Community News
Managing Medications

Seniors represent 12% of the Canadian population and account for 28 – 40% of all prescriptions. By 2036, the population of seniors will reach a staggering 9.8 million. It is estimated that approximately 50% of Canadians are not taking their prescriptions as prescribed. The barriers to adherence are varied – education, side effects, forgetfulness or limited access to transportation. One major barrier is the cost of medication. Whatever the cause, non-compliance can often result in a patient having to visit the emergency room or even a hospital stay. The estimated annual cost of medication non-adherence to the Canadian health care system is between $7 and $9 billion. Care At Home Pharmacy helps people manage their medications by providing a personalized service based on the concept of the visiting pharmacist. As well, a budget is set up for clients to help manage the costs. Call us for your in-home consultation.

Care At Home Pharmacy
www.careathomepharmacy.ca

Dragons’ Den Success

About a month ago, we received an email from one of the producers of CBC’s hit show Dragons’ Den. They were doing a new spin off show called NexGenDen focusing on hot Canadian startups. They had somehow heard of us and wanted us to come on the show! It was an amazing experience. We were in a group of 18 other startups pitching our proposal to the Dragons. Before going on, they told us there would only be a 50% chance that we would make it to air. One by one people came in and out of the den. Some crying, some obviously trying to maintain their excitement.  When it was your turn, you only got one take. We were asking for $100,000 for 2% of our company ($5 million valuation). Search PopRx on YouTube to see how we did!

Dr. Ali Esmail, PopRx
www.poprx.ca

Ditch the Detox Diet

Cleansing is often promoted to improve health by ‘cleansing’ the bowel and removing toxins from the body. It has been claimed that it can boost energy and immunity, promote healthy intestinal bacteria, and start weight loss. The truth is, there is no scientific evidence to show that cleansing maintains or improves bowel health, prevents colon cancer, or achieves lasting weight loss. Your intestine, lungs, liver and kidneys already effectively remove waste from your body every day. These diets can be harmful and cause unpleasant side effects such as cramping, nausea, vomiting, headaches, lack of energy; or more serious side effects, such as dehydration, low/high blood pressure, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, and many more. Instead look for effective and trusted ways to improve your health, boost your energy, and maybe lose some pounds along the way by seeking professional help from a physiotherapist.

Nicole Marier, Action Physio
www.actionphysio.net

Holiday Stress Busters

The holidays are rapidly approaching, and a good many of us should be afraid – very afraid!  A time where we should be spending quality time with friends and family turns into a physical and emotional apocalypse.  Lets say we start with Thanksgiving and end at New Years 2016 – that’s a little more than 2 months where we let tradition lay a whopping on our health.  We just finished rolling off the couch following Thanksgiving then the excessive candy at Halloween (yeah right its just for the kids!) , Costco has Christmas decorations out already, so the office (and friends) parties are soon to follow.  With those parties comes a bit more of the sauce (not the type you put on the turkey) and more treats that almost guarantees you cant fit into the clothes you get under the tree!  Give yourself the gift of health this season – Eat Well, Think Well, Be Well.

Dr. Dave, Academy Chiropractic
www.academyhealthsite.com

Reiki for Animals

Animals are far more emotionally and psychically sensitive than we can ever imagine. All animal lovers will agree that they enrich our lives with kindness, love and support beyond that of any human. Reiki is a gentle laying-on of the hands healing system. Reiki has been medically proven to reduce stress, lower blood pressure, lessen physical and emotional trauma and effectively treat chronic conditions such as physical pain or addiction. It effectively aids in the healing of fearful, sad, and overactive newly homed animals. Reiki is loved by animals because it is non-invasive, soothing and loving energy that they may be missing or depleted of in their day to day lives. Reiki is an excellent complement to Western Medicine. It has been medically and experientially proven to reduce the pain of post-traumatic surgery wounds, chemotherapy, sprained or broken bones.

