Is Your Body Too Acidic?

Most people today consume far too much white bread, red meat, sugar, soft drinks, tea, coffee, and take-away. The modern Western diet contains an excess amount of fast food and not nearly enough fresh fruit and vegetables. When you combine this diet with a stressful lifestyle, over time what this does is make our bodies overly acidic.

Some symptoms of hyperacidity in the body include fatigue, headaches, constipation, lack of motivation or feeling depressed, mood swings and insomnia. Other symptoms include bloating and flatulence, constipation, dry skin, brittle hair and nails. If you are suffering a number of these symptoms, it may be that your body is too acidic.

Ideally in a healthy state our bodies are slightly alkaline, that is a pH just over 7 on a pH scale of 0-14. Our bodies are constantly trying to maintain this slightly alkaline balance. Children are naturally alkaline so can cope well with an imbalanced diet, but as we become adults and combine poor eating with excess stress and a lack of exercise, our bodies can develop chronic acidity and with that symptoms of poor health.

Often people are confused about what foods are acidic or alkaline. For example, because lemons are acidic in taste, many people mistakenly think they are acidic. In fact lemons and other citrus fruits can have an alkalising effect on the body. Many vegetables, particularly green vegetables, also help to alkalise the body. An adequate amount of water is also important, ideally filtered water, to maintain the body’s pH balance.

If you feel you are suffering excess acidity, you can have your acid/alkaline balance tested and receive a detailed diet plan, by making an appointment with Naturopath Michelle Bryceland on 9376 4666 or email her at michelle@essentialsforhealth.com.au.

How Traditional Chinese Medicine helps us to understand the Menstrual Cycle

The Menstrual Cycle in TCM

The Chinese view of the menstrual cycle is very different to western medicine. The following is an explanations for you to have a better understanding of how traditional Chinese medicine sees the female reproductive system.

In Chinese Medicine there are the concepts of yin and yang, which are used to describe our environments and body. For example, yang is dry, and yin is moisturising, yang is daytime and yin is night time, yang is hot and yin is cold.

Yin and yang are opposites, like night and day, but also they can transform into each other as night becomes day, and day becomes night. This transformation or co-existence is often symbolised by the yin/yang symbol.

In our bodies, the yin represents the cooling, moistening, nourishing, growing and fertile function actions, while the yang represents the heating, drying, moving, more energetic side.

So in an average 28 day cycle, the first half of the cycle will be 14 days long. In the phase, the uterus is being nourished. The new follicle is developing, cervical fertile mucus is produced and the lining of the uterus is being built up. These are all actions of yin. In Western medicine we understand this occurs because the hormone  follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) is released, so making oestrogen levels higher at this time.

Around day 14 ovulation occurs, and at this point everything changes. The egg is released, it moves down the fallopian tubes towards the uterus, and the body temperature increases. This is the yang half of the cycle. At this point in the cycle, there is a surge then a drop of the hormone FSH which stimulates ovulation, with an increase in lutenising hormone (LH), which facilitates ovulation. Progesterone levels should be higher at this time up until menstruation and/or pregnancy occurs.

Like the yin/yang symbol, this process then restarts and a cycle is formed. Problems can occur in either the 1st or 2nd half of this cycle.

Problems in the first half
As an example, if a woman has insufficient yin, she will not be developing the follicle sufficiently or making enough blood or cervical mucus in the first half. This could lead to a long cycle or anovulation (where ovulation does not occur). If the follicle, endometrium and cervical mucus are undernourished, ovulation may still occur on day 14, but the result could be a scanty period or an inability to become pregnant, as the released follicle is always immature.

Problems in the second half
If problems occur in the second half of the cycle, where the qi and blood are supposed to be moving, various symptoms may arise. For example, if in the premenstrual phase the movement of Qi is not smooth, signs of stuckness and stagnation occur, such as breast tenderness, bloating, constipation, and irritability. This is why when the period arrives and the blood starts moving, all these signs dissipate almost immediately.

If the stagnation is more severe, it actually affects the blood. Dark blood or clotting during menstruation, or period pain, gives an indication of this form of stagnation. In western terms this may have a diagnosis such as endometriosis. This poor shedding of the endometrium can lead to problems with egg implantation for the following month.

This is a very simple explanation and most problems seen in clinic are a combination of a number of problems, which can be diagnosed and effectively treated with nutrients, herbal medicine and acupuncture.

For help with menstrual problems or irregularities you can call 9376 4666 to see Michelle.


