Alternative Healing

Articles on EzineArticles.com

2007-06-29T10:19:00.000-04:00

That's right! Dr. King is now publishing his articles online. EzineArticles.com has recognized the quality and pertinence of his writing and has awarded him with their highest level of recognition, the Platinum Author status. Simply click on the link above to be taken to the articles he has currently submitted.

You'll be able to find a wide range of information on wellness, alternatives to pharmaceuticals, homeopathy, and family health care. Check back often to read the latest from Dr. King.

Reactions to Vaccines

2007-06-26T12:33:00.001-04:00

Each of us has heard some of the horror stories out there about the reactions some children (and adults for that matter) have had to the barrage of vaccinations required by most state health officials in the United States. A baby is barely out of the womb when modern medicine deems it vital to inject them with these vaccines. Just when a young person's immune system is adjusting to life on the outside, here come the shots full of dead diseases and chemicals. It wasn't until just recently that the vaccine manufacturers were forced to remove mercury from their vaccines. MERCURY! You've heard about mercury, right? That metallic liquid that was the driving force behind the term, "You're as mad as a hatter," due to the mercury involved in the hat making process. And we, as parents, were being forced to inject it into our young children!

Many parents of autistic children claim their child was perfectly normal before their vaccinations. And only after being subjected to vaccines did their child begin withdrawing from personal interactions and exhibit classic autistic behaviors. Many other parents have heard about these potentially life-threatening side effects of immunization and have worried long and hard about vaccinating their children. There's even a new stress disorder associated with people worrying about vaccines.

Both the anxiety and the potential risks surrounding the vaccination dilemma are becoming more and more prominent in today's health picture. In the hopes that we can shed some light on this issue, we've started a new website (that's still under construction- but come see it anyway!) called vaccinationreactions.com Here's the link: http://www.vaccinationreactions.com Over the next several months I'll be researching both sides in the debate and providing an alternative view of how you can deal with these issues. It's really a tricky subject. And I hope you can find some information that helps you make an informed decision.

So check in with the website occasionally for updates. As more information becomes available I hope to provide it to you. Until then, take care of yourself!

D. Barkett

New company blog over on Typepad

2007-05-17T21:30:00.000-04:00

Hey gang,

I just want to take a moment to mention the new company blog happening over on Typepad's platform. Just recently I met with Dr. King of King Bio Natural Medicine. He was pleased with the blogging going on and felt like others in the office might want to contribute. So, I set him up with a blog at http://creative-emarketing.typepad.com/kingbio. This new blog will hopefully give you a glimpse into the inner workings of KingBio Natural Medicine. We've got so many good people working their tails off over there, it'd be neat to hear their unique perspectives on what it takes to help keep the KingBio process working.

So, when you get a chance, head on over there and read what people on the inside are saying about KingBio. If you've experienced the powerful healing of Dr. King's contemporary homeopathic remedies, I think you'll enjoy reading about how these remedies are created.

Take care. Hope to see you there!

D. Barkett

Busy Spring for Us All!

2007-05-08T21:59:00.000-04:00

I hope you've been enjoying your springtime as much as I have! It sure is hard to plop myself down in front of the computer when the grass is so green and my new pups are chewing at my feet, trying to get me to take them out for some wrestling in the grass. But now I find myself seated in a rare moment when both the pups and the children are in bed. My wife is busy in the kitchen doing some of her typically vital tasks. And I take just the briefest of moments to check in and say, "Hey!"

So hey! I hope that this busy season is seeing your productivity soar! I hope those seasonal blues are left your head and you're now being filled with the potential and expectant promise of days spent creating and living! I hope as the days grow longer and the nights grow short that you are filled with the joy of seeing all the new growth around you. The trees, the flowers, the animals, even the bugs! Everything around you is in a state of growth!

I hope you are too!

Why don't you leave me a quick comment about your growth this season? Next post I'll reveal a little about my growth this season. All I can say now is, thank goodness the sun has returned!

Be well my friends!

Imagining higher health!

2007-04-18T20:58:00.000-04:00

How involved are you in your health care choices? Do you have insurance that requires you to see a specific group of physicians? Does your coverage exclude some alternatives like chiropractic, massage, or homeopathy? Perhaps you're one of the millions of Americans that don't have insurance coverage and your choices are limited by your financial situation.

Whatever your situation, take a moment to imagine with me a health care system that is less oriented towards the analysis and maintenance of disease and more geared towards helping people stay healthy and live healthy lives. Imagine seeing a doctor of your choice, be they a traditional doctor, a chiropractor, a shaman, a massage therapist, or homeopathy, a naturopath, or whatever helps! Imagine not being constrained by what a group of politicians or insurance executives have deemed is the most cost effective way to approach health and disease.

I know, I know. I'm living in some sort of wonderland, full of fiction and fantasy. But perhaps more of us need to be imagining a reinvented health care system. Perhaps more of us need to create and share a vision of health care that treats health as the right of us all. Perhaps more of us need to work together to demand that the alternatives we seek are available to us and are considered worthy and effective.

Leave me your comments on this please. Am I just dreaming? Am I totally out of my mind? Is this even possible? I would sure like to think so. Let me know what you're thinking. I'd love to know that I'm not alone when I say that imagining a new world health is one step closer to creating it.

Be well my friends!

Workshop reminder!

2007-04-02T20:38:00.000-04:00

I just want to throw out one last reminder about Dr. Frank King's homeopathy seminar taking place later this month. The workshop has been filling up fast, and we only have a few spaces left, so be sure to call or stop by the website soon to grab your seat. Dr. King's busy schedule doesn't allow him the opportunity to conduct a workshop of this type very often, either, so if you are wanting to learn powerful tools designed to help you implement homeopathy into your practice or to take your understanding of homeopathy to a new level, act now!

Dr. King promises to deliver hands-on tools that you will be able to put into practice on Monday morning. You'll be able to get right to work using the latest in homeopathic methodology and products after this two day workshop taking place just outside of Asheville, North Carolina.

Here's the link to the website. You'll find a link there to the seminar application. http://www.kingbio.com

I hope to see you there!

The Coming Allergy Season

2007-03-28T21:11:00.000-04:00

If you're like me, you've already felt those first tinges of spring time allergies. The news has already hit on the fact that this spring will be one of the worst for allergy sufferers in years. Already I see the yellow pollen gathering on my car windows!

Over the last several years I have utilized King Bio's Allergy Relief homeopathic remedy in order to minimize my body's reactions to these allergens. And over the last several years I have been successful! As a child, mowing the lawn would leave me swollen and profusely mucous-ridden. Today, I can mow the lawn and roll in the grass and generally enjoy those wonderful outdoor moments that previously would leave me grasping for tissues.

This allergy season, I've got on hand two remedies in case my allergies decide to try to sneak back into my consciousness. King Bio's Allergy Foundation formula is the first line of attack against allergies. I couple this with the Southern Allergy Formula, a new formulation of homeopathic remedy that is geographically specific. This one-two punch helps me empower my body to stay healthy throughout the allergy season.

If you are seeking a way to combat your allergies and you don't want to become the human allergy pin-cushion with shots, try out Dr. King's allergy remedies. You can find them through this link: http://kingbio.stores.yahoo.net/safecareotc.html

If you have any questions about these homeopathic remedies, feel free to leave me a comment.

Take care everyone.

And happy spring!

Upcoming Seminar with Dr. King!

2007-03-14T21:16:00.000-04:00

If you've been researching homeopathy online and are hungry for some face-to-face with experienced homeopathic practitioners, here's your chance. Dr. King, CEO and founder of King Bio Natural Medicine, presents a powerful seminar entitled "Contemporary Breakthroughs in Homeopathy." This seminar will be held April 21-22 outside of Asheville, North Carolina. Registration information is available from the website at www.kingbio.com.

Dr. King has worked for nearly twenty years to develop powerful healing tools that empower the greatest number of people to experience the highest level of health. He truly feels that each and every one of us has been designed to be healthy. The contemporary homeopathic remedies he has created over the years help recreate these optimal levels of health.

Whether you are a health care practitioner seeking to expand your practice or an individual wanting to experience a higher level of health in your life, Dr. King's seminar will enable you to elevate your life and your health care practice to new levels of productivity, efficiency, and wellness. Dr. King guarantees that you will leave his workshop with tools that you can implement on Monday morning in your practice. Drawing on his years of experience as a health care professional, he knows what is necessary and what works in helping others recreate health in their lives. Now, he wants to help you help others as well!

It's important to register now for this event. Spaces are limited and are filling up quickly. Go to the website at www.kingbio.com and click on the seminar information to download an application. It's bound to be an exciting couple of days.

I hope to see you there!

King Bio's SafeCareRx

2007-03-04T21:49:00.000-05:00

Great news! Over the last several months, all of us at King Bio have been working our little tails off trying to get the SafeCareRx line of homeopathic remedies available to health care professionals. The wait is now over! If you are a health care professional, come over to the website at http://www.safecarerx.com and sign up to receive access to King Bio's most powerful and effective homeopathic remedies to date.

These remedies offer a level of healing available only to health care professionals. Access is free and requires only a simple submission of your credentials. Once we've verified you, we'll give you total access to not only these amazing contemporary homeopathic remedies, but also to all of the manuals and methods Dr. King has been using to promote and create health in his life-long pursuit of wellness.

Come visit us at the website. And let us know what you think of the new SafeCareRx layout. We're trying out a slightly new look for these new products.

And, as always, be well!

Update on my lactose-intolerant daughter

2007-02-21T21:26:00.000-05:00

My wife took our oldest daughter to the allergy doctor the other day, hoping to get a complete analysis of her allergies. We'd thought she was allergic to milk and perhaps wheat, but upon speaking with the doc, he tells her that instead of being allergic to milk, she was simply lactose-intolerant. This made a lot of sense to us, after the fact. And since we'd already been restricting her diet and had seen vast improvements in her energy and health, the doc recommend we make no further changes.

They came home and I muscle tested my daughter for the food allergy remedy. Lo and behold, she didn't test for it. So, now, we take the slightly more restrictive diet approach and hope that she might grow out of her sensitivity.

What a trooper that girl is...

Take care everyone.

My Dairy-Free Kid!

2007-02-11T21:06:00.000-05:00

If you read my last post, you know that my oldest daughter had diagnosed herself with an allergy to dairy. It's been just about a week since that self-realization, and we've made some changes since then to her diet. My family is lucky enough to live in Asheville, NC, a very forward thinking town, that is home to several large health food stores. The day my daughter realized she couldn't really eat anything that had milk in it, she became depressed. But that evening we went to her favorite restaurant where she could still get her favorite meal and afterwards went shopping at one of these health food stores.

We wandered around and let her choose some new foods to try. She was very excited and daring in her choices. Soy cheese, dairy free ice cream treats, soy yogurt, rice milk, she even pondered getting a vegan cookie but settled instead for her frozen soycream bar. Once she saw that she had many tasty alternatives and that living without diary didn't have to be as big a sacrifice as she once thought, she perked right back up to her young happy self.

We've got her on three different King Bio homeopathics as well. We added the Food and Chemical Allergy Relief remedy to the Children's Growth and the Peaceful Mind remedies she had already been taking. She's getting good at taking these without being reminded - more than I can say for her mother and the remedies she tested positively for...

Over the next several months, I'll keep you posted on my daughter's progress. I know many of you out there suffer from an intolerance towards lactose and all things dairy. But, through making good dietary choices and helping the body heal itself with homeopathics, perhaps ice cream won't forever be dead to us!

Take care everyone. And if you get the chance head over to the website at http://www.kingbio.com to see the exciting changes we've got going on over there. Dr. King's most powerful line of homeopathics are now available online. It's the SafeCareOTC and Rx line of contemporary homeopathic remedies. The online store is always open!

Homeopathy and My Children

2007-02-06T21:57:00.000-05:00

My oldest daughter is nearly eight. She is usually the smallest kid in her class. I guess she gets her size from her mom since I'm not a small guy by any means. She was a little concerned about her size, so I muscle-tested her for King Bio's Growth formula. Lo and behold, she responded to the remedy.

Same daughter, different remedy. I often witnessed how angry she would get at home with herself or her little sister. She came to me wanting to get a remedy for her anger. And she's only eight! A quick muscle test later, and add one Peaceful Mind remedy to the list.

And just two nights ago, she came to my wife and me stating that she felt like she was allergic to dairy and wheat. She'd always been very in touch with her body, so I was very inclined to believe her. We began eliminating dairy from her diet first. And we added the Food Allergy remedy to her growing list.

Thank heavens the King Bio remedies are totally safe and restorative in their healing nature. I can feel totally comfortable giving her the remedies to keep in her room, knowing that even if she or her little sister drink the entire bottle, neither will suffer any negative side effects.

It's only been about a week since she started on the remedies. I'll make sure to let you know how things progress.

Take care!

Time sure is flying by!

2007-02-05T23:15:00.000-05:00

If it's been a bit since you've been to the King Bio website http://www.kingbio.com you should really take a moment to stop by. We've been working diligently to get the SafeCareOTC site up and are almost completely done with the SafeCareRx site. These remedies represent years of work and are the top of the line contemporary homeopathic remedies available. The online store has been updated, allowing you to order these powerful remedies right from the website.

The SafeCareRx store is not up yet. These remedies are actually designed only for health care professionals. Soon we will have a form up on the site that allows these professionals to sign up to receive access to these remedies. We think these SafeCareRx remedies will elevate your healing to a whole new level.

Thanks for coming back around. Things sure have been busy 'round here. Not only has the website been undergoing some serious changes, but my family is experiencing some changes as well. I don't want to get into tonight -it's late and I must get some sleep before the night turns to day- but I promise I'll post more soon. Suffice it to say, everyone in my house has been pumping those King Bio remedies!

Take care everyone. And be well!

