What are you missing from your workout?

By Guest Blogger , Michele McCauley

What are you missing from your workout? Is it flexibility, strength, balance, coordination, cardio, mental peace? With one session of Pilates, you can achieve all of this….so why aren’t you doing Pilates?

Joseph Pilates, born in the late 1800’s, is credited to his strong work in sports and fitness. After WWI, Joseph Pilates developed exercises for the military using bed springs and beer keg rings, which simulate todays’ current equipment like the Reformer and Magic Circle.

Pilates came to NY in the late 1920’s with his wife Clara. Ballet dancers have practiced Pilates, as they found the exercises are effective in keeping core muscles strong, increased flexibility for long limbs, and better posture. These exercises are currently used today to make athletes stronger in sports like cycling, swimming, running, surfing, golf, tennis, and Yoga tooJ

Just an hour of Pilates is far more effective than an hour in the gym. Why? The body utilizes more muscles in one Pilates exercise than in most weight bearing workouts. Also the most crucial benefit of Pilates being, that there is no impact on the joints.

Many physical therapists are now using Pilates exercises as part of their rehabilitation program. The exercises are performed with muscular control with emphasis on drawing energy from the core. And again, no impact on the joints!

Many people suffer from back pain. Tight hamstrings, weak hips, and no core strength are often the contributing factors to back pain. Pilates focuses on building core strength and spinal alignment, the end result is better posture and no back pain.

I started practicing Pilates a decade ago, during my third year of running road races. After practicing Pilates for just one year, I was the second place female finalist in a local 5 mile road race. This was astonishing to me and I credit Pilates for my increased performance in skiing, cycling, and swimming too!

Since 2008, I have instructed Pilates to an outstanding number of people. Each client is designed an individually, customized program to help regain flexibility, strength, balance, coordination, cardio, and mental peace. We work together to maximize their abilities and limitations to reach their fitness goals. I am quite accustomed in working with clients of all ages and fitness levels.

If you would like to learn how to intensify your mat practice in Pilates or Yoga, become stronger and faster in your sport, eliminate back pain, and discover the other numerous benefits Pilates has to offer, then visit MBM Studio for a demo or log onto www.movementbymichele.com.

Hope to see you soonJ

Hope to see you soon!

About Healing Hands Community Chiropractic

Our mission at Healing Hands Community Chiropractic -Portsmouth, NH is to promote and support the overall health, well-being and highest quality of life of all individuals and families in our community through affordable chiropractic care.

Healing Hands Community Chiropractic is a health -care model intended to increase access to chiropractic care by offering adjustments in an open setting and fees on an affordable sliding-scale, without income verification. By doing so, we offer the people of our community the opportunity to receive treatment as often as they need, to get the results they deserve with no insurance hassles -simply paying what they can for only $20- $40!

Click here to book now!

May 13, 2014

4 Healthy Tips for Busy Moms

By guest blogger, Denise Pettigrew, RN, Certified Holistic Health Coach

As Moms, we all have the hardest job in the world. We take care of the kids, the husband, the

house, the pets, and, on top of all that most of us have our own busy careers. Unfortunately, we

always seem to end up last on the list and put our needs on the back burner. The best Mother’s

Day present you can give to yourself is to stop putting yourself last! I know, I know, who has time

for locking the bathroom door and reading your favorite romance novel in a luxurious bubble bath

with lavender candles, over a glass of wine. Here are five easy tips that we can all incorporate in

our busy lives by honoring ourselves !!! And if you take care of yourself you will have more

energy and joy to take care of everyone else.

#1 Find Gratitude and Joy

I know how busy and stressful being a Mom can be. But just remember, these days will be gone in

the blink of any eye and one day we look back longingly at the days when our children were

young. We have been blessed to raise these amazing little girls and boys and watch them grow day

by day from little children into young adolescents and young adults. Try to savor the joy in those

moments. Find something to be grateful for every day.

#2 Avoid Sugar

Sugar is one of the most unhealthy, yet widely consumed foods. It is highly processed, has

absolutely no nutritional value and is destructive to our bodies. It is found everywhere. Not only

in sweets like cookies and candies, but in places you wouldn’t expect it like ketchup, salad dressing

and peanut butter. Avoiding sugar is one of the most healthful things you can do for yourself.

