Posted by La-Tessa on Mar 17, 2010 in
Random Musings 
To say my stress level has been at an all time high lately is NOT an understatement. And we all know that stress exacerbates any and all dis-ease or sickness you may have going on.
So as I felt my body in a constant state of tension, my temper constantly hovering around a 7 (and that was on a good day) and my drive, excitement & energy for writing decline. After a brief convo with my friend Mynfel (who’s also taking acupunture right now) I decided it was time for me to go back to the acupuncturist.
I originally started acupuncture treatments about 5 yrs ago, to help me deal with & eliminate pain associated with RA. Once I got better, I stopped going–it was very difficult to fit the treatments into my schedule at the time, but I always knew that this was a practice I would like to keep as part of my health plan.
So after getting recommended to the same place by two separate people, last week I had my first acupuncture treatment in well over 5 years. Even though I’d been though it before, I was still a little nervous. But the results speak for themselves, even a week later.
While I didn’t get a full needle count, here’s what I can best estimate:
*Head-2
*Ear-5
*Arm-2
*Abdomen-3
*Legs- @4
*Feet- @3
So roughly 19 needles, a little aromatherapy & an hour later, I left the office feeling relaxed and lighter in spirit. Now, the relaxation is more than likely a by-product of the nap I took during my session. 
So session 1 was a win! I’ll be having weekly sessions for a while, as I work to get my body back in harmony. Then I hope to go down to about once a month as part of my overall health plan.
Tags: health & wellness, natural remedies
Posted by La-Tessa on Dec 10, 2009 in
Random Musings 
Came across this article today. I’ve posted the highlights below, but please check it out the article in it’s entirety here.
1. Canned tomatoes-
“The resin linings of tin cans contain bisphenol-A, a synthetic estrogen that has been linked to ailments ranging from reproductive problems to heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.”
2. Corn-fed beef
“A recent comprehensive study conducted by the USDA and researchers from Clemson University found that compared with corn-fed beef, grass-fed beef is higher in beta-carotene, vitamin E, omega-3s, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), calcium, magnesium, and potassium; lower in inflammatory omega-6s; and lower in saturated fats that have been linked to heart disease.”
3. Microwave popcorn
“Chemicals, including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), in the lining of the bag, are part of a class of compounds that may be linked to infertility in humans”
4. Nonorganic potatoes
“Root vegetables absorb herbicides, pesticides, and fungicides that wind up in soil”
5. Farmed Salmon
“farmed salmon is lower in vitamin D and higher in contaminants, including carcinogens, PCBs, brominated flame retardants, and pesticides such as dioxin and DDT.According to Carpenter, the most contaminated fish come from Northern Europe, which can be found on American menus. “You can only safely eat one of these salmon dinners every 5 months without increasing your risk of cancer,” says Carpenter, whose 2004 fish contamination study got broad media attention.”
6. Milk produced with artificial hormones
“Milk producers treat their dairy cattle with recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH or rBST, as it is also known) to boost milk production. But rBGH also increases udder infections and even pus in the milk.”
7. Conventional apples
“They [apples] are individually grafted (descended from a single tree) so that each variety maintains its distinctive flavor. As such, apples don’t develop resistance to pests and are sprayed frequently.”
I knew some of this, but not all. Scary, isn’t it. Check out the article, they have some additional tips listed for you there.
Tags: health & wellness, hmm, interesting
