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5 Ways to Prevent COVID After Exposure

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hay fever reliefThere’s still plenty of COVID cases around, and we know how to minimise our risk of exposure, and transmission to others. But what if you’ve just found out your a close contact? If you’ve had a get together and one of you has come down with COVID since. Is there more you can do to prevent infection for yourself?

Yes.

Here are 5 good options:

  1. Use a mouthwash containing cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC)

The virus that caused COVID is SARS-CoV-2. It enters our body via our mouth or nose. It quickly multiplies in either cavity before spreading further down our airways. Using a solution that can inhibit SARS-CoV-2 in these cavities has been shown to reduce the likelihood of COVID infection. Mouthwashes containing CPC currently available in major supermarkets and chemists (in no particular order) include:

  1. Oral-B Clinical Alcohol Free Fluoride Rinse Clean Mint Mouthwash
  2. Colgate Plax Antibacterial Mouthwash Freshmint Alcohol Free 500ml
  3. Colgate Plax Antibacterial Mouthwash Fresh Tea Alcohol Free 500ml
  4. Colgate Neutrafluor 220 Daily Fluoride Mouth Rinse Mint 473ml
  5. Colgate Plax Ice Fusion Antibacterial Mouthwash Cold Mint 500ml
  6. Colgate Plax Antibacterial Mouthwash Freshmint Alcohol Free 250ml
  7. Colgate Plax Antibacterial Mouthwash Peppermint Alcohol Free 500ml
  8. Colgate Plax Antibacterial Mouthwash Peppermint Alcohol Free 500ml
  9. Colgate Plax Antibacterial Mouthwash Freshmint Alcohol Free 1l
  10. Listerine Smart Rinse Mouthwash For Kids Berry 500ml
  11. Coles Pro Zero Mouthwash
  12. Coles Pro Teeth Defence Mouthwash

    2. Gargle Chlorhexidine. 

    Brand name is Savacol, available in pharmacies. Chlorhexidine is an antimicrobial agent that has been shown to be effective in killing enveloped viruses, including SARS‐CoV‐2. The tricky part is gargling for 30 seconds, right at the back of your throat. It’s harder than it sounds. Certainly possible. Counting and pausing to breathe through your nose helps.

    3. Use a Nasal Spray. Numerous studies have confirmed that povidone-iodine (PI) inactivates many common respiratory viruses, including SARS. 10–20 ml 1% PVP-solution is placed into the nasal cavity.  Three recent studies identified a reduction in viral load in saliva after the use of mouthrinses with PI (up to three hours), chlorhexidine (up to four hours), or CPC-containing mouthwash (up to six hours). So use 15 ml 1% PVP-I as a swish and spit for 30 seconds or dilute betadine throat gargle by putting it into a saline nasal spray bottle (to a 1% PVP solution). Don’t forget to dilute it! I did once. Ouch. PVP-I functions as an antiseptic through several mechanisms and is considered to have the broadest spectrum of action compared to other common antiseptics such as chlorhexidine.  Through oxidation of cell surface receptors, PVP-I prevents the attachment of viruses to cellular receptors.

    4. Take Vitamin C. High-dose vitamin C has been shown to enhance immunity, reduce inflammation, improve oxygen support status, and reduce mortality in COVID-19 patients, all without causing any negative side effects. What is high dose? 2000mg daily, increasing by 1000mg each day, up to 5000mg daily, or until you get diarrhoea. Stop increasing the dose then. Sound unpleasant? Sure, but it’s cleaning your gut whilst preventing/ treating COVID.

    5. Take Quercetin. Quercetin displays a broad range of antiviral properties which can interfere at multiple steps of pathogen virulence -virus entry, virus replication, protein assembly. You can buy Quercetin in supplement form and dose according to the manufacturers instructions.  You can also eat Quercetin-rich foods, which are apples, honey, raspberries, onions, red grapes, cherries, citrus fruits, and green leafy vegetables.

You can hedge your bets and do all of the above! I certainly do after exposure.

Stay well!

 

Written by,

Dr Elaine Hickman sitting at clinic deskDr Elaine Hickman

B.H.Sc.TCM (Acupuncture), Cert.Cl.Ac. (Beijing)

Elaine has trained and worked in various settings, both in Australia and China.  She has over 22 years experience in treating many health problems.  Elaine loves to provide a health care experience for people that is respectful, effective, empowering and enjoyable.  Elaine has particular expertise in Women’s Health, Children’s Health, Family Medicine and Wellness promotion.

Elaine is available for consultations:

Monday & Tuesday
Call (03) 9486 5966

Book Your Appointment TODAY

 

References

Dutta, Sanchari Sinha. (2021, August 09). Cetylpyridinium chloride-containing mouthwashes shown to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 in oral cavity. News-Medical. Retrieved on January 09, 2023 from https://www.news-medical.net/news/20210809/Cetylpyridinium-chloride-containing-mouthwashes-shown-to-inhibit-SARS-CoV-2-in-oral-cavity.aspx.

