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TIPS TO STAY HEALTHY THIS FALL

(CL ADAPTED) ALYSE RURIANI

The transition to the shorter and busier days of fall can be a challenge. To help ease the change, we’ve put together some Fall Wellness Tips to get you ready for the colder months and keep your mental (and physical!) health in check.

1) Start taking a Vitamin D supplement. We get most of our Vitamin D from the sun, so our intake decreases when the weather is colder since we spend most of our time inside during the fall/winter seasons. If you find you are not getting outside much, a Vitamin D supplement can boost your mood and immune system!

2) Take some time to yourself. Autumn and winter are the Earth’s way of telling us to slow down. Start a journal or track your moods to get more in touch with how you are feeling.

3) Boost your immune system. You can do this by drinking plenty of water, washing your hands often to prevent sickness, and eating nutritious foods.

4) Get yourself ready for Daylight Savings Time. Go to bed earlier when you can, especially the week before the clocks change. Longer periods of darkness = longer periods of sleep!

5) Make some plans for the cold months. In the winter, we tend to hibernate if we don’t have things to keep us busy.

6) Moisturize your skin. Harsh temperatures can make your skin dry.

7) Buy in-season food. Beets, broccoli, cabbage, eggplant, kale, pumpkin, broths, roasted squash, roots, and sautéed dark leafy greens are all great choices.

8) Stay active! It can be easy to just sit around all the time, but it’s important to get in some movement throughout the day. Raking leaves or shoveling snow counts!

9) Wear layers and protect your body from the dropping temperature. Make sure you have gloves, a scarf, earmuffs, a winter coat, warm socks, and snow boots!

10) Do some “spring cleaning” in the fall. Clean out your closet, organize that back room, and rid yourself of things you don’t need.

11) Prepare your home for possible extreme weather conditions. Do you have a shovel and/or snow blower? Do your flashlights have batteries? Is your heat working okay? And think about your car too…Blankets, Socks, Hunter heating pads. power bars and water will all be welcome in a stressful situation

12) Get some books to read and shows to watch. Who doesn’t want to sit by the fire on chilly winter nights and read a good book or binge-watch some Netflix?

13) Keep a schedule. The cold months can seem to drag on and push us into isolation. Stay on track by scheduling time in your day to do things you like to do.

14) Be kind to yourself. The holidays can cause weight gain, the shorter days can cause low mood, and the season change can throw your body out of balance. Listen to your body and give it what it needs, and don’t beat yourself up! Try reframing negative thoughts into positive ones.

AND BEST OF ALL, MAKE SURE TO GET YOUR SPINE CHECKED REGULARLY AS THE MINOR SLIPS AND FALL OF FALL/WINTER CAN KNOCK YOUR SYSTEM OUT OF WHACK!

Call us to make an appointment today!
(517) 627-4547

A Poison Ivy Parody + Good Advice

Poison Ivy, Poison Ivy

The song Poison Ivy is catchy, with exceptional lyrics and the best-sung version by the Coasters

Measles make you bumpy and mumps’ll make you lumpy

And chicken pox’ll make you jump and twitch

A common cold’ll cool you and whooping cough’ll fool you

But poison ivy’s gonna make you itch

You’re gonna need an ocean

Of calamine lotion

You’ll be scratching like a hound

The minute you start to mess around

Poison ivy, poison ivy

Well late at night when you’re sleeping

Poison ivy comes a creeping around

How to get rid of Poison Ivy

But if the plant’s oils touch your skin while you are gardening, walking in the field, even petting your dog or cat who rolled in it – you better wash with some good poison ivy soap ASAP to wash off the oil causing irritations (urushiol). The oil can last for years, so wash any utensils, gloves, and tools you used too.

If it got into your skin you may suffer from intense burning and itching with ugly-looking pustules and red raw skin. Scratching makes it worse and if you start you may do it until you bleed. What to do?

There are some natural, safe, effective, and inexpensive ways of getting rid of poison ivy symptoms. Save this information for future use.

Use essential oils.

