Author: Nicole Maxwell, NMD

Heart Health – Inflammation Increases Risk

By - Heart Disease & Diabetes

Ask for an hs-CRP when you test for cholesterol.

Inflammation is part of the normal healing process. It causes the redness, warmth, swelling, and pain you feel when you get a splinter, for example.

But when inflammation sticks around for a while, it can become chronic. Chronic inflammation is linked to many health problems, including heart attacks, strokes, diabetes, cancer and more.

Inflammation in blood vessels happens when plaque builds up inside the walls of arteries. Sometimes the plaque breaks open, causing the body to send out white blood cells to attack this harmful material and seal it off with a clot of blood. If the blood clot is large, it can block blood flow and cause a heart attack or stroke.[1]

Ask your doctor to order a hs-CRP when you get your cholesterol checked

Elevated hs-CRP means there is inflammation in your body related to the cardiovascular system. People who are otherwise healthy but with elevated hs-CRP values are up to 4x as likely to have coronary heart disease (CHD). Reduction in hs-CRP and LDL are associated with a reduction in atherosclerotic progression.

How to lower inflammation

  1. Find out the cause – food sensitivities, a chronic low level infection, an inflamed gut, toxins, a problem tooth, and more. 
  2. Aside from eating a vegetable rich, low carb, whole foods diet and moderate exercise,
  3. Take an absorbable turmeric (curcumin) supplement[2].  We carry Turiva at BNHC and you can find Theracurmin on our on-line ordering system Fullscript. The dose is 2 caps a day. I take my 2 caps at bedtime to support my heart and to help overall inflammation and better sleep. Turmeric has also been shown to help with fatigue and depression. 

Other lab tests to consider asking for

Read Dr. Maxwell’s about article about the other labs available for a comprehensive cardiovascular screening.  Particularly important for people with a strong family history. 

For an in-depth cardiovascular consult, schedule an appointment by calling us at 208-388-0405.

[1] https://www.clevelandheartlab.com/blog/6-signs-of-chronic-inflammation-you-shouldnt-ignore/

[2] Gorabi AM, Abbasifard M, Imani D, Aslani S, Razi B, Alizadeh S, Bagheri-Hosseinabadi Z, Sathyapalan T, Sahebkar A. Effect of curcumin on C-reactive protein as a biomarker of systemic inflammation: An updated meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Phytother Res. 2022 Jan;36(1):85-97. doi: 10.1002/ptr.7284. Epub 2021 Sep 29. PMID: 34586711.

Feeling Run Down? Consider Cellular Membrane Repair

By - Miscellaneous

Cellular membranes become damaged in every acute & chronic illness, environmental toxic exposure, and with aging.  I credit membrane lipid replacement with helping me recover energy that I didn’t know was missing.

Cellular membrane lipids (fats in the cell membrane) are essential to life and vital to cellular health.

  • They provide the barrier for our cells by separating the inside of the cell from the
  • outside environment
  • They assist chemical and enzymatic reactions
  • They are part of receptor signaling and cellular recognition
  • They store energy

Supplemental MLR has been shown to restore cellular functions:

  • restore cellular and mitochondrial function (think energy)
  • Reduce symptoms such as fatigue, pain, vision issues, sleep disturbances, gastrointestinal
  • issues, chemical sensitivities
  • Increases absorption and transport of nutrients
  • Restore age-associated loss of function
  • Improve cardiovascular blood markers
  • Remove toxic chemicals and other substances
  • Be safe, inexpensive, effective, and convenient

Supplementation can supply enough membrane lipids to repair damaged lipids and return cellular membranes to normal function. They are quickly and efficiently absorbed. After a large meal, over 90% of glycerophospholipids are absorbed and transported into the blood within 6 hours.

The dose is 2-6 grams per day and higher doses (6g) if dealing with toxic chemicals, like the chemical exposure experienced by Gulf War Veterans. MLR is safe over long periods of time in high amounts without toxic or adverse side effects.

We carry BioPC Pro by Orthomolecular which provides approximately 6g per serving of glycerophospholipids. I credit this product with helping me recover energy that I didn’t know was missing! 

