Nutrition An Overlooked But Vital Component In The Treatment Of Mood Disorders

Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide, and even though many forms of therapy exist, about one third of patients treated with conventional antidepressants do not experience a response. Diet is a common overlooked area in the treatment of many health conditions in the conventional realm of medicine. In the treatment of mood disorders, it’s an area that needs to be addressed. Here are some examples of how nutrition plays such a vital role in influencing our moods.

PROTEINS INFLUENCE ON NEUROTRANSMITTER PRODUCTION

A study published in 2018 showed that vegetarians were more neurotic and depressed than omnivores. This is likely due to the amino acids content in high protein foods. Amino acids are the building blocks of protein, which play a critical role in neurotransmitter production. Neurotransmitters (ie. serotonin, dopamine, GABA to name a few) are the chemicals that allow brain cells to communicate to each other. A simplified example of this is if you eat turkey your body breaks down the protein and makes the amino acid L-tryptophan. In the biochemical pathway of synthesizing the neurotransmitter, serotonin, L-tryptophan is an essential amino acid in this process. Your body can’t make L-tryptophan on its own. It is required through your diet; and therefore, if you aren’t getting adequate amounts of protein through poultry, nuts, fish, or dairy you may become deficient in serotonin. Low serotonin levels are associated with a whole host of disorders including depression, anxiety, insomnia, digestive disorders, and headaches.

THE ROLE OF INFLAMMATION ON MOODS

Inflammation and mood disorders are hot topics in the research literature. Addressing the inflammatory process looks like a crucial area missed in the conventional realm of treating severe and mild mood disorders. An article published in 2019 in the journal Frontiers In Psychiatry discusses the role of dietary inflammation and mental illness. This article cites many studies that show diets consisting of high inflammatory foods like simple carbohydrates, processed sugars and saturated fats influence even severe mood disorders like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

In addition, fish oil has been researched for years showing it’s beneficial for treating depression. Why? Fish oil contains omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) which have strong anti-infammatory effects as well as beneficial effects on the cell membranes directly. Researchers point out that cell membranes are made up of omega-3s. Therefore by increasing omega-3 levels through supplementation or diet it allows for neurotransmitters like dopamine, for example, to pass through the cell membrane more easily directly affecting our brain biochemistry.

Curcumin, the principal curcuminoid derived from the spice turmeric, influences several biological mechanisms associated with major depression. In 2017, Journal of Affective Disorders published a study that showed curcumin dosed at 500mg 2x/day after 4 weeks was significantly more effective than placebo in improving several mood-related symptoms. Curcumin’s powerful natural anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties seem to be the driving forces behind its influence on brain biochemistry. Chronic inflammation can decrease levels of neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine and can lead to degeneration in certain brain areas. It is possible that the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of curcumin can restore these neurotransmitters and protect the brain, eventually leading to improvements in mood.

THE GUT BRAIN CONNECTION

The gut brain connection is a very complex area of research. Our diets can directly affect our microbiome, the trillions of microorganisms that live in our gut. The gut microbiota can actually produce neurotransmitters themselves. For example, Lactobacillus spp. produces GABA and acetylcholine; Bifidobacterium spp. produces GABA; Escherichia spp. produces noradrenalin and serotonin; to name a few. In addition, we know that 90% of the neurotransmitter serotonin is actually produced in the gut! So, how can what we eat NOT influence the production of our brain neurotransmitters?

The treatment of mood disorders can not be looked at as a one size fits all treatment. This is why many patients seek out alternative practitioners like naturopathic physicians, because their current treatment utilizing pharmaceutical medications and psychotherapy for their mood disorder is not giving them the results they were hoping to achieve.

Naturopathic physicians (ND’s) learn the same basic sciences as conventional medical doctors, but they are are trained in nutrition, psychology, and complementary therapies such as herbal medicine and homeopathy. Be aware not all naturopathic doctors are the same. NY State currently doesn’t license naturopathic physicians, so ND’s trained through accredited graduate level medical schools and are required to pass national board exams before licensure are lumped together with “traditional” naturopaths who don’t attend accredited graduate schools and do not receive licenses. Before choosing a naturopathic practitioner, be aware of their education and training before making your appointment.

REFERENCES

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29595331/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6529779/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31156486/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29254106/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25046624/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6389720/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22968153/

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Since 2005, Dr Fey has helped women, men, and children find real solutions to their health concerns. She truly believes that giving the proper care and nutrients your body has an amazing ability to heal. She is committed to finding the root cause of illness by utilizing a whole body approach not just focusing solely on presenting symptoms. With her scientific background, Dr Fey uses science based natural approaches to treating disease.

