Oriental medicine considers fall as the season when the lung organ works the hardest. As it gets colder, oriental medicine calls for warm and soupy meals opposed to eating lots of raw veggies and fruits. It is the time when the internal body needs support of warmth and nurturing. The season calls for more protein, as well as a bit of spice such as ginger, turmeric, and cinnamon. The digestive system supports immune and lung functions. It is important to support digestion with nutrition, herbs/spices, as well as probiotics. Food that is healthy for lungs during this season are: almonds, walnuts, grapes, cabbage, miso, navy beans, apricots, banana, eggs, apple, and lemon. Additional beneficial food includes: asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower, quinoa, amaranth, and rice. Fall is a great time to clear mental and emotional clutter and grief. It is naturally a time of closure. Ref. “ Healing with Whole Foods” Paul Pitchfort.
Dr. Hegillman, www.oriri.ca

Climbing into a float tank (or pod) has been described much like revisiting the womb – a peaceful, quiet, warm and comforting place. It is a place where one can relax, recover and remove oneself from their busy and stressful lives. Once settled on the surface of the tank (the water is saturated in Epsom salts so you float effortlessly) and the lights go out – the outside world disappears. No sight, no sound, and no sensation – even the forces of gravity drift away as you are suspended in perfect harmony. Your body/mind instantly begin to slow down as your reach Theta state (deep meditative state), breathing rate decreases, blood pressure decreases and stress hormones all naturally decrease (cortisol, adrenaline, and norepinephrine). The decrease of stress hormones is because your sympathetic nervous system (“fight or flight”) is allowed to finally turn off (which is very rare). In return, your body is flooded with natural “feel good” chemicals – specifically dopamine, which gives you that happy “high” feeling. So the next time you feel overwhelmed or stressed – a float session may very well be the answer!
Erik Zaremba, www.floathousevictoria.com

A new syndrome has been described: ASIA, Autoimmune/AutoInflammatory Syndrome induced by Adjuvants. Researchers from around the world are sounding the alarm. An adjuvant is a substance used in vaccines to stimulate the immune system and aluminum salts are the most used adjuvants for humans. Aluminum is a potent immune system stimulator and is also highly neurotoxic. It has been shown to induce serious immunological disorders and long-term brain inflammation in humans as well as experimental animals. Symptoms in adults can include lupus-like, rheumatoid arthritis-like and MS-like syndromes, thyroid disorders, chronic fatigue, and cognitive impairment. Symptoms may take weeks or months to fully develop following vaccination. For that matter, what might such a neurotoxic and highly immunogenic substance be doing to infants and children? Likely, it would dramatically increase the risk of life-long autoimmune and neurological conditions. Fortunately, there are natural ways to increase the elimination of aluminum, including drinking silicon-rich mineral water.
Dr. Anke Zimmermann, ND, www.drzimmermann.org

On average, food items travel 1500 miles (2414 kilometers) before arriving at the table. Typically, the average 400 calories breakfast consumes 2800 calories of fossil fuel energy. Most people have heard of the 100-mile diet and the many benefits of this philosophy. If you adhere to this 100 mile carbon footprint you will benefit from: fresher food that is not shipped from long distances, minimal or zero preservatives, supporting the local economy with money that cycles directly back into your community, and ultimately a healthier consumer and community! This same philosophy can be applied when purchasing your pet food. Why wouldn’t you want to promote such positive outcomes concerning your pet, as well? Take a moment to think about this the next time you are going down the aisles selecting a name brand for your pet’s nutrition. Think about purchasing a local holistic product that has far-reaching benefits!
Barbara Guidetti, www.happypaws.ca

September 19
Dr. Kittleson will be hosting a free class to understand just what posture is, and how best to manage the daily stresses of gravity.
UC Life Chiropractic Centre
RSVP 250-386-5433 or info@uclife.ca
Limited seats available

Getting along with others can be tough! We need other people in our lives, but we can sometimes feel judged, undermined, confused, bullied, interrupted, or otherwise bothered by them. It can be hard to be clear and stand up for what we want in a calm way. But giving up too much can eat at your peace of mind. This is boundary work – how to be clear about ourselves and what we can tolerate physically and emotionally in a way that still lets people in. We want to be understood by others – sometimes we first have to understand ourselves and why we feel the way we do. What are the expectations for how you behave? Where do those expectations come from? How else could you respond to your situation? Counselling provides a safe and non-judgemental place to consider how you can do your boundaries differently.

Have you ever had head or neck trauma? Did you know that there is little separation between the two? The head is located on the top of the spine, and when you have head or neck trauma, you are actually affecting the entire central column of the body. Far too often, spinal issues are not addressed and tilts and twists in the body remain for long periods after injury, creating a daily tension issue that shows up in many different ways. One of the most common findings is chronic health issues that begin after an injury and have lingered, often for many years after the original event. There’s no better time than now to check to see exactly what your body’s position is and see if it could be in better balance.