In Giving You Receive this Holiday Season!

What I wish for you is everything that you can imagine for yourself. This holiday season, I am wishing for you to create and maintain your most perfect health, to create a state of mind, where there is no judgment, but joyful acceptance of this incredible life we all are living now. 

I am wishing you many happy moments and most of the time, living contently. 

From my heart & mind to yours - Love and Light.

As you ponder what gifts to give, please consider giving the experience of relaxation in my Reflexology chair or on the Far Infra Red table. Your loved ones will enjoy the experience, for sure.

In Giving You Receive.

• Purchase one gift certificate - my gift to you 30% off your next session.
• Purchase two gift certificates - my gift to you 40 % off your next session.
• Purchase three gift certificates - my gift to you 50 % off your next session.
• Purchase four gift certificates - my gift to you, your next session free. 

Gift Certificates must be purchased before December 24th this year (last-minute shoppers, rejoice!) There is no expiration date on my gift certificates.

If you'd like to do it electronically, here is the link to my Shop. I can even mail the lovely festive Gift Certificate to your loved one on your behalf - to make your life easier. As you purchase your gift certificate online, please simply click the image and print it.

If you prefer to refer your friends and coworkers to my practice, please accept my gratitude and receive $30 off your next session, or complimentary use of Far Infra Red SoQi bed - value of $60.

Please call 203-968-6824 or email irina@ibhealing.com 

Purchase gift certificates here.

Accept my deepest gratitude for being in my healing practice. Dr. Dexter and I are really blessed to do healing/relaxing work with you.

New Caucus in Congress on Integrative Healthcare

I recently learned about a new policy consortium on Integrative Healthcare. If you are as passionate about healthcare in our country as I am, check it out here: https://ihpc.rallycongress.net/ctas/advance-integrative-healthcare.

I did send a letter to Senators Blumenthal & Murphy as well as Representative Himes in support of the Congressional Integrative Health and Wellness Caucus, co-founded by Rep. Mike Coffman, R-Colo., and Jared Polis, D-Colo. The Caucus will provide legislators and other policy and regulatory officials opportunity to understand how shifting focus in healthcare to prevention, health creation and health promotion can create cost savings while improving health outcomes for Americans.

As a professional reflexologist with twenty years of experience in the field, I can attest to the power of this complementary modality in health maintenance and disease prevention. For your immediate information:

Reflexology is a protocol of manual techniques applied to specific reflex areas predominantly on the feet and hands. These techniques stimulate the complex neural pathways linking body systems, supporting the body’s efforts to function optimally.

The effectiveness of reflexology is recognized worldwide by various national health institutions and the public at large as a distinct complementary practice within the holistic health field. (RAA 2016)

NIH - National Institute of Health recognition:

The NIH recognized Reflexology as one of the therapeutic methods in the NIH departments, as well as on their website.

Some research information on reflexology:

• Reflexology reduces feeling of pain – UoP (University of Portsmouth)

http://uopnews.port.ac.uk/2013/04/09/reflexology-reduces-feelings-of-pain/

• Reflexology reduces acute pain in infants PubMed NIH 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26220257

• Reflexology recognized particularly in reducing pain – UM (University of Minnesota)

https://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/explore-healing-practices/reflexology/what-does-research-say-about-refloxology

• Reflexology at Dana-Farber http://blog.dana-farber.org/insight/2016/07/how-can-reflexology-help-cancer-patients/

• Reflexology at Michigan University, funds by the NCI (National Cancer Institute)   http://nursing.msu.edu/News%20and%20Events/Latest%20News/

http://research.msu.edu/reflexology-shows-promise-for-treating-cancer-symptoms/

• PTSD:

https://www.massagemag.com/reflexology-offers-hope-for-ptsd-and-other-conditions-32567/

 • Diabetes:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26822889

• Sleep & Insomnia -

http://www.reflexologyresearch.net/ReflexologySleepResearch.shtml

• IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) 

http://www.reflexologyresearch.net/ReflexologyIrritableBowelsResearch.shtml

• MRI Validate Reflexology - http://www.healingbalance.org/1/post/2014/10/scientists-use-mri-to-validate-reflexology.html

Gut Health

Your health begins in the gut, and continues in the intestines. How do you know, if your gut is functioning properly? I would like to share with you the easiest way to evaluate your gastro-intestinal health. 