Dr. Amanda Fey is the owner and practicing Naturopathic Doctor at Complementary Medicine & Healing Arts, the Southern Tiers Center for Natural Healthcare located in the Binghamton NY area. The office website is www.naturallywell.us. Dr Fey is currently offering telemedicine for patients all across the US. To contact the office call 607-729-0591 or email cmhahealth@gmail.com.  

How I Keep Myself and My Family Healthy All Year Long Using Natural Medicine

As a Naturopathic Doctor, I honestly do practice the preventative medicine that I preach. Here is my protocol in maintaining my and my families health all through the year. This situation we’re currently facing has many people scrambling to find ways to maintain their and their families health; however, my strategy is to keep myself and my family healthy every day of the year. Here are some of the ways I do so. If you are already a patient of mine you may recognize some of these strategies :-).

DIET

As a family we eat whole, real, clean food. I am not vegetarian, vegan, paleo or keto. I guess you could say we eat “low carb”, but it’s likely because we tend to get our carbs from starchy vegetables or whole grains vs pasta or bread. Don’t get me wrong we have bread in the house and we eat it, but not as a daily occurrence.

I always make enough food for dinner for us to take for lunch the next day. This inhibits us from making bad choices in the midst of our busy days. Our kids have always eaten what we have eaten, so if we are having lamb stew, greek salads with feta cheese , or quiche our kids eat them as well. We have never made them mac and cheese or PB& J sandwiches to eat instead of eating what my husband and I are. They may have begged for it when they were little but we have always refused.

I plan my meals for the week. Yes it’s true! I have a white board on my fridge where I write what we will have for dinner each night of the week. It works great for us so we know what we are having and don’t have to spend the time thinking about what to make after a long day of work. Also, if my husband is home before me then he knows what to start preparing for dinner.

I love to get recipes off of https://www.yummly.com/. If you haven’t check it out I recommend you to do so. Here are some links to some of our favorites.

One pot Beef Keema: https://www.yummly.com/recipe/ONE-POT-BEEF-KEEMA-1558758

Vegetable Frittata: https://www.yummly.com/recipe/Vegetable-frittata-337290

Falafels: https://www.yummly.com/recipe/Falafel-1899104 along with a greek salad and tabouleh

Thai red curry: https://www.yummly.com/recipe/Thai-Red-Curry-2518122

Other diet guidelines I follow are not eating after dinner. I try to fast 12 hours every night (from dinner to breakfast). I also make sure I am not getting anything more than 25 grams of sugar and that goes for my kids too! There is an obesity issue in this country and part of it has to do with how much sugar people eat. Take a look at your sweetened Chobani yogurt if you don’t believe me!

EXERCISE

I do love exercising. It’s a source of relaxation for me. Below are my go-to’s for exercise. I usually only take 1 day off per week for a rest day and all the other days I move my body in these various ways.

RUNNING: I run 15-25 miles per week. On busy weeks and especially in the winter when the days are shorter, I usually get 15 miles in; and, on slower weeks and with the longer light hours I work towards 25 miles per week. I am an outdoor runner only. I could never run on a treadmill so even during the 15 degrees winter days I am still out there…I invest in great outdoor workout clothing. Running is a meditation for me, and I LOVE IT!

YOGA: I also am a member of a local yoga studio where I go to two classes per week regardless. I love HOT yoga especially in the winter. Sweating is such a great way to detox and boost immunity. I look forward to it every week. If I can’t make it to a class due to a sick child or activities I resort to my favorite online yoga workouts called, Yoga with Adriene. (https://yogawithadriene.com/)

TONING: I find my two favorite Youtube channels to tone my arms and abs: Tracy Campoli and Tracy Anderson. Their videos are about 5-15 minutes in length and I tend to do 1 arm and 1 ab video 3x/week, minimally. My daughters (8 and 14 years old) love to do them with me. Here are links to some of my favorites:

Arm focus with Tracy Campoli:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0F4Din-A_7I

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O68j_eU3oOM

Ab focus with Tracy Anderson:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGHnBCtmqJo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cq6NQ1L8UhU

SUPPLEMENTS

I am the worst supplement taker ever. I do more herbal tinctures than supplements. But here are my families supplement routine.

FOR MYSELF:

Designs for Health Women’s twice daily essentials. I try to get 1 packet in 2x/day. It consists of a bone support, essential fatty acid, multivitamin, and hormone balancing herbs.

D3 5000 by Metagenics I do 1 cap/day for boosting my immunity in the winter months. I usually take breaks in the summer

MTHFR, 5mg by Thorne Research 1 cap per day in addition to Methylfactors by Biogenesis where I take 1 dropperful per day. I have the MTHFR genetic mutation.

