Desert Health News - March-April 2024

. www.DesertHealthNews.com March/April 2024 Natural Options The Valley ' s Leading Resource for Health and Wellness 12 Leah A. Wiltgen LMT, CDT, HHP Trained & Certified in the Dr. Vodder’s Method of Manual Lymphatic Drainage Holistic Health Practitioner 760.449.7855 leahwiltgenmld@gmail.com Our lymphatic system is key to sustaining homeostasis throughout our bodies. It works silently and consistently to maintain fluid balance while serving as a main pathway for eliminating toxins via our lymph nodes. The strokes applied in MLD stimulate the movement of lymphatic fluids to assist in cleansing our bodies. How MLD Works • Assists in increasing lymph drainage from areas with impaired lymphatic function • Eliminates lymph fluid from extremities and aids in contraction of the lymphatic system • Increases systemic effect on affected areas and local regions Benefits of MLD • Removes toxins, wastes, bacteria, proteins, and fluid from body tissues • Decreases pain • Decreases stress with relaxation of sympathetic nervous system • Enhances immune support • Faster healing from trauma, surgeries, and injuries MLD Improves Many Conditions Including: • Relieves swelling and skin tightness • Primary and secondary Lymphedema • Non-infected inflammatory conditions (sprains & strains) • Post-cancer treatments • Pre/post-cosmetic procedures • Pre/post-orthopedic procedures Manual Lymphatic Drainage Therapy Offering All Massage Modalities in the Comfort of Your Own Home www.hfhcv.org w w.hfhcv.org www.divinesound.com When was the last time you played in the snow...enjoyed some downhill fun, or a cross country walk through a wintery wonderland breathing in the crisp, clean air? Skiing is great exercise for the mind, body and soul. While some may consider the sport in their rear-view mirror, there are many different types of skiing to meet any space and pace. Most will think first of alpine skiing on downhill slopes, which can be challenging and hard on the body with speed, turns, uneven surfaces, jumps and moguls. Only those well practiced should attempt alpine. Not for you? Consider Nordic skiing which takes place on relatively flat terrain with only gradual inclines and declines or undulating hills. It encompasses the various types of skiing in which the toe of the ski boot is fixed to the binding in a manner that allows the heel to rise off the ski. It is also a great workout, but with less challenging elements. Ever tried cross country skiing (XC)? This form of recreational exercise traverses snow-covered terrain without the use of ski lifts or other assistance. On some XC trails, there may be very slight hills, but mostly just picturesque views of trees, surrounding vistas and the calm quiet of nature. The good news? XC skiing is still a very good full body, fluid work out! Professor Josef Niebauer MD, PhD, director of the Institute for Molecular Sports and Rehabilitation Medicine at Paracelsus Medical University in Salzburg, Austria, says skiing is a mix of endurance and resistance training that has positive effects on the heart and circulation,aswellasperipheralmuscles— predominately the legs. He compares the workout to cycling or rowing and says that all types of skiing offer cardio- metabolic benefits including improved insulin resistance, body composition and glucose metabolism, as well as a drop in blood pressure, blood lipids and heart rate. His research demonstrates that skiing also reinvigorates blood vessels and cell health. Skiing is also a form of interval training, one of the hottest fads in the fitness world, and for good reason. After pushing yourself during a run, you get a nice break riding the ski lift back up the hill. A growing body of evidence suggests this on-off style of training—working hard for a few minutes, then taking a breather—can provide a vast range of health benefits. If you are a skier, good for you! Continue to challenge yourself every year; visit a new resort, try a new mountain or more challenging run. If you think your skiing days are behind you, remember, there are more moderate options that can still provide an exceptional workout and winter wonderland adventure. For those curious to try, we suggest starting with XC, a great way to dive in slowly. And don’t forget the après ski perks - a warm beverage or brewskie in a cozy lodge and a soak in a steamy hot tub to bask in your triumphs. Candice Nicole is a health advocate and founder of HUmineral food derived mineral nutrients. She can be reached at info@HUmineral.com or (818) 400.7657. For more information, visit www.HUmineral.com . Sources: 1) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6767543/#dme13954 -sec-0013title; 2) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/ articles/PMC4763839/; 3) https://time.com/4750262/high-intensity-interval-training-longevity/ A Winter Wonderland is Calling By Candice Nicole Downhill skiing isn’t the only way to enjoy exercise in snowy mountains this spring. For the fourth article in this series, I’ll discuss a plant with a striking red bloom, Calliandra californica (aka Baja Fairy Duster, Fairy Duster, Zapotillo, Powder Puff). Despite its name, it is not native to the state of California, but Baja California of Northern Mexico. Over 150 species in the Calliandra genus are found in semi- tropical/tropical areas worldwide. The Fairy Duster is a woody, evergreen shrub 3-5 feet high and up to six feet wide. It has fern type leaves and belongs to the legume family. The blooms of this plant steal the show and are evidence for its common names with exploding clusters of 8-12 flowers, each with 17-26 red stigma filaments that average 3-5 cm in length. These bright, showy stamens create a spherical puff of red that is reminiscent of the aged dandelion. It is drought, heat, and pest resistant, making it ideal for use for desert landscaping. Not only do the show stopping blooms provide visual excitement, with its high sucrose content, it is a favorite of hummingbirds and bees. 1, 2, 3 Traditionalmedicinal usesof thisplant includedecoctionpreparations forurological conditions such as cystitis, kidney pain, urethritis and prostate inflammation. It has also been used historically to treat cramps, fever, and toothaches. However, documentation is scarce. A reported non-medical application includes using its roots as a red dye for leather goods.® What does modern research say about the Fairy Duster? Similar to traditional medicinal uses, few publications are available However, what has been published is promising for the treatment of two big hitters: tuberculosis (TB) and tumors. In 2006, a scientific publication isolated two diterpene compounds – escobarine A and B. The study showed activity against two mycobacterium tuberculosis strains, including the resistant CIBIN/UMF15 0:99 strain. Excitingly, the minimum concentration needed for inhibition was eight times lower than that of Rafampin, an antibiotic currently used to treat TB. This same publication also reported cytotoxicity against five human tumor cell lines.± In 1994, another paper was also published demonstrating anti-microbial activity of two of its flavone compounds.¾ While publications of this plant are limited, many other species in this same genus have evidence of medicinal applications, which lends to the ever present conversation of needing more scientific research to be done and documentation of traditional medicinal uses of Earth’s botanical treasures to be shared. It is my hope that when you see this dramatic bloom throughout the Coachella Valley, you will ponder its potential a little longer and contemplate all that nature has to offer and the expanse we have yet to discover! Dr. Shari Jainuddin is a naturopathic primary care doctor at One Life Naturopathic and also offers biofeedback training and craniosacral therapy. This article is intended to be informative and is not provided as medical advice. For more information, call (442) 256.5963 or visit www.onelifenaturopathic.org. Sources available upon request. Nature’s Medicine All Around Us A look at Calliandra californica By Shari Jainuddin, NMD, BCB