Breast Cancer Causes (?)

Today, the most prevalent types of cancer in Canada are lung, breast in females, prostate in males, and colorectal/colon cancer (Source). So, let's chat about breast cancer for a second or two. While no one can pinpoint exactly what causes this type of cancer, there are several hypotheses behind the increased incidence of of breast cancer as of late: 

- Plastics: plastics contain synthetic estrogens (xenoestrogns) which are endocrine distruptors, causing all kinds of endocrine disruption in the body (affecting not just the breast, but also the thyroid, adrenals, prostate, and more).
- Not breast feeding: not using the breast the way it was physiologically intended). Source.
- Genetics: the BRCA1 and 2 genes. Source.
- Shift work: Due to low melatonin levels due to odd nighttime light exposure (i.e. working at night) has recently be linked to breast cancer. Shift working nurses, in particular, are at risk of developing breast cancer. Source.
- Anti-perspirants: by applying these to the armpit, where is very close to the breast tissue. These products contain aluminum (a heavy metals), synthetic chemicals, and toxins. They stop sweating, but sweating is one of the body's mechanisms of detoxification. As we are not able to sweat wearing these products, the toxins that would normally leave the body through sweat, need to go somewhere... and since the breast is near by and fatty tissue to deposit in, toxins accumulate in the breast. We talked about this in one of my classes (Men's and Women's Health), but here is another source. By the way, "deodorants" don't really exist anymore. Almost all "deodorants" on the market are actually anti-perspirants; blocking perspiration.
- Bras: we didn't always wear bras, that's a new societal development, especially those with metal underwire. While there isn't any research to support this claim, there is a lingering hypothesis that bras compress the breast and that their underwire doesn't allow the lymphatics of the breast to properly drain. Whether or not this is true and is linked to breast cancer, tight clothes is not normally good for your body. For all my female readers: tonight, when you undress, take off your bra in front of a mirror. If there are bra indents/red marks on your skin after the bra is off, then it is too tight! When choosing bras, try to get ones without metal underwire if you can and make sure your bra is properly fitted (i.e. not too tight but still supporting you well to prevent sore necks/traps/back).
- Lastly, all those other cancer risk factors, like smoking, lack of exercise, obesity, stress, etc, etc, etc... 

Now that we've got the risks out of the way, here are some ways to improve your breast health!

- Massages: massage the breast, moving upwards, towards the clavicle to drain the breast lymphatics
- Consuming phytoestrogens, like soy and flaxseeds, on a regular basis
- Avoiding plastics as much as possible
- Wear a properly fitting bra and try for bra-free days if possible (weekends?)
- And all those other health promoting practices, like not smoking, exercising, getting enough sleep, maintaining a health weight, managing stress, eating well ...yadda, yadda, yadda!
- Talk to your doctor to learn more ways to keep your breasts healthy. This blog post was not meant to scare anyone into thinking that they are going to get (or got) breast cancer due to behavior X, Y, or Z, instead it was meant  to getting my readers thinking more about their overall breast health!

Massage Memories

I visited the Royal Canadian College of Massage Therapy located in Toronto recently. They operate similar to CCNM, in that they have a teaching clinic where the students work under supervisors near the end of their studies. Since the practitioners are still students, the massage fees are greatly reduced too.

Image from the RCCMT website. 

The best part of attending the college was not getting the massage (the massage was actually quite rough! Definitely not relaxing, but structurally therapeutic in that the student worked heavily on the tight muscles)... but was being reminded of all the massage techniques I learned in my first-year Massage class. Here is the link to all of my posts that talk about Massage from year-one at CCNM.

The entire massage experience was a giant flash back to what I learned in year-one. We were trained in all of the basic massage techniques and were taught by Registered Massage Therapists (RMT). I remembered the draping, the pillowing, the names of the different massage techniques, the correct terminology (you lie on a table, not a bed!), the etiquette, the sequence of events, and much, much more! I am really surprised at how much I recalled. Now I know that in the future, when I forget a modality or technique taught in class, I just need to go and experience it as a refresher! It's amazing how quickly the material comes back once the memory is prodded.

