Wellness Newsletter, March, 2008

Here’s your Wellness Newsletter, March, 2008

This newsletter provides up-to-date research-based wellness and self-care information and tells you about books, e-books, web sites and events that can enhance well-being, promote health, and help develop self-care, teaching/learning and leadership skills. Please forward it in its entirety to whomever you believe may benefit.
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Scroll down to what interests you…

1. Your wellness message

2. Wellness news:

a. Music therapy offers hope for depression

b. Spanking may increase risk of sexual problems as adults

c. Stress and fear can affect cancer recurrence

d. Dietary changes alone can lower cholesterol

e. Low-fat diets more likely to reduce risk of heart disease than low-carb diets

f. Reduce carcinogens: use rosemary

3. Wellness Books: Check out some new additions!

4. Online “Living Well with Menopause” support group

5. Self-care/wellness e-books

6. A new book for nurse educators

7. A new book for nursing leaders and managers

8. Archives of past Wellness Newsletter issues.

9. Wellness Events: Heal the Healer and Healing Workshops held at an unspoiled Florida beach site near Sarasota, and a new Integrating Phenomenology workshop in Coconut Grove. AHNA offer.
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1. Wellness Message

May your life be like a wildflower, growing freely in the beauty and joy of each day.

Native American proverb


2. Wellness News:

a. Music therapy offers hope for depression

While the studies on using music therapy to treat depression have been small, 4 out of 5 show benefits, according to a group of Cochrane Researchers who set out to see whether the evidence showed that music therapy could deliver. High quality clinical trials are needed, but in the meantime, playing classical or well-loved tunes for the depressed may be a good idea---no side effects and economically feasible.

Source: Wiley-Blackwell (2008, January 23). Music therapy may offer hope for people with depression. ScienceDaily. Retrieved January 20, 20008, from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080122203158.htm
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b. Spanking may increase risk of sexual problems as adults

Murray Straus, co-director of the Family Research Laboratory at the University of New Hampshire analyzed the results of four studies and found that spanking and other corporal punishment by parents is associated with an increased probability of three sexual problems as a teen or adult:

1. verbally and physically coercing a dating partner to have sex
2. having risky sex including premarital sex without a condom, and
3. masochistic sex, such as being aroused by being spanked when having sex.

Because “over 90 percent of U.S. parents spank toddlers, the potential benefits for prevention of sexual and relationship violence is large, according to Strauss.

The most important finding of this study is that “each increase of one step on a four-step measure of corporal punishment was associated with a 10 percent increase in the probability of verbal sexual coercion by men and a 12 percent increase in sexual coercion by women,” says Strauss, who presented his new research findings at the American Psychological Associations’ Summit on Violence and Abuse in Relationships: Connecting Agendas and Forging New Directions held February 28 and 29 in Bethesda, MD.

Strauss encourages professionals to advise parents about the evidence-based policy for no spanking, and to provide ways to use positive discipline to correct misbehavior. Note: more than 100 other studies provide evidence that spanking is one of the roots of relationship violence and mental health problems. It could be that parents resort to spanking because they don’t have the tools to use positive discipline.

Source: University of New Hampshire (2008, March 2). Spanking kids increases risk of sexual problems as adults. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 9, 2008, from
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080228220451.htm

Positive discipline resource: www.positivediscipline.com/

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c. Stress and fear can affect cancer recurrence

Psychological and physiological stress prior to, during and after surgery has a biological impact that impairs immune system functioning, according to Professional Ben-Eliyahu, from Tel Aviv University’s Department of Psychology. An impaired immune system is a major factor in the promotion of cancer metastases after surgery. He suggests starting a program that reduces or even blocks stress may prevent cancer recurrence.

Source: Tel Aviv University (2008, February 29). Stress and fear can affect cancer’s recurrence. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 9, 2008, from
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080227142656.htm

Note: One strategy I’ve used with clients is to make a relaxation and stress-reduction tape and ask that it be played prior to, during, and after surgery, to reduce stress and aid healing.

