Disclaimer This blog is not in any way treating, diagnosing or recommending anything for anyone specific. It is merely a way to educate, inform and discuss whole health. No entry in this blog should be used in place of a consultation with a health care practitioner. If you are in need of care, please make an appointment with your health care provider or with me so we can speak in person!
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In this political upheaval in healthcare, the “us versus them” mentality is getting out of hand. I don’t know who said it first and frankly, I don’t care. In my medical community, I want MDs and DOs to know that it’s not us versus them, but us working together in our own specialties to make our patients better.
There are a lot of misconceptions about naturopathic doctors. Much of this comes from the frustration that we are not licensed in all states. Because of this, there are “unlicensable” naturopaths in unlicensed states who did not go to an accredited naturopathic medical school yet are allowed to call themselves naturopaths or even naturopathic doctors because there is no regulation. We licensed naturopathic doctors however did go to an accredited, 4-year, post-graduate, naturopathic medical school. These medical schools are accredited by the same agencies as Harvard Medical School and any other medical school in the US. We take multi-step national board exams similar to the USMLE, the first focusing on basic sciences and the second and third on clinical practice. We get a minimum of 72 in-class hours in pharmacology, where many allopathic schools learn pharmacology in about 24 hours or in the field. Once we are licensed, we are required to get annual continuing education, often more than other types of physicians. So what’s the difference? Well, a lot. Our average patient visit is 30 minutes and up to 2 hours for a new patient. Obviously, we focus on diet and lifestyle as much as possible and we often prescribe supplements and other naturopathic treatments. We also prescribe pharmaceuticals when they are needed. Again, a common misconception is that we are anti-pharmaceutical. This is not true as we are pro-patient and whatever treatment is best for our patient is what we give them. If we can make nutritional changes to avoid them going on a statin, then we will. If their hypercholesterolemia is genetic and no diet in the world can bring their numbers down, then we prescribe what is needed.
Our medicine does work and there is a TON of research to back it up. It always confuses me when people say there is no research to back it up when there are always hundreds, sometimes thousands and tens of thousands of results on most of my PubMed searches. We help reduce ER visits and help reduce medical costs in general by teaching people how to live healthier lives within their own means. While we don’t perform major surgeries, naturopaths have and will continue saving many lives. I have specialists and GPs referring complex patients to me, yet they won’t meet me for lunch. Why is this? When a patient gets better with both of our help it’s good medicine. When a patient who’s been to 15 doctors with no improvement finds relief from my therapies, it’s just an anomaly or a placebo-effect, it’s not my medicine.
I chose a different type of medicine, but it is still medicine. It’s what I’m good at. DOs were in the same situation a mere 20 years ago, yet DOs are more resistant to accepting me as a medical colleague than many MDs. Now DOs are considered primary care physicians and are employed in hospitals, clinics and health care facilities all over the US. We all have something special to offer and it’s not about what the better medicine is. We all need every type of medicine at some point. So can’t we just all get along and get people healthy?
It’s been beautiful here in Maine, other then the 7 days of straight rain  The trees are leafing out, flowers are blooming, birds are singing, bees are buzzing…wait…what’s that on my leg?
Yup. They’re back. And hungrier than ever it seems. So what do you do when you live in a beautiful place and don’t dare stay indoors for the rest of your life? You prepare yourself for the day when you do get a tick bite, and unfortunately here in Maine, that day will come if it hasn’t already. Not to fear, however. Lyme Disease is serious and complicated, but you can be proactive and protective when it comes to this condition. So what can you do?
Recent Tick Bite (within 72 hours)
- Remove the tick carefully by pulling it straight out with tweezers getting as close to the skin as you can. Try not to squish the tick. Be patient and use steady force to pull it out, head and all.
- Identify the tick. Mainely Ticks has great resources on tick identification (as seen above), including a ProTickME kit that includes identification cards, tweezers, magnifying glass and containers to store the ticks for testing.
- Don’t just look for the rash. Up to 70% of people in Maine may not get the infamous “bull’s eye rash” and can still get infected with Lyme. Also, the rash can take 2-4 weeks to appear, after which you’ve already missed your window for the most preventative treatment.
- If you were in fact bitten by a deer tick, the tick that carries the bacteria that causes Lyme and other co-infections, try to save the tick in a plastic bag or small container so you can send it off for testing. It’s a LOT cheaper to test the ticks than to go through the testing yourself, and even so it can take up to a month for your body to make antibodies that would show up on a test, again thereby missing your preventative treatment window. You can have your tick tested at several different places here in New England, though I recommend IGeneX. This company focuses on Lyme and its co-infections, so even their tick tests are more reliable in my personal opinion.
