Posted By rahim on August 17, 2010

Welcome to the Four Seasons Naturopathic Wellness anniversary edition of our newsletter and Richmond Hill location.  See our feature video on York Region Living.  In this issue, I want to briefly remind you of all the services we offer, to serve you in all four seasons of your life:

• Early Years: pre-conception, birth, and early childhood, to age 7
• Youth: 8-15 years of age
• Adulthood: 16-60
• Senior: >60 

Below are the services that we offer:

Naturopathic assessment – first and foremost, we are a naturopathic office, providing a holistic approach to your total health.  Whether you have an illness or want to prevent illness, we provide family naturopathic health care, to support you in the betterment of your health.

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Nutrition Optimization – is the first step in strengthening the foundation of your health.  We test your blood and hair to find out what your nutrient deficiencies are, then we develop a customized diet plan to better support the structure and function of your body.  Some people may need intravenous injections of nutrients, especially if they have digestive problems, fibromyalgia, significant toxicity, or cancer.  MORE> 

Detoxification – cleansing your body is fundamental to long term individual health, starting from a pre-conception detox, to programs for people of any age.  We can customize a ‘detox’ program to help you improve your health potential, symptoms, or illness.  We develop a detox plan, including dietary and lifestyle changes, far-infrared saunas, hydrotherapies, and possibly colon hydrotherapy, and injections.  MORE> 

Colon Hydrotherapy - involves the clearing of the lower bowel with filtered water.  It is a great way to prepare for a colonoscopy procedure, as an alternative to taking concentrated drinks and enemas that often leave you nauseous and without appetite.  Colon hydrotherapy also improves people with constipation, toxicity, allergies, joint pain, cancer pain, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and yeast or parasite infestations.  MORE>

Acupuncture – is a safe, effective treatment that helps promote physical, hormonal, mental, and emotional balance.  We use hair-thin, single-use, sterile needles that help balance the energy in your body, to relieve or eliminate troubling symptoms, such as headaches, allergies, asthma, menopausal symptoms, etc.  MORE>

Cancer Care – most people do not realize the tremendous role I can play in supporting people who face cancer.  Many naturopathic strategies I use help strengthen patients before they start chemotherapy or radiation, including ways to optimize the results of such conventional cancer treatment.  There are also very important and effective naturopathic ways to help slow down cancerous growths, balance the immune system, and assist patients no matter where they are at in their cancer treatment.  MORE>

 Educational Support – if your child or young adult in your family is having difficulty academically, or has a diagnosed learning or developemental problem, Ms. Yasmeen Mamdani conducts holistic-based educational assessments and treatment exercises.

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Hydrotherapy – we provide Oil-Dispersion Hydrotherapy treatments, which can be very effective at helping resolve physical symptoms, but also can help deal with mental-emotional challenges.  It is also a wonderful way to help heal during recovery from various illnesses.

FULL ARTICLE>

Herbal Medicine – in the form of tablets, capsules, loose herb teas, or concentrates, herbs can be extremely helpful with different health problems, from reducing the intensity of allergy symptoms, to helping you get to sleep while your mind is racing with worries.

Homeopathy – once your nutrition and toxicity is addressed, it’s time to utilize homeopathy to help resolve underlying health susceptibilities or deeper issues.  Homeopathy can help with simple issues such as water retention, to more complex health situations including cancer treatment.

Physiotherapy & Osteopathy - gentle manual techniques help put tissues (bones, nerves, muscles, ligaments, tendons, organs) back into their correct positions, to bring relief to a range of symptoms, from fibromyalgia, to helping with pain of various kinds. MORE>

Registered Massage Therapy – massage therapy is a wonderful adjunctive treatment for those with tense muscles, imbalance, or stress.

To take advantage of these wonderful services, call our office number to book: 905-597-7201.

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Posted By rahim on June 8, 2010

Prediabetes is Very Common, Do You Have It?

