Dr. Aidanne MacDonald-Milewski, ND

11/20/2025

💗 Polycystic O***y Syndrome (PCOS) is the leading cause of female infertility, affecting 6-13% of women in the United States and significantly increasing the risk of type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular disease.

Diagnosis requires at least two of three key factors:
🌿Hyperandrogenism (elevated testosterone or symptoms like acne and hirsutism)
🌿Irregular or absent menstrual cycles
🌿Polycystic ovaries visible on ultrasound

Insulin resistance plays a central role in PCOS, driving excess androgen production and worsening symptoms such as weight gain, hair loss, and mood disturbances.

Both conventional and naturopathic approaches can help address the root causes of PCOS and restore hormonal balance.

👩🏻‍⚕️ Ready to take control of your PCOS? Let’s chat! Book your FREE 10-minute introductory call today (Link in Bio!)

You can also gain insight into my approach by reading my article here: https://www.draidannemm.com/post/_pcos
Disclaimer | This is not medical advice.

  

11/19/2025

If you guessed BERBERINE, you are correct! 🌿

Berberine is not itself a plant, but rather a powerful plant substance also known as an alkaloid that has substantial research backing its therapeutic benefits in a number of metabolic conditions.

✨ Blood Sugar Balance – Clinical trials show berberine significantly reduces fasting glucose, HbA1c, and post-meal blood sugar in type 2 diabetes, with effects comparable to metformin.

🥗 Cholesterol Support – Meta-analyses suggest that berberine offers meaningful reductions in LDL cholesterol (18-25%), triglycerides (30-35%), and total cholesterol, and modest increases in protective HDL.

💗 PCOS Management – Studies confirm that berberine use improves insulin resistance, hormonal balance, and metabolic parameters in women with PCOS, with a high safety profile.

💊 Typical Dosing: talk with your naturopathic doctor to learn more!

Given berberine has known drug interactions and should be avoided during pregnancy, it’s important to always consult your healthcare provider before starting this, or any new supplement.

Interested in learning more? Let’s chat! 👩🏻‍⚕️🌿

Book your FREE 10-minute introductory discovery call today (Link in Bio!)

References:
📕PMID: 18442638 (Diabetes efficacy)
📗PMID: 33981233 (Metabolic effects meta-analysis)
📘PMID: 36467075 (Glucose-lowering meta-analysis)
📙PMID: 30466986 (Lipid effects meta-analysis)
📕PMID: 23512497 (Blood lipids systematic review)
📗PMID: 15531889 (Cholesterol lowering mechanism)
📘PMID: 39236662 (PCOS fertility meta-analysis)
📙PMID: 38074133 (PCOS clinical trial)
📕PMID: 35251851 (PCOS vs metformin study)

Disclaimer | This is not medical advice.

11/18/2025

💩 The answer is no!

This may be common but it is not normal.

🚽 We define constipation as a stool frequency of fewer than three, organic or unprovoked bowel movements per week.

👩🏻‍⚕️🌱 To learn more about what contributes to constipation and ways to manage it, please see my recent article (Link in Bio!)
Disclaimer | This is not medical advice

11/14/2025

🌱Did you know that you can gently bring regularity your menstrual cycle by eating seeds at certain times of the month?

👩🏻‍⚕️ To learn more about seed cycling, see my article:

https://www.draidannemm.com/post/seed-cycling
Disclaimer | This is not medical advice.

.naturopathic

11/13/2025

👩🏻‍⚕️As a naturopathic doctor, my philosophy is to educate and empower my patients to achieve sustainable, optimal health and wellness that suits their individual needs.

Where I work to get to the root cause of my patient’s concerns I also encourage healthy lifestyle fundamentals to prevent disease down the road.

Naturopathic medicine is rooted in six core principles that guides my practice:
1️⃣ First, do no harm – choose the most gentle and effective path to healing.
2️⃣ The healing power of nature – trust the body’s innate wisdom to restore balance.
3️⃣ Identify and treat the root cause – not just the symptoms.
4️⃣ Doctor as teacher – empower and educate patients to take charge of their health.
5️⃣ Treat the whole person – body and mind are interconnected.
6️⃣ Prevention – support health now to prevent illness later.

My clinical “toolbox” includes:
🥗 Clinical nutrition
🌿 Botanical medicine
🏃🏻‍♀️ Lifestyle counseling
💊 Nutrient and supplement therapy
💧 Hydrotherapy
🧪 Functional and conventional lab testing

I’ve had the privilege of serving hundreds of individuals of all ages within my community to achieve better health.

If you’re ready to make a positive change toward your wellness, see the link in my bio to schedule your FREE 10-minute discovery call today!
.naturopathic

11/07/2025

🌱 Flax has readily become one of my go-to ways to use food as medicine for a myriad of GI and hormone related concerns!

