell death, the body's normal method of disposing of damaged, unwanted, or unneeded cells.

15. Cancer is a disease of the mind, body, and spirit. A proactive and positive spirit will help the cancer warrior be a survivor. Anger, un-forgiveness and bitterness put the body into a stressful and acidic environment. Learn to have a loving and forgiving spirit. Learn to relax and enjoy life.

16. Cancer cells cannot thrive in an oxygenated environment. Exercising daily and deep breathing help to get more oxygen to the cellular level. Oxygen therapy is another means employed to destroy cancer cells.

IMPORTANT:

1. No plastic containers in microwave.

2. No water bottles in the freezer.

3. No plastic wrap in the microwave.

Johns Hopkins has recently sent this information out in its newsletters. This information is being circulated at Walter Reed Army Medical Center as well.

Dioxin chemicals cause cancer, especially breast cancer. Dioxins are highly poisonous to the cells of our bodies. Don't freeze your plastic bottles with water in them as this releases dioxins from the plastic. Recently, Dr. Edward Fujimoto, Wellness Program Manager at Castle Hospital, was on a TV program to explain this health hazard. He talked about dioxins and how bad they are for us. He said that we should not be heating our food in the microwave using plastic containers. This especially applies to foods that contain fat. He said that the combination of fat, high heat, and plastics releases dioxin into the food and ultimately into the cells of the body. Instead, he recommends using glass, such as Corning Ware, Pyrex or ceramic containers for heating food. You get the same results, only without the dioxin. So such things as TV dinners, instant ramen and soups, etc., should be removed from the container and heated in something else. Paper isn't bad but you don't know what is in the paper. It's just safer to use tempered glass, Corning Ware, etc. He reminded us that awhile ago some of the fast food restaurants moved away from foam containers to paper. The dioxin problem is one of the reasons.

Also, he pointed out that plastic wrap, such as Saran, is just as dangerous when placed over foods to be cooked in the microwave. As the food is nuked, the high heat causes poisonous toxins to actually melt out of the plastic wrap and drip into the food. Cover food with a paper towel instead.

This is an article that should be sent to anyone important in your life.

Q's for Dr. Duckworth: The Future of Kototama

2010-02-11T17:08:00.000-08:00

Hello Again Dr. Duckworth,

I am writing because I am curious as to your take on the future of Kototama medicine. I was profoundly impacted by a practitioner in my teens, which later led me to research a little. I was able to purchase some of Nakazono's books, but I otherwise found very little about Kototama medicine specifically. I suppose that I have some strange concern that this profound practice would remain obscure.

Do you have thoughts about this? Again, please feel free no pressure. I'm just a curious component over here, sort of bored at work.

Bless,
Jacob

========

Dear Jacob,

When Nakazono Sensei opened the Kototama Institute in 1978, he explained that traditionally in Japan it was held that quality instruction and guidance in the study and practice of Acupuncture should yield 1 adequate practitioner out of every 100 students; proper herb studies should yield 10 quality herbalists out of 100 students. This is understandable because the study and practice of diagnosing KI and professionally applying the principles of Hari (needling) is at least 10x more difficult than memorizing symptoms and medicines. He told us these statistics because he believed that the study of Kototama medicine would prove to be 10x more powerful than normal acupuncture training. In addition, he believed he was only allowing the "creme de creme" of applicants into his school and that those who pursued Kototama Life Medicine would, by their nature, ascend to the highest realms within the art and science of natural medicine and thus he could produce 10 qualified practitioners out of every 100 who studied the medicine. He stated that he expected 10 out of 100 of his students would "get it."

With that in mind, he intended to close the Kototama Institute when it had produced 100 students (graduates). His first formal class began in the Autumn of 1978; the graduating class of 1985 brought the number of graduates to 107 and he closed the Institute. Later he told me his head had been too big and that he regretted allowing some people into the Institute and turning away others; in other words, his judgment capacity was still in development and he was quite wrong concerning the quality of students he choose to train.

Many of his students were drawn to the Institute because they wished to be near a "Master," but they didn't want to be a "Master." Therefore, they never got what he was teaching. They had no capacity to take on the responsibility of complementing or adding to his discoveries. Some of those people have spent their lives living in a cult-kind of worship of Sensei and the Kototama Principle without adding one sentence to the dialog and others have just disappeared. Probably less than 40 of the graduates of the Kototama Institute ever went into practice at all and probably less than 20 are in practice today. Of those 20, less than 15 ever attempted to pursue in-depth studies with Sensei and of them, only one person studied longer than four years in post-graduate studies of Kototama Medicine. That one peson is me.

