Community Immunity

Hey All,

This entry is from one of the foremost authorities on health and healing from an aromatherapy perspective. I was very skeptical of this before I experienced it, but due to my work in organic community gardens set inside low-income housing areas, I was open to believing that there could be more to plants than my biology classes taught me.

It was during my work with the Hillview Community Gardens in Lewiston, Maine (started by big-hearted genius Kirsten Walters) that I could see a really amazing transformation happening amongst the families there that the plants definitely played a part in.

Aromatherapy, like massage, can be sold by 99 out of 100 companies with a product than is substandard, leaving the general public to believe that there is no real benefit to these practices, or the benefit is less than the awe-inspiring experience that it should be. When you have the good fortune to find an amazing company, like Floracopeia, then you begin to understand to huge potential that exists for healing many of the world's health issues, making ideas like affordable health care a very tangible experience. I have used these oils since I was introduced to them in 2004 and have most recently given a blend to my Grandmother who was dealing with Shingles. Within three days of use, she (and my skeptical aunt) called me to report that most of the Shingles were gone and the pain had decreased by 90%. Feel free to call me and inquire about conditions which aromatherapy might help, or visit the library that is the Floracopeia website.

Cheers,

Bradley

Blog by David Crow

Essential oil-containing aromatic plants have been used for anti-infectious purposes for millennia. The unpleasant odors of sewage, rotting garbage, sick people, and environmental pollution reveal the presence of proliferating microbial toxins. Without knowing the details of what pathogenic agents were present, people have always known that where there were bad vapors, diseases lurked. Throughout history, aromatic plants and their essential oils have been the primary antidote for these evil spirits.

Since the 1800s, scientific research has compiled a substantial body of evidence demonstrating that essential oils have powerful antimicrobial effects against a broad range of bacterial, viral, and fungal pathogens. As the disturbances of the Kali Yuga increase around us, it is wise to consider how these healing plants can be used as our allies, not only to prevent contagion and enhance personal immunity by purifying the atmosphere around us, but to remove the causes of illness within communities as well.

One of the recent discoveries of aromatic research is that the antimicrobial effects of essential oils are most potent not when the oil is used in liquid form, as when applying tea tree to a fungal infection, but when pathogens are exposed to the vapors of the oils. This means that the most effective way of utilizing essential oils for reducing atmospheric contagion, neutralizing air-borne illnesses and enhancing immunity is through the use of aromatic diffusers, ionizers, and nebulizers. It has also been found that it is not necessary to have a high concentration of oil in the atmosphere for it to be effective; only a minimum amount of oil dispersed from a diffuser is necessary for optimum biological and immunological effects.

Although there are many aromatic diffusers on the market, from simple candle burners to complex ultrasonic devices, atmospheric dispersion of aromatic botanical oils is nothing new. A traditional fire puja in Rajasthan filling the temple with aromatic offerings; precious sandalwood and agarwood incense moving like coiling dragons through monastery meditation halls; Egyptian ceremonies burning copious amounts of desert resins and exotic spices; Tibetan monks throwing juniper branches onto coals while chanting; an Arab family welcoming an honored guest with a smoking censer of their purest frankincense: these are all ways that cultures have practiced spiritual hygiene and community immunity throughout the ages.

In their native habitats, plants grow in communities. They must survive exposed to the natural elements, must compete with other plants, and must live in the midst of complex microbial and insect communities. Essential oils are part of a plants immune system, created by its evolutionary intelligence primarily for repelling pathogens. By harvesting and distilling their oils, we bring the immunological power of the plant communities into our communities.

Just as an individual plant cannot thrive in a poor environment, no individual person can maintain their health if the community they live in is unhealthy. Whether it is the threat of serious epidemics such as avian flu, allergic reactions caused by genetically engineered food, antibiotic resistant bacterial infections, chemical sensitivities from an increasingly toxic environment, or just the common cold spread through schools and the workplace, one does not have to look far to see this basic truth.

A forest is a perfect example of community immunity. In conifers such as pine, spruce, and fir, the primary agents of the trees defense are monoterpenes, aromatic molecules such as pinene, which give pines their characteristic fragrance. These molecules have several important physiological functions, including repelling insects and microbial pathogens and healing wounds to branches and bark.

Because trees and humans are so closely related biologically, it is not surprising to discover that the essential oils produced by a trees immune system are directly beneficial for our immunity. When we diffuse conifer oils into our homes we are not just bringing the beautiful fragrance of the forest indoors: we are also surrounding ourselves with a cloud of disease-fighting molecules created by the trees immunological intelligence.

