Category: Blog

Free yourself from pain with these 5 tips!

5 tips on how to relieve pain naturally

No one likes pain. Yet many of us live with it daily, accepting there is nothing we can do. There are solutions that are quick, effective and have little to no side-effects.

Dr. Mason-Wood is a Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine at Natural Terrain Naturopathic Clinic and specializes in pain management.

The reason why Naturopathic Medicine is so effective at treating health issues is because they are your best and biggest health advocate. They work with patients to develop treatment plans that fit their health goals. As well, they pin-point the cause of health issues. You wouldn’t want to fix a fence by painting it, right? You would want to look at the foundation, the source of the problem and then address it accordingly.

1. Learn to deep breathe and meditate. 

Various studies have demonstrated that perception of pain can be significantly reduced by mindful meditation sessions that help calm the nervous system. 

Try this simple meditation:

  • Find a comfortable position with your back upright and hands resting where they feel relaxed. Put the tongue to the roof of your mouth.
  • Try to become as relaxed as possible. Feel the sensations of your body and relax areas of tightness. Breathe through your nose.
  • Begin to tune into your breath. Feel the natural flow of air, in and out. Try to feel where one breath begins and the other ends – steadily slowing down your breath when it feels right while bringing your breath down to your abdomen. It is important that you match the rhythm of your in breath to your out breath.
  • Try to focus on only your breath. When your mind wanders, try to continuously bring it back to your breath and the present moment.
  • Continue for at least 5 minutes. When you feel lost in your thoughts, come back to only your breath. Repeat this exercise daily for added health benefits.

2. Use positive affirmations.

These are affirmations that you can say to yourself to help relax. Acknowledge that you are afraid, but you are not actually in danger. For example “I’m okay, this is my fear of needles but I have the power to get over it!”

3. Try acupressure.

 An ancient Chinese healing method that involves applying pressure with the fingers or hands on certain points of the body. Acupressure can be used to reduce anxiety and stress prior to needle injections. 

Some pressure points to use on your own:

PC 6: Measure down with three fingers from your wrist. Where your third finger touches the middle of your wrist is the acupuncture point know as PC6. Take your thumb and apply firm pressure to this point until you feel mild discomfort. Only apply enough pressure to interrupt the normal blood flow but not too much that it causes pain. Hold this pressure point and gently knead your thumb in a tight circular motion for about 2 minutes. Do this to both wrists and you will feel a reduction in anxiety.

Ears: Gently massage your ears with your thumb and forefinger. There is no exact pressure point, simply give yourself a relaxing ear massage. Pull down gently on the lobes and rub the inner surface of the ear for about 2 minutes.

4. Reward yourself.

If you managed to successfully get an injection that you would have normally missed due to fear, reward yourself! You will begin to associate the needle with a positive reward, not with pain or fear.

5. Do your research.

Learn more about injection treatments and considering the benefits that you will achieve from this form of therapy as they definitely outweigh a small needle prick.

  • Injection therapies involve the injection of various substances (such as homeopathics, ozone, procaine and dextrose) into areas of pain. This promotes a localized response that activates the immune system and other body systems to repair and rebuild areas that are damaged. This is the most common treatment used in pain management at Natural Terrain and we see it completely change patients’ lives. There are numerous injection therapies that can be performed as part of a pain management program such as: prolotherapy, PRP therapy, prolozone therapy, biopuncture, neural therapy, and many others.
  • Prolotherapy is also known as “nonsurgical ligament reconstruction” and is a treatment for chronic musculoskeletal pain. The word “Prolo” is short for proliferation as Prolotherapy treatment enhances the growth and formation of new ligaments, tendons and cartilage in areas where there is weakness or excess scar tissue.
  • Prolozone therapy is a non-surgical reconstructive treatment for ligament and joint damage.
  • Biopuncture is a natural therapy that involves the injection of dilute botanical and homeopathic substances into areas of acute or chronic pain to stimulate the natural healing response of the body. The injections are done at very specific areas of pain and inflammation to promote a local immune response that stimulates the body’s innate ability to heal itself.
  • Neural therapy is a simple, safe injection therapy which balances the central nervous system (CNS); specifically the autonomic nervous system. The CNS controls the entire body and disturbances of it can affect all other bodily systems. These body systems include: breathing, heart rate, body temperature, circulation, digestion, lymphatic and every other bodily function.

Common conditions treated with injection therapies:

  • Neck pain
  • Back pain
  • Sciatica
  • Ankle pain
  • Shoulder pain
  • Tendinitis
  • Sprains & Strains
  • Joint pain
  • Nerve pain
  • Arthritis
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Female gynaecological complaints
  • Shingles
  • Migraines
  • Irritable bowel syndrome

Are you afraid of needles?

That fear may be the barrier against healing chronic pain. For most people, a little needle doesn’t seem so bad – but for 20% of the population needle fear is a big problem. Those who are afraid of needles can benefit by learning how to manage their emotional states toward injections and move past their fears in order to live pain-free!

Why are needles so frightening?

