b12 injection

All About: Vitamin B12 Injections

Have you heard the hype around Vitamin B12 injections? Vitamin B12 is a water soluble vitamin which plays an important role in red blood cell production, cardiovascular health and the body’s nervous system.

This vitamin is not produced by our bodies and is found in animal products or foods that have been fortified with B12, like cereals, nutritional yeast, fish, eggs, and animal meat.

Vitamin B12 deficiency is common, especially in those who follow a plant-based diet. Certain medications can deplete B12 as well. Injections are an effective way of restoring healthy B12 levels in the body to ensure optimal health and to avoid deficiency. These injections are considered to be very safe with limited side effects unless you have an allergy.

Vitamin B12 can also help with: 

  • low energy/fatigue
  • mood
  • chronic pain
  • sleep
  • mental clarity
  • numbness/tingling
  • hair growth
  • hair loss prevention
  • mouth or tongue soreness
  • weight loss
  • and more!

An injection of this nature is often provided in the deltoid muscle on the upper arm. There are a few different forms of Vitamin B12 including hydroxycobalamin, methylcobalamin, and cyanocobalamin. For my patients, I use the form of B12 called Methylcobalamin–This is a well absorbed form of Vitamin B12 where bodies can use it right away for different pathways. People often come back feeling on top of the world with better energy and better, more restful sleep. Who doesn’t need energy and sleep?!

Because Vitamin B12 deficiency is so common, I aim to test all my patients with a blood test. This is to ensure that this vitamin is actually needed, and to help me dose appropriately. Connect with me to learn more and see if you could benefit from Vitamin B12 injections! Please note this is a service I provide for existing patients only.

drhpnd-pcos2

You’ve got acne, facial hair, irregular periods, and weight gain. PCOS could be why.

Ever heard of PCOS? You’re looking in the mirror. Who’s that person struggling with chronic acne well past their teens? Is that facial hair again? You check your period app — late again, nothing new. And those extra couple pounds – are they slowly creeping up? The answer may be that you have PCOS.

That is, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. This is a condition characterized by having at least two of the three following criteria:

  • Androgen excess (this may look like: acne, hair loss, course facial hair growth and insulin resistance)
  • Ovulatory dysregulation (cycles 35 days or longer, but less than 6 months apart, or absent menses for 6-12 months after having a regular period)
  • Polycystic ovaries (an ovary which contains more than 12 follicles on ultrasound) 

Because PCOS influences different systems of the body as an endocrine disorder, it can manifest in different ways. People with PCOS often struggle with fertility, have oily and acne-prone skin, have sugar cravings or “hanger,” and have trouble losing weight. 

The main goals we have as Naturopathic Doctors for individuals with PCOS are to regulate menses and to treat insulin resistance, which thereby balances out the androgen excess. Because PCOS is a multifaceted syndrome, every patient gets treated based on what they individually present with. We focus on diet and lifestyle modifications, herbal support and acupuncture protocols to support the body’s cycle.

If you have PCOS or think you may, let’s work together to get your cycle regular and to improve insulin sensitivity of your cells. If you have not been assessed for PCOS but the above sounds like you, let’s investigate and find the root cause of your symptoms. Click here to book with me.l

– Dr. Henna, ND