Visual evidence of the power of prayer, gratitude and appreciation

Dr. Masaru Emoto, a visionary researcher from Japan received certification from the Open International University as a Doctor of Alternative Medicine. Subsequently he was introduced to the concept of micro cluster water in the US and Magnetic Resonance Analysis technology. The quest thus began to discover the mystery of water.

Continuing in this stream of awareness, Dr Emoto began to study the impact of altering water by various factors of vibration and consciousness. He studied water that had been altered by music - healing music, classical music, heavy metal music - and so forth.

And the crystalline pictures reveal how water responds to these influences ... into complex arrangements of crystalline beauty. This begins to reveal that water is alive - it is conscious and responds to applied force by a rearrangement of its inner crystalline properties.

Inspired by these revelations, he decided to study the impact of human consciousness on water and its crystalline order.

Through repeatable experiments Dr. Emoto demonstrated that human thoughts and emotions can alter the molecular structure of water. Now, for the first time, there is physical evidence that the power of our thoughts can change the world within and around us.

He found that water that had been consciously altered by the simple imprinting of a word of intent upon the water would change. Water that was imprinted by love, gratitude, and appreciation, responded by the development of complex beauty, and water that was mistreated by negative intentions became disordered and lost its magnificent patterning. In fact, it often took on grotesque forms of resonance.

Photo 1	Photo 2	Photo 3

He experimented first with water from a pure source in Japan. The picture revealed a beautiful crystalline form. (Photo 1) He then did the same thing with water from a nearby polluted river. The result was a muddy, smeared pattern with very little structure. (Photo 2) He then asked a priest from a temple to offer a prayer to the polluted water sample and repeated the experiment out of curiosity. To his surprise, another beautiful crystalline structure appeared. (Photo 3)

Photo 4	Photo 5	Photo 6

This experiment was repeated many times over with the same result. The researcher then exposed water samples to different types of music. Classical music always reflected beautiful patterns, (photo 4) whereas heavy metal or rock and roll created distorted, formless, smudged images, (photo 5) as if these types of music had destroyed the delicate equilibrium of the molecules.

He continued experimenting, this time by writing words on pieces of paper and taping them to a clear glass container to see if anything happened.

He tried using positive words like "Love" and "Thank you" (photo 6) and every time noticed a beautiful and delicate crystalline pattern. He tried "You Make Me Sick. I Will Kill You" (photo 7) and each time observed distorted, frightening, muddied patterns. He even experimented with names like "Gandhi" "Mother Teresa" (photo 8) and "Hitler" (photo 9) and the same kind of results occurred.

Photo 7	Photo 8	Photo 9

Photo 10

After much experimentation, Dr. Emoto discovered that the most powerful combination of thoughts in terms of capacity to transform was that of "Love and Gratitude." (Photo 10)

What makes this discovery so amazing is that we live on a planet covered by more water than landmass, and that the human body is largely composed of water. So if we have the power to change the structure of the medium we are made of by simply producing positive though patterns, we can restore not only our own health but that of everyone around us, and even the planet itself, with our every thought.

Think about what giving thanks and praying before a meal can do to your health. I used to believe that it was a good way to stop the mental business of the day and put myself into a more receptive space. Now I know that even the food I am about to eat will also be transformed.

Source : mercola.com / spiritofmaat.com

Dying in my place

About a week ago, someone told me that the spouse died in my place. This person's spouse died and that's why I am alive now. I got over my initial shock and tried to reason, but this person was adamant.

True, in Jan/Feb last year, I was very weak and was more dead than alive. My onco thought I was a goner and that was the impression given to my family members. The hospice staff who saw me probably also didn't expect me to pull through.

I supposed I was the only one who didn't think I was going to die, especially when I was finally not oxygen-dependent and managed to leave the onco ward by walking out instead of being carried out in a box.

But that was in Jan/Feb last year. This person's spouse died suddenly in July last year. By July, I was already done with chemo, and I was on the mend. So, how could that person have died in my place.

I don't know how this conclusion came about, but I think it's sheer stuff and nonsense.

If my time was up, and I have to die, so be it. I definitely don't wish for anybody, good or bad, to die in order that I can survive.

My religious master had told me that my time wasn't up yet. I was on ayurvedic medicine and I had faith in the ayurvedic master. I was also on another alternative medicine. There were so many people praying for my recovery. I am sure that none of them would have prayed for someone else to be sacrificed in my place. Surely, I am not that great a person to deserve this.

It sounded like a great sacrifice and a glorious one too, but, sorry to say, I definitely was not the beneficiary. I am just glad that that person did not die in Jan/Feb last year, otherwise I may have to live with the thought that I could have robbed a family of a member and that's why my life was spared. This is so irrational and utterly ridiculous.

Reflection - anger management

My block has a rain shelter for people to board and alight from vehicles without getting wet. This shelter was added only in the last few years and unfortunately it is at an angle to the corner units in my block, mine included. Drivers have a tendency to stop and wait there with their engines running., and we end up having exhaust fumes coming into our units through the windows of the master bedroom, the kitchen and the bathrooms. This is despite there having a 'no waiting' sign.

This afternoon, a lorry pulled up there and the driver left the engine running while he chatted with a female companion in the cool comfort of the airconditioned driver's cab.

When the driver did not drive off or switch off the engine after a while, I went down and told him to do so in an agitated manner. He promptly complied without any protest.

While coming back to my unit, I realised that I had allowed my irritation at his inconsiderate behaviour to get the better of me.

On reflecting on my action, I realised that there are people who are engrossed with themselves and who may not be aware of their surroundings, and the effect their actions have on others.

This was not the first time that I had gone down to tell drivers to switch off their engines, and there are those who argued that it was only for a short while.

Still I ought to have better control of my anger. I am aware that, when I confront a person in that manner, I run the risk of getting a similar reaction in return, and the consequence could be an open confrontation, which would definitely be bad for all involved. And yet, I noticed that whenever something like this happens, I usually react with irritation, especially when I am reminded of the effect it will have on my children. I always regret when it is over.

