Here’s how to make a salve from dried herbs:
1. Take 1 cup of either Olive oil, Sesame oil, or Almond oil and stir in 1-2 oz of a dried herb (or herb combination).
2. Place the mixture in a pot over the stove.  Heat the mixture at low heat (between 100-140 degrees F) for 3-5 hours.  An alternative to heating the herb and oil together for 3-5 hours is to soak the herb in the oil for 3-4 weeks, preferably in a window in direct sunlight.
3. Strain into another pot on the stove.
4. Add about 1 oz of shaved beeswax per cup of oil. 
5. Place on low heat until the beeswax has melted.
6. To test the firmness of the salve, dip a metal spoon into the mixture then place it into the freezer for a few minutes.  If the salve is too runny, add more beeswax to harden it.  If it is too hard, add more oil to soften it.  Repeat until the consistency suits your purpose.
7. Lastly pour the mixture into an appropriate container, let it cool and harden, then use as desired.

You’d have to be a saint to sustain an entirely whole foods diet in our day and age, however.  Nonetheless, we all should aim for 75% of our meals being made from scratch (from whole foods).  Certain health conditions would benefit from an even higher percentage.  A healthy human body should be able to cope with a 75% pure – 25% manufactured diet.  The most popular fad diet today is the Paleolithic diet.  In my opinion the body should have the flexibility to be able to process grains.  If the person is unable to process grains, the person lacks flexibility in their physical health and improving one’s digestion should be the goal.  Our bodies should be able to cope with modifications as long as a whole foods’ diet is at its base.  And, if it isn’t, there are measures to be taken to strengthen the body so that it regains flexibility.  One of the measures to be taken is to go on a Paleolithic diet, but it should only be a temporary step toward the long-term solution of bringing flexibility back into one’s physical health.

Decreased flexibility in physical health comes from more than just a fortunate, or unfortunate as it may, lifestyle.  Environmental chemicals play a part in this too.  This body burden can come from normal metabolism when the body’s detoxification organs aren’t working properly as well.  Abnormal metabolism can be caused by allergies and nutritional deficiencies and they make the detoxification pathway sluggish.  A detoxification diet is one tool to strengthen the body.  It reduces inflammation, which is a common element in chronic illness, and it tonifies the detoxification pathway.  The detoxification pathway consists of the liver, digestive system, kidneys, lungs and skin.  In addition to a detoxification diet, specially targeted supplement and nutritional therapy can be used to cleanse and strengthen these organs. 

The body absorbs chemicals.  For the most part, it excretes water soluble chemicals, but it stores the fat soluble chemicals.  Fat soluble chemicals re-circulate under certain circumstances, such as during exercise or from the ingestion of certain medication and foods.  This is another reason to have supplement and nutritional therapy during detoxification; it helps the body get rid of these re-circulating chemicals rather than re-depositing them back in the body.

There are different levels of detoxification, but the most basic, which should accompany all levels of detoxification, includes a food elimination-type diet accompanied with fasting.  A detoxification diet repairs the body by letting it rest from an offending lifestyle and it provokes the body’s healing ability.

One should never undergo fasting without the advice of a physician or without knowing what you’re doing as it can be hazardous to your health if done improperly or without supervision.  There is a difference between fasting and starvation.  Fasting is for a specific purpose with a designed course to follow and benefits the health (or it is done with specific spiritual goals in mind as in some religions).  Lastly, there are some conditions that do not benefit from fasting.  So, it is wise to consult a physician and/or do your own research before going on a detoxification diet.

Please contact my office if you want to know what a detoxification diet can do for you.

The 12 Most Contaminated Foods are:
1. Peaches
2. Apples
3. Sweet Bell Pepper
4. Celery
5. Nectarines
6. Strawberries
7. Cherries
8. Pears
9. Imported Grapes
10. Spinach
11. Lettuce
12. Potatoes

And, by the way, go crazy eating these foods.  The 12 Least Contaminated Foods are:
1. Onions
2. Avocado
3. Sweet Corn (Frozen)
4. Pineapples
5. Mango
6. Asparagus
7. Sweet Peas (Frozen)
8. Kiwi Fruit
9. Bananas
10. Cabbage
11. Broccoli
12. Papaya

Keep in mind while reading this information that the solution is to live more in balance with our environment.  Anyone watch “Centennial,” the 1978 TV series based on the James Michener novel?  Living in balance with our environment is a big theme of that story and is not solely a granola-crunching idea but also an idea of anyone living close to the earth, cowboys, ranchers, native Americans, and even cows and farmed plants.  In essence, for health to exist in our bodies we have to look outside of ourselves.

