I am 57 years old and just found out I have asthma. Apparently, induced by extreme stress. My question is what alternative therapies can help this?
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Dear Cathleen
Asthma is often caused by an inflammatory condition in the body. We know for sure that stress increases inflammation. So the first piece of advice I have is to engage in some stress reduction activities, whether it be yoga, walking in the fresh air and sunshine, or just simply stopping and taking 3 deep belly breaths throughout the day.
Stress reduction techniques aside, it's important to look at the underlying cause of your asthmatic symptoms. The first place to look is your gastrointestinal (GI) health. The integrity of our GI tract is just as important to our health as the integrity of our skin. In a healthy state, our enterocytes that cover the lining of our GI are like body guards - they keep out unwanted and unhealthy substances that we ingest, such as bacteria and toxins. This is also where our good flora live and account for about 75% of our immune system. When our enterocytes become inflamed, we loose the integrity of the lining of our gut and our body guards lose their effectiveness and toxins, bacteria and even food particles start to get absorbed into our blood stream. Our immune system, in its wisdom, says "attack" and sends out immunoglobulins. Now our immune system is constantly in a state of over-reaction, causing us to have symptoms of allergies, asthma and/or skin irritations.
So what causes this inflammation? Aside from stress, food sensitivities are the number one cause of GI inflammation. Food sensitivities are different that the food allergies that your conventional doctor may test for (via skin pricks). Sensitivities are a delayed reaction that can be tested for by measuring antibodies in your blood. The test involves a simple blood draw that any licensed Naturopathic Doctor can do for you. Once we have your results in 2 weeks, we have you remove the foods that your sensitive to from your diet for about 3 months (these foods are often foods that are seemingly healthy, such as nuts, beans and cheese). As we remove these irritations from your system, we start you on supplements to help heal the lining of the gut (such as glutamine, mucilagenous herbs and probiotics to name a few). Most folks begin to notice an improvement in their symptoms pretty quick. After 3 months, you can begin to slowly reintroduce some of the foods you were sensitive to and not have any of the symptoms.
Another extremely valuable safe, natural and effective way to treat asthma is by using a glutathione nebulizer. Glutathione is compounded and must be prescribed through your doctor. Although extremely effective, we must still remove the obstacle to cure (the food sensitivities) in order for the glutatione to maximize it's effectiveness.
The most important thing to remember is that asthma is a symptom. In order for the body to heal, we must discover the underlying cause. Pharmaceuticals can be helpful in emergency situations, but they're designed to suppress symptoms (suppressing the immune system) and aren't effective for long-term use.
For more information, contact your local licensed Naturopathic Doctor (to find a doctor go to www.calnd.org).
All the best to you, |
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I am 57 years old and just found out I have asthma. Apparently, induced by extreme stress. My question is what alternative therapies can help this?
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Integrative medicine offers so much for the treatment of asthma! In addition to herbal medicines that are very effective to treat the symptoms of asthma, there are a myriad of modalities available to treat the CAUSES! Asthma is an inflammatory disease which can be exacerbated by stress, poor nutrition, food and environmental allergies and other underlying inflammatory health conditions. Dietary and lifestyle changes, nutritional supplements, herbal medicine, homeopathy, mind/body techniques and allergy elimination can help asthma by decreasing systemic inflammation, enhancing your body's ability to handle stress and reducing allergies. Find an integrative physician (Naturopathic Doctor, Holistic MD or DO, etc.) who can work with you to explore all your options and help you reach your health goals.
Good luck! |
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I am 57 years old and just found out I have asthma. Apparently, induced by extreme stress. My question is what alternative therapies can help this?
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Thanks Cathleen for your email. Naturopathic medicine is about treating the cause and doing no harm with natural therapies. We treat the whole person, emotionally, psychologically, physically, etc. We don't have any one treatment for asthma, but many treatments, depending on the cause, one of which could be hidden and delayed food allergies, for instance..and many treatments for stress, depending on neurotransmitters, hormones, lifestyle, etc. |
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I am studying dream work. How can I improve my dream recall?
