Blog Archive

Throughout this article series, I have been discussing ways to keep our digestive system healthy and prevent conditions such as Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). We also have the following in our series:The Basics of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO)The Low-FODMAP Diet and...

So far in this series on digestive health, we’ve looked at the following topics:The Basics of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO)The Low-FODMAP Diet and Its Role in Treating IBSWhat Is the Gut Biome and How Does It Affect Our Health?What Is Fiber, and Why Is It Vital...

So far in this series on digestive health, we’ve looked at the following topics:The Basics of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO)The Low-FODMAP Diet and Its Role In Treating IBSWhat is the Gut Biome and How Does It Affect Our Health?Today’s topic in this series is FIBER. You’ve probably heard...

So far in this series on digestive health, we’ve looked at irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), and the benefits of the low-FODMAP diet in treating IBS.The Basics of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO)The Low-FODMAP Diet and Its Role In Treating IBSToday, I want...

So far in this series on digestive health, we’ve looked at:The basics of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)The wonderful thing about medicine is that it is always evolving as we expand our knowledge; the more we know about our bodies, the healthier we can be. The low-FODMAP diet...

Last time in this series on digestive health, we looked at Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). This week, we’ll look at “small intestinal bacterial overgrowth” – commonly referred to as “SIBO” – one of the leading causes of IBS and digestive problems.Over the past few years, the number of people being diagnosed...

In our modern world, more and more people are suffering with some form of digestive problem. In my own practice as a naturopathic doctor, digestion-related issues definitely fall into the top three complaints my clients have when they first walk in the door. Because there is such a wide variety...

Back in December 2016, I posted a blog article called ‘Safe Christmas Treats for Your Child with Food Allergies’. In that article, I mentioned a news story about an 11-year-old boy who had died over the Thanksgiving weekend due to an anaphylactic food reaction. We can only imagine the pain and...

In this series we are looking at a range of topics that parents with children who have food allergies face. If you would like to catch up on any of the previous articles you can read them below:Epinephrine: A Lifesaving Medicine that has Become UnaffordableUnderstanding Food Allergies: Is Mast Cell...

In the last few articles in this series on raising children who have food allergies I have addressed the psycho-emotional aspects of living with allergies, when and how to teach your child to administer their own Epi-Pen, how to manage sibling dynamics when one child has food allergies and the other doesn’t and how to...

In the last few articles in this series I have addressed a few of the psycho-emotional aspects that arise when raising a child with deadly food allergies. We’ve looked at how to develop confidence and independence in children with food allergies, and how and when to teach your child to administer their own...

In my last  two articles in this series on raising children with food allergies, I talked about how to develop confidence in our children despite the natural cautiousness that comes with lifelong allergies, and how to maintain their safety  once they start leaving the nest and going out into the world on their...

In my last article, I talked about how we develop confidence in our children despite the natural cautiousness that comes with lifelong food allergies. This time, I want to look at the next step – maintaining the safety of your child once they start leaving the nest and going out...

In this blog series I plan to look deeper into the cause of food allergies. I want to understand why allergies have such a wide spectrum of symptoms, ranging from a running nose to complete anaphylaxis resulting in throat swelling and shock. If we could learn more about the underlying...

Throughout the series I have talked about a wide range of conditions that can be treated with acupuncture from the well-known ones such as fertility, to less common things such as shingles. You can find out more by reading the other articles in the series:Acupuncture – What Is It and How...

In this series of articles I am focusing on acupuncture as a treatment option for a variety of medical conditions. So far I have written about a range of conditions: fertility – a condition commonly associated with acupuncture – and others you may not automatically consider seeking acupuncture treatment for....

In this series of articles I am focusing on Chinese medicine, and specifically on acupuncture, as a treatment option for a variety of medical conditions. In previous articles I have written about conditions that you may not automatically consider seeking acupuncture treatment for. To read more about these conditions and...

In previous articles in this series on acupuncture, I have written about conditions that you may not automatically consider seeking acupuncture treatment for. To read more about these conditions and for more about acupuncture, you can read the following:Acupuncture – What Is It and How Does It Work?Shingles – What...

In this series of articles I am looking at acupuncture and its uses in treating a variety of conditions, including some you might not automatically consider having acupuncture for. My aim is to share what I have learnt in my years of clinical experience and open your eyes to health...

Acupuncture is an amazing medicine that helps keep us in balance and able to deal with the day-to-day stresses that life throws at us. In this series of articles, I aim to explain acupuncture and how it can help treat a variety of common illnesses and conditions – not just...

In the second article in this series on acupuncture we will be looking at shingles, a very painful and debilitating condition for many people, and I will explain how acupuncture is a key treatment in healing an outbreak. Last time, I gave a brief overview of acupuncture, its history and...

Over the last few months I have written a series of articles looking at fertility and how naturopathic medicine can help improve your reproductive health. This week I want to look at the tests we can do to establish if there are any problems and what we can do about...

