The International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) has defined pain as “an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with ACTUAL or POTENTIAL tissue damage”.
Pain is personal, difficult for an outsider to understand fully, but it is not unusual—all of us have some understanding of pain. Each individual learns through experiences related to injury early in life.
Acute pain is usually adaptive and can alert us to something that is harmful.
Persistent pain is not adaptive. This may not indicate tissue damage, but it also triggers those psychological responses that have been learned at an early age and with past painful events.
Community News
Letting Go of Stress
Did you know stress is energy-based and one cannot see stress in the body under a microscope? We can only see the effects of stress and what it does to the body and mind. Never relaxing fully, never truly breathing deeply – your body is unable to go into parasympathetic mode, which means there is no healing and no digesting. What are you doing daily to allow your body to de-stress? Bars sessions are like cleaning out the hard drive of your brain to be more in the now and to think clearer. Are you ready to let go of stress now?
Boost Immunity with Echinacea
Many of Echinacea’s chemical constituents are powerful immune system stimulants that can provide significant therapeutic value. How does Echinacea help with colds? The University of Connecticut performed a meta-analysis study that determined that Echinacea cuts the chances of catching a common cold by 58%. It also reduces the duration of the common cold by almost one-and-a-half days. Craig Coleman, Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice and lead author of the study, added that, “The take home message from our study is that Echinacea does indeed have powerful cold prevention and cold treatment benefits.” It can be used as one of several effective natural cold remedies.
Essential Oils for Winter Wellness
Cold and flu season is here! Many naturally occurring essential oils from plants and spices, such as clove, cinnamon, and tea tree, can ward off unwanted germs. Citrus oils that contain limonene, like lemon or orange, are great for supporting the immune system. Some oils like oregano and thyme have natural anti-viral properties that are important when faced with viral infections. Essential oils can also speed recovery and help relieve symptoms. For example, peppermint provides a cooling sensation for fevers. Eucalyptus is helpful for chest congestion, and oils of myrtle and pine will help clear a stuffy nose.
Product Review: Pure Green Energy
Kickstart your day with a super clean, raw and nutritionally dense organic drink that increases alertness and stamina. Coconut MCT, Maca super-food, Matcha green tea and many other key juiced powders, together with zero calorie Monk fruit, and even human strain probiotics round out this fantastic Kickstarter! A health-packed alternative to coffee & conventional energy-boosting drinks, PURE GREEN ENERGY gives vigor without potentially harmful effects of excess stimulants. It is also a perfect pre-and-post-workout supplement to replenish essential nutrients, improve cardio performance, and revive your workday energy drain.
Need Help Getting Physically Active?
Individuals who are physically active have a lower risk of obtaining health conditions including cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity. Physical activity has been shown to improve mental health by having a positive impact on depression, anxiety, and stress. Kinesiologists are heavily involved in facilitating and improving physical activity levels of individuals of varying goals and capabilities. Kinesiologists are experts in the field of human movement, exercise prescription, fitness training and conditioning. A Kinesiologist uses evidence-based research to develop exercise programs for individuals looking to increase their physical activity levels. Many fitness and wellness centers in the city employ Kinesiologists as personal trainers who can guide and provide you with the tools to become healthier and more physically active.
When to Seek an Energy Healer
Energy healing is a holistic practice that activates the body’s subtle energy systems to remove blocks. By breaking through these energetic blocks, the body’s inherent ability to heal itself is stimulated.
Any time is a good time to visit an energy healer. If you are stressed, anxious, or physically drained, an energy healing session can help you relax and feel more balanced.
Energy healing is totally accessible. There are many different types of energy healers, and you can find them practically everywhere.
All you need to begin your energy healing journey is curiosity and a willingness to learn. Who knows, you may get hooked!
Clean Eating Recipe: Winter Fruit Salad
Fruit salads aren’t just for warmer weather. Enjoy this delicious raw winter salad, chock-full of health benefits! Ingredients: 1 Tbsp. lemon juice, 3 apples cut into 1-inch cubes, 1/8 tsp. cinnamon, 1 cup red grapes (seedless), 1 tsp. maple syrup, 1/2 cup pomegranate seeds, 1/2 cup almond yogurt, 1/2 cup raw shredded pumpkin. Directions: Combine all ingredients and refrigerate for 15 minutes to set. Serve and enjoy!
Book Club
Hack Your Anxiety: How to Make Anxiety Work for You in Life, Love, and All That You Do. What if anxiety is not a monster to be tamed, but a resource to be tapped? In this revolutionary book, Dr. Alicia Clark recognizes anxiety as the unsung hero in the path to success and happiness. It can become the motivating force that will lead to a better you, and The Anxiety Advantage aims to restore anxiety to its rightful place as a positive resource. Reclaim your anxiety as a powerful energy source, ad bring yourself peace, growth and success.
Back-to-School Back Care
With the return of school comes the return of daily backpack wearing. Backpacks are designed with two shoulder straps to distribute weight evenly. Wearing only one strap at a time with the weight of textbooks and laptops can cause shoulder muscle strains and muscle imbalances. Long-term muscle imbalances can leave people, especially young, growing adults, susceptible to long-term injuries such as tendonitis. These injuries can be painful and bothersome to recover from. The best way to avoid these backpack-related issues is to use the backpack as intended. Your shoulders may thank you for it.
Keeping Cold & Flu Bugs at Bay
At this time of year, I’m sure you know it’s important to get rest, eat healthy, and exercise so your immune system can function at its highest potential. However, life gets busy and the next thing we know, we’re under the weather with a cold or flu bug. For moments like these a little help to fight those bugs can provide your body much needed welcome relief. Consider a high-quality cold-pressed oregano oil and black seed oil. Look for a combination with vitamins A & D added to give your immune system the best tools to beat the bugs and jumpstart your immune system!
