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My baby has always loved yams, broccoli, and pears, but since she has turned 12 months, she is protesting.  Despite multiple attempts to serve her these foods hidden, mixed, and chopped to crumb size for camouflaging purposes, she will still pick each undesired food particle out and one by one drop it on the floor.  I feel like a professional crumb snatcher when I am picking up all these carefully chopped pieces from the floor.

Although I hate to see organic, homemade food intentionally thrown on the floor, this is completely normal 12 month old behavior.  It is part of her food exploration experience.  She’s learning about healthy food just by trying a few pieces, spitting them out, and playing the gravity game.  Sometimes her fingers are the only way she will taste a food.  The pickiness comes with the sprouting toddler package, but it doesn’t mean she will always hate yams, broccoli, and pears.

My mom job is to keep offering her other healthy foods, until I find something she likes.  This is your job, too, if your 12-18 month old baby has started her food finicky phase.  If she rejects the plums, try some fresh figs!  If she won’t even taste the avocado, give her cooked navy beans.  If she throws all her yams, then offer her some (soft) roasted turnips.

Get crafty and think about different flavors, textures, colors, and shapes.  If she won’t eat the plain roasted turnips, then sprinkle them with metro curry seasoning.  If she hates boiled and mashed carrots, try grating them raw.  If she won’t eat the red tomatoes, try the yellow ones.  If she dislikes the pears, sprinkle them with nutmeg and iron chef them into paper thin slices that can be lovingly held.  The 12-18 month age range loves holding a (safe) piece of something to bite multiple times! Approaching your baby’s food prep with this type of mindset will nurture her healthy palette as well as her growing little body.

This isn’t something you can force on her, and it’s not a good idea to muscle food through her closed lips.  Put new foods within her reach, age and allergy appropriate, and let her decide if she’s going to eat it or not.  It might get messy.  Letting her learn and feel and smell and taste healthy food is worth any mess because you’re setting her up to LOVE the healthy stuff.

If your baby protests a healthy food today, try it again next month.  Just as her body and brain are rapidly developing, so is her taste.  She may not like it today, but she may love it in a month or two.

Don’t give her the hot dogs and pasta because “she won’t eat anything else”.  Be imaginative!  Keep reminding yourself that you are developing her palette by letting her feel that organic slimy pink and brown Californian fig, even though she’s just touching it to throw it on the floor.

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If mushrooms give you the skeevies because your parents always ruined half the pizza with the stumpy button type, then try a shiitake mushroom!  Shiitake mushrooms have a unique flavor that woos your taste and your health.  They are mini powerhouses of everything your health needs!  They stimulate the immune system, fight off bugs, prevent cancer, promote cardiovascular wellness, and strengthen your vital reserves.  You can even give them to Fido (in his dog biscuits)!

Cancer Fighting

Shiitake mushrooms are little cancer fighting mushroom heads.  They fight the bad guys (cancer cells), protect the good guys (your liver cells), and call out the immune system forces in just the right way.  A special carbohydrate found in shiitake mushrooms called lentinan has been shown to have anti-tumor activity for several different types of cancer.¹  Shiitake mushrooms may have the potential to prevent the progression of liver cancer in those with chronic hepatitis.²

Chemotherapy Ally

Shiitake mushroom extracts, given both orally and intravenously, can decrease the adverse effects of chemotherapy through its effects on immune function and liver protection.^2,6  Several research studies have found intravenous lentinan to buy time and prolong life in those with inoperable gastric cancer on chemotherapy.^3,4  A Chinese study found that even when taken orally, as opposed to intravenously, it improved immune function and the quality of life in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.⁵

Useful in States of Immune Deficiency

Shiitake mushrooms are immune modulating, making them particularly useful when it comes to conditions where the immune system has been compromised.  Research has already shown some of shiitake’s immune boosting activity in those with an HIV infection.⁴  There is also research showing its immune benefits in those undergoing cardiovascular bypass surgery.⁴

Natural Anti-Viral Agent

Research has shown its ability to fight against genital warts and hepatitis B.  Shiitake is a gentle herb that works to tonify the body, so it works best for chronic viral conditions.

Heart Healthy Fungus

Shiitake mushrooms can lower cholesterol, inhibit platelet aggregation, and may be able to prevent further development of atherosclerosis.  Eritadenine is the constituent in shiitake mushrooms that has been shown to lower cholesterol.  You can protect your body from cardiovascular disease by making shiitake mushrooms a regular part of your diet.

