Dr. Nicole Sundene
Scottsdale Naturopathic Doctor
If you have asthma, or breathing problems and live in Arizona you should be aware of the following patterns and schedules of pollen, infectious disease, and air quality impacting my patient’s lung health.
Basically, the take home asthma message today as we enter the summer fire season and monsoons that have my patients extra triggered despite lowering pollen levels is that there is always SOMETHING in Arizona triggering asthma attacks whether it be smoke/infections in the summer months or the constant pollen from Ragweed that is noxious here, and creates two separate allergy seasons.
In Phoenix we have Spring allergies AND Fall allergies as I discuss further on my Season Allergies blog. So if we are not constantly targeting an allergy prevention program as we will discuss today to prevent asthma flares, patients can struggle with their breathing all summer long, despite the break we get from pollen once we are above 100F and little can bloom. With asthma in Arizona we must protect the lungs from the latest triggers, and try our best to plan and target natural treatments for prevention ahead of these very common lung irritants.
It is important that women with asthma and allergies understand that the majority of things flying around in our air in Phoenix is dust, fungus, smoke from wildfires, and pollution. Women with a history of yeast allergy, fungal allergy, and so forth will be very triggered with their asthma from living here and a combination of natural treatments can be helpful or I would advise considering moving elsewhere if you are asthma patient. If you cannot move away from the poor air quality here, then at least pay close attention to my allergy schedule below, and write on your calendar a reminder to start natural allergy supplements at least two weeks before the pollen you react to begins to bloom.
For most of my allergy patients they need to take my natural remedies all year long.
I never had allergies until I moved here, and the allergies are something fierce that requires an aggressive natural solution and/or over the counter antihistamines or both. Anytime the weather is in the 70’s-90’s the plants will be blooming and my patients will be reacting adversely and having asthma flares that are difficult to control when we are not using enough histamine lowering treatments and addressing the root cause.
Anytime we have dust storms and monsoons we are at higher risk of developing Valley Fever, or being bit by a mosquito with West Nile virus or Malaria which is now in the US again. After every heavy rain comes mosquitoes. Checking your yard for standing water and eliminating all sources for mosquitoes to breed is imperative for asthma patients.
During windy times of the monsoon season I advise asthma patients to stay inside with their allergies and asthma. Get a HEPA UV filter for your bedroom and the areas in your home you spend the most time in if not for your entire home.
If you are allergic to your pets at least keep them out of your bedroom during flare months. The "Total Load" of histamine adds up. Some triggers we can get away with when the pollen count is lower and it is not a windy day in the desert, the better. For instance when my breathing is bad that is when I eat my perfect clean PGE-2 Diet to reduce inflammation.
Of further challenge to my asthma patients during the hot, dry Phoenix summer, are the wildfires and polluted air making us sick in the summer months, which is why I drink my “Asthma Lung” recipe as a natural preventive cough medicine. Keeping my lungs calm and less reactive during the summer fires is critical to preventing asthma flares.
If you live near a golf course and are allergic to grass, call your local golf course and ask them to share their seeding and mowing schedule so you can stay inside on those days. Certain types of grass seeds when the golf courses are heavily seeding their courses, seems to also trigger my asthma patients.
I have put this page together so asthma patients in Arizona can easily reference what may be making them sick. I like to use a baseball model to explain how we need to use this to prevent severe asthma flares. The allergies, food, or environmental trigger is like the pitcher serving up the pitch, and the batter is the lungs going hyper reactive to the new trigger.
So by becoming aware of our environmental triggers for asthma in Phoenix we can work to target and better understand when we need to implement allergy medicine at its highest as 70% of asthma is caused by allergies. We referred to this as “Eosinophilic Asthma,” and this can be easily diagnosed by CBC, as we will see a high levels of Eosinophils or EOS as it is printed out from most labs.
Patients with Eosinophilic Asthma will feel the worst in March to May generally in Arizona and then again in October/November is my experience. If you are planning a trip to Phoenix and have asthma visit outside those months or the best time for allergies is when it is cold in December and January, unless you are allergic to the evil Ragweed here that makes so many patients sick then let's plan your natural allergy program for all year round!
In my professional opinion, any asthma patients with an eosinophil count above 3 should be treated for allergies with natural medicine, and may need something stronger, such as a prescription drug temporarily to achieve better control while we work to understand individualized triggers. In order to be non-reactive with your lungs these eosinophils should be as close to zero as possible. Ideally no more than 0-2 range. When my patients need an epi-pen for severe peanut allergy for instance, they are usually around 6-7 eosinophils. So anything higher than that requires and aggressive antihistamine program that includes addressing the "Root Cause" of the eosinophils.
JANUARY
Ragweed, Cottonwood
Cold/Flu Season Peaks
High Winds= Dust/Fungus
FEBRUARY
Cottonwood, Citrus, Ragweed
Cold/Flu Season
High Winds= Dust/Fungus
MARCH=WORST ASTHMA MONTH IN ARIZONA
Ragweed, Mesquite, Mulberry, Cactus, Citrus, Ash
Cold/Flu Season Peaks or Winds Down
APRIL
Ragweed, Mesquite, Mulberry, Cactus, Ash
Cold/Flu Season Ending
MAY
Ragweed, Mesquite, Cactus, Careless Weed, Ash, Russian Thistle
Travel Germs Peak =Memorial Day Weekend
JUNE
Grass, Careless Weed, (Pollen Generally Low Otherwise)
Travel Germs Peak =Summer Vacation
JULY
Grass, Careless Weed, (Pollen Generally Low Otherwise)
Travel Germs Peak 4th of July
Dust Storms= Fungus Allergy/Valley Fever
West Nile Virus
AUGUST
Grass
Valley Fever
West Nile Virus- Use Bug Repellant
Back to School Germs
Dust Storms= Fungus Allergy/Valley Fever
SEPTEMBER
Grass, Juniper, Careless Weed, Russian Thistle Blooms, Fall Blooms Begin
Valley Fever
West Nile Virus
Dust Storms= Fungus Allergy/Valley Fever
OCTOBER
Ragweed, Grass, Juniper, Russian Thistle (Peaks)
Cold/Flu Season Begins
NOVEMBER
Ragweed, Grass, Juniper, Russian Thistle (Peaks)
Cold/Flu Season Begins
DECEMBER
Juniper, Ragweed
Cold/Flu Season Peaks
This information has been compiled via my daily use of Pollen.com which I recommend every single asthma and allergy patient load the app on their phone, subscribe to daily email updates, and follow your local allergy report every morning like an Investor studying stock markets!!
After all, having healthy lungs and being able to breathe without feeling like you are sucking air through a sponge is worth more than millions of dollars to many of my patients. When you cannot breathe you cannot do anything and life is pretty low energy and miserable. So making BFF's with Pollen.com should have you working at all times to prevent an asthma attack.
While these plants generally bloom around these times, they are also dependent on rain and sunshine. Every time we have a heavy rain in Spring and Fall soon after my allergy patients are really suffering.
The #1 important thing you know if you cannot breathe is what is blooming around you as a part of your preventive Allergy Program can stop an asthma flare.
Seasonal Allergies and the other lung irritants here are like baseball "pitches" being served up to your lungs. Once the ball gets served up it is only a matter of time before I hear that "crack of the bat" where the inflammation from allergies suddenly turns into an infection or an uncontrolled asthma attack in my patients. Treating allergies seriously and aggressively is very important to help anyone recover and improve their lung function. Let's stop throwing baseballs or "triggers" at the lungs the best we can and remove the pitcher from this scenario.
Valley Fever can be very challenging for asthma patients. Having inflamed lung tissue, and lung damage creates a larger surface area for germs to adhere to. Steroid inhalers that most asthma patients are dependent on impair the immune system in the lungs and create a breeding ground for a fungal infection. So my primary goal for all of my asthma patients especially in Arizona, is to work to get them off steroids as it is the last thing their immunocompromised state needs and sets them up for worse outcomes over time.
West Nile Virus when injected into animals with breathing problems caused them to die due to nervous system lesions impacting breathing, so researchers then concluded, "neurological lesions affecting respiratory function may be the primary cause of human WNV-induced death."
