Keep Calm And See A Naturopath

I guess there is a “Keep Calm” poster for everyone, so keep calm and smile 🙂

Turn around and check your poop … it may save your life!

The shape, size, colour and smell of your poop can tell you lots about your health and diet so give it a look.

10 Rules For Better Health

Detox your body

A great article that summarizes the foods that support each organ of elimination and detox.

Black cumin (Nigella sativa)

Nigella sativa commonly known as Black cumin or Black seed has a long history of medicinal and culinary use in the Middle East and Asia, commonly appears on breads such as tsoureki (τσουρέκι), which is prepared during the Easter celebrations in Greece and Cyprus, Naan bread in India and çörek buns in Turkey.

In India and Middle East, it was traditionally used to treat indigestion, loss of appetite, fever, diarrhoea, general weakness, chest congestion, asthma and arthritis.

It was found in  ancient Egypt, including Tutankhamun’s tomb probably to assist him in the afterlife, it is mentioned in the Old Testament, and it is reported in the Unani and Avicenna medicines as the seed that stimulates the body’s energy and helps recovery from fatigue and dispiritedness. In Islam,  Abu Hurairah writes the  sayings of Muhammad: “Use the black seed, which is a healing for all diseases except death”.

Therapeutic Activity

Nigella sativa seems to attribute its therapeutic activity to thymoquinone, the major active constituent of the volatile oil but the whole plant demonstrates:

1. Anti-inflammatory
2. Analgesic
3. Antipyretic
4. Antimicrobial
5. Decreases triglycerides
6. Hypocholesterolemic
7. Hypoglycaemic
8. Antioxidant
9. Digestive
10. Anthelmintic
11. Carminative
12. Diuretic
13. Emmenagogue
14. Galactagogue
15. Chemoprevantative and antitumour activity (Antineoplastic)
16. Protection against nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity induced by either disease or chemicals

Clinical trials

According to clinical trials, Black cumin improved the symptoms of allergic rhinitis, reduced hyperlipidaemia (high lipid blood levels) and has shown beneficial results with type 2 diabetes. However, more clinical trials are needed to confirm findings.

Other medicinal uses

• reduction of central obesity (3 g/day, taken for 3 months)
• Type 2 diabetes (2 g/day dose)
  • fasting blood glucose decreased significantly
  • HbA1c decreased by 1.5% at the end of the 12 weeks (p < 0.0001
  • insulin resistance was reduced (p < 0.01) and beta-cell function was increased (p < 0.02) at 12 weeks
• H. pylori infection (2 g/day)
• Worm infestation

Caution

• Not to be used during pregnancy

Top 11 Biggest Lies of Mainstream Nutrition

Top 11 Biggest Lies of Mainstream Nutrition

Great article by Authority Nutrition breaking the myths of modern diet and what has been thought to be healthy that is proven to be actually harmful and unhealthy. Of course one can see political and financial reasons behind these lies supported by nutritionist, doctors and manufacturing industries and propagated through the media and medical articles.

New Herbal Digestive Tonic

The combined action of this formula containing Milk thistle, Dandelion root, Gentian and Ginger is to stimulate digestive secretions to aid digestion and strengthen and tone the whole upper digestive system.

Milk thistle and Dandelion root also help with the breakdown of fat and liver detoxification. Gentian is one of the most bitter herbs. The bitters not only stimulate digestive secretions through neuronal pathways via the tongue but also assist the body to maintain normal immune function in the digestive system.

The Digestive tonic is indicated for sluggish indigestion, lack of appetite or to simply aid digestion.

Dosage: 2 mL three times a day 15 minutes before meals with some water or juice.

You may order the Digestive tonic from here.

Benefits of Wheatgrass

It’s great in a shake which I have after the gym as a post-recovery shake. I usually add:

• 1 teaspoonful of organic Wheatgrass powder
• 1 teaspoon of Maca powder
• 1 banana (fresh or frozen)
• 1 teaspoon of raw organic honey
• 3/4 cup of coconut milk
• a handful of almonds

The above shake provides you with high quality protein, good fat, carbohydrates and fibre plus lots of vitamins, minerals and antioxidant phytonutrients.

Dong quai (Angelica sinensis)

Angelica sinensis commonly known as Dong quai, has been traditionally used for gynaecological ailments including menstrual irregularities and cramps, retarded flow, PMS and menopausal symptoms. It relaxes and stimulates the uterus at the same time producing a balancing effect and it also has a mild sedative effect on the central nervous system.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) – Herbal Treatment

by Savvas Ioannides N.D.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age and is now recognized as a complex endocrine disorder with multiple possible etiologies and clinical manifestations. It is defined as hyperandrogenism (increased male hormones) and chronic anovulation (luck of ovulation) in cases in which secondary causes of these signs have been excluded.