Tinctures: I formulate immune support ones in the winter (Astragalus, Elderberry, etc to name a few) and a adrenal support formula (Ashwagandha, Rhodiola, etc to name a few)

FOR MY HUSBAND:

Men’s Pure Pack by Pure Encapsulations. It contains a multi-vitamin, essential fatty acid support, mitochondrial, cardiovascular and prostate support.

FOR MY KIDS:

Vitamin D3 (2000IU for my youngest and 5000IU for my oldest), a probiotic, and Vitamin C in the winter months. With the addition of herbal immune tinctures (astragalus, elderberry, mushroom blend) and zinc (60mg/day for youngest and 90mg/day for oldest) at the first sign of illness for them.

Here is a link to Wellevate: https://wellevate.me/amanda-fey where you can find the supplements that we take as a family as well as others that I recommend for a variety of health issues. Wellevate is an online dispensary that is an FDA-registered facility that guarantees all your supplements are stored properly and are from quality controlled companies. By ordering through the link you will get 15% off any supplement you order and it also helps support small businesses.

OTHER HEALTHY LIFESTYLE STRATEGIES

We make sure we laugh a lot by surrounding ourselves with people and things that nourish us and not deplete us. We reach to achieve 7-9 hours of restful and optimal sleep per night. We set specific boundaries for our kids on their electronic devices. We hydrate daily, drinking 1/2 our body weight in ounces of water per day. Lastly, we take vacations annually. It’s important to take breaks from the rigors of daily life and spend time together as a family.

May you and your family remain healthy while we weather this storm and throughout the years to come.

“From the bitterness of disease man learns the sweetness of health”. -CATALAN PROVERB

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Since 2005, Dr Fey has helped women, men, and children find real solutions to their health concerns. She truly believes that giving the proper care and nutrients your body has an amazing ability to heal. She is committed to finding the root cause of illness by utilizing a whole body approach not just focusing solely on presenting symptoms. With her scientific background, Dr Fey uses science based natural approaches to treating disease.

Dr. Amanda Fey is the owner and practicing Naturopathic Doctor at Complementary Medicine & Healing Arts, the Southern Tiers Center for Natural Healthcare located in the Binghamton NY area. The office website is www.naturallywell.us. To contact the office call 607-729-0591 or email cmhahealth@gmail.com.  

Amino Acids & Antioxidants: Naturopathic Tools For Cardiovascular Disease Prevention & Treatment

In honor of American Heart Health Month, February, let’s discuss some important amino acids and antioxidants that Naturopathic Doctor’s use for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease.

What is an amino acid?

When you eat protein, they are broken down into amino acids. These amino acids play critical roles in our bodies. They are vital in making hormones, building muscles, regulating our immune system, and making our neurotransmitters, just to name a few.

What is an antioxidant?

We also get antioxidants through our food or through supplementation. Antioxidants are part of our defense system in our bodies. They help fight free radicals which can wreak havoc on many systems in our body but especially our cardiovascular system. This is why, for example, smoking is a risk factor in developing cardiovascular disease. Inhaling smoke is full of free radicals, and it’s our antioxidants that come and battle the inhaled toxins to prevent damage to our tissues.

Some favorite AMINO ACIDS Naturopathic Doctor’s use for cardiovascular diseases

1. Taurine

   Taurine is an amino acid that is naturally produced in our bodies and favors areas like our eyes, brains, heart and muscles. The main source of taurine is in animal foods like meat, dairy and fish.

   Research has shown taurine to slow the progression of plaque formation in the arteries (atherosclerosis). In addition, taurine aids in reducing hypertension by improving blood flow in the vessels as well as minimizing impulses in the brain that increases blood pressure. Lastly, taurine helps increase the force and effectiveness of heart contractions, and has been shown to help with congestive heart failure. Most doctors suggest taking 2 grams 3x/day.

2. L-carnitine

   L-carnitine is an amino acid that can be produced in the body. It is essential for transporting fatty acids into our cells to process for energy. 98% of our carnitine is used in our muscles, and therefore is a very important amino acid for cardiovascular disease since the heart is plain and simply…a muscle.

   Several studies using 2 grams/day of L-carnitine showed an improvement in heart function and a reduction in symptoms of angina. In addition, patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) have insufficient oxygenation of the heart, which can damage the heart muscle. Supplementing with 2 grams of L-carnitine daily has been shown to improve ventricular contractions and cardiac output for CHF patients. Lastly, 2 grams per day showed to significantly decrease systolic as well as diastolic blood pressure readings for hypertensive patients.

Some favorite ANTIOXIDANTS Naturopathic Doctor’s use for cardiovascular diseases

1. Vitamin C

   Vitamin C, also known as L-ascorbic acid, is a water-soluble vitamin that is naturally present in some foods, added to others, and available as a dietary supplement. Humans, unlike most animals, are unable to synthesize vitamin C endogenously, so it is an essential dietary component. Foods high in vitamin C include broccoli, cantaloupe, cauliflower, kale, kiwi, orange juice, papaya, red, green or yellow pepper, sweet potato, strawberries, and tomatoes.