Malaria is back in the US, and asthma patients should get tested if they have been to a hot area where mosquitoes are. For infections that are not clearing go to the Emergency Room for testing.
On other random lung notes, as a hormone doctor I do commonly catch hypothyroidism and other hormone imbalance contributing to shortness of breath. As this is a common menopausal complaint women ask me and think "Is this what old age is like? This sucks. I can barely walk up a flight of stairs! Why am I huffing and puffing and so out of shape?"
Menopause has just shifted their thyroid into deficiency and that is why they are short of breath, exhausted, and having hair loss.
So checking that your hormones are okay can impact your asthma. In case any women are googling about that. I do commonly hear this complaint in a cluster of other random symptoms which should be a warning sign for women to get their hormones tested if they have the symptoms on my thyroid and hormone blogs! It certainly cannot hurt anything!
Pollen tracking can help us know when we need to target immune support and allergy treatments for asthma patients depending on where they live, and what they react to.
Hypothyroidism, Hashimoto's, and low thyroid function, or thyroid deficiency can all indeed cause shortness of breath. Whether thyroid function is too high or too low is not good for the lungs.
Please never treat your asthma naturally without the skilled guidance of a Naturopathic Doctor trained to treat asthma, such as myself. While the remedies on my Seasonal Allergies and Nettles blogs are generally safe keep in mind that natural medicines are generally NOT effective in asthma emergencies.
All asthma emergencies should be handled by 911/ER and never at a Naturopathic Doctor.
Instead where my Naturopathic Asthma program excels is in helping to nourish the lungs, reduce inflammation, boost immunity, and reduce allergic attacks upon them. This then reduces inflammation in the lungs, by reducing the total burden upon them from inflammation, infection, allergies, food triggers, and other environmental triggers beyond our control.
When I take my time to do all of this for my asthma patients, I often hear that they keep their rescue inhalers I prescribe them on hand for emergency only, but are no longer having regular asthma episodes because we have addressed their personal asthma triggers at the "Root Cause."
Simply visit my SCHEDULE page if you need my help with your asthma. I would be happy to help you breathe better! That is one of my favorite things to do!
Dr. Nicole Sundene
(480) 837-0900
Dr. Sundene is a Naturopathic Doctor in Scottsdale, Arizona, and is a Female Hormone Expert in Women's Health and Bioidentical Hormones. She specializes in Holistic Women's Health for Menopause, Thyroid, Hashimotos, PMS, Perimenopause, Autoimmune, Postpartum, Chronic Fatigue, Depression, Anxiety, Food Allergies, Digestion, Dermatology, Acne, Psoriasis, Eczema, and Adrenal Hormonal Conditions. In 1999 she began working for a Hormone Doctor prior to starting Naturopathic Medical School. With over 23 years of experience in both Prescription and Natural women's health and hormones, she presents to women the best-integrated health solutions for their Chronic Disease.
She has been an Herbalist for over 28 years and enjoys teaching women how to use herbs to balance their hormones, nutrition and optimize their health. Dr. Sundene relies on blood testing for her hormone metrics. The hormone testing is covered per the patient's insurance plan (not Medicaid) and conducted at certain points in the woman's menstrual cycle. To learn more about Hormone Testing for Women Visit: Bioidentical Hormones. Follow Dr. Sundene on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook for more tips on Women's Health, Female Hormones, and Naturopathy!
Dr. Nicole Sundene, NMD
Autoimmune disease, chronic pain, and arthritis were topics I discussed daily with patients for many years before I was challenged by my own chronic pain experience.
Many people do not know that I was bedridden for years from a very painful autoimmune condition that caused me a severe case of Fibromyalgia.
At one point a neurologist informed me that 70% of the nerves in my left leg were damaged and would not come back. I was shocked and stunned and kept asking questions to which he finally responded with, "Plan to be in a wheelchair." I was horrified and refused to believe that would be my fate and shifted courses away from treating my autoimmune disease with prescription drugs to Naturopathic Medicine.
I had already been treating my own autoimmune patients, and knew exactly what I needed to do.
I will admit, that when I was first diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, I was scared and I did exactly what my Rheumatologist said to do to the letter of the law. If I don't know what I am doing, I am going to follow the rules. The medications I had to take were disgusting and bitter. Plaquenil literally and figuratively was a "Bitter pill to swallow" and the pain drugs they gave me made me feel more tired while not even remotely relieving my pain. Doxycycline at high doses twice daily had me vomiting and frying up in the Arizona sun like a vampire. While the doctor callously described my inevitable dilapidated autoimmune wheelchair fate I had somewhat of a "Thelma and Louise" moment and thought, "What else do I have to lose? LET'S DO THIS!"
After all, I was only getting worse on a bunch of toxic drugs that had shut my kidney function down to an alarming rate for my young age group.
So in that very moment, with RECKLESS ABANDON, I chose Naturopathic Medicine and I dove 1000% in to working on my anti-inflammatory nutrition, perfecting hormones, and testing different natural pain supplements and herbs for pain.
I was determined to cure my pain, restore the nerve function, reverse the neuropathy, and decided it was time to prove "Debbie Downer Doctor" WRONG....no matter what I had to do, I was going to do it, and I was determined to get better and get my quality of life back.
Also as a mom, I knew the last thing I wanted was for my daughter to have to push me around in a wheelchair.
Thankfully, my joints improved with natural medicine, my pain was less, the swelling went down, and gradually I was able to taper off each medication that made me feel sick from side effects. My kidneys were once functioning at a frightening 50% and had sprang back up to almost normal without any of the toxic autoimmune drugs.
As a doctor, I know from a pharmaceutical standpoint that some of the cure in mainstream autoimmune treatment is actually worse over the long term for many women. Especially those in Arizona that get Valley Fever or West Nile Virus.
Chronic immune suppression while it certainly has its place, and need in the autoimmune community also impairs immunity. For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction and the pendulum swings too far in the suppression of the immune system with some of the prescription drug options.
What I love about herbal medicine, is that we have so many different types of herbs and forms for women to try to treat their pain. I wish it was "one size fits all" or I would post a pain protocol, but ultimately it is more of a process my patients need to go through than a prescription, as I will describe in steps below, to be successful treating chronic pain naturally.
While I still battle chronic pain I truly owe my life to Naturopathic Medicine and would not have been able to recover without the healing power of nature and my own experience balancing and perfecting hormones is critical in understanding the causes of pain which are generally multifactorial for many of us "Fibro Warriors" challenged by a life of frustrating fibro and chronic pain.
Eighteen years ago I lost the ability to do my favorite sport…mountain biking. Back then, my muscles felt like jello, and all I could do was sit in bed.
My legs felt like they were completely out of gas and made of concrete. Something I had only experienced prior from finishing a long bike ride like the STP, (Seattle to Portland) 200 mile bike ride, or the MS 150 Bike Ride for Multiple Sclerosis I once volunteered at and could easily ride along while providing first aid. But still even back then my legs were still usable. I could walk around if I had to. This was much worse and not always optional.
Chronic pain suddenly set in and everything hurt as if I had just been riding my bike for eight hours. The pain never went away. It only continued to get worse. Just surviving every single day became such a challenge. I felt like going to work was an Ironman Triathlon. Just blow drying my Long hair was so painful I just gave up and wore it in a clip. The only clothes I could stand touching me were the softest scrub fabric. Anything itchy or tight just made the pain worse.
People expecting me to do things after work with them or after 7pm I suddenly deemed as "completely insane." When before I could meet friends for dinner at 9pm!
The fatigue from the constant pain and inability to sleep through the pain was something I cannot even describe to anyone so they fully understand, you have to live it.
Basically, what severe chronic pain feels like is that you are trying to do life like everyone else, except your are wading through heavy cement that starts sticking to you and becoming a new pain that then further ways you down. As time goes on you get slower and slower and in more and more pain. Everything just deteriorates and gets so much worse. My whole body hurt head to toe.
I could not read, ride, or run, I couldn’t even play my piano because of the severe arthritic pain and stiffness in my hands, wrists and elbows. My elbows hurt so bad I could barely hold them to play the piano let alone move my wrists or fingers.
