domestic violence and pregnancy - St. Louis Health …stlhealthandwellness.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/STL...domestic violence and pregnancy Beat the St. Louis Heat and Stay Hydrated

Don’t Text and Drive

FREETAKE ONE

S T. L O U I S

MEn’s HEaltH

Migraine Relief

Arthroscopic Surgery

domestic violence

and pregnancy

Beat the St. Louis Heat and

Stay Hydrated with Coconut Water


June 2014



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Contents6 Beat the St. Louis Heat8 Men’s Health10 Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Myths12 Migraine Relief13 Senior Home Accidents14 Arthroscopic Surgery16 My Lower Aching Back19 Domestic Violence and Pregnancy20 Tread or Float

22 Hyaluronic Acid Beyond Joint Health25 Keeping Your Commitments26 Female Pelvic Health28 Stop Building Barriers29 Shower of Love Raises Over $100,00030 Kitchen Crumbs31 Spiritual Wellness

ARTHROSCOPIC SURGERY 14

June 20146


Beat the St. Louis Heat and

Stay Hydrated with Coconut Water

Have you and your family tried everything to beat this crazy St. Louis heat wave? What about coconut water as a healthy, natu-ral option to stay hydrated? You have likely noticed all the atten-tion coconuts have been getting in the popular media recently

You may have seen coconut water on the shelves of your lo-cal grocer or heard of a friend using coconut oil for cooking, but what is all this hype really about? Could some of the more sensational health claims be true?

For more than 4,000 years, co-conut water has been revered as a natural source of nutrition, wellness, beauty and hydration. Few beverages on this planet are as biocompatible to the human body and its hydration needs as coconut water. Coconut wa-ter contains a high amount of potassium, chlorides, calcium, and magnesium. These are es-sential minerals that our body needs for certain functions, such as metabolism, muscle contrac-tions and brain functions. Be-cause of this, coconut water can replace the valuable electrolytes that are lost during vigorous physical activity. It has fewer calories, less sodium, and more potassium than a sports drink and even a banana! Ounce per ounce, most unflavored coco-nut water contains 5.45 calories, 1.3 grams sugar, 61 milligrams (mg) of potassium, and 5.45 mg of sodium compared to Gato-rade, which has 6.25 calories, 1.75 grams of sugar, 3.75 mg of potassium, and 13.75 mg of sodium. Naturally refreshing, coconut water has a sweet, nutty taste. It contains easily digested carbohydrates in the form of

sugar and electrolytes. Not to be confused with high-fat coconut milk or oil, coconut water is a clear liquid in the fruit’s center that is tapped from young, green coconuts.

Inside an unopened coconut, the water is sterile and free of any bacteria, fungus, or parasite. It’s the only natural substance that can be safely injected into the human blood stream with-out harming the blood cells and is non-allergenic. It is reported that this was a common practice in WWII and during Vietnam, when intravenous solution was in short supply. A patient can safely receive as much as one quarter to one third of the pa-tient’s body weight in coconut water intravenously.

While some are concerned about the sugar content of this slightly sweet beverage, recent research shows it actually exhibits blood sugar lowering properties in an experimental model of diabe-tes. Additional animal research shows coconut water prevents and reverses high blood pres-sure associated with fructose induced hypertension in diabet-ics, as well as being able to re-duce oxidative stress and insulin resistance. Perhaps one of the most amazing properties of co-conut water is its superior lipid (cholesterol) modulating activ-ity in the animal model when compared with the cholesterol-lowering statin drug known as lovastatin. In fact, coconut wa-ter has been shown to even ele-vate the HDL (good cholesterol) levels in the blood! We can now modify Hippocrates’ famous saying : “Let What You Drink Be Your Medicine.”

By Dr. Chris Maffit, DC – Delta Spinal Care Holistic Health and Wellness Center

June 2014 7


Other medicinal properties of coconuts:

• Anti-Ulcer Properties: Both coconut milk and coconut water exhibit potent anti-ulcer activity against chemicals such as indomethacin, a Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID).

• Blood-Pressuring Lowering Properties: When human subjects consumed coconut water for two weeks, it was found to lower blood pressure in 74% of the experimental group, reducing it by up to 24 points (mmHg) systolic and 15 points (mmHq) diastolic.

• Anti-Alzheimer’s Properties: In an animal model of ovary removal-induced menopausal changes,

coconut water appeared to prevent the decline of brain estrogen (estradiol) levels, as well as the associated accumulation of Alzheimer’s disease associated β-amyloid (Aβ) plaque in their brains.

• Anti-Bacterial Properties: Three antimicrobial peptides have been identified in coconut water which exhibited inhibitory activity against infec-tious bacteria.

• Anti-Gastroenteritis Agent: When sodium is added (ideally sea salt) coconut water has been determined to be an ideal rehydrating agent in countries where medical supplies are not freely available, and where cholera and other severe forms of gastroenteritis persist.

• Wound Treatment: Coconut oil is particularly useful in wound treatment because of its bio-chemical structure. Unlike olive oil and fatty animal oils, it consists of short-chained and satu-rated fatty acids. These qualities in coconut oil prevent it from becoming oxidized or turning rancid.

• Multiple research studies suggest anti-inflamma-tory, analgesic, and anti-fever properties of co-conut oil.

Ultimately, coconut water makes for an excellent alternative to sports drinks, which are increasingly comprised of synthetic ingredients. Also, coconut water is filtered by nature through an intensive puri-fication process — far safer than municipal systems which leave up to 600 toxic disinfectant byproducts behind. Coconut oil’s molecular structure makes for a very heat stable oil. Its pleasant flavor and nutri-tional benefits make coconut oil a great option for high temperature cooking and as a substitute for oth-er oils high in saturated fat. Give it a try in some of your favorite recipes and pick up a bottle of coconut water to beat the heat and stay hydrated this summer!

Delta Spinal Care Holistic Health and Wellness Center

8403 Maryland Ave.Clayton, MO 63105

314-725-3358www.deltaspinalcare.com

Dr. Christopher J. Maffit was born in Portland, Oregon and has lived most of his life in St. Louis County. He began studying towards a Bachelor of Sciences/Pre-Med degree at St. Louis Community College at Meramec and then at the University of Missouri in Columbia. In 2001, he received a B.S. in Human Biology and a Doctorate of Chiropractic degree from Logan College of Chiropractic in Ches-terfield, Missouri. Immediately upon graduation, Dr. Maffit, along with two classmates, launched Delta Spinal Care in Clayton, Missouri. The doctors of Delta Spinal Care are committed to providing the tools necessary to empower others to create a life where they are truly thriving. The staff at Delta Spi-nal Care help people tap into their true potential by teaching them how to live healthier lives.

At Delta Spinal Care, Dr. Maffit uses the most re-cent advancements in non-surgical spinal corrective techniques to gently correct spinal related conditions without drugs or surgery. The NUCCA procedure, a specific upper-cervical technique, allows for this painless process. Dr. Maffit trained in the NUCCA method at Palmer Chiropractic College in Daven-port, Iowa and at technique seminars across the coun-try. He has also studied many other advanced upper-cervical procedures such as the Blair technique and Palmer HIO and is currently working toward addi-tional certification through the National Upper Cer-vical Chiropractic Association.

