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An Important Read: How to Rehab Your Worn Out Nervous System

Survival is one thing, thriving is something else. Holistic nutritionist, Elissa Goodman continues to impress us time and again with her wealth of knowledge. When we share her stories here on TCM (check out her insights here) we always come away better equipped to live well. 

We're celebrating the launch of her powerful new book, Cancer Hacks with a series of stories designed to get you thinking about what it truly means to "thrive," not just to survive. As it turns out, a sense of true well-being has as much to do with our immunity and physical health as anything.

Inspired by her own cancer survival story, Elissa is addressing the strenuous reality of post-cancer rehabilitation. Whether you've been through disease and recovery or are struggling with any kind of stress in life, read on to learn about the kind of support we all need to be providing those frazzled nervous systems...

I haven’t spoken much about it, but during the process of writing, researching and publishing my first book Cancer Hacks on cancer and healing, I wasn’t feeling so great.

Writing about my story of cancer survival - from a diagnosis over twenty years ago to losing my husband to the same disease ten years later - was very cathartic for me. I’m in an amazing place in my life - I’ve worked through a lot of shit - but as each chapter came to fruition, emphasizing the crucial practice of self-love and dealing with your demons, I couldn’t help but feel guilt. I had survived cancer, I had found love in my life and I had repaired and developed strong relationships with my daughters.

What could be wrong?

I felt guilt for continuing to struggle with thyroid and autoimmune issues. I was using coffee to get my day going. I lost a few pounds that I definitely didn’t need to lose. There was a photo shoot for the book cover that made my hyperaware of my thin frame; there was no hiding the weight loss from stress.

I came to the realization that I wasn’t thriving the way I knew I could. I had been surviving all of my life, but now it was time to thrive. I resolved to take a little more time for myself, to seek support and commit to researching better ways to thrive. In the process, I created a protocol of sorts that has been life changing for me. I began by tackling the first and most important step in any wellness journey...

Re-Claim Control:
The Central Nervous System

A healthy, in-control nervous system should be your number-one health goal. This is the foundation for well-being, what will enable you to meet unexpected events in life with resilience. A healthy central nervous system will keep your tissues, muscles and organs working at maximum capacity, creating a sense of vitality that many of us are missing.

The central nervous system is the communications and power center of the body. From the spinal cord, nerves spread out to every part of your body. Non-stop communication takes place to and from the brain – making the brain connected to every cell in your body.

Every thought, every stimulated response, every beat of your heart… this is the workload of the central nervous system. Even in good times, that’s still quite a workout!

With our hectic schedules and perma-stress, more often than not, we’re in fight-or-flight mode (the central nervous system's response to stress). A person in fight-or-flight mode isn’t calm or in control - they’re simply surviving. As the sympathetic nervous system releases hormones to calm fight or flight, changes occur all through the body. Over time, those changes wreak havoc on your health. When you calm the central nervous system, you put yourself back in control of your body.

To start the process of calming your central nervous system holistically, I recommend that you first introduce herbs and supplements that strengthen and protect the central nervous system.

Pure Encapsulations B Complex with 5 MTHF: Strengthens the central nervous system.
Global Healing Vitamin B12 (Adenosylcobalamin):  Strengthens the central nervous system.
Thorne PharmaGABA: Strengthens neurotransmitters and calms and overactive mind.
Traditional Medicinals Nettle Leaf Tea: Provides essential micronutrients to the central nervous system.
Traditional Medicinals Tulsi Tea: Helps modulate the central nervous system.
Life Extension Magnesium L-Threonate: Boosts cognitive function and helps lower hypertension.

In union with these strengthening herbs and supplements, the focus is on managing stress and healing the central nervous system with my recommended holistic methods.

Soothe Stress:
Flower Essence Remedies

If you have problems 'switching it off' and relaxing, Flower Essence Society Remedies (the only brand I recommend, because their essences are made with 100% organic brandy), may be just the solution for you. Sickness and disease are the outcome of imbalances and disconnection - and flower essences are often used to treat the mental and emotional components of wellness.

These herbal infusions, made from the flowering part of plants, contain a sort of energetic imprint that can help you become more connected and more aware of your purpose and, in the process, help you to restore and find balance. Vervain, in particular, is very balancing and used to reconnect the mind and body, helping you feel the desire to enjoy life and thrive.

The body’s emotional cycle is about thirty days, so I recommend trying this out for a least one month before you jump to any conclusion. Four drops under the tongue, four times per day is the recommended starting dosage. I think you will find this holistic remedy can help the connection of emotions to physical health.