In short of the major undertaking to care for and maintain our environment, here’s the best you can do to avoid chemical contamination:
1. Eat foods closest to their original form (whole grain, unprocessed foods, non-packaged foods, and foods cooked from vegetables and meat that come directly from growers whom respect soil composition and animal health).
2. Eat organic produce.  At the very least, avoid the dirty dozen (see next blog post).  And, eat 1/2 to 2/3 your plate in vegetables.
3. Eat grass-fed, free range (pasture-raised is best) meat, and minimize your meat consumption to 1/4 your dinner plate. 
4. Drink organic, hormone-free milk.
5. Do not eat farm-raised fish and anything labeled Atlantic salmon.  Atlantic salmon is a synonym for farm raised fish.
6. Use a water filter (and for some health conditions a shower filter), that not only excludes chlorine, but also lead, arsenic (esp in Seattle), asbestos, VOCs and other environmental chemicals, pesticides/herbicides, pharmaceutical medication, and unwanted organisms from your drinking water.  [See my future blog post comparing water filtration systems.]
7. Avoid ingesting synthetic chemicals yourself.  A good, shall I say, rule of thumb is if the ingredient list is longer than the width of your thumb, it’s probably not good for you.

Here are Liz’ highlights

Canned Tomatoes: Fredrick vom Saal, PhD, endocrinologist at University of Missouri, says the linings of tin cans contain bisphenol-A, a synthetic estrogen linked to heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and infertility.  While the chemical is in all linings of tin cans, acidity leaches it out into the food.   Tomatoes are one of the most acidic of foods in cans.

Corn-Fed Beef: According to a USDA/Clemson University study, grass-fed beef is higher in beta-carotene, Vit E, omega-3′s (anti-inflammatory), conjugated linoleic acid (important for weight maintenance and may be anti-cancer), calcium, magnesium, and potassium and is lower in omega-6′s (pro-inflammatory) and saturated fats (directly linked with cardiovascular disease).

Microwaved Popcorn: Olga Naidenko, PhD, Environmental Working Group scientist, says the chemicals that line the bag of microwaved popcorn may be linked to infertility and cancer.  Major manufacturers have agreed to phase out the use of one of the chemicals, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), by 2015.

Nonorganic Potatoes: Jeffrey Moyer, chair of the National Organic Standards Board, says these root vegetables absorb many chemicals that are in soil, and they are highly chemicalized during farming and marketing.

Farmed Salmon: According to David Carpenter, MD, director of the Institute for Health and the Environment and the University of Albany, farmed salmon is lower in Vit D and higher in contaminants (including carcinogens, PCBs, brominated flame retardants, and pesticides).  His 2004 fish contamination study concluded that “you can only safely eat one of these salmon dinners every 5 months without increasing your risk of cancer.”

Milk Produced with Artificial Hormones: Rick North, project director of the Campaign for Safe Food at the Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility and former CEO of the Oregon division of the American Cancer Society, says that recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH or rBST) given to cows increases the hormone insulin-like growth factor (IGF) and this comes out in the milk of animals.  High levels of  IGF-1 can contribute to certain cancers.  In other industrialized countries, rBGH/rBST is banned.

Conventional Apples: Mark Kastel, codirector of Cornucopia Institute (a farm-policy research group that supports organic foods), says apples are sprayed with large amounts of pesticides and are sprayed frequently.  He says, “Farm workers have higher rates of many cancers.”  And, high body burden of pesticides may be linked to Parkinson’s disease.

The 7 Foods that Experts Won’t Eat by Liz Vaccariello: http://shine.yahoo.com/healthy-living/the-7-foods-experts-wont-eat-547963.html

     Consciousness is not the elite fortress of the mind where the personality of uniqueness and individual preferences, hopes and desires, and feelings and behaviors seem to come from.  In fact, Eaglemann actually dethrones any notion of egocentrism.  At the bottom of this, Eaglemann argues that one of the few things consciousness seems to be needed for is to set goals for what should be burned into the circuitry of the brain.  This circuitry, he explains in the first part of his book, is responsible for most of our action–actions like riding a bicycle are performed by muscle memory that’s been built in so that consciousness doesn’t have to be involved and an action like “seeing” is more than just visual information hitting one’s eyes but instead is information that the brain has to make sense of (not the consciousness but the brain).  These are two examples out of many Eaglemann uses to demonstrate that the brain fills in gaps so that interpretation of external data and action are seemlessly woven together so that the story that you tell yourself makes sense to you.