As a certified member of the Health Institute, Dr. Maffit provides clinically proven programs for rapid,

safe and effective weight loss and disease manage-ment without drugs or surgery. These programs are backed by clinical research at John's Hopkins Uni-versity and restore optimal health through proper nutrition, often allowing patients and clients to com-pletely eliminate their dependency on medications for conditions such as Type II Diabetes, High Blood Pressure and High Cholesterol.

Dr. Maffit's patients choose his care because they want a natural approach to better health that ad-dresses and corrects the source of their problems with long-lasting results. Dr. Maffit enjoys high lev-els of patient satisfaction because he explains eve-rything in advance, informing patients so that they can partner with him in reaching their health goals.

June 20148


As men and women get older, they face different problems from when they were younger. Appearanc-es change on the outside, but also there are changes on the inside. Although both men and women under-go changes, there are some changes that are specific to men, which this article will focus on. Women are typically very informed about their body’s changes, but often men are not well-informed. This article will focus on the threats to men’s health including benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), prostate cancer, and erectile dysfunction.

Many men may have heard about BPH, but do they really know what it is? The prostate is a gland, found only in men, which forms part of the male reproduc-tive system.1 The prostate is the size of a walnut and surrounds the urethra, which is where urine is passed through. Its function is not completely understood, but it is thought to help secrete fluid which helps sperm travel into the female vagina. As men age, it is not uncommon for the prostate to enlarge.1 This is what is referred to as benign prostatic hyperplasia. It usually occurs as men age and is likely due to testos-terone, the male hormone. Some men never have any problems with this growth, but others experience dif-ficulty urinating because the enlarged prostate press-es against the urethra. If you experience symptoms (listed below), you should talk to your doctor and he can refer you to a urologist, a doctor who special-izes in problems of the urinary tract. Depending on the severity of symptoms, the doctor may prescribe a medication.

Symptoms of BPH1:• A hesitant, interrupted weak stream• Urgency and leaking or dribbling• More frequent urination, especially at night

Prostate cancer, like any other cancer, begins when normal prostate cells divide uncontrollably and have other abnormal features. For instance, normal cells are created and die, but cancer cells do not die but continue to live and grow. A buildup of these can-cerous cells occurs creating a tumor. Prostate cancer cells can break away, like other cancers, and spread to other parts of the body. These cells can attach and form new tumors when they reach their desti-nation. The symptoms are very similar to the BPH symptoms listed previously, but also include blood

in the urine, numbness and tingling of the feet, and pain throughout the body.2 If you experience, these symptoms, you should see your doctor. If the doc-tor diagnosis you with prostate cancer, they will run a series of test to determine how bad the cancer is. The tumor generally will be placed into one of four stages, depending on if the tumor has spread.3 Vari-ous treatments include active surveillance, surgery, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy.3 Men should actively monitor their bodies with age and schedule the necessary ap-pointments if they notice anything abnormal. Once diagnosed, some doctors prefer active surveillance, which means monitoring the cancer until it affects your quality of life. After treatment of prostate cancer, doctors recommend appointments every 6 months.3 Prostate cancer may return once it has been treated. To avoid prostate cancer, men can4:• Choose a low-fat diet• Eat more fat from plants than from animals• Increase the amounts of fruits and vegetables in

your diet• Eat fish• Reduce the amount of dairy products you con-

sume each day• Drink green tea• Try adding soy to your diet• Drink alcohol in moderation, if at all• Maintain a healthy weight• Exercise most days of the week

Erectile dysfunction is a condition that many men fear. Erectile dysfunction, or ED for short, is an in-ability to achieve or sustain an erection suitable for sexual intercourse.4 ED is more common in older men. There are many causes of ED including4:• Decreased blood flow to the penis• Anxiety or depression• High blood pressure• Heart disease• Multiple sclerosis• Diabetes• Low testosterone• Obesity• Alcohol• Smoking• Medications for blood pressure and depression• Age

Your doctor can diagnose ED for you, although you will most likely know whether or not you have it. There are medications that can help with ED, but these can be very expensive. Often, doctors will try to have patients undergo changes in their lifestyles such as better diet and weight loss. There can be a lot of frustration between a man experiencing ED and his partner. Talking with a doctor can help a man bet-ter understand what is causing the ED and how to fix the problem which is to blame.

Increasing age brings on many new challenges. Hav-ing the proper information and knowing what to look out for and how to avoid certain challenges is the key to a happy life. Leading a healthy lifestyle with a proper diet and exercise can have many good effects on the body. It is also important to have a good rela-tionship with your doctor. Change is inevitable , it is how you deal with it that determines your happiness.

1. "National Kidney and Urologic DiseasesInformation Clearinghouse (NKUDIC)." Prostate Enlargement: Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia. N.p., June 2006. Web. 19 Jan. 2014

2. "What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Prostate Cancer?" What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Prostate Cancer? N.p., 28 Aug. 2013. Web. 19 Jan. 2014.

3. National Cancer Institute." What You Need To Know About Prostate Cancer -. N.p., 26 Sept. 2012. Web. 19 Jan. 2014.

4. "Erectile Dysfunction: Overview & Facts." WebMD. WebMD, n.d. Web. 19 Jan. 2014.

MEn’s HEaltH By Matt Wessel


June 201410


By Frank Nuber RPh.

BIOIDENTICAL HORMONES AREN’T NATURAL.

The difference between bioiden-tical (most similar to human-made) hormones and synthetic hormones begins at the molecular level. Bioidentical hormones have the same chemical structure as hormones made by the human body and can replicate the ac-tions of those hormones natu-rally. Bioidentical hormones are derived by processing hormone precursors found in plant sources, usually soybeans and yams.

Synthetic hormones begin with a molecular structure very differ-ent from what our bodies make naturally. Because the structure is altered to be close, but not exactly what our bodies expect or need, synthetic hormones aren’t easily recognizable by our bodies.

WHAT ABOUT SIDE EFFECTS?

Side effects from bioidentical hormones are minimized because the body recognizes the familiar molecular structure, fills hormone receptor sites efficiently and utilizes, breaks down and detoxi-

fies the bioidentical hormones effectively. This doesn’t mean there’s no risk in using them, but the risk is much less than syn-thetic hormones.

Synthetic hormones include es-trogens derived from horse urine or other chemical compounds not found in the human body. Be-cause of this, synthetic hormones can’t act in a straightforward way in the body. Thus, the body has a difficult time utilizing these unfa-miliar chemical compositions and struggles to detoxify them. Side effects are common.

Dispelling Bioidentical

Hormone Replacement Myths

Bioidentical hor-mone replacement

is safe and effective. Yet, many women

(and men) don’t know as much about

it because most medical profession-als don’t – or won’t – talk about it. Further, I’m always surprised at how little doctors

actually know about this natural way of

rebalancing our hormones, and how many believe things

that are simply un-true. This article will

attempt to dispel some of the myths

and misunderstand-ings about BHRT. If you’d like to know

more about pe-rimenopause, how

your body changes due it and how BHRT

can help, my book “Surviving the Fog, Sweat and Tears of

Perimenopause” should be on your

nightstand.

