Community News
3 Ways to Naturally Boost Your Immune System

It’s officially cold and flu season. Here are five simple things you can do to improve your body’s natural immunity: 1. Drink a TON of Water: Ensuring you are hydrated is an important part of keeping your immune system strong. Try to drink at least 1.5 to 2 litres of water each day to keep your body in tiptop shape and ready to fight cold and flu bugs. 2. Get a Good Night’s Sleep: The body regenerates and repairs itself while you sleep. Getting a proper night’s rest – between six and eight hours – is important for keeping your body’s natural defenses at optimum efficiency. 3. Take a Hot/Cold Shower: The next time you take a shower try alternating hot and cold water. Research shows the body’s immune system is stimulated when it tries to warm itself up in between the extreme temperature changes. White blood cell production is increased and endorphins are released that help you relax and relieve pain.

Brett Scott, www.disabilitytaxcredit.webs.com

Canadian Mental Health Association launches manifesto for better mental health in BC

Canadian Mental Health Association launches manifesto for better mental health in BC

It’s time to change the way we think about mental health and addictions care in BC

 

The Canadian Mental Health Association in BC today unveiled a five point manifesto that lays out a set of concrete and practical actions to improve the lives of people living with mental health and addictions problems.

The manifesto is a call to action for all British Columbians to get behind the idea that mental health and physical health should be valued equally. It outlines a series of recommendations on how we can create better mental health and addictions care in BC.

We would never knowingly wait until Stage 4 to intervene for cancer; we educate, screen, and take action in the early stages. CMHA BC firmly believes that we need to do the same for mental illnesses and addictions. b4stage4 is about preventing mental illness and addiction, and for those who are experiencing symptoms, intervening in the early years before people reach a crisis point.

When it comes to better mental health and addictions care, there is plenty of evidence for what works. The manifesto calls for BC to adopt community-based programs that have proven successful in treating the early symptoms of low mood, anxiety, and stress. They are cost-effective supports to our overburdened system in BC. But more needs to be done to ensure people get the help they need at any stage or age.

“There is a moral and economic imperative to act b4stage4. Our goal here is to engage individuals and organizations across BC in our manifesto for change,” says Bev Gutray, CEO of CMHA BC. “This is a real opportunity for us all to move toward prevention and early intervention in mental health and addictions, and away from the overuse of emergency services and the justice system.”

“We know that the demand for our health care system is outpacing supply. In fact, demand for mental health and addiction services is expected to more than triple by 2036.[1]” continues Gutray. “Too many British Columbians diagnosed with mental illness, such as depression, are not able to access the help they need.“

CMHA is calling on the public to take part in this conversation and support the b4stage4 campaign. British Columbians are encouraged to register their support at www.b4stage4.ca. There, they can sign the manifesto.

To launch b4stage4, CMHA BC will also be hosting a b4stage Conference in Victoria on November 28-30 to further explore ways in which the system can be improved. The b4stage4 Conference will bring together speakers that are both experts in their field and have lived experience of mental health issues. The Right Honourable Norman Lamb, Member of Parliament, United Kingdom, will be the keynote speaker. As a British Liberal Democrat politician, the Right Honourable Lamb played a leading role in driving mental health care to the top of the political agenda in the UK. He steered the 2014 Care Act through Parliament and introduced maximum wait time standards for mental health.

For more information on the conference and to sign up for updates go to www.b4stage4.ca.

Natural Remedy for Thick Hair

Did you know that regular use of castor oil might stimulate and increase hair growth, reduce and prevent breakage, and condition and moisturize the hair and scalp? Castor oil is a humectant, meaning it attracts and retains moisture to the skin and hair. The antibacterial and anti-fungicidal properties of ricinoleic acid in castor oil protects the scalp against hair loss, while making hair stronger, smoother, and less frizzy. To use, dilute the castor oil with another oil (think argan, coconut, or sweet almond). Castor oil is very thick, which can make it hard to apply. Warm the oils and start with damp, but not wet hair. Massage your head with your fingertips using small, circular motions. Use your fingers to comb your hair; this helps distribute the oil. For best results, treat yourself to castor oil twice a week.

The Not-So-Great Outdoors

Many cat owners feel a bit guilty about keeping their cats inside and worry they are depriving them of their natural instincts. If this is you, take comfort in knowing that since cats have been domesticated, it is not essential that they experience the great outdoors to have a healthy life. After all, their wonderful owners provide their food, water, and sleeping quarters! They no longer have to hunt for their supper nor a warm place to curl up for the night. If you allow your cat to experience the outdoors without restrictions, it can be very easy for it to pick up a disease, be exposed to poisonous substances, or get injured by a predator or a vehicle. Playing regularly with your cat and providing it with entertaining toys can easily satisfy your cat’s stalking instinct, keep it stimulated, and provide the exercise it needs to stay purr-fectly healthy and happy!

happypaws.ca

Avoid Financial Stress This Christmas

The upcoming holiday season may promote excessive spending.

The best way to cope with a materialistic time of year is not to

fall prey to pressure from the retail world. At the end of the day,

as long as there is Christmas, there will be gift-giving. How

much money should you plan to set aside for this season? Many

financial planners recommend spending no more than 1.5% of

your annual income on holiday spending. For example, if your

annual household income is $50,000 you should spend $750 or

less on holiday gifts, travel, and entertainment. After you set

a budget, aim to pay cash for your purchases, buy local, find

sales, and avoid applying for department store credit cards that

can put you further into debt. Remember what’s most important.

