Healing Space with Todd Pesek, MD

Yuk! Fossil Fuels.

I have said it again and again and will continue to do so…….there is no human health without environmental health! 

How could we possibly expect to be healthful if we keep trashing the planet?

Our flowering friend here under a snowfall speaks volumes!

Seriously…… 

A concerted, monumental transition from coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear power plants to ecologically friendly solar power is absolutely necessary. 

This switch could supply 69 percent of the U.S.’s electricity and 35 percent of its total energy by 2050 (or more depending on innovations). Check out this well written Scientific American article, A Solar Grand Plan: By 2050 solar power could end U.S. dependence on foreign oil and slash greenhouse gas emissions. 

They point out that the potential of solar energy is absolutely astonishing! The energy of sunlight striking the earth for a mere 40 minutes is equivalent to annual global energy consumption. An entire year!

In the U.S. we are endowed with a quarter million square miles in the southwest which receives greater than 4,500 quadrillion British Thermal Units (BTU’s) of solar radiation annually. Converting 2.5% of this energy would match the energy consumption of the U.S. in 2006.

The federal government would have to invest differently than it does now, but the return is much more substantive.  What a boost to our economy! Just what we need!!!

Well, what are we waiting for? 

High prices for gasoline and home heating oil are absolutely here to stay. Globally, we have reached peak oil and our patterns for accessing fossil fuels are becoming more and more costly and more and more destructive. The U.S.is at war in the Middle East, at least in part, for the protection of foreign oil interests. China, India and other rapidly developing nations continue to consume fossil fuels at exponential rates. This trend is sure to add complexities, disagreements, and continued environmental atrocities to the table.

In the meanwhile, companies and power plants operative on coal, oil and natural gas, as well as personal vehicles the world over, continue to ravage our environment as they pour millions of tons of pollutants and greenhouse gases into the atmosphere annually. 

I mean seriously, they are blowing the tops off of mountains throughout my homelands of Appalachia. As if this is not bad enough, these companies then dump their toxic waste into local streams. My people and forests suffer! Horrible, absolutely horrible! Check out this article on Mountain Top Removal in the Boston Globe.

We need to act fact in influencing each other and in turn our policy makers and business!

Change emanates from within and starts at home!

Organic…..where to now?

Yes! Organic food production has been conclusively demonstrated, by science in support of common sense, to be more healthful, for both people and planet, then conventionally produced counterparts.

Seriously, who wants petrochemicals and a multitude of other toxicants in their food, in their food-chain, and in their neighborhood? These things ravage our health and the health of our ecosystems (a whole other post)!

After about a half century of hard work our Organic and healthfully minded community has developed demand in support of a large multibillion dollar healthful alternative to large scale industrial agriculture. 

This healthful alternative now hangs in the balance as large corporations and their powerful lobbyists infiltrate policymakers and move toward eliminating these alternatives.

There are several mechanisms by which this elimination is actively occurring. Several main issues are large scale corporate acquisition of smaller values-based companies, altering organic certification standards, and an overall lack of supply chain clarity. 

For example, check out Cornucopia Institute’s Who Owns Organics. They are doing a great job reporting on the work of Dr. Phil Howard, a Professor in the Community, Agriculture, Recreation and Resource Studies program at Michigan State University.  Dr. Howard is responsible for the creation and updating of the organic food business consolidation chart on Cornucopia’s site.

In my view, it is clear and disturbing that a majority of the Organic industry is now owned by large-scale food processing entities.  

Also, check out the Organic Consumers Association as they point out numerous specifics on the lowering of Organic certification standards.

Yikes! So then, where to?

I came across a good post: Should “Organic” Have Stricter Rules? by Kyla of the Alternative Consumer. In fact, it was she and one of her commenter’s who inspired me to this post.

She asks a great question! And, one commenter stated a resounding yes, Organics should have more strict rules.

I respectfully disagree. We need more than this! We need less confusion all around!

The question points out some serious issues in need of careful attention. However, I do not believe that the solution lies within the realm of more strict labeling and certification requirements. Or even legislation for that matter.