By Rahim Habib BSc, ND

How many people do you know who have diabetes?  It is estimated that 30 percent of people who have diabetes, do not realize it, it has not yet been diagnosed in them.  However, when we think of diabetes, we commonly think, firstly, “it won’t happen to me”; and secondly, we think, “it only affects older people.”  Well, I’m here to tell you that times have changed, it is affecting people at younger and younger ages.  What you should know are the early signs and symptoms that indicate that your blood sugar and insulin levels may be a problem.  I’ll discuss some naturopathic ideas to keep in mind, which can help reduce your risk of developing diabetes, or what comes before diabetes, called ‘prediabetes.’

The most common, and increasing form of diabetes is what is called Type 2 Diabetes.  It was classically known as “Adult Onset Diabetes” but that term is quickly becoming less appropriate, considering this metabolic problem is affecting younger and younger people.  The classic signs that may indicate diabetes are feeling very tired, very thirsty, and urinating very often.  Keep in mind that there are many more signs that you may be developing diabetes or ‘pre-diabetes’ (see list below) that you should also be aware of.

 Signs and Symptoms of Risk for Diabetes:

• You are carrying more weight in your abdomen, even if you are thin
• Unusually high thirst
• Headaches
• Dry and itchy skin, cuts and bruises are difficult to heal
• Frequent urination
• Blurred Vision
• Extreme fatigue / low energy / low in mood
• Frequent and recurring infections (eg: thrush in the mouth, or genital yeast infections)
• Weight gain or loss
• Rapid breathing
• Tingling or numbness in your hands and feet
• Blood tests show: elevated blood glucose, HbA1c, insulin, uric acid, or GGT

When your physician or naturopathic doctor review your blood test results, it is important to look at where you lie on the normal range in a few areas.  For example, if your fasting blood glucose level is elevated, but not exactly in the diabetic range, you could be classified as being “pre-diabetic.”  This is really a call to action for you.  It’s a sign that your blood is holding onto the glucose longer than it should, since your body cells are not responding to the pancreatic hormone insulin, which normally tells the cells to absorb the glucose out of the blood.  Elevated blood glucose can also relate to stress levels, your overall diet quality, and how active your lifestyle is.  If you are not active, or if you are overweight or obese, then your body cells tend to not respond to the insulin, your cells get ‘insensitive to insulin.’  As a result, your body will make more insulin, to try and tell your body cells to “come on, time to absorb the glucose!”  Having higher levels of insulin and uric acid are also indicators of diabetes risk, as well as slightly elevated GGT (an enzyme from the liver and gall bladder).  A newer, and more sensitive indicator for pre-diabetes risk is the “hemoglobin A1c” blood test.

What Does the Extra Blood Sugar Do?

The extra glucose that stays in your blood doesn’t just hang around and do nothing.  It can do some significant damage.  For example, the extra glucose can damage a variety of cells, often binding to different proteins in the body.  This can lead to decreased function in your nerves (also associated with various dementias), blood cells, kidney tissues, etc.  In addition, high glucose tends to create damaging free radicals that are associated with aging overall.  For these reasons, getting your glucose (and insulin) under control is a great strategy towards current and long-term health.

Risks of Diabetes

Diabetes can be confusing since there are many possible complications that can come from it, such as problems with vision (retinopathy), kidney problems (nephropathy), and nerve problems (neuropathy).  There is also an increased risk of getting Alzheimer’s disease, strokes, colon cancer, breast cancer, and pancreatic cancer.  However, when we are talking about preventing diabetes, it is much easier.  Just like trying to stop a moving shopping cart coming your way, it is easier when it is slow-moving rather than when the cart is going very fast, especially if it is full!

