Our New Super IV Bag

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We’re so excited about our new Super bag! It’s the Super Nutritive IV Bag and it’s full of so many good things.

Here’s the breakdown:
Vitamin C, Vitamin B complex, B5, B6, B12, Magnesium, Calcium, Molybdenate, Manganese, Potassium, Zinc, Selenium, and Amino Acids.

This is an awesome bag and is my new favourite for really helping you feel better faster.

Who should get this bag?
It’s a great one for Fertility, Low energy, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue, Crohn’s & Colitis, IBS and generally feeling like crap.

I personally do really well with the amino acids and they make me feel like a million bucks.

Who wouldn’t want to feel like a million bucks?!?

I’ll be hanging out in the IV Lounge this Thursday afternoon and evenings so come and get a bag with me!

Not sure? Come in for your IV Prep visit and we will chat about the options, do a health check and book you in for your IV if that feels right for you. Click here to book your free IV Prep Visit.

We’re here to help.

The Rooted Team

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IV Treatments for Shingles

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Shingles is awful. I haven’t experienced it myself but I’ve heard it’s one of the most painful things you can go through. Patients who I’ve seen, find that the pain has affected their sleep so then they are tired for weeks. It’s also decreased their appetite. Having less sleep and eating less food would cause even more fatigue and negatively impact their quality of life.

There’s some great research supporting the use of intravenous vitamin C in the treatment of shingles or Herpes Zoster.

Symptoms of Shingles

The pain usually starts before the rash begins 2-3 days afterwards. Many people have persistent or recurrent pain in that same area that can last for months or years.

The pain of postherpetic neuralgia may be sharp and intermittent or constant and may be debilitating. Vitamin C has been shown to treat and prevent this post-rash pain.

Natural Treatments for Shingles

B12 injections into the same dermatome or around where the rash is also part of the treatment.

High dose vitamin C such as 20g has been researched and supported. Ideally the treatment is 2-3 times the first week as soon as possible and then 1 a week for 3 weeks.

Book your IV Treatment for Shingles

Click here to book your first IV, put in the Notes – shingles and we can chat about which bag to start you on. If you’re not sure, give us a call or book a free session to chat about how IV therapy might help you.

 

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The Hating is Dissipating

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My youngest daughter is enjoying her gymnastics class a lot. It’s a parent and tot class so each of the little ones has a parent with them to assist with all the cute moves they’re doing.

A couple weeks ago there were just 4 kids there with an adult. We did their warm-ups of jumping, bear walks and walking on tip toes. It was already 10 minutes into the class before I realized that all the other parents were Dads. I was the only Mom there. A year ago I would have noticed immediately and have been devastated, hating the Dads and their cuteness with their kids. Their loving hugs and connection with their children.

But the hating is dissipating. I don’t feel as angry. I don’t feel as empty. It’s there still…the sadness, the longing for the way things should be. But peace is slowly creeping into my life.

Learning to live this new life is a day to day exploration. Figuring out how this is going to work without Steve. He was a light and rock in our lives. He was our cheerleader.

So, if your life is not working out the way you’ve hoped here’s some of the things I’ve done to help me over the last 2 years.

  1. Take Care of You – I’ve put a big emphasis on taking care of me so I can take care of my kids. Going to bed early, eating well, seeing my counsellor, going to the gym etc. What small changes can you make to your day which would be a bit more kinder to your body, mind and spirit?
  2. Find your Passion – I’ve done a lot of self-reflection over the last year. When death hits so close to home people often reflect on their life. Are they living the life they want? I’ve refined my business to grow the parts I really want to do more of. I’ve tried out different hobbies and keep exploring who I am so I can find joy today and not put it off. I know too well that life is too short.
  3. Enjoy the Now – I have been actively working on my inner game, my mental state. I could complain about how hard my life is (sometimes I still do) or I can embrace the gifts I’ve been given. My 2 healthy, brilliant little girls who are strong-willed and funny. It’s not all roses and picture-perfect moments but I’m grateful for my kids. So, each day, I’m learning to enjoy the now, the present moment.

So yes, the hating is dissipating. It’s being replaced by love and gratitude. I hope your hate is leaving too.

If you want more support, click here to join me in my private Facebook group Guiltless Grace.

Talk soon,

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What’s up with Bee Pollen?

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Hey there,
I’ve never taken bee pollen as a supplement however a number of patients have mentioned it over the years so I wanted to see what was up with Bee Pollen?

What is Bee Pollen?

Bee pollen is considered a highly nutritious food because it contains a balance of vitamins, minerals, proteins, carbohydrates, fats, enzymes, and essential amino acids.
Pollen comes from various plants, including buckwheat, maize, pine (songhaufen), rape, and typha (puhuang)
It’s not the same things as  bee venom, honey, and royal jelly.
Bee pollen contains more amino acids and vitamins than many other amino acid-containing products like beef, eggs, or cheese.

