The real reason for declining health

Grand Opening

Naturopathic Med is now open! After much planning and preparation our new clinic is finally opened for business. It's been a work in progress after carefully searching for the ideal location. Conveniently located near Southeast Blvd and 29th Ave we primarily serve South Hill, but it's a short trip from Spokane Valley and downtown. Here is our new contact information.
Naturopathic Med., your natural medical solution
2607 S. Southeast Blvd. Suite B-111
Spokane, WA 99223
509-413-1530
natpathmed@gmail.com
http://natpathmed.com/

Stop by and say hello!

New web site (and office)

Well it's simple, but it's online! For the first time I have an actual self-standing web site. This is the prequel to my soon to be open South Hill office in Spokane, WA.

Check out the site here:
http://natpathmed.com

This blog has more or less served as my web site. I've had "familynd.com" which simply featured my profile with Medfinds.com, a practitioner finding service. This new site, and domain name- "natpathmed.com" will begin to be my primary site online. I will continue to post articles here at granvesnd.blogspot.com. Links to these articles will appear on natpathmed.com soon.
Let me know what you think.

Dr. G

Saturday Night Fever

Anyone who has moved knows the stresses and disruptions it causes. When I was single, relocating was simply another adventure. Add two kids and an expectant wife and the complexity factors goes up exponentially. Despite relocating 1,000 miles north our family has fared well. Perhaps with the cooler weather, my two trips back to California and our new microbial environment it was inevitable that we'd have a bug or two pass through our home. Three weeks ago my littlest came down with Roseola, a fairly mild viral exanthem. She recovered in time for another respiratory virus, perhaps the "dog" flu, (we are surrounded by canines in this neighborhood), to hit her first, then the Misses, followed by yours truly, and lastly my first born. Though it's uncomfortable to have body aches and a fever, it reminded me of the intelligence and elegant power of the immune system... when it's left unhindered to do its job.

I remember when I was little if my fever climbed to 102 or more I was given children's aspirin, now of course it's Tylenol. Unfortunately many parents continue to give their children Acetaminophen at the first sign of a fever. Studies have demonstrated that doing this prolongs the symptoms of colds and the flu. This is no surprise when you consider that fever is a natural defense mechanism of the body to fight off infection. Increased body temperature makes our internal environment less hospitable to the bugs, while increasing the activity of our immune cells and speed of enzymatic reactions. The bottom line is that using Tylenol for infections is suppressive and does not encourage healing.

The good news is there are plenty of non-suppressive treatments for infections. We all want to keep our kids free from pain. The aches, chills, headaches, and fever can be grueling. Providing pain and fever relief needs to be weighed with the detriment of suppression. When a child can't sleep and is in acute pain, a fraction dose of acetaminophen allowing the child to sleep can out weigh the negatives, but I have found this rarely necessary. My first born has received pain reliever maybe twice in her lifetime. The cool thing about kids is that left unhindered, their symptoms are robust and short-lived. For example during this last bout my youngest spiked a fever of 102.4 one evening, we gave her some supportive herbal medicine, a homeopathic remedy, and put her to bed early. The next day she was back to her happy self again. As we get older, our fevers tend to be lower and our symptoms last longer. Once again avoiding suppressive medications is best.

During this time it's also best to avoid other factors that hamper our immune response. Sugar-laden foods, so prevalent in kids diets today, are best avoided. Light meals, plenty of water, and immune enhancing supplementation is ideal. Dilute juice with mineral water can be settling and a number of kid-friendly plant extracts like elderberry and echinacea can encourage a healthy immune response. Extra sleep is imperative and if your child seems to get more then her fair share of colds check in with your holistic pediatrician for an evaluation.

Kids and Chemicals

As parents we want to keep our kids safe and healthy (You must watch this short video). In case we forget common sense there are laws that remind us to use car seats, bike helmets, and not leave kids unattended in cars. The days are gone when most kids walked to and from school; our fear of child abduction means we drive our kids everywhere. Though these issues are important it is clear that one of the most pervasive yet hidden threats to our offspring are the toxic chemicals around us.

