Positive psychology is a relatively new field of study that aims to understand and promote human well-being and happiness. It studies what makes people happy, resilient, and fulfilled.

Unlike traditional psychology, which focuses primarily on treating mental illness and negative emotions, positive psychology focuses on the positive aspects of human experience, such as positive emotions, strengths, and virtues. It also explores positive experiences, such as joy, gratitude, and love, as well as positive traits, such as creativity, courage, and wisdom.

The origins of positive psychology can be traced back to the late 1990s, when Martin Seligman, a renowned psychologist and researcher, began to shift his focus from traditional clinical psychology to the study of positive human experience. Seligman’s work laid the foundation for the field of positive psychology, which has since grown to include a wide range of research and applications.

One of the key tenets of positive psychology is the belief that human beings have the capacity for growth and development throughout their lives. This is in contrast to traditional psychological models, which often view people as being stuck in a particular stage or pattern of behavior. Positive psychology encourages individuals to focus on their strengths and to strive for self-improvement and personal growth.

Another important aspect of positive psychology is the emphasis on positive emotions and experiences. Positive emotions such as joy, contentment, and gratitude are seen as essential for well-being and happiness. Positive psychology also encourages individuals to seek out new experiences and to engage in activities that bring them pleasure and satisfaction.

In addition to its focus on positive emotions and personal growth, positive psychology also emphasizes the importance of social connections and relationships. Strong social connections and supportive relationships are seen as key to well-being and happiness. Positive psychology encourages individuals to build and maintain strong relationships with family and friends, and to engage in activities that promote social connections.

The PERMA Model of Positive Psychology was developed by Dr. Martin Seligman, and was widely published in his 2011 book, “Flourish.”

“PERMA” Model identifies five essential elements to well-being. These are: Positive Emotions (P). Engagement (E). Positive Relationships (R). Meaning (M). Achievement/Accomplishment (A)

“Flourish: A Visionary New Understanding of Happiness and Well-Being” by Martin E. P. Seligman. Published by Free Press, 2011.

Overall, positive psychology is a rapidly growing field that offers a new perspective on human well-being and happiness. By focusing on positive emotions, strengths, virtues, and social connections, positive psychology encourages individuals to strive for personal growth and to live a fulfilling and meaningful life.

Various ways of utilizing the PERMA tools are: Doing hobbies and creative activities that you enjoy, Practicing living in the moment, even during daily activities or mundane tasks, Spending time in nature, watching, listening, and observing what happens around you, getting in touch with people you have not spoken to or connected with in a while, getting involved in a cause or organization that matters to you, creating SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time bound ) goals, celebrating achievements and Reflecting on past successes.

Training in PERMA can be helpful for improving performance, building resilience, and increasing success and life satisfaction. Here are three options for obtaining training in PERMA.

The Penn Resilience Program and PERMA workshops

The SAHMRI Wellbeing and Resilience Centre

The Science of Happiness Course

Action for Happiness offers an interactive library of 10 keys that leads to happier living, including Giving, Relating, Exercising, Awareness, Trying out, Direction, Resilience, Emotions, Acceptance, and Meaning: GREAT-DREAM)

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, one of the co-founders of positive psychology, was the first to identify and research flow. Flow is one of life’s highly enjoyable states of being, wrapping us entirely in the present, when we might be completely and utterly immersed in a task, oblivious to the outside world and highly focused on the present. Activities which we love doing, like playing music, dancing, gardening, singing, reading, being in nature, or a certain sport or exercise might create a flow state for us.

Flow states help us be more creative, productive, and happy.  The experience of flow is universal and has been reported to occur across all classes, genders, ages, and cultures, and it can be experienced during many types of activities. In 2004, Csikszentmihalyi delivered a TED Talk titled “Flow, the Secret to Happiness,” which has more than 6.7 million views.

 

Please share in comments what has contributed to your sense of happiness and wellbeing?

Have you ever experienced a flow state? What activity were your immersed in?

Which activities do you pursue to continue feeling happy?

How do you feel after doing them?

How long does that happiness last?

Any other benefit you might have noticed with those experiences?

 

 

Ayurvedic Guidelines for Daily Routine: Living in Sync with Nature’s intelligence 

Ayurveda recommends a healthy, consistent daily routine (Dinacharya) based on the 3 pillars of health, (including proper digestion and elimination, proper rest and sleep, and moderation/discipline in lifestyle) which is Synched with the cycles of Nature, including the daily circadian rhythm cycle, seasonal cycles or cycles of Aging.

A regular practice like above which is synced with the Intelligence of Nature, is more potent and helpful than medicine, by bringing the body, mind, emotions, and spiritual elements back to balance. It also helps rest the nervous system by decreasing decision fatigue by following a grounding, soothing, healing, personalized routine which is in contrast with present hectic and unsettling lifestyle.

The Ayurvedic routine creates a series of comforting reference points throughout the day which are very reassuring and rejuvenating to the cellular intelligence and the nervous system, a much needed, welcome break.

So, all of us are welcome to start living with some more self-care, filled with love and compassion towards ourselves, as much as we offer it to the outside world.

You can start practicing couple of these tiny habits gradually and make it manageable for yourself, rather than overwhelming. You can pick up the habits which you feel comfortable doing on a regular basis, or just try them for fun.

Stay committed and relaxed, add things realistically, be predictable and well-paced.

Remember to have self-compassion all through the process!

Here are the brief recommendations below:

-Morning:

  • Wake up before Sunrise, which is the perfect time for the nature’s quietude, light and peaceful energies.
  • Eliminate in the morning to help with early detoxification (bowels and urination)
  • Wash face and eyes with a cool splash of water to drive away the remnant drowsiness and induce freshness.
  • Drink a glass of pure warm water with lemon juice on rising to promote detoxification.
  • Sit down to meditate, enjoy the stillness outside and within, say a prayer, or focus on your breath for a few minutes.
  • Be grateful, reflecting on the blessings in your life.