In my view, it is what it is. And, if people keep buying it, it will keep on coming. This is all commerce here and now that there is money to be made in Organics, they will keep coming!

I believe solutions for improvement involve corporate transparency, authenticity and respect for the dignity of all consumers. Given the correct information, consumers, generally speaking, will make the correct choice.

We have seen this occur in the development of the green, Organic markets. People want what is good for them and the planet. The confusion sets in with smokescreens. We need to advocate for clarity and careful understanding of supply as then and only then would conscious consumerism be given the chance to work with the full potential that it has.

I want all the information in clear form when making my consumptive decisions and in effect as I vote with my commerce.

Ahhhhh, True Healing and the Emerald Isle!

Wow…….to say the least!

I just returned from a vortex of energy in Ireland where I, along with Victor Cal (a Maya elder with whom I work in Central America), gave a closing plenary presentation at a UN Conference on Health and Biodiversity. The gathering took place from Monday 25th to Thursday 28th February 2008 in Galway City, Ireland.

The event was absolutely off the hook!!!!!

It brought 170 delegates from over 70 countries together, from a multitude of disciplines and backgrounds, to collaborate on—get this, new approaches for protecting human health and well-being through the conservation and sustainable use of the world's biological diversity.

Yay, its about time!

Delegates included representatives of United Nations agencies, governmental orgs, NGOs, IGOs, (all the ooo’s, ohh's, ahh's and egg heads too!) academic institutions, health and environmental practitioners, students, and community representatives, including indigenous community leaders from every continent.

Many, many thanks to Conor Kretsch, COHAB Secretariat (one of the smartest most humble guys I know), and, Fidelma Murray, Event Coordinator (event king-pin!) for their vision, hard work and determination, and the great time! Many more to come on this road, I am sure!

Check em out here: http://www.cohabnet.org/   

The event outputs including DVD on opening and closing plenary (including our preso “Healing Across Cultures”) will be online.

Energy and commitment to all those who’s paths have once again merged with our own! 

Out in the cold with ya!

I know this time of year usually makes us want to jump back under the covers, but I have some homework for you. Yes, you can do it. Go ahead, don some nice cozy layers and get on out there! Free yourself as you walk and revel in the warmth your body creates. Breathe in with the trees and notice the clean, crisp smells carried in the cooler air this time of year brings. Listen to the sounds around you and just be.

Why? We are part of nature. Since time began, we have sought to enhance our own health by spending time with nature, in addition to engaging in physical and mental exercise, and eating a balanced diet. I send you out into the cold not in the proverbial sense, but only to spend time with the source of health that it is necessary for everyone to turn back to for true beauty: the earth.

Enjoy and be well!

Earth Healin’

As I sit and write this to the warm morning sunshine of my back porch, I am sipping my cup of Awaken Matcha, listening to the birds and the breeze sing and sigh, and reflecting on a really nice time that I just had in the woods. I love the woods.

Summer is such an amazingly energetic time. We all have felt the invigoration that a few warm rays will give…just ask those people who wear shorts and sandals at the first sign of fifty degrees after a long winter (yes, I am one of you…). The summertime buzz abounds in the woods as well. I personally love to run through the trees. This is something that heals me on many levels. It brings balance to my life, strength to my mind, spirit, body and soul. This last time, I was deep in a gorge and standing in a rich riparian area. I paused for a moment and looking up the watershed almost burst into tears. It was so breathtaking, so moving—the spirits so powerful and proud. It was then that I though of how much nature gives me, gives us. I am honored to be an Earth Healer.

Spring Renewal!!

Ahh… It is here, spring at last! Bathe your senses and soak up the rejuvenating buzz of springtime. The warmth of the early afternoon sun, the subtle, energizing brightness of the greens and the rainbow hues of the colorful spring ephemerals, to the sweet mystifying scents of fresh rains, magnolias, honeysuckle and apple blossoms—it is all here now! Even the birds a-chirpin’…

Feed your senses with the wonders of our Earth Mother stretching and waking from the restful slumber of our winter months. It is a time to rejoice, a time for renewal, rejuvenation and growth and just as our Earth Mother sends the Thunderbirds to wash away her cob webs of winter and to nurture the life that springs forth so too does she make available these things to us for renewal and health.   

