My Video Scholarship Submission!!!

Every year, Naturopathic Medical students across North America are given the amazing opportunity to apply for a scholarship from Bob's Red Mill.

Not only do students win money for their program, they are also given the opportunity to give a speech on  the concept of food as medicine, a topic that I am particularly passionate about.  It's amazing how the basis for our health can come from something as simple as what we are putting in our mouths.  After all, the food you eat ends up being broken down and used to build up your cells so that you, quite literally, are what you eat.

I'd really appreciate any feedback and support you may have for this project.

Have a nutrient-filled day!

A Plea to My Colleagues, all the NDs!!!

If you are an ND, or currently studying to become one, you must must must attend the town hall meeting that is happening THIS COMING MONDAY from 12:15 pm to 2 pm in the Lecture Theatre at CCNM.

Why, you ask?
 
This meeting is being held to discuss the legislation that will affect all future NDs practicing in the province of Ontario.  Contrary to popular belief, the bill being passed is not in any way like the one seen in the province of British Columbia and we need to stand united as a school to ensure that it changes to reflect those of our colleagues on the west coast!

We desire full prescribing rights, a broad scope of practise and to be recognized as the primary caregivers and doctors that we are!

By coming to the meeting, you are ensuring that your voice as a practicing ND is heard and that the bill is not simply the musings of a few people on a board but rather that it reflects what the entire community of Naturopathic Doctors believe.


See you all on Monday, February 6th, 2012.

How to De-Stress with Nutraceuticals

Yes, you should have a de-stressing regime in play (such as exercise, meditation, journalling etc.) to keep the everyday stresses at bay, but what happens when you have a brief period of super stress?  For example, the Christmas season that just passed- you have exams, family get-togethers and not to mention stressful Christmas shopping!  In naturopathic medicine, we have discovered some handy herbal supplements called adaptogens that can help your body physiologically cope with the effects that stress has on our various organs.  In this post, I'm going to mention some adaptogens that me or my colleagues have found helpful in our own lives.  Please note that most adaptogens are only to be taken for a short amount of time (3 to 6 months), so be sure to check with your health professional if you would like to try one of these.

***Please remember that this blog is informative only and is not meant to diagnose medical conditions.  Please contact your holistic health care provider if you would like to try some of the suggested supplements so that they can guide you on their correct dosing and whether the product is right for you***  


1. Holy Basil

I was very impressed with a lot of aspects of this product, the number one being its efficacy.  I also noted the lovely dark glass bottle it came in (this will help preserve potency and give the product a longer shelf life) as well as the great taste of the softgels and how easy they were to swallow. A definite number one on my shelf. 

2. Relora

 Many companies make a Relora product, which is usually a proprietary blend of 2 herbs: Melissa officinalis snd Phellodendron amurense.  The above product also contains B vitamins, GABA and 5-HTP, which are all known to aid relaxation and combat the stress response in the body.  Highly recommended in the book, The Hormone Diet.

3. Anxiovita 

I got this homeopathic combination therapy as a sample during my first year, but I didn't use it until just this year during my midterms.  I found this product to be wonderful, easy to take and easy to carry around with me.  Something similar to this would be the Bach Flower Rescue Remedy.  Both are to be taken in acute situations of stress only and are not the best option to deal with long term stress.

4. Rhodiola rosea
A fantastic herbal supplement that is readily available in capsules or tablets. It not only helps you deal with stress, but it also helps deal with the lack of energy a stressful period can cause you.  A typical dose is 2 tablets a day, one taken in the morning and the other in the early afternoon.  This is because most people experience a surge of energy and this can affect sleep if taken too close to bedtime.

5. B- Complex Vitamin
A B-complex vitamin contains most (if not all) of the B vitamins, of which there are 11 in total.  B vitamins are incredibly helpful in regulating the stress response in the body and are also water-soluble, so there is little worry of taking too much as the excess is often expelled from the body in the urine.  That said, do not be alarmed if your urine is neon yellow.  This is the colour of the Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) in the formula.

Have a calm and stress-free day!

T'is the season....

It's almost Christmas and everyone is pretty jolly.  99% of the time, this "jolly" is alcohol induced, so I felt it appropriate to mention some natural ways to deal with the perils of overindulging in mulled wine and spiked eggnog over the Christmas break.

***Please remember that this blog is informative only and is not meant to diagnose medical conditions.  Please contact your holistic health care provider if you would like to try some of the suggested supplements so that they can guide you on their correct dosing and whether the product is right for you***  

How to Naturally Avoid a Hang-over

I didn't have Nux Vomica on hand for a photo op, so Arnica has to do...

