Author: Nicole Maxwell, NMD

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

Walk In Wednesdays for B-shots
9 am to 4 pm
No Appointment Necessary

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. 

Arthritis: A Naturopathic Approach

By - Aging

By Nicole Maxwell, NMD

Arthritis is the most common cause of disability in older people as cited in a recent article in the American Journal of Public Health1.  The article states, “Arthritis will play a large role in the health-related quality of life, functional independence, and disability of older adults in the upcoming decades.”

In this article, I focus on Four Foundational Principles for those suffering from arthritis.  Even for those without symptoms or who are younger, these preventive measures are critical to maintaining joint (and other aspects of) health into the later stages of life.  

What is Arthritis?  

From Mayo Clinic: Arthritis is the swelling and tenderness of one or more of your joints. The main symptoms of arthritis are joint pain and stiffness, which typically worsen with age. The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis which causes cartilage – the hard, slippery tissue that covers the ends of bones where they form a joint – to break down.

Learn More:  Mayo Clinic article about Arthritis  

Foundation One: Hydration and collagen.

Many seniors tend not to drink as much water because of urinary urgency or incontinence.  However, our joints need hydration (water and oil) to stay mobile and to aid repair.  As simple as it sounds, consider drinking at least 6 glasses of water daily.  Aim to finish hydration by 5 or 6 pm so it doesn’t impede sleep.  One can add a pinch of salt to a large water container to aid absorption.  The next level of optimal hydration is to invest in a water filter that removes harmful pollutants.

Joints also need to be oiled, just like in a machine, and the oil for humans is in the form of essential fatty acids or EFAs.  Consider a tablespoon of fish oil, like cod liver oil, once a day to increase the good fats in your body and decrease inflammation contributing to arthritis.  Since EFAs increase blood thinning, if you are taking a blood-thinning medication, be sure to let your physician know so they can monitor.  

Joints are also made up of collagen which is the rubbery end part of joints and aids cartilage repair.  Consider taking a collagen hydrolysate supplement to support your joints.  Collagen seems to be mostly effective with osteoarthritis and may not be as significant in rheumatoid arthritis.

Foundation Two: Inflammation

Arthritis is essentially joint breakdown and often occurs because of inflammation.  Therefore, reducing inflammation is paramount.  This includes discovering if one has a food intolerance and then avoiding the food or foods creating inflammation.  https://boisenaturalhealth.com/are-foods-causing-your-symptoms/, https://boisenaturalhealth.com/the-carroll-food-intolerance-test/

Other ways to reduce inflammation associated with food: avoiding and/or decreasing refined carbohydrate intake.  Consider limiting net carbs to 150 grams a day.  Check out this article on carbs and arthritis: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324810. Consider replacing carbohydrates with colorful vegetables.

It is also important to check one’s gut health and see if one’s microbiome is helping or hindering the healing process.  https://boisenaturalhealth.com/test-your-gut-microbiome-with-a-simple-stool-sample/

Foundation Three: Repair

You may have heard of glucosamine and chondroitin – these two nutrients are great for arthritis pain reduction.  To be effective, these supplements must be taken regularly for at least three months to notice the benefits.

Foundation Four: Pain Management

It is important to stay active.  Mild to moderate, regular aerobic exercise, including water exercise, helps to reduce pain.  Consider your local YMCA as they have many options for different ages and abilities.

People regularly ask me about pain supplements and my preference for arthritis pain is curcumin from the turmeric plant.  I recommend a bioavailable form of curcumin like Theracurmin. 

Naturopathic Medicine Treats the Whole Person

Do you or someone you know have arthritis?   If you need more help, consider scheduling an appointment with Dr. Nicole at Boise Natural Health Clinic.

1  Am J Public Health. 2012 March; 102(3): 426–433

The Carroll Food Intolerance Test

By - Digestion, Food and Nutrition

By Nicole Maxwell, NMD

The Carroll Food Intolerance test, also known as FIT, helps us to understand the digestive and metabolic capacity of a patient’s body by identifying foods that are not compatible with their system.  

The History: Dr. Carroll practiced from 1917 to 1962 in Spokane, WA.  He was a busy and successful naturopath, however he couldn’t help his chronically ill son Bill.  In his search for better treatment methods, he learned about the work of Stanford physician, Dr. Albert Abrams who had been experimenting with new diagnostic techniques.  Dr. Carroll modified Dr. Abrams’ work to devise the FIT. Dr. Carroll discovered that his son was intolerant to fruit, removed fruit from his son’s diet, and for the first time his son recovered.  The FIT as devised by Dr. Carroll is similar, in some respects, to the bioelectronics testing of Voll, from which many biofeedback mechanisms have evolved.