My 10 years as Sensei's apprentice led to my discovery of Kototama Pulse Diagnosis and that led to Sensei awarding me the degree of Doctor of Kototama Life Medicine, the only Doctorate earned by a graduate of the Kototama Institute. So, yes, I do have thoughts about that which you ponder. There are nine practitioners in the US who completed studies with me and have gone into practice; there are two practitioners who studied elsewhere and then studied with me after becoming licensed. Of these 11, perhaps three-four of them will continue to study and make discoveries yet unimaginable. Will the way of this medicine remain obscure? Probably, but if one person holds on to it and passes it on, someday the world will appreciate what Sensei discovered. Many great scientists and artists go to their graves unappreciated. That's the way it is. "It doesn't matter" (Sensei quote). But not to worry, I am working on Kototama Medicine texts and there is the Natural Life Therapy Clinic where I and my senior student, Jason Hackler, practice and which has been in continuous operations since June, 1980, providing Kototama Life Medicine.

Check out: www.naturallifetherapy.blogspot.com; www.nltclinic.com; www.iaalm.org.

Be well.

Thomas Duckworth, DKM

NY Times on Uthealthy Water, Redux

2009-12-21T14:29:00.000-08:00

The New York Times has been aggressively reporting on the subject of safe vs. unhealthy tap water in American cities, with a series titled Toxic Waters. A recent piece by Charles Duhigg continues to explore the complications involved with chemically treating American water supplies. You can read the most recent piece right here, at the NYtimes.com site.

NY Times: "Millions in U.S. Drink Dirty Water, Records Show"

2009-12-08T18:35:00.000-08:00

Jason Hackler believes an article by Charles Duhigg in today's New York Times, "Millions in U.S. Drink Dirty Water, Records Show" is worthy reading, suggesting that those so moved make Congressional contact after examining it.

Here's a link to the piece.

Holiday Hours & Special Discounts

2009-11-30T16:55:00.000-08:00

To celebrate the Winter season and to acknowledge how much the economy is affecting us all, Natural Life Therapy Clinic is extending a 10% discount for all treatments provided during December and January. In addition, we are waiving the "initial fee" for all new patients during December and January. New patients will be charged our regular fee, less 10% and we will extend an additional 10% to whoever refers a new patient during these two months.

Holiday Hours

We will be seeing patients Wednesday, December 9th and Saturday December 12th and 19th.
Dr. Duckworth will be seeing patients on Wednesday December 23rd and will not be in the office from Thursday December 24th through Friday, January 1, 2010.

Dr. Hackler will not be in the office from Wednesday December 23rd through Monday, December 28th. He will see patients on Tuesday the 29th and Wednesday the 30th.
Call to schedule an appointment, 314-991-6035.

With Gratitude,
Thomas Duckworth DKM, L.Ac.
Jason Hackler L.Ac.
Mallory Shocklee
Sharon Reed

Treament Room Available at NLTC

2009-11-23T13:34:00.001-08:00

We have an extra treatment room available for rent here at Natural Life Therapy Clinic. This is open to physicians, therapists of all types, or consultants. The room is 11 x 10 foot with large East facing windows. Some furnishings are available if desired. If you or anyone you know is interested, please contact us at 314-991-6035.

With gratitude,
Thomas Duckworth, DKM, L.Ac.
Jason Hackler, L.Ac.
Mallory Shocklee

Q's for Dr. Duckworth: Liver Cleanse

2009-11-16T16:03:00.000-08:00

Dr. Duckworth,

Do you know of any natural liver cleansing techniques? Or how to go about doing a liver cleanse?

Thank You,
Melinda

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I've seen people hospitalized from doing "Liver Cleanses" and cold/damp weather is a bad time to fast or push the internal organs too much. I certainly would not suggest a "cleanse" to an organ nor a meridian that's weak. I tend to advocate using whole foods to help the entire system self-clean rather than pushing one part of the system and ignoring the whole interconnected body.

Having said that, there are two recommendations I can make: the homeopathic company HEEL has a "detox kit" which is three homeopathic formulas that are added to a quart of water and drunk throughout the day for thirty days. It's a perfect way to "detox." The Kit is available from Neel's Pharmacy at #8 Crestwood Executive Center (corner of Watson Rd and Sappington); (314) 849-3123.

