Naturopathic View Of The Human Life

Naturopathic medicine is alternative or complementary medicine that treats various health ailments with natural therapies. Naturopathic care of asthma, eczema and allergies is based on healing  the symptom as well as identifying the cause of the allergies, asthma or eczema. Naturopathic doctors usually work to treat the root cause of the problem or symptoms, be it asthma, eczema or allergies.

Natural treatments from a naturopathic doctor  for eczema and asthma are based on first identifying what the person is allergic to and eliminating that item from the diet or environment if possible. With naturopathic treatments, along with diet changes, various herbs and supplements are also used to improve the overall health of the person and rebalancing an overactive /dysfunctional immune system, which usually causes the symptoms of sneezing, itching, runny nose and eyes, and rashes.

In most cases that are treated with naturopathic medicine, we find that the symptoms improve tremendously and become a thing of the past as the individual adopts a more healthier lifestyle and balances their immune system. As a naturopath, my approach to treating asthma or eczema has always been to first get to the root of the problem, and that usually involves testing for allergies to various allergens, once that has been established, I usually treat by modifying the diet and use additional  nutrient or herbal supplements if necessary and generally the outcome has been great in terms of resolving the health issue.

Need more information or treatment for asthma, eczema or allergies, please call us or visit us at http://www.naturesintentionsnaturopathy.com

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

Hair loss can occur as a result of many imbalances in the body, but can hair loss be effected by loss of sleep or insomnia? The answer to this question is YES. Usually a significant lack of sleep or chronic restless sleep will affect hair loss.

Why does loss of hair occur with loss of sleep?

When the you sleep, the body refreshes and replenishes it self with the essential rest it needs. This of course helps with balancing out your hormones and metabolic system, especially your cortisol or stress system, which follows a circadian rhythm – meaning its high in the morning and low in the evening. If you suffer from insomnia or chronic lack of sleep or are suffering loss of sleep, your body’s natural system of balance get “out of balance” which will then affect various aspects of your health, including loss of hair and general luster in skin. Generally lack / loss  of sleep occurs due to various reasons, stress being a big factor, and stress is a big cause of hair loss as well.  Generally, you will notice an increase in hair loss when you wash your hair, or brush it, and some people notice hair strands on their pillows or bed on waking.

What can i do to reverse it?

As a naturopathic doctor, my recommendations are as follows:

1. Talk to your naturopathic doctor about your hair loss and loss of sleep. They will be able to identify the root cause of the problem and help you treat it naturally.

2. Try to identify any lack of minerals and vitamins that may also be affecting both your hair loss and insomnia or lack of sleep – Your naturopathic doctor should be able to do the necessary tests to help you with this.

3. If its stress that is keeping you awake, join our stress management program to handle your stress better or find strategies to cope better with your stress.

4. Get onto a really good schedule with regards to your sleep. Acupuncture and certain supplements are great to restore sleep to bring back the body to balance.

5. Trace back your steps to identify what came first – hair loss or loss of sleep ? Improving your diet in either case will help tremendously, especially cutting back on the caffeine, alcohol and nicotine.

By: Sushma Shah,  Naturopathic Doctor at the Natures Intentions Naturopathic Clinic, in Toronto.

Here is a question that has been boggling quite a few clients who have been suffering from acne on their shoulders, back and hairline. Can acne be caused by or worsen due to shampoo and conditioner use? The answer to this question is may be yes, especially if there are  waxy ingredients in the shampoos or conditioners that are used to give volume or tend to coat the hair with a thin layer of conditioner on, or give it extra shine. These products, if not washed out properly when washing your hair,will stay on the surface of the skin and clog up the pores, and if you tend to sweat a lot, and have a tendency to oily skin, it quite possible to get clogged up skin pores that will eventually result in acne or pimples with pus or infection.

Its also possible to get an acne like rash if you are reacting to some of the ingredients in the shampoo or conditioner, such as

• sodium lauryl sulphate
• sodium laureth sulphate
• sulpha / sulphur
• ammonium lauryl sulphate
• ammonium laureth sulphate
• selenium sulphide

These are some of the more common ingredients that you find in regular store bought shampoos.

