Friday, September 18, 2009
Member Update: Important Updates for Members
Monday, September 7, 2009
"I Don't Sweat"
A number of patients we have spoken with claim: 'well, I just don't sweat'. This may be true if you are canine, for dogs do not have sweat glands, and must pant and keep their mouth open for regulation of temperature. There are certain human conditions that can cause lack of sweating: medications such as anti-psychotics or calcium channel blockers, significant nerve damage, or a rare disease called hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia. The rest of us should be sweating it out. If you exercise, and believe you still do not sweat, you may not be exercising hard enough yet - or possibly you are dehydrated, so your body is conserving its water.
The truth is, many of us do not sweat enough. Only 3 in 10 adults get the recommended amount of physical activity. We live and work in temperature controlled environments all day, then ride in trains, cars and buses with more air conditioning. Typically, we 'don't sweat' because we are not given the chance. There are very few methods humans can use to get rid of chemicals from the body: pooping, peeing, exhaling, and sweating it out. In us humans, sweat glands are known mostly to help regulate temperature by bringing warm moisture to the surface of the skin, which causes cooling as the water evaporates. But the secondary role as detoxifier is not a minor role. Known as the 'third kidney' your skin has over 2.6 million tiny pores that can help clear as much as 30% of bodily wastes through perspiring. Sweat is composed mostly water, but also has urea (a breakdown product of proteins the kidneys also discard), and trace metals and minerals.
Although experts believe sweating is mostly for temperature regulation, it has been shown that trace toxins do appear in sweat glands. Some evidence does suggest that the ability to sweat and excrete toxins like mercury will increase with repeated use of exercise or sauna. It see that hot wet steam saunas are more effective than dry saunas. Steam saunas create beads of moisture which adhere and coat the skin almost instantaneously. These prevent the body from losing heat through the process of evaporation. This may accelerate the detoxification and healing processes which take place within the body when body temperature rises. More studies on this are needed.
To help get the sweating going, consider starting an exercise routine if you do not currently have one. If you are not sweating during this routine, consider increasing the intensity of your workout: this could mean increasing your pace or possibly increasing the angle of incline of your cardio machine. Sometimes, working with a trainer will also help you safely find inspiration for perspiration. For those who have an exercise routine, consider adding a steam sauna for increased detoxification effect. Yoga enthusiasts may try bikram yoga, a yoga practiced in a 105 degree temperature for 90 minutes.
In Chinese medicine, sweat does contain qi (pronounced "chee") energy – so if someone is already expecially weak, extra sweating through exercise and saunas can deplete a person and make them even weaker. Accordingly, one needs to adjust any effort to sweat with their current health status.
references:
Department of Health and Human Services. The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (Healthy People 2010)
Ely J. Well Mind Association Special Report - March 1994. Heavy Metal Detox: Sweating
Guide4home.com Dry Saunas - A Comparison. Dry Sauna vs Steam Sauna. Accessed Sept. 6, 2009
International Hyperhydrosis Society. No Sweat? It’s Not Always a Dream Come True. November 2006.http://www.sweathelp.org/ accessed on September 6, 2009
Mosher HH. Simultaineous Study of the Constituents of Perspiration and Urine. November 16, 1932
Woolston C. You sweat, but toxins likely stay. The halthy skeptic. Los Angeles Times, Jan 2008
Announcing Conferences This Fall
Do you need CEs and connections with colleagues? Please check out this list of events this fall. They are all on different weekends...so you could attend all if you like!
NYANP Annual Conference in NYC
Diving Deeper into Naturopathy
Sunday, Oct 4th from 10 to 5
$75 for members, $95 for non-members
Register online at www.nyanp.org
The California Naturopathic Doctors Association (CNDA) is holding it's Merging Medicine 7 conference
Naturopathic Advancements in Gastrointestinal Conditions.
In the Los Angeles area on October 10-11, 2009.
For more information and to register: http://www.calnd.org/events_detail.asp?EventID=153
The Pennsylvania Association of Naturopathic Physicians Presents a 1 day Fall Conference of Interesting Experts:
Integrative Oncology...A Holistic Approach to Cancer.
Saturday, Oct. 17,2009, in Philadelphia, 7:30AM-5PM.
Information and Registration at www.panp.org.
