Dr. Dr. Kiera Lane, N.M.D.

Naturopathic medicine offers a multitude of options to address allergies. First you want to make sure that you are having sinus issues due to airborne allergies and not due to molds, depressed immunity or another cause. Homeopathic medicine, Chinese herbs, acupuncture and natural non-drowsy supplements are some of the options that may help your symptoms. It is best to see a Naturopathic doctor to see what the best treatment options for you may be for the most effective modality for you.

Yes migraine headaches can really affect your daily life. I find that acupuncture and homeopathic medicines can be both effective tools to help migraine headaches. Migraines headaches may be a symptom of estrogen dominance which could benefit from nutritional and botanical liver support if accompanied with menstrual symptoms such as PMS or irregular menstrual cycles. There are many options to discuss with your doctor.

There are risks for anything you take. Just because something is natural it doesn't mean it is safe. Naturopathic medicine uses many modalities to help restore health. Botanicals (herbs), homeopathic medicines, supplements as well as medications may be used by a Naturopathic doctor and there are risks for any type of treatment you utilize. Natural medicines generally use treatment that have less inherent risks than medication but that is not true all the time. Make sure you discuss with your doctor your risk and benefit ratio related to any condition you are treating. Modalities that help restore normal physiology is the best approach to long lasting results.

Naturopathic approach to IBD can be very effective. First determine if there are any other factors contributing to your symptoms. You may have Small Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) which is an over abundance of bacteria in your small intestine causing gastrointestinal symptoms. This condition can be treated with herbs but may also require a medication called Rifaximin. SIBO is one major thing to rule out with testing. If you have SIBO you can treat IBD very effectively. If you don't have SIBO there are many Naturopathic approaches to IBD including botanical medicine, acupuncture and Chinese herbs.

There are many types of detox so it is hard to answer this question. Detoxing the body can mean adding supplements for the liver where toxins and hormones are broken down or it could mean cleaning and detoxing the gastrointestinal track. Mostly likely a detox includes eating a clean diet free of sugar, processed and refined carbohydrates and focusing on a plant based diet high in green vegetables, avoiding common allergens like gluten and dairy and a low animal protein intake. Just eating a clean diet can be detoxifying. For the basics eat a clean diet, drink plenty of water, sweat and how regular BMs to eliminate waste products regularly. Having a state of mind to clear all that does not serve you, unplugging from your computer and having quiet time could also be a nice adjunct for detoxing.

There are a lot of ways to approach the treatment of back pain naturally. Taking natural anti-inflammatories, such as, Boswellia, Curcumin or Bromelain can reduce inflammation. Homeopathic medicines are very helpful to reduce pain and stiffness. Acupuncture can be extremely effective with treatment of back pain. Check with your physician before starting any new supplement or treatment. There is so many ways to help with back pain that are non-addictive, helps function as well as pain and have few side effects.

Hair loss is more common than one would think. It is a common complaint of many women and men. Some of the factors that may contribute to hair loss are the following: iron status - anemia and low iron and ferritin (iron stored in tissues) may be a cause of hair loss; hormone imbalance can affect hair loss; adrenal fatigue and prolonged stress exposure may cause an increase in hair loss; thyroid imbalance and Hashimoto's thyroiditis, an autoimmune disorder of the thyroid, may cause hair loss; digestive and gut issues leading to reduced absorption of nutrients to nourish and feed the hair and zinc deficiency are all viable causes of hair loss. First identify the cause then treat it so you can have beautiful hair once again.

It is important to figure out the cause of the diarrhea. Taking a thorough history is vital. Were you exposed to spoiled food? Did is start with stress? Did is start after traveling abroad? A thorough history is important to identify the cause. There are also functional medicine tests such as a stool test I use frequently with my patients that rule out bacteria, candida and parasites by identifying the organism causing the problem. In order to effectively treat the diarrhea you have to determine the cause first. Once you do that you can treat with medication, herbs and /or homeopathy or a combination. Remember the most effective medicine is when you treat the cause of your symptoms.

Depression may be successfully treated with natural interventions. I prefer to do urine neurotransmitter testing to look at imbalances to better identify which neurotransmitters need help. Using nutrients, herbs and amino acids to build serotonin and create balance neurotransmitters can be effective for treating depression. In addition. homeopathic medicines can be great for mood and depression especially sadness associated with loss. A vitamin called methylated folate or MTHF (Rx known as Deplin) in higher amounts may also be effective for treating depression. There are natural approaches to treat depression as well as medication if needed. No one should continue to be depressed. There is so many approaches to assist you that you don't need to continue to suffer. Get the support you need!

