Shinrin-yoku: Forest Bathing for Health
Even in a hospital setting, a recent study of cardio-pulmonary patients (published in Clinical Rehabilitation in 2011) showed that patients who had an unobstructed view of nature self-reported higher levels of health. Additional studies, specifically in those recovering an appendectomy and randomly assigned to a room with a dozen small potted plants, the use of pain medications was significantly lower than that of their counterparts in rooms with no potted plants; they also had lower blood pressure and heart rate, and rated their pain to be much lower. As well, those who had plants in their rooms had comparatively higher energy levels, more positive thoughts, and lower levels of anxiety. Also, Norwegian research shows that having a plant at or within view of an office workstation significantly decreases the risk of sick leave. And, installing plants within a radiology department of a hospital reduced short-term sick leave by 60 percent.
Medical doctors, including Franklin B. Hough, reported in early U.S. medical journals that forests have a "cheerful and tranquilizing influence which they exert upon the mind, more especially when worn down by mental labor." Individuals report that forests are the perfect landscape to cultivate what are called transcendent experiences—these are unforgettable moments of extreme happiness, of attunement to that outside the self, and moments that are ultimately perceived as very important to the individual.
In 1982, the Forest Agency of the Japanese government premiered its shinrin-yoku plan. In Japanese shinrin means forest, and yoku, although it has several meanings, refers here to a "bathing, showering or basking in." More broadly, it is defined as "taking in, in all of our senses, the forest atmosphere." The program was established to encourage the populace to get out into nature, to literally bathe the mind and body in greenspace, and take advantage of public owned forest networks as a means of promoting health. Some 64 percent of Japan is occupied by forest, so there is ample opportunity to escape the megacities that dot its landscape.
QUANTUM HEALTH TIP: If you can't make it out to a local forest, park, greenspace, or greenhouse, and you're cut off from houseplants and flowers, use Clean Sweep to get you through the day. It de-stresses, and calms, as it neutralizes all forms of negative energies in the environment.
Yes, But Why Does Yoga Actually Work?
Now a group of researchers at Boston University School of Medicine believe they’ve discovered yoga’s secret. In an article published in the May 2012 issue of Medical Hypotheses journal under an impossibly long title, Chris Streeter, PhD, and her team hypothesize that yoga works by regulating the nervous system. And how does it do that? By increasing vagal tone—the body’s ability to successfully respond to stress.
Most of us don’t even know we have a vagus that needs toning, but we most certainly do. The vagus nerve, the largest cranial nerve in the body, starts at the base of the skull and wanders throughout the whole body, influencing the respiratory, digestive, and nervous systems. Often thought of as our "air traffic controller," the vagus nerve helps to regulate all our major bodily functions. Our breath, heart rate, and digestion—as well as our ability to take in, process, and make sense of our experiences—are all directly related to the vagus nerve.
We know when the vagus nerve is toned and functioning properly because we can feel it on different levels: Our digestion improves, our heart functions optimally, and our moods stabilize. Researchers hypothesize that it is vagal stimulation through yoga that improves these conditions.
To test their theory, the researchers investigated practices they believed would increase vagal tone. For example, they found that resistance breathing, such as ujjayi pranayama, increases the relaxation response, as well as heart rate variability (another marker of resilience). And a pilot study conducted on more experienced yogis showed that chanting Om out loud increased vagal tone and the relaxation response more than chanting it silently to oneself. Studies such as this one begin to reveal how different yogic practices impact human physiology in different ways.
QUANTUM HEALTH TIP: Similar clinical trials were done by naturopaths using our E-1 Stress Relief Formula on PTSD and acute traumas. E-1 caused marked changes in the physiology and electrical characteristics of those tested; calming the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems immediately. Excellent to have on hand for first aid!
Clearest Evidence Yet: We're in a Giant Hologram
"A fundamental conclusion of the new physics also acknowledges that the observer creates the reality. As observers, we are personally involved with the creation of our own reality. Physicists are being forced to admit that the universe is a 'mental' construction. Pioneering physicist Sir James Jeans wrote: 'The stream of knowledge is heading toward a non-mechanical reality; the universe begins to look more like a great thought than like a great machine. Mind no longer appears to be an accidental intruder into the realm of matter, we ought rather hail it as the creator and governor of the realm of matter. Get over it, and accept the inarguable conclusion. The universe is immaterial-mental and spiritual.'"
