New Study Confirms Innotech Nutrition's ColFlex Oral Spray Inactivates Human Coronavirus
Penn State College of Medicine In Vitro Study Shows Very Promising Results
WINNIPEG, MB, March 24, 2021 /CNW/ - Innotech Nutrition, a Canadian manufacturer of natural health products, is excited to release the results of a Penn State College of Medicine research study that showed the company's COLFLEX Oral Spray inactivated 99 to 99.9 per cent of infectious human coronavirus 229E.
The study was conducted by Dr. Craig Meyers and his scientific team at Penn State University. It looked at both variations of Innotech Nutrition's COLFLEX Oral Sprays, examining the sprays' effect on human coronavirus 229E at a two minute contact time. The study showed promising results that the products were highly effective over that time, and were more than 90 per cent effective at inactivating the virus at a 60 second contact time.
Human coronavirus 229E is one of seven coronaviruses that can infect people, according to the Center for Disease Control in the United States (source: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/types.html). It is a leading cause of common colds and respiratory tract infections. Coronaviruses are named for the crown-like spikes on their surface. Dr. Meyers' research has shown that compounds that are effective at inactivating 229E typically act similarly against other human coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2 which is the novel coronavirus that causes the disease better known as COVID-19.
According to Meyers, the results with these oral sprays are promising and add to the findings of a previous study showing that certain types of oral rinses could inactivate HCoV229E in similar experimental conditions.
"The next step to expand upon these results is to design and conduct clinical trials that evaluate whether products like these oral throat sprays can effectively reduce viral load in patients," said Meyers.
As in previous similar studies, the Penn State scientific team prepared a standard laboratory test (viral inactivation assays) to replicate the interaction of the virus in the throat and oral cavities, with the oral spray product. Throat and oral cavities are major points of entry and transmission for human coronaviruses.
"We're excited by the Penn State research on our products and look forward to further research," said Wayne Friesen, president of Innotech Nutrition. "Although this study shows very promising results, it is not in any way to be interpreted as a form of prevention for COVID-19. We all use Colflex routinely with ourselves and our families, we like to think of it as an added layer of protection or another tool in your tool box. We strongly encourage everyone to continue practicing all of the public health measures that are currently in place and to closely follow the advice of your health care professionals. It may sound old-fashioned, but also don't forget your mom's common sense advice to eat a healthy diet, get enough sleep, stay hydrated and keep smiling."
Innotech Nutrition's COLFLEX Oral Spray is a natural health product licensed by Health Canada and has been on the market since 2012. In a previous scientific study, conducted in 2017, the product was proven to kill staph, strep pneumonia, e-coli, and salmonella and was successfully tested for a full safety analysis at the University of Manitoba (source: Winnipeg Free Press https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/business/throat-spray-proven-effective-for-fighting-cold-flu-454627533.html)
When your physical and mental space is cluttered, stress takes over. With spring around the corner, it is the perfect time to declutter your home or office, but did you know this can improve your mental health as well?
Jaya Jaya Myra, former immunologist turnedmind-body wellness expert and bestselling author, highlights the importance of decluttering your physical space in order to improve your overall health and wellbeing.
“Physical clutter equals mental clutter: it’s impossible to have a clear head when your space is dirty or unorganized. When someone comes to me to learn meditation or mindfulness, one of the first things I have people do is clean their house and keep their primary living space organized and clutter-free. Eliminating external clutter makes it much easier to meditate and be mindful, and it will also improve your mood, reduce stress and anxiety and more.” says Jaya Jaya Myra.
Here’s Jaya Jaya Myra’s 3 spring cleaning tips to help reduce stress and anxiety brought on by clutter:
Tip #1: Start Small Maybe it’s your desk or the room you spend the most time in. Commit to keeping your primary work or living area clean and clutter-free. Once you do this it will become easier to tackle those other places that need more work.
Tip #2: Prioritize Positive Emotions If something you have doesn't make you feel good, for any reason, get rid of it to make space for something that does. This could be a piece or art, furniture, clothes, dishes, or just about anything. The stuff we have becomes a trigger for different emotional states, so when you choose to only have things around that evoke happiness or contentment, you create that in your life.
