Holistic-Health-Courses.com

“If you’ve ever been to Japan, then you’ve likely been fortunate to visit a traditional Japanese Zen Garden. Using nature and thousands of years of zen garden design tradition, masters of the art continue to create beautiful examples of Zen garden design. Careful use of sand, rock and water, along with the deliberate training of trees and other plantings create something much larger, and more magical than the sum of its parts. In many ways, a Japanese Zen Garden mirrors the environment and culture of Japan. A traditional Zen Garden includes smaller-scale scenes of the natural environment - where the ocean meets the rocky shorelines - where the streams and rivers meet the mountain side - where simplicity follows the teachings of Zen.”

The Zen Garden web site is a great first stop for those seeking information on designing and building their own rock or sand garden - or one of the traditional designs: http://www.zen-garden.net

You can also try some of the various Japanese botanical garden sites like the Brooklyn Botanical Garden. There are many wanys to bring the beauty of Zen into your own small spaces too - In fact, not all gardens are built on a large scale in Japan. There are many reasons for this - including the limited amount of space available to gardens in the typical Japanese home - and the dedication involved in the regular maintenance of a Zen garden. In any case, with a little research, you’ll certainly find a way to bring the Zen approach into your home or office by spending a little time surfing around the web.

ArticleKarma.Com is the newest addition to the BBI / Karma-Net Network and is truly a super article site! I really like the look of the site and how easy it is to find your way around. Categories are clearly listed on the homepage and options for viewing articles by author, or article popularity are also included.

While the overall theme is holistic health and wellness, there are many other categories included as well. Topics ranging from finance to business to cooking and many more are included. Authors are encouraged to submit their work via an easy to use online interface and can manage their accounts, pen names and contact information in a flash. Webmasters are encouraged to find and use the article content on their own websites - and are provided with some amazing tools that make the whole process very easy. For example, articles can be instantly formatted for use online, in an email, or online newsletter. There are also easy notification tools that allow webmasters to receive email notifications whenever article on their topic(s) of interest are added to the site!

And of course, this site is a wonderful resource for casual readers too. Unlike other article database sites, ArticleKarma is very careful about the quality of the content approved for publication. The articles must provide useful, well-written information - and have the primary purpose of educating the reader and not simply loading the page with sales pitches and affiliate liks.

Article Karma is HIGHLY recommended as one of the web’s best sites for high-quality, easily browsed content. You owe it to yourself to surf over and take a look! http://www.articlekarma.com

Holistic Health Courses Editorial Staff
support@holistic-health-courses.com

January is unofficially Yoga month at Karma-Net. They’ve added a collection of Yoga e-books, a bunch of interesting articles on the history of yoga, yoga apparel, yoga mats and many other topics. If you’ve been thinking of starting to practice Yoga this year, stop by and browse. they’ve also added a new holistic article database that’s filling up quickly with articles on hundreds of holistic health topics, yoga included, http://www.karma-net.org/articles/index.php

Karma-Net.Com has been a fixture of online holistic health since 1999. Karma-Net started out as an online training portal for health and wellness courses and has expanded dramatically in the 7+ years of its existence.

Founder, Stephen Rinaldi, fondly remembers the fist few months online as a time when 30 visitors in a day was “something to celebrate”. These days, daily visitors are counted in the “several thousands” and there’s now a whole lot more than just online courses. Karma-Net also boasts 20,000+ member subscribers and reports that 2006 is shaping up to be its best year yet, with the addition of several off-shoot sites, as well as its brand new Holistic Article Database hosted on the new domain, http://www.karma-net.org

Karma-Net.ORG will serve those interested in reading about hundreds of holistic and other topics, as well as authors and website publishers. For details, visit the article database:
http://www.karma-net.org/articles/index.php

Great Barrington, MA - 1/9/2006 - There’s a phrase commonly heard among webmasters seeking wider search engine exposure and that simple phrase is “content is king”. With pay-per-click search engines, like Google and Overture, being an easy way to bring traffic to a web site, there are still many benefits of free (or organic) search engine traffic. Most importantly is that organic search engine traffic is free traffic. At a time when many online businesses spend hundreds of dollars each day on pay-per-click advertising, a steady stream of free daily search engine traffic is welcome.

