FREE ELECTURE: Practical Information Navigating COVID-19

Dr. McDougall Answers Questions on COVID-19 and Mary Provides Practical Tips

On Monday, March 16, 2020, I was officially laid off from one of my part-time employers…The Kura Door Japanese Holistic Day Spa. The decision was of course detrimental to my financial health, though a necessary precaution and tough decision the spa owners made to follow the guidelines of social distancing. By following preventive measures now we can each do our best to remain uninfected.

Many of you are also aware that my hometown experienced a substantial earthquake yesterday morning, adding one more element of stress and anxiety to these trying times. My loved ones and I are okay, staying home, and staying safe.

The e-lecture link below is a presentation by my heroes, Dr. John McDougall and his wife Mary McDougall. I had the privilege of meeting them both during a 3-day intensive weekend at their treatment center in Santa Rosa, California in September of 2017. Following their FREE program and dietary guidelines has improved my health in ways I hadn’t believed possible. This lecture offers valuable resources, sound advice, and tips to help you stay safe and stay well during the current pandemic. Please watch and spread the message with family, friends, and colleagues.

Be Well! ~Tiffany

Dr. McDougall answers your pressing questions regarding COVID-19. Mary will provide practical information on navigating through this difficult time with tips on meal planning, how to stock your pantry and the best places to purchase these items. She will also demonstrate how to properly put gloves on and take them off. We hope you watch our pre-recorded session and share this valuable information with your family, friends and community.

LINK: https://www.drmcdougall.com/health/education/videos/free-electures/covid-19-qa/

By 2030, Nearly 11 million Americans Could be Bionic...

Did you know that hip and knee replacement surgeries didn't begin in the United States until 1969? These type of procedures have improved dramatically and are one of the most common elective surgeries. Why do people need to have a joint replaced? Degenerative osteoarthritis…which is also the most common joint disorder, is typically the culprit. By the year 2030, it is estimated that 11 million Americans will have either artificial hips, knees, or both. Joint replacement recipients are a diverse group of people - younger adults can and do receive artificial joints, though most recipients are age 50 and over.

The founder of Anderson Therapeutics received her first hip replacement in 2011…at age 45. At that time her orthopedic surgeon shared that he and his colleagues were anticipating a high demand and to soon treat much younger patients. Joint replacement is very prevalent and becoming commonplace, it offers relief and a solution for patients who are in pain and experiencing limited mobility. Though joint replacement surgery is not without risk, is costly, and patients undergoing this surgery often manage multiple chronic conditions.

Currently there is a gap in follow-up care. Significant percentages of recipients experience pain and a poor quality of life long after receiving an artificial joint. Longitudinal studies among such a unique population are lacking. Hip replacement used to be a last resort procedure since the new equipment rarely lasted for 10-12 years. Our Founder had this to say about receiving artificial joints at such a young age:

The joints I currently house are improved models. My surgeon promised me that as long as I was a proactive patient, led a healthy lifestyle, avoided injury, and maintained a lean weight that my artificial joints would work well for 25-30 years.

- Tiffany Anderson, LMT, RMT, BS, CHES

This is sound advice for everyone of course, whether you have artificial or natural joints.

Butternut to Bionic: A Resource Guide for Hip Replacement Surgery offers a holistic approach to living well with any type of artificial joint (hip, knee, or shoulder). Bionic people like our Founder seek resources enabling them to lead active lives (that are relatively pain free), and can ideally outlive their implants. Repeating a very painful surgery and even more painful recovery is something patients hope to avoid. Butternut to Bionic shares insights from a personal journey and is the resource guide that our Founder wished for prior to her three life-changing procedures (dual hip replacement and one revision surgery). This resource guide was nominated for the 2018 AARP Purpose Prize, the 2018 Health Literacy Award, and has received rave reader and editorial reviews (Online Book Club, GoodReads, Reader Views).

Learn more about the author here.

Be Well! ~The Anderson Therapeutics Team

Lemon Essential Oil: Antiviral, Antifungal, Antibacterial

“The day before my first hip replacement surgery I packed a variety of personal items for my hospital stay. Besides my clothing and essentials, I brought along the following:

• Arnica and other homeopathic remedies

• Hand sanitizer

• Lip balm

• Lemon essential oil and cotton balls

Why lemon essential oil? Lemon has antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties…plus I enjoy the uplifting smell. I placed a few drops on a cotton ball and swabbed my food tray, wiped down the hospital bed rails, cleaned off the television remote control, and placed a scented cotton ball in my pillowcase.”

