Archive for July, 2009
Acne
Wednesday, July 29th, 2009Q:I’m 26, and my lower chin area is prone to break-outs of acne. Can you recommend anything?
A: Acne is the most common of all skin complaints. Acne can accompany many conditions such as polycystic ovarian syndrome, thyroid imbalances, digestive disorders, blood glucose imbalances, intestinal yeast infections, poor diet, etc. Acne on the chin area is often linked to hormonal and digestive related problems. At ICIM Blood testing, ultrasound, and CTI (computerised thermographic imagining) screening can help identify possible underlying causes. (more…)
Insomnia
Tuesday, July 28th, 2009Q: My sleeping patterns were disrupted by a spring break, and now I’m finding it impossible to get asleep at a decent hour. Worst of all, I begin panicking if I don’t get immediately asleep, which makes the situation worse! I don’t want to resort to sleeping tablets. Any advice?
A: Sleeping problems (insomnia) needs to be divided into those who cannot get to sleep (sleep induction) and those who awaken (sleep interruption). The causes may overlap, although psychological stress factors are more likely to stop someone from sleeping than waking them up. Disturbed sleep is the result of a poor production of sleep chemicals (particularly serotonin), an overproduction of stimulating hormones such as adrenaline, cortisol and glucagons (the antagonist of insulin), or of external disturbances.
Knee Injury
Tuesday, July 28th, 2009Q: I twisted my knee badly with a slip on the ice a few weeks ago and it seems to be taking forever to heal - is there anything I can do to speed up my recovery?
A: The best course of treatment for an injury to the knee joint caused by a twisting force depends upon the exact nature of the damage sustained. This can vary tremendously from a simple sprain to an internal ligamentous or cartilage tear. (more…)
Memory Impairment
Tuesday, July 28th, 2009Q:My mother is in her seventies and is getting very forgetful. I’m scared that she might develop Alzheimer’s. Is there anything she can take to aid her memory and perhaps delay any mental problems?
A:Memory loss or impairment is a complex matter involving input and recollection processes depending on brain chemicals (neurotransmitters) and pathways being intact. It is important to isolate the area where the memory problem lies such as : sensory input, evaluation, long-term memory, short-term memory, mid-term memory, recall and expression.
Any condition that interferes with the pathways, the formation of neurotransmitters or the actual parts of the brain that retain facts and events, can cause an impairment or loss of memory. Even conditions such as fatigue, hypothyroidism, anxiety, nervousness or fear can affect memory. Low blood sugar levels too can have the same effect.
Toxins such as alcohol, drugs of abuse, smoking, agrochemicals (including pesticides) and specific foods to which individuals may be allergic can all put chemicals in the system that interfere with the pathways involved with memory.
Damage to the brain or the pathways through trauma, stroke or tumour may affect memory. Decreasing the amount of brain tissue, as in Alzheimer’s disease or senile dementia, and decreased oxygenation and nutritional supply by a narrowing of the arteries (atheroma) will all interfere with memory by destruction of tissue or nerve pathways.
As always, it is important to properly identify the underlying cause to the memory impairment. If persistent your Mother may require special memory tests and CT scans of the brain. However, bear in mind that the Medical establishment may not consider agrochemicals, food allergy or low blood sugar as a cause of memory loss.
At ICIM Medics we often conduct ‘white cell sensitivity’ testing for agrochemicals, food allergy testing and low blood sugar testing. Research has highlighted possible connections between pesticide exposure and conditions such as Alzheimers and Parkinsons disease.
Deficiencies in proteins, zinc, vitamin B12, folic acid and lecithin are common in the elderly.
Blood testing and/or hair mineral analysis for deficiencies and heavy metal toxicity should also be undertaken. Lead, aluminium and mercury may be culprits in memory loss.
Homoeopathic remedies may be of benefit. High potency Plumbum, Alumina may all be beneficial if heavy metal poisoning is found to exist. Anacardium and Sulphur 200C may be helpful if the ability to remember names and words is a problem.
For further information on Memory loss or impairment, Alzheimers or Parkinsons disease please contact ICIM Medics on tel. 045 844 819 or www.icimmedics.com
Cystitis
Thursday, July 23rd, 2009Q:I keep getting bouts of cystitis. Is there anything I can do to prevent the problem?
A:Cystitis is inflammation of the urinary bladder. It is usually caused by a bacterial infection but often overlooked is the possibility of viral or yeast infections ! Also not considered is the possibility that the bladder is inflamed by toxins filtered from the bloodstream by the kidneys. Chemical compounds and specific food intolerances may also cause inflammation.
