About Berris

October 12, 2009 at 2:22 am · Filed under About, About Berris ·Tagged , , , ,

Hi there,

I hope you enjoy my blog. I will be adding to it regularly so keep checking. You can also go to my website – www.berrisnaturopath.com- and register to receive my newsletters.

I have been in clinical practice as a naturopath for 20 years. During that time I have treated a very wide range of conditions and health problems. Although I still treat many different conditions, these days I tend to specialise in specific health issues, for example: Fatigue, Immune related problems including autoimmune diseases, Stress and Adrenal Health, Thyroid conditions, Menopause, Endocrine disorders, Male and Female Reproductive problems.

I lecture regularly to practitioners throughout Australia, New Zealand, the UK and South Africa. I also give guest lectures to students at universities in the UK and South Africa. I love this part of my work equally as much as I love clinical practice. The research and writing I undertake in preparing my post-graduate lectures keeps me up to date with the very latest research and treatments for a number of different conditions.

I also have a keen interest in herbal safety, particularly herb-drug interactions and I co-wrote the Herb-Drug Interaction chapter in the acclaimed herbal textbook “The Essential Guide to Herbal Safety” by Simon Mills and Kerry Bone.

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Ross River Virus – Part II – How I treat RRV successfully in my clinic

October 12, 2009 at 1:50 am · Filed under Immunity/Infections, Ross River Fever-Part II-How I successfully treat RRV in my clinic ·Tagged , , , ,

Ross River Fever – Part II

What are the Medical Treatments for Ross River Fever?

There is no specific medical or drug treatment for Ross River Virus. Most commonly patients are simply advised by their doctor to go home and rest. Sometimes in cases of severe joint pain drugs are used to manage these symptoms or drugs such as paracetamol may be recommended to reduce the fever.

My Treatment Approach for Ross River Fever

The doctor’s advice to rest is extremely valid and it is important to do so as much as possible.

The most important thing to do in any infection is to improve immunity. My favourite herbs for this purpose, particularly in the case of RRV are Andrographis and Echinacea. Hypericum can be used for its antiviral activity, however only specific preparations will be beneficial. Hypericum may interact with some drug so should always be prescribed by a health care professional. These herbs need to be prescribed in the correct proportions and at the correct dosage to suit the individual person and their symptoms. I will often prescribe a high dose of Vitamin C and other nutrients to improve immunity depending on the person’s underlying nutritional status. Symptoms change over time and in accordance with this, the naturopath treatment and dosage also changes. This is important to achieve the best health outcomes.

In naturopathic medicine fever management is a fundamental component of helping the body to fight an infection. After all, fever is one of the ways that the body does this. It makes good sense to support this process, rather than trying to reduce or suppress the fever with drugs such as paracetamol. I prescribe diaphoretic herbs which help to optimise the fever process and make it much more efficient in dealing with the infection. Naturally, great care must be taken when managing fever in children and should only be done by an expert in the field.

Managing the various symptoms such as joint and muscle pain can be achieved very effectively with a number of different herbal medicines. The particular herbs I prescribe will depend on the degree of the inflammation and the degree and nature of the pain.

Follow-up Patient Management

I cannot stress the importance of follow-up management enough.  Ross River Fever is one of the conditions that is reputed to recur and it commonly precedes chronic fatigue syndrome and other post viral syndromes.

For these reasons it is not only important to manage and treat the acute infection very efficiently and quickly, it is absolutely vital that follow-up post infection treatment is given. This minimises the risk of a recurrence and certainly reduces the risk of long-term fatigue and general ill-health.

Immune enhancing treatments need to be continued for a period of time after symptoms resolve. This is because the symptoms disappear long before the actual virus is total out of the system. As mentioned previously the virus can exist at low levels, causing no symptoms at all, until a person becomes run down, stressed or has reduced immunity for some reason.

