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How to treat a dry, itchy scalp (without chemicals)

Jun 10th, 2011 by Shawna Darou, ND

Many women have issues with a persistent dry, itchy scalp. The first key in treating it is to diagnose the problem. Here are some potential causes:

  • Deficiency in essential fatty acids – a common cause as most of our diets are low in healthy fats from foods like fish, flaxseed, walnuts and hemp seeds. Many women find this happens post-partum.
  • Seborrheic dermatitis – the most common cause of dandruff, causing white flakes and itching.
  • Psoriasis – less common and harder to treat with a dry red scalp and silvery scales that bleed if peeled off.
  • Fungal infection on the scalp – very itchy with a sudden onset, although it can also be very persistent; the scalp is quite red.
  • Skin reactions to hair products and shampoos.

Suggestions to treat your scalp problems include:

  1. Take an essential fatty acid supplement: fish or flaxseed oil are preferred.
  2. Supplement with extra B-vitamins and biotin if you suspect that it is seborrheic dermatits, the most common form of dandruff.
  3. Try a tea tree oil shampoo which eases the itching, and will also treat possible fungal infections.
  4. In some cases a dry itchy scalp with a fungal cause is associated with other body fungal and yeast issues. In this case, a yeast or candida cleanse will improve scalp health from the inside.
  5. Choose hypoallergenic, unscented hair products and avoid ones containing sodium lauryl sulfate, a chemical that dries the scalp.
  6. Try washing your hair less often – every 2-3 days instead of daily. This allows natural scalp oils to be produced which often eases the dryness too.
  7. If you also have other skin problems (ex. eczema) or allergies, consider a food intolerance test to determine any possible food triggers.

Most scalp and skin conditions can be treated by addressing the root causes, if you need more specific help please ask!

Shawna Darou, ND

Posted in General Care, Skin | Comments Off

Adrenal gland function questionnaire

Jun 9th, 2011 by Shawna Darou, ND

Your adrenal glands are so important for overall hormonal health, and from my clinical experience are often at the source of many health issues ranging from: PMS, infertility, digestive complaints, headaches, fatigue and anxiety. Stress can also worsen or aggravate many other health conditions such as arthritis, asthma, allergies and irritable bowel syndrome. Balancing stress hormones is one key pillar to restoring health, because if this is missed many health issues will not resolve. Below is a quick questionnaire to determine if your adrenal glands need some support:

  1. Are you under emotional stress? (job stress, relationship stress, family stress, etc.)
  2. Do you have chronic pain of any type? (injury, migraine, menstrual, joint, etc.)
  3. Do you have anxiety and/ or panic attacks?
  4. Do you have a burned out, tired or exhausted feeling that is not relieved by sleep?
  5. Are your eyes sensitive to light?
  6. Do you experience dizziness when you stand up quickly?
  7. Do you find that your tolerance for stress is very low, meaning that you over-react to small stressors?
  8. Have your allergies worsened?
  9. Do you have weight gain around the middle of your abdomen?
  10. Are you craving salt?
  11. Do you feel “tired but wired”?
  12. Do you have heart palpitations or high blood pressure?
  13. Do you experience difficulty falling or staying asleep at night?
  14. Do you have restless legs (muscle aches / twitching) at night?
  15. Do you have premature menopause symptoms (under age 45)? – hot flashes, night sweats, changes in menstrual cycle
  16. If you are past menopause, have your symptoms lasted more than 5 years without letting up?

If you experience 3 or more of these symptoms regularly, and you have been exposed to high levels of stress or chronic pain, your adrenal glands very likely need some support. The first step is to test adrenal gland function with a salivary hormone test that maps out your cortisol rhythm at 4 points during the day, and to also test for DHEA levels (a very important adrenal reserve hormone), and other markers of adrenal gland function.

Having balanced stress hormones is essential to your overall health, and in particular for energy, mood and hormone balance. The good news, is that adrenal gland issues are very treatable with Naturopathic medicine. Please ask if you need more information.