Other stress reduction resources:

http://www.helpguide.org/mental/stress_relief_meditation_yoga_relaxation.htm

http://www.dvc.edu/english/Learning_Resources/stress_reduction_exercises.htm
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d. Dietary changes alone can lower cholesterol

The results of a recent study of 377 people with high cholesterol who were counseled by 52 registered dietitians at 24 sites in 11 states showed it took about 8 months, and 3-4 appointments to reduce cholesterol.

Key nutrition issues they used in the study included reducing saturated (animal) and trans (fried foods) fat and increasing “healthy” fats such as olive oil, increasing fiber (fruits and vegetables), eating fish twice a week, regular exercise, weight management, reading labels and healthy dining out.

Unfortunately, many clients dropped out of counseling after one or two visits. Lack of insurance coverage was a major factor. The lead author noted that heart patients are on multiple cholesterol medication, but never receive nutritional counseling without realizing that cholesterol “can be lowered without medication or increases in medication…”

Source: Journal of the American Dietetic Association 108.
University of Michigan Health System (2008, March 6). Many patients can reach LDL cholesterol goal through dietary changes alone, study shows. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 9, 2008 from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080304105817.htm
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e. Low far diets more likely to reduce risk of heart disease than low-carb diets

Results from a new study published in Hypertension showed the higher fat content of a low carbohydrate diet may put dieters at an “increased risk of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) because these diets often reduce protection of the endothelium, the thin layer of cells that line the blood vessels of the circulatory system.”

Over a 6-week period, the researchers found two important difference in participants on the low-carb diets:

1. reduced dilation in the arm artery in participants on low-carbohydrate diets, an early indicator of cardiovascular disease (participants on the low-fat diet showed significant improvement in flow-mediated dilation in their arms).

2. significantly less daily folic acid intake; folic acid can help reduce the likeliness of heart disease due to its antioxidant properties, and especially its ability to lower levels of homocysteine, a naturally occurring amino acid that can be dangerous at elevated levels.

Source: Medical College of Wisconsin (2008, March 3). Low-fat diets more likely to reduce risk of heart disease than low-carb diets. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 9, 2008 from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080229141756.htm
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e. Reduce carcinogens: use rosemary & green tea

Several animal tests have shown acrylamide to be a carcinogen and a recent study conducted by the National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, showed a positive association between acrylamide and breast cancer in humans.

Acrylamide is formed during the preparation and processing of many foods whenever frying, baking or grilling carbohydrate-rich foods such as bread, French fries and biscuits. The longer the cooking time and the lower the water content, the higher the acrylamide content in the heat-processed food.

Other tests show that blanching and salt may reduce the acrylamide content in potato products. Adding rosemary to dough prior to baking a portion of wheat buns, even to less than one percent of the dough, was enough to reduce the acrylamide content significantly. Drinking green tea or adding it to foods about to be baked, fried, or grilled may also reduce the acrylamide content.

Source: Technical University of Denmark (2008, March 4). A little rosemary can go a long way in reducing acrylamide in food. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 9, 2008 from
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080229142817.htm


3. Wellness Books:

Aging Beyond Belief by Wellness Guru, Don Ardell, 2007.

If you plan to age, prepare yourself - it's later than you think and the challenge of aging well should be taken seriously. Discover what aspects of aging can't be changed and guide the rest that can. Aging Beyond Belief includes 69 recommendations for a more healthful, enjoyable and meaningful existence at
every stage of life, written by the world's most prolific, outrageous, humorous and athletic expert on wellness. The book can be ordered from: http://www.wholeperson.com/x-selfhelp/aging.html#Anchor-Aging-47857 or Don's web site: http://www.seekwellness.com/wellness/index.htm

*Living Well with Anxiety: What Your Doctor Doesn't Tell You That You Need to Know.

