Newsletter January 2018

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Newsletter January 2018

Greetings!

Eight years ago this week we opened our doors for the first week at HNNH. Because we have the time off, and the timing coinciding, I always like to use the break and the beginning of the year to look back on what we’ve accomplished, what we had hoped to accomplish, and how we can continue to improve over the next year.

It’s been a wonderful year, and we are continually grateful for the community we have, and the opportunity to share in each other's lives as we all continue on this journey of health and healing.

Some highlights -

At the end of last year we received notice that we had been selected for the 2017 Best of Portsmouth Award in the Ambulatory Health Care Services category .

This followed the awards in 2016 for Dr Bier as Leading Provider Alternative/Complementary Medicine - 2016 Top Doctors Readers' Poll New Hampshire Magazine, and as one of the top Acupuncture practices .

None of these did we apply for, nor we were even aware of until we received notice. As patient initiated recognition, they mean even more to us.

Thank you for believing in and recognizing what we do - you keep nominating us, and we will strive to continue to deserve it.

Award Winning Care

Our New Resident - Dr Dragg

HNNH is very excited to now be affiliated with National University of Naturopathic Medicine as a residency site. This is a wonderful opportunity for us to teach our method of practice by helping train the next generation of Naturopathic Doctors.

Many of you have already met Dr. Dragg who will be with us for a 2-year residency.

FIT Test for Colon Cancer Screening

As a practice focused on both comprehensive health care and Naturopathic oncology, one of our primary goals is the prevention of cancer. Screening for cancer is a very controversial topic as many of the standard screening lead to overdiagnosis and harm more than they benefit.

Colon cancer is one that screening clearly does benefit and everyone should do. However many people are hesitant to get colonoscopies. Fortunately, the good old fashioned Fecal immunochemical ( FIT) test that screens for blood in the stool is widely and easily available and effective. A new study from Taiwan showed a 7.4% reduction in deaths from colorectal cancer by screening. It doesn't replace other screening, but is a good adjunct.

An opposed to years ago when you had to go to the doctors to do it, I got mine online for under $25. Happy to say it was negative, and I will make checking a yearly habit.

FIu Season is Here!

The seasonal flu is making headlines more than usual this year as a particularly nasty strain is hitting people very hard. The question invariably arises as to whether people should vaccinate.

The Cochrane Collaboration, probably the preeminent group of evidence based medicine researchers, did an assessment of the effectiveness of the influenza vaccine showing that although it did reduce symptoms for about 1 out of 70 people who get it, it doesn’t reduce hospitalizations or even lost work days. This year’s vaccine is also substantially less effective than even in average years, with estimates at 10% , so although this is a bad season with more people getting significantly ill, vaccinating is unlikely to change that.

Another important piece of information came from a study after the 2009 swine flu. Researchers found that people who got a regular flu shot actually approximately doubled their risk of getting the swine flu and needing medical attention.

From a naturopathic perspective, it makes perfect sense as the immune system is not getting the ‘work-out’ that it normally would from being exposed and having to fight off a virus. It may be unpleasant, and we have options to help, but in the long term, getting exposed naturally may protect you more than the vaccination.

As always, if you have any direct questions about your care, please call, fax, or email us .

In Health,

Dr Bier & the Staff of

Human Nature Natural Health

www.humannaturenaturalhealth.com