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One of the best ways is to keep paper (or a journal) and pen next to your bed. Then when you awake from a dream, and it is still in your awareness, write down as much as you can remember, even if it is just a small part of the entire dream. Very often we partially wake up in the night or early morning, sleepily aware that we have just dreamed and know we want to capture it, but also want to slip back into full sleep. In this instance, write down a key word, phrase, or image. When you are fully awake the phrase or image is often sufficient to trigger a recall of the longer dream.
This works as much because you have writing implements handy as because you have set an intent to recall your dreams. This decision to be serious about remembering your dreams impresses your unconscious and it somehow begins to assist in bringing the dream material into awareness. Try it and see! |
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What is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?
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Hyperbaric Oxygen therapy (HBOT) is a noninvasive, safe, medical treatment that helps enhance the body's natural healing process. The air we breathe is approximately 21% oxygen. During a hyperbaric treatment the patient breathes 100% pure oxygen while under pressure. This pressure increases the amount of oxygen at the cellular level. Your blood carries this pressurized oxygen to body tissue to initiate the process of repairing damaged tissue. It also allows the oxygen to reach bone and tissue, increases the white blood cell formation and promotes the new creation of peripheral and capillary vessels.
During the treatment there is a physician on staff as well as a highly qualified hyperbaric technician monitoring the entire treatment. There are three components to the treatment: compression, treatment time & decompression. Depending on the condition and the health of the patient, the treatment can range from 60-120 minutes.
HBOT has been used internationally for many years and in some countries it is the standard treatment for many conditions. In the United States, the FDA and the AMA have approved hyperbaric oxygen therapy for various conditions. There are 14 conditions that are currently covered by insurance; however, his number is growing every year. These conditions include: Diabetic ulcers, necrotizing soft tissue infections, acute traumatic ischemia (strokes), post radiation burns & crush injuries. In addition, many Physicians are finding great success using hyperbaric oxygen to treat neurological conditions such as Autism, Parkinson's, Lyme Disease & Multiple Sclerosis.
Currently there is no outpatient hyperbaric oxygen clinic in Santa Cruz County, however, I am a partner in a company called Hyperbarics of California, which is slated to open a clinic in Santa Cruz in the summer of 2010. If you have any more questions regarding hyperbaric medicine or conditions that might benefit from its use, please don't hesitate to contact me. Please use the directory to local the closest practitioner to you!
To your Health,
Lauren Fein lauren@hyperbaricsofcalifornia.com |
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Lauren Fein
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What is neurofeedback therapy? And can it help with depression/anxiety?
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Neurofeedback therapy is a form of biofeedback that utilizes brain waves as the feedback mechanism. We monitor your brain waves and feed them into a computer that blends them with a simple video game. You control the action of the game by controlling the output of a particular brain wave. In the case of depression and anxiety, we will be targeting Beta and SMR brain waves, in separate 30 minute sessions. The therapy, also known as "Brain Training" is quite effective in remediating the underlying cause of depression and anxiety by training the brain to return to a normal level of self-regulation. Treating depression with SSRI drugs only treats the symptoms by artificially elevating serotonin levels - a method that has proven to have dangerous consequences and side-effects. EEG Neurofeedback brain training is safe and usually permanent. I also recommend some dietary changes and a selection of African and Chinese herbal remedies to assist the brain in making positive changes while the training proceeds and after. |
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I am in mid life and truely love my husband. I practice yoga,eat healthy, meditate and still am LOOSING MY LIBIDO!HELP!
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Dear Patricia,
The loss of libido can be a result of hormonal changes and imbalance. It may be a good idea to evaluate your hormone levels with saliva testing. I recommend both for Adrenals Salivary Index and an expanded Female Hormone Panel. According to the results you can start a customized nutritional program to help restore your endocrine function and libido. For further information and to get started, please feel free to contact me at (408) 836-9568. |
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I have a Hiatal Hernia. Does that always mean surgery?
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Good Morning,
In my office we have had several dozen patients diagnosed with hiatal hernia. There is a "visceral manipulation" taught in chiropractic colleges for this diagnosis that I have implemented on many occasions in my office. Although I am not aware of patients getting post treatment imaging or studies supporting this maneuver, patients report significant symptomatic relief with it. I always teach patients how to apply this technique on there own, so they are not dependent on prolonged follow up visits.
