Poison Ivy – “Leaves of three, leave them be!” Poison ivy is quite prevalent in our state. The plants are most often found in semi-sunny areas along trails and in back yards. New leaves are a shiny green; mature leaves are a deeper green, and in the fall they are a gorgeous blend of colors. …
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These are a Few of My Favorite Things, Part 1: Books
Becoming Real: Reclaiming Your Health in Midlife, Kalpana “Rose” Kumar MD. In her book, Dr. Kumar weaves you though a wonderful journey into how our medical system has brought us to a state of closed systems that focus on handling disease instead of open systems that promote health and wellness. By explaining her four-body system …
The Effectiveness of Simple Breathing Techniques
How often do you find yourself in a stressful situation and suddenly feel that you cannot get a deep breath? Your breathing becomes shallow as you brace for the situation at hand. But, the longer you continue to breathe shallowly, the more anxious you will become—it’s simply physiology and physics at work. Recently, I had …
Leaving effective messages for your doctor or practitioner
Imagine that you’ve awakened with a very sore throat. You’ve been around family members that have had Strep throat, and you want to see someone today. You call and leave a message, but after several hours, no one has returned your call. What has happened? Is the clinic simply very busy or were you forgotten …
Growing older: What should you know?
Over 13% of the population of the United States is 65 years of age or older. Caring for ourselves as we grow older is challenging. Oftentimes, care of the older adult involves children or relatives. They often assist in day-to-day activities such as house cleaning and shopping, driving their loved-ones to appointments, offering financial support, …
Are You Limited by “Blinders” or “Blindness”?
Have you ever watched a horse race? If you have, you may have noticed that each racehorse is fitted with “blinders.” These are protective of the horse–they prevent the horse from becoming distracted or being “spooked” into a crazed run that can harm them. However, the blinders also prevent the horse from fully experiencing and …
Drug interactions: What should you know?
Millions of people take medications and supplements to manage high blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, and other conditions. These medications can be tremendously beneficial for your health. But, many people do not know these medications can interact with each other, with herbal preparations and supplements, with foods or beverages, or with a medical condition. Some interactions …
The Importance of Vitamin D
From the time we are infants to the time we become elderly, we need vitamin D for a healthy skeleton. Some research indicates that Vitamin D may be very important in maintaining healthy vessels, too. In our Wisconsin climate—our high latitude, it is difficult to get enough vitamin D from sun exposure. We are also …
Falls in the Elderly: How can you protect you and your loved ones?
Why is falls in the elderly an important topic? To answer this question, consider these quick facts: Many falls are not a normal part of aging, but are the result of many factors. The risk of having a fall increases with age, tripling from age 70 to age 90, and is greater for women than …
What’s in your herbal cupboard?
Herbs have been used for over 5,000 years. Today, more and more people are returning to the use of herbs for health reasons. Many believe that herbs are as effective, or more effective, than medicines. Herbs do offer many benefits when they are used appropriately. You may not know that some medicines are actually derived …