What is melatonin? Melatonin is a hormone that helps control our sleep-wake cycle. It is made by the pineal gland, a small gland in the brain. Normally, melatonin levels begin to rise during mid- to late evening, stay high for most of the night, and then decrease in the early morning. As we age, melatonin levelsContinue reading “Can I take melatonin for jet lag or insomnia?”
Category Archives: Hormonal (Endocrine) Imbalances
Harvard: environmental chemicals linked to brain disorders (ADHD, autism, dyslexia, etc.)
The recent increase in childhood neurodevelopmental delays and disabilities may be triggered by toxic chemicals in our environment, according to a new study released by Harvard School of Public Health and Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. The study, released a few weeks ago online in Lancet Neurology, indicates that children’s exposure to certain chemicals, includingContinue reading “Harvard: environmental chemicals linked to brain disorders (ADHD, autism, dyslexia, etc.)”
Five worst ingredients in food
Buying processed food may be more convenient than making wholesome meals from scratch, but are you aware of the hidden ingredients lurking in foods that may wreak havoc on your health? There are literally thousands of food additives out there, and a lot of them are at the root of many health problems. Here areContinue reading “Five worst ingredients in food”
Autism (and other health conditions) linked to the gut?
New research published in December 2013’s Cell has revealed a possible link between the symptoms of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and the gut. Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition often marked by decreased social interaction or impaired social skills. Researchers have found that changes in gut bacteria affected autism-like behaviour in mice. Many of the behavioural abnormalities, including anxiety-likeContinue reading “Autism (and other health conditions) linked to the gut?”
Happy new year? Understanding depression and what you can do about it
The promise of a new year brings optimism and hope to many, but throws others into abject misery. Whether or not you’re aware, someone you know is suffering from depression. Depression is a common but serious illness. People with depression (also known as clinical depression, major depression or major depressive disorder) find that their state interferes with daily life. DepressedContinue reading “Happy new year? Understanding depression and what you can do about it”
Hair loss: possible causes and what you can do about it
Your hair doesn’t just affect your looks- it’s also often an indicator of your health. The average person loses 50 to 100 hairs a day as part of the normal hair growth cycle, and with around 100,000 hairs on your head, this amount of hair loss should not be noticeable. Noticeable hair loss or thinningContinue reading “Hair loss: possible causes and what you can do about it”
Birth control pills Yasmin, Yaz linked to blood clots, strokes, death: 11,000+ lawsuits
Close to 12,000 lawsuits have been filed against the maker of oral contraceptives, Yasmin and Yaz. These drugs have been found to increase the risk of blood clots that can lead to heart attacks, strokes and death. As of July 31, 2012, Bayer, the maker of these oral contraceptives, has paid more than US$402 million inContinue reading “Birth control pills Yasmin, Yaz linked to blood clots, strokes, death: 11,000+ lawsuits”
(Anti) aging naturally- part 1
Earlier this month, 4 women in Hong Kong ended up in the hospital with septic shock following a beauty treatment that involved blood transfusions, and 1 of them has since succumbed. I’ve had 20-something-year-old patients confessing to regular botox injections and others coming to me to lose another 10 pounds when they are already stick-thin.Continue reading “(Anti) aging naturally- part 1”
Plastic spill on beaches- Hong Kong government criticized
Activists on Saturday revealed that hundreds of millions of potentially toxic plastic pellets from containers have washed up on Hong Kong beaches where they lay for almost 2 weeks. These plastic pellets were knocked off from a vessel during Hong Kong’s worst typhoon in 13 years on July 23rd/ 24th, 2012. 150 tonnes of theContinue reading “Plastic spill on beaches- Hong Kong government criticized”
You, your developing baby and environmental toxins to avoid
Preconception and prenatal exposure to environmental toxins can have a detrimental impact on fetal development and lead to potentially long-lasting health effects. Though the evidence is mounting, the majority of reproductive health professionals have little training on how to effectively counsel patients in this regard. Seattle Children’s Research Institute’s Sheela Sathyanarayana, MD, MPH, and herContinue reading “You, your developing baby and environmental toxins to avoid”
Dr. Ardyce Yik ND 