Acne
Total body detox - a few spots available!
04/Apr/12 02:52 PM Filed in: Detox | Digestion | Allergies | Pain | Immune | Women | Beauty | Events | My practice | Nutrition | Stress | Weight
by Kate Whimster, BCom, MIFHI, ND
There are still a few spots available at both clinics for my Total Body Detox Spring Program! Register by Friday, April 6th 2012. Call the practice location that best suits you.
The program offers a total body, 360 degree detox that is safe, effective, and supported. Each patient receives a personalized detox protocol as well as a diet program incorporating liver detoxification support. On top of that, each week we provide an educational session on a different aspect of detox!
This is a great opportunity to jump-start your journey to better health or re-motivate you in keeping your health goals for 2012! It’s also a fun program to do with your friends and family!
Detoxification can be part of an overall treatment plan to help you:
Package includes:
1. 3 naturopathic visits
2. 5 group sessions (Tuesdays
Package price:
Register by Friday, April 6th 2012, space is limited. Call the clinic location that best suits you:
Mahaya Forest Hill Integrative Health
73 Warren Road, Suite 102
Phone: 416-792-4400
Kew Beach Natural Health Clinic
2010 Queen St. East, 2nd floor
Phone: 416-690-6168
There are still a few spots available at both clinics for my Total Body Detox Spring Program! Register by Friday, April 6th 2012. Call the practice location that best suits you.
The program offers a total body, 360 degree detox that is safe, effective, and supported. Each patient receives a personalized detox protocol as well as a diet program incorporating liver detoxification support. On top of that, each week we provide an educational session on a different aspect of detox!
This is a great opportunity to jump-start your journey to better health or re-motivate you in keeping your health goals for 2012! It’s also a fun program to do with your friends and family!
Detoxification can be part of an overall treatment plan to help you:
- Lose weight
- Improve energy and vitality
- Reduce and prevent seasonal allergies
- Address digestive issues
- Ease hormonal symptoms
- Heal skin issues
- Ease pain and inflammation
Package includes:
1. 3 naturopathic visits
2. 5 group sessions (Tuesdays
- Weekly focus on a different aspect of detox, including digestion, liver and kidney detox, skin health, lymphatic system, exercise, and stress management
- Group sessions Tuesdays 7 to 8pm, April 17 through May 15 held at Mahaya Forest Hill Integrative Health
- Group sessions Thursdays 7 to 8pm, April 19 through May 17 held at Kew Beach Natural Health Clinic
- Hypoallergenic protein source plus nutrients to support liver detoxification
- Biotherapeutic drainage remedies chosen specifically to address your health concerns and detox needs
Package price:
- $430 for new patients, $360 for existing patients (savings of 20% off regular price!)
Register by Friday, April 6th 2012, space is limited. Call the clinic location that best suits you:
Mahaya Forest Hill Integrative Health
73 Warren Road, Suite 102
Phone: 416-792-4400
Kew Beach Natural Health Clinic
2010 Queen St. East, 2nd floor
Phone: 416-690-6168
Comments
Confused about food sensitivity testing?
by Kate Whimster, BCom, MIFHI, ND
This subject is covered in a past post What's the difference between food sensitivity, allergy, or intolerance?, but given the recent media attention on food sensitivity testing I wanted to provide a pro/con (in this case beginning with the “con” side) summary for anyone who might have questions. Then I’ll explain how I look at food sensitivities in my practice.
Question: Is there value to food sensitivity testing?
Con:
There has been a lot of media coverage in response to an article (unfortunately you need to be CMAJ member for full access) by Dr. Elana Lavine in the Canadian Medical Association Journal criticizing food sensitivity testing.
Pro:
There are several counter-arguments to be made to Dr. Lavine’s assertions:
Contrary to what Dr. Lavine asserts, there is research evidence for the use of food sensitivity testing:
Here is a good, succinct rebuttal from Dr. Elaine Chin and here is a press release from the Ontario Association of Naturopathic Doctors.
My thoughts:
In my practice, food sensitivity testing is not my first choice for treatment, but I have used it in certain circumstances. Here are some key points I consider:
This subject is covered in a past post What's the difference between food sensitivity, allergy, or intolerance?, but given the recent media attention on food sensitivity testing I wanted to provide a pro/con (in this case beginning with the “con” side) summary for anyone who might have questions. Then I’ll explain how I look at food sensitivities in my practice.
