Probiatics and digestion

When preventative medicine fails, you find yourself in a situation where Western Medicine is the only way to go. Yesterday I had a root canal. It could have been prevented, but I probably would have needed to know a little more at a very young age when I developed a cavity in that tooth. The cavity led to a filling which led to teeth grinding which led to a crown which ended in the root canal. Some metaphysicist somewhere would probably tell me it started in my emotional body and I need to release something, but I will tell you that at that very young age when I got that cavity, I didn't know about the emotional body either.

It wasn't all bad. Lots of numbing medicine and 38 minutes later I was free and at the pharmacy filling a prescription for antibiotics. Having a passion for holistic medicine, I was struck by the absolute necessity for taking this broad spectrum antibiotic that will not only kill the bacteria settled in the bone of my jaw, but also all the other "good" bacteria in my body. Back to prevention, I realize I need to add some probiotics into my diet to keep my digestion strong. I would have simply just grabbed some yogurt, but I ran across the table below which I found very interesting. Apparently, there are different probiotics for different things. I hope you find it helpful too.

I guess the lesson is that when prevention fails, you need to go to your doctor. When he prescribes medicine, educate yourself about the side effects and make some decisions on diet, routine and supplements that can facilitate your recovery and minimize side effects.

This Information was gathered from Health.com

Name	Helps fight	Dosage	Purchase info
Culturelle supplements	Antibiotic stomach upset, colds and flu, maybe eczema	One capsule a day	$22.99 for a 1-month supply; drugstores
Florastor supplements	Antibiotic stomach upset, traveler’s diarrhea	Two capsules a day	$35.99 for 50 capsules; drugstore.com
Digestive Advantage and Sustenex supplements	Antibiotic stomach upset	One capsule a day	$10.49–$15.99 for a 1-month supply; drugstores and natural-products stores
Fem-Dophilus or RepHresh Pro-B supplements	Vaginal and urinary infections	One capsule a day	$17.49–$31 for a 1-month supply; drugstores and natural-products stores
DanActive dairy drink	Colds and flu	One (3.3-ounce) bottle a day	$2.69 for a 4-pack; supermarkets
Attune bars	Colds and flu	One (80- to 170-calorie) bar a day	$1.60–$2.10 per bar; supermarkets and natural-products stores
Align supplements	Irritable bowel	One capsule a day	$29.99 for a 1-month supply; select drugstores
Good Belly probiotic fruit drink	Irritable bowel	One (2.7-ounce) bottle a day	$4.49 for a 4-pack; select supermarkets and natural-products stores
Stonyfield organic yogurt	Eczema	One cup a day	$1.99 for a 4-pack; supermarkets and natural-foods stores

Holiday tips to stay healthy

The holidays tend to be a time when our bodies and minds drift out of balance. We tend to eat too much, drink too much and adjust our routines to accommodate travel, family and friends. This is all really good stuff. When you are having fun and feeling joyful...stay with it. As you begin to close your holiday, however, you may feel symptoms of imbalance including poor digestion, lethargy and interrupted sleep. Pull yourself back to balance quickly (or avoid going out of balance all together) by incorporating the following tips into your holiday.

Tips to prevent or cure holiday imbalance:

Walk each day.
Be Silent each day.
Be Alone some of each day.
Speak kindly to yourself and others each day.
Be thankful each day.
Add lots of ginger tea to your routine to facilitate digestion.

Two Days of Silence

After days of feasting, fast.

After days of sleeping, stay awake

one night. After these times of bitter storytelling, joking, and serious considerations, we should give ourselves two days between layers of baklava in the quiet seclusion where soul sweetens and thrives more than with language.

-----Rumi

Plants

I love my plants. I don't have many because I have much fear and guilt due to past experiences that left many dead. I'm sorry guys.

I love these creatures because they communicate so clearly. When they need attention, nourishment and love, they simply droop in the most dramatic sad way. When I continue to not meet their needs they turn brown and lose body parts. The past has shown that if left ignored, they will leave me.

I wish humans were so clear in their communication. Honestly, I can figure it out in another human, but I wish I personally had the opportunity to simply droop when I need attention, nourishment and love. I hope that I wouldn't need to go further and actually turn brown and lose body parts, but it would attention. I can confirm that the plants and I share the same habit of leaving when ignored.

We are trained to put on our happy faces and just go out in the world. Grief is a badge of shame. Anger is a shunned emotion. Sadness may be contagious and those showing it should be avoided. Perhaps these are all just subtle or not so subtle displays of drooping. What is going on behind the happy faces?

I'm going to start thinking of humans as plants. When their heads are down, when their eyes don't meet mine, when their voice is enthusiastic in a false tone, when they answer that they are "fine", I'm going to pay attention. I'm going to nourish and love them through kind words, kind deeds, compassionate listening and hugs. Please do the same for my inner plant.

Namaste.

