In Chinese medicine, the adrenals are called “The Root of Life”. They function as batteries which store our life energy and are also responsible for our immunological resilience. When undisturbed by stress, the adrenal glands secrete minute, yet precise and balanced quantities of cortisol in response to every day changes in our circuitry. Cortisol affects all the major physiological processes in our bodies – the utilization of carbohydrates and fats, regulation of blood sugar levels, maintenance of blood pressure, and the production of sex hormones. In general, how well we feel really depends on how well these glands are functioning.

Any number of factors can interfere with the finely tuned balance of adrenal hormone production and can lead to an increased output of adrenal hormones, or adrenal fatigue. It’s estimated the up to 80% of adult Americans suffer some level of adrenal fatigue at some time during their life; yet, it continues to remain one of the most under-diagnosed conditions.

Adrenal fatigue is caused by everyday stress in all forms – whether it is physical, mental, emotional, or even environmental. Stresses such as illness, poor diet, environmental toxicity, financial stress, relationship issues, and work-related pressure have a cumulative effect on adrenal gland function. The body responds to all of these stressful events in the same manner – by secreting adrenal hormones. The repetitive cycle of stress causing adrenal hormone secretion eventually leads to depletion of our adrenals. We begin to suffer from reduced output and fatigue.

Adrenal fatigue is a collection of symptoms, some of which include: low energy, a general sense of feeling unwell, reduced libido, ringing in the ears, increased premenstrual symptoms, subfertility, decreased immunity, and insomnia. People with poor functioning adrenal glands may not have obvious signs of illness, yet live feeling unwell, often using coffee and other stimulants to get through the day.

Poor adrenal function can lay the foundation of other more serious illnesses such as: fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, type II diabetes, and auto-immune disorders. Adrenal fatigue can be difficult to recognize, because a lot of times our bodies don’t “tell” us we are under stress. We have an incredible capacity to rise to the occasion without even realizing what pressure we are putting ourselves under.

Anyone is susceptible to stress, but some primary components leading to adrenal fatigue are: lack of sleep, increased stress of any type, poor foods choices, using foods and drinks as stimulants when tired, lack of rest and rejuvenating activities. Poor adrenal function can even begin at birth – children born to mothers already suffering from adrenal fatigue or who experience stress in the womb typically have lower adrenal function.

If you think you are suffering form adrenal fatigue, there are several things you can do to support adrenal gland function:
1-Limiting stress. Recognize and make every effort to reduce stressful situations and people who create stress in your life. These are very depleting forces which will make it hard for you to recover optimal adrenal gland function no matter how good you treat yourself.
2-Rhythm. Getting minimum of 8 hours of sleep at night, getting to bed as early as possible, and retiring and waking at approximately the same time daily (give or take 30-60 min). This helps to establish a more optimal circadian rhythm, and supports the pineal gland’s production of melatonin, both of which are essential for optimal functioning of our endocrine system. The pineal gland produces twice as much melatonin before midnight so sleep is that much more restful and restorative at this time.
3-Quit caffeine and other stimulants (including sugar). Caffeine causes a surge of cortisol 10-20x that of normal levels and as a result puts a strain on our adrenal glands.
4-Adequate protein intake throughout the day to stabilize blood sugar. A diet high in refined carbs and sugar causes wide sugar fluctuations which our adrenal glands have to compensate for.
5-Exercise. Regularly participating in an enjoyable form of exercise will not only increase energy level, but will help to improve cellular function by accelerating exchange of nutrients and oxygen and will normalizes level of various hormones including cortisol, insulin, glucose and thyroid levels.

Recent studies are showing that gluten intolerance affects approximately 15% of the US population. Gluten is commonly found in a lot of our every day foods—grains such as wheat, rye, barley, some oats, deli meats, frozen/processed fruits and vegetables, and most foods prepared with breading. Gluten can also be ‘hidden’ in over the counter skin care and beauty products.

When discussing gluten intolerance, Celiac disease often gets mentioned along with it. These two diagnoses do not necessarily go hand in hand and actually have a few fundamental differences. While celiac disease is an immune reaction that can involve a severe and sudden allergic reaction, gluten intolerance has a much slower onset.

The benefits of going gluten free are numerous, and more and more people are choosing to go gluten-free. They report increased energy levels, improved digestion, better skin, reduced joint pain and better immune system function. If you are sensitive to gluten, going gluten-free will go a long way in boosting your vitality and preventing all sorts of chronic illness.