All you need is to look at your poop, literally, here is the visual. Please share your type with me on your next visit or call.

Tongue Diagnosis

 First off, read this amazing book: “You are What you Eat” book by Dr. Gillian McKeith.

The following are excerpts from Dr McKeith's book. This information is no substitute for seeking medical advice from a doctor or qualified practitioner, if there are any concerns.

Healthy Looking Tongue:

If this is your tongue below, congrats, no need to look further. If it is not your tongue, review the pictures below and please know that your gut health can be improved and your tongue will show the results. Let's talk about the right nutritional choices you can make. I'm here for you to modify and add appropriate supplements and teas through my Virtual Dispensary- FullScript.

Photo from: simplysupplementsblog.com

Cracked Tongue

A crack down the middle of your tongue means that you are probably nutrient depleted and your digestion isn't what it should be.  You are probably also often bloated after eating and have energy slumps in the middle of the day.  I would  recommend taking digestive enzymes with meals,  eat soups, stews and blends which are easy to digest, and avoiding fizzy drinks.

 labspace.open.ac.uk

Eat nourishing foods: Artichokes, Avocados, Carrots, Sprouts of seeds, Parsnips, Black or Wild Rice, Squash, Sweet Potatoes, Turnips, Yams

Drinks herbal infusion of Fennel, Peppermint, Licorice.

White Coating

Thick White Coating or Swollen Tongue is an indication of too much mucus in the body.  It's also a sign of a lack of beneficial bacteria and too much yeast.  Dr McKeith recommends reducing dairy products, eating more green superfoods and taking probiotics to replenish your body with healthy bacteria.

blogs.discovery.com

Teeth Marks

Teeth marks around the side of the tongue are due to nutritional deficiency. Dr. McKeith says your digestion is also probably impaired and you have a spleen deficiency.  If your Spleen is weak, you probably also struggle with gas and bloating.  

www.acupuncture123.ca

Spleen nourishing foods: Aduki Beans,Yellow squash, Mung Beans, Kidney Beans, Alfalfa, Beetroot, Oats, Carrots, Parsley, Celery,Parsnips, Pumpkin, Fennel, Sweet Potatoes, Turnips, Yams,  Fish, Chicken. Foods high in Chlorophyll: Leafy greens, Algae, Kale, Chard.

Herbs and Spices to Nourish the Spleen: Astragalus, Garlic, Black Pepper, Ginger, Cayenne Pepper, Ginseng, Cinnamon, Horseradish, Dill seed, Pau d’Arco. 

Cracks

Horizontal cracks, small cracks/grooves on tongue are usually a sign of malabsorption, especially of B vitamins, and often accompanied by a lack of energy.  Most overweight patients that Dr McKeith sees for the first time, she says, are deficient in B Vitamins.  This has usually developed over a long time.  

candidablogspot.co.uk

She recommends, Vit. B Complex, digestive enzyme supplements, peppermint and nettle teas and 2 tbsp of Aloe Vera juice before meals.  She also recommends taking echinacea tincture (20 drops daily for 2 weeks), to help move lymph and eliminate toxins that are impeding nutrient absorption. I add the Bellicon trampoline to the daily routine.

Yellow Coating

A Thick Yellow Coating indicates excess heat in the gut, and that you don't have enough healthy bacteria in your body.  Dr McKeith says if the coating is at the back of your tongue you need to pay attention to your colon, as you bowels may not be working as they should be. Check against the Bristol Stool Chart, I provided above.

maciociaonline.blogspot.co.uk

Solutions: If you can take 2 tablespoons of aloe vera juice before meals.

Add sage tea (2 cups a day for a month), and alternate this with camomile tea.

Eat more vegetables, nuts, grains, seeds. Are you run down from doing too much, please start to take things easier.

Red Tip: 

Red Tip on the Tongue according to Dr McKeith  indicates emotional stress or upset. She recommends at looking at ways to reduce the stress in your life.

homeopathyworldcommunity.com

Sore Tongue is a sign of a nutrient deficiency, often iron, vitamin B6 or niacin.

She recommends to drink nettle teas and it may be worth getting your iron levels checked and seeing a medical professional for proper test and supplementation.

• She recommends to drink nettle teas and it may be worth getting your iron levels checked and seeing a medical professional for proper test and supplementation.

