Community News
Orthotics & Summer Footwear

More and more people rely on custom foot orthotics to treat biomechanical issues related to the feet, whether it be plantar fasciitis, metatarsalgia, arthritic knees or low back pain, just to name a few. Now that summer has finally arrived, the question most orthotic wearers ask is what to do when it’s sandal weather. When orthotics are needed to correct altered foot mechanics it is important to wear them during all weight bearing activities.Fortunately many shoe manufacturers recognize the increasing need for sandals that accommodate custom orthotics. These sandals have removable foot beds that can be taken out to make room for your orthotics. If you recently purchased sandals but your orthotics don’t fit into them properly, very often a simple low-cost adjustment will solve the problem. Sandals don’t provide the same support as a closed-in shoe but can allow pleasant relief from the heat even for orthotic wearers.

Bryan Mitchell, B.D.
MitchellPandO.com

Be Proactive with Your Health and Safety 

Are you, like so many of us, part of what is being called the “silver tsunami”? This demographic is causing concern about its effect on health care costs and our ability to provide health care. These days with long waiting times, we need to be proactive about our own health and safety. It is very important to have options in place so that in an emergency you can summon help. A daily phone call with a neighbour or family member is a good way to ensure that someone knows you are safe. There  are also community groups and non-profit organizations that can help us check in on one another. We all need a buddy, a “go to” person to be there when you need help, and we all need help from time to time.

Joan Ryan, Nanaimo Lifeline
NanaimoLifeline.ca

Ozone Relieves Respiratory Infections 

Inhalation ozonide therapy is good for any acute upper respiratory infection, such as sinus infections, bronchitis, flu, colds, and viral pneumonias. Both asthmatics and patients with chronic lung disease can use it. Ozone gas is bubbled through olive oil to the inhaler which turns it into ozonides molecules and is completely safe to inhale. The ozonides can last for weeks in the human body and have an incredible regenerative effect on our cells and organs. For instance, they stimulate the formation of the cytokine molecules that our immune systems use to control and eliminate infections. They also increase the delivery of oxygen to the cells, which is critical for lung conditions. Then they stimulate the cells to generate more energy and that is the key to the vitality we all want to feel, in each breath.

Dr. Sterling Desmond, Dr. TCM, R.Ac.
EvolveWithDesera.com

Wellnessnews Meetup Group

The Wellnessnews Meetup group is for people interested in Health and Wellness. It is free to join. We offer workshops on a variety of topics including alternative medicine, nutrition, healing, healthy weight-loss and many other wellness topics. Admission is free or by donation. Most workshops are 60 – 90 minutes in length. Over time, we hope to offer workshops between Cowichan Valley and Comox Valley. We also inform our members about health and wellness events, trade shows and activities happening in Central Vancouver Island. Here at the Wellnessnews, we love sharing the gift of health and wellness knowledge with our communities. Our next workshop is Bingo with a Twist. There are prizes to be won and refreshments to enjoy while we play Bingo.

Teresa Ostman, Publisher, Wellnessnews Central Island
Meetup.com/Wellnessnews

Importance of Grounding

Picture this: you’re going to be late for work, and as you try to run out the door, you spill coffee on your shirt. You get in the car and start flying down the street, right into rush hour traffic. What would you do? Would you let this get you down? First things first, take a deep, cleansing breath. In through your nose and out through your mouth. Do it again. How do you feel now? A little calmer? We get so caught up in negative emotions that we forget to take a moment and breathe. Now that you are grounded a bit, you realize there’s a sweater in the backseat that can cover up your coffee stain, and to escape rush hour, there’s a back alley you can go down and actually get to work on time. When things seem to go awry, remember to breathe and ground.

Jennifer Piwniuk-Chrupalo, HeavenlyAuras.com

Slip, Slap, and Slop

Summer is here, and with it comes gardening, walking, biking, and simply enjoying the warmth of the sun. However, humans require protection from the harmful effects of the sun’s rays. One alarming fact is that harmful or pre-cancerous cells, which lead to skin cancer, develop within the first 20 years of life. So ensure children are well protected. Adopt the “slip, slap, and slop” mantra. “Slip” into long-sleeved shirts and long pants, “slap” on a wide-brimmed hat, and “slop” on the sunscreen. Use a product with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 30 or greater that blocks both UVA and UVB rays. Check the best before date on your sunscreen. If it was frozen during the winter, discard it and purchase new. Limit outdoor activities to later in the day. Monitor freckles and moles for changes in size or colour. Consult your physician if changes are noted.

