Humans are exposed to radiation from electromagnectic fields on a daily basis. Whilst we need this technology, we need to learn to use this in a safe manner so that we protect ourselves as well as our loved ones. Here are a few tips:
- Always try to use a corded connection for your internet. This is also the safest for cyber crime. In cases where you can’t get a corded connection, try not to sit right next to your wi-fi router. Ensure that your wi-fi is off at night to ensure good quality sleep. Encourage your neighbours to do the same!
- Use your cellphone on speaker phone when talking to someone. Always put your phone on flight mode especially when moving-driving, jogging, walking etc. This decreases the risks of accidents as well.
- For iPADS and other tablets, download the app first, then put it on airplane mode during use and switch back on when using the internet. It is imperative for children to use these devices on airplane mode as much as possible.
- Try not to keep these devices in your bedroom at night. If you need to keep your cellphone there, keep it as far as possible away from you. To use an old-fashion battery operated alarm clock to wake you up.
- Do not carry your device on your body but rather in a bag. Women are known to put cellphones in their bras and men tend to carry their phones in their pants or shirt pockets. This is definitely something you should avoid.
- If possible, children should only be using these devices in emergencies and not for playing. Colouring, puzzles, outdoor activities are far more beneficial for their brain development than any game on a screen.
Lastly, person to person interaction is one of the reasons known to contribute to health and longevity. Talking over a cup of coffee is far more relaxing that a text or an email. Minimize your screen time and increase your socialization time. After all, laughter is the best medicine!
Do you have these symptoms? If so, you could be hypothyroid.
Weight gain, constipation, fluid retention, fatigue, puffy face
Brittle, weak nails. Dry, coarse, sparse hair.
Anxiety, panic attacks, irritability, brain fog
Husky voice, dry elbows, cold hands and feet
Down turned mouth, acne, allergies
Carpel tunnel syndrome, loss of outer third of eyebrow
High cholesterol, PMS, Infertility, easy bruising
Hypothyroidism
The thyroid gland regulates your metabolism, growth and maturation by constantly releasing a steady amount of hormones into the bloodstream. For certain biochemical reactions to take place, it needs the perfect temperature. If you have an underactive thyroid, this temperature won’t be maintained and so you will not have the normal metabolic functions resulting in the symptoms above and eventually other dieases as well.
Blood tests
If you suspect hypothyroidism, it is advisable to get a comprehensive thyroid panel which includes TSH, T4, T3, Thyroid antibodies, Thyroglobulin. When interpreting these results, you have to look for optimal levels and not the standard reference ranges. A normal TSH is from 0.2- 3.5 but I often have patients complaining of weight gain, depression and anxiety when their TSH is only 2.5 as the optimal TSH levels are in the range 0.5-2.
There will be other tests to assess the general state of your health. Eg. ANA, GGT, Homocysteine, etc
Thyroid antibodies
If a person does have optimal thyroid values but still has some of the symptoms above, then it is imperative to check their thyroid antibody levels if this has not been done before. This is used to predict Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and a functional medicine approach can reverse these antibodies and prevent the onset of disease.
Majority of women on eltroxin and euthyrox don’t even know if they’ve been tested for thyroid antibodies before. Here are some of the reasons why it is important to test for this:
1. The presence of antibodies confirms that you have an autoimmune condition. We know from scientific reseasrch that if you have one autoimmune condition, you are more likely to get another autoimmune condition, some years down the line. Eg. A person with Hashimotos Thyroiditis may be diagnosed with vitiligo, lupus or fibromyalgia years later.
2. The presence of antibodies will determine your treatment of choice. (Gut healing, food sensitivities, low level laser therapy, etc)
3. Antibody levels are also used to determine if your condition is worsening or improving.
Thyroid sonar
A thyroid sonar will be valuable in checking the size and nodularity of the gland. If you do have thyroid nodules you may need to have a thyroid scan which will determine if this is a hot nodule or cold nodule. Cold nodules are malignant and will need specialist intervention.
Treatment
1. Addressing the root cause of your disease:
Are your adrenals causing the thyroid imbalance?
How is your gut function? Do you have leaky gut?
Are you eating inflammatory foods that you are sensitive to?