Identifying the underlying trigger is important for correct treatment. Infection is usually introduced via the urethra from outside the body. The urethra in women is short and organisms do not have that far to travel.
Dehydration, being sedentary and sexual intercourse all predispose to urinary tract infections.
General measures I would suggest include taking large amount of fluids (2 litres or more four times daily), including ½ litre of unsweetened cranberry juice or ¼ litre of blueberry juice four times daily.
If you think you have an underlying yeast infection such as thrush, athletes foot, digestive problems, then an anti-fungal program is called for. At ICIM Medics I normally prescribe anti-microbial medicines together with dietary support. ICIM blood analysis or gut fermentation blood test can help identify a yeast infection and Urine analysis for a bacterial infection.
Cut our all simple sugars, refined carbohydrates and food allergens; try to eat less; and eat liberal amounts of garlic and onions.
Herbal medicines to offer support; Uva ursi (bearberry) to reduce pain and discomfort, Allium sativum (garlic) and Hydrastis canadensis (goldenseal) to treat bacterial or fungal infections.
Homoeopathic remedies to help; Cantharis 3C taken every 2 hour for acute inflammation, Terebinthina 3C taken every ½ hour to 4 hours for irritation of the neck of the bladder and urethra, Equisetum 3C taken every 2 hours for incontinence, Staphisagria 3C every 2 hours where intercourse worsens the condition.
Nutritional support includes vitamin A, C, beta-carotene, zinc, and choline.
For further information on Cystitis contact ICIM Medics, St. John’s Grove, Johnstown, Naas, Co. Kildare Tel. 045 844 819 www.icim.ie
Morning Sickness
Thursday, July 23rd, 2009Q:I’m pregnant and suffering from severe morning sickness. Is there any natural way of helping me? It’s so bad that I’m not keeping anything down and I’m worried that this might affect the baby.
A:Discovering a pregnancy can be a very happy time and the physical symptoms of early pregnancy usually mingle with a profound sensation of well-being. But not always ! As an expectant Mum the taste, sight, or smell of food can cause nausea, vomiting, and excessive salivation. Although called ‘Morning Sickness’ this condition can occur at any time of the day. It typically begins four to eight weeks into the pregnancy and continues for up to sixteen weeks. The nausea you experience at some point of the day is caused by reaction to human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG), a chemical essential for the survival of the fertilized egg.
Some helpful recommendations:
Ginger: as biscuits (two or three before rising from bed in the morning); as tea (quarter-inch thick, chopped fresh in hot water); as juice (quarter-inch slice with apple, liquidated). A crushed stick of cardamom in yoghurt can also be helpful.
Avoid low blood sugar; eat small healthy snacks at regular intervals. A pin prick test can measure your blood sugar levels with immediate results. (Hypoglycemia)
Acupressure points can be taught by your local Acupuncturist. The points helpful for alleviating morning sickness are Conception Vessel Meridian point 12 (CU12) and Stomach Meridian point 36 (ST36).
Place a drop of peppermint oil on a sugar cube and suck slowly. You cannot use this if you are using a homoeopathic remedy.
Homoeopathic remedies for morning sickness taken in a 6C potency x every 15 mins when needed include: Nux vomica for nausea in the morning after eating with sour or bilious vomiting bilious which is worse from stimulants or rich food. Cocculus for motion-sickness type nausea with vomiting of profuse flow of saliva. Sepia for nausea in the morning after eating or from sight or smell of food.
Failing the above, both acupuncture and reflexology can be helpful.
Severe nausea and vomiting known as Hyperemesis gravidarum can lead to malnutrition and may need to be controlled by orthodox drugs via your Health Practitioner.
For further information on morning sickness or pregnancy related problems contact ICIM Medics, St. John’s Grove, Johnstown, Naas, Co. Kildare Tel. 045 844 819 www.icim.ie
New Year, Clean Living!
Thursday, July 23rd, 2009Q:It’s January and after an eventful Christmas I’m planning on a January full of clean living. Can you recommend something to help my body recover from the excesses of Christmas?
A:Feeling bloated, sluggish, and tired after the last month of indulging in chocolate, wine, and cookies? Kick off the New Year with a resolution for healthy and clean living. Your digestive system and liver take a strain over the festive season and detoxing can help support your body by increasing elimination from the body, cleansing the colon, and enhancing circulation to clear toxic substances. Eliminating unhealthy foods and suspected allergens from the diet further aids detoxification enhancing nutrient absorption and supports and protects the liver which is the main organ involved in a detox.