My pain was so bad, I found myself exhausted walking up just 8 stairs, when before I could run 8 miles a day as part of my normal routine. My love of books was destroyed by debilitating migraine headaches the second I started reading more than a page. The headaches were so debilitating I stopped reading. I was extremely bored out of my mind with zero exercise, zero activities, zero reading, and zero people to talk to that seemed to understand what my "new normal" was like.
I went from training for and racing in triathlons, to feeling a simple trip to the grocery store was like an Ironman. Today I feel victorious for conquering this mountain. While I am still not able to bike for eight hours straight, I’m proud of myself and it feels good to be able to ride for 1-2 hours again.
I am so grateful to Naturopathic Medicine for my recovery. While the road has been bumpy and brutal, the blessings I have received as a doctor are dmpathy and wisdom.
My perception of Fibromyalgia and Autoimmunity have been shifted by my own personal experience and I will never view my patients the same.
I refuse to silently think my patients are “lazy or crazy” as many doctors have done to me. I’ve come to know, the lack of understanding from others can be more hurtful than the physical frustrations.
Fortunately I understand firsthand my patient’s “Silent world of hell.”
When patients in my office get tearful, it’s because they finally feel HEARD and UNDERSTOOD. They are not crying because I am giving them a prescription for Prozac and poo pooing everything wrong with them. It gives me goosebumps, I’m grateful for surviving my own harsh life lesson. I now have a firm understanding of how diet, nutrition, hormones and herbs can impact chronic inflammation.
So what do we do together if we are working on your autoimmune or arthritic pain?
It is critical to me as your Naturopathic Doctor that you understand what Naturopathic Medicine and Hormone Balancing will require of you before you sign up for my care. While I LOVE to help women in pain feel better I never want to waste anyone's precious time or money if I am unable to help them. Patients that are willing to trust my time tested process with investigating autoimmune conditions, hormone imbalances, nutrition and nutrient deficiencies always tend to improve if not completely resolve.
While many patients that refuse to change their diet, cannot remember to take vitamins, herbs and supplements or do not have insurance to pay for their hormone labs and cannot afford the detective process required for me to find the source of the Fibromyalgia....simply do not improve. Especially when there is no caregiver in place to help you follow this process. A husband or a BFF that can work with us is always appreciated when women are too sick or in pain to understand and follow their directions.
If you struggle to make dietary changes I promise you are not alone and I struggle myself but I am also a living breathing example of someone that was once bedridden and unable to work at all that can now work and function. While I am technically physically disabled and always will be from the permanent damage caused by my autoimmune disease, I know that just like every autoimmune patients I have good days and bad days. So naturally I have studied as a Doctor what makes my autoimmune disease better and what makes it worse.
I refuse to allow that to stop me from living my life. I refuse to not be healthy enough as a Mom to make amazing memories with my daughter. I refuse not to show up to work and try to help someone else in pain every day and offer my kindness and compassion. If you also refuse to give up on yourself please consider Naturopathy! I don't know how I would have gotten my quality of life back if I did not know what I know as a Naturopathic Doctor. In order to recover from my autoimmune condition I had to rely on my skills in BOTH Traditional Prescription Family Medicine (8 years) and over sixteen years working as a Naturopathic Doctor. Not to mention my thirty years working as an Herbalist.
Treating autoimmune disease is one of the best Naturopathic services I provide for many women in pain is to run them through the battery of chronic pain tests that I know how to do as a Female Hormone Specialist that has learned a lot about autoimmunity from her own battle. Having balanced hormones for pain patients is imperative. Why do more women have Fibromyalgia than men? In my opinion it is because a lot of female hormone imbalance naturally contributes to inflammation which simply makes any inflammatory disease such as an Autoimmune Condition: Lupus, Sjogren's, Hashimotos, Scleroderma, MCTD and so forth much worse.
So when you are working with me we may need to rely on other specialists to provide advanced testing options for your condition but I at least am capable of conducting the majority of the work so that the exhausted miserable achy tired Fibro patient has to bounce around from the least amount of doctors possible. At one point I was seeing multiple specialists: 1) Rheumatology 2) Pain Management 3) Endocrinology 4) OBgyn 5) Psychiatry 6) Infectious Disease 7) Orthopedics 8) Physical Therapy 9) Neurology. I know quite a bit about medications, hormone tests, pain tests, and treatment options for all of these specialties as they relate to chronic pain, autoimmune and fibromyalgia patients. If I need to send you to one of these places I will, but you certainly should not have to go to all of them regularly.
For those looking for a caring Naturopathic Doctor that understands Chronic Pain very well and promises to always believe you, never to judge you and always support you…I would be delighted to help! The last thing you need when you are in pain is someone that does not believe you or is judging you. The emotional hurt of that can truly feel worse at times than walking around as if, "Someone has beat me head to toe with a baseball bat," which is how many of my Fibro Warrior patients describe their pain.
Need my help feeling amazing again? Simply visit my SCHEDULE page to treat yourself to a Naturopathic Doctor visit with me! I would be happy to help.
Dr. Nicole Sundene, NMD
Dr. Sundene is a Naturopathic Doctor in Scottsdale, Arizona, and is considered a Female Hormone Expert in Women's Health and Bioidentical Hormones. She specializes in Holistic Women's Health for Menopause, Thyroid, Hashimotos, PMS, Perimenopause, Autoimmune, Postpartum, Chronic Fatigue, Depression, Anxiety, Food Allergies, Digestion, Dermatology , Acne, Psoriasis, Eczema and Adrenal Hormonal Conditions. In 1999 she began working for a Hormone Doctor prior to starting Naturopathic Medical School. With over 22 years of experience in both Prescription and Natural women's health and hormones she presents to women the best integrated health solutions for their Chronic Disease. She has been an Herbalist for over 27 years and enjoys teaching women how to use herbs to balance their hormones, nutrition and optimize their health. Dr. Sundene relies on blood testing for her hormone metrics. The hormone testing is covered per the patient's insurance plan and conducted at certain points in the woman's menstrual cycle. To learn more about Hormone Testing for Women Visit: Bioidentical Hormones. Follow Dr. Sundene on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook for more tips on Women's Health, Female Hormones and Naturopathy!
Dr. Nicole Sundene, NMD
Scottsdale Naturopathic Doctor
"Doc, What can I take for my allergies? My eyes are crunchy and watering. What is the best herb for allergies? Why am I getting allergies with menopause?" Debra H, Scottsdale, AZ
Allergies for women can indicate a testosterone deficiency such as in perimenopause. Also, I commonly see adrenal fatigue, hypothyroidism, and menopause as underlying causes. Estrogen deficiency in menopause causes dry skin therefore women are more prone to allergies. Also, hypothyroidism is notorious for causing dry skin itchy skin. Testosterone helps make the skin oily and deficiency also causes dry skin that is more prone to inflammation. Having a doctor test you for any underlying hormone imbalance is important when women suddenly have seasonal allergies and never had them before.
Natural allergy treatments generally require about two full weeks to become effective. As I discussed in my Seasonal Allergy blog Quercetin, vitamin C and citrus bioflavonoids are very helpful for allergies and I typically prescribe those in conjunction with nettles.
Nettles are one of my very favorite women's health herbs as there are not many allergy treatments out there that have the side effect of helping women with Female Hair Loss grow thick shiny hair! Nettles are also helpful for anemia, as they are rich in iron and also demonstrated as helpful in recent research at just 450mg daily against menopausal hot flashes. [1]
My hope at least is for those of you with seasonal allergies, arthritis, and enlarged prostates to gain new appreciation, if not complete love and adoration for this fabulous plant.
The freeze-dried herb, Urtica dioica can be used as an alternative to antihistamines for allergy season. Nettle leaves are also known to be useful for arthritis, asthma, and edema; and are especially helpful in treating long-term chronic illness as they are a nutritive plant rich in minerals such as potassium, calcium, and magnesium.
