Back to School! Tips for Using Back Packs

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Its that time of year again….school is in! Kids going back to school carrying packs on their back is a great reminder to all of us to exert some caution when using them to haul our stuff around. Check out these brief tips below:

– Avoid slinging your backpack on one side – this can cause the spine to lean, putting stress on the joints and muscles in the mid – and lower – back.

– As much as possible, wear both straps and adjust them so that the pack fits snugly. You should be able to slide your hand between the backpack and your back. Ensure the straps don’t dig into the skin to prevent proper circulation.

– Use the waist strap during periods of long wear since it reduces the strain on your back and transfers some of the load to your hips.

– Position the shoulder straps on on your shoulders!  Carrying your backpack too low will cause you to lean forward and puts the weight on your upper back.

– Bend with your knees to lift the pack, or place the pack on a table or bench to more easily slide it onto your back instead of bending and twisting.

– Choose a pack with plenty of compartments and make use of them! Pack the heaviest items closest to your body, and place awkward shaped items towards the front so that they do not dig into your skin.

The most important thing to remember is this: when your spine is healthy, when your muscles are strong and balanced, everyday activities are not a problem for your body! Regular chiropractic care ensures this. If you haven’t yet made time to find a Chiropractor to work with to achieve your family’s health goals…now is the time!

Summer Fun! Tips for your Family

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Enjoy the Sun! Natural sunlight is essential for good health. Time in the sun is a question of balance.  Daily moderate exposure enables the body to produce vitamin D and make melanin (our body’s natural sunscreen).  Overexposure causes damage to the skin, accelerates aging, suppresses the immune system, and can lead to cancers.  Children are much more sensitive than adults so take precautions…and be mindful of the toxic chemicals in many sunscreens that can be worse for the body than sun exposure!  Choose natural products when using them, but even easier is to use hats, and cover the skin with clothing when possible.  Seek out the shade and balance time out in the sun with breaks and indoor play as well.  This also helps prevent heat exhaustion and dehydration.

Bites and sting  Although they should always be treated immediately,  stings from a bee or wasp are not usually dangerous unless the victim suffers from an allergy.  Apply a paste of baking soda and water to a bee sting to relieve pain; make a compress from a pad of cotton soaked in lemon juice and apply to a wasp sting. *Multiple stings, or stings to the eyes, ears or mouth should be treated in the hospital.*

Mosquitos Prevent insect bites by diluting a few drops of essential oils of eucalyptus or citronella in half a mug of water, gently apply to exposed areas avoiding the eyes and mouth.  Cider vinegar can be used the same way.  Arnica (homeopathic) is useful for any bites that cause swelling, bruising or pain.  Witch hazel is also quite effective.

Cuts & Bruises  If there is extensive bleeding, or any other unusual symptoms such as dizziness, shortness of breath, or a head of injury, head to the hospital for emergency treatment. A clean cloth soaked in witch hazel is good for bruises as is a cold compress and some TLC!  Arnica cream is also useful for soreness.

First Aid Remedies: These are the basic items in my first aid kit! Keep the following on hand in your car, purse or within easy reach for most emergencies…

Arnica 30c homeopathic remedy– for bumps, bruises, blows, cuts, broken skin, burns, scalds, nosebleeds, stings, sprains, fractures, muscular aches and pains, (or in fact virtually any injury to the body)

Aconite 30c homeopathic remedy –for fear, anxiety, restlessness, sudden illness, intense pain, shock.  Give it to any child who has been hurt or traumatized in any way.

Chamomilla 30c homeopathic remedy – for teething, insomnia, earaches, digestive troubles, anytime you need to relax!

Band-aids, gauze, wet-wipes.

Bach Rescue Remedy – a flower remedy designed for shock and trauma.  Very relaxing and soothing.

Calendula cream – great salve for cuts, stings, burns, scrapes and scratches, any skin irritation.

Tea tree oil, Eucalyptus oil – essential oils known for their antibacterial and anti-septic properties. Must be diluted or mixed with a natural oil or salve before being applied to the skin.

 

 

Stay Healthy for Life!

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Everyday millions of people throughout the world choose chiropractic as part of their healthy lifestyle. They recognize that health is the full expression of oneʼs potential physically, emotionally and spiritually, and and not just the absence of symptoms.

Here are some other reasons why….

Stronger Immune Function

“Chiropractic care optimizes whatever genetic abilities an individual has to resist disease. “ Dr. Ronald Peru, PhD, Chief of Cancer Prevention at New York’s Preventative Medicine Institute.

Dr. Peru found that chiropractic patients had a 200% stronger immune system than people who had no chiropractic care, and a 400% greater immune competence than people with cancer or other serious diseases. This response was consistent throughout the entire group and showed no decline with age!

DNA Repair

In 2005 Dr. Peru also studied the benefits of chiropractic care on repairing DNA (the body’s building blocks) and he concluded that:

“DNA repair is the highest or most effective in individuals who had no symptoms and who had been receiving chiropractic care for the longest period of time.”

