Gluco Hx
Gluco Hx Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND When it comes to helping someone regulate their blood sugar one of my favorite supplements is Gluco Hx. But why is this such a great product? Well let’s get into it, shall we? To start with Gluco Hx …
Tag: antioxidants
Stress and Anxiety
Stress and Anxiety Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND Before we move on to a different topic I felt it was important to talk about our mental health. Being diagnosed with cancer or any other chronic illness is much more than just the physical aspects of …
Hair Enhance
Hair Enhance
Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND
I wanted to talk about a product that may be new to you, Hair Enhance! This is an excellent formula for helping with hair growth. It can help enhance hair strength as well. However some of the nutrients in Hair Enhance may seem confusing. So let’s review a few of these unexpected nutrients, shall we?
Let’s start with Saw Palmetto. In a 16 week study it was found that saw palmetto can help reduce hair fall. The study also found that saw palmetto helped to promote hair regrowth. Even scalp health was improved with saw palmetto use. (1) Another study found a 27% improvement in total hair when those who have alopecia used saw palmetto. The study also found that 83% of people that use saw palmetto had an increase in hair density. Lastly the study found that hair loss progression stabilized in approximately 52% of people using saw palmetto. In other words they did not continue to lose more hair. (2) Now when most people think of saw palmetto they think of men’s health. Which leads to a common question – is saw palmetto considered to be safe for both men and women? Well the answer is that saw palmetto is regarded as safe for both women and men. Please consult a professional if you are pregnant or nursing since pregnant or nursing induvial have unique medical concerns. (3) What is the take away message from all these studies on saw palmetto? Well between the studies and my clinical experience saw palmetto is very helpful for our overall hair growth.
The next item that may seem confusing is zinc. In one study it was found that having low levels of zinc promotes hair loss. (4) Zinc is also important for our hair because it helps to make keratin which is a protein that forms the hair stands. Zinc is also important for the health of our hair follicles. Zinc is also important for the balance of hormones that affect the overall quality of our hair. (5) So yes in my opinion zinc is an important nutrient for more than you would expect!
Tocotrienols is another nutrient that may surprise you. To start with what the heck is a tocotrienol? Well tocotrienols are a form of vitamin E. Studies have found that using tocotrienols can increase the number of hairs that you have. (6) Tocotrienols can also promote hair growth by protecting the hair from oxidative damage. (7)
Apple Fruit extract is one nutrient that may have you scratching our head. Studies have found that apple fruit extract can help to increase hair growth and even hair density after only 2 months of use. (8)
Hair Enhance also contains more expected nutrients such as biotin. Studies have found that biotin use can help those who have hair loss. (9) One question that I frequently get asked about a product for hair such as hair enhance is how quickly will it work? The answer is that it may take longer for you to notice changes in your hair than you expect. The reason is simply the fact that hair doesn’t grown very fast. The hair on the scalp typically grows between 0.6cm and 3.36cm per month. (10) If you look at a ruler you can see that it is quite a small amount. So in my clinical experience when it comes to hair growth patience is key! The Hair Enhance is a great formula. You just have to give it some time.
Our next blog will be the stress and anxiety associated with cancer.
Sources:
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10648974/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33313047/
- https://www.forhers.com/blog/does-saw-palmetto-shampoo-work-for-female-hair-loss
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6124235/
- https://wimpoleclinic.com/blog/zinc-and-hair-loss-understanding-the-essential-minerals-role/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24575202/
- https://miriqa.com/blogs/educational-articles/singapores-best-hair-loss-treatment-tocotrienol-for-natural-hair-growth
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5775114/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3509882/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_hair_growth
Hair and Skin Changes Due to Cancer Treatments
Hair and Skin Changes Due to Cancer Treatments Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND Cancer treatments can have different side effects when it comes to our hair and skin. Let’s start with our skin, shall we? Certain cancer therapies can cause skin to become dry. They …
Green Tea, our most common questions!!!
