Clinic was outrageously busy for all of the student interns this
week! With midterms winding down and finals up and coming there was
a bit more free time this week for students to come in and get some
TLC. A common theme amongst my student patients is fatigue. Go
figure! A lot of the treatment plans I have constructed include
dietary modifications like decreasing caffeinated beverages and
sugar intake; sleep hygiene changes like removing the television
and computers from the bedroom; hydration changes like increasing
water intake and decreasing dehydrating beverages (sodas); exercise
changes like increasing cardiovascular workouts; and stress
reduction tips like yoga, meditation and breathing exercises.
- Diet/Nutrition
- Hydration
- Sleep
- Exercise/movement
- Breath
These are the five essential determinants of health that
naturopathic doctors work with first before going for the big guns
like a sleep aid prescription. Essential determinants can be
compared to Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. If we don't have a strong
base to the pyramid with proper physiological functioning, there
would be no way we could reach the top of the pyramid where
self-actualization occurs. This is similar to the naturopathic
medical model. If you don't re-establish the basis for health by
building from the bottom up starting with the essential
determinants you will never be able to reach the top of the pyramid
- true health!
Cocktails
This weekend was a celebration of a handful of summer birthdays.
With midterms always cramping summer birthday style we decided to
go downtown Saturday night for one big birthday celebration! Aside
from it being hot and humid that night, it was fun to get together
for one last hurrah before finals settle in.
Cubs
I recently went to my first Cubs game at Wrigley this year! And
what a game it was! It doesn't get much better than a Cubs vs.
Cardinals Sunday night game! One of my favorite parts about Wrigley
field is the famous ivy that coats the outfield brick walls. It's a
nice way to gauge the seasons as the ivy fills in and fades away
thorough out the season. Unfortunately, the Cubs lost in extra
innings, but the weather and company couldn't have been better!
Afterwards we grabbed a burger at Bar Louie on the corner of Clark
and Addison while we waited for the line for the train to thin out.
All in all a very fun filled weekend in the city and now back to
paper crunching and preparing for presentations!
