most recent 30 from http://paleohacks.com 2013-05-22T14:25:40Z http://paleohacks.com/feeds/question/151241 http://www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/rdf http://paleohacks.com/questions/151241/supplements-i-went-to-a-naturopath-for-my-tiredness-but-my-parents-dont-want-to Samuel 2012-09-22T06:25:13Z 2012-09-24T19:59:36Z

<p>My naturopath, using iridology, said I have liver, kidney and thyroid damage and parasites. We paid NZ$50 for the consultation and NZ$400 on supplements which include:</p> <p>-Calmag- calcium magnesium and low amounts ofvitamin d </p> <p>-Cleanse for life- vit b6,12,3 and other herbal stuff</p> <p>-Ionix- vit b1,2,6,12 folic acid niacin zinc and other herbal stuff</p> <p>-Nourishake- protein shake</p> <p>-Salmon oil- omega 3</p> <p>-Pro Vitality- grain concentrate, carotenoid complex and salmon oil which would be vitamin e, antioxidants and omega 3</p> <p>she also recommended i avoid processed foods(what i already do) refined grains, potatoes(deadly nightshade) and pork(parasites) and dark chocolate. i try not to eat them but sometimes i eat some pork and rarely some potatoes. the diet she has was like an alkaline diet which is basically close to what i already eat (paleo) but they allow whole grain and not pork/potatoes/dark chocolate. i dont eat whole grains though. she said id get better (feel like a normal person) in about 6 months. </p> <p>she also recommended 2 colonic irrigations $200, and 10 craniosacral therapy sessions at $900(because i had a head injury a few years earlier and she saw a "bubble" in my head that my parents didnt have so its not inherited[i cant really see what she meant by that]) we didnt do those though.</p> <p>I've also got my vitamin d levels tested and although i was in the sun a lot and tanning because it's middle of winter, i had 33ng/ml. so i took some 50,000 IU once every one and a half weeks because i go in the sun as well. i think im going to be generating some in the spring sunlight now in september. </p> <p>I'm fermenting my own sauerkraut and starting to have one spoon a day for probiotics. ive only had it for two days. i think it tastes horrible but im still doing it. </p> <p>I think its working a tiny bit but my parents are unwilling to spend more money on the naturopath believeing them to be scammers(they only went the first time to "prove" me wrong). i finished everything else and im halfway through salmon oil and pro vitality.</p> <p>Im just wondering whether i still need the supplements or did i only need to take them for one month to get better. ive emailed the naturopath but she hasnt replied yet. ive looked up supplements from mark sissons website <a href="http://primalblueprint.com/products/Platinum-Package---AUTOSHIP" rel="nofollow">http://primalblueprint.com/products/Platinum-Package---AUTOSHIP</a>*.html is in new zealand dollars $240 but im not sure how much shipping and handling is. its really similar to what my naturopath gave me. id like cheaper options if they are available. </p> <p>Im also not sure if colon irrigations or crainosacral therapies are worth it. i believe i could try and argue with them about everything, but if i dont need the supplements to get better than i wouldnt want to get stressed out about it. what would you guys recommend? </p> <p>edit:</p> <p>stuff i probably am going to need to do soon:</p> <p>liver</p> <p>diatomaceous earth and pumpkin seeds</p> <p>test for mono</p> <p>test for t3 and t4 </p> <p>test for type 1 diabetes</p> <p>probiotics</p> <p>test for electrolytes</p> <p>papaya and pineapple</p> <p>autoimmune paleo</p> <p>test for candida</p> <p>test for sleep apnea</p> <p>blood specialist and an Endocrinologist</p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/151241/supplements-i-went-to-a-naturopath-for-my-tiredness-but-my-parents-dont-want-to/151243#151243 Happy Now 2012-09-22T06:55:51Z 2012-09-24T19:59:36Z

<p>You can get most of that stuff from food. Judging from that list of supplements, I'm guessing she treats mostly vegetarians, or people who don't eat red meat. Keep the vitamin D (I wouldn't worry about taking a ton of it if you are headed into summer though, and a level of 33 at the end of winter isn't bad at all, get it tested again later in the summer) and magnesium, but drop the rest. It is better to eat fish than to take fish oil. If you eat liver and red meat you don't need the B vitamins. Very few people need a cleanse or colonics (they are just like taking antibiotics and decimate your gut microbes), if anything our guts are too sterile these days. </p> <p>My litmus test for NDs is if they try and sell me on food substitutes like protein powder. If you are eating a paleo diet, you don't need it, you have plenty of protein in your diet already. Your parents might be right about the ND trying to profit from supplements. I don't begrudge anyone trying to make a living, but there is an ethical line on that one that can be crossed pretty easily. I think there is an expectation that patients like taking supplements because they are similar to bottles of drugs we've been conditioned to take for our ails. </p> <p>If you do have parasites from pork that are causing health problems (I've noticed that to be a pet concern of Naturopaths in Britain, likely originating from vegetarian propaganda, perhaps it has spread to New Zealand as well) you should be taking real drugs to get rid of them. Having a few parasites can actually be helpful in dealing with autoimmune diseases and allergies, but if it has crossed the line that you are developing anemia, organ damage, or there are cysts forming in your brain, it is time to get them outta there. You can get that screened and treated at a normal docs office. </p> <p>I have a naturopath that I love, but I had to fire a few before finding her. If she started talking colonic irrigation and iridology I'd walk right out the door. Naturopaths can be great, but you have to really shop around to make sure they aren't too woo woo or given to selling fad supplements that they get a kick-back from.</p> <p>Edit:</p> <p>I'm hoping these were also ruled out by tests you already had, but here is a checklist of more things to check out with symptoms of fatigue + thirst to rule out just in case.</p> <ul> <li>Hyperparathyroidism</li> <li>Essential fatty acid deficiency</li> <li>Diabetes mellitus and isipidus</li> <li>Adrenal fatigue</li> <li>Hypercalcemia</li> <li>Hypokalemia</li> <li>A bunch of different kinds of kidney disease</li> <li>Internal bleeding from an ulcer, injury, tumor, or aortic dissection</li> <li>Chronic fatigue syndrome</li> </ul>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/151241/supplements-i-went-to-a-naturopath-for-my-tiredness-but-my-parents-dont-want-to/151247#151247 VB 2012-09-22T07:06:57Z 2012-09-22T07:06:57Z

