The Healing Centre

The Winter Blues

Many people feel lethargic, fatigued, and moody during the cold, winter months. Some write off these signs and behaviors as just feeling down. Since many don’t believe they need to do anything about it, they don’t take proper care of themselves.

As the weather changes, and your normal routine is thrown out of whack by the time change, your brain’s serotonin activity can decrease. As the brain neurotransmitter that plays a major role in outlook, the lowering of serotonin activity often is linked to low mood. Also, since serotonin is the starting molecule for the brain’s pineal gland to produce melatonin, our main sleep hormone, changes in serotonin activity can rob us of quality sleep.

Though falling back gives us an extra hour of sleep, the tradeoff is that the darker months can negatively affect our mood and sleep patterns. With less sunlight, it becomes increasingly important to get adequate levels of vitamin D during the winter months.

Increase Your Vitamin D During the Winter

Vitamin D, also referred to as the “sunshine vitamin,” is now known to be crucial for the brain’s functioning and maintenance. After it’s made in the skin as vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol), it becomes converted, first by the liver then by the kidneys, into a powerful hormone that regulates not only the brain but the heart, circulation, gut, liver, pancreas, immune system, and practically all our tissues. Among its many benefits, vitamin D3 promotes the actions of serotonin, dopamine, and other key brain neurotransmitters.

Unfortunately, many Americans – even those who eat a good diet – are functionally vitamin D deficient. Though definitions of vitamin D deficiency can vary, experts agree that it has nearly reached epidemic status: one research study found that in the U.S., 70% of all adults and 67% of children, aged 1-11, don’t have adequate levels of vitamin D.

Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with illness in winter, when the skin gets less sunshine and makes less vitamin D. In fact, there is research linking vitamin D deficiency to over 200 health concerns. Among these is that low levels of vitamin D have been associated with mood challenges and difficulties with sociability, attention, memory, stress and anxiousness.

If you’re concerned that you or a family member aren’t getting enough vitamin D, you should consider supplementation.

Vitamin D3 5000 IU

BrainMD’s Vitamin D3 5000 provides sufficient vitamin D3 to raise your tissue levels into a healthy range within a short time period, while being completely safe to take long-term. Clinical research has established that taking this safe dose of vitamin D3 daily works better than taking high doses every few weeks or getting a very high dose by injection.

Intensive clinical and scientific research continues to make incredible discoveries about this vitamin – hormone. Vitamin D3 is clearly established as having powerful and extremely versatile effects on health and well-being. In the past two decades, researchers have confirmed its favorable effects on healthy gene regulation, calcium metabolism, cell growth control, hormone balance, and coping with stressful challenges. Vitamin D3 promotes:

• healthy mood

• immune response

• cognitive function

• cardiovascular health

• muscle and bone strength

• overall brain health

The current U.S. Daily Value recommendation is 400 IU, but experts agree this is well below the physiological needs of most individuals and suggest 2,000-10,000 IU daily. BrainMD’s Vitamin D3 5000 raises your levels on just one softgel a day.

If you typically have a hard time adjusting to the DST time switch, vitamin D3 can help you get into a new rhythm and beat the time change blues!

Caffeine Does WHAT To Your Brain??

Although caffeine can lead to temporary increased alertness, excessive consumption does more harm than good. It constricts blood flow to your brain, slows nerve cell activity, puts you in “fight or flight” mode, and that’s just the beginning.

Long-term Addictive Use of Caffeine: Bad for Your Brain?

Excessive caffeine use is associated with chronic dehydration (which can harm your body in numerous ways), added stress on your heart, high blood pressure, jitteriness and headaches, says Daniel Amen, M.D.

Truth is, depending on your own body chemistry, when the effects of the caffeine wear off, you can actually feel fatigued and depressed. So, you consume more caffeine to re-energize. Soon enough, you are hooked on the stuff – and it takes more and more to achieve that same feeling.

After years of studying brain scans at Amen Clinics, it is clear that reduced cerebral blood flow is the opposite of what you want for optimal brain function, says Dr. Amen. “In fact, decreased cerebral blood flow lowers cognitive function and can exacerbate emotional and mental health problems.”

Find out more about this study by https://brainmd.com/blog/is-caffeine-bad-for-you/?trk_msg=COU4N9C8B8FKT5UJIO1P185SMO&trk_contact=7ICOJOP4AB8L3T0LV8IGPIJ6MS&trk_sid=EP5QDOU1KT1ED1BPA736LMA580&utm_source=BMD-Listrak&utm_medium=Email&utm_term=READ+MORE&utm_campaign=Caffeine+Does+WHAT+To+Your+Brain%3f%3f" target="_blank">BrainMD

Inflammation and Chronic Pain gone. Pain Relief Patch Works even Better than topical Arnica

Check out our arnica patches from Natural Patches of Vermont.

