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NOVEMBER 2015

The Role of Adaptogens in Women’s Health The ABC’s of SEO

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contents

FEATURES 20

IHP Gallery - CHFA and OAND

30

The ABC’s of SEO

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The Role of Adaptogens in Women’s Health

42

Women, Platelets & Cardiovascular Risk

38 DEPARTMENTS 9 10 12 24 26 46

Publisher’s Letter Editorial Board Bits and Bites

Industry and Research News

Product Profiles Clinic Profile

Natural Terrain Naturopathic Clinic

Post Scriptum

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publisher’s letter

T

he 2015 OAND Convention and Tradeshow, which also coincided with the Association’s 65th anniversary, was a great success this

year! See our photo coverage on page 22.

IHP Magazine was be a part of the Integrative Healthcare Symposium (IHS) that took place through October 23—24 in Richmond Hill, Ontario. We were honoured to support this conference on alternative and complementary approaches to health care.

This issue is focused primarily on women’s health.

Covering an integrative approach to treating female health conditions, we don’t forget about IHP business section. On page 30, we will be talking about search engine optimization that will help your business rank high on Google and other search engines, attracting more patients to your clinic.

Thank you very much for being our loyal readers.

Please don’t forget to download your IHP App to have access to exclusive content and full-length reference material.

Olivier Felicio Publisher/Editor-in-Chief

NOVEMBER 2015 • Volume 8 Issue 5 Founder Sanjiv Jagota

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Publisher & Editor-in-Chief Olivier Felicio

IHP Magazine Inc. 1235 Bay St., suite 400; Toronto, Ontario, M5R 3K4 Email: circulation@ihpmagazine.com

Managing Editor Inna Levchuk Art Director Scott Jordan Graphic Designer Kaitlin Yep

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Contributors

Ashley Champange, Rochelle Fernandes, Sarah B. Hood, Brock McGregor, Marita Schauch, Maria Shapoval, Berchman Wong

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Olivier Felicio (416) 203-7900 x 6107 olivier@rivegauchemedia.com Published by IHP Magazine Canada Post Canadian Publication Mail Agreement Number 4067800 The publisher does not assume any responsibility for the contents of any advertisement and any and all representations or warranties made in such advertising are those of the advertiser and not of the publisher. The publisher is not liable to any advertiser for any misprints in advertising not the fault of the publisher and in such an event the limit of the publisher’s liability shall not exceed the amount of the publisher’s charge for such advertising. No portion of this publication may be reproduced, in all or part, without the express written permission of the publisher. ihp magazine is pleased to review unsolicited submissions for editorial consideration under the following conditions: all material submitted for editorial consideration (photographs, illustrations, written text in electronic or hard copy format) may be used by ihr Media Inc. and their affiliates for editorial purposes in any media (whether printed, electronic, internet, disc, etc.) without the consent of, or the payment of compensation to, the party providing such material. Please direct submissions to the Editor, ihp magazine.

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feature

The Role of Adaptogens in Women’s Health

By Marita Schauch (BSc, ND) Peer reviewed by Berchman Wong (BSc, ND), Brock McGregor (BSc, ND), Rochelle Fernandes, MSc., ND (Cand.)

A

drenal fatigue is just one of the examples of the

— struggling to balance a career with the role as ‘perfect’

afflictions of the stress of modern life. The stressors

wife and mother at home. As women progress through

we face on a daily basis, such family and financial

life’s stages, hormonal imbalances associated with pre-

problems, increased work load, lack of physical exercise,

menstrual, post-partum and menopause can also affect

insufficient rest, poor diet, environmental toxins, electro-

chemical vulnerability to stress, depression and anxiety. 2

magnetic radiation all contribute to more stress on the stress-adaptive organs, the adrenal glands and other stress

THE ROLE OF ADAPTOGENS

regulating systems in the body.

