Acne Facts Myths & Treatment

People of all races suffer from acne, In the US 85% of everyone aged between 12-24 develop some form of acne, that amounts to 17 million people making it the most common form of skin disease.

In the UK 80% of 11-30 year olds will suffer from acne at some point.

Acne symptoms tend to disappear for the majority of people when they reach their 30?s, however people can still suffer from acne well into their 40?s & 50?s.

Acne is a disorder resulting from the action of hormones on the skins oil glands, known as sebaceous glands, which leads to plugged pores and outbreaks of lesions more commonly known as pimples or zits. They tend to appear on the face, neck, back, chest & shoulders.

Doctors believe that acne results from several related factors rather than one single cause. One of the most important factors is an increase in hormones called androgens, a male sex hormone. These increase in both boys & girls during puberty and cause the sebaceous glands to enlarge making more sebum.

Hormonal changes related to pregnancy or starting or stopping birth control pills can also cause acne.

Heredity or genetics is another factor and researchers believe that acne can be inherited from parents. Studies have shown that many school age boys with acne have a family history of the disorder.

Certain drugs containing androgens or lithium can cause acne. A side effect of steroids can be acne.

Greasy cosmetics can alter the cells of the skin follicles and make them stick together causing plugs which can lead to acne.

Factors which can also cause acne are:

Friction caused by leaning on or rubbing the skin.
Squeezing or picking at blemishes.
Hard scrubbing of the skin.
Environmental irritants such as pollution & high humidity.
Changing hormonal levels in adolescent girls & adult women 2-7 days before their menstrual period starts.
Pressure from bike helmets, backpacks or tight collars.

Myths about causes of acne include.

Greasy foods & chocolate are often blamed for acne, but what we eat seems to have little effect.

Acne is cause by dirty skin is another common myth however blackheads & other acne lesions are not caused by dirt.

Stress is often blamed but has no effect in regards to the condition.

Acne treatment

There are 2 ways to treat acne, topical (applied to the skin) or systematic (taken by mouth). Both over the counter (OTC) meaning no prescription is necessary & prescription remedies are available. The goals of treatment are to heal existing lesions, to prevent new lesions forming, stop scarring & minimise psychological stress & embarrassment caused by the disease. Drug treatment is aimed at reducing several problems that play a part in causing acne: abnormal clumping of the cells in the follicles, increased oil production, bacteria & inflammation.

Depending upon the extent of a persons acne it is recommended to try one of several OTC medicines that are topical (applied to the skin) or systematic (taken by mouth) or a combination of both. For prescription remedies you must see your doctor.

Prescription topical medicines can result in side effects, the skin may look worse for a while before hopefully improving. Other side effects include stinging, burning, redness, peeling, scaling or discoloration of the skin.

Similarly some prescription oral medicines can have side effects such as increased tendency to sunburn, upset stomach, dizziness or light-headedness & changes in skin colour. Also some drugs decrease the effectiveness of birth control pills making it necessary to use a backup birth control method.

John Mac is author & owner of http://www.fitnessdiethealth.com a website aimed at providing help & information for people looking to improve their fitness, diet & health & for information about acne

Keep your Feet Happy A Natural way to Natural Health

Summer is here and it is time to showcase those toes in a strappy sandal or sassy slide. Are your feet ready or are they in dire need of a little TLC and a major overhaul before they are shown to the world? Here are a few quick tips for keeping your tootsies healthy and beautiful:

Wear Comfortable Shoes: Allow your feet to breathe. Choose footwear that has a broad toe box, make sure the inside top of the shoe is well cushioned and has a soft bottom. Be mindful about the fitting of the shoe, it should not be tight nor loose fitted.

Care for Your Nails: Clipped, buffed toenails make your feet look and feel healthier. Apply a coat of clear or natural toned polish for an even higher gloss or, if you?re feeling festive, go for a color.

