Tag Archives: Naturopathic Medicine

Bedwetting may be all in the GENES!!

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How many parents are having bedwetting challenges with their children. Why do some children continue bedwetting while others overcome it earlier.  As with many things there could several reasons why a single condition such as bedwetting can have multiple contributing factors.

–       slower central nervous system

–       food allergies

–       diabetes

–       infections (kidney and bladder)

–       excess water consumption before bed

–       scared of the dark

–       laziness

–       caffeine in many sodas

 

Bedwetting and New Research

 

There has been recent research indicating a link to folate/ vitamin B12 levels attributing to a child’s bladder control.  Within these studies they state “Decreased Vitamin B12 Levels in Children with Nocturnal Enuresis” in ISRN Neurology, showing that children with primary nocturnal enuresis tended to have lower vitamin B 12 and folic acid levels than the control groups. One of the main theories of nocturnal enuresis is a delayed maturity of the central nervous system.  What two nutrients are critical for central nervous system development?  Vitamin B 12 and folic acid!

 

Another interesting fact is family history. If one parent wets the bed, 44% of his or her children will do so, if both parents wet the bed, 77% of their children will do so.

New genetic tests may reveal if your child has a genetic difficulty in utilizing Vitamin B12 and folic acid.

 

Our clinic has started treating children who have bedwetting challenges with this specific folic acid and vitamin B 12 testing.

 

NEW NEW”S ON ALZHEIMER”S FROM UCLA

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Researchers at UCLA say they’ve developed a program that shows for the first time memory loss being reversed using a non-drug protocol. They took ten patients with memory loss, some confirmed Alzheimer’s with brain scans. With all but one, reversed their memory loss. The one that did not respond had severe Alzheimer’s Disease. They followed up 2 ½ years later and were still doing well.

 

In the report provided by UCLA, Dr. Dale E. Bredesen explains how Alzheimer’s is a complex disease affected by sleep, diet, even exercise. In the study they had the patients make drastic lifestyle changes. They had the patients off processed foods, gluten, and simple carbohydrates. Increase their protein with fish. Take fish oil, Bi2 and melatonin. In addition do yoga, meditation, and get adequate amount of sleep.

 

UCLA researchers say the findings suggest at least early on, changing a person’s metabolic processes can bring back memory and cognitive function.

 

SEPTEMBER IS NATIONAL ARTHRITIS MONTH

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Pain , pain go away. Now with fall slowly coming upon us the dampness that we start to feel with the weather changes can aggravate our joints and accentuate pain and stiffness in our joints. The pain in our joints can be so debilitating, effecting how we function throughout our day and while we are sleeping at night.

September is National Arthritis Month. We are wanting to shine a light on awareness of the therapies and strategies in assisting in the treatment of Arthritis. Conventional therapies focus on pharmaceuticals which serve to mask symptoms and often have adverse effects. Problems with arthritic medications such as Vioxx, documented in the New England Journal of Medicine, have led many sufferers to seek safer alternatives.

At the Semiahmoo Wellness Center the Naturopathic Physicians focus on uncovering the cause of conditions. With arthritis there can be many factors that can induce swelling, inflammation and pain of the joints. Such factors include: allergies and food intolerances, nutritional deficiencies, stress and emotional issues, and trauma. The immune system can be effected by any or all of the above leading to inflammatory responses.

Strategies that we incorporate at our office are nutritional evaluation, food intolerance testing, evaluation of stressors and the use of cold laser therapy. We have been using cold laser as a very effective modality to decrease swelling, decrease pain, and heal tissue in arthritis.

Call the office today for an evaluation today.

 

SpringTime is here and so is Hay fever

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Spring is here and with it comes allergies and hay fever. Hallmark symptoms are uncontrollable sneezing, a runny or stuffy nose,and a maddening itchiness. Hay fever can cause headaches,an irritating cough, and can even interfere with your sleep.

Although, it is good to be able to identify what triggers your allergy or hay fever so you can minimize your exposure, it is more important to find what is causing your immune system to react the way it is.

Conventional treatments include the use of cortisone nasal sprays and anti-histamines which may help with controlling the symptoms. Why not investigate further to see what is causing your body to be out of balance or integration with the immune system. It could be a nutrient deficiency,an acupuncture meridian imbalance, a stressful or emotional issue, or a structural fault that is contributing to an immune system imbalance.

At the Semiahmoo Wellness Center we are able to assess what factors may be causing your seasonal allergy or hay fever condition. Give our office a call to make an appointment with one of our Naturopathic Physicians, either Dr. Bill or Dr. Justyna.

Have You Had a Cocktail Lately?

