Integrative Health Blog

As a dentist, I have seen firsthand the impact that tooth loss can have on a person's quality of life. Edentulous spaces, or areas where teeth are missing, can cause difficulties with speaking, eating, and even self-confidence. Fortunately, dental implants offer a solution that can greatly improve a patient's oral health and overall well-being.

So, what exactly are dental implants?

Naturopathic oncology has emerged as a comprehensive approach to cancer treatment, aiming to identify and address the fundamental causes of the disease. Unlike conventional medicine's symptomatic and tumor-centric approach, naturopathic oncology delves into the underlying root causes. This blog explores the concept of unraveling the etiology of cancer and the valuable insights provided by naturopathic principles for personalized cancer care. 

One of the first health concerns that brings new mothers into the office is eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis. They typically try applying over-the-counter products including lotions, coconut oil, steroid cream, or some combination thereof, but often the scaly red skin induces panic that brings them in the door when all other efforts are exhausted. This can be a blessing in disguise because it often prompts the doctor to test for food allergies, environmental allergies, and infections that are common precipitating factors in eczema.

Why is the Skin Reacting? 

The clear tangible benefit to investigating these things further is that eliminating allergic triggers, clearing up infections, healing the gut, and desensitizing the body to the allergies produces a noticeable change in the outward appearance of the skin. A less obvious, but important, effect is that this provides the patient with added protection against more than multiple types of asthma and reduces the risk of allergic rhinitis and other allergy symptoms in the future.

Skin inflammation can set off an internal inflammatory cascade that can perpetuate further skin conditions and lead to several inflammation-based illnesses later in life.^{1, 2} 

Pathophysiology of Atopic Triad in Children 

Asthma, eczema, and allergies have very similar triggers and immune reactions.

Winter is over! Transitioning from winter to spring is good news for the body. Seasonal changes can have many effects on us. Following the rhythm of the seasons our body has specific needs, and we should listen!

In winter, we want to be inside, stay warm and eat heavier, comforting foods. Changes in temperature, metabolism, sunlight exposure, and many other body processes occur in the long winter months. During the cold season we were exposed to less sunlight which is needed for serotonin and vitamin D production. Inadequate vitamin D and serotonin levels make us more susceptible to mild states of anxiety and low mood.  

Unfortunately, the mechanism for detoxification (which is happening in the liver) is slow during the winter time as well.  Toxin accumulation happens through the food that we eat, the air that we breathe, and medications. Some toxins stay in the body longer and can lead to chronic diseases. Many cases of fatigue, brain fog, and mood disorders are associated with an excess amount of toxins.   

Detoxification is Natural in Spring  

Spring is the time that the body is more active and ready to get rid of toxins.

Viral and bacterial infections are all around us; if your child is going to daycare or school, they are exposed to numerous microbes every day. 

Many of those microbes are not disease-causing, but the many that can cause disease could be severe enough to cause symptoms for your child and even your whole family. 

Below are my top 5 tips to boost your child’s immune system to keep viral and bacterial infections away. 

1- Abundant and Restful Sleep

A good night’s sleep should be refreshing for the body. During nighttime our body can reset many of the functions, clear the “bad stuff”, and strengthen the immune system. School-aged children need 9-12 hours of sleep every night, so make sure to get the kids to bed on time! 

The movie “Concussion” and various past/present NFL stars suffering from repeated collisions have helped raise greater public awareness regarding the serious impact of repetitive sports injuries leading to potential traumatic brain injuries (TBIs).

Impact sports such as football, hockey, and soccer where players may repeatedly experience full impact to the head can lead to concussion, or sub-concussions. The long-term effects of playing football or other high impact contact sports is not fully known, but the evidence suggests that this type of repetitive head injury may lead to subsequent brain disorders.

Some parents are questioning their son’s participation in football, or wondering about the long-term effects of playing football and other contact sports.

Linking the Evidence

1. Make Social Connections with Others 

All dentists are taught to extract teeth. Some hone their skills with advanced training in residencies and internships, and others are mentored by experienced practitioners.  However, biological dentistry brings different principles to the oral surgery procedure and there is a distinction between what is done conventionally vs. holistically to optimize healing following the removal of teeth.  

Oral Surgery Procedures Biological Dentistry vs. Conventional 

Various studies worldwide have shown the prevalence of insomnia is 10%–30% of the population, with some studies even as high as 50%–60%! It is common in older adults, females, and people with medical and mental health issues. (1)

Studies also show that insomnia negatively affects work performance, impairs decision-making, can damage relationships, increase chances of work-related/motor vehicle accidents, and lead to an overall decline in the quality of life. (2)

As you talk with your doctor, the following criteria must be met for it to be considered insomnia, rather than a short-term sleep issue:

• The problem should be present for at least 3 nights per week.
• It has occurred for at least 3 months.
• It is not the result of medication or a medical/mental disorder.

Diabetes and increasing age are significantly associated with insomnia. Hence, all diabetic patients should be screened for insomnia by the primary care physician using a self-assessment questionnaire.

A Traditional Chinese Medicine Understanding of Insomnia

While the Coronavirus pandemic has certainly taken its toll on in-restaurant dining, many of us have continued to feel comfortable ordering take out. But leaving aside for a moment the impact on the economy, there are likely health reasons to consider preparing your own food at home (food here is defined as anything your great-grandmother would have recognized as food).

The fact is that fast food samples have been found to contain chemical toxins, several of which have been linked to cancer, endocrine conditions, difficulty losing weight and testicular abnormalities. Chemical contamination of food may disproportionately impact marginalized groups, given the higher densities of fast food restaurants in neighborhoods predominantly populated by marginalized peoples.