Jun 2011
Duct tape wart remedy
30/Jun/11 12:39 PM Filed in: Home remedies
by Kate Whimster, BCom, MIFHI, ND
This is one of the home remedies I discussed during my appearance on Wylde on Health June 17, 2011. Video is up online here (look for June 17th, segment 2).
Warts, while not life-threatening, are an annoying health issue for many of my patients. There are a lot of home remedies for warts, many of which I’ve tried myself! I’ve found this simple remedy to be the most consistently successful in my clinical experience.
Duct tape wart remedy
Simply place a piece of duct tape over your wart and keep it on 24 hours per day. It is best to change the duct tape twice per day, so you are always using a fresh piece. Duct tape will deprive your wart of oxygen, killing the wart and the skin around it. When you change the duct tape, gently scrape away any dead skin.
A useful addition to this remedy is either fresh garlic or fresh potato slices. Place a thin slice of garlic or potato over the wart and then cover with the duct tape.
It’s important to be PATIENT with this remedy! Some people find that their warts disappear or fall off within days, but more commonly it will take at least 3-6 weeks to eliminate your average wart. Plantar warts will take longer than warts on the hands.
This is one of the home remedies I discussed during my appearance on Wylde on Health June 17, 2011. Video is up online here (look for June 17th, segment 2).
Warts, while not life-threatening, are an annoying health issue for many of my patients. There are a lot of home remedies for warts, many of which I’ve tried myself! I’ve found this simple remedy to be the most consistently successful in my clinical experience.
Duct tape wart remedy
A useful addition to this remedy is either fresh garlic or fresh potato slices. Place a thin slice of garlic or potato over the wart and then cover with the duct tape.
It’s important to be PATIENT with this remedy! Some people find that their warts disappear or fall off within days, but more commonly it will take at least 3-6 weeks to eliminate your average wart. Plantar warts will take longer than warts on the hands.
Comments
Total body detox article
27/Jun/11 02:29 PM Filed in: My practice | News
by Kate Whimster, BCom, MIFHI, ND
Check out my article on Total Body Detox online now at Women’s Post!
Check out my article on Total Body Detox online now at Women’s Post!
Warming socks
26/Jun/11 11:14 AM Filed in: Home remedies | Hydrotherapy
by Kate Whimster, BCom, MIFHI, ND
This is one of the home remedies I discussed during my appearance on Wylde on Health June 17, 2011. Video is up online here (look for June 17th, segment 3).
This is a great treatment when you are sick with cold, particularly if you have a lot of congestion. Although it may not sound pleasant, your body heat quickly warms the socks and gets your feet toasty warm! Increasing circulation to your feet helps reduce sinus and chest congestion and helps warm your body up, facilitating healing via body heat (see my blog Give me fever for more about this!) and stimulating your immune system.
Warming socks
Directions:
1 Fill a bowl with cold water and ice cubes.
2 Soak a pair of cotton socks in the ice water.
3 Wring out socks and put on feet.
4 Once the cotton socks are on, make sure you are close to the bed and have a dry pair of wool socks handy.
5 Put on the dry wool socks over the wet cotton socks. After putting on the wool socks, avoid walking in the socks as this will cause the wool socks to get damp!
6 Lie down in bed and go to sleep.
This is one of the home remedies I discussed during my appearance on Wylde on Health June 17, 2011. Video is up online here (look for June 17th, segment 3).
This is a great treatment when you are sick with cold, particularly if you have a lot of congestion. Although it may not sound pleasant, your body heat quickly warms the socks and gets your feet toasty warm! Increasing circulation to your feet helps reduce sinus and chest congestion and helps warm your body up, facilitating healing via body heat (see my blog Give me fever for more about this!) and stimulating your immune system.
Warming socks
Directions:
1 Fill a bowl with cold water and ice cubes.
2 Soak a pair of cotton socks in the ice water.
3 Wring out socks and put on feet.
4 Once the cotton socks are on, make sure you are close to the bed and have a dry pair of wool socks handy.
5 Put on the dry wool socks over the wet cotton socks. After putting on the wool socks, avoid walking in the socks as this will cause the wool socks to get damp!
6 Lie down in bed and go to sleep.
To pill or not to pill?
24/Jun/11 08:09 PM Filed in: Women
by Kate Whimster, BCom, MIFHI, ND
The birth control pill that is... Although this phrase could start a blog about any number of “pills” you might be prescribed! I just read this great blog called “Birth Control Pill Misconceptions” by Shawna Darou, ND that highlights the importance of addressing the root cause behind some of the reasons women use birth control pills.
In my practice I see a lot of women on the pill and many women who want to conceive after using the pill. I agree whole-heartedly with Shawna that the pill is not a great solution to the hormonal issues many women face (PMS, cramps, ovarian cysts, acne, etc). It is a tool for imposing an artificial cycle on top of your natural cycle, obscuring your true state of health. I think this is a disservice to women, especially those young girls who may never have established a normal menstrual cycle until one day they decide the want to get pregnant.