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We are no longer only what we eat, we are also what we absorb. As we know, healthy eating and lifestyle are key in keeping our body balanced and well. However, increased nutritional demand, reduced absorption, lack of nutrition and can drastically reduce our body’s nutritional status and overall health. Increased nutritional demand can be associated with conditions such as chronic stress, insomnia, travel, pregnancy, athletic performance, viral and bacterial infections, and chronic illness. On the other hand, reduced absorption can result from a variety of common issues including acute or chronic stress, ulcers, allergies, diarrhea, constipation, inflammation (IBS, IBD, Crohn’s) and excess or deficient stomach acid.

Intravenous (IV) Vitamin & Mineral therapy is an excellent way to increase your nutritional status. IV Vitamin therapies, such as Myers’ Cocktails developed by Dr. John Myers, MD, use highly concentrated vitamin and mineral infusions that are administered intravenously. This ensures maximum absorption and delivery of nutrients at the cellular level, bypassing the digestive limitations discussed above.

Common vitamins and minerals used in Vitamin IV therapy include: Vitamin C, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, B complex, Magnesium and Calcium.

Intravenous (IV) Vitamin & Mineral therapy is an excellent way to increase your nutritional status. IV Vitamin therapies, such as Myers’ Cocktails developed by Dr. John Myers, MD, use highly concentrated vitamin and mineral infusions that are administered intravenously. This ensures maximum absorption and delivery of nutrients at the cellular level, bypassing the digestive limitations discussed above.

Common vitamins and minerals used in Vitamin IV therapy include: Vitamin C, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, B complex, Magnesium and Calcium.

IV therapy is especially useful in improving and treating conditions such as:

-colds and flus
-fatigue and high levels of stress
-Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
-Fibromyalgia
-allergies and hayfever
-malabsorption and digestive problems
-migraine headaches
-cancer
-cardiovascular dis.
-athletic recovery and endurance
-anti-aging

THe Power Of Acupuncture

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The general theory of acupuncture is based on the premise that bodily functions are regulated by an energy called “chi” or Qi (?) which flows through the body. Disruptions of this flow are believed to be responsible for disease. This energy travels through meridians or channels. The use of acupuncture is an ancient traditional form of healing involving the stimulation of specific acupuncture points along these specific energy meridians or channels. These acupuncture points are likened to the circuit breakers in your house that flip when the circuit is overloaded. When the acupuncture meridians go out of balance due to diet, weather, or emotions they can short circuit and create imbalance in these acupuncture energy systems.

Using needles has been the traditional way to assist in balancing the energy meridians but there are other methods to accomplish this balancing. Cold laser is a more recent way, as well as using electro-acupuncture using micro-current technology.

In 1993, I was on a 3 week Physician Tour in China. The Tour included spending two weeks learning advanced acupuncture in a few of the hospitals of Beijing and Hangzhou. It really was an eye opener to see acupuncture in action. The response to individuals health after having acupuncture needles inserted for 30 minutes and then withdrawn was amazing. I remember on elderly man who had suffered a stroke, limping in with the use of a cane and unable to speak easily. After his 30 minute needling he walked out without the use of his cane and was conversing with his companion that had brought him. This was an amazing transition of his function that I had not experienced as a physician in North America.

One of my elderly patients ended up with a stroke several months ago when his daughter told me he was in the hospital and what more could be done for him. I mentioned that acupuncture could be very helpful for his recovery. We made arrangements with the hospital so that he could receive needle acupuncture in the hospital. The hospital staff was amazed how quickly he progressed with his post stroke recovery.

Acupuncture is not just used for pain relief. It can be used for fertility, insomnia, digestive problems, headaches, arthritis, and other health conditions. As Naturopathic Physicians both Dr. Justyna and I utilize acupuncture at the Semiahmoo Wellness Center.

It Is That Time of Year to Detoxify.

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I trust that you had a wonderful holiday season and have hit the ground running this year with new goals and fresh ambition!

January and February is the perfect time of year to clean up our diets and get back on track with our health. Christmas and New Years parties are a thing of the past and most of the cookies and chocolates are gone by now. For most of us, the holidays have left us with a few extra pounds and feeling a little slow and bloated.

It’s January 27th, How are you doing on your New Years Resolutions? Are you losing your momentum?

Whether I eat unhealthy, a little too much, or even if I eat very well, I like to begin the new year with a detox. I eat extra clean, take some probiotics and drink plenty of water.

Join me in making this year, the year that YOU, takes care of YOU! Of course anything that you do for your health is going to have a good effect on your body. More importantly, what you do for your health is going to help you be better for your family. Becoming healthier is not a physical challenge; its a mental one!

REMOVE – RESTORE – REPAIR – REPLENISH

Remove: toxins, parasites, infections and dietary allergens. They need to be safely eliminated.
Restore: the good bugs (bacteria) in your gut. They help remove toxins and help in restoration of the gut lining.
Repair: Heal the gut lining using key nutrients to repair the lining of the intestines and the mucosal cells
Replenish:enzymes to assist in digestion for optimal function of the digestive tract.

Eliminating refined foods, sugars, and alcohol are important. Eating healthy fresh organic foods. Consume at least 1/2 gallon of fresh, clean water. Eliminating artificial sweeteners and preservatives is another important step for gut health and healing.

