Weight Management-The paradigm of excess weight being the result of excess caloric intake coupled with lack of activity has failed to produce consistent results in weight management over the decades, nor does it explain why some individuals can avoid exercise and eat a bag of cookies and stay slim while others eat well and exercise regularly yet can’t shift unwanted weight from their bodies. A deeper understanding of weight control requires a more holistic view of the body and the conditions that stimulate weight conservation, and those that support weight reduction. Effective and permanent weight management is the result of lifestyle and dietary modifications, hormone balance, effective detoxification, sufficient amounts of quality sleep, and functional stress management. Some of these underlying imbalances can be resolved quickly and/or easily, while others require a longer, more consistent approach, but a healthy weight – correlated with less inflammation, better cardiovascular health throughout the lifespan, and reduced signs of aging – is absolutely attainable! Give us a call at Kate's Naturopathy, lets get you started on a healthy journey in getting to know your body.
Pain Management - Chronic pain and inflammation are issues that many people suffer from and one of the most common reasons for doctor visits. Conventional treatment relies on pharmaceutical anti-inflammatories, either steroid (such as prednisone) or non-steroid (NSAID’s such as naproxen) medications. Without addressing the underlying cause of chronic pain and inflammation, these medications can be required long term, may have a decreasing benefit over time and can have significant side effects on the digestive tract. From a naturopathic medical perspective, there are several major root causes of chronic pain and inflammation evaluate and treat.
Structural Imbalances
Before looking at metabolic or nutritional causes of chronic pain, a structural assessment should be performed by an experienced healthcare practitioner. Structural imbalances or misalignment can be caused by many issues including physical trauma, sports injuries or repetitive strain. There are various different techniques to correct structural imbalances including naturopathic, chiropractic, massage or physiotherapy.
Vitamin D Deficiency
Recent research has shown a clear link between a deficiency of vitamin D in the body and the presence of chronic, non-traumatic musculoskeletal pain. As our body only makes significant amounts of vitamin D through our skin’s exposure to sunlight (without sunscreen), this is especially a concern in the lower mainland due to our low annual availability of sunlight. Blood testing for vitamin D levels and appropriate supplementation is important for those experiencing chronic pain.
Adrenal Insufficiency
The hormone cortisol produced by our adrenal glands helps us respond to the demands on our body during times of prolonged stress. Cortisol is also our body’s main anti-inflammatory hormone. Therefore when cortisol levels become deficient after one experiences long-term elevated stress levels, the result can be chronic pain and inflammation.
Low Thyroid Function
Our thyroid gland produces hormones that control our body’s rate of metabolism. Low thyroid function (or hypothyroidism) is a common condition in women and can be a major trigger of chronic pain. A complete panel of
thyroid hormone levels is best for assessing low thyroid function, as the standard blood test (TSH) can miss many cases.
Food Sensitivities and Environmental Toxicity
Adverse reactions to specific foods are very common and can trigger inflammatory responses that begin in the digestive tract. Assessing food sensitivities can be done by various methods, including blood testing, Vega testing and elimination/reintroduction diets. In addition, prolonged exposure to environmental toxins can lead to chronic pain and inflammation. Customized detoxification protocols prescribed by a naturopathic practitioner can help reverse this process.
As there can be a combination of underlying issues that trigger chronic pain and inflammation, a thorough naturopathic evaluation can be an excellent option to help identify the main root causes and establish a successful treatment plan.
Give us a call so we can help you work towards living a life free of pain.
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) - is a chronic, systemic autoimmune disease characterised by widespread inflammation. It affects multiple body systems with periods of waning disease activity and intermittent flares.SLE affects over 17,000 Australians, and occurs most frequently in women of reproductive age. Factors considered to be responsible are abnormalities in the function of immune cells. Call Kate's Naturopathy to have a chat on how we can eliminate the widespread inflammation that is making life unbearable for you or your loved one.
Adrenal Fatigue - One of the most common issues with someone suffering with adrenal fatigue is feeling tired, lethargic and sluggish, even after a good 8-9 hours sleep in bed. Other symptoms are brain fog, problems with mental concentration, craving for foods high in salt and a very low tolerance for stress.
When you stress your adrenals through too much toxins or even mental or emotional stress , you are at higher risk for chronic disease conditions because of your weak immune system. At Kate's Naturopathy, we will advise you on the best foods, supplements and lifestyle habits to restore your body's natural energy levels and speed the recovering process.
Thyroid disorders - occur more frequently in women than men,with the overall incidence in Australia estimated to be 5 in 1000 males and 27 in 1000 females. The therapeutic objectives of the treatment of thyroid disorders are determined by the needs of the individual patient, with particular focus on their stress levels and coping strategies. Stress plays a pivotal role in thyroid dysfunction dysregulation and interferes with hormone synthesis by triggering the release of stress hormones from the adrenals. Therefore stress reduction is crucial and support of stressed systems with the use of adaptogens and adrenal tonics is usually reqiured with great results. Give us a call or make a booking at Kates's Naturopathy so we can find the right herbs that just suit your needs.