         Previous exposure leads to much of the information we use to fill in the gaps.  When external input matches what the brain predicts, no consciousness is needed.  However, awareness is needed when unpredictable input doesn’t match internal expectations.  The brain is all about making processes the most efficient.  To do this, recognizing and forming patterns are important so that the brain doesn’t have to think so much.  The brain weaves stories together, just as a narrator does in storytelling, based on previous pattern formation.  “The brain works around the clock to stitch together a pattern of logic to our daily lives… Fabrication is one of the key businesses in which our brains engage” to get things to make sense. 

     Making sense doesn’t mean being in reality, being ethical, or even being congruent with the things and others around you, but it does mean the brain operates in a story telling fashion, not necessarily reliant on conscious memory or thought.  While this may raise your alarms, because who knows what story your mind could conjure up, the brain also has an area called the anterior cingluate cortex, which alerts the brain to contradictions.  As well, Eaglemann believes, the more subroutines that exist in an animal, the more necessary a CEO (i.e. the consciousness) is needed to direct the different parts and to mediate between subroutines that conflict.
     
     So, why am I, a homeopath, interested in this book?  It doesn’t prove that nanoparticles do affect physiology.  For that I will have to hightlight other information.  But, understanding human behavior and thought process is important for the practice of homeopathy.  The homeopathic process places large emphasis on understanding human behavior and experience and the story a person weaves for their self.  Books like Incognito help inform the homeopath of areas of the brain that are involved in illness based on interpretation and objective signs. 

     Homeopathy takes a larger view of illness than pharmaceutical-based medicine. To homeopaths, “illness” is truly what the word “dis-ease” implies; it is a lacking of ease. And mental characteristics, which are gleaned from knowing the story a person weaves for him or herself, play a big part into diagnosis and assessment of health and wellness.  While some of these “characteristics” would be classified as “symptoms” by modern medicine, many of them are much too subtle to be “pathology.”  To a homeopath, however, they point to the ways in which people suffer and guide us toward helping people live with more ease.

Here is one such recipe that I think you’ll agree is a delicious way to eat lentils.  Legumes (i.e. beans) are packed with fiber and 2/3 cup cooked lentils gives you about 10 grams of it!  So, eat plenty of legumes by finding delicious recipes that the whole family will want to eat.  Remember that lentils don’t need to be soaked then rinsed with clean water ahead of time like other legumes to reduce their potential to cause gas.  If you do get gas from eating legumes, this is one sign to make an appointment with me to rebalance your digestive system.  Please eat and be well!

Ingredients
1 onion peeled
Enough water to cover lentils in pan
2 2/3 cup lentils
1 cup olive oil
2 cloves garlic (1 peeled and 1 unpeeled)
2 slices bread
1 tomato
½ tsp paprika
1 sprig parsley

Steps:
1. Cut ½ the onion into larger pieces & ½ into finely chopped pieces.
2. Place the lentils, bay leaf, large pieces of onion, and 1 unpeeled garlic in a pan with the water.  Cover, bring to a boil, lower heat then simmer 1-2 hrs until lentils are tender.
3. Sauté bread until crisp & evenly golden, drain and set aside.
4. Keep the left-over oil (from sautéing the bread), add finely chopped onions and cook on low heat for 8 min until brown.  Add tomatoes & cook for another 10 min.  Remove from the heat & add the paprika.
5. Chop the peeled garlic, parsley, and bread then mix with the lentils. 
6. Cook for 10 min. then serve.

Recipe gleaned from 1080 Recipes by Simone and Inés Ortega.

First you need Bette Hagman’s Featherlight Rice Flour Mix
White Rice flour (2 cups)
Tapioca flour (2 cups)
Cornstarch or Arrowroot powder (2 cups)  (I use Arrowroot powder.)
Potato flour (2 teaspoons)
Steps: Mix thoroughly

Biscochito Recipe
6 cups Featherlight Rice Flour Mix
1/4 tsp salt
3 tsp baking powder
4 1/2 tsp xanthum gum
2 cups vegetable shortening (This must be warmed to room temperature.  I use the Spectrum brand.)
1 1/2 cup sugar
2 tsp anise seeds
2 eggs
1/4 cup brandy
Steps:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Farenheit.
2. Mix flour, baking powder, salt and xanthum gum.
3. In a seperate bowl, cream shortening, sugar and anise seeds.
4. Beat eggs and brandy into shortening and sugar mixture.
5. Slowly add flour mixture into shortening and sugar mixture.  You may not use all the flour mixture so hold 1/2 cup aside.  In the end, the dough should be dry and easy to mold while not sticking to your fingers.
6. Roll out on a floured board until 1/4-1/2 inch thickness.
7. Cut into shapes
8. Place cookies on oiled baking sheets.
9. Dust with a sugar and cinnamon mixture.
10. Bake for 10-15 min at 350 degrees Farenheit until browned.

