Hi everyone.  Over the last few months I've seen a sharp increase in the number of bladder infections.  Infections of the urinary tract, most commonly in the bladder, often come on quite quickly, and if you've never had one before can be very startling.  They go from zero to 100 seemingly within hours, and are so uncomfortable that most people seek treatment right away.  If you've experienced them before, you may begin to recognize the early signs and become skilled at fending them off.

Signs of a Bladder Infection

• burning sensation while urinating
• pressure or discomfort in the lower pelvis
• frequent or constant urge to urinate
• passing small amounts of urine at a time
• cloudy or strong smelling urine
• low grade fever
• blood in urine (when advanced or moved into the kidneys)
• in older individuals, the only presenting symptom might be confusion - so keep an eye on your loved ones
  
  Children can show signs of low appetite, fussiness, lack of urine control or wetting after being toilet trained.  Constipation also seems to particularly relate to these infections in kids.

What causes Urinary Tract Infections?

Microorganisms, most often bacteria from the bowel, can infiltrate the urinary tract and lead to infection.  Therefore, hygiene and wiping front to back are common fixes for infections in children.  Other significant causes that are particularly relevant right now are holding urine too long and dehydration.  I'm finding many people are avoiding drinking before running errands, or forgetting to drink because of wearing a mask.  The lack of bathroom access in public or lack of desire to use public restrooms is making people hold their urine for much longer than they would have previously, which is one reason why I think I'm seeing the current increase in cases.

Females are more susceptible due to shorter urethras (less distance for bacteria to travel).  Also, hormonal contraception, diaphragms and spermicides can increase likelihood of infection because of incomplete urinary voiding and disruption of good bacteria.

In addition, there are other infections and conditions like hormonal imbalance or being postmenopausal, enlarged prostate, having diabetes, catheter use, structural differences, medications and neurological conditions that cause cystitis (inflammation of the bladder).

They are diagnosed with a urinalysis dipstick and then often a culture, particularly if infections are recurrent, to determine which microbe is causing the infection.


How to Prevent a Bladder Infection

• Drink water - if you're hesitant to drink before going out, try to drink a little less beforehand but then compensate later on, also limit caffeine and alcohol because they are diuretics and bladder irritants
• Go when you have to go - this one can be trickier, and I will embarrassingly admit that I've been peeing in nature more than ever... it's just the reality right now
• Hygiene practices like wiping front to back, regular washing, and urinating after sex
• Cotton, breathable undergarments and loose fitting clothing
• Drink Cranberry juice - the real stuff, 2 or more cups per day to prevent adherence of bacteria to the bladder wall, sometimes I'll add sparkling water to cut the tartness a little bit
• Probiotics - certain probiotics are protective or even support immune function of the urinary tract
• Manage constipation - there are lots of tips to get the bowels working regularly: hydration, fibre (vegetables and flax seed especially), and other strategies are a good start
• Vitamin C - at least 1000mg per day, especially helpful for UTIs in  pregnancy

UTI Treatments

• Water and Cranberry Juice
• D-Mannose - 500-1000mg twice per day 
• Probiotics, for example Women's Ultra Flora (Metagenics,) is a formula especially geared towards UTIs
• Herbal remedies like Uritin (St Francis), Berberine, Garlic, Barberry are helpful to combat infection and soothe the tissues to relieve symptoms
• Vitamin C - 1000mg two or three times daily
• Work on the kidneys - I will do herbal and homeopathic cleanses to improve the functional health of the kidneys
• Antibiotics can do the trick, but aren't recommended for recurrent infections because many time E. coli can be resistant to treatment and the overuse of antibiotics impacts the gut flora, vaginal flora, overgrowth of candida, and immune function
  
  -> I can create a tailored plan for you if this comes up

The reason we urinate is to excrete waste and extra water that is filtered from the blood by the kidneys.  Keep an eye out for kidney infection signs like high fever, back or flank pain,
to avoid complications.  Kidney stones are something else I've seen frequently this year, but they are another topic ;)

As you know, I enjoy connecting our physical symptoms with other aspects of our health.  Traditional Chinese Medicine relates kidneys and bladder with the emotion of fear - I think we can agree that emotion is fairly prevalent right now.  Furthermore, in Louise Hay's book "You Can Heal Your Life", she relates bladder problems to: anxiety, fear of letting go, holding onto old ideas, being pissed off... her recommended mantra to address these emotional roots is, "I comfortably and easily release the old and welcome the new in my life.  I am safe."