June 2014 11


Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy636-278-6561

505 Salt Lick Rd., St Peters, MO 63376 www.excelapothecary.com

BIOIDENTICAL HORMONES AREN’T SAFE.

Bioidentical hormones are made from a natural sub-stance, and are bio-chemically identical to human hormones. Not surprisingly, when tested in scien-tific studies, bioidentical human hormones virtually always turn out to be safer, are more easily toler-ated and more effective than conventional synthetic hormone regimens.

Another difference between bioidentical and synthetic hormones is how each is prescribed. Synthetic hormones are frequently prescribed in a “one size fits all” regimen. Bioidentical hormones are prescribed on an individual basis, meaning, age, weight, symptoms and current hormonal balance are taken into consideration when developing the protocol.

HORMONE LEVELS ARE BEST DETERMINED BY BLOOD TESTS.

Most blood tests use a broad definition of normal hormone ranges. The test measures the level of "free" hormone (the hormone that can easily en-ter the cell), the level of the "total" hormone (the hormone attached to substances that carry hormones in the bloodstream) or a calculated combination of both. While these are good numbers to know, they aren’t an accurate reflection of how much hormone your body can actually use. This means you could have an abundance of hormones floating in your bloodstream that remain in a state your body can’t utilize.

In addition, blood testing results can be inconsistent, especially if the hormone value indicated is in the low-normal range. Many women, whose test results appear normal, can’t understand why they continue to experience the symptoms of hormone imbal-ance. Saliva testing, however, provides a more exact range of normal results.

SALIVA TESTING IS UNRELIABLE.

Over years of clinical practice, it’s been shown that saliva testing is the most accurate measurement of

the body’s bioavailability of the hormones Cortisol, DHEA, Estrogen, Progesterone and Testosterone. Saliva testing is more specific and correctly identi-fies the usability of hormones at the cellular level, in contrast to a blood test, which simply measures the level of hormones circulating in the bloodstream.

Saliva testing has been used in clinical research, in-cluding studies conducted at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), for more than 30 years. Saliva testing has been available to physicians for over a decade, and Medicare and many insurance compa-nies provide reimbursement.

BIOIDENTICAL HORMONES AREN’T FDA AP-PROVED.

This statement is actually true. However, you only have to examine the process by which the FDA ap-

proves drugs to see why FDA approval might not be the best arbiter of drug safety. We’ve all seen the raft of recalls and warnings of FDA-approved patent medicines over the last few years.

A growing database of scientific research from all over the world, combined with the first-hand experi-ences of hundreds of thousands of women treated by knowledgeable, progressive doctors are proving the safety and utility of bioidentical hormone replace-ment every day. Nevertheless, lacking in FDA ap-proval, BHRT will remain under attack.

Have questions? I have answers! Call me at (636) 278-6561. Find my book at online retailers or at

www.fogsweatandtearsofperimenopause.net.

June 201412


By Drs. Jen and Jason Rhodes

For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact Saint Louis Neurotherapy Institute at

(314) 983-9355 www.stlneurotherapy.com

Migraine Relief

Migraines are Neurological, NOT Vascular

The traditional view of migraines is that they are vascular in origin; however, more recent research has proven that migraine headaches are neurological rather than vascular. In fact, medi-cal studies have proven that migraines are the result of a hy-peractive brain. It has been demonstrated that people with mi-graines exhibit brainwave patterns associated with brainwaves seen in seizure type patterns. For this reason, many migraine researchers characterize migraines as a slow form of seizure.

Migraines are characterized by hyperexcitability of the brain. Current research has proven that when the hyperexcitable brain is triggered by a stressor, a cascade of physiological events in the brain is initiated. This cascade of events results in a dila-tion of the arteries in the outer tissue covering the brain known as the dura matter. The dura matter is extremely pain sensitive and the dilation of the blood vessels in the dura matter results in the throbbing relentless pain of a migraine.

Natural Migraine Relief

The medical approach to treating migraines is with drugs. However, studies have demonstrated that even the most ef-fective drugs only work about 50% of the time. Rather than mask the symptoms, the neurofeedback approach targets the cause of the migraine. The hyperexcitable brain means that the brain is producing too many fast brainwaves. In this hy-perexcitable state the brain is prone to migraines. Any trigger such as stress, hunger, and certain foods can push the brain over the edge into a cascade of events that culminates as a migraine. Most people suffering with migraines can predict when a migraine is approaching. They can sense the brain being pushed into that cascade. In fact one of the more ef-fective preventative measures is to identify and eliminate the environmental triggers. The trouble with that approach is that sometimes triggers are hard to identify and even when they can be identified, they are sometimes hard to avoid.

The Natural Way

“I endured migraine headaches at least 3 times a month for 15 years. I have not had a migraine in more than 6 months since I completed the program.”Jill W.

“For over twenty years I have had to live with migraine headaches at least 3 or 4 times a month. After experiencing [neurotherapy], my migraines are gone. Why didn’t I do this sooner?”Jim J.

June 2014 13


Nearly Half of Senior Home Accidents Are

PreveNtAble ER Doctor Survey Says

Nearly 20 million seniors ages 65 and older visit the emergency room each year with almost a third of the visits related to injuries*, many of which are sustained in the place seniors are meant to feel the safest: their home. In fact, 65 percent of senior homes have at least one potential safety issue, according to adult children of seniors surveyed by Home Instead, Inc., franchisor of the Home Instead Senior Care® network. However, almost half of all home accidents by seniors (48 per-cent) can be avoided according to a recent survey of emergency room doctors.** These preventable home hazards, such as throw rugs or loose railings, can be par-ticularly harmful, leading to falls and injuries that can impact seniors’ ability to live independently. However, the majority of seniors (85 percent) haven’t taken any steps to prepare their homes for their changing needs as they grow older. “The home should be the safest and most comfortable place for aging seniors,” says Jim Griffith of the Home Instead Senior Care office serving St. Louis. “It is critical for families and seniors to invest the time in identifying the necessary home safety modifications to ensure it stays that way.”

Senior home safety experts recommend that adult children of seniors take at least one day each year to perform a thorough safety check of their parents’ home. To help families accomplish this goal and help seniors reduce the risk of injury in their own homes, the Home Instead Senior Care office serving St. Louis is offering free home safety checks conducted by local senior care experts throughout June. The safety checks will be provided at no cost on a time-available basis. “An annual safety check can help seniors avoid dangers that could threaten their independence,” said Griffith. “When we go into homes, we see a lot of red flags that are easily overlooked by those who are familiar with the home. Most of the time, these are relatively easy and affordable fixes—and they could be the differ-ence between a trip to the emergency room and staying safe at home.” The most common issues found in seniors’ homes are tripping hazards, bathrooms without assistive equipment, such as grab bars on the shower or tub, and storage that’s too high or too low. A free home safety checklist, online safety assessment and recommendations for inexpensive modifications that could ensure the safety of older loved ones are also available at www.makinghomesaferforseniors.com. These free safety checks and support resources are part of Home Instead Inc.’s broader Making Home Safer for SeniorsSM program. To request a free home safe-ty check or the home safety checklist, please call the local Home Instead Senior Care office at (314) 862-4663.

*Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention**Survey Methodology: In the United States, Home Instead, Inc. completed 600 telephone interviews with seniors age 65 and older, and 600 telephone interviews with adult children who have parents age 65 or older. The sampling error for each population is +/-4.0% at a 95% confidence level. Home Instead, Inc. also conducted five-minute telephone interviews with 100 emergency room physicians randomly selected from throughout the United States.

Thirty-three percent of seniors’ visits to hospitals and the ER are caused by falls and other accidents in the home and nearly half of those home accidents (48 percent) could have been prevented. Despite the fact that many home hazards are preventable, the majority of seniors (85 percent) haven’t taken any steps to prepare their homes as they grow older. That’s why local senior home care experts in St. Louis are offering FREE home safety checks throughout the month of June to area residents and St. Louis Health and Wellness Magazine readers, in honor of National Safety Month.

Experts can speak to:• The most common safety hazards present in a senior’s

home• Recommendations for inexpensive modifications that

ensure the safety of older loved ones• Free support resources available for families at

www.makinghomesaferforseniors.com

June 201414


Arthroscopic Surgery

The advantage of arthroscopy over traditional open surgery is that the joint does not have to be opened up fully. Instead, for knee arthroscopy for example, only two small incisions are made — one for the arthroscope and one for the surgical instruments to be used in the knee cavity. This reduces recov-ery time and may increase the rate of surgical success due to less trauma to the connective tissue. It is especially useful for professional athletes, who frequently injure knee joints and require fast healing time. There is also less scarring, be-cause of the smaller incisions. Irrigation fluid is used to dis-tend the joint and make a surgical space. Sometimes this fluid leaks into the surrounding soft tissue, causing edema, or swelling.

The surgical instruments used are smaller than tradition-al instruments. Surgeons view the joint area on a video monitor, and can diagnose and repair torn joint tissue, such as ligaments and menisci or cartilage. It is techni-cally possible to do an arthroscopic examination of al-most every joint in the human body. The joints that are most commonly examined and treated by arthrosco-py are the knee, shoulder, elbow, wrist, ankle, foot, and hip.

Today knee arthroscopy is the most commonly per-formed orthopedic prcedure for treating meniscus injury, reconstruction of the ACL and for cartilage microfracturing. Arthroscopy can also be per-formed just for diagnosing and checking of the knee; however, the latter use has been mainly re-placed by MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging.

By Matthew P. Melander, DO

Arthroscopy (also called arthroscopic surgery) is a minimally invasive surgical procedure in which an examination and sometimes treatment of damage of the interior of a joint is performed using an arthroscope, that is inserted into the joint through a small incision. Arthroscopic pro-cedures can be performed either to evaluate or to treat many ortho-paedic conditions including torn floating cartilage, torn surface car-tilage, ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) reconstruction, and trimming damaged cartilage.

June 2014 15


Shoulder Arthroscopy is commonly used for treatment of various diseas-es of the shoulder including subacromial impingement, acromioclavicu-lar osteoarthritis, rotator cuff tears, frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis), chronic tendonitis, removal of loose bodies and partial tears of the long biceps tendon, SLAP lesions and shoulder instability. The most common indications include subacromial decompression, Bankart lesion repair and rotator cuff repair. All these procedures were done by opening the joint through big incisions before the advent of arthroscopy. Ar-throscopic shoulder surgeries have gained momentum in the past de-cade. "Keyhole surgery" of the shoulder as it is popularly known has reduced inpatient time as well as rehabilitation requirements and is often an outpatient procedure.

Hip arthroscopy was initially used for the diagnosis of unexplained hip pain, but is now widely used in the treatment of conditions both in and outside the hip joint itself. The most common indica-tion currently is for the treatment of femoral acetabular impinge-ment (FAI) and its associated pathologies; however, this is by no means where it ends. Hip conditions that also may be treated arthroscopically also includes labral tears, loose / foreign body removal, ligamentum teres injuries (and reconstruction) and Ilio-psoas tendinopathy (or ‘snapping psoas syndrome’).

Arthroscopic surgery is the mainstay of my practice and I com-pleted an additional year of fellowship training to become an expert in the field. If you suffer from an orthopedic condition or injury the requires surgery, it most likely can be treated ar-throscopically. Feel free to contact me or my office to learn more about arthroscopic procedures. Also you can visit my website www.melandersportsmedicine.com.

Melander Sports Medicine

O'Fallon, MO: 9323 Phoenix Village Pkwy.St Peters, MO: 5301 Veterans Memorial Pkwy.

(636) 62-SPORT (7678)

Dr. Matthew Melander is a Board Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon who sub specializes in Sports Medicine. He completed a Sports Medicine Fellowship in 2007 at the prestigious Meth-odist Sports Medicine center and was team fellow for the

2007 Super Bowl Champion Indianapolis Colts. He treats active patients of all ages, and strives to keep patients feeling well and performing their best.

June 201416


Nearly everyone at some point has back pain that interferes with work, routine daily activities, or recreation. Americans

spend at least $50 billion each year on low back pain, the most common cause of job-related disability and a leading

contributor to missed work. 85% of Americans will experi-ence low back pain sometime in their lifetime and accounts

for 25% of lost workdays. Fortunately, most occurrences of low back pain go away within a few days. 95% of the pa-

tients will recover in the first 12 weeks of the onset of the low back pain. Some cases of back pain can become more serious if left untreated. There are some concerning causes

of back pain that occur with rapid onset. I am going to write about vertebral compression fractures in this month and next

month’s articles. As our patient population ages in the United States, we are seeing more vertebral compression fractures.

Compression fractures are the most common cause of spine fractures. The main section of each vertebra is a large, round

structure called the vertebral body. Collapse of the vertebral body is called a vertebral compression fracture.

An estimated 10 million Americans have osteoporosis, and an additional 34 million are estimated to have low bone mass,

placing them at increased risk for developing vertebral com-pression fractures. Of the 10 million Americans with osteopo-

rosis, 8 million women have the condition and 2 million men. One and a half million fragility ( osteoporotic ) fractures oc-

cur annually in the U.S., of which 900,000 are spine fractures. Vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) are the most common

fracture in patients with osteoporosis, VCFs affect an esti-mated 25 percent of all postmenopausal women in the United States. The prevalence of this condition steadily increases as

people age, with an estimated 40 percent of women age 80 and older affected. Although far more common in women, VCFs

are also a major health concern for older men. VCF’s occur when forces applied to the vertebral body are greater than its

structural capability. 18% of VCF’s with patients rolling over in bed.

Patients who have sustained a single osteoporotic VCF are at five times the risk of sustaining a second VCF. The more com-

pression fractures the patient experiences, the greater the risk of developing future compression fractures. The presence of

old compression fractures is one of the best predictors of de-veloping future compression fractures. Occasionally a VCF can be present with either minor symptoms or no symptoms.