Question: Is there value to food sensitivity testing?
Con:
There has been a lot of media coverage in response to an article (unfortunately you need to be CMAJ member for full access) by Dr. Elana Lavine in the Canadian Medical Association Journal criticizing food sensitivity testing.
- Here is an article from the Globe and Mail: Tests for food allergies, sensitivities a ‘waste of money,’ doctor says
- And here is a video with a bit of a more balanced perspective from the CBC: Food sensitivity tests
Pro:
There are several counter-arguments to be made to Dr. Lavine’s assertions:
- IgE testing (for food allergy) and IgG testing (for food sensitivities) are different things. For a great comparison, here is a presentation from Rocky Mountain Analytical, one provider of food sensitivity testing. For a good summary, check out the chart on slide 11.
- A skin-prick test, while considered the gold standard “allergy” test, is not a method that tests your response to food in the way you are actually exposed to food. You don’t eat through your skin, you interact with food via your digestive tract. And the response that your body makes to food can be an IgE response (quick, itchy, clear cause and effect) or an IgG response (delayed, vague symptoms, difficult to identify cause).
- Only a medical professional (naturopathic doctor ideally or a medical doctor well-versed in nutrition) can understand how to best administer the test to get the most useful results and use this information for effective treatment.
Contrary to what Dr. Lavine asserts, there is research evidence for the use of food sensitivity testing:
- This article summarizes some research on IgG allergy testing
- Food-specific serum IgG4 and IgE titers to common food antigens in irritable bowel syndrome
- Diet restriction in migraine, based on IgG against foods: a clinical double-blind, randomised, cross-over trial
- Serum IgG responses to food antigens in the italian population evaluated by highly sensitive and specific ELISA test
- Specific humoral response to cows' milk proteins and ovalbumin in children with atopic dermatitis
- Treating irritable bowel syndrome with a food elimination diet followed by food challenge and probiotics
- A critical review of IgG immunoglobulins and food allergy implications in systemic health
- I’m sure there is even more to be found - check out PubMed if you are interested.
Here is a good, succinct rebuttal from Dr. Elaine Chin and here is a press release from the Ontario Association of Naturopathic Doctors.
My thoughts:
In my practice, food sensitivity testing is not my first choice for treatment, but I have used it in certain circumstances. Here are some key points I consider:
- The test measures only one point in time. Human beings, however, are constantly adapting and changing. At the time of testing, results indicate a particular response to foods. But how might these responses change as your immune system is balanced such that it does not react to substances that are not harmful? I see changes in immune response all the time, most commonly when I treat seasonal allergies. I’ve treated patients who have progressed from constant anti-histamine usage (that was still not controlling symptoms) one year to nearly no symptoms and no need for medication the next.
- Nutrition is a major part of my treatment with most patients. My approach to nutrition is that there are no “bad” foods, just foods that work well for you (the patient) and others that don’t fuel your body in the best way to achieve optimal wellness. I look to personalized nutrition to identify what the best nutritional approach will be for each individual.
- There are several health concerns that warrant investigation into food sensitivities, such as: most digestive concerns (IBS, constipation, diarrhea, acid reflux), asthma, migraines, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, allergy symptoms, skin issues (eczema, psoriasis, acne), arthritis), failure to thrive, and more. The question is, what is the best way to determine foods that may contribute to these conditions?
- Before testing, I encourage patients to do an elimination diet, which is considered the gold standard for identifying foods that may be contributing to symptoms. This approach is both diagnosis and treatment at once: patients usually experience a significant reduction in symptoms while in the elimination phase (confirming that eliminated foods contribute), they immediately begin to alter habits (perhaps the most challenging aspects of naturopathic treatment), and they gain firsthand experience of how foods affect them during the reintroduction phase.
- However, some patients prefer more objective information via a lab test and find this more motivating for changing habits. Also, some patients may find the elimination diet very challenging and would prefer a more focused elimination diet based on lab results. In either of these cases, it is important to use the test results as a guide and symptoms as feedback to determine if the treatment approach is effective.
- In the case of gluten sensitivity, I also find lab results more motivating for patients, since 100% avoidance of gluten can be challenging and having “hard data” as well as other lab results to monitor (one example would be anti-thyroid antibodies) can help ensure higher compliance and therefore improved outcomes.
