Many Vancouverites avoid getting the flu shot because they feel the underlying premise of such a vaccination is flawed. Health food stores are laden with "safe" alternatives to fight off, or prevent, the flu but there is a different therapy which I rather use in my office and it gets right to the source of the infection.
A flu is generally characterized as runny nose, coughing, sneezing, chest pain from coughing, headache from clogged sinuses, fever (from fighting infection) etc... If you think about it, most of these symptoms involve the respiratory system. The flu is spread via respiratory droplets and inhaled. So why not treat the respiratory system?!
Nebulized IV-grade glycyrrhizic acid (derived from licorice), along with some IV-grade glutathione and saline solution is the therapy of choice, in my opinion, to prevent and help treat the flu. Licorice extract is antiviral and it helps to soothe and heal the respiratory system.
A nebulizer is a machine that mixes liquid solutions with air so that the solution can be inhaled into the lungs as a medicinal mist. Nebulizers can be purchased at your local pharmacy or from your naturopathic doctor.
Note that this therapy is also useful in the treatment of COPD, Emphysema, Pneumonia, Bronchitis and Lung Cancer.
For more information, please call Ocean Wellness at 604.986.9355.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Thursday, October 23, 2008
FISH: The right choice?
On October 6th, 2008 the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) placed Sockeye salmon on its threatened species list. The most threatened populations of Sockeye salmon are the British Columbian Sockeye that spawn in the Fraser River and the Skeena River. The full report can be found at www.stateofthesalmon.org/IUCN/
So we have known for a while that farmed salmon are bad. We have always beentold that the wild Pacific Sockeye is the best choice and that we should avoid tuna due to toxic levels of mercury contamination. Now we are being warned that we should limit wild Pacific Sockeye consumption as it is on its way to becoming extinct unless a federal program is implemented to clean up their habitat and limit their consumption.
Make healthy choices for healthy oceans!
I hope we are no where near being the last generation to feed safely from our waters.
Here is an updated list from an organization called SeaChoice on which fish/seafoods are the best choices. For more information on SeaChoice, visit www.seachoice.org/.
Fish: The right choice:
So we have known for a while that farmed salmon are bad. We have always beentold that the wild Pacific Sockeye is the best choice and that we should avoid tuna due to toxic levels of mercury contamination. Now we are being warned that we should limit wild Pacific Sockeye consumption as it is on its way to becoming extinct unless a federal program is implemented to clean up their habitat and limit their consumption.
Make healthy choices for healthy oceans!
I hope we are no where near being the last generation to feed safely from our waters.
Here is an updated list from an organization called SeaChoice on which fish/seafoods are the best choices. For more information on SeaChoice, visit www.seachoice.org/.
Fish: The right choice:
- Catfish (US) - Farmed
- Caviar/Sturgeon - Farmed
- Clams - Farmed
- Cod: Pacific (US) - Wild
- Fish Sticks (Pollock) - Alaskan
- Hake: Pacific (Canada)
- Herring: Atlantic (US), Pacific (Canada)
- Imitation Crab: Pollock (Alaskan)
- Lobster: Rock, Spiny (Australia, US, Western Baja)
- Mussels - Farmed
- Pollock (Alaskan)
- Sablefish (Alaskan, BC)
- Sardine: Brisling, Sprats (US)
- Shrimp/Prawn: Sidestripe, Spot (BC) - Trap-caught
- Tilapia (US) - Farmed
- Trout: Rainbow - Farmed
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Components of Permanent Weight Loss
Yearly, the percentage of overweight individuals is growing. In North America the percentage of overweight individuals is pushing 66%! This is a concern that naturopathic doctors deal with frequently as permanent weight loss has huge implications in a person's overall health.
So why is it that so many patients attend clinic after clinic and fail to maintain the weight goals they strived so hard to achieve?! I hear of patients who spent their entire lives on programs like Weight Watchers, Zone, LA Weight Loss etc... only to become discouraged with themselves.
