Get Shot By Ella designs display at the Bubbles Bags and Bling benefit event

GetShotByElla.com was thrilled to be on the scene as a participating vendor on Sunday, December 11, 2011 for the annual Bubbles, Bags and Bling for Classy Chicks benefit event for the Sunshine Physical Therapy Clinic in Vero Beach, FL.

The Sunshine Physical Therapy Clinic located at 1705 17th Avenue in Vero Beach is a non-profit 501(c)3 physical therapy rehabilitation facility that has operated on the Treasure Coast of Florida since 1953. It is the only non-profit therapy clinic in Indian River County, FL and is governed by a volunteer board of directors. The Clinic provides free service scholarships for therapy to those in financial need.

The event was an opportunity for shoppers to get a head start on holiday gift shopping and featured an array of vendors and products, including GetShotByElla.com artist tops and sea glass charms.

GetShotByElla.com loves to share news that “is an infusion of the positives.” Angela Sigman shared the following project with Indian River County Florida Connection Group on facebook recently:

Sigman Law Firm, P.A., a civil litigation firm whose practice includes foreclosure defense and bankruptcy cases in Indian River and Brevard counties in Florida, is in the process of forming a non-profit charitable foundation. The goal of the foundation is to help charitable organizations in the local community that are in need of additional resources, as well as provide college scholarships to high school seniors. The firm would also like to have a designated amount in reserve to help residents in the community that experience financial difficulties after an unexpected disaster or illness. Once the Foundation is created, the firm will be donating a percentage of profits to the Foundation as well as organizing and hosting fundraising events.

Sigman Law Firm is seeking input from area businesses and residents with suggestions of local charitable organizations that would benefit from additional funding. Please email foundation@sigmanlawfirm.com and provide the name and contact information of the organization you are recommending, as well as the reason you feel the organization would benefit from being selected as the premier organization to receive assistance from Sigman Law Firm’s Charitable Foundation.

The main office of Sigman Law Firm, P.A. recently moved and is now located at 1627 U.S. Highway 1, Suite 205 in Sebastian, Florida. For additional contact information, please visit the Firm’s website at http://www.sigmanlawfirm.com or locate Sigman Law Firm on Facebook and reply in the discussion section.

Licensed Acupuncture Physician Dr. Danny Quaranto

GetShotByElla.com caught up with licensed Acupuncture Physician Dr. Danny Quaranto for an interview.

Born in West Newton, MA, Dr. Danny, as he is called by his patients, graduated from the New England School of Acupuncture (N.E.S.A.) in 1986. He is certified by the National Commission for the Certification of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (N.C.C.A.O.M.) in both Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine.

“I was originally inspired to become a Doctor of Oriental Medicine through my love and immersion in all aspects of the Chinese martial arts. An important part of Kung Fu teaches that if you hurt yourself or someone else, you should be able to take care of that injury. In my quest to learn more and become proficient in this healing aspect of the martial arts, I jumped into acupuncture school with both feet, beginning an amazing and dynamic journey that continues!” Dr. Danny explains.

An introduction to Classical Homeopathy during his studies, led the doctor to Calcutta, India where he received advanced clinical training at the Bengal Allen Medical Institute.

Dr. Danny’s office, Alternative Medicine Family Care Center based in Vero Beach, Florida, is committed to helping people in their quest for optimum health, educate them about the benefits of alternative medicine, and enable them to educate others. “We place great emphasis on explaining to our patients everything about their condition in understandable terms, and explaining any of the procedures and treatments that we suggest,”  he declares.

Dr. Danny is eager to discuss significant medical information that’s not getting much main stream coverage.

“The information I am sharing with you is based upon current scientific literature about cardiovascular disease that no doctors I know are telling patients.” he states emphatically.

Dr. Danny continues, “The incontrovertible facts, as determined by the Center for Disease Control as late as December of 2010, reveal heart disease is the number one killer of United States citizens, with cancer a close second.”

The treatments and prescriptions currently in vogue for treating heart disease are not reversing the epidemic, according to Dr. Danny.

“When the National Cholesterol Education Program formed in 1988 to educate doctors and the public about cholesterol, they predicted the eradication of heart disease by 1998. Contrary to that goal, heart disease is now the number one killer!” he notes.

Dr. Danny advocates a shift in medical priorities. “We have to stop looking at treating the disease that someone has, and instead treat the person that has the disease,” he stresses.

Dr. Danny illustrates that the standard of care expected for patients determined during a general examination to have both high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol, two agreed upon markers indicating the need for cardiovascular treatment,  are prescriptions for hypertensive medications and cholesterol lowering medications such as statins.

