Saturday, August 13, 2011

Natural hormone support

Optimum hormone levels may help one to feel more energy, have a healthier digestive tract and younger looking skin. Symptoms of hormonal disruption include: anxiety, depression, decreased sexual desire, fatigue, hair loss heart palpitations, hot flashes and increased facial hair in women, mood swings, night sweats, loss of scalp hair, weight gain.
There are health benefits to maintaining optimum hormone levels and there are some unique approaches to balancing estrogen and progesterone levels, stomach acid levels and thyroid- adrenal gland function In the near or post- menopausal woman, the female hormones estrogen, progesterone, DHEA and testosterone can and the latter two should optimally be tested in the free / unbound form using saliva and naturally occurring bio-identical plant hormones may be used. Salivary estrogens: estradiol and estrone as well as progesterone and testosterone should be assessed in women and then balanced appropriately. Brashear’s pharmacy offers pure plant based bio-identical hormones for all of these. Your doctor would start with low dosage and may prescribe these in cream, lozenge or pill form. Dietary changes to increase naturally occurring plant hormones and creams made from yams or supplements may be helpful.
In cases of acid indigestion such as the gastro-esophageal reflux dysfunction also known as G.E.R.D. is not likely to be a case of excess stomach acid production but is more likely a lack of proper food digestion. You may have food sensitivity or allergy problems causing inability to digest certain foods. Part of the problem is often stomach acid that is actually too weak. A change in diet, quantity of food consumed each meal and digestive enzymes and glandular formulas such as freeze dried cow stomach or small intestine in pill form may aid or solve the problem. Taking antacids may alleviate symptoms yet cause a leaky gut syndrome which allows more food allergies and may cause bowel inflammation to result. So what started as a complaint of an “acid stomach” can result in Inflammatory Bowel disease which has symptoms of alternating bouts of diarrhea or loose bowels and constipation.
The artificial manipulation of a hypo-active thyroid using synthetic stimulating hormone will usually have an effect on the adrenal glands. The adrenal glands are important in maintain energy, weight and blood pressure. A nutritional approach to balancing adrenal and thyroid function utilizing iodine from the sea, thyroid and adrenal cow extracts and a change in diet, nutrition and lifestyle may offer far superior results long term. If these approaches do not work, there is an alternative to Synthroid from pigs called Armour.
The quick manipulation of symptoms by synthetic pharmaceutical drugs is not the best answer for everyone. The benefits outweigh the risks for attempting natural approaches first for these problems.

Monday, June 6, 2011

nutrition for anti-aging

There are health benefits to maintaining optimum hormone levels and there are some unique approaches to balancing estrogen and progesterone levels, stomach acid levels and thyroid- adrenal gland function. Optimum hormone levels may help one to feel more energy, have a healthier digestive tract and younger looking skin. Symptoms of hormonal disruption include: anxiety, depression, decreased sexual desire, fatigue, hair loss heart palpitations, hot flashes and increased facial hair in women, mood swings, night sweats, loss of scalp hair, weight gain.
In the near or post- menopausal woman, the female hormones estrogen, progesterone, DHEA and testosterone can and the latter two should optimally be tested in the free / unbound form using saliva and naturally occurring bio-identical plant hormones may be used. Salivary estrogens: estradiol and estrone as well as progesterone and testosterone should be assessed in women and then balanced appropriately. Brashear’s pharmacy offers pure plant based bio-identical hormones for all of these. Your doctor would start with low dosage and may prescribe these in cream, lozenge or pill form. Dietary changes to increase naturally occurring plant hormones and creams made from yams or supplements may be helpful.
In cases of acid indigestion such as the gastro-esophageal reflux dysfunction also known as G.E.R.D. is not likely to be a case of excess stomach acid production but is more likely a lack of proper food digestion. You may have food sensitivity or allergy problems causing inability to digest certain foods. Part of the problem is often stomach acid that is actually too weak. A change in diet, quantity of food consumed each meal and digestive enzymes and glandular formulas such as freeze dried cow stomach or small intestine in pill form may aid or solve the problem. Taking antacids may alleviate symptoms yet cause a leaky gut syndrome which allows more food allergies and may cause bowel inflammation to result. So what started as a complaint of an “acid stomach” can result in Inflammatory Bowel disease which has symptoms of alternating bouts of diarrhea or loose bowels and constipation.
The artificial manipulation of a hypo-active thyroid using synthetic stimulating hormone will usually have an effect on the adrenal glands. The adrenal glands are important in maintain energy, weight and blood pressure. A nutritional approach to balancing adrenal and thyroid function utilizing iodine from the sea, thyroid and adrenal cow extracts and a change in diet, nutrition and lifestyle may offer far superior results long term. If these approaches do not work, there is an alternative to Synthroid from pigs called Armour.
The quick manipulation of symptoms by synthetic pharmaceutical drugs is not the best answer for everyone. The benefits outweigh the risks for attempting natural approaches first for these problems.

Sunday, March 13, 2011

latest news on low back pain

he study and treatment of low back pain is changing as a result of new research and that’s good news for both Doctors and patients. Diagnosis is increasingly based upon evidence and the latest standards were revealed at the Seventh Interdisciplinary World Congress on Low Back and Pelvic Pain, which recently took place in Los Angeles. This is a symposium of spinal surgeons, chiropractors, physical therapists reviewing a mix of scientific and clinical research.
Some new normal standards were set, such as the ability to stand for two hours pain free; the inability to do so is a good predictor of back problems. Another new standard is for men to be able to hold a side bridge exercise for 83 seconds and for women to be able to hold it for 64 seconds. Previously the normal was set at 60 seconds for both. I use this exercise to help stabilize low back pains of patients by strengthening the core erector muscles.
There were several presentations regarding the hip joint. Patients with hip degeneration are very likely to have low back pain. Some evidence was presented from a blinded study of people with hip pain using hip anesthetic injection and Magnetic Imaging of the hip, which determined that people with tears in the medial hip socket need physical therapy and exercise before and surgical consideration. The inability to perform a deep squat with arms outstretched is an indicator of knee, hip, sacroilliac or low back dysfunction. The Congress reviewed research on evidence-based physical exam of sacroilliac joints to determine them as the source of pain. While finding some of the older orthopedic tests to be non- reproducible, they found some that are consistent and reproducible. These tests are simple for the chiropractor to use .By identifying the sacroiliac joint as the source of the pain, the tests make treating the malfunction less complicated, indicating where the restriction of movement or excess movement is occurring. These joints are located below the waist at the dimples just above the buttocks.
Another new test involves tenderness in the area of the bones one sits on in pregnant women. These areas are an attachment site of ligaments which undergo stress in the widening pelvis of pregnant women. I have found this to be a common problem among my pregnant patients and have helped with this, using very gentle pressure on the ligaments a few centimeters away from this attachment or with instrument adjustments to the other pelvic bone to which this ligament attaches. This other bone is the sacrum, which is the base of the spine. The LA Congress addressed this as another insertion site to be manually worked on for this ligament.
The use of ongoing clinical research by doctors to help diagnose aspects of the different pain syndromes and to influence course of treatment can improve patient outcome. This is a win-win opportunity for the open minded doctor! Here at Better Health Chiropractic (crystalriverchiropractic.com/ ) we offer a full range of physiotherapy, exercise, massage and chiropractic manipulation solutions. Call 352-795-8911 for an appointment.