This helpful self-care manual provides a mind, body, and spirit wellness approach to anxiety. Learn how to control anxiety and stress naturally. Contents include how to self-diagnose anxiety, wellness approaches (nutrition, herbs, environmental changes, exercise, other anxiety-reducing and healing measures), relationships, purpose and spirituality, creating your own anxiety plan and finding and working with the right practitioner. Ask your local book store to order LWW Anxiety if you don't find it on the shelf. You can also find this book by clicking on www.harpercollins.com and writing Carolyn Chambers Clark in the search box at the top of the screen.

* The Art of Becoming a Nurse Healer. ISBN – 1-929693-49-451695. 88 pages
The author, a psychiatric nurse and medical sociologist discusses the hazards and realities of nursing that form real barriers to practicing a healing form of nursing. She offers practical advice that allows nurses to practice in ways that renew their spirits and rediscover their love of the reasons they went into nursing. Written for clinicians, students, and educators. Contents: Knowledge base for the nurse healer; The nature of a caring relationship, Nurse healing in action. AJN Book of the Year award; 5 star Doody rating. Order from publisher at: http://www.hcmarketplace.com/prod-4047.html Direct link to Amazon. Com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1414023960/qid=1095875188/sr=1-5/ref=sr_1_5/103-4946993-1098208?v=glance&s=

*Encyclopedia of Complementary Health Practice. Includes concepts and issues, economic and practice issues, education issues, legal/legislative/health policy issues, historical perspectives, conditions (from a-z), influential substances, practices and treatments, contributor directory, and resources directory. For more information or to order, click on www.springerpub.com and write Carolyn Chambers Clark in the search box at the top of the screen.

*Garden Therapy Guidelines for Special Needs by Judith Gammonley, ARNPBC, EdD, LCP includes how to use garden therapy with those who are memory impaired, brain injured, or who struggle with developmental or physical challenges for symptoms as widely divergent as wandering, distractibility, poor communication, mood changes, disorientation, fatigue, frustration, aggression, limited social skills, lack of self-confidence, limited mobility, depression, lack of motivation, anxiety, and social withdrawal. For copies, contact Dr. Gammonley at goodgam@aol.com or phone her at (727) 784-2449.

*Group Leadership Skills. Now in its 4th edition, this book focuses on an introduction to group work, basic group concepts and processes, working to achieve group goals, special group problems, beginning/guiding/terminating the group, supervision of group leaders and co-leadership, behavioral approaches for group leaders, recording and analyzing group process, groups for the old adults, working with focal groups, when the organization is the group, and when the community is the group. Go to Springer Publishing Company by clicking on www.springerpub.com and write Carolyn chambers Clark in the search box at the top of the screen.

*Health Promotion in Communities: Holistic and Wellness Approaches. Focuses on applying wellness and holistic concepts to community work and includes a model for health and wellness promotion in communities, health promotion with changing and vulnerable populations, community self-assessment, principles of planning effective community programs, community mobilization and participation, evaluating community health programs, health promotion in rural settings, health promotion on the internet, nutrition and weight management, fitness and flexible movement, typical childhood communicable diseases; promoting community resilience, stress management, smoking cessation, violence prevention, environmental wellness, complementary health care practices, advanced communication skills with individuals and groups, working with groups, working with families, health promotion with African American women, establishing a lay health promotion program in a Hispanic community, diabetes programs in Hawaii, parish nursing, conducting a survey; the example of a youth service organization, violence prevention in schools; a model violence-prevention center, evaluating small community-based health promotion programs: lessons learned from Colorado Health Promotion Initiatives, health promotion in a homeless center. Available from Springer Publishing Company by clicking on www.springerpub.com and writing Carolyn Chambers Clark in the search box at the top of the page