According to homeopathic thinking, a healthy person should respond to colds and flus with mild symptoms allowing a person to continue to function or with a short intense phase of symptoms lasting about a day.  Easily caught colds and flus, recurrent colds and flus, and prolonged intense discomfort are all signs that the body is struggling with a run down immune system or chronic illness.  If you find yourself experiencing these signs of chronic illness, make an appointment with me to increase your body’s resistance to colds and flus.  My work focuses on strengthening the body so that it’s less prone to illness, including contagious disease.

Many people in developed countries have chronic illness whether the symptoms are mild, moderate or severe.  There are many reasons for this, including hereditary factors, environmental toxicity, damage caused by pharmaceutical medication, and poor nutrition.  An aging body is not in and of itself a reason for chronic illness.  Homeopaths believe that “catching” contagious illness relies on susceptibility.  This is not to say that a person who believes they aren’t susceptible should expose themselves to contagious illness, but it is saying that a body that lacks resistance allows those viruses and bacteria to overcome their system and major symptoms occur.  It is also not saying that a healthy person should not occasionally become sick with a cold and flu, but even in these cases, it’s likely the immune system is run down at that time.  The emphasis for homeopaths is not the viruses and bacteria that cause infection but it’s the strength of the body that resist infection.  From this perspective, I do not recommend the use of flu shots, except for some people with very specific health conditions.

So, what can you do in the interim before you body has gained strength?  Here are some supportive steps to consider.

1. Vitamins
Vit C: Whether you get this through citrus fruits, bell peppers or supplementation, Vit C is a very potent antioxidant that protects and increases white blood cells and antibodies, which fight infections.  http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/vitamins/vitaminC/
Zinc: Zinc plays an important role in the immune system.  While zinc toxicity can easily be met, sucking on zinc lozenges every 2 hours during the time of a cold will keep you away from the risk while improving your immune response.  Oysters are the food highest in zinc that you can eat.  Beef, crab, turkey and chicken are also good sources but considerably lower than oysters.
Vit D: In the northwest where direct sun exposure is decreased or anywhere else where people wear sunblock from the moment they walk outdoors, and because of the predominance of mal-absorption in society, Vit D is often deficient.  Be sure to get tested for a deficiency in Vit D which can affect your immune system.  Repair your digestion.  And, during the warm, sunny months, put sunscreen on after 15-20 min of sun exposure, not before going outside.  Don’t forgo sun screen all together as you don’t want to increase the risk of skin cancer.  Cod liver oil, Salmon, Herring and canned sardines, and fortified milk are some of the best ways to get Vit D into your body short of supplementation.
Vit A: While Vit A is required for a normal functioning immune system, it should not be used without the advice of a physician because of its potential to cause birth defects.  Carotenoids convert to retinol, a form of Vit A in the body.  The best source of carotenoids are yellow, orange, red and green vegetables.  Generally the more colored the vegetable is the more carotenoid it has in it.

2. Herbs
Note: herbs have short half lives so they must be taken frequently.
Elderberries or Elderflowers fights bacteria.  The plant is a decongestant and it increases the heat of the body (and causes a sweat to break) so as to fight off invading organisms.  Many stores have preparations made from these.
Echinacea stimulates the immune system (and should not be used without the specific advice from a physician in those who have an overactive immune system or immune compromised condition).  It is most effective when taken at the first sign of a cold or flu (especially in the first minutes of experiencing symptoms) before the virus or bacteria has taken hold of the immune system.
Chamomile is very useful for fevers and infections.  It can also be very useful for the insomnia experienced during colds and flus.  Packaged chamomile tea is in every store.
Garlic is incredibly antiviral and is an antioxidant.  It helps fevers by increasing one’s ability to sweat.
Ginger activates the immune system and is an antioxidant.  It can be very useful for the nausea felt in flus.
Mullein fights off infection, decreases inflammation and acts as a decongestant.  It is most useful for soothing respiratory tracts when the coughs are dry, harsh and irritated.
Stinging Nettle is a beautiful herb that helps a person transition into the next season through its immune stimulating and anti-bacterial activity.
Thyme is highly antiseptic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory especially to the respiratory tract.  It also increases perspiration to bring down fevers.  Never use the essential oil without the advice of a physician.

