Continuum Wellness News » self-care

Easy Do-It-Yourself Recipe for Cleaner, Whiter Teeth

continuum wellness — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 04:03:35 +0000

Here is a simple to make and easy to use toothpaste. I kind of feel like calling it a “tooth scrub” because it is a little gritty, but not much. I’ve tried this and it is good for occasional use.

1 part sea salt
2 or 3 parts of baking soda

If the sea salt is coarse crush it before adding to the baking soda. Mix together in a container. Shake or stir before using. To use: wet toothbrush apply the tooth powder and scrub. Rinse the mouth well when done.

This mix has antiseptic properties and promotes gum health.

Oprah Winfrey is hosting a Life Class

continuum wellness — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 21:53:57 +0000

If you are missing Oprah’s unique brand of savvy, she’s hosting a life-class beginning in October. There are varied learning styles and if you are looking for additional motivation, this may help.

click here for details.

Research: Walnuts May Reduce Breast Cancer Risk

continuum wellness — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 02:57:28 +0000

Walnuts continue to amaze researchers with their health promoting powers. This latest research demonstrates how walnuts contain factors that can slow and may prevent breast tumors.

Walnuts are a good source of fiber, healthful fatty acids and minerals. They can be sprinkled on breakfast cereal, tossed with crisp greens for a lunch or dinner salad, or simply eaten out of hand as a snack.

Walnuts — 1 ounce, about 9 walnuts

Protein Foods Group: counts as 2 ounce equivalents protein foods and 2 teaspoons oil

Dietary Walnut Suppressed Mammary Gland Tumorigenesis in the C(3)1 TAg Mouse.

Abstract

Walnuts contain multiple ingredients that, individually, have been shown to slow cancer growth, including omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, and phytosterols. In previous research, consumption of walnuts has slowed the growth of implanted breast cancers.

We wanted to determine whether regular walnut consumption might reduce the risk for developing cancer.

Homozygous male C(3)1 TAg mice were bred with female SV129 mice consuming either the control AIN-76 diet or the walnut-containing diet. At weaning, the female hemizygous pups were randomized to control or walnut-containing diets and followed for tumor development.

Compared to a diet without walnuts, consumption of walnuts significantly reduced tumor incidence (fraction of mice with at least one tumor), multiplicity (number of glands with tumor/mouse), and size. Gene expression analyses indicated that consumption of the walnut diet altered expression of multiple genes associated with proliferation and differentiation of mammary epithelial cells. A comparison with another dietary intervention indicated that the omega 3 content alone did not account for the extent of tumor suppression due to the walnut. The results of this study indicate that walnut consumption could contribute to a healthy diet to reduce risk for breast cancer.

Nutr Cancer 2011 Jul 20
Hardman WE, Ion G, Akinsete JA, Witte TR.

Source: Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology , Marshall University School of Medicine , Huntington , West Virginia , USA

Soothing Meditation Music

continuum wellness — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 16:26:23 +0000

How To Energetically End a Relationship

continuum wellness — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 02:58:29 +0000

I listened to a show on Hay House Radio, with Iyanla Vanzant, her topic was sex. What was so beautiful about her discussion were the points made on the meaning of sex. It is rarely talked about, the real meaning and purpose of the act. Our bodies are temples. We, you and me are divine beings, creators, gods and goddesses. But living our day to day life the majority of people are not aware of this. And those who are at least aware, are constantly challenged to live this truth with joy and love; but that’s fun…right!

So, again sex. Ladies our bodies are temples. Men, you are not bees, with the sole purpose of gathering honey from every flower you see. One of the things Iyanla said is that every time we have sex with someone, we are married. We have married that person.
It is not City Hall, the ring, the flowers, nope, none of that. The act itself does that.

So, how many ex’s do you have floating around?

If you are interested in connecting with your divine and loving mate, and wondering when will it happen, perhaps you need to make sure that the previous attachment has been honored, nullified and laid to rest. I found a cool article on the topic here.