I have a wide range of different herbs and nutrients that I choose from to ensure that complete recovers occurs. I also discuss with my clients many dietary and lifestyle factors they will remain symptom free and be able to experience good health into the future.

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Ross River Fever-Part I

October 6, 2009 at 7:04 am · Filed under Immunity/Infections, Ross River Fever-Part I ·Tagged , , , ,

Ross River Fever – Part I

I have treated many people over the years in my clinic for Ross River Fever and the majority of them respond very well and quickly to the treatments I offer. I do not have a ‘one treatment suits all’ approach. I prescribe natural medicines on an individual basis for each patient.

What Causes Ross River Fever?

Ross River Fever (sometimes also called epidemic polyarthritis) is caused by Ross River Virus which is transmitted by mosquitoes. It cannot be spread from human to human like common cold and flu viruses.

There are a number of different types of mosquitoes that spread the virus and these depend on environment and geographical location. Some types breed in salt water such as salty pools in mangroves and salt marshes after flooding by spring tides and heavy rains, whilst others breed in permanent areas of fresh water. One type of mosquito, Aedes notoscriptus, breeds in containers close to homes and other human activity such as bird baths, pot plant saucers and backyard rubbish holding water1. It is important that you do not have containers around you home that can hold still water.

What are the Symptoms?

Symptoms and severity of Ross River Fever can vary from one person to another. In some cases no symptoms are experienced at all. The most common symptoms include:

  • Flu-like symptoms with fever, fatigue, headache and swollen lymph nodes
  • Painful and swollen joints
  • Sore muscles, aching tendons

Less common symptoms include:

  • Sore eyes
  • Sore throat
  • Nausea
  • Tingling in the palms of hands and soles of feet

Sometimes symptoms can recur after a period of time. This probably means that the virus has not been totally eradicated from the body so that during times when a person is run down or has reduced immunity the virus once again takes hold and the following long-term symptoms can occur:

  • Joint pain
  • Fatigue
  • Lethargy
  • Depression       

Treatment

Based on my many years of clinical experience I know without doubt that the way Ross River Fever is treated at the time of infection, not only impacts on the initial symptoms but also impacts on long-term health. Once the initial infectious stage is resolved it is extremely important to continue with a longer-term herbal/nutritional treatment protocol that will help to prevent recurrence and ensure that the person does not develop fatigue syndromes in the future.

Watch for my next posting where I will discuss how I treat Ross River Virus successfully in my clinic.

References

  1. http://access.health.qld.gov.au/hid/InfectionsandParasites/ViralInfections/rossRiverVirus_fs.asp

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Avoid Winter Infections

April 28, 2009 at 2:16 am · Filed under Avoid Winter Infections, General Health, Immunity/Infections, Prevent Winter Infections ·Tagged , , , , , , ,

Avoid Winter Infection

It is inevitable that an unexpected strain of influenza will occasionally hit our shores. A few years ago it was SARS. This year it is swine flu which is caused by type A influenza (H1N1). Swine influenza is usually confined to pigs and until recently human infection with the virus was rare (limited to 3 people). However, in March 2009 human cases of swine flu began emerging in Mexico and in some areas of the United States, mainly affecting healthy young adults. More than 100 people have died from the virus in Mexico. The infection is not limited to the Northern Hemisphere. In New Zealand 10 students returning from Mexico have tested positive to swine flu and suspected cases in Australia are being monitored.

Prevention
Queensland Health has stated on their website that the seasonal influenza vaccine is unlikely to offer useful protection against swine flu. So what can you do?

The very best protection against infection is a healthy immune system. If your immune system is healthy it has a very good chance of fighting any type of infection so that illness does not occur or, if symptoms do occur the severity will be reduced. As always prevention is easier than cure and it is necessary that we go into winter as healthy as possible. This means having a healthy diet, regular exercise and plenty of rest and relaxation. These lifestyle factors are fundamental to optimal immune function. Adequate levels of vitamin C, zinc and many of the B Complex vitamins are necessary for healthy immunity.