Are you not expressing yourself enough in life situations?
Perhaps you may have a gut infection or parasite?
Are you on chronic medication that is disrupting your gut flora?
Is your thyroid problems causing other hormonal imbalances like obesity, PCOS, hot flsuhes?
Fill out the HAQ, Identity stress Q and the hormone Q to see where you are with regards to your health.
2. Thyroid medication:
A combination of the following may be used to achieve optimal TSH, T4, T3 levels.
T4 – Eltroxin or euthyrox
T3 – compounded medication
Thyroid S (aromour thyroid)
Low dose naltrexone (antibodies)
Autosangius therapy (food sensitivities, antibodies)
3. LLLT – Low level Laser therapy
These short treatment sessions are 15 minutes and the comra cold laser is used to rejuvenate the thyroid. This has been effective for treating thyroid nodules. A person may need between 6-12 sessions, depending on their antibody levels, nodules, etc.
4. Lifestyle modification and other supplements:
This is patient specific. Eg. If you have high inflammatory markers (GGT, hsCRP, ferritin, fibrinogen, etc) then supplements to decrease inflammation will be recommended. Obviously, these are always secondary to your lifestyle adjustments!
International Day of Yoga 2017
With International Yoga Day this month, I would like to take the opportunity to thank all those yoga instructors for allowing me into their space and enlightening people on healthy living. I am deeply grateful for your time as well as all that you do for the community. You guys rock!!!!!
If you get a chance, pop into one of these studios. They are all in the Centurion/Tshwane area. Your body, mind and spirit will thank you.
Yoga Connection (Centurion) – yogacenturion.co.za
Lunula Yoga Studio(Midstream) – www.lunula-yoga.com 082 955 2282
Yoga Sanyam (Stoneridge, Laudium) – 0834974871
Go with the flow (Faerie Glen) – www.gowiththeflow.co.za/ 082 602 7689
Yoga Oasis (Brooklyn) – www.yogaoasis.co.za 082 666 4798
Usha’s Gym (Laudium @ SPHSS) – 0824513512
Kathyoga (Southdowns Estate) – kathyoga.com
Ms X and her hypertension
A few weeks ago, Ms X came to see me for her ‘resistant hypertension.’ She had seen a few doctors before, throughout the years to help control it. We started with the basics which meant looking at her lifestyle. I advocated that she cut her meat intake as she was on an 80% meat and 20% vegetable diet.
This was the result in the FIRST WEEK! Even I was pleasantly surprised.
Ms X has a long way to go to get her BP levels in the normal range but with her dedication and positive attitude, I have no doubt that she will succeed in achieving her health goals.
You too can succeed in living the life you dream of. It starts with nurturing your body with the correct foods. You are worth the effort! Take the leap…
Please ensure that your phone is either OFF and on AIRPLANE MODE BEFORE entering our practice. We have gone to great lengths to ensure that our offices have the least microwave emitting devices (Wi-Fi, cellphones, etc) in order to allow your nervous system to relax and healing to take place.
The December holiday came and went by so quickly. There were laughs, some irritation and lots of overindulgent meals. You deserve it, you think, after the very tough 2016 you survived.
Alopecia
Alopecia is the partial or complete absence of hair from areas of the body where it normally grow. As we get older, there are a fair amount of men and women that suffer from hair loss. This can range from mild to severe. Sometimes there can be a medical cause for it. At other times, there is no cause detected.
It’s funny, I never had an issue with sleep until I was interviewed by Longevity Magazine for an article on sleep! The universe was testing me and it was time to take my own advice; look for the root cause, adjust my lifestyle habits and not resort to taking any supplement.
Most people who hear the word ‘detox’ think that it is some sort of hippie, restrictive diet where you starve or deprive yourself from the pleasures of eating and living. This is because they do not understand the way the body functions. By the time they realise this, many have symptoms of underlying inflammation, a chronic illness or something called NAFLD (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.)
This past weekend on Sunday afternoon, I decided to relax by reading the Sunday Times (big mistake!). Anyway, I came across an article that stated that 500 000 mums in South Africa are super stressed as their children are writing their matric exams soon. Interestingly, there was no mention of dads being stressed during exam time.