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Tart Cherry Extract: A Natural Option For Gout Relief

mary — Thu, 26 Aug 2021 13:00:40 +0000

Imagine this –

You are suffering from pain and inflammation in your feet, most notably in your big toe. This pain can be moderate to severe and come on suddenly, wracking you with hot, stinging sensations.

You are experiencing the symptoms of gout. This is called ‘podagra.’ In Greek, podagra means ‘foot trap.’ Now you know what this feels like – it feels as though your big toe has been caught in a steel trap.

How can you find relief? Let’s look at what gout is and how you can fight its symptoms naturally with tart cherry extract.

What Is Gout?

Gout is excruciatingly painful and affects about 4% of the United State population. It’s an inflammatory condition that often affects the joints of the big toe, or the base of the big toe (metatarsophalangeal). During a gout ‘attack’, urate crystals within the joint cause damage and pain to the cartilage.

Even with a deep medical community understanding of gout and very effective treatments available, many with gout continue to have painful recurrent attacks.

Gout is caused by hyperuricemia, a condition in which too much uric acid is present in the body. Uric acid is a heterocyclic compound, or a naturally-occurring waste product within the body that helps to break down purine nucleotides.

Purines are organic chemical compounds found in plants and meats, and they are metabolized and filtered out of the body during the digestive process.

When too many purines are present in the body – most commonly due to the consumption of foods with high sugar content, seafood, and alcohol – the body is unable to metabolize and excrete these organic compounds fast enough. This results in an excess amount of uric acid in the body.

Most commonly, gout is experienced in men and middle-aged individuals. For some, they experience asymptomatic gout where there are high levels of uric acid present in the blood but no exterior symptoms.

Those with painful gout attacks can experience pain and swelling that lasts for several days, leaving them with feelings of heat and even lumpy deposits in the joints. These lumps are called gouty tophi and have the appearance and consistency of toothpaste.

How To Prevent Gout Attacks

To prevent gout attacks, limit your consumption of sugars.

Drink plenty of fluids, with water being your best choice.

Do your best to control emotional and physical stress, as this can cause your flare-ups to be even more severe, and consult your personal physician to help control the pain and keep your condition from worsening.

Treatments for gout have advanced over the years, including the development of ‘allopurinol,’ a drug to prevent attacks. Speak with your orthopedic surgeon or personal physician about possible pharmaceuticals for gout. Many people with gout suffer from multiple conditions and medication interactions and side-effects should be considered.

Thankfully, there is a natural remedy for the symptoms of gout available, as well.

How Tart Cherry Extract Provides Relief

For those suffering from gout, you may find relief with the power of tart cherries (prunus cerasus). In fact, studies suggest that about 25% of people with gout use these and want to avoid problems with pharmaceuticals. Tart cherries have been noted for their aid in alleviating symptoms of gout thanks to their rich antioxidant content and anti-inflammatory powers.

These small fruits help to alleviate inflammation, a key element of a gout attack.

Scientists believe that part of the reason cherries might work is that they increase the excretion of urate and also limit the production of uric acid in the liver. The abundant urate crystals in those with gout stimulate the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines.

Cherry counteracts this problem and also protects the body and joints by providing good antioxidant coverage. This is an excellent non pharmacological option for the treatment of many of the problems associated with gout.

Tart cherries have many phytochemicals that help, but cyanidin is the most prevalent compound. These nutrient-rich cherries help to reduce inflammation and oxidative stress in the body and may even help to offset the effect of gout on the bones and joints.

The anthocyanins of cherries seem to interfere with the internal oxidation process of energy production in the body. They act as free radical scavengers and decrease the overall amounts of volatile and damaging free radicals. Tart cherries also contain anti-inflammatory anthocyanins that can help to reduce uric acid levels in the body.

Reach for a bowl of fresh Montmorency cherries, a glass of sugar-free tart cherry juice, or a tart cherry supplement to stay on top of your symptoms. Tart cherries are not just for good gout but also insomnia, muscle pain, and over-exertion, and they offer an excellent way to help the body recover.

They also have great potential for the treatment of diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. For those seeking longevity and vital aging, tart cherries are highly recommended.

