Detoxification Archives - East Bay Acupuncture & Natural Medicine

Birth Defects: 5 Natural Ways To Reduce Your Risk.

By Jenny Silverstone

Living in a modern environment, we are surrounded by things which slightly increase our risk of having a baby with birth defects. This means that we need to be much more careful about what we do or don’t do, so that we can reduce our risk.

No matter whether you are at high risk of birth defects because of a genetic condition, or at low risk in general, it is always worth the effort to make sure we are doing everything in our power to help our babies.

In celebration of National Birth Defect Awareness month, here are a few of the most vital ways in which we can help prevent birth defects – as many of them are completely within our control.

1. Watch Your Meds!

Many medications that are perfectly safe before pregnancy are very, very dangerous to your baby as soon as you become pregnant. If you are trying to conceive or have discovered that you are pregnant, you need to talk to your doctor ASAP about revising your medicines. If you have to stop taking a medication, consider using natural remedies that are safe when pregnant, such as herbal supplements, acupuncture, or moxibustion.

2. Quit Alcohol, Smoking, And Drugs

It has been proven that all drugs, including alcohol and cigarettes, increase your risk of having a child with birth defects. However, we understand that breaking an addiction can be very difficult. If you are trying to conceive, you want to break your addiction before getting pregnant. If you are already pregnant, you want to break your addiction quickly. Meditation, acupuncture, or herbal remedies could help you focus and stay calm when breaking the addiction.

3. Eat A Natural Diet

A natural diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole energy sources like grains and legumes, and Vitamin-B containing foods is one of the best ways of making sure you are getting all the nourishment you need to feed your growing baby. If you have a hard time eating the whole range of fruits and vegetables you need, consider using pregnancy-safe supplements or prenatal vitamins, which can boost your nutrients and give you enough folic acid to help prevent specific birth defects.

4. Exercise And Relax

Stress can elevate your blood pressure which can increase the risk of birth defects. Stress also makes you more likely to stress eat, take drugs, or go to hot places like saunas, all of which increase the risk of birth defects. Exercising, sleeping well, and meditation for relaxation can all reduce stress. If you find that exercise leaves you tense, or that pain stops you from relaxing, consider acupuncture for some relief.

5. Control Diabetes And Weight

If you are already diabetic or develop gestational diabetes, your baby’s risk of birth defects go up. Likewise, whether you are already overweight or you gain too much weight during pregnancy. Just like with quitting drugs, if you find it difficult to control your diet and weight, consider using supplements, meditation, and acupuncture to help you regain calm and focus.

To read more, please check out the extensive article I wrote on the subject here.

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A Quick Guide to Green Cleaning Products

By Sean Michael Hall, L.Ac.

We all understand the importance of diet, sleep and exercise.

In the last few decades however, it’s become apparent that limiting exposure to various chemicals, toxins and pollutants is also important. We’ve learned more about the detrimental health effects various chemicals have on our health. Many cleaning products marketed as “green”, “natural” or “eco-friendly” actually contain chemicals that are known carcinogens, endocrine-disruptors or lung and skin irritants.

With hundreds of new chemicals flooding the market every year, and with an EPA understaffed, underfunded and populated by industry insiders, it is unfortunately the case that we can’t trust the regulatory process to protect our health or the health of the environment. Though public awareness around the negative reproductive and development effects of BPA (bisphenol A) and other unregulated chemicals like phthalates is growing, there is still a lot of work to be done to make sure that our health is protected.

For years I’ve recommended that my patients avoid as many of these chemicals as possible by using only ecologically friendly cleaning and personal care products. Unfortunately, I trusted that many of the “green” brands I’ve personally used were good enough. Instead I’ve found that many of those green-marketed brands are as bad as some of the worst conventional brands.

So I set out to find household cleaning products for each of the 8 main cleaning categories (surface cleaner, laundry detergent, dish soap, etc.) that meet three criteria:

All products have received an A-rating by the Environmental Working Group (www.ewg.org). EWG is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to testing products, researching environmental toxins, and educating the public on their findings. Its sister organization, the EWG Action Fund, is its lobbying arm, and they’ve been an important voice in keeping our bodies and our planet healthy.
All products must be available at grocery stores in the Berkeley or Oakland area, so one can avoid the time, cost and carbon-footprint of ordering online. (For those not living in the San Francisco East Bay area, all products are sold nationally.)
For convenience, all products should be available at one location so that multiple stops are not necessary.

