Pain is the number one reason why people come to my clinic for massage therapy treatments. Having suffered from over 20 years of chronic neck pain myself, I can empathize and relate to their misery. It has been my experience that those who are able to overcome pain and restricted mobility take an active role in their healing journey. Clients that are curious, interested and willing to experiment, are those that enjoy better quality of life. My personal and professional experience has taught me that the reasons for pain are many. Here are some that you might not know about:

1. Trigger Points- These are hard lumps found in muscle tissue and can refer pain to other areas of the body. Overuse, underuse, a cold breeze, hormonal imbalance are just a few of the reasons trigger points develop. Massage therapy is an excellent way to find and resolve this painful condition.
2. Sensory Motor Amnesia- SMA describes inefficient patterns of muscular activation that are so habitual you can’t sense or control them. For example, you might have simply forgotten how to relax areas such as the neck, low back and shoulders, or how to activate muscles like the glutes or abs. This leads to weakness, inefficiency, poor coordination and eventually pain. Soma Yoga is a wonderful way to learn body awareness and overcome SMA.
3. Nutritional Deficiency- Many clinical trials have been done proving the connection between nutritional deficiency and low energy, general malaise and chronic pain. Common deficiencies linked to nerve, joint and muscle pain are Vitamin B12, C, D, and magnesium. A visit to a Naturopathic Doctor can be very helpful and informative for individual assessment.
4. Chronic Inflammation- There are many reasons why inflammation sets up in the body. One very common reason is food sensitivity, resulting in chronic inflammation. Common foods that can be inflammatory are: gluten, sugar, corn, soy, and dairy. Another group is the nightshades: tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, chilies and hemp seed. Trying an elimination diet or having testing done can help to determine food sensitivities.
5. Suppressed Emotions- Dr. John E. Sarno is a New York Times bestselling author and respected physician. He continues to research the vital connection between mind and body. Dr. Sarno has clinically proven how many painful conditions-including neck and back pain, migraine, repetitive stress injuries, and whiplash are rooted in repressed emotions. To learn more, read his book The Mind Body Prescription.

I encourage all clients to take an active role in their health. To take the time to explore the many possible reasons why they are experiencing pain. Often times it is like solving a puzzle, figuring out what works and what doesn’t. Life is a journey, and sometimes the road is winding and challenging, giving us the opportunity to learn and grow.

Katie White RMT, HTP, CYT, Courtenay Massage Therapy
www.courtenaymassagetherapy.com

Long ago, mystic and healing traditions identified seven primary energy centers within the body known as chakras. These energy wheels are understood to be receivers, transformers and transmitters of information and frequency. They are thought to govern respective organ and glandular systems, and to be directly linked to mental, physical and spiritual attributes and abilities. Holistic healers and certain alternative health practitioners use various methods to unblock and cleanse chakras of stagnant, dense, or toxic energy, restoring them to optimal resonance and balance, and providing an energetic foundation for healing. Two excellent tools for cleansing and restoring balance to the chakras are crystals and essential oils. When searching for essential oils for therapeutic benefit, it is imperative to use only the highest quality and purity oils available. A knowledgeable healer can guide you in your selection and use of essential oils depending upon your presenting mental/emotional, physical and spiritual conditions.

Nelson Meggitt
www.optimumwellnessfactor.ca

Given my personal experiences and background as a clinical social worker I’ve come to understand what I believe is the meaning of healing. It’s not about mending bones and strengthening muscles, it’s about a form of acceptance I’ve come to know as “sweet surrender”. What exactly is “sweet surrender”? A recent article in Psychology Today (April 2016 Toni Bernhard) describes it nicely in terms of “giving in”: giving in brings relief from the exhausting (and ultimately losing) battle against the turn your life has taken. It makes you feel better, both mentally and physically, to never side against yourself. You could turn that into a vow: “I will never side against myself.” There’s no reason to jump to the conclusion that chronic illness (which includes chronic pain) has ruined your life. A good life can take many forms. Try giving in—gently and with kindness—to what you cannot control.

Rod Chant MSW RSW RCC – Comox Valley Counselling Services
www.comoxvalleycounselling.ca

Does your child complain of achiness in both legs at night? Pain in the upper or lower legs or behind the knees can occur during periods of rapid growth in kids, usually between the ages of 3-5 or 8-12. Recent studies have found a high incidence of these ‘growing pains’ in children with flat feet. As your child’s body weight increases with the rapid growth, their foot arches may not be strong enough to maintain that extra weight. The arches may flatten under the strain. If this happens the muscles of the calves and legs have to work harder. Correcting the arches with either off-the-shelf or custom foot orthotics can help ease some of the muscle soreness. When combined with warm massage, increased fluid intake, stretching, and ensuring that stable, supportive footwear is worn throughout the day, you can greatly ease your child’s discomfort.

