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NHT News. Vol. 7 No. 1 July 2011

Denice Moffat

NATURAL HEALTH TECHNIQUES NEWSLETTER

July, 2011                 Volume 7 Number 1

In This Issue:

(Please note that full names are never used in this newsletter or on my website without the full consent of the sender or client. Some cases also encompass groupings of cases with similar symptoms and suggestions for healing in an attempt to educate the general public.)

Trending
Life in Five Short Chapters

Health in the News: E. coli in the news again!

(May 22, 2011) A new superbug E. coli O104 (STEC O104:H4) originating in Germany has been identified as initially originating from  cucumbers, lettuce and tomatoes only to be narrowed down to bean sprouts and shoots. Germany and Spain were under the gun of investigations originally. Sadly, many tons of uncontaminated produce, our economy, the trust of vegetable eaters and the good reputation of many farms were damaged before determining the source of contamination.

Washing hands and good food handling practices are ways to minimize food contamination through the dilution factor but it doesn’t totally eliminate some forms of certain pathogenic E. coli. Even just a few germs on the hands of people peeling the vegetables can be an issue. With this latest outbreak only heat-treated foods inactivated the pathogenicity.

Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS), kidney failure and bloody diarrhea caused by Shiga tonxin-producing E. coli (STEC) was found to be the latest cause of sickness and deaths in the human population—specifically adult females (68% of infections). This particular pathogenic E. coli is being spread throughout the world possibly by their visiting the European countries and eating these contaminated vegetables.

As of June, 22, 2011 the Robert Kock Institute in Germany reported 823 patients with HUS and 29 deaths caused from the STEC.  Over the past few weeks, the number of cases associated with this outbreak has markedly decreased. The farm selling the sprouts has been shut down.

Reference: https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/

What’s New on the Website?

Holy smokes. . .what’s new? Well, let me tell you. I’ve spent the last 9 months upgrading the website. The search box stopped working over a year ago then, little by little, other things stopped working and it felt like a degrading radioactive isotope. So, I researched programs to use to update it, threw a bunch of money at the project and then settled on using WordPress. I hired a programmer on the referral from Tonya Somers (master psychic friend of mine) and he built templates, designed and a fantastic site map for me.

It was my job to plop in the old pages, update them, re-upload pictures (boy—did I ever have a lot of pictures in this site!) and update links.  Check out Nick’s fabulous job on my site map! https://naturalhealthtechniques.com/sitemap.htm It took every spare minute, nights and weekends for months at a time to do this project. My goal was to be up and running by mid-March, but that didn’t happen I am sorry to say. It put me way behind on getting out newsletters too as the old program wouldn’t let me update information any longer and the old program wouldn’t work on the new computer. Now I have to double-opt in all of you because the process has taken so long. What a mess. SO happy that it is mostly complete now and that I can see the end of it for a little while anyway (until I put up more handouts that is.)

I still have a few sections to check to resize photos but all the links are working, the search box is now working, I have added Facebook, Twitter and Linked in and that cute little bar at the bottom? Well, on the very left is a button that makes printer friendly documents! I don’t have to do that by hand any longer. What a surprise and a relief! The website looks very nice now.

Next will be the addition of videos and a client back East is going to be helping me with a better look for the newsletters. So, check it out and see what’s new. I’ve put all the lists I’ve developed and use to test with on the site for all you healers out there who use muscle testing. Feels like I’m finally coming out of my little hermit cage and getting back into the real world again. What an adventure it was I tell ya. I hope you like it.

Case of the Month: Case of the Month: My feet hurt

Our neighbor was up visiting the other day and her five-year-old daughter asked me, “don’t you have any other shoes?” As her mother was telling her that this was an inappropriate question to ask I answered, “Yes, I have four pair of this same shoe. I rotate the pairs as they get older and wear the best ones out in public. This particular shoe model fits my feet better than any shoe I’ve ever owned and it’s important to wear shoes that feel good on your feet.” I think after you read this handout you’ll agree that many foot problems can be prevented by wearing proper fitting shoes.

Foot Facts:

Core Causes of Foot Pain:

One thing is for sure. The cause of chronic foot pain doesn’t just come on overnight. It is usually the culmination of doing a lot of things your body doesn’t like, bit by bit, over a period of time. So, it will take some time to correct these kinds of situations but they can often be corrected.

Much of the foot pain we experience comes from overworked lower limbs but pain can also be caused from improper shoe fit, excessive wear and tear, nutritional deficiencies and allergies that cause the muscle fibers to become sticky which gums up smooth movement of the muscle fibers.

Movement of the foot is controlled by four groups of muscles in the leg. These muscles get a workout not only when our feet are visibly moving (such as when we walk or run) but even when we stand still, because they help keep us balanced and upright. And like nearly all muscles (the heart muscle is an exception), these muscles can become fatigued, decreasing their ability to properly support the feet which can cause discomfort. Standing in place for long periods also tends to result in a pooling of blood in the lower extremities, which can cause uncomfortable swelling.

What makes feet hurt? Let’s talk about that and discuss some of the common causes of foot pain.

A foot doctor is called a podiatrist. Podiatrists are medical doctors with years of extra study specializing in the treatment, diagnosis, disorders and surgery of the foot. Podiatrists also treat skin issues and birth defects involving the feet.

Ankle sprains: Ligaments that are stretched or torn should be attended to quickly with an ice pack, support wraps, splints if necessary, arnica gel or Traumeel gel and Traumeel tablets and oral Ligaplex I (for acute support) or Ligaplex II (for chronic support). Elevate the limb to decrease swelling. Limit weight-bearing activities, and stay off the feet for a few days. In cases of a severe sprain, your podiatrist may recommend a brace or surgery. Traumeel gel and tablets can be obtained through your local health food store. Awesome product.