What can I do naturally to treat/ heal the acne ?

If you are suffering from acne that you think maybe a result of the shampoo or conditioner you are using, you can switch you shampoo or conditioner to one that is more natural or hypoallergenic. This will help overtime, and the change will be seen in a few weeks.

If you have acne that is painful and infected, try using a tea tree based shampoo or conditioner. Tea tree oil is a natural anti- bacterial  and anti- fungal.

If you are washing your hair with very hot water, you might want to bring down the water temperature a little.

There are various natural treatments / naturopathic treatments available for acne.

My recommendation is to talk to you naturopath or dermatologist and first get a proper diagnosis. Acne can be caused by various health imbalances and diet. If you need more information, please check causes of acne.

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

Interstitial cystitis is a condition that causes recurrent pain / irritation in the bladder and  quite often pain in the the pelvic region as well. People generally experience a sense of urgency to urinate, and an increased frequency to urinate as well. Interstitial cystitis is seen in men and predominantly women. Women may experience a burning with urination as well, and a severe discomfort in the lower pelvic region. Some women have no symptoms beside pain or burning on urination.

What causes interstitial cystitis?

Interstitial cystitis is a condition of inflammation as the name implies, hence any condition that can cause irritation or inflammation in pelvic region or bladder will cause it. There is no clear certainty as to what causes it. In my experience as a naturopathic doctor,  I have found that hormones and food allergies/ intolerances play a huge role in worsening the symptoms overall. Stress is another factor that can worsening symptoms of interstitial cystitis.

Natural treatments / naturopathic treatments for interstitial cystitis?

In order to treat interstitial cystitis naturally, one must first find out what caused it in the first place. There are various triggers that seem to make the symptoms worse such as drinking coffee and alcohol and of course, stress. Some of the natural treatments for interstitial cystitis are

- Eliminating triggers such as foods that may cause irritation of the bladder- such as coffee, alcohol, chocolate, among others. If you are not sure what might be triggering your symptoms, ask your naturopathic doctor to do a food allergy/ intolerance test.

- Since interstitial cystitis could be related to generalized inflammation in the body elsewhere, it would be important to manage that inflammation with diet and other natural supplements.This in turn will help improve your interstitial cystitis symptoms.

- If you are a female, your menstrual cycle may also have a bearing on your interstitial cystitis symptoms. Talk to you naturopath about maybe testing your hormones using saliva to get an accurate reading of your hormones and correct any imbalances.

Need more information? Please call us at 416 913 4325 to schedule an appointment or visit us at http://www.naturesintentionsnaturopathy.com.

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

HERE  IS A LIST OF BETTER FOOD HABITS THAT YOU CAN INCORPORATE INTO YOUR DAILY LIFESTYLE FOR BETTER HEALTH.

1. Eat organic and fresh food whenever you can. While more costly than nonorganic food, organic fruits and vegetables are not only more rich in minerals and other produce they are devoid of pesticides and chemical residues and tastes better.

2. Get plenty of vital vegetables. Vegetables supply carbohydrates for energy lots of minerals ,enzymes, vitamins and some protein. They help alkalinize the body. Tomatoes and peas protect against prostate cancer, broccoli and cabbage help prevent colon cancer, the most intensely colorful vegetables such as red beets, purple cabbage, yellow squash, collard greens, and spinach contain the highest level of nutrients, which boosts the immune system against degenerative disease.  The fiber contained in vegetables such as cabbage, broccoli, celery, cucumber, Brussels sprouts,  carrots, and leafy greens  helps to keep the body’s  bowel function regular.  Choose more colorful, tastier lettuces, since then the iceberg lettuce such as red or green leaf and Romaine, which improved bowel transit time rather than a constipate you.

3.Have more fruit. The fruit is an ideal source for quick energy, valuable enzymes, minerals, vitamins, and fiber. Fruit makes a great snack food. Fruit is a great source of fiber better than grains and  vegetables. Try to eat it between meals or before a meal for better digestion.

