If you don’t see your condition here please contact our office for more details.

This package is intended for new clients without medical conditions or medications who would like to obtain expert advice on possible options for natural supplements best suited to your particular biochemical and nutritional requirements to prevent disease .

This package is ideal for those individuals who would like general advice on which vitamins and natural remedies are right for them and wish to take a more natural preventative approach to healthcare.

For more information on the “Online Mini-Consult” Questionnaire and to receive your “Personalized Health Assessment Package” click here.

Or if you’re ready to fill out your “Mini-Consult” Questionnaire and receive your “Personalized Health Assessment” by completing the “Medical Symptoms Questionnaire“(MSQ) and to assess your Health Quotient.

To immediately begin your assessment after reading all the details about how to get started, simply.

* This package is not suitable for individuals who have any medical conditions, disease diagnosis, or are taking prescription medications or need a personal consult with the practitioner. In these instances, a full assessment (package C or D) is required before any therapeutic supplemental therapies can be undertaken.

If you have any questions or concerns please contact us and we would be happy to discuss your condition and send you out additional information including what to expect and our current fee schedules.

This package is intended for individuals with serious degenerative conditions (Cancer etc.) which will require extensive research and support.

In such cases we require significantly more time to develop a protocol which is optimal to restore health and/or to support your current health condition. 

In such serious conditions it is always necessary to have up to a 1.5 hour second visit to thoroughly review your protocol in detail.

For more information on this package or if you have any questions or concerns please contact us and we would be happy to discuss your condition and send you out additional information including what to expect and our current fee schedules.

This package is intended for those individuals who have an existing medical conditions (i.e. Hypertension, Diabetes, Arthritis, etc) and may or may not be taking medications.

In such cases we require additional research and time to develop a protocol which is optimal to restore your health therefore a second visit is needed to review the program in detail.

For more information on this package or if you have any questions or concerns please contact us and we would be happy to discuss your condition and send you out additional information including what to expect and our current fee schedules.

This package is intended for new clients who would like a brief visit to meet the practitioner, review and discuss possible options for their particular condition.

This package is ideal for those individuals who would prefer to meet the practitioner to discuss their options and wish to take a more natural approach to healthcare.

Note: $89.00 Fee can be applied as a credit to your account in the event you should decide to make an initial appointment

For more information on this package or if you have any questions or concerns please contact us and we would be happy to discuss your condition and send you out additional information including what to expect and our current fee schedules.

Package A -New Clients (90 minute total) 

This package is intended for new clients without medical conditions or medications who would like expert advice on possible options for supplements suited to your particular biochemical and nutritional requirements.

This package is ideal for those individuals who would like to meet the practitioner to discuss their options and wish to take a more natural preventative approach to healthcare.

* This package is not suitable for individuals who have any medical conditions, disease diagnosis, or are taking prescription medications. In these instances, a full assessment (package C or D) is required before any supplemental therapies can be undertaken.

For more information on this package or if you have any questions or concerns please contact us and we would be happy to discuss your condition and send you out additional information including what to expect and our current fee schedules.

Symptoms like mood swings, low sex drive and hot flashes may be a sign of hormone imbalance. Saliva hormone testing may reveal hormone imbalances that contribute to chronic health problems or hormone conditions. It can also be used to monitor hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and in anti-aging and disease prevention programs.

Our information sheets on male hormone conditions and female hormone conditions will help you to decide whether saliva hormone testing is necessary. Saliva hormone testing is most useful for uncovering hormone imbalance. Once a hormone imbalance has been uncovered, nutritional or bio-identical hormone therapy can be instituted. 

Saliva testing can also be used to approximate whether hormone levels are too high or too low as a result of supplementation, but the actual dosage adjustment will still be symptom driven. In other words, if hormone levels are above range, a dosage reduction may be indicated, but the practitioner must make his or her best estimation as to the dosage adjustment needed, and carefully monitor patient symptoms to ensure that adjustments are reasonable.

Why should women have salivary hormone levels tested?

Whether it is during the reproductive years, peri-menopause or post menopause stages, whenever there are symptoms of hormone imbalance, a salivary hormone test may provide some insight. Symptoms of hormone imbalance include but are not limited to:

• PMS (mood fluctuations, headaches, water retention, painful periods, heavy bleeding etc),
• Irregular or infrequent periods, fertility issues
• Symptoms of menopause: hot flashes, decreased libido, vaginal dryness, insomnia, mood fluctuations (anxiety/depression) etc.

Why should men have salivary hormone levels tested?

Middle aged men go through andropause (which is the male version of menopause). Andropause is a condition that is associated with a decrease in testosterone. The symptoms of andropause can come on gradually since after the age of 30 a man’s production of testosterone decreases approximately 10% each decade. About 30% of men in their fifties will experience symptoms of andropause due to lower testosterone levels. Without appropriate treatment, a man with low testosterone may have a number of symptoms and could be at an increased risk of other serious health conditions such as osteoporosis and heart disease. Although symptoms may vary from person to person, common symptoms of men going through andropause include:

• Low sex drive, difficulties getting erections or erections that are not as strong as usual
• Fatigue or lack of energy, depression, nervousness or anxiety
• Mental fatigue or inability to concentrate
• Irritability and mood swings (ranging from sadness to anger)
• Reduced motivation and drive,
• Loss of strength or muscle mass, loss of physical agility, increased body fat, hair loss
• Poor sleep quality or insomnia

Saliva collection is painless and more convenient for the patient, particularly when multiple samples are required. The following five hormones make up the salivary hormone panel: Cortisol, DHEAS, Estradiol, Estriol, Estrone, Progesterone and Testosterone. Interactions between these hormones are fundamental to health and, as a consequence, imbalances may negatively impact health.

If you have any other questions or require more information regarding saliva hormone testing or would like to view a sample report contact us at the clinic or simply call to reserve your appointment today!

The Darkfield examination is particularly suitable for the evaluation of patients experiencing chronic diseases, recurring bacterial problems, Candida and other fungal problems and children who are prone to infections. It can also provide answers to questions concerning chronic toxicity (e.g. amalgam disturbances).

By studying the shape and functioning of red blood cells, white blood cells, and the presence of metabolic by-products and pathogenic micro-organisms, Darkfield Microscopy allows the Practitioner to evaluate the health of someone’s “terrain”.

What is Live Blood Cell Analysis?

Live Blood Cell Analysis is performed only by Certified Practitioners using a method called Darkfield Microscopy. The method originates in Germany and it is frequently used by both mainstream and alternative doctors in Europe. Greatly because of the work of pioneering Canadian scientist Gaston Naessens, Darkfield Microscopy is gaining more popularity with holistically-minded health practitioners throughout North America.

The procedure consists of taking one drop of blood from the client’s finger and placing the sample immediately under the microscope. The actual collection takes approximately 1-2 seconds and it is regarded by most people as being pain free.

In Darkfield Microscopy, we observe the live blood cells magnified 1,500 times and displayed on a video screen. What we see are the usual red blood cells, white blood cells, plasma, and what is floating in the plasma: microbes, parasites, undigested food, fungi, and crystals.

What Types of Problems Can Live Blood Cell Analysis Detect?

• Parasites/Bacteria

• Fungal infestation/Yeast/Candida

• Digestive insufficiency

• Nutritional deficiencies: B vitamin deficiency, Iron deficiency

• Hormonal imbalances

• Dehydration

• Liver or bowel toxicity

• Immune system function

• Free radical damage

• Allergic tendencies

• Uric acid crystal accumulation and risk for gout

• Kidney function

• Heavy metal toxicity

• Atherosclerotic plaque; early recognition of cardiovascular risk factors

• Poor circulation, oxygenation level and abnormal blood clotting

Darkfield Microscopy allows the Practitioner to evaluate the health of someone’s “terrain”. If you have any other questions regarding live cell analysis or require more information contact us at the clinic or simply call to reserve your appointment today!

Iridology analysis consists of taking a simple, non-invasive picture of the eyes (iris) with a specialized camera that allows us to discover why various current health challenges exist and prevent those which may occur in the future.

Iris analysis tells you the location of the tissue weakness, the depth or the seriousness of the condition and the anticipated length of time it takes to restore that particular tissue back to health. No other diagnostic available can determine this with such accuracy.

Iridology is an extremely valuable tool for anyone interested in identifying the root causes of health problems. Iridology can allow you to see disease years before it is medically diagnosed by pinpointing tissue weaknesses which will foretell of future disease conditions in the body.

This 300-year-old science that has been tried and tested throughout history to be extremely accurate in determining tissue weaknesses in the body including:

For more information on iridology please go to our health information tab and follow the links.

If you have any other questions regarding iridology analysis or would like more information contact us at the clinic or simply call to reserve your appointment today!

Toxic elements concentrate in soft tissue rather than blood or urine, so hair analysis is uniquely suited for measuring toxic elements. Elemental analysis also provides information on the absorption and assimilation of nutritionally important elements (e.g. iron, copper), making it useful for assessing nutrient deficiencies and imbalances as well.

This test is an inexpensive and easy way to discover how your body handles toxic elements. It can also give useful information on your body’s stores of essential elements like selenium, magnesium and calcium.

Hair mineral and toxic elements analysis has been used primarily to determine whether a person has had excessive exposure to toxic elements such as lead, mercury or arsenic: the heavy metals that are known to cause serious health problems.

If you have any other questions or require more information regarding hair mineral and toxic elements analysis or would like to view a sample report contact us at the clinic or simply call to reserve your appointment today! ]]> http://www.biosishealthcare.com/heavy-metal-testing/feed/ 0 http://www.biosishealthcare.com/food-allergy-testing/ http://www.biosishealthcare.com/food-allergy-testing/#comments Fri, 25 Jan 2013 12:59:29 +0000 admin http://www.biosishealthcare.com/?p=77 Read More]]>

Food Sensitivity Testing may be helpful if you experience any of the following symptoms: ADD/ADHD, irritable bowel syndrome, headaches, high blood pressure, inflamed blood vessels (usually show up as small red or purple dots on legs), asthma,, recurrent lung infections, skin conditions, joint pain, anxiety or depression, runny nose or watery eyes and many other symptoms.

Why test for food intolerance?

Blood spot testing for IgG provides a simple, painless and practical means for practitioners to uncover potential causes of allergic reactions and allergy related disease. Specific IgG quantification has been utilized in research settings to assess and investigate Type I and Type III allergies respectively. IgG reactions develop slowly, up to several hours or days after exposure to a food allergen, so testing is often the only way of determining which foods are responsible.

The allergy test report graphs IgG immune response to each of the tested food allergens. If you have any other questions regarding food sensitivity testing and require more information or would like to view a sample report contact us at the clinic or simply call to reserve your appointment today!

Besides the effect that antigens and agglutination has on our health, there is a scientific link with blood types and our diet. There is a chemical reaction between your blood and the foods you eat. This is due to your genetic inheritance. It is also true because of a factor called lectins. Lectins, that are proteins found in foods, have agglutinating properties that affect your blood. They will ‘glue’ themselves to other organisms in your body.

Say for example, you eat a food that contains protein lectins that are incompatible with your blood type antigen. The lectins will target an organ or bodily system (kidneys, liver, brain, stomach, etc.) and begin to ‘glue’ or agglutinate cells in that area. Once the intact lectin protein settles someplace in your body, a clumping of cells begins which creates the destruction process. If located in the intestines, then irritable bowel syndrome is experienced, if in the liver, then cirrhosis and the list goes on.

Blood type testing allows you to understand which foods are right for your type and which foods cause antigenic reactions and subsequent agglutination which significantly impairs the body’s optimal performance. The test requires only a few drops of blood that quickly (approx. 10 minutes) and easily determines your blood type, Genotype, or secretor status – all without trips to the doctor, waiting weeks for test results, or expensive lab fees.

If you have any other questions or would like more information contact us at the clinic or simply call to reserve your appointment today!

Complementary and Adjunct Cancer Therapies

Every year millions of people are diagnosed with this serious condition which is not a disease as much as it is a symptom that the body is no longer able to regulate cellular homeostasis.

Cancer is often caused by the combination of nutrient deficiencies and the limit of toxicity that the body can tolerate results in mutagenic changes to our DNA, abnormal cell replication and thus cancer.

The Concept of Cancer Development

Most people are surprised to find out that you don’t catch cancer, you build it! Most people are surprised to find out that it takes 20 years to build a cancer.  90% of cancers are due to environmental toxins and nutritional deficiencies.

Malignant tumors do not develop in a healthy body with intact defense and repair functions. They grow in a specific internal environment which develops as a consequence of multiple factors and conditions.

The optimal approach to cancer attends to both the tumor and the tumor host, ie.: the cancer afflicted person as a whole. Standard cancer treatment is based on the “localistic” concept that views the malignant tumor as the beginning of a disease which progressively spreads throughout the body. The holistic concept views cancer as a systemic disease from the onset and the tumor as its late stage symptom. This concept, therefore, calls for a holistic strategy in order to achieve optimal treatment results. Based on the holistic concept, the treatment has two main lines of approach to cancer which complement each other:

Medical Treatment

A. Treatment aiming at the removal or reduction of the tumor: (ie.) conventional medicine.  This is achieved through surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and hormone therapy.

Complementary Treatment

B. Non-specific immunobiological basic treatment aimed at the restoration of the impaired defense, repair and regulatory functions of the tumor host.  (ie) Holistic Medicine -treating the root cause and repairing the terrain in which the cancer developed in the first place.

The basic treatment is modified to suit each individual patient’s needs which includes:

• Elimination of all possible exogenous (external) and endogenous (internal) causal factors that may lead to an impairment of the immune functions and may contribute to a transformation of symbiotic microorganisms into pathogens.

• Malnutrition to be replaced by a diet designed to meet the special needs with supplementation of vitamins, anti-oxidants, minerals, trace elements, enzymes.

• Abnormal bacterial intestinal flora to be normalized by diet and long term administration probiotic cultures.

• Head foci of infection such as dental (root canal etc) to be removed by surgical intervention.

• Psychic stress to be relieved by psychological guidance, in single and group therapy, biofeedback, relaxation techniques, meditation, visualization.

• Physical therapy, hydrotherapy, breathing techniques, massage, lymph drainage etc.

• Activation of cellular respiration by oxygen-ozone therapy in various forms,

• Detoxification, i.e. elimination of toxins by activation of liver and kidney function assisted by herbal extracts and high fluid intake, colon hydrotherapy, enemas, enzyme therapy and homeopathy among others.

In addition to your medical treatment, proper diet and specific food choices along with the elimination of cancer-causing materials from our external world, as well as; our internal organs is critical to the successful treatment of all types of cancer.

We employ a combination of the latest clinically validated treatments involving detoxification, proper nutrition and supplementation along with the most effective natural therapies available to bring about relief to our cancer patients.

We have even succeeded in bringing about remission of the disease in certain patients who are now leading happy lives under our advice and supervision. If you or someone you know is suffering from cancer, contact us to find out about the many extremely effective alternative treatments currently available for your particular condition.

One of the most important aspects of disease prevention and maintenance of optimal health is a strong understanding of how foods impact our health. You may have heard that fruits and vegetables have antioxidants such as carotenoids, vitamin C and bioflavonoids but there are also other foods that can be used as medicines and therapies as well. Ginger and curcumin for example contain potent anti-inflammatory properties which help reduce inflammation and pain in the body. Whereas green vegetables contain chlorophyll which are blood purifiers and certain ones such as the Brassica family foods which include broccoli and brussels sprouts contain potent chemicals known as indole-3-carbinol which help protect the body from carcinogens especially those which promote cancer such as those of the breast and prostate.

Based on this important principle we take great care in preparing the most nutritious and delicious meals to help support your health and prevent disease.

After evaluating your current health status and particular nutritional needs whether you’re a senior with specific health needs, on medications, suffer from food allergies or food sensitivities or have any other special needs such as those found in Celiac or Crohn’s disease for example who have compromised the digestive capacities or if you’re suffering from arthritic conditions which require the avoidance of certain foods known as the” nightshade family” we carefully prepare a diet specifically tailored to your needs. The meal plan is created according to your needs and does take into account your likes, dislikes as well any special requirements you may have.

Your finished protocol includes a personalized meal plan made exclusively for you and includes:

• A delicious and nutrient dense customized easy-to-follow 7-day diet menu according to your health condition complete with breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack recommendations.

• Included you’ll also receive a full 14 page recipe manual complete with easy-to-follow recipes outlining exactly how to prepare each dietary recommendation and the nutritional content of many of the meals to help you understand why your eating them.

For more information on this package or if you have any questions or concerns please contact us and we would be happy to discuss your condition and send you out additional information including what to expect and our current fee schedules.

Supplement Protocols

Vitamins are essential nutrients that contribute to a healthy life. Although most people get vitamins from the foods they eat, millions of people worldwide take supplemental vitamins as part of their health regimen. Due to our modern living standards the processing of foods which leads to nutrient deficiencies along with commercial agriculture and soil depletion health care professionals are in agreement that most people need to take some sort of vitamin and mineral supplement.

Why take Vitamins?

There are many good reasons to consider taking vitamin supplements, such as multivitamins. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, doctors as well as other allied healthcare professionals recommend that you take them:

• for most chronic degenerative health problems including cancer
• if you eat a vegetarian or vegan diet
• if you are pregnant or breastfeeding
• for disease prevention and restoration
• to provide optimal health and disease prevention
• to provide extra support to athletes and those who are living under stressful conditions

Vitamin Facts

Vitamins are essential for cellular function and critical to good health. Your body uses vitamins for a variety of biological processes, including growth, digestion, and nerve function to name a few. There are 13 vitamins that the body absolutely needs: vitamins A, C, D, E, K, and the B vitamins (thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, biotin, vitamin B-6, vitamin B-12 and folate). There are two categories of vitamins including:

• Water-soluble vitamins are easily absorbed by the body, which doesn’t store large amounts. The kidneys remove those vitamins that are not needed. These include all the B vitamins and vitamin C. 
• Fat-soluble vitamins are absorbed into the body with the use of bile acids, which are fluids used to absorb fat. The body stores these for use as needed. These include vitamin A, D, E and K.

Mineral Facts

There are several minerals which are necessary components for good health to exist and all of these minerals come from our soil that is heavily depleted due to modern agriculture practices and the refining of our food supply.

Some of the minerals include the following:

• Calcium -essential to muscle contraction, nerve conductivity, bone and tooth structure
• Magnesium -essential to proper cardiac function, muscle function and ATP energy production
• Potassium -essential to electrical conductivity within the body, muscle function and cellular biochemistry
• Chromium -essential to proper blood sugar regulation
• Zinc- essential in over 100 enzymatic reactions including immune function, fertility and others
• Selenium -essential in cancer prevention, antioxidant protection and cell membrane health
• Vanadium -essential to insulin production and healthy blood sugar levels
• Iodine -essential to proper thyroid function which regulates every cell in your body
• Manganese -essential to mucopolysaccharide production, healthy connective tissue (joints , tendons)
• Molybdenum -essential in the liver detoxification of aldehydes, sulfites and other toxins.

Because each person is a unique individual and has specific family history, inherit weaknesses and medical history, the most important thing is to identify which minerals are missing and then provide them in the proper amounts for the particular individual and just as importantly in the right forms.

For example, there are many different types of calcium including MCHC, aspartate, citrate, malate, carbonate and so on, each one has a different function and different bioavailability/absorption rate. MCHC for example is used for rebuilding bones whereas the better absorbed aspartate form would be used for muscle contraction and nerve conductivity. Ultimately, based on your assessment we formulate protocols that provide the right type, form and dosages at orthomolecular levels to restore any deficiencies back to optimal levels.

In today’s North American society, more and more people suffer from nutritional (vitamins & mineral) deficiencies. They are caused by a variety of things, but poor diet is typically number one on the list. We are eating more refined, processed, artificially flavored, pesticide and antibiotic-laden foods than ever before. Prescription medication, stress and other negative lifestyle choices (alcohol, tobacco and drugs) will also cause nutritional deficiencies. Other reasons for nutritional deficiencies include soil nutrient depletion and modern agriculture practices which fail to provide adequate amounts of the elemental nutrients necessary for good health.

Since the needs of each individual vary greatly, a complete health assessment is necessary to identify which nutrients are right for you and then to provide you with superior supplements in the correct dosages, and at the right times in order to enhance your health. This is referred to as orthomolecular nutrition and is one of the most effective forms of restoring biochemistry to the body and reversing chronic disease conditions.

Your finished protocol includes a personal customized supplement protocol made exclusively for you and includes:

• a professionally prepared personalized nutrition protocol outlining exactly which vitamins, minerals, enzymes, herbs, glandular extracts, homeopathic remedies and specific foods would be optimal for restoring your health and wellness.
• a complete monograph of each supplement recommendation fully referenced by the most current scientific data available for your peace of mind. Please note-These monographs are only available with package C and D.

For more information or if you have any questions or concerns please contact us and we would be happy to discuss your condition and send you out additional information including what to expect and our current fee schedules.

Health Programs and Protocols

At Biosis Healthcare Center our approach to your health and wellbeing are very different from the traditional medical model because our exclusive preventative assessments are just the beginning of the vast solution-oriented services that we offer.

As one of Canada’s leading healthcare centers, we also provide year-round follow-up and individualized wellness programs. We custom tailor comprehensive health protocols according to what your body requires to enhance your everyday well-being by integrating holistic health and lifestyle solutions.  As a result, the Biosis Healthcare can enable you to restore your health to a new level.

Assessment services

Our custom tailored health programs for the whole family begin with a comprehensive health assessment including;

• extensive & detailed review of all medical & family history
• review of all medications
• review of all medical reports including blood work, ultrasound, CT scans, x-rays etc.
• medical symptoms
• iridology assessment
• general fitness assessment
• complete dietary assessment
• comprehensive nutritional assessment
• physical assessment of various body parts including your oral health, spinal health, and more.

We offer the most in-depth comprehensive health analysis of your medical, dietary and lifestyle in order to discover your specific health needs. We also provide various lab assessment services if required to detect any other contributor factors to your health challenges including food allergy testing, heavy metal testing, live blood cell analysis and saliva hormone testing among others.

Post-Assessment Services – Year-Round Commitment to Your Health

 Unlike other healthcare providers, after the completion of your initial assessment, you will meet with our advisory team to review and better understand your assessment results.  At that time you will receive a personalized protocol designed to help you achieve your health goals.  Once you start your program, we’re with you every step of the way to support and guide you on your journey back to health.

For more information see our “Health Assessment Packages” section or call us to discuss your particular health needs today!

PMS is a cluster of physical and emotional symptoms associated with the menstrual cycle.

Most women experience some degree of PMS at some point in their menstrual history, although symptoms vary significantly from woman to woman. Reproductive hormones and neurotransmitters are thought to play a central role in PMS. 

Five to ten days prior to menses, estrogen levels rise and progesterone levels decline. These changes are accompanied by an increase in something known as follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) six to nine days prior to menstruation. Then, around two to eight days before menstruation aldosterone levels peak. Prolactin levels are elevated in most PMS patients. So you can see that a lot of changes are occurring in a short period of time. 

There are many theories around what causes these major changes to occur and why they are more dramatic in some women and less dramatic in others. One theory is that the way that the body uses vitamins and minerals may be a factor. Another hypothesis is that there is some deviation in the viscosity or thickness of the blood along with a change in the amount of water within the red blood cells during the menstrual cycle. 

PMS can be divided into four subtypes: 

PMS-A (Anxiety) 

• Anxiety
• Irritability
• Nervous tension 

PMS-C (Cravings)  

• Increase in appetite
• Craving for simple carbohydrates
• Fluctuations in blood sugar
• Eating a lot of sugars results in fatigue, headaches, palpitations, dizziness, or fainting 

PMS-D (Depression)  

• Depression
• Tearfulness
• Confusion
• Insomnia 

PMS-H (Hyperhydration) 

• Water retention
• Abdominal bloating
• Breast tenderness
• Weight gain 

For most women, PMS produces symptoms that are annoying but manageable. For some, PMS is debilitating, leaving the woman unable to carryout daily activities. Moderate to severe PMS can be divided into four subtypes.

• PMS-A (Anxiety) is the most common type of PMS. Symptoms include anxiety, irritability, and nervous tension. Elevated estrogen and low progesterone levels are associated with this type.

