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Women's Health

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Candida • Pregnancy • Breast Health • Hormones

Candida

Q: "Dr Barnes in LA recommended me to you as I have recently moved to the area.

The past few weeks I have felt 'normal', but from early/mid January until a few weeks ago I was constantly sick (throat infections, flu, fatigue, low energy, depression). It's been really hard because every doctor says a different thing. The MD said it was probably mono, Barnes said it's candida, the chinese doctor said it's something else.

I am a grad student and don't have the funds to keep running around to different doctors to get information. Do you think you can help me? Do my symptoms sound like candida?"

A: Your symptoms indicate you had a depressed immune system. But what is the reason for that? This needs exploration. It can be from an opportunistic infection like Candida, but why do you have that? Are your hormones working? Digestion? Elimination? Liver function? Sleep? Do you have a heavy metal burden? Are you eating foods that are not right for you? Is the environment you are living in toxic to you mentally, emotionally, chemically or because of microorganisms like mold? These are some things to consider.

Doctors are like detectives. I have a very broad perspective and I'm sure I can help you. It's not always easy or fast but sometimes it is.

I'm sorry I can't be more specific. There are just too many possibilities to consider.

I wish you all the best in your quest for health. I know it can be confusing and disheartening sometimes but its worth the quest.

Q: "I recently found out that I had food sensitivities and because of them and a possible candida problem this is where I figured most of my problems had started. Anyway, I read your book and now lent it to my friend to read, I started the Yerba Prima Cleanse and having a hard time with eliminating the certain foods but I am trying. My biggest concern is my libido is blah!! I'm 27 recently married and my husband feels that he is not satisfying me but the problem is just getting excited and lubrication. Please help."

A: Your food sensitivity and candida problem may have little to do with your libido. Its more likely an imbalance of your hormones. Estrogen, progesterone and testosterone are the major players here. The best way to diagnose a hormone imbalance is with saliva hormone testing. You may do that through our office or with your local health care provider. Please contact us at 510-526-6657 to set up an appointment to coach you on this important test, if you choose to work with us.

Another way to get an idea of what's happening with your hormones is to visit Your Menopause Type. (Although you are not near menopause age, it will help you to evaluate your hormone balance.) Click on the test and review their recommendations based on your responses.

Lubrication is generally a problem of low levels of estrogen. Some nutrients that can help with estrogen balance are red clover, black cohosh and soy isoflavones and/or foods.

Libido is generally a testosterone insufficiency. If fatigue is at all connected with your inability to get excited working to support your adrenal glands will help. The adrenal glands produce a hormone called DHEA that is a precursor to testosterone. Work to support your adrenal glands with moderate exercise, stress management techniques, ashwaganda (an ayurvedic herb especially good for women), licorice, and ginseng.

For more information on stress management, visit About Dr Berry.

If your hormones check out OK you might try some taoist/tantric sexual exercises either with your husband or solo. I recommend the books of Mantak Chia on this subject.

Pregnancy

Q: "My chiropractor told me it was safe to take collinsonia root by Standard Process during my pregnancy for varicose veins. Can you confirm this? Are there any side effects that I should be aware of that may occur to the baby?"

A: Collinsonia is a vascular astringent meaning it contracts blood vessels. It is not a product I would recommend for my pregnant patients since the fetus is dependent on good blood flow from you to nourish its normal growth and development. Perhaps you should contact Standard Process directly to get their opinion, they probably have an 800 number you can get from the 800 operator and most likely a web page as well. Best of luck to you and your developing child.

Q: "My wife is pregnant with her first child. Quite often at night she wakes up in severe pain. She gets really bad cramps in her legs, mainly her calves. We have tried the old tale about eating bananas and other fruit before bed. It doesn't seem to help. Do you have any ideas? I would really appreciate a response regarding this problem. Thanks for your time."