Use a blend of lavender, melaleuca (tea tree oil), and peppermint oils. Even one oil by itself will work but the blend is best.

Use homeopathy.

An excellent homeopathic remedy for poison ivy is Rhus Toxicodendron. Fortunately, most health food stores are carrying homeopathic remedies. A strength of 12C or 30C is recommended.

The above work very well. People have reported using others remedies such as topically applying witch hazel, cold coffee, oatmeal paste, baking soda bath or paste, alcohol, and apple cider vinegar to the affected areas.

The next time you find yourself in a potentially dangerous garden, do yourself a favor and wear gloves, long pants, long sleeves, or even better, pay an expert to remove it all.

Chiropractic care is not a treatment for poison ivy but it does reduce stress on your nervous and immune systems and can help your body work more effectively to rid it of toxins. We recommend coming in for an adjustment. Don’t worry, the rash is not contagious (even if it looks yucky).

Cholesterol Not Guilty – New Research Shows Cholesterol is Natural and Beneficial

Our ancestors had it right all along – good quality saturated fats such as butter, cream, tallow, lard, chicken fat (schmaltz), goose fat, duck fat, and fatty organ meats will lead to a long, healthy life.

Cholesterol is needed for the proper function of your brain, your heart, and your cell membranes. That means you need cholesterol in pretty much every cell in your body.

Many studies show that people with high cholesterol live the longest. “What?” I hear you say. This statement seems incredible because it flies in the face of what so many of us have been told which was based on theory, not reality. In fact, cholesterol is an antioxidant, it fights inflammation. If a person has chronically high cholesterol, it is the inflammation (the cause) that should be addressed.

That people with high cholesterol live the longest emerges clearly from many scientific papers. After the world was told about how horrible saturated animal fats and cholesterol were, and that millions needed to be spent on expensive cholesterol-lowering drugs, many scientists questioned that approach. In 1994 a major study from Yale University researcher Harlan Krumholz reported that elderly people with low cholesterol died twice as often from a heart attack as did the elderly with high cholesterol. (3) Other researchers have since noticed the same finding. (1-2)

Cholesterol is not your enemy

Unhealthy fats and oils (i.e., corn oil, canola, safflower, cottonseed oil, margarine, hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated oils), as well as hidden infections and subluxations, are the real enemies that cause inflammation.

Ravnskov U. High cholesterol is not a risk factor. Well-Being Journal. November/December 2012;21(6).
Ravnskov U. High cholesterol may protect against infections and atherosclerosis. Quarterly J of Medicine. 2003;96:927-934.

The #1 Killer

If you ask what the number one killer is, most people would say it’s heart disease or cancer but the real killer that tops the list is STRESS! Particularly unadapted STRESS.

A little stress is no big deal; some stress is enjoyable and even good for you–riding an amusement park ride, getting a new house, starting a business, going out on a first date, getting married, having a baby, and many others. After all, life is full of stresses that challenge us, teach us and help us develop.

But some stress is bad. Chronic, unrelenting stress that stays with us, that seems to never end, that we can’t recover from – that’s the kind of stress that ruins minds and bodies.

It’s the real silent killer. You’ll find stress-weakened tissue that cancers develop in; you’ll find it in the recesses of the heart inflaming blood vessels and valves; you’ll find it upsetting the immune system, setting the stage for autoimmune diseases; and you’ll find it slowly weakening your nervous system and mental health: it is chronic unhealthy stress.

Stress can be physical overwork or overplay. Stress can be toxic caused by pollution, pesticides in our food, GMO (genetically modified) foods, dental/oral infections, not enough sleep, constant worry –the list is long. To be alive is to be under stress.

Chiropractic addresses serious silent stress that weakens you on many levels and prevents your body from functioning at its optimum subluxation. Subluxation is a distortion in your body that prevents you from functioning at 100%.

Chiropractors spend many long hours studying how to locate and correct (release or adjust) subluxations. Because most subluxations are painless you may never know that this stress is building up inside you affecting you physically and mentally.

