Community News
Embodied Trauma

Most people will experience some sort of trauma in their lifetime. Trauma is something that happens to you that feels too difficult to bear so we learn to quickly compartmentalize, minimize or numb it out. The obvious big ones are surviving an accident, natural disaster, illness, death of a loved one, abuse, end of a relationship or experiencing something you didn’t see coming. Going through trauma challenges and changes us and imprints itself on our nervous system and bodies. You can’t think your way out of trauma. It affects mood, sleep, appetite and relationships and can leave us stressed, depressed, anxious and unable to cope well with daily life. EMDR (Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) is a powerful way to release the nervous system and regain a calm balance from within.

Fear of Falls Causes Unsafe Behavior

When someone is fearful of falling, they start to avoid everyday activities by staying at home and doing less. This lack of activity leads to loss of strength, reduced muscle tone, and loss of coordination and balance. This physical deterioration increases the risk of falling and if a fall does occur, it further heightens the fear. Turn your fear of falling into positive actions; remain active, exercise regularly, use assistive devices such as walkers or grab bars and wear sensible shoes. Consider joining a group session designed especially to teach balance exercises for fall prevention.

Supplements to Help Combat Viruses

In light of the recent COVID-19 pandemic announcement, there are a few things we can do to support a healthy body. Published papers have found that some substances may help protect from severe presentations of similar viral infections: 1. Vitamin C – 3000mg per day. 2. Vitamin D – 1000 IU per day. 3. Quercetin – 500mg twice a day. 4. Glutathione 150- 450mg twice a day. 5. Vitamin A – 5000 IU per day (not recommended for pregnant women). *General recommendations based on Antiviral research – not a guarantee of prevention, treatment or cure of COVID-19.

Why CranioSacral Therapy?

CranioSacral Therapy (CST) is a gentle treatment approach that may help a variety of conditions including chronic neck and back pain, migraines, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, hormonal imbalances, digestive problems, insomnia, anxiety and depression. CST treatment involves touch, as light as the weight of a nickel, on areas of the head, neck, and base of the spine. The practitioner is able to “listen” to subtle rhythmic patterns in the soft tissues and fluids surrounding the central nervous system and facilitate the body’s own healing powers to release tension. The client will often feel a sense of deep relaxation as the muscles and organs unwind and the bones of the head and spine subtly realign.

Hurt at Work? In a Car Accident?

Did you know that Physiotherapists are primary health care providers? This means that you do not require a doctor’s prescription to get physiotherapy. If you have been hurt at work or in a car accident you may be entitled to a full course of physiotherapy, at no cost to you. After an accident, a physiotherapist is well suited to assess and treat your injury, regardless of what part of your body is in pain. Working together with you, they can then determine a safe and effective plan for a successful return to work and activity.

Natural Product Spotlight: Colflex® by Innotech™

ColFlex® Super Oregano Oil Spray is a great-tasting 4-in-1 oral spray containing essential oils of oregano, thyme, and spearmint oil in an extra virgin olive oil base, sweetened with stevia and fortified with vitamin D3. Spray orally to help relieve coughs, sore throat, travelling challenges, that “under the weather feeling” and for general oral hygiene and fresher breath. Lab tests show that ColFlex inhibited the growth of bacteria such as S. aureus and S. pneumonia after 27 minutes and inhibited the growth of E. coli and S. typhi after 9 minutes. Colflex® is proudly made right here in Winnipeg.

Kickboxing Benefits for Women

Kickboxing is one of the best cardiovascular and muscle conditioning activities for women of all ages, offering many health benefits. Some benefits include: 1) Toning your whole body. Kickboxing helps engage all of the muscle groups in your body, and helps strengthen your core. 2) Burning fat and calories fast. Kickboxing can burn about 750 calories an hour and help burn belly fat. 3) Helping with stress relief. Kickboxing can release endorphins and help you release stress. 4) Teaching self-defense moves. You can learn how to protect yourself. 5) Boosting confidence. You’ll feel a sense of pride and accomplishment.

Wellness Tea of the Month

Prairie Berry is a delicious, fruity tisane blend of apple pieces, blueberries, hibiscus, rosehips, orange peels, blackberry leaves and cornflower petals. With the weather warming up, this fruit-filled tea makes a tasty iced beverage, but is equally delicious hot or cold. Blueberries and apples are the perfect combination of fibre, vitamin C, vitamin B6, potassium and folate. Blueberries, blackberry leaves, rosehips, and hibiscus have powerful antioxidants; apples help maintain a healthy gut; and hibiscus helps lower your blood pressure. This is the perfect tea for providing you an all-around wellness boost whenever you need it!

Avoid Injury This Spring

Spring means two things: yard work and stiff, sore muscles. Stretching to prepare muscles for strenuous activities that have not been done since fall is very important. Simple things like doing arm circles, shrugging your shoulders, and touching your toes should be done before and after activity. If you do over exert and your neck, shoulder, arm, or back pain is not going away within a week, there are natural alternatives that can help. Options such as NIR Therapy and designed nutritional formulations will reduce inflammation and stimulate muscle repair to help you recover quickly and get back to enjoying spring.

Laser Treatment for Snoring?

NightLase is a leading-edge laser procedure using energy to stimulate the tissues of the airway causing a tightening effect which helps keep your airway open, thus improving your daily sleep. Simply put, research has shown that NightLase® reduces snoring and provides an effective, non-invasive way to lessen the effects of sleep apnea WITHOUT requiring a device to be worn during sleep. This laser therapy involves no chemical treatment, and no anesthesia. It is a gentle and easy way for you and your loved ones to regain a good night’s rest.

When to Call a Nurse Practitioner

Nurse Practitioners (NP) are growing in number in Manitoba. With our wide scope of practice, we function much like your family doctor or urgent care doctor. Most people don’t know what we do let alone when to call us. Nurse Practitioners can assess, diagnose, treat, prescribe order tests and perform minor surgeries. For example, an elderly person who can’t get out of their home and may be suffering a chest infection or leg wound should give us a call. We can treat wounds, infections, abscesses, coughs and colds and sprains, amongst other ailments. So, if you’re finding it hard to get to a doctor or an urgent care call a Nurse Practitioner.