It's easy to ignore this issue, falsely believing government agencies and industry will protect us. Unfortunately they are slow to act. In addition, since our exposure to harmful chemicals isn't always obvious it's easy to downplay the threat. Studies on total body burden (levels of harmful chemicals in our bodies) show that all of us carry as many as 200 different potentially harmful chemicals inside. Even newborns come into this world already carry a burden unintentionally transferred from mom. For example, small children have toxic levels of PBDE (polybrominated diphenyl ethers) a common flame retardant used in the US in mattresses and elsewhere. Though voluntarily discontinued around 2004, most people still have products containing PBDE in their homes. Kids often have body burdens many times worse than adults. This is because pound for pound they are consuming and breathing much more volume than an adult. Their rapid growth means they are even more sensitive to the chemicals; they have immature guts, immune systems, and nervous systems.

A study a few years back in the Seattle area looked at the chemical load in children of parents who purchased predominately Certified Organic produce versus conventional produce. They tested for organophosphates, a family of pesticides that are neurologically harmful. Kids fed Organics had undetectable levels of pesticide markers in their urine and saliva, whereas those eating conventional produce had high levels. They also showed after switching kids to an Organic diet, after 36 hours the pesticides were undetectable.

One of the prime sources for chemical exposure is sadly our homes. Do a survey in your own home. Take an inventory of the chemical laboratory under your sinks, in the laundry room, and in the garage. Do you use pest-control services? Do you use antibacterial soap? Read the labels on your sunscreen, shampoo, laundry detergent, and even the packaged foods in your pantry. A few chemicals here and there might be fine, but the scale has tipped and increasing dis-ease is the result: infertility rates, birth defects, cancer, neurological, and immune-related disease are just a few examples.

Here are a few areas to consider.

With summer approaching reevaluate your sun-exposure plan. Most sunscreens contain harmful ingredients, notably the hormone disruptor oxybenzone -also written as benzophenone-3. Other ingredients such as methylparaben, propylparaben, ethylparaben, propylene glycol, synthetic fragrances, and dyes may be harmful. It’s interesting to note that most sun blocks containing harmful active ingredients may actually increase the potential for cellular damage and skin cancer. After an hour of sun exposure, despite preventing sunburn, the UV energy is directed deeper into the skin. The best option is to slowly expose your skin to the sun. If you have to be out for extended periods either cover with clothing and hats or use natural sunscreens with titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. Remember that sunshine is necessary for good health. To little or too much (getting sun burned) is bad.

Learn what produce you should purchase Certified Organic (or not at all). See the list composed by the Environmental Working Group (EWG.org) showing the worst to best produce for herbicide and pesticide levels. A simple rule of thumb is to buy Organic fruits and vegetables that you eat the skin (peaches, nectarines, strawberries, plumbs, grapes). Ones you peel that are conventionally produced usually have lower residue levels. See the Dirty Dozen and Clean 15 list at: foodnews.org. Another useful tip I learned is that you can tell from those annoying stickers they put on fresh produce, which are Organic, Conventional, and GMO (genetically modified). Those with a five digit number starting with “9” are Organic, those starting with “8” are GMO, and those with a four digit number are conventionally grown.

Look for ways to reduce your use of plastic, especially in terms of your food and drinks. Not all plastic is equally toxic, but avoid PVC, DEHA, adipate and phthalate, typically in the softer plastics and cling wraps. There is PVC-free cling wrap; a source I found indicates Glad and Saran are, as is Natural Value and Diamond Food Wrap. Also avoid polystyrene (LDPE), labeled “PS” #6 inside the recycle symbol. Better plastic container options are #’s 2, 4, and 5, also labeled as “PET,” “HDPE,” and “PP.” Never heat or store hot food in plastic. Microwaving in plastic or with cling wrap is really bad idea. Oily and foods higher in fat will also interact more with plastic containers. If possible use glass, ceramic, or stainless steel. Plastic containers breakdown over time; if they begin to show wear it’s time to recycle.

