Each and every day we fill our lungs more than twenty thousand times. That seems like a staggering figure, almost too big to be true. But consider that taking just fourteen breaths a minute translates to 840 breaths an hour. With 24 hours in a day…yep, the math checks out.
Here are some more facts to consider about our most important daily activity, breathing. At rest, we draw in 7.5 liters of air each and every minute. With light activity, like walking or bending or lifting, we inhale 15-20 liters of air per minute. Finally, when we exert ourselves physically, we consume 35 liters of air per minute.
Now that we understand exactly how much we breath, let’s take a moment to consider exactly what we breath. We all know about outdoor air pollution and by this time most of us have become aware that the air we consume inside is also polluted to one degree or another. It helps to know more about the specific indoor air pollutants, the harm they do and how to remove them from the home and office.
There are three pollutant categories that must be considered when looking at indoor air purification: Particles, VOC’s (volatile organic compounds) and bio-aerosols. Particle pollutants include dust, dander, pollen, spores and other common allergens. VOC’s are gases and odors from walls, draperies, carpets, chemicals, etc. Bio-Aerosols include molds, viruses, bacteria, fungi and other living micro-organisms.
Most people are concerned about mold spores (which cause asthma symptoms), bacteria (which cause infections like MRSA, the most toxic of the Staph infections, and which are rampant in high school gyms and old age homes) and viruses (like influenza, or the flu). Colds, the flu and pneumonia are all be spread thru the air ducts and vents thru forced air ventilation (A/C and heating units).
With so many harmful ingredients mixing into our indoor air these days, it is no surprise that air purification has become big business. But not all air purifiers are the same. Here are some of the basic facts of air purification to allow you to make a more educated decision in your search for cleaner indoor air.
Air filters generally capture organisms without killing them. We are not referring to the standard air conditioning filters that are available for a few dollars at every grocery store. Air purification filters are specially designed to capture living organisms (like bacteria and viruses), so they are not circulated throughout our homes and offices via central air conditioning. However, if the organisms are not killed, and are merely captured by the filter, the filter becomes a breeding ground for the organisms to reproduce and thus, the filter becomes part of the problem instead of the solution.
Ultraviolet (UV) light is a popular way of killing these organisms. UV light penetrates the cell wall of a virus germ, damages the organism’s DNA and renders it incapable of reproducing- like an immune system for the home. UV light filtration, however, just kills the bio-aerosols and does not capture particles or VOC’s.
Another aspect of the filter to consider is the size of the particles captured. Ideally, the air cleaner system will capture particles which are 0.3 microns and bigger. Particles smaller than this bond together and pass thru the filter as 0.3 microns or bigger.
But perhaps the surest way to eliminate the living organisms is to zap them with electricity as they pass through the filter. Mark Valenziano, the President of Healthy Indoor Air, LLC, based in Minneapolis, MN, distributes a line of HealthWay purifier products which filter out 99.99% of all particles 0.3 microns or bigger, and kills all mold spores and air-borne bacteria and viruses with 18,000 volts of electricity. They also manufacture the BreatheCLEAN whole home air purifier, which uses the UV light to kill organisms and prevent the growth of mold and bacteria around the AC unit, drip pan and ducts. Valenziano is passionate about clean indoor air and his purifiers are held up to very high standards.
“I don’t see how the air can get any cleaner,” Valenziano says of the air filtered by his products. “The HealthWay Advanced Air Purification System is a Class 2 medical device, with strict guidelines from the FDA, on how the unit must perform. It must not emit ozone and the air coming out must not be turbulent, it must be laminar [air flow with even volume and with uniform direction and velocity]. Home owners like it for this reason, because there is not draft.”
The HealthWay products go above and beyond the basic industry standards. The HealthWay advanced air cleaner system captures four times the particles as similar sized High Eefficiency Particulate Accumulator (HEPA) filtration systems. HEPA products typically just capture bio-aerosols, whereas HealthWay products capture and kill any and all bio-aerosols passing through the system.
The price makes sense too. The wattage for the 18,000 volt electrical filter is the same as a household light bulb. To purchase and operate the HealthWay and BreatheCLEAN units for a one story 2000 square foot home costs around $1,200.00 per year, or $150.00 to $200.00 a month.
“Cleaning the air we breathe is the easiest and most affordable thing we can do to improve our health,” says Valenziano, “Maybe the most important thing to know as a consumer is that things in the air do cause a lot of symptoms and illnesses and that cleaning the air we breathe takes no will power, like it does to eat right, exercise or quit smoking.
