bid to take the newborn chicks home to foster for their first few weeks. They then are returned to us and farm life continues. We also had the addition of four new fancy chicks, breeds that included the Polish variation with their “poofy” headdresses and Araucana which lay the green/blue eggs. Lady Gaga 2 and Princess Diana are truly unique and add character and color to the naked necks and cochin/silkie mixes that already are on the farm. Earlier this spring we also had three new Nigerian dwarf goat kids born on the farm. The two buckings, Billy the Kid and Jacque and the doeling, Primrose are getting into a lot of mischief but are a true pleasure.  These kids are available for sale to a proper home.

Princess Diana and Lady Gaga II

Prim and Jacque

Billy the Kid

The “Naked Neck” chicks

A chiropractor is a posture expert. Treatment of bio-mechanical problems, improving and enhancing athletic performance, active living and aging well, has been the goal of chiropractic wellness practice of Dr. Petrusia Kotlar.

“Posture is an exercise, a practice of body awareness and consciousness” is what I tell my patients. “It is not necessarily a natural gift that you happen to be born with. You have to participate and practice good muscle balancing methods and stretch as much as you can and as long as it feels good.”

We live in a “seated” society, which trains our bodies to be flexed at the hip with the torso bent at 90 degrees on the thighs. The result is an adaptively short hip flexor muscle and hip extensors that are adaptively long. In other words, our habit of sitting most of the day is throwing our spinal alignment and musculoskeletal balance into havoc.

Taking a quick look at the anatomy will help you understand the reason for back pain that might extend to the front of the thigh or hip. The primary hip flexor, the PSOAS, originates on the anterior lumbar vertebral bodies and discs of T12-L4. That means it is a deep muscle that attaches to the spine on one end and then crosses over the hip and inserts onto the femur’s lesser trochanter or the front of the thigh bone in layman’s terms. Other hip flexors namely, the iliacus and the rectus femoris, are also involved in this back/hip adaptive muscle limitation. The flexed hip mechanics of sitting approximates the spine and the thigh, and so over time the psoas tends to adaptively shorten.

Upper body adaptive postures from excessive sitting also correlate with mechanical issues from neck and arm pain to headaches. When people are keyboarding or texting, their hands pronate and their shoulders are internally rotated, which shortens the muscles and the fascia (connective tissue) on the front of the chest. At the same time the opposite muscles of the posterior torso or upper back, namely trapezius, rhomboid, serratus posterior superior, tend to lengthen, rolling the shoulder girdle forward giving one a slouched appearance.

So, here I have presented the problems that occur in todays’ media saturated world where our thumbs are doomed to suffer from the next “overuse syndrome” and sitting long hours are the culprit of many pain syndromes.

Here are solutions:
Take a snapshot. Or have someone take one of you standing sideways and from the back. Are your shoulders level? Hips level? Do you have a chin that juts forward. Are you slouching all the time because you are uncomfortable? Do you have back pain or hip pain? Consider a visit to a POSTURE EXPERT!

I have taken many exercise classes over the years and have experienced what the state of the art means and changes over time. Pilates, for example, have added such programs such as Core Align, Red Cables, Cardiolates, Yogalates as tools to keep the clients motivated and active. Yet I have found that many classes stress core building which in turn, tends to strain the hip flexors since they are the stabilizing muscle group. So I devised my own hip flexor/lower back stretch that I have been using with my patients.

HIP FLEXOR (PSOAS, ILIACUS, RECTUS FEMORIS ) STRETCH
1. Lie on your back with knees bent and together and feet apart.
2. Lower one knee inward so that inner thigh touches the floor. This will rotate the thigh inwards and you will feel the stretch in the outer hip and the lower back.
3. To add more weight/stretch place opposite heel onto bent knee for a maximum range of motion in the hip and back. Try not to arch your back. Instead, quietly relax and lengthen the muscles.