Try Dr. Warner’s Tart Cherry Extract – For Natural + Effective Relief

If you are living with gout, first make sure to have regular visits with your personal physician to help keep your attacks under control. Then, make sure to maintain a healthy diet and supplement with Dr. Warner’s natural Tart Cherry Extract to fight daily pain and inflammation.

Dr. Meredith Warner, the orthopedic surgeon behind Well Theory, developed this supplement after seeing the need for inflammation support in her patients. She regularly recommends the supplementation of tart cherries and even takes them herself – and she has now made these supplements easily available to you.

This Tart Cherry Extract is available on The Well Theory website:

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The Stages of Ankle Arthritis

tagadmin — Thu, 17 Jun 2021 13:00:53 +0000

The ankle is a critical joint in our bodies. Not to say that other joints are less critical, but the ankle is a meeting point for cartilage, connective tissues, and tendons. The ankle is the lowest main meeting point of the muscles, tendons, and ligaments used for walking, running and jumping. It is essential for force and speed.

The downside to its importance is that all the force of these muscles and tendons around the ankle area makes the cartilage prone to damage, also known as arthritis. Cartilage coats the surface of a joint to allow motion when damaged, this is why movement becomes painful and less smooth.

Ankle arthritis can be painful, but the key is to understand what stage it is in so you can treat it quickly. Arthritis is a degenerative disease so, the longer you wait, the worse it gets.

Here at Warner Orthopedics & Wellness, we can determine your stage of arthritis and treat it, but there are some steps you can take to help alleviate and articulate the problem before it becomes too much to handle.

The early stage of ankle arthritis

In healthy ankles, cartilage covers the joints to protect them from friction. In ankles that are developing arthritis, this cartilage begins to wear down, therefore enabling the formation of pitting and irregularities of the surface. This is considered the early stages of ankle arthritis and is characterized by an uncomfortable or stiffening sensation in the ankle after a long day of walking or several hours of sitting.

The early stage can be a problematic one, as this pain is hard to distinguish from regular discomfort. It’s important to visit a doctor at this stage of ankle arthritis, so interventions can be made in time to slow the progression.

To remedy this stage of ankle arthritis, take some anti-inflammatory NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen or naproxen – if you aren’t allergic. Pair with this supportive footwear, low-impact activity, and a healthy, active lifestyle. Low impact aerobic activity has been shown to be best for cartilage health. Note that no activity is not good for cartilage.

Mid-stage ankle arthritis

Later, bone spurs develop in response to abnormal cartilage. Thus, this is the stage where you will begin to realize some discomfort and pain that may not be normal. Symptoms will become more noticeable, as you’ll experience varying levels of pain throughout the day that comes in waves, as well as occasional swelling.

Occasional rest and off-loading of the ankle may become necessary at this point. Doing so can help in the short term. However, for long-term solutions, it is better to stay somewhat active to keep your muscles strong so that they can support the ankle joint.

One remedy to this stage of arthritis, continue to take NSAIDs, do low-impact exercise, and meet with an orthopedic surgeon to determine the next steps. At this stage, surgery may be considered to remove spurs, clean up joins or stabilize or realign the ankle. Bracing and graded socks are often helpful. Rocker bottom shoes also and topical pain methods may also help with this.

End-stage ankle arthritis

The late stages of ankle arthritis are when the cartilage around the joint is almost entirely gone, leaving very little space between the bones, inhibiting motion. This may be true for all or just a portion of the joint. Spurs can be quite large as well.

At this stage, the ankle will be incredibly stiff and sometimes completely immobile. Simple activities like ascending/descending stairs and squatting can become impossible. In the later stages, the lubricating fluid in your joints is absent, so the friction on your bones is increased. Moving at this stage may be painful and could also be damaging to your bones.

However, many people can remain high-functioning and relatively pain-free, despite this arthritis. To treat this stage of arthritis, previous remedies (such as NSAIDs and light activity) may not be enough.

If you’re at this stage and the pain is affecting your daily life, contact an orthopedic surgeon immediately, as surgery could likely be needed. Your surgeon could also recommend a series of nonoperative remedies as well. These could range from physical therapy to acupuncture, to special shoes or CAM (complementary alternative medicine).

Arthritis is a painful disease that can get worse the longer you ignore it. Identifying that the pain or discomfort is in fact arthritis is an important step, and seeking help before symptoms worse is crucial.

