Andrea Bull Naturopathic Doctor

Are you on Accutane, or have you taken it in the past? I wanted to make a post about this medication because so many of my clients have taken it and it has made their health WORSE.⁠
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What is Accutane (isotretinoin)? Accutane is a drug used to treat severe acne, specifically in those who may not have responded to other treatments. It is a vitamin A derivative known as a retinoid, and targets clogged pores, bacteria, inflammation, and oil production. Many brand names, such as Absorica, Amnesteem, Claravis, Myorisan, and Sotret, are on the market.⁠
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*The Accutane brand name is not on the market anymore, but people still call it Accutane!⁠
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It's crucial to be aware of the potential risks of Accutane. While it may be effective for many, it’s important to consider the impact this medication could have on your body.⁠
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Side effects include:⁠
* GI issues⁠
* Birth defects⁠
* Organ damage⁠
* Dry skin, mouth, and nasal passages⁠
* Muscle aches⁠
* Changes in blood sugar or cholesterol⁠
* Sun sensitivity⁠
* Allergic reactions⁠
* Skin irritation or infection⁠
* Vision problems and day eyes⁠
* Headaches⁠
* Mental health problems⁠
* Hearing problems⁠
* Pressure in the brain⁠
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One of the significant effects of Accutane is its potential to dry up the mucous membranes in your gut and disrupt your gut microbiome. This is a key reason why many individuals experience significant gut issues after taking Accutane.

Happy Father's Day ⁠
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- Dr. Bull

MARK YOUR CALENDAR JUNE 17th 📆⁠
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I wanted something that could fit into my lifestyle rather than planning my life around it...⁠
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So, I decided to educate myself on what it means to live a balanced lifestyle, reaching my goals while still enjoying the joys of life.⁠
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I learned how to boost my metabolism with whole-food nutrition, build muscle & target fat loss with strength training, and regulate my hormones with a balanced lifestyle.⁠
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It’s not about giving it your all or nothing at all. It’s about finding out the strategies that work for YOU!⁠
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If you’re tired of feeling overwhelmed and unsure how to navigate your health and fitness journey, I have the perfect solution!⁠
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My 5-Day Summer Slimdown packs all the teachings of The FASTer Way into five days of delicious recipes, workouts, and training to help you reach your goals quickly!⁠
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In just five days, I will help you...⁠
💗 Boost your metabolism⁠
💗 Regulate your hormones⁠
💗 Build muscle & burn fat⁠
💗 Nourish & fuel your body⁠
💗 Feel confident & strong⁠
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All for just over $25!!! ⁠
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Join me for five days while I teach you the foundations of a healthy, balanced lifestyle! We kick off on MONDAY!⁠
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If you’re interested, drop the word “SUMMER” below & I’ll reach out with all the info you need!

It's a new month. Breathe!

What Is Chronic Pain?

Chronic pain is usually defined as any pain which lasts more than 12 weeks.
The definition of “chronic” is “persisting for a long time or constantly recurring.”

Although it may start because of an injury or trauma, it continues even after the initial cause has healed. Acute pain, on the other hand, is generally a response to a physical issue such as disease, inflammation or trauma. However, it goes away once the initial cause has healed.

You often – but not always – know the cause of your acute pain, but chronic pain may be a mystery.

Make an appt today to discuss this further.

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Warkworth, ON K0K 3K0

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🤓 Do you have a question for me that you would like to ask? Put in the comments 👇🏻

😔 Tired of feeling unwell?
🙏🏼 Want lasting solutions for chronic health problems?
🌳 Let's address the root cause.

Make an appt today to discuss this further.

📍118 Church Street
Warkworth, ON K0K 3K0

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The term "adrenal fatigue" suggests a condition resulting from chronic stress where stress can wear out our adrenal glands, causing them to function poorly.