How to Prevent Diabetes and Deal with Prediabetes

1. Consume a healthy diet, including fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, and whole grains, ensuring sufficient water-soluble fiber (such as from oats, psyllium, and flax seed)

2. Exercise 30 minutes a day, or about 4 hours per week

3. Maintain a healthy weight – healthy weight reduction is one of the best things to do to control your risk for pre-diabetes

4. Avoid pesticide-laden foods which are associated with diabetes risk (see www.foodnews.org or www.leas.ca in their Cancer Smart Guide)

Extra Naturopathic Supports for Prevention

Other factors can improve your chances of avoiding diabetes.  Besides your pancreas, evaluating adrenal gland and liver function can be important, since they can also affect your glucose level.  Testing for and addressing your level of vitamin D, zinc, chromium and magnesium, as well as toxins such as arsenic, cadmium, and pesticide levels can also be useful.  A quality daily multivitamin is a good place to start.  Additionally, drinking tea and using cinnamon spice can help protect your body from the harmful affects of elevated blood glucose, and improve the sensitivity of your cells to insulin.  Regular cleansing and detoxification are also important prevention-based ways to improve metabolic functions overall.

Rahim is a registered naturopathic doctor who has a general family practice, with a special interest in helping patients comprehensively detoxify their bodies for preventative and therapeutic benefit.  He also has a special interest in children’s learning and behavioural health, and chronic conditions in adults.  He is the director of the Four Seasons Naturopathic Wellness and can be reached at 905-597-7201 or www.FamilyNaturopath.ca.

References

Anderson, RA. Chromium and polyphenols from cinnamon improve insulin sensitivity.

Proc Nutr Soc. 2008 Feb;67(1):48-53.

Otleş S, Cağındı O. Health importance of arsenic in drinking water and food. Environ Geochem Health. 2010 Apr 13. [Epub ahead of print]

Everett CJ, Matheson EM. Biomarkers of pesticide exposure and diabetes in the 1999-2004 national health and nutrition examination survey. Environ Int. 2010 May;36(4):398-401. Epub 2010 Mar 17.

Cannata D, Fierz Y, Vijayakumar A, LeRoith D. Type 2 diabetes and cancer: what is the connection? Mt Sinai J Med. 2010 Mar;77(2):197-213.

Kaushik GG, Sharm S, Sharma R, Mittal P. Association between gamma glutamyl transferase and insulin resistance markers in healthy obese children. J Assoc Physicians India. 2009 Oct;57:695-8.

Gautier A, Balkau B, Lange C, Tichet J, Bonnet F; DESIR Study Group. Risk factors for incident type 2 diabetes in individuals with a BMI of <27 kg/m2: the role of gamma-glutamyltransferase. Data from an Epidemiological Study on the Insulin Resistance Syndrome (DESIR). Diabetologia. 2010 Feb;53(2):247-53. Epub 2009 Nov 20.

Panagiotakos DB, Lionis C, Zeimbekis A, Gelastopoulou K, Papairakleous N, Das UN, Polychronopoulos E. Long-term tea intake is associated with reduced prevalence of (type 2) diabetes mellitus among elderly people from Mediterranean islands: MEDIS epidemiological study. Yonsei Med J. 2009 Feb 28;50(1):31-8. Epub 2009 Feb 24.

Solomon TP, Blannin AK. Changes in glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity following 2 weeks of daily cinnamon ingestion in healthy humans. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2009 Apr;105(6):969-76. Epub 2009 Jan 22.

S Roriz-Filho J, Sá-Roriz TM, Rosset I, Camozzato AL, Santos AC, Chaves ML, Moriguti JC, Roriz-Cruz M. (Pre)diabetes, brain aging, and cognition. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2009 May;1792(5):432-43. Epub 2008 Dec 16.

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Posted By rahim on March 14, 2010

It’s Time to Cleanse:  Spring Workshop

Did you know that 5000 years ago, Ayurveda, the oldest form of organized medicine, recommended to cleanse and detoxify the body each and every season of the year!  If we ever needed to detox, it’s right now.  Take tap water as an example, there are over 2000 documented chemicals found in tap water, and our body has to somehow deal with this and many other toxic burdens.  I propose that we relearn the importance of cleansing, and incorporate regular cleanses at the community, family, and individual levels.  To relearn these skills, sign up for my Spring Detox Workshop, taking place on Sunday April 18^th, 2010, it includes a cleansing kit, and is only $59 for the four-hour workshop.

