Dr. Grant Holistic

Maintaining Balance in Uncertain Times

2011-03-16T11:21:00.001-07:00

Current world affairs are causing much distress. The news of the unthinkable in Japan along with myriad other events can easily pull you away from your natural balance. Not long ago we were concerned about the health effects of wifi and processed food. Now it’s massive earthquakes, tsunamis, power plant explosions, and even extreme solar flares on the sun. I’ll make sure this doesn’t become

A Practical New Book for Insomniacs: Master Your Sleep

2011-02-03T08:53:00.000-08:00

An informative new book is on the market about sleep, it’s importance, why we don’t get enough, and what we can do about it. In Master Your Sleep: Proven Methods Simplified, author Tracey Marks, MD, tells us that more than one third of Americans – over 100 million people - have clinically-diagnosed sleep disorders! What has happened in our society where people cannot rest properly? There are

The Optimist’s Path

2011-02-03T08:45:00.000-08:00

Childhood experiences, environment, success and disappointment can play a role in shaping our attitudes. But whatever your current worldview might be, there is always room for a little more optimism. Especially now, when one dark thing after another appears on the nightly news, flexing the optimist muscle is imperative. This helps life become more meaningful, lifts physical energy and vitality,

Healing with the Mind

2011-01-10T11:34:00.000-08:00

The mind is so powerful that it alone can help you heal. This requires trust in yourself and your ability to focus your thoughts on what you want and how you want to feel. In each moment you can notice where your mind has gone, whether to worries, fears, judgments, and other negativity, or to thoughts that are more closely aligned with what you want for yourself. An American named Edgar Cayce (

Clean Up Toxic Indoor Air

2011-01-10T11:28:00.000-08:00

Most commercial cleaning products, cosmetics, and scented items (including perfumes) are sickening. They poison people daily. These toxins are on floors, walls, countertops, beds, furniture, towels, clothing, and are applied directly to the skin. What happens in your body when they enter your bloodstream? Do they accumulate or combine together to become more potent? Do they cause rashes,

A Twist on Your New Year’s Resolution

2010-12-28T16:00:00.000-08:00

At this time of year why do we make resolutions to do and be better when we know they typically crash and burn around January 2nd? Perhaps Edith Lovejoy Price explained our New Year’s quest for a fresh slate when she said, “We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day.” As the

Preparing for Mercury Retrograde December 10th through 30th

2010-12-02T11:52:00.000-08:00

You’ve likely heard someone mention Mercury retrograde. Wherever you stand on whether the ancient issue of astrology has value, this planetary event has become quite popular in the mainstream. Let’s find out why. Mercury’s domain is the mind, perception, education, and transportation. When going along as normal, it helps us think and communicate. The retrograde period, which lasts around 21

Turkey Talk: Go Organic This Thanksgiving

2010-11-19T12:11:00.000-08:00

As a graduate student in the mid-1990s, I worked for a generous businessman who handed out fresh, free-range, organic turkeys to his employees for Thanksgiving. It caught me by surprise the first time he proudly handed me a large box with a raw turkey inside. That hadn’t happened before. I didn’t plan to cook a meal at home that year, I wasn’t sure if the bird would fit into my refrigerator,

Zero VOC, Non Toxic, Healthier Painting

2010-11-13T08:56:00.000-08:00

For several years my home office has been the color of sea foam green. This particular room is always cold, even in summer, and needs an extra heater to bring it to a comfortable temperature. A few weeks ago as the weather began to turn chilly, in a moment of do-it-yourself enthusiasm I decided I was done with the sea foam green, a shade that can in fact make the room feel colder than it is. I

Sports Players as Healers? And Are They Worth the High Salaries?

2010-10-29T11:27:00.000-07:00

I once mentioned to a dear old friend, who was also a healer, that school teachers should be paid what sports players make and the guys who run around with a little ball should be paid a teacher’s wage. She replied, “We need sports as an outlet for frustration and aggression. Instead of invading neighboring tribes and villages, that energy is channeled into organized play. The team is the tribe.

