Case Study: PCOS (Ovarian Cysts)

Client: Mrs. H
Symptoms: Painful Ovarian Cysts
Goals: Promote hormone balance through proper nutrtion and supplementation

Dietary Suggestions: When trying to balance hormones and heal any abnormal conditions it is always advised that one focus on balanced nutrition filled with as many nutrients as possible. With that said, I advise that each meal and/or snack be as “homemade” as possible. Food that are “pre-made” are often very refined and filled with extra sugars and additives to preserve their freshness. I highly recommend reading food labels. Before reading the labels, try to think about how you would prepare the item by scratch at home. If the label is filled with multiple ingredients that you are unfamiliar with and/or with ingredients that you would not add at home, avoid it! Focus on whole grains rather then grains that are refined (have had the fiber removed from them.) Increase your daily fiber, vegetables, and fruit intake. Filtered water and fiber are two good things to focus on. Feel free to visit my Healthy Cooking blog www.HealthyMamasKitchen.blogspot.com for a few tips and ideas. Organic foods are often advised for anyone who is seeking optimum nutrition. However, when there is a goal to balance hormones, organic foods play an even more important role. Many of the products that are used to treat food and crops against pests have been found to affect the hormone balance in humans. Because of this, I highly recommend eating as many organic or personally home grown/raised foods as possible. Local farmers markets are a good place to find organic (pesticide/treated free) produce and foods.

Recommended Herbs and Nutrients including dosage: Abnormal ovarian cysts most often stem from a hormone imbalance in the body. In order for the body to truly regulate itself, it has to have all of the vital nutrients that it requires to function. Unfortunately, in our world today it is not likely that we will come close to getting all of the essential nutrients from the foods that we eat. This is why quality supplementation is strongly recommended. I recommend the following supplements:
Rainbow Light Prenatal System (I recommend the “Complete Prenatal System. However, it requires you to take six pills per day. So the “Just Once, Prenatal One” is the next best thing.)
Omega 3 Essential Fatty Acids
Liquid Vitamin B Complex with added Vitamin C (You'll need to purchase two bottles for a 1 month supply.)
Chaste Berry Herb a.k.a Vitex (To be used as a hormone tonic. The recommended dose is two capsules daily. Start out with 1 capsule for 1 week. Then move up to two capsules.)
(1) round of Liquid Iron (This is recommended but can be considered optional. I recommend this for any women who has been pregnant, given birth, and breastfed in the last year even if they are currently taking a prenatal with iron included, unless the woman consumes large amounts of red meat throughout the week. Only use the liquid iron as this extra. Liquid Iron is more easily absorbed into the body.)

Relaxation techniques and exercise: I recommend walking at least 15 minutes daily. This increases circulation throughout the body, which aids in the healing process. Pilates and Yoga are also very therapeutic to the inner balance in the body.

My Own Experience: Juice Cleansing For Breastfeeding Mothers

I will be the first to tell you that a good colon and internal systems cleanse is a great idea. However, I can also tell you that as a mother who is nursing a baby, colon cleansing is not an easy venture. Most colon cleanses are made with all kinds of herbs. But the possible danger to the baby is not only the unknown effects that herbs might have on the baby, but all of the toxins that can be sifted up as they are working their way out of the body. So I have been on a quest to find a cleansing method that is effective, yet gentle enough to do while breastfeeding my baby. The following is my conclusion.

I call this "Nursing Mama's Gentle Cleanse" The concept is not original. The other titles for this type of cleanse would be a "Juice Cleanse." However, I feel that my version has a few additions that make it easier to follow week to week. It is also created for a nursing mother's calorie requirements.

