Summertime is just about here and Prescott is warming up at last! With the change in our schedules, kids out of school, etc there is less desire and motivation to keep up with those healthy routines. Sages’ Healing Center is here to help you stay accountable! We are changing the price of return naturopathic visits with Dr. Kate. Starting Wed, June 1^st, your hour-long visit will now only be $85. Kid’s visits will stay the same at $60.

Please too know that Dr. Kate may be available outside of regular hours if you or a family member is suffering from an acute condition, like an ear infection, and needs to see the doctor sooner than later. This is likely going to be a much cheaper and less stressful experience than trying to tackle Urgent Care or the ER. We can’t make any promises, but if Dr. Kate is in town and available, she would be happy to see you. After hours call and leave a message on our usual business line, and we will get back to you quickly.  Keep us in mind!

Now to share with you some insightful suggestions to enhance the quality of your life:

How you can add more life to your years:

By Nazia Mallick

• Great love and great achievement involve great risk. Take the risk anyway.
• When you realize you have hurt someone’s feelings, take immediate steps to correct it. Ask for forgiveness.
• Keep your arms open to change, but don’t let go of your personal values.
• Quiet the voice in your head that says, “I can’t do this.”
• Don’t quit, no matter what.
• Spend some time alone
• Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice.
• When you say “I love you,” mean it.
• When you hug someone, do it with love.
• Make eye contact.
• Live life like it is your last day on the Earth.

Take care,

Dr. Kate, Damon & Sophia Sage

Is Cholesterol Really Bad For You?

The idea that cholesterol causes heart disease, while popular, is not compatible with human life. Cholesterol is essential to your health and survival. It is so important, in fact, that your body makes 80% of your required cholesterol daily. In people with low dietary cholesterol intake, such as vegans, nearly 100% is made by the body.

Every one of your cells needs cholesterol to keep their shape and not rupture and die. It is also needed to make Vitamin D and many hormones including testosterone, progesterone, estrogen, and cortisol.

As you may have heard, cholesterol has been divided into “good” and “bad” cholesterol. LDL cholesterol is considered the “bad” cholesterol because it takes cholesterol from the liver to the rest of the body. This cholesterol may get deposited on blood vessel walls but your body does this intentionally. The cholesterol that is deposited on the walls of blood vessels is used by the body to patch damaged blood vessel cell membranes. Blood vessels are subject to damage caused by environmental toxins, dietary allergens, and high sugar levels among other things. Without LDL cholesterol, the damaged blood vessels would be very leaky. Essentially, LDL cholesterol is the body’s Band-Aid.

HDL cholesterol, or the “good” cholesterol, is responsible for removing excess cholesterol from the rest of your body and taking it to the liver to be broken down. Increasing the amount of HDL in the body actually decreases your risk of having a heart attack in the future.

The goal in prevention of heart disease should not be to stop the body from trying to heal itself with cholesterol, but to limit the damage caused by diet, the environment, and stress. This can be achieved by stabilizing your blood sugar levels, removing potential food allergens (wheat, dairy, soy, and corn) and refined sugars from your diet, proper aerobic exercise, limiting your exposure to environmental toxins, and reducing your stress levels. Including fish oils and garlic in your diet can also increase your levels of “good” HDL cholesterol.

You may now schedule a free 20 minute consultation with Dr. Kate to discuss your cholesterol and what it means to your health. Call today: (928) 458-6748I

The sun is finally shining and our bodies are ready to get out and play in the sunshine. Before you embark on day-long hikes, spend the weekend out gardening, or begin an aggressive exercise regimen to lose that winter weight, you should realize that your body may not be ready to jump right into all of the fun. Instead, it is important gradually work into your summertime movement routines. Here are some helpful tips to get you started:

1). Before working out, the best way to get your muscles warmed up is by going on a walk. Get outside and walk for 10-15 minutes, gradually working the pace. Stretching before exercise can be dangerous when done on cold muscles; instead stretch at the end to keep your muscles from getting sore or even seizing up.

2). Don’t try to climb Granite Mountain (or any other mountain) as your first hike of the spring. Instead stick to an easy to moderate hike, one that lasts 1-2 hours max, and enjoy it! Give your body a chance to just move, be outside, relish in the sun rather than working really hard to get to the top. If you get tired along the way, take a rest. It is not worth pushing yourself because it increases the chance of injury. There is plenty of time to work up to the more strenuous hikes later in the season.

