“So, I hovered, I shat and I cried.” Recalled my friend S as she told me about her Christmas Eve on a Chinese train. You hover because there are only holes in the floor for toilets on Chinese trains. Ditto for Indian trains – although in second class they sometimes give you the “Western” option. But, trust me, you’ll still want to hover. She had diarrhea for 5 weeks in China, she told me. She now takes Immodium prophylactically while travelling in India. I told her that this wasn’t the way things ought to be done, but I guess past experience has left her traumatized.
Apart from one day of heartburn, which I cured with mango lassi, water and avoiding Nescafe, I felt pretty great during my month in India. The weather was 40 degrees and I drank 3-4 litres of water on the first day without requiring a washroom, but other than that, my health was in tiptop shape. Despite being told repeatedly that I would experience explosive diarrhea, or “Delhi Belly”, at least once on my journey, I felt incredibly comfortable. And all it took was packing a few key, natural items. Here was my strategy:
>Start taking multi-strain probiotics for one month before leaving on your trip to build up a healthy immune system and digestive flora.
>Take a heat-stable probiotic (I took Saccharomyces boulardi, a non-pathogenic yeast, which has been shown to prevent traveller’s diarrhea) daily while on your trip.
>Use vitamin C electrolyte powder to spruce up your water. Sweating out 3-4 litres of water a day will cause you to pump out necessary electrolytes such as potassium, sodium and magnesium causing muscle cramps, weakness and fatigue. Your water will need an extra kick to help replenish those lost ions.
>Have a homeopathic first aid kit on hand. You particularly want to have access to Arnica and Arsenicum album. Talk to your ND or homeopath for more info on which homeopathics you’ll need and at which potency.
>Bring along oregano oil. Shoot down colds before they progress, cure skin infections and combat cold sores with this antimicrobial cure-all. This can also kill intestinal pathogens that might cause diarrhea.
>Eat light. For a while I was nick-named “Dahl-ia” due to my frugal and practical tendency to order $0.25 lentil stew, or dahl at least once a day. This dish was not only cheap, but free from heavy spices and rich in fibre and protein. It was a great substitute for the greasy breads and rich, spicy curries, which can take a toll on the digestive system, especially in the stifling heat.
>Bring a ginger tincture to improve digestion and to treat nausea and motion sickness.
>Pare down your supplements. I took B-vitamins and magnesium – my two daily essentials. I tried to get the rest of my nutrients from food.
>Echinaceae for boosting the immune system, if you need it. It’s also safe to take in pregnancy.
>Have a list of potential go-to remedies, such as raw garlic, which is a great anti-microbial and anti-parasitic, that you know you’ll be able to access in the country you’re travelling to.
Breathe. Breathing cures everything. At the first stomach grumblings, take a deep breath and find the nearest toilet. There is a direct connection between the mind and digestive system and anxiety has never been known to help optimize digestion. Getting stressed out over potential digestive issues will only make things worse. So just hover, shit and, if you need to, have a good cry. After a week of being home, you’ll miss Indian street food. Guaranteed.
Talk to you naturopathic doctor about preventing illness while travelling.
Do you love and believe in naturopathic medicine but feel at a loss to describe it to your family and friends? Despair no more. Those at the YinOva Center in New York have created a cool infographic about naturopathic medicine, which “Alex” was kind enough to share with me. Take a read and feel free to pass it on!
There are many reasons to start using the birth control pill. Some of them are not-so-great: dealing with painful menstruation, acne, irregular periods or ovarian cysts – there are other, natural ways to manage these health concerns with fewer side effects and health risks! Some reasons for going back on the pill after a few-year hiatus are pretty awesome, like starting a new relationship. In other words, using the birth control pill for what it was designed for: birth control.
