Dr. Kate’s Blog

Great Quotations

from Energy Therapy Pioneers

James Oschman, PhD:

In a few decades scientists have gone from a conviction that there is no such thing as an energy field around the human body, to an absolute certainty that it exists. Moreover, science is explaining the roles of energy fields in health and disease. The main reason for the recent change in outlook is the development of sensitive instruments that can detect the minute energy fields around the human body.

Robert Fulford, DO:

It is my firm belief, after more than a half century of reading, debating, questioning, and contemplating, that the human body is surrounded by something that I call a life field…

This life field conveys vitality to your physical body and provides you with your spirit. Whenever you feel a disturbance or an injury, the life field manifests its shock in the physical body with a depletion of energy. If left unchecked, this deficiency can lead to dysfunction, disease, and, ultimately, to the body’s total collapse; but if the deficiency is discovered and restored, the body can repair the health that it has lost…

In a sense, the electromagnetic pattern creates a mold, which is eventually filled by matter, giving rise to a tangible, material body. Both the material body and the field have their own “brains,” but the life-field brain is nothing like the physical brain; it’s more of an organizing pattern that maintains the structure of an organism and also instructs the body’s new cells– the ones that replace those cells constantly dying within us– where they belong in the human body.

Randolph Stone, DO, DC, ND:

“Energy is the real substance behind the appearance of matter and forms.”

Andrew Weil, MD:

At the very center of our being is rhythmic movement, a cyclic expansion and contraction that is both in our body and outside it, that is both in our mind and in our body, that is both in our consciousness and not in it.

Rollin Becker, DO:

The bioenergy field of health is a palpable sensation to the examining hands of a physician… It is a rhythmic feeling of interchange between the patient’s body and his biosphere in which there is a total interchange without any areas of restriction, impaction, trauma, or stress. It is a feeling of total internal and external environmental capacity to express wellness. It is the end point of a physician’s treatment program…

It is the clinical experience of utilizing this stillness, this total energy, this total body, this total force, in the concept of the treatment program… You experience the stillness with its motivating energy, centering the total body… When I sense this interchange taking place through my hands as a palpable mechanism and through my mind as an awareness of the stillness interchanging with body physiology, then the treatment is complete.

William Sutherland, DO:

I consider the fluctuation of the cerebrospinal fluid to be the fundamental principle in the cranial concept. The “sap in the tree” is something that contains the Breath of Life, not the breath of air–  something invisible…

There is a deeper layer of activity that has barely been touched upon. This deeper layer has to do with the energies that integrate the animated, living, homeostatic body. The day will come when they too will be catalogued and their laws understood.

–
Dr. Kate Klemer, D.C., R.C.S.T.
www.drkateklemer.com

32 Union Square East, suite 411
New York, New York 10003
FOR APPOINTMENTS:
888 375-2835= 888 DR KATE-K
TO SPEAK DIRECTLY TO ME:
(413) 221-8454

I moved to New York City full time this month.  Twenty years ago this month I started my practice in Northampton Massachusetts.  Now I begin a new chapter in New York.  After all these years I still love my work.

I get to walk to work everyday. Being outdoors is one thing I like to do each day, even for a small amount of time. I intend to get back on my roller-blades,  and  start going down the west side bike path.  As I settle into city living I am discovering new ways to stay resourced. You have to go out of your way to do that here, it does not come naturally. There is a meditation center in the 20′s I plan to go to. I went to my first opera, and loved it.  I am beginning a Pilate’s weekly routine. There are some fabulous teachers here at Kinected Studio.  I have met some  wonderful people here.

My work is being received very well.  New Yorkers  certainly are in need of wellness care.  It feels good to be helpful. The big challenge for most people is finding the time to get here.

I like that this city is so walkable. It is also warmer than Massachusetts,  which I like.

I just wanted to give you an update on the changes.

Be Well, Dr. Kate

heartmath pdf/article

Yes you can!!! …  influence your brain with supplements, diet, and stress management. Elderly people are especially vulnerable to brain issues. Over time nutritional deficiencies can cause health problems in the brain.

Your brain requires a lot of oxygen and glucose (sugar) to function. When either of these needs are compromised symptoms arise. These include mood changes for no apparent reason, memory loss, and disordered cognition/mental confusion.