   Research has shown vitamin C to protect your cholesterol, specifically LDL, from damage. Vitamin C has been shown to decrease the oxidation of the cholesterol therefore reducing plaque formation. In other clinical trials, vitamin C has been shown to decrease high cholesterol levels. Doctors sometimes recommend 1 gram per day of vitamin C.

2. Selenium

   Selenium is found naturally in many foods. The amount of selenium in plant foods depends on the amount of selenium in the soil where they were grown. The amount of selenium in animal products depends on the selenium content of the foods that the animals ate. There are debates whether our soil is being depleted in selenium. A common supplemental dose of selenium is 200mcg/day.

   Some studies show that people with lower blood levels of selenium have a higher risk of heart disease. In an analysis of 25 observational studies, a 50% increase in blood selenium levels was associated with a 24% reduction in the risk of heart disease. Additionally, selenium has been shown to lower markers of inflammation in your body⁠, one of the main risk factors for heart disease. For example, a review of 16 controlled studies including over 433,000 people with heart disease showed that taking selenium supplements decreased levels of the inflammatory marker C-reactive protein (CRP).

3. Coenzyme Q10

   CoQ10 is an essential cofactor for energy production and is also a powerful antioxidant. Our body produces CoQ10 naturally, but its production tends to decrease with age. After the age of 30, your natural levels of CoQ10 begin to diminish. And by age 70, your natural CoQ10 levels may be 50% lower than they were when you were a young adult! Indicating supplementation with CoQ10 is essential as we age. The standard dose of CoQ10 ranges from 60 mg to 200 mg per day.

   There are many studies indicating the importance of CoQ10 and the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. It seems that treatment with CoQ10 assists with restoring optimal levels of energy production, reduces oxidative damage and improves heart function, all of which can aid in the treatment of heart disease.

   If you are a statin user (Lipitor, etc) it’s imperative that you supplement with CoQ10. It is widely know that statins inhibit cholesterol synthesis well as inhibiting the synthesis of CoQ10. A Columbia University study found that within 30 days of using statin medications, your levels of CoQ10 can be decreased by half.

These are just a few tools Naturopathic Doctor’s have in their tool box to help prevent and treat cardiovascular diseases. If you are on any medications you should talk to your Primary Care Doctor or your Naturopathic Doctor before taking.

References

Taurine

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31560859

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21076292

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23224908

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23722414

L-Carnitine

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31481697

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19620516

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28497060

Vitamin C

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19451807

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1962556

Selenium

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9430262

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17023702

CoQ10

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17608895

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15210526

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25282031

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26512330

About the author

Since 2005, Dr Fey has helped women, men, and children find real solutions to their health concerns. She truly believes that giving the proper care and nutrients your body has an amazing ability to heal. She is committed to finding the root cause of illness by utilizing a whole body approach not just focusing solely on presenting symptoms. 

Dr. Amanda Fey is the owner and practicing Naturopathic Doctor at Complementary Medicine & Healing Arts, the Southern Tiers Center for Natural Healthcare located in the Binghamton NY area. The office website is www.naturallywell.us. To contact the office call 607-729-0591 or email cmhahealth@gmail.com.  

Valerian: An Effective Natural Therapy For Insomnia And Anxiety

Valerian has been used as a medicinal herb since at least the time of ancient Greece and Rome. Its medicinal uses were prescribed as far back as the 2nd century by Galen for insomnia. In the 16th century, it was used to treat nervousness, trembling, headaches, and heart palpitations. During World War II, it was used in England to relieve the stress of air raids.

How does valerian work?

More studies need to be done to understand the exact mechanism of how valerian helps with anxiety and insomnia, but a possible mechanism is that valerian’s constituents increase the amount of GABA (gamma aminobutyric acid) in your blood stream. It is known that the more activation of GABA receptors the more peaceful the person is. Common medications like xanax, klonopin, valium, etc. work along the same GABA enhancing mechanisms like valerian. Luckily, valerian hasn’t been shown to be addictive and is considered a safe alternative to these medications.

Research supporting its use

A study published in the journal, Menopause, in 2011 showed the impact of valerian on sleep quality for postmenopausal women who were experiencing insomnia. It has been shown that 61% of postmenopausal women have insomnia, which then affects cognitive function, mood, and quality of life during the day. Many studies have looked at valerian in the use for insomnia but none have looked at postmenopausal women and for this length of time. 

