Holistic Health

Inflammation is heat or fire in the body. This includes a distinction between acute and chronic inflammation. Think about when you've had a cut or wound. Your skin is red, flamed, and perhaps uncomfortable. That's acute inflammation. But in chronic inflammation, the "flare" does not stop. It continues on and on for months and years where the body acts with immune and other processes to heal a "wound" and yet there isn't one. The chronic inflammation then begins to support health conditions such as cancer.

To reduce inflammation, eat organic vegetables, some fruits, spices such as turmeric, and consider specific supplements. Inflammation levels can also be tested. The most common blood test is called c-reactive protein (CRP) high sensitivity available through mainstream blood laboratories. A healthy level is below 1.0 mg/L.

You can learn more about inflammation and cancer, including a more in depth explanation about inflammation and how to reduce it, in an article on the EmbodiWorks integrative cancer care resources website at http://www.embodiworks.org/cancertreatments/bodymindspirit/inflammation/.

Wishing you optimal health and healing. While low levels of inflammation are normal and necessary, chronic high-levels of inflammation in the body have been shown to allow the progression of development from pre-cancerous forms to full blown malignant disease. Food such as refined and artificial sugar, processed foods, bad fats and animal-based foods lead to the conversion of a type of fat – arachidonic acid – into compounds which promote inflammation which in turn can lead to cellular damage and disease. One can reduce inflammation in a number of ways but a basic guideline is to focus on a plant-based whole food diet.

I studied holistic health coaching at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in New York City. You can read about their program by visiting their website at www.integrativenutrition.com
In addition to my training there, I also have a degree in biology/pre-med, but this is not a pre-requisite for becoming a health coach.
I studied holistic health coaching at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in New York City. You can read about their program by visiting their website at www.integrativenutrition.com
In addition to my training there, I also have a degree in biology/pre-med, but this is not a pre-requisite for becoming a health coach.

"Total" care is only as much as a person can handle. The following list is just an offering of choices. Each person going through a cancer journey should only feel obligated to do as much or as little as they can, to a level that makes them feel empowered and not overwhelmed. Also, it is our firm belief that every person has unique and different changes that they need to make in order to bring their body back into balance; therefore, the right combination of things will vary with each person. Knowing all of that, we encourage our patients to choose whatever sounds most fitting to them among the following complementary approaches:
1) PHYSICAL: dietary changes (e.g., vegetables and fruits, whole grains, beans and nuts, and a reduction in meat, refined grains, sugars, sweeteners, and dairy); exercise changes (e.g., daily walks or gentle yoga, preferably outside for Vitamin D if possible), herbal and vitamin supplementation (tailored to your needs for detoxification and immune boosting purposes), and weekly massage.
2) ENERGETIC: practices to unblock and balance your energy (acupuncture, tai chi, reiki, sat nam rasayan, Therapeutic Touch, pranayama, yoga, etc.)
3) MENTAL/EMOTIONAL/SPIRITUAL: calming your racing thoughts, releasing suppressed emotions or emotions from the past, deepening whatever gives you a sense of spirituality, etc. Examples include: psychotherapy, meditation, deep breathing, laughter, prayer, etc.

Hope that helps,
Kelly Turner, PhD and Aaron Teich, LAc
www.ShuniyaHealing.com
Twitter @ShuniyaHealing
"Total" care is only as much as a person can handle. The following list is just an offering of choices. Each person going through a cancer journey should only feel obligated to do as much or as little as they can, to a level that makes them feel empowered and not overwhelmed. Also, it is our firm belief that every person has unique and different changes that they need to make in order to bring their body back into balance; therefore, the right combination of things will vary with each person. Knowing all of that, we encourage our patients to choose whatever sounds most fitting to them among the following complementary approaches:
1) PHYSICAL: dietary changes (e.g., vegetables and fruits, whole grains, beans and nuts, and a reduction in meat, refined grains, sugars, sweeteners, and dairy); exercise changes (e.g., daily walks or gentle yoga, preferably outside for Vitamin D if possible), herbal and vitamin supplementation (tailored to your needs for detoxification and immune boosting purposes), and weekly massage.
2) ENERGETIC: practices to unblock and balance your energy (acupuncture, tai chi, reiki, sat nam rasayan, Therapeutic Touch, pranayama, yoga, etc.)
3) MENTAL/EMOTIONAL/SPIRITUAL: calming your racing thoughts, releasing suppressed emotions or emotions from the past, deepening whatever gives you a sense of spirituality, etc. Examples include: psychotherapy, meditation, deep breathing, laughter, prayer, etc.

