Dr. Nicole Sundene, NMD
Scottsdale Naturopathic Doctor
Gallstones and gallbladder disease are very common women's health conditions best served by a Naturopathic Doctor unless surgery is required. Whether you are working to avoid having your gallbladder removed, or you have already had your gallbladder removed you will need to follow this gallbladder diet.
Patients with emergency clogged bile ducts must have their gallbladders removed as it is a true medical emergency. Whereas patients with gallstones their doctor is keeping an eye on are good candidates for this diet. When patients have their gallbladders removed they generally have chronic diarrhea without a pouch to collect their bile, and instead have bile constantly dripping into their intestines which triggers chronic diarrhea.
Signs of gallstones causing an emergency are sharp pain in the right lower rib cage, sharp pain in the right shoulder blader, fever, chills, and/or yellowing of the eyes or jaundice. Patients do not need to have all of these symptoms to need to go to the emergency room for surgery.
Your gallbladder is a “pouch” below the liver that stores a fat emulsifying liquid (bile) produced by the liver.
While a small amount of cholesterol in the bile is normal, bile acids and lecithin are necessary to keep the cholesterol soluble. When there is more cholesterol than the bile salts and lecithin can dissolve, gallstones begin to form. Gallstones can be a medical emergency requiring immediate removal of the gallbladder located within the liver, or they may be under "watchful waiting" with instructions to go to the ER for emergency surgery should they develop sudden sharp pain in their upper right shoulder blade, or pain under their right rib cage where the liver is located.
This type of gallstone, made primarily of cholesterol, occurs most frequently. There are also many types known as “mixed” because they contain varying amounts of calcium and bilirubin along with cholesterol.
Gallstones (cholelithiasis) and inflammation of the gallbladder (cholecystitis) are the two most common forms of gallbladder disease. Gallstones are usually present when there is an inflammatory process going on within the gallbladder, and there is a controversy as to which of these disorders occurs first.
What follows are dietary guidelines to decrease both the cholesterol saturation of the bile and the irritation and inflammation of the gallbladder. Since the two conditions are so closely related, the same dietary guidelines apply. If you feel any of them need to be modified for your unique situation, please ask your doctor.
Gallstones can be a medical emergency requiring immediate removal of the gallbladder located within the liver, or they may be under "watchful waiting" with instructions to go to the ER for emergency surgery should they develop sudden sharp pain in their upper right shoulder blade, or pain under their right rib cage where the liver is located.
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
WHAT IS GLUTEN NEUROPATHY?
Gluten Neuropathy is an extremely painful condition caused by nerves being attacked and destroyed. This can result in symptoms that require visits to multiple specialists such as a Neurologist, Psychiatrist, Endocrinologist, Gastroenterologist, Dermatologist, Allergist, Immunologist, Pulmonologist, and Rheumatologist. If you are already ping ponging back and forth between a few of these different specialists then this article is for you!
Today we will go over a topic that impacts several of my favorite Naturopathic specialties working in Natural Endocrinology, Holistic Dermatology, Psychiatry and Dermatology. In Gluten Neuropathy, every time the patient eats gluten, even a tiny bread crumb, the immune system is primed to attack the nervous system resulting in symptoms very similar to Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Fatigue, ADHD, Anxiety, Depression, Chronic Pain, Insomnia, and Restless Leg Syndrome.
You do not need to have Heartburn, Diarrhea, Constipation or Bloating to have a SERIOUS ISSUE with gluten. This is a fallacy that many of my patients fall victim to, refuse to listen to me, and continue to live in pain bouncing from specialist to specialist eventually to the Psychiatrist because they are so miserable and in pain they don't want to be alive and need an antidepressant.
Many patients with Gluten Neuropathy are misled that they must have stomach problems in order to have a "gluten problem" and/or are misdiagnosed with Fibromyalgia or "Idiopathic Neuropathy" and sadly end up in wheelchairs and become bedridden from this extremely painful condition that rapidly destroys nerve cells and can cause permanent damage. The real problem with Gluten Neuropathy is we need to catch it quickly and treat it aggressively with Natuopathic herbs, supplements and nutrition to help recover function of the nervous system, otherwise the damage from Gluten can be permanent. Even once we have diagnosed and eliminated Gluten as the cause of the chronic pain, some patients do not fully recover function, which is why it is important I share this information today on Gluten Neuropathy today so patients can get better as soon as possible.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF GLUTEN NEUROPATHY?
Pain, generally severe neurological pain, headaches, dysthymia (depression or lack of interest in doing anything) fibromyalgia like symptoms, arthritis, brain fog, ADHD, trouble concentrating, stomach ache, heartburn, diarrhea, and anxiety. [1-4]
Hearing Loss, Cognitive Decline, Psychiatric Issues, Epilepsy, and Dermatology issues like Paresthesias (burning, tingling, “bugs crawling on my skin,” or pins and needles.”) Also commonly seen with severe or advanced Gluten Neuropathy are Diminished Reflexes, and Ataxia or loss of control of muscles, clumsy movements, speech changes, and lack of balance also can occur with Gluten Neuropathy. If you are constantly bumping in to things, dropping things, cannot remember things, forget what you are doing while you are doing it, cannot recall words or say the wrong words, always feel tired, depressed, and blah, AND have poor balance then this is most likely what is wrong with you if your Neurologist has found nothing else wrong.
Basically Gluten Neuropathy looks exactly like MS with a very similar symptom set, severe fatigue that causes the inability to stay awake during the day coupled with insomnia at night, chronic pain, headaches, and weird buzzing and skin crawling sensations. Without labs and MRI's to differentiate the diagnosis the symptoms appear almost identical to both doctors and patients. I have had many women in my practice terrified they have MS, when the true diagnosis ends up being Gluten Neuropathy, a much better diagnosis, although sad when you cannot consume bread. I do recommend my Multiple Sclerosis and Autoimmune patients avoid gluten as it does tend to prime the immune system to further attack healthy tissues such as nerves which we will discuss further today. [5-18]
CAN GLUTEN NEUROPATHY MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO WALK?
Patients with Gluten Neuropathy have massive damage to the cells in their nervous system and brain and in an advanced state have difficulty walking, difficulty with balance, and difficulty controlling their hands, feet, and eyes. This is because researchers found the following nervous system cells were destroyed by Gluten:
“In gluten ataxia, loss of Purkinje cells, atrophy, gliosis and astrocytosis were apparent, as well as diffuse lymphocytic infiltration and perivascular cuffing with lymphocytes. In patients with large-fiber neuropathy, nerve biopsies revealed axonopathy, loss of myelinated fibers and focal and perivascular infiltration by inflammatory cells. Inflammatory infiltrate was also observed in muscle in myopathy and in cerebrum of patients with encephalopathy and patients with epilepsy.” [5]
Gluten Neuropathy is therefore as serious and severe as Multiple Sclerosis, the only thing missing is the lesions on the brain, however the symptoms, pain, and loss of control of the nervous system are identical.
DO I HAVE TO HAVE STOMACH PROBLEMS TO HAVE GLUTEN NEUROPATHY?
No. The studies show that at least 20% of patients with gluten neuropathy do not have any digestive symptoms at all, which is why I am writing this article because many of my gluten neuropathy patients refuse to take their gluten intolerance seriously without labs or stomach aches to demonstrate the “Why” behind the challenging diet they must follow. So to combat this noncompliance, I am writing this article and listing all the research studies that state this is a false rationale that many patients create because they are truly traumatized at the thought of giving up bread and tell me “I cannot live without bread.” Well at some point with Gluten Neuropathy we have to choose functions like walking and talking over eating bread, if you cannot go anywhere or talk to anyone there is little point in eating bread in my mind.
For those that cannot adhere to a Gluten Free diet, I recommend counseling as this is an eating disorder issue coupled with a self love problem when patients do not love their bodies enough to give the proper nutrition it needs and are eating foods that are intentionally causing self harm. Working with a skilled counselor (not a dietician but a therapist or psychiatrist) to help understand obstacles and triggers is imperative for proper success.
Researchers concluded in another study that gluten causes psychiatric and neurological disorders in the presence or absence of gastroenterology issues such as diarrhea, constipation, heartburn, and bloating, with children being the most at risk for experiencing neurological issues in the absence of stomach issues. [14-20]
This is why a Gluten Free diet is such a tough sell to many of my parents that bring their ADHD and behavioral issue children to me, because they refuse to believe that a food can destroy the nervous system without impacting the gut, and we will just have to agree to disagree on this subject as I have seen dramatic improvements in my autism, epilepsy, and ADHD patients by simply avoiding gluten. I would not bother to advise such a stressful diet to comply to if it was not necessary.
Many times patients have refused to follow their Gluten Free diet and this causes the amount of herbs and supplements they need to pile up to hundreds if not thousands of dollars a month to treat all the individual symptoms caused by Gluten Neuropathy and Celiac Disease. So from a cost benefit analysis, I see the diet change as the least expensive option, especially when we are looking at long term damage, long term destruction to the nervous system, and potential long term damage to the brain, hands, feet, balance and coordination centers.
Eating a food that is making you at risk for falls that can cause concussions is not healthy. The gluten we eat today has been genetically modified to a point that it has become so inflammatory that most people can no longer tolerate it at all. Everyone is just in denial about it.
Of further challenge is the need to do the Gluten Free diet for at least six months without cross contamination to fully confirm the diagnosis. Many of my patients with chronic fatigue and “Idiopathic Neuropathy” should do the six month trial of the gluten free diet to allow enough time for the body to purge all gluten, and the immune system time to stop making antibodies to gluten that attacks the nerves. Patients that are not improving should have their antibodies tracked so the doctor can determine if the diet is being conducted properly and the antibodies to gluten are going down, this is important when ruling out cross contamination with restaurant food. Researchers concluded:
“Celiac Disease is commonly associated with sensory neuropathy and should be considered even in the absence of gastrointestinal symptoms.” [8]
HOW IS GLUTEN NEUROPATHY DIFFERENT THAN REGULAR NEUROPATHY?
While most cases of Neuropathy in America are caused by Diabetes mellitus and Insulin Resistance, Gluten Neuropathy is less widely known, and may cause a more rapidly degnerating type of Neuropathy than Diabetes. I see patients in their twenties and thirties with debilitating Gluten Neuropathy, whereas most of my seniors do not have diabetic neuropathy until their seventies or eighties and it is not completely debilitating in the early stages.
Diabetic Neuropathy tends to target the feet and legs first while Gluten Neuropathy tends to start in the hands and feet and then cause headaches and full body pain although patients with Gluten Neuropathy can present differently.
In both instances of Neuropathy the nerves are under attack either from sugar or gluten and are being destroyed by the nervous system. While the nerves of the peripheral nervous system can repair, once the damage has gone on for too long, full recovery can become challenging and may not completely occur, although I do see patients seeing improvement and reduction in their pain even when it does not completely resolve. [19]
HOW COMMON IS GLUTEN NEUROPATHY?
Gluten Neuropathy and Neurological manifestations occur in 10% of all Celiac Disease patients:
“The most common clinical manifestations are cerebellar ataxia, gluten encephalopathy, multiple sclerosis, peripheral neuropathies, sensorineural hearing loss, epilepsy, headache, depression, and cognitive deficiencies.” [15]
Researchers have concluded that 1% of the population has Gluten Neuropathy, however I would argue that number is higher due to lack of awareness, compliance, and diagnosis. [16]
Most Neurologists do not even bother to consider telling my patients with Idiopathic Neuropathy to consider a Gluten Free Trial for six months and instead let them continue to suffer in debilitating pain by just stating “It’s idiopathic there is nothing we can do.” When a doctor calls something “Idiopathic” that means they do not know what causes it. What I hear as a doctor when another doctor uses this term with me is “Idiotic” meaning the doctor is too lazy, or lacks intelligence to find the cause. Never accept the label “Idiopathic” as a patient, as it IS idiotic and lazy and utterly fails to help the patient understand what type of treatments would be the best for them.
WHO IS MOST LIKELY TO HAVE GLUTEN NEUROPATHY?
Patients with an existing diagnosis of Celiac Disease are at the highest risk of Gluten Neuropathy. However, having any autoimmune disease increases risk of Gluten Neuropathy diagnosis, with the most common autoimmune disease second to Celiac Disease causing Gluten Neuropathy being Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. The majority of my Hashimoto’s patients report less joint pain and fatigue with eating Gluten Free.
Other thyroid diseases such as Grave’s disease are also common. Hormone imbalance may play a role as menopausal women are at higher risk, other conditions common with Gluten Neuropathy including:
“Idiopathic pancreatitis, unexplained liver enzyme abnormalities, autoimmune hepatitis, primary biliary cholangitis, hyposplenism or functional asplenia with severe bacterial infection, type 1 diabetes mellitus, Hashimoto's thyroiditis and Graves' disease, Sjögren's syndrome, dermatitis herpetiformis, recurrent aphthous syndrome and enamel defects, unexplained ataxia, peripheral neuropathy, delayed menarche or premature menopause, Down syndrome, Turner syndrome, Williams syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome, IgA nephropathy, and IgA deficiency.” [8-9]
Researchers have found a link between gluten and a lot of rare and random diseases, therefore attempting to avoid Gluten is highly worth the effort when you are dealing with something "Idiopathic" or with no known cure. In Naturopathy we call Gluten Elimination “Removing the Obstacle to Cure.” By removing Gluten we are helping the body heal and repair itself at the "Root Cause."
WHAT OTHER SYMPTOMS ARE COMMON WITH GLUTEN NEUROPATHY?
