Category: Functional Medicine

Steam vs. Sauna Therapy – Which is Better For You?

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In the pursuit of optimal health and well-being, the benefits of heat therapy are undeniable. From promoting relaxation to detoxification, heat therapy has been embraced for centuries as a natural way to support the body’s healing processes.

However, when it comes to heat therapy, two popular options often come to mind: steam rooms and saunas. But which one reigns supreme? Let’s explore the differences between steam and sauna therapy and why sauna therapy, especially when coupled with red light therapy and higher temperatures, may offer superior benefits.

Steam Therapy: A Moist Retreat

Steam rooms, characterized by high humidity levels and steam-filled environments, offer a unique therapeutic experience. As you enter a steam room, the moist heat envelops your body, inducing sweat and promoting relaxation. Steam therapy is celebrated for its ability to open up the pores, cleanse the skin and provide relief for respiratory conditions like congestion and allergies.

However, while steam therapy boasts its own set of benefits, it may not be suitable for everyone. Individuals with respiratory issues or cardiovascular concerns may find the high humidity levels overwhelming, leading to discomfort or exacerbation of symptoms. Additionally, steam rooms can harbor bacteria and mold if not properly maintained, posing potential health risks for users.

Sauna Therapy: Harnessing Dry Heat

On the other hand, sauna therapy harnesses dry heat to promote sweating and detoxification. Saunas, typically heated with wood, electric heaters or infrared technology, offer a rejuvenating experience that penetrates deep into the body’s tissues. Unlike steam rooms, saunas provide a dry heat environment, allowing for higher temperatures without the discomfort of excessive humidity.

Sauna therapy is renowned for its myriad health benefits, including:

  • Improved circulation
  • Stress reduction
  • Muscle relaxation
  • Enhanced detoxification

The dry heat of saunas encourages the body to sweat profusely, flushing out toxins and impurities through the skin. Additionally, saunas have been associated with cardiovascular benefits, including reduced risk of heart disease and improved vascular function.

Why Sauna Therapy Reigns Supreme

While both steam and sauna therapy offer valuable therapeutic benefits, sauna therapy, especially when combined with red light therapy and higher temperatures exceeding 200 degrees Fahrenheit, may offer distinct advantages. Red light therapy, often integrated into sauna sessions, stimulates cellular regeneration and enhances skin health, amplifying the rejuvenating effects of heat therapy. Moreover, the intense heat of saunas promotes deeper detoxification and relaxation, making it an ideal choice for those seeking holistic wellness and vitality.

When it comes to heat therapy, the choice between steam and sauna therapy ultimately boils down to personal preference and individual health needs. While steam rooms offer a moist retreat with unique skin and respiratory benefits, sauna therapy, particularly when coupled with red light therapy and higher temperatures, may offer superior detoxification, relaxation and overall well-being. Whichever option you choose, incorporating heat therapy into your wellness routine can be a transformative journey toward optimal health and vitality.

Contact us for more information or to schedule a free 10-minute functional medicine phone consultation.

Find A Path to Deeper Healing with Family Constellation Work

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Photo of Nate Wiechmann, D.C, consulting with a patient at Pott. County Sports & Family Chiropractic

Have you ever felt like certain issues or challenges in your life seem impossible to resolve, no matter what you do? You’re not alone. Many people struggle with persistent problems, whether they’re physical, emotional or psychological, despite their best efforts. Family Constellation Work, a powerful therapeutic approach developed as part of the 5 Levels of Healing, might offer the insights and relief you’ve been seeking.

What is Family Constellation Work?

Family Constellation Work, founded by German psychotherapist Bert Hellinger, is a therapeutic method designed to uncover and address hidden dynamics within family systems that impact your health and well-being. This approach operates on the premise that unresolved issues within a family system can manifest as chronic infections, long-term illnesses and emotional challenges.

How Does It Work?

Family Constellation Work explores how relationships within a family, both past and present, can influence your current health and emotional state. The process involves mapping out these family dynamics to reveal hidden patterns and unresolved conflicts that may be contributing to your issues.

Here’s a closer look at the core aspects of Family Constellation Work:

  1. Chronic infections: Sometimes, unresolved emotional issues or family conflicts can weaken the immune system, making you more susceptible to chronic infections. By addressing these underlying issues, Family Constellation Work can help strengthen your immune response and aid in your recovery.
  2. Long-term illnesses: The emotional and psychological burden of long-term illnesses often has roots in family history or unresolved conflicts. Through Family Constellation Work, you can gain insights into these connections, facilitating a more holistic approach to healing.
  3. Emotional issues: Emotional struggles can be deeply intertwined with family dynamics. This method helps uncover these connections and offers a pathway to healing by resolving longstanding emotional conflicts.

