Sunday October 18th, 2009 Healthy Lifestyles

Learning how to have a healthy lifestyle is a preoccupation of many in this day and age of fast food, job losses, and hi-tech gadgetry that promotes sedentary living. We are fast realizing that we need to become more responsible for our own health and that what we do about it today will have an impact on our health in the future. With this responsibility comes a willingness to try different things.

Alternative medicines, practices and therapies have become more mainstream, health food and nutrition stores more commonplace. There is a renewed interest in the folk medicines of past generations. The library has much to offer those wanting more information on alternative medicines and therapies. I have highlighted some find titles of interest.

Don’t forget to check out the Health category of our virtual collection. There you can search 9 online databases specifically on health related topics. For those of you who like a more hands on approach, join Teresa Magiskan of Anishnabwe-Mushkiki on October 2, at 7 pm at the Waverley Library auditorium for The Medicine Wheel and Sacred Medicines. Learn about the four colours of the wheel and the seven directions, and the traditional healing methods of First Nations cultures.

The library collection has many titles to help you on your journey to wellness through both traditional non-traditional methods. Here are just a few samples of the titles you will find – and don’t forget to check out our e-book titles off of our website.

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Natural Remedies, 2009. “Put away the ice pack! This book will help you find a better way to treat all kinds of health issues – from high blood pressure to poison ivy. You get simple explanations of many common symptoms and their possible causes; research-based information on vitamins and minerals, healing herbs, acupuncture, aromatherapy and other alternative therapies; proactive disease-prevention strategies you can easily incorporate into your life.”


Indian Herbalogy of North America, 1973. “For more than twenty years this pioneering work has served as a bible for herbalists throughout the world. It is an illustrated encyclopedic guide to more than two hundred medicinal plants found in North America, with descriptions of each plant’s appearance and uses, and directions for methods of use and dosage. Native American traditions are compared with traditional uses of the same plants among other cultures where the science of herbs has flourished, particularly in Russia and China.”


For more up-to-the-hour information, check out our online databases such as those listed below. Find them on our website at www.tbpl.ca and click on Virtual Collection.

ALT HealthWatch. This is an online resource on alternative and complimentary health care treatments such as Acupuncture, Chiropractic, Herbal Remedies, Homeopathy, Massage, Reiki, and Yoga. It searches such journals and magazines as Total Health, Alternative Medicine Review, and Natural Health.

Health Source: Consumer Edition. Geared for the non-professional reader, this source provides information on many health topics including good science and nutrition, childcare, sports medicine and general health. Magazines covered include Good Health, Shape, and Natural Health.

If none of the resources I’ve listed has piqued your interest in alternative therapies, then at least come and borrow one of our pedometers and go for a walk. Let the library help you towards a more healthy lifestyle!

Barbara Philp, Head of Adult Services