There’s been more complaints this year about the backwards economy than any optimist likes to hear, however, for some, the rise of energy costs, the loss of income through stock portfolios, the pending food costs skyrocketing due to drought and horrendous animal diseases are causing many to tighten the strings on their purses.

The good news is that you don’t need to be rich to earn good health. And common knowledge shows us that health and happiness go together. If you enhance one, you enhance the other. Conversely, if we let our health fall off the wagon just because we’re feeling tight in the budget, our happiness and well-being is at risk too.

You can’t control everything that’s happening out there, but let’s talk about the things you DO have control over that can save you money and maximize your health:

First, let’s get that attitude in order! Remember that the body follows the mind. If you are thinking negative then that’s what you will attract. Think of the emotional healing we sometimes do together in my office; we ask the mind a question that it can only answer in the positive. It’s the same with your life. If you wake up each morning and ask yourself, "What else could go wrong today?" Then your mind and perception will be seeking the answer for you all day long. You are much more likely to be careless or truly have misfortune with that question programmed into your mind and emotions.

If instead, you ask, "What am I going to do today to…(fill in the blank) work toward making more money, have a better marriage, be a better person, friend, be thinner, happier, richer etc., then the mind will be leading your body to the answers. Ask yourself what excellent things are going to be happening to you today!

Remember that everything in life has a cycle. Living, growing, dying…there truly is a season for everything. Balance is inevitable; have faith in that. Do your part where you think you can make a difference, always, but understand that if there is an up, then there is an equal down—it is a natural law. Now, the good news is that you can transcend while still being a part of a cycle. Let me illustrate with a health analogy:

When you abuse your body for years by taking in processed, devitalized foods, you descend the spiral. Some times you feel okay, and sometimes not so good. Then you take herbs and begin to ascend. The herbs begin to strengthen your body to the point where your body gets strong enough to throw out years of suppressed toxins and dead cells, mucus, etc. (i.e. a healing crisis), and you FEEL you are down again, although you are simply processing through the cycle--BUT ON A HIGHER PLANE! You cannot descend to the level of where you began on your health program, provided that you are doing positive things regularly for your body and mind. Likewise, we are constantly living that spiral, and if we aren’t doing things to positively affect ourselves, then we either stagnate or more likely we descend. For instance, business is slow right now, but it’s slow in comparison to the level of business I do NOW—it will never be as slow as when I first started. It’s all relative to the level you’re on. Hang in there, and keep up your good work and don’t dwell over the mini pitfalls.

You already know that it’s cheaper in the long run to stay nourished from the beginning than to have to rebuild and repair later—or face surgery and dependency on life debilitating drugs! The more ground you make using nutrients and the better you evolve your diet, the less expensive your herb programs will be. Since most of you are on an herbal routine, I want to give you some tips on how to save money and still be able to stick to your programs.

Nature Sunshine is uncompromised in quality. I have gone from poor and very unhealthy to healthy and not-poor all the while using only NSP’s supplements. NSP products not only can help you back to health, but they make it easy for you to save and even earn money, whether you are a practitioner or simply a consumer. Here’s how:

Plan in advance on what you need for a month or more. Why? Because you earn a bonus if you spend $100.00 (PV—Personal Volume) or more within any month! You not only get your herbs wholesale, but then you get a bonus back the following month! That equates to better than wholesale prices on the best quality herbs. Not bad, and it crushes the competition for price comparing at your local stores! Some people order a three-month supply of what they need at once, and therefore they get a bigger bonus back the next month. Also if your order is over $150.00 you don’t pay shipping charges. (Tip: Consider your supplements cost as a part of your grocery budget—you have to be nourished!).

Buying your non-toxic cleaning supplies, shampoo, facial cleanser, NON-FLOURIDATED toothpaste, sunscreen, etc., from NSP, not only ensures you are living more toxic-free, but it adds to that $100 minimum you need to get paid back for these purchases! It’s like buying from your own natural health company and then getting a bonus on top of it! That’s smart shopping!

