Dearest:   My guest tonight, DR. DAVID SIMON, is the Co-Founder and Medical 
Director of The Chopra Center, a pioneer in the medical field, whose mission is 
to facilitate the integration of complementary and conventional medicine in the 
21st century. A popular author of numerous wellness books, including, The Chopra
Center Herbal Guide, co-authored by Deepak Chopra; The Wisdom of Healing; 
Vital Energy: The 7 Keys to Invigorate Body, Mind and Soul and his newest, 
Grow Younger, Live Longer: 10 Steps to Reverse Aging. 

A quote from Dr. Simon, "I am committed to demonstrating to the health care 
community and consumers that there are expanded options available to enhance our 
medical model. With a focus on inspiration, education and patient empowerment, 
we can enliven the physical, emotional and spiritual health of our communities" ...

Dr. Simon, in an ideal world, this would clearly be the direction medicine 
should take, certainly if consumers have anything to say about it. But, in 
reality, how close are traditional western doctors to embracing integrative, 
mind-body, holistic approaches in their practices? 


David Simon, M.D.:   Closer than you may think. Concepts about mind body 
medicine that seemed radical ten years ago are now being openly embraced by 
doctors and health care institutions. It is rapidly becoming mainstream.


Dearest:   That's wonderful to hear. Are they teaching integrative medicine in 
more medical schools? 


David Simon, M.D.:   Latest studies show that 60% of medical schools are now 
introducing their students to complementary and alternative medicine. Here in 
San Diego, we have med students from UCSD rotating weekly through the Chopra 
Center. 


Dearest:   That's fantastic. So many people are disillusioned with conventional 
medicine. Doctors can't be unaware of "other" available options. Why, then, does 
a patient who complains about depression, anxiety or fatigue not get asked about 
their lifestyle, what they are eating, if they have tried exercise, meditation, 
relaxation and breathing exercises, but instead walks out of the doctor's office 
with a pat on the head and a prescription for Prozac, Paxil. 


David Simon, M.D.:   When the only tool in your toolbox is a hammer, everything 
looks like a nail. For most M.D.s, the only tool they learned how to use was a 
prescription pad. But things are starting to change because people are seeking 
the best tool, not just the one that happens to be available. 


Dearest:   Thank you, Dr. Simon. WORDGIRL, go ahead, please.


Wordgirl:   Doctor, what advice do you have for the prevention and/or treatment 
of premenstrual migraines? Thank you.


David Simon, M.D.:   According to Ayurveda, the 5000 year old healing system 
from India, premenstrual migraine is an accumulation of excessive heat in the 
physiology. Once your period starts, the heat is eliminated through the 
menstrual flow. Try reducing your intake of pungent, sour and salty foods after 
you ovulate and take some aloe vera juice (1 ounce twice daily) between 
ovulation and the onset of your period. Also, see where you are holding anger 
within yourself or to others in your environment. 


Dearest:   Dr. Simon, do you rely predominantly on the Ayurvedic perspective or 
healing system in your practice of mind-body medicine and is it possible to give 
us a brief description of how Ayuverda works? Thank you.


David Simon, M.D.:   To me, Ayurveda provides a healing framework which 
incorporates all healing approaches from psychic surgery to neurosurgery. That's 
why we need a high touch approach to balance our high tech life. 

The basic principle is that your experiences translate into your physiology. For 
every thought in your mind, you create a molecule that can make the difference 
between health and illness, life and death. 


Jeanne:   I had a stroke last August and a heart attack in January.  Besides the 
conventional medicines I was given is there anything else I should consider that 
would help my body heal and get stronger?


David Simon, M.D.:   The first things I would recommend is that you learn 
meditation. This can help organize your neurological function and stabilize your 
heart. Next look at your diet. Then look at your closest relationships.


Jeanne:   Anything special about diet?


David Simon, M.D.:   The best diet is one that provides all six tastes at every 
meal: sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter and astringent. Check out one of our 
books for foods that fall into each of these categories.

Then make sure that you are really enjoying your food. Your diet should be 
balanced, fresh and delicious. If it is too restrictive, it will cause more 
stress than benefit.


Theresa343:   Dr. Simon are you currently in practice? What turned you on to 
mind-body healing? I know you probably did not learn it in medical school. Did 
you have an AH HA moment? 


David Simon, M.D.:   I see patients everyday at the Chopra Center in La Jolla, 
CA. I was interested in holistic medicine since my college days when I was an 
anthropologist studying shamanism. I also began teaching meditation and yoga at 
that time. I thought I was well prepared when I entered medical school. I know 
about witch doctors and I knew about expanded states of consciousness. I learned 
that this was not the prevailing model.


Dearest:   In your book, "Vital Energy," you discuss how the ancient Indian 
healing system of Ayuverda helps us to identify our body type as earth, fire, or 
wind-based personalities and that we can clear toxins from our bodies, create 
balance and move to the rhythms of our body type. Could you elaborate on how we 
determine our body type? 

I noticed Hillary Clinton and Signourney Weaver were Fire and they're both 
Scorpios like myself. Is it based on astrology?


David Simon, M.D.:   Although there is an astrological component to Ayurveda it 
is based upon a Sidereal zodiac. Earth types are more grounded physically and 
emotionally. They tend to have larger frames and gain weight more easily. 
There nature is to be supportive and nurturing. 


Dearest:   And fire and wind types?


David Simon, M.D.: Fire types tend to be intense. They have strong appetites for food,
sex, power, and money. When they are in balance, they are warm and courageous. 
When stressed, they can be demanding and critical, When they overheat, they 
tend to get heartburn, high blood pressure and inflammatory problems.


Dearest:   And will you share with us about WIND types?


David Simon, M.D.:   Wind types are light and changeable by nature. They like 
new things but have trouble with follow through, When they get stressed, they 
get insomnia, anxiety and digestive disturbances. 


Dearest:   And, of course, we can read more about this in your book, "Vital Energy."


NancyV:   In general, what is your new book about that would help us going 
through menopause?


David Simon, M.D.:   Vital Energy was published in 2000. Grow Younger, Live
Longer was just released last month. They each take a different angle on 
menopause.

The real trick is to reframe menopause to see it as an opportunity to use the 
same creative energy that many women used to raise their families and channel it 
into a new type of creativity that brings greater wisdom and happiness. 


Dearest:   Dr.  Simon, of course, that would be the ultimate result of 
menopause, but how can we apply your theories to dealing with the difficulties 
associated with the transition? The hot flashes, extreme anxiety, highs and 
lows, hormonal fluctuations, insomnia, depression to name only a few. 


David Simon, M.D.:   1) Ask yourself what do you want to create 
for the next stage of your life -- what is missing that and what is there that 
is no longer serving you well.

2) Make certain that you are caring for your body. Eat well, take the right 
supplements and start regular exercise.


Dearest:  Thank you, Dr. Simon, for visiting with us in Power Surge
tonight. 




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Dearest
aka Alice Stamm
Power Surge
Founder, Facilitator, Host


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