Feed Your Immune System

Eating shiitake mushrooms regularly is a simple way to tonify your immune system through food. When purchasing shiitake mushrooms, look for fresh ones!  Old mushrooms will be crinkly and wrinkly, but fresh ones will have a cap as smooth as a baby’s bottom.  You can try them in my Tom Kha Gai Soup or you can throw them in your own soups, stir fries, and curries.

Cautions

If you have cancer or are on chemotherapy, do not use shiitake mushrooms medicinally until you consult your oncologist.

If you would like to start using shiitake mushrooms medicinally, please consult your naturopathic doctor. A licensed healthcare practitioner can tailor the dose according to your needs.

References:

<sup>1.  Pizzorno, Joseph.  Pizzorno:  Textbook of Natural Medicine, 3rd ed.  Churchill Livingstone, 2006.
2.  Yagi K:  Liver protective effect of Lentinula edodes mycelia (LEM).  Gan To Kagaku Ryoho.  2012 Jul;39(7):1099-102.
3.  Nakano H, Namatame K, Nemoto H, et al:  A multi-institutional prospective study of lentinan in advanced gastric cancer patients with unresectable and recurrent diseases:  Effect on prolongation of survival and improvement of quality of life.  Hepato-Gastroenterology 46:2662-8.
4.  Yarnell, Eric.  Lentinula edodes Monograph.  Bastyr University 2007.
5.  Yamaguchi Y, Miyahara E, Hihara J:  Efficacy and safety of orally administered Lentinula edodes mycelia extract for patients undergoing cancer chemotherapy:  a pilot study.  Am J Chin Med 2011;39(3):451-9.
6.  Okuno K, Uno K:  Efficacy of orally administered Lentinula edodes mycelia extract for advanced gastrointestinal cancer patients undergoing cancer chemotherapy: a pilot study.  Asian Pac J Cancer Prev 2011;12(7):1671-4.</sup>

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My belly has not been my friend recently, despite all of the archerfriendly food I have fed it.  I’ve been sipping marshmallow root cold infusions frequently, in hopes that the slimy liquid will coax my belly into friendship again.  It’s totally working.

You know what else works?  Making cold infusions in your ceramic tea infuser mug from Uwajimaya.

To make a cold infusion of marshmallow root, soak one heaping tablespoon of the shredded, dried root (not powdered) in one cup of cold water.  Place it in the fridge overnight.  In the morning, strain out the herb.  That’s it!  Don’t think you messed it up when you taste the slimy, viscous liquid that results.  It’s supposed to be that way.

You can find shredded, dried marshmallow root at your local herb shop.  Make sure it’s organic. You can also purchase it in bulk from Mountain Rose Herbs.  Dried herbs have a one year shelf life, so that’s about how long your stash will last depending on how fresh it was when you bought it.

All demulcent herbs are brewed via the cold infusion method.  Although I am talking about marshmallow root cold infusions here, you could substitute for a different demulcent herb.

Not only is a ceramic tea infuser easy to use, but it also makes the process a little more appealing to the eyes.  My pink ceramic infuser basket is much prettier than my clumsy stainless steel strainer. Because it’s easy and pretty, the process is fun, and you get to make your own medicine!

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If you are addicted to using the fluorescent pink tummy coolant to manage your belly pain, this herb is for you. Using marshmallow root in place of Peptol-bismol will do more for you than simply alleviate your tummy ache. Marshmallow brings healing to all tissues it touches, so much so, that it can also be used externally to heal burns and wounds.  Because marshmallow slimes up tissues to heal them, it works at treating the cause of your ailments — something the fluroescent pink tummy coolant may not be able to deliver. Don’t trust me?  Just check out the Greek root of the plant’s generic name (Althaea).  It means “to cure”.

When marshmallow root is properly prepared as a cold infusion, it looks like goo.  Marshmallow’s latin name is Althaea officinalis, and it is known as a demulcent in herbal medicine.  Demulcent herbs are rich in complex carbohydrates, otherwise known as mucopolysaccharides, which are best extracted in cold water.  I used a big word on you there, but when you hear mucopolysaccharides, think mucous.  A cold infusion of marshmallow root will not only look mucousy due to its mucopolysaccharide content, but it will have this type of effect on the body.  Although marshmallow root is a pro at sliming up the digestive tract with healing goo, it can also have this effect in the lungs and urinary tract.  I like to think of marshmallow as being able to cool down tissue that’s hot and irritated, especially in the gastrointestinal tract.

