by urban-acupuncture | Dec 15, 2014 | Art, Community
Travis Saunders is a self-taught artist specializing in oil & acrylic paintings on canvas. Surprisingly Saunders never painted anything prior to November of 2013 at the age of 35. Travis discovered his abilities & passion for painting after working in corporate America for over 7 years. His greatest art influence is the late Bob Ross, whom he grew up watching on the TV series “The Joy of Painting.” Saunders’ love for the ocean & sunsets is evident through his many seascape pieces.
Travis was born & raised in Shelby, Ohio by his grandparents, but has lived in the Columbus area since 1997. He married the love of his life, Kristina Saunders, on a beach in Florida in 2010. They currently reside in the NW Columbus area with their 10 year old son, Jordan & Siberian Husky mix, Lakota.
Travis Saunders Art:
Travis is available for custom work & has just recently started painting murals.
Please checkout & “Like” his artwork at www.Facebook.com/TravisSaundersArt.
Your support of local artists is greatly appreciated!
by urban-acupuncture | Dec 15, 2014 | Community
Our bodies are simply amazing. Each one of us has a remarkable, built-in defense system protecting us against bacteria, microbes, viruses, toxins, and parasites all waiting to invade our bodies. This is our immune system. None of these things are able to get in when our immune systems are working optimally we are protected from these forces. But the moment it is compromised, the door to illness is open. So keeping the immune system in tip-top shape is a major factor in maintaining good health, especially during these winter months when sunshine seems to be replaced by sneezing and sniffles.
Immune Support
There are many ways to boost your immune system including eating lots of fruits and vegetables, avoiding processed, sugary and fatty foods, drinking enough water, taking a quality multi-vitamin, getting optimal rest, reducing stress, and exercising.
Another powerful arrow in the quiver of immune support is the use of essential oils. Essential oils are natural aromatic compounds found in plants and have been used throughout history in many cultures for their medicinal and therapeutic benefits. They are found in the seeds, bark, stems, roots, flowers, and other parts of plants. In addition to giving plants their distinctive smells, essential oils provide plants with protection against predators and disease. Modern scientific study and trends toward more holistic approaches to wellness are driving a revival and new discovery of essential oil health applications.
Aromatically, Topically, or Internally
Essential oils can be used aromatically, topically, or internally (when labeled for dietary use) and provide your body with additional tools to bolster your own natural defenses. They can be used individually or they can be blended together with other oils. Clove, Cinnamon, Eucalyptus, Rosemary, and Wild Orange come together as a wonderful protective blend, also known as On Guard blend, and offer a fragrant, natural, and effective option for immune support.*
Ways to use these protective oils include:
- Use on a cloth to wipe surfaces and doorknobs throughout the home as a disinfectant and non-toxic cleaner.
- Take internally on a daily basis to maintain healthy immune function
- Place a couple drops in water and gargle to provide relief to an irritated throat.
- Diffuse to help purify the air, support healthy respiratory function, energize and uplift, and reduce stress, a key contributor to weakening the immune system.
- Put on the soles of children’s feet at night to provide immune support.
- Mix oil and water in a spray bottle and spray rooms, desks and bed sheets to protect against pathogens.
- Use to clean children’s hands when traveling.
*doTERRA Living Magazine
For more info, go to www.mydoterra.com/lauren , 614.323.9448. laurennewsom@hotmail.com.
by urban-acupuncture | Dec 15, 2014 | Community
There are many great neighboring businesses nearby our clinics, and we will begin to highlight these extraordinary places that make our community a better place. The first local business we would like to mention is Boline Apothecary. It is further north on High Street in Clintonville. Many of our patients love it, and the owner Lily Shahar Kunning is very knowledgeable about herbal remedies. This is something can be a powerful adjunct with your acupuncture treatments. Here is some information about the apothecary. http://www.bolineapothecary.com/
Herbal Remedies
- They carry remedies and body care – all items are either made on site from local ingredients (the Boline Apothecary label) or are thoroughly vetted local or national products. They have a strict criteria of what is and isn’t allowed in the shop in terms of ingredients and processes in natural care.
