WOULD YOU LIKE TO LOSE WEIGHT? by Robert A. Erickson, M.D. 2000©|~!|OBESITY is the number one epidemic in the United States, affecting 1 in 3 people. It is ironic that in the most prosperous nation in the world we are one of the sickest when it comes to diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure. For over 25 years I have seen patients who truly have tried to lose weight. Many of them had been on diets which temporarily allowed them to lose weight, but then they would regain weight and become even more overweight than before starting the diet. There is a tremendous amount of misinformation out there about how to lose weight in a healthy manner and keep it off permanently.|~!|1254089457|~!|OBESITY is the number one epidemic in the United States, affecting 1 in 3 people. It is ironic that in the most prosperous nation in the world we are one of the sickest when it comes to diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure.

For over 25 years I have seen patients who truly have tried to lose weight. Many of them had been on diets which temporarily allowed them to lose weight, but then they would regain weight and become even more overweight than before starting the diet.

There is a tremendous amount of misinformation out there about how to lose weight in a healthy manner and keep it off permanently.

Fake Food, Fake Bodies

In this era of microwave meals and fast food restaurants, people are eating highly processed foods and literally tons of “fake” food, loaded with calories and saturated fat, and empty on nutrition. A breakfast of coffee and donuts is just one example. The problem is the body must use what you give it to rebuild itself on a daily basis, and over time, the inferior building materials will allow illness and disease to occur. Many Americans are trading convenience for health.

Which is the Right Diet?

Everyone has heard of the Adkin’s diet (high protein, unrestricted fat, low carbohydrate) and everyone has heard of high-carbohydrate, low fat, limited protein diets as proposed by the American Dietetic Association (ADA). People lose weight on both, but for different reasons. I have come to the conclusion that there is no “one right diet” for everybody, and that a person’s diet must be custom tailored to their specific health problems, genetics, exercise level.

Do Calories Count?

When you restrict your calories below your basal metabolic rate, you will lose weight. Right? Yes, and no. When you drop below 800 calories per day, your metabolism slows to conserve energy and your body becomes more efficient at storing and keeping fat. This is why on a severely calorie restricted diet people plateau and don’t lose weight forever. Then they get discouraged and get off the diet, and gain weight beyond their original weight (their metabolisms are now slower than before up to several months). This is why people who have tried multiple calorie restricted diets have difficulty and get fatter as they get older, and this can be difficult to reverse.

Is Fat the Enemy?

If you listen to the advocates of the Adkin’s diet, almost all of them lose weight and are able to keep it off. They eat unrestricted amounts of saturated fat from bacon, ham, butter, etc.. Calories, for the most part, are unrestricted, so you don’t get the slow down in the metabolism. Protein is not efficiently turned into fat by the body, but excess protein can stress the liver and kidneys in some cases. You are not hungry on an Adkin’s diet due to the hunger blunting effect of ketones, which come from the body’s fat being broken down. If low fat was the answer, then the Adkin’s diet shouldn’t work, and everyone eating Lean Cuisine type of meals should be skinny and have low cholesterols. So obviously replacing fats with carbohydrates is not the answer. I have a concern about all the saturated fats the Adkin’s diet allows. It’s not a question of high fat but what type of fat (needs to be a large portion of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated, totally avoid hydrogenated fats which are harmful).

The ADA type of diets work some of the time, but are dependent on what type of carbohydrate is being consumed and calorie content. The problem with this type of diet is that we are becoming a nation of diabetics, heart patients and cancer victims because there are 2 types of carbohydrates (simple and complex).

So what is the real answer?

Sugar: How Sweet it Isn’t!

The average per capita consumption of sugar and high fructose corn syrup products is over 150 pounds per year for every man, woman, and child in this country! Just pick up any processed food item at your grocery store, including baby formula, read the label and you will see high fructose corn syrup added to it. The corn industry in this country is huge.

Eating sugar and refined carbohydrates (including the “healthy” ones such as honey or molasses) results in a rapid release of glucose (blood sugar) into your blood stream. Insulin, a hormone secreted by your pancreas gland, is secreted to drive the glucose into your cells and tissue where it can be used for fuel. Excess glucose stresses the system, and over time, the cells become less responsive to insulin. We call this condition INSULIN RESISTENCE. The sugar, unable to go into your cells as fuel and be burned, is then stored as FAT. This can worsen on a high carbohydrate diet if the wrong kind of carbohydrates are eaten. Insulin resistence is associated with high cholesterol and triglyceride fats, which, in turn, are associated with heart disease and type II diabetes. When you become insulin resistant you cannot lose weight effectively on a high carbohydrate, low fat, low protein diet.

Know The Glycemic Index of Foods

A diabetic will have better control of his blood
sugar when eating Haagen Daas ice cream than when drinking a glass of orange juice. I didn’t realize this until I read the book Enter the Zone by Barry Sears. All foods have a glycemic index (how fast they can raise your blood sugar). Basically, complex carbohydrates such as most vegetables, whole-grain pastas, many fruits have a low to moderate glycemic index when compared to most sugars, white breads, sodas, candies, pastry, most cold cereals. Combining foods with a high glycemic index with fat (sugar in ice cream combined with butter fat from cream) in some cases will lower the glycemic index, and will allow insulin to be released at a slow rate, not stressing the pancreas.

What About Sugar Substitutes?

Aspartame (NutraSweet) is comprised of 2 amino acids, aspartic acid and phenylalanine. Both of these amino acids can alter brain chemistry. It can cause mood disorders and lower the threshold for seizures. It is also hard to get off of (could the altered brain chemistry cause an addiction to it?).

The remaining component of aspartame is a chemical that changes into methanol (wood alcohol, which is a poison!) after ingestion. Wood alcohol is notorious for harming the optic nerve of the eye, causing blindness. Methanol is converted into formaldehyde by the body. Formaldehyde causes cancer and neurological problems. Use stevia instead of artificial sweeteners.

Protein, friend or foe?

Adequate protein, whether from animal or vegetable sources, is critical for good health. Protein is the basic building block for tissue repair and maintenance, and to support a healthy immune system. I am not an advocate of low protein diets or vegetarian diets, except for special circumstances in a cleansing program for a few weeks. The problem with meat sources of protein is not the meat, it is the saturated fat content. Buy meat with no more than a 5% fat content, and with a strong emphasis on poultry and fish. And make sure the meat and poultry you buy does not contain preservatives, hormones, or antibiotics added to the animal feed. Again, we are talking about the quality of the fuel you are putting into yourself and your family.

So how much protein do you need? If you are dieting, you want to spare protein and lose fat, and a low protein diet does not allow this. In general, you will want to consume 1 1/2 grams of protein per kilogram of your ideal body weight. Read on.

The Blood Type Connection

In 1996 a book entitled Eat Right For Your Type was published. It either cleared the waters or made them even more “murky.” It’s author, Dr. Peter J. D’Adamo proposed that there are 4 different blood types (A, B, AB, and O) and each type did better with a different diet. Type O’s needed more protein to do well and type A’s did better with a vegetarian type of diet with limited animal protein. Type B did well with a varied diet and also tolerated dairy products the best, and type AB had a mixture of types A and B qualities. It makes interesting reading and I find some of what he says makes sense, especially in the foods to avoid category based on blood type.

Hormonal and Genetic Factors

Further complicating the picture are genetic factors and also hormonal factors. Patients whose genetics are against them will have a more difficult time with losing weight than those who don’t. Patients who are taking hormones such as birth control pills or estrogen are altering their biochemistry and will gain weight. Patients who have thyroid, pancreatic, or adrenal problems will also need to be treated in a different manner.

Summary

> Buy the 3 books I have listed and read them to gain a better understanding of the factors that contribute to weight gain and health:

1. The Type II Diabetes Diet Book - Calvin Ezrin, M.D.

2. Enter the Zone - Barry Sears

3. Eat Right For Your Type - Dr. Peter J. D’Adamo (He also has a new version out)

•Eliminate sugar and artificial sweeteners from your diet and substitute stevia and xylitol (both are natural sweeteners from plant sources that you can obtain at a health food store). Keep yourself and your children off the sodas, cookies, cakes, pies, candies, except for special occasions.

•Familiarize yourself with the glycemic index of the foods you are eating. Limit servings of high glycemic foods such as white potatoes, corn, bread, cereal, and anything made with white flour.

•Add fat to your diet in the form of mono or polyunsaturated fat. I take 2-3 tablespoons of organic flax seed oil or olive oil a day and use it on salads or vegetables.

•Eat a variety of fresh (preferably organic) vegetables and fruits each day as well as legumes and whole grains.

•Eat adequate protein primarily from fish and poultry sources.

•If you are having sugar craving, see Dr. Erickson for help. This can be easily handled by correcting nutritional deficiencies with Standard Process™ supplements.

•If you have been unable to lose weight on a calorie restricted diet, you may have insulin resistence or other factors contributing and should see Dr. Erickson for evaluation.

•When shopping, keep to the periphery of the store and buy fresh or frozen foods. Stay away from processed foods or foods with preservatives or artificial anything.

•Drink 8 eight ounce glasses of purified well or spring water with a little lemon or lime added each day to flush toxins and wastes.

•Take a 20 minute or more walk a day.

•If you want to lose more than a few pounds, set a goal or target, and then ask to be evaluated by Dr. Erickson to individualize a game plan especially for you.|~!|Sun 27-Sep-2009|~!||~!| A WORD ABOUT VITAMINS by Robert A. Erickson, M.D. 2000©|~!|For over 30 years I have helped thousands of people – many with serious diseases – regain their health and stay healthy. I have not done this by prescribing dangerous drugs but rather through a program of exercise and designed clinical nutrition.|~!|1254089655|~!|For over 30 years I have helped thousands of people – many with serious diseases – regain their health and stay healthy. I have not done this by prescribing dangerous drugs but rather through a program of exercise and designed clinical nutrition.

If you want to be healthy, you have to live a healthy lifestyle by choosing more healthy alternatives over less-healthy alternatives. One of these choices is vitamin and mineral supplementation. Supplements by themselves are not an antidote for junk foods or lack of exercise. Supplements, as the name implies, are just that – they supplement what is lacking in your diet to provide your body with the proper natural materials (not drugs) that it needs to heal and maintain itself.

There is a great deal of misinformation out there connected with vitamins and supplements. Many of my patients say “Dr. Erickson, I am already taking a multivitamin.” Let me explain why we sell supplements from our office or suggest the purchase of specific brand names of supplements.

RDAs

RDA stands for recommended daily allowance. This is the minimum daily amount of specific nutrients that the U.S. government has decided the average adult needs. These standards were set over 40 years ago in a day and age when environmental and lifestyle factors were completely different than they are today. They are inadequate, and they do not address the special needs of people who are smokers, drinkers, people exposed to air pollution, toxic chemicals, bad water, and stress. Supplements are our first line of defense against poor health.

As an example, in a large-scale study, nurses taking 100 IU of vitamin E had nearly a 50% reduction in heart-related deaths. The RDA for vitamin E is only 10 IU. Another study demonstrated that people taking 400 mg of vitamin C per day had a 50% reduction in heart-related deaths and increased their life span by an average of 8 years. The RDA for vitamin C is only 60 mg.!

WHICH VITAMIN SHOULD I BUY?

Before I can answer the question “Dr. Erickson, which vitamin should I buy?” let me ask you “How much is YOUR HEALTH worth?” The best supplements cost more than junk and you can’t always tell by looking at a label. That’s why I make specific recommendations on brands I feel comfortable with. I know the potency and purity is what it’s supposed to be. Vitamins are unregulated by the FDA (food and drug administration) so if a bottle says “100 mg” there is no guarantee that it doesn’t contain 50 mg. Also, the FDA doesn’t require expiration dates on supplement bottles. They can lose potency sitting on a shelf or being exposed to heat in a warehouse. As a physician who recommends nutritional supplements I am recommending to you the exact brands that I take or would take myself. Through years of clinical experience I have confidence in certain products and companies. Some of these products are not available in a store and for this reason I sell them from my office. Others, you can buy at a health food store or order by mail.

NATURAL VS. SYNTHETIC: WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

Almost all vitamins are synthetic. A natural vitamin has the whole vitamin complex with it, not just a portion. It is made from whole foods, not chemicals. The brands we sell from the Center are made from either organically grown vegetables or organic plant products. They are not contaminated with pesticides or made from coal-tar derivatives such as acetone or turpentine. In addition, the supplements we recommend are easily absorbed by humans and do not contain binders that do not allow the pill to dissolve completely. There are no standards requiring absorption studies or disclosure of binders such as Di-Calcium-Phosphate. Would you believe, some vitamins are coated with shellac! Others have added polyunsaturated vegetable oils as fillers which can oxidize quickly and produce free radicals which make the vitamin rancid.

The FDA adds to the confusion, in my opinion, by allowing drug companies to call part of a vitamin, a vitamin. For instance, chemical ascorbic acid is called vitamin C. The companies are not required to add bioflavonoids and other phytofacters that are needed to complete the vitamin C complex. Phytofacters are plant compounds that protect the plant against radiation damage, insects, pollution, free radicals, etc. and also play an important role in maintaining human health. That’s why we sell Nutrilite® Brand BioC Plus. It is made from acerola cherries, the way nature intended for you to get your vitamin C. The same applies to all our other vitamins.

Minerals are best absorbed in “chelated” form where they are bound to amino acids or another substance. Also, minerals from plant sources are much more easily handled by humans than say “oyster shell calcium” or other non-plant sources (plants have the ability to convert inorganic minerals into organic minerals). All of our calcium products and minerals are natural and easily bioavailable. That’s why we use BioMultiPlus from Biotics Research™ as a multivitamin, as it is plant chelated.

And finally, not all natural supplements are alike. Some companies put only a portion of plant material in their supplement and call it “natural.” You want to make sure that if the active part of the plant is the leaves, you are not getting stems. You also want to make sure that the processing meets pharmaceutical standards of purity, potency, absorption into the body, and that a high heat process is not used. You also want to know where the source of plant material comes from (U.S. or imported from a third world country where DDT is not illegal). That’s why we sell Nutrilite®, Standard Process®, Biotics Research™ and certain other brands. Although they are not available in stores – their supplements are made from organically grown plant materials and meet the standards I feel comfortable with as a physician.

How Much Do I Need to Stay Healthy?

No two people are alike and there is no “one size fits all” vitamin. Your supplement needs will vary from day to day and are affected by many factors. If you have medical challenges with diabetes, high cholesterol, heart disease, high blood pressure, alcohol or drug problems, stress, pregnancy, heavy metal poisoning, or other conditions your needs will be different than the “average” person. That is why I do not take a “shotgun” approach to recommending a “megavitamin” amount to people and hope it covers everything. Too much of a vitamin can have an adverse effect on the body.

The first step in supplementation is to build a foundation with a natural multivitamin-multimineral which covers all the vitamin groups and trace minerals. Please ask us what preparation would be appropriate for you. If your multiple vitamin is doing the job we will keep you on it. The next step in supplementation is to fill in the gaps. One of the ways we do this at the Preventive Medicine Center is to analyze your needs at each visit with CRA (Contact Reflex Analysis), monitoring specific reflex points that reflect your nutritional status. In this way your supplement program is custom fitted for your specific needs. Give yourself 12 weeks, and you’ll feel the difference.|~!|Sun 27-Sep-2009|~!||~!| SAFE HORMONAL REPLACEMENT THERAPY by Robert A. Erickson, M.D. 2000©|~!|There is a lot of confusion in the minds of intelligent people due to misinformation about hormonal replacement therapy (HRT). One week we are told that hormone replacement is safe and the next week we are told it will cause cancer. An article published in the January 26, 2000 Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) has caused unnecessary alarm for both physicians and their patients when it states that estrogen and progesterone increase the risk of breast cancer. The reason for this confusion is simple: they fail to delineate between natural and synthetic hormones. In the JAMA study, Premarin®, a synthetic estrogen made from horse urine, and Provera®, a synthetic progestin, were used. Both are prescription drugs commonly prescribed by most physicians. Most physicians won’t tell you about natural HRT.|~!|1254089681|~!|There is a lot of confusion in the minds of intelligent people due to misinformation about hormonal replacement therapy (HRT). One week we are told that hormone replacement is safe and the next week we are told it will cause cancer. An article published in the January 26, 2000 Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) has caused unnecessary alarm for both physicians and their patients when it states that estrogen and progesterone increase the risk of breast cancer. The reason for this confusion is simple: they fail to delineate between natural and synthetic hormones. In the JAMA study, Premarin®, a synthetic estrogen made from horse urine, and Provera®, a synthetic progestin, were used. Both are prescription drugs commonly prescribed by most physicians. Most physicians won’t tell you about natural HRT.

Diet

Women in Asia do not have the problems with menopause that women in this country have. The reason for this is very simple: diet. Soy is a legume high in protein, fiber, essential fatty acids, vitamins (especially B complex) and minerals including calcium, zinc, iron and potassium. One cup of soy beans or a soy product such as tofu or soy milk has as much natural estrogen as a 0.45mg Premarin tablet. Studies show that eating 60 grams of soy protein a day will reduce menopausal symptoms by almost 50% in 12 weeks. Phytochemicals are now being intensively studied, but the health benefits have been known for centuries. Phytoestrogens fill receptor sites, including those in the breasts, and prevent stronger, potentially harmful estrogens from occupying those receptor sites.
If you travel a lot or don’t like tofu, we have a high quality, soy-based food bar available from Standard Process™ that is a balanced source of nutrition.

Another dietary deficiency commonly noted is that of essential fatty acids – omega-6 fatty acids found in grains and vegetables, and omega-3 fatty acids found in fish and flaxseed oil. I encourage you to take flaxseed oil. Increasing these oils can improve such conditions as dry skin, hair loss, vision difficulties, mood disturbances and behavioral changes, infertility, slow wound healing, and circulatory problems.

Herbs

Several herbs have mild estrogenic activity and mimic estrogen’s effects on the body. Dong quai is a traditional Chinese remedy. It is known as a uterine tonic. Siberian ginseng enhances mental and physical stamina and helps relieve stress and anxiety. It balances the adrenal-pituitary complex where your hormones are concentrated. Black cohosh is a native American remedy and comes from the root of an herb. It is widely used in Europe to ease women through menopause. It works by helping normalize hormonal fluctuations that affect mood and energy levels.

Estrogen and Progesterone

Estrogen is actually a group of hormones – estrone, estradiol, and estriol. Estradiol is much stronger than the others, and estriol is the weakest, but also the most benign. Levels of estriol rise in pregnancy. Dr. Erickson prescribes Bi-Estrogen, which contains a combination of natural estriol and natural estradiol. Estrone, which is converted in the intestinal tract from estradiol, is implicated in hormone-mediated cancers, and is not used.

Are natural hormones really natural? The key here is “bio-identical.” It does not indicate the source of the hormone, but it does indicate that the chemical structure of the replacement hormone is identical to that of the hormone naturally found in the human body. These hormones follow the normal metabolic pathways so that the active metabolites do not cause problems or side effects found in the synthetic hormones. The synthetic hormones form different metabolites, and it is these metabolites that have been implicated as possibly causing cancer by causing oxidative stress and altering the DNA structure of cells.

Testosterone is an anabolic steroid (protein sparing) and women make about 1/10 the testosterone that a man makes. If a women’s testosterone is low (menopause or due to hysterectomy), she can have symptoms of fatigue and is at greater risk for osteoporosis.

The Choice is Yours

I believe for most women, HRT is very beneficial. Not only does it alleviate hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and mood swings, but it also protects the cardiovascular system and reduces the risk of atherosclerosis and heart attack. It also stops, and in some cases, reverses, osteoporosis, which is epidemic in this country. Calcium by itself is not enough.

Bi-Estrogen is prepared by a compounding pharmacist in a convenient liquid, capsule, or trouche form that is taken daily. We also use natural progesterone in a micronized oral form, or in a cream that is applied to the skin. Some progesterone creams can be purchased without a prescription at health food stores. They are made from wild yams rich in phytoestrogens, and are safe and effective. Most patients use bi-estrogen and natural progesterone together, although some women use progesterone cream by itself (I don’t think this is as effective in preventing osteoporosis). Natural testosterone in physiologic doses may also be used to help improve energy, mood, and build up bone mass. And remember, these forms are identical to the hormones your body was making before menopause.

If you are already on Premarin or another synthetic estrogen, consider switching to natural HRT. If you are on no HRT, but are having hormone deficiency symptoms, or are at risk for osteoporosis, ask Dr. Erickson what would be right for you. For detailed information on this topic we suggest reading Natural Hormone Replacement by Jonathan V. Wright, M.D.|~!|Sun 27-Sep-2009|~!||~!| THE FREEDOM OF CHOICE by Robert A. Erickson, M.D. 2000©|~!|Having just opened the doors to The Preventive Medicine Center of Gainesville on March 1, 2000, it never ceases to amaze me how many of my patients are in the same struggle as I am – the continuous fight against the negative bias of conventional medicine against proven natural therapies as effective alternative treatments for serious chronic diseases. I hear story after story of how some of your physicians seek to discourage you from seeking an alternative therapy for your illnesses. One of the reasons I use a nutritional approach to healing is because the body has the innate ability to heal itself if given the proper materials. I have never heard of a drug “curing” heart disease or diabetes. You hear the word “treat” instead. This is not to say there isn’t a place for antibiotics or certain prescription drugs. It needs to be recognized that no one has a monopoly on “truth” and that there is more than one path in the treatment of medical problems. Health is not the absence of disease.|~!|1254089716|~!|Having just opened the doors to The Preventive Medicine Center of Gainesville on March 1, 2000, it never ceases to amaze me how many of my patients are in the same struggle as I am – the continuous fight against the negative bias of conventional medicine against proven natural therapies as effective alternative treatments for serious chronic diseases. I hear story after story of how some of your physicians seek to discourage you from seeking an alternative therapy for your illnesses. One of the reasons I use a nutritional approach to healing is because the body has the innate ability to heal itself if given the proper materials. I have never heard of a drug “curing” heart disease or diabetes. You hear the word “treat” instead. This is not to say there isn’t a place for antibiotics or certain prescription drugs. It needs to be recognized that no one has a monopoly on “truth” and that there is more than one path in the treatment of medical problems. Health is not the absence of disease.

The real issue is not whether natural therapies work or not – they do . . . the real issue is your freedom of choice of how you want your health care to be given to you. The Constitution of the United States gives you the right to decide for yourself what is right for you with regards to your religion or politics. Why shouldn’t you have the freedom to take herbs or supplements or see a massage therapist or chiropractor without interference from an insurance company, or a physician who has chosen to enter into a contract with an insurance company? This is why I have chosen not to participate with insurance companies or Medicare – I do not want to be restricted by them as to what lab tests I can order, what physicians or health care providers I must refer to (only the ones on their approved list), or have them tell me what therapies are considered medically necessary in their opinion.

I have found in life, not just in medicine, that the truth is what the truth is. It is not what someone says the truth is. You will know if you are getting better with a particular course of therapy. Do not let someone else change your reality of what is right for you by using fear tactics or invalidating your feelings. This is your life.

I have encouraged my patients to become proactive and let their insurance companies know what services they would like covered. It’s your money after all. I have also suggested that if a doctor is not open-minded enough to check out the facts about what you want as a course of treatment or therapy, you need to think seriously about finding someone who will investigate the facts.

Best regards,
Robert A. Erickson, M.D.

Addendum: Since this article was published, the Florida Legislature has ammended the Patient Bill of Rights to guarantee all Florida residents access to Alternative therapies of their choice as long as they receive informed consent.|~!|Sun 27-Sep-2009|~!||~!| N.A.E.T. by Robert A. Erickson, M.D. 2000©|~!|N.A.E.T. is the abbreviation for Nambudripad’s Allergy Elimination Technique. It is a way to eliminate allergies to foods, environmental factors, and even medications without allergy shots or needles.|~!|1254089747|~!|What is N.A.E.T.?

N.A.E.T. is the abbreviation for Nambudripad’s Allergy Elimination Technique. It is a way to eliminate allergies to foods, environmental factors, and even medications without allergy shots or needles.

Dr. Nambudripad is a Doctor of Oriental Medicine, R.N., licenced acupuncturist, a Doctor of Chiropractic, and a Ph.D.. She discovered and developed a method of eliminating allergies using Chinese acu-puncture points. It is truly revolutionary technology that is just now becoming known. She has trained about 2000 health professionals in this technique. I met her for the first time in March 2000, when I flew out to Los Angeles to take an intensive 2 day training course with her at her Center. She has helped literally thousands of people regain their health.

What are allergies?

Medical scientists are still researching to find out exactly what allergies are and what causes them. The answer is still not completely known. From a Western medical point of view, allergy is an over-reaction by one’s immune system to a substance. In NAET, allergies are viewed as an energy imbalance. Therefore, for our purposes, an allergen is defined as a substance that causes blockages in the energy flow in the acupuncture meridians (body’s electrical circuits). These energy imbalances can cause diminished states of health and can affect any organ in the body.

Testing for allergies

Conventional allergy testing uses blood tests such as the RAST or ELIZA tests, or “scratch tests” or “intradermal” skin tests. These have varying degrees of accuracy.

In NAET, a diagnosis of allergy is based on a combination of a person’s history, physical exam, laboratory evaluation, and by the use of Muscle Reflex Testing. With Muscle Reflex Testing, we can determine right in the office whether a particular substance (food, item of clothing, vitamin, medicine, etc.) is causing an energy imbalance.

How does NAET work?

Using specific acupuncture points, in a specific sequence, allergens are cleared (treated) without needles. This technique is like reprogramming a computer. Files in the computer’s memory can get “corrupted”. The body’s cells have cellular memory. When this memory is “corrupted” the body reacts in an abnormal manner to a substance that should not cause problems. Putting in the correct memory allows a permanent solution to allergies.

Where can I get more information on NAET?

I highly recommend reading “Say Good-bye to Illness”. The Nambudripad Allergy Research Foundation can be reached at 717-523-0800 for additional information, or just ask us.|~!|Sun 27-Sep-2009|~!||~!| Is Your Thyroid Slowing You Down? by Robert A. Erickson, M.D. 2000©|~!|Studies have shown that 1 in 8 women from age 35 to 65 have low thyroid function, as does 1 in 5 women over age 65. Symptoms of low thyroid (hypothyroidism) are fatigue, depression, slow heartbeat, intolerance to cold, difficulty in concentrating, hair loss, weight gain, memory disturbances, constipation, and dry skin. Body temperature is also usually below 98.2% F.|~!|1254089774|~!|Studies have shown that 1 in 8 women from age 35 to 65 have low thyroid function, as does 1 in 5 women over age 65. Symptoms of low thyroid (hypothyroidism) are fatigue, depression, slow heartbeat, intolerance to cold, difficulty in concentrating, hair loss, weight gain, memory disturbances, constipation, and dry skin. Body temperature is also usually below 98.2% F.

Hypothyroidism is often missed by lab tests. The most sensitive test is the level of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), which the pituitary gland manufacturers to regulate the production and secretion of thyroid hormones. When the level of TSH is abnormally elevated it indicates that the thyroid is underactive.

You may still have symptoms of hypothyroidism even if all your lab tests are “normal”. The reason for this is that there is no lab test to measure tissue levels of this hormone. T4, which is produced by the thyroid gland, is converted in the tissue into T3, a much more active form of thyroid hormone. However, blood T3 levels are not the same thing as tissue T3 levels. Just like insulin in insulin resistance, it is possible that T3 may be abundant in the blood, but blocked at the receptor site level in the tissue. In Wilson’s syndrome it is felt that T4 is converted into reverse T3 in the tissue, which is inert.

The biggest indicator, in my experience is a low body temperature, especially if it is in the 97% F. range, along with other symptoms of hypothyroidism such as fatigue, weight gain, dry skin, mild depression, cold intolerance (especially if you have cold hands and feet) and brain fog.

If you have hypothyroidism, your conventional doctor is likely to prescribe a synthetic thyroid hormone such as Synthroid, which really is only a part of the thyroid hormone complex found in nature in the healthy thyroid gland. Natural thyroid, which is derived from porcine (pig) thyroid gland, contains all the gland’s hormones and components and has a long history of safety and effectiveness. I urge you to try natural. Your body will notice the difference, especially when it comes to mood and brain function.|~!|Sun 27-Sep-2009|~!||~!| A PERSPECTIVE ON TOXINS & DETOXIFICATION by Robert A. Erickson, M.D. 2000©|~!|Since ancient times, people have sought ways to cleanse and purify themselves. The Romans had their baths and the Indians had purification teepees with steam, or the Scandinavian cultures had dry heat saunas. Different cultures have had all sorts of purification rituals which have included herbs, special diets, prayer and fasting.|~!|1254089854|~!|Since ancient times, people have sought ways to cleanse and purify themselves. The Romans had their baths and the Indians had purification teepees with steam, or the Scandinavian cultures had dry heat saunas. Different cultures have had all sorts of purification rituals which have included herbs, special diets, prayer and fasting.

Toxins
Toxins are produced by our bodies as a normal part of our metabolic processes and are usually easily excreted. With age or with disease affecting our organs the excretion of toxins may become impaired. In addition, we are exposed to an overwhelming number of chemical contaminants every day in our air, food, water, and general environment. The body is generally well-equipped to excrete those chemicals which are water soluble, but not so well-equipped to excrete some of the fat-soluble ones. Thus, many fat-soluble chemicals tend to accumulate in the body’s fatty tissues, where they may persist indefinitely. This process is called “toxic bioaccumulation”.

Toxic “recirculation”
Storage of toxins in the body’s fat is a defense mechanism. The body tries to prevent harmful substances from damaging vital organs so it puts them in the fat if it can’t easily remove them through the lungs, urine, or feces. Sweating is a great mechanism for normal detoxification, but in today’s air-conditioned society, we are by-passing this process. Studies show that fat can be mobilized by things such as heat exposure, exercise, emotional stress, illness, fasting, and overnight fast during sleep. When this happens, toxins are “dumped” out of the fat and back into the circulation where they can cause symptoms. That is why some patients feel worse in the morning.

Toxic “spiral”
With time, our detoxification pathways can become so polluted, that the effect is like a septic tank that no longer is in balance and backup occurs. We can at least pump-out a septic tank. The human body is a different mechanism. Once it becomes so poisoned, a spiral effect can occur where the system starts breaking down, and exposures to chemicals or substances that do not bother an average person, can now create significant symptoms such as fatigue, malaise, brain fog, irritability, asthma, depression, low body temperature, intolerance to heat or cold, fibromyalgia symptoms, or worsening of other disease states. For example, mercury can poison multiple organ systems and enzymatic reactions in the human body. It can effect the thyroid and bind to part of the thyroid hormone (T4) so that it is less effective. The body’s metabolism slows down. Less waste is excreted because of this, and the accumulation of toxins and poisoning accelerate.

Am I “toxic”
In acute exposure and poisoning this is a simple diagnosis to make. In chronic cases where bioaccumulation is going on, this is a diagnosis that is most often made based on a person’s history and symptom complex. Depending on the circumstances, there are some laboratory tests that can be useful such as hair analysis or blood tests to assess liver and kidney function.

Detoxification
Detoxification means “to remove toxins (or harmful substances) from the body. This is not as simple as it seems. There are some things you can do to help. These are Dr. Erickson’s general suggestions and are not intended as a recommendation for treatment of a specific medical problem you might have.

1. Avoidance is always better than treatment. Stay away from polluted air, water, food, chemicals, etc. as much as possible. If you have occupational exposure wear protective clothing or respirators.
2. Avoid foods with preservatives, hormones, insecticides, or color additives and “artificial” anything on the label. You may want to consider buying organically grown vegetables, dairy products, and meats.
3. Drink only purified spring or well water (not distilled water as this can pull minerals out of your system). Chlorine in city tap water is a proven carcinogen. A water purification system is a must (or your body becomes the filter) to remove chlorine and other contaminants. The Amway® Water Treatment System has been rated #1 by Consumer Reports for many years for small systems. (We can order one for you). I highly recommend a chlorine-removing filter at the showerhead as well as chlorine is absorbed through the skin.
4. Certain foods act to help detoxification occur: fresh vegetable and fruit juices, fresh vegetables (especially green vegetables rather than starches), super greens such as Chlorella, blue green algae or barley green are very good. If you have a reaction to these super greens, check them with me to make sure you are not allergic.
4. Fasting – either a juice or water fast for a day or two will release toxins from fat.
5. Sauna. Many toxins come out with sweat, including heavy metals. I recommend a low heat, infrared type of sauna as this type of heat penetrates the subcutaneous tissue and the risk of dehydration is less than with a health club sauna where temperatures may be in the 200 F. range. If you have significant toxin accumulation or health problems, your sauna therapy should be under medical supervision.
6. If you have known toxin sources in your system such as mercury dental amalgams, infected teeth, caps or bridges with nickel in them, have your physician evaluate the need for removal by an approved dental protocol.
7. Moderate exercise increases your metabolism and helps push toxins out of the muscles and into the circulation where they can be removed in the urine or feces.
8. Some vitamins act as chelating agents and can bind to or neutralize toxins in the body. Vitamin C is the most powerful vitamin in this category, especially in intravenous (IV) form.
9. Avoid constipation. A healthy person will have 2 - 3 bowel movements a day. Some people will benefit from herbal cleansers or enemas. Make sure you have adequate fiber in your diet.
10. Drink at least 8 glasses of fluids a day to flush your system. If you are drinking water, add lemon or lime juice to it. This makes the water “electrically positive” and will not drain energy from you.
11. Electromagnetic (EMF) pollution may be the biggest health hazard we will see in the new millennium, with our systems being constantly bombarded with EMF’s from cell phones, radar units, appliances, TV’s, computers, electric hair dryers, electric toothbrushes, flying in airplanes. There is a great deal of scientific evidence showing a casual relationship with high EMF’s and cancer development (especially brain cancer), learning impairment, fatigue, brain fog, irritability, and a host of other symptoms where our immune systems are being stressed. Ask Dr. Erickson what you can do in your particular circumstance.

Drugs and alcohol

These are especially difficult toxins and require a special type of detoxification. Standard 30 day detoxification programs or psychotherapy do not “cure” drug or alcohol craving, even though a person has stopped putting these toxins in their body. The relapse rate with drugs and alcohol according to the 1988 Surgeon General’s Report is in the 80 - 90% range. The problem centers around bioaccumulation of drug and alcohol residuals in the fat and how to effectively get rid of the minute amounts that remain. These residuals can come out of hiding long after a person stops drinking or using drugs, causing a person to be restimulated into craving more of the substance or even feeling “high” again. This is a biochemical process where just “saying no” may not work or be realistic. There is a special detoxification protocol which has an average 75% success rate. It uses sauna therapy, vitamin B3 and other vitamins/minerals, cold pressed oils, therapeutic exercise and must be administered under supervision. Treatment is daily for an average of 30 days, 5 hours a day.

We have a similar program at the Center for non-street drug related detoxification for people who have been on prescription drugs, have had multiple surgeries with accumulated anesthesia, or have chemical toxins.

Symptoms while undergoing detox

If a program of detoxification has been recommended to you by Dr. Erickson, or if you are doing some of the things already to remove toxins from your system, you may have symptoms. These, in most cases, are temporary and mild. These can be in the form of nausea, diarrhea, sweats, chills, feeling cold, spacey sensation, anxiety, racey heart, fatigue, muscle and joint aches, urine or stool that smells.

These symptoms can be minimized, by realizing that the RATE of detoxification is what causes symptoms in most people. If you or your doctor are “overzealous” and you accelerate the rate past which your body can easily handle toxin removal, you will be defeating the purpose of detoxification and will end up reabsorbing many of the toxins back into the body. Think of this like a bathtub, where the water going into the tub is flowing faster than the water going out – it will overflow. The idea is to have the rates equal, so toxins coming out of your tissues exit without overflowing back into the body.

Can supplements cause toxic symptoms?

Vitamins, minerals, and herbs can act as toxins! You can put too high a dose into your body that it cannot handle. Or the dose can accelerate the detoxification at too fast a rate. Dr. Erickson uses specific supplements to avoid this. These are low-dose, high potency whole food supplements made in the U.S. from organically grown food. (See the Pamphlet on Vitamins). Do not buy the cheap, synthetic, mega-dose vitamins. Your body will not handle them well. For instance, many vitamin/mineral preparations contain calcium from Dolomite (ground up rock or limestone). Rock is not handled by your body very well. But rock is cheap. It requires the action of a lot of stomach acid to break some of it down, and then goes through about a dozen processes to become calcium bicarbonate (the kind of calcium found dissolved in spring water), which your body uses. You can’t make calcium bicarbonate tablets because as soon as you start drying the bicarbonate it changes to calcium carbonate, which is insoluble. Eat food instead of rock. The organic calcium in the supplements we carry is from vegetable sources. It might take 80 pounds of vegetables to make one bottle of supplement. This is not cheap. But it gives you a vegetable source of calcium lactate, which takes one metabolic step to become calcium bicarbonate, and your body can easily absorb and handle this calcium.

So how do I start?
Removing the toxic wastes out of your body is a first step before healing and improved health can occur. These are general recommendations which are not intended to represent specific medical therapy for you. As no two persons are alike, if a detoxification program is needed, it will be custom tailored to your needs and clinical status. Ask Dr. Erickson to outline a plan of action for you to follow. Lab tests may be needed before you begin. Also, you want the foods and supplements you take to aid in the detoxification process. Your doses of supplements will be adjusted based on your clinical symptoms and utilizing contact reflex analysis (CRA). Dr. Erickson has seen many patients improve on a cleansing program. This is a day by day process. It is a journey, not a destination. The first step is the decision to improve your health and to take one day at a time. You can do it and feel much better.|~!|Sun 27-Sep-2009|~!||~!| IT ALL DEPENDS ON YOUR REALITY by Robert A. Erickson, M.D., F.A.A.F.P. November 2001©|~!|As a Medical Doctor for almost 30 years, now involved with Integrative Medicine, I was asked by Dr. Neims to share some thoughts about alternative medicine with the physicians of the Alachua County Medical Society. In the early 1970's I experienced an illness after a scuba diving trip to an island off the Yucatan peninsula. After three hospitalizations at Shands and a complete evaluation by Dr. Jim Cerda, who was head of tropical disease at the time, I was told "Bob, we don't know what you have. Your brush border enzymes from your small bowel biopsies are absent. You have something similar to non-tropical sprue, endogenous to the island you were on, that is unknown to medical science. We don't know how to treat it." This was a major shock for a young doctor who thought modern medicine had most of the answers. After months of treatments with different antibiotics the symptoms did not resolve. It was only after taking a home remedy made by my Swedish Grandmother, using the leaves of a certain grass from Sweden that transformed milk into a yogurt-like drink, that I slowly recovered.|~!|1254089900|~!|As a Medical Doctor for almost 30 years, now involved with Integrative Medicine, I was asked by Dr. Neims to share some thoughts about alternative medicine with the physicians of the Alachua County Medical Society. In the early 1970's I experienced an illness after a scuba diving trip to an island off the Yucatan peninsula. After three hospitalizations at Shands and a complete evaluation by Dr. Jim Cerda, who was head of tropical disease at the time, I was told "Bob, we don't know what you have. Your brush border enzymes from your small bowel biopsies are absent. You have something similar to non-tropical sprue, endogenous to the island you were on, that is unknown to medical science. We don't know how to treat it." This was a major shock for a young doctor who thought modern medicine had most of the answers. After months of treatments with different antibiotics the symptoms did not resolve. It was only after taking a home remedy made by my Swedish Grandmother, using the leaves of a certain grass from Sweden that transformed milk into a yogurt-like drink, that I slowly recovered.

Twenty years later I underwent a laparoscopic hernia repair. The anesthesia stressed my immune system, reactivating the disorder. Extensive lab tests were again Anormal, and it was only after the urging of a close friend that I saw an acupuncturist/herbalist in Sarasota, FL. Through the use of an electrical device to analyze acupuncture energies, I was found to have multiple different parasites. Six months later, after taking different herbal mixtures, the parasites were eradicated for the first time. My health returned and I have studied alternative therapies ever since. I have also been back to Mexico several times without problems. The point of this story is that a person's reality is based on personal experiences.