Clean Feet, Clean Shoes: Do you have to hold your nose when you remove your shoes? Closed shoes and sweat are a breeding ground for odorous bacteria. Give yourself a fresh start by making sure your feet are clean and tidy before putting on your favorite shoes.

Sit Up Straight!: Yes, your mother always told you to do this for your posture, but did you know that it also helps your feet? Stooping puts extra weight on the fore foot area, that causes corns.

Try Coconut Oil: Coconut oil is naturally good for skin and nails. Apply just a few drops of coconut oil on your feet and nails before going to bed. You can do so daily or twice a week.

Turmeric: And you thought it would just make your Indian dishes more tasty. Take a little of your coconut oil from above and mix it with tumeric powder to create a wrap. Apply to your feet once a week and wear for 30 minutes before rinsing with warm water.

Foot Workout: Keep your feet in great shape by exercising and stretching them regularly. As we all know, walking is one of the best exercises around. However, if your schedule doesn?t permit, just take a little time to stretch them under your desk while you go about your day.

Steve Arun is an Internet Marketing Consultant for Modernsage Inc the nationally-acclaimed women?s healthy living print magazine based in Long Island, New York, is now a women?s online community. Stop by ModernSage Online Blog today for insightful articles, expert advice and an active community that cares about natural health, alternative medicine, home remedies, living well, quick healthy meals, inspiration, work and family, working from home and the essential daily dose of humor.

Healing TMJ Naturally

Sometimes we need to think outside of the box, such as to give ourselves permission to change a belief or paradigm that we have developed. One such disabling belief is that doctors, dentists and other health professionals can heal you. These health professionals can sometimes guide you in the direction you need to go, but they cannot provide healing.

Healing comes naturally; it is innate, it's part of our wondrous design.

It may be a stretch for you to believe that you know more about healing than your doctor or dentist, but it is something I suggest that you start thinking about (meditating on). Of the many talents given to those practitioners, healing is not amongst them. They have learned the knowledge that allows them to diagnose (which is an educated guess) and then prescribe a protocol that may help your situation.

However, all healing is internal. A doctor may dress a wound, clean it, add some stitches, but when it's all said and done, all they have done is enhance the conditions so that healing can take place. A dentist may grind away the decayed portion of a tooth and then add a filling to cover the hole so more decay won't happen, but have they really accomplished any healing? A psychotherapist can keep asking questions until you reach a disabling belief that is creating a problem for you, but are they the one's that actually change the belief that is in your mind? Never. Only you can relearn a new belief and it only happens when you become willing to make the change.

The thing that we can do ourselves is set the stage so that the healing can take place. You wouldn't start building a house on bare dirt. It would be best to provide the house with a firm foundation. The same is true for our bodies. We need to supply the body with all of its needs so it can repair itself.

Our daily existence requires thought and energy. To rejuvenate, we require rest. Our bodies are 70% fluid. We sweat, we urinate, we may spit, or blow our noses, depleting our fluid levels. This means we need to re-hydrate consistently.

We also deal with toxins daily. We absorb chlorine when we shower, we breathe in all sorts of toxins from the glue in our rugs, breathing in exhaust fumes as we drive to work. This list could go on and on. But, the point is that all of the toxins taken into the body create Free Radicals, and to counteract these Free Radicals, we need to consume Anti-Oxidants.

Our bodies are one of the most complex and complicated chemical manufacturing plants in the world. In order for all of the processes to take place we must have all of the micro and macro minerals that the body requires. Without a constant supply of quality nutrients, our body has to rob Peter to pay Paul. This is what happens in the case of osteoporosis. The body needs some calcium, which it is not getting from our nutrition, or the body is lacking in other nutrients that won't allow the calcium you are getting to be assimilated.

It is not the stress in our lives that causes us to grind our teeth at night or clench them during the day - it's how we deal with that stress. A phenomenal stress buster is simply breathing efficiently and effectively!