• PMS-C (Cravings) is characterized by an increase in appetite, craving for simple carbohydrates (breads, sugars, grains, snack foods), and fluctuations in blood sugar. Giving in to this craving results in fatigue, headaches, racing heart beats, dizziness, or fainting.

• PMS-D (Depression) is the least common but most serious type of PMS. Symptoms include depression, tearfulness, confusion, insomnia, and withdrawal from daily and social activities. Low levels of estrogen, high progesterone, and elevated adrenal androgens are all found in this subtype. In 1994, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th Ed.) (DSM-IVR) included “premenstrual dysphoric disorder” among its catalog of disorders.

• PMS-H (Hyperhydration) is associated with symptoms of water retention, abdominal bloating, breast tenderness, and weight gain. High levels of aldosterone may be a factor, which is thought to increase in the presence of stress, high levels of estrogen, and low levels of magnesium and dopamine 

What are Menstrual Cramps?  

Menstrual cramps, or dysmenorrhea (as physicians call it), are one of the most common healthcare problems that women suffer during their reproductive years. It has been estimated that as many as 30 to 50 percent of all women suffer from pain during their menstrual period, with the incidence being highest in younger women, from teenagers to women in their thirties.                                                                             

In fact, at least 10 percent of younger women have symptoms so severe that they are unable to handle their normal range of activities. Many women have to miss days of work and important social functions because any movement or activity is too painful. For the first day or two of menstruation, only bed rest or curling up on the floor in the fetal position is tolerable until the symptoms finally pass. This often happened to me during my teens and twenties. 

Besides the lower abdominal pain, cramp sufferers can also experience backache, pinching and pain sensations in their inner thighs, bloating, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, faintness, dizziness, fatigue, and headaches. For those women who must curtail their activities because of cramps, these problems translate into billions of dollars of lost wages and productivity on the job, as well as a significant decrease in the quality of life for several days each month. 

In fact, the gynecology textbook that I used during my medical training estimated that menstrual cramps caused the loss of 140 million work hours annually. It is no wonder that women with moderate to severe cramps regard their monthly period with apprehension and even dread. 

Despite the many symptoms and the millions of sufferers, menstrual cramps have been traditionally considered by the medical community to be a “minor” female ailment. Doctors treated women as if the problem were “all in their heads.” The problem was either ignored or else treated with powerful painkilling drugs and tranquilizers. Often these drugs had significant side effects and did nothing to alleviate or help prevent the problem on a long term basis. Luckily, the medical community’s interest in menstrual cramps has increased during the past two decades. Researchers understand much more about what causes menstrual cramps on a physiological basis. This has led to newer, much more effective drug treatments, as well as nutritional and other lifestyle related therapies. 

The Normal Menstrual Cycle 

It is important to look at the normal menstrual cycle and see how it functions. This background will make it easier for you to understand why painful menstruation occurs. 

First, understand why we menstruate. Menstruation refers to the shedding of the uterine lining, or endometrium. Each month the uterus prepares a thick, blood-rich cushion to nourish and house a fertilized egg. If pregnancy doesn’t occur and the egg doesn’t implant in the uterus, then the body doesn’t need this extra buildup of the uterine lining. The uterus cleanses itself by releasing the extra blood and tissue so that a fresh buildup can occur all over again the following month, in preparation for a possible pregnancy. 

The mechanism that regulates the buildup and shedding of the uterine lining is controlled by fluctuations in your hormonal levels. It begins each month when follicle stimulating hormones (FSH) and luteinizing hormones (LH) are released from the pituitary, a gland located at the base of the brain. Once FSH and LH are released into the bloodstream, their destination is the ovaries. The ovaries hold all the eggs a woman will ever have, in an inactive form called follicles. 

During each cycle, the FSH and LH from the pituitary gland cause one follicle to ripen, and normally one egg is released for possible fertilization. As part of this pro-cess, the follicles begin to produce the hormones estrogen and progesterone. Estrogen reaches its peak during the first half of the cycle as the newly released egg is maturing. Progesterone output occurs after midcycle when ovulation has occurred. Ovulation refers to the production of a mature egg cell. 

Besides preparing the egg for fertilization, estrogen and progesterone stimulate the lining of the uterus. During the first two weeks following menstruation, estrogen causes the uterine lining to gradually rebuild itself. The inner mucous layer of glands of the endometrium begin to grow long, and the lining thickens through an increase in the number of blood vessels as well as the production of a mesh of fibers that interconnect throughout the lining. By midcycle, the lining of the uterus has increased three times in thickness and has a greatly increased blood supply. 

After midcycle, usually around day 14, ovulation occurs; the egg is picked up by the fallopian tube and continues on to the uterus. The follicle that has produced the egg for that month (graafian follicle) is further stimulated after midcycle by LH and changes into a yellow body, or corpus luteum. It is the corpus luteum that secretes progesterone. Progesterone has further effects on the uterine lining. It causes a coiling of the blood vessels of the lining, which becomes swollen and tortuous and secretes a thick mucous.

If the egg is fertilized, it will implant on the uterine wall and the corpus luteum will continue to secrete progesterone. If no fertilization occurs, the corpus luteum begins to deteriorate and the progesterone levels decrease. The lining of the uterus starts to break down and menstruation begins. 

Types of Menstrual Cramps 

There are two types of menstrual cramps: primary dysmenorrhea, in which the pain itself is the main problem; and secondary dysmenorrhea, in which the pain is a consequence of another underlying health problem. 

Primary spasmodic dysmenorrhea is the type most commonly found in young women in their early teens to late twenties. It is more common in women who have never borne children. In fact, childbearing seems to mark the end of the primary spasmodic type of cramps in many women. It is characterized by sharp, viselike pains that are caused by a constriction and tightening of the uterine muscle. Some women also feel these sharp pains in the inner thighs and low abdominal muscles, and some additionally experience feelings of hot and cold, faintness to the point of passing out, nausea, vomiting, and bowel changes varying from constipation to diarrhea. The immediate cause of the cramping is that the uterine muscle and the blood vessels that supply the uterus are tight and contracted. Blood circulation and oxygenation to this area are diminished, so the metabolism of the uterus and pelvic muscles is decreased. Waste products of metabolism, such as carbon dioxide and lactic acid, build up, intensifying the pain and discomfort. 

Treatment Options 

Conventional 

Conventional management of PMS symptoms includes drugs which work with either the hormones, water retention, pain, or mood. In some instances a combination of therapies is recommended. These therapies might include oral contraceptives, diuretics, NSAID’s, and anti-depressants. 

Natural Treatment

There are a great many vitamins, minerals, herbal supplements and other natural remedies that have been shown to effectively treat this condition safely and effectively. Which therapies are chosen will be based on the root cause and not just the symptom. Your practitioner will carefully evaluate your situation and put together an effective protocol with natural remedies rather than dangerous medications that merely treat the symptom.

Over­all, it’s more impor­tant to focus on the root cause and what are the under­ly­ing mechanisms that are caus­ing the condition rather than just treat­ing it symp­to­mati­cally. 

Each person is encour­aged to seek out a qual­i­fied nutri­tion­ist or other qualified healthcare practitioner in order to assess exactly which nutri­ents, herbs, home­o­pathics and nat­ural reme­dies; in which com­bi­na­tion; in what pro­por­tion are right for the par­tic­u­lar indi­vid­ual and are intended at treat­ing the root cause rather than just a symptom.

Cellular detoxification is a critical ongoing process for achieving and maintaining health in the human body.

It involves the elimination of substances which are poisonous and for which the body has no further constructive use and therefore must be eliminated in order to prevent dysfunction and sickness in the body.

All healthy cells automatically detoxify themselves everyday however, these detoxification mechanisms are overwhelmed by an increasingly toxic world which we live in and are nutrient dependent and require specific vitamins, minerals and amino acids in order to execute their function properly.

Supporting our elimination organs including the liver, lungs, kidneys and bowels are important because we live in an ever-growing toxic environment that lacks the clean air, water and food we once enjoyed. For these reasons, periodic detoxification of the body is necessary for the removal of wastes and toxins to attain and maintain optimal health and prevent diseases, including cancers.

In addition to toxins present in our food air and water, most people are surprised to find out that prescription medications also add a significant toxic burden on us and the more medications a person takes , the greater the chance of significant adverse effects from those drugs. The side effects of these medications are especially important for older people because they are more sensitive to the adverse effects of these drugs and whenever possible our treatments and therapies can help safely reduce or even eliminate the need for medications.

Sir Arbuthnot Lane

Sir Arbuthnot Lane, who was a surgeon for the King of England, spent many years specializing in bowel problems. He was an expert at removing sections of the bowel and stitching it back together. He taught this work to other doctors and gained an international reputation for his efficiency. During the years of this work, he began to notice a peculiar phenomenon. During the course of recovery from colonic surgery, some of his patients experienced remarkable cures of diseases that had no apparent connection with his surgery. For instance, a young boy who had arthritis for many years was in a wheel chair at the time of surgery. Six months later, this boy had recovered entirely from the disease. Another case involved a woman with a goiter. When a specific section of the bowel was removed in surgery, there ensued a definite remission of the goiter within six months.

These and similar experiences impressed him so much because he saw the relationship between the toxic bowel and the functioning of various organs in the body. After much thought about this relationship, he became very interested in changing the bowel through dietetic methods and spent the last 25 years of his life teaching people how to care for the bowel through nutrition and not surgery.

Sir Lane has said, “All maladies are due to the tack of certain food principles, such as mineral salts or vitamins, or to the absence of the normal defenses of the body such as the natural protective flora. When this occurs, toxic bacteria invade the lower alimentary canal, and the poisons thus generated pollute the bloodstream and gradually deteriorate and destroy every tissue, gland and organ of the body.”

Over­all, it’s more impor­tant to focus on the root cause and what are the under­ly­ing mech­a­nisms that are caus­ing sickness and lack of vitality rather than just treat­ing it symp­to­mati­cally.  Each per­son is encour­aged to seek out a qual­i­fied nutri­tion­ist or other qualified healthcare practitioner in order to assess exactly which nutri­ents, herbs, home­o­pathics and nat­ural reme­dies; in which com­bi­na­tion; in what pro­por­tion are right for the par­tic­u­lar indi­vid­ual and are intended at treat­ing the root cause rather than just a symptom.

For more information on detoxification, please go to the health information tab and click on detoxification information for a detailed explanation on the topic.

Hypoglycemia means low blood sugar, whereas “Dysglycemia” refers to abnormal blood sugar levels from any cause which results from a disorder of blood sugar metabolism. Usually the more specific terms hyperglycemia (high blood sugar), hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), or others are used instead, and dysglycemia is used only when a firm diagnosis has not yet been made.

Hypoglycemia is becoming major epidemic in developed countries due to the fact that people are using ever increasing amount of refined, processed and sugar laden foods. It is estimated that the average North American ingests approximately 150 pounds of refined sugar in its various forms each and every year.

Hypoglycemia and its symptoms are usually evident many years before adult onset diabetes. In fact, adult onset diabetes is a direct result of many years of symptomatic reactive hypoglycemia and by treating hypoglycemia before it leads to type II diabetes is the optimal treatment goal by restoring blood sugar mechanisms to normal by reestablishing healthy mineral, vitamin, dietary parameters and cell membrane glucose receptor kinetics.

What is Hpoglycemia?

Hypoglycemia literally means “low blood sugar” and is often mistaken for a disease when it is actually a symptom. Ingested sugars and carbohydrates trigger a release of the hormone insulin from the pancreas. Insulin helps the body turn sugars into energy and stored fats. 

In some people, the amount of insulin released is too high for the amount of carbohydrates ingested, resulting in too much sugar being burned up too quickly; the loss of blood sugar results. In hypoglycemia attacks, there is too much insulin produced as a result of my glycemic index foods and not enough blood sugar, causing fatigue, weakness, loss of consciousness, and even death. 

Hypoglycemia may be better described as carbohydrate intolerance: the body is unable to absorb certain carbohydrate loads effectively without adverse consequences. Different people react differently to ingested sugars and carbohydrates, with some having a higher tolerance level than others. 

Although a small percentage of sufferers may have a predisposition to hypoglycemia that is a result of an inherited condition, it is most often caused by poor dietary habits that results in deficiencies of vitamin and mineral cofactors necessary for healthy blood sugar metabolism. 

It can also be found in people with such disorders as schizophrenia, alcoholism, drug addiction, juvenile delinquency, hyperactivity, diabetes, and obesity. In some people, severe hypoglycemia can contribute to other illnesses such as epilepsy, allergies, asthma, ulcers, arthritis, impotence, and mental disorders. 

If you suspect that you are suffering from symptoms of hypoglycemia, there is an easy way to identify if you’re at risk of developing type II diabetes factors by answering a few simple items in the following questionnaire: 

Hypoglycemia Symptoms Questionnaire    

Score:       No = 0          Mild = 1            Moderate = 2           Severe = 3 

1.       Crave sweets                     

2.       Irritable if a meal is missed           

3.       Feel tired or weak if a meal is missed       

4.       Dizziness when standing suddenly 

5.       Frequent headaches                       

6.       Poor memory (forgetful) or concentration

7.       Feel tired an hour or so after eating         

8.       Heart palpitations                         

9.       Feel shaky at times                      

10.      Afternoon fatigue

11.      Vision blurs on occasion

12.      Depression or mood swings

13.      Overweight

14.      Frequently anxious or nervous  

Total Scoring:           Less than 5 = hypoglycemia is not likely a factor

                               6-15 = hypoglycemia is a likely factor

                               Greater than 15 = hypoglycemia is extremely likely 

Causes of Hypoglycemia 

When you prepare healthy meals with low glycemic values it helps to keep your blood sugar levels under control, which is especially important for people with diabetes and hypoglycemia. 

The rise in the blood sugar depends upon the rate of absorption and the speed with which the sugar enters the cells and is removed from the blood i.e. glycemic value. The important thing to remember is to maintain proper blood sugar levels at all times. 

In most cases, people experiencing symptoms of hypoglycemia do not suffer from serious illness. Rather, these symptoms are signals of food sensitivities and/or poor eating habits, especially overindulging in sweets and having a lack of fiber. Simple sugars can be found in the refined white flour of bread and pastries, in pasta and refined white rice, and in foods stripped of their natural fiber. 

These sugars are absorbed by the body (GIT) too quickly, causing blood-sugar levels to rise sharply, putting the pancreas and adrenals under great stress. To compensate for the sudden rise in blood-sugar levels, large amounts of insulin are released causing a sharp fall in blood-sugar levels and if the adrenal glands fail to raise blood sugar adequately, hypoglycemia occurs and cravings for sweets and refined carbohydrates begin. 

A Vicious Cycle: through repeated rapid fluctuations in blood sugar levels and repeated stress on the adrenal glands, eventually they fail leading to adrenal burnout which results in hypoglycemia and adult onset diabetes. 

Conversely, if carbohydrates from a healthy meal containing vitamins, minerals and natural fiber are eaten, blood-sugar levels rise and fall more slowly, and with better control. 

Note: Although reactive hypoglycemia is not measurable by blood-sugar tests, it is believed that the smallest changes are registered by the brain and manifest themselves as symptoms long before the disease itself is diagnosed.

Nutritional and Herbal Supplementation for Hypoglycemia 

There are a great many vitamins, minerals, herbal supplements and other natural remedies that have been shown to effectively reduce and eliminate many symptoms of hypoglycemia by reestablishing healthy blood sugar regulating mechanisms and its underlying biochemistry. 

Which therapies are chosen will be based on the root cause of the blood sugar disorder and not just the symptom. Your practitioner will carefully evaluate your situation and put together an effective protocol at treating your condition with natural remedies rather than dangerous medications that merely treat the symptom and come with extremely dangerous side effects. 

Diet and Lifestyle Recommendations for Hypoglycemia 

Some of the other things you can do to help with hypoglycemia include: 

• All sources of caffeine should be avoided, including coffee, tea, chocolate, caffeinated sodas, or alcoholic beverages which can trigger a hypoglycemic reaction. 
• A good breakfast is important to prevent the morning slump typically experienced by people suffering from hypoglycemia. 
• Eat several small meals in the course of the day, including a snack before bedtime, to maintain consistent blood-sugar levels. 
• Nuts and seeds are particularly valuable because they provide the essential fatty acids omega-3 alpha-linolenic acid and omega-6 linoleic acid. 
• Avoid sugar and refined carbohydrates. 
• Exercise – is an important part of a hypoglycemia treatment and prevention plan. Regular exercise has been well-documented to prevent type II diabetes, and improves many aspects of glucose metabolism including enhancing insulin sensitivity and improving glucose tolerance in existing diabetics. 

Conclusion 

Overall, as in all health conditions, it’s more important to focus on the root cause and what the underlying mechanisms that are causing the condition are identified and addressed rather than just treating it symptomatically with prescription drugs and all the dangerous side effects associated with them while ignoring the cause. 

Each person is encouraged to seek out a qualified healthcare practitioner in order to assess exactly which nutrients, herbs, homeopathics and natural remedies; in which combination; in what proportion are right for the particular individual and are intended at treating the root cause rather than just a symptom. 

For more information on this condition and what your treatment options are, please contact us at the clinic, we would be happy to help you with any questions or concerns you may have and provide you with natural solutions to restoring optimal health, wellness and vitality.

Our environment has become polluted with many environmental chemicals and heavy metals. These toxins have become an inseparable part of the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. Toxic exposure can affect us on a daily basis–from sources we may never even suspect.

The human body is not capable of metabolizing and processing large quantities of toxins, and as a result, allows toxins to accumulate. This can have both subtle and powerful effects on your well being. As toxins build up, they can damage cells and displace key nutrients your body needs to function properly. Scientists are finding more and more that the amount of toxins necessary to affect behavior and the central nervous system is much lower than previously believed. With repeated exposure, toxins may eventually accumulate inside organ tissue, such as those of the brain, liver and kidney. Toxins can also increase production of free radicals and disease. 

Early signs of heavy-metal poisoning are often vague and attributed to other causes. They include: fatigue, headache, indigestion, muscle pains, tremors, anemia, pallor, constipation, dizziness, poor coordination, and a metallic taste in the mouth. Almost everyone with even mild heavy-metal toxicity will experience impaired ability to think or concentrate. As toxicity increases, so do the symptoms. Chronic heavy-metal toxicity is a major problem in the workplace. Workers with extremely high exposure include battery makers, dentists, gasoline station attendants, printers, roofers, and solders. 

Every effort needs to be made to reduce exposure to heavy metals – and to take nutritional measures that help the body to rid itself of the toxic excesses that have accumulated in its tissues. 

The Five Most Common Toxic Heavy Metals – Sources and General Physiological Effects 

Aluminum 

Sources: Antacids, antiperspirants, baking powders, beverage/food cans, buffred aspirin, canned foods, city water supplies, cookware and utensils, cosmetics, foil, lipstick, ore smelting plants, processed cheeses, etc. 

General physiological effects:  Abundant in today’s environment and toxic in excessive quantities, aluminum is mostly absorbed through the skin, lungs, and intestinal tract. Aluminum toxicity seems to affect the bones (causing brittleness or osteoporosis), kidneys, stomach, and brain. Research suggests that it may also contribute to Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, dementia, and other neurological disorders. 

Arsenic 

Sources:  Chemical processing plants, cigarette smoke, drinking water, fungicides, meats and seafood, metal foundries, ore smelting plants, pesticides, polluted air, specialty glass products, weed killers, wood preservatives, etc. 

General physiological effects: Extremely poisonous as well as colorless and odorless, arsenic can enter the body through the mouth, lungs and skin. Arsenic toxicity seems to predominantly affect the skin, lungs and gastrointestinal system, and may cause nervous disorders, deteriorated motor coordination, respiratory diseases, and kidney damage as well as cancers of the skin, liver, bladder and lungs. 

Cadmium 

Sources: Air pollution, batteries, ceramic glazes/enamels, cigarette smoke (both first and second hand), tap and well water, food (if grown in cadmium contaminated soil), fungicides, mines, paints, power and smelting plants, seafood, etc. 

General physiological effects: Exposure to cadmium can occur through inhalation or ingestion in places or situations where cadmium products are used, manufactured, or ingested. Cigarette smoke is the biggest source of cadmium toxicity, which seems to primarily affect the lungs, kidneys, bones, and immune system. It may lead to lung cancer, prostate cancer and heart disease, and also causes yellow teeth and anemia. Cadmium also seems to contribute to autoimmune thyroid disease. 

Lead 

Sources: Air pollution, ammunition, auto exhaust, batteries, containers for corrosives, contaminated soil, cosmetics, fertilizers, foods (if grown in lead-contaminated soil), hair dyes, insecticides, lead-based paints, lead-glazed pottery, pesticides, solder, tobacco smoke, water (if transported via lead pipes), etc. 

General physiological effects: Lead is a naturally-occurring neurotoxin. Although many lead containing products (such as gasoline and house paints) were banned in the 1970s, contamination still occurs today mostly by drinking lead contaminated water, breathing lead-polluted air, and living in or near older painted buildings and certain toxic industrial areas. Lead toxicity primarily targets the nervous system, kidneys, bones, heart and blood, and poses greatest risk to infants, young children and pregnant women. It can affect fetal development, delay growth, and may also cause attention deficit disorder, learning disabilities, behavioral defects, and other developmental problems. 

Mercury 

Sources: Air pollution, barometers, batteries, cosmetics, dental amalgam fillings, freshwater fish (such as bass and trout), fungicides, insecticides, laxatives, paints, pesticides, saltwater fish (such as tuna and swordfish), shellfish, tap and well water, thermometers, thermostats, vaccines, etc. 

General physiological effects: Both poisonous and dangerous, mercury is found throughout our environments in many forms and also in many household items. Mercury often permeates the ground we walk on, and is also found in some childhood vaccines today because of its use as a preservative. Mercury as used in dental fillings is the primary source of toxic exposure, and in vapor form accounts for the majority of all exposures (via inhalation). Mercury toxicity can affect the central nervous system, kidneys and liver. Research suggests that this heavy metal may also contribute to autism and multiple sclerosis.

Over­all, it’s more impor­tant to focus on the root cause and what are the under­ly­ing mech­a­nisms that are caus­ing sickness and lack of vitality rather than just treat­ing it symp­to­mati­cally.  Each per­son is encour­aged to seek out a qual­i­fied nutri­tion­ist or other qualified healthcare practitioner in order to assess exactly which nutri­ents, herbs, home­o­pathics and nat­ural reme­dies; in which com­bi­na­tion; in what pro­por­tion are right for the par­tic­u­lar individual and are intended at treat­ing the root cause rather than just a symptom. 

How can you test for heavy metals? 

Because hair actually retains the toxic elements trapped in your body, hair screening can provide an accurate and powerful means of evaluating the effects of cumulative, long-term exposure to toxins.  A growing hair follicle first begins forming far below the skin, exposing it to a rich supply of blood vessels. As the follicle grows, toxic elements in the blood are absorbed into the growing hair protein. 

When hair reaches the skin surface, it undergoes a hardening process called keratinization – where toxins accumulated during hair formation become sealed into the protein structure of the hair. By this process, toxic concentrations of hair will reflect toxic concentrations in other body tissues.  That’s why just a small amount of your hair can give you a safe, accurate, convenient, and economical way of determining long-term accumulation of toxins in your body.

For more information go to our Lab Assessment Services tab and click on Heavy Metal Testing or contact us on how to get yourself tested for heavy metals to not only prevent disease but also to help restore optimal health.

 References

• Airey D. Mercury in human hair due to environment and diet: a review. Env Health Perspectives 1983; 52: 303-316.
• Haas EM. Staying Healthy with Nutrition: The Complete Guide to Diet and Nutritional Medicine. 1992; Celestial Arts Publishing. Berkeley, CA: 153-168, 255-258.
• Savory J, Wills M. Trace Minerals: essential nutrients or toxins. Clin Chem 1992; 38(8): 1565-1573.
• Suzuki T, Yamamoto R. Organic mercury levels in human hair with and without storage for eleven years. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 1982; 28: 186-188.
• Werbach MR. Foundations of Nutritional Medicine: A Sourcebook of Clinical Research. 1997; Third Line Press, Inc., Tarzana, CA: 45-78, 135-150, 267-294.
• Goldgerg, B (ed.). Alternative Medicine:The Definitive Guide. Fife, WA: Future Medicine Publishing, 1995.
• Murray M, Pizzorno D. Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine (2nd ed.). Rocklin, CA: Prima Publishing, 1998.
• Passwater RA, Cranton EM. Trace Elements, Hair Analysis, and Nutrition. New Canaan, CT: Keats, 1983.
• Rutter M, Russell-Jones R (eds). Lead versus Health: Sources and Effects of Low Level Lead Exposure. New York: John Wiley, 1983.

