Keep your blood going round and round (Part 1).

“Poor circulation” is not only painful or, at best, annoying but if untreated could lead to a sedentary lifestyle which ultimately results in serious chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, stroke, and organ damage.  Symptoms can be quite inconspicuous and include things such as achy and tingly legs, cold and tired feet, swollen legs, or a wound on your leg that just will not heal.   The cause could be peripheral artery disease, diabetes, obesity, edema, heredity, immobility due to injury or disability, or all of the above.  Good news is that regardless of the cause, there are several non-prescription and non-invasive ways to alleviate such symptoms.  Part 1 of our article deals with the venous aspect of the problem; keep an eye out for Part 2 which will discuss the arterial side.

No matter the cause, an appropriate diet, exercise, and posture protocol should be discussed with your practitioner.  The least invasive therapies include the use of properly-fitted compression stockings and a digital device called the CIRCULATION BOOSTER.  There are also supplements that can help with circulation, discomfort, and even associated nerve pains.  These can be combined as necessary and can be used for prevention as well.

Compression stockings are made of special elastic fibres and are designed to fit quite tightly around the ankle and gradually less so as you move up the leg.  The idea is to have the fibres in the fitted stocking help massage the legs in order to return blood to the heart.  There are many styles, sizes, and strengths of compression stockings to cater to various needs, so it is crucial that you speak with a certified stocking fitter in order to pick the right ones for you and to have you fitted properly.   Check with your physician or pharmacist if you already have a blood clot because there are special considerations for the timing of starting blood-thinners and compression stockings in such cases.

Recently, circulation stimulating machines have become more popular in homes because they have become light-weight, portable, effective and affordable.  They allow you to achieve similar results at home now that were only possible at a physiotherapist’s office just a few years ago.  The CIRCULATION BOOSTER  by Revitive, for example,  can send a gentle electrical impulse up your leg in a seated position from the base of your foot to cause gentle rhythmic muscle contractions in your calves to help move blood back towards the heart and to keep the vessels supple.  It comes with TENS pad attachments so you can even target muscle soreness in other parts of your body such as your back or shoulders.  It is available with gloves that can send the same stimulation through your hands and forearms.  People have found it helps alleviate pain, soreness, tingling, and help heal wounds that may be a result of poor circulation.

There are many natural supplements that can benefit venous health.  A few common ones include VEINSMART by Lorna Vanderhaeghe, WOBENZYM N, and OXYGENICS by Metagenics.  They work through different mechanisms so can be used together.  VEINSMART is a set of herbal astringents, including diosmin, horse chestnut, butcher’s broom, and hesperidin which work together to help tighten the veins in your body to help return blood to the heart.   WOBENZYM N is highly popular in Europe and has been available at our pharmacy for 15 years.  It is a collection of enzymes (pancreatin, papain, bromelain, trypsin, chymotrypsin, rutin) that can reduce inflammation and swelling as well as improve blood properties for enhanced flow throughout the circulatory system.  OXYGENICS is a collection of natural antioxidants for many applications, including for use in venous health.  An interesting tidbit about all these products is that they can also benefit hemorrhoid sufferers.   All these natural formulations do have contraindications, so be sure to check with your doctor or pharmacist before supplementing.

HOMEOPATHICS are often used in patients with circulation problems because they have no side-effects and do not interact with any medications the patient may already be on.  AESCULUS COMPOSITUM and VENOFLUID are often used orally for venous health.  There is also a topical VARICOSE VEIN CREAM or OINTMENT which can both strengthen and tighten the superficial veins;  the cream is usually preferred for the legs while the ointment is typically used for hemorrhoids.

If you are suffering from muscle or nerve pain due to peripheral circulation issues, it would be of your best interest to discuss your condition as soon as possible with your physician and pharmacist.  You need to establish a diagnosis before you consider your options.

(Christine and Fred Cheng are a sister-brother pharmacist team at their unique family-owned and operated Pharmasave in Cloverdale, BC.  They specialize in natural remedies and compounding for both human and veterinarian use.  They would love to meet you! 604-576-2888; www.cloverdalepharmasave.com. Of course, before you begin any activity program or try any OTC supplementation, check with your physician and pharmacist.)