Celiac Disease and Gluten Intolerance can present with a wide range of symptoms, both gastrointestinal such as indigestion, diarrhea, abdominal pain, bloating, distension or constipation. Non-gastrointestinal symptoms include fatigue, dermatitis herpetiformis (Gluten Rash), anemia, osteoporosis, hormone imbalance, fertility challenges, premature menopause, short stature, neuropathy, tremor, ataxia or delayed puberty. Although some people present with typical symptoms, others have few or no symptoms. [17]
WHAT IS THE TREATMENT FOR GLUTEN NEUROPATHY?
Lifelong gluten avoidance with immediate Naturopathic treatment with any “Gluten Poisoning” to temper the response. Anytime someone with gluten neuropathy eats gluten it can restart the clock for six months, and it may take another six months to reduce the pain and inflammation to the nervous system from accidentally ingesting gluten which commonly happens at restaurants where most meals are advertised as “Gluten Free” when they actually are “Gluten Free Friendly” meaning they are prepared in the same area that other Gluten containing products are, cooked on the same grills, chopped with the same knives, and therefore have something called “Cross Contamination.” My patients that are addicted to eating out generally never fully resolve their Celiac Disease symptoms nor their Gluten Neuropathy because they are never fully getting a break from Gluten.
Furthermore, when I worked in restaurants in college, I was one of the most educated people there, most of the people I worked with did not have beyond a High School Diploma and some did not even have that, or were teenagers. So we cannot rely on uneducated people that do not care if you are suffering and in pain to properly prepare your Gluten Free meal. I have also had patients had their meals switched and their spouse given the Gluten Free bun while they ate the Gluten containing one, so always double check when they deliver your meal, and ask "This is the Gluten free meal right????"
Or do what I do with my Autoimmune Disease and just stay AWAY from restaurants and eat healthy food at home is my best advice to achieve results! I eat at home before every activity, party, baseball game, football game and social activity to avoid getting in a situation where I am starving and I have no options. The fuller you are before you show up the most likely you will be to perfectly comply.
Many patients state their issue with compliance is other people forcing their baked goods on them. Just stop and politely say "No thank you, I have Celiac Disease and can only eat the food I prepare myself, I ate before I came here." Anyone that pushes beyond that is a total psycho in my experience as living gluten free, probably needs to be gluten free themselves and is in denial about it, and will therefore not support you or respond with understanding to any further explanations you provide. The more you explain yourself the less powerful you feel, the less powerful you feel, the more likely you are to slip up and eat Gluten. You do not need to destroy your health to "be polite" and eat that cookie they made that nobody in America needs to eat anyways. This is not about them, this is about your health, your pain, your stomach, your skin, and with Gluten Neuropathy.... saving yourself from being bedridden and using a wheelchair.
My experience is that I don't want to be friends with or around people that are not supportive of what my chronic disease requires. Most people will be supportive but you cannot expect everyone to care because a lot of people are lost in their own Narcissistic worlds and not eating the cookie they made now has mentally ruined them. You don't want to be friends with someone like that anyways. If it is a family member that does this I recommend eating before hand, asking what they will be preparing, and then bringing all of your own food and drinks. You cannot expect other people to cater to your Gluten Intolerance. The best of friends will, and the worst of friends won't....and nobody's mom cares if you cannot have gluten. Your mom will not care that you need to be gluten free, don't expect anyone in your family or even your spouse to care about your Gluten issue. This is something you must take 100% responsibility for yourself. Just give up on the concept that other people will cater to your health problems and fix your problems yourself by making it very clear you are there to socialize and that does not include food.
Even worse is when someone tries to cater to your Gluten free needs but then does something really stupid like baking Spelt bread which is not gluten free. I have heard this story multiple times and my response as a doctor is always the same, "Just stop expecting other people to cater to your Gluten Intolerance."
Expectations always lead to disappointments.
That may sound harsh, but one meal made wrong by a well meaning friend or cross contaminated restaurant food may set you backwards months with your pain levels and is generally just not worth it if you suffer from a severely painful condition such as I do with my Lupus. For me, a "moment on the lips" means months of pain on my hips, so I am highly motivated to avoid Gluten but it took a long time before I could take it seriously. I tried and failed repeatedly and the biggest issue was that I did not give my body a long enough break from Gluten to fully understand what it was doing to me! Friends and family trying to constantly poison me was of course the second biggest issue, because baking is many people's "Love Language" and way of showing you that they love you even though what they really mean with their well meaning Gluten containing product is "I hate you and want you to be in a wheelchair."
Again don't waste your time on others and expecting them to care about your Gluten Free needs. Simply politely defer several times. Always use the words "Celiac Disease" so they take you seriously and if you eventually lose your temper because they are not listening then just give up and tell them you will get together with them for activities and not meals.
After years of dabbling in Gluten Free land and flunking out, I now see Gluten as the Neurological poison it is and will shamelessly smack any gluten containing product people are trying to hand me right out of their hand. I am not polite about being offered Gluten by the same person repeatedly. Nice twice third times a B1*$H 😉
Being Gluten free is super complicated, requires an educational process, and is beyond just avoiding bread as gluten is in a variety of soups, drinks, and condiments such as soy sauce. When you are brand new to Gluten Neuropathy or autoimmune disease pain, I would ONLY go to restaurants that specialize in this for the first six months. Tell your friends and family you are not allowed to eat out for medical reasons. If you are going for social reasons eat before you leave and only order bottled water. If it does not come in a bottle or a package it could be cross contaminated with gluten. After the six months is up your immune system should be less reactive to Gluten and these minor slip ups will be something you can identify. But in the beginning of treatment for this disease, it is impossible for my patients to improve while eating restaurant food. I don't like to fail, I like to hit a home run every time with each and every patient so I am just stating the facts of my experience with Gluten Neuropathy and Gluten slip ups.
For the first six months of treatment for Gluten Neuropathy I recommend eating no restaurant food at all as this may interfere with seeing proper results for this debilitating condition and is the number one reason my patients fail with their Gluten Elimination trial and tell me it does not work. Now we are risking wheelchairs because we cannot stop restaurant food? This is utter nonsense and nothing frustrates me more as a doctor than someone that is throwing away a perfectly good diagnosis and treatment plan because they cannot stop unhealthy indulgent restaurant food that nobody in America needs to be eating anyways! I see this all the time with my Weight Loss patients that tell me they cannot stop eating out because their husband wants to eat out for every single meal. Losing weight while eating inflammatory restaurant oils, high sodium, and rich indulgent meals is not going to result in a successful outcome, nor will eating restaurant food work with Gluten Neuropathy.
Working with your Naturopathic Doctor to develop a menu that works for your particular lifestyle to treat your Gluten Intolerance, monitor your compliance via labs, and get properly educated about all of the hidden sources of Gluten, are the most important first steps of recovering from Gluten Neuropathy.
Cross contamination, and people at health food stores telling my patients that “Ezekiel Bread” and “Bob’s Killer Bread” are Gluten Free when they are not are a huge obstacle to getting my patients to properly comply to avoiding Gluten. These are “Gluten Free Fairytales” my patients have sadly fallen for.
This is why working with a skilled Naturopathic Doctor on this is extremely important as many nutritionists and health coaches have misled my patients over the years and told them very stupid things like “you can eat sourdough bread” which is a fallacy that I wish were true, I of course had to test myself only to get a full body rash, joint pain, heartburn and migraine…. so we need to remain in reality to receive results and stop listening to the TicTokDocs.
Proper treatment is very important because researchers concluded that:
“Adherence to a strict gluten-free diet was associated with a significant reduction of headache, dysthymia, cramps and weakness.”
Therefore avoiding gluten for a full six months for my chronic pain and chronic fatigue patients is very much worth the effort, or I would not have bothered to type this blog. [20-23]
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO SEE IMPROVEMENT FOR GLUTEN NEUROPATHY?
While most of my cases begin to see gradual improvement over days to weeks, I tell all my patients with this challenging condition to budget six months of hard work in order to truly understand how gluten is impacting their pain levels.
IF I HAVE IDIOPATHIC NEUROPATHY DO I HAVE GLUTEN NEUROPATHY?
Probably. The majority of Neuropathy cases I have worked with that had no known common cause such as Diabetes, do respond well to a gluten free diet. The challenging part of the treatment plan is getting patients to comply with a diet they 100% do not want to follow, however as someone that has been gluten free for many years I can tell you that once you quit gluten it will be one of the best decisions you have ever made, especially if you suffer with autoimmune disease like I do, and have chronic pain. [12]
WHAT PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS ARE CAUSED BY GLUTEN NEUROPATHY?
Several severe neurological conditions can be caused by Gluten Neuropathy such as, depression, anxiety, dementia, panic attacks, paranoia, schizophrenia, suicidal thoughts, brain fog, ADHD, epilepsy, and RLS. [13] These conditions not only have a significant association with gluten but can also benefit from a Gluten Free Diet. A lot of patients think I am extreme for recommending NO GLUTEN for their psych case, but as a Naturopathic Doctor specializing in Holistic Psychiatry for seventeen years and counting, I want to reduce the inflammation to the nervous system and brain at their "Root Cause" which generally means a change in nutrition. Considering the severity of some of these conditions, going Gluten Free is much less extreme than taking antidepressants, antipsychotics and seizure drugs!
CAN THE NERVOUS SYSTEM HEAL FROM GLUTEN DAMAGE?
Yes and no. In my seventeen years practicing as a Naturopathic Doctor, I have seen advanced cases of Gluten Neuropathy that have failed to fully resolve in elderly patients. Generally because they refuse to give up their toast for breakfast and telling someone that is eighty that they have to stop eating the same breakfast that they have eaten for their entire life can be extremely challenging.
For my younger patients that immediately understand they are running the risk of needing a walker or wheelchair and immediately comply with avoiding gluten 100%, generally adding some nerve healing agents such as natural supplements, vitamins, and herbs can help speed the recovery from this painful condition. The damage done to the nervous system from gluten is very similar to a car accident and will take time and natural medicine to repair along with continuing to abstain from gluten for life.
Need my help avoiding gluten, and healing your nervous system from its damages? Simply visit 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.
References:
Lichen Sclerosus is an uncomfortable, itchy and sometimes painful womens health condition that impacts the skin and surrounding tissues of the vagina. Lichen sclerosus typically worsens around perimenopause and menopause as the vagina experiences adverse hormonal changes causing dry skin, and an overall decrease in hydration and elasticity.
WHAT NATURAL MEDICINE, HERBS, VITAMINS BEST HELP LICHEN SCLEROSUS?
With Functional Medicine, natural hormones, herbs, and Naturopathy we are working together to determine individuallized nutrition, macros, food triggers, environmental triggers, nutritional deficiencies, and hormone imbalance.
There is unfortunately not an easy quick fix for Lichen Sclerosus in my opinion as a women’s health doctor treating this condition for over seventeen years. My patients that are successful and reach remission or improvement with lack of progression generally go through a several month process with me. They also understand this will be a bit of a detective process.
Lichen Sclerosus is complicated and requires me to put on a lot of different specialty hats:
Dermatology + Women’s Health + Gynecology + Urology + Rheumatology
Thankfully, I have my eight years of experience in MD specialties to combine with seventeen years as a Women’s Health Naturopathic Doctor to address what I see as one of the most challenging Women’s Health and Dermatology conditions to quickly improve, somewhat like Psoriasis, that also requires a multifaceted approach.
While I can help improve Lichen Sclerosus I want my patients to have a realistic timeline for improvement. As much as I wish I could snap my fingers and instantly make it better we need to understand why the body is sending us this annoying message, what hormones are off, what the triggers are (different for all my Lichen patients), and what makes it better and worse.
DO I HAVE TO STOP MY LICHEN SCLEROSUS MEDICINE TO USE NATURAL MEDICINE?
No. I recommend that my Lichen patients continue to use their steroid cream, topical or clobetasol cream until they are improved with Natural Medicine and Herbs. While the cream is thinning the skin overtime and overall worsening the condition, the cream is generally needed at first to control symptoms. Not using the cream may result in long term irreversible scarring aka permanent damage to your vagina! When the vaginal tissues begin to change from pink to white this is a sign that permanent scarring has formed and is difficult to reverse which is why I recommend implementing my natural remedies for Lichen Sclerosus and balancing hormones along with using medication at first. To prevent long term damage.
Natural medicine takes several weeks to begin working as women then gradually work with me to taper their steroid cream down as they improve.
WHAT CAN I APPLY NATURALLY FOR LICHEN SCLEROSUS?
The majority of my patients that I have helped with Lichen over the past seventeen years working as a Women’s Health Naturopathic Doctor have reported applying Emu Oil as the most relieving topical. They use this frequently for hydration and then use the clobetasol when there is break through inflammation or Lichen flares.
Thirty years ago at the GNC health food store I worked at, women would often buy Emu oil for their Lichen Sclerosus which leads me to believe there are more undiagnosed cases out there than doctors are aware of and this may be more common than we think. I also learned from them that they would not have flares as long as they regularly used it.
Other natural remedies for Lichen Sclerosus that my patients find helpful are aloe vera gel, calendula oil or succus, gotu kola, olive oil, rosemary oil, turmeric cream for pain and inflammation, vitamin e for scarring, If using essential oils on the vagina be sure to dilute them in a carrier oil first, generally 1-5 drops per ounce of oil to start.
Diluting essential oils properly is especially important when applied vaginally. Test a small amount on your wrist or neck before applying to your vagina. I don’t need any women cursing my name. No natural treatment for Lichen Sclerosus I have successfully used on my patients should ever burn! Rosemary oil helps with pain, is anti-inflammatory and also is a powerful antifungal as most of my Lichen patients have yeast overgrowth either as an underlying trigger or directly caused by the daily dependence on steroid cream that shuts down the immune system to the place it is applied allowing yeast and other opportunistic infections to take over.