A garden is another kind of plant community. When the soil is healthy and rich in nutrients produced by healthy microbial ecologies the plants have vibrant flavors, colors and fragrances, indicating the presence of vitality and life force. Some of the most powerful antibacterial and antiviral essential oils come from this community: rosemary, sage, thyme, oregano, lemon balm, and lavender. A well-known example of this type of community immunity is the Hindu practice of growing of tulsi, holy basil, in courtyards of homes for its health-enhancing and insect-repelling powers; in other parts of the world aromatic plants such as basils and marigolds planted in gardens have been found to be highly effective for repelling mosquitoes from neighborhoods.

Deserts have their own communities of long-lived species, growing slowly under the harsh sun. In this community we find some of the most famous of the sacred scents used for prayer and meditation from time immemorial: frankincense, junipers, sages. From our own backyard in the dry California coastal mountains we find the white sage, now globally renowned as part of Native American ceremonies, containing its own potent camphorous antimicrobial oils.

Jungles are intensely dynamic communities, filled with a multitude of diverse aromatic medicines. Here we find common spices like cinnamon, and more unusual species like ravensare and niaouli, which have unique antimicobial properties.

In the fields we find yet more fragrant plants with oils that destroy pathogens, such as lemongrass, palmarosa, citronella, and angelicas.

Nature has provided us with a rich and diverse palette of aromatic healing treasures to choose from. By filling our gardens and cities with aromatic plants, by using their flavors in our diet, and by diffusing the oils they produce into our workplace and homes we are strengthened and protected by the essence of their immunological intelligence. We can create not just good health at the individual level, but community immunity as well.

My 2 cents on the Upcoming Class...

The upcoming Mana Lomi Level 1 class with Dr. Maka'ala Yates will be the first of it's kind in CT. I did not get a chance to study with Maka'ala until I took my Lomi 3 class. My introduction to lomilomi came from his student, Jackie Kapua Tyler. I will talk about my teachers but first, as always, I want to share my quick take on why it is of such great importance that any massage therapist, chiropractor, nurse practitioner, doctor, caretaker, any loving person connect to this school and this work.
1) It provides a sustainable, simple means to give of your whole self to those in need in a lasting, safe way.
2) It is work that can be given in any setting.
3) The underlying philosophies of the Hawaiian culture are crucial in realigning ourselves with the goodness of life many of us have lost along the way.
4) This work gives as much to you as you give to it.
This work has a way of calling the right people to it so I don't think I needed to say even that much, but I did to help give a bit more info. Now about na kumu, my teachers:
Kapua is an amazing translator of this beautiful and effective art, and a teacher I will always be dedicated to for helping me advance as a person, a therapist, and a healing soul. She is someone who has for years now managed to work 9 hours a day, 6 days a week doing this work. With that said, she is a loving mother, a dedicated wife, and someone who is always positive, upbeat, and balanced in her Hawaiian studies and Lomi teaching. In my life, I can count on one hand the teachers I have had who have the ability to offer true guidance and critique without ever waning in their support and encouragement of my abilities. She may be one of the few living saints I have ever met, although she would never accept that. Also, before I ever worked with her, when I first moved to Hawaii, I bought my first car from her, already 14 years old, 130k miles, at that point, and it ran well with no major repairs for my next 5 years there (and Hawaii roads are no joke)!
Maka'ala is another person who I would lavish acclaim onto, although I think he would shun that. He has always encouraged me to have faith in this this work and let my hands speak for themselves. The stories that I have heard about him are always downplayed by him, even though the pure facts are undeniably astonishing. He journeyed on the original crew of the Hokule'a, a Hawaiian sailing canoe that retraced the passage across the Pacific by the first discoverers of the Hawaiian Islands. With no instruments other than knowledge and faith, this elite crew sailed and paddled from Tahiti to Hawaii, the most isolated island chain in the world, in 1976. What I have seen of him in my studies that has impressed me most, aside from his great sense of humor, is his progressive outlook on the Hawaiian people and the responsibility he takes for keeping the heart of this culture alive and growing in a way that makes his elders proud. No false claims, no hollywood, just real aloha, here and now.
The date is fast approaching (excitement) so sign up now and let everyone know that you think would benefit from this. It is important that we create as much momentum as possible so that people who wish to learn more after this have a better chance at bringing the right teachers this way. Questions, comments, concerns....get in touch and we will figure it out, you being here is what is most important. Aloha.

