Holiday Hours

Our Holiday Hours will be as follows:

Closed Decmeber 24-27th for Christmas

We will re-open Monday December 28th at 10am

Closed December 31st - January 1st for New Years

Have a safe and blessed Holiday Season!

Dr. Emily

Next Yoga Session!

Our next session will begin on Tuesday November 10th with a few changes. Classes will be at:

3-4:15 pm for beginner/intermediates
6:45-8pm for beginners

All classes will be on Tuesdays this session. Class cost is still $50 for a 6 week session. Call or e-mail the office to register, there is 4 person limit on each class.

Dr. Emily

Class Schedule

Don't forget about our ongoing "Experience" series of classes! Next up is:

Reflexology on November 2
Massage on November 16
Acupuncture on November 30

All classes are at the office, begin at 6:30 pm, and are free! Hope to see you there!

Dr. Emily

Swine Flu vaccine questions

I have had a lot of questions about the Swine Flu H1N1 vaccine and the regular flu vaccine. My favorite source for information on natural health topics, Dr. Mercola, has a wonderful update here. Dr. Mercola is a leader in natural health topics. His newsletters are always very thoroughly researched and well cited. I am posting the update here to help you gather information to make informed decision about you family's health care.

In good health,
Dr. Emily

Speaking of the flu....

If you have questions about the safety and efficacy of the influenza vaccine I would recommend that you check out Dr. Mercola's website. He has the most comprehensive natural health information out there.

Dr. Emily

Vitamin D and the Flu

Vitamin D is essential in cold and flu prevention!!! Most Americans are very deficient in their Vitamin D levels. The current recommendations are that your level should be between 50-65. It is easy to find out your level, call your physician and request a 25-OH (hydroxy) Vitamin D blood test. The Hydroxy test is a truer representation of your overall level. If you level is low it is imperative that you begin supplementation. The current recommendations for maintenance levels is 35IU's per pound of body weight. So, if you weigh 150 pounds you would need 5250 IU's per day just to replace what your body is not making in the winter. Short daylight hours and cold weather keep us indoors all winter, meaning that our body cannot manufacturer the Vitamin D it needs. Adequate Vitamin D levels also help to boost your mood all winter, this is especially helpful for those who suffer from SAD (seasonal depression). Remember, if you are concerned about toxicity, get a blood test first, then begin supplementation.

In Good Health,
Dr. Emily

Natural Health Class!

Monday, October 5th will be the "Experience Natural Health" class at 6:30pm! Tracie Puffer, Certified Family Herbalist, will be here to share her knowledge on how to begin a natural lifestyle. She will discuss topics such as pain relief, detoxification, and more. Best of all, the class is free!

Yoga class begins September 23rd!

Yoga is finally here! We will be offering two classes on Wednesday evenings taught by Staci Grieb. One class will be at 5 pm and the second will be at 6:30pm. Class cost is $50 for a 6 week session. Pre-registration is required, call 636-239-1220 to register. A yoga mat will be required and clothing should be comfortable.

Yoga is wonderful way to stretch, relax, unwind, and strengthen. Yoga is for all body types and abilities. Staci will be able to guide you through any mobility issues you may have. Hope to see you there!

"Experience" series!

I have an exciting set of classes to offer you for the fall! It is called the "Experience @ Four Rivers" series. A series of Monday evening classes will be held the explore the topics of yoga, pilates, natural health, massage, reflexology, and acupuncture. I have lined up a great team of guest speakers who are very knowledgeable in their field. The classes will beheld every other Monday at 6:30 pm The schedule is:

September 21 - Experience yoga, Staci Grieb
October 5 - Experience natural health, Tracie Puffer
October 19 - Experience pilates, Dana Veasman
November 2 -Experience reflexology, Rose Beal
November - 16 Experience massage, Holly Brown
November 30 - Experience acupuncture, Dr. Emily

Best all, the classes are free!! Call the office at 636-239-1220 for more info!

Holiday Closures

The office will be closed:

Friday and Saturday August 28th and 29th, We will re-open Monday August 31st at 10am

Saturday - Monday September 5th-7th, We will re-open Wednesday September 9th at 9am

Yoga is coming!!!