“Everyone’s looking to improve quality of life. Even the very healthy person can be helped. By breathing cleaner air, the immune systems remain stronger when they are not fighting off household airborne pollutants. Once we are breathing in clean air, we will improve the quality of our life. We will sleep better, enjoy much less congestion and sneeze and cough alot less. Then we can start making other little adjustments, like eating a little less, smoking a little less or not at all. Improved air quality can lead to all of this.”
For more information on these and other air purification products, please visit www.healthyindoorairllc.com or call (866) 332-7247.
Time to get down and dirty about your health…that’s right we’re talking colonics!!
February 17, 2009
Total health requires examination of every aspect of one’s body, if not also one’s mind and spirit. But often left out of a person’s self-examination is the issue of colon health, perhaps because the subject of elimination is misunderstood or embarrassing. It’s also the source of crude schoolyard humor, adding to the reluctance to address what’s really going on down there.
Colonic hydrotherapy is a growing health field determined to face people’s fears and lack of knowledge about this part of the anatomy. Also known as colonics or colonic irrigation, it is a means of safely and effectively cleansing the colon or large intestine of accumulated waste and toxins in ways that normal elimination in the bathroom up to three times daily cannot. The human colon is up to six feet long and the average adult has between five to twenty pounds of accumulated waste in the colon. Not helping this accumulation is the average American diet, abundant in refined foods, flour, meat, fat, sugar, alcohol and preservatives. Erratic eating habits and improper food combining are other factors contributing to this waste material.
A session of colonic hydrotherapy begins with educating the client about what will take place in the treatment room, where there is a table and equipment including a disposable speculum and tubing for insertion in the rectum. Wearing a gown and covered with a sheet, the client becomes the recipient of water filling his or her large intestine to absorb and saturate it. When the client feels full, the equipment is switched from the filling mode to the release cycle. Water is siphoned out of the body through a clear, disposable plastic tubing, allowing the client to see, if he or she is interested, the different colors of waste matter leaving the body. There are two means of receiving colonic hydrotherapy. In an open unit, the client inserts the tube and is left alone for most of the time. In a closed unit, a colon hydrotherapist is present for most of the session. The whole process lasts forty-five minutes to an hour.
Who’s a good candidate for this procedure and how does it help? Colonic hydrotherapy is recommended for people with digestive disturbances, acne, constipation, depression, mood swings, and low energy. It’s also effective for women between the ages of thirty-five and fifty-five and people in high-stress careers, those type A personalities who tend to store negative energy, stress and tension in their large intestines. The benefits are many including relief of constipation, gas and bloating, weight loss, an increase in energy, and a purged feeling of well-being.
History reveals that our ancestors used hollowed-out reeds and clear river water to flush out their insides. Several generations ago, enemas were part of a widely accepted wellness regime by many Americans. But now that we have a system more thorough than an enema, there seems to a societal squeamishness associated with even a discussion of the colon and its maintenance. Trying to overcome those blocks is internal cleansing specialist and health educator Tara Alder, director of Alder Brooke Healing Arts in Eugene, Oregon. She is certified by the International Association of Colon Hydrotherapy, which has approved schools and graduates with more than 100 hours of hands-on instruction.
“I believe our lifestyles do not support healthy digestion and elimination,” says Alder. “The colon contains the largest concentration of bacteria in the body. Most of this bacteria is beneficial and necessary to make vitamins B and K. However, waste remaining in the colon longer than it should results in fermentation and putrefaction which may produce harmful bacteria and other toxins that negatively impact the body.
“The most common indicators of an unhealthy colon are constipation, diarrhea, foul smelling stools, gas or bad breath. Cleansing the colon of waste through colon hydrotherapy has the added benefit of hydrating the colon, unlike laxatives which may be irritating and have a dehydrating and habit-forming effect. Colon hydrotherapy may also provide therapeutic improvement in muscular tone by simulating an exercise medium in which the colon’s muscular walls expand and contract. A healthy colon is essential to a healthy body.”
Twenty-four hours prior to a colonic hydrotherapy session with Alder, she recommends drinking a minimum of eight glasses of water, eating light food like fruits, vegetables and whole grains, and avoiding fried or heavy foods. Alcohol and carbonated beverages should also be avoided. Drinking fresh raw vegetable juices with small amounts of wheat grass will aid the process to come, as will minimizing food intake two hours before the procedure, which employs filtered, temperature-controlled and pressure-controlled water several times during a session.
One of Alder’s most ardent supporters is client Bob Wolfe. His experiences prompted him to write a highly revealing account on her web site www.alderbrooke.com. Wolfe was a 230-pound karate expert in Eugene when he went on a fruit and salad diet to lose weight. Then he began a series of colon cleansings with Alder, which helped him eliminate a prodigious amount of useless waste material from his body and lose weight rather quickly. The process also led to increased energy for his workouts. “Colon hydrotherapy with Tara Alder has changed my life for the better in dramatic ways,” Wolfe writes. “I was immediately put at ease by her supportive and non-judgmental demeanor.”
