Pathways Article Summaries and References
Issue 19 - Fall 2008
Letter from the Editor
Jeanne Ohm, DC
It is a time of great change. Leaders in science are calling it “the shift.” Leaders in healing are referring to it as the raising of the consciousness. Even politicians are talking about the readiness for our social change and our responsibility as individuals to contribute. Everyone is recognizing that the awareness and participation of each and every one of us is necessary. From a perspective of vitalism, what does that mean?
In times of great change, before the shift occurs, there is usually intense polarization. Fostering the polarization is the use of guilt and fear to maintain the old and fading modes of power. It is important we are aware of these tactics and that we do not fall prey to their influence. This means that we must not allow fear and guilt to motivate us to remain motionless and it also means that we must not resort to using these stifling emotions in our zeal to rush the change.
From a vitalistic perspective, this shift is inevitable. It carries its own momentum and will bring a state of balance and ease. Being true to the vitalistic principle, now is a time for us to trust this process with thoughts and actions consistent with this trust.
In Pathways, we have seen vitalism described as the recognition that there is a wise and conscious intelligence within us that reflects the wisdom of the universe. This wisdom is at the very core of our existence. It is the essence of who we are. In vitalism there is a respect of and trust in this wisdom, a recognition that we are all connected with this wisdom…not just those who agree with us, but everyone. We have a responsibility to ourselves and to others—for the “good of the whole.”
Sometimes, in these great shifts of consciousness, when we are bombarded with emotions of fear and guilt we find ourselves losing site of the greater picture and we react with like emotions. We must remember that these reactions serve to stall the momentum of the shift we are most desirous of. The emotion of guilt is strengthened when we are dwelling on the past and the emotion of fear is fed when we are focusing on the future. Both emotions lead to judgment and judgment is counterproductive to the change that is needed.
I do believe the state of being consistent with the vitalistic principle is love. It fosters respect and trust. It subsides the antagonistic, unfruitful emotions of guilt, fear, judgment. It creates balance and ease. The “golden rule” tells us to love our neighbor as our self. So we attempt to love our neighbor and seem to forget that it is first necessary to love our selves!
In the following speech delivered by Nelson Mandella, and written by Marianne Williamson, we can begin to remember who we are and how we can begin to love ourselves. Then and only then will we be able to transfer this love to others and therefore productively participate in this momentous and exciting shift.
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate,
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, “who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous,
talented, and fabulous?“
Actually – who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small doesn’t serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people
won’t feel insecure around you.
We were born to make manifest the glory of
God that is within us.
It is not just in some of us, it is in everyone,
And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other
people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically
liberates others.
To all of our readers—welcome to Pathways…one more step in the raising of the consciousness.
Many Blessings,
Jeanne Ohm, DC
About the Author:
Read Dr. Ohm's bio here.
FEATURE
The Paradigm Shift
in Medicine and Science
Philip Incao, MD
From the Article:
The word paradigm in present usage means the model constructed by our unconscious and conscious mind which we use to understand and explain the world. Our paradigm incorporates all of our basic assumptions about the nature of reality. It is our worldview; it’s the lens through which we look at the world and it colors everything we see.
This paradigm-lens is itself created and formed partly from our education and partly from the primal feelings living at the deepest levels of our heart and mind. Primal feelings are shared by all human beings, each of us having our own particular mix depending on our individual constitution and experience and on the culture in which we live. Most important in this inner mix of primal, basic feelings toward life and the world is whether love or fear rules...
About the Author:
Dr. Philip Incao studied liberal arts and life sciences at Wesleyan University and then received his M.D. from Albert Einstein College of Medicine in 1966. He studied anthroposophy and anthroposophic medicine in Forest Row, England and Arlesheim, Switzerland.
From 1973 until 1996 he had a busy general practice of anthroposophic medicine in rural Harlemville, New York, next to a biodynamic farm. During this same time period, Dr. Incao also served as the medical director of Camphill Village in Copake, New York, a unique community residence with adult mentally handicapped persons.
He has been studying vaccinations and the immune system for the past 27 years. His article on vaccinations and the immune system, "Supporting Children’s Health" in the September 1997 issue of Alternative Medicine Digest magazine, generated much interest and was reprinted both in Canada and in Australia.
