Natural medicine
An ounce of prevention...
13/Nov/12 01:45 PM
by Kate Whimster, BCom, MIFHI, ND
In my monthly library talks and when speaking with patients, I find myself frequently emphasizing the incredible importance of prevention. Naturopathic medicine is all about prevention! So I thought I would share some key points here to help drive home just how valuable prevention is (and why it can be hard to practice it!).
How valuable is prevention?
We all theoretically agree it is better to prevent disease (or any other negative outcome). Treating existing health issues prevents future, chronic health issues. For example, addressing high blood pressure can prevent heart disease, treating inflammation today can make your body a less hospitable place for cancer to grow, and resolving immune imbalance can treat and prevent eczema, asthma, and allergies. Clearly you can save time, energy, and money later by making an investment in your health today.
Think for a moment of any nagging health issue you might have now… Pain, fatigue, medications you have to take, discomfort, etc. What would it be worth to you to not have it? To just be cured of it right now? As if it never happened? A lot, right? That would mean you don’t have to work so hard and you would feel better every day. And, how good would that feel? How gratifying would that be? Pretty amazing, right?
So, what would it be worth to you to have prevented that nagging issue before it happened? Take into account the financial cost, but also the value of your time and energy. Consider how that issue may have affected your job performance, earning potential, quality of life, relationships, and all the other ways it has changed your life. With these things in mind, prevention is incredibly valuable! Unfortunately, putting prevention into practice is still a challenge for so many of us.
Why is prevention hard to practice?
1. Prevention seems expensive:
In Canada we are accustomed to “free” healthcare. It isn’t really “free” but because we don’t pay directly out of pocket, it seems that way. Nor is it necessarily what we want in terms of long-term health outcomes – the conventional medical system doesn’t do prevention very well. In comparison, investing your disposable income in health NOW versus spending nothing NOW (but spending a lot more later) can seem expensive. However, making that up-front investment actually provides a higher return in quality of life, savings on medications, increased energy and productivity, and just plain enjoyment of life than any other way you can invest your money.
2. Prevention is delayed gratification:
Having pain and taking pain medication and getting quick relief is very tangible and immediate. Much of medicine works this way (medications for asthma, sleep, depression, anxiety, rashes, etc). It’s pretty great to have a problem, take a pill, and feel better!
More delayed gratification might be if you have an issue (eg: migraines, asthma, depression, or some other discomfort) and go see a naturopathic doctor who works with you on diet, lifestyle, and other ways to eventually eliminate your discomfort. Usually you can see some improvement in the short-term with naturopathic treatment and continue building on that to alleviate your symptoms. This is also tangible and measurable because you had a problem and then you don’t. Definitely takes more time, up-front cost, and commitment, but most people would agree the result has more value that suppressing the same symptoms with medication.
Prevention is the ultimate in delayed gratification since if you are successful, you will never know what might have been and you can’t measure something that doesn’t exist! So, prevention doesn’t have the same short-term pay-off that motivates people. And, prevention is very, very difficult to prove in the currently popular “double-blind randomized controlled trial” research paradigm.
Naturopathic medicine = prevention superstar
Most patients begin naturopathic treatment looking for solutions to problems they have now, such as high cholesterol, fatigue, pain, digestive issues, hormone issues, infertility, etc. This is wonderful because treating those issues naturopathically can not only resolve symptoms but because naturopathic medicine targets the root cause and focuses on establishing healthy habits, long-term more serious diseases can also be reduced or prevented over time. More bang for your buck!
In addition, most naturopathic treatments are CUMULATIVE. Most naturopathic treatments continue to yield big results the longer they are in place, because when you work improving the function and health of the body now, over time that improvement continues to grow and help create a physiological environment less conducive to disease and more conducive to healing.
Make your health a priority
A colleague of mine recently lamented that unfortunately the “poverty mentality” continues to affect those of us working for prevention. He pointed out that while many people freely spend on new tech gadgets, eating out, beauty products, purses/clothing/shoes, vacations, etc these same individuals will often complain about the price of naturopathic treatment and natural health products and only spend on their health within whatever benefits coverage they have (despite what may be necessary to achieve their goals).
I definitely observe this too and try to frame it in a slightly different way for myself and my patients, which is:
In my monthly library talks and when speaking with patients, I find myself frequently emphasizing the incredible importance of prevention. Naturopathic medicine is all about prevention! So I thought I would share some key points here to help drive home just how valuable prevention is (and why it can be hard to practice it!).
How valuable is prevention?
We all theoretically agree it is better to prevent disease (or any other negative outcome). Treating existing health issues prevents future, chronic health issues. For example, addressing high blood pressure can prevent heart disease, treating inflammation today can make your body a less hospitable place for cancer to grow, and resolving immune imbalance can treat and prevent eczema, asthma, and allergies. Clearly you can save time, energy, and money later by making an investment in your health today.
Think for a moment of any nagging health issue you might have now… Pain, fatigue, medications you have to take, discomfort, etc. What would it be worth to you to not have it? To just be cured of it right now? As if it never happened? A lot, right? That would mean you don’t have to work so hard and you would feel better every day. And, how good would that feel? How gratifying would that be? Pretty amazing, right?
So, what would it be worth to you to have prevented that nagging issue before it happened? Take into account the financial cost, but also the value of your time and energy. Consider how that issue may have affected your job performance, earning potential, quality of life, relationships, and all the other ways it has changed your life. With these things in mind, prevention is incredibly valuable! Unfortunately, putting prevention into practice is still a challenge for so many of us.
Why is prevention hard to practice?
1. Prevention seems expensive:
In Canada we are accustomed to “free” healthcare. It isn’t really “free” but because we don’t pay directly out of pocket, it seems that way. Nor is it necessarily what we want in terms of long-term health outcomes – the conventional medical system doesn’t do prevention very well. In comparison, investing your disposable income in health NOW versus spending nothing NOW (but spending a lot more later) can seem expensive. However, making that up-front investment actually provides a higher return in quality of life, savings on medications, increased energy and productivity, and just plain enjoyment of life than any other way you can invest your money.
2. Prevention is delayed gratification:
Having pain and taking pain medication and getting quick relief is very tangible and immediate. Much of medicine works this way (medications for asthma, sleep, depression, anxiety, rashes, etc). It’s pretty great to have a problem, take a pill, and feel better!
More delayed gratification might be if you have an issue (eg: migraines, asthma, depression, or some other discomfort) and go see a naturopathic doctor who works with you on diet, lifestyle, and other ways to eventually eliminate your discomfort. Usually you can see some improvement in the short-term with naturopathic treatment and continue building on that to alleviate your symptoms. This is also tangible and measurable because you had a problem and then you don’t. Definitely takes more time, up-front cost, and commitment, but most people would agree the result has more value that suppressing the same symptoms with medication.
Prevention is the ultimate in delayed gratification since if you are successful, you will never know what might have been and you can’t measure something that doesn’t exist! So, prevention doesn’t have the same short-term pay-off that motivates people. And, prevention is very, very difficult to prove in the currently popular “double-blind randomized controlled trial” research paradigm.
Naturopathic medicine = prevention superstar
Most patients begin naturopathic treatment looking for solutions to problems they have now, such as high cholesterol, fatigue, pain, digestive issues, hormone issues, infertility, etc. This is wonderful because treating those issues naturopathically can not only resolve symptoms but because naturopathic medicine targets the root cause and focuses on establishing healthy habits, long-term more serious diseases can also be reduced or prevented over time. More bang for your buck!
In addition, most naturopathic treatments are CUMULATIVE. Most naturopathic treatments continue to yield big results the longer they are in place, because when you work improving the function and health of the body now, over time that improvement continues to grow and help create a physiological environment less conducive to disease and more conducive to healing.
Make your health a priority
A colleague of mine recently lamented that unfortunately the “poverty mentality” continues to affect those of us working for prevention. He pointed out that while many people freely spend on new tech gadgets, eating out, beauty products, purses/clothing/shoes, vacations, etc these same individuals will often complain about the price of naturopathic treatment and natural health products and only spend on their health within whatever benefits coverage they have (despite what may be necessary to achieve their goals).
I definitely observe this too and try to frame it in a slightly different way for myself and my patients, which is:
- How high a priority is your health?
- Where does health fit into the context of your lifestyle and other priorities?
Comments
Naturopathic medicine produces positive outcomes
26/Jul/12 12:08 PM
by Kate Whimster, BCom, MIFHI, ND
A project initiated by the Naturopathic Physicians Research Institute conducted a systematic review of outcome studies of whole practice naturopathic medicine. This review demonstrated the value of naturopathic medicine, specifically (bolding mine):
“Our review found 13 qualifying studies which we evaluated for their primary outcome measures, quality of life measures and cost-effectiveness.
This is great news for the profession, as the value of our work continues to prove effective and valuable!
A project initiated by the Naturopathic Physicians Research Institute conducted a systematic review of outcome studies of whole practice naturopathic medicine. This review demonstrated the value of naturopathic medicine, specifically (bolding mine):
“Our review found 13 qualifying studies which we evaluated for their primary outcome measures, quality of life measures and cost-effectiveness.
- For primary outcomes, the 13 studies were universally positive and, in 11 of 13, were statistically significantly positive.
- Quality of life was assessed in some way in 8 of the studies, and again, the outcomes were universally positive with 6 studies showing statistical significance in one or more scales.
