March 2015

Reiki has become a popular treatment for those who seek to calm that unseen energy that surrounds us. I know, I know, it sounds like a hoax – one of those schemes to trick people into spending money on a seemingly made-up idea. I can tell you, in all honesty, at one point, I was as skeptical as you might be. As long as you’re open to the idea that energy is real and that of others does, in fact, affect you, you’ll see the benefit of this type of work.

A Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation, this type of energy work also promotes healing, both physically and mentally. It’s a seemingly simple treatment involving light touch to administer healing energy properties for the ailing. As someone who has been around this type of energy work my whole life, I can attest to its healing properties first hand and from the praise expressed by our clients.

Our bodies are made up of unseen energy fields that can become blocked or hindered, due to outside influences or injury. Reiki helps to unblock and alleviate stress and pain, enabling the mind and body to work more effectively and efficiently. The energy works to help calm your nerves and quiet your head; racing thoughts and anxiety are often dissipated with energy work. If you find yourself with a mind that won’t quit buzzing when you’re trying to relax or just live your life without any nagging thoughts, Reiki is highly recommended.

Unlike traditional massage, there is no need to undress for Reiki treatments, so you’re able to remain comfortable throughout the session. During the treatment itself, many people experience different types of sensations. These range from vibration to a feeling of pulsating; sometimes areas feel a heating or cooling sensation after being touched. Whatever the feeling is, people are always amazed with the results.

We offer Reiki massage to help promote even more relief and relaxation during your already much needed massage, as well. Give me a call at the spa and I’ll be happy to answer any questions that might be running through your head now. We have special pricing options for this unique type of work, so come in and give it a go!

Just Mail-in Your Head and We’ll Send it Back with Perfect Teeth

It sometimes appears that this simplicity would be the most beautiful and desirable dental practice achievable. No need to study the medical history or take time reviewing it with the patient. After all, the patient came in for their teeth and, as dentists; we are not allowed to get involved with the diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions.

If any industry could be guilty of violating antitrust laws it would be the medical industry, including the pharmaceutical industry. Politics and demagoguery rule here.

James Watson, winner of the Nobel Prize for the discovery of the DNA double-helix, made this statement; “We are being run by rich trash without regard for the truth or reality.” Is this how our medical system should be?

Simply by reviewing a patient’s medical history, including dietary and lifestyle habits, we can not only help explain dental problems, but help to reveal a need for a medical referral. Last year while reviewing one of my TMJ/TMD (temporomandibular joint dysfunction) patient’s history and symptoms, things didn’t add up. I referred the patient for a CT scan which revealed a very aggressive sinus infection approaching her brain. I made a referral to an ENT that afternoon who immediately told her “you are not going home” and the potential life saving surgery was done at once. She had been to several specialists already that skipped over the diagnosis, assuming it had something to do with her teeth and TMJ.

It doesn’t take more than one such experience to make this thorough review a regular part of one’s practice. Many times, when a patient has arthritic symptoms, a few changes in dietary habits can result in the symptoms being diminished and sometimes vanishing. According to the medical industry rules, as a DDS I shouldn’t discuss medical problems. Therefore I refer the patient to the proper literature for guidance and encourage them to become more knowledgeable about their health. If you study the side effects of some of the arthritic drugs you would be so much better off changing your diet.

Treatment for TMJ problems, as taught by many institutions, is centered on the function of the teeth, the facial muscles and the joints. In my book, WHY, The Question That Could Save Your Life, my main complaint against many medical and dental practices is that they are designed to treat symptoms, not causes. Yes, the teeth can be part of the problem with TMD, but teeth are not naturally meant to be together, they should only come together when swallowing. The actual cause of the patient clenching or grinding should be diagnosed and corrected, especially before spending thousands of dollars on dentistry that might not solve the problem. The cause can vary from hormone imbalance, to excessive stress, to bad diet, to sleep apnea and more. Many causes, when corrected, can result in dramatic changes in one’s health and happiness. The “Mail in Your Head” dentist will miss out on the joy of really making a difference. These patients often become friends and supporters for life.

My office, Advanced Oral Diagnosis Treatment Center, is located in Danville. The phone is 925.837.8048. I have two websites; www.AODTC.com and www.drbrownwhy.com. The initial exam is complimentary.

Joint pain, known as arthritis, comes in many forms. The most common type is osteoarthritis, known as “wear and tear arthritis.”

Joint pain can flare up for a number of reasons—some of which may be overlooked by conventional practitioners. Many of my patients ask me if their pain is caused by arthritis. Sadly, it is estimated that one in five Americans has been diagnosed with some form or arthritis. There are over a hundred different arthritic conditions, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis being the most well known.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease causing inflammation in the synovial fluid of the joint.

Rheumatoid arthritis is most common in the hands and feet and is frequently accompanied by a hot or warm feeling in the joint, stiffness for over 30 minutes in the morning, the same joint affected on both sides of the body, polyarthritis (more than one joint affected at a time), and pain that can last through the night. With this form of arthritis, most of my patients notice the pain eases the more they use the joint.

Osteoarthritis, on the other hand, feels worse the more we exercise and as the day wears on. Also linked to inflammation, this type of arthritis can be traced back to a breakdown in the joint cartilage. It generally affects the hips, knees, spine, hands and feet and develops as more of a wear-and-tear situation, whereas rheumatoid arthritis is closely tied with genetic factors that lead to an autoimmunity problem.

