1. My latest wellness tool…
Infrared saunas are among the most talked about, most impactful, and most affordable higher-end biohack devices. I’ve been using one for over a decade. We have one in our office (which used to be in our home), and this week we installed a new one to my home. Like all wellness tools, different people experience different benefits. One thing is for sure when it comes to infrared saunas… you WILL experience benefits. The two best brands are Sunlighten (which we have at the office) and Clearlight, by Jacuzzi, which is what I have at my house. I chose Clearlight for my house because I believe they are better built, have the lowest EMF levels, and I am able to control the sauna remotely, which allows me to start the sauna before leaving the office, so it’s hot and ready when I get home. There are so many benefits to using an infrared sauna, including joint pain relief, chemical detoxification, athletic recovery, better sleep, healthier skin, stress relief, immune boost, and more. You can read more about these benefits from Ben Greenfield by clicking here. If you want more information about purchasing an infrared sauna, you can click here. Or call Jenny at Clearlight at 800-798-1779, ext 840, with any questions. I can tell you that for many of my patients, infrared saunas have been a game changer. Some have said it is life-changing. You can try the sauna in our office to see how it can benefit you, but having one in your home allows you to use it more frequently and whenever you want, and pays for itself quite quickly. I’m writing this week’s Friday’s Findings while sitting in, and sweating in, our new sauna right now!
2. What made my week great…
I celebrated a birthday this week (I’m not 50 yet!!). I am very grateful for all the birthday wishes and gifts. And every gift I got was great, but I thought I’d share a few just for fun. I received a box with a little wooden crate in it. It’s called Man Crates. And it came with a little crowbar, which was how you break open the crate. Inside… a selection of America’s best beef jerky. So cool! I visited their site to find a bunch of crate ideas, from grilling tools and exotic dried meats, to outdoor survival tools and personalized whiskey. I’ll be using this site in the future for gift giving. Check them out at mancrates.com. (Thanks, Pat and Gina F.!) Another gift was two Adirondack chairs. But not just your basic Adirondack chairs… ROCKING Adirondack chairs. I’ve wanted a rocking chair for a long time, but didn’t want the classic, old-fashioned Cracker Barrel-style kind. These things are exactly what I wanted, and I cannot wait for the weather to break so I can catch the morning sunrise, while rocking, with Lana (who happens to be the one who got the chairs for me. Thank you, Lana!). And my staff got me a basket full of goodies for a camping trip I have coming up. It was loaded with some great stuff (cutting board, thermos-style cups, snacks, and more). But one thing worth highlighting is the knife that was included. This is no ordinary knife. One of my staff, Alie, MADE the knife! I know… who makes a knife??? Well, with the help of her brother-in-law (you can follow him on Instagram here), she made this amazing knife. The shape of this knife, the pattern on the blade, the color of the wood, and the beautiful shade of blue on the handle makes this one of the coolest knives I have EVER seen. (Thanks for such a meaningful gift, Alie!) I was spoiled this year with a lot of great gifts… and I loved all of them. Thanks again for all the birthday wishes and gifts!
3. A step I’ve decided to take in my practice…
With any new drug, new facts about benefits or risks rear their head once it is introduced to the masses. The list of adverse reactions never gets shorter, it always gets longer. As I have had patients share stories of adverse events that might be linked to the COVID-19 vaccine, and as more data gets collected over the next weeks and months, I have decided to not see patients within three days of them receiving the vaccine. I am taking this precautionary step to avoid any adverse event related to the vaccine to be in any way attributed to the care that we are providing in our office. I have made that decision this week after seeing the list of adverse events following receiving the vaccine growing and reading statements like this one… “The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lists common COVID-19 vaccine side effects as pain, swelling or redness at the injection site; fatigue; headaches; muscle pain; chills; fever; and nausea. But that list isn’t exhaustive. In ‘fact sheets’ describing each vaccine, manufacturers listed additional possible side effects—including diarrhea, joint pain, swollen lymph nodes, hives, rashes and facial swelling—and noted that there could be even more side effects beyond those specified.” This came from an article titled “People Are Reporting Unexpected Side Effects After COVID-19 Vaccination—But That’s Actually Normal,” on Time.com. The article encourages people to report any adverse reaction that may be related to the vaccine. And FYI…our office has had an impeccable safety record for the past 23 years, in part because we have taken steps to ensure that safety.