Dr. Elisha Cook ND Archives - Page 22 of 23 - Plattsville Natural Health Clinic

Naturopathic Tips for Travel

January 12, 2016 by elisha

Travelling abroad can take its toll on the body, and provide many opportunities for exposure to diverse bacteria and environments. As a result, it may be beneficial to prepare your body for the potential shock and harm that it could come into contact with. Some of these areas are important to focus on when planning for a trip. In addition, as always not everything recommended below is beneficial for everyone, so please contact your naturopathic doctor or health care provider to determine a plan that is best for you.

Prime Your Digestive System

With travelling to different countries, many are exposed to a variety of different foods and as I mentioned bacteria. If your digestive system is not prepared, this can leave you experiencing such symptoms as diarrhea or constipation. These symptoms could even be compounded by even worse scenarios including parasitic infections or bacterial infections. In order to prevent these symptoms and prepare for exposure to different items, several steps can be taken to boost your digestive immune system. Probiotics taken for about one month leading up to a trip can help with prevention of traveller’s diarrhea. In addition, such hydrotherapy techniques such as castor oil packs can help prime the digestive system by helping to produce more white blood cells to prevent infection.

Boost Your Immune System

By boosting your immune system prior to a trip, one can potentially prevent infections as well as fight infections more efficiently. Some ways that one can boost their immune system prior to a trip include taking a multi-vitamin, vitamin C, juicing, or even fasting prior to the trip. In addition, the probiotic that was mentioned above may also help to boost one’s immune system.

Ground Yourself

When flying, it can cause a negative impact on our body leaving us feeling a bit unbalanced. By grounding oneself following a flight, it may help individuals to better adjust and adapt to being back on the ground. There are many different ways that one can ground themselves, some of which may be easier to do than others. Grounding techniques can include laying on the ground as soon as possible for about 20 minutes, meditation, or washing your hands in running water. The last technique may seem unusual, but there is research suggesting that because water is connected to the earth, it can be a great way to ground yourself.

Reset Your Internal Clock

Travelling between time zones can take its toll and cause jet lag. For some, the adjustment can take as long as the trip itself, by which point you may have to endure the jetlag again. Ways to combat this include grounding techniques mentioned above, as well as melatonin. Melatonin is a natural component found in the body that regulates our sleep and wake cycles. In other words, melatonin can aid with sleep and thus help with the adjustment to new sleep times.

Preparing at Work and Home Before

Stress can result from the work that piles up at home and work while one is away. By making lists for when you get back, it can help regain focus on what needs to be accomplished after arriving home from a trip. Technology has also made it easier to prepare in such ways as automatic billing. This may cause more distress for some, and so it is important to prepare in a way that will most benefit you and decrease your stress burden.

Have you benefitted 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 519-537-7058 and book your appointment today!

Keeping New Year’s Resolutions

January 3, 2022January 5, 2016 by elisha

It is estimated that 80% of individuals make New Year’s resolutions, but as many realize, very few keep them. It is easy to make plans of being healthier and living healthier lives when we have the spark of motivation, but when we are faced with the 5am alarm clock going off to go to the gym, the snooze button can become a more viable option.

This blog is meant to give you tips and encouragement to help you through the rough points when you want to throw in the towel on those New Year’s resolutions. In addition, it is my hope that these tips would help make your efforts more successful. Because the number one new year’s resolution is weight loss, many of the examples I provide below will relate to that realm.

Make realistic resolutions.

One of the biggest barriers to overcome in my opinion is the barrier of preconceived expectations of ourselves. Regardless of what you have achieved in the past in regards to activity level and healthy eating habits, start out slow. If you are not exercising at all currently, do not expect to simply be exercising every day for one hour. For some individuals this works for them, but it is important to work your way into a schedule that works for you.

Prepare in advance for your resolutions/changes.

Many individuals struggle with keeping their resolutions, because life gets busy and old habits tend to be resorted to. If one prepares in advance, it is easier to avoid resorting back to these old habits.

Be forgiving of yourself. When you fall short, get back on track quickly and keep going.

Ultimately, New Year’s resolutions require habit changes. Habits can be very hard to change, and so, slip – ups are common and happen. Be kind to yourself and forgive yourself if you fall short. The changes you are making could be very new to you, and it is okay to fall short. I like to give the example of babies that are learning to walk. When a baby is learning to walk they often fall. You wouldn’t yell at a baby and be unforgiving towards them because they fell. You would applaud the 3 steps that they made regardless how small. Treat your successes as such and be quick to get back up and try again.

Be patient.

Change takes time and the results you want may not happen overnight. Be patient with this process. If you are finding you are reaching a plateau in results, it may be best to consult a health care provider such as a Naturopathic Doctor to see if there may be something more preventing progress.

Have a source of accountability.