A: Your wife may be deficient in Calcium; an amino acid chelate is the best kind to take or microcrystalline hydroxyapatite. There may be a lack of vitamin E. Taking the gamma and alpha tocopherols is beneficial and available in a Metagenics product called E 1:1. There may be a structural problem in your wife's hips, pelvis or feet. I would recommend seeing a chiropractor who has experience adjusting pregnant women, and recommending nutritional support.

Breast Health

Q: "There are so many women with breast cancer in the San Francisco Bay area. I don't want to move. What can I do to protect myself?"

A: Look at what you eat and drink, and the poisons in your environment. Reduce or eliminate commercially grown animal products (meat, dairy, eggs, poultry skin) from your diet. Their fat is known to increase risk of both cancer and heart disease. Increase soy products (be careful if you have a thyroid problem), fiber, fruits and vegetables for their cancer protective effects. Stop eating from cans. In the US, 80% of cans are lined with a plastic that is known to cause a 29% increase in breast cancer cell growth.

Don't put plastic in the dishwasher or microwave. Plastics are hormone disruptors. Read my book, Internal Cleansing, Prima Health, to identify sources of toxins in your environment and learn ways to clean up the mess that's already been made inside your body.

Considering scientific evidence, if it were me, I would get off the synthetic hormone replacement therapy and investigate natural hormone replacement with your health care practitioner.

Stop drinking alcohol, especially if you take synthetic hormone replacement therapy. Alcohol increases your risk of developing breast cancer by 60%.

Hormones

Q: "I am 28 yrs old. I am not sure what is going on with me. I have not had my period in 2 months. I run almost every morning, and eat pretty well. I feel like I am constantly in the pms stage and have felt this way for the past 2 months. I am tired all the time. I have put on weight, and even with the exercise, I can not seem to drop the weight. My brain freezes up and I forget what I am doing some times. My skin has started breaking out and I am afraid I might have a hormonal imbalance. A friend of mine told me to have blood work done to have it checked, but before that, I wanted to see if there is a natural way of healing or repairing what ever is going on. When I told my friend my symptoms, she said the same thing happened to her and she had a hormonal imbalace. What should I do? I don't like taking any meds. If there is a natural approach, please let me know."

A: You have a complex problem and probably need the help of a nutritionally trained healthcare provider to make you whole again.

That said, you could try to do the Renew Internal Cleansing system described in my book, Internal Cleansing, Prima Health, 2000, Chapter 9, as a first step. The liver is responsible for clearing hormones, and your bowel needs to be functioning optimally (at least one bowel movement per day) to keep your hormones well balanced. The Renew program of cleansing is inexpensive, easy, short term and fits into any lifestyle and dietary program that you now follow. It's available through health food stores or through my office.

I don't think you'll be happy with the medical approach to your problems. Blood levels of hormones are said to be irrelevant by researchers in the field. Most doctors only know how to deal with blood tests for hormones. More accurately, you would need to do saliva testing of your hormones. With your symptoms of PMS and no period for 2 months, it's likely that you're deficient in the hormone progesterone. But with your acne, it's also likely that your liver isn't functioning properly to correctly metabolize your hormones. It would be dangerous for you to take synthetic hormones, which are what medical doctors usually recommend, with a poorly functioning liver.

If you need further assistance, I would be happy to coach you on an individual basis. Many people work with me long distance via phone appointments. You may reach my office at 510-526-6657 to schedule an appointment if you so desire.

Q: "My period usually is very regular, but this last month it's been strange. It started around the 21st and has been going on ever since. It's now the 4th and it just seems to be getting heavier. I'm not on birth control or any other type of medication. I've been searching the internet and other books but have not found any answers. Do you have any ideas of what might be wrong with me?"

A: Sounds like you might have a progesterone deficiency. Or you might have a more serious condition of uterine cancer. Please go to youe gynecologist immediately to get checked. Please don't take synthetic hormones. If the gyn finds you clear, work with a health care practitioner who uses only biologically identical hormones to protect your health and prevent cancer down the line.

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