Huang YH, Huang JT. Use of chlorhexidine to eradicate oropharyngeal SARS-CoV-2 in COVID-19 patients. J Med Virol. 2021 Jul;93(7):4370-4373. doi: 10.1002/jmv.26954. Epub 2021 Apr 1. PMID: 33755218; PMCID: PMC8251493.

Colunga Biancatelli Ruben Manuel Luciano, Berrill Max, Catravas John D., Marik Paul E. Quercetin and Vitamin C: An Experimental, Synergistic Therapy for the Prevention and Treatment of SARS-CoV-2 Related Disease (COVID-19). Frontiers in Immunology. VOLUME=11. YEAR=2020. URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2020.01451

Naqvi, S.H.S., Citardi, M.J., Cattano, D. et al. Povidone-iodine solution as SARS-CoV-2 prophylaxis for procedures of the upper aerodigestive tract a theoretical framework. J of Otolaryngol – Head & Neck Surg 49, 77 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40463-020-00474-x

Hernández-Vásquez, A., Barrenechea-Pulache, A., Comandé, D. et al. Mouthrinses and SARS-CoV-2 viral load in saliva: a living systematic review. Evid Based Dent (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41432-022-0253-z

Jhon Paul Iakov Mezarina Mendoza, Briggitte Patricia Trelles Ubillús, Gabriela Tazziana Salcedo Bolívar, Rosa Del Pilar Castañeda Palacios, Paulo Sergio Gilmar Herrera Lopez, David Alex Padilla Rodríguez, Karin Harumi Uchima Koecklin,
Antiviral effect of mouthwashes against SARS-COV-2: A systematic review,
The Saudi Dental Journal, Volume 34, Issue 3, 2022

Shahbaz U, Fatima N, Basharat S, Bibi A, Yu X, Hussain MI, Nasrullah M. Role of vitamin C in preventing of COVID-19 infection, progression and severity. AIMS Microbiol. 2022 Mar 30;8(1):108-124. doi: 10.3934/microbiol.2022010. PMID: 35496992; PMCID: PMC8995185.

 

5 ways to prepare for a Frozen Embryo Transfer

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acupuncture and Chinese herbs for pregnancy supportIf you are trying to conceive via IVF, and your clinic advises freezing the embryo/s, what else can you do after egg retrieval to improve the odds of your frozen embryo implanting?

Here’s 5 natural things you can do:

1. Take a good prenatal. What’s a good prenatal?

– One that contains natural folate or methylfolate. This is preferred over poorly absorbed synthetic folic acid.

– One that contains active forms of Vitamin B6 and B12

– One that contains Iodine and Selenium. Minerals that are important for fertility and are not always included in prenatal supplements.

Or simply take a recommendation from your practitioner at Freedom Chinese Medicine. We stock 3 different quality prenatals in the clinic.

Having adequate levels of these vitamins right from the start of pregnancy is important for the health of the baby.

 

2. Take Vitamin D.

Refer to our supplement guide or your practitioner for dosing.

Vitamin D is important for reducing the risk of miscarriage and preterm birth.

 

3. Take Vitamin E 600mg daily.

Studies have used 900IU, which is a fairly high dose. To get close to that level, you could take 2 capsules per day in the month before embryo transfer.

 

In 2019, a study of women with repeated implantation failure found that supplementing with Vitamin E significantly improved lining thickness. Vitamin E boosts blood cell numbers in the uterine lining and promotes the development of new blood vessels.

 

4. Take L-arginine 6g daily.

Not recommended before egg retrieval as it may compromise egg quality. It has been found that L-arginine can endometrial thickness was 6 grams per day, divided into 4 doses

L-arginine dilates blood vessels thereby improving blood flow.

acupuncture on pregnant woman

5. Have acupuncture!

Acupuncture is surprisingly relaxing. Research has consistently found that in women undergoing IVF, acupuncture reduces the level of the stress hormone cortisol.

 

After transfer, you can stop the Vitamin E and L-arginine, but continue with Acupuncture, Vitamin D and your prenatal until you get a positive test.

 

Written by Dr. Elaine Hickman

B.H.Sc.TCM (Acupuncture), Cert.Cl.Ac. (Beijing)

Dr. Elaine Hickman in clinicElaine has trained and worked in various settings, both in Australia and China.  She has over 22 years experience in treating many health problems.  Elaine loves to provide a health care experience for people that is respectful, effective, empowering and enjoyable.  Elaine has particular expertise in Women’s Health, Children’s Health, Family Medicine and Wellness promotion. She brings extra understanding and knowledge to the table having been through infertility herself.

Elaine is available in clinic in Ivanhoe, Melbourne or via Telehealth/ phone or video chat.

Book Your Appointment TODAY

 

 

References

1. Hashemi Z, Sharifi N, Khani B, Aghadavod E, Asemi Z. The effects of vitamin E supplementation on endometrial thickness, and gene expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and inflammatory cytokines among women with implantation failure. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2019 Jan;32(1):95-102. doi: 10.1080/14767058.2017.1372413. Epub 2017 Sep 12. Update in: J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2022 Dec;35(25):6841. PMID: 28847198.

