2006-04-30T23:59:00.000-07:00

Q: Is it safe for me to drink green tea during pregnancy? (Leslie, Guelph)

A: Green tea is of concern due to its caffeine content. Too much caffeine during your pregnancy, particularly in the first trimester, can increase your risk of miscarriage. Based on studies, it would appear that three cups per day of green tea is of minimal risk during pregnancy. If you have a history of miscarriages, I would eliminate it from your diet completely.

Q: How much folic acid should I take during my pregnancy? (Ingrid, Toronto)

A: The minimal dose is 400 mcg per day, I recommend 800 mcg just to be on the safe side. Folic acid is taken to prevent a malformation known as neural tube defects. If you have this malformation in your family, please speak with a licensed naturopathic or medical doctor.

Q: Is it safe to take herbs during my pregnancy? (Tina, Sudbury)

A: It depends on which herbs you take, as some are unsafe. It also depends when you are taking them. Some may be therapeutic when giving at a certain time, but detrimental when given at others. It is also important to pay attention to the dose. Please speak with a licensed naturopathic or medical doctor when looking into using herbs to improve your health and the health of your baby during pregnancy.

Q: What is Caresing? (Victoria, Vancouver)

A: Caresing is a ginseng product that can be taken intravenously and orally. The anti-cancer evidence for this product is based primarily on animal and laboratory studies. Don't self-medicate. You should be followed by a naturopathic doctor or a physician if you use Caresing.

Q: What is AHCC? (Lucas, Ottawa)

A: Active hexose correlated compound (AHCC) is derived from basidiomycetes mushrooms. Some very good studies have been done on AHCC and how it stimulates different aspects of the immune system.

Q: What about sauna therapy? (Susan, Winnipeg)

A: Infrared, not wet saunas, are reported to be beneficial for cancer treatment, prevention and chronic pain. On one hand, they promote detoxification and on the other, the high heat attained via infrared light, appears to have anti-angiogenesis activity (cuts blood supply to tumors). This is all very preliminary research, but it appears to be promising.

Q: Is there a test to determine that all cancers cells have been killed off in the body? (Paul, Toronto)

A: Neoplasm (cancer) is a process that occurs in all humans all the time. In most cases, our immune system eliminates the cancerous cells. In other cases, cancerous cells either grow too fast or "hide" from the body's defence systems causing tumours to grow. If you've had a tumour surgically removed or shrunken with chemotherapy or radiation, this does not mean that all cancer cells in your body have been eliminated. This simply means that the main tumour is removed, BUT remember that the neoplasm is always going on in the background.

If you don't address the process, the cancer can recur. You treat the process primarily by 1) stimulating natural killer cells (tumour-killing cells of the immune system), 2) regulating the immune system to detect cancerous cells, 3) preventing metastasis, 4) antioxidant therapy to protect DNA, 5) cutting the blood supply to tumours and many others methods. Don't self-medicate. You should be followed by a naturopathic doctor or a physician if undergoing any of these protocols.

Q: Are there any tumour markers for breast cancer? (Dalia, Woodbridge)

A: The gene SNP SOD2 increases breast cancer risk four times in premenopausal women and 1.8 times in postmenopausal women. FYI: The gene SNP GPX1 increases the lung cancer risk 2.3 times and the gene SNP EPHX increases ovarian cancer risk 2.7 times and colon cancer risk 3.8 times. The test is performed by swabbing the inside of the mouth (just like in the TV show CSI) and the cells obtained are shipped to the lab for genetic analysis. This is a painless test we do at the clinic.

Q: Is melatonin effective in treating cancer? (Frank, Winnipeg)

A: There are quite a few studies of the effectiveness of taking melatonin before bed and improving the outcomes of a number of cancers, ex. breast, prostate, etc. Don't self-medicate. You should be followed by a naturopathic doctor or a physician if you use melatonin.

Q: What about (product name omitted)? Is this good for treating cancer? (Jane, Windsor)

A: Be weary of testimonials. There is good information on the web and there is bad information on the web. It's easy to be overwhelmed by the amount of cancer information out there. Base your decision on good scientific research to back up the product sold and on health professionals with clinical knowledge of the mechanisms of action of the product, of its safety and of drug interactions. Don't self-medicate. You should be followed by a naturopathic doctor or a physician who will assist you in making informed and safe decisions.

Q: Why is a high dose of vitamin C used for cancer treatment? (Joseph, Guelph)

A: A high dose of vitamin C is toxic to cancer cells and it stimulates the immune system to fight the cancer.

Q: I'm currently undergoing chemotherapy. Is it safe to take any vitamins and supplements or undergo any other treatments during chemotherapy? (Rosalie, Sydney Australia)

A: Naturopathic support during chemotherapy is very valuable. In many cases, it reduces the side effects of the chemo (nausea, hair loss, fatigue), assists the body in eliminating the chemotherapeutic drug once it has completed its job and in some cases, it improves chemotherapy efficacy. There are some combinations of vitamins that should be avoided during chemotherapy. Please consult your naturopathic doctor about vitamins to avoid. The timing of naturopathic support is also important, as treatments on chemotherapy days will be different than days with no chemotherapy.

Q: What is Caresing, MGN-3, Essiac, MCP, EPG, c-statin, AHCC, Unda drainage and Immunocal? (Luciana, Woodbridge)

A: These are all cancer treatments done by both naturopathic and medical doctors. The choice of these treatments depends on the stage of cancer and the patient.

Q: Will natural anti-inflammatory medicines irritate my stomach? (Dug, Toronto)

A: Natural anti-inflammatory medicines are less likely to irritate your stomach than anti-inflammatory drugs such as Vioxx, Celebrex and Aspirin. If the anti-inflammatory supplement contains bromelain (derived from pineapple), some people may experience some gastro-intestinal discomfort at high doses, but this is rare. These natural anti-inflammatory medicines also have less side effects.