- Call your doctor. I know I’m a naturopath, but even I recommend antibiotic treatment when it comes to preventing Lyme Disease. You need to start antibiotics preferably within 72 hours of the bite. You could be on antibiotics for up to 3 months, depending on how long the testing takes to see if your tick was indeed carrying the bacteria.
- Follow up with your doctor if the test was positive for Lyme or its co-infections. Your doctor will need to monitor you and may keep you on antibiotics if you start manifesting symptoms such as flu-like symptoms, fever or muscle/joint pain.
Past Tick Bite (after 1 week) or Unknown Tick Bite
- If you are experiencing any of the MANY symptoms of Lyme, get tested as soon as possible preferably for Lyme and its co-infections (Babesia, Ehrlichia, Bartonella) as they are present in about 20% of Lyme patients. Again, I highly recommend IGeneX as the basic ELISA done by most doctors is not specific enough to reach a true diagnosis. It is better to test for your antibodies to specific bands (via Western Blot) and for the DNA of the bug itself (via PCR).
- According to the International Lyme and Associated Diseases (ILADS) “fewer than 50% of patients with Lyme Disease recall a tick bite.” So even if you don’t remember a bite, but are experiencing symptoms that aren’t justified by another illness, get tested.
- Breathe. There is hope! There are a LOT more “Lyme literate” doctors than there used to be out there, many of whom have had wonderful success in treating Lyme Disease in even the most complex of cases. Just sit down and have a conversation with your doctor, and if it’s not something they treat often (or if they don’t know who ILADS is), ask for a referral.
 Indications for Laser Therapy I finally got my laser! I am so excited and what perfect timing as everyone is suffering from “snow-shoveling shoulder” and “plow-truck arm” from this incredible winter we’ve had!
Laser therapy is a great therapy for drug-free pain management! Laser therapy is the use of light that penetrates through the skin and into the joint or muscle where inflammation is present. It calms inflammation and actually provides the cells with the energy they need to heal themselves. How natural is that!? Another great thing about laser therapy is that it does not cause heat, so it is ok to use in those who have metal implants, IUDs or pacemakers.
I used this therapy as a primary modality when I practiced in Oregon and I am so excited to incorporate it into my practice here in Maine. I was able to help so many difficult cases ranging from uterine fibroids and endometriosis to chronic pain and neuralgia.
Check out my website for more information on low level laser therapy and give me a call to set up your appointment today!
207-206-6238
If you are, you are not alone. The devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan has affected millions around the world. Not only from the casualties and injuries from the natural disasters, but the damage done to the Fukushima nuclear reactor which has released small amounts of radioactive iodine and cesium into the environment.
I have been flooded with calls and emails from people wanting to know what they can do to help protect themselves from the radiation, should it reach their area. I thought it best to write a blog on the issue in hopes it would calm some worries out there. Here are some tips and information to help educate on the situation:
- Step 1 – Put the Iodine & Potassium DOWN – this is one of the biggest mistakes people are making. Yes, radioactive iodine is taken up by the thyroid and can cause thyroid cancer later in life, therefore those who are deficient in iodine have a greater risk of absorbing more radioactive iodine than those who are sufficient in the mineral. HOWEVER, I have seen several people cause thyroid disease in themselves by self-prescribing iodine before getting their levels checked. It is necessary to check your levels before taking this mineral because you can overdo it, and therefore cause hyper- or hypo-thyroid conditions that can even cause a trip to the ER. So, do the simple test. See if you’re deficient. THEN, get a prescription from a naturopathic physician to make sure you’re getting the correct dosage that’s safe for you. The same goes for cesium, which acts similarly to potassium in the body. Potassium levels directly affect the heart and can even cause heart attacks if overdosed. Also, some medications affect potassium levels. So again, do the simple test, see and ND and get a dose that’s right for you if you need it.
- Step 2 – Get the Facts – don’t just trust the media especially in disasters. There’s a lot of fear out there so take some time and do your own research so you can educate yourself and your family on what’s really going on. Here’s a great explanation on what happened at Fukushima. As this article states, the half-life of radioactive iodine is 8 days, which means half of it has disintegrated in 8 days, then half again in 8 days, etc. Cesium however has a half-life of 30 years, so this radioisotope is far more likely to be an issue than the iodine as it will take over 100 years to fully disintegrate.
- Step 3 – It’s Still All About the Terrain – as an ND, I talk about the terrain a lot. Those with a healthy terrain (mind & body) are less likely to fall vulnerable to viruses, bacteria and disease in general. This remains true even when it comes to radiation. Those who are not deficient in essential minerals, especially iodine and potassium in this case, will be less likely to absorb radioactive forms. Those who get plenty of antioxidants through diet and lifestyle are more likely to prevent radiation damage. So how can you improve your terrain?