The pain with vertebral compression fractures is usually severe and at times debilitating. The main clinical symptoms of VCFs

may include any of the following, alone or in combination of sudden onset of back pain, an increase of pain intensity while

standing or walking, and pain radiating into the groin, abdomen and legs. Complications related to VCFs include spinal instabil-ity, kyphosis ( Dowager’s Hump ), neurological complications

( pinched nerve, bladder / bowel dysfunction, leg weakness, numbness around the buttock and even very rarely paralysis ).

Mylower aching

BaCkBy James Sturm DO DABA FIPP

If you have lower back pain, you are not alone.

June 2014 17


Diagnosing a compression fracture is suspected through the history and physical examination and confirmed by plain film x-rays, CT scans and MRI. Plain film x-rays are easy to perform, but may miss a minimally displaced fracture(s). CT scans can visualize the boney detail very well however can have difficulty in determining between a new fracture and an old healed fracture. MRIs give the most amount of detail and information but cannot be performed in certain patients with metal implants, pacemakers / defibrillators, and spinal cord stimulators. MRIs are the most expensive diagnostic tests performed.

Traditionally, patients with severe pain from VCFs prior to the early 1990s have been treated with bed rest, medications, bracing, or invasive spinal surgery, often with limited effec-tiveness. Pain secondary to acute vertebral fracture appears to be caused in part by vertebral instability (nonunion or slow-forming union) at the fracture site. VCF-related pain that is al-lowed to heal naturally can last as long as three to six months. Bed rest more than two days is not recommended secondary to the increased risk of bed sores, developing blood clots, and pneumonia. Narcotic pain medication can cause drowsiness, constipation, nausea, confusion, hallucination and urinary re-tention. Back braces come in all shapes and varieties. If braces are being used to make the spine rigid to reduce pain and fa-cilitate healing of the fracture, then rigid braces should be em-ployed. Rigid braces can compress the breast and hip tissue mak-ing them uncomfortable to wear. I personally have a high failure rate in trying to get patients to wear the braces whenever in the upright position for 3 to 6 months. Rarely is open spine surgery necessary. Open spine surgery is required when the bone frag-ments are crushing the spinal cord or nerves. The patients with osteoporosis can be at high risk with open larger surgical decom-pression because of having multiple medical problems and poor quality bone making spine reconstruction a higher risk of failure.

Physical therapy is limited by the concern of worsening the frac-ture and the severe amount of pain the patient experiences

Next month I will cover other minimally invasive treatment op-tions such as vertebroplasty / kyphoplasty and treatment options for osteoporosis to prevent vertebral compression fractures.

Arch Advanced Pain ManagementJames Sturm DO DABA FIPP830 Waterbury Falls Suite 202O'Fallon, Missouri 63368

(636) 244-5004

June 2014 19


By Shanon A. Forseter, MD, OB-GYN

Pregnancy can be a very stressful time in a relationship. It can be a test of a relation-

ship. Our ideals are challenged- our body changes, there are added responsibilities with becoming a parent, there are changes in our roles within the home and all of this can challenge how we think and feel. We can be fearful about the outcome of the pregnancy for the baby, for the mother and her labor and delivery experience, fear of becoming a parent and our lack of control over what will happen to our lives once the baby is born.

Stress and adjustments are a normal part of pregnancy but abuse is not.

Abuse is a crime, it is not your fault and you are not alone.

Abuse can start in pregnancy and/or can in-crease in occurrence and severity during the pregnancy.Women may not recognize that they are vic-tims of abuse and that is one of the reasons that it has become necessary to educate the public about it.

There are different types of abuse: physical, sexual, emotional, financial, psychological, verbal, environmental, social, religious and ritual. Abuse is about power and control. It does not occur because someone abuses drugs or other substances. Abuse does not

happen because the person cannot help it. It is a conscious purposeful act to exert power and control over another person and this is wrong.

Abuse occurs as a cycle, initially tension builds, then there is an explosive event and after that there is a remorse or romance stage where your partner is apologetic and sorry for what he has done and says he won’t do it again. The time in each part of the cycle may vary but the pattern will remain the same. Abuse usually starts out as emotional abuse and then progresses into physical abuse.

Women need to get help.

If you or anyone that you know is experienc-ing abuse, there is help available.

The Crisis Helpline is a safe way to break the barriers of silence and isolation so of-ten experienced after a trauma. Calls are answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, by Safe Connections staff and well-trained volunteers who help callers assess their im-mediate safety needs and provide emotional support. Crisis Helpline staff provide callers with referrals for counseling, medical care, legal aid, shelter and other needed service. Safe Connections – 2165 Hampton Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri 63139 24-Hour Crisis Helpline 314.531.2003

domestic violence

and pregnancy

As an OB-GYN my philosophy is to always listen to the patient. I firmly believe that while I have the medi-cal knowledge and skills, you hold the key to your own bodies. It is the patient who knows themselves the best. For example, there are many different posi-tive ways for a woman to give birth, and quite simply I am there to support the mother’s personal prefer-ences and plans. I will always do my best to make sure each individual and family has that special mo-ment unfold as they envision it. Similarly, as a woman ages and finds her body changing, it is essential that I choose the path that will not only help medically, but also is in alignment with the patient’s desires.

Shanon A. Forseter, MD, OB-GYN522 north new Ballas rd, Suite 201

creve coeur, MO 63141314-994-1241

www.shanonforseter.com

June 201420


By Justine Froelker, MEd, LPC, CDWF-Candidate

Throughout the years of working with clients I have found there will be times where I must push, and I mean push really hard. Making sure they know they have the strength to change their lives; and that they are ready. There are other times where I will simply hold their hand, walking alongside them through their journey of self discovery, self doubt and find-ing peace. Then there are times, where I will take their hand and pull them forward, at times, begging them to trust me and try things a different way; to put one foot in front of the other and follow me.

No matter the concern someone is coming into therapy and coaching for, they are facing the hard-est work of their lives. They are facing times of pro-gress and times of feeling so stuck they can’t stand it. They will doubt their abilities, and maybe even mine to help them. They will get worse before they get better. They will at times hate me for the things I ask them to do. They will walk away and come back. They will push me away because it hurts that badly to trust someone or to have someone believe in them so much when no one else ever has.

They will question.They will resist.They will work.

They will change.

Depression. Anxiety. Alcoholism. Drug use. Gam-bling. Shopping. Trich. Eating Disorders. Weight Issues. OCD. Bitterness. Toxic Relationships. Ly-ing. Cheating. Discontent. Self Hate. Grief. Perfec-tionism. Shame. Doubt. Cynicism. Abuse. Rigidity. Bipolar. Unease. Infertility. Loss. Trauma. Surviv-ing. Faith difficulty. Pessimism. Indecision. Blam-ing. Apathy. Sad. Feeling lost. Parenting struggles. Social difficulty. Bullying wounds. Self care. Dis-trust. Anger.

These are our stories. And all of our stories contain some struggle.

Where we lose ourselves, I think, is when we make these struggles all of who we are. We turn them into our whole story. They become our entire identity, even when they start working against us rather than for us. We hold on so tightly to these struggles, and what we think works to manage them that we lose the great parts, the whole parts, of who we are.