Immune Enhancing Herbs
Apart from these fundamental necessities, there are many herbal medicines that can help to improve the immune system, thus avoiding or minimising infection. Perhaps the best known of these is Echinacea, which is one of the most commonly prescribed herbs by health professionals around the world. However, not all Echinacea products are the same. Patients will often say, “I have already tried Echinacea and it didn’t work”. What has to be asked in such situations is “which Echinacea product was used and how much was taken?” It often turns out that the patient was unknowingly taking a cheap low quality product or an ineffective dose.

The quality and dose issues are best illustrated by a clinical trial conducted in the USA. The product used was made from the roots of 2 Echinacea species, Echinacea purpurea and Echinacea angustifolia. These are considered to be the most active species and their roots are the most potent part. Several doses were used in the trial, but it was found that only when the dose exceeded 2000 mg per day did regular use of Echinacea significantly prevent colds.

Apart from Echinacea there are many other herbs that are very beneficial for the prevention and treatment of winter infections. When treating winter infections, each individual’s requirements differ and in some cases a combination of herbs may be more beneficial for the prevention and treatment of winter infections.

Once a viral infection has taken hold it is often necessary to use a combination of immune enhancing herbs to bring about a quick recovery. Herbs such as Andrographis, Cat’s Claw and Sacred Basil can be very beneficial for the treatment of acute infections. As already discussed for Echinacea, quality of the herbs has to be high and the dosage needs to be correct for the individual and the type of infection.

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Vitamin D Deficiency is Common

April 28, 2009 at 12:44 am · Filed under General Health, Vitamin D Deficiency - A Cause For Concern, Vitamin D Deficiency is Common, Women's Health ·Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

Vitamin D Deficiency is Common

 

In Brief

  • Vitamin D deficiency is common in Australia
  • In many cases Australians do not receive adequate vitamin D from casual sun exposure
  • Vitamin D is essential for healthy, strong bones and is protective against cancer
  • Postmenopausal are at greatest risk of osteoporosis and vitamin D deficiency significantly increases the risk
  • Many women I see in my clinic have low levels of vitamin D
  • All adults should be checked routinely for vitamin D deficiency, particularly those in the high risk groups discussed below
  • Vitamin D supplementation may be necessary

 

 

What is vitamin D?

Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin, also called calciferol and sunlight vitamin. Although small amounts of Vitamin D can be obtained from some foods (see below), the majority of our vitamin D is produced by the body when UV radiation in sunlight hits our skin and reacts with a cholesterol-like substance in the skin. It is the only vitamin that is manufactured in body and is also considered a hormone. After being produced in the skin vitamin D enters the circulation and travels to liver and kidneys where it is synthesised into its active form.

 

Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Australia

The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Australia varies, however according to an article in the Medical Journal of Australia it is much higher than previously thought. Studies have shown that vitamin D deficiency is common in the elderly with up to 76% having a marginal deficiency. Other studies have shown that up to 43% of younger adults have inadequate vitamin D levels. The highest rates of severe deficiency occur in dark-skinned, veiled, and pregnant women with a deficiency incidence of up to 80%.

 

The importance of vitamin D

Adequate levels of vitamin D are essential for healthy, strong bones. Therefore its importance increases in menopausal and postmenopausal women, who are already at risk of developing osteoporosis due to decreased oestrogen levels.

 

Vitamin D is necessary for calcium absorption and for regulating calcium and phosphate concentrations in the blood, which ensure normal mineralisation of bone. Without sufficient vitamin D bones can become weak and the incidence of fracture may increase.

 

Ensuring healthy bones is not the only job of vitamin D. It also plays important roles in the health and functioning of the immune system, neuromuscular function and in the reduction of inflammation. In addition, vitamin D plays a role in the prevention and treatment of type 1 and type 2 diabetes, hypertension, glucose intolerance and multiple sclerosis.