You might be asking yourself “what is a spring ephemeral, anyway?” They are an inspiration for this blog and a special kind of short-lived (two weeks or so) forest floor wildflower. There are all different types, colors, energies and nutritive/healing properties inherent in these wonderful little creatures. Basically, these little ones take their place in the short interim period in the woods where the nutrient-rich leaf litter is bathed in sunlight (prior to the filling in of the canopy with the surrounding trees leaves).

They are inspirational in spirit and convey some of the most powerful and sacred healing energies. 

You see, as I walked through the woods today, I noted that the Trout Lilies are beginning to show their mottled leaves from beneath the leaf-litter of the forest floor.

I am energized to see these wonderful little guys. They signify, along with a few others, a diverse healing occurrence in the transition from winter to spring. And for us, keeping in mind that we have subsisted in close proximity to nature for millennia, they bring the beginning of the much needed spring renewal and rejuvenation processes for our health and wellness. 

Remember that we interact with our world via our senses of touch, sight, smell, taste, hearing, and then some. Start your spring renewal with the complete and utter use of all of your senses. Go for a long walk in the woods, feel the leaves on your feet and the grass between your toes, take in the colors and peaceful energies of our friends, breath deeply in to the scents of our earth and her flowers and listen to her.

Don Albino

It is with great regret that we announce that Don Albino has moved from this life to another.

Don Albino was a true healer and friend—a family member to Earth Healers and Naturaleza. He was one of the few remaining elder Maya Healers left in Belize, C.A., his homeland. His passing is a profound loss to our community and the world.

Don Albino was a visionary among visionaries. Though he never learned to read and write, he spoke volumes on his passions in Maya healing and culture. His vision and drive to help preserve and share his knowledge about healing, traditions in field and forest, and culture led him to bring healers together to preserve the wisdom, traditions, and land that they hold so dear. His deeply intuitive  connections also enabled his leading of the associations that he banded together into a drastically different world-- a world of collaboration and fruitful relationships with entities as diverse and far-reaching as Belize Indigenous Training Institute, University of Ottawa, Earth Healers and Naturaleza, and Cleveland State University. He forged these partnerships so that he could spread his knowledge and passions to young Maya apprentices and to others who wanted to learn.  As one of the primary founders of Itzama, Don Albino rallied and brought together other renowned Maya Healers, such as Don Emilio and Don Francisco, from far across the Maya homeland. He often walked many miles through bush and on dirt roads under scorching sun and torrential rains to deliver messages and updates about Itzama developments to fellow members and young Maya apprentices. His commitment was strong and worthy of admiration. He stayed with us as long as he needed to ensure stability, purpose and tangible outcomes; he was, in effect, the glue that bound us through tough times and then some. He knew when to leave us to go.

Don Albino was a quiet person who always preferred to be anonymous. However, when he spoke, everyone listened. His words were always wise and he often spoke in fables. A few stories:

“I remember a time, back in the early days of Itzama—before we had our dirt road, we got our vehicle stuck while driving across the pre-road (more of a field really) to get there. It had just rained and        there we were stuck in the middle of the jungle. We got out of the vehicle, and sat down under some trees. Don Albino said something to the effect that we need to stop now to listen and learn. He began looking around at the plants (he and another healer, Don Lorenzo) and began to chuckle. Here it is. And then, they taught me about the wonders of a plant in close proximity—a particularly special plant. I will never forget him, his lessons, his drive for his passions, and his willingness to share his knowledge on true healing.” T. Pesek

“During community meetings he would sit and narrate mythical stories handed down by his grandfather. His stories were reminiscent of scenes from Apocalypto or Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. But they were better, they were real—he would tell of Jaguar warriors and Eagle warriors who would leap, fly, and disappear into the jungle. With superhuman powers these warriors would travel long distances and speak with nature. They would morph into different animals and protect their environments his stories would often engage children. Indeed, he inspired me want to learn more of my own culture when I was a kid. I now think how profound his transmissions were. I sometimes like to think of Earth Healers as being the modern day Maya warriors.”  M. Cal.

