Forum Topic: PUPPP (Pregnancy Itch)

I know what PUPPP feels like from first hand experience. Before I go further, I wanted to break down the crazy name that it has been given: Pruritic (severe itching) urticarial (hives) papules (a circumscribed, solid elevation of skin with no visible fluid) and plaques (a flat, often raised patch on the skin) of pregnancy (PUPPP). It would seem that PUPPP is an allergic reaction, or an excess of histamine in the body. Histamine dilates blood vessels and makes the vessel walls abnormally permeable. What is it that is permeating the blood vessels to continue the irritation?

From what I can gather, it is possible that it is bile and toxins from a weakened liver; my Maternal Fetal Medicine specialist also confirmed this to me.

So what do we do?

My first suggestion is to strengthen the Adrenal System in hopes that they might be able to minimize any excess histamine in the body.

My next suggestion is to strengthen the Liver and the Kidneys, which are our "housekeeping" organs or, our "purifiers."

Which Means: WATER! WATER! WATER! To cleanse and flush, a high quality prenatal vitamin, Extra Vitamin B's (I recommend a sublingual complex), Fish Oil or an Omega 3 supplement taken regularly to aid the Adrenal System in their duty. Also, to decrease the amount of histamine in the body vitamin C is recommended as well as a high quality antioxidant supplement.

Milk Thistle and Dandelion Root will aid the Liver and Kidneys, and Cayenne will enhance these herbs abilities as well as aid the circulatory system and the metabolism of fats in the liver.

Forum Topic: Treatments for Night Terrors

Author: Jackie C
"Is anyone aware of any natural treatments available for night terrors. The patient is a 6 year old female who suffers from glucose intolerance and asthma. She is 20 pounds overweight and for the past 6 months has been awaking from sleep screaming and unconsoleable 2 to 4 times a night. I have recently researched the use of additional folic acid for the asthma attacks and she has recently been taken off Atirax. I have given her melatonin to try and balance out her sleep habits, but if anyone has any other suggestions I would be grateful."

My Responce:
My son is now 5 years old. He/we have struggled with his night terrors ever since he was three years old. When I started studying Holistic Health, I became more active in trying to prevent his night terrors naturally. The night terrors have gradually eased over time. However, from year 4 to 5 it took time, attention, and action.

Initially, we focused on taking note of possible triggers. We recognized that the terrors were worse when he didn't nap well during the day. We also noted that stressors such as starting swimming lessons before he was ready (this was the most noticeable) or a long day with too much stimulation caused a rough night.

Along with recognizing the triggers I began a nutritional supplement regimen. During the day I made sure he took the following:

A quality vitamin by Natures Plus

Omega 3's

Vitamin B Sublingual

Occasionally when I knew he was going through a growth spurt I added liquid calcium w/ Magnesium to the regimine.

Before Nap and Bedtime I administered the following to him (He only needed these for a couple of months):

Lavender Oil: a tiny touch along his forehead and on his wrists (HE LOVES THIS!)

Valerian Super Calm by Herbs for Kids

We have followed this regimen for over a year. He is now almost 6 years old and I have no doubt that this full regimen made a huge difference. He now only has occasional Night Terrors.

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.