“The patients are told, ‘we will run blood tests on you in three months to be sure that your liver is not breaking down because of the side effects to the statin medications.’ Here the disease state is treated without reference to the fact that this individual is experiencing the disease state in his or her very personal way,” Dr. Danny accentuates.

Underscoring that the standard avenue of treatment fails to differentiate between or diagnose the root causes of cardiovascular disease,  he expounds, “There can be various underlying origins, but the three major components of cardiovascular disease are elevated cholesterol, infectious agents, and inflammation. By themselves, these players are not bad guys. However, when they get together, they alter our existence.”

Citing elevated cholesterol, the aspect of cardiovascular disease that draws the most attention, Dr. Danny says, “Let us look at the major reasons that cholesterol is over-produced in the body. You do need cholesterol to produce all of your hormones, so ‘zero’ is not good. The major reasons we produce cholesterol include insulin resistance and diabetes, hypothyroid, a diet high in refined carbohydrates, hepato-biliary dysfunction, renal dysfunction, or a predisposing family history. What we do not find in this list is any mention of eggs, butter, meat or fat as contributing agents for the elevation of cholesterol. A simple change in diet away from the highly refined carbohydrate foods may be all that it takes to bring someone from elevated cholesterol to normal cholesterol. Conversely, giving a cholesterol lowering medication to someone who is hypothyroid is not going to touch why the cholesterol is elevated in the first place. Here, supporting the thyroid can also lower the cholesterol.”

Commenting on the inflammatory model of heart disease, Dr. Danny states, “There are cheap, simple blood test markers that can indicate inflammation that especially targets the heart, such as homocysteine, Hi Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein, and Lipid Peroxide, and Fibrinogen. If homocysteine is elevated it can triple the risk of having a heart attack. There will be no symptoms of elevated homocysteine, and it is relatively easy to lower it using natural methods. C-Reactive Protein is another inflammatory substance that can be lowered with natural methods, most importantly dietary.”

Infection is yet another player that can be underlying cardiovascular disease. “The infectious agent is another cofactor that pairs with cholesterol to ruin your whole day,” he remarks. “One person has cardiovascular concerns. This person has much in the way of digestive problems, for example reflux, heartburn, and indigestion. This person needs to be checked to see if they are infected with H. Pylori bacteria. H. Pylori bacteria have been implicated in the creation of plaque that blocks the arteries. Another person may complain of a chronic cough and frequent bronchitis. This person needs to be checked for a Chlamydia Pneumonia or Walking Pneumonia infection. Chlamydia Pneumonia has also been implicated in the creation of plaque that blocks the arteries. Yet another person with cardiovascular concerns may have ongoing flu like symptoms, weakness, and muscle aches. This person needs to be checked for Coxsackie virus. Coxsackie virus has been shown to be a factor in the generation of plaque on the arteries.”

Giving a final example of infection as a source of cardiovascular issues, Dr. Danny asserts, “Another person with cardiovascular concerns may smile at you with both teeth. This person needs to be checked for gingivitis, as gingivitis has also been implicated in the formation of plaque on the arteries.”

“When it comes to treatment, one size does not fit all. I encourage readers to use this information to ask their doctors for additional testing should they fit any of these profiles, so treatments can be tailored to them. Remember, treating the problem is not as important as treating the person who has the problem,” Dr. Danny concludes.

 To set up an appointment with Dr. Danny Quaranto or contact the Alternative Medicine Family Care Center located at 3408 Aviation Blvd., Vero Beach, FL, e-mail DrDanny40@yahoo.com or call 772-778-8877.  Visit their website at http://www.amfcc.info/

Randy Mackenzie is spotted wearing GetShotByElla.com “Listen” t-shirt at several networking events on Florida’s Treasure and Space Coasts.  Striking up a conversation, GetShotByElla.com learns that Randy is working with the David Lynch Foundation on a new program called Operation Warrior Wellness aimed at helping United States military veterans dealing with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) through transcendental meditation.