We are deeply saddened that he is no longer with us in flesh but are sure that he will be proud to see his healing legacy and vision develop with Itzama and our projects. This tremendous loss serves as a reminder to the profound importance in perseverance to keep steering the course with Itzama as a mechanism in both generational transmission of knowledge and community based conservation of the land—which goes hand in hand with the knowledge in imparting wisdom. This is wisdom our next generation of leaders needs and is good reason to move quickly before we lose another member of the Maya healing community. Don Albino leaves behind a wife and large family who desperately need us both financially and emotionally.

We have established the Don Albino Shaman Apprentice scholarship fund. Tax deductible donations to this fund can be contributed to Naturaleza. Please spread the word!

http://www.naturalezafoundation.org/donate.htm

The fund is available to Maya youngsters chosen by the healers to learn their secrets. They will work in the gardens at Itzama, learn this age-old knowledge in healing and field and forest and then obtain a university education of their choosing at one of our collaborating universities. We would like to faciliate action in appropriately mentoring our next generation of leaders.

Don Albino was 90 years old.

Until we meet again, dear friend, thank you.

-- Todd Pesek and Marvin Cal on behalf of Earth Healers and Naturaleza—brothers and sisters to each other and our forest.

More on Radiance Maca...

Radiance Maca, Lepidium peruvianum Chacón, is a tuber that is native to South America where it grows in the unique ecosystems of the high Andean mountains.

Here is the Earth Healers team with Dr. Gloria Chacón. The Peruvian botanist who discovered our potent cultivar of Maca.

Largely considered an Andean miracle food of sorts, our our Maca roots are traditionally harvest in ceremony; they are then dried naturally in the sun at altitude, and can be stored well for years. When prepared, it takes on a sweet, almost butterscotch-like flavor, and is consumed by local cultures in various ways: among them are roasting, as tea, as sweet gruel with milk, or it is made into a flour mixture and used in making breads, cakes, and cookies. It is also prepared as a beverage by blending boiled roots with fruits or spices and water or milk. The miracle of Maca is not, however, in its versatility of preparation, but in its wellness conferring attributes—however consumed. 

Maca has traditionally been used by indigenous peoples as a healing herb and a foodstuff which has an important role in the dynamic interactions of physical, mental, and sexual energies. It has been used as such since before the era of the Inca Empire. Less well-known than its aphrodisiac properties, perhaps, is that it also promotes mental clarity and boosts both endurance and stamina—it can help you get through your day in this increasingly busy world. It is essential to note that this may be because Maca is an excellent adaptogen, tailoring its utility to the individual who consumes the root and helping to balance the body’s systems under physical and emotional stress. Researchers have demonstrated that Maca “refurbished the impairment caused by restraint stress, restoring to its normal state” (Lopez-Fando, 2004) hormones and bodily processes that may react to stressful situations. “Fight or flight” responses can lead to a range of problems, including difficulty concentrating and stress induced illness. Reducing the effects of stress has a positive outcome on systems and hormonal balance, blood sugar fluctuations, and mental clarity. This is nearly immediate and so effective that “Maca is…given to Andean schoolchildren during exams to assure good test scores” (Smith, 2004). Imagine what it can do for you in daily tasks!

Maca has been used for millennia in the Andes region as a natural way to boost both male and female fertility. In study after study, it has shown a remarkable ability to work with your body's unique chemistry to help improve sexual function and fecundity. “Results from experiments…indicate that Maca helps to improve sexual performance” (Sandoval, 2002) in both genders. Studies have shown an increase in both sperm quantity and motility with treatment. “Maca administered orally in tablets during 12 weeks [also] had a beneficial effect on subjective sexual desire in healthy adult men…[the] results demonstrate the effect of Maca on healthy men is noticeable since 60 days of treatment” (Gonzales, 2002). Many women also note the pleasant effect of increased desire following treatment with Maca.