How to Clear the Energy of Your Home or Office

2010-10-27T19:37:00.000-07:00

Illness, violence, arguments, drug-use, thoughts, and moods influence the energy of a place. When you enter someone’s home or office, part of you automatically notes how it feels. Conscious or not, this awareness seems to be a survival mechanism, keeping you alert for protection and safety. Sometimes I meander through our neighborhood “open houses” to satisfy a curiosity about what type of home

Anger & Hatred in Politics: A Trend Reflecting Individual Fear

2010-10-27T19:30:00.000-07:00

I have never quite seen the likes of the mudslinging and finger pointing that has become the tornado of American politics. I can hardly keep up with the opinions of various factions: who has disappointed who and why, or who will simply not do what needs to be done in the way it should be done. There is ongoing political conversation over whose beliefs and ideas are archaic, while on the other

Witch’s Brew to Beat the Flu

2010-10-14T10:32:00.000-07:00

The old wicked witch is making headlines between Delaware’s Christine O’Donnell and Halloween’s approach. It was interesting to see the responses to O’Donnell’s admission that she’d dabbled in a little witchery in her youth. When I first heard about it I thought, “Considering how things have been going, what’s the harm with having a little magic in Washington?” It looks like it could use some to

From Guinea Pigs to Power: No to GMO Foods and Manipulation

2010-09-29T09:52:00.000-07:00

In my tiny area of the globe, I am a gardener, keeper of animals, feeder of birds - someone who is concerned about the protection of the earth, land, soil, waterways, air, and all living beings. Increasingly, I am aware of the myriad ways we have become detached from nature, and the natural ways of living on the planet. One of the main issues of concern is our lack of knowledge about where our

Turn Your Cast-Off Food Into Gold by Composting

2010-09-16T12:34:00.000-07:00

Made from your table scraps (except meats and seeds) and yard waste, compost is the key to sustainability and organic gardening. Composting reduces your trash and the amount of junk that ends up in landfills - that is, if you aren't a big fast food fan and eat fresh, whole food. There is little to no actual trash in my garbage bin. I recycle any paper products or glass, and all vegetable, fruit

Mercury Retrogrades while Mars and Venus Dance

2010-09-09T13:25:00.000-07:00

Appearing to go backward in the sky, Mercury is now on its retrograde path until the 12th of September. Most of you will remember that I encourage you to take a rest during Mercury retrograde. It is a time when the mind wants to meditate, renew, relax, refresh, recuperate, rejuvenate. The mind of everyone is ruled by Mercury, thus everyone's mind is affected by the energy of its apparent

September New Moon in Virgo

2010-09-09T13:10:00.000-07:00

We are still in the energy of the dark moon, which was perfectly dark in Virgo yesterday morning, Wednesday, September 8th. If we notice our own internal rhythm, we might notice ourselves feeling more inward and quiet when the moon is dark. It isn't a time to push full speed ahead, especially with Mercury retrograde right now. This is a time to be introspective. It is also the ideal time to put

The Dilemma with Drinking Water

2010-08-20T10:20:00.000-07:00

The Environmental Protection Agency warned that drinking water pollution is one of the top environmental threats to our health. Contaminants are routinely measured in municipal drinking water including lead, cadmium, mercury, metals, pesticides, fertilizers, and chlorine. These can enter your body not only by drinking the water, but through bathing in it. Our blood is 90% water and our muscle

Is Insomnia Harming Your Immune System?

2010-08-16T09:01:00.000-07:00

I recently heard a celebrity doctor say seven hours of sleep per night is ideal and if we get more than that we are shortening our life spans. Then, this week I read an article in a health journal advising eight hours of sleep for optimal health. Obviously there are conflicting viewpoints about how much sleep will help us heal, remain healthy, and perhaps extend our lives. Some people can get

Why Create an Acid-Alkaline Balance in Your Body?

2010-08-16T08:49:00.000-07:00

In the field of holistic and natural health, we often hear that a body in an alkaline state is better than one that is too acidic. What we actually want is a balance between the two. This issue has been one of controversy, with some medical doctors saying it is nonsense - that foods and pollution and so forth cannot cause acidic changes in the body. Whether or not one side or the other is “

It's Time to Think for Ourselves About Artificial Sweeteners

2010-07-28T14:18:00.000-07:00

I'm at the stage in my book where I talk about sugar and all its derivatives. I just have to put a bit about artificial sweeteners in my blog right now because it's so insidious and we are so misled. I don't think there is another section of my book where I get so riled up! I continue to hear that the latest newfangled artificial sweetener in yellow packets is safe even though this is nonsense.