Infertility is a major and growing problem. Over three million visits each year to North American physicians are for infertility. The demand for treatment is increasing and the cost, both financial and emotional, can severely strain relationships. 

Symptoms 

Infertility is defined as the absence of conception after one year of regular intercourse without the use of any contraceptive. About fifteen percent of all couples experience conception problems. Men are responsible for the problem at least forty percent of the time. Infertility increases in women over the age of thirty-five. 

Causes 

It can be hard to pinpoint which of the many possible factors is the cause of a couple’s infertility. For both men and women there can be several factors, such as physical changes in the pelvis due to inflammation and infection, chlamydia, excessive physical activity, malnutrition, extreme weight gain or loss, severe mental or physical stress, and exposure to toxic substances including heavy metals, drugs, radiation and heavy smoking. 

Women with a previous history of pelvic inflammatory disease, pregnancy outside the uterus, abdominal surgery, intra-uterine device (IUD) complications or fibroids are often unable to conceive. In some cases, women develop an incompatibility with or allergy to the partner’s sperm, which are destroyed as a result of immune system malfunction. 

Other causes of infertility in women could be failure to ovulate, tubal disease, endometriosis, pituitary gland failure, ovarian failure, long-term effects of the birth control pill, hypothyroidism or other hormonal imbalances, endometrial failure, hostile cervical mucus, recurrent miscarriages and nutritional deficiencies. 

In men, infertility can be caused by an inadequate sperm production by the testes or poor sperm motility. This may be due to environmental toxins such as chemicals, radiation, drugs, heavy-metal exposure, cigarette smoking, street drug use and pollution. Frequent sex, prolonged exposure to heat from hot tubs or saunas, or wearing underwear or pants that are too tight are also suspects. 

Studies show that sperm counts have declined steadily over the past fifty years. During this period of time, our civilization has experienced the introduction of over 70,000 chemicals in our food, water and air. Stress, poor diet and lifestyle habits all contribute to low sperm counts or poor sperm motility. 

Other causes in men include a varicose condition of the scrotum, undescended testes, infectious disease and glandular diseases affecting the hypothalamus, pituitary and the testes. Nutrient deficiencies also have a role to play. An obstruction of the seminal tract will decrease or stop the passage of sperm from the testes to the urethra for ejaculation. This may result from congenital abnormalities, urethral stricture and infection of the epidydimis, testes, seminal vesicles, urethra, prostate or vas. All are correctable medical conditions. 

Nutrition         

A balanced diet is essential for the body to function properly. Eat pumpkin seeds for zinc, which is important for the health of reproductive organs and the prostate gland. Bee pollen and royal jelly are extremely nutrient-rich bee product foods which help stimulate fertility. Both men and women should avoid coffee, tea and colas since caffeine promotes infertility. 

In the case of hormone deficiency, vitamin E is the fertility vitamin because it corrects the functioning of the endocrine glands. Green, leafy vegetables, especially watercress, contain vitamin E. Drink one tablespoon of watercress juice daily or add a few fresh sprigs to a salad. Wheat germ is an excellent source of vitamin E. In certain cases miscarriage can be prevented if the pregnant woman eats wheat germ on a regular basis. 

Nutritional and Herbal Supplementation 

Supplements help improve fertility. Lack of protein and calories from malnourishment is a cause of infertility, so adequate nutrition should be the basis for treatment of any illness, including infertility. 

Vitamin B6 can make a marked difference in some women having problems conceiving, as this vitamin helps balance progesterone levels. The other B vitamins are best taken together to prevent imbalances from occurring. Men also benefit from these supplements as they are required for thousands of enzyme reactions. 

Vitamin E is useful for hormonal imbalances and is a vital nutrient for the sex hormones. Often recommended for women to help with a wide variety of reproductive problems, this vitamin is also needed by men to provide a healthy sperm count. 

For women, an overgrowth of unfriendly or pathogenic bacteria, candida, fungi or parasites may lead to bloating, gas, alternating diarrhea with constipation, and bad breath. Most gynecological infections with resulting infertility stem from microbes that have crept into the vagina or uterus from the anus. Stool cultures for these potential problems may help make the diagnosis and treatment could then be aimed at balancing the large bowel flora.

As you can see, there are a great many vitamins, minerals, herbal supplements and other natural remedies that have been shown to effectively enhance fertility for both men and women safely and effectively. Which therapies are chosen will be based on the root cause of the fertility issue and not just the symptom.

Your practitioner will carefully evaluate your situation and put together an effective protocol at treating your condition with natural remedies rather than dangerous medications that merely treat the symptom and come with extremely dangerous side effects.

Over­all, it’s more impor­tant to focus on the root cause and what are the under­ly­ing mech­a­nisms that are caus­ing the condition rather than just treat­ing it symp­to­mati­cally.

Each per­son is encour­aged to seek out a qual­i­fied nutri­tion­ist or other qualified healthcare practitioner in order to assess exactly which nutri­ents, herbs, home­o­pathics and nat­ural reme­dies; in which com­bi­na­tion; in what pro­por­tion are right for the par­tic­u­lar indi­vid­ual and are intended at treat­ing the root cause rather than just a symptom.

Fifty to seventy five years ago the soil in which we grew our food was more mineral rich giving our bodies the precious nutrients needed for good health. Due to modern farming practices, it is almost impossible to receive all of the nutrients that we need from our food and water supply. We can no longer drink the mineral rich water from our wells due to pollution and contamination. Our foods are deficient in nutrient content.

So many of us today are malnourished; we all work so hard that we grab whatever is the quickest and easiest form of food and stuff it into our bodies, not paying any attention to the nutritional value of our meals, or taking the time to enjoy them. So instead of food being our medicine it becomes our poison.

The degree of fatigue varies from person to person, from those who do not have enough energy to accomplish the daily tasks, to those who are rendered almost helpless from exhaustion. Some of us may have inherited a weaker constitution from our parents or from early childhood traumas, and others may suffer from malnutrition or the inability to obtain the proper nutrients from the food that we eat.

No matter how tired we may be, we all have the ability to correct the situation through proper nutrition, supplementation, and exercise, combined with the proper balance of rest and activity. The first step is to discover the source of the tiredness.

Nutritional biochemistry, environmental toxins and allergies, stress, adrenal weakness, low thyroid, sleep disorders, hypoglycemia, gut toxicity, and food allergies are some of the causes that can propel us into an unbroken cycle of fatigue. In the following pages we shall go more deeply into the various causes of fatigue and their remedies and thereby hopefully discover the secret pathway to our own radiant health and vitality.

Usually it takes us quite a while to develop fatigue and likewise it will take us a while to build our energy reserves back up. We should be patient with ourselves and unravel the mystery of the cause of our state of fatigue and work consistently to restore our natural state of abundant energy.

One of the most common causes of fatigue is long-term exposure to stress and although it is a common phrase used often, stress is one of the major contributing factors to low energy and fatigue. So what is stress exactly?

Stress refers to anything that disturbs an individual’s physical, mental, or emotional equilibrium. The body has numerous stress response mechanisms and stress can affect the body in many different ways. In fact the same form of stress might cause one individual to get a migraine, a second person to have an ulcer attack, and a third to have elevated blood pressure. It is important to realize that stress is not all bad. Stress is a normal part of life. What really matters is how much stress, what kind of stress, and ultimately, how each individual handles his or her stresses.

There are a number of ways to deal with stress. One is to realize that stress places additional demands on the body in terms of energy and nutrition. Therefore, providing the body with additional nutrients such as B-vitamins and antioxidants during times of acute stress or long-term chronic stress can support the body’s ability to handle stress. Other approaches involve trying to minimize the amount of time and level of stress that one is exposed to. Things like stressful jobs, fast paced lifestyles, and jammed freeways, often make it difficult to reduce the stress in one’s life. Engaging in regular exercise, meditation, or deep breathing exercises may be effective at lowering stress levels.

Statistics

Seminars in medicine of the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Protective & Damaging Effects of stress Mediators.-Dr. Bruce McEwen. NEJM, January 15,1998-Vol 338,.- The Milliken Hatch Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology.

•  Studies show that job stress can chronically raise blood pressure and that stress due to lack of control on the job increases the risk of coronary heart disease.
• Long-term stress also accelerates several biological markers of aging, including age-related neuronal damage.

 Signs and Symptoms

 The signs and symptoms of stress are too numerous to mention. They can affect virtually any part of the body and produce physical, mental, and emotional symptoms. In fact, the results of some studies report that 85 percent of diseases have stress-related factors. Thus, the entire body, and many disease states can be a result of stress. 

Conventional Treatment Options

Stress often manifests in individuals as anxiety or depression. Physicians frequently treat this type of stress with anti-anxiety medications such as diazepam or lorazepam, or with one of the commonly prescribed antidepressant drugs. These medications may be very successful at helping an individual handle a short-term period of stress. However, they should not be relied upon for the management of long-term stress because of their potential side effects. It is important for people to realize that these forms of therapy only provide symptomatic relief. While prescription drugs can help people cope with stress, the drugs do not remove the stress or solve problems.

What should I know about Stress?

During the course of hundreds of thousands of years of evolution, humans have developed an internal biological and biochemical mechanism for dealing with stress that is referred to as the “Fight of Flight” response. During stress, the activity of the sympathetic nervous system is changed in a global fashion, leading to an increase in cardiovascular function and a release of chemicals called adrenal catecholamines. This response is regulated by a common set of brain neurons that provide a dual input to the sympathetic neurons regulating cardiac and adrenal functions. This stress response mechanism is designed to help us deal with acute stress situations. However, these days many people lead chronically stressful lifestyles, and it is this long-term stress that is more damaging to health and longevity.

The late Canadian physician and stress researcher Hans Selye developed a model of how the body responds to stress, which he referred to as the General Adaptation Sundrome (GAS). The three states of the General Adaptation Syndrome provide a clear explanation of how and why stress can cause many different types of illnesses.) These stages are called the Alarm Stage, the Resistance Stage, and the Exhaustion Stage.

An example of the initial, or Alarm Stage of stress may occur after intense exercise that causes a stiffness or soreness to develop in certain overworked muscles. Under normal conditions, these symptoms will subside and the muscle will return to its normal state within a day or two. However, if the muscle continues to be overworked, or is exposed to additional stresses, the body engages in the Resistance Stage. In this stage, the body is trying to adapt and accommodate to the repetitive stress factors that are making excess demands on a certain part of the body. This stage of adaptation may last for years as the body tries to find ways to cope and adjust to unusual levels of chronic stress. This stage might involve changes in the liver, pancreas, or cardiovascular system. Numerous biochemical and nutritional factors may come into play. Or, in the case of the above mentioned stressed muscle, the stress might involve changes in tendons, ligaments, and skeletal alignment as the body tries to find ways to cope. 

Ultimately, the body’s coping mechanisms to the continued level of stress begin to fail, which ushers in the final stage of the GAS, which is called the Exhaustion Stage. It is at this point that stress is capable of causing more serious forms of illness. The stressed muscle may become torn or permanently stretched. It might cause a spasm that pinches nerves resulting in immobility and pain. Or inflamed intestines might become an ulcer, or an ulcer might progress to cancer. A chronically stressed pancreas becomes “burned out” resulting in elevated blood sugar and a diagnosis of adult onset diabetes. Ultimately, stress can affect the body in a vast number of ways depending on the type of stress, the length of exposure, and the biochemical and genetic uniqueness of the individual.

Stress and the Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis (HPA Axis)

General adaption syndrome (G.A.S.) occurs in a three-stage format:

1. The alarm reaction, involving increased adrenocortical secretion of cortisol and activation of the sympathoadrenal system.

2. The stage of resistance, involving the balancing of the adrenocortical hormones’ affect on water and electrolyte balance and carbohydrate metabolism. The “true adaption” to stress.

 3. The stage of exhaustion, involving the depletion or exhaustion of the adrenal glands’ ability to make corticosteroids (cortisol) resulting in a host of chronic pain and inflammatory conditions.

HPA Axis Controlling Mechanisms

The Adrenal Gland:

The inner portion, called the medulla, secretes epinephrine and norepinephrine and is an extension of the sympathetic nervous system. The larger outer portion, called the cortex, is responsible for secreting various steroid hormones.

Of the nearly 30 steroid hormones produced by the adrenal cortex, the principal ones include aldosterone (a mineralocorticoid), cortisol (a glucocorticoid), and various sex hormones and their precursors (DHEA, androstenedione). The mineralocorticoids play an essential role in regulating potassium and sodium levels and water balance. DHEA and its metabolites have diverse effects during the lifecycle of the individual. Our focus here is the glucocorticoid cortisol and its easily measurable stress response.

Cortisol:

Cortisol is tightly regulated by feedback mechanisms in both the hypothalamus and the pituitary glands, where the original hormonal signals trigger its production. As in other systems, the hypothalamus begins the process by secreting corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) in response to a variety of “stressors”. CRF then triggers the anterior pituitary to release adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) which increases the adrenal cortex secretion of cortisol. In turn, increasing cortisol levels slow down the production of both CRF and ACTH from their respective glands. This whole circuit is referred to as the hypothalamic – pituitary- adrenal (HPA) axis or system.

Normal functioning of the HPA is known to have three attributes. First, when the system is unstressed there is a circadian rhythm of activity in the system. The rhythm consists of the highest cortisol levels shortly after awakening (7-8 a.m.) and progressively falling until they are lowest during the first several hours of sleeping. 

A healthy HPA should have a circadian rhythm as well as appropriate total daily secretion of cortisol. The second function of the HPA is the various feedback loops. As mentioned previously, increasing amounts of cortisol should be able to shut down ACTH and CRF production, and hence reduce the cortisol levels eventually. Clinically appropriate challenges with corticosteroids like dexamethasone are used to test this feedback loop. Positive tests for pituitary and adrenal cortex functions are also performed by giving patients CRF or ACTH and measuring cortisol responses. 

Third, and most importantly for us, is the fact that various stressors can stimulate the HPA; and many can do so in a way that overrides both the circadian and feedback controls. It is this well-known phenomenon that allows the functional testing of the HPA system to give us a glimpse at the effects of stress (both acute and chronic) on the health of an individual. 

What Cortisol Does 

• Mobilizes and increases amino acids, the building blocks of protein, in the blood and liver.
• Stimulates the liver to convert amino acids to glucose, the primary fuel for energy production.
• Stimulates increased glycogen in the liver. Glycogen is the stored form of glucose.
• Mobilizes and increases fatty acids in the blood (from fat cells) to be used as fuel for energy production.
• Counteracts inflammation and allergies.
• Prevents the loss of sodium in urine and thus helps maintain blood volume and blood pressure.
• Maintains resistance to stress (e.g., infections, physical trauma, temperature extremes, emotional trauma, etc.).
• Maintains mood and emotional stability. 

Excess Cortisol

• Diminishes cellular utilization of glucose.
• Increases blood sugar levels.
• Decreases protein synthesis.
• Increases protein breakdown that can lead to muscle wasting.
• Causes demineralization of bone that can lead to osteoporosis.
• Interferes with skin regeneration and healing.
• Causes shrinking of lymphatic tissue
• Diminishes lymphocyte numbers and functions
• Lessens SIgA (secretory antibody productions). This immune system suppression may lead to increased susceptibility to allergies, infections, and degenerative disease. 

Common Causes of Adrenal Stress 

• Negative emotions such as anger, fear, worry, anxiety, depression and guilt
• Overwork/ physical or mental strain
• Excessive exercise
• Sleep deprivation, Light-cycle disruption, Going to sleep late
• Surgery, trauma or injury
• Chronic pain and inflammation
• Chronic infection
• Temperature extremes
• Toxic exposure
• Malabsorption and maldigestion
• Chronic illness
• Chronic-severe allergies
• Hypoglycemia
• Nutritional deficiencies 

Associated Symptoms and Consequences of Impaired Adrenals 

• Low body temperature
• Weakness and Low energy
• Unexplained hair loss
• Nervousness, Irritability, Mental depression, Apprehension, Feelings of frustration
• Difficulty building muscle
• Poor injury and illness recovery
• Hypoglycemia
• Inability to concentrate, Moments of confusion, Poor memory
• Excessive hunger, Craving for sweets
• Tendency towards inflammation and chronic pain syndromes
• Indigestion
• Alternating diarrhea and constipation
• Osteoporosis
• Auto-immune diseases
• Palpitations [heart fluttering]
• Lightheadedness, Dizziness that occurs upon standing
• Poor resistance to infections
• Low blood pressure
• Insomnia and restless sleep
• Food and/or inhalant allergies
• PMS
• Dry and thin skin
• Headaches
• Scanty perspiration
• Alcohol intolerance 

Regardless of the kind of stress, it is important for people to become aware of the stresses that are in their lives. The next step is to realize that there are effective methods to deal with stress in order to minimize the damage that it can potentially cause. With awareness, better coping methods can be adopted. Numerous nutrients, herbs, and other natural therapeutic agents can support the body and the immune system in the fight against stress.

Whether you are suffering from stress or fatigue or any abnormal nervous system condition, it is wise to focus on the root cause and what are the underlying mechanisms that are causing the condition rather than just treating it symptomatically. 

Each person is encouraged to seek out a qualified nutritionist or other qualified healthcare practitioner in order to assess exactly which nutrients, herbs, homeopathics and natural remedies; in which combination; in what proportion are right for the particular individual and are intended at treating the root cause rather than just a symptom.

With environmental allergies, reducing your exposure to whatever is irritating you is key. Some people are allergic to household cleaners such as laundry detergent, hence the many varieties of mild detergent. With common irritants like mold and dust, a cleaning routine can help. 

Reduce mold by removing houseplants, using a dehumidifier, avoiding carpet in the bathroom and cleaning indoor trash cans and shower curtains with a mix of water and chlorine bleach. 

Reduce dust by replacing carpets with wood or linoleum, removing drapes and feather pillows, regularly vacuuming soft furniture and floors, and washing bedding weekly. 

Food Allergies 

Allergies are a result of our physiological and biochemical interaction with the world around us and within us—with the foods, chemicals, and natural substances in our immediate environment that we ingest, inhale, or physically contact, and with various internal microbes and body tissues. 

Our body’s immune system is designed to correctly identify and differentiate between self and nonself—that is, between what our body needs and what is foreign to it—and when it encounters foreign substances, it reacts by making antibodies or releasing certain chemicals, such as histamines. 

The problem arises when we have an inappropriate response, or “hyperresponse.” Then the antibodies attach to the antigens, causing a variety of internal reactions. Histamine and other chemicals are released into the system, causing an inflammatory reaction. These antigen-antibody (Ag-Ab) reactions affect the tissues and organs, mainly the skin, mucous membranes, lungs, and gastrointestinal tract. 

Symptoms commonly produced include itchy and watery eyes, runny and congested nose and sinuses, skin reactions, and rapid heart rate. Less obvious but still common allergic symptoms include fatigue, headache, intestinal gas or pain, abdominal bloating, and mood changes.

Related to allergies are hypersensitivities, allergylike reactions that result from the repeated sensitizing of our body by certain substances, usually a protein antigen of foods or specific chemicals. Hypersensitivities are distinguished from immediate allergies by the fact that hypersensitivity reactions are usually delayed, with symptoms appearing several hours or longer after exposure, even up to one or two days later. 

They are mediated through T lymphocytes of the cellular immune system and delayed-type IgG antibodies rather than the IgE/mast cell/histamine system of rapid allergic responses. 

In regard to other allergic-type reactions, the term “hypersusceptibility” should be used to describe the rapid symptoms associated with environmental illness or exposure to environmental chemicals. This is likely a neuro-endocrine interaction rather than a true allergy. 

External Factors Causing Allergies and Hypersensitivity Reactions 

• Natural environmental substances—mold spores, pollens from trees and grasses, dust (actually dust mites), animal hairs, and insects. These commonly produce upper respiratory symptoms in sensitive individuals. Itching, redness, and fluid (water and mucus) may affect the eyes, nose, sinuses, throat, bronchial tubes, and lungs. 

• Foods—any food may be allergenic. Common ones include wheat, milk, eggs, corn, yeast, coffee, and chocolate. Even herbs and teas may lead to allergic symptoms. Food allergies may affect most body systems, with the gastrointestinal, nervous, respiratory, and skin areas affected the most. 

• Chemicals—both environmental chemicals and food additives may create sensitivity. There are literally thousands of possibilities, including sprays, resins, hydrocarbons, pesticides, and so on. Some may weaken our immunity and allow further allergies to develop. Tobacco is a common allergen containing substance to which many people are both addicted and allergic, a common duo according to our new understanding of allergies. 

Pathways of Allergens into the Body* 

• Nose—inhalation of environmental allergens. 

• Mouth—ingestion of food and chemicals found in foods, water, and medicines. 

•  Skin—contact with various agents and injections of drugs and other substances. 

*Depending on a variety of factors, some individuals are more sensitve to allergies that enter through a particular area.

Common allergic problems include hay fever, eczema, contact dermatitis, and bronchial asthma. Hay fever, or allergic rhinitis, is characterized by sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes, and postnasal drip. It is caused by reactions to pollens such as ragweed, trees, dust, grasses, molds, animals, and foods. 

• Hives, or urticaria, is characterized by red, itchy, and possibly painful wheals (bumps) on the skin. This condition may be caused by reactions to insect bites, chemicals (such as sulfites or food colors), drugs (such as aspirin or penicillin), or foods. Common foods causing hives are shellfish, nuts, citrus fruits, tomatoes, strawberries, chocolate, beef, pork, and mangoes.
• Eczema (dermatitis) is characterized by dry, itchy skin, especially on the arms and legs. It is often hereditary, and it may be worsened by stress, sweating, or food allergies. Treatment involves lowering stress, avoiding soaps and detergents, use of cortisone creams and drugs, an elimination diet with avoidance of allergenic foods. 
• Contact dermatitis is characterized by an itchy, red, raised rash that may blister. It can occur anywhere on the body where contact to the allergen has been made. Common allergenic agents are poison oak or ivy, chemicals such as nail polish or soaps, plastics, metals, and fabrics. Medical treatment involves avoidance of known allergens and the use of antihistamine and cortisone drugs to reduce symptoms. 
• Asthma is characterized by difficulty in breathing, wheezing, coughing, and production of bronchial mucus. It is caused by a combination of genetic, allergic, and stress factors. It is commonly treated with drugs, avoidance and desensitization, and stress management. 

Nutritional medicine may have a lot to offer the allergic person by providing the optimum tissue and cellular nutrient levels that allow improved function and reduced allergic symptoms. 

The allergy-addiction syndrome related to foods is very common. These easily become “hidden” allergies, which may be involved in binge eating, overeating, weight gain, and general ups and downs that come from eating food. Cravings, even very subtle ones, often are part of this syndrome, but people who experience this might think that they just like a particular food and so eat it regularly. And when they eat it, they may feel a lift. This is thought to be a result of stimulation of beta-endorphins in the brain, which give us an “up” or euphoric feeling, as occurs with prolonged exercise. 

Causes of Allergies

There is, of course, the genetic pre-disposition, which is clearly established in the atopic diseases of hay fever, asthma, and eczema but may also predispose us to many others. 

Eating habits during the first year of life may influence our potential for allergy more than anything else, even heredity. Feeding babies solid foods too early and not breastfeeding them is a primary way to cause allergies and, thus, produce many problems in infants. Cow’s milk and baby formulas provide large molecules that are difficult for the infant’s immature gastrointestinal tract and immune system to handle. 

Gluten allergy from early feeding of grains such as wheat, corn, and oats is also common. The best way to prevent allergies, particularly childhood ones, is to breastfeed a child exclusively for six months before introducing solid foods. 

Even in adults, poor digestion, with low levels of hydrochloric acid or pancreatic enzymes, is an underlying cause of many food reactions. 

