Community News
Nanaimo Theatre Group presents Canadian Play

Theatre BC will celebrate its 85th Anniversary and Canada 150 by holding festivals featuring all-Canadian plays. Nanaimo Theatre Group has chosen to perform Toronto, Mississippi by Joan MacLeod who is currently a faculty member at the University of Victoria. It was written and is set in 1987, and revolves around Jhanna, played by award winning Dana Mowbray.  Jhanna is a funny, passionate, and often exasperating 18 year old, who also happens to be mentally challenged.  She lives with her mom, Maddie, played by well-known local actor, Sherri McLean and their boarder, Bill, played by Dave Bigelow, a poet with a morose sense of humour.  Tensions rise and jealousies flare when Jhanna’s dad, King, played by Wes Lazaroff, an Elvis impersonator who abandoned the family ten years earlier, makes an unexpected reappearance. While often very funny, this is ultimately a deeply moving play about the power of family and love.

Nanaimo Theatre Group
nanaimotheatregroup.ca

A Place for Seniors to Connect with other Seniors

The National Seniors Council of Canada recognizes that social isolation and loneliness are health risks in our aging population.  The Seniors Connect Centre in Nanaimo is a place for adults aged 55 years or older that promotes independence, personal enrichment and an enhanced quality of life through social engagement.  Programs and activities focusing on social inclusion, health and wellness are provided free of charge. The wheelchair accessible centre is located at 150B Wallace Street and has a wheelchair accessible bathroom.  The Seniors Connect Centre also offers outreach services, access to information and referrals to connect seniors with other programs and services in the community that may be of particular interest to those experiencing social isolation.

Seniors Connect Centre
NanaimoSeniorsConnect.ca

5 Benefits of a Healthy Love Life

Having sex regularly can do more than make you feel closer to your partner—it can actually make you physically healthier! Here are 5 health benefits of making love:

1. Boosts Your Immune System. People who have sex frequently have higher levels of what defends your body against viruses.

2. Boosts Your Libido. The more you have sex, the more often you crave it!

3. Improves Bladder Control. Good sex is like a workout for your pelvic floor muscles. When you have an orgasm, it causes contractions in those muscles, which strengthens them.

4. Lowers Heart Attack Risk. A good sex life is good for your heart. During one study, men who had sex at least twice a week were half as likely to die of heart disease as men who had sex rarely.

5. May Make Prostate Cancer Less Likely. Going for the gusto may help ward off prostate cancer. Men who ejaculated frequently were less likely to get prostate cancer during one study. (source http://www.webmd.com/sex-relationships/guide)

Heather Cameron, Liberated Connections
LiberatedConnections.com

Hip or knee pain?

Look to your feet for relief. When not experiencing foot pain, few people think about their feet when their hips or knees hurt. They may be told it is arthritis or cartilage damage and do not consider how the alignment of their feet and ankles may be contributing to their discomfort. As we age, many people become more sedentary and see an increase in body weight. The arches of the feet can become flatter over time due to excess pressure from above and weakness developing underneath. As arches flatten, they fall inwards too. This causes the leg to rotate inwards. This rotation puts the knees and hips out of alignment. Depending on the amount of arch collapse, the foot may require a significant amount of correction to ease the hip or knee pain. Deep-cupped corrective foot orthotics have been found to work wonders at alleviating pain in joints further up the body.

Diane Calder, BSc KIN, CPed(C), Pedorthist
B.D Mitchell Prosthetics and Orthotics
MitchellPandO.com

Rightsize on Your Terms

Once you have decided to move or de-clutter your home, the next decision involves sorting through your belongings and determining where they go. This is an important step for you to take in the moving process. The joy of uncovering a precious item and sharing its history with your family is a tie that binds you together. After the sorting, many people feel more ready for the move. They have made the decisions rather than burdening their family with them, and their families appreciate not being left with a house of Mom’s and Dad’s stuff to sort through. The biggest regret of people who had to move suddenly was that they never got to say goodbye to their home or belongings, rich with memories. If they could give you a few words of advice, they would tell you to rightsize on your terms!

Marian Remenda, Professional Organizer, Rightsize Your Home
right-sizeyourhome.com

bc211 Help Line

Funded by United Ways across BC, bc211 is here to help transform lives. In British Columbia, the 211 information and referral service is operated by the 211 British Columbia Services Society, a charitable non-profit organization funded by United Ways and contracts with various partners. Every hour of every day, people need help finding services for themselves or their loved ones. From finding a homeless shelter, to securing daycare for a child, to home care supports for an aging parent. With bc211, accessing help is now only a phone call away.

Ivanna Law, Communications & Marketing Officer
United Way Central and North Vancouver Island
bc211.ca

Suffering with Muscle and Joint Pain?

Muscle and joint pain associated with sprains and strains can be very frustrating indeed, especially when striving to maintain an active lifestyle. Certain essential oils from specific companies have been approved by Health Canada as Natural Health Products (NHP’s) for use to help with relief of pain associated with sprains, strains and rheumatoid arthritis.

