Naturopathic View Of The Human Life

Eczema is a skin condition that affects the young, the old and everyone in between. The classic presentation symptoms range from dry scaly patches or wet blistering clumps that can be intensely itchy and painful, and often bleed when scratched.  The traditional way of treating eczema has been the application of corticosteroid creams of different percentages on the affected areas or the use of thick moisturizers and at best being tested for skin allergies but with no available treatments for those allergies except for antihistamines.

The physical appearance and related symptoms are  frustrating and debilitating for the most sane of us, and exhausting especially for parents who new borns have been diagnosed with eczema, especially since they did not already have enough to deal with on their plates to add to their sleepless nights. Psychologically it can do a number on most of us. So what are some of the alternative natural remedies that we as naturopathic doctors use for our clients?

The naturopathic way of treating eczema is not to hand out immunosuppressant creams or ointments, but to assist the body in its healing this vicious symptom. Eczema is usually caused by allergens that could be ingested or topical or in the environment of the individual and usually exacerbated by the climate and stress. Its the body hypersensitive reaction that causes the itching and the red rashes at times, and eliminating the offending cause is usually how naturopathic medicine works to treat eczema.

In order to provide relief from the symptoms, and get rid of the eczema, one must first treat the root of the problem. Allergens are the most common culprits but its not necessarily allergens that cause anaphylactic reactions. Generally I find that  mild food allergies cause eczema in over 70 % of the clients. Stress may bring on a flare up of eczema as well, hence stress management techniques are key to tone down an over active immune system. A change in the climate may bring on a bout of eczema as well.

A change in use of body products such as body wash or shampoos, deodorants or make up , type of clothing  such as use of wool or acrylic or introduction of new food items could bring on eczema if the body is allergic to any of the products of food items that have been introduced.

A lack of moisture due to inadequate water intake or lack of essential fatty acids could also effect eczema symptoms.

For more information on eczema and how to treat it naturally, please check this eczema article.

By: SUSHMA SHAH, Naturopathic Doctor, at the Nature’s Intentions Naturopathic Clinic in Toronto.

Old habits die hard, and its especially difficult to cut out habits that are so addictive.

Here are a few suggestions that will help you tremendously when you are trying to cut down or quit smoking for good

1. Change your lifestyle and cut out everything that makes you want to smoke:

First and foremost, it is very important to cut down on other addictive substances, such as coffee and alcohol, all of which can increase the desire to smoke. Most smokers associate coffee with smoking or alcohol with smoking, so chances are if you cut out other food or drink items that go hand and hand with smoking, you will decrease the number of cigarettes you smoke in a day. As well, cut out hanging around other smokers  or encourage them to stop smoking with you if the former is not possible. Ask friends and family for  support while you transition into a non- smoker and let them know that you may need them while you go through this process. Making your desire to quit smoking public will help.

2. Have  an active lifestyle full of alternate activities.

Lets face it, when you have been smoking for a while, you will need to find an alternate hobby to occupy your hands and your time with when you decide to quit smoking. So you will need to stay busy to prevent boredom and to keep your mind off smoking. My recommendation is to find a sport or activity that you enjoy, so you can feel good about your health. Try to exercise regularly to help with the withdrawal symptoms , increase motivation and help release the tension you build up when you quit smoking. Exercise also helps with improving circulation and helps with the elimination of toxins that you would have collected as a smoker. Find temporary oral substitutes to deal with psychological ties attached to smoking.

3. Treating your body well

Once you decide to quit smoking or cut down the amount of cigarettes you smoke daily, the body will immediately go into repair mode trying to heal your system especially your lungs. So some of the things you can do to assist the body in its detoxification process is optimize your health are: getting plenty of rest and drinking enough fluids – stay hydrated. You may also do contrast hydrotherapy showers which are great for improving blood circulation in the body as well, improve toxin elimination from the body. Oral fixation substitutes could include munchies such as vegetable sticks (cucumbers, carrots, celery, zucchini), apples or pears, seeds and nuts, sunflower seeds (unsalted) in shells, popcorn sugarless hard candies or gum; or chewing or sucking on ice cubes, or licorice sticks. For your mind, do not forget to treat yourself for being successful at your goal of quitting smoking. With all the cigarette money you will save, you can purchase a new outfit or a new trip. Some of the other things you can do for your mind are :

• Learning  relaxation and breathing techniques and do them at least for 10 minutes a day
• Practicing visualizations
• Keeping  a positive attitude toward health and life
• Get positive health treatments, such as massage, teeth cleaning to remove cigarette stains, a yoga class or try some acupuncture for relaxation.

