Ear Candling Horror Story - Don't Try This at Home Part 2

This week's email is a day late because I was busy yesterday morning recording a podcast radio show to be aired on Thursday on Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS).  If you would like to tune in or if you miss it on
Thursday, you can always check it out here http://www.blogtalkradio.com/empoweryourself.

The FDA has alerted consumers about the dangers of ear candles. Ear candling has been used to to treat a number of maladies, ranging from sinus infection and sore throats to earwax buildup and hearing loss.

Use of ear candles creates the potential for fire hazards, inner ear and skin burns, wax-plugged ears, bleeding, eardrum puncture, and delay in seeking treatment for serious medical conditions supposedly treated by the
ear coning device, the FDA said.

Testing done by Health Canada found there was little to no efficacy to support the product's therapeutic value.

In my own not so scientific study, I used my otoscope to inspect someone's ears before ear candling, and repeated the inspection after ear candling and found no difference whatsoever in the amount of ear wax. The "wax" inside the remaining piece of candle was merely burnt down ear candle. My naturopathic colleagues have conducted similar experiments with identical conclusions.

One person ended up in ER with severe double ear infections and needed IV steroids and antibiotics since both ear canals were sealed shut and they couldn't get any antibiotic ear drops in. Ear, Nose and Throat Specialists report seeing many urgent ear cases coming in from candling.

Excessive ear wax in my experience is almost always associated with allergies,  often food allergies and often a dairy allergy - always best to get at the root cause of the problem than just address the symptom.

Add this to internal use of epsom salts in the "don't try this at home" category.

There's a new recipe for Salmon en Papillote on our website, http://forcesofnature.ca/HealthyRecipes.htm#Salmon_en_Papillote click to check it out.

To your health,

Pamela

http://www.ForcesofNature.ca
http://www.NaturopathToronto.ca
http://naturopathicdetox.blogspot.com/
http://h1n1naturopath.blogspot.com/
http://naturopathtoronto.blogspot.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/pfranknd

Copyright 2010 Forces of Nature

Don't Try This at Home

I was just doing some reading on the use of Epsom (magnesium) salts baths. They are wonderful for reducing muscle tension and I swear by them after a triathlon, however it seems some folks like to do things other than bathe in them. There are two case reports of people dying from alternative methods of using epsom salts, please do not try this at home: 

1.  Do not use them for enemas

2.  Do not use them as a gargle

Magnesium is generally a good thing, but as with anything too much of a good thing can be harmful and even deadly.  Epsom salts are not to be taken internally!

To your health,

Pamela

http://www.ForcesofNature.ca 

http://www.NaturopathToronto.ca 

http://naturopathicdetox.blogspot.com/ 

http://h1n1naturopath.blogspot.com/
http://naturopathtoronto.blogspot.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/pfranknd
Copyright 2009 Forces of Nature

Ahhh, Now That's Better

So my 46 year old body still wants to work out like it's 25 and most days will do so quite well.  But last Saturday morning after my usual kickboxing class, things were not feeling quite right in the old back.  As the day progressed it became ever more painful to walk with a very sharp, pinching, nerve-like pain.  I hoped a good night's rest would sort everything out and I would be able to go for my Sunday morning run.  Well on Sunday morning after two steps on it clearly it was not ok and getting worse and I had to scrap the run.  Monday morning didn't show any improvement and so I booked an appointment with our chiropractor Dr. Kim Macanuel.  I could feel that a nerve was being pinched and things just weren't moving as they should and Kim quickly identified that my left SI joint was locked and my right side was moving too much and pressing on a nerve.  Four quick adjustments later and my back was immediately about 80% better so much so that I could do 40 minutes on the stationary bike at the gym a short while later with no discomfort.  What did people ever do in that situation before there was chiropractic?

There's a new recipe for Edamame Basil Salad on our website http://forcesofnature.ca/HealthyRecipes.htm#Edamame_Basil_Salad

To your health,

Pamela

http://www.ForcesofNature.ca
http://www.NaturopathToronto.ca
http://naturopathicdetox.blogspot.com/
http://h1n1naturopath.blogspot.com/
http://naturopathtoronto.blogspot.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/pfranknd
Copyright 2009 Forces of Nature

Do As the Romans Do

Eating the Mediterranean way can help reduce your risk of stomach cancer, a large study from Europe shows. The traditional diets of Greece, Italy and other Mediterranean countries have many health benefits including protection against cancer and heart disease.  Gastric (stomach) cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death worldwide.

Study participants were given a score on an 18-point scale based on how closely their diet adhered to the Mediterranean ideal of being rich in fruit, vegetables, legumes, fish, cereals and olive oil, with a relatively low intake of red meat and dairy products.