-Tiffany Anderson, LMT, RMT, BS, CHES

Excerpt: Butternut to Bionic: A Resource Guide to Hip Replacement Surgery, Chapter 2- Preparing For Surgery, pg. 46.

Having worked in a hospital, I recognize that staff work diligently to keep facilities clean AND a hospital is teeming with all sorts of contaminants. After all, hospitals are where sick and injured people go to get well. Even though the rates of MRSA (staph infection) contracted within a hospital setting have dropped markedly over the last decade, MRSA still accounts for 20% of hospital infections. Plus there are additional infectious diseases to be concerned about.

I am a very proactive patient and opt to take extra measures to protect myself and prevent infection. Simple preventative steps = added safety to protect my health.

Rather than falling for a Utopian dream where everyone has my best interest at heart, I prefer to take action. When it comes to my health, especially when I had just underwent an invasive and life-changing surgery, it was worth my time and minimal effort to help sanitize the area I was recuperating in. I follow a similar and simple cleaning routine while I travel; using lemon essential oil to clean the interior of rental cars and disinfect my seating area when I travel by air. Most importantly, I wash my hands often. Read more about the health benefits of lemon essential oil and find a recipe for an inexpensive lemon hand sanitizer here.

Be Well! ~Tiffany

Seeking a Magic Pill To Ease Your Health Woes?

Managing chronic conditions can be exhausting, frustrating, and leave us wishing for an improved state of health we may never achieve. Have you found yourself searching for a ‘cure-all’ or magic pill? I know that I have. Coming to terms with my own chronic conditions has been challenging. There have been many days I wish I could run away from aches, pains, and limitations. Though I realize I cannot turn back the clock and restore bone that collapsed, or heal parts of my endocrine system that now need help to function. Focusing on the things I can do is how I find motivation to manage my health on a daily basis.

Lifestyle has a tremendous impact on managing chronic conditions.

Invest is your health by exercising regularly (by moving safely and however you are able), eating well, and getting adequate rest…our bodies adore consistency. Those magic pills dangled before us by marketers and scam artists can be a panacea or a poison whether they are pharmaceutical or recreational. Research, question, and be cautious.

Conversely, if you choose to live on the wild side using nicotine, abusing alcohol, and overeating, simply accept the consequences and risks of your behaviors. Sometimes feeling unwell is self-inflicted.

Choose Health applying my 3 Key Concepts to Soothe - Nourish - Rest…

Consistency is key.

Be Well! ~Tiffany

*This advice is not meant to replace the care of medical professionals. Take what is useful, consider options discussed, and consult your physician before making any changes that could affect your health.

Image by Gordon Johnson from Pixabay

Post-Menopausal, Lean, and Fit. My Plant-Based Experience...

Yesterday, I walked into an H&M store, selected a few pair of jeans, and headed to the fitting room. The first pair fit perfectly, slid on without a struggle…no need to ‘suck it in’, and no ‘muffin top’. I bought that first pair and left the store in less than 10 minutes feeling great. The big deal about this scenario is that the jeans are a skinny size 6. On April 1st (no fooling), I will be 55 years-old. I entered menopause in my mid 40’s (a natural part of a woman’s life by the way, not a disease), and had struggled with my weight for decades (check my Nourish page where I share added details). The struggle I experienced managing my weight ended just over 4 years ago.

I watched the film Forks Over Knives in 2015. During that film I discovered the work of Dr. John McDougall. After reading his book, The Starch Solution, and T. Colin Campbell’s Book, The China Study I adopted a whole food plant-based oil free diet. After only 10 short days following Dr. McDougall’s FREE 10-day program I experienced amazing results. In the months that followed I ultimately lost (and have kept off) 30 pounds and regained a quality of life I thought I had lost. After all, I began that 10-day plan as a middle aged woman living with dual hip replacements, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, osteoarthritis, and Hashimoto’s disease. I had been led to believe that weight gain for women was inevitable and part of the aging process. My background in Health Education, colleagues, physicians, relatives, and friends had each confirmed this belief system. Though due to what I learned and experienced first hand eating a plant-based diet, I discovered that I had been misinformed. Here are a few of my realities today…