Michelle Bryceland (Naturopath/Acupuncturist)

Spring Detox

SPRING IS HERE – IT’S TIME FOR A FRESH START

If you are finding yourself suffering bad hayfever, are low in energy, have digestive issues or recurrent headaces, it might be time you tried a detox.

In our busy modern world, we appear to be surrounded by toxins. Environmental toxins like heavy metals, pesticides, chemicals, food additives, drugs and pollutants are present in the air, water and food that we eat. We aren’t only exposed to toxins in our external environment; toxins can also be generated internally by 'bad' bacteria, yeasts and parasites in our digestive system. These internally generated toxins are then absorbed into our bloodstream, affecting our health and vitality.

A natural detoxification program can be one of the most effective strategies for rapidly improving the state of your health as it may help clear toxins out of your body and leave you feeling healthy and energetic. Spring is an ideal time for a detox, as we are preparing for the warmer weather, and both nature and our bodies are regenerating. A detoxification program in Spring can help you shed the few kilos you may have put on over Winter, and can reduce your response to airborne allergens, so reducing symptoms of hayfever and rhinitis. It can also leave you feeling lighter and full of energy.

For a detox to be most effective it is important to be guided by a health professional as there are particular steps that need to be taken. Your practitioner can guide you regarding which foods you can and can’t eat, and what supplements you may need to take in order re-boot your digestive system and feel great again. So why not see Naturopath Michelle Bryceland and start a detox program today?

Headaches & Stress

Is Stress giving you a Headache?

Stress, a major cause of tension headaches, is a physical or emotional strain on the body. Prolonged or excess stress sends a message to the body to produce more adrenal hormones, secreted by the adrenal glands, situated above the kidneys. When there is no physical outlet for the increased adrenal hormones released into the bloodstream, the body channels the response inwards, and this affects the circulatory, digestive or nervous systems, resulting in problems such as insomnia, anxiety, constipation or diarrhoea, high blood pressure and chronic headaches.

Headaches are brought on by tension, depression, and stress that strains the muscular tissues or blood vessels in the head or neck, usually called tension headaches. Most people have experienced this type of headache at some point and understand that stress and tension are contributing factor. There are thought to be a number of other triggers for headaches, including alcohol, tobacco, anaemia, low blood sugar, disturbances in circulation, allergies, constipation or bowel problems, and hormonal imbalances to name a few.

The frequency and intensity of headaches are also affected by a person’s nutrient status. As stress reduces the absorption and increases the loss of nutrients in the body, prolonged or excess stress causes a greater than normal requirement for many nutrients, including the B vitamins, vitamin C, zinc, iron, magnesium, potassium and calcium. As these cannot simply be met by diet alone, the treatment of headaches using natural therapy may involve improving nutrient levels with vitamin and/or mineral supplementation. An elimination diet may also be recommended, removing certain foods from the diet that may trigger a headache, and this can be different for each person.

Herbs are also very effective to relax and support the nervous system and reduce the load on the adrenal glands, as well as to improve liver function, as a reduced ability to clear toxins in the body can be a causative factor for headaches. Some of these herbs include Skullcap, Passionflower, Zizyphus, Schizandra, Bupluerum, Withania, St. Mary’s Thistle and Valerian. Improving circulation and digestive function are also an important part of treatment, as are lifestyle changes like increasing exercise and relaxation techniques such as yoga and meditation. Massage and acupuncture can also reduce the incidence of headaches and may also be recommended.

For an thorough health assessment with Naturopath Michelle Bryceland you can call

9376 4666 or 0413 836 388.

Acupuncture Treatment during Pregnancy

For over 3000 years, Traditional Chinese Medicine has been used to treat women during pregnancy and even after the baby is born. Today acupuncture is becoming an increasingly popular form of treatment for many conditions or difficulties during pregnancy. Acupunture can also help to promote a healthy pregnancy.

During the first trimester of pregnancy, acupuncture can help to reduce or resolve morning sickness, fatigue, migraines and bleeding. During the second trimester, acupuncture can help with heartburn, haemorrhoids or stress. And in the third trimester, acupuncture can provide relief from back pain and sciatica. Acupunture can also help to reduce hypertension, fluid retention and insomnia. Treatments may be needed weekly, fortnightly or monthly, depending on the severity of symptoms.

In the last four to six weeks of pregnancy, acupuncture treatment can help to prepare the pelvis and cervix for labour. Ideally treatment should weekly at this stage until labour begins. Research has shown that this course of treatment can assist in reducing the need for medical interventions such as medical induction or a caesarian during childbirth.