According to the 'adrenal fatigue' theory, the adrenal glands can become exhausted and struggle to produce enough cortisol. This can lead to a range of symptoms, including chronic fatigue, feeling both wired and tired, body aches, low blood pressure, low blood sugar, sleep issues, mood swings, and more.

While burnout is accurate, the term "adrenal fatigue" is misleading. Those experiencing such symptoms likely deal with hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA axis) dysfunction.

Make an appt today to discuss this further.

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Warkworth, ON K0K 3K0

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Happy Naturopathic Medicine Week 2024 🩵💙

Happy long weekend, everyone! Enjoy!! 🇨🇦

See the link in my bio for all the services available!

📍118 Church Street
Warkworth, ON K0K 3K0

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Happy Mother's Day! Hope your day is filled with laughter, love, and cherished moments with your loved ones.

💞 Dr. Andrea Bull ND

When we want the whole story, we ask the body.
Rather than saying, “I’m stressed,” she’ll say:
“My shoulders are tight.”
“I feel bloated by the end of the day.”
“Period cramps were terrible this cycle.”
"I wake up and can't get back to sleep."

Our bodies speak to us in the symptoms we experience.
Our job is to make sure we’re listening.

💗

Make an appt today to discuss this further.

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Warkworth, ON K0K 3K0

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Did you know that thyroid hormone can affect your mood?
⁠Can you remember the first time you felt anxious?
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Anxiety always has a cause.
Thyroid disease can be one of those causes.⁠
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Hyperthyroidism is well recognized as a cause of anxiety & when you have weight loss, diarrhea, sweating, & insomnia, then you're likely to get a full lab workup from your doctor.
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Hypothyroidism or Hashimoto's can also be the cause of anxiety. But because it's always thought to be associated more strongly with depression, it isn't always worked up when anxiety is the primary concern.
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And because hypothyroidism comes with symptoms of weight gain, fatigue, joint pain, and irregular periods, you may not get more than a "eat right, exercise, you're getting old and here's the pill & anti-anxiety medication" from your visit with your provider.⁠
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What you eat & how you move are helpful for thyroid disease.⁠
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Anti-anxiety or birth control prescriptions are not, although they may be necessary acutely for you.⁠
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Getting a full thyroid panel is the first step in understanding if this is the cause of your anxiety.⁠

Make an appt today to discuss this further.

📍118 Church Street
Warkworth, ON K0K 3K0

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Get To Know Dr. Andrea Bull, ND

Dr. Andrea Bull is a licensed naturopathic doctor (ND) practicing in Warkworth, Ontario, and telemedicine for anyone from a distance or unable to make office visits. She holds a four-year Doctor of Naturopathy Degree from the Canadian College of Natural Medicine and an Honours Bachelor of Science (Human Kinetics) and Bachelor of Education.

Make an appt today to discuss this further.

📍118 Church Street
Warkworth, ON K0K 3K0

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Unless you consume wild salmon, mackerel, sardines, anchovies, herring, or oysters at least three to four days a week, you are likely deficient in Omega 3.

While flaxseed and chia seeds contain high amounts of omega-3 fatty acids in alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), the body is not efficient at converting ALA into the omega-3 fatty acids found in certain fish.

Some signs you are deficient in Omega-3 are:

🚨 Inflammation
🚨 Depression/Anxiety
🚨 Dry Eyes
🚨 Joint Pain/Stiffness
🚨 Insomnia
🚨 Poor Concentration (ADHD)
🚨 Fatigue
🚨 Skin Issues (Dryness, Dermatitis)
🚨 Dry, Brittle Hair & Nails (Possibly Dandruff)
🚨 Hair loss
🚨 Earwax Buildup
🚨 Cardiovascular Issues
🚨 Hormone Imbalances
🚨 Difficult Menstrual Cycles & More

If you don't consume any of the fish mentioned above at least three to four days a week, you can assume you are deficient in Omega 3.

We can always run a functional lab test to verify if you are deficient OR just take a good Omega 3 supplement from my supplements online store!