I’m surprised to find that I’m hesitant to admit it publicly, but I’ve decided to go back on The Pill after considering various contraception methods; in natural health circles the Birth Control Pill is often seen as an unnecessary evil. However, Tori Hudson author of the Women’s Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine, has called oral contraceptives a “truly revolutionary option for women” and points out that the dose of estrogen and progesterone in the pill today is much lower than it was when it first arrived on the market. That being said, it’s important to talk to a healthcare provider to go over birth control methods and decide which one is right for you. Alternate options include physical barriers, such as condoms and diaphragms, cycle charting, apps, such as the Lady Comp, or IUDs, to name a few. Each method has its associated pros, cons, costs and health risks. Finding a safe and effective form of contraception involves you and your healthcare team.
For me, The Pill seems to be the best choice at the moment for various reasons, which I won’t get into here. However, the idea of ingesting synthetic hormones again, after having carefully brought my cycles back to a perfect, painless and PMS-free 28-day rotation and after having cleared up my hormonal acne, made me nervous. So, I did what all trained naturopathic doctors do; I used my naturopathic know-how to tailor an optimal Synthetic Hormonal Experience for myself. Going back on the pill needn’t come with undesirable side effects; maybe it could be a positive experience. Here are some tips:
Decide if oral contraception is your best method
Selecting the method of birth control that best fits your lifestyle, budget, health history and personal style requires an in-depth conversation between you and your healthcare provider. He or she should have a detailed conversation with you about your expectations, goals, sexual and health history as well as family history. Selecting the right method may also require some trial and error.
Consider the associated risks
A history of smoking and blood clots could put you at risk for dangerous side effects. The birth control pill is also associated with an increased risk of certain cancers. (And a decreased risk of uterine and ovarian cancers in the general, healthy population). Your personal risk profile will involve your personal health history and family history as well as lifestyle factors such as smoking. Talk to your healthcare provider.
Pick the right pill for you
Based on my history of suboptimal glucose control, hormonal acne and irregular periods, I knew that I needed a pill with the lowest dose of estrogen possible. My hormonal profile tends towards estrogen dominant and progesterone deficient so I chose a low-dose estrogen and high-dose progestin pill. The form of progestin used has zero androgen (male hormone) activity, therefore it is unlikely to contribute to acne. It also contains a diuretic, which combats my tendency to hormone-related water-retention. The combination of my knowledge of my personal hormonal profile and ability to research hormone combinations in various pills led me to choose a product that offered positive side-effects rather than negative ones. Since being on the pill again, I’ve experienced weight loss, rather than gain, lighter, more regular cycles and clearer skin. It’s worth repeating that these side-effects were not my motivation for going on the pill. If you are using the pill for symptom-management and hormone-balancing rather than birth control, consider trying natural methods instead.
Be prepared for trial and error-ing as hormone levels fluctuate
Give your new pill a 3-month trial period. During this period, be prepared for temporary side effects such as mood changes, skin outbreaks, temporary weight gain or water retention and break-through bleeding. Other common side effects of synthetic hormones are nausea and headaches. Allow 3 months for things to stabilize and, if still experiencing symptoms, talk to your healthcare provider about trying a new pill or birth control method.
Make sure to supplement to account for vitamin and mineral deficiencies
Oral contraceptives can deplete several key vitamins and minerals. The B vitamins folate, B6 and vitamin B12 are most notably affected. Deficiencies in these vitamins could lead to fatigue and depression or even neurological impairment. Magnesium, zinc and vitamin C levels are also affected, which can have an impact on the immune system. These minerals are important in a variety of metabolic processes. Since starting the pill again, I am diligent about taking my B-complex and magnesium supplements. Make sure you talk to your naturopathic doctor or other healthcare provider about choosing a quality supplement and dosing correctly, to make sure you are putting back in your body the nutrients that your pill may be depleting.
Hormone balance when coming off the pill
If you reach a happy medium with your pill, then congratulations! But, you ask, what happens if I decide to get pregnant or switch to another method of birth control? Work with a naturopathic doctor or your trusted healthcare provider to balance hormones with herbal or nutritional supplements when coming off of the pill. Herbs such as vitex, help regulate hormones and prevent side effects from the withdrawal of synthetic hormones.