Wishing you a wonderful beginning to autumn.  Please let us know if you need anything, we're here for you.

Yours in health,
Dr. Christa

Book Appointment

"I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it."
~ Nelson Mandela

For the last week in particular, I've found that feelings of anxiousness and worry have been heightened.  For some, it's concern for the unknown and a lack of control, for others it's triggered a long standing issue.

You are definitely not alone.

Whether your feelings are new or not, it's important to note that 1 in 3 people will experience anxiety or depression at some point in their lives.  Even if you're not impacted personally by anxiety, there's a good chance that someone in your circle is feeling its effects right now.  They could be experiencing fear/panic, increased heart rate, tension, racing thoughts or increased alertness and you don't even know it.  That's why it's important even more now than ever to be kind.

Unfortunately, it feels like so many things are outside of our control right now.  I've mentioned this in previous posts, because ultimately it is a sense of being able to choose your path and knowing that you have a choice that fosters resilience.

One interesting observation that I've had is that many of my patients who have a history of dealing with anxiety were actually doing pretty well in the spring, because they were able to focus on self care - getting fresh air, cooking at home, meditating, spending time at home, and enjoying a slower pace of life.  Also, they may have benefited from having developed coping skills in the past.
If you're not sure if stress is a factor for you, you can read more about it here. 

Children are feeling it too - they might be excited for changes, grieving loss of routines, concerned about separations after being home so long, worried about getting sick, or can't wait to get back to their friends - or maybe all of the above :) Anxiety can be tougher to pinpoint in kids, because it will often present as stomach aches, so just keep an eye out.

To paraphrase the words of Dr. Cheryl Birch, psychologist at our clinic - We are all in the same storm, but traveling in different boats.

Whenever I see a trend at the clinic, or within the community consciousness, I feel compelled to reach out to you and let you know that there are ways to support you.
 Common Anxiety Coping Techniques

• Exercise
• Breathing
• Tapping (click here for more info)
• Cognitive behavioural therapy

Naturopathic Treatments for Anxiety

• Botanicals - herbs like Skullcap, Ashwagandha, Lavender, St John's Wort 
• Fish oil (omega 3)
• Magnesium
• B Vitamins
• Acupuncture
• GABA or L-theanine
  
  I can help you develop an individualized approach.  Basically there are supports that nourish and calm the nervous system, and others that work more directly on neurotransmitters, or the adrenal glands.  I find a combination works the most effectively.

A couple of other notes:
If your anxiety is strictly about health, I recommend getting on a great preventative plan.  More and more evidence is showing that pre-existing/chronic health issues are making people most vulnerable to serious infections, so it's time to get back on the lifestyle train.  Furthermore, this is the time of year that we typically begin immune support protocols, but I feel it's even more important to be proactive now.

I hope that you're enjoying the stunning sunsets, and cooler evenings (sweater weather!).  I'm going to take off for a couple of days to reset before the routines set in, but I'll be back and ready to help in September.

Warmly,
Dr. Christa
​

If you've ever stopped to think about WHY you are experiencing a certain symptom or illness, the answer may be obvious, or it could be confusing.

So often, people wonder "why now?" or "why me?" or "where did this come from?"

Sometimes the conclusion is obvious, like an illness that occurs during a period of high stress.  I have seen many people who are affected by a bad flu right after losing a family member, for example.  More often, though, it's difficult to make the connections between your physical symptoms and the emotional or spiritual imbalances behind them.  If you begin to think of symptoms as your body's way of communicating an imbalance, then it becomes more clear.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), there is an appreciation for emotions impacting various organ systems (and I'll often treat emotions through acupuncture).

• Lungs -> Grief
• Liver -> Anger
• Spleen -> Worry
• Kidneys -> Fear

Many times when someone enters my office with recurrent lung issues, for example, I ask them about grief.  Sometimes it turns something up and other times not.  It can be quite surprising, and healing, for someone when I do uncover a piece of their story like that.

If you're not quite sure what I mean by physical manifestations of symptoms think about butterflies in your stomach from nervousness - see what I mean?

