Now that Covid19 restrictions are easing I am now offering face to face appointments at my clinic at Entire Physio in Queanbeyan.
You can book a face to face appointment online here.
You can book a face to face appointment by telephoning Entire Physio on 6299 5483.
Please note: you cannot enter Entire Physio if you are suffering from cough, fever, shortness of breath, sore throat, or have been overseas in the past 14 days. If this is the case, you can book a TeleHealth appointment with me.
Epigenetics refers to the process where genetic expression can be influenced or changed according to outside influences i.e diet, lifestyle and the environment. What this means is the diet, lifestyle and environment of your parents and grandparents will impact on your health through influencing the expression of your genes; and your diet, lifestyle and environment will impact on the health of your children through influencing the expression of their genes.
These epigenetic influences are particularly strong in the 4-6 months prior to conception, throughout the pregnancy, and up to 2-3 years of age. What this means is that despite the influences of diet, lifestyle and environment, gene expression can be changed through good diet and lifestyle choices.
Preconception care usually focuses on the mother. The health of the father is just as important. Research has indicated that folate deficiency, obesity, smoking, alcohol use, high fat diet and increased age at the time of conception all lead to increased health risks on children fathered by men who fall into one or more of the aforementioned nutritional or lifestyle categories.
Correcting nutritional and lifestyle shortfalls is essential to ensure reduced risk of epigenetic changes to offspring. Preconception care for fathers needs to start at least 4 months before conception.
Ideally, prospective fathers need to seek the advice of a qualified and accredited naturopath and/or nutritionist who can assess their health and nutritional status and provide advice and guidance on how to address deficiencies in nutrition.
Simple things you can do include:
Good maternal health means strong and healthy babies that grow into strong and healthy children and adults.
We all know about the importance of folate in preconception and pregnancy to prevent neural tube defects. Research has identified a range of other nutrients that are essential to preconception and the development of a healthy baby.
As well as folate, Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) Vitamin B3 (Niacin), and choline have all been identified as essential to the prevention of neural tube defects.
Choline is also important for foetal:
Broadly speaking, adequate levels of choline produce smarter babies.
Omega 3 fatty acids, particularly DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid) supports foetal neuronal development. Omega 3 fatty acids are particularly important in the last trimester when the baby puts on fat, including fat in the brain as part of the myelin sheath in the brain and nervous system tissue. Research has shown that Omega 3 fatty acids taken during pregnancy may reduce the risk of the infant and child developing allergies.
Vitamin D is important for more than bones. Adequate levels of vitamin D support both maternal and infant outcomes. Maternal deficiency of vitamin D can impact on neurodevelopment, possibly increasing the risk of autism. Vitamin D helps with immune function, and adequate levels during pregnancy may protect against childhood allergies.
Iodine during pregnancy is important for IQ. Research has shown that inadequate maternal iodine preconception and during pregnancy can impact negatively on the child’s IQ.
Iron is important for blood development and for the development of healthy rain tissue. Intake of iron needs to be balanced – too much is as unsatisfactory as too little.
Preconception and pregnancy is one of the few times I recommend a patient take a multivitamin. This ensures mothers and potential mothers get the best nutritional care they can to support conception, pregnancy and a healthy baby.
For fathers, a multivitamin can improve overall reproductive health, particularly sperm count and motility, and protect against chromosomal abnormalities.
Remember, not all supplements & herbal products are created equal. Purchasing a supplement outside the clinical environment brings risks of substitution & contamination, reduced therapeutic compounds leading to reduced efficacy, and potential instability. Supplements I recommend have been developed based on the latest scientific research and are evidence based, have the correct level of therapeutic compounds, are manufactured under government guidelines, and are free from contamination. To be sure you are receiving a safe and effective supplement, always purchased your supplements based on recommendations from a qualified, accredited and registered naturopath, nutritionist and herbalist.