We are naturally selected to protect ourselves against danger associated with bodily harm. Our brains help us by responding to harmful situations through escape. We are programmed to do so because evolution has allowed anything that threatens our safety and health to increase activation in our amygdala; a region of the brain important in emotional reaction, decision-making, and memory.

If you felt fear or anxiety from a needle the last time you experienced it, it’s likely that you experienced a heightened-state of awareness and activation of memory formation in the amygdala.

This explains why you may have a strong association with needles and fear. Your fear is not irrational; it is simply human nature at its best! The question is can we find a way to override this evolutionary response? Absolutely, yes!

How can we override this fear response?

Before explaining how we can change our response to needle fear, it is important to give some background information on our response to pain and why we are in more control of it than we may have thought. The gate control theory of pain demonstrates how signals from pain receptors are controlled in two directions – one from the spinal cord/pain receptors toward the brain AND to our benefit, one from the brain down to the spinal cord. Through activating inhibitory fibers from the brain acting on pain neurons – emotional states and thoughts can really impact our perception of pain.

Often this is why those who are focused on an activity, like an intense basketball game, do not feel the pain of an ankle sprain until after the game. On the other hand, people who are anxious focus on the pain and find it difficult to cope. Our brain sends messages through descending fibers that can actually reduce or amplify the transmission of pain signals through the gate, depending on the thoughts and emotional state of the person.

By calming our emotions or focusing on something other than the injection, we dampen our sensation of pain and may not even feel anything at all!

Start your journey to relieve chronic pain naturally

Book with Dr. Mason-Wood today

Call the clinic

References:

http://www.spine-health.com/blog/mindful-meditation-vs-chronic-pain

http://www.spine-health.com/conditions/chronic-pain/gate-control-theory-chronic-pain-action

http://thebrain.mcgill.ca/flash/d/d_04/d_04_cr/d_04_cr_peu/d_04_cr_peu.html

http://www.mindful.org/a-five-minute-breathing-meditation/

http://www.finebalanceacupuncture.com/2011/04/acupressure-for-instant-anxiety-relief/

http://www.calmclinic.com/anxiety/stop-anxiety-quickly

Overcoming anxiety and nervousness in children

Anxiety & Nervousness in Children

Dr. McCarthy shares her insights into child anxiety and nervousness

Back-to-school time is a charged time of year for many kids and families. Children feel a sense of excitement about the potential of a new year: learning about their teacher, discovering which friends will be in their class, sharing their summer experiences with friends and using brand new school supplies.

For some children, this excitement can be coupled with feelings of nervousness and anxiety.  Starting at a new school, entering kindergarten or beginning full day grade one classes can cause some big feelings to emerge for small children. This transition is different for each child but sometimes, the feelings of anxiety last beyond the first days of school.  Anxiety child edmonton

This was the case for our youngest child.  The nervousness began at night before bed, emerged again as he was getting ready for school and escalated on the way to the building.  Tears streamed down his face during the good-byes.  Sensing his stress was emotional for us as parents also.  At one point, in the midst of a tearful goodbye, our son was told that six-year old behavior was expected from him now that he was in grade one.

This was a very curious statement to me.

For one thing, equating the emotion of sadness or anxiety with behavior didn’t make sense.  Secondly, I thought about all the adults I know who, at one time or another, suffer from anxious feelings. They are not told to act their adult age.  In fact, there is more acceptance for the complexities of mental health conditions than ever before for adults.  

Educators have our children’s best interest at heart. That has always been our experience. Teachers want children to learn and grow in a space where they are happy and at ease. However, to me, it is hard to imagine that my son (or any child) could be convinced to quickly detach from his favorite people at the beginning of each day by the motivation of acting properly. Mostly, my concern is that this subtle and unintentional shaming of emotion at an early age will cement into a child’s subconscious.

This could set individuals up for future feelings of insecurity when facing the inevitable tough emotions of teenage years and in adulthood.

Anxiety and nervousness are very common in children. It is very likely that your own child will experience these feelings to some degree at some point: separating from parents, starting a new school year, meeting new peers at school or activities, performance anxiety, fears of the dark or other things.  Some children have more sensitive nervous systems and are more prone to these feelings than others.

Alone anxiety child

Sometimes, the anxiety is hard to recognize; children don’t always communicate with tears and sadness when they are nervous. Some keep their feelings guarded inside themselves. Others act out with anger, aggressiveness, distractibility, obstinance and more.

Let’s acknowledge all strong feelings in children.  

Help normalize them, strive to accept them, encourage the tears to flow, help kids name the feeling and help them move through them.  This will serve them in years to come.

Is your child’s anxiety standing in their way?

See a Naturopath dedicated to children & family health.

Dr. Lorraine McCarthy uses her experience as a mother, mentor and strong passion for family health in her practice daily.

Contact us to book

There are many little things that can be done in situations of anxiety, such as:

  • Teach children abdominal breathing.
  • Have them memorize a little mantra.
  • Have your child carry something small of yours in their pocket while away from you.
  • Stick a picture of your family in his/her lunchbox.
  • Make sure your child knows when and where you’ll see them again.
  • Have a routine for each difficult good-bye so they know what to expect.
  • Spend quality one-on-one time with them after being apart.