For the past decade a major paradigm shift has been going on in health care. More and more Americans are seeking alternative and complementary therapies. What was once viewed as a foreign or counter-culture activity is now a part of mainstream American life. A study done at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston found that Americans made more visits to alternative practitioners than regular doctors in 1997. And they spent about 27 billion dollars out-of-pocket on alternative therapies. A survey done at Stanford University found that 2/3 of Americans now use unconventional medical therapies. This is the first time in Western medical history that we have a consumer-driven change in the delivery of health care. The reasons for this movement are multiple. Managed care has alienated patients and doctors. People are demanding gentler, more cost-effective therapies and they want to be healthier, not just treat symptoms. The high costs of traditional medicine, where a person pays a year's wages for a hospital stay, are unacceptable to most Americans. Another reason is the Internet. Patients come into our offices better informed, asking about new therapies, and they have the world's medical library at the click of their mouse. Their viewpoint is no longer just accepting the "paternal" or physician-centric model of health care, but is a patient-centric model where the patient plays a major role in determining his or her own therapies.

During my medical school years and residency training at Shands, there were no courses given in health or nutrition. I studied the anatomy and pathophysiology of disease and how to treat it with drugs, surgery, or radiation. This is one end of the spectrum. On the other end of the spectrum is health or wellness, and how to elevate it with proper lifestyle changes, nutrition, and natural supplements or other complementary therapies such as meditation, massage, acupuncture, etc. This is a very different viewpoint along oriental medicine philosophy lines that health and healing comes from within, and not from drugs or surgery. Only the body/nature and the higher spirit can heal, we just facilitate things. One example of this is how a person well trained in yoga can lower his or her pulse rate or breathing to almost zero, or stop the bleeding from a cut. Another example is spontaneous remission of a cancer in someone who has not undergone surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation. This may be a difficult reality for a traditionally trained physician to accept as traditional medicine places very little emphasis on the spiritual aspects of a person, unless he or she is near death or dying from a terminal illness. My personal viewpoint is that we are spiritual beings with an earthly experience, not earthly beings with a spiritual experience. Spiritual events can impact health in both a positive and negative way.

I opened the doors to the Preventive Medicine Center in March 2000. The Center is an outpatient facility where alternative therapies are integrated with the traditional therapies a patient comes in with. The majority of my patients are college educated, middle to upper middle class including business owners, physicians, attorneys, and university professors. 80% are female. Most have sought answers to their health problems with multiple physicians or have been to Shands or the Mayo Clinic and have gone through extensive, traditional medical evaluations by very good physicians. My first observation was, unlike my previous family practice, almost all of the new patients coming to the Center have significant health problems such as chronic fatigue syndrome, thyroid system dysfunction, fibromyalgia, severe allergies, or hormonal imbalance. Often, these patients tell me their doctor has invalidated how they feel when they were told nothing is wrong because their lab tests were "normal" or it was implied they had a supratentorial problem. Is it possible traditional medicine has come to rely too heavily on high tech tests and procedures and no longer demands enough time be spent in listening carefully to a patient's history before formulating a diagnosis? An energy imbalance or "block" in the body's energy channels can create symptoms or illness even if it is not apparent on a lab test. This is why "energy medicine" techniques such as acupuncture, massage therapy, chiropractic, homeopathy, etc. can improve health by restoring a balance in body energies. In traditional medicine energy therapy with ion beams can kill cancer cells, lasers (light energy) can perform surgery, and magnetic energy can treat pain and other conditions.

One of the methods of patient evaluation I use is acupuncture meridian analysis of bioenergy flows using muscle reflex testing called CRA (Contact Reflex Analysis). This is different than evaluation of biochemical reactions that occur within our bodies using lab tests, and is in the realm of physics, much in the same way MRI scan analysis is based on the fact that we are composed of atomic particles and have energy flows. I use CRA to help adjust doses of medications or supplements a patient takes. For instance, in hormonal replacement therapies often the lab reference range is very wide, but an individual patient's "optimal" range is narrow. Using CRA findings in addition to lab findings, I am able to prescribe custom, compounded bioidentical hormonal replacement therapies for men and women. Another technique we use at the Center is NAET (Nambudripad Allergy Elimination Technique), which is a way of eliminating many allergies through the treatment of acupressure points. I have successfully treated patients with food allergies or environmental allergies and chemical sensitivities, even some who have had previous anaphylactic reactions. The results are usually permanent and are often dramatic.

One of the criticisms of alternative therapies by traditional medicine is that these types of therapies have not been proven by randomized, double blind, placebo controlled multicenter studies. My answer is there in no "one" correct reality. For the past 50,000 years on this planet effective therapies using herbal remedies and alternative therapies have evolved by trial and error. Every time an indigenous healer administered an herb or treatment to a sick individual, a data point was added and the knowledge grew. In my opinion, it is pure arrogance to summarily dismiss this accumulated wisdom. 80% of the world does not have access to Western medicine and if we look at the facts of how America stacks up with epidemics of cancer, Type II D.M. in children, heart disease, etc., the results place in question how well our system of medicine is doing, even among many traditional physicians. Gerard Anderson, PhD, director of the Center for Finance and Management at John's Hopkins University and Jean-Pierre Poullier of the World Health Organization compared 29 industrialized nations, including Australia, Canada, Japan, Mexico, the US, and most of Europe. They found the United States spent close to $4,000 a person on health, more than twice the median per capita expenditure of other countries. When the researchers compared the measures of health status [e.g. rates of infant mortality, life expectancy, etc] the U.S. fell into the bottom half of nations. ". . . relative to the rest of the world, we've gotten worse, "Anderson said. This is also the reality of those seeking or using integrative or complementary therapies. These patients want to be proactive in preventing health problems before they occur.

Another criticism of alternative medicine is that supplements and herbs are unregulated by the FDA. I agree that potency and purity issues may be present, just as is found in traditional drugs such as Synthroid recently. It is also true that improper use of herbs can be dangerous, especially in children. But this argument is unbalanced given the fact that we have a whole new category of disease - " Aiatrogenesis" where the third leading cause of death in this country according to a recent JAMA article is due to pharmaceuticals resulting in the deaths of more than 100,000 hospitalized Americans annually. The reality of patients seeking alternative therapies to drugs is they are not benign. They feel, unlike natural supplements or therapies that elevate health, drugs just treat symptoms of disease.

I would hope that the readers will understand I am not anti-traditional medicine. Quite the contrary. For an acute, life threatening emergency such as major trauma, MI, stroke, etc., there is no better country to be in. But for chronic diseases, all of us who are trying to improve patient outcomes recognize we do not have all the answers, and that it is important to keep an open mind to all new therapies. It used to be that traditional Western medicine and alternative care were rivals. We are now entering an era of integration. Congress created the Office of Alternative Medicine in 1991 to evaluate alternative therapies, and in 1998 this was upgraded to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, and given a 68 million dollar budget and broader responsibilities. The Florida Legislature several months ago passed a bill that was signed into law guaranteeing patients freedom of choice of alternative therapies as long as they received informed consent. The other side of this coin is that traditionally trained physicians must now incorporate alternative therapy information as a part of informed consent as well. The bottom line is patients are demanding freedom of choice of therapies, whether they be homeopathy, Chinese herbal medicine, chiropractic, nutritional therapies, or standard medicine. The silver lining in all of this is that some funding has been appropriated for research of alternative therapies in cancer and chelation therapy, and clinical trials at major universities (including the University of Florida) and among private physicians are planned. The funding is very limited, but at least it's a first step. Another step is the training of physicians in nutrition, environment illness, CAM, and the like so that there can be real integration of therapies with newer models of medical education that lead to evolution of medical care. A number of major Universities such as Harvard are doing this. Just as there are certain spectra of light we cannot see, certain frequencies of sound we cannot hear, let's keep an open mind that there is more out there that works than many of us have experienced in non-traditional medicine.|~!|Tue 29-Sep-2009|~!||~!| BOOST YOUR ENERGY NATURALLY by Robert A. Erickson, M.D. 2000© |~!|Would you like to boost your energy naturally? No, it’s not a steaming cup of coffee to start the day. It’s a B12 shot, a neglected but extremely valuable therapy that increases energy, improves mood, and sharpens memory. B12 deficiencies are common. As we get older our ability to absorb this nutrient from food becomes impaired due to declining levels of stomach acid and a compound called intrinsic factor. At least 10 percent of people over the age of 65 and 20 percent of those over the age of 75 are deficient in B12. Without adequate amounts of intrinsic factor, the body absorbs less than 1 percent of B12 from food or supplements.|~!|1254089878|~!|Would you like to boost your energy naturally? No, it’s not a steaming cup of coffee to start the day. It’s a B12 shot, a neglected but extremely valuable therapy that increases energy, improves mood, and sharpens memory. B12 deficiencies are common. As we get older our ability to absorb this nutrient from food becomes impaired due to declining levels of stomach acid and a compound called intrinsic factor. At least 10 percent of people over the age of 65 and 20 percent of those over the age of 75 are deficient in B12. Without adequate amounts of intrinsic factor, the body absorbs less than 1 percent of B12 from food or supplements.

The classic sign of B12 deficiency is pernicious anemia. However, this serious blood disorder typically takes five or six years to develop when a person is deficient. More subtle but equally devastating damage can occur to the brain and nerves before the anemia develops, sometimes causing permanent loss of function. Early symptoms of B12 deficiency include fatigue, memory loss, confusion, depression, and nerve problems such as numbness, tingling, or burning. In the elderly, the impaired mental function that results from a vitamin B12 deficiency can mimic Alzheimer’s disease.

One reason deficiencies are so often missed is that the most common blood test for vitamin B12 does not accurately reflect levels of vitamin B12 in the tissues. More sensitive tests include serum Methylmalonic acid and homocysteine (elevated levels of these metabolic markers provide convincing evidence of a vitamin B12 deficiency). There is a new technology that can assess B12 tissue levels using a person’s own white blood cells through SpectraCell labs that is highly accurate, and we use this test at the Center. We also look at the MCV (mean corpuscular volume) on the complete blood count and if this is high, this reflects B12 and/or folate deficiency. We also look at the hair analysis cobalt levels as cobalt is a precursor to cyanocobalamin, or B12.

Besides age, other factors contribute to declines or low levels of B12. Drug-nutrient interactions compound the problem. Corticosteroids, ulcer medications (lower the stomach acid), birth control pills, dental gases such as nitrous oxide, and cholesterol-lowering bile acid sequestrants deplete B12.

B12 deficiencies are easily corrected. I recommend that all my patients, regardless of age, take a high-potency multivitamin that contains at least 1000 mcg vitamin B12. If you’re over age 65 or suffer with chronic fatigue, the dose should be higher. Another alternative is to receive vitamin B12 shots, which provide a consistently absorbed dose directly into the body. We do not use cyanocobalamin, which is the common B12 shot chemical. Instead, we use Methylcobalamine which is compounded and buffered, and does not require conversion into active form by the body. It is the “activated” form of B12.
|~!|Sun 27-Sep-2009|~!||~!| An Overview of EDTA Chelation|~!|Let me begin by stating the following overview is not intended to be a comprehensive review of EDTA chelation therapy, but to give some general information in the hopes that the reader will investigate this modality on his or her own. Chelation, like every other healing modality, is not a panacea or a cure all for any disease. Most physicians who use chelation therapy combine it with changes in diet, lifestyle (especially stress reduction, smoking cessation, and reduction of exposure to harmful chemicals in the person¡¦s environment), and in combination with specific nutritional supplements and vitamins/minerals. Because our society often times expects a ¡§quick fix¡¨ I would caution anyone reading this that improved health and healing takes time.|~!|1254089934|~!|EDTA CHELATION THERAPY by Robert A. Erickson, M.D.
8 August 2010

INTRODUCTION

EDTA Chelation Therapy - An Overview


Let me begin by stating the following overview is not intended to be a comprehensive review of EDTA chelation therapy, but to give some general information in the hopes that the reader will investigate this modality on his or her own. This article is an update to the article I wrote a number of years ago on this subject. In the 1950s, articles were published reporting diminished angina, better memory, sight, hearing and increased vigour by doctors that began to routinely treat individuals suffering from occlusive vascular disease with chelation therapy. From 1964 on, despite continued documentation of its benefits and the development of safer treatment methods, the use of chelation for the treatment of arterial disease has been the subject of controversy.

Chelation, like every other healing modality, is not a panacea or a cure all for any disease. Most physicians who use chelation therapy combine it with changes in diet, lifestyle (especially stress reduction, smoking cessation, and reduction of exposure to harmful chemicals in the person=s environment), and in combination with specific nutritional supplements and vitamins/minerals. Because our society often times expects a “quick fix" I would caution anyone reading this that improved health and healing takes time.

WHAT IS CHELATION AND HOW DOES IT WORK?


EDTA chelation therapy can be a safe and inexpensive alternative to drugs and surgeries, and is used to treat conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer=s disease, hypertension, heavy metal toxicities (except mercury) and environmental pollutants. The word chelation is derived from the Greek word chele meaning "claw" or "to bind".



Chemical Structure of EDTA

The concept of how heavy metals bind to organic molecules dates back to 1893. Chelation therapy was not used until the 1920's in the manufacturing of paint, rubber and petroleum products. EDTA (ethyl-diamine-tetra-acetic acid) was developed in Germany in the late 1930's and patented in 1935. Structurally it is a synthetic amino acid. It picks up and binds to heavy metals and allows them to be excreted through the urine. EDTA was used in industry and latter used medically to remove lead from sailors who were lead toxic from painting ships with lead-based paints. By the mid 1950's EDTA was widely used for removing lead from children and adults, and is approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) for this purpose today. It is also widely used as an additive in foods where it binds minerals, depriving bacteria of essential nutrients for growth. While treating lead poisoning it was observed that adults with circulatory ailments, coronary artery disease, and cerebrovascular disease often found improvement in their circulatory conditions. This lead to further investigation and use of EDTA to treat hardening of the arteries. Even though this is not a use approved by the FDA, it is used by thousands of physicians globally for this purpose.

Initially it was thought that EDTA would remove calcium from hardened atherosclerotic plaque in the arteries, allowing the plaque to dissolve. We now know this is not the case, although there is some plaque reduction with prolonged and repeated chelation therapy. Current thinking is that EDTA chelation affects the circulation through the removal of heavy metals from the endothelial cells that line the arteries, allowing the increased production of NO (nitrous oxide), which acts as a muscle relaxant to the endothelium. In this way, circulation is improved by relaxing the blood vessels and decreasing the resistance to blood flow, even though plaque may remain.

In 1999 Valentin Fuster, M.D., published a book entitled The Vulnerable Atherosclerotic Plaque. He pointed out that heart attacks do not occur in areas where there were large deposits of hardened plaque, but rather in areas of soft, fresh "vulnerable" plaques that became infected with a germ such as Herpes virus, Epstein-Barr virus, Cytomegalo virus or other low level germs. Other researchers are currently exploring whether these germs are more prevalent and infectious when NO is not present in sufficient amounts. Heavy metals decrease the amount of NO, which in turn reduces blood flow and increases vulnerability to infection and hypercoagulability with subsequent blood clot development and sudden death. The elimination of heavy metals, therefore, can be a life saving procedure in many cases.

We also know that EDTA chelation (disodium EDTA only) causes a release of parathyroid hormone, which mobilizes calcium production in the bone, causing an increase in bone density after several months of chelation therapy. This is helpful in patients with osteoporosis. Patients with diabetes have improved diabetic control as insulin receptor sites are freed up, decreasing the body's need for insulin. EDTA helps magnesium to get into the cells by blocking calcium. Magnesium acts as a relaxant for blood vessels, reducing spasm and further enhancing blood flow. EDTA also affects hormones and prostaglandins and it has a direct effect in preventing the oxidation of LDL cholesterol. EDTA chelation also produces beneficial anti-platelet and anti-coagulant affects. EDTA probably has other mechanisms of action that we are unaware of that account for the clinical improvements seen in patients with various diseases of aging.

HEAVY METAL DETOXIFICATION


Rather than using the word chelation therapy, we use the words "Heavy Metal Detoxification". This is a more accurate description of what we are doing -- namely, ridding the body of harmful metals. We do know that certain metals called heavy metals can accumulate in tissues such as the brain, heart, kidneys, and virtually any area of the body and are associated with disease states such as Alzheimer's disease, cardiomyopathy, atherosclerosis, kidney disease, and other disease states. As heavy metals such as lead, arsenic, cadmium, mercury and aluminum are removed, enzymatic activity and function of the tissue they were deposited in is improved.

Detoxification is a 3 part process:

1. Administration of a chelating agent that will bind to the heavy metal(s) and make it easier to remove them from the body. With EDTA, this is done through a series of intravenous (I.V.) treatments with EDTA. The intravenous therapy is usually given at weekly or bi-weekly intervals over 20 to 30 treatments, and then maintenance treatments as indicated are given on an individual basis. After every five treatments, a nutritional IV is given to replace lost essential minerals and nutrients.

2. Special nutritional or hormonal therapies are also used to support the body’s detoxification pathways. These might include antioxidant vitamins and minerals, digestive enzymes, hormonal replacement therapies, or any other nutrients or substances that are natural or non-toxic as required for the individual patient.

3. There is a patient contribution that will include eating a healthy diet, exercising in moderation, and self-education about the damage that toxic metals and other free radicals can do. Environmental or industrial exposure to toxins should be reduced or eliminated, and habits such as smoking cigarettes that cause free radical damage and further atherosclerosis should be eliminated.

IS EDTA THERAPY SAFE?


EDTA is generally quite safe and has been used for decades in children.

There are two types of EDTA. Disodium EDTA is an approved drug by the FDA for the treatment of digitalis toxicity and also hypercalcemia (elevated blood calcium). Calcium EDTA is an approved drug by the FDA for the treatment of lead poisoning in both adults and children. In his textbook on Chelation Therapy, Dr. Elmer Cranton states "More than one million patients have received more than twenty million infusions with no serious or lasting adverse effects." There have been several deaths reported when Disodium EDTA was inadvertently given rapidly instead of Calcium EDTA.

Compare this to by-pass surgery where statistics show a 1 in 25 mortality rate and a heart attack rate during the operation of 1 in 20. And the surgeries do not even address the underlying cause of why the blockage occurred in the first place. Atherosclerosis is not just a localized disease, but affects the entire circulatory system.

Just like with any medication, precautions need to be taken when using EDTA. The dosage will be determined on an individual basis, and take into consideration pre-existing medical conditions such as liver, heart, kidney disease, diabetes, etc. It will also take into consideration the age of the patient and his or her ability to excrete toxins. Certain tests, such as a serum creatinine or a detoxification panel may be required before Heavy Metal Detoxification is begun. Intravenous Disodium ETDA, which is converted into Magnesium EDTA is given over a 1 - 3 hour period, depending on the dose, the patient=s renal status and other factors. If Calcium EDTA is used, a 30 minute infusion is used. Frequency is usually weekly to bi-weekly, and takes into account an individual patient=s tolerance and need for convenience.

Side effects that may be experienced include nausea, muscle cramps, hypotension (low blood pressure), hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and allergic reactions (rare). It is important that patients eat a nutritious meal before treatments and during their detoxification process. Most patients who talk about the effects of chelation therapy overwhelmingly report an increase in energy and exercise tolerance.

Oral chelation therapy is widely promoted on the Internet. Elmer M. Cranton, M.D., a pioneer in the proper use of EDTA in 2005 published an article "Oral Chelation With EDTA is Unproven and Potentially Dangerous". In this article he explains 95% of oral EDTA is not absorbed but stays in the gut. Because it is taken daily, with time it will bind and deplete many essential trace minerals within the intestines, leading to nutritional deficiencies. Because IV chelation therapy is given only weekly, and because trace minerals are replaced with both oral and IV supplements, this is not an issue.

WHY THE CONTROVERSY?


As a physician who utilizes both traditional and complementary medical modalities, chelation therapy shouldn't be controversial. There is over a half century of experience both in Europe and in the United States among enough doctors and patients to know that chelation works in the majority of patients. Observation of and reproducibility of results of treatment is part of the scientific method. When 80% to 90% of patients feel dramatically improved, this is not a placebo effect or a psychosomatic effect. Unfortunately, economics and politics often enter the picture to preserve the status quo and throw negative on something that is beneficial.

Traditional allopathic medicine is based on the treatment of diseases and illnesses with drugs, surgery and chemotherapy. Articles on traditional medicine are published in journals such as JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) or NEJM (New England Journal of Medicine). These same journals do not accept articles from well trained alternative or integrative physicians on alternative therapies, and when they do publish articles, they are usually negative. Journals that publish supportive studies, although medically excellent, tend to be smaller, less widely read and ignored by the mainstream. Studies supportive of EDTA chelation therapy have consistently been refused inclusion in the MEDLINE computer database by the National Library of Medicine. Most practicing physicians rely on this database but are unaware that less than 20 percent of the world’s total biomedical literature (in all languages) is referenced by the National Library of Medicine in the Index Medicus or its on-line counterpart, the MEDLINE computer database. So most traditional physicians are ignorant at best about chelation and alternative therapies, or at worse, give negative opinions without scientific basis in fact. Traditional doctors want double blind studies to validate the use of therapies such as chelation. And there is nothing wrong with this (even though double blind studies are not the only valid type of study). Ironically, much of traditional medicine is not validated by double blind studies. Examples are surgeries or chemotherapy or psychiatry. The good news is that the National Institutes of Health have funded a 30 million dollar study called the TACT study to evaluate EDTA chelation in a double blind manner which is still ongoing at the time of this publication. To date, over 35,000 IV EDTA treatments have been given in this study, half of which contained EDTA. To my knowledge there has been no significant adverse effect with this number of treatments, a safety record almost unheard of in medicine.

Terry Chappell, M.D. and John Stahl, M.D. conducted a meta-analysis of all currently available scientific literature on chelation therapy and cardiovascular disease. In this study, a summary of the total results achieved by many different researchers following chelation therapy were analyzed. Drs. Chappell and Stahl identified 19 articles in the medical literature that met their criteria for determining chelation’s effectiveness in cardiovascular disease. All told, 22,765 patients were involved. 87 percent of these patients experienced favorable outcomes measured by objective testing. This analysis was published in the Journal of Advancement in Medicine in 1993 and 1994.

Integrative and alternative physicians are publishing more and more in alternative medical journals and in their own newsletters. They are having conferences where ideas and data are shared. In addition, the Internet has revolutionized the exchange of information and ideas and this information is getting out to the public where they can make informed decisions about their healthcare. If you are considering chelation therapy check the credentials of your physician to see if he or she has received training from ACAM (American College for the Advancement of Medicine) or ICIM (International College of Integrative Medicine) and is board certified or eligible by the ABCMT (American Board of Clinical Metal Toxicology).

For more information on EDTA chelation either contact ACAM, ICIM, or ABCMT, or investigate the following references:

1. www.drcranton.com/legal.htm
2. www.chelationtherapyonline.com/articles/p184.htm (This is extensive information about the scientific basis for chelation therapy by Dr. Elmer Cranton, who is a pioneer physician in this area and has published books on the subject).
3. www.drcranton.com
4. www.abcmt.org
5. www.icimed.com
6. www.acam.org
7. Bypassing Bypass Surgery – a book by Elmer Cranton, M.D.
8. Chappell LT, Stahl JP. The correlation between EDTA chelation therapy and improvement in cardiovascular function: A meta-analysis. Journal of Advance in Medicine 1993;6(3):139-160
9. Guldager B, Jelnes R, Jorgensen SJ, et al. EDTA treatment of intermittent claudication – a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Journal of Internal Medicine 1992;231:261-267
10. McDonagh EW, Rudolph DO, Cheraskin E. Effect of chelation therapy plus multivitamin/mineral supplementation upon vascular dynamics: Ankle/brachial Doppler blood pressure ratio. Journal of Advancement in Medicine. 1989;2(1&2):159-166.

|~!|Sun 27-Sep-2009|~!||~!| Intravenous Hydrogen Peroxide by Robert A. Erickson, M.D. 2002©|~!|Bio-oxidative medicine is the addition of oxygen directly to the tissues of the body in the form of lone oxygen atoms (singlet oxygen) in a highly reactive state. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) reacts to form water (H2O) and singlet oxygen (O'), which is the active agent in hydrogen peroxide therapy.|~!|1254089978|~!|Bio-oxidative medicine is the addition of oxygen directly to the tissues of the body in the form of lone oxygen atoms (singlet oxygen) in a highly reactive state. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) reacts to form water (H2O) and singlet oxygen (O'), which is the active agent in hydrogen peroxide therapy.

In the blood, H2O2 encounters two enzymes: catalase and cytochrome-C. The part of the hydrogen peroxide that binds with cytochrome-C does not break down in the body into water and oxygen for 40 minutes. By this time this complex has spread throughout the body, and the benefits of H2O2 are available to all cells. Singlet oxygen has two effects in the body: 1) it kills anaerobic bacteria and virus (those that cannot live in oxygen); 2) it transforms biological waste products and industrial toxins into inert substances, allowing the body to cleanse itself of waste products.

Your body’s own white blood cells produce hydrogen peroxide to fight bacteria and other infections.

Only when this fails does the body turn to its own antibody production. The first use of intravenous hydrogen peroxide dates back to 1919, when a British physician, Dr. Oliver, used it during an influenza epidemic and found it killed the virus. Hydrogen peroxide was later extensively studied by Charles H. Farr M.D., Ph.D. who was nominated for his work with this compound for the Nobel Peace Prize. With the advent of penicillin, sulfa, and other antibiotics, its use fell out of favor. In this era of superinfections, antibiotic resistance, and bioterrorism, it is receiving new attention.

Hydrogen peroxide is a strong oxidant and in the body forms other oxidants such as hypochlorous acid that kills tumor cells, viruses, anaerobic bacteria, and parasites. It also breaks down into water and oxygen, where oxygenation of the bodies tissues has a beneficial effect on the heart, lungs, circulatory system and other organs. In cases of emphysema, it clears the lungs by producing oxygen bubbles in the tiny air sacs (alveoli), literally lifting up the mucous deposits so that they can be coughed up. It also has a hormonal effect and regulates thyroid hormone production, progesterone production, and others hormones. It stimulates immune function by increasing the production of T helper cells, monocytes, and gamma interferon. It oxidizes cholesterol and removes cholesterol plaque from arteries. It stabilizes both Type I and II diabetes and increases glycogen production from glucose. There are multiple other beneficial effects.

Why Haven’t I Heard About Hydrogen Peroxide Intravenous Therapy?

The reason is very simple – economics. Hydrogen peroxide is a naturally occurring substance that is present in every cell in your body and it cannot be patented. There is no big profit to be made on it. Because it is produced in the human body, it is undeniably very safe. It also occurs in rainwater, seawater, vegetables, and spring water. In fact people have been traveling to the baths at Lourdes, France for their healing effects. These waters are loaded with -- yes, hydrogen peroxide.

Who Could Benefit from this Therapy?

Generally, patients who may be candidates for intravenous hydrogen peroxide can be divided into two groups. The first group would be acute reactive conditions such as influenza, bronchitis, shingles, asthmatic reactions, and other acute problems. This is because of its direct killing effect on microorganisms or its effect on vasospasm or bronchospasm. Basically, any condition that is treated with an antibiotic can also be treated with H2O2 therapy.

The second group would be chronic infections and diseases or patients with autoimmune diseases or immune deficiency states. This would include conditions such as arthritis, vascular disease, gangrene, certain thyroid disorders, diabetes mellitus type II, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and emphysema, HIV, chronic systemic candida infections, EBV, metastatic carcinoma, parkinsonism, MS, and environmental or universal allergy reactors. These lists are by no means complete. Diseases such as cancer and AIDS may be helped but not cured with this type of therapy, and it should be used in combination with other therapies that are appropriate. Much more research in this area is needed.

Many of the diseases we see in humans today are a result of years of exposure to pollution of the air, water, and food supply as a by-product of our modern industrial age. H2O2 is one of the ways a person can help assist the body cleanse itself of pollutants. So will fasting, organic foods, vitamin supplementation, chelation of heavy metals, far infra red sauna therapy, colon therapies, and intestinal cleansing programs. When the body undergoes detoxification, a person will feel temporarily worse. This is because toxins as toxins are released from storage, they must ultimately exit the body through the lungs, the liver and colon, kidneys, or sweat glands and skin. Symptoms of detoxification can feel like a mild case of the flu with fatigue, headaches, stomach upset, body aches, chills, moodiness or anxiety, etc. For more information on detoxification, click here.

How is H2O2 Given?

Some people advocate taking H2O2 by mouth. I do not. This is completely different than intravenous use which has proven to be very safe. Oral H2O2 will react with the cells of the stomach. It can react with iron and fatty acids in the stomach and intestines to form highly toxic, non-stable complexes. In rat studies, oral H2O2 caused stomach ulcers, abnormal cell changes in the duodenum, and even cancer. Of course, everyone is familiar with topical hydrogen peroxide use to disinfect wounds or cuts.

With intravenous therapy, pharmaceutical grade hydrogen peroxide is used under strict sterile technique and is infused into the circulatory system through a vein in the arm. It is mixed with a 5% dextrose solution to which magnesium sulfate and a small amount of manganese sulfate are added to prevent vein sclerosis. It takes anywhere from 90 minutes to 3 hours to administer, depending upon the amount of H2O2 used. In general, for acute infections one to several treatments are needed. For chronic diseases series of twenty or more treatments are usually recommended, depending upon the nature of the illness. This type of treatment is contraindicated in pregnancy, transplant patients, and disorders of cell membrane stability such as aplastic anemias. Also, it should not be given at the same time with intravenous vitamin C or EDTA chelation. If you have heavy metal toxicity, it is given after these metals are removed by chelation therapy. Complications of treatment include phlebitis (inflammation of the vein) in which the I.V. is placed, pain at the I.V. site, and a sensation of warmth during treatment. Occasionally as bacteria, viruses or parasites are being killed off in large numbers, their toxic by-products are also released in large amounts causing what is called a Herxheimer reaction. A person could experience a rash and/or fever. This same type of reaction can occur with antibiotics. This is a temporary reaction. In general, I.V. H2O2 therapy is safe and very well tolerated.

References:

1. Oliver TH, Cantab BC, and Murphy DV: Influenzal Intravenous Injection of Hydrogen Peroxide. Lancet 1920; 1:432-433.
2. Dockrell HM and Playfair JH: Killing of Blood-Stage Murine Malaria Parasites by Hydrogen Peroxide. Infect Immunology 1983; 39:456-459.
3. Gorren AC, Dekker H, Wever R Kinetic investigation of the reaction of cytochrome C oxidase by hydrogen peroxide. Biochem Biophys Acta 1986; 852(1):81-92
4. Farr CH: Physiological and Biochemical Responses to Intravenous Hydrogen Peroxide in Man. J. ACAM 1988;1:113-129.
5. Manakata T, Semba U, Shibuya Y, et al. Induction of interferon-gamma production in human natural killer cells stimulated by hydrogen peroxide, J Immunol 1985;134(4):2449-2455.

If additional references are needed, we have over 100 others available|~!|Sun 27-Sep-2009|~!||~!| INTRAVENOUS NUTRIENT THERAPY: the “Myers’ Cocktail” by Robert A. Erickson, M.D. 2003©|~!| John Myers, M.D., a physician from Baltimore, Maryland, pioneered the use of intravenous (IV) vitamins and minerals as part of the overall treatment of various medical problems. Although Dr. Myers died in 1984, his therapies are used by alternative physicians throughout the world. Dr. Myers found after decades of experience that chronic problems such as fatigue, depression, chest pain, palpitations, asthma, fibromyalgia, acute migraines and other conditions would often be well controlled by these treatments. In spite of these anecdotal reports, there is relatively only a small amount of published research available for review.|~!|1254090004|~!|Introduction

John Myers, M.D., a physician from Baltimore, Maryland, pioneered the use of intravenous (IV) vitamins and minerals as part of the overall treatment of various medical problems. Although Dr. Myers died in 1984, his therapies are used by alternative physicians throughout the world. Dr. Myers found after decades of experience that chronic problems such as fatigue, depression, chest pain, palpitations, asthma, fibromyalgia, acute migraines and other conditions would often be well controlled by these treatments. In spite of these anecdotal reports, there is relatively only a small amount of published research available for review.

The Basis for IV Nutrient Therapy

Most research on vitamins and nutrients has to do with minimum amounts of a specific nutrient to prevent an illness or disease such as scurvy or beriberi from occurring. More and more interest and research is pointed toward the effects of higher dose of vitamins in treating disease and illness. Various nutrients have been shown to exert pharmacological effects, especially at higher than nutritional doses. For example, the antiviral effect of vitamin C has been demonstrated at a concentration of 10-15 mg/dL, a level achievable with IV but not oral therapy. When the daily intake of vitamin C is increased 12-fold, from 200mg/day to 2,500mg/day, the plasma concentration increases from 1.2 to 1.5mg/dL. In contrast, IV administration of 50g/day of vitamin C resulted in a mean peak plasma level of 80 mg/dL. At a concentration of 88 mg/dL in vitro, vitamin C destroyed 72% of the histamine present in a medium. This may be why IV Vitamin C is often effective in treating allergies and asthma.

Similarly, oral supplementation with magnesium results in little or no change in serum magnesium levels, whereas IV administration can double or triple the serum levels for a short period of time. Magnesium exerts a muscle relaxant effect on both vascular muscle, lowering blood pressure and also helping with angina pain, and on bronchial smooth muscle, relieving asthma symptoms.

In addition to having direct pharmacological effects, IV nutrient therapy may be more effective than oral treatment for correcting intracellular deficits. Some nutrients are present at much higher concentrations in the cells than in the serum of the blood. For example, the average magnesium concentration in heart cells is 10 times higher than in outside the cells. This ratio is maintained in healthy cells by an active-transport system that continually pumps magnesium ions into the cells against the concentration gradient. If these cells are diseased, the capacity of membrane pumps to maintain concentration gradients may be compromised. In one study, there was a 65% lower magnesium concentration in patients with cardiomyopathy (disease of the heart muscle) than in healthy controls. We know magnesium plays an important role in mitochondrial energy production, and intracellular magnesium deficiency may exacerbate heart failure, leading to a lower intracellular magnesium level and a worsening of heart failure. This same model may apply to other nutrients as well.

And finally, if a person has impaired digestion and/or absorption from the intestinal tract, IV therapy provides a direct route into the circulation for the nutrients. It has been our observation at the Center that chronically ill and also elderly patients often times feel dramatic increases in energy and a sense of well being after receiving an IV Myers’ Cocktail.

The Modified Myers’ Cocktail

The ingredients for this therapy are listed below. The original Myers’ Cocktail had iodine in it which we have left out. Although the amounts are not listed below, at the Center we have increased the amounts of Vitamin C and Magnesium from the original formula to reflect therapeutic doses to treat cardiovascular disease, infection and allergy per current medical literature.

The ingredients are as follows:
• Magnesium chloride
• Calcium gluconate
• Vitamin B12
• Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine hydrochloride)
• Vitamin B5 (dexpanthenol)
• B complex 100
• Vitamin C

Dr. Myers would mix his formula into a syringe with sterile water and slowly inject IV over a period of 5 - 15 minutes. At the Center, we mix these ingredients into an IV of sterile water at isotonic concentration. Doses are adjusted based on age and condition of the patient.
References:

1. Blanchard J, Tozer TN, Rowland M. Pharmacokinetic perspectives on megadoses of ascorbic acid. Am J Clin Nut 1997;66:1165-1171.
2. Okayama H, Aikawa T, Okayama M, et al. Bronchodilating effect of intravenous magnesium sulfate in bronchial asthma. JAMA 1987; 257:1076-1078.
3. Iseri LT, French JH. Magnesium: nature’s physiologic calcium blocker. Am Heart J 1984; 108:188-193.
4. Frustaci A, Caldarulo M, Schiavoni G, et al. Myocardial magnesium content, histology, and antiarrhythmic response to magnesium infusion. Lancet 1987;2:1019.
5. Lapp CW, Cheney PR. The rationale for using high-dose cobalamine (vitamin B12). CFIDS Chronicle Physician’s Forum 1993 (Fall):19-20.
6. Cohen L, Kitzes R. Magnesium sulfate in the treatment of variant angina. Magnesium 1984;3:397-402
7. Tuft L, Gregory J, Gregory DC. The effect of calcium pantothenate on induced whealing and on seasonal rhinitis. Ann Allergy 1958;16:639-655.
8. Anah CO, Jarike LN, Baig HA. High dose ascorbic acid in Nigerian asthmatics. Trop Geogr Med 1980;32:132-137.
9. Herbert V. Vitamin B12. Am J Clin Nutr 1981;34:971-972.
10. Gaby, Alan R MD Intravenous Nutrient Therapy: the “Myers’ Cocktail.” Altern Med Rev 2002;7(5):389-403|~!|Sun 27-Sep-2009|~!||~!| GLUTATHIONE by Robert A. Erickson, M.D. December 2003©|~!|What if I told you there was a substance that could energize your system by helping your body recycle its antioxidant vitamins, remove toxic wastes from your body, reduces your risk of cancer, help your body fight infection from germs and viruses, and boost your energy. Sounds like magic! That substance is Glutathione.|~!|1254090033|~!|What if I told you there was a substance that could energize your system by helping your body recycle its antioxidant vitamins, remove toxic wastes from your body, reduces your risk of cancer, help your body fight infection from germs and viruses, and boost your energy. Sounds like magic! That substance is Glutathione.

What Is Glutathione?

Glutathione is produced by your body’s cells and is the body’s major antioxidant. It regulates the actions of other antioxidants such as Vitamin C and Vitamin E within the body. It cannot enter most cells directly and must be made within the cells from three amino acids: glycine, glutamate, and cysteine. The rate at which glutathione is made is dependent on the availability of cysteine, which is relatively scarce in foodstuffs. As we age, glutathione values decline, and higher levels in older people correlate with better health. The importance of glutathione cannot be overstated.

How Does Glutathione Work?

Glutathione deficiency is associated with medical disorders such as AIDS, cancer wasting, some intestinal disorders, trauma, over training among athletes, and other disease states. Without glutathione, other important antioxidants cannot do their job and adequately protect your body against disease. It helps these antioxidants in their reduced (active) forms so that they can neutralize free radicals and reactive oxygen compounds. In addition, through direct conjugation, glutathione plays a role in detoxification of many xenobiotics (foreign compounds). Glutathione forms a soluble compound with the toxin that can then be excreted through the urine or feces. In a sense, it is a “natural” chelating agent. The liver and kidneys have the highest amounts of glutathione as they have the greatest exposure to toxins. The lungs are also rich in glutathione for the same reason. Many cancer causing chemicals, pollutants, heavy metals, drug metabolites, and waste products are removed in this way.

Glutathione is also an essential component of the human immune response. For example, it is needed for the lymphocytes (white blood cells) to multiply in order to develop a strong immune response, and for ‘killer’ lymphocytes to be able to kill undesirable cells such as cancer cells or virally infected cells. Paul Cheney, M.D., Ph.D. is an expert in the treatment of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and has found that glutathione has potent anti-viral properties, and if the tissue and serum levels of glutathione are significantly increased, the replication of most germs are slowed or stopped.

Glutathione has been found to be helpful in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. Dr. David Perlmutter several years ago found that giving high doses of IV Glutathione helped many patient’s with Parkinson’s disease temporarily regain strength and reduce rigidity and tremors. It works very quickly, sometimes within one hour or less.

Can I Take a Glutathione Pill?

Why not just take a pill with Glutathione in it? Unfortunately, oral glutathione supplements are virtually ineffective, since glutathione is a protein and is digested in the stomach before reaching the blood stream or tissues of the body. Recancostat™ is a patented reduced form of L-glutathione that we use at the Center. It comes in both capsule and powdered form. It by-passes the stomach acid and is partly absorbed. NAC (N-acetyl-cysteine) is also available as a supplement and can be converted to glutathione, but it has certain unpleasant side effects, even in moderate doses. NAC in high doses in some studies my have a counter-productive effect or might even transport heavy metals to the brain or other vital organs.

