MTHFR: Is this Gene Mutation Compromising Your Fertility?
Recently, you might have heard about MTHFR (Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase), a newly discovered gene mutation responsible for several common, but vague, symptoms. When we hear the words “gene mutation,” we often think of a major genetic disorder, but that’s not necessarily the case. Gene mutations are relatively common and now that we have mapped out the Human Genome Project, we know a [...]
How to Cope with Anxiety and Depression During the Holiday Season
The holidays are a time of immense joy and happiness, right? Well, maybe for some people. But if you’ve got a case of the holiday blues, know this: you’re not alone. Anxiety and depression are very common during the holiday season. In fact, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), ¾ of people surveyed reported feeling [...]
Don’t Get Sick: Cold and Flu Prevention Tips
It’s getting to be that time of year again when people are more prone to colds and flus. Of course, that’s exacerbated by the lack of light and tendency towards a more sedentary lifestyle. For most people, energy and moods drop because it’s darker outside, and in turn we tend to reach for sugar more. It is combination of [...]
How to Stay Hydrated This Summer
Keeping yourself hydrated is important. This is especially critical this time of year because people are prone to heat-related illness, such as heat stroke and heat exhaustion. There is a great book written on this topic called Your Body’s Many Cries for Water where the authors explain how many of us have a suppressed thirst mechanism, which causes us [...]
How to Protect Yourself from Sun Damage
Everyone is really into lathering up with sunscreen, which is important. I’m also a fan of covering up and limiting sun exposure, because well, reapplying sunscreen every two hours (as the instructions say) and after swimming can become a full-time job! In addition to external protection against the sun, it is really important to also put in place some [...]
Case study: Naturopathic Treatment of PCOS
When I first met Jennifer, a 30-year old schoolteacher suffering from infertility, she was very frustrated. She had already endured 5 rounds of IVF (in vitro fertilitzaion), which were unsuccessful. In preparation for her final round of IVF, she came to my practice for acupuncture treatments to improve the outcome of the next IVF. After taking her medical history, [...]