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
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Potting Soil, Garden Tools
Organic Fertilizers
Order your units
to be delivered
• Compost
• Fir Mulch
• Planting Mix
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