Green Tea, our most common questions!!! Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND Green Tea is probably one supplement that everyone has heard of! It’s probably been written about by almost everyone, including me! So why write about it again you ask? Well it’s recently come to …
Neuropathy
Neuropathy
Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND
Neuropathy is usually something that most people associate with diabetes. This is an accurate connection because one of the most common causes of neuropathy is diabetes. But did you know that neuropathy can also occur after cancer treatments? To start off this topic I’ll ask a simple question, what is neuropathy? Well neuropathy, or as some call it peripheral neuropathy is basically a condition where the peripheral nerves or in other words the nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord become damaged. This is very common in our hands and feet. (1)
The symptoms you can experience if you have neuropathy can include numbness or tingling in your feet, hands, legs or even arms. You may also feel as if you are wearing gloves or socks when you’re not. You may have sharp, jabbing pain that may even occur during activities that don’t normally cause pain. As the neuropathy progresses’ you may notice an increase in sensitivity to touch. There may also be muscle weakness and a lack of coordination. If your motor nerves are affected you may have an inability to move. You may notice an intolerance to heat. You may experience either excess sweating or an ability to sweat at all. There may also be a drop in blood pressure. You may also have bowel, bladder or digestive problems. (1) Lastly you may notice cramps in your feet. (2)
It’s important to see a doctor if you notice the symptoms of neuropathy starting to develop. When you see the doctor they will do a full medical history and a neurological exam. The doctor may also order certain blood tests, imaging tests and even nerve function tests. The doctor may also perform a nerve and skin biopsy. (3)
Neuropathy can lead to a loss of sensation. This means you may not feel if something is too hot to touch. As a result you may have complications such as burns. As a result of the loss of sensation you may end up with skin injuries or deeper wounds especially on the feet. Because of the lack of feeling in your feet you may not notice any injuries which increases the risk of developing an infection. (1) If an infection is left untreated it can lead to complications such as the need for an amputation. (4) Lastly neuropathy often leads to a lack of balance which can lead to an increase in your fall risk. (1)
What can you do to help with the symptoms of neuropathy? Well as I said in my blog on chemo brain it is often best to wait till after treatment is complete to start supplements. This is to avoid any potential interactions. However life style changes can be implemented at any time.
- Drink plenty of water. The typical amount recommended is ½ your body weight in oz. So if you weigh 120 pounds drink 60 oz of water. Additionally it is important to get plenty of healthy fruits and vegetables! (2) Check out Invite’s Greens Hx and Organic Greens. Remember there are no bad vegetables. Whatever kind you like is the best kind. I also want to point out that many stores will have sales on frozen vegetables which are just as nutrient dense as fresh. I know my parents love to stock up on frozen vegetables and even frozen berries especially when they are not in season!
- Treat any underlying conditions that increase your risk of neuropathy. For example if you have diabetes it is important to maintain control of your blood sugar. (2) Please check out my blog series on this topic.
- Be careful when using sharp objects such as knives. (2)
- Monitor your extremities for injuries and wear protective gear as well as use any assistive devices and proper lights. (2)
- ALA has been found in studies to be helpful in reducing pain associated with neuropathy when used as part of a treatment protocol. (5) Please see Invite’s Alcar+ALA and our Alpha-Lipoic Acid
- B1 has been found to help with the symptoms of neuropathy especially in the beginning stages. (6) Please see Invite’s Nerve Hx and our B Complex 100.
- B12 has been found to help with the pain associated with neuropathy. B12 deficiency is also known to make neuropathy worse. (7) Personally I always recommend B12 for anyone who has neuropathy. Please see Invite’s B12 lozenges as well as our Methyl-B
- Magnesium according to the Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy can help with the signs of neuropathy that are associated with chemotherapy use.(8) Please see Magnesium Glycinate, Citrate and Bio Avail Magnesium powder!
- Turmeric has been found to be very helpful in reducing the pain associated with neuropathy. (9) Please see Invite’s Bio-Curcumin & 5- Loxin formula!
Our product highlight will be our Methyl-B formula!
Sources:
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/peripheral-neuropathy/symptoms-causes/syc-20352061
- https://www.cancer.org/cancer/managing-cancer/side-effects/pain/peripheral-neuropathy.html
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/peripheral-neuropathy/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20352067
- https://stoppingmedicalmistakes.com/how-an-infection-could-lead-to-amputation-oregon-medical-malpractice-lawyer-explains-sepsis/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9264721/#sec-a.m.ctitle
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/benfotiamine
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32722436/
- https://foxintegratedhealthcare.com/neuropathy/8-great-vitamins-for-neuropathy/#:~:text=4.,nuts%2C%20avocados%2C%20and%20legumes.
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8125634/#sec8-ijms-22-04666title