Controlling large fluctuations/high blood glucose levels, food allergies,  candida , detoxification , exercise, healthy weight, mental attitude, stress, digestion, cholesterol, and inflammation will positively influence your brain health.

HIGH BLOOD SUGAR

Extreme ups and downs of one’s blood sugar is very stressful on your brain and body.  After we eat something very sugary; insulin is released into our blood. Insulin is a hormone that has multiple global affects on the body, including helping sugar get transported from the bloodstream into our cells. When insulin is released  in high doses chronically; the cells start to ignore its “knocking on their door”. High amounts of sugar begin to stay longer in the blood stream,  and then you start having the global affects of diabetes.  The most profoundly negative affect that insulin, and high blood sugar have on the body is inflammation. Extreme blood sugar highs and lows create  metabolic hormonal  extreme ups and downs. This equates as stress in the body. Stress equates to inflammation. Most diseases in our western culture are related to inflammation, these include: cancer, heart disease, autoimmune diseases, Alzheimer’s, the list is much longer…

Over the years of reading about all types of diets the one common denominator to controlling inflammation is avoiding sugar, white flour, and foods that did not exist 100 years ago,( foods without lots of chemicals in them). Other dietary factors that lessen inflammation include eating whole foods, lots of fruits and vegetables, organic foods, and protein. Protein stimulates a hormone called glucagon which is an anti-inflammatory hormone. It is the opposite of insulin. It helps lower and stabilize our blood sugar. I recommend the Zone type diet for people who are sensitive to sugar. Sugar sensitive  people are: hypoglycemic, or have a familial history of diabetes and/or alcoholism. Tests show  high levels of fasting blood glucose on lab.  The Zone diet purports a 30% protein,  30% good fat,  and  40% good carbohydrate diet. Fats are also good because they slow down absorption, and make you feel more satiated.  To learn what “good” fats, carbohydrates, and proteins are go to the Zone diet/ Barry Sears website.  I would not recommend someone with sugar sensitivity to be vegan because of the lack of protein to help balance the blood sugar, and lots of other reasons too numerous to mention. Another diet that is anti-inflammatory is the Mediterranean diet. This diet avoids red meat and dairy which have saturated fats. It is oriented around eating good fats such as monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated, as well as lots of vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and fruits.

FOOD SENSITIVITIES

Not all foods work for all people. The blood type diet is all about this fact. Some foods universally agitate the immune system in lots of people. Symptoms of the brain being affected by food sensitivities within a 24 hour period are: mood swings, fatigue, depression, memory loss, headaches; and allergy like symptoms such as  runny nose, asthma, sore throat,and itchy eyes. Over time chronic eating of allergenic foods can damage the intestinal wall and creating a leaky gut wall. The name for this is dysbiosis. This can cause  eczema, arthritis, fibromyalgia, hashimotos thyroiditis, Alzheimer’s, and many more conditions. Agitating the immune system can turn on genes for diseases.

The most common food sensitivities are: Wheat= 64% of the population, Corn 51%, Pasteurized Cow’s Milk 50%. Other popular ones are soy, gluten, preservatives (MSG, sulfites…), and many others. You can find your own food sensitivities by testing with kinesiology or getting a blood test that measures levels of IgE and IgG4 through Meridian Valley Labs.

TOXICITY

Our food, water, air, and soil can be toxic. Other ways of exposure to toxins can be from medications, cooking with certain types of pots and pans, smoking, hydrocarbons,  mercury/silver dental fillings,  pesticides, and cleaning chemicals. Toxins  often act like a key that fits the lock but does not work.  It blocks the cell’s receptor site, which ultimately damages cellular function. Heavy metals have become a large health issue with the industrial revolution. The good news is that there are foods that support detoxification in the liver and  kidneys.  These foods are proteins, water soluble fiber, vegetables, and fruits. Fruits and vegetables that are strong anti-oxidants that are especially good. Sometimes specific supplements are needed to support detoxification. These include: chlorella, cilantro, glutathione, cysteine, methionine, vitamin C, garlic, lipoic acid, lutein, lycopene, magnesium, manganese, selenium, zinc, milk thistle, alpha lipoic acid, vitamin E, quercitin, rutin, PABA, and NAC to name a few.

