Reduce Your Stress

Many years ago I went to a seminar where a complementary medicine doctor was speaking on the basic fundamentals needed to live a healthy and happy life into “old age”. He said that life-style studies had shown that the most important elements were:

• A firm spiritual basis or faith
• A positive attitude
• A circle of friends (both human and animal)
• An hour a day of being outdoors
• And a healthy lifestyle ( eating right, getting exercise, drinking plenty of fresh water, and getting 7-8 hours of sleep a night).

If we look at these tips, the most important factor underlying several of these is stress reduction. In my clinic I see stress as either the basis or a contributing factor in almost all of my patients’ problems. Stress magnifies pain and can be the cause of many internal conditions (IBS, Ulcers, Gastritis, etc.)

The stress hormones cortisol and catecholamine break-down into free radicals, setting up the body for inflammation. That is why it is so important that we supplement with powerful anti-oxidants like Pycnogenol® or astaxanthin to help prevent free radical damage.

However, reducing stress is a far better broad spectrum solution. My first recommendation for stress reduction is always yoga. With the right yoga class and instructor, the benefits for mind, body and spirit are unsurpassed. Meditation is also a powerful way of reducing stress. The last one that I frequently recommend, and the one I personally use, is Active Meditation. This is simply the art of being involved in a physical activity such as walking or working-out while focusing your mind on all aspects of what is around you and not allowing yourself to “think”. I’ve mentioned before that I love to hike with my dogs, Willie & Maxx. Hitting the trail and focusing on the flowers, listening to the birds singing, feeling the wind kissing my cheek, catching the smell of sage, a glimpse of a rabbit or coyote, seeing the joy of the dogs being “out”, and getting out of my head for those 20 minutes or more is the best form of stress reduction for me that I have found.

Stress is truly a silent killer. I encourage you to find the best and most enjoyable stress reduction technique that will work for you and really embrace it as a daily habit. The benefits are priceless.

Yours in Health,

Dr. Linda Miles, L.Ac., D. O. M.

Ready, Set, Summer!

Memorial Day, the unofficial start of summer, is just around the corner. Stores have had their bathing suits, shorts and flip flops on shelves since Valentine’s Day. And of course, flowers are blooming, trees are leafing-out, and the grass is now growing at nearly 100 miles per hour it seems; all sure signs that summer will soon be here.

Now too is the time that we look in the mirror and go "OMG" and then try to figure out how we are going to get into our swim suit of last year gracefully. Or for some of us, we’d be happy with just shorts and a tank top. Many of us are still packing a few extra pounds from our winter hibernation (yes, your body does try and add some fat in the winter as a reserve). The problem is we usually don’t need the extra weight, and we really don’t like the “muffin-top” or “love handle” look.

Well don’t despair. There are lots of things that can be done to look and feel your best for summer. Here are a few simple tips to help you drop the weight somewhat painlessly:

1. Drink one full 8 oz. glass of water 10 minutes before each meal. Most of us don’t drink enough water anyway, so this adds to our healthy lifestyle and the water will help you feel full. However the real trick is to only eat enough to feel satiated and then get up from the table, or at least remove your plate so that you are not tempted to keep nibbling.
2. Avoid sugar. Period. Sugar is responsible for so many health problems from obesity to diabetes. We would all be well-served to eliminate it from our diets, but life is about balance so eat less of anything sugary like sodas, that morning cup of coffee with a hefty spoonful, or the granola snack loaded with sugar. Sugar seems to be everywhere so start reading labels and avoid it where you can. High fructose corn syrup is another form of sugar that needs to be avoided. Stevia or honey is an acceptable alternative if you can’t live without the sweet taste.
3. Increase your exercise level. I’m not talking about joining a gym and pumping iron for an hour. Little changes give huge benefits. If you’re already walking or working out regularly then just increase the time by 10 minutes a day. And if you’re not, then start. An easy way to increase your walking is when you go to a store or mall, always park in the furthest parking spot and use the stairs instead of the escalator or elevator.
4. Increase your intake of vegetables. This doesn’t just mean salads. Many of us shouldn’t be eating cold vegetables and would be better served eating a hearty vegetable soup. Listen to your body and you’ll know whether hot or cold is better for you.