The guidelines are very simple:

• Start the morning off with water and a fiber supplement such as Colonix Intestinal Cleanser or Metamucil (if you want to steer clear of herbs). Also, take your high quality vitamin supplements including an Omega 3 supplement.
• Throughout the rest of the morning and afternoon snack on juices, water, rice cakes, and nuts. I suggest both fruit and vegetable juices. When I say Juice I mean 100% juice with NO added sugars whatsoever such as the brands NAKED, Odwalla, Dole 100% Juice, V8, etc. In order to fulfill your breastfeeding calorie needs you have to be consuming at least one serving of juice every hour.
• By dinner time you will be ready for more substance then Juice. I recommend having soup for dinner. Vegetable soups with only a little bit of meat (if any) and no cream soups. And more water.
• Close your day with another round of fiber supplement and water.

I noticed the effects of this cleanse within the first day of following these guidelines. I followed this for one week. I found that I enjoyed it so much that I followed it for another week. This is a good way to help the body regulate itself and be nourished as well. I felt my body cleansing itself of built up waist as well as added energy. I would recommend following this cleanse for two consecutive weeks and then alternating weeks as long as you feel the need. The nutrients that are found in fruits and vegetables are truly remarkable. I have added a few of the main ingredients that are included in many of the juice drinks that I use. This can give you a small glimpse of how these fruits and vegetable really work to cleanse your body as you drink them. All references are from http://www.whfoods.com/ (World's Healthiest Foods.)

Blueberries

Healthier Elimination
Blueberries can help relieve both diarrhea and constipation. In addition to soluble and insoluble fiber, blueberries also contain tannins, which act as astringents in the digestive system to reduce inflammation. Blueberries also promote urinary tract health. Blueberries contain the same compounds found in cranberries that help prevent or eliminate urinary tract infections. In order for bacteria to infect, they must first adhere to the mucosal lining of the urethra and bladder. Components found in cranberry and blueberry juice reduce the ability of E. coli, the bacteria that is the most common cause of urinary tract infections, to adhere.

Grapefruit

Protection against Colon Cancer
Not only are grapefruit rich in vitamin C, but new research presented at the 228th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society provides two more reasons to drink grapefruit juice: protection against lung and colon cancer.
In humans, drinking three 6-ounce glasses of grapefruit juice a day was shown to reduce the activity of an enzyme that activates cancer-causing chemicals found in tobacco smoke. In rats whose colons were injected with carcinogens, grapefruit and its isolated active compounds (apigenin, hesperidin, limonin, naringin, naringenin, nobiletin) not only increased the suicide (apoptosis) of cancer cells, but also the production of normal colon cells.
Researchers also confirmed that grapefruit may help prevent weight gain by lowering insulin levels.

Raspberries

Phytonutrients for Antioxidant, Antimicrobial and Anticarcinogenic Protection
As an antioxidant food containing ellagic acid, raspberries help prevent unwanted damage to cell membranes and other structures in the body by neutralizing free radicals. Ellagic acid is not the only well-researched phytonutrient component of raspberry, however. Raspberry's flavonoid content is also well documented. Here the key substances are quercetin, kaempferol, and the cyanidin-based molecules called cyanidin-3-glucosylrutinoside and cyanidin-3-rutinoside. These flavonoid molecules are also classified as anthocyanins, and they belong to the group of substances that give raspberries their rich red color. Raspberries' anthocyanins also give these delectable berries unique antioxidant properties, as well as some antimicrobial ones, including the ability to prevent overgrowth of certain bacteria and fungi in the body (for example, the yeast Candida albicans, which is a frequent culprit in vaginal infections and can be a contributing cause in irritable bowel syndrome).

Strawberries

Potent Antioxidant Protection from Phenols
Strawberries, like other berries, are famous in the phytonutrient world as a rich surce of phenols. In the strawberry, these phenols are led by the anthocyanins (especially anthocyanin 2) and by the ellagitannins. The anthocyanins in strawberry not only provide its flush red color, they also serve as potent antioxidants that have repeatedly been shown to help protect cell structures in the body and to prevent oxygen damage in all of the body's organ systems. Strawberries' unique phenol content makes them a heart-protective fruit, an anti-cancer fruit, and an anti-inflammatory fruit, all rolled into one. The anti-inflammatory properties of strawberry include the ability of phenols in this fruit to lessen activity of the enzyme cyclo-oxygenase, or COX. Non-steriodal anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin or ibuprofen block pain by blocking this enzyme, whose overactivity has been shown to contribute to unwanted inflammation, such as that which is involved in rheumatoid and osteoarthritis, asthma, atherosclerosis, and cancer. Unlike drugs that are COX-inhibitors, however, strawberries do not cause intestinal bleeding.

