|
|
 |
You Don't Have to Suffer
by Pamela Frank, BSc (Hons), ND
PMS and painful periods do not have to be a fact of life at least not for our clients. You shouldn't need to take Tylenol or Ibuprofen every month. Common causes of painful periods and PMS include:
- the uterus contracts because the blood supply to the endometrium (uterine lining) is reduced
- low levels of physical activity
- emotional stress
- growth of uterine tissue outside the uterus (endometriosis)
- hormone imbalances
- imbalance of calcium and magnesium
Painful periods often cause chronic use of Tylenol or NSAIDs like aspirin and ibuprofen. These pose potential health risks such as liver toxicity, stomach ulcers and increased risk of heart attack or stroke.
How we help:
All of the above causes can be addressed naturopathically through lifestyle counselling, proper nutrition, herbal support to balance hormones and help the body adapt to stress, and dietary or supplement guidance to better balance calcium and magnesium. All of which have no inherent health risks, only health benefits and can help prevent hormone related diseases such as breast cancer. Join my group of patients who are marveling at monthly painless periods.
Copyright ©2006
Pamela Frank, BSc, ND
Licensed Naturopathic Doctor
The Frightening Truth About Autism
A recent lecture I heard on autism revealed some frightening statistics for anyone who is a parent. The incidence of autism is on the rise and the onset is typically anywhere from 18 months to 3 years of age. In the United States, the autism rate in 1999 was reported as 4.5 per 10 000 live births. A mere 6 years later, it was 1 in every 250 live births.
The good news is that from a naturopathic standpoint, autism is considered largely reversible depending on the extent of the problem and the motivation of the parents. It is a multifactorial condition that is thought to arise as a result of some combination of:
Fortunately, addressing these areas is where naturopathic medicine really excels.
Here’s my dilemma every summer – I know sunburns
are not healthy and worse yet, will age me
before my time. On the other hand, I’m not
convinced that a chemical concoction that will
get absorbed, act in a harmful way like estrogen
and add to the burden on my liver is any
better. At the very least, I’m liable to get a
red, bumpy itchy rash if the available sunscreen
happens to contain PABA. If these chemicals are
unhealthy to me, what might they be doing to my
little unborn baby? Naturopathic medicine to
the rescue! Studies below indicate that
supplementing with vitamins C and E and
essential fatty acids offer sun protection
without the risk. If you do get a burn – aloe
leaf gel can help soothe the pain and carefully
selected homeopathics like belladonna and
pulsatilla can help heal the burn faster.
|
Ultraviolet B-induced DNA damage in human epidermis is
modified by the antioxidants ascorbic acid and D-alpha-tocopherol.
J
Invest Dermatol. 2005 Feb;124(2):304-7.
Placzek M, Gaube S, Kerkmann U, Gilbertz KP,
Herzinger T, Haen E, Przybilla B.
The intake of vitamins C and E for a period of 3 months
significantly reduced the sunburn reaction to UVB
irradiation.
Effect of eicosapentaenoic acid, an omega-3
polyunsaturated fatty acid, on UVR-related cancer risk
in humans. An assessment of early genotoxic markers.
Carcinogenesis. 2003 May;24(5):919-25.
Rhodes LE, Shahbakhti H, Azurdia RM, Moison RM,
Steenwinkel MJ, Homburg MI, Dean MP, McArdle F,
Beijersbergen van Henegouwen GM, Epe B, Vink AA.
Reduction in …
sunburn… indicates protection by dietary EPA against
acute ultraviolet radiation-induced genotoxicity;
longer-term supplementation might reduce skin cancer in
humans.
CONTACT
Dr. Pamela Frank, BSc
(Hons), ND and Dr. Marni
Ross, BSc, ND
PFrankND@ForcesofNature.ca
MRossND@ForcesofNature.ca
|
