DR ROBYN STANLEY, ND (previously Prescott)


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What To Expect in A Muscle Pain Relief Visit with Dr. Robyn

1/11/2016

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I am often asked "How would you help me with my muscle pain?" and often this leads me into a short blurb about the techniques I use in my practice and how my approach is unique and all encompassing. I do not just treat one aspect of your pain - I treat muscle, bone alignment, nerve function and nutritional deficiencies. Initially, there is an extensive hands-on assessment and we discuss the mechanism of action that is causing or has caused your injury or pain. I work to put your whole health picture together and to form a custom treatment plan that is not only inclusive of therapies such as trigger point therapy, procaine or aesthetic nerve retraining injections, adjustments and postural re-training of your body but also utilizes laboratory and specialized tests to check for nutritional deficiencies and hormone levels. In addition it is important to optimize your nutrient intake for speedy recovery and continued well being. Check out this quick video for more info!
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3 HEALTHY HABITS TO HELP YOU EMBRACE THE FALL SEASON

9/25/2015

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With the last day of summer past and the onset of fall upon us, the leaves begin changing into bright colours and the weather shifts to a brisk fall coolness. We find ourselves preparing for our winter routine and some of our daily habits shift along with season change.  Here are 5 healthy ways I like that embrace fall!


ARM YOUR IMMUNE FORCES  - As soon as fall hits I always find myself checking my vitamin collection for those herbs and nutrients that ensure my immune system is ready for a fight. These are a few of my must-haves:
  • Andrographis - this is a very potent antimicrobial herb that is fantastic at fighting a cold when you feeling it coming on. I find this herb extremely effective!
  • Astragalus - known to help modulate the immune system - essentially it helps to keep your immune system on guard and ready for a potential fight.
  • Vitamin D - an essential nutrient that has been scientifically verified to reduce the incidences of colds and flus (upper respiratory tract infections).
  • Vitamin C - a water soluble vitamin that helps keep your immune system in good shape.
  • A custom-made botanical tincture - I often keep a bottle of my own custom formula on my bedroom side table and one in my purse for those occasions where a scratchy throat catches me off guard and I need to nip it in the butt right away!
  • Zinc - a mineral known to help stimulate your immune system - I rarely recommend regular use of zinc but, it is a super nutrient to use to give your immune function a jump start. 

FIND THE PERFECT WARM AND COZY WINTER TEA - the other day I found myself having the desire to head to David's Tea to pick out some warming teas. Here are a few warming herbs to look for in your tea selections:
  • Cinnamon - good to balance blood sugars and a natural sweetener in teas
  • Cardamom - warming herb that is a member of the ginger family and often used to help digestion
  • Cloves - in addition to being warming this herb also has some potent antibacterial properties
  • Ginger - a super warming herb that is also good to help settle your stomach
  • Apple - not much beats a cup of hot apple cider - I usually make mine in the crock pot!
  • Chili pepper - can be added to some teas to help give them a nice warm pep up! Chili is a great circulatory stimulant which is useful for keeping warm in the colder weather

GETTING BACK INTO THE SWING OF THINGS - when September hits everything starts up again, whether this means school, new deadlines at work or other activities. The fall schedule always has us working harder than during the lazy summer. Some key things to consider for a successful fall schedule are:
  • Ensure you get adequate sleep - When changing your sleep schedule back to those earlier mornings and earlier nights, sometimes a little help can make the transition easier. I often use herbs such as Passionflower or Chamomile to help initiate sleep and reset the sleep cycle. I am also a big fan of occasional use of melatonin (in adults only) to help regulate circadian rhythm and get your body used to falling asleep at the earlier time.
  • Exercise routine - Find the perfect exercise routine to help you keep a healthy life balance. I recently started taking Pilates again as it is a fantastic way to strengthen my core and give my body overall strength and tone which will help with muscle balance and prevention of injury.
  • Make lists - It is very important in this busy time to make a good list of things to do. When you make a list it allows your mind to prioritize the items you have to do and promotes it to rest knowing you will not forget anything. I am always making lists as otherwise I find my mind never stops!
  • Find a good book - I am such a fan of finding a good book to read for the rainy and cold winter days. Make it a fun experience and look for something you actually find interesting or a good fictional story you will get pulled into. 
  • Health action plan - With life getting back on schedule it is the perfect time to get back into a healthy routine and get you back to feeling your best! I also think now is a great time to be preventive for the stresses to come and get yourself on some nourishing adrenal supplements! Visit your local Naturopathic Physician for a program best suited to you.

Hope this blog post gives you either some fun new ideas of how to embrace fall or even reminds you of things you already knew! 

For a personalized fall health action plan and get you feeling your best please come visit me any time!

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HIP PAIN AND DYSFUNCTION

6/13/2015

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Do you find yourself feeling really stiff in your hips? Do you get an achy pain at night preventing you from having a restful sleep? Do you have lower back pain? Experience hip pain during running or cycling?

Generally tight hips are quite painful and activity altering but occasionally there are no symptoms at all. Sometimes after assessing a patient for tight hips I will provide some trigger point release treatment and align their hip joints after which they notice how tight their hips really were. Most patients feel a real sense of relief after even the first treatment.

