The thyroid is the center of your energy and metabolism and is a very important gland in the body. Generally thyroid conditions fall into 2 categories: either your thyroid is under functioning (hypothyroidism) or over functioning (hyperthyroidism). Here we will focus on hypothyroidism.  

An under functioning thyroid can cause many symptoms including: weight gain, fatigue, constipation, low mood, hair loss, dry skin and much more! If you or your doctor suspect that you may have an issue with your thyroid gland, the standard course of action is to get bloodwork done to check TSH levels.

Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) is produced by a gland in the brain called the pituitary. It signals the thyroid gland to make thyroid hormone. TSH can be thought of as an indirect way of looking at your thyroid. When thyroid hormone is low, the pituitary will increase production of TSH in an attempt to get a response from the thyroid.  TSH is like a telephone. It is a signal from the brain (ring ring) that tells the thyroid to produce more thyroid hormone. The thyroid gland responds to this TSH signal by making T4 hormone which is a “pro-hormone”, meaning it needs converted into T3 which is the active thyroid hormone.

T3 is the hormone that gives you energy, speeds up your metabolism, elevates your mood and overall makes you feel good! The conversion of T4 to T3 happens all over the body (kidneys, liver, GI tact, muscle and brain). Certain co-factors and enzymes are needed for this conversion to happen.

T4 can also be converted into reverse T3 which has the opposite effect of T3. It makes you feel tired, sluggish and cold and slows metabolism which encourages weight gain. The body tends to make more reverse T3 when it is under stress or if there is a lot of inflammation in the body.

So what does this all mean? It means that if you want your thyroid hormones to work well, you need to support the conversion of T4 to T3 and reduce the conversion of T4 to reverse T3!

Conventional treatment for an under functioning thyroid is a medication called levothyroxine (Synthroid).  This provides only T4 hormone. Which means that if you want to get all its benefits, your body still has to convert it to T3.

Naturopathic Medicine can help with the conversion of T4 to T3 to increase active thyroid hormone thereby boosting metabolism to help with weight loss, increasing mood and energy levels and improving how we feel overall!

How to support T4 to T3 conversion:

Certain minerals act as co-factors and are needed to activate enzymes important for the proper conversion of T4 to T3. Selenium, zinc and copper are three of these minerals and many people are deficient in some or all so testing blood levels could be beneficial to see if supplementation is required.

Liver Support: About 20% of the conversion of T4 to T3 takes place in the liver, and so if you don’t have a properly functioning liver, this can also cause problems with the conversion. Dietary and lifestyle changes, herbal medicine and certain nutritional supplements can all support the liver to help with the conversion of T4 to T3.

Adrenal Support: Having high cortisol levels can affect the conversion of T4 to T3. A lot of people have high cortisol and often it is due to stress! A stress management plan could include acupuncture, lifestyle changes and supplements that help support the adrenal gland to lower cortisol levels. This can decrease the conversion of T4 to reverse T3 and promote more T3 conversion which is what we want!

Gut Health: Your gut is another location where the conversion of T4 to T3 occurs. Disruptions in gut health as seen in leaky gut, inflammatory bowel disease, dysbiosis (imbalance of gut bacteria) may also reduce your body’s ability to covert T4 into the active T3 hormone. Supporting overall gut health is very important. Decreasing inflammatory foods, healing the gut lining to ensure proper absorption of nutrients and minerals and increasing healthy bacteria would also be beneficial.

For more information about how Naturopathic Medicine can support thyroid health, contact Dr. Lesley today!

In the month before your IVF/ICSI cycle, an evidence-based acupuncture protocol is followed to prepare your body for embryo transfer. Treatments are scheduled weekly during the 5 weeks prior to egg retrieval. Research has shown that acupuncture helps improve the success rate of IVF/ICSI by:


·     Improving blood flow to the ovaries and uterus
·     Improving response to hormonal stimulation
·     Alleviating possible side effects of fertility medications
·     Improving the thickness and perfusion of blood to the uterine lining
·     Calming the uterus to help prepare for and support implantation
·     Reducing stress and promoting relaxation

For males with sub-optimal sperm parameters, we recommend regular acupuncture treatments during the two-three months prior to an IVF/ICSI cycle and then scheduling visits weekly for the 2 weeks prior to your partner’s egg retrieval. These acupuncture treatments may be supplemented by the use of Chinese herbal medicine, dietary and lifestyle counseling and nutritional supplements.

IVF Embryo Transfer
A pre and post transfer acupuncture session is done to help promote relaxation and to improve success rates. A well-respected study using acupuncture with IVF showed the acupuncture group had a success rate of 42.5%, compared with 26.3% in the control group, when treated with acupuncture before and after their IVF embryo transfer.

