I was working in my garden this week, enjoying the beautiful spring weather and planting my early crops with my 4 ½ year old son; carrots, spinach, beets, peas, lettuce etc. Among the smells of the newly overturned earth, freshly mowed grass from next door and someone baking close by I caught a whiff of something unpleasant, something that brought me out of my happy-gardener mode. I could smell pesticides on the wind.

For any of you who have heard me speak in the past few years you will know that spraying lawns with herbicides and pesticides is one of my pet peeves. This is my fourth year living in Durham and each year I am absolutely amazed with how much chemicals Durham residents dump onto their lawns without thinking. These chemicals blow in the wind, come into our homes on little bare feet, they get onto our children’s outside toys, our vegetable patches, our pools, leach into our water supply as they travel down stream to the lake where they are sucked into the water treatment plant and then showered upon us as we bathe, drink, cook and breathe.

I have a sign on my lawn that reads: "Chemical free lawn, safe for all living things". My neighbours probably think I’m some eccentric over-the-top environmentalist. What does that mean, anyway? I compost, I cut my lawn with a rotary cutter (no noise pollution, air pollution, wasted electricity – and it’s better for the grass), I use organic fertilizer and natural pesticides. I either enjoy my dandelions or dig them up, depending on my mood of the day. I walk around in bare feet a lot. So do my kids. I don’t want the chemicals from the family down the street in my air, on my toys, on my grass, on my vegetables or in my water. But how to raise awareness? How to let people know that what they are pouring by the truckload onto their lawns is not an innate compound? That it is going to affect us, be absorbed into our bodies and remain in our fatty tissues causing cellular damage?

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You are the start of my campaign, by reading this rant perhaps I will raise your awareness and if you spray your lawn perhaps next year you’ll think of not doing it or perhaps you’ll pass some of this information on to the family down the street who sprays their lawn and they’ll think about not doing it next year. World changing stuff has to start with us. I am starting here.

There is a wonderful package put together by the Breast Cancer Prevention Coalition and the following few paragraphs are excerpts from their information package with regards to pesticides on our health:

As Environment Canada says: "Pesticides are poisons, or they wouldn’t kill." We are all exposed to many pesticides every day through food, water and air. Close to 50 million kilograms of herbicides, insecticides, algaecides (ed, for those of you who have pools) and fungicides are used every year in Canada. Twelve of the most commonly used pesticides are suspected carcinogens (ed: cancer-causing agents). According to the World Wildlife Fund, at least 850 different pesticide products registered for household use have hormone-disrupting effects.

As the WWF brochure, Reducing Your Risk, explains: "Children are more vulnerable than adults to the effects of pesticides because their immune, nervous and reproductive systems are still developing. They eat three times more food and take in four times more pesticides per kilogram of body weight than adults. Crawling on the floor and in the grass, children are also more likely to absorb, inhale and ingest pesticides."

Over 100 active pesticide ingredients are found to cause cancer in humans and animals, according to the Women’s Network on Health and Environment’s newsletter, Connections. "Evidence on links to breast cancer have emerged for the pesticides atrazine, endosulfan and lindane….Other cancers showing a relationship to pesticide exposure include leukemia, soft-tissue sarcoma, non-Hodgkins lymphoma and cancers of the brain, lung, skin and stomach." Other health-related problems include reproductive failures, neurotoxicity and birth defects. According the World Health Organization, it is estimated that every year 25 million people worldwide –nearly equivalent of Canada’s entire population! – are poisoned through occupational exposure to pesticides, and more than 200,000 die.

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Cornell University Professor David Pimento notes that the number of crops lost to pests over the past 40 years has nearly doubled, despite a more than tenfold increase in the amount and toxicity of synthetic insecticides used. During that same time frame, the number of chemical resistant pests has climbed to more that 500.
 

· Every year in Canada, approval for more than 700 pesticide products expires, requiring re-registration. Contact your MP and express your concern about these products. For phone and fax numbers of federal MPs, call 1-800-387-7177.