Shawna Darou, ND

Posted in Adrenals, Fertility Care™, Missing Pieces, Women's Health | Comments Off

Thyroid function questionnaire

Jun 9th, 2011 by Shawna Darou, ND

Hypothyroidism or low thyroid function can manifest with many different symptoms. Most people associate it with weight gain or difficulty losing weight, although there are many other potential symptoms. Below is a comprehensive list. If you score high on this questionnaire, you should get your thyroid tested with basic blood tests for: TSH, free T4, free T3 and possibly thyroid antibodies.

Note the number of questions that apply to you below:

  1. Are you tired of fatigued?
  2. Do you have difficulty losing weight, or has your weight been rising without change in diet and exercise?
  3. Are you sensitive to cold?
  4. Do you have cold hands and feet?
  5. Is your cholesterol high?
  6. Is your mood depressed?
  7. Are you experiencing hair loss?
  8. Do you have constipation (less than 1 bowel movement daily)?
  9. Is your skin dry?
  10. Are you getting sick more often (colds, flu’s, infections)?
  11. Are you eyebrows or eyelashes thinning?
  12. Do you have difficulty concentrating?
  13. Do you have a poor short-term memory?
  14. Do you experience fluid retention?
  15. Have you had difficulty conceiving or miscarriages?
  16. Do you have joint pains or muscle aches?

If you answered yes to more than 6 of the questions above, I would highly recommend that you have your thyroid tested.  This is a simple blood test, and results take only a few days to come in.

Please contact the clinic if you have any questions, or would like to test your thyroid function.

Dr. Shawna Darou, ND

Posted in Fertility Care™, Missing Pieces, Thyroid, Women's Health | Comments Off

The Importance of Thyroid Health

Jun 7th, 2011 by Shawna Darou, ND

Hypothyroidism is a chronic health condition that is both under-diagnosed and undertreated.

  • Do you experience any of the following?
  • Are you tired, sluggish in the morning or having trouble with memory, concentration and focus?
  • Do you have dry skin or fluid retention?
  • Is your sex drive lower than it was previously?
  • Are you hands and feet always cold, and do you experience chills that are difficult to warm up from?
  • Are your constipated or do you have slow digestion?
  • Is your hair thinning?
  • Is your cholesterol high?
  • Have you gained weight recently or are you having difficulty losing it?
  • Do you suffer from depression?
  • Is your PMS getting worse?
  • Are you having difficulty getting pregnant?
  • Do you have muscle cramps or muscle weakness?

What is Hypothyroidism?

Hypothyroidism is an underactive thyroid gland which controls your metabolic rate. When your thyroid slows down, every other organ and system in your body slows down, including your brain, heart, digestion and muscles.

Thyroid function however is a gray area of medicine – there are degrees of imbalance. But even a mildly underactive thyroid can have a dramatic effect on the quality of your life.

Unfortunately, this condition is highly under-diagnosed because conventionally, it is diagnosed through one blood test, called TSH, and you are considered hypothyroid only with a level over 5.0.

This diagnosis misses a large group of people who have what is called “sublcinical hypothyroidism”, and it is less clear to diagnose. Subclinical hypothyroidism may cause many low-grade symptoms, such as fatigue, difficulty losing weight, mild depression, constipation, and more. Yet, it causes just slight changes in the blood tests. In fact, it often only shows up in tests that most doctors do not perform.

Who is Affected by Hypothyroidism?

Hypothyroidism affects men and women of all ages, however there are increasing incidences in women post-pregnancy and during menopause.

What Causes Hypothyroidism?

There are several key factors that contribute to the large number of cases of hypothyroidism: chronic stress, environmental toxins, inflammation, and vitamin / nutrient deficiencies.

Chronic stress is a very common cause of hypothyroidism as there is an intimate connection between thyroid and adrenal hormones.

Another factor with hypothyroidism is exposure to environmental toxins such as pesticides and heavy metals, which act as hormone disrupters and interfere with hormone metabolism and function.

It is a very common condition because of the many factors that can affect thyroid function: chronic stress, nutritional deficiencies, food intolerances, and environmental toxins such as heavy metals and pesticides.