Pregnancy Support (1st Trimester)
With a positive pregnancy test result, we will continue with weekly acupuncture treatments until 12-13 weeks, to help stabilize and support your pregnancy. This is especially important if you have had a previous miscarriage or with pregnancies conceived using IVF. The treatments are gentle and supportive and help promote a healthy pregnancy.

To learn more about how Acupuncture can help with IVF support, contact Dr. Lesley, ND!

Postpartum is a very important time for mothers and is actually considered the 4th trimester! During this time, mom's focus is all about the little one and it becomes easy to stop caring for themselves. Weronika Sus, RMT explains below how massage can be beneficial during this postpartum period.

Massage therapy can help with the muscle strain that happens during delivery, as well as work on compensations patterns that happen in posture later. The focus of treatment is on back, neck, hips and hamstrings.

Abdominal massage can be started anywhere from 2-4 weeks after vaginal birth and 4-6 weeks after a caesarean birth. If the birth was caesarean working on a scar can begin as soon as the wound is closed. At first gentle techniques are used such as lymphatic drainage to soften the tissue. As the scar matures myofascial techniques are used to decrease the constrictions. Then frictions are used to decrease scar tissue and adhesions. Vitamin E or castor oil can be used on scar to soften it.

After giving birth the core is weakened. Core muscles include: diaphragm, multifidus, pelvic floor and transversus adbominis. Referral to pelvic floor physiotherapist is made for assessment and strengthening of the pelvic floor muscles. Most common types of dysfunction of pelvic floor are: urinary/fecal incontinence, pelvic girdle pain, pelvic organ prolapse, Diastasis Rectus Abdominis and painful intercourse. Pelvic floor dysfunction can cause low back and pelvic girdle pain.

If you have pelvic floor dysfunction massage can focus on compensating areas. The treatment would include working on low back, hip, inner thigh, hip flexors and abdominal muscles.

Contraindications to massage therapy following giving birth are fever, infection, unstable blood pressure and increased risk of blood clotting.

For more information about ho massage can help you, please contact Weronika Sus, RMT: https://www.my-mobile-massage-therapy.com/

I work with an amazing osteopath Dr. Curt Long and I asked him to help explain how osteopathic medicine can improve overall fertility.  Many people do not fully understand what osteopathy is and how it can be beneficial so I hope this helps!
​                                                                                                        - Dr. Lesley

What is Osteopathy?
Osteopathy is a manual therapy that brings balance to the body by using gentle movements to correct structural and postural imbalances. Through treatment, structural dysfunctions are corrected to improve flexibility and movement of the spine and limbs to relieve obstructions to nerve and blood vessels which may inhibit the body’s capacity to heal and function. Some patients say the treatments feel like a mixture between chiropractic and massage, where myofascial release, joint mobilizations and muscle energy techniques are used. The primary goal is to treat the underlying cause of pain or dysfunction rather than the symptom. Such causes are related to structural dysfunction (bony restrictions and asymmetries of the spine and limbs) and restrictions in soft tissue (fascia and muscles).

How can Osteopathy improve fertility issues?
As stated above, improving the alignment and biomechanics of the body, but more specifically the pelvis, will improve how the body functions. A twist through the pelvis will create tension through the pelvic fascia, an imbalance of the lumbar spine and musculature, and muscles of the hip. These combined structural dysfunctions will alter how the nervous and circulatory systems communicate with the pelvic organs. A restriction in blood flow will limit the flow of hormones and nutrients necessary to regulate the function of these organs. To better clarify this scenario, think of a garden hose. The amount of water that passes through the hose is directly related to the amount of resistance put on the hose. If there is a kink in the hose, very little water will pass out the end. If you remove the kink, water will flow normally. Osteopathic treatment eliminates these “kinks”, restoring normal circulation and neurological function. 

For more information about how osteopathic medicine can help you, please check out Dr. Curt Long's website: ​
https://www.curtlongosteopathy.com/

Achy muscles? Low energy? Feeling stressed out? Try an Epsom Salts Bath!

In the video below, Ginger Nash, ND explains the prevalence of magnesium deficiencies and the benefits of epsom salts baths!

​-Dr. Lesley
​

Are you struggling to lose weight even after trying diet and exercise plans? Weight loss acupuncture might benefit you!

There are several reasons for weight gain that might not be addressed by diet and exercise alone such as: slow metabolism, thyroid issues, stress and hormone imbalances or behavioral due to practices of overeating and binge eating.  Acupuncture can help address those underlying causes. 