What is it testing? This new method evaluates foods that are not well digested or metabolized by the body.  Those foods become a source of dysbiosis and can lead to inadequate breakdown of food, intestinal toxemia, and chronic irritation of the body tissues.  Dysbiosis means an imbalance between the types of organisms present in a person’s natural microflora, especially that of the gut, thought to contribute to a range of conditions of ill health.

Diagnosis? The Carroll test does not diagnose a disease, nor does it diagnose an allergy.  It is a determination of a patient’s incompatibility with food groups or combinations of those food groups.

The nitty gritty: A sample of blood is collected and evaluation is done using a specific electric circuit exposed to various foods in contact with a reagent. Fluctuations in the current are detected. Most people evaluated intolerant to one of the following foods or food categories: milk, egg, meat, sugar, fruit, grain and potato. In addition, he discovered that most people had a problem with one or more combinations of food, similarly not well tolerated.*

It works! I have used the Carroll food intolerance test for the last 17 years and have had great success.  I estimate 95% of my patients experience significant improvement when following their results. Do you experience a variety of health complaints and are unable to figure out why?  Do you seem to have multiple food intolerances from other food sensitivity testing or from observation? The Carroll Food Intolerance Test is often the game changer for people to help resolve a variety of complaints, heal their gut to be able to eat more foods, or lessen the load on the body so that the body can move toward health more easily.

We over this modality at Boise Natural Health Clinic to help you have optimal digestion and health.

*http://www.songofhealth.com/carrollhistory.html

Tis the Season … To Overindulge?

By - Food and Nutrition

By Nicole Maxwell, NMD

During this joyful and sometimes stressful season of office parties, family get-togethers and general celebration, it is possible one might overindulge in food and/or alcohol.  What can one do to help mitigate the effects?

  1. Drink lots of water to get things moving through the kidneys and out of the system.  Target 64oz a day of filtered water. If the overindulgence is alcohol, take commercial electrolytes (Nuun Sport is a good one), coconut water, or diluted juice and table salt.  
  1. When eating foods you normally avoid, take a digestive enzyme that works for your issue.  For example, if you avoid gluten and dairy then consider GFCF by Integrative Therapeutics to help digest those items.  We have many types of digestive enzymes and your provider can help you select the best one for your situation.  
  1. Homeopathic Nux Vomica 30c is great for that post party hangover. The morning after the over-indulgence, take five pellets under the tongue every 15 minutes up to three doses.
  1. Sign up for my 4-Week Clinical Detoxification Program the end of February – we’ll do a thorough clean-up of the system getting you ready to start the new year right. 

I hope this season treats you well and wish you the best of health.

– Dr. Nicole

Catching Too Many Colds?

By - Immune System

by Nicole Maxwell, NMD

Teachers, school-aged kids, frequent travelers, and those under chronic stress may be more susceptible to getting every cold that passes.  Here are some things to do to stop the trend.

First and foremost, it is important to maintain a Whole Foods Diet, which means to eat foods in their least-processed state.  Nutrient-rich foods include foods in their unrefined state, such as: apples instead of applesauce, eggs instead of Egg Beaters, oatmeal instead of a granola bar with oatmeal in it.

And let’s Review the Basics that you hopefully already know about and follow: get plenty of sleep, decrease or eliminate simple carbohydrates, drink plenty of fluids, and get your exercise.

Frequent illnesses can also be a sign of an underlying Food Intolerance.  We offer a variety of food intolerance testing at the office.  Here are some ways food negatively affects the immune system.  

  • The continuous intake of reactive substances causes local micro-inflammation in the intestinal tissue, which spreads insidiously and can manifest itself in other tissues, including reduced immune status against infections.
  • The gut contains an estimated 70-80% of the immune system.  With almost 400m ² (or 4,300sq feet – a very large house!) it is the largest contact area with the external world. There is extensive lymphoid tissue around the intestine and forms the largest immune organ in our body.

Here Are Some Therapies That May Be Helpful:

Oscillococcinum (Boiron) is a homeopathic, can be used for prevention and treatment.  I recommend one dose per week starting now, and going through the flu season, for prevention.

