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To read my first blog on Men's Health, click here.
The quality of men’s health impacts not only men, but their families and loved ones.  I'd like to cover three main points about men’s health.  First, what are the health concerns for men?  Second, why are men prone to these health problems?  Third, how can men improve their health?

The Centers for Disease Control reports that men die at higher rates than women from the top 10 causes of death and are the victims of over 93% or workplace deaths[1].  The increased death rates come from engaging in risky behaviors like not paying attention to their body, taking unnecessary risks, or overdoing things like work or physical activity.  These risky behaviors are exacerbated by men's difficulty to connect emotionally.  Generally, men feel uncomfortable expressing their feelings and instead islolate themselves.  In so doing, men experience feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and depression.  Because men isolate rather than express, they experience difficulty in relationships.  The capacity for meaninfgul and fulfuilling intimacy can be problematic.  Why are men prone to such health risks and behaviors?

Men receive unhealthy messages of what healthy manhood is.  Images of bravado and “macho-men” are encouraged and celebrated in our culture.  Men try to live up to these unrealistic and false images of self.  As an attempt to avoid feeling weak or insignificant, men lose sight of their purpose, live unfulfilled lives, and adopt unhealthy habits that lead to increased health risks. So, what can men do to transcend these unhealthy messages of manhood and take better care of themselves?  

Men, here is a five step process you can use to improve your health:

First, decide that your health is important.  Remember that you will not be able to protect your family and care for them if you are not well and in full working order yourself.  The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.  In this case, it is you deciding that you are worth it to care for.  

Second, you need to cultivate an awareness of your body and how you are feeling.  Aches and pains are not meant to be ignored.  They are your bodies signal that something is wrong.  In the same way you would change your car’s oil after 3000 miles; your body also needs frequent attention. 

Third, develop a goal and plan for how you would like your health to be.  A healthy goal could include eating better; exercising routinely, developing a yoga practice, seeking relationship counseling, visiting your homeopath or other natural health care practitioner.  A healthy plan also involves cultivating a proper support network for your goal.  Enlist the help of friends and family for your desires of improved health.  Find a workout buddy or encouraging person who can keep you accountable.

Fourth, do it!  Nothing happens without your action.  Make that appointment you've wanted to make.  Implement your new eating or exercising plan.  If you're having troubles getting started, reach out to your support group.  Go back to step 3 and reevaluate your plan if it stops after a couple of weeks.  Make adjustments as needed.  

Fifth, enjoy your new changes!  Reward yourself after a few months for maintaining your new, healthy life.  Going back to step 1, use your new habit of awareness to notice how much better you feel.  Be grateful for how much energy you have or how much better you sleep.  Celebrate the new you!

It's possible for men to experience greater qualities of life that impact them personally, as well as for the families and friends they love and who love them in return!


Thanks for reading and be well!
Noel


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 [1] www.cdc.gov

“Toughen Up!”  “Be a man!”

These words are spoken harshly to boys and adult males all the time.  But, what are the implications from such statements?

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) states, “…In 1920, women lived, on average, one year longer than men. Now, men, on average, die almost six years earlier than women.”  Additionally, the BLS states, “…men die at higher rates than women from the top 10 causes of death and are the victims of over 92% of workplace deaths.”  

How can this be?  Perhaps it has something to do with the ‘macho image’ many males in our culture are supposed to adhere to?  

Even more strikingly, the CDC reports depression in men often goes undiagnosed, contributing to the fact that men are four times as likely to commit suicide.  Among 15 – 19 year olds, boys were 5 x as likely as girls to commit suicide.  Among 20 - 24 year olds, males were 7 x as likely to commit suicide as females.  The suicide rate for persons age 65 and above: men...38.4 – women...6.0.  

These numbers are staggering, and imply men don’t feel comfortable seeking help for their emotional distress and/or physical complaints.  Not only is this detrimental to their own health, but to the health of their family and loved ones as well.  

It’s time for a change!

At the Austin Clinic of Homeopathy, a safe space has been created for you to find lasting relief from your pains, illnesses, and conditions.  Here, you will find support to help you manage stress, reduce worry and anxiety, and cultivate a healthier mindset for you in your life.

Contact me to get started on your own path to better health and greater vitality.

Thanks for reading and I will see you soon,
Noel

The Allergy Season is just under way in Austin, Texas.  Typically, the season here is from the beginning of March until mid-May.  This year, due to long droughts of previous years, heavy rains this year, and with gusty dry winds in between have led to heavy oak pollen accumulation into the air and the surrounding vegetation.  And just to give you a heads up, this season is expected to roll into June!


What can you do about it?  One option is to visit an allergy and asthma doctor and receive testing and medication that will act to suppress your symptoms.  Yet, your symptoms are your bodies signal that something is wrong.  They are meant to be worked with, not worked against.  That's where homeopathy comes in to play.