Probiotics topically and vaginally are also important to correct the likely flora imbalance going on with yeast overgrowth being a common trigger for Lichen Sclerosus. Thankfully these are now readily available over the counter unlike back in the 90’s when women had to make their own probiotic suppositories from my recipe handout.
HOW LONG DOES HOLISTIC LICHEN SCLEROSUS TREATMENT TAKE?
Most women clear up in several months. I would plan to work with me for a minimum of three months. Generally three to six months for a more progressed or complicated case. I have had some severe Dermatology patients that took 6-12 months to clear their skin with the diet, nutrition, herbal medicine and functional medicine techniques I prescribe.
IS NATURAL TREATMENT FOR LICHEN SCLEROSUS DANGEROUS?
No. Unless some weird alternative medicine Tiktok Doc is selling you something I am unaware of, however the things I use with my patients are generally safe, time tested, organic and good for them. The worst case I see is a patient that does not want to change their nutrition to reduce the inflammation to their vagina. When patients do not want to change their nutrition to what their skin requires, or cannot work with me in baby steps to eat what they are supposed to eat to clear their symptoms, then I will see the patient fail to improve. Failure to achieve normal healthy vaginal tissues from noncompliance is generally the worst case scenario using natural medicine for Lichen Sclerosus. These women are better off working with their MD and using drugs as I unfortunately cannot help them.
DOES HORMONE IMBALANCE CAUSE LICHEN SCLEROSUS?
Yes and No. If hormone imbalance was the ultimate cause of Lichen Sclerosus then all of my menopausal patients would eventually suffer from this painful Dermatology condition. However, this is one of the most complex conditions I treat as a Women’s Health doctor and it requires a multifactorial approach between all the specialties I assisted in Dermatology, Gynecology, Urology, and Rheumatology. There is currently not one theory as to what causes Lichen Sclerosus but multiple theories, as well as multiple triggers, and no true curative medication or treatment. Principles I learned from all of the different specialties help me achieve successful outcomes.
WHAT DOES LICHEN SCLEROSUS MEAN?
“Lichen Sclerosus” root word Lichen means moss and sclerosus means scarring or hardening, such as in multiple sclerosis. In similar scar tissue forming Dermatology condition, Scleroderma the root word sclero is also referring to the permanent hardening of the skin. Therefore scarring generally means permanent damage and is not a good diagnosis to receive and means we need to act quickly and aggressively. Scarred vaginal tissues begin to experience a white moss pattern that is hallmark to this condition and most OBgyn’s can just diagnose it based on visual inspection after seeing it enough times.
IS LICHEN SCLEROSUS AN AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE?
Lichen Sclerosus is not a true autoimmune disease that has a definitive blood test such as the positive RF test used to confirm a diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis. However, with that being said, many doctors that specialize in Lichen Sclerosus do consider it to be an autoimmune disease and treat it as such with steroids or natural steroid like treatments such as what I implement as a Naturopathic Doctor.
Personally, I treat this highly inflammatory condition as an autoimmune disease and see that it does respond to my anti-inflammatory methods similar to autoimmune disease as well as follow a pattern of waxing and waning with flares similar to what women with other autoimmune disease's experience.
Many doctors and Dermatologists refer to Lichen Sclerosus as “Psoriasis of the Vagina." I would agree that my natural treatments for my Psoriasis patients in my Holistic Dermatology practice are very similar to my Lichen treatments but each patient’s triggers are of course individualized which makes it difficult for me to post a Lichen Sclerosis blog with a cookie cutter treatment plan for this inflammatory condition. Instead the best I can do is provide a description of the process I take women through to understand the “Root Cause" as I discuss more in my blog Natural Rheumatology: My Autoimmune Journey.
Women with preexisting Autoimmune Disease such as Hashimoto’s, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus, Scleroderma, and so forth are more likely to experience Lichen Sclerosus symptoms. As we say in Rheumatology “Birds of a feather flock together” so most patients with an autoimmune condition are likely to have a second or unfortunate third. Sadly, I do have patients in my women's health practice with multiple autoimmune conditions.
Thyroid conditions, cause dry skin, and absolutely worsen Lichen Sclerosus, especially Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, and thus are highly correlated with Lichen Sclerosis.
WHAT TRIGGERS A LICHEN SCLEROSUS FLARE?
#1 on my list of most common Lichen Triggers is hormone imbalance, as it absolutely will worsen Lichen Sclerosus and certainly does not improve a pre-existing battle with Lichen. When women experience Lichen Sclerosus symptoms prior to perimenopause or menopause that generally indicates other factors causing the dermatology issue than just hormones. Inflammation, food triggers, stress, anxiety, insomnia, lack of exercise and underlying chronic infections can also be to blame. Although I have seen women in their twenties with Lichen experiencing early menopause or “Premature Ovarian Insufficiency.” Therefore it is important to get hormones checked and not assume they are fine just because a woman is twenty or thirty with this condition.
After twenty five years working in women’s health I can confirm without a doubt that becoming menopausal and losing female hormones absolutely makes most chronic vaginal conditions I treat MUCH worse such as chronic herpes, chronic yeast infections, bladder urgency, bladder burning, frequent urination, and pelvic pain.
Most women with Lichen Sclerosus I see are already super frustrated, often in tears, embarrassed, and sadly ashamed from their painful cracking and bleeding vaginas. Many women with Lichen Sclerosus also feel hopeless because they have already been to multiple doctors, OBgyn’s, Urologists, and Women’s Health Doctors before they head to me and think to use Naturopathic Medicine. So I would not write this blog sending frustrated Lichen patients on a "Fool's Errand" recommending a holistic approach, unless I saw that it was actually helpful. Most of my Lichen patients tell me they wish I was the first doctor they saw for their Lichen and not the last! So there you have it ladies…addressing the “Root cause” is the best #1 Naturopathic way!
Please do first always visit your MD OBgyn or Dermatologist to first establish a diagnosis for Lichen Sclerosus and do not self diagnosis this. Specialty offices will have testing needed to rule out other similar conditions. I also always prefer to know what we are working with and some doctors may need to perform additional testing in cases that do not appear in a classic Lichen pattern.
So I post this random blog, to provide hope for women in frustration with these symptoms to consider natural medicine, especially for this condition that can also painfully cause marital problems due to the inability to have intercourse.
Painful intercourse, tearing, scarring and a sudden appearance of white spots indicates Lichen Sclerosus which should be diagnosed and confirmed first by your MD OBgyn or Dermatologist prior to seeking my help. I have had a few patients self diagnose their Lichen Sclerosus and fail to improve on my expected Holistic Dermatology timeline because we were not treating actual Lichen Sclerosus but severe yeast overgrowth, or another vaginal infection. The diagnosis should have already been ruled out via testing at a Dermatology office. They have special equipment that can look and determine if it is a yeast overgrowth or may need to study a tissue sample under a microscope to watch for typical inflammatory patterns associated with Lichen Sclerosus such as scarring and hyperkeratosis.
WHAT LICHEN SCLEROSUS PATIENTS RESPOND BEST TO NATUROPATHY?
Motivated women always do the best in my Naturopathic Women’s Health practice. The women I can help the best with their Lichen Sclerosus are highly motivated to make nutrition changes and work together to find the root cause because they are sick of using their clobetasol cream. They have noticed it is getting worse over the years, they are often scared, and in severe states of itching, burning, discomfort and pain.
They have noticed it is thinning their skin and vaginal tissues and understand it is because chronic use of cortisone creates a cortisol stress reaction that shuts down our normal body functions like healing and repairing in order to stop inflammation. As in my blogs “Adrenals: Running From the Bear” and "Adrenal Stress: Are You in Fight, Flight, or Fright?"
Women with Lichen Sclerosus that are compliant and highly motivated are my most successful patients. This level of motivation helps me get through the detective process of analyzing if it is nutrition, hormones, environmental, autoimmune, etc. Then we implement an individualized nutrition and supplement plan after performing the needed testing. Women that understand this is a detective process and are not busy googling a bunch of natural remedies to apply to their vagina and muddying the waters while I am trying to do my work.
WHAT WOMEN DO NOT DO ACHIEVE SUCCESS WITH NATURAL TREATMENTS OR LICHEN SCERLOSUS?
While most of my patients are able to reach remission or slow progression, I occasionally have a certain patient type that will never improve their Lichen Sclerosus. This type of patient generally fails out of my practice no matter what women’s heath condition they have because they are so busy googling things and trying random treatments they found on their Facebook Chat Group that I am unable to study what nutritional and hormone changes I am implementing at the “Root Cause” are helping.
Oftentimes random internet treatments can also flare Lichen and cause me to throw away my perfectly effective natural treatment plans. Therefore if you are a patient that needs to be your own doctor at all times, cannot stop googling, and cannot follow my directions I do not expect a successful outcome.
WHY ARE STEROIDS BAD FOR LICHEN SCLEROSUS?
Steroids are fine to treat occasional flares from time to time. Otherwise I would not prescribe clobetasol to my own patients with Lichen at all if I thought it was a terrible cure. It is just a terrible long term cure. The real reason steroids fail Lichen patients is that we are putting the vaginal tissues in constant “stress emergency” mode and never “heal, hydrate, and repair” mode.
As I discuss further in my blog “Adrenals: Fight, Flight, or Fright?” both synthetic and natural cortisol tell our bodies to go into emergency mode to reduce inflammation. The hormone cortisol sounds the emergency alarm like a FOUR ALARM FIRE AT THE FIRE STATION….
The body goes into emergency fire fighting mode....and wisely shuts down all extra functions except what it needs to do to put out the fire, or run from a bear while in crisis emergency mode. While our body thinks we are running from this bear it is not resting/digesting/repairing/caring about anything else because it wisely believes we are in emergency mode and all of our blood is then shunted to our lungs, heart and muscles so we can run as fast as possible.
Women that have stomach problems, chronic stress, anxiety, and autoimmune disease are the best fit for a holistic Naturopathic approach. As these other symptoms are likely inner related to the Dermatology condition, although no MD Dermatologist will ever agree with me on that. Lets talk a bit more about why long term steroid cream is not good for the vagina in Lichen Sclerosus and triggers yeast infections which cause itching which worsens cracking and bleeding.
Synthetic cortisone and natural cortisol in high amounts stop digestion, skin repair, skin regrowth, modulation of the rate of skin growth, hair growth, mental health neurotransmitter production, production of white blood cells for immunity, and female hormone production needed for menopausal and perimenopausal vaginal hydration.
Female hormones are important in Lichen Sclerosus, let me explain why as the #1 reason my Lichen patients fail is refusing to use natural hormones from yams because they are scared of hormones based on research conducted over twenty years ago on synthetic hormones.
Estrogen is mandatory for Lichen Sclerosus as it stimulates vaginal mucus production, while progesterone keeps the vagina plump and properly oxygenated. Testosterone is also mandatory to help hydrate both the inside and outside of the vaginal tissues. Men have high testosterone and generally have skin so oily they can wash it with a bar of Dial soap and not use moisturizer so we have to use at least a teensy bit of testosterone until dry skin and tissues improve from white to pink.
The only time I do not use natural hormones for my Lichen Sclerosus patients is when they have a history of breast cancer. But even then, some oncologists will allow me to lightly prescribe certain hormones after a certain number of years have passed and there is less concern and danger to the breast. Although my hormone receptor positive patients with breast cancer will not likely ever be candidates unless they have had a total hysterectomy and masectomy.
Applying local hormones to the vagina for my patients with a personal or strong family history of breast cancer in lower doses is generally just as effective for this annoying Dermatology condition, and for some severe cases that do not have a history of cancer, I do prescribe topical and systemic natural hormones in order to clear up symptoms the fastest.
Without all three hormones consistently, my Lichen Sclerosus patients tell me things have suddenly worsened. Many have tried to go out of their hormone cream “out of curiosity” only to flare severely back up and have to start over from where we first began.
Therefore, I do not find it realistic to successfully treat this severe of a women’s health condition without the use of female hormones, as I feel like it is cruel for me as a Naturopathic Doctor to let women with this condition suffer in silence thinking herbs alone will be enough.
DOES VAGINAL pH AFFECT LICHEN SCLEROSUS?
Yes pH that is too alkaline can harbor yeast and make itching and scratching worse that then worsens cracking and bleeding. To get your vaginal pH tested you can buy teststrips on Amazon. The easy fix if your pH is abnormal is then to work with a seasoned women’s health doctor that is experienced in balancing hormones, vaginal pH, and nutrition for this condition.
Otherwise I see this condition quickly progress when women do not immediately hit it with “The Works, “ address it with my multifactorial approach while working to get to the “Root Cause.”
Fortunately there are no women more motivated to follow my nutrition and hormone tips than my Lichen Sclerosus patients!
The burning, pain, scarring, physical discomfort, sexual dysfunction, marital issues, and fear that things will look worse keeps them highly motivated to do everything possible.
WHEN SHOULD I SEE A DOCTOR FOR MY LICHEN SCLEROSUS?
ASAP. The earlier the better. The sooner I can understand what the underlying causes are triggering my patients with Lichen Sclerosus the faster I can prevent and/or reverse progression. Once vaginal tissues have become cracked, scarred and are bleeding this becomes much more difficult to achieve. The best I can do at this point is stop the bleeding and stop the progression but once a significant amount of scar tissue has built up from Lichen Sclerosus it is generally irreversible.