Tip #3: Breathe Even cleaning your space can be daunting, so take a moment to breathe deeply and focus on the space you want to create for yourself. Breathing is connected to good mental health and lowering stress levels, so take a deep breath or ten before you start. It will help you focus and get motivated.
If you are interested in learning more about how Spring Cleaning can help improve your mood and mental wellbeing with Jaya Jaya Myra, I’d be happy to arrange a phone, zoom/skype, or email interview. I’m looking forward to hearing from you!
Thank you,
How CFK’s WASH Program Helped This Informal Settlement in Kenya Reopen its Schools Safely CDC chose nonprofit as lead implementation partner for its WASH initiative
CHAPEL HILL, N.C.–CFK’sWASH program was already in place to fight preventable diseases in an informal settlement in Kenya, but when the coronavirus pandemic began it was retooled, helping schools reopen in Kibera, one of the largest and most densely populated informal settlements in Africa.
The nonprofit, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year and has offices in the U.S. and Kenya, first launched its WASH program in 2014 in Kibera, an area just outside of Nairobi that houses over 350,000 people with few government services and programs. Its goal at the time was to reduce diarrheal disease-related deaths, but when the pandemic began, it dramatically expanded the program to help fight the spread of the coronavirus.
“The same tools that we use to fight diseases like E. coli and rotavirus have been instrumental in reducing the spread of coronavirus,” said Hillary Omala, executive director of CFK who is based in Nairobi. “When the pandemic started, we immediately ramped up those efforts, working with schools and other volunteers, and we could see the positive results in a very short period.”
Short for Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene, the WASH program teaches students and the broader community about proper handwashing practices, helps install public and private hand-washing stations and makes and distributes liquid soap.
Through funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which has since designated CFK as its lead implementation partner for the initiative, CFK refocused its WASH efforts once the pandemic hit, installing more than 1,500 new handwashing stations, distributing over 15,000 liters of locally made soap and leading ongoing soap-making workshops.
Government-run and informal schools across Kenya re-opened in early January after being closed for nearly 10 months due to the pandemic. In partnership with its Education and Livelihoods Program, CFK's WASH project helped provide students and teachers with the tools and knowledge they needed to help them stay safe while returning to school.
Research indicates hand-washing programs are among the most cost-effective, with CDC data showing that every dollar invested brings a return ranging from $5 to $46 due to lower health-care costs and increased productivity. In addition, hand-washing programs help reduce the estimated 200 million hours a day women and girls spend collecting water, which takes away from the time they can spend in school and doing other activities.
“Hand-washing programs are amazingly effective,” added Omala. “They not only help us reduce other diseases, they help us continue to beat the coronavirus, reopen schools and give young girls, especially, more educational opportunities, all at a very low cost.”
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About CFK Founded in 2001, CFK empowers residents of Kibera, one of the largest and most densely populated informal settlements in Africa, to provide world-class medical care, educational and job training programs, and mentorship and advocacy for young girls in the community. Through a participatory development approach, CFK works directly with residents of Kibera to bring new opportunities to improve lives and alleviate poverty. In 2020, staff members at CFK’s new Tabitha Maternity Home were acknowledged by the Gates Foundation as Frontline Heroes for ensuring continuity of care during the pandemic. For more information, visit www.carolinaforkibera.org.
Leaders in digital health: St. Joe's partners with the Ontario eServices Program to enhance patient experiences through eReferral
HAMILTON, ON, March 23, 2021 /CNW/ - St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton (SJHH) continues to showcase leadership in digital technology through the introduction of eReferral to facilitate smoother transitions in care among healthcare providers and enhance patient experiences.
In partnership with the Ontario eServices Program, SJHH has led the successful integration of CognisantMD's Ocean Platform and the Epic Health Information System to offer eReferral.
The transition to eReferral offers a number of benefits for both clinicians and patients, all of which contribute to the improved provider and patient experience within the healthcare system. Benefits include the following:
Patients are better informed regarding the status of their appointments and have the ability to confirm these appointments electronically.
Pre-populated forms for the patient chart on the referring end, ensuring up-to-date patient information is received, such as medication lists and allergies.