· If there are pesticides used in the parks and green areas of your town (and I know that there are in Ajax) write to town council and express your concern for your health.

· Reduce or eliminate toxic pesticide products in your home and garden. Put a Pesticide-free sign on your front lawn/garden.

· Speak out for a safer food production system. Ask your supermarket manager to stock sustainably grown food. Write to your MP to urge him/her to pass better pesticide controls and make sustainable farming our nation’s top agricultural priority (as is being done in Europe and Scandinavia right now).

· Whenever possible, buy organic food. Or, even better, grow your own!]
 

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Great Big Welcome to Sue Stenhouse who began at our clinic January 1^st as my office manager and organization guru. Sue has things running beautifully smoothly now and many of you are familiar with her cheerful smile and enthusiasm about natural health. Sue is available to answer or direct your questions Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
 
 

Denise Fuller, whom many of you met this Fall as my clinic intern has graduated from CCNM with her Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine and is joining us beginning May 11^th as a cranio-saccral therapist. Dr. Fuller will be in the office on Tuesdays. If you are interested in this form of bodywork please call the clinic and we would happily book you an initial consult with Dr. Fuller. Beginning in September Dr. Fuller will be accepting new patients for naturopathic care as an associate in the Naturopathic Practice with Dr. Doran. Stay tuned for our fall newsletter when we announce her official start date as a Naturopathic Doctor. ]

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1. Feed your family plenty of fruits and vegetables – and whenever you can, buy food grown without pesticides or with fewer pesticides. Look  for labels indicating that food is certified organic, or transitional organic, grown using Integrated Pest Management, or certified to contain no detected residues.
2. Buy locally grown produce whenever possible. Because it isn’t shipped long distances, it is less likely to have been treated with post-harvest pesticides. Farmers’ markets or farmstands are good sources of locally grown food.
3. Try to avoid imported produce. Out of season produce is more likely to have been imported, possibly from a country with less stringent pesticide regulations than in Canada.
4. Wash all produce well. Use a vegetable scrub brush on the more study vegetables. Adding a few drops of mild dishwashing soap to the water can help remove surface pesticides on conventionally grown produce, but be sure to rinse thoroughly. You can also purchase a food wash from a health food store that would help to remove any pesticide residues from the produce or dilute 1 tablespoon of 35% food grade hydrogen peroxide in one gallon of water and wash your fruits, vegetables, grains and legumes in this. Citrus, if tolerated well by the whole family is another great pesticide remover. Dilute 1 oz of freshly squeezed lemon juice (best to juice lemon rind and all) in 1 litre/quart of pure water and use this as your food wash. Or you can add 10 drops of liquid grapefruit seed extract (citricidal) to one litre of water and use this as your bulk wash or as a ready mix spray to clean your produce with.


Peel non-organic fruits and vegetables that are obviously waxed, to remove any surface pesticides that may be sealed in with the waxes. Be sure you are getting plenty of fiber from other sources in your diet.
 

Insect Bites

1. Wash the bite with soap and water
2. Apply a cold compress
3. Homeopathic Ledum is given for itching bites or stings. Homeopathic Apis may be helpful for bites or stings that are red, swollen or hot, or  if the pain is worsened by heat.
4. Apply a few drops of Tea Tree oil to the bite

1. Baking soda paste left on the sting for 15 or 20 minutes (for wasp stings use vinegar or lemon juice)
2. Apply a cold compress
3. Rub on any non poisonous green plant – the chlorophyll in the leaves will help relieve the pain
4. Homeopathic Ledum is given for itching bites or stings. Homeopathic Apis may be helpful for bites or stings that are red, swollen or hot, or if the pain is worsened by heat.

Bruises

1. Homeopathic Arnica is often used in the form of a cream to help heal the bruise
2. Niacin supplements increases circulation by dilating the capillaries and will help resolve bruises
3. Cold compresses with apple cider vinegar or solutions of witch hazel, comfrey or calendula, are effective in reducing swelling and soreness.

