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 When I was growing up, my Dad would often say, “As long as you have your health, you have everything.” Back then, I know I would look at him quizzically, but now as an adult, I completely understand what he was saying. When you don’t feel well, who feels like being bothered with anything or anybody.
Health is an experience that occurs naturally when our body’s systems and intelligence dominates over factors that could alter its direction. Health is the interaction of a variety of factors, complicated and simple, known and unknown. Some of these factors include family history, environment, lifestyle, emotional and spiritual.
As someone whom has studied health for the last twenty years, I believe that health is the result of, and choices we make. Back To The Middle and The Center is dedicated to providing as much information and services that can help you to be your healthiest. Stay tuned for more!
 Is there anything more toasty and hearty than coming in from the cold to a bowl of warm yummy soup? Probably not. Soups are not only nourishing to our body, but our spirit as well, particularly when they are home made.
From an Asian Medicine standpoint, soup literally strengthens our digestive energy, which then fortifies our whole body. This is because when we heat vegetables in water, the nutrients seep in to the liquid, providing yummy nutrition in an easy to digest form.
So, cut up some of your favorite vegetables, add water and spices and create your own special soup with love and goodness. Some ingredients that are particularly good for this time of year include root vegetables (like turnips and carrots), squash and beans. Enjoy!
 The temperature is dropping, the air is crisp and the daylight hours are shorter. Though it is a time of festivities and holiday cheer, it can also be a challenging time for many of us who prefer more access to the sun. Well, The Center presents your guide to making winter your new best friend in our bi-weekly series: Winter Wonderful!
We are intimately connected with our environment. All around us, nature goes within to rest, restore and replenish. Our body’s natural energy, qi mirrors this and also goes deeper in to our bodies. This makes winter a natural time of introspection and perfect for quiet projects.
It is also an important time to get plenty of rest and “human hibernate”. This is because of our connection to the sun. The sun is the strongest activating force that we have on earth. With winter being the season of fewest sunlight hours, it follows that we try not to engage in excessively strenuous activity. This is because such activities tend to cause energy to pour out and goes against the body’s natural winter conservation mode where energy is moving inward as opposed to outward.
Stay tuned for more Winter Wonderful!
 In addition to not moving too quickly into a cleanse if you have continuously been eating unhealthy for a long time, it is also best to cleanse during times when you are under less stress and have to exert minimal energy. This is because cleansing requires a fair amount of energy. Seasonally, spring and fall are the best times to cleanse. This is because the temperature tends to be more moderate during these seasons, which also requires less energy from your body.
Next, make sure that your body is adequately excreting. Two key ways to release waste are through bowel movements and sweat. You should have a minimum of two bowel movements per day. To make certain this happens, make sure you have adequate fiber in your diet- you can take a psyllium supplement to facilitate this. A good way to promote sweat is via a steam room or sauna. It is important to stay hydrated to compensate for the moisture that is lost during this process.
Now, to pick which cleanse to do. There are lots of cleanses on the market. Whichever cleanse you do, I recommend that you be guided by a licensed health practitioner. One cleanse that works well and is fairly easy to do is to eat primarily fruits and vegetables (cooked, moving towards raw) preferably organic for anywhere between 3 to 7 days.
Three of Back To The Middle’s favorite cleansing tools are a lemon, a grapefruit and a skin brush. Both the lemon and grapefruit are beneficial to the liver and have a detoxifying effect on the body. Keep in mind that if you are on medications, grapefruit may be contraindicated for you, so check the side effects of any drug you are taking first. Skin brushing is a wonderful way to stimulate lymph, which also assists your body get rid of waste and it feels so good!
To skin brush, purchase a natural bristle skin brush (B2M will soon be carrying them in our store as well). Before showering, start at your feet, brushing all sides of your feet, then your legs in long upward strokes, and then your arms (right then left) from fingertips to your torso. Keep in mind, with skin brushing you are always brushing towards your heart. Brush your abdomen, chest, buttocks and back- avoiding any sensitive areas.
Now that you’ve got the basics, have fun. With guidance, and moderation, to cleanse- that is the answer.
 Cleansing, the age old tradition of ridding one’s self of unwanted matter. It’s cathartic and can make one feel lighter and more accomplished. But when is cleansing a good thing to do and when is it not?
It’s good to do a cleanse at times when you want to reduce matter that your body is carrying along with it that is not beneficial. For instance, after a period of time of eating unhealthy, or a course of drugs. Basically the point of a cleanse is to help you get you, and your body back on track.
It is not good to cleanse when you go too quickly between an unhealthy diet (fatty, fried foods, alcohol, etc.), to an extremely clean diet (whole foods, fresh produce). This is particularly true if you use a cleanse to continuously justify poor eating habits (no offense if this is you). It’s much like untwisting the cap of a radiator filled with steam. All of the substances that your body has that it wants to get rid of is right at the edge like the steam waiting to get out. Making extreme changes to your diet is like untwisting the cap too quickly. Instead, twist the cap of slowly by steadily adding in more fresh fruits and vegetables to your diet, as you eliminate the unhealthy foods. This is less confusing to your body and more helpful to you in the long run.
Stay tuned for Part 2 of To Cleanse Or Not To Cleanse which will include some of Back To The Middle’s favorite cleansing tips…
 Someone whom I greatly honor and respect once said, that everything that we assume to be true should be questioned periodically- everything. I agree with this. I believe that this is also relevant to health, and specifically thinking about this time of year- allergies. Is it a necessary evil to get allergies, just because it is a particular season, or because you’ve always had allergies? You might say yes, but I say no.