Also, 2 oz olive oil and three tablespoons of lemon juice mixed together and drunk one time a day for three days will help kick out gallstones but: don't do too much or too long. Use the detox kit. Let me know.

Thomas E. Duckworth, DKM, L.Ac.

A pass-along from Jason Hackler: Onions for Health

2009-11-04T08:54:00.000-08:00

Floating through the web, this tale:

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A friend of mine told me a story about how when he was a kid he was in the hospital & near dying. His Italian grandmother came to the hospital & told a family member to go buy her a large onion & a new pair of white cotton socks. She sliced the onion open then put a slice on the bottom of each of his feet & put the white cotton socks on him. In the morning when he awoke they removed the socks. The slices of onion were black & his fever was gone.

The following story that someone sent to me might have some truth in it & we are going to try this this winter.

In 1919 when the flu killed 40 million people there was this Doctor that visited the many farmers to see if he could help them combat the flu. Many of the farmers and their family had contracted it and many died.

The doctor came upon this one farmer and to his surprise, everyone was very healthy. When the doctor asked what the farmer was doing that was different the wife replied that she had placed an unpeeled onion in a dish in the rooms of the home, (probably only two rooms back then).

The doctor couldn't believe it and asked if he could have one of the onions and place it under the microscope. She gave him one and when he did this, he did find the flu virus in the onion. It obviously absorbed the bacteria (virus), therefore, keeping the family healthy.

Now, I heard this story from my hairdresser in AZ. She said that several years ago many of her employees were coming down with the flu and so were many of her customers. The next year she placed several bowls with onions around in her shop. To her surprise, none of her staff got sick. It must work.. (And no, she is not in the onion business.)

The moral of the story is, buy some onions and place them in bowls around your home. If you work at a desk, place one or two in your office or under your desk or even on top somewhere. Try it and see what happens. We did it last year and we never got the flu.

If this helps you and your loved ones from getting sick, all the better. If you do get the flu, it just
might be a mild case..

Whatever, what have you to lose? Just a few bucks on onions!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now there is a P. S. to this for I sent it to a friend in Oregon who regularly contributes material to me on health issues. She replied with this most interesting experience about onions:

Weldon,thanks for the reminder. I don't know about the farmers story...but, I do know that I contacted pneumonia and needless to say I was very ill...I came across an article that said to cut both ends off an onion put one end on a fork and then place the forked end into an empty jar...placing the jar next to the sick patient at night. It said the onion would be black in the morning from the germs...sure enough it happened just like that...the onion was a mess and I began to feel better.

Another thing I read in the article was that onions and garlic placed around the room saved many from the black plague years ago. They have powerful antibacterial, antiseptic properties.

An MD's Take on H1N1 Immunization

2009-10-23T13:06:00.000-07:00

Both practitioners at NLTC passed along this note from Dr. Jay Gordon, feeling it offers an interesting and valuable perspective on immunization for the H1N1 ("swine flu") influenza.

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From Jay Gordon, MD FAAP
H1N1 Flu Update August 28, 2009

I have seen more children and adults with influenza-like illness: 104 degree fevers, muscle soreness, sore throat and negative tests for strep, than in any summer I can remember. I haven't used the "flu swab" to test anybody, but I'm sure that many if not most of these sick people had Swine Flu. They all felt miserable, and they are all feeling just fine now.

Preventing outbreaks of this "novel H1N1" influenza may be a mistake of huge proportions. Yes, sadly, there will be fatalities among the 6 billion citizens of the planet. Tens of millions of cases of any illness will lead to morbidity and mortality, but this is completely (tragically) unavoidable. The consequences of not acquiring immunity this time around, however, could be really terrible and far outweigh a mass prevention program.

Here's my rationale for not using Tamiflu: If (if, if, if) this virus circles the globe as the rather innocent influenza it now appears to be, but mutates and returns as a very virulent form of influenza, it will be quite wonderful and life-saving to have formed antibodies against its 2009 version. These antibodies may be far from 100% protective, but they will help. This is incredibly important but being ignored in the interest of expediency.

In 1918, it appears that influenza A (an H1N1, by the way) did this globe-trotting mutation and killed millions. The times and state of medical care are not comparable, but a milder parallel occurrence is possible. Perhaps this happens every 100 years or so, perhaps every three million.