Total body detox spring program 2012
07/Mar/12 09:35 AM Filed in: Detox | Digestion | Allergies | Pain | Immune | Women | Beauty | Events | My practice | Nutrition | Stress | Weight
by Kate Whimster, BCom, MIFHI, ND
Spring is fast approaching and many people benefit from a cleanse or detox to shake off the winter sluggishness and get well for the warmer weather! With this in mind, I am organizing a spring detox program at both my practice locations!
Symptoms that may indicate the need for detoxification:
Detoxification can be part of an overall treatment plan to help you:
The program is designed to offer a total body, 360 degree detox that is safe, effective, and supported through both individual visits and group sessions. Each patient will receive a personalized detox protocol as well as a diet program incorporating liver detoxification support.
This is a great opportunity to jump-start your journey to better health or re-motivate you in keeping your health goals for 2012! It’s also a fun program to do with your friends and family!
Package includes:
1. 3 individual naturopathic visits
Package price:
Register by Friday, April 6th 2012, space is limited
Call the clinic location that best suits you:
Mahaya Forest Hill Integrative Health
73 Warren Road, Suite 102
Phone: 416-792-4400
Package details:
3 individual naturopathic visits by appointment:
Kew Beach Natural Health Clinic
2010 Queen St. East, 2nd floor
Phone: 416-690-6168
Package details:
3 individual naturopathic visits by appointment
Group sessions Thursdays 7 to 8pm, April 19 through May 17 held at Kew Beach Natural Health Clinic
Spring is fast approaching and many people benefit from a cleanse or detox to shake off the winter sluggishness and get well for the warmer weather! With this in mind, I am organizing a spring detox program at both my practice locations!
Symptoms that may indicate the need for detoxification:
- Excessively dry or oily skin, or skin itching
- Allergic reactions
- Chronic digestive issues, such as constipation, diarrhea, heartburn, IBS, bloating, and gas
- Chronic fatigue (despite sufficient sleep)
- Chronic pain (not due to injury or overuse)
- Frequent infections
Detoxification can be part of an overall treatment plan to help you:
- Lose weight
- Improve overall energy and vitality
- Reduce and prevent seasonal allergies
- Address digestive issues
- Ease hormonal symptoms
- Heal skin issues
- Ease pain and inflammation
The program is designed to offer a total body, 360 degree detox that is safe, effective, and supported through both individual visits and group sessions. Each patient will receive a personalized detox protocol as well as a diet program incorporating liver detoxification support.
This is a great opportunity to jump-start your journey to better health or re-motivate you in keeping your health goals for 2012! It’s also a fun program to do with your friends and family!
Package includes:
1. 3 individual naturopathic visits
- See below for specifics for each practice location
- Weekly focus on a different aspect of detox, including digestion, liver and kidney detox, skin health, lymphatic system, exercise, and stress management (mental/emotional detox)
- Coaching, support, and discussion for entire program duration
- Hypoallergenic protein source plus nutrients to support liver detoxification
- Biotherapeutic drainage remedies chosen specifically to address your health concerns and detox needs
Package price:
- $430 for new patients, $360 for existing patients (savings of 20% off regular price!)
- This is an amazing price for a complete, personalized, supported, and supervised detox program!
Register by Friday, April 6th 2012, space is limited
Call the clinic location that best suits you:
Mahaya Forest Hill Integrative Health
73 Warren Road, Suite 102
Phone: 416-792-4400
Package details:
3 individual naturopathic visits by appointment:
- New patients: initial visit (90 minutes) and two follow-up visits (45 and 30 minutes)
- Existing patients: three follow-up visits (two 45 and one 30 minutes)
Kew Beach Natural Health Clinic
2010 Queen St. East, 2nd floor
Phone: 416-690-6168
Package details:
3 individual naturopathic visits by appointment
- New patients: initial visit (90 minutes) and two follow-up visits (30 minutes)
- Existing patients: three follow-up visits (one 45 and two 30 minutes)
Group sessions Thursdays 7 to 8pm, April 19 through May 17 held at Kew Beach Natural Health Clinic
Guest post: The dairy dilemma
28/Feb/12 06:30 PM Filed in: Guest post | Nutrition
Guest post originally published by Shelly Reitkop, ND
The simple truth
Lets start from the beginning. Milk IS good – that is, BREAST MILK. When a baby is born, a mother produces enough milk to help her infant grow from an 8-pound newborn into a 24-pound toddler. Milk accommodates for a 300% weight gain over the first year of life. When the child is anywhere between 12-24 months, a mother’s milk dries up and she stops breast-feeding. It is at this point of life where humans lose 95% of the digestive enzyme lactase, a substance necessary to break down lactose, the sugar in milk. The human body is not meant to digest dairy once the breast-feeding period is over.