- Cost-effectiveness was included in 2 studies. Again, the results were positive.”
This is great news for the profession, as the value of our work continues to prove effective and valuable!
Kate's favourite things 2012: Supplements
04/Mar/12 01:04 PM
by Kate Whimster, BCom, MIFHI, ND
For several years I’ve considered writing a “favourite things” blog (a la Oprah’s favourite things). These are all things I use myself (as evidenced by the photos of this stuff in my house!) and LOVE (not just like). This is NOT an endorsement or advertisement and I’m not getting paid by anyone to put a product in this blog.
D’Adamo Personalized Nutrition
D’Adamo Personalized Nutrition is a line of supplements and products formulated by Peter D’Adamo, ND based on his life’s work in epigenetics, the Blood Type Diet, and the GenoType Diet. In Canada, these supplements are available from Right For Your Type. Right now, I carry the blood typing kits and secretor test kits in my offices, but as my practice grows, I hope to eventually carry a selection of the products in my office. For now, I direct patients to the online store. My top 5 favourites are Deflect O, Catechol, Polyflora O, Phytocal O, and Proberry 3 Liquid.
B vitamins
B vitamins are really effective for stress management and gentle liver support as well as having lots of other benefits for your skin, brain, hair, energy, etc. Not all Bs are the same and I have a few favourite brands: NFH B Complex SAP, AOR Advanced B Complex, Genestra Orti B, and Thorne B complexes.
Thorne MediClear Plus
I often recommend dietary changes in my practice, including an elimination/hypoallergenic diet or a detox diet in many cases. I’ve also done this type of diet/detox myself and used Thorne MediClear Plus for protein, liver support, and cofactors for detoxification. I usually prefer the MediClear Plus over the regular MediClear because it has no added flavours or sweeteners but it doesn’t have the great flavour of Mediclear. However, I actually really like the way it tastes mixed into a fruit smoothie!
Earthrise spirulina powder
Spirulina is a blue-green algae that is high in antioxidants, iron, and protein. Spirulina is a diamond superfood in my SWAMI GenoType personalized nutrition plan and I use Earthrise spirulina powder in my favourite smoothie recipe every morning! When I started taking it, I used only 1/2 teaspoon per smoothie but now I’m up to the full 1 teaspoon serving and I find it blends well with fruit so that you can’t even taste it! And it gives your smoothie an “interesting” colour, the mark of a true health nut.
Ascenta Nutrasea liquid fish oils
Fish oil is one of those supplements with just about a million benefits and I think Nutrasea is one of the best tasting liquid fish oils. My personal favourite right now is the Nutrasea+D since it also has 1000IU of vitamin D per teaspoon. “But,” you say, “I don’t want to take a liquid, it’s gross! I want to take a capsule!” Nutrasea also comes in capsules, but I really prefer the liquid because dose is important and most people simply do not take enough capsules to get a dose that will benefit them.
Natural Calm magnesium powder
Natural Calm magnesium powder is exactly what it sounds like - magnesium powder, that’s all. You dissolve the powder in warm water and drink it! I enjoy taking this in the evening as a relaxing drink and to help my muscles relax before bed. I usually use the Original flavour and mix in a bit of lemon juice for taste.
For several years I’ve considered writing a “favourite things” blog (a la Oprah’s favourite things). These are all things I use myself (as evidenced by the photos of this stuff in my house!) and LOVE (not just like). This is NOT an endorsement or advertisement and I’m not getting paid by anyone to put a product in this blog.
D’Adamo Personalized Nutrition
D’Adamo Personalized Nutrition is a line of supplements and products formulated by Peter D’Adamo, ND based on his life’s work in epigenetics, the Blood Type Diet, and the GenoType Diet. In Canada, these supplements are available from Right For Your Type. Right now, I carry the blood typing kits and secretor test kits in my offices, but as my practice grows, I hope to eventually carry a selection of the products in my office. For now, I direct patients to the online store. My top 5 favourites are Deflect O, Catechol, Polyflora O, Phytocal O, and Proberry 3 Liquid.
B vitamins
B vitamins are really effective for stress management and gentle liver support as well as having lots of other benefits for your skin, brain, hair, energy, etc. Not all Bs are the same and I have a few favourite brands: NFH B Complex SAP, AOR Advanced B Complex, Genestra Orti B, and Thorne B complexes.
Thorne MediClear Plus
I often recommend dietary changes in my practice, including an elimination/hypoallergenic diet or a detox diet in many cases. I’ve also done this type of diet/detox myself and used Thorne MediClear Plus for protein, liver support, and cofactors for detoxification. I usually prefer the MediClear Plus over the regular MediClear because it has no added flavours or sweeteners but it doesn’t have the great flavour of Mediclear. However, I actually really like the way it tastes mixed into a fruit smoothie!
Earthrise spirulina powder
Spirulina is a blue-green algae that is high in antioxidants, iron, and protein. Spirulina is a diamond superfood in my SWAMI GenoType personalized nutrition plan and I use Earthrise spirulina powder in my favourite smoothie recipe every morning! When I started taking it, I used only 1/2 teaspoon per smoothie but now I’m up to the full 1 teaspoon serving and I find it blends well with fruit so that you can’t even taste it! And it gives your smoothie an “interesting” colour, the mark of a true health nut.
Ascenta Nutrasea liquid fish oils
Fish oil is one of those supplements with just about a million benefits and I think Nutrasea is one of the best tasting liquid fish oils. My personal favourite right now is the Nutrasea+D since it also has 1000IU of vitamin D per teaspoon. “But,” you say, “I don’t want to take a liquid, it’s gross! I want to take a capsule!” Nutrasea also comes in capsules, but I really prefer the liquid because dose is important and most people simply do not take enough capsules to get a dose that will benefit them.
Natural Calm magnesium powder
Natural Calm magnesium powder is exactly what it sounds like - magnesium powder, that’s all. You dissolve the powder in warm water and drink it! I enjoy taking this in the evening as a relaxing drink and to help my muscles relax before bed. I usually use the Original flavour and mix in a bit of lemon juice for taste.
Sister Act your health
03/Jun/11 08:16 AM
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!
What's it worth to ya?
24/May/11 07:31 PM
by Kate Whimster, BCom, MIFHI, ND
What is wellness worth?
If you ask a healthy person, they would probably give you a far different answer than someone who was once healthy and is now dealing with illness.
In Canada, we are accustomed to health care being “free”. It really isn’t free; we pay taxes to provide all of us (even those who don’t pay tax) with healthcare, but we don’t pay directly, so it seems free... Because we are used to getting the care we need as we need it without hassle (for the most part) and with no need to make a decision about our health based on money, it can be difficult to consider all the health care options for which we must pay out of pocket. Naturopathic medicine is one of these (along with massage therapy, chiropractic, osteopathic, physiotherapy, etc).
A lot of people ask me if/when naturopathic medicine will be covered by OHIP. I have no idea if this is even a possibility at this point, but the more important question is, should it be? Sure, this would cover the cost for everyone but it would also likely eliminate the most valuable aspect of naturopathic medicine, which is the ability to treat people individually. Under our provincial healthcare plan, medical doctors do not have this freedom; they are bound by “standard of care” and algorithms and “first-line” drug therapy for many chronic diseases.
Naturopathic doctors have the freedom to spend a lot of time with each patient and to create a personalized treatment plan for each. That means that one patient with diabetes may be treated entirely different from the next. Not only does this kind of care require longer visits, but it also requires a lot more time spent by the doctor outside the visit to research, analyze, and prepare an appropriate plan. My patients understand the value of their naturopathic treatment and view their insurance coverage as a helping hand. However, many chronic health issues will require treatment beyond what insurance will subsidize.
People will often tell me how much they think they could benefit from naturopathic care, but they can’t afford it. I think the actual number of people who truly can’t afford it is much smaller.
What is your health worth to you?
Most people don’t think twice about paying for clothing, purses, hair styling, entertainment, eating out, travel, etc and would never expect these “essentials” to be paid for by the government. Far too many people are eager to live beyond their means in a home that is more than they need, driving a car that is too expensive, and buying themselves and their kids enough toys to entertain many families. However, these same people balk at paying for healthcare, which is hands-down far more valuable and essential. Investment in your health is just another place for your discretionary spending, something that improves your quality of life and in fact is an investment in the most valuable asset you will ever own - your health.
But, but, but... What about people who can barely make ends meet, who are on disability, social assistance, etc? You know, the people who really need help with many aspects of their lives, especially health? That is where there is a problem. I challenge you to find a naturopathic doctor who doesn’t make exceptions for this kind of case in his or her practice. This helps some people, but not all. And that’s why places like this exist:
Consider what your health is worth, what health allows you to do in your life. Consider what you think is a reasonable investment to maintain that. Finally, consider what it will cost you (in money but also in quality of life) to regain health once it has suffered.
What is wellness worth?
If you ask a healthy person, they would probably give you a far different answer than someone who was once healthy and is now dealing with illness.
In Canada, we are accustomed to health care being “free”. It really isn’t free; we pay taxes to provide all of us (even those who don’t pay tax) with healthcare, but we don’t pay directly, so it seems free... Because we are used to getting the care we need as we need it without hassle (for the most part) and with no need to make a decision about our health based on money, it can be difficult to consider all the health care options for which we must pay out of pocket. Naturopathic medicine is one of these (along with massage therapy, chiropractic, osteopathic, physiotherapy, etc).
