Q & A Part 1

You asked, and I answered!  Here are some of the questions that were sent in to me:





Q: Why is it so expensive to see a Naturopathic Doctor?

A: I can completely understand this question - seeing an ND, especially for the first time is not cheap.  It's definitely an investment in one's health.  A lot of how we view expenses, however, are based on our perceptions and how we compare them to each other.  In Canada, we receive 'free' healthcare (technically not free as funded by our taxes, but it feels that way - we see an MD and don't have to pay anything to them upfront).  What could be cheaper than free?

So, compared to conventional care, the price tag on naturopathic care seems pretty steep.  There are several things that can put this into perspective, however.  How much do you pay your hairstylist, mechanic, plumber?  How much do you spend on your car per year?  What about that morning coffee - it adds up!  Comparatively, naturopathic care is quite similar in terms of cost when comparing to these other services.  Don't you think you should invest a little more in your health?  By placing an importance on it now, you may be able to avoid sickness, chronic disease, and expensive prescription medication (that many people have to pay for on their own) and instead be strong, vital, and full of energy into your elder years.  It will pay off in the long run!





Q: Why do I get sick again soon after I've been on antibiotics?

A: The answer to this question has to do with all of the friendly bacteria that the antibiotics are killing off.  Many of us don't really realize it, but a huge percentage of our immune system actually resides in our gut and the friendly bacteria play an important role in keeping us healthy and our immune systems functioning well.  When they are killed off, we become vulnerable to other viruses and bacteria.  This is why taking probiotics both during an antibiotic treatment and afterwards is so important.  Discuss with your ND what an effective dose will be for you.

Furthermore, antibiotics are great in some instances and can and have saved lives, but they don't really fix the problem of why you got sick in the first place - why is your immune system not functioning as it should be?  Are you eating something (or lots of things) that are bogging you down and may not be agreeing with you?  Are you overly stressed?  Are you toxic?  Are you simply burned out?  All of these things can influence how often we get sick, and as antibiotics don't address any of these factors, you're going to continue to get sick until you do something that does address them.




Q: Why are NDs so 'gaga' over probiotics?  What's wrong with yogurt?

A: This is a great question, and one that I get all the time in practice.  Although yogurt has some probiotics in it, it doesn't have many, and what it had at the time of processing and production is probably mostly gone by the time it finds itself on your spoon.  CFU - colony-forming units is the standard unit used to measure the amount of bacteria present in a given food or product.  Yogurts won't give you this value, but it's low - in the millions.  Most probiotic supplements, however, are in the billions - I regularly prescribe probiotics from 8 billion CFU up to around 100 billion CFU and they are quite effective.  Some people can obtain some benefits from yogurt, but often the amount of bacteria is so small that the effects won't be huge, lasting, or be seen at all for someone who is in need of a larger dose.

Also, it should be pointed out that many many yogurts out there are not foods that you regularly want to consume.  Artificially sweetened - avoid at all costs.  Regularly sweetened - not as bad, but have you read how many GRAMS of sugar you're actually consuming, per one of those little yogurt cups?  It's not low!  The best yogurt to eat is a plain, unsweetened yogurt - not many people have actually tried this kind, being so accustomed to the sweetened types (even vanilla without any fruit is very sweetened).




Q: I've heard that NDs hate prescription medications and take their patients off of them.  Is this true?

A: Not true (at least for me, I can't speak for every ND).  It is true that we're not the biggest fans of prescription medications.  Often, they're not treating the cause of the health concern and can sometimes make things worse in the long run.  They can 'bog down' the body and stress the liver, and not many people want to be on a medication (or many medications) for life.  Having said that, there are times that they are needed and effective.  I would never suggest that someone stop a medication that is serving them well - first of all, that's not something that I can do as an ND (altering of a prescription should be done by the doctor who prescribed it), and secondly, that would just be bad health advice.

What I do see, and what more commonly happens in my office is that people become healthier, their bodies work better on their own, more optimally doing the function that the medication is helping them out with.  This can often be seen subjectively as well as objectively in lab or other diagnostic and radiological tests.  If I see this happening, I refer them back to their MD so that he/she can reassess whether the patient needs to be on that medication or not.  Often, the MD will decide to take the patient off of the medication if it's no longer needed (with continued monitoring, of course).

