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Monthly Archives: October 2020

13 Tips for Managing a Fever: How To Treat & Manage

With infectious diseases on the rise, you might be nervous about any sign of fever. Holistic family healthcare is here to guide you through the process. The truth is most of these symptoms usually amount to nothing more than a little discomfort. At the same time, it’s important to know when to seek medical care. It is also important to recognize nature cure family health. 

Information about the recent pandemic continues to be updated frequently, so contact our holistic family healthcare practice to find out how the latest guidelines could affect you. In general, experts believe the main symptoms are fever, cough, and shortness of breath, but those are not the only symptoms. It is important to realize that in nature cure family health, there are also many other viruses, bacterias, etc that are out there and to recognize that every illness, every fever is not CoronaVirus. 

If you have any symptoms that you are concerned about please call our holistic family healthcare practice, as we can schedule a same day sick care. We can schedule in office or schedule a telehealth appointment. You can also contact your local health department. Avoid visiting a hospital emergency room unless you require immediate care. 

You may still have a case of ordinary flu or a milder infection, so it helps to know how to manage your condition. Learn more about what to do when you have a fever and nature cure family health steps that can be done to treat yourself.

Woman with a fever

Basic Facts about Fevers:

  1. Determine the causes. Most fevers are caused by viral or bacterial infections. They can also be related to other events like sunburns and some forms of arthritis. The correct treatment will depend on what produced your symptoms. At holistic family healthcare we treat causes and not symptoms. An allopathic doctor will treat symptoms. We typically will do an AK test to determine if the cause of symptoms are bacteria or viruses. Once we determine the cause, we have several nature cure family health treatments, such as homeopaths or herbals to address immunological concerns.
  2. Learn age guidelines. Age is a major factor in treating a fever. For babies 3 months or younger, call our holistic family healthcare practice for any fever of 100.4F or higher. Most adults require medical care only if a fever is at least 103F or lasts for more than 3 days. In either case, there are nature cure family health options to help reduce fevers. 
  1. Fevers are not a bad thing. Fevers are the bodies way to burn off any underlying infections. Many times we attempt to suppress fevers out of fear and anxiety of what a fever may mean. This may not be the right approach, so calling our holistic family healthcare practice to guide you through how to use the fever to your advantage is key.
  2. Seek medical care. There are a few other cases when a fever may need more than home health care. That includes patients with compromised immune systems or accompanying symptoms including rashes, stiff necks, or hallucinations. Feel free to reach out to determine when nature cure family health is appropriate or if you need medical attention. 
How to get unwell fast

Taking Your Temperature:

  1. Expect fluctuations. It’s natural for body temperature to change throughout the day. It’s likely to rise in the late afternoon and evening, and after you eat or exercise. In holistic family healthcare, we expect multiple fluctuations. This comes as indications of the bodies ability to heal itself. In nature cure family health, or naturopathy we see the bodies expression of symptoms as the body working towards healing.
  2. Choose your method. Oral and rectal digital thermometers are considered the most accurate. Most pediatricians recommend rectal thermometers for babies rather than armpit or forehead readings. However, those can be very invasive and uncomfortable. Sometimes comfort is more important than accuracy in the moment.
  3. Clean and store safely. Wash your hands and any thermometer thoroughly with soap and water. Label oral and rectal thermometers to prevent confusion. Make sure that you check for any cracks or any inaccuracies with the thermometer. This is to make sure o any leaks or any dangerous chemicals. Please throw away any broken or altered thermometers.
  4. Follow instructions. Timing a digital thermometer is as easy as waiting for the beep. In case you have any questions, keep the instructions on hand. With the wave of COVID, there are a number of simple and effective forehead thermometers. These are also very simple to use just point towards the forehead and take the temp of the person. There is no need to constantly take the temperature of the person. Again, in nature cure family health, we see a temperature as the bodies way of self healing. 
Child taking medication

Managing Fevers:

  1. Stay in bed. A fever is part of a natural healing process that starts when your body releases chemicals that raise your temperature. You can help your immune system along by getting plenty of sleep and rest. It is key to allow your body to rest. Sometimes your mind is going a mile a minute and may need some support to sleep. Sleeping is the key to fast recovery.
     