Possible Allergy Symptoms and Problems 

• Runny nose, Postnasal drip, Sinus congestion
• Weight gain, Weight swings, Obesity
• Headaches
• Learning disabilities, Hyperactivity
• Canker sores
• Binge eating, Overeating
• Emotional outbursts, Mood swings
• Earaches, Tinnitis, Ear congestion, Recurrent ear infections
• Frequent hunger
• Joint pain
• Anxiety, Depression, Irritability
• Swelling of hands or feet
• Muscle aches, Muscle weakness
• Cough, Sore throat, Hoarseness
• Arthritis, juvenile, rheumatoid
• Alcoholism, Drug addiction
• Disorientation, Poor thinking
• Chest congestion
• Itching, Hives, Eczema
• Asthma, Hay fever
• Stomachache, Nausea, Vomiting, Diarrhea
• Nonspecific rash
• Regional ileitis
• Constipation
• Palpitations, Tachycardia
• Ulcerative colitis
• Seizures
• Edema    
• Bloating
• Dark circles under eyes
• Heartburn
• Vaginal itching, Recurrent vaginitis
• Loss of sex drive 

Many people are made to believe that using antihistamines, topical steroids, puffers and other medications to control the symptoms of the allergy are the solution. While these medications may bring relief and often times necessary as in the case of asthma which can be fatal, it’s not a solution the problem.

Over­all, it’s more impor­tant to focus on the root cause and what are the under­ly­ing mechanisms that are caus­ing the condition rather than just treat­ing it symp­to­mati­cally. 

Each person is encour­aged to seek out a qual­i­fied nutri­tion­ist or other qualified healthcare practitioner in order to assess exactly which nutri­ents, herbs, home­o­pathics and nat­ural reme­dies; in which com­bi­na­tion; in what pro­por­tion are right for the par­tic­u­lar indi­vid­ual and are intended at treat­ing the root cause rather than just a symptom.

Your endocrine system is a collection of glands that produce hormones that regulate your body’s growth, metabolism, and sexual development and function. The hormones are released into the bloodstream and transported to tissues and organs throughout your body. The following are the various components of the endocrine system: 

• Adrenal glands- Divided into 2 regions; secrete hormones that influence the body’s metabolism, blood chemicals, and body characteristics, as well as influence the part of the nervous system that is involved in the response and defense against stress.
• Hypothalamus- Activates and controls the part of the nervous system that controls involuntary body functions, the hormonal system, and many body functions, such as regulating sleep and stimulating appetite. 
• Ovaries and testicles -Secrete hormones that influence female and male characteristics, respectively. 
• Pancreas -Secretes a hormone (insulin) that controls the use of glucose by the body. 
• Parathyroid glands- Secrete a hormone that maintains the calcium level in the blood. 
• Pineal body- Involved with daily biological cycles. 
• Pituitary gland -Produces a number of different hormones that influence various other endocrine glands. 
• Thymus gland- Plays a role in the body’s immune system. 
• Thyroid gland – Produces hormones that regulate the body’s basal metabolic rate, bone growth, and the body’s metabolism. 

The endocrine system is like a symphony with several glands working both alone and together to orchestrate bodily functions. Each endocrine gland–thyroid, pancreas, pineal, thymus, ovaries, testes, adrenals, parathyroid–produces and secretes hormones. These chemical messengers are like music to your body, exciting or inhibiting various tissues regarding metabolism, growth and reproduction. 

The conductor of the endocrine system is the anterior pituitary gland, nestled at the base of the brain. The hypothalamus sends special hormones called releasing factors to the pituitary instructing it how to manage the other endocrine glands. Then with its own set of directive hormones, the anterior pituitary guides your body’s glands. The anterior pituitary also releases prolactin, a breast feeding hormone, and growth hormone. 

The posterior pituitary, a neighbor but unrelated to the anterior pituitary, is responsible for two hormones: antidiuretic hormone and oxytocin. ADH helps you maintain arterial blood pressure during, for example, blood loss by resorbing water from your kidneys. Oxytocin contracts the uterus during childbirth and causes milk letdown during breast feeding. 

Each endocrine gland plays a distinct role in your body, but these actions overlap and therefore affect one another too. When one gland is overly or under-active, other glands feel the effect. The same goes for you. When part of your endocrine system is sick, you most likely are too. Fatigue is one symptom that many endocrine disorders have in common. If you feel very tired or can’t seem to shake your fatigue, see your doctor. Once you’ve discovered the source of your fatigue–whether it’s endocrine related or not–there are many natural remedies you can try under the guidance of a professional.

Endocrine Function 

The main function of endocrine glands is to secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream. Hormones are chemical substances that affect the activity of another part of the body (target site). In essence, hormones serve as messengers, controlling and coordinating activities throughout the body. Upon reaching a target site, hormones bind to receptors, much like a key fits into a lock. Once the hormone locks into its receptor, it transmits a message that causes the target site to take a specific action. Hormone receptors may be within the nucleus or on the surface of the cell. 

Ultimately, hormones control the function of entire organs, affecting such diverse processes as growth and development, reproduction, and sexual characteristics. Hormones also influence the way the body uses and stores energy and control the volume of fluid and the levels of salts and sugar in the blood. Very small amounts of hormones can trigger very large responses in the body. 

Although hormones circulate throughout the body, each type of hormone influences only certain organs and tissues. Some hormones affect only one or two organs, whereas others have influence throughout the body. For example, thyroid-stimulating hormone, produced in the pituitary gland, affects only the thyroid gland. In contrast, thyroid hormone, produced in the thyroid gland, affects cells throughout the body and is involved in such important functions as regulating growth of cells, controlling the heart rate, and affecting the speed at which calories are burned. Insulin, secreted by the islet cells of the pancreas, affects the metabolism of glucose, protein, and fat throughout the body. 

Most hormones are proteins. Others are steroids, which are fatty substances derived from cholesterol. 

The Pituitary: The Master Gland 

The pituitary is a pea-sized gland that is housed within a bony structure (sella turcica) at the base of the brain. The sella turcica protects the pituitary but allows very little room for expansion. 

The pituitary controls the function of most other endocrine glands and is therefore sometimes called the master gland. In turn, the pituitary is controlled in large part by the hypothalamus, a region of the brain that lies just above the pituitary. By detecting the levels of hormones produced by glands under the pituitary’s control (target glands), the hypothalamus or the pituitary can determine how much stimulation the target glands need. 

The pituitary has two distinct parts: the anterior (front) lobe, which accounts for 80% of the pituitary gland’s weight, and the posterior (back) lobe. The lobes are connected to the hypothalamus by a stalk that contains blood vessels and nerve cell projections (nerve fibers, or axons). 

The hypothalamus controls the anterior lobe by releasing hormones through the connecting blood vessels; it controls the posterior lobe through nerve impulses. 

The anterior lobe of the pituitary produces and releases (secretes) six main hormones: 

• growth hormone, which regulates growth and physical development and has important effects on body shape by stimulating muscle formation and reducing fat tissue; 
• thyroid-stimulating hormone, which stimulates the thyroid gland to produce thyroid hormones; 
• corticotropin (also called adrenocorticotropic hormone or ACTH), which stimulates the adrenal glands to produce cortisol and other hormones; 
• follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone (the gonadotropins), which stimulate the testes to produce sperm, the ovaries to produce eggs, and the sex organs to produce sex hormones(testosterone and estrogen); and 
• prolactin, which stimulates the mammary glands of the breast to produce milk. 

The anterior lobe also produces hormones that cause the skin to darken (melanocyte-stimulating hormone) and that inhibit pain sensations and help control the immune system (endorphins). 

The posterior lobe of the pituitary produces only two hormones: antidiuretic hormone and oxytocin. 

• Antidiuretic hormone (also called vasopressin) regulates the amount of water excreted by the kidneys and is therefore important in maintaining water balance in the body 
• Oxytocin causes the uterus to contract during childbirth and immediately after delivery to prevent excessive bleeding. Oxytocin also stimulates contractions of the milk ducts in the breast, which moves milk to the nipple (the let-down) in lactating women. 

The hormones produced by the pituitary are not all produced  continuously. Most are released in bursts every 1 to 3 hours, with alternating periods of activity and inactivity. Some of the hormones, such as corticotropin, which controls the adrenal glands; growth hormone, which controls growth; and prolactin, which controls milk production, follow a circadian rhythm: 

The levels rise and fall predictably during the day, usually peaking just before awakening and dropping to their lowest levels just before sleep. The levels of other hormones vary according to other factors. ‘For example, in women, the levels of luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone, which control reproductive functions, vary during the menstrual cycle. 

The pituitary gland can malfunction in several ways, usually as a result of developing a noncancerous tumor (adenoma). The tumor may overproduce one or more pituitary hormones; it may press on the normal pituitary cells, causing underproduction of one or more pituitary hormones; or it may cause enlargement of the pituitary gland, with or without disturbing hormone production. Sometimes there is overproduction of one hormone by a pituitary tumor and underproduction of another at the same time due to pressure. Too little or too much of a pituitary hormone results in a wide variety of symptoms. 

Pineal Gland 

Although part of the endocrine system, the pineal gland isn’t a gland per se. This neuroendocrine body translates nerve messages into hormonal output–namely melatonin. This pineal hormone peaks in your body around midnight. Babies are born with scarce amounts of melatonin, perhaps accounting for their erratic sleeping habits. Levels, however, rise with age, top out in childhood and then slowly decline with years. 

The pineal gland and melatonin are thought to keep your biological clock ticking. External cues like temperature and light, as well as endogenous messages such as emotions guide the pineal gland. In this way sleep, mood, immunity, seasonal rhythms, menstruation and even aging are regulated. 

Melatonin

Synthetic versions of melatonin have recently been touted as nature’s new wonder cure for fatigue, insomnia, depression, jet lag, cancer and old age. Although supplemental melatonin doesn’t seem to have toxic effects, it shouldn’t be used indiscriminately. There’s too much we don’t know about this hormone yet. We don’t know its long-term repercussions and whether it exerts subtle, and as yet, unmeasured effects. Because melatonin governs biological rhythms, will overuse or ill-directed use adversely affect you? 

Melatonin is probably safe for insomnia and jet lag. If you decide to take melatonin, don’t take it during the day–this will only aggravate your fatigue and sleeping problems. Instead take melatonin one hour before sleep. Better yet, preserve your own melatonin reserves by sleeping in a dark room, not turning lights on if you get up in the middle of the night and don’t take ibuprofen late at night.

Thyroid and Parathyroids

Your windpipe is straddled by the two lobes of your thyroid gland. Using two hormones, triiodothyronine and thyroxine, your thyroid regulates various enzymes that dominate energy metabolism. Calcitonin, a blood calcium lowering hormone, is also released by the thyroid. Thyrotrophin from the anterior pituitary keeps thyroid hormones in check. 

Snuggled in the thyroid’s under belly are four tiny parathyroid glands that emit parathormone. PTH acts on your gut, bones and kidneys to control phosphate and calcium metabolism. Without this regulation, bone and nerves suffer. Too little PTH and a convulsive, twitching condition called tetany ensues. Too much PTH leads to high blood calcium and eventually a bone softening disease called osteitis fibrosa cystica. 

When thyroid hormones are deficient, hypothyroidism manifests. Because energy control is pivotal to thyroid function, hypothyroidism is a condition of reduced energy–you feel tired and cold, become constipated, have less appetite but gain weight, feel sleepy. Even your thoughts are sluggish. 

Thymus 

Squeezed behind your breast bone and just below the thyroid is an irregularly shaped member of both the endocrine and immune systems–the thymus. Relatively large in childhood, the thymus grows until the teen years, then shrinks with age. Fat replaces active lymphatic tissue. 

Thymosin, thymopoeitin and serum thymic factor–thymus hormones–oversee several immune operations. Before and shortly after birth, a baby’s thymus gland preprocesses T-lymphocytes, the white blood cells in charge of cellular immunity. This type of immunity, the kind not controlled by antibodies, shields your body from yeast, fungi, parasites, viruses, cancer and allergies. Thymopoeitein also activates circulating T-cells. 

Because the thymus shrivels with age, its importance has been downplayed. Stress, pollution, chronic illness, radiation and AIDS also diminish thymus function. However, low thymic hormone levels are associated with depressed immunity and elevated infection susceptibility. A cardinal symptom of infection is fatigue. 

Adrenal Glands 

Perched atop each kidney is a triangular shaped adrenal gland. The adrenals are divided into two distinct parts somewhat like a peach. The outer fleshy fruit of a peach is like the cortex or outer region of the adrenal, while the pit resembles the smaller inner medulla of the adrenal gland. All adrenal hormones are ruled by adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) from the anterior pituitary.

The adrenal cortex produces and secretes three kinds of steroid hormones. The first type, called mineralocorticoids, includes aldosterone which maintains normal blood pressure by balancing sodium, potassium and fluid levels. Secondly, the adrenal cortex makes small amounts of sex hormones, namely testosterone and estrogen. 

The glucocorticoids, cortisol and corticosterone, regulate blood pressure, support normal muscle function, promote protein breakdown, distribute body fat and increase blood sugar as needed. This hormone class is most noted for its anti-inflammatory properties, hence the popularity of artificial cortisone as a medication. 

You may also have heard about DHEA, short for dehydroepiandrosterone. This steroid hormone, also from the adrenals, has been familiar to scientists for years but its purpose was hazy. Researchers used to think DHEA acted as a reservoir for your body to produce other hormones, like estrogen and testosterone. It’s becoming apparent that DHEA has it own role. Its functions  affect your heart, body weight, nervous system, immunity, bones and other systems.  

The adrenal medulla acts more like a member of the nervous system. In fact it’s derived from the same primitive tissue as the ganglion cells of the sympathetic nervous system. The medulla’s hormones, epinephrine (also called adrenalin) and norepinephrine, are also controlled by the sympathetic nervous system during fear or stress. Your body reacts to these hormones with a “flight or fight” response: pounding heart, dilated pupils and high blood pressure.

While your adrenals save you during crises, continual demands on this glands tire you out. Age, stress and even coffee compromises your adrenal glands. Several years ago, Sanford Bolton, PhD from St. John’s University in Jamaica, New York found that habitual coffee drinkers had diminished adrenal function (The Journal of Orthomolecular Psychiatry, vol 13, number 1). 

Pancreas 

Hiding behind the stomach is the long slender pancreas. Its acini, rosette-looking cells, make and pour 2 1/2 pints of digestive enzyme-containing juice each day–amylase for starch, lipase for fat and protease for protein–into the small intestine. 

The Islets of Langerhans rule the pancreas’s better known hormones, insulin and glucagon. These opposing hormones work together keeping your blood sugar in check. Glucagon works together with epinephrine, growth hormone and glucocorticoids to stop your blood glucose from dipping too low by promoting glycogen breakdown. Insulin controls high blood sugar by enhancing the uptake and utilization of glucose by your muscles and body fat. 

Diabetes mellitus is the worse case scenario of a pancreas gone wrong. In this disease, the seventh most common cause of death in the United States, insulin is ineffective or absent causing very high blood sugar. Resulting signs and symptoms include glucose in the urine, extreme thirst and hunger, frequent urination, weight loss and fatigue. A blood glucose test can confirm or dismiss a diabetes diagnosis.

Like all body parts, the pancreas requires its share of vitamins and minerals to function properly. At the 1994 American Diabetes Association Meeting, information was presented on the value of various nutrients. Magnesium deficiency in common in diabetes. Production of free radicals, the molecules that damage healthy tissue, increases in diabetes. Antioxidant nutrients like vitamin E and C, and beta-carotene dampen free radical harm (Diabetes Care, 1994, vol 17). 

Testes 

Two testes, housed in a man’s scrotum, produce sperm and testosterone. Without this male sex hormone, men wouldn’t have deep voices, beards or be muscular. Testosterone, also responsible for sex organ development, is produced in the testes under the direction of gonadotrophins from the anterior pituitary. Testosterone also enhances libido in both sexes. 

One of the most common problems to strike older men is benign prostatic hypertrophy or BPH. Testosterone naturally declines with age, while other hormones like prolactin, estradiol, luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone all increase. The net result is a boost in dihydrotestosterone, a powerful male hormone, that causes prostate enlargement. 

An enlarged prostate presses down on a man’s urinary tract causing frequent and hesitant urination. Urine may dribble out rather than flow in a steady, strong stream. Nighttime wakings to urinate disrupt sleep and create fatigue. Luckily natural remedies are very successful at treating BPH. Cutting out coffee and drinking more water are first steps. Supplemental doses of certain vitamins, minerals and herbs can be quite effective for various prostate conditions, your practitioner can assess which ones are right for you.

Ovaries 

On the female side, two ovaries, linked to the uterus via fallopian tubes, produce a woman’s eggs as well as estrogen and progesterone. These female hormones endow a women with her feminine traits: large breasts and hips, soft skin and a menstrual cycle. During pregnancy, the placenta also produces progesterone, taking over from the ovaries. This arrangement allows pregnancy to proceed normally, as well as prepare a woman’s breasts for nursing her baby. 

One of the most common endocrine-related problems that plague women is premenstrual syndrome. Half of premenopausal women complain of fatigue, tender breasts, depression, irritability, food cravings and any number of the 150 symptoms association with this syndrome one to two weeks before their periods. 

Like most endocrine disorders, PMS involves the disruption of more than just one hormone. True, estrogen tends to be higher in women with PMS, especially during the second half of her menstrual cycle. However, progesterone is also lower than usual, FSH overshoots on some days, aldosterone increases prior to menses and hypothyroidism is more common in women suffering from PMS. Because of the complexity and individuality of this condition, therapies vary from woman to woman. 

Overall, when it comes to any type of endocrine or hormonal disorder it’s more important to focus on the root cause and what are the underlying mechanisms that are causing disease rather than just treating it symptomatically.  Each person is encouraged to seek out a qualified healthcare practitioner in order to assess exactly which nutrients, herbs, homeopathics and natural remedies; in which combination; in what proportion are right for the particular individual and are intended at treating the root cause rather than just a symptom.

There’s only one major disease and that is malnutrition.  All ailments and afflictions to which we may succumb are directly traceable to this major disease of “malnutrition”

~ D W.  Cavanaugh, M.D., Cornell University 

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There are many different digestive disorders and drugstores are lined with literally hundreds of different remedies to try to block the symptoms of digestive distress which in the short term may provide some relief but in the long-term causes even more problems. 

Without a healthy gastrointestinal tract, disease from malnutrition and putrefaction is inevitable and looking at the root cause of the digestive distress and restoring proper digestive function is critical in disease prevention and recovery from any illness. 

Digestion and a Healthy Gastrointestinal Tract  

In order to survive, each cell of the body must receive proper nourishment from a balanced diet that includes the right proportions of carbohydrates, fats, proteins, water, vitamins, minerals, and trace elements. Before these foods can be used as nourishment for the cells and tissues they must first pass through the digestive system or alimentary canal which includes the long journey from mouth to rectum. 

During this journey foods are broken down into their most basic components such as amino acids, monosaccharides and fatty acids in order to be absorbed through the small intestine, and then to the liver and finally to the cells. If at any point during this journey, the foods are not efficiently digested or absorbed for anyone of a multitude of reasons; malnutrition results and the disease process begins. 

Organs of the Gastrointestinal Tract 

The gastrointestinal tract or alimentary canal is a continuous, coiled, hollow, muscular tube that winds through the body cavity and is open both ends.  Its organs include the mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, small intestine and large intestine.  Technically speaking, the food material within this tube is outside the body, because it only has contact with cells lining the intestinal tract and is open to the external environment at both ends. An analogy would be, washing dishes with rubber gloves on; technically your hands are in the water, but they are not actually in contact with the water and therefore dry.  

The barrier the rubber gloves provide don’t allow contact with the outside world (water) is similar to the barrier between the outside world (contents of the gastrointestinal tract) and the bloodstream.  If for any reason there is a breech within the intestinal lining, large undigested food molecules can pass through into the bloodstream due to an abnormal amount of gut permeability.  This excessive gut permeability is called “leaky gut syndrome” which will be discussed in the pages to follow however first we must address the many steps of digestion that begin at the mouth and end at the anus. 

Digestion is the chemical breakdown of large food molecules into smaller molecules that can be used by cells. The breakdown occurs when certain specific enzymes are mixed with the food.  The digestive processes are controlled by both neural and hormonal mechanisms. 

The gastrointestinal tract along with the nervous system is the first to form in the embryonic stage and therefore the most important systems in the body not only to begin life but also to maintain optimal health throughout the lifespan. 

Functions of the Gastrointestinal Tract:  

•   Ingestion of food 

•   Movement of food through the long journey by way of muscular contractions called Peristalsis 

•  Digestion – to breakdown food into usable components.  

There are two different processes of digestion: 

1. Mechanical – chewing and mixing food 

2. Chemical – food is mixed with digestive enzymes and enzymes break chemical bonds   resulting in smaller compounds that are now able to be absorbed into the bloodstream. 

•  Absorption – the transport of the basic food components through the intestinal cells (enterocytes) lining the small intestine and into the blood. 

•   Defecation-to eliminate the waste material (feces) from unused portions of food residue that has accumulated in the large intestine (colon). 

Digestive Disorders 

Regardless of the cause our inability to digest foods causes signs and symptoms within the digestive system which we subsequently and erroneously merely diagnose as diseases rather than looking at them as symptoms that the digestive system is giving of an imbalance or inability to execute its function. Rather than just managing the symptoms of disease we would do well advised to try to restore proper function with the use of foods, herbs, supplements and beneficial bacteria. 

Irritations or inflammation of the various sections of the gastrointestinal tract are identified as gastritis (stomach), colitis (colon), ileitis (ileum or small intestines), hepatitis (liver), and cholecystitis (gall bladder). Again each and every one of these are symptoms of dysfunction which can be reversed if it’s addressed in time. 

Hypochlorhydria or Low Stomach Acid 

How can one tell if he has low stomach acid?  One may experience burning pain and regurgitation discomfort in the upper abdomen and lower chest area. Additionally, one may feel gas in this area and burp excessively. After meals, one may feel that the food seems to remain in the stomach and has difficulty progressing through the intestines. After a period of time the foods that have not been digested in the stomach start putrefying, create gas and the resulting pressure is eventually released up through the cardio esophageal sphincter where the partially acidified food is regurgitated up the esophagus resulting in its classic symptoms of heartburn. 

Rather than using antacids, acid blocking agents and proton pump inhibitors to inhibit acid production for merely symptomatic relief, our goal would be to restore proper digestion by being calm when you eat and thereby increasing parasympathetic nervous activity which helps the body rest and digest, increase HCl production by parietal cells, increase pepsin production, support liver, bile, pancreatic and villi enzymatic production. 

HCl deficiencies can lead to putrefaction, autointoxication, and undigested proteins leading to an inability to provide the substrates necessary for building and repairing of body tissues and causing the following symptoms: 

• Excess fluid retention (Edema) in hands and feet
• Nausea and dizziness from low blood sugar
• Anemic conditions (low hemoglobin levels, lack of oxygen)
• Catch colds, flu’s and infections easily- Lowered resistance because of lack of antibodies and white blood cells
• Muscle catabolism (wasting)
• Premature aging
• Low hormone levels
• Hair is dull, loose and falling out (cysteine)
• Depression of vitamin A levels (lack of transport protein)
• Decline in liver enzyme activity (liver uses amino acids for phase 2 detoxification conjugation pathways (glycine, taurine, cysteine, methionine)
• Muscular incoordination
• Retarded spermatogenesis
• Extreme weakness, fatigue
• Cataracts
• Acid-Alkaline balance deviations
• Hormone deficiencies (thyroxine, adrenaline, insulin)
• Poor wound healing (glutamine, proline, lysine)
• Mind, mood and memory problems – due to deficiencies in tryptophan-serotonin/melatonin; phemyalanine/ tyrosine and subsequent catecholamines norepinephrine epinephrine and dopamine.

Ulcers 

An ulcer is an irritation due to gastric juice penetrating the mucous lining of the stomach or duodenum. It is believed that ulcers are caused by the bacterium Helicobacter pylori, which, can thrive in the acid environment of the stomach. The presence of the bacteria on portions of the stomach lining prevents it from secreting mucous, making it susceptible to the digestive action of pepsin and thus forming an ulceration in the tissue the stomach wall.

Many of today’s drugs often prescribed for a variety of digestive complaints work by preventing histamine’s ability to bind to the H 2 receptors on the parietal cells and thus reducing stomach acid production. These drugs are known as H2-blockers and include drugs, such as: cimetidine (Tagamet), ranitidine (Zantac), famotidine (Pepcid). 

