Derika Nauta

Top 5 Reasons to See a Naturopathic Doctor

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In honour of naturopathic medicine week (which we celebrate in May), we wanted to share the top 5 reasons why you might want to consider seeing a naturopathic doctor. Here at Plattsville Natural Health Clinic, we have two naturopathic doctors that are well equipped to help you along your healing journey, whether it may be seeking their help for the below 5 reasons or other concerns!

Top 5 Reasons to See a Naturopathic Doctor

1.“I’m Tired”

      The fatigue you experience may not be just because you are busy. There can be many explanations for fatigue which could include how foods are paired in the diet, nutrient deficiencies, chronic illness, stress and other reasons. Naturopathic Doctors may be able to take a full history, order blood work, and determine the root cause of the fatigue you may experience.

      2. “I’m Stressed/ Depressed/ Anxious”

      Whether it is stress, low mood, or nervousness; a naturopathic doctor is equipped with many tools to help you through these struggles. The way we eat, move our bodies and respond to our environments can most certainly impact our mental health, but there may be something more behind how you are feeling. Could there be nutrients, hormones, or other factors influencing where your mind is at? Let a Naturopathic Doctor help you determine that.

      3. “I’m in Pain”

      From chronic migraines, to back pain and beyond, there are many different pain experiences, influential factors, and modalities to aid them. Naturopathic Doctors are able to use modalities including acupuncture, cold laser therapy, cupping, and body work to help alleviate pain. In addition, naturopathic doctors look at the whole system in order to address inflammation and some other potential root causes to pain.

      4. “My Digestion is Off”

      “Digestive” concerns can mean so many things. If it is too slow or too fast, this can cause concerns for individuals. There are so many symptoms that can be uncomfortable for individuals including bloating, gas, abdominal pain, cramping, constipation, diarrhea, burping, regurgitation, acid reflux, GERD, and more. Naturopathic Doctors are able to look at diet, lifestyle, blood work, and your health history to formulate a plan of action to address these concerns.

      5. “My Hormones are Ruining my Life”

      Whatever stage of life you are in, hormones can be so impactful. Whether your goal is trying to have a family (i.e. get pregnant), weather the storms of menopause, have a normal period, or get the muscular gains from your workouts; Naturopathic Doctors are able to assess your hormonal health and determine the right plan for your individual situation. From supplements, to diet and beyond, Naturopathic Doctors have many ways of approaching your individual case in order to help find a solution.

      For more information about our naturopathic doctors or naturopathic medicine, please see the naturopathic tab on our website, or contact us today to allow us to answer any questions or concerns you might have.

      Have you benefited 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 trying any of our services, working with any of our amazing practitioners, or are simply wanting a different approach to your health care needs, contact the Plattsville Natural Health Clinic by calling 226-232-7665 and book your appointment today! 

      Supporting the Immune System

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      Recent updates have warned us to buckle up and get ready for another potential wave of illness/colds/flus. With changes in season, it can take its toll on our immune systems. By integrating some daily measures into our lifestyle, we can set a better stage for our immune systems as we enter into these more immune aggressive seasons. We decided it was beneficial to present an updated version of one of our older blog posts in order to help you support your immune system.

      Stress Management

      Being under a lot of stress can cause our immune systems to be more susceptible to bacteria and viruses. Stress can cause our bodies to be more focused on fueling ourselves with fight or flight response (i.e. responding to the stress) and less on protecting us from colds and flus, thus making us more susceptible. By managing stress before it wears our bodies down, we can keep bacteria and viruses at bay. Stress management can look like taking certain supplements as discussed with your Naturopathic Doctor, massage therapy, talking to a friend, acupuncture, regular walks, and reading a book (just to name a few). If you would like to learn more about stress management, Dr. Cook has released a new book, Stress Less and Weigh Less, which discusses many great stress management tools. You can get your copy by visiting our publications page of this website.

      Vegetables and Fruits

      Vegetables and fruits are full or antioxidants and nutrients that help to build and boost the immune system. By assuring the immune system has the right nutrients, it can help to keep the body strong and healthy. Ideally, having no more than 3 servings of fruit per day and having 5 or more vegetables per day is what is recommended. Specifically, when we look at the research, we can see that an anti-inflammatory diet (which is generally high in vegetables), has been shown to help combat viruses and support recovery from them. Some individuals may require higher amounts of certain nutrients to be able to effectively mount an immune response to certain bacteria and viruses, and so may require supplementation for specific nutrients. Determining which nutrients need to be supplemented for is best determined with the help of a health care professional.

      Tea

      Having teas, such as green tea, on a regular basis can help to boost the immune system due to their antioxidant profile and their immune boosting qualities. Specifically, green tea has been shown to bind to and prevent replication of certain viruses. Adding a bit of honey to your tea can also help to fight off any bacteria that might attempting to invade.

      Soup

      Many may find it hard to believe, but consuming homemade soup actually helps to halt the inflammatory cascade that happens when we are starting to get sick. In addition, homemade soup is full of electrolytes and nutrients to help combat illness.

