CONTRACEPTIVE IMPLANT REMOVAL
At Meyer Clinic, a member of our specially trained team can safely remove an implant in a matter of minutes.
EXPERT CARE
Whether an implant needs to be removed for health reasons or it has come to the end of its three-year life span, a member of our specially trained team can help. The implant removal procedure is quick and painless; we give the patient a local anaesthetic, make a small cut in the skin and gently remove the implant. Our health professionals can also give advice on all forms of contraception.
FOOD INTOLERANCE TESTING
At Meyer Clinic, we investigate the triggers and root causes to our patients’ health conditions. Food allergies and intolerances are very much on the increase and being diagnosed more frequently than before. Whilst the exact reason is unknown, it is possibly linked to a number of diet and lifestyle factors. A classic allergy is when the immune system produces specific IgE antibodies to a food protein. These antibodies lead to an immediate allergic reaction. The symptoms appear within seconds or minutes: severe swelling, breathing difficulty, rash, itching skin or even anaphylactic shock.
INTOLERANCES & THE IMMUNE SYSTEM
Food intolerances can affect our health on many levels and in some cases can exacerbate symptoms of other health conditions, in particular auto-immune conditions. They cause less severe reactions to food allergy, but can lead to a delayed allergic response. Intolerances also involve the immune system, but are much harder to diagnose as the symptoms may not be limited to the gastrointestinal tract and can affect other organs such as the brain, joints, nervous system or cardiovascular system, the skin too. Symptoms are often cumulative and get progressively worse the more a particular food is consumed.
AUTOIMMUNE
Autoimmune conditions are increasing in prevalence, however since our genetics have not changed significantly in the past 50 years, it makes sense there could be other drivers that are upsetting the balance of our immune systems. At Meyer Clinic, we look in detail for each patient at the triggers that might be causing the immune system to ‘over-react’.
If the immune system is in a heightened state, there is evidence to suggest that this can intensify some health symptoms. Food intolerances, stress, hidden infections, lack of sleep and gut permeability are all contributory factors that may exacerbate or overwork an immune system leading to autoimmune conditions.
Exclusion diets can be extremely beneficial in many autoimmune conditions with re-introduction to test specific foods. Following a more ancestral diet, has also been shown to be very beneficial for some conditions. This does not mean eating a caveman diet, but instead, means eating foods that we have eaten for millions of years that the body is very familiar with. Going back to basics with this type of diet allows us to really see if food is connected with any of a patient’s symptoms.
We also offer patients CYREX™ testing to accurately test for food triggers in autoimmune conditions. CYREX™ testing includes gluten and wheat intolerance as well as cross reactivity to wheat and a multiple food reactivity screen. CYREX™ is a specialist autoimmune laboratory offering revolutionary tests (called arrays) to identify many of these triggers that are affecting patient’s immune system. These tests can be used as a benchmark to work with on a nutritional programme designed at Meyer Clinic.
ADRENAL GLAND DISORDERS
Many people feel like they are living under too much stress. The key is knowing when the balance has been tipped from healthy stress into the unhealthy state of chronic stress. Adrenal fatigue is a health condition caused when the body has been under severe stress for a period of time. Whilst the cause of stress can be known to the individual, other factors such as inflammation or ill health may also play a significant role in this condition. It may also be triggered by an infection. This is known as post-viral fatigue syndrome.
In response to stress, the body produces cortisol, adrenalin and noradrenalin in larger amounts. Cortisol levels normally fluctuate throughout the day and night in a circadian rhythm that peaks at about 8am and reaches its lowest around 4am. Unfortunately, in our current high-stress culture, sometimes the stress response can be activated so often that the body does not always have a chance to return to normal. Over time the adrenal glands, which produce these stress hormones become unable to keep up with the demand of stress hormone levels and overall levels of cortisol as well as its building block DHEA gradually decline. Cortisol is necessary for a number of bodily functions including energy levels, blood pressure, immune function as well as being anti-inflammatory. Having high levels of stress hormones can be as damaging as having low levels as the body needs remain in homeostasis.
At Meyer Clinic, we offer patients DUTCH testing that can look at daily cortisol rhythm as well as DHEA levels to help give you an assessment of your stress levels and how this is affecting your health. This gives a baseline so that we can see how much your diet and lifestyle interventions are affecting your stress levels. Lifestyle, dietary and sometimes nutritional supplements may be recommended to help improve symptoms of adrenal fatigue.
