Castor Oil Pack Treatment

31 Jan 2013 Complementary , , , , , , , , , , , ,

 

Castor oil packs aid in the elimination and detoxification of the body.

 

Indications: The castor oil pack has many applications and is used in many conditions including uterine fibroids, non-malignant ovarian cysts, headaches, migraines, abdominal pain un-explained, nerve pain, constipation, colitis and other intestinal disorders, gall bladder and liver conditions, arthritis and chest colds.

Contraindications: Do not use heat with uterine growths, bleeding, pregnancy, ulcers or while menstruating. Do not fall asleep while using the electric heating pad.

 

Supplies:

            Flannel cloth (cotton or wool; 20-40 inches by 24-48 inches)

            Plastic wrap (clear kitchen wrap or plastic bag without ink)

            Glass dish (square 9×9 inch Pyrex or similar container)

            Bath towel

            Hot water bottle or hot gel pack

            Two safety pins

            Six ounces of castor oil

 

Directions: Choose a container in which to store and heat your castor oil pack. Fold the flannel or wool cloth 2-4 times, so that it is several layers thick and a suitable size to cover recommended body area. Pour oil onto flannel until it is well moistened. Heat flannel/oil in glass dish in oven or microwave to a comfortable temperature. You want the pack very hot, but not hot enough to burn your skin. Lie down placing flannel directly on skin over the treatment area. Place plastic wrap that is 1-2 inches larger than flannel on all sides over the flannel and plastic and pin in place. If using heat, apply hot water bottle or hot gel pack over the treatment area. Rest. You may sleep, use visualization, or meditate at this time. Treatment should continue for at least 1 hour. Longer treatments are not harmful, though it is not advisable to fall asleep with the heating pad on. You may replace the flannel pack in the glass container and store in refrigerator. This flannel and oil may be used for weeks or for 20-25 applications. To cut the oil, wash skin or towel in a solution of 3 tablespoons baking soda/qt of water.

 

Usage of Castor Oil Pack-

Your clinician will recommend the frequency of use. Typically, the castor oil pack is used 1-3 times/day in acute situations, and 1-3 times/week in more chronic situations.

           

 

Gastro Intestinal Health

26 Nov 2012 Medical , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

What is GI the tract?

The GI tract consists of the stomach and lower intestinal area in addition to the transitional segments. The organs are the stomach, small intestine, large intestine (colon) and the rectum.  The upper digestive tract includes the mouth, duodenum and esophagus.

What does the GI tract do?

The GI system is responsible for the digestion of food and absorption of nutrients as well excretion.  Most digestion occurs in the small intestine, while the stomach is mainly responsible for the breakdown of food and particles in the system. The digestive tract is a series of tubes within tubes that are made up absorbent surfaces, each with a different job. The mucous layers absorb hormones, vitamins, minerals, water and other important nutrients essential to your health.  The GI tract is the immune system barrier, which is the main defense against outside infections and allergens.

What does it feel like when your digestive tract isn’t working properly?

–       Gas, bloating and pain

–       Stomach upset

–       Heartburn

–       Fatigue due to improper absorption

–       Constipation or diarrhea

–       Nausea and vomiting

What happens when your gut doesn’t work? 

The inability to properly process food can be a sign of other underlying health problems. For instance, “leaky gut” occurs when a particle of food or other foreign substance crosses the barrier from the intestines into the body. There they create a strong reaction that causes the immune system to attack the particle and sometimes areas of the body that may resemble the particle. This is a key theory in autoimmune disorders and diseases.  Another problem is that when your gut isn’t working well, your hormones don’t get processed properly resulting in a build-up of only one type of hormone.  Any hormone imbalance can lead to serious and unpleasant side effects.

What are the side effects of an unhealthy digestive system?

-Nutritional deficiencies since vitamins and minerals are not absorbed properly

-Fatigue, weakness and dizziness

– Yeast over growth and infection

-Anxiety from hormone imbalance

-Impaired immune function since the body is already fighting something

-Skin rashes due to decreased immune function

-Flatulence and bloating

-Diarrhea or constipation

-Headaches from hormone imbalance

 

What are a few steps to improving the health of your digestive tract?

-Test for food allergies that can make the leaky gut worse

-Decrease refined sugar in your diet

-Take healthy enzymes like glutamine which can heal the GI tract

-Use probiotics at a dose strong enough to replace your depleted flora

-Increase your intake of high fiber foods health

 

ADD and ADHD

22 Oct 2012 Medical , , , , , , , ,

Currently the diagnosis for ADD and ADHD is becoming more and more common for students and children with extra activity.  The most common form of treatment is to give stimulant type drugs that enable the children to focus and harness their energy.  However we find that stimulants are not only hard on children’s health but also not a good long term fix.  What most parents want to know is what are the healthier and more of the long term options.  The answer is holistic medicine and diets can actually be a really great option to manage an ADD child.