So… the minute your OBgyn or Dermatologist has told you that you have Lichen Sclerosus that is when I recommend booking a visit with me to understand why so that you are not constantly relying on steroid cream that ultimately makes the skin thinner, triggers itchy yeast infections, and ironically is simply worsening this women’s health condition in vicious cycle of demise in the grand scheme of things.
Need my help with your Lichen Sclerosus? I would be happy to help! Simply visit my SCHEDULE page to treat yourself to a Naturopathic visit!
CAN YOU HELP ME VIA TELEMEDICINE IF I DO NOT LIVE IN ARIZONA?
Women out of state often ask me since this is one of my specialties if I can help them out of state. The options are to fly into Arizona and come see me at my Scottsdale Clinic. Or set up the phone consultation and be prepared to provide me with an OBgyn or Family Doctor that already has been made aware I am most likely going to need to prescribe some hormones for you with their assistance after looking at your labs. Many doctors are happy to do this because they have little to offer but the clobetasol cream. Please do not be embarrassed to ask your doctor for help. We have seen this condition before and just want you to feel comfortable in your skin again. Think of women's health doctors as auto mechanics for your vagina. We just want to fix your issues, provide relief, and make things work properly again! We want you to feel comfortable in your skin and not be itchy or in pain! So stop googling for natural remedies for Lichen Sclerosus and instead, lets get to work on it via my Holistic Women's Health Dermatology process!
Simply visit my schedule page to set up your Naturopathic session with me and let's get working on your Lichen Sclerosus ASAP.
Dr. Nicole Sundene
(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, 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!
References
“Can I take Hormone Replacement Therapy if I have Factor V Leiden?” ~Sharon, Scottsdale, AZ
Factor V Leiden and hormones can be very difficult for women to navigate with menopause. I recommend working with a skilled Naturopathic Hormone Doctor such as myself that knows how to properly test all the female hormones related to menopause and knows how to balance them with herbal medicine as female hormones that are too high and/or not in proper balance with each other can potentially increase the risk of blood clots. With that being said a lot of the research available on Factor V Leiden and Hormone Replacement Therapy comes from synthetic birth control pills and synthetic hormones which I do not recommend women take for menopause anyways.
Generally my Factor V patients work with me to avoid hormone use out of an abundance of caution, that is the first approach both me and your Hematologist will recommend taking for treating menopausal and perimenopausal symptoms. Natural remedies, herbal medicine, and nutritional changes should be the foundation for menopausal and perimenopausal patients first and foremost.
However, the levels of hormone replacement that cause blood clots are generally super high such as in pregnancy and estrogen dominance, so if a natural herbal and nutrition approach is not effective I will occasionally use a small amount of natural hormones for symptom relief and quality of life.
Especially when menopause or perimenopause are causing constant insomnia, chronic fatigue, anxiety, depression, agitation, rage, hot flashes, night sweats, loss of lean muscle, weight gain, hair loss, poor libido, marital troubles, and other symptoms disrupting quality of life.
Estrogen is generally contraindicated, as is progesterone. Some Hematologists are okay with me giving a low dose of testosterone cream just so a woman’s skin does not get too wrinkly looking, they can sleep, are not losing muscle, or experience constant depression, sadness and crying.
The real clotting risk in testosterone arises when the dose causes the red blood cells to increase which also can thicken the blood. I often never see this actually happen in my practice though. Dehydration tends to cause this in Arizona far more than testosterone as hormone doctors fear.
If you have Factor V and need natural hormone replacement therapy be sure to take a blood thinner natural or prescription if you are not already, and work with someone such as myself that understands the Risks vs Benefits, as well as how to monitor for signs of increased clotting, increased red blood cells or hematocrit, and so forth that may increase potential risk for patients that are already at risk for clots.
WHAT IS FACTOR V LEIDEN?
Factor V Leiden is a genetic condition that runs in a woman’s family and can be tested for by a Hematologist that specializes in blood testing or a Geneticist. The majority of my patients are diagnosed and managed by their Hematologist, occasionally their Cardiologist has made the diagnosis but this is generally after a blood clot or heart attack has already occurred.
Since this condition is genetic and runs in families it is important to ask about your family history out and make sure you do not have Factor V Leiden running in your genes before starting any hormones. Just because other people in your family have Factor V, does not necessarily mean everyone will have it.
A classic sign this runs in a family is an early history of heart attack, stroke, or blood clots that begin in the forties and fifties, or even sooner!
The genetic mutation, Factor V Leiden, causes increased blood clots. Some may be mild and non-symptomatic, yet some clots can become severe and travel to the heart, brain, or lungs resulting in a heart attack, stroke, or pulmonary embolism. With my Holistic Cardiology tools I like to first and foremost improve nutrition, reduce inflammation (inflammation causes clots) , and use natural supplements for women with Factor V Leiden.
HOW IS FACTOR V LEIDEN TREATED?
Prevention is key with blood clots. Generally compression stockings are advised to prevent blood clots in the legs that can travel to the lungs as well as a prescription blood thinner, or aspirin. Although aspirin is notorious for causing stomach aches and heartburn so may not be the best fit for every woman with Factor V.
Natural blood thinners are an option for women that are too symptomatic on prescription blood thinners, however this is not information I am going to distribute on the internet because I think this requires management and lab monitoring by a Women’s Health Specialist that understands the testing required to confirm the natural blood thinner is at a therapeutic level and the patient is not at high risk for clots.
Please do not self treat your Factor V Leiden naturally, as a Naturopathic Doctor I find this scary and dangerous. Please seek out the help of an expert that has experience working with this complex condition. Furthermore, I don’t want a bunch of Cardiologists and Hematologists mad at me for distributing information that could potentially be dangerous if not properly prescribed and monitored.
However, I am happy to discuss some of my favorite natural treatments that are safe and effective for managing menopausal symptoms with Factor V Leiden. Please work with your Naturopathic Doctor (preferably me) and do not self treat. But here are a few menopausal treatments that are natural and non-hormonal for women with Factor V.
BEST NATURAL TREATMENTS FOR MENOPAUSE WITH FACTOR V LEIDEN
CONSIDERATIONS IN FACTOR V IF HORMONES ARE MANDATORY FOR SEVERE SYMPTOMS
According to the research study I found below on Factor V Leiden and Hormone Replacement Therapy the researchers concluded, and I will translate the research findings that:
“The highest risk for vascular complications is associated with oral, non-bioidentical HRT, especially with oral CEE + MPA or with oral estrogens + synthetic progestins. Oral HRT shows an increased risk of vascular complications, while transdermal applications do not. Women with hereditary and/or acquired risk factors or a history of vascular complications should use transdermal and not oral HRT.”
This made me happy to read because I never prescribe synthetic hormone garbage anyways, and made me wonder if maybe I am acting too judiciously for my Factor V women with menopause.
These findings also confirm my automatic assumptions when treating menopausal women with a blood clotting disorder. Using a light hormone cream that is natural is the preferred least likely form of hormone replacement therapy to form clots. “Transdermal” means a cream via the skin. So if using natural hormones with Factor V Leiden then make sure it is a cream and not a lozenge, pill, pellet, shot, troche, drops, titurates, or other distribution method.
Women with Factor V Leiden on Hormone Replacement Therapy that experienced the worst cardiovascular complications used synthetic hormones that I do not prescribe for menopause anyways, such as what is found in birth control pills or Premarin/Prempro.
In the above research findings CEE stands for Conjugated Equine Estrogen. Also referred to as “Horsey Hormones” by hormone doctors. Check out my Hot Flash blog to read my rant on why I don’t recommend this anyways, not just because it is dangerous and increases breast cancer and stroke in healthy women that do not even have Factor V Leiden, but also because it is animal abuse to hold pregnant mares locked in stalls to collect their urine to make synthetic estrogen. This is 90’s antiquated medicine that should be put out to pasture with Y2K hoarding when women now have better and safer natural hormones from yams that do not require traumatizing any pregnant horses!
Personally, I would much rather traumatize a yam! 😉
Need my help navigating menopause or perimenopause with your Factor V Leiden? I would be happy to help. Simply visit 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 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!
Reference:
Dr. Nicole Sundene, NMD
Female Hormone Naturopathic Doctor
As a Naturopathic Doctor and Female Hormone Specialist I have a lot of favorite herbs for Women's Health! We had a lovely time at "The Sound of Music" by Desert Stage Theaters and as the song “My Favorite Things” got stuck in my head I couldn't help but begin to envision the Instagram video I made of all my top Naturopathic Herbal Medicine Favorite Things that can help women stay fabulous and feel great.
The best part of Herbal Medicine is that it is relatively inexpensive so adding some of my favorite things into your daily regime should be easy to do, and good for your health. Please check with me or your own Naturopathic Doctor before starting any new herbs as it is important you know what you are doing, especially with patients challenged by Chronic Disease.
These are a few of my favorite things for Women….
#1 Freshly ground flaxseeds- Menopause does not always require hormones as many women hire me to prescribe. For mild menopausal or perimenopausal symptoms, Flaxseeds are a "wonder drug" in my mind as a hormone specialist. One of the cheapest easiest things a woman can do to have fabulous skin, a happy mood, and balanced hormones. Simply consume 1-3 tablespoons of freshly ground flaxseeds as a bedtime snack in a protein shake, oatmeal, applesauce or yogurt. This will help with hot flashes and night sweats. Increasing fiber is important for detox and the omega-3's will have your dry skin as soft as a baby's bottom. As I discuss on my blog "Omega-3: Fish Oil vs Flax Oil.” Flaxseeds are superior as they contain phytoestrogens that help women that are perimenopausal and menopausal optimize their estrogen levels. They are estrogen modulating which means if your estrogen is too high or too low they will help improve hormone imbalance.
So what is the catch? This sounds too good to be true….
You MUST grind them fresh daily or don't even bother with this. It is easy to purchase a small coffee grinder that is strictly used for grinding flax seeds and herbs so it does not taint the flavor. But flaxseeds turn into nasty rancid BAD FATS when you fall for the marketing hype of buying them pre-ground. If you are currently using pre-ground flaxseeds please just throw them straight into the garbage. Bad fats become BAD HORMONES, inflammation, pain, acne, PMS symptoms, and moodiness.
It only takes a minute to grind them fresh and take a few tablespoons of ground flax to add to smoothies, brown rice, soups, cereal, oatmeal or salads. Flaxseeds are also rich in protein, fiber, and have phytoestrogen-like properties for those going through menopause. A tablespoon of ground flax has 2 grams of fiber. So my hypothyroidism patients struggling with constipation will also benefit from flaxseeds!
QUICK FUNNY STORY ON FLAXSEEDS….
When I was a student Intern at Bastyr University working under the #1 Female Naturopathic Gynecologist, Dr. Jane Guiltinan, Bastyr's Famous Gynecology instructor, I completely freaked her out one day. I worshipped her and wanted to do everything perfectly as she taught all of our Gynecology classes. I knew I wanted to specialize in Women’s Health so I signed up for all of her shifts and followed her around as her #1 fan. After a few months of working together she decided my nursing background required me to have very little supervision, she saw I was conscientious, good at diagnostics, prescribed mainly food as medicine and herbal teas, and quickly trusted that I was capable of working with little supervision. Until one day.... We always had a case review prior to our shift starting at Bastyr clinic. First, we presented the patients we were seeing with the instructor, the treatment plan we had prescribed at the last visit, and then our goals and treatment ideas for each patient visit that day. As I rambled on through all of my charts she suddenly stopped me on my menopause case and turned BEET RED and said...
"WHAT NICOLE?!??!?!? You prescribed that lady 3 tablespoons of flaxseeds TWICE A DAY?!?!?!?"
She was literally beside herself with stress and horrified and rushed to the computer to find research studies to confirm the safety of the upper-end dosing of flaxseeds. I told her #1 It's just a food, and hippies everywhere eating their flaxseed bars would be dead already if it were dangerous, #2 The patient has really bad eczema and dry skin #3 The patient was super constipated #4 The patient had terrible night sweats, hot flashes and insomnia and had not been able to sleep through the night in over 6 months and was at wits end that she finally slept. “2 Tablespoons is ALL I ever would recommend,” she said and then continued rambling at the computer "OMG, OMG, OMG” while she searched for something that told her what I had done was safe and could not find any answers.
I had never really been "in trouble" with any of my supervising doctors until that day. I broke out in a sweat and had never felt more anxious worried that I had harmed the patient and as a very conservative Naturopathic Doctor that hates medications I felt panicked that I had possibly harmed this poor woman with flaxseeds.
At the patient’s appointment, she came in as did Dr. Guiltinan for the first time.... because prior to my error Dr. G had been letting me do my own thing, trusting that I needed little supervision.... I asked how the patient was doing and she said "Those flaxseeds you put me on are AMAZING! I have not had ANY hot flashes, the nightsweats are all gone, I can sleep soundly through the night and look at how much softer my skin is and less dry after just a month!" Dr. Guiltinan was astonished, I was relieved I had not killed my patient with too many flaxseeds and although I normally recommend women use 1-3 tablespoons of flaxseeds it is nice to know that it is a food and you really cannot OD on Flaxseeds, although all Omega-3 rich foods have natural blood thinning properties and should be combined with blood thinners under the supervision of a Naturopathic Doctor that knows what they are doing! As soon as the appointment was over Dr. Guiltinan and I had a great laugh and I was so relieved it turned out well as she was the #1 Naturopathic Doctor I respected at the school and wanted to be exactly like her as a Naturopathic Gynecologist. So fortunately, nobody died from the 6 tablespoons of flaxseeds and I was still in Dr. G’s good graces!
