First Do No Harm

First do no harm - it's a tenet, a guiding principle of practice that is of the utmost importance to all medical professionals.  Without a doubt, the vast majority of doctors don't intend to harm.  However, there are many ways to interpret this guideline.  The "do no harm" part is quite clear, but what about "first"?

As a Naturopathic Doctor, to me first do no harm means choosing a first-line treatment that is the least invasive, has the least side effects and potential for harm, while also being effective.  So, for example, I will often use dietary/lifestyle/nutrient treatments before recommending acupuncture or herbs.  Although acupuncture and herbs are natural, they can have unwanted effects, and therefore, they are not always a first choice for me.

Where am I going with all of this?  It truly saddens me that I have patients coming in on multiple medications when a simple vitamin supplement and perhaps a diet adjustment, and a herb or two would have sufficed.  Not only did they not receive what the body really needs, what it's really asking for by showing them those symptoms, but now it has also been harmed by a medication that was perhaps not necessary.  I say harmed, because almost all medications do harm.  They are often hard on the liver, taxing/stressing it, and they often work against the body's natural functions, suppressing them instead of working with them towards cure/better health.  Yes, they give us "desired effects" but at what cost?

One of the best scenarios that I can give to illustrate this point is migraine prevention.  It has been well-researched that vitamin B2 (riboflavin), magnesium, vitamin B12, and coQ10 have superb migraine-prevention qualities, and can both reduce the frequency and intensity of migraines.  There is some research on vitamin B3 (niacin)'s success when taken at the onset of acute attacks.  The herbs Tanacetum parthenium (feverfew) and Petasites hybridus (butterbur) have also been extensively researched for their migraine preventing properties.

Rarely, my clients' MDs have recommended vitamin treatment first.  When it does happen, it's fantastic, and something I wish more MDs would do!  Unfortunately, much more commonly, my clients come in on medications for migraine prevention.  So, instead of correcting a simple deficiency, people are instead put on the beta blockers propanolol or timolol (usually used for high blood pressure) or the anti-seizure medication divalproex or topiramate.

These are not benign medications.  Beta blockers have a side effect profile that includes fatigue and lethargy, depression, memory loss, vivid dreams/nightmares, dizziness/lightheadedness upon standing, reduced exercise capacity, cold hands and feet, asthma, decreased heart function, gastrointestinal problems, and sexual dysfunction.

Many of the potential side effects of anti-seizure medication are even more alarming: tingling sensation in arms and legs, weight loss or gain, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, cramps, hair loss, dizziness, sleepiness, blurred vision, pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), and liver damage.

As an aside, I was told by one of my McMaster professors that there is no such thing as side effects.  All of the effects of drugs occur because of their mechanism of action.  The only difference is whether they are wanted effects or unwanted effects.  Just something to think about ;)

Furthermore, in addition to these side effects, these medications also deplete the body of vital vitamins and minerals.  Beta blockers deplete the body of coQ10 by interfering with coQ10's production in the body, which is quite paradoxical, as correcting a coQ10 deficiency/insufficiency aids in migraine prevention.  So, what do you think happens when coQ10 is depleted in a migraine sufferer?  The underlying problem can get worse while the medication masks what is really going on inside the body.  This problem is in addition to putting people at a greater risk of heart failure as a result of coQ10 deficiency.

Additionally, melatonin levels may be decreased, leading to sleeping problems because of the beta blockers blocking the adrenergic beta1 receptors, which may inhibit the release of the enzyme serotonin-N-acetyltransferase.  This enzyme is responsible for the synthesis of melatonin from serotonin, so when it is lacking, melatonin levels may drop, leading to insomnia.

Topamax (topiramate) also leads to nutrient depletion, specifically affecting vitamin B12 by reducing its absorption when used long-term.  As mentioned above, vitamin B12 insufficiency can also be causal in migraine pathogenesis, so again, this medication may further exacerbate the underlying cause of migraines in some people.

This post may sound like I'm 100% anti-medication, but it's not true.  Despite my feelings about medications, I do believe that many are great discoveries and can help people get their quality of life back.  For many people, migraines can be absolutely debilitating, and if they can take something that will relieve their suffering, I'm all for it.

What I'm not all for is using it as a first-line treatment, a first choice.  I wish diet, lifestyle, vitamins, minerals, nutrients, homeopathics, herbs, and acupuncture would be used prior to recommending something that can have such a serious impact on our bodies.  If none of these things work, then I think it's great that we have medications as a last resort.  It's just upsetting when it's the opposite: a patient is told to give acupuncture or vitamins a shot as a last ditch effort after maxing out their dosage of Topamax...

That's really
backwards, isn't it?  How did vitamins become a last resort?  Shouldn't they be tried first?

What do you think?  I'd love to hear your thoughts!  Leave a comment below!

So you've caught a cold...

What to do?

You have three options.


1. Don't do anything.  Let it run its course.

This is an okay option, but really, who wants to just be sick?  In our fast-paced, highly demanding culture, most of us don't have time to be sick.  We want to get better, and we want it now!  Also, this option can lead to bigger and "badder" things down the road - laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia...those are not good things to have, and they just require even more of our time.





