How to Transform Your Life (& Figure) in 30 Days

Posted by on May 15, 2015

We get it . . . if it sounds too good to be true than it probably is. But it’s no fluke that a revolutionary new eating plan, the Whole30 Diet, actually made national news this week with a slot on the Today Show. And from my own personal experience in prescribing this very diet to my patients over and over again, I can tell you one thing: it works. The Whole30 Diet challenges participants to eliminate a host of staple foods typical to our standard American diet, including grains, dairy, sugar, and legumes (among others) for thirty days. After this, foods may be thoughtfully re-introduced and the plan is always modified to suit the patient’s individual needs. It isn’t a liquid diet, either, and yes, alcohol is also off limits for the duration of the challenge. While it may not be for the faint of heart, if you are ready to make a change, the proof is in the pudding. Just a few weeks ago, I received a random message from a patient whom I had recommended the diet to one month before. This is what she had to say: “Thank you so much for the introduction to the Whole30 . . . I truly believe this program was created specifically with me in mind. I feel so much better. Words cannot describe the changes I am experiencing . . . when I stray for any reason, my stomach is upset and my pain levels go back into overdrive. First time in YEARS that I’m eating successfully and seeing loss on the scale . . . total weight loss of 21 lbs!!” The benefits of incorporating the Whole30 Diet into your regular eating plan extend beyond just weight loss (and by the way, I have not had a single patient not lose weight in the first month if they follow the protocol). Patients have reported an ability to effectively change unhealthy eating habits for good, reduce or eliminate cravings, and even improve their mental and emotional states. I have seen fatigue resolve, gastrointestinal complaints improve, and watched my patients transform to a life of better health. The Whole30 Diet is integral to the weight loss protocol offered at A Woman’s Time. Beyond the diet, patients receive the support and counseling they need to make the appropriate lifestyle changes required to achieve their weight loss and wellness goals. Natural medicine supplementation and even injectable medications are also prescribed and individualized to each patient’s needs to encourage weight loss and keep our patients on track. If you are ready to quick start your weight loss plan and “reset” your health, please contact our office and schedule an appointment to discuss your...

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HPV & Cervical Dysplasia: Testing & Treatment

Posted by on Feb 25, 2015

It is estimated that approximately 12,000 new cases of HPV-associated cervical cancers are diagnosed in the United States each year. Cervical infection with one of 15 types of HPV, also known as the human papilloma virus, accounts for all causes of cervical cancer. HPV is a contracted through sexual contact and is the most common sexually transmitted infection. It is estimated that nearly all sexually active men and women contract the virus at some point in their lives. Cervical cancer used to be the leading cause of death for women in the United States. However, thanks to routine pap smear screening, the number of cases of cervical cancer and the number of deaths from cervical cancer has decreased significantly over the past 40 years. Furthermore, women over the age of 30 are routinely screened for the HPV virus along with their pap smear testing. Younger women are not routinely screened for HPV as the immune system will typically clear the virus within one to two years in this subset of women. Routine screening and early diagnosis of precancerous lesions, called dysplasia, are diagnosed more frequently than invasive cervical cancer and allows physicians the ability to initiate treatment early and prevent progression to cancer. In our busy naturopathic gynecology centered practice, we frequently see women who have either been diagnosed with HPV alone or some combination of HPV, atypical cells or cervical dysplasia. The degree of dysplasia varies, ranging from low grade to high-grade lesions. Keep in mind that dysplasia is precancerous. A diagnosis of cervical dysplasia means that cellular abnormalities have not yet progressed to full blown cancer. This is the most optimal time to treat a women affected by the HPV virus. The majority of women that present to our clinic seek natural treatment options to help support their bodies in clearing the HPV virus and/or are seeking natural treatment option alternatives to or in combination with LEEP (loop electrosurgical excision procedure). LEEP uses a thin, low-voltage electrified wire loop to cut out abnormal tissue in the cervix. Despite the fact that LEEP is considered a safe and effective treatment for the treatment of cervical dysplasia with minimal side effects or complications, some women prefer a more natural approach, fear the procedure, or express concerns about possible long-term complications. Fortunately, for women seeking additional treatment options for the treatment of HPV and/or cervical dysplasia, we offer a comprehensive oral and vaginal (suppositories and/or the escharotic ) natural treatment protocol designed to support the body in eradicating HPV infection and reversing abnormal pap smears. Additionally, all of the physicians at our clinic are trained in one of the vaginal treatment approaches we use, the escharotic treatment, which consists of...

