Electromagnetic fields in the home infograph

EMF Radiation is Everywhere, But What Is It Doing?

Written by David Butler and Dr. Catherine Onuoha

One topic in vogue lately is energy; every day we are bombarded by energy from many divergent sources. In fact, everything on and beyond our planet is made of the common element energy. At its core, energy is information in movement. The information in energy is comprised of codes/frequencies which oscillate through the air to create constant vibration. These vibrations create patterns, the greatest of which is the Schumann Resonant frequency pattern. Most scholars would concede our sun is the most important energy source, but lightning and industrialization heat can also affect our planets electromagnetic field. That is problematic because the earth’s electromagnetic field keeps plant and animal beings in balance—which supports life.

Not all forms of energy are good for us. For example, the sun produces harmful ultraviolet rays with deleterious effects for those overexposed to the sun (e.g., severe burns, cancers). The earth’s magnetic field has been weakening in recent years, according to data collected by a European Space Agency (ESA) satellite array called Swarm1. Research shows a contribution to both ionosphere and magnetosphere changes from artificial energy produced from modern technologies, especially cell phones, smart meters, and cell phone towers. More concerning still—environmental experts are predicting that electrosmog-induced energy changes create significant health risks for humankind. Specifically, health risks ensuing from EMF radiation. The infographic below highlights the main producers of EMF radiation and some easy ways to limit your exposure. The greatest concern over EMF radiation is how quickly the technology has progressed and how dependent we have become to our phones in particular.

The Always Expanding Wireless Industry

Over the past few decades the cell phone industry has been growing at an alarming rate. Due to this rapid expansion scientists assessing EMF safety and lawmakers setting regulatory policies have been unable to keep up. Since the 1970’s cell phone networks have evolved from the initial 1G to today’s 4GLTE and with each new network, the faster and more reliable service comes at the price of an increased exposure to EMF radiation. Although there is still much we don’t know about the health concerns coming from 4G networks which were introduced nearly a decade ago, the new 5G network is set to debut later this year. The main concern with the new 5G network is that it will be established through satellites in space which means that EMF radiation will be even more abundant and virtually impossible to escape from2. While there are many scientists that are wary about the dangers that this new network could pose, that won’t stop telecommunication companies from rolling out this virtually untested 5G network.

EMF Radiation: Killing Insects and Slowing Reproduction

One unforeseen consequence of the abundance of cell towers which is now starting to come to light is the effect they have on our planet’s insects. In the past two decades in the US alone the population of monarch butterflies has dropped roughly 90% and bumblebees have gone down 87%. What’s even more concerning is that these are two of the most studied types of insects and there are thousands of other species which are very likely suffering similar rates of decline without being reported. While this staggering loss of insects may not be noticeable on a day to day basis, insects are a vital part of our ecosystem and losing them could lead to disastrous results3. Another growing concern with EMF radiation is the possible negative effects it could have on human and animal reproduction.

In a 2018 study on the effects of prolonged exposure to the current 4G-LTE cell signal it was found that the longer that rats were exposed to cell phones in a day the lower their sperm count was at the end of the study5. These findings also correlate with additional research that showed a strong link between infertility clinic patients and their cell phone usage6. In addition to low sperm count, another study found that sperm mobility and quality was severely reduced after 5 hours of cell phone exposure.

While it may be too early to draw any conclusions at the moment, the health concern over EMF radiation has many similarities to cigarette smoking in the 1920’s. Like cell phones, the adverse health effects of cigarettes were not heavily researched at the time allowing cigarette companies to produce false or misleading advertisements such as the one below with a doctor endorsing you smoke Camel cigarettes.

With smoking, it took decades before the dire health implications such as COPD and lung cancer were fully confirmed, but by that point many people had been smoking their whole life. Are you going to wait until EMF radiation is proven beyond a shadow of a doubt to harm the body or do you want to be proactive in protecting yourself against this unavoidable and growing hazard?

If you do want to be proactive in limiting your exposure to EMF fields are a few quick tips:

  1. Use earbuds or speakerphone for calls when possible – Proximity to your phone makes a significant difference in the amount of EMF you are exposed so it is best to reduce the amount of time you are holding your phone near to your head.
  2. Don’t keep your phone in your pockets or bra all day long – Just like the head, the groin and breasts are sensitive areas of the body and repeated exposure to harmful EMF’s could cause cancer to develop in these areas.
  3. Try grounding everyday – Grounding or Earthing refers to walking barefoot outside. A growing body of research is finding that there are a number of health benefits from just 5 minutes a day of walking on sand, grass, or dirt. A large part of these benefits are due to the fact that grounding removes much of the ambient or leftover EMF fields that our bodies may have accumulated through the day6.
  4. Finally, for ultimate EMF protection we recommend equipping yourself with the Aires™ Technology line of EMF protection devices – Aires™ offers EMF Radiation shields that clip on to your phone or laptop as well as personal shields that create a 6 or 8 foot radius of EMF protection.  The device shield is called the Aires Shield Pro and the personal shields come in the 6-foot radius Defender or the 8-foot radius Guardian.  The personal shields are especially useful for families as whoever is directly next to the person wearing the device is also protected. See the image files below for Aires™ Technology products and coordinated prices. If you order through us at the Natural Medicine Center of Lakeland we can offer 10% off on either product.

Aires Guardian – $290 suggested retail; $260 through Natural Medicine Center
Aires Shield Pro – $55.00 suggested retail; $ 49.50 through Natural Medicine Center

Aires Shield Pro

Aires Guardian

Video on EMF Radiation

Works Cited
1. Hays B. (2014)“European Space Agency says magnetic north is drifting southward” UPI NewsTrack (Consumer Health Complete; article published 06/23/2014).