Sometimes, our joints are sore, stiff, and hurt a little, especially at older ages. However, if it gets worse or you think it may be ankle arthritis, contact us today and get the help and care you need to recover!

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How Oxidative Stress Harms Nervous System Health

mary — Fri, 04 Jun 2021 13:00:04 +0000

Neurodegeneration is characterized by the progressive loss of selective neural subtypes in the CNS (central nervous system).

Accumulating evidence shows this is mediated by mitochondrial damage.

The common mechanism for lifestyle and non-communicable chronic diseases (NCDs) is mitochondrial dysfunction.

THE ROLE MITOCHONDRIA PLAY IN NERVOUS SYSTEM HEALTH

Mitochondria are responsible for energy production in cells; they produce the fuel used by all other cellular processes.

Think of mitochondria as a central processing unit; it takes external nutrient input and then produces energy output. Energy is in the form of ATP (adenosine triphosphate) and they also produce important lipid species and provide metabolic substrates for post-translational modifications for cell signaling by DNA.

Part of the process of the electron transport chain (ETC) which is how mitochondria make energy is a byproduct called ROS (reactive oxygen species). These unpaired electrons or free radicals can damage the mitochondria, mitochondrial DNA and other cellular processes.

The mitochondria have a system to check the ROS from damaging cells, but it is often overwhelmed due to chronic inflammation and excessive oxidative stress.

The mitochondria create energy from nutrients in the inner mitochondrial membrane. Here in the oxidative phosphorylation chain superoxide is made.

This is a common ROS in the cell formed at complexes I and III during the ECT. This is formed when an oxygen molecule gains an electron. The superoxide anion is then converted to hydrogen peroxide by superoxide dismutase (SOD); this is an important ROS producing enzyme.

The H2O2 molecule can then become a massively damaging hydroxyl radical; this is highly reactive and causes oxidative damage to everything it touches.

ATP is made from ADP in the mitochondria by ATP synthase; this charges the battery of the cell. ATP is the main form of energy and is able to discharge the energy whenever needed by other cells and cell processes.

2ADT molecules can also be converted to an AMP and and ATP molecule by adenylate kinase; these levels of AMP are monitored by AMPK. If AMPK senses too much AMP, then the cell is under-energized. Likewise, too little AMP means the cell is making too much energy.

Low energy states prompt AMPK to initiate protective functions and longevity functions of the cell.

THE IMPORTANCE OF SUPPORTING HEALTHY MITOCHONDRIA:

The brain and nervous system require a massive amount of energy to function, and this energy is provided by mitochondria.

Dysfunctional mitochondria basically can’t adapt to a changing environment. Normally, these organelles inside our cells are able to change according to demand. The demand changes according to the stress applied and environment.

Neurons are generally very long-lived cells; they do not turn over very fast. This means that neurons accumulate damage over time.

Mitochondrial failure causes too little energy to be produced and not enough repair and detoxification ability for the brain.

This ultimately results in neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration.

The mitochondria play a critical role in nerve and neuron function. Cells in the PNS (peripheral nervous system) and CNS rely on mitochondrial integrity. Aberrant mitochondrial quality control plays a large role in degeneration of the nervous system.

Human cells have developed systems for mitochondrial quality control to protect cells from the overproduction or under-neutralization of reactive oxygen species.

Mitochondrial quality control includes:

Proteostasis
Biogenesis
Dynamics
Mitophagy
Autophagy

MITOCHONDRIAL DYSFUNCTION AND INFLAMMATION:

A key cause of inflammatory pathways is failure of mitochondrial biogenesis, or biogenetic failure. In these situations there is an increase in calcium levels in the cytoplasm, there is oxidative stress (from ROS) and there is a decrease in normal mitochondrial DNA.

Mitochondria undergo fusion and fission on a continual basis. Fusion allows for more energy production. Fission allows for the repair or removal of damaged mitochondrial DNA and organelles. A failure of either will lead to an accumulation of inflammation and ROS within the brain which then damages neurons.

Mitochondrial fission regulates the release of pro-inflammatory mediators. It does so through nuclear factor kappa light chain enhancer of activated B cells (NF-kB) and MAPK (mitogen activated protein kinase) signaling. Chronic activation of microglial (CNS support cells) can contribute to neuronal defection.

