by admin | Jan 27, 2016 | Natural Remedies
Seasonal Affective Disorder
At AgeLess Medical, we hear a lot about Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) this time of year and sadly, many people struggle with this type of depression that is related to a change in the seasons. For many, symptoms start during the Fall and continue through the Winter months.
The Mayo Clinic identifies the following symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder:
- Experiencing changes in your appetite or weight, especially craving for foods high in
carbohydrates
- Feeling sluggish or agitated
- Difficulty concentrating
- Heavy, “leaden” feeling in the arms or legs
- Thoughts of suicide
- Feeling depressed most of the day, nearly every day for two weeks or more
- Feeling hopeless or worthless
- Having low energy / Sleep struggles
- Loss of interest in activities that you typically enjoy
There are treatment options and lifestyle changes that can greatly reduce the severity of symptoms associated with SAD. Read on to learn more.
Light Therapy
Light Therapy: With this type of therapy, you sit next to a light therapy box that emits artificial light believed to affect certain chemicals in the brain that can ease the symptoms of SAD. You can purchase your own light therapy box here.
Dawn simulators
Dawn simulators: These are devices that serve as alarm clocks and emit light that gradually increases in intensity, it’s like having your own sunshine in the comfort of your bedroom. No loud beeping or loud music, but bright light to start your day may also reduce symptoms of SAD. More info can be found here.
Get Outside
Get Outside: – While frigid temperatures can sometimes make this difficult, take advantage of unseasonably warmer days and go outside for a walk or just sit and soak up the sun or even the clouds, this can greatly reduce symptoms of SAD. The Mayo Clinic recommends to receive the most benefit spend some time outside within two hours of waking up. Creating a brighter environment by opening blinds and sitting close to windows can also help.
Exercise and Eat Healthfully
Exercise and eat healthfully: This may go without saying, but ensuring you are eating healthy and getting adequate exercise are critical in managing stress and overall mood and well-being.
Supplements
Supplements: Talk with your doctor about trying a supplement such as St. John’s Wort. AgeLess Medical offers a variety of herbal supplements that may help to reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress which can exacerbate SAD. **Before using any supplement, talk with your primary care physician to determine what would be the best option for you.**
Sleep better
Sleep better: Not getting enough rest can also enhance symptoms of SAD. If you have trouble falling asleep, staying asleep or waking frequently at night, schedule an appointment with our mental health counselor and get started with our program to beat insomnia. Give AgeLess Medical a call at 607.846.3690 to schedule.
Counseling
Counseling: Stress and a previous diagnosis of depression or anxiety can worsen symptoms associated with SAD, seeing a mental health counselor who can provide additional strategies for managing stress, anxiety and depression can also help. Take control of your health and get back on track with your body.
With all of the information above, you have nothing to lose by trying some of these steps to feel better during our long winters. AgeLess Medical is here to help with any questions you may have!
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by admin | Jan 21, 2016 | Natural Remedies
Dealing With Anxiety
Sometimes Anxiety is useful, but…
Anxiety, while a necessity for our survival, is what causes us to look both ways before crossing a busy street, for many, this emotion can spiral out of control and have staggering effects on our physical and emotional health.
How Can We Effectively Combat Anxiety?
Most of us are aware of exercises such as deep breathing and meditation that can ease anxiety, but did you know that things like massage and acupuncture can also help with anxiety?
Read on to learn more.
- Acupuncture: A recent comprehensive literature review in Neuroscience and Therapeutics showed that acupuncture was just as effective as cognitive behavioral therapy in the treatment of anxiety. Acupuncture is an ancient form of Chinese Medicine that works at stimulating various points on the body to correct any imbalance in the flow
of energy. You can read more here.
Interested in giving acupuncture a try, we provide this treatment at AgeLess Medical, give us a call at 607.846.3960 to learn more.
