healthy options

Host/Producer: Rhonda Feiman Co-Producer: Petra Hall Technical assistance: Joel Mann & Amy Browne Healthy Options: For Well-being & Being Well This month: -What does an elder advocate do? -What are the steps that are needed to create a plan in the event that you or a family member require medical care in a health care facility such as rehab/or a nursing home? -What could go wrong when you (or a family member) need advanced care in a facility and are being discharged from a hospital? -Are you required to go to a nursing home that a hospital discharge planner suggests? -What are your legal rights when being faced with a hospital discharge that attempts to place you or a loved one in a substandard care facility? -How can you evaluate the quality of a health care facility? What is a good strategy to help you or a loved one be admitted to a good quality health care nursing home? -What are some legal documents necessary as part of a long term plan for health care? Why should you discuss this plan with a lawyer? -What is the difference between standard Medicare plans and supplemental policies (Medigap), and Medicare Advantage plans? Why is it important to understand these differences and why do standard Medicare supplemental plans offer more flexibility and allow for more treatment options? -What are some creative options to avoid isolation as one ages? -What should you do for yourself or a loved one to create an  “aging in place” environment? Guest(s): Elder Advocate Jack Halpern, founder and chairman of MyElder. myelder.com myelder.com/blog/ www.instagram.com/bigjackhalpern  (and Facebook) Previous Healthy Options programs on related subjects: Healthy Options 12/6/23: Brain Health and Aging Well Susan Wehry, M.D., geriatric psychiatrist and director of AgingME, on healthy aging, being resilient and engaged as we age, how to handle “dementia worry” (anxiety one might have, about fearing a dementia diagnosis), and how to counter the impacts of severe isolation & loneliness which arose acutely throughout the pandemic, and is still being experienced by many people- including those with dementia. archives.weru.org/healthy-options/2023/12/healthy-options-12-6-23-brain-health-and-aging-well/ “The Gift of Caring: Saving Our Parents from the Perils of Modern Healthcare,” about how the current health care delivery model is ill-equipped to provide comprehensive, person-centered care to seniors, and how many treatable conditions and symptoms are dismissed as “just old age.” The discussion highlights specific tools that we can use to help prevent these mistakes and what we need to know to achieve healthy aging. archives.weru.org/healthy-options/2017/08/healthy-options-8217/ About the host: Rhonda Feiman is a nationally-certified, licensed acupuncturist practicing in Belfast, Maine since 1993. She primarily practices Toyohari Japanese acupuncture, using gentle and powerful non-insertion needle techniques, and also utilizes Chinese acupuncture and herbology. In addition, Rhonda is a practitioner of Qi Gong and an instructor of Tai Chi Chuan in the Yang Family tradition.

The post Healthy Options 3/6/24: Advocating for the care needs and rights of elders in nursing homes & assisted living facilities first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Host/Producer: Rhonda Feiman Co-Producer: Petra Hall Technical assistance: Joel Mann & Amy Browne Healthy Options: For Well-being & Being Well Program Topic: TEENS TO TRAILS, an organization connecting Maine students to life-changing outdoor experiences. This month: What is Teens to Trails and what is their mission? How does Teens to Trails work with parents, students and schools? What are the health benefits of being in the outdoors? How can these outdoor experiences help kids improve their well-being, emotional resilience, and reduce stress & anxiety? Is there a difference between outdoor education and outdoor recreation? What are the benefits of outdoor play and how do students respond to their outdoor activities? What do you see in the kids when they’re part of an outdoor club? How do they interact with their peers? What do we mean by “unstructured time”, and why is this time so important for all of us? What impact are personal devices such as phones having on the health of our children- and when they are connecting with the outdoors, what changes may occur? Guest(s): Alicia Heyburn, Executive Director of Teens to Trails, and Miles Bisher, social studies teacher and outdoor club advisor. FMI: teenstotrails.org About the host: Rhonda Feiman is a nationally-certified, licensed acupuncturist practicing in Belfast, Maine since 1993. She primarily practices Toyohari Japanese acupuncture, using gentle and powerful non-insertion needle techniques, and also utilizes Chinese acupuncture and herbology. In addition, Rhonda is a practitioner of Qi Gong and an instructor of Tai Chi Chuan in the Yang Family tradition.

The post Healthy Options 2/7/24: Teens to Trails first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Host/Producer: Rhonda Feiman Co-Producer: Petra Hall Healthy Options: For Well-being & Being Well This month: What are some ways we can enhance the health of our nervous systems, and calm our minds? How can simple breathing techniques enhance our health and well-being? Why is movement such an important technique to calm our nervous system? What is Qi Gong? What is WuJi? What do we mean when we speak of meridians? What is a body scan? How can we practice this for ourselves and why is this beneficial? About the host: Rhonda Feiman is a nationally-certified, licensed acupuncturist practicing in Belfast, Maine since 1993. She primarily practices Toyohari Japanese acupuncture, using gentle and powerful non-insertion needle techniques, and also utilizes Chinese acupuncture and herbology. In addition, Rhonda is a practitioner of Qi Gong and an instructor of Tai Chi Chuan in the Yang Family tradition.

