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Saundra Schrock, retired financial services executive, is the founder of a firm assisting executives in the integration of mindfulness into their business and personal lives. |
Are you seeking a way to lower stress, improve your health and increase your productivity and creativity? With the holidays kicking in to high gear and all the potentially stressful interactions that could take place, putting into place a quick mindfulness practice or habit might be just what the doctor or naturopath ordered.
Mindfulness is the ability to intentionally place your attention in the present moment. The growing interest in mindfulness is largely attributed to people looking for relief from the ever present level of stress that comes from too much to do and too little time to do it. It might come as a surprise to you that a large amount of our stress and lack of a sense of wellbeing arises from our inability to control our attention. As we begin to experience what it feels like to be present, we understand how much control we have over our level of stress. The solution is not outside of us, but within us.
It might be hard to accept that something so simple can change our lives so radically. It won't happen overnight. Just like brushing your teeth, it takes daily practice. And like brushing your teeth, it may only need a few minutes a day to focus your attention. Just identify a time when you would like to be more present (quick tips follow). Options could include during a business meeting, a conference call, a social event, or being with a family member. When you find yourself in that situation, make a commitment to notice when your attention wanders and then gently bring it back to the present moment. Or you can take an everyday activity like preparing meals, driving to work, showering and yes, brushing your teeth. Instead of letting your mind wander, use that time to practice focusing your attention.
Click here for simple steps to create mindfulness.
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Food for Life
Healthy Snacking Through the Holidays
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The time is upon us when sweets and holiday gatherings become abundant in our homes and the workplace. Many times we may feel that the holidays mean we can overindulge and return to a healthier eating plan at the start of the new year. Dr. Levitt reminds you that sugars are hidden in so many foods because they are often processed as sugar. The more you can dig into the "earth's bounty" kinds of foods, the more you can think of the holidays as "healing and healthy" opportunities for your body and your key relationships with family and friends.
When it's time for the next potluck, introduce squachos. Yes, a combination of squash-based chips and healthy nacho toppings that will leave everyone chatting about the special dish and help them feel a little less guilty during the holiday season. Instead of a horn of plenty, how about a horn of plenty good food to celebrate our health. Here are three variations in the November issue of Women's Health
using butternut squash, sweet potatoes and parsnip.
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Provider Profile
Dr. Levitt Moves to Concierge-style practice
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In an effort to focus more time on patients and still manage through the challenges of running a medical practice, Innovative Primary Care founder and physician, Dr. Sandra Levitt, is moving to a concierge-style primary care model while the rest of her team will continue to serve patients as usual and continue the integrative nature of health care and wellness.
If you have not yet decided if moving to Dr. Levitt's newer practice model through MDVIP is right for you, please visit the information website or call a dedicated toll-free line at 1-866-696-3847 to learn more and discuss your options.
We thank you for entrusting us with your health care needs.
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Healing Therapies
Say Goodbye to the Pain Part Two
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Pain - strains, sprains and aches - there no one way to treat them, and it often takes continuous attention and care of your body. In our October newsletter, we shared therapies from our naturopath, Dr. Xan Simonson, that can reduce chronic or short-term pain without the intervention of medicine. Prolotherapy and Ozone Therapy are additional modalities to address pain management and options that might work, depending on the issue you may be confronting.
Regenerative Joint Injection Therapies
(RIT), such as Prolotherapy, Prolozone, PRP and Stem Cell Therapy, are used for joint, tendon, ligament, muscle and spinal pain. They have been studied and practiced by physicians since the 1950s. Treating pain with "RIT" stimulates the body to heal itself.
RIT gives ligaments, tendons and joints a second chance at healing and is often described as "anti-aging medicine" for the joints. In fact, the American Academy of Pain Management, American Association of Interventional Pain Physicians and the American Academy of Orthopedic Medicine endorse RIT for chronic unresolved musculoskeletal pain.
When a joint is injured, ligaments and tendon insertions are strained. This causes an inflammatory response, a critical phase of healing. RIT stimulates the body's own healing mechanism to rebuild and heal tissue around the injured joint site by using a sugar-based solution to create a mild inflammation. The body then reacts to this inflammation to proliferate and remodel the tissue by activating fibroblast in the injured area, causing new cell growth and collagen disposition.
There is the misconception that with time, sprains and strains will heal completely. In fact, post-injury healing of ligaments and tendons is only 50 to 70 percent of pre-injury strength. When ligaments are lax, joints become unstable and degenerative changes can occur, which can lead to osteoarthritis. Because RIT gives the ligament a second chance at healing, the ligament is strengthened, the joint is stabilized and the predisposition to arthritis is reversed.
The technique of each treatment is the same; a solution is injected into the injured joint, but the significant difference is the solution. The solution will also dictate how many treatments an area will need. Most joints generally need between 3-6 rounds of Prolotherapy, usually spaced one month apart.
Ozone therapy involves the use of medical grade ozone, a highly reactive form of pure oxygen, to create a curative response in the body. The body has the potential to renew and regenerate itself. When it becomes sick it is because this potential has been blocked. The reactive properties of ozone stimulate the body to remove many of these impediments thus allowing the body to do what it does best - heal itself. Ozone reactivates the immune system. As a response to this activation through ozone, the body's immune cells produce special messengers called cytokins. These inform other immune cells, setting off a cascade of positive changes throughout the immune system, which resist disease. This means that the application of medical ozone is extremely useful for immune activation in patients with a low immune status and/or immune deficit.
Bottom line: there are options. If you are tired of being in pain or looking for an alternative to surgery, consider a visit with Dr. Simonson. Also check this month's feature on supplements to find out those offerings that can also help with pain.
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Supplement Support
Essential Oils Make Great Holiday Gifts
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Just in time for the holidays, Innovative Primary Care is offering a special discount on a few key offerings, including essential oils. Through December 24, all essential oils are on sale for 35% off the retail price. Essential oils can be used for a wide range of emotional and physical wellness applications and may be the perfect holiday gift for yourself or someone you care for.
In fact, Dr. Levitt recently shared some oil with a patient in the hospital after a fall. She was worked up and anxious. With a few dabs, she was calmed down and ready for the important sleep needed to heal. Depending on your need, consider the following offerings:
Feel free to visit our office to learn more about the featured supplements or ask your IPC provider for more details at your next visit. You can place an order at the office or
by calling us at 480.776.0626. Payment is required at the time the order is placed.
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