Detox Day 7
Posted by: drthyr on: March 13, 2009
Last night was rough. I was teaching anatomy. Couldn’t get out a complete sentence and my brain was a mess.
Today I have done the detox powder and all the food just so. Eliminated the last few little leaves of green tea from my morning brown rice/tea blend. I have been in a fog and head-achy all day. It was at it’s apex this afternoon arou 2:30. After I came home for lunch, thinking that a nice healthy meal of organic grilled chicken, brown rice, and grilled veggies would set my blood sugar straight again. No such luck. I got back to the office and felt worse than ever. Jeff Colaizzi (amazing chiropracter in my office) gave me an adjustment. That took the edge off. Geoffrey (hubby) brought me some green tea. I had a few sips – usually if it’s caffeine only a little will make it go away. It lessened slightly. But now (5:30 pm) just before detox class – I am still pretty much a foggy and achy mess.
Oooooo – isn’t this fun? Must meditate tonight. And remember why this is all so good for me!
Detox Day 6
Posted by: drthyr on: March 11, 2009
The weekend was a little rough. We had friends visiting. We went out to Nick’s Cove (www.nickscove.com) and while it is possible to stay on the detox while there, we just didn’t. I figured we were still on the taper week, so just had fun and let it go. I love that you do pay for that though. I didn’t feel that great on Sunday.
Monday was back to being good. I really appreciate the structure of the detox. The smoothies are great, filling, healthy. Then we have something real, local and green for lunch. Dark leafies when we can find them. Monday night Geoffrey (hubby) roasted an organic chicken with sweet potatoes and carrots. Delish! Tuesday we made organic broth with the carcas. We utilized some of the broth for a chicken, rice and veggie soup. He threw in some white beans and some veggies we’d grilled that were languishing in the fridge. So tasty. I wish you could taste it.
Today I canned the broth, made my smoothie, working on some cran-splashed water. The food is the biggest thing. It totally takes over your life. I enjoy the change. That focus is what I need at times. And yes, it’s a pain in the butt. But makes me realize that I actually CAN do it. Just like letting go of caffeine or sugar or whatever your little vice is. It feels good to realize that anything is possible.
This afternoon I have to work. Geoffrey will make the Quinoa Salad from Eating Clean. I will make the fruit/nut spread. Then we’ll be stocked up for a bit.
Detox Day Two – getting into the groove
Posted by: drthyr on: March 11, 2009
I woke this morning feeling happy and energetic. I slept forever too. I think that rest during a detox is one of the best gifts you can give yourself.
Last night was a little rough. It was Friday night. We were playing Scrabble. I’d had a very long and exhausting day. (And, as is usual for early detox days, I hadn’t planned for enough food for as long as I was going to be at the office.) But i knew things were bad when i teared up when I couldn’t play my really good word on the board. Time for bed!
Today is a fresh day. I am working on eliminating all of the clutter and junk around. Then friends arrive and we’ll go out to the coast.
Day one on Detox – looking forward
Posted by: drthyr on: March 6, 2009
So far so good. I had brown rice tea with morning with just a little green tea mixed in. I must wean off caffeine. I haven’t had much lately anyway. I realize that overall i feel so much better without coffee.
We had oatmeal, lemon water, and some detox tea. Cleaned a bit of the house.
It’s interesting how spring inspires all of that type of cleaning. Both inside and out. I want to get rid of all of the dust and clutter.
We’ll also plan ahead a bit better. To be disciplined in a body that requires fuel for survival, one has to make sure to have plenty of healthy snacks and meals on hand.
Spring Detox is Here!
Posted by: drthyr on: March 5, 2009
I have been preparing over the past few weeks for this spring’s group detox program at the Lucchesi community center in Petaluma. I am so excited. I have a new and improved guidebook, lots of free passes for health clubs, and interesting samples to try. We start tonight (Thursday, March 5) and meet for three consecutive Thursday evenings. (See my website www.DrThyr.com) for more information.
This afternoon we’ll make the Fruit Nut Spread from Lisa Allen’s inspired book Eaing Clean. It’s just too delicious! Hard to believe it is “legal” on the detox.
Most of all I am looking forward to doing the cleanse along with everyone else. Each time new things happen. New habits are created. Old ones that don’t serve me are tossed out.
