Stress

Top 5 Reasons to See a Naturopathic Doctor

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In honour of naturopathic medicine week (which we celebrate in May), we wanted to share the top 5 reasons why you might want to consider seeing a naturopathic doctor. Here at Plattsville Natural Health Clinic, we have two naturopathic doctors that are well equipped to help you along your healing journey, whether it may be seeking their help for the below 5 reasons or other concerns!

Top 5 Reasons to See a Naturopathic Doctor

1.“I’m Tired”

      The fatigue you experience may not be just because you are busy. There can be many explanations for fatigue which could include how foods are paired in the diet, nutrient deficiencies, chronic illness, stress and other reasons. Naturopathic Doctors may be able to take a full history, order blood work, and determine the root cause of the fatigue you may experience.

      2. “I’m Stressed/ Depressed/ Anxious”

      Whether it is stress, low mood, or nervousness; a naturopathic doctor is equipped with many tools to help you through these struggles. The way we eat, move our bodies and respond to our environments can most certainly impact our mental health, but there may be something more behind how you are feeling. Could there be nutrients, hormones, or other factors influencing where your mind is at? Let a Naturopathic Doctor help you determine that.

      3. “I’m in Pain”

      From chronic migraines, to back pain and beyond, there are many different pain experiences, influential factors, and modalities to aid them. Naturopathic Doctors are able to use modalities including acupuncture, cold laser therapy, cupping, and body work to help alleviate pain. In addition, naturopathic doctors look at the whole system in order to address inflammation and some other potential root causes to pain.

      4. “My Digestion is Off”

      “Digestive” concerns can mean so many things. If it is too slow or too fast, this can cause concerns for individuals. There are so many symptoms that can be uncomfortable for individuals including bloating, gas, abdominal pain, cramping, constipation, diarrhea, burping, regurgitation, acid reflux, GERD, and more. Naturopathic Doctors are able to look at diet, lifestyle, blood work, and your health history to formulate a plan of action to address these concerns.

      5. “My Hormones are Ruining my Life”

      Whatever stage of life you are in, hormones can be so impactful. Whether your goal is trying to have a family (i.e. get pregnant), weather the storms of menopause, have a normal period, or get the muscular gains from your workouts; Naturopathic Doctors are able to assess your hormonal health and determine the right plan for your individual situation. From supplements, to diet and beyond, Naturopathic Doctors have many ways of approaching your individual case in order to help find a solution.

      For more information about our naturopathic doctors or naturopathic medicine, please see the naturopathic tab on our website, or contact us today to allow us to answer any questions or concerns you might have.

      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! 

      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!

      Dr. Cook’s new book Stress Less and Weigh Less is now published and available to purchase!

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      We are so excited to announce that Dr. Elisha Cook ND’s new book Stress Less and Weigh Less has officially been published, and has already made it to the Best Seller list on Amazon in several categories! Dr. Cook has compiled much of her clinical experience and research into the writing of this book. It includes practical guidance and a wealth of knowledge on the impact of stress on the weight loss journey. In particular, the struggle that chronically stressed individuals can face when it comes to weight loss. 

      In this book, you will learn

      • What stress is and determine if you are stressed
      • What weight loss approaches work based on research
      • What forms of exercise and dietary patterns help you lose weight when you are chronically stressed
      • Realistic coping techniques for stress
      • How to overcome common weight loss strategy pitfalls

      To make sure we can get this book into as many hands as we can, reduced pricing will be in effect until June 26, 2023! It can be bought on amazon for $9.99 as the paperback and $0.99 as the kindle version until June 26, 2023. After this date the price will go up.

      If you are interested in getting your hands on a paperback version or a kindle version of the book, see following link: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0C87VD1FD . We will have copies available at the clinic, and will make updates on social media when they are available.

      In addition, if you subscribe to our blog, you will automatically be sent a PDF of the workbook to go with the book Stress Less and Weigh Less.

      For a complete book description, please see below:

      We live in a society of pressing deadlines, overwhelming schedules, and increasing demands. On top of keeping up with this lifestyle, we expect ourselves to have the body and physique of an athlete. It may be surprising for some, but chronically stressed individuals often have a very difficult time losing weight and keeping the weight off. There is a way to stress less and weigh less. You do not have to struggle to lose weight anymore.

      In the book, we examine if you are truly stressed and what it actually looks like in all its facets. Once we know what stress really is, we can then begin to examine its impact on weight, and how it can contribute to weight gain. Dr. Elisha Cook ND discusses three key focus areas: exercise, diet, and stress management. With each section, we examine the strategies that increase stress and those that decrease stress on the body. When you manage your stress confidently and prioritize yourself, you can lose weight and keep it off.

      In this book, you will learn:

      • What stress is and determine if you are stressed
      • What weight loss approaches work based on research
      • What forms of exercise and dietary patterns help you lose weight when you are chronically stressed
      • Realistic coping techniques for stress
      • How to overcome common weight loss strategy pitfalls

      With the constant stress surrounding our daily lives, we need to be able to keep ourselves healthy and manage our stress. In this book, Dr. Elisha Cook ND hopes that she can help people identify sources of stress in their life, how it may be halting their weight loss journey, and how to overcome it. To find out more about her methods, grab this book today!

      Want more information about our clinic or services?

      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! 

      5 Teas to Promote Calmness

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      Written By Dr. Elisha Cook ND

      There are many amazing herbs available to help with health and healing. Remarkably, some of these herbs and botanicals can be consumed as teas to promote beneficial outcomes. There are some prominent herbs that can reduce anxiousness, reduce nervousness, and calm individuals. Keep in mind that you should always consult with your Naturopathic Doctor to make sure these teas are right for you and that the dosing is adequate. 

      Hibiscus Tea 

      Hibiscus tea can promote relaxation and calmness through the fact that it is a flower. Flowers in general tend to promote calmness in individuals. Hibiscus, in addition, helps to lower blood pressure which can be an unfortunate consequence to anxiousness or stress. 

      Chamomile Tea 

      Chamomile tea can be great for digestive upset, and can help to calm the gut and the mind. For individuals that can feel anxiety or nervousness “in their stomach”, this tea can be a great add on to their treatment plan. 

      Lemon Balm Tea 

      Lemon balm tea is a great herb for all ages. Kids tend to love the taste of it, and it helps to ease nervous unrest. Many herbal blends will incorporate it into their sleep teas as it can also be great to promote a good night’s rest. 

      Peppermint Tea

      Peppermint tea is another tea that can help to ease stomach discomfort with nervousness, but this calming herb also has some other great properties. Peppermint can help to open the airways, making it a bit easier to breath. We can sometimes see with stress or anxiety that individuals may struggle to “catch their breath”. This herb might prove to be a great add on for those struggling with this. 

      Lavender Tea

      Lavender tea is a great herb for many reasons. As a flower it does help to promote calmness and rest. Many individuals will use this herb to aid with sleep as well. Some research has shown that lavender can be highly effective for anxiety, and has even been compared to such anxiolytic pharmaceuticals as Lorazepam. 

      If you benefited from this blog, Dr. Elisha Cook ND will have her book “Stress Less and Weigh Less” published in June 2023 that has information like this AND MORE. Contact us to get EARLY ACCESS by emailing info.pnhc@gmail.com or through the contact portion of our website. 

      Have you benefited from reading this blog? Know someone that would benefit as well? Share this article with someone who you think might benefit from the information 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 Dr. Elisha Cook ND by calling/texting 226-232-7665 and book your appointment today!