Can Tai Chi Prevent Shingles? Tips Issue #74

Home Spa Lady's
Tips of the Week
Issue # 74 - April 25, 2007
Publisher: Marilee Tolen RN
E-mail Marilee
http://www.HomeSpaLady.com
http://www.HomeSpaLady.com/blog (Blog)
Home Spa Lady(TM)

Circulation: 1412
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Make Every Day A Spa Day!
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In This Issue
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1. Can Tai Chi Prevent Shingles?
2. My Own Story with Shingles
4. Essential Oil Tip: Raindrop Therapy
5. Success Tip: Lao-Tzu
6. Recipe of the Week: Spring Asparagus Soup
7. HSL's Joke or Cute Quote of the Week

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1. Can Tai Chi Prevent Shingles?
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Shingles is a nasty painful skin rash that is caused by a virus.

It is the same virus as the chicken pox virus. When you get
chickenpox as a child it can stay dormant in your system if your
immune system doesn't clear it out completely.

If it is "re-awakened" or "re-activated" in the adult years, it
is known as shingles. It's usually not serious unless the nerve
pathway that it affects remains extremely sensitized after the
breakout which is called neuralgia.

The cause of shingles is unclear. It is often blamed on a
weakened immune system. What is often associated with a breakout
of shingles is stress.

A UCLA study that was recently published in the Journal of
American Geriatrics suggested that the ancient martial art dance
of Tai Chi can prevent shingles.

The study included over 100 people between the ages of 59 and 86
who previously had chicken pox. Half of this group had tai chi
classes three times a week for three months and the other half
attended health education classes.

After six months the tai chi group had twice the immunity against
shingles as the other group.

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2. My Own Story with Shingles
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Three and a half years ago I rearranged my life to journey along
with, and care for, my mother who was battling kidney cancer.

Needless to say it was a stressful time in my life. But my
nursing background and my healing-at-home know how helped us both
adapt easier to the conditions with which Mom and I were dealing.

Mom didn't receive chemotherapy or radiation, but the oncologists
did recommend surgery. The day she was scheduled for surgery I
noticed a sore on my lower back - what I thought was a bug bite.
I also had radiating pain down my leg which felt like a sciatica.
Initially did not connect both of these symptoms.

This was one of those situations where my body had to inform me
about the level of stress I was experiencing, because I had no
clue. Stress does that to us - it can be very easy to go into
"function mode" where you keep pushing through.

When I found out that I had shingles, I immediately consulted two
texts that I frequently use: The Burton-Goldberg Alternative
Medicine Definitive Guide and the Essential Desk Reference for
the therapeutic use of essential oils. (I already know that many
of the essential oils that I have become familiar with over the
years have high anti-viral qualities.)

In the Alternative Medicine Guide there were several modalities
recommended for assisting the healing of shingles. I chose the
essential oil that was recommended in both books --
ravensara.

Ravensara comes out of Madagascar and is used there medicinally
for many ailments. The people of Madagascar hold it in high
regard.

I took an empty gel cap and placed 7 drops of ravensara essential
oil (from Young Living - I only use YL especially for internal
use) and took this capsule internally. I did this twice a day
for 21 days. I chose 21 days because that is typically the life
of an active virus.

I noticed a 90% diminishment in my symptoms within 36 hours. My
symptoms were entirely gone after that - to the point that I
questioned if I even had shingles.

About 8 days into this I forgot a morning dose. That was when I
questioned my diagnosis. I decided not to take the evening
capsule and sure enough, by the next day, my discomfort
reappeared.

I also did the other things I know to do like eat alkalinizing
foods and try to get more rest. And if I knew Tai Chi I would
have done that too!

If you have shingles and you choose to use a therapy similar to
this, I would recommend working along with your health care
provider.There are more and more physicians and advance practice
nurses becoming aware of alternative therapies especially where
there are no conventional treatments available, such as in the
case of shingles.

As mentioned in the previous article - shingles is not usually a
serious disorder but if the shingles occur around the eye it
could be threatening and you would want to involve an eye doctor

If you do not get support from your health care provider for the
choices that you make, then find a new health care provider.

To order ravensara contact your Young Living distributor or go
to: Young Living Website

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4. Essential Oil Tip: Raindrop Therapy for Shingles
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Raindrop Therapy is an application method using therapeutic grade
essential oils layered on the spine.

There is a whole protocol for the basic technique of Raindrop
Therapy which was developed by Gary Young, founder of Young
Living Essential Oils.

A Raindrop regimen specific for shingles which comes out of the
Essential Desk Reference is:

--In Raindrop style layer 3-4 drops each of oregano, mountain
savory, and thyme along the spine.

--Apply 15-20 drops of V6 Oil (base massage oil) to the spine,
massage briefly over the other oils, then cover the skin with a
dry towel and apply a warm pack for 15-20 minutes).