Let’s be honest. Most babies DO consume milk after foods have been introduced. Most people consume dairy products throughout their entire lives. The difference between cows’ milk and human milk is that cows’ milk, by design, is meant to grow a 90lb calf into a 2,000lb cow over 2 years. By the laws of deduction, if you want to lose weight, eliminating dairy is a must.
It’s not only about weight management. The sad truth is, dairy is one of the most common culprits of gastrointestinal inflammation. It quickly triggers the immune system to produce inflammatory molecules resulting in a variety of conditions such as Inflammatory Bowel Diseases and dermatological conditions, as well as autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis. The reason? We aren’t supposed to be consuming dairy!
Got Milk? Marketing misconceptions & the truth about calcium
Having calcium leech from the bones isn’t the worst part about the dairy dilemma: acidic foods affect the body’s functioning, right down to the cellular level. Acidic blood is a reflection of significant free radical damage and low antioxidant levels. Acidic blood levels are associated with chronic diseases such as diabetes, elevated cholesterol and cancer.
Your heart does NOT love dairy
Your taste buds may LOVE the taste of cheese and dairy products but I can assure you, your heart does not feel the same. Many dairy products are high in saturated fat and high saturated fat intake is associated with heart disease. Eggs, which are classified as dairy products, are widely known to elevate cholesterol and increase cardiovascular risk.
Hormonal havoc: the dairy dilemma continued
One major concern about dairy products is the exposure to hormone disrupting antibiotics, chemicals and growth hormones. Hormonal imbalances are implicated in certain types of cancers such as breast, uterine, ovarian and prostate cancer. According to some Harvard researchers, the hormone composition of milk may increase the risk of ovarian and other hormone-related cancers.
Recent studies have found that male athletes who consumed high doses of calcium (2000mg+) were almost twice as likely to develop prostate cancer compared with men who consumed 500mg per day. Something worth thinking about.
Another study found that elevated levels of galactose, a sugar byproduct that is released when we digest dairy products, may be linked to the development of ovarian cancer. Researchers conclude that high dairy consumption is not necessarily safe.
The bottom line
To learn about substitutions for dairy products, stay tuned for my upcoming blog: Simple Solutions to the Dairy Dilemma. If you have specific questions you would like me to address, please comment and I will be sure to respond!
References:
http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/what-should-you-eat/calcium-and-milk
What's the difference between food sensitivity, allergy, or intolerance?
by Kate Whimster, BCom, MIFHI, ND co-authored with Mélanie DesChâtelets, ND.
Do you ever feel confused about the difference between food sensitivity, food allergy and food intolerance? The differences are actually pretty simple to understand and will help you understand how food affects you. First, some basic definitions:
Antibody: A large Y-shaped protein produced by the immune system. Its job is to recognize foreign proteins and neutralize them. It’s what happens when you get a cold, the bacteria or virus is recognized and then neutralized by antibodies.
Enzyme: In simple terms enzymes help breakdown things. Enzymes are very specific for what they break down. Therefore, your body has thousands of different enzymes to break down very specific compounds. Without enzymes the process may not occur at all or at a very reduced rate. In the digestive system, enzymes help break down food into smaller units for absorption.
Both food allergy and food sensitivity are antibody-mediated reactions to food. The antibody recognizes a food protein as harmful and tries to neutralize it. If this is similar then what is different? We have different types of antibodies in our body. Different types of antibodies react differently and cause different symptoms.
Food allergy
Food allergy is mediated by an antibody called IgE. When this type of antibody reacts with a foreign protein it immediately elicits typical reactions ranging from uncomfortable to life threatening. Skin irritation, redness, and swelling are common. Difficulty breathing is more disturbing as it represents tightening of the airway. Other symptoms such as hoarseness of voice, stuffy and runny nose, itchy and red eyes as well as nausea and vomiting can are also seen with food allergies.
Here’s a diagram to demonstrate - imagine the pink line represents the symptom threshold; when you cross this line you have symptoms. The star represents the ingestion of the allergic food item.
