Hi , 

What's New at IHC

We have very much enjoyed having our two older sons (Seth on left and Devan on right), working at the clinics this summer. They will both be heading back to university in September, and we will miss having their joyfulness around the clinics. Thank you for all your hard work and positive energy you’ve brought to IHC!

Drs Gurdev and Karen Parmar, ND

Webinar Series

IHC Webinar Series

The lecture series is paused for August. We’ll resume in September with Dr. Michelle Willis, ND presenting on the use of laser for snoring and sleep apnea.

More details to come in September.

Featured Service

Before we know it, it’s about to be fall! The perfect time to start thinking more about taking care of our skin and repairing some of the damage that might have occurred over the summer months.

Enter microneedling.

Microneedling is an effective, minimally invasive, non-ablative skin treatment. It works by creating controlled damage in the superficial layers of the skin to initiate the body’s natural healing cascade. This stimulates collagen and elastin production, improving the appearance and quality of the skin, This treatment is for anyone with concerns regarding fine lines and wrinkles, scarring and acne scarring, hyperpigmentation, pore size, sun damage, or anyone looking to improve skin tone and texture.

Because the treatment works with the bodies own healing potential, it makes an optimal treatment for anyone who desires natural, gradual change.

Microneedling is preformed after a topical anesthetic is applied, making the procedure very comfortable. The day of the procedure it is normal to have some redness and feel slightly sunburnt. After 12-48 hours, the skin returns to normal. Microneedling has cumulative benefit with the best results seen after 4-6 treatments spaced 3-4 weeks apart. The treatment can be done on its own or augmented by adding platelet rich plasma (PRP) for an even more intensive treatment.

To learn more about microneedling and to decide if this treatment is right for you visit our website at https://www.integratedhealthclinic.com/service/microneedling/ or come in for a consult with one of our medical aesthetics providers.

Dr. Alanna Rinas, ND

IV Suite

Intravenous Therapy - Myers Cocktail 

The "Myers Cocktail" is an intravenous therapy consisting of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. It can be useful in situations where oral nutrients are not absorbing. When nutrients are given intravenously, your digestive system is bypassed and a much higher level of nutrition can be delivered directly to your cells via the bloodstream.

The general effect of a Myers Cocktail intravenous therapy appears to be a marked improvement in the energy capacity and function of cells. The nutrients then kick-start those cells which are performing below par. If your cells can function at their best, it's more likely you can recover from a serious health problem.

People respond differently to intravenous nutrient therapy. Some may only need an occasional Myers Cocktail, while others may need one monthly or even weekly in order to keep their chronic condition under control.

This type of therapy would be especially appropriate for anyone who has digestive problems, including bloating, diarrhea, food allergies, irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn's disease, frequent colds or flus and especially fatigue.

Dr. Karen McGee, ND

From the Cancer Care Center

IHC Research Department Update (July 2024)

Over the past six months, our team has achieved several milestones:

1. REB Approval: We successfully received Research and Ethics Board (REB) approval for our study titled "An Integrative Naturopathic Treatment Model: A Chart Review of Survival Outcomes" from the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine. This is the first and critical step in order to conduct human research.

2. Grant Application: We successfully applied for and were awarded a highly competitive $5,000 grant from the Oncology Association of Naturopathic Physicians (OncANP) for our study. This grant not only provides crucial financial support but also validates the significance and potential impact of our research within the integrative oncology community.

3. Oral Presentation at SIO® 21st International Conference:

   The Society for Integrative Oncology (SIO) International Conference is a premier event in the field of integrative oncology, attracting leading researchers, practitioners, and healthcare professionals from around the world. It serves as a crucial platform for sharing cutting-edge research, innovative treatment modalities, and best practices in the integration of conventional and complementary therapies in cancer care.

   We are thrilled to announce that our paper titled "Integrative Naturopathic Treatment Model for Colorectal Cancer: A Retrospective Study" has been accepted for an oral presentation at the SIO 21st International Conference. The conference will be held at the City of Hope Hospital in Costa Mesa, CA, USA, from October 25 to October 27, 2024. This recognition underscores the significance of our work and its contribution to the advancement of integrative oncology.

4. Data Analysis: We have been analyzing data from stage 4 colorectal cancer survivors and glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) survivors.

   Our analysis involved comparing the colorectal cancer and GBM data with controls sampled from the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database, a de-identified, publicly available database of cancer cases in the United States.

  To ensure robust data analysis in our study, we implemented advanced statistical methodologies. We used a technique called propensity score matching to select control patients from a large cancer database, ensuring they were similar to our treatment group in keyways like age, sex, and treatment history. This method helps balance the groups and reduce biases. We also carefully handled the timing of treatments to avoid immortal time bias (e.g., survival bias), which can skew results. We then compared survival rates using established statistical methods to determine if our treatment had a significant impact. Our approach aims to provide reliable and unbiased results, demonstrating the effectiveness of our integrative naturopathic treatment model.