  1. The Dangers of 5G – https://es-ireland.com/5g-5th-generation-greater-dangers/
  2. Research showing the effects that EMF fields have on animals, birds, insects, and plants – https://www.powerwatch.org.uk/library/downloads/rf-emfs-6-animals-2018-11.pdf
  3. Study on the Impact of Cellphones on Sperm Quality –https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4074720/pdf/CEJU-67-00332.pdf
    5. El-Hamd MA, Aboeldahab S. Cell phone and male infertility: An update. J Integr Nephrol Androl, 2018. Available from: http://www.journal-ina.com/text.asp?2018/5/1/1/228497
  4. More Information on Grounding – https://www.groundology.co.uk/about-grounding
Herbal Supplement capsules in glass bowl next to fresh picked flowers

Services for Senior Citizens

IV Therapy

IV Micronutrient Therapy is an infusion of natural supplements into the blood stream in order to combat nutritional deficiencies as well as give a significant boost to a person’s mood, energy levels, and immune system.  As opposed to regular supplements, the infusion stays in the body for a much longer (around 3-4 weeks) and the high dose produces much more significant effects.  In addition to providing major relief to those suffering from chronic conditions, IV therapy can help to ward off or recover from an illness.  At the Natural Medicine Center we offer a variety of infusions to meet your specific needs and can custom make infusions for what your body needs based on your lab tests.

Supplements

Doctor’s will always stress the importance of keeping up with prescribed medication, but they often don’t tell you that

diet and lifestyle changes including supplements can sometimes eliminate the problem completely.  Nearly half of all senior citizens’ in America are on five or more medications for conditions that in many cases are treatable.  Even worse is that many elderly will have long lists of medications with extensive instructions on when to take them and warnings against interactions with other drugs.  Why take handfuls of harmful medications every day when you can take natural supplements that support your body’s natural processes and produce minimal to no side effects?

At the Natural Medicine Center we carry a wide range of natural supplements to meet anyone’s needs. From general wellness Vitamin’s, sleep support from Melatonin, digestive support from probiotics, natural anti-inflammatory supplements and more.  The supplements that we carry come from reputable pharmaceutical sources which are highly tested and more pure and effective than what is usually found in the supermarkets.  In addition to our traditional supplements, we also offer Chinese herbals of all types through the company Evergreen herbs.

Neurofeedback

It’s no secret that as we grow older our brains become more rigid and set in their ways, often making it difficult for us to make changes or learn new things.  Neurofeedback is a brain training service that can slow down the natural decline of mental faculties and help improve areas such as memory, focus, sleep, and more.  At the Natural Medicine Center we use Neuroptimal neurofeedback due to its holistic and safe nature with zero reported side effects.

In a session of Neuroptimal neurofeedback the client simply sits back as relaxing music and visuals play on a computer. A few un-invasive sensors will read your live brain activity and feed the activity back to the client.  Through this relaxing and therapeutic process the brain is able to see how it is functioning and improve itself.  Neuroptimal neurofeedback can help you develop the flexibility and resiliency to face each new day with a fresh start. Neurofeedback has been proven effective in treating depression, anxiety and neurological disorders.

Mental Health and Medication Counseling

As a holistic practitioner Dr. Catherine assess and treats her patients mentally and physically, this means that each patient is given personal attention and not merely seen as their diagnosis.  A wellness consultation with Dr. Catherine involves half an hour or 1 hour to go over your medical history, presenting/pressing problems, and finally developing a treatment plan.  With her degree in psychpharmacology Dr. Catherine is well versed in the effects of different medications and helps her patients to downsize their prescriptions in favor of natural alternatives that are beneficial for the body.

When seeing patients Dr. Catherine aims to both resolve existing issues as well as help her clients learn how to take care of their health to stay healthy for the future.  In addition to expertly managing the medications of her patients, Dr. Catherine offers counseling so that she can get to the root of a patient’s issue and teach them positive coping strategies that they can use in the future.  If you’ve ever felt unsatisfied or unsure about the prescription or treatment plan your doctor has advised, you are fully within your rights as a patient to schedule an appointment with Dr. Catherine for a second opinion.

Home Helpers & Direct Link of Polk County

The process of selecting a good and competent agency that will provide compassionate care is rigorous and tasking. Home Helpers strives to make things easy.

Home Helpers is a nationally known but locally owned home health care agency. Numerous happy clients choose them because:

  • There is no minimum hours or deposit requirement like most agencies.
  • The caregivers truly care. The caregivers are matched to clients based on personalities, and specialties.
  • The caregiving staff has workers compensation insurance coverage that protect our clients for liability. They have been background checked as part of the hiring process.
  • Home Helpers is insured and bonded.
  • Home Helpers guarentees 24hr phone response care.Our services range from: medication reminding, personal care, light house cleaning, errands, and transportation to client transferring and Hoyer-lifting care.

Further Reading:

BEMER Study – Gyulai, F., Rába, K., Baranyai, I., Berkes, E., & Bender, T. (2015). BEMER Therapy Combined with Physiotherapy in Patients with Musculoskeletal Diseases: A Randomised, Controlled Double Blind Follow-Up Pilot Study. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM2015, 245742.

The Natural Medicine Center of Lakeland

315 Doris Dr. Lakeland, FL 33813

863-899-9977 email: info@naturallakeland.com

Website: naturallakeland.com

Natural Medicine Center of Lakeland logo with Medicine Dropper

Services for College Students

The Natural Medicine Center of Lakeland

 

BEMER  

Replace the ups and downs of constant coffee runs and the caffeine jitters for natural energy medicine.  BEMER is a form of PEMF therapy which sends natural electromagnetic signals into the body which increase energy and improve circulation.  While anyone can and should benefit from BEMER, athletes should be especially interested in this service as it boosts the body’s natural healing abilities including recovering from tough work out sessions and minor injuries.  In fact, local professional trainers and coaches have seen the value in BEMER and use the device themselves and recommend it to their clients and athletes.

