millie says

dont eat yellow cheese. in my naturopathic bubble I sometimes forget what is common knowledge and what is mysteriously absent from the plain sight of those sampling the delicatessen of natural health. capice? tartrazine or FD&C Number 5 has been linked to anxiety, migraines, clinical depression, blurred vision, itching, general weakness, heat rashes, feeling of suffocation, purple skin patches, and sleep disturbance. Some claim to experience symptoms of tartrazine sensitivity even at extremely small doses, and up to 72 hours after exposure. In children, asthma attacks and hives have been claimed, including possible links to thyroid tumors, chromosomal damage and obesssive compulsive disorder and hyperactivity. Found in confection products from cotton candy, gum, doritos, gatorade and custard puddings to staples such as noodles, cheese, yogurt and pickles tartrazine has been banned from health progressive nations namely Norway, Austria, Germany and the UK is currently in a phase-out plan. Just another reason to use natural food colorings (www.acrccolors.com), read ingredients lists, avoid eating dollar-store food and think in terms of ‘you get what you pay for’ when it comes to what you eat as well as everything else.

(not to pick on Yellow Dye Number 5, the Yellows tend to be caution, the Reds absolute stops. Read on for dangerous foods additives. http://www.cspinet.org/reports/chemcuisine.htm)

xox dr millie lytle nd

eat according to mood just not in the way you thought. hello. this is a lesson for those mood eaters out there when a funk is on feel it’s time to eat chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream followed by a big bag of ketchup chips regardless of what the mood is. chinese medicine rule of eating states that certain flavours correspond with certain organs that impact specific emotions. consume flavours that tonify the organ that is imbalanced from emotions. when you are sad and blue eat wasabi, horseradish, turnips, watercress, cayenne and other pungeant foods. when worried, eat sweet in the form of dates, fruit and sweet rice. when afraid eat salty such as salted vegetables and sea greens. when angry eat sour like lemon and grapefruit. when anxious eater bitter foods like green leafies and dandelion tea. when not feeling particularly emotion and organs are in balance, eat all flavours at each meal.

xox dr millie lytle nd

fast from food sensitivities. food sensitivities though not true anaphylaxis, generally have an impact on the skin, digestion (mouth to anus), brain and nervous system, respiration and/or reproductive system. while one might find oneself burdened but with a few rather than all, food sensitivities can present in the following ways due to disturbances of the MALT and GALT and HISTAMINE RECEPTORS 1) eczema, acne, hives and rashes 2) smarting, stinging or tingling on the tongue, sores in the mouth, heartburn, indigestion, cramps, gas, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, itchy anus, weight issues 3) nervous agitation, anxiety, social phobia, picking, irritability, moodiness, fatigue, sluggishness 4) chronic asthma, wheezing, coughing, mucus, post nasal drip, sinusitis, rhinitis 5) growths and inflammation of ovaries, uterus and extra uterine tissue. food sensitivities compound with environmental and seasonal allergies and therefore will increase the need for allergy medication. if this is you, consider removing causes of nutritional distress, and taking natural anti-histamines such as vitamin C, bioflavenoids and cumin seed oil.

xox dr millie lytle nd

otherwise put: get unstuck. dr james gordon md is a mind and body medicine psychiatrist-type who wrote a book called U N S T U C K, which outlines 7 necessary stages of getting out of depression. dr gordon thinks that depression, rather than an end-point diagnosis, is a sign that imbalances R us, and depression provides an opportunity to change one’s life. within these 7 are 1) the call that change is necessary 2) meet an inner or existential guide 3) surrender to change equals letting go 4) deal with demons 5) invite despair 6) receive the blessing of spiritual awakening 7) the return which involves making the choice of living each day joyously. this is an intense list of 7 but you can also think of it as waking up to smell the flowers.

xox dr millie lytle nd

Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM) is the standard for allopathic and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).  though EBM is safe and efficacious medicine it does not tend to be as spiritual or artistic as folkloric, traditional and ‘winging-it based on physiology’ kinds of CAM.  Also there exists bias sometimes, publication bias because pharm and nutraceutical companies fund the majority of the research going on these days…so take drug-trials with a grain of salt.

