Another simple way to understand hypnosis is to think of it as an escape mechanism that is built into our behavior. We all possess this mechanism. It is often called the fight/flight reaction. Hypnosis is a state of mind that allows us to escape from any overstimulating experience, such as falling in love, stressful driving conditions, extreme climate condition (heat or cold,) any intense anxiety or fear, intense physical pain or discomfort. To escape these we can enter a trance state of mind.

Hypnosis works with the power of the subconscious mind to change habits and behaviors.  The subconscious mind is considered to be the source or root of many of our behaviors, emotions, attitudes and motivations.  Hypnosis is believed to be a powerful tool for accessing the subconscious mind and creating improvements in our lives. The basic idea of hypnosis is to influence the subject with his/her own suggestions. All suggestions have to be within the subject’s belief system otherwise the mind will reject it.

A hypnotist is a person trained to trigger the hypnotic state and deliver the message to subconscious mind. At Starry Brook Natural Medicine we use Kappasinian hypnosis (http://www.hypnosis.edu/).  Prior to hypnosis we will test your suggestibility;  suggestibility is the way you learn and take in information.  Some people respond best to direct suggestion, while others respond best to indirect suggestion. Most of us can respond to both direct and indirect suggestions but generally have a preference for one or the other. This important tool helps us to trigger hypnosis for all of our clients.

While you go into hypnotic state a series of physiological changes will happen, some of them you will be aware of some of them your hypnotist will bring to your attention. Once you in hypnotic state your hypnotherapist will assist you to relax, release any tension, create a positive image of yourself and give you tools for your self-improvement goals.

Hypnosis can be used for wide variety life obstacles such as weight loss, smoking cessations, habit control, stress reduction, fears and phobias, improve your relationship, sport performance, built up your confidence, self-esteem, and much, much more. But you don’t have to have any issue at all. You might just simply want to work on your well-being and make the best out of your life.

Elderberry can be used to treat symptoms of the flu or as daily preventative immune support. We often recommend one (1) teaspoon of elderberry syrup every morning for children over age 6 during flu season to protect from potential exposure. For younger children, please check with Dr. Delaplane.  Adults require higher doses and may need additional support such as Vitamin C, Vitamin D, and Active Hexose Correlated Compound (AHCC).

If you do not have a plan in place for your child to strengthen their immune system, please schedule a consult with Dr. Delaplane, Starry Brook’s pediatric specialist.  She will create a winter health prevention plan tailored to your child’s health needs. Elderberry syrup does not work the same as the flu vaccine; it needs to be taken on a regular basis to prevent viral infections.

The best prevention guidelines for the flu:

1. Avoid contact with people who are sick. Symptoms of the flu include: fever, fatigue, chills, cough, sore throat, runny nose, body aches, headaches, possibly diarrhea or vomiting.
2. If you experience these symptoms call your doctor to seek treatment immediately. Treatments for influenza are most effective when started within 24-48 hours of onset of symptoms.
3. Stay at home from work or school when experiencing flu symptoms and at least 1-2 days after fever is gone without fever-lowering medication.
4. Cover your cough! Cough into upper arm, sleeve or tissue. Droplets from your mouth and nose spread infection to others.
5. Always wash hands after coughing or sneezing, blowing nose, before eating or preparing food, after arriving home and after using bathroom. Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
6. Avoid sugary foods – these can slow down the body’s natural immune response.

References:

http://www.thorne.com/altmedrev/.fulltext/10/1/51.pdf

http://www.google.org/flutrends/us/#US-NH

http://www.cdc.gov/features/fluactivity/

http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/lifestyle-guide-11/supplement-guide-elderberry

Zakay-Rones Z, Varsano N, Zlotnik M, et al. Inhibition of several strains of influenza virus in vitro and reduction of symptoms by an elderberry extract (Sambucus nigra L.) during an outbreak of influenza B Panama. J Altern Complement Med 1995;1:361-369.

Zakay-Rones Z, Thom E, Wollan T, Wadstein J. Randomized study of the efficacy and safety of oral elderberry extract in the treatment of influenza A and B virus infections. J Int Med Res 2004;32:132-140.

• Clinics – expert specialized medical care
• Research – cutting-edge investigation into treatments and cures
• Support – help obtaining equipment and coping with challenges
• Camp - a barrier-free week of fun, friendship and laughter for kids

Help us reach (and surpass!) Bryan’s goal.  We look forward to tipping back a cold one at Red Hook with you at the end of the ride!

How to Help:

Riding is the easy part. (Cheering Bryan on is even easier!) It’s the fundraising that can be difficult.  But with your help, you can help us reach and surpass our goal. We’re almost at the fundraising finish line!

1. Visit Bryan’s secure fundraising page.  This will automatically send a receipt to your email for tax purposes.
2. Make a check payable to Trans NH Bike Ride and mail it to Starry Brook, I’ll pass it to Bryan.

2012 Ride Dedication

Your donation will go a long way in the fight against neuromuscular disease!

This year’s ride is dedicated to Anthony Jennings. He was diagnosed at 9 years old with Becker Muscular Dystrophy. “Can’t” is not in Anthony’s vocabulary, but rather “we’ll find a way.”  True to form, despite the difficulties of BMD (needing assistance to pour drinks, get out of a chair, or walk from one end of school to the other), Anthony is a member of the PVC Pirates FIRST Robotics team, a recent inductee into the National Honor Society, Manager of the LHS Varsity Baseball team, and the radio voice of Lancer football.

