​Annual Wellness Exams  

An annual health/wellness exam is one of the best ways for early detection of serious medical problems, and to maintain your health. Visiting your health care practitioner’s
office each year allows your practitioner to discuss potential illnesses and health concerns before they become serious, like vitamin/mineral deficiencies, digestion issues,
high blood pressure, diabetes or high cholesterol, while offering ways to improve
your nutrition and lifestyle. Wellness exams can also provide the assurance that
​you are healthy and doing well. 

 - "Prevention is the best medicine ..." -

To ensure the practitioner can make a complete analysis of your health,
it is important that you provide specific information regarding your
medication/supplement use and family history.

Be prepared before you arrive.
Bring a list of any medications/supplements you take regularly with dosages.
This includes prescriptions, over-the-counter medications and herbal supplements. 
Expect to update any family history that is new or pertains to your health.

Be prepared to discuss the following:

  1. Exercise habits 
  2. Diet and nutrition 
  3. Lifestyle habits, such as smoking 

During an annual exam,
your practitioner will conduct a series of health checks,
including the following:

  1. Blood pressure 
  2. Heart rate 
  3. Respiration rate 
  4. Temperature.
  5. Bio Scan Analysis
  6. System pH level
  7. Physical Exam
  8. Detailed Interview

- "The goal of an annual health/wellness exam is to review your
  general health  and compare it to last years results, so as to get a
  good image of your healthy and not so healthy habits. This will help
  allow for prevention of future disease and illness, and to balance any
  problems you currently have before they manifest into signs and
  symptoms of sub-standard health." -
                                                                                - Dr. Marty Edwards,ND

No matter your age or health condition, it is important to visit your health care practitioner for a health/wellness exam annually. These checkups allow your practitioner to evaluate any changes from year to year, helping to prevent minor health concerns from becoming chronic conditions in the future. 

Call us today at 215-966-8774 
 to schedule your annual wellness exam.

Top 15 Anti-Inflammatory Herbs For Aches and Pains 

 Chronic inflammation is the root cause of almost every disease and illness known to man. This includes (but is  not limited to) arthritis, irritable bowel syndrome, Chron’s disease, ulcerative colitis, autoimmune disease,  asthma, acne, diabetes, cancer, heart disease, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and Alzheimer’s disease.

 Making slight shifts in your lifestyle, supplementing with anti-inflammatory herbs, and removing inflammatory  foods like gluten, meat, eggs, dairy, refined sugar and margarine, you’ll experience less pain, gain more energy  and improve your moods.

 1. Turmeric - Turmeric is one of the best natural anti-inflammatory herbs known to man. Curcumin (the  active ingredient in turmeric) acts by scavenging free oxygen radicals in the body, which are implicated in  inflammation. It has been traditionally used as a remedy for inflammatory conditions like arthritis, osteoarthritis,  and rheumatoid arthritis. Research has found turmeric to be as effective as popular pharmaceutical anti-  inflammatory drugs like Ibuprofen, Motrin and hydrocortisone.
​
2. Cilantro - This medicinal herb helps aid in digestion and possesses anti-inflammatory properties that have  been traditionally used in parts of India for centuries. It is one of the best sources of chlorophyll, which inhibits
 inflammation and TNF-α gene expression (a pro-inflammatory cytokine). Cilantro is also great for balancing  hormones and ridding the body of heavy metals.

 3. Parsley - Parsley contains up to 54% of your RDA of vitamin C in just 1/2 a cup! What does this mean?  Vitamin C is a powerful anti-inflammatory agent and helps provide relief in those suffering from osteoarthritis  and rheumatoid arthritis. It also contains a volatile oil, eugenol, that has been shown in studies to possess strong  anti-inflammatory properties.

 4. Ginger - Ginger is an excellent anti-inflammatory. It contains compounds called gingerols that offer free-  radical protection and inhibit nitric oxide production (which normally form damaging free radicals that trigger the  inflammatory response). 

5. Basil - Another herb with the compound eugenol, basil makes a great pain-relieving supplement. Eugenol  works by blocking the activity of an enzyme in the body called cyclooxygenase (COX). This same enzyme is the  one targeted by standard over-the-counter pain medications like aspirin and ibuprofen. The eugenol in basil  makes it a great remedy for people suffering from inflammatory bowel conditions or arthritis.

 6. Oregano- This tiny herb contains beta-caryophyllin (E-BCP), a substance that halts inflammation in the  body and could be useful for osteoporosis, Chron’s disease, and atherosclerosis. You might have heard of oil of  oregano – this stuff can be applied topically to help relieve pain associated with bruises, sprains, carpal tunnel
 syndrome or tendonitis.

 7. Cinnamon - Cinnamon has been studied extensively for its anti-inflammatory benefits. It rapidly induces  the expression of tristetraprolin, an anti-inflammatory protein and potential therapeutic target for the treatment  of inflammatory-related diseases. 

 8. Cloves - Cloves are also high in eugenol, and studies have found that this spice inhibits the 5-  Lipoxygenase enzyme, which is the key enzyme in the biosynthetic pathway of leukotrienes (inflammatory  mediators that are involved in the pathophysiology of allergic and inflammatory disorders like arthritis,  inflammatory bowel disease, psoriasis, and allergic rhinitis). 

 9. Dill - Aside from being high in calcium, dill is a great anti-inflammatory. In one tissue culture study, they    found that dill inhibited white blood cells from releasing cytokines (inflammation-promoting molecules). Dill is    also  considered a “chemoprotective” food, as it helps neutralize carcinogens we acquire from our environment  and  food.

 10. Allspice - The most important chemical compound in allspice is no other than eugenol. As stated      previously in this article, eugenol possesses strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. It has an inhibitory  effect on COX-2 production (inflammatory markers), as well as NF-KB pathway activation, which are  characteristics for inflammation.

 11. Fenugreek - Fenugreek, aside from tasting amazing in raw vegan sauces, dips and spreads, is known  in Traditional Chinese Medicine to break up stuck energies and cool inflammation. It possesses anti-oxidative  effects, which relieve inflammation and helps get rid of inflammatory-related skin issues. It also assists in  lowering blood sugar in diabetics.

 12. Mint - Mint, aside from being great for digestion, works wonders for relieving inflammation. A cup of  mint tea could even be as effective as an aspirin for pain relief, according to scientists. Mint is also cooling, and  works great topically for bruises, swelling or sprains (the cooling sensation takes effect immediately).

- Chronic inflammation doesn’t need to be your enemy,
  that is, as long as you know how to properly deal with it.