Freed from the stress of subluxations, your entire being will function closer to its ideal; you’ll have more energy and a healthier immune system that is better able to deal with the many challenges life throws at you.

Call us today to make a chiropractic appointment. 517.627.4547

When is The Best Time to See a Chiropractor?

Now is the best time.

If you are alive and breathing you are under stress and you may have a painless condition increasing in your body called a subluxation.

What is a subluxation?

It is a blockage or distortion of your spine and skeletal system that can irritate your nerves, discs, muscles, joints and even block the energy to your internal organs.

Subluxations prevent you from functioning at 100%. You may have many in your body right now, undermining your health.
Fortunately, there are chiropractors. For over 125 years chiropractors have been the healthcare professionals that specialize in the location and correction (adjustment) of subluxations. The effects of chiropractic adjustments can be powerful.

That is why chiropractic has become the largest drug-free healing profession in the world.

Since subluxations are usually painless, you never know for sure if you have one or more. Come in for a chiropractic checkup and bring the kids and grandparents to get everyone’s subluxations located, analyzed, and corrected.

Are you coming in to get healthy while your family is at home waiting to get sick?

The beauty of chiropractic care: we are able to locate and correct subluxations before you get sick or have symptoms.

Call to make an appointment: 517.627.4547

Chiropractic Healing from the Past

DD Palmer discovered chiropractic in 1895. He saw its potential as a powerful drug-free natural healing art, a rediscovery of ancient practices going as far back as ancient Egypt and Greece. With his understanding of anatomy and physiology, Palmer developed a system of natural care he called CHIROPRACTIC.

Palmer divided his discovery (or re-discovery) into two parts:
1. A procedure to locate nervous system interference or blockages in a person’s spine and
2. A procedure to release or unblock the flow of nerve energy.
The nervous system blockage he called a subluxation, the procedure used to release this blockage he called an adjustment. While these are common terms today, used by chiropractors throughout the world, they were a breakthrough in his day – and quite controversial. But that
didn’t matter because it worked! It worked very well.

Palmer founded a school to teach his new method. Initially, he would only teach people who were themselves health care professionals. His first students were doctors of osteopathy, naturopathy, and medicine. Later, seeing a great need, he expanded the curriculum and
permitted non-professionals to enter the Palmer School of Chiropractic and learn this new science, art, and philosophy.

Palmer’s writings inspired many. Below is one of his more famous selections. It is as relevant today as it was when it was first published in 1910. In the dim ages of the past when man lived in rude huts and rocky caves, even up to the present time, he resorted to charms, necromancy, and witchcraft for the relief of mental and physical suffering. His whole object was to find an antidote, a specific for each and every ailment which could and would drive out the intruder, as though the disorder were a creature of intelligence.

In his desire to free himself from affliction and prolong his existence, he has searched the heavens above, he has gone into the deep blue sea, the bowels of the earth, and every portion thereof. He has tried animal and mineral poisons, penetrated the dark forest with superstitious rite and incantations, has gathered herbs, barks, and roots for medical uses. In his frenzy for relief … he has slaughtered man, beast, and bird, making use of their various parts alive and dead. He has made powders, ointments, pills, elixirs, decoctions, tinctures, and lotions of all known vegetables and crawling creatures….(1)

In his maddening search for something out there, something outside of his body to heal him, man forgot to look inside – where health and healing truly arose. Dr. Palmer’s words were a wake-up call to humanity. He was crying out: “Look within; what is preventing proper function? What is interfering with healing? Release the blockage and health will be restored.”

Such was the message of his new discovery, chiropractic, which was to bring to suffering humanity. This natural healing art, science, and philosophy – Chiropractic – has saved untold millions from drugs and surgery.

It continues to do so today.

200 Infants a Week Being Saved Thanks to Lockdown

A silver lining to the lockdown?

Approximately 700 infants die each week in the US. Recently researchers Mark F. Blaxill and Amy Becker discovered something shocking.
Infant deaths have dropped to under 500/week by mid-April and throughout May. Ironically as deaths in nursing homes have increased all over the country, approximately 30% fewer children have been dying.

