Ben began his training with Horace Daukei, the last surviving traditional doctor among the Kiowa Indian Tribe. He has continued to advance his work through the many vision quests that he has undergone. Ben had also trained intensively with Master Li Tai Liang in the internal practices that have been passed down in secret for over thousands of years in China.  Go to www.doiohm.com for more information on Ben's services.  Ben travels around the country to provide his services, but his home is in New York City.


Maya Abdominal Massage:
I (Alysia) have been a client of Alex Jackson, LMT, NCMTB for massage and maya abdominal massage for the past 3 years.  Before I started this therapy, I had issues with unexplained abdominal pain and ovarian cysts.  I didn't realize that you can store emotional issues and stress in your abdomin.  Thanks to this therapy, I no longer suffer from pain or cysts.

Alex Jackson, LMT, NCMTB works for Centered Spirit, the KC area source for Abdominal Health, Therapeutic Massage, and Energy Healing.  He is the only certified practitioner of the Arvigo Techniques of Maya Abdominal Massage in Missouri and Kansas.  Please visit his website for more information.


Mercury-free Dentistry:
Both Troy and I (Alysia) have been patients of Dr. Jack Ferguson of Lighthouse Dental for the past 3 years.  3 years ago, I had all of my amalgam fillings (7 of them) replaced by composite fillings.  At the time, we were trying to get pregnant.  Before the fillings were replaced, we had trouble conceiving, including two miscarriages.

Apparently, infertility/miscarriages can be a symptom of mercury poisoning.  The mercury in the amalgam fillings can seep out over time and cause a lot of issues. See more at www.dentalwellness4u.com.  I went to Great Plains Laboratory (in Kansas City) prior to having my fillings removed to have my mercury levels tested.  I tested really high for mercury!  The good news is that within two months from having the fillings removed and my body detoxified (see detox treatments below), I got pregnant. We now have a beautiful little boy!




Eating for Wellness:




Both Troy and his mother spent many years under the care and advice of Reiko Mizutani.  She was a major influence in helping Sharon stay alive for so many years.  Troy and I (Alysia) attended a 10 day cleansing clinic in Hawaii at Reiko's house in 2004.  Here, we drank a seaweed/herbal cleansing solution every day to detox and received acupuncture and chiropractic care.  The best part was that Reiko cooked all of our meals for us and taught us how to eat for wellness.  This trip changed how we viewed food and how we now eat in our household.

Reiko Mizutani studied in Japan to receive her degree in Oriental Medicine and left in 1961 to introduce oriental medicine to the United States. In addition to her OMD degree, she has a MFA, BA and DC (licensed chiropractor). She has taught at many institutions around the world and has published books and articles on nutrition of oriental medicine. To order Reiko's wellness cookbook call William & Allen, Publishers, 206-866-7417.

Chiropractic Care:

We wholeheartedly believe in ongoing preventative chiropractic care to help pain with bones, muscles and joints.  Our chiropractors, Dr. Stephanie & Eric Rasmussen (a husband and wife team), have helped us with so many issues through the years, that we would most likely be permanently on Advil if it weren't for their help.  Most notably, Dr. Stephanie helped me (Alysia) with ongoing back pain throughout my pregnancy and Dr. Eric has helped Troy with his shoulder pain. 

Their most important contribution, though, is to our son, Xander.  Xander slept on one side for his first two months, which caused him to develop positional plagiocephaly (flat head syndrome).  His ears were lopsided.  The doctors told us that the only treatment was for Xander to wear a helmet for several months.  We took Xander to a physician who had won awards for this condition, as well as Dr. Stephanie.  Dr. Stephanie treated Xander 2-3 times per week.  After 3 months of this treatment, our award-winning doctor wasn't so sure that we needed a helmet anymore.  In fact, he left the decision up to us.  Today, Xander looks very normal - his ears are even and head is nicely shaped.  We are so thankful to Dr. Stephanie for helping him!

Find out more about Dr. Stephanie & Eric Rasmussen =>

Alkaline Ionized Water:
This past year, we invested in our family's future wellness by purchasing an alkaline water ionizer. "Alkaline" refers to the PH of the water.  The PH scale ranges from 0 on the acidic end to 14 on the alkaline scale.  Normal tap water typically has a PH of 7 or lower, whereas clear mountain spring water may have a PH of 8 or 9.  Living things are sensitive to pH and function best (with the exception of the digestive tract) when solutions are nearly neutral (pH around 7).  Many foods, soft drinks, etc. that people eat today are highly acidic. 

The theory behind the water ionizer is this: Since the body operates best at a neutral pH, the foods and drink that you put in your body can affect your body's pH levels throwing it out of "balance".  With more and more pollutants in the environment, our regular water is becoming more and more acidic.  Drinking the alkaline water with pH 9+, which is what the machine produces, may help to offset the acidic food/drink in your body to maintain the neutral level it needs to optimally stave off disease.