For more information on balancing hormones and optimizing fertility, contact me.
This article is not a substitute for medical advice.
Deadlines, electronic medical records, parking tickets, paper grading and the cost of rent in Toronto. What do these seemingly varied delights all have in common? They all contribute to complicating our lives and do nothing more than turn the drip-rate up on our cortisol lines. When we think of healthy living, our minds frequently turn to proper diet and exercise. We often forget that while our bodies are undergoing the latest juice cleanse and sweating away impurities, our poor brains may be stuck masticating super-sized portions of the same soggy, deep-fried thoughts.
Modern society always takes the blame for today’s health complaints but, after all, we wouldn’t be in this mess if it weren’t for the constant barrage of comparisons and to-do lists that haunt our daily realities. So, because I care deeply about the mental health of society, I have compiled an easy list of ways to simplify your life. Pour that carrot beet juice into your cerebral spinal fluid and give your brain a nice, cleansing wash.
1. Food and Drink
a. Turn off your TV. b. head to the grocery store. c. Once there, pick up a cart or basket, depending on your food volume needs. d. Sticking to the edges of the store, add in the vegetables and fruit you think: i. look tasty ii. are in season and iii. fit your budget. e. Next, hit the meat section. Buy some. (Legumes if you’re vegetarian) f. Buy eggs. g. In the middle of the store, pick up some herbs and spices, brown rice, quinoa, coconut milk, coconut oil and olive oil. h. Once you get home, look up the names of the things you bought on the internet. Google something like “recipe + beef + rice + spinach + tomato”. i. See what comes up. j. Consider purchasing a slow cooker or Dutch oven and let your food cook itself while you turn your TV back on. k. Ignore all TV commercials pertaining to food. j. Wine and water (tap).
2. Appearance
a. Find a pair of pants that fit you like a dream and allow you to sit, walk and ride a bicycle with ease. b. Buy a pair in every colour. c. Purchase the rest of your wardrobe at second-hand stores. d. Pair down your hair products to two things. e. Try to encompass your footwear needs with 3-5 pairs of shoes and boots. f. Use a BB cream – one with sunscreen. g. Use oil to wash it off your face at night. h. begin to learn to accept the nose/chin/butt/hair you were born with and find them beautiful in their own way.
3. Transportation
a. Walk everywhere. b. If you can’t walk, bike. c. If it’s too cold to walk/bike, take the subway/bus. d. If you live too far away to take public transport, walk or bike, then it’s time to move. e. Or buy a private helicopter.
4. Relationships
a. Choose a handful of people that mean a lot to you. b. Make an effort to see them and spend quality time with them. c. Tell them you love them often. d. Try to manage your expectations. e. Journal a list of the things you need from relationships. f. Try to use self-love to meet those needs. Meditation and journalling help with this. g. Online dating.
5. Social media
a. Determine how social media serves your life: Business promotion? Keeping in touch with your high school friends? Comparing children? Broadcasting your running routes? b. Log on, engage in these activities and then log off. c. Know when you’ve had enough.
6. Money
a. Find out how much money you make. b. Create a budget of how much your spend. c. Attempt to make a bigger than b. e. If b is bigger than a, try to make b smaller or a bigger. f. To make b smaller, see sections 1, 2 and 3. g. Consider that fact that making b as small as comfort allows could be the secret to simplicity and saving the world. h. Smile while paying taxes. i. If you have the means, donate time and/or money.
I have been gluten-free since the Spring of 2012 when I moved out of my Italian grandmother (Nonna)’s house and stopped being confronted by a daily arsenal of pasta and bread.
