Stimulate these pressure points to get rid of ailments like pain, nausea and stress.

Many people, ancient and living today, believed that most of the body's ills comes from disharmony inside of the body.

That disharmony can be achieved through bad diet, bad habits, and poor thoughts.

Jin Shin Jyutsu, which is an ancient art of mending from Japan, uses certain pressure points to create harmony again in your body.

Lest you think this practice is anything less than scientific, the UC San Diego School of Medicine's Integrative Medicine Center offers the following explanation:

"Jin Shin Jyutsu (JSJ) is a 3,000-year-old ancient healing art. There is a growing body of research on the use of JSJ that has shown it to be beneficial for a variety of health conditions ... {This] gentle form of acupressure therapy that uses light finger pressure over specific points on the body while fully clothed {restoring] the flow of energy, which may be blocked due to illness or pain.

"JSJ is beneficial for a variety of conditions including acute and chronic pain, increasing immune function, eliminating fatigue, reducing stress, and improving digestion."

RELATED:What Is Traditional Chinese Medicine & Which Health Conditions Does It Work For?

Using the image below, you can find the right fingers to put pressure on to help relieve certain symptoms in your body.

RELATED:8 Quick & Effective Exercises For Chronic Migraine Headache Relief

If you put pressure on the thumb: you bring harmony to your stomach and spleen. You can also relieve nervousness, anxiety and depression. You can also relieve skin problems, headaches, stomach aches, and the sensation of constantly being ill.

If you put pressure on the index or pointer finger: you bring harmony to your kidneys and bladder. You can also relieve feelings of apprehension, as well as muscle cramps, back pain, tooth aches and digestive tract problems.

If you put pressure on the middle finger: you bring harmony to your liver and nerves. You can also relieve feelings of anger and uncertainty. You also improve your cardiovascular health, menstrual pain, issues with vision, and headaches.

If you put pressure on the ring finger: you bring harmony to your lungs and digestive organs. You can also relieve feelings of distress, as well as ringing in the ears, breathing problems, and digestive problems.

If you put pressure on the little finger: you bring harmony to your heart. Feelings of tension, anxiety and loneliness are relieved. You can also improve throat pain, flatulence, and issues with your bones.

Give it a try!

RELATED:5 Acupressure Points To Fight Stress

Higher Perspective seeks to bring together like-minded individuals focused on personal growth and expanding their consciousness. We can be better to our planet, better to our brothers and sisters, and better to ourselves. If youd like to receive updates, be sure to follow them on Facebook.

This article was originally published at Higher Perspective. Reprinted with permission from the author.

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How To Use Hand Pressure Points To Get Rid Of Pain, Nausea & Stress - YourTango

Webinar is part of Clarion Events Food and Beverage Groups free resources to help restaurant and foodservice community stay connected within this rapidly changing environment

(RestaurantNews.com) Members of the restaurant and foodservice community are among the groups that are most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. In these anxious times, its more important than ever to take care of our physical and emotional health. Dr/Chef Rob Graham,Co-Founder and Chief Medical Officerof FRESH Medicine and Peggy Neu, President of The Monday Campaigns, will share advice for staying healthy and managing stress during these challenging times.

Dr/Chef Graham and Ms. Neu will hold a webinar about how to stay healthy and calm during these anxious times.

When: Monday, April 13, 1:00 PM 2:00 PM EDT

Register for free:

https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/5701723560459738893

About the Experts:

Dr. Graham is a Harvard-trained physician, Board Certified in Internal and Integrative Medicine with a Masters in Public Health, and Chef. In 2018, he obtained his culinary degree from the Natural Gourmet Institute. As one of few doctor/chefs in the world, he brings a unique perspective on the role of food in disease treatment and prevention. He founded FRESH Medicine with his wife Julie Graham, which promotes the FRESH Five Food, Relaxation, Exercise, Sleep and Happiness as the key ingredients for a healthy body and mind.

Ms. Neu has a background in marketing and public health promotion and, in her role leading the Meatless Monday campaign, has worked extensively with restaurants and foodservice companies. She also promotes broader health and wellness programs through The Monday Campaigns, which encourages people to use Monday as the day for a fresh start and to take simple steps to move more, reduce stress and eat healthier. Ms. Neu is also a long-time meditation and yoga practitioner and serves on the board of the Nalanda Institute for Contemplative Science.

Contacts:

Amy RiemerCommunications Director for Clarionamy@riemercommunications.com978-502-4895

Cherry DumaualPR & Partnerships DirectorThe Monday Campaignscdumaual@mondaycampaigns.org917-838-7269

See the original post:
Hungry for a Fresh Start to Stay Healthy and Calm in Anxious Times? Experts Share Insights in Webinar Series - RestaurantNews.com

In a perspective published in the New England Journal of Medicine, researchers from the Benson-Henry Institute (BHI) for Mind Body Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and from UC Davis Health call for broader use of mind-body practices.