As, I delved into the detailed reports on hundreds of products and brands, a few very interesting things became clear, all which I’ll detail later in this article. For those of you who want to stop reading and start shopping, the chart below sums up my findings.

Please though, come back and read on about the many surprises I discovered about the “eco” and “green” home care market

As you can see, if you happen to live in the Oakland or Berkeley area, you can purchase all products with one stop at Berkeley Bowl or Farmer Joe’s. Whole Foods has most of the products, but not all of them. I was hoping that more recommended products would be available at Target but unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. In fact, although Target has a “Green Cleaning Product” section, it’s stocked with some of the worst offenders, like Method and Mrs. Meyer’s Cleaning Day brands. The Seventh Generation products they carry tend to be Seventh Generation’s C, D and F rated products.

Regarding price, as one would expect, the larger the company the greater their purchasing power and scale. Whole Foods is able to consistently offer the lowest price. Personally, I prefer to spend a few extra dollars each time I shop to support the local economy, and to delay Amazon’s takeover of the world (!). Besides, as of January 2018, Jeff Bezos’ net worth is already 121 billion dollars, making him the richest person in the world. Spread the wealth, please!

For Those More Visually Inclined

1) Surface Cleaner
Seventh Generation Disinfecting Multi-Surface Cleaner – Lemongrass Citrus Scent

2) Glass & Window Cleaner
Citra Solv Citra Clear Window & Glass Cleaner

Citra Solv Citra Clear Window and Glass Cleaner

3) Floor Cleaner
Biokleen All-Purpose Cleaner, Concentrated, Grapefruit Seed & Orange

4) Tub & Tile Cleaner
Seventh Generation Tub & Tile Natural Cleaner, Emerald Cypress & Fir

Seventh Generation Tub and Tile Natural Cleaner, Emerald Cypress and Fir

5) Toilet Cleaner
Seventh Generation Toilet Bowl Natural Cleaner, Emerald Cypress & Fir

Seventh Generation Toilet Bowl Natural Cleaner, Emerald Cypress and Fir

6) Laundry Detergent
Biokleen Laundry Liquid, Citrus Essence

7) Dish Soap
Biokleen Natural Dish Liquid, Citrus

8) Dishwasher Detergent (two options)
1. Earth Friendly Products Wave Dishwasher Gel
2. 7th-Gen Dishwasher Detergent Powder

Earth Friendly Products Wave Dishwasher Gel and Seventh Generation Detergent Powder

Take Home Points

1. Just because a particular brand has some products that are safe and environmentally friendly doesn’t mean all of that brand’s products are safe and environmentally friendly.

My original intention was to make the recommendations as easy as possible by finding one trusted brand that had products locally available in all categories. It quickly became apparent that that was not possible.

For example, Seventh Generation products are available at most local stores including Berkeley Bowl, Farmer Joe’s, Whole Foods and Target. Previously, I used most of this company’s products and was hopeful that they would be the silver bullet providing ease, convenience and quality. Unfortunately, I found that though they have quite a few A-rated products, they have even more C-rated products and almost as many D-rated products. Perusing the brand charts below shows the specifics.

2. A brand’s labeling and marketing is unrelated to the quality of the product. In fact, most products marketed as ecologically friendly or non-toxic are not.

If you visit the website for Method Brand, for instance, you’ll find words like “greener” and “planet-friendly” sprinkled throughout. Their company description includes the words “naturally-derived, biodegradable, non-toxic”, yet the chart below shows that 60% of their products receive a D or F rating by EWG. Babyganics should be ashamed of their name, as 28% of their products received a D or F rating, and another 50% of their products receive a C-rating. 43% of Whole Foods 365 Brand received a D or F rating, and 67% of naturally, it’s clean products, also available at Whole Foods, received a D or F rating.