 

2. Takasaki A, Tamura H, Miwa I, Taketani T, Shimamura K, Sugino N. Endometrial growth and uterine blood flow: a pilot study for improving endometrial thickness in the patients with a thin endometrium. Fertil Steril. 2010 Apr;93(6):1851-8. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2008.12.062. Epub 2009 Feb 6. PMID: 19200982.

 

3. So EW, Ng EH, Wong YY, Yeung WS, Ho PC. Acupuncture for frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycles: a double-blind randomized controlled trial. Reprod Biomed Online. 2010 Jun;20(6):814-21. doi: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2010.02.024. Epub 2010 Mar 4. PMID: 20382081.

 

Gluten-Free Quinoa Tabouli

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Do you have an abundance of parsley in your garden this summer? Here’s a yummy use for it!

Ingredients

2 cups water

 2 cups flat-leaf parsley loosely packed, very finely sliced

 ½ cup fresh mint leaves, finely sliced

 3 spring onions/scallions, finely sliced

 250 gm cherry tomatoes, quartered 

2 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice (or to taste)

½ cup extra virgin olive oil

sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

 Recipe Measurements:

For accuracy, we recommend weighing your ingredients. This will produce the best results.

Instructions

  • Put the quinoa in a fine-meshed sieve and rinse well under cold, running water, swishing the quinoa with your hand. Drain the quinoa well.
  • Add 2 cups of water to a medium-size saucepan. Add the quinoa. Over medium-high heat bring it to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer, covered for about 10 minutes, until the seeds are tender. When they are cooked you will notice that they have little curly “tails”.
  • Remove the saucepan from the heat. Place a clean tea towel or 3 layers of paper towel over the saucepan.  Put the lid back on and set aside for 5 minutes. The tea towel/paper towel will absorb excess moisture.
  • Fluff the quinoa with a fork, then turn it into a bowl and leave to cool completely.
  • Add the finely sliced parsley, mint, spring onions/scallions and quartered tomatoes to the quinoa.
  • Add the olive oil and lemon juice, sea salt and freshly ground black pepper and gently toss the ingredients together.
  • Taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary, adding more olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper as required. The salad should have a bright, lemony flavour but adjust it to your personal taste.
  • Serve at room temperature or refrigerate and serve cold.

Silly Season Survival Tips

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Dr. Elaine’s top tips for stress relief

It’s that time of year when life can seem to speed up, get much busier. Do you feel more stressed this time of year? Here’s 8 things that you can do to help.

First, accept it; there is no need to fight with stress. It can be used as a creative energy. Accept the feeling, it is perfectly okay. Stress is simply an indication that the body is getting ready to fight with the situation. Enjoy the challenge! There is no need to be worried. Work it out, use the energy that is coming up: walk up and down, go for a run, go for a long walk. Plan what you want to do, what the mind wants to do. Rather than trying to relax, which is sometimes not possible. In fact if you have worked through the stress totally you will come to relaxation automatically; you can go on only so far, then the body automatically relaxes.

cat with hat

If you are overwhelmed, having trouble focusing on what you need to do to next to work through the stress, try these:

1. Stop & breathe, even for 30 seconds. Stop what you’re doing, focus on your breath, elongate your breath out, ideally make it twice as long as your breath in. Breathe through your nose if you can. This one of the quickest ways to decrease your sympathetic (excitatory) nervous system activity.

2. Be present. Focus on one thing at a time and give it your full focus. Let yourself be immersed in this one task, letting go of the feeling that you need to quickly rush through it, that you need to get on to the next task. There will always be a next task — the nature of task lists is that they’re never-ending. So let those other tasks come later.

3. Make space between appointments. Rushing is a common stress trigger so minimise rushing by allowing space between appointments. Allow time for the unexpected to come up, as it often does. Be a master of your time, not a slave to it.

4. Laugh. It’s one of the quickest ways to get those happy chemicals flowing. And it’s fun. Take 5 mins to watch a funny video. Ask the person next to you to tell you a joke. Try laughing at yourself or the ridiculously busy day you have planned. It can be liberating:)

5. Rest if you’re tired. Ah so simple but we often find this one challenging. “But I’ve got so much to do” says our programming. The simple truth is that you’ll be able to complete any task much more efficiently after you’ve had even a 5 minute rest.

6. Take a brief walk. When things are getting stressful, take two-three minutes to take a walk and clear your mind. A short walk does wonders.

7. Let go. If you’re feeling overwhelmed with tasks, work out what you can delegate or simply drop it for now. Ask yourself~ does it really matter right now?

8. Drop the sugar. Seriously. Sugar is a stimulant, will send your blood sugar high which will soon come back down, this can affect our mood and stress response.

You can also come in for a relaxing Acupuncture or  Massage session 🙂

How to Prevent Miscarriage, especially over 35yo

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Wouldn’t it be great if all miscarriages could be prevented? So much pain and loss avoided. Unfortunately it cannot be so. But there are several things we can do to reduce the chances of miscarriage for ourselves. These things have been studied extensively. So where do we start?