What you need to know if you suffer from arthritis.
All forms of arthritis involve some kind of inflammation—either local or systemic. When injured, a chain of events in your immune system known as the inflammatory cascade is triggered. This is what causes the redness, swelling and pain we often see with an acute injury. When this process, known as local or acute inflammation, turns on and then off in response to injury it’s a sign of a healthy immune system. Yet when the symptoms of inflammation don’t disappear, it tells us that your immune system is unable to turn itself off when it should and therefore leads to a state of chronic inflammation.

How do I begin to heal my arthritis pain naturally?
1. Adopt a healthy diet rich in natural anti-inflammatories. Eat small meals often and choose a diet of richly colored fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, and pure omega-3 fatty acids. Reduce foods that contribute to inflammation such as refined sugar, white flour/baked goods, canned or packaged foods.

2. Correct vitamin and mineral deficiencies: Vitamin, mineral and antioxidant deficiencies have been shown to suppress immune function and contribute to chronic degenerative processes such as chronic inflammation, arthritis, cancer, Alzheimer’s, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Special blood testing can reveal what your body has absorbed from your food and/or supplements over the past six months and zero in on what is deficient. Micro-Nutrient Testing allows a person to know exactly what to eat and/or supplement in order to support their healing process. By correcting nutritional imbalances the body is given the building blocks it needs to naturally create its own anti-inflammatories and heal from the inside out.

3. Class IV Laser Therapy. Ending the pain caused by arthritis requires stopping the cycle of inflammation. Class IV laser therapy is an excellent method for this, because it is presently the only modality that can both reduce inflammation and heal tissue simultaneously. Laser therapy creates an optimal healing environment that reduces inflammation, swelling, muscle spasms, stiffness and pain. As the injured area returns to normal, function is restored and pain is quickly relieved.

We have great success helping people solve the causes of their joint pain. If you suffer from arthritis it is worth your while to spend some time figuring out which of any number of factors are contributing to your pain—and which combination of therapies will help heal it. The good news is—you can do it without drugs, and you don’t have to give up any of the activities you love!

For more information or to set up a consult with Dr. Niele Maimone call 925.362.8283 or visit www.alignhealingcenter.com.

March into Spring with a New Trendy Look

This season, add a little skip in your step with a mouth-watering lip shade that is fresh and brilliant. It may be your year to try something new, to discover a brave new color and spice things up! When exploring new colors, always choose a hue that complements your skin tone while also stays true to the trends of the season. Get out of your beauty color box and try something like a watermelon lip shade, or a soft, moss-green eye color; don’t underestimate how original it may be on you. Also investigate a new shimmer blush color, such as a soft pink or a warm shade of berry. You want to look like yourself, yet with a fresh, new twist that brightens.

Transform Eyes
Even though there is a multitude of peach, gray, pink and bright colors in clothing this season, you don’t want to match your make-up to these colors. Our enchanting cosmetic fashion creates a new kind of beauty. What works now is naturally colorful, fluidly-applied, pastel eye shadows with a natural edge. Apply nude pink on the lid, then sweep a soft, moss-green shade in the crease, finished with a warm, light-shimmer beige or golden tone under the brow. These colors will help complement the spring tones you wear, making you look unique, trendy and updated. Soft eye colors will brighten up your look without a dramatic change, while you appear refreshed, polished and ready for spring.

Illuminate Skin
Gleaming skin is in, whether delicately pinked or reflecting a healthy glow. Blush colors are updated with baked pinks, soft rose gold, and peach tones with a touch of golden bronze for that nice lift and youthful glow. Just sweep it over the apple of your cheeks and a little on the forehead. For a freshly-showered, silky look to the skin, add a delicate face bronzer shimmer to the cheeks and forehead.

Go Glossy
Shine is the simplest seasonal update. Because really…who doesn’t want to add a little brightness after a dull winter? Lips want all the attention this spring. The secret in seeing a different or brighter you is in changing your lip color! Simple, right? This season we’re seeing subtle radiance with high pigment pinks, mouth-watering mauves, and delicate corals. These colors will complement any spring fashionista, while keeping it real without looking like you tried. Keep it simple, smart and edgy. Don’t forget to use a nice lip treatment to soften dry lips. Choose lip conditioners that have peptides to increase hydration, plump collagen and smooth lines so lips look full and youthful.

Take the Spring Challenge
Take charge today and March into Spring with a new edgy look that’s more refined than ever. Find out today and move in the right direction to find your perfect spring wardrobe of colors that brighten you, leaving you feeling confident and natural. The Rouge will be offering free Spring Seasonal Updates starting in March through April 30th. Discover the fashion trends and secrets to make them a reality for you.

The old saying is that March comes in like a Lion and goes out like a lamb ( or was it the other way around?). March, lions and lambs! Let’s give it a go.

1. What was the name of the lion in “Born Free?”

2. Chris’s Crew was the outstanding defensive backfield for which NFL franchise in the 1950s?

3. What actor won the Best Actor Oscar for “Best Day of Our Lives”?

4. Here is one we learn from the crosswords. What British essayist wrote under the pen name of Elia?

5. The “poor little lambs that have gone astray” is from which college song?

6. Who were the four March children in the classic book “Little Women?”