Treatment for IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)???

After I founded Happy Uterus Consulting, I began to focus mainly on abdominal, reproductive and digestive health! This specialization really allowed me to go more deeply into these areas of concern and attract people who needed help with these symptoms. What I found is that IBS is a very common diagnosis and there is not a lot of help out there.

First, the most comprehensive resource I have found is www.helpforibs.com. The founder of the company was diagnosed with IBS and as a result, created a wonderful product line to help eliminate the symptoms of IBS. I was introduced to them by a client who used just one product, the Acacia Fiber powder, and with that eliminated her symptoms 100%!

Second, learning the power of deep relaxation I think is very important. Since our gut is ruled by your enteric nervous system, which obviously is part of our nervous system, learning to eliminate anxiety is very important. I realize that this is not as easy as it sounds but it is well wort the effort. I recently was given the book, Yoga: the way to long life and happiness by Desmond Dunne which was printed in 1953. It is a little gem of ancient wisdom and he has entire chapter dedicated to Deep Relaxation. Desmond encourages us all to study these rules: 1. You must first want to relax, 2. You must realize that it is not a newfangled craze but an age-old and sensible practice, 3. You must practice it in regular intervals and lastly 4. you must understand that Deep relaxation can not be forced! Definitely worth finding this book and reading if only, this one chapter.

Thirdly, master knowing the difference between soluble and insoluble fiber and what you can eat when. From what I have gathered, it's not what you are eating that is the most essential, but what you are eating WHEN!! You have to prepare you gut for certain kinds of fiber.

Between the resources of Help for IBS, which includes fennel tea, peppermint oil capsules and the Acaia Fiber powder, anyone with this diagnosis of IBS, or even anyone who lives with these symptoms of IBS, will greatly benefit from these simple tools!

Awakening: How can a goddess help us?

I have to admit, I have a goddess practice. In this time of new-age-ness, the goddess is everywhere. And that's great. Unfortunately for me, it pushes my buttons of "this is really superficial". It seems to be wonderful for everyone else involved so that is great.

One of my personal favorites is Tara. And, for anyone living in CNY, I will be teaching a course on Tara for children enrolled in the Dharma Kids program at the Zen Center of Syracuse (www.zencenterofsyracuse.org). Tara is considered the "mother of all Buddhas" and became a Buddha in female form. All of her friends at that time in Tibet, tried to convince her she would be a better Buddha if she were a man, and she refused! She committed herself to complete enlightenment in female form. She functions as a savioress and supreme protectress. In Celestial Gallery by Romio Shrestha, he says, "The qualities of White Tara are ultimately inseparable from our own. Awakening is not a solipsistic retreat from unwanted realities, but a reaching outward to embrace the world with infinite compassion. If we see through to Tara's essence, she frees us from self-serving thoughts and encourages us to act selflessly, and wisely, for the benefit of all beings: the surest prescription for a long and fulfilling life".

I have to say based on personal experience that the practice of relying on Tara is amazing. Take yesterday, for example. I was having a very difficult time managing the schedule of running a small, growing business but is often jilted due to time constraints and parenting. School is over, wait-listed for camp, and the list goes on and on. I react to emails coming my way, not in a complete gripping manner but enough so that I actually later regret words coming out on the page. In light of this, I arrive at my daily sadhana (practice) and find myself in front of of Tara: great protectress, guide and just happens to be utterly sensuous and ravishing! (wouldn't it be great if someone called YOU that?! it must be our goal ladies: wise and ravishing). Within moments, my edges of frustration are melted, I step into the deep expanse of limitless love and compassion and I'm changed! Wheew! It's a total compassion battery re-charge.

So I encourage myself daily to "open seven eyes, like Tara, and be sure that everything you do, every step you take, every thought you think, is fueled by compassion. You will then be inseparable from White Tara, the embodiment of pure love". Thank you Romio Shreshtha for that quote and compiling this wonderful book!

For more information regarding Tara, and to find Gelek Rimpoches book, "The Tara Book", please visit www.jewelheart.org.