Cleansing:

  • Clean tongue by scraping 3-5 times, back to front to help detoxify
  • Oil pulling for 2-5 minutes after or before brushing your teeth. Massage gums.
  • Nasya, lubricate nasal passages, or practice nasal rinsing.
  • Practice Yoga, or Stretch and flex your body, to 50% of your capacity.
  • Self-massage with the right kind of oils, try to massage all body parts
  • Take a nice warm shower to rinse off excess oils, with minimal soap use

Food:

  • Eat 3 consistent timed meals a day, or as per your true hunger.
  • Eat foods which are seasonally appropriate and as per your body type and imbalance.
  • Try to include all 6 tastes into your meals
  • Try to minimize snacking in between meals.
  • Eat mindfully, in a pleasant state of mind , with loved ones
  • Eat while sitting comfortably
  • Try to eat when truly hungry
  • Avoid eating when angry or upset
  • Largest meal preferably at noon, medium breakfast and earlier, lighter dinner.

-Afternoon:

  • Establish a consistent, predictable work and rest schedule.
  • Focus on cleaning and decluttering your work and home environment to facilitate good energetic flow.
  • Develop mutually nurturing relations in your interaction with others during the day
  • Be of service to others when possible.

-Evening and bedtime

  • Allow time for proper rest and winding down as needed.
  • Perform the evening routine of brushing, cleaning face and massaging feet etc.
  • Sit down to meditate, say a prayer, do body scanning, progressive muscle relaxation or focus on your breath for a few minutes.
  • Be grateful, reflecting on the blessings during your day.
  • Try to establish a consistent bedtime, preferably by 10 pm, to honor the cyclical energies of nature.

Here is a compilation of a few Yoga and Meditation Centers primarily based in the USA

(Note: See websites for worldwide locations)

This is an effort to make some of these resources easily available for you in one place.

Please feel free to reach out and let us know if there is another resource that you love, and we would add it to the list.

Enjoy!

MEDITATION CENTERS/ORGANIZATIONS

International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centers
The Art of Living Retreat Center
639 Whispering Hills Rd.
Boone, NC 28607
Phone: 800-392-6870
https://www.artofliving.org/us-en

International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centers
1746 Abbot Kinney Blvd.
Venice, CA 90291
Ph. (310) 822-9642
www.sivananda.org

ISHA Yoga Centers
951 Isha Lane,
McMinnville, TN – 37110,
Ph. (931) 668-1900
https://isha.sadhguru.org/us-en/isha-usa/

Self-Realization Fellowship
3880 San Rafael Ave. Dept. 8W
Los Angeles, CA 90065
Ph. (323) 255-2471
Fax: (323) 255-5088
www.yogananda-srf.org

Shambala International
1084 Tower Road
Halifax, NS Canada
Ph. (902) 425-4275
www.shambhala.org

Siddha Yoga Foundation
(SYDA Foundation)
P.O. Box 600
371 Brickman Rd.
South Fallsburg, NY 12747
Ph. (845) 434-2000
www.siddhayoga.org

The Transcendental Meditation Program (TM)
639 Whispering Hills Road, Suite 704
Boone, NC 28607
Ph. (888) 532-7678
www.tm.org

Vipassana Meditation Center
P.O.Box 24
Shelburne Falls, MA 01370
Ph. (413) 625- 2160
Fax: (413) 625-2170
www.dhamma.org


YOGA CENTERS/ORGANIZATIONS

American Viniyoga Institute
P.O Box 88
Makawao, HI 96768
Ph. (808) 672-1414
www.viniyoga.com

Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health
Box 793
Lenox, MA 01240
Ph. (800) 741-7353
www.kripalu.org

Iyengar Yoga Institute
27. W. 24th St. #800
New York, NY 10010
Ph. (212) 691-9642

Omega Institute for Holistic Studies
150 lake Drive
Rhinebeck, BY 12572
Ph. (845) 266-4444
www.eomega.com

Siddha Yoga Foundation
(SYDA Foundation)
P.O. Box 600
371 Brickman Rd.
South Fallsburg, NY 12747
Ph. (845) 434-2000
www.siddhayoga.org

Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Center
234 W. 24th St.
New York, NY 10011
www.sivananda.org

Yoga Studio Directory by State:
www.self-realization.com/yogadirectory.htm


VEDIC ASTROLOGY

American Council of Vedic Astrology
(ACVA)
P.O. Box 2149
Sedona, AZ 86339
Ph. (800) 900-6595
Fax: (520) 282-6097
www.vedicastrology.org

American Institute of Vedic Studies
P.O. Box 8357
Santa Fe, NM 87504-8357
Ph. (505) 983-9385
Fax: (505 )982-5807
www.vedanet.com
Correspondence courses in Ayurveda and Vedic Astrology

Dr. Suhas Kshirsagar
2541 Soquel Ave,
Santa Cruz, California 95062
Ph. (831) 462-3776
https://www.ayurvedichealing.net/

 

This is an effort to make some of these resources easily available for you in one place, including Ayurvedic Practitioners, Schools, Herbs, Supplies, and More

Please feel free to reach out and let us know if there is another resource that you love, and we would add it to the list.

Enjoy!

AYURVEDIC HEALTH CENTERS

Ayurveda Institute of America
Dr. Jay Apte BAMS
561 Pilgrim Dr. Suite-B
Foster City, CA 94404
www.ayurvedainstitute.com

The Ayurvedic Institute and Wellness Center
Dr. Vasant Lad MASc.
11311 Menaul, NE
Albuquerque, NM 87112
Ph. (505) 291-9698
Fax: (505) 294-7572
www.ayurveda.com

Ayurvedic and Naturopathic Clinic
Dr. Virender Sodhi, MD (Ayurved), ND.
2115 112th Ave. NE
Bellevue, WA 98004
Ph. (425) 453- 8022
Fax: (425) 451- 2670
www.ayurvedicscience.com

California College of Ayurveda
Dr. Marc Halpern D.C.
1117A East Main Street
Grass Valley, CA 95945
Ph. (530) 274-9100
www.ayurvedacollege.com

