• Alcohol & Cigarettes: the body’s cry for moments of stillness.

    May 28, 2013

    8 Comments

    by Sue Kira, Naturopath, Gold Coast, Australia. 

    When I am with clients who are suffering from fatigue, we discuss the things that may have been draining their energy.

    Some share with me how they like to have a glass of wine or two at the end of each day to wind down. It can make the difference between them saying to their kids, “Ok it’s bath time darlings”, rather than angrily blurting out “get in the bath you little monsters or I’ll…!”

    All they want is some peace and quiet at the end of the day. How often have we used a glass of wine, a cigarette or even a cup of tea or coffee to sit quietly and unwind? That moment when you have a sip of the drink, or drag on the cigarette and you are totally focused on the moment; think about it…the long drag in and then exhale with relief, or the sip, swallow and the ‘ahhhh’ as you breathe out with ‘relief’ and relaxation.

    I realised that what people often miss when they give up these things is the time to simply relax and just ‘be’, because our bodies really crave moments of stillness. Continue reading »

  • Healing Choices and Abnormal Pap Smears

    May 23, 2013

    6 Comments

    by Amina Tumi, Hair Salon Owner, London

    When I was 20, I had a Pap smear test, which was abnormal. Because of this I have had to have yearly tests since then. I had colposcopy and treatment 6 years ago but every smear test was abnormal, until 2012.  Last year and this year the results have been normal again. I have not had any additional treatment since the colposcopy six years ago although it is possible I missed follow up appointments due to moving house and changing doctors.

    What strikes me as very interesting is that I have changed my life so very much in the last two years; the way I eat, the way I sleep, the way I work, the way I am with people. I feel that this cannot be a coincidence. I feel that my recent choices must have something to do with this change in my smear results. Continue reading »

  • Medicine for Humanity

    May 19, 2013

    9 Comments

    By Cherise Holt, Nurse, Australia

    A group of health professionals gather at a conference with the purpose of sharing through research and experience, so as to educate and support each other in their common specialities of health and medicine. Professors, Doctors, Scientists and Nurses have travelled from around the country with special guests from across the world to contribute, communicate and impart knowledge from their experiences or simply to ascertain further understanding of the health issues and complications that are presented with their patients each day. I appreciated being here, as I understand the importance of science and medicine to our health and our wellbeing.

    For me, the most interesting portion of the conference was the presented case studies. A patient’s disease symptoms were discussed (in a confidential and professional manner) so that colleagues can share from their own expertise to reach diagnosis and treatment options with the patients’ best health interests as the aim. Offered alongside the symptoms is a brief outline of their medical history, including any other illnesses, medications, family history, age, sex, marital status, (children), religion if applicable and whether they smoke cigarettes or drink alcohol. It was here that I couldn’t help but feel that something was missing, like I had a puzzle in front of me with many missing pieces. Although the ability to diagnose and manage the immediate symptoms could be made, the puzzle still felt incomplete. Continue reading »

  • Beyond Depression – An Effortless Approach

    May 6, 2013

    21 Comments

    By Marianna Masiorski B Psych (Hons) MAPS (Sunshine Coast, Australia)

    We grow up living in a way that is pushed, and believing that striving, effort and strain in all areas of life will deliver “something better”. And I see that this approach has transferred to financial or material “gains” as adults and also has tainted our approach to healing in general and our mental or emotional health.

    Most of us have been raised from a very young age to believe that we must try hard, work hard and “always try our best”. We have been taught that the effort we exert is the key to success and that it is the level of effort we exert that other people will appreciate or recognise, not the outcome. And if we fail, we should simply try harder.

    Who has ever been told, “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again”? Many of us as children felt “pushed” at school, either academically, behaviourally or physically to “do better”, get better grades, be top of the class or first in sporting and physical activities. School reports have sections for grading both outcome and level or amount of effort that a child is identified to have made. We judge and are judged, not by our nature, but specifically, the nature of the effort we show. Continue reading »

  • Breast Cancer: what links us?

    May 4, 2013

    14 Comments

    by Fiona McGovern

    Last week as I sat in the over-full waiting room for my oncology appointment, a woman passed me by handing out questionnaires on the chemotherapy and cancer services in our local health board area. I asked if I could have one and she apologised as she had not recognised me as a cancer patient. She explained that the number of cancer patients was predicted to rise by 9% in the next few years and the services could not cope as they are at present, so the questionnaire was to establish where their resources should be spent in order to best cope.

