by Kristi Jain | Feb 21, 2024 | Uncategorized
This week’s blog has nothing to do with ultrasound and everything to do with grounding. Am I the last person on earth to know what grounding is? I recall a scene in the movie “Pretty Woman” where Richard Gere takes off his shoes and socks and walks barefoot in the grass. It never occurred to me why he did that.
DO YOU KNOW?
Grounding, otherwise known as earthing, refers to direct skin contact with the surface of the earth such as bare feet or hands. If you aren’t familiar with this concept it may sound a little “Woo Woo.” Allow me share what I learned. Some believe the positive effects of grounding on the body are miraculous.
GROUNDING
Grounding refers to contact with the Earth’s surface electrons by walking outside in the grass with your bare feet so that energy from the ground transfers into your body. I read that we can also ground through concrete or paving stones. Research shows that grounding can reduce and prevent inflammation. The National Library of Medicine says that studies show it appears to improve sleep, normalize cortisol rhythm, reduce pain, reduce stress, increase heart rate variability, speed wound healing and reduce blood viscosity. Some report that you can achieve results by purchasing grounding bed sheets and or footwear. Others say there is no scientific evidence to support this and believe these claims come from the manufacturer of the sheets and shoes.
IS IT TRUE?
Can walking barefoot in the grass, dirt, or on a sandy beach actually have health benefits? Many find the grounding research pretty convincing and believe in the myriad miraculous benefits. Others say that “magical electrons” from connecting with the earth simply will not cure cancer or any other disease or illness. In fact one article I read said that grass and sand hide a lot of nasty stuff that exposes your skin to bacteria and parasites hence, you probably don’t want to walk barefoot. This article believes grounding has a strictly placebo effect. You decide.
VACATION
Every beach vacation I’ve ever been on, I can’t wait to dig my toes in the wet sand. When we go to the park, I sometimes kick off my shoes and wriggle my toes in the cool grass. While I’m not sure I felt any health benefits after the experience, I don’t doubt that maybe there is something to earthing. Apparently, to encourage the connection to the earth, some experts recommend we stand, walk or lie on the grass, soil or sand for about thirty minutes every day. Hummmm… I’m not sure I can fit that into my daily schedule. However, like placebos if you think it’s going to work, it may well work.
HDD
Today’s blog is brought to you in the hope of giving you an idea to ponder. If it improves your health, it is worth talking about. You and your healthcare provider must decide what is best for you. If that includes diagnostic ultrasound, call us at 505-350-3397. Happy grounding!
by Kristi Jain | Feb 21, 2024 | Uncategorized
Thanks for reading this week’s blog. I had fun researching and writing about the things I discovered today. I have a confession. I was mindlessly scrolling through You-Tube when I saw a doctor reporting how castor oil might help your bad knees. Okay, you have my attention.
OLD FRIEND
The castor oil reference made me recall a conversation with one of John’s and my dearest friends (Yes you Raf.) He touted the benefits of castor oil. My reaction was…yuck! Didn’t our moms try to make us drink that stuff when we were kids? No thanks Raf. Nice try.
HE MAY BE ON TO SOMETHING
Maybe he is onto something. I Googled castor oil and…voila. A plethora of health related miracles appeared. I learned that the oil actually has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antifungal, and pain relieving properties. This stuff can’t be all bad can it?
STATE YOUR CASE
The National Library of Medicine gives the following information. Castor oil is a vegetable oil made from Ricinus communis, a plant common in the Eastern areas of the world. It is most well-known for its laxative properties. No wonder mom wanted us to drink it. Although castor oil has been reported to be beneficial for other ailments, apparently the FDA has approved it only for use a as a stimulative laxative.
THE CRUD
As I write this blog, I have a cloth soaked in heated castor oil on my chest. I’m on my sixth day of the crud. No, not Covid. Just an old fashioned cold. I have copious amounts of congestion in my lungs. Apparently this remedy is supposed to provide quick relief. Prescottnaturopathicdoctors.com finds that castor oil has a profound influence upon the lymphatic system and autonomic nervous system. As Castor oil is absorbed through the skin it moves through the lymphatic channels stimulating the natural healing ability of the body to break up any congestion present. We’ll see.
