Most of us are blessed with good health including a normal immune system that can help the body fight infections. Primary immunodeficiency diseases (PID), where the immune system is impaired, is a set of rare chronic diseases. PID patients are susceptible to infections if untreated. Fortunately, with proper medical care, many patients live full and independent lives by undergoing antibody replacement therapy. If you are 18-65 years, in good health and >110 pounds, you may be able to help these individuals through a blood or plasma donation. Over 1000 healthy donors are required to contribute to a plasma pool, that is separated using special fractionation processes into what is called Immune Globulin Intravenous (IGIV). This product contains, IgG, a key component of the immune system that is required to fight infections. When infused into PID patients monthly, they can lead normal lives. www.prometic.com
Community News
Re-Think Omega Fatty Acids!
Fat could be your biggest ally in health maintenance and cardiovascular disease prevention. But we need to think about the RIGHT fats. Omega fatty acids are crucial for helping to lower bad cholesterol and triglycerides. They are essential to maintaining our nervous system and act as an anti-inflammatory to fight diseases like rheumatoid arthritis. Some forms of omega-3 can also reduce fat while improving lean body mass. But which omega fatty acids do we REALLY need? The ones most North Americans need is omega-3 from FISH OIL, as the typical Western diet does not give enough of it. When you are looking for an omega-3 product from the pharmacy, keep in mind a few tips: 1. Look for omega-3s from fish oil instead of krill oil. This is because krill oil contains very little omega-3. 2. Look for ingredients of EPA/DHA as opposed to alpha-linolenic acid as EPA/DHA is the form of omega-3 that the body can use most efficiently.
Teresa Giesbrecht, www.careathomepharmacy.ca
Book Club: The Dirt Cure:
Growing Healthy Kids with Food Straight from Soil. In the tradition of Michael Pollan, Mark Hyman, and Andrew Weil, pioneering integrative pediatric neurologist Maya ShetreatKlein, MD, reveals the shocking contents of children’s food, how it’s seriously harming their bodies and brains, and what we can do about it. www.dirtcure.com
Natural Product Review: pureWash® Pro
pureWash® Pro is a breakthrough in home laundry purification. As it turns out, your laundry has been keeping a dirty little secret, (It’s really not that clean at all!). Detergent may leave clothes smelling clean, but it does not eliminate the mold and bacteria that builds up from sports activities, pets, and everyday living. pureWash® Pro cleans clothes with the disinfecting power of oxygen, not detergent. This same technology is used in Hospitals and Hotels. It’s clinically proven to eliminate 99.9% of bacteria and mold, plus it’s both safe for the environment and for family members of all ages! If you have sensitive skin, you will not get skin irritations as you do from detergent. Detergent build-up promotes mold growth and does not kill bacteria. Independent, scientific studies have proven pureWash® Pro kills 99.9% of both with cold water. The power of naturally oxygenated water eliminates dirt, bacteria, and mold better than detergent!
Kevin Shale, Low Environmental Impact Technologies, Leit.ca
3 Ways to Naturally Boost Your Immune System
It’s officially cold and flu season. Here are five simple things you can do to improve your body’s natural immunity: 1. Drink a TON of Water: Ensuring you are hydrated is an important part of keeping your immune system strong. Try to drink at least 1.5 to 2 litres of water each day to keep your body in tiptop shape and ready to fight cold and flu bugs. 2. Get a Good Night’s Sleep: The body regenerates and repairs itself while you sleep. Getting a proper night’s rest – between six and eight hours – is important for keeping your body’s natural defenses at optimum efficiency. 3. Take a Hot/Cold Shower: The next time you take a shower try alternating hot and cold water. Research shows the body’s immune system is stimulated when it tries to warm itself up in between the extreme temperature changes. White blood cell production is increased and endorphins are released that help you relax and relieve pain.
Brett Scott, www.disabilitytaxcredit.webs.com
Who Are You?
Poets and writers have said the same thing for centuries, “Know yourself, follow your dreams, and live your passions.” It is good advice. However, we live in an “instant” society where we have everything we need literally at our fingertips. Truly getting to know ourselves is not something that happens quickly, and we won’t experience a sense of fulfillment until we know what it is that brings meaning to our lives. Journaling is a good place to start in your quest for self-knowledge. It only requires a few minutes a day, but the important thing is the process (writing requires time because you must slow down and reflect). It’s this time that is largely missing for many of us. So what should you journal about? A good place to start is by looking at your self-concept. Who is the real you and does your life reflect your authentic self? Happy hunting!
