Sierra Nevada Holistic Services
Your Resource for Integrated Wellness through Holistic Medical Services, Therapeutic Massage & Energy Work
“Are you doing your stretching?” is always the question I ask my clients as they hobble into my office or when finding their hamstrings are like Golden Gate Bridge cables. However, this question should also asked by your PT, your massage therapist, your pain physiatrist, etc.
Continue reading “Have You Been Stretching?”
Change is hard and scary and sometimes downright daunting as it means we have to take a look at our lives and be willing to change. We know, need and want to live healthier. Maybe some of the changes you’re thinking of are to make some healthy changes to eating habits, start exercising again regularly, get more rest, or learn to use natural remedies instead of turning to over the counter medications for simple illnesses.
Continue reading “The Hardest Thing to Change is Ourselves….”
Essential oils have been used for centuries to relieve a variety of conditions, pain and inflammation. Many essential oils have similar, and sometimes more effective, pain-relieving properties than many prescription or over-the-counter analgesics.
There are many benefits to using essential oils to get relief from pain and inflammation. For example, essential oils have fewer side effects than many modern drugs and they also help to soothe your mind and make you feel more relaxed. So, essential oils play an important role in pain management and in treating many inflammatory conditions.
If you suffer from chronic pain associated with arthritis, lower back pain, migraines, fibromyalgia, nerve pain or sciatica, then essential oils are excellent home remedies to treat the pain.
Continue reading “Pain Relieving Essential Oils”Healthcare providers and legal issues of medical certification
In part 1, I reviewed a brief history of marijuana, discussed medical-grade cannabis, presented some basic information regarding the constituents in the marijuana plant, and gave an overview of the endocannabinoid system. In part 2, I discussed medical marijuana education and information regarding its uses, side effects, and dosing. In the final part of this series, I will discuss information that is specific to healthcare providers in relation to their advocacy role, ethical and legal considerations of the patient that is a healthcare provider, and a review of the current laws/regulations. This information is helpful to both patient/caregiver and medical provider(s).
Continue reading “Medical Marijuana and Healthcare Providers- Part 3 of What’s all of the Fuss about this Marijuana Stuff?”In part 1, I reviewed a brief history of marijuana, discussed medical-grade cannabis, presented some basic information regarding the constituents in the marijuana plant, and gave an overview of the endocannabinoid system. In part 2, I will present medical information regarding marijuana and its use. This information is helpful to both patient/caregiver and medical provider(s) alike. Not only is it important for patients to fully understand how to choose, dose, and utilize their medicine, but it is imperative for providers to begin to have some basic education to help patients make choices about their medications. This blog series is meant to help initiate conversations between patients, family members/caregivers, budtenders and medical providers by providing basic information.
Continue reading “Part 2: What’s all the fuss about this marijuana stuff?”As a healthcare provider, a patient, a family member and loved one, I try to view all sides of how a person decides to treat, heal or cure an ailment. If the treatment is effective with minimal to no side effects, then it is hailed a success; even if the real success was more attributable to the innate healing nature of the patient’s body. Thankfully science definitely plays a role in the identification of assistive and supportive measures found in medicine of all types and philosophies. It is important to understand the majority of interventions of healthcare are really meant to be supportive of the body’s innate healing. Things like medications, healthy lifestyle choices, and stress management are meant to help support and maintain the body’s balance of homeostasis. As a healthcare provider, it is important that my decisions and recommendations of care of my patients are based in science and also driven by the patient’s beliefs and definitions of what health and wellness are.
Continue reading “What’s all the fuss about this marijuana stuff?”“I’ve tried various prescriptions for this pain. How can a laser help?” Often I am confronted with this and other similar questions regarding post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) and other types of nerve pain. I have had the pleasure of seeing patients’ smiling faces when they begin having a decrease and/or resolution of nerve pain.
Continue reading “Cold Laser Therapy”Is your life all work and no play? When was the last time you did something enjoyable just for yourself? Spent the day relaxing comfortably all alone? Or spent quality 1 on 1 time with a close friend content in just being together, talking, walking, wondering about life in general? When did you last spend time reflecting on the spiritual aspect of your life, sitting in meditation or prayer, or just looking up at the stars in wonder?
Continue reading “Is your life all work and no play?”As this is my first time on this blog, let me introduce myself. I am affectionately called SierraSue by friends because of my love for nature. I am a natural kind of woman and perhaps that is the reason I was drawn to Yoga so many years ago. This blog will be about my journey with yoga through the years.
Continue reading “Yoga thru the Years by Susan Fritz”I came across this pdf flyer regarding insurance issues and suggestions of how to work through them. This was put together by the Patient Advocate Organization. Click the link below. It is written in a easy to read brief that there is little for me to add! Great resource in the time of trying insurance issues that change year to year.
Knowing the facts about vitamin B12 and its benefits is vital: this essential micronutrient affects the development and maintenance of red blood cells, nerve cells, and normal myelination (covering) of nerve cells. It also aids in the production of DNA, RNA, and neurotransmitters. And, your metabolism can’t run smoothly without enough of it.
Continue reading “B12 Deficiency and Testing”Drinking too much alcohol increases people’s risk of injuries, violence, drowning, liver disease, and some types of cancer. This April, during Alcohol Awareness Month, Sierra Nevada Holistic Services encourages you to educate yourself and your loved ones about the dangers of drinking too much.
Continue reading “Alcohol Awareness”As I entered the exam room of my first patient of the day, I noticed he had some papers in his hand and didn’t look all that happy to see me. As I sat down and asked what was going on, he handed over the laboratory report received from his work physical. “I’ve been put on notice about my cholesterol” he stated flatly. “I suppose you are going to put me on medication for it?” he asked. His numbers showed triglycerides in the 600’s and total cholesterol greater than 280. Generally, we look for your cholesterol panel to be: Cholesterol less than 200, Triglycerides less than 150, LDL (L for lousy) cholesterol less than 100, and HDL (H for healthy) greater than 40.
Continue reading “February Health Blog – Cholesterol”When telling people about Sierra Nevada Holistic Services (SNVHS), I find there are so many different ways to describe it. SNVHS started as a massage business with the focus of therapeutic bodywork. Then SNVHS added energy work such as Reiki and meditation classes. Now SNVHS is growing to begin offering holistic Primary Care. This is where the explanation begins to get wordy. So I decided to put together bullet points to convey my meaning.
Continue reading “Sierra Nevada Holistic Services, LLC (SNVHS)”I am often asked about why I would spend time creating my own business versus just going to work for a physician or a medical group. For me, spending time creating something is more valuable and rewarding than simply going along with the flow of a “job”. Don’t get me wrong, the process is not easy, uncomplicated, cheap, or without days of me asking myself the same question.
Continue reading “Why develop your own independent primary care practice?”