For men, being overweight or obese can change reproductive health, particularly sperm health. Research has shown that being overweight or obese can change gene expression in sperm, therefore impacting on the health of the developing baby, and the baby once it is born. Research has shown that children of obese fathers have a greater risk of developing insulin resistance, obesity, and may have low fertility.
For women, being overweight or obese can add complications to conception, pregnancy and the baby. Babies born of overweight or obese mothers have a greater chance of being overweight, and developing metabolic disorders like diabetes.
For future mums and dads who are overweight, losing as little as 10% of your current body weight can improve reproductive health.
Research has indicated that both paternal and maternal stress can impact on the yet to be conceived and unborn child through genetic expression. High levels of stress can also impact on the ability of a woman to conceive.
While studying I did some research on the impact of stress on the health of the foetus and later the child. Generally speaking, being stressed before and during pregnancy can prime the unborn child’s stress response system to react to even minor stressors.
Stress and paternal and maternal health is another topic that’s too big to talk about here. Get your stressors sorted before conception.
There is so much research on the impact of environmental toxins of reproductive health that I can’t write about it all here. Suffice to say that potential parents (mums and dads) may need to do complete a detox program prior to trying to conceive.
Our modern lifestyle exposes us to toxins on a daily basis. It’s very hard to remove all toxins from your environment, however you can minimise toxic exposure by choosing to:
When you are thinking about having a baby, think about having a health check before you start trying to conceive.
Consult with a qualified and accredited Naturopath, Nutritionist or Herbalist who can assess your overall health and provide professional advice on what you need to do to be in the best place to conceive and have a healthy baby.
What is Lyme Disease?
Lyme disease is defined as an infectious disease caused by tick bites infected with the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi.
While ticks are the most common source of infection, mosquitos, march/marsh flies, sand flies and midges may also transmit the disease.
It’s worth noting that not everyone who is bitten by a tick will get Lyme Disease.
Because the species of Borrelia varies across the world, diagnosis of the disease in Australia may be missed. In Australia, Lyme Disease is often referred to as Lyme-like Disease, or Relapsing Fever. The diversity of Borrelia bacteria complicates matters – it is currently thought that some infect humans and some don’t.
Lyme Disease is a complex interaction of signs and symptoms across many body systems. Key elements are chronic infection, chronic inflammation and immune suppression. Lyme patients may also be more susceptible to environmental toxins, and may be more adversely affected by the toxins released by the pathogens that cause the disease.
The endocrine system (hormones), nervous system (neurotransmitters and brain function), digestive system, and the cardiovascular system may all be impacted. Added to this is chronic pain, fatigue and insomnia.
The Lyme Disease Association of Australia has more information on Lyme Disease in Australia.
Co-Infections
Tick bites carry more than the Borrelia species of bacteria, meaning that co-infections are quite common. Often signs and symptoms of Borrelia and the various co-infections are similar. Co-infections can make signs and symptoms more severe. Common co-infections include:
Reduced immune function can lead to opportunistic infections such as Mycoplasma, Candida, Epstein Barr virus, and Cytomegalovirus.
Diagnosis
Clinical diagnosis of Lyme Disease can only be done by a medical professional – GP or Specialist.
Naturopaths prefer to treat patients based on presenting signs and symptoms, and medical history. While naturopaths and herbalists cannot formally diagnosed Lyme Disease, they can use information from previous test results, along with their own observations, to make an informed decision about how to help people who have been bitten by a tick and suspect they have Lyme Disease, or have a clinical diagnosis of Lyme Disease.
Signs and Symptoms
Acute Lyme
First signs and symptoms appear soon after the bite – hours or days, and include:
If you have been bitten by a tick, and start to feel unwell, see your GP or another medical doctor as soon as possible. Early treatment with appropriate antibiotics can make a difference to recovery.
Sub-acute Chronic Lyme
Initial symptoms may subside in 2-4 weeks, sometimes leaving the patient feeling weak and exhausted. Signs and symptoms of acute Lyme may continue to a lesser degree. Some patients say that signs and symptoms appear to cycle from good to bad to worse and back to good.
