Quantum Health News

Why Playing in the Dirt Makes You Happy

Did you know that there"s a natural antidepressant in soil? It"s true. Mycobacterium vaccae is the substance under study and has indeed been found to mirror the effect on neurons that drugs like Prozac provide. The bacterium is found in soil and may stimulate serotonin production, which makes you relaxed and happier. Studies were conducted on cancer patients and they reported a better quality of life and less stress.

Most avid gardeners will tell you that their landscape is their "happy place" and the actual physical act of gardening is a stress reducer and mood lifter. The fact that there is some science behind it adds additional credibility to these garden addicts' claims. The presence of a soil bacteria antidepressant is not a surprise to many of us who have experienced the phenomenon ourselves. Backing it up with science is fascinating, but not shocking, to the happy gardener. Antidepressant microbes in soil cause cytokine levels to rise, which results in the production of higher levels of serotonin. The bacterium was tested both by injection and ingestion on rats and the results were increased cognitive ability, lower stress and better concentration to tasks than a control group.

Gardeners inhale the bacteria, have topical contact with it and get it into their bloodstreams when there is a cut or other pathway for infection. The natural effects of the soil bacteria antidepressant can be felt for up to three weeks if the experiments with rats are any indication. So get out and play in the dirt and improve your mood and your life.

QUANTUM HEALTH TIP: Internal probiotics take this a step further. Check out our Plantadophilus probiotic formula from Transformation.

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Why Does Yoga De-Stress?

"That is the key benefit to yoga: It neutralizes negative experiences, or at least allows us to recover from them faster," said David R. Vago, associate psychologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School. "It puts a pause button between the stressor and the reaction," he said. "It gives you that moment of stillness to say, 'Wait a second. Am I going to do the same pattern, or let it go and use my breath?'" Yoga is a form of meditation that involves movement, specific postures, and a focus on the breath.

In a recent paper in the journal Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, Vago and his colleagues explained how yoga affects our ability to self regulate. It begins with focusing on sensations to improve self-awareness. Doing that while physically challenging yourself by assuming yoga postures trains the body to respond to all kinds of stress, Vago said.

A key to the technique involves breathing slowly throughout, which "directly deactivates the arousal system in the autonomic nervous system," turning off the fight-or-flight mechanism, said Sat Bir Singh Khalsa, director of research at the Kundalini Research Institute in New Mexico and an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital. "Our brains naturally wander to negative thoughts--worry about finding food or avoiding predators. The discipline of yoga and meditation directs thoughts to the present and away from this negative state and gives us a greater sense of self-control," said Khalsa, also editor of the e-book Your Brain on Yoga, and a research associate at the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital. "We need to enter this contemplative stage for some part of our day in order to keep ourselves tuned properly and stress resilient," he said.

QUANTUM HEALTH TIP: Yoga generally is greatly enhanced by using our E-1 Formula. E-1 balances and harmonizes the parasympathetic nervous system, calming brain responses and generally de-stressing.

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Squeeze Your Ears, Get Smarter!

When the right ear lobe is gently squeezed with the left thumb and left index finger with the thumb outside, it produces the necessary energy connection. This connection causes the left brain and pituitary gland to become energized and activated. Similarly, when the left ear lobe is gently squeezed with the right thumb and right index finger with the thumb outside, it produces the necessary energy connection, which causes the right brain and pineal gland to become energized and activated. For energizing and activating the Left Brain and the Right Brain, the left arm must be inside while the right arm must be outside. The correct arm position is important for energizing and activating the brain.

Communication between the ear and body was recognized by the ancient Indian rishis. They called it Thoppukaranam – thorpi, which means "with the hands", and karnam, which means "ears". This three-minute yoga regimen synchronizes the left and the right side of your brain, and has excellent cognitive benefits. The empirically validated method helps energize your brain, increase intellectual capacity and sharpen both memory and concentration. This regimen is especially beneficial for elderly patients with Alzheimer"s or senior citizens looking to stave off memory loss. A number of studies show the benefits of Thoppukaranam with children suffering from disabilities such as ADHD, developmental and cognitive delays, Down’s Syndrome and other specific learning disabilities. Children practicing this technique daily have shown a significant increase in academic and behavioral performance, greater class participation and improved social skills.

QUANTUM HEALTH TIP: This exercise is also greatly enhanced by using our E-1 Formula. E-1 balances and harmonizes the parasympathetic nervous system, calming brain responses and generally de-stressing.

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Company & Product News

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NEW from Subtle Energy Solutions: Subtle Energy Infused Himalayan Salt Lamps
This new application of subtle energy infusion into a Himalyan Salt Lamp has catapulted the natural benefits of salt lamps to a whole new level. We have infused the lamps with harmonizing, stablizing subtle energies that greatly heighten the similar existing properties of the lamps, making the experience of the lamps a palpable and impressive one. Put one in the office or TV room to neutralize EMF, or "electro-smog". Put one in the bedroom for a soothing night light and negative ions for a restful sleep.

These lamps are approximately 12 inches tall, direct from Nepal, include an off-on rocker switch on an A/C cord, 4-watt light bulb, and a wooden base, $39.95. (MORE INFO)

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Our brand new BETA site!
We are excited to announce that we have created a new website, Pure Energy Rx. This website has an updated shopping cart, and will soon have an easily accessible research library about the use of subtle energy in health and healing. It will also be where the Quantum Health Newsletter will live. The Subtle Energy Solutions website will stay active, although will not be updated, so for the latest products and formulas to enhance the mind-body connection, visit Pure Energy Rx. Make sure to "like" our Facebook page and watch for special discounts and giveaways on that page. All the links in this newsletter go to the new site. The Subtle Energy Solutions site is still up and functioning for those of you preferring that tradition!