Naturopathic medicine is a complete and coordinated approach to
health care. It is the art and science of disease diagnosis, treatment
and prevention using natural therapies and gentle, non-intrusive
methods. Naturopathic medicine does not use prescription drugs
or surgery as part of it's treatment.
Doctors of Naturopathic Medicine are trained in much
the same way that conventional doctors are trained. Where conventional
doctors have been trained in either prescribing pharmaceutical
drugs or conducting surgery for symptoms of disease; naturopathic
doctors specialize in natural medicine and preventative health
care, integrating scientific knowledge with traditional healing
wisdom. Naturopathic doctors are health-care professionals who
use safe, gentle, non-invasive therapies to assist the whole person
in maximizing the body's inherent self-healing capacity.
Endometriosis occurs when the tissue that forms the lining of the uterus (endometrial tissue) implants in areas of the pelvis outside of the uterus, and can sometimes be found in other parts of the body. Usually, endometrial tissue attaches to the uterus, fallopian tubes, vagina, cervix, ovaries, bladder and bowels.
Symptoms of endometriosis are related to cysts, scars and adhesions which cause local inflammation and pain in areas that have endometrial tissue. This causes pain before, during or between menstrual periods as endometrial tissue is stimulated. There are however, many women with endometriosis who experience no pain related to endometriosis, but whose fertility is still affected.
Naturopathic treatment of endometriosis begins with dietary recommendations to reduce inflammation and pain. Generally, foods to avoid include caffeine, alcohol, red meat, pork, dairy products, peanuts and sugar. Other treatment includes acupuncture and Chinese herbs to clear blood stagnation, supplements to optimize hormone balance and estrogen metabolism, liver and gastrointestinal support, and homeopathy.
Annapurna naturopathic focuses largely on the prevention of breast
cancer. Through this process, your risk factors are closely examined
including family history, reproductive health, hormonal balance,
lifestyle factors (such as exercise, alcohol and cigarette smoking),
environmental factors (chemical exposure), diet and nutrition,
and psychological factors (such as ability to deal with anger and
stress). After risks are identified, they are treated through diet,
nutritional supplements, detoxification programs, acupuncture and
Chinese herbs, and homeopathy. The goal is always an integrative
approach looking at the whole person and their individual needs.
If you have or have had breast cancer, the approach is similar but
more aggressive depending on the stage and other treatments that
you are undergoing. Programs may be designed to support you during
or after conventional treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiation
or drug therapy. If you have already had such treatments, then our
focus is on preventing recurrence by examining all of the factors
above (hormones, lifestyle, environmental and psychological).
Menopause naturally occurs when our ovaries no longer respond
to stimulation from the pituitary gland to secrete estrogen and
progesterone. This causes a cessation on monthly menstruation which
typically occurs between 47 and 54 year of age (average being 52).
Some women have an easy transition, while others may experience
any of the following symptoms:
- Hot flashes and night sweats
- Sleep disturbance
- Anxiety and depression
- Vaginal dryness
- Irregular periods
- Decreased libido
- Fatigue
- Joint pain
- Incontinence
- Memory and concentration difficulties
These symptoms can be addressed naturopathically with a combination
western herbs, homeopathy, acupuncture with Chinese herbs, and
nutritional guidance.
Hot flashes are the primary complaint for many women, and the
first step is to examine diet and lifestyle factors that aggravate
hot flashes. For example, coffee, chocolate, stress / overwork,
spicy foods, alcohol, smoking, red meats, and an underactive thyroid
gland are just a few things that tend to increase the intensity
and frequency of hot flashes.
In most cases, it is possible to manage menopause symptoms successfully
without the need for hormone treatment.
You may not realize it but women have more choices in fertility
treatment today than at any other time in our medical history.
At our clinic, we offer increased success in conceiving through
natural means, where the only side-effect is improved health and
well-being.
There are many avenues we can explore together, beginning with
a better understanding of your hormonal cycles and a close examination
of your individual concerns. Treatment methods include: constitutional
homeopathy, acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine, botanicals,
nutrition, gentle detoxification and lifestyle counseling.
In all, an estimated 250,000 Canadians -- about one in six couples
-- have difficulty achieving a pregnancy, and in most cases there
is a specific cause for this difficulty that can be diagnosed and
successfully treated. Naturopathic medicine can help in cases of
hormonal imbalances, irregular cycles, endometriosis, lack of ovulation,
occurrence of miscarriages, and 'unexplained' fertility concerns.
It can also improve the success rates of in vitro fertilization
(IVF) and intra uterine insemination (IUI).
Treatments prices vary from case to case, but for a comprehensive
treatment plan of 3-4 months duration, the cost is approximately
$1,500 including acupuncture sessions, homeopathic remedies and
supplements. The process may take longer however, depending on
your current state of health.
[Compare to IVF (in vitro fertilization) which typically costs
$4,500 or more per cycle plus $1,500-5,000 in drugs, and IUI (intrauterine
insemination) costing $750 per cycle plus the cost of drugs.]
Preconception Care
If you are planning on a pregnancy in the near future, there are
many things we can do to support your own body's health and fertility
and to improve the chances of having a stong, healthy baby. Ideally,
it is good to begin a preconception program at least 3-4 months
before you are planning to try to conceive. This gives us enough
time to address potential hormonal imbalances and to do a good
detoxification program.
The complete preconception program includes:
- Detoxification - focusing on removing acumulated toxins
from your body so that they aren't passed on to your children.
This can include: liver support, heavy metal testing, food sensitivity
testing, sauna's and support of all of your body's elimination
organs - liver, kidneys, skin, colon.
- Optimizing Nutrition - beginning with dietary analysis,
followed by recommendations to improve your nutritional status.
- Stress Management and Lifestyle Choices - since stress
is a huge factor in fertility, we focus on techniques to teach
your body how to relax. This can include: focused breathing exercises,
meditation, yoga, visualizations, and other methods to achieve
the 'relaxation respones'. Lifestyle factors such as caffeine,
alcohol and nicotine use are also adressed due to their affects
on both fertility and your baby's health.
- Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs - often recommended
to improve hormonal balance and increase circulation to the reproductive
organs. A series of 6-10 weekly acupuncture sessions are usually
required to achieve results.
- Fertility Awareness and Menstrual Cycle Tracking -
learning more about your menstrual cycle and signs of fertility.
Natural Approaches to Fertility
The natural approach to fertility addresses your complete health,
including nutrition, emotional states, sleep, stress, weight and
toxicity. Each case is individual, and so are the treatment plans.
Areas that may be addressed include: optimal nutrition and food
choices, stress reduction, fertility awareness and menstrual cycle
tracking, hormonal balance, detoxification, and weight management
(loss or gain).
Improving the Success of ART (assisted reproductive technology)
The main therapy used in conjunction with ART is acupuncture.
There have been many articles written recently about the benefits
of acupuncture and improved success rates of IVF in particular.
Chinese medicine can help improve the success rate of IVF (in
vitro fertilization) in the following ways:
- Improve the function of the ovaries to produce better quality
eggs
- Regulate the menstrual cycle (and its hormones) to produce
a larger number of follicles
- Increase blood flow to the uterus and increase the thickness
of the uterine lining
- Relax the client and reduce stress
- Prevent the uterus from contracting and therefore provide a
better environment for the embryo to implant
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