To Your Health, |
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Do you have a Sjogren's Syndrome specialist to recommend to me?
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Hi Joan,
Thank you so much for using our website as your source of information and for submitting your question. We have located a naturopath in your area, spoken with the doctor, and confirmed that their approach will be of the most professional and holistic nature.
Please contact Dr. Leat Kuzniar HBSc ND at 201-757-5558. Dr. Kuzniar is expecting your call, and is experienced with Sjogren’s Syndrome and other immune deficiency syndromes.
Please feel free to contact us and provide any feedback about your experience with the practitioner. We value your input and we wish you health and happiness as you move towards treatment and balance.
Sincerely, David Membership Consultant NIAHC - National Institute of Alternative Health Care |
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David
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I recently noticed my left breast was getting larger, can this be associated w changes in my hormone levels while taking armour thyroid again
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Hello Summer,
It is very possible that the breast enlargement you notice is due to hormonal changes. Remember that the endocrine system is a system. Just like the knee bone is connected to the thigh bone, the thyroid is connected to the adrenals and the sex hormones. The relationship is complicated, though, and a full work-up by a healthcare practitioner is definitely in order. If you came to see me, I would want a full dietary and supplement recall, as well as testing for thyroid, adrenal, sex hormone function, liver health and nutrient status.
Please let me know if I can help further!
Best of luck, |
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How can someone with this disease reduce, or eliminate psoriasis with alternative treatment and herbs alone?
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Psoriasis is an autoimmune disorder. This means that the body makes antibodies to a part of the skin and causes new skin to develop much faster than normal. Skin becomes red and flaky as the new skin rises to the surface of the epidermis, often with silvery plaques in areas that are very inflamed. Disease can be quite mild, but it can also be very severe involving the entire skin, and can even lead to debilitating arthritis. As an autoimmune disorder, inflammation is the key process involved and getting at that inflammatory process is essential for healing.
Frequently, food allergies are involved in inflammatory conditions, so the first step I take with patients with inflammatory disorders in general, and psoriasis in particular, is to encourage them to undergo a comprehensive elimination diet. On this diet, most fruits and vegetables are allowed, along with chicken, fish, and legumes, as well as rice and quinoa. Foods that are eliminated temporarily are wheat, soy, dairy, red meat, peanuts, corn, alcohol, sugar and caffeine. I recommend staying on this diet for a minimum of 3 weeks, then gradually adding foods back in. Usually symptoms improve during these 3 weeks, then worsen when the food that the person has a sensitivity to is added back in. Once the sensitivities are discovered, those foods can be avoided more long term. Sometimes food sensitivity testing (by blood test) can be helpful as well. Long term, I recommend an anti-inflammatory diet (with avoidance of the foods that one is sensitive to). Andy Weil has a good summary of an anti-inflammatory diet on his website: http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART02012/anti-inflammatory-diet.
In addition to the comprehensive elimination diet, there are several supplements that can be particularly helpful. Some of these are turmeric, ginger and rosemary. One of my favorite supplements is made by Metagenics, and is called UltraInflamX Plus 360. In addition to containing all three of the above herbs, it contains Reduced Iso-Alpha Acids derived from hops which have a particularly strong anti-inflammatory effect in autoimmune disorders. Omega-3 Fatty acids and Vitamin D are both very important to take for so many conditions, psoriasis included. Cassia Tora is an ayurvedic herb that has been used topically in the treatment of psoriasis, though I do not have personal experience with its' use.
Sunlight is extremely helpful, and no doubt one of the earliest known treatments for psoriasis. In addition, swimming in the ocean can be helpful. Dead Sea salt water baths have been used for those who do not have access to a naturally occuring body of salt water.
Finally, meditation and other means to control stress are important to include in the therapeutic regime.
Alternative treatment for psoriasis can be extrordinarily helpful. True cures are usually not possible (nor are they with regular Western medical treatment) though long stretches of remission are possible. Integrative therapies have not been as well studied as pharmacologic treatments, but are definitely worth exploring. Psoriasis occurs on a spectrum of severity. For those with severe disease that includes arthritis, I recommend pharmacologic treatment sooner rather than later, as the bony destruction that can occur is often not reversible and can be extremely disabling. Even so, I recommend medication coupled with complementary therapies for the best results. |
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Chiropractors are known to keep you coming back forever. Are you like that?