It all helps.

The number one action we can do is to simply be with them, to love, to empathize, to be patient, to understand and to come alongside them and see the experience through their eyes.  They are just beginning on their path and are in the early stages of learning resilience, managing stress and moving into independence.

For more detailed information and tips for separation anxiety (and other child development topics), refer to the respected Canadian-based developmental psychologist, Gordon Neufeld.

http://neufeldinstitute.org/separation-anxiety-when-saying-good-bye-is-hard/

http://neufeldinstitute.org/playing-matchmaker/

In addition, naturopathic medicine can play a role.

Certain remedies can help calm the nervous system. As well, other remedies can provide some calm at heightened times of panic or anxiety.  Diet modifications can help contribute to a healthy mind.  There are many naturopathic treatment options to help with sleep, if that is an issue.

Ultimately, our goal should be to have children understand that it’s okay to feel anxiety. It is our duty to also have the right strategies and techniques to move through the emotions.  Only when a child is calm, can they then learn.

Dr. McCarthy is a passionate supporter of quality healthcare and often fights for those who may have been let down or feel “lost” in the current healthcare system.

Related resources:

  1. “The Essential Diet; Eating for Mental Health” (Available at on-line retailers (Chapters, Amazon) and at the Natural Terrain Naturopathic Clinic)
  2. https://naturalterrain.com/children-mental-health-edmonton/
  3. https://www.anxietybc.com/parenting/coping-back-school-anxiety

Boost Your Health with Our 3 Immune Support Recipes!

We all know what time of year it is!

Sniffling, sneezing, coughing, complaining and the general need to hibernate. Boost your immunity and kick your cold/flu to the curb!

We hope you enjoy our recipes for a healthy, happy family.

Garlic Soup Recipe to Boot-Kick Your Cold!

Serves 4

  • 26 garlic cloves (unpeeled)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) organic butter (grass-fed)
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne powder
  • 1/2 cup fresh ginger
  • 2 1/4 cups sliced onions
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme
  • 26 garlic cloves, peeled
  • 1/2 cup coconut milk
  • 3 1/2 cups organic vegetable broth
  • 4 lemon wedges

Preheat oven to 350F. Place 26 garlic cloves in small glass baking dish. Add 2 tablespoons olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt and toss to coat. Cover baking dish tightly with foil and bake until garlic is golden brown and tender, about 45 minutes. Cool. Squeeze garlic between fingertips to release cloves. Transfer cloves to a small bowl.

Melt butter in heavy large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onions, thyme, ginger and cayenne powder and cook until onions are translucent about 6 minutes. Then, roasted garlic and 26 raw garlic cloves and cook 3 minutes. Add vegetable broth; cover and simmer until garlic is very tender about 20 minutes. Working in batches, puree the soup in a blender until smooth. Return soup to saucepan; add coconut milk and bring to simmer. Season with sea salt and pepper for flavor.

Squeeze the juice of 1 lemon wedge into each bowl and serve.

Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Rewarm over medium heat, stirring occasionally.

Mango Smoothie to Optimize Your Health and Nutrition

Makes 2 servings (or one really large one!)

Mangoes, as well as greens, are rich in carotenes and vitamin C, both important immune-boosting vitamins. Coconut oil offers anti-microbial properties. Cayenne has a stimulating effect on the mucous membranes of the nose and sinuses, which makes it beneficial in combating the common cold or sinus infections.

Ingredients

  • 2 large handfuls of greens (spinach, kale, beet greens…)
  • ½ cup of ripe mango, cubed
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 2 tbsp ground flaxseed
  • 1-2 tsp chia seeds
  • 1 scoop protein powder (optional) or 2 tbsp hemp seeds
  • 1 tsp of cinnamon
  • 1 tsp coconut oil
  • Pinch of sea salt
  • Pinch of cayenne powder, optional
  • 1-1.5 cup fluid (almond or coconut milk, coconut water, water), to reach desired consistency
  • Sweetener, if desired

Directions
Using a high powered blender, blend all ingredients until smooth, scraping down the sides of the blender as needed.

Resources:
Murray, M. T., Pizzorno, J. E., & Pizzorno, L. (2005). The encyclopedia of healing foods. New York: Atria Books.

Schedule your immune boost shot today! Perfect for those who do not want the flu shot, or unable to receive it.

Boost your immunity with a 10-minute immune boost by Dr. Mason-Wood.

Schedule an appointment now!

Roasted Carrot Turmeric Soup to Supercharge Your Immune System

Adapted from http://www.picklesnhoney.com/2014/01/31/roasted-carrot-orange-turmeric-soup/

Garlic and onions have anti-microbial properties, making them good choices for supporting the immune system. Carrots and sweet potatoes are excellent sources of carotenes as well as they contain vitamin C, which aids the immune system. Ginger is anti-inflammatory and also an immune-boosting culinary ingredient great as an addition to soups.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound carrots
  • 2 small sweet potatoes
  • 1 medium yellow onion
  • 5 cloves garlic, peeled
  • 2-3 cm piece of fresh ginger, finely chopped
  • 1½ tablespoons coconut oil, melted
  • 2 teaspoons ground turmeric
  • Generous pinch fine sea salt & pepper
  • 5 cups vegetable stock
  • Roasted pumpkin seeds, optional topping

Instructions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and line a baking sheet with unbleached parchment paper.