I.V. Glutathione Works Fast

IV administration of Glutathione allows glutathione to by-pass the digestive tract and enter the body directly for immediate use. Our experience at the Center with IV glutathione has mostly been with patients with heavy metal toxicity, especially mercury toxicity. IV Glutathione dramatically increases (often doubling) the excretion of mercury when used in combination with the standard chelation agents such as IV DMPS or oral DMSA, and at the same time reduces some of the potential unpleasant side-effects of heavy metal detoxification. We find mercury toxic patients often have stress on their detoxification pathways due to glutathione deficiency, as mercury destroys the thiol groups which are a part of the glutathione molecule. When glutathione is destroyed, it is difficult for the body to rid itself of toxic metals. By replacing glutathione intravenously, body stores of this substance are increased temporarily. Patient’s often feel dramatically better for days after receiving IV glutathione in terms of clearer mental functioning, more energy, and enhanced sense of well-being.

Glutathione for intravenous use is obtained by prescription from a compounding pharmacy and is diluted with an appropriate amount of normal saline and given over a 10 - 15 minute period. If you would like further information on this therapy, please feel free to contact the Center at (352) 331-5138.|~!|Sun 27-Sep-2009|~!||~!| SCREENING FOR BREAST CANCER by Robert A. Erickson, M.D. 2004©|~!|Scientists and physicians do not know why most women get breast cancer, yet breast cancer is the most frequent malignancy in women worldwide, and the annual incidence of breast cancer increased 55% between 1950 and 1991 [1]. IARC (the International Agency for Research on Cancer) reports breast cancer is the most common female cancer in industrialized countries, and second to cervical cancer in developing countries. Only about 5% of breast cancer is inherited, and about 80% of women diagnosed with the disease will be the first in their families to get breast cancer. Cumulative exposure to synthetic estrogen and xenoestrogens, and ionizing radiation underlie most of the known risk factors.|~!|1254090060|~!|Scientists and physicians do not know why most women get breast cancer, yet breast cancer is the most frequent malignancy in women worldwide, and the annual incidence of breast cancer increased 55% between 1950 and 1991 [1]. IARC (the International Agency for Research on Cancer) reports breast cancer is the most common female cancer in industrialized countries, and second to cervical cancer in developing countries. Only about 5% of breast cancer is inherited, and about 80% of women diagnosed with the disease will be the first in their families to get breast cancer. Cumulative exposure to synthetic estrogen and xenoestrogens, and ionizing radiation underlie most of the known risk factors.

Current Recommendations

Current recommendations for routine screening for breast cancer vary according to the source. The American Cancer Society, American College of Radiology, American Medical Association, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommend:

• Clinical breast exams by a physician and mammography every 1-2 years, beginning at age 40.
• Annual clinical breast exams and mammography, beginning at age 50.

The American College of Physicians recommends:

• Screening mammography every 2 years for women aged 50 -74 and recommends against mammograms for women under 50 or over 75 years of age.
• There is no difference in high-risk women, unless the women expresses great anxiety about breast cancer.

Is Screening Effective?

Multiple clinical studies have been undertaken to determine the relative effectiveness of screening, but there is variation in length of the studies as well as other parameters that accounts for some variation in results. Clinical examination (physician manual examination of the breasts) has limitations with a sensitivity rate often below 65%. In a large Canadian study, sensitivity of clinical breast examination for women age 40-49 was about 10% lower at initial screen than for women aged 50 - 59. Mammography sensitivity varied as well, from 75% up to 88%, depending upon the study and also the radiologist interpreting the study. [2,3-6] Monthly self-breast examinations have also been suggested but the efficacy of these varies tremendously as well.

Danish researchers published a study in 2002 suggesting that mammograms do not lead to a reduction in the breast cancer death rate or the number of major surgeries for the disease. This created an uproar in the United States where The National Cancer Institute and others disagreed with the Danish findings. This is an emotionally charged topic. Proponents of annual mammograms point out that early detection reduces breast cancer mortality by 20-30%. [11] Other studies, however, show the annual age-adjusted mortality rate from breast cancer since 1930 is relatively unchanged to present. [12]

Is There a Downside to Screening?

Adverse effects of screening tests are also an important consideration. False-positive tests, resulting from the effort to maximize disease detection, may have negative consequences including unnecessary diagnostic tests. In the Canadian trials there were 7-10% false positives combined with clinical breast exams in women aged 40-49 and 4.5% - 8% among those aged 50 -59. In a study of the yield of a first mammogram, 3 cancers per 1000 were found in women age 40 - 49 compared to 6 cancers per 1000 in women aged 50 - 59. Yet the younger women underwent twice as many diagnostic tests per cancer. Some studies have reported an increased anxiety about breast cancer after a false-positive mammogram. Women who underwent biopsy as a result of a false positive screening mammogram were more likely to report their evaluation as stressful than those who did not have a biopsy. There are also concerns about the radiation exposure risk to breast tissue from screening mammograms. Although a mean breast dose of 0.1 rad from a mammogram is considered a low dose of radiation by traditional medicine, there are no clinical studies showing what the consequences of cumulative annual low dose radiation would be after 10 or 20 years. We do know ionizing radiation causes free radical formation, tissue and DNA damage, which are cancer risks. As with any procedure, we encourage our patients to always weigh the risks of the procedure with the benefits derived. [7 - 10]

Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging (Breast Thermography)

Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging is a 15 - 30 minute non invasive test of physiology. It is a valuable procedure for alerting your doctor to changes that can indicate early stage breast disease and in the evaluation of unexplained pain. Benefits include:

• Non invasive
• No radiation
• Painless
• No contact with the body
• F.D.A. approved

A very sensitive digital camera takes thermal images of the body and sends this data to a computer. The images are then interpreted by a qualified physician. In this way, skin temperatures, thermal and vascular patterns, and sympathetic responses can distinguish between normal and abnormal physiological function of the body. This is different than an X-ray, where radiation is passed through the body and an image is developed on an X-ray plate film to produce an anatomical image.

The underlying principle by which infrared imaging detects pre-cancerous and cancerous growths is because tumors have an increased vascularity in order to maintain the increased metabolism of cellular growth and multiplication. With this increased blood-flow comes an increased temperature, even in very small tumors. Like mammography and other breast imaging techniques, infrared imaging does not diagnose cancer (only biopsy can) – but merely indicates the presence of an abnormality. However, a woman’s thermal image is like a thumbprint and should not change over time. Serial studies are compared with previous studies for changes. If a women has never had a breast thermogram before, an initial thermogram is performed and then a repeat study is done three months later to establish an accurate baseline. After this, annual thermography can be performed and compared with previous studies.

Thermography is very accurate compared to other methods of detection and screening. Spitalier and associates followed 61,000 women using thermography over a 10 year period of time. They found the false negative and false positive rate was in the 11% range (89% sensitivity and specificity). Of the breast cancers that could not be felt on breast exam (nonpalpable), 9 in 10 were detected by thermography. Of all the patients with cancer, thermography alone was the first alarm in 60% of the cases. The physicians involved noted “in patients having no clinical or radiographic suspicion of malignancy, a persistently abnormal breast thermogram represents the highest known risk factor for the future development of breast cancer.” [13] Thermography is especially useful where mammography has a more difficult time – in younger women with dense breast tissue, women on hormonal replacement, and women with fibrocystic breasts. When thermography, mammography, and clinical breast exam are combined, 95% of all early breast cancers will be detected.

Because of thermography’s unique ability to image the thermovascular aspects of the breast, extremely early warning signals (from 8-10 years before any other detection method) have been observed in long-term studies. Consequently, thermography is the earliest known indicator of the future development of breast cancer and has a significant place as one of the front-line methods of breast health screening.


REFERENCES

[1] Ries LAG, Miller BA, Hankey BF, et al, eds. SEER cancer statistics review, 1973-1991: tables and graphs. Bethesda: National Cancer Institute, 1994. (NIH Publication no. 94-2789.)

[2] Robertson CL. A private breast imaging practice: medical audit of 25,788 screening and 1,077 diagnostic examinations. Radiology 1993; 187:75-79.

[3] Fletcher SW, Black W, Harris R, et al. Report of the International Workshop on Screening for Breast Cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst 1993;85:1644-1656

[4] Peeters PH, Verbeek AL, Hendriks JH, et al. Screening for breast cancer in Nijmegen. Report of 6 screening rounds, 1975-1986. Int J Cancer 1989; 43:226-230

[5] Tabar L, et al. What is the optimum interval between mammographic screening examinations? An analysis based on the latest results of the Swedish two-county breast cancer screening trial. Int J Cancer 1987; 55:547-551.

[6] Baines CJ, McFarlane DV, Wall C. Audit procedures in the National Breast Screening Study: mammography interpretation. J Can Assoc Radiol 1986;37:256-260.

[7] Miller AB, Baines CJ, et al. Canadian National Breast Screening Study: 2. Breast cancer detection and death rates among women aged 50 to 59 years. Can Med Assoc J 1992;147:1477 1488

[8] Miller AB, Baines CJ, et al. Canadian National Breast Screening Study: Breast cancer detection and death rates among women aged 40 to 49 years. Can Med Assoc J 1992;147:1459-1476

[9] Kerlikowske K, Grady D, Barclay J, et al. Positive predictive value of screening mammography by age and family history of breast cancer. JAMA 1993;270:2444-2450.

[10] Gram IT, Lund E, Slenker SE. Quality of life following a false positive mammogram. Br J Cancer 1990; 2:1018-1022.

[11] Tabar L, Fagerberg G, Duffy SW et al. Update of the Swedish two-country program of mammographic screening for breast cancer. Radiol Clin North Am 1992;30:187-210.

[12] Wingo PA, Tong T, Bolden S. Cancer statistics, 1995. CA Cancer J Clin 1995;45:8-30.

[13] Spitalier, H., Giraud, D., et al: Does Infrared Thermography Truly Have a Role in Present-Day Breast Cancer Management? Biomedical Thermography, Alan R. Liss New York, NY pp. 269-278,
|~!|Sun 27-Sep-2009|~!||~!| BREAST HEALTH III SECRETS EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW TO REDUCE HER RISK OF BREAST CANCER by Robert A. Erickson, M.D. 2004©|~!|Breast cancer is probably the most feared disease among women and traditional focus has been on waiting until a woman actually has this disease, and then recommending surgery, chemotherapy or radiation. Current treatments are almost equally frightening as the disease itself due to their horrific side effects and disfigurement. Some women like Suzanne Sommers have had the courage to opt for alternative and more natural therapies but the traditional medical environment is not supportive of this approach. I met a gynecologist from Texas during one of the medical conferences I attended in 2003 who gave a lecture on natural hormonal replacement therapy and reduction of cancer risk using supplements along with bio-identical hormones. He stated he had over 9,000 women in his medical practice and NONE had developed breast cancer in over ten years of following them!|~!|1254090094|~!|Breast cancer is probably the most feared disease among women and traditional focus has been on waiting until a woman actually has this disease, and then recommending surgery, chemotherapy or radiation. Current treatments are almost equally frightening as the disease itself due to their horrific side effects and disfigurement. Some women like Suzanne Sommers have had the courage to opt for alternative and more natural therapies but the traditional medical environment is not supportive of this approach. I met a gynecologist from Texas during one of the medical conferences I attended in 2003 who gave a lecture on natural hormonal replacement therapy and reduction of cancer risk using supplements along with bio-identical hormones. He stated he had over 9,000 women in his medical practice and NONE had developed breast cancer in over ten years of following them!

‘Good’ and ‘Bad’ Estrogens

The early days of estrogen research centered around three estrogen metabolites called estradiol, estriol, and estrone. More recently research has turned to two other estrogen metabolites, namely 2-hydroxyestrogen (a good estrogen) and 16a-hydroxyestrogen (a bad estrogen). Together they make up what is known as the 2/16 ratio. It is felt the higher the ratio, the lower the risk for estrogen related cancers, and the lower the ratio, the higher the risk. There may also be a correlation between a low ratio and an increased risk of prostate cancer in men as well.

A simple urine test is all it takes to determine the ratio. We have test kits available at the Center, or you can ask your commercial lab to run this test. A ratio below 1.0 should be treated and although there is no consensus as to an “ideal” ratio number, I would like to see patients with a number above 2.0 if possible. If a woman is pre-menopausal, the urine should be collected during days 19 - 23 of a 28 day cycle, and if a repeat test is needed, it should fall on the same day of the cycle as well.

Foods as Medicine

In many cases eating foods in the Brassica family of vegetables will increase the ratio. These include Brussel sprouts, cabbage, broccoli, bok choy, and cauliflower. Three to four servings a week is good and you don’t want to overdo it as too much of this family can affect thyroid function. Also, incorporating some soy products such as tofu, tempeh, and soy milk into your diet may boost the ratio. Again, only several servings a week or you could slow thyroid function down.

DIM (di-indolylmethane) supplements will also boost the ratio, as will Calcium D Glucarate. These can be obtained at a health food store or at the Center.


Estriol the “Protective” Estrogen

Researchers studied 15,000 women for almost a 40 year period, which is a very long time for any medical study. Hormone levels were measured during these women’s pregnancies and were correlated with invasive breast cancer cases or deaths. What was found was that the more estriol a woman had, the less cancer later in life! In fact, those women in the upper 25% of estriol production during pregnancy had 58% less breast cancer over the next 30-40 years.

The protective effect from estriol may be related to it’s anti-oxidant effect. To boost estriol production, a woman can take potassium iodide (we carry Biotic’s brand here at the center) in very small doses daily. This mixture of potassium and iodine causes a conversion of estrone and estradiol into estriol. Some individuals are sensitive to iodine so is must be used with care, and in large amounts it could cause thyroid suppression. Of interest, we do know there is a much lower incidence of breast, uterine, and ovarian cancers in Japanese and Chinese women in general, and also a lower incidence of prostate cancers in men. They have a high intake of iodine (over 3 times that in the American diet) in their diets through eating seaweed and seafood.

The amount of estriol, estrone, and estradiol can be measured in a 24 hour urine collection and response to potassium iodide measured in this way to monitor therapy.

When I prescribe compounded hormonal replacement therapy for women and estrogen is needed, in most cases I actually prescribe a mixture of 80% estriol and 20% estradiol, which is similar to the natural ratio of these hormones in a woman’s body, but without estrone.

Know your Vitamin, Mineral, and Antioxidant Status

Another factor in breast health and health in general, is making sure your anti-oxidant function is adequate and that you have no major vitamin or mineral deficiencies. Most people do not eat the recommended minimum five or more servings of fresh fruit or vegetables a day. In addition, eating a balanced diet and taking a multivitamin may not be enough. If a person’s absorption is impaired, they will have deficiencies. Chronic illness puts a stress on the body’s nutritional status. Other factors that may have a negative impact include being under chronic stress, aging, smoking, taking prescription drugs, drinking alcohol, and being sedentary.

The most accurate way we have found at the Center to assess nutritional status is through an analysis of hair minerals and a SpectraCell FIA™ analysis of intracellular vitamin levels. Human hair is a living structure and it reflects what is going on inside your body. Hair mineral content can be analyzed at a special reference lab that has been doing this type of testing for decades. Vitamins and select minerals can also be analyzed from your body’s white blood cells by a special methodology. Both the Hair Analysis test and SpectraCell tests reflect nutritional status over a 3 to 4 month period and this is more accurate than standard blood tests that reflect only short term nutrition and can miss chronic nutritional stress. SpectraCell also has an index of antioxidant function this is useful to let you know where you stand with regards to the oxidative stress your body is under. Both tests provide a baseline against which nutritional therapies can be monitored.

Get a Breast Thermogram

In the April 2004 Newsletter I discussed Thermography as a way of screening the breast without compression or radiation exposure. It is an FDA approved method that is as accurate as mammography, and better in some respects (dense breast tissue, fibrocystic breasts, implants). I highly recommend all women age 40 or over (or younger if at higher risk) undergo this screening procedure, and here’s why. Look at the following table:

As you can see it takes on average 8 years before a breast cancer will be seen by mammography, and could be picked up by thermography up to 6 years earlier.
Active Cancer Cells Double in Number Every 90 Days
90 day 2 cells
1 year
16 cells
2 years 256 cells (seen by Thermography)
3 years 4,896 cells
4 years 65,536 cells
5 years 1,048,576 cells
6 years 16,777,216 cells
7 years 268,435,456 cells
8 years 4,294, 967,296 cells (doubled 32 times and normally seen by Mammography at this stage)


Summary of recommendations:

• Know your 2/16 estrogen ratio.
• Eat adequate but not excessive Brassica family foods and soy products.
• Consider potassium iodide, DIM, Calcium D Glucarate.
• Know your nutritional status through Hair and SpectraCell
nutritional analyses and correct deficiencies.
• Exercise and stress reduction on a daily basis.
• Avoid synthetic hormones and use only bio-identical HRT if needed.
• If you are of child-bearing age, breast feed your children.
• Avoid excessive radiation exposure, limiting dental X-rays,
routine chest X-rays or other radiographic studies to those absolutely necessary.
• If you haven’t had a physical or gynecological exam in the
past year, get one.
• Get a Breast Thermogram, even if a mammogram has been normal.
These tests do not replace each other, but are complementary.
There is a 95% accuracy rate when thermography, mammography,
and clinical breast exam are all combined.
• Read the article on SRT technology on our website. Radiation from cell
phones, flourescent lights, and microwaves may have an adverse
affect over time. Consider the use of a Q-Link device or Ally
to counter this effect.
• Limit the use of antibiotics to major illnesses, not minor colds or flus.
• Stop smoking|~!|Sun 27-Sep-2009|~!||~!| BREAST CANCER AND THE ENVIRONMENT ROBERT A. ERICKSON, M.D. 2004© |~!|Identifying causal relationships between environmental factors and breast cancer is difficult to almost impossible. Animal models are used to generate hypotheses about the carcinogenicity of different chemicals or environmental exposures. Rats and mice are commonly used, but they metabolize substances at different rates and have different thresholds for certain toxins from humans. There is also a problem with experimental design in that animals do not live as long as humans and are therefore exposed to higher doses of toxins for shorter periods, whereas humans are exposed to lower doses over longer periods of time. The process of bio-accumulation of a harmful substance may take decades before damage is apparent. I attended an ACAM (American College for the Advancement of Medicine) conference in November 2003 where this very subject was brought up as it related to Gulf War Syndrome. Soldiers were exposed to low or non-detectable levels of poisonous chemicals during the war on a repeated basis. These servicemen returned home and later a significant number began experiencing neurological disorders and other problems that were found to be related to this type of chronic, low level exposure.|~!|1254090138|~!|INTRODUCTION

Identifying causal relationships between environmental factors and breast cancer is difficult to almost impossible. Animal models are used to generate hypotheses about the carcinogenicity of different chemicals or environmental exposures. Rats and mice are commonly used, but they metabolize substances at different rates and have different thresholds for certain toxins from humans. There is also a problem with experimental design in that animals do not live as long as humans and are therefore exposed to higher doses of toxins for shorter periods, whereas humans are exposed to lower doses over longer periods of time. The process of bio-accumulation of a harmful substance may take decades before damage is apparent. I attended an ACAM (American College for the Advancement of Medicine) conference in November 2003 where this very subject was brought up as it related to Gulf War Syndrome. Soldiers were exposed to low or non-detectable levels of poisonous chemicals during the war on a repeated basis. These servicemen returned home and later a significant number began experiencing neurological disorders and other problems that were found to be related to this type of chronic, low level exposure.

Cluster analyses are also used to develop hypotheses. For instance, Long Island and other parts of New York City have high breast cancer rates compared to other areas of the country. Unfortunately, this type of analysis does not show what the causative agent(s) is or whether there are lifestyle factors such as socioeconomic status or occupation that come into play.

Another area is that of genomics where genetic factors may affect the development of breast or other cancers if a patient is placed in the wrong type of environment or exposure. Genetic risk factors include several known mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, which predispose a woman to breast cancer. Only 5% of breast cancers are directly related to this type of genetic risk, however.

There are multiple other risk factors such as early age at menarche, later age at menopause, not having children, later age at first full-term pregnancy, and not breast feeding, alcohol consumption, long term use of hormonal replacement therapy, and ionizing radiation [14,15, 16, 17].

Pesticides and other organochlorines:

The group of chemicals known as organochlorines cause tumors in rats. This group includes substances such as DDT, PCB’s, and dioxins. Almost everyone is exposed to these chemicals, primarily through the consumption of fish, dairy products, and meats. These substances mimic estrogen and may influence a woman’s risk of breast cancer. There have been studies where blood levels of these chemicals were measured against risk of breast cancer. The results have been inconclusive.

Electromagnetic fields:

It has been hypothesized that increased exposure to electromagnetic fields and light at night is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. This type of exposure reduces melatonin production. Melatonin is a hormone that has a protective effect against cancers. Most people are familiar with taking Melatonin for sleep disturbance. We know that electromagnetic fields (such as from high voltage transformers) in some studies are associated with an increased risk of developing certain types of cancers, but further study is needed.

Diet:

There have been many studies on the effect of different diets and the use of vitamins in cancer prevention. We do know there is a lower cancer risk among people who consume fruits and vegetables [18]. There is also evidence that high consumption of meat may increase the risk of breast cancer [19]. This may be related to a number of factors such as hormones in meat, or heterocyclic amines that are produced when meat is cooked at high temperatures, such as in BBQing. Diets high in fat have been shown to increase breast cancer in rats, but the results in humans have been inconsistent [20, 21].

There is also evidence that phytoestrogens (estrogen compounds found in plants and vegetables) may substantially reduce the risk of breast cancer [22, 23]. These would include products such as soy (e.g. miso and tofu), chickpeas, blueberries. We also know cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussel sprouts, kale, kohlrabi are protective against many types of cancers.

Physical exercise:

Some studies have shown that both recreational and occupational physical activity can reduce the risk of breast cancer anywhere from 12% to 60%. Some studies have shown there is no reduction in risk. So there is confusion in this area. It is only common sense, however, that a person who exercises will be more healthy than a couch potato, and may have a better immune system to fight cancer development or illness.

Viruses:

For a long time it has been hypothesized that viruses may play a role in cancer development. We do known that EBV (Epstein-Barr virus) which is in the herpes virus family and causes infectious mononucleosis, is associated with the development of several cancers, including Hodgkin’s disease, Burkitt’s lymphoma, and nasopharyngeal carcinoma. One recent study found that EBV was more frequently associated with aggressive breast tumors. MMTV (mouse mammary tumor virus) causes breast tumors in mice. Studies have shown sequences of MMTV virus and also EBV in human breast cancer cells, but not in normal breast tissue [24, 25, 26, 27]. It is still unknown if these viruses cause breast cancer in humans, or if they simply are able to infect tumor cells that already exist.

Radiation:

It is known that radiation causes oxidative tissue damage and DNA damage and can lead to cancer.
As mentioned in our previous newsletter, there are no long term studies showing what the effects of annual mammograms are on healthy breast tissue. We do know that there is a correlation between thyroid cancer patients who have been treated with radioactive iodine post operatively and an increased risk of developing breast cancer 5 -20 years later. Limiting radiation exposure from all sources (mammograms, routine chest x-rays, dental x-rays, etc) is highly recommended.

Breast feeding:

What count’s is the accumulated time of breast-feeding during the whole of a woman’s lifetime. Cancer’s arise in the milk ducts. Short breast feeding has not shown any protective effect, but in some studies a lifetime total of 25 or more months of breast-feeding reduced the breast cancer risk by 33% compared with women with natural children who did not breast-feed.

Antiperspirants:

Antiperspirants are strong chemicals, usually containing aluminum, which prevent sweating. Sweating is one of the ways the body eliminates toxins, and by blocking this system, toxins can accumulate in the body. The Center has a far infra-red sauna detoxification program where patients are able to reduce fat-soluble toxins and heavy metals from the body through their sweat.

The National Cancer Institute and American Cancer Society positions are that there is no causal relationship between antiperspirant use and the development of breast cancer. Ester-bearing parabens from underarm deodorants have been found in breast tumors removed from women.

Bras:

There are articles on the Internet on underwire or tight bras causing cancer. Supposedly this is from blocking lymphatics or energy flows. Again, there are no objective studies showing this to be a risk factor at this time.

Oral Contraceptives, Xenoestrogens and other Synthetic Hormones:

Although oral contraceptives and prescription hormones are not environmental per se, xenoestrogens from the environment from things such as plastics and certain chemical exposures are felt to influence breast cancer risk. Therefore, a brief discussion of hormones is included in this article.

The Lancet, a prestigious British Medical journal, published an article on 150,000 women who were on The Pill and found they had a 25% greater risk of developing breast cancer. A study in 1994 found that women who started on the Pill before the age of 20 had a 3.5 times higher risk.

The Women’s Health Initiative study was a large scale study designed to determine the effects hormones had on breast cancer rates. Premarin (a synthetic estrogen derived from horse urine) was given by itself to one group of women, and Premarin + Provera (a synthetic progestin) was given to another group of women. The Premarin + Provera study was stopped prematurely in 2002 after it was determined there were, on average, 8 additional cases of breast cancer for every 10,000 women over one year. This calculated to be a 24% increase in risk. There was also a similar increase in strokes in this group – 8 additional strokes for every 10,000 women. One might expect the same or similar results from the Premarin group by itself, but there was no increase in breast cancer and this study was stopped in February 2004. An article stating hormonal replacement was unsafe was published in JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) and many women were taken off hormones.

My personal opinion is different from that in JAMA. First of all, it is unfortunate that both traditional medical journals and also the lay press categorize synthetic hormones as being the same thing as your body’s natural hormones. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Premarin and Provera have very different chemical structures from human hormones. The human body had never seen these chemicals until they were introduced by the pharmaceutical industry. Hormones such as estriol or estradiol, or progesterone, are naturally occurring and have metabolic pathways in place in the human body. Natural hormones have been around for hundreds of thousands of years and do not require FDA approval. In other words, foreign chemicals may or may not be handled by the human body and can be harmful, whereas the body’s natural hormones are easily handled. Most cancers take a long time to develop – not the few years the study ran. I feel what happened was in the Premarin + Provera group the 8 additional women who developed cancers per 10,000 already had the cancer cells present. These cells were stimulated by the drugs to grow and multiply rapidly and form a tumor within several years. What this study did show was synthetic hormones are not safe as was previously assumed and can accelerate the rate of growth of hormonally sensitive cancers. This is not to say caution is not necessary when prescribing natural hormones as there are also risks. However, there is evidence that a woman’s naturally occurring estriol has a cancer protective effect. We do know it acts as an antioxidant and has membrane stabilization properties. Estriol scavenges peroxyl radicals that cause tissue damage.

Antibiotics

Researchers earlier this year reported in JAMA that women who took antibiotics for more than 500 days or who had more than 25 prescriptions in the course of a 17-year period more than doubled their risk of breast cancer compared to women who had not taken any antibiotics. It was hypothesized that the antibiotics affected bacteria in the intestine and altered the way cancer-fighting foods were handled. Other theories centered around antibiotics altering the immune system itself. An earlier study from Finland in 1999, involving almost 10,000 women, found similar results.

The reason I include this in this section is that antibiotics are not from prescriptions given from physicians, but are also placed in animal feed for cattle and chickens, and then are indirectly passed on to humans consuming beef and poultry. The study did not prove a causal relationship between taking antibiotics and causing breast cancer, but there is a definite association that warrants further investigation.

REFERENCES

14. Kelsey, JL, Gammon MD, John EM. Reproductive factors and breast cancer. Epidemiol Rev 1993;15:36-47.

15. Rosenberg L, Metzger LS, Palmer JR. Acohol consumption and risk of breast cancer: a review of the epidemiologic evidence. Epidemiol Rev 1993; 15:133-44.

16. Sillero-Arenas M, Delgado-Rodriquez M, Rodigues-Canteras R, et al. Menopausal hormone replacement therapy and breast cancer: a meta-analysis. Obstet Gynecol 1992;79:286-94.

17. John EM, Kelsey JL. Radiation and other environmental exposures and breast cancer. Epidemiol Rev 1993;15:157-62

18. Gandini S, Merzenich H, et al. Meta-analysis of studies on breast cancer risk and diet: the role of fruit and vegetable consumption and the intake of micronutrients. Eur J Cancer 2000;36(5):636-46.

19. Bingham SA. High-meat diets and cancer risk. Proc Nut Soc 1999;58(2):243-8.

20. Clavel-Chapelon F, Niravong M, Joseph RR. Diet and breast cancer: review of the epidemiologic literature. Cancer Detect Prev 1997;21(5):426-40.

21. Hunter DJ, Willett WC. Diet, body size, and breast cancer. Epidemiol Rev 1993;15:110-32.

22. Gottlieb N. Soybean in a haystack? Pinpointing an anti-cancer effect. J Natl Cancer Inst 1999;91(19):1610-2.

23. Ingram D, Sanders K, Kolybaba M, Lopez D. Case-control study of phytoestrogens and breast cancer. Lancet 1997;350(9083):990-4.

24. Labrecque LG, Barnes DM, Fentiman IS, Griffin BE. Epstein-Barr virus in epithelial cell tumors: a breast cancer study. Cancer Res 1995;55:39-45.

25. Luqmani YA, Shousha S. Presence of Epstein-Barr virus in breast carcinoma. Int J Oncol 1995;6:899-903.

26. Bonnet M, Guinebretiere JM, Kremmer E, et al. Detection of Epstein-Barr virus in invasive breast cancers. J Natl Cancer Inst 1999;91(16):1376-81.

27. Wang Y, Holland JF, Bleiweiss IJ, et al. Detection of mammary tumor virus envgene-like sequences in human breast cancer. Cancer Res 1995;55(22):5173-9.|~!|Sun 27-Sep-2009|~!||~!| SCREENING FOR BREAST CANCER by Robert A. Erickson, M.D. 2004©|~!|Scientists and physicians do not know why most women get breast cancer, yet breast cancer is the most frequent malignancy in women worldwide, and the annual incidence of breast cancer increased 55% between 1950 and 1991 [1]. IARC (the International Agency for Research on Cancer) reports breast cancer is the most common female cancer in industrialized countries, and second to cervical cancer in developing countries. Only about 5% of breast cancer is inherited, and about 80% of women diagnosed with the disease will be the first in their families to get breast cancer. Cumulative exposure to synthetic estrogen and xenoestrogens, and ionizing radiation underlie most of the known risk factors.|~!|1254090166|~!|Scientists and physicians do not know why most women get breast cancer, yet breast cancer is the most frequent malignancy in women worldwide, and the annual incidence of breast cancer increased 55% between 1950 and 1991 [1]. IARC (the International Agency for Research on Cancer) reports breast cancer is the most common female cancer in industrialized countries, and second to cervical cancer in developing countries. Only about 5% of breast cancer is inherited, and about 80% of women diagnosed with the disease will be the first in their families to get breast cancer. Cumulative exposure to synthetic estrogen and xenoestrogens, and ionizing radiation underlie most of the known risk factors.

Current Recommendations

Current recommendations for routine screening for breast cancer vary according to the source. The American Cancer Society, American College of Radiology, American Medical Association, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommend:

• Clinical breast exams by a physician and mammography every 1-2 years, beginning at age 40.
• Annual clinical breast exams and mammography, beginning at age 50.

The American College of Physicians recommends:

• Screening mammography every 2 years for women aged 50 -74 and recommends against mammograms for women under 50 or over 75 years of age.
• There is no difference in high-risk women, unless the women expresses great anxiety about breast cancer.

Is Screening Effective?

Multiple clinical studies have been undertaken to determine the relative effectiveness of screening, but there is variation in length of the studies as well as other parameters that accounts for some variation in results. Clinical examination (physician manual examination of the breasts) has limitations with a sensitivity rate often below 65%. In a large Canadian study, sensitivity of clinical breast examination for women age 40-49 was about 10% lower at initial screen than for women aged 50 - 59. Mammography sensitivity varied as well, from 75% up to 88%, depending upon the study and also the radiologist interpreting the study. [2,3-6] Monthly self-breast examinations have also been suggested but the efficacy of these varies tremendously as well.

Danish researchers published a study in 2002 suggesting that mammograms do not lead to a reduction in the breast cancer death rate or the number of major surgeries for the disease. This created an uproar in the United States where The National Cancer Institute and others disagreed with the Danish findings. This is an emotionally charged topic. Proponents of annual mammograms point out that early detection reduces breast cancer mortality by 20-30%. [11] Other studies, however, show the annual age-adjusted mortality rate from breast cancer since 1930 is relatively unchanged to present. [12]

Is There a Downside to Screening?

Adverse effects of screening tests are also an important consideration. False-positive tests, resulting from the effort to maximize disease detection, may have negative consequences including unnecessary diagnostic tests. In the Canadian trials there were 7-10% false positives combined with clinical breast exams in women aged 40-49 and 4.5% - 8% among those aged 50 -59. In a study of the yield of a first mammogram, 3 cancers per 1000 were found in women age 40 - 49 compared to 6 cancers per 1000 in women aged 50 - 59. Yet the younger women underwent twice as many diagnostic tests per cancer. Some studies have reported an increased anxiety about breast cancer after a false-positive mammogram. Women who underwent biopsy as a result of a false-positive screening mammogram were more likely to report their evaluation as stressful than those who did not have a biopsy. There are also concerns about the radiation exposure risk to breast tissue from screening mammograms. Although a mean breast dose of 0.1 rad from a mammogram is considered a low dose of radiation by traditional medicine, there are no clinical studies showing what the consequences of cumulative annual low dose radiation would be after 10 or 20 years. We do know ionizing radiation causes free radical formation, tissue and DNA damage, which are cancer risks. As with any procedure, we encourage our patients to always weigh the risks of the procedure with the benefits derived. [7 - 10]

Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging (Breast Thermography)

Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging is a 15 - 30 minute non invasive test of physiology. It is a valuable procedure for alerting your doctor to changes that can indicate early stage breast disease and in the evaluation of unexplained pain. Benefits include:

• Non invasive
• No radiation
• Painless
• No contact with the body
• F.D.A. approved

A very sensitive digital camera takes thermal images of the body and sends this data to a computer. The images are then interpreted by a qualified physician. In this way, skin temperatures, thermal and vascular patterns, and sympathetic responses can distinguish between normal and abnormal physiological function of the body. This is different than an X-ray, where radiation is passed through the body and an image is developed on an X-ray plate film to produce an anatomical image.

The underlying principle by which infrared imaging detects pre-cancerous and cancerous growths is because tumors have an increased vascularity in order to maintain the increased metabolism of cellular growth and multiplication. With this increased blood-flow comes an increased temperature, even in very small tumors. Like mammography and other breast imaging techniques, infrared imaging does not diagnose cancer (only biopsy can) – but merely indicates the presence of an abnormality. However, a woman’s thermal image is like a thumbprint and should not change over time. Serial studies are compared with previous studies for changes. If a women has never had a breast thermogram before, an initial thermogram is performed and then a repeat study is done three months later to establish an accurate baseline. After this, annual thermography can be performed and compared with previous studies.

Thermography is very accurate compared to other methods of detection and screening. Spitalier and associates followed 61,000 women using thermography over a 10 year period of time. They found the false negative and false positive rate was in the 11% range (89% sensitivity and specificity). Of the breast cancers that could not be felt on breast exam (nonpalpable), 9 in 10 were detected by thermography. Of all the patients with cancer, thermography alone was the first alarm in 60% of the cases. The physicians involved noted “in patients having no clinical or radiographic suspicion of malignancy, a persistently abnormal breast thermogram represents the highest known risk factor for the future development of breast cancer.” [13] Thermography is especially useful where mammography has a more difficult time – in younger women with dense breast tissue, women on hormonal replacement, and women with fibrocystic breasts. When thermography, mammography, and clinical breast exam are combined, 95% of all early breast cancers will be detected.

Because of thermography’s unique ability to image the thermovascular aspects of the breast, extremely early warning signals (from 8-10 years before any other detection method) have been observed in long-term studies. Consequently, thermography is the earliest known indicator of the future development of breast cancer and has a significant place as one of the front-line methods of breast health screening.


REFERENCES

[1] Ries LAG, Miller BA, Hankey BF, et al, eds. SEER cancer statistics review, 1973-1991: tables and graphs. Bethesda: National Cancer Institute, 1994. (NIH Publication no. 94-2789.)

[2] Robertson CL. A private breast imaging practice: medical audit of 25,788 screening and 1,077 diagnostic examinations. Radiology 1993; 187:75-79.

[3] Fletcher SW, Black W, Harris R, et al. Report of the International Workshop on Screening for Breast Cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst 1993;85:1644-1656

[4] Peeters PH, Verbeek AL, Hendriks JH, et al. Screening for breast cancer in Nijmegen. Report of 6 screening rounds, 1975-1986. Int J Cancer 1989; 43:226-230

[5] Tabar L, et al. What is the optimum interval between mammographic screening examinations? An analysis based on the latest results of the Swedish two-county breast cancer screening trial. Int J Cancer 1987; 55:547-551.

[6] Baines CJ, McFarlane DV, Wall C. Audit procedures in the National Breast Screening Study: mammography interpretation. J Can Assoc Radiol 1986;37:256-260.

[7] Miller AB, Baines CJ, et al. Canadian National Breast Screening Study: 2. Breast cancer detection and death rates among women aged 50 to 59 years. Can Med Assoc J 1992;147:1477-1488

[8] Miller AB, Baines CJ, et al. Canadian National Breast Screening Study: Breast cancer detection and death rates among women aged 40 to 49 years. Can Med Assoc J 1992;147:1459-1476

[9] Kerlikowske K, Grady D, Barclay J, et al. Positive predictive value of screening mammography by age and family history of breast cancer. JAMA 1993;270:2444-2450.

[10] Gram IT, Lund E, Slenker SE. Quality of life following a false positive mammogram. Br J Cancer 1990; 2:1018-1022.

[11] Tabar L, Fagerberg G, Duffy SW et al. Update of the Swedish two-country program of mammographic screening for breast cancer. Radiol Clin North Am 1992;30:187-210.

[12] Wingo PA, Tong T, Bolden S. Cancer statistics, 1995. CA Cancer J Clin 1995;45:8-30.

[13] Spitalier, H., Giraud, D., et al: Does Infrared Thermography Truly Have a Role in Present-Day Breast Cancer Management? Biomedical Thermography, Alan R. Liss New York, NY pp. 269-278,|~!|Sun 27-Sep-2009|~!||~!| Strontium and Bone Health by Robert A. Erickson, M.D. 2002©|~!|A recently published paper in the New England Journal of Medicine (1/29/2004) suggests that taking strontium supplements may be at least as good a treatment for osteoporosis as currently available therapies, including Fosamax, Evista and Actonel. 1,649 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis who had at least one fracture were divided into two groups. The first group received 2000 mg. of strontium ranelate a day for three years. The second group received a placebo. Both groups took calcium and vitamin D. The bone mineral density in the strontium group improved dramatically, over 8% for hip bone density and over 14% for lumbar spine density. The conclusion of the authors was “treatment of postmenopausal women with strontium leads to early and sustained reductions in the risk of vertebral fractures.” No adverse side effects were noted except for some mild, transient diarrhea in some patients.|~!|1254090196|~!|A recently published paper in the New England Journal of Medicine (1/29/2004) suggests that taking strontium supplements may be at least as good a treatment for osteoporosis as currently available therapies, including Fosamax, Evista and Actonel. 1,649 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis who had at least one fracture were divided into two groups. The first group received 2000 mg. of strontium ranelate a day for three years. The second group received a placebo. Both groups took calcium and vitamin D. The bone mineral density in the strontium group improved dramatically, over 8% for hip bone density and over 14% for lumbar spine density. The conclusion of the authors was “treatment of postmenopausal women with strontium leads to early and sustained reductions in the risk of vertebral fractures.” No adverse side effects were noted except for some mild, transient diarrhea in some patients.

What Is Strontium?

Strontium is an element in the same chemical family as calcium and magnesium. In the early 1950's this element was studied in both animals and humans, and was shown to have strong bone building properties. Some of these studies were done at the Mayo Clinic and also at Cornell University. Strontium fell out of favor because of the association of the word “strontium” with atomic bomb testing and radioactive strontium-90. Strontium, just like calcium and magnesium, is not naturally radioactive. Strontium-90 was formed from the natural strontium in the soils from the atomic bomb testing and became widely disseminated on the planet where it was picked up by grazing cattle and ended up in the milk supply. It then went into our bones. Natural strontium is completely nontoxic, even in high amounts.