Remember- Remove, Restore, Repair, Replenish!

INFRA-RED SAUNAS

Infra-Red Saunas are great to help in assisting the detox kick start. The rays penetrate into the tissues and stimulate the release of toxins that are stored deep within the body. Eliminating toxins from your body helps protect you from developing cancers and degenerative diseases. Once cleansed, you’ll have more energy to do the things you love to do. Saunas have shown to assist in getting rid of heavy metals in your system. Our bodies are continually interacting with heavy metals in our environment.

Your immune system also benefits from saunas. By raising your core temperature your body can fight off those nasty bacteria and viruses.

Lastly, the sauna is a good way to burn some of those calories while you relax and read or meditate.

Alzheimer’s Disease is a Global Concern

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Another year almost over! Lots of learning and a lot of changes as we move into the New Year. I was attending a seminar on ” Healthy Aging” last weekend and it sure drove home how the daily decisions we make about our food choices and health greatly impact our present and future health. One of the hot topics was Alzheimer’s Disease which is becoming quite a Global concern.

There presently are 750,000 Canadians suffering from Alzheimer’s or related conditions. Of the G 8 countries, Canada is the only country that does not have a prevention strategy. People with Alzheimer’s will double by 2033.Alzheimers is now considered to be Type 3 Diabetes. The key is to prevent it. There is a Prevention Protocol that has been developed with 14 items which we are starting to implement in our office starting December 18th. This is also a strategy that may help someone already dealing with Alzheimer’s Disease. If you are interested in knowing more or want to start using this protocol phone our office to make an appointment with one of our Naturopathic Physicians.

Do You Have a Grain Brain?

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I just picked up  another book on the effects of gluten and grains on your brain health. If you have read the book ” Wheat Belly” by Dr. William Davis you will enjoy Dr. Perlmutter’s book ” Grain Brain”. He demonstrates that your brain health is not in your genes but in the food you eat. He suggests that the cornerstone of all degenerative conditions including  brain disorders, is inflammation, which can be triggered by carbs, especially those containing gluten and/or high sugar. He suggests a healthy brain diet consists of one that contains low carbohydrates (healthy low glycemic) and is high in “good fats”  He also covers how statin drugs may be erasing your memory and decreasing your energy. It may even be responsible for keeping your sex life under the shelf. Statins lower cholesterol and cholesterol is important for making testosterone. Low testosterone ( in both men and women)  effects your libido and ability to perform. Plenty of studies have confirmed this connection. Decreased libido is one of the most common complaints among statin users, and lab reports have repeatedly demonstrated low testosterone in statin consumers. The Semiahmoo Wellness Center in White Rock offers testing for Gluten Sensitivity and testosterone levels. See Dr. Perlmutter at: www.drperlmutter.com.

NATURAL REMEDIES FOR COLDS AND FLU.

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It is that time of the year where we start thinking about what can I do to help prevent myself from getting ill or my throat is getting scratchy or my nose is starting to run. What can I do to bring myself back to my optimal state of health the fastest.

The reasons many of us get winter colds and flu are numerous. One, we’re indoors with other people while windows and doors are closed. Two, viruses causing most respiratory infections are always mutating, and our immune systems have trouble handling these ever-changing germs. Three, viruses can survive on non-porous surfaces for hours. If you turn a door handle recently touched by a sneezing, sniffling person, then lift a hand to your nose, you’ve infected yourself. Four, some respiratory viruses, notably influenza, become airborne when someone coughs. You only need to inhale three tiny viruses to become sick.
To prevent getting sick you want to make sure your immune system is strong. You can start out by getting enough sleep and rest. Suppliments to boost your immune system are numerous but here are a few. Vitamin D3 would be the first nutrient to mention. As we discover more about this vitamin it has been shown to greatly enhance your immune system. The recommended dosage for adults is now up to 6000IU per day. Let’s not forget trusted Vitamin C. There are over 1200 scientific references in Dr. Levy’s book, “ Vitamin C, Infectious Diseases, and Toxins” showing the amazing effects of high dose Vitamin C in resolving may of the infections we see in ourselves and our children. 500 mg every hour when you feel an infection coming on will help. At the first hint of a cold, suck on a zinc gluconate lozenge every few hours. Don’t take zinc gluconate longer than a week, though, because excessive zinc can actually weaken immunity.
Take one 250 mg capsule of astragalus , twice daily, until you’re better. This ancient Chinese herb stimulates the immune system and seems to be highly effective at fighting colds and flu. To prevent a relapse, take one capsule twice a day for an additional week after your symptoms are gone. • For a serious congestion-busting blast, buy fresh horseradish or ginger root, grate it and eat a small amount.  If you are unsure about what to do, come in and see the Naturopathic Physicians at the Semiahmoo Wellness Center for their expert assessment and advise.