1. Boil some lettuce in water, then strain it and let the liquid cool for a few hours in the refrigerator before applying it to your skin with cottonballs. Other vegetables that can produce results? Thinly sliced pieces of raw cucumber, potato, or apple can be place on sunburned areas – the coolness from the vegetables is soothing and might help reduce inflammation.
2. Rub liquid vitamin E on to the burn, or take it internally – it’s much more effective.
3. Soak yourself in diluted vinegar – pour one cup of white-cider vinegar into a tub of tepid water and soak yourself in it. It’s very soothing to your skin and helps relieve the pain of sunburn
4. Heal with oatmeal – wrap dry oatmeal in some gauze or cheese cloth and run cool water through it. Wring out the excess water and apply for 20 minutes every two to four hours.
5. Apply a think layer of honey if the area is a small one
6. Aloe Vera gel applied directly to the burn
7. Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration.
8. Avoid: putting ice directly on skin, using butter or other fats/oils to soothe the skin and breaking blisters]

 

The Naturopathic Clinic and Dispensary are open Mondays and Wednesdays 10am-7pam and on Thursdays from 9 am – 4 pm. The Cranio sacral therapist is available 12pm-8pm on Tuesdays.

The clinic will be closed for holidays July 26-30^th and August 16-20^th ]

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Magnesium for Menstrual Cramps

High dosages of magnesium (2g) have been given IV (combined with other nutrients to aid with absorption) to relieve menstrual cramps almost instantaneously. If you can’t get an IV of magnesium try supplementing liquid cal-mag in the dose of 800 mg of magnesium. If you are taking too much magnesium your body will tell you – it causes diarrhea! ]

Cholesterol and Niacin

Niacin has beneficial effects on low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high- density lipoprotein cholesterol, apolipoprotein B and A-1, triglycerides and lipoprotein. Niacin has been shown to reduce the incidence of coronary artery disease. The main problem with the use of niacin has been flushing, gastrointestinal discomfort and metabolic effects including hepatotoxicity. Administration of 1.5 g of slow releasing niacin at bedtime has been shown to be beneficial. Talk to your health care provider for more information. ]
 

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Type O

The Hunter; Oldest blood type, Caveman blood type, originated in Africa; Meat eater; Hardy digestive tract; Overactive immune system; Intolerant to dairy and eggs

Needs intense physical exercise; Tendency to a low thyroid

Eat LESS of: wheat, corn, kidney beans, navy beans, lentils, cabbage, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, mustard greens, peanuts, brazil nuts, pistachios, acidic fruit.

Eat MORE of: kelp, seafood, ionized salt, liver, red meat, kale, spinach broccoli, flax seed oil, olive oil, fruit.

Disease Susceptibility: Digestive complaints, Chron’s disease, and irritable bowel syndrome

Beneficial Supplements: B vitamins, Vitamin K, Calcium, Iodine, Magnesium. Avoid Vitamins A and E.

Beneficial Herbs: Glycerrhiza (licorice), Fucus (kelp)

Type of Exercise: Frequent aerobic exercise

Personality: Strength, endurance,self-reliance, daring, intuitive, innate optimism, focus, drive

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Type A

Evolved as man moved from a hunter/gatherer society to a farming society. Type A’s were more resistant to new infections that living in densely populated areas brought. Type A’s were able to survive the "new" types of diseases such as the plague, cholera, and smallpox. Today the highest concentration of Type A’s are found in western Europeans.

The first vegetarian; Reaps wheat he sows; Sensitive digestive tract; Tolerant immune system

Responds best to stress with calming activities

Foods must be pure, fresh and organic

Eat LESS of: Dairy, careful of wheat, red meat, and poultry

Eat MORE of: Snails, fish, beans, fruits and vegetables

Disease Susceptibility: Heart disease, cancer and diabetes

Beneficial Supplements: Vitamin B, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Zinc, Selenium and Chromium, Avoid Beta-Carotene

Beneficial Herbs: Hawthorn, Echinacea, Astragalus, Quercetin, Silybum, and Bromelain.

