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What's Happening at IHC

The MENOPAUSE TRANSITION - IHC Virtual Educational Series

FREE & Limited spots!  Email info@integratedhealthclinic.com to reserve your space.

 

April 5th 6:30-7:30 pm (via zoom), hosted by Dr. Erin Rurak ND, NCMP

Hot flashes, mood swings, sleeplessness, a reduction in libido, and pain during sex are just some of the symptoms that women may experience during the menopause transition. It’s a transition that all women will face. Unfortunately, many women go through this life phase with little more than the occasional complaint to close friends and family - many whom advise to grin and bear it - and late-night internet dives.

Dr. Erin Rurak, ND, an experienced doctor certified as a North American Menopause Practitioner, will help shed light on the menopause transition, and insights on how best to manage the many symptoms experienced. Wear some comfy clothes, bundle up on your own couch and have a cup of tea ready, as we will end the discussion with an open question and answer period. What an opportunity! This is intended to be the first in an ongoing IHC Virtual Educational Series.

Again, to reserve your space, email info@integratedhealthclinic.com and type MENOPAUSE TALK in the subject line.

 

On line booking registration!

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. This link is good for 3 weeks, and a new link will be issued each newsletter.

Click to Register

 
 

Featured Service

New or chronic pain keeping you from activity?Do you know about regenerative injection therapies?

Regenerative Medicine, also known as Orthobiologics, uses an injected solution to help promote the body’s innate ability to heal. Injection of growth factors or growth factor stimulants can result in growth of normal cells or tissues, stabilization of joints, and the reduction or elimination of pain. Most importantly, these procedures improve function of your injured or degenerative tendon, ligament, and/or joint!

Here at the Integrated Health Clinic, we offer a variety of regenerative injections that could help you in your pain journey, one of which is Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy.

PRP is a well-established injection series and is gaining popularity among high school, collegiate, and professional athletes, to more rapidly return them to competition, and potentially avoid the need for surgery . Many world-class athletes utilize PRP to treat both acute and chronic injuries with amazing results. In addition, PRP has been found to be beneficial in relieving pain and improving function in people with arthritis.

Platelets, a component of blood, are thought to be responsible for the beneficial effect of PRP through the release of various growth factors. These growth factors can aid in the growth of new tissue, new bone, new blood vessels, and many other natural healing properties of your own body.

PRP involves removing a small amount of your blood and spinning it down with a special centrifuge to concentrate the growth factors, then injecting those back into the area of concern. Here at Integrated Health Clinic, we are proud to offer one of the best PRP machines on the market, the Arthrex Angel System which is widely used as the standard in current literature. Additionally, all treatments are done with ultrasound-guided injections, to assure optimal accuracy and safety.

Ask one of our chronic pain doctors about PRP to see if it is the right fit for you!

Dr. Jess Hobson, ND

 
 

From the IV Suite

PLAQUEX

PLAQUEX - is Phosphotidyl Choline (PC) administered by IV over 60-90 minutes. It is administered in a series of IV treatments ultimately aimed at decreasing the fatty plaques that settle in arteries as we age, leading to atherosclerosis.

PC is found in the cell membranes of every cell in the body. Cell membranes consist of a double layer of PC molecules. As we age, the PC in the cell membranes become damaged by the myriad of inevitable free radical-inducing exposures in today’s world, including; environmental toxins, heavy metals, smoking, excessive alcohol, hypertension, high blood sugar, high levels of stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenalin, and many more.

As we age, the body is less able to produce adequate levels of PC to repair such damage. Consequences of PC damage include atherosclerotic disease, cardiovascular disease with plaque deposits, and chronic liver damage, kidney damage, and brain damage.

Plaquex is used all over the world and has been studied since the 1950s. Its main clinical application is atherosclerosis treatment, and is also recommended for patients suffering specifically from angina pectoris and intermittent claudication (which causes leg pain while walking).

Because of its effect on the liver and the kidneys, it is also used to improve the function of both these organs. An added benefit is improvement in skin texture and helping to create a more youthful appearance.

If you think PlaqueX may be a good treatment option for you, email info@integratedhealthclinic.com to request a new patient booking with one of our experienced naturopathic doctors.

 
 

From the Lab

LAB TESTING

Food Hypersensitivities

Do you have always have a ‘weird’ symptom or set of symptoms in your guts, but you can’t quite correlate what it is from? Have you ever considered that something you’re eating all the time could be making you feel ‘off’?

When we eat, the body creates an immune response to the proteins in the food. These are called IgG antibodies. Sometimes, and due to many potential factors, the IgG antibodies can have an abnormally large response to specific foods and create a full-body inflammatory reaction. However, this response is often delayed for hours to days after eating the offending food, making it very difficult to determine which food is the culprit. This is different than a food allergy (IgE) to something such as peanuts, where the body’s response is immediate and more severe.

Some possible symptoms of IgG-related food hypersensitivities may include:

  • Bloating
  • Congestion and nasal drip
  • Fatigue
  • Brain fog/difficulty concentrating
  • Headaches
  • Muscle/joint aches
  • Headaches
  • Skin rashes or acne
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Mood swings
  • Eczema
  • Weight changes
  • And others

One method to assess if your body is over-reacting to a specific food is through IgG food sensitivity testing. At IHC, we offer IgG food sensitivity testing through multiple laboratories. Talk to your doctor at IHC about which testing methodology and laboratory may be right for you, as each company has a different variety of panels assessing a wide range of foods. After testing is completed (typically a blood test), you will review the report with your doctor that identifies the bothersome foods and how to implement any changes in your dietary life.