Oh, and yes, this plant is the origin of your modern day marshmallow.  Too bad our current Jet-Puffed mallows are not medicinal…

The Ultimate Belly Soother

Marshmallow root can be a food allergy foodie’s best friend.  When you are allergic to hemp and you have a gazillion other food allergies, but you just want to sneak it into your smoothie in hopes that there will be no pain but there ends up being lots, marshmallow will come to the rescue! Marshmallow root works great for esophagitis from eating too much crystallized ginger, acid reflux symptom relief (doesn’t necessarily treat the cause), stomach ulcers, celiac disease, and ulcerative colitis.  While it is not really an anti-diarrheal herb, it can ease the intestinal pain and bowel inflammation that can occur from diarrhea.

Supports Respiratory Health

When it comes to respiratory ailments, marshmallow leaves are used more frequently than the root.  The mucilage content of marshmallow especially comes in handy for a dry, irritated cough. Through a neurological reflex, marshmallow can trigger mucous production in the respiratory tract, which is what can help to heal inflamed tissue.

Urinary Tract Ally

Although marshmallow’s primary affinity is for the gastrointestinal tract, it also has some partnership with the urinary system through the same neurological reflex arc mentioned above.  Althaea officinalis root can stimulate mucous production in the urinary tract, which can really soothe urinary tract pain.  It can mitigate urinary tract inflammation caused by interstitial cystitis or a urinary tract infection.

For Post Partum Moms

Marshmallow root can be used in a sitz bath to promote external healing of tissues after childbirth. It can also be taken as a tea to prevent clogged ducts in lactation.

Side Effects & Safety

Marshmallow should be taken alone, away from other drugs or herbs because it has the potential to interfere with their absorption.  It is super safe, even for pregnancy, nursing moms, and babies.

If you would like to start taking marshmallow, please consult your naturopathic doctor.  A licensed healthcare practitioner can tailor the dose according to your needs. 

Resources:
<sup>1.  Hoffman, David. Medical Herbalism: The Science and Practice of Herbal Medicine. Healing Arts Press, 2003.
2.  Yarnell, Eric.  Natural Approach to Gastroenterology.  Healing Mountain Publishing, 2011.
3.  Kingsbury, Sheila.   The Practitioner’s Guide to Lactation Management.  Summer 2011.</sup>

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Your kitchen can be one of the unhealthiest areas in your home, not just because of the (junk) food in it, but because of all the chemicals found in your food prep equipment.  The first rule of thumb is to get rid of all plastic, silicone, and non-stick coated pans and baking sheets.  The second rule is if it’s going to be exposed to food + high temperatures, it needs to be in the form of wood, bamboo, stainless steel, cast iron, or glass.

Because I have endocrine issues, I’ve gotten really skeevy around many of my own outdated kitchen items.  The endocrine system takes a huge hit from the toxic chemicals found in plastic, silicone, or non-stick kitchen equipment.  If you have any kind of endocrine problem, you should consider upgrading the following 14 items in your kitchen.

1.  Your pans from college that are drowning in Teflon or some other shady non-stick chemical.  Let’s face it.  Those pans were cheap, old, or thrifted from God knows where.  Maybe you got rid of those college pots and have “upgraded” to Calphalon pans.  They have the same polytetrafluoroetheylene junk on them.

2.  Your black plastic cooking utensils, still “hanging” around from college.  Swap them out with something like All-Clad stainless steel utensils.

3.  Your surgeon-glove-blue silicone spatulas.  You can keep them for cold foods, but find something else for the hot!

4.  The non-stick baking pans you bought before you knew all about the dangers of Teflon.  It’s time for some stainless steel cookie sheets!  If you’re worried about sticking disasters, try parchment paper!

5.  Your plastic brewing coffee maker.  If you drink coffee every day, and the hot water is brewing in the plastic, you might as well start calling that joe, “Dark Roasted Plastic”.  Plastic is found in traditional coffee makers to french presses to those fancy Keurig things everyone loves now.  I’m really liking those all stainless steel French presses.

6.  Your messy collection of Gladware, Tupperware, and Rubbermaid, especially if you microwave food in these items (that is a big a-f no-no!).  Get with the West Coast hippie trend, and take your food to work in a glass Pyrex dish.  If your Pyrex leaks, you can downgrade to a simple Ball canning jar with lid.  Totally leak proof, and then you can join the hippie-cool-I-only-eat-out-of-glass club.

