Has Social Media Become Your New Doctor?

Is Social Media Your Doctor?  Almost everyone that has an appointment now has one or two questions about some health advice they've heard on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Substack or X.  Castor oil in the belly button?  Parasite cleanses?  Moringa or Zeolite?  Apple cider vinegar for everything?  Carnivore diet?

While some practitioners get frustrated with social media trends, I personally enjoy the questions you bring to me because: 

1. It means you are actively engaged and curious about your health 
2. You are not worried about sounding "silly" for looking at alternatives outside the mainstream landscape
3. Every day I am learning or being reminded of ways to help people

Naturopathic medicine is the art of selecting the best approach using evidence-based remedies and strategies.  You may desire natural ways of managing symptoms, but I am especially interested in addressing the reason the symptoms are appearing in the first place.It's a curious pairing, using tech to become educated on the old ways of nature and rediscovering the ancient wisdom of plants and Traditional Chinese Medicine.  But why is this happening? 

There's a surge of people recognizing that the health care system is not designed around wellness, and they want to do better for themselves and their families, to age more gracefully than their parents or grandparents have, or to avoid the health care system altogether, if possible.  There is so much that can be done in the meantime and these gaps are being filled by alternative health practitioners.  Also, there's the harsh reality that a very large number of Canadians do not have access to a family doctor or nurse practitioner, making it even more important to take responsibility for your own health (1).

In all honesty, I have trouble keeping up with every trend, but I do my best to experiment myself if I don't already have knowledge on the latest craze.  Whenever questions arise in multiple visits, I like to share some thoughts in an email because certainly there are others wondering the exact same things. 

Here's my take on a few of the most common topics I've been asked about lately, but medicine evolves and so might my opinion over time.  Our understanding of health shifts just as much as our bodies change in response to the environments in which we live, the nutrition we consume, and the thoughts dominating our perspectives.  Likewise, the remedies that "work" change over time as well, but I'll save that topic for another day.


Health Trends

• Castor Oil
  I personally love this one because I have been recommending castor oil ever since the first time I tried using it as a Naturopathic student.  Traditionally known as a laxative or to bring on labour at the end of pregnancy, castor oil has a wide range of therapeutic uses.  Castor oil packs (a fancier way of applying castor oil with heat) can be done over the liver, the thyroid gland, or the pelvic region as a way to stimulate drainage and healing of the underlying structures.  It can also be used on the face, in the hair, for dispersing cysts and to soothe aching joints.  I've yet to try it in my belly button! It's molecular weight allows it to penetrate through the skin and up to 4 inches deep into the body.  For this reason, it's important to choose organic and hexane-free sources.  I often suggest castor oil as an accompaniment to protocols for reproductive and hormonal concerns, digestion, liver health, immune support, and stress management.
  
  
• Parasites
  It's strange to think that we can only pick up parasites from traveling to far-away destinations, since we might treat our local cats, dogs and horses regularly.  Just as we've become accustomed to knowing that there are bacteria that live in our digestive tracts and on our skin, I think that parasites are also very commonly part of our microbiome.  And, just as there can be "good" and "bad" amounts of species of bacteria, we cannot discount the beneficial aspects of each one of these microorganisms that take up residence within our systems.  We call this relationship "commensal", where there is benefit to one organism living alongside another.  For example, bacteria in our gut can help digest food and impact our vagus nerve.  By definition, parasites do damage to their host, however, parasites can actually be doing us a short term favour by feeding on less desirable bacteria, fungi, and absorbing heavy metals, or shifting our immune systems.  Like any organism in our microbiome, the environment needs to support its presence or else it would not be there.  Not having enough stomach acid to kill off parasites coming in and having too much of the right food for them to stick around, are two big reasons that we might have them.  Getting parasites to leave requires a combination of altering the terrain so that its not so friendly, and also ensuring that they don't expel their contents on the way out.  Interestingly, many cultures routinely incorporate seasonal parasite cleanses, with spring and fall being especially good times and the full moon is another.  It's a great idea to have a balanced plan in place if you are considering a parasite cleanse, so that you don't aggravate your system.
  
  
• Apple cider vinegar
  Another favourite remedy of mine, apple cider vinegar is a pantry staple at my house.  While I haven't seen it provide overnight results for many symptoms, it has gradual beneficial outcomes on cholesterol levels, blood sugar and weight management.  Results can be quicker for digestive support, heartburn or sore throats.  ACV is a wonderful fermented food that can make a good salad dressing, be taken off the spoon or as a shot mixed with turmeric (that's what those shot glasses are for at the back of the cupboard).  If bloating or other symptoms worsen when you consume it, that also gives good information about where your imbalances lie and you might need a different approach.  I also recommend ACV topically either directly on the skin or in foot baths to clear fungal infections.  
  
  
• Carnivore diet
  There is no magic diet that works for every single person.  However, I think the best way to know what works well for your body is to experiment, and appreciate that you may even need different approaches at different stages in your life.  The carnivore diet lovers have reported weight loss, improved energy, increased muscle mass, better digestion (when being mindful of the best time to add in a little fibre).  Like the Atkins and other similar high protein diets, there's more healthful (eggs, grass-fed beef) and less healthful ways to eat animal-based meals.  Interestingly, some people with irritable bowel diseases have done very well on carnivore plans, when typically they've been told to avoid red meat for their gut issues.  One thing about the carnivore diet is that it provides substantial amounts of protein, which gives a whole bunch of beneficial outcomes.  Additionally, animal foods contain significant vitamins and minerals, which, given our depleted soil, may be a way of accessing larger nutritional value.  It's also a way to reduce inflammatory foods like sugar and processed grains.  Bone broth, one of the suggested carnivore-friendly beverages, is incredibly gut healing and we know just how impactful gut health is on almost every aspect of our well-being.  It makes sense to me that this could be a beneficial approach to eating for some people, with a later introduction of some other key foods.

I'm always thrilled to share in your success stories and work through your questions about the health trends that spark your attention.  Most of us are confused by the sheer abundance of information out there and need help deciding on strategies that work for our own unique needs.  I do not actually recommend using social media as your health practitioner, but the inspiration is wonderful!
Keep bringing me your questions and sharing your success stories.  I love being a part of your health story!

Dr Christa



1.  https://www.cmaj.ca/content/195/16/e592