May/June 2011 News from the Valley’s Integrated Health Community Integrative Medical Practices for
Reducing Stress: Kindness and Mindfulness By Jaime R. Carlo-Casellas, Ph.D.
Loving kindness is a precept of yoga that teaches us how to resonate and be com- passionate with others.1,2
feel less isolated from others. On the other hand, lack of compassion, stress, and isolation are major risk factors known to increase the mortality rate and exacerbate the symptoms of many chronic illnesses, such as coronary heart disease.4
lack it;5
ers by participating in yoga classes that embrace the humanistic principles of yoga more than its physical aspects. Yoga comprises a series of postures and breathing exercises practiced to strengthen the body, clarify the mind, and to cultivate empa- thy.
risk of disease. The MBSR program was established at the University of Massachu- setts in 1997.7
crease muscle mass and strength. Given its healthful effect in preventing, reversing, or ameliorating the symptoms
around the world. MBSR encompasses mindfulness meditation and yoga. What keeps individuals from embracing mindfulness and loving kindness medita-
tion? Yoga and other Eastern practices are suffused with Hindu, Buddhist, and San- skrit terminology—terminology that may be confusing or frightening to some. Oth- ers associate yoga with a religious practice that may defile their form of worship. This is not the case.
each other, are well-documented, adjunct modalities for the treatment of many stress-related illnesses. They are practices now recognized by the medical commu- nity that can help not only those suffering from stress-related conditions, but also those striving to live a happier and healthier life.
Jaime Carlo-Casellas, Ph.D. is a Stress Management Specialist, a Certified Life Coach, a Registered Yoga Instructor, and founding director of the Stress Management & Preven- tion Center in Rancho Mirage. For more information, visit
www.stressprevention.org.
1) Carlo-Casellas, Jaime: Pratyaahvaya Yoga - The Yoga of Resonance and Compassion. LA Yoga, Feb. 2010. 2) Hartranft, Chip: The Yoga Sutra of Patanjali. Shambhala, Boston, 2003. 3) Carlo-Casellas, Jaime: Chaos & Bliss—A Journey to Hap- piness. BookSurge, Charleston, 2008. 4) Brummett, Beverly H, et al: Characteristics of Socially Isolated Patients with Coronary Artery Disease Who are at Elevated Risk for Mortality, Psychosomatic Medicine 63 (2): 63:267–272. 5) Phillips, Christopher: Socrates in Love. New York and London, 2007. 6) Carnegie, Dale: How to Win Friends and Influence People. Simon & Schuster, New York, 1937. 7) Jonas, W, ed: Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction: A meditation technique that promotes relaxation through the nonjudgmental awareness of moment-to-moment sensations, experiences, and reactions. In Mosby’s Dictionary of Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Elsevier. Amsterdam, 2005. 8) Begley, Sharon: Train Your Mind, Change Your Brain. Ballantine, New York, 2007. 9) McGonical, Kelly: Healing the Whole Person. Shambhala Sun, Jan. 2011.
Rheumatoid Arthritis:
Treating the Root Cause By Shannon Sinsheimer, N.D.
connected system, and a dysfunction in one location can present issues in a completely different area on the body. Supporting the basic foundations of health, such as digestion, is often over- looked in traditional medicine. If our ba- sic body system is unhealthy it can cause progressive problems in other areas. For example, rheumatoid arthritis is an auto- immune disease that typically presents as joint inflammation. However, through my experience in treating patients, I believe an underlying root cause of this disease is bowel and digestion dysfunction.
a small pain that increases over time to be a much larger problem. In other cases, patients simply wake up with it one day. Common symptoms are inflammation, pain, and morning stiffness of the small
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can begin as The human body is a complex, inter-
joints in hands, feet, wrists, and ankles. The medical tests used to diagnose RA are rheumatoid factor, anti-nuclear anti- body, and ESR. X-rays are also performed to determine any changes in bone forma- tion. Medications for RA are typically im- munosuppressant, chemotherapy, and anti-inflammatory agents. While useful, these tests and medications do not con- stitute restorative medicine, and do not treat the underlying root cause of the disease.
digestive dysfunction. If there is dys- function within the bowels or digestion, lymph glands, which produce our white blood cells, can be affected. In autoim- mune diseases, our white blood cells at- tack our own body (synovial joint fluid in the case of rheumatoid arthritis) so it is not surprising to know that GI dysfunc-
Autoimmune diseases often start with
tion can lead to autoimmune issues. In the case of RA, treating the GI tract as a first line approach is important to begin restoration of the whole body.
ate the symptoms and progression of RA begins with a whole food (primarily veg- etarian) and gluten-free diet. RA tends to be more prevalent in western society with processed-food diets. In addition, certain supplements help restore GI health such as digestive enzymes, probiotics, and herbs with healing, anti-inflammatory, and mucilaginous properties. These sup- plements assist in rebuilding healthy GI tissue to ultimately renew the digestion processes. The course of therapy for GI improvement can take anywhere from 4 to 6 months, and progression is moni- tored by tests and changes in symptoms.
other therapies may be accessed for RA including: natural anti-inflammatories, anti-oxidants, specific vitamin and min- eral protocols, and essential fatty acids.
After beginning treatment for GI health, Treating the digestive system to allevi-
Improving GI function is important be- fore introducing supplements the body can’t process. As with any chronic illness, balancing adrenal and thyroid hormones, eliminating food allergies, detoxifying heavy metals, and optimizing sleep, en- ergy, and exercise patterns, is part of a complete and necessary treatment plan.
root cause and giving the body time to re- store with natural therapies will ultimate- ly alleviate pain, preserve the body from further changes, and manage the patient in a way that makes sense for long term health and wellness. Although medica- tions are useful and can provide signifi- cant pain relief, long term use is not ideal. Rheumatoid Arthritis is a disease whose progression can be halted with the ap- propriate naturopathic support.
Dr. Shannon Sinsheimer is a Naturopathic Doctor at Optimal Health Center in Palm Desert and can be reached at (760) 568- 2598.
In my experience, treating RA from the
www.stressprevention.org There is no doubt that loving kindness and MBSR, when practiced in tandem with of many stress-related conditions,9 MBSR classes are now offered in over 200 sites
to reduce stress by inducing beneficial changes in the structure and function of the brain—changes that enhance attentiveness, information processing, and control of emotions.8
Such changes are analogous to the effects of physical workouts that in-
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is another modality for reducing our Extensively researched, MBSR and loving kindness have been shown
But, how do we cultivate kindness and compassion? Some learn it from those who others from those who practice it; others from books or audio CDs;6
and oth- We
including family, friends, strangers, and even adversaries—we begin to see that we are all essentially the same, with the same desires, fears and hopes. Understanding this, we can cope better with the ravages of stress and the chaos in our lives.3
By cultivating loving kindness and resonating with others—
Natural Choices
15
www.drsinsheimer.com
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