3. Just because a product is sold at a natural food store doesn’t mean it’s non-toxic or environmentally friendly.

See the Whole Foods 365 brand chart below, and also note the fact that even the C, D and F rated Seventh Generation products are sold at most natural food stores.

4. There are two brands that seem devoted to providing a full array of non-toxic, environmentally friendly cleaning products: Biokleen and Ecover.

A record-breaking 96% of Biokleen’s products are rated A or B by the EWG, and Ecover follows closely behind with 89%. None of either of their products were rated D or F, and only 3 of the two company’s combined 52 products receive a C rating. Well done Biokleen and Ecover! Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to find products for all eight cleaning categories at one location, otherwise my recommendations would have been simpler.

Products by EWG Rating for all locally available brands marketed as eco-friendly or non-toxic:

A few more interesting tidbits…

1. Small changes from product to product can change a rating dramatically. For instance, Seventh Generation’s All-Purpose Surface Cleaner, Free & Clear, which we previously used at the clinic has a C rating. Its earlier iteration Lemon & Thyme had a D-rating, while the version recommended above and that we now use at the clinic, Multi-Surface Disinfecting Cleaner, Lemongrass Citrus, has an A-rating.

A rating

C rating

D rating

2. I originally intended to have a category for wood floor cleaners. Unfortunately, almost all wood floor cleaners have a D or F rating. Furthermore, wood “oils” are usually not oils and heavily toxic. I did find one company with a wood floor cleaner that has a B rating (Truce Wood Cleaner, Citrus), but I was unable to find it locally.

Thankfully, it turns out that dish soap makes an excellent wood floor cleaner. Multiple green cleaning blogs give dish soap two thumbs up for wood floors that are sealed, and after a few weeks of use I agree. Thankfully, almost all wood floors are sealed these days. An easy test to see if your wood floors are sealed is to pour a few drops of water on the floor and let it sit for a few minutes. If a stain remains after drying, your floor is unsealed.

3. The most economical, environmentally friendly and non-toxic home cleaning products are the ones you make yourself. By mixing a few ingredients you can create products for all eight cleaning product categories. It does take a little research, a little time and a little creativity, but it’s quite doable. And if this is your cup of tea, maybe even fun! I personally have lots of other more fun projects I’m looking forward to, but, if you’re so inclined, the following 5 products are A-rated by EWG and provide the base ingredients for all eight cleaning product categories, from glass cleaner to laundry detergent.

White Vinegar
Arm & Hammer Baking Soda
Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap (all scents)
Seventh Generation Chlorine-Free Bleach, Free & Clear
Essential Oils (lemongrass, eucalyptus, thyme are my favorites)

There are lots of interesting blogs covering the topic. Google away and have fun!

References:

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Green Juice Recipe

By Sean Michael Hall, L.Ac.

Warm, summer days are the perfect time of year to enjoy fresh juice. And juice that you make yourself or with loved ones is by far the best. Nothing compares to farm fresh produce, straight from juicer to mouth. Once you’ve taken a look at my juicing guidelines, give this recipe a try. It’s by far my favorite.

Green Juice Recipe

1 large Cucumber
1 medium Fennel bulb (with greens)
1 bunch Celery sticks
1 bunch Spinach
1 bunch Parsley (Italian)
1 medium Lime (with peel)
1 medium Apple (with peel & core)
1 thumb Gingerroot (more or less to taste)

Directions: You can either juice or blend this recipe. If you want to preserve all of the fiber and make it more of a meal, you can blend it. Make sure you have a relatively powerful blender. If you want a light, refreshing beverage a juicer is required.

I love this recipe! It tastes amazing, and the emphasis on green vegetables makes it super healthy. The exclusion of cruciferous vegetables makes it easy to digest. The spinach and parsley both provide a broad range of nutrients and other health promoting ingredients. The fennel, lime and ginger aid digestion and give the recipe a robust, unique flavor. The apple gives a touch of sweetness, without adding too much sugar.

The great thing about juicing is that the possibilities are endless. Why not visit a farmer’s market this weekend? Get creative!

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Keep Juicing Healthy

By Sean Michael Hall, L.Ac.

