Holistic Living Annex - February 2012 (PDF Version)

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V o l um e 1 , I s s ue 1 ( F e br ua r y 2 0 1 2 )

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

Allopathic Drugs Motivated by Monetary Gain?

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Complementary & Alternative Medicine VS Allopathy

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As Within, So Without

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Why Meditate?

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Green Papaya for Weight Loss

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A Donkey Story...

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Saral Ushrasana Pose for Back Problems

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Potato Miracle to Combat Acne & Pimples

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Rice Water for Clear Complexion

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A L L O PAT H I C D R U G S M O T I VAT E D B Y M O N E TA RY G A I N ? BY SILAMBARASU KARUPPIAH

Health — Reflection of Your Mind

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‗Luck‘ VS ‗Faith‘

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Key to Holistic Living

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Founder & Editor: Genevieve Tan Shu Thung Authors: Genevieve Tan Shu Thung Wong Eileen Silambarasu Karuppiah

Disclaimer: Holistic Living Annex (HLA) is not responsible for the use or misuse of the information provided under any circumstances. The information contained here within this Sandhya Maarga Holistic Living Resources site are strictly for educational and informational purposes and are solely the opinions of the author(s) and publisher(s). Therefore, if you wish to apply ideas, information, products, or anything else found in Holistic Living Annex, you accept full responsibility for your actions and the results of those actions.

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llopathic medicine takes pride for its „evidence based‟ approach whereby usage of allopathic drugs is based on scientifically proven approach. But in reality, this is not so, as there are numerous cases of pharmaceutical companies playing around with the evidence data merely to ensure profit. A pharmaceutical company was recently fined US$3 Billion by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for several offences that include concealing evidences that showed that their top selling antidiabetic drug may not be safe to use. (The drug causes 43% increased risk of heart attack!) The infamous Mayo Clinic revealed that 90% of scientists whom wrote favourably about the anti-diabetic drug had financial ties with the manufacturer. Another major pharmaceutical company was fined US$2.3 Billion for promoting „off-label‟ uses (therapeutic use not approved by the FDA) for four of its drugs. It has been highlighted in a

major medical journal recently that many articles regarding the effectiveness of drugs published in medical journals worldwide were not written by the famous scientists and doctors whose names appeared as the authors, but instead were actually „ghost-written‟ by scientists employed by pharmaceutical companies. All these show that the socalled „evidence based‟ approach has been undermined for mere monetary-making purpose and that this approach ought to be replaced with better ones that are more reliable in terms of

“A Pharmaceutical company was recently fined US$3 Billion by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for … concealing evidences that showed that their top selling anti-diabetic drug may not be safe to use.” transparency. Pharmaceutical industries are more oriented towards money-making rather than a plain honest intention of curing diseases. These can be seen from the fact that some pharmaceutical giants were caught red handed for unethical actions. For example, Nigerian gov-

as of March 2010) for carrying out improper trials for an anti-meningitis drug in 1996 that caused about 50 children to die and others to develop deformities. One source said that Pfizer continued the trials in children despite knowing beforehand of the serious implications. Also, despite pleas from various activists in AIDS stricken countries to manufacturers, the costs for these drugs remain out of reach for almost all of the patients in the third world countries. All that have been detailed in the above should make one ponder on the general practice of assuming that the practice of allopathic medicine is safer than Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) systems. Compared to allopathy, the costs of CAM treatments are generally lower and are therefore more accessible to the mass public. In the hands of a qualified CAM physician, a CAM patient may find the treatment procedure more effective and fulfilling.

Pharmaceutical giant caused 50 children to die and others to develop deformities!

H o l i s ti c L i v i n g A n n e x

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C O M P L E M E N TA RY & A LT E R N AT I V E M E D I C I N E V S A L L O PAT H Y BY SILAMBARASU KARUPPIAH & GENEVIEVE TAN SHU THUNG

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omplementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) refers to the practice of using natural ways to help the body heal from a disease. CAM is a group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices and products that are presently not considered part of conventional medicine (Allopathy). These include the practice of Ayurveda, Homoeopathy, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and thousands more. Allopathy on the other hand refers to the practice of conventional medicine that uses pharmacologically active agents or physical interventions to treat or suppress symptoms or pathophysiologic processes of diseases or conditions. Interest in CAM has been surging throughout the world so much that recently in Europe, a bill to forbid TCM has been tabled thanks to the pressure from the pharmaceutical industry. Some of the reasons why patients are seeking CAM include dissatisfactions with modern healthcare providers and medical outcomes, side effects of drugs and high costs. Patients also prefer CAM systems over Allopathy because CAM systems focus on healing the body, mind and spirit, instead of just alleviating the symptoms of the disease. Modern research and development in technology has also helped enhance the treatment procedures offered by CAM systems.

