Dr. Masha, ND

Naturopathy

Articles

Adrenal health: How does it affect everyday life?

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Adrenal hormones can affect our every day living.

Adrenals are glands that are located on the top of both kidneys. They produce many types of hormones in the body.

Adrenal hormones (cortisol, in particular) are released when we experience stress, encouraging physiologic responses that allow us to escape danger: more energy going to the muscles and away from digestive processes, the immune system, and higher brain functions.

This system is designed for short-term stress (such as running from a predator). Problems arise when we are subjected to the unrelenting stressors of modern life, where escape is not guaranteed, like prolonged insomnia, long hours at work, difficult living situations, long hours of studying, taking tests, personal relationships issues.

Continual release of stress hormones has detrimental effects on immunity (including wound healing), digestive function, the functioning of the rest of the endocrine system, mood, and mental acuity. Adrenal imbalance can also be a part (cause or effect) of other endocrine syndromes, such as Type 2 diabetes or hypothyroidism.

One of the most pronounced symptoms of adrenal imbalance is chronic fatigue. Hence, the other name used for the adrenal imbalance is adrenal fatigue. It can be thought of as if adrenals overused, overexerted its supply of stress hormones and now they are not regulated properly. This imbalance can also lower sex hormones, affect thyroid function, and decrease immunity.

How it usually happens – sluggishness in the morning with difficulty waking up, feeling awake immediately after lunch but another energy drop from 2-4 pm, best energy around 6-7 pm, and then feeling tired but with difficulty going to sleep at night, with a burst of energy at midnight.

The other symptoms can be hyperglycemia (high glucose), insulin resistance, weight gain, high blood pressure, depression, anxiety, loss of libido, increased susceptibility to illness, slow wound healing.

Naturopathic doctors (N.D.) address adrenal imbalance and fatigue by recommending basic life style changes (the same time to bed, the same time for meals daily, more time for rest, appropriate exercise routine). Diet can be very helpful in addressing adrenal fatigue. Each meal is perceived as medicine. Whole food balanced nutrition with 90% vegetable intake, high quality protein, complex carbohydrates, fruits and healthy fats. Many herbs (called adaptogens) can be used to heal adrenal glands and allow them to produce the correct amount of cortisol at the correct time (more in the morning, less in the evening, and stable throughout the day). Testing for adrenal hormones can be completed if needed.

If you have any issues with the above listed symptoms, it can be a good time to see a naturopathic doctor to address the cause of the fatigue.

 

 

Naturopathic Approach to Being Anxious

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Anxiety is one of the most common complaints in doctors’ offices.

Modern life demands a lot of energy, attention, mobility and flexibility. There is less time for sleep and rest. We are almost always thinking, planning, solving problems every minute of the day. Life puts pressure on us to achieve more: successful careers, having a family, buying a house, taking care of aging parents, etc.  We eat on the go, sleep less, and are always on electronic devices (it is hard not to  as we are surrounded by them).

Thus, being anxious becomes part of life. It may start interfering with daily activities. There are certain genetic predispositions that can lead to high anxiety states:

  • MTHFR mutations
  •  depression disorders,
  • attention deficit disorder,
  • digestive conditions (irritable bowel syndrome, irritable bowel diseases),
  • PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder),
  • metabolic syndrome,
  • endocrine imbalances (thyroid dysregulation, cortisol imbalance), and many others.

In addition, anxiety can be a side effect of pharmaceutical medications:

  • Albuterol, salmeterol and theophylline
  • Methyldopa
  • Oral contraceptives (birth control pills)
  • Benzedrine, Dexedrine, and Ritalin
  • Steroids, cortisol, dexamethasone, prednisone
  • Thyroid medications
  • Cough medications
  • Decongestants, such as phenylephrine (Sudafed PE).

To name a few.

It is not surprising that most the of population is anxious and may even develop anxiety disorders which can comprise around 3 million of cases in the USA.

How can naturopathic medicine help?

As naturopathic doctors will look at the whole person, take in-depth history and have a number of natural therapies to offer patients.

