Acidosis

The equilibrium of the human body is regulated with more precision than a Swiss watch. If your body's pH level* is out of balance, it can be a key factor in developing health problems or simply prevent it from performing at its full capacity.

Acne

Acne is an inflammatory disease of the pilosebaceous follicle. Contributing factors include an oversecretion of sebum and androgens (hormones), as well as bacterial colonization of the follicles.

Allergies

An allergy is an abnormal or excessive immune system reaction generated by contact with a substance that is generally foreign to the body. A substance that triggers an immune response is called an antigen, but the term "allergen" is also used in the case of an allergy.

Alzheimer's Disease (early stage)

Alzheimer's disease is an incurable neurodegenerative disease (i.e. the progressive loss of neurons) of the cerebral tissue, which leads to progressive and irreversible loss of mental functions, particularly the memory. It is the most common form of dementia in humans. The disease was first identified by German psychiatrist Alois Alzheimer in 1906.

Amenorrhea

Amenorrhea is the absence of a menstrual period in post puberty, non menopaused women. It is of course most frequently due to pregnancy. In other cases, it can be the only symptom of a pathology or one of many other symptoms.

Andropause

Andropause is a biological phenomenon similar to menopause in women, which can affect men between the ages of 40 and 55. Both disorders are characterized by a drop in hormone levels: estrogen in women and testosterone in men. Bodily changes are very gradual in men, and may be accompanied by changes in attitude and mood, fatigue, and loss of energy, sexual desire and physical agility.

Angina

Angina (from the Latin angina or angor pectoris, meaning "a strangling feeling in the chest"), is a cardiac symptom characterized by chest pain caused by oxygen deprivation in the heart muscle. It is most often due to reduced blood flow to the coronary artery (i.e. coronary stenosis). This lack of oxygen to the heart is called myocardial ischemia.

Anxiety

Anxiety is a psychological and physiological state characterized by somatic, emotional, cognitive and behavioural components. In the absence or presence of psychological stress, anxiety can create feelings of fear, worry and uneasiness. Anxiety is considered a normal reaction to stressful situations. However, if it becomes excessive, it can be classified as an "anxiety disorder."

Arthritis

Arthritis is a disease that affects the joints. It is also known as chronic degenerative joint disease. Arthritis is characterized by mechanical, diurnal pain and difficulty moving one's joints. The cartilage surface surrounding the joints cracks and erodes, eventually disappearing. Abnormal bone growth then occurs, hindering joint movement.

Arthritis

Arthritis is a vast category covering a dozen disorders, the most common of which are rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatism and gout.

Asthma

Asthma (from the Greek (ásthma), via the Latin asthma, meaning "panting") is a respiratory disease affecting the lower airways, particularly the bronchioles, and is characterized by respiratory difficulty when exhaling.

Bloating

There are different causes of intestinal bloating. Tympanites is abdominal bloating due to excess digestive gas. Bloating can also be caused by food intolerances (see our article on Food Allergies), bacterial or fungal fermentation, or an inflammation due to gastrointestinal trauma.

Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is characterized by a malignant tumour in the mammary gland. In other words, it originates in the ducto/lobular cells of the breast, which are the milk-producing cells, and occurs predominantly in women (it occurs 200 times less often in men, who also have breasts, though they are much smaller).

Bursitis

Hygroma or bursitis is an inflammation of one or several bursae. A bursa is a small sac containing synovial fluid, which facilitates joint movements and the sliding of organs connected to the joints (e.g. muscles and tendons). Tendinitis is a painful tendon disorder caused by trauma, which triggers inflammation.

Cancer (general)

Cancer is a disease characterized by significant abnormal cell growth in the body's normal tissue, such that it threatens the tissue's survival. These cells are all derived from the same cancer-causing cell, which acquires certain characteristics enabling it to divide itself indefinitely. Over the course of the disease, cells can migrate from their production site and form metastases.