Arthritis in the feet: Painful stiff feet can be treated fairly well with nutritional supplements that support the bones, tendons and ligaments.

Big Toe Pain is often a result of gout. I’ve written about gout before. You can review that and the list of High Oxalate Foods here:https://naturalhealthtechniques.com/specificdiseasesgout1.htm and https://naturalhealthtechniques.com/list-of-high-oxalate-foods.htm

Black toenails: Caused by a hematoma (bruising) under the nail as a result of trauma or poor fitting shoes. Black nails can also be a symptom of weak blood vessels or rotting flesh caused from cancer so if you know you didn’t physically injure your toe and you notice this symptom you should have it checked out by an appropriate health care professional.

Bunions: A misaligned big toe joint where the toe slants outward causing inflammation and swelling of the metatarsal and phalangeal joint. One common cause is tight-fitting shoes. Choose shoes that are wide enough for your feet. Treatment includes resting and soaking the feet. Bunions can be treated by a podiatrist.

Bunion on the foot.

Burning feet: Core causes include nerve damage from diabetes, vascular challenges, multiple sclerosis or other idiopathic (which means we don’t know the cause) dis-ease processes. Sometimes wearing shoes made from synthetic material can also cause this. Try changing to natural leather and cottons. Other sources suggest this may be a result of heavy metal overload and that if you cleanse the liver it will resolve the issue. We use carob powder quite often for heavy metal detox. About ½ teaspoon daily for 30 days. Another technique suggested to help hot/burning feet is the kidney flush technique:https://naturalhealthtechniques.com/healingtechniqueskidney_flush_technique.htm

Burning/aching feet at the end of the day: Often accompanied with hobbling out of bed in the morning. See Heel Pain in the Morning.

Calluses (Hard dry skin on the heels): Calluses are a buildup of skin over areas of increased pressure or repetitive friction. The balls of the feet and heels are common places for this to occur. Skin cracking can also result. Good shoes that hold the heel of your foot well are a must. Remove the old skin with skin remover and moisturize the skin in those areas. But that’s not all. You’ll need to increase the pliability of your skin from the inside out. This may mean changing your diet from eating excessive hard (saturated) fats and fried foods to a diet higher in polyunsaturated fats. Occasionally surgery to repair dropped arches (one core cause of food calluses) is needed.

Charlie Horses or Muscle Cramps in the Feet: Calcium, Magnesium, Phosphorus and Potassium levels all need to be checked and balanced. Also, one trick is to take EFA’s, Fish Oil or Udo’s 3-6-9 Oils with the meal that has the most minerals in it (so. . . the meal with all the cooked veggies and/or salad) as the oils draw the minerals into the system so they can be utilized by the body more efficiently. Many clients also are helped by putting a bar of Ivory Soap (still in the wrapper) at the bottom of the bed. I don’t know why this works, but it seems to work quite often.

Feet hurting during exercise: The heavier you are, the more foot problems you can have. So, exercise is important. Find a person who really knows their exercise shoes, get a pair that fits and use them for short periods each day. Get to the core cause of the pain to be sure this is not something more serious—an X-ray may be in order.  Combine these recommendations with a weight management program and think about using an orthotic in your shoes.

Foot pain in the morning: Usually a biomechanical problem caused from too much exercise, walking or time spent on the feet.

Hammer Toes. Hammer toe is when a toe bends inward and upward becoming very rigid and stiff. They are often tender and painful and it’s difficult to find shoes that fit. The core cause is often a viral or staph allergy. Nutritional supplements support repair of the core causes and strengthen or build healthy bones.

Hammer toe

Picture Reference: https://www.thefootandankleclinic.com/images/uploaded/footother01.jpg

Heel spurs. Some resources say that heel spurs don’t necessarily hurt but I find this rather surprising. A spur is the result of chronic pulling on the attachment of a ligament which is attached to the bone. The area being chronically aggravated (usually repetitive stretching of the fascia) responds by increasing bone formation which results in a spur. Getting to the core cause is really the treatment for this condition but if you’ve let it go too far you may have to correct the condition surgically. Heel spurs can be a result of too much of the body’s electricity being turfed to that area, chronic fatigue syndrome, allergies and an imbalance of the heart’s electrical energy. Treatments for heel spurs: Nutritionals supplements to repair this foot challenge include AC Carbamide—a natural diuretic that helps to purify and cleanse the kidney, bladder and urine and Phosfood which helps to remove stagnant water from the bladder and helps to stop burning and dribbling. You see, the kidney helps to regulate calcium and phosphorus in the body. If the kidney is not able to keep up with this process, excess minerals build up in the joints which can end up making spurs in several areas of the body or stones in the bladder/kidney/gallbladder. If the spur becomes too painful, surgery can be done to shave it off—but this is just an indicator of what is happening to other joints in your body. All systems tie together.

Heel pain in the morning: Usually caused from the tightening of the tendons and ligaments associated with the feet. Heel pain especially involves the plantar fascia (the tough connective tissue surrounding the foot muscles at the bottoms of your feet). A common treatment is to stretch those ligaments out by standing several feet away from the wall while leaning against it and stretching first one leg and then the other. This stretches both the calf muscles and the fascia on the bottoms of your feet. Other treatment modalities include anti-inflammatories, using different and more comfortable shoes that fit the foot better and using orthotic devices. Some orthopods (the nickname for an orthopedic doc) recommend surgery but this would be as a last resort.