2. Take some over-the counter cold medication.

This is the overwhelmingly common route.  Unfortunately, it's the worst out of the three.

My Asian Medicine professor back at CCNM always said, "Over the counter cold and flu medications lower your fever, dry up your nose, and stop your cough.  You just took away three of your body's natural defenses against cold and flu bugs."

And it's 100% true.

Let's take a look at  a common cold and flu product:

Nighttime formula INGREDIENTS

Active Ingredients (in each 15 ml tablespoon) (Purpose)

Acetaminophen 325 mg (Pain reliever/fever reducer)

Dextromethorphan HBr 15 mg (Cough suppressant)

Doxylamine succinate 6.25 mg (Antihistamine)

DAYtime formula INGREDIENTS

Active Ingredients (in each 15 ml tablespoon) (Purpose)

Acetaminophen 325 mg (Pain reliever/fever reducer)

Dextromethorphan HBr 10 mg (Cough suppressant)

Phenylephrine HCl 5 mg (Nasal decongestant)

Acetaminophen: analgesic (pain reliever) and antipyretic (fever reducer).  When we're sick, our bodies crank up the heat to kill the viruses and/or bacteria that are invading them.  Why do we want to turn this off?

Dextromethorphan: antitussive (cough suppressant).  We generally don't cough for no reason.  There's usually something irritating the lungs or the throat when we cough.  When we have a cold, that's usually mucous.  It's gross, but cough it up, you get better, cough goes away.  Don't cough it up, and it putrefies and often creates the perfect breeding ground for a secondary infection like bronchitis or pneumonia.

Doxylamine succinate: sedating antihistamine and belongs to a class of medications known as anticholinergics.  What these substances do is decrease mucous production in the nose and throat (which can actually make sore throats feel worse), dry the mouth, decrease sweating, urination, and bowel movements.  For a body that's trying to get rid of infected cells and the waste products of the immune system's attack on the virus/bacteria, this is pretty detrimental.  Furthermore, mucous in smaller amounts is a protective barrier for the body's "mucous membranes", hence the name.  Reduced urination can also increase the risk of urinary tract infections, especially in women - that's the last thing you want if you already have a cold!

Phenylephrine HCl: alpha1-adrenergic receptor agonist (used primarily as a decongestant).  This medication works by decreasing the blood flow to the blood vessels of the nose and sinuses, which leads to decreased mucosal swelling in the nose.  Again, you just need to think about why this symptom is happening in the first place to determine whether this medication is detrimental or not.  Plus, these decongestants are a prime example of everyone's favourite physics law: For every action there's a reaction.  Upon stopping this drug, many people experience rebound swelling of the nasal and sinus mucosa that can sometimes be worse than it was to begin with!

This post was only supposed to be about the pharmaceutical ingredients and their detrimental effects on healing from colds and flus, however, I can't not mention the "other stuff" that you're getting with these medications.  

Night Formula Inactive Ingredients

Soothing Cherry: acesulfame potassium, alcohol, citric acid, FD&C Blue No. 1, FD&C Red No. 40, flavor, high fructose corn syrup, polyethylene glycol, propylene glycol, purified water, saccharin sodium, sodium citrate

Day Formula Inactive Ingredients

Carboxymethylcellulose sodium, citric acid, disodium EDTA, FD&C Yellow No. 6, flavor, glycerin, propylene glycol, purified water, saccharin sodium, sodium benzoate, sodium chloride, sodium citrate, sorbitol, sucralose

Acesulfame potassium, saccharin sodium, sucralose: artificial sweeteners = poison

High fructose corn syrup: one of the worst forms of sugar you can consume and linked to virtually every chronic disease that is prevalent in Western society

FD&C Blue No. 1, FD&C Red No. 40, FD&C Yellow No. 6: toxic and linked to behavioural problems and hyperactivity in children.  Many are also banned in various countries

Polyethylene glycol: petroleum-based compound often contaminated with ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane (The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies ethylene oxide as a known human carcinogen and 1,4-dioxane as a possible human carcinogen).

Propylene glycol: found in automatic brake and hydraulic fluid, industrial antifreeze, cosmetic products, stain removers, fabric softener, degreaser, adhesives, wallpaper stripper...you get the point, not something you really want to consume (even if it's in smaller concentrations).  The form used in cosmetics is known to be a skin irritant and can cause liver abnormalities and kidney damage.

Sodium benzoate: a preservative, known to be neurotoxic to aquatic animals and is toxic/lethal to humans in high doses, endocrine disruption and toxic to the liver at higher doses.  Most worrisome is when it combines with vitamin C (ascorbic acid) or citric acid (look above and you'll see citric acid in both the day and night formulations).  This combination creates benzene, a known carcinogen!

So, as you can see, even the "inactive" ingredients are trouble!  Definitely not something you want to ingest at any time, but especially not when you're fighting off a cold.

