Linden & Arc Vitality Institute is a place for transformation, learning, growing, and change! We are a sanctuary where souls align, minds unpack, vitality emerges, and science rules. We refuse to settle for the status quo instead, we push for what is right and what is effective when it comes to your health.

 

Named after the healing powers of the Linden tree, our Functional Medicine Practice is ready to help you:

 

RECLAIM your health,

OVERCOME your pain,

CELEBRATE your body,

& EMBRACE your wellness.

 

At Linden & Arc we are continuously learning and adapting to gain greater insight into the mind, body, and spirit connection. Dr. Murfin and her team treat patients with a root cause philosophy. When paired with our patient centered care, individuals are given the ability to achieve the highest level of health and well-being. 

 

Meet Your Physician

 

Dr. Lynne Murfin

Founder, Medical Director, Physician

MBChB LMCC CCFP ABAARM FAARM IFMCP

Linden & Arc Arc Vitality Institute's Founder Dr. Lynne Murfin

“Passionate science coupled with transformative care has always been my driver. There is nothing more fulfilling than being able to change the arc of a patient’s life.” – Dr. Lynne Murfin

 

Dr. Lynne Murfin has gained strength, and deep understanding, and built a vast knowledge of Functional Medicine over 34 years of practice. She has found great success achieving healing results in her practice at Lynne Murfin MD, renamed as Linden & Arc Vitality Institute in 2021.

 

Dr. Murfin talks often of how moments in our lives may be defining ones. For examples, the damp, musty basement you used to live in, that spider bite years ago, or eating certain seafood on that Caribbean cruise could be the reason for the downward spiral in a patients health. Over years, these events can manifest as fatigue, chronic pain, and other deliberating symptoms. These symptoms can be remedied with relatively straightforward interventions.

 

The knowledge that the body is a biological system, and everything is connected, is how we transform Medicine from treating symptoms to uncovering and treating the root causes. Often, it’s the system interface of Gut-Brain-Immune needing review. Something as simple as an undetected food allergy can create havoc in the permeability of the gut lining with immune system upregulation in the gut.  This eventually culminates in blood brain barrier permeability with constipation and bloating. It is then accompanied by brain fog, memory loss and headache. This too can be addressed and healed.

 

The same symptoms often have different root causes and so treatment cannot be one size fits all.  For example, if you have a headache there are multiple possible root causes such as nutrient depletion (e.g. low magnesium and low coenzyme Q10) or possible gut symptoms. Taking Tylenol or Advil is a bandaid for the larger issues rather than addressing the root cause. Dr. Murfin can help you get down to the root cause of your issues.

 

Dr. Murfin and her team are here to help those who are tired of battling persistent health challenges while struggling to get the medical support and treatment they need. Dr. Murfin believes that everyone deserves the highest level of well-being and will stop at nothing to heal her patients.

 

Contact Linden & Arc Vitality Institute

 

At Linden & Arc Vitality Institute we are here to break the cycle of unnecessary suffering with pro-active treatments that will improve your quality of life.  It is time you found freedom from pain, fatigue, memory loss, illness, and depression! Our Calgary, Alberta-based clinic offers Functional Medicine Physician Services, Health Coaching, and Massage Therapy. If you are struggling with persistent health challenges contact us HERE and we will guide you through what Linden & Arc Vitality Institute has to offer you.

Functional Medicine is a nebulous and ill-defined term these days. There are so many different practitioners touting themselves as “Functional Medicine practitioners.” They are providing such a variety of care that it can be difficult for one to discern what the practice is comprised of. Here at Linden & Arc Vitality Institute, Dr. Murfin is a trained MD who has received dedicated Functional Medicine training beyond innumerable years of medical training.

 

From our perspective, we see Functional Medicine as a patient-centered, holistic approach to health care. It aims to treat a patient’s entire being by balancing their mind, body, and spirit. Our bodies are comprised of numerous incredibly complicated interconnected systems that impact one another. Functional Medicine addresses each system in concert to achieve and maintain optimal health. Given current evidence and understanding, we aim to strike as close to the heart of an issue as possible, rather than just continually masking symptoms.

 

Functional Medicine  clinics  provide integrated care based on assessments of your body’s key biological functions, social circumstances, and evidence-based treatments. With precision testing and individualized programming, extraordinary things begin to happen to your mind, body, and spirit. This is your first step toward a happier, healthier, more vigorous you.