Getting steady free search engine traffic is not easy, however, and can get downright tough when a web site is competing in a highly contested market. For this reason, web businesses are constantly searching for new techniques. Among the simplest and most legitimate techniques is adding quality content pages. If we used a camera site as an example, instead of just having one page listing all models and prices, create a separate page for each individual camera model, along with other pages that include product reviews, tips on taking great pictures, etc. Since these pages are much more targeted toward specific keywords, they are more likely to end up with many more indexed pages and consequently much more traffic.

“We advise our clients to regularly add visitor-centered content to their sites, in the form of articles and reviews in particular. This overlooked secret often improves organic search results tremendously,” according to Stephen Rinaldi of BBIworld.Com, a Massachusetts-based web development company. “Many of our clients also do not enjoy writing their own content, so we often assist them in finding other methods of procuring quality articles and product reviews”.

One of the more popular methods is simply reprinting content from other authors. Sites like Karma-Net’s Holistic Article Database, http://www.karma-net.org/articles/ - make easy work of content collecting by offering an easily accessible collection of articles submitted by site members, all of which are available for reprinting online. Articles are searchable by category, as well as by popularity - and once found, adding an article to your web site is as easy as cutting and pasting onto a web page.

This trend is also great news for those writers that have their own products or services to promote, as most article databases require that sites reprinting the articles must also include links back to the author’s web site and other contact information. This type of exchange is a win-win scenario for both web site owners and authors alike. Site owners receive much needed quality content and increased site traffic - authors have the opportunity to expand their readership and positioning as an expert in their field.

Contact Ms. Ura Kondo for more insights into this topic. Email: ukondo@bbiworld.com
Other helpful information regarding the this product or service can be found at:
http://www.karma-net.org/articles/index.php

Karma-Net is one of those sites that’s been around online forever. They started out as an online holistic course directory, but soon expanded to include a great collection of articles, cultural information and some wonderful multi-media features too…, like their online meditation rooms (which are my favorite!). Of course they also maintain an excellent collection of listings for Holistic Health courses, degrees and other continuing ed programs. Enjoy this site today ;)

Online College Degrees

More and more traditional colleges are now offering degrees in areas of holistic health. It’s worth investigating these options if a regionally accredited degree is of importance to you. Yes, many careers in holistic health and wellness do not require a regionally accredited degree, and in most cases, the qualification you’re seeking is simply not offered at a traditional university. So don’t be disappointed if you can’t find degree programs in Feng Shui, or Meditation at a major university! A great resource I’ve found as a starting point for information regarding online degree programs is the Online College-University Degree site:

http://www.online-college-university-degree.com

Visit them to learn what you need to know when looking for and eventually enrolling in an online degree program.

For a selection of individual courses and a few full certificate programs, try ACETI, which is the American Continuing Education and Training Institute: http://www.aceti.com

Personally, I love studying online and find it perfect for my way of learning. I prefer to check in to classes on my own schedule and from the comfort of home. Also, since I work at home, have a family to attend to - and now live in a remote area too - this way of taking courses / earning degrees - is very efficient and very effective. I find that my home environment is considerably more conducive to thoughtful learning and reflection.

Some people don’t really like the learning process and just want to get their program over with, get the piece of paper and be done with ever learning another thing . These types of people are usually not self-starters when it comes to their coursework and get distracted easily when trying to study on their own outside of a structured classroom environment. If this describes you, then cross online degree programs off your list and find a good resident program. With all the benefits of online training, there remain a few disadvantages - even with the super technology that many employ today. You have to be comfortable with computers and you must be able to keep yourself motivated and on track - yourself.

Stephen Rinaldi
http://www.holistic-health-courses.com

Holistic Stress Management
Susan Dunn, MA, EQ and Life Coach

Stress is an inevitable part of life. Managing stress effectively is important for every person, but for the person dealing with chronic illness it is essential for optimal functioning.

There is good stress and bad stress. Even good stress can be difficult to deal with when one’s resources are limited due to chronic illness. Stress is an inherent component of chronic illness, arising from the inevitable challenges, loss and limits it creates, therefore adding more than the average level of stress to one’s life.

It is impossible to eliminate stress completely, nor would you want to, a certain amount of stress is healthy. The key is to find ways to minimize its negative impact on your life, cope effectively and reduce the excess.

Too much stress or stress that is not handled effectively can affect the immune system, therefore symptoms may become exacerbated or new symptoms may arise, keeping the immune system overwhelmed. It may also make you irritable and interfere in your quality of life.