Anxiety is not always easily treated but if a patient follows the treatment plan and is open to trying different natural modalities, the results can be very promising – anxiety can be significantly diminished.

One of the principles of naturopathic medicine is to identify and remove the cause. Thus, before implementing therapies or even recommending medications, naturopathic doctors strive to pinpoint why anxiety is there in the first place. It can be challenging in some cases but through different types of testing (blood testing including) and history, naturopathic doctors with the help of patients can find the cause of chronic anxious states and reduce them.

Combination of homeopathic medicine, herbs, vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, life style changes can help patient feel less anxious on day- to- day basis.

Natural Solutions for Weight Gain

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In some cases it seems you have tried everything – multiple diets, weight loss promising supplements, exercise but the weight is still there. Our body is rather complex and it demands a closer look at what is going on inside to understand why it is challenging to change the weight.
A number of conditions can cause weight gain: hypothyroidism (under-active thyroid), adrenal imbalance or fatigue (cortisol dysregulation, not usually recognized by allopathic medicine), female and male hormonal dysregulation (estrogen imbalance), PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome), Cushing’s syndrome (overproduction of cortisol by adrenal glands), pre-diabetes, digestive disorders, and many other conditions.

Thus, a weight gain may need more investigation such as thyroid, estrogen, progesterone, testosterone profiles, cortisol measurements, blood glucose, basic laboratory testing, a thorough history and overview of the diet and life style. 

One of the conditions that may cause weight gain is hypothyroidism. Thyroid, a bi-lobed gland, situated in the anterior aspect of the neck, is one of the most essential glands in the body. Thyroid regulates breathing, heart rate, body weight, menstrual cycles, body temperature, cholesterol levels, digestion, skin health, cognitive functions and much more.

As naturopathic doctors, we pay particular attention to its health and well-being. In the USA thyroid issues are on the rise. In particular, under-reactive thyroid or hypothyroidism has become a silent endemic.

Common symptoms of hypothyroidism are chronic fatigue, constipation, dry skin, anxiety, and weight gain. The best way to ensure that thyroid is functioning properly is to do a blood testing for thyroid hormones (TSH, Free T4 and Free T3, thyroid antibodies), have your doctor palpate the thyroid gland to make sure there are no nodules and if it is tender to touch.

  • Balancing thyroid hormones can be achieved through the help of pharmaceutical medications (Synthroid, Armour thyroid , Nature-Throid),
  • anti-inflammatory diet,
  • more movement (any type of exercise),
  • adding spiritual practice or meditation,
  • a number of helpful nutrients (zinc, selenium, vitamin A, vitamin D, amino acids, etc)
  • botanical medicine (herbal formulations).

Medications have to be prescribed by your primary care doctor or endocrinologist. Naturopaths or naturopathic doctors can prescribe thyroid medications (in particular, Armour Thyroid and Nature-Throid) depending on the state you are in.

In naturopathic medicine, in order to balance thyroid, it is paramount to address adrenal gland (cortisol metabolism), hypothalamus and pituitary (so called, HPA axis). This way the effect on the thyroid will be long lasting and profound.

When hormones are addressed along with the diet and life style, it becomes easier for the body to lose weight and improve the slowed metabolism caused by under-reactive thyroid gland.

Thyroid health: The Core of Naturopathic Medicine

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Thyroid health is at the core of Naturopathic Medicine.

This article will explain why this gland you don’t seem to hear much about is actually one of the most essential glands in the body.

The Thyroid is a bi-lobed gland situated in the anterior aspect of the neck.

This small gland (weights less than 1oz in an adult) determines many functions that maintain life in a living organism.

Thyroid regulates breathing, heart rate, body weight, menstrual cycles, body temperature, cholesterol levels, digestion, skin health, cognitive functions and much more.

As Naturopathic Doctors, we pay particular attention to its health and well being.

In the USA, thyroid issues are on the rise.

In particular, under-reactive thyroid or hypothyroidism has become a silent endemic.

Thyroid function is not typically tested by doctors unless patients start exhibiting symptoms, such as chronic fatigue, constipation, dry skin, anxiety, weight gain.

