Guest guest Posted October 3, 2003 Report Share Posted October 3, 2003 Mark said: " there are only certain personality types who would even have any desire to live longer than normal, so CR is not at all something that most people should even pay attention to or consider. " I am drawn to the concept of lengthening life also. Where did you begin to realise eating less would help you achieve this? I get the feeling you have studied the eastern cultures some what. Are you a Qi gong pracitioner? Do you know of mantak chia's work? Joanne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 3, 2003 Report Share Posted October 3, 2003 @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@2 > Mark said: > " there are only > certain personality types who would even have any desire to live > longer than normal, so CR is not at all something that most people > should even pay attention to or consider. " > > > I am drawn to the concept of lengthening life also. Where did you begin to > realise eating less would help you achieve this? I get the feeling you have > studied the eastern cultures some what. Are you a Qi gong pracitioner? Do > you know of mantak chia's work? > > Joanne @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ Hi Joanne, It's not known whether CR will lengthen life; it's only a very plausible theory without sufficient empirical support. My philosophy is " it's worth a try " . The best book to read is " Beyond the 120 Year Diet " by Roy Walford, and his website is <walford.com>. Beware of his occasionally poor nutritional advice. Beyond anecdotes of skinny old men meditating and living long, I've never connected CR to eastern cultures. I don't have any special interest or knowledge in eastern cultures beyond being very interested in all human cultures and that being about half the world. I don't know anything about the Qi gong or Mantak Chia. I'm generally curious and intrigued about the spiritual traditions, but more from the perspective of an scientific outsider who could extract anthropological knowledge and hints about universally applicable aesthetic and bodily health practices. I'm severely disinclined to be an adherent or practitioner of anything I don't create myself. The only other personal connections I can think of to eastern cultures is that one of my scientific specializations is japanese linguistics, and that i have a strong interest in a number of eastern musical traditions (korean opera, indonesian gamelan, cambodian folk music, etc, etc). oh yeah, and of course food... mike parker Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 3, 2003 Report Share Posted October 3, 2003 Mantak Chia writes some interesting books about what he terms as sexual healing arts. He uses Qi gong - translated to something like Qi Cultivation (Qi/Chi means energy that suffused all things, much like the term prahna) . It is a widely used Taoist practise and has been for thousands of years. It is practised daily for health and rejuvenation and of course life extension. One of the things Chia recommends is to avoid ejaculation, transmuting the sexual energy and recirculating it within the body. My partner has practised this for two years now and has experienced a marked increase in energy, mental clarity and overall health. Longevity we are yet to see but many of his patients find it hard to take him seriously at first. Until they discover how old he actually is they assume he is the apprentice (he is an acupuncturist) Most people think he is between 17 and 22 but he is actually 33. That is much to do with his small elfin-like appearance but I have noticed he seems to have grown younger - smoother skin - more muscle growth - less lines and tiredness around the eyes. I'm sure NT food ways has something to do with this also. I hope it is working for me to. Strangers probably think I'm a sugar mumma. Mantak Chia can be found on the net. Just do a search. Ladies will be happy to know that Mantak's wife Manawee has written some books also about the female version of this she terms it as ovarian Kung Fu. I haven't gotten into this yet but intend to. Let me know mike if you decide to explore this. Joanne > Hi Joanne, > It's not known whether CR will lengthen life; it's only a very > plausible theory without sufficient empirical support. My philosophy > is " it's worth a try " . The best book to read is " Beyond the 120 Year > Diet " by Roy Walford, and his website is <walford.com>. Beware of > his occasionally poor nutritional advice. > > Beyond anecdotes of skinny old men meditating and living long, I've > never connected CR to eastern cultures. I don't have any special > interest or knowledge in eastern cultures beyond being very > interested in all human cultures and that being about half the > world. I don't know anything about the Qi gong or Mantak Chia. I'm > generally curious and intrigued about the