CBD Balm is a favorite of ours, here. It’s uses go beyond just aches and pains- it’s a versatile product that has us buying it over and over and even panicking when our supply is low!
In this video, Jenna shows you 12 ways you can use this balm and find relief from common issues.
Finding a CLEAN skincare routine that works isn’t always easy.
In this video, Carolyn shares her experience seeking out gentle products that work. Carolyn has sensitive skin and has struggled with blemishes, redness, and allergic reactions over the years. She explains how she’s been prescribed multiple harsh pharmaceutical products, including antibiotics, that seemed to worsen her delicate skin’s condition rather than improve it.
If you or someone you know struggles with skin health, you’ll want to check out what Carolyn has to share about a product line that her skin rates an A+.
https://vimeo.com/209400166
We need this good fat to balance out the bad fat that is so heavily consumed in the standard American diet -often referred to as “SAD” for good reason. Deficits of good fat can wreak damage on our cardiovascular systems, immune systems and more. Incorporating a quality omega-3 fatty acid supplement into your routine will help support a healthy immune system, healthy skin/hair/nails, and a healthy digestive system.
More IS more when it comes to good bacteria. Research has shown that antibiotics depletes our digestive systems of good bacteria, which may negatively impact our bodies in many ways. This concept – along with poor dietary choices – leaves our guts lacking in the diverse flora needed to be in optimal health. Probiotic supplementation can help support optimal digestion and a healthy immune system, among many other benefits.
Many of us (especially in this region of the world) are deficient in Vitamin D3. This is due to lack of sun exposure – which is how Vitamin D3 is acquired in our bodies. Many of us spend our days indoors without sun. If we are lucky enough to be outside, the winter sun exposure is mild and our layers of clothing inhibit absorption. Supplementation with Vitamin D3 may help protect us from many chronic neurological, cognitive, and mood conditions, according to recent research. Vitamin D3 can help support healthy immune function, healthy energy levels, and a healthy mood.
You’ve probably heard a lot about magnesium lately- and for good reason. Like the other nutrients mentioned here, magnesium is particularly prone to depletion in our foods due to poor soil conditions within industrial farming. Furthermore, processed food, soft water, and caffeine may reduce your body’s absorption of this critical mineral. Magnesium supplementation may help relieve discomfort associated with headaches and muscle cramping, and supports a positive mood and restfulness.
Busy modern lifestyle often leaves people “wired and tired”. Stress robs us of our positive mood, energy levels, and our ability to fight off illness. Simply put, our bodies were not designed to withstand some of the stressful lifestyles we live today. Adaptogenic herbs may help support a more positive reaction to stress – allowing our bodies to potentially better cope with life’s everyday demands. Adaptogens work on our endocrine and nervous systems and help support a healthy reaction to stress, positive mood and restfulness.
A Chiropractor’s Guide to Creating Health & Happiness This Fall & Beyond
By Dr. Michele Gardner of Gardner Family Chiropractic, Flemington, NJ
Have you ever attempted to program your GPS and found it searching for satellite? It won’t show your travel route until it first knows where you are… Finding your way in life is incredibly similar! You cannot get to where you want to go without first knowing where you are. In helping you develop your Personal Health Plan, we’ll talk about where you are on your journey to health, different philosophies of health, and actions to ensure your future wellbeing.
Because we are all at different places on our journey to health, we will each have a different plan. You will tailor your own program to suit your lifestyle. The idea behind a Personal Health Plan is that it is a decision to stay healthy and take steps toward insuring your future success. (Madeira, 2006) My favorite definition of health is one that includes physical, social, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing – not merely the absence of disease. (WHO, 1948) Health is a lifelong journey and requires a bigger picture view of life to be in view at all times. With this in mind, know that you are building awareness here. You are defining your interpretation of yourself and getting specific about what you want.