Jill Saifer
www.soulsticespirithealing.wordpress.com

Natural Product Review 

MyoNatural offers a revolutionary pain cream that guarantees pain relief or your money back. Now you can live an active, pain free lifestyle without the worry of product side effects. MyoNatural was developed by health care professionals for sports injuries, workout enhancement, joint pain, sore muscles, arthritis, back pain relief and more. It is recommended by doctors, health care professionals and world class athletes, including Tom Brady. MyoNatural is the world’s only toxin-free, all-natural anti-inflammatory cream that actually heals damaged tissue and cells for not only immediate pain relief but long-lasting recovery. Using a patented delivery system, MyoNatural pain cream delivers natural anti-inflammatory compounds directly to damaged tissue where they reinforce and strengthen cells. These cells are now better able to resist rupturing which leads to pain and inflammation. Because our pain cream only uses all-natural, non-toxic ingredients there are absolutely no side effects. Only fast and long-lasting pain relief.

A1 Nutrition
www.a1nutritiongrant.ca 

MRI’s and Low Back Pain

Your back pain may not be due to reasons explained by an MRI, which may well point you towards unnecessary surgical procedures. Current studies show most individuals will have MRI findings of disc degeneration, height loss, or bulging disc. More than 50% of asymptomatic individuals 30-39 years of age and 90% of individuals 60 years of age or older have signs of disc degeneration, height loss, or bulging discs. What does this mean for you? It is possible your MRI findings are the reason for your pain but a lot of the time it isn’t. Low back pain isn’t always because of these “abnormalities” and will not effect the treatment you are receiving at physiotherapy. Physiotherapists are trained to help you with your low back pain using manual therapy and providing you with an exercise program to manage your low back pain. So before you consider surgery, try physiotherapy first.

Lindsay Stevenson
www.prairietrailphysio.ca

The Power of Grief

Working with people’s grief at a time of deep loss and hurt in their lives is an incredible honour. Grief gets held and stored in our bodies and can be all consuming and overwhelming. People are often reluctant and scared to fully feel their pain in fear that they will never get out of it. When grief becomes stuck in our bodies it can play havoc with our energy levels, sleep, anxiety and our physical and emotional wellbeing. When not worked through it can lead to depression and disease. I recommend and support people to grieve deeply for 20-30 minutes daily when they are going through a rough time or loss in their lives to release the heaviness inside and lighten their load. It’s like a deep rain shower that cleanses that which is no longer needed. Body psychotherapy is helpful when you are not ready to do it alone.

D’Arcy Bruning-Haid
www.souls-journey.com

Floss, Brush, Smile

Dental hygiene is often overlooked as an essential component of one’s complete health plan.  Research indicates that there is a strong link between periodontal disease – disease of the gums and supporting bone – and overall health. Gum disease has been linked to serious illnesses such as heart disease, lung disease and diabetes.  Regular dental hygiene care can help control periodontal disease and play a key role in decreasing both the rate of incidence and severity in the above systemic diseases.  Floss Dental Hygiene Services was opened in 2009 to provide care from the downtown Comox clinic and to residents in the Comox Valley’s long term care facilities.  Floss offers a relaxing environment, featuring a soothing waterfall, aromatherapy, warm pillows and blankets.  Each visit ends with a warm towel.  No referral is necessary to become a client at Floss. Remember that dental hygiene care is an essential component of a healthy body.

Heather Mayhew, RDH
www.flossdentalhygiene.ca

Lighten Up November

Do you find November one of those months that’s just plain hard to handle? Shorter days, grayer skies, and seemingly unending rain can make for early winter blues. We all know that rain is a vital part of our beautiful West Coast ecosystem but often we don’t respond well to all the dampness, dwindling light and somber skies. We can lack motivation, be tired and irritable, and feel down. Bio-Energy Healing is a remarkable natural remedy for this as well as providing a big boost to our immune system at the cold and flu time of year. Eating well, getting enough sleep and making time for things you enjoy are all good practices to hold. Bio-Energy Healing can jump start your energetic systems and get you feeling lighter, brighter, more energetic, resilient and optimistic. Lively up yourself! Get lighter and freer in body, mind and spirit!

Shari Dunnet
www.lightbodyhealingworks.com