Always keep love flowing in your life.

Be Happy with You

continuum wellness — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 19:13:33 +0000

The majority of folks have heard the phrase, “be happy with yourself.” Not new, right? Well, but are you? Happiness always seems to be just the corner. It is on the plate for sure, but always seems to be the next course. How often do we put something else on the plate for the next bite?

How are You Delaying Your Happiness?

Typical happiness delays include:

after I get a job,

after I get a raise,

find myself

after I have children,

after the children are grown,

when I lose weight,

after I get that man or woman,

after I move and so it goes, on and on…

Until.
Until the day you stop. Stop trying to be amazing, unique, fabulous, special or any other “ego” supporting word you choose. The truth is, happiness is not something you have to earn or deserve. It is your birthright.
Claim it.
And don’t allow or permit anyone to take it from you.

Cheers,

Catherine

How do you prepare for the flu?

continuum wellness — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 22:27:28 +0000

According to this article from the Washington Post a number of Americans use alternatives to flu shots. I’m certainly one of them.

Half of Americans fighting flu with supplements

By Jennifer LaRue Huget

Nearly half of Americans plan to use dietary supplements or homeopathic treatments to help ward off influenza this season. But only about a third of that group plans to also get a flu shot.

That’s the news from a survey of 1,500 adults conducted in September by the Consumer Reports National Research Center. Read the rest of the article here.

Looking for more ways to stay healthy here is another interesting article:
The Abuse of Antibiotics, Part 4

Reflexology Live, me doing a session

continuum wellness — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 01:07:29 +0000

I recently gave a Reflexology session to Djuna Wojton. She is a Reiki Master, author and filmmaker. That’s just a few of her offerings.

I had an opportunity to do a reflexology session with Djuna. Following are her comments on the session.
“I recently had a session with Catherine Carter. After ten minutes of receiving gentle pressure on points of my left foot, I felt relaxed and peaceful. At the end of the session I felt completely rejuvenated.”
Thanks Djuna. Giving the session was just as relaxing and peaceful for me as well.

You can read the full story and see a picture of me at work, at blog.

Relax and Reduce Stress – Take a Forest Walk

continuum wellness — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 02:01:25 +0000

Embracing the natural world is deeply connected with well-being. Explore how the Japanese are healing stress by promoting this timeless behavior. Isn’t this better than taking medications or overeating? Feeling stressed out, go for a walk in the woods. It is probably wise to go with a friend or in a place not too isolated and enjoy yourself.
New York Times, July 6, 2010, page D5
The Claim: Exposure to Plants and Parks Can Boost Immunity
One study published in January included data on 280 healthy people in Japan, where visiting nature parks for therapeutic effect has become a popular practice called “Shinrin-yoku,” or “forest bathing.” On one day, some people were instructed to walk through a forest or wooded area for a few hours, while others walked through a city area. On the second day, they traded places. The scientists found that being among plants produced “lower concentrations of cortisol, lower pulse rate, and lower blood pressure,” among other things.

Trends in research related to “Shinrin-yoku” (taking in the forest atmosphere or forest bathing) in Japan.
Environ Health Prev Med. 2010 Jan;15(1):27-37.

Tsunetsugu Y, Park BJ, Miyazaki Y.

Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, 1 Matsunosato, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8687, Japan, yukot@ffpri.affrc.go.jp.
Abstract

“Shinrin-yoku”, which can be defined as “taking in the forest atmosphere or forest bathing”, has been receiving increasing attention in Japan in recent years for its capacity to provide relaxation and reduce stress. Since 2004, the authors of this paper have been involved in an investigation designed to ascertain the physiological effects of “Shinrin-yoku” within the framework of the “Therapeutic Effects of Forests” project. We have conducted physiological experiments, both in actual forests and in the laboratory, to elucidate the physiological effects on individuals of exposure to the total environment of forests or to only certain elements of this environment, such as the odor of wood, the sound of running stream water, and the scenery of the forest. We have obtained physiological measurements of central nervous activity, autonomic nervous activity, and biomarkers reflecting stress response that can be applied in this line of approach. Using these measurements, we have summarized the separate elements of forests in terms of the five senses. We have also reviewed a selection of field studies and introduced a number of results from ongoing projects as well as those from early studies. Future perspectives are also discussed.

