diseases and disorders
Allergies: abnormal sensitive reactions of the immune system
An allergy is an abnormal sensitivity or reaction of your immune system to a substance (an allergen) that you eat, inhale or touch. Non-allergic people can usually tolerate this substance. Nearly 50% of all people who suffer from allergies have hay fever. I...read more
Allergy testing and treatment
Tests are available for sensitivity to foods and drinks which are regularly consumed as well as pollens, grasses, candida, food colourings and additives. You will be asked to complete a food and chemical questionnaire and to bring along small samples of foods.The method of t...read more
Alternative treatments for mental disorders
In BC, doctors routinely prescribe medications for people with depression, anxiety disorders and other mental disorders. But the widespread use of medications doesn't mean that drugs are the only option for treating mental illness."We encourage people w...read more
Alzheimer disease and antioxidants
At the present time, one out of ten adults have some form of Alzheimer disease. According to Dr. Greengard, Director of the Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research at the Rockefeller University, that number is expected to strike up to three times as many in the coming decades...read more
Alzheimer's disease
As a person ages, a certain amount of memory loss and confusion is quite normal. Personally, I’ve been known to invoke the cliché, “The older I get, the better I was!” Unfortunately, Alzheimer’s disease represents a more serious loss ofread more
Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia
Most people approaching retirement look forward to exploring new pursuits and basking in memories of their long and eventful lives. But for thousands of Canadians, Alzheimer's disease replaces the richness of the golden years with a sense of loss and confusion as memories of...read more
Alzheimer's: how does the disease develop ?
Alzheimer's is a neurodegenerative disease that is typified by progressive weakening of cognitive skills, affecting all aspects of day to day activities. A person suffering from Alzheimer's is likely to undergo severe behavioral changes.Emil Kraepelin was the first person to...read more
Am I at risk of developing dementia?
Many people worry that they may be at risk of developing dementia, particularly if they have a close relative with the condition. This information sheet explains what we know about the risks associated with different types of dementia and gives some advice on how people can ...read more
Anatomy of the skin
Your skin: amazing stuff. Tough, yet sensitive, permeable, yet waterproof. It’s flexible, yet strong, considering that it’s very thin. It houses millions of tiny units that regulate its fluid levels and temperature. It can change colour. It even repairs itself. Its your body&rsqu...read more
Anti-ageing treatments
Wrinkles are a cosmetic problem that are an indicator of the ageing process; traditionally regarded as more socially problematic for women. Many people now use anti-ageing products to reduce visible wrinkles on the face, lips and hands. Ageing of the skin, ...read more
Anti-reflux surgery
Antireflux surgery is performed to correct the reflux of acid up into the gullet from the stomach. The main symptom of reflux is heartburn (a burning pain felt under the breast bone). In the past the only surgical option was the open method, which involved a...read more
Anxiety disorders
It can drive us to be creative under pressure, warn us of danger or spur us to take action in the face of a crisis. It can also freeze us in our tracks. But like it or not, anxiety is an intense state that most Canadians experience from time to time.Anxiety affects us physic...read more
ARDS and how the lungs work...
What Is ARDS? Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is breathing failure that can occur in critically ill persons with underlying illnesses. It is not a specific disease. Instead, it is a life-threatening condition that occurs when there is severe flui...read more
Are stuttering therapies succesful?
We hear from many parents who are concerned that stuttering therapy may not help their child. If your child has stuttered longer than a year, it is less likely that the stuttering will ever go away completely. However, a speech pathologist who is knowledgeable about stutteri...read more
Are you forgetful?
You may have a deficiency of Vitamin B. What is forgetfulness and how does it differ from Dementia? Loss of memory is a common symptom, particular in the elderly, but memory loss may also be associated with lack of concentration. Many people fear a diagno...read more
Arthritis ? Try eating fish
The joints in the human body are areas where two or more bones move against one another, to provide the body with it's flexibility and movement. Just as in steel machines, those hard elements moving against each other require some special arrangements so as to minimise or prevent the long t...read more
Arthritis and ayurveda
Arthritis is one of the most common chronic diseases in the world. According to Ayurveda arthritis is primarily a vata (air) disease which is due to accumulation of toxins in the joints and is known as amavata. This can be caused by poor digestion and a weakened colon, resul...read more
Arthritis pain relief with acupuncture
Acupuncture has been used to relieve arthritis pain in traditional Chinese medicine for many thousands of years. It has recently become a widely used technique in western medicine – both by doctors and others. Acupuncture claims good results in the treatment of arthri...read more
Arthritis: cause and treatment
Arthritis is an inflammation of the joints or the muscles which can cause great pain, stiffness and discomfort. There are any different types of arthritis and their effect varies greatly. The effects can range from the people who have the occasional "twinge" of pai...read more
Arthritis: diet and fish oil in arthritis pain
Arthritis pain has never been easy to treat and arthritis symptoms have often been managed by the use of possibly toxic or unpalatable arthritis medication. Arthritis pain relief sometimes comes at a price!In recent years there has been a great deal of interest in the bene...read more
Arthritis: painful onstruction syndrome
Arthritis is known as 'Painful Obstruction Syndrome' in Chinese medicine and is something that acupuncturists commonly treat. Types ‘Wind Bi type’ Joint pain which moves from one joint to the next is known as 'Wandering Bi Syndrome' or 'Wind B...read more
Aspirin and stroke
Aspirin is one of the most commonly used medicines. It has been used for over 100 years as a painkiller and to reduce fever. Today, Aspirin is widely used in preventing heart attacks and strokes. This factsheet describes how aspirin works to...read more
Association of slimming with eating disorders
Chronic obesity is a very difficult condition to treat and the statistics are appalling. Of patients who lose weight on any particular diet or exercise programme 90% put it all back on again within a 2-year period.Losing weight in the short...read more
Asthma and acupuncture
The incidence of asthma has been steadily increasing in industrialised countries in the past decades. In spite of the introduction of several new drugs for the treatment of asthma, it is still by far the most common chronic debilitating disease in childhood. Some researchers...read more
Asthma and children: as they grow
As your child grows their asthma may change its symptoms, treatment and severity. Your involvement will also change. For example, you will have to be responsible for your toddler taking their medication, but as the child grows, this responsibility is gradual...read more