The holidays are a time for making memories and spending

time with family. Give yourself a break and remember the

true meaning of the holidays!

 

Colleen Craig, CPA CA, CIRP,cecraig.com

Who Are You Really?

We all have a private story about who we are. Shame researcher Brene Brown talks about not feeling good enough. She finds she gets caught in moments where she reacts badly because she feels bad about herself – is this familiar? Self-esteem is our story about self. Some lucky people don’t doubt themselves. But others tend to think things like “am I okay?”, or “what is wrong with me?”. We really aren’t sure we’re okay, sometimes. When our self-esteem story is low, we have self-doubt, maybe we blame ourselves, and maybe we aren’t confident in our relationships or at work. You may want to learn to handle bullies, or just to assert yourself. Or maybe you want to be okay with your body image. Counselling can be a safe place to share these feelings, find new ways to appreciate yourself, and rediscover your confidence.

Mary Munro, www.marymunro.ca

Migraines: The Search for New Treatments

A migraine headache can make even the simplest of tasks difficult to accomplish. There’s never a good time to have one. Migraines seem to be unique for almost each person who experiences them, making this a difficult condition to treat and diagnose properly. As a result, many medical doctors will merely prescribe something to help with the pain and recommend keeping a journal to identify and avoid potential triggers. One new treatment being offered involves surgically implanting a nerve stimulator in the head. This device sends out electrical impulses that are supposed to stop pain signals. While some have reported fewer migraines after the procedure, the 8,000 people who have initially received this treatment are now walking around with an implanted device and still suffer from occasional migraines. Would you rather seek out a natural and non-invasive solution?

Dr. Matthew Kittleson, uclife.ca

How is Music Therapy Helpful?

In [email protected], Melinda Beck cites research indicating that the medial prefrontal cortex may serve as a hub where music, memory, and emotions meet. In her article called, A Key for Unlocking Memories, she mentions decades of studies which have demonstrated that music can help premature infants gain weight, autistic children communicate, stroke patients regain speech and mobility, surgical patients control chronic pain. In the same article, Dr. Tomaino, executive director of the Institute for Music and Neurologic Function says “…listening to music goes beyond the entertainment value by helping to stimulate seemingly lost memories and even help restore some lost function… By engaging very basic mechanisms of emotions and listening, music is stimulating dormant areas of the brain that haven’t been accessible due to degenerative disease.” In the hands of a qualified music therapist, music is the tool used to stimulate improved function in many areas and work with clients towards assessed goals.

Nejama Ferstman, www.shirimysong.ca

Eat The Real Deal

If you can’t pronounce it, don’t consume it. A great reminder when doing your shopping for the week. Thankfully, with the big push on companies to properly label their products, this is becoming easier than ever. Unfortunately trying to avoid those long, unpronounceable ingredient names – generally chemical additives created to preserve food – can highly impact our usual shopping habits. Regular go-to pantry items are suddenly off the list. So what are some ways to be more contentious but still get to enjoy our favourite dishes? Cook at home more often, using whole recipes. Experiment. Make your own sauces and fresh dips. Buy organic, preservative free ingredients. Shop more frequently, purchasing smaller amounts and fresh. Source local producers – farmers, butchers, bakers, grocers – who can answer your questions about their products and ingredients. Expose yourself to the local food culture of your region, you may be surprised at the diversity you find.

Cakebread Artisan Bakery, www.cakebread.ca

What is Soma Yoga?

Soma Yoga is a combination of somatic movements & yoga relaxation techniques. These movements and techniques are designed to bring mind body awareness resulting in decreased stress response and pain, increased movement, and enjoyment of life. These gentle, mindful movements are tools you can learn to practice daily to enhance the quality of your life. How you feel physically, determines how you feel mentally and vice versa. It’s a never-ending circle of influence! Throughout our lives, our body/mind responds to stressors and traumatic experiences by producing reflex muscle contractions. When these muscular reflexes are triggered repeatedly, habitual and involuntary muscle contractions develop. Eventually, Sensory Motor Amnesia develops, a memory loss of how certain muscle groups feel and how to control or relax them. The result is stiffness and pain, decreased movement, and postural changes. The gentle movements of Soma Yoga bring back voluntary control of muscles resulting in overall improved health.

Katie White RMT, courtenaymassagetherapy.com

Common Thread in Relationships

When challenges override the fun in relationships, the question arises, “Is this really worth the struggle?” When you add in doubts, insecurities, and past hurts, one may question the relationship even more. In addition to regular day-to-day stressors, we wonder whether we have what it takes to live with another person or to love another being. Finding our way through the intricacies of an intimate relationship is hard work. When I sit with couples, I ask what drew them together in the first place. Answers include: “He made me laugh,” “She brought out the best in me,” or “I felt safe and at home.” The common thread in people’s answers is a feeling of connection. The simple truth is we love to love because love makes us feel our own warmth and innocence.   Love highlights our kindness, gratitude, trust, and openness. Love connects us with the things we value most; our rich, full presence with ourselves.

Caroline Bradfield, Registered Clinical Counsellor, www.comoxvalleycounselling.ca