  2. Sweat. Forget about the ice baths and alcohol rubs you may see in the movies because intense cold will constrict your blood vessels. Instead, take a tepid bath or put a damp washcloth on your head if you feel like you need to cool yourself down. However, it is key to sweat to break the fever. Sweating is key to releasing toxins within the body. Sweating is part of nature cure family health.
  3. Drink fluids. Fevers can leave you dehydrated. Sip water and clear bone or vegetable broth or suck on ice chips. Children under one may also need a rehydration solution to replace electrolytes. We have electrolytes in our practice, if you want to call for those while you are sick and feel that you need those, in our holistic family healthcare.
  4. Avoid caffeine. Coffee and other products with caffeine can also shrink your blood vessels and trap in body heat. Switch to herbal tea for a few days. Many people may not feel motivated to eat or drink like their normal habits, and that is okay. Try your best to eat or drink light things but do not worry if you cannot drink or eat like normal. Avoid things like sugar, bread, pasta as those can feed infections within the system.
  1. Try OTC medications. If your fever is making you uncomfortable, you may want to try acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or aspirin. Check the labels for correct dosages and side effects. Try to balance the need of fever reducers as the fever is the immune systems way to heal itself. It may be tempting, and sometimes a challenging balance. Do not suffer, there is no need to suffer in the process of getting well, nature cure family health can help you balance this process.
  2. Use herbs. If your symptoms are mild and tolerable, you may want to let your body heal naturally. There is some evidence that herbs like echinacea and ginger provide gentle relief without suppressing a fever. At holistic family healthcare, we can advise you on what things to take and we have supplements that are strong enough to help support the bodies ability to heal. We take the guess work out of the process. 

For adults, most fevers can be treated at home or they’ll quickly resolve on their own. At holistic family healthcare, we can determine the balance between nature cure family health  and allopathic traditional practice. In more serious cases, knowing when to seek prompt medical care will help to keep you and your loved ones safe and well. We can guide you through that process, if you call our office. 

A lesson on the immune system

 

Immune system support with home remedies

The immune system is an amazing self healing organism. It is able to heal and support itself’s ability to heal. Even if the body becomes infected with something it does not mean the immune system is not working. Actually, quite the opposite. Many people are curious as to how to increase immunity home remedies. Which home remedies for cold and flu are out there that can help support the immune system when it is overwhelmed with pathogens.

Pathogens are foreign invaders to the system. They are bacteria, viruses, fungus, and even parasites. Many home remedies for cold and flu are designed to kill these invaders while also draining them out of the system. We also support the nutrients within the body first and first most as a strong support for the bodies ability to heal itself. Sometimes this by itself is strong enough to kick the immune system in gear and other times it needs additional support in order to kill invaders. Holistic care must be taken when working to support the bodies ability to heal itself.

How to increase immunity home remedies depends on what type of pathogen is found in the system. Once a person is tested (usually with AK testing), then we can determine what home remedies for flu and cough make the most sense. There is no one size fit all approach to how to increase immunity home remedies. Herbs may work best for some, where homeopaths are the best choice for some. It is important to distinguish and identify which option is best for you as everyone is different. Also, each type of infection is treated differently. Bacterias are treated differently than viruses, which are treated differently than fungus, and of course parasites. Each pathogen is treated differently within the body.

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A Foolproof Formula for Increasing Family Harmony

What’s life like around your house? Do you lack family harmony? Is it stressful? Maybe you spend most of your time sharing happy moments or maybe you’re stuck arguing over the same old issues. As a Holistic Family Doctor near me, I am tasked with asking those various questions to maintain the family dynamics healthy, happy, and whole. As a functional medicine doctor near me, I am trained to understand the biological impact of these stressors may have on the individuals within the family unit. 