Doing a cleanse with a group is always great fun for me. I love to teach people about toxic exposure. It renews my inspiration to start a detox center of my own.
Hormone link to breast cancer
Posted by: drthyr on: January 17, 2009
I saw an article in the news paper the other day that a large, federal study was recently released reporting that the link of estrogen therapy for menopausal women and breast cancer is even more certain. This is not exactly a news flash.
What surprised me is that they are still popular. Many women don’t want to suffer with the symptoms that they may experience when they withdraw from the hormones.
Good news, gals! Naturopathic medicine has many tools that can help you. From elimination of hidden (IgG) food allergies, to fiber and herbs and homeopathics. No one should have to be miserable just to avoid cancer (although, honestly, it hardly seems like a trade-off!)
That is why I am here. To alleviate suffering and promote wellness. Naturally. I rarely have to resort to using bio-identical hormones for menopausal women. They aren’t well studied. But the theory is that they are exact replicas of what your body was making when you were younger, so they have less probability of metabolizing into the more dangerous metabolite of estrogen, and therefore less chance of causing cancer.
There are even supplements that can help the metabolic process lean more towards the beneficial metabolite of estrogen.
Get rid of your prescription hormones AND feel great.
Call for a free 15 minute consult today! 707-780-6033.
Food Allergy Resurgance
Posted by: drthyr on: December 20, 2008
I recently read an article that researchers believe that food allergies in children have increased in the past two decades by nearly 20%. i was happy to see that someone is catching on to what I see in my practice as one of the leading causes of childhood illness. If we can take the theory that most, if not all, illness and disease is based on inflammation, as we are now doing more and more for heart disease and diabetes, we can see that food allergies contribute to childhood health problems too. The illnesses that children show up with are asthma, eczema, ear infections, upper respiratory infections, and generally poor immune function. Not to mention a host of behavioral problems, from just being difficult to things like ADD/ADHD and autism. (I want to be careful not to suggest that autism is caused by food allergies, although it may be. What I am saying is that food allergies contribute to worsening of nearly every symptoms a child may present with, including autism.)
For me, the question is not whether or not more children have food allergies. The question is why and what can we do to change it.
This requires looking openly and honestly and what we have been doing over the past 50-75 years that has changed our ability to utilize the food we eat to just nourish our bodies, rather than kick up our immune system. I have given this a good deal of thought, and while there is no good research that I know of on the subject, here are the contributing pieces in my theory. The basic premise is that we have caused damage to our digestive tracts. Factors include:
- Vaccinations
- Toxic chemicals in our foods (pesticides, herbicides)
- Toxic chemicals in our environment in general
- Processed foods
- Decreased nutrients in our food supply
- Antibiotic overuse
- Chemicals in medications in general
- Chlorinated water
- Decreased production of digestive enzymes due to a variety of factors
- Decreased digestive function due to use of medications (antacids as “band aids” for stomach problems is a huge culprit)
What can we do now?
Demand that our food supply is free of dangerous chemicals. (This will take some effort as we are up against big money lobbying in Washington from the factory farm chemical and seed manufacturers.)
Buy organic whenever we can.
Take control of your health care. Don’t buy into the fact that when you have acid indigestion that you need soem chemical that decreases your stomach acid. Seek care that enables you to find and treat the cause.
Detoxify twice/year.
Eat whole foods rather than processed (nutrient-less) foods.
I frequently remind my patients that every cell of their body – including all of the skin, muscles, neurotransmitters, hormones, and blood are fueld and kept alive and healthy by what we put in our mouths. So if you are eating donuts and popcorn rather than a large organic salad of dark, leafy greens, your body’s cells are at a disadvantage in our world.
The Case for Green Medicine
Posted by: drthyr on: November 21, 2008
I was at the Green Festival this past weekend in San Francisco with my friend. As we passed the booth of a new “green” magazine, I stopped to offer my services as a writer. The editor was there, and I listened while she described in great detail the list of what she must have rehearsed 50 times on what she was looking for in her cadre of writers. She didn’t ask much about me. I told her I was a Naturopathic Doctor, believing that this said it all. What else could she need to know? And as I left I wondered why she wasn’t jumping over herself at having found someone like me…interesting, articulate, a writer AND a naturopathic doctor. What could be a more perfect fit?