Other studies have concluded that the optimal functioning of the immune system is critically dependent on the balance of the endocrine (hormone) and nervous systems. “Loss of this balance can lead to immune defects and can significantly contribute to the occurrence of allergy and auto-immune disease.”

Higher Antioxidant Levels

In 2005, a landmark study found evidence that chiropractic care can reduce oxidative stress in the body. Oxidative stress plays a role in a whole host of diseases and disorders: Alzheimer’s disease, atherosclerosis, chronic fatigue syndrome, diabetes, heart disease, Parkinson’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis and many others. Thiols are compounds in the body that act as antioxidants, reacting with free radicals to neutralize them. Serum levels of thiols reflect DNA’s capacity to repair itself, and can be used to measure aging and disease status.

The study participants who received chiropractic care for 2 or more years had higher serum thiol levels in their body. Some of the chiropractic patients even had serum thiol levels higher than what is associated with normal health and wellness!

Everyone can benefit from a healthy spine! What are you waiting for?

Find a Chiropractor to support your health and help you start living at the level of health you deserve.

Basic Cleansing & Detox Protocol

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The concept of detoxifying and cleansing your body has been around for hundreds of years, and has been used medicinally to promote the healing of many types of ailments.  Seasonally detoxifying gives your body a boost, allows for cell renewal, and will help you look and feel younger!

Why Detox?  Modern urban life is toxic by definition, but if your body is carrying more toxins than it is built to handle, your health will be at risk.  Many people live life at a fast, hectic, stressful pace, and rely on convenient and time-saving measures to feed and look after themselves.  Your body has its own detoxifying systems (liver, kidneys, bowels), and does an amazing job of removing wastes from your body.  However, if the volume of internal waste exceeds what it is able to safely process, these organs can be overwhelmed and not function properly.

When? At minimum I recommend doing a detox protocol seasonally, but many opt for making a detox part of their monthly or even weekly routine.   Our goal is to help you change your lifestyle to support detoxifying continually, and to lessen the toxic load on your body.  To plan your detox you need to find a time when your social and work calendar is not over-booked, and when you can give yourself the time for some additional rest.  Its often a good idea to start on a weekend, so that the bulk of the detoxifying can start before the typical work week begins.

How will you feel? After the program you should notice increased energy, clarity of thought, and quite often a subsiding of certain health concerns.  However, during the detox program some side effects are inevitable as your body is clearing itself of toxins.  They are generally nothing of great concern and a sign that the detox is working. Some symptoms you might experience are: furry tongue, headache, irritability, excessive elimination, flu/cold-like symptoms, skin eruptions, fatigue. Consult a health professional if you experience anything that concerns you.

The plan:  It’s simple – Stop overloading the body with harmful chemicals and give yourself proper nutrients to support healing and increase the elimination of chemicals. Avoid: smoking, alcohol, caffeine, candy, chocolate,  ‘extreme’ exercise (an intensity your body is not accustomed to).

7 day detox diet – the beauty of this program is that:

(i) ANYONE can do it

(ii) no special products are required

(iii) you can customize it to your comfort level and physiological needs depending on how ‘toxic’ you are

(iv) it can help to determine whether you have any food intolerances or allergies

(v) it provides great perspective on how you eat and your attitude toward food.

DAY 1 – liquids only (water, fresh fruit and vegetable juices,                      unsweetened herbal teas, vegetable broth, smoothies (dairy free)

DAY 2 – liquids and fruit only

DAY 3 – add raw vegetables

DAY 4 – add cooked vegetables and brown rice

DAY 5 – add beans, lentils, nuts and seeds

DAY 6 – add grains and live yogurt*

DAY 7 – add fish

Customize it: depending on how ‘toxic’ you are, or your interest level, this program can be implemented for anywhere from 7-30 days!  If you have never done a cleanse before, consider a simple 7 day program to see how your body responds. If you are more comfortable and confident with the restrictions, consider a lengthier program.  Although everyone can benefit from a 21 day cleanse, only you can determine what will work for you based on your level of commitment.  You might find that once you start with the first week, continuing on is easier than you think!

To create a lengthier cleanse, simply follow the food implementation protocol but extend the number of days.  For example, for a 14 day program follow the DAY 1 protocol (liquids only) for 2 DAYS, for a 21 day program follow it for 3 DAYS, for 30 day program follow it for 4 days..

Other Activities to Consider? 

Detoxification involves not only diet.  Various body and skin treatments help the general detox process and will enhance your results.  They can also be incorporated into your general lifestyle to continually boost your body.

1) Tongue brushing: every morning immediately upon rising, scrape your      tongue with a spoon repeatedly until clean (no white residue) then rinse with water.

2) Hot water with lemon first thing in the morning prior to eating anything.

3) Skin brushing before your shower; hydrotherapy while in the shower (alternating hot and cold).