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Posted By rahim on March 14, 2010

Mend Your Mind

When we think about ‘the mind,’ we often associate it with our brain, our thoughts, our ability to reason and focus, our perceptions and judgments, and self-conciousness.  However, researcher and author, Dr. Candace Pert, who wrote “Molecules of Emotion,” concluded that ‘the mind’ is really integrated throughout the body, and is not just the brain in our head.  Amazingly, she found that the chemicals commonly associated with the brain, are also produced in the gut, and the receptors for these chemicals are found throughout the body, including on our immune cells in the blood; but really, the chemical receptors are found in most tissues of the body.  This is how she understands how emotions can be ‘stored,’ or affect different parts of the body.

In this way, our mind plays a significant role in our health.  For instance, our experiences and memories from the past may be associated with manifestations in the body; such as the ache or sensation that comes whenever a subconscious memory is triggered.  So, if our mind and body are integrated, as I believe they are, then we can impact our mind through reconnecting or adjusting the physical body, while accessing our memories and becoming more aware of the connections.  This is a way to understand how many therapies can improve our mental-emotional-physical health, such as the many forms of psychotherapy, massage & reflexology, osteopathy (including craniosacral and visceral therapy), aromatherapy, acupuncture, etc.

How to Improve Mental Function

-Body structure – improve our posture; physical treatments such as massage, osteopathy, physiotherapy

-Nutrition – improves the proper production and balance of our brain or ‘mind’ chemicals

-Detoxify – neurotoxins can disrupt chemical message transmission, so cleanse the body regularly

-Relationships – heal our relationships: personal, work, family

-Thoughts & emotions – try and associate where our thoughts and emotions come from (see the blog article on creating an awareness journal)

-Engage our ‘mind-body’ with creativity and variety – in expressive, movement-based art forms ranging from painting to dance; consider art therapies

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Posted By rahim on January 30, 2010

Being Good to Yourself

February is a be-good-to-yourself month.  It also just happens to be Heart Health Month.  I have found that many people do not know what being good to yourself means.  Most think it’s treating yourself, to reward yourself, and this is not wrong, and can be part of the idea.  I feel taking care of yourself literally means taking care of your Self, the whole you, what you are in totality, mind, body and spirit.  It means to consciously examine and observe where you are at in your life (see Building Awareness in my January topic), and to care for all parts.  Practically, this ‘caring’ can look like any of the following:

-Work on what will nourish you.  Will it be healthier food, such as from the local Organic Market (www.villagemarket.ca).  Or, to nurture your soul, with positive thoughts, images, and art.  Perhaps it is observing and acknowledging that the life you are living is actually beautiful, and or that you can make it more so.  Taking an art course helps to let yourself express in creative ways that you may never have realized possible.

-Treat your self well, like a best friend or guest in your home, with kind words and laughter, positive thoughts, and tenderness

-Take care of your body, and customize your diet to optimize your metabolism.  We offer a new German program, now available in Canada, called “Healthy and Active.”  I have used it successfully to help my patients balance their body to a healthy weight.  Check http://www.healthy-active.com.

-In a simpler way to help yourself look and feel good, get toxin-free aesthetic services.  Ms. Melanie Tinianov spear-headed the Manicure for Cancer fundraiser in January (see her website www.wellnessaestheticsstudio.com, and a recent article on the event at http://www.vaughantoday.ca/story.php?id=2178).  Call our office to find out about her Valentine’s Special.

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Posted By rahim on January 5, 2010

New Beginnings in 2010

The beginning of the New Year is usually a time for making and renewing goals, for reflection on what you want to see for your life, packaged into what can be done this year.  I would like to suggest five key areas to work on throughout the year, and I will elaborate on one of these areas in every newsletter for the next few months.

