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Success Stories

We had a history of poor quality embryos

My husband and I came to see Dorota after our 4th unsuccessful IVF cycle. We had a history of poor quality embryos and so decided to try naturopathy and see if it would help improve the quality and complement our IVF treatment.

After seeing Dorota, we decided to take a 3 month break from IVF and focus on taking the supplements. At that time, I was also feeling the emotional and physical toll but after taking the supplements and a holiday, I began to feel a lot stronger.

On our 5th cycle we saw a marked improvement in our embryos but unfortunately had no success. On our 6th cycle we had success and were very fortunate to have a beautiful baby girl in June.

Dorota supported us during the 5th and 6th IVF cycles as well as throughout my pregnancy. I believe this is why I felt so well during pregnancy and why our baby girl is very strong, happy and healthy.

I would recommend anyone undergoing IVF treatment to consider taking a more holistic approach to support your treatment and outcomes.

A big thanks to Dorota for all her help, support and knowledge on this subject. (*)

(*) Results can vary from person to person.
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Fertility Treatment? Start With Prevention!

It is a known and observable fact that infertility is a prevailing concern in today’s modern world, amidst the rise of medical breakthroughs and scientific innovations. Hence, before reaching the point of having to get treatment for fertility problems, men and women of child-bearing age should be more vigilant and know how to prevent such predicament by incorporating some changes and adjustments to their lifestyle habits. As the cliché goes, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

It has long been established that certain lifestyle habits and constant exposure to harmful chemicals, specifically bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates, contribute to reproductive problems. Therefore, it is very important to put some preventive measures in place before it’s too late.

Adapt Healthy Lifestyle Habits as First Step to Fertility Treatment

Living a healthy lifestyle definitely has positive effects on fertility, both for men and women. It would be truly beneficial if the following could be incorporated into your lifestyle, especially before and during the time when you are trying to conceive:

  • Consult your fertility treatment questions with your practitioner. Make sure that any herbal remedies or medication (over-the-counter or prescribed) that you are taking have no adverse effect on fertility.
  • Quit smoking. Smoking has been linked to an increase in miscarriage in women and low sperm count and motility in men.
  • Reduce alcohol intake. Alcohol increases the risk of miscarriage, disrupts hormone balance, reduces sperm count and can interfere with sexual performance.
  • Say no to drugs like marijuana and cocaine which have been linked to infertility in women and low sperm count in men.
  • Eat a balanced diet. Protein, carbohydrates and fiber should be in every meal. Women in their first three months of pregnancy should increase their intake of folic acid from green leafy vegetables, cereals and fruits.
  • Exercise in moderation. Excessive exercise can affect sperm production in men (due to the heat build-up around the testicles), and can lead to menstrual disorders in women. Men should also avoid hot baths, spas, saunas and tight-fitting underwear. Overweight women should lose weight to increase their chances of becoming pregnant.
  • Avoid environmental hazards and poisons such as toxic chemicals, heavy metals, lead, pesticides and radiation.

Minimize Exposure to Harmful Chemicals

With the advent of modern technology, it is inevitable that we will be exposed to chemicals no matter where we are. Unfortunately, these harmful chemicals (bisphenol A and phthalates in particular), are contained in the most common household items that we use almost every day. Taking note of the following measures can help bring our exposure to a minimal level:

  • If possible, go organic (farm produce and free-range poultry/livestock) to reduce/avoid pesticides and fertilizers.
  • Eat fish that is wild-caught and lab-tested as chemical-free, rather than farm-raised fish which are often contaminated with chemicals, or you may supplement with high-quality fish oil.
  • Avoid processed and prepackaged food which contain unhealthy artificial food additives like MSG, food coloring and artificial sweeteners.
  • Avoid canned foods (as their lining contains BPA), plastic wrap and plastic containers. Store your food and beverages in glass containers instead.
  • Use glass or ceramic cookware instead of Teflon pots and pans.
  • Have appropriate water filters on all faucets, especially if contaminants are found after tap water has been tested.
  • Switch to natural brands of shampoo, deodorants, toothpaste and cosmetics. Phthalates are often found in synthetic fragrances of personal care products as well as in home cleaning products like air fresheners, fabric conditioners and dryer sheets.
  • Use shower curtain made of fabric instead of plastic/vinyl.
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Male Fertility and the Vanishing Male

Issues and concerns relating to fertility, or the ability to conceive and bear children through normal sexual activity, have become increasingly alarming in today’s modern world. Despite of, and most probably because of modern technology and advances in medicine, as well as environmental changes and hazards caused by chemicals, men and women of child-bearing age have been dealing with infertility concerns for decades now.

