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Healthy Life

Thrive Carolinas / Healthy Life (Page 15)

Autumn – Acupuncture Qi Gong and Mindfulness

Autumn/Fall is the season of harvest as we prepare for the winter season. [caption id="attachment_4834" align="alignleft" width="184"] Dr. Scott Greenapple[/caption] We look to collecting and storing nutrition as well as mental clarity for the purpose of cultivation and culmination to allow us to grow and let go of and move on to the next cycle of the seasons and life itself.  We can move forward with the proper care that allows us to balance the body/mind experience and balance the nervous system to enhance our overall well-being. Fall is the time of year to go deeper into self-care, retrospection, and meditation. In traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) we look at seasons and consider them as elements. With each change of the season, there are elements and meridians that correspond....

Eat Greens Every Day and Build an Internal Rainforest

  Have you ever gone through your week, and realized that you didn’t eat any greens? I used to do this and then would crowd in a salad here or there thinking that was enough. But was it enough?  NO!  We should be eating greens EVERY day, with EVERY meal.  Sounds strict, and I know a plate of greens isn’t as much fun to eat as a plate of French fries.  Let’s move past what our taste buds want and move forward to what our bodies need as a WHOLE. We need greens.  Greens help build your internal rainforest and strengthen the blood and respiratory system.  They act as a systemic purification, or detoxification, for our body, and help to balance our internal pH.  Dark, leafy greens are essential...

Laughter can be the best medicine, particularly during a Pandemic

The last 18 months have been a challenge for all of us in ways we are still understanding. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic left many feeling like victims, powerless against this deadly virus. We became dependent on a government and a healthcare system that used fear to drive our decisions. The exposure of CNN Technical Director Charlie Chester’s death toll ticker was formulated to keep people in fear and to drive up ratings by keeping people glued to the TV. There was no compassion. His explanation? “If it bleeds it leads”. The government and healthcare system have also driven the learned helplessness and victim mentality with promises to “Save the Day” with a vaccine and government funding which will miraculously get us out of the pandemic. Here...

Supplements for Mitochondrial Health

As the powerhouse of the cell, mitochondria gives you the energy you need to perform at your best each day. However, many people don’t get the necessary nutrients, antioxidants, and compounds needed to support good mitochondrial health. If you want better mitochondrial health and more energy, consider these four supplements. Alpha Lipoic Acid Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA) is a powerful antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals and ROSs. It can also serve as supportive fuel for your muscle mitochondria. ALA has also been shown to stabilize blood sugar. Elevated blood sugar and insulin levels are known contributors to mitochondrial dysfunction. ALA has also been shown to reduce inflammation, a major contributor to mitochondrial dysfunction. You can get ALA in red meat, organ meats, broccoli, or spinach, but many people have...

Prioritizing Your Mitochondria

Mitochondria are considered the “powerhouses” of the cell. These organelles, which have their own set of DNA, are believed to be derived from bacteria that took up residence in our cells and provided a symbiotic relationship. Every cell has large numbers of mitochondria however, the cells which produce the greatest energy, like your brain and heart, have the highest concentration. Mitochondria convert food and oxygen to energy in the form of ATP, or adenosine triphosphate. This is the energy source your body uses to fuel almost every biochemical process. During the process of ATP production free radicals or reactive oxygen species are made. This is a normal process and when we are healthy, we can remove these potentially damaging products before significant damage occurs. As we age,...

Environmental Toxins

[caption id="attachment_4826" align="alignleft" width="300"] Harlee Palmer, PA-C - Functional Medicine[/caption] In recent decades more than 100,000 chemicals have been introduced in common everyday products. Among these chemicals are endocrine disrupters that can have a significant impact on health. They can trigger autoimmune reactions such as allergies, eczema and modulate the immune response. Chemicals we breathe, eat and put on our bodies can affect the endocrine system and the gut which in turn can impact autoimmune disease as well as brain function. While genetics plays a role in the development of autoimmune disease, our lifestyle and environment can impact how these genes are expressed. It may seem overwhelming to think about how to protect ourselves from the constant assault of pesticides, pollution, and chemicals but there are definitely things we...

Detox the Mind, Body, and Spirit

Detox the Mind, Body & Spirit In theories of acupuncture, humans are looked at as part of the natural world that surrounds them. Seasons change and during this transition from one season to another, it is important to stay balanced with acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Each season is linked with an organ system in the body. Acupuncture improves the function of the liver meridian and can restore balance to the organs. According to TCM, the liver is responsible for smooth flowing Qi (chi) or energy through the body.  The liver and gall bladder meridians govern the muscles, tendons, and nerves in the body.  The liver also controls the eyes. Here are some signs that your liver/gall bladder meridian may be out of balance this time of year. You...

What You Need to Know About Hair Loss

It is normal to shed some hair. But if you are finding your shower drain is clogged every day or noticing a bald spot or thinning area it can be worrisome. We all want thick and healthy hair but thinning hair can be a sign of disruption or deficiency that needs to be addressed. Normal Hair Growth Cycles We develop our hair follicles in-utero. We have over 5 million hair follicles on our entire body and about 1 million on our heads. These are the most hair follicles we will ever have in our lifetime. As we pass through childhood to adulthood are scalp grows and so our hair follicles space out and our hair thins. Hair is made up of the follicle which is below the skin edge and...

A Functional Approach to Autoimmune Disease

Autoimmune disease is the most common medical condition managed in our healthcare system, ahead of heart disease and cancer. In fact, 1 in 5 Americans suffers from some form of autoimmune condition yet it hardly gets the recognition it deserves. There are over 100 known autoimmune conditions and a significant number of them have increased over the past ten years. For example, Crohn’s Disease, an inflammatory condition of the bowel, has increased as much as 300%. An NIH study done in April of 2020 showed that an increasing number of people have a positive ANA, signaling autoimmunity. In the study, they took blood samples of 14,211 individuals who were 12 and older and found that in 1988-1991 the incidence of positive ANA was 11%. This number rose...

Why prescription sleep aids are not a long term solution

According to the CDC, one in three Americans has trouble getting the recommended 7-9 hours of sleep a night. While getting enough sleep is integral to your health, one of the most common solutions might be doing more harm than good. Prescription sleep medicine is commonly prescribed to patients who have trouble sleeping, but it’s not helpful in the long run. The Harm of Long-Term Use Prescription sleep medicine might be okay to use short-term, but side effects become more dangerous the longer it’s used. Depending on the prescription, side effects can range from changes in appetite, daytime drowsiness, and heartburn to memory problems, stomach pain, and uncontrollable shaking in the body. Some prescription sleep medicines can be addictive along with harmful side effects if used for an extended...

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