Mother’s Day comes only once a year, so show your mom (or the mother of your children) how grateful you are that she is in your life. Chocolates, flowers and brunch are conventional ways to celebrate the day.  This year – why not try something different? What mother would not love to receive something EXTRA SPECIAL – luxurious skincare products that hydrate, nourish and pamper her skin?  Look for natural, handcrafted skin products made with the purest organic essential oils, without harmful chemicals or allergens. That SPECIAL WOMAN in your life deserves them.

Feisty Ferdy Organic Skin Care, FeistyFerdy.ca

Hearing loss can set in gradually over many years.  Some sounds get quieter, while soft and high-pitched sounds like consonants can be harder to hear.  When someone talks, you don’t hear each word clearly and thus, they seem to ‘mumble’. It may also sound like people are talking too fast because the ears didn’t pick up every sound causing the brain to take longer to put the pieces together. Having a hearing aid tuned to your specific hearing loss will allow you to hear those soft sounds that you would otherwise miss, reducing the cognitive load and frustrations.

NexGen Hearing, NexGenHearing.com

Here are some tips for spring wellness: • Drink lemon or apple cider vinegar water first thing in morning. • Cut out processed sugar and junk food and limit gluten, dairy, and meat consumption. • Include fermented, probiotic-rich foods in your diet. • Drink at least 10 glasses of water and herbal teas such as dandelion, nettle ginger, turmeric, tulsi, and green every day. • Consider taking an occasional dose of aloe vera and/or milk thistle. • Eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetable and maybe add in a daily greens powder like moringa or chlorella.

Tina Foster, RHN, Essential Remedies, EssentialRemedies.ca

Are you looking for a drug free solution for pain relief? Would you like to feel more balanced and stable when walking and increase your mobility? After years of research, VOXXLife has developed a technology (VOXX HPT) that triggers a very precise neuro response that helps the brain maximize its natural pain fighting mechanisms. The documented results and benefits from using products with the VOXX HPT pattern include enhanced pain relief and management, especially PDN pain, enhanced stability and balance, and improved mobility. Discover the technology of Voxx socks and insoles at the Oceanside Health & Wellness Fair on March 16 in Parksville.

The Clements Centre has begun a capital campaign called “Champions for Kids” to raise funds for a new 7 million dollar Sundrops Child and Family Development Centre in the Cowichan Valley. The population in the valley is growing and so is the demand for services for children’s early development. This is making it harder for families in the region to have access to a central resource for services like speech, physio and occupational therapy. A new and modern facility in the heart of the community will provide a local central “hub” to improved access to vital services by the over 700 families who require assistance for a child’s healthy development.

Digital eyestrain includes headaches, blurred vision, irritation, excessive tearing or dry eyes. As we spend more time using computers and hand-held devices, many of us find that our eyes are suffering. Having even small, uncorrected nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, presbyopia or eye-muscle alignments can affect how comfortably you can work on a computer screen or device. Certain anti-glare coatings help with discomfort by reducing transmission of harmful artificial blue light that is emitted by newer computer screens, devices, tablets and lighting. Use the 20-20-20 rule; every 20 minutes, take a break for 20 seconds and look at something at least 20 feet away.

Your heart muscle works hard pumping your blood to deliver vital nutrients around your body and to feed your organs. Those of us with family history, or risk factors like obesity, circulatory disorders, high blood pressure and/or sugars, need to be extra aware and wary about our hearts. Take heart knowing that your risk can be reduced. Start by eating an anti-inflammatory whole foods diet. Exercise is essential so choose something you enjoy. Keep lean to reduce the “metabolic syndrome” risk factors. Talk to a professional about supplements such as coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), a potent antioxidant that has been linked to normal cardiac muscle functioning to support cardiovascular health.