ESSENTIAL FATTY ACID DEFICIENCY

Omega  3 fatty acids (DHA & EPA) affect brain function by supporting proper serotonin levels in the brain, they also act as an anti-inflammatory, and help build healthy cell walls for brain cells. All of your cell walls are made up partially of fat. That is why these “good” fats serve as building blocks for cells. The brain also conducts electricity through the fat that serves as  an insulator for the brain wiring. Much of the white matter in the brain is fat. Hydrogenated fats provide lousy building blocks for cells, and affect the cells negatively by increasing cellular inflammation. Good fats also help build healthy neurotransmitters that help neurons wire and fire together. Neurotransmitters influence mood, and cognitive speed/memory.

VITAMIN AND MINERAL DEFICIENCIES AND YOUR BRAIN

Deficiencies are not only caused by diet, but poor digestion/ absorption issues.   This is common in elderly people,  those on medications,   people who eat lots of foods they are sensitive to, and chronic stress. Get your digestive system back into functional balance with a functional medicine doctor such as: a  Chiropractic nutritionist, Naturopath, or holistic/functional medicine M.D..

B12 deficiencies can cause moodiness, depression, memory loss, dizziness, and dementia. Zinc, manganese, and magnesium deficiencies can cause anxiety, fear, hallucinations, and weakness. B3, B6, and B12 are integral to brain function. They are co-factors for making neurotransmitters. Neurotranmitters affect cognitive function, mood, and memory. It is important to think pro-actively when considering brain health rather than relying on  western medicine tests. These tests only show when a disease has literally changed the cellular structure; and there is a lot one can do before then.  Kinesiology can help clarify which supplements are best at what time.  This keeps patients from taking everything under the sun, and taking things they may not need.

Supplements also protect the body and brain by being great anti-oxidants. The vitamins that fit into this category are vitamins: A,C,E, & D.

After you have seen your medical doctor and had tests specifically diagnosing a brain condition; or none of the tests are positive but you want to start a health wellness/prevention plan come see me.

GENERAL BRAIN HEALTH NUTRITIONAL GUIDELINES

Food choices

• Always try to eat organic, or at least low pesticide, and low chemically fertilized food.

• Eat a diet that is high in vegetables  especially:  cruciferous vegetables: arugula, broccoli, brussel sprouts, bok choy, cabbage, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, and turnips.
• Eat a diet that includes lots of fruits especially:  blueberries, pomegranates (if you cannot get fresh frozen is better than canned), blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, cherries, red grapes, oranges, plums, and  prunes.
• drink 2 cups of green tea per day
• Eat  halibut, mackerel, salmon, trout, sardines, tuna, eggs, and poultry( especially turkey)
• limit red meats to no more than once per week
• avoid all dairy
• drink 4 ounces of red wine per day (no more)
• Avoid sugar, white flour, and food sensitivities
• Avoid tobacco, no more than 2 cups a day of a caffeinated beverage
• control stress with lifestyle choices, mind-body exercises like thai chi, chi gong, yoga, meditation,heartmath, craniosacral therapy, etc…

• use olive oil, do not cook using any oils with high heat

Risk Factors for Alzheimer’s

• old age: 65y.o. = 5% have it, 70 y.o.= 10% have it, 75y.o.= 15% , 80y.o.=20%, 85y.o.= 35-40% have it
• High levels of Homocysteine ( have your M.D. test levels)
• Low Thyroid (have M.D. check levels)
• Diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol
•  obesity
• family history, female
• positive genetic test= APOLIPOPROTEIN E (APO-E), E4 is the highest risk marker =www.athenadiagnostics.com
• depression, PTSD
• smoking, apnea
• toxin exposure
• head injury
• television increases risk by 20% (especially dumb television)

  Supplements for general prevention/ and if you have a family member with it= higher risk factor

• Take a B complex supplement with 1000 micrograms of B12, and 800 micrograms of  folic acid/B6, make sure it includes B1,B2, B3, and B5 also.  I like Thorne Labs B12 complex
• Take an Omega 3 fatty acid that has at least 1000 milligrams of DHA in it ( make sure the source has taken out pollutants from the fish used to make it) ( If you are on blood thinners, or have had a stroke talk to your M.D. first)
• Take 500 milligrams of Vitamin C (rose hips/natural form only)
• Take 400 International Units of Vitamin E (natural form only/not synthetic)
• Take 120 milligrams of Gingko Gold ( standardized only, and  check with your M.D. if you are taking medications)
• Take 400 milligrams of Turmeric  ( if you are taking any medications check with your M.D. about compatibility)
• Take 200 micrograms of  Huperzine A ( this is natural and helps make more acetylycholine, check with M.D. if on medications; especiallyAlzheimer’s medications)
• Take 200 micrograms of Quercitin ( a great anti-inflammatory from natural sources)

