Stress management

Isn't stress normal?

Yes, stress is normal, but it is important to form good coping mechanisms in order to deal with every day stress.

Over time stress can cause many diseases and symptoms, mild to severe, such as:

• Fatigue
• Chronic fatigue syndrome
• Fibromyalgia
• Headaches
• Obesity
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Cancer
• High blood pressure
• Hormonal imbalances
• Difficulty dealing with pain
• Low immune system - herpes virus, increased colds and flus
• Irritable bowel syndrome

And many more...

How can a Burlington naturopath help?

In my Burlington area practice, I use cognitive behavioral therapy in order to help patients take control of their situation. Through learning skills that help you to change your thoughts, emotions and behaviors to difficult situations, you can decrease your response to stress, thereby decreasing your susceptibility to disease. Furthermore, botanical, supplemental and dietary interventions are paramount to dealing with stress, while you learn new coping mechanisms.

Weight management

There are numerous reasons for why someone may struggle with weight, such as:

• emotional reliance on food for comfort
• knowledge level regarding appropriate nutrient intake
• inflammation - causing the body to store more water than normal
• hormonal imbalances

That is why it is important to have be assessed by a naturopathic doctor. That way you can learn why you may be carrying excess weight.

Naturopathic medicine looks into the whole person when treating increased weight. I structure my visits in order to look at your current eating habits, as well as sleep, and psychosocial behaviors, in order to create a meal plan that provides you manageable, and sustainable weight loss.

High blood pressure

What causes high blood pressure?
High blood pressure is multi-factorial. It may be due to a genetic predisposition, carrying excess body weight, dietary choices, and stress. That is why an assessment is needed in order to find the cause of your high blood pressure.

How is it diagnosed?
High blood pressure is diagnosed as a measurement of greater than 120/80 mmHg, measured 3 times. Once that measurement is consistently above 120/80 mmHg, your family doctor may suggest that you start medication, or change your lifestyle habits..

How can Burlington naturopathic medicine help?
Naturopaths assess the root cause of the high blood pressure, and treat accordingly. Therapies used are botanical medicine, lifestyle modification, dietary and nutritional intervention. Acupuncture may also help to decrease stress, which may decrease your blood pressure.

High cholesterol

What causes high cholesterol?
High cholesterol is often the result of poor dietary choices, and carrying excess weight. You may also have a genetic predisposition to developing this condition.

How is it diagnosed?
With the use of lab tests, your family doctor will see if your total cholesterol, LDL and HDL cholesterol fall within the right parameters. If not, they may prescribe medication, or lifestyle intervention.

How can a Burlington naturopath help?
With the use the dietary and supplemental intervention, cholesterol levels will often decrease. Using lab tests as a guide, I will help you to form meal plans that will help you to lose weight (if needed), and choose the right foods that will decrease your cholesterol.

Diabetes type II

What causes diabetes type II?
Diabetes type II is often the result of poor dietary choices over time, and carrying excess weight. When the pancreas is no longer able to pump out insulin, the sugar carrier, your sugar will stay in your bloodstream, and eventually wreak havoc on your organs and nerves.

How can a naturopath help?
With the use of dietary and supplemental intervention, as well as botanical medicine, exercise, and lifestyle intervention, your increased blood sugar may decrease, or go away completely. Using meal plans, that are structured towards losing weight, and giving educational guidance on what foods and exercise are best for insulin resistance. You may be able to decrease the chance of taking medication, or decrease the amount of medication that you are currently taking.

Autoimmune disease

Autoimmune diseases occur when your immune system is attacking your own tissues. There are several types of autoimmune conditions such as:

Ankylosing spondylitis Rheumatoid arthritis Alopecia areata Celiac disease Crohn's disease Diabetes type II Grave's disease Hashimoto's thyroiditis Interstitial cystitis

Multiple Sclerosis Myasthenia Gravis Psoriasis Psoriatic arthritis Relapsing Polychondritis Lupus Sjorgren's syndrome Ulcerative colitis

Pain usually occurs due to inflammation in tissues, and can wax and wane.

There are many contributing factors to autoimmune conditions, including, but not limited to, repeated inflammation, stress, infection, and genetic predisposition. Individuals with autoimmune conditions have been shown to have an increased intestinal permeability to dietary and bacterial antigens, triggering delayed food allergies.

How can a Burlington naturopathic clinic help?

Autoimmune conditions are most likely a life long condition, creating waxing and waning of pain. As your naturopath, I will act in a supportive role, helping you to palliate pain, through natural means, as well as decrease inflammation. This may help you decrease your medication, or stop the introduction of new medication.

Naturopathic Treatments used are:
Dietary counseling and nutritional supplementation - to decrease inflammation that causes pain
Acupuncture - to decrease pain
Biopuncture - injections of natural substances around problem areas to decrease pain and inflammation
Botanical medicine - to decrease pain, and inflammation
Lifestyle counseling - to help support you through the pain process, as well as find ways to incorporate new healthier choices into your life. Here we address sleep, stress, and other parts of your life, that may hinder you from being as healthy as you can be

Digestive concerns

What creates digestive concerns?

