In 2018, the top researched diet term according to Google is the Ketogenic Diet.

In this article, we want to define for you what exactly a Ketogenic Diet is as well as highlight  some of its potential health benefits – and some information as to whether the Ketogenic Diet is something you may want to consult your ND about as to whether it would be good to consider for yourself.

The Ketogenic Diet: What is It?

The Ketogenic Diet, also referred to as the Low Carb/High Fat (LCHF) Diet is a diet which consists of a large proportion of healthy fats, moderate protein and a small amount of healthy complex carbohydrates.

One misconception about the LCHF diet is that you can eat large amounts of protein which is not part of the diet.

The reason for this is that protein can be converted into sugar compounds in the body which may create problems in that it may contribute to too many carbohydrates in the diet.

Energy Metabolism Pathways

There are two main energy sources in the body: sugar and fats.  The overwhelming majority of individuals burn sugar as an energy source due to the consumption of large amounts of sugar: it is estimated that the average yearly consumption by individuals in North America of sugar exceeds 150 pounds!

And we must not forget that food items such as bread, pasta, rice and other grains get converted into sugar compounds in the body.

The other energy source in the body is burning fats as an energy source: when sugar energy levels get low, a person’s metabolism switches over to burning fats.  These fats that are burned for energy are referred to as “ketones or ketone bodies”.

Ketones are produced by the liver from fatty acids during periods of low food intake (fasting), carbohydrate restrictive diets, starvation and prolonged intense exercise.

 

Being in a state of ketosis (i.e. burning fats for energy) is the normal metabolic state that our ancestors, going back some two million years typically functioned in: it is just within the last two hundred years or so as sugar consumption has increased such that the main energy source for individuals has switched to sugars.

The key to getting into a state of ketosis is drastically reducing carbohydrate consumption: the amount varies between individuals however the amount of daily carbohydrate consumption to get into this state is typically between 25 and 50 grams per day of sugar compounds.

Food Quality Matters

Like all healthy diets, the quality of the food you consume is important: organic and grass fed designations are key considerations.

Oils are a good example of this: healthy oils can be an important part of the Ketogenic Diet: oils such as coconut, olive, avocado, macademia hemp etc.

Some oils are not healthy to consume such as: corn, canola, cotton seed and soy bean.

Also the manner in which the oil is processed is important: industrial oils are typically extracted with high heat and pressure which changes the oil and makes it unhealthy: you should always look for oils that are cold pressed or expeller expressed.  Don’t get fooled by the label “Organic” – unhealthy oils produced under high heat and pressure can be labeled organic.

Components of a Ketogenic Diet

Here is a list of some of the food items typically consumed on a Ketogenic Diet(1):

Don’t forget to focus on organic and grass fed food items

• Seafood
• Low-carb vegetables
• cheese
• avocados
• meat and poultry
• Eggs
• Coconut, olive and other healthy oils
• Plain high fat yogurt and cottage cheese
• Nuts and seeds (in moderation: eating too many can be problematic with the ratio between Omega 3 and Omega 6 oils)
• Berries
• Butter and cream
• Olives
• Unsweetened coffee and tea (use healthy sweeteners such as stevia and monk fruit if necessary)
• Dark chocolate and cocoa powder

 

Potential Health Benefits of the Ketogenic Diet

There are many documented benefits associated with the Ketogenic Diet, in fact it was first developed to help children with uncontrolled seizures such as in epilepsy.

Following are some of the documented benefits(2):

• Low-carb diets kill your appetite (in a good way)
• Low-carb diets lead to more weight loss
• A greater proportion of the fat lost comes from the abdominal cavity
• Triglycerides tend to go way down
• Increased Levels of HDL (the “Good”) Cholesterol
• Reduced blood sugar and insulin levels, with a major improvement in Type 2 Diabetes
• Blood pressure tends to go down
• Low-carb diets are the most effective treatment known against metabolic syndrome
• Low-carb diets improve the pattern of LDL cholesterol
• Low-carb diets are therapeutic for several brain disorders – such as dementia and Alzheimer’s)
• A reduction in inflammation
• Helps to turn on good genes and turn off bad genes

Is the Ketogenic Diet Right for You?

