We continue to be amazed at the effectiveness of homeopathic ointments such as Traumeel for muscle/joint pain and inflammation, and bruising and other acute injuries. No medicine cabinet should be without it. For children it is the perfect “boo-boo medicine”–just don’t put it on an open wound because it stings.
Don’t put up with being plugged up!
While many people are constipated and know it, many others have “sluggish bowels” and don’t know it. Human physiology is such that eating a substantial meal causes the whole intestine to contract in waves–so a bowel movement would be a natural consequence after eating a meal. Ideally, one would have 2-3 bowel movements a day as long as 3 meals a day are being eaten. Less than that may allow toxins that the body is trying to eliminate through the bowel to be re-absorbed. Grandmothers used to give enemas or castor oil to children to prevent colds–maybe they knew something after all. In general, people feel better when their guts are not sluggish.
The bottom line: be aware and be proactive. Pay attention and allow time to answer the call. If there is no call, get busy assisting gut function. Look to dietary fiber mostly from vegetables and fruits and some whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds (added fiber is not necessary), plenty of liquids including lemon water, and avoid refined grains (white flour or “wheat flour”). Flax tea is very helpful–here’s how to make it. Place 1 Tbsp. of whole flax seed in a cup and pour 12 ounces of boiling water into the cup and stir. To add flavor, put an herb tea bag in there also. Let steep for 30 minutes and strain. Drink the flax tea daily. Finally, a daily practice of 5 minutes of diaphragmatic breathing while lying on the left side (encourages breathing through the right nostril) is a yoga practice helpful for getting the gut moving.
Drink Half Your Weight in Ounces Daily
Stay hydrated to feel good and function well!
Good digestion and bowel elimination depend on good hydration–so does clear thinking! We often loose the sense of thirst as we age and many people mistake thirst for hunger and then eat instead of drink. Therefore, it is important to form the habit of drinking enough fluids whether thirsty or not. The rule of thumb is to drink daily half your weight in ounces. If you weigh 160 pounds that would be 80 ounces or about 10 cups. Make it a rule to drink 2 cups of water or herb tea first thing in the morning before eating. That way you have already had a quarter of the approximate recommendation of 8 cups of fluids a day before you start eating. If you have problems with constipation, add the juice of a half lemon to 2 cups of warm water and have that instead of tea or plain water first thing in the morning.
Making delicious drinks is a healthy way for you to want to drink–the bonus is a daily supply of minerals and antioxidants! If you have a juicer, freshly made vegetable juice on a daily basis is an excellent nutritious beverage. Herb teas are another good choice. Obviously, the quality of the water is very important. Ask us for more information about how to improve the quality of your water. Generally, stevia is used as a safe, no-calorie sweetener–most people need to avoid drinking calories (drinks with added sugars such as high fructose corn syrup, sugar, honey, agave).
Nasal Neti Pot Rinse
THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS OF A WATER-BORNE AMOEBA KILLING 2 PEOPLE IN ALABAMA WHO HAD USED THE NETI POT. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO USE PURIFIED WATER WHEN MAKING THE SALT WATER SOLUTION. PURIFIED MEANS FILTERED, REVERSE OSMOSIS OR DISTILLED WATER.
The nasal passages benefit greatly when rinsed with saline solution daily. Allergies, sinus congestion, chronic coughs, and colds/sore throats all decrease with regular use of the neti pot. Neti pots are available in health food stores and some drug stores. We have convinced many of our patients to try it for allergies and congestion. Once they experience the open, clean feeling after nasal rinsing, they’re sold on the idea. All you need is the neti pot and sea salt. Be sure to follow the directions that come with the neti pot.
Weight Loss
Obesity is the root of many other health problems for many Americans and must be addressed. People over a certain age with weight problems almost always have other serious conditions which are a sign of poor health -hypertension, diabetes, arthritis, and greatly increased cardiovascular risk. Our question for the person who says he/she wants to lose weight is: Do you want to be healthier or just thinner? Do you recognize the serious health problems that you may have and do you want to get rid of them? We have been very successful with individuals who are motivated to reclaim their health. They are ready to begin helping themselves.
We treat each patient as an individual. Different people gain weight for different reasons. If the overall health and history of the patient is assessed by a clinically trained nutritionist, metabolic imbalances, nutrient deficiencies, and toxic exposures contributing to the problem can be identified and addressed.
The most exciting part for us as we watch our patients learn how to help themselves and become healthier is that those who have been on medications often no longer need them. This is a true sign of good health-many people mistakenly think that medications buy good health. In truth, good habits earn good health.
There is some controversy about what constitutes a healthy diet. It is easier than you think, but unfortunately it is not well known. Americans have gotten lost in a sea of commercialism and advertising by special interests groups. Want to learn more? Call us today. 540-343-6636
