Health and Wellness Newsletter
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Let food be thy medicine and thy medicine be thy food. 
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IN THIS ISSUE
Animals
Lyme Disease
Recipe of Week
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FREE THOUGHTS

Love for an animal is a joy that every child should experience in life. 

Animals are love
Feeding us with truth and joy
Leaving at their time
Dr. M
PRIMETIME

For all teenagers and college students interested in a new medical experience, pay attention.
Salisbury Pediatrics has opened a new wing dedicated to you. In Primetime we are only focused on your needs as an emerging adult. 
From the music when you enter, to the autonomy of your visit, we are sure that you will love a new way to see your doctor.


Quality Products
Another Good Read


Please email me your favorite products.  I would like to share quality products with our readers. Think - car seats, toys, anything that a mother would love!
 
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Please reply with feedback or questions here.  I will try to answer as many questions via the newsletter as possible.  As always be well and love your children!

 

The forum
simply good
Dr. Magryta
Chris
Go to www.salisburypediatrics.com,  if you would like to learn about Integrative Medicine or our practice

 

Issue: #28
July 1, 2013

Volume 3, Letter 28
 

July 1, 2013  

 

It is well known that domesticated animals provide us with stress reduction, love and companionship. Humans have evolved with animal companions for centuries and we likely have epigenetic marks on our DNA related to animals as protectors and companions. We know that early and frequent exposure to animals helps to prime our gut micro-biome and provide a healthy ecosystem for our gut cells to function. This ecosystem, as I have taught for years, is a key to human health. 

 

Tests on heart rhythm concordance when we love an animal show that our heart rhythms become more synchronous with love and attention. Animals provide unconditional love and attention that we all crave from the moment we leave our parents for good. 

 

In high times of stress animals can be a therapeutic sounding board or just a shoulder to cry on. For children they provide all of that and also a teaching tool for the respect of life, caregiving and structured parenting. Children derive great joy from animals and I encourage parents to expose their children to animals.  

 

Animals are expensive to care for just like children. For those who find expenses tight, I encourage children to visit neighbors pets, especially, the elderly. Your child can be a neighborhood walker or a babysitter for an elderly person. This is a great community service mechanism as well. Visit the local animal shelter. 

 

You never know, your child may find a great career as a vet. (A secret career aspiration of mine)

 

Loving animals, 

 

Dr. Magryta


Lyme

I grew up in the Lyme endemic area of Dutchess County, New York. Moving to the south 20 years ago, I thought that this disease was a distant memory for my family and patients. Alas, this is not to be so. 

As the epidemiological data pours in, we are seeing a huge spike in lyme arthritis and secondary complications all over Virginia and sporadic cases being reported in North Carolina. 

What is Lyme disease? It is an infection caused by a class of bacterium called 
Borrelia.  
 
The infection is transmitted mostly by the deer tick and other black legged ticks. It is believed that the tick needs to be attached to the skin for a prolonged period of time (36-48 hours) to transmit the bacterium to us; however, many people have no memory of a tick bite when they are diagnosed with the illness. 
 
Symptoms include: 
 
1) Initially a rash called erythema migrans.
2) If not promptly treated at the rash stage, infected individuals will develop headache, fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes and arthralgias.
3) In the first few weeks, patients will get arthritis, meningitis and localized neurological paralysis like Bell's Palsy.
4) Chronic lyme infection is an emerging problem that is still not well understood. These people still suffer symptoms despite the infection being treated. They have excessive fatigue, arthritis, cognitive problems, sleep disturbances and other issues. seek out an integrative medicine specialist if this is a concern. 

Prevention is the key. Here are some tips:

1) Use a quality insect repellant like Herbal Armour by All Terrain when playing in tick type terrain.
2) Check yourself and your children's skin after hiking or playing in the woods.
3) Remove ticks immediately according to published guidelines.
4) Take a shower as soon as you get home. Also helps prevent poison ivy issues. 
5) Shake off all gear before getting into your car for the return trip.


Dr. M

 

Recipe of the Week
Lentils and Kale 

Ingredients:

1 cup of lentils
2 cups of vegetable broth
2 pounds of Italian kale - chopped
2 large yellow onions - diced
4 cloves of fresh garlic - chopped
5 basil leaves
4 carrots - chopped 
1 tsp cumin
EVOO

Directions:

Simmer lentils in broth for 20 minutes until soft but not falling apart. In a pan on low - medium heat, caramelize onions in EVOO. Stir frequently until golden brown. Add kale and cook down until kale is bright green and wilted. Add lentils and simmer until most of the liquid is gone. Salt and pepper to your liking. 

Enjoy,

Dr. M

 

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Copyright � 2010-2013 Christopher J. Magryta, MD. Readers, please note: The information provided in this newsletter is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for advice and treatment provided by your physician or other healthcare professional and is not to be used to diagnose or treat a health issue.


 


Chris Magryta
Salisbury Pediatric Associates
Touchstone Pediatrics