The second biggest “issue” when looking in looking in the mirror is those spider veins that make your legs look a little like a roadmap of the state. Spider veins and varicose veins are there because your body has a weakness and the blood isn’t being held in the vessels correctly. Strengthening your body with your acupuncturist or naturopath would be ideal, but there is an easy at-home solution to the spider veins themselves. A combination of Horse Chestnut, Witch Hazel, Pycnogenol® and Grape Skin extract applied topically will work to help support the veins and diminish the leakage. In Europe a high dose of Horse Chestnut is given internally to actually diminish varicose veins. While derma e®’s Clear Vein® Crème doesn’t promise to work on varicose veins, it does a great job on spider veins. Within 4 weeks of twice a day usage, spider veins will seem to have disappeared. Just in time for summer!

Summer is truly a magical time to enjoy the gifts of nature. Be sure to get out there and enjoy yourself.

Yours in health,
Dr. Linda Miles, L.Ac., D. O. M.

Spring Cleaning

I recently had the opportunity to go on a road trip through the southwest US (California, Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico) and Spring has definitely sprung. The wildflowers lining the freeways and on the hiking trails were just awesome. Also, here in my own backyard we have Blue Lupine, California Poppies, Indian Paintbrush, and a bouquet of other flowers that I don’t know the names of. Purple, yellow, blue, white, orange: a rainbow of color in fact. This is truly one of my favorite times of the year.

Traditionally I also try and do a spring cleaning; getting rid of the dust, dirt and clutter that has accumulated during the winter months. (Did you know that the more “stuff” you have, the more it will energetically weigh you down? I highly encourage you to look around and get rid of anything that is no longer meaningful or useful in your life – you will notice an immediate lightness in your being.)

In addition, your skin could use a “spring cleaning” as well. Winter’s dryness and cold has left an excess of old skin cells just waiting to be shed to reveal those younger, plumper cells and healthier looking skin. Why not treat yourself to an at-home facial? Light some candles, put on some relaxing music and put out the Do Not Disturb sign for 30 minutes. Gather up the following skin care items: a cleanser (my pick is the Hyaluronic Hydrating Cleanser), a scrub (my # 1 recommendation is the Microdermabrasion Scrub), a mask (I like the Hyaluronic Hydrating Mask), a toner or astringent (Pycnogenol® Facial Toner is my choice here), and finally a moisturizer (as I’ve said before, my favorite is the Age-Defying Night Crème). Grab some cotton balls or pads, and put a couple of small towels into very warm (almost hot) water. Make sure you have a place to either sit or lie down comfortably during this process.

First cleanse your face thoroughly, then wrap a nice warm towel around your face with your nose exposed for breathing. Let the warmth, music and candles do their magic for 3 to 10 minutes. Do not allow your face to get cold. Stop when the towel is starting to get cool. Next take the scrub and gently massage the face avoiding the orbital areas (around the eyes) and focusing on the T-zone where dirt and oil tend to be trapped. I stress that you should do this gently because you want enough pressure to exfoliate effectively but not abrade the skin to the point of irritation. Rinse off the scrub with warm water. apply your mask and again wrap the face with a warm towel. Rest for 3-10 minutes.

Remove the mask with a warm water rinse and towel dry. Then use your toner to close pores, restore pH balance, remove any additional residue and prepare skin for your moisturizer. I like to use either a cotton ball or pad with my toner. Then finally apply an ample amount of your favorite moisturizer and spend a few minutes thoroughly massaging your face. Take a few more minutes to rest and relax. Now look in the mirror and see a new, refreshed, and hopefully very relaxed and healthier looking you!

If you have a specific skin care issue then use the products that are appropriate for that issue, such as:
Problem skin or acne – Use Very Clear® products
Sagging or loss of firmness – Use DMAE or Ester-C® products
Sensitive skin or rosacea – Use Pycnogenol® products
Lines and wrinkles – Use Age-Defying products

Obviously I feel the derma e® products are the best, but if you have another cleanser, toner or scrub that you prefer, then use those. Most importantly: “spring clean” your face and take the time for yourself!!!

Yours in health,
Dr. Linda Miles, L.Ac., D. O. M.

The Paraguay Project

I’m frequently asked about derma e®’s The Paraguay Project and how it began. So here is the story.

