Community News
Debt is Bad for Your Health

Many people don’t realize how managing money issues could lead to weakened immune system which could develop into other health conditions. Studies show that chronic stress can suppress the immune system and we know that debt is a huge source of chronic stress. Money worries may keep you awake at night, which can also impair your body’s ability to fight off infection. It could lead to anxiety, raise your blood pressure and have a risk of heart disease and stroke. It’s been also been linked to depression. Research also shows,  that debt really does have serious impacts on psychological health. It can also be a pain in the neck—literally. Surveys found that people with high levels of “debt stress” are more likely to have muscle tension, neck and back pain, ulcers or digestive tract problems, and suffer heart attacks.

Derek L. Chase & Associates
www.chasesekulich.com

Massage: A Solution for Pain & Tension

Most people love a massage. Not everyone can afford to have regular massage therapy and not everyone likes to be touched by a stranger, even if they are a professional. So, learning a few massage techniques to help people you know and love might just be what they need. You might even find you enjoy giving massage as it enhances your human connection. A few well-placed squeezes, kneads and strokes can lead to a very satisfying feeling for someone suffering a headache or sore back at work or at home. Learn the terms effleurage, petrissage and tapotement and how to apply them. Discover how each style of massage can affect the circulation and nervous system in a different way. Taking a massage class can help you understand more about your body. It is a life skill worth learning.

Roxanne Derkson, Registered Massage Therapist, Owner ViVi Therapy Massage Supply Store
www.vivitherapy.com

Strengthen & Rebuild With Mushrooms

If you are feeling sick, tired or stressed, Immune 7® is an excellent solution to improve how your body responds to life with all its highs and lows. This potent formula contains 6 certified organic full spectrum micronized mushrooms that provide the immune system with the elements necessary to prevent disease.  Each capsule contains Sun Mushroom, Cordyceps, Red Reishi, Maitake, Shitake, and Coriolus. The benefits of Immune 7® include: Broad spectrum immune activity, cold and flu prevention and therapy, is effective for serious conditions and diseases, and also recharges adrenal glands and hormones. The company who formulates this product is Purica the Nutraceutical Medicine Co. from Duncan, Vancouver Island.  When you are not feeling your best and need something that will get you back up and running again, try Immune 7® and support a local Vancouver Island company at the same time.

Lindy Berkowitz
www.thriftyfoods.com

Heading off Headaches

According to Dr Janet Travell, specialist in musculoskeletal pain, “It is now becoming clear that tension headaches are usually due to trigger points.” Trigger points are small knots that develop in muscles. These knots allow pain to travel to different areas of the body, often nowhere near the knot itself. For example, trigger points at the top of your neck can send pain directly to your eye. Although you may get some relief with a relaxation massage, long-term relief depends on correctly identifying and treating specific trigger points which are responsible for your pain. Trigger points can often be eliminated quickly and easily, sometimes within one or two treatments. Research shows that not only is massage effective at eliminating headaches, but the relief can last for months. As well, regular massage can actually retrain your nervous system to decrease the tension in your muscles on a more permanent basis.

Katie White
www.courtenaymassagetherapy.com

Book Club: Review of ‘Super Grains’ 

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is difficult in the face of modern pressures and the many available conveniences that make it easy to rely on highly processed instant foods.  Thankfully, Jenni Muir has written a book full of pragmatic advice for busy people, using dry Australian humour to present healthy, tantalizing recipes incorporating whole grains into a contemporary diet.  Muir’s focus is on easy to achieve steps in the path to whole foods health.  The book includes helpful hints, a multitude of recipe variations that will suit even the pickiest eater, and a profoundly useful table that describes the cooking time, texture, and yield of each grain.

Jenni Muir
www.russellbooks.com

The Power of Turmeric 

You probably know turmeric as the main spice in curry.  But the root of turmeric is also used widely to make medicine. Turmeric may be the most effective nutritional supplement in existance. Many high quality studies show that it has major benefits for your body and brain. Turmeric is used for arthritis, heartburn, stomach pain, diarrhea, intestinal gas, stomach bloating, loss of appetite, jaundice, liver problems and gallbladder disorders. It is also used for headaches, bronchitis, colds, lung infections, fibromyalgia, depression, fever, menstrual problems, and cancer. If you want to experience the full effects, then you need to take an extract that contains significant amounts of curcumin, which is the main active ingredient in turmeric. Unfortunately, curcumin is poorly absorbed into the bloodstream. It helps if you consume black pepper with it, which contains piperine, a natural substance that enhances the absorption of curcumin by 2000%.