Dr. Lori Doan, Ph.D., www.drloridoan.com
Designed Just for You
Functional Movement Screening (FMS) is an assessment protocol used to identify limitations or imbalances in your typical movement patterns. Based on the results of your assessment, corrective exercises are prescribed to address your deficiencies. If your deficiencies are left untreated, they’ll lead to decreased performance, discomfort, and pain. The first priority of corrective exercise is to ensure normal mobility exists. Without full range of motion, normal movement cannot be achieved. Stability is the next component to be addressed. Without stability, proper alignment cannot be achieved. The last aspect addressed is movement preference optimization. For example, if you typically use one side of your body, you are likely to develop repetitive strain injuries. This needs to be balanced. To achieve optimal movement quality, corrective exercises are designed for you. It’s important exercises are identified from the results of your FMS and you start at a skill/difficulty level that’s right for you to progress until optimal movement is achieved.
Joseph Dyck M.P.T., dougchristiephysiotherapy.co
Thai Foot Massage/Reflexology
Thai Foot Massage/Reflexology is a treatment for lower legs and feet that originated in Thailand about 2000 years ago. This therapy utilizes stretching, massage, thumb-walking, and the use of a wooden stick to stimulate reflex points. Thai foot massage restores balance to the body/mind through reflexes of the feet and lower legs that are linked to the body’s 72,000 energy meridians (sen). Reported benefits include: improved circulation in legs, lymphatic drainage, removal of toxins, elevated functioning of the immune system, and reduced stiffness. Additional outcomes are: improved flexibility, relief from stress, and improved sleep. Thai foot massage doesn’t cure illnesses, but it promotes good health. Thai Foot Massage is intended to stimulate reflex points of the feet, the internal organs, and encourage free flow of energy throughout the body. If you would like to balance and harmonize the flow of energy throughout your body and stimulate the internal organs, then Thai Foot Massage/Reflexology is for you!
Rositha Jeanson, www.rositha.ca
Healing with Crystals
Crystals and gemstones have amazing holistic healing abilities and can be used for many applications such as meditation, reiki, and chakra clearing and balancing. With a little practice and intuition, anyone can interpret the immediate characteristics of a stone. For example, red is the colour of action and red stones can invigorate and enliven in the same way that the blood in your body gives you life. Amethyst is a good crystal for protection against all sorts of negative energy. It expands the mind, encouraging creativity, intuition, and calm. Rose quartz is a beautiful crystal for love, compassion, tolerance, and radical self-love. Citrine is the prosperity crystal. It attracts abundance, as well as boosting your self-esteem! Hematite protects against negativity. Its mirrored surface deflects other people’s moods and bad vibes.
Sherri Versluis, www.thepreferredperch.ca
Grow Your Mo’
Movember is the month formerly known as November, where men and women across the globe join together to raise awareness and funds for men’s health, specifically prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer to affect Canadian men. One in eight men will be diagnosed with the disease in their lifetime. Prostate cancer can be slow-growing and some men who develop it may live many years without ever having the cancer detected. It is important to get screened regularly so that if you do develop prostate cancer, the appropriate action can be taken. The moustache is our ribbon. This Movember, grow your Mo and use it to raise funds for men’s health.
Care At Home Pharmacy, www.careathomepharmacy.ca
Community Event
As part of Manitoba Addictions Awareness Week, St. Raphael Wellness Centre is hosting the “SEX AND ADDICTIONS Conference” on November 15-17th at the Norwood Hotel.
The conference begins on November 15th from 7-9 pm with a public forum, entitled, “ Porn Crisis? The Porn Dilemma in Today’s Culture.” Discovering that someone close to you is secretly watching porn is usually met with a range of emotions and most of us do not feel prepared to navigate a conversation about it. This community presentation will describe six principles of sexual health that can be a foundation for talking with someone about their use of pornography.
This will be followed by a day and a half discussion on sex/drug-linked behaviour. Family members, counsellors, therapists, mental health professionals and others who want to help individuals talk about and address issues of sexual health and substance addiction will want to attend.
http://straphaelcentre.ca/srwc-conference-2016-2/