An important consideration to remember is that every individual is biochemically unique so a diet that works well for one individual may be disastrous for another.

Long term studies have not been done so we do not know if staying in a ketogenic state over the long term is good for us.  What most health care practitioners think is that getting into a ketogenic state periodically – maybe two or three times per year for a month or two can act as a valuable “metabolic reset”.

What can be extremely beneficial is shifting your metabolism such that it can switch back and forth between burning either sugar or fats: this typically involves staying in a ketogenic state for a minimum of six to eight weeks. This is referred to as being “Fat Adapted”.

There are ways to check whether your metabolism is in a ketogenic state: the simplest way to do this is to check your urine with ketone strips.

Your Naturopathic Doctor can provide you with more information on the Ketogenic Diet, how to check if you are in a ketogenic state –and whether the Ketogenic Diet would be a good choice for you.

Contact us to make an appointment.

(1) Franziska Spritzler, RD, CDE (2017, January 23) 16 Foods to Eat on a Ketogenic Diet, Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/ketogenic-diet-foods
(2)Kris Gunnars, BSc  (2014, January 28) 10 Health Benefits of Low-Carb and Ketogenic Diets, Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/10-benefits-of-low-carb-ketogenic-diets

The solution to pollution is dilution.

The idea that toxicity within our body aids in the development of disease has been around for centuries. In the pursuit of health and longevity, detoxification programs utilising diets, fasting, sweating, and herbal remedies continue to be used successfully by many cultures world-wide.

Bioaccumulation of chemical compounds found in our food, air, water can lead directly to a variety of immune, metabolic, and disease states. For instance, allergy, asthma, depression, neurological illness and even cancer are examples of chemical toxin related illnesses. Research continues to confirm that in order for our bodies to maintain good health, toxin exposure must be reduced while the detoxification pathways of the body optimised.

The first step to any detoxification program is to reduce the toxic load on our tissues and immune system. Start by practicing basis principles of good health, nutritious eating and exercise, stress management and environmental health.

Avoid sugar, white flour, colas, tobacco, coffee, alcohol and foods that contain additives and preservatives. These foods create a toxic and acidic environment on our tissues and stress key organs such as the liver, kidney, bowel and lymph system. Consequently, this blocks normal cellular metabolism and alters our healthy body chemistry in a manner suitable for disease development.

Our bodies consist of 70% water. Water is the medium that dilutes, diverts, and removes toxins from our body so drink plenty of pure filtered chlorine free water. Water contained in juices, colas, coffee, and tea does not count, as it is obviously different and may stimulate undesirable reactions in our body.

Acidity in our body favours disease development, so drink slightly alkaline water if possible. Most tap water is acidic. Alkaline energetic water can be produced by certain filtration systems.

After you have increased your water intake to approximately two litres per day it is essential to sweat.

Exercise creates sweat and detoxifies our body by manually pumping lymph fluid. Lymphatic fluid bathes each cell and is most important for maintaining proper cellular activity. Capillaries bring nutritious fluid to each organ cell, and the lymphatic system removes waste products from them. A breakdown in this process by toxins or lack of lymphatic movement initiates cellular dysfunction, inflammation, and possible cellular death or cancer.

Examples of toxins that alter this environment include mercury, pesticides, food colorants, industrial gases and formaldehyde from furniture outgassing.

Specific medical treatments can aid in the detoxification process. One great method is sauna detoxification. Infrared sauna detoxification works best because it penetrates the skin more than 2-1/2 centimetres stimulating detoxification in tissues deeper than can be achieved by normal steam saunas. Increased blood and lymphatic fluid flow through cells detoxifies tissues.

Many experience odorous or dark elimination of sweat. Massage, specifically lymphatic massage, a rebounder, usage of homeopathic, botanical, and appropriate vitamin and mineral supplements aid this process.

Very toxic people often require a comprehensive treatment plan. Often this includes adding appropriate intravenous supplements and natural medicines followed by sauna to achieve intensive detoxification.

For instance, oral and intravenous administration of B vitamins, zinc selenium and Vitamin C along with N-Acetyl-L-cysteine, glycine, and glutamine are great for formaldehyde detoxification. Likewise, mercury detoxification treatments include selenium, zinc, and vitamin C and E with glutathione and lipoic acid. Homeopathic and herbal remedies such as Lymphdiaral and Lymphomyosot provide excellent treatment to detoxify the lymph system.