With 1,500 clients ages two to ninety-eight, Alder has a thriving business that makes her proud because of how she is helping people. “I feel very good about what I do,” she says. “I understand the benefits of colonic hydrotherapy and feel rejuvenated by it. For me the largest benefit is hydration, as the water absorbed by my colon goes to my vital organs. It keeps me clean and free of debris collecting on the walls of my colon.”
Having a colonic hydrotherapy session as the seasons change would be wise, she tells her clients. “It’s a great time because you’re changing your food choices and lifestyle and making way for the new, fresh and vital,” says Alder. “It’s not recommended for everyone to do the procedure weekly or monthly. I look at the client’s health history and goals and see what is realistic for them to attain their goals. I like to monitor their progress through the forms clients fill out in my office and the metabolic screening questionnaire on my web site.”
In business since 2000, Alder knows what to expect: “I want my clients to experience a renewed sense of vitality. When someone comes in with puffy eyes, I know that their liver cannot handle their toxic load. People end up really fatigued. Afterwards, the client will have more energy…People love this procedure. I have more repeat clients than anything. After doing a colonic hydrotherapy, they’re ready to sign up for a package.”
Despite its many healthful after-effects, colonic hydrotherapy isn’t for everyone. Pregnant women and people with anemia, lupus and carcinomas, among other medical conditions, aren’t recommended candidates. Alder only takes clients upon a doctor’s recommendation.
And if the topic makes people uncomfortable? Alder eases into it with a matter-of-fact reality, “Everybody poops. Most problems you can ignore, but not this one. Making light of it is helpful. So is connecting on a human level.” For more information, telephone Alder at 1-541-513-7894.
Surgeries and pain killers usually aren’t the answer. Consulting a Doctor of Osteopathy or a chiropractor may give you some alternative remedies that are more effective and have far fewer side effects. One such alternative is manipulation under anesthesia or M.U.A.
Manipulation Under Anesthesia is neither new nor experimental. It’s actually been practiced since the late 1930’s and used by osteopathic physicians and orthopedic surgeons for many years as a proven form of treatment. During the past eight years, interest in M. U. A. has greatly increased thanks to tremendous advances in anesthesiology.
Today, M.U.A. is a multi-disciplinary outpatient procedure that takes place in a controlled hospital or ambulatory surgical setting, usually over the course of three days. The physician utilizes specialized osteopathic manipulation techniques supported by the expertise of registered nurses and anesthesiologists.
Simply put, the M.U.A. patient receives light sedation and while asleep his protective reflexes are still in tact. The physician is able to gently manipulate through the normal range of motion in order to reduce restrictive adhesions due to muscle spasm and spinal degeneration. The procedure alleviates chronic pain from scar tissue in muscle tendons, ligaments and joints.
Countless recent case studies and medical research continue to show that M.U.A. is widely regarded as safe and effective and is gaining acceptance by the medical community at large.
Plus, M.U.A. procedures are cost-effective–thousands of dollars less than traditional surgery and other more invasive treatments–and usually qualify for insurance coverage.
(For more information on manipulation under anasthesia, visit www.holistichealthmagazine.comor call Joshua Rycus, D.O., P.A., at (954) 753-1477).
Osteopathic Medicine can be your ticket to better health
January 30, 2009
What is a Doctor of Osteopathic?
Most people are unaware that there are in fact two different types of physicians in the United States, allopathic physicians (The M.D.’s), and osteopathic physicians, (The D.O.’s). Both D.O.’s and M.D.’s are fully qualified physicians who are licensed to prescribe medications and perform surgery. There are both similarities and differences. D.O.’s emphasize primary care in their training (pediatrics, family medicine, and internal medicine), although you will find many D.O.’s in all fields in medicine from dermatology to neurosurgery.
Osteopathic physicians focus on wellness and preventive health care and focus on a holistic philosophy on health care. Osteopathic Physicians believe in treating the patient rather than specific symptoms to illnesses. D.O.’s also receive extra training in the neuromusculoskeletal system (nerves, muscles, and bones), and have a better understanding of the ways that an injury or illness in one part of your body can affect other parts.
Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) is a hands on care approach to patient care which is incorporated into osteopathic medicine. OMT allows the osteopathic physician to use their hands to diagnose injury and illness, and to encourage the body’s natural tendency toward good health and healing. Using OMT as an extra tool in patient care combined with the standard practice of medicine gives a patient complete comprehensive care.