 

Linden & Arc Vitality Institute’s Approach to Functional Medicine:

 

At Linden & Arc Vitality Institute, our emphasis is on you as a whole being! By peeling back the layers of your health, we can expose the root cause of your health issues so that we can help you break the cycle of suffering.

 

During your first appointment, we will generate a timeline of your life. This will incorporate your family and health history and any significant events in your life. We focus on antecedents (e.g., genetics), triggers (e.g., stressful events) and mediators (e.g., ongoing perpetuating factors, such as environmental toxins) to determine the patterns and causes of your health challenges.

 

We approach Functional Medicine using the 7 Core Nodes of Healing:

 

  1. Gut Health
  2. Brain Power & Mood
  3. Hormones
  4. Detoxification
  5. Heart Health
  6. Immune Function
  7. Energy Production

 

Health problems generally comprise all seven nodes; thus, we address each node as appropriate to manage various health issues. At the center of the physiological nodes rests the patients and their integrated sense of well-being – mind, body, spirit, & soul. The patient’s inner life directs the narratives contained in their timeline and the downstream physiological processes we dive deeply into using the seven core nodes above. The lifestyle factors of our patients are the bedrock of their health and are always explored in great depth – food first, then sleep, movement, resiliency and relationships and networks.

 

The 7 Core Nodes of Healing

 

Our Functional Medicine practice uses the 7  Core Nodes of Healing Model to organize and prioritize any health challenges that you may have. Using the core nodes of healing, we can develop your individualized treatment strategies, target the root causes of your illnesses, and improve your overall health. Each of the seven nodes represents a set of interconnected biological functions, much like a web, influencing each other.

 

1. Gut Health

 

To improve gut health, we dive deeply into your overall gastrointestinal function. We evaluate digestion, assimilation, your microbiome, food sensitivities/allergies, and any potential parasitic involvement contributing to unwanted local and systemic immune activation. The gut is the gateway to the body. This is where some of our most essential functions occur: taking in the nutrients needed to fuel our entire being.

 

Our gut is our greatest contact with the outside world! It has a surface area that is powers of ten beyond that of our skin. This results in a tremendous amount of environmental exposure and immune activity along the lining of our gastrointestinal system, which can have profound systemic implications. A primary area of detoxification is our gut. Our liver is our body’s primary (not only) detoxifier. It’s an enzymatic supercenter! It does an incredible job at regularly breaking down the many environmental toxins we’re exposed to and flushing them out through our intestines. If this system is inefficient, however, or if we have increased gut permeability, our body’s ability to truly rid itself of toxins becomes markedly impaired.

 

We then use the 6 R approach to restore your gastrointestinal function:

 

  1. Remove – offending agents (foods, toxins, unwanted bacteria like H.pylori, parasites etc.)
  2. Replace – replenish nutrient depletion, digestive enzymes, bile acids & hydrochloric acid
  3. Re-inoculate – re-introduce healthy microflora
  4. Repair – fix the mucosal lining & correct increased permeability
  5. Rebalance – re-establish the balance in the microflora
  6. Re-test

 

The 6R approach will significantly change how you see and eat food and heal and restore your gut health.

 

2. Brain Power and Mood

 

Our Functional Medicine physicians boost brainpower and mood by looking at the link between your brain, gut, and immune system. This can detect patterns that may be contributing to your health issues. Metabolic and genetically influenced pathways may impact neurotransmitters available in the brain and peripheral nervous system. We work to ensure systemic inflammation is minimized and that the right neurotransmitters are available. Treatments can include neurotransmitter and hormone balancing through nutrient repletion, gut healing, detoxification, psychotherapy, craniosacral therapy, and neuromodulation. We stress a bio-psycho-social approach to managing mental health and strongly encourage psychotherapy and managing challenging social situations in addition to our biological approach through the clinic.

 

3. Hormones

 

At Linden & Arc Vitality Institute, we are experts at addressing and treating hormone imbalances. Our goal is to support your body by restoring and improving your overall health and wellbeing. Hormones are key signaling molecules in our bodies. A hormone imbalance can quickly result in numerous issues throughout our complex systems! Even a slight imbalance can impact your immune system and alter your brain’s capacity to function effectively. Symptoms of hormone imbalance can include poor sleep, anxiety, low libido, fatigue, hair loss, changes in bowel movements, weight changes, mood lability…the list goes on!