3. Homeopathic Remedies
Note: It would fill an all day class to cover all the homeopathic remedies for colds and flus.  The following list describes a few of the most important ones.  If your symptoms match the symptoms of one of these remedies, it may be a good remedy to relieve your symptoms.  A good homeopathic medicine will eliminate all symptoms in 1-3 days along with immediate relief, depending on when in the process it’s started.  If your symptoms don’t match one of these remedies or you try a few but don’t get relief, make an appointment with me for a more specific prescription.

Sinus problems
Kali-bichromicum: This remedy is specific to nasal congestion that is thick, sticky and even stringy.  The person can even have complete blockage of their sinuses with a nasal tone to the voice and a headache at the forehead.  They tend to be quite serious, pragmatic and/or rule oriented during their cold.
Allum cepa: The nasal discharge is profuse and burns the nose.  The nose may or may not be blocked.  The eyes may be watering too but they don’t burn.  The person is better in the open air.

Sore throats
Note: It is always wise to get a strep culture for any sore throat to rule out a strep infection, especially in children.  There is no need to risk heart disease caused by a simple sore throat.
Aconite: Is a great remedy for the very early stages of a cold when the person has been exposed to dry cold wind.  The person has a sudden onset of symptoms.  Their throat is bright red and it burns.  Their face is flushed and they have a high fever.  They are thirsty for cold drinks.  They are restless and anxious, maybe even fearful.
Belladonna: The sore throat comes on rapidly.  It mostly is a right-sided sore throat and the pain is burning.  The person can’t stand the slightest touch on their throat and so any swallowing or motion (even moving around) hurts.  This person will often have a flushed face and dilated pupils.  Lights and sounds may be too much to bare.  They have a high fever and feel quite hot in temperature too.  They are thirstless.
Lachesis: The sore throat is left-sided or begins on the left and spreads from there.  The tonsils are very swollen and can be dark in color.  There is a constricted feeling in the throat.  The person doesn’t like anything touching their throat.  They are worse with warm drinks and better with cold drinks.  In general, they are hot in temperature too.  It can be easier to swallow solids than it is swallowing liquids.  The personality of the sick person tends to be intense and talkative.  They may even be suspicious.
Mercurius: The sore throat often produces ulcers in the back of the throat.  The tongue is coated, appears dirty and the teeth leave tongue imprints.  The person has increased saliva.  Their breath is foul and offensive.  Their personality during the cold is unstable going from hypersensitive to domineering, they can’t concentrate and they are restless.

Ear infections
Chamomilla: Extremely painful ear infections or the person is very sensitive to the pain.  They are worse touching their ears, at night, and in cold air.  One cheek may be red and the other pale.  The person is greatly irritable and cross.  They want to be rocked or carried around yet they can want one thing then reject it immediately.
Pulsatilla: The ears feel so full that they will burst.  They are usually warm in temperature and want cold open air.  Gentle motion makes them feel better.  If they have nasal symptoms, the mucus will be yellowish green.  The personality during the cold is tender, weepy and looking for affection.

Flu
Influenzinum: This combination remedy is made every autumn for the coming years’ strain of the flu.  Instructions are in fint print on the Boiron labels.
Occillococcinum: Many people have great results with this remedy for the flu when symptoms are caught in time.  Boiron gives exact instructions on its use.
Arsenicum: The person often has nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.  They have chills and shakes.  They have great thirst but can only take liquids in small sips.  Their personality is restlessly anxious and they need people around at all times to comfort them.
Bryonia: The most distinct symptoms of Bryonia are severe pains that are worse with the slightest movement.  They are quite irritable and want to be left alone.  They think about work a lot.
Gelsemium: The person is very weak and has a great feeling of heaviness.  Their weakness causes them to tremble.  They have great chills or their chills alternate with flushes of heat.  Their personality is timid and cowardly.  They feel they can’t face a task they must do.

(That means that I’m not talking here about micro-injuries that occur when muscles are stretched and need to reform, organ injuries from chronic illness or traumatic injuries, mental injuries when pressure exceeds built up confidence, and major acute injuries such as major car accidents or surgeries.  All these topics reach far outside the ballpark we are in with this blog post.)