Emotional issues can be dealt with by learning skills that allows you to process your feelings appropriately while you are feeling them. Having a Higher Power in your life can provide that shoulder to lean on when life seems to be overwhelming.

Our TMJ Relief DVD gives you the information you need so that you can ask the right questions, make better decisions, and start the healing process, no matter how far your TMJ has progressed. Please go to www.holisticspecifics.com for more information.

Michael McCright is a Holistic Health Practitioner, educator, coach, and motivational speaker. His website: http://www.bodymindconnection.com covers a variety of health concerns. Michael is co-producer of an informative and educational DVD: ?TMJ Relief?. For information and holistic solutions regarding TMJ disorder, go to: http://www.holisticspecifics.com ? 2005 Michael McCright ? Reprints allowed as long as copy is complete with last paragraph and copyright information.

Why Mind Over Matter Matters

Okay, so you made the decision to improve your health. You?re taking your vitamins, you?ve given up smoking and junk food, and you?ve decided to buy a juicer to take advantage of the health benefits of juicing. All good things. And, according to the latest studies, all things that may help in cancer treatment and prevention, as well as the treatment and prevention of a host of other ailments, including heart disease, asthma, allergies and high blood pressure. But, don?t overlook one important element in helping your body stay healthy.

Your mind.

That?s right, your mind. It?s called the Mind/Body connection. In a nutshell, what you believe in your mind can influence things in your body.

It?s known that anxiety can make any illness worse. Anxiety can make pain feel worse, lower defenses that allow a cold virus to take hold, and can aid in raising your blood pressure. Sometimes the simple act of relaxing can do wonders for your health. That?s all part of the mind/body connection.

You?ve heard of the ?placebo effect? haven?t you? That?s when you get better thinking you?re taking a certain medication, only to find out you were really taking a sugar pill. In almost all studies of medications, there?s a certain percentage of people who improve taking the placebo. Why? Because they thought they were taking the real thing. They expected to feel better and they did.

Now, am I saying you can conquer any illness just by thinking yourself healthy? No. And, if you have any symptoms that concern you, you should see a health-care professional. But, using the power of positive thinking, belief and relaxation techniques in conjunction with healthy eating and modern medicine can certainly help with the treatment of any disease. It can lower anxiety, which can help improve any anxiety-related illness. It can ease nausea in cancer patients, which can help with certain procedures. It can lessen the effects of pain.

One way to increase positive belief is with hypnosis or self-hypnosis. Hypnosis allows you to get to that deep state of relaxation where you bypass the critical beta mind. Once in a relaxed trance state it?s good to imagine or visualize your body as perfectly healthy, and repeat positive affirmations to yourself about your body being in perfect health.

How does one get into a trance state? One way, of course, is to see a hypnotherapist who will use techniques to hypnotize you. Another way is to hypnotize yourself using self-hypnosis. The simple version is this: Sit in a comfortable position. Close your eyes and begin actively imagining your body relaxing. Take several deep breathes, breathing in relaxation and exhaling any tensions. Start with your feet and imagine them as deeply relaxed. Work your way up your body, imagining that every breath you take brings the relaxation up into the rest of your body. Take your time. It?s not a race. When you?re through actively imaging your body relaxed, take yourself even deeper and imagine yourself going down an elevator, or a staircase, imagining every step down you?re getting even deeper. I use a staircase of 21 stairs and count down. You can use any number you like. When you?ve reached 0 tell yourself you?re in deep sleep, and tell yourself that every time you go down the staircase in your mind you will be deeply relaxed. At this point you imagine your body as healthy, while repeating your affirmations to yourself. Then, when you?re through, just count yourself up and out from 0 to five, telling yourself to open your eyes, and that you?re wide awake and alert.

Your self-hypnosis session needn?t be long - 5 or 10 minutes will do. But, practiced daily will certainly help in relieving tensions and anxiety that can weaken your health.

