Say Goodbye to Stress with Craniosacral Therapy
Dr. Destia Skinner, ND, CST

Craniosacral Therapy is a hands-on approach that involves “listening with the fingers” to the body’s subtle rhythms and any patterns of restriction, inertia, and/or congestion. The emphasis of treatment is to encourage and enhance the body’s own self-healing and self-regulating capabilities, even in the most acute pathologies. When our bodies are stuck in a chronic stress response, our nervous system forgets how to feel relaxed. Craniosacral Therapy treats the central nervous system and the flow of fluid that supports the brain and spinal cord allowing the nervous system to regain proper balance.

Craniosacral Therapy is commonly used to treat:
• Chronic Muscle Tension / Feeling “Tense� or “High Strung�
• Chronic Pain
• Migraines / Headaches
• Back Pain / Sciatica
• TMJ / Teeth Grinding
• Chronic Stress / Anxiety
• Neurological disorders
• Injury / Trauma / Accidents

During a Craniosacral Therapy treatment many patients feel very relaxed and have a greater sense of connection with their body. The therapist uses very gentle touch to release restrictions within the body which allows new blood, nerve, and fluid flow to promote the body to heal itself. Craniosacral Therapy is different than massage therapy or chiropractic in that your treatment is guided by the therapist to assist the body to heal itself versus being actively manipulated. There are many reasons why we seem to have our own “weak spots� or areas where we hold muscle tension whenever we are under stress. Craniosacral Therapy discovers and treats these areas by uncovering and treating the underlying causes of the chronic stress in order to prevent future recurrences of the physical symptoms. Many patients report experiencing a deeper sense of relaxation than they had every experienced before.

If you are under chronic stress or are finding that it is becoming increasingly difficult to fully relax then Craniosacral Therapy may be an extremely beneficial therapy for you. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Destia Skinner, ND or to find out more information about what Craniosacral Therapy can do for you, please call the office at (650) 323-7345 or email us at info@CNMHealth.com.

Not Enough Fruits & Vegetables on the Table?
Dr. Destia Skinner, ND

Substantial evidence suggests that consistent consumption of fruit and vegetables may prevent cancer and other chronic diseases. Current U.S. dietary guidelines recommend daily consumption of five servings of fruits and vegetables, but whether or not these guidelines translate into actual dietary trends among U.S. adults remains unclear.
This study evaluated fruit and vegetable consumption in 16 states from 1990-1996. Data from telephone surveys, including questions on dietary intake and participation in leisure-time physical activities, were used to stratify respondents based on various socio-demographic and health-related characteristics.
Results indicated that only 22% of the study population reported adequate intake of fruits and vegetables over the six-year period (19% in 1990, 22% in 1994, and 23% in 1996). The proportion increased among those participating in leisure-time physical activity and those with normal weight, but remained almost the same among inactive people, and dropped among the obese.
The authors note that progress in fruit and vegetable intake over the study period was “encouraging.” However, the relatively insignificant change from 1994-1996 emphasizes the need for increased education efforts, particularly targeting those people who are overweight and/or participate in little or no physical activity.
Ruowei L, Serdula M, Bland S, et al. Trends in fruit and vegetable consumption among adults in 16 U.S. states: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 1990-96. American Journal of Public Health, May 2000:90(5), pp777-81.
If you are interested in an easy way to significantly increase your fruit and vegetable nutrition today please visit our Juice Plus+ website directly. If you would like more information or have questions please call the clinic at 650-323-7345, or email info@CNMHealth.com.

Not Enough Fruits & Vegetables on the Table?
Dr. Destia Skinner, ND

Substantial evidence suggests that consistent consumption of fruit and vegetables may prevent cancer and other chronic diseases. Current U.S. dietary guidelines recommend daily consumption of five servings of fruits and vegetables, but whether or not these guidelines translate into actual dietary trends among U.S. adults remains unclear.
This study evaluated fruit and vegetable consumption in 16 states from 1990-1996. Data from telephone surveys, including questions on dietary intake and participation in leisure-time physical activities, were used to stratify respondents based on various socio-demographic and health-related characteristics.
Results indicated that only 22% of the study population reported adequate intake of fruits and vegetables over the six-year period (19% in 1990, 22% in 1994, and 23% in 1996). The proportion increased among those participating in leisure-time physical activity and those with normal weight, but remained almost the same among inactive people, and dropped among the obese.
The authors note that progress in fruit and vegetable intake over the study period was “encouraging.” However, the relatively insignificant change from 1994-1996 emphasizes the need for increased education efforts, particularly targeting those people who are overweight and/or participate in little or no physical activity.
Ruowei L, Serdula M, Bland S, et al. Trends in fruit and vegetable consumption among adults in 16 U.S. states: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 1990-96. American Journal of Public Health, May 2000:90(5), pp777-81.
If you are interested in an easy way to significantly increase your fruit and vegetable nutrition today please visit our Juice Plus+ website directly. If you would like more information or have questions please call the clinic at 650-323-7345, or email info@CNMHealth.com.

