COMPLEMENTARY THERAPY:
MINDFULNESS-BASED PROGRAMS

Can simply paying attention to our everyday lives make us happier and healthier? The concept of “Mindfulness” is gaining in both popularity and acceptance in medical training. Susan Gaylord, PhD, is Program Director of the UNC-CH Program on Integrative Medicine. She is also Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at UNC School of Medicine. On April 1 at 1:30 p.m. in the Gathering Place, Professor Gaylord will give an overview of integrative medicine, and then discuss mindfulness-based programs in detail. Her research interests include studies of outcomes and mechanisms of action of specific complementary therapies including homeopathy, mindfulness, craniosacral therapy, acupuncture, the role of health beliefs in determining care pathways, cancer therapeutics, geriatrics, and women’s health issues.

PARKINSON’S RESEARCH UPDATE

Dr. Mark Stacy, Director of the Duke Movement Disorders Program, will be speaking about the latest research and clinical trials for patients with Parkinson’s disease on April 8 at 10:30 a.m. in the Gathering Place. If you have a diagnosis of Parkinson’s, or know someone who does, this talk will educate you about how the disease affects both patients and families. The Parkinson’s Disease Support Group welcomes new members. Contact Vivian Crouse (533-6097), MSW, group leader, for information about joining our group.

HOW ARE YOUR NERVES?- This lecture has been cancelled

Neuropathic dysfunction may be uncomfortable and can be debilitating. Associated pain may be seen in many area of the body such as the peripheral nerves of the feet and legs. Other neuropathies include Shingles, Bell’s Palsy and entrapment syndromes like Carpal Tunnel. What are some of the treatments and techniques that can be of help for pain and abnormal nerve function? Do you have a neuropathy? Perhaps you have questions. Dr. Suzanne Clare, Local Volunteer for the Foundation for Wellness Professionals, and Dr. David Stewart will discuss Non-Drug Solutions for Neuropathy on April 28 at 11:00 a.m. in the Gathering Place.

RABIES PREVENTION

Rabies is a fatal viral disease of the nervous system of mammals. In the U.S., rabies is normally carried in the wild by bats, raccoons, foxes, and skunks. There is no effective treatment once clinical signs develop. Larry Glickman, DVM, PhD, is Professor of Epidemiology and Public Health in the UNC Department of Emergency Medicine. Rabies in dogs and cats can be prevented by routine vaccination. Humans are best protected by avoiding contact with infected animals. On April 29 at 7:30 p.m. in the Gathering Place, Dr. Glickman will discuss the current situation with respect to rabies in North Carolina and offer recommendations about what to do should you or a pet be exposed to a potentially rabid animal.

MEETINGS FOR VOLUNTEER DRIVERS/ VOLUNTEER HANDYPERSONS

On April 19th there will be a meeting with all Volunteer Drivers at 9:00 a.m. in the Gathering Place. On the same day, at 10:00 a.m., there will be a meeting with Handypersons. This will give volunteers an opportunity to hear news from the Volunteer Coordinator, as well as from the Fearrington Friends, and a new FC program “Volunteer Connect.” It also is an ideal time to share ideas for improvements in service as well as to discuss concerns and make suggestions.

FEARRINGTON WALKERS UPDATE

Through February our group has walked 14,761 miles. Geographically, we are now in Birdsville, Queensland, population 120, a “must visit” location in the Outback. Walk Fearrington Day is April 24!

IN SEARCH OF A FRIEND?

Fearrington Friends continues to grow and welcome new volunteers and Fearrington residents to our program. We provide both respite care to spouses as caregivers and companionship to individuals living alone. If you are interested in being a Fearrington Friends Volunteer OR want a friend to call or visit you regularly, contact the Fearrington Cares Office at 542-6877.

WHY HUMOR IS SERIOUS BUSINESS

If you have a hard time laughing or even grinning at puns, this article is critical for you. Here is a lesson on why you need to lighten up a little! A spoon full of laughter is the medicine itself (Anybody remember Mary Poppins? She and Poppin’ Fresh got married and they popped out a few babies – come on, laugh with me folks!).
Okay, that pun was not the best, but this is serious. Actual scientific studies have shown that laughter has good physiological and psychological effects on people. Many of those same studies show that children laugh a lot more than older people (do they get all the jokes that fly right over our heads or only the dirty ones?).
Once you start to look at the particular studies, humor and laughter start to take on the aura of miracle drugs. Our immune system is a major defensive barrier to diseases. One of the really neat sounding parts of the system uses Natural Killer Cells (it’s not clear to us why Hollywood hasn’t made a big-time movie with this title). High levels of these cells are correlated with disease resistance and laughter helps elevate their levels. (On the dark side, stress can lower their levels – so don’t stress if you don’t think they would make a good movie.) Antibodies are another part of that wonderful immune system and laughter has also been shown to elevate some of their levels. In fact, one study has shown that some really good humor can pump them up for about 12 hours. This article should be good for 10 to 15 minutes. There are at least four other immune system components that show positive effects from laughter.
Blood flow is slightly important for us. Stop it and we stop. Tighten those pipes (okay, veins and arteries) and blood pressure goes up. People who have seen a funny movie (funny ha-ha, not funny strange) have expanded pipes and better blood flow. (People who are in chain saw movies have all sorts of blood flow but the good kind means keeping it inside the pipes.)
Alas, laugher does take energy but that means it burns calories and that means laughter can help you lose weight. It has been estimated that 15 minutes of good yuks can burn 40 calories, which would take care of that half an apple you ate for breakfast. (Of course it would take a Three Stooges Marathon on TV to burn up that donut you had instead.) Nevertheless, it is clear that humor can be one part of keeping your body healthy.
Humor can also contribute to keeping your mind healthy. It relieves tension and anxiety. Laughter helps in decreasing perception of pain. Humor provides a way to cope with the inevitable problems that wear us all down. It won’t kill you to laugh a little!
Some naturally grumpy people think they can’t laugh. We hope we’ve made the case that it is important to try. It’s free medicine. Don’t be so serious about everything; see the lighter side of life. Try some hearty laughter (it might be best to try this at home first; public laughter for no obvious reason can put you in a different “home”). Go to Google and search “joke of the day;” you’ll see 17,000,000 links. Obviously, lots of people like humor and laughter and you should join in!