When patients with cancer are treated in an integrative approach with Chinese and conventional medicine, several factors are taken in account such as the patient’s conditional environment and lifestyle factors that played a role in the evolution of the cancer. The treatment interventions from the conventional medicine view are generally cytotoxic and carry predictable side effects, depending on the specific intervention. There are several treatment principles that Chinese medicine uses to interact with conventional medicine cancer treatments: Fu zheng Qu xie, to strengthen the constitution, improve the immune system, and eliminate pathogenic factors to allow the body to heal from within; Huo xue Qu Yu, which refers to the activation of blood circulation, which may prevents metastasis; Qing Re Jie Du, to describe the clearing of heat, and toxins; and Ruan Jian san Jie, which refers to the softening and dissolving of cancer masses. Dr. Ross Ralph, Dr. TCM, R.Ac., DOMP., Courtenay Healing Centre, CourtenayHealing.ca
Community News
Achieving Long-Term Weight Loss
The road to successfully losing weight is not an easy one. There are many challenges and choices that await the individual who wishes to embark on such a journey. Ideal Protein Weight Loss Method focuses on education, improving health, and lifestyle change. The key component that Ideal Protein provides to clients is personal weight loss coaching, along with education. Providing clients with one-to-one support and encouragement helps the individual implement lifelong changes that enhance well-being during their weight loss journey.
Losing weight is not just about dieting and looking good, it’s about making permanent lifestyle changes that result in healthy and long-lasting results. Alma Naranjo, SuccessWeightLoss.ca
Have you Explored Hypnotherapy?
Did you know that hypnosis and hypnotherapy have been around for a long time? According to The Wellness Institute [www.wellness-institute.org], “Hypnosis is one of the world’s oldest sciences. Amazingly, ancient hieroglyphics show that the Egyptians were using hypnosis as early as 3,000 B.C. There is evidence the Greeks and the Mayans understood it and used it as well.” You can visit their website for more background information on the subject and to explore numerous articles describing how hypnotherapy has helped people with various concerns, including PTSD, depression, migraines, addiction, weight problems, anxiety/stress, OCD, grief, cancer, childbirth, sleep, and even dementia. Dave Kelch, BPsych, DipMHA, OptimumWellnessFactor.ca
Stressed about Stress?
Stress is often thought of as something that happens to us. However, stress is a response to an event and therefore mostly within our control. A major study found that when people view unpleasant physical sensations, like a racing heart and nervousness, as helpful instead of harmful, the risk of heart disease, stroke, and early death diminishes greatly. How can we change our mind about stress? By intentionally subjecting ourselves to a healthy stressor. Fifteen minutes of intense exercise releases endorphins – our body’s natural pain killers and stress fighters – which helps us associate a positive feeling with stress-inducing events.
Book Club
Adventures for Your Soul: 21 Ways to Transform Your Habits and Reach Your Full Potential by Shannon Kaiser. Sometimes, the one thing you need to make a change is to see things from a fresh perspective. Discover 21 innovative explorations to boldly confront the habits that are holding you back. Shannon Kaiser’s program utilizes an empowering process that encourages you to go on adventures for your soul, so you can:
• Achieve your goals
• Remove limiting beliefs and self-sabotaging patterns
• Feel freedom from fear and live with purpose and passion
• Be unapologetic about your innermost desires
• Make happiness your natural way of life
Ingredient Spotlight: Collagen
Collagen is a prime structural protein located in mammal connective tissue and is essential for fully functional joints and muscles. A lack of collagen in your skin can lead to wrinkles and lacking collagen in muscles and cartilage can cause joint discomfort. Award-winning Liquid BioCell® Life puts that essential collagen back into the body, providing those suffering with fibromyalgia, arthritis or joint pain with relief. Liquid BioCell® Life combines the multi-patented power of Collagen/HA Matrix Technology™ with 10 phytonutrient-rich superfoods, which are infused into a unique liquid delivery system that provides fast absorption and results. And, it’s backed by a 100% money back guarantee! Lisa Tustin, Liveclean.Market
Eating for the Season
According to traditional Chinese medicine, all living beings are viewed in relation to the surrounding environment. The Chinese widely believe that we are what we eat, and most dietary guidelines follow nature. According to traditional Chinese medicine philosophies, if we eat seasonal foods that are similar in nature to the external environment, we remain in harmony with the environment, adapt better to changes in the season, and stay healthy. In autumn, the dry, colder weather usually causes an itchy throat, and dry skin, so we need to eat to promote the production of body fluids, such as pumpkin, honey, and soups.
Yoga Nidra for Better Sleep
Yoga Nidra is a practice in total conscious relaxation that separates the external awareness of the physical body through various stages. This results in a state where you are asleep with a whisper of awareness, relaxing both the mind and the body deeply. Daily practice of Yoga Nidra is life transforming!
During Yoga Nidra, we release multiple tensions: muscular tension (physical), emotional tension (suppressed emotions), and mental tension (excessive thoughts and stress).
Most people sleep without resolving their tensions (Nidra), but Yoga Nidra means sleep after throwing off your burdens. Wendy Anderson RYT, Yoga 10 Studio, Yoga10Studio.com, CourtenayMassageTherapy.com
GMO Concerns
The world must consider the effects of genetically modified foods (GMOs). Dr. Patrick Gentempo’s recent series, GMOs Revealed, exposes their potential toxicity to human and environmental health, such as an increase in autoimmune diseases in humans.
We eat plants from seeds saturated in herbicides, which have decimated our bee colonies. GMO corporations’ answer to bees that cannot tolerate herbicides is to replace them with a stronger variety from Africa, and add DNA from other sources.
I encourage you to start researching GMO products and push for GMO foods to be labelled properly.
Gord Weber, Spirit Gardens, SpiritGardens.ca
Should We Get a Second Dog?
Adding a second dog to your home could be a wonderful thing! But there are also some reasons to reconsider: more vet bills, food to buy, and poop to scoop, and less individual attention for your current pup. Before you jump into multiple dog ownership, you need to be aware of what is best for your current dog. Be honest about your energy levels, your budget, and your existing dog’s temperament. If all is good, a second dog will double the love and devotion that you presently have with your first dog! Happy Paws Pet Food, HappyPaws.ca
Dreaded Headaches
With the fast pace of modern lifestyle, an increasing number of people suffer from headaches. There are several types of headaches: migraine, tension, cluster, and menstrual headaches. Some headaches are felt on top of the head, on the temples, or over the sinus cavities. Others radiate from the neck to the eyes, on the forehead, and the whole head. There are numerous causes for headaches to develop. The cause of a headache isn’t necessarily in the head. Problems in other parts of the body also contribute to headaches. They may be caused by an ear, sinus, or throat infection. In addition headaches occur from whiplash, stress, tension, and hormones. Improper posture, weak digestion, and TMJ dysfunction also induce headaches. It’s necessary to identify what’s causing the headache in order to help relieve the pain. Since the causes and symptoms of headaches are so different, headaches need to be assessed and treated according to the individual’s condition. Dr. Brigitte Tetrault Dr.TCM, RAc. Certified Advanced Practitioner NST, CourtenayHealing.ca