I have been thinking, instead of trying to control my anger, I should remind myself to accept the fact that not everyone is conscious of their actions, that they need gentle reminders to raise their level of consciousness. Maybe, I might have better control of the situation if I practise acceptance first, then perhaps anger management could be more achievable.

So, remember, don't agitate myself to death. Remember, I am in a superior position if I can accept others' shortcomings.

Qigong boosts immunity - updated 25 Jul 2009

I moved this post as I have updated it.

My qigong and taiji master taught me a form of qigong to improve blood circulation and boost the body's immune system.

Updated 25 Jul 2009 :
Before beginning, lift the tip of the tongue to touch the palate (roof of the mouth) and hold it in that position until the end of the session. This is normally done in qigong and taiji practice.

Stand with both feet parallel to each other and apart according to the shoulder's width.

Knees slightly bent.

Chin slightly down so that the head and neck is in a straight line and the head is not tilted back.

Raise both arms to about waist level and extended forward. Spread out the fingers of both hands and always ensure that the middle fingers are fully stretched.

Lean the body slightly forward (at the hips) so that the weight is on the front part of the soles, and no weight is on the heels. If this is done correctly, the calf muscles will feel the strain. Make sure the toes are spread out and not curled up.

Visualise the 'qi' from the soles moving up the body, to the neck, the head, then down to the nose, the chin, to the 'tan dian' (acupoint about 3 finger-width below the navel), and down to the heels again. Continue doing this visualisation of the 'qi' moving up and down, like in a circuitous course, from the soles all the way up the back to the head and down the front to the soles again.

Hold this position for 20 minutes. The whole body is expected to perspire.

Do this everyday. Start with 10 minutes initially if one cannot hold this position for 20 minutes, for example, weak legs.

Updated 25 Jul 2009 :
Note : I felt this helps bowel movements too. Try doing it and find out yourself.

An act by humans

I received the following from E in Thailand. It is beyond comprehension and imagination that human beings, at the top of the animal kingdom, are capable of such cruel acts. I wonder if the guilty ones can go about their daily lives with a clear conscience after seeing how the poor dog has suffered at their hands.

Click on the word 'untitled' in the squares to view the pictures, but be warned that the pictures are very shocking.

.........

Dear all animal lover friends

My message today brings with it some really heart wrenching images but I just have to share it with all of you as unpleasant as they may be. It's sent by a friend of Bhada. I hope you could say a little prayer for this poor dog to help her with a full recovery.

The victim is a female pregnant dog. She was brutally slashed repeatedly resulting in her loosing 4 of her babies and suffering from a fractured spine, not to mention the angry wounds all over. She's found and sent to one of the best animal hospitals here in Bangkok. Bless the kind soul who came to her aid quick enough, failing which, she'ld have succumbed to her injuries. It's beyond imagination how someone could inflict such an inhuman act on this poor innocent dog. What has she done to deserve this? I can't think of any valid reason for someone to become so brutally cruel except that probably she may have provoked the attacker by threatening to bite which I strongly believe it's an act of self defense for her unborn puppies.

Being an animal lover, we can fully emphatise with the deep suffering this innocent mummy dog's going through and may all your prayers give her faith and strength to overcome this adversity. It's so sad that she's all alone nursing her pain and loss as she's only a street dog, nary a comforting pat or stroke from her owner to soothe her suffering. As I'm writing to all of you, I couldn't help wiping away my tears.

Anyway, those of you with your lovely, royally spoit 'sons' and/or 'daughters', give them a hug on my behalf !

E

Attachment(s) from duan soleiluna

5 of 5 Photo(s)

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ช่วยเหลือสุนัข (แค่ส่งต่อก็ได้บุญแล้ว)
ใจร้าย ทำได้แม้กระทั่งหมาท้อง..........
โปรดข่วยสุนัขบาดเจ็บ เพราะโดนคนใจบาปทำร้าย
เป็นรูปน้องหมาที่น่าสงสารที่สุดเท่าที่เคยเห็นมา
โดนฟันเป็นแผลยาวที่หลังและลำตัว กระดูกสันหลังหัก
อาการสาหัส ตอนโดนทำร้าย แท้งลูกไป 4 ตัว ยังไม่รู้ว่ามีลูกค้างอยู่ใน
ท้องรึเปล่า
คนทำคงทำไปเพราะสะใจ หรือยังไงก็ไม่ทราบ ทั้งๆที่เค้าไม่ได้ทำร้ายใครและ
กำลังท้องอยู่ด้วย ลูกๆของเค้าต้องตายหมด
ชีวิตประจำวันปกติ ก็อยู่กันอย่างลำบากอยู่แล้ว ยังต้องมาเจอแบบนี้อีก
หากใครเมตตาต้องการช่วยเหลือสุนัขตัวนี้ ให้ติดต่อที่รายการ ร่วมด้วย
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Life's therapy

A friend introduced an old lady, in her seventies, to me recently. She is independent and living on her own in a one-room flat rented from the government.

While we were at her place, she had mentioned that her washing machine had broken down. Dorcas was helping with her laundry once a week (I think) when her machine was down. But sometimes she could not wait for Dorcas and wanted to do some washing on her own. It inconvenienced her as her legs were giving her trouble.

I approached H, an old friend of more than 20 years and who is also doing charitable work overseas, and he agreed to help. Saturday, H and I went shopping for a washing machine, found a suitable one and delivery was arranged for the following day.

H and I were at her place on Sunday to help her take delivery of the machine. While the deliverymen were installing the machine, somebody came by, asked H, who happened to be in view, if the carton was needed and when told no, promptly took the carton away. It happened so fast that I didn't even see who the person was.

H asked that I call the old lady on Monday to make sure that the washing machine was working fine as it comes with a 7-day free exchange guarantee. I made at least 5 calls between 6+ to 8+ in the evening but the calls went unanswered. I tried again on Tuesday morning at 8+ and still couldn't get her.

