Worried About Your Health A Lot?

“I’ve tried everything.” “I just want some results.” “I know healing takes time, but I’ve been dealing with this for years.”

Are you already taking a lot of supplements and trying to eat well? You are a little better but nowhere near where you want to be with your health yet. You wonder if another test will find out what is wrong. But treating the test results doesn’t seem to do much. What is missing? Photo credit: Jose Navaro

In Japan every kid is taught in school byoukiwakikara which translates to “every disease starts with your emotions.”

I’m not saying it is your fault you are sick. On the flip side, your sickness is also not completely out of your control. The laws of nature (cause and effect) is that negative emotions produce frequencies, congestion, and even biological hormones and molecules that change your physical body in a bad way making it more prone to disease.

So the key to reversing disease is to strategically apply emotions that benefit health. We need to train your thinking to create health promoting emotions and to stop thoughts that are counterproductive. But you say to yourself, “how can I not worry about my health? I will be at peace once these symptoms are gone and my health is better.” It is understandable that your health concerns are scary, worrisome, and weigh on you.

I’ve been on a mission to guide my patients to understand and be willing to take the bold step to do the opposite of what they have been doing. Worrying actually does not make you better, it just gives you the illusion you have some control over what you feel you cannot control, such as your sickness. If you can choose to let the stress, worry, anger, fear, resentment, and disappointment go, you are choosing to put yourself on a “fast track” and “non-impeded” path to healing.

Sometimes it feels like if you stop thinking about your health or stop worrying about it, that you are giving up, being irresponsible, or letting the ball drop. This is not true. Just like you can do

-the action: of washing dishes

-and not think about if the dishes are clean enough for hours after you washed them.

You can also take

-the action: of taking supplements, eating well, going to your health appointments

-and not think about or worry your health so frequently.

It is difficult to do this, often because of how our nervous systems are programed and the difficult circumstances you are in. If you are willing, there are therapies I offer that can shift your nervous system to make controlling your emotions easier, so that you can put your physiology in the chemical state that speeds up healing. Pranic Healing also uses specific researched protocols that work on certain chakras, energy centers and organs in certain orders for certain specific health issues.

For example, if we need to work on the immune system, I work on strengthening the bone marrow because it produces the white blood cells. The basic chakra controls the bone marrow and needs to be worked on. The lymphatic system is important to clear out the viruses, bacteria, mold and toxins and is controlled by the throat chakra which we also work on for the immune system.

You may have noticed that if you are more stressed, have a disagreement with someone, overwhelmed or have difficulty saying no, that you are more susceptible to getting sick. How this is connected is because basic chakra is about feeling safe, belonging, OK and calm. The throat chakra is about being understood, heard, able to express yourself, or say no when you need to. This is an example of how the mind and body are related. Healing the parts of the body through Pranic Healing give double benefit because they help with your physical issues with an added benefit of improved emotional life.

There are protocols for almost every health condition and I feel so blessed to get to practice these additional tools. They have resulted in healing in even some of the more complicated cases. Please reach out to me and I would be happy to discuss how to specifically help your situation.

Is Cold Therapy Good or Bad for the Immune System?

I remember when I was a kid, our family would go to Carmel Beach often to visit. If you haven’t been there, the water is always ice cold! One Christmas on college break, we decided to go back there and I wanted to challenge myself to immerse into the ice-cold ocean. Well most Asian parents don’t want their kids to get cold, because you could get sick. But my parents were pretty open minded. So my sister and I ran up and down the beach till we were warm, then polar plunged into the Dec 25^th cold ocean. It was cold. Photo Credit James Petts

To my surprise the shock of the cold made me laugh. When I got out of the water, the feeling of the blood rushing was invigorating. And then there was a sense of bliss, accomplishment, self-resolve and confidence that flooded over me. That was unexpected.

Cryotherapy, the “Ice Man”, and contrast hydrotherapy seem to be hot therapies lately. How does it work? A study published in the Journal of Applied Physiology (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10444630) showed an increase in WBCs (white blood cells) and NK cells (a particular type of T cell, the fights viruses and cancer) when subjects were exposed to cold, after having been preheated with exercise.

But a different study published in the International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17705968/) concluded that exposure to cold is associated with an increase in respiratory disease. And that the longer the duration of exposure to cold, the higher the risk of infection. This study seems to be in line with the Chinese old wives tales of “don’t get cold, or you’ll get sick.”