CAM works towards finding the root of each patient‘s condition... Allopathic doctors today have become so specialised in treating the body parts that they forget that the whole body should be seen functioning as One. Holistic treatment is one of the characteristics of CAM. The human body is treated as a whole and not merely the disease

causing the symptoms. Allopathic medicine relies on the concept of identifying diseases and symptoms before prescribing drugs to manage or alleviate those conditions. In this system, the disease or symptom is considered to be the actual problem, as opposed to CAM‟s approach of addressing the underlying causes that produced the disease or symptom. Treatment in CAM are more individualised to the extent that it may vary for each patient as compared to allopathic medicine that tends to merely suppress the symptoms with the same types and doses of drugs for all. CAM is therefore more personal and flexible in its approach, and has big appeal among patients whom have failed therapeutic outcome after consuming allopathic drugs. For example, a conventional doctor who has 20 patients with asthma will often provide each of them with the same protocol, thus treating the condition and not the patients themselves. An alternative medicine practitioner realises that asthma has many causes. Perhaps the cause is an allergic reaction, or a viral infection, or even maybe diminished nerve supply due to a misaligned spine. CAM practitioners work towards finding the root cause of each patient's condition and treat each of them differently. This difference between approaches is the cornerstone of alternative medicine. CAM is also more personal than allopathic medicine because of the fact that CAM physicians spend a longer duration to assess and diagnose the disease. Feedback from the patients during diagnosis are also critically analysed to find the root cause of a particular disease. Most allopathic physicians on the other hand merely have contact with patients as low as 5 minutes for the diagnosis process, especially in the ever busy government hospitals. CAM‟s effective link

between physicians and patients therefore helps result in a more accurate diagnosis. Nonetheless, allopathic medicine excels in emergency situations, especially those which would be otherwise fatal such as life-threatening accidents, illnesses and diseases. Alternative medicine may not do much of a success in emergency situations as it is not designed to be so. Although this is so, allopathic treatment does not perpetuate good health in the long term as many side effects of the drugs administered have been observed. According to the principles and philosophy of CAM, long -term suppression of symptoms may give rise to newer diseases as the previous toxins responsible for the initial problem were not completely eliminated from the body system.

Allopathy merely suppresses disease symptoms. CAM, which used to be the default medicine system before Allopathy took its place, and for which we owe our existence to since it helped maintain our ancestors‟ health for centuries, should be revived and developed extensively. The effectiveness of CAM does not mean that Allopathy has no place, but the view that Allopathy is the answer to all diseases ought to be changed. There may be a need to take the best out of both worlds so as to ensure a higher quality of health among patients. In recent years, CAM is increasingly used hand-in-hand with allopathic medicine. For example, aromatherapy may be used to help lessen a patient‟s discomfort following surgery. Beginning of the year 2012, the government of Malaysia has also affirmed the efficacy of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) by setting up nine TCM units at local major government hospitals.

H o l i s ti c L i v i n g A n n e x

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AS WITHIN, SO WITHOUT

your mind to, it shall become true to your BY GENEVIEVE TAN SHU THUNG circumstances. So pull yourne‟s life is simply a reflection of self together and remember that the their belief system caused by Source of all creation is all-pervasive, the daily „feeding‟ of affirmaomnipresent, omniscient and omnipotions in one‟s subconscious tent. This power is latent within every mind, be it positive or negative. When Man. Nothing can fail you lest you fail you begin to understand this, you can yourself. now use affirmations in the right way to transform your life. Affirmations are If you know who You really are, all are simply statements that are constantly possible unto you. Every night when repeated verbally or within an individual you retire to bed, invoke the special gift that form one‟s belief system. of imagination. This world is but a

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It does not matter how you have programmed your subconscious mind in the past to shape your current life. You might have assimilated other people‟s suggestions unconsciously, and even accepted negative suggestions from your family or friends that they are now internalised and are part of your thoughtroutine. Those that are created can also be destroyed.

―Turn the great wheel backward until Troy unburn.‖ All that are not pleasant to you are not absolute. Revise those unlovely images in your mind, and it shall change. Replace those negative thoughts with positive ones, and when persisted in, your circumstances shall begin to shape themselves to the ideal life that you so desire. It is the nature of the mind to fluctuate from time to time, but whenever you find yourself convinced that a negative suggestion or thought to be true, remember that whatever ideal you surrender