Bananas

Improving Elimination
Bananas are a smart move if you suffer from elimination problems. A bout of diarrhea can quickly deplete your body of important electrolytes. Bananas can replenish your stores of potassium, one of the most important electrolytes, which helps regulate heart function as well as fluid balance.
In addition, bananas contain pectin, a soluble fiber (called a hydrocolloid) that can help normalize movement through the digestive tract and ease constipation. Bananas also contain resistant starch, but this amount varies depending on their degree of ripeness. In their lesser ripe stages, bananas score as low as 30 on the glycemic index (below 50 would be considered low). In their riper stages, this number usually rises to a moderate level in the 60's. All of the above features help place banana in a more favorable digestive light than might otherwise be expected for a sugary fruit.

Case Study: Surgery Recovery, Arthritis, Reduced Energy

Client: Mrs. D
Symptoms: Reduced Energy due to recent back and colon surgeries. Ongoing arthritis throughout the body.
Goals: Increase energy and healing through proper nutrition and the use of nutritional supplements.

My Conclusion: Long term use of oral corticosteroids such as prednisone has been known to deplete or interfere with the absorption of the following nutrients: Calcium, Chromium, Magnesium, Melatonin, Potassium, Selenium, Vitamin B6, Vitamin D and Vitamin A. Due to possible nutrient deficiencies in the body I recommend the following supplements. I recommend the Probiotics to help rebuild the digestive system strength after several rounds of antibiotics.
*X2 means you will need to purchase two bottles in order for you to have a one-month supply of the supplement. *X1 means that you will only need to purchase one bottle in order to have a one-month supply of the supplement. Follow the dosage directions on each of the supplement guidelines.

Multi Vitamin - Mineral and Antioxidants: High Performance Fitness 1st Step™ For Energy Multi-Vitamin & Mineral Citrus Blast - 16 fl oz $10.85 (*X2)
-OR- Peter Gillham Natural Vitality® Liquid Organic Life Vitamins $16.37 (*X1)
Calcium - Magnesium - Vitamin D: Liquid Health Calcium & Magnesium $17.37 (*X1)
-OR- Lifetime Liquid Calcium Magnesium Citrate Strawberry $7.68 (*X1)
Essential Fatty Acids: (Prescription) Lovaza -OR- Coromega $20.85 (*X1)
Vitamin B and C Complex: Buried Treasure B Complex Vitamins -- 16 fl. oz $9.40 (*X2)
Chromium: Trace Minerals Ionic Chromium $9.22 (*X1)
Probiotics: (*X2)

Relaxation techniques and exercise: Continue to increase the amount of walking that you do every day. Set a goal each week and strive to accomplish it (for example, get to such and such house, treadmill such and such minutes, etc.) You might want to consider purchasing a high quality shoe that is made especially as a walking shoe.

Other suggestions: I recommend Sun Light! Try to spend at least 15 minutes every day out in the sun light. This aids many functions of the body such as bone growth and regeneration, the body’s time clock, and the nervous system. When you are indoors throughout the day, try to let in as much sunlight as possible. As the sun goes down try to calm down with the sunset by engaging in quieter and calming activities such as reading or listening to calming music or a calming book recording. This can all aid the body in the sleep process. Avoid watching loud and stimulating television within one hour prior to going to bed.

Spiritual Suggestions: Participate in personal scripture study and prayer each morning and night.