Dr. Maxwell Attends Hormone Boot Camp

By - Women's Health and Hormones

Recently I attended the Women’s Hormone/Menopause and Perimenopause Boot Camp held by Tori Hudson, ND.  She’s an author and leader in the field of natural medicine and women’s health.  This was the second time in five years that I had in five years of studying women’s health with the numerous speakers Dr. Hudson invites to her 3-day conferences.  I loved every minute of the weekend and am excited to share this knowledge with my patients! 

During the boot camp, we learned extensively about:

  • The latest scientific research on the benefit, safety and dosing of women’s hormones 
  • Updates in herbal support in women’s health (mental health, vasomotor symptoms, and more)
  • Nutrition and lifestyle interventions that support a woman through the menopause transition and prevent long term issues of aging. 

Not surprisingly, no two women’s menopause transition is alike. I appreciate the challenge of evaluating and managing each woman individually to achieve optimal results and peak health.

Many women begin to experience a variety of physical and mental-emotional symptoms long before they meet the definition of menopause. These changes that appear, usually from around age 40 to 51, are called perimenopause and can occur over as much as several years.

In menopause, as a doctor, we start to think about supporting cardiovascular health, bone health (osteopenia and osteoporosis), cognitive health (preventing mental decline) as well as sexual health and tissue support.

As your care provider, I am ready to help you through this challenging time, armed with the latest scientific updates to support you. 

Premature Pubarche: What Is It And Why Should We Care?

By - Pediatrics


Has your child developed early pubic or underarm hair?  Premature pubarche (PP) is when girls under 8 and boys under 9 have premature development of pubic and/or axillary hair. It tends to happen more in girls.  It is different from “precocious puberty” because it does not include breast buds or testicular development and there usually isn’t increased linear growth (height). One thing to note, PP is a diagnosis of exclusion – meaning we have to rule out other possibilities first, and once that is done, PP is considered a normal variation of development.

What could it mean for the patient long term? PP has been associated with a higher risk of a variety of conditions including obesity, insulin resistance, PCOS, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular issues; and mental health issues (even during childhood).  

If one has PP then we can start helping that child to avoid these potential health issues with diet and lifestyle changes, reducing chemical exposures, appropriate supplementation, monitoring and providing education for the child and the family.

Taking care of kids is a passion of mine.  If you have concerns about your child’s development, please reach out for an appointment. 

Did you know you are a Super Organism?

By - Digestion

Every day we carry around 10 times more microbial cells than our own.  As Dr. George Weinstock, professor of microbial genomics says, “You’re not just a human, you’re a kind of super organism because you’re a community of all these things that are with you your whole life”.

Our microbial partners carry out a number of metabolic reactions that are necessary for human health like:

  • harvest energy from foods
  • improve gut motility and function
  • reinforce our gut barrier
  • protect against pathogens
  • synthesize vitamins, hormones, and amino acids
  • influence our brain, liver, kidney, skin and vaginal tract function
  • and much more!

Due to innovations in testing, we can now identify the microbial communities, their genes, and use that information in helping people return to health.  At Boise Natural Health we can test for over 50 different microbes that inhabit your GI tract and review them with you.

https://boisenaturalhealth.com/test-your-gut-microbiome-with-a-simple-stool-sample/.

Here are two easy ways you can start feeding your good gut bugs now and keep that super organism that is you functioning optimally!

1. Feed your bugs resistant starches.  Resistant starches increase our beneficial population and increases short chain fatty acids – food for the good gut bugs.

  • Oats. Oats are one of the most convenient ways to add resistant starch to your diet.
  • Cooked and cooled rice. Resistant starch amount increases over time.
  • Beans and legumes. Soaked and heated.
  • Raw potato starch. 1 tbsp a day in smoothie or overnight oats. Don’t heat.
  • Cooked and cooled potatoes. Don’t reheat – think salad.
  • Green bananas. Replaced with simple sugars as they ripen.

2. Eat a phytonutrient rich diet!  In other words, like mom said, eat your vegetables.  Go for a rainbow of colors at two of your meals. If you’re an omnivore, consider going vegan for two nights of the week or more.  Check out the recipe section on our website or these other websites:  https://www.whfoods.com/foodstoc.php and https://nourishingmeals.com/about

For more help keeping your super organism healthy, feel free to schedule a free 15-minute consult at Boise Natural Health Clinic.