The liver and kidney serve as the master organs to process toxin that are mobilised from the lymph or bowel. For instance the liver requires specific nutrients to neutralise its toxicity in a way so as to eliminate it via stool or urine. Sulphur containing foods such as garlic and onions aid this process.

Likewise, certain supplements and amino acids like N-acetyl cysteine, methionine, and well as MSM, glutathione, Vitamin C, lipoic acid, B-vitamins insure proper elimination. Botanicals and homeopathic remedies help here as well. Balancing the bowel flora also reduces toxic material associated with bacterial or fungal imbalances. Great ways to support a healthy bowel includes food sensitivity avoidance, digestive enzymes, using friendly bowel bacteria like acidophilus and bifidus, and when required using appropriate herbal treatments to reduce unfriendly bacteria and yeast such as candida.

General types of detoxification programs such as water or juice fasts are a great way to periodically cleanse the body. Vegetable juice fasts provide valuable quantities of nutrients and are alkalising to the body allowing tissue detoxification. If you have never fasted before it is important to seek medical advice prior to fasting so that your experience is safe and pleasant.

The intensity of a detoxification program depends on whether it is being used for health maintenance or for disease management. In either case adopting healthy habits to minimize toxic exposure is primary. In many ways our bodies’ environment is no different from the external environment we live in. Educating ourselves on ways of reducing toxins in both environments will significantly contribute to better health and longevity.

In health,

Dr. Swetlikoff

You may be wondering where to turn when trying to choose the healthiest way to stay hydrated in this complex, information-overloaded world we live in. It’s refreshing to know that the answer is actually quite simple: it’s water.

We ingest fluids daily to satisfy our thirst. These fluids vary from pure water to teas, soda, coffee, juices, etc. While most fluids are water-based, they do not have the same effect on our body as pure water does. Water is fundamental to all life on earth, and pure water is fundamental to optimal health. The famous French bacteriologist Louis Pasteur in the 1870s stated that “We drink 90 per cent of our illnesses.”

What on earth was he talking about?

When exploring the virtues of water to human function, you need only to understand that your body is composed of approximately 60 per cent water. A 70 kg person is made up of about 42 kg water. Water is a primary component of all bodily fluids: blood, urine, lymph, digestive juices, sweat. It bathes our cells so they stay healthy, and it supports necessary chemical reactions that keep our body functioning. Approximately two-thirds of the water we consume comes in the form of pure water and other beverages, and the remainder comes from the food we eat.

What to look for when assessing health-potential of water

If water makes up such a vital component of our body, it follows that the volume of water consumed, the form in which it is consumed — pure versus some other beverage — and its quality can have a dramatic effect on one’s health.

It’s been demonstrated that adequate hydration reduces the likelihood of overeating and improves the function and health of human beings. At my naturopathic clinic, I recommend to patients that they consume approximately two litres of pure water a day to meet their physiological water needs.

The volume may need to be adjusted upward depending on the temperature of an individual’s environment, exercise intensity and the amount of dehydrating substances — such as alcohol, coffee and sugar — he or she ingests. Since your body requires approximately 2.3 litres a day of fluid replacement, the remainder can come from other beverages and food. Tea, coffee, juice, soda and other types of fluids do not count as part of the two litres. While these fluids will keep you from becoming dehydrated, they do not replace the healthy components of water your body requires.

What are the parameters of good, healthy water? Fortunately, these can be measured. Measuring devices that give you information on the quality of water you drink are available. Water is routinely tested for toxins, organisms such as bacteria and other contaminants. While identifying and removing impurities from water is essential for good health, several other parameters should be tested to establish whether or not you are drinking water that is giving you optimal health benefits. These include pH, redox potential and resistivity.

The optimal pH level of water is about 6.5-6.8, or slightly acidic (the pH range is 1-14, with 7 being neutral, that is, neither acidic nor alkaline). If the water is too acidic or too alkaline, this can upset the normal pH level of your body and create unhealthy stress.