The postmenopausal women studied were between the age 50 and 60, they were not using hormone therapy and were experiencing insomnia based on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). The participants and examiners were all blinded. One group of women were given 530 mg of concentrated valerian capsules 2x/day and the other were given placebo, for 4 weeks.

A statistically significant change was reported in quality of sleep in the valerian group when compared to placebo. Overall, 30% of women taking valerian and only 4% of the placebo group reported and improvement in their sleep quality. Indicating, valerian as a definite useful tool to consider for insomnia.

In addition, a study published in the journal, Phytomedicine, in 2014 showed valerian root and lemon balm extracts to be effective in children less than 12 years of age suffering from anxiety and insomnia. Specifically, 169 primary school children suffering from hyperactivity, sleep difficulties, impulsivity, and focusing issues used 640 mg valerian root extract and 320 mg lemon balm extract per day for 5 weeks.

The fraction of children having strong/very strong symptoms of poor ability to focus decreased from 75% to 14%, hyperactivity from 61% to 13%, sleep difficulties from 19.4% to 6%, and impulsiveness from 59% to 22%. Parent rated social behavior, sleep and symptom burden showed highly significant improvements. Only in two children mild transient adverse drug reactions were observed.

Side effects and cautions with use

Clinically, I have only seen a paradoxical effect with valerian, for example causing insomnia vs helping it, but this is only in a very small percentage of my patients. Looking through the research there have been very few side effects noted with the use of valerian. In one study, an increase in sleepiness was noted the morning after 900 mg of valerian was taken before bed.

Levels of medicinal constituents can vary among plants depending on when the plants are harvested, resulting in marked variability in the amounts found in valerian preparations. Utilizing brands of supplements that test for the constituents can guarantee quality and although may be more costly will be most effective since there are no regulations on supplements currently.

Women who are pregnant, nursing, and children younger than 3 years old should be cautious with using valerian since studies have not been done on the safety of use. In addition, individuals taking valerian should be aware of the possibility of additive sedative effects from alcohol or other sedative drugs, such as barbiturates and benzodiazepines.

Reference

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12120807

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24199972

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21775910

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/4034730

About the author

Since 2005, Dr Fey has helped women, men, and children find real solutions to their health concerns. She truly believes that giving the proper care and nutrients your body has an amazing ability to heal. She is committed to finding the root cause of illness by utilizing a whole body approach not just focusing solely on presenting symptoms. 

Dr. Amanda Fey is the owner and practicing Naturopathic Doctor at Complementary Medicine & Healing Arts, the Southern Tiers Center for Natural Healthcare located in the Binghamton NY area. The office website is www.naturallywell.us. To contact the office call 607-729-0591 or email cmhahealth@gmail.com.  

Overcoming Ulcerative Colitis with Naturopathic Therapies

Stephen and his family arrived at my office in 2015 exhausted. Exhausted from the rigors of conventional treatment without the satisfaction of improving symptoms. Stephen was a 35 year old man who had been battling ulcerative colitis for 5 years. He had tried a multitude of conventional treatments ranging from steroids to immune suppressant medications to no avail. The only option left was surgery on his colon, which was something he did not want to do. Unfortunately for Stephen, he still required to wear a maxi-pad daily to collect the constant dripping of blood from his anus and was experiencing sometimes up to ten urgent bowel movements every morning before he left for work. In addition, he couldn’t exercise, and if he tried he would develop a fever causing him to retire to his bed for multiple days to recover. This was not the life he or his family wanted to live, so they came to me for hope which I knew I could give them.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) located in the large intestine or colon. The symptoms of active UC are frequent and urgent diarrhea mixed with blood and abdominal pain. UC is associated with an increased risk of colon cancer particularly in patients with extensive colitis of long duration. Characteristically, UC involves ulcers or open sores located in the colon often seen via diagnostic imaging.

There are many theories regarding the specific cause of ulcerative colitis, although none have been proven. Most likely it is a variety of factors that work together to bring about the disease. These factors range from genetics, faulty immune system reactions,  environmental influences, and diet. For example, some people are genetically at risk for ulcerative colitis (it runs in their family), and an infection or other toxin may cause an abnormal immune reaction which then causes ulcerative colitis.

One of the goals in treating patients with ulcerative colitis is to reduce inflammation.    Naturopathic therapies complement conventional therapies in achieving this goal.   Inflammatory compounds such as leukotrienes are greatly increased in the colonic mucosa, blood, and stool of patients with UC. Eliminating pro-inflammatory foods from the diet and uncovering any possible food intolerances are important in managing the chronic intestinal inflammation.  Fish oil has also been shown to be important. A study published in the World Journal of Gastroenterology showed that dietary changes along with fish oil supplementation had direct anti-inflammatory effects in UC patients. 