The Chopra Center for Well Being
Dr. David Simon M.D.
2013 Costa del Mar Rd.
Carlsbad, CA 92009
Ph. (760) 494-1608
Fax: (760)494-1608
www.chopra.com

Vedika Global
Dr. Pratichi Mathur

5950 Doyle St.
Emeryville, CA 94608

www.vedikaglobal.org

Kauai Center for Holistic Medicine and Research
Dr. Thomas Yarema MD
Dr. Suhas Kshirsagar MD (Ayurved)
Kapa’a HI, 96746
Ph. (808) 823-0994
Fax: (808)-823-0995
www.hawaiiholisticmedicine.com

Light Institute of Ayurveda
Dr. Bryan Miller D.C. & Light Miller ND., DD.
P.O. Box 35284
Sarasota, FL 34242
Ph. (941) 929-0999
Fax: (941)346-0800
www.ayurvedichealers.com

Maharishi Ayurved at the Raj
Dr. Nancy Lonsdorf M.D.
1734 Jasmine Avenue
Fairfield, IA 52556
Ph. (800) 248-9050
Fax: (515) 472-2496
www.theraj.com

National Institute Of Ayurvedic Medicine
Dr. Scott Gerson, M.D., Ph.D. (Ayurveda)
13 W. 9th St.
New York, NY 10011
Ph. (212) 505-8971
Fax: (212) 677-5397
www.niam.com

Natural Medcine Clinic
Dr. Vivek Shanbhag ND, MD (Ayurved), BAMS
819 NE 65th St.
Seattle, WA 98115
Ph. (206) 729-9999
www.ayurvedaonline.com

Pacific Center of Ayurveda
Prashanti de Jager
P.O Box 878
Marshall, CA 94940
Ph. (415) 246-1248
www.dhanvantri.com


AYURVEDIC EDUCATION/ CLINICAL TRAINING

Ayurvedic Mountain Retreat

Wellness studio at Breathe Yoga
14107-H Winchester Boulevard
Los Gatos, CA 95032 ( Fridays & Saturdays 9am-3pm)

www.ayurvedicmountainretreat.com

The Ayurvedic Institute
11311 Menaul, NE
Albuquerque, NM 87112
Ph. (505) 291-9698
Fax: (505) 294-7572
www.ayurveda.com

Australian College of Ayurvedic Medicine
PO Box 322
Ingle Farm SA 5098
Australia

Ayurvedic Academy & Natural Medicine Clinic
819 NE 65th Street
Seattle, Washington USA 98115
Phone: (206) 729 – 9999
FAX: (206) 729 – 0164
www.ayurvedaonline.com

The American School of Ayurveda
460 Ridgedale Avenue
East Hanover, New Jersey 07936
Ph. (973) 887-8828
Fax: (973) 887-3088
www.lotusfair.com

California College of Ayurveda
Dr. Marc Halpern D.C.
1117A East Main Street
Grass Valley, CA 95945
Ph. (530) 274-9100
www.ayurvedacollege.com

Diamond Way Ayurveda
P.O. Box 13753
San Luis Obispo, CA 93406
Ph. (805)543-9291
Toll-Free: (877)964-1395
www.diamondwayayurveda.com

East-West College of Herbalism
Ayurvedic Program
Hartswood, Marsh Green, Hartsfield
E. Sussex TN7 4ET
United Kingdom
Ph. 01342-822312
Fax: 01342-826346

European Institute of Vedic Studies
Atreya Smith, Director
Ceven Point N* 230
4 bis rue Taisson
30100 Ales, France
Fax: 33-466-60-53-72
www.atreya.com

Ganesha Institute
152 Caymus Court
Sunnyvale, CA 94086
www.healingmission.com

Himalayan Institute
RR1, Box 400
Honesdale, PA 18431
Ph. (800) 822-4547
www.ayurvedichealing.com

Institute for Wholistic Education
33719 116th Street/ Box AH
Twin Lakes, WI 53181
Ph. (262) 877-9396

International Academy of Ayurveda
Nand Nandan, Atreya Rugnalaya
Erandawana, Pune
411004, India
Ph./Fax: 91-212-378532/524427
www.ayurved-int.com

John Douillard
Life Spa, Rejuvenation through Ayurveda
3065 Center Green Drive
Boulder, CO 80301
Ph. (303) 442-1164
Fax: (303) 442-1240

Light Institute of Ayurveda
P.O. Box 35284
Sarasota, FL 34242
Ph. (941) 929-0999
www.ayurvedichealers.com

Maharishi Ayurveda Health Centre
24 Linhope St.
London, NW1 6HT
England
www.maharishi.co.uk

National Institute Of Ayurvedic Medicine
584 Milltown Road
Brewster, NY 10509
Ph. (845) 278-8700
Fax: (845) 278-8215
www.niam.com

Vinayak Ayurveda Center
2509 Virginia NE, Suite D
Albuquerque, NM 87110
Ph. (505)296-6522
Fax: (505)298-2932
www.ayur.com

Wise Earth School
P.O. Box 160
Candler, NC 28715
Ph. (828) 258-9999
www.wiseearth.com


CORRESPONDENCE COURSES

American Institute of Vedic Studies
P.O. Box 8357
Santa Fe, NM 87504-8357
Ph. (505) 983-9385
Fax: (505) 982-5807
www.vedanet.com

The American School of Ayurveda
460 Ridgedale Avenue
East Hanover, New Jersey 07936
Ph. (973) 887-8828
Fax: (973) 887-3088
www.lotusfair.com

The Ayurvedic Institute
11311 Menaul, NE
Albuquerque, NM 87112
Ph. (505)291-9698
Fax: (505)294-7572
www.ayurveda.com

Light Institute of Ayurvedic Teaching
P.O. Box 35284
Sarasota, FL 34242
Ph. (941)346-3518
Fax: (941)346-0800
www.ayurvedichealers.com

 

AYURVEDIC BEAUTY CARE

Auroma International
P.O. Box 1008
Dept. AH
Silver Lake, WI 53170
Ph. (262 )889-8569
Fax: (262) 889-8591
www.auroma.net

