When I was composing this week’s article, eighties rock group, Twisted Sister’s, “We’re Not Gonna Take It” came to mind. Allow me to share some lyrics and you’ll see the connection: We’re not gonna take it No, we ain’t gonna take it We’re not gonna take it anymore We’ve got the right to choose it There ain’t no way we’ll lose it This is our life, this is our song We’ll fight the powers that be just Don’t pick our destiny ’cause You don’t know us, you don’t belong We’re not gonna take it No, we ain’t gonna take...

Chronic stress disrupts nearly every system in your body. It can suppress your immune system, upset your digestive and reproductive systems, increase the risk of heart attack and stroke, and speed up the aging process. According to the Center for Disease Control/National Institute on Occupational Safety & Health, the workplace is the number one cause of life stress. The CDC reports 110 million people die every year as a direct result of stress. That is seven people every 2 seconds. Sources of Stress The workplace is where it’s at. Your boss dumps a last-minute presentation on you. You feel...

George Burns, that wise philosopher, said it best: “You can’t help getting older, but you don’t have to get old.” There’s no denying biology, but when a patient enters his or her golden years, attitude and lifestyle become more relevant to good health than ever. Perhaps the biggest obstacle when caring for senior patients is ageism on behalf of the doctor and the patient. “What do you expect? I’m old,” is a commonly held attitude, but the acceptance of decreased functionality as normal is a detriment to healthy and successful aging. Veins and Aging Paying attention to vein health...

All of us at one time or another can live amongst the midst of clutter. There can be many reasons why the clutter happens in our life but there is truly only one root cause. The clutter could be “situational”. Maybe there is a family member who is terminally sick, or you lost your job, or better yet just got a new job and you are a little overwhelmed. Hence, your home has taken a back burner and the clutter has built up. “Situational” clutter is easily remedied. Once that situation “calms” down, you can get back to the...

If you think about it, most if not all skin creams are white. Ever wonder why? You see, base creams are used to initially make it feel like you are applying moisture to your face but skin creams are stripped down of their natural qualities and man-made chemicals are added to the formulation, instead of natural enzymes found in rare plant extracts. This is why you are left with a white, lifeless skin cream. These chemicals actually dry out your face and make you more reliant on their products. Immortal Opulence is a small company based right here in...

Over the many years I have been practicing Chinese medicine, anxiety is one of the most common reasons people have sought out treatment. Did you realize that acupuncture can help treat your spirit along with your physical symptoms? On a molecular level, acupuncture has been shown to affect neurotransmitter release as well as natural endorphins. This can be linked to its proven effectiveness in treating conditions such as insomnia, depression, and anxiety. Because Chinese medicine works on the whole body, it leads to experiencing enhanced digestion, balanced hormones, and better sleep, all adding to mental health. I am often...

Did you know that depression is a condition that affects more than 16 million adults in America every year and that only one-third of individuals with severe depression get the professional help and therapy they need for recovery? Now that winter is upon us, this is a good opportunity to raise awareness and support people in recognizing how depression can impact their lives. Left untreated, depression can have a serious impact on quality of life and affect your career, relationships, health, socialization, and much more. However, by taking part in a depression screening, Maine residents can evaluate their risk...

It’s inevitable that there will come a time in our lives where we will stand face to face with grief, whether it be from the loss of a loved one or from the residual effects of past traumas making their way back to the surface. Whatever the cause, the most challenging task is learning how to work through it while trying to maintain some form of normalcy in day-to-day life. That is until we reach that point where we begin to ask ourselves, “Can I move through this?” For Paul Matteson, the answer is an astounding, yes! While training...