These correlations can provide helpful insights that help healing occur on many levels. 

A favourite resource of mine comes from the book, "You Can Heal Your Life" by Louise Hay.  In it, there is a helpful chart that draws relationships between physical ailments and emotions.  Interesting, right?  Here are some examples from the book:

• Loss of balance -> scattered thinking
• Seasickness -> fear, fear of death, loss of control
• Tonsillitis -> repressed emotions, stifled creativity
• Pink eye -> anger/frustration, not wanting to see
• Heartburn -> fear

It's not always a perfect match, but it can help direct us toward a deeper level of healing.  The body, mind and emotions are all connected.

Right now, I'm finding that emotions are high and the vibe is heavy.  It seems to be extra important to "do all the things"in order to stay on track:  eat as well as you can, get outside, do things you love, be with people you love, sleep...

For me, as soon as one thing slips I can feel almost instantly off balance, while in the past it would take a lot longer to notice the effects of being off track.  I'm bringing it up because every year the fall brings a return to routine (click here for tips) and I want everyone to be aware of making their health a priority, now more than ever.  Please let me know if I can help, or I can point you to someone who can :)

Your in health,
Dr. Christa


P.S.  We are still doing a combination of in-house and virtual appointments (some people are loving the convenience of virtual medicine).

Once again, how are you doing?  I hope you're enjoying the beautiful summer so far :)

I'm well aware that just because the world stopped, for a time, doesn't mean that your health issues did too.  In fact, for many, limited access to care and an increase in stress levels have meant deteriorations or aggravations of health conditions.

At the moment we have a number of protocols in place from our governments and public health agencies.  I know that many of you, or your children, fall within the categories of individuals who are more sensitive to some of the recommendations we are using to help curb viral spread.  It's common for people with atopy (allergic or imbalanced immune responses), high stress levels and emotional health concerns to seek Naturopathic care.  Often, conversations around these strategies evoke intense emotional responses, for all different reasons, but that isn't what I would like to talk about today (although I'm happy to discuss these triggers with you in person).  

Eczema
Eczema or dermatitis, red/dry skin, is quite commonly triggered by the use of skin care products.  If you've had eczema for a long time, you've likely discovered the right 'cocktail' of soaps, moisturizers, supplements, and food choices to support your skin health and microbiome.  While eczema is most common in children, it can flare in adults with stress, dry/winter air, use of irritating products, or allergen exposure.  

I'm noticing that people who normally have their eczema under control in the summer are finding that the increased use of soaps, hand sanitizers, and stress levels have set off a skin flare right now.

Steps to take:

• Body care - choose soothing 'natural' (phthalate, paraben free) moisturizers like shea butter, aloe, vitamin e
• Soaps - avoid soaps with antimicrobials and fragrances (I have found certain popular brands like Bath & Body Works to be huge eczema aggravators), choose brands like Dr Bronners, Nature Clean, Green Beaver for example
  -> as a side note, one of my children is sensitive to the soap used at school so we just send our own for him to use
• Hand sanitizers - opt for hand washing whenever possible because the alcohol in hand sanitizers is very drying and damages the oils in your skin, but if you must use them you can carry one with you that you know is less reactive, I've been liking the one we have at the clinic made by a company called Naka
  -> in a rush to keep up with demands, some hand sanitizers were produced too quickly and have now been recalled by Health Canada so have a look at their website too
• Consider - fermented or probiotic foods, omega-3s, and avoiding food sensitivities
• De-stress - you don't have to feel stressed to de-stress, now more than ever it's important to include meditation, deep breathing, exercise and other ways of balancing your nervous system and cortisol levels into your daily routine
• underlying systems: look at liver and gut function

Asthma
Simplified, asthma is a condition where airways swell and become inflamed, impacting breathing. In Canada, asthma affects 3.8 million people and is the third most common chronic disease.  Even though there are different degrees of asthma depending on the individual's triggers, it can be very scary for parents constantly worried that their children will face a life threatening situation at any moment.  

Interestingly, asthma is often related to eczema and allergies, and can fall into the category of health issues that stem from imbalanced immune systems (reacting to things that you shouldn't).
I've found many patients have told me that their children have had fewer respiratory issues when they switched their household cleaners from conventional chemicals to non-chemical products.  There is even research to link cleaning products to future development of asthma later in life.  Here's an article that speaks to this topic.

