January 27th, 2010 by Acuhealer

In the western model of medicine, a cold is transmitted from person to person through a virus or bacteria.  This leaves us with the feeling that we are always “exposed” and have no means of self defense.  In the Traditional Chinese Medicine model, we can do things to prevent and release disease.  This is because disease can only manifest in the correct climate.  Therefore, if our immune systems are healthy, we will be much less likely to get sick.  This explains why some people get colds twice a season while others get colds very rarely.

The immune system is managed by the nervous system.  The immune system can be impaired by what’s called Allostatic Load.  Allostatis is our body’s ability to maintain balance when under stress.  Thus, Allostatic Load is our bodies immune response to stress. When our body ‘fights’ off’ an illness, it creates an acute stress situation.  Acute stress actually helps the immune system handle a pathogen by causing immune cells to move out of the bloodstream and into tissues where they are needed. Acute stress actually strengthens our immune system.  It is chronic stress that impairs our immune system.  Chronic stress comes from overwork, lack of sleep/exercise, poor diet, etc.  Acupuncture actually causes acute stress by creating tiny sterile wounds all along the body’s surface.  As mentioned, acute stress helps the immune system handle a pathogen by causing immune cells to move out of the bloodstream and into tissues where they are needed.  Acupuncture also “resets” the Allostatic Load.  After acupuncture, the body is relieved from acute & chronic stress and regains its ability to recognize and respond to pathogens. Read the rest of this entry »

January 27th, 2010 by Acuhealer

Over the last 20 years, we have become more aware of the many challenges couples face in getting pregnant. Individuals are marrying later in age and couples are waiting longer to have children. In addition,  Environmental toxins and our own diet can have direct impact on our health and trying to conceive. From a western medical viewpoint, advanced age and ovulatory dysfunction, PCOS, thyroid issues as well as male fertility can all play a part in having difficult conceiving.

There are many ways to take care of our bodies and support a successful pregnancy.  During these times, many couples turn to holistic medicine as an alternative or in complement with western medicine. Read the rest of this entry »

January 27th, 2010 by Acuhealer

As the dark nights and short days of winter are upon is, it is not uncommon to feel more tired, lower energy, and a desire to stay inside a warm house and cozy up with a good book. For many of us, this is a passing experience that can be cured by a weekend getaway or a few sunny days. However, for some, these symptoms can be indicative of a form of depression called Season Affective Disorder. According to the web site familydoctor.org, as many as ½ a million people have Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). It is not surprising that SAD is more common in the Northern part of the country. Symptoms of winter-onset Seasonal Affective Disorder include: loss of energy, depression, anxiety, oversleeping, changes in appetite and difficulty concentrating. There are a number of natural ways to treat SAD.
Melatonin
Shorter days and longer nights can cause in increase in Melatonin; a hormone which helps us to sleep. During the winter months, our body produces an increase in melatonin which can cause us to feel sleepy and lethargic. Melatonins main function is to induce sleep by traveling through the bloodstream during our deepest sleep time. Typically, melatonin secretion peaks in the middle of the night. However, according to a 1994 study by the Russian Academy of Medical Science, SAD patients had higher daytime levels of melatonin during the winter months. Research has shown that taking melatonin supplements at 9-10pm to induce sleep will help your sleep cycle shift back to normal and allow you to wake earlier in the morning. In essence, melatonin can help reset the body’s internal clock. Read the rest of this entry »

May 6th, 2009 by Julie Silver

Soy and Breast Cancer Update

Written by Dr. Jen Green, Naturopathic Doctor

For nine years I’ve been wondering whether soy is safe in postmenopausal breast cancer survivors who were hormone receptor positive. The study I’ve been waiting for was finally published last month!

1,954 breast cancer survivors were followed over 6.3 years and their soy consumption was monitored along with their risk of recurrence. Postmenopausal women taking Tamoxifen who consumed the highest levels of soy had a 60% reduction in breast cancer recurrence risk compared to the lowest soy consumption group.  Women who had never used tamoxifen had no apparent benefit. Women with hormone receptor negative tumors who had the highest soy intake had a non-significant trend towards increased risk of recurrence. Overall, there was a non-statistically significant trend of reduced risk with soy consumption in all women.

From my perspective, the take home messages are as follows;

• Women taking tamoxifen should include liberal amounts of fermented organic soy in their diet (up to daily). Tamoxifen and soy seem to work synergistically.
• We are still unsure about how Arimidex and soy interact, so moderation is advised (eg. organic fermented soy no more than a few times weekly).
• Women with hormone receptor positive tumors can safely include organic fermented soy in their diet in moderation (a few times weekly). Although their may be no direct risk reduction, they do not need to be afraid of it.
• Women with hormone receptor negative tumors should limit soy to no more than twice weekly.

The new burning question remains, “How does soy interact with Arimidex/the newest class of aromatase inhibitors?”. Hopefully we won’t need to wait so many years next time to find out!

Reference:

Guha N, Kwan ML, Quesenberry CP Jr, Weltzien EK, Castillo AL, Caan BJ “Soy isoflavones and risk of cancer recurrence in a cohort of breast cancer survivors: the Life After Cancer Epidemiology study.”.Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2009 Feb 17

February 25th, 2009 by Julie Silver

ADD/ADHD by Dr. Jen Green

It can be overwhelming to hear that your child has concentration, learning or behavior challenges. Thankfully, natural medicine has many options for treating ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) and ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). These include nutrition, supplements, herbs, craniosacral therapy, lifestyle changes and homeopathy. It’s important to individualize treatment because every child is so different.

According to Dr Amen, a holistic psychiatrist who has written the Book “Healing ADD”, and has successfully treated thousands of cases, there are six subtypes of ADD. Each subtype needs different herbal and nutritional support. At our clinic we use his subtyping technique to prescribe specific nutritional supplements such as grapeseed extract, carnitine, B6, magnesium, phosphatidyl serine, zinc, and stronger nutrients such as GABA, inositol, taurine, 5HTP, and L-tyrosine.

One supplement that is used for all types of ADD is cod liver oil 3-4 grams (1-2 tsp) daily. This is because it is high in natural vitamin A, and the essential fatty acids literally help our brain cells to connect. Many parents and teachers notice a difference within two weeks of fish oil supplementation. It is vital, however, to get a brand that is molecularly distilled because otherwise fish oil can be contaminated with heavy metals and PCB’s. Good brands include Nordic Naturals (strawberry, peach, orange), Carlson’s (lemon) and Designs for Health.

Read the rest of this entry »