SPRING INJURIES
Spring time activities can result in overuse injuries. Gardening, jogging, in-line skating, or just throwing the ball around can cause an injury if precautions are not taken. Often these types of injuries are caused by repetitive stress to a particular area, and if left untreated can lead to the development of adhesions and scar tissue. Though the best solution is prevention, through proper preparation and awareness, it is important in the event of an injury to receive appropriate rehabilitation. This helps to ensure healing and minimize the chance of chronic injury.

PREVENTION
Prevention of spring activity injuries involves stretching the muscles and completing a proper warm-up before exercise. Alternatively, participating in a cool-down stretch is important to permit the muscles to release tension, lactic acid and other waste products.

PREVENTION THROUGH MASSAGE THERAPY
Massage therapy is an excellent means of preventing injuries. Massage can relieve muscular stiffness and pain after activity and decrease inflammation. When added to a routine of stretching and warming up, massage treatments promote greater flexibility and a quicker healing time.

TREATMENT OF INJURIES
Massage also offers an effective rehabilitative approach, as it is successful in breaking down scar tissue, reducing adhesion formation, and decreasing pain caused by injury. It has been successful in treating conditions such as tendinitis, ligament sprains, back and neck pain, tennis or golfers elbow and other injuries. A full range of motion can also be restored through treatment.

Karie Gawenda is a Licenced Naturopathic Doctor who incorporates the whole person in her approach to health. Karie includes all aspects of naturopathic philosophy when determining the best treatments for her patients. Common conditions she treats include weight management, digestive disorders, insomnia, PMS & menopausal symptoms, headaches, anxiety & depression, and pain management.

Karie Gawenda is a member of the Ontario Association of Naturopathic Doctors and the Canadian Naturopathic Association.

To book an appointment or for a FREE introductory consultation with our Naturopath Karie Gawenda, please call (416) 733-2539

It's that time of year again - sneezing, runny nose, itchy, watery eyes. Hay fever season has arrived. Most people with hay fever and other airborne allergies wait out their misery with patience and antihistamines. But there is another way.

Allergy is a general term describing the body's aggressive attack on benign or even beneficial compounds. Allergies can be induced by eating certain foods, touching particular chemicals and other substances, or breathing irritants like pollen, spores and animal dander. Airborne allergies, which mainly affect the respiratory system, are especially difficult to control.

Hay fever is the most common and familiar form of airborne allergy. If you suffer from spring hay fever, then tree pollens are most likely responsible. Summer sneezing begins when grasses and weeds release their pollen. Ragweed contributes to autumn nose blowing.

From a naturopathic viewpoint, allergies are often associated with weak adrenal, immune, and digestive functions. Natural treatments are used to support and improve those functions and to alleviate hay fever symptoms. Good health can help ease allergy symptoms, and good health starts with nutrition. People sensitive to airborne allergens may also be sensitive to certain foods. Identifying and removing those foods from the diet can greatly improve health and reduce allergy symptoms.

To help alleviate allergy symptoms and strengthen adrenal and immune functions, we can choose from numerous supplements (vitamin E, vitamin C, antioxidants), herbs (milk thistle, red clover), and homeopathics (sabadilla, wyethia). It's best to consult a Naturopathic Doctor who can formulate an individualized plan that will ensure the quickest and safest way to treating one's allergies.

Do you suffer with dry skin, the need to use moisturizing creams and lotions, "chicken skin", the presence of tiny rough bumps, usually on the back of the arms, dry or unruly hair, dandruff, soft, fraying or brittle nails; menstrual cramps or premenstrual breast tenderness?

These symptoms can often be eliminated with the appropriate Essential Fatty Acids (EFA's). These include Omega 3 EFA's such as fish or flaxseed oil or Omega 6 EFA's like evening primrose oil or borage oil. Depending on the condition, it is important to select the appropriate EFA. This is determined on an individual basis and after a thorough health assessment.

Are you suffering from any of these symptoms? Let's find and eliminate the cause. Don't hesitate to call Karie Gawenda, ND to discuss your condition or make an appointment at 416-733-2539. Call today for your FREE introductory consultation.

The widespread use of anti-inflammatory drugs, for any length of time, has resulted in most people often having worse arthritis in later years than those who had no treatment at all (not to mention digestive systems which had been damaged) Why should this be?

If the reasons for the inflammation can be dealt with, the condition improves spontaneously. Modification of diet together with some basic naturopathic therapies (which can include acupuncture, vitamins and herbs) offers the safest and most effective approach to arthritis, because causes are being dealt with and not just symptoms. As a start, this may include avoidance of meat, citrus fruit and certain other foods.

Every case is unique, with its own level of pain, stiffness and disability. And that's why the administration of an effective treatment protocol requires a comprehensive naturopathic health assessment.

To discuss your case or to make an appointment, please feel free to call: Karie Gawenda, ND (416) 733-2539 ysmassagetherapy.ca