spiritual traditions, but > more from the perspective of an scientific outsider who could extract > anthropological knowledge and hints about universally applicable > aesthetic and bodily health practices. I'm severely disinclined to > be an adherent or practitioner of anything I don't create myself. > The only other personal connections I can think of to eastern > cultures is that one of my scientific specializations is japanese > linguistics, and that i have a strong interest in a number of eastern > musical traditions (korean opera, indonesian gamelan, cambodian folk > music, etc, etc). oh yeah, and of course food... > > mike parker > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 19, 2008 Report Share Posted September 19, 2008 Live a Long Life, Even with Cardiac Arrhythmia Does your heart occasionally flutter or skip a beat? Does it pound unusually fast or unusually slow? If so, you may have a cardiac arrhythmia, an irregular or abnormal heartbeat that indicates a malfunction in the heart’s electrical system. An arrhythmia may be no big deal -- causing no symptoms, sometimes, and presenting no underlying damage or disease -- or it could be a very big deal indeed, possibly leading to stroke or sudden cardiac death. This, in fact, is what happened to political commentator Tim Russert in June. His death is believed to be the result of an arrhythmia caused by the rupture of plaque in his arteries. Especially in this election year, Russert was such a familiar face in American homes that many felt his loss personally -- and also worried that they, too, might be vulnerable to such a fate. So it seemed a good time to share with you a bit more about heart arrhythmias, including an exploration of natural options for controlling this common problem. I spoke with two experts -- cardiologist E. Cummings, MD, director of electrophysiology research at the Cleveland Clinic and Traub, ND, a naturopathic physician in Hawaii and former president of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians. Both emphasized that anyone who experiences a cardiac arrhythmia should call their doctor and schedule an evaluation. AT THE HEART OF THE MATTER The causes for arrhythmia can range from important to insignificant. Cardiac arrhythmia may be triggered by serious, underlying heart disease… more controllable factors such as stress… medications... caffeine... or it may simply be a normal variant that will cause no symptoms or health problems and requires no treatment or lifestyle adjustment. The only way to find out is to work with your cardiologist and undergo medical tests. Diagnostic tests for heart arrhythmia include a Holter monitor (where your heartbeat is measured over the course of the day as you go about your normal activities), an electrocardiogram (EKG), echocardiogram (heart ultrasound), stress test (a test that measures arrhythmias that are brought on by exercise or stress) or cardiac catheterization (threading a tube into the heart to visualize vessels). There are several distinct kinds of arrhythmia -- all potentially dangerous: Atrial fibrillaton, a fast and irregular heartbeat that is associated with stroke and heart failure. This is the most common arrhythmia in people over 60. Bradycardia, an abnormally slow rhythm that can cause fainting spells and, though only rarely, death. Tachycardia, an abnormally fast heart rate that can also cause sudden death. MAINSTREAM MEDICAL TREATMENTS Mainstream medical treatments for arrhythmia include drugs, pacemakers and other interventions, surgical or non-surgical. According to Dr. Cummings, the treatment recommendation takes into consideration both the type of arrhythmia and the overall health of the patient. An electrophysiologist (a cardiologist who specializes in treating arrhythmia) can be helpful in exploring the pros and cons of the various treatment alternatives. Here are some of the most common treatment options... Antiarrhythmic drugs. Pharmaceutical drugs may be prescribed to block electrical impulses causing the arrhythmia. These work well but the dosage must be carefully monitored and controlled, since paradoxically this class of drugs has also shown an association with an increased risk for a different type of arrhythmia. Anticoagulant or anti-platelet therapy. Blood-thinning drugs -- primarily warfarin or aspirin -- may be prescribed to prevent blood clots in people with atrial fibrillation or those at risk for stroke. But, notes Dr. Cummings, aspirin is not for everyone and these treatments are not interchangeable. Calcium channel blockers and beta blockers. These drugs are prescribed to treat certain abnormal heart rhythms.Pacemaker and implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) devices. If non-invasive treatment alternatives aren’t effective or appropriate, your doctor may advise implantation of a pacemaker (to regulate the