Release The Baggage:
Energy Healing

We create our own energy. Our central nervous system is hyper-sensitive to the thoughts and energy coming in or going out. Every impulse takes energy and our thoughts, behavior, intentions and actions are all a part of this energy flow. A nervous system that is functioning properly will direct energy to flow in a positive manner to maintain health and promote organ functioning.

I embraced energy healing because I had become aware that I would not function efficiently without clearing out negative energy and letting go. In the process I found an incredible healer who has changed my life. My restless mind was craving a break. Through his guidance and in practicing his meditations and completing exercises of self-love and acceptance, I found that my anxiety decreased. I started sleeping better almost immediately. With this came more productivity and reduced fatigue. I began to feel that I was functioning with more purpose and capacity.

The transmission of healing energy and release of negativity did wonders for me - and now I recommend it to anyone who will listen. I have never been more convinced that creating the right energy and creating space for good in your life is the foundation of well being.

Balance the Body:
Yoga + Breathwork

Yoga and yogic breathwork has the ability to improve our physicality, but you may underestimate the power that yoga practices have on your body’s systems, particularly the central nervous system. One of the key benefits of yoga is its ability to positively impact and strengthen your central nervous system. Yoga has been shown to stabilize the response of the nervous system to stress, removing muscular tension produced by signals from the central nervous system, and calming the involuntary symptoms of 'threat' - racing heart, sweating, anxiety - roused by the sympathetic nervous system.

This strengthening helps you develop a healthier response to stress long term, while restorative yoga and breathing exercises activate the parasympathetic nervous system, helping you handle stress and relax in the moment. A daily practice is an essential component of a well-cared-for central nervous system.

StimUate The Sole:
Reflexology

Can a foot rub really benefit your central nervous system? With every touch, reflexology massage sends messages to your central nervous system through your sensory neurons. Stimulating these pathways and nerve endings enhances overall relaxation, brings internal organs and their systems into a state of optimum functioning and increases blood supply (which brings additional oxygen and nutrients to cells and enhances waste removal).

Pretty incredible chemical changes take place in the process, the whole body becomes affected, endorphins are released and, in addition to 'feel good feelings,' pain management is often a benefit. In addition to the central nervous system, reflexology positively affects the circulatory, respiratory, endocrine, immune and neuropeptide systems in the body as well.

I bet you didn’t know that so much benefit was to be had by visiting the foot-massage parlor!

The Chalkboard Mag and its materials are not intended to treat, diagnose, cure or prevent any disease. 
All material on The Chalkboard Mag is provided for educational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified healthcare provider for any questions you have regarding a medical condition, and before undertaking any diet, exercise or other health related program. 

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8 Fitnesswear Pieces That’ll Get You Back into the Gym

Your heart is racing; you're sweating bullets; the gym is just around the corner, and suddenly you're overcome by an urge to run... in the opposite direction. Don't stress, we've all fallen off the workout wagon. The key to getting back is finding what motivates you - and for us, that's usually a new gym outfit from a brand we love (Carbon 38 never fails) that we can't help but want to break in - and show off.

Did the summer heat kick you out of your workout routine? Did a vacay throw off your schedule? Whatever the reason is, if you need an extra push to jump-start your routine again, these seven pieces are sure to motivate...

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12 Boutique Hotels You Should Try In Austin Texas

There's Still quite a bit of time to kill before we head down to Austin for another SXSW. Nonetheless, we're already dreaming of where we'll post-up - and getting ahead on booking, because we're responsible like that. As Austin is known for its progressive, authentic hipness and vibrant arts scene, settling for anything less than #woah just wouldn't feel right.

These twelve boutique properties - picked by the travel pros at Tablet Hotels - offer authentic experiences across a sprawling spectrum of quirkiness. While most of these hotels are located around Austin, we've also included a few notable outliers in other cool parts of Texas. From a brewery-adjacent historic hotel to a five-room former bowling alley, each of these unique boutique hotels are worth booking a trip just to spend a night in one...

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Green Kitchen Stories’ Berry Chia Pudding With Hazelnuts + Mint

We'd love to give a big hug to whoever first came up with the genius concept of chia pudding. Instead, we'll just rave about our new favorite recipe for it. This berry chia pudding comes from our blogger couple crush, Green Kitchen Stories - and yes, this hazelnut butter, mint and raspberry recipe is as delicious as it looks.

Like everything else we love from these bloggers (including this nice cream and this raw floral cake), their chia pudding offers what is essentially dessert with a punch of major nutrition: coconut, herbs, and hemp seeds to start, then raspberries for anti-inflammatory antioxidants, and superfood chia seeds to provide omega-3s, fiber and plant protein (7 grams for every 3 tablespoons of raw chia!). Try this gorgeous recipe, then make your way through everything inside their newest cookbook here.