Labs we offer food sensitivity testing through:

  • Rocky Mountain Analytical
  • Meridian Valley Lab
  • US BioTek

Dr. Sarah Denotter, ND

IHC Oncology Resident of Dr. G. Parmar

 
 

From the Cancer Care Centre

Treatment Options

Question: What treatment options does the IHC CCC provide patients living with cancer?

Answer: A TON, including:

  1. Time. In-depth consultations able to review all of your medical records, all of your treatments, all of your symptoms, and then provide an integrative, evidence-informed, holistic approach to care.
  2. Expert knowledge of all naturopathic therapies including nutritional counselling, nutraceuticals, botanicals, acupuncture, repurposed drugs, etc.
  3. Expert knowledge of what natural therapies are safe or not, with chemotherapeutic, targeted, immunotherapeutic, radiological, and other conventional therapies.
  4. Loco-Regional Hyperthermia
  5. Fever-Range Whole Body Hyperthermia
  6. Mistletoe therapy
  7. IV Vitamin C
  8. IV Alpha-Lipoic Acid
  9. IV Nutrition (vitamins, minerals, amino acids)
  10. IV Ozone and UVB
  11. Full prescribing authority for pharmaceuticals
  12. Pain management
  13. Vaccinations

All our patients will tell you that the value of being a patient of the IHC CCC is not only access to all of these varied treatment options, but the unique type of care provided. People living with cancer are looking for a provider that will act as their “quarterback”, someone that can help them navigate the confusing and often conflicting world of cancer treatment. They want and need someone knowledgeable in all facets of standard cancer care, from the biology and pathology, to all the treatments including surgery, medical oncology, and radiation oncology. But one step further, they want and need a provider that is also knowledgeable in the safe and judicious integration of naturopathic treatments. Someone that can help navigate which treatments may be safe and effective, and which are not.

Our team of experienced cancer-focused naturopathic doctors in the CCC include myself, Dr. Sarah Soles, Dr. Erin Rurak, Dr. Alanna Rinas, and our new resident Dr. Saran Denotter. Check out each of their videos and bios on our website.

Dr. Gurdev Parmar - CLICK HERE

Dr. Sarah Soles - CLICK HERE

DR. Erin Rurak - CLICK HERE

Dr. Alana Rinas - CLICK HERE

Yours in health,

Dr. Gurdev Parmar, ND, FABNO(USA)

 
 

In The News

Women's Unnecessary Suffering

The New York Times Magazine published an excellent article on menopause in February 2023. The article highlighted the medical pitfalls that exist in women’s health care related to the menopause transition. All women will enter menopause at some time in their life and most women will have a period of impact, be it hot flashes, mood swings, sleeplessness, reduced libido, urinary tract infections, or weight gain. Very few women however get the care necessary to best manage this life transition.

Reasons for this lack of care is multifaceted and complex. There is little to no training in medical schools regarding menopause. Menopausal hormone therapy garnered a bad reputation in the early 2000s leading patients and some doctors weary of treating menopause. Some women remain under the impression that because menopause is a natural transition that seeking help from a doctor is not necessary.

Over the last 20 years, further and better research has been carried out to better understand the impacts of hormone supplementation during the menopause transition. It is now clear that menopausal hormone therapy remains a safe and highly effective way to treat menopausal symptoms for women aged less than 60 years of age. Not only do these hormones ease hot flashes, sleep disruption, mood disturbances, and joint pains, there is also great evidence to show that menopausal hormone therapy helps reduce the onset of osteoporosis and type 2 diabetes.

Like most medicines, there are some risks associated with menopausal hormone therapy and this treatment approach is not suitable for all women. The risk of harm associated with hormones remain low and include an increased breast cancer and blood clots. For example, the risk of having breast cancer for women in between the ages of 50 and 60 is 2.33%. When women in this age group take hormones, their risk increases to 2.94%. The risk of developing a blot clot is similar to the risk of taking oral contraceptive pills or being pregnant.

For decades up until present, many women are facing unnecessary suffering during this life transition. With the proper knowledge and support, women should be able to continue to thrive during this life transition. Never settle for anything less than the best version of yourself. Life happens to throw inevitable curveballs but this is a curveball for women that can be well managed and treated.

Dr. Erin Rurak, ND, NCMP

Dr. Rurak is a certified menopause practitioner with the North American Menopause Society

Link to Full Article

 
 

Connect to Our Blog

Have a little fun while healing!

How can you channel more joy into your health? In the current problem-based health care model – we seek out problems and then try to solve them.

Dr. Nicole Duffee, ND

Click to Read Full Blog Post

 
 

Doctor Favourite Receipes

Creamy Garlic Dressing

This dressing is an easy way to increase your olive oil, garlic, and apple cider vinegar consumption to support cardiovascular, digestive, and immune health. Use it as a salad dressing, marinade, or topping for cooked vegetables, grains (quinoa, rice, etc.), and Buddha bowls.

Ingredients:

½ cup extra virgin olive oil

¼ cup raw apple cider vinegar

3-5 cloves of garlic

3 tbsp lemon juice

2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley (or 1 tsp dried)

½ tbsp honey

½ tsp salt

½ tsp Dijon mustard

Fresh ground black pepper, to taste

Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Store in the fridge for up to 1 month for future use. The dressing will become thick and may separate at cold temperatures, so remove from the fridge ~ 15 min prior to use, stir, and enjoy!

Dr. Sarah Soles, 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

NEW - Saturday - 10:00 am to 3:00 pm

 
 

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.