This is incredible, over 200 babies per week that were expected to die did not. Was this a protective effect of school closures? No, because school-age children or adolescents showed no such benefit. The evidence indicates that as less babies were brought to pediatricians for well-baby visits, including childhood vaccines (given at 2, 4, 6, 12, 18 months, etc.) less babies have been dying from Crib Death or SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome).

From the paper: SIDS deaths are one of the two largest causes of death among infants aged 1 month to 1 year.
U.S. mortality rates have declined among young people during the lockdown, especially among infants. These trends have gone largely unnoticed and remain unexplained.

[Coincidentally] public health officials are bemoaning the sharp decline in infant vaccinations as parents are not taking their infants into pediatric offices for their regular well-baby checks. …the reduction in expected deaths is highest in infants…the lives of over 200 infants per week were saved during the month of May. Combining the number of lives saved in infants and children aged 1-4, demonstrates a smaller but comparably large and beneficial effect: roughly 145,000 life-years saved among children under 5. (2-3)

2.https://healthchoice.org/lessons-from-the-lockdown/
3.https://www.ageofautism.com/2020/06/lessons-from-the-lockdown-a-white-paper-from-health-choice.html

Some of the Zaniest, Craziest Words in the Dictionary

The English language is, quite possibly, one of the strangest languages out there.

Some of these words are used regularly in many places around the English-speaking world, whereas other places haven’t even heard of them.

Bumfuzzle. This is a simple term that refers to being confused, perplexed, or flustered or to cause confusion. You’ve probably heard your grandma or grandpa use this phrase, especially if they are from the East Coast or below the Mason-Dixon Line. This word is derived from the Old English dumfoozle.
Cattywampus. This is a term that you will find in the Midland and Southern United States. It is referring to something that is in disarray, that is askew, or something that isn’t directly across from something. For example, a post office might be cattywampus from the library. You might actually know this word by the terms catty-corner, kitty-corner, or catawampus.
Gardyloo. This is actually a Scottish term, but it sounds really nifty! The definition is a funny and gross one; this is what people living in Edinburgh shouted out their windows as a warning before dumping their slop buckets out of their windows. At least they gave a little bit of a warning to those below!
Taradiddle. This word references someone or something that is filled with pretentious nonsense or something that is a lie. A great example of this is that classic fisherman’s tale of how big the fish he caught was. Usually the fisherman is lying or at least exaggerating about the fish, especially if he (or she) didn’t keep the fish.
Snickersnee. While this word sounds like something funny or possibly cute, it is actually referring to a long, dangerous knife. It was first used in reference to cut-and-thrust fighting in the 1700s and is still occasionally used when referencing the knife, though it is becoming more and more obsolete.
Widdershins. This is another way to say something is moving counter-clockwise or something is moving in the wrong direction. It is a much more fun way to say counter-clockwise and is most likely something you heard one of your grandparents or great-grandparents say. Many people do still use it in many poems and newly published books.
Collywobbles. This refers to a weird feeling in your stomach or an overall bellyache. It is derived from the Latin phrase cholera morbus, meaning it came from the disease we all know as cholera. This is a word many people still use especially older individuals, and the background is quite dark! Many don’t realize the dark background much like many being unaware of the origins of “Ring around the Rosie.”
Gubbins. This is an object that has little or no value and is also referring to a gadget or device. It can also refer to odds and ends or rubbish and, oddly enough, can be used to describe a silly person. We don’t know about you, but it seems a little strange that a word describing something with little to no value also refers to someone who is silly.
Abibliophobia. Now this is a word that perfectly describes many people and you may be one! This refers to someone who is afraid of running out of things to read. We’re guessing that you are probably going to start using this word to describe yourself as you head out the door to the nearest Barnes and Noble or local bookshop.
Bumbershoot.Here is a fun word that most people know. This is referring to an umbrella and is something we have heard in many a Disney film or in many different books. It is quite fun to grab your umbrella and say in a fun voice, “I think I need my bumbershoot today!”
Lollygag. The origin of this word is unknown, but it first surfaced around 1868. The definition of “lollygag” is someone who is messing around or wasting time. It also refers to someone who is doing something that isn’t serious or useful. This could be a good word to use when procrastinating, “I’m just lollygagging.” Are you a lollygagger?
Flibbertigibbet. This is another fun word! This refers to someone who is silly and who talks incessantly. The first known usage of this word is the 15th century and used to be spelled flepergebet. This word also refers to a person who is flighty.
Malarkey. This refers to words that are insincere and talk that is particularly foolish. This is a word that we can thank the 1920s and 19030s for and it is still used by many people. It is a fun word to say, as well.
Pandiculation. This is what happens when you wake up in the morning and stretch. As you stretch, your muscles might go rigid for a short time, which can sometimes be uncomfortable. It also describes that wonderful, or terrible, combination of being extremely sleepy, stretching and yawning at the same time. Now, when this happens to you, you’ll know what to call it!