1. Take a homeopathic remedy. The homeopathic remedy Nux Vomica is an excellent way to ward off a hangover.  To do this, take a dose of 30CH  Nux vomica after the big Christmas party, right before bed.  You may need to re-dose in the morning, or you may not.  I find the most effective way to take a homeopathic is to either dissolve the tablets in about a tablespoon of filtered water in a glass shot glass, or to put the tablets directly under your tongue from the container, taking care not to touch them with your hands.  Give it a try and see if it works for you.

2. Detox your liver. C'mon, you know you're going to be drinking and I know you're going to be drinking.  You may as well be proactive and begin helping your liver a few days before the Christmas party.  A great product for this is the Livdetox from Douglas Labs (click here for the complete product info).  This product can be taken a few days before the party and also the day after in order to stave off the hangover by supporting your liver's ability to clear the alcohol from your system.  Douglas Labs is a professional line that is not normally sold in regular health food stores, so you may need to consult with your Naturopathic Doctor to get your hands on some of this.

3. Focus on bitters instead of sweet alcohols.  It's unavoidable that you are going to drink during this time of year, so why not try to make it the healthiest choice possible?  Instead of choosing a suger-filled, calorie-laden beverage, try opting for the more bitter drinks.  Gin and Campari are both bitters and can help with digestion.  Mix either with some Perrier and you have a lovely, refreshing drink that will help your body by being somewhat medicinal as well as lower in calories.  Kind of like a homemade tincture...also, red wine is always a great choice, since it has so many health benefits!

I hope some of these suggestions will work for you.  I rarely drink alcohol and felt for the longest time that I was missing out on the fantastic health properties that red wine in particular had to offer-most importantly the Resveratrol, a plant phenol that is a fantastic anti-inflammatory and touted to be responsible for "The French Paradox".   Recently, I found a fantastic product from Pure Encapsulations that provides this phenol in an easy to take form; Resveratrol Extra (pictured below) has been suggested by my colleague to be taken everyday, along with omega-3 fish oils, as a preventative to discourage inflammation in your body.  Since inflammation is responsible for nearly all diseases, I'd say this is some pretty sound advice.

The superhero for fighting inflammation.

Happy Holidays! Enjoy the time with your family and friends and be sure to let them know just how important they are to you.

Diwali: The Festival of Lights

Living in Toronto is amazing.  I have constantly been told that it is the most diverse city in the world, with little areas that are dedicated to a particular culture and country.  For example, I live in Little Italy which is surrounded by Koreatown, Chinatown, Little Portugal and Little Poland.

This past Friday was the India celebration of Diwali, also known as The Festival of Lights.  It is a celebration of epic proportions (the Indians I know tell me it's like their Christmas!) and everyone is dressed up in the most beautiful saris and kurtas!

My friend J was invited to a Diwali party and I got to help her wrap her sari.  We watched this fantastic youtube video that shows you how to do it:

Speaking of diversity, this year The 2011 Gathering is being hosted in Toronto (at CCNM!) because the theme fit the city so perfectly: "Diversity of the Vis".  If you are a student of Naturopathic Medicine or Philosophy, you need to check out this site and register for this conference! I'm already so excited for this incredible event where elders and students meet to share their knowledge and passion for Naturopathic principles and philosophies!

Have a wonderful day!

Hurray for 2nd Year!

To become an accredited Naturopathic Doctor in Canada, one must participate in a rigorous 4 year, graduate-level course that is structured around practicals and time spent in the clinic.

At the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine in Toronto, ON there is an amazing clinic that is manned by 4th year interns of Naturopathic Medicine who are all overseen by a practicing Naturopathic Doctor who acts as their supervisor.  The Robert Schad Naturopathic Clinic is open to the public and makes Naturopathic Medicine available for a fraction of the cost, due to generous donations from in and around the community.

As a 2nd year student, I have now begun to shadow an intern on weekly clinic shifts and I love spending time in the clinic.  Being in an environment where people are receiving effective alternative treatments is very uplifting for both the practitioners and the patients.

I strongly suggest paying a visit to the clinic, whether you are already well versed in Naturopathic Medicine or simply want to try it, as the passion and care our interns put into their patients are altogether incredible.

The Robert Schad Naturopathic Clinic
1255 Sheppard Avenue East
North York, ON
M2K 1E2
(416) 498-9763