Exercise; body, mind, and heart

• 30 minutes of aerobic exercise per day: brisk walking, biking, eliptical, swimming,dancing, etc… gym machines for cardio are ok, pilates, and yoga are also good for coordination and proprioception.
• exercise your brain by reading, using the computer, playing games, learning a new language, writing, playing an instrument, crafts that take some skill, making art, taking adult education
• exercise your social skill by joining clubs, having friends over, being in a choir, etc…
• choose to stay positive and keep an open heart

Lastly… there is so much you can do to have a healthy brain. It is never too late to start making changes. Every step you take towards health makes a difference. There are many more supplements that can help, so come in and we will test which one’s are best for you. The one’s that I listed are the best known in research. Remember there are lots of tests that will not be positive for a long time in conventional medicine, so if you are noticing  brain health issues, or have a family history now is a good time to come see me.

Next issue will be about the plasticity of our brains, how aour thoughts, activities, and emotions can shape our brain…

This is a very personal blog because my Mom recently was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. My Mom has a doctorate in education that she earned after we lost our father. She has been a wonderful role model and inspiration for me.  As a grant writer she wrote million dollar grants for community colleges all over the country. She was the president of a local chapter of the United Way. She was a Dean at Mount Wachusett Community College. She was the valedictorian of her class at Gloucester High School.  Needless to say I am quite proud to be her daughter, and I am doing everything I can to support her brain health. I used to call her while in Chiropractic school which is a very grueling program of study; and she would   say remember this: “obstacles are what you see when you take your eye off the goal”. After I got off the phone, (I was in my early twenties, and all of my friends were going out doing fun things), I would hit the books and push on. In a way she was helping me re-frame my experience and re-wire my brain. In those times neuroplasticity was not well understood yet, but she was already using it.

My Mom endured a lot, she had six children that were all born within a ten year spread. My Dad had earned his doctorate at Harvard and had big ideas to change the world. He wanted to apply all of the things he learned and researched in his program. In doing so he ran into quite a lot of opposition. He wanted to support eliminating racism with busing, he wanted to implement regional schools so that kids had more access to art, sports, and music. He tried to change the way kids were taught. Because of  this he was perceived as a threat; and was fired every three years.  My Mom stood by his side and supported him. He would have loved Barack Obama. Mom learned a lot about the politics of our school systems by listening to my Dad when he came home from school committee meetings. My Dad had grown tired of jobs that did not allow him to fulfill his visionary dreams.  He became headmaster at American International School in New Delhi India. All eight of us moved there; the oldest kid being 17, and the youngest (myself) being 7. We adapted well, and Dad began to settle, and slow down;  his spirit began healing from all of the job trauma he had gone through. On June 9th,  37  years ago, he was suddenly killed from a car accident. Needless to say we all moved back to the states overnight. My mom managed to keep it together as best she could, amidst our whole family being in shock and grief. We had no community to support us, since we had moved to a new place: Amherst Massachusetts. We moved there so that Mom could start her doctoral program. Today I think; ” how did she do that? Wow!”

Soon after my fathers death a University of  Massachusetts professor that taught a class my Mom was in; started an affair with my very vulnerable Mom. He was still married to another woman at the time and had three kids. He had none of the boundaries or integrity that my father had. Under the guise of helping our family; (in such a vulnerable state) he took the opportunity manipulate us. My Mother was blinded by his narcissism and her own vulnerability; and they married shortly after they met. After a few years he began having an affair with my Mom’s boss and good “friend “who was quite a bit younger. This woman was also a single mother. He soon left my Mom for this person. Gladly I have not seen him since. I watched my Mom get crushed again by loss, and this time betrayal.  My stepfather was  a pedophile, he reasoned his inappropriate behavior with his over-intellectualizing; which negatively affected  my family.   To this day he continues to have no remorse for the pain and suffering he has caused my  family. I needed to say this because my voice was never heard publicly about this. His career, and social standing were never influenced by his damaging actions.  I think it is important to bring these dark facts into the light.