7.  Your cute melamine plates from Anthropologie.  I know they’re pretty and unbreakable, making them a desirable choice for your outdoor dining extravaganzas.  Remember the Chinese infant formula scandal?  Yeah, that was melamine in the baby formula. Just think:  thin, fun, outdoor-friendly plastic plate = melamine.

8.  Your Rival Crock-Pot.  Crock-pots and slow cookers may leach lead or cadmium into your food.  Supposedly Hamilton Beach brand crock-pots are the best when it comes to minimizing this issue (there’s no research study to back this up though!).

9.  Your free plastic hot beverage containers.  Just because they were free doesn’t mean you have to clutter your kitchen and your body with them!  Use a stainless steel hot bev container or just use a Ball canning jar (that’s what I use!).

10.  Your hot pink measuring spoons that you bought at Wal-Mart 10 years ago for $1.00.  You especially don’t want to be using these for measuring anything hot!

11.  The set of 5 mixing bowls you bought at the dollar store in high school.  They might be acceptable for cold foods, but not when the husband likes to use them for bringing in the HOT grill food.  Try using a set of those envied primary colored vintage Pyrex bowls instead.

12.  The plastic popsicle molds from the same dollar store mentioned above.  Stainless steel popsicle molds would be the friendliest replacement.

13.  The polycarbonate turkey baster your husband bought from the grocery store for Thanksgiving last year.  (Polycarbonate is a type of plastic that contains BPA.)  In the ideal world, a glass and rubber turkey baster would be best!

14.  Your red silicone mini loaf pan.  Just let it go because it doesn’t even smell good.

So far I need to work on #’s 1,2,3,4,5,8,10,11,12,13,14.  We stopped using our plastic coffee maker a long time ago and just dropped it off at the thrift store this past weekend (I guess I passed the toxins on to someone else).  My French press has a glass carafe with a plastic top, so I can not fully cross #5 off my list.  I’m working on 10!  And for 14, I should have sent it to the thrift store with the coffee maker this past weekend.

What about you?  What do you need to upgrade in your kitchen for better health?

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Before I went to naturopathic medical school, I did not take a daily multivitamin and mineral supplement.  I wrongly assumed I was the special health guru who didn’t need a multivitamin.  I put all my bean sprouts in my super healthy diet, but my digestion sucked!  When I started taking daily vitamins and minerals, I noticed a ten fold increase in energy (pssst, even Michael Hyatt attests to this!).  I felt alive!  I also stopped getting sick all the time.

Here’s why I think you need a daily multivitamin and mineral supplement:

1.  Your Diet Sucks

Let’s be honest.  You eat a lot of crap.  You are NOT going to get your day’s worth of vitamin needs if you eat Austin variety pack crackers from Costco for breakfast, Five Guys for lunch (with fries!), a kale infused Thai curry for dinner, and then a mixing bowl’s worth of homemade buttered popcorn. Even if that butter was organic and your dinner would have gotten 5 star approval from your naturopath, the crackers, the Five Guys burger, the fries, and the popcorn all take the place of nutrient dense foods that could have helped to meet your daily nutrient needs.  Every bite of junk eats away a bite of nutrients.  If you eat any kind of crappy food, you should consider taking a multivitamin and mineral supplement.

2.  Your Digestion Sucks

Your diet doesn’t suck?  Even if you ate all the right foods all day long, you may not be getting all the nutrients you need.  Most people have terrible, terrible digestion.  Your digestive tract can malfunction in several ways, making it difficult for your body to get all the goodies from your organic whole foods diet.  You could have low stomach acid, making it difficult to digest minerals.  You could have impaired secretion of pancreatic enzymes, making it difficult to break down food.  You could also have an inflamed intestinal lining, making it difficult to absorb nutrients.  As you age, your digestion worsens, which also increases your need for a multivitamin and mineral supplement.

3.  The Soil Sucks

If your diet and digestion are absolutely awesome, just remember that the soil quality today is pitiful compared to thousands of years ago.  The soil that has grown your food has been stripped of vitamins and minerals.  It has been polluted and trashed with heavy metals.  The nutrients found in plants vary according to the soil they were grown.  The plants we eat today are far from the quality of what Adam and Eve ate from the garden of Eden.

4.  Prevention Rocks

Taking a daily multivitamin and mineral supplement will prevent vitamin deficiencies.  It will also build your overall vitality and support your immune system.  The vitamins and minerals found in a multivitamin are all the little cofactors your body needs to make energy, meet its daily metabolic needs, and detox from our toxic world.  If you are low in these cofactors, even though you may not be deficient, things work more slowly.  This can make you more susceptible to environmental toxicity and disease, or just make you feel like crap.

