Patient Education Archives - Page 13 of 14 - Plattsville Natural Health Clinic

The Importance of Consulting Your Naturopathic Doctor for Supplement Advice

July 14, 2015 by elisha

As most of you may know, I have been studying in order to obtain my license to practice as a Naturopathic Doctor in Ontario. As a result, I have had the opportunity to become more familiar with the side effects of many of the conventional and natural therapies. Yes, I did say side effects of natural therapies. It may come as a surprise to many, but natural therapies that are available may have some side effects that need to be known. Many individuals treat supplementing with nutraceuticals as if there are no potential ill effects from doing so. Unbeknownst to them, this is much like hearing a clunk in your car, and looking online for the solution, then fixing it yourself. Many steps are missed when this type of approach is made. For example: what is the quality of the part you are putting into the car, what if you put the part in wrong, are there extra parts that need to be changed or altered in order for the new part to function at its best, is the source a credible one for you to receive your information, and the list goes on. That being said, one should not simply look up their symptoms on – line, and supplement accordingly. Much like you would consult a mechanic for repairs to your vehicle, you should do the same in regards to “repairs to your body”. Whether it is a naturopathic doctor or another health care provider, their advice should be sought when it comes to taking supplements or changing doses in general. In addition, when discussing medications or supplements, it is important to be transparent and honest with your various health care providers about all forms of treatment that you are receiving. This mindset when dealing with health care providers ensure medications and supplements do not interact and cause you harm, and also ensures that you receive the most appropriate guidance in regards to your health.

In order to bring some context to the discussion, we will take a look at Aloe Vera Gel. The internet has been useful in discussing the beneficial effect of aloe vera gel on the digestive system and how it can aid in the digestive process, gastritis, irritable bowel disease, etc. However, individuals may not realize that this impact on digestion could also cause other medications to have decreased absorption if taken around the same time. As a result, it is best to seek the advice of health care providers such as a Naturopathic Doctor in order to guarantee that supplements are taken correctly. In addition, many do not realize that aloe vera gel can have an additive effect with medications for diabetes or increased blood sugars. So, if someone was taking diabetic medication and aloe vera gel, they could become quite dizzy or worse, unconsciousness, and lead to a medical emergency. As one can see, it is important to discuss all supplements with your Naturopathic Doctor or health care provider. A Naturopathic Doctor has had at least 8 years of training, which can provide a great deal of information, much beyond that of a google search.

Have you benefitted from reading this blog? Know someone that would benefit as well? Share, Like, Comment, or Tweet this article, and let me know what you think.

Some of the information provided above may not be appropriate for everyone, please consult with your doctor before trying any of the above. If you are interested in Naturopathic Medicine and wanting a different approach to your health care needs, contact Elisha Cook via the contact portion of this website.

Does Citronella Really Work as Bug Repellant?

June 30, 2015 by elisha

Summer means longer days, warmer weather, and having to deal with mosquitos. Recently, I decided to explore whether the plant Citronella really does work. Before we explore the evidence, it is important to also discuss why people are turning to this plant as opposed to your typical chemical bug sprays.

Health Concerns of DEET

Within recent years, DEET – based mosquito repellents have gotten a bad – rap for the potential harm that they may cause. Of note are the different case reports that exist where individuals may have been harmed from their use. The harmful effects range from mild irritation to death. Ingestion could cause death; and dermal exposure has caused death in 8 cases over 40 years, psychological effects (hallucinations, severe agitation, weakness, and incoherency), and heart problems to infants born to pregnant women who used DEET – based bug repellant.

Though the above studies were case reports only, and do not necessarily apply to all individuals, they are still important to consider. In 2001, a study was done among pregnant women who used DEET versus those who did not. In the study, they found that the DEET did cross over the placenta, but no adverse effects were seen at birth or at 1 year of age.

Does Citronella Work?

Upon reviewing several studies, each had a varied time that they noted that citronella was effective for. In general, citronella could last from 1-8 hours. Citronella alone was far less effective than citronella in combination with vanilla. In addition to adding vanilla, it was noted that citronella in combination with thyme, basil, and vanilla; was just as effective as DEET based bug repellants, lasting approximately 8 hours in total.

Have you benefitted from reading this blog? Know someone that would benefit as well? Share, Like, Comment, or Tweet this article, and let me know what you think.

Source:

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-3156.2011.02781.x/full

http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/consultations/deet/health-effects.html

Training of Naturopathic Doctors

June 9, 2015 by elisha

Throughout my training and practice of Naturopathic Medicine, I have encountered many people who were surprised to find that Naturopathic Doctors (NDs) not only used a Stethoscope, but were also trained to diagnose different conditions. As a result, I wanted to clear the air on how Naturopathic doctors are trained, and how they might compare to other health care providers.

Requirements to be a Naturopathic Doctor

In order to enter Post graduate training to become a naturopathic doctor, one needs to have graduated from a three to four year university program. Typically, it is required to have had pre – medical sciences in that training, with specific courses in biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, psychology, and biochemistry. With these requirements being met, and an application being received and reviewed, an individual may receive an interview from the college. This interview involves questioning about ethical dilemmas and reasons for wanting to enter the program.

