It's that time of year again, so we're reminding you that we have lots of cold and flu information available on our website. Below are some articles compiling cold and flu tips and tricks from us and other local practitioners. We've also included some other helpful links on cold and flu, so you won't be caught unprepared this year!

Just because your co-workers are getting sick, doesn't mean you have to as well. Much of the following information is about what you can do to prevent getting sick in the first place.




In addition to all it's other benefits, Acupuncture is great for helping to strengthen the immune system. People who receive regular Acupuncture treatment often report that they get sick less often and recover from illness faster.

Article from Acufinder.com:

Acupuncture To Prevent Colds and Flu

Article we wrote for the Frontiersman:

Cold and Flu - A Chinese Medical Explanation

Thanks to Stella Lyn, Garlic Honey is a household favorite for cold and flu prevention. The article below explains how to make Garlic Honey and offers other helpful suggestions:

Cold and Flu Tips and Tricks from ACA

Another favorite remedy - this time from Naturopath Amy Chadwick at Soaring Crane Natural Health Center in Palmer:

Magic Socks

And finally, an easy way to prevent illness is by strengthening your digestive system with probiotic foods. Homemade cultured or fermented foods improve the quality of microbes in your gut and help you to resist viruses and infections. . We can tell you about lots of resources for making these foods yourself, AND you can also purchase cultured veggies locally:

Wild Fermentation

Cultured Veggies

This is a very simple recipe. Preparation time is 5 minutes - and then figure on 45 minutes to 1 1/2 hours cooking time depending on the size of the squash. Great easy dish to warm you up in the winter - YUM!

Baked Squash Recipe

If you've never had the opportunity to read this book, we highly recommend it. Here's what one of the reveiwers at Amazon.com had to say about it:

This book is a true classic in that it speaks to every generation. Even though it was written in the immediate post-Holocaust period and was one of the first personal accounts of the Nazi death camps, Frankl's brief account has new meaning today. In today's world, many people are constantly pursuing pleasure in the form of wealth, success, or sexual fulfillment. Although there is nothing intrinsically wrong with these, Frankl's point is that life must have meaning. A person can inject meaning into even the most degraded life conditions by clinging to his values. But without meaning, life can drag on, seemingly without end. The "purpose-driven life" is the only life that leads to true fulfillment. (posted by J. Groner)

Frankl founded a school of psychiatry called "Logotherapy" after his experience in the holocaust. According to an article on Wikipedia, Logotherapy contains the following 3 tenets:


1. Life has meaning under all circumstances, even the most miserable ones.

2. Our main motivation for living is our will to find meaning in life.

3. We have freedom to find meaning in what we do, and what we experience, or at least in the stand we take when faced with a situation of unchangeable suffering.

We found Frankl's message to be inspriring and uplifting. Despite the fact that the book was written over 60 years ago, it contains great wisdom and guidance for how to live a life that truly has meaning.

In fact, this book is said to be one of the 10 most influential books in the US - at the time of Frankl's death in 1997 it had sold over 10 million copies in 24 different languages.

Frankl was also a dynamic personality, even into his older years. We've posted a 1/2 hour YouTube interview below - you will be amazed by his passion and exuberance for life!

Wikipedia Article - Man's Search for Meaning

Viktor Frankl - YouTube Interview 1

Viktor Frankl - YouTube Interview 2

Viktor Frankl - YouTube Interview 3

You can purchase this book at Fireside Books in Palmer:

Man's Search for Meaning - by Viktor Frankl

Life Family Chiropractic, LLC in Wasilla continues their monthly FREE workshop series intended to inspire and empower preganant women and their families. Workshops will be held at Life Family Chiropractic in Wasilla - contact information is below.

The next two workshops are:



Tuesday, November 18th at 7pm - Helping Breech Babies Turn Naturally - Presenters are Samantha Berg, M.Ac., L.Ac., Dipl.Ac. and Stacey Lowe, DC. How to create an environment that helps the baby get the room they need and what to do naturally if they are in a breech position.

Tuesday December 16th at 7pm - The Miraculous Pelvis - Presenters are Marcia Eskridge, LMT and Stacey Lowe, DC. Learn about what the body does during birth and take away exercises and tips to be comfortable in the last trimester.

For more information about these events, call Life Family Chiropractic at:
373-4325

Website:
Life Family Chiropractic

1. Gluten Free Breads at the Red Beet Bakery! - The Red Beet recently opened a bakery upstairs from their restaurant. And, they offer a selection of gluten-free breads. Great news for all those people who are going wheat free and gluten free in their diets. We have tried their breads and they are fabulous! Call before you head over to find out what's available. The Red Beet also offers a daily fixed price menu for lunch. Selections change every day - you can join their email mailing list for news on the menu of the day.

The Red Beet is located at 320 E Dahlia Ave in Palmer 745-4050
redbeet@mtaonline.net

2. Prenatal Yoga Classes at Anjali Yoga Studio in Wasilla - Anjali is registering students for their next Prenatal Yoga classes which will start as soon as enough students are pre-registered. The Anjali Yoga room is located on Main St. in Wasilla below Cederholm Insurance. Contact info:

Anjali Yoga Room Website

373-YOGI (9644)

3. Holiday Food Drive at Life Family Chiropractic in Wasilla - Donate $20 worth of canned food and receive a complimentary chiropractic evaluation worth $125. The food drive benefits Food Pantry of Wasilla, Wasilla Area Senior Center and Palmer Food Bank. Click the flyer below for details:

LIfe Family Chiropractic Holiday Food Drive

4. Healing Path Therapeutic Massage Holiday Gift Sale - Pam Stephen,RN, LMT, NCTMB, owner of Healing Path Therapeutic Massage, is offering a variety of homemade gifts for the holidays. She offers spa baskets, scented rice bags, eye pillows, foot care kits, massage gift certificates and more. Visit Pam at the Downtown Palmer Plaza or call 715-8748 for more information.

5. Fresh USA Grown Organic Produce and other Organic Natural food and non-food items available in the Mat-Su Valley.

Please call Ludie at: 715-8254 for more information.

Ludie is the moderator for the local yahoo group Wolf Lake Wellness - formally the Green Parenting Alliance. This group is a fantastic resource for anyone looking to to learn more about locally available food, organic food, local alternative and complementary medicine, local schools, local cooking classes and much more. Ludie has also compiled lots of useful links on the site.

Check out the group at:
Wolf Lake Wellness

info@alaskaacupuncture.com

907-745-8688

http://www.AlaskaAcupuncture.com