We are getting testimony from patients saying they help relieve chronic pain better than other analgesics.

The patches are 3 inches by 2 inches with a cotton backing. They can be cut to custom size them. The patches are not only for pain relief. There are several different patches addressing issue such as stress, sleep, energy and more!

 

Natural Patches of Vermont® Essential Oil Body Patches provide the targeted benefits of essential oils without feeling greasy or oily. Leaving no oily residue on the skin, either during use or upon removal, the patches require no clean-up and can be worn day or night, without fear of damaging clothing or bedding.

With all the information available on the subject, some of it conflicting, many people may find the use of essential oils mysterious and intimidating.

Natural Patches of Vermont® Essential Oil Body Patches are neither mysterious nor intimidating. Convenient, user-friendly and requiring no time or special materials for use, they provide the aromatherapeutic benefits of custom oil blends aimed at addressing various common conditions and complaints without the mess and bother often associated with the use of essential oils.

As for convenience, Natural Patches of Vermont® Essential Oil Body Patches can be tucked into apocket or purse for use anytime throughout your busy day.

Pick up a tin of 10 or try a single use patch at our office.

Dr Pam

Stop Using Dryer Sheets Immediately!

By Leah Zerbe, MS, NASM-CPT, NASM-CES

June 14, 2017

Dr. Axe on Facebook 70439 Dr. Axe on Twitter 347 Dr. Axe on Pintrest 2000 Share on Email Print Article

Dryer sheets - Dr. Axe

Dryer sheets are part of the laundry routine for millions of people. Most of us don’t think twice about tossing a sheet or two into the dryer — it’s just part of the clean clothes process. And while pulling a warm, fresh load of scented laundry out of the dryer may make you feel warm and fuzzy, there’s likely something not-so-good happening inside of your body.

What if I told you those dryer sheets are caked with ingredients you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy. And those “blossoms and flowers” depicted on the dryer sheet box? Don’t buy it. Dryer sheets are really a toxic ripoff. That means you’re paying more for a product that could actually be making you sick.

I’m talking about things like known carcinogens, hazardous pollutants, endocrine disruptors and things that target specific organs in the most unpleasant ways. Let’s examine what we know about dryer sheets and your health, then get into simple alternatives for a safer laundry routine.

Dryer Sheets: The Facts

Ever look at a box of dryer sheets? You’ll probably see images of flowers or line-dried laundry and claims of freshness, fabric softening, static reduction and wrinkle fighting power. What you won’t see? A comprehensive list of the chemical cocktail cooked into those sheets. As crazy as it seems, the current United States Consumer Product Safety Commission does not require dryer sheet manufacturers to list actual ingredients, including the chemicals used in fragrance blends.

To help us figure out what’s actually in these products many people use day in and day out, scientists have been studying the sheets and dryer vent exhaust to get a better picture. The results aren’t pretty. Here’s a rundown of some of the compounds detected in dryer sheets and dryer vent exhaust.

In one of the most interesting studies to date, pioneering fragrance researchers Anne Steinemann, PhD, a professor of civil and environmental engineering, looked at the chemicals spewing out of dryer vents. Using new, pre-rinsed organic towels, Steinemann and her team sampled laundry emissions after using scented fabric softening and dryer sheets in clean washers and dryers.

What was coming out of those vents? (And into people’s lungs?) Seven hazardous air pollutants and 25 volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Some of these, including acetaldehyde and benzene, are not safe at any level. (These are also pollutants that commonly spew out of vehicle tailpipes.) (1)

Acetaldehyde is a common ingredient used in fake fragrance blends. It’s “potentially carcinogenic to humans” and adversely impacts the kidneys, nervous and respiratory systems. (2) While it’s regulated in outdoor emissions, it’s a total free-for-all when it comes to home use. And that’s coming with some serious side effects. 

In a 2016 study, Steinemann found 12.5 percent of people blamed scented laundry products spewing from dryer vents for health issues. These include ailments like respiratory issues, runny noses, asthma attacks, skin issues, migraines and even gastrointestinal symptoms. (3) Knowing this, doctors should be putting all of their patients in fragrance-free prescriptions! 

The truth is, though, most people have no idea they’re introducing such nasty pollutants into their neighborhoods.