Sugar causes weight gain and obesity. About 20 years ago researchers concluded that the fat in

our diet was making us fat and sick, but recent research has proven that it is not the fat, it is the

sugar. We know that sugar causes type 2 diabetes and contributes to many diseases including heart

disease, Alzheimer’s disease and cancer. Sugar also ages us more quickly through a process called

advanced glycation end products (AGE’s). Sugar is extremely addictive (and food manufacturers

know this), so, the more you eat or drink, the more you want. The best strategy is to jump the

canyon and dramatically cut down on eating excess processed sugars and sweetened foods. Our

taste buds are very adaptive. After a few days off of sugar you will start to become more sensitive

to the taste of sweet things so that the sweetness of an apple becomes a delicious dessert. And,

once you stop eating or drinking sugar, you will no longer crave it. So, enjoy your healthy fats, but

ditch the sugar !!

#3 Eat Whole, Unprocessed Foods

Processed foods are an illusion. They often appear to be healthy with claims like low fat, low carb,

vitamin fortified, no trans fat, contains whole grains, etc. But go ahead, read the label on any food

that comes in a box, bag or can. Can you understand, or even pronounce, most of the ingredients?

If you can’t understand the ingredients chances are your body can’t either. Processed foods are

making us unhealthy, sick and fat. Food is information to our bodies. The food we consume

interacts with every cell in our body and actually impacts the expression of our genes. Eating a

diet of healthy whole foods has the ability to turn on our good genes and turn off our bad genes.

So, just because you have a family history of heart disease, cancer or Alzheimer’s disease, does not

mean that has to be your destiny. Eating whole foods and fruits and vegetables that contain

valuable phytonutrients can dramatically decrease your risk of disease, help you lose weight and

increase your energy. Our bodies were designed to eat whole foods like fruits, vegetables, nuts,

legumes, and healthfully raised dairy, chicken and meat. So go ahead, eat some real food!

#4 Learn to say “No”

This last tip is especially important for Moms. There is no shortage of demands and requests being

placed on our already overloaded schedules. We can take a lesson from our toddlers – just say

“no”. You know the usual requests volunteering at our school, social engagements, creating the

perfect Halloween costume from scratch, or baking homemade cookies for the school bake sale.

Just remember – you don’t have to make everyone happy (trust me you couldn’t anyway, even if

you tried), don’t feel guilty, you don’t have to say yes to everything everyone asks you to do. You

only have so much time and energy. Learn to prioritize how you are going to spend those precious

I specialize in helping women in midlife overcome weight loss resistance, fatigue, and hormonal

imbalance issues. It is my goal to help women find their optimal health and vitality through

nutrition and lifestyle.

I offer a free one hour health history consultation. Call or email to schedule your appointment.

Denise Pettigrew, RN

Certified Holistic Health Coach

67 Willard Ave.

Portsmouth, NH 03801

(603) 988-2544

http://www.denisepettigrew.com/

healthcoachdenise@comcast.net

About Healing Hands Community Chiropractic

Click here to book now!

November 1, 2013October 21, 2013

Every New Parent’s Dream

In-Home Postpartum & Breastfeeding Support

by guest blogger, Krista Maltais of Koru Care

Imagine coming home with your newborn baby for the first time; the nursery is organized, the laundry is folded, lunch has been prepared for you, and best of all, someone is waiting to help you take care of your little one and answer any questions you may have. No, this is not a dream or a service reserved only for the rich and famous; Postpartum Doula care is a growing profession and available for any woman who wants it.

Postpartum Doulas care for the entire family as a unit; they provide education, companionship, and assistance with daily tasks so the family can focus on transitioning and adjusting into their new roles. They can also help parents achieve the confidence and skills needed through practical suggestions and competent demonstrations. The role of the Postpartum Doula changes every day in order to ensure the family’s needs are being met.

In addition, Postpartum Doulas provide personalized, long-term, breastfeeding education and assistance in the privacy of your home. They undergo thorough lactation education and training as part of their certification; they are able to educate parents about understanding milk production, newborn feeding cues and satiation, evaluate latch and breastfeeding experiences, as well as provide constant encouragement and support. Postpartum Doulas also guide partners to become actively educated and supportive of the breastfeeding mother as well as feel included in the feeding process through tips and suggestions. Many parents find that having a Postpartum Doula’s assistance helps ensure breastfeeding empowerment and success for their family.