Juicing can be a tasty, enjoyable and nutritious part of a healthy lifestyle.

However, some guidelines are important to make sure you are juicing in a way that is truly healthy for you. As most of you know, juicing only fruit can result in a large spike in blood sugar levels. And some have constitutions or digestive systems that make juicing less enjoyable and less healthy, especially at certain times of the year. Following these simple guidelines will allow most people to enjoy fresh juice in the healthiest way possible.

1. Don’t over do it.

The traditional medicine systems of China and India teach us that strong digestive fire is essential to good health. Digestive fire in Ayurveda is known as agni, and in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) it involves abundant Spleen and Stomach Qi. Too many cold or raw foods can challenge and even harm our digestive fire.

If your digestive fire is strong, juicing in the warmer months usually isn’t a problem and can be very healthy. But, if you are prone to digestive problems like indigestion, gas or bloating, then juicing may not be appropriate for you. Individuals with cold, weak constitutions may have to enjoy fresh juice in moderation. Those with the weakest or coldest constitutions may benefit more from soups, stews and broths, even in the warmer months.

2. Limit the amount of fruit, carrots and beets.

Juicing fruit and sugary vegetables like carrot and beet should be done in moderation. Recent research shows the harmful effects fructose, the sugar found in fruit and some vegetables, has when it isn’t buffered by the fiber found in the whole food.

Drinking 8 ounces of apple juice, for example, is in most ways as unhealthy as drinking 8 ounces of soda. Yes, fruit juice has some vitamins and other healthy phytochemicals. Unfortunately, the beneficial effects of those constituents are offset by both a surge in blood glucose levels, as well as a fructose overload on the liver that has other negative effects. [1] [2]

Our bodies need both the fiber found in the whole food, as well as the slower consumption time involved in eating the whole food, to mitigate those negative effects. For optimal health, fruit, carrots and beets should be added to your juice for a little flavor and sweetness, not as the main ingredient. Enjoy lots of fresh fruit, but eat all of it, not just the juice.

3. Enjoy fresh juice in the spring and summer.

Save juicing for the warm months of spring and summer. Your system needs warm, grounding meals in the cold, winter months to keep your digestive fire strong. Some with very strong digestive fire are the exception, but even in that case, care should be taken.

4. You may need to go easy with cruciferous vegetables.

There are some vegetables that require more digestive fire than others, and this is especially true of cruciferous vegetables. The cruciferous vegetables include kale, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli and brussel sprouts. Of course, plenty of research tells us how amazingly healthy the cruciferous vegetables are. But, any food prepared in a way that wrecks digestive fire and causes bloating or gas is not good for you.

Simply sautéing cruciferous vegetables will allow you to get the benefit of those vegetables in a way your body can handle. If your digestive fire is strong and you don’t get gas or bloating from juicing cruciferous vegetables, then by all means, enjoy!

5. Add ginger.

Adding a touch of ginger, turmeric or garlic (gasp!) to your juice can help support your digestive fire, plus give a zing of flavor. Don’t overdo it. A little too much ginger or turmeric can be very spicy, and too much garlic may make you smellier to others than you may want.

6. Keep it fresh.

Bottled, canned, cooked, or reconstituted juices lack most of the enzymes and other micronutrients that make fresh juicing so healthy. Buy fresh, local produce; juice it within a few days; then drink it the same day for maximum nutrition and flavor. There are a lot of great juicers on the market at a variety of price points. I recommend doing your research and finding one for less than 100 dollars if you’re just getting started. If you find that you’re juicing regularly, you may want to upgrade at some point.

Raw versus cooked.

Some have a misconception that raw foods are easy to digest. For the most part, the opposite is true, especially if the cooked food is eaten soon after cooking. Cooking foods breaks cellulose and other constituents down into more easily digestible forms. Cooking also transforms some toxins into nutrients; this is especially true of many legumes. And lycopene, another well-known nutrient, is created through the cooking process.