Naturopathic Doctors are trained in prescribing pharmaceutical medications. In the state of Arizona we cannot prescribe IV medications, cancer and anti psychotic medication and are limited to C11 morphine and hydrocodone combinations. We have full prescribing rights for all other prescription medications. For more information on prescribing rights in Arizona for all licensed medical practitioners see this link from the Arizona State Pharmacy Board.

https://pharmacy.az.gov/sites/default/files/editors_choice/attachments/prescriptive%20authority%20chart%20%2812142015%29.pdf

This is a big question because this depends a lot on family history, severity of the disease and lifestyle factors. I have worked with patients with Lupus and found natural and integrative therapies that regulate the immune system, reduce inflammation that seem to manage symptoms effectively but traditional Western medical approaches can be effective as well. In Naturopathic medicine we don't just treat the disease, we treat the whole person so what works for one person may not work for someone else. That is why sitting down to have a very thorough intake is important to get the right natural and/or integrative treatment for you. I wish I had a simple answer but I would says it depends on you and all the aspects of your health to determine the best way to approach your treatment. Inflammation is a common denominator of any autoimmune disease so ask your doctor about starting an anti-inflammatory diet for starters! Best wishes to you.

Botanical medicines which tend to have less side effects than medications, acupuncture, Chinese Herbs and homeopathy are a few alternative to address high blood pressure. Of course, a lot depends on the severity of your high blood pressure, lifestyle, family history, etc. It is best to consult with a Naturopathic Doctor to determine the best alternative to address your individual health care needs. Medications can always be used if natural treatment are not effective.

Vitamin B12 is absorbed in an acidic environment in the stomach so a few things can affect absorption: a down-regulation of stomach acid due to stress, aging and H2 blocker or anti-acid type medications. B12 is very abundant in animal products such as beef and egg (egg yolk). It is also in green leafy vegetables but not as concentrated as in meat. Possible additions to the diet to consider that have high B12 content is sardines, mackerel, cottage cheese, milk and nutritional yeast.

In order to answer this accurately it would be important to know what type of stone you are getting. Ask your doctor how to collect stones to be analyzed next time. This will help you figure out some nutritional interventions on how to work toward preventing future stones.

Burping could be a sign of hypochlorhydria (low stomach acid) or excessive stomach acid or dysfunction of the acid regulation. It could also be related to improper digestion, bacteria in the gut or the foods that you are eating. There is not a simple answer without knowing a lot about your history and your dietary intake. Having chronic burping is a sign of an imbalance in the digestive system which is core to good health and is worth investigating with your doctor.

Ask your doctor about other pain medications, such as, Toradol, which is a NSAID and not a narcotic but is opiod like. It is hard on the kidneys so can't be taken daily but can be effective for acute pain. Consider acupuncture, anti-inflammatory herbs and medications and consider speaking with a pain management doctor to plan ideas that may assist you during your recovery period from surgery.

Yes, it really does help with cold prevention and treatment. See abstract below from PubMed.

Holist Nurs Pract. 2016 Jan-Feb;30(1):54-7. doi: 10.1097/HNP.0000000000000130.

Echinacea purpurea: A Proprietary Extract of Echinacea purpurea Is Shown to be Safe and Effective in the Prevention of the Common Cold

Abstract
The research study in this review represents the largest clinical trial to date that evaluated the safety and efficacy of Echinacea purpurea for prophylactic treatment of the common cold, in addition to investigating its risk-benefit in a long-term treatment period. The clinical application of the proprietary standardized Echinacea purpurea extract(Echinaforce) demonstrated efficacy as a preventive cold treatment option over a 4-month duration. This study showed that Echinacea’s long-term prevention was associated with a reduction in the total number of cold episodes, a reduction in the number of days with colds, and a reduction in cold episodes requiring additional medication. Furthermore, the Echinacea test agent inhibited virally confirmed colds, exhibited maximal effects on recurrent infections, and demonstrated that its preventive effects increased relative to therapy compliance and adherence to the protocol. In summary, Echinacea purpurea when taken as recommended for the prevention of the common cold appears to provide a positive risk to benefit ratio.
Reference: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26633727

Some possible ways to combat constipation from narcotics are the following: High dose Probiotics, Flaxseed oil, Soluble fiber supplement or increase soluble fiber in the diet, such as, applesauce, oats, apples, peaches, increasing water intake and regular movement/exercise. Sometimes when the basics don't work, acupuncture can regulate bowel function by stimulation GI function. Discuss with your doctor the best option for you.

I have not seen "natural appetite suppressants" work effectively because appetite, if not due to any medical condition, has a lot to do with your relationship with food and your eating habits. I think the best way to curb sugar cravings is to have adequate protein and fiber throughout the day. I tell my patients to have a protein rich snack or smoothie when they crave sugar and that balances their blood sugar and their cravings are generally reduced. Speak with a nutritionist or your doctor about some options to help you with cravings and balancing appetite. Good luck!

Without a detailed health history, physical exam and knowing more about the particulars of the surgery, it is hard to comment on your individual situation. I would talk with a hand surgeon for a second opinion to make sure the pain you are having is not due to a condition that needs more surgical intervention or getting feedback to why you are still experiencing discomfort. Something to discuss with your doctor is physical therapy for your hand would could have a possible positive effect on the discomfort you are feeling by strengthening surround musculature that could reduce discomfort and possible acupuncture treatment which might calm nerves down. Nerve pain that is characterized by sharp, tingling, numbness feeling can last years after surgery and calming nerves down takes time, even years. Acupuncture might expedite this process. Talk with a hand specialist about these options to determine your best next step. Good luck!