Here in New England, depending on your level of outdoor activity, tick bite prevention and treatment of tick-borne illnesses can be a common source of questions.

Our clinic partners with a local producer of organic herbal extracts. In collaboration with Dr. Alexis Chesney, one of the nation’s experts in tick-borne illnesses, we crafted this proprietary blend called L-Plus that supports the immune and neurological systems in the face of Lyme disease.

“All disease begins in the gut” is a quote attributed to Hippocrates. Turns out he was right! Everything from gut issues like heartburn, bloating, constipation, and diarrhea to systemic issues such as inflammation, joint pain, and heart disease to psychological issues such as depression and anxiety, can all be linked to the gut. With this cleanse you will learn the connection between our microbiome, our health, our diets, and a western lifestyle while participating in this 3-week cleanse, based on the work of Dr. Alejandro Junger and his book Clean. 

Spring is often experienced as a time of renewal and regeneration, and many of us find ourselves planning our gardens, cleaning our homes, detoxifying our bodies from heavy winter foods, and interacting more with nature (or communing with mud, as the case may be). For those with mental health challenges, however, depression and anxiety can persist despite the seasonal changes.

We believe that healthcare is not just about treating illnesses but also about fostering wellness and building connections that uplift and support each other. Group Medical Visits embody this philosophy, offering a holistic approach to healthcare that goes beyond traditional medical appointments.

If you can move for just 15 minutes every few hours each day, you can experience some of the benefits that exercise can bring. Think of it as an “exercise snack,” allowing yourself this indulgence, because time and again, regular physical activity emerges as a holistic approach to promoting overall well-being. Your brain and body will thank you for it!

If you've never had a massage, you're not alone! Here are some common questions clients have prior to their first massage.

What’s new in the sojourns waiting room?

Check out our new fitness products!

Vermonters know physical fitness is more than just the gym. Whether you’re stacking wood, skiing the slopes, or wrangling in the goats, everyone could use a little extra care in muscle recovery.

We’ve handpicked high quality products that can help with reducing fatigue to building lean muscle, supporting joints, and improving brain cognition & memory. Creatine’s muscle benefits go beyond the expected, its increased cellular energy has been shown to heal heart tissue damage and improve cardiovascular health.

We’re here to support your New Years journey!

3. WHAT TO DO IF YOU GET A TICK BITE

STEP 1: Immediately Remove and Identify the Tick

Use an O’Tom Tick Twister to remove tick. Save tick and mark date on the calendar. Identify the tick.

STEP 2: Apply First Aid

Put andrographis or tick bite formula on the bite. If you do not have these, use alcohol or peroxide.

STEP 3: Have the Tick Tested for Pathogens

Go to www.tickreport.com. Send your tick to be identified and tested for pathogens. There are 3 pricing tiers for testing. The first tier includes testing for DNA of the most common tick-borne diseases tailored to the type of tick you send (ie, for a blacklegged deer tick: Borrelia general species, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Borrelia miyamotoi, Borrelia mayonii, Babesia microti, Ehrlichia muris-like agent, Anaplasma phagocytophilum.) Receive results via email within one week.

STEP 4: Begin the Herbal Prophylactic Protocol

Deer Tick Bite Formula: 1 teaspoon in water 30 minutes before breakfast, lunch and dinner (dosage is for adult weight). You may substitute with appropriate formula per type of tick bite you received.

STEP 5: Watch for Symptoms

Watch for symptoms especially over the next 30 days after a tick bite: “bull’s eye” or other rash around tick bite, fever, flu-like symptoms, joint pain or swelling, muscle pain, headaches, neck pain, facial palsy, lymph node swelling, palpitations, night sweats, air hunger or non-exertional shortness of breath, chest pain, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, cough, sore throat, confusion, disorientation, difficulty breathing or speaking, loss of coordination, seizures, lethargy, paralysis, body rash.

If you develop symptoms, you are no longer treating an asymptomatic tick bite. It is essential to make an appointment with a tick-borne disease literate practitioner, go to the ER or urgent care. You may have active tick-borne disease which requires further evaluation and treatment.

STEP 6: Get Tested (Maybe)

The warming air and melting snow bring anticipation of green grass, warm days, and daffodils. For many people, those joys are accompanied by sneezes, watery eyes, sinus congestion, headache and/or fatigue; all common symptoms of seasonal allergies. If you have resigned yourself to living with allergies, be confident that this spring can be different.

Sugaring season has arrived in Vermont. For those reading this who may not know what that is (not to mention “mud season”), it is the few weeks every year when sap from maple trees is collected and turned into the sweet gift of maple syrup. Beyond that it is also a sure sign the trees are preparing for spring, and the promise of long, warm summer days.

Thank you so much for calling Sojourns! For your convenience we have created diagrams to help you reach the most appropriate person when calling our main number. The first diagram you will see shows our 9 options for connecting to our various departments. The second diagram breaks down how to connect with your doctor. You will also see a link to our letter from support staff further explaining the use of the urgent line.

As we begin 2023 and consider what we want for the year ahead, things at the top of many lists are more kindness, generosity, peace and health, along with less division, resentment, anger and illness. Given the times we are living in there is little wonder those are widely held sentiments. So, how do we help create the conditions we are hoping?

As the fall season settles in and the leaves change colors and fall to the earth (making it much harder to find your ball after errant shots…), I am inspired to reflect on the health benefits that I have found in the game called golf.

Most of us have learned a number of preventative skills in our lifetime. We know that it’s a good idea to brush your teeth, wash your hands, be careful on ladders and think before we act, “look before we leap” and many other small actions that make a positive difference in our health and overall well-being.