Family First - November 27, 2006

Congressional Control of Health Care is Dangerous for Children
By Representative Ron Paul (R-Texas)

This week Congress is again grasping for more control over the health of American children with the expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). Parents who think federally subsidized health care might be a good idea should be careful what they wish for.

Despite political rhetoric about a War on Drugs, federally-funded programs result in far more teenage drug use than the most successful pill pusher on the playground. These pills are given out as a result of dubious universal mental health screening programs for school children, supposedly directed toward finding mental disorders or suicidal tendencies. The use of antipsychotic medication in children has increased fivefold between 1995 and 2002. More than 2.5 million children are now taking these medications, and many children are taking multiple drugs at one time.

With universal mental health screening being implemented in schools, pharmaceutical companies stand to increase their customer base even more, and many parents are rightfully concerned. Opponents of one such program, called TeenScreen, claim it wrongly diagnoses children as much as 84% of the time, often incorrectly labeling them, resulting in the assigning of medications that can be very damaging. While we are still awaiting evidence that there are benefits to mental health screening programs, evidence that these drugs actually cause violent psychotic episodes is mounting.

Many parents have very valid concerns about the drugs to which a child labeled as "suicidal" or "depressed," or even ADHD, could be subjected. Of further concern is the subjectivity of diagnosis of mental health disorders. The symptoms of ADHD are strikingly similar to indications that a child is gifted, and bored in an unchallenging classroom. In fact, these programs, and many of the syndromes they attempt to screen for, are highly questionable. Parents are wise to question them.

As it stands now, parental consent is required for these screening programs, but in some cases mere passive consent is legal. Passive consent is obtained when a parent receives a consent form and fails to object to the screening. In other words, failure to reply is considered affirmative consent. In fact, TeenScreen advocates incorporating their program into the curriculum as a way to by-pass any consent requirement. These universal, or mandatory, screening programs being called for by TeenScreen and the New Freedom Commission on Mental Health should be resisted.

Consent must be express, written, voluntary and informed. Programs that refuse to give parents this amount of respect, should not receive federal funding. Moreover, parents should not be pressured into screening or drugging their children with the threat that not doing so constitutes child abuse or neglect. My bill, The Parental Consent Act of 2007 is aimed at stopping federal funding of these programs.

We don't need a village, a bureaucrat, or the pharmaceutical industry raising our children. That's what parents need to be doing.

How To Develop Your Intuition
By Andrea Hess

Why is it desirable to develop your intuition? Your intuition is the means by which you receive information from that wise, infinite part of you on the spiritual plane, your Higher Self. As such, your intuition can assist you in making decisions, setting goals for yourself, and aligning with your life purpose.

Many people don't think they are intuitive. But it is actually fairly simple to develop your intuition. It just takes a little mindfulness and practice. Here are six steps you can take in your life to develop your intuition:

Make room for the possibility

If you are convinced that intuition does not exist, or that it simply is not available to you, nothing will be able to persuade you otherwise. Remember that whatever you believe shapes your reality. It's fine to have doubts, or to be a little apprehensive. But in order to develop your intuition, you must at least allow for the possibility of its existence and validity. Open yourself to the idea that you are a highly intuitive being. Imagine all the information that might be available to you, if only you'll allow for the possibility.

Ask for guidance

Opening up to just any information makes it hard to discern intuitive guidance when it arrives in your life. Instead, focus on a specific topic or question that you wish to receive guidance on. Write that topic or question down, and ask your Higher Self for help with the issue. In this way, guidance will be easier to recognize when it comes in. When you are first working to develop your intuition, it is good to focus on a specific subject.

Create space to receive

Guidance may come in many ways. You may suddenly become inspired in an unexpected way -- or suffer an extreme lack of inspiration in other areas. You may forget or remember items on your way out of the house. You may feel sudden impulses to do something differently. A friend or acquaintance may suddenly offer up the answer you've been looking for all along. Spiritual guidance comes to us in many ways. It is subtle and integrates itself seamlessly into the fabric of our lives. In order to develop your intuition, you must create some space within which you can allow guidance to unfold. Look at your life events from the perspective of receiving guidance. You may be surprised at the many hints that have been coming your way all along!

Take action

Guidance is only as good as what you do with it. If intuitive information is never acted upon, it remains useless. It does take courage to act on your intuitive instincts. When you develop your intuition, reason and logic sometimes has to take a back seat to gut feeling. Try acting on guidance in small ways at first, to help you develop confidence. Then you can begin applying your intuition to more important life decisions.

Let go of the outcome

When you develop your intuition, you may find that you have a great need to be "right." However, intuitive guidance is a moment by moment process. What is right for you today may not be right for you tomorrow. You are, after all, one day richer in life experiences. You are no longer the same. Therefore, what you need today may differ from what is aligned with your highest good tomorrow. Act on guidance as it occurs. Let go of the outcome. We all think we know how a situation should unfold. In reality, life may present something far better than we could possibly have imagined.