Diane Calder BScKIN, Pedorthist, B.D. Mitchell Prosthetics and Orthotics
www.mitchellpando.com

Q: Should I get my kid to wear sunglasses?

A: Yes. Ultra-violet light puts young eyes at risk for eye problems that often occur in adulthood such as cataracts, macular degeneration, and eyelid cancers. Many of my patients with skin cancer rue the fact that their parents did not get them protected from the sun adequately in childhood. Kids can be pretty fussy with their clothing (including eyewear), but for their sake it would be worth getting them to wear sunglasses. Getting brand-name sunglasses might be a good way to get a youngster to wear them, but inexpensive sunglasses will do the trick as long as they are certified to be UV protective. We’ll be giving away free kid’s sunglasses at the Father’s Day Kite Fly at Goose Spit!

Dr. Alex Kennedy, Mosaic Vision Care
www.mosaicvisioncare.com

As you age, the nerve cells in your brain can shrink or lose connections with other nerve cells. These age-related transitions are behind the changes in cognitive function and memory. There are several ways to keep your memory strong. Play games you are not already familiar with that involve strategy, like chess or scrabble. Try daily crossword and other puzzles such as Sudoku. Read newspapers, magazines, and books that challenge you. Learn new recipes, driving routes, a musical instrument, a foreign language. Take a course in an unfamiliar subject that interests you. Take on a project that involves design and planning, such as a new garden or a quilt. The more interested and engaged your brain, the greater the benefits you’ll experience. Remember, it’s normal to be forgetful here and there, but significant memory loss is never a normal part of old age. It’s important to talk with your doctor if you are experiencing significant memory loss.

Lance Pace, Omnicare for People at Home
www.omnicareforpeopleathome.com

As you might imagine, trust is a topic of conversation that often comes up in counselling. Individuals, couples, children, youth, and families walk in the door demonstrating an issue with trust — a lack of trust between people, or a deep need to rebuild trust after it’s been broken. An individual saying “I trust this…,” or “I don’t trust you…”, speaks volumes about the overall wellbeing of a relationship.

So what is trust and why does it matter? Trust is consistent, ongoing interactions that say “I’ve got your back”, “I see you”, “you matter,” and, as humans, we like and need this in our primary relationships. With our most important people, it’s about safety, emotional and physical safety. At a deep level, having or not having trust significantly changes the dynamic of how safe we feel.

Trust is something we all want and we constantly seek. We notice vocal tones, eye contact, consistencies, and inconsistencies. And when trust is in doubt, we notice more that doesn’t sit well, fit or feel good. We do this because on some deep level, we want to feel safe, so we are making judgments all the time about what’s around us that impacts our lives. Do I trust this food is edible, do I trust that politician has my best interest at heart, does my lover deserve my trust—these judgements are based on our wellbeing.

Overall, trust isn’t something we can give once and we’re done. We choose over and over again to work on increasing trust. We have to wake up each morning and decide to strengthen that part of our relationship or the risk is, we simply don’t— and our relationships suffer. As a partner or parent or employee, we need to ask ourselves —are my actions building trust or tearing holes in the fabric of this relationship, weakening its structure. And at its heart, the answer is in better communication. Good relationships require great communication— and that means both good speaking and listening skills.

Caroline Bradfield, Registered Clinical Counsellor, MaCP. RCC.
Comox Valley Counselling
www.comoxvalleycounselling.ca

Skin conditions are common and often challenging to improve completely. Often the first thing that comes to people’s mind is to use topical creams to make the skin rash, itch or pimple disappear.

All skin diseases have an underlying internal cause. Some of the internal organs are involved whether the skin condition is eczema, dermatitis, shingles, itching. skin rash, boils, pimple or acne rosacea. It is necessary to determine the underlying cause and address the skin condition with herbal medicine and lifestyle changes. Maintaining a proper diet is important. Many skin conditions are aggravated by alcohol, spicy foods, seafood and anything that can be stimulating or that may cause allergies should be avoided. Cotton or silk is recommended over synthetic fibers for better ventilation.

A long term treatment of herbal medicine is very effective. Over time it will strengthen one’s health to resolve the skin condition.

Dr. Brigitte Tetrault, Courtenay Healing Centre

www.courtenayhealing.ca