Some healthy tips :
- Diet - reduce sugar, wheat, dairy, caffeine, alcohol, and fried food.
- Exercise - introduce some gentle exercise into your routine.
- Drink 4-6 glasses of luke warm water per day, filtered or bottled.
- Breathe - Oxygenation detoxifies the organs and glands.
- Skin brushing - accelerates the rate at which toxins are expelled from the body.
- Fruit & Vegetable Juicing - helps flush out toxins.
- Liver and Kidney Support - eliminates and drains toxins from the body. Herbs such as Berberis Vulgaris, Milk Thistle, and homoeopathic remedies such as sulphur and nux vom can be very helpful.
- Cravings -Chromium picolinate, L-methionine, and vitamin B complex can help balance blood sugar levels, regulate fat digestion, reduce the appetite, and prevent excess sugar from being converted by the body into fat !
- Nutrients - Glutamine is particularly healing to the gut after a month of damaging overindulgence. Probiotics can also help to restore a proper balance to the gut. Digestive enzymes will also encourage proper digestive processing.
Detoxing is so popular in the New Year and can be done from 7 days to as long as 1 month or longer ! The longer, the better really. We normally integrate ICIM Blood Analysis in our practice to indicate how toxic you really are and how well your digestive processing is doing. With this information we help design a program according to your needs. We normally recommend a 4 week program to achieve deeper detoxification and allow the digestive system the necessary time to heal.
For further information on ICIM Blood Analysis, Digestive related problems or Detoxing contact the ICIM Medics on 045 844 819 or e-mail info@icim.ie
Asthma
Wednesday, July 22nd, 2009Q: What is Asthma?
A: Asthma is a Chronic Obstructive Airways Disorder and occurs due to an exaggerated hypersensitivity response to a wide variety of stimuli such as cold air or dust. Muscles around the wall of the airways tighten up causing narrowing. The lining of the airways swell and sticky mucus forms which clogs up the breathing passages causing symptoms of shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing and feelings of chest tightness. It may lead to an acute, immobilizing attack. Asthma attacks differ from person to person, and between attacks many individuals are symptom free. The attacks may occur spontaneously or in response to various triggers, respiratory infections, emotional stress, or weather changes.
What occurs during an asthma attack?
During an attack due to bronchospasm and oedema of the bronchial mucosa the airways narrow and become progressively obstructed causing prolonged expiration. Expiration (breathing out) becomes prolonged because of progressive airway obstruction. The amount of air that can be forcibly expired in 1 second and the peak expiratory flow rate are decreased. During a prolonged attack, air becomes trapped behind the occluded and narrowed airways, causing hyperinflation of the lungs and an increase in residual volume (RV). More energy is therefore needed to overcome tension already present in the lungs, and the accessory respiratory muscles (Sternocleidomastoid, Scalenes, and Diaphragm muscles) are recruited to maintain ventilation and gas exchange.
Statistics of Asthma
According to the Asthma Association of Ireland asthma prevalence is very high in Ireland. Ireland is number four in the world asthma league after Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom. It is thought that as many as 470,000 individuals in Ireland suffer from the condition. Over the last two decades there has been a considerable increase in asthma prevalence which although the condition often runs in families is more likely due to a greater change in the environment over this period ( allergic substances, pollution, smoking) or a change in our bodies’ response to the external environment.
Types of Asthma
Typically, asthma has been categorized into extrinsic (atopic) asthma and intrinsic (non-atopic) asthma. Although this distinction is useful from a pathophysiological point of view, it is less useful clinically as many people with asthma manifest overlapping characteristics of the two.
Extrinsic (Atopic) Asthma: This is typically initiated by a Type 1 hypersensitivity reaction induced by exposure to an outside antigen or allergen. It usually has its onset in childhood or adolescence. Persons with atopic asthma often have allergic disorders such as hay fever, hives and eczema.
Intrinsic (Nonatopic) Asthma: This is often initiated by various nonimmune mechanisms including respiratory tract infections, exercise, ingestion of aspirin, emotional upset, and exposure to cigarette smoke.
Treatments: Many medications are used to manage the symptoms of asthma for both quick relief following an acute attack or long- term medications that are taken daily to achieve and maintain control of persistent asthma symptoms. Medications that are commonly used include corticosteroids, anti-inflammatories, and bronchodilators and are administered in inhalation and oral forms. It is important that asthma patients liase with their doctor or nurse to ensure that the symptoms are being managed appropriately.