The Benefits of Family Constellation Work

Family Constellation Work provides several key benefits, including:

  • Insight into hidden patterns: By exploring family dynamics, you gain a deeper understanding of how your family history influences your current health and emotional state.
  • Resolution of unresolved conflicts: Addressing hidden family issues can help you resolve internal conflicts, leading to emotional relief and improved well-being.
  • Enhanced healing: By tackling the root causes of chronic infections and long-term illnesses, this approach supports a more comprehensive and effective healing process.

Why Consider Family Constellation Work?

Family Constellation Work is particularly valuable if you find that traditional methods haven’t fully addressed your issues. It provides a unique perspective on the connections between your family history and your current health challenges, offering a pathway to deeper healing and resolution.

While our clinic does not offer Family Constellation Work as a direct service, Dr. Nate leverages his training with Dr. Klinghardt (and the Klinghardt Institute) to provide a root-cause approach to healing. By incorporating insights from The Emotion Code, he helps patients address underlying factors that may be contributing to their health issues. If you’re interested in exploring how a root-cause approach can complement your healing journey, contact us or schedule a functional medicine consultation.

Understanding Adrenal Fatigue and Thyroid Dysfunction: Signs, Symptoms and Solutions

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Adrenal fatigue and thyroid dysfunction are two common conditions that can significantly impact your well-being. Recognizing the signs and symptoms is crucial for seeking appropriate care and support. Here’s what you need to know:

Adrenal Fatigue Symptoms

  1. Chronic fatigue – Feeling exhausted even after a full night’s sleep
  2. Difficulty sleeping – Trouble falling asleep or waking frequently
  3. Stress and anxiety – Heightened feelings of stress, anxiety or overwhelm
  4. Brain fog – Difficulty concentrating or remembering things
  5. Cravings – Intense cravings for salty or sweet foods
  6. Low immunity – Frequent illnesses or slow recovery from infections
  7. Weight gain – Especially around the abdomen
  8. Digestive issues – Such as bloating or constipation
  9. Low Blood Pressure – Feeling lightheaded when standing up quickly

Thyroid Dysfunction Symptoms

  1. Fatigue – Persistent tiredness despite adequate rest
  2. Weight changes – Unexplained weight gain or difficulty losing weight
  3. Temperature sensitivity – Feeling cold or hot when others are comfortable
  4. Hair and skin changes – Dry skin, hair loss, or brittle nails
  5. Mood changes – Mood swings, irritability, or depression
  6. Menstrual changes – Irregular or heavy periods
  7. Muscle and joint pain – Aches, pains, or stiffness
  8. Digestive issues – Such as constipation
  9. Hoarse voice – Unexplained changes in vocal tone

Solutions

If you suspect adrenal fatigue or thyroid issues are impacting your quality of life, consider scheduling a functional medicine consultation. Through advanced diagnostic techniques and biofeedback, we can help you identify the underlying factors contributing to your symptoms and develop a personalized plan for your journey to optimal health.

Exploring Emotion Code/Body Code Work: Healing Beyond the Physical

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By: Nate Wiechmann, D.C.

In the journey toward optimal health and well-being, we often focus on addressing physical symptoms and ailments. However, what if I told you that many of our health challenges are rooted in deeper, emotional imbalances that go beyond the surface? Enter Emotion Code and Body Code work – holistic healing modalities that delve into the profound connection between our emotional well-being and physical health.

What is Emotion Code/Body Code Work?

Emotion Code and Body Code work are energy healing techniques developed by Dr. Bradley Nelson, aimed at identifying and releasing trapped emotions and imbalances in the body’s energy field. These modalities operate on the principle that unresolved emotional baggage and energetic imbalances can manifest as physical symptoms and health issues.

How Does it Work?

Emotion Code/Body Code practitioners use muscle testing or applied kinesiology to communicate with the body’s innate intelligence and identify areas of imbalance. Through a series of targeted questions, they uncover trapped emotions – unresolved feelings from past experiences – and release them using magnetic energy.

Trapped emotions can disrupt the body’s natural energy flow, leading to physical discomfort, illness and emotional distress. By releasing these trapped emotions, Emotion Code/Body Code work aims to restore energetic balance, promote healing and alleviate symptoms.