Access to wait time information through the searchable, map-based Ocean Healthmap directory.
Receiving complete referrals, eliminating the need to request additional information from the referrer and speeding up wait times.
Reduction in reminder phone calls to patients with automated patient alerts.
Elimination of faxes or phone calls to referring providers informing them of the appointment status.
The integration leverages Substitutable Medical Applications, Reusable Technologies (SMART) on Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) technology. SMART on FHIR is the most recent worldwide standard of secure data transfer for health care technology, specifically addressing the need to share and protect personal health information (PHI).
Phase one of the integration, which is currently live, allows end users to launch the Ocean eReferral platform directly from within the Epic Health Information System with single sign on (SSO). Single sign on allows users to launch and use Ocean from within EPIC, without having to log in to Ocean each time. Launching Ocean directly out of Epic allows hospital staff to interact with the referral without leaving their native system and preserves full access to Ocean functionality.
In the coming weeks, the Ocean and Epic integration will not only allow users to access inbound referrals (e.g. from primary care to hospital), it will also allow referrals from Epic to be sent to external destinations (e.g. specialists or community organizations such as Home and Community Care). The full integration consists of two phases:
Phase one: SSO and inbound and outbound referrals received using SMART on FHIR Ocean launch.
Phase two: Inbound referrals directly into EPIC HIS, including automated order generation and outgoing notifications supported through scalable middleware.
With the support of the Ontario eServices Program, which is funded by the Ministry of Health, full end-to-end digital workflow is scheduled for completion by the end of Spring 2021.
Phase two will include the elimination of manual transcription and will drive an increase in accurate referral status updates being passed back to the referring provider. Appointment information will also be updated directly from the health information system into Ocean, eliminating the duplicate entry of this information into Ocean and ensuring that patients receive timely and accurate information and reminders about their appointments.
SJHH is proud to be working with the Ontario eServices Program to bring the industry this ground-breaking integration with Epic. In collaboration with the Ontario eServices Program, SJHH is working on plans to scale this integration, once fully realized. This includes the development and dissemination of implementation guides, webinars etc. The eServices Program works with a variety of Ontario vendors including the consortium of Think Research, CognisantMD and Centre for Effective Practice.
Improvements in digital technology are key to improving the patient experience, and SJHH is excited to be leading this ongoing innovation. For more information on eReferral, contact the Ontario eServices Program at eReferral@ehealthce.ca.
Additional information:
About St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton (SJHH) is a leading research and academic health science centre located in the heart of Hamilton, Ontario. It is a pioneer of the Integrated Comprehensive Care model, a leader in patient-centred care, and a major provider of mental health and addiction services, respiratory care and kidney care, in addition to other acute care, surgical and outpatient services at its three distinct sites. St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, a proud member of St. Joseph's Health System, is a teaching hospital affiliated with the world-renowned McMaster University. For more information about St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, please visit www.stjoes.ca.
About the Ontario eServices Program The Ontario eServices Program delivers digital services (eConsult and eReferral are the first initiatives in the scope of the program) that support clinical workflows and facilitate smoother transitions in care and an improved patient experience. The Ontario eServices Program is co-led by the Ontario eConsult Centre of Excellence (eConsult COE) and the eHealth Centre of Excellence (eCE) and is funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health (MOH).
About CognisantMD CognisantMD is Canada's leading provider of EMR-integrated patient engagement and eReferral solutions, built on the secure, cloud-based Ocean Platform. Ocean integrates with the nation's leading electronic medical records systems, provincial resources, and other digital health solutions to allow patients, healthcare providers, and systems to securely share and exchange patient health information. By replacing outdated, fax-based technology with EMR-integrated eReferrals, the Ocean eReferral Network is helping to reduce wait times and improve access to care. Ocean's full suite of integrated patient engagement tools is also helping improve digital access for patients, increase access to primary care, and support virtual care across Canada. To learn more, visit www.cognisantmd.com.
SOURCE CognisantMD
Stop Falling For the “Balance” Lie (and Do This Instead). Because life is unpredictable and ever-changing, we can never truly achieve balance in our lives. But don’t worry. Steve Cook shares tips to help you live a more ideal life and cope with the unpredictable parts.
