There's a buzz happening in East Austin and Dr Pea has recently been sighted in her new digs at the recently developed Saltillo Lofts on E. Fifth St. adjacent to Plaza Saltillo, the future Lance Arm-strong bikeway and commuter rail line.

Plans for Dr. Pea's center include services such as shiatsu and other Asian bodywork therapies, affordable group acupuncture treatments, and retail of health products such as locally produced and yummilicious "Innocent Chocolate". (Ask for a free sample when you come in.)

After your session, head over to Cafe Mundi for a cup of jo, Big Red Sun on E. Cesar Chavez for gorgeous plant design ideas or to Plaza Saltillo on Thursday afternoons for the budding Farmer's Market.

A big thanks to all who entered my "Name the Center" contest. Several of you suggested keeping "Dr. Pea" and thus, "Dr. Pea's Active Health Center" it is. In second place was “Stuck on You” by Carol, and in third place was “Adelante” by Rebekah.

This column offers "knowledge" (with a slight bias) from a variety of sources not commonly available through our popular news media; knowledge related to choices we make that impact us personally and globally.

THAT: Women are more likely than men to have a hidden type of coronary disease in which their heart muscle is starved for oxygen even though their coronary arteries look clear and free of blockages on X-rays, doctors are reporting. (NY Times, February 1, 2006).

THAT: Research shows that caffeine helps you more directly access fat as an energy source. The most recent research shows that caffeine reduces the blood oxygen levels in your heart, thus depriving you of O2. This could explain why some women have coronary disease due to oxygen starved hearts.(See above)

THAT: You have "Brain Buttons"? Try this exercise to help improve blood flow to your brain to "switch on" the entire brain. The in-creased blood flow helps improve concentration skills required for reading, writing, and more.

Put one hand so that there is as wide a space as possible between your thumb and index finger. Place your index and thumb into the slight indentations below the collar bone on each side of the ster-num. Press lightly in a pulsing manner. At the same time put the other hand over the navel area of the stomach. Gently press on these points for about 2 minutes.
"Smart Moves", by Carla Hannaford, Ph.D. (http://esl.about.com)

THAT: “The sleeping pill Ambien seems to unlock a primitive desire to eat in some patients, according to emerging medical case studies that describe how the drug's users sometimes sleepwalk into their kitchens, claw through their refrigerators like animals and consume calories ranging into the thousands.”
(http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/14/health/ 14sleep.html)

THAT: In a recent report in the Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine (5), an acupuncture protocol was described for treatment of menopausal syndrome that focused on attempting to improve mental activities. The treatment was claimed to have a notable beneficial effect and also to alter the levels of key menopause-related hormones: E2 (estradiol), FSH (follicle stimulating hormone), and LH (luteinizing hormone).
Shen Xiaoming. Acupuncture for Treatment of Climacteric Syn-drome, Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2005; 25(1): 3-6.

THAT: Approximately 70% of pharmaceuticals are synthetically derived from plants.
John Chen, OMD, PhD. Pharm.

"Chi Gong" loosely translates as "cultivation of energy through skillful practice". This Summer's Healing Chi Gong course has begun and there are a few spaces available. Learn how to care for your heart and small intestine and practice specific chi gong movements that help these organs and your overall well being. We meet at a lovely studio in central Austin thru August 21st. Beginner's welcome.

WHEN: Mondays 7:00 - 8:15 pm
WHERE: 3400 Kerbey Lane
HOW TO GET MORE CHI: Call 478-4PEA or email paddy@drpea.com

The Fall Healing Chi Gong course will begin in Sept. To sign up, call or email me to be placed on a list.

Heloise Gold is a professional dancer and movement instructor who has been practicing T’ai Chi for 30 years and teaching for the past 25. She received her T’ai Chi training in New York City from the highly regarded master, Da Liu, of the T’ai Chi Society of New York and with the well respected Chi Gong Master T.K. Shi. Locally, she has studied with Dr. James Wu and Master Li at the Academy of Oriental Medicine in Austin.

Heloise has taught in a variety of venues, including day care centers, public schools, universities, correctional institutions, art museums, recreation centers, corporations and retreat centers.

Heloise currently runs a T’ai Chi/Chi Gong Studio in Austin teaching private and group classes. She will be teaching a Tai Chi retreat in New Mexico July 2 - 7th and still has a few spaces available. For more info, contact her @ 444.6139, Goldbird1@gmail.com, or visit her website at www.deeplistening.org/heloise.

Soba Noodle Tawada, my beloved companion of 13 years, passed away on May 22, 2006. This poem by Rumi, is offered in loving memory of her kind and gentle companionship.

Zero Circle

Be helpless, dumbfounded
Unable to say yes or no.

Then a stretcher will come
from grace to gather us up.

We are too dull-eyed to see that beauty.
If we say Yes, we can, we're lying.

If we say No, we don't see it,
that No will behead us
and shut tight our window onto spirit.

So let us rather not be sure of anything,
beside ourselves and only that, so
miraculous beings come running to help.
Crazed, lying in a zero circle, mute,
we shall be saying finally,
with tremendous eloquence, Lead us.
When we have surrendered totally to that beauty,
we shall become a mighty kindness.

[translated by Coleman Barks]

Schedule a health consultation with Dr. Tawada and find out if Oriental Medicine can help naturally heal your allergies, nagging injury, diges-tive problem, insomnia, menopausal symptoms, or other health con-cerns. If I don't feel we can help you, I'll refer you to someone who can.

Schedule a shiatsu session with Juliana Cumbo by July 8, and receive $10 off your first session. She is available most Saturdays. Call Juliana directly at 426-3208 or fourpillars@earthlink.net to schedule a wonderful bodywork experience for you or a loved one. Mention Dr Pea's E-Journal for your discount.