💩 Ground flaxseed contains a mix of both soluble and insoluble fiber, which improve digestion by softening and bulking the stool. This is affective in alleviating constipation and promoting bowel movement regularity. Additionally, flaxseed’s prebiotic fibers help feed beneficial gut bacteria, which play a key role in regulating our immune response and nutrient absorption.

🤰🏻Flaxseeds are also rich in lignans which can help maintain estrogen balance by promoting the elimination of excess hormones and modulating the effects of natural estrogen. This makes flaxseed valuable for easing PCOS, PMS, and menopausal symptoms, as well as promoting egg quality for fertility efforts. Its high soluble fiber content also supports balanced blood sugar and insulin sensitivity, which are critical for hormonal health, especially in conditions like PCOS.

👨🏻Lignans can also help men’s health concerns by balancing testosterone and promote prostate health by lowering PSA.

If you’re ready to make a simple, evidence-informed wellness boost, consider adding 1-2 tbsp to your routine.

👩🏻‍⚕️I purchase my ground flax at our local Co-op!

If you’re newer to flax and are unsure of how to use it, ground flax seeds can be:
✨Mixed into a smoothie, oatmeal, or added to greek yogurt with berries and walnuts as part of a breakfast
✨Used to garnish soups or mixed into sauces
✨Mixed into meatballs or used a thickening agent in leu of eggs
✨Baked into dishes such as zucchini bread, protein pancakes, or pies this Thanksgiving
.naturopathic

Disclaimer | This is not medical advice.

11/06/2025

👩🏻‍⚕️ I love what I do, and am very grateful to work with such wonderful people in my community.

✨ Call (612)643-9387 to schedule your FREE 10-Minute Discovery call to start your journey toward better health & learn more about Naturopathic Medicine.
       

11/05/2025

❄️ Happy Holidays!

We will be out of the office celebrating the season with loved ones:

🦃 November 27th & 28th
❄️ December 23rd - 28th
✨ December 31st - January 2nd

What a great time to prioritize your health, before the bustle of the holiday season!

✨ Don’t forget✨ If you have HSA or FSA funds, now’s a great time to use them before the year ends! Invest in your well-being and make the most of your benefits.

👩🏻‍⚕️Visit the link in my bio to schedule your appointment today!

11/05/2025

10/28/2025

☀️Daylight saving time is coming to a close this Sunday!

One of the best ways to ease your system through this change is to shift bedtime 10-15 minutes later each night starting today!

Interested in learning more? Check out my most recent article at:

https://www.draidannemm.com/post/daylight-saving

09/10/2025

✨Insulin resistance may seem like a fad term, but it’s actually a key metabolic shift that changes how our bodies handle sugar (aka glucose) and energy.

Insulin resistance is defined as the impaired physiological response to insulin in target tissues, especially the liver, muscle, and adipose (aka fat).

When these tissues are unable to respond effectively, glucose removal from the blood stream is reduced. To keep blood sugar levels normal, the pancreas works overtime producing more insulin. This is protective in the short term, but can cause hyperinsulinemia over time that can be detrimental to one’s health.

Insulin resistance increases the risk of conditions such as:
🔥 Type 2 diabetes
🔥 Metabolic syndrome
🔥 Polycystic o***y syndrome (PCOS)
🔥 Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
🔥 Overweight
🔥 Anovulation, Infertility & Gestational Diabetes
🔥 Cardiovascular disease & more

Interested in diving into this deeper? See my article on this topic on my website 👩🏻‍⚕️🌿

Disclaimer | This is not medical advice.

09/04/2025

✨👩🏻‍🌾 Just secured these beauties before the squirrels could sn**ch them!

Tomatoes & cucumbers are both refreshing and offer significant nutritional benefits that can support both women’s and men’s health.

Tomatoes
🍅 Are rich in lycopene, a carotenoid with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that help lower the risk of chronic diseases (cancer, cardiovascular disease, neurodegeneration).
🍅 Are great sources of other antioxidants such as vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin A, folate, potassium, fiber, and phenolic compounds, contributing to immune health, skin integrity, and cellular repair
🍅 Have been shown to assist in blood pressure regulation, cholesterol control, improved blood circulation, and reduction of inflammation, aiding in overall cardiovascular health.
🍅 Supports digestive function and aids in the prevention of constipation
🍅 May provide protective effects against metabolic syndrome and obesity

From available literature we know that lycopene intake is associated with lower cancer risk, especially prostate cancer in men and breast cancer in women. (Happy to share the literature in a DM with any other research enthusiasts out there!)

Cucumbers
🥒 Are composed of 96% water, therefore, they aid in hydration and are very low in calories, making them an excellent food for weight management.
🥒 Contain vitamin K (higher than tomatoes), which is important for bone health and blood clotting.[7]
🥒 Provide antioxidants, such as cucurbitacins, flavonoids, and phenolic acids, which have anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic, and anti-diabetic properties.
🥒 Show potential for blood pressure & cholesterol reduction
🥒 Have been used traditionally for supporting skin health and for their cooling, tonic, and detoxifying effects.
Disclaimer | This is not medical advice