I love being certified in Biotherapeutic Drainage. It is a type of specialty where the underlying goal is to support physiology while gently eliminating toxins. It is my most effective medicine when treating acute conditions which are very prevalent right now due to the time of year. It is not suppressive medicine which conventional medicine largely is, rather it treats the cause and works on supporting systems in your body to create optimal health. I spent the last two days transferring some of my biotherapeutic drainage notes that I have done on webinars over the years so they are in one place- my computer. I was entering a lot of notes on treating pediatric conditions so it was a review of that for me. One  common option that is seen in North America is treating a fever with Tylenol in western medicine. I use Unda 2 and Unda 15 to treat a fever- it is highly effective in treating a fever and helping the temperature come down in an acute situation. There are other single homeopathic medicines for acutes that work well. Belladonna 9 ch is a good remedy to have on hand in the winter if you have kids. You can take five pellets if your child has a fever that is on the high side. Take the dose every 20 minutes for three times to see if you can get some relief. Unda’s are combination homeopathic medicines that originate in Europe. They have a long tradition of use and they are highly effective. One of my favorite sets to use in patients that are catching a cold is Unda 2, 15, 5, 710. Typically five drops six times a day is utilized in an acute condition. This set has saved me from catching a cold numerous times. I would way rather prevent a cold then treat one that has set in. Unda medicines are easy to tolerate and do not have negative side effects. They open your emunctories so you can safely eliminate toxins from your body. Another favorite set to have on hand is Unda 2, 37, 312, 15- this is very effective for treating sore throats in the winter. If you are interested in options for highly effective medicine, this cold and flu season, make an appointment with me at Parallel Wellness in downtown Calgary, Alberta. Be well, Dr. Robin Vinge, ND

I thought I should post my notes taken from the Plant Based Nutrition Conference on NonAlcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. This is a huge problem in our North American culture. Hana Kahleova, MD, PhD, MBA gave this lecture in September 2022. When fat exceeds 5 % of the liver you are diagnosed with fatty liver disease. 1 in 3 people in the US have fatty liver. The # 1 factor is weight management. Sugar sweetened beverages increase the risk of developing a fatty liver; having 1 cup a week increases the risk by 14%. Having 1-6 cups/ week increases the risk by 26%; >7 cups/week increases risk by 53%. Fatty liver develops because of the extra calories consumed not the sugar itself or the fructose but the extra calories consumed from sugar sweetened beverages. It is associated with gut dysbiosis. Fructose increases NAFLD because of extra calories. It is entirely reversible by lifestyle. NASH is not reversible. Saturated fat increases NAFLD more than sugar or fructose.

Intermittent fasting can help prevent chronic disease by influencing the microbiome, decreasing body weight, decreasing liver enzymes AST and ALT. Periodic fasting even one day a month can help. Or doing five days fasting per month. You could do water only or veg/fruit juice- 500 calories a day. Fasting for 8.5 days decreased liver fat by 30%. Time restricted eating involves 16 hours of fasting. 6 hour eating window is the sweet spot. People that ate 2 meals/day vs 6 meals/day- decreased fasting plasma glucose, decreased fatty liver disease by 21%, decreased c-peptide, depression improved, hunger improved.

Vegan diet decreases liver fat 39%; increases the thermic effect of food by 14%. In conclusion, you can prevent NAFLD by weight management. Saturated fat increases fatty liver by more than sugar or fructose. Diet and exercise decrease body weight and decrease AST.  Intermittent fasting can prevent and treat chronic disease including cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity; intermittent fasting has profound effects on our metabolism, fat and glucose metabolism and influences our microbiome. IF reduces body weight , AST and ALT. Keto diets can increase lipids and liver enzymes. Fasting one day/month can decrease liver fat and reduce Covid mortality.

Low fat Vegan diets increase energy expenditure. Increases the thermic effect (the amount of energy that you release from the body in terms of heat). Eating 2 meals/day better than 6 meals/day to increase insulin sensitivity; fatty liver decreases. Plant based eating is magic in terms of lowering oxidative stress. The spice ginger reduces oxidative stress and reduces liver fat. The spices turmeric and black cumin seed reduce oxidative stress and liver fat. Eating a vegan diet- the quality is high. Plant based diets decrease liver fat by 34% in 6 weeks. Plant based diets address root causes of NAFLD by addressing insulin resistance, obesity, hyperlipidemia and inflammatory cytokines. Eating more beans, lentils, and peas in your diet is a start. To learn more about eating a plant based diet, please book an appointment with me at Parallel Wellness. Kind regards, Dr. Vinge 4032321283

Reference: Lecture given by Hana Kahleova, MD, PhD, MBA at the Plant Based Nutrition Conference in Palm Springs, California September 2022

I had very bad skin when I was growing up. I did have a diet high in sugar and refined carbohydrates not to mention a diet high in cheese and other animal products like egg. I attended the conference on plant based nutrition last weekend and thought I would post additional notes that I had made on the lecture given by Dr. Apple Bodemer, MD. She stated that hormonal triggers of acne included androgens, excess sebum, hyperprolifereation of keratinocytes and presence of bacteria (c. acne). Insulin growth factor-1 increases with puberty. IGF-1 is correlated with acne severity.There is a role for intermittent fasting with acne in that it improves it. MTOR-C1 increases the secretion of androgens. and activates inflammatory cytokines. High glycemic diets, high saturated fats and high amounts of dairy trigger acne as does sugar, refined carbohydrates and high meat intake. Areas in the world where people don’t suffer from acne like islands in the south pacific- people’s diets consist of tubers. fruit, coconut, fish and low glycemic carbs and no dairy. Cutting out dairy products may take 8 weeks to fully improve your skin so you have to be patient. Glutamine can increase IGF-1.  Foods highest in leucine may aggravate acne such as whey protein, eggs, pea protein, wheat protein, cow’s milk protein, cream cheese, and cottage cheese. It is best to avoid palmitic acid and transfatty acids. EPA and DHA fatty acids inhibit MTOR-C1. Omega 3 fatty acids may prove to be supporting in doses of around 3000 mg/day. Omega 6 in the form of Borage oil may reduce inflammation at around 400 mg/day. Resveratrol may inhibit acne by inhibiting MTOR-C1. Food sources of Resveratrol include the wonderful Coronation grapes that are currently in season. Other anti-inflammatory support includes green tea but dark chocolate is not recommended. Since I have converted to a largely plant based diet, my skin has completely cleared up. I am so grateful that I have the knowledge to help other people get their healthy skin back. 

Reference: Notes from The Role of Diet in Acne. Dr. Apple Bodemer given September 17, 2022 in Palm Springs California at the International Plant Based  Nutrition Health CareConfererence