Sunday, April 24, 2011

School Milk

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

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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

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Arthritis: Taming the Fire Within

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.

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Dr. Emoto's Request for Assisting Japan

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

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

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

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.

Monday, March 28, 2011

Spring Tune-Up and Allergies

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

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Book by Mary Beth Shaw

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.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

New Lunar Year & A Clinic Update

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)