Chronic inflammation in the body can be caused by factors such as food intolerances where antibodies are formed and cause an over-activity of the immune system. One of the most common causes of inflammation is gluten intolerance. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, spelt, rye, barley and oats.

Finally, nutritional deficiencies also affect thyroid function. These include: iodine, vitamin D, selenium, zinc, omega-3 fast, B-complex vitamins and vitamin A.

How is hypothyroidism diagnosed and treated?

If you suspect that you may have an underactive thyroid, a combination of physical examination and blood testing is recommended to confirm.

Treatment will start by addressing the root causes of your thyroid imbalance in order to restore balance. In many cases this can be treated naturally with detoxification, dietary changes and natural supplements.

If you have any questions, or would like to investigate your thyroid function further, please contact the clinic to book your appointment.

Best wishes,

Shawna Darou ND

Posted in Fertility Care™, General Care, Women's Health | Comments Off

Birth Control Pill Misconceptions

Jun 6th, 2011 by Shawna Darou, ND

So many women are on some form of hormonal birth control, and in many cases not for birth control at all, instead to “treat” some type of hormonal condition.  Here are some of the things women take it for:

  • To regulate their period
  • PCOS symptoms – irregular periods, acne, extra hair growth, ovarian cysts
  • Menstrual cramps
  • PMS
  • Ovarian cysts
  • Endometriosis
  • Acne
  • Perimenopause hormone changes (heavier periods, more PMS)

In none of these cases does the pill (or patch, IUD, etc.) correct the underlying problem, so what this means is that when you stop the hormones, that condition is still there.

As a Naturopathic doctor, I look at the menstrual cycle as a vital sign, as important as blood pressure and heart rate in assessing a woman’s health. Often as our health becomes out of balance, the menstrual cycle will change. The pill may take away some of the discomfort for a while ( acne, cramps, irregularities), but it is not a cure.

Let’s look at PCOS or polycystic ovarian syndrome as an example. There are many variations in how this presents with symptoms which may include: irregular or very long cycles, acne, extra hair growth, head hair loss, easy weight gain especially around the abdomen and the presence of ovarian cysts. Women with PCOS are usually put on the pill to take care of all of these symptoms, and usually a higher dose pill called Diane-35 which has some risk associated with it (blood clots especially). The problem with this approach is that the underlying condition in PCOS is something called ‘insulin resistance’ which means that the body does not respond appropriately to blood sugar levels, and this actually results in all of the other imbalances and how the ovaries respond as well as testosterone levels. In order to truly correct this problem, a diet that focuses on blood sugar stability and low-glycemic index foods, combined with regular cardio exercise and stress management will have the largest impact on all of the symptoms. These women still may need support with hormone balance, but this can be done with herbs and supplements instead of hormones. The benefit here is that we have also adressed the more serious risk associated with PCOS which is a high predisposition to diabetes.

Many hormonal symptoms can be treated and reversed with the proper nutritional changes, stress reduction (and support to balance stress hormones) and the use of supplements to support the body. PMS can be minimized in most women, menstrual cycles can be regulated, menstrual cramps reduced and optimal hormone balance restored without the use of extra hormones.

A special note about girls who go on the pill very young, before regular cycle has established and ovulation to “regulate their period”. When they go off years later, they expect that after having these regular pill cycles that their period will be normal. It rarely is, and in these cases it can take significant help to simply get a period at all. Ovulation is not happening, and these women often end up at fertility clinics. Unless absolutely needed for birth control at a young age, I do not recommend using oral contraceptives until there has been at least 2-3 years of regular periods.

If you are on hormones for a reason other than birth control, consider a naturopathic approach to truly treat or cure the problem, instead of temporarily masking the symptoms. Remember, the pill does not really ‘regulate’ your cycle.

If you would like to explore a hormone-free approach to your menstrual concerns, please ask! I look forward to getting to the root of the problem.

Posted in Fertility Care™, Hormone Health, Women's Health | 1 Comment »

The #1 secret to losing baby weight post-partum is SLEEP

May 19th, 2011 by Shawna Darou, ND

I’ve always said to mothers post-partum that the #1 secret to losing the baby weight is SLEEP. Below is the scientific proof. If you’re a new mom – make this a priority by going to bed earlier and napping during the day if possible. Without enough sleep your hormones are out of balance, as is your appetite.