There are great programs available to help you with smoking cessation. If you need help with quitting smoking, check out our smoking cessation program, that offers acupuncture and hypnotherapy for help with dealing with the withdrawal symptoms and cravings as well, detoxification of the body.

By: SUSHMA SHAH, Toronto Naturopathic Doctor, at the Nature’s Intentions Naturopathic Clinic, in Toronto.

Body detoxification and or cleansing are important part of maintaining health, slowing the aging process and preventing diseases, by allowing the body to rid itself of a build up of toxins. Our bodies are exposed to various toxins regularly – in our foods, in the air we breathe, in our environments among other areas, while the body has a tremendous capacity to put up with junk, it does eventually break down and that is when the body starts to suffer from various symptoms of feeling sluggish, lack of energy, digestive issues such as bloating and constipation among other symptoms.

The body has four major organs for detoxification – these include skin – the largest detoxification organ, lungs, liver and kidneys. It is very important to pick the right type of detox program for efficient cleansing, as well, it is important that the detoxification organs are functioning well before doing any cleanses. The toxins will produce many metabolites when broken down, that need to be eliminated from the body and if the organs of detoxification are not working efficiently, this may cause an unwanted accumulation of toxin metabolites, which can be quite harmful for the body.

When doing a cleanse or a detoxification program, your schedule should ideally be free of commitments and excessive physical activity, allowing the body adequate time and resources of detoxify more efficiently. Health food stores carry all kinds of cleanses hence its quite confusing when it comes to picking the right kind of cleanse. The cleanses/ detox should be specific for your symptoms and your body, not the other way around. There are many options – candida cleanses, liver and gall bladder cleanses or flushes, colon cleanses, kidney cleanses, so which one should you pick? Talk your naturopathic physician before starting any cleanse/ detoxification program, as they have in depth knowledge about different cleanses and what would be most suitable for your body without harming it. Think you need to do a detox? Please fill out the following detox questionnaire to see if you do need to do a cleanse or a body detox.

In terms of cleanses, it could be a fast or a specific program that you follow for a few days. It could also be in the form of an enema or colonic irrigation. Most fasts will allow you to eat while cleansing, but of course most cleanses come with restrictions in terms of what types of foods you can eat – most cleanses will allow fruits or vegetable intake, along with other easily digestible foods that would help with the detoxification process of the body as opposed to clogging it up more.

For more information on cleansing and detoxification, please click here.

IF YOU ARE TAKING PRESCRITION MEDICATION, PLEASE TALK TO YOUR NATUROPATHIC DOCTOR BEFORE ATTEMPTING ANY CLEANSES.

By: Sushma Shah, Naturopathic Doctor, at the Nature’s Intentions Naturopathic Clinic.

ADD ( attention deficit disorder ) and ADHD ( attention deficit and hyperactivity disorders) are two disorders that are significantly affected by diet. Having treatment lots of cases with ADD and ADHD, I would safely say that these disorders are a product of our eating habits and what is added into our diets knowingly or unknowingly.  Majority of the times, I have found that kids who are ingesting large amounts of refined or processed foods are more likely to have either ADD or ADHD. Why ? Majority of the refined and processed foods have various types of colors and additives/ preservatives  added to them which make them tastier and more colorful but do little in terms of nutrient availability to the consumer’s body.

Most refined and processed foods that are high in sugar such as cookies, cakes, candies, pastries, etc  tend to excite the neurons, and cause an increase in the firing of the electrical impulses sent by these neurons, causing a sudden rush in body, which will usually translate in hyperactivity in the child’s behavior, and quite often aggression in the behavior. However, it would be unfair to put entire blame on refined and processed foods. Quite often, the child may be undiagnosed mild food allergies, that can be determined by blood testing for allergies. These allergies can quite often cause irrational behaviors as well, and symptoms of both hyperactivity and attention deficiency.