The post Healthy Options 1/3/24: Easily-Learned Movements & Breathing Techniques first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Host/Producer: Rhonda Feiman Co-Producer: Petra Hall Healthy Options: For Well-being & Being Well This month: Why is this topic & program relevant for people of all ages? What is Aging Maine? What is the Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Project? What is dementia?  What is “dementia worry”? What do we need to do to maintain brain health– and why is exercise & diet so important? How can we create new neural paths in our brains? What is neural plasticity? What does it mean to have meaning in our lives? Why are social connections so important? What are/were the effects of loneliness and isolation, especially during the pandemic- and currently? Guest/s: Susan Wehry, M.D., geriatric psychiatrist and director of AgingME www.susanwehrymd.com agingme.org About the host: Rhonda Feiman is a nationally-certified, licensed acupuncturist practicing in Belfast, Maine since 1993. She primarily practices Toyohari Japanese acupuncture, using gentle and powerful non-insertion needle techniques, and also utilizes Chinese acupuncture and herbology. In addition, Rhonda is a practitioner of Qi Gong and an instructor of Tai Chi Chuan in the Yang Family tradition.

The post Healthy Options 12/6/23: Brain Health and Aging Well first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Host/Producer: Rhonda Feiman Co-Producer: Petra Hall Healthy Options: For Well-being & Being Well This month: 1  How does the Trauma Resiliency Model and Community Resiliency Model work to calm the nervous system? 2  How can Trauma Resiliency aid individuals & communities in the recovering process, after mass shootings? 3  What are some new strategies being used globally to treat trauma? 4  What is a simple technique we can try right now to relax our nervous system? 5  How does our nervous system respond to stress? 6  What is second-hand trauma? 7  What are some ways to assist someone who has directly experienced trauma? 8  What is the “resilient zone”? How do we know if we are no longer regulated emotionally? 9  What do we mean by “understanding our physical body at the level of sensation”? 10 What is the amygdala and what part does it play in trauma & PTSD? What are we learning from neuroscience & neuropsychology regarding trauma? 11 How do the steps of the Community Resiliency model work? What does it mean to use the techniques of Tracking, Grounding, Finding a Resource, Gesturing, Getting Help Now, and Stay & Shift, and how can they help us deal with our own responses to stress and trauma? 12  Does the Community Resiliency Model work with children? How can we teach children to self-regulate themselves emotionally? Guest/s: Elaine Miller-Karas, LCSW, is a trauma therapist, co-founder and former Executive Director of the Trauma Resource Institute, and key developer of the Community and Trauma Resiliency Models. She is the author of “Building Resiliency to Trauma, the Trauma and Community Resiliency Models”, the host of the weekly podcast, “Resiliency Within”, and a contributor to Psychology Today. FMI:  The Trauma Resource Institute (TRI) is a nonprofit organization devoted to cultivating trauma-informed and resiliency-focused individuals and communities throughout the world. www.traumaresourceinstitute.com “Resiliency Within” podcast: www.listennotes.com/podcasts/resiliency-within-elaine-miller-karas-lcsw-dH7ZjesXLAx/ “Resiliency Within” Facebook page: www.facebook.com/resiliency.within VoiceAmerica- “Resiliency Within”: www.voiceamerica.com/show/3997/resiliency-within Reflections of a Trauma Therapist in the Russo-Ukraine War www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/building-resiliency-trauma/202212/reflections-trauma-therapist-in-the-russo-ukraine-war NAMI -National Alliance on Mental Illness www.nami.org/Home 988 Crisis Line 988lifeline.org Previous Healthy Options programs on the Trauma Resource Institute can be found at: archives.weru.org/healthy-options/2021/03/healthy-options-3-3-21-building-resiliency-to-trauma/ About the host: Rhonda Feiman is a nationally-certified, licensed acupuncturist practicing in Belfast, Maine since 1993. She primarily practices Toyohari Japanese acupuncture, using gentle and powerful non-insertion needle techniques, and also utilizes Chinese acupuncture and herbology. In addition, Rhonda is a practitioner of Qi Gong and an instructor of Tai Chi Chuan in the Yang Family tradition.

The post Healthy Options 11/1/23: Restoring and enhancing resiliency and balance after shock and trauma first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Host/Producer: Rhonda Feiman Co-Producer: Petra Hall Healthy Options: For Well-being & Being Well This month: How do we hear? What can cause hearing loss? Are there differences in sensitivity in how individuals react to loud sounds? How can we protect our hearing? How do you know that you are experiencing hearing loss? What are some detriments to delaying or not getting hearing aids when they are needed? How would an audiologist assess your hearing ability?  How is the hearing of infants & young children assessed, & addressed? What are the differences between prescription and over-the-counter hearing aids? Guest/s: Kate Weiss is an audiologist in Minnesota, & currently an independent consultant, after a 40-year career spent mostly in pediatrics. She worked for many years at Children’s Hospitals & Clinics of Minnesota, and in the Minneapolis Public Schools’ home-based birth-to-three program, Early Childhood Special Education preschool program, and with deaf and hard of hearing students and their families and teachers in elementary, middle, and high schools. For several years, she worked with both children and adults of all ages at St. Paul Rehabilitation Center. She was co-chair of the task force that developed protocols for universal newborn hearing screening, infant hearing assessment, amplification fitting, and parent advocacy for the State of Minnesota’s Early Hearing Detection and Intervention program. FMI:  From CONSUMER REPORTS online (& the May/June 2023 magazine article, HOW TO HEAR BETTER NOW). Check out the other links they also list, on ratings of both prescription and over-the-counter hearing aid brands & retailers.) 1. Your Guide to Hearing Helpers www.consumerreports.org/health/hearing-aids/your-guide-to-hearing-helpers-a2688068457/ 2. A Complete Guide to Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids www.consumerreports.org/health/hearing-aids/complete-guide-to-over-the-counter-hearing-aids-a3898239010/ 3. This Quick Quiz Can Screen You for Hearing Loss (Note: Not a “hearing test” to screen for hearing loss, but a good tool to help people screen for how much hearing issues interfere with their social/daily life, and about the possible need for hearing aids.) www.consumerreports.org/health/hearing-ear-care/self-hearing-test-for-auditory-wellness-a4832177815/ About the host: Rhonda Feiman is a nationally-certified, licensed acupuncturist practicing in Belfast, Maine since 1993. She primarily practices Toyohari Japanese acupuncture, using gentle and powerful non-insertion needle techniques, and also utilizes Chinese acupuncture and herbology. In addition, Rhonda is a practitioner of Qi Gong and an instructor of Tai Chi Chuan in the Yang Family tradition.