    I pondered on how best to answer the questions.  I felt supported by the present system but knew too well that some basic questions were not being asked: why do so many women have breast cancer?  How are women living that creates such an illness in their bodies? How can we educate and support our young girls to be, so that breast cancer is not inevitable for them? Continue reading »

  • Seeing my Doctor is now Part of my Self-care

    April 28, 2013

    3 Comments

    by Jane Keep, UK 

    Some years ago, I believed that getting ill was a sign of weakness, and that going to the doctor was not necessary.  I was strongly independent, and pushed hard to keep going, feeling that if I got ill, or used my local health services, that meant I had done something wrong, and that others might judge me.  I also went through a phase where I didn’t want to use any pharmaceutical medicines, as I wanted to avoid putting ‘toxins’ into my body.  There were times when I had an infection or an ache or a pain and I would struggle through, trying to find some natural remedy, which usually didn’t work.  I prided myself when I spoke to colleagues and friends that I rarely saw my doctor and, looking back this was rather odd, as I have worked in the National Health Service (NHS) for 33 years, in many forms of care environments, yet I never actually considered that I myself may need support or care from the NHS or my local doctor (General Practitioner /GP) at any time.

    Continue reading »

  • My Marriage of Conventional Medicine and Esoteric Medicine

    April 24, 2013

    22 Comments

    by Fiona McGovern, Isle of Arran, Scotland 

    Where I live cancer seems rife; every day we hear of another neighbour, acquaintance or friend with a diagnosis of cancer. Personally I have metastatic breast cancer; I was diagnosed six years ago at the age of 47. Finding the lump now 9 years ago was a huge shock and yet underneath the shock I heard a very still voice say: “This is your time to heal, Fiona.” I began an outward search for an answer, and as I have already written elsewhere on this blog, this took me way off path.

    When I began to work with Serge Benhayon seven years ago, I began my return to true healing, to the expression of the real Fiona – a beautiful playful wise woman, whom I had lost in all my outward searching.

    How did I reconnect with her? I married conventional medicine, in the form of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, with esoteric medicine. Practically, the first step was to open myself to what the doctors could do for me. The second was to throw out all my ideals and beliefs about healing – and there were many!! Once I did this I found accepting chemotherapy straightforward. I stopped worrying about the side-effects and instead had fun with the wigs. I am now on my third, a blonde one, and am researching whether blondes really do have more fun!!! Continue reading »

  • The Unhealthy Pressure of Society

    March 6, 2013

    11 Comments

    by Steffen Messerschmidt, Naturopathic Doctor, Brisbane, Australia.

    In the clinics where I practice, patients frequently report to me that they often only drink alcohol, take drugs or eat certain foods in order to be socially accepted and to fit in.

    These days, in many circles, it is socially and culturally acceptable to drink alcohol, take drugs and eat in a way that is not supportive of our bodies and our health, and often makes us feel sluggish and bloated.

    But for some, this way of living is recognised as no longer working and they are making different choices such as: not to drink, to quit smoking, go to bed early, to take better care of themselves, live a simple, joyful and loving life showing respect and love towards humanity and to respect others without judgement for their choices. Continue reading »

  • Beautiful Bowels and Beyond

    March 3, 2013

    15 Comments

    By Adrienne Ryan, Brisbane, Australia

    A few months ago I was feeling not so great in my body. I was overweight, tired, my period had been going haywire and I had been experiencing discomfort in what I thought was my left ovary area. It had been some time since I had gone to my GP. Usually I visited him when I was too sick to work. This time was different. I was still working and going about my day-to-day life, but I realised that I wasn’t feeling good and I wanted to know why. I decided to book in for a thorough check-up to see what was happening with my 46 year old body.

    I enjoyed being there with my doctor, taking the time to say, “Hey, I’m not sick sick, but I don’t feel well either.”

    We did some hormone tests and these were all normal. It turned out the area I thought was ovary discomfort was actually my bowel and we scheduled a colonoscopy. My GP also recommended a bone scan. Continue reading »

  • From Misery to Fun at Work!

    February 15, 2013

    11 Comments

    By Felicity, Registered Nurse and Midwife, ACT, Australia

    I was never all that keen on work. For many years I saw it as a necessary evil and hoped the years until retirement would pass quickly and I could get into a laid back lifestyle that would suit me better. I had been nursing for years, really liked the patients and giving care, but felt burdened by the misery and problems I saw every day amongst patients and staff. How could I help them? I had no real clue. I was just as burned out by the ‘system’ as those that perpetuated it. From my university based training, I learned that I had to do everything right and have all the answers as often as possible, placing me under enormous pressure to be perfect. There was no discussion ever about the way in which I worked or the quality I offered to people when I walked through the door.

    A few years ago I started attending the Universal Medicine (UM) clinic and met people who worked there who were incredibly dedicated and interested in their work and this was always the case at any session. I never once felt like they were watching the clock or bored out of their minds by clients. Never once did they appear to have “Monday I have Friday on my mind” syndrome.  Instead I felt a steadiness; I could tell they actually understood me and they held a love very solid. Hmmm, how was this possible? Were they superhuman or very good fakes? Continue reading »