New parents are dealing with a multitude of changes and demands during the first weeks and months of their baby’s life. Postpartum Doulas help ease and enrich families’ early parenting and breastfeeding experiences. After all, what parent doesn’t feel like they are living in a dream after having a nap, a long hot shower, a hearty meal, and the education, confidence, and skills to feed and raise their baby?

To find out more about the benefits of postpartum care and in-home breastfeeding support, visit: www.KoruCareDoula.com

About the Author: Krista Maltais graduated with a B.S. in Family Studies from the University of New Hampshire and has been an active Postpartum Doula for more than 7 years and Advanced Lactation Consultant for more than 4 years. It is her passion to assist families as they transition into life with their newborn. Her service area covers Southern Maine, Southeast New Hampshire, and North Shore Massachusetts.

Koru Care Postpartum Doula Services
Krista Maltais, PCD(DONA), ALC, B.S. Family Studies
603.918.9298
KristaDoula@gmail.com

About Healing Hands Community Chiropractic

Click here to book now!

April 1, 2013February 23, 2013

Postpartum doulas provide vital support to the Community

by Guest Blogger, Darcy Sauers of Dover Doula

Postpartum doulas are knowledgeable professionals who assist families during the critical 12 week period immediately after the birth of their baby. They “mother the mother” and offer physical, emotional and informational support to the family, as well as practical help. My expertise in mother and baby care enables me to assist with postpartum comfort measures, breastfeeding support, non-judgmental guidance in infant care techniques, information on normal postpartum restoration, and family emotional assistance through this major transition.

As a postpartum doula, I provide essential support during the modern postpartum experience, a time when many mothers today feel uninformed, isolated and anxious. Traditionally, the postpartum period was a “nesting period”, when a new mother was attended by other experienced mothers. They helped take care of her and her family, so that the mother could focus on the vital tasks of postpartum recovery, emotional adaptation to great change and getting to know her precious little one.

Today, few families have such support, and frequently become exhausted and overwhelmed by the immense work of becoming parents. Postpartum doulas gently guide and support families through this transition so that they may get off to the best start with their new baby.

The practical help that is included with my postpartum doula services varies from client to client and day to day. But it usually includes: simple meal preparation for the family, comforting and diapering the baby, answering the phone and door, taking care of the baby and older siblings while the parents nap, shower or take a much-need break. I even assist with light household chores such as laundry and dishes.

If you are pregnant and live in the Seacoast area, I encourage you to contact me to schedule a free prenatal meeting to discuss your postpartum needs. In this meeting we discuss everything from your experience with babies to your relationship with your mother-in-law. We’ll discuss any food allergies/preferences, your plans for feeding the baby, your cares and concerns and create a plan around your specific needs.

Once your baby is born, I come to your home to offer experienced, non-judgmental support. At each visit, I chat with mom to assess the day’s situation. Throughout my shift, I provide mom with nourishing snacks, meals and plenty of water.

A postpartum doula is not a maid, though, nor is she a nurse. I leave diagnoses and clinical procedures to medically trained personnel, but will make referrals to medical professionals if I notice anything of concern. It is commonly felt that a doula can help a mother stay healthy and reduce her chances of postpartum complications. I do this by educating the mother and enabling her to focus on her recovery from birth and to rest as much as possible. I always keep my clients well nourished and hydrated and help to reduce incidences of sleep deprivation and postpartum depression.

Studies have shown that with the help of a postpartum doula, breastfeeding duration is increased, while feeding problems and depression decrease. Also, parents report feeling more confident and less stressed or anxious.

Many women express concern at the cost of hiring a postpartum doula, but with some planning and some calls to your insurance company I find that most families can make it happen. I’ve even had clients who were reimbursed for doula care from their Flex Spending Accounts. Other clients “register” for doula care and take advantage of the gift certificates that can be purchased on my website. I firmly believe that every new mom needs support.

About Darcy of Dover Doula:

Darcy Sauers of Dover Doula offers postpartum doula services, lactation counseling and prenatal yoga classes in the Seacoast area. She is nationally certified by DONA (Doulas of North America). Darcy is knowledgeable about many aspects of the postpartum period, including infant care and development, normal postpartum restoration and cesarean recovery, breastfeeding assistance, postpartum depression, facilitating bonding and more. For more information, visit her website www.doverdoula.com. To schedule a free, no obligation prenatal consultation, call her at 603-988-5945.