Almost every health condition can benefit from a multivitamin and mineral supplement, but there are some health conditions where they can be life threatening!  Talk to your naturopathic physician before taking any multivitamin and mineral supplement.

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Whenever I work on these herb of the month articles, I end up all googly eyed over the particular herb.  This month, I’m swooning for blue flag, known botanically by it’s beautiful latin name, Iris versicolor.  I am currently so mesmorized by this blue flowering plant that I want to start taking it right now.  It’s an all around gentle herb, not a bulldozer herb, and maybe I want it because it’s an herbal sailboat that carries beauty to the skin.

Although this plant looks like one of the iris posies in my pappy’s flower bed, it prefers to live in moist conditions such as meadows, alongside streams, and marshes.  It is indigenous in the northern parts of North America and the southern parts of Europe, and it has been used historically by several Native American tribes.  The medicinal part of blue flag is it’s rhizome, an underground stem.

Gentle Digestive Stimulant

In naturopathic medicine, Iris versicolor is known as a bitter herb, although not all herbalists recognize it as such (David Hoffman does not mention that it is a bitter in his book, Medical Herbalism).  Bitter herbs are digestive stimulants because they taste bitter.  You can also call them “bitters” instead of “bitter herbs”.  The bitter taste stimulates digestion from the mouth to the anus.  Watch out though!  Your tongue may not agree with the taste.  Bitters are supposed to taste nasty.  That’s why they work.  Iris versicolor is a middle of the ground bitter.  It’s not as bitter as gentian, yet it’s more bitter than chamomile and bog bean.

Skin Secret #1: Clears Up Skin Via the Liver

Here’s a little beauty secret: clear your liver and clear your skin.  Blue flag is a gentle liver detoxifier, which is why it’s a little cleaning sailboat for your skin.  When it comes to the skin, it is most known for the treatment of eczema and psoriasis, but it may also help in the treatment of acne.  It is especially useful for skin conditions linked to poor digestion.

Skin Secret #2: Aids in Fat Digestion

Iris versicolor is a good herb to think of when there’s trouble with fat digestion.  Maldigestion of fats can affect the digestion of fat soluble vitamins such as vitamin D and A.  Both of those vitamins can make your skin pretty.  Poor fat digestion can also impair your body’s ability to absorb good fats (ex: omega-3 fatty acids), which also make for beautiful skin.

Cautions & Tips

• Avoid use in pregnancy.
• Large doses can produce severe diarrhea or gastroenteritis.
• If using as a digestive stimulant, use a form of the herb that can be tasted (tincture or decoction).

If you would like to start taking blue flag, please consult your naturopathic doctor.  A licensed healthcare practitioner can tailor the dose according to your needs. 

Resources:
^{1 Kingsbury, Sheila.  Botanical Medicine II.  Bastyr University.  Fall 2007.
2 Hoffman, David. Medical Herbalism: The Science and Practice of Herbal Medicine. Healing Arts Press, 2003.
3 Sherman, John A.  The Complete Botanical Prescriber.  1993.}

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Last week, my 3 year old daughter needed her blood drawn in order to run some laboratory tests. Because my first childhood needle experience was more like a horror scene with 4 nurses, a doctor, and my mom holding me down, I turned into OCD zombie mode in figuring out how I was going to handle every single detail of this experience.  I wanted to prepare her in the best way possible, without mentally freaking her out, which is completely possible to do in a toddler brain.

1. Find a kid savvy phlebotomy lab.

The most important factor to consider for this process is the location where you will have your toddler’s blood drawn.  My daughter’s pediatrician recommended that we go to Seattle Children’s Hospital, where the phlebotomists draw blood on kids all day long.  So that’s what we did.  You want a phlebotomist that draws blood from the tiniest veins, every single day.  The more skilled the person is at drawing blood on little kids, the less likely your toddler will have to be poked multiple times.  Not only that, these people are experienced in dealing with screaming, kicking, squirming kids.

The other factor in using a kid savvy phlebotomy lab, especially one in a children’s hospital, is that every detail from the decoration to the toys to the furniture is intentionally geared towards children.  With all of the whale and dolphin decor on the 6th floor of the Seattle Children’s Hospital, there’s no question that time and planning went into every detail with a smiling kid in mind.  A fish tank dazzled the waiting room near the lab, which housed several clown fish as well as a friendly crab, making the waiting room feel like an aquatic field trip.