Tread

Float OR

Reposted from Ever Upward (www.everupward.org)

For the last 14 years I have had the honor of witnessing people journey through some of the most difficult times of their lives to emerge as happier, healthier and whole people. As a mental health therapist I fulfill multiple roles on a daily basis; teacher, healer, helper, educator, coach, big sister, mother, friend, confi-dante, trainer and, in all honesty, sometimes I’m the provider of a swift kick in the ass. Unbeknownst to them, my clients also, at times, fulfill these same roles for me as they are my reminders, and examples, of fighting the good fight and never giving up.

June 2014 21


Justine Froelker, MEd, LPC314.283.6264

www.jbftherapyandcoaching.com

When our struggles are our whole story, we struggle to own those stories, and there-fore struggle to find our ever upward. We must find the way to make these struggles simply parts of who we are; parts of our story.

But we hold onto the trouble, the trauma, the loss, the strug-gle because it is all we have ever known. We hold on be-cause the unknown is scarier. We hold on because we have no idea what else to do. We hold on because, at least we’re surviving. We hold on because they have become, what we think, are our water wings, our life preservers.

But eventually, we hold on so tightly and so long, the very things that have saved us, that have helped us to survive, be-come our own cement blocks. Our own cement blocks drown-ing us in ourselves.

No self care. Worry. Drinking. Drugging. Spending. Pulling. Restricting. Binging. Counting. Drama. Lies. Dishonesty. Self harm. No breaks. Too hard. No sleep. Unhealthy sarcasm. Over-scheduling. No room. Flashbacks. Mood swings. Never saying no. Isolation. Promiscuity. No passion. Pro-crastination. Loneliness. Rage. Inconsistency. No movement, etc. etc. etc. etc.

What I ask my clients to work through and change every day is no less than an act of faith and trust. I am asking them to let go of their way. The way that has actually worked for years, at least worked in numbing or

self-medicating themselves. The way that has helped them to survive but is now drowning them. I ask them to let go be-cause if they don’t they won’t have any free arms to grasp onto the tools and the hope I am offering them. They must let go in order to begin again.

But the most excruciating part of this battle, is that they must have faith that they will either float or tread water while they learn, grow and change.

Because they will. They will tread or float, and I will be right there with them; coaching, be-lieving, pushing and loving.

And eventually, they will be able to grasp onto those tools.But most importantly they will find their freedom to finally believe in the hope I hold for them.

And they will save their own lives. They will find their own ever upward.

Choosing to change your life will be the hardest and scari-est thing you have ever done. It will also be the best thing you will ever do.

I know, as I have, myself, fought the battle. Being scared to death to let go of what I had learned to trust over the years but began to realize was hold-ing me back and keeping me from being who I am truly meant to be. Letting go to push through fear to do the grueling work to trust and have faith in my own ability to tread or float in order to recover...in order to find my own ever upward.

June 201422


Hyaluronic Acid Beyond Joint Health,

Helps Fight Aging Skin

Hyaluronic Acid is a substance that occurs naturally in the human body. It is found in the highest con-centrations in fluids in the eyes and joints. Joint pain (osteoarthritis) and skin elasticity (ability for

the skin to stretch and return to normalcy) are two of the most common concerns as a person ages. Having access to a sup-plement that does double work both reducing joint pain and improving skin appearance is highly effective. That supple-ment is know as Hyaluroinc Acid.

Hyaluronic Acid, is also known as hyaluronan (HA) is a large glyclosaminogly can most present within the extra cellular matrix. Synoviocytes found in the synovial fluid, bibroblasts and chondrocytes all synthesize HA. It’s presence in the syno-vial fluid is responsible for the visocelasticity and lubricating prosperities of the fluid. Osteoarthritis, the most common type of arthritis, is markedly a reduced concentration of synovial fluid. The viscoelastic properties of the fluid also are compro-mised, making the cartilage more vulnerable to injury. This cartilage injury occurs slowly over time causing pain and

June 2014 23


ageless spa1853 Sherman Dr,

Suite BSt. Charles, MO 63303

636-697-6058www.agelessspa.net

ultimately chronic disability. In the United States, 43 million pa-tients faced chronic disability from knee OA in 1997. That num-ber is expected to swell more that 60 million by 2020. Conven-tional solutions for osteoarthritis include patient education about weight reduction and the importance of exercise, as well as anal-gesics, anti-inflammatory and orthopedic surgery, including joint replacement. Recently, however, scientists are reconsidering the use of NSAIDs in their treatment because of their known side effects of gastrointestinal bleeding and cardiovascular complica-tion. Initially, scientists and clinicians thought that HA worked simply by increasing the viscosity of the synovial fluid-until they began to notice that the beneficial effects of HA injections lasted far longer than they should have if their only mechanism of ac-tion was temporarily increasing synovial fluid viscosity. It was becoming apparent that exogenous HA could stimulate chondro-cyte metabolism, repair cartilage and heal the joint. As with the joints, doctors also inject hyaluronic acid into the skin to elimi-nate wrinkles, due to role of hyaluronic acid and collagen health.

Additionally, HA is used in skin care creams and lotions since it helps to moisturize the skin and combat the dryness and loss of elasticity that occur in aging skin that has been depleted of youth-ful. One study published in 2011 showed how well HA works to rejuvenate aging skin. Researchers investigated the anti-wrinkle efficacy of topical application of 0.1 percent hyaluronan formu-lation in 76 women from ages of 30-60 and found after 60 days wrinkles around the eyes and lips had diminished. And the skin was measurably hydrated and skin elasticity returned.

At Ageless Spa we offer free skin evaluations along with a treat-ment plan. During the month of February we are offering an introductory facial at a low cost of $49.99. Gift certificates are available for purchase. Visit our web site at www.agelessspa.net or www.nathealthsol.com or call 636-724-5605 to book an ap-pointment.

CEARRA JENKINSOWNER & HOLISTIC ESTHETICIAN

As a holistic esthetician, Cearra is truly dedicated to helping others learn more about caring for their skin in the most natural way pos-sible. The largest organ of the body should receive more attention than just everyday hygiene. Cearra’s priority in skin care is to teach her client’s how to promote healthy skin and combat the signs of ag-ing related to poor lifestyle and genetics. She will conduct a thorough consultation prior to determining which skin care products to use in order to yield the best results.

Cearra received her Esthetician degree from The Salon Professional Academy. She has obtained formal training from Dr. Christy Jenkins, BCND and completed laser certification training with John E. Hoop-man, CMLSO/Scition in Atlanta, GA. She continues to pursue ongo-ing Esthetic education and training to remain knowledgeable of the most innovative techniques.

When it comes to your face and body you want to trust an esthetician who listens and cares. Cearra is her own client and she wears her pro-fession proudly. Make her your skin care specialist today!

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Est

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ian

June 2014 25


Linda Weber Spradling, CCT, CHtCLINICAL HYPNOTHERAPY OF METRO ST. LOuIS

(314) 520-1438

By Linda Weber Spradling, CCT, CHt

“Having trouble keeping your commitments to yourself?”