Essential oils can be used one at a time or combined into blends. They can be mixed with a carrier oil and massaged directly onto muscles and joints, or mixed with Epsom or other salts (Himalayan, or Dead Sea) and added to a warm bath. They can be diffused, or added to a poultice and placed on affected area. You can even benefit from smelling them directly out of the bottle!

The list of oils approved for use on muscle and joint pain include the following: Angelica, Black Pepper, Cedarwood, Celery Seed, Citronella, Clary Sage, Clove, Cypress, Eucalyptus Globulus, Fennel, Ginger, Helichrysum, Laurus Nobilis, Lavender, lemongrass, Lime, Marjoram, Nutmed, Peppermint, Pine, Rosemary, Sage, Vetiver, and the blends Deep Relief and Aromaease. With a list this long it could be a challenge to know which one is the best option, but the amazing thing about essential oils is that their individual chemical compositions provide different effects. Some oils have a calming, relaxing effect, while others can be energizing, refreshing, or uplifting. 

Knowing a little bit about each oil can help you chose the best option. If, for example, you are looking for something to add to a bath to help relieve muscle pain, as well as relax you before bed, oils with calming properties are best. Some examples would be Marjoram, lavender, helichrysum, Angelica, Clary Sage or Laurus Nobilis. If you are looking for joint pain relief prior to heading out for a walk or other exercise, opting for more uplifting and energizing oils like Rosemary, Pine, Eucalyptus Globulus, Lemongrass, Black Pepper or Peppermint might be a better suit. Premade blends are a fantastic option, as they take the guess work out of what to combine! Deep Relief and Aromaease are two examples of blends specifically formulated to help relieve muscle and joint pain. You can simply add a roller ball onto the end of the bottle and roll them directly onto the areas that need it!

Recipes:

Pre-event Sports Rub:

2 Tbsp coconut oil, 3 drops each: Peppermint, Lime, Black Pepper. Combine together and rub on calves, legs, shoulders and chest prior to your workout.

Post-event massage oil:

2 Tbsp oil (fractioned coconut, olive, apricot kernel, avocado), 3 drops each: Eucalyptus Globulus, Marjoram, and Pine. Massage into tired achy muscles or add to bath water and soak.

Ankle Sprain Wrap:

To a cool wet cloth, add 2 drops each Helichrysum, Lavender and Lemongrass. Wrap around ankle and rest with ankle supported for 10 minutes. (can be used on knee, wrist or hand as well.)

Having natural options for muscle and joint pain provides peace of mind, just be sure the essential oils you choose are not topped up with synthetic additives and preservatives. Look for high quality oils from reputable suppliers. Reputable suppliers back the purity of their essential oils with a guarantee. They scrutinize every step of the process, from seed selection, to cultivation, gentle distillation and rigorous testing to be certain that the oils they bottle are the purest possible, nothing added, nothing removed.

Disclaimer: Author is not a doctor. Any oils discussed are specific to Young Living Essential Oils, and the information is not meant to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Please speak with your doctor or health care professional before starting to use essential oils, and learn how to use them safely. Please do your research before choosing any essential oil.

 

Denise Mackinnon, Independent Distributor for Young Living Essential Oils.
Distributor number 2122587
Dee.YLOils@gmail.com

Website: https://www.facebook.com/SimpleHealthIdeas/ 

Add Essential Oils to Your Life

More than just smelling good, essential oils (EOs) are a healthy, safe and effective way to help with many ailments that affect us on a daily basis. Anything from boosting immunity, soothing aching muscles, weight management, to calming your mind, EOs support EVERY system of the body.

What are Essential Oils? Essential Oils are nature’s volatile (evaporate quickly) aromatic compounds generated within shrubs, flowers, trees, roots, and seeds. They are usually extracted through steam distillation, hydrodistillation, or cold-pressed extraction with minimal pressure and heat in order maintain their most beneficial properties.

How do they work? The power of an EO lies within its complex array of chemical constituents. These constituents have the unique ability to penetrate cell membranes and travel throughout the blood and tissues quickly. Not only are the molecules of EOs small but their lipid-soluble structure is very similar to the makeup of our cell membranes which allows them to penetrate more effectively. For example, when topically applied to the feet or other soft tissue, EOs can be absorbed and travel throughout the body in a matter of minutes!

How do you use EOs? We commonly think of EOs in terms of aromatherapy (inhalation), but therapeutic grade 100% pure EOs can also be used topically or diffused into the air with a diffuser. In fact, depending on your ailment, one form of use may be more beneficial than another!

Topically- As mentioned above because of their molecular structure, EOs are rapidly absorbed by the skin. Some EOs can be applied directly to the skin, but for most it’s best to dilute in a carrier oil (grape seed oil, coconut oil, almond oil, coconut oil, etc). If you have a localized issue such as sore muscles or chest congestion, EOs work best when blended with a carrier oil and then applied directly to the area. However, for general health applying the oils to your feet is a great way to absorb the oils into your body. With over 2,000 pores in each foot, they have some of the largest pores on your body and this helps oils absorb faster.