Does your home need to lose weight?  Keeping the weight down in your home can be achieved by using this basic formula  “bring in an item – take out an item” sell it or donate it, plus a few handy ideas to control your homes muffin top.

Evict old magazines… Go through them and tear out the must keep recipes, decor ideas… and must keep articles.  Put them in a prominent “magazine tear out 3 ring binder” with tabs for easy referrals.

Have a peek in your cupboards, are their small appliances that have not seen the counter top in 6 or more months, consider donating them, a family member may love the appliance… It also opens a window for conversation and a visit!

Are there still expo or novelty glasses tucked in the back of the cupboard?  Time to donate… Of if you really like the glass, the gold embellishments often can be removed with fine steel wool… Then you have “new to you” drinking glasses.

Take a peek under your bed… Time to remove the under the bed storage, purge items no longer needed or worn.  If you are keeping a clothing item “just in case”, odds are when “just in case” rolls around, that piece of clothing will be out of date.  Pay it forward, by donating.

Bathrooms are a great place to loss household weight!  Do you keep all those hotel shampoos, conditioner, and lotions?  Don’t fret; most of us do!  Consider emptying all the shampoos, conditioners and lotions into a single larger bottle.  Set a bottle of lotion aside for your vehicle, your hands will thank-you; then recycle the empty bottles.

Be sure to check your medications, put all the expired medications in a bag then take the meds to a local Pharmacy for safe disposal.

Holding onto household papers 6 years or older!  Lighten the load; start shredding!

Recycle duplicate telephone books, you truly only need one!  Recycling old telephone books alone, could have your house in skinny jeans.

When is the last time you went through your unmentionables!  If sags, bags, or plays peek a boo… Toss it out!

You and your home can breathe easier, after you have tackle a few causes of the “battle of the home bulge”.

Roxanne Griese is an Artist.

Decorating and organizing are her passions, to see more articles and artwork visit. www.artbyroxanne.ca

Programmable  Thermostats

One of the least expensive ways to lower your home heating bill is to install a programmable thermostat. They are inexpensive, priced between $25 and $100 and you can save three to four percent on your heating costs by turning your thermostat down 3 Celsius for at least eight hours every day.

When purchasing a digital thermostat, buy one that is user friendly and make sure you buy the proper model for your heating system. Programmable thermostats will work with most gas or oil furnaces, and central air conditioners. However, heat pumps, electric baseboards, and a few other systems often require a special model. Read the package to make sure the programmable thermostat you buy is compatible with your heating and cooling system.

Install your programmable thermostat unit on an interior wall, away from heating or cooling vents and other sources of heat or drafts (doorways, windows, skylights, direct sunlight or bright lamps).

It’s a good idea to upgrade an old manual thermostat to a programmable unit when replacing a heating or cooling system given that digital thermostats are far more accurate and will maximize the efficiency of your new system.

If you’re replacing a manual thermostat that has a mercury switch, be careful not to break the tube that holds this toxic substance. There is a recycling program available throughout British Colombia which allows you to recycle your older mercury-containing and electronic thermostats called “Switch the ‘Stat.” To locate a drop-off location nearest you visit their website www.switchthestat.ca.

Read the instructions with the new unit BEFORE starting the installation. Manufacturer’s installation instructions might differ slightly for each model. Programmable thermostats are a low voltage wiring however you should shut down your electricity during any replacement.

Here are the basic steps: 

Turn off the power supply to the thermostat. Then remove the old thermostat, including the wall plate. Your thermostat will have two or four wires depending on whether your heating and cooling systems are separate or one unit. Label the wires, noting where they were attached on the old thermostat. Consider using a digital camera to take a photo of the wire placement. Secure them (tie into a loop or tape them to the wall) to keep them from falling back into the wall.

Install the new wall plate, if there is one. You may need to drill new holes for the new model. Use a level to mark where the holes are to be drilled. Use drywall anchors, if necessary.

Connect the wires as directed by the instructions that come with your particular unit. Follow these instructions carefully. Install batteries, if needed. Mount the unit to the wallplate and lastly restore power.

If you adjust your programmable thermostat during the day and at night, you will see additional savings. Pre-program your settings for the day, evening and when you are sleeping. Remember, you can set your thermostat’s temperature differently for the days you are at home (like weekends). You can also choose times that fit your schedule to adjust the temperature by a few degrees.

