My naturopathic medical clinic is a general family practice, so I see a little bit of everything. Most of my adult patients have areas of pain or tension that range from mild to severe. Then there are the acute injuries- sprains and strains, overuse, and poor body mechanics are practically epidemic in the early spring. If you live out east, you may also be likely to strain muscles shoveling snow lately!

I have many treatments to offer for musculoskeletal pain and my naturopathic colleagues as a collective whole have a comprehensive number of modalities for pain relief. I specialize in CranioSacral therapy, a gentle form of bodywork. Other NDs do chiropractic-style adjustments, ultrasound, trigger point injection, massage and many other physical medicine modalities to treat pain.

In addition to the above hands on treatments, naturopathic doctors like me suggest natural anti-inflammatories. There are a myriad of these: the anti-inflammatory diet, turmeric and other herbs, proteolytic enzymes like bromelian (the pineapple enzyme), and topical anti-inflammatories such as castor oil.

There are some amazing botanicals that ease pain. These include: Black cohosh, California poppy, Valerian, Jamaican dogwood, Skullcap, Corydalis, Kava kava and more. I usually mix up individualized tinctures for each patient and find this approach to be quite effective.

Simple, inexpensive water therapy, known also as “hydrotherapy“, is one of my favorite home treatments for pain. My favorite is Contrast hydrotherapy. Here’s how it works:

Conditions this treatment used for: Musculoskeletal Pain, injuries
Supplies needed: Hot & cold water, towels or basin
Instructions: 3 minutes hot, 30 seconds cold, repeat 3 times
Frequency and timing: 3 times a day, takes about ½ hour each time

Epsom salt baths are another excellent water therapy. Epsom salts are magnesium sulphate. Magnesium is a mineral muscle relaxer. It is absorbed from the skin in a bath or can be taken orally in 500mg increments.

Exercise, including physical therapy for serious injuries or after surgery, is also a crucial part of healing and preventing chronic pain. Stretching, yoga, water aerobics and swimming are good low-impact exercises. Pilates can strengthen core muscles and ease lower back pain from over-strain.

Ergonomics, proper body positioning for preventing injury while working, are another important aspect of pain control. There are many more pain relieving strategies out there including homeopathy. Arnica montana is the injury remedy most people have heard of, for example. I hope this introduction to naturopathic pain control has given you some ideas on how to ease your aches and pains. Consider visiting a licensed naturopathic doctor to help you find the best path to natural muscle and joint pain support.

Yours in health,

Margaret Philhower, ND

www.drmargaret.org

Our first blog post went out on January 26, 2009 and one year later we continue to thrive! We timed the blog’s introduction to fall on Chinese New Year, thinking this a fortuitous time for a new beginning. The wheel has made a complete revolution and here we are again about to celebrate the second new moon after the winter solstice, marking the end of the Year of the Ox and the beginning of the Year of the Tiger. The tiger represents bold, wild excitement and big changes met with courage. The Naturopathic Experts website will continue to grow, moving with the grace and speed of a tiger now rather than the slow, plodding pace of the ox.

Many cultures and religious traditions have celebrations this time of year. February 2nd was groundhog day, a modern representation of Imbolc aka Candlemas, marking the halfway point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. February 16th is Mardi Gras Fat Tuesday and the 17th is the beginning of lent for Catholics. The days are getting longer and signs of spring are starting to appear.

This weekend is President’s Day weekend, with Valentine’s Day falling this Sunday. Love is great medicine and a little organic dark chocolate is good for the heart. There is much to celebrate!

Visit the blog next week to learn more about the naturopathic approach to healing muscle pain and injuries.

In celebration,

Margaret Philhower, ND

www.drmargaret.org

As a naturopathic physician, I do quite a bit of pre-conception counseling to help future parents become as healthy as possible before making a baby.

This links you to an article in today’s LA Times called “Household chemicals linked to reduced fertility.”