In my practice I see a ton of hip pain and tightness (what I tend to call dysfunction). The activities of our daily life require a significant amount of hip flexion on a regular basis. Some common examples of hip flexion are sitting at work or when watching TV, running, biking, walking, and yoga. I cannot emphasize enough how often I see tight hip muscles contributing substantially to lower back pain and also causing a lot of discomfort and pain in the groin region and hip joint itself. 

The hip flexor muscles are difficult to release on your own especially if they are already very tight. They are challenging to release due to the hip being comprised of a few fairly large muscles. One of the primary muscles I usually treat is the iliopsoas muscle.  As you can see in the image above the muscle attaches to the back of the spine and goes through the hip to attach on the inside of the femur. The psoas is one of the primary muscles responsible for hip flexion in the body. It also has a "buddy" muscle called the iliacus that cups the inside of the hip. Together the iliacus and the psoas make up the iliopsoas. When I work on this muscle group I stretch it and use trigger point therapy as the patient moves their hip through the complete range of motion to open up the hip. I pay attention to the specific points of pain or "knots" in the muscle and as the patient breathes through the motion I wait for these points to release and melt under the pressure of my hands. This technique helps the muscle to fully relax all of it's fibres and removes small "knots" or adhesions making the muscle fibres align properly and slide freely. For many of my patients the pain or discomfort is relieved almost immediately.  

Trigger points are those "knots" or points in your muscles that refer pain when pressed on and they tend to form throughout the muscle. They form due to lack of use, overuse, injury/strain and poor posture habits. Trigger point release is a very effective method of relieving muscle pain and discomfort.

I am a strong believer in the power of removing adhesions from the muscles, aligning bones and resetting nerve patterns all of which require maximizing blood flow, a thorough assessment of the joint and body, and figuring out why the muscle pain occurred in the first place. All of my treatments start off with a thorough assessment, then a deep clay heat pack being applied over the area to be worked on to heat up the muscles and promote relaxation. I then apply a natural topical lotion made of camphor and menthol extracts to enhance blood flow and decrease pain. I always provide muscle work prior to any adjustments and ensure the body is releasing at all three levels: bone, muscle and nerve. 


In health,

Dr. Robyn 

*photo shown is of Dr. Vizniak's Muscle Manual page on psoas major and minor


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SPRING CLEANSING - FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

5/5/2015

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PictureVegetables courtesy of Nourish Market, Lynn Valley
Happy Tuesday!

I am not sure about you, but every spring I get the desire to clean out my system and start the summer fresh! Here are some common FAQs about cleansing:

Why cleanse in the spring?

Spring is associated with the new growth of flower buds, trees, and the birth of many animals. Spring is the awaking of the earth after a long winter nap. A cleanse can be that reset button for your body and help you go into summer with a fresh perspective. It helps to shed the winter build-up and get you starting to feel great!

What does cleansing do?

The liver has two detoxification phases – phase I (Cytochrome P450 Enzymes) and phase II (Conjugation Pathways). Essentially, cleansing helps to support these processes so they function optimally. I often describe your liver as a recycling processing plant. It takes in a product and alters it or breaks it down and then either gets rid of it through your waste systems (excretory systems) or reuses it. A liver that is not functioning properly leads to a build-up of unwanted toxins or in the analogy of the recycling plant - recycling products build up and bog down the plant’s processing ability. Your elimination processes/excretory systems are urination, bowel movements, and through bile (secreted by the gallbladder).


What are the benefits of cleansing?
  • Potential for weight loss - weight loss is a common effect of cleansing and this is usually loss of excess water weight. Water weight builds up when your body tries to dilute the toxins that are building up. In addition, your diet on a cleanse is often anti-inflammatory and free from junk food so weight loss is often seen. 
  • Increase in energy after the cleanse
  • Learn new recipes
  • Reset your system
  • Get rid of gas, bloating, and fatigue 

What side effects can I expect?

It is common to get some symptoms while on a cleanse: however, most disappear after the first few days.
  • Headache/migraines/foggy mind 
  • Body aches/muscle aches
  • Runny nose
  • Fatigue
  • Increased bowel movements/constipation or diarrhea
  • Hunger/decreased satiety after meals
  • Food/sugar cravings

Which cleanse should I do?

There are many cleanses available and choosing the right cleanse can be difficult:
I think the best cleanses are customized to your needs. Cleansing properly requires good support and is individualized to focus on your specific needs. There are many focuses/purposes for cleansing: hormone balancing, stomach repair/leaky gut, liver cleanse, weight-loss, juice fasting and many more.

Can everybody cleanse? Where can I go to learn about different cleanses and which one is best for me?

In short, cleansing may or may not be right for you. 

It is best if you consult your naturopathic physician to decide what type of cleanse and intensity is best for you and your specific needs.

 


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What Can you Expect from an Adjustment?

4/17/2015

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You may not know – but adjusting can be a big part of a naturopathic doctor’s practice. Like in my practice! 