3). Don’t be a “weekend warrior”. These are the people that only move their bodies on the weekends and sit for the rest of the week at work. Instead, try to fit in short walks or other aerobic exercise during the week so you don’t overdo it on the weekends. Weekend warrior injuries are especially common for people who garden: lifting, bending over, and digging can all cause injuries if your body is not used to that sort of movement.

Springtime is a time of transition: let us let our bodies transition too. Listen to it and be cautious to not over do it so when summer comes, we can take full advantage of all of the amazing outdoor activities the season has to offer.

Stinging nettle, Uritica Dioica, grows along roadsides and in the forests almost throughout the US and Canada. It is best known for its ability to “sting” you with its prickers, causing an uncomfortable urticaria or itchy rash that may last up to 12 hours. Although not a commonly known herb now, nettles have a rich history of medicinal uses and its leaves and roots have been used for everything including bladder issues, allergies and even hair re-growth. Once boiled, the stinging nettle can also be added to soups and salads, adding a multitude of vitamins and minerals as well as a delicious taste to your meal.

Today the herb is frequently used in the springtime to deal with the most common seasonal condition, allergies. It has been tested to be a potent anti-histamine when taken either in teas or in its whole form in capsules. Taking nettles will help with all of those nasty allergy symptoms, such as sneezing, sniffling and runny nose. And best of all, it won’t make you drowsy. Although the tea literally tastes like you are drinking grass, it may become appealing once you realize the strength of this potent herb.

As this herb is a diuretic, it should not be used if you have congestive heart failure or kidney problems. Also, if you are pregnant, diabetic or have a prostate condition, please consult with a naturopathic physician before taking this herb. Please also be careful if you are harvesting stinging nettles yourself. Gloves are recommended.

Sages’ Favorite Nettle Soup:

You may be able to buy already harvested nettles at your co-op and farmer’s markets. Or if you are brave, you can harvest them yourself.

Ingredients:

2 TB vegetable oil or butter

2 TB flour (gluten-free works great)

1 onion, roughly chopped

2 cloves garlic, chopped

Several handfuls of freshly picked and washed young nettles

2 cups milk (cow, soy, rice – it all works)

1 cup vegetable stock

Salt and pepper to taste

Fry the onion and garlic in the oil/butter for a few minutes then stir in nettles (don’t worry about removing the stalks) until they are soft. Stir in the flour and gradually add the milk and stock, stirring all the time. Add seasonings. Blend half if you desire a creamier soup. Enjoy!

Why do I get seasonal allergies?

Seasonal allergies, also known as allergic rhinitis or hayfever, are your body’s annoying and inappropriate immune response to something that it thinks is troublesome, even though it is not. What happens is that the first time you are exposed to something like pollen, your body may decide that the pollen is dangerous (like a bacteria) and will begin to make specific antibodies to the pollen. The second time you are exposed to that same pollen, those antibodies will cause an allergic reaction – they attach to a certain cell called a mast cell, causing it release histamine, thus creating sneezing, nasal itching, runny nose, and itchy eyes. As those of you suffering from this condition know, this immune response continues until the season is over.

More than 20% of the U.S. population suffers from seasonal allergies even though this is a condition that can be successfully treated with naturopathic and East Asian medicines. The ultimate treatment goal focuses on changing your body’s immune response with diet and herbs so that it no longer responds inappropriately to something that is not harmful. Depending on the severity of your symptoms, the treatment may also include tools such as certain vitamins and nutrients, to help stop an allergic response while it is currently happening. Finally, there are methods that may be useful to employ in order to stop exposure to the allergen.

If you are a sufferer of seasonal allergies, there are things we can do right away, even if it is not the season in which you are the most allergic. By starting today, we can stop the seasonal allergic response in the future. Sages’ Healing Center is your one-stop shop for all of your healthcare needs. Call us today for a free 20 min. consultation: 458-6748.

For those of you who have yet to visit, the clinic is up and running and looks beautiful. If you live in the Prescott area, feel free to drop in for a cup of tea and to meet Damon & Kathryn.

As winter is beginning to settle in here in Northern Arizona, it’s time to start thinking about how to stay healthy throughout the cold season. The common cold is no fun – sneezing, achy body, feeling miserable – who wants it! Even though the cold is not a major illness, it still is enough to make you feel yucky for a few days, maybe even causing you to miss work. So let us all avoid getting the common cold this year by following some easy prevention tips.

1. Good Hygiene: A very common method for transmitting the common cold is by shaking hands or touching surfaces that contain the virus. So an easy way to avoid getting the cold is by washing your hands. Ordinary soap works best – antibacterial soaps add little protection as most of the time the cold is transmitted by a virus.