Michelle Dossett

In a time when meditation, yoga and mindfulness increase in popularity for general well-being, the piece emphasizes the necessity of fully integrating these stress-reduction practices into patient treatment plans and medical research.

Stress exacerbates anxiety and depression and plays a role in conditions such as cardiovascular disease, autoimmune disorders, irritable bowel syndrome, headaches and chronic pain, according to lead author Michelle Dossett of UC Davis Health.

By reducing the bodys stress response, mind-body practices can be a powerful adjunct in medicine by helping to decrease patients symptoms and improving their quality of life, said Dossett, who was a physician and researcher with BHI when the perspective was written.

Dossett also noted that mind-body practices can be helpful in reducing stress related to the COVID-19 epidemic.

Despite its recent rise in popularity among the general public, mind-body medicine isnt new. Researchers at BHI have been integrating the field of mind-body medicine into MGHs clinical care, research and training programs since 2006. Early research on the advantages of such techniques dates back 40+ years, when the institutes founder and perspective senior author, Herbert Benson, became one of the first Western physicians to bring spirituality and healing into medicine and is most famously known for his work with the Relaxation Response.

The Relaxation Response, Benson has stated, is an inborn, anti-stress capacity that transcends the differences that separate mind from body, science from spirituality and one culture from another.

At BHI, mind-body medicine is widely recognized as the third leg of a three-legged stool: the first leg is surgery, the second is pharmaceuticals and the third is self-care, in which patients learn techniques to improve their own health through mind-body medicine, nutrition and exercise.

Western medicine has produced revolutionary health benefits through advances in pharmacotherapies and procedures, the researchers wrote in the perspective. It now faces enormous challenges in battling stress-related noncommunicable diseases. Chronic pain, often perpetuated by psychosocial stress, has become an epidemic that our pharmaceutical arsenal is poorly equipped to handle and medical costs continue to soar. Mind-body therapies can be a helpful adjunct in managing chronic pain and other stress-related noncommunicable diseases by fostering resilience through self-care.

The article also addresses skeptical patients preconceived notions of mind-body medicine as well as the anticipated barriers of service coverage and clinician education on the appropriate use of these tools. These challenges further reinforce the need for continued research and investment into the development and implementation of personalized practices to maximize their public health potential.

Benson and perspective co-author Gregory Fricchione, who is BHIs current director, lead the field of mind-body medicine and research on counteracting the harmful effects of stress, thereby promoting health and reducing the vulnerability to stress-related illnesses. Dossett, who was mentored by Fricchione and Benson, is moving the research of mind-body medicine beyond the walls of the BHI at UC Davis Health as a lead researcher in integrative medicine and assistant professor of internal medicine.

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Mind-body medicine experts urge full integration of stress reduction into care and research - Mirage News

Joint venture between Universal Health and Knightsbridge Group

In a joint venture to be announced later today Universal Health and Knightsbridge Group will launch a New Biotech, the 1st product, an Immune System Booster program is already on sale in Australia.

https://www.unihealthco.com/

Coronavirus has forced changes on all levels of society, and shown how being able to ship goods and people around the world in 24 hours helps viruses spread.

The creation and maintenance of a healthy individual and a healthy environment has become increasingly important in the modern world.

Unihealth are researching and developing products and services with a focus on Anti-Viral individual patient care as well as technologies that provide healthier indoor environments.

When you look back into the history of humanity, our whole approach to emerging viral threats has been to wait and react, we are taking a proactive approach in working on technologies that reduce the ability of a Virus to survive in the environments we interact with and there ability to spread outside the body.

For the individual not only are we researching treatments but we also have a range of products designed to keep people in optimum health and reduce their susceptibility to Viral infections.

Unihealth is an Integrative Biotech Joint Venture between Universal Health and the Knightsbridge Group.

The 30 day supply of Immune Boost Supplements will assist and enhance your general immunity.

This will optimize your Immune System function.

Supplements Enclosed

C-Max 1 level teaspoon twice daily Vitamin C supports the immune system by aiding white blood cells activity and antibody response.

BicoZn 1 capsule twice daily Zinc is an immune supportive antioxidant and assists in reducing free radical damage in the body.

Lactoferrin Enhanced 1 capsule twice daily Glycoprotein with an antimicrobial and anti-viral influence safeguarding against a range of pathogens.

BioTress 1 capsule twice daily Vitamin B Complex supports the bodys immune and nervous system whilst enhancing energy levels.

1. Eat Well & Re-hydrate Give your body the essential materials it needs by eating well and consuming plenty of water.

2. Kick the Habit Moderate your alcohol in- take, quit smoking and other recreational drugs and maintain a healthy weight.

