Dr. Lisa Watson

Eggs are a common food allergy Food allergy testing is one of the tools Naturopathic Doctors use to assess health in our patients.  In Naturopathic Medicine our goal is to find the cause of symptoms of illness and disease.  In some people the cause is the food we eat, and a sensitivity or allergy to those foods.  In this article I will answer some of the most common questions people have regarding food allergy testing. I would know if I had ...

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) or “multiple ovarian cysts” affect many teenage girls and adult women.   PCOS often begins shortly after puberty and can persist for years.  It can be a frustrating, and sometimes painful condition.  It can also make becoming pregnant difficult.  However, there are natural treatment options available that are safe and effective even for teenaged girls. What are ovarian cysts? Ovarian cysts are formed w...

Fever is a natural defence mechanism that our body uses to fight off viral and bacterial infections.  Increasing the body’s temperature allows our immune system to function optimally and makes it difficult for viruses and bacteria to replicate. In an adult the level of fever generally corresponds to the severity of the illness causing it.  This is not necessarily the case in children.  In a newborn the body’s temperature control mechani...

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again – every pregnancy is different.  And so too is the post-natal period, or months following the delivery of your baby.  My son was born at the end of September and in the weeks since then I’ve developed a troubling new symptom – biliary colic or “gallstone attacks”. What is the gallbladder? The gallbladder is a small pear-shaped organ that sits next to the liver.  It’s main function is ...

Essential fatty acids are just that – essential.  Our body can produce most of the fats it needs (such as cholesterol, saturated and unsaturated fatty acids), however it can not produce omega-3 or omega-6 fatty acids.  This makes them essential to consume in our diet. Omega-6 fatty acids are found in the oils of seeds and grains, such as sunflower, safflower, soy and corn oils.   The average North American tends to consume adequate amounts...

Obviously my favourite use for tea is as a delicious health-promoting beverage, but I love finding new ways to incorporate tea into my life.  I scoured the internet to find other uses for tea – either loose tea leaves, new or used tea bags.  I was amazed at the versatility of tea – just another reason to love it! Around the house 1. Deodorize fridges: Place loose black tea leaves or used tea bags in the fridge to absorb odours. 2. Spice up...

As every pregnant woman approaches the last weeks of pregnancy they can’t help but start thinking of ways to bring on labour and get the chance to meet their baby sooner. A pregnancy is considered full term at 37 weeks and the techniques discussed in this article should not be started until after this point.  Some women choose to wait until 40 weeks, or their due date to begin trying to naturally induce labour. Below are suggestions for natur...

As one of my RMT friends prepares to embark on her yearly journey to Burning Man she asked if I could prepare a list of natural first aid supplies to support her during her time in the Nevada desert.  This is that list – supplies for general first aid, for digestive health, headaches and more. What is Burning Man? Once a year, tens of thousands of participants gather in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert to create Black Rock City, dedicated to ...

As a mother to a pre-schooler, a pregnant woman and a Naturopathic Doctor when I venture out of Toronto into the great outdoors (or even out into our backyard!) I am very mindful of avoiding pesky insects – and also avoiding poisonous insect repellents! The most common ingredient used in commercial insect repellents is DEET (N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide) – a solvent that is not recommended for use in children under 12 years of age or in pregna...

Every pregnancy is different.  Sometimes VERY different!  When I was pregnant with my first child I had few symptoms (aside from some swelling in my third trimester) and felt vital and healthy for the entire 9 months.  This time around, things are different – and uncomfortable!  I have been having heartburn. What is heartburn? Heartburn (also known as indigestion, acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease – GERD) is a burning se...