NOTE: Be cautious about warming.

--If the back becomes too hot, remove the warm pack and add more
V6 Oil Complex to cool.

--Remove the warm pack and towel, then layer 4-8 drops each of
tea tree, elemi, and peppermint along the spine.

--Put the dry towel back over the skin and apply an ice pack for
30 minutes.

Click here to order the Essential Desk Reference book

Click here to learn more about Raindrop Therapy

Order your essential oils from your Young Living distributor or by going to Young Living's Website

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5. Success Tip: Lao-Tzu
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The way to do is to be.
--Lao-Tzu
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6.Recipe of the Week: Spring Asparagus Soup
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Spring Asparagus Soup

--4 lb. asparagus- 1 inch woody stems removed and discarded, cut
into 1'' pieces
--1 medium white onion- dice into large pieces
--4 oz. butter
--2 qt. chicken or vegetable stock, heated to boil then set aside
--1 pint heavy cream

Directions:

--Sweat onions and butter in small stock-pot until translucent,
add asparagus and continue to sweat 2-3 minutes. ("Sweat" means
to saute at a very low heat)
--Add heated stock just until it covers the asparagus. Season the
broth with salt, pepper and a pinch of sugar.
--Simmer until tender, keeping asparagus green in color and be
careful not to overcook.
--Transfer contents to a blender or processor.
--Puree until smooth, add heavy cream while blending.
--Adjust salt, pepper, and sugar.
--Pass through a fine strainer
--Serve immediately.

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7. HSL's Joke or Cute Quote of the Week
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Health Care

Date: Thu, 12 Apr 2007 14:30:15 -0400

FAQ: Health Care

Q. What does HMO stand for?
A. This is actually a variation of the phrase, "Hey, Moe!" Its
roots go back to a concept pioneered by Doctor Moe Howard, who
discovered that a patient could be made to forget about the pain
in his foot if he was poked hard enough in the eyes. Modern
practice replaces the physical finger poke with hi-tech
equivalents such as voice mail and referral slips, but the result
remains the same.

Q. Do all diagnostic procedures require pre-certification?
A. No. Only those you need.

Q. I just joined a new HMO. How difficult will it be to choose
the doctor I want?
A. Just slightly more difficult than choosing your parents. Your
insurer will provide you with a book listing all the doctors who
were participating in the plan at the time the information was
gathered. These doctors basically fall into two categories --
those who are no longer accepting new patients, and those who
will see you but are no longer part of the plan. But don't worry
-- the remaining doctor who is still in the plan and accepting
new patients has an office just a half day's drive away!

Q. What are pre-existing conditions?
A. This is a phrase used by the grammatically challenged when
they want to talk about existing conditions. Unfortunately, we
appear to be pre-stuck with it.

Q. Well, can I get coverage for my pre-existing conditions?
A. Certainly, as long as they don't require any treatment.

Q. What happens if I want to try alternative forms of medicine?
A. You'll need to find alternative forms of payment.

Q. My pharmacy plan only covers generic drugs, but I need the
name brand. I tried the generic medication, but it gave me a
stomach ache. What should I do?
A. Poke yourself in the eye.

Q. I have an 80/20 plan with a $200 deductible and a $2,000
yearly cap. My insurer reimbursed the doctor for my out-patient
surgery, but I'd already paid my bill. What should I do?
A. You have two choices. Your doctor can sign the reimbursement
check over to you, or you can ask him to invest the money for you
in one of those great offers that only doctors and dentists hear
about, like windmill farms or frog hatcheries.

Q. What should I do if I get sick while traveling?
A. Try sitting in a different part of the bus.

Q. No, I mean what if I'm away from home and I get sick?
A. You really shouldn't do that. You'll have a hard time seeing
your primary care physician. It's best to wait until you return,
and then get sick.

Q. I think I need to see a specialist, but my doctor insists he
can handle my problem. Can a general practitioner really perform
a heart transplant right in his office?
A. Hard to say, but considering that all you're risking is the
$10 co-payment, there's no harm giving him a shot at it.

Q. What accounts for the largest portion of health care costs?
A. Doctors trying to recoup their investment losses.

Q. Will health care be any different in the next century?
A. No, but if you call right now, you might get an appointment by
then.

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Where to Meet, Hear, or Learn with Home Spa Lady:
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May 24, 2007 In the comfort of your home
"Green Tea with Marilee"
Live Interview with Susun Weed
Topic "Menopause the Wise Woman Way"

Susun is the author of these books:
"Healing Wise; New Menopausal Years the Wise Women Way; Breast
Cancer? Breast Health! the Wise Woman Way; and Woman Herbal for
the Childbearing Year"

Stay tuned for registration details.

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Marilee Tolen RN a.k.a. Home Spa Lady
E-mail Marilee!
Phone: 856-857-1799 (East Coast)
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