worth spreading!

A colleague of mine recently gave a talk on health at a TEDx event. He is a naturopathic doctor, and great motivational speaker. I hope you enjoy the clip!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2t3xjsJOuk

GERD in infants and children

Lately, I have been seeing many infants and children on proton-pump-inhibitors for GERD – or gastro-esophageal reflux disease, which causes acid reflux or heart burn.

Recently, an article in the CBC featuring a pediatrician states that medical Doctors are over-prescribing these medications in what may be normal physiology  http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/story/2011/10/20/baby-cry-spit-up-acid-reflux.html

I do agree with this pediatrician, and do feel that many medications are prescribed too quickly. The good practice of medicine is to investigate, and to determine what exactly is happening. This, in my experience, takes a little time and probing.

The gastro-intestinal tract is not fully developed until 6 months (and may even take longer). This means the nervous system responsible for gut motility, and the mucosal lining of the GI tract (protecting against virus, bacteria, and immune system reactions) is not fully in tact. Breastmilk, which contains high amounts of IgA that is found in mucosal lining, replaces what is not fully formed in an infant.

Not all babies develop at an ‘expected’ time, and it is important not to force their system if it is not responding in a healthy way when you begin to implement changes.

Going back to GERD – we still need to get to the root of the problem. Is it a ‘lazy’ sphincter, or is it a histamine reaction causing excess acid from an allergy to something previously given, like a new food, a component in a vaccine, etc… Is it an ulcer (unlikely in children, in my opinion, but would need to rule out H.pylori)? Is there reduced gastric motiltity in general, or a blockage further down that is impending timely digestion, and thus causing reflux? A nervous child, affecting the nervous system thus slowing down digestion? Acid in the stomach is very important in order to breakdown food to its component parts so it can properly enter the intestines, where nutrients are then taken up in the bloodstream, or get digested down to the colon.

In the majority of cases, GERD will get better as the child grows and matures.

If the discomfort persists, there are many alternatives and other gentler possible solutions to managing GERD and healing inflammation before resorting to medication (which need to be metabolized by the liver, albeit proven to be safe), and stopping acid production all-together.

case study: dry cracked hands

This remedy often gets overlooked as a possible children’s remedy.

I had a young patient come in with extreme dryness and cracked skin on the back of the hands, to the point of bleeding – aggravated during the winter.

I investigated for other symptoms, and found that there was a great sensitivity to riding in the car (motion sickness), great pain in the abdomen on passing a stool, craves salt (which often indicated Natrum-muriaticum in children), is aggravated by touch, and often has changeable moods.

I gave the child Sanicula 200 – as this remedy seemed to cover best the case. The hands, pain in the abdomen, and mood greatly improved after three doses of the remedy.

ND talking about greenspace

Upcoming author, and Naturopathic Doctor Alan C Logan presents his latest research on your “brain on nature” in an interview with the David Suzuki Foundation. I hope my green-friendly friends are equally excited as me to read his book!

http://www.davidsuzuki.org/blogs/docs-talk/2011/11/your-brain-on-nature/

Part of this movement is reflective of the need for environmental sustainability, and the impacts of pollution and chemicals on our health. Environmental medicine, a branch of medicine that takes a careful look at human behaviors and the effect on the ecosystem and on our health, is a growing field of research. More information can be found through the Canadian Association for Physician of the Environment http://www.cape.ca/ and the Children’s Environmental Health Project http://www.cape.ca/children/.

Tips for industry include sustainable energy, water safety and usage, consumer product regulation (reducing heavy metals, phtalates, dioxins, etc) – this includes household products, toys, clothes, food and beverages, drugs, naturals health products, over-the-counter medicines, cosmetics, and technology. On a personal level, your environmental footprint can be greatly reduced by choosing home-care products and behavioral choices that reduce harmful toxins, wasteful electricity and water, recycling, and choosing recycled products or building materials. The greatest impact for the need to establish awareness in this field reflects the earth’s water, forestry, and fauna (habitat infrastructure for wild animals).