That said however, I presented a poster at the first annual International Complementary and Alternative Medicine Mental Health Conference on the weekend.  my study showed positive results that a 12-week acupuncture protocol was beneficial for improving sexual dysfunction in an open-label trial of women and men suffering side effects from antidepressant medication.  the acupuncture also reduced anxiety levels overall.  though acupuncture practitioners have long-used different acupuncture point combinations to treat specific symptoms or syndromes related to sexual dysfunction, this is the first study to show it works when the sexual dysfunction is related to antidepressant medication, a common side effect which often be a reason to stop taking medications.

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xox dr millie lytle nd

Share the secret. if you focus on your pain, it will be unbearable. if you project fatigue, poverty, depression, trauma, alienation, anxiety, illness, bad luck, woe is me; you WILL be down and out. if you focus on how much love you have to offer, what riches you have, what you’ve gained with your unique story you will enjoy finding out you are not alone. open the curtains, let the light in and you will see the sun.

psst. pass it on.

xox dr millie lytle nd

a guide to self-care:

psychologist Monica Vermani has said “you come alone, you die alone.  people come into our lives for a season, a reason or a lifetime”.

xox dr millie lytle nd.

while i’ve always maintained that pimples, not chronic acne, but pimples are your friend because the skin is a superficial organ of waste expression. if there are toxins in the body, then the skin will respond by creating a pimple to release it, though unsightly, you can be happy a good deed is being done. certain times and places, such as hot fun in summer city, can lead to more pimples than one would pride. when it do, develop a summer skin regime. while different skin types need different wash, toner and moisturizer generally it’s best to go with a pH balanced soap, cold water splash, toner and moisturizer, and to repeat 2-3 times per day.

while i’ve always maintained that pimples, not chronic acne, but pimples are your friend because the skin is a superficial organ of waste expression. if there are toxins in the body, then the skin will respond by creating a pimple to release it, though unsightly, you can be happy a good deed is being done. certain times and places, such as hot fun in summer city, can lead to more pimples than one would pride. when it do, develop a summer skin regime. while different skin types need different wash, toner and moisturizer generally it’s best to go with a pH balanced soap, cold water splash, toner and moisturizer, and to repeat 2-3 times per day.

xox dr millie lytle nd

if you’re unable to get involved in the guerilla gardening movements around town or pick forgotten fruit or tend a large mixed vegetable garden don’t despair.  blend your soul’s need for growth and your body’s nutritional requirements in a small but punchy way.  make an herb garden on you window sill, among rocks, on a path, in a pot, on your porch, inside or outside.  fresh herbs are inexpensive when grown at home but pack a punch providing chlorophyll, antioxidants and most noticeably, flavour to your daily diet.  They are available in seed form, in plantable paper, or already grown into small pots.  Go for the local varieties, paying attention to sun and shade requirements.

herbs generally like full sun and a tall drink of water daily at dusk.  Perennials such as thyme, mint, lavender, rosemary will come back next year, making the 4.50 price tag on organic herbs cheap as cheap can be. fresh herbs can be steeped for refreshing iced  tea, added to salads, stuffed in chicken, rubbed on skin for perfume, and dried for future use.  a garden is the gift to yourself that keeps on giving.

xox dr millie lytle nd

night sweats are often associated with menopause but can stem from different roots. One study found that 41% of the population complains of night time hyperhidrosis. if you or your sleep partner are drenching the sheets and menopause is unlikely consider other causes such as hormones, neuropathy (lack of sensation in feet and hands), infections, hypoglycemia, certain medications, cancers or no particular cause at all. If the latter seems to be the case then a trip to the MD might get you a diagnosis of idiopathic hyperhidrosis, which means, not that you are idio in any way rather that your sweat is because for no reason at all, it’s sweating buckets. Such is life but consider making lifestyle changes such as drinking more water, exercising, reducing stress with yoga and breathing, and consuming estrogenic foods such as organic soy, apples, alfalfa, cherries, potatoes, brown rice, wheat berries and yams. Vitamin B6 taken daily, licorice root and dong quai can also help, no sweat!

xox dr millie lytle nd