Needless to say my Mom suffered a lot of trauma. I think this has influenced her brain today. I have been reading: The Brain that changes itself; a book written by Dr. Doige. It talks about the neuroplasticity of the brain and how neurons that fire together wire together. The brain changes from its environment. This can be good and this can be bad. We can change our brains with our thought patterns, but we cannot erase what happened. Trauma has a high impact on our brain, especially when we are younger and our brains are more “plastic”.  So, to circle back around, I think what my family endured imprinted all of us for life. However, those imprints have been re-wired by those of us who chose  to work with the trauma. Some of the positive tools and resources my family has incorporated knowingly or unknowingly are: sports, art, studying healing arts, pets, and higher education, understanding the neurophysiology of trauma, and seeing helpful practitioners. Others in my family have resorted to more negative tools such as: drugs, alcohol,emotional shut down, and denial. These negative imprints have been perpetuated in my life in some relationships. I did not always know when a person was  trustworthy or not.   I am learning day by day to re-wire myself in each moment.  Each moment we can choose how to be with what is. That is empowering!  This is what changes your brain. Re-wiring ourselves is possible.  My next blog will cover nutritional information about brain health.

This is an intense topic, because we all have experienced some sort of trauma in our lives. Craniosacral therapy delivers the gift of working with trauma held in the body in very safe, non-overwhelming way. It does take some trust, and a willingness to work on the patients side, as well as the practitioner.

I often treat people who have been in car accidents, fallen down the stairs, or those who have had overwhelming life experiences. The work I do with trauma in the craniosacral paradigm takes root from Peter Levine’s work. He wrote Healing The Tiger Within. This is a good introduction about how our nervous system physiologically along with psychologically deals with trauma. Trauma can be one main event, or many chronic small events of low grade stress. By chronic low grade an example would be living with a person who is unhappy most of the time, you are affected by this. It builds up, and affects the way you hold yourself when you are around them. This way “holding” yourself gets translated into your neurophysiology, and you have to do a lot of work to not let it get affect your neurophysiology. I am not a Psychologist; however the body tells a story, and oftentimes the story is about how one has gotten through life. This story is powerfully imprinted into one’s neurophysiology from in-utero to birth to teenage years. the good news is that the core of all of us is the innate wisdom to heal. All of our systems are organized around health. Not illness, or disease. Biodynamic Craniosacral therapy premise is the core of health that runs through us all.

When a large overwhelming event occurs we go into a state of shock. Trauma occurs when a person is faced with an event or exposure to multiple events that overwhelm their capacity to cope. When a person becomes overwhelmed they begin to “check out” and lose their connection to their body and other people. Shock occurs in the mind-body system. Current research in neurophysiology is finding that treatment approaches that only deal with the mind and not the body do not allow the trauma to resolve. Trauma needs to be resolved on a physiological level as well as psychological. Peter Levine discovered that just re-hashing the trauma over again by talking about it actually caused client’s to feel overwhelmed and re-traumatized again. He found that working with the body sensations that were comforting to a person while they were talking about a trauma helped them to resolve the trauma.

Biodynamic craniosacral therapy assists a person in feeling positive transformational affects, which ultimately over time change a persons relationship to a traumatic event. When our physical symptoms of trauma are lessened our emotional parts can heal and vice verse. The physical and emotional parts are a couple that cannot be separated.

When an animal is chased by a predator and escapes death, the animal shivers uncontrollably for about 20 minutes. After this happens they no longer show signs of residual trauma. Humans are different, we have a neocortex. Our neocortex suppresses the body’s natural inclination to shiver and tremble. This shivering actually is a brilliant mechanism because it discharges the body’s natural response to trauma. When the energy around the trauma is discharged from our nervous system it helps us move on and live in the present. Over time undischarged trauma can become locked in our bodies when not allowed to go through a normal cycle of completion; this will cause many physical and emotional symptoms, and potentially cause disease. Symptoms of unresolved trauma are anxiety attacks, anger outbursts, flashbacks, numbness, disconnection, dissociation, and immobility. Candice Pert,PhD. who wrote: Molecules of Emotion; explains the connection between neurophysiology and our individual cells. The messages of neurotransmitters are created by thoughts and emotions, which in turn influence our cells strongly, and can change cellular health and function. Much of the neurotransmitter output is influenced from our subconscious mind. Our subconscious brain is about 80% of the brain’s function. Our subconscious is strongly imprinted from conception to the first 5 years of life. (this is a whole other topic, read Bruce Lipton’s book about this; it is called Biology of Belief)

So what is the take home? If you are on this planet, you have experienced various gradations of trauma; if it is keeping you from living in the present, it would be wise to discharge it. I suggest this be done with a therapist trained in somatic experiencing, EMDR, or EFT. While you are working with one of these types of therapists it would be wise to get some biodynamic craniosacral therapy to support your body’s neurophysiology in discharging the trauma safely and slowly. For now here is a list of first aid things to do when you have just experienced trauma…

1) Keep still, quiet, and warm.