 

We address the hormonal imbalance by testing vital aspects of the endocrine system. We look at all of your hormones, from the thyroid, adrenals, and insulin, to your estrogens, androgens, and human growth hormone (HGH). This shows us the best approach to returning your body to optimal balance.

 

4. Detoxification

 

We live in a world inundated with toxins. These toxins can negatively impact our cellular function, endocrine system, and fertility. Functional Medicine physicians assess for the presence of numerous forms of toxins. Many toxins have endocrine disrupting, pro-inflammatory, neuroinflammatory, and cancer-causing effects. By minimizing exposure to and eliminating environmental toxins, we assist your body’s natural systems to rid itself of unwanted toxic compounds. We use micronutrient repletion and various forms of nutraceuticals to support methylation and sulfation. We focus on improving gastrointestinal elimination to allow these toxins to exit the body efficiently.

 

5. Heart Health

 

The heart is one of our most vital organs – our lives depend on them. When it comes to energy, the heart is quite demanding. Lack of energy is often connected to cardiac problems.

 

To evaluate your risk of cardio-metabolic syndrome, we evaluate multiple cardiac data points such as:

 

  • Lipid Profile
  • High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP)
  • Lipoprotein A (LpA)
  • Apolipoprotein B100
  • Apolipoprotein A1
  • Insulin sensitivity
  • Genetic predisposition to heart disease

 

These tests help us predict your risk of heart disease and stroke and inform us of inflammation in your body. To restore your heart’s vitality, we go beyond the standard cardiovascular assessment tools and advise medical and lifestyle management to optimize your cardiovascular risk profile.

 

6. Immune Function

 

Optimizing immune balance is a tremendous area of focus for us. The immune system is complex and impacts so many of our bodies systems. With all the stressors in the world today, many have pushed their immune systems into a state of dysregulation. Because of this, we are unable to calm down. This can lead to various issues, including autoimmune diseases, Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), histamine intolerance, and a host of mental health issues.

 

Further, we delve into the complexities of Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS) and Post COVID Syndrome (PCS), which have immunogenic origins and require an individualized approach to manage. For an excellent in-depth but accessible explanation of CIRS, click HERE to read our blog: Understanding Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome.

 

Our assessments of immune function include unique genetic and transcriptomic assays and key indicators of present immune function and communication. Further, we use various antibody assays to determine whether one may be experiencing chronic underlying infections that have gone unchecked for years.

 

Once we identify immunogenic triggers, we do our best to eliminate the source and calm the immune system. We do this by using both pharmaceutical and nutraceutical formulations.

 

7. Energy Production

 

Our Functional Medicine Physician evaluates your energy production by assessing mitochondrial health. There are numerous potential barriers to efficient energy production. These include extracellular insulin resistance, intracellular insulin resistance, insufficient coenzymes to fuel the mitochondria, and impaired elimination of mitochondrial waste products. When one’s mitochondria’s ability to produce energy is impaired, their overall health and wellbeing will plummet.

 

Our Physician assess mitochondrial functioning through biochemical testing that looks at coenzyme q10 (C0Q10), carnitine, pyruvate, lactate, and alpha lipoic acid, to name a few.

 

We aim to optimize glucose metabolism, insulin sensitivity, and mitochondrial function to increase energy. We will clean up damaged and sick mitochondria and supercharge your energy generation.

 

Mind/Body/Spirit

 

Many cultures over numerous generations have acknowledged the existence of a spirit. Though “spirit” is another nebulous term and seems inherently unscientific to acknowledge, the idea that there is another form of energy that comprises who we are and which we have been unable to measure is not implausible. It’s important to maintain the perspective that everything we know now through scientific processes was once not understood and possibly even deemed “witchcraft” or something of the like.

 

Though we don’t fully understand what spirit is, for those of our patients, whom it is important to acknowledge as a part of their overall well-being, we encourage them to do so. Further, we recognize the importance of a healthy mind. Though there are biological contributors to a healthy mind, learning to reframe one’s thinking as a practice is crucial to their perception of the world and their perceptions of themselves. We are big believers in the power of psychotherapy, meditation, and mindfulness as a way to remedy the mind and calm our nervous systems.