2.  Calm Down.

Your toddler internalizes your emotions, so calm down.  If you are anxious, he will be, too.  If you are calm, he’ll be chill, too.  Genuine calmness on your part gives your toddler the emotional assurance that everything is really going to be OK.  I was able to remain calm for my daughter, out of the motivation that I wanted her to sense my peace.  Toddlers are not emotional dummies.  They easily pick up on the tension you feel.

3.  Bring a friend.

I invited a friend to come with us.  I am the one who needed the extra support, so she mainly served as an emotional buffer for me to remain calm.  But my friend also functioned as a distractor for my daughter to look at during the procedure.  A smiling auntie is much more fun to look at than the wall.

I also had my 10 month old baby in tow.  My friend held the baby while I held my toddler.  Do not bring other siblings to the blood draw if you do not have another adult with you.  Your toddler needs your 100% attention during this procedure.

4.  Talk about the tourniquet.

The tourniquet is that thick piece of rubber that gets tied so tight around your arm that it feels like no one is going to get any blood out because your arm is going to fall off.  This procedure seems harmless to an adult because no needles are involved, but it can be super scary for a child.  Everyone seems to tell their child about the needle “pinching”, but they forget to talk about the tourniquet.  The tourniquet hurts and it’s uncomfortable.  Sometimes the pain from the tourniquet is worse than the little poke from the needle.

I do recommend to talk about the tourniquet with your child in advance.  I tried so hard to come up with some imaginative way to describe the tourniquet that would make it sound appealing to my 3 year old daughter.  One of my ideas was a friendly snake that had a hugging problem.  After telling this idea to my friends, their looks of shock and gasping words of caution exposed how scary the tourniquet would be if it were a pretend snake (my daughter likes snakes though).

I ended up telling her that a really biiiiggg rubber band was going to be tied tight around her arm, but that it would only stay there for a little bit.  I told her that the biiiggg rubber band needed to be there for them to get the blood out.  I said, “It doesn’t feel very nice but it won’t be long.”

It is actually the tourniquet that totally freaked me out during my first childhood needle experience.

5.  Use prudence when talking about the needle in advance.

Because my daughter is 3, and not 6, I never mentioned the needle.  I didn’t even say the word “shot” (she knows what they are), or “pinch”, or “owie” during our prep talks for this procedure.  I didn’t even say any of these words immediately prior to the blood draw, and neither did the phlebotomist.  One of my doctor friends told me that before med school, she never felt the needle go in after the tourniquet was on.  Our focus was on the tourniquet in our preparatory discussions, and that is exactly what my daughter focused on.  She squinted her eyes with a determination and seriousness when the phlebotomist tied on that tourniquet.

6.  Hold your toddler during the procedure.

Your child will feel much more secure in your lap than sitting in a cold chair staring at you.  Plus, you can hold her in such a way that minimizes movement if she does choose to squirm.

7.  Plan a very appealing distractor.

As soon as that tourniquet went on, I pulled out our distractor (of course, I asked the phlebotomist in advance).  Out of my purse came the shiniest little piece of sugar bribery:  a raspberry blue ring pop full of toxic corn syrup and blue food coloring poison.  My 3 year old daughter has never had one of these suckers before, let alone something that has toxic corn syrup and blue food coloring poison.  I wanted a lollipop, or something like it, so that she could easily hold it with one hand, and be distracted orally with tooth rotting sweetness.  I’m sure you can come up with a better idea than mine, but it worked well because my daughter almost never eats that stuff.

8.  Plan a super fun event immediately after the draw.

You will probably think I’m such a sugar hypocrite to tell you that our super fun event after my daughter’s blood draw was a trip to Molly Moon’s.  Well, the last time she was there, was a year ago.  I think a once a year stop at the ice cream shop is just fine.  Besides, people, Molly Moon’s makes vegan coconut milk ice cream and it’s delicious.  If it weren’t for my severe reactive hypoglycemia, I would probably be treating myself there a lot more frequently than I do.

I told my 3 year old girl that after our blood draw, we were going to Molly Moon’s for ice cream.  Well, this toddler was dressed and ready to go with her shoes on, standing at the door, waiting for me 30 minutes in advance.  She wanted ice cream, badly, so she was ready to go get this blood draw so that we could go to Molly Moon’s.  Plus, having my friend come along added an additional note of funness to the event, since my daughter just loves her.  My daughter’s response to wanting to leave sure took the edge off my worry.