You could also check out the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, which is a peer-reviewed open-access journal on environmental health http://ehp03.niehs.nih.gov/home.action

While making all of these changes is a challenge, doing a few changes and staying educated will be a great start.

natural childbirth workshop

Homeopathy and Childbirth

                   with Melanie Kusznireckyj, BSc, ND

This workshop, led by an accredited naturopathic doctor, will cover some of the techniques and remedies used to promote a natural childbirth.

Homeopathy is a natural medicine used by most midwives, given no complications.

This workshop will help you to prepare and plan for a natural, healthy birth. It will also be an opportunity to ask some questions surrounding pregnancy and childbirth with a naturopathic doctor.

Date: Saturday December 10th, 2011

Time: 11h30-13h00

Place: Melons and Clémentines Inc http://www.melonsetclementines.com/

5659 Sherbrooke O., Mtl (NDG), Qc H4A 1W6

Cost: $15

RSVP: melanie.kusznireckyj@gmail.com or by calling 514-279-6629 ext 225

what is pain sayin’?

I must say, I was a little glad to read this article in the Montreal Gazette today, written by a retired physician.

http://www.montrealgazette.com/health/chronic+pain+doctors+have+answers/5584400/story.html

Identifying the cause of pain is the first step to relieve suffering. It could be neurological, inflammatory, scarring, displacement of organs, referred pain, circulatory, and the list goes on. And in many instances, the cause of the pain is not so easily identifiable and may be diagnosed as psychosomatic. When faced with chronic pain, treatment that is supposed to address the cause of the pain, may not actually do so. And so, what happens to all those theories on causes of pain?

I am encountered with many of the above situations as a naturopathic doctor. I have worked with people who suffer from unknown rheumatic pain, multiple sclerosis, chronic back pain, sciatic, to name a few. Some with greater success then others, and from my experience, the ones who stick to homeopathy long-term, achieve the greatest results.

I like that he says in the article, “It is clear the combative approach doesn’t work.” This sheds light on the more important realization that the more we attack the body, the worse it gets, and the idea of “not liking something about ourselves”, namely pain, is not giving ourselves the compassion in order to heal. In other words, increasing anxiety surrounding the pain proves to be counter-productive.

He also says, “We have to find a new way to conceptualize chronic pain.” My response would be of course, that the answer must come from the person! And might I add, all answers must come from the person; namely intuition of the body, mind, and what the spirit is saying.

colds, flus, and the winter blues

With the quick change in temperature, our immune defenses may go down. There is nothing better then rest, warmth, and a few home remedies to help you regain your strength, whether physically and/or emotionally.

Come in for a visit for some added tips to improve your immune system, especially if you are particularly sensitive, in that a simple cold easily turns to bronchitis, pneumonia, or sinusitis, and ear infections or tonsillitis in children. The best methods are finding the right balance of remedies (without overdoing it!) for your system to respond delightfully. Tuning in to your body when you start to feel sick is the first step…

Simple things you could try would be (and doing so while you are healthy is always a good idea):

-end your showers in 10 sec of cold water, to stimulate circulation and lymphatic system

-ensuring adequate daily intake of vitamin D, A, C, and zinc

-having a whole-foods diet, rich in whole grains, fruits and vegetables, essential fatty acids, and limiting trans- and saturated foods, and refined sugar (the most important!)

-you can experiment with an ancient folk remedy: Change of Season Soup – a tea that combines a few Chinese medicine herbs

-using a neti pot for nasal rinse

-using a sun lamp at the office

Other important measures you could take would be homeopathy to stimulate your immune system. Homeopathic remedies are substances derived from nature that help your body to recover. There are a variety of remedies to choose from, and so, to be sure to select the best one, come in for a visit and I will help you. Finding the right remedy may increase the speed of recovery.

For most cases, our immune system will take care of a cold or flu in a few days, however, if it tends to drag on, be sure to take action sooner than later.

