Do It Yourself

What’s in your Medicine Cabinet?

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Unshaven Middle aged man reading a prescription label in front o

 

I keep many different Natural Health Products in my medicine cabinet for my own health, as well as the health of my family. However, among those, I have found the top 5 that I would say have been quite beneficial to have in our home:

 

1. Tea Tree Oil

Tea Tree Oil can be useful to apply to the skin for relief of itching from bug bites, aiding with acne/pimple break outs, and relieving the symptoms of Athletes Foot. Please use caution with tea tree oil as it is an essential oil and should not be consumed orally, nor be used at greater doses than 5 drops.

2. Epsom Salts

Epsom Salts are great to keep in the home in case of muscular strains or injuries, skin infections, or simply to help you relax after a long day. They can be added to your bath or foot bath as needed.

3. Ginger Candies

It may seem odd to have candies in your medicine cabinet, but ginger candies can be useful when you or your child is having an “upset stomach”. They can help relieve feelings of nausea and help with digestion.

4. Arnica 200CH

Arnica is a homeopathic remedy that is used for anything causing trauma to the body. I will usually take a pellet of this for any event causing bruising, trauma, or shock to the body.

5. Castor Oil

Some of you might be thinking, “O great I heard about castor oil. No thank you I do not want to “clean out my system””. Well, that is not why this is on the list. I often apply castor oil to any joints or muscles experiencing any pain. I also use this if I am having a cold. I will apply the castor oil to my chest (kind of like Vicks) as well as to any lymph nodes that I find are inflamed. Another great use for castor oil is for reducing inflammation in the liver and promoting detox. For more information on Castor Oil and its use, please refer to my website, specifically to the section entitled Handouts, where there is a handout on “Castor Oil Packs”: https://www.plattsvilledoctor.ca/handouts-print-media/

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, please book an appointment with Elisha Cook at the RSNC today and let me help you achieve your health goals.

 

 

Craisin Bars Recipe

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Are you not happy with the Granola Bars that are available on the market as snacks? Try this alternative to Granola Bars! The following recipe was adapted from the commercial Lara Bars, with my own personal spin on it.

Ingredients:

  • 2 Tablespoons of Almond Butter ( I like to use Almond and Cashew Butter)
  • 1/2 Cup of Brazil Nuts
  • 1/2 Cup of Walnuts
  • 1 Cup of Dates
  • 1 Cup of Dried Cranberries (Craisins)

Directions:

  1. Begin by using a food processor to grind the brazil nuts and walnuts. Set the Ingredients aside.
  2. Combine the Almond Butter, Dried Cranberries, and Dates in the food processor and grind until it becomes finely chopped.
  3. Add the Nut mixture to the Fruit and Almond Butter Mixture, and mix well.
  4. Lay wax paper down in a casserole dish and put the mixture in the dish, making it flat and pressed down.
  5. Let the mixture set, then cut into bar shapes.
  6. Lay them flat in your freezer and let them harden.
  7. Pull them out of the freezer when ready to enjoy!

Alternatively, you can use the mixture to make small “Energy Balls”, as opposed to the bars.

Spring: The Season of Detox Part 2 – Six Ways to Detox Everyday

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Head shower while running waterLast week I presented what a detox was. I received quite a bit of interest in detox’s, so I decided to give my viewers some easy ways to encourage the detoxification process in your own home. I would advise my readers to use caution, as the detoxification process can cause headaches along with other symptoms, do to the elimination of toxins. As always, please consult with your Health Care Provider before trying any of the following:

1.      Lemon in hot water

Start your day off by having a hot glass of water with lemon in it. Not only is this good for making you feel full but it also helps stimulate the liver (the detox center) to “clean up” your system.

2.      Exercise

Among the many health benefits that exercise can provide, it can also provide a way to detoxify our bodies. Exercise does so by promoting sweat, which is one of the ways our body removes wastes and toxins from the body.

3.      Dry Skin Brushing

Dry skin brushing is a method of stimulating the skin through an external stimulus such as a brush or cloth. By brushing away the dead skin, it allows the skin to “breathe” easier, thereby detoxifying it. For more information on how to perform dry skin brushing (as well as cautions to be aware of), refer to my Handout page at https://www.plattsvilledoctor.ca.

4.      Alternating Hot and Cold Shower

Alternating hot and cold showers are a simple addition to your morning or nightly routine. It simply involves alternating hot and cold water for therapeutic benefit (refer to my Handout page at https://www.plattsvilledoctor.ca to find detailed instructions). By alternating hot with cold, it shocks your immune and circulatory system into working. By doing this, it causes toxins to be removed from the body. Along with this benefit, it can also stimulate brain function, help with digestion, and increase metabolism.

5.      Eat more fruits and veggies

Fruits and vegetables have many nutrients, vitamins and minerals that are beneficial to health. Along with their nutritional value, they can also improve digestion. By improving “transit time” (i.e. helping you go to the washroom/defecate), they help your body to detox as going #2 is another way our body detoxifies.

6.      Castor Oil Packs to Abdomen

Finally, applying castor oil packs to the abdomen is a great way to encourage your body to detoxify. Though they can be messy, castor oil packs decrease inflammation and increase circulation, particularly in the liver is placed over it. This causes the liver to function properly and makes it better able to eliminate toxins. To learn more about how to perform a castor oil pack and the cautions associated with it, refer to my Handouts page at https://www.plattsvilledoctor.ca.

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, please book an appointment with Elisha Cook at the RSNC today and let me help you achieve your health goals.