millie says happy hallowe’en

pace the backdoor-trots. signs of increased peristalsis in absence of medical diagnosis include eruptive, disruptive, loose, watery, undigested, non-formed and explosive stools. many reasons may exist for decreased transit time including stress, virus, parasites, stimulants, history of medication use and food sensitivities. to curb Montezuma’s revenge bulk up with soluble and insoluble fibre found in psyllium husk, practice deep breathing exercises-10 breaths at 10x per day; replenish good bacteria with powdered probiotics-acidophillus and bifidus; remove aggressive dairy and other food or drug sensitivities; cut the coffee and cigs, take teas or capsules mades from herbs known to slow that spasm of the colon such as licorice, fenugreek and slippery elm. so no more need to rush to the cry of cock-crow. phewf!

xox dr millie lytle nd

millie says decrease transit time

address constipation by increasing peristalsis. if transit time is running late then before resorting to laxatives encourage easier bowel movements lots o’ water; not rushing a bowel movement; weight bearing exercise, not bicycling or swimming, but walking, running, climbing stairs; massage from right to left over abdomen; magnesium citrate 500mg; soluble and insoluble fibre found in heavy slimy products such as apple pectin, pears, sesame seeds, oat fibre, psyllium husk and the following herbs to increase the the wavelike motions of the intestines cascara sagrada, beet root, dandelion and milk thistle. if the perfect stool seems unattainable then take the self test below to find out some reasons why.

xox dr millie lytle nd

Constipation Self-Test

1. do you feel fatigued, have low energy or muscle aches? yes = 1/ no = 0
   
2. do you have a bowel movement less than 5 x per week on an ongoing basis? yes = 1/ no = 0
3. do you strain to pass a stool? yes = 1/ no = 0
4. do you pass dry hard pellets or stool that looks like toothpaste? yes = 1/ no = 0
5. do you have an abundance of fowl smelling gas? yes = 1/ no = 0
6. do you eat 30-50 grams of fibre per day? yes = 0/ no = 1
   
7. are you unable to lose weight even though you are “healthy”? yes = 1/ no = 0
8. do you take pain medication or anti-depressants? yes = 1/ no = 0
9. do you drink at least 2 litres of water per day? yes = 0/ no = 1
   
10. do you exercise at least 3 x per week? yes = 0/ no = 1
    

a score of 4 or higher may indicate you are suffering from sub-optimal colon health.

millie says measure transit time

measure transit time. peristalsis is the natural wavelength motion that propels stool along in the large intestine and colon and is partially responsible for transit time from mouth to anus. to measure transit time remove all laxatives from the diet including coffee, tea, alcohol, cigarettes as well as herbal and medical laxatives. Eat beets or corn kernels. measure the time at which the test food was eaten and the time at which the test food is expelled in the form of stool. if it is under 12-14 hours then transit time is too short and the risk of malabsorption of nutrients and microflora is probable. if the time period is longer than 14 hours then transit time is too slow and excess waste products as well as water are being re-absorbed back into bloodstream…I said poo toxins are being re-absorbed back into the blood causing metabolic strain on the liver, blood and kidneys. it will also make it harder to have that bowel movement due to loss of moisture. stay tuned tomorrow to find out how to change transit time.

xox dr millie lytle nd

millie says steep leaves, boil bark

steep leaves boil bark. making therapeutic herbal teas can be confusing knowing whether to use hot infusions, cold infusions or decoctions. rule of thumb to remember is that hefty hard parts such as bark, twig, roots and rhizomes need to be boiled in order for their properties to be extracted properly whereas dainty areal parts such as leaves, seeds, stems and flowers don’t withstand boiling and so for best results should be soaked in just-boiled water. To make a sun tea, put areal parts into cold or room temperature water and allow to sit in sun all day in the sunny window, will make a weaker tea than the others. The longer the steep, the stronger and more medicinal the tea. ah..smell the hot lavender infusion.

xox dr millie lytle nd

hot infusion recipes:
calendula, lavender, rose, chamomille, peppermint, raspberry, alfalfa, nettle, green tea, lemon balm, etc.
-Pour boiling water over the 1-2 tsp herb and immediately cover the container to keep the volatile essential oils
from escaping in the steam.
-Steep for 10 to 15 minutes and strain.
-For a stronger infusion, allow the herb to steep until the liquid cools to room temperature before straining.
decoction recipe
licorice root, cherry bark, peach twig, cramp bark, etc.
-place the herb in cold water in a covered pot.
Use one to two teaspoons of
dried herb to each cup of water. Bring to a boil over medium heat, lower the heat as soon as it reaches a
boil, and simmer, covered, for 15 minutes.
Remove from heat, let steep for 15 minutes, and strain.
For a stronger decoction, allow the herb to steep until the liquid cools to room temperature before straining.