The rich mineral content is thought to be the mechanism for reducing those painful nighttime leg cramps that usually respond well to water, calcium, magnesium, and electrolytes. The root of the plant is found to be helpful for those with benign prostatic hypertrophy through interaction with sex hormone-binding globulin. Nettle root was demonstrated effective against BPS in recent research. [2]
Recent rsearch also shows promise using nettles in High Blood Pressure, Type 2 Diabetes, Arthritis and was actually found effective in treatment of "Gulf War Syndrome" while many other treatments are completely ineffective. I found that research study on nettles for GWS the most interesting, as many treatments and medications have been found to be ineffective. Please let me know if you try nettles for this condition! Nettles are also used to stimulate breast milk production as a galactagogue herb. [3-6]
Fresh green plants such as nettles are high in chlorophyll. A molecule of chlorophyll closely resembles the hemoglobin in our red blood cells except that chlorophyll contains magnesium in its center ring instead of iron. Magnesium is important because most Americans on the Standard American Diet (SAD) are deficient in this essential mineral that aids in the relaxation of our muscles, detoxification of our livers, as well as over 200 other enzymatic pathways in our bodies. Green leafy vegetables and whole grains are both excellent sources of magnesium.
Did you know that if you are ever lost or stranded in the woods you can technically eat nettles raw if you can get them past your lips without getting stung? The enzyme ptyalin in our saliva should denature the formic acid that causes the sting from the nettles. Now I am not recommending trying this, and have never tried this, and furthermore hope that I never will have to try this, nor do I hope you ever have to try this…but I am just saying it is always an option in an emergency situation.
When harvesting nettles be sure to wear gloves, although I have seen firsthand as a Naturopathic Doctor a “Nettle Charmer” out there that has the ability to handle nettles without getting stung! Apparently, the stinging acid only is released when the hairs of the plant are touched in a particular direction. Only harvest nettles that have not been sprayed with chemicals.
Do not use nettles that are in the flowering stage as the flowers will cause irritation to the urinary tract. The young leaves can be cooked with garlic and olive oil like spinach, steamed, stir-fried, cooked into a casserole or made into a tea or base for vegetable soup.
Research studies for menopause only used 450mg of herb per day which is usually about 1-2 capsules depending on the size of the capsules. Since nettles are a food you cannot really OD on them and I generally dose them higher for hair loss, anemia, allergies, menopause and so forth to 2-3 capsules 2-3 times per day.
To make an herbal nettles tea add at least 2 tablespoons of herb per cup of water to a covered soup pot and allow to simmer on low on the stove for about 15 minutes to an hour to extract the minerals. I will commonly put water with nettles in a large stock pot and bring it to a boil and turn off the heat, cover the pot and let it sit to "decoct" for an hour. Decoction is simply steeping your herbs covered for a longer period of time than when we make a traditional tea and let it steep for 15 minutes.
At the end of the nettles decoction I usually add mint. You will lose some minty flavor if you let it decoct with the nettles so I recommend adding it in at the end. Your tea should still be hot if you have left it on a low simmer. Nettles pair nicely with mint, they are from the same family, and patients with blocked sinuses will improve with inhaling mint essential oil from the tea as well as drinking it throughout the day.
As this is a nutritive food several cups of this tea may be enjoyed liberally each day as this is a wonderful spring detox unless you are pregnant or on anticoagulant “blood thinning” medications. If you have any health problems or use medications be sure to ALWAYS check with your Naturopathic Doctor before using any herbs or alternative medicines.
Give the nettles time to work in your body. Natural medicines and foods as medicines typically are much more gentle than most medications and so will take time to work their “magic” in your system. In the case of chronic illness, I usually give most natural remedies about 3-4 weeks to work before changing the plan. Remember with herbal medicine we are working to manage your symptoms with natural medicines that are healthy for you over the long run so we have to be more patient and allow them time to work.
Patients with severe allergies should be planning their allergy remedies 2-4 weeks before their allergy season starts up. Remember in Arizona we actually have TWO ALLERGY SEASONS! Don't shoot the messenger, but I found it very confusing when I moved here and developed allergies in both the spring and the fall.
Whenever it is perfect whether outside that is when you need to be on an aggressive plan to tolerate the pollen!
If you need my help with your allergies or hormone imbalance simply pop over to my SCHEDULE page and treat yourself to a Naturopathic visit.
Dr. Sundene is a Naturopathic Doctor in Scottsdale, Arizona, and is considered a Female Hormone Expert in Women's Health and Bioidentical Hormones. She specializes in Holistic Women's Health for Menopause, Thyroid, Hashimotos, PMS, Perimenopause, Autoimmune, Postpartum, Chronic Fatigue, Depression, Anxiety, Food Allergies, Digestion, Dermatology, Acne, Psoriasis, Eczema, and Adrenal Hormonal Conditions. In 1999 she began working for a Hormone Doctor prior to starting Naturopathic Medical School. With over 23 years of experience in both Prescription and Natural women's health and hormones, she presents to women the best-integrated health solutions for their Chronic Disease. She has been an Herbalist for over 28 years and enjoys teaching women how to use herbs to balance their hormones, nutrition and optimize their health. Dr. Sundene relies on blood testing for her hormone metrics. The hormone testing is covered per the patient's insurance plan (not Medicaid) and conducted at certain points in the woman's menstrual cycle. To learn more about Hormone Testing for Women Visit: Bioidentical Hormones. Follow Dr. Sundene on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook for more tips on Women's Health, Female Hormones, and Naturopathy!
References:
Dr. Nicole Sundene, NMD
Scottsdale Naturopathic Doctor
Most women are constantly busy and on the go, attaching stress management practices to everyday occurrences is not only practical, but serves as a reminder to RELAX throughout the day.
You can easily check in with yourself during boring times of your day such as a long work meeting, standing in line at the grocery store, or waiting on hold on the phone.
A simple breathing exercise to start with is called “Square Breathing”. First sit quietly, and remove outside distraction if possible. Gently clasp your hands in your lap. Now breathe in slowly to the count of five, hold your breath to the count of five, exhale slowly to the count of five, and then pause before repeating this sequence to the count of five.
Repeat this sequence five times, or as many times as needed until a calmer state is achieved.
Oftentimes we do not realize how stressed out we are until we take a few minutes to quietly check in with how we are feeling. The body does not function optimally while under stress, implementing simple relaxation tools should not only improve your attitude, but also help you experience a better state of health.
Wow don’t you feel better now?
If you need more of my mental health tips for anxiety or depression, check out these articles:
"Anxiety Disorder: My Favorite Anxiety Herb?"
"What is Holistic Psychiatry?"
"Adrenal Fatigue: Are you in Fight, Flight or Fright?"
"Are You Running From a Bear?"
"Seasonal Depression: Are You Deficient in Vitamin L?"
"10 Natural Medicines for Depression"
"Female Anxiety is Like Snowflakes"
If you need my help with your mental health, anxiety, depression or ADHD I would be happy to help! Simply pop over to my SCHEDULE page to treat yourself to a Naturopathic visit.
Dr. Nicole Sundene, NMD
(480) 837-0900
Dr. Sundene is a Naturopathic Doctor in Scottsdale, Arizona, and is a Female Hormone Expert in Women's Health and Bioidentical Hormones. She specializes in Holistic Women's Health for Menopause, Thyroid, Hashimotos, PMS, Perimenopause, Autoimmune, Postpartum Depression, Chronic Fatigue, Depression, Anxiety, Food Allergies, Digestion, Dermatology , Acne, Psoriasis, Eczema and Adrenal Hormonal Conditions. In 1999 she began working for a Hormone Doctor prior to starting Naturopathic Medical School. With over 23 years of experience in both Prescription and Natural women's health and hormones, she presents to women the best-integrated health solutions for their Chronic Disease. She has been an Herbalist for over 28 years and enjoys teaching women how to use herbs to balance their hormones, nutrition and optimize their health. Dr. Sundene relies on blood testing for her hormone metrics. The hormone testing is covered per the patient's insurance plan and conducted at certain points in the woman's menstrual cycle. To learn more about Hormone Testing for Women Visit: Bioidentical Hormones. Follow Dr. Sundene on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook for more tips on Women's Health, Female Hormones, and Naturopathy!
THANK YOU neighbors for voting me “Best Medical Professional” on Nextdoor!