Good Massage Oils

Way back when, in my first year of naturopathic medical studies, I took a class called Massage. That's right: naturopathic doctors are trained in therapeutic massage. Now, we don't necessarily dabble in 60 minute, full body massages (we leave that to Registered Massage Therapists), but if I patient requests or is indicated for one (such as chronic full-body pain, lymphatic drainage issues, some forms of edema, etc), naturopathic doctors are able to provide the patient with a massage. When I took this class, one of the first things I was taught was what consitutes a good massage oil. I was naive, thinking that any form of oil would make a great massage oil, but I was wrong. Many oils that we use when cooking and those that we typically have in our homes are too greasy and not well absorbed by the skin to be used as massage oils. They also can stain clothes and clog pores. Instead, we should be using lighter, absorbable, and nourishing oils that are sold in health food stores or at massage supply stores. They are pricey, but a little goes a long way so one bottle should last a long, long time.

Some specialty oils that work well for massage:

Almond oil

Avocado oil

Jojoba oil

Castor oil

Oils you may have at home that actually works:

Grapeseed oil

Coconut oil

Oils that you likely have at home but should not be used for massage:

Olive oil

Canola oil

Sunflower oil

Friction Rubbing.

Sometimes, when we injury a muscle, tendon, or a ligament, we can develop scar tissue around the injured structure.  When this soft tissue lesion heals, rough collagen is built-up; this build-up is known as an adhesion.  Adhesions are not a good development because they can impinge nerves, restrict muscle movement, and cause pain upon movement. In my Physical Medicine class, we learned how to 'break-up' adhesions as they develop after an injury. The technique we learned about is called Cross Fiber Friction Rubbing. 

How it works:
Friction rubbing reduces the bothersome adhesions from building-up, causing the body to form strong scar tissue instead. More specifically, the rubbing reduces the 'roughness' that forms with adhesions, making the resulting scar tissue smoother.

What is done:
A deep, non-sliding, pressured stroke is applied to the injury site (note: not during the acute stage of the injury, but in the sub-acute stage, such as several days after the initial injury). The movement is along the direction of the muscle fibers. . No oil is used topically and the 'stroke' doesn't slide; the skin doesn't move as the muscle is moved.  The doctor applies the stroke using their thumb and it is applied at right angles to the muscle fibers.

Results:
You've been warned! The treatment is quite painful, but it still safe and 'worth the pain'. No pain, no gain! The first treatment will be short, a couple of minutes only, then a day of rest, then another treatment. After a total of roughly 5 treatments, the adhesions will be fully broken-up, and thus the muscle/tendon/ligament will be back to its normal functioning state and will very likely be pain-free.

Follow-up: 
The RICE protocol is indicated (rest, ice, compression, elevation). Lots of ice in particular.

The Naked, Guinea Pig, Pin Cushion.

Dear future students,

When you start at CCNM, be prepared to be challenged mentally, emotionally, and physically. Not just in the tired-and-achy-back-sense from being hunched over notes everyday, but because of all of the poking, prodding, palpating, rubbing, adjusting, and freezing!

Be prepared to become a test subject. Your body will be used as a learning tool during your Manipulation, Massage, Hydrotherapy, Practical & Clinical Diagnosis, and (practical) Anatomy classes. Rather than hiring models, you will learn off your classmates' bodies. And it forth-year, you'll be stuck with intravenous needles and will have other laboratory tests preformed on your body.

Thanks to all of the Acupuncture featured in the curriculum (almost four full years of needles!), you will be poked extensively. Your body will certainly feel like it is a pin cushion.

Leave your shyness behind too, because you will be exposed (being up to 90% naked) on many occasions. You will become very comfortable with your body, especially when almost every square inch of it will be touched and examined by your classmates.

Be prepared because this is no joke: during your four years at CCNM, you essentially will be a naked, guinea pig, pin cushion. You've be warned.