After you suffer a minor or moderate injury, first of all, use ICE.  I for ice, C for compression, E for elevation.  Do this for the first 36 hours.  Thereafter, use contrast hydrotherapy: alternately soak the body part in very hot then very cold water 3 times, 3 times a day.  This alone can cut healing time in half. 

Next, eat well. I mean really well: 
1. Load up on antioxidants, like Vit C rich foods (fresh oranges and grapefruits along with the juice made from them, organic strawberries, red peppers, and cooked broccoli), Vit A rich foods (tuna, sardines, herring, carrots, cantelope, broccoli, red peppers, squash, and tomatos), Vit E rich foods (whole grains and nuts and green leafy vegetables), Vit B6 rich foods (whole grains, some fortified grains, potatoes with the skin, legumes, bananas, egg yolk) and omega-3 rich foods (salmon, flax seed oil, walnuts). 
2. Eat high quality protein frequently, such as fish, cage-free eggs, and organic, grass-fed meat. 
3. Eat your calcium (milk and cheese if you tolerate dairy, bok choy, kale, broccoli, fortified fruit juice). 
4. Eat your iron (beef, bison, oysters, black-strap molasses, firm tofu). 
5. Eat your copper (oysters, clams, nuts and seeds, lentils). 
6. Eat your manganese (caffeinated or decaffeinated black tea, blueberries, mussels, and clams). 
Note: There are dangers to taking some of these nutrients in supplement form.  For specific nutrient advice, please call the office to schedule a visit with me.

Lastly, use homeopathic products. 
1. Topical use: Traumeel and Topricin topical gels and creams are two great products. 
2. Internal use: Choose from one of the homeopathic remedies listed below.  Boiron is sold in many stores.  Taking the 30C strength as prescribed (in fine print) on the label will speed healing, decrease pain, and reduce additional damage that inflammation can cause. 
Arnica is really good for bruises and blows where swelling and red-blue-purple-black discoloration occurs.  If the injury has affected the mental/emotional level, the person doesn’t want company and wants to appear to be strong and not hurt.  They feel bruised, sore, and beaten.  Touch and movement hurts.  Things they sit on (like the bed or chairs) feel hard.
Bryonia is a remedy specific to joint injuries where any movement, even the slightest, is agonizing.  The pain is intense.  Applied pressure is too much.  The injured person is not friendly but instead is irritable and only can think about work and business. 
Rhus-tox is a remedy that’s called the rusty-gate remedy.  The condition is often caused by a strain or overexertion.  The pain is arthritis-like with stiffness and aching, especially on first movement or over-exertion.  The injured person is restless, and changing positions seems to help alleviate discomfort.
Ruta is a remedy for the reinjury of past injuries or chronic injuries like tendonitis.  There is a horrible stiffness and the part feels weak.  Cold, wet weather makes the symptoms worse.
Hypericum is a remedy for the injury of nerves and nerve-rich areas, such as the spine, fingers, toes, head, and teeth.  The pains are sharp and shooting.
Note: Homeopathic remedies are highly specific.  If you try a few remedies and they don’t seem to help, you need a more specific remedy.  For specific homeopathic advice, please call the office to schedule a visit with me.  Also, if you’re under constitutional homeopathic treatment, consult with your homeopathic doctor before using acute homeopathic remedies.

In addition the article reports that Stanford University has opened a performance and wellness dining hall where students can chose from dishes coded for “Sports Performance,” “Brain Performance,” and “Anti-inflammatory and Enhanced Immunity.”  Many suggestions in the article are common knowledge in health-conscious communities, such as eating organic produce and meat, increasing your omega-3′s by eating free-range, grass-fed, cage-free meat and protein, moderating your meat intake, eating a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, reducing or eliminating your intake of sugar, chosing alternatives to alcohol, and limiting (or eliminating for some) products with gluten in it. 

But the article also strikes a crucial point: Athletes (as well as anyone) must adapt to those tastes: “You can’t go from junk food right to tofu and salads.”  Instead tastes must gradually shift: “Instead of fried chicken and sweet potato pie, you roast the chicken and serve it with baked yams.” 

This last point about choices and tastes speaks to my particular interests in sports psychology, the process of decision-making, and habit reformation.  If you’re interested in changing how you eat to perform better, I can help you with the basics of nutrition while strengthening your mental edge.