# 2 Schisandra Berries: Not only are Schisandra berries utterly amazing for anxiety, depression, and detox... a 2016 study found them to be helpful for menopausal women for their hot flashes, palpitations and sweating. A recent 2021 study found Schisandra improved skeletal muscle strength in patients over 50 which is important as when we lose strength as women, and lean muscle, we become weaker as our testosterone levels naturally decline around age 35 then we burn fewer calories. Lean muscle=metabolism. Shall we just put Schisandra berries in the water with everyone being so anxious, annoying, and agitated these days?
Schisandra is referred to as “Chinese Prozac” and should be used as the #1 Mental Health herb in America! Schisandra is a terrific day time adaptogen herb that does not make you drowsy just like Ashwagandha, two capsules with breakfast and lunch, or a cup of tea in the morning and afternoon. It improved performance, vitality and stamina so if you feel like a forlorn broken down soul that has lost all hope and is always stressing out…. then this herb is for you! The berries can be made into a nice Schisandra Brandy which I will show you how to make soon so stay tuned to my Instagram page! I don’t always have time to post my herbal concoctions on my blog so make sure you are following me on Instagram and Facebook!
What is the most dangerous thing about Schisandra? Ladies, you MUST be careful there can be dire consequences if you are not careful with these berries….
Warning to Single Ladies: Schisandra BOOSTS YOUR LIBIDO! So if you don’t want that don’t use Schisandra otherwise you may run out and find a boyfriend!
#3 Dandelions: In my mind, there is no flower more glorious than the dandelion. No flower is more beautiful, magical or miraculous. Any rose can be beautiful with enough fertilizer, Miracle Grow, weed killer, manual aphid plucking, and diligent daily watering. But, frankly, I have a tough time respecting a flower that persnickety. Roses are too high maintenance to earn my respect. Plus after all that work they they don’t even grant you a free wish!
I admire a flower with the tenacity to grow through a crack in the pavement without Miracle Grow or special attention and still come out bright yellow and full of sunshine! Dandelions also refuse to be cut flowers. They will not play that game, they will not sit in a vase for you and look pretty. You have to enjoy them on their terms.
The entire dandelion plant is full of medicine. The leaves of Taraxicum officinale lower blood pressure as effectively as furosemide. While most diuretic anti-hypertensives medications actually deplete potassium stores, dandelions comes conveniently packaged with their very own potassium to replete as it depletes!
Now mild cases of hypertension and edema will respond to this herbal medicine, but more moderate and severe cases will most likely need a stronger herb. Please do not combine cardiology herbs with your meds. You need me as your Naturopathic Doctor that knows how to do this otherwise it could be utterly dangerous!
The root of the Dandelion plant can be dug up in the fall and used as a liver tonic. Modern living could not be more toxic, especially if you live in Arizona where we have terrible air quality, horrible nasty tap water that nobody should ever drink, and toxic pesticides being sprayed around us every day by the City of Scottsdale….So if you REALLY want less dandelions in your yard then just harvest them every fall, or just call me up and I’ll come by and get them for you, dry them out and roast the roots to make an awesome coffee substitute or even better Dandelion wine!
#4 Ginger is amazing for pain, inflammation, weight loss, dermatology disorders and well known for Immune Boosting, as I go on and on in my Blogs about “Antiviral Herbs,” “Ginger for Weight Loss,” and my “Gingerberry Blaster Recipe.” My chronic pain patients that follow my Gingerberry Blaster recipe report much less pain and also find it easier to lose weight!
Plus ginger is super inexpensive and you can buy it at the grocery store and throw a chunk of it in your smoothie every morning as I show in my “Anti-Pain Smoothie” recipe on my Instagram page. When I worked four years at a GNC health food store in college, people were always dazzled by all of these fancy and expensive products from reading marketing hype and my #1 pet peeve in Naturopathic Medicine is patients with “Shiny Object Syndrome” that are looking for the next shiny pretty thing to fix them when really some of the best things are right in your grocery store’s produce department! The more I can teach you to incorporate herbal medicine into your daily regimes, meals and routines the less bottles of Vitamins and Supplements you will need to buy.
#5 Curcumin: Did you know that curcumin plus 200mg of vitamin E actually helped reduce menopausal hot flashes? While putting together the research studies for my “Sunshine Milk” Latte recipe to give ONE FINAL LAST ATTEMPT to get people to stop using useless ineffective Turmeric for chronic pain, that I personally find worthless for my own chronic pain as an autoimmune patient, I found that research study along with 17 other Randomized Controlled trials showing Curcumin works as an antidepressant, helps with weight loss by lowering blood sugar metrics in diabetics with Insulin Resistance, is Antiviral, heals the skin, heals the gut and is anti-aging...which is why patients never think I am actually old enough to take care of them. But now you know the secret behind what keeps the 46 year old doctor looking so young!
#6 Ginkgo: Is best known for enhancing memory performance, especially in the elderly. I cannot tell you how many times patients have said, “Doctor, what is the name of that herb you put me on for my memory again…. I need more of that herb….but I cannot for the life of me…. remember what the herb is called?????” We always have a good laugh about that because nothing is worse than losing your memory and they notice an improvement immediately when they start taking ginkgo and their memory worsening as soon they run out of it. Now memory problems, brain fog and poor concentration can be a classic sign of hormone imbalance. So if you have that going on then you need to pop on over to my appointment SCHEDULE page and treat yourself to a consultation and hormone testing as this is very common with hypothyroidism and menopause.
While Ginkgo is gangbusters for brain health and memory, it is also one of the most researched herbs available with a lot of other random uses including improving vaginal lubrication and hot flashes for menopausal women. So why should women NOT be taking ginkgo if it helps their memory and helps them with the very vaginal dryness they hire me to fix with bioidentical hormones? Ginkgo is not without side effects as it does inhibit platelet aggregation so with people wanting to prevent blood clots from “The Virus” it is certainly a good herb to have on board for prevention. In research studies, Ginkgo decreases platelet aggregation and prevents strokes and other diseases related to emboli. Therefore if you take any blood thinners you should absolutely NOT take gingko without working with a knowledgeable Naturopathic Doctor such as myself that is very well experienced on this topic after working 10 years in a retirement town for many elderly patients on blood thinners that still needed to use herbs. So I am not saying it cannot be done I am just saying it should not be done without someone that is an expert on combining herbal medicine and prescription medicine such as myself.
Ginkgo has been researched to be effective as a treatment for migraines. The herbal medicine delays the mental deterioration in early Alzheimer’s, and is fantastic for 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. Ginkgo can also decrease asthma symptoms. Therefore I cannot think of a better Naturopathic Herb for the women in my tribe to be taking for prevention!
#7 Cornsilk Tea is the Rodney Dangerfield of my Women’s Health Herbal Queendom that simply does not get enough respect. Women with bladder problems everywhere are unwittingly THROWING AWAY AMAZING MEDICINE when they are shucking their corn. This must stop. When I worked for many female MD’s while simultaneously going through Naturopathic School at Bastyr University, my Docs would often come to me with their frustrating female patients that get chronic UTI’s, have bladder pain, frequency and urgency. What can we do for them? They knew full well how useless allopathic medicine was for chronic bladder problems and were willing to try just about anything...especially when antibiotics and pyridium had already failed the patient. We all know that constant antibiotics for women with bladder problems is destroying their microbiome and vaginal flora and is doing more harm than good.
I taught them about how to prescribe Cornsilk Tea and they began to prescribe it to every single female patient with bladder pain and problems they encountered. Keep in mind these docs are seeing 40 patients per day and they are the perfect busy docs to conduct my herbal medicine experiments.
The female doctors would report back to me about it and say, “That Cornsilk Tea recipe is seriously a miracle bladder tea!” What I love the most about Cornsilk Tea is that it is SO inexpensive, gentle and safe. The problem with the majority of chronic bladder conditions like recurrent UTI is that once the bladder becomes inflamed and irritated especially after taking antibiotics it loses the natural mucosal barrier that protects the bladder from bacteria adhering to it. It’s the vicious bladder cycle I see happen all the time and commonly have women come to see me too many years too late after trying everything and going to every Urologist imaginable to no avail.
I could not LOVE cornsilk tea more for my female patients with chronic bladder pain. Now there are a whole host of other “demulcent herbs” in this same family that have mucilaginous properties we can use if for some reason you are adverse to Cornsilk tea but it is so gentle we can even give it to children. It is dirt cheap and it is not endangering the plant such as with slippery elm bark by taking the tree’s bark. Always work with an experienced Naturopathic Doctor when giving children herbal medicine as you need to be careful and know what you are doing with pediatric naturopathy!
#8 Passionflower: Did you know passionflower is not only the COOLEST flower in the world...but was shown to be just as effective as sedatives in the benzodiazepine (valium) family. I find this truly amazing as a Naturopathic Doctor that does a lot of Hormone Testing and Neurotransmitter Testing for mental health patients to try to determine the underlying ROOT CAUSE cause and get them off their prescription drugs! Why not taper off the valium and start using something natural? This is something we have to do together because you should not be mixing your mental health herbs and meds when you do not know what you are doing. You need an Integrated “Holistic Psychiatrist” such as myself that knows exactly how to do this and is very experienced in implementing natural medicines while tapering down prescription drugs.
In recent research, passionflower tincture at 45 drops per day was shown to be as effective as oxazepam (similar to valium). This nervine herb is also “antispasmodic” which makes it great for people with constant nervous twitching, chronic pain, and also high blood pressure. As women age their arteries lose elasticity and also become constricted. Therefore as their Naturopathic Doctor I am targeting treatments such as Omega-3’s in flaxseeds to improve elasticity and muscle relaxing herbs that work to relax muscles can also help lower blood pressure. Not to mention most of my hypertension patients are under a lot of stress which only worsens their BP!
#9 Red Clover: Is simply an amazing, delicious, mineral rich flower that everyone should be drinking like green tea. This herbal medicine is an important phytoestrogen herb for women in menopause, it is less well known as a sedative but this makes it the perfect cup of tea for perimenopausal and menopausal women to enjoy before bed! If you are over-heated and having hot flashes it is a cooling herb, rich mineral source and mild blood thinner. This herbal medicine calms the system and has a special affinity to the lungs, throat, and salivary glands. Not only is it a perfect balancing tonic herb but it also is a beautiful addition to a glass teapot. When we have a pretty tea to drink we are less inclined to indulge in alcohol and unhealthy foods. Pretty Tea=Happy!
If you are still not happy with your pretty flower tea, you can have that glass of wine.
#10 Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Kale, Brussels’ Sprouts aka Cruciferous Veggies. Are they an herb or a vegetable? I call cruciferous vegetables “functional food” because it functions as a potent herbal medicine by eliminating toxic estrone or “bad estrogen” that gives you acne, PMS, weight gain, bloating, moodiness, and even breast cancer. As I discuss in my blog all about how “Sulforaphane is the #1 Hormone Balancer,” If you are in perimenopause have PMS, PCOS or other estrogen dominant states then to increase your cruciferous veggies such as broccoli Brussels’ sprouts, Cabbage, Kale, and cauliflower. Lettuce and other veggies are useless and do not have DIM and sulforophane. Now, if you are a man living with a woman that has PMS why not conduct a simple research study for the sake of women’s health? First, keep a period tracker app on your wife and then make sure you are serving her ½-1 cup of lightly steamed cruciferous veggies during days 18-28 of her cycle? This does mean you will have to cook dinner for 10 days straight but it may be a good thing for everyone!
Happy Wife= Happy LIfe!
#11 Pine aromatherapy is one of my favorite scents and also a very potent antioxidant which means anti-aging and chronic disease prevention for women! I love how when I am blogging nobody really cares about disease prevention until I say “Anti-aging” and then everyone is like…. WHAT IS THAT ANTI-AGING THING I NEED????? WHERE DO I BUY IT???? WHAT IS THE EXACT BRAND YOU BUY??? WHAT IS THE DOSE??????
Personally, I love diffusing pine for that happy smell of “Christmas” as well as it being an antiviral, antimicrobial essential oil. If you want to “clean the air where you work like I do then this is a great choice to diffuse. For me, it's the aromatherapy that brings back those happy nostalgic memories of bringing the family Christmas tree into the house with my family.
When I go mountain biking there is no better smell than the fragrance of warm sunshine on pines to put a smile on my face. In addition to putting a smile on our faces, we can also decrease the wrinkles on them because pycnogenol from pine bark is one of the most potent antioxidants that money can buy! Not everyone loves to drink a cup of pine tea but personally I find it delicious with a little bit of honey and I enjoy the Nostalgia of the scent that brings back happy Christmas memories. Did you know the Japanese actually have a word for this? “Natsukashina” means “This smell reminds me of another time” that is why aromatherapy is SO powerful for our emotions as the olfactory center or scent center is smartly connected right to our memory. So whether the scent is good or bad we will NOT forget it! Nature designed this so we remember not to eat food that is poisonous. This is why you either LOVE a smell or HATE a smell and there is not a lot in between for many people. So that is your word for today Natsukashina!
#12 Thyme: When I first heard of “The Virus” in early 2020 instead of panic buying toilet paper like everyone else, I will admit that I panic bought FIVE POUNDS of bulk organic Thyme not knowing what to expect or what the best effective treatments would be. I just wanted to make sure I had enough antiviral medicine for my 2000 patients in my Women’s Health practice. Fast forward 18 months later we have great research demonstrating that Thyme oil is one of THE BEST herbs studied to kill the virus. A February 2021 review is discussing how we can turn this in to a drug to treat C-19. So put this in your diffusers, do an herbal inhalation if you are sick, and if you are stuck at home with no supplements and nobody to go to the store for you I usually ask my sick patients…. Do you have Thyme? Add 1 Tbl to 8 oz boiling water and let sit covered for 15 minutes. Strain and drink 2-3 times daily. Check out my Immune Boosting Blog to learn more about how you can Soup up your Soup!