2010-07-22T21:09:00.000-07:00

May I have the courage today To live the life that I would love, To postpone my dream no longer But do at last what I came here for And waste my heart on fear no more. ~ John O'Donohue ~

Scar Therapy for Women Who Have Undergone Breast Surgery

2010-07-22T21:02:00.000-07:00

If you have undergone breast surgery or a mastectomy, you might consider specialized scar massage therapy to help your body heal from the trauma. This type of massage targets scar tissue, which is an ongoing source of pain and discomfort for many women. Lymph drainage will also be addressed as part of your treatment. Scar tissue can become hard, behaving like a solid wall and preventing the

What You Might Not Hear from Your Doctor About Calcifications in Breast Tissue

2010-07-21T14:47:00.000-07:00

There are various causes of calcifications in the breasts including injury, inflammation, and radiation therapy. Improper assimilation of calcium can also lead to clustering in tissue. Calcium is an abundant mineral found almost entirely in bones and teeth. Only a tiny amount should be in cellular fluid, blood, or muscles. Calcium deposits in breast tissue can be detected with mammography.

15 Simple Ways to Support Your Digestion for Better Health

2010-07-12T12:05:00.000-07:00

I recently heard a famous doctor telling people that it is normal to have a bowel movement every couple of days. While this might be the norm in our society, it is definitely not normal. It's not healthy either. It's constipation. A healthy digestive system is top priority for health, especially if you want to heal from or prevent life-threatening diseases. With good digestion, toxins are

2010-07-11T11:45:00.000-07:00

I don't know exactly what a prayer is. I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass, how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields, which is what I have been doing all day. ...Tell me, what else should I have done? Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon? Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious

A Hopi Elder Speaks

2010-07-06T13:47:00.000-07:00

"You have been telling people that this is the eleventh hour, now you must go back and tell the people that this is the hour. And there are things to be considered. Where are you living? What are you doing? What are your relationships? Are you in right relation? Where is your water? Know your garden. It is time to speak your Truth. Create your community. Be good to each other. And do not look

Calm Amongst the Storm

2010-07-06T13:03:00.000-07:00

When things are going well in your life do you feel something might happen to disturb and disrupt your state of calm? Like a playing child who is suddenly very quiet, it is common in our busy society for people to feel mild anxiety when everything feels quiet and peaceful. Is there really a calm before the storm? Is that old adage correct? Sometimes. Upsets come in all forms. They ask us, "Can

A Drug-free Way to Manage Overwhelm, Stress, and Uncertainty

2010-07-05T12:13:00.000-07:00

Lately more people tell me they are overwhelmed. We witness and hear about more things now than any human beings before us. There is an onslaught of information which on its own can be overwhelming. But we are also in a time of rapid change, causing many people to transform their ideas and even their values. This requires letting go of old concepts that once provided a sense of stability. It also

Healing Breast Pain: A Holistic Approach

2010-06-23T14:43:00.001-07:00

Do you ignore physical problems such as pain while plodding through life? Nagging symptoms come with messages to be aware of what is happening within and around you, but in our fast-paced culture, few take the time to hear them. Breast pain is one of these messages that many women ignore, believing little can be done about it. If you have achy, sore breasts a week or more out of every month,

Balancing Your Hormones to Feel Better and Be Healthier

2010-06-17T12:57:00.001-07:00

Fluctuations, deficiencies, and excesses in hormones create changes in the mind, emotions, and physical body. When your hormones are in balance you feel good, sleep well, think clearly, are emotionally steady, and your chances of being healthy are greatly increased. When they are not in balance any number of symptoms can arise: low energy, rage, depression, fibroids, weight gain, loss of sex

How to Hold Your Balance in Unusual Times

2010-06-10T10:30:00.000-07:00

We've finally arrived at the threshold of the long-awaited Summer of 2010. Stargazers have been wondering what this particular summer might bring because there is a rare alignment of planets in the sky. The last time they danced together was during the revolutionary mid-60's when the unexpected coincided with social unrest and an unraveling of oppression. Many people are wondering what these next

The Universe: Modern-Era God?

2010-06-03T09:32:00.000-07:00

My friend John asked me to write about the universe. I mentioned this to another friend, a fellow writer, and she said, “Oh my God. That is such a huge topic.” She thought my friend asked me to talk about the whole universe. Actually, he meant for me to discuss what I think about the usage of the term in daily conversation. This word “universe” is now in ordinary speech in a way it wasn’t just

Where is the Care in Conventional Health Care?

2010-05-28T12:10:00.000-07:00

My entire orientation to health and well-being is from a holistic perspective so it astounds me to see the majority of our population allowing themselves to be “treated” by a system run by insurance companies and pharmaceutical giants. These industry giants dictate scientific study and treatments geared toward the ultimate goal of selling us something, not healing us. Our system of medicine is

What Do We Do About Death?

