Gastrointestinal Health Archives - Plattsville Natural Health Clinic

What is Hydrotherapy?

May 23, 2017 by elisha

What is Hydrotherapy?

Water can be a very powerful tool for healing that is often underestimated. As Naturopathic Doctors, we use water therapy, called hydrotherapy, which involves applying different methods of water to the body to promote healing. This might involve alternating hot and cold water applications to an area, or even using a sauna to nourish our bodies. Hydrotherapy has an added benefit of being inexpensive, because most of the time it is just a matter of applying water to an area. Though it is just water, some of the treatments may not be good for certain patient populations based on its effect and pre-existing medical conditions. Therefore, it is best to consult with your Naturopathic Doctor before trying any hydrotherapy treatments on your own.

What does it cause in the body?

Overall, various hydrotherapy treatments can be used to cause the following effects in the body:

Reduce pain
Increase circulation
Promote detoxification
Promote healing of organs/tissues
Stimulate brain function
Relieve fatigue
Boost Immune system functioning
Promote digestion
Increase metabolism
Relieve congestion
Relieve coughs
Promotes relaxation

What are the different conditions it can help with?

Hydrotherapy can be used to help many different conditions including:

Digestive concerns such as constipation, diarrhea, indigestion, fatty liver, colic, tenesmus, etc.
Menstrual concerns such as irregular cycles, premenstrual tension, cramping (dysmenorrhea), etc.
Musculoskeletal concerns such as joint pain, muscle pain, muscle tears, ligament instability, etc.
Respiratory concerns such as the effects of allergies, congestion, coughs, frequent colds and flues, compromised immune systems etc.
Many other concerns such as weight loss goals, fatigue, detoxification and improving overall health.

For more information on hydrotherapy or the services I provide, consider calling the clinic at 519-537-7058, or message me via the contact portion of this website.

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!

Health Benefits of Chamomile

November 8, 2016 by elisha

Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) is a very commonly consumed herb in today’s society, typically in tea form. What many people do not realize is this tea can be consumed for more than just socialization aspects, but also for its medicinal effects.

Medicinal Effects:

Anti-oxidant
Anti-microbial
Anti-inflammatory
Anti-diarrheal
Anti-carcinogen
Hepatoprotective
Anti-diabetic
Anxiolytic
Anti-spasmodic
Anti-emetic
Sedative
Carminative

Conditions Aided by this Tea

Anxiety
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Depression
Constipation
Diarrhea
Dyspepsia
Indigestion
Insomnia

Research

Much research has been done in the area of chamomile for mental health. In particular, chamomile has been shown to be effective for generalized anxiety disorder – in particular when it is in mild or moderate states. In research, not only has chamomile tea been shown to aid with anxiety but also with anxiety combined with depression! Depression scores were rated far lower when individuals took chamomile when compared to placebo.

In addition to the research into its effects on mental health, much research has been sought into for the effects of chamomile on digestion. Chamomile has been shown to improve the duration of diarrhea (i.e. less time having diarrhea by 5 hours!), and was shown to improve colic. The anti-inflammatory nature of chamomile has also been shown to be beneficial in ulcers of the digestive tract and inflammation in the gut overall.

Finally, much research extends into chamomile being used topically (as a lotion, essential oil, or balm) for such conditions as osteoarthritis, mucositis induced by chemotherapy, and ulcers. It has been shown to be useful in decreasing inflammation in the area and improving wound healing.

Conclusions

Overall, one can argue that chamomile is more than just another tea, but rather has some potent health effects. I would encourage you to consult your health care provider to verify if regular chamomile consumption is 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.

References:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3600408/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5074766/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3600416/

http://longwoodherbal.org/chamomile/chamomile.pdf

How does Acupuncture Work?

November 1, 2016 by elisha

When I recommend acupuncture, one of the most common questions I get is “how does acupuncture work or how will it help?”. Acupuncture has been used for thousands of years to aid with so many different health concerns. Over the course of that time, many studies have been conducted to determine how this therapy causes effect, and what it can be used for. The following presents a list of both actions that can take place in the body and the potential conditions or symptoms it can help to alleviate.

How Does Acupuncture Work?