(Thanks to Joshua M. Rycus, D.O, P.A., for contributing to this blog. For more information on osteopathic medicine, visit www.holistichealthmagazine.com or call Dr. Rycus at (954) 753-1477).
Acupuncture: The granddaddy of holistic health
January 15, 2009
Of all the holistic remedies which treat the body, acupuncture is perhaps the oldest and most time-tested of all. For those unfamiliar with this ancient Chinese practice, tiny needles are injected into the body along certain energy ‘highways’ along the body, called meridians. Meridians can’t be seen and the routes these ‘highways’ travel through the body typically don’t change. The points where the meridians lie are located using anatomical locations and proportional measurements.
The energy traveling along these highways often get blocked (very similar to a traffic jam on the freeway), which causes pain, stiffness, fatigue and other symptoms. The needles stimulate the energy along these highways to clear up the blockages.
“A lot people need to be guided through the first session,” says Jim Rohr, the acupuncturist at Canyon Ranch in Miami Beach. “The most important thing people need to know before starting acupuncture is that the needles don’t hurt. To put clients at ease, I start with points on a client’s back, so there is no temptation to look. The process is very safe, there’s more an issue of most effective placement of the needles.
“Chinese medicine works across the mind, body and spirit spectrum. Acupuncture is no exception. The meridian in the middle of the abdomen is the celestial pivot. It’s a good point to target for someone lacking purpose and direction. Another point is the outer mound on the ankle. This is a great place to work when you are trying to overcome anxiety or a struggle.”
As I personally experienced with Rohr, acupuncture is 100% painless. He started with the thinnest needle he uses and then used the thickest. I didn’t really feel either needle enter my forearm, let alone feel any pain. After he took the needles out (one from each arm), I felt a very slight burning sensation, similar to the feeling one gets in their muscles after lifting weights.
Like most therapies, acupuncture programs are tailored for the individual to provide maximum effectiveness. Another point to keep in mind is that the brain will stop responding to the treatment if points on the same meridian are continuously re-used.
Do not hesitate to consult a licensed and qualified acupuncturist. They have been helping people feel better for thousands of years.
Exactly what is Holistic Health?
January 13, 2009
We hope everyone is having a great 2009 so far! At Holistic Health Magazine, we strive to bring you the most accurate and up to date information on natural and alternative health care you will find anywhere.
There are a few fundamental principles of holistic health. The first is that the holistic approach to wellness looks at the entire spectrum of our existence. Our physical, mental and spiritual beings all intermingle with each other. We are not likely to achieve physical well-being if we are mentally or spiritually troubled. What’s more alarming is that spiritual and mental maladies can often bring about physical symptoms. While the perception may be that this is not possible, that perception is born from people not understanding exactly how powerful the relationship is between mind, body and spirit.
Holistic practitioners in this day and age are not shaman or soothsayers or psychics. They are chiropractors, doctors of osteopathy and more and more, medical doctors. Holistic providers are highly educated and credentialed. They know the biology, chemistry and anatomy behind how the body works. They also believe from personal and professional experience that a physical symptom is not best treated by merely resolving the symptom. Many symptoms present in the body no where near the cause of the symptom.
Most Americans have lost confidence and patience in the modern approach of pharmaceutical-based health care. Rather than masking the problem with a pain-killer or anti-inflammatory, people today want to resolve the true cause of their symptom or condition. This brings us to the second basic principle of holistic health: taking individual control and responsibility for our own health care. Practitioners seek to educate their patients as to why are they are not feeling well, the various ways (alot of times more than one) of how to feel better without resorting to side effect-causing medication and how to prevent the symptom from recurring.
Preventative health care is the third basic feature of holistic health. Holistic practitioners generally revel in the opportunity to guide their patients through lifestyle changes designed to promote general well being and prevent physical symptoms from ever surfacing.
The holistic approach to health care is not an elixir that will cure all. If you fracture your arm, go the ER and get your script for pain killers filled if you are in alot of pain. What holistic health is, however, is a field of health care that is genuinely designed to resolve what ails you without creating additional issues, while at the same time helping you achieve balance within you physically, mentally and spiritually.
In the upcoming blog entries we will be discussing the benefits of some specific holistic remedies. For more information right now on holistic health, please visit www.holistichealthmagazine.com. Have a blessed day.
Welcome to Holistic Health Magazine
December 24, 2008
Welcome to the Holistic Health Magazine weblog. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all of you!! The purpose of this blog is to promote awareness of natural and holistic approaches to health and wellness and to provide some alternatives to those of you looking to achieve optimal health in mind, body and spirit.
We will update the blog regularly, so come for here for the latest exciting information on the world of holistic health and the print edition of Holistic Health Magazine.
Scott Lebowitz, Publisher- Holistic Health Magazine