In addition, “Maca is often eaten by Peruvian women who want to get pregnant” (Smith, 2004). Anecdotal evidence as well as research to support these claims is promising. Remember, this herb is an adaptogen with systems balancing properties, so it can serve as a regulator for women with irregular cycles who wish to conceive—by helping reduce the effects of stress on conception efforts and bringing regularity to menstrual cycles, it may become more likely to achieve pregnancy.

Maca’s nutritional profile includes phytoestrogens (Ruiz-Luna, 2005), which perhaps allows the herb to stimulate the hormonal balance we mentioned earlier. This would not only help regulate cycles, but also decrease cramping and mood changes associated with the western phenomenon of PMS. Maca has also shown significant promise in helping relieve the difficult symptoms of menopause.

Perhaps one of the reasons Maca is so valued by the traditions of the area is its remarkable nutritional makeup—it is an extremely healthful root. Maca contains nearly all of the essential amino acids, as well as high concentrations of the same anticancer compounds found in vegetables like cabbage and broccoli. It plays a role in immune support, as it contains compounds similar to those found in Echinacea sp. (Smith, 2004). The principle antioxidant present in green tea is found in significant concentrations in Maca as well. One specific study “demonstrated that Maca degraded free radicals…results indicate that Maca has the ability to scavenge free radicals, and provides cytoprotection during oxidative stress conditions” (Sandoval, 2002). What this means to you is that perhaps the degenerative effects of environment and age—such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and joint dysfunction—can be reduced with Maca consumption.

The balancing effect of this herb not only helps the individual in the short term, but also long term by helping to assist the body to recover more quickly, getting it back to a healthy state. As you are dealing with both mental and physiological stress better, you are more prone to be at harmony with the environment—both the people and the earth around you. By supporting your immune system, you are less likely to suffer setbacks due to illness. More energy is available to reconnect to your spiritual side. You can actually feel the rejuvenating effects of Maca on your body. Consider it a cornerstone to a healthy lifestyle, and an important part of an overall routine for your Journey to Wellness.

Maca Resources:

Gonzales, G., Cordova, A., Vega, K., Chung, A., Villena, A., Gonez, C., & Castillo, S. (2002). Effect of lepidium meyenii (maca) on sexual desire and absent relationship with serum testosterone levels in adult healthy men. Andologia. 34: 367-372.

Lopez-Fando, A., Gomez, Serranillos, M., Iglesias, I., Lock, O., Upamayta, U., & Carretero, M. (2004). Lepidium peruvianum Chacon restores homeostasis impaired by resistant stress. Phytotherapy Research. 18: 471-474.

Sandoval, M., Okuhama, N., Angeles, F., Melchor, V., Condezo, L., Lao, J., & Miller, M. (2002). Antioxidant activity of the cruciferous vegetable Maca (Lepidium meyenii). Food Chemistry. 79: 207-213.

Smith, E. (2004). Maca root: modern rediscovery of an ancient Andean fertility food. Journal of the American Herbalists Guild. January 2004.

Ruiz-Luna, A., Salazar, S., Aspajo, N., Rubio, J., Gasco, M., & Gonzales, G. (2005). Lepidium meyenii (Maca) increases litter size in normal adult female mice. Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology. 3:16.

Glowing—radiance and health from within!

Most of us have heard about how beauty illuminates us from within, but we usually think of this as more of a frame of mind or a personality adjustment than a detox makeover—when in reality, it’s a bit of both.

We work so hard toward a state of mental health, and yet is difficult for inner peace and the calm that comes with knowing oneself to shine when our bodies both accumulate the impurities around us (yes, they affect our bodies as well as our planet!), and change as we go through the natural aging process. The environment affects how we look and feel, and time inevitably leaves its mark—often in the unsavory forms of insomnia, hormonal imbalance, hot flashes, mood swings, and skin changes.