J Int Med Res. 2006 Mar-Apr;34(2):152-9.
The effects of exercise in forest and urban environments on sympathetic nervous activity of normal young adults.

Yamaguchi M, Deguchi M, Miyazaki Y.

Department of Material Systems Engineering and Life Science, Faculty of Engineering, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan. yamag@eng.toyama-u.ac.jp
Abstract

In Japan, forest-air bathing and walking (shinrin-yoku) has been proposed as a health-facilitating activity in which people spend a short period of time in a forest environment. Initially, we examined the usefulness of salivary amylase activity as an indicator of an individual’s stress levels in a forest environment. The circadian rhythm of salivary amylase activity was measured in healthy young male subjects under stress-free conditions. The salivary amylase activity remained relatively constant throughout the day. Salivary amylase activity was then measured before and after walking in both urban and forest environments using a hand-held monitor. Our results indicated that (i) the circadian rhythm fluctuations in salivary amylase activity were much smaller than the stressor-induced variations; (ii) salivary amylase activity was an excellent indicator of the changes in sympathetic nervous activity; and (iii) the forest was a good environment in which people could experience much less environment-derived stress.

Guest Post: What is Pure Yoga?

continuum wellness — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 22:09:58 +0000

I’m pleased to present this guest post written by Sa Mut A. Scott, yoga teacher and empowerment coach, and for full disclosure, a dear friend. Her topic is “What is Pure Yoga”? A great question. If you are a yoga practitioner why do you engage in your practice? Is it for tight abs, enlightenment or because yoga is “in”?
Do you have a view on what is Pure Yoga? Read on…

What is pure yoga?

One of the most interesting things about life is that at any moment one can receive a revelation as to the next course of action or the next open pathway of the living journey. I recently applied to teach yoga at the local gym. After my demonstration the fitness coordinator explained that although my style of teaching was very accessible to the prospective student, it was too spiritually based and they were looking for “pure” yoga teachers.
Pure yoga?
I thanked her for the opportunity and went on my way. Later that evening during my daily review and reflection, it occurred to me that most yoga Studios, gyms etc… are teaching Yoga purely as a form of exercise. In contrast, I and thousands of other yoginis learned yoga for the purpose of spiritually reuniting mind, body and spirit. I am well aware that yoga as a form of exercise can really help the body tone up and will use muscles you never knew you had, giving the body a leaner more fit appearance. Yoga for this purpose has been popularized by many celebrities, athletes, and entertainers. And while these are all very fine additional benefits from the practice of yoga, what I want to suggest is perhaps a less popular view.

Using yoga merely as a form of exercise is like buying a Ferrari and driving it 5 blocks everyday and parking it back in the garage. There are far greater depths one can ascertain from a focused, spiritually intentioned yoga practice. Even if the practitioner focuses on the breath flow more than insisting that the body perfects bone contorting asanas or positions, the spirit will oblige with some healing revelation or other gift of the spirit the person needs for their life journey. And with the state of humanity these days we all need our “gifts” to be front and center. So continue to use yoga for exercise. Enjoy the fitness and vitality the local gym classes provide, but during your quite time, or personal practice at home really begin to focus on the true meaning of yoga which is to reunite mind body and spirit, and add your healing gifts to the collective to make a better world starting with yours. Peace Love & Joy (Namaste)

Submitted by Sa Mut A Scott of Magical Mother Women’s Coaching & Empowerment Services. www.magicalmother.com