by Dr. Kristen Bovee, Peninsula Naturopathic Clinic –
To be an effective doctor in natural medicine, I spend a lot of time (and money) investing in education to be able to pass along my knowledge to support patients in their health. I would like to share the three areas of innovation in natural medicine I have found the most intriguing and that have the potential of improving patients’ health using “vis medicatrix naturae” (“the healing power of nature”~ Hippocrates).
Stem cell therapy is the utilization of our own body’s immature cells to regenerate body cells and tissue. In adults, stem cells act as a repair system for the body, replenishing adult tissues. These cells are “harvested” from our own bone marrow or fatty tissue using a special technique in an advanced medical office setting performed by a trained orthopaedic specialist. Stem cell therapy is not new, but it is becoming more accessible and used in more medical situations. The most common is arthritis, osteoarthritis, and bony or soft tissue repair. This is an important development in medicine since there are few therapies effective long-term (cortisone shots and oral anti-inflammatories), these therapies come with unwanted side effects, and surgery is often not effective and has several risk factors.
IV nutrient Therapy. I have been trained to administer intravenous (IV) infusions of vitamins, minerals and botanicals for medical situations. IV administration of nutrients is not a new part of medicine, but it is an essential approach in advanced medicine that has advantages over other approaches when treating chronic or acute conditions or in optimizing overall health.
When nutrients are infused into a vein or injected intramuscularly, a few things happen biochemically: a) 100% administration of the dose enters the body. This is important for people with absorption issues such as celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disorders, or if you are depleted from disease or infection. 2) Changes take effect immediately as cells utilize the nutrients most efficiently. Taking a nutrient orally is first sent to the liver which means we may process or eliminate nutrients before it gets to our tissue. 3) Higher doses of nutrients can be infused in a shorter amount of time. This is important for when therapeutic doses are needed (as in vitamin C therapy used for cancer treatment) and it requires an elevated concentration in the blood stream.
DNA and anti-aging. DNA is the genetic code for all our cells. These strands of information are the key to our body’s health and longevity. DNA has protective lengthy “caps” on the ends of its strands called telomeres. These shorten with each cell division, however, and when they reach a critical length the cell stops dividing or dies. This internal “clock” is what causes our bodies to age and heal at a slower rate. Researchers, such as Dr. Helen Blau PhD. at Stanford University, are seeking the keys to keeping and lengthening telomeres to aid healing and slow the aging process. Nutritional supportives can also help prevent telomeres from shortening are those that reduce inflammation and oxidative stress in the body. The nutrients found to optimize in the diet to prevent telomere shortening include: Vitamin D, vitamin K, coenzyme Q 10, folic acid, and B12.
Fifteen years ago, probiotics and acupuncture were considered new aspects of natural medicine. Today, innovative approaches to health seem much more sophisticated. We will certainly hear more about these areas and possibly will use ourselves for optimizing our health and wellness.