 

IV Therapy

Often referred to as “the hangover cure” IV therapy is an infusion of natural supplements such as Vitamin C, the B vitamins, and calcium directly in the blood stream.  By infusing these supplements instead of taking them orally the body is able to absorb more of the active ingredients and keep them in longer.

While this service is primarily used to help those suffering from nutritional deficiencies for various reasons, IV infusions are beneficial for anyone as they are essentially the ultimate multivitamin.  Those who receive an infusion can expect a significant increase in energy and positive mood that lasts for 3-4 weeks.  Take advantage of this service before a hectic period such as mid-terms, finals, or training for an upcoming sporting event to help you perform to the best of your ability

 

Neurofeedback  

Even the smartest students can be held back tremendously by issues such as anxiety, stress, and random distracting thoughts.  Neurofeedback is a brain training service which can help with all of these issues and more.  In a session of Neuroptimal neurofeedback all a client experiences is half an hour of relaxing visuals and music while simple non-invasive sensors monitor their brain activity.  Throughout the session skips in the music will trigger whenever specific patterns of brain wave activity are detected.  These simple skips provide the brain with a mirror that reflects its activity back allowing the brain to learn from itself like never before.  While many neurofeedback devices are exclusively for those with diagnosed mental conditions, our system is designed to bring greater mental balance and relief from stress/anxiety to anyone who is hooked up.

 

Nutritional Counseling and Lab Testing  

College is especially tough on students’ stomachs.  From low quality cafeteria food, cheap fast food and ramen, and skipped meals on the way to class it seems very few students are getting the proper amount and type of food that their body needs.  While some students may blame their fatigue and exhaustion on homework, social life obligations, and Netflix binging (which are all very real problems) the fact is that the majority of Americans including students are not operating at our full capacity due to poor diet and nutrition.

At our clinic we can also perform lab testing of food sensitivities in order to find out what foods are not agreeing with your body or digestive system. As part of our dedication to promoting healthy and enjoyable living we host a local produce stand in front of our clinic every Friday from 1-4. If you are interested in making a change to your diet and lifestyle for the better, make an appointment with our holistic practitioner Dr. Catherine Onuoha.

 

Mental Health and Medication Counseling

As a holistic practitioner Dr. Catherine assess and treats her patients mentally and physically.  With her degree in psychpharmacology Dr. Catherine is well versed in the effects of different medications and helps her patients to downsize their prescriptions in favor of natural alternatives that are beneficial for the body.  In addition to expertly managing the medications of her patients, Dr. Catherine offers counseling so that she can get to the root of a patient’s issue and teach them positive coping strategies that they can use in the future.  If you’ve ever felt unsatisfied or unsure about the prescription or treatment plan your doctor has advised, you are fully within your rights as a patient to schedule an appointment with Dr. Catherine for a second opinion.

 

At our clinic we can also perform lab testing of food sensitivities in order to find out what foods are not agreeing with your body or digestive system. As part of our dedication to promoting healthy and enjoyable living we host a local produce stand in front of our clinic every Friday from 1-4. If you are interested in making a change to your diet and lifestyle for the better, make an appointment with our holistic practitioner Dr. Catherine Onuoha.

 

 

Your first service!

 

The Natural Medicine Center of Lakeland

315 Doris Dr.

Lakeland, FL 33813

863-899-9977

Email: info@naturallakeland.com

www.naturallakeland.com

Dangers of EMF Radiation diagram

The Dangers of EMF Radiation

“Wireless radiation (EMF Radiation) has biological effects. Period. This is no longer a subject for debate when you look at PubMed and the peer-review literature. These effects are seen in all life forms; plants, animals, insects, microbes. In humans, we have clear evidence of cancer now: there is no question. We have evidence of DNA damage, cardiomyopathy, which is the precursor of congestive heart failure, neuropsychiatric effects…5G is an untested application of a technology that we know is harmful; we know it from the science. In academics, this is called human subjects research.”- Dr. Sharon Goldberg (4)

With the rise of new technologies there has been a growing concern over the possible negative effects that Electromagnetic Field or EMF radiation coming from devices such as microwaves, X-Rays, smart meters, power lines, cell phones, and so on could have on the human body.  While we all know to limit our exposure to radiation from clearly dangerous sources and even medically approved technologies such as X-Ray machines, many of us are holding an emitter of EMF radiation next to our faces multiple times a day.  What I’m talking about of course are our cell phones.

For years there has been a common assumption that devices emitting a very low frequency and low intensity radiation such as cellphones were harmless to humans, however, a recent study has found evidence to the contrary.  A study conducted by the National Toxicology Program (NTP) on the effects of cellphone EMF radiation has found there is clear evidence that repeated and prolonged exposure to an active cell phone caused the development of heart tumors in experimental rats.  Partly due to this study, the World Health Organization has recently ruled cell phones as “possibly carcinogenic” which means early evidence shows a likely link between cell phones and cancer.

The Problem with Being “Always Online”

The real danger from cell phone usage is due to the habitual way in which we utilize this technology.  In the NTP study mentioned above, the rats were exposed to near constant EMF radiation for 2 years (the majority of their life) before tumors started to develop.  While humans may not see any problems arise after a few years of heavy cell phone usage, using cell phones for decades over the course of your life will end up exposing you to quite a bit of harmful radiation.  Because of the long period of time it takes for cell phones to cause significant radiation damage and our universal usage of them that has made it very difficult to pinpoint the exact relationship between cellphone usage and negative health issues such as cancer.  Another factor is that cell phones aren’t the only contributor to the EMF’s we are exposed to. We may live near a cell phone tower or have smart electrical meters on our home. We may be exposed to EMF radiation from wifi overexposure and microwaves.