Q: Are there natural alternatives to birth control? (Susan, Etobicoke)

A: You can practise birth control by monitoring your daily temperature and determining your day of ovulation. Once you've figured out your day of ovulation, you can then figure out which weeks of the month you are fertile. You should be followed by a naturopathic doctor, medical doctor or nurse practitioner when doing this. Note: This method does not protect you from sexually transmitted diseases.

Q: I get spasms in my legs at night. What can I take? (John, Peterborough)

A: The first thing you should do is see a naturopathic doctor or a medical doctor to determine what is the cause of the spasms. If it is just a case of muscle spasms, taking magnesium will help your condition.

Q: I bruised my knee. Should I take any vitamins to help with the bruising? (Louise, Markham)

A: Depending on the severity of the injury, there are a number of approaches to getting you back on your feet. The best approach would be a combination of chiropractic/osteopathy, massage therapy, acupuncture and natural anti-inflammatory supplements.

Q: The more I work out, the more my appetite increases. I don't want to gain weight so what should I do? (Nadia, Toronto)

A: If you do regular strength exercise, your body will need more protein to build and repair muscle. The reason you're hungry is probably because you need more protein in your diet. If you're worried about overeating, try a protein powder supplement.

Q: My aunt used Iscador during and after chemotherapy for her breast cancer. What is it? (Lorraine, Quebec)

A: Iscador is a mistletoe preparation that is used to treat different types of cancers. It's manufactured in Germany and available in Canada. This product has quite a considerable amount of good research behind it. Please Note: Iscador should never be administered without the supervision of a licensed naturopathic or medical doctor.

Q: What is chelation therapy? (Sam, North York)

A: Chelators, sometimes called the "claws of chelation" are compounds that have the ability to pull metals out of tissue. For example, DMSA mobilizes mercury and lead in the body. Chelation is used in patients with high levels of heavy metals (lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium) and also in patients with heart disease (angina, atherosclerosis) to reduce arterial plaques. At the Truestar Clinic, we use a natural form of chelation for heart disease and a thorough detoxification/chelation program for heavy metals.

Q: What is a Meyer's cocktail? (Raissa, Scarborough)

A: Meyer's cocktail is a painless intravenous (IV) treatment where vitamins, minerals and other nutrients are administered directly into the blood. The original "Meyer's cocktail" has been modified overtime, where the Truestar Health and Wellness Clinic multivitamin/mineral IV delivers 5,000 mg of vitamin C, B vitamins, 200 mcg of selenium, magnesium, zinc, calcium and others.

Q: Why am I bloated after each meal? (Pat, Belleville)

A: This could be due to a number of reasons: 1) low stomach acid, 2) food allergies/sensitivities, 3) stress and/or 4) low digestive enzymes. With the right supplements and dietary changes recommended by your naturopathic doctor, bloating symptoms often subside.

Q: I'm getting a dry cough at night and I'm afraid that it will hurt the baby when I cough too much. What should I do? (Anne, Toronto)

A: Coughing will not hurt your baby. You are probably at the end stage of an upper respiratory tract infection and the dry cough is the last symptom to go. Symptoms are probably worse at night, so have water by your bedside, use a humidifier and drink a demulcent before going to bed. Demulcents are herbal medicines that have soothing properties which coat your throat and minimize irritation, thereby reducing the coughing reflex. Slippery elm and DGL (deglycyrrhizinated licorice - safe during pregnancy) are good demulcents. Mix with water and drink. Licorice tea is okay to drink on a short- term basis, but avoid licorice products unless you're being monitored by a naturopathic doctor.

Q: What is the best method of chelating mercury? (Loyd, Mississauga)

A: A mercury detoxification program involves two phases: Phase one is chelation and phase two is elimination support. In phase one, the chelator DMSA is given so it can cross the blood brain barrier and mobilize mercury out of tissues. Phase one also involves hydrotherapy and complementary support. In phase two, liver support, mineral support and nutrient IVs are given to ensure that any mobilized mercury is eliminated by the body.

Q: Are there any side effects to taking Lipitor? (Jarri, San Francisco)

A: A double-blind trial of patients with high cholesterol showed that patients treated with Lipitor for 18 weeks had a significant reduction of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) in blood levels. CoQ10 is vital to the proper functioning of the heart.

Q: My father is going in for surgery for a total knee replacement. Can my father recover from surgery faster if he takes vitamins? (Eric, Montreal)

A: A number of supplements and homeopathic remedies can decrease post-surgical pain and post-surgical drug use (ex. morphine) and increase the speed of recovery. There is a pre-surgery plan where we increase your body's nutrient stores and abstain from all blood thinners, and a post-surgery plan where we support wound healing and tissue repair, increase the immune system (less infections) and decrease inflammation.

Q: What is the difference between a TIA and a stroke? (Gale, Toronto)

A: A transient ischemic attack (TIA) results from an emboli in the arteries leading to the brain. TIAs have similar symptoms to a stroke, but are "transient". TIAs tend to occur suddenly and have a brief duration. Risk factors for TIAs, such as high blood pressure, heart disease and atherosclerosis, can be effectively and safely treated through naturopathic medicine. Intravenous phosphatidylcholine is a very effective treatment option for atherosclerosis and angina.

Q: What is homocysteine and why should I be tested for it? (Alex, Hamilton)

A: Homocysteine is a breakdown product of the amino acid methionine. Homocysteine is an independent risk factor for heart disease, stroke, Alzheimer's disease, osteoporosis, miscarriages and others. Elevated homocysteine can be effectively treated through vitamin supplementation. Homocysteine is tested via a blood sample where the patient must be fasting 12 hours prior.

Q&A with Dr. JJ