Thyroid health is connected with various nutritional deficiencies (iron deficiency anemia[i], zinc deficiency[ii], low protein intake), gut health, and adrenal functioning.

When a person goes through stressful times, sometimes not even realizing it, some of the adrenal hormones produced by adrenal glands can be diminished or imbalanced (low cortisol in the morning creating fatigue and high cortisol in the evening making a patient go to bed later than normal).

In some patients, symptoms can be more subtle but the thyroid function is already compromised.

Possible reasons that lead to low thyroid function are: a lack of iodine in the body (absorbable, easy to digest form), deficiency of Magnesium and Zinc, heavy metal poisoning (such as with mercury, lead, arsenic, and cadmium) , surgical removal of the thyroid gland or treatment with radioactive iodine, pesticides, family history of thyroid conditions, radiation and X-rays (thyroid is very sensitive to ionizing radiation).

Such changes in a woman’s body such as pregnancy and menopause can also predispose somebody to thyroid problems.

The best way to ensure the thyroid is functioning properly is to do a blood test for thyroid hormones (TSH, Free T4 and Free T3 and others).

By addressing adrenal health, iron deficiency (anemia), as well as optimizing digestion and absorption can help improve thyroid function as well.

When you come to a Naturopathic Doctor, we can use a number of different natural approaches to optimize and recover thyroid health – herbal formulations, homeopathy, nutrition and life style changes, determine deficiencies and address them through supplementation and diet.

Mental and emotional factors are always considered as well.

 

[i] Saroj Khatiwada, Basanta Gelal, Nirmal Baral, and Madhab Lamsal. Association between Iron Statue and Thyroid Function in Nepalese Children. Thyroid Res. 2016;9;2. Published online 2016 Jan 27. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4729155/

[ii]  Maxwell C, Volpe SL. Effect of Zinc Supplementation on Thyroid Hormone Function. A case study of two college females. Ann Nutr Metab. 2007;51(2):188-94. May 30, 2007.  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17541266

Cancer Personality: Suppressed Emotions and Cancer

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The Cancer Personality is set of mental and emotional habits of a person who may be more susceptible to developing this condition.

There is a correlation between negative, suppressed emotions, certain personality traits and a risk of developing cancer.

Information about the causes of cancer is accumulating.

We now know that it is a condition of the modern times and is mostly caused by life style factors[i]. Food we eat can have anti-cancer properties (turmeric, fruits, vegetables, antioxidants, various vitamins and minerals, phytonutrients) so having a well-balanced nutrition is paramount.

Environmental toxins are also considered: exposure to plastics, heavy metals, ionizing and non-ionizing radiation, PCBs, different dyes and chemicals can also serve as a risk factor for malignancy.

Unfortunately, we do not talk enough about personality traits that predispose people to cancer and how they can affect bodies physiologically.

Are there certain traits that can predispose to the development of cancer?

Two practitioners, Dr. W. Douglas Brodie, founder of the Reno Integrative Medical Center in Nevada, USA and Dr. Ryke Geerd Hamer, a German physician and founder of German New Medicine, observed through their extensive work with cancer patients that patients who tend to develop cancer have several traits in common.

Here are Dr. Brodie’s observations:

1) Being highly conscientious, caring, dutiful, responsible, hard-working, and usually of above intelligence.

2). Exhibits a strong tendency toward carrying other people’s burdens and toward taking on extra obligations and often “worrying for others”, having a deep-seated need to make others happy.

3) Being a “people pleaser” with a great need for approval.

4) Harbors long-suppressed toxic emotions, such as anger, resentment and/or hostility.

5) Reacts adversely to stress, and often becomes unable to cope adequately with such stress.

6) Has an inability to resolve deep seated emotional problems/conflicts, usually beginning in childhood, often even being unaware of their presence. [ii]

Dr. Ryke Geerd Hamer went even further to break down which organs are affected by which conflicts/ negative emotions and eventually develop cancer. [iii]

Suppressed emotions and negative emotions can be as important as poor food choices and environmental toxins, especially in combination with each other. Before the onset of many cancers, there is some kind of inescapable shock (emotional usually) around 2-3 years prior to diagnosis.