About Healing Hands Community Chiropractic
Our mission at Healing Hands Community Chiropractic -Portsmouth, NH is to promote and support the overall health, well-being and highest quality of life of all individuals and families in our community through affordable chiropractic care.

Click here to book now!

March 15, 2013March 13, 2013

Spring detox for the skin

by Guest Blogger, Jane Balshaw of Euchlora

While the calendar says spring is almost here, we are still under a bit of snow here in the Northeast. Nature has its own calendar ways, dumping snow & rain when it feels the need to eliminate, raising and lowering temperatures on a whim and tricking our senses into thinking we are all together in a different time and place. It’s these sensory changes that regulate our skin.

Our bodies are a mirror of the world around us, with our internal waters ebbing and flowing in sync with the tides of the ocean, expanding and contracting with temperature, and our skin measures it all. Loaded with sensory nerves like a mass of diodes, our skin registers and displays the information from our external environment (think windburn or suntan) but it also measures the information from our internal environment as well; what goes into our bodies and what our body manufactures itself.

“You are what you eat” is an old adage that would be more aptly stated as, “What you eat creates what you are” because food as fuel only stimulates the functions of our body to do what it should do, to release hormones that tell guide it. In fact less than 20% of what we eat ever makes it outward to the skin but the hormones that food stimulate always make it there. Chocolate does not cause acne (like the old school dermatologists used to claim) but the overindulgence of any stimulant will spike the adrenaline hormone which in turn can cause acne.

After a winter of cold temperatures our body has stored up composites of our food including all those not-so-good concentrates like chemical additives that mimimic misdirected hormones. This storage of toxic waste in the body can contribute to toxic inter-cellular waste in the skin as well, triggering malformation of the cells which in turn creates early aging and breakouts. So with spring and the warmer weather nearly here, it is time to think about deep cleansing and detoxifying the whole body to improve your skin.

The old-ways wisdom of “taking a tonic” in the spring was in fact true. Drinking “juiced” blends of spring greens is detoxifying because nature knows to pack itself full of what we need this time of year. Getting a lymphatic drainage or aromatherapy massage as well as chiropractic adjustments will aid the body in releasing waste. And also getting a detoxifying facial will have amazing results; all of these practices working hand in hand are ‘tonics” for your skin.

I am a skincare specialist and make-up artist practicing for over 30 years with a holistic approach in caring for the skin and am now located in Portsmouth at Strawbery Banke. My clients see me for reasons as simple as customized skincare products for home use, a custom-blended cosmetic color or for on-going help with problematic skin through consultation and facials.

This spring I am offering:

The SPRING FIZZ FACIAL

Awaken your skin from it’s winter slumber with this invigorating fizzy facial. Your skin’s circulation will be tickled with effervescent herbal tonics and warm/cold massage will help to tone muscles & detoxify cellular waste built up through the slumber months. The result is smoother, more colorful, deeply cleansed skin that is recharged for the warm weather to come. Includes a free-of-charge hand/arm fizz massage.

70 minutes $85.00

My daughter Whitney Bakaleinikoff is a certified Holistic Diet Counselor and she offers this detoxing juice blend recipe for us all this year. Yum!

Blend the following ingredients in a high powered blender until you have a bright green sweet, zingy shake.

a handful of organic spinach
1/2 peeled Meyer lemon, plus a bit of zest
1/4 c. fresh pineapple
1/4 c. pineapple juice or orange juice
1/2″ fresh peeled ginger
sprinkle of cayenne
a small handful of chia or flax seeds
fresh water to cover the ingredients

These ingredients are rich in antioxidants, enzymes and essential fatty acids to reduce inflammation, enhance cellular respiration and aid in overall body detoxification. Great for spring allergies, sluggish digestion, joint/muscle pain and inflammation, immunity and overall increased vitality.

About Jane Balshaw:

From stage and camera makeup artistry to skincare innovation and spa development, Jane is firmly established as a master aesthetician. When Jane developed the renowned California spa and skin remedy center Dom Ivana, which featured the full spectrum of her skincare and makeup creations, Departures Magazine called her “a skincare genius.” She sold Dom Ivana at its peak and now Jane is at it again. Euchlora is her newest creation, offering her passion and expertise in a scaled down setting perfect for inclusive, individualized care. Her Euchlora line of skincare, make-up and services bridges the gap between science and art, blending her dermaceutical knowledge with an innate understanding of fundamental aesthetic principles. This balance of function and form translates into the colour of beautiful skin.

