Natural Solutions are available for spring allergies, whooping cough and more.
Published January 24, 2004 in the North Island Weekender
Thank you for your wonderful response to my latest article on simple resolutions for 2004. The most requests I received were regarding Pilates and the tapes I recommended. I use the Living Arts Series or Stott’s Pilates information at www.stottpilates.com. In town here Salice Dance Studio also offers Pilates/Yoga classes to get you started.
My favorite brief definition of health is: clarity of mind, the ease with which one can move in and out of emotions, and the functioning of organs without any symptoms. A more extensive definition of health includes:
1. that one doesn’t get infections nor allergies of any kind
2. that one has enough energy to do what one wants to,
3. daily well formed bowel movements,
4. the need of no medications,
5. a good appetite with no cravings,
6. optimal weight which not only indicates that one is eating enough fruits and vegetables but that one is not consuming more that is required for energy requirements for activities of daily living including exercise,
7. ease with which one can move his or her body
8. wonderfully restful sleep
9. healthy teeth and gums
10. healthy skin
What is your score on one to ten?
It was with great pleasure that I saw Joyce for allergies.
She gets bad allergies starting in March that often persist for two full months
and are getting worse every year instead of getting better. She needs over the
counter anti-histamines to get through and in spite of these drugs being so
called “non-drowsy” they still make her feel awful for those two months. She
came to me in January to see what she could do to prevent her allergies from
being bad in the coming season which is the true practice of preventive
medicine! I congratulated her on getting a head start and told her of my past
experience with patients with allergies, who once they had done our
naturopathic programs, found their allergies were much better from year to year
rather than getting worse!
Whooping cough is another example of an infection whose outcome can be improved
with naturopathic medicine. It is making a come back and affecting all ages not
just children. This bacteria causes a spasmodic cough that can last months and
in young children less than one year can be very serious. For those older than
one year the entire family is affected by the child or adult coughing all day
and night for weeks on end. Naturopathic medicine certainly offers preventive
programs for improving the immune system so that if this infection is
contracted that the course and the severity of the disease is lessened. Susan
brought her 2- year- old daughter in and with my treatment program was able to
improve symptoms within one week. The child remained on the program for many
weeks to prevent a relapse. If there is ever a recurrence of such a cough in
the household she checks in with me and gets back on the program before the
cough really takes hold in the family.
Mary, age 55, was seeing me for an allergic cough and recurrent bronchitis secondary to sick building syndrome. I had taught her what to do in the event of the worsening of her sore throat and chest infection. She followed my recommendations and was able to rid herself of the infection in 4 days while her daughter who was not on the program, took over 10 days to recover.
This is the true meaning of prevention. The sad thing is the suffering I see because patients don’t realize that there are wonderful naturopathic remedies for most infections such as those of the bladder, chest, sinus and throat. The self-help education that patients receive from ND’s serves them very well in the future if there is a recurrence.
How healthy are you and how healthy you choose to become depends on what you know and what you choose to do with that knowledge.
Dr.
Pincott has been practicing naturopathic medicine since 1985 and is currently
practicing in Campbell River. She can be reached at (250) 286-3655 or www.DrPincott.com