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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (June 12, 2012)
8 in other words june12 2012 Natural Path to Health: Allergies? By Dr. Carol McIntyre ‘Tis the season for allergies, so I thought I would offer up some quick tips to help all of you allergy sufferers out there. There are many supportive substances locally that could help provide some relief. You can even find some things in your own back yard! Nettles are a wonderful! You can find them all around this area growing near streams and rivers, in moist fields, and in the wilderness. They help inhibit the release of histamine and provide your body with vitamins and particularly minerals to boost your immune system. Always wear gloves and use scissors to cut the leaves/stems to avoid being “stung.” You can eat nettles or make them into a tea. If you want to eat them, it is best to collect them early in the Spring growing season when they are young and tender. Steam them as you would any other dark green or sauté them with a bit of garlic. They are great with a slash of apple cider vinegar! To make a tea, you can collect the leaves at anytime during the growing season. Allow the leaves/stems to dry completely. Use a tea ball or re-usable tea bag to steep the nettles. You should use about 1Tbsp dried herb per each cup of water- steep for 3-5 min for a mild tea or longer for a more potent tea if you wish. Some people who are sensitive to the hairs of the nettle plant may wish to also strain the tea before drinking it. Add a bit of honey to sweeten it up and give added benefit…. Which leads me to the next beneficial allergy treatment- HONEY? I know I have sung my praises before about my love for bees and the wonderful medicine they provide… but here I go again! Honey is a complete food in itself and for allergy sufferers it can stimulate your immune system specifically to counteract allergic reactions. Honey will provide your immune system with minute doses of pollen that have been collected by the bees and turned into honey. When you purchase LOCAL honey you are exposing your body to the pollens that you are surrounded by everyday and that your immune system is reacting to. By supplying minute portions of the pollens, your immune system is able to moderate its response and ultimately the overall reaction to allergy exposure is decreased. It’s similar to having a homeopathic dose or a vaccine in a way. On another note- I would like to let everyone know that very soon I will be In-Network with Kaiser as Creature Comforts: Canine Water Safety Don’t Just Pack It – Wear Your Doggy Lifejacket! By Michal Smith I haven’t met too many Vernonians who don’t have a dog (or two). And congratulations to the many new puppy owners this season! If your dog loves to swim, his/ her favorite time of year is coming. The weather’s warming up, and that means heading to rivers and lakes for day trips and long weekends. But even dogs who take to water like furry fish can run into trouble at the water’s edge. Keep your canines safe (if not dry!) this summer with just a little bit of prep and prevention. Make sure your dog knows how to get out quickly. Exit locations may seem obvious to us -dogs may not get it, and unsuccessful attempts to get out could tire them out, and possibly lead to drowning. Know that your dog understands commands, and will obey them. Calling him away from bodies of water – or calling him back to you WHILE he’s swimming, should he be heading into deep water or a faster- moving section of river – is important. If he refuses to listen to you, pack extra squeak toys that might help get his attention back on you and safety. Also, just like for humans, lifejackets are in the store for dogs of all sizes. They are lightweight, very comfortable and brightly hued for safety. Plus the adorability factor is off the charts! These are not a substitute for supervision of course, but they bring peace of mind to both owner and dog while enjoying the water. Bring your dog to Creatures Pet Store for a fitting! Open M-F 10-6, Sat 10-5. For more information call 503-429-PETS (7387). 291 A Street call Kim part of their Complementary Health Plan. This means that all people with Kaiser insurance can come see me for Naturopathic and Chinese medicine services including spinal manipulation. You can also request that your PCP at Kaiser refer you to me for treatment. Last but not least, I would like to say farewell to Phil and his staff at the Vernonia Pharmacy. Phil has always been such a positive support for me and a wealth of knowledge! It is unfortunate that our political system is forcing the small business owners to close their doors. I do hope that someday he can find his way back to Vernonia, but for now I know he will provide excellent service from his Banks location. Many Blessings~ Please give the home remedies a try. Explore different options for your health. Thanks for joining me! Be well~ Time to Prepare for the Bear Creek Run It’s time, again, to don your runnin’ shoes! Believe it or not the Bear Creek Run in support of Vernonia Cares is just around the corner. We are busy preparing for a super fun time this year so please plan to join us on Saturday, August 11th at the Anderson Park Pavilion. The races will begin promptly at 9:00 AM. Be on the lookout for Bear Creek brochures located at many of our local businesses. You can fill out the form and send it in or sign up on line at www.signmeup.com/82872. Same day registration will be at 7:45 AM at Anderson Park. We are still in need of sponsors so please consider sponsoring this event. Hopefully, most of our local businesses have already received their sponsorship letters. Your donation is tax deductible and goes to a great cause; Vernonia’s own food bank! If you want your business name to appear on our advertisements and Lovable service at the back of our race T shirts you need a reasonable price to have your donation and company logo in no later than July 1st! • Bathing If you need more information, • Haircuts would like to become a sponsor or • Nail Clipping volunteer to help on race day please • Nail Polishing contact our race director, Kellie Murray, at 503-429-3021. • Specialty See you on August 11th! Shampoos START RIGHT. START HERE. SM Get Your Garden Ready Lawn Care Supplies, Seeds Potting Soil, Garden Tools Organic Fertilizers Order your units to be delivered • Compost • Fir Mulch • Planting Mix 1 unit = 7.5 yards Family owned & operated for over 40 years 834 Bridge St., Vernonia (503) 429-6364