Image source here and here.

Massage, Emphysema, and (Sick) Exercising.

Today I had an hour and a half full-body massage. Jealous? Well, don't be! Following my massage I then had to complete the hour and a half routine. Now part of me feels really relaxed while the other part feels really stiff and tense from working my partner's muscles :P
______________

Emphysema is a disease in the lungs. Symptoms related with this disease include shortness of breath. The alveoli (little air sacs on the surface of the lungs) over-inflate with air, but the air can't get out. The alveoli sacs eventually die leaving scar tissue on the surface of the lungs. They die as they are unable to preform normal gas exchange (exchanging oxygen for carbon dioxide). Bronchioles connect the alveoli with the rest of the lung, thus when alveoli are damaged, the bronchioles can collapse, making it even harder for the lungs exchange the lung that is caught in the alveoli. This disease is usually caused by smoking.
______________

There is a general rule for exercising when sick. Symptoms that occur below the neck (e.g. a cold in the chest cold, lung infection, tummy ache, diarrhea) mean that exercising should be put on hold, while symptoms that occur above the neck (e.g. runny nose, sneezing, sinus congestion) shouldn't pose a problem to normal exercise routines. However, every case is different and thus only you and your health professional are know best whether or not to exercise when feeling sick.

Massage and a Clarification.

"Massage is a healing art. It is a unique way of communicating without words. Through touching another person, we may communicate the fact that we care; [we empathize], we want to share our energy [...]" - Francis M. Tappan

Massage means to knead or to handle. Massage is very therapeutic and healing, and has been used to treat illness for over 3000 years.

Massage can be a preventative form of medicine, especially in the reduction of stress; it can be used for rehabilitation in the case of physical injuries; it can be used to treat a variety of conditions as a drugless-option; it can be used to teach patients about the importance of self-care.

Benefits of massage (besides relaxation!) include increased blood circulation, increased lymph drainage, decreased pain and tension, stimulated digestion (and possible relief of constipation if this is a concern), prevention of harmful muscle spasms and hypertonicity, improved reflexes, treatment of an illness without drugs or invasive intervention, and increased parasympathetic nervous system (the one responsible for digestion and relaxation).

(The previous notes were inspired by my studying for my upcoming Massage quiz).
___________________

After a discussion last night with Min and Po, I thought I'd best clarify myself when I said that fruit should be eaten alone (I said this here). Now I recognize that some of the theories behind naturopathic medicine can seem very daunting and even depressing to many of my readers. Yes, if you want to get all technical, our diets are horrible in terms of the Anatomy and Physiology of our digestive system (in reality we should never eat grains and should almost never eat any foods together... but that's another silly story :P). So, with everything naturopathic doctors recommend, baby steps are key. In regards to eating fruit with meals, try to avoid it on a regular basis and pay attention to "juicy" fruits. Pineapple, apples, oranges, watermelon, cantaloupe... these fruits should really never be eaten with other foods as in the fruit kingdom, they digest the fastest as they have a high water content. It shouldn't be too hard to eat on their own if you eat them for an afternoon snack, right when you wake up, or really late in the evening as a bedtime snack. During these times of day, it should be easier to eat them without any protein, fat, or other complex carbohydrates. As for a banana on top of your cereal or some fresh figs with your cheese platter, don't sweat it. Everything in moderation is what is key in my mind (and in my field of medicine) :)

Happy Fruit Snacking!

Spoiled.

I feel very spoiled this week at CCNM.