Then I realized, that this editor, like so many people, doesn’t really understand naturopathic medicine, or why it is THE green medicine. Sustainable, less toxic, environmentally aware, and . But perhaps it is better seen in an example. Perhaps she needs to see an instance in which it worked better than conventional medicine, while still being safer and more cost effective.
Take Cindy (name has been changed), my 13 year-old patient who has gradually been gaining weight inpite of regular activity and good eating habits, as well as getting very sick and missing one week of school every month. Our treatment plan consisted of adding some safe supplments and doing some testing that will find and treat the cause. When her labs came back, she had myriad food allergens and possibly gluten intolerance. When she eliminated the offending foods, she lost weight easily without dieting and her good health returned. In the conventional medical system, she would have been passed around and disbelieved, and prescribed tons of antibiotics until her gut was just trashed.
Another good example is Elizabeth (name has been changed), who just turned 68 this fall. She wanted to feel increased energy, improve her sleep that was disrupted by her restless leg syndrome, and get off her cholesterol medication. As it turned out she had headaches and digestive problems too – facts that pointed me to the possibility of food allergies; other testing showed adrenal fatigue as well. She has been doing very well for months, reducing her need for medication and feeling great. She sleeps on her own without sedatives or medicine for her restless legs. She reports that she has not had that for several months now. Headaches are gone too – unless she slacks on taking care of herself.
The point is this… both of these cases illustrate how naturopathic medicine can help reduce, reuse and recycle. It gets people on the right path. Natural treatments are not just sweet and gentle. They are powerful and empower people in their health. And when I am consulting with people about what they are eating, I am also passing along environmental information like alerting them to the dangers of microwave popcorn (the plastic liner gets very hot and releases dangerous chemicals into the popcorn).
I don’t mean to sound like I don’t think there is a place for conventional medicine. I feel grateful about the many advances that have helped so many people live longer and more comfortably.
I feel that it is impossible to do this type of medicine, which requires caring deeply about what people are putting into their bodies, without caring about the environment. There are toxins in our makeup, our food supply, and our cleaning solutions. Our digestive tracts are not functioning like they should – leaving us nutrient deprived and held captive by all of our diseases of inflammation.
There is no better time than now for people to be aware of naturopathic medicine. Our culture is suddenly on a wave of caring about how what we do to our planet will ultimately affect us. Naturopathic Medicine is a perfect marriage of effective primary care medicine that focuses on prevention and finding the cause, rather than expensive “band-aids.”
Regenerative Design Institute – easy on the planet
Posted by: drthyr on: November 18, 2008
Imagine solid outdoor furniture not made with petro-chemicals or non-renewable resources.
I had the most wonderful opportunity of touring the Regenerative Design Institute in Bolinas, California a couple of weeks ago. James Stark, one of the co-founders gave us the tour around the place. The RDI is like a dream come true for me. The concepts that they have working on their land are what I want for my practice and whole healing center. But that is down the road for me. For now, enjoy the offerings at RDI.
Green is the new black, they say. It’s cool and good marketing and all that. RDI is like the root of the green. It’s why and how and seeing it all come together. Not just buying recycled $120 handbags. RDI helps us to think about how we can truly affect change in our planet. And in ourselves.
One of the classes that they offer helps students to track wild animals and learn about their habits and habitats. And in that process, they nearly always learn about their own natural habitat. What in their world needs to be back to basics…back to the earth.
Most interesting is how the space is laid out with great care and planning. It is designed, not just plopped together, hodge podge. Why put the chicken coup under the orchard? Keeps the weeds and grasses down around the trees and fertilizes them at the same time. Not to mention keeping little rodents out.
As we walked along viewing the organic gardens (herbs close to the house – you need them regularly for cooking; squash and apples further away up the hill – you will only harvest them a couple of times) James quizzed us on why they would want both goats and lemon trees. We were all trying to name some clever biodynamic rational. “Lemon cheesecake,” he grins. That is all you need. The juice of the lemon will curdle the goat milk and it is sweet enough that you just put those things together and you have a fabulous desert. It’s not like they are roughing it!
James Stark explains how the natural filtration system works to purify water.
