Women's Whole Health Partnership

N.O.W: Self Diagnosing

2009-06-16T06:46:00.000-07:00

In an age where there is a plethora of information on every subject, the push for greater personal health accountability, and increasingly over sized and impersonal environments of some health care settings, self diagnosing may seem like a logical step in managing your health. After all, WebMD has so many enlightening and informative facts that are just once mouse click away. So what is the problem with sitting down at the computer with your cup of coffee to figure out once and for all what that pain in your stomach is all about?
Doctors, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and naturopaths all go to school in order to become adept at interpreting the multifarious world of medicine. Your symptoms may seem to paint the perfect picture of a specific disease state when you key them into your computer screen, but there is a lot missing from that equation. Most symptoms are similar among many kinds of diseases and imbalances. It takes a trained professional to sift through the information in order to gain an accurate view of what is lying beneath. A high quality health care provider has the ability to take the complex being that you are -- mental, emotion and physical -- gather that information and make an assessment based on those details. As most people know, even with this one-on-one care, it can take multiple visits and sometimes changing care providers to gain necessary health and balance.
Staying away from self diagnosing doesn’t mean keeping yourself in the dark though. It is important to stay informative with regard to your health and your needs. Here are some suggestions to empower yourself in the health realm:

- Research health topics that interest and are relevant to you. There’s no need to stop looking-up topics on the internet. In order to better understand medical vernacular and have a broader scope of alternative treatments when discussing them with your health care provider, it is necessary to get an idea of what is out there. Use the web as a tool and a stepping stone, not the final judgment on your medical condition. Take your findings and discuss them with your health care provider.

- Find a practitioner that fits your needs and lifestyle. No matter what their focus is (complementary medicine, family practice, oncology, etc) it is vital to find someone who has been well trained. Ask around your community and set-up meet-and-greet appointments to help make your decision. You should feel respected and heard as well as confident in the assessment capabilities of your chosen provider. If you don’t, move on until you find one that works for you.

- Ask questions and work to understand the details of the diagnosis you have been given. What may seem like a banal injury can turn into an opportunity to learn more about the anatomy and physiology of your body. This is not only enlightening, but can help you to possibly prevent such injuries in the future. With more complex situations, being informed means being prepared to make decisions about future health outcomes and changes. It may not take all the fear away, but some anxiety may be assuaged, freeing more mental and emotional energy to help get your balance.

N.O.W: Herbs, Your Garden & Your Health

2009-06-06T06:14:00.000-07:00

It is time to plant your garden in Vermont! If you're still in the process of deciding what to plant, think about creating an herb garden with a medicinal focus. All of the lovely, fragrant herbs you use to cook with, also have potent medicinal qualities that can be used in teas, tinctures and other ways. Here are some ideas to get you inspired:

Echinacea -- This flower is well known for its healing properties, with both the lay person and the seasoned (pun intended!) herbalist. Although it takes a few growing seasons to get a mature plant ready to harvest and use, it's well worth it. Once ready, you can use the roots for its immune boosting qualities.

Rosemary -- Not only is Rosemary wonderful with garlic and potatoes, but it is packed with many vitamins and minerals as well as antibacterial and antiviral properties. Dry your Rosemary and store it for later use in the winter. Use it to make a healing tea combined with ginger to open up the nasal passages and warm yourself when it is cold outside.

Parsley – This herb is easy to grow and a wonderful source of beta carotene (which your body converts to vitamin A), vitamin C, iron, potassium and calcium. You can also use it for its antiseptic properties. Eat it fresh off the vine to get all its nutrition or grind it up and use it to help heal insect bites this summer. (Warning: pregnant women should not eat excessive amounts of parsley as it is an emmenagogue and will stimulate uterine contractions).

So these are just a few of the many herbs you can use to spice up your garden and your medicinal arsenal. Get creative, go out and discover what appeals to your taste buds and do some research on the myriad uses your plants have to offer.

Many changes....

2008-11-02T12:53:00.001-08:00

Hello! Many changes have taken place in the last 6-7 months. I am in a new town and therefore am severing a new population of people. In-home visits for massage, nutrition and postpartum doula work, are the central theme to WWHP. We are awaiting the arrival of a new member of the family who is due this winter as well.