My daughter, Sonny Miles, was in the Peace Corp in Paraguay. As a volunteer in a rural community teaching health and environmental education, she soon fell in love with the country and people and wanted to help her “second home”. When she returned to the U.S. she proposed The Paraguay Project to David and me. At first we began by buying the beautiful spiderweb lace (nanduti) from women’s co-ops. It has been proven over and over again in many less developed countries that giving women income elevates the entire community.

While we still sell the lace on the derma e® website, it soon became apparent that our limited sales were not enough to make a real difference. So David and I decided that a percentage of each sale of derma e® products would also be donated to Paraguay. Sonny was able to identify organizations that would actually put the money to good use instead of helping themselves.

Guyra Paraguay is an organization dedicated to educating the people of Paraguay in order to save the wild habitats that are still left (Rainforest and Chaco (desert)). Global Infancia works directly with women and children (who are often abused) teaching self-esteem, life skills and providing shelter if necessary. Clyde E. Bay Foundation teaches nursing skills and establishes health clinics so that remote villages can have medical assistance. derma e® is very proud of the fact that our donations have enabled this organization to finish a nursing school!

Our most recent special project was in the little village of San Pedro. The community needed another school classroom and asked derma e® for help. This became a joint project between the community and derma e®. We supplied the needed funds and the community supplied the labor. It took only 6 weeks for the community to build a new classroom.

David and I feel very strongly about giving back. derma e® also supports Special Olympics, Heal the Bay, World Wildlife Fund, The Brittany Foundation, The Coalition To End Family Violence, and of course I volunteer at MEND - Meet Each Need with Dignity on a weekly basis giving acupuncture treatments and Chinese herbs to my patients there. Volunteering is one of life’s blessings and if you would like some extra happiness, I highly recommend you give it a try.

I would also personally like to thank YOU for your support of derma e® products, as you too are contributing to the support of all of these great and worthwhile organizations.

Yours in health,
Dr. Linda Miles, L.Ac., D.O.M.

The Power of Natural

The skin is the largest organ system in the body responsible for thermoregulation, waste removal, and protection. To perform these functions, skin needs to be healthy and by being healthy, it in turn also will look its best. Skin is the outward expression of our inner health and we cannot discount the importance of a healthy lifestyle which should include a balanced diet, exercise, plenty of sleep and minimizing stress.

However the most important thing that we can do to achieve healthy skin is to use powerful natural ingredients topically. Dr. Lester Packer, of the Packer Lab at UC Berkeley, California has proven that the very best way to provide essential vitamins and nutrients to the skin is to apply them topically.

Yet, are natural ingredients really that powerful? The answer is an undeniable “Yes”. Medicinal plants have been used for centuries in Chinese Medicine, Ayurvedic Medicine and many Western drugs are derived directly from plants. A good example of this is Salicylic Acid from White Willow Bark. One of the main reasons that natural ingredients are so powerful is their complexity. One ingredient may contain a mixture of antioxidants, carotenoids, bioflavonoids, oligomeric proanthocyanidins, volatile oils, and even more. The body responds better to this complexity and many natural compounds work synergistically so that the total effect is greater than either one alone.

Natural ingredients often are anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal and antiseptic yielding a vast array of benefits. They can stimulate the body’s own healing powers, restore balance, fight inflammation, and sooth irritation to mention a few.

Of course in the fight to maintain young, great looking skin, there is nothing as powerful as super antioxidants that can counteract free radical damage. The key to anti-aging is the wide array of amazing natural antioxidants.

So look to the power of natural for young, healthy and great looking skin!!

Yours in health,
Dr. Linda Miles, L. Ac., D.O.M.

Anti-Aging Skin Care Ingredients in the News

Recently, Oprah and Dr. Oz have recognized some of my favorite natural ingredients that help reduce the signs of aging and promote radiant, youthful skin. These key natural ingredients include powerful anti-aging antioxidant Astaxanthin, wrinkle-fighting peptide Argireline and skin-firming DMAE, all of which I use to formulate some of our best-selling products here at derma e^®.