Current Research on Homeopathy

2007-01-28T14:23:00.000-05:00

The latest issue of the homeopathy ezine called Hpathy.com has a great summation of articles that lists the positive research on homeopathy. While the articles are chock full of ads *ugh*, the text itself is quite informative and enlightening. If you're like me and you find yourself telling your friends and even some complete strangers about the power you've experienced with homeopathy, this article gives you loads of ammunition for just those occasions. For instance, did you know that people in 41 of the 42 countries in Europe use homeopathy? And did you know that nearly 30% of Europeans use homeopathy for their health care? Kinda makes you wonder what the state of homeopathy would be in America if it hadn't been forced into the margins by the American Medical Association.

Check out the article at this link: http://www.hpathy.com/research/chatfield-research-overview.asp. Aside from that article, Hpathy.com has tons of other information and discussion about all things homeopathy.

Be well my friends.

Personal Health Appraisal

2007-01-21T22:13:00.000-05:00

King Bio has this wonderful tool that enables all of us to take an honest look at our mental, physical, and emotional health in ways that truly empower us. We call this tool the Personal Health Appraisal, and it's offered for free, only through this blog.

The Personal Health Appraisal walks you through a series of statements, asking you to rank your responses to specific situations. In so doing, you become more aware of the various elements affecting your total health picture. Many times we are unaware of the complexity of all the factors influencing our health. This appraisal lays things out very clearly and simply, elevating your self-perception and empowering you to take steps to help you re-create your health!

Anyone who is interested in receiving a copy of this Personal Health Appraisal just needs to leave me a comment below (by clicking on the comment link after this post) with their email. I'll gladly send one off to you. If you have any questions, perhaps about how to fill out the questionaire, or maybe the questionaire brings up issues you feel you need to discuss, either leave me a comment or email me at dbarkett@kingbio.com.

I wish you good health and the gift of re-creation!

Regain that Hope!

2007-01-15T21:41:00.000-05:00

Alright, it's one thing to know that being hopeful creates more meaningful life experiences. But how do we go about regaining our lost hope? Sometimes it feels like a darkness has engulfed us and nothing will be able to rescue us. Fear not. Hope is on the way.

Dr. Sciloi, writing in Spirituality and Health magazine, details fourteen different way of working on regaining hope, one for each of the fourteen different aspects of hope. It is not necessary to practice each of these exercises, but rather, prioritize which elements you most need in your life and honestly judge which of the exercises you will most effectively be able to incorporate into your life.

Here's the exercises. If you have any questions about this, feel free to leave me a question in the comment section below.

Ask, "What would my role model do?"

Do you end-of-life reflection right now.

Experiment with smiles.

Travel!

Practice Diaphragmatic Breathing (breath in for a count of four from your belly and out for a count of six).

Take stock of your connections (list the members of your immediate family, five members of your extended family, five closest friends, and five coworkers- then list ways you can improve your connections with these people).

Re-envision your next ten experiences.

Practice to Access Wisdom (meditate and be mindful).

Experience a new sacred practice.

Play with your brain.

Make kindness your research project.

Detach, master, or attach.

Spread your love.

Wrie your mission statement.

Phew! Quite a list. But if you incorporated just one of these exercises into your daily routine, I bet you'll feel the hope return to your life in ways totally unexpected and fulfilling.

Be well, my friends.

A Vision of Hope, part II

2007-01-07T20:08:00.000-05:00

I hope you've enjoyed your weekend and are looking forward to a fulfilling work week.

Last Thursday I was writing about hope and the role it plays in creating a meaningful and powerful existence. And, not surprisingly, the work we do plays a large role in how hopeful we are. Spirituality and Health magazine's latest issue looks deeply into hope (just click on the title to visit their site).

Dr. Scioli, the author of the article, feels that each of us can cultivate hope through our intention and practice. He has divided hope into fourteen different aspects, each of which can be rated, cultivated, and experienced fully. Today I'll cover the fourteen hopeful traits as well as looking at some of the KingBio remedies designed to help promote a hopeful outlook on life. Next post I'll detail some of Dr. Scioli's ways to enhance those areas of hopefulness in which we might be lacking.

Here's the 14 hopeful traits:

Supported Mastery- How confident are you that you can reach your goals?
Ultimate Ends- How committed are you to your life's mission?
Basic Trust- Were you raised in a trusting and caring environment? Are you surrounded by trustworthy people?
Openness- Are you generally open with others?
Personal Terror Management- How effective are you at reducing your fears and worries?
Social Terror Management- How trusting are you in the goodwill of others?
Positive Future- How hopeful do you feel about your future?
Spiritual Empowerment- How connected do you feel to the greater forces at work in our lives?
Spiritual Openness- How open are you to spiritual input from a power or force beyond you?
Mystical Experience- In the right environment, do you feel the presence of a higher power?
Benign Universe- Do you believe there is goodness in the world?
Spiritual Terror Management- Do you take comfort and peace from your spiritual beliefs?
Symbolic Immortality- Do you believe there is life beyond this existence?
Symbolic Integrity- Are you fulfilling your life's mission?

This is quite a list. Ask yourself these questions and then prioritize which of these hopeful elements you need to work on most. Also give yourself credit for those areas where you are strong. This whole "living" business is tough. When we find moments to be hopeful, they should be celebrated, even if it's only a quiet personal celebration.

If you've been reading my posts, you may know some of the tough times I've gone through just recently. For many months, my hope was at an all time low. But, through working with the Great Smokes Medical Center and by taking some of King Bio's homeopathic remedies, I've been able to regain much of my hopeful attitude.

Currently I'm taking King Bio's SafeCareRx "Grief" and "Guilt" remedies. But, if you're not working with a health care professional, the SafeCareOTC line is available from our website. Here are the remedies that help with creating a hopeful mindset:

Patience
Kindness
Love Your Self
Embrace Life
Calm
Peace: Extreme
Mind-Body Restore Remedy
Fearless
Heal Your Heart
Forgive Your Self
Soothe Your Sorrow
Trust
Tolerance
Confidence
Certainity

You can read more about each of these from the website, but if you have any specific questions, feel free to leave me a comment and I'll help any way I can.

Thanks for coming around. I hope I've been some help.

Be well.

Hope for tomorrow!

2007-01-04T17:06:00.000-05:00

The ancients looked at this time of year as the beginning of a new cycle of growth and life. That’s a little hard for us moderns who are less attached to the natural cycles occurring around us. But even in our modern world where we surround ourselves with technology and insulate ourselves from adversity, it is important to take the time to reconnect with ourselves.

Ask yourself these questions: How do you see the world? Are you hopeful about the future in general? Are you hopeful about your future? In what do you take joy on a daily basis? Do you find yourself excited about the opportunities available to you or do you find yourself depressed at the frustrating state of your personal and professional development?

New research from Dr. Anthony Scioli, a professor of psychology at Keene State College in New Hampshire, has been looking very deeply into hope and the roll it plays in sustaining life. The current issue of Spirituality and Health magazine, thoughtfully sent to me by the publishers, dedicates much of their space to hope and how hope affects so much of a person’s life experience.

Hope, simply stated, is the key to good health. It is also the best predictor of a meaningful existence, however variously that is defined. Hope is an indicator of academic and athletic performance.

And, most importantly, hope is a skill you can acquire! You can cultivate it and nourish it. According to the article by Louise Palmer, hope is self-perpetuating. Hopeful people tend to be more resilient, more trusting, more open, and more motivated than those less hopeful. Hopeful people are more likely to receive more from the world- which then adds to their sense of hope!

What a beautiful cycle!

So, the question again is…Are you hopeful about the future?

Next post I’ll look a little more deeply into the different aspects of hope, as detailed by Dr. Sciloi (a little hint, there’s 14 of them). Later I’ll give you a few practices designed to help you raise your hopes as well as listing out for you some of the new King Bio Mind and Body remedies designed to promote a hopeful mindset (you can always go to the website and check them out for yourself…).

If you get the chance, check out Spirituality and Health magazine. Here is their website: www.spiritualityhealth.com. This is my first copy, and it is full of great information and questions designed to help you live a more connected life.

Be well everyone!

Time to Reveal It All!

2007-01-01T19:05:00.000-05:00

Recently, legislation passed that required bloggers to disclose if they were working for a company. From the inception of this blog I have never hidden the fact that I work for King Bio Natural Medicine. But, with this legislation looming large in the minds of some in the blogging world, I thought I’d take a moment to detail my history working with King Bio and how I came to be their blogger and primary creative consultant in matters literary and otherwise.

About ten years ago I was teaching at a small middle school outside Asheville, North Carolina. I had just moved to Asheville from the tiny college town of Boone, and I’d only lived in Boone for about two years. Before that I attended university in Boulder, Colorado where I received my degree in teaching and English. I was very excited to get my first steady teaching gig at Erwin Middle School outside of Asheville, and I threw myself into the job with the characteristic passion I usually bring to tasks that inspire me.

One of my students during my first year in that public school was a young Frankie King, Jr. Great kid. One of my favorites. I know teachers aren’t supposed to have favorites, but, we do. It’s just natural. Some teachers connect with specific kids more so than other kids. I don’t know why. I think it’s an energetic or vibrational thing. Anyways, young Frankie and I connected immediately. I enjoyed the level of intelligent conversation we could sustain. His attitude was positive and contagious. He had a great group of friends.

Parent-Teacher night rolls around and I get to meet Frankie’s dad and step-mom. Great folk. Energetic and vibrant, supportive and likable, Dr. Frank King and his wife Susie made me feel totally appreciated. Like father, like son, the connection was immediate and remarkable in that I haven’t connected like that with any other parents during the next ten years of teaching.

The year progressed, relationships grew, and by the end of the school year, I approached Dr. King with a creative proposal. I offered my writing services in any way I thought might benefit his business. At the time I knew absolutely nothing about homeopathy or alternative systems of healing. Dr. King and I spoke at length about writing a short manual on homeopathy and how people could easily apply it to their lives. Totally inspired by the good doctor, I undertook a great deal of research into homeopathy and began working on some first drafts of what would eventually become the manual called “Making Homeopathy Easy.” This small book is still available from the website http://kingbio.stores.yahoo.net/kinbionatmed.html and still lays out the basics of this amazing and curative healing process in a very easy and straightforward manner.

Once school started again in August, I took several years off from King Bio. I steadily utilized different remedies from Dr. King and had entirely assimilated this alternative health approach into my lifestyle. I cured myself of my seasonal allergies. I utilized the King Bio Cold and Flu remedies every year as a teacher to help fight off those ever-present colds. But most of all, I was no longer a willing consumer of the AMA’s version of medicine. I still used some of the benefits of western medicine’s modern approach, but I was much more likely to look at the alternatives available to me before jumping into a pharmaceutical mind-set.

To wrap this back story up, I reconnected with Dr. King around May of 2006 and began collaborating with him on a variety of different creative projects (he’s always got so many different ideas percolating in that head of his!). Being unfamiliar with the blogging concept, I sold him on the idea of beginning to create a community online around homeopathy and alternative health. He was in!

Writing this blog over the last several months has been a great way for me to constantly evaluate my perspective on health as well as educate others about their options for maintaining or recreating health. I always enjoy the comments you leave me and I hope that you find something in these postings that help you reconnect with your healthy body and mind.

Remember, as the good doctor likes to remind me, we are designed to be healthy. We can all live long lives and die in good health. It is up to us to utilize the tools at our disposal to help us along the way.

Be well my friends. And happy new year!

Rheumatoid Arthritis Cure?

2006-12-27T16:03:00.000-05:00

My mother has been suffering through rheumatoid arthritis for over a year now. I still remember the moment I found out her immune system had come under attack. Like any child, I hated thinking my mother was suffering or was sick or had come up against an opponent she would be forced to struggle against for years to come. Luckily her husband, my dad, is a doctor and has access to a wide range of traditional treatments for her. Quickly they charted a course for her treatment. Being a traditional doc, steroids soon became a part of her weekly regimen.

My mom hated the steroids. She knew they were merely masking the symptoms of her arthritis. But she also saw the effect of the disease on her lifestyle. My mom and dad love to travel. They've reached the age where their hard work should translate into pursuits of leisure and adventure. But the RA was simply preventing much of that. So, the steroids became a reasonable compromise.

This last summer my family and I went out to Colorado to visit my folks. When I was there, we talked about homeopathy and a homeopathic approach to treating her RA. My mom has always been the alternative one of my parents. When I was in high school, she turned me on to all of Shirley McClaine's novels and later to the Celestine Prophecy. Needless to say, she was very much interested in any alternatives to the steroid treatment she'd been receiving.

I came back home to North Carolina and looked through my King Bio PDR and picked out several remedies I thought might help. The two I focused on were the Arthritis formula and the Constitutional Enhancer. I quickly talked with the warehouse and they shipped out a box in no time at all.

About a month later, I got an email from my parents asking for more of the remedies. My dad had been using the Arthritis formula for his hands (he was a surgeon for years) and my mom told me that she had been feeling much better since starting on both of the remedies. I again sent off more of the remedies. Another month passes and my dad informs me that, according to Mom, she is entirely OFF the steroids thanks to the King Bio homeopathics! Previously, when she had tried to wean herself off the steroids entirely she would relapse and become quite sick. But now, with the help of the Arthritis formula and the Constitutional Enahncer, she was able to quit the 'roids entirely!

It truly feels good to be helping the ones we love. If you've got a loved one who is suffering through one of the many forms of debilitating arthritis, leave me a comment and maybe we can work together to help them heal.

Be well my friends.

Homeopathic Alternatives to Hormone Replacement Therapy

2006-12-21T20:48:00.000-05:00

It has become nearly common knowledge. Hormone Replacement Therapy has significantly increased the rate of breast cancer. In 2003, a year after the landmark study that found this correlation between breast cancer and HRT, we saw a 7% decrease in breast cancer rates as women stopped using this widely prescribed treatment. I won't go into how HRT and mainstream medicine's claim of its ability to reverse aging is symbolic as well as symptomatic of our current "disease-care" system. What I will go into is an alternative that is readily available for those women who truly need some form of help as they transition to the next stage of their development.