There are numerous factors that may contribute to digestive concerns such as; food sensitivity/intolerance, stress (which decreases your ability to digest properly) poor food choices, a lack of probiotics, long-term anti-biotic therapy, anxiety/depression and more.

How can I help?
I use the four R's in order to restore your gastrointestinal health. They are:

• Remove
• Replace
• Restore
• Repair

Once each of the R's are attended to, through the use of dietary intervention, and supplementation, you may be on your way to handling your digestive concern(s), more effectively.

Women's health

It is very common to have hormonal fluctuations throughout your lifespan. As a result, you may go through a period of hormonal imbalance, and experience discomforting signs and symptoms such as:

• Pre- menstrual syndrome
• Thyroid disorders
• Endometriosis
• Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
• Menopause
• Infertility
• Menstrual difficulties

As a result, many women want to find natural solutions to their health concerns.
In my practice I provide acupuncture, nutritional and supplemental intervention, and herbs in order to bring your body into balance. Once balance is achieved I will teach you stress management techniques, in order to help your body stay in balance.

Food intolerance/sensitivity

What is the difference between sensitivity, allergy and intolerance?
Food sensitivities manifest as a delayed response to a food item consumed. This is different from a food allergy, where you will have an immediate reaction to food consumed. A food intolerance, is one where you lack the ability to be able to assimilate a part of the food ingested.

Here is an example of the differentiation.

Food Sensitivity: Gluten
Example of some symptoms: gas, bloating, mood changes (irritability), not life threatening, symptoms may occur immediately, or up to 3 days after eating the food containing gluten

Food Allergy: Peanuts
Example of some symptoms: immediate mouth swelling, itching, difficulty breathing can be life threatening, symptoms occur immediately after ingestion

Food Intolerance: Lactose (Milk)
Example of some symptoms: gas, bloating, diarrhea, not life threatening, symptoms usually occur an hour after ingestion

What are common symptoms of food sensitivity/intolerance?
Gas, Bloating, headaches, joint pain, sleep disturbances, overactive appetite, mood imbalance, constipation, diarrhea, acne, eczema, psoriasis, hypertension, autoimmune disease, nausea, upset stomach, itchy nose, sneezing, fatigue

What tests are used for food allergies, sensitivity and intolerance?
Food allergies - testing is completed with skin prick, or IgE panel
Food sensitivity - testing can be completed with saliva, or blood test using an IgG panel
Food intolerance - testing can be completed with breath tests, endoscopy, saliva, or blood testing

How is food sensitivity and intolerance treated?
There are three treatments I commonly use in practice
1) hypoallergenic diet
2) detoxification
3) blood test or saliva test

Depending on your needs, we will discuss which treatment path is best for you, and together, we will implement changes.

Pain management

Pain arises due to inflammation in joints and tissues. Many people may characterize pain as different sensations such as:

Dull aches	Throbbing
Sharp or stabbing	Referred pain
Spasms	Burning
Numbness and tingling	Stiffness

In my practice, I treat patients with:

Back pain	Carpal tunnel
Joint pain (due to osteoarthritis)	Headaches
Shoulder pain	Post-herpetic neuralgia
Pain due to sports injuries	Thoracic outlet syndrome

With the use of acupuncture, botanical and nutritional intervention, most patients will see improvement in their condition. Furthermore, I teach patients how to decrease the risk of exacerbating their condition in the future.

Depression

Depression is usually described as a low mood with the presence of:

• Poor appetite with weight loss, or increased appetite with weight gain
• Insomnia or too much sleep
• Physical hyperactivity or inactivity
• Loss of interest or pleasure in usual activities, such as sexual drive
• Loss of energy and feelings of fatigue
• Feelings of worthlessness, self-reproach or inappropriate guilt
• Diminished ability to think or concentrate
• Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide

If five or more or these symptoms are continuously present for one month, then a diagnosis of clinical depression may be indicated.

What causes depression?

Depression may be the result of many different factors, or a combination.
Chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters are responsible for affecting one's mood. There are many factors that can affect the levels of these chemicals including nutrient deficiencies or excesses, drugs (prescription or otherwise), alcohol, caffeine, nicotine, low blood sugar, hormone imbalances, allergies, stressful events, environmental toxins and microbial factors (infection).

Burlington Naturopathic Treatments

Naturopathic medicine can be used as an adjunct therapy to medication, or as the principle form of care. In order to be treated fully, I will look into your social, health, and diet history to determine which elements need to be balanced in order to make a difference in your mood. The treatments I use are, acupuncture, botanical medicine, supplementation, and cognitive behavioral therapy.

Anxiety

Anxiety is characterized as feelings of nervousness, heart palpitations, chest pain, headache, dizziness, a sense of doom, and feelings of stomach irritation. It can also affect memory and decrease reaction time. Anxiety is often associated with depression and the two conditions are often symptoms of the same underlying cause.

What causes anxiety?