RIDE DETAILS

Event Date: June 22 – 24

Start: Canadian border

End: Portsmouth, NH

I’m counting on YOU to join me in congratulating all of the riders at 1:30pm as they are escorted by fire truck to the finish line at Red Hook Brewery.

Dr. Fetissov and Dr. Dechelotte suggest that the microbial environment of the gastrointestinal (GI) system  may represent a “”key causative factor triggering production of certain neuropeptide-reactive autoAbs, which in turn will modulate corresponding peptidergic signaling resulting in modification of eating-related behaviors and eventually eating disorders.”

Another study, by Dr. K.M. Neufeld and colleagues at McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont., indicates that intestinal microbiota plays a role in the development of the central nervous system and behavior. They evaluated the behavioral characteristics of germ-free (think of mice with no normal intestinal flora) mice and specific pathogen-free (healthy)  adult mice. The germ-free mice showed lowered levels of anxiety, however, they engaged in risky behavior more frequently and for longer periods of time than did healthy mice (specific pathogen-free mice). Germ-free mice also exhibited an up-regulation of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus, as well as down-regulation of 5HT1A receptors and NMDA receptor expression, all of which are directly related to the stress response and to emotional behavior.  (Neurogastroenterol. Motil. 2011;23:255-64).

Not only is there a link between gut microbiota and behavior/stress, but stress in turn, affects the gut microbial environment- a two-way street. A study published by Dr. Michael T. Bailey and his colleagues indicates that social stress can have a profound impact on the population of various intestinal microbiota. The researchers used a form of social stress  known to function as a chronic social stressor. They found that exposure to this stressor decreased the number of bacteria of the genus Bacteroides, but also increased the number of bacteria in the genus Clostridium.  Stress also increased levels of interleukin-6, a pro-inflammatory cytokine whose expression is known to increase as a result of stress, and Monocyte chemotactic protein-1, which recruits monocytes to injured sites and whose expression is regulated by stress.  However, when mice were treated with antibiotics (to redue the number of microbes) prior to social stress stressors, the mice did not show increased interleukin-6 or MCP-1 level. These results suggest that increases in cytokines because of stressors are dependent on microbiota (Brain Behav. Immun. 2011;25:397-407).

The few examples I have provided here are encouraging.  I would like to see further clinical studies on probiotics and mood.  I encourage patients to evaluate their gut flora through clinical lab tests when natural remedies for stress, anxiety and depression (5-HTP, GABA) or prescriptive medicines (Prozac, Lexapro, Valium, Wellbutrin, etc.) fail to provide optimal results.

View all my reviews

Bringing the power of touch and healing to stressed out work-warriors on the Seacoast.

Starry Brook published it’s fifth newsletter last week.  If you haven’t yet signed up, be sure to click on the green tab “Sign Up For Newsletter.”  We look forward to hearing from YOU with article requests or healthy tips to share with others.

You can see our newsletter here: http://conta.cc/nxLIje

Currently, there is an over-reliance on pharmaceuticals; Healthcare Providers need to recognize the strengths and weaknesses of medication for anxiety and depression.  Additionally, many patients struggle with the slow gains in therapy, not to mention the cost and challenges with adequate insurance coverage.

In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), we connect the mind and body. TCM is not only highly effective in treating emotional problems, but addresses physical challenges as well. When I treat a physical complaint, I often find a corresponding emotional/spiritual disharmony. Conversely, while treating emotional problems, there often seems to be a corresponding physical component. Therefore, acupuncture is an effective way to address the whole person.

Acupuncture is a 5000 year old treatment under the larger umbrella of TCM that addresses the body, mind, emotions and spirit. It is a holistic medicine with roots in China and includes therapies such as herbs, massage, acupuncture, and nutrition. The goal is to create harmony by balancing various meridians in the body.  Meridians are defined as channels of energy in the body.  It is theorized today that acupuncture works because these meridians and points intersect at key points in the body where the nervous and lymphatic systems meet.

In TCM (as well as other mind-body therapies) it is believed that “intellect” and “feeling” reside in all the cells of the body. If a person is depressed, TCM views this as the result of deficient or stagnant energy, or imbalance of yin and yang (the two polar opposite forces of which all things are comprised). This imbalance can take many forms, and is ultimately evaluated by the acupuncturist through an ongoing evaluation process which encompasses observation of posture, gait, demeanor, skin tone, brightness of eyes, voice, smell, tongue and pulse diagnosis, palpation and asking about symptoms and history.

The experience of having acupuncture is comfortable, relaxing and energizing. The needles are hair thin, sterile and generally painless and never used twice. There may be a brief soreness or pulling sensation which we interpret as activating the energy within a meridian.  Our soft bed has a warmer underneath soft, fluffy sheets to maintain the right body temperature and increase your comfort.  Some patients change into a pair of boxer shorts (both men and women) and a soft tee – this allows Dr. Conte to access various points while protecting your physical privacy.

My approach in treating depression and anxiety naturally is to perform a thorough initial evaluation, offer a complete treatment plan, and check-in with patients during each visit to ensure the best treatment.   A session can take between 45 minutes and an hour and a quarter.

Like many of my patients, you may respond well to natural remedies for stress, depression, and anxiety.   To review studies on acupuncture for anxiety click here.  To learn more about studies on acupuncture for depression, click here.