BetterChoiceforHealth

Sinus infections can be tricky to treat, mainly because the blood flow through the sinus passages is not great. That’s why many times antibiotics don’t work- they are just not getting to the site of the infection. In any case, these infections are more often then not viral, and not bacterial.

In my experience there are several good ways to treat such an infection. The first thing to do is to insure good blood flow and lymph movement. Hydrotherapy- the use of alternating hot and cold water- is the best way to do that. You should be doing alternating hot and cold compresses over your sinus area several times a day. Use water as hot as you can stand for 3 minutes, then as cold as you can get for 30 seconds. Repeat the whole thing 3 times. The next thing to do is some nasal lavage, with hot salty water. You can use a Neti pot, or just a cup if you want. You need to pour/suck the water up one nostril, back into your sinuses, and out your mouth. Sounds gross and it takes a little practice, but you’ll be able to breathe afterwards, and it will greatly relieve the pressure.

Besides hydrotherapy, I would also recommend some good immune supporting herbs, as well as good old Vitamin C. We have some great products at the clinic if you want any specifics…

Hope that helps, don’t hesitate to call or come in if you want any more help or information.

take care, adeline kell

503-772-0084 X2

Unfortunately, there really is no perfect birth control…

I have to say that the IUD, however, is one of my favorites. Its non-hormonal, virtually fail proof, and is immediately reversible. I’d say that some women do react to it, but most women do not. I certainly prescribe birth control pills a fair amount as well, and have to say I’ve seen more reactions to those than to an IUD. Still, most women do well with these also. I often find myself frustrated with birth control options to recommend. Most times the best one will depend on the particular circumstance of the woman, so there’s no one right answer…

Take care, Adeline Kell

503-772-0084

My name is Jann Polson and I am the acupuncturist and Chinese Medicine Practitioner here at the clinic.  Western medicine is fabulous at saving lives, and often times surgery is indicated, however, most often surgery is not “the only real cure”.  In fact rarely is surgery the “cure” at all.  Holistic medicine is famous for recognizing the innate ability of the body to heal itself, given the right circumstance.  Chinese medicine is famous for uncovering the cause of disease and then manipulating the bodies vital energy in such a way as to elicit the bodies own healing response.  I personally have treated inguinal hernia with great success, whereby, surgery was avoided.  Unfortunately as westerners we have been conditioned to believe that cutting on and/or dumping chemicals into the body is the only and best way to address disease or injury.  Fortunately western science is catching up to the Chinese and is now admitting that there definitely is something to learn from Chinese medicine.  I practice a form of acupuncture that is simultaneously very gentle yet powerful and within minutes brings the body back into homeostasis, or dynamic balance.  Instantly the pain is gone and the body begins to heal.  The longer the disease takes root, or in your case, the longer the inguinal hernia becomes a persistent pattern in the body, the more treatments it may take to reverse the injury.  Acting quickly is the key to the quickest recovery and saves you time and money.  Surprisingly the only side effect will be that every area of your health will improve.  Call me so that we can get you started on your path to recovery and wellness

Depression typically comes with plenty of physical symptoms that further reinforce the apathy and lethagy characteristic of this condition. Some of the most basic things you can do are bathing, exercising a little, and eating healthy foods like fresh fruits and vegetables. While it is normal to have less energy throughout the winter, if you are unable to adequately care for yourself or those who depend on you, you should seek assistance. At a Better Choice, we have massage therapists who can take care of your aches and pains, we have an acupuncturist who can help restore balance in your body and mind, and a naturopathic physician who can help determine if there is a physical or nutritional cause for your depression.

Initial consultations to determine the type of care you might need for your depression are confidential, and free of charge. Feel free to call or write if you have any questions: Jason Kuttner, MA, CADC 503-267-5271

As you are well aware by now your body is undergoing many changes. Your beautiful baby is growing inside you and the different aches and pains you are experiencing is just another pleasantry that comes along with caring your child. Because of the increased weight you are now carrying in the front of your body, your body may surely began to suffer and low back pain can be very common. Luckily there a quite a few pain management solutions that you can try to best fit your needs, and your budget.

There are many great prenatal yoga classes available especially in the Portland area. But if classes are adding up in price, there are also some exeptional videos available.

Massage can also help keep you relaxed as well as relieve pain, especially low back pain. At A Better Choice we have two very skilled Massage therapist who are experienced in prenatal massage. We offer “The Body Cushion System” which allows you to lay on your stomach, or we use the “Side-Lying” position for anyone in their third trimester or for those who just prefer this position.

We also offer discounted prices for those who want to come in on regular basis. We believe it is so important to take care of your self during this time that we try to make it affordable for all. For any further questions, for prices or to schedule an appointment please contact Angela Beach or Meigra Simon at A Better Choice.

Thanks for the question, I hope this information has been helpful.~ABC

First of all Congratulations! It can be very exciting but also a bit scary when you are expecting for the first time. Luckily, there is so much information available for expecting parents, it is just a matter o f getting your hands on it and finding the time. We have many resources at A Better Choice that will hopefully help you with both. You can check out many books from our growing library, or get a list of really good resources from out knowledgeable staff.  Make an appointment with our Midwife, Dr Adeline Kell, or with our Doula and Prenatal Massage Therapist, Angela Beach and learn about the many birthing and parenting options. We are also offering a free talk on April the 14th for expectant parents to  discuss different support options to best fit your birthing needs.  The talk will be centered around having support at your labor, talking about birth plans, and  how to get  the resources you need.  The space is limited for this talk so if you are interested please contact Angela Beach at 503-203-5041.

Welcome! We’re glad you’ve found us. This blog is for anyone who has a health question that they would like to ask our practitioners… it is a sort of evolving health questions F.A.Q.

 Here’s how it works:

1. Email us your question through our website at this link: http://www.betterchoiceforhealth.com

2. Click on the AsktheDoctor Tab and complete the form…

3.  One of our clinic practitioners will contact you directly to answer your questions, and if appropriate, will also post the information for the benefit of others…

We look forward to hearing from you soon!

 BetterChoiceForHealth