Beneficial Exercise: Quiet, calming exercise such as yoga, tai chi

Personality: Co-operative, clever, sensitive, passionate, smart, tend to bottle up anxiety

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Type B

The Nomad – this type emerged as humans migrated north from Africa and Mediterranean regions.

Strong Immune system; Tolerant digestion

Eat LESS of: Corn, buckwheat, lentils, peanuts, sesame seeds, wheat

Eat MORE of: fish, wild red meats, almonds, walnuts, pecans, macadamia nuts, kidney beans, lima beans, millet, oatbran, oatmeal, lots of vegetables and fruit.

Disease Susceptibility: Able to resist most severe diseases common to modern life (Heart Disease and Cancer)

Prone to immune system disorders such as multiple sclerosis, lupus, chronic fatigue, arthritis.

Beneficial Supplements: Magnesium, digestive enzymes, Lecithin

Beneficial Herbs: Licorice, eleuthrococcus, Gingko

Beneficial Exercise: Creativity is the best stress reliever. Requires a balance between physical and mental activity. Best exercises are biking, hiking and group activities

Personality: Sturdy and alert individuals, adapts to new situations well, balanced, more flexible, less vulnerable, people person, harmony, empathetic.

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Type AB

The most modern blood type, only about 1000 yrs old

Result of the intermingling of all the other Types

Rarest of the blood types less than 5% of the population are type AB

Sensitive digestion

Tolerant immune system

Eat LESS of: Red meat, kidney beans, lima beans, seeds, corn, buckwheat, wheat.

Eat MORE of: Tofu, seafood, dairy, green vegetables, kelp, pineapple, wild game, snail fish, eggs, dairy, peanuts, pinto beans, green lentils

Beneficial Supplements: Green tea, Quercetin, Bromelain

Beneficial Herbs: Hawthorn, Echinacea, Astragalus, Silybum,

Beneficial Exercise: Requires spiritual activities to handle stress

Personality: Doesn’t hold grudges, diplomatic, interesting and charismatic people]

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Forget about bacon and butter sandwiches on white bread. For most of us these days, food must meet the following criteria: It must taste good, be low in fat and pack a nutritional punch. To help you narrow down the choices, here’s a list of 10 best of all around foods:

BEANS – They have little fat but heaps of several key nutrients, including the B vitamin folic acid, copper, Zinc, magnesium and potassium. They also make a great source of protein (usually found in higher-fat foods), fiber and complete carbohydrates for energy that’s much more stable that what you’d get from more sugary foods. Two servings a day of your favorite bean can lower blood cholesterol as much as 27 percent.

BROWN RICE – Like white rice, it’s almost a pure complex carbohydrate, but it packs in the fiber, too. It’s also a rich non-meat source of zinc and contains all the minerals white rice lacks because of the refining process that is involved in making brown rice white. You’ll even get protein—five grams per cup.

GARLIC - It contains lots of antioxidants, fights bacteria and viruses and helps lower cholesterol and blood pressure. It may even help prevent cancer. A couple of cloves or four Kyolic garlic gel caps a day should make for a healthy dose.

PAPAYA – One of the most nutrient-dense fruits you can find, calorie-for-calorie it beats oranges and apples. One papaya provides 30 percent more than the RDA for vitamin A and 300 times for vitamin C. It teems with allergy-and disease-fighting phytochemicals, too.

EGG WHITES – With all the essential amino acids, they’re about the most perfect protein you can eat. And without the yolk, which contains about 300 milligrams of cholesterol (close to your daily limit), egg whites are the rare no-fat, high-protein food.

CHICKEN – Aside from being easy to cook and incredibly versatile, it’s the meat for the active person. White meat has just 370 calories and 18 grams of fat per six ounces (dark meat has 450 calories, 26 grams of fat). It’s high in iron, protein, niacin and zinc. Leave the skin on until the bird’s cooked to keep in the juices; it’ll come off easier when it’s cooked, too. Taking most of the fat with it. Try and find organic sources of chicken to avoid all those nasty chemicals factory raised chickens contain.