In-fact in Chinese medicine TCM certain conditions are associated with “cold” such as arthritis being worse in cold, or poor digestion with “cold” in the middle Jiao. Hives are often associated with “internal wind” imbalances. Sometimes “wind” imbalance in the head can cause brain fog, or dizziness. Usually patients with these conditions do not have enough qi (or prana) to expel these external influences trapped inside the body such as cold, damp, or wind and physical disease occurs. And here’s where herbs, and energy work come into play to help.

Back to cold exposure, there is a lot of evidence and people reporting improved immunity, improved circulation, decreased depression, improved mood, improved focus, decrease fatigue, decreased pain etc. that comes with practicing cold exposure. It looks like there is conflicting data. My personal opinion is that it depends on body type and also one’s current health in time. Someone who is constitutionally “depleted” may not do well with cold therapy. Cold therapy also should be done gradually and trained. It is also important that the body is warm (such as after exercise, a hot shower/bath, sauna etc) before exposing to cold. Do not let yourself feel internally chilled, because in my experience that can increase susceptibility to getting sick. But an invigorating shock of cool/cold to a warm body for a short period of time can sometimes be beneficial.

You can easily start by taking a hot shower, then doing a couple rounds of 2 min hot and (10-30 seconds of cold). Initially just turn the water cooler, so you feel a difference. This will alert the autonomic nervous system (often improving mood, decreasing anxiety, waking up the immune system etc). As you are more accustomed, you can slowly turn the water colder and increase the time for your cold blast.

“To expose to cold, or to not expose to cold…this is the question.” Let me know what you think and what your experiences are.

How to keep your Immune System Strong

“All information contained here is for educational purposes and is not intended to diagnose, prevent or treat any disease or illness.”

I wanted to share some tips for keeping your immune system strong. Check here for prevention guidelines for the current situation from the World Health organization. 

Some influenza viruses possess glycoproteins on it’s surface Hemagglutinin A (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). HA and NA are necessary for the virus to replicate. It appears that Coronaviruses utilizes Hemagglutinin A (HA) only. One of the strategies to inhibit viral replication is to reduce HA and NA activity, because that slows the virus ability to multiply inside your body. Interferon also inhibits viral replication and you will find out in this article what natural foods contain interferon. Lastly some of the more dangerous outcomes people have when they contract these viruses are due to the body’s uncontrollable inflammatory response to the viruses via inflammatory cytokine release. Very high fevers, swelling of the mucous membranes, copious amounts of mucous, muscle aches and pains are symptoms of the body’s inflammatory response to the virus. So calming down the inflammatory cytokine response may reduce how “sick” someone feels. Where a proper immune response to the virus is important to kill it, an excessive inflammatory response can increase complications. Below are some natural remedies that support the immune system. 

1.     Chinese Herbs: A traditional Chinese herbal formula called Yu Ping Feng, or Jade Windscreen contains herbs that increase your Wei Qi. What’s Wei Qi? It is an energetic defense system everyone’s body has against pathogens and allergens. This herbal formula strengths your “force field” so that it is harder for germs to penetrate and infect you. This formula also strengthens your lungs and spleen which are important systems needed to regulate your immunity. In China, people take this formula preventatively during cold and flu season. Get Jade Windcreen here.

2.     Andrographis: Is an Asian and Ayurvedic herb that has a bitter taste. It contains anti-inflammatory components (inhibits inflammatory cytokines) and immune enhancing properties. Andrographis inhibits Hemagglutinin A (HA) and therefore viral replication. Some previous studies have shown Andrographis to have an inhibitory effect against the Avian Flu and H1N1. Get immune support formula Andrographis Plus here.

3.     Chicken Broth/Turkey Broth: Chicken and Turkey broth contain interferon which inhibits viral replication. According to the March 2005 issue in the Journal of virology, Influenza A actually inhibits interferon, so this is the flu’s tricky way of stopping your immune system from stopping the flu. Add some broth to your diet to increase interferon to block viral replication. Everyone is exposed to germs, they are all over the place. Whether or not you get sick depends on if your body is a good breeding ground for the germs (another article). Whether or not you will get sick depends if the viruses infect your cells, and then use your cells to replicate to a number beyond what your immune system can eradicate. When that happens you will start feeling sick. This is why these strategies increase your odds for a strong immune system defending against pathogens.