#13 Ashwagandha: This is probably one of my favorite herbs. Unlike most nervine, sedative herbs that are designed to be taken at night and put you to sleep, both ashwagandha and schisandra are terrific “adaptogenic” herbs that help us tolerate our stressful days that could be made much better when we don’t over-react and tweak out to the stressful situation and stay calm and focussed and work through the challenge. You can make ashwagandha tea like in my “Invincible Mommy” recipe, take caps of the organic herb twice daily for anxiety and depression or make my “Anti-Rage Latte” Recipe. This herb is amazing and is a powerful “Workhorse” that will get you back on track, restore you, and have you feeling like yourself again if you have been through a horrible amount of stress.
#14 Aloe Vera: Did you know you can drink aloe vera? While it is super important for so many Dermatology conditions as I discuss on my Blog “Seborrheic Dermatitis, Scalp Psoriasis and Itchy Scalp” and I use it for my Acne and Eczema patients combined with essential oils as my first choice as a Holistic Dermatologist. You can also take Aloe vera internally. I would not recommend this if you tend towards diarrhea as it generally is a bit of a stool softener, but a properly prepared aloe drink FREE of the latex (latex= diarrhea) is amazing for digestive issues. I prescribe aloe vera to my female patients all the time complaining of weight gain and bloating, and see it being helpful for healing digestive disorders, leaky gut syndrome, ulcers and heartburn. It is excellent for gas and bloating. My weight loss patients that feel bloated tell me they INSTANTLY feel like they lose 10-20 pounds when they start it because really a lot of abdominal distention is just gas and bloating. Which only helps us want to try harder to lose weight when we get rid of that bad bloating! A fresh preparation of the gel is amazing for the scalp in stimulating hair growth. I recommend using the fresh aloe leaf, follow my Instagram page link below, and you will soon see how I harvest and use it otherwise I like the “Lily of the Desert” inner filet brand as my #1 choice if you are not going to make it fresh.
# 15 Cranberries: Inhibit e. Coli bacteria from adhering to the bladder wall so my female patients with chronic bladder issues should be drinking REAL cranberry juice not Ocean spray ….if your cranberry juice has food coloring or high fructose corn syrup it is NOT MEDICINE. To make real Cranberry juice more palatable get real blueberry and real cranberry juice from Trader Joes or Whole Foods and use a half and half mixture the blueberry juice has the same medicinal properties and makes the cranberry juice less nasty. I also recommend cutting it with water so ½ cup water + ¼ cup cranberry juice + ¼ cup blueberry juice for women with chronic UTI’s. If you HAVE a UTI you need to drink that three times daily and make an appointment with me or your Naturopathic Doctor.
#16 BLACKBERRIES- My Grandma Marie lived to be 105 years old and I attribute this mainly to her eating blackberries or blackberry jam nearly every single day! As I looked at the USDA Flavonoid research chart it suddenly dawned on me that she probably lived to be 105 years old because she consumed one of the most potent antioxidants available to us without having to pay for some fancy exotic fruit from the rainforest.
The best part about blackberries is that with proper planning you can harvest them and not pay for them! You can have blackberries all year round by freezing and preserving them as jam. Flavonoids are shown to reduce hormone imbalance for women, decrease pain and inflammation, decrease weight, and prevent dementia and Alzheimer's. My Grandma Marie ate blackberries or blackberry jam nearly every single day of her life because she lived by the most delicious blackberry patch and every summer we would pick blackberries together and make jam.
Some of my best and most dangerous stories of my young adult years oddly involve my Grandma Marie wanting me to climb up on a cliff, a tree or an abandoned boat to reach THE BEST blackberries. You have to realize that you cannot rationalize with a stubborn Norwegian woman and if I was not going to climb up on the abandoned boat that SHE at 90 years old was going to do it. Since I could not allow that to happen, I sacrificed my body for the blackberries and would return home looking like I had returned from combat. My parents would take one look at me all bruised and covered in cuts and say “What happened to you?!?!”
“I have just been picking berries with Grandma.” Then they would nod as it made perfect sense.
No matter how crazy her plans were to get as many blackberries as we could she always was a super ethical and conscientious wild crafter and while sending me on many utterly dangerous black berry picking fools errands would simultaneously sing "One for the birds, one for the seeds, and one for me!" The one for the seeds was so that the blackberry patch could keep replanting itself. So even though I was the victim of many dangerous hair- brained schemes to collect as many blackberries as possible for my Grandma she always felt it was important we only harvested 1/3 of what we saw so that the animals and Mother Nature had what they needed. If your berries are a little tart try sprinkling them with a packet of stevia!
The freezing process of blackberries actually makes the proanthocyanin pigments inside more bioavailable. Eating a cup of lightly thawed blackberries daily is a delicious trick for slowing down aging, protecting your heart, and reducing inflammation. Blackberries have more flavonoids in them than blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries in that exact order, and are therefore a powerful antioxidant!
So I hope you have learned a few fun, delicious and inexpensive herbal remedies I recommend and rely on as a Women’s Health Naturopathic Doctor and Female Hormone Specialist to keep you feeling fabulous, healthy, preventing disease and looking your best!
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!
Vaccines can be obtain via your local pharmacy. Most Naturopathic Doctors do not provide vaccines.
Vaccine Medical Exemptions are a complex medical and legal issue. It requires a doctor to provide proper documentation and is performed by a vaccine exemption appointment only.
Vaccine exemptions are provided and considered for patients that fit the following medical and legal vaccine exemption requirements. Upon completion of a vaccine counseling session, this is to be advised on the patient's risks vs benefits of obtaining a vaccine. Please read the legal requirements to receive and understand your vaccine exemption. You will schedule your appointment to receive your vaccine exemption letter at your own risk, only if you qualify for the vaccine exemption. While the following conditions qualify patients for an Exemption Letter if that is their choice, they do not mean they should necessarily not have the vaccine, and the patient may benefit more from having the vaccine in certain medical conditions which will only be discussed at a medical consultation.
Qualifying Medical Exemptions:
Patients with conditions that have limited data on the safety and efficacy of vaccines can request an exemption. No vaccine exemption can be legally provided if the above criteria are not met. Employers may have differing policies on vaccine exemptions and may or may not accept the above conditions even when provided with a letter of exemption for health reasons or underlying medical reasons. Please do not schedule an appointment to receive a vaccine exemption if you do not have one of the above qualifying conditions. Vaccine exemptions are a complex medical-legal matter that can only be provided under reasonable circumstances. No vaccine exemptions will be provided outside of scheduled appointments. All patients requesting vaccine exemptions must undergo vaccine counseling to ensure they understand the risks vs benefits of remaining unvaccinated.
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
Scottsdale Naturopathic Doctor
Long Covid symptoms and other chronic conditions such as West Nile virus, are challenging for both the patient and the doctor. There are currently no miracle cures that exist and Naturopathic Doctors such as myself are left with zero research to support our questions and needs, and thus are literally left to establish our own Long Covid treatments via limited research studies, collaboration with other Naturopaths, and a lot of trial and error. My previous "post viral" protocol was minimal compared to this.
So first and foremost be careful when you are buying things listed as helpful for "Long Covid." Anyone in holistic medicine professing a one sized fits all magical long COVID cure is likely making false promises. As a Doctor that has treated many long COVID patients over the past few years I know that is a fallacy, that my treatments require multiple products and nutritional changes for my patients to improve.
I have also seen it impact my previously healthy patients hormones and cause sudden onset thyroid, adrenal, perimenopausal and menopausal changes.
I also know, that some of my patients will need to remain on the natural supplements and will not be able to go off them without rebound worsening, so I am unaware of anything natural that is completely curative in those with severe long COVID.
I am posting today for my potential long COVID patients to understand what we will be doing if we are working together, and also sharing my over the counter, non prescription containing long COVID protocol below that I will continue to update with new research studies.
Otherwise my protocols are a hybrid of treating many patients over the years with chronic mono or "EBV", chronic Herpes, shingles, hepatitis and HIV. There is very little evidence concluding what is effective so my position as a Naturopathic Doctor is to generally use time tested natural remedies that I trust are safe for the long run and good for reducing inflammation, pain, and improving immune function as I will discuss later in great detail.
My long covid protocols are from the existing evidence based research I have listed below, as well as trial and error. Successful outcomes require a highly compliant patient and/or care team to support my patient. Today I would like to walk you through what I generally do to achieve successful outcomes with my Long Covid patients, as I am constantly asked this question as more and more women are diagnosed with Long covid.
Since this does require some work on the patients end, I hate for anyone to sign up to work with me and not be willing or able to do the detective work we will need to do together that generally requires testing for hormones, nutrition, blood clotting, inflammation, as well as specialty testing with a Neurologist, Cardiologist, Hematologist, or Infectious Disease Doctor to assist me in each patient's individualized diagnosis resulting from an initial symptomatic or asymptomatic Covid infection.
My Goals when treating patients with long Covid as a Doctor are:
Recent research found that biopsies of muscles in long COVID patients had blood clots forming in the muscles as well as lack of mitochondria or "fuel" aka "energy" for the cell to be able to properly function.
Think of mitochondria as the battery that makes a child's toy work. It still looks cute, but it does not function properly without it's battery. Many patients with "Chronic Fatigue Syndrome" are suffering from lack of Mitochondrial Support and their cellular batteries are running on empty.
When treating Long Covid we must understand that the symptoms are vast, and the presentation is quite different for many women, although I do commonly see certain patterns and risk factors.
LONG COVID SYMPTOMS: RISK FACTORS
As a Women’s Health Doctor, I was concerned to read the research study concluding that women are much more likely to develop Long Covid symptoms than men! First women must have periods, pap smears, and birth babies, and now bear the brunt of Long Covid! I find this the perfect excuse for women everywhere to never have to go to the grocery store, or run errands again (unless they want to. 😉
Other risk factors for Long Covid include being overweight, old age, diabetes, smoking, and pre-existing chronic disease conditions. Whether or not a patient has been hospitalized and also required oxygen while hospitalized is also a #1 increased risk factor.
LONG COVID SYMPTOMS
According to the CDC, a cluster of the above symptoms must persist for longer than four weeks to fit the criteria for Long Covid. Patients generally have a few of the above symptoms and don’t need to have every Long Covid symptom to benefit from treatment.
WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON LONG COVID SYMPTOMS?
After twenty-three years of listening to patients complain about their health, I am now regularly hearing the same type of post covid complaints. Patients describe to me that they feel “rapidly aged, poisoned, sick with something I cannot shake," or state “I feel nasty, dirty, polluted, and rapidly aged like I am suddenly 100 years old. My brain feels like it's 100 years old.” In addition to feeling “exhausted, moody, struggling to remember tasks, easily overwhelmed, constantly tired, achy, sore throats that come and go, and in chronic pain.”
Of greater concern are the patients developing liver and kidney failure due to long covid. I have been taking care of many of the same women for fifteen years and have suddenly seen their kidney and liver function become impaired, as well as elevated ferritin or iron stores as it is an "acute phase reactant" that shows us the patient is inflamed when elevated.
Hair loss is one of the #1 most common symptoms women complain of after Covid, and while hair can grow back, we must preserve kidney and liver function by taking this seriously, taking daily antiviral immune boosting support, and properly addressing Long Covid from an aggressive nutrition and herbal medicine approach.
From Silver to Singing for covid....I have heard it all, read it all, and am here to confirm what is considered safe and trusted by myself and many colleagues. Many of us have been working with similar protocols and are seeing similar patterns of efficacy.
I also don't want anyone to fall victim to misinformation or scam herbal medicine products. There are many snake oil salesmen in the alternative industry making false claims not backed by research, that are profiteering off expensive sales of products. Please work with your own doctor when treating covid or long covid, and be very skeptical of taking any advice from people that sell supplements and lack research to support their statements.
If the person advising you is not a doctor working in the trenches against covid but just selling supplements....please be concerned about their motives.
While I have read some terrifying misinformation on alternative medicine, I will also confirm that using herbal medicine for Long Covid symptoms will likely be the most successful, and also the least harmful for the patient. Herbal medicine is generally inexpensive and ineffective at the worst-case scenario.
As a doctor working on the front lines, I developed Long Covid in April of 2020. So my recommendations are based on my own experience as an autoimmune patient battling Long Covid for eight LONG months in 2020. From what I know now I should have taken the immune support supplements for a month past my covid infection, but I was not that concerned because my initial symptoms were not that bad. I had a fever, mild cough, chest pain, and fatigue but otherwise I would normally have gone to work feeling like that if it was anything but Covid.
PREVENTING LONG COVID
My patients that I instruct to continue their immune support past their infection are not developing Long Covid. This is also what we do when someone is first exposed to Herpes or HIV. We treat immediately and agressively with antiviral medications and supplements.
This compilation of information is from my own personal experience, as well as reading numerous research studies, and collaborating with other Naturopathic Doctors treating Long Covid symptoms. Keep in mind these treatments are in developmental stages, this is a fluid situation that can change at any moment, and that I expect anyone reading this to work with their own doctor or me, as you should not attempt to self treat your Long Covid.
Print this article, highlight the vitamins, minerals, herbs and diet recommendations and take it to your own doctor to determine if the treatments are safe for you to do. The last thing you should do is self treat your own Long Covid symptoms. I always want patients with chronic disease to have a safe and successful outcome.
