“At Five Elements Veterinary Alternatives, our mission is to provide and integrative approach to improve the wellness, comfort, performance, and longevity of your animal companion. Our treatment strategies are based on philosophy that the body contains the innate ability to heal itself. The therapeutic modalities that we offer – chiropractic, acupuncture, Chinese and Western herbs, rehabilitation therapy, and nutritional counseling – simply help remove barriers to natural healing and allow the body to return to balance. Our veterinarians are also well-grounded in Western veterinary medical practice and seek to add a rational, professional approach to alternative therapies with proven results.
The spine and nervous system are one of the biggest communication networks within the body. When our organs or organ systems are out of balance and not functioning properly, it shows up in the spine. I have broken it down to be looked at from two different perspectives:
The spine is out of alignment and is causing the organ to malfunction
The organ isn’t functioning properly and is causing subluxations (misalignments) in the spine
It’s no secret that our dedicated team of Prairie Star herbalists believe that humans should follow the path (and wisdom) of the seasons. It’s key to thriving in our particular prairie environment, but the lessons apply regardless of what latitude and longitude you call home. Seasonal change moves in a circle, following the pattern of the sun. Indigenous peoples had no choice but to live their lives according to this movement. Some associated the north point of the compass with winter, the direction of the cold winds that bring snow to the prairie. Winter is also associated with the element of water, and the conditions of cold and damp. We might also consider winter as symbolic of a dormancy or...
We are water beings! Every cell in our bodies need water for overall good health and to properly function. Water helps to maintain our body temperature, to remove waste and toxins, and to lubricate our joints, for example. Proper hydration also improves our quality of sleep, our mood, and cognition.Physical manifestations that you’re not getting enough water may include dark urine, dry mouth, headache, lightheadedness, or muscle cramps, for example. “Hydration truly is life. You can survive weeks without food, but only around 3 days without water. Humans are 70% water, and the earth is covered in 70% water, a beautiful reminder of our connection to nature,” states herbalist Dawn Lusk of Raven’s Moon Holistic Wellness. Dawn Lusk of Raven's...
During the Winter months, my skin takes a dry transformation. You may find me rubbing my itchy back along my office chair in resemblance to a bear rubbing his/her back along a tree. A few years ago while researching ways to help control my bear shape shifting, I found information on dry brushing the skin. What is dry brushing? I immediately think of brushing a horse: watching the dust rise up, the horse quiver in pleasure, and the sound of the dry brush against the horse hair. This care practice is not just for horses. While most practices of exfoliating the skin are using water and/or products, dry brushing is using a brush with out water or products. Pictured ~Benita...
