Certain populations of people are so special within the confines of their characteristics and require dedicated health care practitioners who have extensive knowledge in that population. Pediatric care is an example of a special population requiring special care and attention. Although our little ones look and act just like mommy and daddy, their developing brain, body, and personality are much more fragile, in-tune, and require different needs. Pediatric medicine ranges from age birth to 18 years old. Sometimes, it is difficult to remember that high schoolers are in this population due to their dedication to sport and physique, but we must remember their bodies are still trying to “figure it all out”.

There are many conditions specific to children when their growing body is put under too much stress and can’t keep up. These include, but are not limited to, growing pains, tendonitis, apophysitis (bone pain), fractures, headaches, and malnutrition. Although these may sound familiar, that makes them common, not normal.

When it comes to sports and activities, providing the correct nutritional requirements to a growing body, and balancing the everyday life stressors for a child including homework, learning abilities or disabilities, focus and attention, friends and social skills, and healthy coping mechanisms, chiropractic and naturopathic medicine can support these needs.

The nervous system, brain, and nerves going to everything including muscles and the gut, is fully developed and complete by age 7, so it is safe to state that much like education, early intervention is ideal. Even newborn children can and should be gently evaluated for normal presentation and indications of physical trauma from birth that could be impacting digestion, sleep, mood, feeding abilities, developmental milestones, and so on.

No issue is too small for an evaluation with a practitioner who is well educated on pediatric medicine.

Chiropractors approach medicine without the use of pharmaceuticals and surgery. Otherwise, they follow the same evaluations and standards of care as other physicians in Illinois.

If you have a concern or would like a second opinion for a special child in your life, seek care today from a doctor rooted in natural alternatives and pediatric medicine, found at Tri-City Health Care.

Sometimes in order to improve a structural issue that presents to the office, a nutritional component has to be addressed. Chiropractors and Naturopathic doctors have training and education to evaluate and treat endocrine, metabolic, digestive, circulatory, and mental variables to a patient’s health. Not all chiropractors choose to practice this way, but in Illinois as a physician, it is in the chiropractic scope of practice. This being said, it takes thorough evaluation and consideration to determine what cases are best to treat or refer out to another specialist or practitioner who can better support and treat the patient. 

At Tri-City Health Care, we evaluate the whole patient, young and old for physical, mental and chemical components that may be contributing to health status, or possibly lack of health.

You may be surprised to learn some simple nutritional support that could encourage an improvement in symptoms with a handful of common conditions.There are many reasons why someone might take a supplement or vitamin. These include but are not limited to avoiding or re-establishing nutrients from a deficiency, like vitamin D, zinc, iron, B vitamins, trace minerals, amino acids, and hormone support to name a few.  Someone may consider taking a supplement to detox an organ or system or to provide what are called co-factors for an enzymatic reaction. These are like gas in your car. If your body doesn’t have essential co-factors like CoQ10, zinc, vitamin E, B vitamins to name a few, then the system comes to a halt or under produces, much like your car would sputter to a halt on the side of the road. Someone might take a supplement to stimulate the body or support a system to function more optimally, like stress response, digestion, sleep cycles immunity or fertility. 

Just like there are varying levels of quality when it comes to cars, electronics, clothing, furniture, hotels, and beauty products, there is a large difference in quality when it comes to off-the-shelf supplements and vitamins found in your convenient store and therapeutic level products sold by a healthcare professional. Tri-City Health Care carries Biotics Research brand vitamins for many of their products. 

Let us get into some specific ideas to support specific conditions. Before we do, please be mindful that this is not medical advice and please consult with your doctor prior to starting any new vitamins or supplements. The following are generalized conditions and supplement ideas that may help reduce the stress of that condition. Additionally, specific products by Biotics Research are listed that have these high quality ingredients in them. 

• Metabolic issues / Type 2 diabetes: inositol, Biotics Bio GGG-B & Biotics Bio B complex – 2 capsules 2 times a day, never after 3pm. 

• Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS): fish oil, Biotics Biomega-500 – 2 capsules a day

• Stress: Magnesium, Biotics MgZyme & Biotics Bio 3B-G – both products 2 capsules 2 times a day

• Depression / Melancholy: trace minerals, Biotics Multi-Mins (Iron & Copper Free) 4 tablets a day

• Bloating: digestive enzymes, Biotics Beta-TCP & Biotics HydroZyme – both products 2 tablets each 5 min prior to meals 

• Post-workout muscle soreness: minerals, Biotics CaMg zyme 5-10 a day post workout, or 5 at bedtime to help with body aches. 

Additional Basics to consider:

NAC 500mg 2xday

Green tea extract / EGCG 1000mg per day

Vitamin C 2-3g per day

Zinc 15-30mg per day

Probiotic on empty stomach in AM or PM 

If you are interested in purchasing Biotics Brand supplements and vitamins, please feel free to make an account with the instructions below. You will have access to shop and purchase their whole product line. Never hesitate to book a consultation with Dr. Amanda Driscoll at Tri-City Health Care if you are interested in individualized nutritional counseling and services. 

Go to www.getBiotics.com

Click ‘Log In’ then ‘Create Account’ & use the following code: DFILC589

In natural medicine, naturopathic medicine, health is evaluated through diet, stress, sleep, and other factors that often are affected by everyday decisions and lifestyle habits.

Many people are familiar with the Special Olympics fundraising event titled “Polar Plunge.” It is an event that ends with participants plunging into Lake Michigan in the middle of winter. Although it sounds frigid and shocking to the body, there are many beneficial physiological effects to a cold water plunge.

The polar plunge is an example of cold water therapy and hydrotherapy. Hydrotherapy is a form of medicine that uses internal or external therapeutic application of water for a desired health outcome.

It is uncommon to consider water as a form of medicine, but it often has profound effects on generalized and specific conditions including illness, injury, and disease. Water is a simple way to incorporate healthy and supportive natural habits into a lifestyle.

What is considered hydrotherapy?

There are some obvious forms of therapeutic hydrotherapy that include post-workout recovery ice baths, ice packs, contrast hot and cold baths, hot tubs, alternating hot/cold showers, and cold shower rinses. There are other less common forms including constitutional hydrotherapy, sauna, warming socks, and colonics.

Constitutional hydrotherapy is an in-office treatment used to strengthen someone’s “constitution” or the composition of the body. It can decrease anxious feelings and hyperactivity while improving immune function, sleep, stress response, endocrine and hormone function. Much like other forms of medicine including acupuncture and massage therapy, the conditions listed have been shown to improve with regular and consistent constitutional hydrotherapy application.

Constitutional hydrotherapy is offered at Tri-City Health Care. A consultation with us is the best way to determine if it can benefit you.

Another form of hydrotherapy, warming socks, is a traditional naturopathic approach to at-home “sick care.” At the first sign of illness—sore throat, congestion, cough, etc.—wet a pair of socks and place them in the freezer until almost frozen. Wear them to bed, layering the cold wet socks with a warm, dry pair of wool socks on top. Falling asleep with the layered socks and waking in the morning, or after a full nap, the wet socks should be dry and warm. Repeat as needed. This is a very simple and natural method used to support the body during illness.

Naturopathic and chiropractic medicine offer a natural approach to evaluating where there may be gaps in lifestyle and health and making the most effective changes based on goals established between patient and doctor. With natural interventions and habits like hydrotherapy, the key is consistency with the treatments you choose.

There are many options and places to begin your health journey. Tri-City Health Care is honored to be your choice in natural medicine.