4.Get enough fiber.  Fiber helps lower cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart disease.  Roughage is found in plant foods vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole grains, nuts and seeds. Beans, lentils, peas, corn, prunes, black berries, and blueberries are exceptionally high in fiber.  Avoid week and oat bran fiber if you are gluten intolerant. Processed foods lack fiber.  Fiber adds bulk to the stool, which assists in maintaining regular bowel function. Without enough fiber, you’ll experience constipation, which is a contributing factor in many diseases. Fiber is great as well for keeping the body satiated and helps with weight as well.

5. Avoid aspartame, caffeinated beverages, carbonated beverages, fried food, and hydrogenated oils.

Aspartame is 200 times sweeter than sugar. It increases appetite in general and the desire for sweets in particular.

Caffeinated beverages such as coffee, black tea, and Coke does our powerful stimulants that overstress the body.  They deplete various nutrients from the body.  Carbonated beverages tends to upset  the mineral balance of the body, and in turn causes the body to leach out the calcium from the bones, contributing to osteoporosis.

Fried foods are exposed to heat for long periods of time causing the food enzymes and essential fats to break down and in the body, and clog blood vessels. Start frying however is okay.

Hydrogenated oils raise cholesterol, cause heart disease and are being linked to the development of other diseases such as cancer and arthritis.  I originated oil are what you find in most packaged crackers cookies, baking and cooking mixes, and other packaged goods.

Butter is high in saturated fat but better for you because it’s more stable than margarine, which can keep youths to heart disease obesity and promotes inflammation, while suppressing the immune function. If you can choose organic butter.

Avoid MSG -  a neurotoxin that destroys brains cells in mice and potentially humans. Check the food labels always.

6. Avoid processed meats – such as bologna, salami, hot dogs, most sausages, smoked meats and fish, as these are high in saturated fats, cholesterol and sodium = a recipe for cardiovascular disaster! Smoked, cured, and pickled foods are also high in nitrates, which are potentially carcinogenic.

7. Avoid sugars as much as possible. Read the labels. Just because a substance is allowed in foods, doesn’t mean its safe.  Most foods have naturally occurring sugars, however the food industry seems to add sugar in all kinds of foods such as salad dressings, and most processed foods.  Sugar is disguised in other names such as corn syrup, starch, sucrose, and fructose. Sugar causes a high and then a sudden low in energy, leading to exhaustion. It also depletes nutrient reserves, especially vital nutrients and B vitamins.

8. Soy foods – Exercise caution with soy foods, as fresh soy – edamame and soy beans do contain phytates which can effect the thyroid hormones, and also contain phytoestrogens, which can effect an estrogenic effect on the body. Its also hard to digest.

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

Natural medicine or naturopathic medicine / naturopathy is a distinct system of health care that encompasses various natural healing therapies to treat symptoms as well treat the root cause of the symptoms, and in doing so strengthening the overall body and immune function. Naturopathic medicine is an umbrella term that includes various other natural health modalities such as traditional Chinese medicine,  acupuncture, massage, nutrition and diet therapy, and botanical /herbal medicine, homeopathic medicine, among others.

Naturopathic Doctors do place emphasis on getting to the root cause of the problem before treating it, as the only way to really resolve a symptom, is to first get to the cause and then treat it. Naturopathic medicine has been around for centuries, and been addressed as many things, however, it is what our forefathers used to heal their health before allopathic medicine came in.

I quite often get asked the following question: what is the difference between a naturopath and a homeopath or a nutritionist? So here is the answer:

Naturopathic medicine encompasses both homeopathy and nutrition, among other therapies, so when we as naturopaths treat clients, its a more holistic approach based on our length of study and experience. Naturopathic Doctors generally study for up to 8 years (with undergrad studies) and are exposed to various healing modalities in their training, including lots of training in laboratory diagnosis, pathology and pharmacology, along with an internship.

Natural medicine is much more gentle on the body – as it is focused to bringing back the optimum balance of the body, rather than just treating the symptoms, but remember, its important to get good quality help- when seeking out a natural medicine “healer”/ therapist  as opposed to seeing just anyone. Naturopathic Doctors are very well educated in using natural therapeutics for healing and hence are highly sought after.

