Information/Research

Do traditional home remedies actually work?

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I am sure many of you have heard of some old remedies that you, your parents, or even your grandparents had used for common ailments. Many people wonder if these therapies are actually effective and frankly, if they even make sense. Consider this blog a “myth busters” type of blog where we explore some of these old remedies for common ailments.

Tea

Many people consider a cup of tea one of the key pillars on the road to recovery when it comes to colds and flus. When we look at the research, it is arguably true. Much of the research does not focus on one specific tea per se, but the big take away, is that tea contains many antioxidants and constituents that help the body in general. Specifically, tea can also help to ward off and fight colds and flus by decreasing inflammation, inhibiting growth of microbes, and increasing overall antioxidants in the body.

Soup

Another staple that individuals recommend with the cold or flu is a cup of soup, specifically mom/dad’s homemade chicken noodle. Looking at the research, chicken soup helps to reduce symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections through its anti-inflammatory effect on the body. Arguably, the sooner you start this in the sickness, the better to reduce the inflammatory cascade that happens with colds and flus.

Mustard Plaster

For some, mustard plasters have been used for upper respiratory conditions, and is considered an old remedy. For those who have been able to tolerate the heat and potential sensitivity to the skin, mustard plaster has been shown in the research to cause an improvement even seen in x-ray results, of the lungs for those with upper respiratory tract concerns. Further, mustard plasters have been shown to even increase the immune cells to combat infection.

Poultices

Poultices involve the application of warmed herbs, bread, onion, or carrot to an infected or inflamed tissue. The research is a bit difficult to search through, as there are many different application types for poultices. Ultimately, the poultice has been shown to have a drawing effect, causing a reduction in pain and redness.

Seeing that some of these traditional tools and remedies have merit even in our modern world can be so encouraging and exciting. However, it is important to make sure that these tools and remedies are right for your specific situation. Some of the information provided above may not be appropriate for everyone, please consult with your doctor before trying any of the above.

Have you benefited from reading this blog? Know someone that would benefit as well? Share, Like, Comment, or Tweet this article, and let us know what you think. If you are interested in Naturopathic Medicine and wanting a different approach to your health care needs, contact our clinic by calling/texting 226-232-7665, and we would be happy to book your naturopathic appointment today! 

References:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S027153170700125X
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11035691
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12575372
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Wafaa-Mostafa-3/publication/339510870_Fenugreek_seed_poultice_versus_cold_cabbage_leaves_compresses_for_relieving_breast_engorgement_An_interventional_comparative_study/links/61f9619b11a1090a79c7abd3/Fenugreek-seed-poultice-versus-cold-cabbage-leaves-compresses-for-relieving-breast-engorgement-An-interventional-comparative-study.pdf

Coffee Lovers Guide to Healthier Coffee Habits

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By. Dr. Elisha Cook ND

When it comes to coffee, some people are just down right passionate about it. Whether it is cold brew, hot brew, pre-ground or whole bean, there are some habits to consider to make this delectable beverage consumable in a healthier manner.

Habit 1: Always brew your coffee grounds through paper (i.e. filters).

            This may seem like an odd habit to adopt with coffee drinking, but, believe it or not, having your coffee grounds filtered through paper can make a large difference with the health effects of the drink. When coffee has been filtered through paper, it does not increase your LDL (bad) cholesterol, where as boiled coffee (such as through French press method) does increase LDL cholesterol and apolipoprotein B levels.

Habit 2: Increase your water intake to compensate for coffee.

            Coffee does not count towards your water intake. Many have been presented with the myth that coffee contributes to water intake, but what we have learned is that coffee can dehydrate. To balance out this effect, individuals should consider drinking 1 cup of water extra per 1 cup of coffee.

Habit 3: No coffee past 3:00pm.

            For some, coffee does not seem to have an influence on sleep patterns, but for many, caffeine can stay in your system quite some time, resulting in the potential to impair sleep. If you want to indulge in coffee, consider having it in the earlier hours in the day to allow adequate time for it to leave your system.

Habit 4: But first, water!

            It can be a force of habit to get up in the morning and go straight for coffee to get that energizing start, but we are missing a crucial first step: water. When we wake up in the morning, we have gone all night without water, and so, our body wakes up lacking. By starting with coffee, we end up putting our water start point even lower, potentially making it harder for our different systems and organs to function. By starting with water before your coffee, you might help your body to start on a better foot.

Habit 5: But first, food!

            I know what we just discussed above, but for those who do eat breakfast, it is important to make sure the fuel you get in your body is from food. By eating food first, we are better able to listen to the right amount our body needs to feel satiated. When individuals consume coffee before eating, it causes them to consume about 10 percent less at breakfast. This may sound like a good thing for some, but breakfast ultimately is the most influential meal of the day. If we do not get adequate amounts here, it can influence the rest of the day.

Have you benefited from reading this blog? Know someone that would benefit as well? Share, Like, Comment, or Tweet this article, and let me know what you think.

Some of the information provided above may not be appropriate for everyone, please consult with your doctor before trying any of the above. If you are interested in trying any of our services, working with any of our amazing practitioners, or are simply wanting a different approach to your health care needs, contact the Plattsville Natural Health Clinic by calling 226-232-7665 and book your appointment today! 

Resources/ References:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2029499/

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/07/180719085416.htm#:~:text=Summary%3A,participants’%20perceptions%20of%20their%20appetites.

Steps to Reduce Dementia Risk

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Written by: Dr. Elisha Cook ND

Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease can be impactful for those who suffer from it, and their care providers. Dementia is classified as a decline in cognitive functions such as memory and complex thinking. As we age, our risk can increase, but there are many activities and lifestyle factors that can help decrease the likelihood of being personally affected by this condition. We hope that this article will bring to light these factors and help you and your loved ones reduce your risk. 