OTHER BENEFITS
You can use castor oil in a couple of different ways. You can apply it directly to the skin or use it orally (yuck) or take it in the form of a supplement. The benefits of topical use are…
- Arthritis treatment
- To strengthen and grow hair
- Acne treatment
- Skin moisturizer
- Deep cleanser
- Improve immunity function
- Eliminate fine lines and wrinkles
- Reduce swelling and inflammation
- Support lymphatic system
- Increase circulation
- Heal would and abrasions
- Relieve menstrual cramps
Oral uses for castor oil
- Relieves constipation
- Cleans out intestines before surgery
- Labor induction
Who knew?
HDD
As you may have guessed, High Desert Doppler and castor oil have absolutely nothing in common. This week’s edition is one of those random blogs that I though was interesting and thought I’d share. By the way, in closing, my lungs are still congested. Maybe I’ll keep trying. Rome was not built in a day. As always, if we can help with any of your diagnostic ultrasound needs, call us at 505-350-3397.
by Kristi Jain | Feb 14, 2024 | Uncategorized
In honor of Valentines day, the blog du jour has to do with your heart. Some might see it as a bloody muscle that makes you queasy at the sight. Others realize it is the hub of our physical, spiritual and emotional wellness. Everyone has one. How is your heart today?
MOM
For those who follow me, you might remember a few previous blogs mentioned that my mom died of cardiac arrest over 16 years ago. The day her heart stopped, mine did too. Hers stopped physically. Mine stopped emotionally. Since her death, the subject of the heart has become of particular interest to me.
THE AMAZING HEART
Harvard medical school tells us that the heart beats about 2.5 billion times over the average lifetime, pushing millions of gallons of blood to every part of the body. This steady flow carries with it oxygen, fuel, hormones, and a host of essential cells. It also carries away the waste products of metabolism. When the heart stops, some essential functions fail almost instantly.
THAT IS QUITE A WORKLOAD!
Given the heart’s heavy workload, it is shocking that is works so well for so many. It gets used and abused and sadly, in many people, it can also fail. Poor genetics, bad diet, sedentary lifestyle, and smoking are just a few things that might contribute to the failure of the heart muscle. Take heart. Lifestyle changes and medication can slow or stop heart harming problems like blood pressure, or high cholesterol, before they can cause damage.
BROKEN HEART
At one time or another, we will all nurse a broken heart. Remember, you will get through this. Having your heart broken is simply going to hurt. Talk to someone who cares. It is okay to be human and allow yourself to feel the pain. Give yourself time to heal and above all, try to find the lesson and blessing in the most painful of circumstances.
SYMPTOMS
Some pretty common physical symptoms of a broken heart can feel like chest pain and shortness of breath. You can experience these things even if you have no history of heart disease. If you are in relatively good health and there is little danger of heart disease, a dose of extreme self- care might be just what the doctor ordered.
TAKE HEART
“The workings of the human heart are the profoundest mystery of the universe.”
-Charles W. Chesnutt
“Wherever you go, go with all your heart.”
-Confucius
‘No beauty shines brighter than that of a good heart.’
-Shanina Shaik
The human heart is amazing. It is exceptionally strong yet can be intensely fragile. Take good care of yours.
HEART CONCERNS
Heart disease is the number one killer of Americans. Heart attacks don’t discriminate and can strike anyone at any time. If you have concerns for the physical well-being of your heart, seek medical attention immediately. Take care of your heart. Don’t wait! If High Desert Doppler can help with diagnostic ultrasound, call us at 505-350-3397.
by Kristi Jain | Feb 7, 2024 | Uncategorized
Thanks for taking time to read today’s blog. As always, the weekly blogs are filled with ideas and communication. It is a platform in which I am able to make our HDD voice heard and hopefully make a difference. Some subjects are lighthearted and off topic for an ultrasound company, while others are meant to be informative and thought provoking.
IDEAS
Effectively communicating involves being intentional in a manner that makes people want to listen and engage. Think about your role at home, at work, at play and in the community. Do you have something to say? How do you get people to listen? At some point, you are going to have to speak up.
SPECIAL DELIVERY
If you want people to listen to what you have to say, you might want to consider your delivery. Forbes.com has a few suggestions for communication and getting your point across effectively.