Adjusting is an extremely useful treatment tool and can relieve pain very quickly. Essentially, what can happen is that some form of trauma like: sleeping funny, doing an exercise poorly at the gym, or bad posture at work causes an unwanted type of movement in your joints. What we doctors call a malposition is just a fancy name for your joint slightly “slipping out” from its normal centered position - an action that tends to cause "pinching", limited movement, pain, associated muscle spasm and sometimes even nerve pain.

Here’s what you can expect if you see me for an adjustment:
  • Heat application prior to any muscle work or adjustment to loosen and warm up the muscles - a key component that is very relaxing and also pain relieving.
  • Trigger point soft tissue work that will help to release the associated tightened or spasming muscles – it is my belief that it is super important to relieve the muscle tension/spasm prior to an adjustment otherwise the joint might just get pulled back in by the muscle!
  • Topical application of an all-natural pain reliever which helps reduce pain and improve blood flow
  • The adjustment: to gently re-align the joint needing to be restored to its naturally aligned position
  • Counselling on proper posture alignment and habitual patterns that may be contributing to your pain or joints going out recurrently. 

There are many additional treatments that can be added to adjustment treatments to make them more effective and last longer. Some of these include: supplementing with magnesium or intravenously injecting it – the relaxing effects can be felt within minutes. Proper posture and stretching along with adequate water intake and hydration status.  Also, IMS (intramuscular stimulation) or acupuncture can be helpful for relaxing tense muscle and reducing pain. I also often use botanical medicine to help decrease the inflammation and pain.


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It’s Tea Weather – be bold and try something new!

3/31/2015

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As dark clouds lure overhead and the sound of rain pattering on the office windows can be heard as wet dampness crawls into our bones and chills us. These weather conditions make it necessary for a nice warm soothing cup of tea or coffee to cheer up the day. How about you try a new tea this week!

Here are some of my top favourites and why I like them. Be bold! You might find something you like!

My top 3 current favourites:

Red Rooibos – a nutrient rich caffeine free easy drinking light herbal tea
  • Nutrients: rich in many minerals such as: calcium, iron, zinc, magnesium, potassium, manganese and copper red rooibos is a healthy cup of tea that does not need sugar added. It is also rich in many antioxidants like polyphenols, quercetin and aspalathin which are good for reducing oxidative damage, lessening allergy symptoms, and balancing your blood sugars.
  • Favorite Pick: Tea Time’s blend called Vanilla Amaretto – I drink this one daily while consulting with my patients. Its light vanilla aroma and soft creamy vanilla almond taste is a great daily drinking tea that makes me feel great!

Green Tea – juice up your day with an antioxidant rich caffeinated tea
  • Nutrients: known for its powerful antioxidant EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate) along with many others green tea is useful for aiding in weight loss by decreasing fat absorption and increasing your metabolic rate. In addition it helps increase your energy due to its high caffeine content which is nice if you are experiencing an afternoon energy slump. Green tea is also known for its protective effects against cancer and cardiovascular disease.
  • Favourite Pick: I enjoy a nice cup of Yogi’s Green Tea Pure Green Certified Organic Tea when I feel like I need a quick pick me up with a nice tart finish!
  • *Remember caffeinated tea may increase your heart rate and blood pressure*
 
White Tea – a very pleasantly tasting low caffeine option with protective and antimicrobial properties
  • Nutrients: high in polyphenols, flavonoids, and tannins white tea promotes healthy skin by aiding in repair, reduces oxidative damage and is helpful for decreasing cardiovascular risk. In addition white tea contains antibacterial properties making it useful for preventing dental caries and infections. 
  • Favorite Pick: Clipper Organic White tea with Orange – I enjoy this refreshing citrus tea on a cold day as I feel the caffeine slightly warm me up and the orange appeals to my taste buds!


In health,

Dr. Robyn Prescott, ND



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Welcome to the Move healthy blog

2/27/2015

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Welcome!

I am very excited to be starting this blog as I have been thinking about writing it for many years now while I was studying for four years to become a naturopathic physician!

I would like to write about the many natural solutions and tips that I use to support healthy movement like (running, biking, hiking, skiing) and help people to understand what I can do as a Naturopathic Doctor focusing in physical medicine to help you be your best!

Happy healthy moving,

Dr. Robyn


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    Dr. Robyn focuses on keeping individuals moving pain free and healthy. She practices in Lynn Valley, North Vancouver, BC

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THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ARE THOSE OF THE AUTHOR, DR ROBYN PRESCOTT, A NATUROPATHIC PHYSICIAN. IT IS PROVIDED AS A GENERAL SOURCE OF INFORMATION ONLY AND SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED TO BE PERSONAL HEALTH ADVICE. PLEASE ENSURE YOU OBTAIN CONSULTATION WITH A PROFESSIONAL HEALTH CARE PHYSICIAN FOR YOUR PERSONAL HEALTH CONSIDERATIONS. THE INFORMATION CONTAINED ON THIS SITE WAS OBTAINED FROM SOURCES BELIEVED TO BE RELIABLE, HOWEVER, WE CANNOT REPRESENT THAT IT IS ACCURATE OR COMPLETE. DR. ROBYN PRESCOTT IS A MEMBER IN GOOD STANDING OF THE BCNA AND CNPBC.