Featured on The Oprah Winfrey show by best-selling author and dermatologist Nicholas Perricone, MD, and the Dr. Oz show by Joseph Mercola MD, Astaxanthin is becoming well known for providing benefits to the human body. This anti-aging nutrient is harvested from micro-algae and is reported as the most powerful antioxidant yet discovered, 500 times more powerful than vitamin E.

Applied externally, this powerful antioxidant is reported to help protect the skin from the damaging effects of sunlight and premature signs of aging, and reduce the look of wrinkles. Astaxanthin has long been a featured ingredient in some of my favorite products such as derma e^®’s signature Age-Defying Day, Night, and Eye Crèmes.

Recognized on Dr. Oz for fighting crow’s feet, Argireline^® is a powerful peptide that helps relax facial muscles and diminish the look of deep lines and wrinkles. Clinical studies demonstrate that Argireline^®reduces wrinkles by 17% over 15 days and 27% after 30 days of treatment. Inspired by the anti-aging effects of peptides derma e^® combined powerful peptide Argireline^® with powerful peptide Matrixyl^™ to create our Peptides Plus^® Wrinkle Reverse Crème, Peptides Plus^® Wrinkle Reverse Serum and Peptides Plus^® Wrinkle Reverse Eye Crème.

Also featured on Dr. Oz by Dr. Perricone was skin-firming DMAE. Highlighted to help “stop the signs of aging”, DMAE was recognized for its ability to help increase radiance and tone. DMAE (an abbreviation for the compound known as dimethylaminoethanol) has been touted as a “face lift in a jar.” Youthful skin is firm because the muscle fibers under the skin are short, thick and taut. With age, these fibers lengthen and loosen. Skin sags, and becomes thinner. As a natural, gentle solution, research shows

DMAE increases tensile strength of skin, reduces the look of fine lines and wrinkles and offers antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties for healthier, youthful skin. Here at derma e^®, we feature this ingredient in our DMAE – Alpha Lipoic Acid – C-Ester Cleanser, Toner, Crème and Serum to visibly improve skin tone and elasticity for vibrant, younger-looking skin.

I will continue to stay ahead of ingredient trends, and at derma e^® we will continue to develop natural anti-aging skincare formulas that contain optimal levels of scientifically proven effective antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and botanicals that promote healthy, beautiful and youthful skin.

Yours in Health,
Dr. Linda Miles, L.Ac., D. O. M.

Salon-perfect Skin for Spring

I recently visited my Mom in Springfield, MO. Spring is definitely around the corner as the grass is greening, the birds are moving back and the crocus flowers are blooming everywhere. Her birthday is in March and I decided this year to surprise her with something fun, so I took her to have a facial. She is 76 years old and had never had one. We went to a local salon/spa, had the best time, and emerged looking 20 years younger (not really, but the experience was terrific).

The spa facial consisted of seven steps: cleansing, a mask, hot towel wrap, another cleansing, a second mask, another hot towel, and finally a serum-type moisturizer was applied along with a shoulder, neck, arm, and scalp massage. Our skin definitely looked brighter and more vibrant and I was reminded how essential cleansing and exfoliation really are for great looking skin.

Aging skin, and problem skin (acne and other issues) experience a slowing down in the natural exfoliation process. It is very important that we encourage this vital function with either physical or chemical exfoliation. Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA Beauty Fluid) are chemical exfoliants that dissolve the lipid bonds between the surface cells and reveal younger, plumper and healthier looking skin. Physical exfoliants are scrubs with different types of abrasive materials.

derma e® makes several excellent scrubs that feature some favorite skin-pleasing ingredients such as the: Vitamin A Glycolic Facial Scrub, Fruit Enzyme Facial Scrub, Tropical Solutions™ Facial Scrub and the Very Clear® Cleansing Scrub. And finally, I think the best facial scrub is the Microdermabrasion Scrub, which is based on a crystal-blend system featuring magnesium oxide crystals from Dead Sea salts for the most effective exfoliation possible. If you haven’t tried this amazing product before, I invite you to ask for a sample from your favorite store and then use it on only half your face (to begin with). The results will be visible and immediate. (Of course, then do the other side so that you won’t appear lop-sided.)

So if you too would like to look like you just stepped out of the spa, make sure you cleanse, exfoliate and use a nutritious moisturizer for great looking skin.

Yours in health,

Dr. Linda Miles, L.Ac., D. O. M.