First of all, let's learn the difference between vitamins and minerals. Vitamins are chemical compounds, minerals are chemical elements. All vitamins are essentials and necessary for healthy mindbody, not all minerals that are found in soil, plants and animal sources are essential or necessary for humans and some are quite harmful. There are essential minerals that we cannot function without: calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, phosphorus and sulfur, and then there are trace minerals - we need them in trace quantities, and without their proper supply we can get really sick, the list is long, bit i will mention iodine, iron, zinc and selenium. Then there is a proven teaching, that all these minerals we consume ought to be in a right proportion with each other. Here comes the tissue analysis - hair test, to evaluate our metabolic function based on the level of above mentioned minerals and their ratios. The hair is the easiest and least expansive tissue to collect and examine, versus blood or urine test. If you happen to be bold, not to worry, armpit or pubic hair will do. Interested to learn more, check out www.arltma.com/Newsletters full of useful info. Would you like to have your minerals level tested, especially toxic minerals in your tissues - mercury, lead, aluminum, that can wreak havoc in the mindbody, please contact me: irina@ibhealing.com or 203-968-6824 for the kit. It is out of pocket expense of $150, well worth it. When you come for you next session, I will show you the report and comprehensive analysis it provides.
My Reflexology Take on Foot and Leg Cramping
That painful sensation in the muscles of a foot or leg, that catches you unprepared - muscle spasm, called cramp or charley horse, if it is in your calf muscles. You had it one time or another, right? We all familiar with this unpleasant, sometime persistent condition. I started to see it with my clients more often recently. Let us see what is causing it, because for sure, we cannot blame my Reflexology chair here.
More often it is simple, dehydration caused by warm weather - more sweating, not enough water drinking, or excessive coffee pleasures.
Secondly, muscle fatigue - not enough moving, stretching all leg/foot muscles. Reflexology will be quite helpful in this case.
It can be malfunctioning of the nerves due to the pinched nerves, or spinal cord injury in the low back - then cramps are the least of concerns and the traumas causing it ought to be addressed, hopefully by knowledgeable and caring hands of chiropractic doctors. Do you need a referral? Happy to share the names of a few fabulous DC around our area. Call or email me.
Ever read the side effects of quite a few popular drugs? Drug manufactures will honestly list possible leg/foot cramping as a side effect.
The last cause of leg/foot cramps that deserves special attention is mineral deficiency. We are talking about essential minerals, like magnesium, calcium and potassium. In this case, muscle spasms will be among other symptoms on the surface seems unrelated. This was my case many years ago, until I learned about easy and reliable way to test mineral deficiency via hair analysis and started to restore my mineral balance. Apparently eating my fruits and vegetables was not enough. If you are interested, read my next article on Hair Analysis.
Remembering Dr. Chipper
It has been two years this August 2nd since Dr. Chipper passed on. We miss him terribly and I know many of you remember his presence with warm feelings. He was a great addition to our life and practice and I firmly believe he orchestrated Dr. Dexter coming into our lives.
Three Generation Getaway
My mom, me and my girl ventured together to the Copperhead Inn and Spa in the Catskill Forest Preserve for the incredible lightness of being, the phrase taken from their tagline. We enjoyed a 3-day retreat full of delicious and indulgent food, hikes in the woods, spa treatments, water aerobics and plenty of laughter. The food was expertly prepared by innkeeper Elizabeth Winograd's husband Lech, "who makes healthy food so tasty and inspiring you feel silly for not having eaten healthy every day of your life," as Gotham Magazine so eloquently put it.
We experienced a strong connection, while caring for one another, which rarely happens among three generations in such a loving and playful way.
Sure we took care of our babushka (grandma in Russian) while having a glorious time picking on each other. It was a very special time and so meaningful at this point in my life to spend it together with my girls.
The best medicine sometimes is time well spent with those you love most.
Babushka has turned 90 recently and it is increasingly important to create memorable experiences for all of us.
60th Birthday – Let the Good Times Roll
Last month my dear husband gave me the best 60th birthday present - a getaway experience at The Buttermilk Inn, which included great farm to table dinner, breakfast, lunch and Spa treatments. You can see some of the dishes of my celebratory dinner: Fritz with Truffle oil, fantastic fresh greens salad with goat cheese, and then Nicholas devouring Ruben sandwich at lunch. Yes, in our raw/vegetarian family style eating, Ruben sandwich is a rare treat for my man. It happens once every three years, and I am happy to share this moment with you.
We all have the most comforting favorite childhood food, for me it is potatoes in any shape/form -the Irish streak in me, for Nicholas it is famous NYC Ruben.
Our Dr. Dexter, the dog had fabulous time kissing Holly, the donkey every time we passed by the pastures with llamas and donkeys, chasing ducks to the pond or posing with Hudson river on the background.