dream. It is a multi-faceted dream, which the dreamer dreamt it into being. Lie in your bed quietly and relax all muscles. When you begin to feel that the body is completely at ease and are about to drift off to sleep, you have reached the border between wake and sleep. According to Mental Science, this is the Alpha state. This state is achieved when the mind has been stilled from its endless chatters and is highly favourable in the art of visualisation for it is the bridge between your conscious and subconscious mind. This is the best time for you to take control of all your senses and redirect them to play the image of the ideal you so desire so that your subconscious mind will be impregnated by the ideas you introduced by your conscious mind. Remember to only „experience‟ the end. For example, if what you want is to be promoted, then the most natural end result would be to be congratulated for it. Create a scene in your mind and experience the event with all your inner senses. You may imagine that your boss is congratulating you. „Listen‟ to his voice with your inner ear. „Observe‟ his face as he congratulates you. „Feel‟ his handshake or his pat on your shoulder for your success. „Feel‟ the joy and gratitude that your dream has now materialised. Repeat the scene over and over again until you drift off to sleep. How the scene will materialise in your objective reality is unimportant. Nature abhors a vacuum. Your current life cir-

cumstances will begin to shape themselves to be the perfect end result that you have „experienced‟ within. I had a student, Miss U.W., from the United Kingdom who loved to cook and needed a blender. She was however not willing to part with her money to buy it. I suggested to her to invoke the power of her imagination to bring her a free blender. Every night without fail, she would „switch‟ the blender on and off in her imagination, again and again in her mind until she fell asleep. One week later, as she was walking home from work, she was compelled from within to take another lane, which she had never taken before. Miss U.W. came across a retail store that was closing down. Outside the advertising window was a blender, sold for only £5 per piece. The original price was £20! She happily bought the blender and gave me a phone call to tell me of her „success‟ of imagination. I however reminded her that we agreed upon a „free blender‟ and not a £5 pound blender. Advising her not to compromise, she was to again experience „within‟ her that she had already received a free blender. A few days later, Miss U.W. rang me and said that one of her friends had to leave the country abruptly due to family reasons and was giving her things away. What she got from this friend was a blender! Another student of mine from Malaysia, Mr. R.C. also wanted a blender to make his own natural facial mask. He too did not want to spend a dime on it. I narrated to him Miss U.W.'s success of getting the free blender, and he decided to repeat the technique. Few days later, he wrote me an e-mail saying that his father's bank had sent him a catalogue to exchange his credit card points for free gifts. His points were just enough to exchange for a free blender, and he did! All that you behold, though it appears to be without, it is within, in your imagination of which this world of mortality is but a shadow.

H o l i s ti c L i v i n g A n n e x

P age 5

“Life is a game, play it!” - Sri Sathya Sai Baba

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editation is a practice of stilling the mind. The practice of meditation is not reserved solely for those who have decided to leave their family and friends, and run off to the forest in a saffron robe. Meditation is a practice for all and the benefits of practicing meditation are endless. People used to associate the practice of meditation with finding their higher Self. Nowadays, meditation is recommended for many different reasons including relaxation, health, goal achieving and more. Whatever your reason may be, when you practice meditation, you are sure to reap its benefits.

You have nothing to lose, but all to gain by practicing meditation. One of the most prominent benefits of meditation is its role in releasing stress from our bodies. Practiced regularly, meditation has been observed to keep an individual happy and relaxed. Whenever a regular meditator faces a problem, he or she is likely to deal with the issue with a clear mind instead of an agitated one. Many meditators have also reported of increased self-confidence and energy levels and healing of various diseases such as asthma, gastritis and more. Many different methods of meditation are present today; however, all methods

aim to still the mind. Methods are many, aim is one. Possibilities are infinite when one taps into the field of consciousness with a still mind.

W H Y M E D I TAT E ? Almost all motivational coaches today include meditation in their coaching regimen because they know how powerful stilling the mind is. When the mind is still, one is able to direct his or her conscious mind in impregnating the subconscious mind with an „ideal‟, which will materialise in one‟s objective reality over time. In touch with one‟s inner Self when practicing meditation, one is more composed and will hence be clearer of his or her life's objectives. They will therefore invest their time and energy going in the direction that they feel drawn to within. Meditation is easy and can be practiced anywhere at any given moment. All you have to do is to simply still your mind for a few minutes (preferably 20-30 minutes) every day. Just close your eyes and be one with your breath. Do not attempt to control your breathing. Your

role is just to observe your breath. That is your inherent nature – an observer. The mind often loves to associate itself with forms. When something intrudes its stillness, draw it back to your breath. As time passes, you will begin to notice that your breath is becoming shorter and lighter. Some meditators who have practiced meditation regularly for years also experience the „no thought‟ and „no breath‟ state. This is when the meditator becomes One with the entire Universal force, a state also known in Hindu scriptures as Samadhi. The state of Samadhi bestows one abundant flow of Cosmic Energy. Some meditators have also been able to leave their physical bodies, granting them the awareness that they are not confined to the flesh but are in fact, infinite beings. This is known as out of body experiences or astral projections. The continuous activation of the Third Eye chakra has also given some the ability to recall past life memories and much, much more. You have nothing to lose, but all to gain by practicing meditation.