A diet low/ lacking in essential fatty acids will also effect the concentration and attention of the child. Essential fatty acids are crucial for the brain development, hence very important to supplement if they are lacking. Testing is available to see if there is a lack of essential fatty acids in the body. Various minerals, vitamins and nutrients that are found abundantly in fresh fruits and green leafy vegetables are very important for the body’s various processes and actions, especially minerals like calcium and magnesium,  and certain B vitamins, a lack of which can cause symptoms such as tics and hyperactivity, along with restless behaviors.

It is important to talk to you naturopathic doctor to get a proper diagnosis of what may be lacking in your child’s diet before supplementing with any supplements or vitamins. For more information on ADD or ADHD, please click here.

By: SUSHMA SHAH,Naturopathic Doctor, at the Nature’s Intentions Naturopathic Clinic.

A lot of patients who come in to the clinic with digestive disorders or complaints such as Crohn’s or Colitis or Irritable bowel issues often wonder if their diet has anything to do with the symptoms. Absolutely, yes! You are what you eat and if you are eating food items that are not compatible with your   digestive system (( food allergies or intolerances/sensitivities), you are going to have digestive issues sooner than later.

A lot of people wonder why this is because they themselves have never noticed a food reaction and feel fine with all the foods that they are eating, so why suddenly are they reacting to certain foods?  Well, usually your digestive system will suppress distress symptoms as much as it can, until it gets to a point where it can no longer withstand the insult to the intestinal lining. Your body’s natural defense against exposure to foods its reacting to is to create more mucus in the intestines, so that there is protection for the intestinal lining. Eventually, this wears down and the body is unable to protect itself and this is when you would see symptoms of Crohn’s or colitis, most often after a sudden or an extreme stressful event.

Can this all be related to stress only? Although a stressful event will sometimes bring on the bulk of symptoms all at once, and it quite often feels its all stress related, its not.  Usually there is an underlying cause for digestive problems. Diet, stress and parasitic ( bacterial, viral, fungal adn protozoan) infections will usually exacerbate the symptoms. Stress management programs may be helpful to alleviate the symptoms a little, but most times, the symptoms will recur as the root cause of the disease has not been fully addressed.

Will changing my diet cure me of the disease or symptoms? No, but it will help manage the symptoms a lot better. It is important to understand what the body is reacting to before changing the diet – is it a food intolerance/ sensitivity ? Is it an allergy to a certain food?  The usual offending factors in regards to food include dairy, wheat, corn, sugars, among other food items. I generally recommend talking to your naturopathic doctor about getting tested before eliminating any foods from your diet, as they would better understand what tests you need to run and what course of natural treatment would be most appropriate.

What else can i do to improve my symptoms of Crohn’s and / or Colitis? Improving your diet is key to managing your symptoms, but relaxation and stress management is extremely important. Acupuncture and massage is quite helpful for relaxation and stress  release. Natural/ naturopathic  remedies work very well to treat the disease and keep it bay.

By: SUSHMA SHAH, TORONTO NATUROPATHIC DOCTOR, AT THE NATURE’S INTENTIONS NATUROPATHIC CLINIC.

1. FEEL MORECALMER, LESS ANXIOUS AND AGITATED

Whenever summer time rolls around, I see my neighbors prepping up their barbeques and grills for all the summer parties and beer fests they are going to have this year. I frequently wonder however would they be much calmer and their stomachs a lot happier if they were to grill vegetables and tofu rather than steaks and other fish and animal parts and organs? The answer to this question is ABSOLUTELY! It has been frequently observed that people who eat vegetarian diets tend to be somewhat calmer than heir meat-eating counterparts and less anxious.

How can vegetarianism lead to a calmer disposition?

The steroid hormones residues in red meat that are released when the animal is killed for our eating pleasures, which cannot be broken down by cooking, exert an effect not unlike the body’s own steroid hormone, activating natural defenses against stress and suppressing immunity as well, when the meat is eaten, the stress hormones that the animal released when it is faced with its own death, are released in your blood stream making you agitated and aggressive.