New Hampshire Association of Naturopathic Doctors: Pharmaceutical Perspectives Conference
on Cardiovascular Health
November 6-7, 2009 in Nashua, NH
Visit www.nhand.org for more information and to register.
Monday, August 10, 2009
High Blood Pressure in Kids from TV and Computer Use.
Date: August 8, 2009
TV and computer screen time has been linked to high blood pressure in youngsters. Recent evidence shows that children who watch television for 1.5hrs to 5.5hours of televsion a day shows that even if a children is trim and active, they will still have higher blood pressure. A study of 111 children from age 3 to age 8 showed that the increased blood pressure wasn’t associated with the sedentary behavior overall, but specifically linked to increased TV viewing. Two possible reasons are because children tend to snack unhealthy foods while watching TV, or because they watch material that is stressful or represent overactivity for their minds and reduce the ability to keep an increased metabolism. One other possibility is because it cuts into sleep time, which is needed for a host of healthy body processes. Surprisingly, the Amercian Academy of Pediatrics recommend children watch no more than 2 hours of 'high quality' television a day. In light of this information, this recommendation needs to be lowered.
Invented in 1929, television was first introduced to the public at a World's Fair in 1939. The first licenses issued were for commercial stations - this fact tells us that the motivation for TV was to be a vehicle for selling advertising for goods and services while providing entertainment. In the early 1960s, the first educational stations (later Public Broadcasting) began offering programs with the aim to educate and enrich people's lives. Regarding computers, in 1953, the UNIVAC was the first commercial computer and was able to pick presidential winners. In 1983, Apple introduced the first home computer.
Although these inventions can enrich our lives, this study emphasizes how they can also disrupt normal physiology. It is important limit TV to the minimum possible, and keep computer use in balance with other, more natural and healthful activities. written by Dr. Pina LoGiudice - www.InnerSourceHealth.com.
references:
http://www.mediafamily.org "the history of televsion" accessed August 8, 2009
Eisenmann J. Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. August 2009
Monday, July 27, 2009
Title: Chronic Disease Helped with Common Kitchen Item
Date: July 16, 2009
Daily supplementation with common sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) slows the progression rate of renal failure to end-stage renal disease and improves nutritional status among patients with chronic kidney disease. According to a recent study of 134 patients using 600 mg of oral sodium bicarbonate tablets, the patients taking the baking soda had lowered need for drugs and felt better using this simple and common kitchen ingredient.
It is possible the balancing of patient's blood to become less acidotic (acidic) may be the reason for the benefit.
Although intake of sodium was higher for the sodium bicarbonate patients versus the control group, there was no increased blood pressure. For best safety, patients with kidney disease should speak to their medical doctors or nephrologists before changing their regimen of foods or adding supplements.
reference: DeBristo-Ashurst, American Society of Nephrology, published July 16, 2009
written by: Peter Bongiorno ND, LAc www.InnerSourceHealth.com
Sunday, June 21, 2009
NYANP's 5th Annual Conference
10 am to 5 pm
at the
META Center New York
214 West 29th St., 16th Floor
New York, NY 10001
New this year...
Grand Rounds Discussion...one hour for practitioners to discuss cases
Single, Large Room Setting...exhibitors and attendees in the same space for ease and connections
Special Conference Rate of $75...we want to make it possible for you to attend
Plus we are making sure to include...
Pharmacy CEs
Interesting and Informative lectures
Frequent breaks and time to visit exhibits and with each other
Registration Online at www.nyanp.org or call 800.846.6778.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Special Dinner in NYC: Sunday, May 3rd
Special Dinner in NYC: Sunday, May 3rd at 7:00pm
Sponsored by Thorne for ND's in NY
NY NDs! Come to dinner in Manhattan on Sunday courtesy of Thorne.
Rare opportunity to hear a PHARMACIST speak about the manufacture and production of supplements including drug nutrient interactions.
Meet your Thorne rep Lenore. Thorne gives approx 10K per year to the NYANP. Come, eat, learn and show your support.
Location:
FIG & OLIVE MEATPACKING
420 West 13th Street
Between Ninth Ave. & Washington St.
New York, NY 10014
Tel: (212) 924-1200
www.figandolive.com
RSVP to Leonore Salvia at 516.996.2100
We look forward to seeing you there!