General – Sierra Nevada Holistic Services

July 19, 2020September 4, 2020

The Hardest Thing to Change is Ourselves….

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.

August 13, 2019January 10, 2020

Pain Relieving Essential Oils

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.

March 6, 2019December 9, 2019

Medical Marijuana and Healthcare Providers- Part 3 of What’s all of the Fuss about this Marijuana Stuff?

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).

January 7, 2019December 9, 2019

Part 2: What’s all 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.

December 20, 2018December 9, 2019

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.

October 18, 2018December 9, 2019

Cold Laser Therapy

“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.

October 1, 2018December 9, 2019

Is your life all work and no play?

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?

September 13, 2018December 9, 2019

Yoga thru the Years by Susan Fritz

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.

September 9, 2018December 9, 2019

Dealing with Insurance Hurdles

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.

CAG-Common-Roadblocks-to-Care

July 25, 2018December 9, 2019

B12 Deficiency and Testing

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.

April 10, 2018December 9, 2019

Alcohol Awareness

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.

February 6, 2018December 9, 2019

February Health Blog – Cholesterol

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.

January 11, 2018December 9, 2019

Sierra Nevada Holistic Services, LLC (SNVHS)

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.

January 10, 2018December 9, 2019

Why develop your own independent primary care practice?

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.

January 9, 2018December 9, 2019

Introduction

As a nurse practitioner, a massage therapist, and a forever student I am developing Sierra Nevada Holistic Services (SNVHS) to be a form of health and wellness for my clients, patients and the Northern Nevada Community in general. I am a nurse practitioner with a big dream and long-term goal that is becoming a reality based in Carson City. This blog is about my journey to develop an integrative health practice that focuses on education and prevention at all levels; works with my clients and patients to meet them at their definition of health and wellness; educates and motivates for achieving optimum health as an individual, a family, and as a community.