3. Sleep A restful nights sleep gives your body the opportunity to rejuvenate.

4. Emotional Stress Try to embrace each day and minimise the emotional impacts by learning to forgive and forget.

5. Embrace the Spiritual Take comfort in your higher power. Have faith, healing can take time.

6. Exercise Regularly Moderate exercise such as walking and gentle stretching will enhance the healing process and reduce the impact of stress.

7. Seek Advice Understanding your health issues and following our recommendations will enable us to work together in creating lasting improvements to your health and well being.

EAT ALKALINE FOODS

Lots of vegetables Pluses, Beans & Lentils Fruit

2 pieces a day Seafood Poultry

Organic Apple Cider Vinegar Eggs Brown & Wild Rice Amaranth Oats (Wheat free Red Mills brand) Quinoa Buckwheat Corn Flour Corn Pasta, Vegetable Pasta Corn/Rice Crackers Rice Noodles Gluten & Yeast Free Breads Almond Milk, Almond Meal Rice Milk Coconut Milk Goats Milk, Cheese, Yogurt Sheeps Milk, Cheese, Yogurt

10 15 glasses water daily

N.B. Avoid Known Allergies

AVOID ACIDIC FOODS

Sugar/Artificial Sweeteners Alcohol Yeast Wheat and Gluten Products (Bread, Pasta) Mushrooms Pickles Vinegar (Balsamic, White Wine) Soy Sauce Miso Processed Food (Frozen/canned Meals) Refined Starch (Biscuits, Sweets) Red Meat Caffeine (Coffee, Tea, Cola, Chocolate) Fried Food Dairy Products (Cows Products) Soy Products (Milk, Cheese, Yogurt, Tofu, Noodles) Tomatoes (Especially ripe)

Vitamin C and its role in Immunity

Zinc and its role in Immunity

Lactoferrin and its role in Immunity (Anti-Viral activity)

Vitamin B and its role in Immunity

Universal Health is an Integrative & Functional Medicine Clinic. We have the philosophy of using evidence based complementary medicine and therapies with a focus on the whole person approach and individual patient care. Our practitioners are Integrated Physicians with over 45 years of expertise.

There is a wide range of disciplines at Universal Health. The combination of old and new, conventional and complementary, healthcare to maximise the natural healing of the body is what we offer at Universal Health.

Your Integrative Clinician looks for the cause of illness rather than treating the effect or symptoms, thus treating the whole person. Our treatment incorporates physical, chemical and emotional factors, conducted in an environment which encourages trust, development, achievement and harmony.

The whole is more than the sum of its parts-Aristotle.

Integrative & Functional Medicine combines the best available in Health Care to obtain optimum results by maximizing the bodys natural healing mechanisms.

Via the fusion of the best in conventional western medicine, evidence-based complementary medicine and other therapies within current mainstream health practice, Integrative & Functional Medicine Medicine aims in restoring, sustaining and advancing ones health. We take into account all aspects of the patients wellbeing with specific emphasis given to the patients physical, chemical and emotional spheres. Integrative & Functional Medicine models are individualised patient-centred science-based approach to empower the patient and practitioners to collaborate together and address underlying causes and not just focus on the symptoms. Integrative & Functional Medicine focus is always to apply the most suitable, safe and evidence based treatments currently available. These include but not limited to: Chiropractic, Acupuncture and Naturopathy.

Currently worldwide research is being carried out to explore the potential benefits of Integrative Health in pain management, relief of symptoms in acute /chronic suffering patients and programs to promote healthy lifestyle.

Integrative & Functional medicine is not the same as alternative medicine, which refers to an approach of healing that is utilised in place of conventional therapies. Integrative medicine refers to using healing modalities that complement allopathic approaches. Health Care can be Integrative regardless of which modality is used. Strategies are used to consider the patients unique conditions, needs and circumstances; using the most appropriate evidenced based interventions from an array of scientific disciplines to rectify illness and disease whilst assisting the patient in regaining and maintaining optimum health.

Natural Products such as probiotics, vitamins, minerals and herbs are also utilised in Integrative & Functional Medicine to assist in the process of attaining and maintaining optimum health.

The defining principals include but not limited to:

In addition to addressing the immediate health problem(s) as well as the deeper causes of the disease or illness, Integrative & Functional Medicine strategies also focus on the prevention and foster the development of healthy behaviours and skills for effective self-care the patients can apply throughout their lives. Ultimately making patients independent rather than co-dependant on care the rest of their lives.

coronavirus, Covid

HEFFX has become one of Asias leading financial services companies with interests in Publishing, Private Equity, Capital Markets, Mining, Retail, Transport and Agriculture that span every continent of the world. Our clearing partners have unprecedented experience in Equities, Options, Forex and Commodities brokering, banking, physical metals dealing, floor brokering and trading.

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Universal Health and Knightsbridge Group Launch Immune Response Kit - Live Trading News

COVID is a new breed of crisis for PR professionals. Coronavirus not only affects the work of PR practitioners, but their home and family life, financial future and overall health.