So how’d it go, right?  Really well.  The phlebotomist talked about the tourniquet before he put it on her.  She concentrated on that tourniquet, loved the shiny blue ring pop, and didn’t even notice the needle when it entered her arm.  “Is that my blood?”, she asked as she looked at the tube filling with red.  When the phlebotomist was finished, he pulled out his ear plugs (worn for obvious reasons), and said, “Most kids don’t act like that!”

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Using vitex to support chastity is a large part of vitex’s rich cultural history, so much so that “chasteberry” and “monk’s pepper” are this plant’s common names. Traditionally, vitex has been used to decrease the libido in both men and women.

Luteal Phase Lengthener

Vitex has a strong ability to regulate the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle.  The luteal phase of the menstrual cycle is the second half of the cycle that begins with ovulation and ends with menstruation. A variety of women’s health conditions can occur when the luteal phase is abnormal.  Vitex indirectly lengthens the luteal phase by acting on the hypothalamus in the brain.  Vitex is understood to increase the secretion of lutenizing hormone (LH) while holding back the release of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH).  This results in higher progesterone levels in the body.

Top Herbal Remedy for PMS

When snotty pants PMS lady pisses off Miss Luteal Phase, you happen to experience the uncomfortable results of their tiff:  moodiness, bloating, breast pain, and food cravings (just to name a few).  Vitex is the herb that keeps snotty pants PMS lady away, and it may even keep her away for good.  A decent body of research exists that shows the effectiveness of vitex in treating the symptoms of PMS.  Most research indicates that vitex needs to be taken for at least 3 menstrual cycles in order to evaluate its effectiveness.

Two-Faced When It Comes to Lactation

In lower doses, vitex can increase the milk supply.  In higher doses, vitex can inhibit lactation.  Vitex influences the pituitary gland to secrete dopamine, otherwise known as prolactin inhibiting factor.  In some instances where prolactin levels are abnormally elevated, vitex may help bring them down.

Women’s Health Super Herb

Vitex can be effective for treating infertility, particularly if the infertility is due to low progesterone levels.  It can also be effective for uterine fibroids, perimenopausal symptoms, endometriosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and secondary amenorrhea.  Vitex is especially helpful for regulating the cycle after coming off birth control pills.

Cautions

• Avoid long term use during lactation.
• Use cautiously in pregnancy.  Some sources say to avoid in pregnancy.
• Do not use in conjunction with hormone replacement therapy or oral contraceptives.
• If you are taking antipsychotic medication, any medication that affects dopamine, or metoclopramide, do not take vitex.

If you would like to start taking Vitex agnus castus, please consult your naturopathic doctor.  A licensed healthcare practitioner can safely tailor the dose according to your needs.

Resources:
<sup>1.  Hoffman, David.  Medical Herbalism:  The Science and Practice of Herbal Medicine.  Healing Arts Press, 2003.
2.  Hudson, Tori.  Women’s Encylopedia of Natural Medicine.  McGraw Hill, 2008.
4.  Powell, Dirk.  Endocrinology & Naturopathic Therapies.  Ninth Edition.  2010.
5.  Kingsbury, Sheila.   Botanical Medicine III.  Guest Lecture on Botanical Medicines Used in Pregnancy and Lactation.  Winter 2008.</sup>  

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After I graduate and pass my board exams, I will be licensed to prescribe an antibiotic, zap a skin tag, stitch up a bloody laceration, administer nutrients intravenously, draw blood, freeze a wart, manipulate a spine, chelate one from heavy metals, wean one off antidepressants, conduct physical exams, administer yearly gynecological exams, and even help one process her childhood.  This is just a sample of what naturopathic doctors are trained to do.

A naturopathic doctor (abbreviated as ND) is a natural medicine hipster.  Naturopathic physicians are professional medical experts in the field of natural medicine.  A naturopathic doctor practices naturopathic medicine, as opposed to allopathic medicine practiced by medical doctors or osteopathic medicine practiced by doctors of osteopathic medicine.  Osteopathic medicine is much more similar to allopathic medicine than it is to naturopathic medicine.

Naturopathic medicine is the umbrella term for the type of medicine a naturopathic physician practices.  It is founded on 7 core principles, which form the framework for everything an ND does. The way an ND sees your illness, the way he diagnoses the real problem, and the way he designs your individualized treatment plan all pass through the filter of these seven principles of naturopathic medicine.  It is the following principles that distinguish naturopathic physicians from their allopathic counterparts:

1. The healing power of nature.
2. Find and treat the cause.
3. First do no harm.
4. Doctor as teacher.
5. Treat the whole person.
6. Prevention.
7. Wellness.