If you click on the title of this posting you will find a very informative article by Dr. Frank King of King Bio detailing the research that saw HRT increasing a woman's risk of heart attack as well as breast cancer. It also goes into the eight different remedies Dr. King has developed in order to help a woman's changing body adjust more healthfully to menopause and its associated issues.

Here's our list of remedies designed to help a woman transition through menopause:

Menopause- Hot flashes, sweats, chills, clammy shin, heat in the head, headaches, hot feet, mood swings, anxiety, sensitivity and wanting to be alone.
Female Enhancer- helps enhance female sexual desire and vitality, dry, tender, sore or burning vagina, abhorrence to sexual intercourse, frigidity or painful intercourse.
FertiPlex- Helps restore female fertility, vaginal dryness or discharge, sensitive or itchy genitalia, irregular cycling and discomforts during intercourse.
Menstrual Cramps & Irregularities- Balances menstrual flow, too heavy, too light or irregular flows
Anxiety & Nervousness- When symptoms are associated with menopause.
Fatigue Reliever- When symptoms are associated with menopause.
Female Discomforts- For pelvic inflammatory diseases.
Constitutional Enhancer- For general overall health enhancement.

All of these are available from our website at www.kingbio.com. And if you want to read the whole article, simply click here: http://www.kingbio.com/articles/articles-menopause.html

Take care everyone. I hope this information helps!

Be well...

Bringing Back the Light!

2006-12-13T23:03:00.000-05:00

The days have been getting terribly short, haven't they? There's a reason so many of our celebrations during these dark days center around light. With less and less daylight brightening our lives, people across the world and throughout time bring light into the home by lighting candles, decorating with bright colors and even sharing gifts in an attempt at brightening someone's day.

I love this time of year. Every morning I get up before my family to take my supplements and feed the cats. Now, I can turn on the lights on our tree we lovingly cut down from our friends at Wintergreen Farm up in Tennessee and brought into our living room. There's something about that sparkling tree first thing in the morning that brings a smile to my face.

And if it weren't for the darkness, the light would be less bright.

Take a moment these dark days to do something that brings light back to your life or to those around you. Make someone smile. Decorate that empty wall that's been lacking something. Drape a strand of inexpensive lights over your curtain rod. Wake up early and say hello to the sun!

Before you know it, we'll be sweating in our beds waiting for those cool fall evenings!

Be well everyone.

The Memory of Water, part II

2006-12-06T20:06:00.000-05:00

As promised, here's the second part of the article on the research into the memory of water and homeopathy recently published in Inflammation Research magazine. The article appeared on Newstarget.com and was written by Mike Adams. I sure would enjoy hearing your comments about this. Do you find this research as amazing as I do?

Granted, homeopathy is somewhat mysterious. It is curious in the way that it works through the use of subtle energies. Apparently, water has a memory, and there's a fantastic book on this called The Memory of Water that will show you in great detail, with colorful pictures, exactly how water is reshaped by different energetic and emotional vibrations.

It's all quite real -- water takes on a different molecular structure when it is prayed over versus when angry people shout at it. Now, if you take a substance like the one used in this study, which was histamine, and you put a drop of histamine in a glass of pure, distilled water, that water, of course, contains a solution of histamine. But if you dilute that by taking one drop out of that entire glass and putting it into another glass of water, then you have another mixture of water that is diluted by a factor of 100 or more. If you do that over and over again and follow a sequence of increasing dilutions, you end up with a solution of water that has no molecules of histamine in it whatsoever.

But, as this study shows, this water retains the memory of histamine, and when this water is given to a biological system, such as a person or an animal, it will produce effects that are attributed to the histamine and that are clinically observable and quite unique to the vibration of histamine.

Of course there are many skeptics out there who will continue to say there is no such thing as homeopathy. They will deny the clinical evidence that's put right in front of their faces, and even if they were to conduct these experiments on their own and produce the exact same verifiable scientifically proven results, they would continue to deny it. Why is that?

It's because they don't understand it, and they don't have the imagination or creativity to suppose that nature might hold some surprises for us yet. They are people who represent the epitome of mankind's arrogance. They think they understand everything there is to know about the way the universe works, and that nature is apparent and nothing new will be learned. They think that if you can't see it, it doesn't exist, and thus I wonder how they even believe in gravity or electromagnetism or quantum physics, for that matter.

Nevertheless, the end result of this is that the amazing James Randi will probably end up being $1 million poorer because he has been so foolish as to offer a $1 million reward to the first person who can prove the scientific validity of homeopathy. Well, apparently this proof has already been completed, and now it will probably be a game of continued denials from James Randi in order to avoid paying out the $1 million reward. He will probably say, "Okay, the lab results look solid, but until you can explain how it works, it's not proven." And that's how he will deny actually paying the claim to people who have now scientifically proven that homeopathy is real -- something Randi adamantly insists is untrue.

By the way, to comment more on good science, kudos go out to the editor of Inflammation Research, a medical journal that has demonstrated the courage to publish a pioneering paper that most other medical journals would have rejected. And this again speaks to the closed-circle, dogmatic attitude of most peer reviewed medical journals. They define the so-called truths of modern science and modern medicine by selecting those studies and papers that support their current beliefs. Simultaneously, they reject all papers that challenge those beliefs, and that's how things that are true but unconventional (such as homeopathy) can be kept out of the minds of modern doctors and researchers.

But this journal, Inflammation Research, was willing to publish a pioneering paper, and at the same time, the researchers involved in this study -- none of which were from the United States, by the way -- are also to be applauded for their willingness to venture beyond the strict confines of conventional medicine and explore the way the universe really works.

Let's face it, folks -- as men and women on this planet, we are but children. We are all students of the universe, just attempting to understand the way things work... and barely scratching the surface in doing so. We know so little about the universe and about the way subtle energies operate. I don't think there's a single person alive today who truly understands the simple interaction of tabletop magnets, for one thing. I don't think there's anyone alive today who understands quantum physics, and who can really explain how it is that the entire universe is made up of probability waves of vibrating energy rather than physical matter.

I don't think there's anyone who can really explain or understand how light can be both a particle and a wave at the same time, depending on how you look at it. I don't think people can explain how properties of spinning subatomic particles can be instantly teleported from one place to another, regardless of the distance, without requiring any time whatsoever. I don't think people can explain how prayer alters the health outcome of patients, even when the patients aren't aware that they are being prayed for. (This is called "non-local medicine.")
These are just some of the many mysteries that continue to present opportunities for open-minded, smart thinkers to explore. Fortunately, there are some scientists who continue to be open-minded, and who are willing to ask these questions of nature, because that's what a true scientist does -- they ask questions of nature and they listen to whatever responses come back.

People like Dr. Stephen Barrett and James Randi are not scientists at all. They are, in every sense, feeble-minded skeptics who probably don't even believe in their own souls. I bet they didn't see this one coming -- homeopathy is real, folks. It's been proven, and it's been proven in a way that meets the most demanding requirements of the scientific method. If you are a true scientist, and you review the available studies on homeopathy, you either have to conclude that homeopathy is real, or you have to conclude that every law of science and truth upon which modern medicine is based is invalid.

Well said.

Be well, my friends. Be very well.

The Proof is in the Pudding, or in this case, the water!

2006-12-03T19:46:00.000-05:00

Hey gang. I ran across this article on the Newstarget.com website about some of the latest research into homeopathy, specifically the ability of homeopathic remedies to create a change in someone's health picture even when that remedy has been diluted to the point where no molecules of the originally diluted substance exists. This research looks at the ability of water to retain a sort of memory. It is this memory that enables the high dilutions of some homeopathic remedies to work.

Check out the article. You can also click on the title of this posting in order to see the original website. Because the article is quite long, I'll break it up into two parts. Part two will come your way later this week.

And, with further adieu, the great article by Mike Adams that proves homeopathy works!

Homeopathy Breakthrough: Homeopathic Solutions Proven to Carry Memory of Water and Exhibit Biological Effects

Groundbreaking new research has just been revealed that establishes the validity of homeopathy. It's being called the "holy grail" of homeopathy, and it has been published in the peer reviewed journal Inflammation Research. The study shows that a chemical dissolved in a solution (in such proportions that not even a single molecule of the original chemical could exist in the water) exhibits verifiable, scientifically proven biological effects. What this proves is that homeopathy is real. There's something about the homeopathic water that is different from regular water, and the biological effects are undeniable and easy to verify.

This, of course, is not new information for those who have been practicing homeopathy for many years, or to those who are familiar with holistic medicine, vibrational medicine, or other forms of medicine that go beyond the rather narrow definitions currently defended by conventional medicine. But of course, it is big news to many doctors, physicians, and western medical researchers, who have for decades insisted that homeopathy is quackery and that believing in homeopathy is the same as believing in magic. They say that water could not possibly exhibit a biological effect if it did not contain a single molecule of a biologically active substance. But now, of course, the science is quite real, and this isn't the first study to show that homeopathy is proven.

There have been other studies -- well-documented and well-constructed -- that also show the same effect. But these studies have been routinely ignored, and even shut out by medical journals simply because no one can quite explain how homeopathy works. To understand why this is such an important breakthrough in modern medicine, we have to go back to the 1800's and take a look at the origin of the so-called germ theory and how it relates to the invention of the microscope and the realization that disease could be spread by invisible microscopic creatures.

Today the germ theory is accepted as real and verifiable. But that's only because scientists and doctors can readily see these germs using microscopes. Before microscopes were invented, any doctor who proposed that disease could be caused by a doctor not washing his hands and touching two patients in sequence would have been called a lunatic or a quack. In fact, doctors did not engage in any sort of hand washing for the purpose of preventing the spread of disease until the germ theory became accepted.

The accidental father of the germ theory, a Hungarian physician known as Dr. Semmelweis, was fired and ostracized from the medical community in the mid 1800's for even proposing the idea that disease was caused by invisible, microscopic, undetectable organisms. In fact, after fighting to publicize the truth about microorganisms for fifteen years, Semmelweis was declared insane by doctors and committed to an insane asylum. (Sounds a lot like modern medicine, doesn't it?)

In other words, in the history of medicine, doctors and researchers didn't believe in the germ theory for one simple reason: they couldn't see the germs. There was no way they could detect these germs, so in their minds, they didn't exist. As a result, they continued to practice outdated medical procedures which actually resulted in the spread of germs from one patient to another.

Here's how this applies to homeopathy: today, the scientific evidence proves that homeopathy really works. No sane, rational person could deny it after reviewing the evidence proving the biological activity of homeopathic water. But instead of denying the existence of homeopathy on the grounds that it doesn't work, modern doctors and researchers deny it based on the rather feeble idea that they don't understand the mechanism by which it might work. That is, they don't know how it works, and therefore it must not be true. And that's about as intelligent as saying "We don't know how gravity works, therefore, there is no such thing as gravity."

Exciting stuff, huh? Those of us who have experienced the power of homeopathy don't need scientific research to be believers. But it sure is nice when science catches up with our belief.

Part Two comes your way later this week. Take care, and...

...be well!

Cindy's Biz

2006-11-28T19:37:00.000-05:00

Hey folks!

I just got a nice email from a very nice woman down in Corpus Christi, Texas who runs a neat shop that deals with homeopathy, aromatherapy, wood art, and other interesting products. You should really check out her website if you get the chance www.cindysbiz.biz. Not only does she have many different products available, but she has great information about some of these alternatives to "modern" medicine. Check out her King Bio homeopathic products for a good listing of different articles Dr. King has written on many important health concerns- from menopause and breast feeding to jet lag and fatigue relief. And you must check out her original wood art. The dragon is very cool as is her "Debonaire Man." I only wish she had a better store set up so that I could order some of that beautiful art from her!

Thanks for the nice note Cindy. Let's talk and see if we can't help each other out with our respective businesses!

Be well everyone.

The weigh-in...

2006-11-27T22:38:00.000-05:00

So, whenever I weigh myself, I always try to do it in exactly the same manner. I follow the same routine - which I won't go into too much detail here. Suffice it to say that by weighing myself in this manner, I feel like I'm getting a pretty good picture of my day-to-day fluctuations.

Well, anyway, I weighed myself this morning. And, like any well-enjoyed weekend, I found myself two pounds heavier than before the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Not too bad, considering on a good weekend with lots of consumption, I can put on more than that. But now that I've finally reached the age where my metabolism is slowing down (much to the relief of my wife whose metabolism had slowed years earlier), I can't drop that weight as easily as I could in my twenties.

I guess I've got to tighten up a little. We've still got the winter holiday approaching. And if I don't want to top 200 over that vacation, I need to let a few of these extra pounds go.

Time to include those weight-control homeopathic remedies into my daily regimen. That, and maybe I should just eat a little less.

Easier said than done, right?

Be well my friends.

Feeling a little heavy...

2006-11-26T21:56:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow morning I get on the scale for the official post-Thanksgiving weigh-in. I expect to have gained a couple of pounds over the course of the last several days. Since I teach school, I had off from Wednesday afternoon clear until Sunday, leaving me plenty of time to eat.

And eat...

And eat...

This year I did something a little differently, though, that hopefully helped me keep some of that extra weight off. On Thursday and Friday, I managed to eat only two meals. Big meals, I'll have you know, but still, reducing an entire meal's worth of calories will hopefully have helped me balance out my insane overeating.

Why do I overeat? I can feel when I'm full. Not only that, my rational mind knows that I'm full about ten minutes before I feel it. So, if I'm sane and attentive to my eating habits, I can slow my stuffing before I find myself totally over full.

But I'm so rarely sane when I'm surrounding by good food, good drink, and great company.

So tomorrow morning I get on that scale and see how far I let myself go. It's kinda a preview for this winter holiday season's eating. Perhaps I'll find that my two-a-day meal plan will work for me. Perhaps I'll find that I'll need to be more attentive to my body's innate communication system and stop eating when I'm full.

Or perhaps, like so many of us, I'll spend the first days of 2007 promising myself that I've got to change my eating habits- for real this time. King Bio has a couple remedies designed to help people lose weight. I've got them, but haven't included them in my daily regimen. Perhaps it's time.

I'll keep you posted!

Be well.