For more home improvement information, to send Shell an email, or to watch Shell’s AskShell webcast go to www.AskShell.com

Dr. Carver: Finally, a slave only to science

Black History Month always reminds me of George Washington Carver, a man who literally gave me more than food for thought when I visited the Missouri log shack where he was born, and the museum named after him..

George Washington Carver was a slave. Despite what appeared to be insurmountable difficulties, he became a world-renowned scientist.  He discovered 300 uses for peanuts, which included axle grease, shampoo, soil conditioner, paints, mayonnaise, ink, buttermilk and laxative. Expand that to hundreds of uses for soybeans, pecans and sweet potatoes.

Until arriving in Diamond, Missouri,  I’d never wondered who had invented peanut butter – a nutritious family lunch staple for decades.

It was the civil war era of Abraham Lincoln and Robert E. Lee. Moses Carver, a Unionist slave-owner who unconventionally opposed slavery, bought a 13-year old black girl called Mary in 1855 for $700.

As time went by, Mary had two sons and possibly twin daughters – though this is unconfirmed. The children were probably fathered by a slave on a neighbouring farm.

Around 1865 Confederate “bushwhackers” kidnapped Mary and her infant son George from the Carver farm during a raid.

George, suffering from whooping cough, was returned to Moses and Susan Carver who raised him.  His mother, Mary, was never found.

George was not certain of his birth date. “About 1864,” he would say. He never knew his father, and his older brother died of smallpox.

Although a sickly child, he was encouraged to learn – something he dedicated himself to passionately. Despite being denied entrance to college (initially) because of his colour, he went on to win international acclaim for, among other things, finding commercial uses for southern resources.

Nicknamed The Plant Doctor, he changed the South from a one-crop land of cotton to multi-crop farmlands by teaching crop rotation which enormously benefited farmers.

Profiting from his products was the furthest thing from his mind. “If I know the answer you can have it for the price of a postage stamp,” he would say.  “The Lord charges me nothing for knowledge, and I will charge you the same.”

Dr. George Washington Carver has been recognized as one of the world’s greatest chemists. In 1940, he donated his life savings to establish the Carver Research Foundation at Tuskegee for continuing research in agriculture. He died on January 5, 1943.

His epitaph reads: “He could have added fortune to fame, but caring for neither, he found happiness and honour in being helpful to the world.”

This little-known museum, situated on the land where the slave who became a scientist grew up, deserves more recognition. In a nutshell, Carver’s story humbled, and fascinated, me. Now, when I say ‘nuts’ to peanut butter, I remember the brilliant slave – and his mom – who put it there.

If you go:

Tourism Missouri Information -Web: www.visitmo.com

George Washington Carver National Monument – Web: www.nps.gov/gwca

Ursula Maxwell-Lewis is a life-long traveller. Follow her on Twitter @YouTravel.

By: Carole Stone

Q: I tried to download MS Messenger to connect with a friend and it went directly to Skype!

A: There are other download sites where Messenger is still available such as download.com or filehippo.com.

Q: I want to have you build me an entertainment PC.  How much Ram does it take to max out in a new PC these days?

A: 32GIGs!!  (4 slots required X 8)

Q: I want to watch movies on my new LCD TV from the Internet like my friends.  What exactly do I need to get started?

A: Simply need a computer that has HDMI video output that you can easily connect to your TV & your TV then becomes a giant TV monitor.  And yes! We do have HDMI computers, cables & laptops.

Cloverdale Computers

5748-176 Steet

Cloverdale, BC V3S 4C8

604-576-1277

 www.cloverdalecomputers.ca

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Love Your Heart

“Cardiovascular disease ” (CVD)… What do these words really mean? CVD refers to a whole spectrum of disease that can affect the heart and/or the blood vessels throughout the body. Cardiovascular diseases include coronary heart disease, congestive heart failure, heart attack, stroke, dyslipidemia (abnormal amounts of cholesterol in the blood), angina and atherosclerosis.  CVD is a leading cause of death for both men and women in Canada, superseded only by malignant cancers.

