Upholding high standards of Holistic Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Radica Raj continues the legacy of an integrative facility created by Dr. Marlene Smith. Dr. Raj facilitates integrative holistic approaches such as Acupuncture, Homeopathy, Homotoxicology, Traditional Chinese Medicine and Chiropractic care. Coupled with these practices, she also offers diagnostic and conventional medicine including laboratory blood tests, vaccines, urinalyses, fecal tests and cytology. Dr. Raj is continuing to expand into the cutting-edge field of Regenerative Medicine. She has paved the way for veterinary practice in the Comox Valley by becoming the first veterinarian on the Island to offer Prolotherapy and Platelet Rich plasma therapy for dogs and cats. Due to her recent joining of the on-call emergency group, Dr. Raj is now available on-call some nights and weekends for emergency services. Dr. Raj and Phoenix Rising are proud to be a part of the Veterinary Community in the Comox Valley.

www.PhoenixRisingVet.ca

Research shows that if you lose at least 10% of your unhealthy body weight, the chances of your general health improving are enormous. Weight loss may improve survival in those who have an obesity related illness, especially Type 2 Diabetes. Even losing just 10% of your body weigh can decrease your blood sugar levels and can also prevent your chances of becoming diabetic, if weight loss is sustained. Weight loss helps all of your vital organs function properly, making what you once thought as a simple body process, such as breathing, a lot easier to do. People who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea can experience improved sleeping patterns and less daytime sleepiness. You can reduce your risk of heart disease, cancer, stroke, dementia, and more, just by losing 10%.

Kristin Bjarnason, www.successweightloss.ca

Gratitude is one of the fastest and most effective ways to change your mood. When you’re feeling heavy, overwhelmed with difficulties or frustrated with what you don’t have, one of the quickest and easiest ways to change this is to focus on what you DO have! Here’s an easy exercise to add into our day: just notice what you feel grateful for. Especially when you’re frustrated or feeling like things aren’t going your way, try this practice to change up your energy. What we focus on expands, so the more we focus on what lights us up and makes us happy to be here, the better! Gratitude is a key in life to attracting what we want. Here’s an exercise to try: at the end of each day write down 3 things that happened for which you are grateful. Do this for 21 days. See how this feels and what happens!

Light Body Healing Works,  www.lightbodyhealingworks.com

Colon hydrotherapy is a great way to help improve your overall health and wellness. Through a process called “autointoxication”, toxins from fecal matter get absorbed and re-circulated into the bloodstream. As the toxins re-circulate, the body’s systems become overburdened which puts the body at risk for serious health conditions. Colon hydrotherapy helps to maintain regularity, kick-start weight loss, decrease colon cancer, maintain PH balance of the bloodstream and create an overall increase in well-being. During the one hour session, purified and pressure regulated water is introduced and released from the colon. This allows for the toxins, parasites and waste to be flushed out of your body. During the treatment, we provide a relaxing, comfortable experience after which many clients feel refreshed.

Kelly Wood, Island Colon Cleanse, www.islandcoloncleanse.com

Don’t be surprised if instead of a prescription for pills, your doctor fills one out for exercise. Especially if you’re inactive. It is extremely important that everyone exercise at least three times per week. Regular exercise not only controls weight, exercise combats health conditions and diseases. Studies show how exercise improves mood, boosts energy, and promotes better sleep. Exercise and physical activity are a great way to feel better, gain health benefits and have fun. As a general goal, aim for at least 30 minutes of physical activity every day. If you want to lose weight or meet specific fitness goals, you may need to exercise more. Remember to check with your doctor before starting a new exercise program, especially if you haven’t exercised for a long time, have chronic health problems, such as heart disease, diabetes or arthritis, or you have any concerns.

Curves Comox, www.Curves.com

Comox Valley Family Services Association (CVFSA) mission is to build on individual and family strengths which support growth and healthy lifestyles. As a non-profit registered charity that started in 1974, they have grown to provide essential services to the Comox Valley and surrounding areas. They are dedicated to the well-being and success of children and their families and serve over 500 families in a year. As an accredited agency they offer a ‘continuum of care’ from prevention programs such as Healthy Families, to intervention programs such as Community Based Victim Services. Also provide therapeutic programs such as Sexual Abuse Intervention programs, to Low Income Couples Counselling for parents with children. Most of our programs are open referral; anyone can refer from the community or can self-refer. For information on how you can help ‘give back’ visit www.comoxvalleyfamilyservices.com

In 1994, building upon knowledge accumulated by Dr. Edward Bach, Doctors Reimar Banis, M.D., N.D. and Ulrike Banis, M.D., N.D.. (having decades of experience in both general medicine and holistic health), began to develop a new holistic method of treating illnesses, independent from any ideologies or belief system, considering the body and soul as well as the vital energies. With the assistance of biophysicist Dieter Jossner, The REBA Test device was invented and became available to trained practitioners in 1998. The REBA Test device accurately measures the subtle energy field of the body (also known as the aura), by detecting Delta (vital), Theta (emotional), Alpha (mental) and Beta (causal) brain waves. Regarding Aromatherapy, this device can be used to select the optimum essential oil or synergy of oils for an individual, based on improvement to their baseline reading.

Nelson Meggitt
www.optimumwellnessfactor.ca

Gord Weber is truly in the garden business to make a difference and to bring people closer to Nature. His passion is creating landscaping while working cooperatively with Nature Spirits. Being employed in a stressful career for several years, he began to garden in his neighbour’s yards. What he quickly learned was his connection with Nature – shrubs that he touched became greener, healthier and more robust. A change in careers was born. Gord is now in the process of learning to communicate with Nature Spirits. What works, what doesn’t, what their needs are. “We are all connected. We need to know and respect that.” The tranquility of water, the darting of birds, the playfulness of elementals and the healing qualities of plants all play a role in the enlightenment of humans. Gord designs, installs and maintains residential properties. He has that ‘artistic gift’ for designing ponds, waterfalls, creeks, patios, walkways, retaining walls, with use of applications such as stones, boulders, organic soil, cedar structures and healing plants.

Gord Weber, Spirit Gardens
www.spiritgardens.ca