I was concerned and my highly imaginative mind did not help much. I have a friend whose mother insisted on staying alone, until she collapsed one day and was left lying on the floor for two hours before she was discovered. She was rushed to hospital and surgery was required for her head injury. There were occasions when I had also been sent rushing to check on my mother-in-law and my own mother when phone calls had gone unanswered.

This lady had complained of pain in her legs and I feared the worst. Out of desperation, I smsed my friend, and within 15 minutes, he had managed to reach her and got her to call me. She told me she had been out the night before, had also gone out in the morning and had just got home when my friend called. What a feisty little old lady! At her age and pain in her legs, she could still go wandering around for a couple of hours straight.

H was initially not keen on meeting up with her, but had changed his mind later. After the visit he told me he was glad he had gone as he observed that this little old lady is very independent. He was also impressed that she had kept her place neat and tidy. (Erm, this - I am not sure if it was entirely her effort alone or with the volunteers' help.) On the whole, he was glad that he could and had helped. He told me to let him know if there are more such cases. Yeah, I am sure there are more, sooner and more than he expected. Now, all I need is to get used to asking H for help. I have realised that asking for his help on other people's account is easier than for myself.

For me, I am glad too that I got to know this old lady and that we have been able to see to her needs. Or rather, the only thing I did was open my mouth to ask and H ended up paying for the machine. It happened at a time when I have been affected by the untimely deaths of a couple of friends from cancer and this is therapeutic for me.

Once in a lifetime

Some interesting fact - trust people to be so observant...

Email from EW :

On August 7, 2009
at 12 hr 34 minutes and 56 seconds on the 7th of August this year, the time and date will be

12:34:56 07/08/09

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

This will never happen in your life again!!

Farewell I

I wrote about I, an ovarian cancer patient, sometime in June. She has since passed away on 19 July, Sunday.

That's the third cancer patient, whom I know, to pass on in a week.

The three of them are all below the age of 60. And, as far as I know, they have been fighting cancer to the very end. LY died in a hospice and J died in a hospital.

At least, for them, the fights and sufferings are over. For them, death brings relief. But for their loved ones, death brings mixed feelings - relief that the cancer-stricken member is suffering no more, relief that they can get on with their lives again but at the same time, there could be guilt and a sense of loss.

For LY

I know how you suffered
as I have walked this path before
but I made a u-turn
and is now standing by
watching your progress
with heaviness in my heart

four years plus your fight lasted
it is short and
yet it is long
in the end
your energy is depleted

it took a lot of courage
to go for round after round of chemo
and two rounds of radiotherapy
they know how much toxins
they pumped into you
and yet they persisted
in the end
you were brought down so fast
that family and friends
were caught unawares

I heard you were nearly done in once
but you made a comeback
I had hope you do the same this time round
but it was not to be

hopes dashed
plans and wishes unfulfilled
your sister saw how much you suffered
and she shed tears for you
she wished your sufferings to be no more
so that you can be at peace
finally

let go of the hate
let go of the bitterness
let go of the hurt
let go of the worries
and the attachments
and go in blissful peace

I find solace
in the knowledge
that your struggles are over
that you fight no more
and in the knowledge
that you are now
in a better place

Om Mani Padme Hum

Farewell LY and J

13 July, Monday - I received an sms from LY's son requesting all support group members to not visit LY and restricting visits to family members only as they wanted to maintain peace and quiet around LY.

This morning, around 10am, I called LY's son and was told that LY was not as responsive as before. Then, slightly after 6pm, I received an sms from LY's son informing support members that she had passed away in the afternoon. I hope she left with peace of mind.

I called M and was told that J had also passed away yesterday and her funeral would be early tomorrow morning.

I hadn't known J that well and had only met her once at NCC when I was with M. I had not not been to see J and had only been receiving updates from M, and hadn't expected her end to be so near.

It's upsetting enough for me, but more so for M who had been running around giving moral support to many members of the support group, to be hit by news that several members are seriously ill one after another, and now suddenly two are gone. Although we were mentally preparing ourselves for this ending, it is still tough, very tough, when they happened all at the same time.

I won't be seeing J off, but I hope to be able to rush to LY's wake tomorrow morning before the coffin is closed at 8.30am.

Does chemo for breast cancer cause more harm than good?

New studies suggest that many women with breast cancer can opt for gentler versions of chemotherapy, or skip it altogether, without harming their chances of overcoming the illness.

One study found that a gene test called Oncotype DX can determine whether or not a patient will benefit from chemotherapy. The test measures the activity of 21 genes to predict women’s risk of recurrence.

Currently, chemotherapy is recommended for women with breast cancer that has spread to lymph nodes, which amounts to about 45,000 women each year in the United States. However, the chemo does not help most of those treated.

The study found that as many as 18,000 women each year could safely skip chemo, and the new test is expected to immediately spur doctors to back off on chemotherapy and use it more selectively.

A second study of more than 1,000 women tested two chemotherapy drugs -- Adriamycin, a chemo mainstay that raises your risk of heart problems and leukemia, and Taxotere, which is not linked to heart problems.

After seven years, 87 percent of women given Taxotere survived compared with only 82 percent of those given Adriamycin. Further, those given Taxotere were less likely to have had a recurrence. The study suggests that Taxotere, the less harsh drug of the two, may be a better choice for breast cancer patients.

Dr Mercola's comments :

More than 12 million people were diagnosed with cancer worldwide in 2007, and close to 8 million died of the disease. Yet, even with this magnitude of people affected, the conventional health paradigm is clueless about the origins, and proper treatments, for this disease.

Cancer treatment is one of the most controversial health topics there is, but what cannot be debated are the huge amounts of money at stake. Prices for new cancer therapies can cost you up to $10,000 a month, so it’s no wonder that insurance companies are happily paying for the new Oncotype DX gene test, which at $3,400 could save them big bucks on chemotherapy.

Are these cancer drugs worth it? Hardly. These expensive medications often give patients just a few more months of life -- and sometimes they even kill people prematurely or CAUSE CANCER themselves.

What the drug companies do not want you to know is that you have within your body the most powerful weapon against cancer and all disease, and it is yours to use freely: YOUR MIND.

