Hope for Endometriosis

Endometriosis is one of the most common complaints I come across with my female patients seeking fertility support. Typically it occurs in ten percent of women but for those with fertility challenges endometriosis is thought to be the culprit almost fifty percent of the

time. Symptoms are typically related to pelvic pain; pain with periods, pain with intercourse, vague abdominal pain, and pain with bowel movements. Although it has a hereditary trend, some women do not know they have the condition until faced with challenges when trying
to conceive.
Endometriosis is thought to occur during fetal development when cells from the inner lining of the uterus migrate, or are misplaced, elsewhere
in the body. Most often these cells end up in the pelvic cavity between the uterus and the rectum, but they have been discovered in other location such as the lungs, brain, and nasal passages. Many women start the birth control pill at a young age due to the
symptoms related to endometriosis, such as the aforementioned pain, and irregular, unpredictable cycles.  More often than not, these women's cycles are "regulated" on the pill and are then faced with the
return of symptoms when they discontinue the birth control pills in an
attempt to conceive.
As a naturopathic doctor my treatment goal is to help relieve symptoms
while seeking to address the underlying cause of disease. With
endometriosis this involves addressing the pain caused by
inflammation. Usually the most effective way to reduce overall
inflammation in a person’s entire system to identify and remove food
sensitivities, and to switch foods high in arachadonic acid with those
high in omega three fatty acids.  The most common denominator in the
above food equation is the moderation or complete removal of foods made
from cow's dairy. Approximately fifty percent of adults have at least
some degree of dairy intolerance, and dairy foods are also high in
pro-inflammatory fats; aracahadonic acid. Replacing some dairy foods
with hemp milk, flax oil, and chia seeds is one way to tip the
inflammation scales in your favor. 
Another common treatment goal with endometriosis is to balance the
immune system. Endometriosis does have an autoimmune component as many
women who are tested have self versus self antibodies.  Coincidently
removal of food sensitive’s can help with immune system balance, as
can my three all around favorite supplements; probiotics, fish oil,
and vitamin D. Another important component of immune regulation is
stress management. The physical pain of endometriosis can cause
depression and anxiety, combined with the disappointment of fertility
challenges, it can be challenging for women to move through without
some periods of high tension. Breathing techniques, mind-body
awareness and gentle exercises can help with stress management, and thus balance of the stress hormone cortisol.
As pain relents, stress relents, and the immune system
appears to be more balanced we may also have to employ natural
hormone support to regain regular monthly cycles. Here, the brassica family of foods such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts can help to balance female reproductive hormones.  Herbal medicines such as chaste tree berry, dong qaui and false unicorn root
can also be very helpful. Acupuncture and traditional Chinese herbal blends
are an effective choice for regulating hormones, relieving pain, and
increasing blood circulation to the pelvic region.
All of these natural approaches to endometriosis treatment can be used
on their own or in combination with conventional treatments such as
surgery, clomid, IUI and In vitro fertilization. I would suggest
arranging a consult with myself (or another naturopathic doctor) before starting any of the nutritional or herbal treatments described above, to ensure safety and efficacy. Women are so often times doubtful when I tell them their periods do not have to be painful, and amazed when this becomes their actuality. 

Naturopathic Medicine can help with Anxiety

Anxiety is one of the more common complaints that I see clinically, the underlying cause of anxiety can be from a myriad of sources; biochemical or genetic predisposition, long term or acute life stressors, relationship stress, physical illness, insomnia, poor diet, hormonal imbalances, etc. It becomes the job of the naturopathic doctor to uncover the underlying cause of a person’s anxiety, while simultaneously treating the current symptoms to bring balance to the patient’s life experience. Fortunately anxiety is a complaint that typically responds well to naturopathic therapeutics; on their own, as well as in conjunction with pharmaceutical approaches.

I love to combine our gentle effective medicines and modalities with mindfulness based practices. Yoga, meditation, breathing exercises and cognitive behavioral therapy are all effective ways to teach the practice of letting go and letting be. Many people with anxiety disorders have never learned how to effectively help themselves through periods of intense stress and anxiety, the aforementioned mindfulness techniques are invaluable to learn, or re-learn internal coping strategies.

There are many herbal medicines in several different classes that we consider when a patient presents with anxiety. Some of these herbs work similarly to benzodiazepines, causing mild sedation as they modulate the GABA receptors in the brain; valerian and passionflower are examples of sedative herbs. Others are even more gentle in their sedative effects, but are helpful in calming and settling the mind, we call these  herbs nerviness; lemon balm and chamomile are examples of nervines. Other herbals help to support the adrenal glands. The adrenal glands help to stabilize stress response, blood sugar and reproductive hormones, this class of herbs are called adaptogens; rhodiola and ashwaghanda are examples of adaptogen herbs that help us to recover from long periods of physical or emotional stress.

Acupuncture is another fantastic tool to use for acute or chronic anxiety states, oftentimes people experiencing anxiety need support in their heart and pericardium  channels’ to soothe mental and spiritual agitation, improve sleep and restore calm. It is also helpful to stimulate the kidney energies to assuage fears and restore physical and mental energy. The beauty of acupuncture is the ability to customize each individual’s treatment protocol, and easily make minor adjustments to the protocol with each visit based on symptom feedback, as well as traditional Chinese medicine tongue and pulse readings.

Nutrition and nutriceutical supplementation are the back bone of many naturopathic treatment protocols. “Clean” protein with every meal ensures the presence of amino acid building blocks used by our body to make neurotransmitters like serotonin, gaba, and dopamine.  Protein if often swapped out of breakfast in exchange for a caffeinated beverage, in the long run this nutritional bargain may be more anxiety promoting than our original plan of getting “extra energy” from a coffee or tea. Eating meals at regular times is important for our mental health and feeling of well being by keeping our blood sugar levels more stable throughout the day. There are many nutritional supplements that help people manage their anxiety, b vitamins, theanine, gaba, and inositol have become favorite supportive additions to my treatment protocols over the years.

If you are not certain if the symptoms that  you are experiencing are related to anxiety, bring it up at your next visit with your ND, we will certainly work with you to help you to get a better understanding of your symptom presentation.