Being gluten-free is not hard; it’s only when you combine it with a dairy-free existence (often mistaken for lactose intolerance) that it then becomes problematic. When you start avoiding two or more separate things, you become one of THOSE people in cafes inquiring about the ingredients in everything. You start to hear yourself saying things like “so, are those raw vegan nut ‘cookies’ made with wheat flour? Oh, no? Well then – Ah… spelt. Hm. I’ll just have a $2 apple, then. Thanks.”
“Once Henry discovered that the autoimmune disease was a manifestation of his own self-criticism, his symptoms slowly began to subside.”
“I told the couple to stop spending so much time together. They were then able to rekindle their desire and found that their sex life improved dramatically.”
I read a lot of books. Many of these books are on alternative healing and often contain the running theme of cunning practitioners who bore into the core of the case, bring it to the client’s willing attention and <poof!> solve a long-standing with the snap of two fingers on their healing hands.
Things aren’t always what they seem. So goes the old adage.
The smiling mother chasing her kids in the park may be battling an ugly divorce or struggling with the guilt of a turbid affair. The white picket fence may not display the undercurrent story of addiction that runs through her life’s narrative. The beautiful home across the street provides a shiny façade that hides the modern-day enslavement to an unpleasant job that pays the mortgage.
I’ve come to understand that as a society we value the appearance of things rather than their actual value. We display to the world the happy side of life. We portray to others a sense of perfection and cover up the less-than-desirable aspects of our lives, creating the illusion that our lives are perfect and successful, free of suffering and pain.
I’ve had two coffees today and I’m not ashamed. Sometimes I even have three.
Today was a good day.
The caffeine flowing through my veins powers my legs down Yonge Street as my calves tighten – good thing I’m on magnesium – and my spine bends in response to the weight of my cross-body bag stuffed with supplies.
The weekend before the Big Week is a time for serious contemplation.
1) Stimulate your Liver Qi. Embarrass yourself at grad formal. Have them reprint your award with the same word misspelled. Create an online dating profile. Get a day job and surround yourself by a species of human that is still trying to figure out what gluten is. Feel smugly superior and remember what this feels like: it won’t last.
2) Address the difference between neediness and having needs in relationships. Learn astrology.
3) Buy a $200 book that weighs more than you do and makes you feel legitimized by the medical profession. Carry it around as a cute accessory. Spill things on it so it looks used.
I am a naturopathic physician. On a Facebook page hosted by some peers in my profession, a young naturopathic doctor expressed distress at having her attempt to forge ties with one of her patients’ medical doctor thwarted. Needing her patient to obtain the diagnostic testing covered under provincial insurance only when ordered by a medical doctor, she wrote a letter to the patient’s MD, explaining the case, her assessment, the natural treatments that the patient was taking and her reasons for asking for diagnostic testing to be done. She expressed her hope to work collaboratively with this professional in order to provide better care for their mutual patient.
The response was less than ideal. The MD wrote a short, snappy letter, making clear his disinterest in “working collaboratively” with “alternative health practitioners”. He told her, bluntly, that he would not welcome further communications regarding their mutual patient.
Rookie mistake.
Whether a patient seeks consult from a naturopathic doctor or not, natural medicine is here to stay. The good news for medical doctors, however, is that naturopathic doctors can help make their lives easier and contribute significant benefits to patient management. Here are some reasons for working with naturopathic doctors:
1. Naturopathic doctors are highly trained.
NDs go through 4 years of undergraduate education, taking prerequisite courses in biochemistry, biology, psychology, physiology and chemistry. Naturopathic medical school consists of an additional 4 years of intense, full-time study that includes the completion of two licensing exams, one board exam, 3 clinical exams and a 12-month clinical internship working with patients in an out-patient setting. NDs are trained in medical diagnostics, physical exams and can perform procedures such as taking blood, injections, pelvic exams and prostate exams. With extra training NDs are being certified in IV therapies, minor surgery and pharmaceutical prescribing.
Naturopathic doctors speak the same language as medical doctors and our training and medical opinions can be trusted.
