In today’s society, where stress and anxiety are on the increase and western diets are skewed towards inflammatory omega 6 fats, it is not surprising to see the incidence of chronic pain disorders on the rise.

Chronic pain has many causes, from musculoskeletal disorders such as osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia, reproductive disorders such as endometriosis and adenomyosis, neurological conditions such as shingles and migraine headaches or gastrointestinal and urological disorders such as IBS, constipation and cystitis.    

Thankfully, there are a number of ways a Naturopath can support people experiencing pain and there are various nutritional and herbal medicines available that can offer safe alternatives, or additional support to medical pain management strategies.

When supporting patients with pain, a Naturopath will look at the body as a whole and search for the underlying cause and drivers of the pain, considering issues such as –

1.       Aid repair of damaged tissue and improve circulation through the use of wound healing nutrients and connective tissue and circulatory stimulating herbal medicines such as gotu kola and ginger.  Analgesic herbal medicines are also available to help reduce the sensation of pain

2.      Decrease inflammation through the use of natural anti inflammatory medicines (such as EPA, turmeric and bromelain).   Indentify other areas in the body that may be contributing to the production of inflammatory cytokines (such as poor digestion or reproductive or cardiovascular disorders). Educate patient about anti inflammatory diet and discuss the negative effects a highly processed, saturated fat and carbohydrate dense diet can have on pain and inflammation.   

3.       Address other drivers of pain such as nervous system dysfunction and neurotransmitter imbalances that may be up regulating the brain’s sensitivity to pain.  This may involve nutritional medicine to support the healthy production of serotonin, noradrenaline and / or dopamine or herbal medicine to calm the nervous system. A Naturopath may also discuss the benefits of meditation techniques such as yoga nidra.  

4.      Restore tissue pH – as acid receptors found on nerve endings can become activated to amplify pain signals in some patients. Altered pH can also affect bone health and the development of osteoarthritis.

5.      Improve sleep quality –to support patients coping mechanisms and promote the production of Growth Hormone which is produced during Non REM deep sleep and is involved in the wound healing process.

 6.      Support Immunity –Whether that be immune support for an allergy, infection, trauma or an auto immune condition there are various herbal medicines available to support or modulate immune function.    

 7.       Correct nutritional imbalances – such as low magnesium that may be involved in muscle related conditions such tension headaches or TMJ pain.  

 8.      Address others issues such as normal imbalances, mitochondrial dysfunction, suboptimal liver function and toxicity.

When pain is involved, the Naturopaths role in supporting the patient may be in conjunction with other health care professionals such as Doctors, Osteopaths, Massage therapists, Acupuncturists, Physiotherapists and Hypnotherapists.

It is also important to note that no two patients are ever the same and many natural medicines are contra indicated in certain cases and can interfere with the action pharmaceutical drugs, especially anti inflammatory and anti depressant medications. So, it is always recommended patients seek professional advice from a qualified Naturopath or Nutritionist when considering natural medicines. If you would like to know more please contact Sydney Naturopath Kathleen McFarlane.

For many couples, the dream of falling pregnant and then 40 weeks later delivering a healthy bundle of joy, can be a heart breaking struggle with 1 in 6 couples in Australian experiencing sub fertility. Attention is often focussed on the health and fertility of the female partner, but it is important to consider the health both partners. In 50% of infertility cases, a male factor is involved, either as a primary problem or in combination with a problem in the female partner.

This is why a Naturopath will work with both partners in the pre conception period to improve male and female fertility and support epigenetic factors for both partners that may affect foetal growth and development.     

What is Naturopathic Pre conception Care?

The Naturopaths Preconception care protocol is designed to ensure adequate supply of all those nutritional factors essential for healthy sperm, ova and foetus. It is also designed to ensure an absence of those factors known to compromise general health or be harmful to foetal development.

How long will it take?

Sperm take up to 116 days to form. So, sperm expelled now have been exposed to toxins over the past 4 months. Similarly, ova can be susceptible to damage for 100 days prior to ovulation. So, preconception health care is usually undertaken ideally for 4 months before intended conception.

What is involved in Male Preconception care?

Sperm is a reflection of the overall health of a male.  So a full health and diet and lifestyle assessment is the first step. Then a semen analysis can be performed to determine the viability of the sperm. A semen analysis will measure the number of sperm per millimetre (count), how well they move (motility) and the direction they swim (progressive motility) as well as their shape (morphology).There are many factors that can impact the health of the sperm and sometimes a small change in diet or lifestyle factor can be the difference between viable and non viable sperm.

The most important nutrients for sperm shape, motility and count are antioxidants such as selenium, vitamin C and vitamin E (which help neutralise free radical tissue damage from smoking, stress, poor diet etc) and zinc (oysters, pumpkin seeds). You should consult a Naturopath to determine if zinc and or antioxidant supplementation is appropriate for you.

A Naturopath will also take into consideration other factors of the male partner such as the hormonal status, stress response, heavy metal exposure and toxic load, immune function as well as lifestyle factors such as alcohol and coffee consumption, exercise and weight.