Randy, a TM Teacher for 36 years, has taught the technique to more than 800 people around the globe, from the Philippines to India to several US States. With a Master of Business Administration from Maharishi University of Management, Fairfield, Iowa and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Colgate University, Hamilton, New York, Randy served as the Director of Advanced Programs for TM for all of Upstate New York from 1977 to 1979. He has also worked as the director of an Ayurvedic health clinic in Upstate New York. As a result of his TM teaching work, Randy has lived all over, but the places he feels the most at home are Colorado and Wyoming, where he taught full time from 1996 through 2001. Currently, Randy teaches TM in Florida and gives complimentary informational power points about the practice to service clubs, veterans groups, libraries and others. Randy’s students include veterans striving to deal with the ramifications of PTSD. He is ardent about getting the word out to them about the benefits of TM and the scholarships available through the David Lynch Foundation for vets interested in learning the technique. Randy has written the following guest blog for Get Shot By Ella about Operation Warrior Wellness and the benefits of TM for PTSD:

Randy is pictured wearing Get Shot By Ella’s “Listen on Lime” shirt.

By Randy Mackenzie, M.B.A., Certified TM Teacher

Operation Warrior Wellness is a new program established as a branch of the David Lynch Foundation, www.davidlynchfoundation.org, to help and rehabilitate veterans suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Operation Warrior Wellness offers financial scholarships to provide veterans access to the Transcendental Meditation program (TM), facilitating their relief from the negative symptoms of PTSD.

TM is natural and easy to learn and practice. The technique enables the practitioner to access a very deep level of rest for the mind and body, resulting in the dissolution of surface and deeper rooted traumas in the whole physiology.  Hyper vigilance, depression, sleep disorders, flashbacks, bad dreams, general anxiety, social insecurity and other disorders are decreased significantly within months of commencing TM. Over longer time periods, these problems are eventually alleviated.  Initial research shows a 50% decrease in symptoms after 2 months.

Norman Budd of Vero Beach, Florida served as an E3 Fireman in the Navy from 1964 to 1966 and as an Army Sergeant from 1972 to 1974. Norman’s personal testimonial illustrates the positive impact TM has made in his life and on improving his PTSD symptoms. Norman states, “Since I started Transcendental Meditation two months ago my feelings are better. I can think better. I can take longer walks with my grandson. I can breathe better. I get along better with people and feel more comfortable around people. My relationship with my wife and daughters is better. I sleep better at night and feel more rested when I wake up. I have more energy during the day and feel better so that I can work around the yard instead of sitting around the house. I used to have many flashbacks and bad dreams and now I have much fewer than I did six months ago. I am not as depressed as before. On a scale of one to 10, ten feeling great and one feeling horrible, I used to be a two or three, now I am about an eight. I wish everyone could feel as good as I do. Two weeks after starting TM, I stopped smoking. I have Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and emphysema, and my breathing is 80% better. I breathe easier and I used to use an inhaler three to four times a day and now I don’t use it at all. I used to take a stomach medicine two times a day and now I no longer take it. I feel 20 to 30 years younger, and I am 66 years old, and I look forward to being able to play football again.”

The number of veterans suffering from PTSD is alarming and disheartening. Consider some statistics I have obtained from the following sources: the US Department of Defense, the US Veterans Administration, and the Veterans for Common Sense organization. US war casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan have exceeded 500,000. As of June 2010, over 537,000 patients were treated by the Veterans Administration, and 489,000 veterans filed for disability. Framing this in perspective, there are 9000 new patients per month or one new patient every five minutes. In the area of mental health, as of Sept. 2009, 143,530 veterans were diagnosed with PTSD. As of March 2010, the VA Suicide Prevention Hotline had received a monthly average of 10,000 hotline calls. Nearly 40 % of those deployed to war in December 2008 had been previously deployed at least once. Veterans deployed twice or more have a 50% increased risk of PTSD. Today, 20 to 30% of returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan will have symptoms of PTSD. Additionally, many veterans from previous wars still suffer from lingering PTSD. Despite these distressing facts, half of veterans at risk for PTSD will not seek care because of the stigma.

TM is proving to be a viable solution for helping out our military heroes and combating the huge psychological, physical, and financial toll that war has on our nation’s service personnel and their families.

Who do you know that may benefit from this program? Help me reach out to them and begin turning the tide on the havoc created by PTSD. Contact me, Randy Mackenzie, at e-mail randym49@gmail.com or phone (772) 539-7557.

Additionally, find many informative videos about the Operation Warrior Wellness program and the use of the ancient practice of TM as a new approach to one of the ravages of combat on veterans at the David Lynch Foundation’s general website www.davidlynchfoundation.org.

Information on an initial webinar about Operation Warrior Wellness held September 1, 2011 can be found by clicking on http://www.davidlynchfoundation.org/emailing/2011_08_17.html. Future webinars will be featured.

Additional sites to find ongoing information about TM include www.tm.org  and  www.tm-florida.org.