Community News
Super Charged Oxygen Treats Chronic Pain

Oxygen is the lifeblood of the cellular system; without it there would be no you! Ozone is a supercharged form of oxygen that contains an extra atom; a typical oxygen molecule contains two (O2), while ozone contains three (O3). When treatment is applied, this extra atom breaks off after 20-30 minutes inside the body and does more than just oxygenate cells; these oxygen singlets are free to bind and destroy any viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites, molds, yeasts and any abnormal tissue cells it finds in the body. These abnormal cells absolutely hate ozone so disease simply doesn’t stand a chance! Once these abnormal cells are oxidized and eliminated from the body, they are replaced with healthy cells. Ozone therapy in conjunction with injection therapy is used to treat and eliminate chronic pain resulting from nerve injuries, degenerative joints and ligaments.

Dr. Sterling Desmond, Dr. TCM, R.Ac., EvolveWithDesera.com

What is Holistic Nutrition?

Holistic Nutrition is an integrated look at health that incorporates the whole person – body, mind and spirit. It explores how diet, supplements, lifestyle choices, the health of our minds and spirituality all contribute to, or prevent, many diseases and poor health conditions. Holistic nutrition takes a look at all of these components and strives to find a balance amongst them, using evidence-based science and taking into consideration the health of the individual, society and the health of the planet. Natural nutrients have properties that are best described by these words: “live, natural, good quality”. These simple words can serve as a guide to everyone wishing to improve their health.

Dona Bradley, R.H.N., Manager/CSNN Vancouver Island, csnn.ca/vancouverisland

Planning is Key when Traveling with Mobility Issues

Mobility issues make traveling more challenging but that does not mean you should stop traveling. It may be time to sit down and reassess your travel preferences. Focus on what you want to do and what you can do, then build your trip from there. The key to any successful journey is planning and it is even more important when you have mobility issues. Be sure to start your planning early since many hotels and cruise lines have a limited number of accessible rooms/cabins. A travel agent can help find tours that are suitable for your needs along with fully accessible hotel accommodations and wonderful accessible travel experiences. When you rely on the experience of experts who understand the needs of travelers with mobility issues, you can travel on your terms, at your own pace and have an incredible experience.

Lynne Alexander, CWT Oceanside Travel, www.Oceanside.Travel

Signs of a Great Memory Care Residence

Moving to and living in a new place can be very unsettling for anyone. It is even more so for people with memory loss. Here are some signs of a great residence. The living space should be well designed to feel homey and inviting. The decoration, lighting and outdoor landscaping should be thoughtfully curated to be welcoming and consistent to reduce decision fatigue. People need to be treated as unique individuals with particular needs and tastes. Look for a care plan that provides amenities and activities specifically designed to enhance the well-being of people living with memory loss. Activities should be tailored to individual need and cognitive ability. Residents should be encouraged to enhance their rooms with familiar furnishings to remind them they are home, they are unique, and they are still the person they’ve always been.

Lianne Ketcheson, Nanaimo Memory and Complex Care, NanaimoMemoryCare.com

Let’s Go Ride a Bike!

Do you enjoy riding your bicycle but find that the hills are now a little steeper than you remember? Maybe you have given up riding all together because of knee pain or exercise induced asthma. Would you like to recapture the fun of being a kid on a bike again – able to go anywhere? Electric bikes remove many of the roadblocks and challenges that people face with traditional pedal-powered bikes. It is just like a regular bicycle – only better. You can pedal normally (or not), and get assistance up to that steep hill. Take a fun ride down to the beach or up into the mountains in comfort and watch the hills disappear behind you. Electric bicycles offer the same great benefits as traditional bicycles, including cost efficiency, health benefits and connection to a community.

Ruby Berry, Pedego Electric Bikes
PedegoQualicumBeach.ca

Whole Foods and Phytonutrients

Plants produce phytocompounds which are substances that help them thrive and protect themselves from their environment. Many of these compounds are also beneficial in the human diet, where they are referred to as phytonutrients and can make an important contribution to optimized health. When using whole food concentrates from around the world, the diversity of phytonutrients is as unique as the environments from which they originate. Whole foods deliver a plethora of nutrients including phytonutrients, enzymes, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and healthy fatty acids – things we need and cannot get from diet alone. Using whole food concentrates enables the beneficial effects of the molecular structure of these phytonutrients to remain intact. Data indicates that Functional Foods may be a novel and comprehensive dietary approach for the management of a number of degenerative diseases. Functional Foods are recognised for their health benefits. Typically sacred plants of the original peoples from around the world are Functional Foods.