Daily Research: The Blood Type Diet

As I have studied with GCNM I have learned a little bit about how blood type can determine a persons health. I decided to research it more after reading about it in Patrick Holford's book The New Optimum Nutrition Bible. I was lucky enough to come upon the books that have been written to define this theory. Doctor Peter J.D' Adamo is the founding father of what is now known as "The Blood Type Diet." Here is a great article introducing his theory.

How Blood Type Determines Your Health
One of the hallmarks of alternative medicine is the recognition of the biochemical uniqueness of each individual and the need to tailor treatments and prescriptions to match that individual variability. While a person's genetic code, ultimately, is the basis of this individuality, basing treatments on genetic factors is too broad an approach and not consistent with alternative medicine.

According to naturopath Peter J. D'Adamo, N.D., in his book Eat Right 4 Your Type, the missing link might be the four basic blood types: O, A, B, and AB. "There had to be a reason why there were so many paradoxes in dietary studies and disease survival," why some people lose weight and others do not on the same diet or why some people keep their vitality as they age, and others do not, says Dr. D'Adamo.

His research into anthropology, medical history, and genetics led him to conclude that blood type is "the key that unlocks the door to the mysteries of health, disease, longevity, physical vitality, and emotional strength." Dr. D'Adamo explains that the practical application of the blood type "key" is that it enables you to make informed choices about your dietary, exercise, supplement, and even medical treatment plans. With the blood type "road map," these plans can now "correspond to your exact biological profile" and "the dynamic natural forces within your own body."

Type O-People with type O blood fare best on intense physical exercise and animal proteins and less well on dairy products and grains, says Dr. D'Adamo. The leading reason for weight gain among Type O's is the gluten found in wheat products and, to a lesser extent, lentils, corn, kidney beans, and cabbage, Dr. D'Adamo explains. Ideal exercises for Type O's include aerobics, martial arts, contact sports, and running.

Type A-Those with blood type A, however, are more naturally suited to a vegetarian diet and foods that are fresh, pure, and organic. As Type A's are predisposed to heart disease, cancer, and diabetes, "I can't emphasize how critical this dietary adjustment can be to the sensitive immune system of Type A," says Dr. D'Adamo. Type A's prefer calming, centering exercise, such as yoga and tai chi.

Type B-Type B's have a strong immune system and a tolerant digestive system and tend to resist many of the severe chronic degenerative illnesses, or at least survive them better than the other blood types. Type B's do best with moderate physical exercise requiring mental balance, such as hiking, cycling, tennis, and swimming.

Type AB-Blood type AB, the most recent, in terms of evolution, of the four groups and an amalgam of types A and B, is the most biologically complex. For this group, a combination of the exercises for types A and B works best, says Dr. D'Adamo.

Blood type, with its digestive and immune specificity, is a window on a person's probable susceptibility to or power over disease, according to Dr. D'Adamo. For example, Type O's are the most likely to suffer from asthma, hay fever, and other allergies, while Type B's have a high allergy threshold, and will react allergically only if they eat the wrong foods. Type B's are also especially susceptible to autoimmune disorders, such as chronic fatigue, lupus, and multiple sclerosis. Type AB's tend to have the fewest problems with allergies, while heart disease, cancer, and anemia are medical risks for them.

With arthritis, Type O's, again, are the predominant sufferers because their immune systems are "environmentally intolerant," especially to foods such as grains and potatoes which can produce inflammatory reactions in their joints, says Dr. D'Adamo. Types A and B are the most susceptible to diabetes, while types A and AB have an overall higher rate of cancer and poorer survival odds than the other types.

While you cannot change your blood type, you can use knowledge about its nature to implement a dietary plan biologically suited to your makeup, says Dr. D'Adamo, who supplies copious details on eating plans for all four types. "Most of my patients experience some results [within two weeks of starting the diet plan]-increased energy, weight loss, a lessening of digestive complaints, and improvement of chronic conditions such as asthma, headaches, and heartburn."