Dr. Incao moved to Denver in September 1996 in order to help the growth of anthroposophic medicine in the western United States. He opened the Gilpin Street Holistic Center, located at 1624 Gilpin Street in Denver in March 1997.
Dr. Philip Incao's special interest is strengthening the health of children against the increasingly stressful influences of modern life, especially of modern healthcare. He has been studying vaccinations and the immune system for the past 27 years. He also lectures frequently on the practical application of a spiritual yet scientific understanding of the human being to healing.
Dr. Phil can be reached by e-mail at: DrIncao@juno.com
WELLNESS LIFESTYLE
An Inconvenient Cancer Truth
Matt Rushford, DC
From the Article:
Cancer is a term that inspires a broad range of feelings: from fear, anger, and helplessness to curiosity and determination. Cancer, as a force, has given rise to a massive infrastructure of cultural and clinical responses, and many of these are highly visible and virtually iconic. We see Lance Armstrong talking about cancer, we see children wearing colored wrist bracelets, we are asked to participate in bike rides and walkathons for cancer research. The majority of this energy is focused on what is called cancer “prevention” and research.
In the case of breast cancer, for example, the main thrust of cancer advocacy is towards “prevention” in the form of mammograms. Question: If 100% of all women in the United States between the ages of 40 and 80 had regular mammograms, how would this affect US cancer rates?
Answer: Not in the slightest degree, unless you include the iatrogenic factor of applying ionizing radiation to breast tissue in otherwise healthy women, in which case it could be stipulated that the rates would naturally rise. Mammograms don’t prevent cancer; they detect cancer that is already there, and probably has been for a long time...
About the Author:
Dr. Matt Rushford is a family chiropractor who has been in practice since 1994. He operates the Rushford Family Chiropractic Center in South Burlington, Vermont with his wife. A father, noted public speaker and author of numerous articles on human health, healing, and paradigms of wellness, Dr. Rushford specializes in pregnancy and perinatal care. His website is www.rushfordchiropractic.com.
HOLISTIC HEALTH CARE
To Empower! Not Control!
A Holistic Approach to ADHD
Thomas Armstrong, PhD
From the Article:
Thousands of studies tell us what children with ADHD can’t do, but few tell us what they can do. This article presents holistic strategies for helping children with ADHD succeed at home and in school by building on their interests, learning styles, and many talents.
Eight-year-old Billy, in the front row, will have nothing to do with my demonstration on new techniques for teaching spelling. During my visit to his elementary school classroom in upstate New York, Billy is out of his seat during most of the lesson. When I ask the children to visualize their spelling words, however, I am amazed to see Billy return to his seat and remain perfectly still. Covering his eyes, Billy “looks” intently at his imaginary words—fascinated with the images in his mind!
Later on, I realize that something more important than a spelling lesson went on that afternoon: Billy was able to transform his external physical hyperactivity into internal mental motion and, by internalizing his outer activity level, was able to gain control over it. This incident occurred some time ago but remains memorable to me. Why? Because it suggests that internal empowerment, rather than external control, is often the best way to help kids diagnosed with ADHD...
About the Author :
Read more about Dr. Armstrong here: www.thomasarmstrong.com/bio.htm
View his many books and videos here: www.thomasarmstrong.com/books.htm
Contact Dr. Armstrong here: thomas@thomasarmstrong.com
CHIROPRACTIC FOR LIFE
What is Sensory
Processing Disorder?
Monika Buerger, DC
From the Article:
Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder resulting from the brain’s inability to integrate everyday sensory information received from the five senses: touch, vision, sound, smell, and taste.
In addition to the commonly known five senses are two additional senses that are rarely heard of: the vestibular and proprioceptive systems. The vestibular system has functions located in the base of the brain (cerebellum), the upper part of the neck (cervical spine) and the inner ear. It is the “chief regulator” of all incoming sensory information and is considered the most important sensory system. The proprioceptive system is located throughout the spine as well as all other joints of the body. Dysfunction within the sensory integration system can lead to problems with learning, motor skills, behavior, and social and emotional development. It is estimated that as many as 1 in 20 children suffer from SPD...
