A few years ago, on completing an intense months-long pharmacology course, I was shocked to learn that keeping a baby’s fever down with ibuprofen (Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) will NOT prevent febrile seizures. While parents are now more widely aware of this myth, patients and practitioners still seem generally unaware of the possibility that blocking a low-grade fever could be harmful.
To our clients, your family members, and our community,
It’s here. And we’re here to help.
Our health facility will remain open over the coming weeks, but we ask that you take Public Health guidelines seriously and do not visit our clinic if you have any reason to suspect that you may be carrying the COVID-19 (“corona”) virus. This includes:
Public Health advises that all individuals who fit these guidelines stay at home (self-isolate) and call Telehealth Ontario (1-866-797-0000) or their local public health facility (613-549-1232).
We’re suspending late cancellation fees for the upcoming 3 weeks and want to be sure you know that all of our Naturopathic Doctors, Holistic Nutritionists, and Clinical Pharmacist offer online and telephone consultations. (Please call or email us directly to schedule this kind of appointment.)
This isn’t about “feeding the fear”. It’s about necessary sacrifice to protect our public healthcare system so that vulnerable people have the medical attention they need. Pandemics spread exponentially, meaning that even though only a few cases are currently reported, these few cases can become hundreds or more within hours, which could overwhelm our hospitals. We need to blunt the curve and ensure a slower spread so that the few people who do need care, can access it.
Our immune systems are built to address viruses such as these and certainly the far majority of people experience only mild symptoms, if any at all. Many of our patients are already familiar with ways of supporting optimal immune function – please read our past blog for more ideas (more to come!) or give us a call for more support.
Dr. Sonya Nobbe, ND, Clinic Director
You cannot turn on the radio or open social media these days without seeing something about the global spread of infections and viruses. Whether it is the COVID-19, seasonal influenza or the rapid spread of Lyme disease year on year, one thing is for certain: our immune systems have never been more critical to our good health. And more under siege.
Helping our patients recover from complex chronic infections has taught us a great deal about the power and fragility of the human immune system. We’ve learned to respect a virus’s incredible capacity to circumvent our body’s well-constructed defences (acquired over billions of years of evolution). We’ve also learned to source natural ingredients that support our immune system in ways that pharmaceutical science has yet to replicate and make accessible.
I recently attended a conference on Lyme Disease. We took a tangent during a wonderful lecture about immune system function, and explored flu strains and the vaccines designed to protect us from flu symptoms. I’d like to share with you what I learned.
In medicine, when an infection becomes chronic, we generally consider that either the immune system is failing to control the infection, such as in HIV and AIDs, or that the infection is able to hide from the immune system, such as with the herpes virus that causes cold sores. Evidence suggests that chronic infection with any of the microbes associated with Lyme disease falls into both categories, which is one reason why persistent symptoms are so difficult to treat. [1] This is also one important reason why we turn to botanicals for help.
As the beautiful summer slowly comes to an end many parents are preparing for the upcoming school season. With new lunch boxes and sharpened pencils also come new viruses and colds. There are many things we can do to strengthen our children’s immune systems, including ensuring that they get a good night’s sleep, eat a wholesome diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables, and keep their daily sugar intake below 30g. Supplemental supports can also be very helpful in keeping young immune systems strong. There are many, many options on the shelves. Here are two that I feel are essential.
I’d like to share with you a youtube video I recently watched on the website of one of the labs I use frequently. It’s an interview with Dr. Stephanie Seneff, an MIT Research Scientist who found herself researching glyphosate in her quest to understand the growing prevalence of Autism in North America (about 1 in 66 children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Canada). Glyphosate is the primary chemical in Monsanto’s herbicide Roundup and is considered by many accounts to be the most popular herbicide globally.
It’s a question asked of me frequently, and not an easy one to answer. A review of recent research suggests a decent 42% effectiveness for last year’s vaccine[i],[ii], but also with little to no impact on days of work lost, hospitalizations, or complications from influenza in generally healthy people[iii]. A review last year even noted lack of benefit to the elderly in long term care facilities when healthcare workers were routinely immunized [iv]. Despite the confusion, prevailing medical opinion continues to promote the flu shot as the best way to protect ourselves and the vulnerable members in our community. So, while I struggle to offer clear advice regarding the flu vaccine, here’s what I can tell you about the flu virus:
Throughout history, homeopathy has enjoyed a proven track record in treating influenza and other epidemic disease. During the Spanish Flu of 1918, homeopaths reported mortality rates of 1-5%, while their conventional counterparts, had rates of 30% and higher. Homeopaths of that era used a therapeutic approach in the treatment of the flu, honing in on the most characteristic and individualising symptoms of the flu outbreak in their community.
Today, homeopathy has 4 categories of treatment approaches: constitutional, therapeutic, prophylactic, and isopathic. Each one has unique benefits, and a mix of them can potentially be used together to optimize results for a modern population.
We’ve put together 3 of our favourite products in a nice little gift box, perfect for friends and family and just in time for the cold season. Though true prevention involves addressing immune system balance, these kits are designed to give you an extra boost at the early signs of symptoms. $45 each.