Need more info? Click here.

By: Sushma Shah, NATUROPATHIC DOCTOR, at the Natures Intentions Naturopathic Clinic.

Everyone goes through their share of having puffy looking eyes once in a while, due to various reasons. Excessive drinking,excessive crying,PMS, staying awake till the wee hours of the morning, allergies, skin reactions to new products such as eyeliner or eye shadows, fatigue and not having enough sleep can all cause eye puffiness. Other health conditions such as high triglycerides and cholesterol, kidney and liver problems can cause eye puffiness too.

Here are a few suggestions to treat puffy eyes naturally:

1. Place a cotton pad soaked in cold water or cold milk to calm down the puffiness for about 15 – 20 minutes of the day.

2. Soak black tea bags in warm water and once the water has cooled, squeeze out the excess water from the tea bag and place over the eyes. Black tea contains tannins, which are great for shrinking swollen tissues. Alternatively you can also use eyebright tea bags. Eyebright is a herb that is great for the eyes, and works very well for pink eye and infections of the eyelids. Most health food stores carry eyebright tea bags.

3. Simple slices of cucumber cut up and place over the eyes can have a dramatic effect to bring down the puffy eyes naturally.

4. Hydrate, hydrate and hydrate some more.

5. Getting a good night’s sleep and getting lots of rest, is of course one the best ways to treat puffy eyes naturally.

6. If the eye puffiness is related to allergies or the use of new products, change back to the old product, assuming no allergic reaction was caused by it. Keep you diet simple and fresh for a few weeks, with some fresh dandelion and parsley, both of which work great to eliminate excess amounts from the body.

7. Acupuncture is great from reducing eye puffiness as well.

Need more information, come visit us at Nature’s Intentions Naturopathic Clinic.

By: SUSHMA SHAH, TORONTO NATUROPATHIC DOCTOR.

Anal fissures and tears are frequent in individuals that suffer from constipation or have very hard pellet like stools or  stools with harder edges which are forced through on straining. Usually what happens is the delicate mucosal layer inside the anal region tears up, which then streaks the stools with fresh blood, and quite often there is fresh blood in the toilet bowl. There is deep boring pain that follows for a few hours or days quite often, and often the fear of going to the bathroom for a bowel movement that follows and of course more blood with more stool. People then usually try all sorts of products that will help to heal the tear or the fissure, never thinking anymore about it until the next time this reoccurs.

Here a few natural/ naturopathic things you can do to prevent, heal and protect yourself from going through this again.

1. IMPROVE YOUR DIET – THIS IS KEY. You may  be eating healthy, which is great, but here are a few simple things that will help even more. Fiber is key to adding bulk to stool especially if you tend to have dry pellet like stool. You can add a couple of tablespoons of bran every morning to your breakfast or have an extra piece of fruit or more leafy vegetables as a snack. Usually one should consume about 20 – 25 grams of fiber daily. Most of us get no where near close to that number, so here is a simple suggestion, read the ingredients and the nutrition label when you buy any products and try to purchase foods that have higher fiber amounts per serving. This will improve the bulk of the stool without you having to making much of an effort. Water as well is key for well formed soft stools. Dry pellet like stools will often be harder to eliminate causing you to strain, which can then lead to tears. If you are constipated on a regular basis – and you tried to improve your fiber and water intake to improve the quality of your stools naturally, the issue could be related to other health issues. For more information on these issues, please click NATURAL TREATMENTS FOR CONSTIPATION .

2. DO NOT STRAIN – I know this is hard to do when you have to go but the stool does not pass with ease, BUT STRAINING IS THE NUMBER CAUSE AS TO WHY YOU HAVE TEARS AND STRAINS. So instead of straining, here a few simple suggestions that will help:

1. Moisten a towel with warm water and wipe the anal area with it lightly, this may stimulate movement of the stool and relax the muscles of the anal spincter.