I just read an article today about the science behind weight gain and poor sleep. The basics are summarized here, but if you would like to read the full article by Michael Breus PhD, click here.

When you are sleep deprived four things happen:

  1. The body makes more ghrelin — the hormone that says GO, eat more;
  2. The body makes less leptin — the hormone that tells your body it is full;
  3. Your body makes more cortisol, which can increase your appetite and fat storage; and
  4. You burn less calories with reduction in REM sleep. During REM sleep because your mind is active, you actually burn more calories. If you are not sleeping for stretches longer than 4 hours, the REM cycles are very short.

Sleep is essential for hormone balance, mood and metabolism. If you need support to help you sleep better, please contact the clinic for more detailed suggestions. The bottom line for weight loss though is to prioritize sleep over other commitments – your metabolism will benefit!

Posted in Missing Pieces, Pregnancy and post-partum, Women's Health | Comments Off

May is Celiac Disease awareness month

May 19th, 2011 by Shawna Darou, ND

May is Celiac Disease awareness month. Did you know that 95% of those with CD are undiagnosed? Celiac disease and gluten-intolerance are on the rise. Symptoms can include: digestive upset (bloating, constipation, diarrhea), low energy, depression, fertility challenges, allergies, nutrient deficiencies (vitamin B12 especially), eczema, susceptibility to autoimmune disease and more.

An interesting sign of celiac disease or gluten intolerance is a vitamin B12 deficiency in someone who regularly eats meat / fish / dairy products. This is a red flag to test for gluten problems. Vitamin B12 deficiency causes low energy, numbness and tingling in the hands and feet and a bright red tongue.

A common misconception with gluten intolerance is that it only occurs with digestive symptoms. Although this is usually the case, there are certainly many people who experience different symptoms related to the immune reaction: depression, migraines, sinus congestions, hair loss (autoimmune alopecia), infertility. There may be absolutely no digestive symptoms at all – I see this with fertility cases every week.

The other point about gluten intolerance and celiac is that it runs strongly through families. If one family member has a problem with gluten, everyone should be tested preventatively and proactively.

If you are interested in gluten or celiac testing, please contact the clinic. There are blood tests available for both.


Posted in Digestion, General Care, Missing Pieces | Comments Off

Progesterone levels begin to drop in the mid-30′s

May 16th, 2011 by Shawna Darou, ND

Progesterone levels begin to drop long before changes in estrogen levels. We are very much clued into drops in estrogen which occur around the time of menopause usually in the early 50′s. Progesterone on the other hand begins to drop around the mid-30′s and is responsible for the development or progression or many hormone-sensitive health conditions that occur in the late 30′s and 40′s. What this does is create a relative imbalance in estrogen and progesterone leading to ‘estrogen dominance’ – where estrogen levels are not sufficiently counterbalanced by progesterone. Conditions that are aggravated by this hormone shift include:

  • More difficult fertility – most women over 35 could benefit from progesterone support to improve their chances of conceiving and reduce miscarriage rates.
  • Growth of fibroids – estrogen dominance is a largely how fibroids grow rapidly, especially in the 5 years before menopause.
  • Worsening PMS symptoms – drops in progesterone tend to amplify mood swings, breast swelling, menstrual irregularities and other PMS symptoms.
  • Irregular and heavier periods – some women find that their menstrual cycle becomes less regular in their 40′s, and this again is due to the changes in hormones.
  • Also watch for changes in breast cancer rates – again the relative imbalance in hormones creates a high-estrogen environment that can feed breast cancer cells and cause them to multiply.

Knowing this information can put you onto the right track in treating or reversing some of the conditions listed above. There are several naturopathic (non-hormonal) supports for increasing your own body’s production of progesterone. This method is the safest place to start, and in most cases is sufficient. In rare cases, bioidentical progesterone cream may be necessary, but it is always best to stay away from extra hormones if possible.

If you are wondering if your progesterone levels might be low, this can be easily tested either with a blood or saliva test. Levels are most often tested in the last part of your cycle, 7 days post-ovulation to be exact.