Candidiasis

Candidiasis is a fungal infection caused by Candida yeast. It can designate a range of pathological symptoms caused by these yeast-form fungi. Candida albicans, the most common species, is part of the normal flora of the oropharynx or digestive tract and traces of it can also be found in the normal vaginal flora.

Cardiomyopathy

Cardiomyopathy or myocardiopathy (literally "heart muscle disease") covers a variety of diseases which cause the myocardium, or heart muscle, to malfunction. Cardiomyopathy generally refers to diseases affecting the heart muscle.

Cardiovascular Disease

Cardiovascular disease involves the heart and blood flow. In the West, the most common cardiovascular disease is coronary artery disease, which is responsible for angina pectoris and infarctions.

Cellulitis

Cellulitis, or superficial lipodystrophy, is a cluster of fat or waste under the skin. Scientifically known as edematous fibrosclerotic panniculopathy, this disorder refers to several advanced stages of cellulite.

Colitis

Colitis is a chronic inflammation of the digestive tract, affecting primarily the colon and rectal membranes. Damage that can lead to colitis may be due to an overly acidic system, food intolerances (see our article on Food Allergies), a lack of reparative substances, such as amino glycans, or excess dietary sugars.

Constipation

Constipation (from the Latin constipation, meaning "crowding together") is characterized by difficulty defecating. Stools are generally hard and small in size.

Crohn's Disease

Crohn's disease is characterized by chronic inflammation of the intestine often caused by an auto-immune reaction.It can affect one or several areas of the digestive tract (most commonly the colon, a section of the small intestine and/or the anus). It progresses in spurts, alternating with remission phases (i.e. the disappearance of clinical symptoms of the disease).

Cyst

A cyst is a closed sac, having a distinct membrane, which develops abnormally in a cavity or structure of the body. It may contain air, fluids or other materials, including encysted parasites.

Cystitis

Cystitis is characterized by an inflammation of the bladder. It is most often caused by bacteria (i.e. coliforms, or fungi naturally found in the intestine), but may also be the result of a toxic agent from anti-cancer drugs or radiation therapy. Cystitis frequently affects women, as the female body has a short urethra, which increases the risk of a urinary infection.

Depression

Depression (from the Latin depression, meaning "sinking"), also known as unipolar depression, a major depressive episode, or recurrent depression in the case of repeated episodes, is a mental disorder. In psychiatry, it is characterized by low mood, accompanied by low self-esteem and a loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities. Other symptoms include negative thoughts, suicidal tendencies, insomnia, fatigue, loss of appetite, anxiety or worry and, in rare but extreme cases, hallucinations.

Dermatitis

The skin is an emunctory, or an elimination organ. That is why naturopaths have always recommended elimination diets to patients suffering from eczema. Eczema and psoriasis can also be caused by acidosis, nutritional deficiencies (e.g. vitamin A, zinc or magnesium), food intolerances (see our article on Food Allergies), or difficulty metabolizing fatty acids, in the case of atopic eczema.

Dysmenorrhea

Cyclical pain associated with menstruation. Primary dysmenorrhea, which appears in adolescence and tapers off or disappears by one's first pregnancy, is often due to nutritional factors or the liver's ability to efficiently eliminate estrogen. Dysmenorrhea is often linked to endometriosis, in which tissue from the uterine lining appears outside its normal location.

Endometriosis

The presence of endometrial tissue (from the uterine lining) outside the uterine cavity. The most common locations are the ovaries, the posterior broad ligament and the recto-uterine pouch. The likely cause is the reflux of endometrial cells by the Fallopian tubes during menstruation.

Fatigue

Fatigue is a feeling of physical or mental weakness while you are awake or following exertion, which causes you to stop. Normal physical fatigue is reversible with rest, which restores the body's normal performance levels. Mental fatigue is characterized by a loss of attention or concentration.

Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia, or idiopathic diffuse polyalgia syndrome, is characterized by chronic muscle pain (diffuse myalgias), either widespread or localized in particular areas of the body, which manifests itself as painful to the touch or persistent fatigue and can lead to invalidity. It is often accompanied by depression and insomnia.