  1. Aim to conceive before your over 35 years old. Miscarriage rates rise dramatically after this time. Most early miscarriages are due to chromosomal abnormalities. Not always possible, I know, I met my partner later in life. There are other options you can focus on..
  2. Not smoking during pregnancy. Tobacco, marijuana or vaping.
  3. Avoid caffeine.  Unfortunately, caffeine can increase miscarriage risk. Even caffeine intake before pregnancy. Studies indicate that miscarriage risk begins to rise with just one cup of tea or less than half a cup of coffee per day.¹
  4. Eat a healthy, balanced diet with a large variety of vegetables.healthy food
  5. Supplements such as DHEA and CoQ10 (Ubiquinol), may help to reduce the chance of chromosomal abnormalities, if taken for several months before trying to conceive. Because most chromosomal errors in eggs occur 3-4 months before ovulation.woman holding her pregnant belly
  6. Avoid toxins such as BPA. BPA stands for bisphenol A, an industrial chemical that has been used to make certain plastics and resins since the 1950s. BPA is a known endocrine disrupter. Which means that it messes with our hormones.  High levels of BPA are linked to higher miscarriage risk. It is important to keep in mind that it is the highest BPA levels that are linked. To increase your odds of conceiving and preventing miscarriage, the main goal is simply to get out of that highest range; to lower your overall exposure rather than to avoid all possible sources of BPA.  How to get out of the high range?

    – Get rid of your plastic drinking water bottle. Even if listed as BPA-free, other plastics probably contain other endocrine disrupters. We just don’t know about them yet. Best to go with glass or stainless steel.

    – Swap your plastic kettle for a stainless steel one.

    – Swap over your hard plastic food containers for glass or stainless steel ones. IKEA has some good glass ones with lids that don’t leak and stand the test of time.

    – Swapping plastic colanders for stainless steel ones.

    – Avoiding use of coffee machines with plastic components, using a stainless steel French press at home instead.

  7. Avoid alcohol. Numerous studies have indicated that drinking regularly during pregnancy can increase the risk of miscarriage. However, low to moderate alcohol consumption ( 6 drinks per week or less) before you become pregnant is not an issue. The safest option is avoiding alcohol after ovulation, in case you become early pregnant without realising, or before testing.

  8.  Avoid refined sugar. High blood sugar and insulin levels are a big problem for fertility because it disrupts the balance of other hormones that regulate the reproductive system. And increase the risk of miscarriage².  So, we need to avoid sugary drinks³. Avoid refined sugar in all it’s forms. There is clear evidence that excess sugar consumption compromises fertility.³  Minimise all types of sweeteners, and foods with significant amounts of added sugar. Whole fruit is OK in moderation (2 serves daily). If you find yourself craving a sweet treat, and fruit won’t cut it, a small amount of dark chocolate is a good choice. Also keep in mind that it is long term daily habits that matter most. The occasional indulgence is not worth feeling guilty about.

  9. Avoid refined carbohydrates. The white flours, pastries, potatoes, white bread. Swap out for lower GI carbs such as brown rice, wild rice, steel-cut oats, quinoa or buckwheat. There are many pastas available these days made out of quinoa or buckwheat. This will help to balance your blood sugar and insulin levels.

 

Written by

Elaine Hickman pregnantDr Elaine Hickman

B.H.Sc.TCM (Acupuncture), Cert.Cl.Ac. (Beijing)

Elaine has trained and worked in various settings, both in Australia and China.  She has over 22 years experience in treating many health problems.  Elaine loves to provide a health care experience for people that is respectful, effective, empowering and enjoyable.  Elaine has particular expertise in Women’s Health, Children’s Health, Family Medicine and Wellness promotion. She brings extra understanding and knowledge to the table having been through infertility at an advanced age herself.

 

 

 

References

1 Chen LW, Wu Y, Neelakantan N, Chong MF, Pan A, van Dam RM. Maternal caffeine intake during pregnancy and risk of pregnancy loss: a categorical and dose-response meta-analysis of prospective studies. Public Health Nutr. 2016 May;19(7):1233-44. doi: 10.1017/S1368980015002463. Epub 2015 Sep 2. PMID: 26329421.

2 Tian L, Shen H, Lu Q, Norman RJ, Wang J. Insulin resistance increases the risk of spontaneous abortion after assisted reproduction technology treatment. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2007 Apr;92(4):1430-3. doi: 10.1210/jc.2006-1123. Epub 2007 Jan 23. PMID: 17244790.

3 Machtinger R, Gaskins AJ, Mansur A, Adir M, Racowsky C, Baccarelli AA, Hauser R, Chavarro JE. Association between preconception maternal beverage intake and in vitro fertilization outcomes. Fertil Steril. 2017 Dec;108(6):1026-1033. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2017.09.007. Epub 2017 Oct 3. PMID: 28985907; PMCID: PMC5716855.