With food allergy, as soon as the offending food is ingested, IgE levels rise and react quickly. The allergic symptom threshold is always reached. Avoidance of this offending food is necessary as it can be life threatening. The levels of IgE will also drop relatively quickly and within 5-7 days you typically no longer have symptoms.
Food sensitivity
Food sensitivity is mediated by an antibody called IgG. IgG antibodies react very differently from IgE. When IgG antibodies react with foreign proteins, they elicit a milder, slower, and non-typical reaction. Symptoms can vary from migraines, to increased behavioural difficulties in children with ADHD, to chronic digestive concerns (constipation, diarrhea, IBS, IBD), decreases in energy, skin issues (acne, eczema), and other vague symptoms. Here’s the problem - unlike food allergies, food sensitivities are very hard to diagnose. This is because their impacts can be seen 24 to 48 hours after the ingestion of the offending food. There are two ways that can help identify food sensitivities: the first is a strategic elimination/hypoallergenic diet, which works as both a diagnostic tool (to identify offending foods) and treatment (avoidance of offending foods as a first step towards long-term healing). The other is an IgG food sensitivity blood test - I offer this testing via either Immunolabs or Rocky Mountain Analytical. This tests how reactive your IgG antibodies are against various foods. The higher the reactivity the higher likelihood a food sensitivity might be present. This test can be a good starting point in assessing potential food sensitivity.
Here’s a diagram to demonstrate how IgG works.
With food sensitivity, the offending food is ingested and the IgG antibody levels rise slowly and linger for up to 3 weeks. This is what makes a food sensitivity so hard to diagnose. You first ingest the offending food sensitivity and you are symptom-free. This is because you are still far from your symptomatic threshold. In a few days you ingest this same food item and again no symptoms. What you don’t know is that your IgG antibody levels have accumulated with those of your last exposure. Third time is a charm, you ingest the food and this time you get symptoms, such as migraine, constipation, weight gain, water retention, skin breakouts, fatigue, etc. Please note in this example I used 3 days but this is for illustrative purposes and is not literal. It can be confusing! Symptoms don’t appear immediately, so it is hard to link exposure to symptoms and you are left guessing at which foods is causing symptoms. Unlike an IgE food allergy were every single exposure is followed by symptoms, IgG food sensitivities depends on frequency and dose of the exposure.
Food intolerance
Food intolerance represents an enzyme deficiency, meaning your body can’t break down a component of food and this causes digestive upset. The most obvious example is lactose intolerance or lactase enzyme deficiency. This enzyme is important in breaking down lactose found in dairy products. The lack of this enzymes results in gas, diarrhea, and discomfort.
I work with many patients to address food sensitivities. The goal is not to eliminate a food for the rest of your life although avoidance for a period of time is sometimes necessary while we improve the integrity of the gut lining so that you can once again tolerate the offending food. When you figure out which foods you are sensitive to and understand the symptoms, you are empowered to take charge of your health!
Do you ever feel confused about the difference between food sensitivity, food allergy and food intolerance? The differences are actually pretty simple to understand and will help you understand how food affects you. First, some basic definitions:
Antibody: A large Y-shaped protein produced by the immune system. Its job is to recognize foreign proteins and neutralize them. It’s what happens when you get a cold, the bacteria or virus is recognized and then neutralized by antibodies.
Enzyme: In simple terms enzymes help breakdown things. Enzymes are very specific for what they break down. Therefore, your body has thousands of different enzymes to break down very specific compounds. Without enzymes the process may not occur at all or at a very reduced rate. In the digestive system, enzymes help break down food into smaller units for absorption.
Both food allergy and food sensitivity are antibody-mediated reactions to food. The antibody recognizes a food protein as harmful and tries to neutralize it. If this is similar then what is different? We have different types of antibodies in our body. Different types of antibodies react differently and cause different symptoms.
Food allergy
Food allergy is mediated by an antibody called IgE. When this type of antibody reacts with a foreign protein it immediately elicits typical reactions ranging from uncomfortable to life threatening. Skin irritation, redness, and swelling are common. Difficulty breathing is more disturbing as it represents tightening of the airway. Other symptoms such as hoarseness of voice, stuffy and runny nose, itchy and red eyes as well as nausea and vomiting can are also seen with food allergies.
