George Street Naturopathic Newsletter
It’s ‘back to school’ season and for me, it’s ‘back to work’. After a wonderful maternity leave, I am back in the clinic with the following healthful hints from the George Street Naturopathic Medicine e-newsletter.
In this issue:
· Kale – a local super food
· My favourite flu-buster
· Clinic news
Kale – a local super food
Did you happen to plant kale in your garden this summer? If so, you have one the healthiest, hardiest local super foods at your fingertips. Kale is a member of the Brassica family that includes broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and cabbage. These veggies boast many health benefits; they help rid your body of hormones and toxins, and kale specifically contains vitamins K and C, calcium, beta carotene, iron and potent anti-cancer substances.
I try to include it in our cooking whenever I can. Chopped up finely, it sneaks nicely into stir fries, black bean burritos, casseroles and stews. We remove the fibrous stems and focus on the leafy parts. You can also toss it in the blender next time you are making a fruit smoothie.
My favourite flu-buster
Oregano oil has long been regarded as one of the most effective natural infection fighters. True oregano oil is not the same as the herb that we cook with. In fact, it is a rare wild herb that grows in the mountainous regions of the eastern Mediterranean, and is the strongest and most pungent of the oreganos.
Oregano oil has the following properties and can prevent and treat a variety of infections:
· Antiviral: effective for colds, flu, sinusitis, cold sores and warts
· Antibacterial: effective for food poisoning, stomach flu, acne, and infected skin wounds
· Antifungal: effective for athlete’s foot, dandruff and yeast infections
· Antiparasitic: effective for ringworm and intestinal parasites
Oregano oil has a very strong taste, and is so potent that only a few drops are needed. If you find yourself sick with the flu this season, reach for this strong, spicy, healing oil, then tuck yourself into bed and let your body do the rest (but remember that it is not safe to use during pregnancy or lactation).
Clinic news
I am back from maternity leave and currently practicing Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
A sincere thank you to my patients for their patience during this time of transition. Those of you whom visited with Dr. Stephanie Schmidt during my absence hopefully benefited from her knowledgeable and thorough care.
In health,
Dr. Joanna Thiessen, Naturopath and Doula
Director, George Street Naturopathic Medicine
8 George Street
Waterloo, ON N2J 1K5
t: 519.575.6016
w: www.georgestreetnaturopathic.com
Disclaimer: The information presented herein is not a prescription and does not substitute the consultation of a health care practitioner.