Whether or not you are planning on having a baby anytime soon, I encourage you to educate yourself about polybrominated diphenyl ethers (or PBDEs), eat mostly plant-based foods (PBDEs are stored in that fat cells of animals), and avoid buying new electronics, furniture, etc. that contains these flame retardants. PBDEs are likely thyroid hormone and estrogen disruptors and persist in the environment for a very long time.

Way back in the 90’s, I remember reading a disturbing report that showed PBDEs in the breast milk of all populations of women studied, even Eskimos living in remote traditional villages never exposed to modern products. It seems PBDEs are everywhere in the world already and have only been around since the 1970’s.

The best ways to get these chemicals out of your body are through supporting your organs of elimination. These include through the skin via sweating or dry skin brushing, via the colon by ensuring daily bowel movements, hydrating to urinate about once an hour and keeping your liver healthy by reducing alcohol and fat intake. For more detailed and aggressive treatments, visit your local naturopathic doctor for an individualized plan. Especially if you are thinking of conceiving a baby in the next year, now is the time to get clear!

Margaret Philhower, ND

www.drmargaret.org

Here in the Pacific Northwest, and in many other areas of the US, Oregon grape [aka Berberis aquifolium; Mahonia aquifolium; Mahonia nervosa in the Berberidaceae family] plants cover the forest floor in abundance.  We are lucky this potent medicinal plant grows locally, as it has many uses.  I most often recommend it as an antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal.  It is also a fantastic bitter digestive stimulant, liver and gallbladder regulator and a skin tonic.

Berberine alkaloids are the active ingredients in the root bark, roots and rhizomes (the parts used in herbal medicines).  Berberine is also found in goldenseal and goldthread (coptis).  These two herbs are very popular in the herb and nutritional supplement industry.

Unfortunately, coptis and goldenseal populations are depleted in the wild and they are difficult to cultivate.  I believe it is important to use medicines that are abundant in nature and as local as possible.  Therefore, Oregon grape is a medicine I recommend very often to my patients and suggest they use instead of goldenseal or coptis.

Now is a great time of year to harvest Oregon grape roots, root bark and rhizomes for medicine as the strongest medicine is still in the roots of the plants.  Fall and winter are the best times to harvest all roots for medicine as they store what the plant needs during the dormant seasons.

In my area, there are already signs of the coming spring awakening.  The Oregon grape is already starting to make flower buds!  I took the pictures above literally right outside my back door.  What plants grow in abundance in your backyard?  Are they medicines?  I bet most of you have Dandelions in your yards as an example of another abundant plant with amazing healing benefits.  In a future post, I will share more about the medicinal benefits of dandelions.

For now, I just want to re-iterate that naturopathic medicine takes into account the health of the whole planet, not just humans.  Naturopaths are changing the face of medicine in promoting sustainable healing practices for the best possible health of all beings.  One way we accomplish this is by recommending local, sustainably harvested or organically grown herbs processed using good manufacturing practices.

With appreciation for the local and the wild,

Margaret Philhower, ND

www.drmargaret.org

Click here for a great synopsis of what BPA is and why it is not something you want to eat.  For most of us natural living enthusiasts, the issue of BPA in plastic and tin can linings is old news.  This plastic chemical is carcinogenic. I just found out Mason jar lids also contain BPA.  I use them all the time to preserve my garden-grown red sauce, pickles, beets, etc.  Now, I am looking for a BPA-free lid that fits on a Mason jar.  Let me know if you know where to get them! I recommend avoiding all known toxins as much as possible for your optimal health.

Another disturbing food safety issue I recently learned about is that lead, a severe neurotoxin, is found in high amounts in many balsamic vinegars.  Click here for more on that and a list of brands tested.  I get my balsamic from Trader Joe’s.  They are not on the list.  I called their customer service department and asked if they test for lead.  I was told they do and require their manufacturers to test for it also.  They apparently won’t buy it if it contains more than the safe harbor exposure level outlined in California’s proposition 65.  This level is one with no significant risk, as defined by the state. They are based on the 1-in-100,000 lifetime risk for carcinogens and an exposure that is 1,000 times lower than the “no observed effect level” in animals studied for reproductive toxicants.  In California, all products made with over this level of lead must have a consumer warning.  I am glad about the growing awareness of this issue.