A family photo

2006-11-21T21:18:00.000-05:00

Hey everyone. Here's a nice photo of my family and me at the beach. It's such a sunny picture, I thought it was a nice reminder of the light and joy our families can be for each of us. This Thanksgiving I am especially thankful for my wife and all she does to help me feel connected, healed, and excited about life. And I'm thankful for my children who always help remind me just what is important this time around.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

A transformative blog to write...

2006-11-19T21:12:00.000-05:00

The last six months have been transformative, indeed. My wife and I have both been taking several different combination homeopathic remedies from King Bio during this difficult time of change and growth. The remedies, along with all of the nutritional supplements and neurotransmitter support I’ve received as well as the intense and transformative counseling we’ve gone through, have really helped us move beyond our past and enabled us to envision a more positive and fruitful future together. Taken as a whole, I think my wife would agree with me when I say that we are a different couple now that we have both been working on the emotional and physical difficulties of our past.

Currently, I’m taking two remedies from King Bio’s Rx line of combination homeopathics. These remedies have been formulated for health care professionals. In fact, if you go to a chiropractor, they may have some of King Bio’s Rx remedies. The two I am taking are Grief and Guilt. They both have been formulated to help change a person’s outlook from one that deals with the negativity of past actions and encourages a more healthy and productive thought pattern. I’ve found that since I’ve started taking these remedies, I’ve been beating myself up much less. My self-abasement is not entirely gone. But I find it much easier to snap out of those negative thoughts when I am dwelling there. Today I feel more full of hope for my future with my wife and my family than I have in many months.

My wife is taking several remedies to help her out emotionally and physically. Just in the last couple of years King Bio has created some very powerful combination homeopathic remedies designed to address the complex emotional needs many of us have. Lesley has benefited from taking these remedies in that, like me, it has allowed her to more easily break free from the downward spiral of negativity and negative thought patterns. The Insecurity remedy, the Trust remedy, the Mood Enhancer, PMS Relief, and the Fatigue Reliever for Mind and Body remedy, all have helped her during these difficult times.

For many of us, we feel trapped in a mindset that totally controls us. We don’t want to be thinking in the way that we are, but we don’t know how to get out of it. We don’t know how to change our minds in a way that is meaningful and lasting.

Just know, the tools exist to create change. You must take a step, though. And for some of you it may be a leap- a leap from the health care (I call it disease care) patterns you know to a new theory of health care. Homeopathy combined with the neurotransmitter support and the counseling I’ve received has changed my life. I am a better person for the health I’ve pursued.

And you can do it too!

Come along with me on this journey. So you too can…

…be well.

Change of Name

2006-11-19T20:53:00.001-05:00

Those of you watching this blog closely have noticed that the posting name has recently changed. This is due to Blogger, the host of this blog, and their upgrade of service to a newer version of their software. When I upgraded this blog to their beta version, all of my posts were relisted under the name I'm using for a different blog, Mike Barkett. Mike is my middle name, and my other blog, www.mountainspiritwinery.com/blog.html, is another blog I write for my parents. From here on out, my postings for this blog should be listed under D. Barkett, the name I use for my homeopathic work. D is short for Darren, and for years, everyone I know just calls me D.

And, if you ever have the need to call me, please, feel free to call me D, too!

Be well.

A visit to the homeopath's office

2006-11-13T22:16:00.000-05:00

Some of you may be wondering what a visit to a homeopath's office would be like. For those of us whose only exposure to visiting the doctor is waiting interminable amounts of time past your appointment and then being poked and prodded in such a way that you are left with no doubts as to you and your body's inability to deal with your own health- a visit to a homeopath- or any practitioner of complimentary alternative medicine can be quite the breath of fresh air.

One of the primary differences between the approach of a traditional medical doctor (traditional meaning of the 20th century tradition) and a complimentary alternative medical approach is that the alternative looks at the body's symptoms as a system of communication whereby the body is attempting to recreate healing. The traditional "modern" medical approach looks at symptoms as things that need to be removed in order for the body to be well. This removal of sympoms far too often takes the form of masking, the covering up of symptoms in order for a person to feel symptom free. What the alternative health care practitioner realizes is that when these symptoms are suppressed, the disease is pushed deeper, creating more complicated health problems later.

A visit to a homeopath begins with an interview in order to develop as clear a health picture as possible. Very often, the complex emotional issues surrounding one's physical health play an integral part of that health picture. And, any remedies considered should take these emotional issues into consideration. Depending on the practitioner, remedy selection can be done through muscle testing, the leg length check, bio-metric electrical response, or by merely looking at the associated symptoms of each remedy and matching them as closely as possible.

The remedies at King Bio are combination remedies in a pure water based solution. A dose is three sprays of the remedy under the tongue. Very simple and user friendly. The bottles are small enough to be kept in a purse or set on a desk top. I leave my remedies next to the kitchen sink so that whenever I get a glass of water, I am reminded to take them. Other homeopathic remedies take different forms and must be handled in different manners. Many substances counteract the remedies, substances like mint and caffeine. These should be avoided in order to determine whether or not the remedy is working.

After a short period of time, for some as short as a week or as long as a month, the patient returns to the homeopath to evaluate the effectiveness of the remedies. Has the health picture changed? Have the symptoms changed? The health improved? Mere symptomatic relief does not always mean health is being restored. It will take some work to ensure that progress is being made towards the cure that is exclusive to the realm of homeopathic and complimentary alternative medicine.

Cures. Doesn't that sound wonderful? Actual cures. This isn't too much to ask for from our health care industry, is it?

Be well my friends.

Neurotransmitter Support Part II

2006-11-05T20:23:00.000-05:00

All right. Here it is. The moment you've all been waiting for... Well, maybe not. But I have to tell you. Ever since I've been taking my supplements in order to help regulate my neurotransmitter levels, I can't help noticing how many people out there could seriously benefit from similar treatment.

Just yesterday I was in my local supermarket watching a young father become very irritated at his son's attempts at helping out. The ten year old was just trying to scan the groceries through the self check out, but for the father, the boy just couldn't do anything right. I watched him getting more and more irritated, the tension just emanating from him in waves. I felt for him because I remember feeling that way in the not too distant past.

And then the other day I was at the closest big box home improvement store and saw a mom yelling, not only at her young daughter, but at her husband. There was quite the line up for the one check out stand. This woman saw that the service desk could also check her out and she made her move, barging through the others waiting to pay. At the same time, her husband saw that another check out lane was opening up right next to him. He tried to communicate to his wife about this closer check out, but she just yelled at him. "John, come here right now!" The funny thing - not for either of them - was that the manner in which she was yelling (and I mean yelling), was exactly the same for the seven year old as it was for her husband. Wonder what her excitatory neurotransmitter levels were looking like...

I only hope some of these people are able to stumble their way to a solution like I have.

Here's my supplement list:

First thing in the morning I take Serene, ExcitaPlus, and AdreCor, all from NeuroScience Labs. I also take Theanine and Threonine. After breakfast, I take some Magnesium, Calcium, B-Complex #6, and Isagenix's Essentials for Men.

After dinner, I take another Magnesium. And then before bed I manage to choke down more Serene, Theanine, and Threonine with the occasional Taurine thrown in for good measure. About every three months I retest my neurotransmitter levels and my supplements are adjusted accordingly. Hopefully, I won't be taking all of these supplements forever. But, like I've stated in the past, if it helps me maintain a more pleasant mindset, it is worth it.

If you have questions about any of these supplements or how Pam at the Great Smokies Medical Center has adjusted the levels of supplements over the last several months, just leave me a comment. I really enjoy sharing how I've been able to recover some sense of balance in my life.

Next post I'll go into the homeopathic remedies from King Bio I'm taking to help me deal some of the complex emotional issues of the last six months. Also, by request from Lani in the comment section, I'll go into what someone might experience when they go to a homeopath for diagnosis and treatment.

Thanks for coming around. Be well.

Neurotransmitter Support

2006-11-01T22:13:00.000-05:00

One of my readers asked me if I might go into deeper detail about the changes occuring in my brain chemistry as a result of the work I've been doing with the Great Smokies Medical Center. As some of you may know, I first went to the GSMC back in May of this year in the hopes that something could be done about my moodiness and general irritability, character traits that led to deeper interpersonal problems.

My first tests came back with many imbalances in both my excitatory and my inhibitory neurotranmitter levels. Looking at my lab report, it was very reassuring to see that something, in fact, was out of whack with my brain. My wife and I were very worried that the original results would reflect a normal chemistry - and just a grumpy demeanor. Instead, I saw vast room for improvement- improvement which I've been working towards for the last several months.

The NeuroScience lab results were as follows: epinephrine-low, norepinephrine-low, dopamine-high, serotonin-ok, glycine-very high, taurine-low, GABA-ok. Big one next was the glutamine. This tested at 923 back in May which was very very high. It should typically be around 150-400. Same sort of results with my PEA level. It was at 677 when it should be around 175-450. Both of these excitatory neurotransmitters were adding to my general level of anxiety and uneasiness.

When Pam from Great Smokies told me she was surprised that I wasn't "crawling out of my skin" with those levels, I was strangely reassured. I guess deep down I was hoping that I wasn't just naturally a grumpy sensitive guy. I wanted to be the cool calm father and husband I'd always envisioned myself being. Getting these results that showed my brain chemistry was not in the balance it needed in order to function most efficiently.

Next post I'll tell you about the numerous supplements I've been taking (religiously) since those first results came in as well as details about some of the homeopathic remedies from King Bio I've been using. I'll also go into my next round of test results from my early September levels. Suffice to say, things are working and that cool calm guy isn't as far away as he once looked.

Be well.

King Bio Community Outreach Program Update

2006-10-30T21:55:00.000-05:00

Hey everyone!

Exciting news here at King Bio. Mothering Magazine, an international publication dedicated to parenting and alternative health, has recently published an article I wrote about King Bio's Community Outreach Program. If you haven't heard of this innovative grant before, I'll fill you in.

The KBCOP is a grant I created for Dr. King at King Bio. Organizations that work with the public health can apply for the grant and, if accepted, receive a custom selected set of our contemporary homeopathic remedies along with support materials and education designed to help groups implement these remedies into the practice. It's a great opportunity to help spread Dr. King's message of healing and is also a way for us to give back to the community.

Well, the article in Mothering Magazine has really generated some interest. Just today I've received more than a few application requests for the grant. It's all very exciting. I've been trying to get the word out that we're here with a great product that truly recreates health, and we want to give it away to qualified groups. For several months, I had little success at generating applicants. But now, things are finally happening!

If you are interested, click on the title of this posting. It will direct you to some general information about the grant and about King Bio in general. From there, you can email me directly and I'll send you off an application.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Be well.

Changing of the seasons

2006-10-24T19:59:00.000-04:00

A coworker of mine stopped by my room today, looking a bit down. A short conversation later he confessed to me that he almost hadn't made it through the previous day. For those of you who don't know, I teach seventh grade in a small town in the western part of North Carolina. My compadre was another teacher of those rambunctious creatures we call pre-teens.

I asked him, "Those kids giving you a hard time?" Many beginning tachers get so caught up in lesson development, they neglect the most important aspect of teaching- managing student behavior.

"No, the kids are fine. I don't know what it is. I think I might be feeling homesick for the first time since I moved up here from Fayetteville."

That's something different entirely. If your head's not in the teaching game, it's only a matter of time until those kids will eat you up, regardless of your management skills.

"You know," I told him, "the weather took a real change yesterday. The pressure's been dropping and it's colder outside than it's been yet this year. You think that's got anything to do with it?"

"Now that I think about it," he replied, "that's probably it. I guess it was just a reminder of the cold winter to come. Everything's going to be so grey and dead looking. And I've always hated the cold. I'm not even sure why I came to live in the mountains in the first place."

"I grew up in Colorado," I replied, leaning back in my chair, "and I learned to appreciate and even love the cold. I love seeing the trees without their leaves. They show off more of their character when you can see their trunks and branches reaching high over head. You can see more birds when the leaves are gone. I love that first deep cold breath in the morning that makes you cough and feel truly awake for the first time that day. Even the stars at night are clearer and more brilliant."

"Yeah, that's true. I do like that brisk alert feeling you get from being in the cold," he agreed.

"And being at school, this constant threat of getting snow days off brings a real sense of excitement- especially amongst the teachers! When those flakes start flying, you can feel the energy in the school change."

"That's true too. Maybe I just need to wrap my head around this new climate."

"Sure. It'll take a little getting used to. You can do it. It's all in how you look at things."

"That's true. Alright, I'll give it a try. I signed on for at least a year, anyways."

I've always loved the four distinct seasons we experience here in western North Carolina. But it can definitely be challenging. Maintaining that positive head space is crucial in enjoying the different beauty each season offers. This fall, we've had one of the most beautiful leaf changes I've seen since I've been in North Carolina. The beauty is truly wonderous. I'll never forget the golden leaves dropping like flakes of gold in the afternoon sun. I only hope my teacher friend can find a bit of beauty to hold on to before being overcome by his homesickness. It'll be his best hope.

Be well my friends. Enjoy this coming winter!

(ps. We've got some Seasonal Affected Disorder homeopathic remedies if you're interested. Just check out the links on the right side of the page.)

Ways to kick that habit

2006-10-22T20:57:00.000-04:00

I just finished watching the movie "Thank You for Smoking." It was a very smart look into the cigarette industry and the devious ways it maintains its clientelle. Spoiler warning- if you plan on seeing the movie, I'm getting ready to spill a little bit of the beans about the plot.

Ok, so at one point the main character, who is the tobacco industry's primary spokesperson, gets kidnapped and covered with over fifty nicotine patches in an attempt at killing him. He slides into a nicotine induced coma and nearly dies. Eventually he comes to and is greeted by the doctor saying, "That amount of nicotine would have killed a non-smoker. You're lucky you were a smoker." The irony of the moment is compounded moments later when the doctor informs him that he can longer smoke, that even a single cigarette might produce that same life-threatening coma again.