Dorothy Spencer, Independent Consultant, Zurvita, Facebook.com/ZealBTheChange

Bowenwork® – The Original Bowen Technique

A Bowen treatment consists of gentle rolling moves with pauses between moves, giving the body time to benefit from each set and process the information. Bowenwork® balances and stimulates; the restorative process begins once the body is no longer in a state of ‘fight or flight’. By releasing muscle tissue tensions patterns, clients often describe a deep state of relaxation, a feeling of peace and calm, as well as a more positive frame of mind less affected by stress, and they make better decisions. The Bowen technique is appropriate for anyone dealing with pain and injuries, from a newborn to an elderly person. It can help athletes and pregnant women, as well as people with disabilities or chronic conditions. This innovative form of bodywork was first developed in Australia by the late Tom Bowen. His work was verified in 1975 by the Victorian Government, revealing that he saw some 13,000 patients every year!

Andrée Boisvert, Bowenwork® Practitioner, ABHolisticHealth.com

Joy of the Mountains

Did you know that sweet marjoram (Origanum marjoram) is also referred to as Joy of the Mountains? The genus name Origanum comes from the Greek words oros and ganos. Together they translate as joy (or adornment) of the mountains. Ancient Romans associated the herb with love, and among ancient Greeks, it was used as a crown of adornment for a bride and groom. Sweet marjoram essential oil has a uniquely spicy, woody, and camphoraceous scent. Due to its pleasantly calming and warming character, it is typically beneficial for anxiety, mood, stress, sleep, and hyperactivity issues. It may also help alleviate muscle tension, bruising, and fatigue. Use one drop of sweet marjoram essential oil in recipes that call for dried marjoram. Apply to arms and legs before and after exercising. Apply to a fussy child’s feet prior to a nap. Blends well with lavender and rosemary essential oils.

Nelson Meggitt
OptimumWellnessFactor.ca

Ask the Expert

Q: I got something in my eye while gardening this spring, but my eye doctor says there’s nothing in it. She said to keep using drops and it will get better. Please help.

A: I don’t know the details of your case, but it’s a common complaint. If you don’t have anything foreign in your eye, then it’s probably irritated from a slow-healing abrasion or simply from inadequate lubrication. Keep up with the drops and your doctor’s instructions. Warm compresses on your eyelids would also help. You might need to be patient. Wearing eye protection while gardening is also important.

Dr. Alex Kennedy
MosaicVisionCare.com

Defining Clean Eating

Clean eating means enjoying whole foods in their most natural state, those that are un- or minimally processed, refined, and handled. Be mindful of the food’s pathway between its origin and your plate. Buying products that have traveled thousands of km from locations with questionable standards is not sustainable for the planet or your health. Modern food production is sophisticated and eating whole foods is challenging. Most processed foods contain additives to make processing easier, alter taste, and prolong shelf life; these can include corn, salt, sugar, wheat, soy, rice, MSG, and chemicals that defy pronunciation. Eating locally grown fruits and vegetables and non-processed meats and grains allows the body to shed the build-up of ingested toxins. Read the labels. Generally, if there are more than 3 ingredients in a product, avoid it.

Stephen Dalley, B.Ed., MA
Comox Valley HCG Holistic Weight Loss, ComoxValleyHCG.com

Life-Changing Weight Loss

Losing weight takes a great mindset and determination. It’s a not a diet, but a lifestyle change. Marianne shares her weight loss transformation through Ideal Protein Protocol.

“When I started my journey, I never thought I would be able to lose 20 lbs, let alone 70 lbs. I started with sticking to the plan 100%. It wasn’t easy at first to be around a lot of food temptations, but I just kept reminding myself that what I was doing was working and it wasn’t worth it to slide back into eating unhealthy food. The plan is very simple, everything is laid out for you to follow, and they have fantastic food you can eat. The ladies at Success Weight Loss are so helpful with recipes to try. My coach Janet helped me so much and was so encouraging. I am truly thankful for all their support.”
– Marianne M. Courtenay.

Alma Naranjo
SuccessWeightLoss.ca