Try to incorporate some of these stress busters into your life.

~Don’t take on too much at one time. Say no when you want to.

~Allow yourself to live within your limits. Don’t push yourself too
hard.

~Be patient, loving and forgiving with yourself.

~Take frequent breaks.

~Make adjustments in your life according to what your body needs.

~Pace yourself. Break tasks and chores into increments. Allow yourself adequate time to achieve tasks.

~Prepare ahead and plan resting periods after events you know will drain you.

~Make love or if you’re alone masturbate. Endorphins released during sexual activity are a great stress reliever.

~Limit your time on the phone and interactions. Constant talking and interacting can be draining.

~ Take a hot shower or bath without interruptions.

~Listen to soothing music. If music or sound is an irritant for you, then this suggestion is not for you.

~Take a day trip. A short trip to a peaceful place such as the ocean, lake, park, zoo, etc. can be very relaxing and soothing. If your health limits allow take a vacation.

~Make lists of chores, activities, tasks, etc. and do them one at a time.

~Participate in activities that are meaningful to you and give purpose to your life.

~Avoid drugs and alcohol. They only mask your symptoms and will intensify the problem in the long run.

~Eat a healthy well balanced diet. Avoid caffeine and sugar.

~ Get proper sleep- if you’re sleep deprived you can’t cope well with stress.

~Partake in deep breathing exercises. The breath is a great calming agent.

~Humor is great for the soul. Get regular doses.

~Regular exercise burns stress off and helps you cope better.

~Spend time with nature. It nurtures, soothes and feeds.

~Engage in prayer or meditation.

~Take frequent naps or resting periods- Naps can be very rejuvenating.

~Vent emotional stress. Talk it out, write it out or whatever it takes to release it. Don’t let it build.

www.medical-explorer.com - Medical research, reports and articles

About the Author

Cynthia Perkins, M.Ed. is an author and holistic health counselor helping individuals living with chronic illness or chronic pain to live life to the fullest and find holistic life management strategies

What Is A Holistic Practitioner?
Jennifer Shapiro

Holistic Practitioners are holistic healing professionals with a gift in one or more areas of healing. From bodyworkers to homeopaths to hypnotherapists, the term holistic practitioner has become one that is often challenging to describe or understand. Hopefully this article will provide you with some clarity on what a holistic practitioner is and how to find one that meets your individual needs.

Saying holistic practitioner is similar to saying doctor. While there are general practitioners that cross along many paths, most specialize in one or more holistic methods or areas. The main areas of specialization are body-centered therapists, energy-centered therapists, mind-centered therapists, soul and spirit-centered therapists, emotional release therapists, and coaches/counselors. All of these therapists strive to bring a greater quality of life to their clients. That may occur through inner balance, self-empowerment, physical ease, or even emotional confidence.

One thing to realize is that many holistic practitioners work in many areas. In fact, it is usually challenging to limit a practitioner to one area. For example, a hypnotherapist may also be a chakra therapist, a bodyworker could also be a spiritual counselor, etc. Also, since the mind-body-soul connection is just that, connected, wherever you begin, be it in energy work, bodywork, or even the mind, you will find that all of you is affected by the work.

Use this article as a guide to explore the realms of possibilities, rather than limiting your choices to an area.

Body-centered Therapists

Samples of body-centered therapists are bodyworkers, massage therapists, pilates and yoga therapists, rolfing professionals(often termed rolfers), acupressure therapists, myofascial release and sports massage therapists, reflexologists, thai massage therapists, watsu practitioners, feldenkrais and alexander method professionals, and movement therapists (this list is provided to offer an overview as there are at least 50 types of body-centered therapists).

While each body-centered therapist has their own way of working with clients, many use a combination of movement, the breath, and physical pressure (from massage to trigger points) to allow the body to release tension. This release of tension then allows the mind to also find a relaxing state. Sometimes the relaxation state is the goal of the sessions, other times, it is the true starting point.

Energy-centered Therapists

Samples of energy-centered therapists are integrative energy workers, reiki practitioners, healing touch practitioners, breathwork therapists, jin shin do and jin shin jytsu therapists, matrix therapists, applied kinesiologists, orgone therapists, polarity workers, cranial sacral workers, qigong and tai chi masters. Acupuncturists and homeopathy practitioners could also be deemed energy workers.