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Bacterial Vaginosis: A Common Vaginal Infection You May Not Know About

Posted by on Dec 15, 2014

Are you experiencing a change to your vaginal discharge? Have you noticed an abnormal vaginal odor or more discharge than usual? If so, you may be experiencing symptoms of a vaginal infection called bacterial vaginosis (BV). BV is the most common cause of vaginal discharge in women of childbearing age, accounting for 40 to 50 percent of cases. It is an extremely common complaint for the primary care physician and something I see very frequently in my own women’s health and gynecology centered naturopathic practice. Symptomatic women frequently assume they have a yeast infection, however, the two conditions often present very differently. The most common presentation of BV is an increased thin, watery discharge with a fishy or abnormal odor. Vaginal discomfort can occur but is less common in BV than in yeast vaginitis. Patients may also be asymptomatic such as genital burning and/or itching, but itching is much more common and problematic in yeast vaginitis.  Sometimes, the infection may only be noticed by a physician during a pelvic exam. Yeast, on the other hand, often presents with a thick, white curdy discharge and is often described as painful and itchy. Clinically, it is important to distinguish between the two so that the appropriate treatment can be recommended in order to resolve the infection. BV is considered a type of vaginitis, or inflammation of the vagina. Effective and lasting treatment for BV is important for women due to the associated increased risk of acquiring a sexually transmitted infection such as HIV, herpes, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and trichomoniasis if a BV infection is present. There is some evidence that BV may also contribute to precancerous cervical lesions and in pregnant women, it has been linked to an increased rate of preterm delivery. BV is a polymicrobial disease that is commonly thought to occur when the normal, protective peroxide producing lactobacilli of the vagina are eliminated or become present in only small amounts. This permits an overgrowth of anaerobic bacteria and other pathogens in the vagina, leading to an increased vaginal pH that favors the proliferation of BV. Chronic or recurrent BV, defined as 3 or more episodes of BV per year, can cause great frustration for both patient and provider alike. In fact, the 6-month recurrence rate for BV has been found to be as high as 80% in some studies. Because the etiology and pathogenesis of BV is not completely understood, treatment for BV is not always effective and recurrence may occur. Conventionally, BV is typically treated with antibiotics, taken orally or applied vaginally as a cream or gel. The most commonly prescribed antibiotics for BV include metronidazole or clindamycin. Both of these drugs can be prescribed as a maintenance...

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Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