People with the highest relative Mediterranean diet scores were 33 percent less likely to develop stomach cancer than people whose eating patterns were furthest from the Mediterranean ideal.

Just 23 percent of people diagnosed with gastric cancer will survive for five years, the researchers note. "Therefore, identifying dietary recommendations that can help reduce incidence is important for the effective management of this cancer," they conclude.

There's a new recipe for Grilled Tofu with Mediterranean Chopped Salad on our website
http://forcesofnature.ca/HealthyRecipes.htm#Grilled_Tofu_with_Mediterranean_Chopped_Salad

In health,
Pamela

http://www.ForcesofNature.ca
http://www.NaturopathToronto.ca
http://naturopathicdetox.blogspot.com/
http://h1n1naturopath.blogspot.com/
http://naturopathtoronto.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/pfranknd

Copyright 2009 Forces of Nature

There are How Many Calories in That Take Out???

I was glancing through the North Toronto Post this week and found an interesting article on the nutritional value (dubious use of that term) in a variety of take out food.  What I found most surprising was that out of
all the foods including burgers, fish and chips, pizza etc.  what scored the absolute worst all around in my books was the Pad Thai.  One serving contained a whopping 1460 kcal, 55 grams of fat and 197.6 grams of
carbohydrate.  According to this analysis you're much better off to eat a Pastrami sandwich!  So as everyone starts off the New Year with a plan to lose weight and eat healthier, it might be best to analyze what exactly we are eating, especially if the source is take out food, preparing food yourself at home is infinitely better.  Go here to check out the article, http://www.postcity.com/Post-City-Magazines/January-2010/What-039s-Toronto-Really-Eating/.

There's a new recipe for Coconut Chicken Curry Stew on our website
http://forcesofnature.ca/HealthyRecipes.htm#Coconut_Chicken_Curry_Stew here.

Healthy New Year!

Pamela

http://www.ForcesofNature.ca
http://www.NaturopathToronto.ca
http://naturopathicdetox.blogspot.com/
http://h1n1naturopath.blogspot.com/
http://naturopathtoronto.blogspot.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/pfranknd

Copyright 2010 Forces of Nature

Work Stress, Insulin, Hormone Balance and Diabetes

White, middle-aged women reporting high levels of job strain and little work-related social support appear to be at increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes, according to a new study.

Among the women, about 10 percent of all type 2 diabetes cases could have been prevented had the job-related stressors of little control, high demands, and little social support been eliminated.

People need to recognize the importance stress plays in their overall physical health by looking at stress exposures as another unhealthy factor similar to obesity, low physical activity, and poor diet.

I would add that it's particularly important for women with any reproductive health issue to be cognisant of stress since stress obviously has a major influence on blood sugar and insulin levels which ultimately creates hormonal imbalances.

There's a new recipe for Chicken Cacciatore on our website
http://forcesofnature.ca/HealthyRecipes.htm#Chicken_Cacciatore

Happy New Year!

Pamela

http://www.ForcesofNature.ca
http://www.NaturopathToronto.ca
http://naturopathicdetox.blogspot.com
http://h1n1naturopath.blogspot.com/
http://naturopathtoronto.blogspot.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/pfranknd

Copyright 2009 Forces of Nature

Resolution Tips and a New Year's Wish

New Year's resolutions date back to ancient Rome and the mythical King Janus, from whose name January derives. Janus became a symbol for resolutions because he had two faces and could look simultaneously back on the past and look forward to the future.

Here are some pointers to help attain your fitness resolution goals:

• Set attainable goals and have realistic expectations. 
• Find just the right balance between too much exercise and too little, i.e. where you get the benefits of exercise without overdoing or burning yourself out.
• Make a resolution along with a friend or spouse. Research shows that having someone you're accountable to can almost triple your effectiveness.
• One study showed that motivation to be physically active was higher when sports - instead of just exercise - were involved.  
• Having a goal in mind also helps - eg. register for a 5 km run then train to achieve it.
• Get the resources you need whether it's a day planner, group classes, online fitness tracker or a personal trainer to keep you in line.
• Establish a routine that you enjoy and stick to it.
  

Here's a link to a beautiful New Year's Wish, enjoy!

There's a new recipe for Roasted Salmon with Potatoes, Peas and Parsnips on our website here.

Happy New Year!

Pamela

http://www.ForcesofNature.ca
http://www.NaturopathToronto.ca
http://naturopathicdetox.blogspot.com/
http://h1n1naturopath.blogspot.com
http://naturopathtoronto.blogspot.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/pfranknd

Copyright 2009 Forces of Nature