Acknowledge assistance

Develop a sense of gratitude towards your Higher Self. It works hard to offer you the information that serves your highest good. Acknowledge the wealth of assistance that has come into your life. Thank your Higher Self often. As you do this, you are acknowledging the greatest part of your own being.

As you develop your intuition, you will discover yourself navigating through life with a broader perspective. You will discover the untapped resources that are available to you for the asking. You will begin to recognize yourself as a spiritual being living a human experience.

Andrea Hess is an Intuitive Consultant and author of "Unlock Your Intuition: How to Accurately and Reliably Access Your Most Valuable Resource." For more information on her book, her readings, or to read more of her work on her blog, please visit http://www.EmpoweredSoul.com

Walking for More Energy Today -The Simple Secret to Improving your Vitality!
By Dr. Brett Saks

Don't consider walking from the fax machine to the copier as exercise, it isn't! Because we have to walk as part of our regular day, walking is often overlooked as a viable form of exercise.

Walking doesn't have the flash or mystique of a spinning or yoga class, but it should be the staple of any health regimen because the motion of walking aids in the circulation of blood, lymphatic and cerebrospinal fluids. By keeping these fluids moving, walking reduces the negative effects of stress and toxicity on the body. It also requires little more than a supportive, comfortable pair of shoes; no fancy equipment and no expensive gym memberships and very little physical damage to the body. Brisk walking can have as much has 80% of the benefit that running does without all of the physical damage and injury to the feet, ankles, knees, hips and lower back.

When we walk briskly (for the specific purpose of exercising) for 20-30 minutes, at least three times per week, we may reap many benefits including:

1. Improved blood circulation, bringing more oxygen and nutrients to the body's 100 trillion cells; improved elimination of wastes and toxins. This equates to increased energy and vigor, better sleep and sharper mental acuity. This process of moving healthy nutrients into the cells and removing toxins and wastes is described in my book Bio-Logikal: Your Guide to Optimal Health as the "exchange of life".

2. Activating muscle tissue. Studies show that it is common in our society for us to lose muscle mass as we get older. By walking (or other exercising), we can maintain more muscle mass longer and later in life. The more muscle mass we preserve, the better our metabolism and generally the healthier we remain.

3. Improved acid/alkaline balance in the body. Maintaining proper pH is a significant factor in regaining and maintaining your health.

In the beginning, how long you walk or how fast is not important. The focus should be getting out there and doing it....everyday. Just walk! As your fitness level improves, you will naturally be able to walk faster and for longer periods of time.

Your Heart Rate: A brisk walk that raises your resting heart rate by approximately 50% is sufficient. To calculate your resting heart rate, sit in a chair for 5 minutes without talking. Using a watch with a second hand, check your pulse with your index and middle finger just next to your Adam's apple. Here you will feel a strong pulse. Count the number of beats in a 30 second period, then double that number; this is your resting heart rate.

An example: If your heartbeat count is 40 beats in 30 seconds, your resting heart rate is 80, and your target (heart rate for exercise) would be 120 beats per minute, or 60 beats counted in 30 seconds. An easy way to calculate the target rate is to multiply the number of beats you counted in thirty seconds at rest by three. In this example, we simply tripled the resting heart rate of 40 counted in 30 seconds: the target heart rate when exercising would be 120 beats per minute (40 x 3 = 120).

Tips: If you are walking to the point where you can't catch your breath or are having cramping, you are going too fast for your fitness level. A good suggestion and guideline for walking is that you should be able to walk with a friend and maintain a conversation without getting out of breath.

If weather is a challenge, go to your local mall to do your walking. The scenery really helps the time fly by! If time is a factor or there are no malls nearby, a simple treadmill can be a worthy purchase. When walking by yourself, listening to your favorite music or a book on tape on your iPod can also help make the workout more fun and enjoyable.

Start walking, you won't regret it. You'll feel great and you'll be even more motivated to follow a healthy lifestyle!

Dr. Brett Saks is a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC), Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine (NMD), author and lecturer. His book The Bio-Logikal Diet: Your Guide to Optimal Health helps readers develop the knowledge to make better, more informed lifestyle choices that they can implement in their daily lives. For more information, or to order a copy of his book, please visit http://www.bio-logikal.com]

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Congressional Control of Health Care is Dangerous for Children By Representative Ron Paul (R-Texas)

How To Develop Your Intuition By Andrea Hess

Walking for More Energy Today -The Simple Secret to Improving your Vitality! By Dr. Brett Saks Don't consider walking from the fax machine to the copier as exercise, it isn't! Because we have to walk as part of our regular day, walking is often overlooked as a viable form of exercise.

Congressional Control of Health Care is Dangerous for Children
By Representative Ron Paul (R-Texas)

How To Develop Your Intuition
By Andrea Hess

Walking for More Energy Today -The Simple Secret to Improving your Vitality!
By Dr. Brett Saks

Don't consider walking from the fax machine to the copier as exercise, it isn't! Because we have to walk as part of our regular day, walking is often overlooked as a viable form of exercise.