Energy workers often work with energetic ‘maps’ of the body. They look at where the energy is stuck, depleted or overtaxed in the body and work with the individual to bring a level of balance to the body’s energetic system. This balance also affects the mind and the overall body, enhancing ones state of being on many levels.

Mind-centered Therapists

Samples of mind-centered therapists are hypnotherapists, neuro-linguistic programming practitioners (NLP), integrative release therapists(IRT), regression therapists and metaphysicians.

Mind-centered therapists look at the structures of one’s belief systems and how they may be conflicting with and/or not supporting a client’s quality of life. Mind-centered therapists often find the original cause of what the stuck states are and work with the unconscious mind to reframe limiting patterns and beliefs which provide greater resources and confidence for the client to live the life they desire.

Soul and Spirit-centered Therapists

Samples of soul and spirit-centered therapists are shamans, angelic masters, psychic mediums,
intuitive guides and spiritual counselors(who would also fall into the coaching/counseling category).

Soul and spirit-centered therapists work with clients in a variety of ways. A shaman may work with a client using soul retrieval to regain a part of their soul that has been ‘lost’ due to trauma. A psychic may offer an individual information on what will happen on their current path if they don’t make changes. An intuitive may assist a client in talking with a deceased loved one. As with the other categories, there are many ways soul and spirit-centered therapists work with their clients.

Emotional Release Therapists

Samples of emotional release therapists are integrative release therapists, somato-emotional therapists, psych-k therapists and amanae therapists.

Emotional release therapists work with patterns of emotions that are stuck in the body/mind and assist a client in moving through these blocks into greater joy and emotional freedom. Many other therapies, including neuro-linguistic programming, yoga, shamanic work and energy work employ emotional release methodologies.

Holistic Coaches and Counselors

Samples of coaches and counselors are life coaches, empowerment coaches, spiritual and intuitive counselors, holistic psychologists, and nutritional counselors.

Coaches and counselors assist clients in designing and manifesting the life, career, business and health situations that they truly desire. A holistic coach or counselor often works with a client 1-4x per month setting goals, opening belief systems and partnering with the client to provide the support they need to move forward in their lives.

As you can see, the term holistic practitioner can be used to mean a holistic profession trained in any number of areas. Usually, a holistic practitioner will list their areas of expertise in any of their advertising to assist you in determining if they would be a fit for your unique situation.

For information on locating a holistic practitioner, please see my article on ‘Choosing a Holistic Practitioner’ or see Holistic Hometown (www.HolisticHometown.com) for holistic resources in your hometown, and beyond.

Blessings on your journey.

About the Author

Jenifer Shapiro, MBA, CHT, CNLP, CYT, CHC, IRT is a Professional Coach, Holistic Entrepreneur Coach, Web Designer, and Holistic. She is the founder of Holistic Hometown, Holistic University and The Empowerment Centre, and the consultant for various holistic entrepreneurs, local colleges, and wellness centers. She may be reached at www.TheEmpowermentCentre.com or (610)213-1010.

The Tibetan and Chinese health Secret: If you read one health report a year, this should be it!
by: Paul Brelin

It seems as if the health of America is failing. One million Americans will die of circulatory disease this year. Six hundred thousand lives will be cut short by cancer as well. How did we get in such a mess? I’m not sure. But there is a way out that is starting to generate a real buzz! Since CNN and the gang won’t talk about it I decided to write is article.

Dear readers, I want to introduce you to the most nutrient dense food on the earth; wolfberries, or more specifically Lycium Barbarum.

The western scientific community have verified what Chinese and Tibetan health practitioners have known for thousands of years. Wolfberries are the healthiest known food on our planet.

In this report I will be talking specifically about wolfberries. In my research on the subject I found that not all wolfberries are created equal. The three most potent berries in the wolfberry family are Tibetan Goji berries, Chinese Xinjiang wolfberries and Chinese Ningxia wolfberries which all belong to the Lycium genus.

Wolfberries, a national treasure in China, have been used in traditional Chinese folk medicine for over 5,000 years. Ancient Chinese medical texts celebrated wolfberries for their wide range of health benefits including strengthening the ‘chi” or life force of the body. The people who consumed this fruit apparently lived free of common diseases like arthritis, cancer and diabetes. Moreover, their life expectancy has reached over 100 years!