Gout - is the most common inflammatory arthritis worldwide, caused by high levels of uric acid in the blood. Deposits of uric acid crystals cause episodes of painful attacks in the joints and can accumulate in the skin as nodules. Alot of people are becomnig more afflicted with this condition. Give us a call at Kate's Naturopathy, let us take care of your health.
Insulin Resistance - a decreased cellular sensitivity to insulin, is the most clinical finding associated with metabolic syndrome and is thought by many researchers to be the underlying cause of this condition.Insulin Resistance is associated with increased risk for type 2 diabetes, coronary artery disease, hypertension gallstones ,etc... Lifestyle and dietary recomendations and herbal medicine can be very beneficial. Give us a call at Kate's Naturopathy to have a chat about some options for you.
BLOOD SUGAR IMBALANCES
What is Insulin Resistance?
Insulin is the hormone whose main function is to process sugar in the bloodstream and carry it to fat, liver, and muscle cells to be stored for later use. When your body is flooded with too much insulin too much of the time, your cells can become resistant, or desensitized, to its effects. Insulin resistance over the long term will result in Metabolic Syndrome
Causes of Excess Insulin
The most common cause is the consumption of too much nutrient-poor carbohydrate. Other causes include: the use of artificial sweeteners, an insufficient protein intake, chronic stress, erratic or irregular mealtimes, over-exercising or lack of exercise, poor liver function, excess alcohol consumption or an existing hormonal imbalance – ie. excess cortisol or estrogen.
Symptoms of Insulin Resistance
Short term side effects of high insulin include heart palpitations, sweating, poor concentration, weakness, anxiety, fogginess, fatigue, irritability, increased hunger and sugar cravings.
Over the long term, signs of excess insulin include a tendency to hold extra weight abdominally, around your hips or over your triceps; water retention or a puffiness in the face and extremities, fatigue, burning feet at night, skin tags, infertility or irregular menses, erectile dysfunction, gout, vision changes or sleep disruption.
Beyond obesity and type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome is associated with an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, reproductive abnormalities, androgen imbalance in women and osteoporosis.
Diagnosing Insulin Resistance/Metabolic Syndrome
In addition to the clinical symptoms above, according to the current medical guidelines, metabolic syndrome is diagnosed when three or more of the following risk factors are identified:
Low levels of ‘good’ cholesterol (HDL)
High levels of ‘bad’ cholesterol (LDL)
Elevated triglycerides
Increased waist to hip ratio
High blood pressure
Elevated fasting blood sugar
Elevated fasting insulin
Increased blood clotting factors
High uric acid
I am seeing symptoms of insulin resistance more often in my practice. Insulin resistance is often the basis of other hormonal imbalances and it must be addressed in order for other imbalances to resolve.
Give us at Kate's Naturopathy clinic , let us take you closer to living a life that is meant to be lived healthy and happy.
Gastrointestinal health
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a diagnosis being given with increasing frequency to patients who experience chronic digestive symptoms. The condition is characterized most commonly by the symptoms of intermittent cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, constipation and diarrhea. It occurs more commonly in women and is thought to occur in as many as 20% of the Australian population. The diagnosis of IBS simply refers to the symptoms listed above. It does not offer any insight as to why the symptoms are occurring. There are significant underlying causes discussed below that should be evaluated in all patients suffering from IBS.
Food Allergies and Intolerances
Both IBS patients and researchers agree that food allergies and intolerances can be major triggers of IBS symptoms. However, adverse food reactions are rarely assessed and identified in IBS patients. Because these reactions can be delayed from several hours to days after the ingestion of an offending food, the connection between the food and resultant symptoms can be difficult for one to identify. Naturopathic practitioners offer several options for food sensitivity assessment that may benefit IBS patients, including blood testing for delayed food allergies, energetic (Vega) testing, and elimination/reintroduction diet guidance.
Intestinal Imbalances (“Dysbiosis”)
Dysbiosis is a term used in naturopathic medicine to describe an imbalance in the normal mix of microorganisms (called “flora”) in the intestinal tract. Alterations in the intestinal flora include overgrowths of yeast, parasites and bacteria or deficiencies of healthy bacteria. They can be present in IBS patients for years. An abnormal increase in the yeast Candida albicans is very common and can be triggered by antibiotic use or a high carbohydrate and sugar intake. A detailed diet, medication and travel history along with specialized stool testing can help naturopathic practitioners identify the exact type of intestinal imbalance that is present. Treatment of dysbiosis includes herbal remedies to eradicate harmful microorganisms and probiotic supplements to replenish beneficial bacteria.
Stress-Induced Digestive Imbalances
Another trigger of IBS that is well agreed upon is stress. Many people experience a clear increase in digestive symptoms when stress levels rise. Chronic elevations in stress levels can lead to imbalances in the function of our adrenal glands, which can trigger a vicious cycle that further diminishes our stress tolerance. Undiagnosed adrenal imbalances can be a significant contributing factor to IBS symptoms and can be readily assessed through saliva testing of the adrenal hormone cortisol. Before a patient’s bowel is diagnosed as “irritable” the above potential triggers should be evaluated. Treatment of these underlying causes is often simple, potentially short term, and may lead to significant improvement in symptoms associated with IBS.
Give us a call at Kate's Naturopathy so we can help you with a treatment plan that will treat the underlying cause of your illness.