Conflicts are a natural part of family life. They can even be beneficial when handled constructively. They offer a way to teach communication within the family unit as well as in relationships, establish healthy boundaries, and of course fair fighting rules. On the other hand, a family that knows how to express love and pull together has its advantages. This provides a great deal of emotional support for children, by providing them a sense of security. You enjoy more peace and happiness and you feel gratified knowing that your children are learning how to thrive as adults. As a holistic family doctor near me, I am grateful to be able to facilitate so many families by helping them communicate more harmoniously. 

You can experience greater family harmony starting today. As a functional medicine doctor near me, addresses the physiological stress caused by increase cortisol and stress response within the system that can be caused from continued arguing. If you find yourself in consistent disagreements with your family members then use these ideas to create a climate of appreciation and cooperation.

Holistic Family Doctor near me Recommends to Spend Time Together:

  1. Eat as a family. Strong family relationships require time and effort. Mealtimes are an ideal opportunity for staying in touch and sharing in-depth conversation. As a functional medicine doctor near me we typically recommend eating together, and sharing healthy meal habits. As a bonus, you’ll probably eat healthier too.
  2. Connect individually. In addition to family dinners and outings, a holistic family doctor near me recommends to schedule one-on-one time with your partner and each of your children. Try to leave home for a date night at a restaurant or local theater at least once a week. Take your daughter to a science museum and play board games with your son. This will help to build positive feelings, which in turn can help children’s neurohormonal system get off to a good start. As a functional medicine doctor near me, I often see the impact of stress response, especially from adults, with whom have experienced the emotional impact of emotionally neglectful parents at an early age.
  3. Stay active. If you’re like many families, you may be texting or watching TV even when you’re in the same room. Put aside the passive entertainment to go ride your bikes or visit the gym. Exercise promotes many health benefits mentally, emotionally, as well as physically. Those people who excercise often report a better mood, more relaxed demeanor, and a decreased stress response. This translates to a healthy interaction between family members. Exercise is great for building family harmony.
  4. Have fun. Make family gatherings and activities something you look forward to. Consider everyone’s interests when you’re planning vacations or holiday parties. As a holistic family doctor near me, I often advocate for families to plan things to look forward to, such as vacations or family vacations. This can provide a positive outlook for many of the members of the family, which can sometimes become bogged down in the drudgery of the day to day tasks.

As a holistic family doctor near me and a functional medicine doctor near me here are my suggestions to Enhance your Communications:

  1. Listen closely. Give your family members your full attention when they have something to say. Keep an open mind and resist the urge to interrupt. Use questions and gestures to show that you’re engaged. Practice active listening, where you listen generously not to respond but rather to understand and empathize with the other. This requires you to focus on what the person is saying, validating what they are saying, even if you don’t agree.
  2. Provide validation. You can acknowledge each other’s feelings even when you disagree. Let your partner and children know that you care about their concerns and share your own similar experiences when appropriate. This allows for everyone to feel heard, respected, and keeps everyone in their power. As a holistic doctor near me, I often am working with those with suppressed communication and the impact that this may cause. As a functional medicine doctor near me, what I notice is the impact of this suppressed communication on the liver, digestive, and other internal organs as increased cortisol levels inhibit the digestive system.
  3. Seek balance. While some family members are bound to have more power than others, you can still work at treating each individual fairly. Give children choices and ask for their input as much as possible. Make sure they feel as though their input is included. Also discuss with them about what is happening within the daily and the impact on them such as Dad is going to be working out of town, and will be back etc. Try not to make abrupt changes without proper communication as this can impact their psychology in a negative manner.
  4. Offer praise. Appreciate the unique strengths and abilities of each family member. Encourage your partner to talk about their accomplishments at work. Tell your children that you’re proud of them when they complete their homework or share their toys. Offering this encouragement can build self esteem, and confidence for the child.
  5. Teach skills. Show your children how to resolve conflicts and talk about sensitive subjects. Provide a positive role model and use techniques like role playing or watching and discussing instructional videos. Have conversations that may be difficult and exercise what tactics you use when approaching some more sensitive topics. Do you take deep breaths, do you ask for a time out, do you communicate your feelings clearly? Try and be mindful of what types of behaviors you are modeling for your kiddos. 

