Biotherapeutic Drainage Archives - Dr. Donata Girolamo, Naturopathic Doctor

Another Winters’ Cold and Flu Prevention Program Comes To an End

For the past 4 years, I have been running an immune supportive program from September through April. This years' participants did just as well as all the other years. The goal is to: Take a proactive approach during the winter months, when sunshine is less, activity may be less, and nutrition and sleep may suffer from the series of holidays – Halloween, thanksgiving, Christmas and holiday parties, and new years [...]

How to Eliminate Water Retention before your Period

How awful does it feel to be bloated, swollen, puffy, and uncomfortable 1-2 weeks per month? A lot of women describe feeling this way at some point before their period comes; one source quoting over 50% of PMS sufferers1. Water retention can affect the face, hands, lower legs, and abdomen. Some women even notice that they regularly gain 4-5 lbs during this time before their period. Many women already try [...]

Immune Support with Naturopathic Medicine

The immune system is such an elegant symphony. Have you ever wondered why you get sick in the winter when you do all the right things, like eat healthy, take your vitamin D and Echinacea? If avoiding the cold, flu, bronchitis, strep, and sinus infections is important to you, consider a personalized approach with Dr. Donata Girolamo, Naturopathic Doctor. Many patients have been able to avoid illnesses and even increase [...]

5 Awesome Herbs to take During Pregnancy

Herbs are a wonderful and nourishing addition throughout a woman’s pregnancy. On top of a clean and nutritious diet, herbs can be used to provide a therapeutic effect; they provide more absorbable vitamins, minerals and antioxidants than taking supplemental isolated vitamins and minerals.1Pregnant women not only need more vitamins and minerals during pregnancy due to the nature of it, but also lose more. For example, “kidney function changes to handle [...]

Foundations of Fertility part 3: Hypothyroidism

The thyroid gland is part of the endocrine system, and is responsible for how quickly the body uses energy, makes proteins, and responds to other hormones. Thyroid hormones affect how fast or slow your brain, heart, muscles, liver, and other organs work. It is very important this gland is working optimally for a timely conception, pregnancy, and after the birth. Studies show that there is a “higher prevalence of [...]

Foundations of Fertility Part 2: Blood Sugar Regulation

Maintaining a tightly controlled insulin and blood sugar relationship is crucial for conception. This means ensuring the pancreas does not produce too much insulin in response to your meal. You may have a problem with blood sugar balance and insulin resistance if you have trouble with weight loss, have been diagnosed with Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), live a sedentary life, or have been consuming a diet high in sugars, [...]

Foundations of Fertility Part 1: Stress Management

Dr. Donata Girolamo, N.D. explains in this 5-part series how to build a strong foundation to improve conception rates, labour experiences, and have a healthy baby. Stress is commonly overlooked and not considered as an obstacle to natural conception. I’ve chosen to write about it as part 1 of Foundations of Fertility, because stress is now acknowledged as being the cause for many disease processes.1 Managing stress better and initiating [...]

Endometriosis: “I love being a woman and I know where I belong”*

March is Endometriosis month. Endometriosis is a condition resulting from the appearance of endometrial tissue outside the uterus which causes pelvic pain. Some causes may be: Altered immune function Exposure to environmental chemicals that mimic estrogen, like dioxin Increased free radicals (oxidative stress) Retrograde bleeding Qi and blood stagnation (Chinese medicine) Risk Factors: Estrogen dominance Hormone replacement therapy Environmental estrogens through food sources; meat, dairy Increased body fat Lack [...]