Healthcare professionals are constantly telling everyone to watch their blood pressure,  keep their cholesterol levels low and get active. But why? It’s because self-modifiable risk factors include smoking, high LDL (or “bad”) and low HDL (or “good”) cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, sedentary lifestyle, obesity, and uncontrolled diabetes. Even uncontrolled stress and anger can contribute to CVD. Of course, there are also those risk factors that we have no control over such as male sex, older age, family history of heart disease, being post-menopausal, and race.

Smoking increases blood pressure and heart rate and increases blood clotting. Compounds present in cigarettes can cause direct damage to the linings of the blood vessels. Weak blood vessel linings are more likely to allow the deposition of cholesterol in the linings. As these sticky build-ups or plaques build up over time, they hinder blood flow and can rupture leading to blood clots that may clog up blood flow through the arteries.  Blockages occurring in the heart can cause heart attacks; those occurring in the brain can lead to strokes. Thus if you smoke, quitting is one of the best things you can do for your heart.

Along the same lines, uncontrolled cholesterol levels can also lead to atherosclerosis. High levels of “bad” LDL cholesterol increases the risk of plaque build-up, whereas “good” HDL cholesterol helps to clear cholesterol from the blood thereby reducing the risk of cholesterol building up in the arteries. Normally, the liver synthesizes all the cholesterol the body needs for building new cells, insulating nerves, and making hormones. Excess cholesterol is obtained from the diet, namely animal-based foods such as milk, eggs, and meat. Watching what we eat can greatly decrease the amount of excess cholesterol we have floating around in our blood and thus reduce the risk of CVD.

How does high blood pressure really affect our bodies? Blood pressure refers to the force of blood pushing against the arterial wall. If you think of our blood vessels as a garden hose and the blood as the water flowing through it, then you can imagine how water flowing through the hose at too high a rate could cause damage to the hose; similarly, high blood pressure means that the blood is pushing against the blood vessel with greater force that it can tolerate and over time, could cause damage to the arterial wall. Not only does high blood pressure affect the blood vessels, it makes the heart work harder and can cause damage to the eyes, kidneys, and the brain.

Exercising regularly can help reduce other risk factors for CVD. Exercise can help reduce blood pressure and reduce “bad” cholesterol levels while increasing “good” cholesterol levels. In diabetic patients, exercising can help maintain healthy blood glucose levels.

Many prescription medications are very effective at helping us control blood pressure and regulate our cholesterol levels. There are also over-the-counter options that can have beneficial effects on these parameters. Fibre-containing foods and supplements such as Hemp Hearts and Nutracleanse can help reduce the absorption of cholesterol and thus minimize the effect of excess cholesterol intake from the diet. Sterols (e.g., Super Immune) have a similar effect on cholesterol. Policosanol (e.g., Cholarest SC) can support healthy lipid metabolism, protect the blood vessels from damage caused by lipid peroxidation, and help maintain healthy blood pressure levels. Red yeast rice  (e.g., Choleast Plus) works like prescription “statin” medications by reducing the liver’s synthesis of cholesterol.

Omega-3 fatty acid supplements can be beneficial in promoting healthy blood lipid levels as well as healthy blood pressure.  Metagenics’ EPA-DHA 720 is a good option due to its high omega-3 fatty acid levels and purity. L-arginine may help reduce blood pressure via its conversion to nitric oxide which can help blood vessels relax. Vasotensin contains bonito peptides that can help lower blood pressure.

Keep your heart healthy for you and your Valentine!

Copyright  2013 by Christine Cheng and Frederick Cheng.

(Christine and Fred Cheng are a sister-brother pharmacist team at their unique family-owned and operated Pharmasave in Cloverdale, BC.  They specialize in natural remedies and compounding for both human and veterinarian use.  They would love to hear from you! 604-576-2888; www.cloverdalepharmasave.com. As always check with your doctor or pharmacist before starting any supplements or exercise regimens to make sure they are suitable for you.)

Dorcie Paterson proves life begins at 100 

Ten years ago my office phone rang and a youthful voice said:“This is Dorcie Paterson speaking. We need some young people in our fishing club. We meet at the Cloverdale Legion. Could you give us some publicity?”

I agreed to ‘mock up’ a fishing photo at her home the following day – which dawned cold and grey with a relentless drizzle.