Exercise

Exercise can be beneficial for many pathways and systems in our body. Walking daily can help to reduce the risk of dementia by 25%. Specifically, achieving a minimum of 3800 steps per day helps to reduce this risk, with risk reduction increasing with the more steps that were achieved (the maximum benefit was received at 9800 steps). 

Diet High in Fruits and Vegetables 

According to the research, consuming a diet high in “flavonoids” helps to reduce the risk of dementia. Fruits and vegetables with yellow or orange colour tended to have the greatest impact on reducing risk, but in general, consuming a rainbow of colour when it comes to fruits and vegetables aids in overall health. With fruits specifically, aiming to consume “lower sugar” fruits such as apples, pears, blackberries, blueberries and raspberries may aid more than just your mental health as well.  

Challenge your Mind 

Regularly engaging in activities that challenge the mind can reduce dementia risk by as much as 11%. By engaging in literacy tasks, higher learning, logical reasoning tasks, critical thinking tasks, and social engagement, it increases neurons and improves brain activity. Activities that stimulate the brain in such a way include: 

  • puzzles 
  • reading 
  • writing 
  • playing cards 
  • computer tasks
  • taking courses 
  • scrabble 
  • word searches 
  • crosswords
  • playing an instrument 

Incorporating more of the above tasks may not eliminate the onset of one of these conditions, but risk reduction is always a step in the right direction. 

Have you benefited from reading this blog? Know someone that would benefit as well? Share, Like, Comment, or Tweet this article, and let me know what you think.

Some of the information provided above may not be appropriate for everyone, please consult with your doctor before trying any of the above. If you are interested in trying any of our services, working with any of our amazing practitioners, or are simply wanting a different approach to your health care needs, contact the Plattsville Natural Health Clinic by calling 226-232-7665 and book your appointment today! 

References:

hsph.harvard.edu/news/hsph-in-the-news/lifestyle-changes-can-help-prevent-dementia/

health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/taking-more-steps-a-day-might-reduce-dementia-risk

theguardian.com/society/2023/jul/14/challenging-brain-older-age-may-reduce-dementia-risk-study#:~:text=The%20results%20reveal%20that%20for,over%20a%2010-years%20period

Supporting the Immune System

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Recent updates have warned us to buckle up and get ready for another potential wave of illness/colds/flus. With changes in season, it can take its toll on our immune systems. By integrating some daily measures into our lifestyle, we can set a better stage for our immune systems as we enter into these more immune aggressive seasons. We decided it was beneficial to present an updated version of one of our older blog posts in order to help you support your immune system.

Stress Management

Being under a lot of stress can cause our immune systems to be more susceptible to bacteria and viruses. Stress can cause our bodies to be more focused on fueling ourselves with fight or flight response (i.e. responding to the stress) and less on protecting us from colds and flus, thus making us more susceptible. By managing stress before it wears our bodies down, we can keep bacteria and viruses at bay. Stress management can look like taking certain supplements as discussed with your Naturopathic Doctor, massage therapy, talking to a friend, acupuncture, regular walks, and reading a book (just to name a few). If you would like to learn more about stress management, Dr. Cook has released a new book, Stress Less and Weigh Less, which discusses many great stress management tools. You can get your copy by visiting our publications page of this website.

Vegetables and Fruits

Vegetables and fruits are full or antioxidants and nutrients that help to build and boost the immune system. By assuring the immune system has the right nutrients, it can help to keep the body strong and healthy. Ideally, having no more than 3 servings of fruit per day and having 5 or more vegetables per day is what is recommended. Specifically, when we look at the research, we can see that an anti-inflammatory diet (which is generally high in vegetables), has been shown to help combat viruses and support recovery from them. Some individuals may require higher amounts of certain nutrients to be able to effectively mount an immune response to certain bacteria and viruses, and so may require supplementation for specific nutrients. Determining which nutrients need to be supplemented for is best determined with the help of a health care professional.

Tea

Having teas, such as green tea, on a regular basis can help to boost the immune system due to their antioxidant profile and their immune boosting qualities. Specifically, green tea has been shown to bind to and prevent replication of certain viruses. Adding a bit of honey to your tea can also help to fight off any bacteria that might attempting to invade.

Soup

Many may find it hard to believe, but consuming homemade soup actually helps to halt the inflammatory cascade that happens when we are starting to get sick. In addition, homemade soup is full of electrolytes and nutrients to help combat illness.

Exercise

Exercise can help to boost the immune system by increasing the speed at which white blood cells patrol the body and look for bacteria or viruses. Exercise can also be beneficial for the immune system by increasing the respiratory rate and thus increasing the chance that a lingering bacteria or virus will be cleared from the lungs. However, it is important to potentially modify out workout routine if we do come down with a cold or flu. If you do become sick, focus on refueling with adequate protein after your workouts to support recovery of the body from your workout and from the illness.

Sleep

Getting a proper sleep can help you to better manage not only emotions and stress but also your immune system. Not getting a good night’s sleep can cause our bodies to be less able to produce T cells – an important immune system cell – and thus make us more susceptible to colds and flus.

Have you benefited from reading this blog? Know someone that would benefit as well? Share, Like, Comment, or Tweet this article, and let me know what you think.

Some of the information provided above may not be appropriate for everyone, please consult with your doctor before trying any of the above. If you are interested in Naturopathic Medicine and wanting a different approach to your health care needs, contact our clinic to book in with one of our amazing naturopathic doctors by calling/texting 226-232-7665 and book your appointment today!