-Excerpted From: Alternative Medicine Digest, Future Medicine Publishing (source)

To learn more go to Doctor D' Adamo's website: Eat Right For Your Type

Case Study: PCOS, Long Menstrual Cycles, Infertility

Client: Mrs. M
Symptoms: PSOS, Long Menstrual Cycles, Infertility
Goals: Pregnancy

My Conclusion: PCOS, long menstrual cycles, and infertility often stem from an excess of the estrogen hormone. This imbalance can happen over a period of time, or in a short period due to a sudden stress on the body and its emotions. Outside sources such as medications and the foods we eat have a great influence on the hormone balance in the body. The following suggestions are ways that you might be able to help the body regulate its hormones to a balanced state.

Dietary Suggestions: Focus on whole grains, vegetables, fruits, and filtered water. Use as many organic foods as possible. Try to avoid dairy products, or keep them to a minimum. Avoid pre-made and pre-cooked foods as much as possible. The refinement, enrichment, and additives in these pre-made foods have the potential to cause hormone imbalance. Try to keep your microwave use down to a minimum. Studies have shown that extensive microwave use (and food eaten after microwaving) can weaken the reproductive organs in men and women. NEVER eat anything that has artificial sweeteners (Aspartame, Acesulfame K, acesulfame potassium (just remember Ace), Sucralose, and their brand names: NutraSweet, Splenda, and Sweet n’Low.) Artificial sweeteners are very dangerous this is not a myth! Use sugar sparingly. Use as many foods that market their Omega 3 value as possible (Smart Balance, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Free Range Eggs, etc.)
Until pregnancy is accomplished: Avoid meat. When you do eat meat, try to only eat chicken, and only the chicken that says that it has not been treated with hormones. Animals can be treated with many types of hormones and other things that have the potential to cause hormone imbalance. When the body is already struggling, it is best to avoid these foods.
Feel free to browse through or follow my Healthy Mama’s Kitchen blog for some healthy eating ideas and tips.

Recommended Herbs and Nutrients Including Dosage: ** Highest Importance.
**Continue taking your Prenatal Plus vitamins. I personally recommend the Rainbow Light Complete Prenatal vitamin. It is slightly different then Prenatal Plus because it has higher dosages of certain things, as well as a few other things that the Prenatal Plus does not have. However, you also have to take 6 pills every day, which isn’t always easy. I consider Prenatal Plus to be a good vitamin.
Add the following to your daily supplement regimen:
**Four grams of Essential Fatty Acids. I recommend NSI Mega Omega. Omegas are just as they say, essential to the health of the whole body. In your condition, they can aid with inflammation, and balancing the hormones in your body. These should be taken throughout pregnancy and the rest of your life.
Extra Vitamin B. No less then a 150mg per day B-Complex (pill form). Sublingual will be the easiest to absorb into the body. Birth control pills as well as some of the prescription medications that you have taken or, are taking, tend to block or deplete the B vitamins from absorbing into the body. These will be helpful throughout your pregnancy.
One round of a liquid Iron supplement. Iron deficiency causes weakness to all of the body’s systems. Liquid Iron with vitamin C absorbs much easier then other iron supplements. This would be helpful to do on an occasional basis throughout your childbearing years.
**Vitex (Chasteberry) (as recommended on the bottle). This herb has been successfully used to balance the estrogen and progesterone hormones in the body. It is easy to use because you can take it throughout the month and not have to worry about which week to take it. It has also been used with the Metformin without known problems, and with success. Take this regularly, as it has been known to take time to take effect. However, it has also been known to work within one cycle. Stop taking this as soon as pregnancy is achieved.
There are other herbs that can be added to Vitex. But I would recommend trying this regimen for 3 months before adding to it.