The first option is diet.  Numerous amounts of children with ADD or ADHD have food sensitivities of some kind.  There are two types of immunoglobulin’s IgE and IgG.  IgE antibodies are the ones that cause an immediate allergic reaction.  An example of this is a child that eats a peanut and then has an immediate allergic reaction which can put them in danger of not being able to breath.  IgG antibodies are a delayed sensitivity that can cause numerous symptoms. The symptoms include but are not limited to: fatigue, behavior modification, headaches, Sore-throat, loose stool, constipation, mood changes and decrease in immunity due to body inflammation.

The second option is homeopathy.  Homeopathic medicine is very effective in treating not only ADD but also other childhood behavioral disorders.  This is a type of treatment that is easy for kids to take and produces remarkable results.  An example of Homeopathy is taking a specific symptom or personality and diluting compounds that would enhance that symptom.  By diluting the compound only a mild remnant remains and this stimulates a negative feedback loop causing the body to stop the over active symptoms of ADD.  This reaction helps the body to teach itself to adapt to its lack of concentration by knowing when it’s time to focus and when there is an appropriate time to be energetic.  This can be a very empower solution for both parents and child.

The third option is daily activity modification.  For most of us this can be very challenging as a parent since it requires you to get your child on a schedule that can sometimes be very strict.  This schedule would include exercise, a set bedtime and scheduled study or homework time.

Our office can help with any and all of these elements. We would love to answer any questions you have.

Chiropractic for Children

22 Oct 2012 Medical , , , , , , ,

Why should children see a Chiropractor?

Because children have healthy growing spines, they are the perfect chiropractic patients. A small spinal curve or other issue can be easily spotted in a chiropractic exam and quickly addressed. The spine is similar to a young tree that begins to grow crooked. If you don’t give it the support to grow straight, you’ll end up with a tree with a curved trunk. Children are much the same. It’s also important to protect children from the neurologic health changes that are often caused by a misaligned spine.

Do children like getting adjusted?        

Most children like getting adjusted and are often excited to come in for their visits.  Infants will frequently sleep through their entire visit or smile while being adjusted. We use various techniques on children depending on their health needs, and occasionally we can we give them a choice of the method they like best. We use techniques such as craniosacral therapy, activator and non-force techniques as well as manual adjustments using fingers and hands.

How often should children be seen? 

We recommend that children get their spines checked twice a year much like you would do for a dental check up. Keeping the spine aligned through chiropractic care can be very helpful in preventing scoliosis and other childhood problems such as ear infections, growing pains and sleep issues.

What role can chiropractic play in a child’s healthcare?

In addition to routine spinal assessment, chiropractic can play an important role in your child’s healthcare through many stages of development. Here is a break down of some commonly seen conditions in our clinic.

  • Newborn 0-12 months:  colic, trouble breast feeding, trouble sleeping, failure to thrive, constipation, reflux/stomach upset, ear infection
  • Toddlers 1-3 years:  low back pain, trouble walking, unusual stride pattern, clumsiness/tripping/frequent falls, failure to start walking, trouble sleeping, night terrors, ear infection, constipation
  • Start of school 5-7 years:  knee pain, growing pains, trouble adjusting at school, playground injury, colds, swimmer’s ear, bed wetting
  • Adolescence 11-15 years:  scoliosis, growing pains, menstrual troubles, sports injuries
  • High school 15-18 years:  Growing pains (more common in boys at this point), sports injuries, menstrual troubles
  • College to adult:  At this age their bodies start responding more like an adult so normal chiropractic rules apply

What are the goals of treating children?

Since children experience periods of rapid growth, our goal at inHealth Clinic is to keep the foundation of the musculoskeletal system strong and balanced.  Additionally we provide well and sick-child exams and offer natural alternatives to address many childhood illnesses.

Our practice blends the best of chiropractic and holistic health care using some of the following treatment options:

  • Adjustments (many technique options)
  • Careful and accurate testing
  • Thorough exams
  • Botanical medicine
  • Homeopathy
  • Nutrition
  • Vitamins and minerals

At in-Health, we pride ourselves in giving you honest and direct answers. We offer a complimentary 10-minute phone consultation and we promise to tell you if we are not a good fit for your healthcare needs.

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