 

Vitamin D deficiency and increased cancer risk

Vitamin D has potent anticancer properties and vitamin D deficiency may be associated with an increased incidence of a number of cancers, particularly those of the gastrointestinal tract.  According to a study published in 2008, low vitamin D status may increase breast cancer risk in post-menopausal women. 4 Vitamin D may also play a role in the outcome for cancer patients.

 

Vitamin D deficiency in children

In recent times vitamin D deficiency has re-emerged as a significant health issue in children. This can result in seizures (due to low calcium), limb pain, fractures and rickets.

 

Vitamin D deficiency in pregnant women will result in a deficiency in their infants. Therefore all women considering pregnancy should have their vitamin D levels checked before conception and during pregnancy.

 

What causes vitamin D deficiency?

The major cause of vitamin D deficiency is inadequate exposure to sunlight. This is a difficult issue because we also know that too much sun exposure can lead to skin cancer and malignant melanoma. It is quite ironic that scientists now believe that vitamin D is protective against skin cancer. Therefore we may be putting a little too much effort (and money) into protecting ourselves from the sun.

 

Although you may often read that most Australians get enough sun exposure to ensure adequate vitamin D levels, especially in the more northern parts of Australia, this is not the reality and certainly is not what I see in my clinical practice. Almost every woman I have seen who has had a blood test for vitamin D levels has either been on the low side of normal or outside the normal range, exhibiting a deficiency.

 

How much sun is enough (but not too much)?

It is difficult to find a definitive answer about the optimal amount of sun exposure which ensures adequate vitamin D levels without causing a risk of skin cancer etc. In actual fact the answer will be quite different for different regions of Australia and for different individuals.

 

Sun exposure should be limited to the early morning and late afternoon and the amount of exposure needs to suit the individual skin type. Very fair skinned people can tolerate less sun that those with olive skin or darker skin. Indeed people with fair skin actually need much less sun exposure for the production of vitamin D because the UV rays penetrate the skin much easier.

 

In 2006 the Medical Journal of Australia published information on recommended sun exposure times (at 10am or 3pm) for fair skinned individuals aged 19-50 years with 15% of their body exposed to the sun eg face, arms and hands. As you would expect exposure time varied greatly depending on locality. For example in Townsville as little as 10 minutes in summer and up to 15 minutes in winter, whilst in Hobart up to 13 minutes in summer and as much as 166 minutes in winter may be needed to ensure sufficient vitamin D levels based on current recommended daily allowances.

 

These recommended times are only estimations and are subject to many variations including seasonal differences in UVB levels from one year to another, altitude, skin type, level of cloud cover etc. It is also worth noting that many researchers have suggested that optimal vitamin D intake has been underestimated and that official recommendations are too low.  If this is the case recommended sun exposure times may be too short, however excessive unprotected sun exposure may increase risk of skin cancer.

 

The best way to ensure that you have adequate vitamin D is to have yearly or twice yearly blood tests to check your vitamin D status. Try to ensure adequate sun exposure without overdoing it. You need to be careful and take your skin type, your location, time of day and season into account. If the exposed area begins to redden slightly it is time to get out of the sun.

 

 

Those at most risk of vitamin D deficiency

Older adults

As we age the skin is less able to produce vitamin D and the kidneys are less efficient at converting it into the active form. The risk of vitamin D deficiency is increased for older people who spend most of their time indoors.

 

People with limited sun exposure

People who are homebound and women who wear veils and/or long robes are very likely to have vitamin D deficiency. Many people get very little or no sun exposure during winter, particularly on their working days. Vitamin D supplementation may be necessary during the winter months.

 

People with dark skin are also at increased risk of vitamin D deficiency because the increased pigment in the skin (melanin) reduces penetration of UV rays and the production of vitamin D.

