Black Seed Oil
Black seed (Nigella sativa) is the new preferred therapeutic oil prized for its immune-boosting and antibacterial benefits to reduce respiratory, viral, and digestive ailments. This oil has been used medicinally in Middle Eastern cultures for millennia. Anecdotally, it’s been said to “cure everything except for death!” And the research is starting to back that up. Studies show that this versatile oil can regulate the immune system, benefit blood sugar, and has anti-cancer activity (Butt et al, 2010). Even though it’s known for its medicinal power, it can be used in cooking and food preparation. Look for a coldpressed black seed oil and for a synergistic blend, use oregano oil and black seed oil together. Look for a combination with vitamins A and D added to give your immune system the best tools to beat the bugs!
Community News
Balance: Don’t Lose It!
How’s your balance? Do you find that if you’re not using it, you’re losing it? Practicing balance exercises and skills as we age can significantly decrease the risk of falling, which can help to avoid all kinds of injuries! Our eyes, our inner ear, and our proprioception (position sense in our muscles and joints) all contribute to our sense of balance. If there are deficits with any of these three systems, it can lead to falls. A personalized physiotherapy balance assessment and program takes only minutes out of your day, and can help you keep your balance!
Product Review: Kyäni Sunrise™
Energize your body, boost mental clarity, promote vitality with an energy drink that’s actually GOOD for you! Kyäni Sunrise™ is carefully designed for all ages, to provide the body with the essential vitamins, trace minerals and antioxidants it needs to flourish. A natural, healthy way to help your energy soar while fighting free radicals and inflammation. Featuring superfoods like the wild Alaskan Blueberry, Mangosteen, Ashwaganda and over 20 other powerful natural ingredients packed in a 1 oz pouch, Kyäni Sunrise™ IS the perfect way to start your day!
How Is Your Cardiovascular Health?
Did you know that you can have cardiovascular disease without experiencing any symptoms? Many people are not diagnosed until the condition worsens to the point where they have angina, stroke, or heart failure: that’s why it is important to start taking steps towards a healthy heart and arteries today. A good screening test for early signs of disease is Digital Pulsewave Analysis (DPA). This Health Canada approved, non-invasive method will show you how your cardiovascular system is working. This information can then be used to devise a specific program to improve your cardiovascular health before symptoms occur.
Stress and Mineral Imbalance
I have tried many kinds of nutritional supplements and herbs to overcome persistent brain excitement from stress. It caused irritability and dysfunctional sleep. Fixing mineral imbalance with mineral supplements is something that has worked for many. However, there are only a few ones that work among various kinds of supplements. This difference comes from bioavailability, the proportion of a drug or other substance that enters the circulation when introduced into the body. But high bioavailability doesn’t guarantee a better effect because it may not be absorbed well by the target organ, e.g., brain. Talk to your doctor about which supplement is best for you.
Giving Without Expecting in Return
To give fully means we let go of our need to be in control and give from the heart, welcoming in the most selfless form of generosity trusting that which is needed shall be received. “Giving like nobody is watching” offers a profound joy and way of being that stands alone without conditions or expecting to receive in return. Being in relationship we learn to both give and receive. When it becomes an automatic expectation that we deserve to receive in return, it ceases to be a gift and becomes a mutual exchange based on expectations and desire. Once gifted it no longer belongs to us, when we have difficulty divesting ourselves of expectations or find ourselves disappointed with unexpected results, then it’s time to re-align our expectations and adjust where we are giving from.
Problem Gambling Among Seniors
Many seniors enjoy gambling, whether it be bingo, racetrack betting, or casino gambling. For most, it is a harmless form of entertainment. But how do you know when a senior loved one’s gambling has become a problem? Some signs might be 1) bragging about gambling and exaggerating wins while ignoring or minimizing losses, 2) borrowing money for gambling, and 3) lying about the amount of time/money they spend gambling. Talk to your senior loved one about their problem gambling and determine what possible causes may exist. Encourage them to get help and let them know they have your support.
Structured Water
Science proves waters responsible for longevity. Dr. Marcel Vogel (Father of Structured Water Science) calls it ‘liquid crystal’ completely compatible with instant cell wall entry & exit. Natural Action Technologies Structuring Devices mimic nature, transforming any water energetically by double vortexing, creating a 6 molecule clusters, an easy uptake into each cell’s aquaporin channel. “Water inside your cells is absolutely critical for health”, Dr. Mercola. Suzanne Forcese. SunriseStructuredWellness.com
Words to Live By
“I am a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it.”
– Thomas Jefferson
Laughter is the Best Medicine
Q: Where did the hippo go to study about the brain? A: The hippocampus!
FUN FACT: The hippocampus is a region of your brain that helps form, organize, and store memory. It is the most sensitive area to stress.
Balance: Don’t Lose It!
How’s your balance? Those slippery Winter-peg icy sidewalks, driveways, and parking lots can make it very challenging to stay on two feet!
Our ability to balance depends on many things. Think of uneven terrain like a hiking path or a street curb, or an unsteady or moving surface like travelling on a moving bus. It also matters if we are anticipating something that might knock us over, or if it takes us by surprise. Our body has not one, but three systems contributing to our ability to balance:
- Vision – we can see if we are falling! If our surroundings are all suddenly tilting or going in the same direction, it alerts us.
- Vestibular (inner ear) – complex structures deep in our ear canals detect changes like rotation, acceleration, head position, and our relationship to gravity.
- Proprioception (in muscles and joints) – our ability to know what position our bodies are in. Without looking, we know if our arm is up or down…or bent or straight.
Balance is like most skills: if we don’t use it…we lose it! As we get older it is very common for balance decrease. And so, falling is more common in elderly populations. But this does not have to be the case!
A physiotherapy balance assessment can identify areas that need practice. A personalized balance program takes only minutes out of your day, can help you use your balance…so you don’t lose your balance!!
If you want to improve your balance and minimize your risk of falls, talk to your physio!
Erin Blaine, MPT
Physiotherapist | Prairie Trail Physiotherapy
