Bellevue Clinic, West Vancouver

Acupuncture and Headaches

kami.fasan — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 23:42:59 +0000

There are over 200 known types of headache with different locations, degrees and qualities of pain, patterns of appearance, times of endurance, and causative factors. There is even a type called “medication overuse headache” due to the excessive intake of painkillers for headaches!
Studies suggest that the level of endorphins in the body may have a great impact on how people feel headaches. Thus, people who suffer from chronic or severe headaches may have lower levels of endorphins compared to people who do not complain of headaches.
Acupuncture can successfully treat headaches due to its analgesic action associated with the release of natural endorphins in the brain, therefore its pain-relieving effects. Sessions focus on correcting the original cause of the headache in order to avoid reappearance. Call our West Vancouver office today to book your appointment!

Guacamole Goddess Dressing!

Dr. Sara Kinnon — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 21:48:33 +0000

Nothing says summer like a fresh salad full of crisp organically grown greens! Avoid all of the sugar and preservatives often found in store bought dressings and make your own!

1 green onion
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
2 small cloves garlic
1 12-oz. package lite silken tofu
2 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
1 tbsp. cider vinegar
1/2 tsp. vegetarian Worcestershire sauce
1/4 tsp. dried tarragon
1 tsp. agave nectar (or sweetener of choice)
1/2 tsp. spicy mustard
1/2 tsp. celery salt
1/8 tsp. freshly ground pepper
1/4 tsp. Cajun hot sauce (or to taste)
1 large ripe avocado, pitted and peeled
salt to taste (optional)
In a food processor, grind the onion, parsley, and garlic well. Add everything else except the avocado and optional salt and blend until nice and smooth. Now add your avocado and salt, blending well. Store in your fridge for up to one week.
This tasty dressing was found on the Fat Free Vegan!

Healthy Recipe: Chicken Curry Salad

Dr. Sara Kinnon — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 16:47:13 +0000

Traditional chicken salad is covered in fattening mayo and usual heavy on the salt too. Why not make your own healthy version at home? Simply combine the following ingredients together in a bowl, and allow to chill in the fridge for 1 hour.

2 cooked chicken breasts, diced

diced apples

finely chopped red onion

1/2 cup of slivered almonds or chopped walnuts

2 minced celery stocks

raisins or grapes (too taste)

fresh thyme

freshly ground black pepper

1 tablespoon of curry powder

enough flax oil to coat and allow ingredients to mix well

For more healthy eating tips check out Nell Stephson’s inspiring blog!

Mushroom, Tomato, Basil Frittata

kami.fasan — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 21:57:08 +0000

A Frittata is a delicious meal that can be made quickly and inexpensively! Add your favorite seasonal vegetables, or follow the recommendations below:

1/2 onion, diced

3 gloves of garlic, diced

2 tbs of organic vegetable broth

1 cup of sliced mushrooms of your choice (we recommend using ones in season)

1/2 tomato, diced

3 large organic eggs

3 tbs chopped fresh, organic basil (why not try growing your own?)

salt and pepper to taste

Heat 1 tbs of broth in a skillet. Saute the onion on medium/low for 3-4 minutes or until golden brown. Stir frequently! Add the garlic and mushrooms, stirring for another 2 minutes. Add the second tbs of broth, the tomato, salt and pepper and cook for another minute. In a separate bowl, beat the eggs adding salt, pepper and chopped basil. Pour the egg mixture over your saute’d vegetables and turn the heat to low. Cover the skillet and allow it to cook for an additional 5 minutes, or until firm.

Congratulations! You have made a healthy and delicious protein packed frittata! Slice it into wedges and enjoy!

(source: www.whfoods.org)

2010 Mallet Masters Croquet Tournament

kami.fasan — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 18:34:44 +0000

Photo: North Shore News

Dr. Kinnon recently attended the 2010 Mallet Masters Croquet Tournament, raising funds for the West Vancouver Memorial Library Foundation. A wonderful time was had by all! Participants wore their best croquet white while enjoying cocktails, live music, a silent auction and of course a fun game of croquet!

IV Nutrient Therapy

Dr. Sara Kinnon — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 18:07:20 +0000