 

Obesity

Being overweight, particularly if you have a body mass index (BMI) of greater than 30 you are at increased risk of vitamin D deficiency. This is not because vitamin D production is decreased but because the subcutaneous fat decreases the release of vitamin D into the circulation. Even when vitamin D is taken orally through food or supplementation the amount of available vitamin D in the circulation is reduced in obese people.

 

 

Dietary sources of vitamin D

Very few foods contain significant amounts of vitamin D. The richest sources are oily fish such salmon, sardines, herring and mackerel. Other foods containing some vitamin D include milk, meat, eggs, cheese and fortified foods.

 

Most experts agree that it is very difficult to obtain sufficient vitamin D from foods alone and that sun exposure and/or supplementation is essential to prevent vitamin D deficiency.

 

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Easy, Sustainable Weight Loss

January 26, 2009 at 6:52 am · Filed under Easy, Sustainable Weight Loss ·Tagged , , , ,

by Berris Burgoyne – Naturopath – www.berrisnaturopath.com
Suite 8/1177 Logan Road, Holland Park, Brisbane 4121

Easy, Sustainable Weight Loss Can be Achieved!
For many people losing weight and the maintenance of their ideal weight can be difficult. One of the main reasons for this is that many diets are very restrictive making them difficult to stick to, particularly if you are very busy or if you socialise frequently. On some diets you may need to eat different meals to the rest of the family and it all becomes too difficult.

The ideal weight loss program is one that is simple to understand and easy to maintain. It will introduce you to a healthy style of eating that suits your lifestyle, tastes and preferences, and at the same time results in weight loss.

One of the healthy eating/weight loss programs that I am using increasingly, because of its simplicity, is the Whole Life Vitality – Eating for Health program.

I have seen many people achieve their ideal weight using this program. Most comment on how easy it is to maintain the healthy eating regime. Even if you socialise regularly, you will easily be able to stick to the program.

The Whole Life Vitality – Eating for Health program is very effective and easy to stick to -
 You do not have to weigh your food
 There are no special foods to buy
 The whole family can eat the same delicious, nutritious meals
 It is not a low carbohydrate diet but rather a balanced eating plan
 You can choose from a wide variety of foods and eat 3 meals plus healthy snacks daily – you will not feel hungry
 You will receive a detailed manual containing all the information you need including meal plans and delicious, easy to prepare recipes
 You will be supported throughout the program with regular ‘weigh and measure’ appointments

I will work with you to achieve the right eating plan and lifestyle choices that are best for you. You will be surprised at how easy it can be to lose weight and feel fabulous.

I will help you set realistic, attainable goals for your weight loss and general health, and guide you towards achieving them. You will not only lose weight, you will have a very satisfying sense of achievement and realise that you can do anything. Sometimes all you need is a little support, guidance and encouragement.

Where appropriate you may be prescribed supplements to improve metabolism, assist with weight loss, improve sugar metabolism and reduce sweet cravings, and to increase fat burning and the building of lean muscle mass. These supplements can usually be reduced and stopped once your ideal weight has been reached.

You will experience increased energy and vitality, and generally feel fabulous with your new weight, and you will be armed with simple strategies to maintain it.

If you are interested in losing weight and improving you overall health and wellbeing give me a call –   07 3349 3122  . It may be one of the best things you will ever do!

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Want to Stop Using HRT?

January 26, 2009 at 6:22 am · Filed under Want to Stop Using HRT? ·Tagged , , , , ,

by Berris Burgoyne – Naturopath – www.berrisnaturopath.com
Suite 8/1177 Logan Road, Holland Park, Brisbane 4121

Is it possible to stop HRT?
Yes it is definitely possible to stop taking HRT, however it is not a good idea to do so suddenly. We have had a lot of experience at helping women wean off HRT and the best way is to do so gradually. However, before making the decision to stop HRT, it is important to consider the reason that HRT was initially prescribed and how relevant it is to your long-term health and wellbeing.