Most women that come to me for fertility and prenatal support expect to have a healthy period nearly immediately after stopping the pill and do not expect to spend months (or even years!) re-establishing a healthy hormonal balance before conceiving! Many of these women have been on the pill for so many years they don’t even remember what their own period is like anymore! When Shawna says she looks at “the menstrual cycle as a vital sign, as important as blood pressure and heart rate in assessing a woman’s health” she is right on target. Not only is a healthy hormonal balance essential for getting pregnant but it is also important to sustaining a healthy pregnancy and creating a healthy baby! In fact, the mother’s health before conceiving deserves a lot more investment and attention than it seems to get these days, but that is a subject for another blog...
So if you are one of those millions of women wondering “to pill or not to pill,” what should you do? Here are some alternatives to consider - knowledge is power.
Alternatives for hormonal regulation:
Nutrition:
Shelly Reitkop, ND recently wrote a great blog called “Understanding and Overcoming PMS” with some great info on how nutrient intake correlates with PMS symptoms. This is just the tip of the iceberg! Your naturopathic doctor can help you make simple dietary changes to regulate hormones.
Herbs:
There are a wide variety of safe and effective “female herbs.” Herbal prescriptions are individual, so see your naturopathic doctor to find out what herbs can best address your unique symptoms.
Acupuncture:
Acupuncture is a great treatment for a wide variety of female hormonal concerns! I’ve used acupuncture to successfully regulate menstrual cycles, ease period pain and PMS, and for prenatal and postnatal care. Acupuncture is perhaps best known for fertility treatment alone or combined with conventional fertility treatments.
Homeopathy:
Homeopathy is a truly personalized system of treatment that can address many concerns, especially issues surrounding the menstrual cycle and each woman’s unique symptoms. I have lots of info about homeopathy on my site. Learn the basics here and here.
Alternatives for contraception:
Natural:
The natural family planning method that I know most about and is highly effective is the Justisse Method for Fertility Management. There is a wealth of information on their website and you can order a guide from them to learn how to track your menstrual cycle to determine your fertility (and avoid getting pregnant!). I also sell their guide in my Beaches clinic.
For those who are less into charting and more into convenience, there is LadyComp, but apparently this is no longer available in Canada! It seems to have been replaced by Ovacue.
Condoms:
The condom is truly a wonderful invention for both men and women! Condoms are one of the most effective means of birth control (if used correctly) and they are cost-effective, convenient, and safe.
Diaphragm:
Finally, the good old diaphragm. When I asked my doctor for a referral to a gynecologist to get a diaphragm, he told me I was the only women to go from pill to diaphragm in his whole practice! But really, the diaphragm is easy to use, very effective, and affordable. The biggest downside is that the spermicidal gel for use with the diaphragm is no longer available in Canada (but it still available from the US!). However, there is some evidence that use of spermicide does not significantly change the effectiveness of the diaphragm.
The birth control pill that is... Although this phrase could start a blog about any number of “pills” you might be prescribed! I just read this great blog called “Birth Control Pill Misconceptions” by Shawna Darou, ND that highlights the importance of addressing the root cause behind some of the reasons women use birth control pills.
In my practice I see a lot of women on the pill and many women who want to conceive after using the pill. I agree whole-heartedly with Shawna that the pill is not a great solution to the hormonal issues many women face (PMS, cramps, ovarian cysts, acne, etc). It is a tool for imposing an artificial cycle on top of your natural cycle, obscuring your true state of health. I think this is a disservice to women, especially those young girls who may never have established a normal menstrual cycle until one day they decide the want to get pregnant.
Most women that come to me for fertility and prenatal support expect to have a healthy period nearly immediately after stopping the pill and do not expect to spend months (or even years!) re-establishing a healthy hormonal balance before conceiving! Many of these women have been on the pill for so many years they don’t even remember what their own period is like anymore! When Shawna says she looks at “the menstrual cycle as a vital sign, as important as blood pressure and heart rate in assessing a woman’s health” she is right on target. Not only is a healthy hormonal balance essential for getting pregnant but it is also important to sustaining a healthy pregnancy and creating a healthy baby! In fact, the mother’s health before conceiving deserves a lot more investment and attention than it seems to get these days, but that is a subject for another blog...
So if you are one of those millions of women wondering “to pill or not to pill,” what should you do? Here are some alternatives to consider - knowledge is power.
Alternatives for hormonal regulation:
Nutrition:
Shelly Reitkop, ND recently wrote a great blog called “Understanding and Overcoming PMS” with some great info on how nutrient intake correlates with PMS symptoms. This is just the tip of the iceberg! Your naturopathic doctor can help you make simple dietary changes to regulate hormones.