Acupuncture works via many different pathways which cause:

Release of endorphins – resulting in decreased pain
Relaxation of muscle
Stimulation of neuronal activity and brain tissue
Secretion of hormones and neurotransmitters
Promotes blood flow
Stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system which causes reduced stress

What Can Acupuncture Help with?

Acupuncture can help with many surprising conditions/symptoms including:

Pain – joint and muscle
Arthritis – including rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, psoriatic arthritis and gout
Muscle tension
Sports injuries
Stress
Fertility
Depression
Anxiety
Headaches/ Migraines
Insomnia
Menstrual irregularities
Coughs and colds
Asthma
Sinusitis
Weight loss
Fatigue
TMJ syndrome
Tinnitus
Smoking cessation
Heartburn
Digestive disturbances such as constipation and diarrhea
Concerns during pregnancy
To ease discomfort and aid during delivery

How Does Dr. Elisha Cook ND Use Acupuncture?

My approach to acupuncture is based more on Chinese medicine than on Western medicine. What I mean by this is that I do not simply put a needle where it hurts, but rather look at the body as a whole and attempt to support the whole system. As I often tell my patients, you are not your disease and you need to be treated as such. This implies that you are a unique individual with unique presentations results in you needing certain points over others. So for example, two individuals come to me looking for acupuncture for fertility. I will not use the exact same points on these two individuals and the points chosen will not be only around the stomach/uterus area. I also do not use solely acupuncture on a patient. In my opinion, it is best to use the acupuncture while allowing diet, lifestyle, botanicals, and supplements to boost deficient areas. However, all of this is determined at the patient’s comfort level and I work with you where you are at (for example if you only want acupuncture, then we only do acupuncture).

If you are interested in trying acupuncture, feel free to contact the clinic by calling 519-537-7058 and book your appointment today!

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Naturopathic Tips for Travel

January 12, 2016 by elisha

Travelling abroad can take its toll on the body, and provide many opportunities for exposure to diverse bacteria and environments. As a result, it may be beneficial to prepare your body for the potential shock and harm that it could come into contact with. Some of these areas are important to focus on when planning for a trip. In addition, as always not everything recommended below is beneficial for everyone, so please contact your naturopathic doctor or health care provider to determine a plan that is best for you.

Prime Your Digestive System

With travelling to different countries, many are exposed to a variety of different foods and as I mentioned bacteria. If your digestive system is not prepared, this can leave you experiencing such symptoms as diarrhea or constipation. These symptoms could even be compounded by even worse scenarios including parasitic infections or bacterial infections. In order to prevent these symptoms and prepare for exposure to different items, several steps can be taken to boost your digestive immune system. Probiotics taken for about one month leading up to a trip can help with prevention of traveller’s diarrhea. In addition, such hydrotherapy techniques such as castor oil packs can help prime the digestive system by helping to produce more white blood cells to prevent infection.

Boost Your Immune System

By boosting your immune system prior to a trip, one can potentially prevent infections as well as fight infections more efficiently. Some ways that one can boost their immune system prior to a trip include taking a multi-vitamin, vitamin C, juicing, or even fasting prior to the trip. In addition, the probiotic that was mentioned above may also help to boost one’s immune system.

Ground Yourself

When flying, it can cause a negative impact on our body leaving us feeling a bit unbalanced. By grounding oneself following a flight, it may help individuals to better adjust and adapt to being back on the ground. There are many different ways that one can ground themselves, some of which may be easier to do than others. Grounding techniques can include laying on the ground as soon as possible for about 20 minutes, meditation, or washing your hands in running water. The last technique may seem unusual, but there is research suggesting that because water is connected to the earth, it can be a great way to ground yourself.

Reset Your Internal Clock

Travelling between time zones can take its toll and cause jet lag. For some, the adjustment can take as long as the trip itself, by which point you may have to endure the jetlag again. Ways to combat this include grounding techniques mentioned above, as well as melatonin. Melatonin is a natural component found in the body that regulates our sleep and wake cycles. In other words, melatonin can aid with sleep and thus help with the adjustment to new sleep times.

Preparing at Work and Home Before

Stress can result from the work that piles up at home and work while one is away. By making lists for when you get back, it can help regain focus on what needs to be accomplished after arriving home from a trip. Technology has also made it easier to prepare in such ways as automatic billing. This may cause more distress for some, and so it is important to prepare in a way that will most benefit you and decrease your stress burden.

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