A Holistic Family Doctor near me has a few more ideas:

  1. Create rituals. Holiday traditions and nightly bedtime stories encourage strong bonds. Develop your own practices that will reinforce your family values and give you a sense of belonging. This will also create consistency, stability, and what it means to be a part of a family.
  2. Do your share. Family harmony flourishes when each member contributes generously. Let your children know what a big difference it makes when they do their chores and watch out for their younger siblings. Divide up responsibilities with your partner based on your talents and goals. Independent children love responsibilities and love being able to help around the home. Giving them a small job also builds confidence and self esteem as they grow older.
  3. Plan and prepare. Sometimes you can anticipate events that may be challenging for your family to handle. Plan ahead and set some ground rules for how you’ll deal with visits from your in-laws or the first time your teen arrives home long after their curfew. Creating structures, standards, boundaries, and expectations as well as potential consequences that are clear, concise, logical consequences help support the family unit. This is also a framework of teaching personal responsibility, cause and effect, and integrity.
  4. Consider working with a holistic family doctor near me. Maybe you feel like you need more help, or you think an outside perspective could shed light on a recurring issue. Working with a holistic family doctor could reveal new options and give you additional tools for dealing with difficult situations. Working with a functional medicine doctor near me can also provide support on the physiology (function) and stress the body endures in the process.

You can change your family dynamics. Replace tension and arguments with collaboration and respectful conversation. Even if you have not been taught how to create a nurturing home environment  you can create peace and family harmony.

Carbohydrates vs Sugar: What’s the Difference for Your Health?

Bread, candy, sugar, pasta – it’s all sugar and carbohydrates. The question stands, what’s the difference in which ones you can or shouldn’t eat? Especially with the advent of weight loss virginia beach, many people have confusions around sugar and carbohydrates. Sometimes they think that if their blood sugar is not stable it means they eat or don’t eat sugar because they are unclear as to carbohydrates and their role in blood glucose. At our weight loss center virginia beach, we educate about the role of nutrition and how that plays into weight loss and weight gain. 

When it comes to the war on foods, carbohydrates really get a bad reputation. It’s unfortunate because carbohydrates have been the lifeblood of human existence for thousands of years. So many people are unclear as to the amount of carbohydrates or the differences between carbohydrates in our weight loss center virginia beach. Why do people now think that they’re bad for them?

The reality is that carbs themselves are not bad – it is the processed, sugar-rich carbs which provide the bulk of bad news in your diet. These are the simple carbohydrates. Healthy carbohydrates are fruits and vegetables.

Here’s the thing: sugar is a nutrient that tastes great, but it is completely non-essential in our diet. 

In fact, most unprocessed carbohydrates (fruit, vegetables) will contain a plentiful supply of glucose and fructose to provide energy to the body. There’s no need to consume pure sugar unless the body craves these types of sugars. As we understand what it takes to weight loss virginia beach, then we are able to determine the balance of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats within the diet. 

Grocery Shopping

Processed sugar will provide you nothing but inflammation – inflammation of cardiac muscle, arteries and many other systems – that is completely unnecessary. 

So, how do you tell the difference between good sugar (found in wholesome carbs) and bad sugar so that you can have weight loss virginia beach?

In our weight loss center virginia beach we recommend to Stay Away from Processed Foods

Processed foods really are the worst thing for you. Yes, they’re easy to consume and very tasty, but if you are concerned about your health, this is an area that’s important to pay attention to. As if you consume large amounts of processed foods the body accumulates toxicity. This toxicity inhibits normal function in the body which contributes to weight loss virginia beach.