Whenever possible, we should form antibodies against viruses at the right stage of their existence and at the right stage of our lives (For example, chickenpox in childhood and EBV/mono in early childhood. There are many other examples.) Getting many viral illnesses confers lifetime immunity, and very few vaccines do.

Tamiflu is a very powerful drug with little proven efficacy against this bug, and with its major side effect being tummy upset. I'm not using it at all. Psychiatric side effects are also possible.
I also won't be giving the flu shot to the kids and parents in my practice unless there are extraordinary risk factors. I anticipate giving none at all this year. I doubt that there will be any really large problems with the vaccine, but I also doubt any really large benefits. As I said, I think that this year's version of this particular H1N1 is as "mild" as it will ever be and that getting sick with it this year will be good rather than bad. The chances that a new "flu shot" will be overwhelmingly effective are small.

I consider this, and most seasonal and novel influenza A vaccines, as "experimental" vaccines; they've only been tested on thousands of people for a period of weeks and then they'll be given to hundreds of millions of people. Not really the greatest science when we're in that much of a hurry. Yes, one can measure antibodies against a certain bacterium or virus in the blood and it may be associated with someone not getting sick, but there are very few illnesses common enough or enough ethics committees willing enough to do the right tests. That is, give 1000 people the real vaccine and 1000 placebo shots, expose all of them to the disease and see who gets sick. Seriously. I know it sounds terrible.

This is, obviously, a difficult public discussion because it touches on the concept of benefits and risks, again, of morbidity and mortality. Few public officials have the courage or inclination to present all facets of this difficult decision. I give vaccines to my patients every single day, but I always err on the side of caution. Implying that this is a dangerous new shot is not scientifically or statistically correct and represents hyperbole and even dishonesty on the part of the so-called "anti-vaccine" camp.

It sure isn't "sexy" to suggest handwashing, good nutrition, hydration, extra sleep and so on. It's not conventional to suggest astragalus, echinacea, elderberry and vitamin C. Adequate vitamin D levels are crucial, too.

I just think that giving this new H1N1 vaccine is not the cautious nor best thing to do.Best,

Jay Gordon, MD FAAP
http://www.drjaygordon.com/

Pyrex Dishware

2009-10-15T14:33:00.001-07:00

Dr. Duckworth believes that those of you using Pryex brand dishware may be interested in this story, which details the concerns about the product's safety.

National Acupuncture Day : October 24

2009-10-07T10:30:00.000-07:00

October 24
National Acupuncture Day

This month marks the 15 anniversary of the passing of
Dr. M. Masahilo Nakazono, O-Sensei (Teacher)
May 22, 1918 – October 8, 1994

Kappo Certification – 1937
Acupuncture Certification – 1939
Sakai Hon Li Te a Te mastery- 1956
Established macrobiotic healing center in India - 1956
Began teaching Japanese Acupuncture Medicine in Europe - 1960
Introduced Japanese Acupuncture, Pulse Diagnosis & Five Element Meridian Medicine to the U.S. - 1970
Discovered Kototama link in Five Element Meridian Medicine - 1975
Opened first Japanese Acupuncture School in the U.S. - Kototama Institute - 1978

"The Japanese-trained acupuncturist approaches the needle with the same spirit the samurai approaches the sword. This needle-sword is not a tool; it is an extension of the hand reaching out from the center of the tanden, the Sea of Qi."

Training with Masahilo Nakazono, Osensei for fifteen years was my path. His mission was to guide his students in accessing their individual Qi, respecting the acupuncture needle as an extension of their own spirit and dedicating their whole being to the stewardship of acupuncture – a science developed, protected and passed on from one generation to the next in an unbroken line of succession for over 3000 years. The City of Santa Fe honored him as a "Living Treasure" (1984) and the New Mexico State Senate proclaimed him the "Father of New Mexico acupuncture" (1985).

The reason we can celebrate "Acupuncture Day" is because our professional ancestors, like Sensei, never abandoned the knowledge, wisdom and science of acupuncture; but instead, meticulously guarded, enhanced and delved deeper into the understanding that comes through life-long dedication to its integrity. Sensei shared this ancient healing art with his adopted nation, America. He would be pleased with "Acupuncture Day."

On Taking Time

2009-09-29T08:41:00.000-07:00

Dr. Duckworth sends along an interesting story about a violinist playing a subway stop, and the reactions he gets from passersby. The catch? He's one of the world's greatest on his instrument and his set is being monitored, to track how people react to situations such as his. Who stops? Who drops money? Who simply hustles by?