 

Preventing Miscarriage

Lemon & Dill Pesto Recipe

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Prep:10 mins
Cook:0 mins
Total:10 mins
Servings:8 servings
Yield:2 cups

Ingredients

  • 5 tablespoons walnuts
  • 5 cloves garlic
  • 6 ounces fresh dill, about 2 to 3 cups, roughly chopped
  • 1 large lemon, zested
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 to 1 cup rapeseed oil, or canola oil

Steps to Make It

  1. Place 5 tablespoons walnuts and 5 cloves garlic in a food processor and process until finely chopped. Add fresh dill, lemon zest, and salt. Process into a thick paste.

  2. Continue to process (using the “pulse” feature if available), gradually pouring in rapeseed or canola oil until pesto is the consistency of a thick tomato sauce.

  3. Refrigerate lemon-dill pesto, covered, until ready to use.

 

Note: Due to the risk of botulism spores that can develop in garlic and oil combinations under anaerobic conditions, use the pesto right away, or within the next few hours, stored in a jar in the fridge. Otherwise it is best to freeze the pesto. Adding a little lemon juice helps the pesto keep its bright green color.

Parsley Pesto

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I love this simple, easy, tasty pesto recipe. Especially this time of year when parsley is growing rampant in my garden.

  • Total: 5 min
  • Prep: 5 min
  • Yield: about 2 1/2 cups

Ingredients

Directions

  1. In a food processor place the garlic, parsley, pinch salt, walnuts, and cheese. Process until they form a paste. Gradually blend in olive oil, taste adjust your seasoning if necessary. Great with pasta, poultry, vegetables and rice.

Acupuncture for anxiety – what it’s all about

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Emerging – by a very local artist; Mary Caia

Feeling anxious? You’re not alone. Everybody experiences anxiety from time to time. Anxiety is a normal part of responding to challenges and dangers in life. Sometimes anxiety can become a persistent or debilitating experience.

Persistent anxiety can present differently in different people. Some people find themselves thinking rapidly and their mind leapfrogs from one fear into another, some take themselves to the Emergency department because they believe themselves to be experiencing a heart attack, and some need to go to the toilet – every ten minutes.

Acupuncturists are often asked “How effective is acupuncture for anxiety?” or “How many Acupuncture sessions will I need to treat my anxiety?”

Physiologically, acupuncture can treat anxiety because it interacts with and calms the sympathetic nervous system to take us out of the flight-or-fright response. Because of this many people feel calmer during their session.

But there is more to it than that. As Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners we look at the person as a whole and ask the question “Why is this person experiencing anxiety in this way?”.

What happens during the consult?                       

During your consultation, your practitioner will ask what your experience of anxiety is. This means we will ask you how it manifests physically, mentally and emotionally. We take your pulse and look at your tongue, and ask a number of seemingly unrelated questions that help us to gauge what happened to keep you stuck in a heightened state of worry, fear or negativity.

It can sometimes help to know the circumstances that led to the anxiety. But what we are really interested in is what happened, or is happening inside of you. We are interested in where the imbalance occurred to wear down your resilience and prevent you from moving forward. Out of the fight-or-flight response.

Different ways anxiety affects people

Symptoms we might monitor from week to week are broad, and can include:

  • Inability to relax, circular thinking, aversion to social situations
  • Irritability, anger, obsessive thinking, fears and phobias
  • Heart palpitations, sweaty palms, chest tightness, breathlessness
  • Insomnia, restless sleep, nightmares
  • Pain
  • Irritable bowels (diarrhoea, constipation, bloating, indigestion)
  • Urinary frequency and incontinence
  • Hair loss, fatigue, social withdrawal

How many acupuncture sessions required to treat anxiety

We usually recommend a course of 4-6 sessions for significant improvements.

Each session usually takes between 30-45 minutes. Patients usually feel more relaxed during and immediately after each treatment. We often find that that relaxation extends for longer periods after each session.

Patients report “feeling like themselves again”. A little bit at a time, people start to access optimism and confidence. They smile more often and laugh more genuinely.

Generally, patients find that looking after themselves (eating well, exercise and setting boundaries) becomes easier when the feelings of anxiety are reduced.

How effective is acupuncture for anxiety?

Ongoing studies continue to show that acupuncture is significantly useful in reducing anxiety across a broad range of situations and conditions.  “Overall, there is good scientific evidence encouraging acupuncture therapy to treat anxiety disorders as it yields effective outcomes, with fewer side effects than conventional treatment.”¹

Studies looking at women undergoing IVF[i], patients heading into surgery[ii] and students heading into exams[iii] all benefit from acupuncture for anxiety. Results were based on anxiety surveys, heart rate, blood pressure and skin electrodermal activity. Acupuncture results were significantly better than sham acupuncture in all cases.

Special Offer – $20 0ff your initial session with any Acupuncturist at Freedom Chinese Medicine until end of August 2022. Click here to book. You must mention this offer to receive the discount.

T&C: For New Patients only. Not transferable. Not available with any other offer. Not redeemable for cash.