This series of articles is looking at fertility and how naturopathic medicine can help improve it if you are having difficulty conceiving.  Over the last few weeks, I have talked a lot about hormones and their relationship to infertility; last week we discussed the role of thyroid hormone and this...

This series of articles is looking at fertility and how naturopathic medicine can help improve it if you are having difficulty conceiving. This time, I want to look at the role the thyroid gland can play in infertility. If you have missed any of the previous articles in this series...

In this latest series, I am exploring everything to do with fertility. So far we have looked at how to improve your fertility, the importance of folic acid and male fertility. If you have missed any of these articles you can read the following:Sowing a Seed: Improving Fertility with Seeds and...

In this series of articles I will take you through some of the major aspects people face in trying to conceive. If you would like to catch up on the previous articles just read the following:Sowing a Seed: Improving Fertility with Seeds and OilFertility & Folic Acid – Why taking...

In this week’s article I will explain why folic acid is so important when trying to conceive and in the early stages of pregnancy, the importance of a process called ‘methylation’ and how it relates to folic acid, and how a genetic defect called MTHFR affects methylation and the body’s...

As we begin a new year many of you may be thinking about starting a family or growing the one you already have. We all know that healthy bodies make healthy babies so the best way to plan for pregnancy is to prepare your body by taking the steps necessary...

Over the last few months we have been exploring food allergies and sensitivities, the symptoms, treatments and knock-on effects they have on our health. If you would like to catch up on any of those articles :Part 1: Food Allergy or Sensitivity – What’s The Difference?Part 2: How Do I...

Naturopathic doctor Maura Scanlan explains how food sensitivities and allergies can contribute to autoimmune thyroid conditions such as Graves’ and Hashimoto’s.Over the last few weeks we have been exploring the difference between food allergies and food sensitivities, and their symptoms. We have looked at the potential causes of food sensitivities...

Over the last few weeks we have been exploring the difference between food allergies and food sensitivities, and their symptoms. Now, I want to move on to the effects food sensitivities and allergies can have on specific aspects of your health. This week, I will address fertility. When food sensitivities...

Over the last few weeks we have been exploring the difference between food allergies and food sensitivities, and looking at the symptoms of both. This week, we will address one of the major causes of food sensitivity – stress: how it causes food sensitivities and what you can do to...

Over the last few weeks, I have been discussing the difference between food sensitivities and food allergies. Food reactions can vary wildly from person to person and causing a wide range of possible symptoms – some people may experience only one or two symptoms while others could have several. Type...

Over the last few weeks, we have been taking a close look at food sensitivities and allergies. So far we have explored the difference between allergies and sensitivities, the signs to look out for in yourself or your children, how to keep your allergic child safe when you are not...

This article forms part of my series on food sensitivities and allergies; you can catch up on any of the previous articles below:Part 1: Food Allergy or Sensitivity – What’s The Difference?Part 2: How Do I Know If My Child Has A Food Allergy?Part 3: Back to School – 4...

Last time, we talked about food allergies (Type 1 IgE mediated true allergic reaction) and food sensitivities (Type 3 IgG mediated delayed immune reaction), the difference between them, the tests we use to find out whether you are allergic or intolerant to certain foods and what you need to do...

Over the next few weeks I will be addressing the topic of food allergies and food sensitivities; a subject I address every day as both a physician and mother.  As a physician I help patients identify and manage their food allergies and sensitivities. As a mom, I live with deadly...

So far in this series, we have looked at the causes and symptoms of Candida overgrowth (or yeast infection). If you missed any of the previous articles, or want to remind yourself, you can read the following to catch up: Part 1: Candida – The Most Misunderstood Chronic Health Problem...

Do you find yourself struggling with a strong, sometimes uncontrollable, sweet tooth? Do you get bloated or feel swollen after eating sugar or carbohydrates? Is your clothing size going up each season? If you answered yes to any of these questions then there’s a chance Candida overgrowth may be causing...

Missed parts 1–3? Catch up: Part 1: Candida – The Most Misunderstood Chronic Health Problem Part 2: Is Your Sugar Addiction Feeding Your Intestinal Candida? Part 3: Is Candida Overgrowth Causing Your Chronic Gas & Bloating? In last week’s blog we looked at how Candida overgrowth, or yeast infection, causes...

Part 1: Candida – The Most Misunderstood Chronic Health Problem Part 2: Is Your Sugar Addiction Feeding Your Intestinal Candida? Do you find that after eating a meal your stomach bloats up and your pants feel tight? Does your belly swell up at the end of the day and, despite...

In the first article in this six-part series, we discussed Candida (or yeast infection) – a type of fungus most commonly found on our skin and mucus membranes; the wet moist tissue of the mouth, female and male genitalia and digestive tract. You can also read more about Candida, the symptoms...