 

We are firm believers that proper health is only achieved when mind, body, and spirit are balanced. Your mind, body, and spirit are at the center of the 7 Core Hodes, tying everything together.

 

How Functional Medicine Can Help You

 

Every patient experiences illness differently and, therefore, deserves treatment that works for them. Functional Medicine is about growing, learning, transforming, and addressing that unique patient illness experience. Our Functional Medicine practice at Linden & Arc Vitality Institute is focused on reshaping your story, renewing your health, and transforming the arc of your life. Our physicians offer individualized treatment plans through a multidisciplinary and collaborative approach so that you can return to optimal health.

 

If you are struggling with persistent health challenges, contact Linden & Arc Vitality Institute HERE to start your transformative health journey.

 

What is Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS)?

 

Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS) is a multisystem, multi-symptom illness triggered by biotoxin exposure. A biotoxin is any living toxin. When exposed, the immune system can become stuck in an inflammatory state even when the exposure is removed.

 

24% of the population is genetically at risk to develop CIRS, due to alterations in their Human Leukocyte Antigen genes (HLA). There are specific HLA genes involved in CIRS and you only need to have one gene to be predisposed. For those genetically at risk for CIRS, chronic exposure to external infections, toxins, or inflammatory signals from within the body causes an ongoing innate immune response in the immune system.

 

The innate immune system, which is the non-specific first line of immune defense, turns on, as it should in response to any exposure. However, having one or more of the HLA genes will prevent a handover to the adaptive immune system. This means there is no antibody created and the innate immune system is never told to shutoff. As a result cytokines, the proteins produced by the immune system are over produced, and inflammation is triggered, regardless of whether the exposure is still there or not.

 

You have these genes your whole life, but they are only expressed when you have a combination of biotoxin exposures (one or many) and other stresses on the system, such as toxin exposures, stress, and food triggers. These environmental inputs will trigger the gene expression at different times – you can first be diagnosed as a child, or in your later years.

 

This dysregulation and inflammation can lead to damaged tissues and cells, alter gene expression, autoimmunity, and disrupt hypothalamic hormones (hormones produced in the brain), downstream hormones (hormones downstream from the brain), and peptides (small chains of amino acids). This causes many debilitating symptoms, which can affect every body system. Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome is a progressive illness that if left untreated can rob patients of their quality of life.

 

Triggers of Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome

 

CIRS is the result of downstream abnormalities that occur in the body from biotoxin exposure. A biotoxin is a toxic substance produced by living organisms.

 

A patient may be exposed to biotoxins from the mold and bacteria in water-damaged buildings, from diseases caused by tick bites, by consuming tropical fish, or even exposure to certain algae.

 

Knowing whether your Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome trigger is current is critical for proper recovery. That is why it is so important for physicians to get a thorough history from you before diagnosing or treating CIRS. In some cases we may not be able to figure out the exact trigger (or when it occurred), but we are most interested in ruling out current external exposures and internal infections.

 

CIRS triggers can be from any of the following:

 

  • Microbes, toxins and inflammagens from Water Damaged Buildings (WDB). The main 3 are mold, actinobacteria and endotoxin. We typically test for these inside the home.
  • Lyme disease and co-infections
  • Cyanobacteria (blue grey algae), often from freshwater exposures such as lakes
  • Apicomplexans like Babesia (parasite)
  • Pfiesteria, from exposure to ill fish – swimming
  • Ciguatera, from eating tropical fish
  • Red tide
  • Recluse spider bites
  • Mycobacteria
  • Traumatic brain injury can trigger similar downstream effects as CIRS

 

Symptoms of CIRS

 

Due to varied environmental stimuli and each individual’s unique genes, patients with Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome can present with wildly different symptoms. Because of the wide range of symptoms a CIRS diagnosis can be easily missed at family doctor visits, mostly because it is not looked for. Patients with CIRS are often misdiagnosed with allergies, anxiety, depression, PTSD, Alzheimer’s, Parkinsonism, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and many other conditions.

 

When CIRS is suspected, an easy screening symptom questionnaire & visual contrast sensitivity test can accurately delineate who may be at risk. This will then alert us to test further. Our Functional Medicine Physicians at Linden & Arc get to the root cause of your symptoms, so you can be sure you are receiving proper treatment.