Mana Lomi Level 1 Class Info

Hawaiian Healing Academy
Founded by Dr. Maka’ala Yates, D.C.
Hawaiian Medicine Specialist
present a
Three Day Mana Lomi® Level One Workshop

Dr. Maka'ala Yates, D.C., is a Kanaka Maoli (Hawaiian Ancestry) who specializes in Hawaiian medicine.
He has been practicing and teaching Hawaiian healing concepts for over 25 years and is president and founder of Mana Ola healing center and the Hawaiian Healing Academy.

Maka’ala received the Kaonohi Award in 2005 from the State of Hawaii for his excellence in Hawaiian medicine and community support.

Dates: Sept. 11th – 13th, Fri., Sat., & Sun. ~ 8 A.M. – 6 P.M.
Certificate for 27 CE hours, NCBTMB approved provider # 287333-00
Cost: $485 one month early or $535 thereafter
All methods of payments are accepted.
An additional 10% discount available. See below.
Location: New Haven area, CT ~ Contact: Bradley @ (808) 357-3778

This Workshop is Open to the Public

Mana Lomi® is based on Hawaiian healing concepts of working with the body, mind and spirit.
It is hands on healing that is deep and powerful, yet gentle, giving immediate and long-term results.

Mana Lomi® symbolically means "to communicate energetically deep within the bones of the individual and thus with the soul of the person."

You will learn:
• An effective, 60-90 minute full body sequence to bring relief to many symptoms.
• How to release muscle tension with gentle, yet powerful and deep movements “to the bone.”
• Balanced body mechanics allowing you to deliver effectively deep yet gentle therapy for
relaxation or injury prevention and relief with minimal stress on your own body
• A brief history of Mana Lomi®; Hawaiian healing chants; Ho’opono (living in alignment).
• Hawaiian body-mind-spirit healing and the use of Ha (breath), Mana (spiritual energy) and
pule (spiritual centering) to help restore balance.


Registration Form available from Bradley @ integratealoha@gmail.com

Referral Program
There is an additional 10% discount when you bring someone in with you into this program.
Tuition must be paid in full together. Please contact us if you have any questions.
Financial Policy
• Size of workshop is limited to first 20 people so an optional non-refundable deposit of
($100) is required to guarantee a place in this class.
• For cancellations received more than one month prior to scheduled class, full tuition
minus 15% administration fee is refundable.
• For cancellations received two weeks or more before class, 75% of tuition is refundable.
• For cancellations received less than two weeks, 50% of tuition is refundable.
• No refund available on the day of scheduled class.
• Tuition paid may be applied to another class within a one-year period for which Maka’ala
is the primary instructor. Some limitations apply. Contact Maka’ala for details.
Send Fees to:
Hawaiian Healing Academy
P. O. Box 726, Ashland, OR 97520 • Tel. (541) 301-2896
www.manalomi.com Contact: info@manalomi.com

Two Questions...

Here is a link to an article by Dr. Frank Lipman, a South African practicing Integrative Medicine in NYC. I first heard of Dr. Lipman while researching Integrative Health, and stumbled upon his work with Functional Medicine. I also had the pleasure of hearing him lecture with Gabrielle Roth on "the Rhythm of Healing" at the Integrative Health Symposium in February 2009 in NYC. It was hilarious to see these two work a room full of well-dressed doctors and health professionals into a dancing frenzy. This article highlights an approach that is redefining the future of medicine and has influenced how I do my work specifically with respect to the idea of "total load". Enjoy:
2 questions To Ask That Are More Important Than a Diagnosis

Why We Need a Massage...

So easy, so obvious, yeah? Most folks thinking goes as far as "I'm so sore," or "I've had this injury that just won't heal," or"healed but it still hurts," or the biggest, "I've got so much stress in my life." Now while all of these are very valid reasons, they are just the tip of the iceberg... an iceberg which I might say that we are stranded on, floating away from our best selves every day we continue to ignore, or try to cope with these things in ways that don't directly address them. "Is it really that serious or important?" you might ask. Most definitely.