Why be Stressed?
Dr. Cynthia Sholes, PhD, MdH

Did you know that stress is a habit that you can do without your being aware of it? We usually think of habits as things that we do such as brushing our teeth or smoking or twirling our hair, but habits are much more encompassing than behavior patterns. They also include patterns of thinking – habits of mind. Many of us have common thought patterns that get triggered by certain events. For example, for many of us waiting in line often evokes thoughts about being in a hurry, things you would rather be doing, or problems with how slow the other people in line are, etc. You might also have particular habits of mind when you’re driving – complaints about the way other people drive, for example, or the way the road is designed. Or maybe the trigger is that particular way your boss calls you into a meeting or your husband (or wife) looks at you when you do something that he or she disapproves of. You just can’t help thinking about what it means. Or maybe you know what it means and can’t stop thinking about that. These are all habits of mind. Listen to your own thoughts during the day and begin to learn what your habits of mind are.

Habits of Mind can lead to Stress
Not all thoughts are harmless, many cause physical stress within the body. Each thought comes with its own particular physiological reaction – your body responds to the every thought that you have. Chronic complaints about traffic or worries about having time will cause your body to go into a stress response – otherwise known as a “fight or flight� response. When your “fight of flight� response is triggered, no matter what the cause, your body thinks you need to fight or run from a tiger (or some such life threatening monster). So your physiology shifts to the optimal state for fighting that “tiger�. Your heart beat and your breathing become more rapid. Your blood pressure increases. Blood flows away from your internal organs and out toward your skeletal muscles, making you stronger, quicker and more alert. However, this physiological state shuts down all of the functions of your body that are not necessary for the momentary survival from the “tiger�. This includes your digestive system, your reproductive system, your immune system and other systems for healing and repairing your body.

Effects of Chronic Stress
When you are in the flight or fight response all of the time then your organs become dysfunctional and often diseased, exacerbating such chronic conditions as:
• High Blood Pressure – Hypertension
• Heart Disease and Stroke
• Ulcers
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Infertility
• Night Grinding – Bruxism
• Chronic Pain
• Pain in Childbirth
• Sleep Disturbance
• Weight gain
Therefore negative thought patterns such as hostility, worrying, or obsessively planning for the future or analyzing the past can be harmful to the body if they become habits.

Over Coming the Negative Effects of Stress
There are many techniques to help you overcome the negative effects of chronic stress. Our Medical Hypnotherapist, Dr. Cynthia Sholes, looks at the underlying cause of your stress and addresses that first. Many times stressful thought patterns are triggered and, before you know it, you are stressed. By talking with you at length and employing a biofeedback mechanism called muscle testing we can identify the triggering emotion that generates the thoughts and, using Hypnotherapy, Guided Imagery, or Neuro Emotional Technique, we clear the negative emotional state from your body and mind. With the result that the negative thought patterns do not get triggered and so you don’t feel stress. No problem, no worries.

You can also learn how to decrease stress in the moment with self-hypnosis and meditation techniques. This will allow you to easily deal with any new or unforeseen stressful events, leaving you feeling easy going, taking everything that life throws at you in stride.

To bring that stress-free, easy-going feeling in to all areas of your life, give Dr. Cynthia Sholes a call at (650) 704-1252. You can also visit her website at www.mindwaveinstitute.com.

Cypress Successful Cases
Dr. Bryan Skinner, ND

“32 year old female with panic attacks, insomnia, dizziness, chronic fatigue, and chronic sore throat”

Presentation
This patient presented with a one year history of panic attacks, insomnia, dizziness, and chronic debilitating fatigue with a sore throat. She had moved to the area one year prior and had started an extremely stressful job which required long hours. Prior to this she has completed her undergraduate and graduate degrees at a very competitive college. She would frequently have to go home early from work because of the dizziness and panic attacks. She found it difficult to keep her eyes open and keep her concentration while at work. This woman had a strong history of high ambition and the desire to “be the best�. It was very clear as the patient slumped in the patient chair that she had been under chronic, extreme mental strain from overwork and the pressure that she had put on herself. She had a very good diet which included adequate protein and a wide variety of fruits and vegetables.