 

CIRS is often suspected if:

 

  1. You have a complex multi system, multi symptom illness.
  2. You are not responding as expected to basic treatments, such as gut, hormone and nutrient treatments.
  3. You have atypical presentation of illness that may not necessarily fit into a clear diagnostic box in the conventional medical system
  4. You have multiple chemical sensitivities
  5. You have a known infective exposure, or home exposure

 

CIRS Symptoms:

 

  • Abdominal pain/diarrhea
  • Disorientation/confusion
  • Teary eyes
  • Metallic taste
  • Congested sinuses
  • Shortness of breath
  • Memory loss
  • Body aches/weakness
  • Headache/light Sensitivity
  • Brain fog/ difficulty concentrating
  • Skin sensitivities
  • Red eyes/blurred vision
  • Mood swings
  • Joint pain/cramps/stiffness
  • Numbness
  • Fatigue
  • Vertigo
  • Excessive thirst
  • Cough
  • Difficulty regulating body temperature
  • Increased urinary frequency
  • Appetite changes

 

Many Patients struggling with Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome may also deal with:

 

  • Histamine issues and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS)
  • Electromagnetic / EMF sensitivity
  • Limbic system dysfunction
  • Over reactive nervous system (from Neuroinflammation)
  • Poor detoxification
  • Issues with gut health, hormones, nutrient imbalances, neurotransmitter imbalances

 

As discussed, CIRS is an inflammatory illness. However, we also now know that it causes significant disruption in the metabolism of the cell, including energy and protein production. It has transcriptomic effects, meaning it can also turn genes on and off. We see a specific pattern of gene dysregulation in CIRS at baseline, vs. after treatment. This is an extremely important part of correcting CIRS, as our goal is to prevent some of the complications that occur as a result of gene dysregulation.

 

Complications of Gene dysregulation include:

 

  • Insulin dysregulation
  • Metabolic acidosis
  • Low metabolism and energy production
  • Low protein production
  • Pulmonary hypertension
  • Effects on brain structure/ volume

 

Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome Diagnosis

 

The presentation of Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome varies between different people. That is why it is extremely important to have a thorough workup done when you are suffering with a wide range of symptoms. An in depth history of your entire ‘timeline”, your life story, your exposure history, and detailed lab investigations are needed. The various tests are necessary for a firm CIRS diagnosis and to properly track the success of treatments. We want to be sure we are on the right track and that you are responding to treatment and will continuously trouble shoot your individual illness. In complex illness, there is no room for guessing!

 

At Linden & Arc Vitality Institute the following Testing is done at baseline and repeatedly throughout the protocol:

 

1. Proteomic Lab Testing

 

Proteomic testing is how we make the diagnosis of CIRS, as per published literature. Below is a list of the labs, with short description of what they indicate:

 

  • Visual contrast sensitivity (VCS) test – this is an eye test measuring contrast, which decreases in people with CIRS
  • HLA testing tells us about your susceptibility to CIRS – are you one of the 24% of people with defective antigen presentation?
  • MSH – melanocyte stimulating hormone, is a key regulator of many important body functions
  • Capillary hypoperfusion: VEGF
  • Innate Inflammatory markers: MMP 9, C4a, C3a and TGF beta 1
  • Disruption of hormone feedback loops: ACTH/ cortisol; ADH or Copeptin/osmolality
  • Androgens and sex hormones
  • Leptin (leptin resistance)
  • Autoimmunity: Antigliadin antibodies and anti-cardiolipin antibodies
  • Abnormal clotting profiles: PAI I; vWF; D dimer; ESR
  • MARCONS nasal swabbing, for a resistant bacteria that sits in the sinus

 

2. GENIE (Genetic Expression, Inflammation Explained)

 

GENIE is a study of the transcriptome developed by James Ryan PhD at ProgeneX labs. Transcriptomic testing tells us how your genes are being expressed in response to environmental inputs. GENIE can tell us about your exposures, hypometabolism and insulin signaling, VIP (Vaso-Active Intestinal Peptide) and Ikaros function, coagulation risks, histamine production, brain and cognitive risks, and confirm a CIRS diagnosis. This test has proven to give us absolutely astonishing insights into your individual expression of the complex illness that is CIRS. It is used at baseline and in follow up to ensure resolution of the illness.