Chop the carrots, sweet potatoes, and onion into 1-inch pieces and add them to a large mixing bowl, along with the whole cloves of garlic.

Add in the coconut oil, turmeric, ginger, and salt and pepper to taste. Toss to coat evenly.

Transfer the vegetables to the prepared baking sheet and bake for 30-35 minutes, until the carrots and sweet potatoes are golden and fork-tender.

During the last five minutes of roasting, warm the vegetable stock in a large pot over medium-low heat.

Once cooked, add the roasted vegetables to the stock, and stir to combine. Continue to heat for a couple more minutes.

Using an immersion blender, blend until smooth. Or using a regular blender, in two (or more) batches, place the soup mixture in a blender and blend until smooth, about 1 minute.
*Be mindful of allowing steam to escape to avoid a blender mishap.

Serve hot, topped with roasted pumpkin seeds.

Resources:
Murray, M. T., Pizzorno, J. E., & Pizzorno, L. (2005). The Encyclopedia of Healing Foods. New York: Atria Books.

Learn more about how to boost your immunity with Natural Terrain

8 Tips for a Healthier Holiday Season

Suggestions to maintain your health & stay balanced this holiday season

For those who celebrate the Holidays, you know it can be stressful trying to stay healthy during the holiday season.  We encounter general financial, family and dietary stress. The shortened daylight hours and colder temperatures leads to us sheltering indoors and eating more food (especially containing sugar and alcohol). As a result, we’re commonly left feeling fatigued and overwhelmed. We get less sleep, experience mood swings, and have a short fuse. For women it is not uncommon to also have menstrual cycle irregularities or worsened PMS symptoms.

Although it would be ideal to remove all of the holiday stress, this is often not possible. Instead, focus on improving your resiliency to stress while also being able to enjoy this special time of year.

Though most of these tips may seem obvious, we often neglect the simplest practices that go a long way in improving and maintaining wellness.

Here are my 8 tips to improve your stress resiliency this holiday season

  1. Get sufficient rest and sleep.

  • Prioritize your sleep and down time. We tend to sacrifice sleep in order to get in as much as we can during the day, but sleep is one of the best ways to improve our resiliency. Sleep is the time when our body is undergoing restoration.
  • Set a realistic bedtime for yourself and stick to it.  Aim to go to bed before midnight and avoid the use of any electronics with a screen for at least 1 hour before bed.

  1.  Avoid caffeine or energy drinks.

  • These may provide a boost in “energy”, but the effects are temporary. Lattes and energy drinks often contain high amounts of sugar, which again can provide a quick boost in energy, but often leave you with a lull in just a few short hours.
  • Instead, hydrate with sufficient amounts of water, grab a cup of herbal tea like peppermint or rooibos or try a stress-busting Maca Latte (recipe below).
    • To calculate how much water to drink daily, divide your weight in pounds by 2 (this is the number of ounces to drink daily). Divide this number by 8 to get the number of cups of water to drink daily.
      • For example, if you weigh 150 lbs, divide 150/2= 75 ounces. Divide 75/8 = approximately 9.5 cups of water daily.

  1. Self-care.

  • This can be as simple as doing 3 minutes of meditation daily, taking 5 deep belly breaths upon waking, coloring, going for a 15-minute walk on your lunch break, taking a bath or reading that new book you got months ago that’s sitting on your bedside table. The point is to do something that makes you feel good, ideally every day, but realistically as often as you can.
  • Remember that it doesn’t have to be grandiose or take hours. It just has to be something that you’re doing for yourself that nourishes you and makes you feel good.
  • Instead of getting gifts for your friends, plan self-care time together, like going for tea or for a massage or to the spa.

  1. Get outside.

  • Yes, it may be cold outside where you live, but getting outdoors in nature (especially during daylight hours when the sun is shining) is a reliable way to boost your physical and mental well-being.

  1. Daily practice

  • Do something in the morning that sets an intention for your day.
    • Say or write out 5 things that you’re grateful for
    • Take 5 deep breaths before getting out of bed in the morning
    • Do 3 minutes of meditation
  • These types of practices promote relaxation and calm in the body. They activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which is our rest, digest and relax branch of the nervous system.

  1. Eat protein and healthful fat with each meal and snack.

  • During the holidays, we’re often loading up on empty calories, like chocolates, alcohol, baked goods, etc., which contributes to imbalanced blood sugar.
  • Eating sufficient protein and healthful fat with each meal and snack helps to bring the body back to balance.
  • If you skip a meal or consume a lot of sugar, make sure your next meal or snack contains healthful fat and/or protein to help get you back into balance.
    • Examples include: nuts–almonds, walnuts, pecans, hazelnuts, Brazil nuts; seeds–pumpkin, sunflower, sesame, chia, hemp, ground flax; avocado; beans/legumes; animal-based proteins–eggs, poultry, game, fish, pork, beef

  1. Bring greens indoors.

  • This doesn’t mean buying a new houseplant. It’s about getting more greens in your diet to balance the higher intake of sugar and alcohol, often causing veggies to be neglected in our diets.
    • Add dark leafy greens like spinach, collard greens, kale, Swiss chard or beet greens to your daily or weekly diet.
    • Toss a handful of greens into your morning smoothie or into your soups or stews to amp up the health profile.