Helping women feel AMAZING by solving complex hormone, gynecology, and bladder issues has always been my passion. Those that know me well, know that I also always enjoy a good challenge. I appreciate your votes as a favorite and the referrals I receive from my MD and Naturopathic colleagues on complex women’s health and hormone matters.
One of my greatest joys in life is getting to watch women transform into their BEST version of themselves by testing and perfecting their hormones, nutrition, micronutrients, and macronutrients. This can be very rewarding work.
Reading natural medicine research studies and providing women with the latest Women’s Health news on my blog is also one of my favorite free time activities. Reading research studies, blogging, and drinking herbal tea are my favorite things to do.
So, I am happy to hear my educational posts have helped many women that I have never even met! Many women in our Phoenix/Scottsdale neighborhood also do not have the opportunity to see a women’s health doctor, and I love receiving messages about how my natural remedies have benefited them and changed their lives.
Thank you for making me a favorite and to everyone that shares my natural Women’s Health tips from my blog on their own social media. I love seeing my male friends sharing women’s health tips and also supporting women! Women should not have to be embarrassed or suffer in silence with hormone imbalance, chronic bladder, and gynecological matters.
Times of hormone imbalance in a woman’s life such as Hormonal Weight Gain, Perimenopause, Menopause, Hormonal Acne, PCOS, and PMS can be very challenging without the right education and labs. Visit my blog for important information I think every woman should know as a Women’s Health Doc:
www.ScottsdaleNaturopathic.com/blog
All of my most important tips for women to know are 100% free to read and share with your girlfriends.
If you need my help solving your women’s health issue simply visit my SCHEDULE page to treat yourself to a Naturopathic Women’s Health Visit!
Dr. Nicole Sundene, NMD
Scottsdale Naturopathic Hormones
(480) 837-0900
Dr. Nicole Sundene, NMD
Scottsdale Naturopathic Doctor
In Phoenix Arizona, did you know you can actually eat the fruit off the top of a Barrel Cactus if you were stranded in the desert? Today we did a little mountain bike forage and found a few Barrel Cactus fruit in season along our Phoenix mountain bike trails.
While my daughter wisely used pliers to play it safe picking fruit off a cactus, I actually just plucked them off with my bare hands! The ends appear sharp, they are not. You do have to watch for the rest of the spines and glochids on the cactus. The fruit of the Barrel Cactus has no thorns and may be forgiving, but the plant as a whole is not. It has very sharp spines so watch out! Otherwise, it is as easy as plucking meatballs off an appetizer tray! So this is an easily accessible life-saving snack if ever lost in the desert.
WARNING: I poked my finger pretty badly because I was distracted from making the Instagram video I linked below. I managed to stab my finger on one of the very sharp spine hooks that rightfully protects the magical yellow-orange fruit. So please do be careful when you are doing this with your kids. Definitely don't be distracted by making educational videos on Herbal Medicine!
When the Barrel Cactus flowers are in bloom they are also edible. I love how the flowers form a beautiful yellow or orange halo effect around the head of the cactus making it look angelic despite its somewhat evil protective spikes.
In Herbal Medicine and Naturopathy we always consider the "energy" or "temperature" of the herb. Cactus fruit and leaves are generally very cooling. If you have to survive in the desert you can safely eat this fruit to survive, a few fresh cholla buds, prickly pear fruit, and prickly pear paddles. Most species of succulents and cactus are cooling to apply to sunburns.
Aloe vera is not the only plant that helps burns, prickly pear and other cactus are also very soothing. When you cut the Barrel Cactus fruit open the inside is very similar to the slippery consistency of aloe vera gel. Cactus and succulents generally have "demulcent" and "mucilaginous" properties which is why we use them in Naturopathy to heal the skin and digestive tract. One of my favorite herbs for IBS or Irritable Bowel Syndrome is Aloe vera.
Cactus overall is a nutritive herb that is rich in flavonoids, especially quercetin which helps seasonal allergies.
Cactus fruit is cooling and hydrating which makes it a perfect treat during seasonal allergies with everyone feeling dry and burning with their allergy symptoms. If you have allergies be sure to check out my blog on how to use "Stinging Nettles for Allergies." I love Nettles because they also help with menopausal hot flashes and female hair loss!
The herb is mucilaginous and therefore healing to the skin. When I cut open the fruit it has the same slimy texture of aloe vera used to heal sunburns.
I like to mountain bike forage so I can ensure I am not gathering too many fruits off one plant. The Barrel Cactus has to have a LOT of rain in order to grow flowers and fruit which we have had this season. Every cactus does not make fruit each year. I don’t want to be greedy and take away from our animals that rely on this important desert food.
Many chipmunks, squirrels, and birds rely on this rare desert fruit for their nutrition. So we always want to be responsible and kind to our wildlife when foraging. We make sure to take just a few fruits off each plant. We like to cover more ground foraging so we don't just strip one plant of all of its fruit. Going out foraging on mountain bikes makes it easy and fun to do. Be sure to throw some plyers in your backpack just in case!
Also in nature, the seeds would be dispersed via elimination by an animal as it travels, so we are saving the seeds inside the fruit and setting them aside for when it warms up a little bit more.
Once the weather warms up, we will then sprout the seeds and deliver them back to the desert in hopes of growing some new cactus after a harsh winter killed off a lot of our Saguaro cactus. This has been extremely sad because Saguaro cactus are one of the hardiest plants in the desert and yet still the latest victims of extreme weather and climate change.
In my neighborhood, we have suddenly lost dozens of giant Saguaro that were hundreds of years old. It is very sad that the cactus can defy the harshest conditions yet still cannot persevere in such extreme conditions as of late.
The best we can do is work now to start replanting cactus in our trails for the health of our environment and furry friends. Did you know Barrel Cactus only grow about an inch per year so it will take 10 years to grow just a tiny 10-inch Barrel Cactus?
The common 2 foot and 3 foot ones we see are 20 and 30 years old!
Today I am making a Barrel Cactus Fruit Strawberry Smoothie and trying a Barrel Cactus Salsa Recipe check out my Instagram page for the video to see how just how cool the fruit looks on the inside! I think they would also be delicious grilled. The spicy fruit would be tasty if brushed with oil and a little apricot jelly and grilled on the barbeque.
Barrel Cactus fruit taste like a spicy starfruit or a cross between a pear and a mild jalapeno. Let me know what you think if you end up trying it!
Dr. Nicole Sundene, NMD
(480) 837-0900
Dr. Sundene is a Naturopathic Doctor in Scottsdale, Arizona, and a Female Hormone Expert in Women's Health and Bioidentical Hormones. She specializes in Holistic Women's Health for Menopause, Thyroid, Hashimotos, PMS, Perimenopause, Autoimmune, Postpartum, Chronic Fatigue, Depression, Anxiety, Food Allergies, Digestion, Dermatology, Acne, Psoriasis, Eczema, and Adrenal Hormonal Conditions. In 1999 she began working for a Hormone Doctor prior to starting Naturopathic Medical School. With over 23 years of experience in both Prescription and Natural women's health and hormones, she presents to women the best-integrated health solutions for their Chronic Disease. She has been an Herbalist for over 28 years and enjoys teaching women how to use herbs to balance their hormones, nutrition and optimize their health. Dr. Sundene relies on blood testing for her hormone metrics. The hormone testing is covered per the patient's insurance plan (not Medicaid) and conducted at certain points in the woman's menstrual cycle. To learn more about Hormone Testing for Women Visit: Bioidentical Hormones. Follow Dr. Sundene on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook for more tips on Women's Health, Female Hormones, and Naturopathy!
Hormone healthy foods are always a hot topic in my Women's Health practice and the #1 question I am asked by my female patients:
"What foods can I eat to keep my female hormones in balance?"
As a Female Hormone Specialist I always want my patients eating as many cruciferous vegetables as possible since they contain the magic biochemical sulforaphane!
How does Sulforaphane help Female Hormones?