[Excerpt of lecture delivered by Genevieve Tan Shu Thung] Bangalore, INDIA (November 25, 2011)

H o l i s ti c L i v i n g A n n e x

P age 6

S I M P L E D E L I C I O U S P A PAYA D I S H FOR WEIGHT LOSS including arteriosclerosis, catarrh, dysentery, diarrhoea, flatulence, gastritis, ulcers, rheumatism and more. Here is a recipe for a delicious dish that will fill your tummy and help you lose weight at the same time.

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apaya is an edible fruit grown in all tropical regions of the world. Papayas not only offer a luscious taste and sunlit colour of the tropics, but are also rich sources of antioxidant nutrients such as Vitamin B and C, Carotenes, Flavonoids, Folate, Panthothenic Acid, Potassium, Magnesium and Fiber. The fruit has traditionally be used to treat various health problems

Portion: Serves 4 Ingredients: 1 Medium size unripe/ totally green papaya 2 Tbsp of sunflower oil 4 Onion shallots, sliced 4 Garlic Cloves, chopped 1 Fresh green chili, halved 1 tsp of chili powder 1 ½ tsp of Turmeric powder

¾ ¾ 5

tsp Jeera (Cumin) seeds tsp curry powder Basil leaves Pinches of salt

Method 1) Peel the papaya and cut into cubes. Boiled with water till its soft then strain the water. 2) Heat oil in frying pan and sauté onion and garlic until lightly brown. Add fresh chili, Jeera seeds, chili powder, turmeric powder and curry powder till it flavor arise. 3) Put in the cooked papaya and stir fried for 30 seconds. 4) Add in the Basil leaves and turn off the fire and cover it. The dish is now ready to be served. By Wong Eileen

A D O N K E Y S T O RY ... One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well that the farmer had accidentally left uncovered. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway, so it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey. He invited all his neighbours to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realised what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement he quieted down. A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well. He was astonished at what he saw. With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the don-

key was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up. As the farmer's neighbours continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and happily trotted off!

―In every adversity, there is a seed for a greater benefit.‖

for a greater benefit." Had the donkey just stood there to lament of its fate, instead of doing something about it, it would not have gotten out of the well. Each trouble is a stepping stone towards something better. We just need to be still and inspect the situation to see what we can do to make the most out of it.

Moral of the story: At times, what appears to be negative, may not really be negative at all. It all depends on how you take a 'negative' situation and make it a positive tool for you to better your life. Just as W. Clement Stone has said before, "In every adversity, there is a seed

Original Source Unknown

H o l i s ti c L i v i n g A n n e x

P age 7

"All that you behold, though it appears to be without, it is within, in your imagination of which this world of mortality is but a shadow." - Neville Goddard

SARAL USHTRASANA F O R B AC K P RO B L E M S BY WONG EILEEN

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his Saral Ushtrasana (The Simple Camel Pose) pose focuses on the naval area, helps slim and tone the waist and neckline. At the same time, it helps strengthens the nerves and muscles of the arms and lower legs. As it focuses on the naval area which stimulates on the Manipura Chakra, it also helps tone up the abdominal viscera such as the liver, kidney, pancreas and bladder, as well as providing relief to stomach and intestinal problems. It also stretches the lumber and sacral regions, which is beneficial for those suffering from backaches. Steps: Note: Please search for "Vajrasana" pose. 1) Assume Vajrasana (the diamond pose) and relax the whole body. 2) Place the left hand on the left heel. 3) Inhale slowly and lift the right arm straight out from the front. Chest goes up till the finger tips point at the sky, while slightly slant backward. Exhale. 4) Again, inhale slowly while raising the buttocks off the legs and push the hips, abdomen and chest forward, as far as possible. 5) Hold the breath and stay in the final position for few seconds. 6) Exhale slowly and return to Vajrasana. 7) Change hands. Perform 4 times each side alternatively.

Notes for Beginners: Slightly separating the knees, bending the ankles and raising the heels while keeping the feet vertically on the floor with the toes facing inwards will make the pose easier for you. Precaution: People suffering from knee injury should avoid attempting this Asana.

H oli st i c Li vi n g A n n e x

P age 8

P O TATO MI R AC LE T O C O MBAT A C N E & P I M P L E S BY GENEVIEVE TAN SHU THUNG

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re you a sufferer from a simple case of pimples, or even severe acne? If you are, then this article

one now in your kitchen. Otherwise, it is not at all expensive to purchase some no w fro m yo ur lo ca l mar k et.

was written especially for you! With the high pollution rate in the world today, there are many chronic sufferers from a terrible case of acne beginning from their secondary school days. Due to this, a wide range of anti-acne products, claimed to be effective in overcoming the problem, are available in the market today.

Many people whom have suffered from a terrible case of acne have found using potatoes effective in clearing their acne. The results are almost instant. Potatoes can be a natural remedy to many health conditions. This article will however focus on using potatoes to rid one from his or her acne misery.