See article in ACAnews, official publication of the American Chiropractic Association, May 2012 Annual Posture Pictures by Steven Weiniger, DC

I must say it was quite an experience for me. Gurney’s Inn location is not only beautiful, it’s convenient– only a couple of hours away– from the New York/New Jersey/Connecticut metropolitan area yet the resort’s ocean front rooms give you a feeling of being far off in the islands.

This is one of the “Rejuvenation” Vacations that I have suggested to many of my patients, friends and family since it is close to home yet far enough away to give you the time and environment to recharge.  Hope to see some of you join me for this great weekend of  renewal!

View the attached flier here or visit  GurneysInn.com for more information.

A praying mantis pod on the farm!

“Hucka Bucka Beanstalk!”

I thought of this term this morning as I walked the trail around the farm. Its because I cannot stop myself from searching for more Praying Mantis Pods. This year for whatever reason, there are dozens of them all over the property. Loads of egg cases of this alien looking magical insect with its triangular head that seems to tilt intelligently as you gaze upon it. I’ve had at least 2 significant incidents with Praying Mantises. One episode was on the boardwalk at Wildwood Crest in a noisy arcade and a second memorable one while I was mowing one of the fields. I will never forget either instance. Ask me about it and I will tell the story. It sounds better than it reads.

The unusual abundance of these pods all around our fields led me to do the research and here are some interesting facts.

There are 3 species of praying mantids that are common. These are the Carolina (Stagmomantis Carolina), a native species of mantid; the Chinese (Tenodera aridifolia sinensis) which was imported into the U.S. in the 1800’s to control pests of agricultural crops; and the European (Mantis religiosa), another imported mantid. Each mantid species looks slightly different from one another.

Adult mantids that are busy laying eggs in the fall and the egg masses are usually laid on branches or other structures. The egg mass laid by mantids is called an ootheca. It is in the egg stage that mantids spend the cold winter months. In the fall when the female lays her eggs she produces a substance called spumaline in which she deposits her eggs. The egg mass dries and feels like lightweight styrofoam.

Each of the 3 mantid species has a somewhat unique shape to their egg mass and the one prevalent on our farm is that of the Chinese praying mantid. In the spring when it warms up baby mantids emerge from the egg cases and begin their consumption of food. They let down a threadlike lifeline and miniature praying mantids march single file down the thread into the world of predators. Like those baby turtles that have to shimmy across the beach to the ocean because the mom laid them in a nest that was just that far. Another test for survival of the fittest, I guess.

I walked the property with a friend last week and pointed out enthusiastically everytime I saw another pods. It was contagious. Both of us pointed wildly with huge smiles like little kids. She later sent me a symbolic meaning of the praying mantid. It represented “stillness” as Mantids are “sit and wait” predators. I appreciated the definition but was somewhat disappointed by the words since I am so not able to sit still. Maybe, as a result of these incredible creatures I will try to sit still a little more this spring. At least long enough to observe the phenomenon of the birth of these creatures. That would be a good thing.

I started thinking about indicator species and how they predict and effect our environment.

Further searches revealed having praying mantids and praying mantid egg cases on plants in your property is an indication of a healthy ecosystem. Now that made my day.

Hucka Bucka Beanstock!

Nutritious nettle tea. Find out where to buy online at the end of this article.

Osteopenia is a new buzz word when talking about bone density diagnostic testing. It is the term used to describe the density of bone that is lesser than normal. I consider it a borderline diagnostic term when compared to osteoporosis, which is demineralization or bone loss. After searching possible causes of Osteopenia, the most common reasons were extensive. The medical conditions directly related included many chronic diseases requiring medications. Medical treatments for chronic inflammatory disease include arthritis, and endometriosis for example and medically prescribed drugs including Prevacid, Heparin, Thyroid hormone replacement, diuretics and some studies show that some antibiotics may also be a risk factor for excessive bone loss.

Other significant findings of interest was that a phosporus imbalance can occur when drinking carbonated beverages. They increase the amount of phosphorus so much that it upsets the delicate Calcium/Phosporus balance necessary for good bone growth. Over the counter drugs containing caffeine and antacids are  also major culprits.