Headache

A cephalalgia, or a headache, is a subjective symptom defined as pain felt near the cranium, either on one side or all over. Migraine is a disorder characterized by recurring headaches, sometimes accompanied by vision or digestion problems. There is often a genetic predisposition involved.

Hepatitis (viral and non-viral)

An inflammation of the liver, a complication of acute and often massive alcoholic intoxication. It often occurs in association with hepatosteatosis (i.e. the accumulation of fatty acids in liver cells, known as fatty liver). In some cases, excess sugar consumption and high levels of cortisol, a stress hormone, can also cause symptoms of alcoholic hepatitis, even if alcohol has not been consumed.

Herpes Virus

Infection by the Herpes simplex virus, most often type 2 (HSV-2), which affects the lower part of the body, primarily the genitals. Contamination occurs through contact with an infected person, either from mother to newborn or through sexual contact (STD).

High Cholesterol

The term hypercholesterolemia (literally "high cholesterolemia") means a high level of cholesterol in the blood as compared to a healthy level. It isn't a disease in itself, but rather a metabolic problem, i.e. a deviation from the norm.

Hypertension

Hypertension is a cardiovascular pathology characterized by elevated blood pressure in the arteries. It is often due to multiple factors and can be acute or chronic, with or without signs of severity.

Hyperthyroidism

An overactive thyroid with excess hormone production. Causes include Graves' disease, a toxic nodule, iodine intake, thyroiditis, auto-immune disease (such as Hashimoto's thryroiditis), pregnancy, chronic stress and pituitary disorders.

Hypoglycemia

A drop in blood glucose to below 0.50 g/L (2.75 mmol/L). The most common causes are diabetes, alcohol consumption, high sugar intake, insufficient protein intake, stress, drugs, and functional hypoglycemia.

Hypothyroidism

Insufficient hormonal secretion by the thyroid gland, which slows down the body's entire metabolism. Hypothyroidism can have several causes, but the predominant one appears to be the cumulative effect of stress on the body. One researcher even suggests that this condition be treated by helping the stress glands rather than through hormone replacement therapy.

Infertility

Infertility has become a pandemic. More and more couples are turning to artificial fertilization due to fertility problems. Researchers have uncovered two key reasons for this phenomenon. Substances that mimic estrogen, called xenoestrogens, are in our environment and in our food, which affect fertility in both men and women. Others have pointed out that continuous stress and nutritional deficiencies may also play a major role.

Inflammation

An inflammation is a stereotypical immune system defense response to an attack, such as an infection, a burn, an allergy or a micro-organism.

Influenza

An acute, infectious disease caused by a virus from the myxovirus family with high antigenic variability. It is transmitted through the respiratory tract and has an incubation period of 1.4 days.

Insomnia

Insomnia is most often defined as having difficulty sleeping. The term was coined in the 16th century and is based on the Latin word insomnis, which literally means "sleepless."

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

In medicine, irritable bowel syndrome (also called functional bowel disorder or functional colonopathy) covers a group of conditions affecting the colon and, in some cases, the small intestine. It is an extremely common disorder.

Lymphatic Congestion

The lymphatic system is a one-way circulatory network made up of lymphatic vessels (called the lymphatic network), which originate in the body's tissues and extend to the lymph nodes, enabling circulation and cleansing of the lymph and, to some extent, the decomposition of insoluble particles.

Memory Loss

Loss of memory and concentration is a growing phenomenon in today's society, which can be explained by several factors. First, we are always "on," meaning that as long as we are awake, we no longer seem capable of stopping. The second factor, which stems from the first, is the increase of constant stress. Hypoglycemia also plays a key role. Finally, a lack of oxygen and certain nutritional deficiencies can worsen this phenomenon.

Menopause

Menopause (from the Greek men (month) and pausis (cessation)), also called "the climacteric," is the cessation of menstrual periods. During menopause, women have insufficient ovarian follicles, either because they were used during the ovarian cycle or because they degenerated during follicular atresia. It is divided into several stages: perimenopause (a period of irregular menstrual cycles preceding menopause and the cessation of periods during the year following it) and postmenopause (confirmed menopause).

