Joy In Health: Woman to Woman

And you thought we were all done with that hormone thing! Wrong--but exciting, too.

I've just finished reading a book by Michael E. Platt, M.D. called The Miracle of Bio-Identical Hormones: How I Lost My: Fatigue, Hot Flashes, ADHD, ADD, Fribromyalgia, PMS, Osteoporosis, Weight, Sexual Dysfunction, Anger, Migraines...

If there is one outstanding testimonial that established Dr. Platt's credibility  for me, it is this:

... in 1979 I met an amazing physician who renewed my faith in the patient-pharmacist-physician interrelationship. That physician is Michael E. Platt, M.D., a board-certified internist.

At that time in his career he was involved with a number of long-term care facilities where his interest in anti-aging was ignited and his belief in preventive medicine was reinforced. I was servicing the pharmaceutical needs of a number of the same facilities where Dr. Platt was attending. I had immediately taken note that at the time when the national average of drugs for nursing home residents was nine per patient, his patients were on almost no drugs.

(From the Foward, p.xiii, by Mort Farina, R.Ph., compounding pharmacist)

My daughter and I are both going to pay Dr. Platt a visit at his clinic in California in March. Why? Because we are both at stages in our lives, albeit quite different ages and stages, where we desire to work with health care professionals who are genuinely interested in helping us achieve a higher quality of life. A physician who will truly listen and not brush aside our concerns about depression, fatigue, mood swings, weight gain and weight swings. A physician who will join his skills, training and experience with our own and not patronize us when it comes to our own interest in the root cause of some of our health issues (vs. the symptoms, each with its matching prescription medication).

I feel optimistic after reading The Miracle of Bio-Identical Hormones because I've discovered a whole sub-culture of traditional medicine that is practicing, and has for decades, integrative medicine. Health care professionals who are as interested in preventive health care as they are in healing health care--and who strive to guide us to wellness as naturally as possible.

To see more about Dr. Platt, go to his web site at www.drplatt.com.

Joy in health,
Kate

Kate Williams
Joy In Health Program, coach and wellness counselor
Achieve Health Northwest
Contact: joyinhealth@comcast.net

I Didn't Know...

When I was a young mother and homemaker, I didn't know...

• More than 9 out of every 10 suspected poison exposures occur at home with household products.
• EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) studies indicate that elevated concentration of household chemicals persit in the air. Some are suspected of causing or are known to cause cancer in humans.
• Women who work at home have a 54% higher death rate from cancer than women who work outside the home.

Here are some of the common chemicals under our sinks:
Chlorine is the chemical most frequently involved in household poisonings in the U.S. May cause reproductive, endocrine and immune disorders.
Degreasers may contain petroleum distillates, which can damage lung tissues and dissolve fatty tissue around nerve cells.
Glass Cleaner may contain ammonia. The fumes from ammonia can irritate the skin, eyes and respiratory system.
Oven Cleaners are one of the most dangerous cleaning products which can cause severe damage to eyes, skin, mouth and throat.
Toilet Bowl Cleaners are an extremely dangerous cleaning product, which can be harful just by breathing the fumes and fatal if swallowed.

There are several alternatives to cleaning with the common products we buy at our usual stores and store and use in our homes. These alternatives will not harm our children, our pets and our planet. Some are more effective and also cheaper than what we buy now.

I urge you to get informed and to replace your usual household products with safer, more effective products. Don't create a toxic home; create a healthy, safe environment for yourself and those for whom you care.

Joy in health,

Kate

Kate Williams
joyinhealth@comcast.net
1-866-567-1587
www.shaklee.net/achievehealth/getclean

 

 

 

Gratitude

Gratitude: My First Post to My Joy In Health Weblog

Gratitude was the first thing on my mind this morning as I got up and started a new day. "Gratitude First" is a new state for me first thing in the morning. In the beginning it was a choice: I'm going to start my day with gratitude instead of __________ (you fill in the blank for you; for me it was "grumpy need coffee NOW).

I'd like to be able to say truthfully that I made this choice from a highly evolved state of spiritual development but my truth is I noticed that it worked. The way it worked for me is that when I start my day with gratitude, my usual morning routine is smoother, my first exchanges with my husband are  positive, and  the work I sit down to is more productive and effective.

Given that I'm in the midst of moving my house and my home-based office and in the midst of developing a fledgling business that involves exercising some newly learned (and still very clunky) skills, I couldn't be happier with the results of choosing gratitude.

The first email I read this morning pointed me to Kevin's Blog post on The Power of Gratefulness and from his to this recent post in Curt Rosengren's wonderful Occupational Adventure blog. I encourage you to read both posts to learn about the benefits of choosing gratitude to increase the positiveness in your life.

For more suggestions about the practice of gratefulness, look here, at A Network for Grateful Living.