Its easy to see why some, if not all, comms pros may be suffering from stress or anxiety induced by the virus. Longer hours and larger workloads while handling childcare or spending days in isolation can have tremendous negative effects on mental health and well-being. We spoke to several agencies and practitioners to see how they are supporting staff and themselves during this time. We also connected with a mental health professional for tips on identifying underlying stressors, and what to do to regroup in a challenging time.

Dr. Wayne Jonas is the executive director of Samueli Foundation Integrative Health Programs, which specialize in chronic illness, and the former director of NIH's Office of Alternative Medicine. (Integrative health combines well-being and lifestyle changes with conventional medicine.) Dr. Jonas argues that pushing yourself through stress can lead to physical, emotional and mental burnout.

"The saying 'No pain, no gain' does not apply to stress," Dr. Jonas says. "Your stress response can get stuck in the 'on' position, so you are always in a stressed and anxious state. It is likely that many communications professionals feel this stress but may not recognize the impact prolonged exposure to this 'crisis mode' is creating."

Dr. Jonas noted that signs of burnout can vary, but employees should keep an eye out for behavioral signs such as "poor sleep, apathy, feeling isolated and being overly reactive or tearful." He also said to look for emotional and cognitive signs such as "constant anxiety, fear, sadness and irritability or anger, as well as difficulty concentrating and over-analysis." Physical signs like "pain and fatigue" also play a role.

At the beginning of week four of working from home for many SHIFT Communications employees, managing partner Rick Murray shared some inspiring words with staff.

How an employer communicates with staff during the COVID crisis can have a serious impact on an employees comfort and interest level. Many agencies and PR departments are taking a look at what they can do to support employees who may be struggling during this time.

"This pandemic has identified gaps in our employee wellbeing strategies," Dr. Jonas says. "I don't believe enough employers had stopped to think about the mental wellbeing of their staffs. Are they encouraging mindfulness strategies and meditation to reduce stress overall? Are they encouraging employees to take breaks or are they expected to answer messages within minutes? Do employees feel like they can ask for help and be vulnerable during this time, or do they feel they need to be multitasking superheroes?"

Kim Sample, PR Council president, organizes a thrice-weekly call with human resources agency leaders to talk about strategies regarding caring for the mental health of employees.

"Young people are living alone and would like to be back with family, but might not be able to travel. Parents of school-aged kids are working while homeschooling; folks are caring for elderly family members. [It] adds this new layer of stress, along with everything virus-related," Sample says.

On Sample's call, she discusses everything from how to encourage staff to take advantage of PTO days in creative ways, to helping employees understand the Families First Act.

"Companies are looking at what [employees] need right now," Sample says.

FleishmanHillard is one example of a company putting employees' needs first. The agency encourages staff to take the crisis step-by-step rather than becoming overwhelmed by the big picture.

"We are working from a mindset that life is not defined by what happens to you, but rather by how you react to what happens," says Emily Frager, senior partner, member of FleishmanHillard's leadership Cabinet and general manager of the firm's Los Angeles and Orange County operations. "We are encouraging people to take it one day at a time and make the best decisions you can for todayfor clients and themselves. Just giving people permission to take it one day at a time seems to go a long way."

BerlinRosen looks to make their staff the facilitators of well-being initiatives, as well as providing them with resources they need. Activities include "Core O'Clock" (daily video exercises), guided meditation sessions facilitated by employees, a March Madness-style pet photo contest and story time led by employees' kids.

"Mental health and employee wellbeing are a top priority for us, especially as we've shifted to remote work," says COO David Levine. "We've provided options for staff to receive remote therapy sessions with a mental health provider and are also coordinating remote group sessions for those interested. We've encouraged staff to take breaks during the day, take PTO for mental health, share best practices to adapt to WFH and keep doing all we can to maintain a sense of normalcy during these extraordinary times."

At Red Havas, managers share their own needs with staff to promote transparency, as well as showcasing the benefits of stepping away from what can be daunting work.

"We encourage our team to take wellness breaks through the day, working around client and family commitments," says Linda Descano, executive vice president at Red Havas. "Many of us on the leadership team are taking these breaks ourselvesand being transparent about themto reinforce the importance of finding balance and stepping away."

Communicators can be so focused on meeting client and organizational needs that they can forget the importance of taking a breath and unplugging when the day is over.

Gene Grabowski, partner at Washington, D.C.-based firm kglobal, says he's found sticking to a schedule to be effective in terms of productivity.

"For the first two weeks of the lockdown, I was disoriented and easily distracted from my work at home," Grabowski says. "But last week I decided to maintain my regular work schedule and it's made all the difference." Grabowski ends his work day at 5 p.m. and takes a 30-minute walk, followed by cocktails and dinner with his wife in their dining room. (After-dinner activities include a Netflix movie or game of Scrabble.)

"Work and recreation during the lockdown has become a routine for me," he says. "It will take some time to transition back to the 'real world' once this is over."