2. Patients that see naturopathic doctors in addition to medical doctors do better overall.
In a 2013 randomized clinical trial by the Canadian Medical Association Journal, it was found that high-risk patients decreased their risk of heart disease when using both naturopathic medicine and conventional treatments together rather than just conventional medicine alone. NDs have the time to teach patients how to make changes that benefit their long-term health. Adding a naturopathic doctor to your patient’s healthcare team can help decrease their risk of chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death among Canadians.
3. Naturopathic medicine decreases the burden on the healthcare system.
A colleague of mine practised as a registered nurse in Ontario for several years before deciding to begin studies at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine and become licensed as a naturopathic doctor. When I asked her why she told me that she was tired of the “revolving door.” “The revolving door?” I asked, puzzled. She explained that, as a nurse she would often see the same patients time and time again – patients with diabetes who were having trouble managing their blood sugar and mental health patients, for instance – who would come into the emergency room, receive treatment and leave, only to return again after a short time. There was no one addressing the root cause of these patients’ ailments and, therefore, it was only a matter of time before they returned to the emergency room. Working with a naturopathic doctor helps patients take responsibility for their health, addresses the root cause of disease and assists patient in learning how to manage chronic disease more effectively, freeing up the emergency room for actual emergencies.
4. Naturopathic doctors address family physician shortages.
Many Canadians do not have a family doctor and many medical doctors are far too busy to take on new patients. Referring patients to be co-managed by a naturopathic doctor can reduce their need for doctors visits, reduce medical clinic wait-times and allow medical doctors to take on more patients on their rosters. Also, by focussing on lifestyle changes, finding the root cause of disease and anticipating health issues such as seasonal allergies, colds and flu or traveller’s diarrhea, NDs can help patients prevent disease. We can effectively take on the ailments that are not appropriately treated with pharmaceuticals (viral colds, for instance), freeing up time and space in medical clinics.
5. Naturopathic doctors can take on chronic, long-term cases.
Chronic acne, digestive concerns, musculoskeletal pain, fatigue and mental illness, cardiovascular disease, hormonal imbalances such as uterine fibroids, PMS, PCOS and endometriosis are all chronic conditions, difficult to treat with medications, that benefit hugely from lifestyle changes. Many patients who suffer from these conditions experience immense benefit when treated with gentle, natural therapies and lifestyle changes. Naturopathic doctors excel at treating chronic, long-standing conditions that are upsetting to patients but often aren’t “serious” enough to warrant conventional care or perhaps aren’t responding to conventional care.
6. There is someone managing drug-nutrient or drug-herb interactions.
It is estimated that more than 70% of Canadians have used a natural health product. That number is only increasing as the public recognizes the need for nutritional and herbal supplementation. However, interactions between natural remedies and medications are real. Naturopathic doctors are trained in pharmacology and are prepared to anticipate interactions and avoid products that have the potential to interfere with certain medications and medical procedures. Collaborating with an ND also means that there is a recorded history of all the natural products your patient is taking and your patient is far less likely to self-prescribe remedies that have the potential for harm.
7. NDs excel at providing stress relief.
“My doctor told me it’s just stress,” a family friend told me over dinner. No surprise. What can sound to some patients like a back-handed dismissal is actually a concrete truth; some sources estimate that 90% of physician visits are stress-related. Naturopathic doctors offer a wide range of therapies such as talk therapy, lifestyle counselling, homeopathy, acupuncture, botanical therapy and nutritional supplementation all of which are effective at helping reduce stress and improve the body’s response to stress. As a society we tend to focus on physical health and lifestyle and neglect the importance of mental health. Naturopathic doctors are well-positioned to offer that kind of care.
Dear medical doctor, we naturopathic doctors appreciate everything that you do. We would love the opportunity to work with you as part of a collaborative team for the benefit of our mutual patients. So please, no more of the above-mentioned letters.
In the words of Vanilla Ice, “Stop. Collaborate and Listen.” Your patients will thank you for it.