Some of you shop at those big, warehouse, super savings stores because you say you save buying in bulk. Well, NSP has some of their supplements in bulk. Not only that, but if they are running a special on one of your "staple" herbs, such as food enzymes, chlorophyll, etc., and you know you’ll use it eventually, then buy more than one and save money.

Anyone you send to me for iridology and herbal programs I sign them up under the SmartStart Program with your NSP account number for their first order. This means that your friend gets their herbs wholesale (like you do), they save on shipping, and YOU get a bonus check sent directly to you immediately! (They get a bonus back too if their order is more than $100.00!)

If you are using any of the pre-packaged programs like the CleanStart or SynerSlim, be sure to look under the PRE-PACKAGED PROGRAMS category on the order form. Here you will find some of them listed together at a $10 savings! In addition, take a look at your program; if you are using several singles that are all in a pre-package, you usually save money by getting it in the packages.

Save 1% off of wholesale when you use the Internet to order your herbs. You can go through my website at http://www.healingfeats.com or directly to NSP at http://www.naturessunshine.com

Did you know that more geniuses are born after hard times than any other? The late Professor Ehret, author of The Mucusless Diet Healing System http://www.arnoldehret.org , says that the leaner the parents, the more likely they are to have a baby boy, and a genius at that!

The body is forced to do a great deal of digesting when you eat. Especially if you are not eating a simple, whole, raw foods diet. The more energy the body uses to digest, the faster you age your metabolism and your cells. That is why I suggest under eating and occasional responsible fasting as a fantastic way to better health. You give your body a break by releasing it from so much digesting. Your body also immediately begins to release toxins, mucus, and other circulating poisons in the blood stream when you fast.

Eating less saves money on the food budget. Here’s my quick tips for a fast or under eating:

Fasting is a great time to do a few days of the CleanStart cleanse. The bulk fiber helps keeps the bowels moving and the other herbs help the body detox excess poisons released while fasting. Lemon water makes a great cleansing drink—hot or cold. Be sure to stay hydrated and rest if you need to.

When under eating, consider a Synerprotein smoothie. Here’s my favorite recipe: In a blender add 8oz cold reverse osmosis water, 1 heaping scoop of Synerprotein, (or Muscle Tone, or Sunshine Slender), 4 large frozen, organic strawberries, 1 frozen banana, 1 tablespoon of organic sesame tahini (or your favorite seed or nut butter). Blend well and enjoy! Protein drinks tell the brain it’s satiated, and can keep you satisfied for hours. They make a great meal replacement on the days you want to under eat.

There is no cost to spending a few hours or a whole weekend outdoors. Camping is free or cheap; fishing, hiking, backpacking, rock hounding, flower and herb walks, all are fabulous ways to enjoy spring, release stress, get some fresh air, exercise, and enhance your total, overall health (that’s what holistic health is all about!).

When shopping, take some money tips from my book "The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Being Vegetarian, Second Edition":

A basket of fresh produce is almost always (much) cheaper than a basket full of processed foods such as flour products, dairy, meat, boxed and pre-made foods. If you can’t eat all the fresh produce before it spoils you can freeze it, can it, dehydrate it, or make a soup or a casserole. This means you always have some produce in your kitchen, which can save you from having to shop as often.

Now that you’ve saved all that money, are thinking positive AND are healthy and happy, feel free to send me any excess money you can spare ;-) Now, the news…

Healing Feats Welcomes two new additions:

Barbara Girard, RN has joined part time to help with general administrative duties. She is an active nurse at our local hospital and will be learning holistic therapies while here. A nice addition!

Wanda Rincover, CMT with over 10 years as a massage therapist is now taking appointments at the facility. Her specialty is Holistic Touch Therapy. She customizes her work to the clients needs at the time. Wanda offers Cranial Sacral, Lymphatic drainage, Deep tissue, Reflexology, Lomi-Lomi and Myofascial therapies. Wanda’s fee is $60/hour and well worth it. She is a healing professional and we are glad to have her!

Frankie