Bindi Facial Skin Care
A Division of Pratima Inc.
109-17 72nd Road
Lower Level
Forest Hills, NY 11375
Ph. (718) 268-7348
www.bindi.com

Internatural
33719 116th St./ Box AH
Twin Lakes, WI 53181
Ph. (800) 643-4221 (toll-free order line)
Fax: (262) 889-8591
www.internatural.com

Lotus Brands, Inc.
P.O. Box 1008/ Dept. AH
Silver Lake, WI 53170 USA
Ph. (262) 889-8561
Fax: (262) 889-8591
www.lotuspress.com

Maharishi Ayurveda Products
1068 Elkton Dr.
Colorado Springs, CO 80907
Ph. (800) 255-8332
www.mapi.com

Siddhi Ayurvedic Beauty Products
c/o Vinayak Ayurveda Center
2509 Virginia NE, Suite D
Albuquerque, NM 87110
Ph. (505) 296-6522
Fax: (505) 298-2932
www.ayur.com

 

This is an effort to make some of these resources easily available for you in one place.

Please feel free to reach out and let us know if there is another resource that you feel we would benefit from knowing about, and we would add it to the list.

Enjoy!

Various Medical Support Organizations List:

ADA Job Accommodation Network, 800.526.7234
www.jan.wvu.edu

ADA Regional Disability & Business Technical Assistance, 800.949.4232
www.dbtac.vcu.edu

Alzheimer’s Association, 800.272.3900
www.alz.org

American Cancer Society, 800.ACS.2345
www.cancer.org/docroot/home/index.asp

American Council of the Blind, 800.424.8666
www.acb.org

American Diabetes Association, 800.232.3472
www.diabetes.org

Americans with Disabilities Act Employment Helpline, 800.669.3362
www.eeoc.gov

American Foundation for the Blind, 800.232.5463
www.afb.org

American Heart Association Stroke Connection Magazine888.4-STROKE
www.strokeassociation.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=2533

American Kidney Fund Information, 800.638.8299
www.akfinc.org

American Liver Foundation, 800.223.0179
www.liverfoundation.org

American Parkinson’s Disease Association, 800.223.2732
www.apdaparkinson.org/user/index.asp

American Speech-Language-Hearing Helpline, 800.638.8255
www.betterhearing.org/resources/resource.cfm?resourceID=11

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Association, 800.782.4747
www.alsa.org

Arthritis Foundation, 800.283.7800
www.arthritis.org

Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America, 800.727.8462
www.aafa.org

Better Hearing Institute, 800.327.9355
www.betterhearing.org

Brain Injury Association of America, 800.444.NHIF
www.biausa.org

Cancer Information Service, 800.4-CANCER
http://www.cancer.gov/aboutnci/cis/page1

Captioned Films/Videos, 800.237.6213
www.cfv.org

Center for Disease Control and Prevention Hotline, 800.342.2437
www.cdc.gov/hiv/links.htm

Children’s Tumor Foundation, 800.323.7938
www.ctf.org

Cleft Palate Foundation, 800.24-CLEFT
www.cleftline.org

Council of Citizens with Low Vision, 800.733.2258
www.cclvi.org

Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America, 800.343.3637
www.ccfa.org

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 800.344.4823
www.cff.org

Drug Abuse Hotline, 800.662.HELP

Epilepsy Foundation of America, 800.332.1000
www.epilepsyfoundation.org

Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network, 800.929.4040
www.foodallergy.org

Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind, 800.548.4337
www.guidedog.org

Hear Now—National Hearing Aid Bank, 800.648.HEAR
www.sotheworldmayhear.org/forms/hearnow.php

Higher Education and Training for People with Handicaps, 800.54-HEATH
www.heath.gwu.edu

Huntington’s Disease Society, 800.345.4372
www.hdsa.org/site/PageServer

International Dyslexia Association, 800.222.3123
www.interdys.org

International Hearing Society, 800.521.5247
http://ihsinfo.org/IhsV2/Home/Index.cfm

Library of Congress Services for the Blind & Physically Handicapped, 800.424.8567
www.loc.gov/nls

Lupus Foundation Information Line, 800.558.0121
www.lupus.org/newsite/index.html

Multiple Sclerosis Association of America, 800.532.7667
www.msaa.com

Myasthenia Gravis Foundation, 800.541.5454
www.myasthenia.org

National Adoption Center for Special Needs Children, 800.TO-ADOPT
www.adopt.org

National Alcohol and Substance Abuse Information Center, 800.784.6776
www.addictioncareoptions.com

National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, 800.950.NAMI
www.nami.org

National Association for Parents of the Visually Impaired, 800.562.6265
www.spedex.com/napvi

National Captioning Institute, 800.533.WORD
www.ncicap.org

National Down Syndrome Congress, 800.232-NDSC
www.ndsccenter.org

National Down Syndrome Society, 800.221.4602
www.ndss.org

National Easter Seal Society, 800.221.6827
www.easterseals.com/site/PageServer

National Gaucher Foundation, 800.925.8885
www.gaucherdisease.org

National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities, 800.695.0285
www.nichcy.org

National Kidney Foundation, 800.622.9010
www.kidney.org

National Marfan Foundation, 800.8MARFAN
www.marfan.org/nmf/index.jsp

National Organization of Rare Disorders, 800.999.6673
www.rarediseases.org

National Rehabilitation Information Center, 800.34-NARIC
www.naric.com

National Reyes Syndrome Foundation, 800.233.7393
www.reyessyndrome.org

National Spasmodic Torticollis Association, 800.487.8385
www.torticollis.org

National Spinal Cord Injury Association, 800.962.9629
www.spinalcord.org

National Tuberous Sclerosis Association, 800.225.NTSA
www.tsalliance.org

Retinitis Pigmentosa International, 800.344.4877
www.rpinternational.org

Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, 800.421.8453
www.sicklecelldisease.org

Simon Foundation for Incontinence, 800.23.SIMON
www.simonfoundation.org

Spina Bifida Association, 800.621.3141
www.sbaa.org or
www.sbaa.org/site/c.gpILKXOEJqG/b.2016945/k.2321/
Spina_Bifida_Association_Web_site.htm

Stuttering Foundation of America, 800.992.9392
www.stutteringhelp.org

Tourette Syndrome Association, 800.237.0717
www.tsa-usa.org

United Cerebral Palsy, 800.872.5827
www.ucp.org

United Leukodystrophy Foundation, 800.728.5483
www.ulf.org

United Ostomy Associations of America, 800.826.0826
www.uoaa.org

United Scleroderma Foundation, 800.722.4673
www.scleroderma.org

This is an effort to make some of these Local, amazing resources easily available for you in one place.

