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.

 

 

Power Food: Garlic

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Garlic ClovesGarlic has been used for many centuries to prevent and treat diseases due to its health promoting properties. Historical documents have found that garlic was used to keep working class citizens strong and productive, as well as keep them free of abnormal growths or tumours, diarrhea, worms, and cardiovascular difficulties.

Currently, we know that Garlic has the following therapeutic actions, which makes it such a “Power Food”.

  • Antimicrobial – kill or inhibit growth of microorganisms
  • Antifungal – kills or inhibits growth of fungus
  • Diaphoretic – promotes sweating
  • Hypocholesteremic – lowers cholesterol
  • Cholagogue – promotes bile flow and digestion
  • Hypotensive – lowers blood pressure
  • Antispasmodic – relaxes smooth muscles

As a result of these therapeutic actions, garlic has the potential to prevent and treat infections of the respiratory system such as chronic bronchitis, recurrent colds and influenza, and can even be used as a broader approach to treating asthma. Garlic also works on the digestive system by killing bad bacteria and supporting good bacteria within it. It also affects the Gall Bladder by increasing the amount of bile secreted and therefore aiding in digestion and making it work more smoothly. This activation of the gall bladder also helps with the detoxification of the body.

Many studies have also shown the benefits of using garlic to treat hypertension, and overall, lower blood pressure. Along with aiding those with high blood pressure, garlic also reduces bad cholesterol (low density lipoproteins [LDLs]) and increases good cholesterol (high density lipoproteins [HDLs]), and protects against plaque build-up in the blood vessels.

So you might be asking, what health conditions can garlic prevent and what can it be used to treat in my daily life? To begin with, Garlic could aid in preventing Atherosclerosis, Hypertension (high blood pressure), Myocardial Infarction (heart attack), and stroke. In regards to using garlic in every day life, not only can garlic be added to meals, but also used as a treatment for your skin. Garlic can be applied to the skin to treat ring worm, warts, and athlete’s foot (just do not use the garlic in your cooking afterwards).

The next time you see garlic, do not merely think of it as a vampire deterring bulb, but rather a health promoting addition to your diet!

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.

What to Eat When You Cannot Eat Anything

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RE - To Eat Or NotEliminating foods from your diet is very challenging, yet it can have many benefits to your health. Regardless of the benefits, eliminating foods can cause some distress when it comes topreparing meals or just eating in general. It leaves many saying “I cannot eat anything”. Hopefully this blog will provide some ideas on how to approach the elimination diet, or just making healthier food choices in general.

1. Fruits and Vegetables are your Friend

Though some diets might limit some of the vegetables or fruits you are allowed to eat, fruits and vegetables can be a good way to “fill you up”. Having plenty of fruits and vegetables pre – cut for snacks is a good way to avoid going to the snack items that you might not be allowed to have.

2. Cook Meals for the Week on Weekends or In Advance

Cooking meals for the week is a great way to avoid resorting to fast food items. It also takes away from the prep time that might be required with having more of a “whole – foods” type of diet. With this in mind, planning meals is another good way to avoid returning to old eating habits that might be more “convenient”.

3. Drink Water

Water is important to help you stay full, as well as help prevent you from going to those food options that are less than ideal. Water is also beneficial to help your body to detoxify during this time. Often, when we restrict the foods that we often consume, it can cause out bodies to go through a type of “withdrawal”. Drinking water helps our bodies to go through this process a bit more smoothly.

4. Experiment

Use these restrictions on your diet as a way to embrace new ways of food preparation. You might be surprised as to what you actually like (and don’t like). Using recipes on-line or in cook books, as well as spices and new products (maybe Brown Rice Pasta as opposed to Wheat – based pasta) can help you come up with creative ideas for meal planning.

5. Get Your Household Involved

As mentioned above, eliminating foods can be a challenging task for anyone. What might not help is when your loved ones are eating those foods you have eliminated, and you are the only one in your household adopting these diet changes. Depending on your household arrangements and those living in your household, I would encourage all of the members of your household to adopt the diet changes. It will help give you support during this time, as well as give more bonding in regards to meal preparation and planning.

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.