Important Update from The Family Wellness Center
Dear Friends of The Family Wellness Center:
As you have heard us say many times; your health is your true wealth. This is certainly more true now than it has ever been before. Each and every day our mission at The Family Wellness Center is to help individuals and their families achieve optimal health & well-being. We are, of course, aware of the real concern our clients, their families and our entire community and world are experiencing regarding the uncertainty and spread of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).
For many this past week has been a shocking wake up call. The World Health Organization labeled the virus a global pandemic, our Governor closed Pennsylvania schools, many saw their retirement accounts crash and the grocery shelves were suddenly bare. When there is fear and uncertainty, our cortisol levels go up, we sleep less, stress more and desperately want more control over our lives. So much is coming at us that it can be scary.
Therefore, we want to reassure you that our entire team is committed to helping you stay safe and healthy. Preparation and prevention needs to be our focus as we maneuver through these tough times. We know that the best thing to do right now is to make sure we’re all taking great care of ourselves and each other.
Most importantly, taking care of our immune systems must be everyone’s number one priority so that if or when we do encounter the virus, our bodies can quickly adapt, heal and regenerate!
Here’s What We are Doing
1. We are increasing routines of the sanitation of doorknobs, light switches, and other commonly touched surfaces.
2. We are wiping down our faucets, counters and door handles in the bathroom. We will leave alcohol by the sink area so you can wipe down the faucet and door handle before you leave and place in the trash.
3. We will have diffusers of doTerra On Guard essential oil running continuously at the office, which is known to support the immune system along with essential oils that are known to be plant therapy oils that have anti-bacterial, and anti-viral properties.
4. All surfaces and adjusting tables are being cleaned consistently. We will clean all tables after before and after they are used. We use Norwex enviro-cloths to clean tables and surfaces to ensure that 99.9% of bacteria is killed. Enviro Cloths also self-purify. In addition, we are using many organic disinfectant products that are 70% alcohol based and are available throughout the office. If you feel more comfortable cleaning your table yourself, products will be available to do so.
5. Namaste (prayer) hands will replace hugging right now as a sign of love, respect and honoring of our clients.
6. For the safety of yourself and others, we urge you: IF YOU ARE EXHIBITING SYMPTOMS, PLEASE DO NOT SHOW UP AT THE OFFICE. We are asking, like all other doctors’ offices and ERs, if you are symptomatic to please call first so special arrangements may be made and precautions may be taken to serve you.
7. We have waived our cancellation policy for massage therapy and counseling services so you can be assured that if you need to cancel the same day, no worries.
8. For our counseling clients who prefer the convenience of Tele-Health Counseling (that means counseling by telephone) this service is always available including on weekends.
So, come in, get an immune boost and head home!
GET ADJUSTED. We will continue business as usual over the following weeks because we know how important a strong immune system is to adapt to any virus your body comes in contact with – a chiropractic adjustment alone can boost your immune response by 200%!
Now is when your body needs chiropractic more than ever. During this time, let’s all do our part to combat what we can control and keep using chiropractic to strengthen our immune system. There’s no better time than now to ensure your body has the ability to adapt to any virus and exposure out there. Chiropractic boosts your immune system because it boosts function throughout the whole body.
We also realize that the stress reduction and therapeutic benefits of massage are critically important. And of course, your mental health is not only linked to well-being but also to your immune system, stress response and ability to cope and function. Therefore, our offices will remain open.
Here’s some other tips to get you through:
Eat well. Feed your body real food! More greens, less processed and sugary foods… In fact, cut way back on sugar and anything inflammatory. Your immune system improves with good nutrition and tanks with bad nutrition choices so find more ways to feed yourself with nutritious dense foods. Focus on adding more vegetables to your meals and using fruit as your sweet snack or dessert. Cutting down your intake of sugars in all forms will do wonders for your health in every way. Hydrate with filtered water, teas, soups and broths. In short, cut out junk and fast foods and add in more real food!
Move Well. Get plenty of exercise and get outdoors. Even if your workouts go from the gym to home, or happen in the home itself, movement is so calming to your brain + a great to boost your immune system! Make sure to break a sweat, because that’s how our body gets things moving on out! Thirty minutes outside can change your brain and your mood and spirits. The lymphatic system requires movement to remove waste products. Connect with joy in your body.
Supplement Your Immune system with whole food nutrients and herbs. It can be said that we don’t have an immune system, rather, our entire body functions as an immune alliance. The immune system includes the endocrine system, mucous membranes, skin, bone marrow, GI tract & microflora, spleen, liver, thymus, endocannabinoid system, and the list goes on and on. Both Standard Process and MediHerb have powerful tools for proper immune system health and function. These products include, among many others, Congaplex, Immuplex, Epimune Complex, Echinacea Premium, Andrographis Complex, Herbal Throat Spray, Vitamins C & D and Viranon. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us to discuss specific concerns regarding keeping your immune system strong and resilient.
Manage your stress levels. In times like this, our stress levels skyrocket. Stress is known to cause 90% of all illness and will only dramatically decrease our body’s ability to FIGHT. Amidst all the unknown and chaos right now, try and find peace. Fear and anxiety put your nervous system into fight/flight and increase cortisol in your body which lowers your immune system and pushes up inflammation. Being aware of what you are experiencing/feeling, acknowledging it and accepting it helps you to move through your fear. Talk therapy and journal writing is critical.
Take deep breaths. Breathe and the way we breathe can make an immediate impact in taking us out of flight/flight. Turning down the cortisol and adrenaline will reduce the impact of stress on your body and mind. One quick exercise you can do if you’re feeling overwhelmed is to take a few minutes and sit quietly, with spine erect so energy can move through easily, breathe in your nose with a count of 5, hold for a count of 2-5 and then exhale out the mouth for a count of 5.
Meditate. Put on inspiring music, read something uplifting, walk in nature, talk to a loved one who cares. Do things that increase your connection with your deeper nature and that uplifts the energy state in your body.
Get plenty of restful sleep. Your immune system requires large amounts of energy, so it depends on adequate sleep to function at full capacity. We can often reset the nervous system into parasympathetic mode with a good night’s sleep.
Consider using a more natural hand sanitizer without toxins. We use doTerra OnGuard and Norwex.
Stay Grateful. Take a few moments every day to give thanks and be grateful. Say it out loud and let your body hear you. Gratitude and thankfulness are shown in research to boost the immune system. Remember your body is listening to every word you think and say.
Empower yourself. Find out what you need to do to support yourself. Focus on what you can control and release what you can’t. Surrender isn’t a passive activity. It’s being with ‘what is’, while being pro-active in building your immune system, staying present and connected and sharing LOVE which is always here.
We’re in this together and we’re here for you. We are here not only to help you become more Bullet-Proof with regards to preventing infections but to become healthier overall, in body, mind and spirit.
“Let your faith be bigger than your fears”
Love from your health and well-being team,
Dr. Bill, Deborah, Kirsten, Tiffany, Cheri – The FWC Care Team