Contact Jane:

Euchlora Custom Skincare and Color Cosmetics

454 Court Street, ste. 203 & 204

Strawbery Banke

Portsmouth, NH 03801

603-491-7305

jbalshaw@comcast.net

www.Euchlora.com

Euchlora on FaceBook

Click here to book now!

March 1, 2013February 23, 2013

Increasing Body Awareness Through Massage Therapy

By Guest Blogger, Tamar Thomas. LMT- Massage Therapist/Owner at Inner Truth Massage

Receiving regular massage therapy as part of a preventive wellness regimen has so many health benefits. You’ve surely heard the list: Increased circulation, improved immunity, removal of lactic acid and toxins, relief from headaches and muscle soreness, faster recovery from injury, etc. The documented research includes not only physical benefits, but a mind body connection as well.

In my opinion, the most important benefit massage provides is an opportunity to go inward and be aware of oneself in the moment. To “climb out of your head and into your body,” as my anatomy instructor used to say. It is a magical hour where you are not sleeping, but not moving; just observing being present in your body. Going inward during bodywork helps us connect with our highest self, with who we really are, and to experience the way we would ideally feel every day- relaxed, centered, happy, and healthy.

The state of deep relaxation that a massage delivers helps us “hear” our body’s signals more clearly, whether it is an awareness of hidden stress or the need for more or less of something in our lives. Have you ever come down with a cold or flu, and realized that you have been demanding too much of yourself? If you had been listening to the signals, to slow down and nurture your body’s demands for rest, you could have possibly prevented the illness. You were probably feeling stressed, tired, and overworked.

So many of us go through daily life completely disconnected from our body. A dull ache in a joint, throbbing between the shoulder blades, or a tension headache, and we tend to pop an ibuprofen before considering the cause. We have such constantly busy minds catering to the tasks at hand, the to-do list, and to others’ needs that it is easy to overlook the messages our bodies are sending us. Massage therapy provides the perfect opportunity to turn off the internal chatter and just listen. Once we have slowed down and are tuned in to our physical self, it is so much easier to recognize and take the steps needed to heal. Be it more sleep, hydration, stretching, mindfulness of habits, applying ice for inflammation, or making that appointment for chiropractic care, awareness is the first step.

Massage also helps us bring awareness to subconscious holding patterns or tension. It is so common for a client on my massage table to announce, “I didn’t even know I was sore there until you started working on me!” We can hold chronic muscular tension in our neck, shoulders, back, and/or hips, often without an awareness that we are doing it. Here’s a test: Take a few deep breaths and ask yourself as you’re reading this, “Am I holding tension anywhere in my body right now?” Pause and breathe. Do a mental scan from head to toe and ask for feedback from your body. Where are you holding your stress? What did you find?

Another way to connect our mind and body is through exercising gratitude for the parts of us that do feel good and that unconsciously keep us alive and thriving. Donna Gates from Positively Positive writes, “How many of us are thankful for our health and for the body itself? The body, with all its senses, strength, and flexibility, is the one thing that we could be most grateful for. Many times we forget about the many miracles that the body performs on a daily basis. Because our bodies are always with us, keeping up with the tempo of life, we have a tendency to take the body for granted. Only when something goes wrong with the body do we appreciate it.” I find the following exercise really helpful for communicating with subconscious holding patterns in my body and to remind myself to be grateful for where I feel good.

Awareness and Gratitude Exercise

Focus on the rhythms of your breath. Are you taking short, shallow breaths or long, deep ones from your chest or belly? Take a few breaths to fall into your own rhythm.
Consider how your entire body is feeling. Any areas that you’ve been neglecting? How do they feel? Take note of any pockets of tension, tightness, soreness or fatigue. Where does discomfort live in your body – your head, neck, shoulders, back or feet, perhaps?
Where does your body feel relaxed, content, and comfortable? Take a moment to be thankful for this feeling. On the in-breath think, “I am” and on the out-breath think, “At peace.” No matter what is going on around you, it is always possible to find an inner sense of peace and calm.
Say the following aloud or to yourself now and throughout the day: “With each out-breath, I am releasing pent-up tension and stress. With each in-breath, I am restoring physical well-being.” Just this act of attention and awareness has the power to bring you more energy and reduce stress.