2010-05-27T14:00:00.001-07:00

We don’t get much training in dying, being with the dying, or what to say to those who have just lost someone very close to them. The subject is generally feared and met with much resistance. We often hear the standard line, “I’m so sorry,” while people languish in their discomfort. I am interested in how we can approach the subject of death with more reverence and respect. How can we treat it

Eliminate Grain-Filled Commercial Foods for Your Pet's Best Health

2010-05-19T09:00:00.000-07:00

Holistic care is as important for your animals as it is for you. Dogs and cats are unwitting victims of the fast-food industry, ingesting biologically imbalanced processed foods. These foods contain grains such as wheat, rice, and corn, by-products and other additives such as soy, preservatives, colorings, and flavorings. When humans eat like this, they become obese and eventually diseased, with

Desperation for Substance: Childhood Obesity on the Rise

2010-05-06T16:47:00.000-07:00

The problems associated with child obesity are vast. There is an enormous strain on the healthcare industry while retired military leaders have warned of a serious threat to national security because many young people are unfit to enlist. There are many suggestions on what to do. We all know them by heart. Eat right. Exercise. What else is there? The military folks propose a revised school lunch

Change: Adapting to the Inevitable

2010-04-30T08:11:00.000-07:00

We know things need to change, in our own lives and out in the world. You can ask almost anyone what needs to change in life and they will have answers. Ideas and opinions of what needs to change are as varied and diverse as the people offering them. When the idea for change comes from within ourselves, we usually like it. It is inspiring. But when change comes in as an independent with a mind

Relieve Stress for Life

2010-04-22T15:35:00.001-07:00

Originally, a stress response meant a threat to our physical existence: a tiger was chasing us, a neighboring tribe was invading, our ship at sea was sinking. These events led to a perfect chemical condition in the body that helped us have more physical stamina to survive. We could either fight for our lives or run very fast: the fight or flight response. Modern stress is different. A physical

Poisonous Gas: Just Another Day in the Neighborhood

2010-04-18T11:34:00.000-07:00

A load of poisonous gas was dropped into our neighborhood last week. Nobody complained, everyone went about their business as if nothing was happening, a cat went missing, and the earth’s ozone layer took another hit. Just another day in paradise. The gas-drop arrived in a perfectly legal, professional-looking package: a white truck belonging to a pest extermination company accompanied by two

Earth Day is Coming: Can We Give it More Than Just Lip Service?

2010-04-15T10:38:00.000-07:00

Ten years ago I lived temporarily in a suburb of Boston that didn’t recycle its trash. Coming from coastal California, my mind could not comprehend that everyone in the community threw noxious junk into a pile without attempting to recycle it. This was 30 years after the advent of Earth Day when we all began learning about the detrimental effects of pollution on our planet. Now 40 years have

Ten Natural Remedies for Headache Pain

2010-03-26T09:23:00.001-07:00

Headache pain can be a deep burden. For good reason, the majority of us have pain relievers in our homes, desk drawers, office cabinets, handbags, briefcases, travel bags, nightstands, and medicine cabinets. Without relief, we can’t function well, think straight, or sleep at night. The easiest solution in our fast-paced lifestyle is to take pills to alleviate the suffering. These pills, however,

Becoming Whole Again

2010-03-26T09:19:00.001-07:00

A holistic approach to healing is becoming better known as people increasingly take responsibility for their own health and wellbeing. Some folks are disappointed by the limitations of surgery and medication or just weary of living in pain, either emotional, physical, or spiritual. I wouldn’t knock surgery and medication, as they can save lives, help us through intense pain or the surgeries

Honoring Menstruation? Maybe It's Time

2010-02-22T11:19:00.001-08:00

A few years ago I was meandering through a bookstore when I came across a book called Honoring Menstruation by Lara Owen. Thinking it an interesting topic, I bought it and put it on my bookshelf at home. It sat there unopened and unread for several years, but did get passed over many times for trips to used bookstores, where other less meaningful books went. A couple of weeks ago I decided to

Soul Searching

2010-02-12T11:21:00.001-08:00

I much prefer a one-on-one conversation over a large cocktail party, which might explain why I quit Twitter after two weeks. I am interested in human beings, what makes them tick, their passions, their mental and emotional blockages, their beliefs and whether the foundation of those beliefs is true to their soul. I’m not interested in skimming the surface. I rarely care about what important

Change: Friend or Foe?