I am an ex-smoker. I don't like using the term "non-smoker" since I feel that having kicked the habit places me in a different category from all the other (more intelligent) people who never picked up smoking in the first place. I was lucky in that much of my success in quitting smoking lay in the fact that my wife and I were both quitting at the same time. If it had been just me, I'm not sure I would have made it through. Knowing that more than just my health was on the line somehow made it more workable. And going through those damned withdrawls together certainly made things easier.

My first week off of "the nic" I went cold-turkey. Soon enough, I realized that the combination of fighting the nicotine withdrawl coupled with the hand-mouth compulsion was just too much. My wife had been using one of the nicotine gums at the time. She swore by the relief it gave her. By isolating the different habits, she was able to gradually ween herself off the nicotine while working on the hand-mouth thing.

I jumped on the gum bandwagon and found quitting a little easier. I remember feeling a little guilty pleasure at chewing a piece of gum while I was working, feeling that gentle pull of the nicotine. But soon enough, my wife and I worked our way off the (very expensive!) gum and became ex-smokers.

Today, many alternatives exist to help people quit. I'd really enjoy hearing some of your quitting stories and what helped you kick the habit. I know different homeopathic remedies exist to help. King Bio has a couple great ones- Addiciton Control and Smoke Control. When taken together, I hear that they really reduce those cravings and help create a positive mental outlook conducive to staying smoke-free.

Whatever you do, remember, it is tough, but it will change your life. Don't be a slave to nicotine and the tobacco industry. Take back your life and live smoke free!

Be well. And thanks for coming 'round.

Hospitals for Health?

2006-10-19T19:20:00.000-04:00

Nearly 100,000 Americans die every year due to errors that occur at hospitals.

I got that figure from last week's Newsweek, which I've linked in the title and again here: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15175919/site/newsweek/.

One hundred thousand. Deaths from accidents. At hospitals!

Something is seriously wrong here. I've discussed in the past my feelings concerning America's disease-care system. We have a system that does very little to maintain or re-create health. Rather, our system of hospitals, doctors, and pharmaceutical medicines is designed simply to treat disease. This system does very little for individuals until they get sick. And, to make matters worse, rather than seeing a person's symptoms as the body's natural communication and healing system, our disease-care system works to suppress these symptoms in the hope that when an individual is symptom free, they are healed!

Loyal readers and those familiar with the health care system offered through many of the alternatives like homeopathy, chiropractic, and other forms of complimentary alternative medicine know that the absence of symptoms doesn't necessarily mean that the body is healthy. In fact, modern medicines' suppression of symptoms merely pushes the diseases deeper, creating more damaging and difficult to cure diseases.

And now we hear that our hospitals have a nasty habit of making deadly mistakes! Aside from killing almost 100,000 people a year, medication errors hurt over 1.5 million people! A year! If every single person in America went to the hopsital once a year, 1 out of every 300 people would be hurt by a mistake in a hospital. And we know that not everyone is going to the hospital. If a 1 in 300 chance of being hurt just by seeking help at a hospital doesn't scare you, what do you think about a 1 in 200 chance? Or 1 in 100? You know the actual rate is closer to 1 in 100 than 1 in 300. Scared yet? You should be.

It's no wonder complimentary alternative medicine like homeopathy (my favorite!) is steadily growing in users. More and more people realize the importance of taking a proactive role in creating, re-creating, and maintaining their health. Homeopathy works to empower the body's own natural healing systems. No need to go to a hospital. And with the creation of contemporary combination homeopathic remedies, utilizing this powerful healing system has become easier and easier.

If you are beginning to see the cracks in our disease-care system, cracks like the deadly side effects of pharmaceuticals and horrendous accidental deaths and injuries occuring at hospitals, start educating yourself on the alternatives out there. If you're not looking at your health care options, it's only a matter of time before our current system fails you.

Be well my friends.

Movin' and Shakin' at King Bio!

2006-10-12T21:59:00.000-04:00

I just got back from a meeting with Dr. King back at King Bio HQ. Things are definitely heating up over there. Most of the work I do I accomplish at home, but occasionally I like to show up at the office and show off my face. Glad I did!

We've got lots of new updates going into our website. Primarily, our new product lines of homeopathic remedies, SafeCareOTC for over-the-counter sales, and SafeCareRx, our line of remedies designed for health care professionals, are hitting shelves in stores and offices around the country. We're busy getting the good word out about these powerful products, hoping that as more and more people are turned on to the world of homeopathy, they will try our contemporary remedies.

I truly feel these combination remedies are the future of homeopathy. As more and more people are failed by our "modern" medicine and disease-care system, they are turning to alternatives. Traditional homeopathy seems a little out-of-reach for many people just beginning to dabble in the world of alternative medicine. Our combination remedies help open the door to this message of healing and restorative health care.

We don't have to live with our faulty and doomed disease care system. If you've been looking for an alternative path to health and wellness, check out our website at www.kingbio.com. I'd love to read your comments on the website as we're always looking to make it more user friendly and helpful.

Be well, and stay informed!

Survey Says!

2006-10-10T21:33:00.000-04:00

(If this post makes no sense to you, scroll down and read the last post.)

Good news, everyone! The neurotransmitters in my brain are beginning to moderate themselves. Those that were too high have reduced and those that were too low have, for the most part, elevated to more functional levels. Pam, my nurse from the Great Smokies Medical Center, the alternative health center in Asheville, NC, was able to pinpoint some of the deficiencies that are still showing up. In so doing, she changed my supplements slightly to meet those new needs. Hopefully I'll continue to experience even moods. In addition, she thinks the slight changes she made in my supplement regimen will bring me greater energy during that difficult 4:00-8:00 evening time frame.

I was so relieved to see that my brain was being cooperative. Some of the more stubborn neurotransmitter levels were moderating quickly, giving me hope that I won't be on these supplements forever. Even still, the cost is cheap at twice the price, seeing the improvement in my familial relationships it has brought.

So, my supplement regimen has been changed. I'll work with this for about three months. Then, after the winter holiday, I'll get retested to see if my levels have, um, levelled off any more. Maybe then I'll be able to start reducing some of these supplements.

Until then, I'll take all the help I can get!

Be well my friends. Thanks for stopping by.

My return to the Great Smokies

2006-10-09T20:33:00.000-04:00

It's been just over two months since I started posting to this blog. In that time, what started as an opportunity to turn people on to the power of homeopathy, something I learned through my time spent with Dr. King at King Bio in Asheville, NC, has grown into something much more than that. I thought, since I just received my 200th visitor, that I'd spend this blog recapping my personal journey into health and wellness.

My life, as many of you know if you've been a regular reader, took several drastic turns this last summer. Without going into too much detail, my life entered a state of turmoil and transition. My habits of consumption coupled with my less-than-optimal brain chemistry and an innate stubbornness that prevented me from seeing reality put such stress on the important relationships in my life that I was forced to grow out of these destructive habits or risk losing those closest to me.

With the help of a loving wife and a supportive friend, I was introduced to the Great Smokies Medical Center. This clinic utilizes alternative and traditional health methods in order to find the root of the disease. So much of "modern medicine" simply masks the symptoms of disease. The GSMC, along with many other forms of alternative medicines, works to find the root causes behind those symptoms to recreate real health. My relationship with the GSMC began with a variety of tests prescribed by Pam, a nurse practitioner and a wonderful woman who exuded a confident sense of healing and growth. Several hundred dollars later and a couple containers of bodily fluids less, my journey down the road to alternative healing was begun.

Three weeks after sending off my specimens, the results came back. My wife and I had intense bouts of insecurity and fear that perhaps the tests would show that nothing was wrong with my brain, that the root of my problem was psychological and not physical. Even before the results came back, we both knew that something would have to change. And if the alternative realm of health couldn't provide that change, we would go with the traditional pharmaceutical approach of anti-depressants or whatever pill would...is "help" the right word?

Luckily, the results showed that the levels of neurotransmitters in my brain were way off. Pam started me on a regimen of amino acids and vitamins, over fifteen pills daily. I immediately began sleeping better, getting into that deep, restorative sleep required for better health. Within a month, my family was amazed at how much more even my moods had become. I no longer found myself slipping into a moody funk in the early evenings, fouling the air with my grumblings. I became a better, more patient father and a more responsive and enjoyable husband.

Now, several months later, I still experience the benefits of improved brain chemistry. Three weeks ago I sent off my latest specimen to the lab to see if my brain had started recreating that crucial balance of neurotransmitters by itself. Tomorrow is my appointment. I'm a little worried. A part of me really hopes that my brain has grown along with my rejeuvenated relationships. I don't want to "have to" keep taking these supplements for the rest of my life. Not only are they expensive, but there's a part of me that feels like my body should be able to work appropriately on its own. I know this isn't true, that it's hardly true for most of us, and that luckily there's all sorts of help like homeopathy, supplements, chirporactic, western medicine, and other kinds of complimentary alternative medicines that help the body when it can't help itself.

I guess if the results tomorrow state that my brain hasn't yet recreated that necessary balance on its own, I'll pony up the additional cost of another round of supplements. What's a couple hundred bucks a month when it means my wife and I continue to develop our relationship and I get to help raise my children in a loving household.

Like that mastercard commercial, cost of a month's supply of amino acids and vitamin supplements- $200. Value of a healthy, conscious relationship with my wife and children- priceless.

Be well.

I'll let you all know how things turn out.

The Great Kess

2006-10-03T19:28:00.000-04:00

I just got off the phone with my Uncle Kess. For those of you who have read this blog in the past, you might recognize the name. His wife is my Aunt Edna. She passed away about two months ago. I was able to visit with them during her last week as she fought like the tough ol' bird she was, tenaciously hanging onto life. The time I spent with them was very powerful and moving. I remember thinking how nice it would be to have a homeopathic remedy to help with that greatest of all transitions.

Kess is doing alright. He openly stated before Edna died that he wished he could follow closely behind. But, as many of us know, the spirit is more dogged than the body. And as the body fails, all too often the spirit refuses to go willingly. I asked if he'd been spending any time up at the lake, his favorite place to pass the time. He said he had, but that he really needed help, pretty much all the time. His voice still echoes in my mind as he asked, "Do you know anyone that might be able to help me out up there?" I winced inwardly as I changed the subject.

Kess and Edna hold a very special place in my heart. All of my grandparents passed away before I was ten. Kess and Edna became surrogate grandparents, and I was a supplemental grandchild for them. I wish I could transplant my family to Texas for a month, just to be with him. But my seven year old has school and now my three year old has started pre-school. My wife has her career keeping her busy. And I've just started a new school year. I feel like I can't do anything for him but send him good energy and hope for the best.

I guess back when families stayed close together, the different relationships that developed across generations and marriages served to provide support in a multitude of situations. Today, the distance between family can prevent much of this.

I'll never forget the conversation I had with him back when I was about my oldest daughter's age. I had asked my mom just how I was related to Kess. She told me he was my great uncle. When I saw Kess later that day, I asked him, "Since you're my great uncle, should I call you Great Uncle Kess?"

His reply is a classic that he's long since forgotten. "Nah, you can just call me Great Kess."

I love that old guy.

Call for submissions!

2006-09-28T21:18:00.000-04:00

Hello everyone! If you've been reading the last several posts, you know that I've started writing a fictional novel about different people's journeys from various states of dis-ease to different levels of health and wellness. This book excites me, not just because I'm finally being paid to write creatively, but because I feel it will be a book that many people find echoes of in their own life. I hope that people's reading of my book will inspire them to find new paths to wellness, spreading health and motivating people to be more active in their pursuit of health.

But (and there's a big but tagged onto this statement), I sure could use some help from all of my friends and readers out there in the blogosphere. If any of you have taken your own journey to health and feel like sharing it, I would love to hear from you. I can draw from my own experiences and the experiences of people with whom I've worked in order to create storylines and meaningful fiction. But I'd really like to get some new ideas and new stories from you!

If you feel like you want to share your story of what you've gone through in an attempt at recreating or finding or maintaining health, be it mental, physical, or emotional, you can contact me by leaving a comment on this blog (by clicking on the 0 comments link) or directly through my email, which is dbarkett@kingbio.com.

On a different note, today is my 35th birthday. I'm finally of presidential age. My family spoiled me by taking me out to dinner where we ate and ate until we had eatn far more than we ever should have. My gastronomic health will be suffering for the next couple of days. Ah, you only turn 35 once, I guess...

Be well. I hope to hear from you.

Journey into Wellness - the beginning

2006-09-27T22:26:00.001-04:00

As promised, here's a little bit of what I think might be the beginning of the book, Journeys into Wellness. I sure would appreciate any input into where this is going. Enjoy!

“I’ve had this same dream for almost three months. It’s not every night, but I probably have it at least once a week.” Allison pauses, almost looking for permission to continue speaking. Her friend, Margaret, gently holding a cup of tea, smiles briefly and lifts her steaming cup to her lips, taking a brief silent sip of the fragrant warmth.

“It’s always the same. I’m in a room, a familiar room that I’ve been in my whole life. It’s very dark, and I reach for the light switch, but I can’t find it. I’m left there in the dark, wondering where to turn, where to go, but I can’t see any way out of the dark. What do you think this means?” She turns to her friend, a small woman who has listened to her ramblings on her life for almost three weeks ever since they met waiting in line for coffee.

Margaret’s reply is brief. “What do you think this means?” She takes another sip as she smiles at the other woman across the distance of the small table in the coffee shop.

“I must be searching for something. That much is clear. The darkness is a symbol of something. Maybe my ignorance or my closed mind?”

“Do you feel like your mind is closed?”

“That’s the strange thing. I’m usually a pretty open-minded person. I mean, when I started feeling depressed, I knew I should probably find someone I could speak to in order to sort through my problem. And working with my counselor has definitely helped me get my life back on track. I’m not depressed nearly as much as I was after the separation. But I can’t help but feel like there’s something missing from my personal development. Do I sound crazy to you?”

“On the contrary, I think you sound incredibly sane.”