Does Strontium Work differently than Drugs to Build Up Bone Mass?

Strontium works differently than drugs. Unlike Fosamax and Actonel, which work by decreasing the rate at which bone is destroyed (inhibiting bone resorption), strontium actually increases bone mass by stimulating the growth of new bone. Fosamax and Actonel “thicken” the old bone. Strontium also has anti-depleting (anti-resorption) properties.

Strontium ranelate is the type of strontium used in the New England Journal of Medicine study. It was developed by a large French pharmaceutical company and it is not available in the US. It is a patented semi-synthetic compound of strontium. Earlier studies using strontium lactate and strontium carbonate showed similar results. These are naturally occurring salts of strontium and strontium ranelate is not. Of course, these naturally occurring forms of strontium cannot be patented so you probably have never heard about them.

In human studies reported prior to 2002, quantities of up to 1700mg of Strontium per day were shown to have no side effects. More recent studies show efficacy with much lower doses in the 340mg range.

How Do I Take Strontium?
• Strontium should be taken at a time different than calcium to improve it’s absorption.
• Vitamin D, vitamin K, bio-identical hormones such as progesterone, testosterone, and in some cases estrogen, magnesium, trace minerals, exercise, smoking cessation and other modalities should be continued.
• Do not use this treatment in children as it can alter the architecture of the developing bone.
• When repeating a DEXA bone scan, the radiologist will need to factor in a correction because strontium is denser than calcium.

Strontium supplements may be obtained in some health food stores or from the Center. We are getting strontium citrate from a Canadian supplier for our patients.|~!|Sun 27-Sep-2009|~!||~!| An Update On Cardiovascular Disease from the ACAM 2004 Spring Conference – by Robert A. Erickson, M.D. 2004©|~!|The “war” on cholesterol to reduce heart disease has been going on for decades. Heart disease remains the number one cause of death in the U.S. and the number of deaths from this disease has not changed in the past 25 years, in spite of new cholesterol lowering drugs, advances in heart surgery with stents and angioplasties, a myriad of foods that are cholesterol-free, etc.|~!|1254090214|~!|The “war” on cholesterol to reduce heart disease has been going on for decades. Heart disease remains the number one cause of death in the U.S. and the number of deaths from this disease has not changed in the past 25 years, in spite of new cholesterol lowering drugs, advances in heart surgery with stents and angioplasties, a myriad of foods that are cholesterol-free, etc.

I encourage my patient’s to be “independent thinkers” ask the question “why”? Patients are often times surprised at the answers I give them when they discuss “cholesterol” with me. For instance, I tell them the important thing is not so much how high, average or low their cholesterol is, but whether it is sticking in the arteries that counts. If this were not the case, then why do half of all patients who die from heart disease have a cholesterol that is “normal” or below 200mg/dL.

Is Cholesterol the “Enemy?”

Cholesterol is a substance that is produced by the body and is also consumed in the diet. 90% of the body’s cholesterol is produced by the liver and only 10% is dietary. Because cholesterol has been portrayed as an “enemy” most people do not realize that cholesterol is critical for health and is a precursor to sex hormones such as testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone. Elevated cholesterol is only one of many risk factors in the development of heart disease, and is not very accurate as a predictive factor for death from heart disease. People who have cholesterols well below 200mg/dL. and vegetarians die from heart disease, whereas a lot of elderly grandparents with cholesterols in the 300's do not. What is important is whether cholesterol is sticking in the arterial wall or not in response to inflamation. The concept of heart disease being an inflammatory disease is relatively new.

Balz Frei, Ph.D., who is the Director and Endowed Chair of the Linus Pauling Institute spoke at the ACAM conference and shared with us research on oxidative stress, adhesion molecules, and atherosclerosis. He pointed out that atherosclerosis is an oxidative event where LDL cholesterol is oxidized, and where anti-oxidants may prevent this process. Ascorbate (vitamin C) and Glutathione are the most abundant anti-oxidants naturally occurring within the cells. Transitional metals such as mercury, lead, iron, and copper may play a role in the development of atherosclerosis, but by adding metal chelators to cell cultures, atherosclerosis and adhesion molecules are blocked. He further pointed out that arterial narrowing by itself did not cause a heart attack or stroke. There must be a rupture of the arterial plaque, exposing the surface of the artery causing vasospasm, platelet aggregation (clumping together of platelets), and clot formation leading to complete blockage or occlusion. Once this happens, a heart attack or stroke occurs. Nitric oxide blocks this from occurring. As little as 500mg of vitamin C a day dramatically improves vascular function by improving nitric oxide production.

Facts and Risk Factors

Another wonderful presentation on emerging concepts of heart disease was given by Dr. Allan Magaziner, D.O.. He is the current president of ACAM (American College for the Advancement in Medicine) and the author of The All-Natural Cardio Cure: A Drug-Free Cholesterol and Cardiac Inflammation Reduction Program (Avery, 2004). Much of this talk is summarized in this paper :

• Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in the U.S.
• 750,000 deaths per year or 1 in 5 deaths.
• The number of deaths has not changed in the last 25 years.
• 250,000 people die from heart attacks every year without even making it to the hospital.
• 1 in 5 heart disease deaths are linked to smoking. Another 40,000 are linked to second hand smoke.
• More than 350,000 people undergo by-pass surgery and more than 600,000 have angioplasties each year.
• Diabetes is a tremendous risk factor – 80% of diabetics die of heart disease.
• Other risk factors are obesity, hypertension, sedentary life style, stress, family history, hypercholesterolemia. Smoking is the #1 risk factor.
• Half of all patient who have heart attacks do not have elevated cholesterols.

New risk factors are emerging that include the following:

• Inflammation
• Infections including periodontal disease
• Oxidized LDL cholesterol
• Homocysteine
• Fibrinogen
• Lipoprotein(a)
• Platelet dynamics and blood viscosity

What Is the Most Accurate Marker for Heart Disease Risk?

HS (high sensitivity) CRP or Cardiac CRP is a marker of inflammation, and is now recognized as the single most significant diagnostic tool for assessing health risk associated with future risk of heart attack and stroke. Simply measuring cholesterol levels is inadequate. At the Center, we have been measuring HS CRP protein levels on our patients for years. Those with HS CRP levels in the highest quartile are three times more likely to develop heart attacks compared to those in the lowest quartile. Those with severe periodontal disease are more likely to have elevated blood levels of HS CRP. Levels below 1.0mg/L are associated with low heart disease risk.

Another risk factor is homocysteine, an amino acid derived from dietary protein. High levels of homocysteine may account for 25 - 30% of all cases of heart disease. Levels above 15 can damage arterial walls and are associated with accelerated plaque formation. Optimal levels are below 10. High homocysteine can be corrected in most cases with vitamins B6, B12, and folic acid. As many of you know, we have also been measuring homocysteine levels in our patients along with HS CRP and lipid profiles since the Center opened.

Heavy metal toxicity with lead, mercury, cadmium, and other heavy metals is a significant risk factor not generally recognized in heart disease among either the public or traditional Western physicians. We live in a polluted environment and heavy metals oxidize LDL cholesterol which causes arterial injury. They also deplete vitamins B6, B12 and folate by putting nutritional stress on the detoxification pathways, causing an increase in homocysteine levels. Removing these metals with chelation therapy is now thought to be the mechanism by which chelation works to reduce the risk of heart disease.


Statin Drugs vs. Natural Supplements to Lower Cholesterol

Patients often come to the Center and ask me about Statin drugs that they are taking or are advised to take by their primary care physicians who are concerned about a total cholesterol level above 200mg/dL.. Statin drugs work by lowering HS CRP and reducing arterial inflammation. However, there have been deaths from these drugs and they deplete coenzyme Q10 levels which is necessary for heart muscle health. Co-Q-10 depletion may be a contributing factor in the potentially fatal muscle disease associated with statins, rhabdomyoloysis. There are alternatives to lower HS CRP including eating cold water fatty fish, pineapple, ginger, blueberries, soy products, green tea, shiitake mushrooms, and garlic and onions. Vitamin E reduces inflammation and HS CRP in diabetic patients, and Omega 3 fish oils inhibit naturally prostoglandins that cause blood vessel inflammation. Eskimo’s whose diets are high in omega 3 oils, have the lowest incidence of heart disease on the North American continent.

Red Yeast Rice is a fermented product of rice on which red yeast is grown. It has been used for centuries in China. Red Yeast Rice contains 9 different monacolins, that are substances that inhibit cholesterol production. One of these monacolins is Lovastatin. There have been no reports of liver enzyme elevation or renal impairment, although rare headaches and stomach discomfort may occur. We do not know if there is Co-Q-10 depletion while taking this product. In 324 hypercholesterolemic adults given 1.2 grams daily of Red Yeast Rice for 8 weeks, cholesterol decreased 23%, LDL 31%, triglycerides 34%, and HDL increased 20%. We carry the Thorne Labs brand of Red Yeast Rice at the Center.

Another product that lowers cholesterol naturally is Policosanol, which is extracted from sugar cane. It inhibits cholesterol formation in the liver and also inhibits the aggregation of platelets, which improves exercise response in patients with heart disease. A study published in 1999 compared patients taking 10mg/day of Policosanol with taking Pravastatin for eight weeks. Policosanol reduced the total cholesterol by 13.9%, LDL by 19.3%, increased HDL by 18.4%. The benefits were similar to the drug. We also carry this product at the Center from Biotics Research.

Heart Healthy Foods

A healthy diet is the basis for reducing risk of heart disease. Here are Ten Heart Healthy Foods:

• Apples are packed with pectin, a source of soluble fiber that may reduce cholesterol
• Beans are a good source of saponins, fiber, folic acid and may reduce homocysteine and cholesterol
• Berries are loaded with vitamin C, pectin, and other substances that may reduce body fat.
• Broccoli contains vitamin C, carotenoids, and sulfurophane which protect the arteries.
• Garlic contains anti-clotting factors and flavonoids thought to lower cholesterol
• Nuts such as almonds, brazil nuts, and walnuts are good sources of monounsaturated oils.
• Oatmeal is rich in cholesterol-lowering soluble fiber.
• Wild salmon contains omega-3 fatty acids which reduce heart disease risk (farm raised salmon does not have high omega-3 levels and has PCB’s)
• Soy isoflavones can reduce cholesterol.
• Grapes contain resveratrol and lowers the risk of heart disease and cancer.


EDTA Chelation Therapy and Subsequent Cardiac Events
Although chelation therapy has been used safely for decades, there is still a lot of controversy among traditional Western physicians as to whether it works and why it works. A large, multi-center study called the TACT trial is begin funded by the National Institutes of Health and is currently underway in the U.S. to further evaluate EDTA’s benefits in patients with known heart disease. EDTA is a synthetic amino acid approved by the FDA for use in lead detoxification.

Terry Chappell, M.D. presented an unpublished study at the ACAM conference where 246 patients with known vascular disease were treated with EDTA chelation therapy and underwent a 3 year follow-up to determine the incidence of cardiac events. The data was analyzed by Rakesh Shukla, Ph. D., who is a specialist in biostastical analysis at the University of Cincinnati Center for Biostatistical Analysis.

In this study 71% were males, average age 64 (range 40 - 85 years) and the mean number of treatments was 58, with a minimum of 20 treatments with monthly maintenance treatments. 17.6% smoked at the beginning of treatment, 8.5% at the end of treatment. In this group there were NO deaths, NO heart attacks, and 3 minor strokes (all of which resolved over time). 5 patients (2%) underwent cardiac bypasses and 3 (1.2%) underwent angioplasties. 4 patients (1.8%) had the onset of cancer. What was also interesting about this study was 35% of the patients had been told that they should undergo vascular surgery and refused, and another 10% were told they needed surgery but that they were too high risk. In other words, 45% of patients had surgical severity of disease but underwent chelation instead.

167 patients had symptoms at the beginning of treatment whereas 118 (70.7%) were symptom-free at the end of the 3 year period. These results were far better than one would expect in a high-risk population.

The chelation group was then compared with other published groups, matching age, numbers in the study, smokers, gender, etc.. and follow up interval of three years. These other groups were divided into 3 categories:
1) Those initially treated with angioplasty.
2) Those initially treated with CABG (by pass surgery) .
3) Those initially treated with standard medical therapy.

Findings at the end of 3 years are summarized:
Heart attacks
Deaths

Need for Angioplasty

Need for By Pass
Angioplasty group
7.3%

3.2%

22.3%

11.8%
CABG group 7.8%
4.0%

5.5%

1.2%
Medical Therapy 3.6%
1.3%

15.5%

4.4%
Chelation group 0%
0%

1.8%

2.7%



This analysis suggests that the rates of cardiac events, strokes and death from all causes appear to be much lower in patients with cardiovascular disease if they receive chelation therapy.

Summary

The etiology of cardiovascular disease includes a much broader approach than cholesterol alone. Nutritional supplements play a vital role in the prevention and treatment of heart disease. Exercise, smoking cessation and stress reduction must be part of a comprehensive cardiovascular disease reversal program. Chelation therapy is a safe therapy when properly administered and is a secondary prevention tool for vascular disease.|~!|Sun 27-Sep-2009|~!||~!| LEAKY GUT SYNDROME by Robert A. Erickson 2004©|~!|Leaky gut syndrome is the name given to a disorder of the intestines where the intestinal lining has large spaces between the cells that allow the entry of toxic material into the bloodstream that would normally pass through the colon in the feces. Undigested proteins, fats, toxins, fungi, bacteria, and other wastes not normally absorbed into the bloodstream in a heathy state enter the through a “porous” intestine. If the intestine is not healthy, neither is the rest of the body.|~!|1254090246|~!|Leaky gut syndrome is the name given to a disorder of the intestines where the intestinal lining has large spaces between the cells that allow the entry of toxic material into the bloodstream that would normally pass through the colon in the feces. Undigested proteins, fats, toxins, fungi, bacteria, and other wastes not normally absorbed into the bloodstream in a heathy state enter the through a “porous” intestine. If the intestine is not healthy, neither is the rest of the body.

What Are the Symptoms of Leaky Gut?

The symptoms are similar to those of IBS (irritable bowel syndrome). A person may have abdominal bloating, gas, indigestion, alternating constipation and diarrhea. These may go on to include fibromyalgia, increasing food allergies, multiple chemical sensitivities, reduced resistance to infection, and in severe forms autoimmune disorders.

What Causes Leaky Gut?

Virtually anything that causes inflammation of the lining of the intestinal tract can cause this including:

• Prescription drugs such as steroids, aspirin, non-steroidal anti inflammatory drugs such as Motrin or arthritis drugs, and prescription birth control pills.
• Mold or fungus stored in grains, fruit and refined carbohydrates – due to mycotoxins these molds or fungus produce.
• Antibiotics that lead to the overgrowth of abnormal bacteria, candida, fungi, and parasites.
• Chemical additives in foods such as dyes and preservatives.
• Enzyme deficiency states such as celiac disease.
• Alcohol and caffeine directly irritate the gut.

Why Is Leaky Gut Important?

When larger than normal protein molecules are absorbed through the intestine before they have had a chance to be completely broken down, the immune system may start making antibodies against them because it recognizes them as foreign invaders. Thus, allergies develop to previously innocuous foods, and organs can be targeted. If the inflammation occurs in the lungs, it is called asthma; if it is in a joint it is called arthritis; if it occurs in the blood vessels, vasculitis; if it occurs in the gut itself it may develop into inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn’s or may be called irritable bowel syndrome.
In addition to food allergies, the leaky gut syndrome can lead to invasion of the bloodstream by bacteria, fungi, or parasites. This can lead to stress on the detoxification pathways in the liver, resulting in symptoms of fatigue, brain fog, memory loss, or chemical sensitivities that a person did not have prior to the development of leaky gut.

Leaky gut can also lead to multiple nutritional deficiencies of minerals and vitamins. Minerals and vitamins are hooked on to and transported by carrier proteins. In leaky gut, these proteins are damaged as well, so the body can become deficient in nutrients. For instance, a deficiency in the mineral magnesium can lead to a condition such as fibromyalgia or muscle spasms, or a calcium or manganese deficiency can lead to bone problems. People with leaky gut often suffer from symptoms of chronic fatigue.

How Can I Find Out If I Have Leaky Gut Syndrome?

Short of taking small bowel biopsies and looking under the microscope for abnormalities, a special gut permeability urine test can be run.

How Can This Disorder Be Treated?

Treatment is targeted at the cause rather than at the symptoms. If a medication such as a NSAID drug is causing problems, it should be discontinued. If there is a parasitic infection, antiparasitic herbs such as black walnut or cloves might be used. Probiotics such as lactobacillus and bifidophillus as well as FOS (fructooligosaccharides) might be needed. A hypoallergenic diet with the elimination of all wheat and dairy products and processed foods may be needed. Eating smaller, more frequent meals and chewing food well, or taking digestive enzymes may be helpful. If a person has low stomach acid, betaine HCL may be used. There are also nutritional therapies that may be of benefit such as antioxidant vitamins, L-glutamine, essential fatty acids, green foods such as GreensFirst, and proanthocyanidins such as pycnogenols or bilberry extract, and aloe vera of good quality. At the Center we carry products that are powdered hypoallergenic formulas that contain most of the nutrients in one convenient package such as Ultraclear Plus or UltraInflamX.|~!|Sun 27-Sep-2009|~!||~!| MINERALS AND HUMAN HEALTH Robert A. Erickson, M.D. 2005©|~!|Dr. Charles Northen was an Alabama physician and a pioneer in the field of nutrition way back in the 1930's. He knew that minerals were vital to human metabolism and health and stated “that no plant or animal can appropriate to itself any mineral which is not present in the soil upon which it feeds.” He was ridiculed for this viewpoint as men eminent in medicine at the time denied there was any such thing as vegetables and fruits that did not contain sufficient minerals for human needs and the agricultural authorities insisted that all soil contained necessary minerals.|~!|1254090309|~!|Dr. Charles Northen was an Alabama physician and a pioneer in the field of nutrition way back in the 1930's. He knew that minerals were vital to human metabolism and health and stated “that no plant or animal can appropriate to itself any mineral which is not present in the soil upon which it feeds.” He was ridiculed for this viewpoint as men eminent in medicine at the time denied there was any such thing as vegetables and fruits that did not contain sufficient minerals for human needs and the agricultural authorities insisted that all soil contained necessary minerals.

The truth is that our foods vary enormously in value and some of them aren’t worth eating, as food. For example, vegetation grown in one part of the country may contain 1,100 parts per billion of iodine against 20 parts per billion grown elsewhere. The goiter belt in the mid-west, where enlargement of the thyroid gland occurs more often due to iodine deficiency in the soils, is a well known fact. This example applies to many other trace minerals.

Food chemistry is almost entirely dependent on government agencies for its research, and our current knowledge of values is about where medicine was a century ago. Dr. Northen proved that crops grown in a properly mineralized soil were bigger and better; that seeds germinated quicker, grew more rapidly and made better plants; that trees were healthier and put on more fruit of better quality. By scientific soil feeding where he would add iron, iodine, and other elements to soil, he raised better seed potatoes in Maine, better grapes in California, and better oranges in Florida. He experimented with a variety of growing things and in every case the story was the same. By mineralizing the feed at poultry farms, he got more and better eggs; by balancing the pasture soils, he produced richer milk. Dr. Northen eventually moved to Florida and gave up practicing medicine to devote his time to becoming a “doctor of sick soils.” In an orange grove in Florida infested with scale, he restored the mineral balance to part of the soil, and the trees growing in that part became clean while the rest remained diseased. By the same means he grew healthy rose bushes between rows that were riddled by insects. The insects did not want to attack the healthy plants. Dr. Northen felt it was neither a complicated nor an expensive undertaking to restore our soils. “It is simpler to cure sick soils than sick people.” While modern agriculture adds nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium to the soil, the remaining 60 minerals that are found in the human body are not added to the soil. Plants growing in the soil do not “create” these missing minerals, so they become deficient and so do the animals and humans that feed on the plants.

Mineral deficiencies may occur for a variety of other reasons in humans. Deficiencies in the water, mineral imbalances (many minerals work together such as potassium, lithium and sodium); processing of water (such as with reverse osmosis or steam distillation removes minerals) or soil; and inadequate dietary intake. The absorption of minerals is dependent on multiple factors such as age, adequacy of stomach acid, lack of intestinal parasites and illnesses, dietary fiber intake, and balance of bowel flora. There is confusion about what form a mineral should be in to be best absorbed in the human body. Some supplements tout their minerals are in organic form; others colloidal form; others in liquid form. So what is the best form?

First of all, absorption occurs in the small intestine. For some elements, such as iron, the compound it is bound to can have a significant influence on intestinal absorption. There are 8 minerals that should be in ionic form (an ion is a particle such as an atom or group of atoms that carries an electrical charge) to be readily absorbed. These minerals are chromium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, selenium, and zinc. This does not mean that if a mineral is not ionic it cannot be absorbed by the body. For the most part, minerals and trace elements can be absorbed if they are bound to certain compounds, such as chelates. The minerals we have at the Center from Biotics are chelated in plant cultures at the Biotics facility, for instance. Others are chelated to certain salts. The 8 minerals that need to be in ionic form normally get into this form by being liberated by stomach acid. Conditions that affect stomach acid, such as aging, taking antacids, or taking medications that block acid production, such as Nexium or Zantac, may interfere with the absorption of these minerals. The assumption that “organic minerals” are somehow superior to “inorganic minerals” is not quite as important as making sure the mineral is in ionic form, and this means adequate stomach acid. As mentioned, there are exceptions to this such where certain minerals are absorbed from foods as components of complex organic entities, such as cobalt or iron.

How Much is Enough?

I am often asked “how much of such and such” should I take. RDA’s (recommended daily allowances) are the amounts of minerals and vitamins necessary for an “average person” to take to prevent deficiency diseases, such as rickets or survey. These values were established in the 1960's by the Federal government, and were revised last in 1989 by the National Academy of Sciences. The concept of “biochemical individuality” coined by the late chemist Dr. Roger Williams suggests that we have to get away from the mistaken assumption that every person utilizes and absorbs minerals in the same way. This is why I like to use both a hair analysis and SpectraCell analysis of leukocytes to determine functional nutritional levels in patients. Also, we are talking about very small amounts in most cases. To appreciate how much a gram weighs, a typical metal paper clip weights one gram. One milligram is one one-thousandth of a gram. This doesn’t sound like much, but toxic metals such as cadmium, consumed over a life-time, may significantly increase the risk of diseases, especially given its half-life is between 10-30 years in humans. It can also displace essential trace elements such as zinc and copper, which are critical for multiple enzymes and proteins.

An Overview of Some of the Basic Minerals Needed for Human Health

Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the human body. 99% of the body’s calcium is bound up in bone, the remaining 1% circulates in the blood and is crucial for proper pH balance of the body, nerve and muscle function, and regulation of cell metabolism. It also assists in protein and fat metabolism and the absorption of vitamin B12. The best food sources of calcium include dairy products, dark green leafy vegetables (e.g. kale and spinach), and cooked bones (such as in canned salmon). The RDA of calcium is 800- 1200mg daily. A low calcium intake is a risk factor for colon cancer. Half the patients with pre-cancerous colon polyps in one study had a significant decrease in cell proliferation when given calcium supplements. In spite of the mass media promotion of high calcium intake to prevent osteoporosis of the bones, numerous studies do not show a relationship between the level of dietary calcium intake and the incidence of osteoporosis. In North America and in Scandinavia, there is a high consumption of dairy products containing calcium. These same countries also have the highest incidence of osteoporosis. Other populations take in 300-400mg of calcium a day without high incidences of osteoporosis. However, these populations also consume much lower protein amounts. Proteins are high in phosphorus, requiring higher calcium intakes. An increase in protein affects urinary calcium loss. Optimal intake of all nutrients essential to bone formation and homeostasis are required and include calcium, protein, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, vitamin D, boron, manganese, copper, vitamin K and others. Also, age, hormonal status, gender, and activity level influence bone density. It is recommended that calcium intake be increased during pregnancy, adolescence, and lactation.

Magnesium is essential in at least 300 different enzyme reactions in the human body, including the conversion of ATP for energy. In animals, magnesium deficiency can spontaneously generate bone tumors and lymphomas. Magnesium has a central role in regulating DNA synthesis. The RDA for magnesium is in the 250 to 350mg per day range. Over half of the body’s magnesium resides in bone. Other important functions of magnesium include maintaining proper function of the nervous system and neuromuscular transmission. Lack of magnesium can be associated with tremors, muscle spasms, heart disease, convulsions, and neuropsychiatric disturbance. In many ways, magnesium acts like a classical calcium channel blocker by relaxing the coronary arteries and has the ability to lower blood pressure. Intravenous magnesium can reverse serious arrhymthias (irregular heart beat). Magnesium deficiency is common in patients with diabetes, patients with intestinal disorders or kidney disease, and in patients taking diuretics or who drink alcohol. Aging itself is a risk factor for low magnesium. Excess magnesium intake will result in a laxative effect. At the Center, we use IV Magnesium to treat migraine headaches and this important mineral is also part of the formula in many of our IV solutions such as a Myer’s nutritional cocktail or Magnesium EDTA chelations. Patients feel calmer after receiving IV magnesium. The best food sources of magnesium are kelp, whole grains, nuts, and molasses.

Potassium is the primary cation (positively charged ion) inside human cells. The richest sources of potassium are banana, avocado, tomato, and potato. Meats and fish also provide significant amounts of potassium. Potassium is crucial for the control of skeletal muscle contractility, the maintenance of normal blood pressure, the transmission of nerve impulses and in the conversion of glucose into glycogen for energy storage in the liver. The RDA for potassium has been established at 2 grams daily. Potassium must exist in balance with sodium. A low sodium diet enhances potassium conservation and a high sodium diet promotes potassium excretion. Primitive cultures who consume diets high in potassium and low in sodium, have an incidence of coronary artery disease and heart failure that constitutes less than 5-10% of the population living in their 6th and 7th decades. The incidence of hypertension in these same populations is less than 1%. Diuretic drugs can deplete potassium as can the use of alcohol, coffee and excessive sweating (up to 3 grams daily).

Zinc is the most multi-talented mineral in the body, participating in everything from sexual development, to immunity, to maintenance of nerve tissue, to apoptosis (programed cell death), which may be missing in cancer cells. The RDA of zinc is 15mg. Best food sources include shell fish, organ meats, meat, fish, pumpkin seeds, ginger root, seeds and nuts. Zinc works in opposition to copper, and supplementing zinc much above 180mg daily may result in copper deficiency in the body. Zinc is also antagonistic to toxic metals such as cadmium, mercury and lead. Virtually every enzyme reaction in the brain is zinc dependent, and impairments of taste, vision, smell, and appetite may be early signs of zinc deficiency. Zinc is one of the few minerals lost more rapidly in the urine following acute or chronic emotional stress. In males, zinc is found in high concentrations in the sperm and prostate gland.

Iron is a mineral in the body with a narrow window of efficacy. Too much or too little will create health problems. Iron deficiency is one of the most common nutrient deficiencies throughout the world. Most iron in the body is found in the hemoglobin of our red blood cells. Hemoglobin carries oxygen to our tissues from the lungs. Myoglobin is a red pigment in our muscle tissues that stores and transports oxygen for use during muscle contraction. Myoglobin also contains iron. Myoglobin is also found in heart tissue. Small amounts of iron are found in enzymes essential to energy production. Iron deficiency may come about due to poor dietary intake, bleeding, parasitic infections, low stomach acid, malabsorption, and low vitamin A or vitamin C, which affects the transport and absorption of iron. Also, calcium either in supplements or foods may interfere with the absorption of iron and should be taken at different times.

The RDA for iron is 10-12mg for men and 15 mg for menstruating women. Foods such as flours that are enriched with iron where there are insufficient antioxidants in the diet can create free radicals that can cause damage to DNA. Iron supplements are not safe for individuals with iron storage disorders such as hemosiderosis, hemochromatosis or thalassemia. Caution is suggested in taking iron picolinate as a supplement, as the absorption is so efficient that it can lead to excessive iron levels. Iron supplements should be kept away from children who can inadvertently take an overdose of this mineral which can be fatal in a manner of hours.

Iron is a “growth-nutrient” for almost all forms of life – humans, tumor cells, lawn grass, bacteria, yeast. It is actually the unbound iron in humans that can create the problems. 99% of iron is bound to either hemoglobin, myoglobin, or transferrin. Acidification can cause an increase in unbound iron. Adults who are not vegetarians do not need supplemental iron in most instances.

Copper is involved in enzyme reactions, bone and connective tissue construction, and via ceruloplasmin, helps prevent the oxidation of fatty acids that can destroy DNA and cell membranes. It is also required to absorb, utilize and synthesize hemoglobin. It is also used to maintain the integrity of the myelin covering of nerves. Copper is needed by all tissues, but its highest concentration is in the liver where it contributes to energy and detoxification mechanisms.
Copper supplements have slowed tumor growth in animals. The RDA of copper is 1.5 - 3 mg/day and the best sources in the diet are organ meats, shellfish, and legumes. A prominent feature of copper deficiency is impaired iron absorption in the gut. A high ratio of copper to zinc can result from either a deficiency in zinc intake or excess copper intake. An inborn error of metabolism associated with the failure to eliminate copper from the body is known as Wilson’s disease. It can result in liver, kidney, and central nervous system damage.

Copper supplements should be approached with caution since copper is among the most powerful producers of free radicals. However, in proper balance with zinc, the two elements act as antioxidants by removing free radicals.

Iodine assists the thyroid gland in regulating metabolic rate and is primarily involved in the production of thyroid hormone. It is a selective toxin for disease-causing microorganisms in the gut. Additionally, iodine modifies the effects of estrogen on the breast tissue and reduces fibrocystic breast disease and also reduces the risk of breast cancer.

The best source of iodine is seafood, especially kelp. Sea salt is a poor source of iodine. Iodine deficiency is the most common cause of endemic goiter and cretinism (mental retardation in children), where brain development is abnormal. In Japan goiter is relatively rare and iodine consumption may reach 10 milligrams daily. The RDA for iodine is 2 micrograms/kilogram of weight, and somewhat more in children. An additional 25 to 50 micrograms per day may be needed during pregnancy and lactation. In addition to goiter, some cases of subclinical hypothyroidism are caused by iodine deficiency.

The effects of excessive iodine intake vary, depending on the functionality and health of the thyroid gland. In some cases, the thyroid gland may stop production of thyroid hormone. There is also an opposite response, where excessive thyroid hormone (thyrotoxicosis) can take place. This is more common when the thyroid gland contains nodules that can produce thyroid hormone. This type of effect can occur when people living in iodine-deficient areas move to areas that are iodine- rich. Selenium deficiency affects iodine deficiency as well, as selenium is required in the conversion of the thyroxine form of thyroid hormone (T4) into the more active form, tri-iodothyronine (T3). For more information on iodine and how to test for iodine sufficiency, refer to the March 2006 Newsletter which is on-line at our website.

Manganese is an essential mineral cofactor in many enzyme reactions that are involved in protein, fat and energy metabolism. It plays a crucial role in the effectiveness of vitamin B1 (thiamin). It is also needed for bone growth and development, and reproduction. The best food sources of manganese are whole grains, nuts, and fruits grown in manganese-rich (= in the fertilizer) soils. Animal tissue contains very little manganese. Tea is very rich in manganese. The RDA for manganese is between 2-5 mg daily. Excessive manganese levels have been associated with certain forms of Parkinson’s disease and also a propensity for violence in humans. The excessive manganese may be due to a deficiency of calcium and/or an excess of other trace minerals such as copper, lead, and cadmium. There is also some evidence that an adequate intake of lithium and zinc may reduce the effect of excess manganese as it relates to violence.

Chromium is a mineral critical to controlling blood sugar levels and preventing lean tissue wasting. Deficiencies in chromium in humans typically lead to impaired glucose metabolism, elevated blood fats, and even peripheral neuropathy (tingling and numbness in the extremities). An estimated 50% of the American population do not consume the minimum recommended daily intake of 50 micrograms daily. Several studies have shown that taking chromium supplements lowers fasting blood sugar levels in healthy, normal individuals. There is also an association of chromium deficiency and heart disease and atherosclerosis in humans. In those patients with atherosclerotic plaque who died of heart disease, no detectable chromium was found in their tissue. Chromium can also lower cholesterol levels in individuals with elevated cholesterol. Chromium is stripped out of most foods in the refining processes. Chromium is found in whole grains and beans, but unless chromium is added to the fertilizer, these foods may be low in this essential mineral.

Selenium up until the 1960's was considered a toxic mineral for humans by the FDA. In places like South Dakota and Montana, there is so much selenium in the soil that animals grazing on the grass can develop selenium toxicity involving nerve and behavior problems. In humans, selenium toxicity may begin as low as 1000mcg daily, but it is much more common at about 65,000 micrograms daily. We now know, however, that small amounts of selenium are critical for our immune systems and detoxification pathways. In Finland, where the selenium-deficient soil leads to a high incidence of cancer and heart disease, wheat flour is enriched with selenium just like we add iron to our white flour. Wheat germ, seafood, and Brazil nuts are the best sources of selenium. The RDA is 70 micrograms. In a recent prospective double-blind human intervention study, supplements providing 200 micrograms of selenium were able to reduce the incidence of various cancers by up to 60%. Vitamin E enhances the action of selenium. There is evidence in elderly people, several hundred micrograms of selenium along with 400 IU of vitamin E improve their mental status while decreasing their anxiety, depression, poor appetite and fatigue. As previously noted, selenium is critical for thyroid function. It is also a potent anti-oxidant.

Molybdenum is an essential mineral for the detoxification pathways. I often see patients with heavy metal toxicity due to mercury, arsenic, or lead have low hair molybdenum levels. There is no RDA for molybdenum, but levels of 75-250 micrograms have been recommended by the Food and Nutrition Board. This is an extremely non-toxic mineral. Beans and organ meats are the best sources of molybdenum, but again, content is dependent upon the soils the plants are grown in or the animals graze on. We use a plant-chelated form of molybdenum at the Center for patients who are low in this mineral.

Vanadium is a mineral critical for controlling blood sugar. To avoid a deficiency of vanadium, it is estimated that over 100mcg/day is required. In general, this can be derived from the diet. Evidence is lacking that amounts greater than 250 - 500 micrograms are required by humans. There is a risk associated with intake of higher levels of vanadium and it is recommended that dietary supplements not contain more than 250 -350 micrograms. The best form of vanadium appears to be vanadyl sulfate. The best food sources of vanadium include mushrooms, shellfish, dill, parsley, and black pepper.

Phosphorus is an essential mineral needed for bone development. Nutritional deficiencies of this substance are rare, and both plant and animal foodstuffs are rich in phosphorus. However, a vitamin D deficiency may reduce absorption of phosphorus. The RDA for phosphorus is between 800 - 1200mg daily, depending upon age and gender.

Boron is a mineral important for optimal bone health and calcium absorption and utilization. It has only recently been established to be significant to humans and animals. An intake between 1 to 4 milligrams a day of boron is appropriate to optimal health. Most persons eating a Western diet consume between 0.1 to 0.5 milligrams of boron a day. Supplementation of 3 milligrams of boron a day in the diets of postmenopausal women has been shown to improve both calcium and magnesium retention. There are other studies that show optimal intakes of boron can enhance memory and cognitive function, and also a resistance to dental caries. Some fruits, such as apples, are rich in boron. Again, this varies widely depending upon the boron content of the soils the food was grown in. There is no RDA for boron.

Cobalt is best known for its remarkable magnetic properties. It is an essential trace element and is required in the formation of vitamin B12. When we get hair analyses on patients and their hair cobalt is very low, they often are found to have a corresponding vitamin B12 deficiency. Cobalt is also involved in the metabolism of fatty acids and in the synthesis of hemoglobin. No deficiency of cobalt in humans has been reported in the literature and excessive cobalt intake can result in goiter, congestive heart failure, and myxedema. “Beer drinkers cobalt cardiomyopathy” was first reported in 1967 following hazardous levels of cobalt sulphate begin added to beer as a defoaming agent. There is no RDA for cobalt.

Lithium is the lightest of all metals and occurs in the soils and in foods such as tomatoes, potatoes, and green peppers. In 1949 a researcher named Cade found that lithium in the form of lithium carbonate helped patients with a type of mental illness called manic-depression, and today lithium carbonate is widely used at prescription doses. By the mid-1970s an additional role was found for lithium in human health where it was found to play a protective role in treating sodium imbalances that contribute to heart disease in humans. Lithium is very similar chemically to potassium, and potassium also helps regulate sodium levels. During the 1970's researchers in Texas discovered that the levels of lithium found in water were inversely associated with the incidence of admissions and readmissions for psychiatric disorders in 27 Texas state mental hospitals. Later studies showed that the incidence of homicides, rapes and suicides were significantly higher in countries where there was little or no lithium in drinking water. The researchers suggested a dose of 2mg a day might be considered as the effective dose in lowering aggressive or self-destructive behavior. Although it is apparent that lithium is required by the brain, there is no RDA at this time. Lithium may also be useful in treating NIDDM (non insulin dependent diabetes mellitus), in glucose metabolism, and in the treatment of alcoholism. We carry LI Zyme, which is an organic form of lithium. Each tablet contains 50 micrograms of lithium. Many of our patients have observed they sleep better and feel calmer taking this low dose formula.

Sodium is not found in nature in pure form as any amount of moisture or air converts it into one of its compounds. It is the principle mineral in the serum of the blood and is essential to regulate extracellular fluid volume, maintain acid-base balance, and maintain membrane potential of the cells. Sodium is constantly being pumped out of cells in exchange for potassium. Lithium can accumulate in the body if sodium levels are depleted. Sodium deficiency can occur in renal disease, adrenal insufficiency, vomiting, diarrhea, wound drainage, excessive sweating, burns, and with diuretic use. Sodium chloride (salt) is the primary source of sodium in humans.

There is a correlation with excessive intake of salt and hypertension. In northern Japan, where it is estimated 38% of the population is hypertensive, the average sodium intake is 28 grams per day. In Alaskan natives, there is a low incidence of hypertension, and their average sodium intake is around 4 grams a day. However, these studies may be flawed as the average potassium intake wasn’t considered at the same time. Numerous studies have shown that potassium can limit the toxic effects of high sodium intake. By simply eliminating salty processed foods (e.g. pretzels, potato chips, etc.) a person’s average salt intake would be between 3 to 5 grams. It is important to recognize that some individuals with hypotension (low blood pressure) would benefit from added salt. The RDA of sodium is 500 milligrams a day.




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|~!|Sun 27-Sep-2009|~!||~!| A Story of Estrogen Dominance - by Robert A. Erickson, M.D. 11/2006©|~!|Mrs. D is a 38 year old lady who came to see me with a constellation of symptoms. She was concerned about being overweight and was especially upset about the fat deposits in her thighs and hips. “I crave a lot of sugar and sweets and I have a lot of premenstrual mood swings and depression.” On further questioning, Mrs. D admitted to experiencing water retention, breast swelling, heavy periods, and a loss of sex drive. Mrs. D's family history was that of a mother and also an older sister having had breast cancer. On physical exam her breast exam revealed fibrocystic changes.|~!|1254090373|~!|Mrs. D is a 38 year old lady who came to see me with a constellation of symptoms. She was concerned about being overweight and was especially upset about the fat deposits in her thighs and hips. “I crave a lot of sugar and sweets and I have a lot of premenstrual mood swings and depression.” On further questioning, Mrs. D admitted to experiencing water retention, breast swelling, heavy periods, and a loss of sex drive. Mrs. D's family history was that of a mother and also an older sister having had breast cancer. On physical exam her breast exam revealed fibrocystic changes.