millie says forget the flu shot

flu shot schmu schmot. only in special populations are people likely to become dangerously ill from the flu (Hemophilus Influenza Virus type A-numbered strains are mutating constantly). the immunocompromised living in tight quarters with other immunocompromised; nursing homes, hospices, hospitals and shelters may effectively take the flu shot to avoid becoming sick since sickness could of ten lead to death or a worsening of a current state of health.

the rest of us are better off getting sick in most cases as illness turns over our immune system allowing the white blood cells to mount a response, kill it and gain long term memory and a good reputation from having done that. the flu shot does not provide long term immunity from strains of influenza whereas getting the actual flu does. some studies have shown that the flu shot given en masse may be economically feasable saving dollars from time off work, but does not benefit general health. instead of the flu shot consider protecting yourself and family the old fashioned way: increasing the immune system though 9-10 hours of sleep, vitamins contained in herb teas, lemon and honey, soups from root veggies, greens, fish and meat, avoiding white flour and sugar, zinc losenges on a full tum, reducing stress, getting plenty of fluids (no coffee or beer).

xox dr millie lytle nd

millie says question the coffee

question the coffee. small amounts of espresso or sips of coffee throughout the day on a full tum tum are at the far end of the consuption continuum whereas an extra large venti triple this shot’a that, at the top of the day, finds itself at the other end. the body digests and utilizes the caffeine as soon as its consumed so providing an overdose triple serving of caffeine and sugar energy to the blood stream is more likely to cause angst, edginess and a hypoglycemic low than is consuming small amounts of unsweetened coffee on a full stomach of protein and complex carbs; the healthiest best way to tolerate the looming mood and sugar dismounts. so enjoy an enlightened cuppa.

xox dr millie lytle nd

note: if you have already stopped coffee GOOD FOR YOU! if too sensitive to coffee stick to grain coffee, oil processed or the “cringe” environmentally unfriendly swiss water process. skip the toxic regular style decaf.

millie says eat the french paradox oui oui

eat the french paradox. they smoke comme des cheminees but still have lower cancer, obesity and diabetes rates than North Americans possibly due to their diets. their petit dejeune which would never be fully consumed include an egg, a toast, une creme fraiche, croissant, un jus and provides protein, carbs and little bites of sugar rather than binge doses. butter, cheese, cream, meat grizzle, swigs of wine on a daily basis and are never sans un peu d’cafe. so what gives. the small-plated meals are rich in raw olive oil, lemon, fresh herbs, local seafood, free-roaming properly fed on grassy cud providing healthy lifestyles for the animals in turn producing better meat, milk, cheese and butter including unpasteurized healthy microflora, omega 3 and 6 fats and fewer hormones. antioxidants levels are high in the french diet as they consume stacks of fresh veggies, eat fruits for desert and drink local wines. they also take their stress in stride by leaving work pour un tout petit cafe a creme with friends. so dont smoke like them but eat like them. oui oui oui.

xox dr millie lytle nd
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millie says october 19

Give mung bean noodles a whirl. If you live in the city you may come across this fine floss often, if small town or rural you might have to find your nearest asian food supplier or ethnic section of grocery store. a good resource when avoiding grains and especially gluten, noodles made from beans are mild, glassy and quickly prepared. Not much of a fibre source but definitely a good choice when on an elimination diet.

xox dr millie lytle nd

millie says october 18

encourage digestion with castor oil.  Taken internally castor oil is a mildly toxic cathartic or strong laxative that causes violent spasms of the intestines subsequently expelling the bowels with violent force so much so that it can actually be used a last resort to induce labour in post dates babies.  Used externally however castor oil is a gentle stimulus for the immune system of the digestive tract.  peyer’s patches are part of the MALT system found in the intestines and make up anywhere from 60-80% of the immune system.  when stimulated with castor oil packs or a gentle rub of the abdomen with castor oil proper dexoxification is maintained in our bowels stimulating the immune system to fight off viral, bacterial and fungal pathogens.  Castor oil rubs can be done daily before bed on infants, children, pregnant persons without the use of a heat source.  Castor oil packs include a castor oil soaked cloth and a heat source such as not water bottle, warm towel or heating pad can be done daily on adults as a relaxing nighttime routine while pondering the immunity in our bowels….

xox dr millie lytle nd

millie says october 17

sleep in pitch dark. to regulate the endocrine system particularly for menstrual irregularities, cycles longer than 30, shorter than 26 days, trouble with fertility; sleep in absolute darkness so much so that a hand cannot be seen in front of the face. melatonin production increases with exposure to darkness during sleep which allows the endocrine system including hypothalamus, adrenal gland and ovaries (gonads) to recover from stress. only during the waxing stage, on the the night before, of and after the full moon should any light shine through which will help stimulate ovulation to occur during this time and therefore regulate cycles as they should according to the lunar calendar. if menstruation is occuring at full moon there is not need to switch over. children should not sleep with a night light as it disrupts depth of sleep. Howwwwl!

xox dr millie lytle nd