The Mind-Cancer Connection

You’ve heard of the mind-body connection. Well, I’d like to introduce you to a slightly different mode of thinking. Your mind is in direct control of your health, including your risk of and recovery from cancer.

Dr. Hamer, the former head internist in the oncology clinic at the University of Munich, Germany, is at the forefront of an emerging field he calls German New Medicine (GNM).

Conflict Might be the Cause of Breast Cancer

Dr. Hamer’s work speculates that breast cancer is due to an unresolved conflict, as he explains on his Web site:

"A right handed woman will respond with the left breast if she has a mother-child conflict or a daughter-mother conflict and will respond with the right breast if she has a partner conflict. Her partners include her life’s partner as in husband, a friend, her brother, sister, her father, or even her business partner. The opposite breast will be affected in a left handed woman.

We do not develop either intra-ductal or breast gland cancer without reason. The specific nature or feeling behind the conflict will determine precisely what brain location will receive the impact of the initial conflict-shock and whether it will be the duct or the gland affected.

Breast gland cancer has to do with the woman’s nest in the sense that she has a "worry, quarrel, or argument" going on in her nest. The worry could be over a health concern of a loved one, or even being thrown out of the nest by her mother! The overall issue concerned however is really a separation from a loved one.

Milk duct cancer has quite specifically to do with the conflict of, "my child, mother, or partner has been torn from my breast!" Again it is a separation conflict and the rules of laterality also apply here."

After nearly three decades of scientific work, Dr. Hamer has proven that every disease is caused by a very disturbing emotional trauma. The emotional shock causes a direct physical ailment, such as cancer, which can only be resolved when your emotional conflict has healed.

However, many people, upon hearing they have cancer, cannot resolve their emotional wounds because they are struck with fear and perhaps given a diagnosis of “only three months to live.”

This kind of emotional upset is enough to send a person on a downward spiral. On top of that, conventional medicine adds in chemotherapy, radiation and drugs, which further upset your healing.

Now, listen closely.

Dr. Hamer believes that a person cannot die of cancer in and of itself.

If someone dies during the active phase of disease, it’s because of energy loss, weight loss, sleep deprivation, and emotional and mental exhaustion. The stress of receiving a cancer diagnosis, or being given a negative prognosis, is often enough to deprive a person of their life-force, and conventional cancer treatments only accelerate the downward spiral.

If a patient has not undergone any conventional treatments such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy, GNM has a success rate of 95 percent to 98 percent.

Not surprisingly, while trying to publicize his research, Dr. Hamer was stripped of his medical license for refusing to renounce his findings. Remember, there are major forces at work who do not want you to believe that YOU have control over your health.

They want you to believe that you must take their medications to be well, when in reality the opposite is true.

For more on this fascinating field, you can also listen to the interview I did with Bruce Lipton, PhD. about The New Biology, which also speaks volumes about your own power to control your future health destiny.

Of course, while I now believe that your emotional health is the most important factor in preventing cancer, you can also help to reduce your risk by following these 12 changes that will cut your cancer risk in half.

Source : Mercola.com

Before you get that mammogram

I know I am contradicting myself with this article because just not so long ago, I posted two 'funnies' encouraging women to go for mammogram.

I have always been pro natural and alternative therapy, and anti-invasive plus not so trusting of conventional medication especially where chemicals are involved so I have taken down those two posts and am posting this instead.

This article is taken from Mercola.com. This is not the only article that I have come across that is not supportive of mammograms.

First, before I get into the topic of breast cancer, I want to remind you about the interactive feature of my website, called Vital Votes.

The information I share here is based on my own experience treating tens of thousands of patients over the past 20 years, and reviewing tens of thousands of articles on natural medicine. But it is only my experience, and there’s a lot more information out there, some of which you may have experience with.

So, below every article, there’s a section where you can add your own comments and insights to increase the body of knowledge about alternatives to the toxic solutions touted by the traditional medical model. If you’re not already registered, you can do so for free.

The Problem With Breast Self-Exams

Diagnostically, breast self-exams (BSE) have long been recommended as a simple way for women to keep track of anything unusual in their breasts.

It’s fairly self explanatory, as you simply palpate your breasts on a regular basis, looking for any suspicious lumps. The problem with breast self-exams is that it typically forces women into a conventional, and potentially dangerous, diagnostic model.

If you do find something unusual, you will typically be brought in for a conventional diagnostic strategy involving the use of a mammogram.

Unfortunately, a mammogram uses ionizing radiation at a relatively high dose, which in and of itself can contribute to the development of breast cancer. Mammograms expose your body to radiation that can be 1,000 times greater than that from a chest x-ray, which we know poses a cancer risk. Mammography also compresses your breasts tightly, which could lead to a dangerous spread of cancerous cells, should they exist.

And, should you end up getting a breast biopsy, then that too can have detrimental consequences.

If I was a woman, I wouldn’t get one as there are much safer options available.

My favorite is thermography, which measures the radiation of infrared heat emanating from your body and translates this information into anatomical images. I have numerous articles on the topic of thermography on my site that you can easily find by using the site’s search engine. I offer thermography at my clinic. If you would like more information or would like to schedule your thermogram, you can call Ela at our Thermography Diagnostics Center in Chicago at (847) 252-4311.

Prevention is the Best Cure, and is Easier Than You Think!

It can be incredibly useful to focus on the factors that actually contribute to breast cancer in the first place.

One of the most important ones was a completely unknown factor when I first started this newsletter. As little as ten years ago, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) was believed to be safe, but has since been proven to drastically increase your risk of breast cancer.

One study made the startling discovery that HRT with either estrogen alone or estrogen-plus-progestin was associated with a 70 percent increase in breast cancer risk when the therapy was taken for five years within the six years preceding the cancer diagnosis!

This is also true for birth control pills. They’re synthetic hormones which may even be worse than Premarin, so I strongly advise women to avoid birth control pills as well as traditional approaches to HRT.

Bioidentical hormones, which are a safer alternative, do not appear to contribute to breast cancer like its synthetic counterparts.