2. Do not go for  bowel movement when you are in a rush. When you are stressed for time, you will rush every movement and the tendency to strain will be higher.

3. Massage / Rub the lower spine above the tail bone. This action will definitely help relax your bowels. A dab of vaseline around the anal region might protect the area from tears that would form otherwise if you tried to push the stool out.

4. Have a warm glass of water with a teaspoon of fresh lemon juice and a tablespoon of olive oil before breakfast. This will help move the bowels as well.

5. Try to give your self some extra time in the washroom when you are going in for a bowel movement. Just sitting on the toilet and going through steps 1 and 3 will help.

Still having trouble?  Come visit us at http://www.naturesintentionsnaturopathy.com

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

I would like to wish a very HAPPY NEW YEAR to everyone. I hope your year is filled with health and healing,along with lots of happiness. For this year, i thought i would write a short list of naturopathic health resolutions that are easy to keep up with and forget after the first few weeks.

1. Get more free time for yourself. Yes, this is now in the resolution category because people these days have forgotten one important being – themselves, and the only way to get back to you is by getting more free time for you so that you can get back to things you once enjoyed doing by yourself, be it reading or writing, or taking a walk by yourself for 20 minutes to reconnect to your innerself away from the mental clutter around you.

2. Cultivate your mind. In the past few years Yoga, meditation and spirituality have all taken a new plight of their own, and unfortunately with all sorts of new age stuff coming up- which I find is more a hodge podge of stuff as opposed to what the real stuff is. Cultivate your mind by taking an off beaten path or out of sort book and read it, learn more about anything and everything you ever wondered about, travel more if you can and do not be afraid to try something different – like talking to a stranger in the pizza shop you always see. You never know what you will learn or who will come across.

3.Organize. Sounds so simple but so hard to do for some people. For quite a few people who are always scrambling to do things, here is the simple resolution for you. Organize your time and you will learn how to organize your life. If you find it hard to do mentally, take about 15 minutes of your weekend and plan your week ahead of you. See how much of a difference it makes when you plan and prepare your week ahead. If you find that you are having extra time once you plan you week ahead, start planning your meals – breakfast, lunch and dinner. Once you write it down, chances are you will stick to it and eat healthier and will feel better, naturally.

Have a great year – keep it healthy, and if you need any naturopathic advice, I am just around the corner.

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

As the weather gets colder,  our naturopathic clinic generally tends to see an influx of clients suffering from dry skin or very dry skin, or eczema flare ups looking either red and angry or very dry. A lot of them say that its the winter  weather that tends to make their skin dry and itchy, but here are a few things to consider before blaming the winter. As the weather gets colder, people generally tend to go out less frequently to exercise, among other things. We tend to stay in and bundle up with a warm drink in our hands, and for a lot of people that drink could be tea or coffee, both natural diuretics, leaching out what limited fluid intake we have, and suddenly the skin starts to look drier and the cells less plump. As well, as the weather gets colder, people’s fluid intake tends to decrease dramatically as well.

Remember, 70% of your body is made up of water and the less you replenish, the more you drain your cells of water of moisture and the more dehydrated the body gets. So a simple way to keep the skin from getting dehydrated and looking all wrinkly and dry, is to HYDRATE, HYDRATE and HYDRATE ! Make sure you keep up with your water intake. Have warmer water  or room temperature water instead of ice cold water, if its the temperature of the water that keeps your intake limited.

Another factor to consider is your intake of essential fatty acids – omega 3, 6 and 9. These are easily available from your diet if you eat fish – at least 2 times a week, have nuts and seeds on a regular basis and cook with olive or canola oil. Various fatty acid supplements are available in health food stores these days, my recommendation is to make sure – if its skin related – that you get enough omega 6 and omega 3. Fish oils are high in 2 ingredients – EPA and DHA. EPA is good for the eyes, heart and skin. DHA is great for memory and the brain.

EXTERNAL TREATMENTS

To soothe the itchy skin, you could use oatmeal that has been ground up in your bath. Oatmeal is very soothing for the skin and has healing properties. You can use creams that are unscented and those that lock in the moisture.

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