Vijay Patel, D.C.

Best Homemade Bug Repellent

Mar 272012

Dr. Samantha Weiss

Today we have a guest post by my associate, Dr. Samantha Weiss.

Spring is finally here. If you and your family are anything like mine, you will start spending more time outside, especially during the evenings. While it is great to enjoy the outdoors, it is not enjoyable to get eaten alive by mosquitoes. Bug repellent is a must, especially in the summer months; however the bug repellent sold in stores smells horrible and can be more toxic to humans than bugs.

I spent many summers getting bug bite after bug bite and smelling of insect repellent. I decided that there had to be a natural way to repel mosquitoes. I found a home remedy that is easy, cheap and effective at repelling mosquitoes. The natural repellent is made of a mixer of essential oils and a carrier oil or alcohol.

The essential oils that seem to work best are the following: cinnamon oil, lemon eucalyptus oil, lavender oil, citronella oil and castor oil. The essential oil is then mixed with a carrier oil such as olive oil, sunflower oil, or other cooking oils,. Witch hazel or vodka can be used in place of a carrier oil. From the above list, you take one of the carrier oils or alcohol and one or several of the essential oils and mix them together. I would recommend using lemon, eucalyptus, lavender or citronella oil in your mix of essential oils. When making large quantities of mosquito repellent it is best to mix one part essential oil with 10-20 parts carrier oil or alcohol.

After mixing the essential oil(s) of your choice with the carrier oil or alcohol you can either spray or rub it on your skin and clothes, making sure to avoid areas such as your eyes and mouth. Since the repellent is natural it needs to be re-applied after an hour or after swimming and/or exercise. You can store your natural repellent in a dark bottle away from both heat and sunlight.

If you are pregnant or nursing make sure to consult with your physician prior to use. One more bit of advice it is best to mix your repellent and test it out on a small area of skin first to see if an irritation develops. Remember essential oils are very potent so a little goes a long way. On that note go out there and enjoy your summer protected from the bugs.

Dr. Samantha Weiss earned her Chiropractic Doctoratal degree and Certification in Acupuncture from National University of Health Sciences in Lombard, Illinois. She also received her Bachelor of Science degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

As a member of the American Chiropractic Association, Dr. Weiss is able to advocate for and promote the best care possible for her patients. Even though she enjoys all areas in the chiropractic field, Dr. Weiss has a particular interest in caring for both maternal and pediatric patients, and hopes to explore and develop treatment options within the Advanced Physical Medicine & Therapy practice for these patient populations.

Quick Natural Relief for Sinus Infections

Common Conditions No Responses »

Mar 192012

Sinus Home Remedy

Recent research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association indicates that antibiotics are not helpful in the treatment of most sinus infections. As we all know, sinus infections make us miserable. Congestion, post-nasal drip, runny nose, headaches, and exhaustion from coughing all night all make the weeks of sinus infections miserable. This past month all the Patel family has been sick with sinus infections While most of the infections self resolve in 2 weeks, 2 weeks of misery with sick kids at the same time is two weeks too long. What does the Patel family do to combat the symptoms of sinus infection?

At the first sign of infection, we start with our routine to boost our immune system, this is goes for all family members not just the sick ones: Omega -3, vitamin D, and homeopathic immune boosters such as Engystol or Galium, both by -heel. We also take an herbal preparation of both quercetin and bromelain. Both herbs help improve sinus health. Common sense solutions come into play here as well, lots of hand washing, covering noses and mouths when we sneeze of cough, not sharing glasses (good luck with 3 kids), strict bedtimes for everyone, even moms and dads all help.

Once stuffy noses are in play, we continue with the above routine but will add several other remedies. None of these eliminate your infection, but they do help alleviate some of the symptoms and make you more comfortable. Probably the most important of these is sinus cleansing or irrigation. This was traditionally called a neti pot and is an ancient Indian remedy. A saline solution is inserted into one nostril and comes out the other. Sounds terrible, I know but it really helps. I have numerous patients who have great success with this treatment and even my 8 and 10 year olds ask to use it when they feel sick. A product called Sinucleanse is particularly child friendly, make sure to get the child size for your kiddos. When using sinus irrigation it is important to follow the recommended amounts of saline and water when making the solution.

Steam showers or inhaling steam from a pot of warm water will also help loosen secretions and help drain your sinuses. When doing so, make sure that the water is not too hot and off the burner when you do so. Some people will add a few drops of tea tree oil or oregano essential oil to the water as both oils have anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties.

My wife will make a solution of essential oils–5 drops eucalyptus, 5 drops tea tree, and 1 drop peppermint to help loosen secretions. She will add these to an essential oil diffuser and run it for 10-15 minutes several times a day. A mentholated rub will also help relieve congestion.

Common sense solutions such as gargling with salt water, drinking lots of water and hot tea with honey and lemon can also help make you more comfortable.

Individuals who have a history a sinus infections may wish to try sinus cleansing on a regular basis, weekly or monthly to ward off recurrent sinus infections. In addition querceten and bromelain on a regular basis can help with overall sinus help.

Please discuss use and dosage with your health care provider for all vitamins, homeopathic and herbal remedies. Sinus infections are uncomfortable with no quick fixes, but hopefully the above suggestions will help you find some comfort. What are your favorite home remedies and treatments for sinus infections?

Update: Note: Due to microbes that may be present in tap water, using boiled, distilled or filtered water is recommended with any nasal irrigation system. Please make sure that everything is cleaned before and after each use and completely dry before storage.