Obviously getting rid of our cell phones and avoiding emf exposure is impossible for most of us.  One quick fix is to try and use speaker phone or earbuds for making calls instead of putting our cell phone right next to your head. Also, try to distance yourself from your phone and working microwaves when you can.  For those that need protection from EMF exposure that is unavoidable, we now offer a new device called the Aires Shield Pro which attaches to a cell phone, on your person or on any EMF emitting device in order to significantly reduce the EMF production.

National Toxicology Program Cell Phone Study: https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/results/areas/cellphones/index.html

  1. General Overview of Electric and Magnetic Fields: https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/emf/index.cfm
  2. Database on EMF Information and Research: http://www.emfexplained.info/?ID=25717
  3. Aires Tech EMF Shields Website – https://www.airestech.com/
  4. Holistic MD drops bombshell about 5G at legislation hearing – (Our quote from the beginning comes from this video): https://www.healthnutnews.com/veteran-md-drops-bombshell-at-michigans-5g-small-cell-tower-legislation-hearing/

Catherine of Natural Medicine Center of Lakeland

Meet our Natural Medicine Professionals

Hello! With the recent addition of Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Peter Stoyanov to the Natural Medicine Center team, we would like to give an introduction to our three primary natural medicine professionals who see clients here at the Natural Medicine Center of Lakeland.  In addition to the written introductions below, we will also be having a formal meet and greet on the 23rd of October at 5:00 PM here at the Natural Medicine Center of Lakeland.  In attendance will be FNP Peter Stoyanov, Dr. Catherine Onuoha, and Acupuncture Physician Nam Jeon.

Peter Stoyanov, ARNP

Although Peter Stoyanov is new to the Natural Medicine Center of Lakeland, he has been practicing medicine since the mid 90’s when he worked as a physician in his home country of Bulgaria.  After moving to the United States, Peter furthered his education in the field of nursing and went on to receive a Bachelor’s in Nursing from Florida International University and a Master’s degree in Family Practice from the University of South Florida.  With this education, Peter has served in a variety of nurse practitioner and nurse supervisor roles throughout Florida.  While Peter’s recent experience has been in larger medical facilities, he is very eager to go back to his roots and practice holistic medicine in a more personal manner.

Dr. Catherine Onuoha, PhD, RPh

Dr. Catherine Onuoha is licensed psychopharmacologist and is the primary doctor and owner of The Natural Medicine Center of Lakeland.  Dr. Onuoha earned her PhD in pharmacology and toxicology from the Medical College of Virginia.  After pursuing a career of research and academia with patient care on the side for over a decade, Dr. Onuoha decided to focus fully on seeing patients when she opened The Natural Medicine Center of Lakeland in 2015.

Dr. Onuoha and her clinic embrace alternative and holistic treatments which consider the whole person, mentally and physically.  By using natural treatments such as supplements, energy medicine, and Bio-Identical-Hormone Replacement Therapy, Catherine aims to bring a greater sense of balance and wellness to her patients.  Instead of merely medicating symptoms, Dr. Onuoha addresses the underlying problems by re-balancing the body’s natural systems.

Nam Jeon, D.O.M.

Nam Jeon is one of the two Acupuncture physicians we have at the Natural Medicine Center of Lakeland.  Nam is licensed in the State of Florida and certified by NCCAOM (the National Certification Commission of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine).  While Nam studied acupuncture in China, he also received a Master’s degree as a Doctor of Oriental Medicine (D.O.M.) from the Midwest College of Oriental Medicine.  Nam is also trained in other forms of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) such as mindfulness meditation and herbal remedies and he has been seeing clients for over twenty years.

Nam treats patients with complaints ranging from musculoskeletal pain (low back pain, sciatica, tennis elbow, bursitis, arthritis), neurological disorders (stress, anxiety, depression, insomnia, headaches, migraines), and addiction (alcohol, drug, nicotine).  Nam has also authored three books on acupuncture and Eastern medicine; Ear Reflexology & Earring Therapy, BioMedicine Essential: BioMedicine Study Guide for the Oriental Medicine Practitioner, and The Ancient Healer: Oriental Medicine Explained.

If you have any interest in getting to know Dr. Catherine, Peter, or Nam please join us at our meet and greet here at The Natural Medicine Center of Lakeland on October 23rd at 5:00 PM.

Feel Better Fast With Natural Remedies

Help! Environmental Allergies

 

 

Spring is the season prized for lovely new “blooms”, but as many of us have noticed, ALLERGIES roll in during our Spring Season in Florida. Allergy sufferers are bothered by sinus or tension headaches, body aches, excessive mucous, sneezing and tearing or swelling eyes. The unfortunate truth is: Allergies aren’t curable, we can only work towards lessening symptoms. The mechanism underlying an environmentally instigated allergic response is the immune system.

 

 


Treat Your Symptoms

 

 

Taking natural herbal remedies is the best way to get rid of your allergy symptoms. Keep in mind that MANY supplements are misbranded—shoppers must be very intentional—you should buy supplements only from a trusted source. We recommend the quality supplements obtained from trained herbalists, or a doctor that you trust.

 

 

Distance Yourself from Pollen- Dust- or Mold

 

 

I’ve trained  patients to stay away from the natural substances and chemical entities each person is sensitized to.  Patients who are allergic to pollen should dwell indoors during the peak pollen dissemination intervals [8 am – 12 pm and 5:00pm – 9:00pm].  Humidity is also a factor to contemplate as an allergy-sufferer plans out his/her nature tours.  The general rule of thumb is to expect higher pollen counts on hot , dry and windy days.

 

 

Cook with Ginger

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

Ginger is a natural antihistamine and decongestant. It will provide you with relief from allergy symptoms by helping to open up your bronchial tubes.

