Castor Oil Benefits

Castor oil is a pale yellow liquid extracted from castor seed Ricinus Communis. This wonderful oil is an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant used for many centuries for its therapeutic and medicinal benefits. It is not recommended to use these packs while pregnant, discuss this with your care provider before use when pregnant.

Castor oil can be used as a pack on the abdomen and helps with many issues and ailments such as :

·        Constipation

·        Gall bladder and liver inflammation

·        Gastrointestinal issues

·        Abdominal inflammation

·        Menstrual disorders 

·        Arthritis

·        Nerve inflammation

·        Sore muscles

How to Do a Castor Oil Pack

You will need the following

1.     Hexane free castor oil – organic if possible

2.     unbleached and dye-free wool or cotton flannel or organic material

3.      A large piece of cotton flannel  or plastic wrap like Saran Wrap (not optimal)

4.     glass container with lid –use a quart-size mason jar for storing the oil-soaked flannel between uses

5.     old clothes, towels, and sheets – castor oil does stain

6.     Heat pack/wheat bag/rice pack or heating pad

How to Use a Castor Oil Pack

1.     Cut a large piece of cotton flannel and fold into thirds to make three layers. This should cover the entire area you are wanting to treat such as your abdomen

2.     Thoroughly soak (but not completely saturate) the flannel in castor oil. I save the jar since this is where I keep the flannel between uses, it may take some time for the oil to soak into the flannel

3.     Carefully remove and unfold the castor oil-soaked cloth.

4.     While lying on an old towel or sheet, place the cloth on the desired body part.

5.     Cover with the wrap around pack or saran wrap and place the heating pack on top of this. Less optimally, a plastic grocery bag can be used to prevent any oil from getting on the heating pad. A hot water bottle, electric heating pad can be used, but hot water bottles and rice packs may need to be reheated several times.

6.     Lie on back with feet elevated (I typically lie on the floor and rest my feet on the couch) and relax for 30-60 minutes.

7.     After the desired time, remove the pack and return the flannel to the glass container. Store in the fridge.

8.     Use a natural soap or a mix of baking soda and water to remove any castor oil left on the skin.

9.     Relax and rest. Make sure to drink enough water and stay hydrated after doing this to support detox.

Dr. Joelle Johnson from Family First Chiropractic and wellness is located at 142 Erickson drive, Red Deer, Alberta . www.family1stchiro.ca 403-347-3261

How active and sedentary should my preschool child be? How much sleep is recommended?

Guidelines from the WHO – World health organization for preschool children

Children 0-1 year of age

Exercise – at least 30 min

Screen time – NONE

Sleep time – 0-3 months 14-17 hours 4-11 months 12-16 hours a  day

 

Children ages 1-2

Exercise – at least 180 min – 3 hours at least

Screen time – NO MORE THAN 60 min- I strongly recommend NO TECH BEFORE TWO years of age

Sleep time: 11-14 hours

Children ages  3-4 

Exercise: at least 180 min – 3 hours at least  and 60 min of moderate to vigorous

Screen time : NO MORE THAN  60 min

Sleep time : 0-13  hours

Early childhood (under 5 years of age) is a period of rapid physical and cognitive development and a time during which a child’s habits are formed Lifestyle behaviors developed in early life can influence physical activity levels and patterns throughout the life. Sedentary behaviors, whether riding motorized transport rather than walking or cycling, sitting at a desk in school, watching TV or playing inactive screen-based games
are increasingly prevalent and associated with poor health outcomes Sleep time is also know to influence health outcomes and short sleep duration is associated with overweight and obesity in childhood as well as mental health issues amongst adolescents. Chronic insufficient sleep up to 7 years of age has been associated with increased adiposity in later childhood and adolescence.

There are recommendations to limit the exposure to screens in young children in a number of countries such as Australia, Canada, United States and New Zealand Sleep is essential for cognitive, physical and psycho social development in young children.

Dr. Joelle Johnson B.Sc. , D.C. practices at Family First Chiropractic and wellness and focuses her practice on pediatric care, prenatal and postnatal care. She is located at 142 Erickson Dr, Red Deer 403-347-3261 www.family1stchiro.ca

Pediatric Posture epidemic Part 1 of 3

Pediatric Posture epidemic

Part 1 of 3

I have decided to break this blog into 3 separate parts, the first to discuss the issue, the following 2 will be the exercises and rehabilitation for improving your posture.

We have a decline in healthy posture at the speed of technology. Children and adults are showing poorer posture. This posture is the forward head tilt with an increased midback curve called a hyperkyphosis. Most hyperkyphosis posture is postural; however some are structural. When you trunk flexes forward you have poor balance; this imbalance decreases your ability to regulate movement properly. You will have a slower gait and a wider stance causing poor coordination and balance.

50.5% of school-age children have poor posture! Over 50%! We have an epidemic!

Poor posture decreases balance, coordination, self-confidence, and results in a poor cognitive and emotional state. Posture distortion is unfortunately the new normal, and we need to reverse this in the ‘digital age.’

Tech neck posture at a 60-degree angle causes 60 pounds of force to the neck and upper back! Tech neck causes digital dementia

Digital dementia is defined as non-Alzheimers dementia-like symptoms form the overstimulation of devices and poor lifestyle habits.

It causes

1.    Understimulation of the Parietal lobe

2.    Overstimulation of the occipital lobe

3.    Understimulation of the cerebellum

4.    Understimulation of the PMRF

5.    Understimulation of the frontal lobe

I strongly recommend no tech under two and school-age children a maximum of 1 hour per day. Our children are developing their nervous system and spines with technology and are the first generation to have this from birth. Previous generations have developed their posture and nervous system before technology.  We need children to spend at least 2 hours a day physically playing, which activates their vestibular and nervous system.

Increased screen time causes the following

1.    Thinning of the brain cortex

2.    Decreased GPA with increased screen time

3.    Increased in ADHD

4.    Decreases in working memory

5.    Lower quality of life with increased screen time

How do we help these children and adolescents?

•    Spinal alignment, chiropractic adjustments  to stimulate the spine and the nervous system to function optimally

•    Posture rehabilitation

•    Posture habit re-education

Watch for the next blog part 2 by Dr. Joelle Johnson Bsc, D.C.,  from Family First Chiropractic and Wellness, 142 Erickson Drive Red Deer T4R3B3 www.family1stchiro.ca

403-347-3261