In response to a number of my patients asking for my opinion when their primary care physicians or obgyns are recommending Boniva, Fosamax or Evista, Drugs.com listed some very disturbing side effects. The two common/severe side effects most outstanding were osteonecrosis of the jaw bone and fracture of the femur or thigh bone. Spasms or twitches of muscles, joint pain, and cramps just do not seem like side effects easily tolerated especially when my patients asking are vibrant and conscientious avid exercisers who are finding Ca loss in spite of relatively good lifestyle choices. So I researched further.

“Experts rethink how to diagnose and treat a debilitating disease” was the subtitle of the New York Times (Jan 19, 2012) article titled Osteoporosis Patients Advised to Delay Bone Density Retests. It describes  a controversy of  testing every other year as the  general recommendation. Since osteoporosis takes a very long time to actually develop, some researchers believe that  retesting should be done with longer intervals in between. Similar recommendations for mammograms have changed due to recent findings.

Knowbreastcancer.org writes “Women tend to overestimate both their risk of developing breast cancer and the actual benefit mammography has in reducing the chance of dying from breast cancer. The absolute benefit of mammography is modest at best, but so is the risk of getting breast cancer in the first place.”"

So maybe we need to take a closer look at the bone density testing procedure. Still it is not a solution just another unanswered question.

Further investigation led me to look at our drinking water after I came upon an article in Dynamic Chiropractic one of my chiropractic journals. It was a nutrition article about how hundreds of healthy and active centenarians live in areas designated as “blue zones” so I ordered the book. I will refer to it in future articles but now I quote Dr. Mehmet Oz, who has studied the lifestyle of these long-lived people, and attributes their longevity to their physical activity and the fact that they drink hard water, ie. water high in calcium and magnesium which helps maintain strong bones. By contrast, it is estimated that approximately 28 million people (1 in 9 or 10.29%) in the United States have osteoporosis and an additional 18 million have low bone mass. Many of these cases could be caused because the drinking water is too pure and does not have enough minerals to maintain equilibrium of the mineral ions in the bones. The situation is aggravated by the use of domestic chemical water softeners which substantially reduce the content of calcium in drinking water.

There we have it. Many, many good reasons why we see so much calcium loss in this country.

My objective is to find alternatives to chemical medicines at a time when patients are borderline or still have not opted the chemical route. For 20 years I have handed out lists of calcium rich foods with instructions to “stick to the fridge and try to eat as many of these as possible” These nutrient dense choices were all whole foods that were lower in calories yet highest in absorbable calcium..

My latest pick or recommendation for high calcium food is Nettles. It is also known as Stinging Nettle, due to its characteristic sting when touched in the wild. I always felt that it was nature’s way of making us pay attention to this wonderful medicinal and nutritive herbal plant. Besides its whopping 966 mg. of calcium per ounce, Nettles are a rich source of antioxidants, Vitamin A, C and E. It has antiinflammatory properties, a good source of natural Vitamin D which is also important in the absorption of calcium. It is a source of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that benefits those who suffer from depression.

The stinging nettle is a supreme herb for rich mineral content including calcium, magnesium for bone building, potassium that combines with iron to oxygenate cells. It also contains silica for cell rejuvenation, healthy hair, teeth and skin.

Sounds to me like nettles negates all side effects listed when using the present day recommended chemical medicines. You decide.

To order Nettle Tea, Traditional Medicinal carries Organic Nettle Leaf , Pharmacopoeial Quality Herb , tested for Strenghth and Purity. I have been ordering it for patients from Deb at Natural Resources, Sevastopol CA. She could be reached at www.natres.com.

R stands for RENOVATE, RESTORE, RENEW, REUSE
E stands for EDUCATE, EVOLVE, EVOKE, EVENTUAL
A stands for ALTRUISM, AROUSE, ARM, ASTOUND
D stands for DEVOTE, DEVELOP, DEVISE, DESIDERATA

E-mail me at petrusia@thehealthyhive.com if you would like to join this BARN RAISING experience.