Want to be 3 Years Younger in 8 Weeks?

By - Aging

Old lady happy staring at the mirror

A new research study from the National University of Natural Medicine’s Helfgott Research Institute show’s us how, in a simple and naturopathic way.  Why do we want to be younger aside from feeling better?  Age-associated health decline is associated with cardiovascular disease, stroke, Diabetes type 2 and Alzheimer’s disease.

Dr. Fitzgerald, ND, IFMCP said that if can slow down aging by a single year (with the extended lifespan) then we can save the United States $38 trillion.  That jumps to  $367 trillion by 10 years.  The impact on our economy and our society is tremendous.

Old lady happy staring at the mirror

The simple interventions targeted DNA methylation patterns that predict biological age.   DNA methylation capacity is a major driver of aging and the associated diseases and if patterns are optimized then aging slows down.

Wouldn’t it be great to be biologically a year or even 3 years younger?  The study parameters were quite simple and involved 5 areas:

  1. Diet:
    1. The intervention was plant-centered with targeted foods that support methylation (see footnote 2 for specifics)
    2. Low in carbohydrates
    3. Limited nutrient-dense animal proteins like egg and liver
    4. Mild intermittent fasting (no food from 7pm to 7am)
  2. Supplements:
    1. Probiotics
    2. A proprietary powder combination of vegetables, fruits, seeds, herbs and plant enzymes
  3. Exercise
    1. A minimum of 30 minutes of exercise per day, 5 days of the week at 80% maximum perceived exertion (rapid breathing, can’t talk now!)
  4. Breathing
    1. Individuals were taught a relaxation breathing technique to use twice daily. I also encourage the use of meditation apps like Insight Timer, Calm, Headspace, etc. If you use Insight Timer you can find me under the name Nicole in Boise with a photo of a boy on a log
  5. Sleep
    1. Individuals were encouraged to get at least 7 hours of sleep each night

The Horvath NDAmAge Clock showed that the treatment group was, on average, 3.23 years younger than the control group.  And the participants in the treatment group were 1.96 years younger at the end of the program compared to when they started.

Although one significant limitation of this pilot trial is limited statistical power due to the relatively small sample size, I for one am happy to make these simple changes to maintain a healthy biological age.  I realize confirmation of these results is needed in larger study groups (they are currently enrolling for a larger study) and populations beyond middle-aged men.

I hope you find this helpful in supporting a more youthful metabolism in the new year and beyond.  For more individual support please feel free to schedule an appointment with Dr. Nicole Maxwell at Boise Natural Health Clinic.

Getting to the Root of Hair Loss, Strategies Old and New

By - Men's Health


Many people suffer hair loss, and it can be devastating to our sense of self. Hair shedding is part of a natural balance — some hairs fall out while others grow in. When the balance is interrupted — when hair falls out and less hair grows in — hair loss happens.

The three most common types of hair loss are:

Androgenic Alopecia: this is the most common cause of male and female pattern baldness. It occurs in more than 95% of men and often in a well-defined “M” pattern. In women the hair becomes thinner all over the head, but the hairline does not recede.

Poor nutrition: this can be from diets high in animal fat and processed foods or deficiencies of biotin, protein, zinc, vitamin D or iron. We can help you optimize your diet and decipher your gut health to promote better terrain for hair growth. https://boisenaturalhealth.com/test-your-gut-microbiome-with-a-simple-stool-sample/

Hormonal imbalance: low levels of estrogen and progesterone can cause hair to grow more slowly and become much thinner. We dive further into this aspect here https:// boisenaturalhealth.com/hair-thinning-women-identifying-cause/

We can also provide you with compounded hair loss solutions! This includes using minoxidil, finasteride, items to enhance absorption like tretinoin and azelaic acid, hormones like progesterone, antifungals like ketoconazole and more.

Vitamin B12 & B complex injections at Boise Natural Health!