Please feel free to reach out and let us know if there is another practitioner or service that you love, and we would add it to the list.

Enjoy!

 

Rogue Valley, Southern Oregon Practitioners :

Acupuncturists:

http://middlewaymedicine.com/

http://jademountainmedicine.com/

Physical Therapists

Mary Gorman, PT (541) 535-7019 www.themovementstudio.net

Shawn Flot, PT (541) 890-7372 www.movingintoharmony.com

Michael Pennington (541) 535-2551 www.turningpointpt.com

Psychotherapists

Rod Birnery, MD (541) 535-3338 www.selfsoulcenter.org

Suzanna Nadler, LCSW (541) 535-3338 www.selfsoulcenter.org

Rhiannon Theurer, LMFT (541) 207-8824 www.rhiannontheurer.com (Gifted children and adults, LGBTQ)

Kristen Tussey, LCSW (541) 787-9246 www.ashlandtherapy.com

COMMUNITY REFERRALS:

YOGA Om Sweet Om www.yogaomsweetom.com

Self and Soul Center Retreat Center www.selfsoulcenter.org

These are some of my Favorite quotes on Health and healing.

Enjoy the Compilation.

Please let me know if any of them spoke to you 🙂

Please feel free to reach out and let us know if there is another quote that you love, and we would add it to the list.

 

  • “When diet is wrong, medicine is of no use. When diet is correct, medicine is of no need.”    -Ayurvedic proverb
  • Wherever the art of medicine is loved, there is also a love of humanity. -Hippocrates
  • The art of medicine consists in amusing the patient while nature cures the disease. -Voltaire
  • Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food. -Hippocrates
  • Medicine is a science of uncertainty and an art of probability. -William Osler
  • When I understand myself, I understand you, and out of that understanding comes love. -J. Krishnamurti
  • Freedom from the desire for an answer is essential to the understanding of a problem. -J. Krishnamurti
  • Let the beauty of what you love be what you do. -Rumi
  • Always laugh when you can. It is cheap medicine. -Lord Byron
  • It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society. -J. Krishnamurti
  • Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience. -Ralph Waldo Emerson
  • Walking is man’s best medicine. -Hippocrates
  • If you begin to understand what you are without trying to change it, then what you are undergoes a transformation. -J. Krishnamurti
  • Medicine is not only a science; it is also an art. It does not consist of compounding pills and plasters; it deals with the very processes of life, which must be understood before they may be guided. -Paracelsus
  • The aim of medicine is to prevent disease and prolong life, the ideal of medicine is to eliminate the need of a physician. -William J. Mayo
  • Make a habit of two things: to help; or at least to do no harm. -Hippocrates
  • Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. -Ralph Waldo Emerson
  • The good physician treats the disease; the great physician treats the patient who has the disease. -William Osler
  • It is much more important to know what sort of a patient has a disease than what sort of a disease a patient has. -William Osler
  • You must understand the whole of life, not just one little part of it. That is why you must read, that is why you must look at the skies, that is why you must sing and dance, and write poems and suffer and understand, for all that is life. -Jiddu Krishnamurti
  • Grief can be the garden of compassion. If you keep your heart open through everything, your pain can become your greatest ally in your life’s search for love and wisdom. -Rumi
  • I am neither of the East nor of the West, no boundaries exist within my breast. -Rumi
  •  Nature always wears the colors of the spirit. -Ralph Waldo Emerson
  • What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have never been discovered. -Ralph Waldo Emerson
  • Truth is a pathless land. -Jiddu Krishnamurti
  • The best doctors and medicine in the world can’t save you if you don’t do what you’re supposed to do. -Magic Johnson
  • Health is the state about which medicine has nothing to say. -W. H. Auden
  • The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will interest his patient in the care of the human frame, in diet and in the cause and prevention of disease.”-Thomas Edison

It can be really confusing to differentiate between all the types and styles of medicine being practiced.

Here is a list of simple, one-line explanations to try to differentiate between various styles.

  • Integrative medicine: an approach to health that takes into account the entirety or wholeness of an individual and uses a combination of conventional and alternative treatments.
  • Alternative medicine: an approach to healing that falls outside of, and is used instead of, conventional medicine.
  • Complementary medicine: an approach to healing that falls outside of, and is used in combination with, conventional medicine.
  • Conventional medicine: the mainstream/western medical approach, which is taught in most medical schools and practiced in most hospitals and employs treatments such as surgery, pharmaceuticals, and pharmaceuticals.
  • Functional medicine: a systems biology-based approach to medicine practiced by licensed physicians that focus on treating the root cause of disease, as opposed to treating symptoms. Most similar to Integrative Medicine.
  • Lifestyle Medicine: the use of evidence-based 6 pillars of lifestyle therapeutic intervention as a primary modality, to prevent, treat, and often reverse chronic disease.
  • Whole person health: refers to helping individuals improve and restore their health in multiple interconnected domains—biological, behavioral, social, environmental—rather than just treating disease.
  • Traditional medicine: healing practices that come out of the traditions of indigenous peoples.
  • Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM): a collection of healing practices that originated in China and are based on the belief that free-flowing qi, or life energy, is the key to health.
  • Naturopathy: an approach to health that taps into the innate healing power of our own bodies and the natural world.
  • Ayurveda: “The Science of Life.” An ancient whole System of Medicine that originated thousands of years back in India and is wholistic, proactive, personalized, and preventive in its approach.
  • Osteopathy: a medical approach that focuses on treating a person as a whole and uses physical manipulation of the body to promote healing.