The post Healthy Options 10/4/23: How we hear, how to protect our hearing, and recognize & manage hearing loss from infancy to adulthood first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Host/Producer: Rhonda Feiman Co-Producer: Petra Hall Healthy Options: For Well-being & Being Well This month: How does quantum physics play a role in our health & well-being? What is heart coherence? What is vibrational medicine? How does our breathing affect our nervous system? What is the importance of our being aware of our nervous system? Guest/s: Diana Maria Chapin, one of the founding members & president, of The Healing Garden. She is a Reiki Master and works with energy healing & meditation, helping clients to develop wellness skills. Michele Walker, entrepreneur, Transformational Life Coach, and Self-Healing Mentor. She has a master’s degree in counseling psychology, and is a certified facilitator of the Energy Codes, a self-healing system developed by Dr. Sue Morter. FMI: TheHealingGardenMaine.org About the host: Rhonda Feiman is a nationally-certified, licensed acupuncturist practicing in Belfast, Maine since 1993. She primarily practices Toyohari Japanese acupuncture, using gentle and powerful non-insertion needle techniques, and also utilizes Chinese acupuncture and herbology. In addition, Rhonda is a practitioner of Qi Gong and an instructor of Tai Chi Chuan in the Yang Family tradition.

The post Healthy Options 9/6/23: Quantum physics, energy work & health: vibrational medicine & The Healing Garden first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Host/Producer: Rhonda Feiman Co-Producer: Petra Hall Healthy Options: For Well-being & Being Well This month: What legislation has been proposed or passed in Maine to protect & strengthen reproductive health? How has Maine been affected by the reversal of Roe v. Wade? Maine is not considered a “safety state” due to its distance to other states, but have we seen an increase in out-of-state clients, due to restrictions elsewhere? What are reproductive rights, and what is reproductive justice? What other health resources are provided at clinics, aside from reproductive health? How are the overall health services negatively affected, when reproductive choice & abortion services are curtailed or eliminated? When clinics shut down, how does this directly impact clients? What are the risks and dangers which can & do arise from restricting medical services for clients (of any gender)? What are various methods of family planning which are used in clinics? What are the issues relating to “late-term” abortions? What is a medication abortion? How does this work, and how effective is it? How is this method being opposed now by those who favored the overturning of Roe Vs. Wade? Guest/s: Lindsey Piper is a nurse practitioner specializing in sexual and reproductive health, and is the Lead Clinician for the Center for Reproductive Health at Maine Family Planning, providing direct abortion services as well as guidance & training, for health care providers. Lindsey also sees clients in her Belfast, Maine clinic for gynecologic visits, gender-affirming hormone treatment, abortions, and vasectomy. She has been in this field for over 20 years, working for independent, feminist health care clinics, and Planned Parenthood. Mareisa Weil is Maine Family Planning’s Vice President for Development & Community Engagement. She has a Master’s degree in Policy, Planning and Management from the Muskie School of Public Service at the University of Southern Maine, and has worked with Colby College, the Maine Hospice Council and Center for End-of-Life Care, and the Homeless Services Center in Santa Cruz, California. FMI: mainefamilyplanning.org About the host: Rhonda Feiman is a nationally-certified, licensed acupuncturist practicing in Belfast, Maine since 1993. She primarily practices Toyohari Japanese acupuncture, using gentle and powerful non-insertion needle techniques, and also utilizes Chinese acupuncture and herbology. In addition, Rhonda is a practitioner of Qi Gong and an instructor of Tai Chi Chuan in the Yang Family tradition.

The post Healthy Options 8/2/23: Maine Family Planning after the overturning of Roe Vs. Wade first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Host/Producer: Rhonda Feiman Co-Producer: Petra Hall Healthy Options: For Well-being & Being Well This month: What is the Alexander Technique? How can our physical structure be affected by the way we breathe? What does stress have to do with it?! What are a couple of simple examples we can try, to practice the Alexander Technique? What is the difference felt in our body when we gently allow our lungs to inhale and exhale, versus straining to take a deep breath? How do our physical and emotional habits inhibit or enhance our posture & poise, and the ways we move? How can we become aware of our natural breathing so we can be more relaxed as we move through our day? How might these techniques help us to be more confident and productive, in performing and/or other areas of our lives? Guest/s: Tracy Van Fleet is a Grammy Award winner, mezzo-soprano and voice teacher based in the Los Angeles area. As a soloist, she performs with the Los Angeles Master Chorale, and has appeared with some of the most prestigious orchestras around the world. She is a Level 3 Total Vocal Freedom coach, and is in the process of qualifying for certification as an Alexander Technique Teacher. Lisa Rogers Lee is a chamber singer, oratorio soloist, and voice teacher with a private studio called Voice for the Whole Singer. She has appeared with numerous opera companies throughout the United States, and is an educator and mentor of singers of all ages. She recently became a Level 2 Total Vocal Freedom coach, teaching Alexander Technique principles to singers. Lisa Lee and Tracy Van Fleet are the founders of the Ageless Singer, a program designed to support and empower female singers over the age of 50. More information on The Alexander Technique. About the host: Rhonda Feiman is a nationally-certified, licensed acupuncturist practicing in Belfast, Maine since 1993. She primarily practices Toyohari Japanese acupuncture, using gentle and powerful non-insertion needle techniques, and also utilizes Chinese acupuncture and herbology. In addition, Rhonda is a practitioner of Qi Gong and an instructor of Tai Chi Chuan in the Yang Family tradition.

