In the early hours this morning we had a full moon lunar eclipse. If you remember my skunk journey from awhile ago, you know that whenever something out of the ordinary happens I like to look up its potential meaning, just for fun. Sometimes there doesn't seem to be any relationship, and other times the significance to my life completely resonates. If you've ever had an odd dream and looked up its meaning you totally know what I'm talking about.
Well, the meaning of this full moon eclipse apparently has to do with illuminating, letting go and releasing things that no longer serve us, transforming and shifting old patterns and routines, and stepping into a new, authentic, healed, empowered, and aligned version of yourself. Sounds pretty cool and definitely needed!
This reminds me of how lately I've been noticing it's time to have those tough conversations. A few years of just surviving has left our bodies, minds and hearts feeling drained. We are seeing this show up physically as sleep issues, exhaustion, frequent colds, heartburn, fatty liver (which is a terrible term), menstrual changes, palpitations, food & alcohol cravings and jumpy nerves.
I am even noticing these changes in bloodwork with lower white blood cells, higher blood sugar, lower vitamin D, higher inflammation, and wonkier cortisol curves than I've ever seen before. If you haven't had recent bloodwork I would definitely suggest it.
Gratitude
I have been appreciating the extended sunshine this year so that I can have more walks than I might normally be able to in late October and November. This week we also have Remembrance Day coming up, Here's a past article on how gratitude impacts health.
Winter is Coming
If you haven't been to a pharmacy lately you might not have noticed, but many of the cold & flu product shelves are completely bare. While there could be a few reasons for this, we know that the last thing you want to do when you or a family member aren't feeling well is to travel to 7 stores looking for products or have to wait a few days for a shipment to arrive. November is tricky for health because the schedules get jammed, the weather gets cooler and damper, our food intake changes, and we spend more time indoors.
This is a great time to prevent and prepare:
- Optimize levels of vitamin D and C in your body
- Continue to prioritize good food, movement, getting outside and sleep
- Regular acupuncture to balance the nervous system
- Keep some remedies at home:
- bone broth
- ginger & garlic
- honey
- antiviral herbs
- cough supports
- zinc losenges
- throat coat tea
- essential oils like eucalyptus
... Book with me to discuss your best personal options in an appointment
A Note on RSV
RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) is a very common infection that typically results in cold-like symptoms that last 5-14 days, with cases usually peaking in December and January. It's been in the news lately because of higher than usual October cases and what appears to be immune changes or less experience, in our youngest kids especially. In the past, almost all kids would have had RSV by the time they turn two years old. Symptoms of runny nose, cough, sneezing, reduced appetite and fever are most common and often managed at home; but if wheezing or breathing changes or lethargy occur then the illness may have progressed to bronchiolitis or pneumonia, and other treatments and care are urgently needed.
Once again, I continue to advocate for taking care of yourself in a way that when you encounter a stressful time, a pathogen, or a toxin - because we know this will happen at some point - you will be in the best position possible to handle it. There are no guarantees but there are odds, and putting yourself in position to be more resilient is in your ultimate best interest.
Warmly but sternly,
Dr. Christa
P.S. If you're ready for change or to revamp your plan, I'd love to see you, but just a heads up that the schedule does get busier as people want to use up their benefits, so it's best to book ahead :)
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