- Speak with conviction. Don’t downplay your idea by treating it like merely a suggestion. Avoid fillers such as “um”, “like”, or “You know what I’m saying?”
- Speak with intention. Speak clearly, emphasize key points and maintain eye contact. Be assertive, not aggressive. Understand when not to speak.
- Make it a conversation. People lose interest when they are listening to a diatribe. Let others weigh in with their opinions and participate.
- Be prepared. Have your points planned out and practice if necessary. Stay calm.
- Get to the point. Give people a reason to listen and respect their time. Brevity is always appreciated. Make sure you are engaging the listener.
- Speak quieter not louder. Whispers garner more attention than shouts.
- Listen more. Plan to spend as much time listening as you do talking. Don’t interrupt.
- Pay attention to body language. Your body language speaks as clearly as your words.
- Pay attention to timing. Monday mornings, Friday afternoons, before lunchtime or at the end of the day you are more likely to lose your audience. Keep it short.
- Have confidence in yourself. Believe in yourself and what you have to say then say it.
THAT BEING SAID…
It can be difficult to say what we are really feeling and even harder to say it in a way that ensures we are heard by others. Being misunderstood, misperceived or ignored can leave us feeling angry and frustrated. Pay attention to not only what you say, but how you say it. Openness and honesty can cause people to get defensive and lash out. Everyone needs to feel not only heard but understood. Effective communication can be tricky. Learn to speak your piece in a tactful respectful manner. Most of us are not mind readers so, say what you mean and mean what you say.
HDD
HDD always appreciates hearing what you have to say. Feel free to communicate your experience with us. Our mission is to serve you in a timely, professional manner. If your experience is less than you expect, let us know. We want to use it as a teaching tool and opportunity to turn into a positive experience. Call us at 505-350-3397.
by Kristi Jain | Jan 31, 2024 | Uncategorized
Guess what folks? Today is the day. Don’t forget to celebrate. Be appreciative and be in a state of gratitude. You may be wondering, what is so special about today? Even if you are feeling grumpy, irritated, sad or blue, remember “Today is the first day of the rest of your life.” Make it count.
SAVE IT FOR A SPECIAL OCCASION
When was the last time you used “The good dishes?” Have you worn that killer shirt or shoes you bought? Don’t tell me you are saving them for a special occasion. Maybe you should leave that fancy car polished and parked in the garage. It would be a shame to get it dirty by driving it. Right? Wrong
.BUST IT OUT!
No matter where you got it, how expensive or inexpensive it was, if you love it, go ahead and bust out the good stuff. Why save it for a special occasion? Enjoy what you have today. We are burning daylight. Lemme ask you this. What were you doing an hour ago? I hope you enjoyed it because that is an hour you will never get back.
THE TIME IS NOW
Today’s blog shares a reminder that I got today. Don’t wait. Celebrate. Tomorrow might be too late. The time is now.
You need not wait for the approval of others. Don’t second guess yourself. Don’t worry who deserves the credit. Don’t be afraid of the answer. Just do it! Figure out a way to lighten up. Lose the stress (note to self.) Don’t get so worked up. Be smart and plan for tomorrow but live today.
NO ONE IS GETTING OUT OF HERE ALIVE
Who doesn’t want to improve their quality of life? Most of us simply want to live a happy long life as long as we are healthy. The fact is that not a single one of us is getting out of this life alive, in which case, you might want to practice extreme self-care while you are still here.
GRATITUDE
I’ve come to appreciate the little things like getting up in the morning with no aches or pains. I’m grateful for a full schedule that generates income to pay the bills. I’m elated when I have a light schedule and time to keep our home running smoothly and get my errands done. I’m grateful for my family and friends, my jobs and my co-workers. I am ecstatic that I enjoy excellent health. Although it is not as good as some, it is better than others.
QUOTE
“Appreciation is a wonderful thing. It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well.”
-Voltaire
HEALTH
Pull out all of the stops and celebrate you and your life now. Live till you die and I mean LIVE till you die. Take precautions. Be proactive. Ask and listen. Don’t procrastinate. Don’t wait. Celebrate! If today requires diagnostic ultrasound, call us at 505-350-3397. Chances are excellent that we can see you by the end of the day!
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