A lot of people ask me if/when naturopathic medicine will be covered by OHIP. I have no idea if this is even a possibility at this point, but the more important question is, should it be? Sure, this would cover the cost for everyone but it would also likely eliminate the most valuable aspect of naturopathic medicine, which is the ability to treat people individually. Under our provincial healthcare plan, medical doctors do not have this freedom; they are bound by “standard of care” and algorithms and “first-line” drug therapy for many chronic diseases.
Naturopathic doctors have the freedom to spend a lot of time with each patient and to create a personalized treatment plan for each. That means that one patient with diabetes may be treated entirely different from the next. Not only does this kind of care require longer visits, but it also requires a lot more time spent by the doctor outside the visit to research, analyze, and prepare an appropriate plan. My patients understand the value of their naturopathic treatment and view their insurance coverage as a helping hand. However, many chronic health issues will require treatment beyond what insurance will subsidize.
People will often tell me how much they think they could benefit from naturopathic care, but they can’t afford it. I think the actual number of people who truly can’t afford it is much smaller.
What is your health worth to you?
Most people don’t think twice about paying for clothing, purses, hair styling, entertainment, eating out, travel, etc and would never expect these “essentials” to be paid for by the government. Far too many people are eager to live beyond their means in a home that is more than they need, driving a car that is too expensive, and buying themselves and their kids enough toys to entertain many families. However, these same people balk at paying for healthcare, which is hands-down far more valuable and essential. Investment in your health is just another place for your discretionary spending, something that improves your quality of life and in fact is an investment in the most valuable asset you will ever own - your health.
But, but, but... What about people who can barely make ends meet, who are on disability, social assistance, etc? You know, the people who really need help with many aspects of their lives, especially health? That is where there is a problem. I challenge you to find a naturopathic doctor who doesn’t make exceptions for this kind of case in his or her practice. This helps some people, but not all. And that’s why places like this exist:
- Community PHA Naturopathic clinic at Sherbourne Health Centre
- Anishnawbe Health Toronto
- Lakeshore Area Multi-service Project naturopathic clinic
- Queen West Community Health Centre
- Parkdale Community Health Centre
Consider what your health is worth, what health allows you to do in your life. Consider what you think is a reasonable investment to maintain that. Finally, consider what it will cost you (in money but also in quality of life) to regain health once it has suffered.
Naturopathic medicine: choice of the uninsured
17/Apr/11 08:39 AM
by Kate Whimster, BCom, MIFHI, ND
I just read a great blog by an Dr. Steve Nenninger, ND in New York called “Naturopathic Medicine is the Treatment of Choice for the Uninsured.”
In Canada we are fortunate enough not to have to deal with the same private insurance landscape (nightmare?) as in the US, but the parallel here is our provincial healthcare plan. Some of my patients have additional insurance through their workplace that provides some coverage for naturopathic medicine, but about half of them don’t, which means they pay 100% out-of-pocket. Regardless, for most chronic health concerns, and depending on the insurance plan (which you pay for as well!), most patients are paying a portion of the cost for naturopathic treatment themselves. So why is it worth it?
“The treatment you get from insurance is not the treatment that will get you better.”
Doctors in Canada are also bound by “standard of care” and those protocols for treating patients are based on their medical training. This medical training is based mostly on pharmaceutical medication and does not include much on nutrition, botanical medicine, lifestyle counselling, or other holistic and gentle therapies. Seeing an MD (for “free” in Canada, although we all know it’s not really free) is not the same as seeing an ND.
“The most expensive treatment is the one that doesn’t work.”
Naturopathic medicine is focused on true healing. As an ND I am constantly focused on our goal of wellness and I am fortunate enough to have the time to spend with patients to discuss honestly how our treatment is progressing. Being ill or even just not being truly well is far more expensive than just the cost for medications and treatments. As Dr. Nenninger says: “Nothing affects your ability to be a productive human being more than being ill.”
I just read a great blog by an Dr. Steve Nenninger, ND in New York called “Naturopathic Medicine is the Treatment of Choice for the Uninsured.”
In Canada we are fortunate enough not to have to deal with the same private insurance landscape (nightmare?) as in the US, but the parallel here is our provincial healthcare plan. Some of my patients have additional insurance through their workplace that provides some coverage for naturopathic medicine, but about half of them don’t, which means they pay 100% out-of-pocket. Regardless, for most chronic health concerns, and depending on the insurance plan (which you pay for as well!), most patients are paying a portion of the cost for naturopathic treatment themselves. So why is it worth it?
“The treatment you get from insurance is not the treatment that will get you better.”
Doctors in Canada are also bound by “standard of care” and those protocols for treating patients are based on their medical training. This medical training is based mostly on pharmaceutical medication and does not include much on nutrition, botanical medicine, lifestyle counselling, or other holistic and gentle therapies. Seeing an MD (for “free” in Canada, although we all know it’s not really free) is not the same as seeing an ND.
“The most expensive treatment is the one that doesn’t work.”
Naturopathic medicine is focused on true healing. As an ND I am constantly focused on our goal of wellness and I am fortunate enough to have the time to spend with patients to discuss honestly how our treatment is progressing. Being ill or even just not being truly well is far more expensive than just the cost for medications and treatments. As Dr. Nenninger says: “Nothing affects your ability to be a productive human being more than being ill.”
Happy weight, naturally
14/Apr/11 10:31 PM
by Kate Whimster, BCom, MIFHI, ND
In my practice I meet a lot of patients who want to lose weight, whether it be 5 pounds or 100 pounds! Most people have an unrealistic expectation of how much weight they can lose and how quickly this can be achieved. I recently read an article called “Ideal Weight or Happy Weight” about the impact even a small weight loss can have on your health and the theory of a weight “set point.”
“If you're overweight, losing just 10% of your body weight is associated with a myriad of health benefits, including lowering blood pressure, blood cholesterol, and blood sugar, and reducing your risk for heart disease.” These are amazing benefits that not only pay off in the short-run when you feel so much better, but in the long-run by significantly improving your quality of life! A 10% weight loss is a great goal to start with and helps patients adopt the habits that will build the foundation for great health for the rest of their lives.
“Your body weight is naturally regulated to stay within a range of 10%-20%.” Once you maintain a certain weight for a few years or even decades, it can be difficult to shift significantly outside of this “set point.” However, it is not impossible, it just requires more time, commitment, and consistency than most patients realize. You CAN lower your “set point” through healthy eating habits, exercise, and lifestyle strategies.
What else can I do to support healthy weight loss?
Naturopathic medicine is a great support for weight loss via a personalized nutrition plan, addressing underlying health issues obstructing weight loss, improving digestion, making the mind-body connection, and perhaps more importantly, supporting behavioural change at a deeper level using energy medicine. We’ve all heard that it is so important to address the REASONS behind habits to change them. In my practice I find homeopathy and acupuncture to be great stimulants for self-healing as well as useful tools to address food cravings, mood, stress, sleep, and motivation, all of which contribute to your ability to reach and maintain a healthy weight.
What can I do today?
You can start implementing some healthy weight loss strategies into your life right now:
• Eat a healthy, nutrient-dense breakfast every day
• Ensure you get adequate, quality sleep each night
• Eat a minimum of 5 servings of fruits and vegetables daily
• Get outside and walk for at least 20 minutes per day
• Stick with it! As they say, “practice makes perfect!”
In my practice I meet a lot of patients who want to lose weight, whether it be 5 pounds or 100 pounds! Most people have an unrealistic expectation of how much weight they can lose and how quickly this can be achieved. I recently read an article called “Ideal Weight or Happy Weight” about the impact even a small weight loss can have on your health and the theory of a weight “set point.”
“If you're overweight, losing just 10% of your body weight is associated with a myriad of health benefits, including lowering blood pressure, blood cholesterol, and blood sugar, and reducing your risk for heart disease.” These are amazing benefits that not only pay off in the short-run when you feel so much better, but in the long-run by significantly improving your quality of life! A 10% weight loss is a great goal to start with and helps patients adopt the habits that will build the foundation for great health for the rest of their lives.
“Your body weight is naturally regulated to stay within a range of 10%-20%.” Once you maintain a certain weight for a few years or even decades, it can be difficult to shift significantly outside of this “set point.” However, it is not impossible, it just requires more time, commitment, and consistency than most patients realize. You CAN lower your “set point” through healthy eating habits, exercise, and lifestyle strategies.
What else can I do to support healthy weight loss?
Naturopathic medicine is a great support for weight loss via a personalized nutrition plan, addressing underlying health issues obstructing weight loss, improving digestion, making the mind-body connection, and perhaps more importantly, supporting behavioural change at a deeper level using energy medicine. We’ve all heard that it is so important to address the REASONS behind habits to change them. In my practice I find homeopathy and acupuncture to be great stimulants for self-healing as well as useful tools to address food cravings, mood, stress, sleep, and motivation, all of which contribute to your ability to reach and maintain a healthy weight.
What can I do today?
You can start implementing some healthy weight loss strategies into your life right now:
• Eat a healthy, nutrient-dense breakfast every day
• Ensure you get adequate, quality sleep each night
• Eat a minimum of 5 servings of fruits and vegetables daily
• Get outside and walk for at least 20 minutes per day
• Stick with it! As they say, “practice makes perfect!”