I am not testing my patients for BPA exposure, but am testing for heavy metals.  Depending on how high your levels are, I recommend various chelation and detoxification protocols to help get the metals out.  Naturopathic doctors are trained to assess for toxic exposures of all kinds.  In addition to avoiding exposure, I recommend you visit your local ND this year and talk what you can do to cleanse your body of any toxins you may have been exposed to over the course of your lifetime.  Now is a great time to start planning a spring cleansing plan.

Margaret Philhower, ND

www.drmargaret.org

This is my first post of the year and it feels good.  I am excited about all the possibilities of a new year.   It’s hard to believe we are already a decade into the new millennium. Are you where you hoped to be in life by now? Did you make any New Year’s resolutions to get there? It’s a great time to visualize your dream life and take just one step towards manifesting it.

I rang in the New Year at my local community center with my friends and neighbors. We danced to live music, drummed around the bonfire and burned a most unusual midnight art display. Several local artists made amazingly intricate gingerbread houses representing each month of the year. They were put on a huge pyre and burned with fireworks all around. Sugar and artificial colors burn spectacularly.

While watching this gingerbread representation of 2009 go up in flames, one of my friends shared with me how perfectly appropriate the moment felt. Her family’s resolution is to eliminate sugar from their diet entirely. They will still use honey, maple syrup and other natural sweeteners. This was really inspiring to me!  What a challenge.

If that thought is alarming to you, don’t freak out.  It is important to set yourself up for success. If you are the type of person that makes resolutions, make your goals reachable and set new ones as those are fulfilled. Every day is a great day to make healthy choices. I invite you to start the year off right and see how many healthy choices you can make each day.

Coming up in February, we’ll be celebrating the one-year anniversary of the Naturopathic Experts Blog. Last year I posted for the first time on Chinese New Year. As the year of the Ox wanes, the year of the Tiger approaches.  More on that soon.

Next week, I’ll focus on more clinically interesting medical information like  I share with my patients at my naturopathic clinic.  In the next blog post, I’ll share some food safety issues that have recently come into my awareness.  For now, I’ll leave you with well wishes and merriment that I hope lasts all year.

Yours in health,

Dr. Margaret Philhower

Naturopathic Physician

www.drmargaret.org

Avoiding illness is trickier in the wintertime for many reasons.  People are confined indoors closer together, the indoor air in drier and the stress of the holidays takes its toll on many of us.  Today, I wish to remind you of the many simple ways you can prevent getting sick.

Viruses spread easier in drier air, so consider a humidifier if your house is very dry.  Signs of this are static electricity “shocks”, dry skin and increased thirst.  Keeping a window cracked open in milder climates helps.  Many new air filters catch and kill viruses and bacteria, also.

Sleeping at least 8 hours a night is one of the best immune supportive things you can do for yourself.  Eating whole foods and avoiding sweets also helps tremendously.  Exercising, especially early in the day outdoors (in the sun if possible), increases our immunity and is a great antidepressant.

Washing your hands often, coughing into your elbow crease rather than your hands, and being careful not to share pens and other items that could carry germs are always helpful preventative strategies.  Stay home from work or school if you feel under the weather.  This really does help speed up the recovery process.  The simple stuff really works.  That’s why us doctors keep mentioning it.

A multivitamin supplement, or just additional vitamins A, C & D, zinc, probiotics and omega 3 fats such as fish oil are great daily preventative nutrients to boost up on in the winter months.  Contact your naturopathic physician to figure out the best doses of each for you and your family.  Also, visit your ND as soon as possible if you start getting sniffles or any other cold and flu symptoms.  Early treatment reduces the duration and severity of infections and will help keep your holidays happy.