“I don’t know. Speaking with you has reminded me of the fact that there’s entire world’s out there that I know absolutely nothing about. Maybe since we’ve started hanging out I’ve felt like I want to,” she pauses here, searching for the right word to communicate her need, “grow, or start growing again.” Here she stops and looks awkwardly up from her mug of coffee into the sweetly smiling face of her friend.

“You realize, of course, that growth is rarely simple or painless.” Another silent sip of tea, another smile. “But most of the moments in life we remember are when we’ve grown or had a new experience because of our growth.

“I don’t want to live in the dark any more.” The determination is clear in her voice.

“What you seek is the switch to turn on the light in your life?” She asks, smiling a great big smile, using the language of her friend’s dream.

“Yes! That’s it! I want my life switched back on!” She leans close and lowers her voice. “Please, I don’t know why I think this, but I just get the feeling that you can help me do this. Can you,” she glances side to side as if the two women were collaborators in an intricate plot, “help me?”

“Yes.” Another sip from the chipped mug. “But the real question is, Are you ready to help yourself? Are you truly ready to reevaluate your life in honest terms that leave no room for self-denial and self-doubt? Only then will you be able to create the change you so desperately desire.”

The two women look deeply into one another’s eyes. The connection between the two was felt immediately when they met several weeks ago, but now it was clear that the connection had deepened.

“I’m ready,” she replies in a simple and heartfelt manner.

Her friend smiles at the echo in her life. How many times had she heard that exact simple statement from hundreds of people who had unconsciously sought her out over the years. These people all had found her friendship naturally. Within days, these people began reflecting on their lives, with her as the mirror for their reflection. More than a few of these friends had taken their lives to new levels of experience, of health, of happiness.

“Close your eyes.”

“It’s dark.” A nervous laugh.

“Picture your dream, the dream where you’re looking for your light switch.”

The dark instantly changed for the woman. It became not the pink darkness of light seeping through her eyelids but rather the darkness of her all-too-familiar dream. The darkness became real for her as she listened to the soothing voice of her friend.

“I’m there.”

“Good. You know where the light switch is. It’s just behind you, against the wall to your right. Reach for the wall and find the switch.”

In her mind, she reaches behind her for the switch and finds it on the wall.

“Found it. Should I turn it on?”

“You know what to do. Listen to your body. What does it tell you to do?”

The woman’s face changes, her forehead wrinkling with the introspection this task requires. “I’m turning the lights on.” Her friend raises one eyebrow as she notices this mention of light. There’s only one way to dispel the dark. She watched as her new friend’s face relaxed into an easy smile.

“What do you see?”

“There’s no room at all! As soon as I flipped the switch, the room disappeared. I see this beautiful view of rolling green hills, lush and alive with trees, flowers, and all kinds of life. It is the most peaceful place I’ve ever seen.”

She opens her eyes and looks at her friend with a new appreciation. “How did you do that?”

“I did nothing. It was you. You were always capable of finding that switch. Sometimes it just takes a little nudge in the right direction.”

“I’m sure I’ve never seen that place before, but it felt so right, like I was meant to be there.”

“You are meant to be there. We all are. We are meant to live in a state of peaceful happiness where we feel included, healthy, alive. Many of us spend our lives stuck in the dark, struggling to get free. Do you want to live in the dark now that you’ve been reminded of the light, of the life you can live?”

“Absolutely not. What can I do to stay here in the light?”

“Walk with me.”

Journeys Into Wellness

2006-09-24T22:14:00.000-04:00

Hello everyone! Long time no post.

I've recently been working on a new project with Frank King from King Bio Natural Medicines that has been keeping me awfully busy (that and my job teaching seventh graders how to read and write along with being a husband and a father...). Frank and I have decided to co-author a fictional book where people from various stages and paths in their lives decide to try some alternatives to achieving a healthful state of mind and life. Frank has wanted to write a book like this for years. He's even got file cabinets full of notes he's jotted down over the years that he's always wanted to turn into a book. But, being the CEO of a very busy homeopathic manufacturing company leaves him little time to develop plot and work on character development.

Enter me with my background in writing. I'd worked with Frank in the past helping him write a tiny book called, "Making Homeopathy Easy." It was a thin manual that outlined the basic homeopathic philosophy and process. (Frank and I had met when I was his son's English teacher years ago.) Now that he and I have reconnected, I've been helping polish his articles, brochures, and various other written materials in a way that he appreciates. We've finally been working together enough that he feels comfortable spilling his inspiration onto the page and then letting me turn that inspired rambling into more coherent communications.

Just this weekend I was reading some of his background information for the book concept we'd discussed. In it, he mentioned the idea of health being the light in a life and disease being the darkness. Continuing the metaphor, he stated that the only way to dispell the dark is to turn up the light. I was struck by this image and immediately had a vision of the beginning of our book.

As many of you know who have started a book, we have no idea where it will go, and the final product will probably look vastly different from what we envision currently. But the important thing is that we are working together to build our inspiration.

And it's damn fun to be writing creatively again! I'll post my initial inspiration later this week.

Be well, and share the wellness!

Homeopathy on Oprah?

2006-09-14T22:03:00.000-04:00

I'm headed to Myrtle Beach this weekend to get a little alternative healing done with old friends. I sure am looking forward to relaxing with my lady and watching my kids get covered in sand. I found an old surfboard at a garage sale I hope to try out. I promise to let you know how things go.

News from work! Rumor has it that Oprah Winfrey's aunt is conducting some research into alternative healing methods. She is reportedly coming to King Bio for a visit and to check out the latest in homeopathic healing. If this actually works out and if we get a mention on her neice's little show, this could blow the top off of our business. I only hope our infrastructure can handle such a dramatic increase in our exposure.

Again, I promise to keep you updated. It's always exciting to see our message of healing spreading to the masses!

Be well. I'll be thinking of you while I'm lazily digging my toes into the sand.

My new and improved brain chemistry (and a less gross title for this entry!)

2006-09-12T20:08:00.000-04:00

As many of you already know, I've been getting help from the Great Smokies Medical Center in an attempt at solving some of the health concerns that brought my life to the brink of disaster fairly recently. After much consternation, worry, and a test of my urine, Pam, the wonderful nurse practitioner, decoded my results and proclaimed that, yes, my brain was suffering under a variety of neurotransmitter imbalances. She started me on a regimen of amino acids and vitamins that subsequently turned my urine consistently into the color of a glow stick while at the same time provided me with a modicum mood stabilization.

Well, today, three months later, I took the next step towards wellness. I packed off the latest collection of my urine after a twelve hour fast and a limiting of my liquids. Dealing with a class full of seventh graders without having eaten wasn't as bad as doing it without having rehydrated that morning! Anyways, around 9:30 I was able to follow through with the very specific sample collection instructions and, utilizing our amazing postal service, sent my tiny vial off to the NeuroScience labs somewhere in Florida.

The hope is that by having taken the supplements Pam at the Great Smokies Medical Center had prescribed, my body (namely my adrenals and thyroid) would begin producing the necessary neurotransmitters at the appropriate levels on their own again. It would be nice to reduce the amount of supplements I've been taking. But then again, seeing as how those supplements have truly saved my marriage and made me a better and more patient father, if I have to take them for the rest of my life, it's a small price to pay.

In about three weeks I should get my results back. I'm crossing my fingers that my body has decided to cooperate. We'll see. I promise to keep you updated.

Be well.

User Friendly Homeopathy, Changes in Homeopathic Labeling

2006-09-09T20:01:00.000-04:00

Check out the moves afoot in Great Britain with regards to new labeling on homeopathic remedies. The British Homeopathic Association is currently reworking the over-the-counter rules governing what can be stated on the labels of homeopathic remedies. Many traditional homeopaths here in the states stick firmly with the belief that all homeopathic remedies should be prescribed by a certified homeopath and administered using a very specific and time-consuming process. It sounds like the Brits might be willing to loosen this rigid perspective a bit.

The link below takes you to some of the dialogue taking place in Britain. The general consensus seems to be that making homeopathic remedies for certain conditions like colds allergies more easily identified and utilized will help more people find the healing possible through homeopathy. Could this be a crack in the stern exterior of classical homeopathy in favor of a more user-friendly approach?

http://www.mhra.gov.uk/home/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&useSecondary=true&ssDocName=CON2024653&ssTargetNodeId=389

Check out the link. Europe is quite a bit ahead of the US in terms of homeopathic acceptance (mostly because their homeopathic community didn't have to survive the assualt from the American Medical Association). But hopefully the US homeopathic market won't be far behind. The more people able to access the healing power of homeopathic remedies, the better!

Be well and love one another...

Scientific Research on Homeopathy

2006-09-07T20:59:00.000-04:00

Many of the critics of homeopathy like to state that homeopathy's effectiveness is nothing more than the placebo effect. They claim that there is no science behind homeopathy, that what these homeopathic manufacturers are selling is merely fancy, purified, and expensive water. No more, I say! Science is finally catching up to homeopathy.

Check out the link I've listed below on some of the latest research on homeopathy in clinical double blind studies. The research showed how homeopathy can be effective in a variety of ailments. Fibromyalgia, allergies (the benefits of which I've experienced first hand), influenza-like conditions, the pain of lactogenesis (women have it tough!), the prevention of acute radio dermatitis, even the treatment of arsenic poisoning, diarrhea, and hyperactivity in children have all been helped homeopthically, studied clinically, and shown to be more effective than a placebo or no treatment at all.

http://www.boiron.com/en/htm/04_recherche_homeo/recherche_clinique_03.htm

I'm not trying to convince the septics, uh, I mean skeptics, of the efficacy of homeopathy. Rather, if you're one of the millions out there who have experienced one of these ailments and have been failed by modern medicine, try homeopathy. Homeopathy's focus on finding the root cause of the illness and addressing that root cause in order to help the body heal itself can create a truly transformative healing state. Homeopathy is not a magic solution. Nor is it a silver bullet that heals overnight. But, when used consistently, effectively, and with the guidance of a professional, homeopathy offers another path to healing.

And that can't be all bad, now can it?

My father is fond of quoting Frost.

"...Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference."

Don't be afraid to walk on that new path. Perhaps it will make all the difference for you, too!

As always, be well my friends.

Homeopathic Emergency Alternatives

2006-09-05T22:36:00.000-04:00

Once upon a time, America had many homeopathic hospitals, homeopathic schools, and homeopathic doctors. When the AMA came on the scene some time in the late 19th and early 20th century, they worked diligently to suppress the hard work of the homeopaths and to discredit and close down those hospitals and schools that were utilizing the homeopathic healing philosophy. This, of course, has led us to today's version of health care (or as I like to call it, disease care).

More and more often people are finding that the medicine they've always relied on doesn't have all the answers they need to live healthy and complete lives. All too often they become trapped in the cycle of suppressing symptoms, which then creates a facade of health. You've probably found this blog as part of your search for alternative answers to your health concerns.

Working as I have for the last several months with King Bio Natural Medicine, I've tried to educate myself on homeopathy and its ability to create true health. In posting on the forums at Hpathy.com, I participated in a lively discussion about the combination remedies Dr. King makes at King Bio. These combination remedies are usually snubbed by the classical homeopaths, but lately it seems that a little window has opened in the minds of these classical homeopaths.

Emergency homeopathy has started to force its way into the mass consciousness of America's mainstream. And in an emergency situation where someone wants to avoid the chemicals and toxic pharmaceuticals traditionally offered, the combination homeopathic remedies work as a great alternative to the classical homeopathic remedies.

In classical homeopathy, the homeopath prescribes one remedy based on the presenting picture of health. Then that patient waits, sometimes for up to several months, before taking any additional remedies. As that patient's picture of health changes with the introduction of the homeopathic remedy, the homeopath changes the prescription. And the patient waits again.

In an emergency situation, this just isn't workable. Enter the combination remedy! With these combinations, which have been organized by many remedies that, when taken individually, all work to help correct a similar health condition, these combinations can work in seconds without the necessary wait time of the classical homeopathic approach. Finally, an alternative to the chemicals of modern pharmaceuticals.

I haven't approached my boss yet about my thoughts on emergency room homeopathy. But I feel I might be on to something here. As the cries for alternatives to our disease care system get louder and louder, our hospitals will be forced to seek alternatives. These combination homeopathics might be just the ticket to bridge the gap between mainstream medicine and the poweful transformative health possible through homeopathy.

Be well.

(Hey, I finally got my 100th viewing! Sure would be nice to hear from some of you out there. Just click on the "0 comments" link to leave me a note!)

Happy Labor Day!

2006-09-04T20:14:00.000-04:00

Happy Labor Day everyone! I hope you were able to enjoy a day free of work and work related stresses. There's certainly enough other stresses to fill the gap!

Back to work Tuesday. I guess we can't get away from tending our financial health for long, can we?

I hope your mini-work vacation has enabled you to return to work rejeuvenated and rested.

Be well.

Water part II

2006-09-02T20:27:00.000-04:00

I once spent a little time in the desert outside of San Diego. For hours I wandered around in the sun, grokking at the worn signs of water's presence on the ground, uncovering different rocks and minerals in enticing patterns. While I could tell that water had flowed there at some point in the past, it clearly hadn't recently.

My wanderings eventually led me to one of the only rock outcroppings in sight. I slowly clambered up to the top of this massive thirty foot tall chunk of granite. There, right at the very top of the rock, at the exact highest point on the rock, I found a small, fist size cavity in the white granite. And in this tiny space was a cup of water, miraculously preserved (I felt that it had been placed there for me at that very moment, but I now know that I am far too inconsequential for that to be true).

That moment has stayed with me more than almost any other memory from my road travelling days. In fact, looking back, many of the memories I have are associated with water.

There was that one time I had hitchhiked across the water south of Key West to Christmas Tree Island, one of the only places where a person could just sit and not be hurried on by people who owned the land or were in control of it through whatever office they held. The only factor influencing how long you could stay was the amount of water you brought with you.

There was this other time when my sister and I enjoyed a cheap box of wine together and danced on the road paint in the middle of the night parked on the side of a small country road. The next morning I didn't trust myself to interact civily until we had found some water and replenished our internal and external supplies. Another time I remember spending hours waiting in the rain in southern Florida, hoping someone would pick up a drenched hitchhiker on the side of the road.