Can’t remember where you left your keys or iphone?  Has your word recall been a bit lacking recently, and your short term memory fuzzy?  These are early signs of neurodegeneration – loss of function of brain cell neurons, including the DEATH of neurons that leads to impaired cognitive function.

Cognitive decline is an extremely common phenomenon these days.  Neurotoxicity, impaired cellular energy production (remember the Kreb’s cycle in high school biology?) viral infections and key nutrient deficiencies can all play a role in influencing brain health.

Sound scary?  It’s really never too late to turn things around! Providing your nervous system with the right nutrients – such as flavonoids and essential fatty acids, doing seasonal cleanses, de-stressing and working on hormone balance can all help to clear the cobwebs in your noggin.

One heavy-hitting nutritional approaches involves consuming coconut oil. Coconut oil contains medium chain triglycerides which are a superb brain fuel.  They break down into ketones, which in addition to counteracting sugar highs and lows, are readily available  brain food. Check out this fab recipe to get your brain boost.

Curious for more information on how to re-gain your mental clarity and optimize your moods?  Join us for a teleseminar on how to boost your brain.

Allergies are a hypersensitivity reaction resulting from an imbalanced immune system.   Instead of differentiating effectively between threatening and non-threatening proteins, an allergy sufferer’s immune system creates an abundance of antibodies against benign substances – grasses, leaves, pollens, molds, and dust.  They are left sniffling, sneezing, with watery eyes, itchy skin or just feeling plain lousy.

Conventional treatments for allergies include: decongestants, anti-histamines, and allergy shots. These may offer temporary relief, but do not solve the underlying problem as the body’s immune system continues to be impaired.

Naturopathic treatments offer immediate symptom relief, and more importantly, a strategy for correcting the underlying immune system imbalance. Restoring health to our digestive system is a key starting point for re-establishing a balanced immune system, as 80% of our immune cells originate in the gut. Eliminating sugar and allergenic foods (commonly – dairy, gluten, soy, corn) is the first step to head off allergies this spring.

On the supplement front – vitamin C and quercitin both help to stabilize the white blood cells that attract histamine.  When taken early on, they can be an effective preventative approach.  I have found that over the years allergies have intensified, and I have had to search for new remedies annually to keep up.  This year I decided to create a teleseminar to support you in avoiding allergies this spring.

Sign up to learn effective strategies for prevention and treatment of allergies

Stephanie recently interviewed me to get the low down on healing with naturopathic medicine.  She even got on my massage table to experience craniosacral therapy for the first time.  What a fun collaboration it has been!

~Natural treatment for Summer Skin Scares~

Insect bites

• I found out about this tip on accident.  I noticed that a dime-sized, bright red, itchy and swollen insect bite on my leg was nearly gone – after taking an Epsom salt bath.   I like a therapeutic level of Epsom salts and typically use 2-3 cups.  Epsom salts are high in magnesium and most people are deficient these days – so it’s not only a great way to restore your levels, but it also reduces muscle tension, edema, has a detoxifying effect, and is one of the best ways to de-stress before bed.
• Don’t have a bath tub?  Soak a wash cloth in hot water in your sink with 1 cup of salts, use as a compress over swollen bites – use in 3-5 min intervals until wash cloth cools then repeat several times.
• Also try – homeopathic Apis mellifica 30 C– 3-5 pellets every few hours to take out the inflammation (stop once you experience improvement), and topical traumeel cream
• Oh and topical Neem oil is nature’s best bug repellent!

Sunburn

• Take a neutral temperature bath with one or more of the following ingredients to help soothe inflamed skin:  baking soda, oatmeal, apple cider vinegar (about 1-2 cups each).
  Aloe vera gel is one of the best topical treatments for sunburn, but you want to use it after the hot phase is over, otherwise it can trap in the heat of a burn.  It has a cooling and hydrating effect.
• Also try: homeopathic calendula 30 C orally and topically as a cream for some relief.

Heat rash

Heat rash or prickly heat happens when the body is inefficient at sweating, or when the sweat glands become become clogged as can happen in hot humid climates.  Heat rash typically goes away on it’s own, but here are a few suggestions to provide some relief:

• Cool bath followed by a dusting of baking soda or powdered oatmeal – stay away from creams and ointments which can clog pores.
• Cool chammomile compresses – make some chammomile tea, and let it cool, use a cloth to soak up the cooled tea, and apply topically to affected areas. You can also use the cool tea bag as a compress.
• Homeopathic urtica urens 30C – 3-5 pellets every couple of hours, stop remedy when symptoms resolve.

With all the medications, refined foods, additives, alcohol, pesticides and other chemicals we are exposed to in the environment, and in our homes, our body’s natural ability to adapt and detox can very easily become overwhelmed.