Also eating apples, carrots, red onions, black tea and collard greens will also help your food fight off allergens.

 

Lobelia

 

 

Lobelia inflata is an herb that is used to treat asthma, allergies, whooping cough, congestion, and bronchitis. In the past, this useful herb had some utility for tobacco withdrawal, and to assist smokers in their pledge to stop smoking.

 

 

 

How we can help you at The Natural Medicine Center of Lakeland:

 

 

Thermography

The image above is a high resolution infrared image of a client’s head who suffers from environmental allergies. The red and white HOT areas of the image represent INFLAMMATION. As you can see the client imaged has inflammation around her eyes, and in her sinus cavities. She also has some inflammation in her neck where her lymphatic system is. This is an indicator that her body is having an immune response to her allergens. Thermography is an innovative medical discovery tool. We are able to see if there are areas in your body that need extra support to prevent disease and illness. If we see signs that your immune system is struggling in certain areas of your body, we can help you treat the issue. Then in the future, we can repeat a thermal scan in the area of interest to make sure you are on the mend.

 

 

Allergy testing

Since it is in your best interest to stay away and defend yourself from your allergens, taking an allergy test is a great first step. We offer a simple and inexpensive in office blood test that will not only tell you what you are allergic to, but also how severe your allergy is.

 

 

Natural Allergy Supplements:

 

http://naturallakeland.flywheelsites.com/product/magnolia-clear-sinus-capsules-100-count/

http://naturallakeland.flywheelsites.com/product/pueraria-clear-sinus-capsules-100-count/

Omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (often short handed: PUFAs) –

have anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory properties. People who have food allergies benefit preferentially from Omega 3 supplements, as Fish Oil and various purified PUFA capsules are superb for controlling intestinal allergies.

RIF – Resolve Internal Fire –

A proprietary blend of herbs, with Curcumin as its primary ingredient.  Curcumins are plant derived and cleanly extracted from a turmeric rhizome plant.  This herbal blend also features licorice root.  The herbal acts as a POTENT anti-inflammatory.  As allergic symptoms have genesis from inflamed mucous membranes—this blended herb will help!

Probiotics

Lobelia

7 Reasons Why Functional Medicine is FOR YOU

Why Functional Medicine?  Well, if you’re not sleeping well, seem cranky all day and your stomach seem always upset.  In addition you’re feeling a bit down and just can’t figure out why.  You head to your primary physician for—if you’re lucky—a 10-minute talk about what’s going on with you. The physician listens, nods his/her head a few times and then hands you a prescription or two, shakes your hand, and says “this should help”.  Case closed unless you call for another appointment.

You get home and Google the prescribed drugs to read all the potential side effects, constipation, dry mouth, dizziness, confusion, thoughts of suicide, lower sex drive and the list goes on.  Does this approach actually make anyone better? In a word, no.  It’s an attempt to mask the actual cause of your symptoms verses address them to heal.

Why Functional Medicine?

It’s the most profound and effective way to treat patients—particularly those with chronic health issues and here’s the 7 reasons why Functional Medicine is FOR YOU:

1. Functional Medicine is all about you

In simplest terms, think of it as the ultimate in personalized, one-on-one, therapeutic relationships. It’s a health-focused, patient-centric partnership, in which doctor and patient work together to dig deep and find out the causes of illness and disease. We examine not only the patient, but also their unique history, environment, lifestyle and underlying factors, and then develop a health-enhancing, usually drug-free plan to help restore the patient to good health and get him or her on a life-long path of wellness. With Functional Medicine, we look beyond the laundry list of symptoms; the whole person is taken into account.

3. Functional Medicine is not assembly-line medicine

Our current healthcare system is, to a large extent, governed by profit-driven conglomerates that essentially force physicians to manage huge caseloads and keep people moving through the system as quickly as possible. It’s mass-produced, assembly line, quick-fix, put-a-band-aid-on-it medicine, with little hope of creating long-term health. To it’s credit however, Conventional Medicine is great at managing medical and surgical emergencies, medical crises, acute infections and trauma, but falls way short when it comes to treating chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, gastrointestinal problems, chronic fatigue, autoimmune diseases, functional disorders, musculoskeletal problems and stress related disorders. This is where Functional Medicine is near perfect with its more comprehensive, thoughtful individual approach.  After all, you are unique and so should your health recovery plan be.

2. Functional Medicine is artisan medicine

With Functional Medicine, the patient experience is anything but conventional. One might even call it ‘artisan medicine’, because it an art of balance, involves time, care and patience, since true healing doesn’t happen overnight. With Functional Medicine, we treat the person who has the disease rather than the disease the person has. It’s not unusual for my colleagues and me to spend an hour or more with patients, listening to their histories, doing the detective work, asking questions, and examining the genetic, environmental, and lifestyle patterns that effect health. By addressing the underlying causes of illness and disease, Functional Medicine practitioners are able to design unique, personalized healing plans that Conventional Medicine literally doesn’t have the tools, training, or the time for.

Why Functional Medicine is For You Holistic homeopathic Herbal Natural Medicine Center Lakeland Central Florida Polk County

4. Functional Medicine is the best of both worlds

Functional Medicine is not an either/or system, but rather a true combination of Conventional Medicine and many different alternative and complementary therapies. It acknowledges the strengths of Conventional Medicine for acute and crisis-care, but also realizes that this approach does not have the tools for preventing and treating chronic diseases. Unlike conventional physicians, we are able to tap into all the tools of healing—drawing from Western, Eastern, alternative, preventative and integrative medical practices—to help our patients heal. By pulling from all of these approaches and by paying special attention to diet, exercise, nutrition, supplementation and the workings of the mind, we’re not just giving patients a band-aid, we’re giving them the tools to create sustainable wellness and vitality. To me, is what true healing is all about.