Measuring the redox potential (rH2) indicates whether the water has the capacity to donate electrons to the body. Available electrons in water provide energy to the body by way of cellular respiration and an oxygen-dependent process known as the Krebs cycle. The body needs electrons to make necessary chemical reactions happen. The ideal range on the rH2 scale is 25-28. While electrons come from food, too, it is essential the water we drink provides energy-rich electrons to help replenish and maintain the high proportion of water our body needs.

Resistivity (r) is a measure of the mineral content of water. Ideally, water will have a resistivity of at least 6,000 ohms, which indicates a fairly low mineral content. Minerals from water are poorly absorbed compared to those found in our foods, so water with a high mineral content can put undue stress on kidneys and other organs and tissues in the body.

These parameters make for good water that supports our bodily functions. Teas, sodas and juices should not be used as a substitute for water because they don’t meet the above parameters. While vegetable or fruit juice can provide nutrients and may be a healthy complement to your diet, drinking just juice might alter your body’s normal pH in a detrimental manner over time.

If you consumed only soda pop or even fruit juice as a principle source of fluid, your pH level would likely be low or acidic and the rH2 levels too high. Such an acidic environment can set the stage for disease.

Go to the source

Although water with a high mineral content is often marketed as therapeutic, I don’t recommend it — for the reasons outlined above. Also popular is distilled water, which, while considered ultra pure, should be avoided for drinking. It has the opposite problem of mineral water in that it has no minerals, which means the body has to draw on its own mineral stores. Perhaps this is what Louis Pasteur was talking about when he suggested we drink 90 per cent of our illnesses. Being aware of this and acting on it might make a huge difference to your health over time.

You might now be wondering how to make sense of this on a day to day basis. The packaging on most of the bottled water we consume when we are on the go won’t have the information needed to assess the water’s quality. But drinking bottled water is still a better option than drinking other liquids, such as large volumes of juice or soda. I suggest people look to their major water source, which for most of us is the municipal water supply in our homes, and spend a bit of time to make sure this source meets the health parameters outlined above.

To help ensure that it does, tap water should be dechlorinated and then processed using a reverse osmosis filter, which should produce almost pure water. To take it a step further, measure this water for the three parameters mentioned above. If it comes close to the ideal ranges, you can be assured you have pure water that you can rely on to meet your health needs.

In considering what beverages to consume on a regular basis, good old dependable water is your best choice. Critically thinking through your beverage choices and their effects on your body can have a positive impact on your overall health.

In health,

Dr. Swetlikoff

Stress is a general term we all can identify with. Yet, the various forms of stress may not be readily recognizable. Some forms can be downright dangerous to your health. Can you tell the difference between normal and unhealthy stress?

Stress is normal if it’s controlled and limited to healthy bodily function. Consider lifting a 20-pound weight. The bicep responds to the weight stress and the muscle strengthens normally. This is good. Now a 50-pound weight for many people can seriously damage the muscle if they are not tolerant to that weight. This is abnormal and damaging stress. How do we deal with unhealthy stress? The key is to first recognize that prolonged, uncontrolled and excessive stress in any form – mental, emotional or physical, weakens and eventually destroys normal bodily function; and secondly, to then take immediate action to mitigate any excessive stress in your life. If you are fatigued, burnt-out, depressed, or in pain and experience abnormal changes in your body you have unresolved stress in your life. The stress may stem from hormone imbalances, nutritional deficiencies, diet, sleep issues, environmental toxicity, or even inappropriate thought processes that lead to choices that sabotage your wellness. These examples of unresolved stresses form the perpetuating factors of disease.

Let’s focus on environmental toxins which have become a common and increasing contributor to mental, physical and emotional stress. Sadly we live in an ever increasingly toxic world. Certain toxins we can control our exposure to, others less so, however, we all can detoxify on a regular basis. Toxic stress affects our body’s ability to regulate. Consider a thermostat in your house. If it no longer regulates the temperature in the room you have a significant problem, especially if it’s minus 10 degrees Celsius outside. Now think of your body. If it cannot regulate and eliminate toxic substances effectively you will begin to create functional disturbances in some areas (usually the weakest organ or tissue).