One theory is that the accumulation of mitochondrial ROS activates the NLRP3 inflammasome-dependent pathway that elicits chronic inflammation. The NLRP3 inflammasome complex triggers the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and induces mitochondrial fragmentation. This impairs energy production and disrupts the CNS cell balance.

While the NLRP3 inflammasome complex is crucial for defense against pathogens, it is also the source of many NCDs (AD, gout, autoinflammatory disease, DM, atherosclerosis). Precise control of the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway is mandatory for the health of the cell.

HOW TO IMPROVE MITOCHONDRIAL HEALTH

There are ways to improve the function and quality of mitochondria. Two well-known and studies methods are calorie restriction and exercise. Both methods employ a negative balance in terms of nutrient input and energy output needs. By producing a negative balance, the mitochondria are challenged. A challenged mitochondria will improve its function and abilities.

The challenged mitochondria is better at biogenesis, energy production and other tasks. The unchallenged mitochondria fragments and fails; this is the heart of the NCD problem.

There is a profound effect on mitochondria by exercise. Sustained strenuous physical exercise can double the mitochondrial contents and activity. It will also increase the coupling of mitochondria and improve efficiency and function.

One of the ways that enhance function of mitochondria during calorie restriction or exercise is the AMPK (AMP-activated protein kinase) path. AMPK is an energy sensor. This molecule is deacetylated during fasting or exercise by SIRT-1. Deacetylation of AMPK increases its activity.

AMPK functions to sense energy imbalances in the cell and then to initiate cell protection. When the energy supply is low, the cell and organism will respond by slowing down aging and increasing protection from many age-related problems.

Providing antioxidants also improves mitochondrial function by allowing for excessive levels of ROS to be removed from the organelles and cells. Additionally, anti-inflammatory molecules also improve function by protecting the cell membranes and changing the environment of chronic inflammation to a more healthy one.

Less inflammation means less reactive oxygen species and less oxidative stress.

There must be harmony in the generation of mitochondrial components from the nuclear and mitochondrial genomes. This is achieved by the PPAR-gamma, SIRT1 and AMPK signalling pathway. There must be a balance between mitochondrial fusion and fission.

Fusion is the interconnection and enlargement of mitochondria to produce more energy. Fission is the repair/replace cycle for damaged mitochondria. For example, an abnormal accumulation of autophagy vacuoles from fission is a prominent feature of neurons in AD.

Defective oxidative phosphorylation in the mitochondria leads to excessive amounts of ROS and therefore elevation of oxidative stress. This causes more mitochondrial damage and a negative feedback loop happens. The role of antioxidants and anti-inflammatories is to stop this loop and to remove the unneeded ROS.

Many of our products are designed to help reduce inflammation. In particular, Dr. Warner’s Nervous System Multi is designed to improve neural health by optimizing mitochondrial function.

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The History Of The Mediterranean Diet

mary — Thu, 03 Jun 2021 16:23:32 +0000

Today, almost nobody follows the Mediterranean diet, even those that live in countries bordering the beautiful Sea.

This is sad as although this region has a strong history of a very healthy way of life, obesity and other industrial diseases are on the rise. The obesity epidemic is increasing rates of diabetes, fatty liver disease, hypertension, coronary disease, and neurodegenerative disorders.

In my opinion, just taking a step back in time and following the tenets of this wonderful diet could solve a lot of problems for people.

A Time-Tested Way Of Eating Well

Previously, it would have been quite common to eat a diet heavy in MUFAs (monounsaturated fatty acids). Today, it is more common to eat highly energy-dense, processed, and unhealthy but cheap foods.

The lack of exercise that is common with today’s lifestyles and the over-consumption of energy (food) sums up the problem of obesity. What is debatable is the actual role of fats in that equation. Some believe no fat is better than any.

I happen to believe that there are actually healthy fats and these are meant to nourish our brains and bodies in a good way, as long as they are consumed in moderation. MUFAs are generally accepted as good fat. Most PUFAs (polyunsaturated fatty acids) are as well.