For example, if your weight gain is caused by a metabolic issue, acupuncture can help stimulate metabolism and overall digestion so that food gets processed quicker and doesn’t sit around as long.  If you noticed more weight gain near or after menopause, acupuncture can help to balance your hormones.
​
Weight Loss Acupuncture can help you:

• Control cravings
• Reduce appetite
• Balance hormones
• Stimulate metabolism
• Reduce stress
• Improve bowel movements, bloating and overall digestion
• Improve sleep
• Decrease muscle and joint pain

 
Typically sessions last about 30 minutes and each acupuncture protocol is specific to each patient after an initial assessment.  Treatments are relaxing and pain free.
Weight loss acupuncture can be used on its own but for quicker results, regular acupuncture visits are combined with a healthy diet and exercise plan. 

To learn more about Weight Loss Acupuncture, contact Dr. Lesley, ND today!

Do you suffer from low energy? Brain fog? Inability to lose weight?
​Food sensitivities? Bloating/Gas?

If you do, you might have Leaky Gut Syndrome!

Leaky gut or “increased intestinal permeability” is a condition affecting the lining of the intestines, creating a dysfunctional environment for proper digestion. Normally, the lining of the intestines only let properly digested fats, proteins and starches pass through the cells that line the gut and the spaces between these cells are sealed. But when the intestinal lining becomes irritated, those spaces open up and can allow bacteria, toxins and undigested food to “leak” into the bloodstream. 

​This can trigger an immune response that can lead to chronic inflammation in the body and can contribute to joint pain, skin issues, autoimmune diseases, and further digestive concerns.

What can cause Leaky Gut?
There are many causes of Leaky Gut Syndrome such as: poor diet, stress, low stomach acid, anti-inflammatory medications, candida, food allergies, parasites etc.

Can Leaky Gut be reversed?
Yes! Through diet, herbal medicine, acupuncture and nutritional supplementation, Naturopathic Doctors can help decrease inflammation in the gastro-intestinal system and can help repair intestinal lining to decrease the leaky gut effect. 

 Do you feel tired, stress and overworked? Do you wake up feeling un-rested? Do you feel like there is never enough time to get all the things you want completed? In today’s society, many of us have lives that are constantly busy and struggle to find the time to slow down and relax.  Unfortunately, our bodies we not meant to function at such a fast pace and in many cases chronic stress places a huge toll on our lives.  For example, chronic stress can lead to overproduction of the hormone cortisol.

Cortisol is a stress hormone that gives us the drive to maintain our busy lives.  We require cortisol for a large number of normal bodily functions but too much cortisol is also not a good thing and can have adverse effects.  Excess cortisol blocks the release of other important hormones required for energy, proper sleep, digestion, immunity and fertility. 

Symptoms of Elevated Cortisol:

• Low libido
• Irregular cycles and PMS, issues with ovulation
• Feeling tired but wired
• Anxiety
• Insomnia
• Abnormal weight gain in the abdomen and thigh

 
The good news is that excess cortisol levels are easily treated! Through bloodwork, looking at hormone levels and by taking a thorough health history, we can create a treatment plan for lasting hormone balance and optimal fertility! Stress management techniques, acupuncture, herbal medicine and proper nutrition will all play a big role.

A great recipe for a 5-minute smoothie bowl made with just 3 ingredients!

Ingredients
SMOOTHIE BOWL

• 1 heaping cup (160 g) organic frozen mixed berries
• 1 (100 g) small ripe banana, sliced and frozen
• 2-3 Tbsp (30-45 ml) light coconut or almond milk, plus more as needed
• optional: 1 scoop plain or vanilla protein powder of choice*

TOPPINGS

• 1 Tbsp (5 g) shredded unsweetened coconut (desiccated)
• 1 Tbsp (12 g) chia seeds
• 1 Tbsp (10 g) hemp seeds
• optional: Granola
• optional: Fruit

Instructions

1. Add frozen berries and banana to a blender and blend on low until small bits remain - see photo.
2. Add a bit of coconut or almond milk and protein powder (optional), and blend on low again, scraping down sides as needed, until the mixture reaches a soft serve consistency (see photo).
3. Scoop into 1-2 serving bowls and top with desired toppings (optional). I prefer chia seeds, hemp seeds, and coconut, but strawberries, granola and a nut or seed butter would be great here, too!
4. Best when fresh, though leftovers keep in the freezer for 1-2 weeks. Let thaw before enjoying.

http://minimalistbaker.com/favorite-smoothie-bowl-5-minutes/