What We Treat

If you are interested in taking charge of your own health and want to know which foods are optimal for you, give us a call. Among the conditions we specialize in are:

Allergies

Allergic reactions have become commonplace in our society. From the overabundance of synthetic foods and environmental chemicals that we are subject to on a daily basis, few people will pass through life unscathed. In Hawaii, especially on the Big Island, where many individuals are subject to the sulfuric acid emitted from the volcano, people will experience anything from an annoyance to severe reactions to the vog.

Allergic reactions occur when a foreign substance enters the body usually either through ingestion or inhalation. This starts off a chain reaction in the body triggering our immune system to go into high gear to rid itself of the foreign invader. Antigen receptors trigger B cells to increase the production of antibodies. Histamine is often the reaction we see visibly: puffy watery eyes, itchy nose, congestion, clear running nasal discharge, and often irritability. The body counteracts the histamine release with an antihistamine resulting in the all too familiar groggy feeling which is also the common side effect of the over the counter allergy medications. Eventually, the antigen receptors end up being filtered from the blood into the urine where many of them are excreted from the body. If we are not hit with another foreign invader, we suffer brief episodes lasting up to 3 days.

However, in today’s world, one in five Americans suffer from allergies with minimal to no relief in sight. As a result of the over the counter and prescription drugs used to provide relief, the sufferer ends up with another disease such as bronchitis, asthma, pneumonia or sinusitis, which leads to other diseases, usually hypertension, fluid retention, fatigue, etc.

Dr. Ardolf, ND’s treatments are unique and designed to put an end to the cycle. Very few clinics address the immunological system other than trying to suppress it. When the immune system is suppressed, this provides a welcome mat for other diseases, usually infectious in nature, to set up house in your body, thus creating two diseases instead of one.

We work to eradicate the infection(s) and re-regulate your system so you can be free of disease and live a healthy life.

Auto-Immune / Chronic Disease

Auto-immune disease means the immune system has started to attack itself. Something had to cause this to happen. Traditionally, the doctors don’t think about this. They just begin to prescribe a medication to suppress the immune system. As a result, your body has been left vulnerable. Without a functioning immune system, another disease can begin to rear its ugly head. You become debilitated and feel horrible most, if not all of the time.

Can anything seem more terrible and more debilitating than living with a chronic disease? You go from one doctor to another, then realize none of them have anything to help you get better. As time goes on, you become more debilitated, with less days of normalcy. Some doctors cannot even find anything wrong!

Diabetes

According to the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse, the 2007 statistics reported 23.6 million people, 7.8 percent of the population, have diabetes. 2014 statistics reported from the CDC, show an increase to 29.1 million or 9.3% of the population have been diagnosed with diabetes. This means the underlying problem has not been treated, resulting in an escalating disease and a burden on our financial medical system as well as to all the family members left to care for the ailing individual.

Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes are a group of diseases marked by high levels of blood glucose, also called blood sugar, resulting from defects in the pancreatic cell’s insulin production, insulin action, or both. Type 1 diabetes usually has a genetic or autoimmune etiology in which the body’s immune system destroys the pancreatic beta cells, affecting 5-10% of the population. They are dependent on insulin in order to survive.

Type 2 diabetes currently affects 9% of the population and is often classified as a disease of lifestyle leading to serious complications including blindness, peripheral neuropathy, gangrene and premature death, if not controlled. It is associated with age, obesity, family history of diabetes, history of gestational diabetes, impaired glucose metabolism, physical inactivity, and race/ethnicity. Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, or other Pacific Islanders are at particularly high risk for Type 2 diabetes and its complications. Type 2 diabetes is being diagnosed more frequently among American Indians, African Americans, Hispanic/Latino Americans, and Asians/Pacific Islanders and in younger children and adolescents.

Initially in traditional medicine, drugs are prescribed to optimize the pancreatic function, but once the pancreatic beta cells are no longer functioning, more medication will be necessary. In the world of naturopathic medicine, it is not uncommon to reverse the disease process by bringing the blood sugar levels back to the normal range without the need for medication. This is imperative as excess sugar in the blood is what causes the horrendous systemic damage to the many organs of the body. With naturopathy, people with diabetes can live a full, productive life.

Dr. Ardolf, ND has a special place in her heart for the Hawaiian Islanders. She welcomes all who aspire to live a healthier and therefore longer life life by making an appointment today.

Cardiovascular Disease

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Approximately 630,000 Americans die of the condition each year, 50% of them are women. For Asians and Pacific Islanders, heart disease is a close second leading cause of death (25.0%) to cancer (27.5%). One in every four deaths in the United States, according to the CDC, is the result of heart disease. The term “heart disease” includes coronary heart disease, heart attack, congestive heart failure, irregular heart rate, and congenital heart disease. In the United States, the most common type is coronary artery disease (CAD), which can lead to a heart attack.

Heart disease does not happen overnight. Often times the first “silent symptoms” may be high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high blood sugar, and/or obesity. The standard conventional medical practice is to prescribe heart medicine without looking into the causes of the elevated blood pressure. High blood pressure may be related to prescription medication, stress, diet, thyroid, kidney problems, or the often overlooked and therefore never treated chronic disease. Heart medications do not necessarily address the underlying problem. These pharmaceuticals need to be taken for life and come with their own set of side effects.

There are many natural alternatives in the fields of botanical medicine, homeopathy, nutrition, IV therapy, and vitamin/mineral supplementation, which do not carry any of the side effects of prescribed pharmaceuticals. Once the underlying cause is treated, it is possible that you may not need the prescribed medication(s).

Dr. Ardolf, ND and Associates are available to help you live the life you desire.

Pediatric Medicine

Children’s immune systems continue to develop through the age of 8 years old. During these critical years, proper nutrition, exercise, a supportive and nurturing environment, and the use of natural medicines, support the formation of a healthy, robust immune system while decreasing illnesses. Setting good nutritional and health patterns early in life also allows children to learn how to take care of their own health.

Many naturally-derived medicines are available to treat the numerous childhood illnesses encountered, allowing for optimal immune development and therefore lifetime protection against many bacterial and viral based diseases.

Dr. Ardolf, ND with her Masters degree in Speech-language Pathology and her doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine is especially qualified and knowledgeable in assisting with any developmental or health concerns you may have. We specialize in treating:

• Teething
• Childhood immunizations
• Ear infections
• Childhood diseases
• Allergies/asthma
• Colic
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Conjunctivitis
• Developmental delays
• ADD/ADHD
• Autism spectrum disorder
• Depression

Many of the common childhood ailments can be treated very effectively with homeopathy, botanical medicine, and/or constitutional hydrotherapy without the side effects of depressing their developing immune system or causing another disease process to occur.

If interested in exploring natural healthcare for your children, call us.