While Dorscie donned her fishing gear, I noted the easel with the painting in progress next to the fireplace. The mantel was laden with cards proclaiming “Happy 90th birthday, Mother”, and so on.

Waving off my disbelief, her Scandinavian neighbour and fishing buddy arrived, and we adjourned to her fishing boat parked in the yard, next to the new ride-on lawnmower. The two fisher folk, with much hilarity, angled themselves, and their fishing rods, to give the photographic impression that were on a BC river.

I was freezing.

“Can I help you out, Dorscie?”, asked her slightly younger pal.

“I go in by myself, I can get out by myself,” was the tart reply.

On January 25 (Robert Burns Day), Dorscie celebrated her 100th birthday.

She still drives, does her own housework, volunteers twice month at Langley Hospice, has been a Lady Lion for decades, and ‘does the greeting cards’ for Langley Lions Club.

She believes in the diet she’s lived by all her life – plenty of beef, pork, fresh vegetables, and whatever oils it the cheapest. “Chicken is for sandwiches, ” she says firmly, “and I eat bacon, take one Thyroid pill a day and can do She enjoys bacon, can easily do five full push ups.

Don’t expect her to slow down now, or change now.

Descended from pioneering stock who rolled into the Ottawa Valley before the there was a north-south border, Dorscie and her mother drove out to BC when she was three years old. I note a tinge of sadness in her voice as she says: “My father went via Saskatchewan to visit his brother, took sick and, because the roads were so bad in those days, didn’t get to hospital in time to save his life.”

As a teacher at Van Tech at Broadway and Nanaimo in the ’70s, she informed students “Life isn’t a bowl of cherries.” To prove it she took them on field trips to everywhere from Vancouver Art Gallery to Essendale, and sourced out jobs for them in fields she noticed they had an aptitude for.

Driving to a meeting one night, Dorscie reflected, “You girls are lucky, you know.”

As a new bride, she laid out the ground rules to her successful Vancouver-businessman husband. “I told him I had no intention of following his mother’s example of having 11 children and being tied to the kitchen sink.” They had a son and daughter, and community service – particularly with the South Shaughnessy community centre, became an integral part of her life.

However, one evening he made the mistake of mentioning that the women in his family dressed to greet the men returning from work in the evening. He wondered why she didn’t do the same.

The following evening, he found Dorscie elegantly gowned, coiffed, and made up seated in state in the living room waiting for him.

“Well, you look nice. Where are we going?” he asked.

“Nowhere,” she replied. “You said I should dress to greet you when you home for dinner.”

“Oh. Well, what’s for dinner?” he asked.

“Nothing.” replied his wife. “It took me so long to get ready, I didn’t have time to cook.’

I believe they dined out that night. I have no doubt he got the message.

Clearly, Dorscie is passionate about Langley Hospice Society, and the importance of palliative care.

She describes comforting a frightened terminally ill young man. The empathy clear in her voice, she says, ” I told him not to worry. They’ll all be lined up waiting for you to welcome you home. ‘Here he comes’, they’ll, say, ‘here he comes.’

“Do you really think so?” he asked.

“Yes, I do,” she reassured him.

Another man, angry at his situation refused to talk to anyone. Dorscie found out he had been a fisherman. “I’ll get him!” the former fisher said confidently.

From his doorway she ‘fished’. “I hear you were a fisherman?” In spite of himself, he replied. Having caught his attention, step-by-step, she gradually made her way into his room…for a lengthy chat about something they both loved.

When she was ready to leave, he asked “Will you come back again?”.

“I certainly will,” she assured him.

And, she did.

In closing, she slips in a quick plug for Second Story Treasures, the Langley Hospice store in Walnut Grove. “The nice things people donate is carefully sorted out, and properly displayed – so is jewellery and china.”

“I won’t die of boredom!”, says the determined daughter of one of the first two women on the North Vancouver Chamber of Commerce. “People don’t believe I’m a hundred!” she says.

What surprise!

Ventilation and Air Quality for Your Home

As we head inside and close the windows and doors and turn on the furnace, the indoor air quality may deteriorate, and that can make the home environment uncomfortable and unhealthy. Our homes today are built to keep the cool air out; all in the name of energy efficiency. As a result, we reduce our heating and air conditioning costs. But at the same time you have made it more difficult for fresh air to move into the home and for stale air to move out.