Guest post: Healing with homeopathy
08/Mar/11 07:10 PM
Guest post by Helena Ovens, ND, FCAH, CCH, CBT
About me
My name is Helena Ovens and I am a registered Doctor of Naturopathy (since 1992) in the Province of Ontario, and a Homeopathic Specialist (graduate of the Canadian Academy of Homeopathy, 1995). I received the award for Excellence in Clinical Nutrition upon my graduation from the College. I first entered the Alternative Field in 1975 when I went to work (for 2-1/2 years) with severely emotionally disturbed children in a residential setting. Since 1978, I have personally explored numerous alternative methods of healing. I became a Shiatsu Therapist, Reflexologist and Iridologist. I also studied Clinical Nutrition, numerous detoxification protocols, Western Botanical Medicine, Trager, Esalen Massage, Bach Flower Remedies and finally, Homeopathy, which eventually became my specialty. I am also a Certified Bowen Health Therapist.
I have been teaching Homeopathic First Aid & Acute Prescribing for over 15 years... It’s a 30 hour course designed to educate alternative practitioners and the general public on what Homeopathy can do. My students, who previously have had very little or no knowledge of Homeopathy, are better educated than the “so-called” experts who are currently trying desperately to discredit Homeopathy by attempting to take an overdose of the medicine as they sit patiently waiting outside the Emergency Ward at their local Hospital. “It does nothing”, they exclaim. My response? Taking 1 pill or 100 pills at one time is only taking 1 dose of the medicine. Taking 1 pill at 100 different times is taking 100 doses.
About homeopathy
Homeopathic Medicine originated just over 200 years ago. Dr. Samuel Hahnemann, a German Physician, refused to practice the medicine of his time; namely, bloodletting and mercury (or arsenic) poisoning. At that time in Europe, malaria was a major killer. The Doctors were using the bark of the Cinchona Tree to treat malaria, which has a series of recurring symptoms; namely, first you get a chill, then a fever, then you break into a sweat, then you are exhausted, then you get a chill, then a fever, break out into a sweat, etc. These four symptoms happen again and again.
Dr. Hahnemann asked over and over again, WHY did this medicine seem to help the symptoms of this disease? No one could answer him, so being the SCIENTIST that he was, he decided to take a dose of the medicine to see what would happen. And shortly after taking the medicine in “overdose” (i.e., more than would be recommended for general treatment), he got a chill, then a fever, then broke out into a sweat, then was exhausted.
THUS, we have the very FIRST PROVING in Homeopathy. The definition of proving: The procedure of giving doses of a substance to healthy subjects in order to find what it causes in overdose and thus what it has the capacity to cure when given to ill people in potentized dose. (Potentized means made into a Homeopathic Remedy … see below).
Principles of Homeopathy
Hahnemann wrote an instruction book for Homeopathy called the Organon. The major Principles of Homeopathy are as follows;
- Similia Similubus Curantur. The first principle of Homeopathy is “Like cures Like” as outlined in the first proving. The cure of the sick is most easily, mildly and permanently affected by medicines that are themselves capable of producing in a healthy person, morbid symptoms similar to those of the sick. If you bypass the law, there is no response - the law demands that you have a high degree of similarity.
- The fundamental intrinsic cause of real disease is the untunement of the Vital Force. Vital Force is the source of life, that which differentiates a corpse from a living being. Real Chronic Disease is related to influences that we do not have direct control over regardless of lifestyle. Once we have the condition, changing lifestyle will only have minimal effect, and the disease will progress.
- The change and morbid conditions and function of tissues and organs in real disease are the result of a dynamic disturbance and not the cause of disease. Symptoms associated with a particular disease are actually an attempt by the body to return to a state of health, not the cause of the disease. When the body experiences too much stress, the “dis-ease” may manifest emotionally, mentally or physically. The “stress” that caused the problem to arise, actually disturbed the normal balance which we call “good health”. Harmony on all levels (i.e., mental, emotional, physical and spiritual) will confer good health.
- The totality of the symptoms, subjective and objective, as well as the etiological factors and characteristic aspects of the person are the sole indication for the choice of the remedy. All symptoms are important; what the patient reports, what the practitioner sees, what happened to “push” the person into pathology, and how the person presents as an individual guides the practitioner to the correct remedy.
- By constant individualization, we treat the person, not the disease. We use the symptoms of the person (objective and subjective) as a language in order to find the remedy. There is no one remedy for cancer because every person is a unique individual. In the 1800s, the Homeopathic Physicians were curing cancer successfully, one patient at a time. The Surgeons at that time rarely did surgery because Homeopathy worked so well.
- In order to secure the best practical results, medicines must be administered singly. Introducing more than one influence means that you do not know what is happening with the patient, nor how they interact. Give the best indicated remedy first, wait, observe and confirm.
- The only remedy meriting preference is always the one that is most similar to the totality of the characteristic symptoms of the disease being treated. This particular remedy is called the Similimum (aka, the correct remedy).
- The single remedy will be prescribed for its dynamic property in an optimal posology. Dynamic property refers to the healing capacity (i.e., the proving and posology means strength).
- To ascertain the sick-making properties of medicines, they must first be proven in the healthy, and secondly, confirmed through curing the sick. (Proving again).
- Like prevents Like, the same way that Like cures Like. Finding the “genius” of an epidemic and giving the correct remedy to those affected and curing their disease, can then be given to those that may become affected in the future in order to prevent the disease. Statistics of the Spanish Flu Epidemic of 1918/19 who that those treated allopathically had a 25% mortality rate. Those treated with Homeopathy had a 5% mortality rate.
How homeopathic remedies are made
- First, imagine 6 test tubes, each of which is filled with 99 drops of water.
- Now, imagine a botanical remedy in tincture form (e.g., Chamomilla). A botanical tincture is made by taking Chamomilla flowers, crushing them, putting them in an alcohol-based solution, letting the flowers sit in the alcohol in a dark room, and periodically shaking them, and then straining off the flowers after a few weeks. The active medicine ingredient is now in the alcohol (and this is called a tincture).
- We now take 1 drop of the botanical tincture of Chamomilla and put it in test tube #1 and shake it a number of times. 99 drops + 1 drop = 100. The symbol for 100 is “C”. This is the method that Hahnemann used to make Homeopathic Remedies. So, after putting 1 drop of the tincture into test tube #1 and SHAKING IT, we now have a “1CH” potency (potency meaning strength) of the Homeopathic Remedy Chamomilla. ( CH standing for Centessimal Hahnemann).
- THEN, we take 1 drop of Chamomilla 1CH and put it into 99 drops of water (test tube #2), SHAKE IT, and we have a “2CH” potency of the Homeopathic Remedy Chamomilla. Then one drop from test tube #2 into test tube #3, SHAKE, and VOILA, we have made 3CH potency of the Homeopathic Remedy Chamomilla, etc.
- After 12 dilutions, we have passed Avagadro’s number and there is no longer “anything discernible” in the 12th test tube. It is at this point that Allopathic Medical Doctors claim that Homeopathy is nothing more than a placebo. BUT, if we know how a remedy is made, we KNOW that a microscopic amount of Chamomilla went into each and every test tube.
- Think of Chamomila as a botanical remedy (or a lovely tea before bed). It calms the mind, soothes an upset stomach, and predisposes one for restful sleep. The PROVING of Chamomilla is quite another picture. We often use it for children who are in pain (be it from teething or ear infections). The quality of the pain associated with the proving is extreme, and the child wakes in the middle of the night screaming, is inconsolable and will only quiet when the parent picks up the child, and walks (and walks and walks).
Although we do NOT know the mechanism by which a Homeopathic Medicine works, there are numerous drugs where the mechanism is also unknown, and only by doing a series of CLINICAL TRIALS do we come to understand both the positive and negative symptoms and side-effects associated with such allopathic drugs.
HOMEOPATHIC MEDICINE IS SAFE, relatively inexpensive and there are minimal to no side-effects. All the remedies have been proven on HUMANS, and confirmed through many years of Clinical experience.
My story
And FINALLY, I have my own story to tell.
In December, 1992, just after I graduated from Naturopathic School, my Optometrist discovered that I had the first stage of Macular Degeneration. I had the pathology associated with the disease (i.e., drusen bodies which manifest as a discharge at the bad of the eye). I went for a second opinion, and this was confirmed by Ophthalmologist, Dr. Hans Hausler. Yes, I had the first stages of Macular Degeneration, and I also had 20/20 vision at that time. Macular Degeneration runs in my family. I had an Uncle and Aunt diagnosed with the disease, both became legally blind from the disease and I have a nephew who has Retinitis Pigmentosa, who is also legally blind. Being the Naturopath that I was, and after being told that there was NO CURE, and that the best that I could hope for was that the disease would not progress, I decided to go to my teacher for monthly constitutional homeopathic prescribing in May, 1993.
My Optometrist wanted to see me every six months to follow the progression of the disease. I went back to him in September, 1993, and my condition was stable (i.e., had not progressed). The following March, 1994, I went to another Ophthalmologist who had originally been recommended by my Optometrist. He didn’t see Macular Degeneration, he saw blepharitis, and I dismissed him because this disease had already been diagnosed twice. I continued to receive Homeopathic care. The following September (1994), I went back to my Optometrist and he looked in my eyes and said, “It’s gone. Whatever you’ve been doing, just keep doing it”.
This is a disease for which there is no cure and no treatment which will do more than stabilize the condition. When discussing this with my teacher, Dr. Andre Saine, he stated that the Homeopathic Physicians of the 1800s regularly cured Macular Degeneration.