Mrs. D. was suffering from estrogen dominance, a condition where there is an imbalance between the two hormones estrogen and progesterone. In a healthy woman, estrogen and progesterone tend to balance each other out. When a woman's body makes either too much estrogen or too little progesterone, a condition where there is a hormonal imbalance with excessive estrogen may occur. Estrogen dominance is a risk factor for developing breast cancer. As a women goes through menopause, her ovaries stop producing the balance of hormones, and progesterone is usually very low. Is it coincidental that the majority of all breast cancers occur after menopause? Estrogen dominance can also occur if a woman is taking artificial or natural estrogens in too high amounts. Mrs. D had previously called her obstetrician's office and was advised to go on birth control pills “to balance her hormones.”

A Brief History of Artificial Hormone Replacement and It's Complications

Over half a century ago physicians began treating women who had entered menopause with an artificial (for humans) estrogen derived from horse urine known as Premarin. Although this drug controlled their hot flushes, mood swings, and other symptoms, women taking this drug began developing uterine cancer at a rate up to 8 times that of women not taking the drug. It was not known at that time that a condition called estrogen dominance was being created by this drug. This increased cancer development was due to a high dose of estrogen continuously stimulating the lining of the uterus. When another drug called Provera (a progestin) was later added, the increased uterine cancer development was reversed. This combination of drugs was prescribed for decades by physicians and gynecologists. Then, in 2002, the results of a revolutionary study called the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) involving over 161,000 post menopausal women were published. Some of the participants had been given the combination of Premarin and Provera. This group was found to be at greater risk for breast cancer, heart disease and stroke. In fact, the stroke risk was so alarming that the study was terminated early. Other participants were randomly assigned Premarin or placebos. This part of the study found no increased risk of breast cancer in women who had taken Premarin for less than 7 years (the Premarin group did have an increased risk of stroke). Although there were numerous articles that followed in newspapers and medical journals touting the safety of “estrogen” and that it didn't cause breast cancer, the sales of Prempro, Premarin and Provera plumeted because of the serious side effects.

Another study which involved 127,000 nurses, called the Nurse's Health Study, found women who took artificial hormones for at least 15 years had a markedly higher risk of developing breast cancer. This study also showed women who had naturally high levels of estrogen (estrogen dominance) were at greater risk for developing breast cancer.

There are also environmental sources of xenoestrogens (foreign estrogens) that humans are exposed to everyday. Some of these sources are pesticides or pesticide residues on non-organic vegetables, chemicals from plastics, and hormones that are given to cattle and poultry that end up in our bodies after consuming meat, milk, or dairy products.

Natural vs. Artificial Hormones

I want our readers to understand that Premarin, birth control pills and other artificial hormones are not identical to the hormones the human body produces. They are, in fact, totally different chemical structures and I use the word “artificial” in this article to make this point. Premarin contains absolutely no estriol, the major natural estrogen that makes up 80% of human estrogen. It does contain 10% estrone, which humans make. The other 90% of Premarin is composed of horse estrogens that are totally foreign to human beings but not horses. Unfortunately, the term “estrogen” and “Premarin” are used interchangeably by doctors, the lay press, and medical journals. Even more unfortunate is the fact that bio-identical hormones are lumped into this group when they are the only hormones identical in chemical structure to what the human body produces.

Are natural or bio-identical hormones safer than artificial hormones? We don't know for certain because there have been no large clinical studies to determine this. Intuitively, physicians who prescribe bio-identical hormones feel they are safer when prescribed in proper, balanced amounts because they are not foreign to the human body and because the human body has the metabolic pathways in place to metabolize our natural hormones.

Is There a Hormone Imbalance in Your Breasts?

Mrs. D was made aware that estrogen dominance was a risk factor for developing breast cancer. Further evaluation included measuring the blood levels of hormones in the 3rd week of her menstrual cycle which showed low progesterone and high estrogen levels. But was this affecting her breasts? I advised Mrs. D to obtain a thermogram of her breasts. If discovered, certain thermographic risk markers can warn a woman that she needs to work with her doctor to improve breast health. Breast thermography is the only non-invasive method that visualizes whether there is an estrogen dominant effect on the breasts. Mammography does not, and is not recommended for women below the age of 40. Mrs. D's thermographic scan subsequently did show a thermal pattern consistent with her estrogen dominance. If you suspect you have estrogen dominance, or would simply like more information on Breast Thermography, go to our website www.prevent-doc.com and click on the link to Thermography. Or call Gainesville Thermography at 352-332-7212.

CAM Therapies to the Rescue

Mrs. D was advised against using birth control pills. Current studies show birth control pills do increase the risk of developing breast cancer, although this risk is not as great as with estrogen replacement therapy. Instead, natural micronized progesterone cream was prescribed to correct her low progesterone levels. She was instructed to apply the progesterone cream to her breasts,|~!|Sun 27-Sep-2009|~!||~!| The Acid/Alkaline Theory of Disease A Myth by Robert A. Erickson, M.D. 6/2007 ©|~!|One of the diets that has been around for a long time is the acid/alkaline theory of disease. This diet is prevalent in alternate health circles and contends one must keep one's body at the proper pH by eating primarily “alkaline forming foods.” By doing this in some way your body will become “more alkaline” and healthy. Alternative practitioners may use systems that measure urine pH plus other factors to assess metabolism. Also, some measure saliva pH. Salivary pH is effected by bacteria in the mouth. Neither method determines the internal pH of the body, and I do not give much credence to this theory for a number of reasons.|~!|1254090389|~!|One of the diets that has been around for a long time is the acid/alkaline theory of disease. This diet is prevalent in alternate health circles and contends one must keep one's body at the proper pH by eating primarily “alkaline forming foods.” By doing this in some way your body will become “more alkaline” and healthy. Alternative practitioners may use systems that measure urine pH plus other factors to assess metabolism. Also, some measure saliva pH. Salivary pH is effected by bacteria in the mouth. Neither method determines the internal pH of the body, and I do not give much credence to this theory for a number of reasons.

What is pH and Why is it Important?

Inside the human body, the acid-alkaline balance is important because many functions in the body occur only at a specific pH. pH is the amount of free hydrogen that is measured on a scale of 1 to 14, and denotes the level of acidity or alkalinity. A pH value of 7 is neutral; below 7 acid and above 7 alkaline. Different parts of the body have different levels of acidity and alkalinity. For instance, the blood is alkaline, with a pH between 7.35 - 7.45. Urine pH can vary between 4.5 - 8.0, so it can be either acid or alkaline. Heart pH varies between 7.0 - 7.4 and is alkaline. Muscle pH is between 6.9 and 7.2 and saliva pH 6.0 - 7.4
All chemical reactions in your body are initiated by enzymes, and all enzymes function in a very narrow pH range. If your blood changes its acidity or alkalinity for any reason, your body physiology is programed to quickly change your pH back to normal. For example, when you hold your breath, carbon dioxide accumulates in your bloodstream and very rapidly turns your blood acidic. You will become uncomfortable or even pass out. This forces you to start breathing again, and the pH returns to normal.

Alkaline and Acid Foods

There is confusion between the terms acid or alkaline ash and acid and alkaline forming, as they are often used interchangeably. Alkaline ash foods are those that contain large quantities of magnesium, calcium, potassium and/or sodium. Acid ash foods are those that contain chloride, phosphorus, sulphur, or other minerals that form acid compounds. In investigating how different foods might affect the acid-alkaline balance, various foods were burned to ash in the laboratory and the pH of the resulting ash was measured. These foods were then classified as acid, alkaline, or neutral ash foods. As far back as 1919, one of the studies performed at the University of Minnesota Medical School, published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, evaluated the effect of diet on the alkaline reserve of the blood and found that “the alkaline-reserve in man is not endangered by acid-forming diets.” For purposes of our discussion, I will refer to acid or alkaline forming foods. We have studies on the effects of food and urine pH. All animal products, beans, seeds and grains tend to have an acidifying effect, while fresh vegetables and fruits, with a few exceptions, have an alkalinizing effect (on the urine). Plums, cranberries, and prunes leave acid residues in the body because they contain benzoic acid which is not oxidized. Cranberries help prevent recurrent urinary tract infections, not because of their acidity, but because they contain chemicals that prevent bacteria from sticking to urinary tract cells.

The Acid-Base Balance in the Body

No matter whether a food leaves an acid or alkaline ash, when it enters your stomach it will become acidic. All foods that leave the stomach are acidic but when they enter the intestines, secretions from your pancreas neutralize the stomach acids, and the food in the intestines becomes alkaline. You cannot change the acidity of any part of your body except your urine by your diet. Because your urine is contained in your bladder it does not effect the pH of any other part of your body. You could eat large amounts of ascorbic acid, vinegar, or citrus fruits and you will not change the acidity of your stomach or bloodstream.

The acid-base balance in the body is tightly controlled by a number of factors, including your lungs, calcium and mineral reserves in your bones, your blood and your kidneys. For instance, when you take in more protein than your body needs, your body cannot store it, so the excess amino acids are converted into organic acids. These acids would acidify your blood if it were not for the calcium leaving your bones to neutralize the acid and control the blood pH. Over a long period of time, eating an acid forming diet may have an effect on your alkaline mineral reserves in the bones. Because of this many researchers believe taking in too much protein can cause osteoporosis. Remember your bone calcium and other minerals are in a dynamic state with the blood and are used as a buffering system. There are promoters of products such as “alkaline drinking water” or special calcium supplements, that are supposed to alkalinize your body or prevent cancer. In my opinion, there is no science behind these claims.

Summary

The beneficial effects of fresh fruits and vegetables in the diet have been recognized for a long time, and it is suggested that at least five servings a day are needed to maintain health. Meat and other animal|~!|Sun 27-Sep-2009|~!||~!| Vitamin D is Not Just for Bone Robert A. Erickson, M.D. September 2007©|~!|Most people realize vitamin D is important in calcium absorption and prevention of osteoporosis. Foods that commonly have significant amounts of vitamin D include milk, egg yolk, liver, and fish. Of course, exposure to sunlight causes vitamin D production in our skins. What is not known is vitamin D deficiency is a worldwide problem and is surprisingly common in North America. Vitamin D occurs as 25 hydroxy vitamin D in the blood, and is converted by the tissues into its active form, 1, 25 hydroxy vitamin D. It used to be thought vitamin D conversion occurred in the kidney, but now researchers know that it also exists in numerous tissues such as the colon, breasts, and prostate. In these tissues, vitamin D controls cell proliferation by increasing apoptosis (programmed cell death that is lacking in cancer cells), decreases angiogenesis (new blood vessel proliferation seen in cancer cells), and promotes cell differentiation (this is lacking in cancer cells).|~!|1254090413|~!|Most people realize vitamin D is important in calcium absorption and prevention of osteoporosis. Foods that commonly have significant amounts of vitamin D include milk, egg yolk, liver, and fish. Of course, exposure to sunlight causes vitamin D production in our skins. What is not known is vitamin D deficiency is a worldwide problem and is surprisingly common in North America. Vitamin D occurs as 25 hydroxy vitamin D in the blood, and is converted by the tissues into its active form, 1, 25 hydroxy vitamin D. It used to be thought vitamin D conversion occurred in the kidney, but now researchers know that it also exists in numerous tissues such as the colon, breasts, and prostate. In these tissues, vitamin D controls cell proliferation by increasing apoptosis (programmed cell death that is lacking in cancer cells), decreases angiogenesis (new blood vessel proliferation seen in cancer cells), and promotes cell differentiation (this is lacking in cancer cells).

In the mid 1600s in Northern Europe there was a high incidence of rickets in the cities. By 1919 Huldschinsky discovered childhood rickets was cured with sunlight. In the 1930s vitamin D was added to foods and even put in Schlitz beer. The main source of vitamin D is from production in our skins from exposure to sunlight. If a person were to stay in the sun for 1 hour in a bathing suit (without sunblock), 20,000 IU of vitamin D would be produced on average. Using a SPF15 sunblock, 99.9% of vitamin D production is blocked, and if a SPF 8 is used, 97.5% is blocked. So using sunblock basically eliminates the benefit of sun exposure.

Vitamin D deficiency is associated with obesity, and studies have shown that in obese patients with UV light exposure from a tanning bed, only 33% of the vitamin D concentration is produced compared to normal weight individuals. Vitamin D produced in the skin becomes trapped in the subcutaneous fat. Also, after 50,000 IU of vitamin D2 was given, levels in obese patients were 50% of that of normal weight individuals in one study.

A study published in Lancet stated that at a vitamin D blood level of at least 20ng/mL, prostate, colon and breast cancers would be reduced by 30 - 50%. There is an especially strong correlation between digestive organ cancers and vitamin D deficiency. It has also been shown that a combination of vitamin D and calcium reduces the risk of pre-cancerous colonic adenomatous polyps. In this study (JNCI 2003), 1200mg of calcium + serum levels of vitamin D equivalent to 29.1 ng/mL stopped the development of colonic polyps. A study from the University of California at San Diego showed that in the USA, breast cancer rates would decrease by 50% and colon cancer rates by 66% if a person took 2000 IU of vitamin D3 daily.

Low vitamin D levels have also been shown to affect survival in cancers of the breast, colon, prostate, early-stage lung, melanoma, and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas.

Up until recently, the RDA (recommended daily allowance) for Vitamin D has been 400 IU. How was this arrived at? In the 1930s cod liver oil was given to children at a dose of 1 teaspoon daily during the winter to prevent rickets. There are approximately 400 IUs of vitamin D in a teaspoon of cod liver oil, so the RDA became 400 IU. The current government stated upper tolerated dose is 2000 IU/day, but we know from reviews of the medical literature that no toxicity has been seen in doses less than 10,000 IU and no major toxicity occurs in doses below 40,000 IU.

25 hydroxy vitamin D levels are easy to measure by a simple blood test. I would recommend patient's take in enough vitamin D to keep their levels in the upper reference range (around 50ng/dL). Lifeguards have an average vitamin D level in the 80s, and I haven't seen very many unhealthy looking lifeguards. The Center carries both an emulsified vitamin D3 from Biotics Research that has 400 IU per drop, and a capsule from Thorne Labs that has 5000 IU of vitamin D3 per capsule.|~!|Sun 27-Sep-2009|~!||~!| IV Vitamin C Update from the ACAM Conference and its use in Cancer Treatment Robert A. Erickson, M.D. September 2007©|~!|Dr. Mark Levine is a graduate of Harvard Medical School and also worked at Johns Hopkins Hospital for a number of years. He is a physician-scientist and a senior investigator at NIH (National Institutes of Health). Information from his research on intravenous vitamin C as a cancer therapy is simplified and summarized in the following paragraphs.|~!|1254090445|~!|Dr. Mark Levine is a graduate of Harvard Medical School and also worked at Johns Hopkins Hospital for a number of years. He is a physician-scientist and a senior investigator at NIH (National Institutes of Health). Information from his research on intravenous vitamin C as a cancer therapy is simplified and summarized in the following paragraphs.

Dr. Levine did basic research on the pharmacokinetics of oral vitamin C and IV vitamin C. He wanted to find out whether there was a difference taking vitamin C orally vs. intravenously, and also because there is conflicting information about the usefulness of vitamin C as a cancer therapy.

The first thing he did was to study healthy adults to see what would happen if progressively increasing doses of oral vitamin C were given, and the effect this would have on the plasma ascorbic acid concentration. What he found was from 30mg to 200mg, there was a very steep increase in plasma concentration of ascorbate. In going past 200mg this curve flattened out. In fact, going up to 2000mg orally didn't really increase the plasma concentration by much. It was his conclusion that taking 200mg of vitamin C a day orally was an optimal dose, and that past this dose a person was not affecting the plasma concentrations of the vitamin significantly.

He then gave IV vitamin C intravenously and what he found was that this acted totally differently. Tight control is bypassed until renal filtration restores plasma vitamin C concentrations to a steady-state. In fact, what he found was that the plasma concentrations of ascorbic acid may be 50 to 70 fold higher compared to maximal concentrations from oral administration. “Concentrations achieved only by intravenous administration kill cancer but not normal cells. It is likely the killing occurs because pharmacological extracellular ascorbate concentrations generate ascorbate radical selectively in the extracellular fluid, but not in blood. Ascorbate radical in the extracellular fluid may then generate hydrogen peroxide, followed by the formation of other reactive species.” In other words, IV vitamin C was acting like a drug rather than a vitamin.

Dr. Levine found not all cancer cells were responsive to IV Vitamin C, but the most sensitive ones were lymphoma, followed by breast and prostate cancers and bladder cancers. The hydrogen peroxide produced diffuses into cells where it blocks the ATP (energy production) in cancer cells, but not in normal cells for some reason. His studies were done using both animal and human cells in test tubes. Dr. Levine felt human clinical trials were overdue, especially since CAM physicians have been using intravenous vitamin C for years in thousands of patients with good results and with no ill effect if patients were properly screened for kidney disease and G6PD deficiency.

Several other physicians at the conference were involved with small clinical trials using high doses of IV vitamin C in cancer patients at their respective hospitals, and their observations were that IV Vitamin C was useful as a cancer therapy in some cancers.

I would also add that several years ago I was in a conference with Sir Arnold Takimoto, M.D.. This physician was the medical director of several cancer treatment centers on the West coast and it was his observation (as well as that of other physicians) that some vitamin C products did not work as well as others in their patients. He discovered that corn-derived vitamin C was not as effective as non corn-derived e.g. from beet root or cassava root source. His opinion was that this was due to genetic modification of much of the corn in this country. Most vitamin C is a by-product of the high fructose corn syrup industry. At the Center, we carry only non-corn derived vitamin C powder, liquid, and tablets, and use only non corn-derived vitamin C in our IV therapy.|~!|Sun 27-Sep-2009|~!||~!| The Cholesterol Obsession Robert A. Erickson, M.D. 2008©|~!|I frequently see patients in my practice who have cholesterols above 200mg/dL and have either been advised by a physician to take a statin drug to lower their cholesterol, or they are concerned on their own that their cholesterol level may be too high. I will share information on controversies in cholesterol therapy and whether the current guidelines to lower cholesterol are evidence-based.|~!|1254090468|~!|I frequently see patients in my practice who have cholesterols above 200mg/dL and have either been advised by a physician to take a statin drug to lower their cholesterol, or they are concerned on their own that their cholesterol level may be too high. I will share information on controversies in cholesterol therapy and whether the current guidelines to lower cholesterol are evidence-based.

Our society’s obsession with cholesterol goes back to the famous Framingham Heart Study initiated in 1948, where a correlation between heart attacks and high cholesterol turned up when studying diets, lifestyles and environments of a large number of families. The high cholesterol correlation was found in men, but not women. In 1956, the American Heart Association drew on the conclusions of the Framingham study and Ancel Keys, a famous pubic health scientist of the time, stating that butter, lard, beef and eggs were the cause of coronary heart disease. Because lowering cholesterol did not reduce the risk of death from heart disease, the Cholesterol Consensus Conference in 1984 developed the guideline that a lower “acceptable” level of cholesterol (the magic 200mg/dL number) was needed. When lowering total cholesterol levels below 200 did not translate into saving lives from heart attacks, the focus was then turned to LDL cholesterol levels. The unfortunate patient who had an LDL cholesterol level of above 130 was now condemned to a lifetime of expensive drugs. In addition, when a person with a completely normal LDL cholesterol level suffered a heart attack, he would still be placed on a cholesterol-lowering drug.

In 1977, Dr. Michael DeBakey, the internationally renowned heart surgeon, pointed out that only 30-40% of people with blocked arteries and heart disease had elevated blood cholesterol levels. He asked “how do you explain the other 60 – 70%?”

Looking at non-US populations such as Crete or France, average cholesterol levels of their populations are well above 200 mg/dL with diets rich in butter, cheese, creamy sauces, and, of course, red wine. These populations have less heart disease than the US population. One famous French investigation, the Lyon Diet Heart Study, published in the late 1990s, showed heart attack survivors following a Mediterranean diet were far less likely to experience a second heart attack or heart failure that individuals on the typical low-fat diet endorsed by the American Heart Association. The Mediterranean diet, rich in anti-oxidant foods such as fresh vegetables and fruits, fish and fish oil clearly protected participants from heart disease. What was also found was that people with higher cholesterols had less deaths from cancer, respiratory failure, suicides, and automobile accidents. Why accidents and suicides? You need cholesterol to make brain cells and for memory!

High Cholesterol, a “New Disease”

Although high cholesterol is only a finding on a blood test, the medical establishment and pharmaceutical industry, backed by the government in the 20th century made it into an actual disease. Unlike most other diseases, the most common symptom of high cholesterol is feeling normal. According to most experts, the only treatment for this new disease is to use cholesterol-lowering drugs. In over 4 decades of use of these drugs heart disease and stroke still remain the number one cause of death in both men and women, where one out of two men and women will die of atherosclerosis related disease.

What is Cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a waxy substance that occurs naturally in all parts of the body and that your body needs to function normally. It is produced in your liver and also occurs in foods such as dietary fats and egg yolk. It is present in cell walls or membranes everywhere in the body, including the brain, nerves, muscle, skin, liver, intestines, and heart. Your body uses cholesterol to produce many hormones including estradiol, progesterone and testosterone. Your body also uses cholesterol to manufacture vitamin D and the bile acids that help to digest fat. Our bodies make about 800mg of cholesterol a day to cover those needs. Cholesterol and other fats can't dissolve in the blood. They have to be transported to and from the cells by special carriers called lipoproteins. There are several kinds, but the ones to focus on are low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL).

What are LDL and HDL cholesterol? Is LDL really bad?

HDL cholesterol is responsible for clearing out the LDL cholesterol that sticks to the arterial walls. Exercise, anti-oxidant minerals and vitamins, and omega-3 fish oils increase the amount of HDL cholesterol. LDL cholesterol is not bad. As a matter of fact, it is critical to maintain life. LDL transports cholesterol and triglycerides from the liver to peripheral tissues. LDL also regulates cholesterol synthesis at these sites. It only becomes harmful when it is oxidized by free radicals. The oxidized form of LDL cholesterol sticks to the arterial walls and initiates the formation of plaque. This is a very important point for our readers to understand.

For example, we know cigarette smoking increases the risk of many diseases such as heart disease, stroke and cancer. Smokers with normal levels of LDL cholesterol have a greatly increased risk of developing heart disease compared to non-smokers with the same LDL level. Of course the reason why a smoker with normal levels of LDL cholesterol is at greater risk is because his LDL cholesterol gets oxidized at an incredible rate. Homocystine levels are also increased by cigarette smoking which further oxidizes LDL cholesterol and the arterial lining itself. The degree of oxidation directly corresponds to the risk of developing heart disease, not the level of LDL cholesterol. But statin drugs do not address the true bad cholesterol, the oxidized LDL cholesterol.
What is Atherosclerosis?

Atherosclerosis (or ateriosclerosis) is damaged, hardened and possibly clogged arteries throughout the body due to plaque formation. Plaque can be of two types. Stable plaque, covered with fibrous tissue, slowly expands inward and shrinks the diameter of arteries. Unstable, vulnerable plaque is much more dangerous. It can rupture, spilling its contents into the arteries and shut off blood flow, causing a heart attack or stroke. When a stroke occurs, either there is a lack of blood to an area of the brain or the blood vessel has leaked, spilling blood into the brain. Interestingly enough, plaque is only about 5% cholesterol and 95% calcium.

Although plaque can develop slowly, it can also develop within 6 months. Many cardiologists have seen this. Stress can speed things up. For a cardiac patient, emotional stress is deadly, and blood vessels can spasm and tighten up, further reducing blood flow. If plaque develops slowly, the body can form natural bypasses called collaterals. A patient may have a slowly closing coronary artery and not have a heart attack or require surgery or stents.
Death by Inflammation, not High Cholesterol

In 2000, doctors at Harvard University published the first of a series of landmark research studies showing heart disease was an inflammatory disease, just as we think of rheumatoid arthritis as an inflammatory disease. I was privileged to hear one of the Harvard cardiologists at a medical conference I was attending present this dramatic finding. He made a point that he could do a cardiac catheterization on a patient, not find significant blockage or hardening of the arteries, and within 6 months this same patient could return with plaque formation or a heart attack. This concerned him. What was going on? The Harvard researchers found that it was the vascular inflammation that caused the oxidized LDL cholesterol to stick in the arteries. They found C reactive protein to be a key biochemical substance that indicated the presence of vascular inflammation. Like a silent smoldering fire, low-grade inflammation leads to weakening and eventual rupture of arterial plaques that directly trigger heart attacks and strokes. This explains why more than half of heart attack and stroke victims have normal cholesterols.

At the Center, all new adult patients have screening high sensitivity C reactive protein and homocystine (another inflammation causing substance) levels checked in addition to cholesterol levels.
Let’s Look At Current Recommendations

The National Cholesterol Education Program is part of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, meaning it is part of our federal government. In 2004 it selected a panel of nine “experts” to review statin drug use and make recommendations as to guidelines doctors should follow to reduce cardiovascular disease. Their findings were published in the journal Circulation in July 2004. It was recommended that individuals at high cardiovascular disease risk attain levels of LDL less than 100mg/dL and for individuals at very high risk, the LDL target was less than 70mg/dL. This is very difficult to do because these targets create an unnatural physiological condition. This requires very high doses of statin drugs, doubling or tripling the dose, oftentimes in combination with other drugs.

What Circulation failed to do was disclose that six of the nine “experts” had direct financial ties to the makers of statin drugs. Even though this conflict of interest was disclosed in the media at the time, no action was taken to review the credibility of their conclusions by other less biased researchers. These guidelines immediately boosted the sales of statins from 15 billion dollars per year to over 22 billion dollars in 2005. Statins are the number one selling medication in the United States.

On October 3, 2006, after extensive review of all studies relating to cholesterol-lowering statin drugs, scientists reported in the Annals of Internal Medicine that “current clinical evidence does not demonstrate that titrating lipid therapy to achieve proposed low LDL cholesterol levels is beneficial or safe.” This shocking review also exposed the deceitful manipulation of statistics.
A Lack of Evidence

In November 2007 I attended the ACAM conference in Phoenix, Arizona. One of the speakers was James Wright M.D., PhD, CRCP(C). He is a professor in the Departments of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology & Therapeutics and Medicine at the University of BC, Vancouver, Canada. He is also the Managing Director of the Therapeutics Initiative, a government funded organization with a mandate to provide evidence-based practical information about drugs and other therapies to health professionals in BC. He gave an eye-opening lecture on whether the lipid lowering guidelines are evidence based. Just because a major medical journal publishes a study doesn’t mean the data or statistical analysis is accurate, or the study design was the way it was supposed to be, or the conclusions of the authors factual. Due to space considerations, I am greatly condensing his lecture points, but Dr. Wright’s website www.ti.ubc.ca can be viewed and includes therapeutics letters and drug assessment reports.

The first issue he addressed was that there are 7 different guidelines for treatment of high cholesterol, depending upon which country you live in, even though the guidelines are based on the identical evidence presented in published reports. The USA had the strictest guidelines. Dr. Wright pointed out that the guidelines make unproven assumptions and extrapolations. For example, in the MEGA trial published in the medical journal Lancet, Pravostatin (Pravachol) plus diet versus diet alone in a primary prevention population of 8214 randomized patients was looked at. However 382 patients were for some unknown reason excluded from the analysis. He asked what happened to these people. Did they die? No one knows, so the data and study conclusions cannot be accepted as accurate.

When a doctor or drug company proposes a treatment the question “Do the benefits exceed the risks?” should be asked. In other words, all therapies have both benefits and harms, and patients should be made aware of them. This is called informed consent. The best measure of treatment risk is what is called a “serious adverse event” or SAE. This is any event that leads to death, hospitalization, prolongation of hospitalization, permanent disability, or is considered threatening by a physician. SAEs must be reported and documented in clinical trials. But they weren’t in most cases. Do the therapies proposed reduce SAEs? Again, what Dr.Wright found was a bias in reporting.

He repeatedly requested in writing the data from all the primary prevention trial authors from all major statin drug trials. In some cases he received no response. In other cases he received pages of data. In nocase did he receive the SAE data requested!! Of course, the question that comes up is if these drugs are truly showing the benefits outweigh the risks of taking the drug, why aren’t the drug manufacturers or authors of the studies sending the SAE data? What are they hiding?

What Dr. Wright did find reported was “total mortality,” not cardiovascular mortality. This gets a bit more complicated, but I’ll simplify his conclusions.
Conclusions on Statin Drug Therapy

Drug companies evaluated the use of their statin drugs in two different populations. The first population contained patients that had an event -- heart attack, stroke, leg amputation, TIA, or if a patient had documented peripheral vascular disease or heart disease. These are called secondary prevention populations. In the statin trials that had to do with secondary preventionpopulations, statins were found to reduce total mortality. But by how much? If 50 people were treated for 5 years, one death would be prevented. If 20 people were treated for 5 years one cardiovascular event would be prevented. In other words, taking a statin drug reduces the chance of heart attack or stroke by about 5% and death by about 2% over 5 years if you have documented atherosclerosis. So if you are reading this and have documented atherosclerosis and are taking a statin drug, you need to ask yourself if the benefits to you outweigh the risks and side effects of the treatment.

The other group of patients he looked at was the primary prevention populations. This accounts for 80% of the patients taking statin drugs today. These are people who have risk factors such as diabetes or high cholesterol levels, but no documented heart or peripheral vascular disease. Statins did not reduce mortality in this population. His conclusion was that people with diabetes, hypertension, smokers, hypercholesterolemia, etc. but who have no proven occlusive vascular disease, should not be taking statin drugs because there was no evidence of a net health benefit in this population. And Dr. Wright is not alone in this opinion.

Dr. Stephen Sinatra is one of a minority of cardiologists who incorporate nutritional therapies as the mainstay of treatment of heart disease. In his book Reverse Heart Disease Now, he points out that one third of the patients on statin drugs have side effects, and he doesn’t prescribe statins to lower cholesterol or in patients without evidence of cardiovascular disease. This class of medications has a long list of potentially serious side effects that are not clearly explained to the patients taking them or even to the doctors prescribing them.

I agree with Dr. Wright and Dr. Sinatra and do not prescribe statins to lower cholesterol. I realize this opinion does not reflect what most cardiologists or primary care physicians believe or how they are prescribing statin drugs. This does not mean that risk factors shouldn’t be treated in some manner. A healthy diet and exercise is the foundation for any person’s health program, and for many this approach is adequate. Unfortunately, nutritional supplements that lower cholesterol and oxidative stress, and have virtually no side effects are considered by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) to be an illegal health claim. Instead, the FDA expects Americans to use statin drugs to accomplish this goal.

A Summary of the Cholesterol Obesession

Elevated cholesterol levels are being treated obsessively by doctors with cholesterol-lowering statin drugs in both healthy and unhealthy people to bring down LDL levels to unnatural levels. In spite of this approach, one in six American men will sustain a fatal or nonfatal heart attack before age 65, and half of all men and women will suffer disability or death from atherosclerosis. Cholesterol is a substance needed throughout your body and especially your brain. It is a “relative” risk factor for heart disease, and it’s influenced by other factors. It is not an independent or absolute risk factor in the same way high blood pressure is. I discussed how LDL cholesterol is completely safe unless it interacts with molecular fragments called free radicals where the LDL becomes oxidized. It is the oxidized cholesterol that penetrates endothelial cells lining the arteries to become plaque. So the problem is really not cholesterol, but whether your body’s antioxidant system can effectively neutralize free radicals that damage your LDL molecules. This is why heart disease is an inflammatory disease much like arthritis.

There is a highly dangerous subtype of LDL cholesterol called Lp(a) that can cause heart disease. It is a very small molecule that can easily slip between the cells lining the arteries to produce plaque. We are now able to measure this type of cholesterol and if it is elevated, offset it with nutrients such as niacin or vitamin C. No drug, including the statins, can reduce Lp(a). If fact, the statins can actually raise this type of cholesterol! Testosterone in men and estradiol in women may lower Lp(a). There are also other subtypes of LDL cholesterol, some of which are small particle sizes and some of which are larger particle sizes (and do not cause heart disease). Measuring the milligrams of LDL does not tell a patient or physician about the particle size. There are four labs in the USA presently that can measure particle size as a risk factor. We can now order a very comprehensive lipid study that includes LDL subtypes and particle sizes/counts through Spectracell labs.
True Risk Factors For Heart Disease

So if cholesterol is a relative risk factor for heart disease, what are some of the true risk factors?

Genetics. Heart disease can run in families and we are just learning specific information about genetic factors related to heart disease. Nutritional therapies can modify genetic expression and reduce risk.

High Blood Pressure. Hypertension puts a greater stress and workload on the heart, and damages arterial walls and leads to atherosclerosis. Patients with poorly controlled blood pressures have a several fold higher risk of heart attack or stroke.

Physical inactivity. People who are inactive, or "sedentary," are at a higher risk for heart disease. Regular, moderate-to-vigorous exercise is essential to prevent cardiac and vascular disease. The more vigorous the activity, the greater the benefits to your cardiovascular system. Exercise also helps control diabetes, obesity, reduce stress, and has been shown to lower blood pressure in some people. If you do not currently exercise, begin slowly. Even moderate exercise has benefits. If you haven't exercised in a long time, talk to your doctor first to ensure you are healthy enough to participate in regular exercise. Vigorous exercise isn't necessary to achieve good outcomes and reduce your risk of heart disease; even moderate activity such as walking (but doing so on a regular basis) 3 or more times weekly, will be of benefit to you.

Hormones. Both estrogen and testosterone have heart protective benefits. As we age, our hormone levels decline and our risk of atherosclerosis and clots increases. Synthetic hormone replacement in women, especially with progestin drugs, puts women at higher risk for heart attacks and strokes. This risk, on the other hand, is reduced with natural human identical hormones such as natural progesterone and estradiol.

Excessive insulin. Insulin is secreted by the pancreas and causes glucose to move from the blood into cells. When insulin levels are elevated (as is true in type II diabetes and in people who regularly consume large amounts of sugar or refined carbohydrates), a chain reaction of events occurs within the body that lead to arterial inflammation.

Emotional stress. Chronic, uncontrolled stress causes the adrenal glands to secrete cortisol and adrenaline. These stress hormones promote arterial constriction and spasm, elevate blood pressure, increase heart rate, cause blood clotting, and lead to cholesterol oxidation. Severe stress can cause a heart attack or stroke.

Oxidative stress. Oxidative stress from free radicals causes LDL cholesterol to stick in the arteries. Oxidative stress can be due to smoking, high sugar intake, excessive physical or emotional stress. Heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, and mercury cause oxidative stress. These toxins are in our environment and foods, and can poison enzyme systems and mitochondrial function, elevate blood pressure and damage arterial walls. Few cardiologists are aware of the relationship between toxic metals and heart disease. Some drugs can cause oxidation. Oxidative stress leads to age-related degenerative diseases and accelerates aging as well. Another source of oxidative stress are X-rays and other medical procedures that use radiation. Anti-oxidant supplements can be protective against radiation and may protect the sensitive lining of the arterial walls and other cells of the body.

Micro-organisms. Bacterial and viral infections cause inflammation in the body. A leading cause of bacterial infection is periodontal gum disease. We can see heart disease in vegetarians who eat no meat and have low cholesterol levels, but whose dental hygiene is poor.

Trans fatty acids. Most trans fats consumed today are industrially created by partially hydrogenating plant oils — a process developed in the early 1900s and first commercialized as Crisco in 1911. These unnatural fatty acids are used to prolong the shelf-life of processed foods. They raise Lp(a), promote cholesterol oxidation, and lower HDL. High heat necessary to fry foods also causes trans fat formation. Read labels on the foods you buy and avoid those that say “hydrogenated” or “partially hydrogenated” at all costs.

Other factors. Homocystine is a chemical in the blood that causes inflammation when it becomes elevated. Homocystine levels should be below 10mg/dL and ideally in the 7-8 or lower range. Genetic factors and B vitamin deficiencies can cause homocystine elevation. Cardiac C reactive protein is a key indicator of inflammation and it, along with homocystine, are measured at the Center in our patients at the time of their initial comprehensive evaluations. Lp(a) increases as the result of diabetes, menopause, vitamin C deficiency and genetic factors. Excess ferritin or iron can contribute to cholesterol oxidation. Excessive fibrinogen, a protein that helps regulate the clotting process and is influenced by smoking, diabetes and insulin overload, can make blood too thick and lead to clotting.
Protect Your Mitochondria

At the Spring 2008 ACAM (American College for Advancement in Medicine) meeting Dr. Stephen Sinatra, a board-certified nutritional cardiologist, author, and world-wide lecturer, presented one of the keynote lectures on plaque stabilization and reversal. He discussed the importance of mitochondrial function and the heart. Mitochondria are microscopic structures within the cells that create energy via ATP production. There are over 5000 mitochondria in each myocyte (heart cell), and mitochondria represent 35% of the weight of the heart itself. Certain nutrients are critical to mitochondrial function, including coenzyme Q10, D-ribose, magnesium and carnitine. Dr. Sinatra also pointed out “electoceuticals” enhance ATP production – red light laser, magnetic therapy, far infra red sauna therapy, and perhaps the most important, “alive” water (distilled water is “dead” water) that has trace minerals. Our bodies are 70% water, so this makes a lot of sense.

Many drugs are mitochondrial toxins, including NSAIDs, Viagra, Aricept, antihypertensives, and others. Toxic metals (especially mercury) are mitochondrial toxins as well. In patients with a condition called IDCM (idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy) where the heart muscle becomes weakened and the heart becomes enlarged, biopsies of heart muscle showed mercury concentrations 22,000 times those in normal hearts. This is one reason reduction of an increased body burden of toxic metals via chelation therapy is helpful in patients with heart disease. It is important to remember that ATP restores and repairs the heart muscle cells. I would suggest obtaining Dr. Sinatra’s book “Reverse Heart Disease Now” as the nutritional therapies he discusses are beyond the scope of this newsletter.
Glutathione and Prevention of Atherosclerosis



A significant number of our patients with toxicities due to toxic metals or other sources have received intravenous glutathione therapy. This is a critical substance for both detoxification and improvement of immune system function. Oral glutathione up until now has not been very useful as it is poorly absorbed. What has not been described in the medical literature is how glutathione can prevent atherosclerosis.

Dr. F.T. Guilford, a board certified ENT surgeon who became interested in heavy metal detoxification, was another one of the physician speakers at the ACAM conference. Dr. Guilford presented a study using a new form of glutathione called liposomal glutathione. Liposomal glutathione is much better absorbed by mouth that other oral forms of glutathione, and has anti-oxidant properties that significantly slow the oxidation of LDL and HDL cholesterol in humans. Glutathione has a unique role in humans in maintaining antioxidant function in the body and we need a continuous supply of glutathione to prevent oxidized LDL accumulation. What Dr. Guilford found was glutathione provides the substrate for the enzyme glutathione peroxidase, and along with the mineral selenium, protects both HDL and LDL cholesterol from oxidation and atherosclerosis formation. The Center now carries Essential GSH, which is a high quality liposomal glutathione.

Actions to Take:

* Spectracell Labs can assess cardiovascular risk factors though its LPP+ panel, including traditional lipid status (total cholesterol, LDL and HDL and triglycerides), lipid particle size and particle numbers, Lp(a), insulin and other risk factors. This is a comprehensive panel. If you have not had a Spectracell 5000 profile to assess nutritional and anti-oxidant status, this can be drawn at the same time. If you have insurance (not HMO) Spectracell will bill your insurance company for the majority of the cost. There is a copay you are required to send in with the specimen to Spectracell. There is also a Center charge for drawing and processing the blood, and FedExing same day to Spectracell. Please contact Tracy or Donna at the Center for current costs.

* If you have documented atherosclerosis, begin taking Essential GSH. Dr. Erickson will tell you the dosing, depending upon your risk factors.

* If you have increased heavy metals, begin taking Essential GSH. Dr. Erickson will tell you the dosing as well.

* If you are on a statin drug, you should have a Spectracell 5000 profile with LPP+ panel scheduled to be certain you do not have the type of LDL cholesterol that does not respond to statins and also to check to see if your nutritional status has been affected by the medication. In addition, if you are not taking a high quality conenzyme Q10, pick up Vitaline Q100 at the Center and begin this daily as “insurance”. Statins deplete coenzyme Q10 which can lead to muscle problems and congestive heart failure

* If you have hypertension, be sure it is well controlled. Start a walking program, beginning with walking 10 minutes three times a week or more, increasing your times to 30 minutes as you build up a tolerance.