Many of us want to make positive changes in our life. We decide to eat better, exercise more often, stop

smoking or think more positive thoughts but then find ourselves making excuses why we cannot make those changes. This reason this happens is because will power never wins over the subconscious part of our mind. Often we sincerely desire change on a conscious level, but we are una-ware of conflicting beliefs or ideas that we accepted early in life that are sab-otaging our success.

The state of hypnosis is a natural, re-laxed state of mind where the sub-conscious part of our mind is more open to new ideas or change. Daydreaming is an example of this state of mind. The con-scious part of our mind is al-ways in control but also able to communicate more effec-tively with our memories and

the beliefs stored in the subconscious. I teach hypnosis and self hypnosis.

These are tools that you can use now and later to help you create the happier, health-ier life you want and deserve. Hypnosis is becoming more widely accepted and has been helping people improve their lives for many, many years.

Scientific data about hypnosis from reputable researchers and institutions, such as the Mayo Clinic and the Na-tional Institute of Health, have provid-ed abundant evidence of the value of integrating hypnosis into our ap-proach to wellness.

I am the only International Board of Hypnotherapy Certified hyp-notist in the Metro St. Louis area. Call now to schedule a free consultation to learn more about hypnosis.

June 201426


This is just a sampling of the patient feedback received by Dr. Edward Levy, a gynecologist and pelvic surgeon specializing in female bladder control and pelvic floor disorders.

“The most common complaint I handle is leaky bladders,” says Dr. Levy. “And the emotional impact of urinary incon-tinence ranges from mild annoyance to utter de-spair. It is extremely grat-ifying to be able to help these women.” Evaluation starts with a history and physical examination, which usually provide most of the information needed to establish a treatment plan. A blad-der function test, called

“urodynamics” typically follows and takes about fifteen minutes in the of-fice. This test confirms the cause of the leakage and allows the doctor to record data that is useful in fine-tuning the ultimate therapy.

The most common types of urine leakage problems are “stress incontinence” and “overactive bladder”. Stress incontinence exists when any physical strain, such as coughing, laugh-ing, sneezing, orexercise precipitates the urine leak. This is actually the easiest type of bladder control problem to cure.

If the problem is mild, ex-ercises of the pelvic floor

muscles, or “Kegel’s” may be curative. For more significant symptoms, a minor outpatient surgical procedure called a “sling” is the treatment of choice. “The suburethral sling has been firmly established as the gold standard in the treatment of stress incontinence,” Dr. Levy explains. “It is unmatched for long-term effectiveness and safety, and the results are immediate.”

After performing well over a thousand of these proce-dures, Dr. Levy continues to be impressed at how well patients respond to surgery. “It always makes me smile when women tell me how much this has improved their lives.”

SUPPORTInGFemale Pelvic HealthAnD BLADDER COnTROLState-of-the-Art Treatments are More Successful, Less Painful

“I should have done this years ago!”“It’s so nice not to worry about leaking anymore!”

“I thought I just had to live with my uterus falling out.”“I ran 3 miles yesterday, and I didn’t leak!”

June 2014 27


Metropolitan Obstetrics, Gynecology & Urogynecology, P.C.

816 S. Kirkwood Road, Suite 100. Kirkwood, MO 63122

314-686-4990

Overactive bladder en-compasses the symptoms of unusually frequent urges to urinate, often ac-companied by leakage on the way to the bathroom. While more difficult to treat than stress inconti-nence, most patients see vast improvement with time and patience. “It def-initely takes longer to see results with this problem, but with a combination of dietary changes, pelvic floor exercises, and often medication, most patients do very well.”

Pelvic prolapse also brings many women to Dr. Levy’s office. Pro-lapse refers to the uterus, bladder, and/or the rectum falling out of the vaginal opening, in essence turn-ing the vagina “inside-out.” Sometimes these symptoms occur gradually, over many years, but other times it can appear sud-denly, perhaps after a very bad cough or after heavy lifting. “Noticing this type of buldge can be a source of shock and fear for the patient,” explains Dr. Levy. “First, I reassure

them that this is not a life-threatening problem. Then we discuss step-by-step a plan for restoring their normal pelvic anatomy.”

Most patients require sur-gery, but for those who are not medically suitable for surgery, some relief can be offered in the form of a vaginal pessary. A pes-sary is a round or angled rectangular vaginal insert that fits in the vagina and may hold up the prolapse. However, they do not work well for severe cases and require frequent office visits to maintain.

Reconstructive surgery is the treatment of choice, and Dr. Levy favors a minimally-invasive trans-vaginal approach. This technique allows restora-tion of natural anatomy without the risk or discom-fort of abdominal surgery and without any skin inci-sions or scars. According to Dr. Levy, “the surgical materials and techniques have evolved so much in the sixteen years of my career that we now have

a great combination of safety and efficacy to offer our patients.” Surgeries are quicker, less painful and more reliable than ever before. Of course, it is important to find a surgeon with the skills and experience to provide state-of-the-art treatment.

Dr. Levy performs ap-proximately two-hundred pelvic reconstructive surgeries every year and has been so happy with the results that he teaches and trains other surgeons in the metro area and nationwide. “I love shar-ing these techniques with other surgeons, because it means more women can benefit from them.” Dr. Levy participates in clini-cal research and foresees continued improvements in surgical materials and techniques for many years to come. This is great news for aging baby-boomers who expect and deserve to maintain a healthy, active lifestyle as senior citizens.

June 201428


This is the most daunting task given to health and fit-ness professionals today. There are three main points of opposition that we face when trying to help imple-ment fitness into the lives of our clients. Let’s take a closer look at what we can do to the obstacles we face that keep us from living healthier by adding exercise into our lives.

Number one culprit is MONEY.Most people look at what we do as a luxury in life and not a necessity. Let’s get one thing straight, every American could do more to fit the appropriate amounts of exercise into their lives. It is a fact that it is necessary for optimal health, that you engage in physical activity, period. Where we often run into issues is with figuring out how to fit personal training or other extracurricular activities into our budgets. It can be done and done very affordably.

First, determine what type of exercise you want to do. That determines greatly how much money you will be looking at investing. Are you looking for a boot camp, personal training, or something free? If you are a walker, it is free to walk anywhere. Just make sure you are consistent. If you are in need of instruction, then we are talking about spending a few bucks. Figure out what your budget is. If you can afford $50-$100 per month, then you can easily get great, consistent exercise in boot camp or through a gym membership. Utilize the classes offered at your

local gym. Most gym formats today have many op-tions for classes included in, usually, very reasonable monthly memberships fees. If your price range is around $200-$400 per month, you can translate that into one on one personal training or perhaps smaller groups of 2-3 people. Number two is TIMEI admit that this can be hard to come by, because today’s landscape of the workforce has us all over the place and our time divided. The most important thing here is setting your priority around your new desire or prescribed need to begin changing your life-style. People will always make time for what they view as a priority. Set yourself up for success and make realistic choices for adding time in your sched-ule for exercise. If you are a morning person, that is probably the best time to try and add this into your schedule. If you get your second wind at night, that’s your best bet, but make it a priority. Ask for support if you need someone to care for the kids or to pick them up twice a week so you can squeeze an hour in. Lean on the people that support you. More and more companies are now implementing programs in the workplace for employees to take advantage of. This makes it easy to get it in at lunch or in the AM or even after work, directly depending on the program parameters. It all boils down to how important is it to you to fit this in, but trust me, there are creative ways of making the time.