Two other important components for breast cancer prevention include:

Your vitamin D levels -- We now know that if you can get your vitamin D levels up to about 60-80 ng/ml, it will virtually eliminate your risk of breast cancer. Breast cancer is particularly sensitive to vitamin D, so it’s very important you regularly monitor your vitamin D status with a 25(OH)D test (also called 25-hydroxyvitamin D).

There are many variables that may prevent your body from optimizing vitamin D from sun exposure, and there’s no other way to determine your levels other than through lab testing, using a reputable lab (I recommend LabCorp in the U.S.)

Your fasting insulin levels – It’s also important to know what your fasting insulin level is (taken after 8-12 hrs of fasting). Ideally you’ll want your insulin to be around 2 or 3. The higher your level, the worse it is.

Breast cancer patients with high levels of insulin in their blood appear more likely to die from the disease, and researchers have even found that insulin levels may predict whether a woman's breast cancer is likely to recur after therapy.

We’re in the process of making these two tests available in the U.S. to anyone who would like them without a doctor’s prescription. This service is not available yet, but stay tuned as it will become available shortly.

Eating and Sleeping Your Way to a Cancer-Free Life

Other preventive components include eating and sleeping right. In particular, you’ll want to pay careful attention to your fats. Nearly everyone needs to increase their intake of healthy omega-3 fats. I recommend using a high quality animal-based omega-3 supplement like krill oil.

Additionally, you’ll want to eliminate all the trans fats (heated, processed fats), because the combination of omega-3 deficiency along with an excess of poor quality omega-6 fats is a disaster when it comes to the production of vitamin D-sensitive breast cancer.

Lastly, you need to optimize you melatonin production. Ideally you should allow your body to do it the natural way, which is far easier than you might think.

Optimizing your melatonin production is a simple, two-part process.

First, make sure you sleep in absolute pitch-black darkness.

If you need light to get to the bathroom at night, use a RED penlight. The red has a wavelength of about 600 nanometers that will not stimulate your pineal gland and disturb its production of melatonin.

If you use an electric alarm clock, beware that blue LED lights are probably the worst as they stimulate your pineal gland and disrupt melatonin production.

Secondly, expose yourself to bright sunshine in the daytime.

It’s the combination of these two strategies that will optimize your body’s natural production of melatonin, which can clearly reduce your risk of developing breast cancer.

The Emotional Component of Breast Cancer

Therapeutically, another component to remember is that if you or someone you know has breast cancer, you’ll want to pay careful attention to the emotional factors as emotions almost always seem to be a factor in cancer.

One of the best tools I know to address the emotional roots of illness was developed in Germany by Dr. Hamer. He called it German New Medicine (GNM). A revised version, developed in the U.S., is called Recall Healing. The therapy addresses emotional components that seem to be really strong triggers for developing this type of cancer.

The leader in that area is Dr. David Holt, whom I’ve interviewed for my Inner Circle expert series, who operates in Reno, Nevada. I hope to be making Recall Healing available shortly, in my Chicago clinic.

Combining all of the measures mentioned above can be a very powerful way to prevent breast cancer, which of course is the most effective way. Like Kennedy said,

“The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining.”

But even if you already have cancer, you can still use these strategies as additional therapies, especially vitamin D.

And remember, if you have other insights into this topic, please share them in our free forum below. By participating you can help create the body of knowledge that will help us all find effective alternatives to the current disease-based paradigm.

Source : Mercola.com

Alternative preventive measure against H1N1 - follow-up

I wrote about star anise being an alternative measure against H1N1 on 24 June. I have since come across more information from Dr Mercola's website about star anise.

Can Anise Cure What Ails You?

The licorice-flavored herb anise contains high levels of health-boosting compounds called phenylpropanoids.

A team of researchers isolated 22 compounds in anise essential oils, and found some phenylpropanoid compounds that were unique to anise, and four of the compounds had never before been identified in any plant.

Aside from effectively controlling aphids and the plant fungus Colletotrichum, the compounds also showed promise for human health problems. Specifically, some of the compounds were effective against:

• Plasmodium falciparum, the parasite that causes malaria in humans.
• Mycobacterium intracellulare, a bacterium that can cause illness in people with compromised immune systems.

Further, some phenylpropanoids had anti-inflammatory and phytoestrogen properties.

The researchers suggested that compounds in anise essential oils may be useful for developing pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals.

Dr Mercola's comment :

Anise has been used since ancient times in Europe, the Middle East and Asia for both therapeutic benefits and taste. Traditionally, this licorice-flavored herb is said to help with digestion, which is why it’s part of a blend of seeds typically offered at the end of an Indian meal.

Anise was also popular in Rome during the first century, when it was used to make a spice cake called mustaceum that was served after feasting to prevent indigestion.

In the United States, anise (Pimpinella anisum) is often confused with fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), a similarly flavored vegetable that looks like a white bulb with green feathery leaves (that also produces fennel seeds). Anise is also a different herb from Chinese star anise (Illicium verum), which is used to make the dangerous flu drug Tamiflu.

Is Anise Healthy?

Like many herbs and spices, anise offers a unique set of benefits. In traditional medicine, anise is used to calm upset stomachs and help reduce gas, and its effectiveness in treating stomach cramps has been proven scientifically.

Anise essential oils also have phytoestrogen properties, which may explain why it is said to help new mothers stimulate breast milk production and in ancient times was used to increase libido. These essential oils, which are antibacterial, antifungal, and insecticidal, can also naturally get rid of head lice (a far safer alternative to using chemical lice treatments).

Rest assured, however, that pharmaceuticals developed with isolated active components of this herb will bear little resemblance to the natural plant. For instance, it takes 10 different steps for star anise to be made into Tamiflu, according to this New York Times article, and some of the steps are “potentially hazardous because they involve the use of sodium azide, the chemical that makes automobile air bags inflate in an explosive rush.”

So while you may very well enjoy a bit of anise seed sprinkled on your soup, please do not mistake an anise-containing drug to be all-natural or safe.