 

3. NeuroQuant Volumetric Brain MRI

 

Volumetric brain imaging is extremely useful in diagnosing the cause of CIRS and establishing the effect of CIRS on the brain. The function of the immune system is intricately linked with that of the nervous system, so we expect to see some changes in the brain in CIRS. Unlike a conventional MRI, it measures volumes of different brain areas with tremendous accuracy. The pattern of change in the volumes of different brain structures will vary depending on what the specific trigger is and if we can see a ‘fingerprint’ for CIRS on the brain. The volume changes, for example, will look very different if mold was your trigger, vs. endotoxin vs. Lyme disease. NeuroQuant will help to determine specifics of treatment and what the end point of treatment is for CIRS.

 

The combination of Proteomic labs, GENIE and NeuroQuant leaves us with solid objective data. You will know that you have a diagnosis of CIRS, without question. You will know what your individual trigger is, and you will have a baseline to track changes and evaluate the success of treatment using accurate data.

 

CIRS Treatment

 

Depending on how quickly we remove you from your exposures and how you respond to each treatment, it can take a year or more to show improvements. The goals of Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome treatment are to lower inflammagens, correct hormonal dysregulation, deal with autoimmunity, improve capillary hypoperfusion, eradicate commensal Staph in the nasal cavity, correct cellular immunity, and get you back to enjoying your life.

 

Once CIRS is diagnosed we follow the 12-step Shoemaker protocol as the core of therapy. It is important to follow this peer reviewed protocol for success of treatment. We may also suggest completing other therapies, which support your system and help with repair and possible side effects of the treatments. The most important part of the protocol initially is to remove you from the exposure/trigger for CIRS. This might involve referral to an Indoor Environmental Professional (IEP), who is the expert in home health as it relates to CIRS. They will individualize home testing and remediation based on your results and response to treatment. Removing from exposure also includes removing internal exposures, like infections. We treat Lyme and Lyme co-infections, virus, parasites for example, so that there is no ongoing trigger inside the system. This is individualized based on your testing.

 

Once we have ticked this first important box, we can begin to remove biotoxins from the system with binding therapy, which acts like an antibody and removes biotoxin from the system through the stool. The VCS test is used to track readiness for the next step, which is to eradicate MARCONS from the nasal cavity. Once we have done this we are able to assess progress through repeat testing and manage any ongoing inflammation where necessary.

 

The ultimate goal is to get you taking VIP, which is an important peptide used to calm inflammation, correct gene dysregulation and correct the brain changes associated with CIRS, amongst many other important functions. Management of other related issues and differential diagnoses occur alongside this core approach where needed. For example, Mast Cell Activation Syndrome can be treated, EMF remediation done and detoxification supported.

 

We have a strong focus on the limbic system, which is our emotional brain, as this is commonly an area affected by CIRS. In fact, many patients with CIRS suffer concomitantly with PTSD and other trauma related issues. As the brain-immune connection is so strong, it is important to manage both of these side by side.

 

We find the most successful healing journeys embrace a team approach that includes Indoor Environmental Professionals (IEP), a Health Coach, a Lymphatic Drainage Therapist, and a CIRS literate Physician. At Linden & Arc Vitality Institute, Dr. Murfin is a Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome Proficiency Diplomat. We encourage you to ask questions, get support where you can, and to trust that this evidence based treatment plan works, even though it may be challenging.

 

Contact Linden & Arc Vitality Institute

 

At the Institute we understand it can be very overwhelming to deal with the unpredictable and fluctuating symptoms caused by CIRS. That is why we are here to help you every step of the way. It’s time to break the cycle of unnecessary suffering with pro-active treatments that will change the arc of your life.

 

At Linden & Arc we can help you find freedom from pain, fatigue, memory loss, illness, and depression! If you are struggling with persistent health challenges contact us HERE to get started on your transformative health journey.

 

Author

Dr. Michelle Van Der Westhuizen, MD & CIRS Proficiency Diplomat

Cold Submersion Therapy or Cold Water Immersion (CWI) is an ancient hydrotherapy treatment. It relieves many ailments and chronic symptoms. People suffering from immune system or mood disorders, have trouble sleeping or have increased stress levels can benefit from this type of therapy. This form of hydrotherapy is similar to aquatic therapy, pool therapy, or balneotherapy. The use of water in various forms and at various temperatures produces amazing effects on the human body.