Here's the clip.

Recalled Pharmaceuticals in the News

2009-09-28T10:52:00.000-07:00

Dr. Duckworth thought this piece was worth sending along, a story dealing with a Johnson & Johnson recall of pharmaceuticals geared towards kids.

Thougths on Flu Season

2009-09-24T08:47:00.000-07:00

There are three basic categories of flu (influenza) A,B, and C. True influenza is a viral infection. 'A' type flu's are considered stronger viruses and can be more serious. Many in the allopathic community encourage vaccinations, however, some allopathic physicians and many natural medicine practitioners do not encourage vaccinations. If you do come down with flu symptoms and are concerned, your primary doctor can do a culture or blood test to rule out a more serious flu or other complications.

Most people will fall into flu categories 'B' and 'C'; in fact each year between 35-50 million Americans will experience flu-like symptoms. Symptoms include fever, aches, sore throat, cough, fatigue, and sometimes congestion. A few days of rest and fluids and most of us will recover fine.

Viruses and bacteria thrive in a damp environment. We cannot change our external environment here in St. Louis, which is humid and damp in general, but we can take charge of our internal environment, mostly through our diet, and stress levels.

Oriental Medicine recognizes the human is not separate from the natural world; we are of the natural world. When we are damp inside, we are more vulnerable to viruses and bacteria, just as in the natural world there is much growth in a damp or humid environment. Many of you may have heard the buzz words "acid/alkaline balance." An acidic condition tends to be damp in nature. Thus why some dietary practices dating back 50 years push for a more alkaline diet, especially if one is ill or dealing with a particular condition.

Sugars of all types, including fruit juice and artificial sweeteners; flour, especially white; alcohol and dairy all encourage a damp environment. If you are concerned about your health or you believe your immune system is especially vulnerable, then eliminating these foods/drinks or cutting back may help your system stay stronger. Ume concentrate, a Japanese plum extract, is one of the most effective supplements that can be taken to help create a more balanced acid/alkaline internal environment.

If you do experience a cold/flu I'd suggest taking Ume concentrate once daily while symptoms persist. If nasal congestion is involved, then I'd suggest Sinusin Spray, a homeopathic nasal spray manufactured by Heel/BHI. The spray has no known side effects. It can be used 3-5 times daily, and it has anti-viral properties. Taking additional Vitamin C can boost the immune system; up to 5,000mg daily for a few days is usually not a problem. (If you have a known digestive condition, kidney stones, or other health issue, consult a trained and licensed practitioner before taking Vitamin C or other herbal remedies or supplements.)

Most important though: address your stress levels as best you can - whether it be emotional/mental stress or physical; the body's energies get imbalanced and immune system function can be burdened. Stress also seems to cause a damp acidic condition in the body. If you are stressed you know what our advice is: get a treatment. I do.

So, enjoy the Fall; call, email, myself or Dr. Duckworth if you have any questions.

Best Wishes,
Jason R. Hackler

Rally Congress on Acupuncture Coverage

2009-09-21T18:32:00.000-07:00

Please take a minute to send letters to your Congressional representatives to urge them to support HR646, the Federal Acupuncture Coverage Act, which would include acupuncture as a covered benefit under Medicare.

http://www.rallycongress.com/aaaom/1944/

Be sure to visit http://www.rallycongress.com/aaaom/ for important action items.

Ram Dass: Fierce Grace

2009-08-28T13:02:00.000-07:00

If interested in sprituality and health - and if you're reading this, that'd surely be you - a film that you may wish to consider seeing at your earliest opportunity is "Ram Dass: Fierce Grace."

Here's the Wikipedia entry on Ram Dass.

A link from the same site to the film.

Though the film played theatrically in St. Louis only briefly, with a stint at Webster University's Film Series several years back, the good news is that the documentary is available via Netflix, as both a hard copy send to your house, or as an on-demand view.

The next time in the office, be sure to ask Dr. Duckworth about his own studies with Baba Ram Dass.

Fall and Allergies

2009-08-19T13:05:00.000-07:00

(From NLTC) According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, ragweed season officially begins August 15th. It is estimated that over 36 million Americans suffer from seasonal allergies.

Some ragweed facts: each ragweed plant produces about one billion pollen grains per season. Grains can travel up to four hundred miles due to their lightweight texture. Ragweed is most prevalent in the Northeast, the South and the Midwest and can grow almost anywhere. Americans with allergies miss 3.8 million days of work and or school each year.