In 1988, the Beijing Nutrition Research Institute conducted detailed chemical analysis and nutritional composition studies of the dried wolfberry fruit. Hold on to your socks, this is what they discovered. In addition to being packed with vitamins B1 and B6 (which is needed by the body to convert food into energy), and vitamin E (which has never been found in fruit before), wolfberries contain more protein then whole wheat, 18 amino acids (8 of them essential for life), 21 trace minerals (including significant amounts of zinc, iron, copper, calcium, selenium, phosphorus and germanium; a very rare anti-cancer agent almost never found in food), more beta carotene than carrots, 500 times more vitamin C by weight than oranges, essential fatty acids (required for the production of hormones and smooth functioning of the brain and nervous system) and is the richest source of carotenoids (natural fat-soluble pigments that play a critical role in vitamin A activity in humans) of any food on the planet. That’s not all.

Here is a short list of other health promoting compounds found in Lycium Barbarum:

Beta Sitosterol: An anti-inflammatory agent found to lower cholesterol, and used to treat sexual impotence and prostrate enlargement.

Zeaxanthin and Lutine: Valued for their role in protecting the eyes.

Betaine: Used by the liver to produce Choline which assists detoxification reactions in the liver. Betaine is known to protect DNA, enhance memory, promote muscle growth and protects us from fatty liver disease.

Cyperone: A sesquiterpene used in treatment of cervical cancer. It is also known to benefit heart and blood pressure problems as well as menstruation problems.

Solavetivone: A powerful anti-fungal and anti-bacterial agent.

Physalin: A natural compound that boosts the immune system. Found to be effective in treating leukaemia, hepatitis B and cancer.

A laboratory procedure was recently developed to measure the amount of antioxidants the foods we eat contain. The procedure known as ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) was developed by Dr. Guohua Cao at USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, USA. ORAC is one of the most sensitive and reliable methods for measuring the ability of antioxidants to absorb free radicals. It is the only test to combine both time and degree of inhibition of free radicals.

According to Tufts University, the average person needs approximately 3,000 to 5,000 ORAC units per day to have a significant impact on plasma and tissue antioxidant capacity. Three servings of fruits and vegetables per day provide approximately 1200 ORAC units. This means the average person is short by up to 3800 ORAC units each day, depending on the fruits and vegetables they are choosing and their body’s requirements. To make up the difference, experts recommend supplementing our diet with high ORAC foods to become and stay healthy and slow down the aging process caused by free radical damage.

Lycium Barbarum was rated the food with the highest antioxidant ability coming in at an amazing 3,472 ORAC units per fluid oz. Some of the other notable mentions are vitamin E oil at 3,309, pomegranates at 3,037, blueberries 2,400, raspberries 1,220.

Furthermore, wolfberries have been found to have extremely high levels of immune-stimulating polysaccharides. What are polysaccharides? Polysaccharides are very large, long-chain sugar molecules that are nourishment for macrophages (large white blood cells) in the gut wall. The macrophages are then transported to other immune cells, setting off a chain of defensive events in our bodies.

Several years ago German researchers isolated polysaccharides from Echinacea purpurea (often used in medicinal formulations) and mixed them with macrophages in test tubes. They found that the polysaccharides profoundly activated the macrophages, stimulating them to effectively kill tumour cells! Also it was found macrophages increased their production of interleukin, a chemical which spurs the immune system to greater activity, and the polysaccharides also enhanced the activity of B lymphocytes, immune-system cells which fight bacterial infections.

Below are the results of a 2002 study on the effects of a Ningxia wolfberry product on phagocytes. First, why should we care about phagocytes? Phagocytes are a crucial component of the immune system and are found in the spleen. They digest foreign substances that invade the body including bacteria and other disease causing organisms. Having large numbers of phagocytes in the spleen will enable the body to more quickly eliminate foreign substances and thus prevent the development of potential illness.

The effects were astounding. Spleenic phagocyte cell counts (immune cells) increased by 81% and the ORAC (antioxidant capacity) the subjects’ whole blood increased as well. Essentially, you could say the subjects’ blood became younger.

I believe this little fruit can change the health of the world. Tell your friends about it. If more people knew about wolfberries maybe CNN would stand up and take notice too!

Thank you for spending the time to read my article. My hope is that you have learned something useful and will put that knowledge to use for your own sake and the ones you love.

Sincerely,

Paul Brelin

About The Author

Paul Brelin is an alternative health care consultant and teacher of budhist meditation. You can reach him at pbrelin@feelingtoinfinity.com or at www.wolfberryscience.com.