For others, maintaining a traditional work-from-home schedule has been a challenge, but movement and breaks during the day have helped.

"It's hard to step away [from work], especially during times of crisis," says Emily Ciraolo, assistant director, corporate communications at National Fuel. "I've committed to walking the dogs every day and cooking my meals as it forces me to stand up and move around for a bit, even if I'm listening to a webinar as I do it. It's been stressful, but I'm also grateful to have an opportunity to put my skills to workespecially some that have been sleepingand help usher the company into a virtual new normal."

Bethany Evans, director of digital marketing and loyalty at The North Face, juggles work with childcare, but also finds the time for movement after she puts her boys to bed.

"I've been unwinding with a virtual yoga class followed by a short Core meditation," Evans says. "It's helping to clear my mind so I can actually get some sleep."

And of course reaching out to coworkers, family and friends remains paramount as social distancing and isolation continue to take their toll.

"Staying in touch with family and friends has been key, whether it's a video chat, phone call or text message," says Erin Collins, social media and content strategist at Gelia. "Some of my co-workers and I watched a movie together using Netflix Party, and it was great to reconnect on a social levelsomething we are all missing right now!"

Jennifer Fisher, chief well-being officer at Deloitte LLP, reminds us that it's also okay to reach out to these connections on "down" days.

"I think it's really important to say when we aren't doing OKI have certainly had these momentsand when I do, I reach out to family or friends to talk it through," Fisher says. "Although right now the pandemic may feel endless, we need to remind ourselves and each other that it won't be. The need for social distancing and the disruption to life as we know it isn't permanent, and knowing that makes it easier to cope."

Read more here:
PR Pros and Agencies Cope With COVID Stress - PR News - For Smart Communicators

By Natalie Andersonnatalie.anderson@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY As physical health has been on the forefront of peoples minds during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization and local health professionals emphasize that managing mental health is just as important, too.

Furthermore, even people who have never experienced anxiety may not realize theyre experiencing anxiety right now, said Alyssa Smith, who serves as the community health manager for the Rowan County Health Department.

Smith said some indications that someone is experiencing anxiety can include fatigue, irritability and just sad days. And some triggers of anxiety can include increased exposure to news, social media and concern for loved ones who have underlying health conditions like asthma and COPD.

Life is not going on as normal, she said. Were social creatures.

Dr. Russ Greenfield, who serves as Novant Healths integrative medicine director, said other symptoms of anxiety can stem from the sense of being on edge without being able to point to a source for it, the inability to sit still, a change in appetite and sleep issues.

Smith said its important to remember that responses to trauma are individual and based on each persons experiences. Therefore, emotions may not manifest the same for every person.

Greenfield said some people manifest their emotions physically by upset stomachs or headaches that arent usual.

And stress can affect immune systems, both Smith and Greenfield said.

We crave control, Greenfield said. And when we dont have that sense of control, the only thing we can do is take control of what we can and make peace with what we cant.

Greenfield added that when people are under stress, they reach for comfort food like snacks and sweets. But its important to eat healthy because heavily processed foods can contribute to inflammation and mood disorder.

And Smith said bodies can build resilience when people practice mindfulness.

While everyone is vulnerable to mental health issues during this time, people with a prior history of mental health concerns and health care workers are particularly at risk of heightened stress and anxiety.

The CDC notes on the Daily Life and Coping section of its website that people with pre-existing mental health conditions should continue taking their medication and treatment while monitoring any new or worsening symptoms.

Greenfield said hes seen more health care workers reaching out for mental health resources amidst the pandemic, adding that its frustrating for them to see whats happening globally without being able to help like theyre trained to do.

But fortunately, Novant Health is making a big effort to acknowledge and recognize the stress and sacrifice being taken on by its health care workers amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, he said. Novant provides services on the daily, including employee assistance programs, chaplain services and exercise activities that allow workers to take a pause and take care of themselves.

Those who give, and give, and give, and give, can end up running on empty, he said.

Some of those services include videos of meditation techniques and breathing exercises, as well as interaction with the chaplaincy to help manage loss and answering the call to serve in the health care field from the perspective of meaning and purpose, Greenfield said.

Both Smith and Greenfield suggest being kinder to ourselves and each other by taking time to disconnect from the constant news flood, and connect socially with family, friends and support systems.

The CDC also recommends avoiding drugs and alcohol, as well as sharing the facts about COVID-19 to understand the actual risk to yourself and loved ones in an effort to reduce stress.

The WHO suggests seeking information updates at specific times during the day, once or twice as the sudden and near-constant stream of news reports about an outbreak can cause people to feel worried. Additionally, avoid misinformation as the actual facts can help to minimize fears.

Additionally, the WHO recommends finding opportunities to amplify positive and hopeful stories and positive images of local people who have experienced COVID-19.