Finally, I'll get to your last option when you have a cold:

3. Take something natural!

If you're reading this article, I'm sure you've probably already come to this conclusion, too.  By taking something natural, you are treating the cause: the infection.  You're also working with the body, instead of against it.  You will most likely be sick for a shorter duration (or avoid getting sick altogether if you catch it early enough!) and drastically reduce your chances of developing any secondary infections like bronchitis or pneumonia.

You may be thinking, that's all fine and dandy, but what do I take?  You want to look for herbs with the following actions (adapted from Medical Herbalism by Hoffman):

Antimicrobial: help the body to destroy or resist pathogens, either by directly interacting with a pathogen or via the herb's interaction with the immune response.  These are useful in virtually all types of infections.  Herbs such as garlic, echinacea, and goldenseal fall into this category.

Anticatarrhal: these work by making mucous less viscous so that it's easier for the body to remove and are useful in ear, nose, and throat infections.  Herbs such as yarrow and goldenrod fall into this category.

Demulcent: rich in mucilage and can soothe and protect irritated or inflamed internal tissue.  These can be very soothing to sore throats due to infection or coughing, without adversely affecting the immune response.  Herbs such as marshmallow, slippery elm, and cornsilk fall into this category.

Expectorant: herbs that facilitate or accelerate the removal of bronchial secretions from the bronchi and trachea.  These don't stop the cough, they work with the body to make it work more efficiently!  There are expectorant herbs suited to dry, irritating coughs as well as those better suited to wet, productive coughs.  Herbs such as elecampane, sundew, horehound, and coltsfoot fall into this category.

As you can see, these actions are a lot more in line with nature and the body's natural immune response than the pharmaceuticals listed above.  If you feel a cold coming on or already have one, see your ND to send those bugs packing so you can get back to normal, quicker!

The information in this blog is designed for educational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting your doctor. Please consult a doctor with any questions or concerns you might have.

It’s that time of year again...

It is ragweed season, when many of us are mildly to severely afflicted with runny noses, itchy eyes, and sneezing.  Also for many, conventional antihistamines are not very effective.  Luckily, they are not our only option.  There are many other things that can be done to both control symptoms, but more importantly treat the root cause of the allergies and prevent them from happening in the first place:

Drink lemon water – Fresh lemon in water is very cleansing for the body, and because allergies are a sign of an overburdened liver, anything that stimulates liver cleansing will be beneficial.

Avoid processed food – These foods are full of chemicals and preservatives, which will only put more demands on the liver.  Eliminate or reduce your intake to reduce allergies.

Avoid food sensitivities – We all have them, to some degree.  These are not anaphylactic allergies, but chronic, delayed-response sensitivities to common foods such as wheat, dairy, soy, eggs, and others.  Continued ingestion of foods to which we are sensitive can cause immune system dysfunction.

Good bacteria – found in fermented foods as well as probiotic supplements, these guys help to balance the immune system are can be helpful in reducing allergies.

Neti pot – This natural treatment became popular after it appeared on Oprah.  It’s a saline nasal flush and has been found to be a mild and effective way to treat seasonal allergies by the International Archives of Allergy & Immunology.

Quercetin – This is a compound called a bioflavonoid that is derived from plants which acts as a natural antihistamine.  It can be found in citrus fruits, onions, apples, parsley, tea, tomatoes, broccoli, and lettuce, so eat up!  It can also be taken in supplemental form for those who can’t achieve high enough levels through diet alone.

Herbs – There are many traditional herbs that are useful in not only preventing the release of histamine but also in balancing the body and cleansing out any toxic burden that may be promoting allergies.  These are best taken under the guidance of a licensed professional.

Acupuncture – This ancient treatment has been used for thousands of years to treat many health concerns and diseases, including allergies.  In Chinese Medicine, allergies can be attributed to imbalances in several organs, and a Naturopathic Doctor or Acupuncturist experienced in traditional Chinese Medicine can create an individualized treatment uniquely tailored to each person’s unique predispositions and imbalances.

Welcome!

Hi everyone!

Welcome to the BRAND NEW Core Naturopathics Blog & News Page!

It is my hope that this page will prove very useful and helpful to all interested in naturopathic medicine and natural health and healing.

I hope to post any new and exciting updates about the clinic, as well as frequent articles and health tips & tricks, all written by yours truly :-)

I will also be updating this blog with our videos, which will contain topics and info such as services and treatments provided, interesting facts regarding nutrients, herbs, homeopathics, natural health products, etc., clinic tours, as well as delicious and healthy recipes and cooking tutorials!

I'd love for this blog to be as interactive as possible, so please feel free to leave me comments or email me at corenaturopathics@gmail.com to leave any feedback - I'd really like to hear from you!

If there's any topic, treatment, or health issue that you've been wondering about or would like more info about, please let me know!  I'm always looking for suggestions for new articles and videos and would love your help!

Well, thanks for reading, and I look forward to interacting with you all very soon!

Yours in good health,

Dr. Jenna McNamee, ND