When Using Herbs, Listen to Your Body

Herbs and spices are a great way to add flavor, and often health benefits, to your food. But if a certain spice doesn’t agree with you, then take a pass. This is your body’s way of letting you know that it’s not the best spice for you, and in this case, your body always knows best.

LY, J, E, HH - update

This morning I had a sudden urge to see LY at the hospice. On the way, I called her son and was told that she is in critical condition. He did not elaborate and I didn't ask.

She was in a one-bedded room. When I stepped in, I was not prepared for the sight before me. LY was lying there with eyes half-closed, right side of her face slightly contorted (like that of a stroke patient) and oxygen-dependent. Her sister, sitting by her bedside, was wiping away tears. Her sister said that she has been in this condition since last night and her son happened to be with her.

From the movements of her eyes, I could see LY was drifting in and out of sleep or consciousness. Her sis said she could still hear. I called LY and she responded by moving her left hand slightly. Then her sis asked me to tell LY whatever I wished and she left the room. I didn't know what to say. Did her sis want LY to try and pull through or did she want LY to go in peace. Should it be words of encouragement or words of comfort? Caught in this dilemma, words failed me and I was silent.

In a while, her sis was back. Then she told LY not to worry and that her son is already grown-up. Now, I realised what her sis meant earlier - we are of the same religion and she probably hoped that I could say some comforting words to LY. I must have disappointed her.

When I noticed that LY was 'awake' again, I called her name. Again, she responded by moving her left hand and made an effort to talk. She heard me but I don't know if she knew who I am.

The sight of LY in that condition and her sis continually wiping away her tears were too much for me to keep myself composed. I also felt that her sis and I were affecting one another's composure. After saying some words of comfort to LY, I left.

On my way out, I called M to update her on LY. I also called LY's son and found out that the doc said LY has 1 to 2 days left. I will be seeing LY again tomorrow morning.

Earlier, M has smsed to inform me that HH's father passed away this morning at 8am. HH had kept us posted of her father's condition so we were not surprised. HH herself is currently under hospice home care, and her dad was too.

During my conversation with M, she updated me on :

J - another breast cancer patient who is also very ill now, is warded and under morphine to control her pain.

E - colorectal cancer patient, another critical case but is at home and also under hospice home care because the hospital can't do anymore for her.

So much distressing news in one day - it's really so overwhelming.

LY - update from M who had just visited LY. The doc came and M managed to learn that in a case like LY, it is hard to determine. Sometimes, it could drag on for 2 to 3 weeks. M said the lady doc was very nice and patient and that's why she managed to find out more about LY's conditon from her.

Stroke/Blood clots - know the indicators

This is from EY and I have reproduced it here for sharing:

Blood Clots/Stroke - They Now Have a Fourth Indicator, the Tongue

Please continue to forward this every time it comes around!

STROKE: Remember the 1st Three Letters.... S.T.R.

STROKE IDENTIFICATION

It only takes a minute to read this...

A neurologist says that if he can get to a stroke victim within 3 hours he can totally reverse the effects of a stroke.! ..totally. He said the trick was getting a stroke recognized, diagnosed, and then getting the patient medically cared for within 3 hours, which is tough.

RECOGNIZING A STROKE

Thank goodness for the sense to remember the '3' steps, STR . Read and Learn!

Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer severe brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke.

Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions:

S *Ask the individual to SMILE.

T *Ask the person to TALK and SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (Coherently)

(i.e. It is sunny out today.)

R *Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS..

If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, call emergency number immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.

New Sign of a Stroke -------- Stick out Your Tongue

NOTE: Another 'sign' of a stroke is this: Ask the person to 'stick' out his tongue.. If the tongue is 'crooked', if it goes to one side or the other, that is also an indication of a stroke.

A cardiologist says if everyone who gets this e-mail sends it to 10 people; you can bet that at least one life will be saved.

I have done my part....will you?

Pet therapy

After having had cancer and a relapse, and been told by my onco that 'my cancer will come back again, it's just a matter of time', there is no denying that I can't totally run away from the knowledge that I am a potential for another relapse.

However, I cannot let this knowledge control me, and neither do I allow myself to live in fear of it. Like LY said, the first diagnosis was the scariest, but after that with each relapse, one sought of 'get used' or 'immuned' to it. Life has to go on.

Keeping busy and getting myself involved in activities help me take my mind off cancer. Like the old adage: "what is life if full of care, we have no time to stand and stare." True, I also spent a lot of time sleeping, but I am trying to break out of that 'hibernating mode' as I don't have enough productive hours left and it's becoming more like a chronic fatigue syndrome.

One big distraction that I have at home is our puppy, Coco. She is one of my 'de-stressor' ever since she came to us. She is my pet therapy, and my 'constant companion' at home and I feared she may have become too attached to me. Her breed has a life expectancy of 10 - 12 years and it's like a competition between us to see who can outlive the other.

She is shown here with her favourite toy and can even fall asleep with the toy still in her mouth.


Thanks to the influence of a friend, who is an ardent cat lover, and probably lover of all animals as well, recently I found myself paying attention to cats.

Coincidentally, this orange and white one has also recently decided to become our unofficial 'watchcat'. And here, he/she (umm.. I don't know how to tell its gender) is sleeping 'on the job' outside my door.

With dogs, a quick peek is all one needs to tell its gender, but with
cats, nature probably has among other things, their modesty in mind by making their genitals as unobtrusive and inconspicuous as possible.

He/she likes to sleep with a paw over the eyes.

My son said, maybe we should adopt this, but this one likes its independence, and only appear at certain times of the day.

LY - update

6 Jul 2009, Monday - On my way to NCC for my appointment, I popped by at the hospice to check on LY.

She was asleep and did not stir even when I stroke her forearms.

Her sister told me that she is still taking porridge (not the watery kind), half bowl at each meal which comes to about 1 full bowl per day. They have brought her to see a Chinese physician and she is on TCM now to improve her appetite and digestion. However, her appetite has not improved much, but at least now she is not throwing up her food.

The physician said LY is very ill and may not recover fully, although he may be able to help her regain some strength in her legs. Right now, it's just actually prolonging her life.