See the link in my BIO 🔼

Did you know your birth control pill could be impacting your thyroid, causing some of these health issues?

Let’s talk about how it does this!

1. It increases a protein called Thyroid Binding Globulin, or TBG, that can bind to the thyroid hormone and make it inactive. This leads to less thyroid hormone available and causes more work for your thyroid to function. The pill can also increase another protein called S*x Hormone Binding Globulin, or SHBG, which can bind to your thyroid hormone.
2. The pill depletes many crucial nutrients for thyroid hormone, such as selenium, zinc, and B vitamins. Selenium and zinc are especially important for taking the inactive form of thyroid hormone, T4, and converting it to the active form, T3. We need B vitamins to make thyroid hormones and other bodily functions.
3. The pill can increase inflammation by increasing an inflammatory marker called CRP. This can create more stress on the body and impact our adrenals, leading to thyroid issues.
4. Lastly, birth control can cause gut dysbiosis by creating an imbalance of gut bacteria. This creates an environment for bacterial overgrowth, pathogens, parasites, and yeast to grow. Gut dysbiosis is a stressor on our bodies and can impact our thyroid health.

It is just essential to understand what taking birth control might do to your health.

Make an appt today to discuss this further.

📍118 Church Street
Warkworth, ON K0K 3K0

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Let's get to the root cause of your fight or flight responses in your gut to your stress!

When your nervous system is on high alert, your gut is on high alert.
Our bodies rely on our nervous system‘s ability to respond to stress to survive.

This is the “fight or flight” response.

However, your body can’t distinguish between “I’m worried about being late to work” or “I see a bear that wants to eat me.”

It only recognizes the stress and responds accordingly.

During a stress response, the body shifts resources from non-essential functions like digestion to fuel your muscles and prepare your body to attack or run away.

👎 the gut secretes fewer digestive enzymes.
👎 less stomach acid is produced.
👎 gut motility slows.
👎 essential nutrients are shuttled off to your muscles.

The link between the gut and the brain is powerful!!!

Constant communication between the gut and the brain means you cannot ignore your thoughts, stress, or cognition when on the path to better digestive health.

Make an appt today to discuss this further.

📍118 Church Street
Warkworth, ON K0K 3K0

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😔 Tired of feeling unwell?
🙏🏼 Want lasting solutions for chronic health problems? Focus on your gut!

Let's get to the root cause of the issue!

💩 Gut health is a cornerstone of overall well-being. Optimizing gut health offers excellent potential for managing and preventing many chronic illnesses.

Why the gut health is essential:

☑️ Your gut is home to trillions of bacteria, collectively known as your gut microbiome. Think of it as your army, crucial for digestion, immunity, and even your mental health!

☑️ Inflammation: An unhealthy gut can lead to chronic inflammation, which is linked to numerous conditions like autoimmune disease, heart disease, and depression.

☑️ Leaky gut: Sometimes, the gut lining becomes too permeable (“leaky”), allowing toxins and food particles into the bloodstream and causing further health problems.
ETC!

📣 Remember, investing in your gut health is an investment in your overall well-being. By nurturing your gut microbiome, reducing inflammation, and maintaining gut integrity, you pave the way for improved health and vitality overall. Let your gut guide you towards a healthier, happier life. 🌱💪

Make an appt today to discuss this further.

📍118 Church Street
Warkworth, ON K0K 3K0

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How are you spending your downtime?

Healthy boundaries with others and yourself will help you make time for downtime. You'll be amazed at how much more creative and productive (not to mention pleasant to be around) you will be when you've made time to shut off your working brain and turn on your relaxed brain.

Have a great weekend!

Why????

Individuals with celiac often have gastrointestinal damage or irritation. This can result in canker sores.

A great way to help manage this is through a gluten-free diet!

Xo💕

Make an appt today to discuss this further.

📍118 Church Street
Warkworth, ON K0K 3K0

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BLOATING - the most common symptom for various digestive and GI imbalances.