Hope that helps,
Kelly Turner, PhD and Aaron Teich, LAc
www.ShuniyaHealing.com
Twitter @ShuniyaHealing

Yes, absolutely. Before we begin acupuncture or energy work, we always make sure that the patient has received approval from his/her oncologist (which is usually never an issue). With respect to herbs, we do not recommend any herbs until we have spoken directly with the oncologist for his/her approval, and also to discuss the detoxifying organs involved in both the herbs and the chemotherapy. This is essential before beginning any herbal regimen.

Hope that helps,
Kelly Turner, PhD and Aaron Teich, LAc
www.shuniyahealing.com
Twitter @ShuniyaHealing Yes, absolutely. Before we begin acupuncture or energy work, we always make sure that the patient has received approval from his/her oncologist (which is usually never an issue). With respect to herbs, we do not recommend any herbs until we have spoken directly with the oncologist for his/her approval, and also to discuss the detoxifying organs involved in both the herbs and the chemotherapy. This is essential before beginning any herbal regimen.

Hope that helps,
Kelly Turner, PhD and Aaron Teich, LAc
www.shuniyahealing.com
Twitter @ShuniyaHealing

Great question! There is substantial evidence that shows that there is a connection between emotional states and physical health, specifically between hormones (cortisol, adrenaline, etc.) and immune function. In other words, there is absolutely a mind-body connection.

Think about the common cold virus -- being stressed does weaken your immune system, and may therefore contribute to your catching a cold. However, it is still the virus that is the main cause of the cold. Reducing your stress while you have your cold may very well speed up your recovery time, because it will strengthen your immune system. So will anti-viral medications. In other words, emotions and stress absolutely play a ROLE in health, but they are not necessarily the only factors involved in any illness.

At Shuniya Health & Healing, we offer a range of services, including acupuncture and a deep form of energy work called "Sat Nam Rasayan" (similar to Reiki). Both of these techniques are designed to unblock and balance your chi (a.k.a. prana or life force). Blockages can be caused by physical things (e.g., a tumor) or by emotional things (e.g., the pit of fear you may sometimes feel in your stomach), or even by spiritual things. It is not uncommon for our patients to start crying unexpectedly during a treatment - this kind of release is very good! Often people hold stress or traumatic memories from their past deep within their bodies, and complementary treatments such as Sat Nam Rasayan or acupuncture can be very effective in releasing these difficult emotions. Traditional psychotherapy is, of course, another effective way to release suppressed emotions.

In Dr. Kelly Turner's research on exceptional cancer survivors, the theme of releasing repressed emotions came up in nearly every survivor's story. Therefore, our conclusion is - it can't hurt, and it may very well help your immune system.

Hope that helps,
Kelly Turner, PhD and Aaron Teich, LAc
www.ShuniyaHealing.com
Twitter @ShuniyaHealing
Great question! There is substantial evidence that shows that there is a connection between emotional states and physical health, specifically between hormones (cortisol, adrenaline, etc.) and immune function. In other words, there is absolutely a mind-body connection.

Think about the common cold virus -- being stressed does weaken your immune system, and may therefore contribute to your catching a cold. However, it is still the virus that is the main cause of the cold. Reducing your stress while you have your cold may very well speed up your recovery time, because it will strengthen your immune system. So will anti-viral medications. In other words, emotions and stress absolutely play a ROLE in health, but they are not necessarily the only factors involved in any illness.

At Shuniya Health & Healing, we offer a range of services, including acupuncture and a deep form of energy work called "Sat Nam Rasayan" (similar to Reiki). Both of these techniques are designed to unblock and balance your chi (a.k.a. prana or life force). Blockages can be caused by physical things (e.g., a tumor) or by emotional things (e.g., the pit of fear you may sometimes feel in your stomach), or even by spiritual things. It is not uncommon for our patients to start crying unexpectedly during a treatment - this kind of release is very good! Often people hold stress or traumatic memories from their past deep within their bodies, and complementary treatments such as Sat Nam Rasayan or acupuncture can be very effective in releasing these difficult emotions. Traditional psychotherapy is, of course, another effective way to release suppressed emotions.

In Dr. Kelly Turner's research on exceptional cancer survivors, the theme of releasing repressed emotions came up in nearly every survivor's story. Therefore, our conclusion is - it can't hurt, and it may very well help your immune system.

Hope that helps,
Kelly Turner, PhD and Aaron Teich, LAc
www.ShuniyaHealing.com
Twitter @ShuniyaHealing