Nutritional Approaches

These approaches include a variety of products, such as herbs (also known as botanicals), vitamins and mineralsand probiotics. They are widely marketed, readily available to consumers, and often sold as dietary supplements.

Psychological and Physical Approaches

Complementary physical and/or psychological approaches include tai chiyogaacupuncturemassage therapyspinal manipulation, art therapy, music therapy, dance, mindfulness-based stress reduction, and many others. These approaches are often administered or taught by a trained practitioner or teacher. The 2012 NHIS showed that yoga, chiropractic, and osteopathic manipulation, and meditation are among the most popular complementary health approaches used by adults.

A few more common alternative health myths I come across! (for Part I, click here)

Myth: I do not need to take any supplements, since I am eating good food.

Truth: I come across this very frequently in Pacific Northwest, regarding Vitamin D, and Vit B12 in Vegans.

Recent analysis of nutrient intakes of the U.S. population shows that a large percentage of people fall short of the average requirements of many nutrients. Almost everyone falls short of the average requirements for vitamin D and vitamin E, and more than one-third fall short of the average requirements for calcium, magnesium and vitamin A.

Resource:
Top 15 Foods Rich In Essential Minerals – https://www.healthambition.com/food-rich-minerals/

Myth: Since I am so healthy, I will be fine if I take herbs for my chest pain (…manage my fractures naturally, control a bad infection using natural herbals, not need gall bladder surgery etc….)

Truth: In a single word, NO!

Herbal and complementary medicine and techniques have a major role in preventive and chronic disease management, but in acute or emergency cases like chest pain (probably due to heart attack), severe abdominal pain (gall bladder infection/stone impaction, acute stomach ulcer or pancreatitis) accident, injury or fracture, you should still go to get urgent care from your medical provider rather than try to cure-it-yourself!

On the other hand, we have pushed the limits on prolonging life at all cost, not considering the quality of life as our time on this wonderful planet draws closer to its end.

Myth: I have to choose between either conventional or alternative medicine.

Truth: You can do both!

This is true even for cancer treatment. Integrative approaches research for symptom management in cancer patients and survivors have had promising results.

Cancer treatment centers with integrative health care programs may offer services such as acupuncture and meditation to help manage symptoms and side effects for patients who are receiving conventional cancer treatment. NCCIH-funded research has suggested that:

  1. Cancer patients who receive integrative therapies while in the hospital have less pain and anxiety.
  2. Massage therapy may lead to short-term improvements in pain and mood in patients with advanced cancer.
  3. Yoga may relieve the persistent fatigue that some women experience after breast cancer treatment.

Myth: Natural medicine has nothing in common with conventional medicine

Truth: Nature has been providing medicines to treat our diseases and relieve our suffering for many thousands of years.

Pharmacognosy is the study of medicinal drugs derived from plants or other natural sources. Many of our modern drugs were originally derived from either plant, animals, or fungi.

Examples are morphine from the opium poppy, aspirin from the white willow tree, anticoagulant coumadin from spoiled sweet clover. Periwinkle has yielded vinblastine (successful treatment of Hodgkin’s lymphoma, turning a disease that was once uniformly fatal into one that can now be totally cured in many patients) and vincristine (used for treating acute childhood leukemia).

Ethnobotany, the study of traditional human uses of plants, is recognized as an effective way to discover future medicines. In 2001, researchers identified 122 compounds used in modern medicine which were derived from “ethnomedical” plant sources; 80% of these have had an ethnomedical use identical or related to the current use of the active elements of the plant.

Myth: I can go for my surgery without discussing my herbs/vitamins/supplements with my doctor.

Truth: Certain supplements may increase the risk of bleeding, decrease your blood pressure or heart rate, affect the response to anesthesia, or adversely affect the outcome of your surgery….

It is very important to inform your doctor about the vitamins, herbals, OTC supplements etc you are taking. These might need to be stopped up to 2 weeks ahead of an elective surgery.

Here is a link for you to do a self-check on herbals.

Myth: Yoga can’t help serious diseases/it’s just for fun and flexibility

Truth: A Big YES!

There have been numerous studies proving the benefits of Yoga on several diseases, including cancers.

Myth: Alternative health websites just aren’t trustworthy.

Truth: There are fallible websites out there. But there are some good ones. You simply have to follow some rules so you can identify which are right.

If you’re visiting a health website for the first time, these five quick questions can help you decide whether the site is a helpful resource:

  1. Who? Who runs the Web site? Can you trust them?
    Be skeptical about anecdotal information from persons who have no formal training in nutrition or botanicals, or from personal testimonials (e.g. from store employees, friends, or online chat rooms and message boards) about incredible benefits or results obtained from using a product. Question these people on their training and knowledge in nutrition or medicine.
  2. What? What does the site say? Do the claims for the product seem exaggerated or unrealistic? Do its claims seem too good to be true? (Then probably they are not True!)
  3. When? When was the information posted or reviewed? Is it up to date?
  4. Where? Where did the information come from? Is it based on scientific research? Learn to distinguish hype from evidence-based science. Reputable websites will have real links at the bottom of websites, linking to scientific research. Check for university studies.
  5. Why? Why does the site exist? Is it selling something? Beware of such phrases such as: This is not a hoax or Send this to everyone you know.

Myth: Acupuncture, yoga, meditation, massage, all these have no scientific proof of action, so they must be woo-woo!

Truth: Many more insurance companies are approving the use of alternative therapies like yoga, acupuncture, massage therapy, chiropractic care, physical therapy etc. for acute or chronic pain, injuries, depression/anxiety and a variety of other mind-body conditions.

Meditation, yoga, and relaxation with imagery are recommended for routine use for common conditions, including anxiety and mood disorders. Stress management, yoga, massage, music therapy, energy conservation, and meditation are recommended for stress reduction, anxiety, depression, fatigue, and quality of life.

Preliminary studies of the effects of a single session of Swedish massage on hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal and immune function in normal individuals.

