A new study by the National Institutes of Health links sunscreen to male infertility. Benzophenones are used in sunscreens and personal care products and are absorbed by the skin. These chemicals act as endocrine disrupting compounds, as they can interfere with the body's hormones. The recent study showed a 30% reduction in male fertility, leading to a longer time to pregnancy.
Infertility and Chinese Medicine
Traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture provide an effective and noninvasive option with low potential for side effects, improving a person's ability to conceive naturally. There is evidence that acupuncture improves blood flow to the uterus and ovaries, and as a stand alone treatment or combined with assisted reproductive techniques (IVF, IUI, ZIFT/GIFT, or ICSI), there are improved outcomes for conception.
Cold Weather, Cold Sores
Colder weather has arrived in Kansas City, and it is here for the season. These temperature changes can affect the immune system, but also the change from being active and the increase in stress can decrease the immune response as well.
Some individuals experience cold sores more frequently in the winter time with the colder weather. While everyone doesn't get them, most people have the antibodies to the virus that causes cold sores. These cold sores, otherwise known as oral herpes simplex, can cause painful sores on the lips, or inside the mouth and is often associated with swollen lymph nodes and muscle aches.
While the best way to keep these cold sores from recurring is to have a robust immune system, there are some other ways to keep these sores at bay.
Change the Lysine to Arginine Ratio
The herpes simplex virus needs arginine to thrive, while lysine causes disruption in the virus's replication.
Eating foods high in lysine decrease its ability to replicate.
These include:
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- fish
- yogurt
- kefir
- cottage cheese
- papaya
- beets
- apples
- apricots
Avoid foods high in arginine:
- wheat
- soy
- lentils
- oats
- corn
- barley
- eggplant
- tomato
- chocolate
- peanuts
- almonds
- cashews
- most other nuts and seeds
Also, some vitamins, including vitamin E, have been shown to be beneficial in the treatment and prevention of these cold sores.
Stay tuned for the next article which will give easy health tips for keeping your immune system in tip-top shape!
Come visit Kansas City Integrative Health to learn more about how you can beat the cold without getting sick all the time, we are conveniently located in the heart of Overland Park.
Recurrent Pregnancy Loss
Miscarriage occurs in up to 1 out of 4 pregnancies, and for some women, this can be a recurring event.
Birth of a healthy baby depends upon a unique and intricate set of events including fertilization of an embryo, successful implantation, adaptation of the mother's hormones and physiology to the baby, ability to grow a placenta to meet the baby's needs, appropriate growth of the uterus and cervix, and precise growth of the baby and timing of birth. That's a lot!
Anywhere in that process, something can go wrong, and in some women, it occurs repeatedly. Conditions including autoimmunity, polycystic ovarian syndrome, diabetes, and physical abnormalities can result in recurrent pregnancy loss.
Pregnancy is divided into three stages: conception to week 4, weeks 5-9, and then weeks 10-delivery. Most of pregnancy losses occur in the earlier two stages, often associated with genetic factors. while later miscarriage is more frequently autoimmune or anatomic.
The evaluation of recurrent pregnancy loss includes a complete medical history and investigation into other conditions, family medical history, physical exam, and laboratory evaluation.
Depending on your specific history, stage of pregnancy loss, and laboratory tests, treatment will be individualized to address your specific needs.
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome & Infertility
Polycystic ovarian syndrome affects over 10% of women, characterized by irregular periods, excess male hormones, and cysts on the ovaries. PCOS is a complex condition with many contributing factors, but no known direct cause. Women with PCOS often have insulin resistance (and are at a risk for diabetes), elevated lipids, and increased inflammatory markers.
Standard conventional treatment involves being placed on the birth control pill, which is less than ideal for women looking to conceive. Other than artificial reproductive technology, infertility treatments for PCOS is lacking. Fortunately, naturopathic alternatives are available, including appropriate laboratory investigation, lifestyle intervention, nutritional supplementation, acupuncture, and botanical medicines. These interventions are evidence based and cutting edge to provide regulation of hormones, cycles, and ovulation.
Here's the 4-1-1 on acupuncture and PCOS:
Acupuncture improved insulin sensitivity
It may help normalized hormones including DHEA, estrogens, and testosterone
Increases effectiveness of Artificial Reproductive Technology
Acupuncture is associated with better outcome for life birth rates
Acupuncture is only one method of addressing polycystic ovarian syndrome. Combined with an individualized and comprehensive treatment plan including nutritional supplementation, botanical formulations, homeopathy, and lifestyle intervention.
Still have questions? Come in and learn more, we are located in the heart of Overland Park and are happy to address your concerns.
Stress Reduction & Breathing
Kansas City Integrative Health recognizes that you are stressed. This stress plays an important role in your health. Breathing is one of the most basic ways to regulate your heart rate, hormones, anxiety, and oxygen levels. Learn techniques here.
