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General Updates
- Appointment hours through the summer will be for Fridays only.
- Due to a large patient load, Dr. Camp is not currently accepting new patients other than through special arrangement (please contact Mercedes for details).
- Dr. Camp's second grandchild is due sometime in July and we will be sure to send out photos so you can celebrate with us!
- Mercedes celebrated the acquisition of her US Citizenship in April - congratulations!
- Special Feature Article: Journaling For Your Health, excerpted from a workshop given July 2008 by Twila Camp, MLIS and Tara McDaniel, MLS at the Norman Public Library Summer Reading Program.
Swine Influenza (Swine Flu)
- First and foremost, the flu is the flu, and all the same basic flu prevention techniques listed below will go a long way to minimize the risk for coming down with the symptoms of this most recent outbreak and will lessen the impact on you and your family.
- What is so scary about this particular strain of flu? Well, we do not have any specific immunity to the new strain that is going around, H1N1 swine influenza, and that means no one has any particular "natural immunity" to help them avoid it. However, a strong and thriving immune system can help a person experience only minimal effects from it, so minimal that you may not notice any symptoms other than a bit of fatigue and a slight fever.
- Other reasons authorities are particularly concerned about this strain include: the widespread nature of the reported occurrences, the fact that little is known about this new strain, and whereas the "Swine flu", is rarely but usually spread from swine (pig) to humans, this strain has been shown to have been transmitted from human to human.
- The general signs and symptoms to look for include common flu or flu-like symptoms of fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. An increased percentage of patients have reported diarrhea and vomiting as well.
- The most serious complication is the development of pneumonia which we want to completely avoid. If you have difficulty breathing, a tightness in your chest or any other respiratory symptoms and cannot contact or get in to see your doctor within a few hours, proceed to your closest urgent care facility.
- If you start to experience any of the symptoms listed above, call your doctor right away, especially your homeopath if you have one, to have your case taken. A remedy prescribed within the first 24 hours of the onset of flu symptoms can tremendously speed recovery.
- Basic flu prevention techniques include:
- frequent washing of the hands with warm soapy water especially after contact with other people or after being out in public
- avoid touching the mouth, nose or eyes, as (according to the CDC) these are primary modes of transmission
- cough into a tissue and dispose of it, then immediately wash the hands
- get plenty of rest
- stay well hydrated with healthy beverages: water, mineral water and herbal (non-caffeinated) teas
- eat well and try to avoid sugar and known food allergens
- keep your stress levels to a minimum
- keep your immune system strong with extra Vitamin C (up to 3000 mg per day), Elderberry and Astragalus tincture, Vitamins A, D, E and Zinc, a good mushroom formula and lots of fresh greens and fruits (2-6 servings per day)
- Do not take aspirin, tylenol or other symptom masking agents (such as Tylenol Cold and Flu, Nyquil) as this can lead to more severe symptoms down the road.
- For more information visit the following links:
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Acai Fruit
- With so many people talking about and using Acai, we thought we would give you the basics...
- Acai (Euterpe Oleracea) is a member of the palm tree family growing in South America. The palm trees are used for both the hearts of the palm and for the dark purple/blue fruits, the Acai fruit. The native use of this fruit is as a beverage, prepared and consumed immediately after harvest..
- The benefits: there are numerous health benefits assigned to the Acai fruit such as:
- Powerful antioxidant - similar to other fruits such as blueberry and cranberry.
- Helps with circulation, brain health, skin health, digestive processes, neurological processes, detoxification in the liver, boosts immune function and much more.
- Possible help with weight loss.
- Helps with many chronic conditions such as arthritis, seasonal allergies, depressed immune function and more.
- Contains anthocyanin, flavonoids which give the fruit a dark purple color. Foods containing anthocyanin are shown to be cancer preventative and anti-aging and may serve as food-based colorings and dyes.
- The problem: The anthocyanin is unstable and degrades easily in the Acai fruit once harvested and because of that the fruit perishes quickly even when refrigerated.
