Empowering Options for HPV: Integrating Western and Natural Approaches
Receiving an HPV diagnosis can be a daunting experience, often accompanied by feelings of uncertainty and fear, especially when the potential for cervical cancer looms large.
Patients often navigate a landscape where conventional Western medicine may not always provide the comprehensive support and information they seek. Sadly, many practitioners don’t do much reassuring, explaining, or even providing all the options for treatment and management. However, it's important to recognise that alternative and natural treatment options exist and can play a valuable role in managing HPV and its associated complications.
In this article, we look at the multifaceted nature of HPV, explore conventional medical approaches, and shed light on the benefits of integrating Naturopathic Medicine strategies.
Understanding HPV:
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most prevalent sexually transmitted infection globally, affecting millions of individuals each year. What makes HPV particularly challenging is its ability to spread silently, often without noticeable symptoms, leading to widespread transmission.
Despite its common occurrence, HPV infections are transient and resolve spontaneously, thanks to the body's immune response. However, for some individuals, HPV infection can persist, potentially giving rise to abnormal cervical cell changes, known as cervical dysplasia, which, if left untreated, may progress to cervical cancer.
Western Medicine Approaches: Diagnosis and Intervention
Conventional Western medicine offers valuable tools for diagnosing and managing HPV-related conditions. Routine screenings, such as Pap smears and HPV tests, play a crucial role in the early detection and monitoring of cervical abnormalities.
In cases where abnormal cells are detected, further evaluation through colposcopy and biopsy helps determine the extent of cellular changes, guiding treatment decisions. Treatment options may range from a "watch and wait" approach for low-grade abnormalities to more invasive procedures like loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) for higher-grade lesions. While Western medicine excels in its proactive approach to addressing cervical dysplasia, it's essential to acknowledge potential risks and limitations associated with invasive procedures like LEEP.
Challenges and Limitations of Conventional Approaches
While medical interventions aim to prevent the progression of cervical dysplasia to cancer, they may overlook the underlying factors contributing to HPV persistence and abnormal cell growth. Additionally, the potential risks and side effects associated with procedures like LEEP underscore the need for a more holistic and individualised approach to HPV management.
In examining the challenges and limitations of conventional approaches to HPV management, it's crucial to understand that while modern medicine excels in diagnosing and treating cervical dysplasia, it may not always address the root causes underlying HPV persistence and abnormal cell growth. Here's a deeper exploration:
1. Overlooking Underlying Factors:
Conventional medical interventions primarily focus on treating the visible manifestations of HPV, such as abnormal cervical cells, through procedures like LEEP. While these interventions are effective at removing abnormal tissue and reducing the risk of cancer development, they often overlook the underlying factors that contribute to HPV persistence. Factors such as immune system dysfunction, nutrient deficiencies, chronic inflammation, hormonal imbalances, and lifestyle factors may play a significant role in HPV infection and progression but are not always addressed in conventional treatment protocols.
2. Limited Scope of Treatment:
Conventional approaches to HPV management tend to be symptom-focused and may not encompass a comprehensive assessment of the patient's overall health and well-being. This narrow focus on treating cervical dysplasia or abnormal Pap smear results may overlook other aspects of the patient's health that could impact HPV clearance and immune function. As a result, there may be missed opportunities to address underlying imbalances and support the body's natural defence mechanisms against HPV infection.
This is why it is important to have an honest conversation with your doctor and to ask all the questions you have on your mind during your visit.
3. Potential Risks and Side Effects:
While procedures like LEEP are effective at removing abnormal cervical tissue, they come with potential risks and side effects that warrant consideration. These may include complications such as cervical stenosis (narrowing of the cervix), increased risk of miscarriage, chronic pelvic pain, pain during intercourse, and psychological distress.
Again, discuss your concerns with your doctor.
4. Lack of Individualised Approach:
Conventional approaches to HPV management often follow standardised protocols that may not account for the unique needs and circumstances of each patient. This one-size-fits-all approach may overlook individual variations in immune function, genetic predispositions, lifestyle factors, and environmental influences that could impact HPV susceptibility and progression — Particularly chronic stress and anxiety, cigarette smoking and excessive alcohol consumption. As a result, there may be missed opportunities to tailor treatment strategies to address the specific underlying factors contributing to HPV persistence in each patient.
The Naturopathic Medicine Approach: Addressing Root Causes
Naturopathic medicine (and movements following its principles like functional medicine and integrative medicine) offers a paradigm shift in HPV treatment, addressing underlying imbalances and supporting the body's innate healing mechanisms. Rather than solely targeting abnormal cells, naturopathic medicine focuses on strengthening the immune system and addressing factors contributing to HPV persistence.
Key considerations include optimising nutrient status, promoting restorative sleep, managing stress effectively, (testing and) addressing genetic predispositions, and concurrent infections that may compromise immune function.