Knoxville, TN (March 2021)—Most of us live hectic, intense, stressed out lives. We’re bombarded with all kinds of tasks, opportunities, and challenges every day. It’s no wonder we struggle to get everything on our list done. On rare occasions we might “crush it,” but most of the time we fall short and neglect the things that are most important to us, whether that’s family, friends, fitness, spiritual growth, or something else.
In other words, we long for balance but never seem to achieve it and this keeps us frustrated and unfulfilled. Steve Cook says that’s because balance isn’t possible.
“The efforts we take today to experience balance tomorrow assume that tomorrow will be the same as it is today,” points out Cook, the author of Lifeonaire: An Uncommon Approach to Wealth, Success, and Prosperity (Lifeonaire Promotions, LLC, 2018, ISBN: 978-0-9863228-7-7, $14.99). “Obviously, this will never be true.
“Everything is in a state of flux: The world around you, your family, your work,” he adds. “The way you do things today won’t be the same tomorrow. You’ll have to learn new things, allocate your time differently, and spend time with different people. So despite all the books that have been written on the subject, the very notion of balance is a lie. And when we chase something that doesn’t exist, we’ll never be happy.”
Cook, a life and business coach, speaker, trainer, and author, says the only solution is a fundamental mind shift. We need to accept and embrace this truth about how the world works. This will motivate us to revamp our life in a way that ensures that we’re putting what we really care about front and center. (Hint: His book Lifeonaire suggests many of us need to rethink our blind pursuit of financial wealth at the expense of everything else.)
Here are a few tips to help you stop striving for balance and live in a much more rewarding, intentional, and peaceful way.
Rely on your Vision when you lose your direction. An important Lifeonaire principal is creating and living by your Vision. Your Vision is a clear, written description of what your complete, ideal life looks like. It helps you to have a clearer direction and gives you a path to follow in life. Your written vision may map out a straight path, but there are usually curves, switchbacks, and detours along the way as you journey down this path. Your vision helps you to realize when you are getting too far off the path. It serves as a guide to let you know that some adjustments need to be made.
“If you haven’t done so already, take some time to think about your Vision for your life,” says Cook. “Write it down and revisit it often, especially when you feel overwhelmed with too many competing obligations. Referring back to it will help you ensure you are still on track.”
Finetune the art of counterbalance. No, balance isn’t possible, but recognizing when something is getting away from the ideal is. When you realize you’ve been neglecting your family because of work, obviously you need to devote more time to your family—you need to counterbalance. They need to feel valued and the only way you’re going to do this is by giving them your time.
Where is that time going to come from? Well, hobbies, work, and sleep may all be affected, so that you can give your family the time that they need. Next thing you know, work may be neglected, or friendships may suffer. Soon you will find that you need to now spend more time in other areas. Being able to self-correct is an important life skill.
Ponder this crucial question frequently: “I could do more, but should I?” When you are exhausted at the end of a long day, don’t be surprised when you feel tempted to complete just a few more tasks on your list. That’s when it’s time to really ask yourself whether you should keep grinding or give yourself a well-deserved break. That little voice is always going to be there telling you to do more, but you don’t always have to listen to it.
Don’t beat yourself up when you can’t get everything done in a day. Everyone struggles with having too much to do and not enough time to do it in. Accept that this is the norm, and that running out of time (or energy!) is not a personal failing. Remind yourself that what doesn’t get done today will get done later.
Stop fretting about tomorrow. Start looking forward to it. This simple shift can transform your life. When you look forward to tomorrow, with all of its challenges and surprises, dread disappears, and your obligations may not feel so harrowing.
Don’t overly rely on technology to help you create more time. “More and more these days, we seek out all kinds of technology to hopefully help us, and while technology seems to help us do more, in most ways it has actually failed at truly freeing up our time and is allowing us to do less,” says Cook. “Its fine to use technology as long as it really improves your life. But don’t go overboard. Being tethered to every app, device, and service is not going to simplify your life.”
Figure out what you can control. Focus on that. Again, everything is changing all the time. And most of it is out of your control. To reclaim a sense of peace and order, focus on things you can impact. A few places to start: Your own attitude and actions, what you read, think, and believe, what you and your family choose to intentionally focus on, etc.