Written by:

Dr Heather Dowall

Acupuncturist  @ Freedom Chinese Medicine

Dr  Heather Dowall is a warm, intuitive and enthusiastic practitioner. Heather graduated from Endeavour College of Natural Health with a Health Science degree majoring in Acupuncture.

Heather is passionate about fertility and pregnancy support, pain relief, cancer support, and providing relief for anyone experiencing anxiety, depression, emotional trauma or PTSD.

Click here to book online or call us on 03) 9486 5966

 

References

1 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29705474

[i] Isoyama D, Cordts EB, de Souza van Niewegen AMB, et al

Effect of acupuncture on symptoms of anxiety in women undergoing in vitro fertilisation: a prospective randomised controlled study Acupuncture in Medicine 2012;30:85-88.

[ii] Klausenitz C1, Hesse T1, Hacker H1, Hahnenkamp K1, Usichenko T1.

Auricular acupuncture for pre-exam anxiety in medical students: a prospective observational pilot investigation. Acupunct Med. 2016 Apr;34(2):90-4. doi: 10.1136/acupmed-2015-010887. Epub 2015 Oct 5.

[iii] Shayestehfar M1, Seif-Barghi T2, Zarei S3, Mehran A3. Acupuncture Anxiolytic Effects on Physiological and Psychological Assessments for a Clinical Trial. Scientifica (Cairo). 2016;2016:4016952. doi: 10.1155/2016/4016952. Epub 2016 Apr 4.

 

The Paul Keating interview hyperlink:

https://www.facebook.com/AACMA/posts/10155364681999557

 

Nutrition for COVID & Flu Prevention

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More than 2,500 years ago, Hippocrates said: “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.”

Now that we’re facing COVID, optimal nutrition is more important than ever.

Which nutrients support the immune system?

Micronutrients are dietary components that may contribute substantially to a robust immune system.1 Essential micronutrients like vitamins A, D, E, C, B6, B12, and folate and trace elements such as iron, zinc, and selenium, available in a variety of fresh animal- and plant-based foods, aid the body’s ability to fight infections.2 Health and survival are increasingly dependent on the functioning of the immune system.

 

Optimal nutrition impacts the immune system through gene expression, cell activation, and signaling molecules modification. In addition, what we eat determines our gut microbiome and subsequently shapes the immune responses in our body.

 

What is optimal nutrition when in comes to preventing COVID?

Certain factors such as lifestyle, age, health status, sex, and medications affect the nutritional status of an individual.4  Several studies have confirmed that micronutrient deficiencies are associated with a weakened immune system that predisposes individuals to increased vulnerability to infections.24,25

Recently, Calder et al6 reviewed the association between optimal nutrition and the immune system in providing better protection against viral infections. They suggested that essential micronutrients and the omega-3 fatty acids have the capacity to boost immunity against viral infections. Similarly, Chaturvedi et al46 described the complex relationship between trace elements and viral infections, highlighting the immunomodulatory properties and antiviral activities of certain micronutrients such as iron, zinc, selenium, and copper. Apart from functioning as antioxidants, these trace elements were shown to inhibit viral replication in host cells.

The role of optimal nutrition for managing the current COVID-19 pandemic cannot be underestimated. Nutrition has a demonstrable role in the prevention and treatment of moderate to severe respiratory and non-respiratory infections. Adequate nutrition is even more essential for marginalized communities and in low- and middle-income countries, where deficiencies in key vitamins and minerals expose individuals to greater morbidity and mortality.

Each meal brings thousands of different substances into the body, affecting thousands of different biological processes, all the way to the cellular and subcellular level. Scientists are only beginning to grasp this enormous universe of food and nutrition effects on the body. Among these substances are nutrients, both macronutrients and micronutrients for which reference daily intakes have been defined, as well as upper levels for safe intake for many.16 17 However, a plethora of other bioactive substances found in foods, such as polyphenols and carotenioids, that seem to be important for health and wellness, are also brought along. The importance of these are bluntly reflected in food-based dietary guidelines (FBDGs), represented as recommendations for a variety and diversity of:

  • whole vegetables, fruits
  • berries
  • nuts
  • seeds
  • grains and pulses
  • along with some meats, eggs, dairy products and fish, if selected, as discussed in the paper by Calder.4

 

This type of healthy diet is a tactical approach to build a healthy body and a strong immune system, as emphasised by the WHO and other organisations during the pandemic,18 especially when eaten at the expense of more ultra-processed food items.19

However, with advancing age and for high-risk groups, a nutrient-rich diet is not always enough to meet needs for micronutrients.4 14 While high intakes should be avoided, there may be a a role for immune-targeted supplements that might be necessary to achieve the intake of nutrients needed for an optimally functioning immune system.4

Furthermore, there is one thing to enhance the public health nutritional status, through preventive actions, while the clinical situation of an active disease is another situation altogether.

Overall, older people are harder hit, and while fighting an infection, the nutrient needs of patients might be increased.14 This might warrant special nutrition therapy, potentially with higher doses of supplements and functional foods,11 as quality care also involves quality nutritional care.