One of Steinemann’s fragrance studies found that acetaldehyde emissions from five leading scented detergent and dryer sheet brands “constitute about 6 percent of automobiles’ acetaldehyde emissions.” That’s a lot. (4) She also comments,

These products can affect not only personal health, but also public and environmental health. The chemicals can go into the air, down the drain and into water bodies. We focus a lot of attention on how to reduce emissions of pollutants from automobiles. And here’s one source of pollutants that could be reduced. (5)

Other dryer sheet and dryer sheet ingredient research unearthed these important findings:

-Forty-four percent of scented laundry products tested spewed at least one carcinogenic hazardous air pollutant. Some of these include acetaldehyde, 1,4-dioxane and formaldehyde. (6)

-Some of the more immediate dangers of synthetic scents in laundry products include migraines, asthma attacks, eye and throat irritation and contact dermatitis.

-In one mice study, fabric softening products triggered limited airflow and pulmonary irritation in the animals studied. (7,

-In 2009, nearly 10 percent of the general U.S. population reports irritation from scents coming out of dryer vents. By 2016, that number increased to more than 12 percent. (9)

-In a study focusing on hormone disruptors and asthma triggers in everyday products, Silent Spring Institute researchers found dryer sheets contained some of the highest concentrations of harmful fragrance chemicals. Compounds like acetyl hexamethyl tetralin, isobornyl acetate and phenethyl alcohol also turned up. (10)

-According to EcoWatch, dryer sheets often contain quaternary ammonium compounds, which can trigger asthma attacks. These cautoionic fabric softeners also routinely trigger reproductive toxicity in animals. Acetone in the sheets can trigger dizzy spells and headaches. Aside from that, up to 10 percent of a dryer sheet’s weight could be comprised of fragrance chemicals. (11, 12)

-Dryer sheet “grades” vary greatly on Environmental Working Group’s Guide to Healthy Cleaning. Some “F” products contained quaternary ammonium compounds compounds due to their well-known asthma-triggering properties. Other fabric softening compounds routinely used in dryer sheets are considered toxic to wildlife. (13)

Better Alternatives to Store-Bought Dryer Sheets

The good news is you can survive without dryer sheets. (It’s true!) In facts, humans existed and successfully washed their clothing for hundreds of years without this modern-day scented laundry products. In fact, a dryer sheet patent didn’t even exist until 1969. The creator, Conrad J. Gaiser, went on to sell the patent to Procter & Gamble, which created Bounce dryer sheets. (14)

Dryer sheets - Dr. Axe

You can avoid the chemicals in dryer sheets by using some of these laundry room tactics:

-Add a quarter cup of white vinegar to your washer’s rinse cycle.

-Look for plant-based, unscented laundry detergents. (Or make your own from unscented castile soap.)

-Hang your clothing outside to dry. (You’ll enjoy a drop in your energy bill, too!)

-Add wool dryer balls to your dryer. It also cuts down on drying time. You can add a few drops of organic, therapeutic-grade peppermint essential oil to the balls for a light, natural fragrance.

-Always use plant-based, unscented laundry detergents. Or, make your own homemade laundry soap.

-Beware of “green” laundry products. Even some of them released toxic compounds in some studies.

-Lobby your workplace, apartment complex and/or neighbors to adopt these fragrance-free laundry practices to protect the health of everyone in your community and workplace.

Final Thoughts on Dryer Sheets

Dryer sheets are among the worst offenders for harboring chemicals linked to hormone disruption and asthma.

More than 12 percent of the U.S. population reported negative health symptoms associated with dryer vent emissions.

Many dryer sheets contain chemicals that react with the air to create formaldehyde, a probable human carcinogen.

Other common dryer sheet pollutants include acetaldehyde and benzene, things also found in vehicle exhaust that are not considered safe at any level.

To reduce your exposure to dryer sheet chemicals, you can reduce static cling naturally by adding a quarter cup of white vinegar to your washer’s rinse cycle. You can also use wool dryer balls or hang dry your clothing.

Feeling extra weak, sad, tired or slow?

Your sugar consumption is the most likely culprit. Yes, we know - kicking the candy habit is easier said than done.

Curb Cravings

Improve Mood

Support Weight Loss

Gymnema might be the solution for you.

I read this on The Grain Brain doctors site and thought it was worth reprinting

…..a large number of studies that have confirmed the thesis that elevated blood sugar is profoundly detrimental, not just for the brain in general, but for brain function as well.

As the authors of a new paper entitled, Brain atrophy in aging: Estimating effects of blood glucose levels vs. other type 2 diabetes effects point out, our brains shrink as we age with as much as 5% volume loss occurring between age 60 and 70. And as you would expect, this correlates with declining function.

A lot of the research has shown that type 2 diabetes (T2D) is what accelerates brain aging. But as this new study shows, it’s not the diagnosis of T2D that is the issue. Well before that diagnosis is made, brain structure is affected by blood sugar. Blood glucose levels even in the normal range can have a significant impact on total brain and grey matter atrophy.

So again, the mission here is to keep blood sugar low. Useful lab tests include the blood sugar with the goal of keeping it in the upper 80s to low 90s, the average blood sugar or “A1c”, which ideally should be in the range of around 5.2, and the “fasting insulin level” with a target of 8 or lower.