Water plays such a vital role. I've always felt that if I could buy stock in water supplies, it would make me rich as I grow older.

Even in my current job as the PR guy for King Bio, water plays a vital role. Dr. King uses a specially treated water when he develops his homeopathic remedies for King Bio. It's not just purified. Somehow, the water he uses in his homeopathic production has been distilled and purified to such a degree that the remedies become more effective at recreating the positive environment needed for optimum health. It doesn't surprise me that one of his biggest selling points with his contemporary homeopathic remedies is that they are water based. Most remedies are sugar or alcohol based. For those individuals sensitive to these compounds, King Bio's remedies are heaven sent.

So, to echo last night's posting, take the water experiment. Start your day with a couple glasses of water (I prefer chilled water in the summer and tap water in the winter.) Drink a glass before each meal, during each meal, and after each meal. Substitute sparkling water for an alcoholic drink in the evening. Have a big glass before going to bed. (People interested in journaling about their dreams have been directed to drink extra water before bedtime. This way when they have to get up to use the restroom, they will be able to remember their dreams. It's hard to recall your dreams if you sleep through them.)

A coworker recently relayed to me the story of his extreme dehyrdation. This is a tough little guy who never drinks water. Never! He told me how he had been working hard all morning and half the afternoon at the school, replacing a water fountain, ironically enough. About 4:00 that afternoon he started getting knife-like pains in his lower back. They continued all evening. No medicine was even touching the pain. He eventually called his doc who recommended he go to the ER. The ER docs worked up the sonograms or whatever they used to look inside his body, and they saw that his kidneys had actually shrunken up! They told him that he had reached such a level of dehydration that his kidneys were in danger of failing. Needless to say they got him on an IV drip and pumped him full of juices. He avoided the narcotic pain killers and was in pain for over four days! Eventually things settled back down.

Don't let your kidneys shrink! Be a whole person, deeply hydrated and fully functional! I think it will change your life, this water consumption. And once you see the difference being hydrated makes, you'll never go back. You'll be one of those people you see always carrying around their Nalgene water bottles or buying the cases of bottled water so they always have a portable supply. And now you'll understand why!

As always, be well my friends.
And most of all... drink that water!

Water, water everywhere...

2006-09-01T21:33:00.000-04:00

I mentioned in one of my previous posts that before I started taking my daily regimen on twenty pills full of vitamins and amino acids (which make my pee the color of that liquid inside a glow stick), I was drinking around 140 ounces of water a day. That's the equivalent of about 15 cups of water. Thas a lotta water! I monitored my hydration level by looking at the color of my urine. If it was anything other than clear, I chugged the water. And, like I stated in my post on rebirth, this strategy helped me maintain a relatively positive mindset.

I'd started this sort of fanatical water consumption back in the mid-90's when a fellow teacher recommended that every morning I drink two big glasses of water first thing. His reasoning sounded, um, sound. If our bodies truly are over 60% water, and each of us spends the entire night without a drink of water, then we all wake up dehydrated.

Drinking a couple of glasses first thing in the morning really does help! If you're not doing it, you should try. Do this little experiment. For the next week, when you wake up, drink two glasses of water before doing anything else. Chug them down. For many of you who are unaccustomed to drinking water on a regular basis, the water itself might not taste good. Make sure you're letting the pipes clear out of the stagnant water that's been sitting all night. Get that good cool water for your first glasses. (My first night in a new home, I had a few too many beers in celebration. Waking up the next day I chugged two or three large glasses of water straight from the tap. Within moments I was retching in the toilet, my body rejecting the copper laden water that had sat in the pipes all night. *ugh*) I think you'll find that the more you drink water, the better it tastes. I also think that as you start your day rehydrating yourself, you'll find some interesting changes in how you approach your day.

Be aware of your body and your mind. Do you feel any different having imbibed those two glasses of water? Do you feel more awake? Is that morning headache miraculously gone? Do you have more energy? Are you more cheery and flexible in your mindset? Is it easier to smile and let the little things roll off you back rather than obsess on small irritations.

Tomorrow, I'll expand on this idea of water as an incredible curative power in our lives. I'll also detail what happens in extreme cases of dehydration. It's not pretty.

Check out the link for some current research into the amount of water we should be drinking. Like most science, there is no clear consensus. What is clear is that we should be listening more closely to our bodies and the needs our bodies work to communicate.

http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/library/NU/00283.html

Be well my friends.

Emergency Room Homeopathy

2006-08-31T20:04:00.000-04:00

I just found this article discussing the use of homeopathic remedies in the emergency room. Quite interesting and promising. Could we eventually move towards a more inclusive and accepting view of homeopathy in the traditional hospital?
http://www.camresearch.net/showabstract.php?pmid=16425109

Also, on the forums at Hpathy.com, there's a heated debate about the use of combination remedies and combination potencies that poses a hypothetical question about choosing homeopathics in life-or-death situations and details many homeopaths' views. Check it out and leave me a comment on what you're thinking.
http://www.hpathy.com/homeopathyforums/forum_posts.asp?TID=4674&PN=1&TPN=1

Be well.

My rebirth.

2006-08-27T11:52:00.000-04:00

Back in May, right towards the end of the school year, my life took a drastic turn. I'm not going to share all the lurid details. Suffice it to say that I reached a personal crossroads. Continue blindly and recklessly on the path I'd been on for the last several years, or make some changes and try to get back on the right path. Thankfully, with the help of a supportive wife and family, I was able to create meaningful and powerfully transformative change that has enhanced nearly every aspect of my life.

If you've never heard of the Great Smokies Medical Center, you're not alone. It's a small clinic in the mountains of western North Carolina that specializes in treatment of the whole patient rather than just the symptoms. The nice thing about the GSMC is that it doesn't reject traditional medicine in favor of alternatives. It understands that traditional medicine has a role to play in creating and maintaining health. What's unique about the GSMC's approach is that it works to get at the root of what's causing the symptoms the patient is experiencing rather than just suppressing the sypmtoms with pharmaceuticals. Then, if the root of the problem needs traditional or alternative methods of treatment, they have both at their disposal.

For the last seven years I'd been experiencing dramatic mood shifts that had been negatively affecting my relationships. I was very aware of these mood shifts, hated them, wanted to avoid them, but I just didn't know how. For years my basic approach was to maintain a high level of hydration by drinking enormous amounts of water. Seriously, I drank over 140 ounces of water a day! That's like drinking twelve soda cans of water. For the most part, this helped my moods be even. But when I'd let my water levels slip, even a little, usually between getting home from teaching and eating dinner, I'd end up getting grumpy and creating a negative space around bedtime. This couldn't last. It had far reaching negative effects.

A friend of our recommended the Great Smokies Medical Center. (http://www.gsmcweb.com/) I went and spoke with one of their nurse practicioners. Pam was amazing. She took my health history and lined me up for some (expensive!) tests. I initially balked at spending so much on the tests, but went ahead and did it. My wife and I sweated out the time between taking the tests and getting the results. On the day I was to get my results we even had a fight about the process. We both were desperate to see that something was wrong with me and that we could do something to create a change in my behavior. Worst case scenario would be having spent all that money and then the doc says, "Hey, you're fine! I don't know what's wrong. Let's take more tests!"

Luckily, something was wrong. Long analysis short, my neurotransmitter levels were way out of whack. "It's a wonder you're not crawling out of your skin," Pam told me, much to my relief. For some reason, it was so reassuring to know that there was a physiological reason for my emotional instability.

She started me on an extensive and expensive regimen of vitamins, amino acids, and other good stuff that has truly created those changes I was so desperate to make. I'm probably spending over $150 a month on these supplements, but if they make my moods more stable, it's all worth it. In fact, it's difficult to put a price tag on saving one's marriage. These supplements were worth it.

My moods are even. I don't have to drink such enormous amounts of water anymore. I'm much more patient with my little girls. And it's not that I've become a mellow zombie. I still am enjoyable and laugh freely. I probably laugh more now! In many aspects, my life has transitioned onto a much more positive and hopeful path. I feel full of hope and excitement about my future, both personally, professionally, and most importantly with my family.

I truly am living the life I always wanted, and I am blessed to live it with those I love.

Be well, my friends.

Magnet Therapy

2006-08-23T21:39:00.000-04:00

Back in college (man, that seems like a lifetime ago), I woke up nearly every day with pain in my lower back. Walking around I was the guy you saw with both his hands planted firmly on his back, always stretching and arching my back. It was uncomfortable to sit for extended periods of time (which made class lectures difficult, to say nothing about the often times boring content of those enormous classes). It got to the point where I just felt like I was going to be one of those people who always had back pain.

My father, a traditional physician in southwest rural Colorado, heard about the practice of using magnets to help people with a variety of ailments. My dad, understand, is not a liberal minded guy. Up until very recently, he felt that GW Bush was one of our smartest presidents (he has since changed his mind). His practice was totally traditional AMA medicine. Even today, when I tell him I've had trouble with my sinuses or might be battling a head cold, he recommends antibiotics before things "get out of hand." That's what's worked for him and the countless thousands of patients he's had over the forty years or so of his practice. It's hard to knock that kind of lasting power.

Nonetheless, for him to recommend magnet therapy was quite significant to me. I was willing to give it a try. He ordered me a pair of magnetic insoles to place in my shoes, a magnetic pad that fit inside a belt that could be placed on my lower back, and, my favorite of all, he bought me a magnetic mattress pad.

This pad was about two inches thick and made of that egg carton material- only this pad had tiny magnets inserted in the egg carton material. Lying on the pad, you couldn't feel the magnets. And the pad was pretty comfy all by itself.

Lo and behold! In less than a week, my lower back pain had disappeared. There is no reasonable or even pseudo-scientific explanation for why these magnets worked for me. I briefly tried to sell the product, but ended up just giving them away when I saw others in pain who I felt might benefit from the magnets. But in the one sales conference my father and I attended, the presenters were careful to remind us that we weren't to promise any results. None of us knew how these things worked, but for many of us the results were unquestionable. I couldn't even spend the night at my girlfriend's house during those college years without waking up with that old familiar soreness.

So was I simply the victim of my own mind? Was this just the placebo affect working? Even the people selling the product didn't have an explanation. One of the founders of the company had been healed from a terribly degenerative disease using this magnet therapy. It makes me wonder, does it even matter if it's just our minds healing us?

Perhaps we need something external within which to place our faith in order to heal ourselves. Perhaps that is how all of our true healing occurs, through the power of our minds. It simply takes a framework of belief and empowerment before our bodies can be convinced.

I overworked my back hauling up my seventh grade literature textbooks to my new classroom yesterday. I found that old magnet pad in my closet once I got home, and I placed it up against my lower back. There's something comfortably familiar about feeling its subtle presence there under my shirt. Maybe I'll wake up healed in the morning, ready for my first day of students...

Be well my friends.

Did you see the latest episode of 30 Days?

2006-08-22T22:17:00.000-04:00

Did you see last week's episode of 30 Days? If you've never seen the show, it's one to be added to your viewing schedule. Morgan Spurlock, the producer and star of the movie Supersize Me!, has created a unique reality show (no, really, it truly is unique and not cheesy at all!) where he puts different people into different situations for thirty days. Their experiences during those thirty days nearly always become transformative in one way or another. In so doing, it creates opportunities for inspection of one's own values.

In the season premier, a member of the MinuteMen, the militia group in the southern US on the watch for illegal immigrants, moved in with a family of illegal immigrants in California. The Minute Man and his parents had legally emigrated from Cuba when he was a small boy. Watching this I thought there would be no way his perspective would be changed. And, for most of the show, it didn't. Only when he visited the other family members still living in Mexico did he reevaluate his position. Once he saw the extreme poverty this loving, generous, hard working family came to America to escape, you could see his eyes open. Illegal immigration no longer was simply a case of foreigners trying to take over "his" country. The issue, like so many issues, became much more complicated for this man.

Back to alternative health...The latest episode had an overweight stressed-out salesman pursue a variety of different alternative health practices. From meditation to scream therapy to walking over hot coals, this guy was pretty open-minded (this surprised me!) in his experimentation with the world of alternative healing. I was proud of how open he was to healing his body by recognizing the connection between his emotional well-being (or lack thereof) and his physical wellness.

The producer spent a brief couple of minutes talking with a guy who proclaimed that any therapy that hadn't been "proven" by science was a fake and a waste of money. Other than that, the show reflected the different paths to healing quite well. Its focus was on being open to change, being more conscious in the moment, and allowing oneself to feel the emotions generated in different situations without suppressing them. It also discussed the role of energy in health and healing, looking at a couple of examples of young cancer survivors who had turned away from modern medicine (chemotherapy and radiation treatments) in favor of energetic healers to quite positive effect.

I only wish they show had looked at the role of "modern" medicine in creating the cycle of sickness, the treatment of symptoms through suppression and the subsequent creation of the facade of health, only to often experience deeper sickness later. Homeopathy (my favorite alternative!) wasn't even mentioned once!

But Morgan Spurlock can be forgiven... I love the show. If you haven't checked it out, it plays out here in western NC on Wednesdays around 10:00. Watch it and leave me a comment on your thoughts.

(I've left a link to his show through the fx network below. Ugh, I feel a little dirty conducting such base advertising...)
http://www.fxnetworks.com/shows/originals/30days/main.html
Be well!

Self-defense for the Classroom Teacher

2006-08-21T20:49:00.000-04:00

Once the school year starts, I'm always on the watch for the slightest sign of a cold. If you've ever put yourself in front of a classroom full of pre-teens and just barely teenagers, you know how demanding it can be. With a cold, you've hardly got a chance. The nice thing about teaching is that you can take a sick day if necessary. But usually the sub that comes in can't really move the class forward like it needs to. Many of us have learned to try to suck it up and tough out those days where we feel under the weather for the sake of our students' education (such martyrs, aren't we?).