Want to know how you can find truthful information?

To find reliable sources of scientifically sound information about vitamin/mineral supplements:

Look for scientific research findings on the dietary supplements. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS), as well as other Federal agencies, have free publications, clearinghouses, and information on their Web sites.

The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements has a series of Vitamin and Mineral Fact Sheets that provide scientifically-based overviews of a number of vitamins and minerals. They can provide a good basis for a discussion with your doctor about whether or not you should take a vitamin/mineral supplement.

MedlinePlus is another good source of information on vitamins and minerals.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has a variety of articles and consumer advisories to help consumers inform themselves about dietary supplements, including warnings and safety information, labeling, evaluation information, and FDA’s role in regulating dietary supplements.

For those interested in looking directly at scientific studies, the PubMed Dietary Supplement Subset is a good database to search: here, here, or here.

The Linus Pauling Institute’s Micronutrient Information Center is a source for scientifically accurate and peer-reviewed information regarding the roles of vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals (plant chemicals that may affect health), and other dietary factors, including some food and beverages, in preventing disease and promoting health. You can look here, here, and here. The subset is designed to limit search results to citations from a broad spectrum of dietary supplement literature including vitamin, mineral, phytochemical, ergogenic, botanical, and herbal supplements in human nutrition and animal models.

Some more helpful tips:
6 Things To Know When Selecting a Complementary Health Practitioner – https://nccih.nih.gov/health/tips/selecting
Steps in advising patients who are interested in complementary and alternative therapies – http://www.nature.com/nrclinonc/journal/v10/n11/fig_tab/nrclinonc.2013.125_F2.html
Talking about Complementary and Alternative Medicine with Health Care Providers: A Workbook and Tips – http://cam.cancer.gov/attachments/workbook/talking_about_cam_workbook.pdf

Sources:
http://www.crnusa.org/pdfs/CRNFactSheetNutrientShortfalls.pdf
Quantity is not necessarily better than Quality: What should medicine do when it can’t save your life?
http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2010/08/02/letting-go-2
https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/canceralternativetherapies.html
Heart rate variability and treatment outcome in major depression: a pilot study.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24769434
Insular cortex mediates increased pain tolerance in yoga practitioners.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23696275
Effect of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction on Anxiety, Depression and Stress in Women With Multiple Sclerosis.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26835467

I have been practicing Integrative medicine for the last 20+ yrs. in the USA. The spectrum of the practice of Medicine has shifted dramatically in the last few decades due to multiple factors, including the cost, effectiveness, morbidity and mortality, and others, too many to list. The use of CAM (Complementary and Alternative medicine) in the USA has nearly tripled in the last 4 decades due to these factors.

Most complementary health approaches fall into one of two subgroups—natural products or mind and body practices. I have noticed patterns of beliefs and frequent confusion in my patients and the general population, so this article might help to clarify a few of these common alternative health myths.

Complimentary, Alternative, or Integrative Health: What’s the difference?

Integrative medicine combines Alternative medicine with evidence-based medicine. Practitioners claim that it treats the “whole person,” focuses on wellness and health rather than on treating disease and emphasizes the patient-physician relationship. The Academic Consortium for Integrative Medicine and Health has developed the following definition: “Integrative medicine and health reaffirms the importance of the relationship between practitioner and patient, focuses on the whole person, is informed by evidence, and makes use of all appropriate therapeutic and lifestyle approaches, healthcare and disciplines to achieve optimal health and healing.”

Integrative medicine is not the same as complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) nor is it simply the combination of conventional medicine with complementary and alternative medicine. Instead it “emphasizes wellness and healing of the entire person as primary goals, drawing on both conventional and CAM approaches in the context of a supportive and effective physician-patient relationship”.

Myth: The assumed “safety” of natural herbs and medicines.
Truth: Just because it is “Natural” does not automatically mean it is “safe”

There are many herbs (all are natural) that have several side effects and interactions with different other herbs, supplements, or prescription drugs you might be taking. It is always better to consult with your health care provider before you start on any new herb/supplement regimen to make sure it is safe and appropriate for you.

If you have a special condition, like pregnancy, breastfeeding, slow functioning of liver, kidney, heart, or other vital organs, it is crucial that you discuss starting the herbals with your provider first. There have been incidences of liver, kidney, or heart failure when people have taken herbs without discussing the potential side effects with their providers.

The herbal products themselves can be contaminated or using cheap, inferior products or substitutions. In a recently published study, DNA barcoding was used to conduct a blind test of the authenticity for 44 herbal products representing 12 companies and 30 different species of herbs. Most (59%) of the products tested contained DNA barcodes from plant species not listed on the labels. One-third of these also contained contaminants and or fillers not listed on the label. Product substitution occurred in nearly 70% of the products tested and only 2/12 companies had products without any substitution, contamination or fillers. Some of the contaminants posed serious health risks to consumers.

The FDA keeps a tight watch on the products in the market. Here is a good link to keep abreast of the safety warnings/ list of recalled products from the market.

Myth: It’s cheaper than a doctor and medications
Truth: It is not “cheap” as one might think. Not in the short term.

Many Integrative health providers do not accept insurance, thus costing us more out of pocket in the short term. Herbs and supplements are likely not reimbursed by your insurance company. Your HSA/FSA might help save you some tax dollar amount. However, engaging in healthier practices and nutrition may help reduce our need for more drastic and chronic medical care in the long run. With its focus on long-term preventative care, it might save us money in the long run and achieve better and optimal health.

According to statistics released in July 2009 from a nationwide government survey, 83 million U.S. adults spent $33.9 billion out-of-pocket on visits to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) practitioners and purchases of CAM products, classes, and materials.

Myth: Taking megadose of good supplements should be OK
Truth: More is not better all the time! Note: This advice is particularly important for pregnant or breastfeeding mothers!

Fat-soluble vitamins like Vitamin A, D, and E can be dangerous in high or mega doses, since they are stored in the fat and Liver, leading to different toxicities over time.