The third and less common barrier is not knowing what is effective. When people don’t believe they know what will work for certain, they often chose to do nothing. My num-ber one recommendation is to try different things. There are loads of resources for all sorts of fitness and wellness opportunities. Try www.livewellstl.org or use our city’s own www.jumpn2shape.com , there are great activities and resources at these great sites. Without first knowing the options available to you it is hard to figure out what kind of new activities would work best for you. However, always remember that ANY amount of activity is better than none, so know that you will only benefit from anything you try. It is so important to take the time to properly dedicate your time and resources to the new changes in your life. Make sure you have a good support system and a plan that works in your household and for your time constraints. Look for online resources, they are out there to be had, and there are plans that can fit any budget and time schedule. Live long and be healthy!

Brian Byrd Fitness ExpertOwner/Founder

St. Louis Fitness and Wellness Group LLC

[email protected]

Stop building BarrIErS

How difficult is it to change your lifestyle in for a perfectly sustainable, healthier one? Is it really that difficult or do we just tell ourselves that?

By Brian Byrd - Fitness Expert

June 2014 29


Shower of Love Raises Over $100,000 to BenefitSt. Charles County Families in Need

St. Charles, MISSOURI -The 8th annual Shower of Love, a countywide baby item collection drive hosted by the Community & Children’s Resource Board, surpassed all previous drives, collecting over 13,000 baby items valued at $100,500! Included in this year’s collection were 86,000 diapers, 266,000 wipes, 600 containers of formula, 1,800 bottles of body wash, lotion and shampoo, and 2,800 bottles, cups, pacifiers and rattles.

The Shower of Love is a collaborative effort between nine agen-cies serving St. Charles County; Birthright-St. Charles, Birth-right-Wentzville, Mary Queen of Angels, Nurses for Newborns, Our Lady’s Inn, the St. Louis Crisis Nurseries, The Sparrow’s Nest Maternity Home, ThriVe-St. Louis and Youth in Need. Each of these agencies serves young and indigent mothers and moth-ers-to-be and it was the original purpose of this effort to assist these families with necessary baby items in the hopes of reduc-ing stress and the risk of child abuse.

“We are very grateful for the St. Charles County churches, businesses, schools, grocery stores, Rotary Clubs and residents that gave their time, talents and resources for the Shower of Love,” reported Michelle McElfresh, Shower of Love Coordina-tor. “Donations are distributed to St. Charles County families through these nine agencies. The Shower of Love’s mission is to reduce parental stress by providing basic baby-care necessities, to eliminate child abuse and neglect in our community, and to give babies a strong start in life. Women needing help in meeting basic needs of their babies or other services should contact the individual agencies for assistance,” says Michelle McElfresh

St. Charles County, #1 in Missouri Kids Count for the past two years, has witnessed a 40.5% drop in the number of live births to teenage mothers and 99% of the families receiving services through these agencies have no reports of child abuse.

The Community and Children’s Resource Board (CCRB) is the administrator the Community Children’s Service Fund, a fund created when St. Charles County passed a 1/8-cent sales tax measure in November 2004. The funds are dedicated for services to St. Charles County children and youth, and is awarded to lo-cal agencies to provide services that address the growing unmet mental health needs of our community youth. For more informa-tion, call (636) 939-6200 or visit www.stcharlescountykids.org.

June 201430


crumbsKitchenHealthy Recipes

VEgAN PECAN PESTO

Add the pecans, pine nuts and basil a food processor, slowly drizzle in the olive oil and stop a few times to scrape down the sides. Once a desired consistency achieved add a scant of salt and pulse a few times. Chill for at least 30 minutes. Top on pizza crust, use in pasta or whatever you’d like!

By STLVegGirl - Caryn Dugan

Ingredients: • 8 oz raw pecans• 2TBS pinenuts• 2-3 oz fresh basil• Olive oil• Sea salt to taste

Directions

STLVegGirl, Caryn Dugan, is a Food for Life instructor, where she earned her certification through the Physicians Committee for Re-sponsible Medicine (PCRM) in Washington, DC. She teaches classes focusing on preventing cancer, preventing and reversing dia-betes, children’s wellness, healthy weight management and corporate wellness all through the use of nutrition. Along with making regular TV appearances on FOX, KMOV and KSDK, Caryn has clients, is a personal chef and enjoys her speaking engagements. Currently, she is also in collaboration to create a local vegan food line.

June 2014 31


Last month, I wrote about learning to recognize when the spirit is well. We all know when our body is sick…we don’t feel good. We are getting better at recognizing when the mind is out of sorts, al-though it usually isn’t physical pain. Then, there is the spirit: when

it isn’t well, neither the body nor the mind feels right. So while we have been blessed with a body that can work and a mind that can think, we have also been blessed with a spirit that can soar….well, sometimes it wanders…..sometimes it can even get weary.

There are people who say that a sick body will leave you physically worn out. But that has a different feel.

There are people who say that the mind may be going through a depression. But that also has a different feel.

And there are the people who have never felt the yearning of their spirit or, even worse, ignored it. And what about the camp of people who say that your spirit is nothing more than your emotional feelings, not a separate entity? Now that’s just sad, not knowing your whole self.

Consider Job, for a moment. “My spirit is broken, my days are cut short, the grave awaits me. Surely mockers surround me; my eyes must dwell on their hostility.” Job 17:1-2 (Today’s New International Version (TNIV). Here was a mortal man who had unwavering faith in God, who had lost everything in this world: his wife, his children, and his land, everything that meant wealth in the ancient days. He was tired to the very depths of his spirit from having his faith questioned by his friends, his mind and his body was dragged down. Job wanted nothing more than to be with God, where his faith never faltered. Fortunately, God had mercy on him and restored Job’s life: “After Job had prayed for his friends, the LORD restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before.” Job 42:10 (TNIV).

Over the years, people have used the words ‘spirit’ and ‘soul’ interchangeably - but there remains a difference when you talk about spirits: there’s your spirit and there’s God’s Spirit. Or put it another way…there is your soul and then there is God’s Spirit. Why the difference? Well, it helps you understand the difference of the way you feel when the Spirit enters into your soul….it is no longer your own feeling, but it feels SO GOOD!

When life or when your attitude has dragged you down and your soul is weary (or your own spirit, if you prefer), then your body will also feel tired to the bone and your mind is no longer sharp and it, too, feels defeated. When you feel like you are ready to give it all up -- the dreams, the adult toys, the family, the ca-reer, whatever – THEN GIVE UP! Let God’s Spirit carry the load for awhile. It is a very healing experience: “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline.” 2 Timothy 1: 7 (TNIV).

Frankly, your body and mind will thank you.

REACH YOURCOMMUNITY!

Health & Wellness Magazine would like to feature your message.

Have Your Church Call 314-282-5011

TROUBLED SPIRITS. . . WHAT’S A BODY (AND MIND) SUPPOSED TO DO?

May 2014

“When You Feel Like Quitting: Think About Why You Started”

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