Her sister said her nerves are damaged and it was most likely caused by the 12 doses of radiotherapy to the whole head, as after her chemo and before she started on rt, she was still fine. She also told me that the other patients in the room are also lying there on the beds after rt to the head.

Did LY really need the 12 doses of whole head rt or was she overdosed?

Her sister also wondered why, while undergoing chemo, the cancer cells can still spread to her brain. AJ and I had talked about this too, and AJ had also asked an onco, who told her that sometimes, for some people, the chemo drugs do not go to the brain. I think M also mentioned something similar to this before. I told LY's sister so, and she wondered how this could be so when the chemo drugs were injected into the blood vessels and the blood is supposed to circulate round the whole body. I had been pondering about this too, and I could neither comprehend nor do I have an answer to it.

Checkup

I had my blood test done on 3 July, Friday, so that I could collect my results today when I went for my checkup.

Unfortunately, I had my blood samples taken by a male staff, one whom I have never seen before. There were always comments that my veins are too fine that it is very difficult to draw blood from them. But the regular staff here are experts, as they have been sitting there everyday drawing blood from one patient after another, and no matter what they always managed to take my blood samples without problems. There were others who had to poke more than once before blood could be drawn. So, when I saw the new face, I instinctly expected him to have problems taking my blood sample.

True enough, he made the same comment about my veins on my arm, and went for a vein on the back of my hand. Well, my blood wasn't co-operative that day and refused to flow smoothly, and it took him a long time before he managed to collect the first sample. When he was done with the second sample, he told me to wait in case the first sample was unsuitable. Later, I was called to have another sample taken because the first sample 'had clotted and unsuitable for analysis'.

Cancer marker - CA 153 : 13.1 (up from 12.9 on 13 Mar 2009. Looks like it's been on an uptrend since Jan 2009.)

6 July 2009, Monday - checkup.

My regular medical onco had left NCC and I had a new one, Dr TCK. First impression - young, nice guy, friendly. Either he is a really nice onco, or he has not seasoned himself up to adopt the 'stone-faced look' in order to face questioning patients.

He asked the usual questions - any discomfort, breathlessness, pain and got all negative answers. He noticed that I am not on any conventional medication and asked if I am taking something else. I said, 'yes - ayurvedic', - thanks to the H1N1 that I was masked and had to repeat my answer a few times before he figured out what I was saying.

After the physical checkup, he asked if I wanted to start on the hormonal therapy now. I'd forgotten that my previous onco had included hormonal therapy for me. I wanted to consider first. I asked what the ht was for and he said to block the cancer from coming back.

He said, 'the cancer WILL come back, it's just a matter of time'. So, does that mean if I take the ht, it's going to buy me some more time? I had lots of questions and doubts and left NCC without paying my fees and collecting my appointment card, that I had to turn back.

I googled 'hormonal therapy' and found the following :

Hormonal therapy medicines treat hormone-receptor-positive breast cancers in two ways:

• by lowering the amount of the hormone estrogen in the body
• by blocking the action of estrogen in the body

Most of the estrogen in women's bodies is made by the ovaries. Estrogen makes hormone-receptor-positive breast cancers grow. So reducing the amount of estrogen or blocking its action can help shrink hormone-receptor-positive breast cancers and reduce the risk of hormone-receptor-positive breast cancers coming back (recurring).

Hormonal therapy medicines are NOT effective against hormone-receptor-negative breast cancers.

There are several types of hormonal therapy medicines, including aromatase inhibitors, selective estrogen receptor modulators, and estrogen receptor downregulators.

In some cases, the ovaries and fallopian tubes may be surgically removed to treat hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer or as a preventive measure for women at very high risk of breast cancer. The ovaries also may be shut down temporarily using medication.

There are three different types of hormonal therapy medicines:

• aromatase inhibitors:
  • Arimidex (chemical name: anastrozole)
  • Aromasin (chemical name: exemestane)
  • Femara (chemical name: letrozole)
• SERMs (Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators):
  • tamoxifen
  • Evista (chemical name: raloxifene)
  • Fareston (chemical name: toremifene)
• ERDs (Estrogen Receptor Downregulators):
  • Faslodex (chemical name: fulvestrant)

I am ER, PR and HER2 positive, so I am a good candidate for ht. Tamoxifen is a ht. After chemo, I had collected two prescriptions of tamoxifen, but had only taken it for one week and had donated the rest of it to the hospice care.

Tamoxifen, when taken over a long period, has the possibility of causing cervical cancer in time to come. Furthermore, I had found out that SH, another breast cancer patient, was still on tamoxifen when she had a relapse and the cancer had spread to her bones. She had then gone for another round of chemo.

If this is what ht is all about, with all its side-effects, then my answer is going to be 'no'. I am taking my chance with the AM and I will be consulting him this Friday.

Furthermore, Doc had said that my blood test results showed that I am already menopausal, so I really don't think I need it.

Progress report

3 July 2009, Friday, as usual I was at the ayurvedic master's for my weekly medicine.

I asked about my progress and my condition at the moment. He had previously told me that my cancer is 'okay already'. So we (meaning all involved) have managed to get rid of the cancer for now.

Previously the AM has been repairing my liver and he said it's about 70% done, but he has now switched over to my kidneys. He said that he cannot repair my liver 100% without working on my kidneys, otherwise my kidneys will suffer, meaning that my kidneys will not be able to get rid of the waste fast enough and will fail. So, when my kidneys have been repaired to a certain stage, he will switch back to my liver again, alternating between the liver and kidneys until they are working satisfactorily.

While he is working on my kidneys, I noticed that my lymphedemic right arm has become softer, i.e. there is less pressure on the skin of my right arm, and sometimes red dots appear all over my right arm, which he explained as the toxins being expelled. These normally lasted about a day or two and there was no itching.

I look forward to the day when he can tell me that I am 'promoted' from weekly to once a fortnight medication, which will also be easier on my pocket. I really shouldn't be complaining, but after one and a half years of the herbal brews, the smell and taste are sort of getting to me. Fortunately, so far, I have been able to stomach them well. Although, sometimes after I have swallowed the herbal brew and a burp comes up, then I do need to reach for stuff to get rid of the aftertaste.