* Drink the highest quality water you can find. Reverse osmosis water is fine as long as you are replacing trace minerals.

* If you are concerned about your antioxidant status, eat more fresh organic fruits and vegetables, or take 1 scoop of Nanogreens daily. This supplement has the antioxidant power of 10 servings of fruits and vegetables, and is organic.
|~!|Sun 27-Sep-2009|~!||~!| Your Liver and Your Health Robert A. Erickson, M.D. 2008©|~!|At the Center we see patients on a daily basis who have what is termed “a sluggish liver.” They are frequently female, have hormonal imbalance, and have constipation problems and difficulty in losing weight. All have symptoms of fatigue or malaise. Some even have a sensation of fullness in their right abdomen, or vague symptoms such as brain fog, nausea, rashes and headaches. Some have symptoms of sleep disturbance, often awakening between 1 AM and 3 AM in the early morning, which in the Chinese acupuncture system is a “liver meridian” time. Many of these patients have symptoms of irritability, anger or mood swings that are hard to control. Most of the time liver enzyme blood tests on their chemistry panels are normal, but muscle reflex testing shows positive bile duct and liver point reflexes. So what is going on?|~!|1254090488|~!|At the Center we see patients on a daily basis who have what is termed “a sluggish liver.” They are frequently female, have hormonal imbalance, and have constipation problems and difficulty in losing weight. All have symptoms of fatigue or malaise. Some even have a sensation of fullness in their right abdomen, or vague symptoms such as brain fog, nausea, rashes and headaches. Some have symptoms of sleep disturbance, often awakening between 1 AM and 3 AM in the early morning, which in the Chinese acupuncture system is a “liver meridian” time. Many of these patients have symptoms of irritability, anger or mood swings that are hard to control. Most of the time liver enzyme blood tests on their chemistry panels are normal, but muscle reflex testing shows positive bile duct and liver point reflexes. So what is going on?

A Summary of Normal Liver Physiology and Function

The liver, weighing roughly 3 pounds, performs more than 500 known functions, far more than any other organ in your body. It is the largest organ in the body with the exception of your skin. It is located in the right side of the body under the lower ribs and is divided into four lobes of unequal size. Two large vessels carry blood to the liver and it is the only organ in the body that has a dual blood supply. The hepatic artery comes from the heart and carries blood rich in oxygen. The portal vein brings to the liver blood rich in nutrients absorbed from the small intestine. These vessels divide into smaller and smaller vessels, ending in capillaries. These capillaries end in the thousands of lobules of the liver. Each lobule is composed of hepatocytes (liver cells), and as blood passes through, they are able to monitor, add, and remove substances from it. The blood then leaves the liver via the hepatic vein, returns to the heart, and is ready to be pumped to the rest of the body. Among the most important liver functions are:

· Removing/excreting body wastes, hormones and drugs/toxins These substances have entered the blood supply either through production by metabolism within the body or from the outside in the form of drugs or other foreign compounds. Enzymes in the liver alter some toxins so they can be more easily excreted in urine. In some cases the toxins are stored in the liver. The liver also metabolizes hormones so that they do not accumulate and place a stress on the body.

· Synthesizing plasma proteins/blood clotting factors Most of the 12 clotting factors are plasma proteins produced by the liver. If the liver is damaged or diseased, it can take longer for the body to form clots. Other plasma proteins produced by the liver include albumin which binds many water-insoluble substances and contributes to osmotic pressure, fibrogen which is key to the clotting process, and certain globulins which transport substances such as cholesterol and iron. Coumadin, which is a drug given to thin the blood, poisons the production of clotting factors produced by the liver.

· Removing bacteria, helping the body’s immune system Large phagocytic macrophages called Kuppfer’s cells occur within the liver and they destroy worn-out white and red blood cells, bacteria and other microorganisms. The phagocytes in the liver also produce acute-phase proteins in response to germs. These proteins are associated with the inflammation process, tissue repair, and immune cell activities.

· Producing bile Bile salts aid in fat digestion and absorption. Bile is continuously secreted by the liver and stored in the gallbladder until a meal, when bile enters the beginning of the small intestine.

· Storing vitamins, minerals, and sugars The liver stores enough glucose in the form of glycogen to provide about a day's worth of energy. The liver also stores fats, iron, copper, and many vitamins including vitamins A, D, K, E and B12.

· Processing nutrients absorbed from digestive tract The liver converts glucose into glycogen, its storage form. It maintains blood sugar levels between meals by transforming glycogen back into glucose if the body needs energy. The liver also converts amino acids for ATP or fats or carbohydrates. It is also involved in the production of cholesterol and lipoproteins.

· Producing life dependent enzymes Glutathione peroxidase, G-reductase, G-transferase, G-synthetase are essential for life.

How Liver Problems Originate

People today have an overwhelming exposure to external toxins that, compounded with the body’s own internal toxins, places a stress on the liver via increasing the amount of free radicals within the body. Free radicals are chemically reactive molecules, some of which are a necessary part of normal metabolic reactions. If free radicals are not kept under control, they are capable of damaging fats, proteins and nucleic acids in the body. Humans need to support the detoxification functions of the body, which aid in limiting the amount of toxins (free radicals) that are present.

Eating highly processed foods such as white flour, sugar, white rice, fried foods cooked in oil and anything contaminated by herbicides, pesticides and preservatives or food colorings adds to liver stress. So does overeating. Every time a person breathes polluted air, drinks chlorinated or impure water, or takes in drugs or alcohol (including prescription and over-the-counter drugs), it places an increased workload on the liver. Environmental toxins such as mercury, lead, tobacco smoke, formaldehyde and other industrial toxins or fumes can cause liver problems even with remote exposures. Emotional stress can also contribute to a sluggish liver through the production of increased hormones such as cortisol.

The liver is involved in the metabolism of all hormones, including estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, aldosterone and thyroxin. If the liver is not functioning properly, there may be too many hormones in the body at one time, leading to over activity. This excess of circulating hormones in the body will tax the endocrine system. Because hormone concentrations vary between the sexes, there is a difference in liver detoxification enzymes between men and women. The concept of biochemical individuality and variability between genders may be a new concept to some physicians and researchers when it comes to the metabolism of drugs, chemicals and toxins.

Phases of Detoxification

When the liver comes into contact with a toxin or harmful substance, it tries to handle this substance so that it can be eliminated by the body. In the first phase of detoxification (Phase I), nonpolar chemicals that are not water-soluble are changed into relatively polar, water-soluble compounds. These compounds may be even more toxic than the original chemicals. In the second phase of detoxification (Phase II), other chemical groups are added to the toxic intermediates to make them water-soluble and less poisonous. They can then be excreted by the bowels or kidneys.

Nutritional Support for Your Liver

Phase I and II detoxification pathways must remain functional for the proper removal of toxins from the body. There are a number of foods and supplements which may be helpful in this regard. One of the most important substances needed in both Phase I and II detoxification is Glutathione. Foods such as broccoli, kale and brussel sprouts contain glutathione and indoles that protect against reactive compounds and intermediate metabolites. Glutathione and indoles are used in Phase II pathways to carry out conjugation reactions. At the Center, intravenous Glutathione is given to patients with sluggish livers and in patients who are having congested livers with eliminating toxic metals during the chelation process. Intravenous glutathione also is used in patients undergoing chemotherapy where this substance is depleted by the chemotherapeutic agent. Glutathione is the main antioxidant in the human body and is concentrated in the liver, lungs and kidneys, our organs of excretion. The Center also carries Essential GSH, a lipolized oral form of glutathione that is a liquid and protects the glutathione, which is a protein, get through the stomach acid and aborbed into the body through the small bowel.

Choline is also essential for liver health and the proper metabolism of fats. Choline is manufactured by the body but research suggests it is also an essential dietary nutrient. Choline is available in numerous foods, including meats, fish, nuts, beans, peas and eggs. Liver, kidney, and brain tissues have a high choline content. Choline deficiency causes fats to become trapped in the liver where they block metabolism. Choline deficiency causes liver cancer in rats and fatty livers in other animals and humans. Choline acts in the body as a methyl donor and is essential for proper liver function. Acetylcholine is an important brain chemical used in many brain processes, including memory. It also helps control cholesterol buildup, especially in the gallbladder. At the Center, we use PhoscholÒ brand phosphatidylcholine which is the only 100% phosphatidylcholine supplement on the market according to the manufacturer. The raw ingredients are processed in West Germany from lecithin, and Phoschol is used by physicians across the globe in the treatment of liver disorders.

Beet root is useful in treating liver disorders and fatty liver. It has been shown to reduce cholesterol levels as well. It is not entirely known how beet improves the function of the liver, but we do know betaine is found in high quantities in beet and it acts a a methyl donor. This facilitates methylation reactions in Phase II detoxification. Very large quantities of beet or beet powder may worsen kidney disease due to the oxalic acid content. Also, be aware that eating beets will often color bowel movements red, so don’t be alarmed.

Milk thistle is an extraordinary herb commonly prescribed by physicians in Europe for liver disorders because it is so effective. It removes toxins so well that it is more effective than any known drug or herb in treating Amanita mushroom poisoning, where the death rate exceeds 30%. Milk thistle may also protect the liver from some of the effects of chemotherapy and is also used in the treatment of hepatitis C, alcohol abuse, chemical exposure and other liver disorders. At the Center, we carry Silymarin Forte, which is a very high quality milk thistle extract.

A final nutritient that is important in liver health is lipoid acid (thioctic acid). It is an essential nutrient for many different metabolic processes and is both fat and water soluble, meaning it can go both in and out of the cell. Lipoic acid protects the liver and detoxifies tissues of heavy metals. It also normalizes blood sugar levels. Deficiencies of lipoic acid are common in diabetes, cirrhosis and heart disease. The Center carries both alpha lipoic acid and R lipoid acid as supplements.

A Case Study - A Patient with Liver Congestion and Multiple Chemical Sensitivities

Ms. N is a registered nurse who came into my practice a number of years ago. At that time she could no longer work in the hospital as her health had deteriorated to the point where she was almost home bound. None of her physicians could determine what was wrong with her. She would get sick around car fumes, going into malls, or even if someone wore perfume in the same room as her. She was experiencing brain fog and forgetting things such as where she placed her keys. Ms. N would have episodes of rashes and itching for no reason, and also nausea and headaches. She was tired all of the time, whereas she previously rode her bicycle over 10 kilometers on a regular basis. Her hormones were out of balance and Ms. N had mood swings and irritability. One of her physicians suggested she see a psychologist.

I put Ms. N through an exhaustive evaluation and found her to have multiple problems contributing to what I diagnosed as multiple chemical sensitivities. She had increased body burdens of both lead and mercury, highly poisonous toxic metals that affect the detoxification and hormonal pathways. She underwent a successful program of heavy metal detoxification with IV and oral chelation. She had hormonal imbalance and this was also corrected with bio-identical hormonal replacement. Ms. N had significant liver stress from the many years of exposure to toxic chemicals and disinfectants found in a hospital environment. Of course, part of the mystery to her previous physicians was why no one else around her had similar symptoms. This has to do with biochemical individuality where no two people are alike.

A program of liver detoxification was begun and it took several years before significant improvement was realized. Specific supplements and a diet that supported Phase I and II liver detoxification was instituted as well as avoidance of chemicals and toxins in her air, water and home environment. Intravenous Glutathione was given on a weekly basis for a period of time and provided almost “instant” relief of Ms. N’s symptoms, but on a temporary basis. Ms. N took Phoschol multiple times daily. She is now working full-time as a nurse in an outpatient environment with minimal symptoms. She is also using a far infrared sauna to support her liver and detoxification pathways, and rarely needs intravenous Glutathione at this point.

One of the liver's most interesting abilities is self-repair and the regeneration of damaged tissues.

This case study shows that if a failing liver can be supported for a certain period of time, it might repair itself and allow the patient to survive and regain a normal life. |~!|Sun 27-Sep-2009|~!||~!| The Relationship of Sex Hormones to Breast Cancer and Other Conditions Robert A. Erickson, M.D. 2008©|~!|What do fibroids, endometriosis, fibrocystic breast disease, and breast cancer have in common? Estrogen. This hormone is a contributing factor in the growth of fibroid tumors of the uterus, endometriosis lesions, fibrocystic breast lesions, and many breast cancers. Translated, this means either an increase in estrogen production (or a too high dose of exogenous estrogen) or a decrease in estrogen elimination by the body are potentially harmful.|~!|1254090511|~!|What do fibroids, endometriosis, fibrocystic breast disease, and breast cancer have in common? Estrogen. This hormone is a contributing factor in the growth of fibroid tumors of the uterus, endometriosis lesions, fibrocystic breast lesions, and many breast cancers. Translated, this means either an increase in estrogen production (or a too high dose of exogenous estrogen) or a decrease in estrogen elimination by the body are potentially harmful.

Fibroids are benign smooth muscle tumors that can cause pelvic pain and abnormal uterine bleeding. They affect 20-25% of women of reproductive age and occur more frequently in black women. The tumors contain extra cellular collagen and elastin and it is thought pancreatic enzymes may degrade the protein in fibroid when taken on an empty stomach.

Endometriosis is caused by reverse menstrual flow through the fallopian tubes back into the pelvis, which enables uterine glandular tissue that is supposed to leave the body in a woman’s period to implant and grow internally. This implanted tissue is hormonally sensitive and responds to the influences of estrogen and progesterone. Pain and discomfort before and during periods are common symptoms as is infertility.

Fibrocystic breast disease should not really be called a disease. It is a benign (non cancerous) condition that 30% of American women have. It is characterized by round lumps that move freely within the breast tissue. These lumps are usually tender to the touch. In contrast, a cancerous growth in the breast is often not tender or freely movable when touched. The texture of the lumps can vary from soft to firm. For many women, the tenderness may increase as menstruation approaches. Often the cysts fill with fluid and can enlarge premenstrually in response to the increase in hormonal levels during this time.

Breast cancer has 3 major causes: genetics, radiation, and estrogen, with estrogen accounting for about 90%. The statistic that 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer is somewhat misleading; this is if they live to be 90 years old. At age 25 a women’s chance of getting breast cancer is 1 in 19,000. What is concerning is that by age 35 it becomes 1 in 217 and is the leading cause of death in women age 40 - 44. A third of all breast cancers occur in women below the age of 45 and tend to be much more aggressive than those in post menopausal women in general. In general, it is thought breast cancer takes 10-15 years to develop. If you subtract 15 years from 40 - 44 you see that screening of the breasts should begin at 25 - 29 years of age. Thermography is the only 100% safe and effective technique available in this age group. Mammography is neither recommended (starts at age 40) nor accurate in this age group.

Improving Estrogen Elimination

In the September 2008 issue of our newsletter, I wrote about liver detoxification and that the liver was responsible for elimination of hormones. Phase I detoxification of estrogen involves a process called hydroxylation. This can occur at the 2, 4 or 16 positions of the estrogen molecule. Analogous to “good” and “bad” cholesterol in our bodies, the 2 position is associated with “good estrogen” and a decreased breast cancer risk and the 16 position is associated with “bad estrogen” and an increased breast cancer risk. At the Center, we offer an estrogen metabolism study through Genova Labs that determines the 2/16 OHE amounts and ratio through urine testing. This analysis is helpful if there is a strong family history of breast cancer, or if a woman has any of the estrogen dominant conditions mentioned in this article. Physical exercise, omega 3 oils, and cruciferous vegetables have all been shown to increase the 2 hydroxylation of estrogen. Phase II detoxification of estrogen involves the attachment (or conjugation) of other compounds that help estrogen molecules be excreted in the bile and eliminated by the stool.

Steps to take to improve estrogen elimination:

* Eat a low animal fat diet
* Supplement with probiotics to maintain gut flora health
* Supplement with calcium D glucarate (we have this at the Center) which both helps in estrogen elimination and reduces production
* Avoid constipation
* Exercise

Eat foods that enhance detoxification such as artichoke, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, green tea, garlic, pomegranate, shallots and onions.

Normalizing Estrogen Production

In the September 2008 issue of our newsletter, I wrote about liver detoxification and that the liver was responsible for elimination of hormones. Phase I detoxification of estrogen involves a process called hydroxylation. This can occur at the 2, 4 or 16 positions of the estrogen molecule. Analogous to “good” and “bad” cholesterol in our bodies, the 2 position is associated with “good estrogen” and a decreased breast cancer risk and the 16 position is associated with “bad estrogen” and an increased breast cancer risk. At the Center, we offer an estrogen metabolism study through Genova Labs that determines the 2/16 OHE amounts and ratio through urine testing. This analysis is helpful if there is a strong family history of breast cancer, or if a woman has any of the estrogen dominant conditions mentioned in this article. Physical exercise, omega 3 oils, and cruciferous vegetables have all been shown to increase the 2 hydroxylation of estrogen. Phase II detoxification of estrogen involves the attachment (or conjugation) of other compounds that help estrogen molecules be excreted in the bile and eliminated by the stool.

Steps to help normalize estrogen production:

* Maintain a healthy weight
* Decrease inflammation through eating a pescatarian diet (vegetables, fruits, nuts, beans and fish or shellfish).
* Supplement with omega 3 fish oils, bromelain, curcumin and quercetin.
* Normalize insulin and glucose dynamics through eating a low-glycemic index diet, which also increases SHBG
* Consider Myomin, a Chinese herbal product carried at the Center that is an aromatase inhibitor

Progesterone, the Balancing Hormone

The other side of the coin for hormone balance in women is progesterone. This wonderful hormone usually declines before menopause. This is very significant because it balances the effects of estrogen and protects against breast cancer and fibrocystic breast disease by preventing the proliferation of breast tissue cells that can be fueled by too much estrogen. It prevents against uterine cancer by preventing overgrowth of the endometrium (lining of the uterus) and against ovarian cancer by preventing the overgrowth of ovarian tissue cells that can be fueled by too much estrogen. Progesterone also promotes regular sleep patterns, maintains libido, and promotes bone building that can prevent or treat osteoporosis. It also has a natural calming effect on the body and acts as a natural anti-depressant. It helps normalize blood sugar levels.

A study done by K.J. Chang and associates in 1995 tested the effects of transdermal (via the skin) hormone applications in healthy young women planning to undergo minor breast surgery for benign breast disease. In this study the women were divided into four groups and began using a cream containing either estradiol, progesterone, a combination of estradiol/progesterone, or a placebo. They applied the cream on their breasts daily starting 10-13 days before breast surgery. The effect of the hormones on cell proliferation rates were then determined. Chang found estradiol increased the cell proliferation rate by 230%, whereas progesterone decreased it by more than 400%. The estradiol/progesterone combination maintained the normal proliferation rate. This study clearly shows that progesterone has cancer-preventing benefits.

A few years ago I had the privilege of meeting David T. Zava, Ph. D., a biochemist and research scientist who is an internationally known speaker and leading expert in the field of hormone health and hormonal control of breast cancer. He told me after examining thousands of breast cancer biopsy specimens by electron microscopy and looking at both the estrogen and progesterone receptor sites, he found one thing in common to all breast cancers -- a total absence or significant deficiency of progesterone at the breast progesterone receptors. It was his opinion that a lack of progesterone, rather than an excess of estrogen, was the main risk factor in most breast cancers.

|~!|Sun 27-Sep-2009|~!||~!| Low Dose Naltrexone Therapy – A Different Approach to Cancer Therapy – Robert A. Erickson, M.D. 2009©|~!|A number of years ago at a medical conference I had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Burton Berkson, a nationally recognized expert in liver disease. He presented a case study where a patient with pancreatic cancer that had spread to the liver was treated in an alternative manner with intravenous alpha lipoic acid therapy and low dose natrexone. The vast majority of patients with this type of disease do not live past 6 months. The remarkable thing was this man was able to return to work and live with his cancer in remission without the use of chemotherapy or radiation, and he was free of symptoms! It has been eight years since this patient’s initial treatment. |~!|1254090623|~!|Dear Friends and Patients:

A number of years ago at a medical conference I had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Burton Berkson, a nationally recognized expert in liver disease. He presented a case study where a patient with pancreatic cancer that had spread to the liver was treated in an alternative manner with intravenous alpha lipoic acid therapy and low dose natrexone. The vast majority of patients with this type of disease do not live past 6 months. The remarkable thing was this man was able to return to work and live with his cancer in remission without the use of chemotherapy or radiation, and he was free of symptoms! It has been eight years since this patient’s initial treatment.

When I talk to my oncologist colleagues, they do not talk about curing cancer. They use the term 5 year survival. This means that if a patient has not died at the end of 5 years he/she may or may not be disease-free. An option that is not usually discussed is turning malignancy into a manageable, chronic disease with the possibility of living free of symptoms and, in some cases, without the side-effects of chemotherapy or radiation treatments. How is this possible? Through the use of endorphin therapy.

What Are Endorphins?

Endorphins are neurotransmitters found in the brain and adrenal glands that have pain-relieving properties similar to morphine. There are three major types of endorphins: beta endorphins, found primarily in the pituitary gland; enkephalins and dynorphin, both distributed throughout the nervous system. Endorphins interact with opiate receptor neurons to reduce the intensity of pain. Many painkilling drugs, such as morphine and codeine, act like endorphins and activate opiate receptors. However, the body’s natural endorphins are actually much stronger than the opiate drugs. The body’s endophins also have the added benefit of being non-addicting.

Besides behaving as a pain regulator, endorphins are also thought to be connected to physiological processes including euphoric feelings, appetite modulation, and the release of sex hormones. You may have heard the term “runner’s high”, which refers to prolonged exercise causing an increased production and release of endorphins, which in turn create a sense of well being or even euphoria. What is not well known is the important role endorphins play in regulating the immune system.

How Does Naltrexone Work?

Naltrexone is a prescription medication that in its usual doses reverses the effect of opiate drugs. In low doses, however, it has a profound effect on the immune system. There are 3 possible ways low dose natrexone (LDN) might work:

1. When LDN is taken late at night, it induces a sharp 2-3 fold increase in beta-endorphin and metenkephalin, in the pre-dawn hours. This low dose of naltrexone is gone from the body within a few hours, whereas the elevated levels of endorphins and enkephalins last all day. If a “routine” 50mg or higher dose of naltrexone were used it would block the endorphin and enkephalin action on the receptor.
2. The increased endorphins cause a direct activation of opioid receptors on cancer cells and if this activation occurs while the cell is dividing, it dies. In other words, endorphins cause apoptosis (cell death) in cancer cells.
3. A third mechanism which may play a major role in controlling cancer involves the cells of the immune system, which are in large part regulated by endorphins. Endorphins increase the number of natural killer (NK) cells and also the activity of NK cells and lymphocyte activated CD8 numbers. These cell types prevent cancer by killing cancer cells as they arise.



Have There Been Studies of LDN?

Yes and no. There have not been large formal, controlled clinical trials with LDN in the treatment of cancer. But we do have a sizable volume of data from Bernard Bihari, M.D., a New York physician. Dr. Bihari graduated from Harvard Medical School and in the 1980s discovered the ground-breaking significance of low dose naltrexone therapy in treating patients with AIDs/HIV and reversing their poor immune function. This led to his work with cancer patients in 1999. Since 1999 Dr. Bihari has treated 450+ cancer patients with LDN. He is missing data on 96 patients and as of March 2004, of the remaining 354 patients, 84 have died (80 from cancer related causes). Many of these patients had advanced disease and saw Dr. Bihari as a last resort. Of the remaining 270 patients, 200 have been on LDN for six months or longer. Of these 200, 86 have shown at least a 75% decrease in tumor size and tumor-related symptoms. Of the other 134 patients, only 9 have continued to show tumor progression. The other 125 have either stabilized and/or are moving toward remission but have not yet met the 75% reduction criterion. The vast majority of patients who consulted with Dr. Bihiri were also using other modalities of treatment such as chemotherapy or radiation.

What Types of Cancer Respond to LDN?

The following are cancers reported by Dr. Bihari that have responded to LDN. These cancers have opioid receptors on their cell membranes:

* Bladder cancer
* Breast cancer
* Carcinoid
* Colon and rectal cancer
* Glioblastoma
* Liver cancer
* Lung cancer (non-small cell)
* Chronic lymphocytic leukemia
* Lyphoma (both Hodgkin’s and Non-Hodgkin’s)
* Malignant melanoma
* Multiple myeloma
* Neuroblastoma
* Ovarian cancer
* Pancreatic cancer
* Prostate cancer that is untreated (patients with prostate cancer who have already been treated with hormone-related therapies have not responded to LDN)
* Renal cell carcinoma
* Throat cancer
* Uterine cancer



Are There Other Conditions That Respond to LDN?

Yes. Multiple sclerosis is one condition that may be helped with LDN therapy. Over the past few years, growing experience with the clinical use of LDN demonstrates its consistency in preventing further attacks in people with MS. In addition, a majority of such patients note reductions in spasticity and fatigue. Ninety-eight to ninety-nine percent of MS patients treated with LDN experience no more disease progression, whether the disease category is relapsing-remitting or chronic progressive.

Dr. Gironi conducted a study on 40 patients affected with Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (PPMS), an uncommon form of MS for which neurologists do not have an approved treatment to offer. These 40 patients took LDN for 6 months. Dr. Gironi’s research team in Milan, Italy, tracked the patients’ beta-endorphin levels in response to their LDN treatment and the results were published in September 2008 in the Journal Multiple Sclerosis. The study results showed neurological disability progressed in only one patient. A significant reduction of spasticity was measured at the end of the trial. Beta endorphin concentration increased during the trial. The data clearly indicated that LDN was safe and well tolerated in patients with PPMS.

Inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn’s disease may be helped with LDN therapy. Dr. Jill Smith is a Professor of Gastroenterology at Pennsylvania State University’s College of Medicine who conducted a pilot study using LDN, the results of which were published in the Jan 11, 2007 online edition of the American Journal of Gastroenterology (2007;102:1–9) [print edition Apr '07]. This was the first clinical study of LDN published by a US medical journal. Dr. Smith found that two-thirds of the patients in her pilot study went into remission and fully 89% of the group responded to LDN treatment to some degree. She concluded that “LDN therapy appears effective and safe in subjects with active Crohn’s disease.” She received an NIH (National Institutes of Health) research grant to conduct more extensive studies in a larger population of patients. LDN is also being studied in other autoimmune diseases and fibromyalgia, and is being used by integrative physicians world-wide.

At the Center, we have had limited experience using LDN but so far the results indicate no serious side-effects in our patients. The early results in our cancer patients have been encouraging.
|~!|Sun 27-Sep-2009|~!||~!|Dangers of Genetically Modified Foods - Robert A. Erickson, M.D. 2010|~!||~!|1279029894|~!|
What Are GMOs?


Genetic modification of food involves the laboratory process of artificially inserting genes into the DNA of food crops or animals. The result is called a genetically modified organism or GMO. GMOs can be engineered with genes from bacteria, viruses, animals, insects or even humans. Unlike most industrialized countries, the US does not require labeling identifying GMO foods. It is estimated that in the US 70% of the foods sold in supermarkets contain GMO ingredients and close to 90% of corn and soy products are genetically modified. Many European countries have recognized this danger and have rejected GMO foods.

How Did This Problem Start?


Scientists began to look for ways to improve the protein yield of certain plant crops and also take advantage of how plants naturally protect themselves from viruses, bacteria, fungi and insects – that is, by producing their own pesticides and fungicides. All plants make these protective chemicals and their production is controlled by genes. By manipulating these genes, scientists cause plants to produce these chemicals at much higher concentrations and for longer periods than normal. Unfortunately, these chemicals can adversely affect human and animal health. In high concentrations they can even promote the development of cancer.

Doesn’t Our Government Require A Certain Safety Standard?


Just like with pharmaceuticals, GMO foods require only a very short-term safety analysis. The negative effects of eating GMO foods can take years, or even several generations to fully detect the harmful effects. In animal studies, food companies may use just a few animals and omit testing on embryos (how else are they going to determine if it is safe for pregnant women to eat these foods?). I am unaware of large scale post-marketing studies in humans proving safety, especially in children and pregnant women.

In 2009 a detailed report on 3 specific GMO corn strains was published in the International Journal of Biological Sciences. The full report is available on-line but basically talks about harmful effects to kidney, liver, spleen, adrenal glands, and heart. Another study by Russian biologist Alexey Surov found a higher mortality rate in the offspring of hamsters feed GMO soy and that by the 3rd generation, the hamsters became sterile.

Tips for Avoiding GMO Foods


My personal medical opinion is that the burden of proof of safety needs to be on the food companies selling GMO foods and until long term studies are available, I would take a conservative approach and avoid them altogether.

1. Buy Organic. Certified organic products are not allowed to contain any GMOs. Products labeled as “made with organic ingredients” are required to contain at least 70% organic ingredients, but 100% of the ingredients must be non-GMO.
2. Look for “Non GMO” labels. Companies may voluntarily label their products as non-GMO.
3. Avoid at-risk ingredients. Most GMO ingredients are made from the following 4 crops: corn, soybeans, canola, and cottonseed. All of these products are used in processed foods. So for instance, products containing high fructose corn syrup may have been made from GMO corn. Products containing “vegetable oil” may have been made from soy. Even vitamin products, such as vitamin E, may contain GMO products.
4. Most fresh fruits and fresh vegetables in the U.S. are not genetically modified, although small amounts of sweet corn, crookneck squash and zucchini may be GM. Fruit juices that are 100% juice should be fine, but many juices contain high-fructose corn syrup and are a cause for concern.
5. No genetically modified fish, poultry, or livestock is yet approved for human consumption. But animal feeds may contain GM grains, so foods such as yogurt, cheeses or ice cream that are produced from animal products can be affected. My advice is to look for wild rather than farmed fish and 100% grass-fed animals if you are not vegetarian. Buy organic eggs and dairy products.
6. Other than corn, no GM grains are sold in the U.S. There is no GM blue or white corn, and there is no GM popcorn. Grains such as barley, wheat, oats, rice, dried beans, couscous, and quinoa should be fine. Also products such as pasta or snack foods made from these grains should be fine. Cereals and snack/breakfast bars often contain GMO ingredients because they contain either soy or corn products. The same goes for bakery items that are not organic.
7. Baby foods and infant formulas can be a source of GMO products as the basis of these products is soy or milk. Many of these products also contain corn syrup or soy lethicin. Again, I suggest parents purchase certified organic baby foods and formulas.

For a more comprehensive good guide log on to the Center for Food Safety Website at www.centerforfoodsafety.org . This organization works to protect human health and the environment by curbing the proliferation of harmful food production technologies and by promoting organic and other forms of sustainable agriculture. CFS has offices in Washington, DC and San Francisco, CA.
|~!|Tue 13-Jul-2010|~!||~!| Dangers of Genetically Modified Foods -- Robert A. Erickson, M.D. 2010|~!||~!|1279029894|~!|
What Are GMOs?


Genetic modification of food involves the laboratory process of artificially inserting genes into the DNA of food crops or animals. The result is called a genetically modified organism or GMO. GMOs can be engineered with genes from bacteria, viruses, animals, insects or even humans. Unlike most industrialized countries, the US does not require labeling identifying GMO foods. It is estimated that in the US 70% of the foods sold in supermarkets contain GMO ingredients and close to 90% of corn and soy products are genetically modified. Many European countries have recognized this danger and have rejected GMO foods.

How Did This Problem Start?


Scientists began to look for ways to improve the protein yield of certain plant crops and also take advantage of how plants naturally protect themselves from viruses, bacteria, fungi and insects – that is, by producing their own pesticides and fungicides. All plants make these protective chemicals and their production is controlled by genes. By manipulating these genes, scientists cause plants to produce these chemicals at much higher concentrations and for longer periods than normal. Unfortunately, these chemicals can adversely affect human and animal health. In high concentrations they can even promote the development of cancer.

Doesn’t Our Government Require A Certain Safety Standard?


Just like with pharmaceuticals, GMO foods require only a very short-term safety analysis. The negative effects of eating GMO foods can take years, or even several generations to fully detect the harmful effects. In animal studies, food companies may use just a few animals and omit testing on embryos (how else are they going to determine if it is safe for pregnant women to eat these foods?). I am unaware of large scale post-marketing studies in humans proving safety, especially in children and pregnant women.

In 2009 a detailed report on 3 specific GMO corn strains was published in the International Journal of Biological Sciences. The full report is available on-line but basically talks about harmful effects to kidney, liver, spleen, adrenal glands, and heart. Another study by Russian biologist Alexey Surov found a higher mortality rate in the offspring of hamsters feed GMO soy and that by the 3rd generation, the hamsters became sterile.

Tips for Avoiding GMO Foods


My personal medical opinion is that the burden of proof of safety needs to be on the food companies selling GMO foods and until long term studies are available, I would take a conservative approach and avoid them altogether.

1. Buy Organic. Certified organic products are not allowed to contain any GMOs. Products labeled as “made with organic ingredients” are required to contain at least 70% organic ingredients, but 100% of the ingredients must be non-GMO.
2. Look for “Non GMO” labels. Companies may voluntarily label their products as non-GMO.
3. Avoid at-risk ingredients. Most GMO ingredients are made from the following 4 crops: corn, soybeans, canola, and cottonseed. All of these products are used in processed foods. So for instance, products containing high fructose corn syrup may have been made from GMO corn. Products containing “vegetable oil” may have been made from soy. Even vitamin products, such as vitamin E, may contain GMO products.
4. Most fresh fruits and fresh vegetables in the U.S. are not genetically modified, although small amounts of sweet corn, crookneck squash and zucchini may be GM. Fruit juices that are 100% juice should be fine, but many juices contain high-fructose corn syrup and are a cause for concern.
5. No genetically modified fish, poultry, or livestock is yet approved for human consumption. But animal feeds may contain GM grains, so foods such as yogurt, cheeses or ice cream that are produced from animal products can be affected. My advice is to look for wild rather than farmed fish and 100% grass-fed animals if you are not vegetarian. Buy organic eggs and dairy products.
6. Other than corn, no GM grains are sold in the U.S. There is no GM blue or white corn, and there is no GM popcorn. Grains such as barley, wheat, oats, rice, dried beans, couscous, and quinoa should be fine. Also products such as pasta or snack foods made from these grains should be fine. Cereals and snack/breakfast bars often contain GMO ingredients because they contain either soy or corn products. The same goes for bakery items that are not organic.
7. Baby foods and infant formulas can be a source of GMO products as the basis of these products is soy or milk. Many of these products also contain corn syrup or soy lethicin. Again, I suggest parents purchase certified organic baby foods and formulas.

For a more comprehensive good guide log on to the Center for Food Safety Website at www.centerforfoodsafety.org . This organization works to protect human health and the environment by curbing the proliferation of harmful food production technologies and by promoting organic and other forms of sustainable agriculture. CFS has offices in Washington, DC and San Francisco, CA.
|~!|Tue 13-Jul-2010|~!||~!| A Novel Approach to Weight Loss – The hCG Diet – Robert A. Erickson M.D. 10-2010|~!|Obesity is very frustrating for patient and doctor alike to deal with. Many of my patients claim they eat very little and yet the fat continues to accumulate. Or they’ve tried various diets and either the diet doesn’t work or the food cravings/hunger are too much, so they give up. Even if the diet works, patients get discouraged as the lost weight comes back as soon as the diet is stopped and calories are increased. The following information is an introduction to a diet program we are now offering at the Center. This program is not intended for someone who needs to shed a few pounds. It is for people motivated to lose 20 or 30 or more pounds. If after reviewing the following information you have an interest in learning more about this diet program or wish to schedule a consultation appointment, please contact the Center at 352-331-5138.|~!|1287769846|~!|Obesity is very frustrating for patient and doctor alike to deal with. Many of my patients claim they eat very little and yet the fat continues to accumulate. Or they’ve tried various diets and either the diet doesn’t work or the food cravings/hunger are too much, so they give up. Even if the diet works, patients get discouraged as the lost weight comes back as soon as the diet is stopped and calories are increased. The following information is an introduction to a diet program we are now offering at the Center. This program is not intended for someone who needs to shed a few pounds. It is for people motivated to lose 20 or 30 or more pounds. If after reviewing the following information you have an interest in learning more about this diet program or wish to schedule a consultation appointment, please contact the Center at 352-331-5138.

In the 1970s, a British physician named A.T.W. Simeons published a book Pounds and Inches – A New Approach to Obesity. He was treating obese patients in the Salvator Mundi International Hospital in Rome, Italy with daily injections of hCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin) and a very low 500 calorie diet. His patients would have dramatic weight loss, often at rate of one pound a day. Through his research he found a link between obesity and a part of the brain called the hypothalamus. He postulated that when the hypothalamus was not functioning properly, patients would have intense physical hunger and cravings, and they would eat when they were not truly hungry. Dr. Simeons believed that as a result, the body stored abnormal amounts of fat which was then very difficult to lose at a later time. He hypothesized that hCG hormone, in low doses, would in some way correct the functioning of the hypothalamus.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF FAT

In his book he describes three types of fat. The first is the structural fat which fills the gaps between various organs, a sort of packing material to cushion organs such as the kidneys, heart and nerves.

The second type of fat is a normal reserve of fuel upon which the body can draw when calorie intake is insufficient to meet the body’s demand. Such normal reserves are located all over the body. Both structural and reserve fats are normal, and even if the body stocks them to capacity this can never be called obesity.

But there is a third type of fat which is entirely abnormal. Dr. Simeons went on to state “it is the accumulation of such fat, and of such fat only, from which the overweight patient suffers. This abnormal fat is also a potential reserve of fuel, but unlike the normal reserves it is not available to the body in a nutritional emergency. It is, so to speak, locked away in a fixed deposit and is not kept in a current account, as are the normal reserves.”

Dr. Simeons went on to say that if an obese patient tried to reduce by starving him or herself, they would first lose their normal fat reserves. When these were exhausted the patient would burn up structural fat, and only as a last resort would the body yield its abnormal reserves. By that time the patient usually felt so weak and hungry, and looked so haggard that their diet was abandoned.


WHAT IS hCG and HOW DOES IT WORK?

Human Chorionic Gonadotropin or hGC is a natural hormone found in men and women, but is most often associated with pregnancy since the amount of hGC in a pregnant woman is much higher than in a non-pregnant woman or a man. The amount of hCG used in this diet program is so minute that it will not even trigger a positive response on a pregnancy test. hCG is not a sex hormone but has a protein structure.

The theory behind the diet is because you are in-taking only 500 calories, weight loss is a given. The addition of the hCG affects the hypothalamus, which in turn stimulates the release of fat stored in the body which in turn supplies the 1500 or so additional calories needed on a daily basis. Fat loss and weight loss occur, but excess food cravings and hunger are blunted due the hCG effect. Dr. Simeons found that a person’s abnormal fat stores would be mobilized from storage and a more normal fat distribution and metabolic function occur after about 20 days.

I wish to make it clear to our readers that hCG is approved by FDA (Food and Drug Administration) as a safe drug and indicated for treatment of certain problems of the male reproductive system and in stimulating ovulation in women who have had difficulty becoming pregnant. The FDA position since 1975 has been there is no evidence to substantiate claims for hCG as a weight-loss aid.


THE PREVENTIVE MEDICINE CENTER Releana® DIET PROGRAM

At the Center I have researched using both hCG injections and oral forms of hCG to assist obese patients control appetites and lose weight. I was fortunate to find a product called Releana®, which is a patented, “medical grade” human identical hCG, unlike much of the junk that is available on the Internet. In fact, it must be prescribed by a licensed physician. Releana® is used sublingually (under the tongue) twice daily. It gives equal or better results than the injected form of hCG. This product has been in use for nine years without significant side effects.

In addition to using Releana® there is also a very specific 500 calorie diet that must be followed. Side effects from a very low calorie diet may include headache, fatigue, constipation and irritability. Since water is also lost with fat, dehydration must be prevented by taking in adequate fluids and electrolytes.