4) Castor oil packs at night before bed (see handout), ideally combined with quiet breathing and positive visualizations.

Tummy Troubles!

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Abdominal pain ranks with fevers as one of the leading sources of pointless visits to doctors & pediatricians.  Although it is very common, the pain rarely stems from organic causes, and usually does not indicate a serious illness.  Pediatricians say that only about 1 in 10 children brought to their office for tummy aches actually need medical attention.

What could be the cause?

Infants – ‘colic’, gas, digestive disturbances, food allergies/intolerances, infection

Older children – constipation, overeating, tension, gastroenteritis(infection), food allergies, appendicitis, emotional; ‘abdominal headaches’ due to stress

Generally, stomach aches are

1)    The result of indigestion from eating too much or too fast.

2)    The result of psychological or emotional causes.  School phobia could be to blame, in which case you need to patiently, gently, interrogate your child to determine the association between his school and his pain.  Are they being bullied? Having discipline problems with teachers? Ashamed and worried because they haven’t been doing their homework? Troubled because of the separation from you? Dealing with bad behavior from other children?   Similar to headaches, stomachaches may evolve as a form of subconscious avoidance of unpleasant tasks, or a desire to gain sympathetic attention from parents.

3)    Produced by allergies to food, medications, or chemical additives to the foods that they eat.

4)    A symptom of another ailment.

Natural treatments:

–       a warm drink, a hot water bottle on the tummy and avoiding solid food should ease the pain.

–       If the pain is recurrent and eased by a bowel movement, constipation may be the problem.  If they are not moving their bowels at least once a day, increase their intake of fluids and fibre-rich foods, and reduce the refined and processed foods.

–       Ensure your child drinks plenty of water and diluted juices to flush the system of anything that may be causing the condition.

–       Add a drop of chamomile oil to a little olive or almond oil and massage the abdomen, starting in the lower right quadrant (above their hip bone on their right leg), moving up towards their ribs, across their belly, and then down their left side.  This is the path of the colon, and any gas or feces that may be expanding the bowels will be broken up.

–      Chiropractic! When the spinal joints are not moving properly all functions in the body are compromised. In infants or children who are constipated I often find spinal subluxations in the lower lumber spine, and once corrected, the bowels return to normal.  Even in children with no abdominal complaints, the parents often find their systems are ‘more regular’ with consistent spinal wellness care.  If your child has never had a Chiropractic spinal assessment call us to find out more and book their check up 705.446.9733 or visit www.icpa4kids.org for more info.

When to seek medical advice:

–       whenever abdominal pain severe (they are doubled over),is accompanied by diarrhea, vomiting, fever, loss of appetite, or weight loss.

Disclaimer: Chiropractic care supports overall health and healing, but is not a cure or treatment for diarrhea, vomiting, fever, loss of appetite, weight loss, ‘colic’, gas, digestive disturbances, food allergies/intolerance, infection, constipation, overeating, tension, gastroenteritis(infection), food allergies, appendicitis, emotional; ‘abdominal headaches’ due to stress in children.

Allergy Symptoms? Looking to Clear Them?

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Itchy, sore, puffy, eyes. Sinus congestion. Headaches. 

Skin rashes. Sneezing.  

Spring can be a tough time for allergy sufferers.

Join us for discussion on ways to obtain relief, learn how you can participate in new research, and save substantially on the cost  of treatment.

Invest in your health.

Weds. April 25 @ 7pm

OR   Thurs. April 26 @ 12noon

Limited seating. Call/email to reserve your spot!

Balance

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I have been in our new location for 2 months now. Some of you are wondering why some things are still not finished with the renovation, some of you don’t care (and tell me you come see me to get adjusted regardless of the decor) and others remind me that its a process and love watching it all unfold.

Part of the ‘unfinished’ parts are out of my control because I am relying on people with skills I do not have to complete work that was started. Having said that, there are tasks to be completed that I can physically handle but here’s why they are still waiting to be finished:

I believe its my responsibility to live the life I encourage you to live. Simple.

I encourage you to make time for physical activity/exercise.

I encourage you to maintain social connections and loving relationships.

I encourage you to choose good food and prepare as much as you can yourself.

I encourage you to get plenty of rest.

I encourage you to play with your children, and give them the attention they need.

I encourage you to have fun, pursue new hobbies and play!

I encourage you to balance all of these things in your life because you are a whole person, and because being healthy requires attention to all these areas.

We all have work responsibilities, family obligations and personal objectives. The key lies in balancing  all of them every week, sometimes every day, and giving ourselves permission to do so.

So in addition to managing the ongoing renovation of my office space  I am doing the best I can to balance the other parts of my life too! In doing so, the entire process just takes longer….

Are the different facets of your life balanced? Sure there are times when some of our responsibilities dominate, when we must focus specifically on doing the best we can to manage everything.  However, if this is a consistent challenge for you – what can you do differently? Do you need to shift your priorities? How can you make a change, and what do you need to get started?