And so I have come to know on a personal level, that if you catch something in the first stage (inflammatory stage), most diseases that are “untreatable’ can be cured.
What is cure?
The definition of CURE is important. It is not simply removing (either through drug or surgical intervention) the symptom. CURE means the recovery of health with a normalization in the abnormal level of SUSCEPTIBILITY whether it is acquired or inherited. When susceptibility is normalized, recovery is quick and the imbalance is corrected. Removing susceptibility to a disease means NEVER having it again. Cure is more than just symptom removal. Cure is permanent.
This is not the first time that Homeopathy has been threatened (by people who are threatened by its success and potential for healing). The Flexnor Report in the early 1900s stated that the future of medicine lay in biomedical researched based on the Germ Theory as proposed by Louis Pasteur; i.e., kill the bug, eradicate the disease. If this theory is correct, and an infected person walks through a room of 100 people and gives each one equal exposure to the virus, then all 100 people should get the disease. But as we know, maybe 5% to 10% will become ill and the rest will not. So in actuality, it is the “terrain” or to put it in more modern terms, the strength of the immune system and the overall health of the individual (mental, emotional, physical and spiritual) which allows a pathogen to enter and causes a “dis-ease”. So much for the Germ Theory. And I do believe that Louis Pasteur recanted on his deathbed and said it was in fact the terrain that was the most important factor with respect to the maintenance of good health. Again, terrain being the inner state of health of the individual.
Principles of naturopathic medicine
And finally, although I work every day and have for the past 19 years utilizing Classical Homeopathy, I apply the Principles of Naturopathic Medicine with each and every patient that I see. These are the principles that rule my practice, and these are the principles that every medical professional should follow in my personal opinion.
- Primum non noncore – FIRST DO NO HARM
- Tolle Causum – FIND AND TREAT THE CAUSE (i.e., don’t just take away the symptoms, fix the hole in the bottom of the rowboat and then you can stop bailing!!)
- Vis Medicatrix Naturae – USE THE HEALING POWER OF NATURE (i.e., stimulate and support the body’s inherent self-healing wisdom)
- Docere – DOCTOR AS TEACHER (this is one of my favourite ones, although actually, they are all my favourites)
- Holism – THE IDEA THAT EVERYTHING SURROUNDING YOU AFFECTS YOUR HEALTH (either positively or negatively)
- Prevention – THE MOST IMPORTANT PRINCIPLE IS PREVENTION, always has been, always will be.
Licensing NDs in Colorado
21/Feb/11 07:55 PM
by Kate Whimster, BCom, MIFHI, ND
Good article in the New York Times today about efforts (and opponents) to licensing NDs in Colorado (currently an unlicensed state).
Mark Cooper is spot-on when he says “The whole issue is fear-based ignorance.” I find that even in Ontario (a province which licenses NDs) most critics of naturopathic medicine are ignorant as to the training we have and treatment we provide. This is pretty ironic considering that these critics also demand evidence for naturopathic medicine yet neglect to seek out evidence of the claims that they are making against naturopathic medicine! If they took some time to learn about the profession, they would find lots of information in support of naturopathic doctors and the efficacy and safety of naturopathic medicine. In many cases, the evidence for naturopathic interventions (diet, lifestyle, botanical medicine, Asian medicine, homeopathy) is far more compelling than for the conventional medical treatments.
One of the biggest issues in unlicensed states/provinces is that there are also practitioners who can call themselves naturopathic doctors who have not had the same training required in licensed areas. In some cases, these groups have incredible lobbying powers and can block regulation for decades. As a naturopathic doctor who has spent years training and a fortune on tuition, I’m really glad I practice in a province that recognizes this and protects my ND title!
Find more information on my pages about naturopathic medicine and frequently asked questions. I’ve also written blogs entitled “Curriculum comparison,” “The power of natural medicine,” and “Alternative medicine debate.”
Good article in the New York Times today about efforts (and opponents) to licensing NDs in Colorado (currently an unlicensed state).
Mark Cooper is spot-on when he says “The whole issue is fear-based ignorance.” I find that even in Ontario (a province which licenses NDs) most critics of naturopathic medicine are ignorant as to the training we have and treatment we provide. This is pretty ironic considering that these critics also demand evidence for naturopathic medicine yet neglect to seek out evidence of the claims that they are making against naturopathic medicine! If they took some time to learn about the profession, they would find lots of information in support of naturopathic doctors and the efficacy and safety of naturopathic medicine. In many cases, the evidence for naturopathic interventions (diet, lifestyle, botanical medicine, Asian medicine, homeopathy) is far more compelling than for the conventional medical treatments.
One of the biggest issues in unlicensed states/provinces is that there are also practitioners who can call themselves naturopathic doctors who have not had the same training required in licensed areas. In some cases, these groups have incredible lobbying powers and can block regulation for decades. As a naturopathic doctor who has spent years training and a fortune on tuition, I’m really glad I practice in a province that recognizes this and protects my ND title!
Find more information on my pages about naturopathic medicine and frequently asked questions. I’ve also written blogs entitled “Curriculum comparison,” “The power of natural medicine,” and “Alternative medicine debate.”
Since when did natural become the alternative?
20/Dec/10 10:25 AM
by Kate Whimster, BCom, MIFHI, ND
Check out this blog by my colleague Ashley Mayer that asks the question “since when did natural become the alternative?”
I had to share this blog because it addresses a major shift in perception that has happened in society in a short period of time. Somehow in just a generation or two, most people have accepted advertising messages/manipulation that tells us that fake, altered, and lab-created foods are somehow equal to or even better than what nature has to offer. Although I have yet to read both of the Michael Pollan books I own, I know that one of his major messages is “eat food.” Even just sticking to this basic advice, meaning eat things in as close to their natural state as possible (unprocessed and free of preservatives, additives, flavours, colours, etc), would greatly benefit most people.
In this blog, Ashley addresses this question as well as the key points of: choose your sources of information carefully and employ your critical thinking skills to decide what is actually “healthy.”
Check out this blog by my colleague Ashley Mayer that asks the question “since when did natural become the alternative?”
I had to share this blog because it addresses a major shift in perception that has happened in society in a short period of time. Somehow in just a generation or two, most people have accepted advertising messages/manipulation that tells us that fake, altered, and lab-created foods are somehow equal to or even better than what nature has to offer. Although I have yet to read both of the Michael Pollan books I own, I know that one of his major messages is “eat food.” Even just sticking to this basic advice, meaning eat things in as close to their natural state as possible (unprocessed and free of preservatives, additives, flavours, colours, etc), would greatly benefit most people.
In this blog, Ashley addresses this question as well as the key points of: choose your sources of information carefully and employ your critical thinking skills to decide what is actually “healthy.”
Root cause beyond the physical
08/Nov/10 09:32 AM
by Kate Whimster, BCom, MIFHI, ND
One of the principles of naturopathic medicine is “identify and treat the cause” of illness. I think that every health care professional believes this, but we may differ in what we identify as the cause! This blog at Crazy Sexy Life focuses on stress and emotional pain as two important, but often overlooked, causes of illness.
This is why I love to work with a combination of modalities that work physiologically (such as nutrition, botanical medicine, lifestyle) and energetically (such as homeopathy, Asian medicine). Energy medicine can go far deeper into balancing stress, changing mental patterns, and healing emotional pain. In fact, all of these modalities have some impact on both body and soul. However, while you can achieve incredible results through dietary changes, supplementation, herbs, and lifestyle habits, addressing the deeper levels of mind, emotions, and spirit can lead to major shifts in susceptibility and vitality that can help a patient achieve wellness, which is beyond just physical health.
Look for more blogs on this topic soon!
One of the principles of naturopathic medicine is “identify and treat the cause” of illness. I think that every health care professional believes this, but we may differ in what we identify as the cause! This blog at Crazy Sexy Life focuses on stress and emotional pain as two important, but often overlooked, causes of illness.
This is why I love to work with a combination of modalities that work physiologically (such as nutrition, botanical medicine, lifestyle) and energetically (such as homeopathy, Asian medicine). Energy medicine can go far deeper into balancing stress, changing mental patterns, and healing emotional pain. In fact, all of these modalities have some impact on both body and soul. However, while you can achieve incredible results through dietary changes, supplementation, herbs, and lifestyle habits, addressing the deeper levels of mind, emotions, and spirit can lead to major shifts in susceptibility and vitality that can help a patient achieve wellness, which is beyond just physical health.
Look for more blogs on this topic soon!
Surviving cancer with true wellness
02/Nov/10 09:52 PM
by Kate Whimster, BCom, MIFHI, ND
On the first page of this website I explain that true wellness is so much more than simply being free of illness. It is a state of balance of all aspects of your being, and this requires a holistic approach. Wellness is not quite the same thing as being “healthy”. One can have a disease or poor physical health and still be “well” because wellness is feeling your best no matter what ups and downs life hands to you and doing your best to support your mind, body, and spirit. Wellness has more to do with intention and balance; it is something that anyone can achieve.
This blog from Crazy Sexy Life written by a man who is a six time cancer survivor does a great job of explaining this point! Plus he’s Canadian (from New Brunswick)!
On the first page of this website I explain that true wellness is so much more than simply being free of illness. It is a state of balance of all aspects of your being, and this requires a holistic approach. Wellness is not quite the same thing as being “healthy”. One can have a disease or poor physical health and still be “well” because wellness is feeling your best no matter what ups and downs life hands to you and doing your best to support your mind, body, and spirit. Wellness has more to do with intention and balance; it is something that anyone can achieve.