How Good Fats Improve Your Health

Adipogenesis (formation of fat) depends on insulin, IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor), and glucocorticoids. Fatty acids behave like hormones when certain nuclear receptors are activated. Fatty acids can also regulate adipocyte proliferation and differentiation.

Today’s diets have a high ratio of omega 6 to omega 3 oils (linoleic: linolenic acids). This was not true historically. This change happened, more or less, in the latter half of the 20th century here. Vegetable oils heavy with omega-6 PUFAs became readily available and encouraged by the government and nutritionists.

Linoleic acid will differentiate into pro-inflammatory molecules and exacerbate the problems inherent to obesity. Linolenic acids differentiate into anti-inflammatory or resolvin-type molecules. Thus, it does appear that the type of fat is important.

Olive oil is a MUFA. This is different than a PUFA or animal fat. Traditionally, olive oil is dominant in the so-called Mediterranean diet. Olive oil is a healthy fat and is one of the differentiators of this diet.

Olive oil is thought to contribute to the decrease in SCD (stearoyl-CoA desaturase) activity which is highly associated with obesity. The body can produce its own mono-unsaturated fatty acids for cellular functions with the SCD enzyme; however, if MUFAs are present in the diet, this activity is not needed.

A high intake of olive oil (MUFAs) is the common denominator here. A diet low in PUFAs will also lead to higher internal production of MUFAs. This is the body’s way to account for that deficit.

The Key To A Healthy Diet? Balance

There are many studies that support each and every viewpoint of course. However, for our purposes, it is most important to get away from total badness. This means that a better diet and better wellness should be accessible and achievable.

Most people cannot or will not become vegan. Most people cannot or will not monitor every bite of food that goes into their system. This means, for someone interested in improving people’s health and wellness, that improvement must be possible and desirable.

The Mediterranean diet can offer that. This is a delicious way to eat and a great way to live.

The Mediterranean diet is one that I recommend most often to my patients – in my opinion, it’s one of the healthiest diets out there, and you can use it to truly transform your health. If you missed our seminar on how to start a Mediterranean diet, and want to learn even more about its benefits, you can watch a replay today:

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Here’s Everything You Need To Know About Morton’s Neuroma

mary — Mon, 17 May 2021 13:00:53 +0000

Morton’s Neuroma is a common painful condition that occurs most often between the third and fourth toes. Morton’s Neuroma is seen more in middle-aged women, but anyone can develop the condition.

Morton’s Neuroma can cause burning pain in the ball of the foot or the feeling of standing on a small rock. The pain might feel numb or tingly.

What Causes Morton’s Neuroma

Morton’s Neuroma can become noticeable by wearing tight shoes and especially high heels. They cause the nerve in your feet to compress under pressure and become irritated. When wearing inappropriate shoes long-term the nerve will thicken and become more painful.

Morton’s neuroma can also develop due to other forms of nerve compression caused by abnormal gait related to flat feet, high arches, bunions, and hammertoes.

Repetitive stress from running and other activities that are high impact on the ball of the foot can cause Morton’s Neuroma to develop pain. Morton’s neuroma is a type of neuropathy.

Treating Morton’s Neuroma

There is a range of treatment options for Morton’s Neuroma. It is best to try to find a noninvasive method of treatment before seeking more invasive methods.

Some common non-invasive methods include:

Wearing appropriate footwear with over the counter or custom inserts
Physical Therapy, especially with a focus on core foot strength
Ball of the foot massages, exercises and stretches
At home stretches and exercise
Resting
Icing
Acupuncture, acupressure, reflexology and massage

Invasive methods of treatment include:

Injections of corticosteroids, anti-inflammatories, ethanol or local anesthetics
Surgeries such as neurectomy (remove nerve tissue), cryogenic surgery (freeze nerve tissue), decompression surgery (releasing ligaments around the nerve)

Watch Our Free Seminar

Make sure to tune in on Facebook Saturday, May 22nd at 10AM to learn more about Morton’s Neuroma from our live seminar – and even enter a giveaway for products that can help you naturally relieve Morton’s Neuroma pain!

