Botanicals

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!

How to Cope with Stress in a Pandemic

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With recent discussions of a “Second-Wave” for the COVID-19 Pandemic, I think it is safe to say that everyone is getting a bit fed up with all of this pandemic talk. However, we at PNHC feel it is important to help patients by giving some strategies on how to cope with the stress.

What is Stress?

According to Webster’s Dictionary, Stress can be defined as, “a state of mental tension and worry caused by problems in your life, work, etc.; something that causes strong feelings of worry or anxiety; a physical force or pressure”. I think it goes without saying that all of us have experienced stress from the COVID-19 Pandemic. The pandemic is not what anyone expected or prepared for when they determined their plans for the year 2020. We have all had to adjust quickly, and its possible, that we still have not adjusted. Without optimal coping techniques, it can be difficult for many to manage comfortably through all of the chaos that our world is currently going through. We hope that this blog would offer some different ways to cope.

Ways to Cope with Stress at Home

Unfortunately, during these uncertain times, there is a lot outside of our control. We cannot control the state of affairs at any governmental level, and we cannot control for what others do or how they act. This is where I (Dr. Elisha Cook ND) would normally say to my patients that it is important that you focus on the things you can control – your thoughts, your actions, your behaviour, your attitude, and frankly where you put your hope. In addition to focusing on these areas, I also find it useful to use tools that remind you of what you actually can control for. No one answer provides a suitable option for everyone and their coping needs. As a result, I have provided examples below of healthy ways to cope with stress:

  • Journaling – options might include focusing on gratitude, lessons that can be learned from difficult points in a day, or good and bad highlights from the day.
  • Breathing – in particular deep breathing, though this may prove to be difficult for those with respiratory diseases.
  • Exercise – exercise can act as a great way to release any excess tensions in a healthy and constructive way.
  • Talking to others – sharing your more intimate thoughts and concerns with someone is helpful with working through stress. It is important to recognize that you are not alone and you have individuals who can help whether that is loved ones or health care providers. It is okay to open up to others about how you are feeling.
  • Praying or Meditating – both of these have very similar outcomes and they help an individual to become grounded and refocus on what really matters.
  • Take time for self care – Give yourself time for you and do something that brings you joy. This might include taking a bath, getting a massage, or getting lost in a book.
  • Distraction through changing your scenary – changing the task you are doing, if applicable, can help you to redirect your focus from a problem, and might look like engaging in a favourate hobby.  
  • Pet Therapy – if you have a family pet at home, spend some time with them as this can help to reduce blood pressure and activate the parasympathetic nervous system.
  • Adopt healthy sleep routines – having a routine around bed, adopting a consistent bed time, and engagine in relaxing activities prior to bed can help you sleep better and thereby cope better with stress.

The next time you are feeling stressed, and need to find a healthier way to cope with your stress, take the time to explore these options and find what works best for you.

What NOT To-Do To Cope with Stress

As foreshadowed, there are some coping mechanisms that are less than ideal when trying to cope with stress. Below I have provided a few examples of unhealthy coping mechanisms:

  • Binge eating
  • Drinking
  • Avoidance
  • Gambling excessively
  • Smoking
  • Using elicit drugs
  • Isolating yourself from others who can help

Therapies that can help with stress

There are many different things that can be done to help someone to cope with stress. Many alternative medicine therapies can be beneficial for helping to promote the parasympathetic nervous system which is in charge of relaxing and resting. Some therapies that might be useful to help you to cope with stress depending on your specific case and needs include:

  • Acupuncture
  • Massage Therapy
  • Counselling
  • Nutraceutical Medicine
  • Botanical Medicine
  • Reflexology

Each individual is different, and so there is no one treatment that would be good for everyone. So, choose the treatment that is less intimidating and feels right for you.  

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 any of the above therapies to help you work through stress and are 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! 

This article was written by Dr. Elisha Cook ND

Foods to Eat to Beat the Heat

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Tired Woman Sweating After RunningI preface this article with a brief explanation on Chinese medicine. In Chinese medicine, many of the pathologies are based on external influences. For example, if one is out in the rain too long, they could develop excess dampness internally leading to such symptoms as arthritis, a cold or a sore throat. As such, food is very important in combating these different external forces. With that being said, it is important to understand which foods are hot, cold, dry, or damp in nature and to consume them in a balanced way. In seasons such as summer, it is important to consume more foods that are cool or cold in nature to combat the external effect of heat on the system. The food list below is not explicit, but does give a good idea as to some different foods one can incorporate into their diet to stay cool during warmer temperatures.

  • Apple
  • Banana
  • Barley
  • Cucumber
  • Eggplant
  • Eggs
  • Grapes
  • Grape fruit
  • Ice
  • Kelp
  • Lettuce
  • Spinach
  • Mango
  • Melon
  • Mushroom
  • Pear
  • Peppermint
  • Peppermint Tea
  • Plum
  • Radish
  • Sesame oil
  • Sorbet
  • Soy
  • Tangerine
  • Tofu,
  • Green tea
  • Water chest nut
  • Water melon
  • Yogurt

In addition to these foods, some other ways of eating food that may help to beat the heat in the summer include eating raw fruits and vegetables rather than cooking them.

One important thing to note with this list is that just because there is a food item on this list does not mean everyone should eat these foods. Though it is warm out, not everyone needs these cooling foods. This is where an appropriate assessment by a Naturopathic Doctor would be warranted. In addition, eating certain foods can cause harm to certain individuals, and again may require guidance from a Naturopathic Doctor.

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 Dr. Elisha Cook ND by calling 519-537-7058 and book your appointment today!

References:

http://www.pingminghealth.com/article/581/warming-and-cooling-characteristics-of-common-foods/

Share the Love – Referral Incentive Program

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happy as a puppy

Share the Love – Referral Incentive Program

During the month of February, Dr. Elisha Cook ND is giving

10% off all of her Teas and Supplements!

All you have to do is refer a friend to see Dr. Elisha Cook ND (and have them book an appointment and follow-thru)!

Program starts February 1, 2017 and goes until February 28, 2017.

Call 519-537-7058 to book your appointment!

For more information you can visit my website at www.naturopathicdoctorwoodstock.ca, or visit my page on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/DrElishaCookND/

Appointments have to be booked with the clinic during the month of February 2017, but do not need to be scheduled until later on (eg called the clinic Feb 15/17 and have an appointment to see Dr. Cook ND for March 21/17). Discount will apply following the referred friend’s initial appointment, and the referred friend must give your name under “referred by” in their intake forms (or mention it to Dr. Elisha Cook ND). The 10% off will apply for one transaction only (one 10% discount transaction per referred friend). This offer is only available for current patients of Dr. Elisha Cook ND.