Bee Pollen Uses

Orally, bee pollen is used for general nutrition, as an appetite stimulant, to improve stamina and athletic performance, for premature aging, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), hay fever or allergic rhinitis, mouth sores, rheumatism, painful urination, prostate conditions, and radiation sickness. It is also used orally for weight loss and obesity, bleeding problems including coughing or vomiting blood, bloody diarrhea, nosebleed, cerebral hemorrhage, and menstrual problems. Bee pollen is also used for gastrointestinal (GI) problems including constipation, diarrhea, enteritis, colitis, as a general tonic, diuretic, and for alcohol intoxication.

Topically, bee pollen is used for skin care in skin softening products, and for treating eczema, pustular eruptions, and diaper rash.

 

Safety of Bee Pollen

Bee pollen has been safely used in clinical trials lasting up to 30 days. So that means if you’re using it longer than a month – consult your health care provider and consider cycling on and off of it. Alternating with other products.
There is some concern that bee pollen might have uterine stimulant effects so you may want to avoid it during your period as it might cause a heavier flow. And you probably want to stay away from it if you’re pregnant.
Preliminary evidence suggests that a specific combination product seems to decrease some symptoms of PMS including irritability, weight increases, and edema when given over a period of 2 menstrual cycles.

Dosing of Bee Pollen

An initial theoretical dose is 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon, once per day. The dosage may be gradually increased to 1-2 teaspoons one to three times per day (anecdotal). A spoonful at breakfast, preferably taken with a piece of fruit: the fruit fibers (raw hemicellulose) reinforce the activity of the fresh pollen.

Adverse effects

Hypersensitivity to pollens included in commercial preparations has been observed. Symptoms include allergic reactions such as gastrointestinal upset, rash, erythema, asthma, hay fever, nausea, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, and vomiting. So start small especially if you have allergies or are sensitive to other products.

Pollen Allergies?

Bee pollen supplements can cause serious allergic reactions in patients who are allergic to pollen. Allergic reactions can include itching, swelling, shortness of breath, lightheadedness, and anaphylaxis.

Bottom Line

If you’re thinking about it, you probably want to chat with your health care provider to double check it’s for you. And then start small.
And if you’re struggling with any of these health conditions we mentioned above, book a free meet the doctor visit with one of us to see how we can help.
Talk soon,
Dr. Whitney
Source – Natural Medicines Database

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How To Exercise For Your Thyroid

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how to exercise thyroid

Is your current exercise routine sabotaging your thyroid health?

If you have a thyroid condition, you may be experiencing one or more of the following when it comes to exercise:

  • You’re exhausted and can’t imagine attempting exercise or even making it to the gym
  • You’re making exercise a regular habit but you find that it takes you forever to recover and you experience lots of muscle or joint pain afterward
  • You’re working out like crazy and are beyond frustrated that your best efforts at the gym aren’t getting you any closer to your goals

If any of the above sounds familiar, read on!

Hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s Disease can make exercise a challenge. Why? A low thyroid also means a low metabolism. Even if you’re taking medication and your thyroid labs are “normal” your metabolism could still be suffering.

First and foremost is to make sure your thyroid labs (especially your free T3) are optimal so you have the stamina and energy to make it through your day AND get some exercise in. With optimal labs you will also recover faster from exercise and experience less muscle and joint pain.

Secondly, (and this is the important part!) the type and length of exercise can make a big difference for hypothyroid folks.

Did you know that high intensity or extended periods of exercise can actually lower your Free T3 (your most active thyroid hormone) and increases your Reverse T3?

This combination is like a big brake pedal for your thyroid gland telling it so slooow down. For people with low thyroid function, this is the opposite of what we want!

Here are some questions to ask yourself to help decide if your current exercise plan is right for you:

  1. How do you feel during exercise?
    If at any time you feel dizzy, lightheaded or fatigued during exercise it may be too strenuous.
  2. How do you feel after?
    After exercise, you should feel energized and upbeat due to the positive endorphins that are released with physical activity. If you’re feeling sore, exhausted, or like you need a nap, you may need to dial back the intensity of your workouts.
  3. Could you do the same exercise again?
    If the answer is yes, you’re exercising at the sweet spot of intensity (not too low and not too high)
  4. Do you enjoy it?
    Please, pick something you actually enjoy! Exercise doesn’t have to mean slugging it out at the gym day after day. Walking, hiking, yoga, biking, karate, swimming or mowing the lawn are all wonderful ways to move your body.