Posted by on Oct 14, 2014

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrine disorders in women of reproductive age. The clinical picture of PCOS often presents with anovulatory menstrual cycles (lack of ovulation) and hyperandrogenism (high levels of testosterone and its precursors). Insulin resistance and subsequently, higher than normal levels of circulating insulin, is also commonly present. Women with PCOS typically report infrequent or no menses and may also exhibit signs of hyperandrogenism such as acne or abnormal hair growth. Increased body mass and difficulty losing weight may also be encountered in PCOS due to abnormalities in insulin function. While not all women with PCOS will have difficulty getting pregnant, PCOS is the leading cause of anovulatory infertility in women. It is estimated that PCOS contributes to more than 75% of cases of anovulatory fertility. Conventionally, the most common treatment for anovulatory infertility in women affected by PCOS is treatment with the drug, clomiphene citrate. Clomiphene indirectly causes eggs to mature and be released from the ovary, which increases the likelihood of pregnancy. Conception rates in patients taking clomiphene are about 40%, with induced ovulation rates ranging between 80 – 85%. Despite clomiphene use, some women with PCOS still will not get pregnant. Clomiphene resistance is defined as failure to ovulate after receiving 150 mg of clomiphene citrate daily for 5 days per cycle for at least three cycles. It is estimated that anywhere between 15 – 40% of women with PCOS will become clomiphene resistant. In clomiphene resistant women, injection of certain hormones are the next step to induce ovulation. Given the risk of complications associated with this approach and the high cost, there is a clear need for alternative, safe, and less expensive therapies to promote ovulation in the clomiphene resistant woman. One of my favorite uses of natural medicines is the augmentation of conventional pharmacotherapies. After all, we live in a modern world where advances in medicine have improved the lives and outcomes of many. Pharmaceutical interventions, when used judiciously, certainly have their place. I get pretty excited when I am able to offer my patients natural interventions that improve the efficacy of conventional therapies they may already be taking. This can lead to better outcomes with minimal side effects and often represents a low cost option to the patient. In the past year, a number of studies have specifically evaluated the improvement of pregnancy outcomes and ovulation rates in clomiphene resistant PCOS women. Among the natural interventions studied, newer data has shown promise with L-carnitine and CoQ10 in combination with clomiphene in improving pregnancy rates. The findings are similar to another well-studied natural medicine, the amino acid N-acetylcysteine, which has been shown to potentiate the effects of...

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An Overview of H. pylori

Posted by on Sep 5, 2014

Helicobacter pylori, also known as H. pylori, is a bacteria commonly found in the stomach. It is estimated that approximately one-half of the world’s population is infected with H. pylori. The exact way H. pylori infects someone is still unknown. H. pylori bacteria may be passed from person to person through direct contact with saliva, vomit or fecal matter. H. pylori may also be spread through contaminated food or water. Furthermore, H. pylori overgrowth may possibly be related to the presence of gastrointestinal dysbiosis, a condition in which the normal balance of healthy gastrointestinal bacteria has been disrupted. Despite the fact that the majority of people affected by H. pylori overgrowth has no symptoms and will never develop problems, H. pylori is capable of causing digestive complaints. Most commonly, H. pylori is associated with gastric ulcers (peptic ulcer disease) and less commonly, gastric malignancies. Symptoms of gastric ulcers may include pain or discomfort (most often in the upper, central abdomen), bloating, early satiety, lack of appetite, nausea or vomiting, and dark colored stools. In H. pylori positive subjects, the lifetime prevalence of peptic ulcer disease can rise to as high as 20%. The treatment for H. pylori typically involves “triple therapy” comprised of two antibiotics and a proton pump inhibitor, which serves to reduce gastric acid. While tripe therapy is the standard of care in the treatment of H. pylori overgrowth, antibiotic use is associated with disturbances in gastrointestinal microflora, which may predispose individuals to other gastrointestinal complaints. Fortunately, many foodstuffs have shown inhibitory affects against the growth of H. pylori. In addition, probiotics and vitamins may also elicit anti-H. pylori affect and may be considered as part of an alternative or adjunctive therapy in the treatment of H. pylori. This is an important consideration in light of drug-resistant H. pylori and the adverse effects that long-term antibiotic use may elicit. A 2014 article published in the World Journal of Gastroenterology reviewed natural derivatives that have been shown to serve as anti-H. pylori agents. Many of these substances can be found in an everyday diet, are widely accessible, and may be beneficial in tipping the balance away from H. pylori overgrowth and associated long-term complications. Catechins Green tea animal studies have shown an H. pylori eradication rate of  up to36.4% reduces H. pylori colony forming units & suppresses H. pylori infection has shown additive effects in regards to antibiotics Polyphenols Ginger phenolic constituents have been shown to exhibit anti-H. pylori activity inhibits the growth of antibiotic resistant H. pylori Turmeric curcumin has been shown to inhibit growth of all H. pylori strains examined in vitro Propolis contains resins that exhibit anti-H. pylori activity via inhibition of bacterial motility and...

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