Category

Vitamins

WE HEAR YOU

By | Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy, Diets, Lifestyle, Our Practice, Sex, Vitamins

Real listening is the art of hearing between the spoken words.

At The Balanced Woman in Ardmore, PA we feel that actual listening involves using one’s eyes, knowledge and intuition as well as one’s ears. When a patient describes their discomfort and malaise, the staff at The Balanced Woman assesses the overall appearance of the patient, as well as hears their description of symptoms. By getting the whole picture of the patient’s condition, our physicians can intuitively evaluate the problem and apply their years of experience and knowledge to offer a treatment.

This type of listening is particularly required in instances of gynecological and hormonal issues. There could be a variety of symptoms present, such as weight gain, weight loss, fatigue, anxiety and low libido.

Physicians are trained to get results. In emergency situations a physician is trained to move quickly and decisively to help and, in many cases, save a patient. Staying calm under pressure while making the correct split-second decisions, based upon years of training, can often be a matter of life and death. The physician needs to assess the patient’s condition and take the appropriate measures to gain control of the problem. This leaves very little time or room for any type of discussion. Physicians are trained to act. If there is a problem the doctor does their best to find a solution.

Fortunately, not all interactions with a physician are in emergency situations. Most trips to the doctor are fairly routine checkups. Regardless of how ordinary the visit may be, physicians are still trained to identify problems and deliver a result. Most of the time these are easy fixes to such standard symptoms as high blood pressure, excessive weight gain or high cholesterol. Pharmaceuticals can be prescribed to remedy the problem and maybe a quick chat between doctor and patient about diet and foods to avoid. The visit is brief; a resolution is attained and the doctor can move on to the next patient.

To be fair, the doctor doesn’t necessarily lack compassion for the patient. Many hospitals and big medical practices try to discourage lengthy visits since most insurance companies pay for procedures and result oriented visits, but not consultations. This approach leaves very little time for doctor/patient dialogue, which makes it difficult to get to the root of the problem rather than just treating the obvious symptom. Treating a patient and bringing them relief is a good thing, but it’s only a part of the equation. With an integrative or holistic approach to healthcare it’s possible to not only treat the symptom, but to also understand and eradicate the underlying cause of the symptom. This approach involves listening to the patient and really hearing them.

Many patients come to me at my medical practice in Ardmore, PA for relief of symptoms due to menopause and hormonal imbalance. One of the most common complaints that I receive from them is that their previous doctor didn’t hear them or was dismissive of their complaints, while offering stress relieving medication. My patients have reported how their other doctors would wave off their complaints as being, “that time of life” while telling them “they just have to live with it.” Fortunately, woman don’t have to suffer symptoms due to menopause and hormone imbalance and there are ways to relieve the symptoms, but there is not a one size fits all solution or pill.

Many of The Balanced Woman’s patients express great relief that they have finally found a practice and a doctor who is really hears them and addresses their complaints. While menopause and hormone related issues do not require emergency medicine, hormonal imbalance can be the cause of great stress and anxiety as well as physical discomfort. In some cases, the symptoms might be a sign of more serious issues which need to be addressed. Therefore, as important as it is to be able to offer fast relief for symptoms, it is vital to have a conversation with the patient and that the patient is properly heard.

We realize that truly hearing the patient often takes more time and at The Balanced Woman the patients not only get the required time, but often receive follow up calls from the doctor as well. We understand that having and maintaining good health is complicated and we take our patients’ gynecological and hormonal issues seriously. As stated, The Balanced Woman is committed to treating the whole patient and not just the individual symptoms that are expressed.

By properly hearing the patient we try to evaluate and focus in on the underlying problem, rather than just prescribing a quick fix or by ordering unnecessary tests. We feel that caring for patients correctly starts with properly hearing them. Call us, we’re listening and we hear you.

Get the relief you need today. MAKE AN APPOINTMENT

An Easy Shopping Guide: Essential Vitamins and Nutrients that Should be in Your Cabinet

By | Vitamins


With so many vitamins out there, it’s tough deciphering which ones are right for you. 

Vitamins are an essential part of our diets. It is with certain compounds and nutrients that our bodies are able to operate at their optimal levels. With so many vitamins out there, it’s tough deciphering which are the right kind for you. To get you started, we’ve created an easy shopping guide with handpicked favorites from the specialists at The Balanced Woman

Vitamin B


B Vitamins are vital in many aspects of health, especially for women. Many men and women are often deficient in B vitamins. Vitamin B can enhance energy levels and elevate your mood. In addition to helping cognitive function, B vitamins promote cellular health and immune support. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding are at risk of having depleted levels of Vitamin B which are crucial to the growing baby and new mother. The supplement is also especially important for those who are vegetarian or vegan.

