Community News
Ice or Heat?

One of the most frequently asked questions of physiotherapists is: ice or heat?
Ice is for injuries — calming down damaged superficial tissues that are red, hot, and swollen. The inflammatory process is a healthy, normal, natural one that, unfortunately, also happens to be incredibly painful. Be careful not to ice too long, as frostbite can occur.

Heat is for muscles, chronic pain, and stress — taking the edge off of symptoms like muscle aching and stiffness.
Generally speaking, ice is for fresh injuries, and heat is for stiff, aching muscles. But it’s best to seek advice from your physiotherapist as to which is best for your condition.

Access Consciousness

The target of Access Consciousness is to help get people to the point where they are conscious enough to create change within themselves, so that it is also possible to change everything that is not working for them in their everyday life. Once people begin to be more conscious, it will be easier to thrive in the face of the shifts that are occurring everywhere on the planet right now. There are courses available for helping you get real-life tools you can use and showing you how to get where you would like to be. Are you ready to invest in YOU? Robin Chant, Inspire You Studio, RobinChant.com

Clean Eating: Simple Vegan Eggnog

Ingredients: 1 15-ounce can coconut milk (400 ml), 1/2 cup raw cashews, 1/4 cup water, 3 tbsp maple syrup, 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg, 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon. Directions: Soak the cashews overnight or for at least 1 hour. Place all the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Serve the eggnog chilled, so keep it in the fridge for at least 1 or 2 hours. Enjoy the Holiday Season!

Book Club: Making Sense of Mindfulness

Do you practise mindfulness? Manitoba-born author Keith Macpherson (BEd) is a mindfulness life coach and motivational speaker who has been inspiring audiences for more than twenty years.nown for his popular “daily intentions” on social media and his regular column “Keith’s Corner” in several corporate wellness magazines, Keith inspires thousands of people daily with his messages of mindfulness. This book is available now at your local book store.

What is CBD?

Cannabidiol (CBD) is just one of over 85 naturally-occurring constituents identified in the hemp plant. Unlike THC, it won’t get you “high”, which makes it an appealing option. The most abundant non-psychoactive cannabinoid found in hemp, CBD is becoming increasingly popular due to highly publicized exposure in the media and the wide scope of its benefits on health and wellness. Clinical reports and mounds of test data showing little to no side effects and a lack of the psychoactivity typically associated with marijuana products and high THC levels have also contributed to CBD’s rise in popularity. CBD will not adversely affect sensory awareness, perception, consciousness, reaction time, or behavior.

Disability Tax Credit for Type 1 Diabetes

The Disability Tax Credit is a program designed to help those with disabilities or their caregivers reduce the amount of income tax they pay, offsetting some of the significant medical and treatment expenses. What diabetes-related activities are covered? According to CRA, the following activities qualify in the 14-hour-per-week calculation:

• Checking blood glucose levels
• Preparing and administering the insulin
• Calibrating necessary equipment
• Testing ketones
• Keeping a log book of blood glucose levels

With children, the 14-hour-per-week eligibility criteria can usually be met by combining the parent and child’s time.

T1D is an expensive disease and the disability tax credit can provide some financial relief for those who qualify.

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!

What Exactly is Pain?

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.

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.