So, yes, people who see NDs do often end up stopping some medications eventually, but this is entirely up to the patient's MD and the patient - NDs are just catalysts in these instances, propelling the patients towards better health.  They're not the decision makers.




Q: It seems like natural treatments take a long time to see any effects whereas medical treatments have effects right away.  I can't deal with my symptoms anymore and can't wait that long for them to get better.  Why should I go the natural route instead of the conventional route?

A: Thank you for your question - this is one that I'm sure most everyone is thinking but not typically asked.  It's true, the conventional route may give you symptom relief - it's a quick fix.  It doesn't always work though - how often do you hear of people (or maybe have experienced this yourself) going back again and again to their doctor to get their prescription adjusted, or get new medications added to their current ones to address unwanted side effects of their first medication, or to get new medications when they need something stronger because their body isn't responding anymore.  This is all too common, and eventually, there are no more medications to add and conventional medicine literally runs out of options.  What do you do at that point?

Many people turn to alternative options.  What I recommend is for people to not wait until they get to that point.  Instead, seek out the alternatives first.  Yes, natural medicines take longer to work, but that's because they are treating the cause.  They're not a band-aid, quick-fix treatment.  They're working to re-balance and heal your body.  You have to remember, you didn't get this way overnight - it probably took years and years to develop whatever symptoms or health conditions you are currently experiencing.  You can't expect it all to go away in the blink of an eye.  If our bodies sucked, it would probably take just as many years of healing as you've had of disease to get you back to good health.  Luckily, our bodies are pretty awesome and are quite adept at self-healing as long as they're given the right tools and kept away from those things that are detrimental to them.  This is what naturopathic medicine is all about.  It aims to have lasting effects - a true cure!  It is harder work, but doesn't everything that's really worth it in life take hard work and determination?


That's it for now!  If you didn't see your question in this blog entry, look for it in Q & A Part 2.

Thanks again for sending in your questions.  I'd be happy to answer more - please send any others to corenaturopathics@gmail.com

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.

A bit about me...

Before I get going with the articles, I figured I should introduce myself a little better!  In case you're wondering, here's a little bit more info about me!

My Bio

"Dr. McNamee graduated first in her class of 120 students at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine (CCNM), receiving her Naturopathic Doctor (N.D.) degree as well as the Governor’s Award of Excellence for her accomplishments. She is licensed to practice Naturopathic Medicine in Ontario and is currently a member of the Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors (CAND).

Throughout Dr. McNamee’s four years at CCNM, she received in-depth training in medical sciences, diagnosis, physical examinations and naturopathic modalities. During her final year, she saw patients on a full-time basis at the Robert Schad Naturopathic Clinic. Additionally, she completed a clinical rotation with Dr. Arvin Jenab ND., at the Queen West Community Health Centre, a free naturopathic clinic catering to low-income residents of the Queen West area in Toronto.

During Dr. McNamee’s formative years at CCNM, she had the opportunity to observe many naturopathic doctors in clinical practice, including Dr. Sandra Miranda, BSc, ND, and Dr. Joseph Kellerstein, DC, ND, FCAH, CCH. She had the privilege of working closely with Dr. Danny Wu, CMD., Dr. AC., PhD. for an extended period of time, expanding her knowledge in traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture.

She completed her four-year undergraduate degree at McMaster University in the Bachelor of Health Sciences Honours Program, the only one of its kind in Ontario which draws upon a full range of clinical departments. She maintained her position on the Dean’s Honour List throughout her time there and received the McMaster President’s Award during her first year. She had the privilege of working with Dr. Arya M. Sharma, MD/PhD, FRCPC, Professor of Medicine & Canada Research Chair for Cardiovascular Obesity Research and Management in her last two years and was the runner-up in the Canadian Obesity Network Thesis Competition in 2007."

More information about my undergraduate program: http://fhs.mcmaster.ca/bhsc/
More information about the Naturopathic Medicine program: http://www.ccnm.edu/

And to finish off this blog post, I figured I'd add a couple of fun facts and common questions that I get asked!