Vitamin C


This is likely the vitamin that is most familiar to most. Vitamin C is an antioxidant which means that it can help stabilize free radicals which can be damaging on the cellular level. Vitamin C is a powerful supplement that will improve the immune system, repair wounds and collagen along with promoting bone, teeth, and cartilage health. Taking Vitamin C daily can greatly improve your state of health while boosting energy levels. We recommend a regular dosage of 1000 mg to receive the best results.

In addition to capsules, one of our favorite products is a Vitamin C spray for the face. Again, C promotes healthy collagen and protects from free radicals. Topical use of the supplement has multiple skin benefits. Because of this, you will often see it in the ingredients of skin products.

Multi-Vitamin


Multi Vitamins can be deceiving. Not all of them carry high enough levels of the compounds that our bodies need. They are, however, the easiest fix when looking for a way to condense your minerals into one dose. We found that GNC has a great brand known as MEGA for both men and women.

Magnesium


We love Magnesium. As one of mine and my daughter’s favorites, it helps relieve many PMS symptoms while playing an important role in many other departments. Not only does magnesium help repair our DNA, but it also absorbs heavy metals, enhances performance levels in exercise, works as an anti-inflammatory, and can help with heart palpitation too. Amongst many other benefits, we strongly encourage almost everyone to take a daily dosage of magnesium. Many of these vitamins, such as the one we recommended here can also be purchased from fullscript.com. You can call or email The Balanced Woman for purchasing details and to save money on your order. If you’re interested in learning more, this blog will give you a ton of information on Magnesium’s benefits.

Vitamin E


Vitamin E promotes healthy skin, hair and nail growth while also providing many other health benefits. Alongside with immune support, Vitamin E can also aid in the prevention of inflammation while lowering risks for cancer and boosting our body’s essential functions such as eye sight. One blend that we particularly like is lifextension brand.

Fish Oil


Another supplement we love is Fish Oil. Great for arthritis and joints, it also is wonderful for hair, skin, and nail health. Fish has a ton of nutritional properties that are wonderful for our bodies. If you are vegan or vegetarian or someone who simply just doesn’t like fish, this is something we’d highly recommend for you.

Ashgawada


This is another great supplement and can work wonders for people with anxiety. As a natural relaxant, Ashgawada – also known as Indian Ginseng – has calming properties but will also induce a sustainable increase in energy levels for those who take it on a regular basis. Known to help both depression, stress and anxiety, it is known to reduce cortisol levels in the body. In addition the herb supplement can also aid in lowering cholesterol and inflammation while improving cognitive and memory function amongst many other benefits.

St Johns Wort


This is another miracle supplement for those suffering from mild cases of depression and anxiety. This natural antidepressant is especially useful for PMS and for adolescent women or those undergoing hormonal changes. Enhancing energy levels, it also provides antibacterial and antiviral properties. It was my go-to care-package item for my daughter when she was at college!

 

Tumeric


Tumeric is the “IT” supplement today. Largely due to the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that it generates, it has been tied to a variety of health benefits. The tricky thing with Tumeric is that it doesn’t absorb in our bloodstream easily so many products out there are selling you something that is not properly binding to your body and doing the job it’s being sold to do. Be careful when you buy Tumeric and definitely do your research on this topic. We suggest always looking at the ingredients and making sure that there is black pepper in the compound, which will help assist the absorption of its properties.

Zinc


Zinc is such an important nutrient to our bodies and since we are unable to produce or retain it naturally, we often are lacking it from our system. It is an essential part of our diet and is fundamental to our DNA, contributing to healthy cell function. Zinc is crucial to the metabolism and the digestive system. It aids in the healing wounds and improve immunity. It has also been known to help with acne and mental function.

CBD Oil


Another favorite of ours, and an area that has become increasingly more popular in recent years, is CBD oil and supplements. CBD is known for contributing to a variety of health needs. Reducing inflammation, inhibiting cancer cell growth, relieving pain, promoting bone growth, aiding in sleep, soothing nausea and anxiety, and slowing bacteria growth are all major benefits that this natural supplement has to offer. Finding the right kind can be overwhelming seeing that there are so many out there. One of our picks is Canbiola. The Balanced Woman also sells these products, along with a variety of others. For better rates, call our office or inquire for more information next time you stop in.

Before beginning a vitamin or supplement regimen, it is beneficial to speak with a specialist to discuss the best options for you and your body’s needs. Often times, tests will be conducted to observe specific deficiencies within a certain individual. Speaking with your doctor about your daily lifestyle will help target your specific areas of concern to outline what is missing. Introducing daily supplements that the body requires, and may lack, can better enhance your everyday routines, relationships and general health. 

The Balanced Woman offers in-depth counseling on vitamins and nutritional health. Dr. Lambert, a board-certified GYN doctor, and her team of integrative and holistic medical specialists are readily available to speak with you to uncover the best solutions for your body’s needs.

Often, it is the simple changes that make the biggest impact!

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