Unfortunately, the consequences of these supposed benign stomach remedies are the inhibition of proper protein digestion.  If dietary proteins are not digested properly, putrefaction occurs and we cannot liberate the amino acid precursors for healthy brain function. Take for example amino acids such as phenylalanine or tyrosine which are necessary for the production of catecholamines such as norepinephrine, epinephrine and dopamine or dietary proteins precursors such as; tryptophan that are necessary for serotonin and melatonin production.  The use of these stomach acid blocking agents inevitably result in a deficiency of these nutrient precursors which can lead to many different types of nervous system disorders such as; depression, insomnia, anxiety, fatigue, poor concentration and more. 

As mentioned, it is the gastric cells that secrete hydrochloric acid and the chief cells of the stomach secrete the inactive enzyme called pepsinogen. It is the activity of hydrochloric acid and the reduction in pH of the stomach contents which facilitates the inactive enzyme pepsinogens conversion to the active form of pepsin which then begins to denature proteins.  The chains of proteins strands are referred to as poly (many)-peptides and smaller chains are called oligo-(several) peptides chains of amino acids.  

A visual picture would be to imagine a long string of pearls of various lengths.  The goal of protein digestion is to cut a long string of pearls into shorter pieces until eventually they are broken down into single pearls and no longer attached to each other.  These single pearls would be the equivalent of single amino acids that are now small enough to be absorbed through the cells of the gastrointestinal lining. 

Diarrhea and Vomiting

Another very important function of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) is as a sensory organ. By rejecting foods through objectionable taste, vomiting, and diarrhea or any combination of these symptoms, the sensing capacity of the GIT can protect the body. The surface of the GIT has a complex system of nerves and other cells of the immune system. The surface of the GIT, or mucosa, is part of a complex sensing system called the MALT (Mucosa Associated Lymphatic Tissue). The immune sensors in MALT trigger responses such as nausea, vomiting, pain, and swelling. Vomiting and diarrheas are abrupt defensive responses to MALT-sensing foods with a strong allergic or toxic component. This kind of food intolerance is responsible for many digestive problems. The gastrointestinal tract is “hard-wired” to the brain via hormonal, neurotransmitter-mediator chemical communication. 

The gastrointestinal tract is a muscular tube that contracts in a controlled rhythm to move food through the different sections (peristalsis). Strength and timing variations in the contractions can cause cramping (very strong contractions) and diarrhea (contractions are very frequent).When the contractions are slow and irregular, constipation may occur. 

Motility Disorder 

“Motility disorder” is the general term used to describe problems with peristalsis.  In all but a few cases, a food allergy is the primary cause of gastrointestinal tract problems. Chronic diseases have their origin in food allergies. The dysfunction, discomfort, and disease associated with GIT are the result of local immune responses to food selections or combinations of foods. 

Colic

Abdominal pain appears in different patterns and with varying intensities. Cramping occurs because of muscle spasms of the abdominal organs. Severe cramping pain, often called colic,usually occurs from problems with food intakes that exhibit strong allergic response in the patient. Abdominal cramping near the navel is typically from the small intestine, and near the sides, top, and bottom of the lower abdomen, the pain is associated with the colon.

Flatulence 

Flatulence is a common digestive problem. It can be a symptom of disease or may be related to an inappropriate diet and it is important to identify the cause.

The Dangers of Acid Blocking Drugs  

 Lack of stomach acid is called hypochlorhydria and it is becoming a common problem. It is the direct result of the long term use of antacids, poor food combining practices, stress and eating over processed foods without any enzymes.

Our natural production of stomach acid is necessary to digest and convert food to the millions of biochemical pathways. Stomach acid activates digestive enzymes not only in the stomach but in your small intestines. Absorption of minerals and vitamins like calcium, magnesium and B12 initially start in the stomach, but much more action goes on in the small intestines. Once we suppress stomach acid with an acid blocker, not only do we block active enzymes, we can cause a dangerous overgrowth of bad bacteria and microbes in the small intestines leading to threatening infections, abdominal pain and diarrhea. It is common knowledge the acid blockers block calcium and therefore cause bone density issues. 

Indigestion is often viewed by doctors as a minor disorder; MD’s often treat the symptoms of the gut, without regard to how it affects another system considering all our systems are intimately connected and all functions are linked. 

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are used widely in the management of acid-related disorders and, for the majority of patients, oral therapy is effective. PPI drugs have enabled improved treatment of various acid-peptic disorders, including gastroesophageal reflux disease, peptic ulcer disease, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug¬induced gastropathy. 

 Types of Proton Pump Inhibitors

• Omeprazole (Prilosec)
• Lansoprazole (Prevacid)
• Rabeprazole (Aciphex)
• Pantoprazole (Protonix)
• Esomeprazole (Nexium) 

 They were considered safe but there are some concerns about the possibility of an association with cancer, infection, and gastric atrophy; current concerns about long-term therapy are centered mainly on a possible association with fundic gland polyps and between Helicobacter pylori and gastric atrophic changes.

The following is a short list of some of the negative effects of acid blocking agents: 

• Vitamin B12 absorption- Proton pump inhibitors reduce the absorption of vitamin B12 probably by inhibiting intragastric proteolysis and, thus, its release from food required prior to binding to R-proteins and gastric intrinsic factor. 
•  According to World J Gastroenterol. 2010. Safety of the long-term use of proton pump inhibitors. Long-term use of PPIs may lead to vitamin B12 deficiency, more likely in the elderly, or in persons with Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome who are on high doses of PPI for prolonged periods of time. 
•  Proton-pump inhibitors that block stomach acid production increase the risk of an increasingly common infectious form of diarrhea.  
•  Frequently prescribed anti-heartburn drugs called H2 antagonists that include Zantac double the risk of the bacterial diarrhea. PPIs and H2 antagonists reduce gastric acid, allowing for bacteria to multiply in the digestive system. Clostridium is the third-most common type of infectious diarrhea in patients aged 75 and older. 
• Popular heartburn drugs, including proton pump inhibitors and histamine-2 receptor antagonists, may raise the risk of pneumonia, according to Dr. Sang Min Park of the department of family medicine at Seoul National University Hospital in Korea. 
• Hip fracture risk increased with proton pump inhibitors long-term use of proton pump inhibitors increases the risk of hip fractures in adults over 50. 

For all these reasons it is wise to air on the side of caution when considering these acid blocking agents rather than dealing with the root cause of the digestive disorder itself. 

Over­all, it’s more impor­tant to focus on the root cause and what are the under­ly­ing mech­a­nisms that are caus­ing the condition rather than just treat­ing it symp­to­mati­cally.  Each person is encour­aged to seek out a qual­i­fied nutri­tion­ist or other qualified healthcare practitioner in order to assess exactly which nutri­ents, herbs, home­o­pathics and nat­ural reme­dies; in which com­bi­na­tion; in what pro­por­tion are right for the par­tic­u­lar indi­vid­ual and are intended at treat­ing the root cause rather than just a symptom.

What should I know about Diabetes? 

Diabetes mellitus, a term that means “the running through of sugar,” was first identified in the 1st century AD. The disease was described in old books as “the melting down of flesh into urine.” Diabetes mellitus is a chronic condition where there is less insulin than what the body needs. This can be low insulin, a problem with the release of insulin, insulin that cannot work in the cells that need it, or insulin that is inactivated before it is able to function. Diabetes mellitus is a disease in which the body does not produce or does not use insulin effectively. It is not simply hyperglycemia, or too much glucose (sugar) in the blood. 

Insulin is a hormone produced in the pancreas by the beta cells in the Islets of Langerhans. The release of insulin by these special cells is regulated by the amount of glucose in the blood. It is responsible for transporting glucose (from carbohydrates) into the cells for energy production. After a meal, when blood sugar increases, insulin release increases. 

Between meals, when blood sugar is low, insulin release is low. Insulin is released from the pancreas directly into the liver where some is used and some is broken down and eliminated from the body. The rest is released into the general blood circulation. By helping to move glucose into the cells, insulin decreases blood sugar. Insulin also decreases the breakdown of stored fat and builds triglycerides. Insulin is involved in the production of protein. The proper growth and development of children is dependent on insulin. 

Diabetes can affect people of any age. It increases the risk of chronic conditions like heart disease, retinopathy (a disease of the retina) and blindness, peripheral neuropathies (a disease of the nervous system), circulation problems that can lead to amputation, problems with the immune system, and skin ulcers and poor wound healing. 

Diabetes is diagnosed by lab tests, either a fasting plasma glucose (FPG) or a two-hour plasma glucose (OGTT – oral glucose tolerance test). There are two forms of diabetes mellitus: type 1 (also called IDDM, insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, or juvenile onset) and type 2 (NIDDM, non-insulin dependent diabetes, or adult onset). 

Type 1 Diabetes 

Type 1 diabetes is a condition where the beta cells in the pancreas do not release insulin. This is called an absolute insulin deficiency. This means that the individual has hyperglycemia and begins to break down their fats and protein in order to meet the energy demands of the body. This breakdown of fats and protein makes the insulin dependent diabetic build up waste products called ketone bodies, which causes a condition called ketoacidosis. Insulin dependent diabetics need a constant supply of insulin to prevent ketoacidosis and maintain a stable blood sugar.

Type 1 diabetes usually occurs in people younger than 30 years of age. It is thought that the disease is a caused by something in a person’s family history (genetic factor) that responds abnormally to the beta cells in the Islets of Langerhans. Islet cell antibodies have been found in 60-95 percent of persons with type 1 diabetes. Sometimes this unusual response by the body can be started by a virus, a vaccination, or a toxic fungus. 

Type 2 Diabetes 

Ninety percent of individuals with diabetes have type 2. Most of these individuals are over 40 years old. One in five patients is over the age of 65, and 80 percent are overweight. Many patients have increased blood sugar seven to ten years before symptoms occur. 

When something is wrong with a person’s blood sugar regulation even if insulin is being produced by their pancreas, the individual probably has type 2 diabetes. People with type 2 do not need to depend on insulin injections to survive. Type 2 diabetes is not fully understood. Three physical abnormalities usually occur in type 2: insulin resistance, increased glucose production in the liver, and poor beta cell function. These can occur individually or in combination. 

Insulin resistance appears to be the first stage of the disease. It means that insulin cannot help glucose go from the blood into the cells. While the beta cells are able to release normal or even higher than normal amounts of insulin, glucose movement into the cells is sluggish and blood glucose slowly begins to rise. Therefore, blood sugar remains increased even with insulin being produced by the pancreas. Then the pancreas releases even more insulin, and hyperinsulinemia (too much insulin in the blood) begins. 

This is likely due to a genetic defect that affects how insulin is used or the way it is transported to the cells. Insulin resistance is due to high insulin levels, not high glucose levels. Therefore, the individual is always hyperglycemic. Eventually, the beta cells “burn out” and insulin resistance may turn into diabetes. 

Many people with type 2 diabetes also produce a large amount of glucose in the liver. This increase in liver glucose production is likely related to fat breakdown. When the body is not efficiently using glucose as an energy source, stored fat becomes an important source of fuel. The breakdown of fat makes the liver produce glucose. Because patients with type 2 diabetes are insensitive to the effects of insulin, which normally stops the production of glucose in the liver, this condition continues. This situation also appears to be related to weight and physical activity. 

In type 2 diabetes, the ability of the beta cells to release the first amount of insulin needed after eating a meal (postprandial insulin release) deteriorates early on in the disease. Therefore, blood glucose remains increased for one to two hours after a large meal. As the disease gets worse, the insulin release that continues following a meal also worsens, resulting in something called pancreatic beta cell exhaustion. 

Type 2 diabetes appears to be caused by genetic defects that at first make a person not able to respond to the actions of insulin and, over time, the beta cells in the pancreas will stop releasing insulin. However, new evidence points to diet and lifestyle as important factors that may be responsible for the development of the disease. A person over the age of 45 and overweight is a likely candidate for developing type 2 diabetes. About 30-39 percent of Americans are obese, and many more are overweight. Research has shown a strong connection between upper body obesity (people with “apple shapes”) and the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Complications of Diabetes 

The long-term complications associated with diabetes are serious, often life-threatening, and diagnosed in the late stages of the disease. These complications are due to continuous hyperglycemia from poor glucose control. Many of these chronic complications can be traced to changes in blood vessels that cause a decreased blood flow. These changes include coronary heart disease and peripheral vascular disease, retinopathy, nephropathy, and neuropathy. 

Heart disease is the leading cause of diabetes-related deaths, with adults having two to four times higher heart disease death rates than adults without the disease. The risk of stroke is two to four times higher in people with diabetes. Patient with diabetes develop more atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) than people without diabetes, and some 60-65 percent of patients with diabetes have high blood pressure. 

When high amounts of blood glucose are present in tissues such as the lens of the eye and nerve cells, the body finds other ways to handle the extra glucose in these cells. Enzymes (proteins that stimulate chemical reactions to occur in the body) work to breakdown the extra glucose, causing an increase in sorbitol and fructose (types of sugars). This excess sugar in these cells will then take on extra fluid, eventually damaging these cells. 

Retinopathy is the leading cause of new cases of blindness among adults 20 to 74 years of age. Because of increased glucose,  blood vessels weaken and microaneurysms (small swellings in the blood vessel) occur in the capillaries of the retina. The retinal cells can then burst and hemorrhage (bleed). This blurs vision and can lead to detachment of the retina.

Nephropathy (kidney disease) is the leading cause of kidney failure requiring dialysis. The first sign is microalbuminuria (a type of protein in the urine), which leads to proteinuria (protein in the urine), and eventually end stage kidney disease. 

Neuropathy (disease of the nervous system) causes numbness and tingling in the arms, legs, hands, and feet, eventually leading to injury and the development of diabetic ulcers (wounds) in these areas. Diabetes is the leading cause of amputations in the U.S. Other changes that occur with neuropathies include GI problems, such as gastroparesis (a paralysis in the gastrointestinal tract), chronic constipation, or diarrhea; loss of sexual function, bladder function, and heart problems. 

Signs and Symptoms

The following list does not insure the presence of this health condition. Please see the text and your healthcare professional for more information. 

General

• Frequent urination
• Thirst
• Weight loss despite increased appetite
• Fatigue
• Irritability
• Low blood sugar episodes (blood glucose <60mg/dl or 3.3 mmol/l ) can be marked by dizziness, lethargy, irritability, loss of coordination and perspiration
• High blood sugar episodes (blood glucose >250mg/dl or 13.9 mmol/l ) can be characterized by increased thirst, nausea, vomiting, and a “fruity” odor to the breath  

Initial symptoms of diabetes include frequent urination, thirst, weight loss despite an increased appetite, fatigue, and irritability. Dizziness, lethargy, irritability, loss of coordination, and perspiration are common during episodes of low blood sugar (blood glucose <60mg/dl). High blood sugar (blood glucose >250mg/dl) among insulin-dependent diabetics can lead to ketoacidosis which requires medical attention. Increased thirst, nausea, vomiting, and an acetone or “fruity” odor to the breath are common with ketoacidosis. 

Diabetic coma, or ketoacidotic coma, is a life threatening complication of type 1 diabetes. As the make up of the blood changes, a severe imbalance occurs between the amount of water in the blood plasma and the amount of electrolytes. Symptoms include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and shortness of breath (Kussmaul breathing). Signs include flushing, decreased reflexes, and “fruity” breath. 

Treatment Options 

Conventional 

Treatment goals for diabetes include avoiding hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), and decreasing, slowing down, or avoiding the long-term complications of the disease. Therapy should be special for each person depending on his or her condition. It is important to realize that the disease will probably get worse throughout the patient’s lifetime, and that the treatment plan may need to be changed to control blood sugar and avoid other health problems. 

The treatment of diabetes involves making sure that insulin is controlling blood sugar properly. Along with a program of a healthy diet and exercise, insulin is the treatment of choice for the patient with type 1 diabetes. The patient or caregiver also needs to monitor blood glucose very carefully to decrease the risk of future complications. This is usually done at home with a blood glucose meter. A small amount of blood is taken with a fingerstick, and the amount of blood sugar is measured by the machine. Insulin doses can be changed based on this information. 

Insulin is a protein and a hormone. All insulin products on the market are from the pancreas of pigs or made synthetically. Animal-derived products are being phased out, although a few purified pork insulins are still available. Human insulin is a biosynthetic product that is made by using baker’s yeast, or a strain of the bacteria E. coli that does not cause disease. Insulin lispro or insulin aspart are also biosynthetic products on the market to treat diabetes. They are a little different from human insulin in order to get a specific effect.

Insulin is given by injection underneath the skin in a very specific dose to control blood glucose. Insulin must be injected because it is a protein and can be digested in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Insulin can be measured and injected with a traditional insulin syringe or with a pen-injection system. Insulin can also be given by using an infusion pump, which automatically injects a continuous dose of insulin. This is an alternative to giving daily injections at different times during the day. The following list summarizes the various insulin formulations currently on the market. 

Commercially Available Insulin Formulations 

Rapid-acting

• Human Insulin Lispro
• Human Insulin Aspart 

Short-acting

• Human Insulin (rDNA)
• Pork Purified Insulin

Intermediate-acting

• Isophane Human Insulin (rDNA)
• Pork Purified Isophane Insulin
• Human Insulin Zinc Suspension (rDNA)
• Pork Purified Insulin Zinc Suspension

Long-acting

• Human Insulin Zinc Suspension (rDNA), Extended
• Insulin Glargine 

Human Insulin (rDNA) Mixtures

• Isophane Insulin + Insulin 50/50
• Isophane Insulin + Insulin 70/30
• Insulin Lispro + Protamine 0.19mg (50/50 Mix)
• Insulin Lispro + Protamine 0.28mg (75/25 Mix) 

Treatment for patients with type 2 diabetes includes diet, exercise, and drug therapy. Diet is considered to be the first treatment to try. Maintaining ideal body weight can help the patient to control the disease. Exercise can help the insulin that is available to work better and help regulate glucose production in the liver. Even with diet and exercise, however, within the first five years after diagnosis, over 60 percent of patients will need oral antidiabetic drugs. It is also estimated that approximately 40 percent of patients will eventually need insulin injections to control their blood sugar. 

Oral Antidiabetic Drugs

Oral drug therapy for the management of type 2 diabetes now includes more choices in several drug classes, most of which work differently. Sulfonylureas cause release of insulin from the pancreas and help insulin to work better; biguanides work in the liver; thiazolidenedones work in muscles; glucosidase inhibitors work in the small intestine; and meglitinide causes release of insulin from the pancreas. 

Oral Drugs for Treating Diabetes 

First Generation

• Tolbutamide 250mg, 500mg
• Acetohexamide 125mg, 250mg
• Tolazamide 100mg, 250mg, 500mg
• Chlorpropamide 100mg, 250mg 

Second Generation

• Glipizide 5mg, 10mg
• Glipizide extended release 2.5mg, 5mg, 10mg
• Glyburide 1.25mg, 2.5mg, 5mg
• Glyburide Micronized 1.5mg, 3mg, 6mg
• Glimepiride 1mg, 2mg, 4mg 

Alpha-Glucosidase Inhibitors

• Acarbose 50mg, 100mg
• Miglitol 25mg, 50mg, 100mg 

Biguanides

• Metformin 500mg, 850mg, 1,000mg
• Metformin extended release 500mg 

Meglitinides

• Repaglinide 0.5mg, 1mg, 2mg 

Thiazolidinediones

• Rosiglitazone 2mg, 4mg, 8mg
• Pioglitazone 15mg, 30mg, 45mg 

Combination Products

• Glyburide and Metformin 1.25/250mg, 2.5/500mg, 5/500mg 

Sulfonylureas

Oral sulfonylureas are related to sulfa antibiotics but do not have antibacterial action. They stimulate insulin release, increase the amount of insulin circulating in the bloodstream, and make the beta cells more sensitive to the actions of glucose. They are used along with diet and exercise. They are only effective in patients that can produce insulin. They don’t prevent beta cell loss. Therefore, sulfonylureas can become less effective over time. The newer agents in this group of drugs have less drug interactions than the first drugs that were marketed in this group. About 50 percent of patients will successfully control their diabetes with the use of sulfonylureas. These agents can also be used in combination with injectable insulin. All of the sulfonylureas can be taken with food except for glipizide. Food slows down glipizide absorption, so it is recommended that this drug be taken 30 minutes before meals. 

Biguanides

Metformin is a member of the biguanide group of antidiabetic drugs and not related to the sulfonylureas. It makes the insulin that is available work better – it doesn’t increase the amount of insulin that is released. By not increasing insulin release, it does not cause hyperinsulinemia. It also decreases blood glucose without producing hypoglycemia. It can be used with diet or in combination with other drugs. It does not produce weight gain. Metformin is the only antidiabetic drug ever shown to extend the life of patients with type 2 diabetes. 

Thiazolidinediones

Troglitazone, a member of the thiazolidinedione drug class became available in January, 1997, and was reported to lower blood glucose by decreasing insulin resistance, not by increasing insulin release. It could be used alone, with insulin, or along with oral sulfonylureas. By December of that year, the FDA announced new guidelines to be followed to monitor patients for signs of liver injury. This was due to 35 reports of liver injury in U.S. and Japanese patients, including one liver transplant and one death. The manufacturer removed the drug from the market in March, 2000. 

In May, 1999, the FDA approved rosiglitazone, the second drug in this class of antidiabetic drugs. It does not seem to have the same liver problems that were seen with troglitazone. No significant drug-drug interactions have been reported. However, caution is still needed and watching patients on this drug is still recommended. 

The third drug in this group to receive FDA approval is pioglitazone. It has advantages over the other two drugs in this group. Most patients will have lower triglycerides, increased HDL cholesterol, and no changes in LDL cholesterol with this drug. This may be important for those patients with type 2 diabetes that are at high risk for heart disease. Watching patients on this drug is still recommended. 

Alpha-Glucosidase Inhibitors

Acarbose and miglitol are alpha-glucosidase inhibitors. They lower postprandial blood glucose by slowing down the digestion and absorption of carbohydrates. These agents do not affect the absorption of simple sugars, such as glucose and lactose. Unlike sulfonylureas, they do not cause hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, or weight gain. They do not increase insulin release. They can be used with diet alone or combined with sulfonylurea or biguanide agents. They have been reported to decrease triglycerides and LDL cholesterol. These drugs are most useful for patients in the early stages of the disease who have high blood glucose after meals, but have normal fasting blood glucose lab results. 

Meglitinides

Repaglinide belongs to a drug class known as the meglitinides, not related to the sulfonylureas. It decreases blood glucose by increasing the release of insulin from the pancreas. It needs to have functioning beta cells to work effectively. Repaglinide can be used alone or in combination with metformin. When it is used along with metformin, the results are better than with using either drug alone. It must be taken multiple times daily, usually within 15 minutes of each meal. Patients who have not done well with a sulfonylurea will probably not do well with repaglinide. 

Use of Insulin in Type 2 Diabetes

In patients with type 2 diabetes, it is important to make sure that the drug therapy is special for each patient. When there is little or poor response to a drug from one class, a drug from another class can be substituted to see how that works in the patient. For those patients who need it, a second drug from another class can be added. However, control of blood glucose is likely to decrease over time, as type 2 diabetes is a progressive disease – that is, it does get worse with time. 

Even with the use of oral agents, postprandial hyperglycemia still is a problem for 60 percent of patients. The failure of oral agents to control blood sugar is common. More than 25 percent of type 2 patients will require insulin to adequately control their blood sugar. Blood sugar monitoring and taking all antidiabetic drugs properly are extremely important.

Natural Treatments

There are a great many vitamins, minerals, herbal supplements and other natural remedies that have been shown to effectively lower blood sugar safely and effectively. Which therapies are chosen will be based on the root cause of the elevations in blood sugar and not just the symptom. Your practitioner will carefully evaluate your situation and put together an effective protocol at safely lowering your blood sugar with natural remedies rather than just medications that merely treat the symptom. Please note it is dangerous to adjust the dosages or discontinue any medications without the advice of a qualified healthcare practitioner who will work with you and as your body increases insulin sensitivity and output your medications will be adjusted accordingly in conjunction with your primary healthcare provider.