In addition, research is showing that for every 10% increase in antibiotic use, there is a 24% jump in asthma rates.  Sparing antibiotics for only the most necessary situations has led to a decline in childhood asthma rates. (Read here). It's likely that antibiotics shift the balance of microbes in the body, leading to an imbalanced or more reactive immune response as part of the mechanism.

Steps to take:

• Support respiratory and lung health with antioxidants (like glutathione, NAC, ACES+Zinc), magnesium, omega-3s and probiotics
• Avoid your unique inflammation triggers (foods, environmental allergies, chemicals)
• Switch to asthma friendly cleaning products
• Use breathing techniques to improve lung capacity and practice expiration (some people swear by the Buteyko method)
• discuss mask wearing with your health practitioner

Hormones
The signal from the brain to the ovaries, testes, thyroid and adrenal glands is impacted by stress levels, whether you realize it or not.  Many people with PMS, menstrual issues, low libido, peri or menopausal symptoms, emotional overwhelm, and all sorts of other hormonal issues are finding their symptoms are worse right now.  If this is you, or someone you know, I'd be happy to help you to support your symptoms through this time, our adrenal glands are in need of some extra attention.


Ergonomics & Pain
Working from home in makeshift offices, and often for longer hours, has led to back and neck pain issues.  Also, most of us hold stress in the form of tension in our muscles:  for women, it's more commonly neck and shoulders, for men it's in the low back area.  The compounded affect of poor ergonomics, long workdays and a lack of access to services for a few months has left many people in pain.

Steps to take:

• stretch - find what's most appropriate for your needs and stretch often
• get up and walk around once an hour
• drink lots of water (many of you are telling me you're drinking less right now being out of your routines)
• schedule time with your health providers for regular care - naturopathic, chiropractic, massage, acupuncture (I can do this for you too), physiotherapy
• discuss foods and nutrients with me to reduce inflammation, relax muscles, and support mitochondria (the energy producers of the cell)
• meditate or breathe deeply, picturing the air going into and filling the sore spot

Isolation & Uncertainty
Even though physical distancing has lessened and we have begun to see our loved ones, some of our beliefs and opinions have led to even more feelings of isolation.  I'm grateful lately to have learned who my "people" are....when you find them, hold them tight.  Likewise, uncertainty, polarity,  and an unknown future is creating unease and anxiety for some people.  As much as possible, try to be in the present, appreciate each moment, be an observer and acknowledge what we can and can't control.  

I know that this is a challenging time for most of us, for all different reasons.  I'm not sure if you've noticed this, but lately I've observed that people are cracking.  It doesn't take much to set someone off into tears, anger, or any number of extreme emotions.  For example, I was at a coffee shop outside of town the other day, and a person tried to enter after being told the store was closed.  It ended in a confrontation, that from the outside appeared to have escalated especially quickly.  People are on edge.  People are focused on their own needs right now, and less aware or have less capacity to consider or address the needs of others.  All I can say is to try as best as you can to keep you own emotional house in order.  Go for walks, eat as well as you can, breathe, relax and be kind. 

Let me know if you need anything. (But not next week, I'll be away August 1-10... practicing what I preach.)

Take good care of yourself and each other,
Dr. Christa

Moving ForwardHow are you doing?  I'm sure you're not "fine", but I hope that you're coping ok.  I totally know that you're sick of hearing the "C" word, and I get it.  Everywhere we look, listen and go there are reminders of our current situation.  As much as I've been dedicated to being informed and up-to-date with the health research and implications (literally hours every day), there have been days that I have had to limit myself because the weight of it all.  As always, balance is key.  This is why I've decided to focus on talking to you about stress, sleep, headaches, and other ongoing concerns that are very real right now too.  Also, in my own world, I'm making an extra effort to be outside, go for walks, do yoga or nightly meditation and enjoy moments with my family.  

As we prepare to take steps away from dramatic distancing, I know that some people don't feel entirely ready yet. There's been such an underlying current of fear that it's unlikely for you to be completely confident, but I'd at least like to help you to feel more comfortable moving forward.


The Microbiome

Humans have lived alongside microbes for thousands of years.  More recent research into the value of the microbiome has begun to scratch the surface of the relationship that we have with bacteria, viruses, fungi and other things.  