The post Healthy Options 7/5/23: The Health Benefits of the Alexander Technique first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Host/Producer: Rhonda Feiman Co-Producer: Petra Hall Healthy Options: For Well-being & Being Well This month: Where are ticks found & how can we identify the ticks we may find, in their different life cycles? What size are they right now? What is Lyme disease and why is it often difficult to diagnose- and treat? What are co-infections? What are the different illnesses which are showing up now?  What is Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, Borrelia, Alpha-gal, & Powassan Virus? What are the ways that we do treat tick diseases? Is there an effective way to prevent Lyme after a tick bite? Is using a single dose of antibiotics a valid and effective strategy to use right after a tick bite? Why should we not wait if we have symptoms after a tick bite? What are symptoms we might experience? What does clinical diagnosis mean? What are some preventative techniques we can use to minimize our risk of getting a tick-borne illness? What kinds of clothing, and repellent, are effective to try to prevent tick bites? What is permethrin and what are the benefits to using it on our clothes, socks and shoes? How do we check for ticks? Why do a tick check and why is it a good idea to shower after we’ve been outside? Why should we check our pets for ticks? What about people who come visit and may bring ticks? If you get a tick bite, how do you remove the tick safely? What might we do next? How long does a tick have to be imbedded for it to be able to transmit disease? Should you send a tick to a lab for analysis? Do we have decisive testing for tick diseases? Are there any vaccines yet? Guest/s: Dr. Beatrice Szantyr, Internist and Pediatrician who lectures on Lyme disease and related tick-borne disorders in Maine and nationally, to both professional and community groups. She is an active member of the Maine CDC Vector Borne Disease Work Group, and a member of the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society.  Dr. Szantyr also had served on the 2022 Federal Tick-Borne Disease Working Group, Access to Care and Education Subcommittee.  Additional Information: EPA info on effective repellents www.epa.gov/insect-repellents www.epa.gov/insect-repellents/find-repellent-right-you University of Maine Tick Lab Protect Yourself from ticks & tick-borne diseases: extension.umaine.edu/ticks/ Tick testing Amherst MA. (tests for more diseases): www.tickreport.com Lyme Disease Association Research, Education, Prevention and Patient Support    lymediseaseassociation.org/ Lyme disease.org Powered by patients. Home of Lyme Times and My Lyme Data: www.lymedisease.org/ Maine CDC Lyme disease Frequently Asked Questions www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/infectious-disease/epi/vector-borne/tick-messaging.shtml Maine Tracking Network: Tickborne Diseases Improving public health with better information data.mainepublichealth.gov/tracking/data-topics/tickborne-content University of Rhode Island Tick Encounter Tick-borne Disease prevention Education web.uri.edu/tickencounter/ This article is brief enough for a patient to bring to a doctor’s visit for them to consider: The Management of Ixodes scapularis Bites in the Upper Midwest wmjonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/110/2/78.pdf For clinicians: LymeCME Free, Evidence-based, AAFP-Accredited Courses that Physicians Can Trust www.lymecme.info/ Previous Healthy Options programs on ticks & Lyme, with links to other websites of interest, can also be found at: archives.weru.org/healthy-options/2022/10/healthy-options-10-5-22-the-ticks-are-still-here-what-you-need-to-know/ archives.weru.org/healthy-options/2022/05/healthy-options-5-4-22-yearly-update-on-ticks-lyme-and-tick-borne-illnesses/ archives.weru.org/healthy-options/2021/05/healthy-options-5-5-21-ticks-those-blood-sucking-parasites/ archives.weru.org/healthy-options/2020/06/healthy-options-6-3-20-ticks-and-tick-borne-illnesses/ About the host: Rhonda Feiman is a nationally-certified, licensed acupuncturist practicing in Belfast, Maine since 1993. She primarily practices Toyohari Japanese acupuncture, using gentle and powerful non-insertion needle techniques, and also utilizes Chinese acupuncture and herbology. In addition, Rhonda is a practitioner of Qi Gong and an instructor of Tai Chi Chuan in the Yang Family tradition.

