Naturopathic Medicine

Thriving through Halloween

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By Dr. Elisha Cook ND

Halloween can have many mixed emotions for families. There is the excitement of dressing up, imagination, and of course treats. However, there is also the anticipation of behaviour battles and having access to treats in the house. Different struggles can arise for different families, and it is important to keep in mind that your individual situation is different than someone else’s. As a result, you do not need to approach this time of year and holiday the same as other families.

The Candy

As mentioned above, different families will have different struggles during this season. For some, having a child with a food sensitivity can challenge you to wonder, “is this treat really worth them experiencing (insert your child’s symptom)”. For others, the sheer volume is overwhelming and may be too much for their child to be able to handle. Some individuals may not struggle at all in this area.  

For those who struggle with volume or particular treat items, consider a trade or a deal. Go about your festive activities as you normally would, sort through the candy to pull out items your child reacts to or would lack interest in, and offer them a deal. Consider suggesting to them, “If you give us this bag of candy, we will give you this new toy”. In our house, we have done this and our little one has been more than willing to make a trade. The prospect of a new toy is much more enticing than the sugar.

The Environment

Between flashing lights, heavy foot traffic, and spooky items, the various environments of Halloween can be overwhelming for some, including some neurodivergent individuals (individuals with different conditions or states that affect their brain functioning). Individuals who experience this can consider going to quieter neighbourhoods with less foot traffic or homes with fewer decorations. If this is difficult to anticipate or plan for, consider taking quiet breaks every couple of houses to regroup and ground before moving on.

An alternative is to change how you approach Halloween entirely. Attending a Halloween party put on by a local organization may offer a different way to celebrate, have some fun and get some treats. You can even consider holding your own Halloween party, and giving your child a bag of treats at the end (though this requires a bit more planning and potentially resources).

The Aftermath

The time after Halloween can hold the majority of the struggles that parents face. As mentioned above the types of candy and candy itself can pose problems for some. As parents, having access to these treats in the house can be a struggle as temptation has walked in the door, sat down, and offered you a bag of chips as part of your “parent tax”. In addition, if you are a home that participates in giving out treats to trick or treaters, you may be stuck with the left overs. Approaching these treats with moderation can be easy for some individuals, but for others, adopting certain mindsets may be warranted:  

Mindset #1: I do not NEED this treat.

Mindset #2: This belongs to (insert child’s name).

Mindset #3: My goal of (insert goal), is more important to me than this treat.

With the temptation, consider asking yourself these questions:

Question #1: Is this treat worth moving further from my goal?

Question #2: What could I be doing instead of eating this treat?

Question #3: Am I just thirsty?

Question #4: Have I adequately fueled my body prior to eating this treat?

If all else fails, consider if the treats need to leave the house. Do they need to be thrown out, given to an organization, given to a family who would love to have them, etc.? However you celebrate, I hope that the ideas presented might offer an opportunity to manage the highs and lows of the season with greater ease and victories.

Have you benefited from reading this blog? Know someone that would benefit as well? Share, Like, Comment, or Tweet this article, and let me know what you think. Some of the information provided above may not be appropriate for everyone, please consult with your doctor before trying any of the above. If you are interested in trying any of our services, working with any of our amazing practitioners, or are simply wanting a different approach to your health care needs, contact the Plattsville Natural Health Clinic by calling 226-232-7665 and book your appointment today! 

Supporting the Immune System

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Recent updates have warned us to buckle up and get ready for another potential wave of illness/colds/flus. With changes in season, it can take its toll on our immune systems. By integrating some daily measures into our lifestyle, we can set a better stage for our immune systems as we enter into these more immune aggressive seasons. We decided it was beneficial to present an updated version of one of our older blog posts in order to help you support your immune system.