With food allergy, as soon as the offending food is ingested, IgE levels rise and react quickly. The allergic symptom threshold is always reached. Avoidance of this offending food is necessary as it can be life threatening. The levels of IgE will also drop relatively quickly and within 5-7 days you typically no longer have symptoms.
Food sensitivity
Food sensitivity is mediated by an antibody called IgG. IgG antibodies react very differently from IgE. When IgG antibodies react with foreign proteins, they elicit a milder, slower, and non-typical reaction. Symptoms can vary from migraines, to increased behavioural difficulties in children with ADHD, to chronic digestive concerns (constipation, diarrhea, IBS, IBD), decreases in energy, skin issues (acne, eczema), and other vague symptoms. Here’s the problem - unlike food allergies, food sensitivities are very hard to diagnose. This is because their impacts can be seen 24 to 48 hours after the ingestion of the offending food. There are two ways that can help identify food sensitivities: the first is a strategic elimination/hypoallergenic diet, which works as both a diagnostic tool (to identify offending foods) and treatment (avoidance of offending foods as a first step towards long-term healing). The other is an IgG food sensitivity blood test - I offer this testing via either Immunolabs or Rocky Mountain Analytical. This tests how reactive your IgG antibodies are against various foods. The higher the reactivity the higher likelihood a food sensitivity might be present. This test can be a good starting point in assessing potential food sensitivity.
With food sensitivity, the offending food is ingested and the IgG antibody levels rise slowly and linger for up to 3 weeks. This is what makes a food sensitivity so hard to diagnose. You first ingest the offending food sensitivity and you are symptom-free. This is because you are still far from your symptomatic threshold. In a few days you ingest this same food item and again no symptoms. What you don’t know is that your IgG antibody levels have accumulated with those of your last exposure. Third time is a charm, you ingest the food and this time you get symptoms, such as migraine, constipation, weight gain, water retention, skin breakouts, fatigue, etc. Please note in this example I used 3 days but this is for illustrative purposes and is not literal. It can be confusing! Symptoms don’t appear immediately, so it is hard to link exposure to symptoms and you are left guessing at which foods is causing symptoms. Unlike an IgE food allergy were every single exposure is followed by symptoms, IgG food sensitivities depends on frequency and dose of the exposure.
Food intolerance
I work with many patients to address food sensitivities. The goal is not to eliminate a food for the rest of your life although avoidance for a period of time is sometimes necessary while we improve the integrity of the gut lining so that you can once again tolerate the offending food. When you figure out which foods you are sensitive to and understand the symptoms, you are empowered to take charge of your health!
To pill or not to pill?
24/Jun/11 08:09 PM Filed in: Women
by Kate Whimster, BCom, MIFHI, ND
The birth control pill that is... Although this phrase could start a blog about any number of “pills” you might be prescribed! I just read this great blog called “Birth Control Pill Misconceptions” by Shawna Darou, ND that highlights the importance of addressing the root cause behind some of the reasons women use birth control pills.
In my practice I see a lot of women on the pill and many women who want to conceive after using the pill. I agree whole-heartedly with Shawna that the pill is not a great solution to the hormonal issues many women face (PMS, cramps, ovarian cysts, acne, etc). It is a tool for imposing an artificial cycle on top of your natural cycle, obscuring your true state of health. I think this is a disservice to women, especially those young girls who may never have established a normal menstrual cycle until one day they decide the want to get pregnant.
Most women that come to me for fertility and prenatal support expect to have a healthy period nearly immediately after stopping the pill and do not expect to spend months (or even years!) re-establishing a healthy hormonal balance before conceiving! Many of these women have been on the pill for so many years they don’t even remember what their own period is like anymore! When Shawna says she looks at “the menstrual cycle as a vital sign, as important as blood pressure and heart rate in assessing a woman’s health” she is right on target. Not only is a healthy hormonal balance essential for getting pregnant but it is also important to sustaining a healthy pregnancy and creating a healthy baby! In fact, the mother’s health before conceiving deserves a lot more investment and attention than it seems to get these days, but that is a subject for another blog...
So if you are one of those millions of women wondering “to pill or not to pill,” what should you do? Here are some alternatives to consider - knowledge is power.
Alternatives for hormonal regulation:
Nutrition:
Shelly Reitkop, ND recently wrote a great blog called “Understanding and Overcoming PMS” with some great info on how nutrient intake correlates with PMS symptoms. This is just the tip of the iceberg! Your naturopathic doctor can help you make simple dietary changes to regulate hormones.
