You guessed right!  Because of our Health. HEALTH is the missing link. Green is Great. Going Beyond Green is a necessity. We will be exploring these concepts in our upcoming series: "Seven Simple Steps to ECO-fitness"

Here are some new definitions that we have come up with to better explain what we mean by ECO-fitness and why it’s so important

E-C-O-fit vs retrofit

To add a component or accessory or new technology, features or modifications to something that did not have it when it was manufactured (ie older systems) that is Ecological, Comfortable and Organic (if possible)

 ECO fitness

The practice of choosing materials and products with a primary concern for their influence upon the health and well being of all the organisms inhabiting that shared environment or ecosystem

 To E-C-O-fit your home is to modify your existing home to be more:

*           Ecological and Environmentally friendly

*           Comfortable to humans and all living creatures; Connected

*           Organic (food, products and materials)

Yesterday I interviewed Vicki Warren, Program Director and Head of the Institute for Bau-biologie and Ecologie in Clearwater, Florida for our series on "Seven Simple Steps to ECO-fitness"

We discussed some of the most dangerous indoor trends facing families in America today and she has solutions for you that are not only simple to implement, but also very cost effective. Some are even FREE.

We will be posting the audio file online shortly and Vicki explains why we have to think "Beyond Green" and how you can jumpstart the process. Our main concern in interviewing her is that many young families would like to think ECO and green but they believe that it is too complicated or too expensive so they don’t bother to try.

But it may not be as difficult as you think!  We have great news for you which you will discover in our upcoming "Seven Simple Steps" Series.  The first e-book will be "Seven Simple Steps to ECO-fit your Home". Then we will give you the steps to ECO-fit your office, your kitchen, your bedroom, the nursery, your bathroom (and personal care products as well).  If you are a business owner we will have an e-book especially for you too.

Learn how to transform your Home and your Office, one week at a time - in "Seven Simple Steps".

Next week we will discuss the Meridian Center for Holistic Medicine’s  definition of ECO-fitness and why it matters to you.

How to avoid the mistakes of the young and foolish when traveling, and to stay healthy and sound in your body, mind and spirit.  A parable by Dr Susan Lange, OMD, L.Ac (1996)

I first became intimately acquainted with parasites when I was twenty years old. I was hitchhiking from England to India during a University summer vacation. Having been berated by a fellow traveler in southern Iran for throwing away a date with a maggot in it (food was scarce in the desert and we needed our protein), I obediently - or was it foolishly? -drank the Holy water at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, India - just like everybody else there. Along with the other worshippers, I took a bowl, dipped it into the turbid brown water and drank it reverently. Later, I watched idly as two old men washed themselves down in the very same temple pool. I was young …….

 That night we took a train to Delhi. The carriages were packed with families, children and animals. I was lucky because I managed to clamber up onto a narrow luggage rack where I would remain immobile until dawn, high above the cacophony and the struggle for space below. My triumph was short lived. To find out what happened next  click on the next page  

Susan and I have just returned from Santa Barbara where we spent the afternoon catching up with our old friend, an international authority and scholar of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, Giovanni Maciocia . We discussed his line of Chinese herbal  formulas and looked at his amazing library of Chinese language reference books.  He is doing such great work for everyone in our profession.  His most recent book, the subject of which I can’t reveal but which is with his publisher now and will be available in about 12 months (too long!) is going to be a revelation for the Chinese Medical community. 

The book at the top is Giovanni’s copy of the "The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine", one of the oldest medical text books in the world. Susan and I often use some of the poetic quotes from this famous tome. This is what it looks like inside:

From Giovanni’s we drove to Joanne Hsian’s intimate restaurant, “Spirit Land Bistro” at 230 E. Victoria where we enjoyed a marvelous organic dining experience.  Ken, her maitre d’ steered us in the direction of a very pleasant glass of biodynamically grown 2004 Tempranillo wine from Hice Cellars in Paso Robles which Ken tells us uses “old world” methods in it’s production.  I am anticipating visiting Hice Cellars and seeing exactly what they do. 

We discovered that though Spirit Land Bistro is only a little over a year old Joanne has found the time to launch her free “Tuesday Night for Healing” series of dialogues where anyone who’s interested can hear a variety of local healers speak about their methods and philosophies.  These evenings are moderated by the nutritionist Dale Figtree and the speakers include acupuncturists, medical doctors, Hawaiian bodyworkers, cleansing experts, and many others. 

 Since Joanne is very interested in bringing Chinese Medicine and other healing modalities into the local community we have been invited to teach at Spiritland. We will keep you posted. Julian

Further information is available at:  www.spiritlandbistro.com or www.dalefigtree.com 

Dr Michael Stewart, an Ear, Nose and Throat, specialist was just featured on CBS speaking about the dangers of hospital visits and that the highest risk of infection and pneumonia can be around surgical procedures!

When someone is in the hospital it is very important that they find ways to keep their spirits high so that they don’t succumb so easily to these challenges.

 This is one of the very reasons that the Brenda Berkeley Zen Healing baskets were created by The Flower Box.

These beautiful elegant boxes are filled with a host of organic, nutritious and healing goodies designed to inspire and support the healing process.  Each of these items, all from local California vendors, were handpicked to complement the gorgeous Zen flowers. They are carefully placed with the flowers on a bed of moss.

The result is a luscious combination truly designed to appeal to all the senses.

 If you’re wondering what to do for a friend or family member who is in the hospital, how about creating your own Healing Basket for them? Click here for some suggestions.

Following on from yesterday’s story….. The Flower Box Makeover show is being featured on "Peter Perfect", the show on E! Entertainment Television, in June 2008. We are going to do a special interview with Brenda and her healing journey, because her story is truly inspiring. So watch out for another episode of "A Healing Miracle" on this blog.

In the meantime, these Zen healing baskets have arisen because of Brenda’s own personal story. 

Well, master stylist extraordinaire, Peter, of the "Peter Perfect" program on E! Entertainment Television has just done a complete makeover  of owner, Brenda Berkeley, and her store, The Flower Box.  They have come up with these exquisite Zen Healing Baskets which I will be showing you on my next blog. Today we were at the Grand RE-Opening of the new Flower Box store at 506 Santa Monica Boulevard, in Santa Monica, California. If you’re ever in the neighborhood you must stop by!

It’s just underneath our own clinic in the same building. The store is absolutely stunning, the flower arrangements by Yoko are gorgeous, and their latest creations, these Zen Healing baskets, could be the perfect answer for you if you have a friend or family member who is sick, or in the hospital, - or even for someone who simply needs some cheering up and healing support.

I’m holding one of the Zen healing baskets in the photo above, with Peter (of "Peter Perfect") in the middle and Brenda to the left. Brenda’s incredibly moving story will be featured on E! Entertainment in June of this year.  - and her amazing arrangements are featured in our own ECO DVD:  "The Meridian Center: ECO Design Creating Extraodinary Outcomes" from 1995! This educational DVD will be hosted on our website for free at some point very soon.

Dr Susan Lange, OMD, L.Ac:  I am writing this book on the 101 top inspirational comedies ever made and it is called, “Laugh Your Way To Health”. So Dina,… we would like to learn more about your story and how you are feeling now.  You are a miracle! Is that right?

Dina:  Yes.

Susan:  Yes and you started telling me a little bit last time about what you did that made you different from other people.  You were telling me that you had a brain tumor?

 Dina:  Yes and this kind called Glioblastoma multiforme.  It is considered the most aggressive type of tumor, and they gave me only six months.

To find out what Dina did to promote her own healing click on the next page