Ingrown toenails: This happens when the side of your toenail cuts into your skin. These are common. The cause is usually a bad toenail clip job, but pressure from a bad shoe fit can cause ingrown nails as well. A mild ingrown nail can be removed with careful clipping, but if it is deep or painful, consider a trip to the podiatrist. The recommendation is to cut the nails straight across, but it’s also important to keep dirt and debris from building up in the little crevice between the nail and the nail bed. If the nail gets ingrown past the point of management, partial nail removal is in order. A local anesthetic is used in an out-patient procedure so that the nail can be cut at the base and removed. The growth center of the nail is treated so that it won’t regrow. One website said this was quite painless but sheesh! Really?  It’s also important to wear shoes that don’t squeeze your feet.

Morton’s Neuroma: A cyst or small tumor in the lymphatics of the foot caused by viral and staph allergy. Support the immune system, recharge the lymphatics and flush the adrenal cortex.

Morton’s Neuroma

Picture Reference: https://www.mayoclinic.org/images/mortons-neuroma-2col.jpg

Nail Fungus: Thick, malformed discolored nails can be isolated or can affect every nail on the foot. You can’t have this symptom and not have an overgrowth of yeast in your gut. Even when you treat it topically you’ll have to follow up with an internal cleanse or cleanses. Medical treatment includes a drug called Griseofulvicin which needs to be taken for several months. The challenge with this drug is that it is processed in the liver and can cause stress and harm to the liver. Topical application of Vick’s Vapo Rub every night for three months often works. Keep cutting the nail down as it grows out and file the nail to thin it out. Use a disposable nail file each time or really scrub the file after you use it with soap/water and a disinfectant so those spores will be gone. You wouldn’t want someone else in the household to use that file and pick up the fungus from your nail equipment. Vick’s Vapo rub contains camphor which penetrates and oxygenates the nail so that it can kill the fungus. Some of these nails are painful. Wearing proper shoes can be helpful. Don’t wear any shoes that pinch as trauma to the nail creates an opportunity for the fungus to take hold. Nail fungi like warm, dark, moist environments and easily spreads to other nails.

Nodules (Dupuytren’s Contracture): Palpable bumps in the connective tissue on the sole of the feet. Core cause of this syndrome is often Chronic Fatigue, poor blood quality, zinc and manganese deficiency, essential fatty acid imbalances and certain vitamin deficiencies. This syndrome is more common in the hands but here’s a photo of what it looks like in the foot:

Dupuytren’s contracture in a foot

Picture reference: https://www.wsiat.on.ca/images/mlo/dupuytren_plantar.jpg

Neuroma: A pinched nerve, causing pain between the third and fourth toes. It can feel like a tooth that needs a root canal. One of the most common causes is a poor shoe fit or using shoes that are not the proper type for the job you’re doing.

Pain in the arch of the foot: This type of pain can be in the arch OR the heel and manifest as arch pain. For this type of pain you’d have to rule out a stress fracture or tendon rupture. The arch of the foot holds the reflexology points for the small intestine, so if one has diarrhea and small bowel problems it would make sense that you would have some tender spots there. An X-ray may be in order.

Pain in the toes and balls of the feet—worse when standing or jumping: Possible nerve entrapment also called a neuroma. Neuromas can be isolated or generalized (called plantar fibromatosis). It’s easier to manage or heal a single neuroma. In the natural medicine world we think this may be related to a manganese and zinc deficiency, but manganese is a trace mineral so it’s safer to take supplements made from natural products so you don’t overdose on it. We use quite a bit of Ligaplex II here. It’s an awesome product and can be taken long-term.

Peripheral neuropathy: Tingling, stabbing, shooting pain in the feet caused from the nerves being pinched, not getting enough circulation or not getting enough oxygen. (See Burning Feet above.) Some treatment options include chiropractic or osteopathic adjustments of the appropriate joints, medications that alleviate nerve pain (Neurontin or Gabapentin), topical applications of hot pepper (capsicum) and magnetic insoles (MagStrides from Nikken). Nutritional supplements recommended to help support the nerves, detox heavy metals, and give the tissues nutrition they are missing as well as treating the underlying cause of diseases causing the neuropathy are also necessary.

Plantar fasciitis. A heel injury, affecting the area where the arch meets the heel. Plantar fasciitis is marked by heel pain with first steps in the morning, possible swelling, and heel pain while walking. It can usually be worked out with activity. What to do: Wear better shoes, or try orthopedic shoes prescribed by a podiatrist. Don’t walk barefoot. Use ice unless you have circulatory problems or are diabetic. Try heel cups in your shoes for shock absorption. If the pain is persistent, see a podiatrist.

Planter’s warts: Ouch. Planter’s warts are caused by a virus that affects the superficial layers of the skin in the foot. This wart grows inwards instead of outwards as in hand warts. Localized treatment is in order and sometimes the treatment needs to be repeated.  Some kind of caustic agent is usually the treatment of choice—either applying a chemical or freezing them off. These types of warts are usually found in younger people as their immune systems are not yet totally developed and they can’t fend off viruses very well. Some treatments to try on these warts are rubbing the wart several times each day with 3-in-1 machine oil, Vicks Vapo Rub Cream, a styptic roll on Nic pencil or wheat germ oil. Prevention is key so practice good foot hygiene and disinfect the shower regularly (especially if there is someone in the house with other foot problems). Bleach in a dilution of 27 parts water to one part bleach will get most all viruses. Please air the house out after using though, because bleach is not that healthy to breathe. For more info on warts, see my handout on warts and moles:https://naturalhealthtechniques.com/specificdiseaseswarts_moles_skin_discolorations.htm

Stress fractures: A break in the bone usually resulting from repetitive pounding. Common to athletes. Limit weight bearing exercise and stick to low impact exercise until the bone heals (6-8 weeks). An orthotic device may be necessary to reduce pressure at the fracture site. Be sure to confirm and locate the stress fracture via X-ray for proper treatment. Nutritional supplements to support healthy bone will help to heal the bone about 50% faster. We use Cal-Ma Plus for this and it’s wonderful.

