Healers
	In 25 years as a Naturopathic Physician, I’ve become a health detective: I look for what stands in the way of vibrant health and help to create shifts. Sometimes it’s as simple as basic nutrition changes, adding regular exercise or evaluating emotional or stress patterns. Your doctor says your PAP and blood tests are normal, but you just don’t feel right. When you know something is out of balance in your body, I encourage you to trust this feeling and go a little deeper. Naturopathic Physicians with years of experience are trained to look at the whole person. By looking at certain symptoms or “normal” blood results and seeing subtle problems arising, we can suggest very targeted, non-conventional tests and outline options that can the possibilities you can explore. Because hormonal balance is important, evaluating and balancing them has become one of my specialties. There are many different hormones in the body -- such as thyroid, adrenal and sex hormones -- which can be evaluated through urine, blood and saliva testing. Imbalances can be adjusted by using natural hormones, herbs and nutrition. Our modern diet and lifestyle has lead to more diabetes and heart troubles. Though 70-100 is considered a ”normal” glucose (blood sugar) level, I like to see glucose values between 80-90. If it isn’t -- and a person is having problems with weight gain, fatigue, food cravings -- I suggest running a fasting blood sugar and at the same time a fasting blood insulin (which is the hormone in the blood that is to control our blood sugar levels.) I have the person eat a high carbohydrate or sugary breakfast and two hours later test again for glucose and insulin levels. If I know how your body processes sugar and carbohydrates I can help guide your diet -- and herb and mineral intake -- to reverse this situation, prevent diabetes and begin losing the excess weight. As we go into menopause, our bodies often do not metabolize sugar as well as they did. To remain healthy, we can’t eat the way we used to. By understanding and changing, we can begin to get control over our own health again. (If you want to read more, look at “insulin resistance” and even “syndrome x” which links all of this to added cardiovascular risk.) Got GERD? (or indigestion, bloating, heartburn, etc.)? Generally, these people are given medications by their doctor to block the production of acid in their stomach. Often they’ll feel better. But is the problem resolved? And what are the long term effects of blocking the production of acid in the stomach? Did you know that the stomach produces acid to be able to digest protein? Did you know that the acid in the stomach is one of the body’s natural defenses against parasites or other foreign critters? So what happens when we block this for any length of time? Two useful tests for these gastric problems -- a “Food Sensitivity Test” and a “Candida Test” -- both can be done with a blood test. Please note! Food sensitivities and food allergies are not the same things and are not tested for in the same way. I find when people eliminate their individual food sensitivities and treat Candida if necessary for at least 3 months, possibly also working to clean and strengthen the liver and bowel, there are often amazing results. Frequently people no longer need their prescription stomach medications or Tums. Frequently the bloating disappears, people naturally become less puffy, lose weight, and feel more vital and energetic. Not all depressions or anxieties are created equal. Many of your neurotransmitters can be affected by amino acids without the use of antidepressants. This testing and treatment option has been a godsend for many of my frustrated patients who didn’t like the side effects -- or long term effects – of their antidepressants. Have you ever wondered how it might affect the brain to increase only one neurotransmitter, say serotonin, and not pay attention to the balance of all of them? Let me leave you with the thought that the body is a very complex and dynamic organism. You might be able to have the better, more vibrant health you really want with a little health detective work and a few changes. You deserve it. Take more charge of your own health! Dr. Julie Claire Holmes, N.D. 808.878.3267

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