Naturopathic Medicine Archives - Page 10 of 13 - Plattsville Natural Health Clinic

Presenting . . . Dr. Elisha Cook Naturopathic Doctor (ND)

November 17, 2015 by elisha

It is official, I am a licensed Naturopathic Doctor! Thank you to everyone who gave me encouraging words, kind thoughts, and prayers while I was preparing for and waiting for my license. So now you must be wondering . . . where does she go from here. Well, this blog will provide you with all of the juicy gossip, or at least the details of where I will be practicing.

As of December 1, 2015, I will be practicing at Meyers Chiropractic in Woodstock Ontario. I have been a patient of this clinic since my teen years, and am truly blessed to be joining this amazing health team. The clinic provides chiropractic care and massage therapy, in addition to the naturopathic services I will be providing. To learn more about the clinic, please see the following link: http://www.meyerschiropractic.com/

To be sure of the services you are getting, and to make sure it is something you are interested in, I will be offering a FREE meet and greet session where I basically explain what naturopathic medicine is and how I can help you. This outlines the basis of the therapies that way no one is blind-sided and there is a clear understanding between patient and practitioner. You can book your free session by emailing me personally or contacting me through the contact portion of this website and we will schedule your free 15 minute meet and greet.

If you are interested in booking an initial intake, you can call 519-537-7058 to book in for any date following December 1, 2015. You can view the available hours through the contact portion of my website. Initial intakes consist of a 90 minute session where I take a history, complete relevant physical exams, and give a treatment plan. Depending on your particular health concern, a secondary visit or visits may be required. If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact me. I am looking forward to helping you and your family achieve your health goals!

Thank You

September 29, 2015 by elisha

This photo probably sums up more than words the relief that I feel right now. Why might you ask? Well, I passed all of my licensing exams! So, what does that mean? Now I need to be approved for registration with the College of Naturopaths and apply for the appropriate insurance. Once this is complete, I am ready to practice as a Naturopathic Doctor and can then officially call myself a Doctor! This has been a long time coming and has required facing my own demons, overcoming past traumas, and discovering who I am aside from my profession. I have had successes, but also made some mistakes that have helped me in the long run. Ultimately, I am truly thankful for these experiences and for the practitioner they will have helped shaped me into. No “acceptance speech” would be without its “Thank you”, and so, what follows is my condensed list.

To start with, first and foremost is to do what most Grammy – award winning artists do, and that is, thank my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. I do realize that I may receive judgement, criticism, disdain, etc. for this comment; but I truly cannot take the credit for what has transpired. My strength is in Him alone, and I could not have overcome what I have without Him. That being said, I have received so many prayers and support from my family and church family over the past 8 years, and I am truly grateful to have so much love surrounding me. My family has shaped me into the woman that I am, and I cannot thank them enough for pushing me when I needed it and encouraging me along the way, even if my own mother thought I was going to be a witch doctor 🙂 (it’s okay she is now my biggest fan).

Throughout this whole journey, I have had my faithful and loving husband by my side. I cannot say how truly blessed I am to have had him over the past 8 years to comfort me through the tears and walk with me through the pain, but also to rejoice with me in the victories.

Finally, as always, I want to thank all of the beautiful souls that I have met along the way, specifically, the patients that I have had the pleasure of working with. I have learned so much and have been so blessed by you all. Walking with you has helped shaped me into the practitioner I want to be and will be. Also, thank you and much love to you my readers for all of your constant support!

I will keep you all posted in the following weeks as to when I am accepting patients!

Have you benefitted 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 Elisha Cook via the contact portion of this website.

Naturopathic Approaches and Management of Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke

July 28, 2015 by elisha

When spring and summer come around, most individuals enjoy being outside. However, with the temperatures on the rise, many could potentially develop heat exhaustion or heat stroke if they are not careful. This blog is meant to provide you with preventative measures, signs and symptoms to look out for, and what you can do if you or another individual experiences heat exhaustion or heat stroke.