When you simply cannot change things, go with the flow. Good and bad things in our life can throw off our perfectly laid plans. When this happens and there’s nothing you can do about it, try to relax and go with the flow. Embrace the situation and make the adjustments you can reasonably make but let go of any needless and unproductive worry or anxiety. We just can’t control everything.
“Always remember that the idea of balance is a lie that only causes more frustration,” concludes Cook. “No amount of planning or time blocking will work perfectly every time. And if you plan based on ‘the ideal’ one minute, it can literally be disrupted within moments. As long as you are doing your best, you’re doing the right thing.”
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About the Author: Steve Cook is the founder of Lifeonaire, an author, coach, real estate investor, speaker, father, and husband. He has a passion for teaching, giving, and his faith. After two failed restaurant ventures in 1998, Steve hit rock bottom and lost everything. With no money and nothing but a strong will to succeed, Steve turned to real estate investing, and his efforts were met with an uncommon success.
As a professional real estate investor, he has done over 550 deals and made millions of dollars, and it was that very success that led him to realize that having true abundance isn’t about a lot of money or possessions—it’s about having a wealth of life.
With this understanding, Steve founded Lifeonaire, and now his passion is sharing the message with others to help them live prosperous, abundant lives.
About the Book: Lifeonaire; An Uncommon Approach to Wealth, Success, and Prosperity (Lifeonaire Promotions, LLC, 2018, ISBN: 978-0-9863228-7-7, $14.99) is available from major online booksellers.
How Exercising Incorrectly Can Cause Serious Damage to Your Limbs
Finding new ways to exercise daily has become increasingly easier thanks to modern technology. Staying in shape has positive impacts on both the body and mind, but it is important to consider how you are getting the exercise you need. Many avenues for fitness might not teach the proper techniques. Exercising incorrectly could cause you an injury you didn't expect. Here are a few of the ways using improper movements could damage you.
Inflammation
Swinging heavy objects is one of the quickest ways you can build up strength. However, it is also one of the most dangerous in terms of the kinds of damage it can do to your limbs. This risk level comes partly from the fact that you'll use your arms to swing objects, but it is your lower limbs that provide the power you need to complete the rotation. In short, all of your limbs could be at risk for inflammation if you aren't careful. Make sure you use hamstrings and gluteus muscles to reduce strain on your shoulders here.
Cuff Tears
There are different exercises you can do to flex those upper limb muscles and work on your arms. Even if you don't do a lot of manual labor, it makes sense to keep your arms in shape for the everyday lifting or grabbing that you need to perform. However, exercises like a lateral pull-down normally place a great deal of stress on your rotator cuffs. You may even risk a cuff tear if you're not careful. If something feels off, stop these exercises and meet with asports medicine doctor who can offer you practical advice on how to move forward.
Imbalances and Strain
Many physical therapists actively avoid recommending leg extensions. Some circles agree that there is no natural position in life where the leg is extended fully with a lot of pressure working against it. Consequently, it is an exercise that could create a muscle imbalance or put great strain on areas that are already naturally tight, such as the toes and hip flexors.
Joint Issues
These exercises are designed to help your chest muscles, but they could pose a risk to your upper limbs. Many people start these exercises with lats that are underused at first. As a result, parts of the chest and arms work to compensate and help you do the moves. This effect can result in shoulder problems at the joints if left unchecked.
Various resources have ways of inspiring people to get moving and stay active in different ways. The wealth of information at your disposal means that you can tailor a workout routine to fit any goal, style, or schedule you prefer. The trick is to make sure that you aren't just copying the text, videos, or diagrams you might see. Knowing how to perform an exercise safely could mitigate the risk of an injury or hospital visit. It's important to understand that while any exercise you do incorrectly could be problematic, some of them are more likely than others to cause injury.
Broken and Beautiful: Let God Turn Your Mess into a Masterpiece
Seattle, WA, March 19, 2021 — If you have a past of brokenness—abuse, dysfunction, addiction or other trauma—it doesn’t have to define your future. There is hope for a brighter path forward if we let God lead the way.