While preventive measures do not always guarantee the absence of sickness, it is an important step to help your body to recover more quickly and efficiently.

research for this vitamin points to stronger bones

Studies on the use of vitamin K for the prevention and treatment of osteoperosis are conflicting. However, there has been some pretty good evidence to support the use of vitamin K2 (menaquinone-4 or 7, or MK-4 or MK-7) in conjunction with vitamin D, calcium, and magnesium for the prevention of hip fractures and to help increase bone mineral density. One study on post-menopausal women who are at risk for bone fractures have shown that this combination seems to be the most protective (1). The combination of diet and lifestyle seem to have the greatest effect on bone mineral density (2). Similar research has been included in Japanese cohorts (3), and is continually being investigated in a large-scale trial called JOINT (Japanese osteoporosis intervention trial).

The richest source of vitamin K2 is found in a Japanese food called natto. It is a fermented soy product. Vitamin K2 is derived from a fermentation process. Japanese studies have shown the protective effect of natto, but it is unsure if it is due to the vitamin K2 or the soy isoflavones. (on a side note, it is important to understand the difference between fermented and unfermented/processed soy foods. The latter has no “natural” protective health benefits apart from being fortified with vitamins and minerals, and these include soya milk, cheese, yoghurt, etc. while the fermented soya is what has been shown to have the protective phytoestrogens for bone health and its use for the protection of estrogen-related cancers). Another source of vitamin K2 is found in curd cheese. Synthetic forms can be manufactured and bought, and recently olive oil has been fortified with vitamin K2 (MK-7).

Osteocalcin, the protein responsible for getting calcium “in” the bone, is a vitamin K dependent protein. Osteocalcin is also regulated by factors which include retinoic acid (vitamin A), glucocorticoids (cortisol), estrogen, and 1,25-hydroxy vitamin D.

In addition to the protective effects on bone, vitamin K2 has been implemented in studies as a prevention for the calcification or hardening of arteries with some sucess. It appears as though this form of vitamin K, as opposed to vitamin K1 found in dark leafy green vegetables that is necessary for blood coagulation, may be beneficial for the prevention of cardiovascular complications. Cardiovascular complications, or coronary artery disease, may be associated with high blood pressure, diabetes, renal disease, hypothyroidism, and post-menopause. Vitamin K2 has been found to be beneficial in persons with type II diabetes (4). Some research has included the use of vitamin K2 for liver cancer, and recently, for the stimulation of testosterone.

Warfarin therapy, an anti-coagulant, has side effects of calcification of the artieries. Probably because it blocks all vitamin K dependent pathways. Some research has pointed to a beneficial effect of using vitamin K with warfarin. However, because of the narrow therapeutic index of warfarin, it is very important to consult with your doctor first before implementing any dietary or nutritional changes to your diet.

This article is a great one for the biochemical explanation for the use of vitamin D and vitamin K: www.altmedrev.com/publications/15/3/199.pdf

For any more questions, ask Dr Mel! Thanks for reading. Hope you get a chance to try some natto!

(1) Je SH et al. 2011. J Korea Med Sci Vitamin K supplement along with vitamin D and calcium reduced serum concentration of undercarboxylated osteocalcin while increasing bone mineral density in Korean post-menopausal women over sixty years old.

(2) Moschonis et al., 2011. J Bone Miner Metab. Possible site-specific effect of an intervention combining nutrition and lifestyle counseling with consumption of fortified dairy products on bone mass: the Post-Menopausal Health Study II.

(3) Fujita et al., 2011. Osteoporos Int. Association between vitamin K intake from fermented soybeans, natto, and bone mineral density in elderly Japanese men: the Fujiwara-kyo osteoporosis risk in men (FORMEN) study

(4) Iwamoto J et al. 2011. Nutr Rev. Bone quality and vitamin K2 in type 2 diabetes: review.

Book review

Robert A Johnson, in his autobiographical piece entitled Balancing Heaven and Earth, recounts his life-long adventures through his dedication to his inward journey and paying close attention to the “slender threads”. Through the story of his life, this beautiful masterpiece shows the way to understanding our “inner gold”, and yielding to the journey that one life can bring.

