In this technological age we live in, it's rare to see someone walking without an iPod or some other music or media player strapped to them. Listening to music or even watching a video is so commonplace that few of us take the time to enjoy the stillness of our thoughts and the interaction with our bodies that walking meditation allows. Even if it's just one day a week, consider replacing one of your gym sessions with a walking meditation session. Better still; take your walk outside so you can enjoy the sounds of nature and your own thoughts and body signals.

Buddhist monks often use walking meditation as part of their daily lives while they move dutifully from one task to another. In addition to helping them develop mindfulness and loving kindness while they travel around, walking meditation is also used as a kind of meditation in its own right, with the monks scheduling time to walk up and down a set course or even a circular track to help keep their bodies at ease while also relieving tension that builds up over the course of their service. Paying attention to the body as it moves also helps them to be more in tune to it and, by extension, the world around them.

Scheduling time for a sitting meditation can be difficult for some, but since most everyone spends time walking each day, walking allows for a kind of meditation that even the busiest people can fit into their lifestyle, and you don't even have to walk slowly or in nature to reap the benefits – all that's required is an attentive mind and a willing body.
If you've ever found yourself painting to deal with a difficult life situation or sought out your potter's wheel for some stress relief, you've experienced firsthand the healing power of art. How does art heal? According to scientific studies, art changes one's physiology from one of stress or anguish to one of deeper relaxation. This deeper state of relaxation often results in increased levels of creativity and inspiration. In fact, art actually changes the brain's patterns by affecting the autonomic nervous system, the hormonal balance, and the brain's neurotransmitters.

Even world-renowned health center Mayo Clinic at Scottsdale uses art to heal their patients. From abstract art to photography, nine different galleries create a soothing, pleasant, and healing atmosphere for patients. They also use music concerts and even small concerts at patients' bedsides to draw upon the healing powers of the mind.

When you view, listen, and/or create art or music, you're literally healed from the inside out – blood flow increases to the organs and your immune system begins operating more efficiently.

Spiritually, art changes your perceptions of the world, which changes your attitude, improves your emotional state, and even alters the way you perceive pain - and usually, all for the better! The hope, perseverance, and positivity yielded from art helps patients become better equipped to cope with their physical, emotional, and psychological difficulties.
When your child complains of nausea, do you head straight for the medicine cabinet, or do you go to the kitchen to brew some chamomile tea? Even though our culture seems to lean toward writing a prescription for nearly every ailment, there are just as many alternative therapies available. In fact, recent studies indicate that 30 percent of healthy children and up to 50 percent of children with chronic ailments are receiving some kind of alternative therapy. Alternative therapies may be used in instances where over-the-counter or even prescriptions may not have immediate success. Honey, for example, may be used in children over one year old to ease the coughing that comes along with the common cold.

When it comes to using alternative therapies to complement traditional medicine, acupuncture, herbal or botanical supplements, and other dietary supplements are the most common. Other types of alternative therapies that are especially beneficial to children include:

Probiotics. These are bacteria similar to those found in the human stomach and can be found in supplements or foods such as yogurt. When used to treat antibiotics-related diarrhea, studies have shown probiotics can reduce upset stomach one or two days sooner than time alone, making it possible for children to go back to school up to two days earlier.

Tai chi. Mind and body therapies like tai chi help children and teens reduce stress which, in turn, makes them less likely to develop conditions such as anxiety and depression. Much like yoga, tai chi helps decrease blood pressure and sympathetic activity in children, allowing for a sense of relaxation, calm, and respect for other people and the environment.

Yoga. When combined with medicines prescribed by a physician, yoga can help young asthmatic patients learn and practice deep breathing techniques while remaining calm during bouts of shortness of breath. Yoga is also helpful in dealing with behavioral disorders and reducing stress in teens and adolescents.

Try and find a pediatrician who is familiar with both traditional Western medicine and alternative medicine so you'll have access to both options for your child.
Biofeedback is a method which teaches subjects to control bodily functions such as: heart rate, blood pressure, headache, pain, and muscle tension through a process which may include conditioning, feedback instrumentation, behavior modification, and adaptation mechanisms. Biofeedback therapy is one alternative medicine discipline available to help patients deal with ongoing medical conditions without the invasive and sometimes harmful aspects of surgical procedures or prescription drugs.