On physical exam, this woman was found to have low blood pressure, sensitivity to light, and lightheadedness on rising from the exam table. I then began with laboratory testing in order to evaluate adrenal function, thyroid function, and to rule out anemia and mononucleosis. Both the adrenal and thyroid glands are intimately involved in chronic stress. Anemia can be a common cause of dizziness and chronic fatigue with shortness of breath. Mononucleosis is a condition that can cause dizziness, chronic fatigue, sore throat and other symptoms.

Laboratory results showed significantly decreased cortisol output. All other labs were normal. Cortisol is the hormone released in times of chronic stress. Initially, when stress occurs the body will release large amounts of this hormone in order to try and cope. After prolonged stress the body is unable to compensate with the demand for the hormone and cortisol levels will drop below, sometimes far below, normal levels. When cortisol levels become low symptoms usually include:
• Debilitating fatigue
• Exhausted in the morning; “Wired� at night
• Low blood pressure
• Strong craving for salt and/or sugar
• Sensitivity to light
• Lightheadedness or Dizziness on getting up from a chair or from lying
• Irritability, anxiety, depression
• Feeling “Overwhelmed� and “Unable to Cope�

Analysis
This patient had a strong history of external stress (college, workload, parental pressure, etc) and internal stress (the pressure she put on herself to perform or “be the best�) which was confirmed by the laboratory results. It was concluded that the underlying cause of this patient’s condition was primarily due to chronic stress and chronic mental strain which in turn created problems within the adrenal gland which then created most of the physical symptoms that she was experiencing. It is common in patients with low cortisol output to experience panic attacks or episodes of “hot flushes� or trembling and increased heart rate. This is mostly due to epinephrine. When cortisol is low the body will increase epinephrine levels in order to balance blood sugar levels and take care of some of the other duties of cortisol. This is how epinephrine surges can be intimately related to panic attacks in patients with low cortisol output.

Treatment
This patient was treated with the proper nutrient, herbal, and hormonal support in order to restore adrenal function and promote healthy cortisol levels in the body. This patient was also prescribed a homeopathic remedy in order to treat the underlying causes of her issues around performance, pressure, and the feeling that she always had to “go above and beyond in order to be the best�. Relaxation exercises were also prescribed in order to promote normalization of her nervous system. Within 1 month of initiating treatment, the patient was feeling a 50% improvement in her symptoms. Within 2 months of initiating treatment, the patient no longer experienced panic attacks, insomnia, dizziness, sore throat, or the chronic fatigue. She reported having “an even level of energy� throughout the day and that she was “sleeping like a baby�. The patient has also had began exercising again despite her long work hours because she felt like “it balanced her crazy life�. Further laboratory testing showed normal adrenal function at four months. The patient discontinued treatment at that time and has remained free of any of the her previous symptoms.

Cypress Recipes

We have a strong belief that the diet is the cornerstone of optimal health and wellness. Healthy, whole foods recipes will be included within every newsletter. The recipes will range from food intolerance and allergy free recipes to those that will introduce lesser known healthful ingredients. If you have a healthful recipe which you would like to share with our community, please email us the details at info@CNMhealth.com.

Hearty Homemade Hummus
Serves 6

1 1/2 cups cooked garbanzo beans, or 1 15-ounce can
4 ounces silken tofu, well-drained
1/4 cup parsley, chopped
5 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon lime juice
1 to 2 cloves fresh garlic
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/3 cup sesame tahini
1 1/2 tsp sea salt*
Cumin and paprika to taste
Blend all ingredients in a food processor until desired consistency is achieved. Garnish with a dash of paprika on top. Serve warm or chilled.
• Allergy notes: People following a corn-free diet should avoid iodized salt since it contains dextrose, which should be avoided by those allergic to corn.

Salmon Hazelnut Bake
Serves 1-2

3 tablespoons olive oil
5 to 8 ounces Alaskan Wild Salmon fillet
1/4 cup organic DuChilly hazelnuts, finely chopped
2 ounces white wine (Reisling is good)
1/4 cup filtered water
1 tablespoon Earth Balance butter substitute

Garnish
1/4 cup coarsely ground DuChilly hazelnuts
1/2 cup blueberries
Coat salmon in 1 tablespoon of the olive oil, then coat all sides in chopped hazelnuts. Heat remaining oil in a sauté pan. Place salmon skin side up in a pan and sauté one minute. Turn and sauté other side for one minute.
Leaving salmon in sauté pan, deglaze bottom of pan with 1 ounce of the wine and water. Place pan in 400° F oven and bake until fish is cooked through, about 7 to 10 minutes.
Remove from oven and deglaze pan a final time with butter and remaining wine. Garnish with coarsely chopped hazelnuts and blueberries.
Fish cooking tip: Never add lemon or lime juice before or during the cooking of fish. The acids break down the flesh and makes it mushy! Squirt fresh lemon or lime juice on the fish AFTER its cooked.