Here is how it can be explained: first inescapable shock causes adrenaline depletion (so much worry, sadness, stress) that leads to depletion of vitamin C, depletion of niacin and, gradually to immune suppression, thus, allowing cancer cells to proliferate. [iv]

As a naturopathic doctor, I listen to patients’ stories trying to identify what emotional changes/stresses could have contributed to imbalances. In my practice I help patients improve not only their nutrition, decrease toxins, improve organs of elimination (bowel movements, etc) and detoxification  but also recognize their emotions and personality traits to assist them to live healthier, well-balanced lives and to prevent chronic conditions.

References: 

[i] Preetha Anand, Ajaikumar B. Kunnumakara, Chitra Sundaram,1 Kuzhuvelil B. Harikumar, Sheeja T. Tharakan, Oiki S. Lai, Bokyung Sung, and Bharat B. Aggarwal. Cancer is a Preventable Disease that Requires Major Lifestyle Changes. Pharmaceutical Research, Vol. 25, No. 9, September 2008 (# 2008)

[ii] Psycho-oncology. http://www.alternative-cancer-care.com/

[iii] Psycho-oncology. http://www.alternative-cancer-care.com/

[iv] Psycho-oncology. http://www.alternative-cancer-care.com/

Cholesterol Is Not Always to Blame

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Statins are pharmaceutical medications that are often prescribed to diminish the production of cholesterol in the liver to prevent coronary heart disease (heart attacks. angina, heart failure). The recent ACCELERATE trial showed that another lipid lowering medication, evacetrapib, can potentially lower LDL (bad cholesterol) significantly and raise high density lipoprotein cholesterol (good cholesterol). Despite the fact that it does lower bad cholesterol and raises good cholesterol, this medication did not show any protection from cardiovascular events in a high-risk population with coronary disease.[i] In other words, the premise that taking care of cholesterol alone would protect patients from heart disease is very limited.

The hypothesis that lowering cholesterol would help diminish atherosclerotic plaque in the arteries has been debated for many years since the nineties. [ii] Cholesterol molecules are partially what constitutes the plaque of the arteries. The idea is that if there is more cholesterol found in the plaque, it can potentially get larger which can compromise function, form and work of blood vessels. That is why cholesterol lowering medication, such as statins, have become a standard therapy for aging population to prevent cardiovascular events such as stroke and heart attacks. Thus, we blame cholesterol and fight to lower it with the help of medications.

Is cholesterol all that bad?

Cholesterol is essential for life as a key component of cell membranes, steroid hormones and bile acids. Also, when we interfere with production of some vital substance in the body, we are bound to cause long term side effects. In the case of statins, these include but are not limited to muscular pain, muscular damage, liver damage, increased blood sugar and development of type 2 diabetes.[iii]

As naturopaths, we always look at the whole person following one of our principles. Thus, with patients who are at risk for coronary heart conditions and cardiovascular events, other factors should always be taken into account: extra weight, diabetes, other health conditions, sedentary life style, work stressors, unhealthy food choices and relationship with food, interaction of other medications (so called polypharmacy), living situation, and emotional environment.

Taking into consideration Four Pillars of Healthy Living (Sleep, Nutrition, Movement and Mindfulness), a patient has a chance to diminish his or her chances of heart disease, heart attacks, heart failures and strokes.

There are a number of natural substances (herbs, nutritional supplements, diet, homeopathy) that help improve digestion, detoxification,  diminish insulin resistance, bring  body weight into balance which can all help to have a healthier heart and blood vessels.

References 

[i] Nicholls SJ, Lincoff A, Barter P, et al. Late-Breaking Clinical Trials II. The ACCELERATE trial: impact of the cholesteryl ester transfer protein inhibitor evacetrapib on cardiovascular outcome. Presented at the 65th Annual Scientific Session and Expo of the American College of Cardiology; April 2–4, Chicago, IL. 2016.

[ii] Robert DuBroff, Cholesterol Paradox: A Correlate Does Not A Surrogate make,  Evid Based Med. 2017;22(1):15-19.

[iii] http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-cholesterol/in-depth/statin-side-effects/art-20046013