  1. Get rid of temptation.

  • You can just hear that box of chocolates sitting in the cupboard calling your name, tempting you to eat “just one”, or that carton of eggnog in your fridge. Do your best to avoid bringing these temptations home. Skip the eggnog this year and sprinkle some nutmeg, allspice and cinnamon onto your non-dairy or regular milk. Bring that box of chocolates to your office to share with your colleagues (so you don’t end up eating the entire box).
  • Bring a dessert or dish that is a healthier, yet still delicious, option to your upcoming holiday function. This can help in overindulging in other options.

The best way to improve your stress response and to maintain a healthier Holiday Season is to reconnect to the tools and practices that lead you to success.

Try a few of these tips this year or at other times of increased stress! Find what works for you and be consistent.

Find that your stress isn’t improving or you could use some additional support?

Come see a naturopathic doctor at Natural Terrain

We can provide further tools and strategies for reducing stress as well as individualized treatment to support your body’s stress resiliency.

Contact us

Maca Latte

Maca Latte

Maca is a root that grows high in the mountain in South America, mainly Peru. Maca is an adaptogen, meaning it helps the body adapt to stress. It also can improve energy levels, so it’s best to consume this drink in the earlier parts of the day, so it doesn’t interfere with sleep.

Serves 1

Ingredients

  • 1 cup non-dairy milk (almond, cashew, coconut)
  • 1 tsp maca root powder
  • 1 tsp raw cacao or cocoa powder
  • ¼ tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract, optional
  • Maple syrup, honey or stevia to sweeten, as needed

Instructions

  1. Warm the milk in a small saucepan (removing from the heat just before it starts bubbling; watch as this can happen quickly and will boil over).
  2. Transfer the milk to a blender along with the remaining ingredients. Cover the top of the blender with an old dish towel (as hot liquids will rise and can spill out, causing injury). Blend until smooth.
  3. Add sweetener, if needed.
  4. Finally, pour into a mug and enjoy.

Essentials for your Natural First Aid Travel Kit

Natural First-Aid Travel Kit Essentials

By Dr. Michael Mason-Wood

Recently, I was talking to a patient who is going travelling and I mentioned what I do to support my family before a holiday. I love to have fun when travelling and not be sick or sore when doing so.

Your First-Aid Travel Kit should include essential homeopathics.

Homeopathic remedies are small and easy to throw in any travel bag. You can also find them at many natural health stores. Here are four that are definitely essential:

  1. Arnica is for any trauma, a must have for any first aid kit – this can be a fall, hit, black eye, sprain, twist or strain.
  2. Hypericum is for any trauma to the nervous system, cuts, banging your thumb with a hammer etc.
  3. Ledum is for bruising or puncture wounds, more of a long-term remedy to prevent bruising after a trauma (think black eyes).
  4. Arsenicum is for travellers diarrhea and has helped us on many trips to Mexico or other countries where this is a problem.

A DIY Travel Kit should also include supplements.

As for supplements, our normal arsenal includes Probiotics, MSM, Enzymes, Magnesium, Iodine, Colloidal silver and Vitamin D.

  • Probiotics are good for traveller’s diarrhea, both for prevention and treatment.
  • MSM, Enzymes (such as Wobenzyme, taken away from food) and Magnesium are all for recovery and pain prevention following a busy day skiing or hiking.
  • Iodine, Colloidal silver and Vitamin D are all for helping to support the immune system  should we get any infections while travelling. I also use iodine and colloidal silver to help treat water in places where it may be a little sketchy for drinking. Usually we will boil it first then add some of the iodine or silver to kill off any bacteria. I prefer this over drinking from plastic water bottles that are toxic.

Finally, be proactive and boost your immunity before you travel!

Although it isn’t a part of the kit, you will have to worry much less if you boost your immunity before traveling.

Prior to travelling, my wife and I get an intravenous drip of Vitamin C, B complex, B5, B6, Adrenal support, Calcium, Magnesium and Zinc. These nutrients support the immune system and prevent us from getting sick on an airplane.

This covers us for most ailments while travelling. If something arises, we visit a local health food store or pharmacy for other first aid supplies. Always remember, if you have any serious health issues or a health emergency while traveling to visit your nearby hospital.

To learn more about how to prevent illness while travelling, please call 587-521-3595 to schedule an appointment. I will then be able to customize a treatment plan for you based on your travel destination, activity levels and health needs.

Dr. Michael Mason-Wood, ND

FAQs : Natural Immune Support for Cold & Flu Season

We compiled our top FAQs to give you more information about the Immune Support!

I am a patient of the clinic, but I have never gotten an Immune Support before. Am I considered a new patient?