Foods with processed sugar come in many forms, such as cereals, yogurts (high in lactose, another sugar), and pastries. Even some processed meats have sugar-rich sauces on them. 

If you’d like to cut down on sugar, simply avoid foods that are overly processed. This will definitely lower your sugar intake each day.  Being conscious of processed sugars is an important aspect that we educate on in weight loss virginia beach. 

How to Escape the Sugar Trap

As you may know, complex carbohydrates like ancient grains, fruit, and vegetables provide a very good source of metabolized glucose (to fuel the brain) and glycogen (to be stored in muscle and liver). This does not include things such as pasta, rice, and various processed grains. Ancient grains include grains such as spelt, teff, millet, chia, buckwheat, etc. Quinoa is another healthy grain. It is a high protein grain. 

Eating wholesome foods in their most natural form will always be the easiest way to ensure you are getting the nutrients you want and none of the inflammatory properties of processed sugars

Do I Need to Completely Eliminate Sugar?

This is something that needs to be clarified. Sugar is not necessarily bad, but the rate at which most people consume it can be very detrimental to your health. Increased sugar feeds unhealthy bacteria within the digestive system. Working with a weight loss center virginia beach will help you determine levels of sugar that are healthy for you. Ideally, the less processed sugar the better and this will help weight loss virginia beach. An education of the amount of carbohydrates that you need as a ratio in your diet.  

Anything that has insulinogenic properties (in other words, it raises insulin levels) can lead to an imbalance in the body over time. This are primarily found in high processed foods such as bread, rice, etc. These will want to be minimized and in some cases eliminated in the diet.

High-sugar foods are not only addictive to the body and brain, but they also cause massive surges in insulin levels. Insulin spikes can cause challenges with weight loss virginia beach. In our weight loss center virginia beach, we address insulin spikes and help you to identify them.

The secret? Consume fiber. Fiber has a unique property that not only limits inflammation but also relaxes insulin levels. For this reason, many who suffer from diabetes consume higher than normal fiber levels to counteract inflammation. Fiber can be found within plant based foods, such as apples, greenery such as kale, etc.

So, if your body doesn’t have insulin issues, a small amount of sugar probably won’t hurt you as long as you can counteract the inflammation it can cause. This does not provide you an “out” per say it just provides you freedom if you go to a party, want to go out to eat, etc. Eating healthy does not mean that you are restricted. So many people are afraid of restriction and deprivation. Restriction and deprivation is not the answer. You are making a choice to eat foods that are supportive of your body. This is a more powerful position rather than a disempowered suffering vibe. 

sugar vs carbohydrates

Coming Full Circle

The main difference between sugar and carbohydrates is the fiber content and the true nutrients it provides. At our weight loss center virginia beach, we educate people about nutrition to become empowered by the information. Once you own the information, how it feels in your body when you eat healthy, then you are well on your way to create weight loss virginia beach. 

Sugar provides only a very short burst of energy, whereas a complete carbohydrate (oats, for example) provides a very good source of vitamins, minerals, fiber, protein, and healthy carbohydrates that are metabolized into glycogen. Distinguishing between these types of sugar can help you determine what is healthy for you, and what is unhealthy for you in your diet. I am typically not an advocate of specific “diets”. I am more interested in people eating healthy overall, and making eating healthy more of a lifestyle than a diet. 

Keep it simple and limit your consumption of processed foods, and you will see a major difference in your body composition, strength, and energy levels. It really can be that simple. We are available to do a body composition assessment in our practice to provide you a baseline to your body fat, visceral fat, muscle tone, etc. This can be encouraging on the pathway to achieving your health goals. 