QUANTUM HEALTH TIP: Wrapping ones' head around such concepts is one way to create awe in your life, which has been shown to be highly beneficial in many ways both emotionally and physically. Amplify this effect by using our Meditation Elixirs.
Use the Life Energy Pack System
E-3 Is Now Available on 30-Day Auto-Ship!
Both sizes are available: 2 oz. travel size and the 4 oz. regular. You also receive a discount for ordering on our autoship program: $10.00 for 2 oz. travel size (reg. $13.00), and $19.00 for 4 oz. (reg. $25.00). Never run out just because you forgot to order. Discontinue at anytime (just send us an email or call). Also, remember we offer free shipping on orders of $75 or more, which applies to our autoship program. We look forward to making sure you always have E3 on hand! (MORE INFO)
"Stone of Clarity"
Emotionally: Imparts fearlessness, invincibility and fortitude. Clears emotional and mental pain, reduces fear and brings about new beginnings. Stimulates the imagination and inventiveness.
Mentally: Provides a link between the intellect and the higher mind. Brings clarity of mind and aids enlightenment.
Physically: May be useful for a broad range of brain conditions, brain tumors, problems with the pituitary and pineal glands, conditions of the mid-brain, other brain imbalances and left-right brain disorders including autism, dyslexia, epilepsy, physical coordination and visual problems. Traditionally used to possibly counteract poisons. May help glaucoma, clears sight.
Trinity Diamond Elixir is on sale for a month for 30% off with discount code DIA30 (enter the code in the indicated box as you checkout through the website shopping cart--offer good until 11/15/16).
Asking & Receiving: What Could Go Wrong?
We've all had it drilled into our wooden little heads since we were wee ones: "Ask and you shall receive", and for many of us, the full meaning of that simple phrase has escaped our complete comprehension for most of our lives.
I have to admit I do catch myself doing that now and then, but now that Marty has made a bigger deal of it, I see that my critical nitpicking was like putting a giant fire-breathing dragon at the entrance of my life with a big sign, "Perish those who enter this way." Yikes.
Again, ouch. I'm seeing that when the universe sends an answer via a person and you interpret that what you are hearing from them is stuff you already "know", then you're not receiving what you asked for. Instead, pick their brain--find out what it is they know that you don't that is the answer to what you've been asking for.
It's called magnetoreception, and it refers to the ability to perceive magnetic fields. Several animals use it to find their way over long distances by aligning themselves with the Earth’s magnetic field. Sea turtles. honeybees, spiny lobsters, dolphins, migratory birds, and more all have a magnetic compass which allows them to use the information that is coded into magnetic fields. According to Joe Kirschvink, the geophysicist at the California Institute of Technology who is currently testing humans for a magnetic sense, “it’s part of our evolutionary history. Magnetoreception may be the primal sense.”
The Institute of Noetic Sciences (IONS) scientist Dr. Garret Yount, along with collaborator Dr. Dawson Church, is doing a series of exciting experiments on the effects of Emotion Freedom Techniques (EFT) on biochemistry and gene expression. EFT is a noninvasive technique that uses elements of cognitive therapy and exposure therapy, and combines them with acupressure. It is one of several modalities that are considered “energy healing” techniques.
Laughter is a naturally enjoyable feeling that brings about emotional benefits, but it also has a number of physical advantages as well, a psychologist says. Shilagh Mirgain, a UW Health psychologist, said laughing out loud every day is helpful for stress reduction, tension relief and boosting the immune system, as well as providing self-expression in connecting with others.
We're overstocked on ENZYMES!
Lately I've been paying attention to what story I've been living. You'd think it would be obvious, just by looking around my life and noticing the patterns. But that doesn't account for habits of perception, and blind spots.
This selective awareness or filtering of evidence we use to justify our precious stories, is also the way we can change a story we do not want to live in anymore. Just as we ignored exceptions to the "rule" (that nothing comes easy, for example), we can now notice the exceptions and make THAT the evidence that our story is changing. Once we make ONE exception the rule, it all starts to shift. The trick is being able to SEE evidence contradicting our stories. 