The typical Naturopathic preconception care protocol for the male will usually involve dietary and lifestyle modifications along with nutritional and herbal medicine to support sperm viability and healthy DNA turnover. It is important to remember that no two patients are ever the same and that you should always seek appropriate professional health care advice.

There is an interdependent relationship between the health of the oral tissues and the rest of the body. For example compromised nutritional status (through low nutrient intake or gastrointestinal tract disease) can play a contributing factor in periodontitis, poor healing response to surgical procedures or recurrent oral disease. A Naturopath considers the health of the whole body and uses nutritional and herbal medicine, in conjunction with diet and lifestyle modifications to improve the patients overall health, including the mouth.  Some typical examples of how a Naturopath can support patients undergoing dental care are -

1. Conditions of the lips and mouth such as  gingivitis and periodontal disease, mouth ulcers, dry mouth, angular stomatitis, herpes , halitosis, altered pH and associated tooth demineralisation as well as abnormal tongue coating, can all benefit from Naturopathic medicine aimed at improving a patients nutritional status and supporting digestive function.   Some of the nutrients used to support oral health include Co enzyme Q10, Bioflavonoids, Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Zinc and B vitamins.
2. Patients undergoing amalgam removal can benefit from Naturopathic care to support the body’s natural detoxification pathways and improve the individual’s capacity to excrete, rather than store heavy metals. A Naturopath can request heavy metal and functional liver testing to determine an individual’s toxic load. Treatment then focuses on ensuring optimal nutrition to promote the release of stored metal from tissue and raise antioxidant status and supports liver, digestion and kidney detoxification pathways to encourage elimination.
3. There are numerous herbal and nutritional medicines available that can benefit patients experiencing TMJ pain by decreasing the production of inflammatory cytokines and supporting nervous system function.
4. Children who require braces or paediatric dental appliances who breathe through their mouth and have a narrow dental arch, venous pooling and compromised airways can benefit from food sensitivity testing and diet modification to help reduce airway inflammation, mucous production and improve breathing.
5. Nutritional medicine can promote the healing processes for patients who have undergone dental extractions. Naturopathic medicine can also be used to support dental implant integration through improvements in nutritional status and immune function. For patients undergoing dental implants, it is beneficial to speak to a Naturopath first about metal allergy testing to the better understand how an individuals immune system may react to specific metals such as titanium.
6. Patients with an abnormal fear of dentistry can benefit through the use of homeopathic, botanical and nutritional medicine to support the nervous system and reduce the fear around going to the dentist.
7. Naturopathic care can be beneficial for sleep apnoea patients through weight loss programs, food sensitivity testing and improved immune function.

It is important to note that no two patients are ever the same and many natural medicines are contra indicated in certain cases and can interfere with the action pharmaceutical drugs. So, it is always recommended patients seek professional advice from a qualified Naturopath or Nutritionist when considering natural medicines. If you would like to know more please contact Sydney Naturopath Kathleen McFarlane.   

To understand why we need antioxidants, it is first important to explain what is a free radical. A free radical is a chemically active, unstable atom, that contains unpaired electrons, that can travel around the body looking for tissue to attach to. This process results in damaged, oxidised cells which have been implicated in many diseased states including cancer and cardio vascular disease as well as accelerated aging. What antioxidants do is attach to the unpaired electrons of the free radical molecule, rendering it inactive.

The production of free radicals is a normal part of human metabolic function, however the effect of exogenous free radicals from the environment from smoking, x rays, sun light, pollution etc can accumulate over time and over run our body’s natural ability to deal with free radical build up. That is why, in today’s modern society, where there is increased pressure from environmental toxins, we need to consider our antioxidant status and be mindful of the types of foods that contain potent antioxidants.

Foods rich in antioxidants in a typical Australian diet are blueberries, acai berries, cherries, goji berries, blackberries, pomegranates, strawberries, raspberries, turmeric, green tea, cinnamon, cloves, fresh ginger, red kidney beans, plums and globe artichokes. Check out the ORAC (oxygen radical absorbance capacity) index for government generated standardised measurements of the antioxidant capacity of most foods.

With so many different brands on the market, how to chose the fish oil supplement that is right for you ?

Consider the following –

1. The label should identify the type of fish used.  Prefer small fish such as mackerel, sardines and anchovies that have been harvested from sustainable, clean environments.  Avoid brands that do not state where the fish was sourced or the type of fish used as larger fish may contain higher levels of contaminants.

2. A fish oil should be of pharmaceutical grade and produced by a manufacturer that follows very strict protocols to ensure mercury and other toxic contaminants such as dioxins are removed. Look for third party verification.  Prefer “Practitioner Only” brands for this reason.

3. Always note the EPA and DHA component of each capsule and consult with your health care provider regarding the most appropriate dose ( number of capsules ) for you.

4. Be aware of any other ingredients that may also be in the fish oil to avoid over dosing, especially if you are taking multiple supplements.

5. If you suffer from a fishy after taste, select enteric coated capsules.

6. Note how the fish oils have been stored as they are susceptible to heat. Avoid fish oil supplements that have been stored in a shop window or under heavy lights.