Chronic Lyme
Undiagnosed and untreated Lyme can result in chronic Lyme.
Patients I see mostly have chronic Lyme and may have been unwell for months or years. Patients often present with:
Signs and symptoms often reflect the co-infections and opportunistic infections the patient has.
Naturopathic Treatment of Lyme Disease – it’s complicated
Naturopaths and herbalists will assist people with Lyme Disease by prescribing specific herbs and nutritional supplements. They will assess the patient’s current diet and lifestyle, and recommend changes if needed.
Acute Lyme needs to be treated by a medical doctor who may prescribe antibiotics. Naturopathic treatments can be given at the same time – the aim being to destroy the bacteria and help the immune system fight the infection. Naturopaths can assist patients taking antibiotics to reduce unpleasant side effects some people experience when taking antibiotics.
Chronic Lyme is more complicated to treat due to the constellation of symptoms the patient presents with. It’s essential to address underlying microbial infection with appropriate herbs. However, it is often necessary to first stimulate detoxification, reduce inflammation, support the immune system, and address the most pressing symptoms before starting on anti-microbial herbs.
Diet and Lifestyle
Diet and lifestyle can have a very big impact on recovery from Lyme Disease. I usually recommend patients follow a low inflammatory diet – a mostly plant based diet that excludes, for example, processed foods, added sugar, dairy, gluten and foods from the nightshade family (e.g tomatoes, eggplants, potatoes, capsicum, chilli, cayenne, paprika, goji berries). Other recommendations around diet will be made depending on individual patient needs.
As far as possible people with Lyme need to have a stress free or low stress lifestyle. Unfortunately, in the modern world, avoiding stressful situations can be difficult. Most treatment plans will include stress management techniques. While many people with Lyme are too fatigued for formal exercise, undertaking some moderate exercise is essential to recovery.
Most importantly people with Lyme Disease need to recognise when they have done too much. People recovering from Lyme need lots of rest. Overdoing it can set back recovery.
Lifestyle changes are often the hardest to make.
Recovery
It is possible to recover from Lyme Disease. However, the degree of recovery is individual to each patient. Some symptoms can ease within weeks or months, others may take longer. Some patients need ongoing naturopathic support, others do not. Recovery may be dependant on the patient making changes to diet and lifestyle, and generally taking better care of themselves.
It’s Complicated
There’s no easy one size suits all answer to helping people with Lyme Disease. Each patient will present with a complex interaction of physical, mental and lifestyle factors affecting their day health and wellbeing.
I think the key to any treatment plan is to make it as simple as possible, and personalise it to each patient I see.
I would like to acknowledge the work of Professor Kerry Bone, Amina Eastham-Hillier ND, and Dr Nicola Ducharme ND. These three people have generously shared their knowledge on how best to treat people with Lyme Disease. I am grateful for their generosity and encouragement.
Healers and herbalists in ancient and not so ancient times prescribed herbs as teas as it was the most effective way to administer medicinal herbs. Preservation of herbs using vinegar or alcohol was rare, so herbs were dried at the end of the growing season for use over the following months. Dried herbs aren’t viable for as long a periods as extractions and tinctures made with vinegar or alcohol, but are no less effective in the short term.
When I talk about herbal teas I’m referring to therapeutic grade herbal teas, not the ones you buy in the supermarket, or even the health food shop. However, a good quality herbal tea purchased from a reputable source can be delicious and provide some therapeutic benefit.
A true therapeutic grade herbal tea is as powerful as a tincture, tablet or capsule, and needs to be treated with care and respect. Never have more than 3 cups a day of a particular herbal tea, unless prescribed by a herbalist or naturopath.
Like tinctures, tablets & capsules herbal teas can be prescribed & taken as a single herb or as a blend. Pleasant tasting herbs, such as peppermint or liquorice, may be added to the blend to make the tea more palatable.