The medical definition of infertility, i.e., failure to become pregnant after 12 months of regular unprotected sex, focuses on women, men, however, are not spared from infertility issues as well.

Generally, healthy couples in their twenties who have regular unprotected sex have a 25% chance of becoming pregnant each month. Statistically, for every six couples, one couple is infertile; with 40% of cases due to the male, 40% due to the female, 10% due to both partners, and the remaining 10% due to unknown causes. Incidentally, low sperm count occurs in one out of 25 males, and one in 35 males is sterile.1

Spotlight on Low Sperm Count: Zoom In on Chemical Culprits

The University of Maryland Medical Center reports that more than 90% of male infertility cases are due to low sperm count, poor semen quality, or both.2 Other contributing factors that can cause sperm abnormalities include anatomical problems, hormonal imbalances, disease, genetic defects and external factors like lifestyle habits and chemical exposure.

A sperm count of less than 20 million/mL is considered low. However, with the emerging concern on low sperm count prevailing over the last several decades, the World Health Organization has had to continually lower what’s considered the normal level in terms of sperm count, otherwise, too many men will be classified as infertile.

From the intrinsic and external factors causing low sperm count, let us zoom in on chemicals as culprits. Alarmingly, what seems to be the culprit for these sperm abnormalities are chemicals which can be found in common household items.

Bisphenol A (BPA)

According to a recent study published in the journal Reproductive Toxology, the chemical bisphenol A (BPA), which can be found in many plastic products including the lining of canned foods and soda cans, in toys and water bottles, and even in cash register receipts, may cause fertility problems leading to reproductive damage. This hormone disruptor is so pervasive that it was even found to be in the umbilical cord blood of 90% of newborn infants tested.

The first epidemiological evidence of BPA’s adverse effect on semen quality, as published in the journal Fertility and Sterility,3 shows that higher levels of BPA in urine were associated with decrease in sperm concentration, total sperm count, sperm vitality and sperm motility.

Phthalates related to female and male fertility

These chemicals, also known as “plasticizers” because they make plastics like polyvinyl chloride (PVC) softer, more resilient and flexible, can be found in the following items:

  • Packaged food and beverages such as milk, cheese, meat, margarine, eggs, cereal products, baby food, infant formula, and fish
  • Building and furniture materials, including furniture upholstery, shower curtains, mattresses, wall coverings, floor tiles and vinyl flooring
  • Fragrances in beauty products and cosmetics
  • Plastic toys, feeding bottles, pacifiers, teethers and nipples
  • Medical devices such as medical tubing, blood storage bags, and intravenous bags containing fluids used in hospitals.

Studies conducted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)4 have revealed that exposure to phthalates may be harmful to reproductive health and even to children, causing reduced sperm counts, genital defects, metabolic abnormalities and reduced testosterone in babies and adults, incomplete testicular descent in foetuses, testicular atrophy or structural abnormality and inflammation in newborns.

These chemicals are nicknamed “gender-benders” as they affect gender development in males, such as smaller genitals and incomplete testicular descent, leading to impaired reproductive development. The chemical also appears to make the overall genital tracts of boys slightly more feminine. It is believed that phthalates have these adverse effects because they reduce testosterone synthesis by interfering with an enzyme needed to produce the male hormone.

Red Alert: The Vanishing Male

The documentary entitled “The Disappearing Male”5 comprehensively presents the phenomenon of the vanishing male in today’s population, and the role of environmental chemicals in interfering with reproductive development. These endocrine-disrupting chemicals, such as BPA and phthalates, can mimic or block chemicals naturally found in the body, alter hormonal levels, and thus, affect functions that these hormones control. These reproductive abnormalities include feminization of males (and masculine effects on females).

What’s so startling and alarming about this phenomenon is that it starts even before the baby is born. As the documentary reveals, “those most threatened by toxic chemicals are not adults, they are children and babies; but the most vulnerable of all have not even been born.”

Men and women exposed to the above-mentioned common items containing these chemicals have become the unwilling accessory to the “extinction of the male species”. Pregnant mothers unknowingly contribute to the alteration of their babies’ development since the effects of these chemicals can start in as early as 6 weeks into their pregnancy. Some pregnancies may even result in miscarriages. Most scary of all is that these adverse effects are permanent since the foetus has few defences against chemicals.

As one resource speaker in the documentary exclaims, “chemicals are killing boys in the womb.” At the rate things are going, it won’t be long before everyone will be asking, “Where have all the boys gone?”; and we won’t be dealing only with the extinction of the male species but the end of the human species as well.