heart beat) and/or an ICD (to deliver a shock when the rhythm is disrupted, in the hope this will reset the heart to beat more regularly). Typically, slow heart rhythms are treated with pacemakers, while rapid, high-risk ventricular heart rhythms are treated with ICDs. Radio frequency ablation. A thin, flexible tube called an ablation catheter is threaded into the heart. Pulses of energy get sent through the catheter to the heart, locating and destroying small areas of tissue that are causing the arrhythmias. A similar treatment called cardiac catheter cryoablation accomplishes the same goal, using cold temperatures rather than heat. THE NATURAL PATH TO CONTROLLING ARRHYTHMIA Many people may be unaware of simpler tools like lifestyle change, dietary adjustments and natural supplements that may be effective for the treatment of arrhythmias. Dr. Traub told me that in his experience, naturopathic medicine can often be practiced in tandem with conventional medicine to bring an abnormal heartbeat under control. The first thing to consider is whether making lifestyle changes or successfully controlling underlying conditions can make a difference. For example... If you smoke, stop... but (especially if you are a long-timer) seek medical oversight, as your nicotine may need to be tapered. Stimulants. If caffeine triggers symptoms, cut back on or eliminate products such as coffee, caffeinated soft drinks, tea, chocolate and anything that contains caffeine. You may need to ease back rather than stop suddenly. Over-the-counter cough medicines with pseudo-epinephrine should be avoided, as this is a stimulant that can trigger arrhythmias. Limit alcohol intake. If you notice that abnormal heart rhythms are associated with specific activities (such as certain stressful family gatherings or particularly demanding exercises), avoid them… at least until you have figured out a way to tolerate such events without having an intense physiological reaction to them. Discuss this with your doctor. If a medication appears to bring on symptoms, ask your physician if it is possible to prescribe an alternate drug. Take steps to effectively manage stress. There are hundreds of ways to do this -- yoga, meditation, exercise, getting a pet, changing jobs. Examine what is contributing stress to your life, and see what can help you better manage or even change it. NATURAL SUPPLEMENTS FOR TREATING ARRHYTHMIA Of course, lifestyle changes alone are not always sufficient to control arrhythmias. In more serious cases, Dr. Traub prescribes... Fish oil. This rich source of omega-3 fatty acids is step one of Dr. Traub’s treatment protocol. Fish oil is a natural anticoagulant that reduces the risk of blood clots, which can be associated with arrhythmias. Caution: Fish oil should be taken with caution -- and only under your physician’s careful supervision -- particularly if you take blood-thinning drugs such as warfarin (Coumadin) or aspirin. Nattokinase. This extract of the Japanese fermented soybean product natto inhibits development of blood clots. Use with caution -- and under a doctor's supervision -- if you take other blood thinners. (For more information on natto, see Daily Health News, December 23, 2004.) Magnesium and potassium. Magnesium and potassium deficiencies may lead to a higher risk of arrhythmias. If blood tests confirm a deficiency, your doctor may prescribe supplements to help restore normal blood levels and reduce arrhythmia risk or occurrence. Other supplements. Additional supplements that have shown promise but require further research include Allium cepa and Allium sativum (onion and garlic), Atropa belladonna, Cinnamomum camphora, Cordyceps sinensis and Crataegus oxyacantha. Dr. Traub also points out that acetyl-L-carnitine is used in Europe to treat cardiac arrhythmias. Cardiac arrhythmia is common -- but that doesn’t mean it is safe to ignore it. If you experience even one episode of arrhythmia, call your doctor. You may find that it is nothing at all… or you may learn what you need to do to save your life. Source(s): E. Cummings, MD, director of electrophysiology research and staff cardiologist, department of cardiovascular medicine, Section of Electrophysiology and Pacing, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio. Traub, ND, director of the integrated health care center Ho‘o Lokahi in Kailua Kona, Hawaii. Dr. Traub has a part-time practice in Marin County, California and is currently an adjunct faculty member at National College of Natural Medicine, Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine, University of Bridgeport and the University of Minnesota. He is the former president of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians. Suzi List Owner health/ http://360./suziesgoats What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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