You may be wondering how I can help you as a massage client to be more in the present moment and bring your consciousness into your body through massage. Here are a few things I do in my practice:

I take the time to ground myself and to create a safe space for allowing you to just “be”, leaving my own “stuff” out of the session with 100% attention on you and your needs.
I really listen to you before the massage – taking into consideration your personal preferences for pressure, temperature, favorite aromas, past injuries or tension patterns, current needs and energy level, etc
During the massage, I am always tuned in to the rhythm of your breathing and I use it to guide the pace and depth of my pressure and flow. Slow, calm breathing is an indication that your body is welcoming in the work, while holding the breath is a sign that the work is too deep.
Your body knows exactly what it needs to heal itself, so by listening to your body and connecting with your higher self, I am able to listen as well, and can adjust my work so that you receive exactly the kind of session that you need at that time.

Here is a challenge for you: Be a little bit more aware of your body today. Slow down and be mindful of your body’s needs. Take a moment to really be still and listen. You may be surprised at what you hear.

About the Author:

Tamar Thomas, LMT is a licensed and nationally certified massage therapist. She has owned and operated Inner Truth Massage since 2008 and has recently moved her practice to 40 Pleasant St in downtown Portsmouth- Across the hall from Healing Hands Community Chiropractic. She is thrilled to be collaborating toward Healing Hand’s motto “Wellness for All” and has extended an exclusive ongoing offer to HHCC patients: A 25-minute back and neck massage on a scale of $20-$40. Manage your massage appointments online at www.innertruthmassage.com or call Tamar at (603) 616-2828 for more information.

Click here to book now!

January 23, 2013January 23, 2013

5 Green Tips from Healing Hands Community Chiropractic

January 14, 2013 2:00 AM

From: www.SeacoastOnline.com

Five green health tips to stave off winter colds:

1. Use a neti pot. Neti pots help clean out your sinuses and keep your breathing pathways clear and fresh by removing dirt, pollen, excess mucous and other irritants. Pick one up at the local health food store.

2. Add more fiber to your diet. Adding fiber such as whole grains to your diet improves colon health and increases immunity.

3. Drink more water. Drinking eight glasses of water daily can decrease the risk of colon cancer by 45 percent, bladder cancer by 50 percent, and it can potentially even reduce the risk of breast cancer.

4. Take probiotics. Eating more yogurt or supplementing your diet with a high-quality, refrigerated probiotic can boost the healthy bacteria in your gut, where about 70 percent of your immune system resides.

5. Sleep. Studies show that people who get about seven hours of sleep a night have the best survival. Sleep loss not only plays a role in whether we come down with a cold or flu, it also influences how we fight illnesses.

For information about Healing Hands, visit www.healinghandscc.org. For more green tips, visitwww.greenalliance.biz or at the Green Alliance blog at www.seacoastonline.com.

for online article: http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20130114-NEWS-301140345

January 23, 2013

Chiropractic Wellness Clinic Opens in Portsmouth

Oct 1, 2012 From The Granite State Sentinel.

PORTSMOUTH–Healing Hands Community Chiropractic is bringing wellness to the masses, and its business model will revolutionize the industry.

On September 5, Healing Hands Community Chiropractic opened its first-of-its-kind wellness center, which provided services on a sliding-scale fee system with no income verification. This model, based on similar ones within other holistic health industries, has not occured in the chirpractic field, until now.

“Our goal at Healing Hands Community Chiropractic is to provide wellness services to people throughout the community, and do not want income to be a barrier to this,” says Dr. Jessica Caruso, co-owner of Healing Hands with her husband, Brian Caruso. “We have seen this model work in acupuncture and now we want to bring it to chiropractic care. This is truly a first-of-its-kind clinic, and I am thrilled that we are doing it in Portsmouth. Since we want to immerse ourselves with the community, we became proud members of the Greater Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce, official chiropractor for the NH Roller Derby as well as members of the Green Alliance.”

The Granite State Sentinel does not fully publish all of their articles online, so for the full story pick up a copy at your local store!

January 23, 2013

Environment Plays Huge Role in Health: Seacoast Online Blogs

By JIM CAVAN | Published: NOVEMBER 6, 2012 | 1 Comment

http://blogs.seacoastonline.com/seacoast-green-alliance/2012/11/06/environment-plays-huge-role-in-health/

By Heikki Perry

A National Public Radio story indicates that people respond more favorably to issues framed in a health context rather than an environmental one, connecting our health to the environment. And there is much to be concerned about, according to three local experts.

