By Kathy Abascal Editor’s Note: Please enjoy this article, reprinted from the December 2005 Vashon Loop, and just as relevant today! The holidays bring lights, presents, and a variety of tempting foods. We often spend our holidays with people we love in a dysfunctional way. Things may not measure up the way we think they…
December 2024, Health Matters
Why Use a Soft vs Firm Roller?
By Sandi Silagi “Fascia is a network of connective tissue, without beginning and end, which encloses everything in the whole body, from muscles and bones to organs and cells.” Foam rollers are generally thought of as a self-massage technique to ease muscle and fascia tension and improve circulation. The effects of foam rolling have been studied…
Book Review, Health Matters, November 2024
Book Review – The Indoctrinated Brain
Many of us have lived with loved ones who suffered from Alzheimers or other types of senile dementia. More recently, we’ve also seen complaints of “mental fog” coincident with the spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 novel coronavirus. One medical researcher, Dr. Michael Nehls, believes he’s found a common mechanism for all of these afflictions. Dr. Nehls…
Health Matters, November 2024
Herbal Adaptogens
By Kathy Abascal Adaptogens are remarkable plants. They increase our ability to handle stress, both physical (such as an illness or injury) and mental (such as a difficult job or financial issues), and most of us would benefit greatly by taking them regularly. I was taught that adaptogens will not solve our problems, but instead…
Health Matters, October 2024
Dietary Supplements
By Leigh Siergiewicz Dietary supplements are very helpful when they are good quality, used correctly, and dosed appropriately. Unfortunately, this is often not the case, making them either a waste of money or potentially harmful. I always tell people not to buy supplements from third-party sellers on Amazon or other websites. I have personally had…
Health Matters, Island Resilience, News
Vashon Health Care District Urgent Care is Live
One of the Loop’s editors spotted a distinctive car this afternoon: A DispatchHealth car We assumed it was to “show the flag” for VHCD’s upcoming urgent care solution. But when we ran into DispatchHealth’s people, we confirmed that they are on-island and ready to provide care. What can they do? Stitches. Assessments. Limited blood panels….
Health Matters, September 2024
Hot Spots
By Kathy Abascal As we move through summer, fleas multiply, and many pets end up with hot spots. Hot spots are skin infections caused by an imbalance of bacteria. As the dog licks an itchy flea bite, the pH of the saliva disrupts the normal skin flora, creating an environment that suits the “wrong” microbes…
Health Matters, September 2024
What is Practice?
By Diana Diaz I think it’s fair to say that we all have our personal reasons for practicing yoga in its many forms. Hatha Yogis enjoy moving the body, while Raja Yogis gravitate toward the calming and clarifying effects of meditation. Japa Yogis immerse in chants and prayer. Karma Yogis take it into the world…
August 2024, Health Matters
Swollen Legs and Varicose Veins
By Kathy Abascal Do your ankles sometimes swell? Do you have varicose veins or hemorrhoids? Personal questions, but important ones. Because, if you do, you could end up with chronic venous insufficiency, or CVI. I am sure you know that the heart pumps blood out to the hands and feet. But have you ever wondered…
August 2024, Health Matters
Pratipaksha Bhavana
By Diana Diaz Pins and needles, needles and pins, a happy man is a man that grins. You know how we get those physical signs of stress and anxiety? We might feel tired or have random aches and pains that we can’t really pinpoint? We stretch, we breathe, and we feel rejuvenated right afterwards. But…