Dr. Masha, ND

Naturopathy

naturopathy

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.