Adaptogenic herbs are one of the most important groups

Men and women respond differently to stress, both

of herbs to take into the 21st century. Adaptogens not only

physically and mentally. 1 They attempt to manage stress

increase the resistance to the adverse effects of long-term

in very different ways and also perceive their ability to do

stress but the majority are also tonifying, immune-stimu-

so differently. Findings suggest that while women are more

lating and increase the general sense of well-being. 4

likely to report physical symptoms associated with stress,

The term “adaptogen” was first defined by Russian

they are doing a better job connecting with others in their

pharmacologist Nikolai Lazarev in 1947. These herbs were

lives and, at times, these connections are important to their

classified as a group of substances that could improve the

stress management strategies.

body’s nonspecific resistance after being exposed to various

1

stressing factors, promoting a state of adaptation to that

STRESS ON THE RISE FOR WOMEN

exceptional situation. Israel Brekhman, his successor,

Women are socialized to be the caretakers of others. More

established that a plant should meet four requirements in

women than men have both a career outside the home and

order to be considered an adaptogen: (1) it is harmless to

continue to try to juggle traditional responsibilities after

the host; (2) it has a general, nonspecific effect; (3) it

hours. 1 In fact, over 70 per cent of married women with

increases the resistance of the recipient to a variety of

children under the age of 18 are employed outside the

physical, chemical, or biological stressors; and (4) it acts

home.

as a general stabilizer/normalizer. 3

2

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Women are often known as “multi-taskers’

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feature

Men and women respond differently to stress, both physically and mentally. They attempt to manage stress in very different ways and also perceive their ability to do so differently.

By 1984 Russian scientists had published in excess of

fatigue and preventing high-altitude sickness. 3 Rhodiola

1,500 pharmacological and clinical studies on adaptogenic

seems to help the body adapt to stress by affecting the

herbs and research continues today with little doubt that

levels and activity of serotonin, dopamine and norepineph-

adaptogens increase an organism’s adaptation to stress

rine. 3 It is believed that the changes in the above mono-

and have a normalizing influence on our physiology.

amine levels are due to inhibition of the activity of the

4

The various phases of hormonal change, such as monthly

enzymes responsible for monoamine degradation and

premenstrual time, the perimenopause transition and

facilitation of neurotransmitter transport within the brain.15

pregnancy, can challenge a woman’s stress adaptation

Rhodiola appears to offer an advantage over other

mechanisms. The ‘hallmark’ hormone of stress, cortisol,

adaptogens due to its ability to exert relaxation and anti-

is synthesized in the adrenal cortex and regulated via the

anxiety in periods of acute stress. In one randomized,

HPA axis. The effects of cortisol are felt virtually throughout

placebo-controlled trial of 60 patients with stress-related

the entire body and impact several mechanisms—especially

fatigue, rhodiola was found to have an antifatigue effect

the regulation of hormonal balance in women. For example,

that increased mental performance, particularly the ability

chronic stress suppresses gonadotropin hormones from

to concentrate; it also decreased the cortisol response to

the pituitary that act on the ovaries and testes, which can

stress of awakening from sleep.7

lead to the disruption of a normal menstrual cycle and

Rhodiola may also enhance fertility. It has been shown

eventually lead to the complete impairment of reproductive

to enhance thyroid function in animal studies as well as

function. 6

improve egg maturation. This led to a study of 40 women

There are several adaptogenic herbs that have been

with amenorrhea and infertility to be treated with 100 mg

studied extensively and proven very effective in the support

of rhodiola twice daily for two weeks. Normal menses were

of the body during times of increased demands and stress.

restored in 25 women, 11 of whom became pregnant. 8

3

Most notable are Rhodiola (Rhodiola rosea), Ashwagandha

Rhodiola has a very low level of toxicity. Some anxious

(Withania somnifera), Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus

individuals may be over activated and become agitated

senticosus) and Maca (Lepidium meyenii). Given the strong

with Rhodiola. Rhodiola is not recommended for individuals

connection between cortisol and its impact on hormonal

with bipolar disorder. 3

balance, there is an absolute role for adaptogens in women’s

ASHWAGANDHA (WITHANIA SOMNIFERA)

health.