The products sold on the market to combat acne are usually filled with chemicals (as many modern products for acne are still today) and may not even fit the size of your pocket. Nevertheless, the agony that one suffers from acne or pimples would lead one to overlook any seemingly negative effect that these products may bring. Acne sufferers tend to be more vulnerable to suffer from lower self-esteem as they are highly conscious of their appearances. A sufferer may be impatient in wanting to see instant results, and they therefore jump from one product to another just to find a bigger hole in their pockets with no significant improvement on their faces. If this sounds like your story, fear not for the remedy is just within your reach! The miraculous word to end your acnepimple misery is „potatoes‟! This „cure‟ is so common that you may even find

Method: 

All you need is a potato (preferably the small-sized ones so that you do not waste it).

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Cut 2 slices from it, and rub the „sticky‟ side against your entire face. (If your case is severe, cut another two slices, and do the same).

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Leave it to dry naturally for about 30-60 minutes before washing it off.

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Repeat procedure preferably twice a day (morning and night).

Note: Severe acne sufferers should leave it on whole night when you go to bed for optimum results. Progress: If you have followed the procedure strictly as introduced in the above, you should be able to see results very soon. After your first few applications, how-

A cheap, but effective remedy available in your kitchen for combating acne and pimples.

ever, the acne/pimples may seem to worsen. Do not hesitate to continue the regimen as it is only drawing out the toxins and preparing your skin for the healing process to take place. After the third day, you may then start to notice a huge improvement (provided you adhered strictly to the procedures as stated in the above). Additional Benefits: Apart from healing your face from acne/ pimples, the potatoes also lighten the scars that are left behind or even freckles and pigmentation. The usage of potatoes also tightens your pores, and removes whiteheads/blackheads effectively. It also serves well for one who suffers from dark circles around the eyes. Conclusively, potato is the answer for many of your skin problems.

"Smile, what's the use of crying. You'll find that life is still worthwhile, if you just smile." - Cover of Charlie Chaplin Song

H o l i s ti c L i v i n g A n n e x

R I C E W AT E R FOR CLEAR COMPLEXION

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ave you ever heard of the popular product called SK-II? I am sure many of you must know that SK-II is one of the most expensive beauty products available in the market today. For those of you who have not heard of SK-II before, it is basically a product that is well known to utilise an ingredient known as „pitera‟, which has been claimed to be beneficial in revitalizing the skin‟s natural renewal cycle to give you a crystal clear skin. „Pitera‟ is found in rice and its benefits were observed since time immemorial amongst Japanese ladies. The benefits of rice water have been discussed widely over the world for ages. Elderly people used to give advice to their younger generations to wash their face with rice water as it contains various nutrients that may remove sebum, rejuvenate, lighten and smoothen the skin, and plays an active role in preventing numerous types of skin problems.

―My skin was much fairer than before after using this technique…‖ - Ms. Audrey Thomas

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All you have to do is to keep aside the water used to wash rice before cooking it. It is best to use the rice water from the first „wash‟. The water will appear „cloudy‟ because you are actually washing off the starch so that the rice would not stick together when you cook it. If however, you are afraid that the water may be dirty, you can store the water from the second rinse.

plays a part in relaxing one‟s facial muscle and is great in calming down one‟s mind after a long stressful day.

Wash your face with your regular cleanser. Having done so, pat it dry. Then take the „cloudy‟ substance from the rice water that you stored earlier with both your palms and pat the water on your whole face. Let the water dry naturally.

After the steam, beware not to wash your face immediately. Wipe the water off your face first with a clean towel / tissue and wait for awhile (about 5 minutes), or you may end up having a skin condition called pityriasis if you wash your face immediately. Then, rinse your face with very cold water and wash it with your regular cleanser. Remember to tone your skin as the steam would have opened your pores earlier. Do rice-steaming at least TWICE a week to keep your skin in tip-top condition. If however, you are unable to do it TWICE a week for whatever reasons, try to keep up with the „once-a-week‟ regimen to enjoy the benefits of ricesteaming.

Follow this method twice a day, morning and evening, for best results. You will soon notice that your face is lighter, smoother and possess a naturally beautiful glow. The desired results will be obtained when this method is practiced regularly over time. Additionally, it is also beneficial for your skin to rice-steam your face. Regular water-steaming by itself is great to draw the unwanted substances from underneath your skin. This is ideal for people having pimples or acne, though it may worsen the condition at the beginning but will begin to clear up after some time. It is really just like regular water-steaming; the only difference is you use the steam from cooking rice to do your facial-spa. The steam does not only confer one beauty benefits but also

Pitera removes sebum, rejuvenates, lighten and smoothen the skin.

