Posts by Dr. Johann de Chickera
PCOS: The Fatty Liver and Sleep Apnea Connection
Polycystic ovarian syndrome is usually characterized by menstrual irregularities and hormone imbalances [1]. A common trend I see in PCOS patients clinically, is suboptimal sleep, of which there are several causes. Another intriguing connection is the one between sleep apnea and fatty liver. As you’ll learn here, many of the underlying hormonal issues found in…
Read MoreFemale Hormone Imbalance: There is Hope With Traditional Chinese Medicine
Many women suffer with hormonal imbalance and don’t realize it can actually be treated. I repeatedly hear from women that a doctor says nothing can be done, or that their mild suffering is ‘normal’. I’m hoping to demonstrate how Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) looks at health differently and actually distinguishes between many different hormonal imbalances…
Read MoreThe Vagus Nerve and Autonomic Dysregulation
The parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) is one part of the ANS. In some states, the PNS is not stimulated enough, as seen in some people with dysautonomia (or autonomic dysregulation). To learn more about the ANS, please click here. To learn more about dysautonomia, please click here. Quick ANS Review The Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)…
Read MoreWhat is Autonomic Dysregulation
I wrote an introductory article about the Autonomic Nervous System, which can be found here. To review, Autonomic drive is controlled by the Sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS). The SNS and PNS control the ‘fight or flight’ and ‘rest and digest’ reactions, which is depicted below. Conditions with Autonomic Dysregulation…
Read MoreWhat is the Autonomic Nervous System
There are many divisions of the nervous system (or brain). It can get quite complicated, but for now, lets focus on the autonomic nervous system (ANS). The brain controls every physiological function within our body, and the ANS controls very specific functions. The Autonomic Nervous System The autonomic nervous system controls many vital functions. It…
Read MoreSystemic Yeast Infections and Parkinson’s Disease
There are still a lot of unknowns about what causes Parkinson’s disease. Several studies indicate that dopamine metabolites are involved in some way. Several studies show something called Salsolinol works in ways that interfere with the dopamine balance and works in similar ways. Salsolinol can be synthesized from dopamine and acetaldehyde. Patients with chronic polysystemic…
Read MoreBody Temperature and Pulse rate in Hypothyroidism
Prior to the current use of TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) to assess thyroid function, doctors used much simpler, yet highly effective ways to grade thyroid function. Doctors in the 1940’s used signs and symptoms to make a working diagnosis and relied on basal metabolic rate to confirm the diagnosis. Basal body temperature, metabolism and heart…
Read MoreCoQ10: A Must-have with Statin Use
Statins are one of the most commonly prescribed drugs in North America. There is controversy about their efficacy and safety – but one thing is for sure: CoQ10 must be considered as an adjunct treatment. To learn about CoQ10’s use in general, click here. To learn how to pick CoQ10 supplements, click here. A little…
Read MoreCoQ10 – Clinical Use Beyond Heart Disease
Coenzyme CoQ10 plays a very important role in heart disease. Click here to read about the need for CoQ10 supplementation when taking statins. Click here to learn how to select a CoQ10 supplement and what makes a good one. CoQ10 can also be useful for several other disease processes, as I will discuss below. All…
Read MoreHow to choose CoQ10 Supplements
Do I need a CoQ10 supplement? Maybe not. CoQ10 is made from L-tyrosine in the endoplasmic reticulum of cells throughout our body [1]. Beyond what is made in our body, CoQ10 is also obtained through food. Foods richest in CoQ10 are animal products: beef, pork and chicken (organ meats are highest), then fish and seafood…
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