LONG COVID SYMPTOMS: COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS
Long Covid symptoms are even more confusing to diagnose and treat due to the plethora of misinformation propogating about the internet. Many patients falsely believe they cannot develop long covid if they are vaccinated, have mild symptoms, or have had no symptoms or no known exposure to covid. While these scenarios are less likely to result in Long Covid, it is not always 100% true.
Generally, my Long Covid patients improve within a few months with treatment, but without proper diagnosis and treatment, Long Covid symptoms can actually continue to progressively worsen. Optomistic patience with Long Covid symptoms is 100% the wrong approach. I am now treating new patients with Long Covid symptoms that progressively have become worse since onset in 2020.
Instead of the covid symptoms going away with time, they have turned into worse fatigue, worse pain, worse brain fog, and overall worse health. It is not until Long Covid patients seek out treatment that we can begin to halt and resolve the symptoms that are otherwise persistent and progressive. Many patients will resolve without treatment, but symptoms like neuropathy, heart, lung, and brain issues should be treated.
I have already tried and failed with many popular treatments in the media. Ivermectin and Plaquenil are essentially useless in my experience treating Long Covid symptoms. And also now confirmed per recent research studies.
When I first heard of Covid in 2020 I thought, "Well that is going to be a nightmare for doctors in the ER. It is a good thing I don't work for a hospital anymore." At the time I didn't know that Long Covid symptoms could persist. I also didn't know that the Herbal Medicine and Naturopathy I practice is some of the best medicine for Long Covid patients.
Herbal Medicine is inexpensive, anti-inflammatory, relatively harmless, and actually seems to be the most efficaceous approach between all the different antiviral medications herbs, and supplements I have personally tried on myself and my patients. My experience working at Bastyr University clinic on the Ryan White HIV shift taught me a lot about how herbal antivirals can be just as effective if not even more effective than many antiviral medications.
Plants have to constantly upgrade their antiviral mechanisms to survive in nature and therefore we see less antibiotic and antiviral resistance because plants that are not able to upgrade to fight off the latest virus will simply die.
LONG COVID TESTING
Lab Testing for long covid should include Complete Blood Count, Comprehensive Metabolic Panel including glucose and liver enzymes, TSH, Ferritin, EBV Titers, CRP, and if the patient is vaccinated and unsure if they have been exposed to covid: SARS-Cov-2 nucleocapsid. If this test is positive this differentiates antibodies formed by the vaccine vs a natural infection. If a woman has had a change to her menstrual pattern after having covid or a covid vaccine then hormone testing should also be conducted. Women have reported loss of period, abnormal period, painful periods, heavy bleeding and miscarriage after covid infection.
LONG COVID TREATMENT
Do your research and don't trust anyone making false promises about your Long Covid symptoms. If you feel a fraction of as bad as I once did, then you are already frustrated enough, so I will not lie to you or create false promises with my recommendations.
This is a serious disease and patients deserve my brutal honesty.... Nobody knows the best treatment right now. Even if they did it has not been studied by double blind randomized controlled trials and proven effective and safe. These research studies will take time, and Long Hauler's do not have any time to be wasted.
I am not making any promises, and only sharing what I see working with myself and my patients as a doctor that went through Long Covid and has treated many long covid patients as a result of my horrible experience ever since.
I know many people have become unemployed from Long Covid and cannot afford a Naturopathic Doctor, therefore it is important I share everything I know at this time to help other patients struggling with these annoying symptoms. I also want to bring hope to anyone that is suicidally depressed about their health. It is possible to improve. I am better. I have seen many patients get better.
Preferably you work with me or another experienced Long Covid Doctor, but I want this information to be free and available to the public, and for other doctors searching for my protocols.
We need to give your very sick body the right things it needs to heal, remove the obstacles to cure, and identify the reason why you got Long Covid at the ROOT CAUSE to properly restore health. As many of my patients know I have Lupus, an autoimmune disease. Being immunocompromised is the reason I ended up with Long Covid symptoms. It also took my adrenal function and thyroid function down, and required a greater amount of hormone supplementation, therefore testing hormones is imperative for women with Long Covid symptoms.
My General Holistic Treatment Plan for Long Covid (subject to change based on research.)
If you or a loved one need an empathetic doctor to help you work through your Long Covid symptoms I would be happy to help. I promise I will not treat you like you are crazy or lazy, because I know firsthand just how frustrating, scary, and hopeless these Long Covid symptoms can feel.
Rest assured I am feeling much better from my own Long Covid journey and I have more information and better treatment plans along with a better understanding of this condition than in 2020 when I first was challenged with it myself.
I would be happy to walk you through my basic blueprint and antiviral herbs that should help restore your system back to normal over time. Ordering hormone labs and bloodwork is also important to ensure everything is properly balanced.
Often patients ask if I can help them out of state via telemedicine, and the answer is yes. Treating long covid generally does not require me to prescribe any medications, therefore I can easily order lab testing and treat Long Covid patients in all 50 states. 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:
By Dr. Nicole Sundene
Scottsdale Naturopathic Doctor
Contrary to popular belief Thanksgiving Dinner is actually quite healthy!
When we remove all the notorious “white foods,” such as white refined flours, sugars, and other carbohydrates devoid of nutrients we are actually left with a very colorful whole food fare that is Naturopathic approved!
Of course, you should never try a new recipe while entertaining, but I have given each popular dish a “Naturopathic Makeover" so that you can try a healthier option next time. There should be a next time–in just a few weeks. We should try to eat a turkey dinner more than once a year! Baking a whole turkey is a fantastic healthy and frugal way to optimize your grocery budget. Plus it just makes the house smell good. I freeze carcasses until I have enough to make into a great turkey wild rice soup or organic bone broth.
#1 Naturopathic superfoods found in our traditional American Thanksgiving spread.
Renowned for its high tryptophan content, turkey has the potential to lift our mood and/or make us sleepy. It really depends on how we choose to pair up the amino acids in turkey. When turkey is consumed in conjunction with refined carbohydrates found in mashed potatoes or dinner rolls, the tryptophan converts to serotonin, and in low light conditions the excess serotonin converts in to melatonin, the nighttime hormone that makes us feel sleepy. Serotonin gives you that good “Turkey Buzz." Serotonin converting into Melatonin is what sends you straight to the couch for a nice nap. If you are depressed you should work turkey, cottage cheese, and salmon into your weekly rotation so you can benefit from my other favorite high tryptophan foods, or you can also just try some 5-HTP.
When we eat turkey in the absence of carbohydrates the amino acids that increase energizing catecholamines are able to cross the blood brain barrier and the result is an energized good mood. If you aren’t a breakfast person try a bit of salmon, cottage cheese, or turkey to start your day, support your adrenal glands, and keep you energized and out of "Fight, Fright, or Flight" stress responses until lunch. As a Naturopathic Doctor and Female Hormone Specialist that specializes in correcting hormones and neurotransmitters in anxiety, depression, and chronic pain patients like a "Holistic Psychiatrist," the #1 problem I see with my mental health patients is they are not getting enough protein in their diet and thus their neurotransmitters when we measure them are too low. Both Hormones and Neurotransmitters require adequate protein and good Omega-3 Fats to be produced.
Naturopathic Turkey Makeover: Hold the butter, skip the stuffing and go straight for olive oil and lemon as your poultry flavorings of choice. If you bake your turkey at 320F you will be well below the smoking point of olive oil.
Stuffing the cavity of the turkey with whole lemon halves will also give the turkey a “salty flavor” so you can use the least amount of organic sea salt necessary. Stuff some garlic cloves and thyme under the skin of the turkey, and in the cavity along with the lemons.
My daughter's favorite thing to do each year is to inject our turkey with herbal butter. Medical geeks can get crafty and inject herbal seasonings mixed with your basting solution of olive oil and lemon straight into the meat with syringes (yes you can buy meat syringes at the store too.) Then just baste and bake as usual. Salt and pepper your turkey mainly on your dinner plate, not in the oven. Salt always loses flavor as it cooks and the best flavor comes from that final sprinkling. Salting your meat while cooking also dries it out, so really it is not just healthy but smart.
To benefit from the tryptophan in turkey don’t overdo it with your carbs….that is unless you are heading straight to bed! To boost your mood opt to pair your turkey with the “slow carbs” found in fruits and veggies. Skip the dinner roll and the mound of mashed potatoes. A fist-sized portion of carbs is all you need. Never shall we be "Double Fisting" with our carbs! I personally hate tracking my macro's so I have learned to just eyeball all my foods and that a fist sized portion is enough to keep my blood sugar stable without over-doing it. Women generally do not feel well on the evil Keto Diet that I detest, and do need a reasonable amount of carbs to keep their blood sugar, energy and mood stable.
If you are adventurous, you can also go outside for a little walk after you eat your turkey to stay energized. The full spectrum light will prevent the melatonin formation that makes us all so sleepy.
The moral of the turkey story is that tryptophan converts to serotonin which makes us happy, and in the presence of excess dietary sugar and darkness serotonin converts to melatonin, and melatonin makes us drowsy. That is why all people living in the Northern dreary places.... unlike sunny Scottsdale, Arizona, will have no choice but to stare at a 10,000 Lux lightbox to stay awake.
Did you ever wonder where that traditional smell of Thanksgiving came from? You may not know if you haven’t ever prepared the meal. That certain flavor comes from the herb thyme that we traditionally use to flavor our stuffing. Thyme made in on my blog of favorite things as it is a fantastic healing herb that is antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal just like most of its relatives in the “laminacea” or mint family.
Thyme is used in making “Listerine” mouthwash, or at least it traditionally was. The aromatic oils in thyme are also fantastic for indigestion, no wonder this is the key point herbal medicine of our great American overeating day!
Naturopathic Stuffing Makeover: Just lose the stuffing! Stuffing although delicious is one of the biggest calorie mongers on the menu. If this is your favorite thing you will need to cut back somewhere else on your plate. The new America is a whole food America.
Whatever you do, please don’t bake your stuffing inside the turkey, this makes it that much more fattening, and sets people up for food poisoning if not adequately cooked through. You HAVE to check the temperature of your stuffing AND your turkey.
Instead try a stuffing in your crockpot of brown rice or quinoa, thyme, raw nuts and seeds, dried fruit, garlic, and your favorite stuffing spices instead of the traditional white food fest. At least experiment with healthy stuffing alternatives for your non-holiday feasts. I will allow everyone to eat stuffing one day a year on my whole foods diet. If you can “just say no to stuffing” then you get bonus points and will immediately benefit by feeling good about yourself and not overstuffed from stuffing.
Delicious and healthy antioxidant rich fruit that fight aging, inflammation, and bladder infections.
Why are berries all the latest rage? As I discuss in my "Favorite Herbs for Women's Health" blog cranberries are high in antioxidants. From a botanical standpoint, the plant smartly creates these antioxidant polyphenols known as “proanthocyanins” to protect the skin of the fruit from the sun. The fruit does not have Banana Boat SPF and cannot use sunlight to produce energy in the manner that the leaves of the plant do, so the antioxidants are “nature’s sunscreen”. Without their protective antioxidants, berries would shrivel and burn under the sun’s harsh rays. My #1Naturopathic Dermatology tip is to eat LOTS of berries to prevent skin cancer.
The ingenious antioxidant protection devised by the plant also kindly protects us from the free radical damage that results from the reactive oxygen species we are constantly exposed to in our polluted stressful environment. The skin, eyes, and blood vessels are specifically protected by the proanthocyanins in berries.
Most people know that cranberry juice is good for bladder infections. E. coli, the bacteria that causes most bladder infections is unable to adhere to the lining of the bladder thanks to cranberry.
What most people don’t know though is that there is not a therapeutic cranberry juice out there that really tastes that good! If you are drinking a “delicious” glass of cranberry juice every day then you are probably not doing much to prevent a bladder infection. You should read the label because you are probably drinking a delicious glass of high fructose corn syrup(HFCS) and food coloring.
When shopping for cranberry juice, be sure to read the label and purchase only 100% pure cranberry juice. The HFCS juice trend faded out in the nineties. And a cranberry juice loaded with grape juice, apple juice or heaven forbid high fructose corn syrup is simply not going to be effective for preventing disease or bladder infections. To make cranberry juice more palatable add a packet of stevia, mix with 50% pure blueberry juice and dilute by half with water. Blueberries are also fantastic antioxidants that prevent bladder infections and aging.
Naturopathic Cranberry Sauce Makeover: Try experimenting with healthier natural sweeteners like agave, brown rice syrup, and stevia for homemade cranberry sauce. Adding a bunch of refined sugars and other refined pollutants to cranberries defeats their protective healing purpose. I like to add a little natural sweetener and then a lot of stevia so that the stevia alone does not cause the dish to taste bitter.
Did you know many Bioidencial female hormones are made from yams? Yams are amazing Naturopathic food because they also are a rich source of beta carotene and other important carotenoids that prevent cancer, protect our eyes, mucous membranes, and are therefore important immune boosting foods!
Yellow and orange foods are particularly protective to the lungs, reproductive system, and eyes. This is why I use carrots in my "Coconut Carrot Asthma Recipe" any orange veggie will work.
No, carrots probably don’t improve your vision like they show in cartoons, but the carotenoids in them have been shown to be protective and preventative for both cataracts and macular degeneration. So they may not perfect your vision, but they will protect against its degeneration. Certain antioxidants have affiliations for certain tissues in our systems. Be sure to eat something yellow and orange every day, and I’m not talking about circus peanuts! Eating by the rainbow is the diet for the new millennium. If you are struggling with this new trend you may need to grab a multivitamin through Fullscript as Cyber Monday everything will be 25%. My favorite multivitamins for women are Femone, The Big One Plus by Metbolic Mainetenanca and Pure Encapsulations Prenatal, Multivitamin or the Female Power packs are awesome! My patients always receive 20% on their Vitamins.
