By Daniel Hooker I have been given permission to share two experiences of COVID vaccine injury. The stories are from an Islander and a former Islander who lived here many years. Story 1: “A few months after the vaccines came out, I took the vaccine (Moderna) knowing I would soon be required to anyway (since…
Health Matters
It is Nettle Time
The nettles are up! All over the island, young nettles a few leaves high are there for the taking. Very soon, they will be tall and gnarly. So, if you live on or near land that has not been cleared and manicured to death, you should go gather nettles soon. Nettles and man have evolved…
February 2024, Health Matters
The Importance of Bitters
By Kathy Abascal The holidays are definitely over, and most of us are now working on trying to recover from our excesses. These excesses usually involve too much sugar, too much of the wrong fats, too much alcohol, and too many late-night meals. The ultimate effects of these excesses vary, but all involve an overwhelmed…
February 2024, Health Matters
Interview with Vashon Chiropractor, Dr. Cori Bodily-Goodman
By Caitlin Rothermel How can a chiropractor help someone? The main objective of chiropractic care is to get the spinal joints – which your nervous system runs through – aligned. This allows your nerves to penetrate and innervate your organs and glands and keep your system running. For many years, chiropractic just involved spinal adjustments. But our toxin and…
Health Matters, January 2024
Easing a Sore Throat
By Kathy Abascal As winter weather settles in, more and more people are complaining of being tired and having sore throats. This could be COVID, of course, but in many cases, it is simply the start of a winter cold. Many respiratory infections begin with symptoms of fatigue and a slight scratchy dryness in the…
Health Matters, January 2024
Black Cumin Seed Oil, a Powerful Medicinal Fat
By Shelley Headley and Tristan Carbery We have learned a lot about “fats” over the years – what’s healthy for us, what’s not – and many have come to understand that heavily processed and refined oils, such as corn, canola, soybean, and sunflower, should be avoided. At the same time, there has been a wave…
December 2023, Health Matters
The Vashon Health Care District Hasn’t Talked to Us in a While
By Caitlin Rothermel The Vashon Health Care District hasn’t talked to us in a while, and people have definitely been asking questions. But that ended this November when they met to present and pass their 2024 budget. It’s important to talk about the VHCD now because their proposed plans substantially change their original mandate, with the…
December 2023, Health Matters
Who Were the Eclectic Physicians?
By Kathy Abascal I often mention the Eclectic physicians in my articles because of their deep knowledge about medicinal plants. The Eclectics were licensed medical doctors who primarily used herbs and natural principles of healing to treat their patients. They were a strong force in American medicine from the 1830s to the early 1900s, but…
Health Matters, November 2023
Getting To Know Lobelia
By Kathy Abascal Lobelia is a lovely plant with a gorgeous flower. There are many lobelia species, ranging from the blue L. sylphatica, to the widely used, white-flowered L. inflata, to my favorite L. cardinalis with its dark red flowers. All lobelias (except nursery hybrids) are medicinal. Although it took me quite some time to get over my fear of using…
Health Matters, November 2023
Medicinal Plants on Vashon – Hawthorn
By Dr. Leigh Siergiewicz Hawthorn, or Crataegus spathulata, is a small-tree member of the rose family, native throughout the northern hemisphere. Hawthorn has smooth, gray bark, and most but not all varieties have sharp thorns on the stems. The flowers can be white or pink in springtime; they have berry-like “haws” that range from red to…