As long as the individual is accepted into the program, they will then begin their four year training. Once the training is complete, which includes 4,500 hours of classroom training and 1,500 hours of clinical experience, the individual is then required to pass NPLEX board exams.

Once license is obtained, the individual will be able to retain this licence with appropriate continuing medical education training on a regular basis.

Below is a chart distributed through the AANMC, which compares the hours of training between various health care professions. As one can see, MDs and NDs have very similar amounts of training as health care providers.

Source: http://aanmc.org/schools/comparing_nd_md_curricula/

Training of Naturopathic Doctors

In the naturopathic specific education, individuals are trained in basic sciences, clinical disciplines (including diagnostics, radiology, laboratory diagnosis, and naturopathic assessment), naturopathic disciplines (including clinical nutrition, botanical medicine, traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture, homeopathic medicine, hydrotherapy, naturopathic manipulation, and lifestyle counselling), and clinical experience (including treating patients under the supervision of a registered naturopathic doctor).

What all of this means is that Naturopathic Doctors are trained to diagnose different medical conditions, similar to what your medical doctor might diagnose. NDs are also able to read and interpret lab work, similar to your medical doctor. That being said, you could say that NDs are highly skilled and trained health care providers. Below I have provided a chart that was distributed by the AANMC, which compares the training of Naturopathic Doctors versus Medical Doctors and how they may differ.

Source: http://aanmc.org/schools/comparing_nd_md_curricula/

Another difference in training between MDs and NDs is in regards to residency. Both professions have 4 years of training, but in regards to the residency, It is mandatory for MDs but not for NDs due to the lack of available residencies available for NDs. In addition, NDs and MDs are trained to treat and look at patient cases differently. That being said, this blog is not meant to prove that NDs are equal or superior to MDs, but to provide more information as to what your ND is qualified to do. With the training that a naturopathic doctor is given, they are able to help you with all of your primary care needs, and are able to distinguish when referral to your MD or other health care providers may be necessary (for example when you might need antibiotics). The primary health care needs may include treatment of such conditions and symptoms as fatigue, high blood pressure, depression, diabetes, asthma, allergies, anxiety, pain, constipation, inflammatory bowel disease, bloating, indigestion, menstrual problems, acne, psoriasis, arthritis, and the list goes on. If you have any more questions about what your Naturopathic Doctor can do for you please do not hesitate to contact me (Elisha Cook) through the contact portion of this website.

Have you benefitted from reading this blog? Know someone that would benefit as well? Share, Like, Comment, or Tweet this article, and let me know what you think.

Source: http://aanmc.org/schools/comparing_nd_md_curricula/

6 Ways to Treat Acne at Home

June 2, 2015 by elisha

Acne has been a nemesis that many have battled for years. It can show up at the most inopportune times, such as before prom, before your wedding, before that family photo shoot, or even before a first date. It is my hope that this blog will provide you with some at home therapies or treatments to help you fight acne and win.

Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil has many good medicinal properties to it that make it beneficial for acne. It can help fight infections and reduce inflammation that might be caused from the pimple. You can apply it with a Q – tip to the areas of acne. Myself, as well as others, have found that it helps to decrease the size, colour, and soreness of the pimple.

Changing Your Pillow Case

Changing your pillow case is an important habit to get into. By changing your pillow case more frequently your skin will be less likely to be exposed to dead skin, grime, etc. I tend to recommend changing your pillow case as often as possible – i.e. every day if possible. This can be unrealistic for some, and so changing it at least once per week is better than not changing it until a month goes by.

Green Tea Bag

Not only is Green Tea healthy for you internally, but it can also be useful externally as well. A green tea bag that has had time to soak in hot water AND cool down (so that it can be applied to the skin without burning), can be applied to the area of acne and help to decrease inflammation, prevent infection, and soothe the area from pain.

Green Tea Face Wash

Using a tea bag may be inconvenient and too messy for some. Alternatively, you can make a green tea face wash. This involves letting your green tea bag soak in hot water and letting the water cool down until you could comfortably apply the water to your skin. Once the water is cool enough, you can wash your face with this water, and then rinse off with your standard tap water. Doing the face wash has the benefit of being able to be applied to more areas of your face, however, may take longer to have effect over the green tea bag being applied to smaller areas.

Exercise

Acne can be caused from our body sweating and blocking pores. Therefore, by giving your body more opportunities to detoxify, such as through regular exercise, it may decrease the amount of acne flare-ups you have.

Drink More Water

Water can be beneficial for so many different things, including acne. I have found that when I am making sure to provide my body with the necessary water that it needs, acne tends to subside. This could be due to the detoxifying nature of water or the cleansing effect that water can have on your blood. Either way, it doesn’t hurt to drink water and try and achieve water consumption levels that are appropriate for you.

Have you benefitted from reading this blog? Know someone that would benefit as well? Share, Like, Comment, or Tweet this article, and let me know what you think.

Some of the information provided above may not be appropriate for everyone, please consult with your doctor before trying any of the above. If you are interested in Naturopathic Medicine and wanting a different approach to your health care needs, please contact Elisha Cook (on the contact portion of this website) for more information.