I have just finished reading “Eat Dirt” written by Dr. Josh Axe. He talks about how our preoccupation with sanitizing has actually put us at a higher risk for developing chronic disease. At the root is leaky gut syndrome, which originates, in part, by our overuse of antibiotics, chronic processed food intake, stress, chemicals in our environment and working life, plus our need for fast living and the price of convenience, in the end, on our health. He talks about how all health starts in the gut and this is not a new concept by any means. I see this in my clinical testing that is done on the gut; for instance, testing food allergies on patients and seeing a high number of allergens come back makes me start thinking that leaky gut may be at the basis of this individual’s problem.

Treating the gut involves a simple five step program. The first step involves “remove”; removing food allergens that may have shown up in testing. Dairy products and gluten grains and in some cases, all grains, may have to be removed for the gut to fully heal. Sugar, hydrogenated oils including canola, soybean, corn and vegetable oils can also contribute to inflammation. Genetically modified foods and toxic chemicals should also be removed.

The second step is called “reseed” which involves putting beneficial bacteria back into the gut. He likes soil based organisms and emphasizes getting a large diversity of probiotic strains when you are supplementing. Getting exposed to dirt whether through putting your hands in garden soil or riding horses, swimming in lakes and oceans is encouraged as is consuming fermented foods and medicinal mushrooms.

The third step is “restore” instigated by eating gut healing foods like bone broth, raw cultured dairy, fermented vegetables like sauerkraut, pickled vegetables, miso and kimchi. These foods have lactic acid bacteria that help balance the production of stomach acid. Fermented beverages like apple cider vinegar, kvass and kombucha, coconut milk and other coconut foods are very good for gut health. Prebiotic foods such as artichokes,cabbage and chia seeds start off a long list of beneficial high fiber foods which feed and support the growth of good bacteria.

The fourth step is “release” which focuses on releasing stress whether it be emotional or psychological. He makes suggestions like having a lavender bath at the end of your working day, getting a massage, the importance of exercise, listening to music, forest bathing and the need for exposure to nature.

The last step is “reseal” which looks at healing leaky gut and restoring the integrity of your intestinal lining using supplements such as probiotics, digestive enzymes, l-glutamine, licorice root and slippery elm powder to name a few.

Dr. Josh Axe goes on to talk about five gut types that need slightly different approaches depending on the type you are. I highly recommend reading his book if you want to learn more about leaky gut syndrome which is at the root of many chronic health problems. Until next time, be well! Please book an appointment if you want to talk about leaky gut or any other health problem.

Reference: Eat Dirt by Dr. Josh Axe

As mentioned in my last post on treating skin conditions, allergens must be identified and eliminated, to ensure reduction of inflammation, and acne is no exception. Foods often associated with acne include dairy and gluten, chocolate, sugar, and refined carbohydrates (in general). Flour and sugar are best eliminated, as their intake has been linked to increased sebum production, or in another words, increased oily secretions from the sebaceous glands, aggravating acne, as are foods high in saturated fat, including peanut butter and fatty meats. Favoring foods that cool inflammation like non-starchy vegetables (think cucumbers, green leafy vegetables), fruit (cantaloupe, berries),  wild seafood, and turmeric laden food or supplements is helpful. Plenty of water (8 to 10 glasses) to hydrate tissues helps, as do select antioxidant beverages such as green tea or matcha tea(1 cup matcha equivalent to 10 cups green tea). The catechins in these types of teas quench free radicals and lower inflammation on a whole.

The presence of acne, itself, tells you that you have a level of inflammation that is present, revealing itself on your skin. I struggled with acne when I was a teenager, (as many do) and again in my 20’s. I even resorted to taking antibiotics for acne in my undergrad schooling era. Before I did my training and education in naturopathy, I did a lot of things that compromise the microbiome, one of which is taking antibiotics. As more evidence links a compromised microbiota or negligent gut flora population with various skin disorders including acne, eczema and psoriasis, one must treat the gut to lower system wide inflammation. Treating the gut and restoring your gut flora to its optimum level can indirectly treat the skin. Testing to help determine what bacteria are colonizing your gut and what non-optimal pathogens are colonizing your gut, including yeast can also be quite helpful and point you to dietary recommendations or adjustments that should be undertaken.

According to principles of bio-therapeutic drainage, your skin will express acne, when your other primary pathways of elimination including your gut via your stool, liver, and kidney via your urine are not eliminating efficiently enough or are over-taxed, it is paramount to take a good look at these organs and give support where needed. Please book a consult to talk about these concepts in more detail. Interestingly enough, barberries were recently found to be successful in treating acne at a dose of 1 tsp, three times daily. They can be found on Amazon.com. One of my favorite herbs to treat acne, that includes fluid filled lesions, is Ulmus campestris, a gemmotherapy which dries up the inflamed lesions. Homeopathy can be very helpful also for supportive care of skin conditions, including Unda combination remedies or single remedies, well formulated,to fit the case. To take a comprehensive look at addressing your acne,  please book a consult with me at Parallel Wellness.

Working as a naturopathic doctor, I see a wide range of skin disorders. I love treating skin disorders like eczema because the conventional treatments do not get to the root cause. Naturopathic care can help turn around conditions like eczema. I have had patients with severe eczema as patients; they have certainly experienced much pain and suffering due to their condition. The typical treatment for eczema is corticosteroid cream prescribed by a medical doctor. The cream certainly makes the eczema go away temporarily but is comes back when you stop using the cream. When I treat skin conditions I look at the picture more deeply. Any time you are expressing something on your skin (like eczema), you are likely not eliminating your toxins efficiently by your liver, gut or kidneys. The skin is a secondary vs primary emunctory to eliminate toxins.

The first thing I do for a patient when they present with a skin disorder is test them for food allergies. The top allergens I see being synonymous with skin conditions, include either dairy, gluten or wheat, eggs, citrus fruits, and/or soy. I test for food allergies using serum testing for IgG antibodies.  The foods that show up as being allergenic must be eliminated to start calming down the inflammation in the picture. It is often recommended to eliminate the foods for three months while taking various supplements including probiotics that can contribute to gut integrity and desensitize the individual to the food allergy.

I also use biotheraeutic drainage when I treat skin disorders. These are homepathic combination remedies that come from Europe. I use the drops to support physiology. I might use a set to support liver physiology to make sure the liver is clearing toxins or I might use a combination to support the gut and elimination of toxins in the stool. I may choose single homeopathic remedies as well to get rid of irritating symptoms like itching. Some common remedies that I use include rhus tox, mezereum, arsenicum album or sulphur. I always dose low potencies to avoid an aggravation.

Skin needs to be supported from the inside as well. Essential fatty acids are necessary to improve the health of the skin. Fish oil, flaxseed oil, borage oil, black current seed oil or evening primrose oil are supports that I might recommend to a patient that has eczema. I might recommend vitamins like Vitamin A, Vitamin E or Zinc or recommend foods that contain these nutrients to help with skin repair. Fresh vegetables create healthy beautiful skin especially the orange, yellow or red family. These contain carotenoids which prevent cell damage and premature aging. The green family that include spinach, kale, swiss chard, collard, bok choy are high in antioxidants such as zeaxanthin and lutein that protect skin from UV damage. Vitamin C rich foods like red pepper, broccoli, and citrus fruits quench free radicals and help with production of collagen. Drinking plenty of filtered water is essential for hydration of your skin. I also love the antioxidant benefits of drinking green tea or rooibos tea.

These are a few of the things I recommend when I treat skin disorders like eczema. I have a lot of success using naturopathic care to treat these conditions. To book an appointment, call 4032321283.