East Valley Naturopathic Doctors, Mesa AZ

By Dr. Jennifer Nevels, NMD

PMS is a condition that I have been treating since I started practicing naturopathic medicine.  Over the years I have seen more and more severe cases of PMS than I have ever seen before.  Pre-menstrual syndrome is where symptoms become present 2 weeks prior to the cycle and then dissipate within a few days of the cycle starting.  Some of the more common symptoms that I see patients’ struggle with are breast tenderness, bloating, irritability, food cravings, insomnia, and headaches. The underlying cause of these symptoms is due to an imbalance of estrogen and progesterone during the second half of the cycle.  Estrogen should be lower than progesterone during this time but the women who suffer with PMS have more estrogen than progesterone.   Lately I have seen more women with even more extreme symptoms like aggressive and irrational behaviors, debilitating anxiety and depression, OCD tendencies, abdominal discomfort and severe swelling in the lower legs.

Usually the PMS cases that I treat respond very well to botanicals that help to balance the hormones.  We work on their detoxification pathways including the liver and the digestive tract to make sure the body can better break down the estrogen and eliminate it from the system.  I often do acupuncture with my patients to bring an energetic balance to the system. With some women progesterone therapy can be helpful if the body isn’t producing enough to create a better hormone balance during the 2nd half of the cycle. In the past and even currently this approach can be very helpful but with the more complex cases I have seen lately the protocols that I typically use are only decreasing symptoms by 25-50%. I obviously strive for 100% relief for my patients so this has led me to investigate more deeply to see what may be a common thread in these more severe cases. 

I have begun to use a test called the Organic Acid Test which evaluates how the body functions overall. It can look for metabolites of yeast and bacterial overgrowth, B vitamins, and how the body handles environmental and toxic exposures. The patient’s that have been able to do this test have come up positive in one if not all of these areas.  Once these underlying issues are dealt with, balance is restored.  I understand that PMS takes a physical and emotional toll not only on my female patients, but their families.  It is best to be treated for even the most mild PMS symptoms now to prevent it from evolving into a more severe case.  Remember, symptoms are an expression that something is out of balance in the body so the sooner it is tackled the better!

By Dr. Laura Lambert

Many patients call in asking for bio-identical hormones, seeking relief from the dreaded menopausal symptoms such as: hot flashes, insomnia, fatigue, weight gain, decreased libido and irritability.

“Suzanne Somers did it, that’s what I want.”  This is frequently what I hear, as my patients reach out for the latest anti-aging craze.

Yes, I do use bio-identical hormones in my practice and YES they often help alleviate many of the symptoms often associated with menopause.  However, some of us are not candidates for hormone replacement therapies and some of us do not want the risks associated with their use.  Alternatively, many other natural therapies many be utilized with outstanding results.

As our bodies approach menopause, our ovaries naturally decrease their production of two very important sex hormones: estrogen and progesterone.  Lack of these hormones is what brings on many of the menopausal symptoms.  Luckily, our bodies have another gland that helps us pick up some of the hormone slack as we approach and enter menopause.  Our adrenal glands take over some of our sex hormone production as the ovaries fail. Our adrenal glands also produce several other hormones, including those that regulate our stress response, such as cortisol and adrenaline (epinephrine).

Unfortunately, most of us live high stress lives, we work, take care of our families,  eat poor diets, without enough sleep or exercise!  We often rely on stimulants like caffeine to keep us going.  This means we or are always taxing our adrenal glands (where adrenaline – needed for our stress response is produced).  After a while, our adrenals may become ‘fatigued’ and hormone production is decreased, exacerbating our symptoms.  Additionally the hormone cortisol is produced in our adrenal glands, cortisol raises under stress conditions and if it remains high, it can inhibit sleep, increase carbohydrate cravings and prevent weight loss.

Naturally, making sure our adrenal glands are healthy is a good first step in treating menopausal symptoms.  Fortunately, many natural products, namely herbs (botanical medicine) and vitamins nourish the tissue of our adrenal glands and often, my patients will experience a complete alleviation of symptoms and not need bio-identical hormone therapy.

Current statistics show that autism affects 1 in 150 children, which is a dramatic increase from 1 in 10,000 in the early 1990’s.  Autism is a developmental disorder that typically appears during the first three years of life.  Autism is defined by symptoms that appear before the age of three which reflect delayed or abnormal development in language, social skills and behavior.  Autistic disorder symptoms can manifest in various ways.

• Impaired social interaction including; inappropriate eye contact, facial expression, body posture and gestures.
• Difficultly making and maintaining friendships that are appropriate to their developmental level.
• Inability to reciprocate emotions. 
• Delayed or absent development of spoken language.  In children who can speak, there are inadequate attempts to begin or sustain a conversation.
• Repetitive speech or phrases
• Preoccupation with interests such as; spinning, counting, lining up
• Rigidly sticks to routines or rituals that do not have a purpose

There can be many possible factors contributing to children developing autism; poor nutrient absorption, food allergies, inflammation of the digestive tract, imbalance of bacteria in the digestive tract, yeast (candida albicans) overgrowth in the digestive tract, poor liver detoxification, and mitochondrial disorders.  There is a urine test called an Organic Acid Test (OAT) which can help identify many of the possible contributing factors to the symptoms associated with autism.  The OAT can evaluate inborn errors of metabolism; such as PKU, maple-syrup urine disease, and many others. In addition, the organic acid test will check for many other abnormalities such as vitamin deficiencies and abnormal metabolism of neurotransmitters such as; catecholamines, dopamine, and serotonin. The organic acid test will also detect overgrowth of intestinal yeast and bacteria.  The OAT allows your child’s physician to develop a treatment plan specific to your child’s test results.  Using a treatment plan specific to your child, makes treatment much more effective.