“We’re going to fail. The truth is, that’s exactly where God wants us to be so that He can grow us,” writes Christine Soule in her inspirational story, Broken and Beautiful. “The key is discovering who you are in Christ — your true identify. And that’s especially significant if you, like me, have a past of brokenness.”
Soule’s life was a jumbled pile of broken pieces. Her father was married seven times; her mother four times. Between her parents’ divorce when she was 5 years old and the day she allowed the power and presence of God into her heart, she watched her sister have an affair with her adoptive father; met 15 siblings she never knew at her biological father’s funeral; turned to drugs and alcohol; got pregnant at 17; had twins less than two years later; and became a victim of human trafficking. She had to break the cycle for the sake of her children. With nowhere else to turn, she dropped to her knees and prayed. And that’s when everything changed.
Broken and Beautiful is Soule’s remarkable story of how God took the pieces of her broken, astonishingly dysfunctional life and transformed it all into a breathtaking mosaic of joy and purpose.
“The places where you feel hopeless are exactly what He wants to redeem and fill with beauty, dignity and strength. He has a plan for your pain. A wonderful intention for your failures. A purpose for your hardest, darkest stories,” Soule writes.
Told with honesty and surprising touches of humor, Soule shares her journey from drug-addicted stripper to exuberant Jesus lover with a passion for helping others embrace God’s love. Broken and Beautiful is a raw, authentic story of hope, from a place of experience.
Author Christine Soule lives with the love of her life, Mitch Soule, in Seattle. They have five kids and three wonderful grandchildren. She is the founder and CEO of Providence Heights (www.providenceheights.org), a nonprofit created to house women and children in need and to provide counseling, education and jobs.
Biblical vs. Eastern Meditation: Brain Expert Explains the Benefits and the Differences
Chattanooga, TN, March 19, 2021 ― Meditation offers a drug-free way to lower your blood pressure and heart rate, and achieve better focus and concentration. But are all forms of meditation equally beneficial?
From psychiatrist and author of The God-Shaped Brain Timothy R. Jennings, M.D., comes a helpful guide that explains the differences between Eastern and biblical meditation—in both practice and outcome on brain and mind.
Meditation: Biblical Method Versus Eastern Method,A Guide to a Bible-based Experience with God documents the differences between biblical and Eastern meditation; describes divergent meditation methods and their impact on brain function and character outcomes; and demonstrates how readers can engage in healthy biblical meditation. Also included is a simple test to help readers determine which form of meditation they’re practicing.
Dr. Jennings describes Eastern meditation as a form of self-anesthesia that relieves transient emotional distress (like pain medication for an injury) without providing an actual cure for the problem.
Alternatively, biblical meditation is like surgery for the soul, he explains. It takes one through the valley of the shadow of death, removes the cause of the emotional distress and cures the problem, resulting in genuine peace for the soul.
The Bible tells us to meditate upon God’s word and God’s wonders in creation, and Meditation can help readers understand the practice of biblical meditation so they can heal their hearts and minds, and return to their oneness with God and with each other.
Author Timothy R. Jennings, M.D., is a board-certified psychiatrist, international speaker and founder of Come and Reason Ministries. He operates a private practice in Chattanooga and has successfully treated thousands of patients. He is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and Life-Fellow of the Southern Psychiatric Association.
Dr. Jennings is also a prolific author whose books include The God-Shaped Brain: How Changing Your View of God Transforms Your Life; Could It Be This Simple? A Biblical Model for Healing the Mind; The Aging Brain: Proven Steps to Prevent Dementia and Sharpen Your Mind; and The God-Shaped Heart: How Correctly Understanding God’s Love Transforms Us.
To order your free copy (while supplies last) of Meditation: Biblical Method Versus Eastern Method, or to learn more about Dr. Timothy R. Jennings and his approach to brain and body health, please visit: www.comeandreason.com.
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Biblical vs. Eastern Meditation: Brain Expert Explains the Benefits and the Differences
Chattanooga, TN, March 19, 2021 ― Meditation offers a drug-free way to lower your blood pressure and heart rate, and achieve better focus and concentration. But are all forms of meditation equally beneficial?