Five areas to consider are as follows:

1. Building Awareness
2. Be good to yourself
3. Mend your Mind
4. Prevention / Learn
5. Concept of Balance

So let’s begin with the first one, building awareness.

I use the word ‘awareness’ in the personal sense, to pay attention to your body and it’s physical sensations, feelings, mental thoughts, and other observations, such as your interactions among other people.  By being aware, or cognizant of your mind and body, you can create a crucial difference in building your ability to observe.   This ability to accurately perceive, is a good first step to realizing your current state, and then you can decide how and what you want to see differently for yourself.  For example, if you notice that your stomach often churns when you talk to your manager, or perhaps any authority figure, this may be a sign that you may have an issue with authority, or confrontations.  With this awareness, you can then decide what you want to do with it, and consider different options:  do you strengthen your confidence?; perhaps you can explore the concept of authority in your earlier years?; maybe you can support your body’s ability to deal with stressors; or perhaps consider other options such as the use of acupuncture to balance your energy in conjunction with a homeopathic or Bach flower remedy. Other examples of awareness, and some interventions appear in the chart below.

By starting to develop your ‘awareness sense,’ you can:

• know yourself better, your likes and dislikes, your gifts, your dreams
• understand how you relate with other people
• know if your thoughts, words, and actions are in line with your values and beliefs
• detect subtle symptoms, before they manifest as progressed illness; this is a form of prevention
• pick up on communication issues, that can affect your personal and work relationships

To make your self-observation easier, incorporate meditation and relaxation techniques such as slow deep belly breathing.  Find out what a higher level of awareness can do for you, and track your thoughts, feelings, and sensations for a week in a journal each day.  Do this seasonally, review it with your health care practitioners and keep on top of your health.

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Posted By rahim on December 1, 2009

Planning for Health

     At this time of year there is a lot of planning for holiday celebrations in the workplace, among families, and friends.  Rightly so, since we may not stop and positively interact with our loved ones and dear friends for much of the year.  Something else that is of considerable value to reflect on at this time of year is the status of our health.  Our employee and extended health insurance plans usually expire at the end of the calendar year, so it is a cost-effective time to seriously review your health, and to make a health-promoting-plan with a health practitioner - whether it is for a naturopath, massage therapist, dietitian, acupuncturist, chiropractor, dentist, or other provider.  Often, goal-setting (including health-related goals) is relegated to the beginning of the New Year.  However, goals are positive intentions that we can develop year-round.

     The challenges that I have seen in my patients, and even in myself, is that we do not revisit our goals regularly enough, to make it real enough, and thus achievable enough.  Part of that may be due to falling into our old habits, or just that we have not detailed a step-by-step plan to accomplish the goal.  In regards to our health, our goals can involve simple steps, or more comprehensive segments in specific areas, and can include:

• Being more compassionate to yourself – becoming aware of your self-thoughts, re-viewing your feelings and beliefs about yourself
• Getting more exercise – take the stairs in buildings, up to work or home, and in the mall when shopping; or, commit to a series of exercise sessions with a personal trainer to get their expertise
• Eating better – start your meals with the vegetables, and finish them before you finish the main course; learn how to prepare a new vegetable each month; cook more meals at home, with support of your family; see a dietitian for help planning healthy meals, and to achieve any weight-reduction goals at the same time
• Making a prevention plan with your naturopathic doctor – address the symptoms and susceptibilities from your current or family history; do some testing to determine your nutritional or toxicity status and plan to improve these indicators of health
• Resolve to cleanse your body – re-examine the ingredients in the products you use or are planning to purchase, to make more environmentally-friendly choices; commit to a week-long detox program at each change of season (this is what they did 5000 years ago in India, when there were few toxins in the world!)
• If you are planning to marry or planning to have a baby, commit to a comprehensive pre-conception cleanse or a ‘couples cleanse’, to have a good healthy marriage and to improve the health of your baby-to-be.  See my article on this topic - http://familynaturopath.ca/articles/toxins-in-babies/
• Learn more about your health – keep a record of your medical and naturopathic test reports (in a binder or file) after all, it is your health information; record observations of your self, and try to understand what is behind your findings; take an interest course on health promotion and family health

Regardless of what you choose your health goals to be, make a specific plan to achieve the goals, and revisit it at least every change of season, the next change is coming soon, December 21^st.

