8
in other words
august21
2014
Natural Path: Old Man’s Beard
By Dr, Carol McIntyre
Last week our daughter
Charlotte was ill with an upper
respiratory infection. She had terrible
congestion, cough and fatigue. I did
everything I know to bring her back to
health including cuddling, many hugs,
chicken noodle soup, essential oils,
homeopathy and wet socks. She was
feeling better after just 2 days. Amazing!
Me? I woke up Thursday
morning without my voice. The fatigue
was so debilitating that I couldn’t walk
across the room without becoming
exhausted. Apparently I was not resistant
to the slobbering snot that my beloved
Charlotte had been projecting on me for
days. I lay around and did my basics,
thinking that I would be able to “kick it”
in a day or two. Not the case.
After feeling partially defeated
and very silly (as I am a doctor with
many tools at my disposal for healing),
I began to dig around in my pantry to
find the herb that I have always used as
my “go to” for treating URIs. I found
it, along with a couple of wonderful
companions and made a tea. The rest is
history. Healed and back to the work of
healing~ I am well once again.
So, what is this magic herb? It
is actually a lichen. Usnea is a lichen
that grows prolifically here in Oregon.
The first time I learned about the healing
properties of Usnea was in an herbal
studies class in medical school. My
teacher spoke of it and how readily
available it was in the area. I was
astounded because in NY State, where I
am from, it is an endangered species!
At first, I was appalled that
people were wild harvesting this herb as
medicine. Then I learned that Usnea or
“Old man’s beard” grows prolifically in
the NW because it needs old growth trees
to live with and clean air. Unfortunately
in NY, even western NY/Finger Lakes
area where I am from, we no longer
have the habitat to support the abundant
growth of this wonderful resource.
Still wondering what this herb
is? Look around as you drive down
the road. You can see the green “grass
like” plant hanging from the trees. This
is Usnea. “Old man’s beard” as it is so
appropriately called. It hangs in long
New Day Massage to Expand Services
ber,” explains Lewis. “I’m still on the Governor’s Ru-
ral Health Coordinating Council. I was a consultant
with the Vernonia Health Board helping them develop
their partnerships with the Public Health Foundation
and Pacific University to provide health care in Ver-
nonia. All of these other things really demonstrate my
commitment to rural health care, not just in Vernonia,
but in Oregon.”
Lewis is a Licensed Massage Therapist
(LMT). She has also taken extensive course work to
become a nationally Certified Lymphedema Therapist
continued from front page
(CLT), treating patients with congenital or hereditary
issues. “These are people with conditions where their
body doesn’t allow their lymph to move appropriately
resulting in edemic appendages, most typically legs,”
explains Lewis. “I also treat people with Secondary
Lymphodema, a condition which results from surgery,
chemotherapy, radiation and is quite often experienced
by women who have had a mastectomy or men who
have gone through prostate cancer treatment.”
Lewis is also a Nutritional Therapist (NT) as
well, and is certified to assist people who are struggling
with dietary issues, par-
ticularly around Diabe-
tes, Attention Deficit
Disorder, weight issues,
Meredith Guardino (right) from the Oregon Office of Rural Health was in Vernonia
Krones Syndrome or
on Monday, August 18th to hand deliver a $10,000 check for a grant to support
other issues.
community outreach programs for the Vernonia Health Center. Construction of the
In addition, Lew-
new health center is on schedule with the new facility set to open in September.
is says she has taken
Also pictured (L to R) are Vernonia Health board members Bob Wagner, Erika
course work and be-
Paleck, Rachel Langmaid and Marie Krahn.
come certified in Medi-
cal Cupping, an oriental
medicine therapy which
uses vacuum techniques
to separate muscle tissue
to increase circulation
and support the body
healing itself. Lewis
says this therapy can be
Health Center Receives Grant
strands from the trees decorating like
garland. This is medicine… a wonderful
medicine that will clear up any URI! It
has never failed me.
As mentioned before, a
community wellness calendar will be
available soon. I look forward to doing
some herb walks and showing you
how to identify medicinal herbs. Also,
we can have classes on harvesting and
processing herbs, making teas and so on.
There are so many resources here at our
fingertips- let’s explore them together. I
am sure many of you have knowledge to
share and I am excited to learn.
Hope you’ve been enjoying
your summer! Stay cool and
hydrated. Thanks for joining me.
~Be Well.
beneficial for people with have suffered traumatic in-
juries to muscles or joints or who have had surgeries
which restrict movement. Lewis says she has also had
additional training focusing on treating whiplash and
low back injuries resulting from automobile accidents
or on the job injuries.
Lewis says there are some restrictions in Or-
egon about the patients she can treat as a massage
therapist in regards to insurance coverage. Lewis does
take most insurance for covered benefits under an indi-
vidual’s insurance plan.
Lewis has also added a sauna to her services,
which is available for clients to add to their massage
therapy for a nominal fee.
Lewis says much of her work is used in con-
junction with other therapies including at-home thera-
pies they can do themselves after a visit to her office.
“My philosophy is that I don’t want to give people fish,
I want to teach them to fish,” says Lewis. “I try to
remind their body what it is like to be in good health.
Hopefully they get to the point where they can support
themselves. The most successful patient is one that
wants to participate in their own healing process. My
success is measured by the fact that you are not coming
to me anymore.”
New Day Medical Therapies, Consulting and Solutions
is located at 847 Madison Avenue. Heather Lewis can
be reached at 503-429-4677.
Vernonia’s 16th Annual
Community Wide Garage Sale
The annual Community Wide Garage Sale will be held on Saturday
August 23, 2014 from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The map showing sale
locations will be available Friday, August 22nd and the day of the sale
at Vernonia Realty, 953 Bridge Street.
CAN YOU FILL
THESE BOOTS?
VOLUNTEERS
WANTED
Need more room?
See us for the lowest prices
GUARANTEED!
Debit/Credit now accepted
5x10 $39
Call Dean Smith
for more information
on free training
(503)429-8252
10x10 $69
10x20 $99
RV Storage $149
Outside storage available
Totally fenced and gated
Padlocks Available
Authorized
U-Haul Dealer
Boxes and Supplies Available
We can make your reservation
Pick up here or anywhere
58605 Nehalem Hwy South • P.O. Box 292
Vernonia, Oregon 97064
(503) 429-7867
10-6 Tue-Sat
12-4 Sun
