Integrative Medicine NES

Greetings all.

I have heard a few people throw around the term “Integrative Medicine” recently and thought about it and felt I should make people aware of just how “Integrative’ NES is. When we speak of integrative medicine here I am refering to using both natural and allopathic approaches for the benefit of the client. But as we all know, not all practitioners are open to this kind of collaboration, why I will never know, because it can be very successful for clients or patients that fall into the unusual category.

Very few allopathic doctors or pharmacists are fully aware of herbal medicines and their usage and benefit nor are they adept at prescribing them. This usually falls to the Naturopath to know about…of course! But if you have ever tried this approach it can be tricky with the blending of pharmaceuticals and herbal medicines as there are interactions and is sometimes not favourable or downright unsafe. This is where NES steps in and once again shows it’s superiorority.

NES work on a different level to any biochemical medicine and as such is completely safe for use with most any other type of medicines allopathic or herbal. I of course recommend herbal but if you are a person who must remain on prescribed medicines whilst you use NES, then you are safe as. This is great news for people wanting to get on top of problems like high blood pressure etc who need to take their medicines but who can also still hugely benefit from using NES as well at the same time. I have done this successfully with some of my clients and they have in most cases at least halved the amount of medicine they need to take and in a few cases were even able to wean off the drugs altogether. This is best done slowly and with the monitoring of the prescribing doctor of course. NES in most cases helps these medicines to do their job more efficiently and may even help to reduce side effects.

This is surely a good thing for people suffering from long term illnesses and conditions who wish to reduce their medication for one reason or another…usually the side effects. It means that there can be a two pronged attack against the problem and with zero interaction…integrated medicine. The NES system is able to pick up such an in depth amount of information that it often can find things going on in the body before they even present with a physical symptom..I’ll leave you to ponder the usefulness of that!

Have a great day!

Craig Hitchens. B.HSc. NESCP

Pakinson’s Disease – Food & Supplements To Help

Greetings to everyone.

It’s rare that a simple, humble food turns out to have the same healing compound as a pharmaceutical. But in the case of Parkinson’s Disease, it is one case where this happens! Common in British and much of European food, fresh broad beans are a dietary source of Levodopa, which converts to Dopamine – exactly what needs to be restored in brain tissue to facilitate normal muscle action. If you’ve been diagnosed with Parkinson’s and want to eat broad beans, discuss this choice with your doctor, especially if you’re already taking other drugs.

Eating at least one serve per week of cold water fish such as Salmon is also recommended. Fish contains fish oils which provide essential fatty acids to the body. Finally, tank up on your antioxidants, which can play a significant role in delaying the progress of Parkinsons. A few to consider:

ALA – Alpha Lipoic Acid

This is a very powerful antioxidant and helps Vitamin E and C do their antioxidant work. Researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Centre in the USA found that ALA protected brain cells from certain hazardous chemicals implicated in Parkinson’s. Typical Dosage: 50-200mg Daily.

Huperzine A

This supplement inhibits acetylcholinesterase , a compound that decreases nerve transmission. Typical Dosage: 25-50 micrograms 2-4 times daily. CAUTION: If you are having surgey be sure to tell your doctor and anaesthatist that you are taking this.

Velvet Bean Extract

Another bean that is high in Levodopa, this one has actually been tested on Parkinson’s patients and found to be effective. Typical Dosage: 500mg 2-3 times daily. Look for products that have 10% L-dopa content.

Vitamin E & Selenium

Both of these supplements have been shown to slow progression of symptoms in Parkinson’s. Typical Dosage: 800mg of vitamin E per day; 200-400mg of Selenium per day.

Vitamin C & Bioflavanoids

Tests have shown that vitamin C combined with bioflavanoids, used in the early stages of Parkinsons, may help. It can also help counteract the side effects of L-dopa therapy. Typical doasge:1000-3000mg daily.

Folic Acid

Deficiency of folic acid has been linked to development of Parkinsons. Typical Dosage: 400-800 Micrograms daily.

SAM-e ( S-adenosylmethionine )

Tests conducted on elderly people show that this compound can help alleviate depression and boost mental function. Typical Dosage: 200-1200mg daily.

These are simple helpers and should not replace medical treatments. Give them a try to help out with this condition.

Don’t forget to leave your comments!

Have a great day!

Craig Hitchens. B.HSc.

Hair Loss – Natural Remedies

What is Hair Loss?

Also known as: Alopecia

The average human scalp contains 100,000 hair follicles. Red-haired scalps average about 25 percent fewer hairs and blond-haired heads tend to average about 25 percent more hairs than brown-haired scalps. At puberty, the hairline moves back a little in 96 percent of boys due to the androgen hormone spurt.

The medical term alopecia means partial or complete loss of hair. Hair loss may result from genetic factors, aging, or local or systemic disease. Causes of hair loss can be grouped into the following categories:

Male or female pattern baldness
This type of hair loss requires the presence of androgens but the cause is unknown. The extent of hair loss in any man depends greatly on the genes he inherits from the father, mother or both.

Hair loss begins in the temples or at the top of the head. If male pattern hair loss begins in the mid-teens, subsequent hair loss is usually is fairly extensive. Male balding goes in waves. The hair loss may begin in the early 20’s, then stop, only to start again in a few years. By the age of 20 to 30 years, 30 percent of men have bald spots. This continues to rise until age 50-60, when 50 percent of men are completely bald.