Combining the practices of the ricesteaming and leaving the rice-water on your face regimens, your skin will be at your satisfaction. By Genevieve Tan Shu Thung

H o l i s ti c L i v i n g A n n e x

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H E A LT H — T H E R E F L E C T I O N O F ONE’S STATE OF MIND BY GENEVIEVE TAN SHU THUNG

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AM sure that you all have heard of the famous saying before that „HEALTH IS WEALTH‟. Health, is indeed one‟s ultimate wealth, for without health, whatever riches you may possess, without the health to enjoy it, it is as good as not having it. In today‟s society, many suffer from various diseases. „Dis-ease‟ simply means that the body is not at ease. Diseases usually attack a body that is prone to stress. When one is stressed out, one usually dwells on agitated thoughts, which then makes the entire body vulnerable to various types of diseases. Stress causes an individual to not have clear thoughts and having distorted thoughts would mean emitting distorted energy-signals, which would probably draw undesirable results back to them.

(Bottle of water words written; “Love and Gratitude”) It is also visible from the research that polluted water has extremely distorted water crystals when photographed. An example is the one shown below:

If one is familiar with Dr. Emoto‟s research regarding the secrets of water, one would already know that the research discovered that water is extremely sensitive to suggestions. For those who are not already familiar with Dr. Emoto‟s discovery, I will briefly introduce this discovery to you here. Dr. Masaru Emoto is a Japanese author who first discovered that water is easily susceptible to suggestions from various sources. This is visible by the proofs that he himself has provided by photographing the frozen water crystals after experimenting it under various types of stimuli. The most popular experiments were to paste written words in various languages on a bottle of water, and then photographing the water crystals hours later. His research has led him to write various books such as 'Messages from Water' and 'Hidden Message in Water' that have been published and also received a big hit internationally. These are examples of the water crystal samples that have been photographed after the water has been exposed to various stimuli:

(Water Crystal from a polluted water source) Nevertheless, as water is very responsive to words, this structure of water changed after having been exposed to

prayers, and thus became this: According to the theory of Vibrational Medicine, water has an excellent memory. This reflects Dr. Emoto‟s discovery that water is indeed susceptible to suggestions. This knowledge would play a very significant influence in our daily lives as an average body of a human being possesses about 55-75% volume of water. Since this is the case, does that not mean that a human body is practically MOSTLY made of WATER? This would also mean that a human body is susceptible to suggestions, be it positive or negative! Therefore, for one to stay healthy, think healthy thoughts. Free yourself from unhealthy thoughts that may hold you back. Dr. John Goldthwait, in his book „The Power of Thoughts‟, gave an example of a patient suffering from a crippling and painful arthritic experience. All the patient had to do was to search the root of this crippling and painful experience in her thoughts to be freed from it. Her inability to forgive herself for having not been with her mother during her last days had caused her to close her heart and thus become immobilized and „crippled‟ from moving on with her life. Her condition mirrored her reluctance of forgiving herself and letting go of the past. Thus, the only solution for her was to discover that these negative thoughts were responsible for her suffering, and thus, letting them go. She was almost instantly relieved from her painful suffering. From this post, one should already be assured that negative thoughts play no beneficial role in deciding the health state of an individual. Thus, instead of dwelling on negative thoughts, lighten up, relieve the stress factor in your life and dwell only on positive thoughts.

H o l i s ti c L i v i n g A n n e x

P age 1 1

‘L UCK ’ VS ‘F AITH ’ D

o you believe in this word called „luck‟? I believe many people do and some may even label themselves as being „lucky‟ all the time, or even „unlucky‟. When something that seems „too good to be true‟ happens, more often than not, most people will just write it off as „sheer luck‟. This similarly accounts for unwanted circumstances that take place in one‟s life as well. As you can see, many people thus believe in an external power that is responsible in governing their lives and shaping their circumstances. Many lead on their lives believing that they have got no control whatsoever in producing the results or outcome that they so desire in their lives. This common misconception is one that gave birth to the term called „luck‟. Many fall and define their lives by this word called „luck‟. So, it is no wonder that the lives of these people have an oscillating effect of temporal happiness and misery. Today, I am writing this article to show you that the true power indeed does lie within yourself, and not at all dependant on any other external circumstance or source. To begin with, I would like to narrate to you a story of an 83 year old woman. This 83 year old woman, when seen on the side of the road, would automatically be dismissed as merely an ordinary 83 year old. She is, however, not as ordinary as she may seem for she is much more than that; she is a living enigma. This lady had won a notably large number of prizes from various contests so much so that she is labeled as „The Winning Sage‟. Prizes such as wa s hi n g mac hi ne s, te l evi sio ns, Hammond organs, out-board motors, free trips, cash prizes and many more have been won by this lady over the years of her life. It has been reported that by the year 1982, she has practically won over 5,000 prizes and she has had too many prizes that she had to give them away.