There are 2 ways of making a herbal tea – an infusion or a decoction.
An infusion is when the herbs (fresh or dried) are put in an infuser or teapot, hot water is poured over and the herbs left to steep in the water for 5-15 minutes, depending on the herb. A standard 250ml cup of herbal tea you will need 1 teaspoon of dried herb or 2 teaspoons of fresh herb. The amount may vary depending on the herb used to make the tea. Dosage is usually 2-4 cups per day, again depending on the herb. Infusion is used for soft products like leaves and flowers.
A decoction is when herbs are added to a pan of water and simmered for 10-20 minutes. Use 20g dried or 40 g of fresh herb, add to 750ml of cold water, bring to the boil and simmer for the required time. Strain then drink. The mix will reduce to around 500ml, and make around 3 doses of herb tea. Roots, seeds, bark, berries and twigs are generally prepared using a decoction. The most common herb I’ve prescribed as a decoction is fennel seed – wonderful digestive properties.
Making a herbal tea is a ritual. I like to focus on the preparation and brewing process while making a herbal tea. I’m making something that is doing to be good for me and help me be well, so I think about that while I’m waiting for the tea to be ready. It’s very soothing to do this. I tell my patients to do the same.
Ginger root and peppermint – chop or slice a 2.5cm piece of fresh ginger, add 1 teaspoon fresh peppermint (or ½ teaspoon dried). Add 500ml boiling water and steep for 10 minutes. A great digestive tea.
For a sore throat or really snotty cold, finely chop enough fresh thyme to make 1 teaspoon of herb, add 250ml boiling water, steep for 10 minutes, drink while still hot. You can add honey to this to make it a bit sweeter.
Put 1 teaspoon fennel seeds in 500ml cold water, bring to the boil and simmer for 10 minutes. Drink while warm – you’ll get 2 medium cups from this. This is a lovely tea to have after a big meal, or a ‘fatty meal’ (roast pork or similar). It will help settle the feeling of having overeaten as well.
Mix ½ teaspoon dried chamomile with ½ teaspoons dried lavender. Add 250ml boiling water and steep for 10 minutes. Drink before bed for a relaxing sleep.
While there has been no regulatory impact on my naturopathy practice, the current Covid19 crisis means that in order to protect my patients, myself, and my family I am moving all my consultations to TeleHealth. This means that instead of seeing me in person, your consultation will be via the internet. I can assure you that the TeleHealth system I use is safe and secure.
Booking a TeleHealth Appointment
You can book your TeleHealth appointment at https://entirephysio.com.au/make-an-online-booking/
Scroll down, open up To Make a TeleHealth Appointment and choose which type of appointment you want.
If you prefer, you can telephone Entire Physio on 6299 5183. However, Reception services are limited and you may have to wait for a call back.
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What Patients Need for TeleHealth
To participate in a TeleHealth appointment you will need to have a stable internet connection and a device that supports video and audio. Most computers, laptops, tablets and mobile phones will support audio and visual function. Make sure this function is turned on for your device.
Prior to your appointment you will be sent a link to your TeleHealth appointment in either your appointment confirmation email or reminder, and that will open up your video session with me.
Dispensing Herbs and Supplements
I will be dispensing herbs and supplements from my home clinic. I will be providing a home delivery service for a small fee, one or two days a week, depending on demand. This will continue until Government Regulations prevent me from doing this.
The Australian National Health and Medical Research Council recommends salt intake for adults is less than 1,600mg per day for adults, with consumption not exceeding 2,300mg per day.
Apart from the salt we add to cooking, most of the salt we consume is in processed foods. For example, processed meats, canned food, takeaway meals, sauces, and other condiments. So an easy way to reduce salt in the diet is to minimise processed food.
Here’s 5 tops tips from the Harvard Medical School on how to reduce salt in the diet.