First, we had a supplier show on Wednesday. A supplier show is when the entire school is filled to the brim with companies that supply Naturopathic Doctors with supplements, vitamins, botanicals, medicines, health foods, natural creams, and various clinic services. The goal of the show is for students to wander from booth to booth to learn about the different companies and what they have to offer. However, every year the show turns into a giant freebie fair! Students essentially go from booth to booth picking up all the free samples they can get along the way. I don't blame us from being so cheap (this program is mighty expensive!) and I must say that I certainly took advantage of the goodies. Nevertheless, I made the point of talking to the company reps one-on-one before taking their samples. I also did not visit the booths of companies that I was not interested in or whose products I could never see myself using. I ended up spending well over an hour talking to reps. In the end, I had a lot interesting conversations, formed some opinions about some of the attending companies, tested my ability to question claims made by health product suppliers, and walked away with a TON of free stuff. I spent the most time at the Ascenta Professional booth and ended up receiving a free bottle of vegan DHA oil (which is an omega-3 supplement with a retail value of $45!). Other goodies I got: digestive enzyme samples, tumeric capsules, ColdFx samples, herbal tea, vitamin B12 tablets, vitamin D drops (a full bottle, retail value $20), concentrated garlic tablets, three vegan protein powder packs, a protein bar, chia seeds, cocoa powder, two reusable bags, two botanical cream samples... and more! I can't wait to try out these products; if they're great, then I'm sure I'll be personally using them and recommending them to future patients.

The second reason why I feel spoiled: today's 50 minute back massage. As mentioned before, I am taking an intro to relaxing Massage class this semester. This week, the class focused on how to give a proper back massage. The class started with a 30-minute presentation on the principles of massage, then was followed by a 30-minute relaxing back massage demonstration, preformed by a Registered Massage Therapist. Then the class was grouped into partners, with one partner lying on the massage table for almost an hour while their partner gave him or her a massage. Then, the favor was reciprocated. My partner did an excellent job: the massage felt great; however I also found that giving the massage was also very soothing. By the way, these weren't just simple back massages, but full professional ones, including massage tables, massage oils, and we learned how to properly drape our partner with sheets.

One tip before signing-off for the night: after receiving a massage, make sure to drink lots of water. Massages tend to release a lot of stored toxins, therefore adequate water is required to flush them out.

Three New Subjects.

Today I started three completely new courses. While Tuesday was my busy day last semester, Thursday is the longest this time (830 AM until 6 or 7 PM). Even though it will be long, Thursday classes seem pretty relaxed. Here's hoping!

Embryology is basically the science behind pregnancy. or as my professor said it "the most beautiful story ever told in the field of medicine". How a baby is conceived (no, not that), how it grows and develops in utero, and how it is born, are three topics that will be at great lengths. Note: my Embryology prof is also my Anatomy prof, meaning I will be taught by him EVERYDAY this semester. Good thing I love his teaching!

The Art and Practice of Naturopathic Medicine will challenge me to start learning the "art" of practicing. I learned that the uniqueness of naturopathic medicine is not considered to be in its modalities or in its natural methods of healing, but is is in the way naturopathic doctors approach illness and healing. We have a whole different way of viewing health and while I was introduced to this way last semester (in my Naturopathic History and Philosophy class), I will be expanding on this knowledge in this course. It seems like a very thought provoking class with a lot of guest speakers.

Finally, Massage and Hydrotherapy will be an interesting class. The class is divided into two: half of my classmates learn massage while the others are learning hydrotherapy, then in February we switch techniques. I'm in the massage group first. By the end of the course we'll know the basic procedures and techniques in order to give a full body relaxation massage. However, we will not know anything near what registered massage therapists (RMTs) know (we study massage for four weeks, while RMTs study for two years). Today we gave a partner a back and neck massage (and then our partner reciprocated). Massage is incredibly healing and can affect dramatically the physiology of the human body (decreasing blood pressure, releasing built-up toxins, decreasing chest congestion, and stimulating the lymphatic systems).
______________________________________________

Now, just because I wasn't blogging for about two weeks, this did not mean that I also took a break from my infamous baking. I was happy to do lots of baking over the holidays, including two variations of my almond butter cookies, some buckwheat biscuits, gourmet pumpkin pie brownies, and most recently some walnut-spice granola bars (my own creation).

Although I am all sweets-out due to the sugary-ness of the holidays, I am eager to continue baking now that I have some lovely homemade aprons to wear in the kitchen (aren't crafty Moms wonderful? xo).