Herbs:
There are a wide variety of safe and effective “female herbs.” Herbal prescriptions are individual, so see your naturopathic doctor to find out what herbs can best address your unique symptoms.
Acupuncture:
Acupuncture is a great treatment for a wide variety of female hormonal concerns! I’ve used acupuncture to successfully regulate menstrual cycles, ease period pain and PMS, and for prenatal and postnatal care. Acupuncture is perhaps best known for fertility treatment alone or combined with conventional fertility treatments.
Homeopathy:
Homeopathy is a truly personalized system of treatment that can address many concerns, especially issues surrounding the menstrual cycle and each woman’s unique symptoms. I have lots of info about homeopathy on my site. Learn the basics here and here.
Alternatives for contraception:
Natural:
The natural family planning method that I know most about and is highly effective is the Justisse Method for Fertility Management. There is a wealth of information on their website and you can order a guide from them to learn how to track your menstrual cycle to determine your fertility (and avoid getting pregnant!). I also sell their guide in my Beaches clinic.
For those who are less into charting and more into convenience, there is LadyComp, but apparently this is no longer available in Canada! It seems to have been replaced by Ovacue.
Condoms:
The condom is truly a wonderful invention for both men and women! Condoms are one of the most effective means of birth control (if used correctly) and they are cost-effective, convenient, and safe.
Diaphragm:
Finally, the good old diaphragm. When I asked my doctor for a referral to a gynecologist to get a diaphragm, he told me I was the only women to go from pill to diaphragm in his whole practice! But really, the diaphragm is easy to use, very effective, and affordable. The biggest downside is that the spermicidal gel for use with the diaphragm is no longer available in Canada (but it still available from the US!). However, there is some evidence that use of spermicide does not significantly change the effectiveness of the diaphragm.
Natural electrolye drink
23/Jun/11 08:58 AM Filed in: Home remedies | Recipes
by Kate Whimster, BCom, MIFHI, ND
This is one of the home remedies I discussed during my appearance on Wylde on Health June 17, 2011. Video is up online here (look for June 17th, segment 2).
If you are dehydrated through sweating, diarrhea, or vomiting, it is essential to not only replenish water, but also glucose and minerals/electrolytes, such as sodium, potassium, and chloride, which are essential for many processes in your body. It is also important to stay well hydrated when you are sick with a cold or the flu. This remedy is also great for keeping sick kids hydrated!
There are a lot of electrolyte drinks on the market and unfortunately most of them are very high in sugar and artificial ingredients that you don’t need. Why not make your own simple electrolyte drink at home? The simple recipe below can be made with ingredients found in your kitchen and for extra taste and to bump up the immune boosting power of this drink, you can add a berry concentrate such as Proberry 3 liquid. Check out my blog called A tastier flu “shot” about the power of berries, especially elderberry. Elderberry has powerful anti-viral properties, so is effective against influenza and other viral infection such as the common cold.
Natural electrolyte drink
Ingredients:
¼ tsp sea salt
¼ tsp baking soda
1 Tbsp agave nectar (or maple syrup or honey)
Juice of a ½ lemon
1L water
1-3 tsp berry concentrate (to taste)
Directions:
1 Add the first four ingredients to the water and stir until dissolved.
2 Add berry concentrate to taste.
This is one of the home remedies I discussed during my appearance on Wylde on Health June 17, 2011. Video is up online here (look for June 17th, segment 2).
There are a lot of electrolyte drinks on the market and unfortunately most of them are very high in sugar and artificial ingredients that you don’t need. Why not make your own simple electrolyte drink at home? The simple recipe below can be made with ingredients found in your kitchen and for extra taste and to bump up the immune boosting power of this drink, you can add a berry concentrate such as Proberry 3 liquid. Check out my blog called A tastier flu “shot” about the power of berries, especially elderberry. Elderberry has powerful anti-viral properties, so is effective against influenza and other viral infection such as the common cold.
Natural electrolyte drink
Ingredients:
¼ tsp sea salt
¼ tsp baking soda
1 Tbsp agave nectar (or maple syrup or honey)
Juice of a ½ lemon
1L water
1-3 tsp berry concentrate (to taste)
Directions:
1 Add the first four ingredients to the water and stir until dissolved.
2 Add berry concentrate to taste.
Stroke prevention talk June 22nd
20/Jun/11 11:30 PM Filed in: My practice | Events
by Kate Whimster, BCom, MIFHI, ND
I will be giving at free talk on stroke prevention this Wednesday, June 22nd, 7pm at the Deer Park Library (40 St. Clair Avenue East, Toronto). Call the library at 416-393-7657 to RSVP!
Topics will include:
This is the last library talk until the fall, stay tuned for all new exciting topics starting in September!