Some alternative healthcare practitioners have solid scientific knowledge of natural supplements and herbs, but that can only get you so far.  Naturopathic medicine isn’t that simple.  NDs do not just prescribe an herb for a certain condition, and if they do, it’s called “green allopathy”.  Naturopathic doctors are trained to take everything about your health into account — all of who you are emotionally, physically, mentally, and spiritually.  It is the naturopathic doctor who is trained to see you as a whole, to uncover the root of your illness, and to individualize your treatment according to your idiosyncrasies.

To be a hipster, licensed naturopathic doctor, one must attend a 4 year post-graduate medical school program at one of the 6 accredited schools and pass postdoctoral board examinations.  Licensing for NDs varies from state to state, and not all states provide licensure for naturopathic physicians. Currently, 16 states, in addition to Washington D.C., provide legal licensure for naturopathic doctors. The scope of practice for an ND varies according to state laws.  In some states, naturopathic doctors are included in health insurance plans.

In states that do not provide licensure for naturopathic doctors, you must beware of the quacksters. A quackster ND is one who claims to be naturopathic doctor, but has never gone to an actual accredited naturopathic medical school (it feels sacrilegious to write “ND” after the word quackster, since they never earned an ND degree).  If you live in a state that does not provide licensure for naturopathic physicians, make sure to investigate where your doctor received his degree.  Legal licensure of the hipster naturopathic doctors protects this from happening, so if you’re in a licensed state you shouldn’t have to worry about the quacksters pretending to be all hip.

Just a little ND hipster biz:  A lot of times a naturopathic doctor is referred to as a “naturopath”.  Just don’t confuse this word with, “natural path”.  I read a blog that talked about her “natural path”, but she really meant her “naturopath”.

A naturopath is trained as a primary care physician with a variety of tools in his medical tool box.  All naturopathic physicians are trained to use the following tools therapeutically.  Each naturopath uses these tools differently in varying amounts, and some are not used at all.

Naturopathic Treatment Modalities

• Therapeutic Diets
  Most NDs will address your diet, because it matters.  I know, some of you will absolutely despise this part and may never come back because you hate this about naturopaths.  But your diet is integral to your health.  Sorry, people!  If changing your diet is the secret to feeling better, why not?
• Biochemistry
  Naturopaths are trained to investigate your individual biochemistry and see where you may need a supplement to make it work better.  This may also include genetic evaluations, since your genes determine your specific biochemistry.
• Nutritional Supplements
  Naturopathic physicians are experts on the latest nutritional supplements that can be used to treat disease.  Vitamins and minerals can be used therapeutically to modify the course of disease.
• Botanical Medicine
  NDs receive extensive training on the therapeutic use of plants.  Herbs can be prescribed through food, teas, capsules, or tinctures.
• Homeopathy
  Naturopathic medical students spend an entire year learning about the intricacies of homeopathy, which functions out of the precept that ‘like cures like’.
• Hydrotherapy
  Water can be used therapeutically as an external treatment for a variety of conditions.  Specific hydrotherapy treatments include contrast hydrotherapy, constitutional hydrotherapy, and sitz baths.  They are simple, yet powerful.
• Physical Medicine
  The muscles and bones that hold you together are a crucial part of your health.  This is why NDs are schooled in treating musculoskeletal complaints through soft tissue manipulations, muscle stretching techniques, and spinal manipulations.
• Intravenous Therapy
  Naturopathic doctors are licensed to insert an intravenous (IV) catheter in order to deliver nutrients intravenously.  An ND may also use IV therapy for the purposes of heavy metal detoxification.
• Counseling
  In the state of Washington, naturopathic physicians are licensed to offer counseling services. They can even receive insurance reimbursement for these services.
• Minor Office Procedures
  NDs perform minor surgical procedures such as the stitching of lacerations and the removal of warts, moles, and skin tags.  They also administer vaccines, vitamin injections, and draw blood.
• Pharmaceuticals
  (Gasp!)  I know many of you will be surprised by this fact, but it’s true.  Naturopathic physicians are trained to prescribe  prescription medications.  That’s why they are hotshots when it comes to drug and herb interactions.  Prescriptive rights depend on state licensing laws.  In Washington state, an ND can prescribe most prescription drugs.

Naturopathic doctors practice medicine in the rhythm of how your body was made to work.  I know no medicine more in line with God’s creation than this, and I anticipate the blessing it will be to care for people in such a way as this.

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