Ten Fun Facts About Me!

1. How did you get interested in naturopathic medicine?

My parents were always into natural remedies for common conditions (colds, flus, etc.) and always attempted to use them prior to going the pharmaceutical route (although sadly I was definitely on my fair share of antibiotics growing up).  So, I had exposure to natural medicines from a young age.

As I entered my teens, my dad started seeing an acupuncturist and traditional Chinese herbalist (the same one that I ended up working with and shadowing many years down the road!).  Funny enough, as teens often do, I balked at these strange treatments and often made fun of the smelly teas that my dad brought home!  Ironically, my current practice is very much based in acupuncture and I do prescribe not so nice and/or smelly treatments sometimes too!

During this time, my aunt became ill with lung cancer.  While she was in the hospital, my dad brought her herbal teas from the Chinese herbalist daily.  Unfortunately, she didn't start the treatment until a very late stage in her disease and ended up passing away.  It was, however, my first exposure to using natural medicines for something more serious than the common cold.  Although it didn't work in this case, it did get the wheels turning.

Despite all of these exposures, I still wanted to be a conventional MD.  I had ever since I was thirteen years old and I didn't think anything would change that.  I was heavily involved in the sciences in high school and studied health sciences in university, still on my path towards becoming an MD.  It wasn't until the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine (CCNM) did a presentation at McMaster during my second year there, which I attended, that my path started to change.  It wasn't an immediate shift - I didn't really consider becoming an ND until about a year after the presentation.  

I began to research naturopathic medicine in more depth as well as conventional medicine, weighing the pros and cons of both.  I became increasingly frustrated with conventional medicine and it's limitations - namely a heavy reliance of pharmaceuticals and restraints of lengths of visits and time available to spend with patients.  I began to realize that in the majority of cases, drugs weren't curing diseases - they were simply masking and covering up symptoms so they weren't as bothersome anymore.  That wasn't good enough for me.  I wanted to do more than that, and I believed that it was possible to do more than that.

In my final two years, the courses that I took reflected this shift.  I studied nutrition and heavily focused on natural medicine in courses that allowed me the flexibility to study what interested me.  In my last year I applied to CCNM, and the rest is history!

2. Is it true that you initially rejected your acceptance to CCNM?

Sadly, yes!  It seems preposterous now and wildly stupid, but made sense at the time.  I still wasn't 100% committed to becoming an ND at the time when I applied.  I'd put so much effort (blood, sweat, and tears) into becoming an MD - it was my dream for almost half my life at this point.  I'd sacrificed a summer writing the MCAT and tortured myself with a year of organic chemistry.  To just give that all up and get off that path was really a hard decision even though, at this point, my belief in conventional medicine had greatly diminished.  It was difficult to let go.

I had applied to CCNM in January 2007 and received an acceptance letter back later that month (if I remember correctly).  Because of the caliber of my application, I was accepted even without an interview (rare)!  I clearly remember opening that acceptance letter while sitting on the couch.  It seemed too easy - where was the challenge?  I tossed it aside onto the table and laughed.  I didn't respond to it.  I even received a phone call from CCNM a couple of months later (as I was clearing my apartment out in Hamilton getting ready to move back home after graduation) and basically told them thanks but no thanks.  Thank God I soon (within a month or so of that call) realized my mistake and promptly contacted CCNM, desperately hoping that they'd take me back.  Luckily, they did and I started at CCNM in September 2007.

I eventually realized that naturopathic medicine's challenge wasn't getting in but it was the program itself.  I've been told by quite a few MD students that the ND program seems so much harder than theirs, most likely because of the fact that we have to study pretty much everything they do as well as multiple other complete systems of medicine (traditional Chinese medicine, botanical medicine, homeopathic medicine, clinical nutrition).  It was tough, and very challenging, which only made it all that much more worthwhile and rewarding once completed :)

3. What were your first exposures to working within the healthcare industry?

I first volunteered at Lakeridge Health Oshawa in the fracture clinic - I checked patients in, showed them to their rooms and coordinated the schedule and waiting room for that day.  In the summer after I graduated from high school, I was privileged to volunteer in the surgical suite.  I was a fascinating experience for me as I was always intrigued by surgery and all it entails.  I continued volunteering at the McMaster University Medical Centre in a variety of different settings throughout my undergrad.  Each position was enlightening and definitely a learning experience which I feel have contributed to my understanding of patients' experiences within the medical system.