No, you would be considered an existing patient, or a ‘follow-up’ patient. New patients are those who have never been to our clinic before – where we would have you fill out a new short-form intake.

Is the Immune Support a shot or IV drip?

The Immune Support is a intramuscular shot.

Which doctor should I book with to get my immune Support?

Dr. Michael Mason-Wood ND administers the immune support injections! Book an appointment with him! 

How often should someone get the Immune Support?

Two to three times during flu season is optimal- but a lot of patients only get it once with great results.

Is the an age restriction? Is it good for kids?

There is no age restriction to the shot. There are alternatives for babies and children who do not want to take the shot, such as a drinkable version. As well, for newborns the solution can be used topically on the belly-button rather than injected or ingested. 

What is in the Immune Support?

Lymphdiaral, Pascoleucyn and Gripp heel

Can you include a B-complex or B12 in the shot?

Yes we can! Send us a special request by email or phone a few days before hand and we will get your customized shot ready for you. The cost for additions is typically $10.00

Are there any side effects or adverse reactions to the immune support?

It is common to experience tenderness of the arm after an injection such as possible pain, redness, swelling or a hard lump at the injection site (if these do occur, they should pass within a couple of days). Hypersensitivity reactions could happen to components of the injection, so it is always best to reveal all sensitivities to the Doctor when you come in for your shot.

How to protect yourself from Junk Light

Have you heard of “junk light”? Well, if you’ve heard of junk food you’re not that far off. Studies are beginning to show that certain kinds of light are just as bad for us as junk food!

Mitochondria are the little powerhouses that give us cellular energy to do everything we do. Most of our understanding about mitochondria has come from nutrition, or learning to feed our cells so that they produce energy efficiently. But there is now a growing understanding that mitochondria are not responsive only to nutrition, but they’re also responsive to light.

We evolved with only natural light, meaning that we were were exposed to little bright white or blue lights at night. When we did see light, it was daylight, and it told our bodies and brains to wake up, stop repairing and regenerating, and to produce energy.

Unfortunately, we’ve got a lot of unnecessary and artificial light in our modern lives that is messing up our cellular pathways. We’re being exposed to an unnatural spectrum of light at unnatural times of the day. And it’s affecting not only our sleep schedules, but also our energy,  metabolism, repair mechanisms, and moods.

As Bulletproof Coffee creator Dave Asprey puts it, “exposing our body to junk light is the same as eating junk food”.

Here’s the most important things you need to know about junk light, and how to protect yourself:

  • Bright white light contains 5x more blue light (stimulating) than our bodies evolved with (ie sunlight) and is damaging to our system
  • The most damaging light exposure is LED lighting in the evening because this is when the body needs to prepare for sleep and regeneration.
  • Fluorescent and incandescent bulbs are also disruptive, especially if you’re using them in the evening or at night.
  • Screens have bright light that is associated with macular degeneration. This can be filtered to block out the stimulating blue light by using programs like f.lux on your computer and phone.
  • Wearing glasses like the TrueDark blue-filter twilight glasses in the evening can filter out 100% of the harmful junk light so you don’t disrupt your energy- and sleep-cycles.

Protect yourself from disruptive light with glasses, by covering up, eliminating screens at night, and switching LED lights out for incandescent or fluorescent bulb. I’ve got my TrueDark glasses and they’re already making a difference!

Cauliflower Mac & Cheese Recipe

Who needs KD when you have Cauliflower Mac & Cheese!

Dr Chris QuoteLike many growing up, I used to eat the boxed mac and cheese. I really enjoyed eating it on Saturdays for lunch while I watched cartoons. I even used to put ketchup on one half of my bowl.

Now that my food preferences have changed, move over KD, there’s a new mac and cheese in town. This version offers way more health benefits, since it’s mostly veggies. This recipe is also gluten free and vegan. There isn’t any pasta or artificial, neon-orange cheese sauce. You can healthify it even more by adding in broccoli, peas and/or chopped spinach (see the optional add-ins below).

-Dr. Haarsma

Adapted from http://www.everylastbite.com/2017/11/24/cauliflower-mac-cheese/

Cauliflower Mac & Cheese

Servings: 4

Ingredients

Sauce

  • 3 cups cubed butternut squash
  • 2 cloves garlic, peeled
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • ⅔ cup cashews, soaked for minimum 4 hours
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 ½ tsp dijon mustard
  • ½ tsp turmeric
  • 3 tbsp nutritional yeast
  • ½ tsp salt, or more to taste
  • ½ tsp pepper
  • 1 – 1⅓ cup unsweetened almond (or other non-dairy) milk

“Pasta”

  • 1 large head cauliflower (approximately 5 cups florets), cut into bite-sized florets
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • ¼ tsp salt

Optional add-ins

  • 1 medium sized broccoli, (approximately 2 cups), cut into bite-sized florets, steamed or roasted
  • 1 cup frozen peas, thawed
  • 1 cup fresh spinach, chopped finely
  • 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley

 

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350oF (175oC).
  2. Place the cubed butternut squash and garlic cloves on a baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil, and bake in the oven for 40-45 minutes until the butternut squash is tender.
  3. Place the garlic cloves, butternut squash, cashews, lemon juice, mustard, turmeric, nutritional yeast and 1 cup milk in a blender. Blend until completely smooth and creamy. You may need to add more milk to thin out, but the sauce should be thick.
  4. Lay the cauliflower florets out evenly on a baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Toss well to combine. Bake in the oven for 30 minutes or until tender.
  5. Place the cooked cauliflower in a large bowl. Add in the broccoli, thawed peas and chopped spinach, if adding, and pour the sauce over top. Gently toss to coat everything in the sauce and sprinkle with fresh parsley, if desired, before serving.

