All About Plantar Fasciitis (And tips and remedies!)

Plantar fasciitis (PF) involves pain and inflammation of a thick band of tissue, called the plantar fascia, which runs vertically across the bottom of your foot connecting your heel bone to your toes.

Plantar = sole of the foot. Fasciitis = inflammation (itis) of the fascia. PF can affect one or both feet and is a common cause of heel pain or pain in the arch that can range from mild to debilitating. Pain is often worse in the morning and after sitting for a length of time. Not every case of PF finds relief from medical procedures such as cortisone shots and surgery. Help is available as a complement or alternative. Reflexology is a form of bodywork applied to the feet that is non-invasive and is a natural and whole-body approach to wellness.

PF affects the entire body and commonly requires attention to areas other than the foot that may be contributing to the symptoms. Once your symptoms subside, we help you to maintain healthy feet with preventative measures and self-care education.

Why Plantar Fasciitis Returns

• Band-aid treatments that are quick-fixes and don’t address the cause
• Lack of maintenance after PF improves
• Minimal self-care (exercise, stretching, ice therapy, etc.)
• Lifestyle habits that cause, aggravate or worsen PF
• Use of medications to mask pain and give a false sense of resolve

Reflexology Benefits

• Improves circulation for legs and feet
• Restores healthy fascia in the feet
• Stimulates endorphins for pain relief
• Reduces soft-tissue inflammation
• Improves foot flexibility and function
• Improves structure and range of motion
• Provides overall balance and release of tension for the entire body

Consistent Care is Key

Plantar fasciitis does not develop overnight and will not diminish or disappear without daily care. Lifestyle patterns and causes must be addressed to prevent recurrence. Often the best treatment is the hardest.

REST the feet from use and abuse which means get off your feet for prolonged periods. This can assist in reducing inflammation as you proceed with a program of reflexology and soft-tissue therapy.

Other tips to speed healing include ice therapy to the injured area, foot-soaks in Dead Sea mineral salts, application of essential oils or BioFreeze for inflammation and pain. Also check for side effects from medications.

Avoid habits which can exacerbate PF such as going barefoot, crossing the ankles and bending toes back when seated.

Benefits FAR Infrared - SOQI Bed Benefits.

Also known as Hyperthermia Dome. FAR Infrared light is invisible part of the Sun's spectrum, not to be confused with ultra violet light, that can be damaging. The human body can easily absorb FIR, because its deep penetrating ability. Studies have shown, that FIR can penetrate up to 2-3 inches deep. "And why is it good for me?" — you ask. Here it is!

Hyperthermia helps to:

• Accelerate the biochemical metabolic processes of the entire body and increase detoxification significantly
• Increases the permeability of cell membranes to water, oxygen, nutrients.
• Supports reparative and regenerative processes
• Increases overall circulation and promotes blood circulation of tissues and organs, opens clogged collateral vessels
• Relieves the tonus of striated and smooth musculature causing muscle relaxation Increase the velocity of nerve conduction
• Activates sub-acute and chronic inflammation processes by way of promoting their cure
• Influences the immunological system profoundly
• At sufficiently high temperatures, restricts the propagation of microorganisms and viruses and malignant cell division

Impressive! Yes, it is! Otherwise I would not invest money and valuable space in my cozy office in Stamford.

I am ready to see you in my healing studio Monday through Sunday by appointment. I am devoted to your health and I am here to answer any of your health related questions. 15 min. phone consults are still FREE and welcomed.

Please call or email me, so I can help you to stock up on appropriate herbs/vitamins/natural compounds/homeopathies that Dr. Fitzgerald mentions in this chart. My virtual dispensary Fullscript will give you easy access to all products with your special 20% discount (as my client) and free shipping.

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*not found elsewhere!

Flu Season & My Take on the Flu Shot

The Flu Time is upon us. Are we ready to meet the challenge? Do you need/want/required the Flu vaccination? This is the question of the day. The answer to this question is personal and for sure not a uniform “yes” or “no." The decision is ultimately yours. Learn the facts, discuss with your doctor and we can always talk further about this topic at your next appointment. 

Let me share my experience with the seasonal flu vaccination. My mom, who is now 92 y.o and still “directing the traffic” of her life, stopped having flu vaccines after her very bad experience - hospitalization twice with pneumonia some ten years ago. She said, she wished she listened to me in the first place and resisted the wide spread pro vaccination push from the media, etc. So now you know, I am not enthusiastic about the Flu vaccine.

Ever since mom stopped the vaccination - no pneumonias, no related hospitals visits, instead she uses very comprehensive immune building nutritional protocol, and Reflexology/Reiki treatments, Far Infrared Table or Far Infrared pad preventively.  I put the nutritional protocol for Cold/Flu prevention on my virtual dispensary Fullscript, especially for you. You will find it here, log in and check the tab on the left side called "Cold/Flu, or email me at irina@ibhealing.com for a personal welcome link.

My dear Nicholas had a similar bad experience two years ago, when he had his random (did not consult with yours truly) shot at school. Now he knows better to not risk his health with unproven, and unfortunately marginally effective flu shots. 

Do you want to read more on this hot topic? Here is the link to the blog of well respected Functional Medicine doctor, Dr. Kara Fitzgerald.  Additionally she offers more information on tips and remedies for Influenza. Click here to open and download for yourself. 