And for parents, the CDC recommends monitoring children for symptoms of excessive crying or irritation, poor school performance, difficulty concentrating or avoidance of activities enjoyed in the past.

Greenfield added that theres a difference between social distancing and social isolation. Even social distancing, he said, can allow for time outside to enjoy the sunshine or the stars at night. And listening to music or reading books can provide solace for people during this time. Additionally, some meditation apps that usually charge are free and could serve as an additional resource, he said.

Health is wealth, Greenfield said, adding that never before have people been paying more attention to taking care of their health.

Andif there is a silver lining to be had in this, he said, its that health professionals across the globe are confident that eight out of 10 people who come down with the virus are going to be fine. The problem with the other 20%, however, is that its still unknown which two out every 10 people are going to be the most impacted, adding that many precautions are being taken right now for that reason.

Understand this is hard, but we will get through it, Smith said. And well get through it by leaning on each other.

Greenfield added that healing takes place in community.

Individuals who need additional resources for managing mental health issues can visit the CDC website, the WHO website, contact the county health department or contact Novant Health.

Contact reporter Natalie Anderson at 704-797-4246.

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'Health is wealth': Professionals urge people to take care of mental health during COVID-19 pandemic - Salisbury Post - Salisbury Post

Deepak Chopra, Special to SFGate

By Deepak Chopra, MD and Rudolph E. Tanzi, Ph.D.

Self-care should be uppermost in our minds during the COVID-19 crisis, for several urgent reasons. Self-care returns a sense of control over your own life. It gives you an integrative approach to mind and body. It aligns you with the best knowledge currently available about who is more at risk for developing acute symptoms after being infected.

Your immune status is complex, and in mainstream medicine the chief determining factor is traditionally considered to be genetic. However, there are strong links to underlying low-level chronic inflammation connected to lifestyle that is found in most if not all common disorders including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, some cancers, and even obesity. COVID-19 has a mortality rate that increases with age and pre-existing conditions, as we all know by now.

What is less publicized is that the hospitalization rate, which is very high at over 15%, also affects younger age groups even though their death rates are lower. In those who are most susceptible, the virus creates an acute and severe form of inflammation referred to as a cytokine storm, which then leads to severe symptoms and respiratory damage, even death. Cytokines are the chief protein mediators of inflammation in the body.

We can use this information about the dangers of having an elevated pre-existing state of low-level chronic inflammation to perhaps offset the possibility of the kind of acute inflammation that puts a person at risk for severe infection and hospitalization. Let me emphasize the perhaps caution. The research on low-level chronic inflammation grows by the year and is very significant. You can go to many websites or our recent book The Healing Self to discover the kinds of foods and lifestyles that are either inflammatory or anti-inflammatory.

But it is only in the field of integrative medicine that there is a cumulative understanding that anti-inflammation practices need to embrace mind and body. The general public, including mainstream doctors, are more often than not ill-informed of the research that connects meditation and yoga to the benefits of anti-stress, anti-inflammation, and anti-infection. Without a doubt, meditation and yoga have no side effects and are backed by decades of research over their benefits. To this has been added so-called vagal breathing, related to the ability of the vagus nerve to induce a relaxed state simply by doing regular deep breathing that equalizes breathing in and breathing out (there are numerous websites providing instructions on this simple but effective technique, which is now a standard recommendation for countering stress).

Biophysical anthropologist William C. Bushell points to the damage created by the bodys own immune defenses. To quote a recent article at Medium.com by Maureen Seaberg, Bushell says that inflammation is the primary way COVID-19 kills. Spread of the virus through the body leads to widespread and intensive activation of the inflammatory defenses throughout the body, though originally intended to combat the pathogen, but at this point instead resulting in widespread tissue damage, and fatally, to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), in which the lungs become flooded and respiratory failure ensues; the viral toxins themselves play a much lesser role in the tissue damage that ultimately can produce extreme critical disease states (pulmonary aspiration, septic shock), and potentially death.

The uncharted frontier is whether chronic inflammation, which is thought to be widely prevalent in our stress-filled, junk food eating, sleep-deprived society, increases the odds that the body might erupt into acute inflammation, e.g. a cytokine storm, when infected with viruses like COVID-19. One can think of this of this storm as a kind of over-reaction by our immune system. The big question is whether low-grade chronic inflammation may set the stage for this over-reaction and increase the odds of a cytokine storm in the presence of a nasty virus like COVID-19. Meanwhile, meditation, yoga, vagal breathing, and other relaxation techniques might provide an edge in the current crisis by reducing the chronic inflammatory state of the body. Weve joined Bushell and other concerned figures, including Michelle Williams, S.D., Dean of Harvards School of Public Health, in advising that meditation and yoga (in addition to a healthy diet and ample sleep) be included in front-line efforts against COVID-19.

