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What's Happening at IHC

Happy New Year!

We wish each and every one of you a very Happy New Year, and hope 2023 brings happiness and health to you and your families. The new year typically is a time for new beginnings and for some, new year’s resolutions. Common resolutions include eating better, getting stronger, more fit, and overall healthier. Lifestyle modifications take planning and guidance. No two people have the same path to optimal health. We would love to see you in the clinic for a full health assessment early this year! Give us the chance to help guide you on your path to the best version of yourself. Your health is your wealth, and our doctors are here to help you find your way!!

 
 

Featured Service

CranioSacral Therapy

One way to enhance your health is through hands-on balancing. CranioSacral therapy is a technique rooted in osteopathy. Many people read about it when they get a concussion or have headaches. But what is it?

The process of a basic treatment for the cranium involves assessing each cranial bone and its subtle movement. You are lying on your back in a relaxed position and the technique involves applying gentle, slow pressure. In most cases headaches are already improving by the end of a 30 minute treatment. If you want to explore the power of hands-on medicine, book a 30 minute CranioSacral therapy treatment with Dr. Nicole Duffee, ND. She also sees patients of other NDs at the clinic for this specific treatment as an adjunct to ongoing protocols, and has further training in SomatoEmotional Release.

 
 

From the IV Suite

Intravenous Alpha Lipoic Acid for Painful Diabetic Neuropathy

What Is It?

Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA) is a unique compound in that it is both fat-soluble and water-soluble, this rare characteristic enables ALA to carry out its powerful antioxidant mechanisms in more areas of the body and allows it to easily cross the blood-brain barrier. ALA has many biochemical functions acting as a biological antioxidant, anti-inflammatory properties, metal chelators, reducing the oxidized forms of other antioxidant agents such as vitamin C and E and glutathione, and modulating the signaling transduction of several pathways.

Who Should Use it?

ALA (either intravenous or oral) is commonly used in those who suffer from painful diabetic neuropathy. High blood sugar can increase production of free oxygen radicals and increased levels of these free radicals have been associated with diabetic complications. ALA has been shown to reduce pain, paresthesia (burning or prickling sensation) and numbness compared with placebo infusions because of its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Why do Intravenous vs Oral ALA?

IV ALA can improve neuropathy symptoms when administered for three weeks, but symptom improvement with oral ALA is not clinically significant. This is based on two meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials.

Meta-analysis 1: 4 randomized control trials (N = 653) evaluated the effectiveness of ALA vs. placebo vs oral dosages to reduce symptoms of pre-existing diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Result: intravenous ALA can improve neuropathy symptoms when administered for 3 weeks vs oral dosages

Meta-analysis 2: 15 randomized control trials (N = 1,058) evaluated IV ALA (300 to 600 mg) compared with control vitamins that were given for 14 to 28 days. IV therapy demonstrated greater effectiveness compared with placebo and oral dosages (odds ratio = 4.0; 95% CI, 2.7 to 5.9).

If you are suffering from painful diabetic neuropathy, IV ALA might be the right fit for you!

Dr. Jess Hobson, ND

 

References:

Mijnhout, G. S., Kollen, B. J., Alkhalaf, A., Kleefstra, N., & Bilo, H. J. (2012). Alpha lipoic Acid for symptomatic peripheral neuropathy in patients with diabetes: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. International journal of endocrinology, 2012, 456279. https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/456279

Han, T., Bai, J., Liu, W., & Hu, Y. (2012). A systematic review and meta-analysis of α-lipoic acid in the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy. European journal of endocrinology, 167(4), 465–471. https://doi.org/10.1530/EJE-12-0555

 
 

From the Cancer Care Centre

The Entire Spectrum, From Prevention & Screening to Active Treatment & Survivorship

As it is the beginning of a new year, I will take the opportunity to re-introduce our readers to what exactly it is that we do here at the IHC Cancer Care Centre.

Our team provides an incredible breadth of services for those of you hoping to start a cancer screening program. Let’s start with one of the most important medical interventions possible, that is really no longer being offered in the medical system as we know it, a complete annual physical examination. Yes, this includes a head to toe examination including cancer screening specifics such as pap smears, digital rectal, breast, and full skin examinations. In addition to this, we refer our patients for mammograms, ultrasounds, MRI’s, thermal imaging, and other imaging techniques. With accounts with over 80 laboratories from around the world, we make available essentially every laboratory test in the marketplace.

When we see patients with a strong family history of cancers, or simply when a patient prioritizes a cancer prevention plan, we help our patients navigate the historical and evidence-informed cancer prevention strategies. From lifestyle management, mind-body work, nutrition, exercise, nutraceuticals and in some cases, pharmaceuticals – we help tailor patient-specific cancer and chronic disease prevention plans.

For those patients that come to us with a cancer worry, we assist in the work-up towards a definitive diagnosis, including in some cases, a biopsy. For those that come with a diagnosis, we assist with preparation for treatment, co-management, to side effect management. We focus our efforts on improving our patients’ quality of life, as well as overall survival.