2. Healthy Diet: Eating a diet rich in nutrients and antioxidants will help to keep your immune system strong and better prepared to ward off colds. Include foods such as dark colored vegetables and fruits in your diet daily. Also, be sure to add lots of colorful and warming spices, like turmeric, cayenne, garlic, and ginger (especially fresh garlic and ginger).

3. Low Stress and Active Social Life: Studies show that people who are more active in the winter and have an active social life are much less likely to get sick. Therefore, don’t let the cold and flu season keep you inside – get outside and have some fun.

4. Vitamins: It has actually now been proven that the only ones who benefit from extra vitamin C in the winter are children: it decreases their chance for getting ill with its antioxidant power. It will still help adults though if they are starting to come down with something, it just doesn’t help prevent sickness. Vitamin D may be a good addition and will boost your immune system, especially if you are deficient.

5. Hydrotherapy: A fun and easy tip to improve your chance of avoiding colds and flu during this season: end all of your showers in cool water. I say fun because it is suppose to be cold enough to make you sing ☺. Rinsing your body for 30 seconds every day in cold water not only boosts your immune system, it also gives you increased energy and vitality.

If you would like more tips to keep you healthy this season, visit our website at: www.sageshealingcenter.com or make an appointment with us for more personalized ideas.

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If you are unable to stop by, please feel free to follow the happenings at Sages’ Healing Center on Facebook. Just search for us and become a fan.

Because Halloween is just around the corner, here is a little information and a ghoulishly delicious recipe using your favorite vampire repellent.

Garlic For The Soul

Anyone who has ever eaten a raw garlic clove knows the power of this medicine. The stuff within garlic that gives you the stinky breathe is called allicin, its most potent chemical component. Allicin contains a sulfur compound, which may cause you to be unpopular to kiss, but makes it very potent medicine. In fact, it can protect you from getting high blood pressure, diabetes and liver disease. Garlic also reduces inflammation in your body and protects you from infections. Excuse me if I go on and on about this herb, but really I hope you will get the point garlic really is amazing.

Garlic is especially known as an herb for your entire cardiovascular system – your arteries, veins, capillaries and heart. When taken daily, it can reduce the plaque that builds up on your blood vessels, allowing more blood to your hands and feet and reducing your overall blood pressure. It does this by strengthening your blood vessel walls, decreasing your LDL -“bad”- cholesterol, the guy who deposits buildup on your vessels and increasing your HDL –“good”- cholesterol, the guy who takes the buildup back from your vessels to your liver so it can be destroyed. It also decreases your overall triglyceride levels, reducing your overall risk of heart disease.

Garlic is a very powerful immune booster. It is antibacterial, antiviral and anti-fungal. Therefore, it can take care of almost any bug or overgrowth you get! It is commonly used for yeast infections but can be used for so much more including any kind of upper respiratory issue (bronchitis, colds, flu, sinus infections, etc) or gastrointestinal issues (ulcers, parasites) and more.

Garlic also protects you from Type 2 diabetes or can be a great help for someone already diagnosed with diabetes because it helps reduce sugar in the blood. Less sugar causes less insulin to be released, therefore allowing your cells to better process the sugar that is already there. It should be used under the supervision of a physician if you have “brittle diabetes” or easily become hypoglycemic.

There are a few other people who should be careful with garlic, such as those with acute inflammation, insomnia, dehydration, organ transplants or if you are taking an anticoagulant. It also should not be used by people who have a hot constitution – a red face, sweat easily, feel warm to touch, prone to headaches and anger easily, etc.

To be honest, the best way to take it is to shoot it straight up, raw and in all of its glory, 1-2 cloves/day. However, I know that many people may have issues (such as you want to still have friends) so therefore try to use it in your cooking whenever possible, but keep it as raw as you can. There are also supplements that are available from naturopathic physicians and some health food markets – try to take these only under the supervision of a licensed practitioner.

DAIRYFREE GARLIC PESTO: By Jill Stansbury, ND

Pesto traditionally contains parmesan cheese and is an excellent complementing flavor when desired. In order to make a pesto of medicinal quality the following recipe without dairy products will work. The traditional recipe also uses fresh basil. Wonderful pestos may be made from other fresh herbs including cilantro, mint, lemon thyme, lemon verbena, and arugula.

Peel all of the individual cloves in 3-5 full bulbs of garlic and place in a food processor.

Tear 5 large handfuls of Basil into the food processor.

Cover with olive or flax oil and puree.

Add 1 cup of pine nuts and blend again.

Use as a spread on toast or cracker, on pasta, and to make salad dressings and sauces.

Store in the refrigerator.