Diet & Lifestyle 

Diet: 

Diabetes and obesity have increased over the past 50 years in the United States. People don’t eat enough fresh foods, and there are fewer micronutrients in the soil where food is grown. Fad diets of high protein, low or high fat, and low or no carbohydrates are not the answer. While this type of diet may help take weight off at first, it is not a long-term answer. Carbohydrates alone are not the cause because humans were eating carbohydrates long before these problems arose. It is true, however, that people are eating excessive amounts of carbohydrates, and it would be better to moderate that habit. 

There are several ways to support and improve insulin regulation by using natural agents, but the real key is to change the selection of foods in the diet. In general, the American diet is made up of a large amount of carbohydrates, especially refined carbohydrates. People limit their intake of fresh vegetables and fruits, and quality sources of protein and legumes, and they do not take in enough essential fats. As of 1985, the typical American diet was 46 percent carbohydrates, 43 percent fat (poor quality), and only 11 percent protein. With the average American eating approximately 150 pounds of sugar a year, there is a continuous demand for more insulin to be released.

The average person drinking two “big gulp” drinks a day is receiving about 54 teaspoons of sugar. Using diet drinks does not work either because they contain toxic sweeteners like aspartame as well as sodium. This is particularly a problem for diabetics with hypertension (high blood pressure). While current research shows that dietary fat and cholesterol are definite problems, this situation is only made worse by the continuous, increased amount of carbohydrates along with the fat. Dietary fat is then stored because of excess insulin that is released while eating a high amount of carbohydrates. 

Many experts over the years have praised the low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet. The problem with this diet has been that it does not cause weight loss. In fact, a diet with too many carbohydrates has been linked to increased LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. The other thing to be aware of is that many prepared foods may be labeled low fat, but are loaded with refined sugars, which increase insulin release, and therefore, fat storage. 

Exercise:

Along with diet, exercise is the most important step diabetics can take toward blood sugar control. Today, there is more stress and less physical activity than even a generation ago. Exercise can decrease the risk for heart problems in diabetic patients. Regular exercise can improve heart and lung health, make insulin work better, and increase HDL cholesterol while decreasing LDL cholesterol. Exercise also helps to regulate blood sugar. At a minimum, diabetics should get 30 minutes of some form of exercise at least four days a week, but more would be beneficial. Anyone who is over 40, or a brittle diabetic, and has not been exercising, should check with their health care professional before starting any exercise program.

Over­all, it’s more impor­tant to focus on the root cause and what are the under­ly­ing mech­a­nisms that are caus­ing disease rather than just treat­ing it symp­to­mati­cally.  Each per­son is encour­aged to seek out a qualified healthcare practitioner in order to assess exactly which nutri­ents, herbs, home­o­pathics and nat­ural reme­dies; in which com­bi­na­tion; in what pro­por­tion are right for the par­tic­u­lar indi­vid­ual and are intended at treat­ing the root cause rather than just a symptom.

What should I know about depression? 

Depression has been part of the human condition since antiquity. Hippocrates, the ancient Greek “Father of Medicine,” is generally credited with the first description of an emotional disorder and is thought to have coined the term “melancholia,” literally translated as “black bile.” 

Although life is filled with unexpected events such as the death of a loved one, loss of a job, major illness, or other catastrophic events, not everybody becomes depressed. Most individuals suffer only temporary feelings of depression and find ways to adjust to life’s challenges. However, there are certain individuals who experience a major depressive episode when faced by stressful situations. 

Depression has been classified as a mood disorder or “affective” disorder. Mood is defined as a powerful, sustained emotion that, in the extreme, markedly affects a person’s perception of the world and ability to adequately function in society. Mood disorders are among the most common health problems doctors see every day. Mood disorders are divided into two major categories: depressive disorders and bipolar disorders. 

Depression affects approximately 5 percent of the population at any given time, and about 30 percent of adults will suffer from depression over a lifetime. Commonly thought of as a disorder of young to middle adulthood, with an average age of onset in the late 20′s, depression is also a common psychiatric illness in the elderly. Women are two to three times more likely to experience depression than men. 

Mood disorders, depression, and anxiety are common illnesses in our society. Lost work time, family conflicts, personal strife, and other consequences of the disease can eventually lead to complete disruption of one’s life. Depression and mood disorders have become increasingly recognized as widespread health problems. In spite of this they are often under-diagnosed and under-treated. 

Causes of Depression 

The causes of depression are too complex to be totally explained by a single social, biological, or developmental theory. Several factors seem to work together to trigger depressive disorders. Heredity does seem to have a role, as studies have shown. Depressive disorders and suicide tend to run in families, and first-degree relatives of patients with depression are one and one half to three times more likely to develop depression than people with no depression in the immediate family. 

Depression is not simply “all in the head.” Depression has physical causes, linked to abnormalities in brain chemistry. The symptoms of major depression consistently reflect changes in “neurotransmitters,” substances that regulate function of the brain and nervous system. The neurotransmitters closely related to depression are norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine. 

Serotonin is a key neurotransmitter for maintaining mental and emotional health. Low serotonin plays a big role in depression. Prolonged stress—physical, mental, or emotional can deplete the body’s serotonin supply. A host of other health problems can contribute to depression by robbing serotonin, including adrenal exhaustion, hypothyroidism, heavy metal toxicity, and “leaky gut” syndrome with subsequent food intolerance. Deficiencies in nutrients such as vitamin B12, folic acid, and certain amino acids can also be involved.

Signs and Symptoms  

The American Psychiatric Association has a list of criteria that are used to diagnose depressive disorders. These criteria include: 

1. Five (or more) of the following symptoms have been present during the same 2-week period and represent a change from the individual’s previous emotional state; at least one of the symptoms is either depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure. 

• Depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day.
• Markedly diminished interest in pleasure in all, or almost all, activities.
• Significant weight loss (not dieting) or weight gain, or increase or decrease in appetite nearly every day.
• Insomnia or excessive sleep nearly every day.
• Sluggishness or agitation nearly every day.
• Fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day.
• Feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt (may be delusional) nearly every day.
• Diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness.
• Recurrent thoughts of death, recurrent suicidal thoughts without a specific plan, or a suicide attempt or specific suicide plan. 

2. The symptoms cause significant distress or impair the person’s ability to function in everyday tasks. The symptoms are not due to the direct psychologic effects of a substance or general medical condition. 

The symptoms occur most of the day, nearly every day and can not be due to any drugs, substance or general medical condition           

Treatment Options  

Conventional 

Depression is a one-two punch that knocks the sufferer out of the ring on a daily basis. Number one, the symptoms themselves make life miserable. Number two, the depressed individual struggles to function and keep up with the life’s normal demands. Conventional treatment for depression is aimed both at reducing symptoms and helping the individual regain the ability to function they once enjoyed. Usually the treatment includes psychotherapy and the use of anti-depressant medications. 

The most commonly used drugs for uncomplicated depression are the tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, (SSRIs). If a patient does not respond to one type, therapy is often switched to the other. Of the tricyclic antidepressants, amitriptyline and imipramine are the most extensively studied and used. TCAs work by blocking the “reuptake” of norepinephrine and serotonin into brain and nerve cells. 

These neurotransmitters conduct electrical impulses from cell to cell, allowing us to think and feel. Once a neurotransmitter molecule has carried an impulse across the gap between two neighboring cells, called the “synapse,” the molecule is reabsorbed. If neurotransmitters are in short supply to begin with, brain and nerve function may be impaired. By inhibiting neurotransmitter reuptake, TCAs in effect increase the amount available in the synapse. 

TCAs, unfortunately are like a shotgun; they interfere with other neurotransmitters that regulate a variety of body functions. For this reason, TCAs have a lot of side effects. SSRIs, on the other hand, are much more precise. These drugs block the re-uptake of serotonin by itself, without touching other neurotransmitters. SSRI’s have fewer side effects and are generally preferred by physicians over the traditional TCAs. People who fail to benefit from a SSRI may respond to a TCA, and vice versa. 

If neither type of medication works, others are considered. Buproprion blocks the reuptake of dopamine, another important neurotransmitter in the brain. Mirtazapine a tetracyclic antidepressant with mixed effects on both serotonin and norepinephrine, may be prescribed. Triazolopyridine (trazodone or nefazodone), has a dual action as a serotonin antagonist and also a reuptake inhibitor.

Yet another type of anti-depressants are the “monoamine oxidase inhibitors” such as phenelzine, and tranylcypromine. Commonly known as “MAO inhibitors,” these drugs are used in cases of atypical depression. Symptoms of atypical depression that are usually improved by MAO inhibitors include mood reactivity, irritability, excessive sleeping, overeating, bodily agitation, and over sensitivity to rejection. 

Another very good reason for trying to avoid these medications include addiction to anxiety medications and sleep aids as well as suicidal ideation on antidepressants. For more information on the dangers of these psychotropic medications go to the resources tab and click on Prozac – 1991 FDA antidepressant hearings video and Citizens Commission on Human Rights-Mental Health Database.

Nutritional and Herbal Supplementation

There are a great many vitamins, minerals, herbal supplements and other natural remedies that have been shown to effectively reduce and eliminate many mood disorders such as anxiety and depression safely and effectively. Which therapies are chosen will be based on the root cause of the mood disorder and not just the symptom. Your practitioner will carefully evaluate your situation and put together an effective protocol at treating your condition with natural remedies rather than dangerous medications that merely treat the symptom and come with extremely dangerous side effects.

Diet & Lifestyle 

Some of the other things you can do to help with mood disorders include: 

• Eliminate sugar, caffeine, and alcohol.
• Identify and eliminate food allergies.
• Exercise.
• Light therapy.
• Stress reduction can take form in a variety of ways. Some of the more structured forms include; counseling, tai chi, yoga, meditation, deep breathing. 

 _______________________________________________________________

Anxiety  

What should I know about Anxiety? 

Anxiety is an emotional state commonly caused by the perception of real or potential danger that threatens the security of the individual. Everyone experiences a certain amount of nervousness and apprehension when faced with a stressful situation. Usually, the response is reasonable and adaptive, and contains a built-in control mechanism to return to a normal physiologic state. For some people, however, anxiety is more than just a temporary discomfort. For these individuals anxiety can be debilitating. It is when anxiety states become excessive or prolonged, particularly if it produces such psychological and physical stress, that the person cannot perform the activities of daily living, that medical help should be sought. 

In general, anxiety disorders are a group of illnesses that develop before age 30 and are more common in women and those with a family history of anxiety and depression. Anxiety disorders are among the most frequent mental disorders encountered in a clinical setting. Approximately 8% of the population will experience at least one anxiety disorder in their lifetime. Unfortunately, the majority of people with anxiety disorders receive no professional treatment. This is unfortunate because there is a great deal of success in treating anxiety disorders and a life that has been paralyzed can be renewed with appropriate treatment. 

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition (DSM-IV) classifies anxiety disorders into several categories. The characteristics of these illnesses are anxiety and avoidance behavior and include: generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder (with or without agoraphobia), agoraphobia without history of panic disorder, phobic disorders (social phobia or specific phobia), obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and acute stress disorder. 

Research studies have shown that there is a difference between normal anxiety and pathologic anxiety states. This difference involves multiple brain structures and neurotransmitter systems. Current drug therapy centers around the use of drugs which alter activity of one or more neurotransmitters, or act at the neurochemical receptor site.

Signs and Symptoms 

According to the DSM-IV, the diagnostic criteria for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) require persistent symptoms for at least six months. The essential feature of GAD is unrealistic or excessive worry about a number of events or activities. 

General 

• Excessive anxiety- (apprehensive expectation) occurring more days than not for at least six months, about a number of events or activities.
• Difficult to control worry.
• Anxiety or worry, associated with three or more of the following six symptoms: 

1. Restlessness or feeling keyed up or on edge.
2. Being easily fatigued.
3. Difficulty concentrating or mind going blank.
4. Irritability.
5. Muscle tension.
6. Sleep disturbance. 

• Anxiety and worry not confined to features of another psychiatric illness.
• Constant worry causing significant distress, and significant impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
• Excessive anxiety and worry not caused by a drug substance or general medical disorder, and not occurring exclusively as part of another psychiatric disorder. 

Panic attacks 

Panic disorder begins as a series of unexpected panic attacks, involving an intense, terrifying fear, similar to that caused by life threatening danger. The unexpected panic attacks are followed by at least one month of persistent concern about having another panic attack, worry about possible consequences of having another panic attack, or a significant behavior change related to the attacks. 

Panic attacks have also been classified and include four of the following symptoms: 

• Palpitations or accelerated heart rate
• Sweating
• Trembling or shaking
• Sensations of shortness of breath or smothering
• Feeling of choking
• Chest pain or discomfort
• Nausea or abdominal distress
• Feeling dizzy, lightheaded, unsteady, or faint
• Fear of losing control or going crazy
• Fear of dying
• Numbness or tingling sensations
• Chills or hot flushes 

Panic attacks usually last no more than 20-30 minutes, with the strongest symptoms occurring within the first 10 minutes. Many patients eventually develop agoraphobia secondary to the panic attacks. This is due to fear of not being able to escape or find help in the event of a panic attack. Complications also include work impairment, depression, alcohol abuse, and increased use of medications, health services, and emergency rooms. Patients with panic disorders have a high lifetime risk of suicide attempts compared to the general population. 

Phobias 

The third category usually considered with anxiety disorders is phobia. Phobias are generally classified into social or specific phobias. Social phobia can be defined as a marked and specific fear of social situations or performance areas, while specific phobias refer to fear of an object or situation (e.g., animals, water, enclosed places). Apart from contact with the feared object or situation, the individual is usually free of symptoms. Most persons simply avoid the feared object and adjust to certain restrictions on their activities. 

Treatment Options

Conventional 

Generalized anxiety disorder is usually treated by a combination of psychotherapy and drug therapy. Treatment often includes counseling, stress management, psychotherapy, meditation, or exercise. Individuals with anxiety disorder should avoid caffeine, nonprescription stimulants, and diet pills. There are several prescription drugs that are used with a general anxiety disorder. Some of these include benzodiazepines, buspirone, adrenergic blocking agents, and antidepressants.

Panic disorder is treated slightly differently than GAD. Individuals with panic disorder should be educated to avoid substances that may precipitate panic attacks including caffeine, drugs of abuse, and nonprescription stimulants. If agoraphobia is present, cognitive-behavioral therapy is recommended to help the patient focus on correction of thoughts and behaviors. Panic disorder is effectively treated with several drugs including Benzodiazepines (alprazolam, clonazepam, diazepam, lorazepam), tricyclic antidepressants (imipramine, desipramine), MAO inhibitors (phenelzine), and Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, sertraline). These SSRIs are usually the first drug prescribed because they are well tolerated; however, they are significantly more expensive than tricyclic antidepressants and benzodiazepines.

Again as mentioned above,  another very good reason for trying to avoid these medications include addiction to anxiety medications and sleep aids as well as suicidal ideation on antidepressants. For more information on the dangers of these psychotropic medications go to the resources tab and click on Prozac – 1991 FDA antidepressant hearings video and Citizens Commission on Human Rights-Mental Health Database.  

Nutritional and Herbal Supplementation

There are a great many vitamins, minerals, herbal supplements and other natural remedies that have been shown to effectively reduce and eliminate many mood disorders such as anxiety and depression safely and effectively. Which therapies are chosen will be based on the root cause of the mood disorder and not just the symptom. Your practitioner will carefully evaluate your situation and put together an effective protocol at treating your condition with natural remedies rather than dangerous medications that merely treat the symptom and come with extremely dangerous side effects.

Diet & Lifestyle 

Some of the other things you can do to help with mood disorders include: 

• Dietary changes may be helpful. All sources of caffeine should be avoided, including coffee, tea, chocolate, caffeinated sodas, and caffeine-containing medications.
• Also avoid sugar and refined carbohydrates.
• Stress reduction can take form in a variety of ways. Some of the more structured forms of anxiety relief include; counseling, tai chi, yoga, meditation, and deep breathing. 

Over­all, it’s more impor­tant to focus on the root cause and what are the under­ly­ing mech­a­nisms that are caus­ing the condition rather than just treat­ing it symp­to­mati­cally.  Each per­son is encour­aged to seek out a qual­i­fied nutri­tion­ist or other qualified healthcare practitioner in order to assess exactly which nutri­ents, herbs, home­o­pathics and nat­ural reme­dies; in which com­bi­na­tion; in what pro­por­tion are right for the par­tic­u­lar indi­vid­ual and are intended at treat­ing the root cause rather than just a symptom.

 Introduction  

Also known as regional enteritis or ileitis. Crohn’s is an idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) most often affecting the small intestine and colon and characterized by sharply segmental transmural fibrosis and strictures (skip lesions), non-caseating granulomas, and fissures which lead to fistulae formation. Genetics, bacterial infections, immune system disturbances, and dietary factors are some suggested etiological factors. Food sensitivities are strongly implicated 

What should I know about Crohn’s Disease? 

Crohn’s disease is serious chronic illness that inflicts severe damage to the intestinal tract, causing diarrhea and abdominal pain. Though it can strike anywhere along the GI tract from the mouth to the anus, Crohn’s disease usually affects the endmost portion of the small intestine, called the “ileum.” 

Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory condition; the delicate mucous membrane (villi)  lining the intestinal wall becomes inflamed and ulcerated in spots called “skip lesions.” The intestinal lining looks somewhat like an old cobblestone street, with lesions spaced between  normal tissue. The inflammation can penetrate the bowel wall, leading to the development of abscesses and deep cracks. Even worse, these cracks may lengthen, forming complete openings from the inside of the intestine to the outside called “fistulas.” The intestinal wall eventually becomes hardened and inflexible. In later stages of the disease, the intestine may become obstructed. 

Crohn’s disease is one of two inflammatory bowel conditions that affect the intestinal lining. The other is ulcerative colitis. The exact cause of these conditions is not known for certain. Both illnesses are thought to have a genetic component. Other contributing factors have been implicated, including food allergies, stress, poor nutrition,and infection. It is also believed that an “autoimmune response,” where the immune system attacks the body’s own tissue as though it were a  foreign invader, may play a role in Crohn’s disease. Although Crohn’s disease is sometimes mistaken for ulcerative colitis, it has several unique features. Crohn’s disease most commonly affects the small or large intestine, while ulcerative colitis shows up in the lower intestine and the rectum. Ulcerative colitis is more common than Crohn’s disease, but the incidence of Crohn’s appears to be on the rise. Although these conditions hit the gastrointestinal tract hardest, they can lead to many other conditions affecting different parts of the body. 

Food allergies and Crohn’s disease appear to be closely related. Inflammation and irritation of the intestinal wall cells can eventually increase sensitivity to many foods. When the cells are damaged, they leave gaps between them through which large proteins can penetrate, a phenomenon known as “leaky gut”. These molecules, identified as antigens by the immune system, stimulate an inflammatory reaction in the gut lining. Many people afflicted with the disease have identified and eliminated foods that aggravate symptoms. Such foods include chocolate, dairy products, yeast, cereal grains, fats, and artificial sweeteners. In one multicenter trial, subjects with Crohn’s disease who followed a diet that excluded the foods they were allergic to remained symptom-free almost twice as long as those receiving standard therapy with corticosteroid drugs treatments.

Conventional Treatment Options 

Conventional treatment for Crohn’s disease targets three major goals. First, proper nutrition is of paramount importance. The inflamed and thickened intestinal lining cannot absorb nutrients properly, so extra care must be taken to keep the body’s nutrient levels up. Next, the inflammation must be reduced. Third, therapy aims at controlling the autoimmune response mentioned earlier, to keep the body from attacking itself. The following list of medications may be prescribed for inflammatory bowel disease. 

• Antidiarrhea treatment consists of loperamide, which slows down peristalsis, the wave-like contraction and relaxation of the intestinal tract that propels digested material along. (Loperamide should not be used by anyone with a liver disorder). Cholestyramine removes bile acids from the intestine and is sometimes effective in controlling diarrhea.
•  Anticholinergic drugs, such as atropine sulfate, are used to decrease GI tract activity and cramping. Side effects include mydriasis (dilated pupils), blurred vision, tachycardia (rapid heartbeat), urinary retention, and dry mouth. Tremors, irritability, hallucinations, nerve blockage in muscles, and difficult breathing are among the possible toxic side-effects. Dicyclomine hydrochloride also controls hyperactivity of the GI tract, without the side effects of anticholinergic drugs. 
• Anti-inflammatory treatment consists of steroidal and nonsteroidal drugs. Sulfasalazine and mesalamine are NSAIDs of the sulfonamide group. Side effects include gastric irritation, headache, dizziness, nausea, fatigue, and loss of appetite. Oligospermia and infertility in men has been associated with sulfasalazine but has not been reported with mesalamine.
• Steroidal medications may be taken during acute attacks to control inflammation and suppress the autoimmune response. Prednisone, a synthetic glucocorticoid, is often prescribed. Rapid withdrawal can affect the body in the same way as low function of the adrenal glands, and long-term use can lead to muscle wasting and osteoporosis. 
• Mercaptopurine is a powerful drug used to suppress the immune system in severe cases of Crohn’s. (This drug is also used to treat leukemia). Its ability to inhibit immune function makes it useful in the treatment of severe Crohn’s disease. Because of its immune-suppressing activity, people taking the drug have decreased resistance to infection. Mercaptopurine can be highly toxic, leading to bone marrow suppression and anemia. Taking mercaptopurine with the drug allopurinol, which decreases uric acid formation, significantly increases its potential toxicity.

 Natural Treatment

There are a great many vitamins, minerals, herbal supplements and other natural remedies that have been shown to effectively treat this condition safely and effectively. Which therapies are chosen will be based on the root cause and not just the symptom. Your practitioner will carefully evaluate your situation and put together an effective protocol with natural remedies rather than dangerous medications that merely treat the symptom.

Diet & Lifestyle 

• Generally, a high protein, vitamin, and calorie diet is recommended. 
• Long chain fatty acids found in saturated fats are minimized, as they can aggravate diarrhea and promote inflammatory pathways in the intestine. However, short chain fatty acids, found in omega-3 essential fatty acids have been reported to reverse the inflammatory response. Supplementation with fish oil high in omega-3 fatty acids is recommended. 
• While low-fiber, low-residue diets are traditionally recommended, there is evidence that diets high in refined carbohydrates increase the incidence and severity of acute episodes. Therapeutic regimens that include increased fiber and decreased refined carbohydrates have demonstrated a positive influence on the disease. In one study, 16 of 20 subjects on a sugar-free, fiber-rich diet remained in remission for an average of nineteen months after discontinuing drug therapy. It is interesting to note that diets high in sugar and consumption of fast food are positively correlated with an increased risk of Crohn’s disease, while diets high in fiber are associated with a reduced risk. 
• Reduce saturated fat: Saturated fat and cholesterol have also been identified as dietary risk factors. 
• Avoid thickening agents such as carrageenan used in dairy and other foods such as ice cream, cottage cheese, milk, chocolate.  Studies have shown that carrageenan causes ulceration and lesional damage to the gastrointestinal lining and should be avoided in all conditions of inflammatory bowel disease origin such as Crohn’s and colitis.  

Over­all, it’s more impor­tant to focus on the root cause and what are the under­ly­ing mech­a­nisms that are caus­ing sickness and lack of vitality rather than just treat­ing it symp­to­mati­cally.  Each per­son is encour­aged to seek out a qual­i­fied nutri­tion­ist or other qualified healthcare practitioner in order to assess exactly which nutri­ents, herbs, home­o­pathics and nat­ural reme­dies; in which com­bi­na­tion; in what pro­por­tion are right for the par­tic­u­lar individual and are intended at treat­ing the root cause rather than just a symptom.

What should I know about Hyperlipidemia?

If your health professional says you have hyperlipidemia, this simply means the amount of fat in your blood is higher than it should be. (“Hyper” means high; “lipid” is another word for fat or fat-like substance; “emia” refers to the blood.) Although high cholesterol is the most famous form of hyperlipidemia, blood fats include more than just cholesterol. Triglycerides, phospholipids, and other fatty substances circulate continuously through the bloodstream on their way to and from organs and tissues.

High blood cholesterol gets the most attention because of the link between cholesterol and heart disease. Cholesterol has received a great deal of press, and medical experts agree that high blood cholesterol is a risk factor for heart disease. But cholesterol is not an enemy. The body needs cholesterol and manufactures its own supply. Essential for life, cholesterol plays many important roles. Cholesterol, along with other fats, is a key component of cells membranes. The body uses cholesterol as the building material for hormones such as estrogen and testosterone. Bile salts, which break the fat we eat into small particles that can be digested, are composed largely of cholesterol. Cholesterol is our friend, something the body requires, in the right places and amounts.