4.     Decrease Stress and Negative Thoughts: Have you gotten sick after a huge project was done, after finals, after a breakup, or during prolonged periods of stress? Stress can be physical or emotional. Negative thoughts and worry cause your body to produce the same stress hormones that physical stress does. The stress hormone cortisol suppresses the immune system. It can lower your lymphocytes, which are a type of germ fighting white blood cells. If you are feeling stressed, take some time for selfcare. One strategy is to catch the silent thoughts swirling in your brain, flip a negative statement into a positive one. If you’re needing a little more support to re-set and get out of feeling overwhelmed, unhealthy and not yourself, feel free to contact me for a distance energetic healing session where we can reset your nervous system and support your immune system.

Feeling “Off” with the Season Change?

So nothing much has changed in your diet or exercise, but something feels slightly “off”. Are you feeling more tired than usual? Are you pushing yourself to do work that normally feels easy, but now feels like a drag? Maybe you even notice feeling a little bit more easily irritated by others. Your physical health seems slightly on the line. But then you brush it off and think that perhaps you just been really busy, or getting old. See, feeling a bit “off” creeps up very gradually so it’s very easy to brush it off to other reasons. But could it be the change of seasons that is throwing your body off?

Today, I will talk especially about how the season of fall affects your body from a TCM Chinese medicine Photo Credit Anton Vakulenko prospective. Then I will give you some DYI at home solutions that can help your body breeze through autumn into winter with energy, an even mood, and a little pep in your step.

God created the universe to operate in cycles. The planets rotate every so often around the sun. Our bodies have an internal clock. Many of our hormones are secreted at different levels throughout the day or at different times of the month. In Chinese medicine certain organs are highlighted at different times of the day, in a 24 hr cycle. For example 1 to 3 AM is liver time, so if you wake up in the middle of night during this time perhaps your liver is out of balance. On a grander scale our organs cycle through the four seasons. Below is a table showing this. 

Season	Element	Yin Organ	Yang Organ	Balanced Emotion	Stressed Emotion
Fall	Metal	Large Intestine	Lung	Reflective	Grief, Sadness
Winter	Water	Kidney	Bladder	Courage	Fear, Depression
Spring	Wood	Liver	Gallbladder	Assertive	Anger, Frustration
Summer	Fire	Small Intestine	Heart	Joy, Passion	Anxiety
Solstice	Earth	Spleen	Stomach	Compassion	Worry, over- concern for others

Tips to Balance Yourself During the Fall 

Message Between Shoulder Blades

The area of your body in between your shoulder blades stores sadness and grief. Fall relates to the element: metal which in TCM corresponds to the lungs. The lungs if out of balance is related to grief, sadness, depression (these emotions can also weaken the lungs). So if you’re often tight between the shoulder blades, there may be some emotions you need to address that either you are unaware of that is subconscious, or you may be able to pinpoint exactly what this emotional stuff is about. Since autumn is a time for reflection, stuff you may have buried away may automatically come up during this time for you. That’s why you maybe puzzled why you even feel these emotions come up because no one may has died, or nothing catastrophic has happened in your life, but still you may feel emotionally a bit “off” during this time. Fall is a good time to address old buried things and release them. You will feel happier lighter and younger. I offer distance-healing sessions that can help your body let go of years of stored emotional stress and junk. My patients feel lighter, sometimes tell me it seems like a whole weight is lifted off them after these sessions. They finally have the emotional energy and focus and increased physical energy to move on with what is important in their lives, rather than feeling held back. These healing sessions I do with patients over the phone are very helpful for depression, anxiety, and stress. Some people have not seen the value of this type of treatment because they don’t understand it yet. But for those who gave it a try, they felt this is an answer to prayers because they finally made significant progress they were looking for so many places before they found this. 

One self-care practice you can do at home is to roll out your back on a foam roller. Or you can put a tennis ball or spiked orthopedic product called the “beastie” between your shoulder blades to release the tension. When your muscles are more relaxed it is a sign that there is less emotional junk in that part of the body. 

Apple cider vinegar and water

If you’re feeling kind of blah simply adding 1-3 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar into 4 to 8 ounces of water and drinking this one to three times per day can be life-changing. Apple cider vinegar can help boost your energy levels especially if you’re overworked or over exercised. It can help detoxify acidity caused by stress. Apple cider vinegar helps to alkalize your body, which helps your immune system be less susceptible to those winter and fall germs. Decreasing acidity in the body also helps to decrease inflammation and increase energy levels.