2. HAVE A BETTER ALKALINE – ACID BALANCE FOR THE BODY

Animal products such as meat, poultry, eggs, dairy and cheese and refined sugars and flour products are all acid forming foods. Acid forming foods are not necessarily acidic in nature but tend to form acid in the body once they are broken down, making the body very acidic. This affects the ability to digest food as it speeds up the rate of clearance or elimination of the food, which in turn will affect the absorption and assimilation of nutrients and vitamins from the food.

Starches require an alkaline environment for digestion. When the body is very acidic, the digestion of starches will be affected as well, causing unwanted flatulence and bloating. The absorption of certain vitamins especially  B and C’s and minerals can be affected, which in turn can add to the body’s stress load causing low – grade malnutrition and undernourishment, as well. Liquid vitamins maybe a better option in general when it comes to vitamin and mineral absorption.

3. BREATHE EASIER BEING A VEGETARIAN OR VEGAN

Feeling congested or stuffy? One simple way to decrease mucus production is very simple.. cut out the food items that are known to cause congestion in the respiratory tract- these foods would include any acid forming products especially meats and dairy products. The body has a natural buffer system that allows for pH buffering with bicarbonate ions. One of the protective mechanisms for the body  against too much acid is to form more mucus to protect the gastrointestinal lining, along with the respiratory tract, both of which have a layer of  mucus membrane on the interior side that is exposed to food and foreign elements of any kind. Stress and the inability to digest proteins will create more mucus, hence feeling more congested and of course feels sluggish, tired or bogged down after eating. and have sinus issues or even asthma!

By: SUSHMA SHAH, NATUROPATHIC DOCTOR AT THE NATURE’S INTENTIONS NATUROPATHIC CLINIC IN TORONTO.

Ask yourself the following questions.

___ Do you have diarrhea frequently?
___ Do you have abdominal cramps or pains?
___ Do you have intestinal gas frequently after eating?
___ Do you suffer from indigestion or flatulence and bloating frequently?
___Have you lost weight without trying?
___Are you anorexic now or have you even been?
___After meals, do you often have heartburn or find it necessary to belch frequently?
___Are you often constipated and bloated?
___Do you suffer from chronic fatigue or fibromyalgia?
___Have you noticed blood or mucus in your stools?

If you answered, “yes” to two or more questions, intestinal parasites may be causing your symptoms but treating the symptoms alone won’t eliminate the parasitic infection, it is important to find out what parasitic infection you have in order to eradicate it. Parasites affect millions of even those who never leave the country. They can cause symptoms from intestinal disorders as those mentioned above along with problems throughout the body.

Why should I be concerned about parasites?

Parasites are much more common in North America and other developed countries than you may realize. They also cause many diseases, which can lead to serious illness and even death. Intestinal parasites can weaken your body’s natural immune system, making you more susceptible to other illnesses. The frequency of world travel and increased immigration to the North America has resulted in the significant increase and spread of parasitic infections, as many parasitic infections can be asymptomatic and passed on without knowledge.

What are intestinal parasites?

Intestinal parasites are a variety of organisms ranging from visible worms (like tapeworms and pinworms) to microscopic organisms such as Giardia lamblia that live within the intestinal tract, and quite often other organs, growing and feeding off the resources of your body, robbing your body of precious nutrients.

How do you get parasites?

• Parasites are found in raw and undercooked food and treated and untreated water; are transmitted by insects and household pets; and are passed from person to person through unsanitary habits and poor hygiene. Other parasites and their eggs are found in raw, rare or undercooked meats and fish, while others are in contaminated soil.

• Parasites travel in different ways. For example. The microorganism Giardia, which causes persistent diarrhea, fever, cramps and other symptoms, is contained in feces. It gets into public water supplies when animal or human sewage contaminates the water source. It can also be transmitted from person to person through careless diaper changing and poor hygiene in day care centers.
• Another parasites, Cryptosporidium, infest public water systems and can cause widespread outbreaks of severe diarrhea and cramps. It has been found in water supplies throughout the North America, and the disease it causes can prove fatal for people with weakened immune systems.
• Many immigrants unknowingly carry parasites that can produce symptoms in others transmitting the organisms into food through unsanitary practices in restaurants kitchens.