This concept of "balance" is prevalent in oriental medicine... "Yang" represents the masculine, and in this case acidic states, whereas "Yin" represents the feminine, which in this case is alkaline states.  When the body is out of balance between yin and yang, disease may occur.  This concept can also be applied to foods.  There are diets, like Blood type diets, where you eat a balance of alkaline and acidic foods based on your blood type (varying pH balance by blood type) for optimal health.  An interesting point as well: "Yin" foods are higher in natural estrogen, whereas "Yang" foods are higher in natural testosterone.  Naturopathic doctors and chinese medicine doctors that we have talked with have theorized that hormone imbalances may be a large cause of cancers and other diseases. 

Also interesting, Acidic water is great for your skin.  This is because an acidic pH level on your skin is what is responsible for killing off the bacteria that cause pimples and acne on your skin.  I learned this from my facial asthetician recently.  Funny how it all seems to make sense.

Learn more about the IonWays Alkaline water Ionizer =>

Learn more about alkaline/acid balance in the diet =>



Detoxifying Foot Baths:
I first tried the Ion Cleanse footbath after I had all the amalgam (mercury) fillings removed from my teeth (see mercury-free dentistry above).  I was told by a naturopathic practitioner that the detox process after having the fillings removed would most likely take several months and that is when I could start trying to get pregnant again. 

Then, I found out about the Ion Cleanse footbath and decided to give it a try.  According to the company's website, the footbath "purifies the body through the electrolysis of the water".  My understanding is that the system utilizes polarized ions negative and positively charged to pull the toxins out of your body through the feet. The first time I sat through a 30-minute session, the water had turned almost black and contained many black flecks on the surface of the water.  After 10 sessions, for my last session the water was almost completely clear.  In addition to the footbaths, I also went 2-3 per week to the infrared sauna to detox (see next).

Within four weeks of completing this detox process, I was pregnant with my son who is now a very healthy 18-month old child.  I also noticed that my joints felt better after the treatments. I have heard from some that there is some question as to whether this product really works.  I can tell you that I truly believe that it worked for me. 

After working around the elements of the biodiesel manufacturing process (i.e. acid), Troy developed a lot of pain in his feet.  He had 10 Ion Cleanse footbath sessions and all of the pain went away.  There are also detoxifying foot pads that he tried.  They worked on a much lesser scale, but did help.

Learn more about the Ion Cleanse Detox Footbath =>
KC Area Ion Cleanse treatments=>
Integrative Medical Specialists & Roberts Wellness Center
Learn more about the detoxifying foot pads =>



Infrared Saunas:
On our wish list is to someday install an infrared sauna in our home.  In the meantime, we pay to go to 30 minute sauna sessions for heavy detoxification at Integrative Medical Specialists in Overland Park, KS. To purchase a sauna, we love KC-area based Sunlight Saunas^TM.  The Sunlight Sauna website has a lot of great information on the benefits of the Infrared Sauna including improved relaxation, detoxification, weight loss, pain relief, lower blood pressure, improved circulation and skin purification. 

Since we don't have an Infrared Sauna in our home, Troy and I go to the regular sauna for 30 minute sessions at least 5 times per week and also to the steam room for 10 minute sessions from time to time at our gym. 

"Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life: Living the Wisdom of the Tao" by Dr. Wayne Dyer:

This book really has changed our lives for the better.  As our family has owned and operated several businesses through the years, we have had our challenges and periods of intense stress to deal with.  After reading this book (and continuing to study the lessons in it), we are better able to handle the stress in our lives.  When we had a lot of negative things happening to us awhile back, we mostly have good things coming our way today.  We believe this is primarily the result of our focusing on having positive and grateful thoughts towards everyone and everything, and being centered in the "now", rather than in the past or future.  When really bad things happen, it is so hard to continue thinking this way.  This is why we love having spiritual books to turn to.

2,500 years ago, the Tao Te Ching was written by a god-realized man named Lao-tzu.  Dr. Dyer's book is most effectively read one chapter (or verse of the Tao Te Ching) each day.  Dr. Dyer then utilizes the rest of each chapter translating and relating the verse to issues of today.  Dr. Dyer also does a great job of integrating some Christian and other religious reference into the book, which is helpful. Some religious people I know may be somewhat hesitant about spending a lot of time reading a spiritual book outside the Bible.  I found this book to enhance the lessons I learned from the Bible.  I think this book would be helpful to people of any religion or spiritual background.

More about Dr. Wayne Dyer =>


"7 Minutes of Magic: Recharge your Body each day with Qigong", by Lee Holden:

At the suggestion of Ben Oofana, Native American healer (see above), we recently started the practice of Qi gong.  Qigong  is a practice that dates back thousands of years to Ancient China.  Qi gong means “cultivating energy,” and it involves working with energy to strengthen and cleanse the body.  The energy that is referenced in the Tao Te Ching is this same energy.  This practice is similar to yoga. Find out more about Qi Gong and DVDs that are available.