Community News
Positive Impact of Compassion

Compassion can have a positive impact on your life, from improving your relationships to boosting your overall happiness. Some of the positive effects are:
• Giving feels good: One reasons feelings of compassion can be effective is both giving and receiving compassion can improve your psychological well-being. As a recipient you get the support you need. But giving support to others can be just as rewarding.
• Compassionate people live longer: Activities such as volunteering can improve your longevity. Studies have found that people who volunteer out of concern for others tend to live liver than people who do not volunteer.

About SRWC

SRWC is a unique community-based recovery-oriented agency that offers a holistic approach to recovery from addiction and substance abuse problems, encompassing physical, mental, spiritual and sexual health. We have short wait times for intakes and entering co-ed and gender specific programs for men, women and moms in recovery, morning, afternoon, and early evening, providing individual and group counselling, and family support. SRWC is committed to a flexible schedule in order to meet your recovery needs. SRWC supports health enhancing activities such as, exercise, mindfulness, nutrition, and gardening.

The Mood & Mind Club

It’s time to do mental healthcare differently and The Mood & Mind Club is where we start! Let’s empower ourselves to take back control of our health and throw away the band-aid approaches that don’t offer the lasting results we need. In this private membership we’re creating a community of women that are supporting their mental health in a more natural, holistic way. They don’t want to be on meds, they see the power in nutrition, mindset work, self discovery and self responsibility. Want to know more? Visit https://www.shinetruewellnessco.com/moodandmindclub

Identify The Vitamins Your Body Needs

Vitamin deficiency may be a result of unhealthy lifestyle choices. Let us explore the symptoms associated with each deficiency. Difficulty in walking, numbness in hands, legs, feet. – You may need Vitamin B. Eat eggs, liver, bright vegetables like pumpkins, carrots etc. Dry skin and slowly healing wounds – You may need Vitamin C. Eat more fruits, green vegetables. Fatigue, tiredness, depression, weak bones – You need Vitamin D. Expose more to the Sun and drink milk. Each body has different needs. Visit an expert for personalized recommendations that supports your medical history.

End the Self-Sabotage

Did you know your unconscious mind could be keeping you from having what you truly want in your life, and could even be sabotaging your best efforts? Most of us don’t realize that we make commitments to ourselves other than the ones we’re consciously aware of. These unconscious commitments fuel your thoughts and behaviours, and create your reality. They are what creates the gap between what you say you want and what you are actually experiencing. For example, when you were young, you experienced a difficult situation and didn’t know how to process it. You made a decision (consciously or unconsciously) to make it mean something about you or the world around you. This formed a belief as a coping mechanism and your mind believed it was necessary for survival. Maybe it’s “I’ll stay quiet so I won’t seem stupid” or “Good girls do what they’re told”. Even though these beliefs and decisions are old, they have stuck with you, been reinforced over time and prevent you from having the things you truly desire. Ready to expose and erase those unconscious commitments and choose new ones? This is the powerful work we do in the Shine True programs.

Lesley Steppler RHN, BSW, RSW | Shine True Wellness

www.shinetruewellnessco.com

Acupuncture for Allergies

Acupuncture has gained recognition as a natural remedy for various medical issues, including allergies. The practice targets specific meridians associated with immunity, such as the lungs, colon, stomach, and spleen, to help restore defensive qi and reduce swelling, watery eyes, runny nose, and other allergy symptoms. Acupuncture may also impact the activities of cells and inhibit an overactive immune system, leading to decreased inflammation in conditions like hay fever. Some individuals seek acupuncture as an alternative to conventional allergy treatments, while others combine it with medications for enhanced effectiveness. Acupuncture may be used alone or in combination with other treatments, but it’s important to see a licensed acupuncturist for safe and effective care.

June is Migraine Awareness Month

Migraines impact one billion people across the globe and is recognized as the #2 cause of disability worldwide. While a migraine is a headache, a headache isn’t always a migraine. Headaches cause pain in the neck, sinuses, face, and head. Migraines, however, cause debilitating pain, visual disturbances, or both. They can last for hours or days and are often chronic. Without relief, migraines can cause other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, muscle weakness and can also lead to depression. Some of the most common triggers include stress, bright lights, sleep changes, alcohol, foods such as aged cheeses, and changes in exercise habits. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice on prevention and treatment.