Chinese herbal brews are boiled in water which is more tolerable. The AM uses milk to boil his herbs and every pot is stuffed full of herbs and the result is one bowl of thick concoction.

Really, we try our darnest best to keep the stuff down, because it doesn't come cheap.

When my cousin's daughter she took her first dose, everything came back up and into the container. My cousin said she told her daughter to drink it up again, which she flatly refused.

In addition to the weekly herbal brews, everyday I am also taking some black paste which is concocted from more than 70 herbs and some unmentionables, which I found out by chance. Well, so far I have not suffered any adverse effects and I don't remind myself when I swallow the stuff everyday, but now, I do need to add a little honey to it to make it more tolerable.

Ayurvedic health suggestions

I have been sharing the following with those who are interested and EY had suggested that I should have posted it on my blog, so .....

EY gets allergic reactions, like rhinitis, after consuming milk products. The ayurvedic master's advice was to continue consuming the ghee milk until the body gets used to it, which was what she did, and recently she got to enjoy her tea with milk after a long break. Occasionally, she still has symptoms but as the AM says, it takes time. But, please proceed with caution.

General health :

Ghee milk -
1 cup (mug) of fresh milk (normal and not high cal or low fat)
1 teaspoon of ghee (preferred Leila, QBB is very oily)
1 teaspoon honey
Optional :
for losing weight - 1 teaspoon gingelly oil (made from sesame - not the nice smelling kind)
to improve memory - 1 small piece unsalted butter

Boil the milk, and when bubbles start appearing on the surface, add the ghee and stir till full boil. (Caution : milk boils over fast, so don't walk away)
Before you drink it, put a teaspoon of honey on your tongue. Try to take the milk as hot as you can and sip and swallow together with the honey - careful that you don't get burnt by the hot metal container you boil the milk in.

For weight loss - after switching off the fire, add in one teaspoon of gingelly oil to the ghee milk and then take it with honey.

To improve memory - after drinking the ghee milk with honey, put a small piece of unsalted butter on the tongue and let it melt slowly - with or without gingelly oil is fine.

Explanation is that, ghee is a carrier. Taking the unsalted butter after will 'tell' the ghee to repair the brain, otherwise the ghee milk will balance the body overall. Honey helps the ghee milk combination to spread all over the body. (Like EY puts it, ghee is the messenger and honey is the driver)

For example, for pain, take the ghee milk with honey first before taking panadol. The effect is almost immediate.

Also, it takes oil to get rid of the cold fats in the body, and ghee is the one. Ghee also gets rid of the wind in the system.

Recommended consumption : twice a day (morning and night). Minimum - once a day and max - four times a day.

The ghee + milk + honey combination is capable of bringing down fevers fast. I have not tried it yet, but those who did said it is effective.

Note : Initially, there may be some change in the bowel movements.

Note : to avoid putting on weight, have a break of about 2 - 3 hours before and after milk with ghee before consuming meat, and preferably avoid eating beef or mutton. And to lose weight, please cut down on meat if you are taking ghee milk.

Note : 1 tsp of ghee is lighter than a tsp of honey. It is toxic if the amount of ghee is equal in weight to the amount of honey, e.g. 5mg of ghee to 5mg of honey.
.............

To clear your system after taking a heavy meal and too much oily stuff :

Bring a cup of water to boil. Add in 6 slices of ginger. Let it boil again, then add in a pinch (about slightly more than 10) of black peppercorn. Bring to boil again before turning the fire very low to let it simmer until only half the liquid is left. Drink hot.

Take this once a day if you are a heavy eater, otherwise once every few days if you wish.

This is a one person portion. If there are more people drinking, increase the proportions accordingly.

....................

To avoid gas and indigestion :

Avoid eating bread or anything that contains yeast, gluttinous rice, unpolished rice

Purple coloured vegetables like bombay onions, brinjal, etc caused bloatedness.

Drinks like coffe or tea with sugar should be taken hot and not cold.

Boiled water should not be taken if kept overnight.

Rice cooked after 4 hours should not be consumed.
For porridge, it is 2 hours.
So, maybe, avoid the economy rice (especially at night), also because sometimes some of the dishes are leftovers from lunch time.
...............

Food poisoning and diarrhea :

1 tsp of gingelly oil neat will clear the system and solve the problem (which I suspect means going to the toilet one more time)
..................

Headache

Take as much ice cold water as you can in the mouth and hold as long as you can - do not swallow. When you feel you cannot hold it any longer, splash cool tap water on your face before spitting out the water in your mouth. Not sure if this applies to all kinds of headache, but no harm trying first before reaching for the panadol.
...............

Toxic food combination :
(Foods which should not be taken together as the effect is toxic)

Milk and fish - can only be taken at least 2 hours apart, either before or after. So no milk for that fish head soup.

Peanut and mushrooms

Honey + hot water. For sore or tight throat, honey must be swallowed first then followed by hot water, but not mixed together.
....................

Other toxins :

Carrots should be stir-fried in oil until the oil turns yellow before being added to soup. If mixing with other veg, stir fry the carrots first.

Garlic should not be consumed raw.

Avoid soya bean milk and tau huay
..................

Detox :

Soak both feet a basin of (up till ankles) :
hot milk if you can afford it - the cheap kind will do, otherwise
hot water with salt

Liquid diet detox :

Avoid solid food for one day and stick to liquids only by drinking ghee milk and soup.
..............

Facial :

try cleansing your face with milk instead of the normal cleanser and feel the effect
...............

Others :

Fruits : the AM said we should eat according to the area we lived in, i.e. we are in the tropics, so we should only consume tropical fruits and avoid fruits like oranges and apples which are from the temperate countries.

Also, it is not necessary to consume fruits on a daily basis, but once or twice a week will suffice. The reason is that fruits are considered 'cooling' which is responsible for the aches and pains that we get as we aged.

Also, try to eat up to 75% full only to allow for proper digestion of the food consumed.