Enjoy your December and take great care,

Rahim Habib ND

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Posted By Naturopath on October 30, 2009

By Rahim Habib, ND - Naturopathic Doctor

We all know about the connection between Vitamin D and how it improves calcium absorption, and thus bone health.  But, over the past decade of research, new findings are showing that activated forms of vitamin D have incredible protective effects on your immunity, including protection against viruses, and likely against the current H1N1 swine flu virus.

Vitamin D has been shown, by various researchers to benefit the immune system in various ways including:

It is amazing to see how we ourselves are ‘solar powered’ in our normal function, and how dependent we are directly on the sun.  Of course a balanced immune system depends on other nutrients and lifestyle factors.  Although, from reviewing the above research, I am encouraged that by taking an appropriate amount of vitamin D, I feel we can significantly reduce the impact of winter viruses on our health, including from the H1N1 strain.  Read below to understand how to get enough vitamin D.

Other Health Issues Associated With Vitamin D Deficiency

Do You Have Enough Vitamin D?                                                                                  You can test your vitamin D level easily enough by requesting a blood test through your medical or naturopathic doctor.  The test is specifically called “25-hydroxy vitamin D,” or the “25(OH)D test.”  Ask for it by name, or they may order the wrong vitamin D test.  It’s also a good idea to test your blood calcium level at the same time.

How Can You Increase Your Level of Vitamin D?

Three effective options exist:

1. Take supplemental vitamin D₃, or cholecalciferol in tablets, capsules or drops.  Many Canadians are low and need to take a few thousand international units (IU’s) per day, so drop dosing is easy, where many company’s make a 1000 IU per drop liquid format.  Many experts suggest to take 4000-5000 IU per day, for 3 months, and then test your vitamin D level.  Speak to your naturopath or family doctor for specific dose suggestions.
2. Actual sunlight.  Though, this is hard for Canadians since the strength of the UV rays in Canada are quite low in the early-Fall to late Spring months, not sufficient to produce enough vitamin D in our skin.  Get about ¼ of the sunlight it would take to cause skin redness, for many, this is about 10-15 minutes, and more if you have darker skin.  Note that our diet provides only 10% of our vitamin D requirements; most of it comes from skin production.
3. Use of artificial light, from a sun bed (though be careful not to burn, and make sure to use high quality sun beds).

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Posted By Naturopath on July 16, 2009

Solving Psoriasis

Of all of the skin problems people experience, psoriasis can be one of the most frustrating.  It often starts with a terrible itchy scalp that keeps you awake nights…you try many skin products, only to find it can come right back with a vengeance.   What starts out as being very itchy, turns into red bumps, then larger thicker ‘plaques’ of it, often with a white silvery scale.   Needless to say, it can be quite embarrassing at work when you get an uncontrollable itch, or in public when you go swimming and people wonder if the red patches on your knees and elbows are contagious (it’s not).  It is especially hard on kids at school where they can be teased about it.  In this article I will discuss a few new ways of understanding the problem and its causes, and some fundamental and effective naturopathic treatment strategies.

Skin Cell Growth

In normal skin, there is a balance of skin cells that form and skin cells that die - it takes about 28 days for skin cells to fully form.  However, when the skin is damaged, there are more skin cells formed, which also draws more blood into the area causing redness and swelling (inflammation).  Similarly, in psoriasis, this process also occurs, although the process of skin cell development is accelerated to take only 4 days, with thirty times more new skin cells.  What causes this rapid piling up of skin cells in people with psoriasis?