Yoga classes will be offered starting at the end of September! Staci, a certified yoga instructor will be hosting an "Experience Yoga" session on September 21st (that will be free), more details about that to follow at a later date, then regular classes will begin on Wednesday evenings. The dates and prices will follow at a later date also.

Monday's Health Tip - Let's talk Calcium

OK, so I know most of my lady patients, especially those above 40 are taking calcium to help preserve their bone strength. Good. Now, are you taking the right kind of calcium? Look at your bottle, if it says "calcium carbonate" on it, throw it out. You are only absorbing 20% (at the most) of that calcium.

There are several kinds of calcium out there, all with different absorbtivities. The ones that absorb better are calcium citrate and plant based calciums. Calcium citrate is also the calcium that is found in the orange juice fortified with calcium, and this is good way to boost your intake, but your will probably need more. Calcium supplements work better when taken with vitamin D, magnesium, and vitamin C. Calcium and Magnesium need and acidic environment (your stomach) to absorb, so while dairy has a lot of calcium, you are not absorbing much of it because of the basic pH of milk.

Most women need 1200 mg to halt bone loss, but take as directed on the label and under the direction of a physician. It is also important to understand that once bone loss has begun, it cannot be reversed very easily, we can mostly just halt it's progression. This means that most women, especially those that are pregnant and lactating should be supplementing their calcium intake through good quality sources for the rest of their lives. Some excellent food sources are green leafy vegetables, broccoli and nuts.

What exactly is acupunture good for?

I get asked this question a lot. The answer is virtually everything. Acupuncture is very effective tool for dealing with pain, arthritis, stress, anxiety, illness, smoking cessation, hormone balancing, headaches, fibromyalgia, and much much more. It is also a wonderful way to live a more balanced life. Most of my patients experience a sense of well being, clam, and balance after a treatment....regardless of what the treatment was for! At my office, we use a tool called the AcuGraph (you can check it out here) to actually see what your acupuncture meridians are doing energetically. This makes for a very effective treatment when coupled with traditional acupuncture points. In closing, acupuncture is for everything and everyone! Call or stop by today of you have questions!



In good health,

Dr. Emily

Monday's Health Tip - Omega's

Many of us have heard that fish oil is beneficial to our health, but do we actually know why? Fish oil contains high levels of Omega 3 fatty acids, the so called "good fats". The active compounds, EPA and DHA affect large parts of our bodies. Omega's are potent anti-inflammatory agent, help protect our hearts, help our cognitive function (brain fog), can help slash infant allergies when taken by mom, and are excellent for our skin. Where you get your fish oil is important. Many of our oceans are polluted, causing our fish and consequently fish oils to be contaminated as well. Look for formulas that contain wild Alaskan salmon (one of the cleanest fish out there) and are cold pressed. We have a new Omega product in the office from New Chapter Organics called "Wholemega" that meets all of these criteria. You can check it out here or stop by the office!

Dr. Emily

Friday's Health Tip - Are you Magnesium Deficient?

Magnesium is a vital catalyst for our body's energy production. Due to our western eating habits and nutrient depleted food, most Americans are magnesium deficient. Magnesium deficiency interferes with the transmission of nerve and muscle impulses, causing irritability and nervousness. In addition to leading to conditions such as insomnia, irritability, high blood pressure, chronic pain, depression, IBS, and heart problems, a magnesium deficiency will make nearly every disease worse. Magnesium can be easily supplemented and there are a variety of types available. It may take a little "trial and error" to find the type that agrees with your system the best, but magnesium asporotate and magnesium citrate are a good place to start. There are also several calcium/magnesium blends available. Good food sources include fish, meat, avocados, bananas, green leafy vegetables, and brown rice to name a few.

Dr. Emily

Four Rivers is on the Web!

Four Rivers Chiropractic & Acupuncture has finally joined the digital age with our new blog! Check back regularly to get updates about events and happenings at the office, special events, health tips, and more!

Dr. Emily