The Herbal Clinic & Dispensary has joined forces with several other neighborhood businesses to form a “Green Business Collective.” As a group, we support each other with ideas and collective purchases with the goal of making our businesses as environmentally friendly as possible.
We are currently working with Green Shift, a local business and supplier of environmentally friendly paper, packaging and cleaning products. The HC&D currently uses eco-friendly all-purpose cleaners, laundry cleaner, hand soaps and lotions, no bleach/recycled toilet paper, printing paper, paper towels and paper packaging materials. We recycle, reuse and reduce as much as possible.
Beautiful skin which radiates health and vitality is not a given. More often than not we have to work at keeping our skin looking (and feeling) dewy-soft, and smooth. Wrinkles are inevitable as we age, however, a lot can be done to prevent or reduce fine lines and furrows. Limiting sun exposure and avoiding cigarette smoke are fairly obvious. Facial massage, stress management and proper nutrition are also important for keeping wrinkles at bay. Equally important is a natural skin care regime designed for your own skin type. (Continued)
1) Skin Food Mask
Combine:
- ½ creamed ripe avocado
- 1 tsp of olive oil hemp seed oil or other high quality oil
- 1 tsp honey
- ½ tsp of blue green algae, or chlorella
- 1 egg yolk.
Instructions: Combine avocado with oil. Put hair back. Cleanse skin and pat dry. Apply mask and leave on for ½ hour while lying down. Rinse off mask. Repeat once every week. (Continued)
Every spring, we clean our windows and organize our closets in preparation for the summer. However, how many of us dedicate as much time to cleansing our bodies? Detoxification is a central concept in naturopathic medicine, and for good reason. Toxin-related illnesses such as multiple chemical sensitivities, cancer, thyroid disease, reproductive and neurological problems have become a problem in the 21st century. Environmental toxicity affects our immune system, hormones and mood. Urban living exposes people to a high level of pesticides, solvents, fumes and heavy metals (Pizzorno Jr. & Murray, 1999). (Continued)
Yes, Spring is here and the signs are evident everywhere. The sun is warm and bright, the birds are singing, and there is new growth from previously dormant plant life. We embrace this season with a renewed sense of energy and passion. And, it is our passion, which really brings color to our lives. Without it, we can become lifeless, dull and unmotivated. (Continued)
1) Delicious and Nutritious Wild Berry Smoothie.
Combine the following:
- 2 handfuls of a mix of strawberries and raspberries
- 1 peeled orange
- 1 tablespoon of honey
- 1 tablespoon of ground sun-flower seed
- 4 ice cubes
(Continued)
1) Is Homeopathy considered to be safe to use to assist childbirth?
Homeopathic medicine is considered to be safe during childbirth when used under the supervision of a qualified Homeopath experienced in assisting labour.
2) What would be an ideal situation when homeopathy during labour? (Continued)
Lately it seems like pretty much everyone knows someone who has been affected by breast cancer, and media coverage is constant. Understandably, this has created a lot of fear. But what the media doesn’t emphasize is that the majority of cancer is caused by “diet & lifestyle” factors rather than genetic heredity, which in fact accounts for only about 7% of breast cancer. In other words, there are lots of things you can do to enhance your health, and dramatically decrease your risk of developing breast cancer. Below is a list of my top 10 tips for proactive breast health. (Continued)
Chinese Medicine holds that Spring is the season of the Liver, whose energy is likened to new shoots of a tree growing upward and expanding rapidly.
The active, rising energy predominant in the spring may aggravate those with a constitutional Liver imbalance. Clinically, we often see an increase in conditions strongly associated with the Liver, such as migraine headaches, pink-eye, canker sores and ear infections. [Chinese Medicine is concerned as much with energy flow as anatomy: when you read ‘Liver’, think of the way the Liver functions in the whole body, not just the organ.] (Continued)
The sun is shining, the birds are singing, the temperature is rising…
After a long winter’s slumber, are we in need of waking up? Perhaps.
Then it may be time to spring tune our bodies.
Upon waking.
A great way to start the day is with a glass of room temperature water. This will help to disperse any toxins or waste that the body is trying to release especially during the night while we are asleep. Our bodies are made up of at least 70% water. So replenishing ourselves by drinking water throughout the day can help keep us alert and well hydrated. (Continued)
Hello and welcome to Dragonflies & Daisies, the Herbal Clinic & Dispensary’s spring newsletter.
After a long and busy winter season we look forward to enjoying a warm and productive spring. We have been overwhelmed by the positive response from the community during the past five years and are proud to a part of one of Toronto’s most loved neighborhoods. The Dispensary staff and practitioners would like to take this opportunity to give warm thanks to all our friends and neighbor’s who have been so supportive and we look forward to continuing to provide excellent service to you in the years to come. (Continued)
It is with regret that I have had to make the decision to leave the Herbal Clinic and Dispensary. I would like to thank Celina Ainsworth, and all the other clinicians at the Clinic for making me feel welcome when I started there, and for supporting me throughout my practice. The Herbal Clinic and Dispensary is truly a healing environment in which the emphasis on community exemplifies the ideas of holism in health on every level.
I will be on holiday until May 14, and upon my return will continue my private practice at Toronto-Centre Naturopathic Medicine.
It has been a pleasure serving this community. Thanks again,
Du La, ND