The post Healthy Options 5/3/23: Lyme disease & tick-borne illness, and how to be tick-conscious, to protect ourselves first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Host/Producer: Rhonda Feiman Co-Producer: Petra Hall Healthy Options: For Well-being & Being Well This month: 1. What’s different this year about where we might find browntail moths (BTM), and how has the weather affected their population so far this year? 2. Which areas of Maine have seen more of the BTM nests this year, and which are seeing less? 3. What is the life cycle of the browntail moth? 4. How do we identify BTM nests, the caterpillars, and the moths? 5. What are all the ways that we can manage these nests when we see them, and how do we safely get rid of the caterpillars? Would stepping on them and squishing them (!) be of any benefit? 6. What are the toxic parts of the caterpillars and why should the toxic hairs not come in contact with clothing or skin? 7. What does a BTM caterpillar rash look like? 8. What is the best way to take care of trees that have BTM nests & caterpillars? 9. Which trees are more susceptible to the nests? Do trees recover after a BTM infestation? 10. How do you clip nests and when is the best time to do so? What do you do with the nests after they are clipped? Is it enough to place clipped nests in soapy water to dispose of them? 11. Why is it crucial to not leave the nests on the ground? Why shouldn’t you mow nests which may be on the ground? Why mow when the grass is damp/wet? 12. How would you treat trees where the nests are so high we cannot reach them? When should you consider hiring a licensed arborist to clip nests? 13. Why would people consider using chemicals/toxins on the trees, rather than cutting off the nests within reach, hiring an arborist, or even using drones to clip them? 14. Why should we check under the eaves of houses, under porches, and even in wheel wells of our cars, when we have been in an area with the caterpillars? 15. What other caterpillars and moths can be confused with BTM? Why should we take care to identify BTM versus other beneficial insects? 16. Is it helpful to turn off lights at night from late June through August when the adult moths are congregating and “looking for love”? 17. Why are using bug zappers detrimental? Guest/s: Tom Schmeelk, Maine Forest Service entomologist Additional Information: “Knock Out Browntail” with info & links on the Maine Forest website. YouTube video: Tom Schmeelk illustrates browntail moth overwintering webs, offers tips for identification, and gives instructions for removal and destruction of webs within reach from the ground. About the host: Rhonda Feiman is a nationally-certified, licensed acupuncturist practicing in Belfast, Maine since 1993. She primarily practices Toyohari Japanese acupuncture, using gentle and powerful non-insertion needle techniques, and also utilizes Chinese acupuncture and herbology. In addition, Rhonda is a practitioner of Qi Gong and an instructor of Tai Chi Chuan in the Yang Family tradition.

The post Healthy Options 4/5/23: Browntail Moths & other invasive insect species first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Host/Producer: Rhonda Feiman Co-Producer: Petra Hall Healthy Options: For Well-being & Being Well This month: Rhonda Feiman speaks with Kim Austin, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, & Brainspotting practitioner. Brainspotting is a brain-based psychotherapy which uses the eyes and the field of vision to treat trauma, anxiety and more. 1. What is Brainspotting & how does it work? 2. What is the difference between Brainspotting and the EMDR eye movement technique? 3. What do we mean by a “brain spot”? What do we mean by one spot being stuck or activated? 4. What is the connection between the eyes and the brain and why is that so important in this technique? 5. When is it appropriate to use this technique? 6. How does Brainspotting help in the treatment of trauma ? 7. How would Brainspotting help with creativity? 8. Why is music used in Brainspotting treatments? 9. Is there a special type of music used? Guest/s: Kim Austin, Licensed Clinical Social Worker and certified Brainspotting therapist with a private practice based in Atlanta, Georgia & online in Maine & NY. She specializes in the treatment of trauma, having first trained in EMDR, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, which is used as an effective technique to help clients dealing with trauma. She then trained in the modality of Brainspotting, a brain-based psychotherapy which also uses the eyes and the field of vision to identify where a person is holding trauma or negative experiences. Websites of Interest: Kim Austin Brainspotting About the host: Rhonda Feiman is a nationally-certified, licensed acupuncturist practicing in Belfast, Maine since 1993. She primarily practices Toyohari Japanese acupuncture, using gentle and powerful non-insertion needle techniques, and also utilizes Chinese acupuncture and herbology. In addition, Rhonda is a practitioner of Qi Gong and an instructor of Tai Chi Chuan in the Yang Family tradition.

The post Healthy Options 3/1/23: Brainspotting first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Host/Producer: Rhonda Feiman Co-Producer: Petra Hall Healthy Options: For Well-being & Being Well This month: How might we communicate with more awareness, compassion, and empathy, and how can our nervous system play a vital role in our being calm in ourselves, and in our interactions with others? Rhonda Feiman speaks with Peggy Smith, co-founder of the Maine Non-Violent Communication Network, & certified trainer with the International Center for Non-Violent Communication. -What is Non-Violent Communication? -What are some techniques to help calm strong emotions? -What is empathy? What is “self empathy”? Can you learn how to be empathetic? -What do we mean when we speak of “warm accompaniment”? -What do we mean when we say that struggle and conflict can be about the perception of needs being met, or not met? -What is the amygdala and what does it have to do with our emotions and our nervous system? -What does it mean to self-regulate the nervous system and emotions? -What role does our nervous system play in Non-Violent Communication? What are techniques that can be used to help our own nervous system and strong emotions as we communicate with others? -What is “shoulding” and why “should” we stop doing that :-)? -Non-Violent Communication is more than just learning a script; what is the thought process behind Non-Violent Communication? Guest/s: Peggy Smith, co-founder of the Maine Non-Violent Communication Network & certified trainer with the International Center for Nonviolent Communication. She is also a certified trainer with the International Center for Nonviolent Communication, and has worked both in Maine and internationally, with the Seeds of Peace International Camp, sharing Non-Violent Communication skills with educators from the Middle East and South Asia. A student of Mindfulness since 1991, Peggy Smith was ordained as a teacher by Zen Master and peace activist Thich Nhat Hanh, and has incorporated Mindfulness practice in the teaching of Non-Violent Communication. She holds a Master’s degree in Literacy and Language Arts from the University of Pennsylvania, and taught in public and alternative schools for 32 years before devoting herself full time, to Non-Violent Communication training. Nonviolent Communication, (NVC), is based on the principles of nonviolence– the natural state of compassion when no violence is present in the heart. NVC begins by assuming that we are all compassionate by nature and that violent strategies—whether verbal or physical—are learned behaviors taught and supported by the prevailing culture. NVC also assumes that we all share the same, basic human needs, and that all actions are a strategy to meet one or more of these needs. People who practice NVC have found greater authenticity in their communication, Increased understanding, deepening connection and conflict resolution. The NVC community is active in over 65 countries around the globe. Websites of Interest: The Center for Nonviolent Communication Clarity Services, Open Communication at Work About the host: Rhonda Feiman is a nationally-certified, licensed acupuncturist practicing in Belfast, Maine since 1993. She primarily practices Toyohari Japanese acupuncture, using gentle and powerful non-insertion needle techniques, and also utilizes Chinese acupuncture and herbology. In addition, Rhonda is a practitioner of Qi Gong and an instructor of Tai Chi Chuan in the Yang Family tradition.