Here are the top 7 items most naturopathic doctors will address in natural weight-loss programs:
1. Emotional Eating
2. Brain Chemistry Imbalances
3. Food Sensitivities
4. Nutritional Deficiencies and Low-Calorie Dieting
5. Hormone Deficiencies
6. Detoxification
7. Lifestyle Modification
In combination, when done safely, addressing the above items will lead most successfully to permanent weight loss.
So there you have it - the missing links ;)
So why is it that so many patients attend clinic after clinic and fail to maintain the weight goals they strived so hard to achieve?! I hear of patients who spent their entire lives on programs like Weight Watchers, Zone, LA Weight Loss etc... only to become discouraged with themselves.
Here are the top 7 items most naturopathic doctors will address in natural weight-loss programs:
1. Emotional Eating
2. Brain Chemistry Imbalances
3. Food Sensitivities
4. Nutritional Deficiencies and Low-Calorie Dieting
5. Hormone Deficiencies
6. Detoxification
7. Lifestyle Modification
In combination, when done safely, addressing the above items will lead most successfully to permanent weight loss.
So there you have it - the missing links ;)
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Painkillers MAY prevent cancer
Vancouver Sun, Wednesday, October 8th, 2008 - FRONT COVER
Yesterday I came across the front page of the Vancouver Sun and was astounded to see a picture of Advil tablets, an Advil bottle, and the words prevent cancer!
For those of you who did not get a chance to read the newspaper, there was a 42 year observational study showing that women who took more anti-inflammatory painkillers had a modest 12% less chance of breast cancer development.
For decades, Naturopathic doctors have been working with their patients to reduce inflammation in the body to either decrease signs and symptoms of, or prevent chronic diseases. Some examples of chronic diseases involving inflammatory pathways include diabetes, atherosclerosis, arteriosclerosis, arthritis, infertility, cancer, bowel disease (i.e. inflammatory bowel disease.)
The point here is that drug companies are catching on to what naturopathic doctors have always known in order to increase their profit. Rather than taking Advil or Aspirin which have reported adverse reactions ranging from stomach upset, to stroke and death, ask your naturopathic doctor how you can reduce inflammation in your body. The good news is that we have safe means to address inflammation.
To prevent, or reduce, chronic disease it is important to know where the inflammation is, why it is occurring, how to eliminate "bad" inflammation, and how to avoid re-inflammation.
In closing, I think that it is about time that the public is aware that cancer may be linked to inflammation - now they just have to learn how to reduce their risk of cancer naturally, through lifestyle, diet, exercise, and supplementation.
Take home message: Before you go out and buy more Advil or Aspirin, consult with an expert on inflammation, your naturopathic doctor.
Yesterday I came across the front page of the Vancouver Sun and was astounded to see a picture of Advil tablets, an Advil bottle, and the words prevent cancer!
For those of you who did not get a chance to read the newspaper, there was a 42 year observational study showing that women who took more anti-inflammatory painkillers had a modest 12% less chance of breast cancer development.
For decades, Naturopathic doctors have been working with their patients to reduce inflammation in the body to either decrease signs and symptoms of, or prevent chronic diseases. Some examples of chronic diseases involving inflammatory pathways include diabetes, atherosclerosis, arteriosclerosis, arthritis, infertility, cancer, bowel disease (i.e. inflammatory bowel disease.)
The point here is that drug companies are catching on to what naturopathic doctors have always known in order to increase their profit. Rather than taking Advil or Aspirin which have reported adverse reactions ranging from stomach upset, to stroke and death, ask your naturopathic doctor how you can reduce inflammation in your body. The good news is that we have safe means to address inflammation.
To prevent, or reduce, chronic disease it is important to know where the inflammation is, why it is occurring, how to eliminate "bad" inflammation, and how to avoid re-inflammation.
In closing, I think that it is about time that the public is aware that cancer may be linked to inflammation - now they just have to learn how to reduce their risk of cancer naturally, through lifestyle, diet, exercise, and supplementation.
Take home message: Before you go out and buy more Advil or Aspirin, consult with an expert on inflammation, your naturopathic doctor.
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