Summer 2007

Feeling is Healing

By Paul Bedson

Healing, or making whole, often involves consciously turning our attention towards those parts of ourselves that have been ignored or disowned. Frequently, this means paying attention to and appreciating people or things that have been taken for granted; or listening and responding to our own needs and feelings instead of neglecting them. Listening to our physical, emotional and spiritual needs and the feelings that accompany those needs can be severely restricted when our attention is dominated by habitual patterns of thinking. These dominating habits of thinking are often defensive and reactive aspects of chronic low-grade stress, and they adversely affect wellness and healing. “Shoulds”, “have tos”, “ought tos” and “musts”; and conditioning (roles, limiting beliefs) from our past can take too much attention and desensitize us to our present feelings and needs.
Mind-Body medicine research tells us that wellness and healing are optimized when our mind is attuned and responsive to the messages from our body – which is communicating through needs, feelings, instincts, impulses and intuition.
The biochemical messengers which communicate needs and feelings also regulate the functioning of our immune system. To the surprise of many immunologists, it turns out that needs, feelings, thoughts and instincts are mediated by chemicals, called neurotransmitters, that also regulate our body’s defence and healing mechanisms. Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) is the scientific study of the impact of thoughts, feelings and behavioral patterns on our immune system.
Gary Schwartz, Professor of Psychology at the University of Arizona, conducted research in the field of PNI for two decades. Prof. Schwartz found that healthy people with a strong immune system characteristically attend to feedback signals whether they come in the form of symptoms, sensations or emotions. For example, by paying attention to a headache, one might realize it reflects tension at work, or by attending to tiredness and irritability, one might respond by making more time for rest and sleep. On the other hand, those people who don’t attend to symptoms, who disconnect from sensations and feelings, and repress emotions, are much more likely to suffer ongoing imbalances in their mind-body systems and consequently, dysregulation of the immune system.
Gary Schwartz discovered that our capacity to Attend, Connect and Express – or the “ACE factor” – is a trait that supports our wellbeing and the ability to heal.
In collaboration with Schwartz, Mogens R. Jensen[1] followed a group of women with a diagnosis of breast cancer for two years.
Women who suffered more rapid spread of cancer shared certain personality traits: repressive coping, non-expression of emotions, and feelings of helplessness. They avoided attending, connecting and expressing the difficult emotions associated with their illness, and their lives in general. By contrast, women who displayed or developed the “ACE factor” had a rate of remission that was 46 percent higher than women who repressed emotions. Schwartz believes that the “ACE factor” is important for people wishing to prevent or recover from cancer, and the “ACE factor” can be developed. Schwartz’s work was complemented by David Spiegel’s Supportive/Expressive Therapy; Jon Kabat Zinn’s Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction program and James Pennebaker’s research into the healing power of self-expression. These pioneers in the field of mind-body medicine developed the use of therapeutic techniques to attune the mind to bodily sensations and feelings (the Body Scan, Mindfulness-based Meditation) and then to develop the ability to express emotions (journaling, psychotherapy, support groups or a confidante). These skills have been shown to improve the prognosis of people dealing with cancer, and generally enhance quality of life and wellbeing. When we attend, connect and express, we make the best use of our internal compass, the self-regulating systems that depend on listening and responding to the many feedback mechanisms of the mind-body. Tuning into the guidance of our own feedback, we can learn what paths to take in terms of diet, rest, exercise, stress, creativity, relationships and spiritual concerns. Listening to feelings helps with the healthy integration of emotional experience, and therefore, personal growth.

Feeling is healing [1] M.R. Jensen (1987) Psychobiological factors predicting the course of cancer. Journal of Personality 55

From the CEO

Karin Knoester

Welcome to our summer newsletter. I’m so glad to be able to enjoy the warmth again! While I love the beauty that springtime brings – so much colour and new life – I have to be honest and admit it’s the warm weather than really lifts my spirit very high. In our last newsletter I told you of the many events and activities that we had planned through spring. I do hope that you were able to attend some of them.
Our open day was a resounding success. We had nearly 700 people visit us on what was a fairly wet day. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves – whether it was learning about our wonderful organic veggie garden from Tobias, doing meditation with Ian, or laughing at our Business Manager, David, who spent the day dressed as a clown. A big thank you to all those who supported us on this day.
We also had our raffle draw on the 1st of November. The lucky winner of first prize was Catherine Frith from Canberra. Catherine attended both our 10 day program and the 5 day follow up in 2005/06. Winning the round the world trip comes on top of the fact that she is recovering well from her illness. Great news on all fronts. The raffle is an important source of fundraising for the Foundation and we are thankful to all of you who bought tickets.
Our special appeal to fund the refurbishment of our Yarra Valley Living Centre has been generously supported by so many of you. So far we have received $150,000 and while we haven’t quite reached our needed target of $250,000, this represents an amazing response from our supporters.
Thank you so much. We will be starting work on stage one of the refurbishment next month and will provide you all with updates as it progresses. We also feature in this newsletter some of the responses to our request for messages of hope for participants of our programs. The responses were truly inspiring.
Our annual conference once again provided an inspiring range of speakers on topics ranging from cancer fighting foods, women’s health, and emotional health, to the power of laughter and mindfulness meditation. Our speakers were amazing and we received very positive  feedback from participants. I’d like to extend a special thank you to all those people who so generously volunteer their time to help us run the conference. Without you it quite simply could not happen.
There have also been some changes to Board positions this month with the resignation of Alistair Bennallack from the position of President. Malcolm Broomhead has taken over the President’s role, and Irene Goonan has taken up the Vice President’s role. Alistair Bennallack remains on the Board as Director and we are grateful for the work he has contributed as President over the past 20 months.
Finally, I’d like to take this opportunity to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a New Year filled with happiness and peace.
Enjoy your summer!
Be well… Karin