How Can it Help You?

Emotion Code/Body Code work can offer profound benefits for individuals struggling with a range of health issues, including chronic pain, anxiety, depression and unresolved trauma. By addressing the root cause of symptoms – often buried deep within the subconscious mind – these modalities facilitate healing on a holistic level.

Moreover, Emotion Code/Body Code work is not limited by time or space. It can address inherited emotional imprints and ancestral trauma passed down through generations, offering liberation and healing for individuals and their lineage.

Embracing Emotion Code/Body Code work as part of your holistic healing journey can empower you to release emotional baggage, break free from limiting beliefs and cultivate greater emotional resilience and well-being. By honoring the profound connection between our emotional and physical health, we can unlock the door to true healing and vitality.

Are you ready to explore the transformative power of Emotion Code/Body Code work? Contact us to learn more about how these modalities can support your journey toward optimal health and emotional well-being. Or, use our online scheduling tool to book an appointment.

Supporting Mental Health: Our Comprehensive Approach to Healing

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Picture of Nate Wiechmann, D.C., laughing with a patient at Pott. County Sports & Family Chiropractic

At Pott. County Sports & Family Chiropractic, we understand the interconnectedness of physical and mental well-being. That’s why we offer a range of services designed to support mental health and holistic healing.

Here’s how our comprehensive approach can benefit you:

  1. Chiropractic Care: Chiropractic adjustments play a crucial role in supporting mental health by promoting alignment and balance in the nervous system. Misalignments in the spine can interfere with nerve function and disrupt the body’s ability to cope with stress. Through gentle and precise adjustments, we realign the spine, alleviate nerve interference and restore harmony to the nervous system. This can help individuals experience greater emotional stability, improved mood, and enhanced overall well-being.
  2. Autonomic Response Testing: Autonomic Response Testing, or ART, is a non-invasive assessment technique that evaluates the body’s response to various stressors. By identifying imbalances in the autonomic nervous system, ART helps uncover underlying factors contributing to mental health concerns such as anxiety, depression and trauma. With ART, we can personalize treatment plans to address your unique needs and promote emotional balance.
  3. Emotion/Body Code Work: Emotion and body code work focuses on releasing trapped emotions and restoring energetic balance within the body. Through gentle yet powerful techniques, we can identify and release emotional baggage that may be contributing to mental health challenges. By addressing emotional imbalances, we support overall well-being and promote a greater sense of inner peace and resilience.
  4. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT): Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy involves breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber, promoting oxygenation of tissues throughout the body, including the brain. By delivering concentrated oxygen to the body’s tissues, HBOT promotes cellular repair and regeneration, reduces inflammation and enhances cognitive function. Research suggests that HBOT may also be beneficial for individuals struggling with conditions like anxiety, depression, PTSD and other mental health conditions.

We’re committed to providing holistic care that addresses the root causes of mental health concerns. Whether you’re seeking relief from anxiety, depression or trauma-related symptoms, we are here to support you on your healing journey. Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can help you achieve optimal mental health and well-being. Or, use our online scheduling tool to book an appointment.

Five Ways to Detox Your Lymphatic System Naturally

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Experiencing chronic headaches or joint pain? It could be a sign of poor lymphatic drainage.

The lymphatic system is a network of organs, vessels and tissues that drain fluid from your body. (Your glymphatic system, which is the interface between your brain and body, is also part of this system.)

If your lymphatic system gets backed up, it can lead to swelling and inflammation as well as a slew of other issues:

  • Bloating
  • Brain fog
  • Cellulite
  • Chronic headaches
  • Chronic sinus infections
  • Congestion
  • Constipation
  • Eczema
  • Excessive sweating
  • Mucus and phlegm production
  • Painful and hard swellings (especially in armpits, groin area and neck)
  • Puffy or swollen eyes
  • Sluggishness
  • Stiff or painful joints
  • Swollen ankles

Five natural ways to promote lymph detox:

  1. Exercise — Working out gets your circulation going, which promotes the flow of lymphatic fluid.
  2. Hydration — Drinking plenty of clean water helps keep lymph moving throughout your body. (BONUS: Add a squirt of lemon juice + rind as an all-around lymph detoxer. Sip on it throughout the day. It’ll get bile moving, too!)
  3. Lymph massage — This gentle massage technique helps encourage movement of lymph around the body.
  4. Dry brushing — Dry brushing is another natural massage technique that helps move lymph since it exfoliates the skin by increasing circulation.
  5. Natural herbs — Supporting the body with certain herbs can help the lymphatic system drain effectively.