This blog from Crazy Sexy Life written by a man who is a six time cancer survivor does a great job of explaining this point! Plus he’s Canadian (from New Brunswick)!
Alternative medicine debate on the Michael Coren show
07/Jul/10 10:14 PM
by Kate Whimster, BCom, MIFHI, ND
Check out this debate on the Michael Coren show about “Alternative Medicine.” Incidentally, I prefer the term natural medicine (versus conventional medicine), since for many people, there is nothing “alternative” about it...
A few of my thoughts (in chronological order with the video):
Check out this debate on the Michael Coren show about “Alternative Medicine.” Incidentally, I prefer the term natural medicine (versus conventional medicine), since for many people, there is nothing “alternative” about it...
A few of my thoughts (in chronological order with the video):
- What do NDs do that MDs don’t? A lot! See my blog Top ten reasons you need a naturopathic doctor.
- For a comparison of the training of an MD versus and ND, see my blog Curriculum comparison.
- There is research on homeopathy and evidence to support its efficacy as a healing modality. Just because most people are ignorant of this does not mean it doesn’t exist! For more about that, see my blog Homeopathy literature review.
- Many conventional medical interventions actually lack research evidence. I wrote about this in my blog Mythology of science-based medicine.
- I’m not a chiropractor and cannot speak to much in this area, however one example of when a chiropractor may require an x-ray is not to diagnose, but to screen for/rule out any conditions that are contraindications for chiropractic treatment. This is a basic safety procedure which is prudent and responsible. Another example may be to confirm a diagnosis before proceeding with treatment, which is another valid and reasonable use of such technology.
- One of the major problems in conventional medicine is the idea of “standard of care” which denies individuals care that targets the cause of illness, which may be different for the same “disease.” The “standard of care” in conventional medicine is often inferior to even the most basic common sense... For example, if high cholesterol is caused by poor dietary habits and lack of physical activity, how does the “standard of care” prescription of statin drugs solve these issues?
- Michael Coren makes a great point that many of the cases against alternative medicine are “hysteria.” In any profession, there are practitioners who are not ethical or safe. Naturopathic medicine is a regulated health profession in most provinces and therefore naturopathic doctors are held to a professional standard of safety and ethics. For more info on naturopathic medicine, read more on my Naturopathic Medicine and FAQ pages. This marks a major difference between NDs and many other “alternative” practitioners.
- Why aren’t naturopathic doctors MDs? Because there is a fundamental philosophical difference. This is not to say that we can’t work together and that patients cannot take advantage of both, but the training and approach to treatment are vastly different. Specialization leads to greater and deeper expertise in all kinds of professions which provides value to the consumer.
Is evidence-based medicine compatible with naturopathic principles?
08/Feb/10 05:50 PM
by Kate Whimster, BCom, MIFHI, ND
One of the most common criticisms of natural medicine is that it lacks supportive evidence. This is simply not true! In many cases, there is as much or more research evidence for natural medicine as conventional medicine. However, there are also areas in which the research evidence is sparse or incomplete. The purpose of this blog is to clarify the true meaning of evidence-based medicine (EBM) and explore its role in contributing to natural medicine.
Evidence-based medicine (EBM) is defined as the “conscientious, explicit and judicious use of current best evidence in making decisions about care of individual patients (1).” Furthermore:
“The practice of evidence based medicine means integrating individual clinical expertise with the best available external clinical evidence from systematic research. By individual clinical expertise we mean the proficiency and judgment that individual clinicians acquire through clinical experience and clinical practice (1).”
This definition of evidence-based medicine does not conflict with the principles of naturopathic medicine. Naturopathic medicine is based on a large body of evidence gathered through systematic research and knowledge gained through clinical experience. Its principles support the application of this information to devise the most effective treatment for our patients.
However, the colloquial understanding of EBM supports randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled studies as gold standard of knowledge and leaves little room for other forms of research or for clinical experience.
Conventionally understood EBM is limited in encouraging health care that adheres to naturopathic principles. First, EBM does not recognize holistic treatment of individuals, and in fact seeks to boil down complex information to a simple conclusion recognizing only how the majority of subjects respond to a single intervention. Not only does this ignore the knowledge that could be gained through examining all the subjects in a study and why they each responded in the way that they did, but also is not necessarily applicable to real life health care since patients are nearly never under controlled conditions and subject to only one intervention. Naturopathic doctors are interested in treating real patients in the real world and therefore in gathering knowledge in any area that will serve this purpose. In many cases, this knowledge includes clinical observation and experience with real patients.
Second, funding committed to research is not allocated based on what areas of knowledge are the most interesting, warrant the most investigation, or even may be the most beneficial to the public. Most research is conducted by pharmaceutical companies on products they hope to bring to market in order to earn profits for shareholders. Unfortunately, this capitalist drive behind health knowledge is not conducive to researching how low-cost treatments such as diet and lifestyle changes can be far more effective than any drug. It is also not conducive to gaining knowledge through “failed” experiments, such as when pharmaceutical research does not yield results favourable to the drug being researched. Currently, pharmaceutical companies are not required to publish such research, although there is a movement to change this, thankfully. Naturopathic doctors are interested in achieving results, even if there is no particular product to sell.
Finally, naturopathic doctors also act as teachers, seeking to empower patients with information so that they can care for themselves. EBM places power in a faceless research environment, removing it from clinicians with decades of experience, and therefore also removing it from individual patients who may know their unique needs best.
Therefore, while the official definition of EBM does fit with naturopathic principles, the applied definition, in terms of how the health care system actually operates, does not.
For more information and more of my thoughts on conventional medical research, please see my previous blog Mythology of science-based medicine.
1. Sackett DL, Rosenberg WM, Gray JA, Haynes RB, Richardson WS. Evidence based medicine: what it is and what it isn't. BMJ. 1996;312 (7023):71–2.
One of the most common criticisms of natural medicine is that it lacks supportive evidence. This is simply not true! In many cases, there is as much or more research evidence for natural medicine as conventional medicine. However, there are also areas in which the research evidence is sparse or incomplete. The purpose of this blog is to clarify the true meaning of evidence-based medicine (EBM) and explore its role in contributing to natural medicine.
Evidence-based medicine (EBM) is defined as the “conscientious, explicit and judicious use of current best evidence in making decisions about care of individual patients (1).” Furthermore:
“The practice of evidence based medicine means integrating individual clinical expertise with the best available external clinical evidence from systematic research. By individual clinical expertise we mean the proficiency and judgment that individual clinicians acquire through clinical experience and clinical practice (1).”
This definition of evidence-based medicine does not conflict with the principles of naturopathic medicine. Naturopathic medicine is based on a large body of evidence gathered through systematic research and knowledge gained through clinical experience. Its principles support the application of this information to devise the most effective treatment for our patients.
However, the colloquial understanding of EBM supports randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled studies as gold standard of knowledge and leaves little room for other forms of research or for clinical experience.
Conventionally understood EBM is limited in encouraging health care that adheres to naturopathic principles. First, EBM does not recognize holistic treatment of individuals, and in fact seeks to boil down complex information to a simple conclusion recognizing only how the majority of subjects respond to a single intervention. Not only does this ignore the knowledge that could be gained through examining all the subjects in a study and why they each responded in the way that they did, but also is not necessarily applicable to real life health care since patients are nearly never under controlled conditions and subject to only one intervention. Naturopathic doctors are interested in treating real patients in the real world and therefore in gathering knowledge in any area that will serve this purpose. In many cases, this knowledge includes clinical observation and experience with real patients.
Second, funding committed to research is not allocated based on what areas of knowledge are the most interesting, warrant the most investigation, or even may be the most beneficial to the public. Most research is conducted by pharmaceutical companies on products they hope to bring to market in order to earn profits for shareholders. Unfortunately, this capitalist drive behind health knowledge is not conducive to researching how low-cost treatments such as diet and lifestyle changes can be far more effective than any drug. It is also not conducive to gaining knowledge through “failed” experiments, such as when pharmaceutical research does not yield results favourable to the drug being researched. Currently, pharmaceutical companies are not required to publish such research, although there is a movement to change this, thankfully. Naturopathic doctors are interested in achieving results, even if there is no particular product to sell.
Finally, naturopathic doctors also act as teachers, seeking to empower patients with information so that they can care for themselves. EBM places power in a faceless research environment, removing it from clinicians with decades of experience, and therefore also removing it from individual patients who may know their unique needs best.
Therefore, while the official definition of EBM does fit with naturopathic principles, the applied definition, in terms of how the health care system actually operates, does not.
For more information and more of my thoughts on conventional medical research, please see my previous blog Mythology of science-based medicine.
1. Sackett DL, Rosenberg WM, Gray JA, Haynes RB, Richardson WS. Evidence based medicine: what it is and what it isn't. BMJ. 1996;312 (7023):71–2.
Top 10 reasons you need a naturopathic doctor
13/Jan/10 01:36 PM
by Kate Whimster, BCom, MIFHI, ND
1. A naturopathic doctor will explain the likely causes of your concerns, the connection between them, what treatment they advise and WHY, and what you can do to prevent future illness so that you actually understand what is going on with your own health. What a novel idea…
2. Your naturopathic doctor can answer your curious health questions, such as “what is this thing on my foot?”, “what is adrenal fatigue?”, or “does soy cause man boobs?”