An initial consultation visit with Dr. Erickson is required for all patients before being approved for this program. At this consultation, a limited physical exam will be performed, laboratory tests ordered, and appropriate supplements prescribed. The customary office charge will apply. At this visit we will also obtain baseline photos, vital signs and measurements, and order necessary lab work. A booklet that goes into detail of what to do and what to eat will also be provided to you as part of your diet program. We want you to be successful in your weight loss program and we ask that you read this booklet several times before starting. You will need to purchase an accurate digital scale to weigh your food. If approved for the diet, you will also need to purchase Releana®. The current cost is $400 a bottle, which is a one month supply. This must be refrigerated once constituted. The manufacturer requires an informed consent be signed as well in order to purchase Releana®.

After an initial 2-3 day high calorie loading period, you will start the diet program and begin weekly weight and BP checks with the nurses at the Center. You will also receive weekly Methylcobalamine shots (special vitamin B12). There is no additional charge for the weekly B12 shots or nursing visits. Periodic visits based on your condition with Dr. Erickson will be required at the customary office visit rates. This is especially important for diabetic, hypothyroid and hypertensive patients where adjustment of medications and supplements may be necessary.

After achieving your weight loss goal, you stop taking Releana® and begin a three week maintenance diet. There is no calorie restriction on this part of the program, but most high carbohydrate foods are restricted or prohibited. After this three week period is over, regular foods are introduced again in moderation. In the experience of the manufacturer, 85% of the Releana® patients have kept the weight off one year later.


FAQs FROM Releana®
Copyright 2004 - 2010 Releana® Corporation All Rights Reserved
U.S. Patent No. 7,605,122 www.releana.com

Question: How do they make hcg? Does it come from someone who’s pregnant?
Answer: No. Human Chorionic Gonadotropin is ‘human’, but it is grown in sterile cells.

Question: Is the hcg you use in Releana® natural?
Answer: There is much confusion about ‘natural’ hcg. All hcg is made in a laboratory, but there are two types of ‘human’ hcg: one is made for fertility and contains only alpha subunits, the other one contains both alpha and beta subunits. Since humans have alpha and beta receptors in our adipose (fat)
tissue, the hcg with both subunits works best for weight loss. The hcg with both subunits is considered ‘natural’. That is the only one we use for Releana®.

Question: I have heard there are cheaper oral hcg programs. Why should I do the Releana® Program?
Answer: There are many imitation copycat formulas being made that claim they work as well as Releana®.

Question: Why do I need to take Potassium while on the Releana® Program?
Answer: When you are on the Releana® Program, you are losing fat at a very rapid rate. Fat cells contain lots of water and that will be lost too when you lose the fat. This happens so rapidly that even though you are drinking, you can become dehydrated easily. The Potassium helps to prevent you from having symptoms of dehydration like: lightheadedness, muscle cramps, tingling in your hands or feet and fatigue.

Question: What happens if I have the symptoms of dehydration and I am taking my Potassium?
Answer: You might need to take a stronger dosage of Potassium. Call your doctor immediately and let them know the symptoms you are experiencing.

Question: Do I still need to take Potassium if I am taking medication that retains Potassium in my body such as my blood pressure pill?
Answer: In our experience, yes, but ask your doctor. The doctor may want to take a blood sample to check your Potassium levels before prescribing Potassium.

Question: What happens if I can’t hold the Releana® liquid under my tongue for 3 minutes? Will it still work?
Answer: If you can hold the Releana® liquid under your tongue for at least 1 minute, it will still work. 3 minutes is optimal.

Question: Can I drink vodka or gin on the program? I heard it was ok to drink alcohol as long as it was clear.
Answer: NO!! There is no alcohol allowed of any kind on the Releana® Program.

Question: Can I get a massage while I am on the Releana® Program?
Answer: Yes you can get a massage while on the Releana® Program; just request water
soluble massage oil.

Question: I’ve heard hcg can cause your period to start. Is that true?
Answer: Sometimes this can happen as women are adjusting to hcg. It is not a hormone involved in the menstrual cycle, but it can in rare cases fool the body. It is nothing to be alarmed about. The menstrual cycle will regulate rapidly and it happens very rarely.

Question: Does hcg make it easier for me to get pregnant?
Answer: No. A different hcg is used for fertility and in much higher doses, along with several other hormones.

Question: Has anyone ever had an allergic reaction to Releana® ?
Answer: No

Question: Does everyone lose weight on the Releana® Program?
Answer: Yes, if they follow the diet and guidelines. No one has failed.

Question: What if I lose weight for a while and then stop losing?
Answer: If you plateau, then do an Apple Day where you eat 6 large apples only. If you still are not losing on the scale, then you are probably still losing inches. Stay on the diet and the pounds will show on the scale soon.

Question: Can I participate in the Releana® Program if I take medications or have high blood pressure or diabetes?
Answer: Absolutely. Very often medications can be lowered after losing weight or even not needed at all. Ask your doctor, but you may be the perfect candidate.

Question: How long can I stay on the Releana® Program? Do I have to stop before I reach my goal?
Answer: No you do not have stop the Releana® Program before you reach your goal. We have tested patients to see if they get immune toReleana® and they do not.

Question: Can I exercise while I am on the Releana® Program?
Answer: Yes, but limit your exercise to mild aerobics, fast walking, or yoga. Strenuous exercise can cause lightheadedness and possibly fainting.

Question: What if I experience extreme fatigue while on the Releana® Program? What should I do?
Answer: This can happen for two reasons:
You should increase your protein to 6 or 8 ounces per meal for two (2) days, then go back on the Releana® Program as before and your symptoms should disappear.

Question: What should I do if I become constipated while on the Releana® Program?
Answer: We tell our patients to use a natural product called “Calm”. Calm is a very bioavailable magnesium product. You make it into a tea that you drink in the evening. You start with 1 teaspoon in 2 ounces of water and then increase it every night until you see a result. Calm is very good for you because it helps your muscles and nerves and it is not habit-forming. Calm is sugar-free and the best flavor is the Raspberry-Lemon. Calm can be purchased at some pharmacies, vitamin stores, or your doctor may carry it.

Question: Can I have a false positive pregnancy test?
Answer: No, the amount of hcg in Releana® is small and cannot be detected in the blood or urine. It is, however, the right amount of hcg to achieve rapid weight loss.

Question: Can I get morning sickness while on the Releana® Program?
Answer: No.

Question: Can men use Releana® or is it only for women?
Answer: Men use Releana® with equal success and no side effects.
|~!|Fri 22-Oct-2010|~!||~!| Does Eating Grapefruit Daily Cause Breast Cancer?---by Robert A. Erickson, M.D. 2011©|~!|From time to time I have patients read something on the Internet about avoiding eating grapefruit with their medications or avoiding this fruit if they or a family member has had breast cancer. The hypothesis is that in some way grapefruit or grapefruit juice will raise estrogen levels in women or in some way interfere with medications. So I did a little research on this topic because at first glance it didn’t make sense to me.|~!|1300725517|~!|From time to time I have patients read something on the Internet about avoiding eating grapefruit with their medications or avoiding this fruit if they or a family member has had breast cancer. The hypothesis is that in some way grapefruit or grapefruit juice will raise estrogen levels in women or in some way interfere with medications. So I did a little research on this topic because at first glance it didn’t make sense to me.

A study was published in the July 2007 edition of The British Journal of Cancer on how daily grapefruit consumption might put women at an increased risk for developing breast cancer. The study was conducted by researchers at UCLA and the University of Hawaii. There appeared to be an “association” between grapefruit consumption and a 30% increased risk of breast cancer development in over 50,000 postmenopausal women studied. This risk did not change whether a woman was taking hormonal replacement therapy or not. This conclusion did not make a lot of sense to me. It also didn’t make sense to other scientists and physicians. I would like to stress an important point to our readers – many times a dramatic headline will appear where one thing is “associated with” something else. There is a big difference between association and causation.

Later that same year another paper was published in the very same medical journal. This study was a prospective study conducted by researchers at Harvard Medical School and affiliated groups using data from the Nurses’ Health Study. The Nurses’ Health Study followed the health and illnesses of 121,700 female registered nurses beginning in 1976 over a 20 year period of time. It assessed risk factors for cancer and cardiovascular disease. This study was among the largest investigations into risk factors for major chronic diseases in women ever conducted. The Harvard study findings were opposite those from the UCLA/Hawaii study and are summarized as follows:

“Our findings do not support an adverse effect of consumption of grapefruit or grapefruit juice on risk of breast cancer or on endogenous hormone levels.”

Going back to the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) study published in 2009, in this study information on usual individual dietary intake was assessed using different validated dietary assessment methods across participating countries. On average, the participants were followed for 9 ½ years. Almost 60% of the women ate some grapefruit on a daily basis. The researchers found no connection between any level of grapefruit consumption and breast cancer risk or elevated hormones.

Now what about the precaution of not taking medications with grapefruit juice? Grapefruit has naturally occurring phytochemicals called furanocoumarins. These phytochemicals can inhibit an enzyme known as CYP3A4. This enzyme can affect the way the liver clears and detoxifies certain medications. Many cardiac medications such as calcium channel blockers and anti-arrhythmic drugs can be affected. Statin drugs can be affected as can some antibiotics and many chemotherapy agents used in cancer treatment. Xanax and other anti-anxiety agents as well as some anti-depressants may also be affected. There are too many drugs to list in this article. These phytochemicals can delay the detoxification of medications through liver metabolism, leading to an increased blood level of the drug. My recommendation is to check with your pharmacist for any potential interactions before mixing the prescription medications you are taking with grapefruit or grapefruit juice.|~!|Mon 21-Mar-2011|~!||~!| Dr. Erickson’s Comments About the Nuclear Disaster in Japan 03-17-2011|~!|The news of multiple nuclear reactor meltdowns, explosions spewing radioactive steam and particles into the air, and contamination being carried out of Japan into the atmosphere and potentially across the USA has generated frequent phone calls to my office. Here is my analysis of the situation. |~!|1311694405|~!|The news of multiple nuclear reactor meltdowns, explosions spewing radioactive steam and particles into the air, and contamination being carried out of Japan into the atmosphere and potentially across the USA has generated frequent phone calls to my office. Here is my analysis of the situation.

First, I find it hard to believe that the US government has not given Americans specific information about the degree of radioactive contamination affecting the USA, if any. I also believe the Japanese government is not being truthful about the magnitude of the disaster and up unto this point, they have suppressed the radiation leakage data. I believe they do not want to create a panic. Only time will tell what the weather patterns will be and what the extent of the disaster as it unfolds. It is important not to panic as it is not clear what our exposure will be at this time.

Compared to the amount of radiation the Japanese people are being exposed to, the amount that Americans could be exposed to will be much less. If one looks at the Chernobyl disaster that occurred in Russia, the main source of cancers that occurred following the nuclear reactor meltdown was not from the particles carried into the air, but later from ground contamination getting into the grass dairy cattle eat and into milk and cheese products. Vegetables were much less affected. Most of these cancers were thyroid cancers caused by I-131.

The good news is that there is a safe and effective treatment widely available that prevents harm from exposure to radioactive iodine (I-131), which is one of the radioactive isotopes being released into the environment. It is the use of non-radioactive, inorganic iodine that can be purchased at many health food stores or at the Preventive Medicine Center. Iodoral is an iodine/ potassium iodide combination. Potassium iodide will protect against the development of thyroid cancer by filling up the receptor sites in the thyroid gland, blocking the entrance of the radioactive I-131. We know there are iodine receptor sites in organs other than the thyroid gland, including the prostate, breasts, uterus and ovaries. So this treatment may also protect these organs as well.

The new FDA guidelines recommend daily doses of potassium iodide at the following levels during the period deemed as dangerous after a radioactive accident:

Infants: birth to 1 month less than 1 month old: 16 milligrams.
Children aged 1 month to 3 years: 32 milligrams.
Children 3 to 18 years old: 65 milligrams.
Adults, including pregnant and breastfeeding women, and adolescents over 150 pounds: 130 milligrams.

Please note these are daily doses recommended by the US Government and they suggest they are taken until the danger is passed, usually within 10 days or so. The FDA guidelines say “to wait just before the exposure hits.” These are very high amounts of potassium iodide and were intended for exposures after a nuclear bomb explosion or if a person lived too close to a nuclear reactor accident – these doses may not be appropriate for the current situation.

What dose of iodine will prevent damage from exposure to radioactive iodine? Guy Abraham, M.D. is a former Professor of Endocrinology, Obstetrics and Gynecology at UCLA who did extensive research on thyroid disorders and iodine therapies. His research indicated around 13mg of iodine per day prevented approximately 96% of radioactive iodine from binding to the thyroid gland. That is the approximate dosage of iodine ingested daily by the Japanese in their diets. This is over one hundred times the average daily dose ingested by Americans. This is the dose available in 1 Iodoral tablet or 2 drops of Lugol’s solution and is well below the 130mg dose recommended by the FDA for an acute exposure.

Many Americans are iodine deficient. So how do you know if you have iodine deficiency? A simple urine lab test available through the Center, called an iodine loading test is available. The cost is $99 and this test will tell whether a person needs iodine supplementation or not. I suggest getting this test as a baseline. If your test results indicate your iodine stores are very low, you may need more than 13mg/day initially. For those of our patients who are taking Iodoral as a daily supplement for iodine insufficiency, you may already be protected.

ACTIONS TO TAKE:

Get an iodine loading test through our office to establish your baseline. Do this before taking any iodine supplementation.

If you are uncomfortable with the lack of information available and want to be proactive, begin Iodoral 1 tablet per day or as directed by Dr. Erickson. He is doing this as well. Iodoral can be obtained at our office or through a health food store or pharmacy and does not require a prescription.

As with any substance, some people may not tolerate iodine. Watch for symptoms of hyperthyroidism e.g. palpitations, rapid heart beat, anxiety, excessive sweating, etc. and bring this to our attention. Diabetic patients should closely monitor their blood glucose levels as these may decrease.

If it becomes necessary to take the Iodoral more than 4 weeks, a thyroid panel lab test is needed at the 4 week point.

If you are allergic to iodine, do not take Iodoral or other iodine supplements.

Our experience at the Center in people taking 1-2 tablets of Iodoral daily has shown it to be safe and with very few side effects.

I will do my best to keep you updated on this situation and post ideas/suggestions on our website. Let’s keep our Japanese neighbors in our thoughts and prayers.

Robert A. Erickson, M.D.|~!|Thu 17-Mar-2011|~!||~!| Japan Nuclear Event Update #1 03-20-2011|~!|We are continuing to receive very little objective information from either the Japanese or US governments regarding the status of the radiation leaks and reactor meltdown potentials.|~!|1311694564|~!|We are continuing to receive very little objective information from either the Japanese or US governments regarding the status of the radiation leaks and reactor meltdown potentials. As of 03-20-2011, it has been reported that emergency power to the spent fuel pond cooling systems for units 5 and 6 have brought the unit 5 pond temperature down from 68.8 °C to 37 °C and the unit 6 pond temperature down from 67.5 °C to 41 °C as of 07:00 JST. TEPCO announced that pressure in the third reactor’s containment vessel is rising, and TEPCO says they will observe the situation carefully. It has been reported that one of the options they are considering is venting air into the atmosphere to relieve the pressure. This would of course release more radioactive debris into the atmosphere.

In a TV news interview this morning, U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu stated of the three reactors involved, two of the reactors had containment vessels intact, but the fuel rods were damaged. Regarding the 3rd reactor, “there might be a breach in the containment vessel.” He went on to say “we believe the worst is over.”

I did not see or hear any specific data presented in Mr. Chu’s interview that would lead me to believe the situation is contained or the worst is over. We have an evolving situation where all of you will need to make your own decisions regarding whether preventive health measures are needed at this time to protect you and your families. What we do know is the reactor sensors were knocked out following the earthquake and tsunami. So data regarding the reactors is hard to come by. We also know last week the Japanese government upgraded the Fukushima nuclear event from a Level 4 (= accident with local consequences) to a Level 5 (= accident with wider consequences). The International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale goes from level 0 to level 7. A level 7 event indicates a major accident such as the Chernobyl disaster. Each increasing level represents a 10X increase in severity from the previous level, so the scale is intended to be logarithmic.

We also know that the initial plume of radioactive debris released into the upper atmosphere in Japan reached the West coast of the USA in the past few days and is traveling eastward. The official government response was that this was not a dangerous level of radiation and was diluted. In my opinion, radiation exposure is a potential health risk. There is no such thing as a “safe amount of radiation,” meaning there is no potential for DNA damage or cancer development. Also, through the process of bio-accumulation one can be exposed to very small amounts of radiation or a toxic substance in foods or the environment, and over time with continued exposure, the body levels continue to increase. In this case we are concerned about radioactive iodine.

How much iodine should you take to ensure that your body will not absorb radioactive iodine? Without proper testing, it is impossible to say what dose is appropriate for everybody. This is why I have suggested a baseline lab test called an iodine loading test be obtained. I have recommended that adults take 12.5 mg/day of a combination of non-radioactive iodine/iodide. That amount will prevent nearly 96% of radioactive iodine from binding to the thyroid gland and still leave other amounts of iodine available for the rest of the body’s need. Children will need smaller amounts. A general rule of thumb for children is 0.08mg of iodine per pound of body weight. If a newborn is breast feeding, they do not need iodine supplementation if the mother is iodine sufficient. Iodine is excreted in the breast milk. As stated in my initial report, my family and I have made the decision to start taking an iodine/iodide combination for preventive purposes.

Robert A. Erickson, M.D.|~!|Sun 20-Mar-2011|~!||~!| Japan Nuclear Event Update #2 03-25-2011|~!|In a televised address yesterday the Japanese Prime Minister warned "we are not in a position where we can be optimistic. We must treat every development with the utmost care." On that same date Japanese officials warned a suspected breach in the core of a reactor at the stricken Fukushima nuclear plant could mean more serious radioactive contamination.|~!|1311694671|~!|In a televised address yesterday the Japanese Prime Minister warned "we are not in a position where we can be optimistic. We must treat every development with the utmost care." On that same date Japanese officials warned a suspected breach in the core of a reactor at the stricken Fukushima nuclear plant could mean more serious radioactive contamination. What is not widely revealed is that of the 6 reactors at the Fukushima nuclear plant, the number 3 reactor has a mixed uranium-plutonium oxide fuel. This is the reactor suspected of having a core breech. A disaster at the number 3 unit would lead to plutonium fallout and much higher amounts of radiation than if it were just a uranium reactor. One of the dilemmas the Japanese are facing is that attempts to pump in seawater to cool the reactor are hampered by high pressure buildup within the reactor, necessitating the release of radioactive vapor into the atmosphere. Vladimir Slivyak, co-chair of Russia’s Ecodefense stated “a shutdown of coolant to a reactor loaded with MOX (mixed oxide) fuel make the reactor much more difficult to control than a reactor loaded with usual uranium fuel.”

I was astounded to learn that the Daiichi complex had a total of 1760 metric tons of fresh and used nuclear fuel on site last year, according to a presentation by its owners, the Tokyo Electric Power Company. The most damaged reactor number 3 contains about 170 tons of radioactive fuel in its core. To put this in perspective, the amount of fuel lost in the core melt at Three Mile Island in 1979 was about 30 tons; the Chernobyl reactors had about 180 tons when the accident occurred in 1986.

If plutonium did get out, it wouldn't disappear quickly. Plutonium-239 has a half-life of 25,000 years, meaning it takes that long to lose half of its radioactive potency. Uranium-235 has a half-life of 700 million years. And cesium, which tends to go airborne much more easily, has a half-life of 30 years. The half life of I 131 is eight days, which is short, but it still can cause cancer.

The municipal water in Tokyo is now contaminated with radioactive I 131 and mothers have been warned to use bottled water for their infants. Elevated levels of radiation have already turned up in raw milk, seawater and 11 kinds of vegetables, including broccoli, cauliflower and turnips. Tokyo is a major, modern city, like New York or Chicago. It is 140 miles away from the Fukishima nuclear plant.

My recommendations are unchanged from my original posting. Have your iodine levels checked and consider taking an iodine/iodide. Be proactive. If the Japanese are unable to prevent a reactor meltdown, a very large amount of radioactivity will be released into the atmosphere and cross over to the USA. Even with small amounts of radiation being released, the body will accumulate over time increasing amounts of radioactive I 131 because of the affinity iodine has for thyroid and other tissues such as breasts, ovaries, prostate, and uterus. In fact, every cell in your body utilizes iodine. Being iodine deficient means your receptor sites will not be saturated with non-radioactive iodine, allowing a greater influx of cancer causing I 131 into all these receptor sites. If your body has enough iodine binding to its receptors in the thyroid, breasts, ovaries, and other organs, then the radioactive iodine has nowhere to bind. That is why it is so important to have your iodine levels checked before a disaster such as this occurs. Call the Center and arrange for an iodine loading test. If you are iodine deficient, you can rectify this problem by simply taking iodine.

Robert A. Erickson, M.D.|~!|Fri 25-Mar-2011|~!||~!| Japan Nuclear Event Update #3 04-12-2011|~!|Massive amounts of radiation continue to leak out of the nuclear power plant in Japan and into the ocean and the atmosphere. Japan's nuclear safety agency has raised the severity rating of the incident at Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant to seven (the highest level), on par with the 1986 Chernobyl disaster.|~!|1311694730|~!|Massive amounts of radiation continue to leak out of the nuclear power plant in Japan and into the ocean and the atmosphere. Japan's nuclear safety agency has raised the severity rating of the incident at Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant to seven (the highest level), on par with the 1986 Chernobyl disaster. The Japanese government also just announced that the situation at the Fukushima reactors would take “months” to resolve, which is not very reassuring. The source of all the leaks is still unknown. The risk of another earthquake and tsunami remains. At the same time people are being reassured that the amount of radiation they are exposed to doesn’t present a significant health risk.

Turning to the USA, increased spikes of radioactivity in the atmosphere have been detected in multiple states, including Florida. The jet stream continues to bring radioactive debris across the ocean to this country. Although the amount of radiation being measured is quite small, there is no such thing as a “safe amount of radiation.” This is especially true for children or for a baby inside a pregnant mother’s womb. Radiation not only can cause cancer, it can cause Down's syndrome, spina bifida, cleft palate and other birth defects by damaging DNA. Genetic changes can also be passed on to the next generation, as DNA testing of healthy children of the workers involved in the Chernobyl cleanup has shown.

My previous recommendations regarding testing of a person’s iodine status through an iodine loading test and taking prophylactic iodine replacement at this time for non-allergic patients are unchanged.

Robert A. Erickson, M.D.|~!|Tue 12-Apr-2011|~!||~!| An Update on Cholesterol and Fats – The Good, The Bad, The Ugly - Robert Erickson, M.D. 2011|~!|The most misunderstood aspect of nutrition is fat metabolism. The following article is an update from my previous articles on cholesterol and fats. I would like to give credit to the publications of Stephen Sinatra, M.D. for much of the technical parts of this information. Dr. Sinatra is one of a growing number of cardiologists who are pioneering nutritionally based cardiology.|~!|1316660865|~!|The most misunderstood aspect of nutrition is fat metabolism. The following article is an update from my previous articles on cholesterol and fats. I would like to give credit to the publications of Stephen Sinatra, M.D. for much of the technical parts of this information. Dr. Sinatra is one of a growing number of cardiologists who are pioneering nutritionally based cardiology.


In the 1950s nutrition pioneer Ancel Keys linked dietary fat to coronary heart disease. The nutrition community of that time completely accepted this hypothesis, and encouraged the public to cut out butter, red meat, animal fats, eggs, dairy and other "artery clogging" fats from their diets -- a radical change at that time. What you may not know is that when Keys published his analysis that claimed to prove the link between dietary fats and coronary heart disease, he selectively analyzed information from only six countries to prove his correlation, rather than comparing all the data available at the time -- from 22 countries. As a result of this "cherry-picked" data, government health organizations began bombarding the public with advice that has contributed to the diabetes and obesity epidemics going on today. Not surprisingly, numerous studies have actually shown that Keys' theory was wrong. A Medical Research Council survey showed that men eating butter ran half the risk of developing heart disease as those using margarine. Of course, as Americans cut out nutritious animal fats from their diets, they were left hungry. Confident that, “as long as it was fat-free, it was okay,” many dieters compensated for lack of fat in the diet with sugar, often in unrestricted amounts. As people began to eat an abundance of fat-free ice creams, cookies, cereals, and breads, their insulin levels chronically soared. We now recognize that regular, excess insulin release can lead to insulin resistance and subsequent weight gain. We also know that low- or no-fat diets fats can cause depression, lethargy, and irritability due to deficiency of essential fatty acids.


In addition, people began eating more processed grains, more vegetable oils, and more high-fructose corn syrup. This is the type of diet that will eventually lead to increased inflammation. We now know that cholesterol per se is not the problem causing heart disease. It is only when cholesterol becomes oxidized that it sticks in the arteries. Oxidation occurs due to inflammation. Cholesterol production by the liver increases as a response to repair tissues damaged by inflammation in your body. Chronic inflammation is also caused by eating foods cooked at high temperatures, eating trans fats, a sedentary lifestyle, smoking, and emotional stress.


The bottom line is we need healthy fats; they should comprise approximately 30 percent of our daily caloric intake. Fats are not only tasty, but satiating. By adding healthy fats to our meals, we may actually eat less overall. More calorically dense than carbohydrates and proteins (each gram of fat has 9 calories, while each gram of carbohydrate or protein has 4 calories), eating fat can bring about a feeling of fullness. Additionally, as fat does not elicit an insulin response, eating it in moderation can actually make it easier for us to burn off our fat reserves and lose weight. This is one of the reasons the Adkin’s diet works for many people. Our bodies need fats to burn as fuel and for proper heart and brain function; the heart gets 60 percent of its fuel from fat. We also need fat to help us absorb fat-soluble vitamins like A, D, E, and K, as well as carotenoids.


The key to fats is good choices and moderation. Our understanding of the healthiness or unhealthiness of fats is constantly evolving. Ten years ago, doctors and nutritionists told us that unsaturated fats (monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats) were good and that saturated fats were bad. This is because our bodies convert most saturated fat into cholesterol, and, at the time, we thought high cholesterol was the root cause of cardiovascular disease. As I previously stated, we have since learned that chronic inflammation and oxidized LDL cholesterol cause heart disease. Hence, we now consider fats which contribute to inflammation, rather than convert to cholesterol, unhealthy. We also are better aware that hydrogenated (unsaturated) fats, i.e. trans fats, are highly inflammatory and underlie numerous health problems, like cardiovascular disease.


The Structure of Fatty Acids Made “Simple”


Oils are added into almost all prepared foods or are used in salad dressings and for cooking. The use of unhealthy oils such as soybean and canola oils is widespread, even in the health food industry. The public is becoming more educated about avoiding hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils because of their association with heart disease and cancer. Without getting too technical, all fatty acids are a chain of carbon atoms: C-C-C-C-C- etc.


This chain is analogous to the isle in a bus or airplane. On either side of the isle there is either an empty or occupied seat (with a hydrogen atom). If all the seats are “occupied,” the fat is a saturated fat. If some of the seats are “empty,” this is an unsaturated fat.




Butyric acid molecule found in butter. This is a saturated fat.


Because a fat is saturated, does not make it “bad.” All saturated fats have the advantage over unsaturated fats that they do not become easily oxidized. This is why butter and coconut oil are the best oils to cook with. Toxic oils that are overheated are the #1 health threat in this country, in my opinion, and lead to inflammation, heart disease and cancer. Food manufacturers began to artificially add hydrogen atoms (artificial hydrogenation) to corn and soy oils because they found a cheaper alternative to prevent spoilage.
Scientists have grouped all fats into 3 primary categories: saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated. As of this publication, the Mayo Clinic has listed ALL saturated fats as harmful on its website. I do not agree with this statement as the human body needs saturated fats to function. But I’ll go into this later in this article.


Monounsaturated Fats


Monounsaturated fats have a single double bond, hence they are called “mono.” As monounsaturated fats help reduce inflammation while not catalyzing insulin release, they help us lower our risk of heart disease. While olive oil is probably the best source of monounsaturated fat, we can also get it through foods like avocados, and various seeds and nuts. Monounsaturated fats are liquid at room temperature which is why the oil separates with freshly ground nut butters. Not all monounsaturated fats are healthy. For example, oleic acid makes up 77% of olive oil and is very healthy. Erucic acid, another monounsaturated fat, is highly toxic. Canola (Rape seed) oil is made of over 60% Erucic acid. In order to decrease its toxicity, canola has been genetically modified to include only 1% or less Erucic acid. This is still too much and quite toxic.


Olive oil is best consumed in uncooked form, since heat can damage its health-enhancing compounds. Its smoke point is 420 degrees Farenheit. Light or extra light olive oil is good for stir-frying or baking, while extra virgin olive oil works well for light sautéing, or drizzled on appetizers, salads, vegetables, etc.


Polyunsaturated Fats


Polyunsaturated fats have many (poly) double bonds. Polyunsaturated fats, also liquid at room temperature, are a double-edged sword when it comes to health. Those such as corn oil, safflower oil, and canola oil, were once the darlings of nutritionists because of their ability to lower LDL cholesterol. Unfortunately, they also lower HDL, the “good” cholesterol. Additionally, some polyunsaturated fats oxidize quickly in our bodies, making our cells more vulnerable to degenerative diseases like cancer, cataracts, Alzheimer’s disease, and cardiovascular disease.


The problem is we need to consume some polyunsaturated fats because they contain essential fatty acids (EFAs). EFAs are “essential” because we don’t make them in our bodies so we must get them either through the diet or supplementation. There are two major EFAs in polyunsaturated fats, alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) and linoleic acid (LA), which are also categorized as either omega-3s or omega-6. While ALA, an omega-3, can help decrease inflammation, too much LA, an omega-6, can increase it. Our bodies convert LA to arachidonic acid, a highly inflammatory polyunsaturated omega-6 fatty acid, which our bodies also produce in response to free radical activity. While necessary in small amounts, too much arachidonic acid can set into motion a cascade of biochemical events that raise blood pressure and can block arteries. The key to polyunsaturated fats, then, is to consume a balance of omega-3 and omega-6s.


Omega 3 Fatty Acids


From ALA, our bodies produce two other crucially important fatty acids: eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Omega-3 fatty acids, which we need for brain function and normal growth and development, are anti-inflammatory and cardio-protective. They defend against heart attacks by preventing the formation and attachment of blood clots in our arteries, as well as the rupture of unstable arterial plaques. They also prevent spasms in blood vessels. Studies have also shown that higher omega-3 consumption, especially through dietary sources of EPA and DHA, is associated with lowered risk of heart disease. Eskimos eat a very high fat content diet, but it also contains large amounts of Omega-3 fatty acids from seafood. They have the lowest incidence of heart disease on the North American continent.


EPA and DHA are omega-3s found in fish (and fish oil) that can help lower blood pressure and prevent arteriosclerosis (blood vessel damage due to thickened walls and loss of elasticity). Omega-3s stimulate both the production of chemical mediators which relax smooth muscles, and prostaglandins, hormones which prevent blood clots. Omega-3s are also vasodilative (they help keep blood vessels open so oxygenated blood can easily flow through), in that they block the effects of certain chemical mediators which raise blood pressure. Research has also shown that fish and fish oils are great brain food. Omega-3s can help alleviate psychological problems including depression, bipolar disorder, and even suicidal tendencies. DHA, in particular, is critical for the development of the retina and the fetal brain, and is necessary for brain and male reproductive health.


It’s important to remember that fish may contain excessive amounts of mercury and other contaminants due to environmental pollution; the higher up the seafood chain, the greater the chance of toxicity. Try to find a pure, uncontaminated fish oil that contains both EPA and DHA, and/or eat small migratory fish like wild-caught Alaskan salmon, Atlantic or Alaskan halibut, and cod. At the Center, we carry Biotic’s brand Bio Omega 3 fish oil, which is mercury-free. Do not eat farm-raised fish, including farm-raised salmon, which tend to contain greater levels of heavy metals in addition to insecticides and pesticides Also avoid large predatory fish like shark, tuna, kingfish and swordfish. Eating wild-caught fish three to four times per week, or supplementing with 1,000 mg of fish oil daily, can help us get the omega-3s we need for health maintenance.


Vegetarians and other people who don’t consume fish or fish oil can get the building blocks for EPA and DHA by consuming ALA. ALA is an omega-3 EFA that can be transformed in the body into small amounts of EPA and DHA. Ground flaxseed is a good source of ALA as well as fiber, which offers the added benefits of healthier skin, lower cholesterol, improved digestion, and a cleaner bowel. There is some controversy about flax seed oil itself that I will not go into at this time. ALA is also found in walnuts, tofu, wheat germ, and green, leafy vegetables like spinach.


Omega-6s – Linoleic and Linolenic Acid


Omega-6s are essential for brain and reproductive health, as well as for bone, skin, and hair development. There are many different types of omega-6s. Some, like gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) found in evening primrose oil or black currant seed oil, are non-inflammatory. Others, like the essential linoleic acid (LA), can cause inflammation. LA tends to be the primary type of omega-6 we consume, perhaps due to its prevalence in meats and most vegetable oils (e.g. sunflower, safflower, and soy), as well as in processed foods which contain these oils. From LA our bodies make pro-inflammatory arachidonic acid. High LA consumption, in the absence of adequate omega-3 intake, is associated with oxidation of LDL cholesterol in the body, which can promote vascular inflammation.


Omega 9s


Omega 9s are a family of unsaturated fatty acids, which are not essential (i.e. the body produces them on its own) and are the most abundant fatty acid found in nature, both in animal and plant sources. The oleic acid found in olive oil is an example of an omega-9. Canola and corn oils are also examples of Omega 9. Olives, avocados, almonds, peanuts, pecans, pistachio nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, and macadamia nuts are also sources of Omega 9s. Please note that foods do not contain a single source but are a mixture of different essential and non-essential fatty acids. So olive oil and many nuts also contain Omega 3s.


Saturated Fats


Saturated fats, such as butter, are found primarily in animal products such as meat, cheese, milk, full-fat yogurt and eggs. They are solid at room temperature and convert to cholesterol in the body. Plant sources of saturated fat, which do not convert to cholesterol, include palm and coconut oil. We need cholesterol in our bodies to maintain the integrity of cell membranes, produce cellular structures and hormones, and for digestion. While our bodies are able to generate about 85 percent of our cholesterol, we obtain the rest from dietary sources, like saturated fats.


The downside of saturated fats is that they can cause inflammation if our blood levels of LDL cholesterol are high and our blood also has too much homocysteine, ferritin (iron), and/or Lp(a). These three substances each increase risk of oxidation of LDL cholesterol, which can lead to dangerous unstable plaque in blood vessels. Reducing levels of these substances, then, can help reduce our risk of cardiovascular disease linked to saturated fat intake.


To prevent excess levels of homocysteine, we need to get enough B vitamins in our diets. While too much Lp(a) is genetically inherited, one can often lower Lp(a) by increasing vitamin C intake and/or by taking Niacin (vitamin B3). Donate blood to prevent high iron levels (for women, regular loss of menstrual blood helps serve this purpose).


For people who have a penchant for fatty meat, eggs, and dairy products, supplementing with coenzyme Q10, as well as fish oil, can help prevent oxidation of LDL cholesterol.


One of the benefits of saturated fats is that, unlike polyunsaturated (including trans) fats, they do not oxidize easily at high temperatures. Oxidation of fat itself, as opposed to LDL cholesterol, causes inflammation due to increased free radical activity and possible degenerative disease. Cooking with saturated fats like coconut oil or butter can help prevent oxidation-related inflammation.


The other side of the coin is animal sources of saturated fats, such as fatty meats and eggs, tend to also contain arachidonic acid which is highly inflammatory. This may explain why high saturated fat intake has been linked to heart disease, hypertension, stroke, and diabetes, as well as cancer. As a general guideline, moderate saturated fat intake is okay if you stick to an otherwise healthy, non-inflammatory diet full of fresh fruits and vegetables.


Hydrogenated or Trans Fats


Hands down, hydrogenated /trans fats are the unhealthiest fats around. Trans fats are vegetable oils to which an extra hydrogen molecule has been artificially added. They are found in processed foods like margarine and commercial baked goods, as well as fried foods. I remember my Swedish grandmother never using margarine. She always cooked with pure butter and never had heart disease. She lived to be 96 years old and my Swedish grandfather, who ate her cooking, lived to be over 100.
Adding a hydrogen molecule makes these fats solid at room temperature and increases their shelf life. Consumption of trans fats severely increases inflammation in our bodies by causing free radical damage to cell membranes, and increasing blood levels of LDL cholesterol and (Lp(a). Together, oxidized LDL molecules and Lp(a) are a deadly combination: they can cause buildup of plaque and formation of blood clots in arteries, which can result in heart attacks. Trans fats are also linked to increased risk of some cancers.


A Word About Coconut Oil


Coconut and its oil contains saturated fats that are unique - medium chain saturated fatty acids (caprylic and lauric Acids) that are very healthy and should not be confused with the long chain saturated fats found in animal meats. Countless studies have shown that unhydrogenated coconut oil does not raise LDL cholesterol nor is its use correlated with any form of heart disease. Medium chain triglycerides are absorbed directly into the blood via intestinal capillaries making it a very easily digestible food, whereas long chain fatty acids require a more complex digestive process. Medium chain triglycerides are also found in human mother’s milk. One big reason mother’s milk is so valuable for newborns is the lauric acid which protects babies from infection when they are still developing their immune systems. So again, we need to differentiate between “good” and “bad” types of saturated fat.


Summary and Actions to Take


1. Most foods contain a different combination of fats. Choose foods with fats that are primarily monounsaturated or contain omega-3 polyunsaturated fats because these fats are anti- inflammatory. Avoid all processed foods.


2. Omega-6 polyunsaturated fats are tricky: they are inflammatory, but we need to ingest them in small amounts. We should consume an equal amount of omega 3s and omega 6s to balance inflammatory activity. Generally, traditional Mediterranean or Pan Asian diets reflect balanced EFA intake, while Western diets do not.


3. Eat wild Alaskan salmon, halibut or cod three to four times weekly; or supplement your diet with a mercury-free source of omega-3 oil such as Biotics Bio Omega 3. If you are a vegetarian, you will need to get your omega-3 oil from vegetable sources such as ground flax seed.


4. Saturated fats can be inflammatory, in that they contribute to increased LDL cholesterol which then can oxidize when in the presence of other substances. However, the body needs some dietary cholesterol. Saturated fats are also resistant to oxidation, making them good choices when consumed in small to moderate amounts.


5. Always read nutrition labels and avoid, at all costs, anything with the words “hydrogenated,” or “partially hydrogenated.” Avoid fast foods.


6. When cooking, use either coconut oil or butter. If you can turn the heat down, olive oil is okay. Do not use corn oil, canola oil, or soy oil. These oils are derived from genetically modified crops whose safety has not been proven. Canola oil has Erucic acid, which is toxic.|~!|Wed 21-Sep-2011|~!||~!| Magnesium for Pain Relief - Robert A. Erickson, M.D., F.A.A.F.P. 2011|~!|Magnesium is the fourth most abundant mineral in the body and is essential to good health. Approximately 50% of total body magnesium is found in bone. The other half is found predominantly inside cells of body tissues and organs. Only 1% of magnesium is found in blood, but the body works very hard to keep blood levels of magnesium constant. Magnesium is needed for more than 300 biochemical reactions in the body. It helps maintain normal muscle and nerve function, keeps heart rhythm steady, supports a healthy immune system, and keeps bones strong. Magnesium also helps regulate blood sugar levels, promotes normal blood pressure, and is known to be involved in energy metabolism and protein synthesis. Dietary magnesium is absorbed in the small intestines. Magnesium is excreted through the kidneys.|~!|1318440138|~!|Magnesium is the fourth most abundant mineral in the body and is essential to good health. Approximately 50% of total body magnesium is found in bone. The other half is found predominantly inside cells of body tissues and organs. Only 1% of magnesium is found in blood, but the body works very hard to keep blood levels of magnesium constant. Magnesium is needed for more than 300 biochemical reactions in the body. It helps maintain normal muscle and nerve function, keeps heart rhythm steady, supports a healthy immune system, and keeps bones strong. Magnesium also helps regulate blood sugar levels, promotes normal blood pressure, and is known to be involved in energy metabolism and protein synthesis. Dietary magnesium is absorbed in the small intestines. Magnesium is excreted through the kidneys.