New Year’s Resolutions

Uncategorized No Responses »

Jan 022012

I would like to wish you a Happy & Prosperous New Year. New Year is a time of resolutions. I would like to encourage all of my readers not to make a long list of resolutions. Instead, make one small resolution that has the potential to become a habit you can keep. Here are some examples:

1. Start taking Omega 3′s

2. Take a walk around the block once a day

3. Give up soda ( diet or otherwise) or limit to one a day

4. Drink more water

5. Go to bed on time

6. Replace a starchy snack with a piece of fruit every day

Make sure you choose a resolution that will guarantee success. Complete it every day for a month. February 1 reevaluate–see if you can add another change. If you continue each month adding one small resolution at the end of the year you will have made 12 positive changes. A new year; a new opportunity for good health!

Survival Tips for Standing in Line This Holiday Season

General 1 Response »

Dec 192011

This post is from the American Chiropractic Association but provides a good reminder that standing for long periods can cause injury. These sensible tips can lead to a strain free holiday season!

The holiday season is here and with it comes lots of reasons for good cheer…but it can also bring added demands and stress for our bodies. Whether you’re shopping for presents, waiting to pick up the perfect dessert or checking out a holiday performance, chances are you’ll spend a good deal of time standing in line this season.

The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) offers the following tips to help you avoid muscle cramps, neck stiffness and back pain while waiting in line.

First, dress the part. If you’re planning to spend the day shopping or strolling around town checking out the holiday displays, wear comfortable, supportive shoes—not high heels. It’s also a good idea to dress in layers so that you will be comfortable going from outdoors to indoors, and vise-versa. And leave huge shoulder bags at home; bring only those items that are necessary for your day—wallet, keys, cell phone—and consider carrying a fanny pack or a backpack rather than a one-shoulder purse.

Once you’re actually in line, there are several stretches that you can do to keep your legs from cramping and your back from aching. Start with your toes and work your way up:

Spread your toes out as wide as you can and hold for a few seconds and then bring them back to neutral.
Stand on one foot while you rotate the opposite ankle and then switch legs.
To stretch your calves, lean forward on your toes keeping your legs straight.
Bend your knees a little bit, just 5 to 10 degrees, and then straighten them.
Tighten the muscles in your thighs and bottom and hold for 5 seconds and then release.
Tuck your butt underneath while sticking your bellybutton out then switch and stick your butt out. This pelvic tilt can be a very small movement, but it is great for taking the pressure off your lower back.
Roll your shoulders backwards several times and then push your shoulder blades together to stretch out your chest.
Open your hands as wide as you can and then gently close them.
In addition to stretching, shift your weight and alter your stance every 3 to 5 minutes to give your body a postural break.

You can find additional suggestions for surviving the holidays healthfully—including advice on nutrition, exercise and stress reduction—on ACA’s Web site at www.acatoday.org/12Days.

“If the holidays do bring you pain, consider chiropractic care, a natural, drug-free approach to pain-relief and wellness. In addition to manual therapies such as spinal manipulation, doctors of chiropractic are trained to counsel patients on diet, nutrition, exercise, healthy habits, and occupational and lifestyle modification,” says ACA President Dr. Rick McMichael. To find a doctor of chiropractic near you, visit www.acatoday.org/findadoc.

Author: American Chiropractic Association

To your good health….

General No Responses »

Nov 142011

I recently read study that indicated that people who thought they were taking a multi vitamin were more likely to make poor nutrition and health care choices during the day. The gist of the article is that people feel a false sense of security when taking supplements. They feel the supplements give them permission to cheat when making choices related to diet during the day.

This article made me think about an experience I had recently while speaking to an individual about their health. I was taking a health history and asked if he had any chronic medical conditions. When the person said they had no health care issues, I then continued my history by asking about current medications. He mentioned a drug used to treat high blood pressure. I asked why they didn’t mention that he had high blood pressure earlier. The response was, “Oh, because I take that medication I don’t have to worry about my blood pressure. Everything is normal.”

It would be so deceptively simple to think that by taking a medication that you no longer need to worry about your health. However, there is a reason why diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol are known as lifestyle diseases. The small choices that we make everyday have a cumulative effect upon our health. Medications are sometimes necessary, but most medications do not cure disease, they alleviate a symptom. A better health care option is addressing the cause of the symptom and controlling lifestyle factors that cause or exacerbate the symptoms.

I know that when patients learn they have a diagnosis of a lifestyle disease, it is life changing. The choices to make and the changes that need to be made in our lives seem overwhelming. In cases like these, education is key. Learning as much as we can about our particular disease and creating a plan to address and treat the disorder can help patients successfully negotiate overwhelming option. In general, I always look with suspicion upon treatment plans that only involve medication. Almost every health issue can be improved by nutritional, behavioral and/or exercise supports. A holistic health care plan addresses these issues and minimizes the need, dependency and side effects caused by medication.

Sometime, lifestyle plans seem deceptively simple. I think this leads people to discount them. For example, in the case of diabetes, lifestyle changes are generally common sense, reduce intake of foods that have a high sugar content and exercise more. Actually following through on this treatment plan is much harder. Often it is easiest to incorporate these changes in small manageable steps. Commit to an exercise program by 15 minutes a day. Make it a habit. Once you have done this successfully for a few weeks, increase your time, add new routines. Change your diet by looking at 1 or 2 changes that you want to make. Incorporate those first, then slowly add more. Small successes will build over time and will create powerful changes in your health.

To your good health

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