Triggers and Causes of Psoriasis

About one-third of people with psoriasis have other family members with it as well.  Despite the genetic predisposition, there must be a specific trigger to start the process.  Recent research has found that the problem is not in the skin cells themselves, but is a reaction of the immune system.  Some of the immune-related triggers of psoriasis include any infection, such as from strep throat, viruses, or yeast; physical injury (even a cut or scrape); pregnancy; an emotional crisis or stress; and medications (eg: lithium, blood pressure drugs).  From a naturopathic perspective, we also know that our immunity is dramatically affected by nutritional deficiencies, a liver overwhelmed with toxins, and by what is happening in the digestive tract – with psoriasis what happens on the inside can have profound effects to the outside.  Other factors that are associated with psoriasis include obesity, type 2 diabetes, alcohol consumption, smoking, and excessive animal fats in the diet.  Most underlying factors tend to fall in four categories – nutrition, toxicity, digestion, and stress.  In my experience, these are the basic components to address in all patients with psoriasis.

Conventional Treatment

The conventional treatment of the most common forms of psoriasis include topical skin treatments like coal tar, corticosteroids, synthetic vitamin A and D ointments, and ultraviolet phototherapy.  For moderate to severe cases, immunosuppressive medications may be used such as methotrexate or cyclosporine.  Newer ‘biological agents’ have been developed that block specific parts of the immune system.  Most of these treatments have significant adverse effects, and can be costly, it’s no wonder that more psoriasis sufferers are looking to natural solutions.

Basic Naturopathic Treatment

From the naturopathic perspective, some of the important basics to ensure positive results are to improve the diet, detoxify, improve digestive health, and balance stress.  Note that topical treatment can help, but full resolution will only come from the inside out.  From the dietary perspective, it is fundamental to eliminate the foods that trigger the immune system.  I recommend doing an elimination diet where suspect foods are cut out for 3 weeks to see if symptoms improve – common culprits are wheat, dairy, eggs, and soy.  An alternative to this is a blood test checking for immune system antibodies to common foods.  It is interesting to note that 16% of psoriasis sufferers have an immune reaction to the gluten protein found in grains (wheat, barley, kamut, spelt, oats, rye, triticale).  For these people, eliminating gluten in the diet usually solves the psoriasis, amazing!

We are all biochemically unique, with slightly different nutritional needs.  Some common nutritional deficiencies amongst people with psoriasis include vitamins A, D, E, B₁₂ and folic acid; selenium, zinc, and omega-3 fats. Patients with widespread psoriasis were found to have very low levels of vitamin D.  Vitamin D is not just for strong bones; it also helps control cell replication in the skin and even has antimicrobial effects there too.  It’s no wonder that there are much fewer cases of psoriasis in the tropics, where lots of sun allows the body to produce its own vitamin D.  For us Canadians, I usually recommend 2000-5000 I.U. of supplemental vitamin D₃ per day, and more based on blood tests.  I have also found that vitamin B₁₂ injections have been helpful for my patients with psoriasis since it has immune antibody regulating benefits.  Another essential nutrient for psoriasis patients is omega-3 fat.  These are the ‘good fats’ and they help strengthen cell membranes and regulate immune functions. Numerous studies have shown the benefit of fish oils in helping reduce the skin thickness, itching, redness, and scaling of psoriasis.  I recommend 5-10grams of fish or flax oil per day, or 3-5 servings of cold water fish each week.

Toxicity of various sorts can overwhelm the body – clogging up the liver and slowing down its detoxification processes.  Ultimately, if the liver is backed up, then unprocessed toxins spill into the circulation, affecting the immune balance in the skin.  Signs of toxicity include headaches, fatigue, aches, digestive problems, skin rashes, allergy symptoms, and being uncomfortable with scents such as perfumes and cleaning chemicals.  Also realize that when we do not exercise regularly, we allow these toxins to just sit around, increasing the chance of triggering the skin’s immune cells.  Simple approaches to detoxification include an organic diet, 4-6 glasses of water and 25-35grams of fiber per day, and using liver-assisting herbs and spices such as milk thistle, dandelion, burdock, and turmeric.  In regards to promoting effective skin circulation, I have found that my patients with psoriasis who used the far-infrared sauna received the best resolution of their psoriasis symptoms, since it penetrates the skin so well, drawing out the toxins.