Tendonitis. An inflammatory process in the tendons, common in athletes which can be a serious, painful, and persistent. Unfortunately for the exercise-addicted personality, rest, ice, using anti-inflammatory drugs, changing exercise techniques and shoe gear are all necessary to heal this condition and it takes time. Too often the person thinks they feel a little better, pushes themselves and then it turns out they re-injure the area.

A Few Notes about Shoes:

Some sources claim that improper fitting shoes are responsible for 90% of all foot problems. Bad shoes are any shoe that no longer supports you, will not control abnormal movement, does not fit properly in ANY way (no matter how much it cost or what brand it is), wears unevenly or causes pain or rubbing in any way. Improperly fitted shoes can also cause back and leg pain. Here are some tips for purchasing the right shoes for you. . .

I remember a story about Oprah’s shoes: Oprah once had a yard sale and had a bunch of shoes included in her stuff for sale. A woman purchased a pair of her shoes (which did not fit her by the way), but she used the shoes in a different way. When life got difficult for her, she’d take Oprah’s shoes out of her closed and put them, imagining herself walking in Oprah’s shoes. “What would Oprah do?” she’d think. And it would give her strength to carry on. I’d say that this would be an appropriate use of shoes that didn’t fit right.

Herbs, Supplements, Homeopathics, Foods and Treatments for foot pain:

CAUTION: If you have circulation problems or diabetes, do not use any of these remedies without the approval and supervision of your health professional. If you choose to use these remedies this is your constitutional right however. But it’s nice to have some professional input.

Foot soaks: Remember to dry your feet completely after soaking them so no fungus or bacteria will grow in that nice moist dark environment. Often attending to your feet just before you go to bed will help you sleep better and more soundly.

Foot Massage: If you can’t get someone to massage your feet then roll your feet over golf balls, smooth stones, a tennis ball, rolling pin or specially designed foot roller. You don’t need oil for this massage but if you decide to use some kind of moisturizing oil, try sesame or a combination of peanut/castor/olive oil(an Edgar Cayce remedy). Lavender, chamomile and geranium essential oils mixed into sesame oil are also used in foot massage. Sesame oil is a thinner oil that easily soaks into the body. Other fine oils to use are Apricot, Almond and Avocado.

Cayenne Pepper: sprinkle some into your socks or rub some directly onto the soles of the feet. They also make a capsicum roll-on that works pretty well I hear.

Foot Poultice: Now here’s an interesting folk remedy reportedly to draw out pain and tiredness. Boil or roast a large turnip until it’s soft. Then mash it and spread half of it on a white cotton handkerchief. Spread the other half on another handkerchief. Apply the turnip mush to the bottoms of your bare feet, bandage them in place and sit with your feet elevated for about half an hour.

Ice Packs: Apply an ice pack to the heel up to 3 times/day for a few minutes. This will increase heel circulation. Don’t do this one if you are a diabetic. It makes things a bit more painful.

Pickup sticks (or Pencils in this case): Scatter a few pencils on the floor and practice picking them up with your toes to help relieve foot aches.

Rubber Band Gym: Wrap a thick rubber band around all the toes on one foot and then spread the toes and hold the stretch for 5 seconds. Do 10 repetitions with each foot.

What is an orthotic? Orthotic devices are usually a custom made shoe insert made from a mold of the patient’s foot that will control abnormal motion, provide support, and accommodate specific problems. Orthotics can be made for specific physical activities so it’s good to consult with a doctor who specializes in these things. Many offices use a computer that senses all the pressure points in your foot to custom-fit the orthotic. As the feet heal or as your feet age and spread, you may need to update the orthotic.

Yucca Stalk: Helps with inflammation causing foot pain. See the Product of the Month in this newsletter.

Foods to help with swollen feet: For bloated, uncomfortable feet we recommend high potassium foods and natural diuretics. Some of these foods include watermelon, parsley, asparagus, bananas and kiwi. Coffee and tea also work as diuretics. Note that eating large amounts of asparagus may make your urine smell awful. Yogurt (especially all-natural or that made at home) contains components that help reduce histamine-producing bacteria. It’s the histamine release that results in swelling.

More Do’s and Don’ts:

Standard Process Nutrition:

Several Standard Process products came up time and time again while researching this topic for you. Here’s a list of those products and a simple explanation as to why they may be used for these cases:

 

 

Take care of your feet, and they’ll take care of you.

Helpful links and references:

Product of the Month: Yucca Stalk Capsules

Yucca (also known as Spanish bayonet, Spanish dagger or soap weed) is a perennial desert plant or tree which primarily grows in the southwestern United States, Mexico, Central and South America preferring sandy, rocky soils, hillsides, grasslands and deserts. It grows to a height of about four feet and produces edible flowers, fruits and stalks. Yucca is in the lily family and related to the Joshua tree.

Yucca stalk and flower.
Fruit of the yucca plant.

Picture references:

The key active component in yucca are its water and fat-soluble saponins which make a soapy consistency. Poultices or baths with yucca were used for skin sores, sprains, inflammation of all sorts, dandruff, baldness and bleeding. In the food industry yucca is used to make froth on root beer. One study used yucca in the treatment of certain melanomas.