Let us help ourselves with easy to make folk remedies, like Fire Cider,  see the recipe below, and natural antibacterial/antiviral formula from my previous blog.  

How to Make Fire Cider

I want to share this simple recipe, as it seems there are alarming number of  people now coming down with cold, or flu. Maybe you can help yourself, by making this healthy drink: Fire Cider. I love the folk remedy, do you?

"Let food be your medicine." (I was not the first one to say that, I know)
Thank you Hippocrates.

Ingredients:

1. 32 Ounces RAW apple cider vinegar
2. 1 large onion, peeled and chopped
3. 2 heads garlic, peeled and chopped fine
4. 1 and 1/2 cups grated horseradish
5. 4 inch piece of fresh ginger, grated
6. 1-2 spicy chilis, sliced (any spicy chili will do OR you can add a pitch of cayenne powder)
7. Honey (to taste)

Directions:

Place all ingredients into  a LARGE mason jar, pack down slightly, and pour apple cider vinegar on top.  Give the jar a little shake to remove any air bubbles.  Cover with tight-fitting lid.

Place into a dark, cool place for at least 2 weeks, a month is better.  Carefully strain out herbs, add honey to sweeten it slightly, and bottle your tonic.  Discard the strained ingredients OR try adding them to a stir fry.

Store in fridge.  I have heard that this lasts anywhere from 1 year to indefinitely.

NOTE: Be careful when handling these ingredients as they can be irritating to hands and eyes.

How to Take Your Fire Cider

As a daily tonic, sip a tablespoon or 2  a day to boost your immune system.

OR

At the first sign of feeling sick, take 1-2 tablespoons several times a day until you are feeling better.

OR

Be adventurous.  Add fire cider to your salad dressing, soups, steamed veggies, etc.  It’s super yummy!

Credit goes to this wonderful site: www.savorylotus.com

 

Natural Alternative to Antibiotics

It happens often between seasons, we catch cold, our sinuses get irritated and infected, our chest congested, cannot breathe or sleep, and before we know it we are totally exhausted. You know the drill: call or trip to the doctor, then the pharmacy to quickly bring antibiotics to our defense.

Common occurrence nowadays.

Way too often antibiotics are not effective first time around, or worse they create unpleasant, if not dangerous side effects. I learned about this alternative to prescribed antibiotics while studying with Truth Calkins - an amazing herbalist and anti-aging health coach from CA. My husband and I have been taking this formula with great results on and off for the past 18 months.  I have been offering it to some of my clients for the last year to ward off the common infections and boost the immune system. You can easily order it through my virtual dispensary “Fullscript” online. You will find it under the tab “Shop by Categories”  As always do not hesitate to call or email me with any questions in regards to supplementations – short consults are welcomed and FREE of charge.

I'd like to introduce you to what is called a Natural Antibiotic Shot - to boost immune system, prevent and address colds and flus, allergies, infections – and also good for sinuses, ear, and chest infections.

Instructions:

1. put 2 tsp clean filtered water in a shot glass
2. add 5 drops of Oregano Oil 
3. add 1 tsp of Kyolic Aged Garlic Extract liquid
4. add 1 tsp of Sovereign Silver
5. add 1 tbsp of Apple Cider Vinegar
6. dash of cayenne pepper - optional
7. Mix well and shoot straight back. Please wait 30 minutes before eating anything else. 

Ingredients:

• Oregano Essential Oil: Pure essential oil of origanum vulgare obtained via natural processes. It is a mucous membrane irritant. May be toxic if used internally overdosed. Avoid direct contact w/ eyes. Do not expose to direct sunlight.
• Apple Cider Vinegar w/mother 12 oz Organic Kosher Unfiltered & Unpasteurized Omega Nutrition’s organic Apple Cider Vinegar is of exceptional quality and flavor. Our Apple Cider Vinegar is produced the “old fashioned” way. • No chemicals, additives or preservatives. • Unpasteurized to preserve its nutritional value. • Contains pectins, beneficial bacteria and enzymes. • Contains “mother” which is formed naturally by the bacteria in unpasteurized vinegar. • Vinegar containing “mother” is not harmful or spoiled. 
• Liquid Kyolic Odorless Organic Garlic: Extract begins with 100% organically grown garlic bulbs. They are then aged to perfection in a unique extraction process to eliminate odor and create the beneficial compounds found only in Kyolic. Kyolic has multiple benefits: - Cardiovascular health - healthy homocysteine and cholesterol levels. Kyolic supports your body's natural defenses .Kyolic helps the liver to produce glutathione, the body's natural detoxifier. Kyolic liquid has unique and beneficial anti-oxidant compounds created by this special process.
• Sovereign Silver Bio-Active Silver Hydrosol delivers  98% positively charged silver [Ag(n) 1+]. EASILY ABSORBED: Unprecedented particle size of 0.8 nanometers allows for easy absorption and excretion.  Ultra-small particle size results in greater surface area, making our low concentration of 10 ppm more effective than brands up to 500 ppm. PERFECTLY SAFE*: Safe for the whole family. †According to the EPA (CASRN 7440-22-4) daily Oral Silver Reference Dose (RfD) applied to 10 ppm, one may ingest 178,850 servings safely over 70 years. 99.999% PURE: No added salts or proteins. Just pure silver in pure water. Vegan.