Antiviral Protocols and Immune Support
Antiviral protocols, alongside immune-supportive strategies, form the cornerstone of naturopathic medicine approaches to HPV treatment. By supporting immune function and targeting viral replication, antiviral protocols offer a complementary approach to conventional interventions, aiming to facilitate viral clearance and restore cervical health. Emphasising lifestyle modifications, dietary interventions, targeted supplementation, and stress management techniques, naturopathic medicine empowers individuals to take an active role in their health and well-being.
The Nutrunity Approach
Naturopathic medicine offers a holistic approach to managing HPV through protocols that aim to support the body's immune system, target viral replication, and promote cervical health. Here’s an overview of our protocol, which is distributed over three phases:
1. Nutritional Support:
A nutrient-rich diet forms the foundation of the naturopathic plan, which includes foods rich in immune-supportive nutrients such as vitamins C and E, zinc, selenium, and beta-carotene.
Antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats are recommended to provide essential nutrients and support overall health, including liver and cellular function, detoxification, and elimination.
We also look at drugs that may prevent nutrient absorption like PPIs and antacids.
If a DNA test indicates the presence of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the methylation cycle, it may be advisable to consider supplementation with methylated forms of B vitamins. These forms of B vitamins are readily utilized by the body upon ingestion. It is prudent to AVOID cyanocobalamin, a form of vitamin B12 bound to cyanide).
You may need to test your vitamin D status and supplement if necessary.
We may also look at omega-3s, Indole-3-carbinol, found in brassicas, and further natural ingredients for further support.[1]
2. Herbal Remedies:
Herbal medicine plays a central role in naturopathic antiviral protocols for HPV. Certain herbs possess potent antiviral properties and may help inhibit viral replication while supporting immune function. Examples of herbs commonly used in HPV treatment include echinacea, astragalus, liquorice root, elderberry, turmeric, and garlic. These herbs may be taken orally as teas, tinctures, or supplements to improve immune response and reduce viral load.
Therapeutic mushrooms are also extremely useful in such protocols and support the immune system. We rely on Ganoderma lucidum (Reishy) and Coriolus versicolor (turkey’s tale) extract.[2]
3. Immunomodulators:
Naturopathic practitioners often prescribe immunomodulatory supplements to regulate immune function and improve the body's ability to fight HPV infection. Immune-supporting supplements such as medicinal mushrooms (we rely on Ganoderma lucidum (Reishy) and Coriolus versicolor (Turkey’s tale) extract).[1], beta-glucans, and adaptogenic herbs (e.g., ashwagandha, rhodiola, holy basil) may help modulate the immune response and improve resistance to viral infections.
4. Vitamin Therapy:
Vitamin supplementation may be considered to improve immune function and combat viral replication. High-dose vitamin C, in particular, has been studied for its antiviral effects and may help reduce HPV viral load.
Again, vitamin D supplementation is often recommended to support immune health and enhance antiviral immunity.
5. Topical Treatments:
We may recommend natural remedies such as green tea, curcumin and probiotic vaginal suppositories.[3] Though generally minimal due to the local application, suppositories can have some mild side effects, such as local irritation or allergic reactions. If this happens, you need to inform us immediately.
Additionally, we may recommend probiotics orally.
6. Lifestyle Modifications:
Lifestyle modifications are integral to our approach, as they support overall health and immune function. Stress management techniques, regular exercise, and smoking cessation are key to reducing stress levels, improving immune response, and supporting healing. Additionally, avoiding known triggers such as excessive alcohol consumption and poor dietary habits can help support immune function and improve the protocol outcomes.
We also focus on restorative sleep and re-establishing healthy sleep patterns so the body can start the repairing and healing processes.
Finally, we emphasise the importance of reconnecting to nature and food, as research shows are pillars of good health. It also benefits your mental well-being and, therefore, has a direct effect on how you feel and may help you think more positively. This is PART 1 of our protocol.
7. Individualised Plans:
Our protocol is highly individualised, taking into account your unique health history, immune status, lifestyle factors, and treatment goals. We work closely with our clients to develop personalised plans tailored to address specific concerns and optimise overall health and well-being.
Trust our Protocol. We will work with your doctor for improved outcomes.
Are you ready to take your health to a new level?
IMPORTANT NOTICE:
It is imperative not to use this information for self-diagnosis and treatment. Factors such as concurrent health conditions, prescription drugs, or other influences on your health and well-being may render some or all of the outlined phases inapplicable to your situation.
References:
Auborn, KJ. (2006). Can indole-3-carbinol–induced changes in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia be extrapolated to other food components? Journal of Nutrition. 136: 2676S–2678S.
Rokos, T. Pribulova, T. Kozubik, E. et al. (2023). Exploring the bioactive mycocompounds (fungal compounds) of selected medicinal mushrooms and their potentials against HPV infection and associated cancer in humans. Life (Basel). 13(1), 244. doi:10.3390/life13010244
Agbi, KE. Hover, S. Carvalho, M. (2018). Case report of a human papillomavirus infection treated with green tea extract and curcumin vaginal compounded medications. International Journal of Pharmaceutical Compounding. 22(3), pp. 196-202.