Acupuncture can be also beneficial to promote recovery after the baby is born. Treatments can promote breast milk, repair of scar tissue, and can help with post-natal depression. Acupuncture can build and strengthen Qi in the body, which is often depleted after pregnancy, so can help a woman with general fatigue and feelings of low energy after childbirth.

Men's Health

Men often tend to put their health at the bottom of the list after work, family commitments and leisure, but it is extremely important for men to be proactive about health and prevent disease before it occurs.

A recent report found that women are more than 33% more likely to visit a doctor or health practitioner than men, and a larger amount of men than women are afflicted and can die prematurely from more serious diseases such as cancer, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, liver and kidney disease, to name a few.

With obesity on the rise in Australia, it is much more likely for men to suffer chronic disease. Obesity often goes hand in hand with high cholesterol and high blood pressure, which left untreated, can result in stroke and heart attacks. While medication is very successful at helping correct what has gone wrong, it is important to try and prevent disease in the first place.

The best way to prevent disease is with diet and lifestyle changes. You may have heard this many times, but it really is so simple. Increasing fruit and vegetables, wholegrains and fibre, and reducing refined carbohydrates and fats, such as those found in pizza, hamburgers and indeed any fast food, is the first step. This is not to say that you can never indulge in these foods, but just occasionally. Regular exercise is also very important, whether that be going to the gym, playing a team sport or just a brisk 30 minute walk or cycle a few times a week.

A Naturopath can help you to look at your diet and nutrition in detail, suggesting supplements where they may be needed, and provide you with guidelines and even inspiration to make some important changes. Naturopaths also use vitamins, minerals and herbs to treat particular areas of the body, such as the heart, liver, kidneys or nervous system. They may suggest a thorough detox to get you started, or help you reach your weight loss goals.

With an improved diet, exercise, and vital nutrients that you may have been missing, you will most likely find that your energy levels will increase, stress levels will decrease, and of course you will feel happier. So don’t leave your health at the bottom of your to do list, work on it now!

Nutrition in Pregnancy

The Importance of Good Nutrition in Pregnancy

You have probably heard that what you eat, drink, and do during pregnancy can have an effect on your unborn child. New research, called epigenetics, shows that conditions like obesity, diabetes and allergies can all be programmed into your child’s DNA in utero.  

Epigenetics refers to structural changes to genes that do not change the nucleotide sequence, but instead control and regulate the expression of a gene¹. What this basically means is that what you eat during pregnancy, any exposure to pollutants, stress or infections, can all have an effect on the expression of your child’s DNA.

This includes nutrient deficiencies, some of which are being have been shown to cause severe problems, such as a deficiency of folate contributing to the development of neural tube defect. Low levels of folate have also been linked to poor growth of the placenta and uterus, recurrent miscarriage, increased risk of preterm delievery and pre-eclampsia^2.

Iron supplementation has been found to promote better birth outcomes, with lower frequency of caesarian section, longer length of gestation, and higher haemoglobin levels post-partum³.

Low levels of the mineral Selenium have been shown to have a link with the condition pre-ecplampsia in pregnancy⁴. Selenium is derived from the soil that food is grown in, but in Australia our soil is quite depleted of this nutrient, so supplementation may be necessary.

And adequate levels of Vitamin D in pregnancy have been found to help maintain a normal pregnancy, support foetal growth, as well as contributing to successful IVF pregnancies⁵.

Ideally you should prepare your body for 2-3 months before becoming pregnant, so you can be as healthy as you can, and give your baby the best future possible. All this information can be very confusing, so it is recommended you discuss with your Naturopath what you are currently taking and they can advise you of the best diet and supplements for you during your pregnancy.

References:

1.        (Pozharny Y, et al Epigenetics in women’s health care. Mt Sinai J Med. 2010 Mar; 77 (2):225-35)

2.        (Pozharny Y, et al Epigenetics in women’s health care. Mt Sinai J Med. 2010 Mar; 77 (2):225-35).

3.        (Milman N. Iron prophylaxis in pregnancy – general or individual and in which dose? Ann Hematol. 2006 Dec; 85 (12):821-8.  Epub 2006 Jun 9).

4.        (Haten, M. et al. Reduced Selenium Concetntrations and Glutathione Peroxidase Activity in Preeclamptic Pregnancies. Hypertension;52(5), November 2008, pp 881-888).

5.        (Ozkan S et al, Replete vitamin D stores predict reproductive success following in vitro fertilization. Fertil Steril. 2010 Sep;94(4):1314-9).

Michelle Bryceland

Naturopath/Acupuncturist

Flemington Chiropractic