Some of us are healthy and want to stay that way. Some of us are facing a health challenge or crisis that is new. Some of us are managing chronic illness. Whether you have survived a health crisis and want to insure it never comes back, or want to take your current health to new heights, a Personal Health Plan will help you succeed. No matter where you are on your journey, I want to encourage you to make your choices from a place of self-love. A frantic push toward a desired end with a rigid list of to-do’s will not serve you and is not sustainable. Plus, you’ll miss out on the gifts you have the potential to receive – even while in crisis.
If you owned a million-dollar race horse, what would you feed it? Would you exercise it? Would you keep its environment clean? Would you give it plenty of rest, sunshine, and fresh air? Of course you would! The reason you would is because this isn’t just any horse… this is a million dollar race horse! (Madeira, 2006) Have you guessed it already? Yes, you are the million-dollar race horse! Why would you do any less for yourself? For the parents reading this, I know you want the best for your children and you know they learn through observation. Lead by example. Love yourself enough to treat yourself as you would your children so they can learn to do this for themselves. Our ability to love is infinite. I promise you, if you love yourself more you won’t be taking anything away from them. You’ll be giving them more than you can imagine.
For some of you, the following will be a big ah-ha moment. There are three different philosophies of health.
Our culture’s medical model is based in the mechanistic philosophy. It is the most beneficial in emergency scenarios. If your kidney if failing or you’ve broken a bone, this is the approach best utilized. However, when faced with chronic illness, the modalities steeped in holism may fair better. And vitalistic philosophy can help us choose to add actions and traditions to be utilized whether we’re sick or well. There really isn’t necessarily one right answer. It is what is right for you right now. And, that may change too. Life and growth are a dynamic evolution.
Once you’ve chosen your primary philosophy of health, you’ll develop your personal health wheel. Some examples of a health wheel are shown here along with a blank one you can print to create your own.
You’ll notice there is a center circle on this wheel.
Out of your health philosophy, choose up to three traditions that support your philosophy.
Some examples are: Acupuncture, Aromatherapy, Ayurveda, Biofeedback, Chinese Medicine, Chiropractic, Energy Medicine, Faith Healing, Feldenkrais Method, Functional Medicine, Gestalt Therapy, Herbalism, Homeopathy, Hydrotherapy, Hypnotherapy, Iridology, Kampo Medicine, Massage Therapy, Meditation, Naturopathic Medicine, Osteopathic Medicine, Polarity Therapy, Pranic Healing, Prayer, Qigong, Rebirthing, Traditional Medicine, or Yoga Therapy.
Next you’ll choose facets of health that are important to you.
The most common are physical, spiritual, recreational, professional, social, emotional, mental, financial, romantic, creative, relational, environmental, and family. Within each category you can get specific and detailed.You have the ability to know what area of your life needs your attention to reach health goals. Simply evaluate yourself on the wheel. There is an example wheel that is multi-colored with tick marks to help quantify the level of health achieved in that category. (Baker, 2013) What do you want your life to be?
After you have chosen which areas to work on, you can decide what or who will help you with your action steps.
You are not meant to do this alone. Find practitioners within that can walk with you along your journey. They will help hold you accountable while giving you the support you need.
Get started right now:
Print one of the sample wheels. When thoughts come to you about what you want for yourself, journal them or use a voice recorder on your phone. You’ll build upon this with time and allow the specifics to unfold.
If you’d like support from me, don’t hesitate to reach out. Visit my website for more information on how to reach me. I can help you find a practitioner you are looking for or guide you through some choices. Lastly, I’ll leave you with a quote I like:
“If you don’t design your own life plan, chances are you’ll fall into someone else’s plan. And guess what they have planned for you? Not much.” – Jim Rohn
No matter where you are on your journey toward health, you can make choices today that will lead you where you want to go. Surround yourself with people who help you passionately move toward self-actualization!
Works Cited
Baker, B. (2013, September). Retrieved from http://www.startofhappiness.com/wheel-of-life-a-self-assessment-tool/
Glassey, D. (2010, September). The Vitalistic Healing Model. Retrieved from Pathways to Family Wellness: http://pathwaystofamilywellness.org/Holistic-Healthcare/the-vitalistic-healing-model.html
Madeira, J. (2006). Developing Your Personal Wellness Plan. Setting Things Straight (p. 1). Madeira Success Strategies.