Herbs:
There are a wide variety of safe and effective “female herbs.” Herbal prescriptions are individual, so see your naturopathic doctor to find out what herbs can best address your unique symptoms.
Acupuncture:
Acupuncture is a great treatment for a wide variety of female hormonal concerns! I’ve used acupuncture to successfully regulate menstrual cycles, ease period pain and PMS, and for prenatal and postnatal care. Acupuncture is perhaps best known for fertility treatment alone or combined with conventional fertility treatments.
Homeopathy:
Homeopathy is a truly personalized system of treatment that can address many concerns, especially issues surrounding the menstrual cycle and each woman’s unique symptoms. I have lots of info about homeopathy on my site. Learn the basics here and here.
Alternatives for contraception:
Natural:
The natural family planning method that I know most about and is highly effective is the Justisse Method for Fertility Management. There is a wealth of information on their website and you can order a guide from them to learn how to track your menstrual cycle to determine your fertility (and avoid getting pregnant!). I also sell their guide in my Beaches clinic.
For those who are less into charting and more into convenience, there is LadyComp, but apparently this is no longer available in Canada! It seems to have been replaced by Ovacue.
Condoms:
The condom is truly a wonderful invention for both men and women! Condoms are one of the most effective means of birth control (if used correctly) and they are cost-effective, convenient, and safe.
Diaphragm:
Finally, the good old diaphragm. When I asked my doctor for a referral to a gynecologist to get a diaphragm, he told me I was the only women to go from pill to diaphragm in his whole practice! But really, the diaphragm is easy to use, very effective, and affordable. The biggest downside is that the spermicidal gel for use with the diaphragm is no longer available in Canada (but it still available from the US!). However, there is some evidence that use of spermicide does not significantly change the effectiveness of the diaphragm.
The birth control pill that is... Although this phrase could start a blog about any number of “pills” you might be prescribed! I just read this great blog called “Birth Control Pill Misconceptions” by Shawna Darou, ND that highlights the importance of addressing the root cause behind some of the reasons women use birth control pills.
In my practice I see a lot of women on the pill and many women who want to conceive after using the pill. I agree whole-heartedly with Shawna that the pill is not a great solution to the hormonal issues many women face (PMS, cramps, ovarian cysts, acne, etc). It is a tool for imposing an artificial cycle on top of your natural cycle, obscuring your true state of health. I think this is a disservice to women, especially those young girls who may never have established a normal menstrual cycle until one day they decide the want to get pregnant.
Most women that come to me for fertility and prenatal support expect to have a healthy period nearly immediately after stopping the pill and do not expect to spend months (or even years!) re-establishing a healthy hormonal balance before conceiving! Many of these women have been on the pill for so many years they don’t even remember what their own period is like anymore! When Shawna says she looks at “the menstrual cycle as a vital sign, as important as blood pressure and heart rate in assessing a woman’s health” she is right on target. Not only is a healthy hormonal balance essential for getting pregnant but it is also important to sustaining a healthy pregnancy and creating a healthy baby! In fact, the mother’s health before conceiving deserves a lot more investment and attention than it seems to get these days, but that is a subject for another blog...
So if you are one of those millions of women wondering “to pill or not to pill,” what should you do? Here are some alternatives to consider - knowledge is power.
Alternatives for hormonal regulation:
Nutrition:
Shelly Reitkop, ND recently wrote a great blog called “Understanding and Overcoming PMS” with some great info on how nutrient intake correlates with PMS symptoms. This is just the tip of the iceberg! Your naturopathic doctor can help you make simple dietary changes to regulate hormones.
Herbs:
There are a wide variety of safe and effective “female herbs.” Herbal prescriptions are individual, so see your naturopathic doctor to find out what herbs can best address your unique symptoms.
Acupuncture:
Acupuncture is a great treatment for a wide variety of female hormonal concerns! I’ve used acupuncture to successfully regulate menstrual cycles, ease period pain and PMS, and for prenatal and postnatal care. Acupuncture is perhaps best known for fertility treatment alone or combined with conventional fertility treatments.
Homeopathy:
Homeopathy is a truly personalized system of treatment that can address many concerns, especially issues surrounding the menstrual cycle and each woman’s unique symptoms. I have lots of info about homeopathy on my site. Learn the basics here and here.