Have you ever seen a house in the winter that has sweating windows? This is a sure sign of an indoor air quality issue, specifically high relative humidity in the house.

So what can we do to improve the air quality in a house?

Adequate ventilation promotes a healthier home environment by circulating and renewing the air removing pollutants and excess humidity as well, it protects the structure of your home by removing excessive moisture.

Types of Ventilation:

When was the last time you changed the furnace filter? Now this is not just done in the winter months this should be done all year long especially if you have central air conditioning or continual furnace air circulation.

You may want to consider adding a filter to your air return grille to filter the air before it enters the ductwork and furnace. These are available in a variety of sizes to fit most existing vents.

Bathroom fans and range hoods: This is a primary way of exhausting stale moist air directly to the outside. Note: Run your bathroom fan at least one hour after each shower and bath.

Heat Recovery Ventilators: Heat Recovery Ventilator “HRV” or Air to Air Heat Exchanger. The HRV allows fresh air to enter while exhausting an equal amount of stale air while recovering the heat from the exhaust side and using it to warm up the cooler fresher air coming in. This is by far the most economical way of improving the indoor air quality in the house while reducing energy consumption. Air is filtered before being redistributed in the house. Also now available are Energy Recovery Ventilators (ERV’s), which return not only heat energy, but moisture to help humidify the home if required.

If you suffer from allergies and asthma you can add a HEPA filtration system to the HRV and have fresh, clean, air. There is also an extremely efficient air purifier called IQAir you may want to consider.

Attic Ventilation: For every 200 feet of attic (roof cavity) you must have 1 square foot of venting (144 square inches). After calculating the required square inches of venting 50% (half) should go into the roof or ridge the other 50% (half) into the soffit (overhand of the home).

Dehumidistats: A dehumidistat is a device to operate a ventilation systems in your home. The setting of this unit is determined by the outside air temperature .

NOTE: Digital Humidity indicators (Hygrometers) are available from most local hardware stores.

Duct Cleaning: How often they should be cleaned really depends on the individual household, under normal circumstances every two to three years is advised. Having dryer vents cleaned is often overlooked and this should be done every year to avoid a blockage and a potential fire hazard

For more home improvement information, to send Shell an email, or to watch Shell’s AskShell webcast go to www.AskShell.com

by Roxanne Griese

Admittedly, I am fastidious about my home especially the hardwood floors, I am continually trying new products on our floors.  Like any floor, routine vacuuming and washing is necessary to keep the hardwood floor in good shape.  I try to use earth friendly products, wanting also, to avoid damaging the flooring with harsh cleaners or chemicals.

Recently, I read that steeped tea does a tremendous job cleaning hardwood floors and left a lasting shine; I decided to give the steeped tea theory a test.

I steeped a bag of black tea, in an 8 cup measuring cup for about 10 minutes.  Then using a Vileda mop with a removable Cotton & Micro fibre cloth; “my personal favourite floor mop”.  I soaked the cloth in the warm tea, then gave a cloth a good squeeze to wring out the excess moisture, then proceeded to do a test wash on the hardwood floor.  I was pleasantly surprised, once dry, the floors gleamed.  I repeated the process to see if there would be a build up.  The results were the same, I have now washed the entire hardwood floor simply with steeped tea.  It has been noted, the tannin in tea is what creates the shine.  Steeped tea is easy to use, cost effective and earth friendly.

Quick Tips: Ensure the tea has cooled to Luke warm, and wring out the mop or cloth of excess moisture, hardwood does not like water.

Roxanne Griese is an Artist.

Decorating and organizing are her passions, to see more articles and artwork visit. www.artbyroxanne.ca

Roxanne Griese is an Artist

Decorating and organizing are her passions, to see more articles and artwork visit
www.artbyroxanne.ca

By Roxanne Griese

Creative Living  Tips & Tricks

By Roxanne Griese

Rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle, makes a great bathroom and mirror cleaner.  Without the harsh odour and cost of conventional cleaners.  Dollar stores are great source for both rubbing alcohol and spray bottles.