- Eat plenty of dark, leafy greens daily for plenty of vitamins and minerals
- Try to eat every color of the rainbow in fruits and veggies each day to load up on those free-radical-fighting antioxidants
- Get regular physicals, screening exams and bloodwork done yearly to make sure you’re on the right track, preferably with an ND
- Don’t overindulge, whether it be alcohol, cigarettes, food, etc. Moderation is key to everything.
- Exercise, breathe, laugh & play…doctor’s orders…
I hope these tips cleared some things up for you. I did a bit of research for this blog post as I wasn’t as familiar with cesium other than its use for cancer radiation therapy, so I thought I’d share some of the more interesting articles with you:
 Meat Sauce Packed with Veggies Looks like a typical meat sauce and spaghetti, right? Well here’s a perfect example on how you can pack some of your favorite recipes with more veggies, whether it’s for you or your kids.
This recipe was loosely taken from Rachael Ray’s Pappardelle and Lamb Meat Sauce.
I simply adapted it to what I had available and “hid” a bunch of extra veggies in there. I used buffalo instead of lamb, thanks to a recent sale at my local store where I bought about 4 one-pound packages of ground buffalo and stored them in the freezer. Buffalo is more lean than beef, yet tastes about the same.
I also added finely chopped celery, fennel bulb and about 1 cup of pureed greens for extra veggies. Not only that, but instead of adding the milk to give that creamy texture, I added a cup of pureed butternut squash. Since I wasn’t using lamb, I opted for the traditional Italian spices, basil and oregano, instead of the orange zest and rosemary.
This is a great way to add nutritional value to your foods. The little steps really do add up! Whether you want to incorporate more vegetables and fiber into your diet, or you have some picky eaters in your household, purees can be essential! I use them all the time, and I like veggies! Once you start experimenting with different flavors and textures, you’ll realize how easy it is to create cheesy or milky textures with pureed squash or avocado, or add depth of flavor with pureed greens. Your getting the added nutrition and fiber, reducing you need for a multivitamin or added supplements.
Combine that with using a whole grain, high-protein pasta and you’ve got a much healthier meal, packed with flavor and antioxidants!
Cooking is medicine! It’s just a matter of making good decisions on making your favorite recipes more nutritionally sound.
Dear Mr. President,
I felt very empowered by the State of the Union last night and felt compelled to write. I am a naturopathic doctor in rural Maine and we naturopathic physicians are imperative in health care reform. We are educated in post-graduate medical institutions as primary care physicians, yet we are not licensed in every state. Even here in Maine, I am not even able to call myself a physician, but only a naturopathic doctor. I am also not able to use my DEA number or prescribe any and all medications as I was in Oregon, which prevents me from truly filling a primary care role for my patients. Similarly, not all insurance companies cover our care, specifically Medicaid and Medicare programs as well as some private insurances. I do the best I can, giving thousands of dollars of free care to my low-income and underinsured patients, but I too struggle with my own finances and overwhelming student loans. Naturopathic physicians need to be included in loan repayment programs for both primary care and rural service. We are here, we are educated and we are happy to take on the task of helping fulfill this nation’s lack of primary care physicians. Our roles as physicians are greatly needed as we work with patients to fully understand and prevent illness and treat people naturally whenever possible, thus reducing their need for expensive healthcare and prescriptions. Please take advantage of our talents and give us the recognition we deserve as primary care physicians in every state. Our American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP) has been lobbying hard in Washington for years and I hope you will see what we have to offer for all Americans.
Sincerely,
Dr Kristen McElveen
Join us for a free introduction of all the tools you need to lose those holiday pounds and avoid them in the future!
Saturday, January 8, 2011
10am – 12pm
Gate of Hope Holistic Center
554 Main St, Springvale, ME 04083
Reservations are required as seating is limited.
We are offering personalized packages and will help you choose one that works for you. Our packages include:
- 20 Day rejuvenation weight loss kit (including food lists, food/exercise logs, sample menus and exercise schedules) QTY 1 $250
- Weekly weigh-in and follow up visits to review progress QTY 4 $120
- Group EFT sessions (to overcome and control emotional eating and cravings) QTY 3 $90
- Individual EFT Sessions QTY 3 $180
- Auricular Therapy (to reduce cravings and facilitate weight loss) QTY 4 $120
- Infrared Saunas (to speed weight loss and detoxification – includes free consult to see if sauna therapy is safe for you) QTY 3 $150
- Weight loss massages (to detoxify and rid cellulite) QTY 3 $180
For reservations, call Dr K at Bare Medicine at 207-206-6238!
Visa/Mastercard accepted.