5. Manuscript Preparation: We have started drafting the introduction and methods sections of our CRC paper and plan to publish in the Integrative Cancer Therapies journal, or another high impact peer-reviewed PubMed-indexed journal.

   Our study revealed promising results for the effectiveness of integrative oncology treatments. We compared two groups of cancer patients: those receiving standard treatments and those receiving integrative oncology care. For the entire group, the median survival time was 18 months for the standard treatment group and 29 months for the integrative oncology group, though this difference was not statistically significant.

   However, when focusing on patients who began integrative oncology treatment within 90 days of diagnosis, we saw more significant results. This subgroup had a 55% lower risk of death compared to the standard treatment group, indicating that early integrative care can significantly improve survival rates. These findings suggest that integrative oncology, especially when started early, may offer substantial benefits in extending the lives of cancer patients.

To further validate our results and interpretations, we are conducting an analysis to compare the subgroup of patients who began integrative oncology treatment within 90 days of diagnosis to those who started their treatment more than 90 days after their diagnosis.

These efforts represent significant progress in our research endeavors, and we are excited about the potential impact of our findings.

Prepared by Sara Izadi, PhD

Research Associate, Integrated Health Clinic, Research Department

Postdoctoral Fellow, BC Cancer

Connect to Our Blog

In The News

You may have heard recently about the addition of HPV testing (at home or in clinic) to improve the access for many people with a cervix to do their cervical cancer screening. This recent change is great for people not wanting to or not able to get their screening done in office with their doctor. This is a great step in increasing access to testing and well as making testing much easier for most.

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden and the University of Innsbruck in Austria have developed an even simpler and more effective screening method for cervical cancer than the methods used today. A comprehensive study published in Nature Medicine shows that the test detects significantly more cancers and precancerous stages. This new molecular test WID-qCIN can automatically analyze changes in the cells that potentially lead to the development of cervical cancer. The researchers analyzed a total of 2,377 samples with the WIN-qCIN test combined with an HPV test. With this combination they were able to detect 100 percent of all invasive cervical cancers and 93 percent of all serious precancerous lesions that occurred within a year of sampling. In addition, the new test, in combination with the HPV test, was able to predict 69 percent of all cancers and precancerous lesions up to six years after the sample was taken. With current screening only about, 18 percent are being identified. If this one day becomes a screening method, it could also greatly decrease the need for more invasive procedures.

In the meantime, it is still incredibly important to get regular cervical cancer screening either with HPV or PAP testing. Your doctor at IHC can help you decide which is the best current method for you.

Dr. Alyssa Fruson, ND

Doctor Favourite Receipes

Cashew Sour Cream Recipe (Dairy Free)

This is for the dairy free gang, who miss having sour cream on their meals!

Ingredients:

2 cups raw cashews or macadamia nuts, soaked for 8 hours

1 Cup Water

1/2 to 1 tsp probiotic powder

Pinch of Sea Salt

Raw apple cider vinegar

Directions:

Place the nuts into a bowl and cover with filtered water, soak for about 8 hours or overnight.  Then drain and rinse.  Place the nuts into a high-powered blender, such as a VitaMix, and add the water.  Puree until ultra smooth, stopping the machine to scrape down the sides if necessary.  It will take a few minutes to do this.  Add a small amount of water if necessary.  Then add the probiotic powder and blend again to incorporate it.

Place a medium-sized fine mesh strainer over a bowl and insert a piece of cheesecloth or a thin, clean dish towel into the strainer.  Pour the sour cream into the towel.  Cover the strainer with the edges of the towel and let sit on your kitchen counter for about 24 hours.  

Finally, stir in a pinch or two of salt and a dash of apple cider vinegar to balance the flavors if necessary. 

Store in your refrigerator in a sealed glass container for up to 10 days 

YIELDS: about 2 cups

Dr. Michelle Willis, ND

Hours of Operation - Fort Langley

Monday & Tuesday - 9:00 am to 5:00 pm

Wednesday - 9:00 am to 7:00 pm

Thursday & Friday - 9:00 am to 5:00 pm

Saturday - 10:00 am to 3:00 pm

Hours of Operation - White Rock

Monday - Friday - 9:00 am to 5:00 pm

Saturday - 10:00 am to 3:00 pm

On Line Follow-up Bookings

For all existing patients, we suggest you take 5 minutes and register below for our online booking platform. This will give you better flexibility to book your appointments 24 hours/ day, 7 days a week at no cost.

Click the registration request link below, on the clinic page click the send registration just below the login button.

Click to Request Registration Link

Give us a call at: 604.888.8325

Or Click Here to Visit Our Website

We care about you. We approach every patient as a unique individual with needs specific to your health. Expect a caring approach from us all. Visit our website to learn more.