Please contact the clinic if you would like some support on balancing your hormones.

Posted in Hormone Health, Missing Pieces, Women's Health | Comments Off

“Finding the missing pieces” in your health – a new series launches today!

May 16th, 2011 by Shawna Darou, ND

Introducing a new series of health tips with the theme of ‘finding the missing pieces’ in your health. I have been thinking lots about the many health tips and wisdoms that I have learned in the past 7+ years of practice and wanted to share them here. I will be posting brief articles regularly and invite you to read, comment, or pass them on to someone else who may enjoy it. Many health conditions are poorly treated by conventional medicine because they are either not recognized or not accurately diagnosed. This is an area that Naturopathic Medicine excels! So much of what I do is to empower women to take care of their health in more effective ways and I would like to make some of that information more public here.

Posts will be available in the following three formats, depending on your preference:

The theme of finding the missing pieces in health has come to be one of the main focuses in my work. My previous career as an Engineer certainly trained my analytical brain to take the lead, and I have incorporated this into my style of practice. I believe strongly in using scientific diagnostic testing, combined with thorough and integrated health history as a starting point to determine the underlying causes of disease or health complaints. By digging deeper, we are able to reverse the causes of illness and restore health without relying on daily medication to treat symptoms alone.

I hope that some of the posts that follow improve your health and also get you thinking about your health and wellbeing from a different perspective.

Join me now!

Best wishes for your health and wellbeing,

Dr. Shawna Darou, ND

Posted in Missing Pieces, Women's Health | Comments Off

The Importance of Waist Circumference Measurements

Mar 28th, 2011 by Shawna Darou, ND

Your health is affected not only by how much body fat you have, but also by where the fat is located. Carrying excess weight around the centre of the abdomen is associated with increased risk of health conditions such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, strokes, kidney disease.

Measuring your waist circumference is one indicator of how much abdominal fat you are carrying.

How to measure: Use a tape measure around your waist which is most accurately found at the distance midway between the lowest rib and your hip bone. It is best measured with bare skin.

Your waist circumference is healthy if:

  • Women: less than 88 cm (35 inches) for Caucasian women or less than 76 cm (30 inches) for Asian women
  • Men: less than 102 cm (40 inches) for Caucasian men or less than 88 cm (35 inches) for Asian men

If your waist is larger than these measurements, there are steps to take to optimize your health and reduce health risks.

For many people, losing abdominal weight can be challenging. Of course the basics of eating less and exercising more apply, but if you are stuck here are some areas to examine:

  1. Stress levels: High stress raises cortisol levels which can then affect blood sugar and insulin. High stress is associated with gaining proportionally more abdominal fat.
  2. Insulin resistance: Insulin resistance is a pre-diabetic condition where the body becomes less sensitive to insulin levels and stores carbohydrates very efficiently. Taking steps to minimize simple carbohydrates (anything made from white flour and sugar) as well as increasing vegetables and proteins is a good place to start.
  3. Type of exercise: Abdominal weight usually responds to increased cardio exercise, but not at high intensity. There is an interesting catch here though: if your stress levels are high, do not push too hard with intensity – your body will interpret this as an additional stress and hold onto the weight or in some cases put on additional weight!
  4. Food intolerances: Food intolerance causes inflammation in the body, which also raises stress hormones. As indicated above, high stress hormones means more weight gain, or difficulty losing weight.
  5. Sleep quality: Sleep is absolutely essential in a weight loss program. With testing, many women who have difficulty losing abdominal weight have hight night-time cortisol levels. This means that the metabolism is geared up for fat storage in the night, not weight loss. Prioritize sleep in terms of hours and quality of sleep in order to lose the weight.

Finally, a note about children. Waist circumference in children is also the best predictor of future cardiovascular risk, more so than their weight or body mass index. For children, treatment steps are to significantly increase exercise, and reduce sweets and starchy snacks.

If you would like support to lower your waist circumference to a healthy zone through a comprehensive approach that addresses more factors than calories in and calories out, please contact the clinic for more information.

Posted in General Care, Women's Health | Comments Off

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