Most water-soluble vitamins, like the B complex vitamins, are usually safe to take in a little higher amount than RDA, (recommended dietary allowance), since most of them are flushed out in the urine. Exceeding 2,000 milligrams of vitamin C per day can cause diarrhea and kidney stones.

It’s nearly impossible for your regular diet to provide an overdose of vitamins D, E, K, C, and all the B vitamins.

Vitamin A is an exception. Liver and fish liver oils are concentrated sources of preformed vitamin A (retinol).  Cases of vitamin A toxicity also have been reported among children given daily servings of chicken liver or any animal liver, like seal or whale liver in the north and south poles.Similarly, if you are taking a higher/prescription dose of Vitamin D due to deficiency, your provider might monitor the levels periodically to make sure it is in the safe range.

Only a qualified provider might recommend high doses for a specific condition such as large doses of niacin (vitamin B3) for helping reduce cholesterol or prescription dose Vitamin D for deficient patients with MS etc.

Exceptions: This is usually discussed case by case, but Older adults may benefit from taking more calcium, vitamins B-12, and vitamin D since the body does not absorb these as well as it ages. Iron supplementation can be beneficial for young women, who need 18 milligrams of iron a day. Vegans may need extra calcium and B-12 and could benefit from taking supplements of iron and zinc.

Myth: I will be safe since I am just taking food, supplements, and natural herbs!
Truth: This holds true for regular prescription medications also since people fail to consider these facts:

Everything you put in your mouth has the potential to interact with food, herbs, and prescriptions taken orally by altering the way the body metabolizes each of them. some herbs and foods can lessen or increase the impact of a drug by working as a catalyst or an enzyme booster or inhibitor or interfere with the body’s ability to absorb micronutrients.

Good examples of food that interact with drugs are: Alcohol, acting on brain and liver metabolism; Grapefruit juice which interacts with Blood pressure medications, Hormones, OCP, statins and cholesterol-lowering medications;
Orange Juice interacts with antacids with aluminum, and several antibiotics; High fiber food can interfere with absorption of few drugs, like Digoxin and Tylenol; Large amounts of broccoli, spinach, and other green leafy vegetables high in vitamin K, which promotes the formation of blood clots, can counteract the effects of heparin, warfarin, and other drugs given to prevent clotting; caffeinated drugs with asthma drugs and some antibiotics like Cipro and so on.

Myth: I do not need to talk with my Health care provider before starting any herbal formulas.
Truth: Mixing multiple herbs and drugs, can be an accident waiting to happen!

Herbal interactions with prescriptions can interfere with how the drug is metabolized by the body, increase side effects or toxicity of prescription medications, or block the intended beneficial effect of a drug. Always check with your doctor to check for an herb Drug interaction before you start taking those. Your pharmacist is your big ally also when it comes to discussing herbal-drug interactions. Interactions between herbs and conventional drugs: overview of the clinical data.

“While many of the interactions reported are of limited clinical significance and many herbal products (e.g. black cohosh, saw palmetto, echinacea, hawthorn and valerian) seem to expose patients to minor risk under conventional pharmacotherapy, a few herbs, notably St. John’s wort, may provoke adverse events sufficiently serious to endanger the patients’ health. Healthcare professionals should remain vigilant for potential interactions between herbal medicines and prescribed drugs, especially when drugs with a narrow therapeutic index are used.

High-risk patients, such as the elderly, patients taking three or more medications for chronic conditions, patients suffering from diabetes, hypertension, depression, high cholesterol or congestive heart failure, should be especially on the lookout for such side reactions.

Coumadin/Warfarin, a blood thinner given to patients to prevent blood clots, is a nightmare for herbalists, doctors, and pharmacists to manage the INR, since it is so easily affected by food, the Vitamin K from green veggies and the liver metabolism makes it susceptible to have hundreds of food/herb/drug interactions. Some of the food supplements which might make the blood thinner, would be High dose fish oil, aspirin, feverfew, Gingko Biloba etc.

Ginger, garlic, turmeric should be OK to take as food with Coumadin, but if you are taking it in a capsule or supplement form, you might need to watch the INR closely when you start these supplements (check here and here).

Myth: Natural medicines and Food supplements must be regulated similar to prescription drugs.
Truth: Close, but not exactly!

FDA states that dietary supplements are regulated under a “different set of regulations from those covering ‘conventional food’ and drug products” but this does not mean they are unregulated. In fact, with over 150 million Americans using dietary supplements annually with little problem, it is clear that supplements are held to strict requirements, ensuring their safety and efficacy.

Prescription and over-the-counter drugs are regulated by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which requires evidence of effectiveness, safety, and quality control in manufacturing. Dietary/Food supplements (such as vitamins, minerals, and many herbal products) are governed by the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) of 1994.

Consumers may look for marks of certification by groups like the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) on product labels, certifying independent testing and verification to contain the ingredients on the label, meeting requirements for purity and good manufacturing practices (GMP). Other third-party testers like NSF, Consumer Labs, and Consumer Reports are also available.

If you’re wondering how to read a label and ensuring the safety of the product I really like looking at this chart to make sure I am reading the labels of supplements correctly.

Myth: All supplements in the market must be the same as long as the active ingredient is there!
Truth: Buying Cheap Quality, bulk /discount, poorly formulated herbs, with toxic fillers and additives, which have not been tested independently, will never be up to par with well-formulated, minimal fillers, hypoallergenic, Thoroughly checked, and tested by the third party, though slightly expensive formulations from reputable companies.

There are several good companies and brands available in the market. Discuss with your Integrative health provider to see what will work the best for you.
If I see too many chemically enhanced supplements, with a big inactive ingredient list, including fillers, colorants, “natural flavors”, xanthan or carrageenan gums, HFCS, or soy lecithin (Unless it says Organic for the last 2 ingredients) I cross those products off my list to choose from.

 

My General advice:

FAQ about Dietary supplements

Be an informed consumer:
https://nccih.nih.gov/health/decisions
How to go about selecting a CIH practitioner:
https://nccih.nih.gov/health/tips/selecting