A functional disturbance is often recognized as a symptom or indication that something is wrong, yet no obvious disorder exists or has yet been established. The symptoms may be general like fatigue, apathy, pain, or inflammation. They tend to come on gradually and at first appearance may not be readily explainable. In fact they tend to “sneak up on you.” Your blood tests are normal but you don’t feel normal. Perpetuation of these symptoms without correcting the imbalance inevitably leads to further problems that quite possibly escalate your risk for serious diseases. Masking these symptoms with suppressive drug or non-drug therapy never gets to the root cause and can set up a perpetuating factor for future disease. You may temporarily feel better but the question becomes, “has anything really changed for the better?”

There are treatments, tests, and technologies available to analyze and detect functional disturbances in your body well before any major condition develops. Adopting a positive mindset will also immediately begin to help you. The key point is to take inventory of all your stresses, engage in a conscious program to reduce or eliminate them early and you will stay ahead of the game. Your reward will be that you will feel better and be healthier. You can be healthy and you can do it!

Yours in health,

Dr. Lorne Swetlikoff, B.Sc, ND

Allergies are increasing in developed countries to the point where it is estimated that between one-quarter and one-third of people have some form of allergy. Regular medications such as antihistamines and steroids are only effective at suppressing the symptoms of allergies, sometimes with unpleasant side effects. In this article, I am going to discuss how I approach the treatment of allergies based on my 25 years in practice with over 10,000 allergy patients.

There are 3 types of allergies affecting most people. Environmental or inhalant allergies are what most people know as hay fever. It comes from spring and summer pollens, dust and animal dander. Food allergies are those that come from common everyday foods. Innate or fixed allergies are strong immediate reactions like peanut allergies that are potentially life threatening. Acquired allergies are better described as sensitivities or intolerances that occur when one food is over consumed daily coupled with poor digestion. The third type of allergies are chemical sensitivities to many synthetic substances such as food additives, medications, household cleaners and many other man-made products.

Allergies are over-reactions of the body to substances such as dust, pollens and foods that normally should not trigger a reaction in the body. The body mistakenly interprets the allergen as a threat to the body and mounts a strong immune defense against it. This is known as a hypersensitivity reaction. It is not a sign of a weak immune system but a sign of an over-reactive immune system. So simply “boosting” the immune system will not work to solve an allergy problem.

An interesting theory as to why allergies are so much more common in developed countries compared to less developed countries is called the “Hygiene Hypothesis”. Children in Western countries benefit from better hygiene practices and therefore get fewer infections during childhood. It is thought that the IgE system, which is part of the immune response causing allergy symptoms, was an evolutionary defense against intestinal parasites such as worms, which are still common in many third-world countries. Since Westerners aren’t getting these infections, the immune system focuses on allergens like house dust and pollens, which in reality are not a threat at all. This is an interesting idea, but it doesn’t take into account several other factors that are also occurring in modern societies such as the exposure to hundreds of synthetic chemicals through the food we eat, the air we breather and the water we drink. I believe, that this increased chemical exposure disrupts the immune system and makes it hyper-vigilant to harmless compounds in our environment.

Another important factor to consider is the inner ecology of the digestive system. The inner ecology of the gut is a delicate balance between numerous strains of beneficial probiotic bacteria. This balance is upset by the modern diet of refined foods, excess sugar and protein and the excessive use of antibiotics. Several studies have shown that people who have increased levels of Clostridium difficile (an opportunistic bacteria common after antibiotic use) have increased rates of allergy. People who have higher levels of the healthy bifido bacteria have lower rates of allergy. Other studies show that mothers or babies who receive lactobacillus bacteria during infancy have lower rates of allergic diseases like eczema or asthma. Babies who are not breast-fed also have higher rates of allergies, especially to formula milk.

Allergies are usually a warning that something is out of balance in the body.

The way that I approach allergies as a naturopathic doctor is determine what is out of balance in the body and to correct it through diet and natural supplements.

The first place I start is to determine what food sensitivities a person might have. Often, people do not even realize that they have food sensitivities. Usually, food sensitivities occur to foods that people tend to eat repeatedly such as dairy, wheat and sugar. They may be feeling tired, achy or have digestive problems.

To reduce allergies, you have to reduce your overall toxic overload, which includes food sensitivities. The lower the overall toxic load on the body, the less likelihood of developing allergy symptoms and other more serious health problems.