What are the symptoms of a parasites infection?

• Almost any persistent digestive disorders could result from a parasite. The most common symptoms are diarrhea and abdominal pain. Other symptoms include nausea, vomiting, gas and bloating, foul-smelling stools, anorexia or weight loss, gastritis, fever and chills, headache, constipation, blood or mucus in stools and fatigue.
• Other health problems can result from disturbed digestive processes or toxins produced by the parasites, such as aches and pains in the joints and muscles, anemia, allergies, chronic fatigue, immune dysfunction, sleep disturbances and depression.
• Ongoing irritation from a parasitic infection can alter the lining of your intestine, creating the “leaky guy” syndrome, which permits toxic compounds to permeate into the body through the intestine. A variety of disorders, including food allergy and inflammatory bowel disease (IBS or IBD), can result from altered intestinal permeability.

How can I tell if I have parasites?

• Many symptoms of parasitic infections are similar to other illnesses, making it particularly important to test for parasites for proper diagnosis and treatment. A comprehensive parasites test, using a stool sample analyzed by a laboratory specializing in parasite testing, is the most effective way to diagnose this type of infection.

How do you treat parasites?

• Eliminating the parasitic infection is the key to relieving the symptoms of infection, or the parasites will continue to grow and reproduce. Health care professionals such as naturopathic doctors use a variety of natural treatments to eliminate parasites, including anti-parasitic herbs, diet changes and adding “friendly” bacteria to your gastrointestinal tract once a proper diagnosis is obtained.

How do I get a parasitology test?

• Talk to your naturopathic doctor about your symptoms and ask if parasite testing would be suitable for you.

How do I prevent parasites?

• Always wash your hands before eating, after cleaning up and after playing with pets.
• Order your food cooked to medium or well done when eating out in order to ensure that there are no parasitic infections in the meat.
• Don’t eat in places that appear unsanitary. Always look around for the inspection certificate that is usually displayed at the entrance of the establishment.
• Don’t drink unfiltered or untreated water, no matter how pure it looks. Drink bottled or boiled water when traveling in undeveloped countries.
• Insist on antiseptic cleaning practices at day care Centers. Carry antibacterial wipes with you and make sure you wipe of your children’s hands and yours after leaving day care.

By: SUSHMA SHAH, NATUROPATHIC DOCTOR, AT THE NATURE’ S INTENTIONS NATUROPATHIC CLINIC.

Do you suffer from any of the following symptoms?

- cold hands and feet?

- water retention?

- swelling in the extremities ( hands and feet)?

- swollen lymph nodes which have been there for a while?

- bluish or purplish hue in the extremities?

- varicose veins and broken capillaries that look red or purple right under the skin?

- experience numbness or tingling of finger tips and toes in winter?

If you suffer from any of the symptoms above, chances are you do have poor blood circulation.  Here are a list of some of the natural treatments for poor circulation that have been tried, tested and true. While most work well on simple cases of poor circulation, its best to get a proper  diagnosis and naturopathic treatment from your naturopathic doctor before attempting to treat poor circulation  naturally.

DRY SKIN BRUSHING – This natural technique is great for improving poor circulation as well, as exfoliating dead skin and hence detoxifying toxins from the body. This technique can be applied using  a dry loofah sponge or hand towel. Massage the dry loofah sponge or towel in a small circular motion from the extremities towards the heart for about 7 – 10 minutes before showering regularly to see a marked improvement in circulation.

CONTRAST HYDROTHERAPY – This natural technique has been around for centuries and its a wonderful simple therapy for not only improving circulation, but detoxify the body of the toxins as well. While in the shower, alternate between hot water and cold water every 3 minutes for about a minute at least three times. Make sure the water temperature is tolerable to your body as use of extreme cold or hot water may have negative effects on the body.