I will update address and other changes soon. Until then, WWHP is not accepting new clients, but don't despair, the doors will open again soon enough!

N.O.W - Other blogs/sites to check out

2008-01-23T07:00:00.000-08:00

This week is to direct you to another interesting blog and website to check out. They pertain to ecological economics, art, and politics, all which are essential for health of our bodies as well as our world. Check 'em out and enjoy!

http://ecologicalecon.blogspot.com/

http://shammsetc.org/

N.O.W. - Vaccinations:Your Family's Health

2008-01-14T11:12:00.000-08:00

Are vaccinations safe and do I have to get them for my kids?

The issue of vaccinating your child is a complicated one for many. On the other hand, there are others who never though twice about obtaining all the required immunizations that their primary care provider has ordered. Either way, whether you will choose to vaccinate or not, the next step should be to research and investigate each vaccination. It is always an empowering choice to gain more knowledge and understand side affects, precautions and alternatives. Most school systems require that you vaccinate your child before they will be allowed to enroll, including colleges. There are also alternatives if families choose not to vaccinate. Again, all this should be well researched and well thought out before making the final decision.

Here is one resource to start with (make sure you use many more):
"Vaccinations: A Thoughtful Parent's Guide: How to Make Safe, Sensible Decisions about the Risks, Benefits, and Alternatives"
By: Aviva Jill Romm

N.O.W. - Update

2007-11-02T10:49:00.000-07:00

Hello all.
For all of you that have been waiting for the N.O.W. postings to resume, I want to let you know that they will begin again soon. Thanks for all of your e-mails. Check back for new N.O.W. postings within the month!

Best,
Ania

N.O.W - Calcium in Non-Dairy Foods

2007-09-16T17:12:00.000-07:00

What other foods have calcium besides dairy products?

Here are a few choices:

- 1/2 cup tofu processed with calcium = 435 mg
- 3/4 cup calcium fortified orange juice = 260 mg
- 1 Tbsp. blackstrap molasses = 170 mg
- 1/2 cup boiled turnip greens = 100 mg
- 1/2 cup tempeh = 90 mg
- 1/2 cup okra = 90 mg
- 1/2 cup tofu processed without calcium = 60mg
- 1/2 boiled kale = 45 mg

Also, some herbs that are high in calcium are nettle and oatstraw.

Keep in mind there are many more. For a complete listing, go to the USDA's listing here: http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/Data/SR18/nutrlist/sr18w301.pdf

Some vegetables and grains have other components in them (oxalates and phytates respectively) that may block the absorption of calcium. But, if you don't or can't eat dairy, other calcium rich foods are the way to go.

N.O.W - Localvore Vermont

2007-09-09T16:38:00.000-07:00

What is localvore?

Localvore is a movement that challenges its participants to eat all local foods (local meaning grown or produced within a 100 mile radius.) Writer and professor Bill Mckibben ate local for 7 months while living in Vermont and really brought the message of this national movement home.

Now the question is, why localvore? Well, in a world with quickly diminishing resources it is becoming vital that we try to conserve by eating food that is grown or produced close to home, therefore decreasing cost, time and energy in the transit process from the grower/producer to the stores. Also, buying local keeps dollars spent local and enhances profits for our neighbors who are producing the food. And in this the era of mass production of food by large corporations and factory farms from faraway places, there are many who just feel better knowing where there food has come from.

Take a look at the resources below for more detailed information and how you can get involved. Also, City Market has created a pamphlet with all the local foods in its store that are available for purchase. They even have a convenient display set-up next to the front door with many local foods in one spot ready to be purchased.Take the challenge and enjoy!!

1. Champlain Valley Localvores - Burlington Area: http://www.eatlocalvt.org/

2. Vermont Localvore Social Network: http://vtlocalvore.ning.com/

3. Mad River Valley Localvore Project: http://www.vermontlocalvore.org/

4. Vermont & New Hampshire Localvores Project: http://www.vtearthinstitute.org/UV%20localvores%20project.html

5. Burlington Free Press Article: http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070903/NEWS02/709030314

N.O.W - Massage positions for pregnancy

2007-09-03T15:11:00.000-07:00

Is it OK for a pregnant woman to go to a therapist that uses a table with a hole in the middle so you can lay prone (on your stomach) during the massage?