Probiotics are in the news a lot these days and for good reason.  Here’s the conclusion of one study; “Daily dietary probiotic supplementation for 6 months was a safe effective way to reduce fever, rhinorrhea, and cough incidence and duration and antibiotic prescription incidence, as well as the number of missed school days attributable to illness, for children 3 to 5 years of age.” 1

We carry a variety of formulas and can find the best fit for you.  

Colostrum is the first form of milk rich in antibodies and has been shown in a study to be 4 times more effective than the flu vaccine.  Colostrum was 3 times more effective than no vaccine. The vaccine + colostrum group did equally well as colostrum alone. In this prevention study they took 1 capsule a day containing 400 mg of colostrum away from food. 2

Wet Socks Treatment is a time-tested treatment that acts reflexively to increase the circulation and decrease congestion in the upper respiratory passages, head, and throat. It has a sedating action, and many patients report that they sleep much better during the treatment. The treatment is effective for pain relief and increases the healing response during acute infections. https://boisenaturalhealth.com/warming-sock-treatment/

There are many tools in our toolbox to help you and your immune system be in tip top shape.  To make an appointment, contact us at www.boisenaturalhealth.com.

1. Probiotic effects on cold and influenza-like symptom incidence and duration in children. Leyer GJ, Li S, Mubasher ME, Reifer C, Ouwehand AC. Pediatrics. 2009 Aug; 124(2):e172-9. Epub 2009 Jul 27.

OBJECTIVE: Probiotic consumption effects on cold and influenza-like symptom incidence and duration were evaluated in healthy children during the winter season. METHODS: In this double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 326 eligible children (3-5 years of age) CONCLUSION: Daily dietary probiotic supplementation for 6 months was a safe effective way to reduce fever, rhinorrhea, and cough incidence and duration and antibiotic prescription incidence, as well as the number of missed school days attributable to illness, for children 3 to 5 years of age.

2. Prevention of influenza episodes with colostrum compared with vaccination in healthy and high-risk cardiovascular subjects: the epidemiologic study in San Valentino.  Cesarone MR, Belcaro G, Di Renzo A, Dugall M, Cacchio M, Ruffini I, Pellegrini L, Del Boccio G, Fano F, Ledda A, Bottari A, Ricci A, Stuard S, Vinciguerra G. Clin Appl Thromb Hemost. 2007 Apr;13(2):130-6.

Understanding The Role of Testosterone in Men – Options for Testing and Treatment

By - Men's Health

by Nicole Maxwell, NMD

Are you or a loved one curious about testosterone replacement therapy, also known as TRT? Testosterone naturally begins declining in men between 30 and 40 years of age. Fortunately, age related testosterone decline can be treated in a variety of ways. With proper testing and guidance, men can experience normal levels of testosterone providing energy and stamina well into advanced age. 

I’ve provided some of my favorite links to reliable information to consider if you are thinking about a testosterone prescription. 

Overview of Testosterone

Here is a very thorough article exploring symptoms, causes, and treatment of low testosterone:
https://www.urologyhealth.org/urologic-conditions/low-testosterone 

Labs

Appropriate labs that must to be done before starting TRT and are available at our office. Here is a link that talks about appropriate lab markers: https://ndnr.com/mens-health/testosterone-drops-anti-aging-for-male-baby-boomers/# 

Many wonder what method of testing to choose. I prefer serum and saliva testing. 

The risks and benefits of testosterone replacement therapy

PROS: Numerous studies show the benefits of TRT with reducing cardiovascular disease risk, improving metabolic dysfunction, improving glycemic control and body composition. https://ndnr.com/naturopathic-news/testosterone-therapy-could-increase-risk-of-heart-attack-and-stroke/ We do, however, need more long-term studies as the next bullet demonstrates. 

CONS: There has been one study showing that there may be a 21% increased risk of a cardiovascular event especially in the first two years of TRT and then it seems to be cardioprotective.
https://ndnr.com/mens-health/testosterone-cv-risk-in-men/ 

Testosterone Modifiers

Many things we do daily affect our hormones. Testosterone modifiers are crucial to address. Your naturopathic physician can review diet, lifestyle, medication, nutrient deficiencies, blood sugar, and hormonally active chemicals in our environment. Here’s a great article exploring this topic: https://ndnr.com/mens-health/testosterone-modifiers/ 

I’d Love to Help

I have been working with men’s health for 17 years and would be happy to assist you or a loved one with anti-aging medicine. Please contact us at www.boisenaturalhealth.com.