Sources and References:

    1. ABC Health and Wellbeing
    2. Fertil Steril. 2011 Feb;95(2):625-30.e1-4.
    3. Environment and Human Health, Inc., Human Exposures to DEHP

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Response to selected studies on Omega-3 fish oil consumption and prostate cancer risk

The Complementary Healthcare Council of Australia (CHC) contests the recent US research reported in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute linking Omega-3 and prostate cancer as inconclusive and contradictory of a large pool of pre-existing, robust evidence that demonstrates the positive health benefits of fish oil.

Fish oil is known to be rich in omega-3 fat with its wide range of proven health benefits, I recommend animal-based omega-3 supplements to improve everyone’s overall health.

However, being one of the most well-researched substances on the market, omega-3 fat has been at the centre of negative publicity lately. Check out these shocking headlines:

  • Link Between Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Increased Prostate Cancer Risk Confirmed (Science Daily1)
  • Omega-3 Supplement Taken By Millions ‘Linked to Aggressive Prostate Cancer’ (Huffington Post2)
  • Men who take omega-3 supplements at 71% higher risk of prostate cancer (NY Daily News3)
  • Omega-3 supplements may trigger prostate cancer (Nursing Times4)
  • Hold the salmon: Omega-3 fatty acids linked to higher risk of cancer (Time Magazine5)

Headlines such as these exemplify media’s gross misreporting of science, proving that the conventional press are not reliable sources of information regarding health issues.

Truth #1: “Study” against fish oil is merely anti-supplement bias.

On July 10, the Journal of the National Cancer Institute6 published the study from which sparked all this hoopla. This cohort-study7: ‘Omega-3 Fats Involved in Prostate Tumorigenesis,’ Researchers Claim, examined the connection between omega-3 levels in blood with prostate cancer risk among SELECT (Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial)8 participants.

The researchers concluded that men with higher concentrations of animal-based (marine-derived) omega-3 in their blood had a 44 percent increased risk of developing low-grade prostate cancer compared to those with lower levels.

Higher blood levels of the omega-3 fat, specifically DHA, correlated to higher prostate cancer risk, while no correlation was found for ALA and EPA. Also, they had a 71 percent higher risk of developing high-grade prostate cancer.

Cancer “grade” is based on the level of abnormality found in the cancer cells.9 The more abnormal the cells look, the higher the cancer grade. How did the researchers reach the conclusion about the involvement of these fatty acids in prostate tumorigenesis based merely on these correlations?

The study, as Time Magazine10 reports, measured omega-3 levels in the blood of participating men; however, no information on their eating habits were included, so the effects of fatty acids from fish compared with those from supplements could not be differentiated by researchers. Incidentally, an overwhelming majority of the participants didn’t take fish oil supplements.

Furthermore, the study’s lead author, Theodore Brasky, says that based on the results, the safety of taking fish oil supplements for men with a family history of prostate cancer should be discussed with their doctor, since concentrated doses of omega-3 are contained in these pills.

Reportedly, between 30% to 60% of a fish serving is contained in supplements, which further adds up if fish oil supplement is taken daily. Brasky also suggested that men should minimize, but not entirely eliminate, their intake of fatty fish.

This is one of the most absurd advice I’ve encountered in a long time. It’s quite a mystery how they could conclude based on this study that omega-3 supplements might be dangerous. First of all, correlation is definitely not the same as causation.

Secondly, in this study, no omega-3 supplements were actually given to the participants, most of whom reportedly did not take them at all. Another clue that something’s fishy with this study is the finding that participants who had the highest levels of trans fats in their blood had in fact the lowest risk for prostate cancer.

In Dr. Bowden’s rebuttal in Huffington Post11, he ponders why many reporters and news outlets have connected higher DHA levels in the blood with ‘fish oil supplement taking.’

He further sumises that the best explanation for it, along with a desire for shocking headlines, is a strong anti-supplement bias. The researchers’ objectivity further comes into question when the reporters were told by Dr. Alan Kristy12, that they (the researchers) have once again shown that using “nutritional supplements may be harmful.”

Dr. Kristy, indeed, seems to be speaking for and in behalf of Senator Durbin and his hypocritically idiotic supplement bill, which grants the FDA more power to regulate supplements as if they were drugs, thereby threatening the supplement industry and possibly putting supplement companies out of business.

Truth #2: Do omega-3 fats increase men’s risk for prostate cancer? Hardly!

