Dr. Masha, ND

Naturopathy

naturopathic medicine

Children and Naturopathic Medicine

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Natural medicine, in particular naturopathic medicine, has safe and effective options for children of different ages. Starting from birth to adolescence. For the most part, each age has more or less predictable health concerns (with some exceptions). For example, children starting at age 6 months or earlier are at risk of frequent upper respiratory infections due to exposure to new unfamiliar viruses and bacteria while building their immune system.  This risk peaks for children ages 2-4 years. Other conditions include:  digestive discomfort, skin conditions, growth pains, and many others.

Natural medicine can deliver immediate results in some cases with little to no side effects. As a naturopathic doctor, I encourage patients to add naturopathic medicine to child’s health care.

Having naturopathic medicine as part of children’s well-being could reduce the use of potent pharmaceuticals, unnecessary hospitalizations, complications of common childhood infections, and many waking nights with a sick child.

In my practice, I offer families, Healthy Family Saturdays, where a whole family can come for one-hour visits. Families of different sizes and composition (LGBTQ community, single parents, grandparents with grandchildren or families without children) are welcome. During those visits, we discuss the diet of the whole family, sleep, family time together as well as natural remedies for acute health conditions and the best supplements to use for children of different ages.

Nutrition plays an important role in the health of the whole family.  For example, consuming sugary processed snacks instead of fresh vegetables and fruit can lead to higher infection rates and prolonged infection time. Bacteria and viruses that cause infections feed on sugar and, thus, increase in numbers. Sugars also diminish the quality of immune cells slowing down the recovery from an infection. Another concern is common food allergens which have detrimental effects on the skin. Skin eczemas require thorough investigation into the diet of the child and the whole family.

I also encourage families to have a well organized natural medicinary right in their homes with commonly used homeopathic remedies, safe for children essential oils, specific herbal combinations for children (herbal cough and digestive syrups, ear drops), a few vitamin and minerals complexes, and high-quality probiotics.

When a child gets sick, parents will be ready to help her/him recover from the illness faster and more effectively without any potential side effects.

If you have questions about how naturopathic medicine can help your child, you are always welcome to contact me at drmashand@gmail.com and I will be glad to answer your concerns.

As parents, we strive to make sure our children have safe effective options when they are not feeling well.

 

 

Balancing Your Hormones: Naturopathic approach

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Hormonal Imbalance: Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

A bit technical but helpful!

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is considered the most common endocrine disorder of premenopausal women (5-10% occurrence » 3 million in US).  According to 2012 study it affects 5 million women in US.[i]

Signs of excess androgen stimulation (high amount of sex hormones, in particular testosterone) can range in severity from mild (such as increased acne production) to severe (male-pattern body hair distribution). Darker pigmented areas over the skin and multiple upper body skin tags.  Weight gain is a frequent (though not universal) part of PCOS. Menstrual irregularities such as long menstrual cycles, absence of menstrual cycles, sometimes heavy uterine bleeding are also common. On ultrasound imaging, multiple (over 10) small ovarian follicles (2-10 mm diameter) and overall enlargement of the ovary can be seen.

Hormonal blood or saliva testing can show elevated estradiol and testosterone hormonal levels. Insulin resistance is common in women with PCOS, and insulin stimulates ovarian androgen hormonal production. The increased hormoneal levels cause the developing ovarian follicles to be arrested leading to the cycles that lack ovulation (release of follicles from the ovaries during ovulation).

 

PCOS is a metabolic syndrome now seen as encompassing two interrelated metabolic phenomena: insulin resistance and high levels of androgens (sex hormones). Complex metabolic, hypothalamic, pituitary, ovarian and adrenal interactions characterize the syndrome.[ii] Fertility challenges (inability to conceive) can be part of the condition.

 

This condition is usually addressed through the use of Metformin (to decrease insulin resistance and high glucose levels), Spironolactone (to decrease testosterone production) and other pharmaceuticals to manage different symptoms of this metabolic condition.

In naturopathic medicine, naturopathic doctors focus on the whole person. Life style factors are addressed along with specific diets that were researched for patients with PCOS. There are a number of nutritional supplements that can be of assistance to help ovaries release follicles and improves ovarian function (myo-inositol, folate, and melatonin combination). Menstrual cycle is also balanced with the helps of herbs and homeopathics. Insulin resistance and high androgen production can be mediated with the help of herbal/nutritional supplements along with the PCOS specific diet.

PCOS patients are usually encouraged to see natural medicine practitioners to help address the condition along with conventional treatments. Patient with PCOS can balance their hormones and conceive naturally.

  1. [i] Rizza R, Johnson. PCOS Criteria Clarified; Name Must Change. Medscape. 2013.
  2. [ii] Rizza R, Johnson. PCOS Criteria Clarified; Name Must Change. Medscape. 2013.

 

 

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