Notes

  • To spice it up, drizzle organic sriracha sauce on top.
  • For protein, add cooked diced chicken or chickpeas.

How do I treat my child’s fever at home?

Treat your child’s fever at home

How to use natural home remedies for treating fevers

It’s that time of year when colds and fevers are happening. They can sure be uncomfortable, but before you run to the Doctor, learn more about what causes a fever and how you can treat your child’s fever at home.

Did you know that many of the symptoms we feel when we’re sick is not because of the invading virus or bacteria? It’s our own immune system defending us! Fevers, for instance, are one of the strongest immune reactions your body has to defend itself.

Normal body temperature to support optimal function is ideally around 98.6 °F (37°C), plus or minus about 0.3°F (0.17°C). However, fevers occur when the body temp rises above this, 1-4 degrees above the normal body temp.

In both children and adults, fevers are most commonly a natural reaction to infection.

When an infectious “micro-organism” stimulates white blood cells, a substance is released that signals the body to increase its temperature. The body generates heat by increasing its metabolism or shivering. In addition, heat loss is minimized in the body by restricting blood flow to the skin, giving it a pale appearance. As the temperature rises, the skin flushes, and you may start to sweat. You may also lose your appetite and feel lethargic, achy and sleepy. In newborns, these other symptoms may occur before they generate a fever.

A basic fever can be thought of as the immune system working at its best as this is nature’s way of fighting an infection.

There are many purposes of a fever:

  • The temperature has specific functions:
    – 37°C (98.6°F) Normal body temperature
    – At 39.5°C (103.1°F) Bacteriostatic (Stops the microbes from growing)
    – At 40.5°C (104.9°F) Bacteriolytic (Kills microbes and is the best antibiotic)
    – At 42°C (107.6°F) Cellulolytic (Kills cells in the body)
  • Stimulate Thyroid: Helps to eliminate toxins, speeds up metabolism
  • Increase Circulation: Increased respiratory and heart rates will increase blood flow
  • Increase Liver Activity:
    a. Mechanically, the liver is stimulated with breathing faster, the motion of the diaphragm pushes on the liver, increasing the circulation within it and the increased heat leads to increased elimination
    b. There is an increase in the production of proteins so the body can make more molecules to support immunity
  • Helps Kills Microbes: A mild fever increases white blood cells (immune cells) that kill cells infected with viruses, bacteria, fungi, and cancer. It also improves the destruction of bacteria and impairs the replication of many bacteria and viruses.

The effective temperature range for a fever is 39°C to 40.5°C (102.2°F to 104.9°F).

As seen above, there are many benefits to fever. That is why it is best not to decrease or suppress the fever with acetaminophen (Tylenol or Tempra) or Ibuprofen (Advil).

If caring for a child with a fever, the key is to watch them and make sure they do not get dehydrated.

The fever is too high if your child flops like wilted flowers, their eyes are rolling or their mouth is sagging or dry. In extreme and rare cases, your child may have a febrile seizure. The seizure may look scary, but there has been no evidence that they cause permanent damage. Ensure that if any of the above severe situations occur, your child is looked at by your ND, MD or taken to the ER. If dehydration is severe, you may have to take your child to the ER in order to become re-hydrated.

Some strategies to help avoid complications and treat a fever at home:

  1. Ensure your child stays hydrated. They may not be hungry, but make sure they are drinking
    fluids – preferably water (remember – water is nature’s juice as Dr. Chris, ND loves to say!), bone or vegetable broth, other clear non-creamy broths, spring water and herbal teas (chamomile, ginger, peppermint, licorice root). Endurlyte is an electrolyte powder available at the clinic can be added to the water. For a breastfeeding child, ensure they are nursing as often as they can while mom drinks the teas and soups.
  2. If necessary, you can do the following to help decrease the temperature:
    a. sponge your child with warm water
    b. give them a tepid bath or
    c. place a cool/tepid cloth on their forehead and the back of their neck
  3. If the temperature is still rising uncomfortably high, then you can use Apple Cider Vinegar and swab it down the spine and the bottom of the child’s feet.
  4. If the Apple Cider Vinegar is not working, you can use a very cold, wet hand towel and wrap your child’s arm and opposite leg (ie right arm and left leg). Then bundle them up in a blanket and get them to drink or sip fluids or ice cubes. This allows the blood to cool down, but prevents a chill. Leave them for 3 to 5 minutes, and then dry them off, and wrap them in a blanket and monitor their temperature. You may have to repeat with the opposite limbs, and keep alternating this technique.
  5. To help your child clear the toxins, and enable the lymph system to be at its best, you can pump the lymph system and/or use a lymph cream. The pumping is very gentle motion with a pressure similar to a massage. Dr. Chris also recommends incorporating massage therapy and chiropractic care to your health care team, in addiction to working with a Naturopathic doctor.