2010-01-26T08:04:00.000-08:00

We have seen the end of the first decade of a brand new millennium. From its beginning, this new millennium has brought us change, much of it disturbing because of the way it overturned our worldview and created new fears. Change continues whether we agree with it or not. If we are wise, we roll with it and accept that it is what we can depend on the most in life. I believe one of our tasks as

Encourage Healthy Breasts with Self Breast Massage

2010-01-12T16:43:00.000-08:00

Breast cancer and how to prevent it is a concern for us all. I've noticed there is very little focus on what we can do to help prevent it. Rather the focus is on finding a cure by funding pharmaceutical companies. I hope someday a cure is actually revealed, but in the meantime, let's talk about the things you can do for yourself so you can actively contribute to your own health and well-being.

Scrooge Brings on the Grief

2010-01-04T14:06:00.000-08:00

Tears rolled down my cheeks faster than I could catch them. I believe that was the first time this happened for me at a stage play. I didn’t realize the musical production of Scrooge during the recent holidays would invoke my grief. I wasn’t the only one. I noted that the woman in front of me wiped her eyes as did the woman two seats to my left. Oh good, it wasn’t just me. What might have been

Mercury Retrograde December 26 - January 15

2009-12-16T10:03:00.000-08:00

To many people, Mercury Retrograde is a curiosity - a mysterious occurrence that fouls up computers, derails plans, causes delays, and generally confuses communications. And, this is partly true. But there need not be worry around the concept of this planet "turning retrograde." Once you understand what this implies, you can begin to use the energy in your favor. Mercury, when moving forward in

The Healing Power of Connecting with Others

2009-11-25T09:09:00.000-08:00

As you gather with your families and friends this week some of you will look forward to a beautiful treat while others will see it as an event that adds more stress to an already stressful life. We could love the idea of meeting our loved ones, while the reality of it could mean we are annoyed at seeing some of the same old issues crop up that we wish would just go away. For all of us, no matter

Becoming the Wise Sage

2009-11-25T09:07:00.000-08:00

There is one clear step toward becoming a wise sage yourself, and that is learning to manage your reactivity to the things other people do and say. We must accept, once and for all, that we are not responsible for how another person behaves, thinks, or expresses. This is true even if their behavior is directed at us. Everything another person thinks or believes has to do with them and only them.

Rami, Frisbee, Bird, Ocean, Joy

2009-11-11T08:01:00.000-08:00

Fortuitous Encounters

2009-11-11T07:56:00.000-08:00

Rami has been my constant companion for the past 2 ½ years. He’s my loyal friend and confidant, never far from my thoughts. Enthusiastic, brave, a connoisseur of life, he loves sports, especially Frisbee. One recent Saturday morning we walked the beautiful curve of California coastline called Carmel Beach. I would throw the Frisbee. Rami would run, leap, or dive for it. We meandered and played

Turning 80 - It Looks Like a Good Thing

2009-11-03T15:14:00.000-08:00

Just when I think there isn’t anything new going on, I get to awaken to a fresh perspective. I spent last weekend with a group of 80-somethings. Well, not the entire weekend, but a good portion of it. My mother-in-law, Sue, turned 80 and we surprised her Friday night with a party attended by a group of about 50 people. “Amazing an 80-year-old has so many friends!" I heard someone quip. Most of

Use Food to Build Your Body's Immunity

2009-10-22T16:49:00.000-07:00

It’s good to get a basic refresher course in self-care, so let's spend some time talking about boosting your immune system so you can help yourself get healthy and remain healthy through this winter flu season. I already went over the subject of rest and how in our keep-doing-more society we rarely allow our bodies and minds to get the rest and rejuvenation they truly need. But ample sleep and

Breast Health Awareness

2009-10-14T12:33:00.000-07:00

October is widely known as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Pink ribbons as the symbol, we are encouraged to take notice, to contribute money for a cure, to walk, race, or otherwise focus our attention on Breast Cancer. As a holistic healer who has quite a bit of background in the power of the mind on mass consciousness, I think the health of all women (and men too) would be better served by

Stay Healthy Through the Flu Season: Part 1

2009-10-11T10:31:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I watched a segment of the Today show where an internist from the NYU Medical Center advised us to have two flu shots this year. In fact, he gave one of the shots to the reporter on the air to prove how quick and easy it is. Although the discussion was about how safe the shots are, we actually don't know about the safety of these vaccinations. Any time chemicals are injected into

Vaccines: Think For Yourself

2009-09-01T18:54:00.000-07:00

As a holistic healer and adviser to people who want to achieve greater wellbeing, inner balance, harmonious relationships, and prosperity, I keep an eye on those things in our lifestyles that prevent us from attaining these goals. I observe how the public is manipulated into poor health, negative attitudes, and mass hysteria through hype and fear tactics. On the one hand it is fascinating. On the

Sacred Responsibility

2009-08-13T12:13:00.000-07:00