It is important to understand that the uncomfortable symptoms of menopause are caused by the reducing levels of female hormones, particularly oestrogen. By taking HRT it is really only delaying the inevitable. If HRT is stopped suddenly, particularly without any other support being offered, the body once again has to go through the withdrawal process, producing the original symptoms.

It is the adrenal glands that produce oestrogen after menopause therefore it is important to improve adrenal function prior to starting to reduce the dose of HRT. When we consider this function of the adrenals it is hardly surprising that so many women experience symptoms during the perimenopausal and postmenopausal time. The number one factor that depletes the adrenals is stress, particularly over a long period of time.

There is a very fundamental difference between HRT and herbal medicine for the treatment of menopausal symptoms. It needs to be remembered that menopause is not a disease process but a natural occurrence in the life of all women who reach a certain age. Herbal medicines provide the support for the body to do what it should naturally be doing. That is, produce hormones in the adrenal glands. HRT does just the opposite. By putting hormones into the body you actually shut down this natural process in the body.

There are a number of herbal medicines and nutritional factors that quickly improve adrenal function so that the body can increase the natural production of female sex hormones. Depending on the continued level of stress, we will often prescribe herbs that help the body deal with stress and generally tonify the nervous system, which further takes the load off the adrenals.

Once adrenal function has improved the dose of HRT can gradually be reduced until it is no longer required. What this means is that we have restored the body to a natural state of health.

During this process we also use herbal medicines that are specific for any symptoms that may arise during the weaning off period. Where necessary we support the nervous system because stress is a major cause of adrenal depletion.

So, you can see, it is easy to come off HRT if desired. All you need to do is take it slowly and use the appropriate herbs and nutrients for each stage of the process.

If you are using HRT and are not sure if you wish to continue, why not give us a call.

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Breast Cancer Rates Have Declined

January 26, 2009 at 6:01 am · Filed under Breast Cancer Rates Have Declined ·Tagged , , , ,

by Berris Burgoyne – Naturopath – www.berrisnaturopath.com
Suite 8/1177 Logan Road, Holland Park, Brisbane 4121

Breast cancer rates have declined significantly
Research presented at the 29th Annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium showed a significant drop in the incidence of breast cancer in 2003 – a dramatic fall that never before has been observed in a single year. In women aged 50-69 years of age there was a 12% decline in oestrogen dependent cancers and a 4% decrease in non-oestrogen dependent cancers. It appears that the decreased use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may be responsible, at least in the case of oestrogen dependent breast cancers.

Another research team reporting in a recent issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology came to similar conclusions, “Hormone therapy use dropped by 68% between 2001 and 2003, and shortly thereafter we saw breast cancer rates drop by 10% to 11% and this drop was sustained in 2004, which tells us that the decline wasn’t just a fluke”.

Why did the use of HRT decline?
The use of HRT declined significantly after the results of two long-term studies were published in 1998 and 2002. The most significant of these was the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) study which involved almost 162,000 women between the ages of 50 and 79 years. The role of the WHI is to focus on defining the risks and benefits of treatments that could potentially reduce the incidence of heart disease, breast and colorectal cancer, and fractures in postmenopausal women.

The duration of the study was planned for 8.5 years and included assessing the benefits and risks of women using either combined HRT (oestrogen/progestin) or oestrogen alone. However, after just 5.2 years, in mid 2002 an independent monitoring board recommended stopping the combined HRT trial because they considered the risks to health of taking combined HRT outweighed any benefits.

There were a number of negative outcomes resulting from this trial and although some of the risks are relatively small, they do exist.

The bad news -
• Increased risk of breast cancer
• Increased risk of ovarian cancer
• Increased risk of heart disease
• Increased risk of stroke

• Increased risk of blood clots/deep vain thrombosis (DVT)
• Increased risk of pulmonary (lungs) embolism
• Increased risk of dementia
• Possible increased risk of cognitive decline
• Increased risk of urinary incontinence

In relation to breast cancer the WHI trial found that relatively short-term combined oestrogen/progestin use increased breast cancers, which were diagnosed at a more advanced stage compared with placebo use.