In my years as a holistic health practitioner, I’ve helped numerous people become free of their arch enemy allergies and its entourage of congestion, sneezing, and other evil doers. To begin, decrease your intake of sugar, which lowers your immune system. I also recommend significantly decreasing foods that are cold in temperature and dairy products, which tend to create more phlegm and exacerbate allergies.
Each case is different, but through one of, or a combinations of herbs, acupuncture and nutrition, over and over, I’ve witnessed people be astonished that their allergies are gone. The best time to start is the season before the allergies typically begin, which for spring time allergies is now.
Call 718-789-2289 today, set up your appointment at Back To The Middle and prepare to say goodbye to your allergies. Then all you will have to do is think of all the fun and exciting things you can do with your time and energy now that your arch enemy has been put to rest.
 Cell phones- they have become literally like an evolutionary additional appendage that grows out from our hands, (or hips if you are a belt clipper). But are these nifty devices that simplify our life 100% friend? Not a simple answer. They definitely are our friends because they allow us to stay in closer contact with our loved ones, organize all the details of our lives, play our favorite tunes and have many other great features.
Foe- these pocket size wonders carry radiation, energy that is emitted from one source that gets absorbed by another. In particular it carries electromagnetic radiation, the same type of radiation emitted as microwaves. Each cell phone has an SAR, or Specific Absorption Rate. The SAR determines how much radiation the cell phone emits. Check out http://www.cellrisk.com/ to look up your cell phone’s SAR.
If your cell phone’s SAR is under a 0.8, it is considered to be on the low end of the scale and emits low radiation. If your phone has an SAR of more than 1.3, it is considered to be a high radiation cell phone, and you should definitely try the following:
1. Try not to hold your cell phone up to your head. Use a headset or a blue tooth, which emits significantly less radiation.
2. When you won’t be using your cell phone- dare I say, turn it off (smile).
3. Purchase a cell phone protection chip (a small black chip that adheres to the side of your cell phone which reduces its radiation) at http://www.emfnews.org/products.html#ebook0 or you can place a phone order with Back To The Middle.
There are some sources that state radiation from cell phones is nothing to worry about. I think it is much like what has happened in previous generations of great inventions that people loved only to find out about its negative impact later- for example cigarettes were once believed to be safe.
It’s great to have technology and things that make our life easier. Hey I’m not about to give up my CrackBerry, but let’s be safe. Following the above steps, whether your cell phone’s SAR level is low or high, but particularly if it’s high is better for our health and makes the cell phone 100% friend. Now go ahead and get back to your texting.
Due to unforeseen circumstances with the site, Back To The Middle’s Making Health Affordable Pain and Weight Loss clinic will be available on an appointment only basis. Again, walk-ins will not be accepted. You will however get to experience individual sessions at the same making health affordable price for the month of January and February! To schedule an appointment, call 718-789-2289. If you get the voice recording, leave a message and we assure you, your call will be returned as soon as possible. We thank all of you who have expressed so much interest in this initiative and look forward to continuing to support you in making this the best year yet!
Envision Yourself Centered,
The Back To The Middle Staff
 Beginning January 2010, Back To The Middle, in addition to continuing to offer private treatments, will begin its Making Health Affordable Initiative to help you achieve your health goals. To participate in our health clinics, no appointment is necessary, prices are nearly comparable to a co-pay ($25), and there are even options for people who aren’t quite ready to work through their needle phobia! Now that’s health reform!
Pain Reduction Clinic on Mondays 6-8pm
Starts January 11th
You don’t have to live with pain anymore. Come experience our community style treatments to naturally, effectively and safely free yourself of pains (low back, knee, shoulder, etc.) that have limited your life.
Weight Loss Clinic on Thursdays 6-8pm
Starts January 14th
Being overweight has been tied to a number of health complications. If you’re ready to lose weight and get healthier, Back To The Middle’s Weight Loss Clinic is for you. Also done in community style, receive weekly treatments to help you naturally and safely achieve your desired weight.
Holistic Emotional Care Thursdays 1-5pm
Starts January 7th
If you or someone you know would like to feel better emotionally, more relaxed and or “more like yourself”, schedule an appointment today and experience the safe, effective, natural remedies available at Back To The Middle to help you get back in tune. Individual 45 minute sessions by appointment only.
Price of service does not include herbal products which may be recommended to you and are available for purchase at the time of service. Herbal products and dietary guidelines are required in the Weight Loss Clinic.
Location: 1236 Fulton Street (between Nostrand & Bedford) in Bedford
Stuyvesant, Brooklyn.
Public Transportation: A/C train, or LIRR to Nostrand Avenue. B25, 26,
44 bus to Nostrand Avenue
Email info@backtothemiddle.com or call 718-789-2289 for more information.
![MPj03854880000[1]](http://backtothemiddle.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/MPj038548800001-300x214.jpg "MPj03854880000[1]") What do acne, obesity, painful periods, diabetes, sinus problems and cancer all have in common? They can all be caused or exacerbated by the intake of sugar. From an Asian Medicine and holistic health standpoint, sugar can be a culprit in numerous health complications, and since it is in so many of the foods that we eat (some of which we are aware of and many of which we aren’t) the category of this blog is: Sugar Ain’t So Sweet.
Sugar lowers our immune system, making us more susceptible to all sorts of health conditions. It’s much like getting two hours of sleep every night and then asking your body to perform at its optimal level for 12 hours every day. The numbers just don’t add up and over time it is significantly depleting to our systems. Stay tuned for tidbits that can help you win the battle against sugar that so many of us face. There is strength in numbers and together we can do it!
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