Stress Management

Being under a lot of stress can cause our immune systems to be more susceptible to bacteria and viruses. Stress can cause our bodies to be more focused on fueling ourselves with fight or flight response (i.e. responding to the stress) and less on protecting us from colds and flus, thus making us more susceptible. By managing stress before it wears our bodies down, we can keep bacteria and viruses at bay. Stress management can look like taking certain supplements as discussed with your Naturopathic Doctor, massage therapy, talking to a friend, acupuncture, regular walks, and reading a book (just to name a few). If you would like to learn more about stress management, Dr. Cook has released a new book, Stress Less and Weigh Less, which discusses many great stress management tools. You can get your copy by visiting our publications page of this website.

Vegetables and Fruits

Vegetables and fruits are full or antioxidants and nutrients that help to build and boost the immune system. By assuring the immune system has the right nutrients, it can help to keep the body strong and healthy. Ideally, having no more than 3 servings of fruit per day and having 5 or more vegetables per day is what is recommended. Specifically, when we look at the research, we can see that an anti-inflammatory diet (which is generally high in vegetables), has been shown to help combat viruses and support recovery from them. Some individuals may require higher amounts of certain nutrients to be able to effectively mount an immune response to certain bacteria and viruses, and so may require supplementation for specific nutrients. Determining which nutrients need to be supplemented for is best determined with the help of a health care professional.

Tea

Having teas, such as green tea, on a regular basis can help to boost the immune system due to their antioxidant profile and their immune boosting qualities. Specifically, green tea has been shown to bind to and prevent replication of certain viruses. Adding a bit of honey to your tea can also help to fight off any bacteria that might attempting to invade.

Soup

Many may find it hard to believe, but consuming homemade soup actually helps to halt the inflammatory cascade that happens when we are starting to get sick. In addition, homemade soup is full of electrolytes and nutrients to help combat illness.

Exercise

Exercise can help to boost the immune system by increasing the speed at which white blood cells patrol the body and look for bacteria or viruses. Exercise can also be beneficial for the immune system by increasing the respiratory rate and thus increasing the chance that a lingering bacteria or virus will be cleared from the lungs. However, it is important to potentially modify out workout routine if we do come down with a cold or flu. If you do become sick, focus on refueling with adequate protein after your workouts to support recovery of the body from your workout and from the illness.

Sleep

Getting a proper sleep can help you to better manage not only emotions and stress but also your immune system. Not getting a good night’s sleep can cause our bodies to be less able to produce T cells – an important immune system cell – and thus make us more susceptible to colds and flus.

Have you benefited from reading this blog? Know someone that would benefit as well? Share, Like, Comment, or Tweet this article, and let me know what you think.

Some of the information provided above may not be appropriate for everyone, please consult with your doctor before trying any of the above. If you are interested in Naturopathic Medicine and wanting a different approach to your health care needs, contact our clinic to book in with one of our amazing naturopathic doctors by calling/texting 226-232-7665 and book your appointment today!

What is cupping and how does it work?

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Written by Dr. Elisha Cook ND

Cupping has had a lot of media coverage over the years in regards to athletes and pain, but what is it really and how can it help you? To begin with, cupping is a form of traditional Asian medicine that has been used for thousands of years to aid with so many different health concerns. Though cupping and acupuncture look quite different, their actions can be quite similar. For some, cupping can have a more profound effect on issues such as fibrotic tissue and fascia that is tight. Cupping has been compared to massage therapy treatment as well as a result.

The following is a list of both actions that can take place in the body and the potential conditions or symptoms it can help to alleviate.

How Does Cupping Work?

Cupping works via many different pathways which cause:  

  • Releases endorphins – resulting in decreased pain
  • Relaxes muscle
  • Reduces pain
  • Promotes blood flow
  • Promotes lymphatic circulation
  • Stimulates the immune system
  • Regulates inflammatory pathways

What Can Cupping Help with?

Cupping can help with many surprising conditions/symptoms including:

  • Pain – muscle
  • Muscle tension
  • Sports injuries
  • Stress
  • Fertility
  • Depression
  • Anxiety 
  • Headaches/ Migraines
  • Insomnia
  • Coughs and colds
  • Weight loss
  • Fatigue
  • Hypertension (high blood pressure)
  • Lumbar Disc Herniation
  • Acne
  • And more

How do our Naturopathic Doctors use cupping?

