ADVERTISING: Advertorial — JONATHAN M. SASSER: Headaches, migraines and… immune support? Oh my!
Every single one of us is almost guaranteed to have a headache at some point in our lifetime, but a surprising number of people suffer chronically from more severe migraines. Migraines alone are the third most common illness worldwide. Most people suffering from headaches or migraines opt to reach for an NSAID or a caffeine/pain reliever combo like Excedrin, but if they have headaches often, taking these medications can become a daily staple. Did you know that taking these medications, especially those containing caffeine, can lead to rebound headaches which can be a contributor to the vicious cycle of chronic headaches and migraines? But, what if we could stop these headaches, or any recurring symptoms, from occurring altogether? This is what we do by investigating and addressing the underlying cause of the condition.
Often pain and severe symptoms catch us on the defensive where all we can think about is managing the symptoms, this is also common with illnesses like… (Yes, you probably already guessed we were going there) viruses. In the wake of the coronavirus upheaval, there has been a flood of conflicting information about the safety/efficacy of remedies like Ibuprofen. While there is a nearly endless supply of “cold remedies,” almost all are simply symptomatic relief. In my experience using a lot of these drugs can actually increase the time it takes to recover from an illness compared to looking a step further to support the immune system itself.
Even if you aren’t particularly worried about the coronavirus, knowing how to support, rather than sabotage, your immune system will help you avoid getting sick and get over illnesses faster.
What are the best ways to support the immune system? Vitamin C is perhaps the most talked about immune support, but it is far from my favorite. Our bodies have numerous, extremely powerful built-in antioxidant systems; some literature suggests that high doses of Vitamin C over time can actually decrease their action. Zinc as well as Vitamins D and A, are some of my favorite immune boosters, but they are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to nutrients and herbs that support the immune system. Acupuncture is another indispensable resource for immune health. Not only have specific acupuncture techniques been shown to increase white blood cell counts, our immune system’s little warriors, but acupuncture is one of the quickest and easiest ways to clear sinus congestion, stop headaches and ease the other symptoms of the common cold.
Unfortunately, all the immune support in the world will fall short of counteracting some well-known immune saboteurs. Refined sugars and stress are two of the most detrimental things to your immune health as they both impair numerous aspects of immune function.
We integrate acupuncture with customized clinical nutrition to provide your body with the resources it needs to address the underlying complications and regulate all of its functions more effectively, immune health included.
• • •
Jonathan M. Sasser holds a Master of Science degree in Oriental Medicine, is a Licensed Acupuncturist and is board certified in Oriental Medicine by the NCCAOM. He has more than 3,000 hours of training in acupuncture, classical Oriental Medicine, herbal medicine and nutrition.
Additionally, Jon also holds a bachelor’s degree in sports medicine. Jon is a “Health Detective.” He looks beyond your symptom picture and investigates WHY you are experiencing your symptoms in the first place. Jonathan is currently accepting new patients and offers natural health care services and whole food nutritional supplements at Vital Health in Coeur d’Alene.
Visit our website at www.vitalhealthcda.com to learn more about Jonathan, view a list of upcoming health classes and read other informative articles. Jonathan can be reached at 208-765-1994 and would be happy to answer any questions regarding this topic.