The second focus is the digestion. If food isn’t being digestedcompletely, it can enter the bloodstream in larger than expected particles. The body can’t recognize these and therefore it mounts an allergic attack on the “invader”. A related digestive problem is “leaky gut syndrome”. This is a more serious type of digestive disturbance in which damage to the small intestine causes food particles to leak into the bloodstream, triggering allergic reactions. Leaky gut is usually caused by candida yeast overgrowth, overuse of antibiotics and steroids and excessive alcohol. The solution is to stop taking substances, which can cause intestinal damage, and to take restorative nutrients to heal the lining of the intestines. Candida yeast overgrowth in the digestive tract is a common cause of many allergy problems. This is related to the gut ecology problem I discussed earlier where there are not enough healthy probiotic bacterial colonies in the small and large bowel. Restoring balance in the digestive tract by identifying and treating the underlying problem can significantly reduce the potential for allergy expression in individuals.

The third area that I focus on is detoxification. Detoxification is a much more complex procedure than just taking a detox kit once a year. We are exposed to literally thousands of chemicals and therefore there are multiple strategies needed to reduce the body burden to a manageable level. Our bodies have become burdened with the byproducts of modern life such as heavy metals, pesticides, solvents, hydrocarbons, dioxins and many more compounds. Individuals with a relatively healthy immune system and internal detoxification system may only experience relatively minor allergy symptoms. Other people who are unable to cope with this chemical burden go on to develop more serious diseases such as autoimmune disease and cancer. The organs of detoxification such as the liver, kidneys, colon, skin, lungs and lymphatic system must be healthy and robust enough to cope with process of detoxification. As well, the body must have adequate quantities of the numerous nutrients needed to break down chemicals. I have found that reducing the toxic burden of chemicals in the body is a very effective way of resolving certain allergy conditions as well as preventing more serious diseases.

The fourth area that I look at in treating allergies is to assess the effects of stress on the adrenal glands. The adrenal glands respond to emergencies by the secretion of various stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenalin or epinephrine. In severe allergic reactions such as anaphylaxis, where swelling closes off the air supply, the medical treatment is an immediate shot of epinephrine. Many people who are at risk of anaphylaxis carry an “Epi-Pen” containing emergency epinephrine. This is the same hormone secreted by the adrenal glands in times of stress. Individuals who are exposed to chronic stress over a long period of time are subject to adrenal fatigue or burnout. This is the condition, where the adrenal glands have become overworked and lose their functional capacity to keep up with everyday stress. Burnout is the result of adrenal fatigue. Many people before they reach the burnout stage start to experience more allergy symptoms because their adrenal glands can’t keep up with the daily production of stress hormones. So an early sign of adrenal fatigue is a worsening of allergy symptoms or the beginning of an entirely new allergic reaction. A common case is the person who suddenly develops hives for no apparent reason. The trigger may be a food allergy or a chemical they have come into contact with. However, the trigger is not the cause of the allergy. The real cause may be long -term stress, which has resulted in adrenal fatigue and a decrease in adrenal hormone release. The solution is to find better ways to cope with daily stress and to –rebuild the adrenal glands using nutrients such as pantothenic acid, Siberian ginseng, rhodiola, adrenal glandulars and licorice.

The fifth method that I use in allergy treatment is desensitization. Desensitization is giving a person very small doses of what they are allergic to in a very controlled manner under the tongue. We use dilute extracts of the allergen that are specially prepared for this purpose. This is a form of immunotherapy where we slowly educate the immune system to recognize and not to react to an allergen. This is similar in principle to how allergists treat allergies. Their method involves needles or allergy shots and often can take years to get a good result. We find that the sublingual method is less painful and much faster, because we can give several doses per visit. Many studies have been completed showing that sub-lingual desensitization is an effective method of allergy treatment. This method has been recently used to treat children with severe peanut allergies. However, because of the risk of anaphylaxis, the treatment of these severe forms of allergies has been confined to a hospital setting.