5. Functional Medicine looks for the cause

In Conventional Medicine, doctors try to make a diagnosis and then apply a treatment for that particular diagnosis. In Functional Medicine we are less concerned with making a diagnosis and more concerned with the underlying imbalances or dysfunctions. These are the mechanisms of the disease process. We aim at treating those underlying disease mechanisms and ultimately look for the causes of those imbalances.

6. Functional Medicine is medicine on a mission

I call myself a health evangelist, in part because I am a man on a mission. I aim to show the unwell how they can transform their health. Certainly they will need to do the work as I can’t do it for them, but we will work as partners to restore balance and health to their lives. And participating in the process, that slow transition from illness to wellness, is one of the greatest joys of Functional Medicine—for both patient and practitioner.

7. Functional Medicine is true Health Care

Functional Medicine is true health care, unlike the disease care model of Conventional Medicine. We now have the knowledge to go beyond the current crisis care model and offer patients a much better approach to their health. We can incorporate lifestyle medicine, nutrition, supplements, stress reduction and exercise to improve the functioning of organs as a means of preventing disease and creating vibrant, sustainable health.

Functional Medicine is literally FOR YOU.

Functional Medicine

Functional Medicine Holistic Homeopathic Eastern Natural Medicine Center Lakeland Central Florida Polk County Integrated Integrative Approach Dr Catherine OnuohaFunctional Medicine addresses the underlying causes of disease, using a systems-oriented approach and engaging both patient and practitioner in a therapeutic partnership. It is an evolution in the practice of medicine that better addresses the healthcare needs of people today. The traditional focus of medicine is disease-centered focus of medical practice where Functional Medicine addresses the whole person, not just an isolated set of symptoms. Functional Medicine practitioners spend time with their patients, listening to their histories and looking at the interactions among genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors that can influence long-term health and complex, chronic disease. Functional Medicine supports the unique expression of vitality and health  for each individual.

  • Functional Medicine enables physicians and other health professionals to practice proactive, predictive, personalized medicine and empowers patients to take an active role in their own health.
  • Functional Medicine incorporates the latest in genetic science, systems biology, and understanding of how environmental and lifestyle factors influence the emergence and progression of disease.
  • Functional Medicine offers a powerful new operating system and clinical model for assessment, treatment, and prevention of chronic disease to replace the outdated and ineffective acute-care models carried forward from the 20th century.

How Functional Medicine Heals a Key Health Care Gap

Today’s health care system is in trouble because it applies a medical management model that works well for acute health problems to chronic health problems, where it is much less successful. If you have a heart attack, accident or sudden lung infection such as pneumonia, you certainly want a quick-thinking doctor to use all the quick-acting resources of modern medicine, such as life-saving technology, surgery and antibiotics. Jumping in with drugs, surgery and other acute care treatments too often does not succeed in helping those with chronic, debilitating ailments, such as diabetes, heart disease or arthritis. Another approach is needed.

The Two-Pronged Healing Approach of Functional Medicine

To battle chronic health conditions, Functional Medicine uses two scientifically grounded principles:

  1. Add what’s lacking in the body to nudge its physiology back to a state of optimal functioning.
  2. Remove anything that impedes the body from moving toward this optimal state of physiology.

Plainly put, your body naturally wants to be healthy. But things needed by the body to function at its best might be missing, or something might be standing in the way of its best functioning. Functional Medicine first identifies the factors responsible for the malfunctioning. Then it deals with those factors in a way appropriate to the patient’s particular situation. Very often Functional Medicine practitioners use advanced laboratory testing to identify the root cause or causes of the patient’s health problem. Old-fashioned medical diagnosis helps too, in the form of listening carefully to the patient’s history of symptoms and asking questions about his or her activities and lifestyle. For treatment, Functional Medicine practitioners use a combination of natural agents (supplements, herbs, nutraceuticals and homeopathics), nutritional and lifestyle changes, spiritual/emotional counseling, and pharmaceuticals, if necessary to prod a patient’s physiology back to an optimal state. In addition, educating the patient about their condition empowers them to take charge of their own health, ultimately leading to greater success in treatment.

Treating Symptoms Versus Treating the Person

In the dominant health care model today, medication is used to get rid of people’s symptoms. If the patient stops taking the medication, symptoms generally return. Functional Medicine approaches health problems differently. Instead of masking the problem, it aims at restoring the body’s natural functioning. Although Functional Medicine practitioners may prescribe pharmaceuticals, they are used to gently nudge the patient’s physiology in a positive direction so the patient will no longer need them. For example, conventional doctors would normally prescribe pharmaceuticals like Prilosec, Prevacid or Aciphex to treat acid reflux or heartburn. When the patient stops taking such drugs, the heartburn symptoms come back. In contrast, a Functional Medicine practitioner might find that a patient’s acid reflux is caused by Helicobacter pylori bacteria. Eradicating the Helicobacter pylori might very well lead to the end of heartburn symptoms, permanently. It’s also important to note that in Functional Medicine, treatment for similar symptoms might vary tremendously for different patients, according to their medical history and results of laboratory tests. Factors that can come into play in producing the same symptoms include toxic chemicals, pathogenic bacteria, parasites, chronic viral pathogens, emotional poisons like anger, greed or envy, and structural factors such as tumors or cysts.

The Roots of Functional Medicine

Sir William Osler Functional Medicine Pioneer Homeopathic Holistic Natural Medicine Center Lakeland Central Florida Polk County Alternative Approach Dr Catherine Onuoha

Sir William Osler Functional Medicine Pioneer

You may be surprised to learn that Functional Medicine isn’t new. It actually represents a return to the roots of modern scientific medicine, captured in this statement by Sir William Osler, one of the first professors at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and later its Physician-in-Chief: “The good physician treats the disease; the great physician treats the patient who has the disease.” Another important saying by Osler is “If you listen carefully to the patient, they will tell you the diagnosis.” This encapsulates the importance placed in Functional Medicine on taking a thorough history from the patient.