Yes, many nutrients and enzymes are lost during the cooking process, so including some raw foods in your diet is a great idea. Generally speaking, the stronger your digestive fire, the more raw foods you’ll be able to tolerate. Fermented foods like kvass, sauerkraut and other pickled vegetables, are a great way to consume raw foods in a more digestible form, as the fermentation process partially digests the food for us, creating healthy probiotics and other important nutrients in the process.

Take home message:

Fresh juice is healthy for those who have digestive fire strong enough to digest it, especially in the warmer months of the year. If you get gassy or bloated after juicing it means you are not getting the benefits of the juice, and they are causing harm instead. Nothing is healthy for everyone.

Your body needs to be able to digest, metabolize and absorb nutrients, and if your system is unable to do that, then even supposedly healthy foods are not healthy for you. If you are having problems digesting fruits and vegetables in one form, like juice or raw salads, then support your digestive fire, and try steaming or sautéing them instead.

[1] “Fructose Consumption is Associated with Cardiometabolic Risk Markers and Visceral Adiposity in Adolescents”. J. Nutr., 2012.
[2] “Fructose Induced Lipogenesis: From Sugar to Fat to Insulin Resistance”. Trends Endocrinol. Metab., 2011.

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Bikram Yoga – A Critique and Guide

By Sean Michael Hall, L.Ac.

Those of you that know me through my acupuncture practice may not know that I taught yoga throughout the Bay Area for 13 years. I no longer teach public classes, but I continue to practice some form of yoga most days. It is a practice I started 20 years ago, and it has been one of the joys of my life.

Though Iyengar and Ashtanga yoga have been my greatest influences, a number of other yoga traditions have been very important in my development, especially Warrior yoga, Kali Ray Tri yoga and what some consider to be the black sheep of yoga traditions, Bikram yoga.

A Bikram yoga class includes the practice of 26 poses.

Most of the poses are done twice, and most are held between 30 and 60 seconds. The sequence and length of the poses are exactly the same every class and the room is heated to between 100 and 105 degrees.

Bikram Yoga Poses — **Bikram Yoga Sequence**

Every yoga style has pros and cons.

For every style mentioned the pros far outweigh the cons. Unfortunately, Bikram yoga is the exception, as there is a lot in Bikram yoga to be critical about. It can be unhealthy for some, and even unsafe for others. There is, however, also a lot to like about Bikram yoga. I personally benefited greatly when I practiced Bikram yoga 4 to 5 times a week for a 6-month period many years ago.

When I first started my yoga practice, I spent three diligent years practicing Iyengar and Kali Ray Tri yoga, yet my muscles were still tight, tendinous bands that seemed resistant to stretching. Surprisingly, I was still unable to touch my toes without effort and Downward Facing Dog pose was still very uncomfortable for me due to hamstring and shoulder tightness. The repetition of the same poses and the heat in Bikram yoga helped me over those hurdles, and was a useful stepping-stone in my practice. Now I occasionally take a Bikram class when I want a cardiovascular workout combined with the additional benefits of yoga asana.

What follows is what I consider to be a fair critique of Bikram yoga. I also offer some guidelines for determining if Bikram yoga is right for you, and some tips for practicing safely if you choose.

Cons of Bikram Yoga

1. Most Bikram yoga teachers are not well trained in anatomy, pathology, or injury prevention. Nor are they well trained in yoga, body awareness or teaching techniques outside of the limited instruction they learn in the 9-week Bikram yoga teacher training. They know how to instruct a group in the practice of the 26 Bikram poses, but they have very little education in how to work individually with students, or how to modify poses for those who have injuries.

2. Bikram yoga teachers are trained to encourage students to sublimate the sensations of their body to the idea of how the pose should be done in Bikram yoga. Instead of the practice of yoga being one of exploration and body awareness, it becomes a practice of learning how to turn off one’s own faculties of discrimination.

Bikram yoga teachers often tell their students that it is okay to feel pain, without differentiating “good” pain from “bad” or dangerous pain. Students are not encouraged, or in some cases even allowed, to alter poses in a way that feels right to their bodies. This is understandable in some cases, but too often a student with an injury or structural issue is not permitted to make slight modifications that allow the pose to feel safer or more effective.