- Lily was trained in western herbalism, and started learning TCM (but left school when the business loan went through for the shop). I have expansion plans to include not only western herbalism & aromatherapy, but also Ayurvedic, Chinese herbal formulas, & flower essences.
- Boline Apothecary works with local farms and growers to get botanicals sourced locally. This means not only are we supporting the local economy and lessening fossil fuel consumption, but the botanicals are fresher and more vital as we make our formulas.
- They offer classes and workshops every month. In 2015, there is a “Medicine Maker Series”, which is an 8 part series of workshops all about making medicine in the western tradition, from tinctures to teas and everything in between.
Location and contact:
4764 N. High Street, Columbus, OH 43214
(614) 517-0466
Current Farmer’s Markets to find Boline Apothecary products:
- Clintonville Farmer’s Market (Saturdays through November 22)
- Worthington (Select Saturdays through April: Nov 3, Nov 8, Dec 13, Jan 3, Feb 14, Mar 21, Apr 4, 11, 18, & 25)
- Columbus Winter Farmer’s Market (1st & 3rd Saturdays through April)
- 400 Farmer’s Market (2nd & 4th Saturdays through April)
by urban-acupuncture | Dec 15, 2014 | Diet
Water
Water is a natural appetite suppressant. Drinking at least one litre a day of water will help boost the metabolism, and flush toxins out of the liver. Having a healthy liver will help with overall health and filtering toxins out of the body. You can add lemon or lime to boost the liver’s flushing function, but be careful not to add sugar and other flavourings, always try to keep it real with your water! (And everything else 🙂 )
Garlic & Onions
Garlic and onions have an extremely cleansing effect on the body and garlic in particular has a strong cleansing effect on the blood. Both garlic and onions lower blood pressure and cholesterol and promote the contraction of smooth muscles in the intestinal wall helping to move foods further along the digestive tract.
Green Tea
Green tea has long been touted for its antioxidants, or antioxidant polyphenols. It’s active ingredient catechin has been proven to improve fat oxidation and thermogenesis which is the heat produced by digestion. Green tea also protects lean muscle tissue and stabilizes blood sugar levels.
Omega 3 Fatty Acids
Salmon, herring and tuna are fish high in omega 3 fats, and omega 3 fats boost the metabolism. Omega 3s help to balance blood sugar and reduce inflammation, helping to regulate and stimulate the metabolism. They have also been shown to reduce resistance to the hormone leptin which is responsible in part to how the body burns fat.
Green Leafy Vegetables
Green leafy vegetables are full of antioxidants and fibre, both of which are very stimulating the the metabolism. Vegetables like kale, spinach, collard greens and turnip greens are rich in iron which helps red blood cells to transport nutrients throughout the body.
Nuts & Seeds
Stick to raw nuts and seeds to receive their maximum metabolism boosting effects, raw nuts and seeds boost your metabolism twice as much as when they are roasted. Nuts and seeds contain two fat burning nutrients, choline and inositol. They act to remove fat from the body so that it doesn’t get reabsorbed, in the places you don’t want it.
Eggs
Digesting protein takes up to seven times more energy than digesting fats or carbohydrates. Eggs are protein rich, packed with vitamins, easy to prepare and portable. 🙂
Grapefruit
Along with being a powerful metabolism booster, a one cup serving of grapefruit juice provides more than 100% of the recommended daily allowance of vitamin C. Grapefruit also reduce insulin levels which ultimately promotes weight loss.
Broccoli
Broccoli is also extremely high in vitamin C which the body needs to absorb calcium which promotes weight loss. Broccoli has high water and fibre content. This combination helps you to feel full and dramatically increases your body’s ability to burn fat.
Cayenne Peppers
Cayenne peppers speed up your metabolism and allow your body to burn more calories by releasing Capsaicin. Capsaicin is also found in bell peppers and jalapeños, which are part of the vegetable family Capsicum annuum. The body responds by releasing stress hormones that speed up your metabolism and help you to burn fat. Cayenne peppers also contribute to thermogenesis which is the heat produced by digestion which also increases metabolism.