Do only that which you do not regret

The theme of "boundaries" continues to come up. I've been reluctant to address this theme as I don't really understand it. For me, boundaries seem instinctive and I truly haven't felt the need to put too much thought or time into them. When I was younger, I had none. Now that I have been through some of life, I feel that I probably do have some. I did a little research and found out that most psychologists would categorize the following as healthy boundaries:

• You are not responsible for others.
• You do not take on the moods and feelings of others.
• You do not please others.
• You are not a Victim.
• You say No.
• You express your wants and needs.

Ouch. It appears to me that in different situations or with different people, I have different boundaries. It also comes to me that establishing boundaries that are healthy means putting effort into every situation and every person that I encounter. This is work. This means detangling myself from needy people, distancing myself from total grumps and energy suckers, being myself, being strong and confident, saying no without guilt, KNOWING what I want and need and finally finding my voice to communicate to the other what my needs are. This also seems like a fluid process in that I am constantly changing. What does this mean from a yogic perspective?

Psychological Boundaries	Yogi Thoughts
You are not responsible for others.	Practice non-attachment. The best thing you can do for a person is to be kind, compassionate and understanding. Listen, but know that you can never fix another person's problem. The soul's journey is singular.
You do not take on the moods and feelings of others.	Assume that the entire universe is conspiring for your success. Surround yourself with supportive and loving friends and family. (Yes, that means some people in your life will go away).
You do not please others.	Listen to your body. If something doesn't feel right, then it isn't. Only do what resonates in your heart.
You are not a Victim.	Take responsibility for your life. Every choice you have made to this date has put you in this moment. If you don't like this moment, then change it by making better choices today. Always ask: Does this bring myself and others happiness? If the answer is yes, it is the right choice.
You say No.	Say No.
You express your wants and needs.	Work on your intentions and desires. Know what you want. Love yourself enough to know that if you express yourself and the other person can't honor it, then you don't need that person in your life.

Good luck yogis. We will be working together on this one!

Elemental OM and Leela!

Yogis,

You hear me say it all the time...

The ONLY reason that we exist is for leela...to play!

We are having so much fun playing at the Elemental OM studio. Please join us for any of the following:

• I am being interviewed this afternoon between 3:30 and 5 pm on WAIF radio 88.3. Tune in if you would like to hear a little discussion about Ayurveda!

• I am presenting at YogahOMe on this Thursday, November 19th at 7:30 pm on the same topic. The lecture is FREE. You will learn about the origins of Ayurveda, take dosha quizzes, take balance quizzes and learn a little bit about the Elemental Immersion (our Ayurvedic cleanse). I will be running the Immersion at YogahOMe in January. If you are closer to Oakley than Lebanon, you may want to consider this. It will be Sundays at 5:30 for 4 weeks beginning January 24th.

• I am presenting at the Victory of Light Festival on Saturday, November 20th at 3 pm. It's a big deal for me, EOM and Lebanon! We are actually listed 3rd on their website which will drive awareness! It is $12 to get into the Festival. All the lectures are FREE and there are a ton to choose from.

• Lisa Pratt is "playing" this Wednesday at noon and Thursday at 7 pm with you guys. Ralph Dehner is "playing" Reiki with you on Friday and Saturday!

EOM would like to thank all of you for your support over the past year! You are the reason that we are here. When I say that this studio is your studio and not mine, I truly mean it. I have been visiting a lot of studios lately and we really do have something magical going on in Lebanon!

Shanti,

Pamela

Your Emotional Body

shopping

Lessons attributed to the Dalai Lama for 2008 Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk. When you lose, don't lose the lesson Follow the three R's: Respect for self, Respect for others and Responsibility for all your actions. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck. Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly. Don't let a little dispute injure a great relationship. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it. Spend some time alone every day. Open your arms to change, but don't let go of your values. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer. Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll be able to enjoy it a second time. A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life. In disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the current situation. Don't bring up the past. Share your knowledge. It is a way to achieve immortality. Be gentle with the earth. Once a year, go someplace you've never been before. Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exeeds your need for each other. Judge your success by what you had to give up to get it. Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon.

Water, the Emotional Body Apa in Sanskrit Ayurveda recognizes 5 great elements that combine to make the 3 Elements or body types, Wind, Fire and Earth The 5 great elements are space, air, fire, water and earth. Space and air combine to create THE WIND Fire and a little bit of water combine to make THE FIRE Earth and water combine to make THE EARTH All things have a little bit of water in them along with the other elements. In Ayurvedic terms, the Element Water is the force of cohesion. It is what makes everything stick together. It is the “love” factor. Balancing Water in Your Body At elementalOM, we believe Water has a special role in creating a life of balance. Water is viewed as your emotional body. It is the experience of love. Without love, you cannot experience health. Follow the links below to explore the element Water in your life. Emotional Clearing Formula True Love Soul Profile Intentions and Desires Hugging Manifestation The Seven Spiritual Laws of Yoga Meditation Affirmations & Prayers Water facts and environmental concerns Each person on earth is created from 45% - 75% water. Each person on earth would die within 3 days of not receiving water. We are in the mists of a global water crises. Take action in your home with these easy steps......CLICK HERE Fun sources for environmentally friendly products preserveproducts.com Recycline makes Preserve®– a line of stylish, high performance, eco-friendly products for your home. As a company, we strive to combine socially and environmentally responsible business practices with groundbreaking design to create products that people feel good about having in their homes. We believe that choosing eco-friendly products doesn’t mean having to sacrifice quality, price, or performance. We believe they should make you feel good.