*Healthy Holistic Aging: A Blueprint for Success. This book not only provides an easy to follow blueprint for health and holistic aging, but the author is an exceptional role model for his program. Can you live a healthy and independent life to the age of 100? Can you enjoy positive relationships? Can you maintain a healthy environment? Carl Helvie, RN, DrPH says you can and at age 74, he's a perfect example of the right things to do. He has no chronic illnesses and is among the 11% of the age 65-and-overs who take no prescribed medications. The book cites overwhelming scientific evidence that good diet, exercise, adequate sleep, prayer, meditation, positive relationship with others and a clean and safe environment can ensure successful aging. Ask for it at your local bookstore or find it online. Also visit Dr. Helvie's web site where you can also obtain the book as well as other helpful information. Click on www.HealthyHolisticAging.com.

* Her Inspiration, subtitled, Secrets to Help You Work Smart, Be Successful and Have Fun, this book is full of quotes and thoughts from hundreds of women to encourage, motivate, and support you as you make your way. It is a book with a mission: to provide the advice, solace, kick in the pants, pat on the shoulder, hug or giggle you need when you need it. In short, it’s here to inspire women to be their best selves. The book contains 9 chapters, including: Get organized: Tips and Timesavers; Chill: Give Yourself a Break, Create Your Style: Fashion Sense and Common Sense, Gather Your Group: Friends, Mentors, and Motivators; Indulge Yourself: Little Rewards Lead to Big Accomplishments; Live Well: Living Your Life to the Hilt; Be Bold: How to Make Your Ideas Count; Work Smart: Doing Your Job and Being the Best You Can Be; and Achieve: Women Can Do Anything. Published by Conari Press, it can be order from orders@redwheelweiser.com or online at www.conari.com.

*Holistic Nursing Approach to Chronic Diseases

Based on holistic assessments and interventions, this book uses a holistic approach to AIDS/HIV, Allergies/Asthma, Alzheimer's Disease, Arthritis, Cancer, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Depression, Diabetes, Digestive Problems, Fibromyalgia, Heart and Blood Vessel Disorders, Kidney Disease, Liver Disease, multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis, overweight/obesity, pain, Parkinsons' Disease, and/or sleep disorders. Available from Springer Publishing Company by clicking on www.springerpub.com and writing Carolyn Chambers Clark in the search box at the top of the screen.

*Living Well with Menopause: What Your Doctor Doesn't Tell You That You Need To Know.
A self-care manual to help women learn about using hormones, and what to do if they'd rather not. Soon to be available in Spanish. Now in its third printing. Table of contents includes: menopause: a natural process, medical treatment, nutrition, herbs, environmental actions, exercise, other stress reduction and healing measures, relationships, finding and working with the right practitioner, and putting it all together: your menopause success plan. Available from Harper Collins by clicking on http://www.harpercollins.com and writing Carolyn Chambers Clark in the search box at the top of the screen.

*Prayers for Healing. Edited by Maggie Oman, with an Introduction by the Dalai Lama and Foreword by Larry Dossey, this little book invites you into a wonderful healing space. Contributors include Wendell Berry, Jack Kornfield, Rainer Maria Rilke, Marian Wright Edelman, Martine Luther King, Jr., and Marianne Williamson, Kahlil Gibran, Goethe, and even traditional Native American truths. For comfort, inspiration, and understanding, order from orders@redwheelweiser.com or online at www.conari.com.

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4. Online Menopause Support/Information Group

Anyone who could benefit from support and information during menopause can go to www.yahoogroups.com and write living well with menopause in the search box, scroll down to Living Well with Menopause and click on it.
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5. E-books

Available e-books include ADHD, acne, bladder spasms/bladder infections, couple communication, depression relief, great body, headaches, healing veggies, healing with affirmation & imagery, healthy hair, helping with homework, natural diuretics, pain free, parenting, peri-menopausal bleeding, permanent weight loss, pregnancy, helping children be successful in school, teaching math concepts, thyroid, and whole brain thinking. All are from a wellness, self-care perspective. Click on www.carolynchambersclark.com (Scroll down the left hand column of the web site to find them.)
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6. New Book for Nurse Educators