Allergy symptoms can be treated by suppressing the symptom with antihistamines or natural alternatives. However, a long-lasting cure of the allergic problem requires a more comprehensive identification and treatment of the underlying causes. Allergies are a sign that the body is beginning to accumulate toxins. According to Dr. Reckeweg, a German homeopath, allergy symptoms are the bodies attempt to rid itself of these very toxins. Therefore a true healing method for allergies assists the body’s attempt at toxin expulsion and restores balance to the human physiology.

Dr. Stefan Kuprowsky

As naturopathic physicians we study the psychological aspects of illness in school. However in practice, we tend to focus on diets and remedies and less so on discovering and resolving the psychological dimensions of illness and disease. In this article, I would like to share my insights into the mind-body approach to healing as it relates to naturopathic medicine. I will also discuss one case from my practice that has validated the mind-body approach for me.

Mind-Body medicine has benefited greatly from the research findings of Psychoneuroimmunology or PNI. PNI has proven the integrity of the mind-body connection by discovering receptor sites for neurotransmitters in unexpected sites such as the heart, liver, and stomach and on T-lymphocytes. I use Hans Selye’s model of the General Adaptation Syndrome to explain to my patients how any stress, be it a physical or psychological can affect both the mind and body in a continual feedback loop. I also explain to them how emotions and feelings produce neuropeptides, which can directly affect our organs and physiology. I also explain how the reverse is also true where organs such as the stomach and GI tract can produce neuropeptides, which affect how we feel emotionally and can actually produce anxiety or panic attacks.

Dr. Han Selye, working on stress research at McGill University said in 1956: “ a general outline of the stress response will not only have to include brain and nerves, pituitary, adrenal, kidney, blood vessels, connective tissue, thyroid, liver and white blood cells but will also have to indicate the manifold interrelations between them”.

Dr. Candace Pert is a neuroscientist who first discovered opiod receptors in the brain. She has gone on to describe the intimate connection of numerous neuropeptides between the body and emotional states in her 1997 book The Molecules of Emotion: the Scientific Basis behind Mind-Body Medicine. In this book she says: “ In the beginning of my work, I matter-of-factly presumed that emotions were in the head or the brain. Now. I would say that they are in the body as well. They are expressed in the body, and are part of the body. I can no longer make a distinction between the brain and the body.”

From these models we learn that there are at least 3 mind-body messenger systems: the central nervous system, the autonomic nervous system and the neuropeptide system. A fourth system which I believe is just as important to mind-body communication is the meridian system as defined by Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Combining this body of knowledge with my work with patients has led me to conclude that an integrated mind-body approach works best in helping patients heal and resolve most, if not all cases of chronic illness. In working with cases such as cancer, fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue I have come to see that these are conditions of both the mind and body and that an integrated approach to treatment is the most effective option for these patients.

I have had an opportunity to work with thousands of patients in my 22-year career as a naturopathic physician. About 15 years ago, I moved my practice to Vancouver Island from Vancouver in order to offer my patients a residential retreat where they could come for one or several weeks to receive in integrated program of natural healing. In this setting I have been able to offer an integrated program of healing that offers patients help for mind, body and spirit.

In this setting, I have had the opportunity to work with patients on an intensive basis spending significant time with them each day. I have witnessed remarkable recoveries and improvements in a variety a chronic conditions. I have seen that all patients benefit greatly from an approach that integrates both a physical and psychological perspective. The approach I use in mind-body medicine is an eclectic one. I teach all patients relaxation and meditation techniques. I encourage them to find a mind-body relaxation technique that suits them such as Tai Chi, yoga or Chi Kung. If they have a religious faith, I encourage them to use it in the context of their healing program. I refer to outside resources, when appropriate, such as psychologists, counselors and hypnotherapists. I talk to them about their stress coping styles and how it may affect their physical and mental health. I like Heart Math as a tool to reduce stress and induce states of self-regulation. This technique has been proven to regulate body rhythms such as heart rate and blood pressure and to reduce cortisol and increase DHEA. A psychological technique that I have found to be quite valuable in creating psychological insights and healing is called Voice Dialogue. Voice Dialogue teaches us that beneath our everyday ego are a whole collection of dominant and repressed personalities that are active in determining our behavioral and emotional responses to life.