PCOS Symptom Presentation

• Anovulatory Infertility
• Obesity and weight gain
• Insulin resistance is uniquely associated with PCOS. In obese women with PCOS, 30-40% of these have impaired glucose tolerance or diabetes. Weight gain especially around the trunk (apple body shape or android body shape) especially after the age of 30 indicates insulin resistance or diabetes
• Acanthosis nigricans
• Irregular menses and amenorrhea
• Dysfunctional uterine bleeding
• Miscarriage
• Acne
• Alopecia (hair loss)
• Hirsutism &/or virilization
• Mood changes such as irritability and depression
• Fatigue possibly due to dysglycaemia (insulin resistance)
• Family history of non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus.
• The diagnosis is suspected if women have at least 2 typical symptoms (mild obesity, hirsutism, and irregular menses or amenorrhea)

Other Biochemistry

• Elevated LH levels and low FSH is classical PCOS hormonal profile
• Unopposed oestrogen due to the lack of ovulation and the reduced production of corpus luteum allowing endometrial overgrowth that increases the risk of endometrial cancer
• Oestrogen stimulates the release of LH, however since ovulation does not occur, LH levels remain high. High LH adversely affects the egg quality and can lead to increased miscarriage rates
• There is an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and many women with PCOS have abnormal lipid levels
• Decreased sex hormone-binding glubulin (SHBG)

Investigations Required

Blood tests	Lipid and lipoprotein studies – cholesterol, LDL, HDL, triglycerides.
Hormonal tests	Including oestrogen, progesterone, free testosterone levels, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate level (DHEAS), prolactin levels, and (SHBG).
Fasting glucose, glucose tolerance test and insulin levels	Insulin sensitivity is associated with PCOS. Approximately 10% of women with PCOS have type 2 diabetes mellitus, and 30-40% of women with PCOS have impaired glucose tolerance by the age of 40 years.
Ultrasonography	A transvaginal ultrasound imaging (sonogram) or a pelvic ultrasound may be done to demonstrate the presence of polycystic ovaries and other abnormalities. Diagnosis is confirmed by ultrasonography showing > 10 follicles per ovary; follicles usually occur in the periphery and resemble a string of pearls.

Treatment Objectives

• Decrease body weight. The aim is to achieve a BMI of 21-22.
• Decrease insulin resistance and incorporate a low glycaemic diet
• Re-establish ovulation and reduce endometrial hyperplasia
• Prevent/reduce musculinizing effects
• Increase exercise
• Decrease triglyceride and LDL cholesterol and increase HDL cholesterol in blood
• Improve hepatic function
• Reduce stress levels
• Implement a preconception care protocol

Herbal Treatment

Herbal treatment will focus on balancing hormonal levels, hepatic clearance of oestrogen, female reproductive toning, adaptogens, weight loss and anti-diabetic herbs.

Herb	Justification
Cinnamomum zeylanicum (Cinnamon)	Antibacterial, carminative, enhances insulin sensitivity because MHCP (a water-soluble compound) activates the key enzymes that stimulate insulin receptors, while inhibiting the enzymes that deactivated them
Glycyrrhiza glabra (Licorice)	Glycyrrhenetic acid seems to inhibit the enzyme 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, which converts androstenedione to testosterone in the ovary. Glycyrrhenetic acid also inhibits 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, which results in decreased conversion of cortisol to cortisone and the state of apparent mineralocorticoid excess. In PCOS, elevated 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase is responsible for androgen excess, possibly via its effect on glucose metabolism.
Gymnema sylvestre (Gymnema)	Gymnema is used as an antidiabetic, hypoglycaemic, lipid-lowering agent and to support weight reduction. Gymnema is indicated for PCOS, due to its insulin modulating activity and the added benefits of reducing the elevated triglycerides associated with PCOS.
Paeonia lactiflora (Peony)	The active constituent in Paeonia lactiflora is thought to act directly on the ovary to reduce the production of androgens in a dose-dependent manner. It increases the activity or aromatase, which promotes the synthesis of oestradiol from testosterone. Formulas containing Peony may also improve progesterone levels by normalizing ovarian function when the activity of aromatase is inhibited. It has been used to treat hyperprolactinaemia, ovarian failure and androgen excess. The biofeedback in the pituitary and hypothalamus rely on aromatase to regulate prolactin and GnRH.Licorice and Peony combination reduces testosterone levels and improves the oestradiol to testosterone ratios after 4 weeks of administration. Pregnancy rates also improve. After prolonged administration, LH to FSH ratio is significantly lower. This combination stimulates pituitary dopamine receptors, which seem to be responsible for the gradually improving LH/FSH ratio.
Schisandra chinensis (Schisandra)	Schisandra is a hepatoprotective, adaptogenic, nervine and antioxidant. It helps to improve liver function in terms of detoxification and hormone clearance. As an adaptogen, it will improve mental, physical and sensory performance and help to cope with stress.
Vitex agnus-castus (Chaste Tree)	Vitex has demonstrated to down-regulate the production of excess prolactin via a dopaminergic activity. Hyperprolactinaemia is a common condition in PCOS. It has also shown to have an anti-androgenic effect. It is beneficial for ovulatory factors associated with PCOS. Clinical experience has shown that it is valuable in PCOS, especially when combined with other herbs, probably because of its action in reducing prolactin.
Zingiber officinale (Ginger)	Ginger is a circulatory stimulant, anti-inflammatory, spasmolytic and digestive stimulant. It is also hypoglycaemic, antioxidant and antihepatotoxic. It is useful in amenorrhoea brought up by cold.

The list above is not exhausted and there are more herbal remedies that might be indicated in a case of PCOS depending on the presentation of the person since the condition is multifaceted. Nutrition is of utmost importance and nessessary multiple nutrient supplementation is warranted.

Lifestyle

Exercising daily is essential especially in the morning as it increases metabolism – a minimum of 45 minutes 4-5 times a week of aerobic exercise to help lose weight, improve insulin resistance, lower cholesterol, increases SHBG and maintain cardiovascular health. If possible get a personal trainer to help achieve ideal body weight.