And, remember, don?t throw away the juicer or the vitamins. Juicers and vitamins and walking and eating healthy, as well as regular medical checkups, are all part of staying healthy. Remember, it?s called the mind/body connection.

Shari Hearn, is a writer and certified hypnotist in Southern California. You can visit her juicing website at http://www.myjuicer-reviews.com.

The Silent Villain

After a restful sleeps night, do you wake up feeling completely drained before you even put a foot on the floor? Even though you are a very focused individual, are your thoughts often foggy? You actively exercise and eat right, but are you still at least 15 pounds or more overweight? Despite your dietary limitations, is your stomach swollen? Even though you are relatively young, do you feel 20 years older than you are?

If these are very familiar symptoms that seem completely out of your control, relax. There could be an underlying condition in your system taking over and leaving you helplessly behind. That condition could be Candidia albican.

What is Candida?

Candida albican is a yeast that is normally found in the body, usually the digestive system (mouth, throat, and intestines). It is necessary because it destroys harmful bacteria and protects our bodies. There are millions of Candida albicans in a healthy system, and the immune system keeps it regulated with the ?friendly? bacteria such as Lactobacillus acidophilus and B. bifidum.

Low stomach acid and/or poor digestion can cause food matter to be left in the digestive system. Candida's job is to pick up this left over food matter to keep the digestive system working properly. If it fails to do this, harmful bacteria can grab the food deposits and reproduce. An overgrowth of candida (Candidiasis) can cause an array of problems. When the amount of ?friendly? bacteria (Lactobacillus acidophilus and B. bifidum) is reduced due to antibiotics, refined sugar, and toxins, the candida out number the ?friendly? bacteria and it will change the candida from a yeast to a fungal and actually become a threat to the body. When this happens you can experience many effects, including weight gain, food cravings, headaches, depression, fatigue, etc. Due to Candidiasis many symptoms, it's often either undetected or misdiagnosed for many years, causing more and more problems down the line.

Candidiasis can inhibit fat loss and cause your stomach to distend out. It is a new condition, created by side effects of antibiotics and refined foods. In addition, birth control pills, chemotherapy, radiation, stress, and overeating all can be contributors to Candidiasis. It may be one of the primary cause of weight issues and obesity.

Why it's not recognized

Doctors routinely treat women for localized yeast infections in the vaginal tract, but rarely consider that the same yeast can cause problems in other areas of the body, such as the digestive tract. This is primarily due to the fact that doctors aren't taught this in medical school. The primary focus in medical school is drugs and procedures. Little is taught on actually preventing and curing ailments and diseases.

In addition, Candidiasis symptoms are lengthy and are very similar to other illnesses and diseases such as sinusitis. In efforts to treat the sinusitis, the doctors prescribed antibiotics, which make the Candidiasis worse!

Candidiasis is also many times misdiagnosed as cancer. Yes, an overgrowth of Candidia albican can show up a cancer on medical testing. I personally had two e-clients who had cancerous cells on their ovaries. I encourage them to do a detoxify cleansing and within six weeks, both ladies were cancer cell free. Needless to say, their doctors could careless how they did it.

Since Candidiasis is often not diagnosed, the problems spread and many times, more and more antibiotics are administered. This puts a strain on the immune system making the body more susceptible to other illnesses, infections, diseases, and the ability to lose fat difficult. Sadly, Candidiasis is a disease brought on by our medical community and convenient lifestyle of antibiotics, birth control pills, refined carbohydrates, etc.

How Candidiasis Affects Your Weight

Candidiasis and can be one of the contributing factors that many people are overweight or have difficulty losing weight. Candidiasis is basically your digestion process is all messed and causes you to store more fat. This is largely due to the fact that the toxins in the digestive system cause the body to become more acidic. When the body is in an acidic condition, it can not burn fat, build muscle, and the body is more prone to illnesses and diseases. The weight gain from Candidiasis can be any where from 15 to 50 pounds and this weight is stored in the gut.