What does it mean, and how does it affect your general health?

Q: I always feel so bloated, no matter what I eat. I feel okay in the morning, but by the end of the day, I look six months pregnant! What could be causing this?

A: I see this digestion pattern so often – people might feel good when they wake up, but bloating occurs after eating and worsens as the day progresses. While various factors can contribute to this, such as food sensitivities, stress, and irregular eating habits, a commonly overlooked cause of bloating is Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO). Usually, we shouldn’t have bacteria in our small intestine – they should stay in the large intestine. For various reasons, however, bacteria can overgrow and migrate into the small intestine, where they ferment certain foods we eat, resulting in gas, bloating, irregular bowel movements, and even heartburn. This can lead a patient to believe they have Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). However, there is often an underlying cause to the symptoms of IBS – in my practice, I see that SIBO is a very common cause of IBS.

Q: How do I test for SIBO?
A: The best way to test for SIBO is a breath test, which measures the levels of hydrogen and methane gases produced by bacteria in the small intestine. Depending on the levels of these gases, this tells me whether bacterial overgrowth is present and where in the digestive tract this overgrowth is occurring.

Q: How do I treat it?
A: Based on this, I create individualized treatment plans to eradicate bacteria and ultimately re-wire the gut to move food along the digestive tract appropriately, helping eliminate bloating and support regular bowel habits. With the right treatment plan, not only can symptoms be alleviated, we can also prevent recurrence.

Make an appt today to discuss this further.

📍118 Church Street
Warkworth, ON K0K 3K0

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High cortisol levels? Do this👇

▪ Take essential supplements, including the B vitamins (B1, B5, B6, B12), vitamin C and tyrosine, to help lower cortisol.

▪ Adding in phosphatidylserine (PS). This has been shown to reduce cortisol levels when taken in pill form.

▪ Take fish oil daily. Men and women taking 4,000 mg (4 grams) of fish oil daily for six weeks lowered morning cortisol to healthier levels.

▪ Wean from caffeine and alcohol. Alcohol raises cortisol, and the effect persists for twenty-four hours in men--probably longer for women. Caffeine directly induces the adrenocortical cells to produce more cortisol, epinephrine, norepinephrine, and insulin.

▪ Avoid typical food intolerances like gluten and dairy, as I often see they may raise cortisol in some people. Think of this as "food stress."

▪ Take caution with very low-carb diets. One of the most popular low-carb diets is the ketogenic diet. Over the last few years, I noticed a trend among my female patients. When they tried keto, they tended to have more problems with their stress hormones (i.e. producing too much cortisol) compared to men.

Like, save, and share 😍

Make an appt today to discuss this further.

📍118 Church Street
Warkworth, ON K0K 3K0

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Sweet Gluten-free Almond Tea Cake Treat

Ingredients
½ cup (125 g) butter – lightly salted or unsalted -melted
2 large eggs – at room temperature
1 cup (150 g) gluten-free all-purpose/plain flour
1 cup (220 g) superfine/caster sugar
2 teaspoon almond extract
3 tablespoons (60 ml) flaked almonds
dusting of icing/powdered sugar – to serve

Instructions
Preheat oven to 180 Degrees C (355 F).
Lightly grease a 20 cm (8-inch spring-form) cake pan and line the base with non-stick baking paper.
Melt the butter in a small saucepan or microwave in a glass bowl.
Set aside to cool for 10 minutes.
Beat the eggs and butter together in a bowl using a stand mixer, a handheld electric mixer or a whisk. You can use the same bowl if you microwaved the butter.
Add flour, sugar and almond extract and mix well.
Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan, spread it evenly, and sprinkle with flaked almonds.
Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick placed into the centre of the cake comes out clean.
Allow the cake to cool completely in the tin.
If desired, transfer to a serving dish and dust with icing/powdered sugar. Serve with whipped cream and berries.