After several weeks of sleeping on your side in bed, it may be tempting to try a massage and get on your stomach for an hour or so. Although there are many therapists who may offer these types of tables for your pregnancy massage, it is a good idea to steer clear of them. There isn’t enough data or good information to ensure adequate safety for mother and baby. The best guideline to go by is to always be more cautious with your pregnant body and here are some reasons why: Lying prone impedes blood flow – the weight of the uterus pushing-up and gravity pulling down creates this decreased flow. Also, the weight of the uterus, baby, all of mother’s organs and the pull of gravity along with any pressure the therapist puts on the mother’s back will create pressure on the major vessels of the mother’s body that transfer blood to her baby and herself. Pressure on vessels leads to decreased flow, which means less oxygen and nutrient exchange for both mother and baby.

As pregnancy progresses through-out the months, progressive lordosis, or a normal increased concave curve of the lumbar spine, occurs. This happens because of the shift in the center of gravity from the weight of the baby. Lying in prone position, a mother can experience excess pressure on her lumbar spine. The uterine ligaments holding her uterus ad pelvic in place may also be taxed by the pull of gravity on her belly in this position.

If you’ve already had a massage with a therapist that uses a pregnancy table or specialized pregnancy pillows that allowed you to lie on your stomach, don’t be overly worried. You may have felt a bit dizzy or a little achy afterward, or felt just fine after. The important thing is that you are now informed and know to choose someone who is adept at giving pregnancy massages in the side-lying (right and/or left) or “Fowler’s Position” (supine, or on your back at a 45º angle so as not to compress the vena cava). Not every therapist understands all the details and specific care that a pregnancy woman needs during her massage, so inquire about their background and skills before you set-up an appointment. And above all, enjoy your massages for all the stress relieving, sore muscle soothing, and hormone evening it can offer!

STK Art Opeing & Free Coupons

2007-08-26T10:05:00.000-07:00

Hello!

This Friday night, 8/31, from 6-9pm I will be handing out 10% coupons during STK art opening for Abby Manock.

Come check out the art and pick-up some coupons for yourself, friends and family!

STK website: http://www.studiostk.com/

See you there!

N.O.W. - Late night eating & weight gain

2007-08-26T09:18:00.000-07:00

Is it true that if I eat food late at night I am more likely to gain weight from those calories than if I ate them earlier in the day?

You gain weight when you overeat too much food or calories - period. It does NOT matter when you eat those calories. What matters is how much you eat. Calories are units of energy that come from food. When you consume too many of them, they are then stored as fat. People tend to lose weight when they follow the rule of not eating late at night simply because they are restricting calories. Many times people will eat mindlessly in front of the television to relax or as a way to unwind.

Most of the time people get enough food to sustain their body's requirements through-out the day and the late night snacking ends-up being extra food that is serving more of an emotional than a physical need. The key is to start to listen to your body's needs. Are you truly physically hungry when you start to eat at night, or is there some anxiety, fear or other emotions that are calling to be "fed". Start a food journal and begin to see the patterns of your late night over eating.

In the end, be kind to yourself and create change slowly. If indeed you need a late night treat, eat 1/2 a cup instead of 1/2 a box of ice cream. Make room in your eating plan if you know you just need a treat that night by eating a smaller portion during one of your meals through-out the day. And if you can't eat your dinner until later in the evening from some reason, that is OK. As long as you don't eat more than you need, you won't get fat just because you ate past 6pm.

N.O.W - Pain during massage

2007-08-16T15:00:00.000-07:00

Is massage supposed to be painful in order to be truly effective?

Depending on what king of bodywork you choose, there will be varying levels of pressure. In deep tissue your therapist will use a pain scale of 1-10 as an indicator of how deep they are working your tissues. The ideal during a deep tissue session is to achieve a "good hurt", which is usually around a 6-8 on the clients pain scale. The therapist is working to break-up connective and muscle tissue that are adhered from chronic over-usage and body imbalances. Deep tissue is meant to stimulate "therapeutic inflammation", which will create some normal redness and swelling in the area worked-on. This is good. The swelling is due to the attraction of water and lymph to take away waste products dislodge from the recently massaged tissues. Deep tissue or other deep bodywork modalities, if done correctly, stimulate the realignment of soft tissue to a more balanced and healthful state.