Herbs have been used historically in the treatment of ulcerative colitis. In UC, a dramatic decrease in the mucus content of the mucus-producing goblet cells has been associated with an increase in the severity of the disease. Demulcent herbs such as slippery elm, marshmallow root, and deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL) can be used to soothe irritated mucus membranes and promote the secretion of mucus. 

The intestinal microflora is another aspect of ulcerative colitis that requires attention. The concentrations of beneficial bacterial flora have been shown to be significantly reduced in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. A study published in the journal American Journal of Gastroenterology in 2009 showed that probiotics to be as beneficial in achieving and maintaining remission in patients with ulcerative colitis. A newer study in 2019 showed that the use of probiotics (lactobacillus and bifidobacterium strains) with mesalazine can decrease inflammatory cytokines which can lead likely lead to remission more quickly than just the use of the pharmaceutical medication alone. 

Whenever the intestines are inflamed you can guarantee that nutrients are not being absorbed optimally. Without proper nutrient assimilation how can the body heal? Replenishing lost nutrients due to this chronic inflammation is also a critical part of overcoming ulcerative colitis. Clinically, I find that until the gastrointestinal inflammation is better controlled utilizing high quality multiple vitamin and mineral supplements are required.

Like many who have been diagnosed with inflammatory bowel conditions, Stephen was also experiencing rashes that come and go, headaches, vertigo, asthma. anxiety, and extremely low energy. As the inflammation of the colon subsides and the nutrients are supplied for better absorption, I find that many of these additional symptoms reduce in severity.

For Stephen after just one month of using naturopathic therapies he noticed a difference in his symptoms. In seven months he was no longer using the maxi-pads and his bowel frequency and urgency normalized. Now it has been four years, and Stephen has not had one flare up since the first time I met him in 2015. 

I have treated many patients like Stephen with ulcerative colitis. Each one was a unique case. I have not found any cookie cutter protocol for treatment. It is truly individualized. Unlike Stephen, who was not utilizing any conventional treatments at the time of his visit, many patients I work with are. Either way there are many naturopathic therapies to assist patients like Stephen to gain control of their life again and overcome ulcerative colitis. 

References

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19174792

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31418411

About the author

Since 2005, Dr Fey has helped women, men, and children find real solutions to their health concerns. She truly believes that giving the proper care and nutrients your body has an amazing ability to heal. She is committed to finding the root cause of illness by utilizing a whole body approach not just focusing solely on presenting symptoms. 

Dr. Amanda Fey is the owner and practicing Naturopathic Doctor at Complementary Medicine & Healing Arts, the Southern Tiers Center for Natural Healthcare located in the Binghamton NY area. The office website is www.naturallywell.us. To contact the office call 607-729-0591 or email cmhahealth@gmail.com.  

Migraines and Gluten Intolerance

Carol was a 32 year old woman who had been suffering from daily migraine episodes for almost 10 years. She had been through all the standard conventional medical examinations and imaging procedures all indicating no pathology. There was a familial component to the migraines which in conclusion lead her to believe that migraines just ran in the family and this was something she would have to live with for the rest of her life. She was currently managing her symptoms using acupuncture and pharmaceutical medications. 

As with all of my patients, close examination of their daily diet is part of their naturopathic consultation. Specifically with migraine sufferers, I find there is a huge association between food intolerances and migraines. I have repetitively seen the removal of a food significantly lessen or completely resolve migraine episodes.  The most common food triggers I see clinically for many is not the typical chocolate, alcohol, aged cheeses, or MSG, but instead dairy, gluten, and eggs. As for Carol it seemed that gluten was the possible suspect. 

Gluten is a protein found in the grains: wheat, barley, rye, kamut, and spelt. It’s the part of these grains that gives dough its elastic consistency. Gluten intolerance is when the body’s immune system is intolerant of gluten and its sub-protein gliadin in the diet and is forming antibodies or displaying some other evidence of an inflammatory reaction. The symptoms of gluten sensitivity are so varied, many people who have health issues may be unaware that their suffering may be due to gluten.

For Carol, her health issue didn’t involve any gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms so it was hard for her to believe that gluten could be causing her migraine episodes. Since 1966, scientific evidence has been accumulating regarding gluten sensitivity without the classic GI symptoms. During the past five years, many scientists have begun to re-evaluate the notion that gluten sensitivity is solely a disease of the GI tract due to the overwhelming evidence indicating otherwise. Other organs suspected of being involvement with gluten intolerance include: joints, heart, thyroid, bone, brain, and neuronal synapses. Conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, Huntington’s disease, autism, cardiomyopathies, dermatitis herpetiformis, dementia, and osteoporosis have all been shown in the literature to be connected to gluten.