Here are my general recommendations on how to exercise for your thyroid:

  • Keep your exercise at a low to moderate intensity (less than 75% of your maximum heart rate) for approximately 30-40 minutes.
  • Avoid high-intensity cardio or extended periods of exercise. Don’t over do it – your body will interpret this as stress and will slow down your metabolism even more to conserve energy. Exercises to think twice about would include marathons, high-intensity spinning, or aggressive HIIT training.
  • Build muscle! Cardio is not king in the thyroid world. More muscle = better metabolism.
  • Listen to your body. If you feel good both during and after exercise, it’s likely a good choice for you.

Have questions? Book your Free Thyroid Assessment to learn more!

Dr. Katie Rothwell, ND

References:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16175498

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Desiccated Thyroid: An Update

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desiccated thyroid

Updated March 2019

Recently I’ve been getting a ton of questions about desiccated thyroid from my thyroid patients and as Naturopathic Doctors have recently gained access to the prescribing of this medication, it’s a great time to do some Q&A.

So, here are the top 5 things you need to know about Natural Desiccated Thyroid (NDT)

1. What is desiccated thyroid? (NDT)
NDT is used for the treatment of low thyroid function and hypothyroidism. It’s considered a more natural form of thyroid medication and is sourced from porcine (pig) thyroid glands. NDT is NOT the same as natural thyroid “extracts” (the ones found online and in some health food stores – these should be avoided!). NDT can be used in place of synthetic thyroid medications such as levothyroxine (T4) or cytomel (T3).

2. What is the difference between NDT and levothyroxine (Synthroid)?
Synthroid is the synthetic version of T4 which is only one of our thyroid hormones. NDT is sourced from actual thyroid glands and contains the full spectrum of thyroid hormones including T4 and T3 (which is our most metabolically active thyroid hormone). Many of the benefits of NDT come from the addition of the T3 hormone.

3. Where can I get desiccated thyroid?
NDT is available at most pharmacies by prescription only through your medical doctor or Naturopathic Doctor. In the US, desiccated thyroid is also called armour thyroid or nature thyroid. In Canada, there are 2 sources of desiccated thyroid, ERFA Thyroid and Compounded Desiccated Thyroid. ERFA thyroid is produced in 30mg, 60mg, and 125mg tablets, is available at almost any pharmacy, and is considered the ‘generic’ form. Compounded desiccated thyroid is produced by Medisca and is only available through compounding pharmacies. It is a powdered form that can be made into any dosage and is prescribed in capsule form.

So what form is best? 
I use primarily compounded desiccated thyroid in my practice. This form has less fillers (like cornstarch) that are found in the generic brand. As well, Medisca provides a certificate of analysis with each produced batch, so I can guarantee my patients that they are getting a standardized and consistent dose. It also gives us dosing flexibility, so we can get creative and really fine tune doses if (for example) a patient needed 77.5mg of NDT – no problem!

4. My doctor says desiccated thyroid isn’t safe, is that true?
Historically there have been concerns about NDT doses not being standardized, meaning that one pill could have different amounts of hormone than the next. Because the thyroid gland is so sensitive to changes, this is definitely a serious concern. However, NDT is currently produced by only 2 manufacturers in Canada and like any other pharmaceutical, it has a drug identification number (DIN) which means that it has been reviewed and approved by Health Canada. This also allows for quality control, inspections, and all the other regulations that go along with any pharmaceutical drug. As stated above, I monitor each ‘batch’ of compounded NDT to ensure my patients are getting the same standardized dosing.

5. Is desiccated thyroid better than Synthroid?
Well, it all depends on the person and their current state of health. Many people do feel better on NDT due to the addition of T3, our most active thyroid hormone. Others hypothesize that NDT is superior because it also contains two other lesser known thyroid hormones (T1 and T2). Unfortunately, quality research comparing NDT and other forms of T4 and T4/T3 combination medications is limited. A 2013 study compared levothyroxine to NDT and found that 49% preferred desiccated thyroid, 19% preferred levothyroxine, and 23% found no difference.

What I see in practice
After years of prescribing and working with desiccated thyroid, the vast majority of my patients feel superior on NDT. Improvements in energy, body temperature, hair growth, sleep, skin, mood, metabolism, and more have all been reported. Most of my patients notice a difference in as little as 1-2 weeks, and symptoms continue to improve over the course of 3-6 months while we finesse their dose.

Have more NDT questions? Book a free thyroid assessment with me here

– Your Thyroid ND
Dr. Katie Rothwell, ND

Decode your Thyroid! Get your free guide to optimal thyroid hormones herePBOOK008

 

Resources:
Hoang TD et al Desiccated thyroid extract compared with levothyroxine in the treatment of hypothyroidism: A randomized, double-blind, crossover study. J Clin Endo Metab 2013;98:1982-90. Epub March 28, 2013.

ERFA Pharmaceuticals www.eci2012.net/product/thyroid

 

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