Most fevers are natural and helpful and nothing to be afraid of.

Only when they are prolonged, extremely high, or accompanied by flopping or severe dehydration should there be a concern. The most helpful thing is to know when fevers are good and when to take action to bring it down, and to remember that most fevers are here to help your child fight off the invading microbes!

What to Expect from your Naturopathic Doctor

Not sure what to expect, or what you should expect? We’re here to guide you!

I believe that everyone has the power to become completely well within themselves, and should expect those results from their health care provider. There is, in our planet and within each one of us, a natural healing power. As we begin to come into harmony with its laws, this healing power will bring us steadily towards complete physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health. This is the basis of Naturopathic Doctor care.

It is your Naturopathic doctor’s responsibility to ensure you have the information and guidance that you need to move from where you are now towards better health. Naturopathic Doctors take this responsibility seriously and for good reason!

You don’t have to be sick to feel better. A Naturopathic program is insurance for the future. You can begin to feel better now and you can reduce the likelihood of suffering and illness later in life.

Naturopathic medicine involves you as a participant

Dr. Chris Bjorndal describes her patient process:

You will find that I listen very carefully to what you have to say. I want to be sure that I understand why you came to see me. After I have gathered sufficient information through questionnaires, physical examination and by listening, I will make suggestions based on my findings. Then we will discuss your situation and decide together a plan of action. I feel it is very important to set goals together so that you are comfortable both with my recommendations and with your part of the responsibility. We will set dates to reassess your condition and your progress.

-Dr. Bjorndal

If you are presently quite healthy, you may not notice any dramatic short-term gains. The goal, however, is to learn how to maintain your health as you grow older, for nobody can deny the incalculable difference between a future spent glowing in vital health and one spent suffering from degenerative disease. The sooner you begin to learn and apply the principles of Naturopathic health care, the greater your prospects for a healthier and happier future.

Naturopathic medicine is concerned with identifying and treating the underlying causes of disease and ill-health

Each person is complex and this process of discovery is necessarily a gradual one. Deep-rooted conditions take time to uncover, but if you find progress, then you will know that it is worthwhile to continue.

Naturopaths do place the highest priority on relieving your pain and discomfort as speedily as possible, but they know that the suppression of symptoms gives only temporary relief. Long-term gains are made only be addressing underlying causes.

Naturopathy is aimed at identifying and managing stress

Stressors may be structural, chemical, biological, mental or emotional in origin. Yet, no matter what the source, the stressor should be identified and acknowledged.

As your ability to manage stress effectively increases, your immune system will begin to function better. Your resistance to all types of ill-health and disease will improve and the complaints you presently have will being to get better.

Schedule your first Naturopathic visit today!

Contact Us

Naturopathic doctors treat acute conditions

An ND is trained in emergency medicine, but will always refer people to the appropriate emergency medical care as needed.

There are, however, many unpleasant acute conditions for which we can offer help to you and your family. The naturopath is a primary care physician. Many distressing conditions affecting children and adults can be quickly improved to help you avoid pain, loss of sleep, loss of work and anxiety. Naturopathic remedies are healthful – they work in harmony with your body and have few side-effects or after-effects. Don’t be embarassed to call, at any time, for advice.

If you or a family member feels ill, there is always an underlying cause. I want you to know as much as you can about these reasons or underlying causes. This knowledge will lead to better health by helping you prevent problems before they occur, or manage then sensibly through Naturopathic are, when they do.

Naturopathic health care is also for children

Naturopathic health care is for children as well as young people and adults. The sooner you act to safeguard and maintain the natural pristine health of a newborn baby, the fewer the problems later on. You can do no greater service for your children than to support their health and give them an informed healthy start to life.

Our contemporary environment generates stressors of many kinds which affect your children. Stressors such as our culture and belief systems, as well as our physical environment. The impressions created by commercial interests and the media as to what constitutes a good diet for your child can often lead to erroneous beliefs.

A deeper knowledge of nutrition can make a significant difference to your child’s present and future health.

Naturopathic health care is different

Some of the concepts which you will encounter in my office will be new to you, but I will always take the time to explain to you the reasons behind the things we will be doing together and may also recommend some reading material.

The most different, and for many the most challenging aspect of Naturopathy, is that my clients are encouraged to participate in their recovery and health promotion. Many conditions can be treated with minimal participation on your part. The results in terms of your ongoing freedom form illness and distress are achieved when you are actively involved.

The cost of Naturopathic health care is a concern for most people, but the truth is you cannot put a price on health. When you invest in your health, you broaden your horizons and open up opportunities for success in life. No expenditure is a better investment for a successful future.

Naturopathic health care is for those who want to take control of their lives and their health.

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