What can you do if you suffer from allergies? Meridian Therapy Acupuncture is a wise place to start. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), allergies, through clinical trials, are successfully treated with acupuncture. Through years of clinical practice here at Natural Life Therapy Clinic we know this to be true.

Some homeopathic medicines and Vitamin C, which are virtually free of adverse side effects, can be helpful in reducing allergy symptoms, especially in conjunction with Meridian Therapy Acupuncture.

Vitamin C acts as a antihistamine, has anti-inflammatory effects and tends to enhance immune system functioning. Vitamin C is generally ascorbic acid so if you have a sensitive digestive system you may want to take Ester-C, which is derived from calcium carbonate and tends not to cause any digestive upset. Dosage varies for each person, but a relatively safe adult dosage taken for allergies for one to two weeks would be 1,000mg two to three times daily and sometimes higher if the patient is being guided by a health practitioner. If you are taking any medication you should always first consult with a properly trained licensed health care practitioner before taking supplements.

We recommend Sinusin or Luffeel Homeopathic nasal spray by BHI/Heel for allergies. Sinusin spray can be used for both allergies and other sinus problems, and, in addition, has anti-viral properties. Luffeel is generally used for typical hay fever conditions. We find both to be quite helpful with allergy symptoms and can be used three times daily, or more, with no adverse side effects. We also recommend Allergy tabs by BHI/HEEL in conjunction with the nasal spray.

These BHI products can be purchased at Neels Pharmacy (8 Crestwood Executive Center on Watson Road).

Your body is a natural miracle. It deserves your attention in helping to get stronger and healthier.

Happy Fall everyone!

Marijuana and Health Care Reform, Linked and Debated

2009-08-14T14:28:00.000-07:00

While many will think of Montel Williams and immediately assume MW = mediocre daytime talk programming, his work with Air America has a decidedly different feel.

Recently, he spoke about the impact of marijuana legalization on the health care reform debate and was joined by Congressman Ron Paul, among others. Interesting conversation here.

Patient Spending on Alt. Medicine Examined

2009-08-06T17:31:00.001-07:00

Some interesting news from the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. Among the findings:

Approximately 38 percent of adults use some form of CAM (complementary or alternative medicine) for health and wellness or to treat a variety of diseases and conditions, according to data from the 2007 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS)³. The CAM component of the NHIS was developed by the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) and the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The data provide estimates of the cost of CAM use, the frequency of visits made to CAM practitioners, and frequency of purchases of self-care CAM therapies.

"With so many Americans using and spending money on CAM therapies, it is extremely important to know whether the products and practices they use are safe and effective," said Josephine P. Briggs, M.D., director of NCCAM. "This underscores the importance of conducting rigorous research and providing evidence-based information on CAM so that health care providers and the public can make well-informed decisions.

Here's a link to the full report.

Ode Magazine: Laughter Issue

2009-08-03T12:57:00.000-07:00

Dr. Duckworth recommends Ode Magazine as a part of your regular cultural intake.

The current issue is dedicated to Laughter and it's been getting some rave reviews.

Click here to read about all about it, while previewing the cover, which features President Obama's grandmother Sarah, in full smile.

Homegrown

2009-07-30T11:10:00.000-07:00

Last fall, the St. Louis International Film Festival ran a program called "Homegrown," a 52-minute film on the Dervaes family of Pasedena, CA. Going "off-the-grid" the family of four (think: dad and three adult children) have created a urban farm like few others, turning a fraction of land into a remarkable oasis of healthy food production.

Though unable to embed the video directly here, some interesting clips exist online.

Here's an interview with director Robert McFalls:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3E3ldklqS0

Here's a 10-minute clip from the Dervaes family, part of an extensive group of clips they've posted to the web:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCPEBM5ol0Q&videos=ZTQT6twWWQM&playnext_from=TL&playnext=1

If you can't find a copy of Homegrown (and they are hard to track), then enjoy the YouTube clips and enjoy the Dervaes family's remarkable story. In fact, here's a link to their primary webpage:
http://www.pathtofreedom.com/

Dr. Duckworth: Vacation

2009-07-20T14:07:00.000-07:00

For those looking to book an appointment with Dr. Duckworth, note that he'll be out of the office for a short period, beginning later this week.

Out of the office: Thursday, July 23.
Back in the office: Thursday, July 30.