WHAT IS NEUROPATHIC MEDICINE

Naturopathic medicine is a distinct primary health care system that merges modern scientific knowledge with natural and traditional forms of medicine. It is based on the philosophy that stimulating the healing potential of the body, and treating the underlying cause, the body can return to a state of balance and health. Symptoms are viewed as warning signs of imbalance or improper function that need to be corrected. By addressing root cause(s) of disease many patients with chronic illness have found tremendous benefit. Although naturopathic medicine is a distinct health care system, treatments run in conjunction or support of your current medical plan.
WHAT NEUROPATHIC MEDICINE CAN DO FOR YOU
Naturopathic medicine addresses many health concerns — pediatric – geriatric, from acute symptoms – chronic illness, and from physical – psychological concerns. They are able to treat a wide variety of patients with a variety of therapeutic tools. In addition to diet and lifestyle changes, botanical medicine, clinical nutrition, hydrotherapy, homeopathy, naturopathic manipulation and traditional Chinese medicine/acupuncture. Naturopathic doctors also have access to a variety of special tests to help identify any underlying issues, and create a plan specifically for you. Naturopathic doctors are able to treat you as an individual not a condition with a single course of action.
DIGESTIVE HEALTH
The digestive tract and the microbiome influence every aspect of our health. These effects can promote health or promote disease depending on the health of the microbiome. Naturopathic medicine has long valued the importance of digestive health and the microbiome, and have a variety of tools to repair a damaged digestive tract and improve the health of the microbiome. Diet and targeted supplementation, healing herbs, pre and probiotics are among the more common interventions. The food that we eat is more than enjoyment and calories. It is information and fuel for our microbiome and is the source material for every cell in our bodies.
EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL ON THE DIGESTIVE TRACT
Nearly every system in the body can be impacted because of the damage done to the digestive tract and the liver. In large amounts, alcohol can devastate the gastrointestinal tract (GI) and liver which results in direct damage to the digestive tract and other organs. Alcohol can cause inflammation through a variety of mechanisms. Chronic alcohol intake leads to intestinal inflammation by: altering intestinal microbiota composition and function, increasing the permeability of the intestinal lining, and affecting the intestinal immune balance.
Changes to the digestive tract create a vicious loop of inflammation and tissue destruction eventually leading chronic inflammation and tissue destruction. This can lead to a wide variety of systemic conditions like: malnutrition, liver disease, altered immune function, altered sugar metabolism, neuroinflammation and psychiatric disorders. In fact the three leading causes of death attributed to alcoholism are liver disease, cardiovascular disease and cancer.
HOW NEUROPATHIC MEDICINE CAN HELP
Naturopathic medicine is an excellent fit because Naturopathic medicine takes a whole-person approach to addiction management and recovery with treatment plans varying depending on the specific needs of the patient. Naturopathic interventions include but are not limited to counselling, lab testing, herbal medicine, orthomolecular interventions (vitamins, minerals and amino acids) and acupuncture. Choosing a treatment regime for any patient is influenced by the patient history, the amount of time used, type of drugs used and the impact the addiction has had on the body
Editorial – Dr Andrew Byrk, ND.

Over 65? Assess Your Risk

Bone mineral density (BMD) testing is crucial in assessing the risk of developing osteoporosis or fractures. Women and men over 65 and those with risk factors for fracture should get a BMD test. Combining BMD tests with clinical risk factors can determine fracture risk and inform treatment decisions. Protect your ability to live your best life with Echolight™, the new ultrasound bone density measurement scanner that takes 15 minutes to do. First time in Manitoba. You have the option of either having the scan in our office or in the comfort of your home since we have a portable one. Echolight™ is radiation-free, safe, accurate as well as Health Canada and FDA approved.

Physical Activity for Depression & Anxiety

Physical activity should be considered as a first-line treatment for depression and anxiety, according to a scientific review that analysed more than 95 scientific reviews involving 128,000 participants. The study found that physical activity was more effective than counselling or medication in some cases, and provided positive impacts across all studies. Shorter exercise interventions of 12 weeks or less were found to be the most effective in reducing mental health symptoms. The research highlights the need for exercise to be prioritised as a mainstay approach for managing depression and anxiety, particularly as it can make a positive change to mental health quickly. Study found in The British Journal of Sports Medicine – https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/early/2023/03/02/bjsports-2022-106195

WHY HORSES

Horses are a flight animal meaning that they are hyper-aware and observant of their environment. A horse can sense a person’s emotions and is highly attuned to things such as stress or anxiety. Horses are capable of sensing a person’s feelings instantly and giving feedback such as moving toward or away from the client (Emerge Equine, 2023). A horse can move off of the intention and energy alone creating a symbiotic relationship. Additionally, horses are large and powerful animals that have the ability to support and encourage participants as they overcome fear, gain confidence and self-esteem in this healing process.