Margaret Philhower, ND

www.drmargaret.org

I am inspired to write about natural treatments for head lice after hearing about a recent lice epidemic in school children in Portland, OR. Head lice are not something that only “dirty” people get. In fact, lice prefer cleaner, less oily heads. Anyone can get it and it is nothing to be ashamed of.

Treatment of head lice, Pediculosis capitis, has changed over the years as the crafty little bugs have become quite resistant to the over the counter chemical insecticides commonly used. The good news is that natural treatments, and friendlier alternative treatments, work great and are less toxic than conventional treatments anyways.

So, if you or your kids have the misfortune of getting head lice, here is the treatment protocol I recommend to my patients:

The hardest and most important thing is to wash and dry all clothing and bedding in a hot dryer. Change sheets every 3 days and don’t wear the same clothes twice without washing. Keep laundry sealed in garbage bags until it is washed. Hairbrushes, barrettes and hair ties need to be boiled or sealed in a bag for 2 weeks to kill any nits (eggs) or bugs. Stuffed animals, pillows and such can be put in a hot dryer for 20 minutes or sealed in a bag for 2 weeks. Be thorough, but don’t get too paranoid or obsessive as these critters are quite delicate and die quickly when not on a human’s head. Don’t worry about treating pets or furniture, beyond frequent vacuuming.

Neem oil massaged into the scalp and hair shafts disrupts the reproductive cycle and lice hate it. Use a stainless steel nit comb and brush through all hair, especially the nape of the neck and behind the ears, twice daily to rid the hair shafts of eggs and catch the living bugs. I recommend leaving the neem oil on for a few hours before washing it out for maximum effect.

I recommend alternating neem oil application with washing your hair with Denorex medicated shampoo (the kind with coal tar) daily for 5 days along with combing with a metal nit comb 2 times daily. The medicated form of Denorex shampoo is designed for dandruff and psoriasis, but has the side effect of being an insecticide. Leave it in for 15 minutes before rinsing it out. Repeat as needed until there are no visible bugs or eggs (You will find them glued to hair shafts near the scalp. They look like tiny, brownish-gray tear drops.)

Vigilance is crucial. Keep checking your child’s head and have everyone in your household checked daily for at least 2 weeks after treatment. Repeat as necessary. Contact your child’s school and notify people in close contact with you to check for lice. Find the source of infestation in order to avoid re-infection.

There are many effective natural lice treatments in addition to the above including mayonnaise left on for 3 days under a shower cap, essential oils, vinegar to remove nits, etc. I gave you the easiest, most cost effective protocol I know works, but there are other natural treatments out there that still are effective. The take home message is that toxic, over the counter lice killing products no longer are effective.

I hope you find this information helpful and didn’t get too itchy reading about this topic. My next post will focus on staying healthy in the wintertime.

Blessings,

Margaret Philhower, ND

www.drmargaret.org

In this season of giving thanks, I give thanks for the abundant variety of delicious winter vegetables available right now. Winter squash is one of my favorites. Not only does it taste delicious baked or pureed into soup or in pies, it is incredibly nutrient rich. Winter squash are full of immune boosting vitamins A & C, heart healthy potassium, colon protecting fiber, good Omega 3 fats, anti-inflammatory quercetin, and soothing B complex vitamins.

Eating more well-cooked foods like baked squash helps keep the house warm on chilly days and keeps us in shape, feeling grounded and healthy. Now is a better time than ever to make smart food choices by enjoying naturally sweet treats like winter squash when celebrating with friends and family rather than high fat, sugary fare traditionally eaten this time of year.

Here’s to your continued good health this holiday season!

Margaret Philhower, ND

www.drmargaret.org

The Illinois Valley News, my local newspaper, has a front page article in today’s edition summarizing my last post.  It is much easier to read than the post below, so please click here to link to the news article.  One of our local Acupuncturists, JoAnne Stone, has some great additional  advice to add to the flu prevention and treatment advice that I have shared.  May this information help you have a happy healthy fall and winter.

Margaret Philhower, ND

www.drmargaret.org