Why Have So Many People Been Feeling “Off” This Summer? The Hidden Health Effects of Heat and Wildfire Smoke
Learn how wildfire smoke and extreme heat can increase inflammation, histamine, brain fog, and fatigue, plus naturopathic strategies to support your health.
Immune Resilience Strategies For A Healthy Winter
Authored by Dr. Barrett and Dr. Aidanne Cold and flu season are here, so let’s work to keep your immune system in tip-top shape to lower the risk of falling ill this winter. How the immune system functions is influenced by many internal and environmental factors. Staying active, practicing proper hand hygiene, using humidifiers, making […]
Navigating the New School Year: Immune Support & Healthy Habits for Fall
Authored by Dr. Aidanne Supporting Your Immune System As we step into fall, our immune systems need a little extra help to fend off common seasonal illnesses (ie. Cold, flu, etc.), seasonal allergies, and the stress of a new school year. Below are some essential nutrients and practices to support your immune system. Vitamin D […]
Mitochondria and COVID-19
Mitochondrial health has been implicated as a potential contributor to the symptoms of long COVID. Mitochondria are tiny organelles found within cells that play a critical role in human health. They are often referred to as the “powerhouses” of the cell because they generate most of the cell’s energy. This energy is essential for many […]
Long COVID and the Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV)
Authored by Dr. Barrett Long COVID or Post COVID Conditions (PCC) can include a wide range of ongoing health concerns after a COVID infection that can last for months or even years. General symptoms include: Fatigue that interferes with daily life Symptoms that are worse after physical or mental activity Brain fog Sleep difficulty Gastrointestinal […]
My Experience with COVID
Authored by Dr. Barrett On the two-year anniversary of the WHO declaring a pandemic, I developed COVID-19. For me, it started with sinus congestion that escalated into a low-grade fever, sneezing, fatigue, sore throat, and a cough. My symptoms started on a Friday so I was able to rest through the weekend and then reschedule […]
Hashimoto’s Winter Research Update 2022
The researchers found that the level of TPO antibodies correlated with the grade of thyroid inflammation. This makes a lot of common sense, higher antibodies = more thyroid destruction. The following symptoms were found to be higher in the patients with elevated TPO antibodies: chronic fatigue, dry hair, chronic irritability, chronic nervousness, dysphagia, and easily fatigued. Remember, the study participants all have normal thyroid hormone levels. The researchers also found that higher TPO levels were associated with an overall decreased quality of life.
Hashimoto’s Research Update Summer 2021
What if you have elevated thyroid antibodies but your TSH isn’t elevated yet, ie it’s Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis (HT) but not yet progressed to hypothyroidism? Conventionally patients are often told to just watch and wait. Wait until it turns into hypothyroidism, then you can take medication.
This study published in 2016 demonstrated that supplementing with vitamin D actually reduced thyroid antibodies and prevented the progression of HT into hypothyroidism. So there is something you can do instead of just watch and wait.
How to Safely Manage and Encourage a Fever
Authored by Dr. Barrett There is a common misconception that a fever is something that needs to be treated and controlled. Fever is a brilliantly designed mechanism for our body to fight infections. The fever induces a whole host of beneficial changes to our immune system. There is a trend of using fever reducers (antipyretics) […]
Winter Toolkit
Authored by Dr. Barrett and Jesse Haas, CNS, LN Maintaining wellness all winter long is more important now than ever. Most of us face at least two major health challenges this time of year…but we’re throwing in a suggestion for a third just in case! First we think about our immune systems. Flu and cold […]