By - Medical Ozone, IV and Injection Therapies

We are pleased to support our patients with this safe and effective treatment.

Whether you are an athlete looking to optimize energy and performance or are a busy parent or employee experiencing stress or low energy, you now have another option available at Boise Natural Health Clinic. 

Intramuscular injections are a safe and efficient way to get your vitamins, nutrients and antioxidants. In Washington State, Dr. Maxwell successfully treated many of her patients experiencing low energy, headaches, joint pain, forgetfulness, mild anxiety or depression, trouble concentrating and weight gain with B12 shots. Whether you are looking to boost your energy, maximize your weight loss, or reduce your pain- these 5-minute injections are a great addition to your healthy lifestyle.

Below are just a few of the benefits of B shots:
• Boost energy
• Aid in detoxification
• Strengthen the immune system
• Improve hair, nails, and skin
• Promote weight loss and healthy metabolism
• Decrease pain naturally
• Improve mood
• Decrease stress

Studies have shown that nutrient injections result in higher levels of vitamin and nutrient absorption. This is because an intramuscular injection allows you to bypass the digestive system so stomach absorption is not an issue.  The nutrients are rapidly delivered directly to where they need to be. Additionally, nutrient shots allow for higher and more therapeutic doses of nutrients to be delivered as compared to what can be digested and absorbed through the stomach. When ingested orally, high doses of nutrients can upset the stomach, an issue which is avoided with nutrient injections.

Nutrient injections can be customized for patients based on specific lab results but popular options available for general purposes include our:

  • B-12: Contains Methyl-B12, great for boosting energy & cognition
  • B-12 & B-complex combo: Methyl-B12 and additional B vitamins.

A potent combination to supports optimal health.  Perfect if you are looking to maintain or improve overall well-being.

More About B-12

Many individuals may be deficient in B12, including vegetarians, vegans and other individuals who might have trouble naturally absorbing B12, especially seniors. As such, B-12 is a staple in every IM injection.

B12 is a complex vitamin that not only improves energy, mood, and stress, it also supports many integral systems in the body. It is crucial in the proper functioning of the brain, nervous system, and the blood. B-12 is also important for memory, the immune system and plays a key role in the body’s metabolism, DNA synthesis and energy production.

Vitamin B12 shots may sting slightly when administered, but most patients claim that the discomfort is minimal. There is occasionally some slight tenderness at the site of the B12 injection for a short while. Overall, individuals have reported minimal negative side effects to receiving B12 shots. 

The amount of B12 an individual needs depends on the current levels of B12 in their body and their specific symptoms. A consultation with a doctor at Boise Natural Health will ensure that you are getting the optimum combination of nutrients for your needs.

Injections can be administered in the clinic or prescribed for home use.

Pediatric Constipation and Encopresis

By - Pediatrics

Constipation is a fairly common issue in children that often resolves itself with a few lifestyle changes.  But left untreated, it can become a chronic problem and even lead to encopresis (involuntary passing of stool, often due to impaction).  Naturopathic health care really shines in helping these children have healthy bowel movements. 

The difference between constipation and encopresis:

When a child is constipated, he or she has fewer bowel movements than normal (<3 times per week) or delay or difficulty in passing stool. Bowel movements can then become hard, dry, and difficult to pass. Your child may avoid going to the bathroom because it hurts. Stool becomes backed up (impacted) in the rectum and the large intestine (colon). When the stool can’t move forward, the rectum and intestine can become enlarged. Over time, liquid stool can start to leak around the hard, dry, impacted stool. This soils your child’s clothing and is called encoporesis

Ruling Out Underlying Health Conditions 

  • Primary care visit (we can do this at BNHC) to rule out other pathologies – this may include referrals for testing like an abdominal x-ray and/or barium enema, and bloodwork.
  • Stool test to rule out bacterial imbalances, parasites, poor digestive function.  Here’s an example of one we run at BNHC: https://www.diagnosticsolutionslab.com/tests/gi-map)

Actions to consider:

  • Food intolerance testing can be very helpful in finding a potential cause of the constipation.  It may take several weeks of avoiding the offending food/s before change takes place.  In general, avoid a high fat, low fiber, high sugar, junk-food diet
  • Read Are Foods Causing Your Symptoms: Understanding Testing Options
  • Fluid intake is essential.  Track the amount your child has and have water available around the house. Avoid soft drinks and fruit juices. If they don’t like plain water, consider herbal teas or snacks of juicier fruits like watermelon or even sucking on ice cubes.
  • Fiber – think legumes, vegetables, and whole grains.  If your child has a dry constitution then think moist fibrous foods vs dry fiber (apple sauce, whole fruit, oatmeal vs bread).
  • Exercise helps the body create motion in the bowels to push stool forward and out.
  • Abdominal massage – gently and slowly rub castor (or another oil) in a clockwise fashion.  Heat can sometimes be useful
  • Try relaxation training or mindfulness techniques.  Constipation and subsequent encopresis may be from stress in the family or with friends or at school.  Mindfulness helps decrease stress and gives the child a tool for life.
  • Encourage a sense of humor among the family to help ease any tension that may have built up around pooping.
  • It’s really important to do child-led potty training to decrease the risk of constipation/encopresis in the future.
  • Biofeedback can be used to help get on a stooling schedule and to help re-learn the body’s signals.
  • Chiropractic care can help rule out or correct structural contributors.

There are a number of supplements that might be helpful:

  • Kid-friendly digestive aids instead of laxatives
  • Probiotics can help to diversify the normal flora and compete with overgrowth bacteria which will aid the mucous layer lining the gut and promote better digestion.
  • Homeopathy can be useful, especially if there is a strong emotional component. 
  • Demulcents and gentle GI herbs can restore rhythm and function.  
  • Calcium and especially magnesium can help.  Some find help by adding fish oil.  

There are so many options to consider as you see in the list above.  Consider scheduling an appointment at Boise Natural Health Clinic and we can guide you through the process and help your child have bowel movements successfully again.

How To Raise Your Testosterone Without Taking Testosterone

By - Men's Health

Some men have lower levels of testosterone as they age creating a decline in a feeling of general well-being or a decrease in sexual satisfaction – this is called Andropause.  Not all men have low enough testosterone to warrant hormone replacement (HRT) or they have other issues where HRT is not a good idea.  Here are some ideas to increase testosterone naturally, some of them may surprise you!

Curious About How Testosterone Works?

Here’s my previous article that explains testing and how we rule out other causes of low testosterone besides age?  https://boisenaturalhealth.com/understanding-the-role-of-testosterone-in-men-options-for-testing-and-treatment/

Boost Your Testosterone with Diet and Lifestyle

One can stimulate the body to influence the testosterone making pathway.  Try one or all of these stimuli, they are especially effective if the testosterone is borderline or low:

  1. Get started on a weight-lifting routine and work up to lifting heavy weights 3 times per week.  The more muscle you have, the higher the testosterone levels.
  2. Eat healthy fats, especially the omega 3’s like cold water fish or olive oil.  Good fats seem to also increase luteinizing hormone, which stimulates cells in the testes to produce testosterone.
  3. Add honey to your diet.  Aside from being sweet and tasty, it also enhances serum testosterone levels in males via a variety of avenues.  We do need more clinical trials in this area, however, it won’t hurt to add some honey to your tea or coffee daily.
  4. Decrease stress.  Stress decreases cortisol which pushes the pathway away from creating testosterone.  If you decrease stress the pathway will go back to making testosterone.  Consider meditation – it’s a great way to provide lasting benefits not only with lowered stress but better metabolic function overall.  Watch funny videos – laughing a lot helps!
  5. Target body fat below 25% – but not too fast, no more than 2 pounds per week. Obesity lowers testosterone.  A one point increase in BMI was found to be associated with a 2% decrease in testosterone.
  6. Try to have sex (on your own or with a partner) daily in the morning.  Sex helps increase androgen receptor sensitivity so one is responding properly to the testosterone they have.
  7. Consider competitive sports, and surprisingly, competitive video gaming works just as well and rooting for the winning team.

Need more help sorting out your symptoms and hormones?

Schedule an appointment with Dr. Maxwell for further help supporting healthy aging and hormone balance at 208-338-0405.