In the process of a massage as I have come to know it, being able to let go and let someone work out every bit of soreness and stagnation not only allows your physical structure to refresh itself, but it allows for reintegration on a much deeper level. Before I go spouting off about that "body, mind, soul" connection let me break it down in a very practical way for the very Western medicine-oriented folks out there who would tune me out before I started. (Forgive me, please for writing like I know something, when really this is just a humble hunch, backed up by sciences of various cultures I suppose. There are obviously many people with conditions for whom this writing won't apply.) I will put forth that in many of the cases that I have seen, which I would approximate in the low hundreds, the soreness, the slow to heal injuries, and the stress are symptomatic of a greater problem, our forgetfulness.

While some people refer to it as disconnection, usually following that with a rant about the woes of this modern world, I chose to call it forgetfulness, because of how easily we remember things once reminded. Every touch of massage, when we relax and breath enough to allow it in, applies a pressure to some soft tissue, nerve, bones, what have you, directly or indirectly from angles we can't apply to ourselves while staying relaxed. This allows for a feedback that reorients us to the full spectrum of what is happening, and that new attention, that new full attention to our whole body, riding on the back of that freshly oxygenated blood. We have an internal physician that can do everything we can ever need it to do, however if we chose to operate at less than our best, than we are withholding pertinent info which our physician needs to heal us. Think of how often you have gone to the doctor and forgotten to mention something, or you remember once they start looking at something else.

Sometimes I put off getting a massage myself, thinking that my yoga will relieve my stress, or the gym workout will balance my posture, or a few hours of dancing my ʻōkole off & a good nights rest is all I need. All of those are partly true, but unlike exercise, or other activities that allow us to chose which parts of which muscles we are using, thus programing the muscle memory. During a massage however, the receiver is not the doer, thus the physical must surrender, allowing the mind, and the soul to get back to your whole body.

Simply put, the most mindful that we can be about the most of our bodies, the more of ourselves we can be. Massage helps us remember those parts of ourselves that when remembered will communicate what we need to know to stay whole and balanced. Whole and balanced means no stress that can't be handled, and the life we live will be perceived through the full capacity of our senses and achieve our full potential. Aloha, namaste, and cheers!

E komo mai! or Welcome!

Many mahalos (thanks) for checking out my blog which I created to share what I have learned and who I have learned from on my path. The work that I am licensed, certified, bonded, and insured to do is massage therapy, specifically Mana Lomi®. Mana Lomi® is work that I chose to specialize in after being introduced to many different modalities during my basic 500 hour training at the Maui School of Therapeutic Massage. While I still draw from some of these other modalities such as, Sports Massage, PNF Stretching, Shiatsu, Craniosacral, Neuromuscular Therapy, Aromatherapy, Thai, Myofascial, & the old stand-bys Swedish and Deep Tissue, it was Mana Lomi that proved itself to be the most sustainable for me and the most healing for the people I work with. So what is it?

Mana Lomi® is a form of lomilomi which is Hawaiian Massage, that comes from a distinct Big Island lineage, which in this generation is represented by Dr. Maka'ala Yates. Before him came the modern matriarch of lomilomi, Aunty Margaret Machado, who as the story goes recognized Maka'ala at age 6 as being a lomilomi healer. While I never had the experience of studying with Aunty Margaret before she passed on, her spirit is still reflected in the stories and the work, and I am eternally grateful for her wisdom and her bravery.
This lomi work "uses a clinical, problem solving approach based on Hawaiian concepts of working with the body, mind and spirit. It is gentle yet deep, and gives immediate and long term results." Lomilomi symbolically means "to communicate energetically deep within the bones of the individual and thus with the soul of the person." As many people who have experienced the work would say, "it is the best massage I have ever gotten." But still, many people want to know, what is it?

With respect to my teachers, I would like to share my New England understanding of this Hawaiian way with New Englanders. Think back to the last time you reconnected with a loved one in person, maybe at the airport, and you ran to each other and embraced. In that hug, that small moment where two people squeeze the tightest and it feels almost as though something is crushing in that big love way, that is the translation of lomilomi as I've come to know how to explain it. Now when you stretch that moment out over an hour, directed with that pure intention of aloha and healing with the Hawaiian understanding of the body, mind and spirit... that is it. Otherwise you can just think of it as a chance to lay down on a massage table, completely relax, and allow yourself to receive the "best massage ever" and perhaps listen to a quiet oli or mele (chant or song) during the process. I use only organic oils or lotions that your skin will find delicious.

I hope this demystifies this enough that you will recognize how this work can be of service in your life. Whatever is going on with your body, or in your life, feel welcomed to call me and converse about how you can best invest in your optimal health. Aloha!