Your Experience of Functional Medicine

We have titled this web site, “Your Medical Detective,” because patients often feel their Functional Medicine practitioner is leaving no stone unturned in their relentless research to pinpoint the causes of a particular patient’s symptoms. When you consult a Functional Medicine practitioner, the first step is always your history. Practitioners are trained on how to unravel and make sense of a complicated story. Often clues in the story lead to the identification of key imbalances. The next set of clues comes from a comprehensive physical examination, which includes many nearly forgotten examination procedures used by famous diagnosticians (both living and long gone), such as chapman reflex points, ankle brachial reflex and nail inspection. The final set of clues comes from advanced laboratory testing. Innovative, cutting-edge lab tests help the practitioner look deeply into a patient’s physiology to identify how it has been compromised and how physiological balance can be restored. After diagnosis and treatment, a Functional Medicine patient can expect his or her symptoms to diminish in severity, with a renewed sense of well-being and significant increase in health and vitality. While there is no substitute for face-to-face treatment from a trained Functional Medicine practitioner, this site educates you on the Functional Medicine perspective and on the kinds of clues and treatments that may be key to restoring you to optimal health.

A Little Each Day…

Dear Friends,   Pheww.. these last few years have been a lot to manage. Between trying to stay healthy, supply shortages and just a whole lot of drama, we have all had a lot on our plates! Here at the Natural Medicine Center we want to encourage our community members and patients to stay positive. […]

Thermography after COVID

  Darla Fleche, has been a clinical thermographer at Natural Medicine Center since 2015. Darla reports that in her practice, she is seeing a lot of patients who have recovered from COVID but now have new health challenges that have emerged after their infections.   ‘COVID seems to affect everyone a little differently. Some examples […]

Emergency Ready!

Prepare for an EMERGENCY now     Dr. Catherine is passionate about being ready for any curveballs 2022 might throw our way! Watch the video below for more information!       Dr. Catherine recommends getting a ‘bug out bag’ ready for emergency evacuation… ———————————————————————- https://www.thebugoutbagguide.com/bug-out-bag-list/   ————————————————————   News outlets are projecting supply chain […]

Wellness with Epigenetics

Unlock your CodeExpress your Limitless State of Wellness with Epigenetics Have you have tried different strategies to change your state of health, they have worked for other people but not for you? Are you still looking for answers in regards to your health and wellness? Do you want to take your wellness to the next level? Do you […]

4 DIY ways to keep your lymph clean

Drink plenty of water Clean eating Dry Brushing Exercise 1.  Drink Plenty of Water 8 Glasses per day? How much water should we drink per day? Between 7-11 glass per day.  2. Clean Eating At The Natural Medicine Center we believe that the right diet is very unique to each person. We recommend different diets […]

Avoid Getting Leaky Gut

      Gut health and avoiding a leaky gut is not only important for those of us with digestive issues but is important for all of us! The continuity and strength of our gastrointestinal (GI) membrane barrier is vital for immunologic functioning. The layered GI barrier system also permits our gut lumen spaces to […]

Balancing Hormones

Balancing hormones can be influenced by a number of factors in men and women. Fluctuations in hormone levels occur throughout the lifecycle, some are just a natural part of aging while others may be the result of stress, toxic exposures, diet, or unhealthy sleep patterns. It is important to monitor your hormone levels throughout the lifespan and take action early to address imbalances before it affects your health or quality of life.

 Symptoms of Hormone Imbalance

The symptoms of hormone imbalance may vary from person to person and evolve over time. For example, a woman may experience menopausal symptoms, like hot flashes during the early stages of menopause, but she may continue to experience these discomforts for years after the menstrual cycle has stopped. Men often experience symptoms on an intermittent basis as testosterone levels begin to decline in his late 20s. Symptoms often become frequent or compile as a man reaches middle age.

  • Hot flashes
  • Night sweats
  • Weight gain
  • Muscle loss
  • Fatigue
  • Insomnia
  • Mood swings
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Irritability
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Low energy

The Benefits of Balanced Hormones

Achieving balancing hormones offers men and women a number of benefits, such as more energy, better sleep, and stabilized moods, but beyond that research has shown that hormone therapy improves overall health by reducing the risk of disease.

Late in 2015, the results of the Veterans Database Study found that men who treated low testosterone with testosterone therapy experienced a reduced risk of heart disease and stroke. A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) in early 2016 found that testosterone therapy improved mood, sexual health, and physical fitness in men.

Among women, hormone therapy has been heralded as the best treatment for menopause, helping to reduce the frequency and severity of symptoms. In March of 2016, the results of the highly anticipated ELITE study were published in NEJM, finding that women who begin hormone therapy early in their menopausal years experienced a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease.

Finding the Right Hormone Balance

Hormone (and thyroid) balancing is one of Dr. Catherine’s focus areas and one of the primary patient types which she sees. Dr. Catherine understands that achieving balance is a combination of advanced therapies, like bioidentical hormone therapy, and dynamic strategies for nutrition, stress management, and sleep that work synergistically to promote optimal health. Dr. Catherine has been specially-trained and certified in bioidentical hormone therapy and functional medicine practices to ensure every patient receives elite care and maximizes their health potential.

Beat Your Stress Hormone Nine Ways Natural Medicine Center Lakeland Central Florida

Beat Your Stress Hormone – 9 Natural Ways

To beat your stress hormone you first have to understand it.  The stress hormone Cortisol is meant to help us.  It is produced by the Adrenal gland.  When we are overloaded with the many forms of stress from our modern world we can sometimes enter into the state of Cortisol Flooding which is a symptom of Adrenal Fatigue.

