Hypothyroidism
1 in 8 women are suffering from hypothyroidism and nearly 90% of that is autoimmune based, a condition called Hashimoto’s. (Autoimmune diseases cause the body to attack normal tissues, such as the thyroid gland, that it’s inappropriately identified as foreign, i.e. not part of you).
Unfortunately, this is one condition that is simply not being managed well for most women. Even if their thyroid issue has been identified – although many times women are told they are “fine” based on lab tests but they have the entire litany of low thyroid symptoms – most are still suffering. As well, the autoimmune component is being overlooked entirely.
The thyroid is the gas pedal of your metabolism, if it’s not being stepped on and not pumping out fuel and that fuel is not getting to the engine, you’re going to be stalled in your weight loss and feeling tired, cloudy headed and depressed.
All the while your periods can be painful and abnormal, your hair is falling out and you just don’t feel like yourself.
PCOS
Menstrual issues, menopause and mood swings can make life as a woman almost unmanageable. With all we expect from ourselves ladies, feeling sluggish, bloated and irritable just won’t do. Struggling this way is optional though; and you deserve to feel better.
Premenstrual migraines, breakouts, cravings, infertility and even insomnia, simply show your hormones are out of balance. So whether you’re irregular, cranky or hot flashing, setting your hormones straight will give you your health and happiness back.
Among the most common female hormone imbalances is PCOS. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is the leading cause of infertility in the Western World, affecting nearly 15% of women of childbearing age. Not only does this condition disrupt or prevent ovulation – and therefore pregnancy, but it’s side effects that include acne, fatigue, sugar cravings, weight gain, excessive facial or body hair, hair loss from the front or top of the scalp (similar to male pattern baldness) are extremely distressing.
PCOS is a multi-system issue affecting fat metabolism, the thyroid, as well as reproductive health; yet conventional treatment often lacks addressing the underlying issue.
Fertility
One of the most rewarding aspects of a practicing healthcare professional is helping women have healthy babies.
Treating underlying hormonal and immune issues through nutrition, supplements and acupuncture, Dr Brooke will work alone or in tandem with your fertility team to get you primed for a healthy pregnancy and of course, a healthy baby.
If you are considering becoming pregnant or are well into the process, naturopathic medicine and acupuncture can offer great benefits towards helping you have a great pregnancy and birth experience. Dr Brooke can aid you in balancing out an abnormal cycle, address underlying issues such as PCOS and endometriosis or support you during fertility treatments such as IVF and IUI.
Weight Loss
What you’ve been told about weight loss is all wrong. It’s ineffective, inefficient and depressing. With all the flaws of the multi-billion dollar a year weight loss industry, it’s most egregious is that it keeps you being your worst enemy.
It’s sold you on the idea that being less, being small is the only way to be enough. But this is all wrong. It is about being more of the you that is already more than enough!
For years, my hormonal issues of PCOS, a sluggish thyroid and fatigued adrenals create a body that felt uncomfortable, unfamiliar and beyond frustrating to live in. My period would come and go at random, my sleep was truly horrible, my face was full of breakouts, my weight has difficult to control and I felt at the mercy of my messed up hormones. This challenged every insecurity I’d ever had. I felt not pretty enough, not thin enough…not good enough.
While I’ve never been drastically overweight, I’ve never had an easy time losing fat – despite my desperate attempts. I started dieting around age 15 having developed a loathing for my “big butt” (as my mother, perhaps unknowingly gave me a complex about). As I grew up and began to learn about metabolism and medicine, I felt betrayed by my hormones and my genetics – and I in turn betrayed my body at every opportunity when it came to weight loss.