Anxiety can occur as a result of depression, or it may arise separately. Some people have a tendency to be anxious, whereas others may become anxious due to an event or circumstances that they are introduced to that had negative consequences. Sometimes anxiety is due to an imbalance in neurotransmitters in the brain.

Naturopathic Treatments

Anxiety may be managed in many different ways such as:

• diet which will decrease risk of hypoglycemia, which often contributes to feels of anxiety
• cognitive behavioural therapy, which uses of exposure therapy, in order to neutralize the anxiety response
• supplementation and botanical interventions, to help you cope in the moment

Skin concerns

Skin conditions may be the result of many different factors such as hormonal imbalance, gut irregularities, stress, irritation due to substances used, and genetics. There are many ways that a naturopath can help such as:

• An investigation into the root cause of your condition
• Suggestion of supplements, and herbs that will help to alleviate symptoms you have from your skin condition
• Evaluation of diet and suggestions
• Stress management techniques are taught to help you cope

Once we have collected a health history, we will work together to alleviate your skin condition, as well as work on decreasing the chance of reoccurrence or severity of future outbreaks.

Detoxification

Why Detox?

Your body has the natural ability to transfer and eliminate toxins. Using supportive mechanisms can enhance this process. Sometimes the body has a difficult time eliminating toxins because of the environmental toxins we come in contact with every day.

Our body is optimal in the hunter-gatherer environment, where we used to run and hunt for clean sources of food, and minimize the amount of sweets and fats consumed. Nowadays, we have every type of food at our disposal, and it is very easy to get it. That is why it is important to enhance your ability to detox at least once every 3 months, or with the change in season. There are several benefits to enhancing detox such as, but not limited to:

• Decrease in headaches
• Decreased inflammation/pain
• Better mood
• Decrease gas and bloating
• Better elimination of toxins
• Hormonal regulation
• Weight loss
• Regulation of blood sugar
• Decrease in allergies to scent
• Decreased nasal congestion
• Better sleep
• Increased energy

Why should you have a Burlington naturopath help you with a detox?

You should have a health evaluation before starting detox enhancement. Certain medications will make it hard to perform a detox safely, and certain conditions, such as diabetes, should be watched as you perform a detox. Furthermore, it is important to properly eliminate toxins when you are detoxing because you may end up feeling sicker than before. That is why having guidance is important. Furthermore, several products on the market do not actually enhance your ability to detox, but are just laxatives.

If you are interested in enhancing your ability to detox, you may book an appointment at my Burling Naturopath Clinic.

Cold and flu

Naturopathic medicine can be used to ease your way through the cold and flu season in two ways:

Acute: treatment is used to shorten the course of the disease and stop the disease from progressing into something more severe such as a lower respiratory tract infection

Prevention: treatment is used to boost your immune system throughout the fall/winter months, so that you are not as susceptible to catching an infection from your family, friends and co-workers

Immune boosting treatments used are nutrition, supplements, hydrotherapy and herbs.

If you are presently sick, you can book a 20 minute acute appointment.

Headaches

There are three types of headaches: migraine, tension and cluster. All of them may be alleviated, and prevented with naturopathic medicine. Headaches may be triggered by a number of different factors such as, but not limited to:

• Stress
• Food sensitivity
• Poor posture
• Lack of sleep
• High blood pressure
• Nerve pain
• Poor eye sight
• Hunger
• Overexertion
• Environmental sensitivity
• Cold/flu
• Sinus congestion
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Vitamin/mineral deficiency
• Emotional distress

Treatment can be geared toward the acute or chronic phase of the headache.

Acute: goal is decreasing or eliminating the current headache using acupuncture, IV therapy, supplemental therapy

Chronic: goal is to eliminate or decrease the return of future headaches using supplemental and nutritional intervention, stress management techniques, and exercise therapy

If you are interested in enhancing your ability to detox, you may book an appointment at my Burling Naturopath Clinic.

B12 energy injection

Vitamin B12 is used in many physiological processes throughout the body. It is made in your stomach, when enough stomach acid is secreted. The major functions of B12 are:

• Red blood cell production
• DNA and RNA synthesis
• Converting homocysteine (damaging to cardiovascular system) to methionine
• Helps the body use folic acid
• Supports healthy function of the nervous system

A Deficiency may show as:

• Pernicious anemia
• Loss of reflexes and nerve sensation
• Tingling in hands and feet
• Fatigue
• Shortness of breath
• Pallor
• Neuropathy
• Age-related loss of hearing, memory, and concentration
• Loss of bladder, bowel control
• Weight loss
• Insomnia
• Depression/anxiety

A B12 injection is used in order to bypass the gastrointestinal route, thereby increasing absorption. Research has shown that B12 may help with conditions such as dementia, decrease nerve pain from trigeminal neuralgia, diabetes, and sciatica, and may accelerate healing time in nerve injuries. It may also help with fatigue, anxiety and depression, as well as memory and concentration.

If you are interested in enhancing your ability to detox, you may book an appointment at my Burling Naturopath Clinic.