Naturopathic Yam Makeover: Lose the marshmallows! Marshmallows are completely out of style. Less is more now. Try your traditional whipped yam recipe without the marshmallows. Garnish with pecans or shredded coconut instead, or just let them stand alone as the amazing Naturopathic superfood they are. Try healthier sweeteners in your candied yam recipes, like brown rice syrup, agave, or stevia and flavor with cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, or pumpkin pie spice.
Baked yams as pictured are delicious and simple! Try roasting yams in the oven at 350F 30-40 minutes until fork tender. You can also steam yams till tender, drizzle with olive oil and give a sprinkle of sea salt for a regular dinner side dish. The peel of vegetables is where all the nutrients and fiber lies. Buy yams organic if you are going to eat the peel since they are a root vegetable. All root vegetables are naturally riddled with pesticides as they absorb and concentrate them from the soil. But, since yams and sweet potatoes are dirt cheap, they are worth the extra splurge. Everyone that is “cool now” is eating yams and sweet potatoes, so hopefully, that includes you. I do expect my Naturopathic patients to be the "Beautiful People" on the inside and out!
For a healthy wheat free “sweet potato pie” scoop out freshly baked sweet potato just like what is pictured here, sprinkle with pumpkin pie spice, drizzle with honey, and top with shredded coconut! Without the pie crust you have earned the calories to add a small dollop of your favorite organic vanilla ice cream. It sounds weird, but it is truly delicious. Who has the time to bake an entire pie anyways when you can just toss a couple of sweet potatoes in the oven? Isn’t healthy easy? That is why it is so stylish Don't forget to stab them repeatedly with a fork which is my favorite thing to do when I am feeling Perimenopausal Rage, PMSy or Angry! 🙂
Green beans are loaded with fiber, beta carotene, B-vitamins, calcium, and potassium. Eating any beans are a fantastic diabetic trick for lowering the glycemic load of a meal. Beans truly are the “magical fruit” for a reason. Now eating too many beans may not make you too popular, but at least they will make you more attractive and youthful and trim your waist line.
Naturopathic Green Bean Makeover: Lightly steam your green beans, they are done when they turn bright green, don’t boil them into a nutrient devoid lifeless brown mess. We just don’t boil vegetables anymore. If you boil them you should drink the water too as that is where all the vitamins go. It is just wrong on so many levels, and the kind of thing that only belongs in the “worse dressed” section of the tabloids. Canned green beans went out with acid washed jeans. Always opt for fresh or frozen before grabbing for cans.
I don’t mean to sound bossy, but you have to lose the white canned cream of mushroom soup garbage, and dress your beans with olive oil or your favorite olive oil based salad dressing. If you have to defy me and use a cream based soup then grab an organic one, as most cheap soups are the worst of the worst processed food nastiness.
Now add carmelized REAL onions, not those fake canned crunchies that were SO 1981. It is important that you keep up with the latest trends. Almond slivers should be RAW to maximally benefit from the cancer fighting phenolic acids and healthy fats, and of course that also is the stylish thing that everyone else is doing. Especially celebrities. This is how celebrities eat on their “designer diets” so as long as you follow my blogs and social media recipe videos on Facebook and Instragram linked below you can be as fabulous as a celebrity without paying premium prices!
If you keep the peel on the potatoes before you mash them, then I will give you permission to eat them. I throw a couple cloves of garlic in at this point too.
Potatoes get a bad wrap because we don’t eat the peel. Buy organic potatoes and mash them WHOLE. The peel of the potato contains fiber, vitamin C, thiamin, and potassium. If you want bonus points buy purple potatoes because they are rich in flavonoids that help fix hormone imbalance, weight gain, and fight aging.
Some people with arthritis don’t tolerate potatoes well, if you have arthritis, potatoes and foods in the solonacea family like eggplant, peppers, onions, and so forth just may not be the right choice for you.
Naturopathic Mashed Potato Makeover: There are a few great makeover tricks you can implement to freshen up a rather dead ugly lifeless food like mashed potatoes. Definitely stand by ready and loaded with your garlic press and press about a clove per large potato. Garlic supports the immune and cardiovascular systems. Garlic also prevents and kills parasites.
I always add cottage cheese to my mashed potatoes to give them that creamy consistency, this protein bump also decreases the glycemic load for dieters, and diabetics. Cottage cheese is also rich in mood boosting tryptophan so if you are chronically fatigued or depressed this amino acid may help. Remember we have to eat protein, and fiber with EVERY meal to prevent diabetes, blood sugar crashes from hypoglycemia, and obesity. Plus all the cool kids are doing it.
Try olive oil instead of butter, or buttermilk as it ads a buttery flavor with less saturated fat. Try adding steamed arugula or spinach in at the end to create a gourmet effect, and if you HAVE to have that buttery flavor from organic butter (please don’t EVER use margarine if you learn anything from my nags. Please just go throw out your tub of margarine in the garbage where it belongs, and never buy it again, or any other hydrogenated oil product that serves no other biochemical purpose in life but to rapidly age you, clog your arteries, and make you unnecessarily fat. When organic butter is on sale I stock up and put it in my freezer. We want to be the least amount of fat, inflamed and in pain right? Your body can’t use margarine so it converts it to fat storage which increases hormone imbalance, estrogen dominance and pain…if you don't want to take my word for it watch my Free Class on "Metabolism, Pain & Hormones" where I break down the biochemistry of exactly how saturated fats and trans fats cause us to be in pain, estrogen dominant and gain weight. So if you are trying to lose weight, balance your hormones or fight chronic pain please use real organic butter judiciously. Try using low fat buttermilk in lieu of regular milk if you must do dairy and NEED that butter flavor. It gives the buttery flavor without all the poisonous saturated fats. Sprinkle with sea salt and organic pepper. Enjoy!
Are you as terrified of minced meat pie as I am? Well most of us in my family are. My Mom and Aunt Brenda love to have it as a reminder of their Mom's favorite pie and my sister and I would always roll our eyes in horror that they think we would eat a meat pie. Until we got older and discovered that modern “minced meat” is just a fruit sauce made of dates and other dried fruits and not some leftover cafeteria meat concoction.
Well, the beauty of this is that dates, figs, prunes, apples, and most dried fruits score high on the ORAC, meaning they have extremely high free radical fighting potential. Antioxidants=Anti-aging. Memorize that. Aging isn’t just about vanity and outer appearance. Your organs and blood vessels are aging on the inside as we sit here. If it doesn’t look good on the outside it doesn’t look good on the inside either. True beauty is an inside out job. Eat more antioxidants to prevent disease and you will be rewarded with a continuously youthful glow.
Let me be the first to announce that Minced Meat Pies are now the HOTTEST trend for fall. Don’t worry they only show up on the whole foods runway once every 50 years.
Naturopathic Minced Meat Makeover: Opt for a gluten free crust or nut crust and use organic butter rather than margarine (heaven forbid.) If you really want to impress those avoiding gluten with your gourmet skills, you can add a dollop of your favorite organic minced meat filling to half a sliced date and top with a splash of real whipped cream. Dates are also delicious stuffed with various nut butters, and chocolates as I just recently learned from my nurse friend Rod Newbound, RN.
“Yes! Dr. Nicole says I can have a glass of red wine!” Just remember that is only ONE to two glasses of red wine–max. That is one drink per day not per hour–and no you can’t save them all up for the end of the week. It just doesn’t work that way. The benefits of the cancer fighting, anti-aging polyphenols in red wine known as resveratol go down as you burden your liver with alcohol. As with everything, moderation is key. Even too much water will kill cause hyponatremia and kill you.
Naturopathic Red Wine Makeover: Remember that one glass is better for you than the entire bottle. Opt for an organic wine as pesticides in non-organic are very high. Find low carb wines for less of a headache the next day. Remember to never drive while you are drinking. The most stylish people always have a driver…er…cab driver. Even one glass of alcohol impairs your judgment enough to put an end to your happy holiday–or worse yet–someone else’s.
Please always be considerate to the safety of others when imbibing during the holiday season.
Hope you all have a Happy AND Healthy Thanksgiving! Have fun wowing all your friends and family with this questionably boring kitchen table talk of the Thanksgiving superfoods and how to give them makeovers. Let me know if you manage to pull it off and keep them interested! Feel free to share any of your healthy Thanksgiving recipe tips in the comments section.
Thanks much for sharing my Naturopathic tips with your friends and family. I am thankful for my awesome patients, friends, and family!
Have a Happy & Healthy Thanksgiving from your #1 Favorite Naturopathic Doctor!
I am truly THANKFUL for all of the kindness I have received from my tribe of amazing women in my Naturopathic women's health practice. Thank you for your patience, kindness, understanding and grace during the most difficult time I have ever experienced in 22 years of Women's Health! The gifts, and cards and words of encouragement, kind text messages of gratitude for the service I provide have been the ONLY thing to keep me going during this immensely challenging time.
Normally the doctor takes care of the patients but this past year many of you have taken care of me and it brings tears to my eyes to think of all of the kind things people have done to show their gratitude. I even had an unemployed patient send me a Target Gift Card because she was worried about me. Things are getting better and I hope to soon be able to simply worry and fret over my patients again as we return to normal.
I appreciate and love you all very much and if it wasn't so important to keep doing my job I would have quit many months ago without your support and kindness!
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, NMD
Scottsdale Naturopathic Doctor
My patients have been LOVING Fullscript as their trusted prescription vitamin supplier. The best part is you always save 20% off even if you no longer need to come in and see me because your symptoms are resolved! We have had so many questions lately I decided to make this brief tutorial so you are taking advantage of the prescription supplement savings!
How to Use Fullscript to Save on Vitamin Supplements
Due to my physical disability from my Autoimmune condition I will no longer be selling supplements in my clinic for the foreseeable future and will only be seeing patients in the office that require an exam. Thank you to everyone that has been super supportive and understanding of this. I miss the "Old Ways" of doing things when my patients could just pop in during my Walk-In Hours and say "Hi" while getting a B-12 shot or picking up your vitamins, but it is simply not realistic for me to conduct business like this as a Lupus patient that is immunocompromised. Also as a single Mom I need to stay healthy in order to care for my child and continue caring for the long term big picture of my hormone and chronic disease patients in my Women's Health practice.
While many Pandemic changes have been truly brutal for me to endure, one of the beautiful blessings that has come out of all of this has been how much better my patients are understanding their TYPED treatment plans via Fullscript!
We are all LOVING having all our supplements delivered through Fullscript! Ordering and reordering prescription grade vitamins, herbs and supplements is easy through Fullscript and orders usually arrive in 2 days.
Everybody was ecstatic with Cyber Monday on Fullscript last year. It was such a hit I thought I would send out this reminder to ensure all my patients know how to take advantage of the amazing vitamin supplement discounts!
Cyber Monday is just around the corner and a great way to stock up on your Multivitamins, Fish Oil, Probiotics, Immune Support, Antiviral Herbs, Allergy Formulas, Curcumin, DIM, Aloe Vera, and special things you personally need to stay healthy through the holidays.
You can always save 20% off as my continuous THANK YOU for being such awesome patients!
Anything I have prescribed for you should always be in your account and you can easily log in to order refills. Go to the menu in the upper left corner and select PRESCRIPTIONS at the top of the menu above CATALOG. If your supplements are not saved simply go under CATALOG search and enter the name of the product you are looking for.
What is the best part of Fullscript?
Nobody has to try to read my WONDERFUL DOCTOR’S HANDWRITING anymore!
I can now easily just type all the instructions and have them emailed to you.
One of the most helpful features patients have enjoyed is the picture of the bottle next to the instructions so that makes it easy to remember what the supplement is for and the directions.
After our appointments over the phone or in clinic, you will get an email from Fullscript that says “Dr. Nicole Sundene has sent you a prescription.” You can purchase what you need and receive 20% off and direct shipping. Most patients find it super simple and very helpful for saving their family money on their vitamins while also ensuring they are always taking the finest ingredients. If you are not taking high quality supplements your treatment plan also may not work. As there are a lot of poor quality products out there with amazing marketing.
QUALITY COUNTS!
Fullscript has been wonderful for everyone with all the phone consults lately. I can now easily listen to what you have going on and email your list of vitamins, supplements and herbs to help you feel your best.
If you need to schedule a phone consultation simply visit www.scottsdalenaturopathic.com. You can also call (480) 837-0900 if you need help scheduling the appointment.
I am always THANKFUL for my WONDERFUL PATIENTS and hope you enjoy the savings, quality and convenience that Fullscript provides as my continuing thanks to you and your faith and support of Naturopathy!
I am THANKFUL to doctor so many awesome, kind and caring souls. When times got tough it was your beautiful smiling faces that kept me going despite dark times. Thank you for your patience, prayers, support, random kind text messages and understanding of me during the most stressful time I have ever had to endure during my twenty two year career in health care. While normally I am taking care of my patients.... many of my patients have done very kind things to take care of me. Thank you for all the gifts, cards and kind words of encouragement.
I truly feel grateful to be blessed with a tribe of so many awesome women in my Women's Health practice....as well as a handful of awesome men that simply prefer having a female doctor! Thankfully the pharmacies and labs are working somewhat decently again. Thankfully we all survived the Naturethroid apocalypse.
I am Thankful to be your Naturopathic Doctor!
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!
For further assistance administering your injection please visit the SCHEDULE page to treat yourself to a Naturopathic visit with me.
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!