Previous studies have found that foods rich in omega-3 fats have been shown to prevent the spread of prostate cancer. The British Journal of Cancer13 in 2006 has published one such clinical study (as opposed to the featured study, which was merely observational and cannot therefore establish causality). This study found that while omega-6 fats (which are found in most vegetable oils) increased the spread of prostatic tumor cells into the bone marrow, omega-3 fats blocked the spread of cancer cells. This suggests that an omega-3 rich diet in men with early stage prostate cancer could potentially inhibit the disease.

According to a more recent meta-analysis14 of available research published in 2010, a 63 percent decrease in prostate cancer-specific mortality was associated with fish consumption, even though no association could be found between fish consumption and a significant decrease in prostate cancer incidence.

This topic was recently discussed by GreenMedInfo.com15 as well, with a list of additional studies showing the benefits of fish/fish oil/omega-3 against prostate cancer.

Denise Minger16 has pointed out that previous research17 has shown that higher levels of DHA in the blood as found in the featured study does not necessarily indicate higher fish consumption. In fact, DHA levels can increase with low-fat diets just as much as with omega-3 supplementation. According to this previous research:

Free fatty acid compositions respond to the total dietary fat content. Specifically, consuming a low fat diet increases the level of total and highly unsaturated long-chain (n-3) fatty acids and decreases the total (n-6) content of plasma phospholipid and cholesteryl ester fatty acids. The observed changes in phospholipid and cholesteryl ester fatty acids in response to a low fat diet are similar to those observed when (n-3) fatty acids from plants or animals are consumed.

Truth #3: DHA levels in the featured study may be meaningless.

In addition, the DHA levels, as reported in the featured study, were based on percentage of total fatty acids rather than on the absolute value, thus can be quite misleading,18 and actually obscures any real differences. The dilemma is appropriately illustrated by the following analogy by Dr. Bowden:

“Would you like 90 percent of all the money Mr. Jones has or 10 percent of all the money Mr. Smith has?”

Unless you know how much money Mr. Jones and Mr. Smith each have to begin with, how could you possibly tell how much money those percentages represent? The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition19 has published a 2009 commentary which explained that the only time the percentage of total might be meaningful is when the total fatty acid content is identical for all subjects, which undoubtedly in this case was not.

Dr. Bob Roundtree, MD20 has stated that based on the extensive body of literature supporting omega-3’s anti-inflammatory effects,

“there is no credible biological mechanism that would explain why these essential fatty acids might increase tumorigenesis.”

Truth #4: Confounding factors were not taken into consideration.

Another problem with studies which look at correlations only, is that the factor being considered may play only a minor role, or may even be completely irrelevant, compared to other factors. In this case for instance:

  • 53 percent of the subjects with prostate cancer were smokers
  • 64 percent of the cancer subjects regularly consumed alcohol
  • 80 percent of the cancer subjects were overweight or obese

A 2011 study published in PLoS One,21 states that aggressive prostate cancer was associated with obesity. More recently, in April of this year, Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention22 published a cohort study which found that overweight or obese men increased their risk of prostate cancer by 57 percent – a percentage that falls right in the middle of the 44-71 percentage range which the featured study attributed to high DHA serum levels. This association between obesity and prostate cancer was true for all cases – low-grade and high-grade, early and late stage, non-aggressive and aggressive prostate cancer.

Sources and References

We are happy to provide you more information. Click here to contact us for more details to find out how can be the fish oil beneficial for you.

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Prevention and Treatment of Childhood Eczema Through Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001

It has long been known that eczema can be prevented and treated through the probiotic species Lactobacillus rhamnosus. Collaborative research, however, has not pointed to any specific strain, until six years after. Published in June 2013, a revolutionary set of clinical trials have shown Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001 in particular to be very effective in preventing infant and childhood eczema and in lowering atopic sensitisation.

The prevention and treatment of eczema through the application of Lactobacillus rhamnosus is famous in gastrointestinal immunology. Furthermore, quite a number of previous clinical trials and extensive supporting evidence have also shown the efficacy of this species in the treatment of a wide range of gastrointestinal conditions. The relationship between probiotics and the risk of atopic development and eczema in infants particularly, are influenced by many factors, including dosage, pre- and post-natal timing, duration of treatment, and the actual probiotic strain administered.

How the Trial for the Prevention and Treatment of Childhood Eczema was Conducted

A double-blind randomised placebo controlled trial was performed on 425 high risk infants (with either parent dignosed with allergic disease). The mothers of these infants were given 6 x 109 CFU/day (6 Billion CFU) of L. rhamnosus HN001 from 35 weeks gestation until the infant turned 6 months old for nursing mothers, and directly administered to infants from birth until 2 years of age. Prevalence of eczema in infants receiving the supplementation was dramatically reduced to 50% at the age of 2. 2 years after the treatment stopped, this positive effect continued to persist in the infants at the age of 4. At this time, infant development has been found by researchers to be protected from rhinoconjunctivitis, a significant effect not found with other well-known L. rhamnosus strains.