The rate of hair loss is affected by advancing age, the tendency to bald early due to inherited genes, and an overabundance of the male hormone dihydrotestosterone within the hair follicle.

Although balding men have above average amounts of dihydrotestosterone in their hair follicles, they usually do not have above average circulating testosterone levels.

Female pattern baldness is not as common as male pattern, but is on the rise. It is confined to thinning of the hair predominantly at the top of the head. Complete baldness is rare.

Toxic alopecia
This type of hair loss is temporary and can a severe and often infectious disease by a period of as long as three to four months. It can occur in hypothyroidism, diabetes, hormonal problems and imbalance, nutrient and vitamin deficiencies, such as iron and biotin, hypopituitarism, parasites, poor digestion, early stage of syphilis, after pregnancy, and with thallium compounds, vitamin A or retinoid overdoses, or other cytotoxic drugs.

Alopecia areata
This is a sudden hair loss in demarcated areas. It can affect any hairy area, but most frequently affects the scalp and beard. Hair loss confined to a few areas is often reversed in a few months even without treatment. Recurrences may occur. Alopecia areata usually occurs in people with no obvious skin disease or systemic disease, but in rare cases lab tests may show anti-microsomial antibodies to thyroglobulin, gastric parietal cells and adrenal cells.

Trichotillomania (hair pulling)
Trichotillomania is a habit that usually appears in childhood. This condition is often hard to differentiate from alopecia areata, and may remain undiagnosed for a long time. Hairs may be broken, hairs may be different lengths, and there may be regrowth seen.

Scarring alopecia
Scarring alopecia results from inflammation and tissue destruction. It may be due to injuries such as burns, physical trauma, or destruction after xrays. In these cases, little regrowth is expected. Other causes are cutaneous lupus erythematosus, lichen planus, chronic deep bacterial or fungal infections, deep ulcers, sarcoidosis, syphilis, or tuberculosis. Slow growing tumors of the scalp are a rare cause of hair loss.

Diagnosis

A dermatologist can conduct microscopic exam of plucked hair to differentiate between causes of hair loss and balding. This method compares the different phases of hair growth. Normally, 80-90 % of hairs are in the growing phase, also called anagen phase, the rest are in resting phase, also called telogen phase. Experienced and trained clinicians can distinguish anagen hairs, which have sheaths attached to their roots, from telogen hairs which have no sheaths and have tiny bulbs at their roots. Other methods are biopsy of the scalp, physical examination and blood tests to detect any underlying metabolic, infectious, or inflammatory condition that could be causing secondary hair loss.

Natural Treatments for Hair Loss

 

Diet
A diet that contains whole foods, particularly the outer skin of plants such as potatoes, cucumbers, green and red peppers, and sprouts can give strength to hair because they are rich in the mineral silica. Foods that are high in iron, such as lean meats, are important for people with a known iron deficiency.

Nutritional Supplements, Vitamins & Herbs
Saw palmetto – Saw palmetto oil is an accepted treatment for benign prostate hyperplasia in men. It appears to interact with various sex hormones, including dihydrotestoseteron (DHT). DHT is produced from testosterone by enzyme 5-alpha-reductase. Like most enzymes, it can be inhibited. There has been great medical interest in subtances that have the potential for inhibiting 5-alpha-reductase, and thereby preventing or treating benign prostate hyperplasia.

Theoretically, saw palmetto could have also be used to block DHT and prevent hair loss. Saw palmetto is believed to have a similar mechanism of action to the anti-androgenic drug finasteride (Propecia), which has been used in low doses for hair loss.

Folic acid, biotin, vitamin B5, para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA), and silica are supplements that may help maintain the color and thickness of hair.

Be sure to check your daily intake of zinc through supplements. Intake of 30 mg or higher for more than three months can induce a deficiency of copper, and low copper levels can result in hair loss. Speak to a health practitioner before supplementing copper to avoid copper overdose.

Aromatherapy
The results of one research study suggest that the essential oils of thyme, rosemary, lavender, and cedarwood mixed with an oil and applied on the areas of hair loss may stimulate hair growth. This double blind, placebo-controlled study enrolled 84 people who who massaged either these essential oils or a non-treatment oil into their scalps each night for seven months. Results showed that 44% of people in the treatment group had new hair growth compared to only 15% in the control group.

Hair Oil Recipe

• 3 drops of essential oil of thyme
• 3 drops of essential oil of lavender
• 3 drops of essential oil of rosemary
• 3 drops of essential oil of cedarwood
• 1/8 cup of grapeseed oil
• 1/8 cup of jojoba oil

Mix the ingredients together. Cover your pillow with an old towel. Apply several drops of the mixture to areas of hair loss each night, massaging gently into scalp for 3-5 minutes. Store the oil tightly covered. Do not take internally or near the eye area.

Ayurveda
Bhringaraj oil or brahmi oil are applied to the scalp regularly to stimulate hair growth. The Ayurvedic herbs ashwagandha and amla are also reported to stimulate hair growth.

Traditional Chinese Medicine
In traditional Chinese medicine, hair loss is linked to kidney deficiency syndrome. Other symptoms of kidney deficiency are weakness and fatigue and low back weakness. Kidney energy is believed to naturally decline with age, but people with early or accelerated hair loss may have particularly weak kidney energy. Kidney tonics are usually recommended.

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