The first R.E.A.D is a fictional story I wrote titled:

THE ORANGE AGENT

Summary:

An environmental toxicologist uncovers a conspiracy while searching for a motive in the poisoning of a Ukrainian presidential
candidate that reveals intentions for the culprits to advance as ultimate worldwide powers.

Synopsis:

Alex Kotyk, an environmental toxicologist, teams up with colleague Zenia Lubova, a marine archeologist, to discover the motive for the poisoning of Viktor Yuschenko, Ukrainian presidential candidate for the opposition in this chronicle which concludes with Ukraine’s Orange Revolution. These two inadvertent detectives find themselves traveling from Western Ukraine to the Black Sea and the Crimean Peninsula to uncover a sinister plot involving ancient Scythian treasures, black gold and an offshore controversial island full of mythological history. As Ukraine attempts to rid itself of its reputation as a corrupt, power hungry oligarchy and to peacefully transition itself into a strong democratic nation, the secrets of the
past are impossible to hide. As the personal lives of key political characters are empathetically depicted-the future of Ukraine in their hands and the stakes are too high to ignore, their decisions will affect the fate of this geopolitically evolving world power and the entire Western world.

Beet borscht is traditionally a Ukrainian dish, made with many types of rich vegetables and flavors.

As a practicing alternative health care practitioner in New York City, I have the affinity to search obscure or forgotten topics that may ultimately benefit the patient. As diseases and disorders of the human organism become endemic and epidemic in the United States, I easily access internet search engines to see what is available for that interested patient. When disappointed by findings, I return to textbooks and resources I have collected over the 27 years in practice and came upon an age old “human ecology” term –Ethnonutrition.

Open up any nutritional herbal or text on superfoods these days (and you are bombarded with a multitude of choices). The Newsweek article, Brain Freeze on my waiting room bulletin board, flooded my mind which tells of this age of “too much information” and how it affects our health and productivity. The Metro, a free local paper, lists the Best Foods for Building Muscles as pumpkin seeds, salmon, spinach, eggs and oats. Again, I empathize with the patient and wonder which one of these I might consume regularly.

As an adjunct to my chiropractic practice, I do nutritional consults and often suggest food alternatives to various supplementations which come in a table ranking nutrient dense listings vs. mg./serving of calcium for example. The list begins with bok choy cabbage (158mg), turnip greens, spinach, collards, mustard greens, dandelion greens, beet greens, seaweed (kelp raw), and so on. As I peruse the list with my patient, we tend to scoot down to parmesian cheese, skip kefir, sardines, okra pods and goat milk and again highlight cheddar cheese, chocolate milk and get a little excited about the bottom of the list: apple (10 mg.), chicken breast (13 mg.), and sirloin steak 8oz. (26 mg.).

I try to disguise my disapproving frown and instead raise my eyebrows with a suggestion of sticking it to their refrigerator with the attempt to incorporate at least 10 of the items we checked off and experimenting with the others. It is more of a lesson in awareness than expecting most Americans to substitute the Standard American Diet (SAD diet) with these foreign healthy options.

I find that questioning my patients with food diaries can sometimes be misleading for eating is a very private matter and our choices on paper tend to be an invasion of this privacy.  So, we talk about the changing seasons and how it affects our appetites and share the emotional pleasures we gain from food. I am an enthusiastic proponent “Slow Food” movement and talk about the honeybees I keep and the mischief the goats get into on a daily basis. Lately, a big topic has been comfort foods.

Ethnonutrition

Ethnonutrition is the study of how a living organism assimilates food and uses it for growth and replacement of tissues pertaining to a race or people. The scientific basis which give this specialty credibility is that certain cultures do not have the capability or proper enzymes to break down certain products. The connection with our evolutionary nutrition which I believe is buried deep in our DNA memory banks (possibly associated with the pineal gland or “third eye” located within the brain (but more on this at another time),  is the proper direction to consult when we are not feeling our optimal and/or are sick.  It is what conscientious mothers search out and attempt to feed  their infants and growing children.  It is what we should be feeding our elderly. It is what all people of diverse cultural backgrounds in this melting pot should be aware of.