Yucca schidigera stalk and root were historically used by several tribes of Indians. The mature reddish-brown fruits (large brown seeds removed) of this plant were dried or roasted and mixed with grass seed and venison and were used as the chief foods of the early Navajo warriors when traveling great distances. Sounds delicious doesn’t it? Young flower stalks and buds can be boiled, chopped and used in salads or the cores of the stalks can be boiled and mixed with a bit of butter and eaten as a vegetable. The fruits were sometimes baked on hot coals or stones and then ground and made into cakes used later in gruel, bread and soups.

Yucca leaf fibers were soaked and softened then pounded to separate their fibers so that they could be woven into cordage to be used in the making of mats and baskets. Yucca root was crushed  and used by the Hopi Indians as soap and a hair restorer. The Teton Dakota Indians used the yucca stalks as fire drills. Apache Indians boiled the older flowers or ate them raw.

Several studies have explored yucca as a remedy for osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis which is why I include yucca stalk in my Old Dog Formula. The brands I use are Nature’s Way (because it is standardized at 490 mg and it’s easier to dose that way) or Starwest Botanicals bulk herb. If your body vibrates to this product, it only takes a week or two to feel positive results. I like that. The adult human dosage for yucca is about 1-2 capsules/day and some think that it should not be taken for more than three months at a time as the saponins may interfere with the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E and K). Of course I’m an advocate in taking only what your body needs but I know there are many of you out there that purchase and try things on your own so if you’re taking too much of this herb and you end up with loose stools, you’re taking too much OR it’s the wrong product for you.

There is speculation that the saponins in yucca block release of toxins from the intestines that inhibit normal formation of cartilage (who figures these things out anyway?) But, the proof is in the pudding. I’ve seen this herb give relief many times over for mild inflammation for both humans and dogs. Because it may cause hemolysis, I wouldn’t use it on cats since their cells are sensitive to drugs in that way.

Contraindications: One study suggested that yucca was responsible for the red blood cells lysing (hemolysis) but those people who regularly drink root beer do not have this problem according to research, so the herb is on the GRAS list (Generally Regarded as Safe).

Media Reviews: (Book) Book Review: Building Your Field of Dreams

© 1996 by Mary Manin Morrissey. Review by Dr. Denice Moffat

This is one of my favorite books and it seems appropriate to write a review/summary on it at this time as so many people are out of work and wondering what they are going to do with their lives and if they should start a new career. Sometimes I think the Universe taps us on the shoulder and pushes us into our discomfort zones to keep us spiritually progressing. I believe we are all here to do some pre-determined jobs but sometimes we end up in a rut that stagnates our spiritual progress. These are the times that push us into finally doing the things we’ve always wanted to do and I certainly urge you that to take those steps and just DO IT! You’ll be glad you did. Manifesting your ultimate calling may not be as easy as it looks, but it certainly will be fulfilling on yourlLife’s journey.

Now, even though this book was written by a minister, it does not promote any particular religion. The principles discussed in the book are universal.  The goal is to co-create with God to make your life effective, efficient and full of all the good life has to offer. After all, the Universe IS always conspiring for our good.

Mary’s book gives outlines, personal stories and invites you to utilize several principles. . .

  1. Build a base of belief that can support a dream of any magnitude.
  2. Learn how to choose a dream and test if it is right for you.
  3. See how to build a dream from idea to reality, step-by-step.
  4. Identify and use fear to create positive results.
  5. Recognize a way to free yourself from the barriers of your past.
  6. Discover how to open the floodgates to untold abundance and,
  7. Find that your whole life takes on greater meaning and purpose through building your dream.

Chapter one. Divine Discontent: Igniting Your Desire.

So, how do you feel in your body? Restless? Are you comfortable with your relationships? Your job? How you spend your time? If not, maybe this is God’s voice speaking to you saying, “I’ve got more in store for you. Don’t settle. Don’t live a little life, there’s SO much more for you to experience.”  As you notice these deeper longings your dormant powers are wanting to express themselves. Notice how alive you feel as you take those steps and move towards those desires.

Free yourself from the past thoughts that hold you back. Instead of saying “I’ve always had bad luck or been that way (or fill in that blank for whatever you identify with),” add the phrase to your brain SPAM thoughts. . . “Until now!”

The past is over. Let it go. Step into your good! I’ve noticed in my practice as I talk with many of you that we’ve all had tough times in our lives to a certain extent. We could live by those stories, but the negative ones hold us back from our divine being. You are free to choose again. Make it your spiritual practice to tell yourself that these things are now in the past and that you are co-creating a new and improved existence.

Honor your discontent. Know that this is God knocking. . .enticing you to see what’s beyond your safe environment. Open that door.

Chapter Two. Choosing: Deciding on the Dream: Whatever we think about is what we create. So start by setting your intention on what you want to create. What is it that you desire?  Now test your dream with these five essential questions:

1)     Does your dream enliven you?

2)    Does your dream align with your core values? You won’t pursue it if it doesn’t.

3)    Do you need help from a higher source to make the dream come true? If you don’t, then your dream isn’t big enough.

4)    Will your dream require you to grow into more of your true self? Living in limitation gradually squeezes the life out of you. Sometimes it’s best not to share your dream with negative but well-meaning people. Build an ark or sacred place in your mind where your dream can be safe from the flood of doubt, disapproval and disbelief that drowns most dreams before they ever have a chance to manifest. Have you ever read about Monty Roberts (the Horse Whisperer’s) dream?  Well, his grade school teacher tried to steal his dream.  Here’s that story:  https://naturalhealthtechniques.com/inspiration-the-dream-stealer.htm . Don’t let people steal your dreams.