Early signs of magnesium deficiency include loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and weakness. As magnesium deficiency worsens, numbness, tingling, muscle contractions and cramps, seizures (sudden changes in behaviors caused by excessive electrical activity in the brain), personality changes, abnormal heart rhythms, and coronary spasms can occur. Severe magnesium deficiency can result in low levels of calcium in the blood (hypocalcemia). Magnesium deficiency is also associated with low levels of potassium in the blood (hypokalemia). Many of these symptoms are general in nature and can result from a variety of medical conditions other than magnesium deficiency so it is important to have a physician evaluate any health complaints.


Magnesium deficiency can occur from taking diuretic and other medications e.g. tetracycline and certain anti-neoplastic drugs. Magnesium deficiency is also seen in alcoholics, poorly controlled diabetics, elderly patients in general, and individuals with malabsorption problems such as Crohn’s disease. The RDA for magnesium in adults is between 250mg and 400mg daily. Magnesium deficiency is very common in this country due to depletion of this mineral in the soils and because of food processing. Oral magnesium is very inexpensive. We suggest using a chelated form such as magnesium citrate rather than the oxide form, which is not well absorbed.


There is a growing interest among traditional physicians in using magnesium for cardiovacular disease, diabetes and hypertension. For decades, intravenous magnesium sulfate has been used in the treatment of pregnant females with pre-eclampsia or eclampsia (characterized by elevated blood pressure and seizures). Among most holistic physicians, magnesium is used for pain management. This is not an FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approved or recognized therapy.


Our clinical experience at the Preventive Medicine Center has shown magnesium can be an effective treatment for pain, especially for patients with either fibromyalgia, muscle strains or migraine headaches. The reason magnesium can help muscle pain is clear – it helps muscles “relax.” Why magnesium helps neurogenic pain (nerve pain conditions) is less clear.


A major mechanism of pain is the excessive stimulation of a brain chemical called “NMDA” or N-methyl-D-aspartate. A study on rats was published in November 2010 in The Journal of Physiology confirms our clinical experience that magnesium decreases nerve pain — while also pointing to how it works through the NMDA receptors. Magnesium seems to settle down NMDA without the toxicity of drugs. There are a number of drugs that block the NMDA receptor providing analgesia in nerve pain. These include dextromethorphan (a cough suppressant, but at higher doses than those needed to block cough), ketamine (an anesthetic), and amantadine (an anti-viral drug and Parkinson’s disease drug).


Magnesium can be used intravenously for a very rapid and powerful effect. Our experience has shown an acute migraine attack can often be broken by intravenous magnesium sulfate. It is also very helpful for settling down fibromyalgia pain, which has a muscle and nerve component. Unlike oral magnesium where high doses cause bowel upset or diarrhea (e.g. Milk of Magnesia effect), I.V. magnesium bypasses the gut and is very well tolerated at higher than oral doses. It has an added benefit of also calming a person.|~!|Wed 12-Oct-2011|~!||~!| Top 5 Foods to Avoid Series #2 – Unfermented Soy Products - Robert A. Erickson, M.D. December 2011|~!|Soybeans are marketed as a “health food.” I used to eat a lot of soy products, but as I became more educated I discovered soy has a number of dangerous components. The first is phytic acid. All seeds and legumes have this, but not to the extent soybeans contain. Phytic acid binds to needed minerals such as calcium, zinc and magnesium. Even slow cooking does not always adequately break down phytic acid, but long fermentation (6 months to several years) does. So eating natto, miso or tempeh, which are fermented foods, is okay. Soy also contains enzyme inhibitors that reduce protein absorption and processed soy contains nitrates and other chemicals that are carcinogenic (cause cancer).|~!|1323494271|~!|

Soybeans are marketed as a “health food.” I used to eat a lot of soy products, but as I became more educated I discovered soy has a number of dangerous components. The first is phytic acid. All seeds and legumes have this, but not to the extent soybeans contain. Phytic acid binds to needed minerals such as calcium, zinc and magnesium. Even slow cooking does not always adequately break down phytic acid, but long fermentation (6 months to several years) does. So eating natto, miso or tempeh, which are fermented foods, is okay. Soy also contains enzyme inhibitors that reduce protein absorption and processed soy contains nitrates and other chemicals that are carcinogenic (cause cancer).

Soybeans are a genetically modified crop. In 1997, only 8% of the commercially raised soybean crop in the USA was genetically modified. By 2010 this figure was up to 93% (National Agricultural Statistics Board annual report, June 30, 2010). Monsanto company in 1996 introduced “Roundup Ready” soybeans so that their herbicide product “Roundup” could be sprayed on the soybean fields without destroying the soybean crop. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved the use of Roundup Ready soybeans, but be aware that the FDA does not monitor or even require labeling of genetically modified foods (GMOs). You are unknowingly buying GMOs in your supermarket. The Europeans either do not allow GMOs or they require that they be labeled.

Our readers should also be aware that modern processed soy products, including soy burgers and soy cheese are not the same as traditional Asian soy. Soybean oil I place in this same category and do not recommend using it (olive oil is a much better choice). It is a common ingredient in commercial salad dressings, so read the label. Most soy products are, by and large, unfermented and this includes tofu and soy protein. These products do not provide the same benefits as fermented soy products. Unfermented soy is also the second most common allergen, so babies who are allergic to cow’s milk and are switched to a soy formula often develop an allergy to the soy formula. Soy milk is high in aluminum, because it is processed in large aluminum tanks.

Soy milk also contains large quantities of phyto-estrogens as do soy infant formulas. The soy isoflavones genistein and daidzein are similar to 17 beta-estradiols, but are 100,000 times weaker in estrogenic activity. Although these isoflavones are weak estrogens, over time, high concentrations of isoflavones in the body can have a significant cumulative estrogenic and toxic effect, especially when they are exposed to organs that have sensitive estrogen receptors sites such as the breasts, uterus, and ovaries. I recommend babies or men do not take soy products with any regularity. If a post menopausal woman needs more estrogen, then fermented soy could be of benefit.

Studies have shown that 30 grams of unfermented soy consumed daily can affect thyroid function and has been linked to auto immune diseases such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis as well as hypothyroidism.

There are some studies that have shown taking 35-60 grams of soy protein a day can protect the body against breast cancer. This is because genistein acts as a natural aromatase inhibitor and because the very weak isoflavones can occupy estrogen receptor sites in the human body, blocking stronger estrogens such as estrone. On the other hand, there are studies showing that women eating soy had a higher incidence of pre-malignant changes in their body’s cellular structure such as epithelial hyperplasia. Whether soy is beneficial or detrimental to those with estrogen dominance or in breast cancer prevention is controversial. There are safe ways to treat estrogen dominance without using soy products.

The bottom line in this update is if you are going to eat soy products, do so in moderation and only choose fermented soy products.|~!|Fri 09-Dec-2011|~!||~!| Top 5 Foods to Avoid Series #3 - Meat, to Eat or Not to Eat, That is the Question - Robert A. Erickson, M.D. December 2011|~!|Simon Weiss was my father-in-law. He was a butcher and had a saying “the meat makes the meal.” Of course, he would eat meat more than once a day. He died of a stroke at age 92 several years ago, but lived a relatively disease-free life. As I grew up and even in medical school we were taught meat and dairy were great sources of protein, but plants were not. In my medical practice, patients frequently ask me what I think of a vegan or vegetarian diet. Up until 2005, when a book called The China Study was published, physicians didn’t have a lot of scientific data to go by. The China study is a 20 year observational study involving 6,500 individuals living in 130 villages in China. Colin Campbell, PhD and Thomas Campbell, M.D., his son, are the authors. Dr. Campbell is a Professor Emeritus of Nutritional Biochemistry at Cornell University. The study concluded that people with a high consumption of animal-based foods (meat, eggs, dairy products) were more likely to suffer chronic disease (such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer), while those who ate a plant-based diet were the least likely. A closer look at the study reveals important limitations that impact the reliability, usefulness, and interpretation of the study results. There are technical issues with the limited number of data points. And the study jumps to conclusions and doesn’t differentiate between causation and association. |~!|1323494435|~!|

Simon Weiss was my father-in-law. He was a butcher and had a saying “the meat makes the meal.” Of course, he would eat meat more than once a day. He died of a stroke at age 92 several years ago, but lived a relatively disease-free life. As I grew up and even in medical school we were taught meat and dairy were great sources of protein, but plants were not. In my medical practice, patients frequently ask me what I think of a vegan or vegetarian diet. Up until 2005, when a book called The China Study was published, physicians didn’t have a lot of scientific data to go by. The China study is a 20 year observational study involving 6,500 individuals living in 130 villages in China. Colin Campbell, PhD and Thomas Campbell, M.D., his son, are the authors. Dr. Campbell is a Professor Emeritus of Nutritional Biochemistry at Cornell University. The study concluded that people with a high consumption of animal-based foods (meat, eggs, dairy products) were more likely to suffer chronic disease (such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer), while those who ate a plant-based diet were the least likely. A closer look at the study reveals important limitations that impact the reliability, usefulness, and interpretation of the study results. There are technical issues with the limited number of data points. And the study jumps to conclusions and doesn’t differentiate between causation and association.

Key et. Al in 1998 did an analysis of 5 large prospective studies and found no difference in death rates from certain cancers (stomach, colon, lung, breast, and prostate) among vegetarian vs. non-vegetarian. Key found that vegetarians were less likely to die of ischemic heart disease than non-vegetarians.

Factors Other Than Just “Too Much Animal Protein.”

Less than sixty years ago, cows and poultry were different than they are today. Back then, animals were allowed to roam freely outdoors. Cattle grazed off grass or hay and were not given estrogens and androgens, antibiotics, genetically modified corn or soy, or growth hormones. Chickens were also allowed to roam freely and not confined many to a cage. They also were not given hormones or antibiotics, and were not fed grains that had been adulterated with arsenic to kill parasites (after decades of arsenic use in the U.S. poultry industry, the FDA this year, after mounting pressure, banned this practice because of the harm it could cause in humans). The meat from grass-fed cattle have a higher Omega-3 oil content than seafood, and the human body will do well with some meat if it is organic, free range and not eaten more than once a week. Be warned that a product labeled “natural” is not the same thing as “organic.” And that “natural” product may contain hormones or antibiotics. Personally, I get most of my protein from wild Alaskan salmon or cod (not farm raised), which is very low in mercury and other contaminants.

There are some forms of meat that are especially harmful. Preserved meats (ham, cold-cut turkey or beef, bacon, hotdogs, salami, pastrami or other deli meats) contain added nitrates, which have been linked to a variety of cancers. They also contain sodium, which patients with heart or kidney disease, or hypertension may need to avoid.  Barbequed meats (and vegetables) are highly toxic. I used to BBQ a lot and didn’t really want to believe this because I loved picnics and family events. But I did some research. What happens is that fire or hot metal directly touches the food without the presence of liquid or oil, and will burn the food, creating cancer-causing free radicals called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heterocyclic amines (HCAs). They are formed whenever there is incomplete combusion or burning. This incomplete burning also occurs in cigarettes. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are the main cancer causers in cigarettes. But such incomplete burning also takes place in charcoal grills and in the smoking of food. The fat drops on the charcoal, partially burns and spatters up onto the meat. Charcoal grilled meat contains large quantities of such chemicals. A 1.1 kilogram (2.4 pound) charcoal grilled steak contains as much cancer causing chemicals as 600 cigarettes according to a 1964 article in Science magazine! These chemicals last in the body up to a month, which is a long exposure. Worst of all is that they taste good, so you don¹t realize what you are taking in. The position of the National Cancer Institute is that although there are studies linking PAHs and HCAs to multiple different types of cancer in animals (including breast, colon, prostate, leukemia, skin, and liver) there are no direct studies that show barbequing food causes cancer in humans. But then the National Cancer Institute “hedges” on their website and goes on to say “Nevertheless, numerous epidemiologic studies have used detailed questionnaires to examine participants’ meat consumption and meat cooking methods to estimate HCA and PAH exposures. Researchers found that high consumption of well-done, fried, or barbecued meats was associated with increased risks of colorectal, pancreatic, and prostate cancer.”

The National Cancer Institute recommends if you must BBQ, before you barbecue meat, partially cook it in the microwave and then throw out the juices that collect in the cooking dish. Finish cooking the meat on the grill. Precooking a hamburger for a few minutes in the microwave reduces polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by up to 95 percent, and frequently flipping burgers further reduces PAHs. The longer the cooking time and the higher the heat, the more HCAs. Barbecuing produces the most HCAs, followed by pan-frying and broiling. Baking, poaching, stir-frying, steaming and stewing produce the least HCAs. The National Cancer Institute suggests keeping the cooking temperature at 300 degrees or below to avoid HCA production.

I leave the choice of whether to eat meat in limited quantities or not up to each patient. I do encourage cancer patients and those with chronic diseases to emphasize a plant-based diet and minimize meat and dairy.|~!|Fri 09-Dec-2011|~!||~!| FACTS ABOUT MERCURY, DENTAL AMALGAMS and DETOXIFICATION OF INCREASED BODY BURDEN OF MERCURY - Robert A. Erickson, M.D., F.A.A.F.P. - Revised January 2012|~!|

The pollution of our air, water, and food supply with mercury is a recognized health hazard, and the US and other governments have set guidelines to reduce its impact on the environment. Up until several years ago mercury in the form of thimerosal was used as a preservative in vaccines. It has been removed from childhood vaccines but still remains in some adult vaccines such as the flu vaccine. Our attention in this paper is on “internal pollution” of our bodies with mercury.

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Introduction 

The pollution of our air, water, and food supply with mercury is a recognized health hazard, and the US and other governments have set guidelines to reduce its impact on the environment. Up until several years ago mercury in the form of thimerosal was used as a preservative in vaccines. It has been removed from childhood vaccines but still remains in some adult vaccines such as the flu vaccine. Our attention in this paper is on “internal pollution” of our bodies with mercury.  

Mercury is found in two basic forms: inorganic and organic. Inorganic mercury is found in nature. Organic mercury is mercury that has been processed through a living system. As mercury leaks out into your digestive tract, bacteria that are normally present will change this inorganic mercury into a form of mercury called methyl mercury which is hundreds of times more toxic than inorganic mercury, or even arsenic.  

Mercury exposure can permanently damage the brain, kidneys, and developing fetus. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has reported that approximately 630,000 newborns in the United States had unsafe amounts of mercury in their blood which had derived from contaminated cord blood. The report suggests that mercury accumulates in the umbilical cord blood at a level higher than in the blood of the mother. This means that a woman whose mercury blood level was around 3.5 ppb could have a newborn with a mercury concentration greater than 5.8 ppb, the current safety limit for mercury. About one out of every six women of childbearing age has enough mercury in her blood to fit into that category and pose a threat to her fetus according to the statistics presented by researcher and author of the paper, Dr. Kathryn Mahaffey. Certain species of fish (tilefish, shark, swordfish, tuna, king mackerel) contain high concentrations of mercury and the FDA has issued warnings to pregnant women to avoid these species. 

Mercury can also be found in cosmetics, contaminated well or drinking water, emissions from electric power plants, and batteries to name a few. U.S. dentists use an estimated 100 tons of mercury per year. 

What are the symptoms of mercury poisoning or exposure? 

There are over one hundred known symptoms of mercury toxicity, most of them vague. They include irritability, depression, bouts of anger, anxiety, numbness or tingling in extremities, frequent urination at night, unexplained fatigue, cold hands and feet (even in warm weather), stomach upset or heartburn, colitis, abdominal pain, constipation, sleep disturbances, headaches, unexplained chest pain, heart attack, heart palpitations and arrhythmias, dizziness, speech  disorders, leg cramps, clumsiness, bad breath and metallic taste in mouth, bleeding gums to name a few. It is not known what role mercury toxicity may play in MS (multiple sclerosis) and ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or Lou Gehrig’s disease). Dr. Boyd Haley, a professor of chemistry at the University of Kentucky, has multiple research articles published associating mercury dental amalgams with Alzheimer’s disease.

 Mercury and dental fillings 

“Silver fillings” or amalgams are really a mixture of 50% mercury, 35% silver, 13% copper and traces of tin and zinc. Until the mid-1980's dentists assumed no mercury vapor was released from amalgam fillings. Since then studies have proven a significant level of mercury vapor is released by simply chewing your food. Mercury is a poison that doesn’t belong in your mouth, and it accumulates over time. It’s absorbed from tooth fillings through the mucous membranes of the mouth. Countries such as West Germany, Sweden, and Australia do not allow the use of mercury fillings where they are viewed as a dangerous health hazard. 
Dr. D.W. Eggleston published a study using brain autopsy specimens showing a direct correlation between the accumulated level of brain mercury and the number of fillings in the cadaver’s mouth. The more fillings, the more mercury.  

According to the World Health Organization, the average daily absorption of mercury from dental amalgam is from 3 to 17 micrograms per day, compared to a maximum of 2.6 micrograms from all other sources combined. Other researchers contend that just one amalgam filling can release as much as 40 micrograms per day. 

Why are some dentists still using mercury amalgams? 

The ADA’s (American Dental Association) position is that mercury amalgam is biologically safe in your mouth. What is being taught in dental schools is that the mercury is bound to the silver in the amalgam and does not escape to poison the patient. In the April 2006 issue of JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) a report on the ‘safety’ of mercury dental amalgams in children was presented. This report was supported by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, part of the National Institutes of Health. In this study 2 groups of children were followed for 5-7 years B those who received mercury containing dental amalgams to fill cavities, and those who received composite fillings. The report concluded that children whose cavities were filled with dental amalgam containing mercury “had no adverse health affects . . .” The report did acknowledge that the amalgam filling group had higher levels of mercury in their urines than the group of children who received non-mercury containing composite fillings for the first two years, but this higher excretion became equal after two years. The report did not explain this reduction in excretion of mercury. In my opinion, this reduction in excretion of mercury by the kidneys in the mercury amalgam group of children was due to  the toxic effect of mercury on the kidneys. This study was flawed for a number of other reasons (see my September 2006 newsletter).

The ADA Council on Dental Materials sensibly warns dentists that the mercury vapor that comes out of scrap amalgam is extremely dangerous and a no-touch technique for handling the amalgam is taught. They also insist that dentists store mercury in tightly sealed containers, avoiding heating mercury or amalgam, and perform yearly mercury determinations on all dental office personnel. But why does the ADA say a mercury amalgam is safe in your mouth and the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) says when amalgam is taken out of your mouth it is a toxic waste and must be handled a certain way to protect dental personnel from getting mercury poisoning!

Why hasn’t my dentist told me about this? 

A growing number of states now require informed consent for patients regarding the presence of mercury in amalgam fillings and about its negative health effects. In medicine, if a drug has a 1 in a 1000 chance of causing an adverse reaction, the patient is informed of the risks and benefits. This is called “informed consent.” The ADA has deemed it unethical for any dentist to tell a patient to have their mercury amalgams removed for health reasons. The ADA has spent large sums of money prosecuting dentists who say that mercury is poisonous and who refuse to place it in their patient’s mouths. In my opinion, their concern is over the tremendous financial liability it places all dentists, the ADA, and the amalgam manufacturers in. Many dentists avoid using mercury amalgams, recognizing there are much safer materials available for patients and they also wish to avoid exposures themselves that could be harmful. 

What is Dr. Erickson’s experience in this area? 

Since the late 1990's I have been involved in the treatment of patients with chronic bio-accumulation of mercury and other toxic metals. I attend conferences where the issues of chronic environmental exposures adversely impacting health are discussed, and how best to diagnose and treat them.  

In addition, I am a Diplomat of the American Board of Clinical Metal Toxicology (previous named the American Board of Chelation Therapy), having passed both written and oral Board exams. What I have found is no two persons are alike, and each person’s treatment protocol must be individualized based on age, medical condition, severity of the heavy metal burden, the ability of the person to detoxify and excrete the metals, psychological factors, lifestyle, etc. This is not a simple treatment. You probably want to know how long the process will take. Generally, the minimum time is six to eight months, although in fragile patients it might take several years of intermittent therapy to complete. Each heavy metal comes out in a specific order and often “pockets” of stored toxic metals release months or even a year into the treatment process. We use periodic provocative urine challenge tests to monitor a patient’s progress. Hair analyses for  toxic metals are used as a screening tool to document exposure, but not body burden. Traditional medicine does not recognize these tests, relying on whole blood heavy metal assays to document an acute toxicity.

Acute mercury toxicity vs. chronic accumulation 

Acute toxicity from mercury is rare, and most traditionally trained physicians have no awareness of how to look for bio-accumulation from low dose exposures to these metals over a long period of time. Because the metals are joined with the tissues in the body, they do not show up in blood tests or urine tests, and require a special type of testing of urine after a chelating agent is given to release them from the tissues. For example, methyl mercury stays in the blood for only 24 hours before it is distributed to various tissues in the body and can no longer be measured in the blood. 

Why detoxify mercury? 

Mercury has no known physiological function in the human body. In spite of what the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and other governmental health agencies would have us believe, in my opinion there is no such thing as a “safe” amount of toxic metal because microscopic amounts of these poisons affect us on a cellular level. Although our understanding of all the mechanisms of action that toxic metals affect is incomplete, we do have knowledge about several mechanisms. In a brilliant but very technical report Metals In Medicine by Robert A. Nash, M.D. (published in Alternative Therapies July/August 2005. Vol. 11. No. 4), twelve different mechanisms of damage to our health were outlined. Toxicant metals can cause bioelectrical short circuits, damaging body function. Metals can combine with proteins creating metal-protein complexes that our body’s immune system sees as a foreign invader. This results in our immune systems attacking our own tissues, resulting in autoimmune disorders and allergies. Toxic metals act to deplete glutathione and vitamin C, our two most important anti-oxidants that help prevent cancer and keep our immune systems strong. Toxic metals alter brain function. Mercury, in particular, causes neurofibrillary tangles identical to those seen in Alzheimer’s disease. Mercury and lead also cross the placental barrier, allowing these poisonous metals into the unborn baby. Toxic metals decrease dopaminergic brain activity leading to degeneration of nerve and brain cells. Toxic metals also damage DNA directly and can lead to cancer. 

Mercury in low levels can result in decreased senses of touch, hearing, vision and taste, as well as a metallic taste in the mouth. Fatigue, lack of appetite, numbness in the extremities, headaches, hypertension, irritability and excitability, immune suppression, and anemia can also occur. It can also cause a lack of libido and sexual response. In severe cases, psychosis, manic behavior and autoimmune dysfunction and renal failure are seen. There is also an association between mercury containing dental amalgams and intra-oral cancers. 

Are your symptoms due to an increased body burden of mercury or other toxic metals? 

This is a very complex area that I will try to summarize.  

Toxicity is based on 2 factors: 1) the amount of toxic substance(s); 2) the genomic factors (genetics) of the person and their ability to detoxify the substance. For example, two people have identical blood alcohol levels. One person is clinically drunk and the other is not. 

Acute toxicity is often easy to diagnose after an acute exposure to the toxic substance. Chronic toxicity, which by its very nature, is difficult to diagnose as it occurs over a long period of time (sometimes decades) with exposure to very low levels of toxins that bioaccumulate in your tissues. Further complicating this is the concept of total body burden of multiple toxins that are in our environment. Multiple different toxins can act synergistically together, having a much greater toxic effect than each would individually. We often see this in medicine with patients taking multiple different drugs, where one drug increases the toxicity of another drug. Keeping these factors in mind, we do not know whether a person’s symptoms will improve until after all their known sources of heavy metals are removed (e.g. dental amalgams, fish consumption, environmental toxin exposures, etc.) and until their body is also detoxified. It has been my experience with patients who have increased body burdens of toxic metals who decide to undergo physician supervised elective/preventive detoxification of metals, that over 85% of these patients have had very good to dramatic improvement, with less than 5% having little improvement once therapy was completed. This includes a wide spectrum of patients, including those with diabetic neuropathy and also multiple sclerosis. My experience has been that the most dramatic improvements are in the lifting of chronic fatigue, brain fog, asthma, and with muscle weakness and pain previously diagnosed as fibromyalgia. But this is no guarantee that your symptoms will resolve should you elect to undergo treatment. 

Some of my sickest patients have had only mild elevations of their urine or hair mercury levels. This group of patients often have immune problems such as asthma, fibromyalgia, skin rashes, multiple chemical sensitivities. Transitional metals such as mercury are unstable and can bind to proteins in a person’s body, creating a foreign protein. The body’s immune system is stimulated and “attacks” the foreign protein-metal complex. An allergy, rather than toxicity, can cause symptoms. Dr. Vera Stejskal is an Associate Professor of Immunology at the University of Stockholm in Sweden. She is an expert on mercury allergy and toxicity and has developed a test called MELISA which diagnoses allergy to mercury and other heavy metals. She has brought this technology to the United States. Her web site is www.melisa.org and you may want to read the articles on this site. We can order this test for you. 

Should mercury dental amalgams be replaced with non-toxic material? 

The World Health Organization position is there is no “safe” level of mercury in human beings. I agree. I would, for this reason recommend that a person who wishes to remain healthy, have any mercury amalgams removed according to proper protocol, and not to have mercury amalgams placed in the future. If you have cancer, diabetes, thyroid disease, multiple sclerosis, or any other immune system disorder, removal of mercury amalgams in my opinion is critical.  Your  dentist may be a traditional dentist and not agree with this viewpoint and you will have to make decisions as to what is proper for you and your health. I don’t have any of these diseases and I have had my amalgams removed to protect my immune system. I further recommend using only a dentist who is experienced in safe amalgam removal, as improper amalgam removal will make a bad situation worse. Ask the dentist if he/she is a “mercury-free dentist.” Ask your dentist if they use a rubber dam, nasal oxygen, high volume suction, a removal by quadrants rather than all at once, and if they do compatibility testing for dental materials before they replace your amalgams. If your dentist answers “no” to these questions or is still putting mercury in patients, I would be concerned. I also suggest high dose intravenous vitamin C be given following each amalgam removal. Vitamin C is a weak chelating agent and will help remove the mercury spilled during the dental procedure. This needs to be done within 2 hours of completion of your dental procedure. If you cannot afford removal at this time, or if your condition is very fragile and doesn’t allow amalgam removal currently, there are still options to reduce the level of mercury in your body.  

Can’t I just have my dentist remove my fillings? 

There is a specific protocol recommended to safely remove dental amalgams. Some dentists are not aware of this protocol. During the removal the dental drill will vaporize mercury, potentially releasing a large amount into the body, making your condition worse than what it currently is. Using a rubber dam reduces the risk of swallowing mercury amalgam pieces that break off during the procedure. So there are specific steps which must be followed in order to reduce your exposure. Also, just removing your fillings does not take care of the mercury in your tissues. You would need to undergo a detoxification process to remove this. 

How do I get mercury out of my body? 

An oral medication called DMSA (meso-2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid) can be used to reduce an increased body burden of mercury . DMSA binds with mercury, arsenic, and lead, and allows the removal of these metals from the body. It is believed DMSA does not cross the blood-brain barrier, but indirectly pulls mercury and other heavy metals out of the brain. It is excreted primarily by the liver and to a lesser degree by the kidneys. DMSA must be absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract to be effective. If a person’s digestive system is impaired, DMSA may not work. DMSA has not been show to have a significant effect on the urinary elimination of calcium, iron, or magnesium, but zinc excretion doubled in studies done by the drug company. This is different than the experience with EDTA chelation. 

DMSA can be custom formulated as to dose by a compounding pharmacist, based on your weight and condition. DMSA was developed to treat lead poisoning in infants and children and is approved by the FDA for this purpose. It is marketed under the name of Chemet. It has been used safely for over 30 years in large numbers of patients and has relatively little side effects, but it can cause nausea. It complexes easily with mercury, especially organic mercury, and the other metals mentioned. DMSA therapy may take anywhere from several months to several years to reduce a body burden of mercury. 

Intravenous DMPS (2-3-dimercaptopropane-1-sulfonate) is a highly effective chelating agent for mercury. This drug is not approved by the FDA as it is manufactured in over seas, but it is allowed to be imported into this country as a safe medication for compounding. It is usually given monthly and is primarily excreted by the kidneys.  

There are other medications which can remove mercury that I mention for completeness: BAL and D-Penicillamine, but they are rarely used. 

Are special supplements needed during treatment? 

The answer is “yes.” Chelating agents do not work just by themselves. Your body’s detoxification pathways must also be supported nutritionally if you are to excrete the bound heavy metals. Otherwise, they will stay inside your body and be recycled. The rate at which you detoxify will determine in large part the degree of symptoms you experience during the treatment process. We are not in a race and we want to keep the detox symptoms tolerable. You may feel some of the following symptoms, depending upon what metal you are excreting: fatigue, headaches, body aches or flu-like symptoms, nausea, diarrhea, foul smelling stools or urine, anxiety, depression, heart palpitations, and muscle weakness (especially as the mercury is coming out).  

Dr. Erickson will look at your lab work and clinical situation and custom tailor a nutritional support program for you. In some cases it is started at 4 weeks before taking the DMSA or IV DMPS. It is also important to take this nutrition on a daily basis between oral chelation treatments, but not on the days you are taking DMSA or receive IV DMPS as it may bind to the minerals in the supplements, and not the toxic metals. There is also an intravenous nutritional protocol that is used following guidelines from the American Board of Clinical Metal Toxicology. 

Dietary considerations 

Dr. Erickson recommends that your diet contain an increased level of complex carbohydrates, to include fresh fruits and vegetables, organic when ever possible. If you have trouble with grains (they may contain a pesticide or fungicide some patients react to), try organically certified grains and whole breads, or sprouted breads that do not contain flour. We find if you have a diet 50% complex carbohydrates, at least 20% high protein foods including nuts and organic chicken, and no more than 30% fat, you will do better. For patients on an Adkin’s type of program, this is not the time to be worrying about your weight. You will have less detox symptoms with the carbohydrates binding the toxins in the intestine on their way out. 

· JUICING. It provides your body something no supplement can B namely, fresh  plant enzymes that will help greatly in the detox process and give you an energy boost. Use organic vegetables and fruits. I recommend drinking an 6- 8 oz. glass in the morning and an 6- 8 ounce glass in the evening (start with 1 glass a day for a few days to get used to this). Try an equal mix of organic carrots, celery, and zucchini (with the skins on) for detoxification support. Celery-apple juice relieves inflammation and body aches, and helps nervous tension. Cucumber juice or watermelon juice (including the skins/rinds) acts as a diuretic/flush. And buying frozen or bottled stuff doesn’t work the same.  

·  NO SEAFOOD. Period. Lean protein foods such as Maverick or grass-fed beef (no more than 7% fat), lamb, turkey, and Empire Brand Kosher chicken or Springer Mountain Chicken (no hormones, chemicals, etc.) should be used.  

· FATS. No more than 30% of calories should come from fats, and these should be the “good” fats from butter or olive oil (see my September 2011 Newsletter on healthy and unhealthy fats). Do not deep fry foods. Bake or broil. 

· CRUCIFEROUS VEGETABLES. Eat foods with a high sulfur content, as this tends to bind mercury. Eggs (from free roaming chickens, no antibiotic in feed), cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, garlic and onions all have a high sulfur content. These foods help in the detoxification process. 

· WATER. I suggest purified mineral or spring water, or distilled water (if you add the missing minerals). Add lemon or lime juice to the water. Drink 6 eight ounce glasses of water a day to help flush toxins. 

· NO ALCOHOL. (Depletes B vitamins and acts as an additional toxic load on the liver). 

· NO SUGAR. This means avoidance of cakes, pastries, cookies, candy, soda pop, and anything that says “High Fructose Corn Syrup or Sugar Added.” Sugar stresses your adrenals and pancreas further, and is not good for your immune system. If you need a natural sweetener, buy Stevia in liquid or powder at a health food store. Ask us about Standard Process Food Bars if you have a sweet tooth or snacks are needed. 

Other things that can help 

Removing heavy metals is a major undertaking. It is important to treat yourself well during this time, as most people feel more tired and have some symptoms related to the detoxification. Here are some additional things I have found helpful: 

· Give Thanks every day. We all have a lot to be thankful for.  Get adequate rest. Take a short 30 minute nap in the afternoon if you need to. 

· Do not go on a diet during this time. Fat dumping of stored toxins will add to symptoms. 

· Walk every day 20 minutes. Vigorous exercise is not needed, but it’s okay to continue an exercise program if you’re used to one. 

· Sauna therapy, especially an infra-red sauna can be very helpful in removing toxins and increasing body temperature in patients with thermoregulatory dysfunction so their enzyme systems can function more normally. Talk to Dr. Erickson about this before doing on your own. If you have a serious medical problem such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, etc. do not do this without direct medical supervision. 

· Take one day at a time. Stress has an adverse affect on health. Be kind to yourself as you go through this treatment. Some days will be better than others. When you are having a tough day, just remember you are taking one step at a time to improved health, and you’re that much closer to where you want to be. 

Summary 

Traditional medicine and dentistry do not recognize mercury amalgams as a potential health hazard or increased body burdens of toxic metals as a health problem. Many CAM (complementary and alternative medicine) physicians, integrative physicians such as myself, and holistic dentists are not in agreement with this viewpoint for the reasons outlined in this paper and elsewhere. The decision to reduce your body burden of mercury through a physician supervised elective/preventive program of mercury detoxification and/or to have your mercury-containing dental amalgams replaced with non-toxic material is a decision only you can make. A list of references is provided at the end of this paper as well as websites you may wish to investigate. You will also be given a DVD on mercury amalgams from a biological dental perspective, produced by IAOMT. I encourage you to view this DVD. Please feel to share this DVD with family and friends. 

“Mercury compounds have no known normal metabolic function and their presence in the cells of living organisms, including human beings represents contamination . . . all such contamination must be regarded as undesirable and potentially hazardous” -- the conclusion of the National Research Council of the U.S.A. in their 1978 report “An assessment of Mercury in the Environment.” 

References 

1. Edlich RF, Mason SS, Chase ME, Fisher AL, Gubler KD, Long III WB, Newkirk AT. Revolutionary advances in the prevention of demyelinating diseases. J Environ Pathol Toxicol Oncol. 2009: 28(2): 143-52

2. National Clinical Guideline for the Use of Dental Filling Materials. Information for dental healthcare personnel. National Clinical Guidelines Norway.

3. Ban On Mercury Amalgam Recommended by Swedish Committee. 1993

4. Bureau of Health: Oral Health Program. Mercury Amalgam and Other Filling Materials. Maine.gov.

5. Lorscheider FL, Vimy MJ, Summers AO. Mercury exposure from “silver” tooth fillings; emerging evidence questions a traditional dental paradigm. FASEB J. 1995;9:504-8.

6. Edlich RF, Greene JA, Cochran AA, Kelley AR, Gubler KD, Olson BM, Hudson MA, Woode DR, Long III WB, McGregor W, Yoder C, Hopkins DB, Saepoff JP. Need for Informed Consent for Dentists Who Use Hg amalgam restorative material as well as technical considerations in removal of dental amalgam restorations. J Environ Pathol Toxicol Oncol. 2007: 305-22.

7. Hahn LJ, Kloiber R, Vimy MJ, Takahashi Y, Lorscheider FL. Dental “silver” tooth fillings: a source of mercury exposure revealed by whole-body image scan and tissue analysis. FASEB J. 1989; 3 :2641-2646.

8. Hahn LJ, Kloiber R, Vimy MJ, Lorscheider FL. Whole-body imaging of the distribution of mercury released from dental fillings into monkey tissues. FASEB J. 1991; 4: 3256-60.

9. Vimy MJ, Takahashi Y, Lorscheider FL. Maternal-fetal distribution (203Hg) released from dental amalgam fillings. Am J Physiol Regulatory Ingtegrative Comp Physiol. 1990; 258: 939-945.

10. Boyd ND, Benediktsson H, Vimy MJ, Hooper DE, Lorscheider FL. Mercury from dental “silver” tooth fillings impairs sheep kidney function. Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol. 1991; 261: 1010-1014.

11. Lorscheider FL, Vimy MJ, Summers AO, Zwiers H. The dental amalgam mercury controversy—inorganic mercury and the CNS; genetic linkage of mercury and antibiotic resistance in intestinal bacteria. Toxicology.1995; 97: 19-22.  

12. Lorscheider FL, Vimy MJ, Summers AO. Mercury exposure from “silver” tooth fillings: emerging evidence questions a traditional dental pagadigm. FASEB J. 1995; 9: 504-508.

13. Vimy MJ, Hooper DE, King WW, Lorscheider FL. Mercury from maternal “silver” tooth fillings in sheep and human breast milk. Biological Trace Element Research. 1997; 56: 143-152.

14. Morgan DL, Chanda SM, Price HC, Fernando R, Liu J, Brambila E, O’Connor RW, Beliles RP, Barone Jr, S. Disposition of inhaled mercury vapor in pregnant rats: maternal toxicity and effects on developmental outcome. Toxicological Sciences. 2002; 66: 261-273.

15. Ramirez GB, Pagulayan O, Akagi H, Rivera AF, Lee LV, Berroya A, Cruz MCV, Casintahan D. Pediatrics. 2003; 111: e289-e295.

16. Edlich RF, Cochran AA, Cross CL, Wack CA, Long III WB, Newkirk AT. Legislation and Informed Consent Brochures for dental patients receiving amalgam restorations. Int. J Toxic. 2008; 27:313-316.

17. Craelius W. Comparative epidemiology of multiple sclerosis and dental caries. J Epidem Commun Health. 1978,32,155-165.  

18. Clausen J. Mercury and multiple sclerosis. Acta Neurol Scand 1993:87;461-464.  

19. Siblerud RL, Kienholz E. Evidence that mercury from silver dental fillings may be an etiological factor in multiple sclerosis. Sci Total Environ. 1994;142(3):191–205.  

20. Echeverria D, Aposhian HV, Woods JS, Heyer NJ, Aposhian MM, Bittner AC Jr, Mahurin RK, Cianciola M. Neurobehavioral effects from exposure to dental amalgam Hg (o): new distinctions between recent exposure and Hg body burden. FASEB J. 1998 Aug; 12(11):971–80.  

21. Huggins HA, Levy TE. Cerebrospinal fluid protein changes in multiple sclerosis after dental amalgam removal. Altern Med Rev. 1998; 3(4):295–300.  

22. Haley BE. The relationship of the toxic effects of mercury to exacerbation of the medical condition classified as Alzheimer’s disease. Medical Veritas 4 2007; 1510-1524.  

23. Brown IA. Chronic Mercurialism, a cause of the clinical syndrome of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. AMA Arch Neural Psych. 1954. 72:674-681.  

24. Ngim C. Epidemiologic Study on the Association between Body Burden mercury Level and Idiopathic Parkinson’s Disease. Neuroepidemiology. 1989: 8:128-141.  

25. Farahat SA, Rashed LA, Zawilla NH, Farouk SM. Effect of occupational exposure to elemental mercury in the amalgam on thymulin hormone production among dental staff. Toxicology and Industrial Health. 2009; 25: 159-167.  

26. Edlich RF, Cross CL, Wack CA, Long III WB, Newkirk AT. The Food and Drug Administration agrees to classify mercury fillings. J Environ Pathol Toxicol Oncol. 2008; 27(4):303–5.  

27. Aminzadeh KK, Etminan M. Dental amalgam and multiple sclerosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Public Health Dent. 2007 Winter; 67(1):64–6. 15 16  

28. Fleming M. Silver-mercury amalgam disclosure and informed consent. http://www.dentistryiq.com/index/display/article-display/_printArticle/articles/dental-economics/volume-97/issue-2/departments/viewpoint/silver-mercury-amalgam-disclosure-and-informed-consent.html

29. Hylander LD, Goodsite ME. Environmental cost of mercury pollution. Sci Total Environ. 2006; 368(1):352-70.

30. www.melisa.org

31. It’s All In Your Head B book by Hal Huggins, D.D.S. 

32. Uniformed Consent B book by Hal Huggins, D.D.S. and Thomas E. Levy, M.D., J.D. 

33. www.iaomt.org  
 


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