When we have someone or something that we make ourselves accountable to, this can help with success. Many times, individuals want to please others and if this acts as motivation, use it! Sources of accountability can include different apps, friends, family, or even your Naturopathic Doctor; especially if you are doing weigh in’s or measurements.

Have you benefitted 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.

Health Benefits of Peppermint

December 23, 2015 by elisha

With the holidays comes all of the tasty treats that often include candy canes and peppermint. However, as you may know, peppermint is not just a tasty accessory for all of the holiday baking. It can have some beneficial properties that can improve overall health. For instance, from a botanical medicine perspective, there are several ways that peppermint may be used. Often, I will prescribe it in tea form where an individual will be using the leaf. This herb can also be used as an essential oil and tincture. Each of these forms have different characteristics in themselves that may make them more useful for different situations than the other form. For example, if someone is has an infection in their lungs, breathing in an essential oil may be more effective than drinking a peppermint tea. Regardless, all forms are valid and carry beneficial properties for various conditions.

Main Actions

In botanical medicine, one of the main areas that we explore with her are a plant’s main actions. This aids in discovery of a plant’s whole potential. In regards to peppermint, it is a unique herb in the sense that it has many actions that can affect many different organ systems, from the liver to the lung.

Spasmolytic – relieves spasms
Carminative – helps with digestion
Cholagogue – aids with liver functioning
Anti-emetic – relieves nausea
Anti-microbial – kills bacteria
Mild Sedative – helps to put you to sleep
Diaphoretic – helps you to produce a fever and fight off infections
Analgesic – relieves pain

These main actions of peppermint can help us to determine what this herb could potentially help us with. The main indications for peppermint might include digestion, pain, sleep, and infections. However, the research surrounding this herb may reveal more around the benefits of this herb. Research has shown that peppermint in its various states, may help with the following conditions:

Irritable Bowel Syndrome – abdominal pain, abdominal distention, flatulence, cramping, and gastric emptying all improved
Non – ulcer dyspepsia
Post – operative nausea
Daytime sleepiness
Congestion
Wheezing in asthma
Tension – both mentally and within the muscles.

The information above in no way reflects the full potential of this herb or a comprehensive review of the research. However it does provide you with an idea of the potential of this herb to benefit one’s health. There are some cautions that individuals should be aware of though. For example, peppermint can cause an increase in GERD and acid reflux symptoms. Also, certain genetic syndromes disable an individual from effectively processing peppermint, making it potentially harmful for some. Finally, peppermint can inhibit iron absorption, and so, it should not be consume before or with meals. As always, I should mention that peppermint is not for everyone, and so, please contact your health care provider to determine if you should be consuming peppermint as part of your health plan.

Have you benefitted 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.

Surviving Exam Season

December 15, 2015 by elisha

Exam time is a stressful and challenging time regardless of what educational institute you are in. As a result, healthy lifestyle and eating habits often “go down the drain”. Over the many exam periods I have had to endure, I have developed tips and tricks to help me stay “above water” when it came to my health and my needs. In addition to studying, it is my hope that developing these healthy habits will help you not only ace your exams, but survive the exam season.

Prepare healthy snacks in advance

Having snacks already made such as cut up vegetables and fruit will help you to avoid the temptation of going for “easy” snack food such as chips, candy, pastries, etc.

Prepare meals in advance

Similar to the point above, cooking meals in advance helps to avoid the temptation to eat out and grab that big mac as opposed to a salad. Often, I cook my meals on weekends in preparation for the week. This way, I know I have a quick and healthier choice to rely on.

Green tea

Green tea has a constituent in it called “theanine”. Theanine helps you to be able to focus without the jittery feeling that coffee can often give. As a result, green tea is great for those long study sessions.

Chamomile Tea (or a relaxing tea) before bed

Not only will this help you to sleep better, but it is also a therapeutic action that helps prepare your mind and body for bed. Which leads to my next point. . .

Sleep

Sleep is important not only for your health but also for your memory prior to exams. Research has shown that getting the 8 hours of sleep before an exam is more beneficial than “pulling an all-nighter”. So do your body and you a favor and sleep.

It is okay to take breaks

Giving yourself permission to take breaks is important. It helps change the way you are thinking and allows your brain to function better and be more productive.

Exercise

Exercise has many health benefits including helping our brains to function effectively, improving energy, and improving mood, all of which are important during exam time. As little as 20 minutes per day has shown to be enough to experience health benefits from exercise. Even if you go for a short walking around your residence or block for a break would be enough to help you refocus and gain a different perspective on your studying.

Deep breathing prior to exams

Finally, breathing is important. Deep breathing prior to exams can help calm you and focus you on what needs to be accomplished. With this in mind, remember to keep things in perspective by asking yourself, is this really a big deal? What would happen if I did fail (realistically)? Often putting things into perspective helps us when we are facing these challenging times.

Have you benefitted 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.