Inspiring. That is what I came away with. One story James told was about when there were going to have 150 guests for a week. The water system only produces about 450 gallons of drinkable water/day. He knew it was impossible. He had extra water brought in. But at the beginning of the week he asked all of the guests to act as though the water is gold. The most precious resource. By the end of the week they had not touched the extra water that had been delivered. We can change our habits and our consciousness. It has lead me to remember what it is like to live during a drought. How long is long enough for a shower? Why is the water running in the sink when we are preparing vegetables? Do we really have to flush after every pee?? I have paid more attention. Adjusted. And haven’t suffered in the slightest. I can’t wait to see my water bill.
It isn’t really about just saving money – although right now isn’t that nice?? But James mentioned and I have heard it before, that the next world battles will not be over oil, but water.
For me, it just feels better not to waste. Even “waste-water.” RDI has a grey water catchment pond
Grey-water is purified and oxygenated by plants and fish to be re-used for irrigation.
that takes most of the water that comes through the drains (kitchen sink, shower, etc.) and utilizes natural methods to purify the water. There are particular local plants in the pond, as well as fish, that are miraculous in their ability to clean toxins out of water. It can then be used for irrigation for the gardens. They are certainly not using harmful chemicals in their sinks or showers, but who needs to be doing that anyway? It’s not good for you either! If it would kill a fish, you might want to consider not putting it on your skin.
What a concept – beautiful, functional and ecological. I think they may be onto something.
Sculpted roof brings cutting-edge style to natural building.
Up the hill a bit are some of the newer natural buildings. They are testing various methods for creating structures. And some are better for certain environments than others. What they might need in New Hampshire to get through the winter might be somewhat different from here. But what James and his colleagues are working on, are creating a variety of structures and seeing what works and helping people who come there to learn figure out what is going to work for them.
Being at the Regenerative Design Center is amazing and inspiring. As we stood by these beautiful, natural creations, many of us were a bit awestruck by what they have accomplished. Sensing this, James continued to impress me by quoting Mother Theresa: “You need not do great things, but small things with great heart.” We can all go forth and do what makes us feel good for ourselves, our brothers and sisters and our planet. Not necessarily to be oh-so amazing, but to
Recycled bottles add light and interest to this clay structure.
tranform lives with love and compassion. And yes, with eyes open to what we are doing to our stressed-out little planet.
You can tour the Regenerative Design Institute – they offer tours to the public every couple of months. Check out their website for more information about classes and other offerings. If you can make it, it is truly worth your time. See www.regenerativedesign.org.
President’ Message: Partnering towards Wellness By Lise Alschuler, ND, FABNO
Posted by: drthyr on: November 3, 2008
(This post is from the newsletter for the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians – reprinted with permission.)
We live in tumultuous times, facing economic uncertainty, living with an ailing environment and struggling with increasing numbers of health challenges both personal and professional. I am acutely aware these days of just how critical it is that we naturopathic physicians focus on the patient, and more importantly, on the patient’s inherent health. I assert that it is our commitment to wellness, so much more powerful that the mere elimination of disease, that stands at the root of our promise to be healers.
As our patients navigate their way through the medical establishment, many experience a disembodying sense of hanging out with their bodies while they receive procedures. It is as if there is a checkpoint upon entry into the medical establishment with a sign reading: “Check your inherent sense of well-being and wholeness here – diseased bodies only allowed beyond this point”. In go the diseased bodies to receive sophisticated care from earnest and highly competent providers aided by advanced technologies. However, maintaining an awareness of being a whole person becomes increasingly challenging. If the diseased body is fixed within the system, recollecting a sense of being a whole self and experiencing whole health constitutes yet another journey, one that some people may never embark upon.
I recognize, more than any other time in my life, the absolute importance of treating each and every person that seeks our care as a whole person with inherent health – regardless of their disease state. Only through recollecting a sense of ‘whole self’ can one experience a different journey to ‘whole health.’ With our absolute faith in the intrinsic wellness and wholeness of each person that we see, we support the integration of their being. This integrated self of body-mind-spirit births and sustains wellness. After all, it is wellness, not merely removing disease that we, as naturopathic physicians, have consecrated ourselves to. As naturopathic physicians I invite you link your arm into the arm of your patient and walk the journey towards wellness with them. Within this partnership, created from shared intent and nurtured by willingness to embrace health, we doctors become healers.
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