2) Encourage safety and rest. What makes you feel safe at this moment?

3) Place a hand on your chest and tummy to calm yourself. (these are polarity points that help you feel grounded)

4) Notice sensations in your body…

a) where you feel OK.

b) where you feel uncomfortable.

c) notice both, notice the whole of you, not just the painful parts, or upset parts.

5 ) Avoid going over the accident and discussing it while you are noticing your body’s sensations.

6) Allow your body to release by crying or trembling as you come out of shock. If it starts to happen fast try to slow it down, stay with your body sensations, while noticing your emotions. People who cry and tremble after an accident have fewer problems recovering from it. Crying and trembling are normal, healthy, reactions. Its OK. Just let the scary stuff shake right out of you.

7) Later on when things are settled and the initial shock is done, set aside some time to talk to someone about the story of what happened. Whatever you are feeling while telling the story (anger, fear, sadness, embarrassment, or guilt) is normal. These feelings are normal, and OK, and important to notice.

ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT YOUR SYSTEM IS ORGANIZED BY HEALTH, IT DOES WHAT IT DOES FOR VERY GOOD REASONS.

Anything that causes constriction of the blood vessels of the head can result in a migraine headache. In general craniosacral therapy supports balance of the nervous system. The nervous system controls the nerves which in turn control blood vessel constriction in the brain. Migraines are often triggered by stress, diet, hormones, allergies, loss of joint motion, and craniosacral system restrictions. In my experience in 6- 12 sessions your migraines will either be lessened or be totally gone. Sometimes people do not respond well to treatment because the actual cause is hormonal, or diet. All of the causes are taken into consideration. Often the cause is multifaceted.

Case stories:

Patient #1

Patient came in with headaches. I checked their cranial nerves. All of the cranial nerve tests were normal. The patient insisted that I adjust their upper neck, when I tested their system to see if this would help the answer was “no”. So I did not do any adjustments.

I treated the person with craniosacral therapy 1-2 times a week. Their headaches did not improve. After about 4 or 5 treatments I re-checked their cranial nerves, inquired about their diet, and lifestyle habits. Nothing pointed to a specific cause. The patient was getting frustrated with me, and begged me to just ” crack” their upper neck. I checked, and still got the same answer; which was no. I was puzzled at this point, and sent them to a neurologist. A few weeks later I spoke with the neurologist, who said that there were no positive findings upon examination, but sent the patient out for a CT scan to be careful. The results came back and showed that the patient had a small tumor in their brain-stem.

The patient had it removed and is doing well! It is important to stick to my diagnosis and treatment plan when it comes to doing chiropractic adjustments. Had I done what the patient wanted I suspect the outcome would not have been good because of the brainstem tumor.

Patient 2

This patient had headaches every day for years. They were tested and everything was normal with standard medical testing. The patient was taking ibuprophen every day. This was helping alleviate the symptoms but the headaches continued to return. After examining the patient thoroughly, we tried a series of Craniosacral therapy treatments. After about 12 visits the patients headaches went away permanently! The quality of life was greatly improved in the patient.

Sometimes getting the right treatment makes all of the difference. In my opinion it is best to use conservative treatments first. Sometimes acupuncture combined with craniosacral therapy can really help. Medications should be the last resort, especially if the headaches are weekly. Medications are important to take when one is in pain.  Medications are hard on the liver, kidney, and digestive tract when used often. Treating the cause needs to be considered first before covering up the body’s symptomatic cry for help. Medications should be the last resort for chronic headaches. Getting treated with craniosacral therapy, adjustments, muscle work, and acupuncture can at least lessen the need for medications, and at best get rid of the headaches and their recurrence.

Treating sooner rather than later is the rule with recurring headaches. That way you will feel better, and the need for treatments will be less.