The fall NPR story, titled “When Heat Kills: Global Warming As Public Health Threat,” cites emerging science that ”shows that people respond more favorably to warnings about climate change when it’s portrayed as a health issue rather than as an environmental problem.” Health officials carry special credibility, the story says, “far more so than politicians, journalists, environmental activists and other widely heard voices on this topic.”

What do two local health-care providers, and a small-business owner whose company helps protect the environment, say about how local environments affect Seacoast residents’ health?

Healing Hands Community Chiropractic

Dr. Jessica Caruso of Healing Hands Community Chiropractic, 40 Pleasant St., Portsmouth, notes that a bad indoor environment significantly contributes to people’s health problems. Caruso conducts a workshop called “Hidden Health Hazards in the Home.”

“Today’s smaller, energy-efficient homes trap indoor air pollutants and hazardous chemicals resulting in the air inside your home being worse than outdoor pollution,” she says. “Studies by the federal Environmental Protection Agency have shown that indoor air levels of many pollutants may be two to five times and occasionally, more than 100 times higher than outdoor levels.”

According to the Neighborhood Network’s 2002 Environmental Resource Directory, one of the greatest factors contributing to indoor pollution is hazardous cleaning products. The following chemical contents found in most household cleaning agents — ammonia, bleach, petroleum distillates, and paradichloro-benzene — have been shown to cause and/or trigger bronchitis, asthma, cancer, eye irritation, skin issues and heart conditions, to name just a few.

The solution, Dr. Caruso says, is to make your own cleaners with natural products such as baking soda, olive oil, essential oils and vinegar. More information on natural cleaning products can be found at . Or, if you use a cleaning company, choose one that produces results using natural and safe cleaning agents. Green Maids of Eliot Maine is one such company; cleaning green is not an option with Green Maids, it’s how all of its houses are kept bright and shiny.

“Off-gassing” is another potential hazard. The term, first used in 1966 to describe the release of gaseous chemicals from a solid, is defined in the Construction Dictionary “as the release of airborne particulates, often from installed construction materials such as carpeting, cabinetry, or paint that can cause allergic reactions and other health problems in building occupants.”The problem is, Dr. Caruso says, “this is just the tip of the iceberg.”

Off-gassing also emanates from mattresses; stains and varnishes; insulation; flooring materials such as vinyl, finishes, adhesives; countertops; particle board; paint strippers; and cleaning supplies, according to the Healing Hands Community Chiropractic Web site,http://healinghandscc.org/health/toxic-home-newsletter/. Infants or toddlers and pets may more quickly be affected by prolonged proximity to off-gassing carpeting or flooring.

While avoiding off-gassing sources seems to be the most logical lifestyle choice, it is often not an option. Dr. Caruso recommends her patients undergo a “spinal adjustment,” a highly specialized procedure a chiropractor uses to free the body from a serious form of health-destroying nerve stress called “subluxation.” Chemical toxins are one the primary causes of spinal subluxation.

“The adjustment unlocks misaligned vertebrae and nearby tissues from their ‘stuck’ positions,” Dr. Caruso says, “freeing them to move where the body wants them to go and removing nerve interference. Your family chiropractor knows that a healthier lifestyle will help you avoid the chemical triggers that may cause spinal subluxation.”

Healing Hands Community Chiropractic is a business partner of the Green Alliance, a union of local sustainable businesses promoting environmentally sound business practices, and a green co-op offering discounted green products and services to its members. GA members receive a new patient consult and exam at Healing Hands for just $10 and a free stainless steel water bottle.

January 23, 2013January 23, 2013

Environment Plays Huge Role on Health: Portsmouth Patch

Nov 1, 2012

From the Portsmouth Patch

By Heikki Perry

A National Public Radio story indicates that people respond more favorably to issues framed in a health context rather than an environmental one, connecting
our health to the environment. And there is much to be concerned about, according to three local experts.

What do two local health-care providers, and a small-business owner whose company helps protect the environment, say about how local environments affect Seacoast residents’ health?

Healing Hands Community Chiropractic

To read the full article, click here!

For online newspaper article: http://portsmouth-nh.patch.com/blog_posts/environment-plays-huge-role-on-health