Metabolic Syndrome

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) covers a series of health problems, each of which involve poor metabolism and, particularly, insulin resistance.

Muscle Cramps

Muscle cramps can occur during rest, often during sleep, or following a voluntary contraction of a muscle that has been shortened to its maximum capacity. They can also be triggered by stress. Muscle cramps often subside, either spontaneously or gradually, by stretching the muscle in question.

Myocardial Infarction

An infarction is characterized by the sudden, massive death of cells (irreversible necrosis of part of an organ) due to a lack of oxygen. The most common type of infarction is myocardial infarction (IM), i.e. an infarction of the heart muscle.

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is characterized by excessive fragility of the skeleton due to decreased bone mass and a change in the "architecture" of the bones. The phase preceding osteoporosis is called osteopenia.

Overweight

A person is considered overweight if he or she has a body mass index of between 25 and 30. Obesity is a condition in which an individual is carrying excess weight in the form of body fat. Obesity is defined as a body mass index of above 30.

Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson's disease is a degenerative, chronic neurological disease (the gradual loss of neurons), which affects the central nervous system and gradually disrupts essential motor functions.

Pregnancy

Pregnancy of course is not a disorder. It is a normal physiological process, during which a woman's living offspring develops within her body, lasting from conception until the baby can survive outside the womb. A woman in this state is said to be pregnant or gravid.

Premenstrual Syndrome

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a disorder that occurs in certain women during the days preceding menstruation. It is characterized by noticeable weight gain due to excessive water and sodium retention, painful swelling of the breasts, headaches, a feeling of heaviness in the legs, skin rashes or acne, as well as behavioural symptoms, such as nervousness, anxiety, aggressiveness, emotionality and depression. The syndrome's complex pathogenesis involves various hormones, such as estrogen, progesterone, prolactin and, likely melatonin.

Prostate

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), is characterized by a benign tumour that develops in the prostate. It generally affects men over 50.

Raynaud's Disease

Raynaud's disease is a condition affecting blood flow to the extremities, such as the fingers, toes, nose and ears, particularly when exposed to temperature changes or stress.

Respiratory Inflammation

Respiratory inflammation may be caused by bacteria, a respiratory allergy or an environmental irritant. Any of these causes can trigger an inflammation in the area where it is located.

Smoking Cessation

Smoking cessation is the process of breaking a tobacco addiction, or the desire to do so. In 1975, the World Health Organization defined tobacco addiction as being established when a person consumes tobacco every day, even just once a day.

Stress

Stress (from the Old French word destresse) is a combination of responses by organisms when facing pressure or constraints in their environment. In current language, we talk about good stress (eustress) or bad stress (distress).

Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)

Tinnitus is an auditory sensation that is unrelated to a sound generated by a vibration outside the body and is inaudible to others. The sound may resemble a buzzing, whistling or even ringing in one's head or in one or both ears.

Tooth Decay

Tooth decay, or a cavity, is an infectious tooth disease or a lesion of the enamel, dentin and/or cementum. Its main contributing factor is sugar consumption, particularly between meals, acids and nutritional deficiencies.

Type II Diabetes

Type II diabetes, or noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), also known as insulin-resistant diabetes, adult-onset diabetes or acquired diabetes, is a metabolic disorder affecting blood sugar regulation and resulting in diabetes mellitus (high blood sugar).

Uterine Blood

A uterine leiomyoma (also called a uterine fibroid or fibromyoma) is an estrogen-dependant myoma (a benign tumour from muscle tissue) affecting the uterus.

Wrinkles

A wrinkle is a fold in the surface of a solid object, generally consisting of a thin, rigid layer on the surface, and a softer layer below. The development of wrinkles is a normal phenomenon that occurs with aging. However, numerous studies have shown that in most people, particularly women, this process often occurs prematurely.