The post Healthy Options 11/2/22: Non-Violent Communication first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Host/Producer: Rhonda Feiman Co-Producer: Petra Hall Healthy Options: For Well-being & Being Well This month: TICKS have not gone away even though the season has changed. We speak with our tick specialist, Dr. Beatrice Szantyr on tick awareness, bite prevention, & treatment, Lyme & tick-borne illness. 1. Why are we doing a tick program in the Fall? 2. Do we still need to be vigilant about tick-borne illnesses in the Fall & Winter when the weather gets cool and cold? 3. Do ticks stop spreading disease when the weather is cold? 4. What is the life cycle of ticks throughout the year? 5. What are some preventative techniques we can use to minimize our risk of getting a tick-borne illness? 6. What precautions should hunters in particular take, when out in the woods? And in handling animals? 7. What is permethrin and what are the benefits to using it on our clothes, socks and shoes? 8. What products are useful for putting on our skin to prevent tick bites? 9. What are co-infections? 10. What does clinical diagnosis mean? 11. What is a prophylactic preventative course of antibiotics, and is this a valid and effective strategy to use after a tick bite? 12. If you get a tick bite, how do you remove the tick safely? 13. Should you send a tick to a lab for analysis? Guest/s: Dr. Beatrice Szantyr, Internist and Pediatrician who lectures on Lyme disease and related tick-borne disorders in Maine and nationally, to both professional and community groups. She is an active member of the Maine CDC Vector Borne Disease Work Group, and a member of the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society. Dr. Szantyr served on the 2022 Federal Tick-Borne Disease Working Group. Websites of Interest: University of Maine Tick Lab, Protect Yourself from ticks & tick-borne diseases Tick testing Amherst MA. (tests for more diseases) Lyme Disease Association, Research, Education, Prevention and Patient Support Lyme disease[dot]org. Powered by patients. Home of Lyme Times and My Lyme Data Maine CDC Lyme disease Frequently Asked Questions Maine Tracking Network: Tickborne Diseases. Improving public health with better information University of Rhode Island Tick Encounter, Tick-borne Disease prevention Education This article is brief enough for a patient to bring to a doctor’s visit for them to consider: The Management of Ixodes scapularis Bites in the Upper Midwest For clinicians: LymeCME Free, Evidence-based, AAFP-Accredited Courses that Physicians Can Trust Previous Healthy Options programs on ticks & Lyme, with links to other websites of interest, can also be found here and here About the host: Rhonda Feiman is a nationally-certified, licensed acupuncturist practicing in Belfast, Maine since 1993. She primarily practices Toyohari Japanese acupuncture, using gentle and powerful non-insertion needle techniques, and also utilizes Chinese acupuncture and herbology. In addition, Rhonda is a practitioner of Qi Gong and an instructor of Tai Chi Chuan in the Yang Family tradition.

The post Healthy Options 10/5/22: The Ticks Are Still Here- What You Need to Know first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Host/Producer: Rhonda Feiman Co-Producer: Petra Hall Healthy Options: For Well-being & Being Well This month: Host Rhonda Feiman speaks with three of the founding members of The Healing Garden, a new non-profit health & wellness organization based in Midcoast Maine, to discuss heart-brain coherence and how energy medicine can be beneficial for our health. Key Discussion Points: 1. What is The Healing Garden in Belfast, Maine? What projects and workshops are The Healing Garden offering to the public? 2. What is the relationship between the the heart and the brain? What is heart-brain coherence? 3. What is it like to experience a heart-brain coherence meditation? 4. What is the vagus nerve & what does it have to do with stress, and flight, fright & freeze? 5. How does the breath affect our nervous system? How is the breath important in healing? 6. How can mainstream medicine and holistic practice work together? 7. How do you stay positive in your attempts to heal even when it’s very difficult? 8. What are the chemicals involved in flight, fright, freeze and stress, and what did neuroscientist Dr. Candace Pert discover about the molecules of emotion? Do we really experience emotions in our stomachs? Guest/s: Dr. Deb Peabody is a practicing Family Physician who left mainstream medicine to embrace a new medical practice after discovering the Functional Medicine model of healthcare. She is also a Hospice volunteer, and a board member of The Healing Garden. Diana Maria Chapin, president of The Healing Garden, is a Reiki Master, and in her practice in Belfast, she works with energy healing & meditation, and helps clients to develop wellness skills. Dr. Kerri Vacher, vice president of The Healing Garden, is a Naturopathic Doctor and Family Nurse Practitioner who combines several healing modalities in her practice, including cranial sacral therapy, meditation, yoga, and diet & nutrition therapies. Websites of Interest: The Healing Garden Maine Dr. Candace Pert Heart-Math Institute The Heart’s Electromagnetic Field is Your Super Power: Training Heart-Brain Coherence “Heartbreak- A Personal and Scientific Journey” Healthy Options interview with author Florence Williams 2/2/22 About the host: Rhonda Feiman is a nationally-certified, licensed acupuncturist practicing in Belfast, Maine since 1993. She primarily practices Toyohari Japanese acupuncture, using gentle and powerful non-insertion needle techniques, and also utilizes Chinese acupuncture and herbology. In addition, Rhonda is a practitioner of Qi Gong and an instructor of Tai Chi Chuan in the Yang Family tradition.