Nutritional detoxification is a mainstay of Dr. Marie’s practice.  Regular periods of detox can  greatly reduce our risk of chronic disease.  It also has the immediate health benefits of: improved vitality, better digestion, weight loss, decreased allergies, stronger immunity, and mental clarity.  Join Dr. Marie Rodriguez and for a  *free* teleconference to learn more about this therapeutic practice and how you can get safely started on one to boost your vitality and kick start your health.

Click here to listen to a *free* recording of the teleconference

Cortisol affects all the major physiological processes in our bodies – the utilization of carbohydrates and fats, regulation of blood sugar levels, maintenance of blood pressure, and the production of sex hormones. In general, how well we feel really depends on how well these glands are functioning.

Any number of factors can interfere with the finely tuned balance of adrenal hormone production and can lead to adrenal fatigue. It’s estimated the up to 80% of adult Americans suffer some level of adrenal fatigue at some time during their life; yet, it continues to remain one of the most under-diagnosed conditions.  Adrenal fatigue is a collection of symptoms, some of which include: low energy, a general sense of feeling unwell, reduced libido, ringing in the ears, increased premenstrual symptoms, subfertility, decreased immunity, and insomnia. People with poor functioning adrenal glands may not have obvious signs of illness, yet live feeling unwell, often using coffee and other stimulants to get through the day.

If you think you are suffering form adrenal fatigue, and are interested in learning some supportive measures, listen to this *free* audio recording about optimizing adrenal health.

What most people aren’t aware of is that the overwhelming majority of hypothyroid cases are due to an auto-immune condition called Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.  In this condition, the immune system creates antibodies against thyroid tissue and it’s hormone producing enzymes.  This condition is under-diagnosed because the medical community does not routinely test for the antibodies involved — most likely because treatment for low thyroid is the same whether or not one has Hashimoto’s.

While optimizing thyroid hormone levels is crucial for overall metabolic function, if one is suffering from auto-immune thyroid illness, managing the immune response is of critical importance.  Over 50% of those with Hashimoto’s also have auto-antibodies against other tissues and organs: cartilage, intestines, myelin, etc.  A comprehensive naturopathic approach is needed to prevent the smoldering immune destruction of these various organ systems.  Customized nutrition with an emphasis on avoidance of food sensitivities helps to quell the imbalanced immune response.  The current medical literature highlights the link between gluten intolerance and auto-immune  illnesses – going gluten-free could be an important dietary decision that helps to heal your thyroid for the longer term.

For more information about thyroid function and a comprehensive look at creating optimal thyroid health, listen to this recording.

One in three people are estimated to have at
least one type of cardiovascular disease today.

February is heart-health month – so let’s highlight some important heart-healthy preventative practices to keep you from being One of the Three!

First, we all know that exercise is critical for cardiovascular health. The American Heart Association recommends 75 minutes weekly of vigorous physical activity (defined as being ‘too out of breath’ to carry on a conversation) or 150 minutes weekly of moderate exercise. There’s now a new slant on things – a new study by the European Heart Journal shows that taking more frequent breaks from sitting also reduces the negative effects of a sedentary lifestyle (elevated triglycerides, inflammation, lowered ‘good’ cholesterol). Consider breaking up the monotony of sitting by walking to your co-worker’s desk instead of emailing them, exiting the bus or metro a stop earlier, taking phone calls standing up.

On the nutrition front, incorporating berries (especially blueberries and strawberries) into your diet is a heart-wise choice. Berries contain bioflavonoids called anthocyanins which promote blood vessel health and reduce blood pressure. The berries are proposed to act via the NO pathway – nitric oxide dilates and relaxes blood vessels, thereby easing blood pressure.

Adding 1 cup of blueberries daily will provide you with these bioflavonoids. For added support, check out Vineyard blend by Juice Plus – it offers the phytonutrients of 9 different berries and research shows it improves vascular resistance to meals containing saturated fats.

Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, consider how your emotions and response to stress influence your heart’s health. Witness any tension held in the chest and shoulders – stress and negative thought patterns affect circulation and neurotransmission. An inability to unwind and let go of these burdens can positively impacts cardiac health.

Deep breathing, laughter and gratitude practices ease tension and fill the heart with the positive experience of joy. This not only releases healing endorphins, but according to the Institute of Heart Math, radiates outward like radio waves that are detected by the nervous systems of others in our environment.

May you take a rigorous walk at lunch today, eat a cup of blueberries
and deeply breathe, laugh and enjoy life!

In health,

Dr. Marie