Infertility: The Trends
An estimated 15.5% of couples in the United States experience infertility, with that number going over 20% for couples over 35.
There are some suggestions that fertility in the US has been declining over the past decades. Reasons include the "modernization theory", or the idea that couples are waiting longer to start their families, often until after 35, which is when fertility noticeably decreases.
Another reason includes environmental exposures. Lead, pesticides, and endocrine-disrupting chemicals (such as BPA, pthalates, and other "xenoestrogens"), alter normal hormone functioning and lead to decreased fertility. These environmental toxins may account for the declining levels of testosterone in men, which has been steadily declining 1% per year, which is the same rate of decline seen in sperm production.
Some studies show that despite the decreased sperm production, fertility levels have remained constant. But those numbers are no comfort to the millions of Americans struggling with starting their family. Some factors are uncontrollable. However, some factors, including exposure to environmental toxins, are more easily managed.
Looking to decrease your environmental burden and boost your fertility? Check out these tips.
For an even more comprehensive list, check this out.
Environmental Exposures: Tips for Reproductive Health
Environmental exposures to certain toxins can affect your overall health, especially your reproductive health. Studies show the association with toxins and diseases, including endometriosis with pesticide exposure, Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and BPA, mercury with lower IQ, pregnancy loss and pesticides, pthalates with behavioral changes in young girls, BPA with obesity, and the list goes on...
What can you do? Avoid as much as possible the following:
Mercury
Most common in high mercury fish and skin-lightening creams. Highest in the following fish: mackerel, marlin, orange roughy, shark, swordfish, tilefish and TUNA
Lead
Older homes often have lead paint, which can be breathed directly or touched. Ensure proper testing before any home remodeling. Along with old paint, lead can also be found in playground equipment including artificial turf, or even dirt. A great way to prevent this lead from being spread through your house is to take off your shoes upon entering your home and not wearing them inside.
Pesticides
Always try to buy organic foods, especially those classified as the worst on the Environmental Working Group's Dirty Dozen list, and when not buying organic be sure to wash in an acid-based cleaner (such as vinegar).
BPA
BPA is found in high concentrations in receipts and canned foods. Avoid receipts if you can, and store them seperately, such as in a small envelope. Limit intake of canned foods, and chose BPA-free canned foods when possible. Avoid polycarbonate plastic bottles, steel or glass are better.
Pthalates
Pthalates are found it soft plastics, such as PVC and vinyl products. They are also used in cosmetics and personal care products (often labeled as "fragrance") such as nail polish, cologne, shampoo, hand lotion. Pthalates are also found in vinyl flooring, insect repellant, ziploc plastics, dairy products, any plastics with recycling codes 3 or 7. And unfortunately, since PVC pipe is what is used for most water pipes today, pthalates are commonly found in drinking water, but the good news is that these are easily filtered with a charcoal filter.
Happy Healthy Halloween: Tricks and Treats
Halloween is one of the most anticipated events of the year for children. However, for those children with food allergies, trick or treating can be frustrating and even dangerous. Food Allergy Research & Education is raising awareness and encouraging teal pumpkins to be placed outside homes that offer non-food treats for kids with allergies.
Ideas for non-food treats:
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Ideas for non-food treats:
- Tattoos
- Glow Sticks
- Bubbles
- Silicone Wristbands
- Mini play-dough containers
- Halloween pencils & crayons
- Witch fingers or spider rings
- Shoe laces
In addition to food allergies, there's another reason to keep the candy to a minimum; candy has empty calories and is lacking in any significant nutritional value. Want to hand out some fun healthy options instead?
- Cutie Tangerines
- Raisins
- Real Fruit Strips/Leather
- Apple sauce snack packs
- Granola bars
- Juice boxes/packs
Get creative! Check out my pinterest page and other Pinterest boards for lots of fantastic ideas!
Botanical Medicine and Infertility
Botanical medicine has been used for centuries for improving fertility. With cutting edge research, studies verify the effectiveness of many of these herbs. An example of this includes an Ayurvedic herb, Withania somnifera, otherwise called ashwaganda. This herb is known traditionally to help with stress by supporting the adrenals (and normalizing the stress hormone "cortisol"), and it has been shown to improve stress and perceived quality of life (WOW!).
Because of its "stress-reducing" properties, ashwaganda may be effective in treating infertility, especially male infertility related to "stress". Treatment with this herb in a clinical study led to decreased stress, improved anti-oxidants and semen quality.
Ashwaganda is only one example of how botanical medicine can be used to increase fertility and to attain a successful pregnancy. Often, with my patients, I combine multiple different herbs into a specific formula for a patient, specifically tailored to that person's situation and cause of infertility.
Individualized medicine is your greatest chance for success.