Sounds amazing? To top that, her biggest achievement in her art-of-winning was winning herself a luxurious home from Formica Inc., having been chosen out of 2 million entries. These statements may appear bizarrely impossible to believe but this astounding woman is none other than 83 year old Madam Helene Hadsell herself.

(Miracle winner—Helen Hadsell) You must now be wondering as to how Helene Hadsell did this. For one, she definitely does not believe in luck, chance or accidents. The uncanny ability of this Alvarado, Texas lady to win anything she desires has been published by newspapers and magazines. Helene‟s remarkable ability to manifest for herself the prizes she desire is owed to a book that she had read over 50 years ago. Back then, Helene was only an ordinary 33-year-old housewife living with her husband and her three children. Their home back then was in Grand Prairie, Texas and was but a modest one. Their lives were comfortable, but not at all luxurious enough to have extras. Their lives began to change after Helene discovered the book written by Norman Vincent Peale titled „The Power of Positive Thinking‟. The basis of Norman Vincent Peale‟s message in that book was that „you can have anything you want so long you know what exactly it is that you want‟! Saying thus, that was and still is the notion that Helene lives by ever since then.

Helene does not view the ability to manifest one‟s desire as something „magical‟. In fact, it is actually something that anyone can do, provided that they realize their innate power and believe in it. This skill will only get better and better in time with constant practice and there is absolutely NO such thing as failure. There may, however, be a delay in results. Madam Hadsell is not the only one in her family who is capable of turning her dreams into reality. She has, in fact, taught this skill to her entire family that they collaborated by participating in many contests together. They worked as a team by each contributing their positive energy, creative ideas and active visioning. Each of Helene‟s family members has then been capable of achieving their own dreams. Intrigued with the skill that his mother has taught him, Helene‟s son Chris entered contests that won the family a trip to Disneyland. So, what is Helene‟s secret? To summarise Helene‟s secret, she designed a four -step formula, which in short is known as SPEC: 1) Select it. 2) Project it. 3) Expect it. 4) Collect it. Recently, she has put together her secret techniques to let the society benefit from them. Again, a remarkable story accompanies as to the how she got to sell millions of copies of her book ('Name it & Claim it') worldwide. According to Joe Vitale‟s (an international personal development coach) story, there was a young man who was so broke that he lived in his car who helped Helene publish her book. He had no money, no experience and did not even know where to begin. He nevertheless had a very clear goal; he wanted to make ONE MILLION DOLLARS and then move to India. Helene had a similar goal that she wanted to also make a million dollars and open a center of her own to teach these principles. These two agreed that the man would pay her a royalty of 50% (something unheard of

H o l i s ti c L i v i n g A n n e x

till today) for every book sold. The man began his mission and Helene trusted him, despite receiving oppositions from her late husband. She surrendered, let go and allowed things to unfold by itself for she believed that “…if it‟s meant to be, it will be…”. Six months later, the man in question returned and handed her a check with a large amount of money. He achieved his goal; he made his million dollars and moved to India while Helene was given back her full right on her book, had her money and opened her center.

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From Helene‟s story, one can draw the conclusion that people aren‟t born „lucky‟ or „unlucky‟. For Helene, she is what most term as „lucky‟ because she embodies within her a winning attitude. Helene said that “… there is no (such thing as) happenstance”. She lives her life expecting to win, and she does! By Genevieve Tan Shu Thung (Helene Hadsell & her family at their prized Formica home)

T HE K EY T O H OLISTIC L IVING BY GENEVIEVE TAN SHU THUNG Holistic living is a system that works towards achieving balance between the mind, body and spirit. To lead a holistic lifestyle is to adhere to practices that will benefit you as a whole person. This involves nurturing the physical body, mind and spirit in the most natural way possible, giving it a greater freedom of expression from within so that one feels „complete‟. Some of the core areas in Life that Man seek to perfect today include health, finances, career, relationships and spirituality. The key to holistic living is to achieve balance in all of these areas, which will bestow us a more fulfilling life. We are in harmony with all natural elements in the Universe when balance is attained, and we therefore possess greater willpower in carrying out our daily tasks and working towards the mission we have set for ourselves in life. Imbalance in any area may cause one to be more susceptible to various diseases and therefore distort them from their life‟s vision. The importance of balance has been proposed to be the key of living a good and meaningful life. This can be observed through the concept of Yin and Yang, the practice of Yoga and so on.