From psychiatrist and author of The God-Shaped Brain Timothy R. Jennings, M.D., comes a helpful guide that explains the differences between Eastern and biblical meditation—in both practice and outcome on brain and mind.
Meditation: Biblical Method Versus Eastern Method,A Guide to a Bible-based Experience with God documents the differences between biblical and Eastern meditation; describes divergent meditation methods and their impact on brain function and character outcomes; and demonstrates how readers can engage in healthy biblical meditation. Also included is a simple test to help readers determine which form of meditation they’re practicing.
Dr. Jennings describes Eastern meditation as a form of self-anesthesia that relieves transient emotional distress (like pain medication for an injury) without providing an actual cure for the problem.
Alternatively, biblical meditation is like surgery for the soul, he explains. It takes one through the valley of the shadow of death, removes the cause of the emotional distress and cures the problem, resulting in genuine peace for the soul.
The Bible tells us to meditate upon God’s word and God’s wonders in creation, and Meditation can help readers understand the practice of biblical meditation so they can heal their hearts and minds, and return to their oneness with God and with each other.
Author Timothy R. Jennings, M.D., is a board-certified psychiatrist, international speaker and founder of Come and Reason Ministries. He operates a private practice in Chattanooga and has successfully treated thousands of patients. He is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and Life-Fellow of the Southern Psychiatric Association.
Dr. Jennings is also a prolific author whose books include The God-Shaped Brain: How Changing Your View of God Transforms Your Life; Could It Be This Simple? A Biblical Model for Healing the Mind; The Aging Brain: Proven Steps to Prevent Dementia and Sharpen Your Mind; and The God-Shaped Heart: How Correctly Understanding God’s Love Transforms Us.
To order your free copy (while supplies last) of Meditation: Biblical Method Versus Eastern Method, or to learn more about Dr. Timothy R. Jennings and his approach to brain and body health, please visit: www.comeandreason.com.
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Dismantle Social Constructs and Discover the Life You Were Meant to Live
Las Vegas, NV, March 19, 2021 — What better way to tackle existential angst than with a pint of Ben & Jerry’s Cherry Garcia? Or perhaps a more constructive way might be to take an introspective deep-dive into the ideologies you hold as true and ask yourself, “Is this the life I chose, or the one chosen for me?”
Christina Dylag’s Tiny Little Boxes: How to Cope with Existential Dread by Way of Ice Cream and Other Means takes readers on a soul-searching journey peppered with humor, philosophical musings and plenty of ice-cream-flavored metaphors to help them uncover any preconditioned social constructs and learn to distinguish between personal fact and fiction.
“A life constructed for us by society can be satisfying for a while, but at a certain point, the tension between who we want to be and who we are becomes unbearable,” Christina writes. “We want to follow our dreams and find fulfillment. We settle instead for a destiny carved for someone else. When we search for answers in religion or romance, we are still left with a nagging sense of emptiness.”
Christina’s book delivers a vastly different approach to the world of self-help. It’s unique, funny and fresh, with a free-flowing narrative that mirrors the fluidity of a stream of consciousness. Much of the book centers on the topic of straying from the norm and carving out a new and highly individualized path.
The result is a mind-broadening nudge that gives readers permission to live, to explore, and to break the barriers of their own little boxes. This book was written to expose and unravel the ideologies that we as humans unconsciously hold as truth, Christina explains. Tiny Little Boxes delves into our predetermined belief systems and how we might reassess or re-approach our conditioned world. Beyond our inherited notions of success, the self and existence lies a more expansive sense of freedom.
Christina Dylag is a writer and co-owner of Velveteen Rabbit, an award-winning craft cocktail bar in Las Vegas which has been featured in Forbes, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Bon Appetit, Saveur, Vice, Maxim, Playboy, and others. Christina is 70 percent water, roughly 30 percent sushi and a shy whisper of human form. She lives in Las Vegas and will likely be survived by her giant pet rabbit, Steve.
For more insights from the author, please visit www.Nihilisticecream.com, or follow the author on Instagram (@nihilisticecream) or on Facebook (@nihilisticecream).
Tiny Little Boxes: How to Cope with Existential Dread by Way of Ice Cream and Other Means