Prevention

Ultimately, it is more beneficial to prevent heat exhaustion and heat stroke in the first place. The following is a list of things that you can do to prevent both:

Dress weather appropriate – not too warmly and lighter in colour
Wear a hat if you will be spending a significant amount of time in the sun
Avoid activities in the late afternoon when the sun is at the highest point in the sky
Perform activities in the shade when possible
Keep hydrated – make sure to have a drink of water every 15 – 20 minutes
Avoid excessive amounts of caffeine and alcohol

Signs and Symptoms

Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are quite different in their presentation and severity. Heat exhaustion is the lesser in regards to severity when compared to heat stroke. Heat exhaustion presents with the following:

Headache
Dizziness and Confusion
Loss of Appetite
Feeling Nauseous
Sweating
Pale clammy skin
Muscle Cramps
Fast and Weak Pulse
Shallow Breathing

Heat stroke on the other hand is slightly more severe:

Headache
Dizziness and Discomfort
Restlessness and Confusion
Hot, Flushed, and Dry Skin
Low Level of Response or Consciousness
Full and Strong Pulse
Body Temperature Above 40 degrees Celsius

Management

How you might manage either situation is very similar, but in the case of heat stroke, it is best to call Emergency Medical Services (EMS) for help in order to better aid this individual. Otherwise, the following recommendations could be made for both in most cases:

Get to a cooler place (eg. in the shade)
Have the individual lay down with their legs raised
Rehydrate the individual with cool water
Recommend that the individual seek Health Care regardless of how quickly they recover
If their condition gets worse, call EMS

In addition to the above recommendations, for heat stroke, it is wise to cool the individual down with cool clothes being applied to the body and a fan being placed near them. It is necessary to bring their core body temperature down to around 38 degrees Celsius.

Naturopathic Additional Tips

In addition to the above management, some additional measures could be applied AFTER the above management is followed:

Coconut water or aloe vera juice can be used to help rehydrate
Glonoinum homeopathic can be used to aid with symptoms from heat stroke
China homeopathic can be used for extreme fluid loss resulting in heat stroke
Applying an peppermint essential oil to the feet and cooling clothes to help lower body temperature
Applying an onion to the feet to help lower body temperature
Contrast showers daily to help prevent lack of acclimatization
Seek naturopathic care regularly to help your body be in the best shape it can be

Have you benefitted 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.

Source: http://www.sja.org.uk/sja/first-aid-advice/hot-and-cold-conditions/heatstroke.aspx

The Importance of Consulting Your Naturopathic Doctor for Supplement Advice

July 14, 2015 by elisha

As most of you may know, I have been studying in order to obtain my license to practice as a Naturopathic Doctor in Ontario. As a result, I have had the opportunity to become more familiar with the side effects of many of the conventional and natural therapies. Yes, I did say side effects of natural therapies. It may come as a surprise to many, but natural therapies that are available may have some side effects that need to be known. Many individuals treat supplementing with nutraceuticals as if there are no potential ill effects from doing so. Unbeknownst to them, this is much like hearing a clunk in your car, and looking online for the solution, then fixing it yourself. Many steps are missed when this type of approach is made. For example: what is the quality of the part you are putting into the car, what if you put the part in wrong, are there extra parts that need to be changed or altered in order for the new part to function at its best, is the source a credible one for you to receive your information, and the list goes on. That being said, one should not simply look up their symptoms on – line, and supplement accordingly. Much like you would consult a mechanic for repairs to your vehicle, you should do the same in regards to “repairs to your body”. Whether it is a naturopathic doctor or another health care provider, their advice should be sought when it comes to taking supplements or changing doses in general. In addition, when discussing medications or supplements, it is important to be transparent and honest with your various health care providers about all forms of treatment that you are receiving. This mindset when dealing with health care providers ensure medications and supplements do not interact and cause you harm, and also ensures that you receive the most appropriate guidance in regards to your health.

In order to bring some context to the discussion, we will take a look at Aloe Vera Gel. The internet has been useful in discussing the beneficial effect of aloe vera gel on the digestive system and how it can aid in the digestive process, gastritis, irritable bowel disease, etc. However, individuals may not realize that this impact on digestion could also cause other medications to have decreased absorption if taken around the same time. As a result, it is best to seek the advice of health care providers such as a Naturopathic Doctor in order to guarantee that supplements are taken correctly. In addition, many do not realize that aloe vera gel can have an additive effect with medications for diabetes or increased blood sugars. So, if someone was taking diabetic medication and aloe vera gel, they could become quite dizzy or worse, unconsciousness, and lead to a medical emergency. As one can see, it is important to discuss all supplements with your Naturopathic Doctor or health care provider. A Naturopathic Doctor has had at least 8 years of training, which can provide a great deal of information, much beyond that of a google search.

Have you benefitted 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.