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Once the problems have been evaluated and identified, and the treatment options have been explained, the patient gets to choose the type of care he or she wants. It is always in the hands of the patient. |
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Are you a like other chiropractors?
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I practice a chiropractic technique called Applied Kinesiology, which is explained above that we see the body from the physical, biochemical and mental/emotional aspects. I also incorporate my education as a certified clinical nutritionist to see and treat the body holistically with what I call Functional Healthcare. |
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Does Chiropractic hurt?
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I practice primarily what is called non-force chiropractic. The traditional chiropractic “adjustment” uses force. I use other methods which are very gentle. |
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As a Chiropractor, don't you just deal with back problems?
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No, as a chiropractor who runs a Wellness practice, I believe that there a 3 causes for all health problems. The first is trauma. We can have falls and accidents that can cause physical imbalances that can have long lasting and undetected damage to bones, muscles and nerves as well. Nerves control all the functions of the body, and if they are not working properly, neither will your body. Back problems are just a piece of what we do.
Second, we have stress which everyone experiences in life. Prolonged stress leads to mental/emotional issues as well as biochemical imbalances, including hormone imbalances. Hormones control the processes of sleep, digestion, weight gain, estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, allergies, arthritis, immunity, heart disease, etc. Lab tests can be run to find the biochemical imbalances, and be repaired through lifestyle changes and nutritional medicine.
The third imbalance is pollution in our water, food and air. Our bodies surround these toxic chemicals in fat. We use revolutionary medical food cleansing programs to eliminate these toxins and that fat, the inflammation they produce, and reduce or delay the onset of illness.
As a Chiropractor, I deal with all of the above. |
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Does Advanced Light Therapy bother people with sensitivity to EMF's? How will it affect me?
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For people who have sensitivity to EMF's, (the Electromagnetic Current) The iinnLight Pro is completely safe as it has been converted to DC electricity and it will not cause any negative effect in your energy field. As your stress level drops, most people will feel a deep sense of peace after a session and can also feel fully energized and revitalized. |
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How Safe is Advanced Light Therapy and How often can I use it?
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Advanced Light therapy uses Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) that are completely safe, highly effective and non-invasive, giving you impressive and very affordable results without any of the negative side effects or healing down-time. The iinnLight Pro uses broader spectrum of light frequencies than do single wavelength lasers and can penetrate a broader surface area more gently and naturally. You can safely use Advanced Light Therapy everyday to boost your metabolism and lower your stress levels although using it 2 to 3 times a week is adequate to get very real results. |
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How do I build this foundation?
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I have a little formula for a foundation that works like clockwork. However, it only works if you work it and it takes time to build a solid foundation. However, this time is well spent. Here is my formula:
1. A deep longing to turn within and start trusting your own wisdom. This longing must be felt inside of you. This is very different from wanting it as a nice idea, or something you hope for. It comes from deep inside your soul and it is calling you back home. It is an unmistakable Felt Sense inside of you that wants your attention.
2. A willingness to grow stronger in this inner Felt Sense and to really commit to it, even in the midst of any threatening gargoyles trying to scare you away. This is true dedication from the Heart.
3. An attitude of kindness and love towards all the scared parts inside of you that are more committed to staying safe and secure than to being free. This kindness helps soften painful edges acquired over a lifetime. Then through the Felt Sense you will realize your Heart's wisdom and the life that you are longing for - and finally you will realize that you are the one you have been waiting for.
So in order to listen to your Heart's wisdom you really need to take a stand for your Self. If you do, you will succeed! |
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Can I do this on my own?
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Absolutely! Ultimately you are the only one who can do it. All it takes is that you really want to learn this language and start inhabiting yourself again and trusting your own wisdom. The further you have moved away from yourself, the fainter your body's voice may be in the beginning. But that is not a problem as long you can feel a strong desire to reconnect with yourself again. That is really the biggest step.
You may compare it with a time in your life where you really, really wanted something and you put all of yourself into achieving it. Nothing could stop you, right? You knew you wanted it, your whole body told you so and everything else faded in the face of such deep desire.