4. Is it true that you didn't find out that you won the Governor's Award of Excellence until your graduation day?

Yes, that's right!  In true CCNM fashion, I wasn't notified at all about this award (I actually didn't even know that it existed!).  As I was lined up outside of convocation hall with my classmates, my boyfriend came to find me and said, "You didn't tell me that you won an award!"  He'd thought that I was keeping it a surprise from him and my family, he didn't know that I had no idea about it!  Needless to say, I was shocked.  Thankfully, I found out from him beforehand and didn't just find out when they called my name!  If that had happened, I REALLY would've been shocked, and I'm not sure that I would've made it to the stage without collapsing!!

5. Is it true that you grew up only a couple of minutes away from where you're now practicing?

Yes, also true!  From the age of five to nineteen, I lived in the Rossland/Waverly area of Oshawa.  I now practice in the Rossland/Simcoe area of Oshawa, which is just a few minutes away!  I even attended Adelaide McLaughlin Public School and R.S. McLaughlin Collegiate for both elementary and high school, which are even closer to my practice!  I never would've thought that I'd be working in the neighbourhood in which I grew up, but that's just the way it worked out and what I suppose life has planned for me right now.  I'm really happy to be back in Oshawa after being away at school for eight years and to be giving back to and serving my hometown.

6. What are your interests OUTSIDE of naturopathic medicine?

Good question!  Sometimes, it's easy to become consumed by your career, and instead of just having naturopathic medicine as a career, it can come to define who you are (which isn't good).

I've always been into music - I played alto saxophone from grade 7-12 and actively participated in the concert and jazz bands throughout my schooling and attended music camp (I guess you can say that I was somewhat of a band geek!).  I've also been into trampoline for a long time!  In addition to having one in my backyard for fun, I competed at the provincial level while I was in high school with Anti-Gravity Trampoline (http://www.anti-gravity.ca/).  Sadly, once I left for university the competitive days were over, but I still love to jump just for fun!  I also love rollerblading and biking in the summer.

Writing is an enjoyable hobby for me (I just completed my first novel!) and I absolutely LOVE roller coasters!  You can bet I'm going to be riding the new Leviathan coaster at Wonderland multiple times this summer :P  There are some groups that put together coaster trips where you can visit a bunch of parks and get early riding time on the best coasters - I'd love to do that one day.  I also love to travel and hope to visit lots of places in my lifetime!

7. What's your dream job/scenario (as an ND)?

I've always said that if I ever came into a huge amount of money I'd love to have a massive naturopathic medical clinic that offers naturopathic care and treatments free of charge.  There are so many people who could benefit from naturopathic medicine but many of them can't afford it.  I offer free fifteen minute meet the doctor consults, and it just breaks my heart when I see such a need and a willingness from the patient to pursue this type of medicine but without the funds that would enable them to do so.

8. Do you have a favourite naturopathic modality that you tend to rely on more than others?

Not really.  I truly believe in highly customized and individualized treatments, and therefore will choose what modalities are best suited for each patient.  This is dependent on a multitude of factors and does change over time as well.  Having said that, I do have a certain affinity for clinical nutrition (especially diet as that is often at the root of many health conditions), botanical/herbal medicine, and traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture.  I currently don't practice naturopathic bodywork or spinal manipulation as I work in a clinic with chiropractors and massage therapists who are much more specialized in those modalities!

9. Do you have any siblings?

Yes, I have one younger brother, Jeffrey, and one younger sister, Rachael (I'm the oldest)!

10. Do you have any kids?

No, not at the moment!  I'd love to have kids one day though.  For now, I'm happy with my two beautiful nieces, Venessa and Claire.

And that's it!  Thanks for reading.  I hope you learned a little more about me :)

If you have any more questions, please send them my way (corenaturopathics@gmail.com) and I'd be happy to answer them.

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