Lastly, for those patients that have been through a cancer diagnosis and its required treatments, we assist in picking up the pieces, designing regular, thorough and appropriate surveillance plans. All the while, working towards physical, mental, and emotional recovery from this often traumatic experience. Having walked this path with thousands and thousands of people living with cancer, we can provide light where the path seems uncertain. We provide knowledge and understanding when you feel uncertain. We provide the information required to make informed decisions. Partner with our doctors and learn how best to manage your cancer journey within a supportive and integrative model.

As always, in addition to all of this fundamental care we provide our cancer patients, we have many new and exciting things on the go here at the IHC CCC. We have our 4th naturopathic oncology resident Dr. Sarah Denotter, ND with us. We are working on publishing our 10-year data on 10 different cancer types, with the glioblastoma multiforme paper being first in line. We are also putting together a complete course on naturopathic and integrative palliative care in which we review the best practices and management of the 26 most common symptoms and side effects in the oncology setting. Lastly, Sarah Denotter is assisting me with the early stages of writing the Second Edition of the Textbook of Naturopathic Oncology: A Desktop Guide of Integrative Cancer Care. The first edition has now sold thousands of copies across every continent (except Antarctica sadly), and has quickly become the go-to reference textbook in the fields of naturopathic and integrative oncology.

We look forward to another great year of working with the most incredibly brave and inspirational people living with cancer. We also hope to continue to see more and more who want to engage in screening and prevention plans. Thank you all for entrusting us with your healthcare.

Yours,

Dr. Gurdev Parmar, ND, FABNO(USA)

Founder & Medical Director

Integrated Health Clinic Cancer Care Centre

 
 

In The News

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

With winter in full swing, solutions for seasonal affective disorder (SAD) are commonly being highlighted in the news. Exercise, light therapy, and cognitive behavioural therapy are safe, non-invasive, and accessible interventions with abundant research backing their use. Low vitamin D is associated with an increased risk of developing seasonal affective disorder and supplementation may be useful if deficiency is present.

The naturopathic doctors at the IHC are well-positioned to diagnose and treat SAD at the level of the individual through targeted testing, specific dietary and lifestyle changes, supplementation, and pharmaceutical intervention if indicated.

For more information on SAD, see below.

https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2020/1201/p668.html

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20364651

Dr. Sarah Soles, ND

 
 

Connect to Our Blog

The Right Nutritional Path

This blog is not about dieting but rather focused on giving insight on how to easily incorporate better nutrition into your lifestyle.

Dr. Erin Rurak, ND

Click to Read Full Blog Post

 
 

Doctor Favourite Receipes

Vegan Cheesecake Bars

Adapted from Minimalist Bake (https://minimalistbaker.com/apple-butter-cheesecake-bars-vegan-gf/)

Ingredients

Crust

1 heaping cup of rolled oats

1 heaping cup raw almonds

¼ tsp of sea salt

2 Tbsp maple syrup

4-5 tbsp coconut oil (melted)

 

Filling

1 cup raw cashews

1 cup coconut cream

1 ½ Tbsp arrowroot or cornstarch

2 tsp lemon zest

3 Tbsp lemon juice

¼ cup maple syrup (plus more to taste)

½ tsp ground cinnamon

Pinch of sea salt

 

Instructions

Add raw cashews to a glass measuring cup or mixing bowl and cover with boiling water. Let it sit for 30minutes- 1 hour uncovered to allows cashews to soften. Drain thoroughly.

Preheat oven to 350F and line a 8” by 8” baking dish with parchment paper.

Add oats, almonds, sea salt to a high-speed blender or food processor and mix until a fine meal is achieved.

Transfer almond mixture to a medium mixing bowl and add maple syrup and melted coconut oil. Stir with a spoon to combine until a loose dough is formed that does not crumble when squeezed. If too dry, add more melted coconut oil.

Transfer to the parchment-lined baking pan and press down firmly on mixture so it is evenly distributed and well packed.

Bake for 20 minutes or until the edges are golden brown and there is some browning on the surface. Remove from oven to cool slightly while you create the filling.

Once cashews are soaked and drained, add to a high-speed blending or food processor with coconut cream, arrowroot starch (or cornstarch), lemon zest, lemon juice, maple syrup and cinnamon. Blend until very creaming and smooth. Taste and adjust flavor with lemon and maple syrup as you see fit.

Pour all of the cheesecake filling on top of the crust and spread evenly. Tap on counter to remove any air bubbles.

Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the edges are slightly dry and the center appears ‘jiggly’ but not liquid. It will be a little golden brown on the top.

Let rest for 10 minutes then cover and transfer to refrigerator to chill for 6-8 hours (or overnight) to completely set.

Slice evenly into bars and serve. Store leftovers in the refrigerator (covered).

 

Optional Add-ons (but they’re just as delicious without!)

Swirl: Add a layer of apple or pumpkin butter (in photo- approximately ¼ cup) to the crust before pouring the cheesecake filling on top. Additionally, before baking, blotch add 6-8 tbsp of apple or pumpkin butter on top of filling and use a toothpick or knife to create a swirled effect.

Crumble: Combine 2 Tbsp rolled oats, 3 tbsp almond flour, ½ tsp coconut oil (melted), 2-3 tsp maple syrup and a pinch of sea salt until a crumble forms. Sprinkle evenly over the cheesecake and bake.

Dr. Sarah Denotter, 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.