The good news –
• Decreased risk of fracture (osteoporosis)
• Decreased risk of bowel cancer

Despite the early termination of the WHI oestrogen plus progestin trial, the oestrogen-alone trial was continued with ongoing careful scrutiny by the monitoring board. However, in February 2004 the National Institutes of Health (NIH) decided to terminate the oestrogen-alone trial after 6.8 years, rather than allowing it to run the full 8.5 years. They determined that oestrogen therapy did not offer significant benefits compared with the possible risks.

As with combined HRT, oestrogen alone therapy also reduced the risk of fracture although it did not have the same protective effect against bowel cancer that combined HRT appeared to offer.

So, what does this mean for you?
There are a number of different reasons why women either choose to take HRT or are prescribed HRT by their doctor. Each individual woman has to decide, with the help of a health care professional, how important the use of HRT is for her.

HRT has been traditionally prescribed not only to alleviate the symptoms of menopause but also to protect against conditions such as heart disease, dementia and osteoporosis. We now understand from extensive clinical trials that HRT does not carry the protective effect previously assumed for heart disease and dementia. In fact, the use of HRT (particularly combined HRT) increased the risk of these conditions.

For some women however, HRT may be important to help prevent or reduce the occurrence of osteoporosis. This is particularly the case where there is a strong family history of the disease and the woman has a significant number of risk factors. For example, slight build, therefore less bone mass; little weight bearing exercise; sedentary life style; diet high in salt and caffeine, (which leach calcium from the body); history of eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia; and drugs such as corticosteroids.

Are there effective alternative treatments for menopausal symptoms?
The answer is a very big YES. In most cases menopausal symptoms are extremely easy to treat with natural therapies and women have a significant improvement in a relatively short period of time. The type of treatment used depends on the individual woman, her lifestyle and the symptoms experienced.

Is it possible to stop HRT?
Yes it is definitely possible to stop taking HRT, however it is not a good idea to do so suddenly. We have had a lot of experience at helping women wean off HRT and the best way is to do so gradually. However, before making the decision to stop HRT, it is important to consider the reason that HRT was initially prescribed and how relevant it is to your long-term health and wellbeing.

It is important to understand that the uncomfortable symptoms of menopause are caused by the reducing levels of female hormones, particularly oestrogen. By taking HRT it is really only delaying the inevitable. If HRT is stopped suddenly, particularly without any other support being offered, the body once again has to go through the withdrawal process, producing the original symptoms.

It is the adrenal glands that produce oestrogen after menopause therefore it is important to improve adrenal function prior to starting to reduce the dose of HRT. When we consider this function of the adrenals it is hardly surprising that so many women experience symptoms during the perimenopausal and postmenopausal time. The number one factor that depletes the adrenals is stress, particularly over a long period of time.

There is a very fundamental difference between HRT and herbal medicine for the treatment of menopausal symptoms. It needs to be remembered that menopause is not a disease process but a natural occurrence in the life of all women who reach a certain age. Herbal medicines provide the support for the body to do what it should naturally be doing. That is, produce hormones in the adrenal glands. HRT does just the opposite. By putting hormones into the body you actually shut down this natural process in the body.

There are a number of herbal medicines and nutritional factors that quickly improve adrenal function so that the body can increase the natural production of female sex hormones. Depending on the continued level of stress, we will often prescribe herbs that help the body deal with stress and generally tonify the nervous system, which further takes the load off the adrenals.

Once adrenal function has improved the dose of HRT can gradually be reduced until it is no longer required. What this means is that we have restored the body to a natural state of health.

During this process we also use herbal medicines that are specific for any symptoms that may arise during the weaning off period. Where necessary we support the nervous system because stress is a major cause of adrenal depletion.