Everyday we are inundated with information about what is good for us, and what we should avoid. Often, advice is provided on what vitamins to take. This can be overwhelming for many and can often lead to a plethora of pills being taken on a daily basis.
Vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients can also be given intravenously. IV Nutrient Therapy was pioneered my John Myers, MD. Through his use of intravenous nutrients, Dr Myers was able to treat a variety of medical conditions that previously failed to respond to treatment. Diseases such as asthma, fibromyalgia, fatigue, muscle spasms, and upper respiratory infections all improved with IV administration of vitamins and minerals. The Myers Cocktail, as it became known, is now used by naturopathic physicians all over the world.
The advantage of IV nutrient therapy is the direct delivery of nutrients to cells, bypassing the digestive tract. It is very hard to quickly and effectively raise our serum levels of nutrients via an oral supplement. If one has any digestive concerns, such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome or constipation, oral supplementation is sometimes compromised.
Vitamin infusions can be tailored to an individual’s need, with adjustments made to certain ingredients. The classic vitamin cocktail includes minerals such as calcium and magnesium, b vitamins, and vitamin c. Depending on the condition, certain nutrients can be added or removed so that the treatment is tailored to the individual. Vitamin infusions are helpful for anyone from the athlete needing to maintain optimal nutrition, to the tired and overworked, or those with a specific disease. The vitamin IV’s are also helpful for those needing immune system support, those taking pharmaceutical medications, or those recovering from surgery.
Depending on the condition being treated and the infusion type, some people receive infusions a few times a week, while others receive them on a monthly basis. All Vitamin IV’s are administered by our Naturopath, Dr. Sara Kinnon, in our cozy and sunlight filled IV Therapy Room located in West Vancouver. Cost for an infusion ranges from $45 to $150 plus an injection fee.
If you are looking to optimize nutrition, suffer from low energy, or have a more serious condition, intravenous nutrient therapy might be of significant benefit for you.

The Grass-Fed Difference

kami.fasan — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 16:47:41 +0000

Watch this informative video and learn of the many benefits to eating organic, grass-fed beef: The Grass-Fed Difference

Water and Your Health

Dr. Sara Kinnon — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 21:43:28 +0000

We hear it all the time, drink water and plenty of it! But how many of you drink enough water? Keep in mind that beverages such as coffee, soda pops, wine and beer dehydrate the system. If you are simply having 1-2 glasses of water per day, it is not enough! Dr. Sara Kinnon recommends the average healthy and active adult consume a minimum of 1.5 litres of fresh water per day. If you have been drinking coffee or alcoholic beverages you should drink even more water! For every cup of coffee you consume it should be followed by a re-hydrating glass of water.

Why is water so important? Well aside from the obvious factor that more then half our body mass is comprised of water, it is essential to every function of the entire human body. From flushing toxins, to carrying nutrients, our bodies simply cannot thrive without it.

With the rise in temperature comes an increased need to consume more water. Did you know that the average human looses nearly 1 litre of water a day through sweat, tears, urine and bowel movements? This amount increases with outdoor summertime activities.

Water consumption should always be done responsibly. We are lucky to live in such a beautiful part of the world, with plenty of access to clean drinking water. Rather then buying useless bottled water that only contributes to waste, purchase a re-usable bottle such as a Klean Kanteen and fill it up with water from home! If you have concerns over the quality of your tap water a Brita faucet filter can be installed in a matter of minutes! Just like we use here at BNHC!

And as an added summer bonus…all of our Klean Kanteens are currently 15% off! Stop by and grab yours today.

Goji Berries: Healthy and Delicious!

Dr. Sara Kinnon — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 18:41:57 +0000

Goji Berries have become quite the buzzword in various health circles, but did you know they have a long and rich history? Goji Berris have been a part of Traditional Chinese Medicine for over 2000 years. These tiny little dried berries are nutritional superhouses, packed with important nutrients such as:

Antioxidants that help protect the body from cancer and slow down the aging process
Essential vitamins such as B1, B6, B2 and vitamin E
Trace elements such as zinc, iron and calcium
11 essential amino acids
Carotenoids which help prevent heart disease and promote healthy eyes
and more!

Stop by and pick up some goji berries today. Eaten in their dried form they taste like a cross between a raison and a cherry. They can also be added to hot cereals as they plump up when added to warm water!

External Castor Oil Packs and Liver Detoxification

Dr. Sara Kinnon — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 23:33:48 +0000

Most of us hear the words “castor oil” and run for the hills! Visions of looming tablespoons full of thick, ill tasting oil that our mothers assured was “good for us” send our stomachs into a frenzy of protest. Fear not! We are not asking you to swallow castor oil, at our West Vancouver clinic we encourage our clients to do topical castor oil packs 2-3 times per week. Applied over the abdomen it aids in the elimination and detoxification processes of the body.

Simply cut a flannel sheet into wide strips and bunch them to form a soft pad. Liberally soak that pad in castor oil, wiping off any excess, get into a comfortable position and lay it over your abdomen. Place an old towel over top, one that you don’t mind getting oily, and top this with a hot water bottle. Do this at a time of day when you can relax, put your feet up and allow the heat to help the oil soak into your skin. Do this for 45-60 minutes.

You see? Warmth, relaxation and no swallowing of icky tasting liquids! We promised you it wouldn’t be what you expected! Castor oil packs can help in the treatment of fibroids, non-malignant ovarian cysts, headaches, liver disorders, gallbladder inflammation or stones, inflamed joints and more!

All of our medical grade, cold pressed castor oil bottles come with a detailed instruction sheet on how to to this simple yet highly effective therapy at home.