Share the Love – Referral Incentive Program

January 31, 2017 by elisha

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.

New Service Offered: Lab Requisitioning

January 24, 2017 by elisha

After several months of organizing and planning, I am pleased to announce that I am able to send patients for lab work. The question remains, what does this mean for you, how will this affect my care, and what is the cost?

What does this mean?

Traditionally, when a patient needs blood work done, they have to go through their medical doctor in order to get the testing. Getting blood work done this way can pose a problem for those that do not have a medical doctor, or individuals who may have to wait months before being able to see their medical doctor.

Now that I can order blood tests, you can get the exact blood work that would be requested for your particular case. That means: less of a wait time, and your concerns being addressed sooner!

Some other benefits from having access to potential blood work involves food sensitivity testing. Some patients would rather not go to the extreme of the elimination diet, and would rather do blood testing to see what foods they might be sensitive to. In which case, blood testing is an option and possibility through myself (contact me for more information if you are interested).

How will this affect patient care?

Overall, patient care will be affected to a lesser extent. However, with the opportunity of ordering blood work, I will be able to better see what is going on inside the body at a cellular or mechanistic level, to better help you reach your health goals. It would also offer the opportunity to know for certain what levels you stand at in regards to nutrients such as B12 and Iron, and know for certain if it is safe to supplement with them. In addition to what I have mentioned above, patients would have a choice as to whether to go through with an elimination diet or opt for food sensitivity testing instead.

What blood tests are available?

Many blood tests will be possible to be ordered, and too many to mention. However, some of the more prominent blood tests include:

Food Sensitivity Testing
Inflammatory markers: ESR, CRP
Rheumatoid/Autoimmune markers: ANA, RF
Cholesterol Panel
Thyroid Panel
Nutrient markers: B12, Iron, Ferritin, Vitamin D, Folic Acid

What is the cost?

The cost for these services are dependent on the tests being ordered. With every test there is a lab fee $8. Beyond that, the tests vary in price. Though the blood work would not be covered by OHIP, you may be able to submit them for tax return purposes at the end of the year.

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!

Stress: What it does to the body

January 10, 2017 by elisha

I want to start this article by first mentioning that this is not meant to condemn or make individuals feel like there is no hope for their situation if they are stressed. Stress is not a death sentence, and is not a bad thing. However, stress needs to be kept in check and dealt with in moderation. It is my hope that this article would provide you with motivation to keep your stress in check. As always if this is an area you struggle with, please consult myself or another health care provider for help.

Stress is a normal and purposeful reaction in the body. That is right, it has a purpose. The analogy I give to patients is always facing a bear or a tiger. Stress helps to fuel our response – we can either fight the tiger, or run from it – hence, stress can be deemed a “fight or flight” response. With this analogy in mind, stress causes many physiological reactions in the body that fuel it to respond in one of these ways. The body perceives stress as stress regardless of whether your stress is a tiger or a pile of papers, screaming children, or the lack of control over your circumstances. What this means is the body reacts the same to stress whether it is big or small. With that in mind, the sum of several small stressful situations, with a negative appraisal, could be more detrimental than one larger stressful situation.

So the question remains, what does stress actually do in the body:

Respiratory System – breathe harder and faster

Problem: for those with asthma, respiratory issues, or lung disease, this can make breathing more difficult. As a result, panic attacks or asthma attacks can ensue.

Cardiovascular System – increased heart rate, blood pressure, and cholesterol.

Problem: for those with pre-existing heart problems, this reaction can pose a problem due to a worsening of symptoms. As a result, the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke are increased.

Endocrine System – increased stress hormone and blood sugar

Problem: with these effects, many do not realize that stress can lead to increased risk of such things as Type 2 Diabetes and obesity. This effect can also lead to decreased immune functioning, leading to frequent colds and flus.

Digestive System – increased sensations in the stomach and decreased absorption

Problem: these symptoms may not sound extreme, but it can cause many individuals distress. When one is already stress, having increased sensation in the stomach can often lead to discomfort, nausea, pain, and ultimately lead to more stress. In addition, the body is focused on other areas of the body and fueling them for fight or flight, as a result, blood flow is diverted away from the digestive tract, and thus nutrient deficiencies can result. This lack of absorption and blood flow can lead to such symptoms as constipation and/or diarrhea.

Male Reproductive System – decreased blood flow to these areas

Problem: decreased blood flow to the male reproductive system can cause many problems including erectile dysfunction, decreased sexual desire, decreased sperm production and decreased sperm maturation.

Female Reproductive System – decreased blood flow to these areas

Problem: decreased blood flow and increased cortisol can lead to a lack of menstruation, irregular cycles, painful periods, Premenstrual Tension Syndrome (fluid retention, breast tenderness, irritability, mood swings, anxiety, depression, etc.), increased hot flashes, and decreased sexual desire.

If you or a loved one is experiencing chronic stress and is struggling to cope, do not struggle in silence. Seek help from a health care provider such as myself. To learn more please contact me through the contact portion of my website or by calling the clinic at 519-537-7058.

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.

References:

http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/stress-body.aspx

The End to 2016, the Beginning to 2017: What is to come?

January 3, 2017 by elisha

A Year in Review

What a year 2016 has been. We have had a lot of ups and downs in world events, and a lot has changed from when 2016 started. I know that for myself, I have seen a lot of changes within my own practice. Ultimately, I have learned a lot from all of my patients and I want to express that heart felt gratitude. Thank you to everyone who has walked through the doors of my office, opened up about your struggles, and allowed me to be a part of your journey. I am also grateful for all of those who have continued to keep engaged by reading my blogs, attending trade shows/events, and posting/sharing via social media. I encourage you that if you have any feedback you would like to provide regarding my blogs, posts, or doctoring, to provide that to me so I can better serve you! You can simply contact me through the contact portion of my website or via email.

Things to Come in 2017

In the New Year, I will have the opportunity to order blood testing as a pay-for-service for patients. What this means is you will not have to necessarily go through your medical doctor to get certain blood tests ordered. In addition, I will be promoting more of my own brand of teas for purchase, while continuing to make custom blends and sell supplements for patients. I have also given some thought into providing in-home visits to help make my services more accessible for some. Finally, I am hoping that with the New Year will bring some more opportunities to finish and finalize a book I have been writing for patient education purposes! I will keep you all posted with updates on it!

As always, thank you for staying connected, and I look forward to working with 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.