Some examples associated foods and their origins in ethnonutrition are obvious such as:

• Feta cheese – Greece,
• Red Cabbage, Sauerkraut – Germany
• Buckwheat, Sunflower oil – Ukraine
• Oxtail Tomato Sauce – Italy
• Star Fruit – Philippines
• Bok Choy – Asian

These were just a few of the examples/responses that I received when I asked my patients about cherished recipes, memories of home cooked meals and simply favorites. I intend to explore optimal eating habits of world cultures and share this data as it applies to prevention and treatment of diabetes and other chronic preventable diseases. It is our innate link to the path of health and recovery.

The conditions which doctors of chiropractic address are as varied and as vast as the nervous system itself. All chiropractors use a standard procedure of examination to diagnose a patient’s condition and arrive at a course of treatment. Doctors of chiropractic use the same time-honored methods of consultation, case history, physical examination, laboratory analysis and x-ray examination as any other doctor. In addition, they provide a careful chiropractic structural examination, paying particular attention to the spine.

The examination of the spine to evaluate structure and function is what makes chiropractic different from other health care procedures. Your spinal column is a series of movable bones which begin at the base of your skull and end in the center of your hips. Thirty-one pairs of spinal nerves extend down the spine from the brain and exit through a series of openings. The nerves leave the spine and form a complicated network which influences every living tissue in your body.

Accidents, falls, stress, tension, overexertion, and countless other factors can result in a displacements or derangements of the spinal column, causing irritation to spinal nerve roots. These irritations are often what cause malfunctions in the human body. Chiropractic teaches that reducing or eliminating this irritation to spinal nerves can cause your body to operate more efficiently and more comfortably.

Chiropractic also places an emphasis on nutritional and exercise programs, wellness and lifestyle modifications for promoting physical and mental health. While chiropractors make no use of drugs or surgery, Doctors of chiropractic do refer patients for medical care when those interventions are indicated. In fact, chiropractors, medical doctors, physical therapists and other health care professionals now work as partners in occupational health, sports medicine, and a wide variety of other rehabilitation practices.

From http://www.chiroweb.com/find/whatischiro.html

Linden has a long history of medicinal use in Europe, most notably for soothing tension and irritability. It is also a heart tonic. The flower tea makes an excellent daily drink as it has a beneficial effect on the blood, helping to reduce cholesterol as well as high blood pressure. It makes a useful drink for children, often sweetened with honey, to calm agitation and promote peaceful sleep. The hot tea soothes diarrhea and clears congested sinus conditions. Externally, the flower tea soothes inflammatory skin problems. In German, the very word “to soothe”, lindern, is closely related to the name of the tree.

The Linden, or Lypa, blossom is considered the prize, or “Queen of Nectar,” producing honey plants in Eastern European countries, although less known here in the US. Chemically, Tilia cordata has some extraordinary characteristics. The chemical constituents include the volatile oil fanesol, flavonoid glycosides such as hesperidin and quercitin, saponins, condensed tannins, mucilage and manganese salts. So far, I have researched that farnesol gives Linden flowers their characteristic smell and is an antibacterial, natural pesticide for mites. This is possibly a solution for the Varroa mite problem and may be a natural alternative to the harsh pesticide suggested for use by the beekeepers’ supply companies. The bioflavonoids hesperidin of lime flowers (aka linden flowers) are known to lower blood pressure in humans and quercitin stabilizes mast cell membranes. There are also phytonicides in the plant which affect immunity.

Linden Hill Farm and Apiary has a limited number of these beautiful saplings for sale to beekeepers in the state of New Jersey. They are a prize of nature and a gift to the bees in July when the honey flow begins to decline.