 Don't Let Stress Get You Down! Thanksgiving was the first hurdle…sure it’s spent seeing family members you may not have seen in a while, hopefully around a bunch of yummy food and in warm houses…but more often than not it can lead to reaching for that drink, or taking that little “worry pill” in order to get through the day. Well, let me give you a few tips on how to deal with the stress of the holiday season!
- Breathe! Take time out each day to do some deep breathing, using your diaphragm. This literally switches your nervous system from that “fight or flight” sympathetic dominance to a parasympathetic “rest and digest.” Try it in the car, before eating, while listening to that winded family member or any other time. Just try to do it at least 10 times a day.
- Eat well – It’s common to forget to eat when you’re bustling around, but you won’t be very productive if you forget breakfast. Breakfast sets you up for the entire day, so make sure you get plenty of protein to help you fuel your fire! Try a hard boiled egg and some oatmeal with nuts and fruit for a well-balanced, high protein, high fiber meal.
- Rescue Remedy – reach for this instead of that pill or drink. This flower essence has been used for many years and is great at general calming and reducing anxiety. Keep a bottle, spray or pack of pastilles handy at all times! Most drug stores and grocery stores with health food sections carry this nowadays. Also a great stocking stuffer!
- Keep your boundaries – ’tis the season for giving, but if your exhausted, you can’t give much to anyone! So don’t feel bad if you need to set some boundaries with friends or family if you’re feeling overwhelmed. They don’t want to stress you out either, so telling them the truth in a kind way will go better than you think. Also, never forget to ask for help!
- Sleep – sleep well and often. Now that the days are darker, our bodies naturally want to go to bed earlier. And each hour you get to bed before midnight is like getting 2 hours extra of sleep to the body. So try not to be sitting in front of a computer, tv or other bright lights too long after 9pm so your body can realize it’s time to sleep soon. Check out my blog on sleep hygiene as well for other options.
- Have fun! While you’re planning for kids, family and friends to have a great holiday, make sure it’s fun for you too. Schedule some “me time” in the hustle and bustle of it all and maybe even consider a few days off for some ultimate relaxation after the holidays are over.
Hopefully these tips will allow you to enjoy your holiday more this year – we all could use a little more joy!
Bare Medicine wishes you a happy and healthy holiday season!
I’ve been getting a lot of questions lately regarding how to choose a quality probiotic. Not only that, but what type of probiotic one should take. Here is an older post about one of my favorite gut bugs, Sacchromyces. That’s a great bug for most people while you’re taking antibiotics (it won’t die because it’s actually a yeast, not a bacterium). It’s also great for those suffering from loose stools, or diarrhea.
For the most part, for basic maintenance, pretty much any probiotic will do. The thing you want to look out for is quality. Many of the probiotics getting big commercials and being prescribed by MDs aren’t even refrigerated. Refrigeration is a big clue on whether it is a quality product or not. But again, not always, as there are some probiotics made to withstand room temperatures so that they can be easily packed for a camping trip. Here are some tips you can keep in mind when looking for a quality product:
- What are the ingredients?
- If the ingredients contain more than the bacteria and the capsule, take note of what’s used as a filler. If you can’t pronounce it, it’s likely not very good for you. Be wary of anything in tablet form, as they are mechanically pressed and usually heated, thereby killing the bacteria. Some products are enterically coated, which means it has a special gel-like coating made to withstand the acidity of the stomach and therefore make it through to the small intestine where you want the bacteria to thrive. These can be good products if you do your homework.
- Are the strains certified?
- If so, it should say on the bottle. Certification is usually done by a third-party testing facility to make sure what is on the label is in fact what’s in the bottle. This is extremely important for any supplement since there are so many out there, which is why it’s important to check with a naturopath before buying a random brand of supplement (that you might not even need!).
- What is the number of live cells at the “Sell by” date?
- This may not be on the bottle, but it should be available if you call or check their website. Some companies test their products only at the time of manufacturing, which is before it’s been sitting on a truck, possibly not refrigerated, then sitting under fluorescent lights at a grocery store, etc. You want to go with a company that actually guarantees the strains are alive AFTER the “sell by” or expiration date. That way you know they are properly testing their products for quality assurance.
Fortunately and unfortunately, the supplement biz has become a muti-billion dollar enterprise, which means anyone can market a product (sometimes very well) and put it on the shelf at your local biggy mart. Just ask yourself – do you really need that product? And if so, know the questions to ask to make sure your getting a quality product. If you call up a company and the person doesn’t know who the quality assurance rep is, or they say “that’s me!” …you might want to recheck your product choice!
…or just come see me
Missed it the first time or need a follow-up? Call 207-206-6238 now to make your appointment for our next thermography session – October 13, 2010!
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