The public is woefully uninformed about the mind-body benefits of these simple, effective measures, and every model of the pandemic foresees a huge overload on this countrys hospitals. The virus is more contagious and infectious than the flu, and it hospitalizes and kills a much higher percentage of cases. The message about COVID-19 and inflammation is very important. It needs to be received by all of us for our common well-being at any time, but most urgently, now, we all must strive to reduce our base level of chronic inflammation.

DEEPAK CHOPRA MD, FACP, founder of The Chopra Foundation, a non-profit entity for research on well-being and humanitarianism, and Chopra Global, a modern-day health company at the intersection of science and spirituality, is a world-renowned pioneer in integrative medicine and personal transformation. Chopra is a Clinical Professor of Family Medicine and Public Health at the University of California, San Diego and serves as a senior scientist with Gallup Organization. He is the author of over 89 books translated into over forty-three languages, including numerous New York Times bestsellers. Chopra is a Clinical Professor of Family Medicine and Public Health at the University of California, San Diego and serves as a senior scientist with Gallup Organization. His 90th book, Metahuman: Unleashing Your Infinite Potential, unlocks the secrets to moving beyond our present limitations to access a field of infinite possibilities. TIME magazine has described Dr. Chopra as one of the top 100 heroes and icons of the century.

Rudolph Tanzi, Ph.D. is the Vice-Chair of Neurology, Director of the Genetics and Aging Research Unit, Co-Director of the Henry and Allison McCance Center for Brain Health, and Co-Director of the MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease at Massachusetts General Hospital. He also serves as the Joseph P. and Rose F. Kennedy Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Tanzi discovered several Alzheimers disease genes, including all three early-onset familial Alzheimers genes, and serves as director of the Alzheimers Genome Project. He is also developing therapies for treating and preventing AD using human mini-brain organoid models of the disease, pioneered in his laboratory. Dr. Tanzi has published 600 papers, received numerous awards and was on the 2015 TIME100 Most Influential People in the World list. Dr. Tanzi is a New York Times bestselling author, who has co-authored Decoding Darkness and three bestsellers with Deepak Chopra: Super Brain, Super Genes, and The Healing Self.

View post:
What Is the Best Self-Care during the COVID-19 Crisis? - SFGate

(WCJB)--

The order says people should only leave their homes for essential activities such as doctor visits and grocery shopping.

Dr. Angeli Maun Akey of North Florida Integrative Medicine says get your groceries delivered if you can, but if that's not an option for you there are some steps you can take to prevent the virus from spreading into your home.

"We can't see it, so we need to act as if, we need to act as if whoever is around us might have a virus."

Throw away receipts and papers, throw your clothes straight into the wash, take a shower before greeting loved ones.

Dr. Akey adds, "Be careful of the fomites, so fomite is defined as an infectious particle that sits on something that's not alive."

Leave your shoes at the door.

"Someone spit on the street, it's on my shoe I walk that into my house. The spit that's a fomite and I said that can hang around quite a while. Then some little kid plays ball on the ground and then touches that, then rubs the eye. We touch our head like two to three thousand times an hour, right, high rate."

Dr. Akey says groceries in cardboard boxes should be transferred to a bowl.

"You don't know if the delivery guy used gloves, you don't know if he wiped his nose, use gloves to unpack it.

Dr. Ackey adds that while you're at the store use hand sanitizer often, wipe down your cart and when you get home to wash your hands immediately.

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Going grocery shopping? Here's some ways to keep COVID-19 out of your home - WCJB

New Delhi: Soon after Prince Charles spokersperson stated that the 71-year-old heir to the British throne did not take Ayurvedic medicine to be cured of coronavirus, The Heath Site.com ( a health portal) interacted withveteran integrative medicine practitioner,Dr Issac Mathai to know the truth. Notably, a debate has been triggered after AYUSH minister and BJP leader Shripad Naik, in a press briefing in Goa, asserted that Prince Charles recovery shows how Aurvedic and homeopathic drugs can help treat coronavirus. Also Read - Diljit Dosanjh Turns Chef in COVID-19 Quarantine, Punjabi Sensation's Culinary Skills Leave Twitterati in Splits

There are reports that even Prince Charles who tested positive for coronavirus was treated by Ayurveda and homoeopathy. Dr Isaac Mathai, who runs the Soukya ayurveda resort in Bengaluru informed me about it, Naik had claimed, which was dismissed by Ella Lynch, the spokesperson for the Prince of Wales. Also Read - First Frontline Casualty: Indore Doctor Passes Away After Battling With Coronavirus

However, when The Health Site contacted Mathai and asked if Ayurveda can cure COVID-19, he said that integrative medicine, which includes Ayurveda, homoeopathy doesnt have a cure for this particular virus, but both (Ayurveda and homoeopathy) have plenty of immune-boosting medicines which the Government of India also recommends. Also Read - Odisha 1st State to Extend Lockdown. Will Other States Follow Suit?

