Koktail speaks with Thailand’s first licensed naturopathic doctor about her work

Dr Nichamon Samantarat is Thailand’s first US-trained and licensed naturopathic doctor. She obtained her Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine from Bastyr University in the US and her Bachelor of Sciences in Biochemistry and Pre-Medicine from the University of Winnipeg, Canada. Today she runs her own Niche Clinic in Sukhumvit, a naturopathic-focused medical center that emphasizes identifying the underlying causes of illness and offering personalized treatments using effective, research-based natural therapies. With a growing interest in openly discussing women’s health and wellbeing in Thailand and across the globe, we sat down with her to talk about hormonal balance and how to regulate our hormonal health in a more natural way.

Dr Nichamon Samantarat

What is your story? How did you get interested in women’s hormonal health?

People are more familiar with naturopathic medicine in the West, and my journey started when I was studying in Canada. At the time, my periods were extremely painful, and they kept getting worse every month to the point that I couldn’t perform my daily activities. It was then that my mother and I decided to visit a specialist.

I was diagnosed with endometriosis (a condition where the inner lining of the uterus grows on the outside abnormally). I went for conventional treatment involving surgery and hormone therapy of pills and injections for two years. One day while I was getting my prescription filled in Canada, the pharmacist recommended that I speak to my doctor as the pills I was taking were not advised to be administered for long periods of time, as they can start to cause organ damage.  My doctor stopped the treatment, but after a few months, the problem came back and I had to start all over again.

With the never-ending cycle, I decided to explore natural options and got very interested in Naturopathic Medicine. The key indicator for me that this was the right path was the change in the number of painkillers I had to take every cycle. After taking supplements and switching over to a healthier lifestyle, I went from 10 pills to zero. 

What is Naturopathic Medicine, exactly?

The main goal of natural medicine is to reduce the use of surgery and pharmaceutical medicine. Surgery and medication are definitely necessary in healthcare but not in every situation. When you are dealing with chronic illnesses, natural medicine can help you build your foundation of health so that when you do need intervention, it may be something non-invasive or produce little to no side effects. Naturopathic Medicine uses lots of minerals and botanical medicines extracted from plants. 

What are the main hormones that govern our lives and how can we know they are imbalanced?

Hormones are changing constantly, but when they begin to alter more than a normal amount that’s when we start feeling emotions. In women, estrogen and progesterone regulate our cycle and have an impact on our feminine features, our skin, our weight, and our mood. Hormones in our bodies are linked to one another, so if one is imbalanced, the others will also be affected, automatically.

Why or how do women’s hormones get out of balance?

First, genetics. Your DNA plays a role here. For example, a history of thyroid problems in the family may lead to hormonal imbalance. Second, lifestyle. If you don’t sleep enough, eat poorly or consume ingredients that have a lot of hormones like chicken and other meats, and don’t manage your stress, your hormones will be affected. 

What are the most important things women can do to gain or maintain balanced hormone health?

1. Sleep. Don’t sacrifice sleep. Your body needs that recovery period.
2. Cut down on sugar, deep-fried foods, processed foods, and foods you may be allergic to. 
3. Exercise regularly as hormones can be liberated through sweat. 
4. Manage your stress levels. 
5. Be aware of sources of toxins, such as birth control pills and plastic. We should even be wary of the kinds of containers we use to store and warm our foods. 

How can a woman manage her hormones during PMS specifically?

Experiencing mood swings before your period is a sign of hormonal imbalance. The good news is that it can definitely be fixed. To help, avoid the foods I mentioned before. You can also try calming your nerve through options like aromatherapy and consuming more magnesium, which can be found in foods like pumpkin seeds, chia seeds. Magnesium helps relax your mind and muscles. It helps with cramps as well. 

Why do you think there is such a knowledge gap when it comes to women’s health?

I think in Asian culture sexual topics aren’t as discussed and normalized. We need more education to be able to talk about it in a scientific way and to break the taboo.

You can find Dr Nichamon at Niche Clinic at MedAsia Healthcare Complex on Sukhumvit Soi 5. The clinic is open Monday to Saturday from 9am to 6pm. For more information, visit nichehealth.org or call 086-812-8888.