So, you can see, it is easy to come off HRT if desired. All you need to do is take it slowly and use the appropriate herbs and nutrients for each stage of the process.

If you are using HRT and are not sure if you wish to continue, why not give us a call.

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Reduce Breast Cancer Risk with Simple Test

January 13, 2009 at 7:02 am · Filed under Reduce Breast Cancer Risk ·Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

by Berris Burgoyne – Naturopath – www.berrisnaturopath.com
Suite 8/1177 Logan Road, Holland Park, Brisbane 4121

You can reduce your risk of oestrogen dependent cancers such as breast cancer by using a simple test to monitor oestrogen metabolites in the urine. You can read more about this test and the importance of oestrogen metabolites below but basically there is a ‘good’ metabolite and a ‘bad’ one. High levels of the ‘bad’ metabolite is a risk factor for breast cancer, however there are things you can do to change this. The right diet can be very beneficial. For example components in vegetables in the cabbage family, particularly broccoli, help to reduce the dangerous metabolite and increase the protective one. Sometimes food is not enough to correct the imbalance initially so supplementation with products containing high levels of these compounds may be needed. Once the correct balance is achieved diet alone is often enough to maintain it. There are other nutritional factors that also have a favourable effect on the metabolism of oestrogens. Many herbal medicines also improve the way that oestrogens are metabolised.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. In many cases breast cancer is hormone dependent, meaning that the naturally occurring female hormones (usually oestrogens) cause it to grow. Although there are many factors involved in the development of cancer, in oestrogen dependent cancers excessive oestrogen and/or improper metabolism of oestrogen plays a role.

An excess of oestrogen can occur when the body produces too much or when it is not removed efficiently from the body once it has done its job. Taking hormone containing drugs such as the oral contraceptive pill or HRT can also upset the body’s natural balance.

Although oestrogens are extremely important female hormones they need to be at the correct levels and to be in balance with other hormones. The liver is the main organ that ensures excessive oestrogens are removed from the body, so it is very important that the detoxification pathways in the liver are working efficiently.

Oestrogens can be metabolised in two ways and these need to be in balance if oestrogen dependant conditions, including cancers, are to be prevented. One pathway produces a metabolite called 2-hydroxyoestrone (2-OHE1) and the other produces a metabolite called 16a-hydroxyoestrone (16a-OHE1). For the sake of simplicity I will call these 2 and 16 from now on. These metabolites can be measured in the urine or blood, however urine is the best method. In the blood these metabolites fluctuate throughout the menstrual cycle making it difficult to know the true levels. This is not the case in urine where the levels are consistent throughout the menstrual cycle.

So what does all this mean for you? Very simply type 2 is protective against breast cancer and other oestrogen dependent cancers whilst 16 is proliferative and increases breast cancer risk. We will always have both of these metabolites because that is the natural result of oestrogen metabolism. However, it is the level of each of these metabolites and the ratio between them that is very important and must be kept in balance.

The ideal ratio between 2:16 is 2.0. A low ratio, indicates low levels of the protective 2 and a state of oestrogen excess, increasing the risk of oestrogen dependent cancers. If the ratio is very high it can indicate low oestrogen levels and an increased risk of osteoporosis.

So, you can see it is worthwhile having this simple urine test so that any problems with oestrogen metabolism can be fixed. This not only applies to mature women but also to younger women. It seems that we are seeing an increase in the number of young women being diagnosed with breast cancer so perhaps all women should be tested from time to time. This is particularly true for women taking the oral contraceptive pill and for women taking HRT.

The test is very simple and easy to perform. Upon your request the test is sent to you directly from the laboratory and contains instructions and everything you need. All you need to do is collect a sample from your first wee of the day and send it off as per instructions. You do need to stop eating at 10 pm the night before and for women who have a regular menstrual cycle the sample should be collected between days 18-25 of the cycle. Do not collect urine during menstruation.

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