Duke University (2014). Retrieved from Duke Integrative Medicine: http://triadintegrativehealthcoaches.com/
Unknown. (n.d.). Retrieved from Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/11892386492434313/
WHO. (1948). WHO definition of health. Retrieved from WHO International: http://www.who.int/about/definition/en/print.html
Wikipedia. (2016, August). Holism Philosophy. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holism
Wikipedia. (2016, June). Mechanism Philosophy. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mechanism_(philosophy)
The 4 Things You Need to Do to Eat Well On A Budget
By Jenna Kohler, Certified Health Coach & Basil Bandwagon Team Member
So, you want to eat “healthy”, but “healthy” food costs too much…
You had good intentions to stock your refrigerator with delicious, organic, local fruits and veggies, but instead ended up with a cabinet full of peanut butter, jelly, and boxed macaroni and cheese…
Or, you did go out and fill up your shopping cart with lots of great healthy food, but you spent your whole paycheck…
Sound familiar? We get it. And we’re here to help. We know how hard it can be to find the time and resources to make healthy living possible. Because – let’s face it – no one can afford to get sick and everyone has the right to feel good in their own skin.
So far this summer, we’ve: improved our gut health, protected our skin, relieved stress naturally, healed insect bites, improved our fitness, learned about quality supplements, upgraded our “good fat” intake, redefined our use of food as medicine, and boosted our immunity. But Summer Camp wouldn’t be complete if we didn’t cover one of the most important exercises of all: learning to tone your budget!
So, take it from us – follow these four simple tips to balance a healthy body and a healthy wallet:
Make routine trips to your grocery store – with a list in hand. If time is limited, spread your trips farther apart with quick stops for just perishables scattered in between. Create a reusable list based on a core set of staple items for your household, according to your dietary needs and preferences. Assess what you have in stock before finalizing your list and heading to the store – re-buying items you already have in stock could result in food spoilage, which is an unnecessary cost to bear.
If you can, spend some time researching sales at your store before your routine trips. When you know ahead of time about good deals, you can make quicker, more informed choices.
Finally, be sure to account for food prep/cook time in your schedule. Buying a bunch of bulk raw ingredients for a great price is awesome, but not if they’re going to spoil sitting at home unprepared while you venture out to grab take-out in a hurry!
While eating out might be convenient, it certainly isn’t the best choice for your wallet. So, be conscious about how often you do go out to eat. Consider putting a limit on the amount you spend in a given month, or the number of times you eat out in a week. When you do go out, make smart choices. Often you can find great quick-service local eateries offering quality, local food without large price tags. (Like our Farm to Market Café!)
Preparing your own food can offer enormous cost savings. Common misconception is that it’s a time-consuming process. The truth is, yes – it can be. But, it doesn’t have to be. Pick two days a week to cook and prepare meals and snacks. An hour or two of your time on a Sunday and Wednesday, for instance, can save you hours more throughout the week by repeating the same process.
BYOW: Invest in a fun, QUALITY water bottle like our Hydroflask products. These bottles come in fun colors and keep your drink at the perfect temperature so you can stay refreshed all day long. Bring the bottle with you every time you leave the house. When you get thirsty, not only will it keep you hydrated, but it’ll save you from reaching for a $1 for the vending machine.
Buying foods in bulk can be a great place to start. Nuts, seeds, grains, dried fruit, baking ingredients, nut butters, spices, herbs, coffee beans and teas are all offered in bulk. Bulk foods – or “scoop your own” foods – can be offered at lower prices because they do not use expensive packaging and branding. They are a great way to shop for a variety of reasons:
Bring your own shopping bags! Basil Bandwagon refunds customers 10 cents for each bag used during a purchase. Do the math – if your family of four uses 10 bags each week, that’s a $1 savings/week, which equates to over $50/year. FREE MONEY, folks! Need we say more?