      Exercise

      Exercise can help to boost the immune system by increasing the speed at which white blood cells patrol the body and look for bacteria or viruses. Exercise can also be beneficial for the immune system by increasing the respiratory rate and thus increasing the chance that a lingering bacteria or virus will be cleared from the lungs. However, it is important to potentially modify out workout routine if we do come down with a cold or flu. If you do become sick, focus on refueling with adequate protein after your workouts to support recovery of the body from your workout and from the illness.

      Sleep

      Getting a proper sleep can help you to better manage not only emotions and stress but also your immune system. Not getting a good night’s sleep can cause our bodies to be less able to produce T cells – an important immune system cell – and thus make us more susceptible to colds and flus.

      Have you benefited 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 our clinic to book in with one of our amazing naturopathic doctors by calling/texting 226-232-7665 and book your appointment today!

      What is cupping and how does it work?

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      Written by Dr. Elisha Cook ND

      Cupping has had a lot of media coverage over the years in regards to athletes and pain, but what is it really and how can it help you? To begin with, cupping is a form of traditional Asian medicine that has been used for thousands of years to aid with so many different health concerns. Though cupping and acupuncture look quite different, their actions can be quite similar. For some, cupping can have a more profound effect on issues such as fibrotic tissue and fascia that is tight. Cupping has been compared to massage therapy treatment as well as a result.

      The following is a list of both actions that can take place in the body and the potential conditions or symptoms it can help to alleviate.

      How Does Cupping Work?

      Cupping works via many different pathways which cause:  

      • Releases endorphins – resulting in decreased pain
      • Relaxes muscle
      • Reduces pain
      • Promotes blood flow
      • Promotes lymphatic circulation
      • Stimulates the immune system
      • Regulates inflammatory pathways

      What Can Cupping Help with?

      Cupping can help with many surprising conditions/symptoms including:

      • Pain – muscle
      • Muscle tension
      • Sports injuries
      • Stress
      • Fertility
      • Depression
      • Anxiety 
      • Headaches/ Migraines
      • Insomnia
      • Coughs and colds
      • Weight loss
      • Fatigue
      • Hypertension (high blood pressure)
      • Lumbar Disc Herniation
      • Acne
      • And more

      How do our Naturopathic Doctors use cupping?

      Our Naturopathic Doctors’ approach to cupping is based on both Asian medicine and Western medicine. They apply the cups based on the muscle areas that hurt and also the pathways that from a Asian medicine perspective need to be addressed. In this way, the system as a whole is supported and not just help with sore muscles. You are not your disease and you need to be treated as such.

      Moving cupping or stationary cupping may be chosen for your specific situation and depending on your particular concerns. The cup is typically left for 5-20 minutes (again depending on the concern). This treatment can be quite aggressive and so your Naturopathic Doctor needs to assess whether this is a valid treatment option for you. Cupping also leaves a dark hue on the skin that can often be tender following treatment. Some individuals may choose to use acupuncture only to avoid the discolouration of the skin. This discolouration is not permanent, but may last up to a week following treatment.

      The colour change that happens on the skin is a result of increase circulation and increased lymphatic flow to the area. From an Asian medicine perspective, this is the result of a heavily stagnated area that has finally broken up. Following treatment, some individuals may also feel a bit sore. This is normal, and so, some individuals may choose to ice the area for 10 minutes to decrease the tenderness.  

      If you are interested in trying cupping, feel free to contact the clinic and book your appointment today, or contact me through the contact portion of my website for more information.

      Have you benefited 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 Dr. Elisha Cook ND by calling 226-232-7665 and book your appointment today! 

      Expanding our Naturopathic Availability!

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      We are so excited to be welcoming Derika Nauta, a student clinical intern from the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine (CCNM) to PNHC. During her time with us, we will be offering reduced fees for naturopathic consults provided through her under the supervision of Dr. Elisha Cook ND (our naturopathic doctor). If you have been meaning to see a Naturopathic Doctor and are needing a bit of a financial break after Christmas, now would be the time to get it!

      Derika will be seeing patients Thursdays from 9:00am – 3:30pm. Book your appointment by calling/texting the clinic at 226-232-7665, or by sending us a message through the contact portion of this website. For more information about Derika, see her bio below for more details!

      ABOUT DERIKA

      Derika, being a local, has grown up in the Woodstock/Tavistock area. You might recognize her as she has remained involved in her community, having represented the community as both the Tavistock Fall Fair Ambassador as well as the local (Oxford) and provincial-level “Queen of the Furrow”. Derika was also actively involved in the Plattsville Figure Skating Club as both a skater and coach.

      Derika completed her undergraduate degree at Western University, receiving a Bachelors in Honours Specialization in Health Sciences and Biology. She is currently completing her clinical internship at the Robert Schad Naturopathic Clinic (RSNC) in Toronto, along with her training at CCNM. Following receiving her license, Derika hopes to practice in our area to provide for the community she has received so much support from.

      Have you benefited 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 any of the above therapies to help you work through stress and are wanting a different approach to your health care needs, contact the Plattsville Natural Health Clinic by calling 226-232-7665 and book your appointment today!