Homeopathic remedies aim to strengthen your bodies inherent and natural ability to heal itself.  The important factors during a homeopathic consultation is the detail in which you express your symptoms.  You will not get one homeopathic remedy for allergies.  Homeopathic treatment is individualized to your specific concerns and takes into consideration the sublte nuances of your symptoms and how you manage them emotionally ad mentally.  In this way, it is natural and holistic.


Common homeopathic remedies that help people experiencing allergy symptoms include the following:
Allium Cepa: Acrid (burning, caustic) nasal discharge, which may even burn the nose or upper lip.  Profuse watery discharge from the nose, like a "dripping faucet."  Usually effects the left nostril more.  You feel better in the open air, rather than indoors.
Euphrasia: Eyes feel inflamed, extremely irritated, with burning and itching.  Bland nasal discharge, but with profuse acrid lacrimation (secretion of tears from eyes).  Greatly indicated for Hay Asthma.
Nux Vomica: Terrible sneezing, especially in the morning on rising from bed.  Stuffed, irritated nose that becomes fluent in a warm room - this generally relieves the stuffed nose.  Nasal discharge may be very fluent in the morning and daytime, but horribly dry with raw obstruction at night and in bed.
Pulsatilla: Awful itching and lacrimation of eyes which feels better from a cold application.  Hay fever especially in the spring or in the heat of the summer and autumn.  Everything is worse by being over-heated by the sun, hot foods, heat of the bed, etc.  Much worse in the open air.  Much better in air conditioning (no exposure to pollens).
Sabadilla: Tremendous paroxysms (spasmodic) of sneezing; debilitating sneezing.  


This list is not comprehensive and it's best to contact me for further questions and to find out where you can locate these homeopathic remedies.


Many thanks for reading and I hope you feel better soon!
Noel

I live in Austin, Texas.  Environmental allergens are a huge issue here!  I wrote an article about this topic not long ago, but it warrants another take because of its severity.


Allergies are defined as a disorder of the immune system, specifically, an over-reaction of your body to certain substances (pollen, food products, insect bites, etc.).  This physiologic over-reaction results in an inflammatory process.  The results of the internal inflammation then result in the common symptoms of itchy eyes, runny nose, sneezing, hives, lethargy, etc.  It is your body doing its best to rid the toxic substance from within you.  


Such symptoms are not meant to be suppressed.  Conventional and more common treatments involve anti-histamines, cortisone (a steroid), or adrenaline (for severe anaphylaxis).  Common medications you may have heard of include Nasonex, Flonase, Singulair, or Zyrtec.  If you experience allergic reactions and have taken these medicines you are probably aware of the multitude of side effects that happen from usage.  Additionally, your allergies keep coming back - sometimes with a stronger vengeance than before!  That's because the symptoms are not meant to be suppressed.  You may experience relief for the time being, as long as you can stand the side effects, but the illness remains.  What is one to do?


Homeopathy is an alternative that seeks to work with your bodies healing intelligence and strengthen your immune system so you are less and less susceptible to the allergens.  This process is accomplished over time, but spells overall relief from your allergic symptoms, which may never come back.  There is help out there without the dependency on expensive medicines or the side effects from conventional treatments.


During homeopathic treatment it will be important to describe in detail the nature of your symptoms.  There is not one homeopathic remedy for allergies.  Rather, there are homeopathic remedies for YOU and your unique expression of all of your physical symptoms, as well as how it impacts you mentally and emotionally.  For example, some people experience great eye itchiness with agglutination (crusty eyes) in the morning, whereas some may have burning nasal discharge.  Others may have profuse nasal discharge with no burning or eye irritation at all.  It all depends on your unique symptoms.


To begin your healing journey, please contact me.  For research articles on this topic, please click here.


Many thanks for reading!
Noel

There are few things worse than not being able to catch your breath.  Even worse is the fear that accompanies an asthma attack.  Will you be able to breath again?!  It's a scary event!  For those who suffer from these scary situations, immediate relief is sought.


The New England Journal of Medicine reported in June of 2009 that there are 300 million people worldwide who suffer from asthma.  What if you knew there were treatments available without the side effects from medicine, and that with treatment over-time, you would be less and less susceptible to suffering this condition?


Homeopathic treatment can offer such relief!  There is not one homeopathic remedy to take for asthma.  Rather, there are homeopathic remedies that treat YOU.  Homeopathic treatment will not suppress symptoms, but rather is aimed at strengthening your system and rendering you less and less dependent on medications and less and less susceptible to ever having symptoms related to asthma.  It's true healing! 


For research studies on this topic, please click here.  To get started now on your healing journey, please contact me.


Thanks for reading and be well,
Noel