Biofeedback therapy feeds real time signals about bodily functions back to patients, so they can be taught to alter bodily activities to minimize or eliminate symptoms. Biofeedback has effectively treated a range of ailments ranging from attention disorders to chronic pain and muscle disorders. With biofeedback, the individual can increase awareness and learn self-regulation of some bodily functions.

Scientists are not able to explain exactly how or why biofeedback works, but there does seem to be at least one common thread: most people who benefit from biofeedback have conditions that are either brought on - or made worse - by stress. For this reason, many scientists believe that relaxation is the key to successful biofeedback therapy. When a body is repeatedly stressed, internal processes like blood pressure become overactive. But when guided by a biofeedback therapist, a person can learn to lower his or her blood pressure through relaxation techniques and mental exercises. When a person successfully relaxes and lowers their blood pressure, the feedback signals reflect this accomplishment. This acts as affirmation and encouragement for the person's continued efforts.

In a normal biofeedback session, electrodes are attached to the skin. These electrodes then feed information to a small monitoring box that translates the physiological responses into a tone that varies in pitch, a visual meter that varies in brightness, or a computer screen that varies the lines moving across a grid. The biofeedback therapist then leads the person in mental exercises. Through trial and error, people can soon learn to identify and control the mental activities that will bring about the desired physical changes. Ideally, after an initial intense course of treatment, your therapist will help you develop a transition plan so that you wean yourself from office visits and move toward a home-based routine.
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Flower Power: Flowers' Medicinal Properties
More than just looking and smelling beautiful, many flowers have healing properties, too. Here are some common varieties of flowers and their healing capabilities:

Rose- Did you know that bacteria die within five minutes of being in contact with rose petals? This makes them a perfect natural medicine for treating skin diseases, treating wounds and burns, and sometimes even alleviating itching due to allergic reactions. But more than their remarkable antimicrobial properties, roses also contain high amounts of calcium which assists the metabolism, potassium which aids cardiac functioning, and iodine that is essential for healthy thyroid functioning. Have a cold? Brew some rose tea with boiling water and one teaspoon of dried rose petals to fight colds, bronchitis, laryngitis, and various other ailments.

Sunflowers- Native Americans used virtually every part of the sunflower for healing purposes. To relieve rheumatism, pain and itching from poison ivy, snakebites, and other sources of inflammation, they made a warm, soothing liniment by simply boiling sunflower roots with water. The seeds, which are high in Vitamin C and polyunsaturated fats, were used as a diuretic to relieve the body of constipation, as well as chest pains, ulcers, and even warts.

Pansy- This small flower is known for its heart boosting abilities. More than strengthening the heart, it's also used to treat common childhood illnesses like measles, mumps, chickenpox and, in adolescence, acne.


Acai Berry Energy Bowl

Natives of the Amazon River Basin have long consumed the acai (ah-sigh-ee) berry, a super food rich with nutrients and antioxidants. The most common way to enjoy the acai berry is by blending it into a health drink, like a smoothie or juice. The anthocyanins that give the berry its power-packed nutritional value degrade quickly when at room temperature or cooked, so it should always be refrigerated.

Ingredients:
1 cup fresh acai berries
8 strawberries (fresh or frozen)
1/4 cup plain yogurt
1/4 cup soy milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup granola
1/2 cup fresh berries or seasonal fruit

Directions:
1. In a blender, puree the acai berries, strawberries, yogurt, soy milk, and vanilla for 1 minute, until smooth.

2. Pour into a bowl and top with granola and fruit. Serve chilled.


Estheticians: Staying in Tune with Your Energy
The next time you're getting a facial, why not get a massage at the same time? Some estheticians are now offering massages at the same time they're giving you a facial -- because you're skin is well-moisturized, massage is much easier. After your facial and massage you'll feel rejuvenated, relaxed, and refreshed, and your skin will have the benefit of having been moisturized and firmed at the same time. A once weekly facial will keep your skin radiant and beautiful, and you'll enjoy the anti-wrinkle effects of well-balanced, oxygenated skin.
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