For our May Seminar, we will discuss one of the many foot conditions we treat in our clinic – Morton’s Neuroma. During this seminar, Dr. Meredith Warner will discuss:

The reasons that Morton’s Neuroma develops and what you may be doing to cause its formation or making conditions worse
Make a prevention plan to help slow the development of Morton’s Neuroma and other painful foot conditions
Find effective, natural methods of pain relief that don’t require surgery or damaging steroid injections
Optimize your lifestyle with daily habits for pain and inflammation relief!

Share our video on your Facebook wall and chat with us during our live seminar to be entered in our seminar giveaway for pain-fighting products from The Healing Sole and Well Theory!

The post Here’s Everything You Need To Know About Morton’s Neuroma appeared first on Warner Orthopedics.

Medical Marijuana For Orthopedic Surgery Recovery

mary — Fri, 14 May 2021 13:00:22 +0000

At Warner Orthopedics & Wellness, we are passionate about helping our patients take charge of their own health. We offer physical therapy, regenerative therapies, and more to help you avoid surgery when possible.

But sometimes, surgery is necessary to fully address injuries and illness that are keeping you from the things you love.

Even then, our goal is to help you recover from your surgery as quickly and naturally as possible. Too often, prescription painkillers and opioids are prescribed, and since these can have negative side effects and even be habit-forming, we strive to provide each of our surgical patients with holistic alternatives.

Here’s just one of the services we offer:

Medical Cannabis: How You Can Qualify

Dr. Meredith Warner became certified to recommend medical cannabis for those with qualifying conditions in the state of Louisiana. The phytochemicals in medical marijuana have been clinically proven to help reduce pain and inflammation, which is especially helpful for those recovering from surgery.

In addition, if recommended carefully, medical marijuana usually has far fewer side effects than narcotics do.

Some qualifying conditions include: chronic pain, anxiety, depression, intractable pain, multiple sclerosis, and more.

During your visit with Dr. Warner, she will go over your medical history and your qualifying condition to determine if medical cannabis is right for you.

How Medical Marijuana Can Help In Your Post-Surgery Recovery

Medical cannabis is filled with phytochemicals that engage your body’s regulatory, or endocannabinoid system. This regulatory system controls your pain and inflammation responses, hunger signals, mood, and more.

These cannabis compounds interact mainly with CB1 and CB2 receptors in your body to help naturally relieve pain and inflammation that may be inhibiting your progress in post-surgery recovery.

One review found that “…there has been evidence attesting to the benefit of cannabinoids on post-operative recovery and reduction in morphine use following orthopedic procedures.”

Medical cannabis has been used successfully to help improve appetite, reduce pain, relieve anxiety, and even inhibit seizures. And now, growing evidence indicates that it is a promising alternative to the opioids commonly prescribed post-surgery.

To find out if medical cannabis is right for you, schedule your consultation with Dr. Warner today!

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Diabetic Foot Care: Are You Eligible For A House Call?

mary — Mon, 10 May 2021 13:00:48 +0000

Diabetes can be difficult to live with, but not impossible! Today, we’re talking about your options for managing your diabetes symptoms, and how you might qualify for a house call if you need one.

First, What Are Some Diabetes Complications?

Foot care is essential for those with diabetes. Peripheral neuropathy is one of the most common symptoms of diabetes, and can lead to worrisome complications. Peripheral neuropathy is a type of nerve damage that impacts the extremities, particularly the hands and feet. It can be painful at times, but it can also result in loss of feeling as well.

Read More: An In-Depth Look At Diabetes 1 & 2

Diabetic patients with neuropathy may lose feeling in the feet. When this happens, and you injure your foot, you may develop a foot ulcer. This is an open sore that develops when a wound or injury does not heal properly.

Diabetes increases the risk of these ulcers due to high blood sugar levels. These heightened levels inhibit wound healing, decrease blood flow, and even cause damage to your nerves.

This makes it especially easy for a wound to go unnoticed.

An untreated ulcer can lead to serious infection or gangrene, a condition marked by decaying tissue. In serious cases of gangrene, generally, your only option is amputation.

Warner Orthopedics & Wellness: Baton Rouge Diabetic Foot Care

At Warner Orthopedics & Wellness, we specialize in diabetic foot care and the treatment of foot ulcers to prevent the need for amputation. Dr. Meredith Warner is an expert in diabetic foot care.

Our team will work closely with your primary care doctor and and endocrinologist to understand your comprehensive diabetic history.