I will be giving at free talk on stroke prevention this Wednesday, June 22nd, 7pm at the Deer Park Library (40 St. Clair Avenue East, Toronto). Call the library at 416-393-7657 to RSVP!
Topics will include:
- What is a stroke?
- Signs and symptoms
- Risk factors
- What can you do to prevent stroke?
This is the last library talk until the fall, stay tuned for all new exciting topics starting in September!
Wylde on Health June 17th
by Kate Whimster, BCom, MIFHI, ND
I will be on Wylde on Health with host Bryce Wylde this Friday, June 17th at 7pm on CP24! The topic for Friday’s show is natural home remedies. We will be discussing remedies and first aid for common ailments using things you can find around the house and we will also take live questions! Check it out on channel 24 or online here.
I will be on Wylde on Health with host Bryce Wylde this Friday, June 17th at 7pm on CP24! The topic for Friday’s show is natural home remedies. We will be discussing remedies and first aid for common ailments using things you can find around the house and we will also take live questions! Check it out on channel 24 or online here.
Guest post: Here comes the sun
11/Jun/11 06:24 PM Filed in: Guest post | Personal care
Guest post by Annie Salsberg, ND
Even before I became a Naturopath, I was concerned about chemicals in our environment. I remember borrowing some skin cream from a friend while in university and seeing the ingredient list full of words that I had never heard and with names that I could not pronounce. It did not seem right that we should smear gobs of chemical-laden product onto our skin. People seem to get very uptight and concerned when we talk about ingesting (eating) or inhaling (breathing) toxic compounds, but many don’t even seem to bat an eye when we mention the risks associated with trans-dermal (through the skin) absorption of toxins.
With the weather on an up swing, most are (hopefully) reaching for their sunscreen. I thought it might be a great time to review the good, bad and ugly sides of sunscreens!
There are currently two major ‘types’ of sunscreens on the market: 1) chemical sunscreens and 2) mineral sunscreens. Chemical sunscreens penetrate the skin while the latter act as a block to UV rays; mineral sunscreens most commonly contain zinc and/or titanium.
Over the last few years, there has been increasing concern over some of the ingredients included in some chemical sunscreens. Oxybenzone and vitamin A derivatives are two ingredients generating the greatest amount of buzz. Oxybenzone (not to be confused with the safer avobenzone) is an ingredient found in almost half of the chemical sunscreens on the market. It is a synthetic estrogen and is absorbed through the skin; as such, it may disrupt hormones. Some scientists have even called for parents to stop using products containing oxybenzone on children due to concerns around toxicity. Vitamin A derivatives, such as retinyl palmitate or retinol, are also quite common in chemical sunscreens. While vitamin A may have some beneficial anti-oxidant properties when used internally or in some night creams/lotions, recent data seems to suggest that it may be photocarcinogenic. That is, it may actually increase the risk of skin cancer on skin when exposed to sunlight!
While the jury may still be out as to an absolute and final verdict on the safety profile of chemical sunscreens, many are already shying away from creams that penetrate. Furthermore, many international agencies have been recommending clothing, hats and shade as primary protection against sunburns and skin cancer, NOT sunscreen.
Currently, it appears as thought mineral sunscreens offer the best safety profile of products on the market. Mineral sunscreens are stable in sunlight and do not appear to penetrate the skin. The Environmental Working Group (www.ewg.org), is a great resource to learn more about the safety profile of many sunscreens. They have recently released their 2011 guide. They also offer a comprehensive database with valuable information on many body care products, including those intended for babies and young children. All of their information is free and easily accessible online.
Stay cool and keep shaded but be sure to enjoy the summer and the sun!
Great quote #28
10/Jun/11 10:36 AM Filed in: Quotes
“Holding onto anger and resentment is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.” Unknown
Sister Act your health
03/Jun/11 08:16 AM Filed in: Philosophy | Natural medicine
Here’s a fun video from the movie Sister Act that relates to health! My business coach Andy Belanger uses this video in his courses as a tool to explain naturopathic medicine:
Whoopi Goldberg’s character is like your ND. She analyzes the situation and determines that the choir (your body) is not working optimally, resulting in symptoms (bad singing!). But she can see that with a few adjustments, things can get better. She implements some organization, removes obstacles, fosters natural ability, and motivates them. The result in a few minutes is harmony! The choir still needs to practice, but just these few strategies have made them productive. This is what I do as a naturopathic doctor.
Enjoy!
Whoopi Goldberg’s character is like your ND. She analyzes the situation and determines that the choir (your body) is not working optimally, resulting in symptoms (bad singing!). But she can see that with a few adjustments, things can get better. She implements some organization, removes obstacles, fosters natural ability, and motivates them. The result in a few minutes is harmony! The choir still needs to practice, but just these few strategies have made them productive. This is what I do as a naturopathic doctor.
Enjoy!