Check out: Adrenal Fatigue – Chronic Stress Response

Cortisol helps regulate blood pressure and the immune system during a sudden crisis, whether a physical attack or an emotional setback. This helps you to tap into your energy reserves and increases your ability to fight off infection.

The trouble arises when relentless stress can keep this survival mechanism churning in high gear, ruining the hormone’s good intentions.

Constant high cortisol levels can cause:

  • sleep problems

  • a depressed immune response

  • blood sugar abnormalities

  • abdominal weight gain

“When cortisol spikes, it tells the brain to eat something with a lot of calories—a great survival tactic if you need energy to run away from a lion.  But not so great if you are stressed over a mother-in-law, paying bills, highway traffic or other modern issues.

To gain control over the Cortisol stress hormone our mind and body has a natural balance.

Relaxation.

Beat your stress hormone with these 9 easy and natural ways

Cut Cortisol 66% – Music soothes and heals

Music can have a calming effect on the brain, especially while you’re facing down a major stressor. When doctors at Japan’s Osaka Medical Center played tunes for a group of patients undergoing colonoscopies, the patients’ cortisol levels rose less than those of others who underwent the same procedure in a quiet room. Even if an invasive gastrointestinal exam isn’t in your immediate future, you can forestall cortisol spikes in other stressful situations—when hosting dinner for your in-laws, for instance—by queueing up background music. And to wind down faster at bedtime, listen to something soothing instead of watching TV.

Check out this 30 minute YouTube stress busting gentle music.  Dawn your headphones, close your eyes and for 30 minutes just breath slowly and deeply, focusing on your breath and feel warm energy flow in as your inhale and dark stress leave as you exhale.  You can even listen to this over your lunch break relaxing in your car.  Or laying in the grass at a nearby park.

 

Cut Cortisol Naturally with Sleep Reduce Stress Hormone Natural Medicine Center Lakeland Central Florida

Take a nap if needed. Get at least 8 hours of sleep but some people need more to deal with stressful periods to cut cortisol.

Cut Cortisol 50% – Sleep 

What’s the difference between getting six hours of sleep instead of the suggested eight? “Fifty percent more cortisol in the bloodstream,” Talbott says. When a group of pilots slept six hours or less for seven nights while on duty, their cortisol levels increased significantly and stayed elevated for two days, found a study at Germany’s Institute for Aerospace Medicine. The recommended 8 hours of nightly shut-eye allows your body enough time to recover from the day’s stresses, Talbott says. When you fall short of the mark, take a nap the next day—Pennsylvania State University researchers found that a midday snooze cut cortisol levels in subjects who’d lost sleep the previous night.

Cut Cortisol 47% – Drink black tea

The “cup that cheers” has deep associations with comfort and calm—just think of how the English revere their late-afternoon teatime. As it turns out, science confirms the connection. When volunteers at University College London were given a stressful task, the cortisol levels of those who were regular black-tea drinkers fell by 47% within an hour of completing the assignment, while others who drank fake tea experienced only a 27% drop. Study author Andrew Steptoe, PhD, suspects that naturally occurring chemicals such as polyphenols and flavonoids may be responsible for tea’s calming effects.

Cut Cortisol 39% – Laugh

The pal who keeps you in stitches can do more than distract you from your problems—her very presence may help temper your hormonal stress response. Simply anticipating laughter is enough to reduce cortisol levels by nearly half, according to researchers at Loma Linda University.

Stress Relief Cortisol Hormone Reducer Massage Therapy Natural Medicine Center Lakelane Central FloridaCut Cortisol 31% – Schedule a Massage

A little pampering can rub your stress levels the right way. After several weeks of massage therapy, subjects’ cortisol levels decreased by nearly one-third, on average, according to studies at the University of Miami School of Medicine and elsewhere. In addition to keeping cortisol under control, massage sessions reduce stress by promoting production of dopamine and serotonin, the same “feel good” hormones released when we socialize with pals or do something fun.

Book Your Massage Appointment Now

Cut Cortisol – With Acupuncture

As reported Journal of Endocrinology, researchers led by Ladan Eshkevari, assistant program director of the nurse anesthesia program at Georgetown University School of Nursing and Health Studies found that stimulated the body via acupuncture has significant results in lowering the stress hormone.  Read about it in the New York Times online here.

Book Your Acupuncture Appointment Now

Cut Cortisol 25% – Do Something Spiritual

Religious ritual fortifies many people against everyday pressures, and it can also lower cortisol secretion, report University of Mississippi researchers. Churchgoing study subjects had lower levels of the stress hormone, on average, than those who did not attend services at all. If organized religion isn’t of interest to you, try developing your spiritual side by taking a walk in nature’s “cathedral”—in the woods or along a beach—or volunteering for a charity.

Cut Cortisol 20% – Meditate

People who practiced Buddhist meditation significantly decreased both cortisol and blood pressure in a 6-week Thai study. Similarly, participants who meditated daily for four months decreased the hormone by an average of 20% in a study at Maharishi University, while levels in the nonmeditating control group actually went up slightly.

Here’s a sample guided meditation.  It instructs to lie down, yet you can do any meditation in a comfortable chair.  It can even be done over your lunch hour in your car with the seat tilted back comfortably.

Cut Cortisol 12-16% – Chew a Piece of Gum

Next time you feel frazzled, try popping a stick of gum into your mouth to instantly defuse tension, suggest new findings from Northumbria University in the United Kingdom. While under moderate stress, gum chewers had salivary cortisol levels that were 12% lower than nonchewers and also reported greater alertness than their gum-deprived counterparts. One possible mechanism: In past experiments, chewing gum increased blood flow and neural activity in select brain regions.

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