Using this information, we develop a customized care plan for your treatment to help you manage your diabetes care naturally and comfortably.

If you are a Medicare patient, you may be eligible to receive in-home care for your diabetic foot ulcers.

These exams cover foot exams if you have diabetes-related lower leg nerve damage that may increase your risk of amputation. These exams are covered once a year under certain circumstances.

To find out if you qualify, call our clinic today!

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Medical Marijuana And The Endocannabinoid System

mary — Fri, 07 May 2021 13:00:19 +0000

Medical marijuana has many uses, and its benefits include decreased pain, improved mood, and more. Its health benefits and seeming lack of side effects are why Dr. Meredith Warner became certified to recommend medical marijuana to patients in Louisiana.

Learn More: [WEBINAR]: Natural Pain Relief With Medical Marijuana

But how does medical cannabis work? Today, we’re going to talk about the basics of the endocannabinoid system and how medical cannabis interacts with it to exert its benefits:

What Is The Endocannabinoid System?

Your body achieves and maintains homeostasis by employing the Endocannabinoid System, or ECS. The ECS is a network of signaling molecules called endocannabinoids, and receptors for these that are located everywhere throughout the body – in the brain, heart, liver and in your bones, skin, and even digestive tract.

In fact, there are more of the ECS-type receptors in the human body than any other type. Why haven’t you heard of this system before now? Well, because your physicians probably don’t know about it or understand it. After all, only about 13% of medical schools even mention it in the curriculum.

Your body naturally produces chemicals called endocannabinoids to affect these ECS receptors and to send signals to the body as they are needed. These receptors regulate things like hunger, mood, inflammation, and more. This is the “eat, sleep, relax and forget” system of the body.

You can trigger your body to produce more or less endocannabinoids with things such as exercise, diet, medication, supplements, and more. This is true for many hormones and signaling molecules; you are what you eat and what you do.

Essentially, every function of your body is influenced by endocannabinoid receptors. Medical cannabis is filled with phytocannabinoids that are able to attach to the human receptor and cause actions. These ‘phyto’ cannabinoids that attach to the ‘endo’ cannabinoid system include molecules such as THC, CBD, CBG, CBM and more.

Because of the interchangeability, plant-based therapeutics can influence these natural human receptors. The phytocannabinoids are molecularly similar to the endocannabinoids your body produces naturally.

How Medical Cannabis Interacts With The ECS

If, for example, you begin to experience constant anxiety, your body may attempt to restore homeostasis (balance) by reducing the activity of specific receptors in the brain; therefore there is a reduced sensation of stress.

In the long term, this makes it difficult for your body to maintain balance in the future, as it may err in the opposite direction. Sometimes the human body overshoots.

The compounds in medical marijuana can influence the stress response by binding to or influencing the endocannabinoid receptors – this can influence how other cannabinoids bind and exert influence, which will help your body not become overstimulated.

Likewise, if you lack enough endocannabinoids, the addition of a phytocannabinoid will allow normal function of the same receptors. Many people actually do suffer from what is called ‘endocannabinoid deficiency syndrome’. A common ailment in this group is fibromyalgia.

Most often, medical cannabis is found to interact with the body’s inflammatory response, helping to calm inflammation and reduce pain. It also engages the receptors in your body responsible for producing a stress response – helping to promote relaxation and calm.

Schedule Your Consultation Today!

If you are suffering from anxiety, chronic pain, or any other debilitating condition, you may be a great candidate for medical cannabis. Click below to schedule your consultation with Dr. Meredith Warner to determine if medical marijuana is right for you!

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Put Spring Back In Your Step!

kelsey — Fri, 30 Apr 2021 13:00:41 +0000

As the seasons change and the weather starts warming up, we all shift into a more healthy and active lifestyle.

From jogging to gardening, swimming to walking around a local park, it’s time to get outside and enjoy these longer springtime days. But if you’re too eager when adopting a new exercise routine, you might find yourself back on the couch.

Here are 3 tips that will help get you ready for a more active spring:

Make Sure You Warm Up

Before going on a jog or hitting the tennis court, it’s important to take time to warm up and stretch. Improving the flexibility of your muscles, joints, and tissues helps decrease your risk of injury, so you can enjoy your new hobbies into the summer.