*Classroom Skills for Nurse Educators. Hot off the press and already in its second printing, this new book for nurse educators provides ways to promote interactive learning even in large classes, while teaching asynchronously online and more…also introduces creative ways to use role playing, simulations, simulation games, group methods, peer learning, value clarification, perceptual exercises, journal writing and poetry. Educator vignettes present situations that help integrate theory into practice for varied nurse educators from nursing faculty, clinical nurse leaders, graduate students in nursing education programs to staff development experts. Presents indepth analysis and tips for overcoming the teaching/learning problems that can interfere with the learning process, and even shows how to develop your own learning materials (including simulations and games) in simple but effective ways. Find the book on the Jones & Bartlett web site by clicking on www.jbpub.com/catalog/9780763749750. Sample chapters and more information available at the web site.
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7. Creative Nursing Leadership & Management ISBN-10: 0763749761. 432 Pages.

This book provides relevant theory and ties it to practice by allowing learners to use critical thinking activities in a safe classroom environment. Perfect for upper-level undergraduate nursing leadership courses (and for more advanced leaders), the text focuses on creating leadership opportunities and creative solutions; using information technology; managing resources and change; delegation and succession: developing staff; creative political, legal, ethical, effective, and safe interventions to keep staff engaged. For more information click on www.jbpub.com/catalog/9780763749767
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8. Archives of the Wellness Newsletter

To read recent past issue of the Wellness Newsletter, click on www.carolynchambersclark.com/id103.html
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9. Wellness Events

a. Wellness Workshop/Retreat.

Need a two-day Heal the Healer or Healing Getaway where you can learn new wellness self-care measures, heal and luxuriate in restful beach surroundings? Go to http://carolynchambersclark.com/id107.html for specifics.

b. Want your book or event mentioned in this newsletter? Contact me by clicking on my picture at www.carolynchambersclark.com and provide the particulars…title, author, year of pub, a short blurb, and where to get the book or the directions to the activity. Just follow the format I've used above for books and activities, please. That's Times Roman 12 point black ink only no underlining or bolding, please, and you only have a few lines to do all that. Don't forget your contact information. Thanks in advance.

c. Integrating Phenomenology into Practice: a Human Understanding Imperative is an exciting, innovative, and cutting edge workshop for health and human services professionals being offered by The Open U. in Coconut Grove, Miami, Florida on April 19, 2008 from 9AM-5PM with a certificate reception from 5 PM to 6PM. Embedding phenomenology into the practice of psychotherapy, psychology, psychoanalysis, nursing, social work, teaching and other human and health sciences is what individualizes, humanizes and gives recognition and respect to people within their cultures, contexts and living contingencies. Meaning and understanding underpins our search for human potential, human understanding, and human freedom, both for self and other. Early Registration before April 10, 2008: $150 includes materials and reception; $130 for IIHU members. For a full description of this workshop (CEU’s applied for) and registration forms go to www.iihu.org Open U Workshops and Syllabi or write to pmunhall@aol.com. Faculty: Patricia Munhall, EdD, NCPsyA, CHt, CNLP; To know more about Patricia go to www.iihu.org

d. Join the AHNA now at reduced rate

Join the American Holistic Nurses Association community at a special 20% off new members' rate of just $100 until March 31st. Learn about the benefits of AHNA membership at www.AHNA.org. To Join AHNA call (800) 278-2462 Ext. 12 to place your membership over the phone, or e-mail membership@ahna.org for an electronic membership mail-in form.


PLEASE SEND THIS NEWSLETTER ON to friends, family, clients or colleagues who might benefit. My only request is that you send it in its entirety.

In Wellness,

Carolyn Chambers Clark
ARNP, EdD, FAAN, AHN-BC
Editor

Stay Well!

If you'd like to subscribe, go to www.carolynchambersclark.com and click on my picture.