I am back from Nelson! We had a class of 20 students, who were all quite sweet in their own way. I am looking forward to getting to know them. The new way of teaching biodynamic craniosacral therapy is less bumpy than the way that I was taught 7 years ago. The first module was about developing skills to hold the bigger picture.  Students were creating a ground of stability for the depth that happens with this type of body work. I was impressed by the class, the questions they asked, and the way they settled. I got to meet and assist with  Myrna and Ken Martin, and the lovely Shoshana.

Nelson was a beautiful place, in a hammock between the mountains, on a lake. The main street reminded me of Northampton. It seemed to be filled with healers and teachers. It was cold, I wore lots of layers, and when I was out and about I had on all the warm things that I brought. This is a gorgeous area of the planet, and the people were friendly and kind.

It amazed me that there are two full trainings in such a small population. It made me realize the concentration of inner growth that most people are doing there.

Two trainings are beginning to come into fruition in the Northeast. Cherionna is hoping to start one in Northampton, and Franklyn is hoping to start one in New York City.  This will not be until 2009. Contact me if you are interested in either one and I can point you in the right direction.

I will probably be assisting at-least one of them…

Wow what a fall ! In September I had the lovely opportunity to take a 5 day craniosacral advanced training with Franklyn Sills in New York City. It was at the Meta center which was a great place for the class; lots of light, and very little sound up on the 16th floor of a beautiful old building in Chelsea. We studied the five stages of shamanism and how they relate to cranial work. My understanding of the work has deepened since the class. Holding the mid-tide and the  long-tide all at once, while sitting in my fulcrums was what I got to experience. There was a piece about the heart that was also very profound.  We skimmed over some research on the scientific measurements of the hearts’ energy field and its energetic axis. Speaking of the heart, one of my favorite T.A.’s who assisted my initial training was there. We picked up like I had seen her the day before, even though I last saw her in 2001. Being with her in the group, in the stillness, was quite nourishing.

After that adventure in learning  I had the pleasure of assisting Cherionna Menzam in a 5 day introductory biodynamic craniosacral class in Vermont. I also enjoyed hearing her perspective on the work. Each teacher seems to bring their own experience to the teachings.

Cherionna brought in some of Emily Conrad’s continuum work. This helped the students experience the expansive parts of biodynamic craniosacral work more easily. Cherionna has quite an extensive educational and life experience background that she brings to her teaching. Her website is www.Cherionna.com . I look forward to having the pleasure of assisting her in a full 2 year training in Nelson, British Columbia. The first module starts over thanksgiving. I will be up in the mountains. I am looking forward to being in the northwest again. I have not been in the northwest since Chiropractic school in 1989. I have heard that Nelson is quite something. On a lake in the mountains, far away from most everything. It is 3 hours north of Spokane Washington. Maybe there will be some snow!

It is quite possible that Cherionna and I will be starting a full training in the Northampton Massachusetts area in the next few years. We are in the process of setting up an intro  class for the spring of 2008.

Lots has happened in the classes; and as you know this work can be difficult to find words for. I do feel that the work is constantly changing. I did learn about myself, and how I work. I noticed that I like to stay grounded in anatomy during sessions. It always helps me stay present.  Being with what is happening anatomically during treatments can be very healing.

I keep reminding myself that I am doing the type of work that Dr. Sutherland did after 40 years of study. I feel so grateful for that. One of my favorite parts of Franklyn’s class was watching him jump up and down saying “this work is not strange, it is real, science has proven it!”  He then spoke of quantum physics, and Newtonian physics; that both exist, both are real, and both make up who we are, and our world.  Right now; in this moment both of these types of physics  exist; and the scientific laws that they operate from are very different. There are bones and then there is the energy that breathes them. As a chiropractor, anatomy and structure make me very happy; especially when coupled with holding the existence of the underlying forces.  I move the bones (Newtonian physics) , and then I track the tides (quantum physics) And then there is the long tide, too big to describe.

Sooooo…. Be patient, get distracted in the moment, don’t look too hard, don’t stare down your life; it will come when you are not looking. Get on the table, breathe, and relax. Your system is connected to all of the intelligence of the great beyond.

P.S. Franklyn did say one thing I found interesting… He said that treatments do not really start doing the deeper work until a person has begun to settle, which is usually after the 6th visit.