Saving the world, one ovary at a time ...

I received a fabulous testimonial from one of my patients and I had to share it.  I love when naturopathic medicine and it's gentle, non-toxic approach help patients achieve health in a way that is truly life-altering.  This woman can to me with such devastating hormonal imbalance that another physician actually recommending removing her ovaries.  Now, sometimes surgeries are necessary and life-saving, but all too often women's organs are removed  before all the other options have been explored.  So before you or your love ones consider high-force interventions, consider the alternative. First I have to tell you that my life has completely changed, thanks to you!  After we figured out the whole Pyroluria thing, I have been consistently taking my vitamins and my symptoms of anxiety, inability to handle stress, panic attacks, crying spells, and depression have improved almost 100%.  Things are not perfect - but I can manage my life, stress, and relationships much easier now.  I can't remember the last time I felt capable of managing life.  I was recently able to find a job, I have improved my friendships, I am getting involved in activities and meeting new people.  This was never possible before.  Even my periods are much easier to manage.  Before I would be symptomatic two weeks before my period started.  Now, I don't even know I"m going to have my period until about the day before.  I am living a much more normal life.

Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart for taking the time to research my symptoms, and help me figure out what the hell was going on.  :)  You have done much more for me than any traditional doctor ever attempted.  They all immediately jumped to the conclusion that I had mental health issues and needed to be medicated or recommended I have surgery to remove my ovaries and undergo extensive hormone replacement options.  All of those options would have changed my life forever, with no hope of recovery.  Now I feel like I have a second opportunity to make life what I want now that I have my health back!  Thank you Thank you Thank you! 

JM

Fever - Friend or Foe?

Do you have fever phobia?  If so, you are not alone.  Fevers are one of the top reasons for doctor's office visits and many a parent has spent an anxious night monitoring their sick child for any spike in temperature.  But fear not!  A fever is actually a sign that the immune system is functioning well and fighting infection.  Even the American Academy of Pediatrics has finally gotten on board and agreed with what naturopathic doctors have been saying for years: Fever, however, is not the primary illness but is a physiologic mechanism that has beneficial effects in fighting infection. There is no evidence that fever itself worsens the course of an illness or that it causes long-term neurologic complications. Thus, the primary goal of treating the febrile child should be to improve the child's overall comfort rather than focus on the normalization of body temperature.

A fever stimulates the activity of the immune system, encourages white blood cell activity and can kill off certain bacteria and viruses.   What's not to love?

Confused about what to do with your feverish child?  Consider the following guidelines:

1.  Treat the child, not the number - A child who is happily playing with a 103 degree fever is probably fine, while the lethargic and miserable child with a 101 degree fever might need some intervention.

2.  Consider some home remedies - lukewarm (not cold!) baths or compresses, homeopathic remedies or herbal tea can work wonders to make a child (or adult) comfortable without suppressing the immune system.

3.  Use fever-reducing medications sparingly - If the above recommendations are not enough to comfort the child or if the parent or health care professional is uncomfortable with  the severity of the fever, consider using a fever-reducing medication.  My recommendation is to start with a weight appropriate dose of Ibuprofen.  Only if Ibuprofen is not tolerated, should Acetaminophen be used.  Acetaminophen use may be linked to an increase risk of asthma and can be damaging to the liver.

Fevers in an infant (under 6 months), lasting longer then 5 days, over 104 degrees or accompanied by concerning symptoms need to be evaluated by a heath care practitioner.  Also, trust you gut, if you are worried - seek help.  Mama, and papa, know best.

Please join me in my crusade to help end fever phobia!

Dr C

Insurance

"Do you take insurance?" I answer this question multiple times a day, everyday.  And the short answer is no.

And the long answer is no I don't take insurance and that is is good thing.  Why?  Because if I took insurance I would be working for the insurance companies.  And I don't want to work for insurance companies, I want to work for my patients.

I never want to change what I think is best for a patient to fit into a corporate model of care that is happy to treat disease and will barely spend a penny on prevention.  I never want to squeeze 6-10 patients into an hour .  I never want to be a part of a system that focuses on profits, not patients.

I know that times are tough for a lot of people.  It can be hard to justify out-of-pocket expenses for health care when you have insurance.  However, outside of the insurance model I am free to offer the highest-quality,  personalized care.

Seeing me is a financial commitment.  However it is an investment that offers rich rewards.

In health,

Dr. Caitlin

Gardening for health

I really, really love to garden. Lately, I have been spending my nights curled up with seed catalogs, lusting over mouth-watering descriptions and anxiously awaiting Mother's Day - not only because my mom is an amazing gardener who inspires many of my garden projects, but because the second Sunday in May is generally recognized as the "safe" time to start planting tender seeds and transplants in Denver, Colorado.

Last weekend I built a salad table for my backyard.  I have a plot in the Edgewater Community Garden.  And I am super excited to be working on a community herb garden with Eastside Growers Collective (where I also  have an individual plot dedicated exclusively to melons and winter squash - a Cucurbitaceae collection for my botany brethren).  I even started a worm farm - which is a whole other post entirely ..

I may be going overboard ;)

So, to justify my obsession, and  for newbies that may be considering digging in for the first time, or for old-timers that need a few more reasons to justify hours spent playing in the dirt - I complied a few of the many health benefits that can be found in the garden.

Fresh food

Growing your own food ensures that you will have access to the tastiest produce imaginable.  Children will often happily eat veggies straight from the garden that they would never consider eating from the store.  The nutrient content in organic food is higher then conventional and you can't get more local then the backyard.  Eating your 5-7 servings a day is easy and delicious when you are a gardener.

Sunshine

There has been increased awareness of widespread Vitamin D deficiency over the past few years.  I have been surprised to find out that even in sunny Colorado, many of my patients are deficient.  So before you slather on the sunscreen, consider letting your limbs get some sunshine.  Be sure to keep  your face covered and don't get burned.  The amount of time you need depends on your skin type, time of day and personal health history.  This is a good topic to discuss with your health care provider.

Exercise

Gardening burns between 200-600 calories per hour.  As anyone who has ever maneuvered a wheelbarrow knows, gardening also improves strength, flexibility and balance.   Gardening a few times a week can decease your chance of developing heart disease, metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes!

Remember to go organic - you wouldn't want to negate any of your gardening health benefits by breathing in and ingesting toxic pesticides.

Happy digging!

Dr. Caitlin