About the Author:
Dr. Monika Buerger teaches the module: History, Physical Assessment, and Orthopedic Considerations of the Pediatric Patient for the ICPA’s 360 Hour Diplomate program. She authored History and Physical Assessment of the Pediatric Patient, Pediatric Chiropractic by Anrig/Plaugher; 1998. Dr. Buerger has practiced in Livermore, CA since 1991.
PREGNANCY & BIRTH
Doulas
Before, During, and After Birth
Jan S. Mallak, Certified Doula
From the Article:
A doula is a woman experienced in childbirth who is specially trained to provide various kinds of support for the mother before, during, and/or after the birth. The term comes from ancient Greece, where a female servant called “the doula” attended the expectant lady of the household.
A movement to bring back this age-old tradition began in 1992 when Doulas of North America was founded. Since then, several other organizations have emerged or expanded to offer doula training and certification: International Childbirth Education Association (ICEA), Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association (CAPPA), and Association of Labor Assistants and Childbirth educators (ALACE). All can be found on the internet and offer a wealth of information regarding what a doula is, how to locate one, what costs are involved, and how to find the right “fit.”...
About the Author:
Jan has over 28 years of experience in childbirth education, labor support, breastfeeding and related fields. She is a certified childbirth educator through the International Childbirth Education Association (ICEA) and has certification as a birth doula through both ICEA and DONA (Doulas of North America) and is a DONA-approved Birth Doula Trainer. Jan is also a certified postpartum doula through both DONA and CAPPA (Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association) and is a CAPPA-approved PP Doula Trainer and served as an initial faculty member for the ICEA Birth Doula Certification Program. She has been published many times, is a consultant and has presented topics locally, nationally and internationally at professional conventions & workshops. Jan is lovingly supported by her husband of 36 years, Frank, and their grown children Frank, Jr., Heather and her husband, Dror.
Visit Jan's website: www.heartandhands.8m.com
THE OUTER WOMB
What Babies Really Need
Ingrid Bauer
From the Article:
As they contemplate the birth of a new baby, parents wonder exactly what it is they will need to buy—after all, there is so much new parenting paraphenalia available. Yet one of the obstacles that can get between us and a full experience of mothering or fathering is stuff. Stuff abounds in our culture, especially where babies and children are concerned.
As the importance of attachment and bonding emerges,
manufacturers scurry to keep pace. Advertisers and
entrepreneurs relish the market that exists among parents
who are seeking the very best for their offspring. They
create products that claim to ease the work of parenting
and contribute to intimacy. These products—bottles,
pacifiers, cribs, baby chairs and swings, stuffed animals
and “blankies”—are often nothing more than meagre and
unsatisfying replacements for the real thing...
About the Author:
Ingrid's Website: www.natural-wisdom.com
NUTRITION
Food Cravings
Colleen Huber, NMD
From the Article:
If you crave this…
Chocolate
Sweets
Bread, toast
Oily snacks, fatty foods
Coffee or tea
What you really need is…
Magnesium
Chromium
Carbon
Phosphorus
Sulfur
About the Author:
Dr. Huber NMD, is a Naturopathic Medical Doctor and Primary Care Physician currently practicing in Tempe, Arizona. Dr. Huber focuses on herbal medicine, nutrition, intravenous therapies, environmental medicine and acupuncture. She received her Naturopathic Medical degree from Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine.
Visit Dr. Huber's Website: www.naturopathyworks.com
PARENTING
The Joy of
Being a Mother
Susan Markel, MD
From the Article:
Being a mother can be much more joyful than we make it, if we learn to recognize when and why we make it harder than it should be. As a pediatrician, I often ask mothers to stop regretting the past, as well as to stop worrying obsessively about the future. Enjoying your child and appreciating your child, at this moment, is the elusive key to parenting pleasure.
What of the two adoptive mothers of twins separated at birth? One mother complained heartily that the baby girl would not eat unless the mother put cinnamon on her food. The other mother described how easy it was to feed her baby, just by putting cinnamon on all her food...
About the Author:
Dr. Markel is dedicated to helping parents and children empower themselves to have a healthier and happier lifestyle.