Our Naturopathic Doctors’ approach to cupping is based on both Asian medicine and Western medicine. They apply the cups based on the muscle areas that hurt and also the pathways that from a Asian medicine perspective need to be addressed. In this way, the system as a whole is supported and not just help with sore muscles. You are not your disease and you need to be treated as such.

Moving cupping or stationary cupping may be chosen for your specific situation and depending on your particular concerns. The cup is typically left for 5-20 minutes (again depending on the concern). This treatment can be quite aggressive and so your Naturopathic Doctor needs to assess whether this is a valid treatment option for you. Cupping also leaves a dark hue on the skin that can often be tender following treatment. Some individuals may choose to use acupuncture only to avoid the discolouration of the skin. This discolouration is not permanent, but may last up to a week following treatment.

The colour change that happens on the skin is a result of increase circulation and increased lymphatic flow to the area. From an Asian medicine perspective, this is the result of a heavily stagnated area that has finally broken up. Following treatment, some individuals may also feel a bit sore. This is normal, and so, some individuals may choose to ice the area for 10 minutes to decrease the tenderness.  

If you are interested in trying cupping, feel free to contact the clinic and book your appointment today, or contact me through the contact portion of my website for more information.

Have you benefited from reading this blog? Know someone that would benefit as well? Share, Like, Comment, or Tweet this article, and let me know what you think.

Some of the information provided above may not be appropriate for everyone, please consult with your doctor before trying any of the above. If you are interested in Naturopathic Medicine and wanting a different approach to your health care needs, contact Dr. Elisha Cook ND by calling 226-232-7665 and book your appointment today! 

5 Teas to Promote Calmness

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Written By Dr. Elisha Cook ND

There are many amazing herbs available to help with health and healing. Remarkably, some of these herbs and botanicals can be consumed as teas to promote beneficial outcomes. There are some prominent herbs that can reduce anxiousness, reduce nervousness, and calm individuals. Keep in mind that you should always consult with your Naturopathic Doctor to make sure these teas are right for you and that the dosing is adequate. 

Hibiscus Tea 

Hibiscus tea can promote relaxation and calmness through the fact that it is a flower. Flowers in general tend to promote calmness in individuals. Hibiscus, in addition, helps to lower blood pressure which can be an unfortunate consequence to anxiousness or stress. 

Chamomile Tea 

Chamomile tea can be great for digestive upset, and can help to calm the gut and the mind. For individuals that can feel anxiety or nervousness “in their stomach”, this tea can be a great add on to their treatment plan. 

Lemon Balm Tea 

Lemon balm tea is a great herb for all ages. Kids tend to love the taste of it, and it helps to ease nervous unrest. Many herbal blends will incorporate it into their sleep teas as it can also be great to promote a good night’s rest. 

Peppermint Tea

Peppermint tea is another tea that can help to ease stomach discomfort with nervousness, but this calming herb also has some other great properties. Peppermint can help to open the airways, making it a bit easier to breath. We can sometimes see with stress or anxiety that individuals may struggle to “catch their breath”. This herb might prove to be a great add on for those struggling with this. 

Lavender Tea

Lavender tea is a great herb for many reasons. As a flower it does help to promote calmness and rest. Many individuals will use this herb to aid with sleep as well. Some research has shown that lavender can be highly effective for anxiety, and has even been compared to such anxiolytic pharmaceuticals as Lorazepam. 

If you benefited from this blog, Dr. Elisha Cook ND will have her book “Stress Less and Weigh Less” published in June 2023 that has information like this AND MORE. Contact us to get EARLY ACCESS by emailing info.pnhc@gmail.com or through the contact portion of our website. 

Have you benefited from reading this blog? Know someone that would benefit as well? Share this article with someone who you think might benefit from the information and let me know what you think.

Some of the information provided above may not be appropriate for everyone, please consult with your doctor before trying any of the above. If you are interested in Naturopathic Medicine and wanting a different approach to your health care needs, contact Dr. Elisha Cook ND by calling/texting 226-232-7665 and book your appointment today!