• I currently weigh less than I did when I graduated high school

• My blood pressure and cholesterol are normal, no need for meds

• I returned to a labor intensive job as a Professional Licensed Massage Therapist and have no problem keeping up with my 20 and 30 year old colleagues

• I am on the treadmill 4-5 days per week and weight train 3 days per week and am an avid hiker

• Outside of a death in the family and a crushed fingertip injury (I worked half of a shift that day - as a massage therapist), I haven’t missed a day of work since switching over to a plant-based diet

• I cannot recall the last time I had a cold or the flu

• I sleep soundly and wake up feeling rested

• Best of all, any pain I experience is minimal and manageable - without prescription medication

  The photo shared alongside this post is the feast I enjoyed for breakfast today, which is a normal meal for me now. A full frying pan serving of hash browns steamed to a crispy brown. Cooked with chopped broccoli, spinach, red onion, dill, onion powder, topped with hot sauce with fruit on the side. I eat portions like this 4-6 times a day, am lean, and feel wonderful. My weight loss liberated me from feeling awful physically, emotionally, and psychologically. The goal of losing weight simply for appearance sake is something I mistakenly did as a much younger woman. This is another reason why I rarely display before and after photos of myself. Excess weight had become detrimental to my good health. Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight removes a dangerous burden from my artificial joints, improves my quality of life, strengthens my immune system, and provides me with energy.

Join me - I challenge you to participate in Dr. McDougall’s FREE 10-day program and experience the results for yourself. What do you have to lose…other than excess weight that may be preventing you from feeling better?

Be Well! ~Tiffany

Headaches? Find Relief Activating Pressure Points...

Depending on the source and cause of a headache, a number of self treatments can be very effective to better manage headache pain. Consider these tips…

• Temple Headaches: Press the hollow of the temples, a finger width beyond the outer end of the eyebrow.

• Eye Pain: Press in hollow on top of the eyebrows, one finger width above the pupil of the eye.

• Sinus Congestion: Press in the dimple at the inner end of the eyebrow, directly above the corner of the eye.

• Nasal Congestion: Press in the dimples beside the nose, one finger width away from each nostril.

• Jaw Tension: Press hollow found in front of ear at cheek bone level (open your mouth slightly to find the depression).

Activating these pressure points on your own may help to take the edge off pain and discomfort. It’s important to apply steady, even pressure on the described points.

Be Well! ~Tiffany

This information is not a substitute for the medical advice of physicians. Take what is useful, investigate these options, and speak to your doctor before incorporating something new into your personal wellness plan.

*Excerpt first published in my Summer/Fall 2008 issue of Keeping In Touch…the name of the first newsletter I produced as an independent contractor. :)

Social Image by Lukas Bieri from Pixabay

Noon Today - Sound Healing Day, Send a Sonic Valentine

Join me for World Sound Healing Day. Dr. Carol Wilson, the Reiki Master Teacher that I trained under, first introduced me to the powerful work of Jonathan Goldman. Learn more below. Be Well! ~Tiffany

Direct quote from WorldSoundHealingDay.org:

Join thousands throughout the planet for the 18th Annual WORLD SOUND HEALING DAY on Friday, February 14, 2020. At 12 noon (local time in your time zone), sound forth for 5 minutes with the “AH” created and projected with the energy of compassion and love, sending a sonic valentine to Gaia, our Mother Earth.

At that time, please go to templeofsacredsound.org to enhance the vibratory effect as we sound together for Global Harmonization, planetary peace and healing. Please visit Healing Sounds for more information.

If you cannot tone at 12 noon, sounding anytime during February 14, 2020 will help create positive shift and change for our planet
on World Sound Healing Day.

The purpose of World Sound Healing Day is to:

1). Heal Our Planet!
2). Heal Our Waters!
3). Raise Our Consciousness!

Jonathan Goldman WORLD SOUND HEALING DAY 2020 Join thousands throughout the planet for the 18th Annual WORLD SOUND HEALING DAY on Friday, February 14, 2020 . At 12 noon (your local time) sound forth for 5 minutes with the "AH", created and projected with the energy of compassion and love, sending a sonic valentine to Gaia, our Mother Earth.