While there is data to suggest that a certain percentage of migraine sufferers react to gluten, few medical doctors routinely test their patients for it. In 2003 a study published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology indicated that of the 90 patients who were diagnosed with idiopathic migraine, 4.4% had celiac disease compared to 0.4% of the 23 controls. The patients were treated for six months with a gluten-free diet and their symptoms decreased or were eliminated. The patients also showed an improvement in their cerebral blood flow on a gluten-free diet that was confirmed with diagnostic imaging.

There are many blood tests to confirm your diagnosis of gluten intolerance. If you do decide to ask your doctor and he/she agrees be sure to not start eliminating gluten from your diet until after the testing is done. The test could come back negative if you are not actively eating gluten. 

On the other hand, eliminating gluten from the diet is an easy way to determine if it’s the cause of your migraine episodes.  As in Carol’s situation this is what she did, and after 4 weeks of eliminating gluten she noticed a significant improvement in her migraines. They weren’t as frequent or long lasting. In addition to eliminating gluten from her diet she also supplemented with beneficial nutrients such as magnesium and riboflavin which have also been shown to be helpful in managing migraines. 

Like many patients that I see who have gluten intolerance, it may take months of not eating gluten before their symptoms completely resolve. Carol has been gluten free now for 8 months and on average experiences one headache every few months. In comparison to her daily migraine episodes in the past this a dramatic improvement, and for her a great enough reason to never look at gluten again!

About the author

Since 2005, Dr Fey has helped thousands of women, men, and children find real solutions to their health concerns. She truly believe that giving the proper care and nutrients your body has an amazing ability to heal. She is committed to finding the root cause of illness by utilizing a whole body approach not just focusing solely on presenting symptoms.

Dr. Amanda Fey is the owner and practicing Naturopathic Doctor at Complementary Medicine & Healing Arts, the Southern Tiers Center For Natural Healthcare located in the Binghamton NY area. The office website is www.naturallywell.us. To contact the office call 607-729-0591 or email cmhahealth@gmail.com.

Essential Oils As Alternatives To Antibiotics For Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the most common infections affecting millions of people each year. The biggest problems of urinary diseases are recurrences, increasing resistance to common antibiotics, as well as biofilm formation making them difficult to treat.

Escherichia coli (E. coli) is the main bacteria found in 80% to 85% of urinary tract infections (UTIs). Unfortunately, due to the overuse of antibiotics to these infections, the E. coli strains have now become resistant to many pharmaceutical prescription antibiotics; and therefore, alternative means to fight these infections are imperative to find.

A study published in the Molecules journal in March 2019 showed that essential oils from the plants Origanum majorana (oregano), Thymus zygis (thyme) and Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) all showed antibacterial activity to the uropathogenic E.coli strains. Whereas, the essential oils from the plants, Juniperus communis (juniper) and Zingiber officinale (ginger) ,did not show any effect towards E. coli.

More specifically, Thyme essential oil demonstrated the highest antibacterial activity against the E. coli isolates, followed by Oregano and Rosemary. Furthermore, the essential oils also showed high biofilm inhibitory action with the Rosemary oil having the highest antibiofilm activity followed by Thyme and Oregano oil.

In conclusion, these oils showed very effective antibacterial and antibiofilm activities against E. Coli strains. Hopefully more studies will be done on other bacterial strains giving more validity to alternative medicine, and also give medical professionals more tools to use to fight the increasing problem of antibiotic resistance we are developing due to overuse.

References

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30909573

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31136644

About the author

Since 2005, Dr Fey has helped thousands of women, men, and children find real solutions to their health concerns. She truly believe that giving the proper care and nutrients your body has an amazing ability to heal. She is committed to finding the root cause of illness by utilizing a whole body approach not just focusing solely on presenting symptoms.

Dr. Amanda Fey is the owner and practicing Naturopathic Doctor at Complementary Medicine & Healing Arts, the Southern Tiers Center For Natural Healthcare located in the Binghamton NY area. The office website is www.naturallywell.us. To contact the office call 607-729-0591 or email cmhahealth@gmail.com.

The Effects of Plant Lectins on Autoimmune Diseases

Plant-derived dietary lectins have been reported to be involved in the pathogenesis of several inflammatory diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and celiac disease. Studies show that the plant lectins act as a “danger signal” that can activate inflammatory mediators.

So, what are plant lectins?

Lectins are naturally occurring proteins found in most plants. Some foods that contain higher amounts of lectins include beans, peanuts, lentils, tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant, fruits, and wheat and other grains. Clinically, I hear a lot, “if I eat cooked tomatoes not raw I can tolerate them more”. This is likely because cooking the vegetables can breakdown the lectin protein making them less inflammatory to the body.