<p>I have never been to a naturopath, but the one you describe is the kind that sounds scary to me. </p> <p>Red flags:</p> <ol> <li><p>colon irrigation. I have not heard about the benefits yet, but many people warn against them.</p></li> <li><p>way too many supplements. Are you that sick? I agree with Happy Now - get it from real food. That's what Terry Wahls did.</p></li> <li><p>I actually question some other of your naturopath's ideas, but I am not that familiar with naturopathic practices to where she is coming from. How did you find her? Was she listed in a phone book or did you go by your friend's recommendation?</p></li> </ol>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/151241/supplements-i-went-to-a-naturopath-for-my-tiredness-but-my-parents-dont-want-to/151273#151273 Nancy 2012-09-22T13:30:41Z 2012-09-22T13:30:41Z

<p>I hope you find solutions! My husband and I loved going for a series of colonic irrigations (felt awesome afterwards, and the sheer volume of what left our bodies convinced us it was a good thing) and we immediately used great quality, multi-strain probiotics afterwards to rebuild healthy flora. The above comments, and others I've read are making me rethink colonics though. Still, I'd probably try just one to see how you like it, assuming the colon hydrotherapist is registered, licensed, and highly recommended. For sure I'd pass on the protein shakes, since you're eating paleo. We like Mark Sisson but, yeah, he certainly isn't unbiased when it comes to recommending supplements (which he himself is quick to point out in his book). </p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/151241/supplements-i-went-to-a-naturopath-for-my-tiredness-but-my-parents-dont-want-to/151304#151304 Crowbar 2012-09-22T15:58:13Z 2012-09-22T15:58:13Z

<p>This is rare. I side with your parents. </p> <p>You don't tell us anything about your sleep habits. Do you sleep enough? Too much? Do you wake with headaches?</p> <p>As for the craniosacral massage, no, I don't think it's worth it. I have thirteen years experience with neurologists and highly specialised testing, as my daughter had an inutero stroke. I also have the benefit of having lived for the last twenty years in the BC Westcoast Hippie central. IF there IS something wrong with your head, see a neurologist. A bubble? What does that even mean?</p> <p>And you don't have to worry about parasites from pork if you cook it thoroughly.</p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/151241/supplements-i-went-to-a-naturopath-for-my-tiredness-but-my-parents-dont-want-to/151535#151535 JeJ 2012-09-24T03:00:18Z 2012-09-24T03:00:18Z

<p>Everything about this just screams "please try GAPS" to me!! A simple vitamin D supplement and possibly some magnesium, and just start from the very basics. It sounds like you are spending a TON of money on stuff that sounds so much like a problem with your gut microbiota. Seriously, check out GAPS. Could save you an incredible amount of money and time. My boyfriend's mom dragged him through every naturopathic procedure possible, and while some of them were helpful, most of them were unnecessary and expensive because in the end a simple GAPS protocol did waaaaay more good than any of the treatments prescribed by the naturopath. For some people, that's all they need. I'm not saying it's a for-sure fix, but it sounds like you are the perfect candidate for something like a GAPS protocol. </p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/151241/supplements-i-went-to-a-naturopath-for-my-tiredness-but-my-parents-dont-want-to/151651#151651 zoomia 2012-09-24T18:38:01Z 2012-09-24T18:38:01Z

<p>She sounds like a quack. Sorry.</p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/151241/supplements-i-went-to-a-naturopath-for-my-tiredness-but-my-parents-dont-want-to/151656#151656 David Moss 2012-09-24T19:25:46Z 2012-09-24T19:25:46Z

<p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iridology#Scientific_research_into_iridology" rel="nofollow">Iridology</a>, with all due respect, doesn't seem to be supported by any actual evidence. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craniosacral_therapy#Evidence_base" rel="nofollow">Craniosacral therapy</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colon_cleansing" rel="nofollow">colonic irrigations</a> are similarly questionable. It does rather sound like the naturopath is charging you for therapies and supplements that aren't strictly necessary.</p> <p>Supplements often are useful though, even though in principle a healthy diet ought to sort you out for most things. Eating kidney/liver regularly ought to cover most bases. If you want to be safe, you can just take a multivitamin. Omega 3 supplements are a good call if you don't eat much oily fish, but you can probably get them cheaper. Magnesium supplements are one of the only minerals that it's really difficult to meet the RDA for from diet alone, and maybe iodine (which you could get from seaweed). Vitamin D may also be wise, but again, you can probably get it cheaper. It's best to focus on just eating healthily though, and plugging your normals daily foods into <a href="http://nutritiondata.self.com/" rel="nofollow">http://nutritiondata.self.com/</a> to see if there are any major shortfalls.</p>