Subscribe to our Basil Bandwagon email list here! We frequently email awesome coupons. Also, look for sales in store and online. You can find our sales flyer at the entrance of our stores as well as on our website.
If you know you will use it, opting for the larger choice of the same product is almost always more economical. And as a bonus, if there is a product you use frequently or in large quantities, let us know you’d like to special order a case, and you’ll receive 10% off!
Air-tight glass containers and jars can help preserve your food purchases at home. For produce items, consider purchasing specialized produce bags to store fruits and veggies in within your refrigerator. They are specially designed to extend the life of your fresh produce so that it doesn’t spoil before you get to it.
Lastly, if you are a frequent traveler or infrequently home, opt for frozen fruits and vegetables rather than fresh. They are a better investment for you and will remain available for preparing any time!
For more money-saving tips and tricks, come visit our stores to speak with one of our friendly team members.
Ice Cream should be simple, right?
We think so! That’s why we strive to sell ice cream that’s free of additives found in many commercial ice cream products. (Check out the labels the next time you’re picking up a treat – you might be shocked at what you’ll find.) Soft serve ice cream and frozen yogurt are some of the worst offenders, often laden with ingredients that yield a signature texture and look. For example, corn syrup solids and mono and di-glycerides are added as emulsifiers. Toppings and syrups are by far the worst offenders, as they are often made almost entirely of artificial colors and flavors to make them extra sweet, colorful and pourable.
Free Scoop Fridays are our way of offering sweet indulgence without the harmful additives! There actually ARE great companies out there making simple, clean, ice cream and dairy free alternatives and we want to share them with you!
Come visit us between 4:00 – 8:00pm on Fridays this summer for a FREE scoop (in a cup or on a cone!). Each week we sample new flavors and always offer an allergen-free variety.
Opiate addiction has been in the news lately and is again begging our attention as a nation. Opiates are used in attempts to relieve moderate to severe pain. Opiates have been used for many years, usually prescribed for people with long-term, severe pain and a terminal illness, such as cancer. More recently, they have been used for non-malignant chronic pain. Some medical practitioners and lay people have concerns about the increased usage of opiates due to their highly addictive nature.
Many major pain clinics now use acupuncture as a treatment for chronic and severe pain. As I hear of the struggles of opiate addiction, including suicide, I get very sad knowing that acupuncture could have helped so many people reduce pain before they were prescribed opiates as an option. Of course acupuncture will not work for all people, but as a practitioner, I have been amazed at the wide breadth of people that it does help. Patients that find no relief with pain killers and have had intense pain to the point of debilitation have regained their lives through the use of acupuncture. It deeply saddens me that more people are not given the opportunity or access to try acupuncture.
Currently, our medical system offers acupuncture for people in health crisis. We see acupuncture offered in cancer units, pain clinics and detox clinics. I am so happy to see that the medical community appreciates how acupuncture can help these patients in medical emergencies. My question is why wait for a medical emergency to share a gentle medicine that offers great benefit with no side effect? Why not prescribe acupuncture for people with mild conditions? Acupuncture does not interfere with any medical treatments or prescription drugs. Most people enjoy acupuncture treatments, feeling a great deal of stress relief and peace of mind.
Acupuncture should also be used as a preventative medicine. While acupuncture may have been looked at as financially out of reach for many people, Community Acupuncture now offers affordable acupuncture with treatments costing $20 to $40. Because acupuncture can be affordably offered and has no side effects, our medical community should see acupuncture as a first line of care. Most pain conditions begin to show relief after five treatments if not before. If acupuncture is not helpful within this treatment period, it may be time to try something else that has side effects, costs more money, and has ramifications for the long term health of individuals and our planet.
Let’s start with the gentlest solutions first. If they don’t work, let’s move on to more aggressive treatments. By offering the gentlest treatments first, we have the opportunity to reduce the chances of opiate addiction, avoid negative impacts on people’s health and the health of planet and most likely save our healthcare system a lot of money.
To learn more about community acupuncture or find a clinic near you, visit pocacoop.com.