Before running, try a hip flexor stretch. Kneel on the ground or on a towel, with your other foot flat on the ground in front of you. You should feel a stretch towards the front of your kneeling leg. As you gently tilt your pelvis bone forward this stretch will progress.

Increase Your Heart Rate

Now is the time to get cardio in! Choose exercises that keep your heart rate up. Power Walking is a good place to start. You can also throw in some cycling, jogging, or swimming depending on your schedule as well!

Increasing your heart rate will improve your cardiovascular health over time. Take it easy though – if you’ve been stuck at home during the winter without too much daily exercise, you’ll need to work yourself back up to it. Most experienced athletes engage in a slow-fast-slow routine when getting back into shape.

For example, walk for 10 minutes then slowly jog for 2 minutes. Increase this ratio over time. Obviously, this could start with walking for 2 minutes and not jogging and slowly increasing endurance over time too. If you have more questions, your physical therapist or personal trainer would be a wonderful resource.

Improve Your Balance

The best way to avoid injury is to ensure you don’t trip or fall in the first place. Balance generally decreases with age, so maintaining it is important if you want to age vibrantly. Improving your balance will not only help you avoid injury, but will also help improve your ability to engage in more strenuous activities.

A well-rounded yoga routine is a good place to start. Many yoga poses help strengthen your core, which is an essential part of your ability to keep your balance. Yoga also increases foot strength and not many forms of exercise do this. Many poses also incorporate balance into the routine as well, by having you stand on one leg, shifting your weight to target certain muscle groups, and more.

Balance is dependent upon the ability to feel and sense your position in space. This means that optimized nerve health is necessary too.

If you’re looking to get more active, and think you need guidance on where to start, make an appointment with our expert physical therapy team today!

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Medical Marijuana For Chronic Pain

mary — Mon, 26 Apr 2021 13:00:34 +0000

Dr. Meredith Warner, the founder of Warner Orthopedics & Wellness, is officially certified to recommend patients for access to medical marijuana in the State of Louisiana.

Our clinic does not prescribe medical cannabis – Dr. Warner can only recommend those with qualifying conditions for a Louisiana Medical Marijuana card.

Dr. Warner decided to become certified to recommend due to the amazing benefits of this holistic plant-based therapy. The benefits of medical cannabis are still being researched, but it is most well-known for its anti-inflammatory, anti-nausea and pain-relieving benefits.

Since many of our patients suffer from chronic pain, we are excited to offer access to this natural therapy. Here’s how medical marijuana helps relieve chronic pain:

An Alternative To Opioids

According to the CDC, chronic pain is one of the most common reasons adults in the United States seek medical care.

Opioids are prescribed to those suffering from chronic pain and to those recovering from painful surgeries. While in some cases opioids are necessary, particularly in circumstances where patients are experiencing immense, recurring pain that impacts their day-to-day lives, there are many risks associated with opioid use.

Some opioids can be habit-forming and have other worrisome side effects. Addiction is an obvious problem with opioids and America is in the throes of a severe opioid epidemic at the moment.

Medical cannabis has been researched at the basic science level for decades as an effective alternative to commonly prescribed heavy pain relievers.

Since local clinical research is new, clinical studies rely on patients self-reporting their pain levels before and after using cannabis. In a 2017 study, 2/3rds of the participants reported a noticeable decrease in their chronic pain.

How Does Medical Marijuana Reduce Pain?

Medical cannabis is filled with phytochemicals that engage your body’s regulatory, or endocannabinoid system. This regulatory system controls your pain and inflammation responses, hunger signals, mood, and more.

These cannabis compounds interact mainly with CB1 and CB2 receptors in your body. “ The CB2 receptors, localized outside of the central nervous system, have also been implicated in pain management.”

By binding to and engaging with receptors throughout this system, medical cannabis can help reduce an over-eager inflammatory response, help relieve pain, and restore balance. In particular, medical cannabis triggers the abundant CB1 receptors found in the brain and can have a profound effect on physical pain and functioning.

Chronic intractable pain is one of the qualifying conditions that will allow you to access a Louisiana Medical Marijuana card.

If you are suffering from debilitating, recurring pain – make your appointment with Dr. Warner today to discuss receiving an official recommendation.

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