Tailored nutritional advice and prescription for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 is complex. The best way to navigate this is via professional advice from nutrition-trained professionals. Thankfully, we have 3 of them at Freedom Chinese Medicine; Dr. Jessie Fayers, Dr. Leoni Zakarias & Dr. Laura Thiveos.  Telehealth consultations to discuss your nutritional status and get advice or prescriptions are inexpensive and easy to book via: www.freedomchinesemedicine.com/booking

Written by Dr. Elaine Hickman

B.H.Sc.TCM (Acupuncture), Cert.Cl.Ac. (Beijing)

 

Elaine runs a private practice in Ivanhoe and is the trusted family physician of many. Elaine is a registered Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). She completed a Bachelor of Health Science – TCM, majoring in Acupuncture, and a hospital internship in China in 1998. Elaine is the Principal Practitioner at Freedom Chinese Medicine, managing a dedicated team of practitioners & staff, and supervises many TCM students in clinical training. Elaine’s passion for Chinese Medicine has her regularly furthering her education, Qi Gong training and sharing knowledge.

 

 

References

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33982105/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7306972/

  1. Annual Research Review: Improved nutrition–pathway to resilience.  Yousafzai AK, Rasheed MA, Bhutta ZA
J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2013 Apr; 54(4):367-77.
https://nutrition.bmj.com/content/early/2020/11/05/bmjnph-2020-000160

Proven Fertility Diet

by

There’s a bunch of fertility diet advice on the internet, but most of the advice has no evidence to support it. Most claims have not been tried and tested. Or, it’s general nutritional advice, not tailored for fertility.

And fertility advice is not a one size fits all approach. Shouldn’t be anyway. Some women’s fertility issues are related to their lining, some to their hormones, some to their eggs. And 50% of the time, it’s a male fertility issue.¹

The dietary recommendations below are to help improve a woman’s hormonal balance, egg quality and reduce miscarriage risk.

High blood sugar and insulin levels are a big problem for fertility because it disrupts the balance of other hormones that regulate the reproductive system. They also compromise egg quality². And increase the risk of miscarriage³.

The first step is to slightly reduce overall carbohydrate intake. And increase protein intake. A good ratio appears to be around 40% of calories from carbohydrates, 30% from protein, and 30% from fat. This represents a healthy, balanced diet and most people will be able to reach these ratios simply by changing just one meal per day. Such as having eggs for breakfast, rather than toast or cereal.

An even lower carbohydrate diet is likely helpful for those who are very overweight, or have PCOS, insulin resistance, or diabetes. For most women though, it is probably not beneficial to adopt a very low carbohydrate diet. In some cases, it may even have negative consequences for fertility, by elevating cortisol levels, and suppressing thyroid function. 4

  • Avoid refined carbohydrates: the white flours, pastries, potatoes, white bread. Swap out for lower GI carbs such as brown rice, wild rice, steel-cut oats, quinoa or buckwheat. There are many pastas available these days made out of quinoa or buckwheat. This will help to balance your blood sugar and insulin levels. 
  • Avoid refined cane sugar, in all it’s forms. There is clear evidence that excess sugar consumption compromises fertility.5   Minimise all types of sweeteners, and foods with significant amounts of added sugar. Whole fruit is OK in moderation (2 serves daily).  If you find yourself craving a sweet treat, and fruit won’t cut it, a small amount of dark chocolate is a good choice. Also keep in mind that it is long term daily habits that matter most. The occasional indulgence is not worth feeling guilty about. 
  • Have lots of different vegetables. Aim for 4 different colours each day.

  • Include legumes
  • Eats nuts and seeds
  • Include olive oil in your diet

  • Eat fish twice per week
  • Avoid saturated fats – typically found in butter, red meat, coconut oil. Appear to negatively impact egg development. A higher intake of red meat has been associated with lower embryo quality.

What about gluten and dairy?

There is some concern that both gluten and dairy can contribute to autoimmunity and inflammation in those with a sensitivity, even in the absence of celiac disease. For those with endometriosis, a history of recurrent miscarriage driven by immune factors, it does make sense to avoid gluten and diary. For everyone else, these foods may not be problematic. One option is to eliminate them from your diet for 2 weeks, and see how you feel. If you feel better, it may indicate that you do have a sensitivity and will benefit from avoiding gluten and/or dairy longer term.

What about alcohol?

Numerous studies have indicated that drinking regularly during pregnancy can increase the risk of miscarriage. However, low to moderate alcohol consumption ( 6 drinks per week or less) before you become pregnant is not an issue. The safest option is avoiding alcohol after ovulation, in case you become early pregnant without realising, or before testing.

What about caffeine?

Unfortunately, caffeine can increase miscarriage risk. Even caffeine intake before pregnancy. Studies indicate that miscarriage risk begins to rise with just one cup of tea or less than half a cup of coffee per day.

