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The Many Causes of Diarrhea: Individualized Treatment for IBS-D
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The Many Causes of Diarrhea: Individualized Treatment for IBS-D

Diet, Integrative Healthcare, Naturopathic Medicine

The Many Causes of Diarrhea: Individualized Treatment for IBS-D

I am surprised by how many people receive a diagnosis of IBS-D (diarrhea type) without ever getting dietary counseling about elimination diets or avoidance of dairy products. People with IBS-D are often prescribed antidiarrheals like Immodium. When people with IBS come to see me, I ask them questions about their diet and the age of onset of their symptoms as well as any known triggers. I have had two cases of long-term undiagnosed Giardia infections that caused intermittent diarrhea but the vast majority of the patients I see for IBS have great improvements with diet changes or digestive support. The

Experiencing Adult Onset Food Allergies?
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Experiencing Adult Onset Food Allergies?

Holistic Medicine, Integrative Healthcare, Naturopathic Medicine

Experiencing Adult Onset Food Allergies?

A recent article in the New York Times brought my attention to a study that is currently in process about adult-onset food allergies. I have seen many patients who develop allergic symptoms later in life. When I suggest that the symptoms may be related to a food, people often respond with “but I have eaten this all my life.” I am glad to see that researchers are looking into the question of how and why food allergies develop because I often see patients with severe and life-altering symptoms from immune reactions to foods. There is a significant difference between food

Premenstrual Syndrome
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Premenstrual Syndrome

Integrative Healthcare, Naturopathic Medicine

Premenstrual Syndrome

I see many women who have heavy, irregular, or painful periods and do not mention PMS because they assume that PMS is “normal.” Premenstrual syndrome symptoms such as migraines, irritability, fatigue, and depression indicate that there is an underlying hormonal imbalance and there are many natural therapies that correct hormonal imbalances. Short-Term Treatments for Premenstrual Syndrome In conventional medicine, PMS is treated with birth control pills or antidepressants and these work well for many people. I think of these treatments as short-term treatments because if estrogen and progesterone remain out of balance, the woman will someday experience heavy periods, painful

Coconut Oil: Good for Cooking but No Miracle Cure
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Coconut Oil: Good for Cooking but No Miracle Cure

Diet, Health News

Coconut Oil: Good for Cooking but No Miracle Cure

The American Heart Association (AHA) recently came out with a presidential advisory that coconut oil should be avoided for heart health due to its saturated fat content. Meanwhile, many people in the natural medicine community have been promoting coconut oil as a great way to lose weight based on an extrapolation of research done by Marie-Pierre St-Onge, Ph.D. at Columbia University. So where is the truth? The answer is somewhere in the middle. Coconut Oil & Saturated Fats It’s important to note that saturated fats got a bad reputation in part due to hydrogenated fats (also known as trans fats)

Pain With Intercourse [Dyspareunia] and What You Can Do About It
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Pain With Intercourse [Dyspareunia] and What You Can Do About It

Functional Medicine, Integrative Healthcare, Third Stone Health

Pain With Intercourse [Dyspareunia] and What You Can Do About It

As part of my gynecological intake, I ask women about pain with intercourse because women often do not report pain with intercourse to their medical providers. There are many possible reasons for this but the one that concerns me the most is that many women are told that it’s “normal” to have pain with intercourse at a certain age or after childbirth. As my colleague, Anne Procyk, ND says, “it may be common but it is not normal.” Pain with Intercourse is Common, but Not Normal Pain with intercourse is very common. I have read estimates that range from ten

Health Tech Resources: Meditation Apps
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Health Tech Resources: Meditation Apps

Holistic Medicine, Meditation

Health Tech Resources: Meditation Apps

Mindfulness meditation has been shown to improve memory, focus, and mental well-being and regular practice improves sleep quality. When I first heard about these studies on mindfulness meditation, I imagined that to get these benefits, one would have to spend at least an hour per day meditating. I was surprised to find out that even five minutes can make a difference in stress hormone production and improved sleep. There are many local resources for learning about mindfulness meditation with a group or counselor. I highly recommend joining a group if you would like to deepen your practice but these apps