Lastly, one of the most pervasive problems I see in homes and offices is the use of antibacterial soaps. Even the American Medical Association recommends avoiding products with Triclosan, the common agent in liquid hand soaps. Not only are chemical antibacterial agents unnecessary to adequately clean your hands, but Triclosan is toxic to the environment and your body. Most notably it suppresses proper thyroid function. By the way, don’t eat conventional strawberries, which are treated with methyl bromides, another thyroid-toxic compound.

Though we all live in a modern chemical soup, little bodies are much more sensitive to the many toxic chemicals that are now so pervasive. We need to protect our kids.

Resources

http://www.EWG.org

http://www.foodnews.org/fulllist.php

http://healthychild.org

http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com

A Wake-Up Story from Healthy Child Healthy World on Vimeo.

Losing Sleep = Losing Health!

You’ve no doubt heard the proverb “early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.” Though most of us see the wisdom in this saying, it’s easy to minimize the impact of not getting enough sleep. It’s been my experience that sleep issues are a common contributor to health problems. Sleep deficiency is epidemic and common with teenagers, young adults, and families with young children. As you consider what is most important for self-care, don’t overlook the Achilles’ heel of wellness… SLEEP.

It’s easy to fall into unhealthy patterns whether it’s our food choices or our sleep habits. Some of us (that would include me) are susceptible to staying up too late, not keeping a regular schedule, and constantly “burning the candle at both ends.” This will inevitably lead to health problems if left unchecked. Just as we need nourishment, air, and water, our bodies exist in a world of day and night, a time to work and a time to rest. Sleep is when our bodies are renewed; we our detoxified, rebuilt, and restored for a new day. When we cheat ourselves of all the sleep we need, we accelerate aging! Those with chronic sleep deficiency have increased risk of cancer, heart disease, infections, arthritis, poor memory, and mood disorders. Sleep is so foundational; we are talking about every part of us!

Insomnia and conditions like sleep apnea cause sleep deprivation. Medications often only worsen the problem and can create a cycle of dependency. These conditions are most often due to lifestyle factors such as shift work, not keeping a regular schedule, watching TV and being on the computer at night, blood sugar problems, being overweight, and chronic stress and worry. The adrenal glands, which secrete our stress hormones, take the brunt of sleep-related troubles. All of us living within the experiment of modern life have tired adrenals! Tired adrenals can cause fatigue, frequent infections, poor healing, blood sugar and thyroid problems, infertility, and can disrupt our delicate hormone balance.

What are the key issues we should consider as it relates to sleep?
1. Keep a regular schedule as much as possible. Most of us need at least eight hours of sleep per night; women frequently need more than that and kids definitely do.
2. Shun evening TV, computer, and fluorescent light use. The bluish hues suppress melatonin, our sleep hormone. Use dim, soft lighting; towards the red spectrum is better.
3. Sleep with near absolute darkness. Illuminated clocks, streetlights, and nightlights are bad news for getting quality sleep.
4. Many parents falsely believe kids will set their own sleep timing. Just like “right and wrong,” kids need to be taught how and when to sleep. Parents also frequently underestimate their child’s sleep needs. The average three to four-year- old needs about 11 hours. They also need a consistent schedule and to learn self-soothing techniques. (An essential read is Good Night, Sleep Tight by Kim West, an absolute essential for every parent).
5. Avoid late meals, especially refined sugars and grains (white flour). Also, don’t skip breakfast! Ensure you are getting enough quality protein.
6. Get screened for adrenal, thyroid or other hormone and blood sugar imbalances.
7. If you are taking medications for insomnia or have a snoring problem, see a doctor familiar with a functional medicine approach.