Blogs

Hydrotherapy-- the application of water for healing benefit-- is a great way to balance your child’s immune system at the start of a cold or flu. One of the best treatments at the very beginning of an infection is the Alternating Foot Bath, which increases levels of white blood cells (the ones that fight infection). Kids love to make a mini-party out of this treatment! It is also effective for adults.

Ear Infection

4 year old boy with ear pain was evaluated at ITH and diagnosed with a double ear infection.  The pain was disrupting his (and his parents’) sleep.  Instead of antibiotics, which are no longer the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation for otitis media, he was given a homeopathic remedy prescribed specifically for his individual symptoms by mouth and some garlic/mullein oil in each ear with  warming compresses to the exterior of the ears. The pain subsided immediately; his ears (and thus the infection) cleared completely within 36 hours.  The child and the parents were very happy with the outcome!

Fall is here, and with it comes a new school year with football and soccer being the primary sports being played. These sports carry the risk of injury-- particularly head trauma. Concern amongst parents and health officials has grown over the last few years with the raised awareness of the dangers of head trauma, which often occurs even when consiousness is maintained.  Every year in the United States there are 1.5 million traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). That’s one every 23 seconds. To put that in perspective, HIV infections are diagnosed in the US at the rate of one every nine minutes![1],[2]

Insights to Health Clinic now offers Neurofeedback with Dr. Gil Winkelman! You may have heard about this new treatment, which is exploding in popularity due to the current favorable research regarding its efficacy. Below, we answer some frequently asked questions. 

What is Neurofeedback?

Neurofeedback "trains" the brain so that it may work more efficiently. Using leads attached to the scalp, the system measures your brain waves and then gives slight electromagnetic feedback to selected areas of the brain. This has the effect of regenerating neurons and improving neurological functioning.  The LENS system, used at Insights to Health, creates less side effects and better results than other types of neurofeedback.  Dr. Winkelman is one of three doctors in the Portland metro area who offer LENS neurofeedback.  

I seem to know quite a lot of people in transition at this time--either having a baby, divorcing their mate, moving, changing jobs.  Sometimes, though, a transition is something that really affects us yet doesn't seem to garner "transition" status. Sometimes a transition is a mate's job change, a new class, new dietary habits, or having the kids home from school for the summer.  Anything that changes your routines, expectations, responsibilities, or your inner world holds within it the requirement of transition.  

“The time is always right to do the right thing.”

--Martin Luther King Jr. 

What potent words. Here we are in the 21st century, on the eve of an historical event of monumental proportions. Our country, our world, we as a people, face incredible challenges. But there is no time like NOW to stand up and “do the right thing”.

This is the time of year when I notice patients really feeling the effects of SAD here in the Northwest.  It's been several months since the sun has visited regularly, and this cumulative effect manifests for many in either SAD syndrome: less motivation and energy, or  perhaps full blown SAD symptoms: increased sleep, depressed mood, and carbohydrate cravings.

The lack of light to fuel our motivation for change can seem like a cruel trick on us in the NW.  Often we take a kind of lackluster feeling for granted this time of year, along with the associated inability to meet our new goals for change.  

There is so much we can do to restore your enthusiasm and motivation this time of the year.  This is the topic of my Light of Day:  Help for Winter Mood Changes talk that I gave at the Mittleman Jewish Community Center in December, and that I will give again this Wednesday January 14th from 7-8:30 pm at Congregation Neveh Shalom.  It is free of charge, and all are welcome!  Please see our "Events" page, under "Clinic,' for details.

One of my favorite ways to cope this time of the year is with the correct dose of an effective lightbox. In the spirit of keeping business local, Scott Reed, who lives in our community, runs Sunlight Solutions and is a good resource for purchasing these helpful devices: http://www.sunlightsolutions.biz/info.html

The Associated Press reported today that Quest Diagnostics found an error in their Vitamin D assays that showed people having higher vitamin D levels than they actually did have. The lab director said that most likely no one was harmed and that may be. Many years ago, I worked for an instrument company that had a software mishap that switched patient values with results. In fact, results can also vary between readings for a variety of reasons. It happens.

A good physician doesn't only rely only on lab results. He or she will take the entire case and not only look at the lab results. A physician that takes time to know his or her patients and spends time listening to his or her patients can more easily spot these errors or variations. At Insights to Health, our entire philosophy is about getting to know you as a person. We are trained to spot trends and evaluation your overall well-being. We listen to you and your body to guide you to total health.