When we start turning inward to listen to our own wisdom we will encounter all the feelings, beliefs and doubts that have kept us from going within. It is like the way in is guarded by gargoyles trying to scare us away. And usually they succeed. However, when we are equipped with a good dose of desire to make it all the way in, the gargoyles crumble and dissolve.
It is the depth of your desire to turn back to yourself that will determine if you make it past the gargoyle or not and this depth needs to be felt deep inside of you. This is the foundation that will determine your success. |
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What is this Felt Sense?
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The Felt Sense is an inward experience that can feel like any of these: a stirring, an opening, a contraction, a softening, a longing, warmth, tightness, a knowing... and more. The key to the Felt Sense is that, however it sends its signals, it is not to be ignored because these signals come from our Inner Sense, which is different from our outer senses. The Felt Sense is the feeling and sensing that comes from our Essence. It is a magnificent tool that connects each of us back to our body and its wisdom.
Getting in touch with this Felt Sense may feel like learning a new language. I remember how challenging it was for me in the beginning because nobody had ever taught me. I even remember that when I was younger I would actually ask other people what they thought I was feeling. Looking back at that now it seems silly, but I know I am not the only one with that challenge. Maybe you recognize this in yourself too and trust others more than you trust yourself. These are typical side effects of not having connected with your own wisdom through your Felt Sense. And these side effects are going rampant in the world and are creating a lot of division, confusion and unhappiness. |
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How do I listen to my Heart?
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Inside all of us there is a knowing which most of us have turned away from. Instead we tend to believe what other people say, be it our parents, peers, teachers or media. We have become afraid to listen to what we really know in the depth of our Hearts and the depth of our Being and take full responsibility for our lives.
The questions "How do I listen to my Heart?", "How am I not listening to my Heart?" and "Who or what am I listening to?" are worth exploring.
I have learned that if I am open and can allow myself to at least listen to what my body is telling me, even if it may be scary and too soon to act on it, I am starting to listen to my Heart. I like to use the term Felt Sense for the language of the Heart expressed through the body. Getting in touch with our Felt Sense is a powerful way to start listening.
We live in a society where most of us have been emotionally disconnected from our bodies. We are out of touch with our body's natural signs and language of what is true for us, natural and fulfilling. Yet the Felt Sense is something that we all have and can experience inside our bodies and is what finally brings us the fulfillment we have been looking for outside of ourselves. |
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How long is a Quantum Biofeedback session, how often and how many sessions do I need?
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A Quantum Biofeedback session is 1 hour and 15 minutes. The frequency and length of time that one would need to get desired results depends on the individual and is case by case. We usually would start with a weekly session for 3-4 weeks, and then decrease the frequency to 2 sessions per month, and finally to 3-4 sessions per year for maintenance. For acute or severe cases, a person can have 2 sessions per week. |
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How would Quantum Biofeedback effect my health?
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Health issues do usually have an energetic component. In fact illnesses usually first enter our energetic field and then manifest physically. Quantum Biofeedback can clear our energetic field so that our physical symptoms can heal and clear energetically. Energetic clearing and balancing with the Quantum Biofeedback technology complements treatments and make treatments more effective. In addition, it prevents physical manifestation of energetic imbalances. |
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Do I feel anything during a Quantum Biofeedback session?
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Some feel mild sensations or tingling, however, most people don't feel anything during the sessions. Usually after a session, people feel renewed energy, balanced, and refreshed. The effect of the Quantum Biofeedback session is subtle and noticeable overtime. |
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What is Quantum Biofeedback and how does it work?
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Quantum Biofeedback is used for pain management and stress reduction. With the Quantum Biofeedback technology your body is scanned and balanced energetically. The connections are through 4 straps that go around the wrists and ankles and 1 head harness that goes around the forehead. There are 8 electrical probes on the head harness and each strap can conduct electricity and acts as a probe. So there are a total of 16 points of electro-dermal (skin) connections. There is a 2 way electrical communication between the device and the body. First the body is scanned for any energetic blockages, which effect our health and wellness, by transmission of very mild electrical impulses to the body and the responses are recorded. Using these recorded data, and then the body is electrically rectified and balanced through indicated programs. |
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