---

"Water and air, the two essential fluids on which all life depends, have become global garbage cans" - Jacques Cousteau Facts from Global Citizen Corps: The industrialized nations of this planet have contributed disporportionately to global warming which has grossly affected the water supply of developing countries: more than 1 billion people – about one in six people in this world – have no access to clean and safe drinking water while over 2 billion lack access to adequate sanitation. If we continue to follow the current trend, by the year 2025 two thirds of the people in this world will not have sufficient access to clean water. The World Health Organization (WHO) has estimated that 1.8 million children die every year as a result of diseases caused by unclean water and poor sanitation. That’s one death every eight seconds.

Conserving Water What you do with water in your developed country DOES affect those most impoverished in this world. Choose to make a difference in your own home. We can save the planet one Yogi at a time. In the kitchen Never let the water run when you are washing dishes by hand. Use the dishwasher, it saves water. Soak pots and pans instead of scraping under running water. Run your dishwasher and clotheswasher when you have a full load only. Put a pitcher of cold water in your fridge. That way, you don't have to let the sink run to cool the water. Buy an organic vegetable cleaner and soak your veggies and fruits to clean instead of running water over them. Collect the water that you use to rinse fruit and veggies and use it to water houseplants. When buying new appliances, consider those that offer cycle and load size adjustments. They're more water and energy efficient. Look for Energy Star certifications Designate one water glass as yours each day. If you have more than one member in your family, color code your glasses. Install an instant water heater near your kitchen sink. If you have a newer dishwasher, don't bother to rinse your dishes. Just scrape clean and load. When washing dishes by hand, fill the sink and rinse when all of the dishes have been soaped and scrubbed. In the yard Make sure your sprinklers in your yard are adjusted so that only the yard is watered. Turn off your system when the yard doesn't need watering. It's okay to let the grass go a little brown. It always comes back. Consider ground cover instead of grass. Buy a compost bin and don't use the garbage disposal. If you are planting trees and shrubs, choose to plant in fall. You won't have to water them so much. Water you lawn and garden in the morning or late evening. This saves evaporation. If water runs off your lawn easily, split your watering time into shorter periods to allow for better absorption. Use mulch, it holds the water on your plants. Adjust your lawn mower to a higher setting. A taller lawn shades roots and holds soil moisture better than if it is closely clipped. Let the lower branches of your shrubs and trees grow. This keeps the ground cool and limits water evaporation. Use sprinklers for large areas of grass. Water small patches by hand to avoid waste. Collect water from your roof in a rainbarrel to water your garden Install a rain sensor on your irrigation controller so your system won't run when it's raining. Use drip irrigation for shrubs and trees. Reduce the amount of lawn in your yard by planting shrubs and ground cover. Never water your lawn on windy days. Water your plants deeply but less frequently to encourage deep root growth and drought tolerance. Group plants with the same watering needs together to avoid overwatering some while underwatering others. Use a layer of organic material on the surface of your planting beds to minimize weed growth that competes for water. Trickling or cascading fountains lose less water to evaporation than those spraying water into the air. Next time you add or replace a flower or shrub, choose a low water use plant for year-round landscape color and save up to 550 gallons each year. Let your lawn go dormant during the summer. Dormant grass only needs to be watered every three weeks or less if it rains. In the Bathroom Replace the showerhead with a water-efficient model. Shorten your shower by only 1 or 2 minutes and you could save 150 gallons a month Wash your face and brush your teeth while in the shower. If your toilet was installed before 1992, reduce the amount of water used for each flush by inserting a displacement device in the tank. When running a bath, plug the tub before turning the water on, then adjust the temperature as the tub fills up. Use a water-efficient showerhead. They're inexpensive, easy to install, and can save you up to 750 gallons a month. Turn off the water while brushing your teeth and save 25 gallons a month. Turn off the water while you shave and save up to 300 gallons a month. Turn off the water while you wash your hair to save up to 150 gallons a month. Keep a bucket in the shower to catch water as it warms up or runs. Use this water to flush toilets or water plants. Never let the water run while washing your hands. Other Ideas When cleaning out fish tanks, give the nutrient-rich water to your plants. Use a commercial car wash that recycles water. Avoid recreational water toys that require a constant flow of water. Teach your children to turn off faucets. Know where your master water shut-off valve is located. Bathe your young children together. Use a hose nozzle or turn off the water while you wash your car. You'll save up to 100 gallons every time. Washing dark clothes in cold water saves both on water and energy. Fixing a leak can save 300 gallons a month or more. Re-use the water left over from cooked or steamed foods as a broth for soups. Wash your pets outdoors in an area of your lawn that needs water. When shopping for a new clothes washer, compare resource savings among Energy Star models. Some of these can save up to 20 gallons per load, and energy too. When you give your pet fresh water, don't throw the old water down the drain. Use it to water your trees or shrubs. Reuse your towels.