This raspberry variation of a chia pudding is simple, satisfying and very delicious as breakfast or a snack. You could even serve it for dessert if you sweeten it slightly by blending dates with the milk. It is also perfect as a quick, on-the-go breakfast to keep in the fridge. Add whatever toppings you prefer. We like to add some nut butter, as it balances out the sweet and tangy fruit flavors.

[olists num=1]

For more chia pudding perfection, snag our recipes for this chocolate pomegranate version and these fruity chia breakfast bowls!

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Poke Bowls + Crystal Readings: Inside Our Malibu Beach Party With Pressed Juicery

We spent a recent summer afternoon piled into a stunning beach house in Malibu to celebrate Pressed Juicery's new watermelon juice flavor. What can we say? We'll take any excuse to throw a summer cocktail party.

Joining us for the warm weather bash, Chef Jeffrey Nimer of Haute Chefs LA stole our hearts with tons of tiny dishes incorporating Pressed's latest flavor - a cooling combo of watermelon, jicama, cherry, mint and lemon. Everything from these adorable poke bowls to the brazil nut mousse cups were spiked with the sweet stuff - even our bright pink cocktail with SelvaRey white rum and fresh mint.

Friends and juice lovers were delighted to receive these sweet floral wristlets made by the new Thistle and Seed as they arrived in the home's courtyard. We included a few other of our L.A. obsessions for this event too: The Now provided their heavenly mind-body experience with chair massages overlooking the ocean and TCM darlings, Energy Muse, gave guests one-on-one crystal readings over tables piled with gemstones. Each party-goer left with a beautiful rose quartz stone.

We were so grateful to have gifting partners like Tom's and Compartes join us out in Malibu too. Our gift totes included Tom's sunglasses, juice (of course!), sprouted watermelon seeds and bars from Go Raw, bath salts from new float tank hotspot, Pause, Biossance's rose face oil and a chocolate matcha bar from another local favorite, Compartes.

Try our watermelon poke bowl recipe from the party below and stay glued to this space for the forth-coming watermelon cocktail recipe (trust us!).

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Why Zoe Saldana Has Gone Gluten Free (It’s Not A Hollywood Thing)

For some, the gluten-less living of so many of us Los Angelenos may seem as vapid as our collective Snapchat presence. But behind the trending that happens when a star touts the benefits of their new way of life, there's a whole population of folks who need to avoid gluten for serious health reasons. While gluten sensitivity may sound foreign (and maybe even feigned) to some, the epidemic of modern health woes rooted in inflammation caused by glutenous foods is all too real.

Actress Zoe Saldana recently opened up to Net-A-Porter's The Edit about being diagnosed with the autoimmune condition called Hashimoto's. Hashimoto's thyroiditis, a condition in which the immune system attacks the thyroid gland, is often found in relation to gluten sensitivity. “Your body doesn’t have the energy it needs to filter toxins, causing it to believe that it has an infection, so it’s always inflamed,” Zoe explained to The Edit. “You create antibodies that attack your glands, so you have to eat clean.”

We love that Saldana is bringing up the issue and giving those who are suffering, but are undiagnosed a little food for thought. Hashimoto's is a treatable condition - over twenty-million Americans are reported to have it - but subduing the symptoms often requires nixing gluten and dairy. For people with Hashimoto's thyroiditis, gluten and dairy can cause inflammation (and a whole slew of problems because of it) and often leads to Hypothyroidism.

If you've ever wondered about these gluten-related conditions and how to manage them, first, consult with your physician. Get the proper medical consult you need, then check out some of our suggested resources to learn more...

A personal journey with Hashimoto's Health counselor Jessi Heinz walks us through her healing journey with Hashimoto's disease. Read here

WHAT TO DO IF YOU HAVE HYPOTHYROIDISM Eating Clean, Amie Valpone, spent a decade navigating her way from chronic illness to holistic wellness. Read here

 

WHAT TO DO ABOUT GLUTEN INTOLERANCE Amie valpone walks us through the first five steps to start going gluten-free. Read here

naturally gluten-free foods list Grains, pastas and condiments that are naturally free from gluten and ready to eat. Read here

Gluten-Free Recipes Galore Explore all our cake, pasta, muffin and waffles recipes that are totally gluten-free and completely amazing. Read here

What do you think of the gluten-free movement? Have you had any success in managing your gluten sensitivity?
And what do you think of celebrities talking about their diets? Leave us your comment below!

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