So…how can you purify and share your light with the world a little more easily? How can you help your body cope with normal changes and unhealthy outside influence? Now, now, stop picturing juice-only diets on a deserted mountain somewhere. A fresh start is accessible and advisable for anyone who has felt the above-mentioned maladies, or been tired, stressed out, or bogged down with the blahs.

Try these simple steps to a clean slate and stop hiding the gorgeousness within.

First, focus on your diet. Less animal products and much more fruits and veggies means more of a variety of nutrients and antioxidants needed for repair and nourishment of tissues and organs (including the skin). Drink plenty of water and avoid those refined foods as much as possible. You will feel the difference right away! This doesn’t mean deprivation—try getting a great new vegetarian cookbook or take a class. Your mood, your body, and your skin will thank you.

Next, organics are a great idea, both for the earth and for keeping your body free of chemical residues, so look to buy locally and organically. 

Lastly, supplement with herbals to support your efforts. Balance your system and help alleviate the burdons of hormonal imbalance with Radiance Maca—it can also help your stamina and focus (no more missing car keys…maybe). You may also want to cleanse and detoxify your system with Purity Cat’s Claw (try them both as directed for 4-6 weeks). After your initial push, keep yourself feeling great with Good Energy, a supplement designed to gently help you get through the day with all of the energy you need.

If you need help with heart health or weight loss, you can also try Metabolize for 4-6 weeks. The formulation contains guggul, a cornerstone herbal in Ayurvedic healing, which has been shown to be instrumental in promoting healthful metabolism, cholesterol and lipid ratios, and Awaken Matcha green tea, shown to help increase that metabolism to keep you moving! 

Oh, and it’s a good idea to kick the coffee habit, since it dehydrates and stains teeth. Try something new for your morning cup—drink the greener than green ceremonial grade Awaken Matcha green tea for a jumpstart with a bonus wellness boost.

Adapt as little or as much as you can—small steps to a great end are easier to maintain, so keep that in mind, and you’ll be glowing in no time.

Summer jive!

Hello! It has been a while since I updated, but there is a very good reason. Honestly. It’s summer time!  What does this have to do with updating my blog, you ask? Well, having fallen in love with tropical climates in Central and South America, when the weather gets warmer here in the states, it reminds me all over again about how deep my connection is with our marvelous Earth Mother.  I am very lucky to travel quite a bit (I have been in Colorado, North Carolina, and California just within the past few weeks!), and so I see signs of the emergence of this season of seasons all across the country.

Flowers in bloom in an explosion of color across nearly every landscape, the rich canopies of green above in the forests and neighborhoods through which I pass, soft, green grass in my backyard dotted with clover and buzzing with life anew: bees and worms; all critters tiny and yet essential to life. I love to kick off my shoes and feel the earth beneath my feet (not so wise sometimes during the winters here in Ohio) and I love to get dirty in my garden! 

It seems to me like we kind of come alive in the summer…and isn’t this what nature intended? Animals born in the spring are beginning to learn to survive on their own, seeds sown in spring are beginning to take root and grow…life starts a whole new cycle now. It shows us how this great circle of life affects the planet in every way: the critters, my beloved plants and trees, and even us humans. We all live and grow and are born and move on, and it is all so beautiful and perfect. I have to be outside now. It’s living proof of the greater power going on out there.

So, what do you do to connect in the summer? I love my garden—I especially love eating fresh goodies on summer nights outside under the stars! Tomatoes and lettuces and onions and peppers—fresh herbs….it’s making me hungry now thinking of the flavors of the season. It is so satisfying to grow them yourself! If you don’t have the space for a large garden, windowsill growing is perfect. And don't forget the locals—local farmers want to share their goodies with you! I have seen so many awesome Organic farmers’ markets across the country—find one near you, buy locally, and see what I mean! It’s great for body and soul.

Go and enjoy the feel of life beneath your feet. Eat the bounty the earth provides for us. Breathe in the revitalized air on spring and summer. This is a wonderful time to connect with the earth, and to see others out there doing the same. Make contact with these like-minded appreciators as well!

I would be glad to share my joy with you anytime…if you can find me. It is summer, after all. I’ll probably be deep in the woods…or maybe in the garden.