Sulforaphane (SFN) is a sulfur-containing compound that naturally occurs in green and yellow vegetables. It is present in an inactive form; glucoraphanin in these vegetables. But, a family of enzymes known as myrosinase activates and converts it into activated Sulforaphane used for various health benefits that aid in the detoxification of estrogen. [1]
It is important to note that myrosinase enzymes only release and work on glucoraphanin when any damage to the plant occurs. So, if women want an active form of Sulforaphane, they must chop, chew or cut their vegetables before consumption. Plus, the raw green leafy vegetables contain a much higher content of Sulforaphane compared to cooked vegetables. Therefore it is best to only lightly steam sulforaphane rich vegetaqbles.
Vegetable sources of Sulforaphane
The following leafy green cruciferous vegetables contain high content of Sulforaphane.
Mechanisms of Action on Hormones
The exact mechanism of Sulforaphane is unclear; however, studies reported the following mechanisms responsible for various hormone health outcomes. These include:
Research studies report sulforaphane modulates the Nrf2/ARE pathway that leads to the activation and expression of genes responsible for coding endogenous enzymes, non-enzymes antioxidant, and cardioprotective and phase 2 detoxification enzymes.
The major detoxification enzymes include glutathione-S-transferase (GST), glutathione peroxidase (GPX1), thioredoxin reductase (TXNRD1), thioredoxin (TXN) glutamate-cysteine ligase (GCL), NADPH: Quinone reductase-1 (NQO1), and haemoxygenase-1 (HO-1). Thus, SFN shows potent antioxidant activity that relieves oxidative stress, promotes physiological functions, and protects vital body organs. Besides, it also positively modulates natural killer cells' activity and supports an immune function that reduces the risk of chronic medical conditions. [1]
Along with the antioxidant action, SFN inhibits some Phase 1 detoxification enzymes responsible for carcinogen activation. Plus, SFN acts as a histone deacetylase inhibitor that protects DNA damage and prevents cancer risk. Moreover, SFN arrests the abnormal cell cycle, inhibits angiogenesis, and induces apoptosis that provides the anti-cancerous activity. [1]
The anti-inflammatory activity of SFN involves the suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and regulation of the NF-κB and inflammatory inducible enzymes such as cyclooxygenase (COX-2) and NO synthase (iNOS). [1]
Medical research studies about Sulforaphane and Hormones
Medical studies reported the following health benefits of Sulforaphane.
Anticancer effect
Various animal and lab studies confirm the anticancer activity of Sulforaphane. The above-discussed mechanisms help prevent cancer as well as fight cancer, reduce the tumor size, reduce blood vessels to the tumor, and suppress cancer cell proliferation.
Also, the antioxidant property potentiates the activity of Sulforaphane against cancerous cells via neutralizing the carcinogens. Studies also reported that SFN blocks gastric tumor formation and prevents the development of stomach cancer. Thus, an optimal amount of Sulforaphane improves cancer progression and reduces the risk of cancer, including breast cancer. [1, 2]
Anti-Obesity Action
Studies reported that SFN inhibits adipogenesis (fat cell formation) and suppresses the synthesis of triglycerides and fat accumulation. The anti-obesity mechanism involves activating the AMPK pathway, downregulating the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), and suppressing the C/EBPα expression.
Plus, it promotes the activity of adiponectin and increases leptin responsiveness which helps prevent diet-induced obesity.
Additionally, medical research studies showed that Sulforaphane significantly improves high blood sugar levels and helps with type 2 diabetes mellitus symptoms. It regulates the hemoglobin A1C level and reduces the lipid peroxidation that significantly helps diabetes and its complications. [3, 4]
Support Cardiovascular functions
The potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of Sulforaphane improve cardiovascular health. Animal studies showed that Sulforaphane increases the level of thioredoxin (Trx) and HO-1 (haemoxygenase-1) that provide cardioprotective properties.
Sulforaphane supports post-ischemic ventricular function, protects cardiomyocyte against apoptosis, and decreases myocardial infarct size that promotes heart functions. Additionally, it decreases inflammation in the arteries and prevents arteries from narrowing which causes high blood pressure, as well as other cardiovascular dysfunctions. [1]
Antimicrobial Activity
SFN shows a bactericidal effect against Helicobacter pylori bacteria responsible for gastrointestinal complications, including gastric reflux and cancer. The antibacterial mechanism reported by studies includes the modulation of Nrf2 activators, anti-inflammatory activity, and direct bactericidal action of cruciferous vegetables. Also, the inhibition of urease by SFN support the bactericidal effect as most bacterial colonies use urease for their growth. [1, 7]
Estrogen dominance
Different research studies reported that SFN alters estrogen metabolism and improves estrogen dominance. The induction of NADPH: Quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) by SFN reduces the carcinogenic estrogen metabolite, known as catechol estrogen-3, 4-quinone, and suppresses the complications associated with estrogen dominance.
SFN increases the level of glutathione-S-transferase (GST) that detoxifies estrogen via conjugation and prevents the risk of adverse physiological effects such as DNA damage and abnormal cell growth. [5, 6]
Support Brain Function
Sulforaphane shows antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity that helps neuroinflammation and supports neurological functions. It prevents brain damage, removes reactive oxygen species, relieves oxidative stress, and reduces the risk of mental decline. Plus, studies reported that it improves autism symptoms such as verbal communication and social interactions. Furthermore, SFN Protects dopaminergic cells and delays neuronal death that helps neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson's and Alzheimer’s diseases. [1, 8]
Other potential health benefits
Medical research studies also reported the Antiaging and skin protective effects of SFN. It prevents skin damage by protecting skin against ultraviolet radiation that promotes skin integrity and wellness.
Furthermore, Sulforaphane encourages gastrointestinal health and improves the symptoms of certain dysfunctions such as constipation. Also, it limits the activity of aflatoxin on liver cells and supports liver vitality. Plus, the induction of HO-1 (haemoxygenase-1) and phase 2 enzymes by SFN protect the lungs against oxidative agents and reduce the risk of various lung dysfunctions. [1, 8]
Warnings
Sulforaphane supplementation or consumption of cruciferous green vegetables is generally very safe but can cause stomach upset at higher doses. Dosing should be managed by a knowledgeable alternative medicine doctor or Naturopath.
Please don't use sulforaphane with drugs such as zolmitriptan, olanzapine, cyclobenzaprine, theophylline, imipramine, etc without first checking with your Naturopathic Doctor. [10]
If you need my help with your nutrition or hormones, I would be happy to help! Simply pop over to my SCHEDULE page to treat yourself to a Naturopathic visit!
Dr. Nicole Sundene
(480) 837-0900
Dr. Sundene is a Naturopathic Doctor in Scottsdale, Arizona, and is a Female Hormone Expert in Women's Health and Bioidentical Hormones. She specializes in Holistic Women's Health for Menopause, Thyroid, Hashimotos, PMS, Perimenopause, Autoimmune, Postpartum, Chronic Fatigue, Depression, Anxiety, Food Allergies, Digestion, Dermatology, Acne, Psoriasis, Eczema, and Adrenal Hormonal Conditions. In 1999 she began working for a Hormone Doctor prior to starting Naturopathic Medical School. With over 23 years of experience in both Prescription and Natural women's health and hormones, she presents to women the best-integrated health solutions for their Chronic Disease.
She has been an Herbalist for over 28 years and enjoys teaching women how to use herbs to balance their hormones, nutrition and optimize their health. Dr. Sundene relies on blood testing for her hormone metrics. The hormone testing is covered per the patient's insurance plan (not Medicaid) and conducted at certain points in the woman's menstrual cycle. To learn more about Hormone Testing for Women Visit: Bioidentical Hormones. Follow Dr. Sundene on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook for more tips on Women's Health, Female Hormones, and Naturopathy!
References:
Dr. Nicole Sundene, NMD
Dr. Sundene is a Naturopathic Doctor in Scottsdale, Arizona, and is considered a Female Hormone Expert in Women's Health and Bioidentical Hormones. She specializes in Holistic Women's Health for Menopause, Thyroid, Hashimotos, PMS, Perimenopause, Autoimmune, Postpartum, Chronic Fatigue, Depression, Anxiety, Food Allergies, Digestion, Dermatology , Acne, Psoriasis, Eczema and Adrenal Hormonal Conditions. In 1999 she began working for a Hormone Doctor prior to starting Naturopathic Medical School. With over 22 years of experience in both Prescription and Natural women's health and hormones she presents to women the best integrated health solutions for their Chronic Disease. She has been an Herbalist for over 27 years and enjoys teaching women how to use herbs to balance their hormones, nutrition and optimize their health. Dr. Sundene relies on blood testing for her hormone metrics. The hormone testing is covered per the patient's insurance plan and conducted at certain points in the woman's menstrual cycle. To learn more about Hormone Testing for Women Visit: Bioidentical Hormones. Follow Dr. Sundene on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook for more tips on Women's Health, Female Hormones and Naturopathy!