BROCCOLI - Vitamin C, beta-carotene and fiber figure highly in broccoli’s nutritional profile. But it’s broccoli’s high content of the phytochemicals sulforaphane that has been making headlines lately because of its powerful anti-cancer effects.

SOY – Soy is now available in various tasty forms, from soy milk to veggie burgers to fake bacon to tofu (tastes great fried, then mopped off with a paper towel, and in miso soup). It features high-quality protein, is low in saturated fat and contains the heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids most people only get from fish. It might even reduce cancer risk, lower cholesterol and help prevent heart disease.

SWEET POTATOES – We love these in part because they’re so delicious and easy to cook. Each potato also has a whopping 8,285 IU of vitamin A (one-and-a-half times your RDA), 50 percent of the RDA of vitamin C, and decent amounts of three essential minerals: calcium, magnesium and potassium.

WATER – Hey, don’t scoff. You’re probably not drinking enough; few people do. Eight eight-ounce glasses a day are the bare minimum. If you’re active, you can sweat away two pounds of water surprisingly fast. All your organ systems need the stuff in order to function. You also need the crucial minerals water provides, including sodium, potassium, calcium and phosphorus (which means that distilled water isn’t the answer here – try spring water). A healthy water intake will help prevent kidney stones (which afflict men way more than women) and keep your urinary and gastrointestinal tracts functioning better. (Men’s Health, Spring 1999) ]
 
 

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Cheesy Sauce

My good friend Kerry is the best vegan cook I know and each time we go to visit her she shares with us her newest recipe invention. On a recent visit she shared this wonderful recipe for a cheese sauce with us. Kerry served this tasty and filling cheesy sauce over kamut spiral pasta and steamed collards and broccoli. The kids LOVED it! (and I have to admit that I had a second helping)

2 cups water

2 tbsp tamari

1 clove garlic, minced

¼ cup oats

½ cup nutritional yeast

4 tbsp tahini

4 tbsp arrowroot flour or cornstarch

1 tsp dried basil

Pinch tumeric

Juice from ½ a lemon

Combine ingredients in blender and blend until very smooth.

Pour into saucepan over medium heat. Stir frequently (do this, I found out the hard way that this is an essential part of the recipe) until thickened.

Serve hot over pasta, steamed collards and steamed broccoli or use as a replacement for cheese sauce in other recipes.

Crop Sharing Associations

CSA’s or Crop Sharing Associations are springing up all over Ontario. These are organic farmers who sell "shares" in their farms to individuals in the community who are interested in supporting organic farming. Your share (or half share) buys you a huge box of veggies each week. Mike Lannigan is an organic farmer and owner of a CSA. I have bought shares in his farm before and the produce is lovely. Mike’s farm is close to Uxbridge, so the drive does get a little tedious each week. However, we could organize a group share purchase and take turns going to get the produce. Call the clinic if you are interested in this arrangement. If you would like to talk to Mike about his farm call him at 905-852-4080. ]
 
 

Quinoa Tabbouli

With salad season upon us and picnics and bar-b-q’s planned for weekends here is a wonderful salad using the grain Quinoa. Quinoa is a psuedograin belonging to the Goosefoot family and it is a powerhouse of nutrition. The National Acadamy of Sciences calls it "one of the best sources of vegetable protein in the vegetable kingdom". The essential amino acid balance is close to ideal. It contains 16 percent protein, B vitamins, natural sugars and complex carbohydrates, calcium, phosphorus and iron. It is low in gluten and is a great alternative for people with wheat and corn allergies.

1/2 cup quinoa rinsed very well

2 cups water

1 cup finely chopped tomato

1/3 cup finely chopped fresh parsley

1 tbsp finely chopped mint (fresh only)

1/4 cup finely chopped onion

2 tbsp olive oil

2 tbsp fresh lemon juice

pinch pepper

1 tsp salt

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Nori Mu Silken Style Tofu and Nori Mu Chocolate Pudding Mix

5 Remedy Homeopathic First Aid Kit $25 4 Remedy Chicken Pox Kit $20

Custom made kits also available. Place your orders with the clinic
 

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