GREAT MINDS THINK ALIKE: NEWS FLASH

World Cancer Research Fund confirms 23 year old Gawler findings

By Jonathan King

Coincidentally (or rather synergistically) the findings delivered at our Annual Conference in October actually foreshadowed the findings widely published in Australian newspapers from the 1st November report of the London based World Cancer Research Fund. WCRF leader Sir Michael Marmot of University College said “This report contains a very positive message as perhaps a third of cancers are diet-related and cancer is largely preventable if people follow our series of lifestyle recommendations.” These included exercising daily for half an hour, staying slim, eating more vegetables, fruit and avoiding red meat, sugar, salt, alcohol and processed meat. For confirmation see pioneering reference written 23 years ago: Gawler, Ian “You Can Conquer Cancer (Hill of Content, Melbourne, 1984)
AIMS
This synopsis provides a tasting sample of speech extracts which will be expanded in the Conference Proceedings booklet. It is only one point of view written from a lay person’s perspective as a popular interpretation.
TAPESTRY OVERVIEW
Although the 12 main speakers covered a wide range of topics these all enriched the same philosophical threads (themes) creating an overall rich tapestry. They demonstrated how lifestyle-based integrative health management was being advanced rapidly by creative and dynamic mind-body medicine, researchers, practitioners and users.
HIGH IMPACT SPEECHES INCLUDED
Prof Avni Sali who pulled back the curtain on latest nutritional advances; Prof Marc Cohen on the threat to our health from the deteriorating environment; Sally Erry’s top 20 cancer-killing foods; Prof George Jelinek’s revelations of corporate pharmaceutical funded “studies”; Dr Jacqueline Boustany’s explanation of emotional cellular energy fields and communication; Dr Craig Hassed’s mindful stress management; Dr Ian Gawler explained lifestyle’s healing role in integrative medicine; Dr Michelle Allen provided strategies for change; Dr Vicki Kotsirilos asked doctors to listen to patients; Dr Ross Mackay emphasized the key role of dental health; Dr Swami Shankardev Saraswati provided stress reduction strategies while humorists Patricia Cameron-Hill and Dr Shane Yates released collective endorphins.
LIFE-SAVING SURVIVAL SKILLS
One of the values of this conference is that it could save lives with early warnings for lifestyle principles that could prevent and treat cancer and other illnesses before these get out of hand. This conference provided the latest manual for self-care and health management.
TEASERS: A FEW STAND-OUT QUOTES
Prof Avni Sali – The further from the jungle we get the worse our health gets because our genes evolved in the jungle.
Support groups are helpful but 47% of people surveyed in one study preferred pets to family for company.
Dr Swami Shankardev Saraswati – Self-care is the basis of true self-development – but only the beginning.
Prof Marc Cohen – ‘Affluenza’ is the current disease ruining the planet – it is the all consuming epidemic.
Prof George Jelinek – Drugs can move us from ill-health to controlled ill-health where we don’t complain.
Sally Erry (Nutritionist from Canada) – The purple and blue pigment in blueberries is full of anti-oxidants (fighting free radicals) and is like the ‘Force’ in Star Wars – as it stops free radical damage. So let the Force be with you!
GOOD SIGNS AND A CALL TO ACTION – Many speakers urged people to act on their findings by applying the theories to protect their health.
Dr Michelle Allen – You can create your own strategy for making and maintaining self-change. But you also need to adapt your plan so it suits you better. It is helpful to realize that previous experiences in trying to change our patterns of behaviour are useful lessons, rather than failures – just take small steps to start with towards your goal. You can turn your ANTS (auto negative thought patterns) into PETS (performance enhancing thought patterns).
Prof Marc Cohen – We health leaders have to take on the world as soon as possible. Americans have raised $300 billion for the new movement LOHAS (Lifestyle of Health and Sustainability). Companies need to introduce triple bottom line reporting which includes: governance, environmental impact, economic, political and social factors.
Sally Errey – You must have the anti-cancer foods daily for them to work.
Dr Ross Mackay – Remember your mouth is the first port of call: we put food into it, breathe through it, it is our organ of taste, we bite with it and it is a very sensitive part of our body. If we do not clean our teeth we get plaque between the teeth and that eats away at the bone, allows bacteria to grow and slow progressive gum disease.