The client should always let the therapist know when they are past the "good hurt" and are just plain hurting. Bruising and other soft tissue trauma can result from a therapists heavy hand, not to mention creating anxiety in the client. You can always request softer pressure or a different massage modality so you feel comfortable and relaxed. You know your body the best. Please communicate with your therapist and always feel empowered to find another if your current one is just not working for you.

Introducing N.O.W.

2007-08-16T13:10:00.000-07:00

Each week check out WWHP's blog for the N.O.W (News Of the week) posting, which will feature useful information regarding nutrition, bodywork, pregnancy and postpartum issues. Many are posts that will come from questions and concerns of clients, as well as advice that is just good to have.

Feel free to e-mail or blog additional questions or comments for future N.O.W postings.

Vermont Soy

2007-08-16T11:42:00.000-07:00

Go to City Market and check-out Vermont Soy soy milk in the refrigerator section. They are a local (Hardwick, VT) company that is creating certified organic soy milk while using ingredients from local farmers. There are a plethora of benefits to consuming soy, especially whole soy foods such as Vermont Soy's product. And the benefits of eating local food are far-reaching through-out our community.

For more on:

Vermont Soy: http://www.vermontsoy.com/

Why eat local: http://www.billmckibben.com/local-economies.html

More on Insurance - Blue Cross Blue Shield

2007-08-10T13:07:00.001-07:00

If you weren't aware of it already, as of 2005 Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont (BCBSVT) "...complementary and alternative health care (CAM) services are now available to its members and their families through the health plan's BlueExtras affinity discount program...The addition of CAM services to BlueExtras will also provide BCBSVT members access to AWHN's award-winning online member education site, WholeHealthMD.com, that includes a convenient practitioner search tool. BCBSVT members may access the BCBSVT website, www.bcbsvt.com for information about the BlueExtras program and the selection of offerings available at a discount." Check out the link below for the rest of this article:

http://www.bcbsvt.com/pages/press/release27.html

My name should be listed on WholeHealthMD in the next few weeks. This program allows BCBSVT members to receive CAM complementary and alternative health care) services at a discount. Take advantage of this if you are a member!

Insurance Update

2007-08-09T08:47:00.000-07:00

WWHP is now accepting insurance!

The steps you take to get covered by your next appointment (this applies to massage only - not nutrition or doula services)

1. Check to see if your insurance carrier covers massage/bodywork and understand the specifics of when and how they cover such appointments.

2. Get a referral from your PCP (primary care provider). This is usually required by most insurance companies. I have physician referral forms and prescription forms that I can e-mail you to make this step go smoothly

3. Make your appointment

More and more insurance companies are covering massage and bodywork, so check with yours today. Contact me with any questions and concerns. I'd be glad to help you if you feel frustrated or stuck with this process.

Best,
Ania

Old North End Ramble!

2007-07-27T07:09:00.000-07:00

Hello All,

This Saturday July 28th from noon to dusk will be the Old North End Ramble, which includes the Old North End Parade, Crombie Street Block Festival. There are all kinds of interesting and fun events going on through-out the day.

As part of the festivities, Women's Whole Health Partnership will be handing out coupons for 10% off your first appointment! This deal is on the 28th only, so stop on by 12 North Street to pick one up and check out the sites on the way.

For more details and a map of tomorrow's events go to: http://theramble.org/about.html

It's going to be a lovely day. Hope to you.

Best,
Ania

Grand Opening - Success!

2007-07-09T13:50:00.000-07:00

Hello all!
I appreciate the support that so many of you showed on opening night. I was booked the whole night and saw some familiar faces as well as many new ones. Thank you all!

Stay tuned for more updates and information.

Best,
Ania

Grand Opening

2007-07-02T17:58:00.000-07:00

Hello all! WWHP will be officially open for business starting this Friday, July 6th from 6-8pm. The opening will coincide with "Art-to-Go" at Studio STK for the First Friday Art Walk.
I'll be offering 10 minute $5 massages to any and all women interested. It will be a full evening of lovely, innovative art and relaxing bodywork all rolled into one!

For more information about the "Art-to-Go", check out the STK blog: http://www.studiostk.com/blog/blog

Hope to see you there!