Aggravating and Ameliorating Factors of Diseases

Posted On February 1, 2019

Excerpts from previous naturopathy assignments HLT60512.  Follwoing are 3 Signs, symptoms, ameliorating, and aggravating factors listed for each of the health problems below

Erectile dysfunction

1. Absence of erection or being able to maintain and erection during sex

3 Contributing Factors

• Blood Vessel Problems
• Chronic Illness (diabetes, blood pressure, kidney disease, atherosclerosis)
• Alcohol

3 Ameliorating factors

• Diet / Herbs
• Lifestyle / Medications
• Environment / Psychology

2. Absence of erection when they would otherwise typically occur

3 Aggravating factors

• Stress / Psychology
• Too much caffeine — Overindulgence in caffeine can affect sexual performance. Too much alcohol — too much alcohol can cause fatigue, increase anxiety or depression and interfere with hormonal balance.
• Refined vegetable oils — these increase inflammations and can worsen underlying causes of impotence.

 3 Ameliorating factors

• High fiber diet — High fiber foods like nuts, seeds, fruit, and vegetables support hormones and detoxification which can improve impotence, remember to include exercise.
• Foods high in vitamin E — A diet rich in vitamin E, such as wheat germ and green leafy vegetables, will help improve blood flow.
• Foods high in zinc — Pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, chia seeds, beef, lamb, and spinach are good sources of zinc that help improve testosterone (Dr Axe: Food is medicine).

3. Pain during erection and Painful ejaculation

3 Aggravating factors

• Prostate gland enlargement
• pain in the genital and groin area
• lower abdomen and lower back pain
• pain during ejaculation or sexual intercourse

3 Ameliorating factors

• Diet, hydration, lifestyle herbs
• Anti-inflammatory treatments
• Anti-bacterial treatments

Fibroids

1. Heavy, prolonged, or painful periods

3 Aggravating factors

• Birth Control Pills (Oestrogen hormone might cause fibroid to grow)

• Conventional dairy products: Non-organic dairy is very high in steroids and other chemicals that can alter hormones.
• Refined sugar: Increases pain and reduces immune function

3 Ameliorating factors

• Birth Control Pills (May outweigh risk of new growth to control excessive bleeding and possible Anaemia)
• Flax, chia and hemp seeds: Flaxseeds can help balance estrogen levels; aim for at least two tablespoons per day.
• Cruciferous vegetables: High in Indole-3-carbinol, cruciferous vegetables can support detoxification of liver and balance estrogen levels.
• High-iron foods: Due to the frequency and heaviness of the period caused by fibroids, iron must be replaced. Include high-iron foods like organ meats, grass-fed beef and legumes in your diet.

2. Chronic pelvic pain

3 Aggravating factors

• Refined Carbohydrates
• Over consumption of alcohol
• Imbalance of dietary nutrients

3 Ameliorating factors

• Organic foods: Pesticides can affect estrogen and other hormones — therefore, it’s important to choose only organic.
• B-complex (50 mg daily) B vitamins are involved in estrogen metabolism.
• Green leafy vegetables

3. Lump or mass in your abdomen (Diagnosed Fibroids)

 3 Aggravating factors

• Excess caffeine
• Highly Salted Foods
• Constipation from poor diet and fibroids pressing on bowel (Livestrong 2018)

3 Ameliorating factors

• Vitex (chaste berry) (400mg 2x daily)
• Helps balance estrogen/ progesterone ratios.
• Fish Oil (1,000mg daily)
• Essential fatty acids found in fish oil help reduce inflammation.
• Milk Thistle (150 mg 2x daily)
• Aids body in liver detoxification, which can balance hormones.

(Web MD 2018)

Dysmenorrhea

3 Signs and symptoms

• Pain in the hips, lower back, and inner thighs. When cramps are severe, symptoms may include
• Upset stomach, sometimes with vomiting
• Loose stools

3  Aggravating factors

• Tran’s fats and hydrogenated fats – A diet high in these fats can make PMS symptoms worse.
• Any potential food allergen – Food allergies can make PMS symptoms worse.
• Sugar – Causes fluctuations in blood sugar that may exacerbate mood swings, headaches, or difficulty concentrating. Sugar also depletes the body of critical minerals, Salt – Water retention during your period may be made worse by consuming a diet high in sodium, Caffeine – Is dehydrating and can worsen depression, anxiety, and breast tenderness (Dr Axe Food is Medicine).

3 Ameliorating factors

• Wild-caught fish – Foods high in Omega-3 fats will help reduce pain and inflammation
• Eat B6 rich foods breakfast cereals are fortified with vitamin B6. Includes a variety of protein foods, including seafood, lean meats and poultry, eggs, legumes (beans and peas), nuts, seeds, and soy products. Fish, beef, and turkey contain high amounts of vitamin B6. Beans and nuts are also sources of vitamin B6
• Avocado – Eating a half or full avocado daily can naturally balance hormones because of its nutritional profile which includes healthy fat, fiber, magnesium and potassium (Dr Axe Food is Medicine).