- Beware internet surfers...there are so many scams out there offering free trials and great deals. We also had a very hard time finding good quality products with a substantial amount of Acai, prepared in a way to preserve the antioxidant function.
- Many of the juices contain a very small percent of Acai fruit and do contain a fairly high level of added sugar.
- Pills and capsules can be found but can cost as much as $90 for a 1-month supply.
- Many of the pills and capsules also contain only a small amount of Acai fruit.
- Because of the instability of the fruit, you would want to go with a trusted source to be sure it was prepared correctly to preserve function.
- What is the research? Check out Acai at Pubmed.
- A very cool database with an excellent write-up about the plant: Raintree Nutrition
- Can we get it for you? Absolutely. Pure Encapsulations has a wonderful product, 600 mg of Acai with a little cranberry, blueberry, red raspberry and pomegranate. A 2-month supply is around $40. Just let Mercedes know you would like some and she can get it ordered.
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Dairy Alternatives
- So many people have a sensitivity to either lactose, the sugar in milk, or to the proteins in milk that we decided to give you a handy list of dairy alternatives. The first four can be found at most local health food stores and in many areas now, the regular grocery store. The last two are a little hard to find so we included links.
- Here is a handy Dairy-Free Handout.
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Journaling For Your Health
by Twila Camp, MLIS
Tristine Rainer, Ph.D., a pioneer in the field of contemporary journal writing, wrote that journaling "is an active, purposeful communication with self." Humans have been leaving behind written evidence of their experience since the cave drawings. Since then, the impulse to chronicle our experiences have always been present in human society, even though the medium by which we keep record have changed.
There are many ways to keep a journal. You can keep a record of chronological events in your life, track your favorite hobby, record your dreams, or write your daily thoughts and feelings. In fact there are just as many methods to journaling as there are journalists. It’s truly an individual and personalized experience.
Many people attest to the emotional and mental health benefits of keeping a journal. In fact, Mark Doty, a contemporary American poet and memoirist wrote, "What is healing, but a shift in perspective?" According to the work of Tristine Rainer, journaling helps to develop the following cognitive functions: improved memory, imaginative capability, rich dream imagery, intuition, and a myriad of creative faculties.
What many people may not know about journaling is that is also provides many physical health benefits. Louise DeSalvo, who is an American writer, editor, professor, and lecturer, writes about clinical the positive effects on journaling in her book Writing as a Way of Healing. In one controlled clinical experiment, journal writing: improved immune function, improved emotional and physical health, and created positive behavioral changes. Here are some writing prompts to help you get started:
Describe…
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The best advice you’ve ever been given
- A time when you felt the most happy, or optimistic – or angry!
- The warmest, strongest, most vivid event of the past 24 hours.
- A time when you were encouraged by someone who is dear to you.
- The season and the weather. Describe sights, sounds, textures, smells and tastes.
Finish the Sentence...
- Authenticity is...
- I am...
- I am not...
- What I want for myself is...
- What I want for others is...
- What I need to know is...
- I value...
Further Resources
Adams, Kathleen. Journal to the Self: Twenty-Two Paths to Personal Growth. New York: Warner Books, 1990. Kay Adams was one of the first pioneers of journal writing as a tool for healing and self-development. Fun, wise, and easy-to-read, this book contains thirteen tried-and-true techniques for journal writing.
Clement, Doreen. The 5 Year Journal for Men. Morgan James Publishing. A write-in hardback journal for men with sections that include Month End Summary, Quarterly Questions, and Year End Favorites. Encourages men to examine where they’ve been and where they want to go, and to track their feelings and progress.
DeSalvo, Louise. Writing as a Way of Healing: How Telling Our Stories Transforms Our Lives. Boston: Beacon Press, 1999. One of the best books about personal-experience writing available. She discusses the studies that show how writing improves help. The bulk of the material is how to write difficult material and nurture yourself during the process.
Mc Daniel, Tara. Creative Expressions & Explorations. A blog about the benefits and rich opportunities for self-expression and expansion through writing. http://creativexs.wordpress.com.
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