- Massage Therapy: Far from just a luxury treatment at a spa, massage therapy has been shown to offer many health benefits, including reducing stress and anxiety. By reducing stress, which can exacerbate anxiety, massage can instill a sense of peace and calm and also help to disengage the body from the fight or flight response that can often trigger anxiety and even panic attacks. Schedule a massage at either of our locations today, your body and mind, will thank you!
AgeLess Spa at Radisson Hotel Corning, NY: 607.684.6121
AgeLess Integrative Medical Spa, Horseheads, NY: 607.846.3962
- Coloring: It’s not just a favorite pastime for kids, coloring can also help to reduce anxiety. Our brain treats coloring like meditation which as we know, can greatly reduce anxiety. There are a host of other benefits to coloring that you can read about here. You can find such books at your local Target, Barnes and Noble and Walmart. You can also find them online, take some time, unwind and color your worries away!
- Aromatherapy: Certain scents, especially lavender, can have a very calming effect. Diffuse them in your home or carry some with you. We offer an assortment of essential oils in our Boutiques.
- Check for vitamin and mineral deficiencies: Certain vitamin and mineral deficiencies can exacerbate symptoms of anxiety and depression as well. While blood work ordered by your doctor can help to determine any potential deficiencies, you may wish to complete a Systems Survey here. This survey asks about several symptoms and can provide helpful information in respect to areas of functioning that could benefit from an extra boost with a supplement from our Standard Process line. Complete the survey and drop off at our Horseheads location Monday-Friday and we’d be happy to score and review the survey with you.
We hope you find this list helpful; do you have any lesser known or surprising ways to reduce anxiety or worry? We’d love to hear from you!
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by admin | Nov 27, 2015 | Natural Remedies
Winter Immune Support Boosts!
We all need increased immune support in the winter!
It’s getting to be that time of year again! Below is a list of products we sell in our Horseheads location that can help keep you healthy and boost your winter immune support! Just because something is ‘going around‘, don’t let it get you! These products are great to keep your immune system strong and keep you protected. These are also things you can inform clients about. I’ve tried many of the products below and have had a lot of success with them. I either don’t get sick at all, or if I do catch something, the severity and duration are much less than others I see with the same bug. These items work really well!
~ Renee
From Gaia Herbs:
Oil Of Oregano:
Supports a healthy immune response – Oil of Oregano contains phytochemicals which support the body’s natural resistance. Gaia Herbs’ supercritical CO2 extract of Oregano volatile oils contains phenols, including Carvacrol and Thymol. These oils help support a healthy microbial environment in the intestines and a healthy immune response. Oregano leaf also acts as an antioxidant and contains the flavonoid rosmarinic acid that appears to normalize the chemical cyclooxygenase 2 (Cox-2). Cox-2 is associated with inflammation in tissues. This product is especially good for tummy bugs. The perfect boost for your winter immune support.
Olive Leaf:
Supports a healthy immune response – Olive Leaf has the unique ability to support immune function while also offering the body protection from free radical damage. Because of this antioxidant property, Olive Leaf shows promise in supporting cardiovascular health. Gaia Herbs’ fresh-picked whole Olive Leaf is gently concentrated into a superior-quality extract. Olive Leaf is referred to as ‘nature’s antibiotic’. It does a great job at fighting pathogens, bacteria, viruses, fungus, and yeast (like Candida). Unlike normal antibiotics that kill off your body’s good bacteria, Olive Leaf does not.
Whole Body Defense:
Supports daily immune wellness – Staying healthy throughout the year can be a challenge, especially when stress wears you down and makes you vulnerable. Promoting healthy immunity should be a daily routine. Whole Body Defense® provides a combination approach to daily immune support with a formula blending herbal extracts of Echinacea, Astragalus and Larch with Maitake mushroom extract. Tonic mushrooms are immune modulators and have been clinically shown to raise NKC (natural killer cell) activity 200-300%. Natural killer cells are the cells in your body that destroy the cells that are not you (like pathogens and cancerous cells.)
For more information about Gaia Herbs visit their website:
From Standard Process/Mediherb:
Immuplex:
Contains phytochemicals, minerals, as well as Protomorphogen ™ and Cytosol™ extracts to support the immune system.
