HEALTH is in your hands by Martin Matthews

When it comes to determining, improving, or restoring your own health - only you can decide and implement what's best. The same is true if you're directly caring for another, particularly a child with specials needs needs and medical concerns.

No matter how much we'd like to blame the "system" for not fully supporting us, not informing us of available treatment options, and unwillingness to cover "non-approved" modalities despite their demonstrated efficacy - our health is in our hands.

I recently accompanied Julie to two national conferences on autism, at which she presented on Nutritional Intervention - an approach routinely proven beneficial for most who properly apply it. While nutrition is appropriately getting increased attention at select national conferences and cutting edge treatment clinics, the benefits of its application and even the sheer existence of this approach remains routinely underscored, ignored, or unknown in mainstream realms.

This is a shame - especially given that no other area of health intervention and improvement is more under our OWN control than Nutrition. The choices we make for ourselves, or others for whom we care, regarding a nourishing diet have profound affect on the physical manifestations of any illness or dis-ease. Science is increasingly validating this fact.

When faced with a trauma, one turns to trusted authorities and known professionals to provide hope that everything that can be done to help, will be done. With autism (and many other disorders) parents aren't getting this reassurance. Instead, many are told by their healthcare professionals that there is nothing they (the parents) can do. Often, the prognosis (for life mind you) is pharmaceutical intervention, institutionalization, and strong behavioral therapy to best cope with the condition.

I don't blame well-meaning doctors whose powerful words can strip hope from their patients - most of them do not know better - and this is a severe failure of a broken system of healthcare in our nation. Misleading "Op-ed" pieces like a recent article in the San Francisco Chronicle further elucidate the system's inability to consider patients' input and identify all possible treatment modalities, tendency to discourage patients who pursue alternative or holistic means, and blindly debunk non AMA approved treatments despite its own admitted failure to provide plausible treatment. People are routinely denied coverage for therapies and treatments determined effective by most of the remainder of the planet.

Despite their tragedies, more and more courageous parents of autistic children, and those facing countless other health challenges, are accepting the undeniable reality that health is in their hands. People are researching, creating support groups, educating their doctors about alternative and holistic approaches, lobbying congress, writing articles and creating blog sites. In the autism arena, parents are putting on conferences, inviting experts, tracking their efforts with their own children in order to increase the collective knowledge base for all. Indeed, parents' efforts are feeding the inquiries and progress of science.

Whether it's autism or any other health challenge you're addressing, the time to take control is now. We've learned that no care is more effective and sustainable that SELF CARE. While doctors, diagnoses, and treatments are imperative, no one can be in charge of your healthcare for you.

Nutrition Intervention is but just one method that is literally in your hands. Explore others, research, connect with others, there is always a way. Choose to be pursue health.

Healthful Living

Healthful Living is pleased to announce the availability of our far infrared sauna by High Tech Health. It is the sauna and detoxification method specified by Sherry Rogers in "Detoxify or Die." A far infrared sauna is a special type of dry sauna that is very effective at detoxification of heavy metals and environmental toxins. It is also widely used for weight loss, immune function, and pain reduction.

The health benefits of a Far Infrared Therapy Sauna include:
? Superior Detoxification: Removes Heavy Metals & Fat-stored Toxins
? Increased Cardiovascular Conditioning
? Stimulated Immune System
? Improved Circulation
? Pain Relief
? Weight Loss and Cellulite Reduction
? Beautiful Skin
? Stress Reduction


Uisng a far infrared sauna 3 times a weeks for one to three months is a great way to detoxify heavy metals and environmental toxins. Healthful Living's sauna is available for use as part of their "Mind/Body Detox Program," and as discounted monthly sauna packages. If your interested in purchasing your own sauna, ours is available for trial use. Contact Healthful Living for further details.