Got Seasonal Allergies? Fix Your Gut
When the sneezing, sniffling, and runny eyes of springtime kick in, most people grab for the allergy pills, antihistamines, and eye drops. But did you know you can greatly relieve if not banish your allergy symptoms by fixing your gut? It may sound crazy that your gut health would affect your sinuses, but in fact the two systems are very intertwined. Both the respiratory tract and the digestive tract are immune barriers, meaning it’s their job to protect the body from outside invaders. The gut in particular profoundly influences the entire immune system. When gut health suffers so does the rest of your body, and the result for many people are allergy symptoms that flare up each spring. A common culprit in allergy symptoms is leaky gut, also known as intestinal permeability. Leaky gut is a condition in which the lining of the digestive tract becomes inflamed and porous, allowing undigested foods, bacteria, yeasts, and other toxins into the sterile bloodstream. The immune system launches an attack on these toxins, which creates inflammation throughout the body. For many people, this happens every time they eat. This inflammation manifests in different ways for different people. It can cause joint pain, skin problems, digestive complaints, autoimmune disease, issues with brain function, fatigue, chronic pain, and…seasonal allergies. What causes leaky gut and seasonal allergies? Leaky gut is very common today and can cause bloating, heartburn, gas, constipation, diarrhea, or pain. However, many people with leaky gut have no digestive symptoms at all. One of the most common causes of leaky gut is eating gluten, the protein found in wheat, rye, barley, spelt, and other wheat-like grains. Wheat today is not like the wheat from past generations. It has been genetically altered, processed, and stored in ways that make it very damaging to people’s guts. Sometimes simply removing gluten from the diet can profoundly relieve allergy symptoms by allowing the gut to recover and repair. Because leaky gut leads to food intolerances and food allergies, you may need to eliminate other foods, such as dairy, eggs, or other grains. You may find significant allergy relief by following an anti-inflammatory diet, or you can ask my office about a lab test to screen for food sensitivities. Another factor that contributes to leaky gut and allergy symptoms is an imbalance of gut bacteria. The digestive tract holds several pounds of bacteria that play a large role in immune function. When the bad bacteria overwhelm the good, inflammation and allergies result. Leaky gut repair includes nurturing your beneficial bacteria with probiotics and fermented foods to improve allergy symptoms. Chronic stress also weakens and inflames the digestive tract, causing leaky gut and seasonal allergies. Stress doesn’t just have to come from a stressful lifestyle or lack of sleep, although those certainly play a role. Eating a diet high in sugar and processed foods is stressful to the body, as is an unmanaged autoimmune disease, or hormones that are out of whack and causing miserable PMS or menopausal symptoms. These are just a few metabolic factors that contribute to leaky gut and seasonal allergies. Find seasonal allergy relief by fixing your leaky gut You don’t have to needlessly suffer every spring and depend on allergy medicines to function. In fact, you should see your allergies as a red flag that your body needs attention. Leaky gut can lead to much more serious conditions than allergies, such as autoimmune disease (Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism, rheumatoid arthritis, Type 1 diabetes, etc.), depression and anxiety, neurological diseases, and more. By repairing your leaky gut and improving your allergy symptoms, you can prevent or...
Read MoreWomen ‘s health: Restore balance and vitality with naturopathic medicine and acupuncture
A woman’s body goes through many cycles in the course of a lifetime. From the onset of puberty, pregnancy, and menopause, with many years of menstruation in between, a woman’s body is in a constant state of change. Naturopathic medicine, acupuncture, and Chinese herbal medicine work to restore balance and overall vitality to women along any stage of their journey. Some of the more commonly treated conditions with naturopathic and Chinese medicine include: loss of menstrual flow, irregular menses, painful menses, heavy uterine bleeding, pre-menstrual syndrome, infertility, pregnancy-related effects, frequent miscarriage, or the shift into menopause. Menstruation According to both the naturopathic medicine and traditional Chinese medicine the overall health of a woman can be judged by the regularity and harmony of her menstrual cycle. Achieving the correct rhythm, as well as a smooth menstrual flow, can prevent women from having to rely on artificial methods, such as the pill, to maintain healthy periods. Naturopathic medicine, acupuncture, and Chinese herbal medicine can also help with the symptoms of pre-menstrual syndrome, which may be a result of emotional and physical stagnation, or blockage, that accumulates and builds during the time before menstruation. Pregnancy-Related There are not many times in your life when you may be forced to grin and bear it through a health issue, but pregnancy may be one. It is typically a time when most women just “live with it” rather then face the unknown of a drug or treatment that may impact the health of her baby. Pregnancy is a time of many adjustments and changes in a woman’s body, both naturopathic medicine and traditional Chinese medicine can help you move more easily through these changes. Some of the more common complaints that we treat are lower back pain, sciatica, morning sickness, carpal tunnel, colds/flus, hemorrhoids, constipation, rashes, pre-eclampsia, and turning breech babies. Naturopathic medicine, acupuncture, and Chinese herbal medicine can also be essential in the recovery of postpartum depression and exhaustion. Menopause Does anyone need to open a window? Unfortunately the natural transition of menopause is not smooth for many women, and some may experience hot flashes, night sweats, depression, anxiety, insomnia, vaginal dryness, or osteoporosis. Used in conjunction with each other, naturopathic medicine, acupuncture, and Chinese herbal medicine can successfully support women during this final stage of...