Dr Jacqueline Boustany – Our mind which is different to our brain is amazing and our body is a reflection of our mind which in turn reflects our environment. Beware carrying the baggage of issues from your childhood as this can have high impact on the mind as you can constantly create that old reality. The mind cannot tell the difference between real and imagined experiences.
Prof Avni Sali – Vitamin D is now the greatest deficiency in Australia – yet Vitamin D can kill cancer cells especially for melanoma.
THE LAST WORD
Dr Ian Gawler – Change towards a more integrative medical model is now coming from the community and yes, it is led by the patients; but there is also exciting evidence that doctors are now listening.

As part of our Yarra Valley Living Centre Refurbishment Appeal we invited all of your to write messages of encouragement and hope to people attending the Centre. So many of you took the time to pen your thoughts and reflections. Many of the messages brought tears to our eyes. A heartfelt thank you for these wonderful words. We thought we would like to share a few of these messages with all of you…
“Hope is the essential ingredient and that’s what I was given by going to The Gawler Foundation. Hope is the sunlight when the dark clouds are around us. Hope is a candle burning brightly to light up your life. I hope you keep hoping – it will make a difference.”
“I came to The Gawler Foundation in 1988 with a prognosis of less than 2 years. Believe in your ability to heal and the unlimited possibilities of Hope. I am living it nearly 20 years later.”
“Dear Fellow traveller. Today maintain your purpose in life. Act on it. Don’t just wish for it to happen. Persevere in your attempts to achieve your goal. Today you may not see any sunbeams but remember the sun is still there. Take care.”
“When we have hope, we are not afraid to dream. Keep your dreams alive. Dreaming is still how the strong survive. Love and blessings on your journey.”
“Remember you are loved.”

Feedback comments from the Profound Healing – Sustainable Wellbeing Conference

Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 October 2007 at Hilton on the Park – Melbourne

• Thank you all Consistently high standard of ideas and presentations
• Loved the range of speakers, workshops and food! Quality of speakers and presentations were excellent
• Quite exceptional with a great selection of speakers Fantastically energizing and enjoyable – I’ll be back!
• The conference was really well done and organized – Thank you! Very professional conference with quality speakers
• Great speakers, excellent information, food delicious, excellent venue It was an excellent conference – very informative
• The passion, commitment and knowledge of all the speakers was inspiring A well organized event and great speakers
• Very enthusiastic speakers and nice to come to a conference with decent food A big positive being so reasonably priced
• Great speakers and fantastic food – I’m already looking forward to the next one Excellent variety and calibre of speakers
• Inspirational, very well planned, balanced and ran to time – Well done and thanks Thank you, you’re doing a great job
• The whole conference a great experience of health, happiness, positivity and wellbeing Great to attend, learn and listen
• A very professional approach at the conference – times maintained and excellent environment Loved it all – a fantastic day
• Strong calibre of the presenters and use of scientific evidence based research to reinforce statements
• The enthusiasm and knowledge of all presenters and the positive attitude of participants were all fantastic
• This was a very well managed conference – I have never been to a Gawler Foundation event before but I will definitely be
• coming back to this one next year. Thanks very much!
• Thank You!
• A sincere “thank you” to everyone involved with this special event including speakers, sponsors, supporters, volunteers and staff for their outstanding efforts. Their contribution of resources, knowledge, time and energy ensured the ongoing success of our annual “Profound Healing – Sustainable Wellbeing” conference.
• DATE FOR YOUR 2008 DIARY – Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 November
• “Profound Healing – Sustainable Wellbeing” conference at Hilton on the Park, Melbourne
• Don’t miss this inspiring and informative event to be held next year – now considered by many as a highlight of our activities and a vital part of our education and promotional program.

We look forward to welcoming back familiar and new faces to this special event in 2008!

Good News Story

I just wanted to let you know that things are going very well. I kept up with 1½ hours meditation each day and the healing diet. Then a couple of weeks before my CAT scan I did five days of the mono diet (the kind version – one day on and one day off) and even tried the coffee enemas! And, guess what, the scan was completely CLEAR. The specialist seemed a bit surprised and said to come back in 12 months for another scan.
So now I’ve settled into 1 hour meditation each day and gone onto the maintenance diet. My friend helped me set up an organic veggie garden – we dug up the lawn and prepared it all with manure, etc., etc., and can’t wait till spring to get all that good stuff growing.
Thank you for all the terrific support and new life skills we received at Yarra Junction. Everybody has been so keen to hear about all that we did. I don’t know how many times I’ve gone through the agenda and my notes and explained everything in great deal. And they keep coming back for more! So I lend out my books and CDs, and teach them how to meditate – there is such a thirst for this knowledge.
Keep up the good work, and hope to see you all again sometime.
Kindest regards,
Rosemary Gudze