Supporting your whole body health is our clinic’s top priority year-round. Each season, how we support you may vary. During the summer months, the Root clinic encourages the prevention of sunburn, injury, and dehydration, and promotes natural, evidence-based ways to treat these occurrences.
SUN PROTECTION & CARE
We advise an organic, non-toxic, mineral-based sunscreen at the Root Clinic. While SPF is important, some conventional SPFs can contain toxic ingredients that should be avoided. To learn which non-toxic SPF works best for your unique skin type and age, we recommend having one of our expert Estheticians take a look at your skin under the scope with a full skin analysis at your next organic skincare appointment. That way you can be custom matched with an SPF product that will not only support the health of your skin but also your whole body’s health.
In the event of a sunburn, we recommend applying aloe vera, directly from the plant if you can. Then, avoid the sun until the burn has healed. We also suggest acupuncture, as the Qui Chi point located near the elbow is good for cooling heat throughout the body. Additionally, acupuncture generally promotes quicker healing.<.p>
A skin analysis at Root determines custom care for optimal skin and whole-body health and wellness.
INJURY PROTECTION & CARE
Hiking, exploring, swimming, and adventuring are all that make summer in the Pacific Northwest so much fun. However, injuries are most common in the summer months. As your team of whole body health clinicians, we urge you to take precautions to prevent and best treat summer injuries.
While summer activities like hiking are enjoyable, remember to stretch before enjoying them to ensure whole-body health and prevent injuries.
Remember to warm up! As our bodies have been more stagnant, sedentary, and rested for the past 6+ months, our bones and muscles need that extra effort to ease back into more activity. Light stretching, yoga, gentle joint freeing exercise, and thoracic wringing are all excellent ways to warm up before activities like hiking, backpacking, and sports. Check out Gina Snowden, LAc’s, favorite ways to use movement to move Qi for warm-up inspiration.
Motor Vehicle Accidents (MVAs) also tend to increase during the summer months. We recommend avoiding these accidents by getting seven to nine hours of sleep a night, so as to stay alert and aware on the road. To promote a proper night’s sleep, we love to encourage regular sauna use (even during the warmer months!). Acupuncture and massage also help to promote a proper night’s sleep.
Acupuncture is not only a great way to promote a good night’s sleep, but it is also a great method to quicken the healing process after an MVA.
In the event that you are injured from an MVA, consider a more holistic approach. Acupuncture quickens healing time and reduces pain. Consider a Naturopathic Manipulation from Dr. Goncharoff, our new Naturopathic Doctor. Naturopathic Manipulations are a form of physical medicine that focus on muscle, soft tissue, and bone alignment of the spine and other joints to relieve pain, align posture, speed healing time after injury, and increase mobility. In some cases, massage can also be helpful, but we recommend consulting with a medical professional first.
HYDRATION
Pure water is the world’s first and foremost medicine. Drinking more water than usual in the summer months is essential for optimal whole-body health and wellness. Drinking at least 2.5 liters a day in the summer, a time when you sweat more, can help to prevent dehydration, regulate body temperature, maintain healthy skin, support digestion, and prevent kidney stones.
To further assist with hydration, we recommend IV Nutrient Therapy at the Root Clinic. Or, drink fresh pressed juice regularly from Blossoming Lotus Cafe, especially the Skin Toner juice, which has robust contents of highly hydrating cucumber.
While water is the best way to stay hydrated during the summer, if you’re wanting something with great flavor and whole-body hydration benefits, try the Skin Toner juice from Blossoming Lotus Café.