By Dr. Nicole Sundene
Depression caused by thyroid disease such as Hypothyroidism and Hashimotos Thyroiditis feels like a dead plant in need of water. Often patients will feel flat, blah, lifeless and disinterested in participating in activities when their thyroid level is low. Many patients are also experiencing extreme emotional symptoms while their levels are hovering at the bottom of the normal range. More often than not this chronic thyroid deficiency is going on despite being told their thyroid level is normal. T3 the most active thyroid hormone helps the brain make serotonin. When the thyroid is deficient less serotonin is made. This is why patients with hormonally triggered depression do not improve as expected on antidepressants.
TSH is generally the only test conducted by their doctor to evaluate it. TSH is only accurate 1 in 5 times at diagnosing hypothyroidism. Free T3 and Free T4 levels should always be checked when we suspect a thyroid problem. Just checking TSH is “90’s Medicine” in my opinion that should be stopped. I would never measure just measure your FSH to try to understand your estrogen levels. I would simply check your actual estrogen levels. FSH is also a message the brain is sending down in a feedback loop with estrogen and is elevated in severe states of estrogen deficiency such as menopause. Yet time and time again patients ask for their thyroid to be checked and it is only a TSH checked which tells us only about what your brain is telling your thyroid to do for it and tells us very little about how much hormone your thyroid is or isn’t making.
Depression or anxiety coupled with thyroid symptoms such as fatigue, weight gain, swelling, cold intolerance, constipation, dry skin, hair loss, arthritis and joint pain should be worked up by a doctor that specializes in hormones. Doctors that specialize in fine tuning hormones can help you understand the complex web of hormones and ensure each hormone pathway is optimal and not just “In the normal range.”
I have heard this TSH story nearly every single day of my career for the past 13 years! Let's put an end to the mental health problems caused by hormone imbalance. There are enough depressing things going on right now and we don’t need hormone imbalance causing moodiness.
Please share this important message on Thyroid Depression as many patients are silently suffering and don’t know why they do not respond to the typical antidepressants.
If you need help with your hormones I am always happy to help. Simply pop over to my SCHEDULE page to treat yourself to a Naturopathic visit!
Dr. Nicole Sundene
Dr. Sundene is a Naturopathic Doctor in Scottsdale, Arizona, and is considered a Female Hormone Expert in Women's Health and Bioidentical Hormones. She specializes in Holistic Women's Health for Menopause, Thyroid, Hashimotos, PMS, Perimenopause, Autoimmune, Postpartum, Chronic Fatigue, Depression, Anxiety, Food Allergies, Digestion, Dermatology , Acne, Psoriasis, Eczema and Adrenal Hormonal Conditions. In 1999 she began working for a Hormone Doctor prior to starting Naturopathic Medical School. With over 22 years of experience in both Prescription and Natural women's health and hormones she presents to women the best integrated health solutions for their Chronic Disease. She has been an Herbalist for over 27 years and enjoys teaching women how to use herbs to balance their hormones, nutrition and optimize their health. Dr. Sundene relies on blood testing for her hormone metrics. The hormone testing is covered per the patient's insurance plan and conducted at certain points in the woman's menstrual cycle. To learn more about Hormone Testing for Women Visit: Bioidentical Hormones. Follow Dr. Sundene on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook for more tips on Women's Health, Female Hormones and Naturopathy!
By Dr. Nicole Sundene, NMD
Scottsdale Naturopathic Doctor
"What can I do naturally to treat my asthma?"
~Alexis L Scottsdale, AZ
Personally, as a Naturopathic Doctor with asthma, I do not EVER use naturopathic medicine to treat an asthma attack. I use it to prevent them. Naturopathic Medicine works wonders for the reduction of asthmatic incidences.
Although there are plenty of natural medicines available that may stop an asthma attack, I just prefer to error on the side of safety, and always recommend that asthma is co-managed with an MD, as I take the treatment of asthma VERY seriously. An MD can provide you with all the rescue medications you need for acute attacks, and an ND can help prevent these attacks from occurring. Or if you are working with an NMD such as myself then I can do everything on this page for your asthma and generally save you multiple trips to different doctors as an Integrated Health specialist.
I recommend all my asthma patients have asthma inhalers on hand and am happy to prescribe albuterol and albuterol home breathing treatments. But what I have found myself since having asthma in 2012 following a bad respiratory infection is that if I do the following preventive plan I rarely need my inhaler and just replace it when it expires once a year. If I get sick I like to know I have it on hand as viral infections can impair breathing.
First and foremost, asthma is a potentially life-threatening condition that requires supervision and treatment by a licensed physician. Always call 911 if having an asthma attack that is unresponsive to inhalers.
Remember that prevention is KEY with most diseases, and that “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”. The goal with any preventative program is to reduce the overall amount of daily medications you have to take for your asthma. Diet and lifestyle factors are the key to reducing the amount of medications needed to control your symptoms.
Adopting a preventative program takes time, dedication, and discipline; if you want your asthma symptoms to improve, the only way that realistically will happen is through better diet and lifestyle. I would give any preventative plan at least six months to a year, as the cells in your body will need to turn over and become healthier and less inflammatory.
Keep in mind that asthma medicines, herbs, and nutritional products are not “curing” asthma, they are only opening airways, reducing inflammation, and reducing spasms of the bronchial smooth muscle. In order to facilitate the healing process for this disease we must improve the health of the patient, manage stress, reduce the total inflammatory load in the body, reduce the exposure to pollutants and pollens, and address the root cause of disease from a “whole person” perspective.
What is Asthma?
Asthma is a disease of the respiratory system that is characterized by wheezing, sudden difficulty in breathing, and chest tightness.
What Causes Asthma?
Most asthma is caused by allergic triggers or other irritants to the respiratory system such as pollution, aspirin, sulfites, additives in foods, food allergies, and inflammation. Some individuals are just pre-disposed to developing asthma, however as pollution levels rise, and as we add more and more nasty processed food garbage in our diets we are seeing a consistent rise in rates of asthma.
Diet for Asthma
Lifestyle Considerations for Asthma
How to Reduce Allergens for Asthma
Vitamins for Asthma
Minerals for Asthma
Herbs for asthma:
Other Natural Medicines for Asthma
Sample Alternative Medicine Self Help Treatment Plan for Asthma
Thank you for the question. Be sure to book an appointment with me to work on your asthma over on my SCHEDULE page so we can address yours at the root cause. I heavily rely on Naturopathic Medicine to treat my asthma as I explain in my "Coconut Carrot Asthma Cough Syrup" recipe I was living on during the summer fires in Arizona.
If you have asthma or chronic breathing issues I would be happy to help you feel confident again that you can always breathe clearly and not have to live in a state of emergency. I understand firsthand how scary it feels to not be able to breathe when I had my first asthma attack I was absolutely terrified. I am truly grateful to Naturopathic Medicine for helping my asthma and rarely need to use my inhaler with what I have learned from my own experience dealing with asthma.
Remember if you want to try Naturopathy for your child I can easily help them but they need to be open to making a few diet changes and taking supplements. If you tell kids about the option so they can choose it for themselves they are actually my most compliant and most successful asthma patients. But I would offer it as a choice. I never want parents to waste their money on something their child won't do. But many of my pediatric patients are my most compliant because it makes sense to kids that foods can make them feel better or worse. The best part about childhood asthma is that it responds very well to some of the basic antioxidants I have listed above. Especially exercise induced asthma. But please do not treat your child without the guidance of a Naturopathic expert such as myself.