3. Bikram yoga can be depleting for some. Though the heat can have beneficial metabolic effects for many, that is not the case for everyone. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), even “healthy” people have constitutional patterns of disharmony that may make Bikram yoga a less healthy, or even harmful practice.

For example, someone who has moderate to severe Qi or Yin deficiency would not do well with the heat of a Bikram yoga class. And the loss of copious amounts of fluid through sweating that occurs would be especially damaging. Bikram strongly advises new students to do the practice every day, but a Qi or Yin deficient person could develop serious health problems if they were to follow that advice.

4. The heat can encourage those who are flexible but lacking strength to overstretch. In addition to overstretching muscles, there is risk of exacerbating or creating hypermobile joints, which will increase the wear and degeneration of those joints.

5. Near the beginning of class, from a standing position, there is a deep backbend followed directly by a deep forward bend. This is potentially dangerous for many; particularly those with current or past disc herniations, spondylolisthesis or hypermobile lower backs. Students are encouraged to ignore any pain they feel in those two poses, which of course, can be dangerous.

6. Bikram yoga teachers instruct students to lock joints, especially the knee. “Lock your knee! Lock your knee!” is yelled during most Bikram yoga classes. Unfortunately, this can be dangerous for many people with knee joints lax enough to hyperextend. If the knee joint is hypermobile, locking the knee will place it in a hyperextended and dangerous position, as shown in the picture below, on top.

Whether your knee joint is capable of hyperextending or not, “locking” the knee often involves disengaging the quadriceps. Instead of training yourself to lift out of the knee joint, all of the weight bears down and back into the knee joint. The picture on the bottom shows a woman not locking her knee. Her leg is straight, her quadriceps are engaged, and she is lifting up out of the knee joint. An ever so slightly bent knee with quads engaged would be preferred to the Bikram approach seen on the top.

Bad Yoga Knee - Bikram Yoga — No, thank you!

7. Bikram yoga is potentially dehydrating, unless you are very persistent in hydrating before, during and after each class. Often, water with electrolytes is necessary due to the large amount of fluids lost in a typical Bikram class. Bikram yoga is essentially a 90-minute yoga practice in a sauna.

8. There is no focus on personal or home practice in Bikram yoga. I think it is fair to say it is even discouraged. There is no possibility of evolving a cohesive, holistic yoga practice within this system.

9. I hate to say it, but… due to the large amount of sweat students lose and the carpeted floors, many Bikram yoga studios can be kind of stinky!

Pros of Bikram Yoga

1. The repetition of the same poses twice each class in a heated environment offers a great opportunity to increase flexibility for those who are especially inflexible or muscle-bound.

2. The heat offers a beneficial cardiovascular and metabolically useful workout that is unique in the yoga world. Bikram yoga will significantly raise your heart rate for the majority of the 90 minutes class. This can have healthy effects on many body systems that are less, or less directly, affected through other yoga asana systems.

3. If weight-loss is your goal, Bikram yoga is probably more effective than other forms of yoga that are not in a heated room. And though there are some cons to sweating a lot, sweating may provide unique detoxification benefits. Also, the Bikram sequence alternates poses that compress parts of the body with frequent repetition of Savasana, which opens and relaxes the body.

This alternation of compression and release feels great and may offer additional benefit. I wasn’t able to find any research supporting these presumed benefits, but there are lots of things that are healthy for us that haven’t been studied yet. Hopefully we’ll see more research in the future.

4. The sequence includes a 3-part “Awkward Pose” which can be especially beneficial for the knees. The trio of poses, repeated twice, offers a creative and challenging way to strengthen all of the muscles surrounding the knee joint. The 3rd part emphasizes the vastus medialis, or inner quadraceps. A weak vastus medialis is often overpowered by a stronger vastus lateralis and I.T. band, which can cause patellar tracking problems.

5. Bikram yoga avoids poses that put pressure on the neck, shoulders and wrists. Though hyperextension of the knee is a concern, over-rotation of the knee, for the most part, is not. Most other yoga asana traditions include inversions like Headstand and Shoulderstand, which if done incorrectly, or by a person with certain pathologies or structural issues, can be harmful to the cervical spine.