Irritable bowel disease

3 Signs and Symptoms

• Bowel movements (diarrhoea) or (constipation); more than 3 bowel movements a day or less than 3 a week.
• Bowel movements regularly differ in size or consistency
• The way stools pass changes, straining, diarrhoea, bloating, gas

(WebMD 2018)

3 Aggravating factors

• Caffeine – Can stimulate the digestive tract increasing inflammation.
• Potential allergens – Diarrhoea can result from food allergies such as gluten, nuts, shellfish, and dairy.
• Spicy Foods – Hot and spicy foods can cause IBS symptoms to become

3 Ameliorating factors

• Probiotics
• Digestive Enzymes.
• L-glutamine powder. Glutamine is an amino acid that helps repair the digestive tract, especially important for people with chronic diarrhoea.

Depression

3 Signs and Symptoms

They include feeling several of the following for at least 2 weeks:

• Feeling sad, anxious, empty, hopeless or pessimistic, guilty, worthless, or helpless
• Not enjoying things, you used to enjoy, sleeping too much or too little
• Trouble with concentration, memory, or making decisions

(Web MD 2018).

3 Aggravating factors

• Refined carbohydrates and processed foods
• Nutritional deficiencies
• Social and economic factors (Dr Axe Food is Medicine).

3 Ameliorating factors

• B-Complex (researchers have found that people with major depression have low levels of folate and vitamin B12; take oral doses of both vitamins to improve treatment outcomes in depression) (WebMD, 2018).
• Adaptogen Herbs – balance stress hormones and help to relax the nervous system
• St. John’s Wort — St. John’s Wort helps to relieve signs of depression such as anxiety, fatigue, loss of appetite and trouble sleeping. It treats moodiness and seasonal affective disorder (Dr Axe Food is Medicine).

Allergic Rhinitis

3 Signs and Symptoms

• Stuffy or runny nose, sneezing, postnasal drip
• Cough, Itchy mouth, throat, or ears
• Dark circles under your eyes, Itchy, watery eyes

3 Aggravating factors

• Dust, including the kinds found around your home
• Certain foods, known to cause allergic responses including gluten, dairy, tree nuts (especially peanuts), eggs, soy and shellfish
• Insect bites and stings, animals fur and dander

(Dr Axe Food is Medicine)

3 Ameliorating factors

• Neti pots improve quality of life in sufferers of respiratory illnesses and cause little to no side effects (Dr Axe Food is Medicine)
• Prevention. Avoid high pollen flowers in the house of garden, utilise a saline spray (Web MD, 2018).
• Eat foods which assist healthy microflora balance in the gut (Dr Axe Food is Medicine)

 Anaemia

3 Signs and Symptoms

• Shortness of Breath
• Fatigue
• Pale palour (complexion)

What Is Anaemia?

There are more than 400 types of anaemia, which are divided into three groups:

• Anaemia caused by blood loss
• Anaemia caused by decreased or faulty red blood cell production
• Anaemia caused by destruction of red blood cells

Additionally:

• Advanced kidney disease
• Hypothyroidism
• Other chronic diseases, such as cancer, infection, lupus, diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis

(Web MD 2018).

3 Aggravating factors

• Nutritional deficiencies such as B12 and folate
• Leaky gut and chronic disease such as Crohn’s disease, or even a parasite infection may be a factor
• Hypothyroidism

3 Ameliorating factors

• *Use probiotics for a healthy gut
• Consume iron-rich foods and protein sources such as all vegetable varieties, legumes, pulses (non- haem) and meat sources (haem)
• Reduce stress

Rheumatoid arthritis

 3 Signs and Symptoms

• Joint Inflammation, Stiffness. Swelling
• Redness and warmth. The joints may be warmer and show color changes related to the inflammation.
• Fatigue and fever.

3 Aggravating factors

• Food intolerances and allergies which trigger immune inflammatory responses
• Leaky gut and malabsorption issues
• Stress on kidneys or lymphatic system

3 Ameliorating factors

• Probiotic rich foods or supplements
• Balanced diet and gentle exercise
• Heat or Cold therapy

(Web MD 2018).

Chronic fatigue

3 Signs and Symptoms:

• Feeling so tired that it’s not possible to complete normal daily activities, and it is hard to move around and do simple things, mental activity can contribute to tiredness and it’s sometimes hard to concentrate
• Physical activity can leave you tired for a long time
• Rest and sleep don’t seem to help

 

3 Aggravating factors

• Trans fats and processed sugar
• Nutritional deficiencies
• Excess stress

3 Ameliorating factors

• Balanced diet
• Balanced lifestyle for example rest, relaxation, and lifestyle goals and objectives
• Medications and counselling

(Web MD 2018).

Generalised Anxiety Disorder

3 Signs and Symptoms

• excessive, exaggerated anxiety and worry about everyday life events
• Muscle tension, Headaches, Sweating,
• Difficulty concentrating, Nausea, Trembling

3 Aggravating factors

• Excess stress and disrupted HPA axis
• Nutrient deficiencies and excess caffeine
• Digestive problems such as leaky gut

3 Ameliorating factors

• Cognitive behavioural therapy
• Yoga, meditation relaxation
• Balanced Diet

(Web MD 2018)

Heather Indiana Rose

Copyright 2019