The yin organ associated with autumn is the large intestine. If your digestive system seems sluggish or your digestion is weak, apple cider vinegar is a great old wives digestive tonic and you can drink this 10 minutes before a meal. If you like you can also add a pinch of cayenne pepper to this mixture. Cayenne helps move stagnant Chi which decreases fatigue and stuck energy. You can also add a teaspoon of local honey for seasonal fall allergies. Lastly, you can add some fresh lemon juice to the mixture to further alkalize the body and detoxify. But to keep it simple, just apple cider vinegar and water is fine.

If you are feeling drawn to have me work with you, you are seeing this for a reason. If you have questions about how I can help you, that will help you make the best choice for your next step, do not hesitate to reach out prior to scheduling an appointment.

Natural Remedies for HPV and Cervical Dysplasia

Many women have been coming to me for natural therapies for HPV and cervical dysplasia. The conventional treatment for cervical dysplasia CIN 2 and CIN 3 is a surgical procedure called LEEP. The conventional treatments for low grade cervical dysplasia such as ASCUS or CIN 1 is often “do nothing and wait till it getsCIN 1 Photo Credit Ed Uthman worse”, then do surgery or hope it improves.

Many women have reservations about the surgical procedure because of the risk of increased scarring of the cervix, risk of infertility and miscarriage. Other women who were asked to watch and wait feel unsettled to just wait till the next PAP without doing anything.

There are many of my patients with cases as far progressed as CIN 3 who have had successful complete resolution of their Cervical Dysplasia and subsequently tested negative for HPV using natural therapies instead of surgery. Please contact our office to enquire if you are a candidate.

Prevention of HPV Infection

It is important to research and be informed in making a decision regarding methods of prevention such as the HPV vaccine. For more information about the HPV vaccine, click here. 

Some patients with a predisposition to immune system issues, auto-immune disorders or certain genetics are more prone to reactions than others.

Safe sexual practices are also important because HPV is sexually transmitted. This is a great time to discuss this with your child. Using condoms are also important to provide a barrier, although they are not 100% protective against HPV.

Other ways of prevention include yearly PAP smears, although standard of care has now reduced required PAPs to every 3 years for women who have had normal PAPs. I personally recommend yearly PAPs because 3 years can be the difference between catching something early or dealing with a higher-grade dysplasia.

Viruses Can Cause Different Types of Cancers

As you know certain HPV virus strains can cause cervical cancer. But how do viruses cause cancer? Viruses are not truly “alive” because they cannot survive on their own and cannot reproduce without hijacking a host cell. For example, the HPV virus is introduced to your body through sexual contact. The virus then inserts it’s DNA into your healthy cells. The virus uses YOUR cells to make more copies of itself. Because viruses insert themselves into the human DNA, they can cause your DNA to be mutated. This is how viruses cause cancers. Below is a list of different types of viruses and the types of cancers they are associated with.

Examples of Viruses and types of Cancer’s they are Associated With:

• ·      HPV (Human Papilloma Virus): Cervical Cancer
• ·      Herpes Virus 8: Kaposi Sarcoma
• ·      Hepatitis B, C: Liver Cancer
• ·      EBV (Epstein Barr Virus): Nasal Cancer, Stomach Cancer, Lymphomas
• ·      HTLV1 (Human T Lymphotrophic Virus 1: T cell Leukemia
• ·      HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus): Many types of Cancer

Healing from HPV Virus and Cervical Dysplasia Naturally

Contrary to the “germ theory” which implies that when a person is exposed to “germs” the germs will infect them and make them sick; viruses may have no infective influence over you if your body is not susceptible to it. If your body is in a state where viruses cannot thrive, you won’t get sick. Having optimal immune function, vibrational frequency, qi, energy level, acid/alkaline balance, strong cell membrane health are some ways to keep viruses from infecting you. I work with patients to support their body in eradicating chronic or stubborn viral infection such as HPV.

Below are ways natural therapies help:

• ·      Address the HPV virus
• ·      Boost the bodies’ immune system against HPV virus and precancerous cells
• ·      Reduce hormonal imbalances that increase cancer risk
• ·      Support apoptosis (killing of abnormal cells)
• ·      Encourage normal tissue growth
• ·      Support both internal and topical (cervical) health
• ·      Change vibrational frequency to be less susceptible to viruses and malignancies

Whether you are looking into the best prevention for yourself or your child, or seeking natural treatment for HPV/Dysplasia, contact Dr. Chan’s office for a consult to get options of providing you the best non-invasive and successful therapy for your unique case.