The post Healthy Options 9/7/22: The Healing Garden first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Host/Producer: Rhonda Feiman Co-Producer: Petra Hall Healthy Options: For Well-being & Being Well Host Rhonda Feiman speaks with Lindsey Piper and Mareisa Weil from Maine Family Planning to discuss the evolving situation in Maine- and what striking down this law means for reproductive rights here and nationally. 1. What has changed in Maine since Roe versus Wade has been overturned? 2. What is safe reproductive health care? 3. What is the difference between the morning after pill and a medication abortion using pills? 4. Is using the medication in a medical abortion safe and effective? 5. What is the timeframe for a safe medical abortion? 6. What is an ectopic pregnancy? Can an ectopic pregnancy be life-threatening? 7. What is the difference between early pregnancy loss, and a miscarriage? 8. How have restrictive laws affected medical personnels’ ability to treat and save the lives of women experiencing ectopic pregnancy or miscarriages? 9. What is the federal Emergency Medical Treatment & Labor Act (EMTALA)? How does that law protect providers? 10. What is age-appropriate sex education? How is MFP working with young people? 11. How has the overturning of Roe versus Wade affected reproductive health care and access to medical care? 12. What is a typical day in the life of a Maine Family Planning practitioner? What has changed since restrictive laws are being enacted in many states in the US? Websites of Interest: Maine Family Planning SAFE MAINE Emergency Medical Treatment & Labor Act (EMTALA) National Network of Abortion Funds Plan C Pills SCIENCE NEWS: 5 misunderstandings of pregnancy biology that cloud the abortion debate Guest/s: At Maine Family Planning, Lindsey Piper is a nurse practitioner specializing in sexual and reproductive health and Mareisa Weil is Vice President for Development & Community Engagement. About the host: Rhonda Feiman is a nationally-certified, licensed acupuncturist practicing in Belfast, Maine since 1993. She primarily practices Toyohari Japanese acupuncture, using gentle and powerful non-insertion needle techniques, and also utilizes Chinese acupuncture and herbology. In addition, Rhonda is a practitioner of Qi Gong and an instructor of Tai Chi Chuan in the Yang Family tradition.

The post Healthy Options 8/3/22: How are local clinics here dealing with the overturning of Roe V. Wade? first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Host/Producer: Rhonda Feiman Co-Producer: Petra Hall Technical assistance: Joel Mann & Amy Browne Healthy Options: For Well-being & Being Well Ticks ARE out- and biting (ugh!), so it’s time for our yearly update on TICKS, Lyme, and tick-borne illness, with tick specialist, Dr. Beatrice Szantyr. Key Discussion Points: 1. What is a tickborne illness? 2. What tickborne infections are viruses and which are bacterial, and how can they be treated? 3. What is the prevalence of Lyme disease, and other infections in Maine? 5. What percentage of people get a rash with Lyme infections and what does that rash look like? 6. Besides deer ticks, what other kinds of ticks are here now in Maine? What kind of diseases/infections can we get from them? 7. What is anaplasmosis and Powassan virus and why are we so concerned about these infections? 8. What can we do to protect ourselves from tick bites? 9. What do I do if I’ve been bitten? Where can I send the tick to analyze what it may carry, and will this help in my possible treatment? Guest: Dr. Beatrice Szantyr, an Internist and Pediatrician who lectures on Lyme disease and related tick-borne disorders in Maine and nationally, to both professional and community groups. She is an active member of the Maine CDC Vector Borne Disease Work Group, and a member of the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society. Dr. Szantyr most recently served on the 2022 Federal Tick-Borne Disease Working Group, the Access to Care and Education Subcommittee. Websites of Interest: Tick testing Maine Tick testing Amherst MA. (tests for more diseases) MANY websites of interest from previous Healthy Options programs can also be found at: Healthy Options Archive 5/5/21 Healthy Options Archive 6/3/20 About the host: Rhonda Feiman is a nationally-certified, licensed acupuncturist practicing in Belfast, Maine since 1993. She primarily practices Toyohari Japanese acupuncture, using gentle and powerful non-insertion needle techniques, and also utilizes Chinese acupuncture and herbology. In addition, Rhonda is a practitioner of Qi Gong and an instructor of Tai Chi Chuan in the Yang Family tradition.