We've learned that a healthy gut bacteria helps our immune system, our moods, puts us on a path away from obesity, helps absorb vitamins and lower inflammation - just to name a few of the benefits.  We know that babies born through the birth canal have stronger immune systems and fewer allergies, and that certain microbes actually protect us from toxins in the environment.  Of course, these are symbiotic relationships; working together for the benefit of both parties.  And yet, an imbalance of these microbes can create disease symptoms.  So, if something that's normally present gets out of whack, we see issues crop up.

While so many bacteria are everywhere and kept in check with a healthy immune system, there are some that can create infections.  Bacteria are single cell, microscopic organisms that you can find anywhere from the soil, to water, to in and on every animal (I know we don't like to think about this).  We have a good sense of what a bacterial infection is, and how to treat it.  So if you have Strep, Staph, H.Pylori, E. coli - we use antibiotics or antimicrobials (herbal or pharmacological) to manage the infection.  

Viruses, are much smaller.  They consist of a few bits of genetic material (DNA or RNA) surrounded by a protein shell.  When a virus gets inside a cell, it either lies dormant (for example the HSV cold sore virus) or it hijacks its replication machinery and makes more virus which go on to infect other cells.  While there's been controversy over whether or not viruses are alive, it's been shown that viruses have also been an integral part of shaping our genetics (1). Therefore, both viruses and bacteria have beneficial and opportunistic relationships with the human body and we can't think of it as "us versus them."


Next Steps 

Our bodies are powerful and amazing.  I believe now, more than ever, we are finally appreciating the importance of having a healthy baseline.  We've heard that some people are more at risk of more serious outcomes from this illness.  Here are some of the factors that have shown to be implicated:

• high blood pressure
• high blood sugar & diabetes
• inactivity
• low vitamin D status
• BMI above 30
• immune compromise 
• low nutrient status (like vitamin C and zinc)

So, the thing is, we know that metabolic issues are rampant.  It's time to start taking care of ourselves in ways that we can control, since these are known triggers for all disease.  


Be Active in Taking Care of Yourself

We will all come out of our shelter with different strategies that make us feel protected, and that's ok.  Some will wear masks and some will not, for example, but it's important that we refrain from judging each other because we all have different coping strategies and reasoning behind our choices.Over the last several years I've mentioned to you various ways that you could support your immunity. (Check out previous posts.)   The biggest theme is that our bodies know how to heal, when given the right tools.  Before this came our way, we were using educated predictions based on knowledge of the human physiology and experience treating other viruses.  Now, we have preliminary data from case reports from doctors worldwide that show benefits of:

• Vitamin C
• Vitamin D
• Zinc
• NAC or Glutathione
• Melatonin
• Curcumin
• Botanicals with antiviral or immune modulating effects
• Acupuncture, Homeopathy, TCM herbs
• oxygen 
  ​
  

In addition, there has been positives shown from the following lifestyle variables as well:

• movement
• fresh air
• sleep
• hope
• love
• hand washing

(please let me know if you'd like to see the studies)

Logically, I'm also mindful of the fact that the extra use of antimicrobial agents in soap, hand sanitizer, and cleaning products are also shifting our healthy microbiome.  These products don't discriminate between beneficial microbes and not, so it would be reasonable to consider adding probiotics and fermented foods (sauerkraut, kimchi, pickles, kombucha) to your regime as well.  Also, wash your hands instead of using hand sanitizer whenever possible.

As you can tell, I've been frustrated with the narrative that there's nothing that we can do to improve our health, when we know that's not the case at all.  Our bodies are powerful.  Our bodies are amazing.  We are designed to heal.  We wouldn't have made it this far if we weren't all of these things.  So let's do the best we can to move forward with confidence, while protecting ourselves and those most vulnerable.
We've got this.  

We're still open for virtual appointments and supplement refills so that you can stay on track with your treatments.  We'll let you know as soon as anything changes.  Please let me know if you'd like to work on building your own unique set of strategies for moving ahead.

See you soon,
Dr. Christa
 
Book Virtual Appointment

"Understand that you have the ability to get healthy and stay healthy."
~ Dr. Christiane Northrup

1.  https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/are-viruses-alive-2004/