Poses like Chaturanga Downward, Facing Dog and full Backbend can challenge the wrists and shoulders; and poses with potential to over-rotate the knee, like Lotus variations and Pigeon pose are also a normal part of many other yoga asana systems. This is not a disadvantage or a critique of those poses or styles of yoga.

All of the poses mentioned, when done correctly and with proper instruction, are extremely health promoting. But, for those that have neck, shoulder or wrist injuries that are exacerbated by their asana practice, Bikram yoga may be a good alternative. Finding a good teacher in other traditions to show you how to modify the poses causing discomfort may be another option.

Is Bikram Yoga Right for You?

Bikram yoga is safest and most beneficial for:

1. Those who are especially muscle bound or inflexible.

2. Those who already have extensive yoga or body-awareness training, as they will have the knowledge necessary to know when not to listen to the instructor.

3. Those who, from a TCM perspective, are abundant in Qi, Blood, Yin and Yang, and are without excess or deficiency Heat. And, from an Ayurvedic perspective, those who have dominant Kapha dosha, and an absence of Pitta imbalance.

Approach Bikram yoga with caution if:

1. You are hyperflexible or have a history of lumbar disc herniation or unstable spondylolisthesis.

2. You have a hard time staying hydrated, even with regular water consumption.

3. You have chronic fatigue that is consistently made worse with exertion.

4. You have low blood sugar, low blood pressure, get dizzy, faint easily or get regular headaches. In these cases, you may benefit from Bikram yoga, but make sure you stay very well hydrated before, during and after each class. It’s normal for there to be some light-headedness during a Bikram class, but if any of those symptoms increase after class, Bikram yoga is probably not a good option for you.

Pregnancy and Post-Partum Recommendations:

I do not recommend Bikram yoga during pregnancy. There are many other styles of yoga that are more beneficial for pregnant women. Pregnant women need abundant Qi and Blood, and exercise and yoga practices that are not depleting in any way. Also, as the level of the hormone relaxin increases during pregnancy, there may be increased risk of stretching ligaments.

I also do not recommend Bikram yoga after giving birth. Please wait at least a month before starting any vigorous exercise program. In the post-partum period it is especially important that rest, a healthy diet, and herbal therapy be utilized to replenish the Qi and Blood lost during delivery.

If you take a Bikram yoga class be sure to:

1. Listen to your body. If there is sharp pain in a joint, it is bad, no matter what the instructor says. One should never outsource their ability to determine what is right or wrong for their own bodies. Trust yourself and your sensations and back out of a pose or skip it altogether if that is what feels right to you.

2. Go into class hydrated, drink water during class at the appropriate times, and drink more water than you think you should in the hour or two after class. To help your body absorb the water, add electrolytes in the form of a touch of sea salt, lemon juice and/or honey, or an Emergen-C packet. Coconut water is another good choice.

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By Jenny Silverstone

1. Watch Your Meds!

2. Quit Alcohol, Smoking, And Drugs

3. Eat A Natural Diet

4. Exercise And Relax

5. Control Diabetes And Weight

To read more, please check out the extensive article I wrote on the subject here.

By Sean Michael Hall, L.Ac.

We all understand the importance of diet, sleep and exercise.

For Those More Visually Inclined

Take Home Points

Products by EWG Rating for all locally available brands marketed as eco-friendly or non-toxic:

A few more interesting tidbits…

By Sean Michael Hall, L.Ac.

Green Juice Recipe

By Sean Michael Hall, L.Ac.

Juicing can be a tasty, enjoyable and nutritious part of a healthy lifestyle.

1. Don’t over do it.

2. Limit the amount of fruit, carrots and beets.

3. Enjoy fresh juice in the spring and summer.

4. You may need to go easy with cruciferous vegetables.

5. Add ginger.

6. Keep it fresh.

Raw versus cooked.

Take home message:

By Sean Michael Hall, L.Ac.

A Bikram yoga class includes the practice of 26 poses.

Every yoga style has pros and cons.

Cons of Bikram Yoga

Pros of Bikram Yoga

Is Bikram Yoga Right for You?

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