3. Your naturopathic doctor will spend more than 15 minutes with you and get to know you as an individual, resulting in a personalized treatment plan addressing your unique combination of concerns.
4. Your naturopathic doctor can help you figure out which supplements are right for you so you take only what is useful and save a lot of money! And they can even help you figure out how much you need to take to see results, so you save even more money!
5. Your naturopathic doctor will seek to understand the cause of your symptoms, leading to treatment that is effective, gentle, and produces long-lasting results. No more trial and error, confusion, frustration, and hopelessness.
6. Your naturopathic doctor has the most training and experience using natural medicine (and how natural medicine interacts with conventional medicine). More than your medical doctor, Oprah, Dr. Oz, your uncle Ernie, your hairdresser, and anyone else you can find. Take advantage and get the right answers the first time.
7. Your naturopathic doctor is trained as a primary health care provider, meaning she can diagnose conditions, perform physical exams, order lab tests, and generally care for you as a family doctor. And she won’t make you wait for hours in a crowded waiting room for a 15-minute appointment.
8. Your naturopathic doctor can perform acupuncture, prescribe homeopathic remedies, interpret lab results, and much more. Don’t try this at home!
9. Your naturopathic doctor will work cooperatively with any other health care practitioners you are seeing to ensure that their treatment will be effective and everyone is on the same page.
10. Your naturopathic doctor will work to restore and support your own inherent healing abilities so that you heal YOURSELF. Never knew you were so powerful, did you?
1. A naturopathic doctor will explain the likely causes of your concerns, the connection between them, what treatment they advise and WHY, and what you can do to prevent future illness so that you actually understand what is going on with your own health. What a novel idea…
2. Your naturopathic doctor can answer your curious health questions, such as “what is this thing on my foot?”, “what is adrenal fatigue?”, or “does soy cause man boobs?”
3. Your naturopathic doctor will spend more than 15 minutes with you and get to know you as an individual, resulting in a personalized treatment plan addressing your unique combination of concerns.
4. Your naturopathic doctor can help you figure out which supplements are right for you so you take only what is useful and save a lot of money! And they can even help you figure out how much you need to take to see results, so you save even more money!
5. Your naturopathic doctor will seek to understand the cause of your symptoms, leading to treatment that is effective, gentle, and produces long-lasting results. No more trial and error, confusion, frustration, and hopelessness.
6. Your naturopathic doctor has the most training and experience using natural medicine (and how natural medicine interacts with conventional medicine). More than your medical doctor, Oprah, Dr. Oz, your uncle Ernie, your hairdresser, and anyone else you can find. Take advantage and get the right answers the first time.
7. Your naturopathic doctor is trained as a primary health care provider, meaning she can diagnose conditions, perform physical exams, order lab tests, and generally care for you as a family doctor. And she won’t make you wait for hours in a crowded waiting room for a 15-minute appointment.
8. Your naturopathic doctor can perform acupuncture, prescribe homeopathic remedies, interpret lab results, and much more. Don’t try this at home!
9. Your naturopathic doctor will work cooperatively with any other health care practitioners you are seeing to ensure that their treatment will be effective and everyone is on the same page.
10. Your naturopathic doctor will work to restore and support your own inherent healing abilities so that you heal YOURSELF. Never knew you were so powerful, did you?
Mythology of science-based medicine
12/Jan/10 04:30 PM
by Kate Whimster, BCom, MIFHI, ND
This blog emerged after reading several different articles about the state of conventional medical care and some of the misperceptions surrounding efficacy of conventional medical treatments.
First, an article titled The Mythology of Science-Based Medicine provides examples of conventional medical interventions considered to be safe, valid, or effective when in fact they lack scientific basis or have been proven ineffective. This article provides links to sources and some responses from the authors and other medical experts in the comments. Here is an addendum to that article further addressing comments.
Second, an article titled How Common Are Medical Mistakes? which delves into the startling fact that the third leading cause of death of Americans is iatrogenic causes, meaning caused by doctors, medical treatment, or diagnostic procedures.
Finally, a few of my thoughts on this topic:
The “gold-standard” of medical research is the double-blind randomized controlled trial, which attempts to isolate the effect of a single intervention and control all other factors (including many features of patients such as pre-existing conditions, medications, lifestyle, diet, etc.) This makes sense in a research context but has little bearing on reality, in which medical interventions are used in conjunction with other treatments in a wide variety of patients. It is important to understand that a clinical trial is only the first step in evaluating treatment. It provides information on how something works and verifies safety in the short-term but is most definitely not a verdict on the effectiveness in the real world. This can only truly be gauged in the context of an uncontrolled patient population over time.
Something important to note about bypass surgery and angioplasty is that while they do not extend life (which is the case for many common medical treatments), this is not the only important measure to consider! Quality of life is also incredibly important and these procedures can make a major difference here. Patients with cardiovascular disease who in the past would not have these options would be severely limited by the inability to engage in even the most basic everyday activities but would also not be ill enough that they would pass away. These procedures have allowed many patients to return to a more normal level of activity and participation in life which is invaluable, even if their lifespan remains the same.
Regarding antidepressants, it should not be surprising that they are not very effective except in cases of severe depression. In most cases, antidepressants are the sole treatment prescribed despite mountains of evidence that combining them with other treatments (most notably psychotherapy) is far more effective. For many patients with depression, there are valid reasons to feel depressed, such as grief, declining health, emotional stressors, post-partum changes, etc. Depression is a natural human response to life’s ups and downs. Unfortunately most of us are just not equipped to accept and work through life’s challenges on our own. Psychotherapy can be enormously helpful in arming patients with coping and self-care skills. There are also many patients for whom antidepressants are very useful in boosting them up enough so that they can actively seek other treatments to address the underlying causes of depression, but the key here is that the cause must be addressed and corrected. Otherwise antidepressants either just don’t cut it or simply mask a problem that will re-emerge once the patient discontinues the medication. This is common considering the many uncomfortable and intolerable side-effects of these medications. There are so many proven and safe treatments for depression (such as nutrition, exercise, supplements, lifestyle changes, homeopathy, therapy) that can be used in place of or in conjunction with antidepressants to achieve much better outcomes.
This blog emerged after reading several different articles about the state of conventional medical care and some of the misperceptions surrounding efficacy of conventional medical treatments.
First, an article titled The Mythology of Science-Based Medicine provides examples of conventional medical interventions considered to be safe, valid, or effective when in fact they lack scientific basis or have been proven ineffective. This article provides links to sources and some responses from the authors and other medical experts in the comments. Here is an addendum to that article further addressing comments.
Second, an article titled How Common Are Medical Mistakes? which delves into the startling fact that the third leading cause of death of Americans is iatrogenic causes, meaning caused by doctors, medical treatment, or diagnostic procedures.
Finally, a few of my thoughts on this topic:
The “gold-standard” of medical research is the double-blind randomized controlled trial, which attempts to isolate the effect of a single intervention and control all other factors (including many features of patients such as pre-existing conditions, medications, lifestyle, diet, etc.) This makes sense in a research context but has little bearing on reality, in which medical interventions are used in conjunction with other treatments in a wide variety of patients. It is important to understand that a clinical trial is only the first step in evaluating treatment. It provides information on how something works and verifies safety in the short-term but is most definitely not a verdict on the effectiveness in the real world. This can only truly be gauged in the context of an uncontrolled patient population over time.
Something important to note about bypass surgery and angioplasty is that while they do not extend life (which is the case for many common medical treatments), this is not the only important measure to consider! Quality of life is also incredibly important and these procedures can make a major difference here. Patients with cardiovascular disease who in the past would not have these options would be severely limited by the inability to engage in even the most basic everyday activities but would also not be ill enough that they would pass away. These procedures have allowed many patients to return to a more normal level of activity and participation in life which is invaluable, even if their lifespan remains the same.
Regarding antidepressants, it should not be surprising that they are not very effective except in cases of severe depression. In most cases, antidepressants are the sole treatment prescribed despite mountains of evidence that combining them with other treatments (most notably psychotherapy) is far more effective. For many patients with depression, there are valid reasons to feel depressed, such as grief, declining health, emotional stressors, post-partum changes, etc. Depression is a natural human response to life’s ups and downs. Unfortunately most of us are just not equipped to accept and work through life’s challenges on our own. Psychotherapy can be enormously helpful in arming patients with coping and self-care skills. There are also many patients for whom antidepressants are very useful in boosting them up enough so that they can actively seek other treatments to address the underlying causes of depression, but the key here is that the cause must be addressed and corrected. Otherwise antidepressants either just don’t cut it or simply mask a problem that will re-emerge once the patient discontinues the medication. This is common considering the many uncomfortable and intolerable side-effects of these medications. There are so many proven and safe treatments for depression (such as nutrition, exercise, supplements, lifestyle changes, homeopathy, therapy) that can be used in place of or in conjunction with antidepressants to achieve much better outcomes.
The power of natural medicine
15/Dec/09 05:05 PM
Great article on the power of natural medicine. Written by two naturopathic doctors in response to an unfounded and fanatical criticism of natural medicine, it clearly presents the facts about naturopathic medical education and the role that naturopathic medicine can play in modern health care.
Curriculum comparison
18/Sep/09 12:21 PM
by Kate Whimster, BCom, MIFHI, ND
Have you ever wondered what the difference is between naturopathic medical education and conventional medical education? Check out this comparison of accredited naturopathic schools, conventional medical schools, and non-accredited “ND” programs.