The first case I would like to discuss is Bob (pseudonym). Bob is a 39-year-old male who came to see me with a 9-year history of migraines and depression. They started suddenly at 32 years of age. They started suddenly. They are left sided accompanied by nausea, vomiting, visual and auditory auras. At first they were incapacitating causing him to miss work every other day. He had multiple medical tests including a MRI and cerebral spinal fluid examination. They were finally diagnosed as migraines by a neurologist and he was prescribed nadolol, a beta-blocker. While they reduced his migraines by 66 % they caused side effects of fatigue, weight gain and mental dullness.

At age 34 he was given Paxil for symptoms of clinical depression.

His headaches now occur about twice weekly as opposed to every day before the medication. They seem to get worse on weekends. Bob wakes up tired in the morning and often has trouble falling asleep. He had nocturia 2 or 3 times a night. His back used to go out on him about twice a year, but this symptom stopped after the migraines started. Bob’s diet is unexceptional and average North American. He has one or two coffees a day and drinks about 3 drinks a week.

Bob is involved in the construction trade specializing in the repair of foundations in older homes. He loves his work, as it is creative, involves physical activity and management skills. Bob has been married for 12 years, has 3 children and is a practicing Christian.

I tested Bob for food allergies and I found him to be sensitive to cheese, bananas, potatoes, chicken, pork walnuts, hazelnuts and sulfites. Electrodiagnostic testing indicated stress in the gall bladder, bladder and colon. Hair Analysis revealed low magnesium and elevated mercury.

Bob was with me for a 3day assessment. On the second day, I began to probe his psychological health. Bob revealed to me a troubled marriage. HE and his wife were Christians and had met through church and family connections. However, their sexual relationship broke during their engagement. They went to marriage counseling during their engagement and several times during their marriage. His wife lost all interest in physical intimacy with him. She focused on bringing up their children and once the children were in school, she pursued a high level executive career. She was highly critical about Bob’s personality and the way he managed his business. He would constantly nag him over petty things and try to control him as much as possible. Bob had a very easy-going personality and didn’t stand up to his wife’s criticisms. They had gone to many marriage I felt he was “henpecked husband” and could see why he might be depressed and suffering from chronic migraines.

On the third day, I gave Bob my assessment and treatment plan before he returned home. I prescribed a healthy vegetarian and seafood diet with allergy avoidance. I prescribed daily exercise to reduce stress and biofeedback to help control blood flow to the brain. I gave him a high antioxidant multi-vitamin, some lipotropic and liver botanicals, 5 HTP to boost serotonin and to prevent migraines, gingko to prevent serotonin release in the cerebral arteries and magnesium to relax muscle spasms.

I also suggested something I had never done before with any patient. I told him that although it wasn’t my place to give him marriage advice, I thought that his marriage was a sham and that the stress in staying with a loveless and controlling woman was in all likelihood depleting his body of serotonin and therefore causing both his migraines and depression.

I suggested that he either bring the love and intimacy back into his marriage or divorce her. I was surprised by the boldness of my advice, but I thought it was truthful and authentic.

I saw Bob two months later. His migraines and all signs of depression had completely disappeared. He had stopped the paxil and nadolol. He had lost some weight, was sleeping better and was eating more fruits and vegetables. He was also seeing a psychiatrist. I asked him about his wife. He told his wife he was leaving her and they were now involved in a custody battle over the children. He was still living in the family home. His migraines vanished as soon as he made up his mind to leave her and had communicated this to her. Even though his stress levels had risen, Bob for the first time in many years began to take control of his life and to be honest with himself and his wife.

Bob did move out and divorce his wife. He continues to be free of migraines and depression to this day.

Dr. Stefan Kuprowsky

References
Dacher, Elliott Intentional Healing: A guide to the Mind/Body Healing System, 1996, Marlowe and Company
Khalsa, Dharma Singh and Cameron Stauth, 2002, Meditation as Medicine Fireside Books
Mate, Gabor When the Body Says No, 2003, Knopf Canada
Miller, Emmett E. Deep Healing: the Essence of Mind-Body Medicine, 1997, Hay House
Millenson, J.R. Mind Matters: Psychological Medicine in Holistic Practice, 1995, Eastland Press
Pert, Candace Molecules of Emotion, 1997, Scribner Press
Selye, Hans The Stress of Life, 1956, McGraw-Hill Book Company