Read MoreHealthy brain developement starts in-utero: Prepare for a healthy pregnancy
The importance of every couples’ preparation before conception Although the early years of life are critical to brain development, brain health starts in-utero and is significantly affected by the mother’s health, as well as the father’s age (children of men older than 50 are significantly more likely to have autism). To maximize a baby’s brain power, both parents should start with the preparation phase of our fertility program before the baby has even been conceived. These include stabilizing blood sugar, eliminating foods that cause inflammation, detoxification, balancing hormones (adrenal, thyroid, and sex hormones), as well as repair the gut, which is the seat of the immune system. The health of the mother’s immune system, hormone health, as well as lifestyle significantly impact the development of the baby’s brain. Using TV and videos to take a break? Popping in a DVD for a baby or toddler can provide a brief break for the hurried parent, and playing an “educational” video is an attempt to reduce the guilt of using screen time as a means to accomplish that. Unfortunately, even an educational video featuring classical music, shapes, colors, and early words may do more harm than good according to some researchers. A child’s brain needs constant physical activity and interaction with the environment to develop properly. Even if it’s an “educational” video or a computer game, time in front of the screen suspends that development. Research shows the younger a child begins spending time in front of the screen, the lower they score on language tests, despite being taught language on educational videos or television. Unfortunately, almost 90 percent of children spend two to three hours per day in front of a screen by the time they are two years old. Although watching educational TV or videos won’t necessarily cause a brain development disorder, researchers suggest that it can delay the development of crucial wiring and even delay language development. Alternatives to TV and videos Physical activity and healthy interaction (i.e. play) with the environment are the most vital aspects to a properly developing brain. Babies and toddlers do not need traditional education on TV and videos. Simply becoming part of the world around them is highly educational for them. Ample access to physical movement appropriate for the child’s age (i.e. do not put a child who should be learning to crawl in a walker or leave her strapped in a car seat for much of the day) is vital for proper brain growth, as is playing with age-appropriate toys, loving interaction and touch from caregivers, the ability to safely observe and explore his world, and protection from...
Read MoreNaturopathic Medicine: The Healing Power of Nature
The art and practice of natural medicine is founded on the ancient teachings of Hippocrates, a Greek physician, who was also known as “the father of medicine”. His approach to the human body is founded on the basic principle of “vis medicatrix naturae” – “the healing power of nature”. According to this doctrine, the human body contains the power to re-balance and heal itself. Naturopathic doctors are primary-care physicians trained in the art and science of natural medicine. Naturopathic doctors provide primary and adjunctive health care to people of all ages, focusing on the integrated use of natural therapies to support and stimulate body’s inherent healing processes. Naturopathic doctors focus on promoting health, preventing illness, diagnosing and treating disease. The following Six Principles are the founding-tenets of naturopathic medicine, and guide our approach to health and healing in clinical practice. First do no harm Healing power of nature Treat the whole person Identify and treat the root cause Doctor as teacher Prevention is best...
Read MoreAcupuncture & Traditional Chinese Medicine
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is one of the oldest medical practices, and some evidence suggests that it dates as far back as 5,000 years. The ancient Chinese developed this unique medical system through careful and diligent study of the body, mind, emotions, spirit, and the natural world around them. This system is based on the idea that pathways of energy, or “qi”, run in regular patterns through the body and over its surface. These channels are called meridians and they flow like rivers through the body to irrigate and nourish the tissues. An obstruction in the movement of these energy rivers is like a dam that backs up, creating imbalance and pain. Energy can also become depleted as a result of stress, overwork, chronic illness, etc., and this may cause the water in the stream to dry up and eventually stop flowing. Acupuncture needles are used as conductors, and when placed in specific areas that have increased conductivity, they can tap into the various energy pathways to correct imbalances and clear blockages. Acupuncture works with the body’s innate ability to heal itself; once pathways have been unblocked, the body’s natural healing response can take place. Every individual is made up of a unique combination of constitution, health history, family, environment, diet, emotions, beliefs, thought patterns and so on, therefore every treatment is specifically tailored to you as a whole...
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