Digestive factors are extremely important to investigate.  Do you have imbalanced intestinal bacteria and yeast from antibiotics?  Are you digesting well – any bloating, constipation, heartburn or excess gas?  It is important to resolve these symptoms, and to ensure regular, daily, easy bowel movements.  Consider if there is enough stomach acid, digestive enzymes, and healthy bacteria in the intestines.  If you’re not digesting and absorbing your food, then something else will!  If there is poor protein digestion and absorption, then bacteria will digest this ‘second helping’ and overproduce their toxic byproducts which have been shown to actually increase skin cell growth.

Identifying and reducing your sources and perceptions of stress are crucial.  Regular meditation, deep belly breathing, and other stress management techniques promote body-mind-immunity balance.  By addressing the above factors, and putting it all together with consistency and patience, I have found that psoriasis can be resolved with a naturopathic approach.

Rahim B. Habib BSc, ND

Naturopathic Doctor

Four Seasons Naturopathic Wellness

905-597-7201 (Richmond Hill)

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Tags: detox, detoxification, far-infrared sauna, herbal medicine, nutrition, psoriasis

Posted By Naturopath on May 30, 2009

Helping the Immune System Is More Than About Flu Shots

Many people ask me about options/alternatives to taking the influenza shot each year. Since the flu shot is recommended mostly for people who are elderly, or have long term health problems, or people who work with these people, it leaves a question for the rest of the general population. The first recommendation I make is to address any nutritional deficiencies. The most frequent causes of a depressed immune system are nutrient deficiency, and toxic overload. Many clinical and experimental studies show that any single nutrient deficiency can profoundly impair immune system function. In my naturopathic practice, I test nutrient levels on all my patients, by a hair or blood nutrient analysis. What I have found has been startling: a range of 3 to 15 nutrient deficiencies in each patient! There is a clearly widespread nutrient deficiency across North America. The most useful nutrients related to the immune system are vitamins A, C, D & E, B-vitamins, iron, zinc and selenium. So, a better diet, targeted nutritional supplements, and or a multivitamin make good sense. In my clinic, to boost the immune system, I additionally offer intravenous injections of vitamins and minerals. I commonly use a combination known as the ‘Myers cocktail’. It is useful in supporting the immune system, and also in helping people with a current cold, flu, sinus/allergy problem, asthma or even digestion problems.
The next recommendation I make is to avoid sugary/sweet foods and drinks. Consuming only 100 grams of sugars in the form of glucose, fructose, sucrose, honey, or juices/pop significantly reduces the ability of your immune system white blood cells (WBCs) to destroy microorganisms in your body. This effect can last up to 5 hours, with a 50% reduction in the WBCs ability to destroy foreign microorganisms. Since many Canadians consume sweets in excess, it’s no wonder that we really have chronically depressed immune systems all year, and are then susceptible to developing infections.
Here are my general recommendations for a good immune system:

• reduce stressors, increase relaxation activities 

• eat regular meals, and do not over eat

• eat more vegetables & fruits

• avoid alcohol, sweets, caffeine, and smoking – Detoxify the body!

• use garlic, onions, thyme, oregano

 • daily 6–8 glasses of water/herbal teas

• at least 7 hours of sleep per night

• wash hands with soap and water regularly

• regular exercise

• avoid close contact with those with the cold or flu

• address nutrient deficiencies

Finally, for those who want a specific option to the flu shot, due to allergies, or personal choice, I give them a homeopathic treatment that supports the immune system, proven to decrease the chances of getting flu’s and reduced symptoms if you do. For those with poor health, I give this monthly, otherwise I give it 1-2 times each year, before and during the flu season

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