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Mind Body Medicine

8/31/2020

 
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If you've ever stopped to think about WHY you are experiencing a certain symptom or illness, the answer may be obvious, or it could be confusing.

So often, people wonder "why now?" or "why me?" or "where did this come from?"

Sometimes the conclusion is obvious, like an illness that occurs during a period of high stress.  I have seen many people who are affected by a bad flu right after losing a family member, for example.  More often, though, it's difficult to make the connections between your physical symptoms and the emotional or spiritual imbalances behind them.  If you begin to think of symptoms as your body's way of communicating an imbalance, then it becomes more clear.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), there is an appreciation for emotions impacting various organ systems (and I'll often treat emotions through acupuncture).
  • Lungs -> Grief
  • Liver -> Anger
  • Spleen -> Worry
  • Kidneys -> Fear
Many times when someone enters my office with recurrent lung issues, for example, I ask them about grief.  Sometimes it turns something up and other times not.  It can be quite surprising, and healing, for someone when I do uncover a piece of their story like that.

If you're not quite sure what I mean by physical manifestations of symptoms think about butterflies in your stomach from nervousness - see what I mean?

These correlations can provide helpful insights that help healing occur on many levels. 

A favourite resource of mine comes from the book, "You Can Heal Your Life" by Louise Hay.  In it, there is a helpful chart that draws relationships between physical ailments and emotions.  Interesting, right?  Here are some examples from the book:
  • Loss of balance -> scattered thinking
  • Seasickness -> fear, fear of death, loss of control
  • Tonsillitis -> repressed emotions, stifled creativity
  • Pink eye -> anger/frustration, not wanting to see
  • Heartburn -> fear
It's not always a perfect match, but it can help direct us toward a deeper level of healing.  The body, mind and emotions are all connected.

Right now, I'm finding that emotions are high and the vibe is heavy.  It seems to be extra important to "do all the things"in order to stay on track:  eat as well as you can, get outside, do things you love, be with people you love, sleep...

For me, as soon as one thing slips I can feel almost instantly off balance, while in the past it would take a lot longer to notice the effects of being off track.  I'm bringing it up because every year the fall brings a return to routine (click here for tips) and I want everyone to be aware of making their health a priority, now more than ever.  Please let me know if I can help, or I can point you to someone who can :)

Your in health,
Dr. Christa


P.S.  We are still doing a combination of in-house and virtual appointments (some people are loving the convenience of virtual medicine).


Steps you can take right now to get ready for routine

8/14/2020

 
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Every year I do a back to school or immune support email in order to help ease the transition into the fall routines.  Even though you might still be feeling uncertainty with what's in store for the fall (and basically everything else going on right now....) I always like to keep you feeling empowered with your health - you are in charge.

As time passes, we are seeing more reinforcement of some of our regular immune supportive and antiviral protocols, plus a few new additions specific to C-19.  While I cannot claim to prevent or treat it, we can always support your body in the best way for you or your child's unique needs.  A healthier, optimized system will serve you well in many ways.  There is some great research on: Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Melatonin, Glutathione (or NAC), Zinc, and Quercetin.  


Things you can do right now:
  1. Take time every day to de-stress
    - This looks different for everyone, and can change from day to day.  Listen to what your body needs whether it's rest, exercise, reading, singing, hugging, staying away from the news or electronics, decluttering, breathing.... 


  2. Resume a regular schedule - your body loves routine
    - Try to go to bed and wake up close to the same times every day, and eat around the times you expect to eat in September.  This is especially true for kids (and the rest of us) who might be used to sleeping in and snacking.
    - Go to bed 15 minutes sooner each night to slowly work back towards an earlier bedtime.


  3. Enjoy fresh and local produce
    - There's so much in season right now, and it's the best time to enjoy it.  Food that travels the shortest distance and is harvested close to being consumed has greater nutrient content and tastes amazing.


  4. Think about your priorities
    - As things get busier, what do you want to ensure you still have time for?  Put it in your schedule now.  Are you feeling called to do something or be involved in something you are passionate about?  Interestingly, a sense of purpose is a huge indicator for longevity and health.


  5. Book a Check-in
    - We can chat about the best protocol to support your unique needs with herbs and vitamins and acupuncture - and it's not just about immune function, even though that's important.  I'm also finding that stress responses are high and can benefit from nourishing as well.


  6. Test your Vitamin D
    - It will likely be at it's highest point for the year right now if you've been outside this summer.  We know that Vitamin D status is a huge predictor of health outcomes, especially risk of respiratory infections.


  7. Find a few recipes
    - Being prepared is the best way to stay on track.  If you can find a few great go-to quick dinner recipes, batch cooking lunches or things you can make now and put in the freezer you'll be ready to go for the fall.  Some examples are:  energy bites, chia seed pudding, soups (or just freeze leftover fresh veggies now for later), mason jar salads, egg muffins, and quinoa salad.


  8. Get a handle on your health concerns or susceptibilities
    - If your blood sugar is slightly high, liver enzymes are elevated, blood pressure is creeping up, digestion is off, or your symptoms are changing in any way, it's time to work on it now.  Each one of these signals is a message to bring you to action, and restore balance.

I'm still noticing the energy of our community to be pretty heavy.  Find breaks when you can and ask for help or support.  Many reports are saying that mental and emotional health concerns are rampant at the moment, with overdoses and suicide rates climbing dramatically. If you notice that someone (or yourself) is exhibiting loss of interest, changes in mood, sleep disruptions, moodiness, or any other symptoms, please don't ignore it.  Family Transition Place, Children's Mental Health Ontario, and Crisis Service Canada (with option for texting which makes it accessible for teens), are all good resources.


Please let me know if you need anything, and if you're not sure if I can help - just ask.

Take care,
Dr. Christa


P.S. Here are a few immune support posts from the Vault
  • Top 5 Remedies for Flu Prevention
  • 7 Ways to Keep Your Immune System Strong
  • Take Care of Yourself With These 3 Easy Steps
  • How to Support Stronger Immune Function

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    Dr. Christa Reed Kruger is a Naturopathic Doctor, health enthusiast, and loving mom with a passion for helping people to become well and stay well.

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