These goals are best achieved by a diet that’s exquisitely low in sugar and welcomes healthful fat back to the table. Keep in mind that artificial sweeteners, paradoxically, are also known to elevate blood sugar, so no more aspartame!

Visit www.drperlmutter.com for more information from David Perlmutter, M.D.

BPA Biphenol A is a concern because of possible health effects of BPA on the brain, behavior and prostate gland of fetuses, infants and children.

~ Don't microwave polycarbonate plastic food containers.

~ Plastic containers have recycle codes on the bottom.

~ Reduce your use of canned foods.

~ When possible, opt for glass, porcelain or stainless steel containers, particularly for hot food or liquids.

~ Metal (aluminum) food and drink cans are commonly coated with BPA-containing epoxy films.

~ Reusable water bottles (Polycarbonate plastic #7). Soda and beer (in cans). Fast food.

Wash your hands after handling cash register receipts. They imitate the body's hormones, and it can interfere with the production, secretion, transport, action, function, and elimination of natural hormones. BPA can behave in a similar way to estrogen and other hormones in the human body.

I read this on The Grain Brain doctors site and thought it was worth reprinting

…..a large number of studies that have confirmed the thesis that elevated blood sugar is profoundly detrimental, not just for the brain in general, but for brain function as well.

As the authors of a new paper entitled, Brain atrophy in aging: Estimating effects of blood glucose levels vs. other type 2 diabetes effects point out, our brains shrink as we age with as much as 5% volume loss occurring between age 60 and 70. And as you would expect, this correlates with declining function.

A lot of the research has shown that type 2 diabetes (T2D) is what accelerates brain aging. But as this new study shows, it’s not the diagnosis of T2D that is the issue. Well before that diagnosis is made, brain structure is affected by blood sugar, even in the “normal” range!

As the authors state,”In conclusion, this study showed that the impact of blood glucose on the brain is not exclusive to T2D, and that blood glucose levels even in the normal range can have a significant impact on total brain and grey matter atrophy. These results emphasize the need to consider the role of higher normal blood glucose as a risk factor for brain health.”

So again, the mission here is to keep blood sugar low. Useful lab tests include the blood sugar with the goal of keeping it in the upper 80s to low 90s, the average blood sugar or “A1c”, which ideally should be in the range of around 5.2, and the “fasting insulin level” with a target of 8 or lower.

These goals are best achieved by a diet that’s exquisitely low in sugar and welcomes healthful fat back to the table. Keep in mind that artificial sweeteners, paradoxically, are also known to elevate blood sugar, so no more aspartame!

Visit www.drperlmutter.com for more information from David Perlmutter, M.D. 

5 Tips for Taking Care of Your Brain

1.Drink More Water

Your brain is 80% water, so avoid anything that dehydrates it – such as caffeine or alcohol.

2.Get Regular Exercise

Exercise can boost blood flow and other positive nutrients to the brain, increase your levels of dopamine and generate new brain cells that can help the brain self-regulate and calm down. Walking can help you clear your mind, decrease anxious feelings, improve your mood and burn some calories all at the same time.

3.Eat a Healthy Diet 

It’s recommended that you eat 9 servings of fruits and vegetables every day. To help Juice Plus can help to fulfill these requirements if you find it hard to eat all of your fruits and veggies.Also you don’t get the fructose sugar that comes with eating fruit.

3.Quality Sleep 

When you don’t get enough sleep, you have overall decreased blood flow to your brain, which disrupts thinking, memory, and concentration.

4.Just Relax 

Learning how to counteract stress and calm your body helps your brain work better, puts you in a better mood, reduces blood pressure, and protects you from disease.

With BrainMD Neurolink it provides the nutrients to give you the focus and energy you need to do the things you love most in life

20years ago, my sister, Joanne, brought my 7-year-old niece, Jennifer, to see me because she was struggling in school and had emotional outbursts. When I scanned Jen, I found she had a brain that was working way too hard.

I tried many “traditional” interventions without any success, and my sister was calling me three times a week, upset about Jen’s behavior. Through my research, I discovered a combination of natural supplements that could help calm the brain and put her on them.

Four months later I realized I hadn’t heard anything from my sister, so I called her and said, “Hey, don’t you love me anymore?” Joanne said, “Of course I do, and you won’t believe how much better Jennifer is doing. She’s getting straight A’s in school and she is MUCH easier to be around.”

This was a very compelling experience that had a lasting impact on me.

Now 20 years after Joanne brought Jennifer to see me, Jennifer graduated from law school and is doing great. There is no question in my mind that supplements can have powerful, positive effects.  Dr Amen