5)    And finally, will your dream ultimately bless others? There is no such thing as private good. When we are on our God Path we bless the world.

Commit to your dream. Stay focused and don’t pay attention to the many distractions along the way. Recommit on a daily basis. Little steps really do add up. Where you place your attention, you place your intention.

Chapter Three has taken Michael and I farther and faster towards our dreams than any other technique—and we’ve been practicing Universal Principles for quite some time now. These techniques include focusing only on the good in the situation, letting go of limiting thinking (which increases your sense of worthiness) and adopting an attitude of gratitude.  Here’s a sampling from that chapter:

“Those who preach from the lofty security of a pulpit may describe the emergence of self-worth as if it were as simple as doing the laundry. Rinse the dirt from your life with a little agitation and you’re instantly clean, fresh and wrinkle-free. It is so much more difficult than that. You may be moving toward your dream. . .but if you neglect to nourish your own sense of worthiness, you are not fully committing yourself to the dream. A part of you holds back, saying, ‘I’m not worth it.’”

Chapter Four focuses on fear (False Evidence Appearing Real) and how to overcome that in moving closer to your dream. People fear things they know very little about, so feed your faith and starve that fear.

As an example: When Mary Ellen found she had cancer at first she was afraid. But she did not see herself as a victim of cancer. She quickly became a student of cancer. She believed her faith in her relationship with God was bigger than any disease. When you are in a place of fear you often don’t make very good decisions. So learn about your fears and shift them with faith.

Don’t be afraid to change direction midway through your journey either. If you listen to your inner guidance, it is programmed to take you on your path of highest life purpose. I’ve done this in my own life. If something doesn’t feel right I’ve occasionally made the decision to cut my losses and run the other way. The Law of Compensation that kicks in with these circumstances to more than make up for the losses.

Chapter Five focuses on the gift of constant circulation. Give your time, talent and treasures to accelerate the funding of your dream. Focus on the well-being that circulating these items generates. When I was first developing my website one of my brothers tried to talk me into selling the articles instead of circulating  them to the general public. “But Jesus said to give the gifts away,” I said. Well, over the years I’ve found this to be true. My website brings in my entire income AND I’ve blessed healers and other people and their pets around the world over with an abundance of knowledge which they have also shared to create ripples of health. By their sharing of this knowledge I feel my dream to make the world a better place is in process.

Chapter Six. Illumination: Lighting the Path to Forgiveness. Really we don’t know people’s stories. We are all handicapped in one way or another by our pasts and we really just do the best we can. Sometimes forgiving ourselves for actions we have done is the hardest thing to do but the most important  step towards the nourishing of our dream building. Too often we condemn a person for a single glimpse of their life without knowing their story.

Mary shared a story in her book about a very rude checker who had treated her gruffly, overcharged her for an item and to top it off, the checker even got upset when Mary pointed out the overcharge. “Wow, I can’t believe this woman represents the store.” She shared with the boy who wheeled out her groceries. “Oh I know. Yesterday her son was hit on his bike. He’s in intensive care in the hospital and she’s a single mom and she didn’t think she could take the day off to be with him. She’s really worried,” he shared. All at once the anger shifted to compassion for this woman.

If we only knew the whole story. . . when we don’t, often Michael and I will make one up so that we can move beyond the littleness of small thinking.

Release those grievances any way you can. “Tender dreams cannot thrive in toxic soil,” Mary shares. You don’t necessarily have to forgive the behavior, but definitely forgive the being.

Chapter seven. Guidance: Recognizing the Voice of Inspired Insight: Listen to those small inner nudges and make it your spiritual practice to do what they tell you. When you learn to do this consistently you won’t be telling yourself, “I knew I should have listened, I just knew it!” The other tip I liked in this chapter that I use in projects that make me squirm is to go to the edge of the light I see, see the light, and then go a little bit further in faith. In Psalms it says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Listening to the still small voice is like walking on a path in the woods at night with only a lantern to light the way. You keep walking because the light is illuminating your footsteps. If you want to accomplish your goals and dreams, be willing to take the steps and have faith that the path will be illuminated as you go.

Chapter eight discusses the building of MasterMind groups, raising the bar in your belief system and practicing the five steps to renew your faith. I’ve written about MasterMind groups before so you can review that here: https://naturalhealthtechniques.com/prosperity-master-mind-groups.htm .

So what if you fail at achieving your dream? Well, Chapter nine discusses what we learn from failure and how to use failure to move through the levels of awareness. Maybe something bigger and better is in store for you? When do you know to give up chasing that dream? Mary suggests this prayer, “If this dream is for my highest good, increase my passion for it and show me a way. If this dream will not benefit myself and others, redirect me. This, or something better.” Review the essential questions in chapter two. Are the answers to these questions still pertinent to your dream? How could you modify your dream to become in alignment with them?

And finally, Chapter ten focuses on the harvest of your dream by learning to trust the process and see how by building your dream it was ultimately building you. It’s good to realize that if there are any stumbling blocks they are of our own making. The crops you harvest come from the seeds you have sown. Move in, as, and through the process of building your dream with love and compassion. This process makes all the difference.

I think you’ll love this book. Mary has a light, easy-to-read, reflective style that makes the process of dream building seem do-able and worthwhile.