 

In Activating the Vagus Nerve: Part 1 – Breathe!, we explored the positive effects that breathwork has on our Vagus Nerve. How we breath affects our autonomic nervous system – which has two branches, sympathetic (fight or flight) and parasympathetic (rest and digest). You can think of the sympathetic as the gas pedal on your system and the parasympathetic as the brakes. Let’s now dive deeper into how we can manipulate the nervous system and make it stronger by introducing cold water immersion (CWI) therapy while we are breathing.

 

“Cold water? What the … ?!” You might exclaim, especially if you are  living in a cold climate like Calgary, Alberta.

 

Taking actionable steps like CWI therapy can help reduce stress levels. CWI is an ancient therapy used to relieve many ailments. People suffering from immune system or mood disorders, having trouble sleeping, or increasing stress levels can benefit from this type of therapy. Here we outline some reasons why CWI is so good for you. It enhances your immune function, boosts your metabolism, elevates your mood, and builds endurance. 


Reasons to try CWI


Enhance Your Immune Function

Cold Submersion Therapy stimulates immune function. It does this by stimulating the white blood cells. They then provoke the white blood cells to attack and destroy toxic substances in the lymph fluid. The cold water positively affects the lymphatic system, affecting the immune system by flushing waste and toxins.

 

Boost Your Metabolism

Cold Submersion Therapy helps to boost your metabolism, which can assist with weight loss efforts. This is not to be substituted for a healthy diet and regular exercise. This practice makes your body work harder to keep you warm, which inadvertently burns calories. It also affects the type of fat the body produces. According to a study done in 2009, brown fat (BAT), or good fat, mobilizes when your body becomes exposed to frigid temperatures. It works to keep us warm, thus eliminating white fat, which is the fat that sits around your thighs and waist.

 

Improve Sleep, Reduce Stress, & Elevate Mood

When we sleep, our bodies heal, so it is vital to get adequate restful sleep. CWI reduces muscle soreness and pain, which allows you to sleep more soundly. Quality sleep will, therefore, reduce stress levels and elevate your overall mood.

 

Build Endurance & Resilience

The thought of submerging your body in cold water makes most people cringe, but it is suitable for your body and your mind! It is a good practice in mental strength, endurance, and resilience which requires you to break out of your comfort zone. I learned that cold never stops being hard. It never gets easier, but your mind has become more resilient and robust. Immersing your entire body in ice water trains your brain to control your responses to stress, pain, and anxiety, instead of allowing your emotions to overwhelm you. Try reframing your thoughts with mindful breath and action by breathing through sensations and feelings that arise. CWI will allow your body and mind to work through a state of stress and enter a state of calm. Don’t forget to breathe, as this is so crucial. When our breathing is full and deep, the diaphragm moves through its entire range downward to massage the internal organs and tissues below it and then moves upward to massage the heart. Training the body to control the breath and negative mind chatter can be a total game-changer for anxiety and depression.

 

If cold water immersion still isn’t seeming like your thing, try ending your showers with cooler water temperatures. You can start slowly and build up to longer stints of colder temperatures. Breath through the discomfort and find a motto to help build your resilience, such as “I am more than my thoughts,” or “I choose to step into mindful, peaceful action”, and “I am stepping away from fear.”

 

The cold never stops being cold but taking actionable steps that you can implement into your daily/weekly routine will guide you towards taking back control over your health by increasing resilience in your mind and body. How powerful is that! Challenge yourself today by trying the Wim Hoff method of Cold Submersion Therapy along with deep diaphragmatic breathing for your overall health. Take the plunge!

 

Author:

Darla Montgomery

 

This is an exciting time for the clinic. Guided by a long-term vision to make Functional Medicine more accessible, we are now poised to transition into a larger institute. Thanks to the work we have done together with you, our existing patients, we are ready to take the next step to spread vitality. We are transitioning Lynne Murfin MD to Linden & Arc Vitality Institute!

 

We opened our doors as a Functional Medicine practice in 2010 and have become a leading provider of Functional and Integrative medical care to thousands of patients. We have built a team of highly-skilled, experienced, and dedicated clinicians, practitioners, and administrative staff who are ready to support your individualized journey to better health and vitality.

 

We look forward to your visit with us and assisting you in taking your first steps to a happier, healthier, and more vigorous you. Our team at Linden & Arc Vitality Institute will empower you as an active participant in your own health. Our Functional Medicine practice provides highly personalized, integrated care through a comprehensive understanding of your body’s systems, helping you navigate the landscape of your healing journey.