Susan Markel, M.D., is an American Board Certified Pediatrician with extensive experience in newborn care and lactation, as well as all aspects of general pediatric care. As a consultant to parents of children of all ages, from newborn through adolescence, her ability to communicate and empathize has helped many families in times of emotional transition. She has appeared on many live television broadcasts, and she has been invited to speak at parenting conferences world-wide.
Visit Susan Markel, MD at: www.AttachmentParentingDoctor.com
FAMILY LIFE
Energize Your Communication — Become a Genuine Listener
John W Travis MD, MPH
From the Article:
Since most of us spend more than half of our time in communication as a listener, we should be experts at it by now.
If you are, though, you are the rare exception. Most people listen passively, planning what they are going to say next, or they listen partially, jumping on the first few words they hear and extrapolating the rest. It is no wonder that communication often lacks energy and leaves people feeling drained, bored, joyless, angry, depressed, or helpless. In many conversations there is little actual communication. Poor listening is usually at the root of the problem.
Dynamic listening is more than simply hearing. And it is easy to confuse the two. Think about this distinction in the realm of music. You probably hear music of some sort almost every day—as background to a TV show or in the supermarket. Even if you are not consciously aware of hearing it, this music creates a mood. Rarely will you attend to the lyrics or dance to the rhythm of this kind of music. Now contrast this with your behavior at a concert, a symphony, or a dance. In these circumstances, your body is turned in the direction of the band or orchestra. You may experience an emotional rush as you allow the music in. You may involve your body with it, starting to sway or hum along, or to clap in time. When the music ends, you applaud or stand up and shout. Now you are listening dynamically...
About the Author:
John W. Travis, MD, MPH completed his medical degree at Tufts University in 1969, and a preventive medicine residency at Johns Hopkins University in 1973. In 1975, he opened the world’s first wellness center, the Wellness Resource Center in Mill Valley, California. His work attracted national attention, culminating in an appearance on 60 Minutes with Dan Rather in 1979.
In 1979, the Wellness Center was transformed into a non-profit educational corporation dedicated to transforming the medical culture from its focus on doctor-as-unassailable-expert to a partnership with healers. John continues to lecture and give workshops around the world to help professionals develop the techniques and processes pioneered by the Wellness Resource Center staff.
In 1991, John changed the focus of his work to infant wellness and became a co-founder of Alliance for Transforming the Lives of Children (www.aTLC.org), which fosters individual and planetary wellness through changing how babies are born and treated in their early years.
MOVING AND LEARNING
Time Just to Be
Rae Pica
From the Article:
The stories I hear from parents never cease to amaze me. Like the one from the mom who was feeling pressured to enroll her two-and-a-half-year-old in the local soccer program—the local, competitive soccer program!
“Our town,” she said, “is very much into pushing children to compete and succeed. And I know other parents are looking at me as though I’m failing my child, but I’m not going to give in to the pressure. I’m not enrolling her in all these programs at age two.”
Good for her! Whether it’s a fear that their children won’t get into the college of their choice, will never find their passions, or will become lazy and unmotivated if they aren’t constantly engaged in organized activities, too many of today’s parents are responsible for their children being overscheduled with no time just to be.
What happens when a child’s time is scheduled and
programmed—directed by someone else—from morning‘til night, day after day? One mother wrote to me, “If
the parents work a full day and the children are in a
traditional school, the child goes to care before school
at around 7:30 AM, then goes to school, then goes to
after-school care until around 5:30 PM. Then they have
two hours of homework. If you add in one sport per
season, they have two hours of practice or games once
or twice a week. So the child’s ‘workday’ is more than
twelve hours!”...
About the Author:
Rae Pica is the author of A Running Start (New York: Marlowe & Company, 2006). Rae has been a children’s physical activity specialist for 26 years and is the author of 15 other books, including the textbook Experiences in Movement (3rd edition) and the award-winning Great Games for Young Children. Rae is known throughout North America for her active and informative keynote and workshop presentations and has served as a consultant for many groups, including the Sesame Street Research Department, the Centers for Disease Control, Gymboree, and Nickelodeon’s Blue’s Clues.