Research

Dr. Steven Gundry, MD has done a lot of research on how plant lectins affect disease. He found that out of 102 patients that he studied with autoimmune diseases, 95 of them went into complete remission after removing lectins from their diet after 9 months. The other 7 patients all had reduced inflammatory markers in their blood, but they were not in complete remission. And, 80 of the 102 patients were weaned from all immunosuppressive and/or biologic medications without rebound. He did also find most of his patients were low in vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids, so supplementation along with probiotics were utilized as well during the 9 months.

I don’t find that once you are diagnosed with an autoimmune disease it has to be a lifetime problem. I find removing plant lectins from the diet as one of the useful tools in bringing patients with autoimmune diseases back to the state of balance and optimal health they deserve.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28087670

https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/abs/10.1161/circ.137.suppl_1.p238

About the author

Since 2005, Dr Fey has helped thousands of women, men, and children find real solutions to their health concerns. She truly believe that giving the proper care and nutrients your body has an amazing ability to heal. She is committed to finding the root cause of illness by utilizing a whole body approach not just focusing solely on presenting symptoms.

Dr. Amanda Fey is the owner and practicing Naturopathic Doctor at Complementary Medicine & Healing Arts, the Southern Tiers Center For Natural Healthcare located in the Binghamton NY area. The office website is www.naturallywell.us. To contact the office call 607-729-0591 or email cmhahealth@gmail.com.

The Difference Between a Licensed Naturopathic Doctor and a Naturopathic Doctor

Sounds confusing, right? Well unfortunately due to the lack of regulation for Naturopathic Doctors (ND) in NY State; ANYONE can call themselves a Naturopathic Doctor (scary, right?)

So, let’s first talk about a licensed Naturopathic Doctor’s Education (that’s me :-))

 After receiving my bachelor’s degree in science (pre-med), I then attended a four-year, in-residence doctoral program accredited by the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME). The CNME recognized by the US Dept of Education and is the only accrediting council in North America that qualify graduates for licensure. 

The only Naturopathic Medical Schools in the US accredited by the CNME are as follows:

• Bastyr University-Washington

• Bastyr University-California

• National University of Natural Medicine-Oregon

• National University of Health Sciences-Illinois

• Southwest College of Natural Medicine-Arizona

• University of Bridgeport, College of Natural Medicine-Connecticut

While at Natural University of Natural Medicine in Portland OR, my education included all the same basic sciences as an MD, but also studies in clinical nutrition, pharmacology, homeopathy, botanical medicine, radiology, physical medicine, and lifestyle counseling. 

After graduation to become licensed, I had to pass a two-part national board exam (National Physicians Licensing Exam) which consisted of biomedical sciences and clinical medicine portions.  My current license is in Oregon due to NY lack of regulations. I chose not to do a post-doctoral residence because there weren’t many to chose from back in 2005. Today, there are many more opportunities and many licensed ND students do go to complete post-doctoral residencies all across North America. 

The Education of a non-Licensed Naturopathic Doctor 

• Certificates/Degrees are obtained online.

• Education is NOT accredited by the US Dept. of Education.

• Programs lengths are only a few months or up to a year.

• They are not taught the same medical sciences as MD’s.

• Their faculty are not required to have medical degrees.

In addition, non-licensed Naturopathic Doctors are not required (or even allowed) to take national board exams to obtain licensure. For that reason these ND’s choose to practice in unregulated states like NY where they can call themselves doctors (crazy I know!) and can place letters ND behind their name without even having a true accredited education. 

Practicing in NY State with an education like mine can be a struggle due to its limitations. Especially when other colleagues in the medical field are considering us as quacks! This is likely due to the non regulation of this medicine in NY State. Be aware of other practitioners in NY that call themselves Doctors of Naturopathic Medicine, make sure you see their credentials before committing to their service. 

It’s only a matter of time that NY will become regulated. More and more people are seeking out alternative medicine for complementary support to their health care concerns. It’s very important to have licensed professionals in the field of natural medicine become part of the American medical model. Without regulation, there is a great risk that patients will do harm by taking supplements that interact with their medication or aggravate their current medical condition. Remember, just because it’s a “natural” substance doesn’t mean that it can’t do harm. Don’t be fooled. 

About the author

Since 2005, Dr Fey has helped thousands of women, men, and children find real solutions to their health concerns. She truly believe that giving the proper care and nutrients your body has an amazing ability to heal. She is committed to finding the root cause of illness by utilizing a whole body approach not just focusing solely on presenting symptoms.

Dr. Amanda Fey is the owner and practicing Naturopathic Doctor at Complementary Medicine & Healing Arts, the Southern Tiers Center For Natural Healthcare located in the Binghamton NY area. The office website is www.naturallywell.us. Her personal website is www.doctorfey.com. To contact the office call 607-729-0591 or email cmhahealth@gmail.com.