It’s clear to see why lymphatic drainage is essential. When your pipes get clogged, it’s vital to de-block the plumbing as quickly as possible. Need help? Book a functional med consult today, or contact us to learn more.

What is Autonomic Response Testing?

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When an illness starts, your body can typically transition to a state of healing within a few days. But when your system is blocked, your body can’t self-regulate and becomes stuck in fight or flight.

This can be due to:

  • Undiagnosed food allergies
  • Heavy metal toxicity
  • Environmental toxicity
  • Chronic unresolved infections and scars
  • Unresolved psychological stress or family trauma
  • Electromagnetic stress (like EMF)

Identifying these imbalances can help prevent potential illness and disease and allow your body to maintain optimum health. One of the ways I do this is through Autonomic Response Testing or ART.

ART is a science based system of muscle testing developed by Dietrich Klinghardt, MD, PhD. ART is different than other forms of muscle testing in that it uses the latest findings of biophotonic physics to aid in the assessment of the body. What this means is that different substances can be tested and determined whether they are residing in the body. When a substance is placed over the body, such as a toxin, heavy metal or bacteria, it will resonate with that particular substance if it is present in the body.

If you’re dealing with unexplained health issues, reach out. I’d love to help you get to the root cause of your condition. To book an appointment, use our online scheduling tool.

Three Mistakes People Make When Detoxing

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Detox is a trendy term, and “cleansing” regimens abound. But many people go about it the wrong way, leaving them feeling worse than when they started.

Three common detox mistakes:

  1. Not supporting drainage pathways – It’s crucial to support the body’s detox pathways first to help effectively remove toxins from the body.
  2. Not taking a binder – Without binders, it’s possible for toxins to recirculate and accumulate to lethal levels.
  3. Not working with a functional med provider – It’s important to work with a qualified practitioner who can help manage your symptoms safely.

Interested in learning how to detox safely and effectively to reduce your body burden? Reach out! We offer a variety of comprehensive and functional testing options to identify underlying health issues. We’ll use the information we uncover to create a customized treatment plan and get you on the road toward better health.

Check out our “functional med” highlight on instagram for more tips like this.

5 Tips To Improve Your Health in 2024

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Happy New Year! As you embark on your resolutions, remember it’s about progress, not perfection. Here are 5 things you can start doing today to improve your overall health:

  1. Move your body — Research shows that even just walking 2,000 steps per day can decrease the risk of heart disease, cancer and premature death by 10%.
  2. Invest in clean water — One of the best things you can do to decrease your toxic load is invest in clean water. Check out my water highlight to learn more.
  3. Eat close to the source — Local food has a shorter time between harvest and your table, so it’s less likely that the nutrient value has decreased.
  4. Practice good posture — Posture largely affects the amount of strain you’re putting on your body, so making sure you’re sitting up straight (and lifting correctly) can be the difference between a healthy back and bi-weekly visits to the chiropractor.
  5. Get good sleep — Sleep is essential to every process in the body, affecting your physical and mental functioning as well as your ability to fight disease. Regular chiropractic adjustments help alleviate tension in the body, making it easier for you to fall asleep.

What changes have you started incorporating into your daily life? Share your ideas below. ⬇️

To schedule an appointment, use our online scheduling tool or call 712-249-8231.

The Greatest Medicine is to Teach People How Not to Need it

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“The greatest medicine is to teach people how NOT to need it.” – Hippocrates 

The pharmaceutical industry is large and lucrative. In fact, the U.S. is the world’s largest pharmaceutical market. According to SelectUSA, the pharmaceutical industry, directly and indirectly, supports about 4.4 million jobs in the U.S. Much money is invested in the research, development, marketing and administration of prescription medications.

While these drugs are meant to help heal the body, relieve pain and save lives, there are other ways of approaching how we can care for our bodies when we’re experiencing pain or illness.

That’s why I emphasize prevention strategies alongside treatment modalities and educate patients with a focus on lifestyle modification. 

Rather than simply focusing on symptoms and looking outside our bodies for external healing, we can start by looking at the conditions that caused the illness or pain within our bodies. As we gain a better understanding of the cause of our conditions, we can often take steps toward better overall health.

If you’re looking for a healthcare provider who prescribes a way of living rather than a bunch of pills or a lengthy treatment plan, reach out. I’d love to help you (in person or remotely) find more long-term health.