Barbara's Pearls
Becoming Empowered
When the “baby boomer” women hit menopause we refused to sit quietly and sweat. We educated ourselves and applied what we learned. I hope that this same generation will look at the looming Alzheimers threat and refuse to fade into a nursing home without doing everything we can to maintain and even improve our health. Though I’ve been combining Traditional Oriental Medicine with Functional Nutrition, and seen first hand the improvements in people’s health, I honestly didn’t know if this same approach would work for brain health. There is so much doom and gloom around Alzheimer’s disease that I didn’t question my own assumptions.
I studied Dr. Pearlmutter’s book, Grain Brain, and found hope in his ideas, but when I read Dr. Breseden’s book, The End of Alzheimer’s, and his success with early cognitive decline, I decided to invest my time into helping people with their brain health. I studied with Dr. Breseden and became an MPI Qualified Practitioner. I am combining that with years of experience using Traditional Oriental Medicine and offering these tools to my clients.
Now, more than ever, it’s time to become empowered with information. It’s time to question the niggling voices in our head that tell us, Oh well, see, you’re starting to lose it; Being in pain is just a part of aging; or Your mother has Alzheimer’s Disease, so it’s inevitable.
If you think that you’re going to get Alzheimer’s Disease, and nothing you do will make a difference, then you won’t see a reason to incorporate the lifestyle changes that are being shown to help with cognitive decline. If you understand that your genes are not your destiny, then you will see a reason to take the next step, and the next step, and the next step… You will become empowered to live a healthy life.
In this blog I want to share the pearls of knowledge that will help you have a healthy brain, but, reading is not enough. You must apply this information to make a difference.
I hope you enjoy
Fall is here
All summer when I worked in the garden I watched my backyard squirrel bury seeds and nuts under piles of dead grass and bits of bark. His hard work and preparation reminds me of the importance of nourishing our reserve energy and deep roots so we can draw on this strength during fall and winter.
One of the most nourishing dishes is bone broth. It is loaded with collagen,
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SPRING 2014, Volume 2
Spring is here!
March and April in Colorado always brings a wild ride as winter releases its grip. One day we pull up the blinds to find gray clouds and snow flakes drifting down from the sky. The next day the sun shines bright. We throw off our winter clothes and turn our faces toward the sun. The ever-optimistic crocus blooms purple and yellow reassuring us that spring is actually here to stay.
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HOLIDAY ISSUE 2013, Volume 1
Dear Friends,
The Holidays are here and in the darkest days of the year our eyes are naturally drawn to flickering candles and sparkling holiday lights. As beautiful and comforting as those lights are I think that the flame we carry inside our hearts shines brighter. It is the one we can share with family, friends and people throughout the world.
In this holiday newsletter are a few tips that I hope you will find useful so that your holidays can be a time of joy,
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WINTER 2014, Volume 2
The Year of the Horse
On January 31st we leave behind The year of the Water Snake. Keep in mind that the snake sheds its skin every year and in many cultures that represents transformation and a new beginning.
We are entering The Year of the Horse and from my research it appears that Horse represents a wild, independent and free-spirited energy. It is more about listening to the inner voice and instincts than pondering and obsessing over decisions.
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CHAPTER 3, Volume 1
I apologize for the delay in writing this newsletter. The flood placed enormous demands on many of you and I hope I can offer support and advice to keep you healthy in the coming months. In Chinese Medicine we have an extra season that comes late in the summer and is ruled by the spleen, which is the master of digestion. The environmental influence that most damages the spleen is dampness,
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CHAPTER 2, Volume 1
Summer is here!
This is the season of the heart, when the element of fire reaches its peak. The heart (xin) in Traditional Chinese Medicine rules the other organs. Like Western Medicine the heart pumps blood to nourish every cell in the body, but in the Eastern tradition it is also involved with mental and emotional health.
Considered the home of the mind and spirit, the heart is the organ most often involved in psychological imbalances.
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February 3, 2013
Happy Chinese New Year!
The Year of the Black Snake is a year of transformation, a year for introspection and a shift away from the yang energy of the Dragon. Just as the Snake sheds its skin to reveal a new, inner self, the Year of the Snake represents an opportunity for growth through introspection.The path of the snake is one of quiet observation and thoughtful planning.They bask in the warmth of the sun and act when opportunity arises.
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