Lifestyle Modification/Changes:
MORNING LIGHT and MOON LIT NIGHT: The menstrual cycle depends heavily on our body clock to cycle properly. The body systems use bright light during the day (particularly morning) to set the awake/asleep clock. It relies on moonlight to regulate the menstrual cycle. Darkness may be one of the biggest reasons menstrual cycles become irregular. Studies have shown that “Light Therapy” helps to regulate the menstrual cycle. You can use direct natural sun light or BLUEWAVE lights for this therapy. The directions are as follows:
BLUEWAVETM Therapy 15-30 minutes in the morning and evening to extend your active day length. BLUEWAVETM light technology is specially designed to produce the active hormone, serotonin and suppress melatonin. Melatonin is often called the ‘hibernation hormone’ and is thought to restrict other hormones that promote a healthy menstrual cycle. Your body produces higher levels of melatonin during the winter, and when you don’t get enough bright light.
Nighttime light. Use a 50-watt table lamp approximately three feet from your bedside. You only have to use this light on days 13 through 17 of your cycle. This will replicate the level of a bright, moonlight night and should regulate your cycle within a few weeks. This level of nightlight will also help control the production of melatonin.
In short, this is saying that it is important to spend minimum 15 minutes outside in the bright morning sunlight every day. If this is not possible on a regular basis, BLUEWAVE Technology lights might be a consideration.

Relaxation Techniques and Exercises:
I recommend Yoga and Pilates. These techniques aid in ways such as weight loss, circulation, and relieving stress.

Personally Authored Forum Topic: Parasite Symptoms While Breastfeeding

Two years ago, I began my serious journey to optimum health. I had just experienced a pregnancy miscarriage due to low progesterone and the loss of my twin daughters at 25 weeks gestation due to Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome. Before I go on, you need to know that my grief is under control, and that is not an issue (and No, that is not denial!J) My body was weak from 6 weeks of bed rest and a rough pregnancy. I began eating well, walking daily, and taking a series of great vitamin supplements. I have continued this lifestyle for the past two years. In between the two years, I became pregnant (had a rough but not Horrible pregnancy) and gave birth to a healthy baby boy. I’ve continued the healthy life style, and by this point in my journey, if you knew me and the details in between, you would think I should be living in a clear state of optimum health. But I am not. These are my problems:

I was diagnosed with Severe Anemia. I focused on quality iron supplementation for three months and the tests show that I am back in the normal range. I cannot maintain a good mood balance without antidepressants (Paxil 10mg). From research I know that I have low Serotonin and above average Dopamine. My whole body is in a state of chronic pain (muscle and skeletal). This can be managed as long as I take my supplements, but even with them, the pain seeps through (especially after laying down or sleeping). I have managed to lose several pounds. But I can’t seem to lose the weight in my belly section. I have stomach pains throughout the day. I still struggle with constipation even after eating over the RDA of fiber every day. I have to deal with gas and bloating, as well as what I thought were hemorrhoid symptoms. I also struggle with very strong sweets cravings especially in the evenings.

Let me get to the point: After studying the Toxicity section of Modular 1, I am afraid that I have some form of a parasite and that it is blocking the absorption of all of the nutrients that I am trying to feed my body. The WORST part about it all is that I am breastfeeding my 11 month old baby. I would simply stop breastfeeding him and do a cleanse, but he still would prefer to nurse around three feedings each day as well as at night. Technically, he is old enough to wean, but I take feeding him breast milk Very Seriously and I won’t wean him until I know for sure that it is the best thing to do. The next problem is that I am ready to become pregnant again. But I really want to feel better (probably do a cleanse) before I get pregnant again. I am hoping for your quality help and suggestions!!

FORUM RESPONSE:

Hi MammaBaron

Congratulations on continuing to breastfeed and "taking it seriously". As I lactation consultant and a searcher for optimum health myself, I hope I can assist you with some of your health issues. 1. Have you actually been tested for parasites? Seeing that you are breastfeeding and it may be challenge to treat for parasites, it may be helpful to get a stool sample evaluated so you know for sure. I did some research on antiparasitic treatment and found a natural antiparasitic treatment called Vitaklenz, but its absolute safety during breastfeeding could not be supported by the manufacturers unfortunately. I am mentioning it however, because it may be an option in the future for your child- may be used for 2 years and older.
See http://vitaklenzforkidz.com/vitaklenz4kids.htm for more information.