Enjoy 🥰

A well-known theory in the physiological field is “endogenous opioid release theory.” Various types of endogenous opioids are released depending on the Frequency. Each opioid has unique features (immediate effectiveness, duration of relief, etc) which are effective in the relief of pain.

・Around 1 - 4Hz : Beta-endorphin and Enkephalins
・40 - 200Hz : Dynorphin
・Above 200Hz: Serotonin and Noradrenaline

The ES-130 and ES-160 have a top range of 500Hz, which has been used to help anesthetize an area of the body.

Make an appt today to discuss this further.

📍118 Church Street
Warkworth, ON K0K 3K0

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Need some pain relief?

Make an appointment today, and we can help make the pain go away!

📍118 Church Street
Warkworth, ON K0K 3K0

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Having an IBS diagnosis, unfortunately, tells you nothing about the cause of it. For many, they assume that IBS itself is the problem…it’s not.

The pathophysiology of IBS can be so many things. Still, some of the most common ones I see are dysbiosis (a fancy word for an imbalance of bacteria), SIBO or SIFO (overgrowth in the small intestine), and parasites.

This is why a scope for IBS is truly not enough. You also need a comprehensive stool test like the GI-MAP from to look at the microbiome, intestinal health markers, and pathogens.

If you need help understanding what’s behind your IBS symptoms, the GI-MAP test is the best way to get to the root cause. I use results to create gut-healing protocols that can resolve symptoms!

Would you be interested in testing? Feel free to drop me a message, and we can go from there.

Some women experience PMS as well as PMDD, which is inflammation and histamine intolerance. ⚡⁠
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Histamines are: ⁠
✔️ Chemicals that are stored in immune cells, known as mast cells⁠
✔️ Involved in nerve transmission and immune response regulation⁠
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When mast cells are triggered as part of the immune response, they release histamines, triggering those responses we all know so well – itchiness, puffiness, swelling or hives.⁠
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The problem arises when there is too much histamine. ⁠
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Histamine may affect the GABA receptors in the brain, which could be why it’s a trigger for PMDD (GABA supports mood, relieves anxiety, and so much more). ⁠
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The following symptoms are all indicators that PMDD and PMS are connected to inflammation and histamine:⁠
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😞 Headaches or migraines around ovulation and/or just before menstruation⁠
😭 Feeling PMS’y around ovulation — see my last post ⁠
😣 Painful periods⁠
🙁 Painful breasts⁠
🥵 Itching, hives or aggravated skin, particularly at ovulation & in the luteal phase⁠
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In most cases, this comes back to gut microbiome dysbiosis, leaky gut & inflammation, which trigger the immune system.⁠
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This drives a cycle of histamine overproduction, and the symptoms of PMS & PMDD. ⁠
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Make an appt today to discuss this further.

📍118 Church Street
Warkworth, ON K0K 3K0

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Food Sensitivities: How Common Are They? 🤔

Have you ever wondered how many people deal with food sensitivities like lactose intolerance, gluten sensitivity, or other dietary challenges? 🌮🥛

Let’s break it down! 📊

* Lactose Intolerance: Believe it or not, around 65-75% of people worldwide have some level of lactose intolerance! 🥛🚫 The love-hate relationship with dairy is real.
* Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity (NCGS): While not as widespread as lactose intolerance, NCGS does affect a portion of the population, though exact numbers are still being explored. 🍞🚫
* Other Sensitivities: Sensitivities to foods like soy, eggs, nuts, seeds, and shellfish vary and depend on individual factors. 🍳🌰🍤

Bottom line? Food sensitivities are more common than you might think, but their prevalence varies. 🌍📈

It’s crucial to listen to your body and seek professional guidance if you suspect you have food sensitivity, and with the proper protocol, we will work together to fix the root of the problem.

What is in your favourite smoothie?

Make an appt today to discuss this further.

📍118 Church Street
Warkworth, ON K0K 3K0

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