The post Healthy Options 5/4/22: Yearly Update on TICKS, Lyme, and Tick-borne Illnesses first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Host/Producer: Rhonda Feiman Co-Producer: Petra Hall Technical assistance: Joel Mann & Amy Browne The serious problems of PFAS: The “forever chemicals” in our food, water, land & everywhere… Key discussion points: 1. What are PFAS & “forever chemicals”? 2. Why are we so concerned about them? 3. What products contain PFAS? 4. Are PFAS in our water, soil & products, and how did they get there? 5. What food packaging contains PFAS? 6. Is there a way to minimize your exposure to PFAS? 7. What are the long-term health ramifications of exposure to PFAS? 8. Is there any acceptable level for PFAS exposure? 9. Is it possible to filter out these chemicals if they are in your water? 10. What can we do about toxic levels of PFAS in our bodies? 11. Is there anything to be done to remedy toxic levels of PFAS in the soil? 12. How is this issue handled in the USA vs. how they deal with it in Europe? Guest: Patrick MacRoy, Deputy Director of DEFEND OUR HEALTH, a public health organization based in Portland, Maine, which advocates for safe water, safe food, safe products, & a toxic-free environment. DEFEND OUR HEALTH is actively engaged in exposing the dangers of PFAS- the “forever chemicals” contaminating our food, water, soil, and products. About the host: Rhonda Feiman is a nationally-certified, licensed acupuncturist practicing in Belfast, Maine since 1993. She primarily practices Toyohari Japanese acupuncture, using gentle and powerful non-insertion needle techniques, and also utilizes Chinese acupuncture and herbology. In addition, Rhonda is a practitioner of Qi Gong and an instructor of Tai Chi Chuan in the Yang Family tradition.

The post Healthy Options 4/6/22: The serious problems of PFAS “forever chemicals” with Patrick MacRoy first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Host/Producer: Rhonda Feiman Co-Producer: Petra Hall Technical assistance: Joel Mann & Amy Browne Browntail Moth in Maine: Protecting ourselves and our local communities as BTM spreads in Maine -What part of the Browntail Moth (BTM) is toxic to humans? -What can we do to minimize our exposure to Browntail Moth caterpillars? -What are some ways to reduce their spread, locally & statewide? Are there new methods to use? -When is a good time to clip the webs? What do the webs look like & how can they be confused with other species that we don’t want to clip? -Is it possible to use the compost after Browntail Moth/caterpillars have been seen? -How long should the clipped webs stay in soapy water? -What is the lifecycle of the Browntail Moth? What cycle are we in now? -When should we turn our lights down and off so the male Browntail Moths don’t get attracted? -Why are bug zappers and other devices that attract them not a good idea to use? Guest: Maine Forest Service entomologist Tom Schmeelk, who is charged with managing the state’s response to the Browntail Moth (BTM) problem here in Maine. Websites of Interest: “Knock Out Browntail” with info. & links on the Maine Forest website Belfast Library video presentation Feb. 2022: Browntail Moth and What You Need to Know- with entomologist Tom Schmeelk Healthy Options interview with Tom Schmeelk April 2021 About the host: Rhonda Feiman is a nationally-certified, licensed acupuncturist practicing in Belfast, Maine since 1993. She primarily practices Toyohari Japanese acupuncture, using gentle and powerful non-insertion needle techniques, and also utilizes Chinese acupuncture and herbology. In addition, Rhonda is a practitioner of Qi Gong and an instructor of Tai Chi Chuan in the Yang Family tradition.

The post Healthy Options 3/2/22: Browntail Moth in Maine: Protecting ourselves and our local communities as BTM spreads in Maine first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Host/Producer: Rhonda Feiman Co-Producer: Petra Hall Technical assistance: Joel Mann & Amy Browne Rhonda Feiman speaks with Florence Williams, author of the new book, “Heartbreak- A Personal and Scientific Journey,” about the physiological and emotional effects of heartbreak and grief- and effective pathways for healing. Key Discussion Points: 1. What are the physiological changes that can occur with shock, grief and heartbreak? How do you define heartbreak? 2. How is the immune system affected by strong emotions associated with loss, grief and heartbreak? 3. How does the heart get affected? What is Takotsubo syndrome? 4. Does being in nature help bring our nervous system back into balance? 5. What is “awe” and why is that useful as a treatment or antidote to strong physiological changes that can occur with heartbreak? 6. What other methods are helpful in treating the shock, grief and heartbreak? 7. How might psychotropic medicines help? Guest: Florence Williams, author of The Nature Fix- Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative She is also author of the book, BREASTS: A Natural and Unnatural History, and producer of the series, BREASTS UNBOUND, An Audible Original. Previous Healthy Options interviews with Florence Williams: Healing ourselves through nature– The Nature Fix- Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative Interview with Florence Williams, author of the book, BREASTS: A Natural and Unnatural History About the host: Rhonda Feiman is a nationally-certified, licensed acupuncturist practicing in Belfast, Maine since 1993. She primarily practices Toyohari Japanese acupuncture, using gentle and powerful non-insertion needle techniques, and also utilizes Chinese acupuncture and herbology. In addition, Rhonda is a practitioner of Qi Gong and an instructor of Tai Chi Chuan in the Yang Family tradition.

The post Healthy Options 2/2/22: Rhonda Feiman speaks with Florence Williams, author of the new book, “Heartbreak- A Personal and Scientific Journey” first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.