BOTANICAL HERBS – such as gotukola and horse chestnut are great to improve circulation in the extremities.

LYMPHATIC MASSAGE - This type of massage concentrates on draining the lymph nodes and is great to reduce swelling and water retention. Quite often the massage therapist may use creams made of herbs that promote circulation.

WATER INTAKE – A very simple change that you can make to your diet is drinking more water. Blood is a fluid and is 70 % water, hence if you are not drinking enough water, circulation of the body fluids will be affected, and not flow freely. An increase in water intake will not only improve circulation, but also help eliminate toxins from the body.

I do recommend you talk to your naturopath before attempting any therapies, natural or otherwise.

By:  SUSHMA SHAH, TORONTO NATUROPATHIC DOCTOR, AT THE NATURE’S INTENTIONS NATUROPATHIC CLINIC, UPTOWN TORONTO.

Here is a list of simple tips that work wonders for  naturally losing weight :

• No eating after 8:00pm. -If you are craving all sorts of things even after having a proper dinner, its not related to being hungry, its most likely related to stress or comfort of the mind that you are feeding.. so try having a tall glass of water with a squeeze of some lemon juice instead and a pinch of stevia instead.

• Smaller meals through out the day. Rather than having 3 large meals, have six small meals through out the day, this way you are distributing you calories through out the day and using them up as opposed to strong the excess and gaining weight unnecessarily.

• Have a tall glass of warm water 5 – 7 minutes before each meal. This has clinically been shown to reduce weight.

• Eat slowly rather than wolfing down your meals as quickly as possible, enjoy your food – the colors and textures of the food, and savour each bite.  This will help improve your digestion and make you more aware of how much you eat.

• Eat up until you fill your stomach feels satiated not full.

By: SUSHMA SHAH, TORONTO NATUROPATH AT THE NATURE’S INTENTIONS NATUROPATHIC CLINIC

Ask your self the following questions:

1. Do you have symptoms of malabsorption such as bloating, gas, diarrhea, irregularity and abdominal pain?
2. Do you feel very full or bloated after having starches or carbohydrates such as potatoes, pastas and breads?
3. Are you unable to tolerate sweet foods such as pastries, cakes, cookies, and suffer from abdominal pain or bloating after consumption of these products?
4. Have you had a bad reaction along with unexplained abdominal symptoms after taking friendly probiotic supplements?
5. Have you been diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)?

If you answered “ yes” to the majority of the question above, you might be suffering from bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine. Bacteria overgrowth of the small intestine is a serious digestive disorder that can inhibit nutrients absorption and lead to many health problems. Although widespread, it is frequently unsuspected incases of chronic bowel problems and carbohydrate intolerance because its symptoms often mimic other disorders.

Often this condition is associated with reduced intestinal motility—a slower transit of foodstuffs through the bowels caused by fiber inadequacy or digestive imbalances causing painful constipation. It can also cause symptoms of bloating, gas, diarrhea and abdominal pain in patients, that if left undiagnosed, can gradually lead to systemic disorders such as altered intestinal permeability (“leaky gut”), anemia and weight loss, progressive bone thinning, poor digestive function, bacterial translocation (causing immune dysfunction and toxic overload and malnutrition).

Think you might be suffering from it but are not sure? There is a simple, safe and a non – invasive breath test that is available that helps to diagnose bacteria overgrowth of the small intestine. This test is also important for differentiating the cause of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), the most commonly diagnosed gastrointestinal disorders, affecting about 20% of the general population. Studies suggest that as many as 50% to 75% of patients with IBS have small intestinal bacterial over growth as demonstrated by a simple hydrogen breath testing.

Once bacteria overgrowth has been detected, our systematic naturopathic intervention strategies involving diet, digestive support, probiotics and anti-microbials (herbal) are used to treat the condition. Naturopathic treatments have been shown to be very effective for the treatment of bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine as well as irritable bowel syndrome.

Need more information, please call our naturopathic clinic to Toronto to schedule an appointment to see our naturopathic doctor regarding this or any other digestive condition you may have.

By: Sushma Shah, Toronto Naturopath, at the Nature’s Intentions Naturopathic Clinic.