Abnormally high levels of cholesterol in the blood can lead to coronary heart disease and other serious conditions, due to build-up of cholesterol-filled plaque in the arteries. But cholesterol by itself is not the problem. Research has shown that abnormalities in the way cholesterol is transported in the blood are the culprits in setting the stage for arteries to become damaged and clogged with plaque. (This is the condition known as “atherosclerosis.”) 

Blood is a watery fluid. Since oil and water do not mix, fats do not travel in the blood in their free form. Instead, they are bundled together with other substances for transport through the blood vessels and delivery to destinations where they are needed in the body. Cholesterol and other fats are shipped in the form of fat-protein packages called “lipoproteins.” Four groups of lipoproteins use the bloodstream as an aqueduct: LDL, VLDL, HDL, and chylomicrons. The protein portion of a lipoprotein forms a sort of shell around the fat and also directs the lipoprotein to its appointed delivery site in tissues and organs. 

Before recommending a treatment plan for high cholesterol and blood lipids, the health professional must first look for the cause. Tests can be performed to rule out other conditions that may elevate blood fat levels such as diabetes and thyroid disorders. Certain medications can raise blood lipids, so their use should be evaluated in people with hyperlipidemia. 

Signs and Symptoms 

With some forms of hyperlipidemia, there are definite signs and symptoms that alert the health professional to the problem. Other symptoms, more difficult to detect forms lack clear diagnostic signals, thus many people are not tested for blood lipid abnormalities until other complications appear.

The link between hyperlipemia and heart disease is strong. Experts agree that high blood cholesterol is a major cause of atherosclerosis. This condition, which clogs the arteries with plaque, begins when cholesterol attached to the arterial wall creates a “fatty streak.” As the process continues, the artery can become completely plugged. When this occurs in a coronary artery, which feeds the heart, the stage for a heart attack is set.

Starting at age 20, adults should have both total cholesterol and HDL checked every five years. If hyperlipidemia is discovered, a complete work-up should be done to assess the situation. The health professional will take a complete physical look at family history and add up the risk factors for heart disease. Triglyceride levels will also be checked.

Conventional Treatment

The National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) recommends adults with hyperlipidemia have their total cholesterol measured and risk factors assessed.

 Cutting down the dietary intake of saturated fat and cholesterol and exercising regularly are the first steps in getting blood lipid levels under control. The Step 1 diet recommended by NCEP restricts total calories from fat to less than 30 percent of total daily calories. Saturated fat should not be more than 7 percent of daily calories, and daily cholesterol intake should not exceed 300mg/day.

A number of drugs are used to bring cholesterol levels down. The most common ones include: atorvastatin, cerivastatin, fluvastatin, pravastatin, simvastatin, and lovastatin. Collectively known as “statins,” these drugs block an enzyme that increases cholesterol production in the liver. (They also deplete CoQ10, an important vitamin-like nutrient.)

Other medications for lowering cholesterol include gemfibrozil, which promotes enzymes that break down cholesterol, and bile acid sequestrants (BASR) such as colestipol and cholestyramine, which aid the liver in removing cholesterol from the blood. Estrogen replacement therapy is generally recommended for postmenopausal women for lowering LDL cholesterol. Generally, LDL cholesterol is reduced by approximately 15-25 percent and HDL increases by 15-25 percent with a 0.625mg dose of synthetic estrogen.

Cholesterol Lowering Medications

 HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors (Statins)

• Atorvastatin  (Lipitor®)
• Fluvastatin  (Lescol®; Lescol® XL)
• Lovastatin  (Mevacor®)
• Pravastatin  (Pravachol®)
• Simvastatin  (Zocor®)

Nutrient Depletions

Cholesterol lowering medications deplete coenzyme Q10 levels. A deficiency of the antioxidant coenzyme Q10 may be associated with long-term conditions including heart disease and high blood pressure.

Symptoms of coenzyme Q10  deficiency include gingivitis, fatigue, cardiac abnormalities, heart disease, high blood pressure.and weakened immune function.

Supporting Research 

• Bargossi AM, Grossi G, Fiorella PL, et al. Exogenous CoQ10 supplementation prevents ubiquinone reduction induced by HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors. Mol Aspects Med. 1994;15(Suppl):S187-S193.
• Belichard P, Pruneau D, Zhiri A. Effect of a long-term treatment with lovastatin or fenofibrate on hepatic and cardiac ubiquinone levels in cardiomyopathic hamster. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1993;1169(1):98-102.
• Bliznakov EG, Wilkins DJ. Biochemical and clinical consequences of inhibiting coenzyme Q10 biosynthesis by lipid-lowering HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins): A critical review. Adv Ther. 1998;15(4):218-228.
• Chan A, Reichmann H, Kogel A, et al. Metabolic changes in patients with mitochondrial myopathies and effects of coenzyme Q10 therapy. J Neurol. 1998;245(10):681-685.
• De Pinieux G, et al. Lipid-lowering drugs and mitochondrial function: effects of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors on serum ubiquinone and blood lactate/pyruvate ratio. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 1996;42(3):333-337.
• Folkers K, Langsjoen P, Willis R, et al. Lovastatin decreases coenzyme Q levels in humans. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 1990;87(22):8931-8934.
• Folkers K, Morita M, McRee J Jr. The activities of coenzyme Q10 and vitamin B6 for immune responses. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1993; 28(19391):88-92.
• Ghirlanda G, Oradei A, Manto A, et al. Evidence of plasma CoQ10-lowering effect of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. J Clin Pharmacol. 1993;33(3):226-229.
• Hanaki Y, Sugiyama S, Ozawa T, Ohno M. Coenzyme Q10 and coronary artery disease. Clin Invest. 1993;71(8 Suppl):S112-S115.
• Kaikkonen J, Nyyssonen K, Tuomainen TP, et al. Determinants of plasma coenzyme Q10 in humans. FEBS Lett. 1999;443(2):163-166.
• Kamikawa T, Kobayashi A, Yamashita T, et al. Effects of coenzyme Q10 on exercise tolerance in chronic stable angina pectoris. Am J Cardiol. 1985;56(4):247-251.
• Laaksonen R, Ojala JP, Tikkanen MJ, Himberg JJ. Serum ubiquinone concentrations after short- and long-term treatment with HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors. Eur J Clin Pharmacol. 1994;46(4):313-317.
• Mortensen SA, Leth A, Agner E, Rohde M. Dose-related decrease of serum coenzyme Q10 during treatment with HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors. Mol Aspects Med. 1997;18(Suppl):S137-S144.
• Munkholm H, Hansen HH, Rasmussen K. Coenzyme Q10 treatment in serious heart failure. Biofactors. 1999;9(2-4):285-289.
• Nakamura R, Littarru GP, Folkers R, et al. Study of CoQ10-enzymes in gingiva from patients with periodontal disease and evidence for a deficiency of coenzyme Q10. Proc Natl Acad SciUSA. 1974;71(4):1456-1460.
• Singh RB, Niaz MA, Rastogi SS, et al. Effect of hydrosoluble coenzyme Q10 on blood pressure and insulin resistance in hypertensive patients with coronary heart disease. J Hum Hypertens. 1999;13(3):203-208.
• Singh RB, Wander GS, Rastogi A, et al. Randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial of coenzyme Q10 in patients with acute myocardial infarction. Cardiovasc Drugs Ther. 1998;12(4):347-353.
• Watts GF, Castelluccio C, Rice-Evans C, et al. Plasma coenzyme Q (ubiquinone) concentrations in patients with simvastatin. J Clin Pathol. 1993;46(11):1055-1057.

Vital Functions of Cholesterol 

Cholesterol is the main sterol found in animal fat such as egg yolks, meats, milk products and other animal fats. It is not available in most vegetable foods.  

• it provides rigidity to cell membranes (compensates for changes keeping fluidity within limits required for normal function)
• is a precursor to sex (testosterone, estrogen) and adrenal hormones (cortisol and aldosterone)
• is a precursor to vitamin D and bile salts (main components of bile necessary for the emulsification of fats in the small intestine)
• it protects our skin against dehydration, cracking and helps heal skin tissue and prevent infections.
• it may act as an antioxidant when antioxidant levels are low
• can be lowered safely by treating the root cause with specific vitamins, minerals and herbs

Sources: approximately 85% is produced by the body according to its needs. Approximately 15% comes from dietary sources.

Cholesterol can be metabolized as an energy source, can only be excreted if there is enough fiber in the diet and can be changed into bile acids if the cofactors are present. Without fiber up to 94% of cholesterol and bile acids are reabsorbed and recycled leading to elevated serum cholesterol levels.

Old dogma: High HDL level should protect from cardiovascular disease, and high LDL indicates cholesterol overload, slow removal and deposits in arteries.  

New research: cholesterol consumption has remained above constant over the last 100 years, while cardiovascular disease has skyrocketed… The real culprits are: 

• Refined sugar, total fat, chemical additives and trans fatty acids
• vitamin, mineral and antioxidant deficiencies leading to oxidize cholesterol
• essential fatty acid deficiencies
• disruption in normal biochemistry of life (modern lifestyle) 

A strong risk factor for CVD is not LDL, but Lp(a) which carries a 10 times higher risk factor for cardiovascular disease than LDL alone.

Natural Treatment

There are a great many vitamins, minerals, herbal supplements and other natural remedies that have been shown to effectively lower cholesterol safely and effectively. Which therapies are chosen will be based on the root cause of the elevations in cholesterol and not just the symptom. Your practitioner will carefully evaluate your situation and put together an effective protocol at safely lowering your cholesterol with natural remedies rather than dangerous medications that merely treat the symptom.

Diet & Lifestyle

Diet: The first and most important step for reducing cholesterol is to change the diet. Most low fat, low protein diets that are designed to improve cardiovascular risk are also a high-carbohydrate (no matter what the source) diet. This type of diet has proven to actually increase LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. Many foods labeled “cholesterol free” actually contain hydrogenated oils or trans-fatty acids, which have been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Partially hydrogenated oils may increase LDL, triglycerides, and lipoprotein levels, while decreasing HDL levels.

In addition, these foods are generally rich in refined sugars, which can raise insulin levels. Food selection is a key issue. Nutrition surveys indicate that only 9 percent of the American population eats five fruits and vegetables a day. People also do not include legumes or enough whole grains in their diet. These foods are essential for providing dietary fiber, which not only is known to reduce cholesterol levels, but also the water soluble fiber found in legumes helps to regulate blood sugar. 

Fiber and Fiber Sources: The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends increased intake of dietary fiber in the form of whole grains, vegetables, fruits, legumes, and nuts because they have been shown to do the following: 

• Reduce total and LDL cholesterol more effectively than a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol alone
• Help control weight and intake of calories by promoting a sense of fullness
• Improve cholesterol and triglyceride levels as well as blood sugar in people with diabetes
• Soluble fibers such as those in psyllium husk, guar gum, and oat bran have a cholesterol-lowering effect when added to a low-fat, cholesterol-lowering diet. Studies have shown psyllium, in particular, to be quite effective in lowering total as well as LDL cholesterol levels. Oat bran (3 g per day) has also been shown to lower total cholesterol. 

The second important dietary strategy for reducing heart disease is to cut down on the intake of essential fatty acids and, in particular, the omega-3 fatty acids. Low levels of omega-3 (alpha-linolenic acid), along with an excess of omega-6 (linoleic) fatty acids from refined polyunsaturated vegetable oils can contribute to increased triglycerides, raise blood pressure, and increase platelet stickiness. 

Foods that may help to lower elevated cholesterol levels include soy products, oat bran, yogurt, carrots, walnuts, onions, garlic and especially artichokes . High fiber foods such as whole grains, vegetables, fruits, and legumes can also help to lower cholesterol levels. Although egg yolks contain high levels of cholesterol, studies report that eating eggs regularly does not elevate blood cholesterol levels in most people. Although switching to a vegetarian (low-cholesterol) diet may help some individuals lower elevated cholesterol levels, many health professionals now believe that dietary cholesterol is not a major contributor to cholesterol levels. 

In the late 1940′s and early 1950′s, food processors began dramatically increasing their use of inexpensive, polyunsaturated vegetable oils in the production of a wide variety of processed foods. During this time, food processors created a new industrial process called partial hydrogenation. This process involved bubbling hydrogen gas into the vegetable oils under extremely high temperatures and pressures with metal catalysts. This process changes the consistency of the vegetable oils from a liquid to the semi-solid hydrogenated fats and oils present in processed foods. The process of partial hydrogenation gave food processors another benefit. It increased the shelf life of processed food products by making the fats and oils in processed foods less likely to become rancid. 

There are health-related problems associated with partially hydrogenated fats and oils. The high temperatures and pressures that are required during the process of partial hydrogenation causes many of the fats to change their shape, resulting in formation of the trans fatty acids mentioned above. One of the problems associated with trans fats is they block 6-delta desaturase, an enzyme that is required for the metabolism of cholesterol. By blocking this enzyme, trans fats inhibit the body’s ability to excrete cholesterol. Foods containing partially hydrogenated oils actually act to raise LDL-cholesterol levels and increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Exercise: Regular exercise is another way to positively change cholesterol levels. Regular endurance exercise training has been associated with decreased levels of total cholesterol and increased HDL-cholesterol. Various forms of aerobic exercise that can help improve HDL levels include regular walking, aerobics, dancing, jogging, swimming, and cycling.

Over­all, it’s more impor­tant to focus on the root cause and what are the under­ly­ing mech­a­nisms that are caus­ing sickness and lack of vitality rather than just treat­ing it symp­to­mati­cally.  Each per­son is encour­aged to seek out a qual­i­fied nutri­tion­ist or other qualified healthcare practitioner in order to assess exactly which nutri­ents, herbs, home­o­pathics and nat­ural reme­dies; in which com­bi­na­tion; in what pro­por­tion are right for the par­tic­u­lar indi­vid­ual and are intended at treat­ing the root cause rather than just a symptom

Dysbiosis (also called dysbacteriosis) refers to a condition with microbial imbalances on or inside the body. Dysbiosis is most prominent in the digestive tract or on the skin, but can also occur on any exposed surface or mucous membrane such as the vagina, lungs, mouth, nose, sinuses, ears, nails, or eyes. It has been associated with different illnesses, such as inflammatory bowel disease, as imbalances in the intestinal microbiome may be associated with bowel inflammation.and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Microbial colonies found on or in the body are normally benign or beneficial. These beneficial and appropriately sized microbial colonies carry out a series of helpful and necessary functions, such as aiding in digestion.They also protect the body from the penetration of pathogenic microbes. These beneficial microbial colonies compete with each other for space and resources.

When this balance is disturbed, by such diverse things as repeated and inappropriate antibiotic exposure or alcohol misuse, these colonies exhibit a decreased ability to check each others’ growth. This can lead to an overgrowth of one or more of the disturbed colonies which then may damage some of the other smaller beneficial ones.

This type of situation often instigates a vicious cycle. As more beneficial colonies are damaged, making the imbalance more pronounced, more overgrowth issues occur since the damaged colonies are less able to check the growth of the overgrowing ones. If this goes unchecked long enough, a pervasive and chronic imbalance between colonies will set in, which ultimately minimizes the beneficial nature of these colonies as a whole.

Microbial colonies also excrete many different types of waste byproducts. Using different waste removal mechanisms, under normal circumstances the body effectively manages these byproducts with little or no trouble. Unfortunately, oversized and inappropriately large colonies, due to their increased numbers, excrete increased amounts of these byproducts. As the amount of microbial byproducts increases, the higher waste byproducts levels can overburden the body’s waste removal mechanisms.It is the combination of these two negative outcomes that causes many of the negative health symptoms observed when dysbiosis or “ candida” is present.

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Candida

Developing new allergies (e.g.. to foods) as you grow older; always tired, poor digestion, gas, heartburn; sugar cravings, irritable, frequent headaches; poor memory, “fogged in” feeling, dizziness, recurring depression, vaginal infections, menstrual difficulties, prostatitis, urinary tract infections, infertility, hay fever, postnasal drip, habitual coughing, catch colds easily, sore throat, athlete’s foot, skin rash, psoriasis, cold extremities, arthritis-like symptoms, feel miserable in general. If you have some combination of these symptoms then you’ve got candidiasis.

What is the main cause of Candidiasis?

Eating a diet high in highly refined carbohydrates, drinking soda pop, eating a diet high in sugars of all kinds, and the intake of Aspartame, combined with stress, cause a thick coat of mucus and impacted food residue in the intestines, which combines to form on the walls of the large intestine.  Not only does this encrusted matter contribute to further dysfunction of the colon, but, according to Bernard Jensen, D.C., in his boldly illustrated book, Tissue Cleansing through Bowel Management, disease actually begins here because toxins are absorbed to cause malnutrition of our body cells while absorption of nutrients is prevented.

Candida albicans, a normal inhabitant of a healthy colon, prefers to live in this toxic filth where it is warm, putrid, and lacking in oxygen. Consequently, this family of yeast does well in most colons. In many cases, as noted by Trowbridge and Walker in The Yeast Syndrome, they become so prolific that they escape the confines of the intestinal tract and cause havoc throughout the rest of the body.

According to a research pioneer, C. Orian Truss, MD, in a paper published in a 1978 issue of The Journal of Orthomolecular Psychiatry, Candida albicans proliferates in the intestines because of several factors, including stress, lowered immune system, antibiotic overuse, oral contraceptives, and use of cortisone or prednisone. It can change from the harmless non-invasive, sugar fermenting yeast like organism to the mycelial, or fungal, form with long, root like structures that can penetrate the membrane lining of the digestive tract.

If an individual can restore proper colon hygiene, the Candida will, instead, retreat to their former subdued state. Dr. David Soil, a University of Iowa biologist reported in a 1985 Science magazine article that Candida albicans is capable of changing from benign to virulent and change back to benign. In many cases, when the Candida returns to the benign form, the immune system will clear Candida from the rest of the body. Without paying close attention to the restoration of proper colon cleanliness, the immune system will be forced to continually battle Candida and its toxins.

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Parasites

You may be under the impression that parasites are rather harmless and can only do severe damage in very exceptional cases. After all, one hardly ever hears of people becoming blind because parasites have damaged their eyes, or that parasites have lodged in someone’s brain, causing severe mental and neurological problems.

Many believe that North America is a clean country that has effective sanitation methods that prevent the spread of parasites. The predominant misconception is that parasites are a problem for tropical and third-world countries and not for the U. S. In reality, nothing could be further from the truth. These freeloaders are the cause of an unknown epidemic that plagues a great number of people throughout the world, including the U.S. Let’s look at some facts:

According to the publication in 1995 “Parasitic Diseases” it states the following rate of infection per species. 

• Nematodes (Round Worms)                  1 billion individuals
• Cestodes (Tape Worms)                   300 million individuals
• Tremadodes (Flukes)                        300 million individuals
• Protozoa (Amoebas)                              1 billion individuals
• Arthropods (Insects parasites)           500 million individuals

As reported by the Parasitologist, Omar Amin, Ph.D.: In a five star restaurant, samples were taken from under the fingernails of the entire staff and 100% of them tested positive for feces under their nails.

Parasites can be microscopic in size or can stretch 30 feet or longer. When most people think of parasites, they visualize tapeworms, hookworms, roundworms and flatworms. The Centers for Disease Control says that tapeworm infection has doubled in frequency within the past 10 years. This is most likely due to the consumption of undercooked beef. Fleas have been known to carry tapeworms, so it’s possible to get them if you have pets. Hookworms can be contracted from walking barefoot on infected soil. Roundworms average 6 to 18 inches in length and can lay thousands of eggs each day. They can actually block the intestines! Roundworm infection is abundant in meat-eating cultures. One type of flatworm, a fluke, can live in the intestines, liver, lungs or blood. Trichina is a tiny worm that infects pigs. The larvae; after burrowing into the intestinal wall enters the blood vessels. The blood carries the larvae to the muscle fibers where these worms live and grow.

Although most people think of visible worms when parasites are mentioned, microscopic parasites are a huge problem. Worms, such as the hookworm, attach themselves to the intestinal wall and live of the host’s blood, Microscopic parasites do not live off their host as such, but can thrive on processed foods, and their excretion can cause serious problems within the human body. The CDC considers Giardia the number one waterborne disease.

Giardia is one of the many microscopic organisms that can greatly interfere with physical and mental functioning. This parasite can coat the intestinal wall, inhibiting digestion and assimilation.

The immune suppressive toxins (Lectins) of pathogenic amoebas such as Blastocystis hominis, Giardia lamblia, Entamoeba histolytica can cause numerous symptoms which are not associated with parasites. Unfortunately, these Lectins can effect the exact areas of the body where one already has a constitutional (genetic) weakness.

Other conditions such as allergies, arthritis, asthma, or even nerve disorders can often be directly linked to parasite infections. Parasite infestations can also be completely asymptomatic. This does not make them less hazardous. It was also found that Lectins can block the “neuro transmitter upside take” to the brain. Some of these poor patients may just end up on Prozac.

Many food allergies are usually caused by chronic amoebiasis infestation which can perforate the intestinal wall that enables larger food particles to prematurely enter into the blood stream, which then causes an immune response and subsequent histamine release leading to symptoms. Also fungus with “cork screw like roots” can be the cause of this problem. An overgrowth of yeast and fungus called candida albicans which occurs naturally in every mucous membrane of every human body often overgrows during a parasite infection because of Disbiosis. Conventional parasitic treatments, because of their antibiotic properties, can contribute to an overgrowth as well.

How Can I Get Parasites?

Parasites can be contracted by eating undercooked beef, pork, fish or other flesh foods, walking barefoot on infected soil, through sex and casual contact, being by flies, mosquitoes and animals eating unclean raw vegetables, drinking infected water, close contact with cats, dogs or other pets, and simply contacting filthy environments through breathing or touching. There is an increased danger of contracting parasites when traveling to tropical and/or underdeveloped countries. The rise in immigration, especially from these areas, also contributes to the epidemic in the U.S. In Brazil, American Trypanosomiasis causes 30% of adult deaths. The World Health Organization categorizes parasites as among the six most harmful infectious diseases in humans. The fact is that parasites outrank cancer as the number one killer in the world today.

 “The influx into this country of food grown around the world, as well as the popularity of ethnic foods such as sushi and sashimi, which are uncooked or undercooked, also contributes to the spread of parasites.”

The most common mode of transmitting parasitic infections is through direct fecal-oral contamination. For example, the global incidence of the disease giardiasis, caused by the Giardia lamblia protozoa, is estimated at 30 percent. Giardia lamblia is a highly contagious parasite and can be carried by virtually any species—wild animals, cats and dogs, as well as people. Giardiasis is particularly serious among those who live in institutions and overcrowded communities and can be spread by drinking or swimming in feces-contaminated water, and from person to person, or animal to person contact.

Problems claimed to be caused by parasites include: hypoglycemia; indigestion; lack of energy; colitis; back pain; headaches; acne and other skin problems; poor assimilation; nausea; vomiting; spaciness; weight loss; weight gain: intestinal sprue (malabsoption): a feeling of fullness in the stomach; uncontrolled appetite; gas; and much more. Some researchers state that the waste material produced by flukes is extremely carcinogenic and contributes to the formation of cancer. The waste material from just one tapeworm can make someone ill. Microscopic parasites can cause arthritis-like symptoms. Some call parasites “The Great Masqueraders.”

The most common intestinal symptoms include bloating, diarrhea, flatulence, cramps, constipation, maldigestion, and malabsorption. Less frequently a patient may experience bleeding, irritable bowel, ulcerative colitis, leaky gut, and excess mucus secretion. Extra-intestinal symptoms often include fatigue, allergies, nausea, nervous/sensory disorders (memory loss, brain fog, irritability, poor coordination), skin disorders, pain, and muscle problems. Less frequent extra-intestinal symptoms may include fever, headache, immune deficiency, insomnia, weight changes, respiratory and hepatic symptoms, and peritonitis.

Whether you are suffering from candida or parasites or any abnormal intestinal condition, it is wise to focus on the root cause and what are the under­ly­ing mech­a­nisms that are caus­ing the condition rather than just treat­ing it symp­to­mati­cally. 