 

I appreciate that this advice could be alarming for some of you. It could suggest that a big diet overall is needed. If so, I suggest you start at the top of the list, and slowly make your way through, once you’ve got a handle on each.  A more tailored dietary approach is often useful, taking into account your history, your microbiome and your genetics. So it’s best to ask your practitioner at Freedom Chinese Medicine for specific advice or to help guide you through any changes needed. Most of us have nutritional training and have lots of experience with healthy diets.

 

Written by:

Dr Elaine Hickman

B.H.Sc.TCM (Acupuncture), Cert.Cl.Ac. (Beijing)

Elaine has trained and worked in various settings, both in Australia and China.  She has over 20 years experience in treating many health problems.  Elaine loves to provide a health care experience for people that is respectful, effective, empowering and enjoyable.  Elaine’s acupuncture treatments are gentle, powerful, amazingly relaxing and incorporate Japanese & Chinese techniques, as well as Medical Qi Gong if appropriate.  Elaine has a particular interest in Gynaecology, Fertility, Obstetrics, Family Medicine, Wellness promotion and Mental Health. She brings extra expertise and understanding to the table as she’s been through infertility herself.

 

 

References

1 Esteves SC, Agarwal A. Novel concepts in male infertility. Int Braz J Urol. 2011 Jan-Feb;37(1):5-15. doi: 10.1590/s1677-55382011000100002. PMID: 21385475.

2 Jinno M, Takeuchi M, Watanabe A, Teruya K, Hirohama J, Eguchi N, Miyazaki A. Advanced glycation end-products accumulation compromises embryonic development and achievement of pregnancy by assisted reproductive technology. Hum Reprod. 2011 Mar;26(3):604-10. doi: 10.1093/humrep/deq388. Epub 2011 Jan 12. PMID: 21233108.

3 Tian L, Shen H, Lu Q, Norman RJ, Wang J. Insulin resistance increases the risk of spontaneous abortion after assisted reproduction technology treatment. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2007 Apr;92(4):1430-3. doi: 10.1210/jc.2006-1123. Epub 2007 Jan 23. PMID: 17244790.

4  Kose E, Guzel O, Demir K, Arslan N. Changes of thyroid hormonal status in patients receiving ketogenic diet due to intractable epilepsy. J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab. 2017 Apr 1;30(4):411-416. doi: 10.1515/jpem-2016-0281. PMID: 28076316.

5 Machtinger R, Gaskins AJ, Mansur A, Adir M, Racowsky C, Baccarelli AA, Hauser R, Chavarro JE. Association between preconception maternal beverage intake and in vitro fertilization outcomes. Fertil Steril. 2017 Dec;108(6):1026-1033. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2017.09.007. Epub 2017 Oct 3. PMID: 28985907; PMCID: PMC5716855.

Hjollund NH, Jensen TK, Bonde JP, Henriksen TB, Andersson AM, Skakkebaek NE. Is glycosylated haemoglobin a marker of fertility? A follow-up study of first-pregnancy planners. Hum Reprod. 1999 Jun;14(6):1478-82. doi: 10.1093/humrep/14.6.1478. PMID: 10357963.

Chavarro JE, Rich-Edwards JW, Rosner BA, Willett WC. A prospective study of dietary carbohydrate quantity and quality in relation to risk of ovulatory infertility. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2009 Jan;63(1):78-86. doi: 10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602904. Epub 2007 Sep 19. PMID: 17882137; PMCID: PMC3066074.

Karayiannis D, Kontogianni MD, Mendorou C, Mastrominas M, Yiannakouris N. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet and IVF success rate among non-obese women attempting fertility. Hum Reprod. 2018 Mar 1;33(3):494-502. doi: 10.1093/humrep/dey003. PMID: 29390148.

Mirabi P, Chaichi MJ, Esmaeilzadeh S, et al. The role of fatty acids on ICSI outcomes: a prospective cohort study. Lipids Health Dis. 2017;16(1):18. Published 2017 Jan 21. doi:10.1186/s12944-016-0396-z

Moran LJ, Tsagareli V, Noakes M, Norman R. Altered Preconception Fatty Acid Intake Is Associated with Improved Pregnancy Rates in Overweight and Obese Women Undertaking in Vitro Fertilisation. Nutrients. 2016 Jan 4;8(1):10. doi: 10.3390/nu8010010. PMID: 26742065; PMCID: PMC4728624.

Chen LW, Wu Y, Neelakantan N, Chong MF, Pan A, van Dam RM. Maternal caffeine intake during pregnancy and risk of pregnancy loss: a categorical and dose-response meta-analysis of prospective studies. Public Health Nutr. 2016 May;19(7):1233-44. doi: 10.1017/S1368980015002463. Epub 2015 Sep 2. PMID: 26329421.

Huang H, Hansen KR, Factor-Litvak P, Carson SA, Guzick DS, Santoro N, Diamond MP, Eisenberg E, Zhang H; National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Cooperative Reproductive Medicine Network. Predictors of pregnancy and live birth after insemination in couples with unexplained or male-factor infertility. Fertil Steril. 2012 Apr;97(4):959-67. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2012.01.090. Epub 2012 Jan 23. PMID: 22270557; PMCID: PMC3319287.

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