His story is about travel, about people and culture, and about discovering dreams. It is through this journey that a legacy is discovered. His title, Balancing Heaven and Earth, reflects his quest in understanding his near-death experience as a youth.

It was an enjoyable read, and I highly recommend for anyone looking into starting an inward journey and finding meaning in whatever is calling them to do.

 

the action of homeopathy

The principles and practice of homeopathy can be applied to so many facets of medicine and healing.

What happens to the body when it encounters a pathogen? An inborn error of genes? A bee sting? It is the same for all events that may cause a stress on our body, or dis-ease. The simplicity of the body is as follows: there is a change in physiology. If the change in physiology is not addressed, pathology ensues.

Physiology, from a naturopathic medicine perspective, and in my opinion, a perspective that should be acknowledged by all healers, doctors, teachers, etc. is that physiology encompasses more than just physical physiology, but mental, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual. Rightfully so, the physiological changes in physiology are the most important for survival, however they are not necessarily the key to unlock the healing process. That key requires a full-body door to be opened.

So if healing means that it requires a change in our physiology away from pathology, how does medicine then treat our physiology? Simple answer: in the exact same way as the disease started in the first place. The medicine must tell your physiology to turn backwards to healing, rather than to create further changes in physiology that lead to pathology.

This is the difference between drugs and medicine. Which, to a degree, are the same thing. Anything that is a drug produces toxic effects in the body – that is, side effects (or changes physiology) that if ignored, will cause further damage if consumed in excessive doses. Most medicines are toxic. If taken too much or in a high dose, will produce in most cases, changes in physiology. Conventional medicines have been tested to ensure that the proper dose is respected in order to achieve a change in one aspect of physiology. For the most part, they are tested on the specific disease targeted.

The classic example is coffee, both a drug and a medicine. There are many other examples, as this is the principle behind medicine.

This physiological action also links to nutrition, in that, changes in physiology will also lead to changes in basic nutritional needs in order to maintain the changes in physiology. And so, nutrition is one very large factor in healing. Have you noticed when you are dehydrated you’re more thirsty? That if you have high blood pressure you are more likely to crave salt? Your cravings, desires, and aversions are indicative of the changes in physiology, and your body trying to maintain itself. Same can be said for body temperature. Your body will tell you what it needs. These changes begin long before the end-stage. Your body is in a dynamic equilibrium – the basic equation of chemical reactions. And so, the more closely you look at these small changes, the greater degree we can assess what is going on in your physiology.

Homeopathic medicine is tested in a completely different way. In order to determine the action of a substance found in nature, it is tested on a healthy individual. It is taken for a certain period of time, everyday. This person, or the prover, then records all changes in physiology ranging from physical symptoms, mental changes, emotional changes, behavioral, and even dreams. A number of provers will prove the same remedy, and the collection of symptoms are then categorized into a materia medica.

The symptoms which have been the most strange (i.e. are not “normal” for the prover in terms of typical changes in their physiology), or most intense or frequent, and which have been expressed in the most number of provers, are considered the most reliable symptoms when narrowing down a remedy. This is indicative of the effect the remedy has on the physiology of the body.

And so, when the collection of these symptoms are expressed in a person who comes into my office, I then ask them the questions in order to determine which remedy best suits them, and is most similar to them.

Why diluted remedies? Because they are non-toxic. And typically, I do not give the remedy frequently – unless it is needed. More frequent repetitions of a remedy are indicated when a person is continually exposed to the stressor.

If you are not a believer in homeopathy, the best way is to do a proving and see for yourself!

I do, however, believe that homeopathy is not the only path to healing. Plants, nutrition, social balance, all have an important part to play. The School of Medicine has skewed away from the philosophy held by the great medical thinkers such as Hippocrates. I am hopeful that this will not always be the case. The training of a homeopathic doctor is a hard one (from experience) but it is very rewarding!