Dr. Nicole Sundene, NMD
(480) 837-0900
Dr. Sundene is a Naturopathic Doctor in Scottsdale, Arizona, and is considered a Female Hormone Expert in Women's Health and Bioidentical Hormones. She specializes in Holistic Women's Health for Menopause, Thyroid, Hashimotos, PMS, Perimenopause, Autoimmune, Postpartum, Chronic Fatigue, Depression, Anxiety, Food Allergies, Digestion, Dermatology , Acne, Psoriasis, Eczema and Adrenal Hormonal Conditions. In 1999 she began working for a Hormone Doctor prior to starting Naturopathic Medical School. With over 22 years of experience in both Prescription and Natural women's health and hormones, she presents to women the best-integrated health solutions for their Chronic Disease. She has been an Herbalist for over 27 years and enjoys teaching women how to use herbs to balance their hormones, nutrition and optimize their health. Dr. Sundene relies on blood testing for her hormone metrics. The hormone testing is covered per the patient's insurance plan and conducted at certain points in the woman's menstrual cycle. To learn more about Hormone Testing for Women Visit: Bioidentical Hormones. Follow Dr. Sundene on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook for more tips on Women's Health, Female Hormones and Naturopathy!
Dr. Nicole Sundene, NMD
Ginkgo shows amazing new research. Ginkgo improves memory, cognition, ADHD symptoms, restores brain function in depressed seniors, improved recovery from postviral loss of smell, improves stroke recovery, and is beneficial against tinnitus [1-6].
Ginkgo is a medicinal herb from the leaves of the Gingko biloba tree, also referred to as "Maidenhair Tree" because the leaves give the tree the appearance of having the curly lush hair of a young girl. The ginkgo tree is an ancient plant, dating back at least 250 million years. It is the oldest living species of tree in the world and it survived to modern times only in the mountain forests of Eastern China. The tree itself can live as long as one thousand years.
Most often the herb is taken as a 50:1 standardized leaf extract—this means that 50 grams of dried ginkgo leaves have been processed down into 1 gram of extract in a way that preserves a standard amount of the constituents believed to be the most important medicinally (22-27% flavonoids glycosides, 5-7% terpene lactones including 2.8-3.4% ginkgolides, 2.6-3.2% bilobalide, and less than 5 parts per million ginkgolic acids).
Ginkgo is best known for its ability to increase blood flow to the brain and improve impaired memory and mental performance, especially in the elderly. As a result, ginkgo is one of the most researched herbs available, is considered safe except in a few situations with medications, and also has a number of other uses.
Ginkgo can decrease platelet aggregation and prevent strokes and other diseases related to blood clots or emboli. It has been used for migraines, to delay the mental deterioration in early Alzheimer’s, and in treating tinnitus, vertigo, and cochlear deafness. It is also used for diabetic retinopathy, retinal insufficiency, macular degeneration, cataracts, intermittent claudication, Raynaud’s disease, varicose veins, generalized peripheral arteriopathy, and erectile dysfunction. It can also decrease asthma symptoms.
WHO SHOULD NOT TAKE GINKGO?
Gingko leaf extract is very safe and its side effects are almost nonexistent. However, patients who are on anticoagulant or antiplatelet medication such as Warfarin or aspirin should use ginkgo with caution. Generally I use other herbs for these patients so as not to double up on blood thinning. If you want to take it over the long run your anticoagulant medication will need to likely be adjusted down or you run the risk of bleeding internally. Along the same lines, ginkgo probably should not be used in cases of excessive bleeding or hemorrhagic disorders. It also may be contraindicated in anovulatory amenorrhea and infertility. Other drug interactions include the possible potentiation of MAO inhibitors and papverine. Ginkgo can increase blood pressure used concomitantly with thiazide diuretics. The RAW leaf, stem and seed can cause GI discomfort, headache, dizziness, and in severe cases convulsions. If you are on any medications or have any chronic health conditions you should check with your Naturopathic Doctor before starting the use of any herbal medicine such as ginkgo.
Thank you for your Women's Health and Herbal Medicine questions. Please send them to me on a postcard to the address below as I love to get something in the mail that is not a bill. Remember if your question cannot fit on a postcard then you need to treat yourself to a Naturopathic visit with me. Simply pop over to my SCHEDULE page to get set up. I love helping women with their ADHD, memory, and chronic fatigue.
Dr. Nicole Sundene, NMD
(480) 837-0900
Dr. Sundene is a Naturopathic Doctor in Scottsdale, Arizona, and is considered a Female Hormone Expert in Women's Health and Bioidentical Hormones. She specializes in Holistic Women's Health for Menopause, Thyroid, Hashimotos, PMS, Perimenopause, Autoimmune, Postpartum Depression, Chronic Fatigue, Holistic Psychiatry, Depression, Anxiety, Chronic Pain, Autoimmunity, Food Sensitivities, Digestion, Dermatology, Acne, Psoriasis, Eczema, and Adrenal Hormonal Conditions. In 1999 she began working for a Hormone Doctor prior to starting Naturopathic Medical School. With over 22 years of experience in both Prescription and Natural women's health and hormones, she presents to women the best-integrated health solutions for their Chronic Disease. She has been an Herbalist for over 27 years and enjoys teaching women how to use herbs to balance their hormones, nutrition and optimize their health. Dr. Sundene relies on blood testing for her hormone metrics. The hormone testing is covered per the patient's insurance plan and conducted at certain points in the woman's menstrual cycle. To learn more about Hormone Testing for Women Visit: Bioidentical Hormones. Follow Dr. Sundene on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook for more tips on Women's Health, Female Hormones, and Naturopathy!
References:
1. Băjenaru O, Prada G, Antochi F, Jianu C, Tudose C, Cuciureanu A, Docu AA, Perrot V, Avram M, Tiu C. Effectiveness and Safety Profile of Ginkgo biloba Standardized Extract (EGb761®) in Patients with Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment. CNS Neurol Disord Drug Targets. 2021;20(4):378-384. doi: 10.2174/1871527320666210208125524. PMID: 33557741.
2. Procházková K, Šejna I, Skutil J, Hahn A. Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761® versus pentoxifylline in chronic tinnitus: a randomized, double-blind clinical trial. Int J Clin Pharm. 2018 Oct;40(5):1335-1341. doi: 10.1007/s11096-018-0654-4. Epub 2018 Jun 1. Erratum in: Int J Clin Pharm. 2018 Aug 28;: PMID: 29855986; PMCID: PMC6208604.
3. Li S, Zhang X, Fang Q, Zhou J, Zhang M, Wang H, Chen Y, Xu B, Wu Y, Qian L, Xu Y. Ginkgo biloba extract improved cognitive and neurological functions of acute ischaemic stroke: a randomised controlled trial. Stroke Vasc Neurol. 2017 Dec 18;2(4):189-197. doi: 10.1136/svn-2017-000104. Erratum in: Stroke Vasc Neurol. 2018 Sep 21;3(3):189. PMID: 29507779; PMCID: PMC5829919.
4. Dai CX, Hu CC, Shang YS, Xie J. Role of Ginkgo biloba extract as an adjunctive treatment of elderly patients with depression and on the expression of serum S100B. Medicine (Baltimore). 2018 Sep;97(39):e12421. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000012421. PMID: 30278520; PMCID: PMC6181482.
5. Guo YC, Yao LY, Wei YX. [Clinical treatment effect of glucocorticoids and extract of ginkgo biloba on post-viral olfactory dysfunction]. Lin Chung Er Bi Yan Hou Tou Jing Wai Ke Za Zhi. 2017 Oct 20;31(20):1585-1588;1592. Chinese. doi: 10.13201/j.issn.1001-1781.2017.20.010. PMID: 29797955.
6. Li S, Zhang X, Fang Q, Zhou J, Zhang M, Wang H, Chen Y, Xu B, Wu Y, Qian L, Xu Y. Ginkgo biloba extract improved cognitive and neurological functions of acute ischaemic stroke: a randomised controlled trial. Stroke Vasc Neurol. 2017 Dec 18;2(4):189-197. doi: 10.1136/svn-2017-000104. Erratum in: Stroke Vasc Neurol. 2018 Sep 21;3(3):189. PMID: 29507779; PMCID: PMC5829919.