 

We look forward to partnering with you on your healing journey toward a more healthy and vital you!

 

In health,

Dr. Lynne Murfin, MBChB LMCC CCFP ABAARM FAARM IFMCP

Founder, Medical Director, Physician

 

About Dr. Murfin:

Dr. Murfin is wholeheartedly focused on her life’s mission to help people heal and achieve extraordinary outcomes. She believes that health is more than merely the absence of disease. It is a total state of physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and social wellbeing through the creation of a whole and meaningful life. Dr. Murfin leaves no stone unturned to determine the root cause of illness or imbalance. Dr. Murfin welcomes you to Linden & Arc Vitality Institute!

Are you hot flashing? Having headaches, memory loss, fatigue? And, the dreaded weight gain around the middle? You are not alone! 

 

Menopause can be a difficult time for many women. Symptoms additional to the above can include low libido and anxiety. It’s not the easiest time of life, but there are ways to approach the hormonal shifts. At Linden & Arc Vitality Institute, we are here to help.

 

What’s up with the hormones?

 

Hormonal changes begin as ovulation ceases – your progesterone decreases. The balanced ratio of estrogen to progesterone begins to tip toward estrogen. Estrogen is the hormone that makes you feel sexy, happy, and full of life. 

 

Sounds good right? So, what’s the problem? 

 

Changes in estrogen can also affect our thyroid hormones and cortisol levels. Excess estrogen may cause bloating, fatigue, headaches, poor sleep (see Smith, 2010, p. 7 or Somers, 2006, p. 38 for a full list). The balance of estrogen and progesterone is lost during hormonal shifts. The decline in progesterone, which is the hormone that makes you feel calm and relaxed, can cause you to feel more anxious, irritable, and depressed. Imbalances in hormones can impact your brain health, memory, and immune system. That’s why those pesky symptoms start to show themselves. 

 

With a functional medicine approach, where there is a partnership between physician and patient, the menopausal years and beyond can be the best time of your life. The best time of life? Yes, really! Your vital energy can be cultivated by working to balance your hormones. 

 

menopause-functional-medicine

 

How is it possible to live the best life during menopause?

 

Taking a functional medicine and holistic approach, women do not have to suffer the symptoms associated with this stage of life. Anxiety, stress, sleepless nights, and weight gain don’t have to be the fate of the middle years – and your physical middle! Here are some tips towards finding balance by adjusting your lifestyle factors with mind, body, spirit and soul at the center of your healing journey:

 

Body:  

  • eat a whole foods diet with as much organic fruit and vegetables as possible
  • make sure to eat enough lean protein and keep sugars to a minimum
  • add 10 to 15 minutes of body-focused stretching or exercise to your daily routine
  • add 3-minute breathing practice when you wake up and before bed

 

Mind: 

  • read a book about your menopausal health; the top two books we recommend and have in stock at Linden & Arc Vitality Institute, are: Ageless by Suzanne Somers and What You Must Know About Women’s Hormones: Your Guide to Natural Hormone Treatments for PMS, Menopause, Osteoporosis, PCOS, and More by Pamela Wartian Smith, MD, MPH.
  • talk to your physician about hormone replacement therapy and options to consider; read about bioidentical hormones in Somers’ book.

 

Spirit & Soul: 

  • practice each day that connects you to that which matters most
  • tune in a few minutes each day with practices such as: walking in nature, touching the leaves of a plant, prayer, meditation

 

With mindful planning and sustainable routines for body, mind, and spirit, post-menopausal women can come into the fullness of their power, creativity, and joy. 

 

Some bonuses of this time of our lives: Women in their fifties and beyond often talk about no longer worrying about pleasing others, finding their voices, and having the confidence to change intolerable situations. With a balanced body, a sharp mind, and full vitality, life after menopause has no limits. Getting through the trials of menopause can be an adventure and a deep dive into your self – body, mind, and soul. 

 

References:

Somers, S. (2006). Ageless: The naked truth about bioidentical hormones. Three Rivers Press.

 

Wartian Smith, P. (2010). What you must know about women’s hormones: Your guide to natural hormone treatments for PMS, menopause, Osteoporosis, PCOS and more. Square One Publishers.

 

Author

Lisa Itzcovitch, MA