Ask Dr. Moffat:

Subject: Cat attack. Hello, I have a six month old black female that was rescued at 4 weeks of age.  She is black and all others in litter were calico. This past weekend she attacked my husband (his right forearm that was just resting at his side) for no apparent reason. She bit him deep in two places and scratched in another. He bled quite a bit and of course yelled at the cat. What is strange is that up until this happened my husband was the only one in the family she has been friendly with.  Why would she behave this way? Cynthia V.

Dear Cynthia: Has she been spayed? It’s about time to come into heat and hormones can cause this but it’s also an arousal thing. You can change the behavior by distracting her with a toy, but don’t let her keep attacking without retraining, distracting or getting some help. People with diabetes should be especially careful with this type of behavior because they don’t heal quickly and can easily get infected with the germs from a cat’s mouth.  If you watch her, her eyes will dilate and her tail will start flicking when she’s entering an arousal state. When this happens, watch out! It’s very difficult to back a cat out of this. That’s the time to push a stuffed toy into her face.  You have to do this every time and be very patient about it though (and teach other people in your house to do the same.) I’ve seen this work effectively even in exotic cats (I once had a bobcat in my practice respond positively to this method.)

If this doesn’t work and you really want to keep her, I’d try an animal communicator www.lydiahiby.com and a behavioral specialist. Sometimes when kittens are rescued (at that age and younger or when bottle fed) they attach to and treat humans kind of differently. You don’t know what happened to her before she was rescued. Lydia may be able to tell you that. In the meantime if your husband’s arm looks like it is getting infected Amoxicillin is the way to go. It’s the best way to kill Pasteurella multocida—the bacteria in the cat’s mouth that causes Cat Scratch Fever. Yikes. Good luck!  Denice

Subject: Dry Brushing. Dear Dr. Moffat, I read about the Dry Brushing Technique on your website. I’m writing with a few questions. I’ve been doing the dry brushing for a few weeks now and wondering if I should stop or what to do. I have keratosis pilaris on the backs of my arms and side/front of my upper legs.

Keratosis pilaris

I have seen several dermatologists over the years for this and have been prescribed everything under the sun. Lac Hydrin crème has been the most recommended but it definitely does not work for me. It flares up the condition. In fact, after two long weeks of using it and my condition did not improve. Differin crème has been the most successful; however, I’ve not been able to use it for the past 3 years due to pregnancy/breast feeding and I’m currently breastfeed my 10 wk. old son. Furthermore, I’ve been told to avoid hot showers and abrasive products on these areas…does that include dry brushing? What, if any, modifications do you recommend given my skin condition? Your insight/recommendation would be greatly appreciated. Kind regards, Deborah Z. P.S. Your natural health techniques website is a great resource! Thank you for sharing.

Dear Deborah: OK, I’m testing NOT to do the dry brushing. Try this for four months and if this doesn’t work then email me again and set up an appointment and we’ll tweak things out for you, OK? Get some Oxyfresh Cleansing Gele (you should be able to find an Oxyfresh distributor locally) and use that exclusively on your body for bathing and hand washing. It’s safe to use for breastfeeding women. I’ve never seen anyone react negatively to this product and I’ve helped three people (including myself) get over this challenge. Glad you like the site. Thanks for the input. Denice

Subject: Vitamin D2 Question.  Dr. Moffat: Thank you for your list of hidden sources of sulfites. My question: I’ve Recently been diagnosed with Vitamin D deficiency.  My doctor prescribed Vitamin D2 50,000 i.u.  Within in four days I was not feeling well, so he tried me on a lower dose a few weeks later, I again began to not feel well. He changed my prescription to Vitamin D3 and I am doing fine on the new prescription. My understanding is that Vitamin D2 is made from a process that uses mushrooms.  Because fresh mushrooms are on many avoid sulfites list, it has raised the question: Should people that are sensitive to sulfites avoid Vitamin D2 or does the processing of the mushrooms remove the sulfites? Thank you for answering my question. Margarett

Dear Margarett: Whoa. Good question. I don’t know the answer but let me ask my Guides:

Yes, they say you need D3 instead of D2. One capsule/day only though (I don’t know what you are taking). Yes, people sensitive to sulfites should avoid D2 made from mushrooms. But I’m testing it does not have hidden sulfites in it. The body just does not like it. Hope that helps and thanks for visiting my site. Denice

Subject: Brain And Black Licorice Craving: Hello, I have been told by a naturopath in the past of a connection. Since having survived a brain injury and several past concussions, I now occasionally crave black licorice—not a lot and not even for a long time, but occasionally, really an uncontrollable urge. Any ideas why? Thanks for what you do, it is so appreciated and is the ultimate display of love for mankind. Sincerely Gary P.

Hi Gary: My suspicion is that you need the minerals. But black licorice specifically also acts to retain fluids in the body which would increase the blood pressure, so maybe you need a bit of increased pressure to get enough blood to the brain? That’s all I can come up with for you Gary. Thanks for reading the site. Denice

Hi Denice, Our dog is limping on her front right side tonight.  I can’t tell if it is her hip, leg, paw or toenail.  She got overexcited because some neighborhood dogs were putting up a ruckus and she went tearing around the yard at top speed.  My husband called her to come in but she did not. He went out and brought her in by the collar.  He does not think he stepped on her as she did not yelp. She is not whining so I am guessing the pain is not unbearable like a broken bone would elicit.  She is not licking it. I gave her a few doses of Arnica 30 x.  Would you please tell me where the injury is, and how best to treat it? Is the pain in the hip, leg, paw toenail or other? Rest or limited movement? Arnica?  Soak paw in warm water with Epsom salt? Ice or warm packs to leg?  (No clue how I am going to do that though.) Is it a strain to ligament, sprain to muscle? Thanks much. Joann.