Follow-up data from the same infants, now 6 years of age, were obtained by researchers, and the follow-up trial was supported by powerful assessment criteria which included parental questionnaires, total IgE serum specific IgE, Skin prick test sensitization, and SCORAD Eczema Severity Scale. 4 years after probiotic supplementation was stopped, a monumental 40% decline in cumulative prevalence in eczema, along with a 30% reduction of developing atopic sensitisation, was noted by the researchers.

How Lactobaccilus rhamnosus HN001 Works in the Prevention and Treatment of Eczema in Children

By providing a more balanced Th1/Th2 immune profile, probiotics are able to influence the innate immune system. Dominant Th2 responses have long been linked with allergic diseases, thus, by suppressing Th2 cytokines and stimulating Th1 cytokines, probiotics may protect against atopic conditions. An increase in natural killer cells and neutrophil activity have also been attributed to L. rhamnosus HN001.

In this trial, the elevations of interferon gamma (IFNγ) found in the cord blood, and the elevations of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) found in the breast milk of mothers, clearly show the immunomodulatory effects of L. rhamnosus HN001.(1,2) This has been identified as a protection against the immunological outcomes of allergy. Probiotics’ epigenetic effects on gene expression may also play a significant part on the above findings.(2)

For the evidence-based practitioner, the lasting protective effect after the 2-year initial treatment is of fundamental clinical significance. Gestational/infant supplementation of L. rhamnosus HN001 has proven to be an effective defense against eczema and atopic sensitization into the first 6 years of life. Further research regarding immunological protection in adolescence and adulthood can be done with the immunomodulatory effects discussed above.

Based on the article: Wickens K, Stanley TV, Mitchell EA, et al, Early supplementation with Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001 reduces eczema prevalence to 6 years: Does it also reduce atopic sensitization? Epidemiology of Allergic Disease. 2013 Jun; 10.1111/cea.12154

References available on request.

Success Stories

Trying to conceive for 12 months

After trying to conceive for 12 months with no success, I came to visit Dorota through recommendation of a close friend.

I instantly warmed to Dorota feeling like she understood my situation and took immediate steps to help me and my body get on track to having our second baby.

Within 2 visits I discovered I was pregnant and I put this down to the course of supplements and advice Dorota gave me.

I continued to see Dorota throughout my pregnancy and was very happy to try her Partus Prep herbs to assist with my final stages of pregnancy and transition into labor.

My first birth had been long and difficult and I was hoping Dorota’s herbs would help speed up my second labour. And speed it up it.

My contractions started at 9pm and Bowie was born at 1am… It was an incredible experience with steady and consistent contractions. I was completely surprised at how smooth my labour was and again I put it down to Dorota and her Partus- prep herbs. Thank you Dorota for your wisdom and guidance, I am eternally grateful. (*)

C. Morris

Read more on Pregnancy, Labour and Breastfeeding

 

 

(*) Results can vary from person to person.
Success Stories

We needed fertility treatments in order to conceive

I went to see Dorota when I found out we needed fertility treatments in order to conceive. The thought of IVF can be extremely overwhelming but with Dorota’s help both my husband and I felt empowered, healthy and well supported all the way through my treatment and beyond.

As a result my pregnancy was everything I dreamed it to be, and went on to  give  birth to a  beautiful healthy girl who is a true delight, it still amazes me how bright, happy and robust Leila is and I know her health has so much to do with the preconception care I received.

I highly recommend Dorota to anyone going through fertility treatments her level of knowledge and caring is in perfect balance at such a delicate time. Thank you Dorota. (*)

Robyn Sing

Read more on Fertility Treatment
Read more on IVF/ART Support

(*) Results can vary from person to person.
Success Stories

Calm and soothing environment

What I am about to say about Dorota will not give her the justice she deserves. Dorota is one of the most wonderful, caring people I have ever encountered and I am so glad I found her.

Over the last 8 years I have seen many naturopaths, homeopaths and therapists, searching for anyone that could help me.

Dorota is the only practitioner that I have felt completely and wholly at ease with, I can tell her anything knowing that there is no judgement and she is there purely to help me physically, emotionally and spiritually.

I trust her completely. Dorota provides a calm and soothing environment where you feel safe and completely comfortable. (*)

C.L.Maroubra, NSW

Read more on Sleep Disorders
Read more on Digestive Problems
Read more on Healthy Aging

 

 

(*) Results can vary from person to person.