My Take: Epigenetics & Nutrigenomics

Let us talk about Epigenetic and Nutrigenomics - my newest study interest. Just last month I listen and learned so much through the summit of 32 leading experts on “Interpreting Your Genetics” subject.

Epigenetics -the study of changes in organisms caused by modification of gene expression rather than alteration of the genetic code itself. 

Nutrigenomics - the scientific study of the interaction of nutrition and genes, especially with regard to the prevention or treatment of disease.

In 2012 I did genetic test for myself and Nicholas through lab called smartDNA Check it out here and since then have been studying it intensely. The cost of this test is $500, which comes with a thorough interpretation and suggestions for nutritional and lifestyle modifications. I do offer it to my clients and quite a few of you took me up on this offer and had it done.  

One of my gifts to my daughter Marianna last year was “23 and me” genetic test, the cost is $210, the cons - it does not provide you with interpretations and lifestyle modifications, so it is up to you to dig deeper, using other sites to interpret the raw data.

One of the new fascinating book on my read list today is Dr. Dale Bredesen’s book The End of Alzheimer’s – The First Program to Prevent and Reverse Cognitive Decline. It came highly recommended by the well respected neurologist David Perlmutter, MD - one of the speakers from the Genetic Summit. 

Either way, we can work together to help you incorporate important lifestyle changes to prevent/or slow the cognitive decline that affects so many of us.

My aunt passed away at 93, “living” with Alzheimers for last 13 years of her life. No one wants such a life. She was a prominent doctor in Ukraine, head of the hospital in her prime years, still… You do not know, what you don’t know and when you know better, you do better, right?!

Understanding Restless Leg Syndrome

In my Reflexology practice I often encounter people with RLS - Restless Leg Syndrome.

RLS is a disorder that causes a strong urge to move one's legs. There is often an unpleasant feeling in the legs that improves somewhat with moving them. The feelings generally happen when at rest and therefore can make it hard to sleep. Due to the disturbance in sleep, people with RLS may have daytime sleepiness, low energy, irritability, and a depressed mood. Additionally, many have limb twitching during sleep. It is also considered a sleep disorder. 

As research has shown over and over, sleep disruption can significantly impair quality of life, so RLS is more than just an uncomfortable inconvenience. According to a study published in European Respiratory Journal, 2012 40: P436, RLS is more prevalent among Obstructive Sleep Apnea patients than controls. CPAP treatment decreases RLS symptoms significantly. You can read more on the significance of good sleep in my recent blog here.

Certain chronic conditions (Parkinson’s disease, kidney failure, diabetes, peripheral neuropathy and iron or vitamin D deficiency) and pharmaceutical drugs containing sedating antihistamines, such as anti-nausea drugs, antipsychotic drugs, some antidepressants and cold/allergy medications, can sometimes cause the side effect of RLS. This is known as secondary RLS. It would be fair to say, that poor circulation and low level of oxygen in the blood also play a role. 

In my Reflexology sessions, I pay particular attention to improving the range of motion with the ankles, stretching and manipulating lower leg reflexes, and focusing on the reflexes to the central nervous system and low back muscles. 

I also suggest using graduated compression socks. Sockwell is my favorite brand. You can order them here.

The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) released new guidelines, since some evidence shows that iron deficiency is associated with RLS. The AAN now recommends Iron 325 mg along with Vitamin C 1000 mg twice daily for RLS patients with low blood ferritin levels (<75 mcg/L). 

Vitamin C enhances the uptake of Iron, among many other important functions. Bleeding can cause iron loss. Gastrointestinal bleeding can be caused by aspirin, ibuprofen, or arthritis medicines used for a long period of time. Before resorting to supplements, I want you to reach for foods rich in Iron and vitamin C, such as eggs, fish, leafy vegetables (my favorite are beet leaves which you can sauté with garlic and onions as a side dish to meat and liver - also rich in Iron). A good online shopping source is Vital Choice.

On a very personal note, I came to inherit “anemic “ genes. My late aunt and my mom historically suffer from anemia; my own ferritin levels are always on the low side. To combat this, I supplement generously with Vitamin C and Iron, in addition to eating abundantly healthy. My favorite brand for Vitamin  C is “Berry C” by Lidtke, and my Iron supplement comes from “Laktoferrin with Colostrum” by Allergy Research Group. Both of these are available to order on my online dispensary - Fullscript.