8 Strategies for Successful Homeschooling

Successful homeschooling for your children’s education is incredibly important, at our holistic family healthcare practice we strive to provide you all the necessary tools to be effective as a parent.  There are many considerations that go into making a decision to homeschool your kids. Our innovative healthcare family practice works to help you look at all angles, such as behavior, habits, emotions, and mindset. After all, you want to give your kids the best start in life that you can with the greatest outlook.

Children with crayons

Successful homeschooling includes so many things in addition to academics, such as physical skills, social skills, field trips, sports, music, and much more. Holistic family healthcare also looks at environment in the home including relationships, boundaries, even the home environment and how Feng Shui may impact the home. 

How can you create a well-rounded homeschool program that gives your children the most benefits that you can, our innovative healthcare family practice seeks to answer this question and provide strategies to provide you holistic family healthcare. 

These holistic family healthcare strategies will help you create a successful homeschooling program for your children:

  1. Research homeschooling. Read everything you can about the different curriculums that are available. Talk to other homeschooling parents, as well as their homeschooled kids, to learn from their experience. There are many Facebook groups found in your local area, as well as connections within the community. Consider partnering with an innovative healthcare family practice as they may have many resources including connections with various homeschooling groups. 
  • Find out the homeschooling requirements for your area. This varies from location to location. This can usually be found through a local homeschooling group or through your local school board.
  • For example, in the United States, each state sets their own requirements for homeschooling. Some states require attendance records, as well as reports and standardized tests. Other states require little. Check with your local school board to determine what your locality requires. 
  • Join a local homeschooling group. One of the best places to find out information about homeschooling is from homeschoolers themselves. You will be able to ask them questions, let them review your practices, and show you what works for them. Often times at an innovative healthcare family practice services many home school families. With permission the holistic family healthcare provider can provide some families that may be able to advise and support along the journey.
  1. You can also learn what age-appropriate activities are available, plus how the other parents make subjects available to their kids that they don’t have expertise in, such as a foreign language or playing a musical instrument. There is often groups of families with shared talents.
  2. Many local homeschooling groups have arranged all sorts of things for the kids, including field trips, sports teams, and even competitions. This will provide more socialization and support of people.
  • Decide on the curriculum. There are various places online where you can buy a curriculum to use at home. These will vary from traditional textbooks and workbooks for reading, writing, and arithmetic, to more custom curriculum that is aimed more at your own child’s interests. There are also many curriculum you can buy second hand through homeschooling groups. 
  • Create your own space for Successful Homeschooling. Where are you going to be schooling your children? Will you be using the kitchen table, or do you have a spare room available to set up for homeschooling? Do you need a blackboard or a desk? What about a computer or space for storage? These are all questions to think of and many more that are posed from your holistic family healthcare provider along the journey. 
  • Set specific goals. At an innovative healthcare family practice, it is important when homeschooling to set specific goals. This is because you will likely be moving at a different pace to those in traditional schooling. You’ll want to ensure that your child is learning as much as the other children of the same age. These goals can be shifted and adapted depending on your child’s learning style. 
  • Create your own schedule. Once you’ve thought about goals for your child, it’s time to create a schedule that supports those goals. Make a plan of what subjects you are planning to do on each day, and whether there will be any field trips. Make sure that they are consistent every day.. This will create a structure and safe support.
  • Also, include time in your children’s schedule for physical activity, socializing, and making friends. Extracurricular activities are important. So are social skills.
  • Networking with other parents will help keep you in the loop about what activities are available for your child.
  • Even though you’ve made a plan, remember that you’re allowed to be flexible. That’s one of the benefits of homeschooling. Just like an holistic family healthcare, we provide a whole hearted approach considering all of the components and how they relate to the whole. 
  • Ensure that your child doesn’t become isolated. Spending all day with you may seem like a dream but your child may think differently. They need friends of their own age, so let them be kids too.

Homeschooling isn’t suitable for all children or all parents, but if you are homeschooling, keep these tips in mind for a program that can benefit your children for life.