Also known as Indian ginseng, Ashwagandha is considered

RHODIOLA ROSEA

an adaptogen and rejuvenating tonic in Ayurveda. It pro-

Rhodiola rosea (also known as golden root and Arctic root)

vides both adrenal and immune support, increasing resis-

has been categorized as an adaptogen by Russian research-

tance to environmental stressors, is beneficial for pain

ers due to its ability to increase resistance to a variety of

relief, has antioxidant effects, reducing inflammation and

chemical, biological and physical stressors. It has been

stimulating thyroid function, has anti-stress effects by

used in the traditional medicine systems of Eastern Europe

modulating cortisol levels as well as stimulates respiratory

and Asia for more than 3,000 years with a reputation for

and immune function. 3 In fact, in one double blind study,

stimulating the nervous system, improving depression,

chronically stressed individuals taking Ashwagandha had

enhancing work performance, improving sleep, eliminating

significant reductions in anxiety, serum cortisol, C-reactive

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protein, pulse rate, and blood pressure compared with the

fatigue and infertility, and to support hormonal balance

placebo group.9

and enhanced stamina. Research suggests that maca’s

Reductions in cortisol as well as optimal thyroid function

therapeutic actions are due to plant sterols stimulating the

may encourage balanced hormones for optimal fertility in

hypothalamus, pituitary, adrenal and ovarian glands, and

those women struggling to conceive.

therefore, also affecting the thyroid and pineal gland. Maca

11

Toxicity studies in humans are limited with ashwagandha.

has been found to be useful in perimenopausal and menopausal women for hot flashes as well as helping with sleep, mood, fertility and energy.

Research on menopausal

SIBERIAN GINSENG (ELEUTHEROCOCCUS SENTICOSUS)

women indicates that maca can stimulate the body’s pro-

Siberian ginseng, also known as eleuthero, has been used

duction of estrogen and reduce levels of cortisol. In one

for centuries in Eastern countries, including China and

double-blind, randomized four month study of women in

Russia as an “adaptogen”.

Research indicates that

early postmenopause, patients were given either a placebo

Eleutherococcus increases the ability to accommodate to

or two 500-mg capsules of maca twice per day for a total

adverse physical conditions, improve mental performance,

of 2g per day. After two months, estrogen production had

and enhance the quality of work under stressful conditions. 3

increased and FSH and cortisol had decreased. The maca

Research has also shown decreases in the testosterone:

also had a small effect on increasing bone density and

cortisol ratio as well as improvements in heart rate and

alleviated numerous menopausal symptoms including hot

systolic and diastolic blood pressure in response to a par-

flashes, insomnia, depression, nervousness, and diminished

ticular stressor. In fact, Eleutherococcus accounted for a

concentration. 10

60 per cent reduction in systolic blood pressure, which

Adaptogens continue to be an important group of herbs

suggests that this herb may be helpful for stress

effective in various health conditions—especially in

adaptation. 3

women’s health and indicated not only to counteract stress

Premenstrual syndrome and perimenopause are their

and its resulting damage on hormonal balance but may

own kind of stress on the system and many women find

also be used to elicit a healthy state. Although the above

their threshold of tolerating stress decreases and fatigue

adaptogens are considered very safe, not much research

can result. Fluctuations in estrogen, progesterone, cortisol

has been conducted during pregnancy and lactation and

and thyroid interact with brain neurotransmitters such as

therefore, they are not recommended during those times.

serotonin, dopamine, GABA and therefore, eleuthero may

Adaptogens have an important role for prevention and

be a beneficial herb to restore vitality in women who are

should be considered as key supplements in many women’s

chronically fatigued or who have decreased mental and

health conditions.

physical performance and/or stamina. 12 Eleuthero may elevate serum digoxin levels. 14

MACA (LEPIDIUM MEYENII) Maca, the herbal root from Peru, is best known as an adap-

View the references on your tablet.

togenic plant. Its uses have shown to be beneficial for the endocrine and reproductive systems— in treating chronic NOVEMBER 2015 • IHPMAGAZINE.COM

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