How can Osteopathy treat Asthma symptoms?
Osteopathy is a Complementary Medicine and in conjunction with Allopathic medicine can be helpful in the treatment of Asthma by stretching out and performing Soft Tissue techniques (massage) to the accessory breathing muscles such as Sternocleidomastoid, the intercostal muscles and Diaphragm muscle. These muscles become hypertonic (tight) as they are recruited more for breathing in people who suffer from asthma than those who don’t. An Osteopath will also advise on breathing techniques and perform some rib stretches in order to improve overall respiratory function.
PMS
Wednesday, July 22nd, 2009Q:PMS is becoming a real problem for me - any advice?
A:Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) covers a variety of symptoms both emotional and physical. Studies confirm that PMS symptoms are predominantly caused by raised oestrogen and progesterone levels. Deficiencies in vitamins and minerals, an excess of stress chemicals such as adrenaline and physical stress from food allergy and digestive related problems may all make matters worse.
Reduce fat intake (fat produces oestrogen) and supplement with omega 6 and omega 3 fatty acids (Evening Primrose Oil / Flaxseed oil). Introduce high-fiber (ground flaxseeds) to assure daily bowel motions (oestrogen is excreted from the large intestine) and exercise more. Avoid caffeine and chocolate as they stimulate stress hormones.
Liver support (site for oestrogen clearance in the body) Herbs: Goldenseal, barberry bark, milk thistle, and dandelion root all provide liver support and help treat digestive disorders.
Supplements : vitamin B6 & magnesium-calcium supplements help relieve PMS. Vitamins A, C, and E and the minerals selenium, zinc, and iron are also beneficial.
Herbal support: Agnes Castus for cramping, breast pain, acne flare ups and irregular menstrual cycle (usually late) (do not take if you are on the pill); Wild yam for painful menstruation and ovarian pain; Dong Quai for cramping, migraine and ovarian pains, it is a menstrual regulator; Damiana is an hormonal tonic, helps libido, depression and energy levels. These herbs can taken together if needed. However, supervision would be recommended.
Homoeopathic remedies in a 30C and taken twice daily; Sepia for irregular periods with sadness and weeping. Dragging sensations.; Calc Carb for early periods, profuse and long lasting periods; sore breasts before and during period; Kali Carb for backache before and during menses, feels badly week before menstruation; Pulsatilla late or irregular periods, pains changeable and weepy.
For further information on PMS please visit ICIM Medics www.icimmedics.com or tel. 045 844 819.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
Wednesday, July 22nd, 2009Q: The dark days of winter are leaving me sad and depressed. Could I be suffering from SAD? Is there any way of treating it without having to go on antidepressants?
A: Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)is a condition in which the body is not exposed to enough sunlight to maintain normal levels of serotonin. It is associated with winter depression and summer hypomania. Typically, patients tend to feel depressed, slow down, oversleep, overeat and crave carbohydrates in the winter. In the summer they tend to feel elated, active and energetic.
A lot can be done to help with SAD, extending light exposure on winter days for thirty minutes a day under a full-spectrum fluorescent lamp, or under very bright artificial light, or in a ‘light box’, should begin to improve symptoms within three to four weeks.
Melatonin is a hormone produced in the body in response to the rhythms of light and darkness. Changes in melatonin levels are believed to be an important factor in seasonal depression however, levels will change according to one’s exposure to sunlight, so although it is sometimes prescribed to help SAD, it does not address the root cause. If taken at night it can help, however, it can also make insomnia worse as days grow longer in late winter. For this reason, I tend to discourage supplementation.
Hypericum perforatum (St. John’s Wort) extract or 5-HTP improves SAD and is more effective in combination with light therapy. This herb is restricted to prescription through herbal consultation only. Dosages of 300mg three times daily were found to improve SAD.
Vitamin D is well known for its effects on helping to maintain normal calcium levels, but it also exerts influence on the brain, spinal cord, and hormone-producing tissues of the body that may be important in the regulation of mood. A double-blind study found that mood improved in healthy people without SAD who received 400 or 800 IU per day of vitamin D for five days in late winter.
Try to exercise one hour of aerobic or anaerobic exercise three times a week in bright light to further improve mood.
For further information on Seasonal Affective Disorder or Depression contact ICIM Medics, St. John’s Grove, Johnstown, Naas, Co. Kildare Tel. 045 844 819 www.icim.ie