In sciences, naturopathic and conventional medical schools are on par. Naturopathic doctors must complete required science courses and pass licensing exams in basic sciences in order to become licensed to practice in North America. These exams are administered by the North American Board of Naturopathic Examiners (NABNE).
A very interesting area is nutritional education. Given that food is literally the material that fuels all the processes in our bodies and from which all our cells and bodily structures are constructed, one would expect (not unreasonably) that any professional in the health care field would be educated in the use of nutrition as medical therapy (which includes therapeutic use of vitamins and minerals in addition to diet). Nutrition is most certainly a first line therapy and is repeatedly confirmed to produce dramatic clinical improvements in the prevention and treatment of chronic disease.
Another interesting area is botanical medicine, which is included under naturopathic therapeutics. Most pharmaceuticals are inspired by or made directly from plant constituents, which is why naturopathic medical students are required to complete courses in both pharmacology and botanical medicine and also pass licensing exams in both these subjects. There is a movement now to treat botanicals as drugs since many of them have powerful actions and carry risks if used improperly. Again, one would expect that any medical professional be trained in both these areas.
The last key point here is the vast difference in education between accredited and non-accredited ND programs. The Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME) accredits naturopathic medical programs. NDs from accredited schools have a minimum of 7 years of post-secondary education. This includes at least three years of university and prerequisites in chemistry, biology, and psychology. Naturopathic medicine is a four year program offered by six schools in North America. Upon completion of the program, naturopathic doctors are qualified to work as primary care physicians.
Naturopathic medicine is a regulated profession in five Canadian provinces (BC, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, and Nova Scotia) and many states in the US. For more information on naturopathic medicine, check out the Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors (CAND) and the Ontario Association of Naturopathic Doctors (OAND).
Have you ever wondered what the difference is between naturopathic medical education and conventional medical education? Check out this comparison of accredited naturopathic schools, conventional medical schools, and non-accredited “ND” programs.
In sciences, naturopathic and conventional medical schools are on par. Naturopathic doctors must complete required science courses and pass licensing exams in basic sciences in order to become licensed to practice in North America. These exams are administered by the North American Board of Naturopathic Examiners (NABNE).
A very interesting area is nutritional education. Given that food is literally the material that fuels all the processes in our bodies and from which all our cells and bodily structures are constructed, one would expect (not unreasonably) that any professional in the health care field would be educated in the use of nutrition as medical therapy (which includes therapeutic use of vitamins and minerals in addition to diet). Nutrition is most certainly a first line therapy and is repeatedly confirmed to produce dramatic clinical improvements in the prevention and treatment of chronic disease.
Another interesting area is botanical medicine, which is included under naturopathic therapeutics. Most pharmaceuticals are inspired by or made directly from plant constituents, which is why naturopathic medical students are required to complete courses in both pharmacology and botanical medicine and also pass licensing exams in both these subjects. There is a movement now to treat botanicals as drugs since many of them have powerful actions and carry risks if used improperly. Again, one would expect that any medical professional be trained in both these areas.
The last key point here is the vast difference in education between accredited and non-accredited ND programs. The Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME) accredits naturopathic medical programs. NDs from accredited schools have a minimum of 7 years of post-secondary education. This includes at least three years of university and prerequisites in chemistry, biology, and psychology. Naturopathic medicine is a four year program offered by six schools in North America. Upon completion of the program, naturopathic doctors are qualified to work as primary care physicians.
Naturopathic medicine is a regulated profession in five Canadian provinces (BC, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, and Nova Scotia) and many states in the US. For more information on naturopathic medicine, check out the Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors (CAND) and the Ontario Association of Naturopathic Doctors (OAND).
Health is key to success
24/Jun/09 09:45 AM
by Kate Whimster, BCom, MIFHI, ND
What do you think is the most important quality of a successful entrepreneur?
Confidence?
Creativity?
Risk taking?
Would you believe that the most important trait is good health?
Not only must entrepreneurs work hard, often for long hours, but also they are usually self-employed, so they do not have an employer subsidized health insurance plan. Plus, every moment they are off work literally costs them income. So it actually makes a lot of sense that good health is key to success! These people can’t afford to take a sick day, much less develop chronic disease! This idea holds true for many other professions too, such as contract employees, performers, and other self-employed workers.
Naturopathic medicine can be a cost effective way for self-employed people to optimize their health today and stay healthy through prevention. In the short-term, it is far better to avoid coming down with every cold or flu going around, and in the long-term it is imperative to stay healthy and vital until retirement. Health is one of the most valuable assets we have and successful entrepreneurs recognize the value of investing in health rather than only treating disease.
Check out this list of common traits of successful entrepreneurs, based on research done by Southern Methodist University's Cox School of Business for more details.
What do you think is the most important quality of a successful entrepreneur?
Confidence?
Creativity?
Risk taking?
Would you believe that the most important trait is good health?
Not only must entrepreneurs work hard, often for long hours, but also they are usually self-employed, so they do not have an employer subsidized health insurance plan. Plus, every moment they are off work literally costs them income. So it actually makes a lot of sense that good health is key to success! These people can’t afford to take a sick day, much less develop chronic disease! This idea holds true for many other professions too, such as contract employees, performers, and other self-employed workers.
Naturopathic medicine can be a cost effective way for self-employed people to optimize their health today and stay healthy through prevention. In the short-term, it is far better to avoid coming down with every cold or flu going around, and in the long-term it is imperative to stay healthy and vital until retirement. Health is one of the most valuable assets we have and successful entrepreneurs recognize the value of investing in health rather than only treating disease.
Check out this list of common traits of successful entrepreneurs, based on research done by Southern Methodist University's Cox School of Business for more details.
"I just don't have the time..."
22/Mar/09 01:47 PM
by Kate Whimster, BCom, MIFHI, ND
This blog was originally published on June 29, 2006 here.
A few weeks ago, a woman came into the health food store that I work at to ask advice from the owner. Her daughter (not sure of age) has severe asthma that is sometimes so bad that it keeps her up all night and out of school frequently. She said that they had been to several doctors starting with their family doctor and moving on to various specialists, who of course prescribed all kinds of scary drugs and steroids with serious side effects. Anyway, she came to the owner of the store to find out what her daughter could take that was “natural”.
So many people come into the store and ask for detailed health advice from the owner, although it is actually illegal for him to dispense health advice. Many of these people already see an ND or some other natural medicine practitioner, but some do not. For those who do not see a professional, we recommend that they do and usually can provide several names in various parts of the city.
In the case of the woman with the asthmatic daughter, we most certainly would ask if she has seen an ND, due to the complexity of her issues. So, when the owner asked this very question, she said: “No, I don’t have time for that.” So he started to explain that asthma is a complex problem which could be rooted in several causes, so an ND could deal better with that complexity. To this she responded: “I just don’t have the time, I just need to get her through school. I need you to tell me what to give her that will help.”
I had to write this blog because, I still can’t get this scene out of my mind! I wanted to say to her, “So you have time to be up at night nursing your daughter, you have time for her to be off from school, you have time to deal with all the repercussions of her suffering, but you don’t have time to actually improve your daughter’s health and quality of life dramatically?” I am glad that I was not helping this woman, because I just don’t know how I could have avoided reacting to her that way. This poor girl is probably miserable enough due to her asthma, and because of her mother’s attitude she will be affected physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually for the rest of her life.
Time is the one thing that everyone gets the same amount of (at least to start!), unlike money. How each of us uses our time is entirely a personal choice, but it does reflect what we value most. How do you use the time you have been given?
This blog was originally published on June 29, 2006 here.
A few weeks ago, a woman came into the health food store that I work at to ask advice from the owner. Her daughter (not sure of age) has severe asthma that is sometimes so bad that it keeps her up all night and out of school frequently. She said that they had been to several doctors starting with their family doctor and moving on to various specialists, who of course prescribed all kinds of scary drugs and steroids with serious side effects. Anyway, she came to the owner of the store to find out what her daughter could take that was “natural”.
So many people come into the store and ask for detailed health advice from the owner, although it is actually illegal for him to dispense health advice. Many of these people already see an ND or some other natural medicine practitioner, but some do not. For those who do not see a professional, we recommend that they do and usually can provide several names in various parts of the city.
In the case of the woman with the asthmatic daughter, we most certainly would ask if she has seen an ND, due to the complexity of her issues. So, when the owner asked this very question, she said: “No, I don’t have time for that.” So he started to explain that asthma is a complex problem which could be rooted in several causes, so an ND could deal better with that complexity. To this she responded: “I just don’t have the time, I just need to get her through school. I need you to tell me what to give her that will help.”
I had to write this blog because, I still can’t get this scene out of my mind! I wanted to say to her, “So you have time to be up at night nursing your daughter, you have time for her to be off from school, you have time to deal with all the repercussions of her suffering, but you don’t have time to actually improve your daughter’s health and quality of life dramatically?” I am glad that I was not helping this woman, because I just don’t know how I could have avoided reacting to her that way. This poor girl is probably miserable enough due to her asthma, and because of her mother’s attitude she will be affected physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually for the rest of her life.
Time is the one thing that everyone gets the same amount of (at least to start!), unlike money. How each of us uses our time is entirely a personal choice, but it does reflect what we value most. How do you use the time you have been given?