Website: www.movingandlearning.com
MIND-BODY
Raising Our Consciousness:
Stepping Out from Where We Were
Reprinted with permission from www.dailyom.com
From the Article:
Albert Einstein said, “No problem can be solved from the same consciousness that created it. We must learn to see the world anew.” A Nobel Prize winner, Albert Einstein transformed the world’s understanding of the universe and its workings with his scientific theories. So we can believe that these words come from his personal experience and helped him to explore both science and life itself. He offered us an example of what can be learned by looking deeply into nature to reach a deeper understanding of all life and following our ideas to their logical conclusions in our minds before acting upon them in the world...
About the Author:
Reprinted with permission from www.dailyom.com
INFORMED CHOICE
Along Came
Autism: Dominick's Story
Lisa & Dominick Lubick
From the Article:
I think any mother first looks at her newborn son, all pink and soft, and dreams of his future. Maybe he’ll be a doctor, a lawyer, or a teacher. President, perhaps? Well, I knew my Dominick was meant to be something greater.
My son was born with severe torticollis and even had to wear
a helmet. Fortunately, with physical therapy and chiropractic
care, he improved. He hit all his milestones: smiling,
clapping, waving, crawling, walking, and even some speech.
By comparison to his twin I thought “Well Dominick is not
behind, Jonathan is just a little advanced. Besides, he had to
go through all that therapy and wear a helmet!” I never put
that much thought into it until I noticed he wouldn’t make
eye contact, respond to his
name, and sometimes he
would bang his head on
the floor. He suffered from
frequent ear infections, so
my first overly protective,
motherly assumption was,“Oh my God, he’s deaf!” I
immediately scheduled an
appointment with an ear,
nose, and throat doctor...
About the Author:
(Coming soon)
GRATITUDE
Health Benefits of Kindness
Allan Luks
From the Article:
Being kind has a profound impact in the lives of others but you may not know how much of a positive health benefit it delivers to you as well.
People who perform acts of kindness would agree that being kind to someone else makes them “feel good.” Scientific research shows that it not only can make you feel good but being kind has a significant health benefit, both physically and mentally.
Allan Luks, the former executive director of the Institute for the Advancement of Health and executive director of Big Brothers/ Big Sisters of New York City studied kindness and documents his findings in his book, The Healing Power of Doing Good: The Health and Spiritual Benefits of Helping Others.
Luks’ study involved more than 3,000 volunteers of all ages at more than 20 organizations throughout the country. He sent a 17- question survey to these volunteers, asking them how they felt when they did a kind act. A total of 3,296 surveys were returned to Luks, and after a computerized analysis, he saw a clear causeand- effect relationship between helping and good health. Luks concluded, “Helping contributes to the maintenance of good health, and it can diminish the effect of diseases and disorders serious and minor, psychological and physical.”...
About the Author:
Allan Luks, the former executive director of the Institute for the
Advancement of Health and executive director of Big Brothers/
Big Sisters of New York City studied kindness and documents
his findings in his book, The Healing Power of Doing Good: The
Health and Spiritual Benefits of Helping Others.
Website: www.bigsnyc.org
News and Events
Parents and AAP Clash
Green Our Vaccines Rally Held in Washington, DC
Within Days of Creation of New Immunization Alliance to Enforce Existing CDC Vaccine Schedule
From the Article:
Celebrities and autism activists
Jenny McCarthy and Jim Carrey
led over 8,500 parents in a Green
Our Vaccines march and rally on
June 4th on the Capitol Grounds in
Washington, DC.
Speakers at the event included Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., who wrote the investigative piece on mercury in vaccines, “Deadly Immunity” for Rolling Stone magazine in 2005, and wellknown scientists and researchers Dr. Jay Gord and Dr. Boyd Haley.
McCarthy, author of the best-selling book Louder Than Words: A Mother’s Journey in Healing Autism, and Carrey joined forces with national advocacy organizations to demand the elimination of toxins from children’s vaccines and to reassess mandatory vaccine schedules.
“This day will go down in history as a time when parents’ voices and their message to change the vaccine program was finally heard and acted upon,” said McCarthy...
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