Also, the outcome of integrative medicine has been very positive in treating flu and immune deficiency conditions. We use these medicines for preventive purposes too, , The Health Site quoted Dr. Issac Mathai, MD and Founder, Soukya, a Bengaluru-based holistic healing centre as saying

He added,The philosophy behind all the AYUSH disciplines is not treating the disease but dealing with the immune system. In fact, Western school of medicine also agrees that a strong defence mechanism will protect you against many diseases and ailments. So, you must do everything to boost your immune cells.

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Homeopathic, Ayurvedic Formulation Cured Prince Charles of Coronavirus? Here's The Reality Check - India.com

Almost every civilization has a specific set of traditions they lived by, which if you study closely speaks volumes about how powerful those habits were because until modernisation, these people lived a happy and healthy life. Now we have comfort and technology, which is great, but it has also slowly started ruling and dictating us, and supressing our rational mind. We slowly started to forget the ancient wisdom our tradition carries and started to look for evidence-based science and medicine. While this maybe required, its also blinding people to use common sense. I bet most of us must be knowing so many of these practices already or must have seen their grandparents following it, but here are some top ancient Indian habits that we must now start reviving within our families as a culture and why. 1. Keep your homes a footwear free zone not cool to be sleeping or working on the bed with shoes on, as the television might portray. The easiest way to carry dirt, viruses, bacteria and germs into homes is via footwear. You could have a shoe rack placed outside your home and a spare pair of slippers to wear at home, but make sure you keep the muck outside. It not very difficult for a harmful bacteria or germ to reach your intestine from the footwear you bring into your living space and create a havoc. Imagine all the dirt we walk over with our shoes on spit, garbage, poop and what not. 2. Bless your food and eating with your hands. is an act of gratitude and has nothing to do with religion. Blessing the food and offering a gratitude prayer before and after a meal helps change the energy of food. Food is energy. It is life-giving. Start your meal by blessing it to be nourishing, healing, recharging, healthy and once done, give thanks and be grateful for the food that you just ate. about eating with hands, this practice allows us to connected through all our 5 senses, and not just the sense of taste. This makes the entire experience of eating more wholesome, satisfying and pleasurable, thereby benefitting our health, weight and digestion. 3. Sit down and eat your meal and drink your water down and feel relaxed when you start to eat your meal. Standing and a state of stress can affect your digestion, absorption and assimilation negatively. Standing redirects the blood flow towards your extremities instead of your digestive system. Take it a step further and at least eat one meal sitting on the floor. Sitting on the floor grounds you, brings in a feeling of safety, gently massages your pancreas and stimulates the digestive system and insulin release. If sitting on the floor is uncomfortable for you, eat your meal on your dining table by either sitting crossed legged on a chair or as usual, and try getting into a vajrasana position, right after a meal to enable better digestion for 5 mins. 4. No distractions while eating is a sacred act and our bodies cannot digest a meal when our mind is distracted. No television, mobile phones and disturbing conversations while eating a meal and parents need to follow this and lead as an example for their kids. Its not impossible to dedicate 15-20 mins to only your meal, which is going to nourish you, keep your health and possibly prevent the onset of diseases. 5. Early dinners body doesnt care about your late-night party or a late working hour at office. It is pretty much going to work the way nature has designed it to work. Late night meals are a burden for our bodies to digest and assimilate nutrients. Our pancreas is not designed to secrete digestive enzymes late in the night and this fact can be understood by noticing how we wake up feeling after a late dinner puffy, bloated, heavy and acidic, because the body was unable to finish the process of digestion. doesnt mean giving up your social life, but try aligning and respecting your body and its needs first. Go back to your traditions. Late meals were never encouraged in any civilisation. 6. Sunlight is medicine many of us actually expose ourselves to natural sunlight out of our own will? Every single cell of our body requires sunlight. Colder countries where sunlight is next to nil manage it naturally as they are on high fat diet and the body absorbs even the little vitamin D they are exposed to. However, here fat has got a bad reputation because we think that fat makes us fat. So, we end up being deficient in fat as well as Vitamin D which ultimately may give rise to bone problems, falling hair, unbalanced hormones, falling hair and dull skin. Go out and soak up some sun both you and kids. Even a 15 min exposure is a great habit. 7. Clean up yourself first how your parents and grandparents were so particular about you bathing and freshening up first dinner once back home from work? Turns out there was a lot of wisdom behind that. We tend to carry a lot of germs and dirt throughout the day and not cleaning ourselves up before a meal will only create an unhygienic environment. 8. Cooking in earthenware raw and rustic earthenware has so many health benefits. It makes the food alkaline, retains all nutrients, distributes heats evenly. This may mean that you have to stop using fancy and coated ceramic wares and non-stick utensils, but isnt ancient India lived on this tradition? Inputs by Luke Coutinho, Holistic Lifestyle Coach- Integrative Medicine

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Ancient Indian practices that must be part of your daily routine - Times of India