HOW TO SURVIVE THE LOCKDOWN

We are all finding different ways to survive these weird times. Here are some suggestions, but please note that you don’t need to put extra pressure on yourself to use this time wisely. Our mental health and physical well being are the most important.

Relax…don’t watch the news all day every day!!! Honestly life at the moment is stressful enough without having to dwell in the trenches. Find something to watch that is educational…there are plenty of channels for that. Or just binge watch something (keep the other suggestions in mind though!).

Get out of your pajamas!!! Honestly making a change of clothing just changes your mindset which is really important right now.

Breathe in some fresh air! Get outside as much as you can in the fresh air…be it your balcony, garden or going for a walk/bike ride ( I swear there are more people walking their dogs in Grand Ledge than I have seen in many years and I do not believe it’s because of a population explosion…We need exercise and fresh air!!

Exercise As I said above….walk your dog, do yoga ( I am currently teaching my students remotely), follow any of the exercise videos you have always wanted to, dance like nobody Well except family) is watching!

Play games. Set up game night…fun bonding times (even can be done remotely I am sure!)

Meditate/spend time in contemplation. Take time for yourself…even if it is sitting somewhere quiet with a liquid refreshment of choice and maybe write down things that you are grateful for…it can change your perspective.

Learn something new. A new language (me!) a new hobby (quilting/knitting) or something you haven’t had time for up till now.

Read….obvious one… Kindles may come into their own now as we are limited to what and where we can get something…check with friends…have them leave it on your porch and you do the same maybe for them!

Sleep well. I listen to a variety of podcasts to talk me to sleep if I am struggling. Your body needs rest to keep your immune system strong!

An Eternal Spring

Your body creates an eternal spring every day with with new growth.

Winter, spring, summer, fall, winter, spring, summer, fall, winter-those are the seasons and the cycles of life. Birth, growth, decay and death, these are the seasons of our lives. Yet our macrocosm is a reflection of our microcosm because every organ, tissue and cell has its own cycle of life. Throughout our lives, there is constant birth, growth, decay, death and rebirth. Your body is alive but not static, it must replace its parts all the time.

Every cell in your body is replaced at least once every 7-8 years. But some are replaced at an astounding rate. For example:

your body replaces about 4 million red blood cells every day
your stomach cells are replaced every 2-4 days
you have a new skin every 10-30 days, a new cervix every 6 days, new taste buds every 10 days

There are just a few parts of your body where the cells are not replaced: you don’t replace lens cells or oocytes in the ovaries-they are for life.

The key to healing is to replace sick or damaged cells with healthy cells. How do we do that? Chiropractic care is a very powerful healing art that helps to keep your body properly balanced, without obstructions to your nerves and brain, so life energy and information may flow to all your parts and you become healthier day by day. Regular chiropractic care ensures that your body is free from life-damaging spine and nerve stress.

This helps keep your energies flowing and your brain’s information to each cell at close to ideal.

Every day we’re getting one day closer to spring. Make sure all your cells are replaced with healthier cells so you may have an eternal spring in your body for your entire life.

Lanjopoulos Chiropractic

Chiropractics, Yoga, Tai Chi, Healthy Living