Please call East Valley Naturopathic Doctors to schedule a free 15 minute consult at (480)985-0000 or visit www.EastValleyND.com

Bioidentical Testosterone Replacement at EVND -- Treating ED, Low Libido and Andropause Naturally!
by Dr. Matthew Cavaiola, NMD

Just as women experience declining estrogen levels in menopause from their 40’s through their 60’s, men experience a similar decline in levels of their primary hormone, testosterone, as they age.  This decline in testosterone in aging men has been termed “andropause.”  The loss of testosterone, which can happen to men as young as 35, is gradual, with testosterone levels dropping just 1 percent to 1.5 percent annually.  Unlike the precipitous loss of estrogen which menopausal women face, the gradual loss of testosterone may take years to exact its mark on men.  Declining testosterone levels in men can impact men’s health in a variety of ways – from declining energy levels to increased risk for cardiovascular disease. 

Common symptoms of andropause include, but are not limited to:

• Decline in Libido
• Erectile dysfunction – Difficulty attaining/maintaining erections
• Feeling Tired or always sick
• Mental decline – irritability, depression, anxiety
• Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) -- enlarged prostate
• Weight gain – especially in abdomen     
• Loss of muscle mass and muscle weakness

Recently, Bioidentical Testosterone Replacement Therapy has gained in popularity amongst andropausal men to improve their sexual function, sense of well being, muscle and bone mass and strength.  In addition, testosterone has also been found to be beneficial in preventing Cardiovascular disease, Diabetes, Osteoporosis and Alzheimers Disease. 

With the use of natural bio-identical testosterone, usually in the form of an injection, cream or oral supplementation, EVND's Hormone Specialists will tailor individual hormone treatments just for you to help you regulate your hormones, boost your energy, maximize your vitality and help you feel better today!!

If you, or someone you know, are experiencing any symptoms of Low Testosterone and could benefit from Testosterone or other hormonal therapy call
East Valley Naturopathic Doctors at (480) 985-0000 to schedule your appointment!

Visit EVND's Mens Health page  for more information!

By Tara Peyman, Naturopathic Physician

There is some controversy about whether the H1N1 flu vaccine is safe and necessary. It is always important to weigh the risks and benefits of any medical intervention, and decide what is best for yourself. As physicians, we encourage you to consider all of the facts before making a decision for yourself or your children.

The media has been telling us about all of the deaths associated with the H1N1 flu, but in fact, most of the deaths are from pneumonia contracted in the hospital after going in with flu symptoms. Most people who get the flu, whether it is seasonal flu or H1N1 flu, who rest and stay home, will recover without developing complications. The biggest problems come into play when people develop secondary infections, which are very common in a hospital setting.

One important aspect to understand when considering whether you really need an H1N1 flu vaccine is that your body has the ability to strengthen its defenses against infection. We can boost our immune system with specific natural protocols, as described below, to prevent the seasonal flu and the H1N1 flu.

We can treat flu symptoms once they begin as well, very effectively, with homeopathic medicine, acupuncture, high dose vitamin injections or supplements, or botanical medicine. Most people find relief within 24-48 hours of starting naturopathic treatments for acute illness such as the flu.

Unfortunately, the standard flu vaccines still contain thimerosal which is a source of mercury [1]. Mercury is a toxic metal that has been associated with developmental neurological impairment [2], as well as many other symptoms, if it is in excessive amounts.

The CDC states that flu vaccines still contain thimerosal. Of course, they tell you that this is safe, yet the amount contained can be up to 25mcg. This may seem like a small amount, but it is actually 250 times the safe level according to the EPA. Do we want that kind of exposure for our children?

At East Valley Naturopathic Doctors, we have come to a consensus that because getting the vaccine is not 100% effective, is it therefore less advantageous and carries greater risk than providing yourself with good quality preventive measures.

The most important way to protect yourself is to wash your hands regularly, especially after coughing or sneezing, and before eating or touching your eyes.

Homeopathic Influenzinum is a medicine that can be used to protect your family against the flu, but it must be taken preventively, before symptoms develop. For treatment of flu symptoms after onset of the infection, other homeopathic medicines can be prescribed based on your individual symptoms.

Elderberry extract (Sambucus nigra) has been studies to show efficacy for H1N1 treatment and prevention [3]. This can be taken as a liquid extract, or as a capsule to treat influenza.

There may always be controversy about the safety of thimerosal. Regardless, it is clearly not supposed to be in our bodies, or in our children's bodies, and there are many other very safe and equally -- if not more -- effective ways to prevent and treat flu.

During the flu season, we are offering a discounted rate for new or established patients who are acutely ill and would like to come in for naturopathic advice. Please call (480) 985-0000 for more information.

References:
[1] CDC Thimerosal Q&A, 2009 Oct. http://www.cdc.gov/FLU/ABOUT/QA/thimerosal.htm
[2] US EPA Integrated Risk Information System. http://www.epa.gov/iris/subst/0073.htm
[3] Elderberry Extract Prevents H1N1 Infection In Vitro. 2009 Sept. http://www.news-medical.net/news/20090911/Elderberry-extract-prevents-H1N1-infection-in-vitro.aspx

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East Valley Naturopathic Doctors offers an integrative medical approach to treat disease and improve overall health. We have 6 licensed naturopathic doctors at our office, and also offer myopractic medicine and therapeutic counseling. Our office is located at Southern and Higley in Mesa, AZ. For more information, please visit www.EastValleyND.com, or call (480) 985-0000.