Dear Joann. I’m getting it’s a toenail Joanne so examine for a split nail. That can be very painful. Sometimes the nail will continue to hurt her and if that’s the case you’ll have to take her in to have the broken part of the nail removed. Yikes. But it’s fast and the results are fabulous. I like the arnica idea. 2/day for two more days. Limit her movement. No need to soak. No heat or cold. I think that should do it. The nail will be split in half lengthwise. After a day or two it should have some dust in between the break so it should be more visible. Knowing her, she won’t put up with a bandage I suspect so just watch it for a day or two. Good luck! Denice

Tips and Tricks for a Healthier Life:

Thyroid Cancer Prevention: Just a reminder for all you folks that have dental X-rays or mammograms. Thyroid cancer is on the rise and there is a correlation between x-rays and cancer. Be sure to ask for protection for your thyroid gland when getting these procedures.

Skin Graft Gun: There is a new technique out there for skin grafts and burn victims. It’s amazing! check out this YouTube video:https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/02/spray-on-skin-gun_n_817776.html

How long do supplements last? Well, homeopathics basically last forever. If the label is past the expiration date you can knock it against the palm of your hand 100 times to reactivate them (this is called successing). Most supplements and herbs last a year or two beyond the date on the bottle and if you muscle test your body knows this so adjusts the dose accordingly.  Now, for medications (especially antibiotics like Tetracyclines) be sure to toss those. Expired tetracycline can cause Fanconi syndrome—a disease that trashes your kidneys permanently.

Client Testimonials:

Denice, I received my package today.  Thank you so much for spending time with me on Monday.  I love the messages from the Universe at www.tut.com !
Thank you for getting me back on track.  You are amazing.  I am very lucky to have you in my life. Theresa

Healthy Recipes: Kale Salads and Slaws

Ingredients:

Mix all ingredients…set in fridge overnight. Enjoy the next day!  – From Kim, Raw Foodist

So, what is Kale Slaw anyway? Obviously, the key ingredient in the slaw is Kale—organic, fresh and raw. There are many different types of Kale, and the flavors of each type can vary with the season. Try different types as the seasons change.

Other ingredients that tend to get tossed into the mix are toasted cashews, scallions, red cabbage, mung, sunflower or lentil sprouts, toasted sunflower seeds, marinated tofu, and a plethora of other veggies, seeds, and nuts, only limited by our imagination or pantry stock.

It is the dressing that varies so widely and distinguishes one slaw from another. Here are a few variations from some of the cooks at our local Moscow Co-op Market:

Kelly’s Sesame-Gingered Kale Slaw (From Kelly Kingsland at Affinity Farms in Moscow, ID)

Ingredients:

Mix veggies and set aside.

Blend together in a food processor, or using a wire whisk. Pour and toss over the mixed greens.

Helpful Links and References:

Inspiration & Perspective:

“We practice the Art of Allowing. Which means reaching for the thought that feels best, not the thought that is the real thought, not the thought that is telling it like it is. Telling it like it is only holds you where it is: “Damn it, I’m going to tell it like it is. I’m going to tell it like it is, because everybody wants me to tell it like it is.” Tell it like it is if you like it like it is. But if you don’t like it like it is, then don’t tell it like it is—tell it like you want it to be. If you tell it like you want it to be long enough, you will begin to feel it like you want it to be. And when you feel it like you want it to be, it be’s like you want it to be.”  — Abraham  Excerpted from the workshop in Syracuse, NY on Saturday, September 30th, 2000 # 63  from www.abraham-hicks.com

In life, Denice, you can only ever be scared, when you believe in limits. You can only ever feel lonely, when you stop doing things. You can only ever become bored, when you no longer follow your heart. And you can only ever get overwhelmed, when you think the illusions are real. Whew! Who knew it could be so easy to get back on track?     The Universe . . .And usually it only ever seems hard, when you rush yourself.  www.tut.com

Money and the Law of Attraction: “Most people do not realize that as they continue to find things to complain about, they disallow their own physical well-being. Many do not realize that before they were complaining about an aching body or a chronic disease, they were complaining about many other things first. It does not matter if the object of your complaint is about someone you are angry with, behavior in others that you believe is wrong, or something wrong with your own physical body. Complaining is complaining, and it disallows improvement.”  — Abraham  Excerpted from the book Money and the Law of Attraction: Learning to Attract Health, Wealth and Happiness #664

What’s New at Our House?

My dry brushing information was published in a new book, “Bottom Line’s Treasury of Home Remedies and Natural Cures” by Joan Wilen & Lydia Wilen in spring of 2011. I received a copy of the book. I’ve always been a fan of The Bottom Line Newsletter and the book is just a really nice and easy to read reference.  Many thanks to the Wilen Sister’s for making that happen!

Professor Raymond Auerback (a permaculture specialist) and his wife Christina (a nurse-midwife-healer), both from Africa, visited our farm on June 25with our friend Lynne Carpenter Boggs (master composter and professor of soils at Washington State University). We whipped up our special Kale omelet for lunch and Raymond sang the grace in Sanskrit. Wow, what a treat. The room was buzzing with energy after that and we had a wonderful time discussing permaculture and healing techniques that bring the world together in commonality. We felt honored that our farm was one of a few he chose to tour on his trip.

That’s it for this Month!

Be Healthy.  Denice

Please forward to a friend.

Dr. Denice Moffat is a practicing naturopath, medical intuitive, and veterinarian working on the family unit (which includes humans and animals) through her phone consultation practice established in 1993. She has a content-rich website at www.NaturalHealthTechniques.com and free newsletter

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