Andrographis Complex:
Contains a blend of herbs to support normal immune system function. Andrographis, Echinacea angustifolia root and Holy Basil provide a unique range of phytochemicals including diterpenoid lactones (collectively referred to as andrographolides), flavonoids, caffeic acid derivatives (especially echinacoside and cynarin), alkylamides, essential oil (rich in monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes, typically eugenol) and polyphenols. The Andrographis component of this tablet is standardized to contain 10 mg of andrographolide per tablet to ensure optimal strength and quality. This herbal formulation works to:
- enhance immune system function
- support healthy respiratory system function
- support and maintain normal body temperature already within a normal range
- support healthy immune system response following stress and sudden changes in weather or temperature
- encourage adaptive response to occasional everyday stress
- promote healthy liver function
Astragalus Complex:
Is a strong tonic blend containing Astragalus, Echinacea purpurea root and Eleuthero. This combination of herbs contains many compounds including triterpenoid saponins, flavonoids, sterols, caffeic acid derivatives (especially cichoric acid), alkylamides, and a diverse group of constituents called eleutherosides. The Eleuthero component of this tablet is standardized to contain 600 mcg of syringaresinol diglucosides (eleutheroside) E per tablet to ensure optimal strength and quality. Together these herbs and the compounds within them help to:
- enhance immune system function
- maintain feelings of general well-being and support vitality
- facilitate the body’s normal response to occasional stress
- promote a healthy response to environmental stress
- considered to be a barrier/defense against pathogens that you are exposed to, so that you won’t catch it.
The combination of herbs and an essential oil found in Broncafect (Licorice, Pleurisy Root, Echinacea purpurea root, White Horehound, Ginger and Thyme essential oil) contain triterpenoid saponins (especially glycyrrhizin), other saponins, flavonoids, caffeic acid derivatives (especially cichoric acid), alkylamides, pungent principles (including gingerols), monoterpenes (especially thymol) and other compounds. These herbs, essential oil and their constituents work together to:
- support healthy respiratory tract function
- maintain healthy mucosal tissue
- support normal mucus flow
- support the body’s natural ability to break up respiratory secretions
- support the body’s normal cough reflex
- encourage a healthy environment to help maintain normal respiratory flora
- enhance immune system function
- promote healthy white blood cells
- promote healthy throat tissue
- assist the body in maintaining normal body temperature already within a normal range
- promote the body’s normal resistance function
Echinacea Premium:
Echineacea is well known to provide a boost to the body’s winter immune support system.
Combines the roots of Echinacea angustifolia and Echinacea purpurea to enlist properties unique to each. The blending of these two plant species ensures that the specific caffeic acid derivatives (cichoric acid, echinacoside, cynarin) and the lipophilic components (especially alkylamides) are present in appropriate quantities. This product contains a total of 4.1 mg of alkylamides per tablet to ensure optimal strength and quality. These substances and other unnamed phytochemicals work together to:
- enhance immune system function (particularly nonspecific immune system function)
- support and promote normal interferon production
- support and promote healthy white blood cells
- support healthy immune system response following stress, sudden changes in weather or temperature
- encourage healthy upper respiratory tissue
- support and maintain healthy throat tissue
- support healthy lymphatic system function
- stimulate the body’s normal tissue support and renewal function
To learn more about the Standard Process line, visit their website:
www.standardprocess.com
AgeLess Integrative Medical Spa also carries probiotics which help strengthen the immune system and normalize digestion.
We hope that this has been information for you and will help provide ways to stay healthy during the dreaded Winter months!
Do you have other ways to boost your body’s winter immune support? We’d love to hear from you!
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by admin | Aug 14, 2014 | Natural Remedies
Nervagesic for Nerve Health and Muscle Health
Here at AgeLess we are currently carrying the amazing new product, Nervagesic for nerve health and muscle health. The following is an article published by Standard Process/Mediherb, talking about the benefits of this product. (more…)
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