I did, however, find a great article from the Journal of Human Lactation, in which Porto states that amongst the 5 most common anthelmintics, invermectin in the only one reviewed by the American Academy of Pediatrics as safe during lactation. It is suggested that exposure can be minimized by taking the drug before the longest sleep interval for the infant. A word of caution: invermectin is contra-indicated for liver disease. Porto, I. 2003. Antiparasitic drugs and lactation: focus on anthelmintics, scabicides, and pediculicides. J Hum Lact. Nov; 19(4):421-5. 2. In regards to mood disorders- I would encourage you to consider researching further on 5 HTP. A wonderful resource I would like to share with you is http://www.womentowomen.com/ the following is an excerpt: "Serotonin is synthesized in the brain and the digestive tract, which is also the source of its precursors. This is yet another reason why what you eat and how well you digest are crucial to how you feel! L–tryptophan, an essential amino acid found in food and supplements, is converted in your body into 5–hydroxytryptophan (5–HTP), and then into 5–hydroxytryptamine ( 5–HT), which is the chemical name for serotonin".
From http://www.womentowomen.com/depressionanxietyandmood/antidepressants.aspx
3. Please also consider supplements of omega 3 fatty acids if you are not already taking one "Nordic Naturals" is a quality reliable supplement. Please also consider a supplement of Vitamin D3 1000-2000 IU daily see http://www.grassrootshealth.org/ for more information.
There is an article by Bruce Hollis entitled "Vitamin D Requirements during Pregnancy and Lactation" http://www.grassrootshealth.org/_download/Hollis%20GrassrootsHealth.pdf
I hope you find this helpful. Best wishes Sharon
- Sharon Johnson HHP student

MY RESPONSE:

Hi Sharon, Thank you so much for your clear and detailed answer and suggestions. I am actually waiting for the results of a stool sample as well as some blood tests from my doctor. I will follow up here with the results. I am also going to find a practitioner who can do a hair and live blood cell analysis for me. I will follow up with those as well. Thank you again!
Lena HHP Student

Forum Topic: Trying To Concieve And Detox

AUTHOR: Roberta Laudanski aka Robin HHP, MH, NC Student
"Hello everyone, I'm wondering if there is any cleansing/detoxifying regime which would be appropriate for a couple which is trying to conceive? Would it be acceptable to use Science Detox or Colonix in a lower dosage? If the woman becomes pregnant while using something like Science Detox are there direct risk factors for the development of the fetus or is the risk factor because of the abdominal contractions created through the cleansing, or is it something else? I guess what I'm actually wondering is if a woman who was on a detox regime became pregnant would the use of the regime result in a miscarriage or something else?"

Question From Instructor: Heather Johnstone PhD RN BC APN AMP-C RYT Director GCNM/Director GIFAM
"Students, What happens while you detox? How might that impact your hormonal axis as preparation for conception? How might it impact your vaginal pH? How might your in utero environment be impacted? How might the embryo and then fetus be impacted?"

My Response:
When a person detoxifies the body by using a colon cleanse, the toxins and dangerous matter that has collected in the colon as well as the blood gets “stirred up” within the body. If all goes well with the colon cleanse, then these negative things will be quickly lifted away and eliminated out of the body. However, during that time of upheaval, all of those dangerous toxins cause a moment of imbalance in the body as a whole (just as they did when they entered the body.) Toxins negatively affect the endocrine system as a whole. Therefore, a woman who is trying to conceive will have to deal with the teeter-totter effect of imbalanced hormones due to the temporary cleansing. Another factor about cleansing is that many herbs that help the body cleanse itself, also cause the uterus to contract. These contractions (even though they are not necessarily felt) make it more difficult for the egg to implant into the uterus. If the woman is already pregnant and she is early in her pregnancy, these contractions could cause a miscarriage of the pregnancy. In addition, the stirred up toxins that are in the mother’s blood can seep into the placenta, which will then enter into the baby’s bloodstream. This is all very dangerous for the baby.