Alternatives for contraception:
Natural:
The natural family planning method that I know most about and is highly effective is the Justisse Method for Fertility Management. There is a wealth of information on their website and you can order a guide from them to learn how to track your menstrual cycle to determine your fertility (and avoid getting pregnant!). I also sell their guide in my Beaches clinic.
For those who are less into charting and more into convenience, there is LadyComp, but apparently this is no longer available in Canada! It seems to have been replaced by Ovacue.
Condoms:
The condom is truly a wonderful invention for both men and women! Condoms are one of the most effective means of birth control (if used correctly) and they are cost-effective, convenient, and safe.
Diaphragm:
Finally, the good old diaphragm. When I asked my doctor for a referral to a gynecologist to get a diaphragm, he told me I was the only women to go from pill to diaphragm in his whole practice! But really, the diaphragm is easy to use, very effective, and affordable. The biggest downside is that the spermicidal gel for use with the diaphragm is no longer available in Canada (but it still available from the US!). However, there is some evidence that use of spermicide does not significantly change the effectiveness of the diaphragm.
Egg yolk face mask
18/May/11 11:00 AM Filed in: Beauty
by Kate Whimster, BCom, MIFHI, ND
This is one of the home remedies I discussed during my appearance on Wylde on Health June 17, 2011. Video is up online here (look for June 17th, segment 2).
This is a simple, effective home remedy for acne. I first heard about this mask from a friend when I was a teenager with acne. I tried it then and found it worked really well! Egg yolks contain vitamins A and E, which are key nutrients for treating acne and scarring. Egg yolks also contain a variety of other vitamins and nutrients; most of the nutrients in an egg are found in the yolk! Egg yolks are also emollient, meaning that they help soften and moisturize skin.
I recommend that patients do the mask every night for about a month, and then once per week for maintenance.
Egg yolk face mask
Ingredients:
1 egg yolk
Directions:
Notes:
This is one of the home remedies I discussed during my appearance on Wylde on Health June 17, 2011. Video is up online here (look for June 17th, segment 2).
This is a simple, effective home remedy for acne. I first heard about this mask from a friend when I was a teenager with acne. I tried it then and found it worked really well! Egg yolks contain vitamins A and E, which are key nutrients for treating acne and scarring. Egg yolks also contain a variety of other vitamins and nutrients; most of the nutrients in an egg are found in the yolk! Egg yolks are also emollient, meaning that they help soften and moisturize skin.
I recommend that patients do the mask every night for about a month, and then once per week for maintenance.
Egg yolk face mask
Ingredients:
1 egg yolk
Directions:
- Separate one egg and stir up the yolk in a small cup or mug.
- Wash face as usual and pat dry.
- Apply egg yolk all over face in a uniform layer.
- Once yolk has dried, rinse off with lukewarm water.
Notes:
- One egg yolk will usually last for 2-3 masks, so keep the extra yolk in the fridge for the next day.
- Don’t use warm/hot water to rinse off the yolk - you will cook it!
Essential oil acne treatment
10/Apr/11 09:14 AM Filed in: Beauty
by Kate Whimster, BCom, MIFHI, ND
I’ve been working with essential oils since I was in high school and I enjoy making my own formulas that have evolved over the years. This mixture is designed to gently combat and heal acne blemishes.
Acne spot treatment
Caution:
Bergamot essential oil can cause skin to become more sensitive to the sun (photosensitive). Avoid use before sun exposure.
Directions:
Combine the following ingredients in a 10mL roller bottle:
15 drops bergamot essential oil
15 drops geranium essential oil
15 drops lavender essential oil
15 drops tea tree essential oil
Then, fill the rest of the bottle with a carrier oil of your choice, such as jojoba, grapeseed, almond, or calendula.
Apply mixture to blemishes nightly as needed.
I’ve been working with essential oils since I was in high school and I enjoy making my own formulas that have evolved over the years. This mixture is designed to gently combat and heal acne blemishes.
Acne spot treatment
Caution:
Bergamot essential oil can cause skin to become more sensitive to the sun (photosensitive). Avoid use before sun exposure.
Directions:
Combine the following ingredients in a 10mL roller bottle:
15 drops bergamot essential oil
15 drops geranium essential oil
15 drops lavender essential oil
15 drops tea tree essential oil
Then, fill the rest of the bottle with a carrier oil of your choice, such as jojoba, grapeseed, almond, or calendula.
Apply mixture to blemishes nightly as needed.