As the Candidiasis becomes more widespread throughout the body, your cravings for sugar and refined carbs intensify. This overwhelming sensation can cause you to succumb to your cravings, allowing the Candidiasis to thrive longer and stronger and keeping you at its whim.

Candidiasis Signs and Symptoms can include:
?Sluggish metabolism
?Increases in carb and sugar cravings
?Improper digestion
?Food allergies
?Weight gain
?Gas and/or cramping or bloating after eating
?Hypoglycemia
?Feeling light headed after eating certain foods
?Fatigue after eating
?Feeling drunk after a high carb meal since Candidiasis waste is alcohol

Other Signs and Symptoms can include:
?Intense PMS
?Chest pain
?Joint pain
?Night sweats
?Mood swings
?Depression
?Memory loss
?Blurred visions
?Headaches
?Insomnia
?Fungal infections (yeast infections, athletes foot, etc.)
?Sexual dysfunction
?Rashes, hives, or other skin conditions
?Anxiety
?Hyperactivity
?Excessive mucus in throat, nose and lungs
?Sinus pressure

Other Contributing Factors

Antibiotics are usually the primary cause of Candidiasis. Healthy bacteria that line the digestive tract are destroyed by antibiotics. This can allow for an overgrowth of Candidia too. Personally, I think doctors are too quick to prescribe drugs to treat ailments rather than getting to the root of the problem. Most of the time, the prescribed drugs cause more side effects than treating the problem.

Pregnancy predisposes a woman to Candidiasis because it alters the body's pH balance and becomes more acidic. An acidic environment is the perfect breeding ground for a Candidia yeast overgrowth.

Reduced bowel movements keep fecal matter in the colon too long. You should be having at least three bowel movements a day, if not more. Animals have a bowel movement after each meal. This is normal. If you are having less than three bowel movements a day, you could possibly have Candidiasis. Candidiasis is at its all time high to do mainly antibiotics, but also the standard American diet. Today's ?nutrition? contains a great deal of refined foods, including fast food, sodas, pastas, breads, etc. Refined carbs and sugar just give Candidia a breeding ground to multiply and take over.

We are also exposed to antibiotics and other drugs in animal meats and other animal products we eat. Steroids and antibiotics are given to livestock in mass amounts to prevent infection and induce growth. This is why it's so important to eat organic.

Dairy products carry trace amounts of antibiotics. Not only that, the processing milk goes through destroys the milks natural enzymes. The sugar in milk also creates a breeding ground for Candidiasis to multiply. Another not so recognized factor in Candidiasis is environmental factors. This includes pesticides, additives, and preservatives in your food, car exhaust, chemical plants, heavy metals, and most commercial personal hygiene products. These elements are foreign to the body, and therefore the body cannot digest it. These chemicals sit in the digestive tract and become toxic and make the body acidic.

Are you a Candidiasis Candidate?
1.Have you ever or do you use birth control pills?
2.Have you ever or do you take antibiotics?
3.Have you ever or do you take steroids?
4.Have you ever or do you have fungal infections? (yeast infections or athletes foot)
5.Do you commonly experience any of the above Signs or Symptoms? You can get rid of Candidiasis. In doing so you will have more energy, think clearer, clear up your skin, reduce your stomach pouch, lose weight, etc.

Conquering Candidiasis

There are alternative therapies for eliminating yeast. You must address the problem at the source and not merely ?treat? it with drugs. You must rid the overgrowth of Candidia by adopting a natural and organic diet. Fiber is a major issue in fighting off Candidiasis. Fiber helps the body to flush toxins and bowel. Friendly bacteria need a diet rich in fiber to survive to fight off the fungus.

Sweating is an excellent way to detoxify your body and all your major organs. It is imperative that you sweat six times a week for 20-30 minutes to pull out impurities. You need to be sweating through system, not energy sweat, and therefore exercise sweating does not count. Dry saunas would be best. This is a very important step, and if you neglect it, you will be neglecting the detoxifying purpose.