More people today are seeking for alternative methods of healing instead of solely relying on modern western medicine, also known as Allopathy, which use pharmacologically active agents to suppress symptoms of diseases instead of curing them from their roots. Alternative systems of medicine, which employ more natural ways to help the body heal, such as Yoga, Homoeopathy, Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture are becoming increasingly popular. Alternative Medicine physicians treat a disease by healing a person‟s body, mind and spirit. One should also adhere to a healthy lifestyle regimen such as maintaining a proper healthy diet, regular exercise, sufficient rest and most importantly, to have a strong positive belief system. Strolling in the parks or forests will also help one connect with nature, which are great stress-relievers, helping you to reach the centre within you. After all, that is what holistic living is all about. Honour each and every person in your life for they have come into your life‟s experience to exchange lessons to help each other grow. This is the key to releasing any negative emotions you have of another‟s wrongdoing against you. It

is always easier to let go than to hold onto a grudge. Nonetheless, keeping good company is important, for only birds of the same feather flock together. Use your heart to determine if the groups of friends you now cling to are influencing you positively or otherwise. If you know they are not good influence for your life, it is better to just stay as hi -bye acquaintances in this physical world, as you continue on your journey in staying focus of centering yourself.

―We are in harmony with all natural elements in the Universe when balance is attained, and we therefore possess greater willpower in… working towards the mission we have set for ourselves in life.‖

Sandhya Maarga Holistic Living Resources organisation aims to align all with the natural Universal forces and expand the awareness of the infinite Being within each and everyone, the determinant of all realities. Information shared on Sandhya Maarga Holistic Living Resources‘ official magazine, Holistic Living Annex (http://holisticlivingannex.com) is to help you maintain balance in every aspect of your life to shape it according to the ideal you desire. (Subject to the terms and conditions on Page 2) F or a n y en q ui ri es , fe el fr ee t o co nta ct u s a t : Ad mi n [ AT ] h o l i s ti cl i vi n ga n n e x. c o m

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Workshops, seminars & lectures are constantly conducted to raise the awareness of the link between the mind and body in various areas of one's life including shaping circumstances to attain goals and objectives, and preserving health in holistic ways. Also receive inspirational updates by subscribing to Sandhya Maarga Holistic Living Resources‘ Page: http://www.Facebook.com/Groups/SandhyaMaarga

NOTE: All information and photographs found on Holistic Living Annex are copyrighted.

M EET T HE T EAM Genevieve Tan Shu Thung / Sandhya, LL.B (Hons), M.D. (A.M.), Ph.D, is the founder and director of Sandhya Maarga Holistic Living Resources.

"The Universe is in Your hands. There is no power from without, only within. Acknowledge that indwelling power, which you yourself, upon yourself, shall shower the beautiful light of Truth, granting you Liberation – Ultimate Freedom." - Genevieve Tan Shu Thung

She is known for her meditation technique, "Sandhya Maarga Meditation", which helps align an individual with the natural Universal forces to maximise their self-potential in all areas of life. Genevieve has written many inspirational articles related to the power of right-thought to motivate all to cultivate confidence in the Self of which physical reality manifests from. She has delivered lectures and speeches around the world pertaining to Mental Science and Spirituality, and has disciples of different nationalities. Also a long practitioner in alternative medicine, Genevieve specialises in mind-body medicine. She is currently authoring a book on the relationship between the mind and diseases. Genevieve is also the creator and editor-in-chief for Holistic Living Annex, the official magazine for Sandhya Maarga Holistic Living Resources. She writes articles related to Spirituality, Mental Science, and Holistic Health and Lifestyle.

Wong Eileen, B.QS (Hons), M.D. (A.M.), specialises in the practice of Yoga for the Sandhya Maarga Holistic Living Resources circle. Coming from a traditional Chinese family, Wong's interest in herbs, and the relationship between the breath and the physical body prompted her to further her studies in Alternative Medicine. Wong proposes that the proper regulation of vital energy within a body is crucial in maintaining good health. With years of experience in the practice of Yoga, she will be sharing her knowledge and expertise through her articles to be published in Sandhya Maarga Holistic Living Resources' official online magazine: 'Holistic Living Annex'. Wong is also the chief instructor of Yoga for Sandhya Maarga Holistic Living Resources. A vegetarian for some years now, Wong will also share her interest in cooking by sharing with readers various vegetarian recipes from different countries.

Silambarasu Karuppiah, B.Pharm (Hons), completed his degree in Pharmacy and is a student of Mental Science and the Sandhya Maarga Meditation under the guidance of Genevieve Tan. Possessing a strong link to the practice of spirituality and meditation since a young age, he holds on to his strong interest in Quantum Physics, believing that everything in the entire cosmos is vibrating with infinite energy. (Click "Read more..." to continue) Silambarasu has also deep interest in alternative methods of healing. Although he is a pharmacist in conventional medicine (Allopathy), Silambarasu views that pharmaceutical drugs may not be the best option in maintaining health because of their accompanying side effects. He believes that the practice of holistic medicine such as Ayurveda, Homoeopathy, Traditional Chinese Medicine and other Alternative Medicine systems offer better treatment in the long run as they aim to treat each disease from its root, instead of just alleviating the symptoms.