Doug Treloar, Physiotherapist, Physiofirstclinic.ca

3 Meal Planning Myths

Meal planning can save you money, time, and energy. Don’t let these myths keep you from adding it to your life. MYTH 1: Meal planning takes too much time. TRUTH: Meal planning does take a bit of time at first, but when you have a plan, you can blast through a meal plan in minutes. You don’t have to spend hours a week meal prepping. MYTH 2: Meal planning means eating the same thing every day. TRUTH: You don’t have to eat only chicken breasts, rice, and broccoli. Meal planning simply means planning your meals, so plan whatever you like! MYTH 3: Meal planning makes you eat gross leftovers. TRUTH: You don’t need to cook once and eat the same thing all week long. You can meal prep for only a couple days; even simply spending 10 minutes to pre-chop vegetables can save you tons of time during the week.

Allyson Potrebka, Holistic Health Coach, HealthAndHappiness.ca/meal-planning

Learning Disabilities

When someone has been labelled with a ‘learning disability’ (ADHD, OCD, autism, etc.), people tend to have the point of view that there is something wrong with those individuals because they don’t learn the way the rest of us do. Many times, people assume that children who don’t ‘fit in’ need to be taught how to behave so they can learn to function as if they were ‘normal’ and ‘average’. The reality is that these children pick things up in a totally different manner and we need to step up and find out how they learn, not try to teach them using methods that might have worked for us but definitely don’t work for them. What if what we perceive as a wrongness in them is actually a strongness? Access Bars is a great option to explore for both you and your loved one dealing with a learning disability.

Kori Gordon, FindingYouNow.com

Essential Oils for Men

In June, we celebrate Father’s Day and this is a perfect opportunity to prove that essential oils (EOs) aren’t just for women! Most men are scared off by EOs because they either think that they won’t work on them or are scared they’ll smell too girly. But in fact, there are many EOs that are used specifically for men’s issues and lots of essential oils are used in men’s colognes, so they inherently smell manly! Men have different needs than women do, and there are many interesting ways for men to use EOs for a variety of concerns. Examples include wintergreen and copaiba to soothe sore muscles, marjoram to reduce snoring, peppermint to relieve heartburn, cedarwood to tackle hair loss, tea tree to treat athlete’s foot, lemon to remove goop and grime from hands, and peppermint to cool the skin while working outdoors in warmer weather!

Sylvia Provenski, CanadianMoms.ca

Fireworks Safety and Dogs

Fireworks can be fun for humans, and with all of the coming summer weekends, they are inevitable. Dogs don’t always hold the same enthusiasm, however. Here are some tips for helping your dog cope with fireworks season. Make sure your dog is wearing identification or has a microchip in case they run away. Keep your dog indoors during the fireworks, as far away as possible from the noise. Place a thick blanket over their kennel to help muffle the sounds. Make sure the kennel is in an area where they will not overheat. Make sure your dog is tired by nighttime when the fireworks begin. Lots of exercise may be necessary during the day. Give your dog something yummy to chew on in their kennel, such as a Kong toy filled with goodies.

Rob Lamont, APetLovers.com

Pelvic Floor Exercises

Pelvic floor muscle-training exercises can strengthen the muscles under the uterus, bladder, and bowel. They can help both men and women who have bladder and bowel control problems. It has been described as pretending that you have to urinate and then holding it. You should feel movement in the muscles: the vagina, bladder, or anus closes and moves upwards. You should not feel other areas of your legs, hips, or pelvis move or lift. It is important to keep other muscles relaxed while performing a pelvic floor muscle exercise. However, many situations exist which create a different picture. Sometimes, the pelvic floor muscles are held tight and cannot relax or let go. Because this is often not recognized by the individual, it might appear there are no contractions. For women who have a tight pelvic floor, concentrating on contracting the muscles would be extremely difficult.

Marita Dowsett, B.P.T., Physio 4 U, Physio4u.net