Also, include nutritional supplements, herbs, and probiotics. Taking this natural approach can clear out Candidiasis in about six months to a year. It can take a long time because it thrives on impurities we consume and absorb.

Natural Steps You Can Take To Eliminate Candidiasis:
?Do a Candidia cleanse to purge the impurities
?Drink up to a gallon of filtered water a day to flush out dead yeast cells
?Eat more veggies for fiber
?Eat more whole grains such as rye or millet
?Avoid yeast and mold containing foods (cheeses, grapes, mushrooms)
?Avoid refined foods, sugar, and alcohol
?Avoid artificial sweeteners, additives, preservatives, etc.
?Eat organic foods
?Cabbage is a wonderful source of friendly bacteria.
?Virgin Olive Oil
?Even though yogurt has concentrated Lactobacilli that will suppress unhealthy bacteria, the sugar in it feeds the unhealthy bacteria. Freeze-dried L. acidophilus supplement would be superior.

Supplements You Can Take to Eliminate Candidiasis:
?Potent Multivitamin daily
?Vitamin C ? 10-15 grams a day
?Vitamin E - 400 iu a day
?Zinc Chelate 25-50 mg a day
?Pantothenic Acid - 250 mg a day
?Taurine - 500-1000 mg a day
?Essential Fatty Acids (evening primrose oil, black current oil or borage oil) ? 6-8 grams a day
?Goldenseal Root - 250 mg twice a day
?Pau D'Arco ? 2,000 mg twice a day
?Garlic ? 2,000 mg twice a day
?Caprylic acid ? 1,000 ? 2,000 mg daily with food
?Chlorophyll ? 100 mg daily
?Lactobacillus acidophilus ? 1 tsp three times a day (Take after 8 weeks of detoxing)
?Digestive enzyme with hydrochloric acid (HCL) before and after each meal. If you have ulcers, choose a digestive enzyme without HCL.
?German chamomile tea before and after meals will help to stimulate HCL

Keep in mind it could take several months to a year to rid your body of Candidiasis, if you don't stop feeding the fungus when truing to detoxify it. It thrives on impurities and an acidic environment. Therefore, as you cleanse with supplements, it's just as important to stop destructive behaviors such as eating the foods that can cause the Candidiasis to grow. Once you clean the yeast out of your system you will feel and look like a new person. You will find that weight control is not such a struggle and you will feel completely rejuvenated.

Karen Sessions has been in the fitness industry since 1988. She embarked on weight training to overcome an eating disorder, Anorexia Nervosa in its early stages. She overcame the eating disorder, received her personal training certificate, competed in many local bodybuilding contests, and qualified for Nationals. Since then she?s went on to write six e-books (weight loss, female bodybuilding, contest preparation, leg training, figure/fitness secrets, and cellulite removal). She writes articles for several fitness websites, as well as her own, www.theelitephysique.com, and also distributes a monthly e-newsletter. She has a very active and lively forum, filled with positive and supportive people with informative content. Karen?s sole goal is to educate others and help them apply that knowledge.

Holistic Approach to Health

Holistic or Holism is an approach that emphasizes the whole being, the entire structure, but looks at how each part affects the whole. It deals with life situations with the whole being in mind, while treating the individual parts that are affected and not treating just symptoms. Your problem is not like a car that gets a flat tire and you replace the tire. It is more like a shopping cart that has a bad wheel, which affects and vibrates the entire cart.

Holistic medicine attempts to treat all the systems of the being: the mind, the body, the emotions, and the spirit. The holistic approach brings balance and harmony to the entire structure by paying attention to the specific parts and systems of the body. The symptoms are analyzed to identify the existing problem/s that are affecting the parts and then treated with the whole-being in mind rather than treating only the parts that exhibit the symptoms. The Holistic Approach deals with all of the life force energy available, which includes the physical and the energetic aspects.