Lance Pace
www.omnicareforpeopleathome.com

A New Perspective 

Last summer I was surprised by an unexpected bit of nature. One lone petunia had planted itself in a crack in the pavement and had found enough water and nutrients to burst out in a lovely bloom. This sparked my thoughts about the story of Viktor Frankl.  During WWII, Viktor survived 3 years in a concentration camp. During a long trek on foot through freezing temperatures Viktor decided he could go on no longer. However, at that exact moment Viktor had a profound revelation. He saw a vision of himself speaking to a large crowd about how he had survived. In an instant, his whole demeanour changed. The pain became a catalyst for a triumphant recovery.  He lived to fulfill that vision and went on to become one of the world’s great psychotherapists and gave so much hope and vitality to the global community. When we take the time to “notice” aspects of our life that have been overlooked, we can discover powerful new meaning in our lives.

Terri Czegledi
www.comoxvalleycounselling.com

TMJ — The Hidden Imposter

Do you suffer from headaches or earaches? Do you have a stiff neck and upper back? What about on-going stomach issues, anxiety or depression? Dissimilar as all these issues might sound, the root cause may be your temporomandibular joint, or TMJ.

Studies estimate that 30 per cent of the world’s population has some form of TMJ disorder. Known as “the hidden imposter” for the way it mimics other symptoms and syndromes, TMJ disorder is not only very common, it’s also often misdiagnosed.

The TMJ is the hinge where the jawbone connects to the skull. The disorder occurs due to excess pressure in the joint. Factors that can cause TMJ issues include misalignment of the jaw or teeth; physical trauma, such as whiplash or dental work; degenerative diseases; or, most commonly, tension resulting in teeth clenching or grinding.

The resulting effects are wide-ranging and can cause chronic or intermittent pain varying from mild to severe. While actual joint pain may or may not occur, typically symptoms manifest elsewhere in the body and include migraines, earaches or tinnitus (ringing in the ears), hip and pelvic pain and muscle soreness in the upper body. Because of these diverse symptoms, correct diagnosis is often overlooked while treatment doesn’t deal with the underlying problem.

As health practitioners who focus on a holistic approach, all our treatments begin with a thorough whole-body examination. Upon diagnosis of TMJ disorder, treatments typically include acupuncture and neuro-structural integration therapy (NST), a hands-on therapy that calms the autonomic nervous system and releases muscles of the neck, shoulders and jaw. Treatment of severe cases may also integrate the use of a soft dental appliance, and patients are given exercises to perform at home. Most people feel relief after the first treatment.

Think you may have TMJ disorder? Give us a call and get to the root of the problem.

Dr. Brigitte Tetrault is a Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine and acupuncturist at Courtenay Healing Centre.

Dr. Brigitte Tetrault, Courtenay Healing Centre

Alternative Healing  –  Frankincense is in Season!

Frankincense is especially popular during the Christmas season due to it’s reputed history as being one of the gifts that was given by the Magi to the Christ child. The historical physical, mental and spiritual health benefits of the resin and essential oil continue to be corroborated by science including research into the pain management, immune enhancing and cancer preventative properties. One client provided this testimonial and attributed his relief to frankincense.“When I broke my wrist and fractured my hip recently, I had a bit of trouble accepting that an essential oil could make a difference. What a pleasant surprise I got when I followed Nelson’s instructions and choices and tried them. My painful muscle spasms went down about 80% instantly. Sleep came much easier. Thanks Nelson for your help!” – Alan F. Courtenay, BC

Nelson Meggitt – www.optimumwellnessfactor.ca/

Floss, Brush, Smile

Dental hygiene is often overlooked as an essential component of one’s complete health plan.  Research indicates that there is a strong link between periodontal disease – disease of the gums and supporting bone – and overall health. Gum disease has been linked to serious illnesses such as heart disease, lung disease and diabetes.  Regular dental hygiene care can help control periodontal disease and play a key role in decreasing both the rate of incidence and severity in the above systemic diseases.  Floss Dental Hygiene Services was opened in 2009 to provide care from the downtown Comox clinic and to residents in the Comox Valley’s long term care facilities.  Floss offers a relaxing environment, featuring a soothing waterfall, aromatherapy, warm pillows and blankets.  Each visit ends with a warm towel.  No referral is necessary to become a client at Floss. Remember that dental hygiene care is an essential component of a healthy body.

Heather Mayhew, RDH
www.flossdentalhygiene.ca