Direct Inhalation- Research shows that when inhaling the pure constituents in these oils, it can stimulate the olfactory receptors and activate regions in the brain’s limbic system associated with memory, emotion, and state of mind. Hence, in less than a second, a scent has the power to activate a number of physical and emotional responses. This causes the pituitary gland to be stimulated and release chemical messages that travel via the blood to your glands and organs that create physical body responses. That is why inhaling the oils can have a great effect on emotions.

Diffuse- Using a diffuser to disperse EOs into the environment will work to purify and cleanse the air of impurities including odours AND germs! It’s nature’s air freshener! But freshening the air isn’t the only useful thing about diffusing EOs, it’s also a great way to absorb an EOs beneficial properties without applying directly to your body! It also covers a wider area so more than one person can benefit from the effects. For example, if you are feeling stuffed up, diffusing Lemon, Lavender, and Peppermint by your bedside can help relieve congestion while you sleep and can reduce snoring!

Common Uses for Essential Oils:

Here are the most common and versatile EOs and few surprising uses for them that you probably didn’t know about.

Lavender: The “Swiss Army Knife of essential oils”. Lavender is an adaptogen, and therefore can assist the body when adapting to stress or imbalances. Which is why it’s commonly used as an aid for relaxation. But did you know that it is also a natural germ-fighter and is great for healing wounds and cuts?! Lavender also has anti-inflammatory properties and can help quiet down allergy symptoms.

Peppermint: Most people think of peppermint as purely an uplifting aroma, one doctor Dr. William N. Dember of the University of Cincinnati even studied peppermint’s ability to improve concentration and mental sharpness. But other uses for peppermint include soothing digestion problems or calming heartburn or an upset tummy. Its cooling nature can also bring down fevers. But my favourite use of peppermint is when applied topically to the temples or forehead to relieve headaches!

Lemon: Due to its sunny and citrus smell, Lemon is often considered as a mood booster! But its beneficial affects go beyond smelling cheery! Lemon is a powerful purifier and astringent, great for DIY cleaning products. In terms of health, Lemon contains dlimonene, which is a powerful antioxidant linked to healthy immune system function. Even more, in his book, The Practice of Aromatherapy, Dr. Jean Valnet, M.D. wrote that “lemon is a tonic for supporting the nervous and sympathetic nervous system.” He also stated that the essential oil of lemon acts as a liver decongestant and diuretic and is a powerful body cleanser.

To learn more about Essential Oils and get started with a starter kit that contains these three EOs PLUS 8 other useful oils AND a household diffuser contact Sylvia at 204-720-5348 or sprovenski@gmail.com

Does Your Pet Have Allergies?

Is There Mold in Your Laundry?

Have you ever stepped out of the shower, grabbed a freshly cleaned towel only to be overwhelmed by a stale odor that just doesn’t smell fresh? That odor you’re smelling in your towels and washing machine? It’s mold. Fabrics can sour if you leave them wet in the washing machine. Add to that, a buildup of fabric softener can cause towels to be horribly smelly. Fabric softener doesn’t allow the fibers to rinse cleanly, and that detergent and softener build up. Your skin is exceptionally permeable; it quickly absorbs outside substances directly into the bloodstream. Additionally, any time you smell this moldy odor, you’re also breathing it in. Mold toxicity can lead to a host of health issues. Don’t ignore the signs of an unhealthy laundry routine. There is an easy way to treat washing machine and laundry mold so that it’s eliminated for good. Detergents and hot water will not treat the problem, but pureWash Pro does, every time you wash.

Kevin Shale, Low Environmental Impact Technologies, www.leit.ca

Spring Clean Your Spending Habits

March brings the promise of Spring. A season of awakening, trees budding, flowers starting to bloom and definitely a lightness and brightness to our days. As well, thoughts of spring cleaning and getting everything aired out. Sometimes our budgets can also benefit from a good ‘cleaning’. Has your income or expenses changed with the new year? Are there new goals on the horizon that you need to be setting money aside for? Have you slipped back into old habits of spending? Taking time to review the numbers enables us to make sure they are realistic. It arms us with figures that are closer to fact than fiction. You can also review how you keep track of your spending, if perhaps there is an app or computer program that would be helpful, they are just a few clicks away on the internet.

Doris Minervini, www.abakhan.com

Natural Product Review

Avena Original Herb Cocktail Colon Cleanse and whole body detox. With an estimated 98% of all disease originating in the colon, our best line of defense against disease is through the regular and daily elimination of harmful toxins. Some symptoms of a toxic colon: headaches, gas, low back pain, foul breath, body odor, constipation, diarrhea, weight challenges, weakened immunity, lack of energy, depression, mood swings, psoriasis, and eczema. Avena’s Herb Cocktail works in 3 stages inside the bowel to promote complete restoration. Forming into a gel, it absorbs undigested foods and toxins from your entire body trapping and eliminating them. It effectively breaks down impacted waste on intestinal walls, even mucoid plaque. Using the natural pressure of the gel, it encourages and exercises peristaltic action, helping to restore the healthy movement of your intestines. 100% Natural Ingredients. Many have eliminated their health challenges through colon cleansing.

Louis Hoolaeff HR HC ACS, www.leadingedgehealth.org

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