The human body as a whole is made up of many parts, each of which is dependent upon the other for a balanced functioning of the system as a whole. Each system is interdependent upon the other. It?s called looking at the bigger picture. Something we do that affects the whole is that we absorb, digest, and inhale toxins every day. These toxins develop free radicals (oxidation, which is rust in the body). Unless we offset the free radicals with anti-oxidants, our bodies will rust from the inside out. As we mature, our body continually changes; remove one critical molecule, or let one cancer cell become a rogue, and the entire structure changes.

From a Holistic stand-point the balance that everyone is looking for comes from: A good diet, plenty of rest, re-learning how to breath effectively, drinking good water every day, learning how to handle stress, having a good exercise program and learning how to turn your life over to a Higher Power.

Michael McCright is a Holistic Health Practitioner, educator, coach, and motivational speaker. His website: http://www.bodymindconnection.com covers a variety of health concerns. Michael is co-producer of an informative and educational DVD: ?TMJ Relief?. For information and holistic solutions regarding TMJ disorder, go to: http://www.holisticspecifics.com. ? 2005 Michael McCright ? Reprints allowed as long as copy is complete with last paragraph and copyright information.

A Healthy Way to be Sick

A person who deals with a physical condition that is beyond their control has to accept an inner depth, which is uncommon in society. If all we do is try to fit into society, we ignore the unique opportunity our illness offers. Our illness forces us beyond the socially accepted depth and allows us an inner exploration most people ignore.

I am partially blind, so it is hard for me to see my outer world. This forces me to look within and explore parts of myself that are not a normal part of society. I am legally blind looking outside of myself, but most people are legally blind looking within. If I had to choose which was worst, inner blindness would be my choice. I believe it is the cause of most of our suffering.

I have had multiple sclerosis since 1981 and I have tried every possible cure that came my way. I am on a weekly shot medication today, but I have tried several diets. I do acupuncture and massage treatments regularly and I have done several alternative treatments including Bee venom and purification methods. I benefited from these treatments; but I am still legally blind with several other symptoms of multiple sclerosis.

Looking Within

Over the decades of making serious efforts to heal myself using everything that held promise, I learned a beautiful lesson. No matter who you are or what condition you are in, the silence beyond our thinking mind is an amazing resource for fulfillment. Becoming aware of that resource is what I call a healthy way to be sick.

That silence is free from disturbing thoughts and fears, giving you a shelter where you are free from your illness and the struggle you are in. It is at that depth the Wisdom of your Body responds to your medication without the distractions from your thinking mind. Even when you are dealing with a chronic illness, like multiple sclerosis, there is an inner peace at that depth. In my condition, if I was to limit my focus to my superficial thinking mind, I would easily become depressed. I am forced to go deeper.

Once I was asked how do we create the ideal state of mind? My answer was: Take away everything that isn't the Ideal State of Mind. When imperfection is removed, we have what existed before we were messed up. In other words, deep within all of us is a wisdom that may not be perfect, but is free to change and evolve. The real task we all face is to learn how can we return to that ideal state of mind.

When we rely on the wisdom of the body, we learn to accept the beauty of life. Our illness or disability may limit us as we adapt to society, but that same situation has the power to force us into a wonderful self-acceptance and that is what I think is a healthy way to be sick. From that state of mind you create an inner healing environment, where you become an active partner with your doctor.

Use your thinking mind to uplift your spirits and work with your doctor and medical team. Your thoughts were not created to depress you or limit you in any way. Thinking, like the clothes you wear can be put on or taken off. Dress up to meet the incredible challenge where you consciously participate in healing. Don't go shabby to an event that is so significant.

Copyright ? 2005 Marc A. Lerner

Marc Lerner is the President of Life Skills Inc. and the author of The Life Skills Approach. He lectures frequently to patients in a health crisis and those undergoing emotional trauma, to help them harness inner resources to overcome these obstacles. For more information and a free e-book, please visit http://www.lifeskillsinc.com