Ever since I started working with King Bio, I always keep his Cold and Flu homeopathic remedy in my desk drawer. Typically a sickness, like the cold, follows a predictable pattern. For me, I get that tiny sore throat way in the back of my mouth. This lasts for about twelve hours. Then I get a bit of a runny nose and some sinus pressure. From there, I get the full blown cold. If I catch that cold early on in the sore throat stage, and dose myself up with my homeopathic, I often can fit off that sickness entirely! And, if I catch it just a bit late, taking that remedy helps soften and shorten the cold.

I can't tell you how many times these homeopathic remedies have saved me. If you're interested in the homeopathics I use, leave a comment and I'll get back to you. You can also order off the company's website www.kingbio.com.

One note of caution for all you first year teachers just getting started: there's precious little you can do for your sweet untested immune system. Get ready to be sick. Consider it a rite of passage for the uninitiated teacher. But on the flip side, once you make it through that first year, your immune system will be rock solid!

Good luck all you teachers out there. I know first hand just how valuable your service is to our children. Just remember when things get tough, we are literally saving these kids' lives by giving them the tools they need to succeed!

With all this focus on health, who has time to get sick?

2006-08-20T20:26:00.000-04:00

Wouldn't you know that after spending all this time focusing on health and homeopathy and working on getting the word out about King Bio's groundbreaking grant that provides homeopathic remedies free of charge to groups working in the health care industry, a big ol' head cold sneaks up and zaps me!

My wife had been suffering (just a little because she's way tougher than me) from a little sinus trouble this last week. For the most part we refrained from kissing and the usual sort of germ swapping thing that goes on around here. But I think she might've snuck in one little kiss when I wasn't watching.

I went to bed feeling fine after selling popcorn all night at Asheville's Downtown After Five concert. I should have known something was up when I dreamed my head was so filled with green goo that I quickly filled up a bathroom sink trying to clear it out *ugh*. And, when I woke up, my dream had come true. My head was clogged tight!

That day I doggedly took the cold/flu homeopathic remedy from King Bio, but really that remedy works best when you catch a cold at its initial onslaught. Usually I can sense a cold coming on when I get that little sore throat. Immediately I hit it hard with the homeopathic and dose up on the Vitamin C (I take nearly 6000mg a day when I'm in self-defense mode!), some zinc, and some goldenseal. But this time I had no warning.

Do you think my cold is learning my defenses and adapting more complicated guerilla style tactics? Oh well. It's starting to pass. Good thing. I've got a hundred seventh grade students joining me in my classroom this Thursday and lots to do to get ready. Wish me luck!

If you get a chance, check out the press I'm starting to get on the King Bio Community Outreach Program Grant. This is that grant I mentioned providing free remedies. You'd be amazed how difficult it's been giving stuff away! If you know of anyone who wants in on the program, just leave a comment and I'll get back to them ASAP!

http://www.pr.com/press-release/16045

More Support for Combination Remedies

2006-08-17T19:44:00.000-04:00

Check out this article by Dana Ullman, a respected natural medicine advocate who has dedicated much of his life to researching, manufacturing, and distributing homeopathic remedies, much like Dr. King. I found this article to be well written and very balanced, unlike much of the literature out there that claims combination homeopathy is utterly useless and the only path to health is through classical homeopathy. Clearly there are arguments both for and against this contemporary combining of remedies into "super remedies" but to throw the baby out with the bathwater just because Hahnemann wasn't convinced of the merits of combination remedies over a hundred years ago seems short sighted and close minded.

Here's a link to the article. It seems that some of us might just be ahead of the game with regards to these combination homeopathic remedies...

http://www.lyghtforce.com/HomeopathyOnline/issue2/revchap1.html

The growing acceptance of combination remedies

2006-08-16T19:55:00.000-04:00

The online homeopathic community seems quite full of those who follow the traditional, or classical, homeopathic approach. In fact, I'm hard pressed to find much information about these combination, or contemporary, homeopathic remedies that I haven't actively asked for in a forum or otherwise. Is it that this type of homeopathic remedy is so new that people haven't seen it being used? Or is it a traditional homeopathic's bias away from anything that wasn't specifically incorporated into Hahnemann's repetoire?

Even Hahnemann looked into the combination remedies as a potential new source of healing. Many of the more open-minded homeopaths I've connected with realize that these contemporary remedies have shown themselves to be very effective in acute conditions. And when pressed what they would rather use in an acute crisis, they would much rather use a combination homeopathic remedy than the potentially toxic pharmaceuticals given in our hospitals.

It looks like the next step for our powerful contemporary remedies would be to begin "proving" their efficacy in the homeopathic lab. I'm just learning what this process entails, but it looks like something that is beyond my means. I'm hoping that one of my readers might be able to help connect me with other homeopaths that would be interested in proving some of King Bio's combination contemporary remedies.

I know the power of these remedies. I can't wait to share them with the rest of the world.

Research on combination homeopathic remedies

2006-08-14T22:45:00.000-04:00

As many of you know, I've been working with King Bio for the last little bit. I did some writing with Dr. Frank King back in 1998 when we published a little "Guide to Homeopathy." It was enlightening and invigorating working with Dr. King and sharing his vision.

Now, I've become the Public Relations guy for the company. It's a great feeling working to spread the good news about homeopathy and King Bio specifically. I've been trying hard to create an online presence in the homeopathic world, posting on forums, reading and submitting articles to journals, and generally getting a feel for what the current state of homeopathy is.

Now I've been asked to write an article on current research and theory behind the combination remedies being produced by Dr. King at King Bio. Quite exciting news, this is! Since I know so little about how Dr. King first developed his homeopathic remedies over twenty years ago, I look forward to some lively discussions with him over the next couple of weeks as I try to write this challenging (and rewarding!) article.

I promise to keep you informed as the research and theory comes in!

State of Minnesota ahead of the curve!

2006-08-13T18:48:00.000-04:00

I just read that low-income citizens in the state of Minnesota can receive state-funded complementary and alternative medicine. Further research is required into what exactly will be covered, but it sure sounds like a great start. Down the article, the republican representative who authored the law recognized how alternative medicine might just save the state a whole lot of money.

I sure wish we had more forward thinking legislators!

http://www.massagemag.com/News/2006/January/Minnesota.php

classical versus contemporary homeopathy forum

2006-08-13T18:11:00.000-04:00

For the last several weeks I've been looking into the differences of opinion between classical homeopathy, or homeopathy where a homeopath utilizes only one remedy at one specific potency at a time, and contemporary homeopathy where multiple remedies and potencies are combined together into one new remedy. Seeing as how my knowledge base of homeopathy is very limited, it has been quite an eye-opening process.

The main arguments against combination homeopathics seem to be that as a patient experiences results with a combination, it is difficult to know which remedy or potency is creating a change. Homeopaths like to utilize the least amount of intervention possible, so I can see how this would be an issue for them.

The main arguments for combination homeopathics seem to be their ease of use. The latest postings on the forum linked to above discuss how these combination homeopathics might just be the bridge allowing more of the mainstream to see the power and effect of homeopathy.

Check out the forums. Leave a post. Bless us with your opinions.
http://www.hpathy.com/homeopathyforums/forum_posts.asp?TID=4617&TPN=1

More Science on Homeopathy

2006-08-06T15:08:00.000-04:00

I found this interesting link on a blog of a scientist who set out to disprove homeopathy but ended up finding measurable results of the efficacy of a homeopathic remedy. Neat stuff!

NCCAM Report on Homeopathy

2006-08-05T20:29:00.000-04:00

Hey everyone! This is a great link to a very balanced view on homeopathy by the National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine. I know I tend to be somewhat biased in my thougts on homeopathy (only because I've experienced wonderful results!), but this report takes a great look at both sides of the current state of homeopathy and the debate surrounding it.

2006-08-05T17:18:00.000-04:00

I've just recently returned from Dallas, Texas where I was visiting my ailing aunt and aging uncle. These two surrogate grandparents have been very special to me as I grew up and became an adult. I received the call last week that Edna was in her last days and that Kess, my great uncle, was asking if I could come to visit. I immediately got a seat on a plane and was at their house Tuesday this week.

As anyone who has witnessed the gradual passing of a loved one knows, it is amazing what the body can endure before finally calling it quits. Aunt Edna had entered the hospital over two months earlier after a fall that broke her wrist and injured her shoulder. While there, she began having adverse reactions to her treatment. During a colonoscopy, we think she might have had her colon perforated by the doctor. A steady stream of antibiotics ensued, but little healing occurred. After a couple of weeks of feeling horrible and getting worse, Edna was able to communicate her desire to return home to wait out her final days.

When I got to her bedside, she had been unresponsive for over a week. Her son and husband honored her wishes by removing her feeding tubes, her anitbiotics, and we loved ones began our separate pilgrimages to say goodbye. I saw her as a shell of the formerly tough-as-nails woman I'd always known. Her shrunken face and emaciated frame brought tears to my eyes. I spent two nights with her and my Uncle Kess. I held her lifeless hand and stroked her head, kissed her forehead and spoke reassuringly to her. Four hours after I said goodbye and boarded the plane for home, she passed away quietly.

How often have we had a loved one who went into the hospital and became sicker or even died? How effective is our current state of health care at achieving, attaining, or sustaining health? I'm not saying that Edna's death was caused by the hospital. What I am saying is that the time spent in the hospital was plagued by indecision, doubt, pain, and a serious feeling of disempowerment on the part of Edna and her entire attending family. Only when Edna finally decided to return home did she and her family begin to feel a real sense of direction and empowerment.

The angels of hospice provided constant support for Edna, Kess, and the rest of the family. Those workers are underpaid and should have a special place waiting for them when they meet their maker.

I meant to speak with Frank King from King Bio about making a homeopathic specifically designed for these end of life moments. The health picture is so complicated and the needs are quite diverse. But if anyone can develop a remedy for that difficult time, it is he.

I love Edna and Kess. I don't know what Kess will do now that his rock is gone. I know he want to follow her. After sicty-seven years of marriage, who could blame him? Perhaps when he goes, he will pass in his sleep with dreams of his lost loved one in his mind.

If only we all could be that lucky.

2006-07-31T13:42:00.000-04:00

Hey everyone. I've created this blog to document my time spent with alternative healing methods and the tiny bit I'm doing to encourage and educate others about the power available to us through some of these alternatives.

I grew up in a medically traditional household. My dad is a physician and was always there for me with any medical treatment I ever needed. And that treatment has always served me well. I grew up healthy and loved and I eventually became a very confident and happy adult. That's got to account for something.

My first experience with alternative medicine, in this case, homeopathy, was about eight years ago. I was teaching middle school outside Asheville, North Carolina. The father of one of my favorite students was the president of a local homeopathic manufacturing company. I'd never even heard of homeopathy, much less tried any of them. After speaking with him for some time, taking my family to dinner at his house, meeting the rest of his family, and visiting him at his office, I began to realize that there was more to medicine than the traditional viewpoint delivered to us by the American Medical Association.

Dr. Frank King, president of King Bio, initiated me into the realm of alternative healing. It wasn't some spooky late night candlelit ceremony with robes and incense (even though that would've been pretty cool). It was more along the lines of extensive conversations about homeopathy, its history, how it works, and how his homeopathic remedies embodied the next generation of homeopathy. I'd had no idea that prior to the creation of the AMA, homeopathy was the predominantly practiced medicine in much of the western world. Entire hospitals utilized homeopathic methods. Several dozen homeopathic medical schools were educating thousands of students. Literally millions of people were being helped through homeopathy.

I'm not a big conspiracy theory fan. I'm not going into the sordid details behind the creation of the AMA and their constant and ongoing efforts at disgracing alternative medicine, especially homeopathy and chiropractic. (check out this link if you want more info! http://www.newstarget.com/008845.html) (this one's not too bad, either, even though I don't agree with all of Rockwell's stated opinions: http://www.healthe-livingnews.com/articles/american_medical_association_sorbid_history.html)

Suffice it to say, once the AMA, pharmaceuticals, and pharmaceutical manufacturers came on the scene, the world of medicine and healing changed forever.

Did the western world's concept of health change first, or was the entire concept of health care changed by the invention of pharmaceuticals? Who knows? No doubt the world was changing, and people's perception of health care was changing with it. But with the constant propaganda being dished out by the AMA, the original traditional medicine, homeopathy, didn't have a chance. Even today it's considered an alternative medicine. What happened in countries that didn't have the AMA? Brittain and many other European countries still have vibrant and effective homeopathic medical practices.

Which brings me back to my current experiences with homeopathy. So I met Dr. King and was introduced to homeopathy. I spoke with him about my current health picture (primarily my seasonal allergies and occasional headaches). He utlized a muscle testing procedure with several of his remedies (I'll go into more detail about this in future posts), and found a couple of remedies that my body told him would be beneficial. Even now, years later, I'm still amazed at the empowering ability of homeopathy and its ability to elucidate the body's needs! Within five months, I no longer experienced any seasonal allergy symptoms. What's nice is that, unlike taking a pharmaceutical for your allergies that only suppresses the symptoms of the allergy, homeopathy has healed my body! I no longer need to take the homeopathic remedy! Are you starting to see why modern pharmaceutical companies don't like homeopathy? What would happen to sales of pharmaceuticals if, like homeopathic remedies, the medicine actually cured what was wrong? "You mean, I have to take this pill for the rest of my life doctor?" How is that healing?

Fast forward seven years. I approached Dr. King at King Bio for some part-time employment during the summer (I teach English to middle schoolers the rest of the time). Together we created a Community Outreach Program designed to provide free of charge homeopathic remedies and education to service organizations meeting the health needs of low-income individuals and familes. We've even got a grant for animal care providers! Again, I'll give more info on these exciting things later.

You're probably reading this blog for one of two reasons: One, you have been failed by modern medicine and are seeking an alternative. Or two, you are a vigorous proponent of modern medicine and want to see what the other side is saying. Either way, I think you'll find this blog engaging. Each update I'll try to give you a bit more behind the history of homeopathy while also updating my current experiences and current events in the world of health and healing.

I look forward to hearing from some of you out there!