Each per­son is encour­aged to seek out a qual­i­fied nutri­tion­ist or other qualified healthcare practitioner in order to assess exactly which nutri­ents, herbs, home­o­pathics and nat­ural reme­dies; in which com­bi­na­tion; in what pro­por­tion are right for the par­tic­u­lar indi­vid­ual and are intended at treat­ing the root cause rather than just a symptom.

Every year millions of people are diagnosed with this serious condition which is not a disease as much as it is a symptom that the body is no longer able to regulate cellular homeostasis.

Cancer is often caused by the combination of nutrient deficiencies and the limit of toxicity that the body can tolerate results in mutagenic changes to our DNA, abnormal cell replication and thus cancer.

The Concept of Cancer Development

Most people are surprised to find out that you don’t catch cancer, you build it! Most people are surprised to find out that it takes 20 years to build a cancer. 90% of cancers are due to environmental toxins and nutritional deficiencies.

Malignant tumors do not develop in a healthy body with intact defense and repair functions. They grow in a specific internal environment which develops as a consequence of multiple factors and conditions.

The optimal approach to cancer attends to both the tumor and the tumor host, ie.: the cancer afflicted person as a whole. Standard cancer treatment is based on the “localistic” concept that views the malignant tumor as the beginning of a disease which progressively spreads throughout the body.

The holistic concept views cancer as a systemic disease from the onset and the tumor as its late stage symptom. This concept, therefore, calls for a holistic strategy in order to achieve optimal treatment results. Based on the holistic concept, the treatment has two main lines of approach to cancer which complement each other:

Medical Treatment

A. Treatment aiming at the removal or reduction of the tumor: (ie.) conventional medicine. This is achieved through surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and hormone therapy.

Complementary Treatment

B. Non-specific immunobiological basic treatment aimed at the restoration of the impaired defense, repair and regulatory functions of the tumor host. (ie) Holistic Medicine -treating the root cause and repairing the terrain in which the cancer developed in the first place.

The basic treatment is modified to suit each individual patient’s needs which includes:

• Elimination of all possible exogenous (external) and endogenous (internal) causal factors that may lead to an impairment of the immune functions and may contribute to a transformation of symbiotic microorganisms into pathogens.

• Malnutrition to be replaced by a diet designed to meet the special needs with supplementation of vitamins, anti-oxidants, minerals, trace elements, enzymes.

• Abnormal bacterial intestinal flora to be normalized by diet and long term administration probiotic cultures.

• Head foci of infection such as dental (root canal etc) to be removed by surgical intervention.

• Psychic stress to be relieved by psychological guidance, in single and group therapy, biofeedback, relaxation techniques, meditation, visualization.

• Physical therapy, hydrotherapy, breathing techniques, massage, lymph drainage etc.

• Activation of cellular respiration by oxygen-ozone therapy in various forms,

• Detoxification, i.e. elimination of toxins by activation of liver and kidney function assisted by herbal extracts and high fluid intake, colon hydrotherapy, enemas, enzyme therapy and homeopathy among others.

In addition to your medical treatment, proper diet and specific food choices along with the elimination of cancer-causing materials from our external world, as well as; our internal organs is critical to the successful treatment of all types of cancer.

We employ a combination of the latest clinically validated treatments involving detoxification, proper nutrition and supplementation along with the most effective natural therapies available to bring about relief to our cancer patients.

We have even succeeded in bringing about remission of the disease in certain patients who are now leading happy lives under our advice and supervision. If you or someone you know is suffering from cancer, contact us to find out about the many extremely effective alternative treatments currently available for your particular condition.

Good cardiovascular health is more than just the symptom of elevations in blood pressure, we look for the cause as to why you’re blood pressure is elevated, and help reduce or eliminate blood pressure medications that may be treating the symptom but don’t treat the cause.

We also analyze other cardiovascular indicators including cholesterol, triglycerides, Lp(a), homocysteine and other markers when developing a cardiovascular health protocol which is custom tailored to the persons needs whether it be atherosclerosis, hypertension, congestive heart failure, angina and so on.

What should I know about Hypertension?

When your doctor says you have high blood pressure, the medical name for your condition is “hypertension.” Blood pressure is created when the heart beats, propelling blood throughout the body. Blood pressure occurs in two distinct phases, corresponding to the contraction and relaxation of the heart muscle. When the heart contracts, it ejects a certain volume of blood out from its right side into the body’s largest artery, the aorta. This initial thrust causes “systolic” blood pressure, which is the upper number of your blood pressure reading. As the heart relaxes, the blood presses against the walls of the arteries as it circulates, causing “diastolic” blood pressure, which is the lower number in your reading.

Systolic blood pressure is a measure of the heart’s blood output, while diastolic is determined by the resistance of arteries in the extremities to the flow of blood. If your blood pressure reading is “120 over 80,” this means your systolic pressure is 120 and your diastolic is 80.

Blood pressure tends to be lower in women than men, and higher in blacks than whites. It rises with age. Blood pressure generally stays within a fairly narrow range. But it does not stay the same at all times. Blood pressure fluctuates, rising during physical and emotional stress and falling when we are relaxed or asleep. Just because your blood pressure goes up temporarily when you are stressed, this does not mean you have hypertension.

Hypertension is a type of cardiovascular disease characterized by elevation of blood pressure above the level considered normal for people of similar racial and environmental backgrounds. Because it affects the entire circulatory system, hypertension can be detrimental to all the major organs, including the heart, brain, and kidneys. It may contribute to death from heart failure, heart attacks, stroke, and even kidney failure.

Hypertension has many possible causes. Hypertension that results from another disease is called “secondary hypertension.” Fewer than 5 percent of people who suffer from hypertension have secondary hypertension, and in the majority of those, kidney disease in the cause. Other disorders known elevate blood pressure include thyroid disorders and Cushing’s disease, which is a disorder of the adrenal glands. Certain medications— nervous system stimulants, synthetic estrogen, and NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), to name a few— sometimes contribute to hypertension.

Most people with chronic high blood pressure have hypertension have “primary” hypertension. Another name for this is “essential” hypertension. The exact cause of primary hypertension remains a mystery, although medical scientists are searching hard for answers. Research studies on hypertension have revealed detailed information about alterations in physiology that may lead to chronically elevated blood pressure. Researchers have zeroed in on the kidneys and their role in maintaining the right amount of sodium in the blood. By controlling retention of sodium and water, the kidneys play a major role in maintaining normal blood pressure.       

Signs and Symptoms 

The following list does not insure the presence of this health condition. Please see your healthcare professional for more information.

Uncomplicated, primary hypertension

• Usually there are no symptoms initially
• May present with only high blood pressure, with all other parts of a physical examination appearing normal
• A blood pressure taken on two or more subsequent days is 140/90 mm Hg or higher
• Hypertension can increase individuals to developing a stroke
• Hypertension may accelerate certain diseases such as atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure and /or heart attack
• May cause kidney diseases
• May cause serious eye problems which may need immediate medical attention 

 Patients with uncomplicated, primary hypertension usually have no symptoms, at least initially. Often, it is not until damage to certain organs occurs that symptoms of high blood pressure begin to appear. The brain, heart, circulatory system, and kidneys are among the parts of the body first affected by high blood pressure. Often, patients with essential hypertension may only have elevated blood pressure, with all other portions of the physical examination appearing normal.

It should be emphasized that a single reading of high blood pressure does not indicate hypertension. If blood pressure readings taken on two or more subsequent days is 140/90 mm Hg or higher, then a diagnosis of hypertension can be confirmed. Some basic laboratory tests (addressed elsewhere in this monograph) should be performed before any medication is started.

Some of the target organs where changes are seen include the brain, heart, kidney, and eye. Hypertension, more than any other reason, causes individuals to develop the most common variety of stroke. The relationship between hypertension and atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease and congestive heart failure (CHF) has been clearly established in medical studies. CHF and myocardial infarction (heart attack) account for the majority of deaths caused by hypertension. Atherosclerosis and reduced kidney function occur to some degree in adults as a normal part of the aging process, but occur more rapidly in adults with mild to moderate hypertension. Hypertension can cause disturbances in vision due to a variety of retinopathies that develop from damage to the delicate blood vessels in the eye.

 Treatment Options

Conventional

Before prescribing a treatment plan, your doctor may ask if you are bothered by any of the following symptoms that could point to underlying cardiovascular disease: chest pain, palpitations, dizziness, dyspnea, slurred speech, orthopnea, and loss of balance.

An important part of the treatment plan is for you to check your blood pressure yourself. It is not difficult, anyone can be easily taught to take a blood pressure reading, and the equipment is not expensive.

Blood pressure lowering medications, called “antihypertensives” are divided into the following eight classes of drugs:

• Diuretics
• Beta blockers
• ACE inhibitors
• Calcium channel blockers
• Central alpha 2-agonists
• Adrenergic inhibitors
• Vasodilators
• Sympathetic inhibitors

Your health professional may also recommend diet and lifestyle changes to help bring your blood pressure under control.

Side effects of drug treatments

There are approximately five categories of drug treatment for hypertension: diuretics, beta blockers, alpha blockers, angiotension inhibitors and calcium channel blockers. The following are side effects of each group and need to be considered before treatment starts.

Diuretics

Increase risk of mortality due to myocardial infarction or sudden death. Diuretics deplete potassium, magnesium, zinc and B group vitamins. Some diuretics have an adverse effect on serum lipids, blood glucose and raise glyco-haemoglobin concentration.

Beta Blockers

Similar to diuretics, they cause changes in serum lipid fractions. At least 25% of patients treated with beta blockers will develop a need for anti depressants. They also increase the risk of heart failure, cause weight gain, decreases energy, and sexual dysfunction. Long term use of these drugs are contraindicated.

Alpha blockers

Alpha blockers can cause hypotension, dry mouth, constipation, sedation, and dizziness. They are not effective for long term treatment of hypertension.

Methyl dopa, Captopril, Propanolol

Up to 50% of patients taking any of the above drugs experience fatigue or lethargy; 30% had some form of sexual disorder and over 10% had sleep disorders, nightmares, headaches, anxiety, irritability, palpitations, nausea, dry mouth and muscle cramps.

Angiotension ( ACE) 2 inhibitors

Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor drugs include captopril, enalapril, benazepril, lisinopril,  fosinopril, quinapril, ramipril, and others. These can affect trace element status in the body. Selenium and Zinc are decreased and copper rises, with this medication.

Diet & Lifestyle

The risk factors for hypertension are well known, and any treatment plan should begin with lifestyle changes. The risk factors we can control include obesity, cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, and excessive salt intake.

Another useful lifestyle modification is a program of moderate exercise. Studies indicate that aerobic exercise such as walking, jogging, swimming, and bicycling can reduce blood pressure, even in the absence of weight loss. Patients should consult a physician before starting any exercise program.

Over­all, it’s more impor­tant to focus on the root cause and what are the under­ly­ing mech­a­nisms that are caus­ing the condition rather than just treat­ing it symp­to­mati­cally.  Each per­son is encour­aged to seek out a qual­i­fied nutri­tion­ist or other qualified healthcare practitioner in order to assess exactly which nutri­ents, herbs, home­o­pathics and nat­ural reme­dies; in which com­bi­na­tion; in what pro­por­tion are right for the par­tic­u­lar indi­vid­ual and are intended at treat­ing the root cause rather than just a symptom.

Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD a.k.a. hyperactivity) affects thousands of infants, children, adolescents, and adults. It shows up as abnormalities in behavior like hyperactivity, learning disorders and communication problems in early childhood with some remission occurring before birth and that, left untreated, continue to suffer from the condition into adulthood. 

As infants, hyperactive babies are often colicky, sleep poorly or very little and cry or scream a lot. In childhood, they look restless and fidgety and eat poorly. In the more severe cases they may be “rockers” or “head bangers” rejecting affection and mothering. As the child becomes older, there is a very noticeable rushing from one thing to the next, a shortened attention span and easy distractibility. Behavior can become destructive with poor coordination and general clumsiness. Some hyperactive children have trouble integrating what they see and hear due to visual perception abnormalities which, in turn, leads to inabilities to understand basic concepts. 

Other conditions that have been documented to occur in many ADD children are eczema, asthma, chronic infections, hay fever, headaches, stomach aches and fungal infections of the scalp, skin and nails. 

Symptoms In Infants and Young Children 

• excessive crying
• inconsolably screaming
• restlessness poor or little sleep
• difficult feeding
• refuses affection and cuddles
• head banging or rocking fits or temper tantrums

 Symptoms in Older Children 

• impulsiveness, clumsiness, constantly moving destructive or disruptive behavior
• accident proneness, bouts of fatigue, weakness and listlessness
• aggressiveness, poor concentration ability, vocal repetition and loudness
• restlessness, school failure despite normal or high IQ
• poor sleep with nightmares
• poor appetite and erratic eating habits
• poor coordination
• irritable, uncooperative, disobedient, self-injurious nervous

Causes of ADD

 There are many causes or more appropriately contributing factors that lead to ADD which may include: genetic abnormalities, birth injuries, hormonal imbalances, psychological or emotional problems, biochemical imbalances caused by toxic heavy metals (lead or cadmium excesses), food allergies, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, amino acid deficiencies toxins from chronic infections with bacteria, fungi (e.g. candida overgrowth) and parasites digestive enzyme or stomach acid deficiencies, environmental hypersensitivities, especially to food dyes, chemicals and additives multiple food cravings and delayed (Type II-IV) allergies dyes, chemicals, inhalants, and other irritants hypoglycemia or sugar hypersensitivity

ADD children should be thoroughly tested and treated by diet changes and nutritional supplements before resorting to amphetamine-like drugs like methylphenidate (Ritalin) which have a long list of extremely dangerous side effects and don’t serve to treat the root cause of the disorder.

Over­all, it’s more impor­tant to focus on the root cause and what are the under­ly­ing mech­a­nisms that are caus­ing the condition rather than just treat­ing it symp­to­mati­cally.  Each per­son is encour­aged to seek out a qual­i­fied nutri­tion­ist or other qualified healthcare practitioner in order to assess exactly which nutri­ents, herbs, home­o­pathics and nat­ural reme­dies; in which com­bi­na­tion; in what pro­por­tion are right for the par­tic­u­lar indi­vid­ual and are intended at treat­ing the root cause rather than just a symptom.

Asthma is a com­mon lung con­di­tion in the mod­ern world, one that impacts the lives of adults and chil­dren alike. Asthma threat­ens one’s essen­tial abil­ity to breathe, to take in oxy­gen, our most basic and urgent sur­vival need.  Asthma is a con­di­tion marked by recur­rent attacks of breath­ing dif­fi­culty, with wheez­ing due to spas­modic con­trac­tion of the bronchi.

The most sig­nif­i­cant char­ac­ter­is­tic of asthma is a nar­row­ing of the tra­chea (the “wind­pipe”) and bronchial pas­sages in response to some stim­u­lus. In asthma, the air­ways are over-responsive. Things that cause no breath­ing prob­lems for most of us can pro­voke the air­ways to con­strict. These may be exter­nal stim­uli like pollen, dust, and even cold air. Or, the stim­u­lus may be some­thing inter­nal, like a nutri­tional defi­ciency or emo­tional stress. What­ever the trig­ger, all asthma attacks have the same sce­nario in com­mon: the air­ways become extremely irri­tated and over­re­act by going into spasm.

Some cases are aller­gic man­i­fes­ta­tions, oth­ers are pro­voked by a vari­ety of fac­tors includ­ing vig­or­ous exer­cise, irri­tant par­ti­cles, psy­cho­log­i­cal stress, viral ill­ness and food aller­gies. The symp­toms of asthma often reflect a weak­ened or poor immune sys­tem func­tion. Food sen­si­tiv­i­ties often play an impor­tant pre­cip­i­tat­ing or aggra­vat­ing role. Essen­tial fatty acid (EFA) as well as other nutri­ent defi­cien­cies may also play a part.  Vit­a­min A helps pro­tect the lin­ing of the lungs, while vit­a­min C helps to detox­ify envi­ron­men­tal tox­ins. Antiox­i­dant nutri­ents and essen­tial fats are anti-inflammatory.

Over­all, it’s more impor­tant to focus on the root cause and what are the under­ly­ing mech­a­nisms that are caus­ing the asthma rather than just treat­ing it symp­to­mati­cally. Each per­son is encour­aged to seek out a qual­i­fied nutri­tion­ist in order to assess exactly which nutri­ents, herbs, home­o­pathics and nat­ural remedies; in which com­bi­na­tion; in what pro­por­tion are right for the par­tic­u­lar indi­vid­ual and are intended at treat­ing the root cause rather than just a symp­tom.

Arthritis

There are two major forms of arthri­tis and many dif­fer­ent causes for both.

Osteoarthri­tis, more com­mon in the elderly, describes a con­di­tion in which the car­ti­lage in the joints wears away, induc­ing pain and stiff­ness mainly in weight-bearing joints. Osteoarthri­tis can be clas­si­fied into two major cat­e­gories: Pri­mary OA and Sec­ondary OA. Sec­ondary OA is caused by trauma or some known abnor­mal­ity such as nutri­tional defi­cien­cies, infec­tious dis­ease or endocrine disorder.

Rheuma­toid arthri­tis is an autoim­mune con­di­tion which affects the whole body, not just cer­tain joints. Rheumatic dis­ease char­ac­ter­ized by inflam­ma­tion and degen­er­a­tion of the joints. Rheuma­toid arthri­tis, also iden­ti­fied by the thank­fully brief acronym “RA,” strikes the joint lin­ings first. All joints are cov­ered by a thin “syn­ovial mem­brane” that reduces the fric­tion between adja­cent joints.  The syn­ovial mem­brane, the sur­face of a joint is well lubri­cated and allow the joint to slide the freely with­out any fric­tion. With­out the syn­ovial mem­brane we would be stiff and immobile.

Cur­rent med­ical think­ing views rheuma­toid arthri­tis as an “autoim­mune dis­ease.” In autoim­mune dis­eases, for rea­sons that are not com­pletely under­stood, the immune sys­tem attacks the body’s own tis­sue as though it were a for­eign invader.

Peo­ple with rheuma­toid arthri­tis pro­duce an immunity-related sub­stance called “rheuma­toid fac­tor” that tar­gets the syn­ovial mem­brane. The con­se­quences are severe pain and inflam­ma­tion, joint dis­fig­ure­ment, and loss of joint move­ment and func­tion. This implies poor immune sys­tem func­tion and over­ac­tive inflam­ma­tory processes.

A diet high in ani­mal fats and refined foods, and cer­tain nutri­ent defi­cien­cies (espe­cially essen­tial fatty acids (EFA’s), may con­tribute to inflam­ma­tory processes, as may poor diges­tion and food sen­si­tiv­i­ties. An impor­tant aspect of treat­ment is the main­te­nance of an ade­quate sup­ply of nutri­ents such as vit­a­min C and con­stituents such as glu­cosamine sul­fate. 

Antiox­i­dant nutri­ents, essen­tial fats and vit­a­min B5 reduce inflam­ma­tion. Vit­a­min D, cal­cium, mag­ne­sium and boron sup­port bone health. Other ben­e­fi­cial nutri­ents include col­la­gen, chon­droitin, MSM and herbs such as Curcumin.

Dietary guide­lines

Fol­low a healthy diet and be sure to avoid tea, cof­fee, sugar, refined car­bo­hy­drates. Drink plenty of water and appro­pri­ate herbal teas. Those who suf­fer from arthri­tis would be wise to avoid the night­shade fam­ily foods.  Many peo­ple are sen­si­tive to this fam­ily and aren’t aware of it.

Over­all, focus on the root cause and what are the under­ly­ing mech­a­nisms that are caus­ing the arthri­tis rather than just treat­ing it symp­to­mati­cally.  Each per­son is encour­aged to seek out a qual­i­fied nutri­tion­ist in order to assess exactly which nutri­ents, herbs, home­o­pathics and nat­ural reme­dies; in which com­bi­na­tion; in what pro­por­tion are right for the par­tic­u­lar indi­vid­ual and are intended at treat­ing the root cause rather than just a symptom.

An allergy is a intol­er­ance to a par­tic­u­lar sub­stance. The term “food aller­gies” refers to hyper­sen­si­tiv­ity reac­tions to cer­tain foods or com­po­nents of food which lead to the pro­duc­tion of spe­cific anti­bod­ies, and the release of his­t­a­mine and other aller­gic medi­a­tors by mast cells. The term “food sen­si­tiv­i­ties” refers to a reac­tion to a spe­cific food or food com­po­nent that is not clas­si­fied as a true aller­gic response (no anti­body involve­ment), but which may also lead to symp­toms such as diar­rhea, gas­troin­testi­nal dis­com­fort, pain and gas as well as other sys­temic symptoms.

Some peo­ple have more pro­nounced symp­toms even to sim­ple foods like wheat or milk. Since an allergy is like an addic­tion, it is often the foods one is most ‘addicted’ to that are suspect.

Impaired diges­tion is a major cause of food aller­gies and sen­si­tiv­i­ties, as the body may iden­tify the undi­gested food par­ti­cles as for­eign sub­stances. If you sus­pect that you might have aller­gies but do not know what they are, it is best to see a nutri­tion con­sul­tant who can assess you for aller­gies and resolve any under­ly­ing diges­tive imbal­ances that pro­voke allergies.

Proper nutri­tion and avoid­ance of aller­genic foods once iden­ti­fied will greatly reduce or clear up aller­gic reac­tions in most cases.

It is also impor­tant to deter­mine the over­all integrity of the gas­troin­testi­nal sys­tem to assess whether or not leak­ing gut syn­drome is the con­tribut­ing fac­tor of allergies.

Fol­low a gen­eral healthy diet, drink plenty of fil­tered water. Avoid sus­pect foods, dairy prod­ucts and the most com­mon aller­gens. After sev­eral months you may be able to rein­tro­duce sus­pect foods occa­sion­ally with­out hav­ing a reac­tion and even­tu­ally you may be able to tol­er­ate your aller­gens in small amounts.

A com­mon inflam­ma­tory pilose­ba­ceous dis­ease char­ac­ter­ized by come­dones, papules, pus­tules, inflamed nod­ules, super­fi­cial pus-filled cysts, and, in severe cases, deep inflamed puru­lent sacs. Acne is most preva­lent among teenage boys and girls and the hor­monal changes that take place at this age are cer­tainly at the root of many skin prob­lems. These changes cause the seba­ceous glands to pro­duce too much sebum, which blocks up the skin pores and makes them more likely to get infected.

Causes may include long-term use of antibi­otics which may lead to a deple­tion of nor­mal bac­te­r­ial flora and an over­growth of Can­dida albi­cans, nutri­ent defi­cien­cies (e.g. B-complex vit­a­mins, vit­a­mins A and E, zinc), food sen­si­tiv­i­ties, poor liver func­tion, and the use of cer­tain drugs or cosmetics.

A diet high in sat­u­rated fat or fried food also makes pores more likely to get blocked. Vit­a­min A defi­ciency pro­duces skin con­ges­tion through over-keratinisation of skin cells which leads to a block­age of the sebum oil glands. Vit­a­min A and zinc defi­ciency lack leads to low­ered abil­ity to fight infec­tion, as does lack of ben­e­fi­cial bac­te­ria (over-use of antibi­otics). Ade­quate amounts of zinc are also nec­es­sary in order to trans­port vit­a­min A efficiently.

Proper nutri­tion helps by bal­anc­ing hor­mones as well as reduc­ing the risk of infec­tion. The most impor­tant nutri­ents are vit­a­mins A, B Com­plex (espe­cially B6), C, E, zinc, niacin and vit­a­min E. Good diet and inter­nal clean­li­ness with prop­erly func­tion­ing elim­i­na­tion organs are essential.

Fol­low an opti­mum diet and drink plenty of fil­tered water. Avoid sugar, refined foods, fry­ing and high fat foods. Eat plenty of fresh fruit and veg­eta­bles organic and chem­i­cal free when­ever possible.

Over­all, it’s more impor­tant to focus on the root cause and what are the under­ly­ing mech­a­nisms that are caus­ing the acne rather than just treat­ing it symp­to­mati­cally.  Each per­son is encour­aged to seek out a qual­i­fied nutri­tion­ist in order to assess exactly which nutri­ents, herbs, home­o­pathics and nat­ural reme­dies; in which com­bi­na­tion; in what pro­por­tion are right for the par­tic­u­lar indi­vid­ual and are intended at treat­ing the root cause rather than just a symptom.